Margaret Paston to John Paston

LETTER VIII.

To my rytz worchypful Maystyr Joñ Paston be this delyveryd in hast.

       RYTZ worchipful hosbond I recomawnd me to yow defyri’g
           hertyly to her of z^r well-far &c. (then follows some common
business about his farms and tenants.)

     Wyllyam Rutt the whiche is w^t Sir Jōn ¹ Heveny’gh’m’ kom
hom’ from London zest’day and he sey’d pleynly to his mast’
and to many other folks y^t the Duke of ² Suffolk is pardonyd
and hath his men azen wayty’g up on hym and is rytz
wel at ese and mery and is in the Kyngs gode g’se and in y^e
gode cōseyt of all y^e Lords as well as ev^r he was.

Ther ben many En’mys azens ³Yermowth and Crowmer
and have don moche harm and taken many Englysch men and
put hem in grett destresse and grettely rawnsommyd hem and
the seyd Enmys ben so bolde that they kom up to y^e lond and
pley’n hem on Cast’ sonds and in other plas’ as homely as
they were Englysch men, Folks ben rytz sor’ aferd y^t they wel
don’ moche harm y^is Som, but if y^r be made rytz grett pur-
vyans azens hem.

     Other tydy’gs know I nōn att y^is tym.

     The blysseful T’nyte have zow in his kepy’g.

     Wretyn at Norwyche on Seynt Gregory’s day.

                                                                                                 Yowrs,

                   11 ¾ by 9.                                                                   ⁴ M. P.

Norwich,
              St. Gregory’s Day,
              Thursday 12th of March,
              1449, 28 H. VI.

¹ The Family of Heveningham had large possessions in Norfolk, and were a family of
consequence in that County for many Descents.

     ² Articles of Impeachment were exhibited by the Commons in parliament, against the

Duke of Suffolk, in February 1449; and the King, to appease them, committed the
Duke to the Tower; his enlargement from thence, &c. is here related; and it seems
by what is here mentioned, that he appeared abroad usually with a Guard.

 ³ Party at home ran so high at this time, that the Coasts were neglected, and foreign
Enemies suffered to commit depredations with impunity.

⁴ Margaret, wife of John Paston, Esq. was Daughter and heir of John Mawteby,
Esq. She died in 1484. Pl. II. N^o 25.

LETTER VIII.

To my right worshipful Master John Paston, be this deli-
vered in haste.

      RIGHT worshipful Husband, I recommend me to you,
          desiring heartily to hear of your welfare, &c. (then fol-
lows some common business about his farms and tenants.)

     William Rutt, the which is with Sir John ¹Heveningham
came home from London yesterday, and he said plainly to his
Master, and to many other Folks, that the Duke of ² Suffolk is
pardoned, and hath his men again waiting upon him, and is
right well at ease and merry, and is in the King’s good grace,
and in the good conceit of all the Lords, as well as ever he was.

There have been many Enemies against ³Yarmouth, and
Cromer, and have done much harm, and taken many English
men, and put them in great distress, and greatly (heavily)
ransomed them; and the said Enemies have been so bold that
they come up to the land and play them on Caister Sands and
in other places, as homely as (as much at their ease as if) they
were Englishmen; Folks be right sore afraid, that they will
do much harm this Summer, but if (unless) there be made
right great purveyance against them.

     Other tidings know I none at this time; the blissful Trinity
have you in his keeping.

     Written at Norwich, on Saint Gregory’s day.

                                                                             Yours,

                                                             ⁴MARGARET PASTON.

11 ? by 9.  

Norwich,
              St. Gregory’s Day,
              Thursday 12th of March,
              1449, 28 H. VI.

¹ The Family of Heveningham had large possessions in Norfolk, and were a family of
consequence in that County for many Descents.

     ² Articles of Impeachment were exhibited by the Commons in parliament, against the

Duke of Suffolk, in February 1449; and the King, to appease them, committed the
Duke to the Tower; his enlargement from thence, &c. is here related; and it seems
by what is here mentioned, that he appeared abroad usually with a Guard.

 ³ Party at home ran so high at this time, that the Coasts were neglected, and foreign
Enemies suffered to commit depredations with impunity.

⁴ Margaret, wife of John Paston, Esq. was Daughter and heir of John Mawteby,
Esq. She died in 1484. Pl. II. N^o 25.

106

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my rytz worchypful maystyr, Jon Paston, be this
delyveryd in hast.

        RYTZ worchipful hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow,
             desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar, &c.² . . . .
             Wyllyam Rutt, the whiche is with Sir Jon Hevenyng-
ham, kom hom from London zesterday, and he seyd pleynly
to his master, and to many other folks, that the Duke of
Suffolk is pardonyd, and hath his men azen waytyng up on
hym, and is rytz wel at ese and mery, and is in the Kyngs
gode grase, and in the gode conseyt of all the Lords, as well
as ever he was.

     Ther ben many enemys azens Yermowth and Crowmer,
and have don moche harm, and taken many Englysch men,
and put hem in grett distresse, and grettely rawnsommyd
hem; and the seyd enmys been so bold that they kom up
to the lond, and pleyn hem on Caster Sonds, and in other
plases, as homely as they were Englysch men. Folks ben
rytz sore afred that they wel don moche harm this somer,
but if [i.e. unless] ther be made rytz grett purvyans azens
hem.

     Other tydyngs know I non at this tym. The blysseful
Trinyte have zow in his kepyng.

     Wryten at Norwyche, on Seynt Gregorys day.

                                              Yowrs,                                   M. P.

     ¹ [From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke of Suffolk’s pardon proves this
letter to have been written in the year 1450.

     ² Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as he says, to some common business
about Paston’s farms and tenants.

1450
MARCH 12