John Paston the Younger to Margaret Paston

LETTER XXIII

To my ryght reu’end and worchefull Modyr Margaret Paston
dwellyng at Caster be thys delyu?yd in hast.

RYTH reu’end and worchepfull Modyr I recom'and me on
     to you as humbylly as I can thynk desyryng most hertly
to her of you^r welfare and herts ese whyche I pray God send yow
as hastyly as eny hert can thynk  Ples yt yow to wete y^t at the
makyng of thys byll my brodyr and I and all ou^r felawshep wer
in good helle blyssyd be God  As for the gydyng her in thys
contre it is as worchepfull as all the world can devyse it and
ther wer neu' ¹ englyshe men had so good cher owt of Inglong
that eu’ I herd of.

     As for tydyngs her but if it be of the fest I can non send yow
savyng y^t my Lady ² Margaret was maryd on Sonday last past
at a towne y^t is callyd the Dame iij myle owt of ³ Brugys at v
of the clok in the morn[SYM]g and sche was browt the same day to
Bruggys to hyr dener and ther sche was receyvyd as worchep-
fully as all the world cowd devyse as w^t presession w^t Ladys and
Lordys best beseyn of eny pepyll that ever I sye or herd of
many Pagentys wer pleyed in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr wel
comyng the best y^t eu’ I sye And the same Sonday my Lord the
⁴ Bastard took upon hym to answere xxiiij knyts and Gentyl-
men w^t in viij dayes at Jostys of pese and when y^t they wer
answeryd they xxiiij and hym selve schold torney w^t othyr xxv
the next day aftyr whyche is on monday next com[SYM]g and they
that have jostyd w^t hym into thys day have ben as rychely
beseyn and hymselve also as clothe of gold and sylk and sylvyr
and goldsmyths werk myght mak hem for of syche ger and gold
and perle and stanys they of the Dwkys coort neythyr Gentyl-
men nor Gentylwomen they want non for w^t owt y^t they have
it by wyshys by my trowthe I herd nevyr of so gret plente as
ther is.

     Thys day my Lord ⁵ Scalys justyd w^t a Lord of thys contre
but not w^t the Bastard for they mad premyse at London that non
of them bothe shold never dele w^t othyr in armys but the
Bastard was on’ of the Lords y^t browt the Lord Scalys in to the

feld and of mysfortwne an horse strake my Lord Bastard on the
lege and hathe hurt hym so sore that I can thynk he shalbe of
no power to acomplyshe up hys arrays and that is gret pete
for by my trowthe  I trow God mad neu’ a mor worchepfull
knyt.  And as for the Dwkys coort as of Lords Ladys and Gen-
tylwomen Knyts Sqwyers and Gentylmen I hert neu’ of non lyek
to it save Kyng Artourys cort and by my trowthe I have no wyt
nor remēbrans to wryte to yow half the worchep that is her but
y^t lakyth as it comyth to mynd I shall tell yow when I come
home whyche I tryst to God shal not belong to for we depart
owt of Brygys homward on twysday next comyng and all folk
y^t cam w^t my Lady of Burgoyn owt of Inglond except syche
as shall abyd her styll w^t hyr whyche I wot well shall be but
fewe.  We depart the soner for the ⁶ Dwk hathe word that
the ⁷ frenshe Kyng is p’posyd to mak wer upon hym hastyly
and that he is w^tin iiij or v dayis jorney of Brugys and the
Dwk rydyth on twysday next comyng forward to met w^t hym
God geve hym good sped and all hys for by my trowthe they
are the goodlyest felawshep the eu’ I cam among and best can
behave them and most lyek Gentylmen.

     Othyr tydyngs have we non her but that the Dwke of
³ Som’set and all hys bands depertyd welbeseyn owt of Brugys a
day befor that my Lady the Dwches cam thedyr and they sey
                                                                                                     her

her that he is to Qwen Margaret y^t was and shal no mor come
her ayen nor be holpyn by the Dwk.

     No mor but I beseche yow of you^r blyssyng as lowly as I can
whyche I beseche yow forget not to geve me eu’ day onys
And Modyr I beseche yow y^t ye wolbe good mastras to my
lytyll man and to se y^t he go to scole I sent my cosyn Daw-
beney v^s by Callys man for to bye for hym syche ger as he
nedyth and modyr I pray yow thys byll may recomend me
to my Sustyrs bothe and to y^e Mastyr my cosyn Dawbeney
Syr Jamys S^r John Stylle and to pray hym to be good Mastyr to
lytyll ⁹ Jak and to lerne hym well and I pray yow y^t thys
byll may recomand me to all you^r folkys and my wellwyllers.

     And I pray God send yow you^r herts desyr.

     Wretyn at Bruggys the fryday next aftyr Seynt ¹⁰ Thom’s.

                                   Yo^r. Sone and humbyll Servñt,

     12 by 11 ½.

                                                               J. Paston, Y^e Yonger.

Paper Mark,

A Chatharine Wheel.

Pl. x. N^O 6.

Bruges,
                Friday, 8th of July,
                1468, 8 E. IV.

 The Seal is round, having a Fleur de Lys with an Annulet by the side of it.

     We have in this Letter a most curious and authentic Account of the Marriage of
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, with Margaret, Daughter of Richard Plantage-
net, Duke of York, and Sister of Edward IV. and of the subsequent Diversions exhibited
at Bruges in honour of it, written by John Paston, (Pl. IV. N^o 12.) an eye-witness,
who, with his Brother Sir John Paston, Knight, attended in the Retinue of the Princess.

The Description here given affords us an high idea of the Splendour of the Court of
the Duke, and of the Politeness of the Courtiers.

     ¹ This is the opinion of a true Englishman.

     ² Margaret Plantagenet, Sister of Edward IV. according to this Account, was married
on Sunday the 3d of July, 1468, 8 E. IV.  For a more particular History of this
Princess and the Duke, the Reader is referred to the Description of the Plate wherein
they are both represented.

     ³ A City and Pert Town in Flanders.

     ⁴ Anthony, Count de la Roche, called the Bastard of Burgundy, was a natural
Son of Duke Philip the Good, by Johanna of Prulles, famous for his wit, courage,
and polite accomplishments. He was born in 1421, and died in 1504.

     ⁵ Anthony Widville, or Woodville, Lord Scales, &c. and afterwards Earl Rivers,
Son of Sir Richard Widville, by Jaqueline of Luxemburgh, Duchess Dowager of Bed-
ford, and Brother of Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. was born about 1441, and
became the most distinguished Warrior, Statesman, and most learned Gentleman, of his
time. In the 7 Edward IV. he challenged and vanquished the Bastard of Burgundy in a
grand and solemn Just in Smithfield ; at which time the promise mentioned in this
Letter was made. This accomplished Nobleman was beheaded at Pomfret, in June
1483, by the command of the Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

     ⁶ Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, was born in 1433, and was slain in battle,
near Nancy, in Lorrain, in 1477.

     ⁷ Charles VII. It is worthy of Remark how cautious the Writers of these times
were not to give the title of King of France, to the Ruler of that Kingdom, but to style
him the French King. In this place, (and I have observed it in others) the word ?Kyng”
(intending to go on with, of France) was written without consideration, and, then, on
observing it, immediately crossed out, and “Frenshe Kyng” put in its place.

     ⁸ Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, an Adherent to Henry VI. and his Queen
Margaret, commanded at the battle of Tewkesbury, in 1471; which being lost, he fled
to Sanctuary, whence he was taken and beheaded.

         ⁹ This Little John, whose school Education J. Paston, seems so anxious about, must
have been born before 1464, and most probably died under age, if he was his Son, as
Sir William Paston, Knight, who as some pedigrees state was born in 1464, stands

in the Pedigree as heir to his father; but I rather think that J. Paston had not been
married at this time, and that this “lytyll man,” was not his son.

     ¹⁰ This must mean either the 3d or 7th day of July, the one being the Translation of
St. Thomas the Apostle, the other of St. Thomas à Becket.  I believe it means the latter.

LETTER XXIII

To my right reverend and worshipful Mother, Margaret Paston,
dwelling at Caster, be this delivered in haste.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful Mother, I recommend
      me unto you as humbly as I can think, desiring most
heartily to hear of your welfare and heart’s ease, which I
pray God send you as hastily as any heart can think.

     Please it you to weet, that at the making of this bill, my Bro-
ther, and I, and all our Fellowship, were in good heele (health),
blessed be God.

     As for the Guiding here in this Country, it is as worshipful as
all the world can devise, and there were never ¹ Englishmen had
so good chear out of England, that ever I heard of.

     As for Tidings here, but if (unless) it be of the Feast, I can
none send you; saving, that my Lady ² Margaret was married

on Sunday last past at a Town that is called The Dame, three
miles out of ³ Bruges, at five of the clock in the morning; and
she was brought the same day to Bruges to her dinner; and there
she was received as worshipfully as all the world could desire ;
as with procession with Ladies, and Lords, best beseen of any
people, that ever I saw or heard of.  Many Pageants were
played in her way in Bruges to her welcoming, the best that
ever I saw; and the same day my Lord, ⁴ the Bastard, took
upon him to answer 24 Knights and Gentlemen, within 8 days
at Justs of Peace; and when that they were answered, they
24 and himself should turney with other 25 the next day after,
which is on Monday next coming; and they that have justed
with him into this day, have been as richly beseen, and him
self also, as cloth of Gold, and Silk, and Silver, and Goldsmiths
work, might make them; for of such Gear, and Gold, and
Pearl, and Stones, they of the Duke’s Court, neither Gentlemen
nor Gentlewomen, they want none; for without (unless) that
they have it by wishes, by my truth, I heard never of so great
plenty as here is.

     This day my Lord ⁵ Scales justed with a Lord of this country,
but not with the Eastard ; for they made (a) promise at London,
that none of them both should never deal with other in arms;
but the Bastard was one of the Lords, that brought the Lord

Scales into the field ; and of misfortune an horse struck my Lord
Bastard on the leg, and hath hurt him so Sore, that I can think
he shall be of no power to accomplish up his arms; and that is
great pity, for by my truth I trow (think) God made never a
more worshipful Knight.

     And as for the Duke’s Court, as of Lords, Ladies and Gen-
tlewomen, Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen, I heard never of
none like to it, save King Arthur’s Court.  And by my truth, I
have no wit nor remembrance to write to you, half the worship
that is here ; but what lacketh, as it cometh to mind I shall tell
you, when I come home, which I trust to God shall not be long
tofore.  We, depart out of Bruges homeward on Tuesday next
coming, and all Folk that came with my Lady of Burgoyn
(Burgundy) out of England, except such as shall abide here still
with her, which I wot (know) well shall be but few.

     We depart the sooner, for the ⁶ Duke hath word that the
⁷ French King is purposed to make war upon him hastily, and
that he is within four or five days journey of Bruges, and the
Duke rideth, on Tuesday next coming, forward to meet with
him; God give him good speed, and all his; for by my truth
they are the goodliest Fellowship that ever I came amongst, and
best can behave them, and most like Gentlemen.

     Other Tidings have we none here, but that the Duke of
⁸ Somerset, and all his Bands departed well beseen out of Bruges
a day before that my Lady the Duchess came thither, and they

say here, that he is to Queen Margaret that was, and shall
no more come here again, nor be holpen by the Duke.

     No more, but I beseech you of your blessing as lowly as I can,
which I beseech you forget not to give me every day once;
and, Mother, I beseech you that ye will be good Mistress to
my little man, and to see that he go to school.

     I sent my Cousin Dawbeney 5^s by Calle’s man, for to buy for
him such gear as he needeth ; and Mother I pray you this bill
may recommend me to my Sisters both, and to the Master, my
Cousin Dawbeney, Sir James, Sir John Stylle, and to pray him to
be good Master to little ⁹ Jack, and to learn him well; and I
pray you that this bill may recommend me to all your Folks,
and to my Well Willers; and I pray God send you your heart’s
desire.

      Written at Bruges the Friday next after Saint ¹⁰ Thomas.

                                          Your Son and humble Servant,

12 by 11 ?.

                                                                 J. PASTON, the Younger.

Paper Mark,

A Chatharine Wheel.

Pl. x. N^O 6.

Bruges,
                Friday, 8th of July,
                1468, 8 E. IV.

     We have in this Letter a most curious and authentic Account of the Marriage of
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, with Margaret, Daughter of Richard Plantage-
net, Duke of York, and Sister of Edward IV. and of the subsequent Diversions exhibited
at Bruges in honour of it, written by John Paston, (Pl. IV. N^o 12.) an eye-witness,
who, with his Brother Sir John Paston, Knight, attended in the Retinue of the Princess.
The Description here given affords us an high idea of the Splendour of the Court of
the Duke, and of the Politeness of the Courtiers.

     ¹ This is the opinion of a true Englishman.

     ² Margaret Plantagenet, Sister of Edward IV. according to this Account, was married
on Sunday the 3d of July, 1468, 8 E. IV.  For a more particular History of this
Princess and the Duke, the Reader is referred to the Description of the Plate wherein
they are both represented.

     ³ A City and Pert Town in Flanders.

     ⁴ Anthony, Count de la Roche, called the Bastard of Burgundy, was a natural
Son of Duke Philip the Good, by Johanna of Prulles, famous for his wit, courage,
and polite accomplishments. He was born in 1421, and died in 1504.

     ⁵ Anthony Widville, or Woodville, Lord Scales, &c. and afterwards Earl Rivers,
Son of Sir Richard Widville, by Jaqueline of Luxemburgh, Duchess Dowager of Bed-

ford, and Brother of Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. was born about 1441, and
became the most distinguished Warrior, Statesman, and most learned Gentleman, of his
time. In the 7 Edward IV. he challenged and vanquished the Bastard of Burgundy in a
grand and solemn Just in Smithfield ; at which time the promise mentioned in this
Letter was made. This accomplished Nobleman was beheaded at Pomfret, in June
1483, by the command of the Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

     ⁶ Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, was born in 1433, and was slain in battle,
near Nancy, in Lorrain, in 1477.

     ⁷ Charles VII. It is worthy of Remark how cautious the Writers of these times
were not to give the title of King of France, to the Ruler of that Kingdom, but to style
him the French King. In this place, (and I have observed it in others) the word ?Kyng”
(intending to go on with, of France) was written without consideration, and, then, on
observing it, immediately crossed out, and “Frenshe Kyng” put in its place.

     ⁸ Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, an Adherent to Henry VI. and his Queen
Margaret, commanded at the battle of Tewkesbury, in 1471; which being lost, he fled
to Sanctuary, whence he was taken and beheaded.

     The Seal is round, having a Fleur de Lys with an Annulet by the side of it.

            Bruges,
                Friday, 8th of July,
                1468, 8 E. IV.

     ⁹ This Little John, whose school Education J. Paston, seems so anxious about, must
have been born before 1464, and most probably died under age, if he was his Son, as
Sir William Paston, Knight, who as some pedigrees state was born in 1464, stands

in the Pedigree as heir to his father; but I rather think that J. Paston had not been
married at this time, and that this “lytyll man,” was not his son.

     ¹⁰ This must mean either the 3d or 7th day of July, the one being the Translation of
St. Thomas the Apostle, the other of St. Thomas à Becket.  I believe it means the latter.

684

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGER TO
MARGARET PASTON²

To my ryght reverend and worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston,
dwellyng at Caster, be thys delyveryed in hast.

RYTH reverend and worchepfull modyr, I recomaund
     me on to you as humbylly as I can thynk, desyryng
     most hertly to her of your welfare and herts ese,
whyche I pray God send yow as hastyly as my hert can
thynk. Ples yt yow to wete, that at the makyng of thys
byll, my brodyr and I, and all our felawshep, wer in good
helle, blyssyd be God. As for the gydyng her in thys contre,
it is as worchepfull as all the world can devyse it, and ther
wer never Englyshe men had so good cher owt of Inglong
that ever I herd of.

     As for tydyngs her, but if it be of the fest, I can non send
yow; savyng my Lady Margaret³ was maryd on Sonday⁴ last
past, at a towne that is callyd the Dame, iij. myle owt of
Brugys, at v. of the clok in the mornyng; and sche was browt
the same day to Bruggys to hyr dener; and ther sche was
receyvyd as worchepfully as all the world cowd devyse, as
with presession with ladys and lordys, best beseyn of eny
pepyll, that ever I sye or herd of. Many pagentys wer
pleyed in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr welcomyng, the best
that ever I sye. And the same Sonday my Lord the Bastard,¹
took upon hym to answere xxiiij. knyts and gentylmen, with
in viij. dayes at jostys of pese; and when that they wer
answeryd, they xxiiij. and hym selve schold torney with othyr
xxv. the next day aftyr, whyche is on Monday next comyng;
and they that have jostyd with hym into thys day, have ben as
rychely beseyn, and hymselve also, as clothe of gold, and sylk
and sylvyr, and goldsmyths werk, myght mak hem; for of
syche ger, and gold, and perle, and stanys, they of the Dwkys
coort, neythyr gentylmen nor gentylwomen, they want non;
for with owt that they have it by wyshys, by my trowthe, I
herd nevyr of so gret plente as ther is.

     Thys day my Lord Scalys² justyd with a Lord of thys
contre, but not with the Bastard; for they mad promyse at
London that non of them bothe shold never dele with othyr
in armys; but the Bastard was one of the Lords that browt
the Lord Scalys in to the feld, and of mysfortwne an horse
strake my Lord Bastard on the lege, and hathe hurt hym so
sore, that I can thynk he shalbe of no power to acomplyshe
up hys armys; and that is gret pete, for by my trowthe I
trow God mad never a mor worchepfull knyt.

     And as for the Dwkys coort, as of lords, ladys and gentyl-
women, knyts, sqwyers, and gentylmen, I hert never of non
lyek to it, save Kyng Artourys cort. And by my trowthe,
I have no wyt nor remembrans to wryte to yow, half the
worchep that is her; but that lakyth, as it comyth to mynd I
shall tell yow when I come home, whyche I tryst to God shal
not be long to; for we depart owt of Brygys homward on
Twysday next comyng, and all folk that cam with my Lady
of Burgoyn owt of Inglond, except syche as shall abyd her
styll with hyr, whyche I wot well shall be but fewe.

     We depart the soner, for the Dwk¹ hathe word that the
Frenshe Kyng² is purposyd to mak wer upon hym hastyly,
and that he is with in iiij. or v. dayis jorney of Brugys, and
the Dwk rydyth on Twysday next comyng, forward to met
with hym; God geve hym good sped, and all hys; for by
my trowthe they are the goodlyest felawshep the ever I cam
among, and best can behave them, and most lyek gentylmen.

     Othyr tydyngs have we non her, but that the Dwke of
Somerset,³ and all hys bands depertyd welbeseyn owt of
Brugys a day befor that my Lady the Dwches cam thedyr,
and they sey her, that he is to Qwen Margaret that was, and
shal no more come her ayen, nor be holpyn by the Dwk. No
more; but I beseche yow of your blyssyng as lowly as I can,
whyche I beseche yow forget not to geve me ever day onys.
And, modyr, I beseche yow that ye wolbe good mastras to my
lytyll man, and to se that he go to scole.

     I sent my cosyn Dawbeney vs. by Callys man, for to bye
for hym syche ger as he nedyth; and, modyr, I pray yow thys
byll may recomend me to my sustyrs bothe, and to the mastyr,
my cosyn Dawbeney, Syr Jamys,⁴ Syr John Stylle, and to pray
hym to be good mastyr to lytyll Jak, and to lerne hym well;
and I pray yow that thys byll may recomand me to all your
folkys, and my wellwyllers. And I pray God send yow your
herts desyr.

     Wretyn at Bruggys the Fryday next aftyr Seynt Thomas.

Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

                                                                             J. PASTON, the yonger.

 ² [From Fenn, ii. 2.] As this letter gives an account of the marriage of the
Princess Margaret to Charles, Duke of Burgundy, there is no doubt of the year in
which it was written.

  ³ Margaret, sister of King Edward IV.         

 ⁴ 3rd July.

¹ Anthony, Count de la Roche, commonly called the Bastard of Burgundy, a
natural son of Duke Philip the Good.

   ² Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl Rivers.

       ¹ Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

        ² Lewis XI.

      ³ Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.

      ⁴ Sir James Gloys, a priest.

JULY 8

1468

JULY 8

1468

JULY 8