John Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER IV.

To my ryght worchepfull
      brodyr S^r Iohn Paston Knyght

RYGHT worchepfull S^r J recomand me to yow sertyfyi˜g yow
that J haue spokyn w^h Mastyr Iohn ¹Smyth for S^r T lyndys
and he hathe shewyd me yo^r byll whyche ye axe to be con-
tent of yo^r byll a lone drawyth iiij mark and ode monye for
ye haue set in yo^r byll for wax alene xx s whyche to Mastyr
Iohn S. Jmagynacyon and to all other ofycers of the Coort
shold not drawe past xx d at hys beryi˜g the byllys that be
put in to the Coorte of S^r T Lynys dets drawe xxx li xviij s
vj d and all the money that can be mad of hys house and
goods in thys contrey drawyth but v li. Mast^r J Smyth
wold ye shold send hym into the Coort an Jnventory of
syche goodys as S^r T. had at london when he dyeid and y^t
Inventory onys had ye shall haue as comyth to your part
and more also. ye must send y^e serteynte whedyr the wax
be xx s or xx d and as for the freers Mast^r John wyll not
alowe theym a peny for he seyth wher y’ detts may not be
payeid set y^e beqwests at nowght he is agreid to pay the
potycarye aftyr that he haue y^e Inventory fro you. Rysyng
I trowe hathe be w^t you. It’ as for John Maryot I haue
sent to hym for y^e xl s. but I haue non answer. It’ I haue
spek w^t barker and he hathe no money nor non can get tyll
haruest when he may dystreyn the cropp upon y^e grownd
he seyth there is not owy˜g past v mark And on Sat^rday
next comy˜g he shall send me a vewe of hys acompte whyche
J shall send you as sone as J haue it As for Fastolfs v Mark
J Wyndh’m hathe be spekyn to by me half a doseyn tymys
to send to hym for it and he seyth he hathe doon so. It’
S^r John Style hathe told Jwde when ye shall haue the
chalys ax Jwde of yo^r crwets Also It’ the prowd pevyshe
and euyll dysposyd prest to us all S^r Jamys seyth y^t ye
comandyd hym to delyuer y^e book of vij sagys to my brodyr
Water and he hathe it It’ J send you the serteynte herw^t of
as myche as can be enqweryd for myn oncyll to Cleym in
Cast^r thase artyclys y^t fayle the ten’nts of Cast^r shall
enqwer theym and send theym tome hastyly they haue
promysyd and they com ye shall haue theym sent yow by
the next messenger y^t comyth to london. It’ my modyr
sendyth you woord that she hathe neyther Mast^r Robard
Popyes oblygacyon nor the ²byshopys. It’ my modyr wold
ye sheld in all haste gete hyr aqwetance of the ³byshop of
Wynchest^r for S^r John Fastolf’s goods she preyid you to
make it swyr by y^e auyse of your consayle and she wyll pay
for the costs. Jt’ she preyith you to spek to y^e seyd
byshop for to get Mast^r Clement Felmygh’m the viij mark
be yer dwry˜g hys lyffe that S^r J. Fastolf be set hym she
preyid you to get hym an asygnement for it to som maner
in Norff or in lothynglond. It’ she wold ye shold get yow
an other house to ley in you^r stuff syche as cam fro Cast^r
she thynkyth on of the freerys is a fayir house she p’poseyth
to go in to the contre and thir to soiorn onys a yer. Many
qwarellys ar pyckyd to get my brodyr E and me ought of
hyr howse We go not to bed unchedyn lyghtly all y^t we do
is ille doon and all that S^r Jamys and Pekok dothe is well
doon S^r Jamys and I be tweyn we fyll owght be for my
modyr w^t thow prowd prest and thow prowd sqwyer. My
modyr takyng hys part so I haue almost beshet y^e bolt as
for my modyrs house yet somer shal be don or J get me eny
mastyr my modyr p’poseith hastyly to take estate in all hyr
londys and upon that estate to make hyr wyll of y^e seyd
londys parte to geue to my yonger brethyrn for term of
ther lyuys and aftyr to remayn to yow pert to my syst^r
4Annys Maryage tyll on Cli be payid part for to make hyr
Jle at Mawtby parte for a prest to syng for hyr and my
fadyr and ther ancestrys. And in thys Angyr betwen S^r
Jamys and me she hathe promyseid me that my parte shall
be nowght What yo^r shal be J can not sey god sped the
plowghe J feythe y^e must p^ruey for my brodyr E to go ouer
w^h you or he is on don he wyll bryng xx noblys in hys purse
my modyr wyll nowthyr geue nor lend non of you bothe a
peny forward p^ruey a meane to haue Cast^r ayen or ye goo
ouyr my lord and lady whyche for serteyn is gret w^h chyld
be wery ther of and all y^e housold also Jf ye wyll eny othyr
thyn to be don in thys contre send me woord and J shal do
as well as J can w^h gods grace who p’serue yow Wretyn the
viij day of Julle J pray yow recomand me to my lord of
⁵Aran S^r John Par S^r George Browne osbern Berney R. Hyd
J Hoxson my Cosyn hys wyfe Kate W. Wood and all J
pray brenne thys by for losyng

                                                                            Your

                                                                                 ⁶ J. P.

    11 ½ by 12

               Paper Mark.
         Bull’s Head and Star.
              Pl. viii. No. 2

    This Letter gives a fuller account of Sir T. Lyne’s affairs mentioned in
Letter XLVI. vol. ii. p. 92. and informs us of Master J. Smyth’s opinion re-
lative to testamentary bequests.

     Some family matters are likewise explained, and the influence which Sir
James Glois, a priest, had over his mother is placed before the reader in a
strong light.

     Sir John Paston is likewise made acquainted with his mother’s intentions
relative to the disposal of her lands amongst her children; and many occur-
rences in private life are pointed out in a manner not uninteresting.

     ¹ Master John Smyth was, at this time, an officer in the Bishop’s Court;
he became afterwards Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, and died about
1491.

     ² Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich, from 1445 to 1472.

     ³ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester from 1447 to 1486.

     ⁴ She afterwards married William Yelverton, Esq.

     ⁵ Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, married a daughter of James II. King of
Scotland, was appointed Regent, but died in exile before 1474: for his cha-
racter, see Letter XLVI. vol. ii. p. 94.

     ⁶ Autograph, Pl. xxv. No. 21.

LETTER IV.

To my Right Worshipful Brother, Sir John Paston, Knight.

RIGHT worshipful Sir, I recommend me to you, certifying
you that I have spoken with Master John Smyth for Sir
Thomas Lyndy’s [or Lyne’s], and he hath showed me your
bill which ye ask to be content of; your bill alone draweth
four marks (2l. 13s. 4d.) and odd money, for ye have set in
your bill for wax alone 20s. which to Master John ¹Smyth’s
imagination, and to all other Officers of the Court, should
not draw past 20d. at his burying. The bills that be put
into the Court of Sir T. Lynys debts draw 30l. 18s. 6d. and
all the money that can be made of his house and goods in
this country draweth but 5l. Master J. Smyth would ye
should send him into the Court an inventory of such goods
as Sir Thomas had at London when he died, and that in-
ventory once had, ye shall have as cometh to your part and
more also; ye must send the certainty whether the wax be
20s. or 20d.; and as for the Friars, Master John will not
allow them a penny, for he saith, “where the debts may not
be paid, set the bequests at nought;” he is agreed to pay
the Apothecary, after that he have the inventory from you.

     Rysing, I trow, hath been with you.

     Item, as for John Maryot, I have sent to him for the 40s.
but I have none answer.

     Item, I have spoken with Barker, and he hath no money
nor none can get till harvest, when he may distrain the
crop upon the ground; he saith there is not owing past five
marks (3l. 6s. 8d.) and on Saturday next coming he shall
send me a view of his account, which I shall send you, as
soon as I have it; as for Fastolfs five marks, J. Wyndham
hath been spoken to by me half-a-dozen times to send to
him for it, and he saith he hath done so.

     Item, Sir John Styll hath told Jude when ye shall have
the chalice, ask Jude of your cruets also.

     Item, the proud, peevish, evil-disposed priest to us all,
Sir James [Glois], saith, that ye commanded him to deliver
the book of Seven Sages to my brother Walter, and he
hath it.

     Item, I send you the certainty herewith of as much as
can be inquired for my uncle William’s claim in Caister;
these articles that fail, the tenants of Caister shall inquire
them, and send them to me hastily; they have promised,
and [if] they come, ye shall have them sent you by the next
messenger that cometh to London.

     Item, my mother sendeth you word that she hath neither
Master Robert Popy’s Obligation nor the ²Bishop’s.

     Item, my mother would ye should in all haste get her
acquittance of the ³Bishop of Winchester for Sir John Fas-
tolf’s goods, she prayed you to make it sure by the advice
of your counsel, and she will pay for the costs.

     Item, she prayeth you to speak to the said Bishop for to
get Master Clement Felmingham the eight marks (5l. 6s. 8d.)
by year during his life that Sir John Fastolf beset him; she
prayed you to get him an assignment for it to some manor
in Norfolk or in Lothingland [in Suffolk].

     Item, she would ye should get you another house to lay
in your stuff, such as came from Caister, she thinketh one
of the Friars is a fair house; she purposeth to go into the
country, and there to sojourn once a year. Many quarrels
are picked to get my brother Edmund and me out of her
house; we go not to bed unchidden lightly [commonly]; all
that we do is ill done, and all that Sir James and Peacock
doth is well done; Sir James and I be twain: we fell out
before my mother, with “thou proud priest,” and “thou
proud squire,” my mother taking his part, so I have almost
beshut the bolt [barred myself out], as for my mother’s
house; yet summer shall be done, ere I get me any master.

     My mother proposeth hastily to take estate in all her
lands, and upon that estate to make her will of the said
lands, part to give to my younger brethren for term of their
lives, and after to remain to you; part to my sister ⁴Anne’s
marriage, till an hundred pounds be paid; part for to make
her isle at Mawtby; part for a priest to sing for her, and
my father, and their ancestors; and in this anger between
Sir James and me, she hath promised me that my part shall
be nought; what yours shall be I cannot say; God speed the
plough. I’faith ye must purvey for my brother Edmund to
go over with you, or he is undone; he will bring twenty
nobles (£10) in his purse. My mother will neither give nor
lend none of you both a penny forward; purvey a mean to
have Caster again ere ye go over; my Lord and my Lady
[of Norfolk], which for certain is great with child, beweary
thereof, and all the household also.

     If ye will any other thing to be done in this country,
send me word, and I shall do as well as I can with God’s
grace, who preserve you.

     Written the 8th day of July.

     I pray you recommend me to my Lord of ⁵ Arran, Sir
John Parr, Sir George Browne, Osbert Berney, R. Hyde, J.
Hoxson my cousin, his wife Kate, W. Wood, and all.

     I pray burn this before losing [it.] (or for fear of losing it.)

                                                                       Your,

                                                                            ⁶ JOHN PASTON.

       Wednesday, 8th July,
             1472. 12 E. IV.
   See Letter xxxiv. vol. ii. p. 42.

This Letter gives a fuller account of Sir T. Lyne’s affairs mentioned in
Letter XLVI. vol. ii. p. 92. and informs us of Master J. Smyth’s opinion re-
lative to testamentary bequests.

     Some family matters are likewise explained, and the influence which Sir
James Glois, a priest, had over his mother is placed before the reader in a
strong light.

     Sir John Paston is likewise made acquainted with his mother’s intentions
relative to the disposal of her lands amongst her children; and many occur-
rences in private life are pointed out in a manner not uninteresting.

     ¹ Master John Smyth was, at this time, an officer in the Bishop’s Court;
he became afterwards Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, and died about
1491.

     ² Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich, from 1445 to 1472.

     ³ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester from 1447 to 1486.

     ⁴ She afterwards married William Yelverton, Esq.

     ⁵ Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, married a daughter of James II. King of
Scotland, was appointed Regent, but died in exile before 1474: for his cha-
racter, see Letter XLVI. vol. ii. p. 94.

     ⁶ Autograph, Pl. xxv. No. 21.

805

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To my ryght worchepfull brodyr, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

RYGHT worchepfull sir, I recomand me to you, serty-
     fying yow that I have spokyn wyth Mastyr John
     Smyth² for Sir T. Lyndys, and he hathe shewyd me
your byll whyche ye axe to be content of. Your byll a lone
drawyth iiij. mark and ode monye, for ye have set in your
byll for wax a lone xxs., whyche to Mastyr John S. imagyna-
cyon, and to all other ofycers of the coort, shold not drawe
past xxd. at hys berying. The bylls that be put into the
coorte of Syr Thomas Lynys dettes drawe xxxli. xviijs. vjd.,
and all the money that can be mad of hys house and goodes in
this contrey drawyth but vli. Mastyr J. Smyth wold ye shold
send hym into the coort an inventory of syche goodys as Syr
T. had at London when he dyeid, and that inventory onys had,
ye shall have as comyth to your part and more also. Ye must
send the serteynte whedyr the wax be xxs. or xxd.; and as for
the Freers, Master John wyll not alowe theym a peny, for he
seyth wher the dettes may not be payeid, set the beqwestes at
nowght. He is agreid to pay the potycarye aftyr that he
have the inventory fro yow. Rysyng I trowe hathe be with
yow.

     Item, as for John Maryot, I have sent to hym for the xls.
but I have non answer.

     Item, I have spok with Barker, and he hathe no money,
nor non can get tyll harvest, when he may dystreyn the cropp
upon the grownd; he seyth there is not owyng past v. mark,
and on Saturday next comyng he shall send me a vewe of hys
acompte whyche I shall send you as sone as I have it. As for
Fastolffes v. mark, J. Wyndham hathe be spokyn to by me
half a doseyn tymys to send to hym for it, and he seyth he
hathe doon so.

     Item, Sir John Styll hathe told Jwde when ye shall have
the chalys; ax Jwde of your crwets allso.

     Item, the prowd, pevyshe, and evyll disposyd prest to us
all, Sir James, seyth that ye comandyd hym to delyver the
book of vij. Sagys to my brodyr Water, and he hathe it.

     Item, I send you the serteynte her with of as myche as can
be enqweryd for myn oncyll W. cleym in Caster; thase artyclys
that fayle, the tenaunts of Caster shall enqwer theym, and send
theym to me hastyly; they have promysyd, and they com, ye
shall have theym sent yow by the next messenger that comyth
to London.

     Item, my modyr sendyth you woord that she hathe neyther
Master Robard Popyes oblygacyon nor the Byshopys.¹

     Item, my modyr wold ye shold in all haste gete hyr aqwet-
ance of the Byshop² of Wynchester for Sir John Fastolffes
goodes; she preyid you to make it swyr by the avyse of your
consayll, and she wyll pay for the costes.

     Item, she preyith you to spek to the seyd Byshop for to
get Master Clement Felmyngham the viij. mark be yer dwryng
hys lyffe that Sir J. Fastolff be set hym; she preyid you to get
hym an asygnement for it to som maner in Norffolk or in
Lothynglond.

     Item, she wold ye shold get yow an other house to ley in
your stuff syche as cam fro Caster. She thynkyth on of the
Freerys is a fayir house; she purposeyth to go in to the
contre, and ther to sojorn onys ayen.³ Many qwarellys ar
pyekyd to get my brodyr E. and me ought of hyr howse; we
go not to bed unchedyn lyghtly, all that we do is ille doon,
and all that Sir Jamys and Pekok dothe is well doon; Sir
Jamys and I be tweyn. We fyll owght be for my modyr,
with ‘Thow prowd prest’ and ‘Thow prowd sqwyer,’ my
modyr takyng hys part, so I have almost beshet the bote,
as for my modyrs house; yet somer shal be don or I get me
ony mastyr. My modyr proposeith hastyly to take estate in
all hyr londys, and upon that estate to make hyr wyll of the
seyd londys, parte to geve to my yonger brethyrn for term of
ther lyvys, and aftyr to remayn to yow, pert to my syster
Annys,¹ maryage, tyll on Cli. be payid, part for to make hyr
ile at Mawtby, parte for a prest to syng for hyr and my fadyr,
and ther ancestrys. And in thys aungyr betwen Sir Jamys
and me, she hathe promyseid me that my parte shall be
nowght; what your shal be, I can not sey. God sped the
plowghe; i feythe ye must purvey for my brodyr E. to go
over with you, or he is on don; he wyll bryng xx. noblys in
hys purse. My modyr wyll nowthyr geve nor lend non of
you bothe a peny forward. Purvey a meane to have Caster
ayen or ye goo ovyr; my Lord and Lady (whyche for serteyn
is gret with chyld), be wery ther of, and all the housold also.
If ye wyll eny othyr thyn to be don in thys contre, send me
woord, and I shall do as well as I can with Godes grace, Who
preserve yow.

     Wretyn the viij. day of Julle. I pray yow recomand me
to my Lord of Aran,² Sir John Par, Sir George Browne, Osbern
Berney, R. Hyd, Jhoxson my cosyn, hys wyfe Kate, W.
Wood, and all. I pray brenne thys by[ll] for losyng.

                                                      Your,                                  J. P.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The references to the affairs of the deceased Sir
Thomas Lynde, the Duchess of Norfolk’s pregnancy, and other subjects mentioned in
the letter immediately preceding, prove clearly that this letter belongs to the same
year.

     ² Master John Smyth was, at this time, an officer in the Bishop’s Court; he be-
came afterwards Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, and died about 1491.

     ¹ Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich, from 1445 to 1472.

     ² William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester from 1447 to 1486.

     ³ Fenn reads ‘onys a yer,’ which may have been intended; but I think the true
reading is ‘ayen.’

    ¹ She afterwards married William Yelverton, Esq.

     ² See p. 144, Note 1.

1472
JULY 8

1472
JULY 8