Margaret Paston to John Paston

LETTER XCIII.

           To my ryght wyrshypfull
           Mayster Iohn Paston be
           thys letter delyu^ryd in haste.

RYGHT wyrshypfull husbond I recomaund me to you
     please it you to wyte that the cause that I wrote to you
non er than I dyde after the Sessyons was by cause that Yelv^rton
held sessyons at ¹ Dyrh’m and ² Walsyngh’m the next wyke
after the Assyses and to haue knowlech what labo^r that was made
ther and to have send you werd therof ther was grete labo^rs
made by the Bayly of Coshay and other for to have endytyd
your men both at Dyrh’m and at Walsyngh’m but I p’vayd a
mene that her p’pose was lettyd at thos ij tymes Hugh a Fen
ys in Flegge Ric Call spake w^t hym thys wyke and he sayd to
Ric that he and hys wyff wold be w^t me here thys wyke toward
a place of hys that he hath p’chasyd of Godehreds yf he com J
shall make hym gode Chyre for it ys told me of dyv’s folks
that haue spoke w^t hym fythen he Com in to Norff as thay fele
by hys sayng that he awyth you ryght gode wyle. It’ as for my
Comyng to you yf it please you that I Come y hope I shull
p’vey so for al thyngs or I com that it shull be sayff y nogh by
the grace of God tyll I com a yen but at the reverens of God yf
ye may p’vey a mene that ye may Com hom your sylf for that
shall be most p’fortabell to you for men cut large thongs here of
other mens lether I shull wryte to you a yen as hastely as I may
God haue you in hys kypyng Wryten in haste at Haylesdon the
Sonday next after the assumpsyon of our lady.

     It’ my Cosyn Elysabeth Clere ys at Ormesby and your Moder
p’posyth to be at her place at Caster thys wyke for y^{e 3} pestylens
ys so feruent in Norwych that thay ther no lenger abyde ther
so god help me thynkyth by my moder that she wold ryght fayn
that ye dyde well and that ye myght spyde ryght well in your
mater and me thynkyth by my Cosyn Clere that she wold fayn
haue youre gode wyll and that she hath sworyn ryght faythfully
to me that ther shall no defaute be founde in her nor noght hath
be yf the trogh myght be understoud as she hopyth it shull be
herafter she sayth ther ys no man a lyff that she hath put her
truste in so moch as she hath doon in you she sayth she wote
well such langage as hath be reportyd to you of her other wyse
then she hath des^rvyd Causyth you to be other wyse to her then
ye shuld be she had to me thys langage wypyng and told me of
dyv’s other thyngs the whych ye shall haue Knowlych of herafter.

     As for the hygh Shyrf he demenyd hym ryght well her to me
and he fayd to me as for the Replevyns he wold aske counseyll
of lernyd men what he mygt doo therin and as largely as he
mygt do ther in or in any other mater touchyng you savyng
hymsylf harmlys he wold doo for you and for yours that he
mygt do.

     It’. I have do layd in the p^rsentacyon of Drayton and have
p^rsentyd S^r Thom’s Hakon p^rson of Felthorp the whych is hold
ryght a gode man and wel dysposyd and the Duck of Suff hath
layd in a nother and ther shall be take an inquisicyon ther uppon
and Mr. Styvenys your a voked therin. M^r John Estgade ys
passyd to God on thursday last passyd whos sawle God assoyle
wherof in gode feyth I am ryght sory for I fynd hym ryght
faythfull to you They deyy ryght sore in Norwych.

     John Rus sayth the p^rfets that hath be take of the man^r of
Caister syn S^r John ⁴ Fastolf deyd hath be take by S^r Thomas
Howys and Jenney.

                                                           By yours,

                                                                                 ⁵ M. P.

            12 by 12.

           Paper Mark,
      Bull’s Head and Star.
            Pl. VIII. N^o 2.

        Hellesdon,
             Sunday after the
             Assumption of our Lady,
             17th of August, 1460. 38 H. VI.

     I mervayll that ye had no tythyngs from me at that tyme that
your letter was wryten for I send you a letter by Chytockys son
that ys prenteys in London and the seyd letter was of the de-
menyng at the Assyes at Norwych and of divers other maters.
I p^ry you send me word yf ye have it as for the Replevyns Ric
Calle sayth be hath send you a awnswere of hēm and also the
copys of them.

     The date of this Letter cannot be exactly fixed, though I believe it was written in
1460, or, if not then, it must have been written early in the reign of Edward IV. as I
find there was a presentation to the Church of Drayton, both in 1460 and 1461, but
Sir Thomas Hakon was not the person presented on either of the vacancies.

     ¹ East Dereham, a market town, situated nearly in the centre of the county of Nor-
folk, we here find, in the fifteenth century, a place of sufficient consequence to have an
adjournment of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace from Norwich held in it.

     It has been since that period twice destroyed by fire, once on the 1st of July 1581, and
again on the 3d of the same month, in 1679.

     It is now, in the eighteenth century, a pleasant, handsome, and well-built town, in-
habited by several respectable families, and furnished with many accommodations for
genteel life. What it may be three centuries hence time only can discover; it has
however the best wishes for its prosperity from the Editor of these Letters, who has
spent amongst its inhabitants, and the neighbouring gentry, many pleasant and happy
years.

     ² Walsingham was at this time remarkable for the Chapel and Image of our Lady, to
which pilgrimages were undertaken from every quarter, and riches poured in from the
superstitious benefactions of well-meaning votaries.

     The general dissolution put a period to its importance, and the fine Abbey, now in
ruins, makes venerable the gardens of Henry Lee Warner, Esq. and affords ample
scope for serious meditations.

     ³ I do not find any notice in history that any remarkable sickness raged at this time,
either in Norwich, or in the kingdom at large.

     ⁴ He died in November 1459.

     ⁵ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 25.

LETTER XCIII.

To my right worshipful Master John Paston, be this Letter
delivered in haste.

RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you,
     please it you to weet that the cause that I wrote to you,
none ere than I did after the Sessions was, because that Yelver-
ton held the Sessions at ¹ Dereham and ² Walsingham the next
week after the Assizes, and to have knowledge what labour that
was made there, and to have sent you word thereof; there was
great labour made by the Bailiff of Cossey, and other, for to have
endicted your men both at Dereham and at Walsingham, but
I played a mean that their purpose was letted at those two times.

     Hugh a Fenn is in Flegg, Richard Call spake with him this
week, and he said to Richard that he and his wife would be
with me here this week, towards a place of his that he hath
purchased of Godered; if he come I shall make him good cheer,
for it is told me of divers folks that have spoken with him, sithen
(since) he came into Norfolk, as they feel by his saying, that he
oweth you right good will.

     Item, as for my coming to you, if it please you that I come,
I hope I shall purvey so for all things ere I come, that it shall
be safe enough by the grace of God till I come again; but at
the reverence of God, if ye purvey a mean that ye may come
home yourself, for that shall be most profitable to you, for “men
cut large thongs here off other men’s leather.” I shall write to
you again as hastily as I may, God have you in his keeping.
Written in haste at Hellesdon, the Sunday next after the Assump-
tion of our Lady.

     Item, my Cousin Elizabeth Clere is at Ormsby, and your
Mother purposeth to be at her place at Caister this week, for the
³ Pestilence is so fervent in Norwich that they there no longer
abide there, so God help; me thinketh by my Mother, that
she would right fain that ye did well, and that ye might speed
right well in your matters; and me thinketh by my Cousin Clere
that she would fain have your good will, and that she hath sworn
right faithfully to me, that there shall no default be found in
her, nor nought hath been, if the truth might be understood, as
she hopeth it shall be hereafter; she saith there is no man alive
that she hath put her trust in, so much as she hath done in you,
she saith she wot well such language as hath been reported to you
of her, otherwise than she hath deserved, causeth you to be
otherwise to her than ye should be; she had to me this language
weeping, and told me of divers other things, the which ye shall
have knowledge of hereafter.

     As for the High Sheriff he demeaned him right well here
to me, and he said to me, as for the Replevins he would ask
counsel of learned men, what he might do therein, and as largely
as he might do therein, or in any other matter touching you,
saving himself harmless, he would do for you and for yours that
he might do.

     Item, I have do layd in (caused to be laid in) the presentation
of Drayton, and have presented Sir Thomas Hakon, parson of
Felthorp, the which is held right a good man, and well dis-
posed; and the Duke of Suffolk hath laid in another, and there
shall be taken an inquisition thereupon, and Master Stephen is
your advocate therein.

     Master John Estgate is passed to God on Thursday last past,
whose Soul God assoil! whereof in good faith I am right sorry, for
I find him right faithful to you; they die right sore in Norwich.

     John Russ saith the profits that hath been taken of the Manor
of Caister, since Sir J. ⁴ Fastolf died hath been taken by Sir
Thomas Howys and Jenney.

                                            By yours,

                                                               ⁵ MARGARET PASTON.

         12 by 12.

           Paper Mark,
      Bull’s Head and Star.
            Pl. VIII. N^o 2.

        Hellesdon,
             Sunday after the
             Assumption of our Lady,
             17th of August, 1460. 38 H. VI.

     I marvel that ye had no tidings from me at that time that your
Letter was written, for I sent you a Letter by Chittock’s son,
that is prentice in London, and the said Letter was of the de-
meaning at the Assizes at Norwich, and of divers other matters.

     I pray you send me word if ye have it; as for the Replevins
Richard Calle saith he hath sent you an answer of them, and
also the copies of them.

     The date of this Letter cannot be exactly fixed, though I believe it was written in
1460, or, if not then, it must have been written early in the reign of Edward IV. as I
find there was a presentation to the Church of Drayton, both in 1460 and 1461, but
Sir Thomas Hakon was not the person presented on either of the vacancies.

     ¹ East Dereham, a market town, situated nearly in the centre of the county of Nor-
folk, we here find, in the fifteenth century, a place of sufficient consequence to have an
adjournment of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace from Norwich held in it.

     It has been since that period twice destroyed by fire, once on the 1st of July 1581, and
again on the 3d of the same month, in 1679.

     It is now, in the eighteenth century, a pleasant, handsome, and well-built town, in-
habited by several respectable families, and furnished with many accommodations for
genteel life. What it may be three centuries hence time only can discover; it has
however the best wishes for its prosperity from the Editor of these Letters, who has
spent amongst its inhabitants, and the neighbouring gentry, many pleasant and happy
years.

     ² Walsingham was at this time remarkable for the Chapel and Image of our Lady, to
which pilgrimages were undertaken from every quarter, and riches poured in from the
superstitious benefactions of well-meaning votaries.

     The general dissolution put a period to its importance, and the fine Abbey, now in
ruins, makes venerable the gardens of Henry Lee Warner, Esq. and affords ample
scope for serious meditations.

     ³ I do not find any notice in history that any remarkable sickness raged at this time,
either in Norwich, or in the kingdom at large.

     ⁴ He died in November 1459.

     ⁵ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 25.

604

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my ryght wyrshypfull mayster, John Paston,
be thys letter delyveryd in haste.

      RYGHT wyrshypfull husbond, I recomaund me to you.
          Please it you to wyte that the cause that I wrote to
          you non er [earlier] than I dyde after the sessyons
was by cause that Yelverton held sessyons at Dyrham and
Walsyngham the next wyke after the assyses, and to have
knowlech what labour that was made ther, and to have send
yow werd therof. Ther was grete labours made by the bayly
of Coshay and other for to have endytyd your men both at
Dyrham and at Walsyngham, but I purvayd a mene that her
[their] purpose was lettyd at thos ij. tymes.

     Hugh a Fen ys in Flegge. Richard Call spake with hym
thys wyke, and he sayd to Richard that he and his wyff wold
be with me here thys wyke toward a place of hys that he hath
purchasyd of Godehreds. Yf he come I shall make hym gode
chyre, for it ys told me of dyvers folks that have spoke with
hym sythen he com in to Norffolk as thay fele by hys sayng
that he awyth you ryght gode wyle.

     Item, as for my comyng to you, yf it please you that I
come, y hope I shull purvey so for al thyngs or I com that it
shull be sayff y nogh by the grace of God tyll I com ayen;
but at the reverens of God, yf ye may purvey a mene that ye
may com horn your sylf; for that shall be most profortabell
to you, for men cut large thongs here of other mens lether. I
shull wryte to you ayen as hastely as I may. God have you in
Hys kypyng. Wryten in haste at Haylesdon, the Sonday next
after the Assumpsyon of our Lady.

     Item, my cosyn Elysabeth Clere ys at Ormesby and your
moder purposyth to be at her place at Caster thys wyke, for
the pestylens ys so fervent in Norwych that thay ther [dare?]
no lenger abyde ther, so God help; me thynkyth by my moder
that she wold ryght fayn that ye dyde well and that ye myght
spyde ryght well in your mater. And me thynkyth by my
cosyn Clere that she wold fayn have youre gode wyll, and that
she hath sworyn ryght faythfully to me that ther shall no
defaute be founde in her, nor noght hath be yf the trogh
myght be understond, as she hopyth it shull be herafter. She
sayth ther ys no man a lyff that she hath put her truste in so
moch as she hath doon in you. She sayth she wote well such
langage as hath be reportyd to you of her other wyse then she
hath deservyd causyth you to be other wyse to her then ye
shuld be. She had to me thys langage wypyng, and told me
of dyvers other thyngs the whych ye shall have knowlych of
herafter.

     As for the hygh shyrf [sheriff] he demenyd hym ryght
well her to me, and he sayd to me, as for replevyns he wold
aske counseyll of lernyd men what he mygt doo therin, and as
largely as he mygt do ther in, or in any other mater touchyng
you, savyng hymsylf harmlys, he wold doo for you and for
yours that he mygt do.

     Item, I have do layd in [caused to be laid in] the presenta-
cyon of Drayton, and have presentyd Sir Thomas Hakon,
parson of Felthorp, the whych is hold ryght a gode man and
wel dysposyd, and the Duck of Suffolk hath layd in a nother;
and ther shall be take an inquisicyon ther uppon, and Mr.
Styven ys your a voked [your advocate] therin. Mr. John
Estgade ys passyd to God on Thursday last passyd, whos
sawle God assoyle! Wherof in gode feyth I am ryght sory,
for I fynd hym ryght fayth full to you. They deyy ryght
sore in Norwych.

     John Rus sayth the profets that hath be take of the maner
of Caister syn Sir John Fastolf deyd hath be take by Sir
Thomas Howys and Jenney.                       By yours, M. P.

     I mervayll that ye had no tythyngs from me at that
tyme that your letter was wryten, for I send you a letter
by Chytockys son that ys prenteys in London, and the seyd
letter was of the demenyng at the assyes at Norwych and of
divers other maters. I pray you send me word yf ye have
it. As for the replevyns Richard Calle sayth he hath send you
a awnswere of hem, and also the copys of them.

     ¹ [From Fenn, iii. 370.] That this letter was written in the year 1465 appears
clearly by the reference to the Assizes held at Walsingham (see No. 599), and the in-
tention which the writer intimates of visiting her husband in London. Moreover, the
first sentence of the letter, and also the postscript, are evidently written in answer to
her husband’s complaint in No. 600, that she had not written to him what she had
done at the Assizes.

1465
AUG. 18

1465
AUG. 18

1465
AUG. 18