Lord Hastings to Sir John of Middleton and Sir John Paston

Add. 43490, f. 10

16 September 1473

Gairdner, Vol V, item 839; Fenn, Vol II, Edward IV item 58

LETTER LVIII.

To my Right hertily beloved frends and felaws S^r John of
Midddelton and S^r. John Paston Knights.

AFTER herty Recōmendacōn, I thank you of the gode
attendance that ye yeve unto the Kings counsail at
Calais and the gode and effectuelle devoires that ye putte you
into assiste my Depute S^r. John Scot in alle suche things as
mowe conc’ne the saufgarde of my charge there. Leting you
wite that if ther be any thing that I can and may do for you,
I shal w^t right gode wil performe it to my power.

And I preye you to Recōmaunde me to my Lady ¹ How-
ard, my Lady ² Bourgchier, and all othr’ Ladies and Gentil-
women of the saide towne. And in likewise to the Mayr’
Lieuten’ and felaship of the staple, my felawes the souldeōs,
and all othr’ suche as ye shal seme gode. And oure lord sende
you yo^r. desirs. Writen at Notyngham the xvj day of Sep-
tembr’.

³ S^r. Joh Paston I p’y you to yeve credens to suche ying
as my Depute shall shew you fro me and cōforme you to y^e
same.

Y^r. Felaw,

Hastyngs.

11 ¾ by 4 ¾

Nottingham,
16th of September, 1473,
13 E. IV.

This and the Letter N^o V. Appendix, are perhaps the only Letters extant of this
Nobleman, who, though he disliked King Edward’s Queen, was a true and loyal Subject
to the King; and continued faithful to his young Prince Edward V. for which he lost his
Head in 1483. Pl. IV. N^o 7.

If we may judge from his expressions in these Letters, he was a polite Gentleman,
and a kind Master.

His remembering “his Fellows, the Soldiers,” in an age when his noble rank placed
him so high above the Plebeians, characterizes him as a Commander attentive to the con-
cerns of those under him.

¹ Margaret, wife of Sir John Howard, Lord Howard, and afterwards Duke of
Norfolk. She was Daughter of Sir John Chedworth, Knight, and died in 1490.
5 H. VII.

² Lady Bourchier was probably the wife of a Son of Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners.

³ This last paragraph is written by Lord Hastyngs himself, the former part to
“the xvj day of September,” by his Secretary.

N. B. Under the Direction of this Letter is written in a hand of that time,
“[ILL] Hastyngs, A^o xiij,” meaning, I presume, 13 E. IV.

LETTER LVIII.

To my right heartily beloved friends and fellows, Sir John of
Middelton, and Sir John Paston, Knights.

AFTER hearty Recommendation, I thank you of the
good attendance that ye gave unto the King’s Counsel
at Calais; and the good and effectual Devoirs, that ye put
you in to assist my Deputy Sir John Scot, in all such things
as might concern the safeguard of my charge there. Letting
you weet, that if there be any thing that I can and may do for
you, I shall with right good will perform it to my power.
And I pray you to recommend me to my Lady Howard,
my Lady ² Bourgchier, and all other Ladies and Gentlewomen,
of the said town. And in like wise to the Mayor, Lieutenant
and Fellowship of the staple; my Fellows the Soldiers, and all
other such as (to) you shall seem good. And our Lord send
you your desires. Written at Nottingham, the 16th day of
September.

³ Sir John Paston I pray you to give credence to such things
as my Deputy shall shew you from me, and conform you to the
same.

Your Fellow,

HASTYNGS.

11 ? by 4 ?

Nottingham,
16th of September, 1473,
13 E. IV.

This and the Letter N^o V. Appendix, are perhaps the only Letters extant of this
Nobleman, who, though he disliked King Edward’s Queen, was a true and loyal Subject
to the King; and continued faithful to his young Prince Edward V. for which he lost his
Head in 1483. Pl. IV. N^o 7.

If we may judge from his expressions in these Letters, he was a polite Gentleman,
and a kind Master.

His remembering “his Fellows, the Soldiers,” in an age when his noble rank placed
him so high above the Plebeians, characterizes him as a Commander attentive to the con-
cerns of those under him.

¹ Margaret, wife of Sir John Howard, Lord Howard, and afterwards Duke of
Norfolk. She was Daughter of Sir John Chedworth, Knight, and died in 1490.
5 H. VII.

² Lady Bourchier was probably the wife of a Son of Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners.

³ This last paragraph is written by Lord Hastyngs himself, the former part to
“the xvj day of September,” by his Secretary.

N. B. Under the Direction of this Letter is written in a hand of that time,
“[ILL] Hastyngs, A^o xiij,” meaning, I presume, 13 E. IV.

839

LORD HASTINGS TO SIR JOHN OF MIDDLETON
AND SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To my right hertily beloved frends and felaws, Sir John of
Middelton, and Sir John Paston, Knights.

AFTER herty recommendacion, I thank you of the gode
attendance that ye yeve unto the Kings counsail at
Calais; and the gode and effectuelle devoires that ye
putte you in to assiste my depute Sir John Scot, in alle suche
things as mowe concerne the saufgarde of my charge there.
Leting you wite, that if ther be any thing that I can and may
do for you, I shal with right gode wil performe it to my
power.

And I preye you to recommaunde me to my Lady
Howard,² my Lady Bourgchier,³ and all othre ladies and
gentilwomen of the saide towne. And in likewise to the
Mayre, Lieutenant, and felaship of the staple; my felaws the
souldeours, and all othre suche as ye shal seme gode. And
oure Lord sende you your desirs.

Writen at Notyngham, the xvj. day of Septembre.

Sir Joh Paston, I pray you to yeve credens to suche thing
as my depute shall shew you fro me, and conforme you to
the same.

Your felaw, HASTYNGS.

¹ [From Fenn, ii. 152.] This letter, Fenn tells us, is endorsed in a hand of the
time, ‘E. (?) Hastyngs, Anno xiij^o.,’ showing that it was written in the thirteenth year
of Edward IV.

² Margaret, wife of Sir John Howard, Lord Howard, and afterwards Duke of
Norfolk. She was daughter of Sir John Chedworth, Knight, and died in 1490,
5 Hen. VII.

³ Lady Bourchier was probably the wife of a son of Sir John Bourchier, Lord
Berners.

SEPT. 16

1473
SEPT. 16