John Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER VIII.

To S^r John Paston
     Knyght

SYME recomandyth hym to yo^r good maystyrshep and
preyeth you that ye wyll not forget though he be a boye to
let hym were the same lyuere that yo^r men do And if it
pleased yow to lete hys gowne clothe be sent hym hom that
it myght be mad ayenst yo^r comei˜g in to thys contre he
wold be as prowd as eny man ye have S^r as h˜tly as I can I
thank you for the hatt whyche is comy˜g as J undyrstand by
yo^r wryty˜g sent by John the Abottys man of Seynt benet
my modyr sendys you gods blyssy˜g and hyrs and preyes
you to get a new lycence of my lord of Norwyche that she
may have the sacrement in hyr chapell I gat a lycence of
hym for a yere and it is nyghe woryn ought ye may get it
for the byshoppys lyue and ye wylle as for the lettyrs that
Slyfeld shold get newe of the Kyng whyche ye shold bryng
to my lord of Norff. it is myn avyse that ye shall com home
yo^rsylf as hasty ly as ye maye so that ye may be at the
crysteny˜g of the chyld that my lady is w^t it shall cause yow
gret thank and a gret forwell in yo^r mater and as for the
lettres leve a man of yo^r to awayte on Slyfeld to bryng
theym after yow of whyche lettres I avyse yow to have su˜
dyrect fro the kyng to yow comandy˜g yow to be the mes-
seng^r and bryng^r of the other lettres to my lord my lady and
ther Consayll for your owne mater And thys me thynkyth
shall do well for then shall ye man shewe to my lords con-
sayll the lettre dyrect to yow that ye have awtoryte to be
your owne solycytour And also it shall be thought that the
kyng tendryth yow and yo^r mater when he wryghtyth to
yo^rsylf for it. My lady wayteth hyr tyme w^tin viij dayis at
the ferthest.

     8 ½ by 6.

    This Letter is from J. Paston to his brother Sir John; it has no subscribing
name, as the paper appears to have been shortened at the bottom, by which
means some of the writing may have been cut off. It begins differently from
most of the letters, as it enters upon the subject at once. The contents are
not very interesting; but as it contained advice respecting Caister, I have
given it.

     Seal, a Fleur-de-lis and annulet. Pl. xiv. No. 22.

LETTER VIII.

To Sir John Paston, Knyght.

SYM recommendeth him to your good mastership, and
prayeth you that ye will not forget, though he be a boy, to
let him wear the same livery that your men do; and if it
pleased you to let his gown cloth be sent him home, that it
might be made against your coming into this country, he
would be as proud as any man ye have.

     Sir, as heartily as I can I thank you for the hat, which is
coming, as I understand by your writing sent by John the
Abbott’s man of Saint Bene˜t’s.

     My mother sends you God’s blessing and her’s, and prays
you to get a new license of my Lord of Norwich, that she
may have the Sacrament in her chapel: I got a license of
him for a year, and it is nigh worn out; ye may get it for
the Bishop’s life, an ye will.

     As for the letters that Slyfield should get new of the
King, which ye should bring to my Lord of Norfolk. It is
mine advice that ye shall come home yourself as hastily as
ye may, so that ye may be at the christening of the child
that my Lady is with: it shall cause you great thank, and a
great furtherance in your matter; and as for the letters,
leave a man of your’s to await on Slyfield, to bring them
after you: of which letters I advise you to have one directed
from the King to you, commanding you to be the mes-
senger and bringer of the other letters to my Lord, my
Lady, and their counsel for your own matter; and this
methinketh shall do well, for then shall the man show to
my Lord’s counsel the letter directed to you, that ye have
authority to be your own solicitor, and also it shall be
thought that the King tendereth you and your matter,
when he writeth to yourself for it.

     My lady waiteth her time within eight days at the
farthest.

                                                                 JOHN PASTON.

        November, 1472.
              12 E. IV.

 This Letter is from J. Paston to his brother Sir John; it has no subscribing
name, as the paper appears to have been shortened at the bottom, by which
means some of the writing may have been cut off. It begins differently from
most of the letters, as it enters upon the subject at once. The contents are
not very interesting; but as it contained advice respecting Caister, I have
given it.

     Seal, a Fleur-de-lis and annulet. Pl. xiv. No. 22.

821

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To Sir John Paston, Knyght.

SYME recomandyth hym to your good mastyrshep, and
     preyeth yow that ye wyll not forget, though he be a
     boye, to let hym were the same lyvere that your men
do; and if it pleased yow to lete hys gowne clothe be sent
hym home, that it myght be mad ayenst your comeing in to
thys contre, he wold be as prowd as eny man ye have. Sir, as
hertly as I can, I thank yow for the hatt, whyche is comyng, as
I undyrstand by your wrytyng, sent by John, the Abottys man
of Seynt Benet.

     My modyr sendys you Godes blyssyng and hyrs, and
preyes yow to get a new lycence of my Lord of Norwyche
that she may have the sacrement in hyr chapell. I gat a
lycence of hym for a yere, and it is nyghe woryn ought. Ye
may get it for the Byshoppys lyve, and ye wylle.

     As for the lettyrs that Slyfeld shold get newe of the Kyng,
whyche ye shold bryng to my Lord of Norffolk, it is myn
avyse that ye shall come home your sylff as hasty ly as ye
maye, so that ye may be at the crystenyng of the chyld that
my Lady is with; it shall cause yow gret thank, and a gret
fordell [advantage] in your mater. And as for the lettres, leve
a man of yowr to awayte on Slyfeld to bryng theym after
yow; of whyche lettres I avyse yow to have one dyrect fro the
Kyng to yow, comandyng yow to be the messenger and brynger
of the other lettres to my Lord, my Lady, and ther consayll,
for your owne mater; and thys me thynkyth shall do well, for
then shall the man shewe to my Lordes consayll the lettre
dyrect to yow that ye have awtoryte to be your owne solycy-
tour, and also it shall be thought that the Kyng tendryth yow
and your mater, when he wryghtyth to your sylf for it.

     My Lady wayteth hyr tyme with in viij. dayes at the
ferthest.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is shown by the reference to
the situation of the Duchess of Norfolk. Compare Letter 817. There is an old, and
nearly contemporary, endorsement, ‘Anno xv^o, mens. Novemb.,’ but this is clearly
erroneous.

NOV.
or
DEC.

1472

NOV.
or
DEC.