John Paston, The Eldest Son, to his Father

Add. 34888, ff. 189v-190r

23 August 1461

Gairdner, Vol III, item 477; Fenn, Vol IV, Edward IV item 14

LETTER XIV.

    To my rythg revrent and worchypfoll
    Fader Iohn Paston esquyer dwellyng
    in Heylysdon be thys letter delyueryd
    in haste.

MOST revrent and worschepful Fadyr I rekomawnd me
hertyly and submytt me lowelely to your good Fadrhood
besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly belyssyng I beseche
yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste' no
wrythgtyng for I kowd not spede to myn Intent the matters that
ye sent to me for I haue laboryd dayly my lord of 1 Essexe
treserer of ynglond to haue meuyd the Kyng bothe of the maner
Deddh'm And of the byll copye of the corte rolle eu'ye morn-
yng ore he went to the Kyng and often tymys jnq'eryed of hym
And he had meuyd the Kyng in these maty's he answeryd me
naye seyyng it was no tyme and seyd he wold it war offe fayne
spedd of I myselfe offed tymys de layding me that jn trouthe I
thowt to haue send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was
not wyllyng to meue the Kyng ther in nevrthe lesse I lawberyd
to hym contynually and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr
hym of it I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that J had a man
teryyn jn town that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr Sundry
maters and he teryid for no thyng but that J mythg send yowe
by hym an answer of the seyd matys othyr tyms besechyng hym
to spede me in theys matysfor thys cawse that ye schuld thynke
no defawte jn me for remebyng jn the seyd maters And nowe
of late (I remeb'yng hym of the same mar^t) jnq'ryd if he had
mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes ther in And he answeryd me yt
he hadde felte and meuyd the Kyng ther in rehersyng the Kyngys
Answer y'in how yt when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd
man^r of Dedh'm besechyng hym to be yowr good lord ther in
konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye haue done and
owthg to hym and jn espesyal the Rygth that ye have therto
he seyd he wold be your good lord therin As he wold be to the
porest man jn jnglond he wold hold w^t yowe jn yowr Rygth
and as for favor he wyll nogth be under stand y^t. he schal
schewe favor mor to one man then to anothy^r nowgth to on in
Inglond And as for the bille copyd of the cort Rolle when he
mevyd to hym of it he smylyd and seyd y^t Suche a bylle ther
was seyyng yt ye wold an opp'ssyd Sundroys of yowr Contremen
of worchpfull men and the for he kepyud it styll neur the lesse he
seyd he schuld loke it uppe jn haste and he schuld haue it
Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes yt he sculd So a
remebr'd hys lord and mast^r y^t J schuld au had it wt inne ij or
iij dayes he is often tyms absent and therfor I haue it nowthg
yyt when I kan gete it I schall send it yowe And of the Kyngs
mowth hys name yt take it hym. I scend you home Pekok a
geyn he is nor for me god send grace y^t he may do yow good

servyse (that be extymacion js not lykelye) ye schall haue kmow-
leche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her wt me I wold
savyng yowr dyplesure that ye were delyv'd of hym for he schalle
neu^r do yow profyte ner worchyp I Suppose ye understand y^t the
monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not jndur w^t me
tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn for I under
stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn wher for I haue sent to
londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs. of Xpofyr Hansom
yowr servaunt and sene it me be my seyd s^rvaunt and myn herneys
w^t it whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene J beseche yowe
not to be dysplesyd w^t it for I kown make non othyr cheysaunce
but I schuld a boruyed it of a strange man Sum of my felawys
who I suppose schold not lyke yowe And ye herd of it a nothyr
tyme I ame jn suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun jn
the stede of Pekoke my lord of lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as
myche for yowē as for any esquyer jn Juglond and Beronners
hys man telht me seyyg yowr fadyr js myche be holdyng to my
lord for he lovyth hym well.

Bernners mevyd me ons and seyd y^t ye must nedys do sum
wate fir my lord and hys and I seyd I wost well y^t ye wold do
for hym y^t laye jn yowre powar and he seyd y^t y' was al lytyl
mony be twyxe yowe and a Iantylman of Estsexe callyd Dyr-
ward seyyng y^t y' as myche be wern my seyd lord and the
seyd Iabtylman of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part It is
talkyd her howe y^t ye and Howard schuld a strevyn togueder on
y^e ² scher daye and on of Howard's men schuld a strekyn yow

twyess w^t. a dagere and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good
dobelet y^t ye hadde on at that tyme Blyssyd be god that ye hadde
it on No mor I wryth to Yowere good faderhod at thys tym but
all myghty God haue yowe in hys kepyng and send yowe vyt-
torye of yowr elmyes and worschyp jn cressyng to yowr lyuys
end yn Wrytyn at ³ Lewys on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.

Be yowr s^rvaūt and elder sone,

4 John Paston.

11 ? by 17,

Paper Mark,

a Cross.

Pl. XXVII. No 12.

This is amost curious Letter, an dexhibits an undisguised picture of great men in the
fifteenth century.

J. Paston shews himself a persevering advocate, and my Lord of Essex a true courtier.
He at last mentions the business to the King, and informs]. Paston of the King's conver-
sation on the subject, which certainly redounds much to his Majesty's honour. The hint
from Berners, my Lord Treasurer's man, is cleverly introduced, and the manner of mak-
ing the compliment to the Earl of Essex is ingeniously contrived; and shews Berners to be
one who understood his business well.

He was most probably a relation of the Earl's family, as his brother John Bourchier
married Margery a daughter of Sir Thomas Berners of West Horseley, in Surry.

1 Henry Viscount Bourchier, Lord Treasurer of England, was created Earl of Essex in
1461, in the first year of the reign of Edward IV. He was man of great knowledge
and application to business, and at different times filled most of the great offices of state.
His death happened in 1483. He was uncle to the king by his marriage with a sister of
Richard Platagenet, Duke of York, the King's father.

² This was probably occasioned by some election or other dispute which arose at the
county court.

³ The date of this Letter is, in some measure, ascertained by the place from which it
is written, as the King in the summer of 1462 took a progress through several parts of his
kingdom; namely to Canterbury, Sandwich , Lewes, &c. and so along the coast to
Southampton, from whence he proceeded to the marches of Wales.

4 Autograph. P1. IV. No 9-

LETTER XIV.

To my right reverend and worshipful Father John Paston, Esquire,
dwelling in Hellesdon, be this Letter delivered in haste.

MOST reverend and worshipful Father, I recommend me
heartily, and submit me lowlily to your good fatherhood,
beseeching you for charity of your daily blessing; I beseech you
to hold me excused that I sent to you none erst5 (no earlier) no
writing, for I could not speed to mine intent, that ye sent to me
for. I have laboured daily my Lord of 1 Essex Treasurer of Eng-
land, to have moved the King. both of the Manor (of) Dedham,
and of the Bill, copied of the Court Roll, every morning afore
he went to the King, and often times enquired of him, and
(if) he had moved the King in these matters; he answered
me nay, saying it was no time, and said he would it were as
fain sped as I myself; so oft times delaying me that in truth I
thought to have sent you word, that I feeled by him that he was
not willing to move the King therin; nevertheless I laboured
to him continually, and prayed Baronners (Berners) his man to
remember him of it. I told often times to my said Lord that I
had a man tarrying in town, that I should have sent to you for
other sundry matters, and he tarryed for nothing, but that I
might send you be him an answer of the said matters; other
times beseeching him to speed me in those matters for this cause,
that ye should think no default in me for remembering in the
said matters.

And now of late, I remembring him of the same matter,
inquired if he had moved the King's Highness therein, and he
answered me, that he had felt and moved the King therein, re-
hearsing the King's answer therein, how that when he had
moved the King in the said manor of Dedham, beseeching him
to be your good Lord therein, considering the service and true
heart that ye have done, and owe to him, and in especial the
right that ye have thereto; he said, he would be your good Lord
therein, as he would be to the poorest man in England, he would
hold with you in your right, and as for favour he will not be
understood, that he shall shew favour more to one man than to
another, not to one in England.

And as for the Bill, copied of the court roll, when he moved
to him of it, he smiled, and said, that such a bill there was, say-
ing that ye would have oppressed sundry of your countrymen of
worshipful men, and therefore he kept it still, nevertheless he
said he should look it up in haste, and ye should have it.

Baronners undertook to me twice or thrice, that he should so
have remembered his Lord and Master, that I should have had
it within two or three days; he is often times absent, and there-
fore I have it not yet, when I can get it, I shall send it you, and
of the King's mouth, his name that take it him.

I send you home Peacock again, he is not for me, God send
grace that he may do you good service, that by estimation is
not likely; ye shall have knowledge afterward how he hath de-
meaned him here with me; I would, saving your displeasure,
that ye were delivered of him for he shall never do you profit
nor worship.

I suppose ye understand that the money that I had of you at
London may not indure with me till that the King go into
Wales and come again, for I understand it shall be long ere he
come again, wherefore I have sent to London to mine Uncle
Clement to get hundred shillings of Christopher Hanson your
servant, and send it me by my said servant, and mine harness
with it, which I lest at London to make clean.

I beseech you not to be displeased with it, for I could make
none other chevisance (contract), but I should have borrowed it
of a strange man, some of my fellows, who I suppose should not
like you, and ye heard of it another time. I am in surety whereas
I shall have another man in the stead of Peacock.

My Lord of Essex faith he will do as much for you as for any
Esquire in England, and Baronners him man telleth me, saying,
"your Father is much beholden to my Lord, for he loveth him
well;" Bernners moved me once, and said that ye must needs
do somewhat for my Lord and his; and I said, I wist well, that
ye would do for him that lay in your power; and he said that
there was a little money betwixt you and a Gentleman of Essex
called Dyrward, saying, that there is as much between my said
Lord and the said Gentleman, of the which money he desireth
your part.

It is talked here how that ye and Howard should have striven
together on the ² shire day, and one of Howard's men should

have stricken you twice with a dagger, and so ye should have
been hurt, but for a good doublet, that ye had on at that time;
blessed be God, that ye had it on. No more I write to your
good fatherhood at this time, but Almighty God have you in
his keeping, and send you victory of your Enemies, and wor-
ship increasing to your life's ending.
Written at ³ Lewes, on Saint Bartholomew's Even.

By your Servant and elder son,
4 JOHN PASTON.

Lewes, in Sussex,

23 August, 1461, or 1462.

1 or 2 E. IV.

This is amost curious Letter, an dexhibits an undisguised picture of great men in the
fifteenth century.

J. Paston shews himself a persevering advocate, and my Lord of Essex a true courtier.
He at last mentions the business to the King, and informs]. Paston of the King's conver-
sation on the subject, which certainly redounds much to his Majesty's honour. The hint
from Berners, my Lord Treasurer's man, is cleverly introduced, and the manner of mak-
ing the compliment to the Earl of Essex is ingeniously contrived; and shews Berners to be
one who understood his business well.

He was most probably a relation of the Earl's family, as his brother John Bourchier
married Margery a daughter of Sir Thomas Berners of West Horseley, in Surry.

1 Henry Viscount Bourchier, Lord Treasurer of England, was created Earl of Essex in
1461, in the first year of the reign of Edward IV. He was man of great knowledge
and application to business, and at different times filled most of the great offices of state.
His death happened in 1483. He was uncle to the king by his marriage with a sister of
Richard Platagenet, Duke of York, the King's father.

² This was probably occasioned by some election or other dispute which arose at the
county court.

³ The date of this Letter is, in some measure, ascertained by the place from which it
is written, as the King in the summer of 1462 took a progress through several parts of his
kingdom; namely to Canterbury, Sandwich , Lewes, &c. and so along the coast to
Southampton, from whence he proceeded to the marches of Wales.

4 Autograph. P1. IV. No 9-

477

JOHN PASTON, THE ELDEST SON, TO HIS FATHER¹

To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer,
dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.

MOST reverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd
     me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good
     faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly
blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to
yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn
intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd
dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have
mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the
byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to
the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had
mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye,
seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne
spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe
I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he
was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse
I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys
man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd
Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to
yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng
but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd
matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys
matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in
me for remembryng in the seyd maters.
     And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater,
inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and
he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng ther
in, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he
had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng
hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse
and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in
espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be
your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in
Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for
favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor
mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.

And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he
mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle
ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr
contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll.
Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he
schuld have it.

Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he
schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,¹ that I schuld
au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent,
and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall
send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it
hym.

I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me.
God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be
extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyr-
ward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold,
savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for
he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.

I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of
yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng
goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be
long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to
myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs. of Christofyr Hansom
yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt,
and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make
klene.

I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd
make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld a
boruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I
suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr
tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in
the stede of Pekoke.

My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe
as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht
me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord,
for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd
that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I
seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre
powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe
yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that
ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the
seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.

It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’
strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men
schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld
a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that
tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I
wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty
God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of
yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys
end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.

Be yowr servaunt and elder sone,

JOHN PASTON.

¹ [From Fenn, iv. 46.] Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to Edward
IV.’s going into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King,
and expecting to accompany him on the journey. Edward was at Battle on the
21st August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.

¹ Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.

1461
AUG. 23