Margaret, Countess of Oxford, to Sir John Paston

  • Medieval Family Life
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Title
Margaret, Countess of Oxford, to Sir John Paston
Reference
Add. 27446, f. 103
Date
n.d.
Library / Archive
  • The British Library
Transcript location(s) in printed volume(s)
Gairdner, Vol VI, item 1070; Fenn, Vol V, Henry VII item 29
Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume V' (1st transcript)

LETTER XXIX.

 

To my Right trusty and
      hertely Wilbilovede Sone
      Sir John Paston Knyght.

 

RIGHT trusty and hertely Wilbiloved Sone I Reco˜mennde
me to you And send you gods blyssynge and myn And
where oon John Malpas myn olde srv’nt brynger herof hath
purcheede a Writt directede to you and othre Justices of
peace in the shirs of Norff. and Suff. And also to the She-
ryff of the same for to put hym in pessible possesscion in
such crtayn Lands of his accordynge to the Kyngs Writt I
pray you therefor hertely and of my blyssynge Charche you
that at this my pour Request and desir ye wole pute you in
yor faythfull Dovor wt oyer Justecs associete wt you to see
the execuscion doon and prformyede accordynge to the
saide Writt And almyghty god eure more prsrue you my
nown der Sone Writene in my Lords Castell of Hethyngh’m
the xv day of January.

                                                                    MARGRET OXYNFORD.

      11¾ by 5¼.

             Paper Mark.
               A Ship,
           Pl. xxxiii. No. 6.

 

     When we find a lady of quality interesting herself in the concerns of an old
servant, her memory rises upon us with respect. She had herself known ad-
versity, and therefore felt a peculiar pleasure in smoothing the road through
life to others.

     The letter is affectionate and parental, but on what account she styles Sir
John Paston her son, I know not; perhaps it proceeds from some form of
adoption from the great, kindly used in those days towards those most distin-
guished in their service and under their protection.

     Margaret, Countess of Oxford, was one of the numerous family of Richard
Neville, Earl of Salisbury, and sister of Richard, Earl of Warwick, the king
maker.

     Norfolk and Suffolk had always the same sheriff till 1575. 17 Eliz. when
distinct ones were appointed for each county.
Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume V' (2nd transcript)

LETTER XXIX.

 

To my right trusty and heartily well beloved Son Sir John
Paston, Knight.

 

RIGHT trusty and heartily well beloved Son, I recommend
me to you, and send you God’s blessing and mine; and
where[as] one John Malpas, mine old servant, bringer here-
of, hath purchased a writ, directed to you and other jus-
tices of peace in the shires of Norfolk and Suffolk; and
also to the sheriff of the same, for to put him in peaceable
possession in such certain lands of his, according to the
King’s writ.

     I pray you, therefore, heartily, and of my blessing charge
you, that at this my poor request and desire, ye will put
you in your faithful devoir with other justices associate with
you, to see the execution done and performed according to
the said writ; and Almighty God evermore preserve you,
mine own dear son.

     Written in my lord’s castle of Hedingham, the 15th day
of January.

                                                        MARGARET OXYNFORD.

    Hedingham Castle,
        15th January,
        year uncertain,
   perhaps about 1491. 7 H. vii.

 

      When we find a lady of quality interesting herself in the concerns of an old
servant, her memory rises upon us with respect. She had herself known ad-
versity, and therefore felt a peculiar pleasure in smoothing the road through
life to others.

     The letter is affectionate and parental, but on what account she styles Sir
John Paston her son, I know not; perhaps it proceeds from some form of
adoption from the great, kindly used in those days towards those most distin-
guished in their service and under their protection.

     Margaret, Countess of Oxford, was one of the numerous family of Richard
Neville, Earl of Salisbury, and sister of Richard, Earl of Warwick, the king
maker.

     Norfolk and Suffolk had always the same sheriff till 1575. 17 Eliz. when
distinct ones were appointed for each county.
Transcript from James Gairdner, 'The Paston Letters, A.D., 1422-1509, New Complete Library Edition, Volume VI'

1070

 

MARGARET, COUNTESS OF OXFORD, TO SIR
JOHN PASTON1

 

To my right trusty and hertely wilbilovede sone, Sir John
Paston, Knyght.

 

RIGHT trusty and hertely wilbiloved sone, I recom-
     mennde me to you, and send you Godes blyssynge
     and myn. And where oon John Malpas my olde
servaunt, brynger herof, hath purchacede a writt directede to
you and othre Justices of Peace in the shires of Norffolk and
Suffolk, and also to the Sheryff of the same, for to put hym in
pessible possescion in such certayn landes of his, accordynge
to the Kynges writt; I pray you therefor hertely, and of my
blyssynge charche you that at this my pour request and desir
ye wole pute you in your faythfull devoir with othere Justaces
associete with you, to see the execuscion doon and performyede
accordynge to the saide writt. And Almyghty God evere
more preserve you, my nown dere sone.

     Writene in my lordes castell of Hethyngham, the xv. day
of January.

                                                                    MARGRET OXYNFORD.

 

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] I see nothing certain about the date of this letter,
except that it must have been addressed to the later Sir John Paston (for in his
brother’s time the Earl of Oxford was an exile, and his Countess Margaret in needy
circumstances), so that the date must lie between 1488 and 1503. For what reason
the Countess calls Sir John her son I cannot explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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