Margaret Paston to John Paston

                                               LETTER XVIII.

    To my right Worchepfull bosbond
    Iohn Paston be y' lettr
    deliv'yd in bast.

RIGHT Worchefull hosbond I recomand me to you
please you to wete y^t I Rec' a lett^r from you on y^e Son-
day next Aft^r twelsthe day weche was sent be a prest of seynt
Greagorys paryche of Norwic and wher as y^e mervaylyd I sent
you no wrytyggs of suche letters As y^e sent me be for I sent you
A Answer of y^e substauns of suche maters as y^e have wretyn of
to me be for (be Playter) y^e weche he told me a sent hem to you
to london And as towchyng y^e erands y^t ye sent to me for to do
To Ric' Calle J have do as y^e comand me to do and callyd upon
hym therfor bothe be for yo^r writyng and sithyn he that have
non excuse for defavte of leyser for he hathe be but reght litill
her syn y^e dep^rtyd hens he is owght at this tyme and whan y^t he
comythe home J shall make hym make yow A Cler bylle of y^e
receyt of yo^r lyvelod and Fastolf bothe And J shale send yow a
Cler bylle of my receyts And also of my paymets owght thereof
Ageyn And as for suche erands y^t shuld be do to S^r Thom's
Howys I have shewyd Ric' Calle yo^r Writyng and told hym yo^r
entent as forsuche thyngs as y^e wold he shuld sey to hym on hys
    none heed Also I have do yo^r erands to my mod^r and to my
Cosyn Cler Aft^r yo^r Writyng It' m I have spoke to Iohn Adam
and to Playter of yo^r entent of Ye last bylle y^t y^e sent me and
       they sey they wolle do Adt^r yo^r entent as moche as they may
And y^e shall have a answer therof in hast It' S^r Rod' Coniors
dinid W^t me this day and shuyd me a lett^r y^t came frome y^e kyng
to hym desyryng hym y^t he shuld a way^t upon hys welle be
lovyd brod^r y^e Duk' of Suff' at Norwic' on Monday next comyng
for to be at y^e Alection of knyghts of y^e Chyer And he told me
y^t ev^ry Ientylma of Norff' and Suff' y^t arne of any repetacion
hathe writyng frome y^e kyng in lyke wyse as he had I felle hym
be his seyyng y^t he ys right welle disposyd to you ward he seythe
ther shall no man make hym to be a geyns you in no mat^r.
Skypw^t shall telle you suche tydyngs as bethe in y^s Contr', and
of ^I Thom's Gorney and of hys man hym self is Clerk covicte
and hys man is hangyn y^e shalle her her aft^r what they and od^r
wer purposyd to a do to her mast^r I thank yo^r hertely of yo^r
writyng to me be for y^t Iohn Paston came home for God know-
ith I thowght right longe tyle I hard from you J shalle send
word in writyng of suche tydings as we have her on Monday in
hast Daubeney deseyryht to wet what tyme y^t it please you yt
he shuld come ageyn to you my mod^r and many other folkys
makyth moche of yo^r son Iohn ye Eld^r and right glad of hys

comyng hom and lekyth reght welle hys demenyng ² Heydon
son hathe bor owght y^e syyd stowtly her y³ Cristemes and whan
y^t he rydyth he hathe iiij or v men w^t hym in a Clothyng but
he hathe but lytyl fofor in y^s Contr but yf it be of y^{e 3}bischop
and of y^{e 4} prior of Norwic y^e seyd p'or hathe grautyd hym ye
stewerdchep y^t hys fed^r had ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        he hathe
it undt yc Covent seale and 5Spylman his tutor to lerne hym
howe he shuld be demenyd ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        it is seyd
abowght bakynstorp y^t Herry Heydon shuld a seyd y^t it wer
well do y^t men of y^e ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        shuld make redy her
6bald batts and her 7Clot Shon and go feche hom her knygts
of Chyer ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙ Barney and it is
p' mysyd hym y^t he shall be met wt be cuse of hys langage
∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙  us a good world and a
pesybyll Ishall p'vey for all thyngs y^t y^e have sent to me for so
yt I ween y^e shall be pleasyd The blyssyd trinite have you in hys
kepyng Wretyn in hast y^e Wednysday next ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙
seynt Agnet.

                                                                               Yo^r

                                                                                             8 M. P.

11 1/2 by 11 3/4.
    Paper Mark,

        A Bull.
    Pl. IX. No 10,.

    It appears from this Letter, which contains many curious particulars, that the King
interested himself in the Election for the County of Norfolk, in behalf of those Candidates
who were recommended by his Brother the Duke of Suffolk. This Parliament was
summoned to meet in January 1463-4, and it appears that Paston, Berney, and Heydon
were the Candidates, though Paston did not intend to be present, as his wife was to give
him the earliest intelligence of what passed.

    ^I There was at this time a Thomas Gurney, Esq. of Norwich, who had married Mar-
garet, Daughter of Sir Thomas Jernegan, of Somerleton, and who died in 1471, but it
does not appear to have been him that is here mentioned.

    The following extract from one of these old Letters from Thomas Playters to John Paston,
Esq. explains the crime committed by this Person and his Servant, (Jan. 1463-4. 3E.VI).

  "Please yor maistrship wete, that, as for my Lord of Norwich Cosyns deth, Thomas
"Gurnays man hath confessed that he slewe hym by comaundmet of his maistr, and con-
"fessed ovr that ye same dager he slewe hym wyth he kest (cast) it in a sege, whiche is
"founden and taken up al to bowyd (bent together,) for he cowde not breke it, and in
"prson is bother he and his maist^r. "

    The same letter then goes on, and says,

    "Also on Thursday next aftr. Cristemasse was a man slayn by whom no man woot, nor
"what he is that was slayn, no man knowe, his face is so mangled."

² This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq. Recorder of Norwich,
    ³ Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472.
    ⁴ John Molet or Mowth, Prior, from 1453 to 1471,
    ⁵ Henry Spilman, afterwards Recorder of Norwich; he was the founder of the Spilmans
of Narborought, by marrying Ela, Daughter and heir of William de Narborough.

6 Bald batts seem to mean here ball Batts, or Batts to play at Ball with.

    7 Clot shoen, clouted Shoes-Shoes shod with thin plates of iron.

    8 Autograph. PI. II. No 25. N. B. A part of the original Letter is torn off, which
makes it defective in two or three sentences.

LETTER XLIII.

    To my right worshipful Husband John Paston, be this Letter
                                          delivered in baste.

RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you,
please you to weet that I received a Letter from you on
the Sunday next after Twelfth day, which was sent by a Priest
of St. Gregory's parish of Norwich; and whereas ye marvelled
I sent you no writings of such Letters as ye sent me before, I
sent you an answer of the substance of such matters as ye have
written of to me before (by Playters) the which he told me sent
them( went) to you to London.     And as touching the errands
that ye sent to me for to do to Richard Calle, I have done as ye
commanded me to do, and called upon him therefore, both
before your writing, and sithen (since); he therefore have none
excuse for fault of leisure, for he hath been but right little here
since ye departed hence; he is out at this time, and when that
he cometh home I shall make him make you a clear bill of the
receipt of your livelihood, and Fastolf's both; and I shall send
you a clear bill of my receipts, and also of my payments out
thereof again; and as for such errands that should be done to
Sir Thomas Howes, I have shewed Richard Calle your writing,
and told him your intent, as for such things as ye would he
should say to him on his own head. Also I have done your
errands to my mother and to my Cousin Clere after your writing.
Item, I have spoken to John Adam and to Playters of your in-
tent of the last bill that ye sent me, and they say they will do
after your intent as much as they may, and ye shall have an
answer thereof in haste.

    Item, Sir Robert Coniers dined with me this day, and shewed
me a Letter that came from the King to him, desiring him that
he should await upon his wellbeloved brother the Duke of Suffolk,
at Norwich on Monday next coming, for to be at the Election
of Knights of the Shire; and he told me that every gentleman
of Norfolk and Suffolk that are of any reputation hath writing
from the King in likewise as he had. I feel him by his sayings
that he is right well disposed to your ward; he saith there shall
no man make him to be against you in no manner. Skipwith
shall tell you such tidings as beeth in this Country, and of
^I Thomas Gorney and of his man; himself is Clerk convict,
and his man is hanged ; ye shall hear hereafter what they and
others were purposed to have done to their master.

    I thank you heartily of you writing to me before that John
Paston came home, for God knoweth I thought right long till I
heard from you; I shall send word in writing of such tidings as
we have here on Monday in haste. Dawbeney desireth to weet
what time that it please you, that he should come again to you.

    My mother and many other folks maketh much of your son
John, the elder, and (are) right glad of his coming home, and

liketh right well his demeaning. 2Heydon's son hath born out
the side stoutly here this Christmas, and when that he rideth,
he hath four or five men with him in Clothing; but he hath
but litle favour in this country, but if (unless) it be of the
³Bishop and of the ⁴ Prior of Norwich, the said Prior hath
granted him the stewardship that his father had, he hath it
under the Convent Seal, and ⁵ Spilman (is) his tutor to learn him
how he should be demeaned therein. It is said about Bacons-
thorp that Harry Heydon should have said that it were well done
that men of the Country should make ready their  ⁶ bald batts
and their ⁷ clounted shoen (Shoes) and go fetch home their Knights
of Shire ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙        ∙  Barney; and it is promised
him that he shall be met withal because of his language. Pray
God send us a good world and a peaceable. I shall purvey for
all things that y^e have sent to me for, so that I ween y^e shall be
Pleased. The blessed Trinity have you in his keeping. Written
in haste, the Wednesday next before Saint Agnes.

                                                    Your

                                                                    ⁸ MARGARET PASTON.

 Norwich, Wednesday

        18th January, 1463-4

    3E. IV.

     It appears from this Letter, which contains many curious particulars, that the King
interested himself in the Election for the County of Norfolk, in behalf of those Candidates
who were recommended by his Brother the Duke of Suffolk. This Parliament was
summoned to meet in January 1463-4, and it appears that Paston, Berney, and Heydon
were the Candidates, though Paston did not intend to be present, as his wife was to give
him the earliest intelligence of what passed.

    ^I There was at this time a Thomas Gurney, Esq. of Norwich, who had married Mar-
garet, Daughter of Sir Thomas Jernegan, of Somerleton, and who died in 1471, but it
does not appear to have been him that is here mentioned.

    The following extract from one of these old Letters from Thomas Playters to John Paston,
Esq. explains the crime committed by this Person and his Servant, (Jan. 1463-4. 3E.VI).

  "Please yor maistrship wete, that, as for my Lord of Norwich Cosyns deth, Thomas
"Gurnays man hath confessed that he slewe hym by comaundmet of his maistr, and con-
"fessed ovr that ye same dager he slewe hym wyth he kest (cast) it in a sege, whiche is
"founden and taken up al to bowyd (bent together,) for he cowde not breke it, and in
"prson is bother he and his maist^r. "

    The same letter then goes on, and says,

    "Also on Thursday next aftr. Cristemasse was a man slayn by whom no man woot, nor
"what he is that was slayn, no man knowe, his face is so mangled."

    ² This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq. Recorder of Norwich,
    ³ Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472.
    ⁴ John Molet or Mowth, Prior, from 1453 to 1471,
    ⁵ Henry Spilman, afterwards Recorder of Norwich; he was the founder of the Spilmans
of Narborought, by marrying Ela, Daughter and heir of William de Narborough.

6 Bald batts seem to mean here ball Batts, or Batts to play at Ball with.

    7 Clot shoen, clouted Shoes-Shoes shod with thin plates of iron.

    8 Autograph. PI. II. No 25. N. B. A part of the original Letter is torn off, which
makes it defective in two or three sentences.

536

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON³

To my right worchepful hosbond, John Paston,
be this letter deliveryd in hast.

RIGHT worchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you.
     Please you to wete that I received a letter frome you
     on the Sonday⁴ next after Twelfthe day, weche was sent
be a prest of Seynt Gregorys paryche of Norwic; and wher as
ye mervaylyd I sent you no wrytynggs of suche letters as ye
sent me be for, I sent you a answer of the substauns of suche
maters as ye have wretyn of me be for (be Playter), the weche
he told me a sent hem to you to London. And as towchyng
the erands that ye sent to me for to do to Richard Calle, I
have do as ye command me to do, and callyd upon hym ther-
for, bothe be for your writyng and sithyn; he thar have non
excuse for defaute of leyser, for he hathe be but ryght litill her
syn ye departyd hens. He is owght at this tyme, and whan
that he comythe home I shall make hym make yow a cler bylle
of the receyt of your lyvelod, and Fastolf bothe; and I shale
send yow a cler bylle of my receyts, and also of my payments
owght thereof ageyn; and as for suche erands that shuld be
do to Sir Thomas Howys, I have shewyd Richard Calle your
writyng, and told hym your entent, as for suche thyngs as ye
wold he shuld sey to hym on hys none heed. Also I have do
your erands to my moder and to my cosyn Cler¹ after your
writyng. Item, I have spoke to John Adam and to Playter of
your entent of the last bylle that ye sent me, and they sey they
wolle do after your entent as moche as they may, and ye shall
have a answer therof in hast.

     Item, Sir Robert Coniors dinid with me this day, and shuyd
me a letter that came frome the Kyng to hym, desyryng hym
that he shuld a wayt upon hys welle be lovyd broder the Duke
of Suffolk, at Norwiche, on Monday next comyng, for to be at
the alection of knyghts of the chyer [shire]; and he told me
that every jentylman of Norffolk and Suffolk that arne of any
repetacion hathe writyng from the Kyng in lyke wyse as he
had. I felle hym be his seyyng that he ys right welle disposyd
to you ward; he seythe ther shall no man make hym to be a
geyns you in no mater. Skypwith shall telle you suche tydyngs
as bethe in this contre, and of Thomas Gornay and of his man;
hym self is clerk convicte, and hys man is hangyn; ye shall
here her after what they and oder wer purposyd to a do to her
master.

     I thank you hertely of your writyng to me be for that John
Paston came home, for God knowith I thowght right longe
tyle I hard frome you; I shalle send word in writyng of
suche tydings as we have her on Monday in hast. Daubeney
deseyryht to wet what tyme that it please you that he shuld
come ageyn to you.

     My moder and many other folkys makyth moche of your
son John, the elder, and right glad of hys comyng hom, and
lekyth reght welle hys demenyng. Heydon¹ son hathe bor
owght the syyd stowtly her this Critstemes, and whan that he
rydyth, he hathe iiij. or v. men with hym in a clothyng; but
he hathe but lytyl fafor in this contre but yf [unless] it be of
the Bischop² and of the Prior of Norwic.³ The seyd prior
hathe grauntyd hym the stewerdchep that hys feder had . . .
. . . . he hathe it under the Covent Seals, and Spylman,⁴
his tutor, to lerne hym howe he shuld be demenyd . . . .
. . . it is seyd abowght Bakynstorp that Herry Heydon
shuld a seyd that it wer welle do that men of the . . . .
. . shuld make redy her [their] bald batts⁵ and her clot shon⁶
and go feche hom her knygts of chyer [shire] . . . . .
. . . Barney; and it is promysyd hym that he shall be met
with be cause of hys langage . . . . . . . . . us a
good world and a pesybyll. I shall purvey for all thyngs that
ye have sent to me for, so that I ween ye shal be pleasyd. The
blyssyd Trinite have you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the
Wednysday next . . . . Seynt Agnet.

Your,                                             M. P.

     ³ [From Fenn, iv. 150.] This letter refers to a coming election of knights of the
shire, which seems to be for the Parliament which met on the 29th April 1463. No
other general election of Edward IV.’s time will suit the date, and it is quite certain
that it was written during Edward’s reign.     ⁴ 9th January.

¹ Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.

     ¹ This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq., Recorder of Norwich.—F.

     ² Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472.—F.

     ³ John Molet or Mowth, Prior from 1453 to 1471.—F.

     ⁴ Henry Spilman, afterwards Recorder of Norwich; he was the founder of the
Spilmans of Narborough, by marrying Ela, daughter and heir of William de Nar-
borough.—F.

     ⁵ Bald batts seem to mean here ball bats, or bats to play at ball with.—F.

     ⁶ Clot shon, clouted shoes—shoes shod with thin plates of iron.—F.

1463
JAN. 19

1463
JAN. 19

1463
JAN. 19