John Paston the Youngest to John Paston the Elder

Add. 43489, f. 20

11 December 1462

Gairdner, Vol IV, item 533; Fenn, Vol I, Edward IV item 17

LETTER XVII.

To my ryth worchepfull brodyr John Paston the elder Sone of
John Paston esquyer be thys delyu’yd in hast.

RYTH worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow.
Plesyt yow to wet y^t as thys day we had tydyngys her
that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend w^t in vij days aftyr the
wrytyng of thys lettyr for to rescue these iij castellys Alnewyk
Donsamborowe and Bameborowe, whyche castellys wer besegyd
as on yesterdaye and at the Sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of
¹ Kent and y^e Lord ² Scalys and at Donsameborow castyll lythe
the Erle of ³ Wyrcetyr Syr Rafe Grey, and at the castyll of
Bameborow lythe the Lord ⁴ Montagwe and Lord ⁵ Ogyll and
othyr dyu’s Lordys and Gentylmen that I knowe not and ther
is to hem owt of newe castyll ordynans I nowe bothe for the
Segys and for the feld in cas that ther be ony feld takyn as I
trow ther’ shall none be not yet for the Scottys kepe no promes
my Lord of ⁶ Warwyk lythe at y^e castyll of Warcorthe but
iij myle owt of Alnewyk and he rydyth dayly to all thes caste-
lys for to ou’se the segys and if they want vataylys or any othyr
thyng he is redy for to p’uey it for them to hys power, the Kyng
comandyd my Lord of ⁷ Norfolk for to condyth vetaylys and
the ordynans owt of new castyll on to Warcorthe castyll to my
Lord of Warwyk and so my Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr
John ⁸ Howard Syr Will’m Peche Syr Rob^t Chamberleyn Rafe
Ascheton and me Calthorp and Gorge and othyr for to go forthe
w^t the vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk and so
we wer w^t my Lord of Warwyk w^t y^e ordynans and vytalys
yest’daye the Kyng lythe at Durham and my Lord of Norfolk at
new castyll we have pepyll I now her In cas we abyd her I pray
yow p’uey y^t I may have her more mony by Crystmas evyn
at the ferthest for I may get leve for to send non of my wagyd
men home ageyne, ne man can get no leve for to go home but
if they stell a wey and if they myth be knowe they schuld be
scharply ponyschyd mak as merry as ye can for ther is no
Jop’te toward not yet and ther be any Joperte I schall sone send
yow word by the grase of God, I wot well ye have more
tydyngys then we have her but thes be true tydyngys.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd for be-
cause they came not hedyr to the Kyng they ar morkyn well I
nowe and so is John Bylyngforthe and Thom’s Playter wherfor
I am ryth sory, I pray yow let them have wetyng therof y^t they
may p’uey ther excuse in hast so that the Kyng may have
knowlage why that they come not to hym in ther one p’sonys let
them come or send ther excuse to me in wrytyng and I schall
p’uey that the Kyngschall have knowlage of ther excuse for I am
well aqueyntyd w^t my Lord ⁹ Hastyngys and my Lord ¹⁰ Daka-
rys whyche be now gretest abowt the Kyngys person and also I
am well aqueyntyd w^t the yonger Mortymere Fererys Hawte
Harpor Crowmer and Bosewell of the kyngys howse.

I pray yow let my Grandam and my cosyn Cler have know-
lage how that I desyryd you to let hem have knowlage of the
tydyngys in thys letyr for I promysyd for to send them tydyngys
I p’ay yow let my modyr have cnowelage how y^t I and my
felawscep and your Seruūntys ar at y^e wrytyng of y^s lettyr in
good hell blesyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr and of
the todyr lettyr y^t I sent to my modyr by Felbryggys man and
how that I p’ay bothe hym and my modyr lowly of her blyss[SYM]gys,
I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how ye do and of
yo^r tydyngys w^t yow for I thynk longe that I her no word fro
my modyr and yow I pray yow y^t thys bill may recomand me
to my Systyr Margery and to my Mastres Jone Gayne and to all
gode Mastyrys and felawys w^tin Castyr I sent no lettyr to my
fadyr nevyr syn I dep’tyd fro yow for I kowd get no man to
London and neu’ sythe I pray yow in cas ye spake w^t my cosyn
Margaret Clere recomande me to hyr and Almythy God have
yow in hys kepyng Wretyn at Newcastyll on sat’ next aftyr y^e
consepsion of owyr Lady.

Yo^r,

¹¹ John Paston, the youngest.

I pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

11 ½ by 8 ½.

               Newcastle,
                 Saturday, 10th of December,
                 1463, 3 E. IV.

We have in this Letter a most accurate and interesting Account of the Noblemen and
others, employed in the Sieges of three Castles on the eastern shore of the County of
Northumberland, taken by Queen Margaret, and now in the possession of the Adherents
and Friends of Henry VI.

We are informed, whence they received the’r Victuals and Ordnance, and of the
soldierlike care and attention of the Earl of Warwick, who commanded the Forces of
King Edward.

We may here observe that though the Troops were hired for a certain time, yet though
that time was expired, they durst not leave the Camp and return home; for if they did
even get away by stealth, yet if discovered and taken, they would be severely punished.

Others who had not obeyed the King’s Orders, and attended him in person, would
likewise suffer severely, unless they made proper excuses for their absence; and the Wri-
ter of this Letter kindly offers his Services from his connexion with men of consequence
about the King to have their excuses admitted.

We here also see who were most in the Royal Favour.

These Sieges were undertaken, our Historians say, soon after the Battle of Hexham,
which was fought and won on the 15th of May, 1463, by King Edward, but according
to this Account they were not undertaken till near eight months after.

The Castles of Bamborough and Dunstanborough were soon taken, but that of Alnwick,
being relieved by the Scots, the Garrison marched out, probably, by treaty.

¹ William Neville, Lord Fauconbridge, now Earl of Kent.

² Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl Rivers, was beheaded at Pontesfact,
in 1483.

³ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, Lord Treasurer and Lord Constable of England,
was beheaded in 1470.

⁴ John Neville, Lord Montague, and afterwards Marquis, was slain in the battle of
Barnet, in 1471, fighting against King Edward.

⁵ Lord Ogle, of Ogle Castle, in Northumberland.

⁶ Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, slain in Barnet field, in 1471.

⁷ John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, died in 1475.

⁸ Sir John Howard, afterwards the first Duke of Norfolk, of that name.

⁹ William, Lord Hastyngs, beheaded in 1483.

¹⁰ Richard Fines, Lord Dacre.

¹¹ Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 11.

LETTER XVII.

To my right worshipful Brother, John Paston, the elder Son of
John Paston, Esquire, be this delivered in haste.

RIGHT worshipful Brother, I recommend me to you.
Please it you to weet, that as this day we had tidings,
how that the Scots will come into England within seven days
after the writing of this letter, for to rescue these three castles,
Alnwick, Dunstanborough, and Bamborough; which Castles
were besieged, as on yesterday; and at the Siege of Alnwick
lieth my Lord of ¹ Kent and the Lord ² Scales, and at Dun-
stanborough Castle lieth the Earl of ³ Worcester and Sir Ralph
Grey, and at the Castle of Bamborough lieth the ⁴ Lord Mon-
tague and the Lord ⁵ Ogle, and other divers Lords and Gen-
tlemen, that I know not; and there is to them out of Newcastle
Ordnance, I know, both for the Sieges, and for the Field, in
case that there be any field taken, as I trow there shall none be
not yet, for the Scots keep no promise. My Lord of ⁶ Warwick
lieth at the Castle of Warkworth, but three miles out of Alnwick,
and he rideth daily to all these Castles, for to oversee the Sieges;
and if they want victuals, or any other thing, he is ready for to
purvey it for them to his power. The King commanded my
Lord of ⁷ Norfolk for to conduct victuals, and the ordnance
out of Newcastle unto Warkworth Castle to my Lord of War-
wick; and so my Lord of Norfolk commanded Sir John
⁸ Howard, Sir William Peche, Sir Robert Chamberlayne, Ralph
Ascheton and me, Calthrop, and Gorge, and others, for to go
forth with the victuals and ordnance unto my Lord of Warwick,
and so we were with my Lord of Warwick with the victuals and
ordnance as yesterday.

The King lieth at Durham, and my Lord of Norfolk at
Newcastle; we have people enough here. In case we abide here,
I pray you purvey, that I may have here more money by
Christmas Eve at the farthest, for I may get leave for to send
none of my waged men home again; no man can get no leave
for to go home, but if they steal away, and if they might be
known, they shall be sharply punished; make as merry as ye
can, for there is no jeopardy towards not yet, and there be any
jeopardy, I shall soon send you word by the grace of God. I wot
(know) well ye have more tidings than we have here, but these
be true tidings.

Yelverton and Jenney are like for to be greatly punished, for
because they came not hither to the King; they are morkyn
(marked) well I know, and so is John Byllingforth and Thomas
Playters, wherefore I am right sorry; I pray you let them have
weeting thereof, that they may purvey their excuse in haste, so
that the King may have knowledge, why that they came not to
him in their own persons; let them come, or send their excuse
to me in writing, and I shall purvey that the King shall have
knowledge of their excuse; for I am well acquainted with my
Lord ⁹ Hastyngs, and my Lord ¹⁰ Dacres, which be now great-
est about the King’s Person; and also I am well acquainted with
the younger Mortymer, Ferrers, Hawte, Harpur, Crowmer,
and Bosewell of the King’s House.

I pray you let my Grandam, and my Cousin Clere have
knowledge how that I desired you to let them have knowledge of
these tidings in this letter, for I promised for to send them tidings.
I pray you let my Mother have knowledge, how that I, and my
Fellowship, and your Servants are at the writing of this letter in
good hell (health) blessed be God.

I pray you let my Father have knowledge of this letter, and of
the other letter, that I sent to my Mother by Felbrigg’s man; and
how that I pray both him and my Mother lowly of their blessings.

I pray you that ye will send me some letter how ye do, and
of your tidings with you, for I think long that I hear no word
from my Mother and you.

I pray you that this bill may recommend me to my Sister
Margery, and to my Mistress Joan Gayne (Jenney,) and to all
good Masters and Fellows within Caster.

I sent no letter to my Father, never since I departed from you,
for I could get no man to London and never since.

I pray you, in case ye speak with my Cousin Margaret Clere,
recommend me to her; and Almighty God have you in his
keeping. Written at Newcastle on Saturday next after the
Conception of our Lady.

Your,

¹¹JOHN PASTON, the youngest.

I pray you let Richard Calle see this letter.

11 ? by 8 ?.

               Newcastle,
                 Saturday, 10th of December,
                 1463, 3 E. IV.

We have in this Letter a most accurate and interesting Account of the Noblemen and
others, employed in the Sieges of three Castles on the eastern shore of the County of
Northumberland, taken by Queen Margaret, and now in the possession of the Adherents
and Friends of Henry VI.

We are informed, whence they received the’r Victuals and Ordnance, and of the
soldierlike care and attention of the Earl of Warwick, who commanded the Forces of
King Edward.

We may here observe that though the Troops were hired for a certain time, yet though
that time was expired, they durst not leave the Camp and return home; for if they did
even get away by stealth, yet if discovered and taken, they would be severely punished.

Others who had not obeyed the King’s Orders, and attended him in person, would
likewise suffer severely, unless they made proper excuses for their absence; and the Wri-
ter of this Letter kindly offers his Services from his connexion with men of consequence
about the King to have their excuses admitted.

We here also see who were most in the Royal Favour.

These Sieges were undertaken, our Historians say, soon after the Battle of Hexham,
which was fought and won on the 15th of May, 1463, by King Edward, but according
to this Account they were not undertaken till near eight months after.

The Castles of Bamborough and Dunstanborough were soon taken, but that of Alnwick,
being relieved by the Scots, the Garrison marched out, probably, by treaty.

¹ William Neville, Lord Fauconbridge, now Earl of Kent.

² Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl Rivers, was beheaded at Pontesfact,
in 1483.

³ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, Lord Treasurer and Lord Constable of England,
was beheaded in 1470.

⁴ John Neville, Lord Montague, and afterwards Marquis, was slain in the battle of
Barnet, in 1471, fighting against King Edward.

⁵ Lord Ogle, of Ogle Castle, in Northumberland.

⁶ Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, slain in Barnet field, in 1471.

⁷ John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, died in 1475.

⁸ Sir John Howard, afterwards the first Duke of Norfolk, of that name.

⁹ William, Lord Hastyngs, beheaded in 1483.

¹⁰ Richard Fines, Lord Dacre.

¹¹ Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 11.

533

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO
JOHN PASTON THE ELDER⁴

To my ryth worchepful brodyr John Paston, the elder, sone of
John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyveryd in hast.

RYTH worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow.
Plesyt yow to wet, that as thys day we had tydyngs
here, that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend with in
vij. days aftyr the wrytyng of thys lettyr, for to rescue these
iij. castellys, Alnewyk, Donsamborowe⁵ and Bameborowe,
whyche castellys wer besegyd, as on yesterdaye. And at the
sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of Kent and the Lord
Scalys; and at Donsameborow castyll lythe the Erle of Wyr-
cetyr [and] Syr Rafe Grey; and at the castyll of Bameborow
lythe the Lord Montagwe and Lord Ogyll, and othyr dyvers
Lordys and gentylmen that I knowe not; and ther is to hem
owt of Newe Castyll ordynans inowe, bothe for the segys and
for the feld, in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as I trow there
shall none be not yet, for the Scottys kepe no promes. My
Lord of Warwyk lythe at the castyll of Warcorthe, but iij.
myle owt of Alnewyk, and he rydyth dayly to all thes
castelys for to overse the segys; and if they want vataylys,
or any othyr thyng, he is redy to pervey it for them to hys
power. The Kyng comandyd my Lord of Norfolk¹ for to
condyth vetaylys and the ordynans owt of New Castyll on
to Warcorthe Castyll, to my Lord of Warwyk; and so my
Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard, Syr William
Peche, Syr Robert Chamberlyen, Rafe Ascheton and me,
Calthorp and Gorge, and othyr, for to go forthe with the
vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk; and so we
wer with my Lord of Warwyk with the ordynans and vytalys
yesterdaye. The Kyng lythe at Durham, and my Lord of
Norfolk at New Castyll. We have pepyll inow here. In cas
we abyd here, I pray you purvey that I may have here more
mony by Crystmas Evyn at the ferthest, for I may get leve
for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn; ne man can
get no leve for to go home but if they stell a wey, and if they
myth be knowe, they schuld be scharply ponyschyd. Mak as
merry as ye can, for ther is no joperte toward not yet. And
ther be any joperte, I schall sone send yow word, by the grase
of God. I wot well ye have more tydyngys then we have
here, but thes be true tydyngs.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd,
for because they came not hedyr to the Kyng. They ar
morkyn [markea] well inowe, and so is John Bylyngforthe and
Thomas Playter; wherefor I am ryth sory. I pray yow let
them have wetyng therof, that they may purvey their excuse
in hast, so that the Kyng may have knowlage why that they
come not to hym in ther one personys; let them come or
send ther excuse to me in wrytyng, and I schall purvey that
the Kyng schall have knowlage of ther excuse; for I am well
aqueyntyd with my Lord Hastyngys, and my Lord Dakarys,¹
whyche be now gretest abowt the Kyngys person; and also
I am well aqueyntyd with the yonger Mortymere, Fererys,
Hawte, Harpor, Crowmer, and Bosewell, of the Kyngys
howse.

I pray yow let my grandam² and my cosyn Clere³ have
knowlage how that I desyryd you to let hem have knowlage
of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for I promysyd for to send
them tydyngs.

I pray yow let my modyr⁴ have cnowelage how that I, and
my felawscep, and your servauntys ar, at the wrytyng of this
lettyr, in good hell, blesyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr, and
of the todyr lettyr that I sent to my modyr by Felbryggys
man; and how that I pray bothe hym and my modyr lowly
of her blyssyngys.

I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how ye do,
and of your tydyngys with yow, for I thynk longe that I here
no word fro my modyr and yow.

I pray yow that thys bill may recomand me to my systyr
Margery, and to my mastres Jone Gayne, and to all gode
mastyrys and felawys within Castyr. I sent no lettyr to my
fadyr, never syn I departyd fro yow, for I kowd get no man
to London, and never sythe.

I pray yow in cas ye spake with my cosyn Margaret
Clere, recomande me to hyr; and Almythy God have yow in
Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Newcastyll on Saterday next aftyr the Consep-
sion of owyr Lady.

Your, JOHN PASTON, the
Yongest.

I pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

⁴ [From Fenn, i. 272.] The sieges mentioned in this letter took place, accord-
ing to Warkworth, in December of the first year of Edward IV., i.e. 1461; but
according to William Worcester in 1462. The dates of the Privy Seal writs prove
that the latter is right, and that Edward IV. was at Durham in December 1462.

⁵ Dunstanborough.

¹ John Mowbray, who succeeded his father in the dukedom of Norfolk in 1461.
He was at this time only eighteen years of age.

¹ See p. 57, Note 3. ² Agnes Paston.

³ Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby. ⁴ Margaret Paston

DEC. 11

1462

DEC. 11

1462

DEC. 11