Margery Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER XIII.

To my rygth Wurchypfull
      Mastyr S^r John Paston
      Knyth y^is lettyr be del’
      in hast

RYGTH reu˜ent and wurchypfull S^r in y^e most domble wyse
J recomand me on to yow desyryng to here of yowre welfare
y^e qwech god long Contynew S^r myn brodyr Wyllyam re-
comawnd hym on to yow And as for y^e lettyr y^t ze sent onto
hym he hath schewyd my lord y^e entent y’ off And he
thynkyth hym self y^t it is no part of hys dute to have any
part of the fysch or any mony y^t schuld grow y’ of nev^r y^e
lasse my lord acordyng as yowr desyre was in y^e lett^r had
questyond John Alowe of thys Fych Afor y^e Comyng of
John Danyele what he had doon w^t all And he Answerd
As for y^e nedyr chavyll y’of he had put it in sewrte And
leyd it in a howse be Cawse youre devyte seasyd it to myn
lords use tyll it myth be undyrstond wedyr y^e p’pyrte war
in y^e Kyng or in my lord And so my lord held hym well
content it schud be so in so moch As y^e Kyng And my
lord have Comawndyd John A lowe y^t thys forsayd chavyll
schuld he browth up to y^e Kyng in all goodly hast Furder-
more my brodyr Wyllyam p’seyvyd be youre wrytyng y^t ye
cowd make y^e remnawnth of y^e fych worth a iiij li to my lord
my lord wold ze schuld not trobyll youre self no more w^tall
becawse he thynkyth y^t y^e p’pyrte is not in hym And also
Anodyr my brodyr Wyllyam heryth sey in y^e Corte y^t y^e
Kyng And my lord be content y^t y^e remenaunt of y^e fych
be to y^e vse of them of y^e Cuntre y^e wech ze schall here y^e
more s^rteyn y’of here aft^r Also my brod^er Wyllyam seyth y^t
my lord wyllyd yow y^t ze schuld send y^e retorne of y^e
Comyscion as hastyly as ze can And m^rvell y^t ze hath not
sent it up or thys As towards y^e brekyng up of y^e p^rlement
many lykelywoods y’ be y^t it schuld Contynew no wyle And
thes be they my lord y^e Archebyschop of Yorke dep^rted as
zyst^rday And myn lord of Northethomyrlond schall goo as on
Fryday And also all schuch folkys as schall goo in to Breten
schall be at Portysmowth on Satyrday cu˜ forthnyth And
y^e mu˜day aft^r on see bord at wech seassun y^e bryng^r in-
tendyd to be y’ to take y^e mustyrs And as for thos Jantyl-
men that toke scheppyng to Agon ov^r in to Breten up on A
fortnyth A goo y^t is to say S^r Richard Edgecum y^e Cown-
troller S^r Roberd Clyfford S^r John Trobylvyle and John Mot-
ton Sariant port^r be A ryvyd Ageyn up on y^e Cost of Yng-
land save All only S^r Richard Egecum wech landyd in
Breten And y’ was in a Towne callyd Morleys wech A non
up on hys Comyng was besegyd w^t y^e Frenchmen And so
skapyd hardly w^t hys lyff y^e wech towne y^e Frenchemen have
gotyn And also y^e Town callyd Breest how be it y^e Castell
holdyth As we here say And y^er be Apoyntyd serteyn Cap-
tens At thys seasun wech be lord Bruke S^r John Cheney S^r
Iohn of Arundell S^r Iohn Bech’m S^r Iohn Gray myn brod^r
Awdley myn Vnkyll S^r Gylberd Debnam And Thomas
Stafford And many odyr knytys and Esqwyrys And Syr J
thanke yow for y^e lettyr y^t ze sent me Also S^r J have ful-
fyllyd myn pylgremage thanke it be god Also S^r we undyr-
stond y^t it is Anactyd of eu˜y x m’rke of mevable goods xx^d
to y^e Kyng besyd ye tennyth of eu˜y mannys londs And S^r my
brodyr Heydon schall send yow y^e s^rteyn of All odyr thyngys
grawntyd at thys p^rlement for he hath cawsed Iohn Danyell
to tery All thys day for hys lett^r be cawse he was w^t y^e Kyng
at Westmestre y^t he myth not entend to wryth it tyl nyth
Also S^r Mast^r Calthorp hath payd j C m’ke to y^e Kyng
Also S^r I have delyu˜d y^e x li to Mast^r Hawes And reseyw^d of
hym y^e oblygacion Also J have delyu˜d y^e xx^ti m’rke to
Edmu˜d Dorma˜ be my brodyr Heydons Comawndme˜t No
mor to yow at thys tyme but god And y^e holy t’nyte have
yow in her kepyng And myn syst^r Anne w^t all y^e Company
recomawnd hem onto yow Wretyn at london y^e X Day of
Februar.

                                                            Be your sr’unt

                                                                       MARGERY PASTON.

 11½ by 17.

          Paper Mark.
  The Arms of France
  per bend, on a chief
      three roundlets.
      Pl. xxxiii. No. 2.

    This letter from Sir John Paston’s lady, through his brother William’s infor-
mation, gives him Lord Oxford’s directions concerning the fish. The chavil is
to be sent to the King, and the rest his Lordship desires may be divided amongst
those who took the fish. The money to be raised on the subject by the taxes
passed in this parliament was for carrying on the war in Bretaigne; and the
Earl of Northumberland here mentioned was killed in a popular insurrection in
Yorkshire, occasioned by the strict levying of this tax, on the 28th of April,
1488.

     He left a minor son, Henry Earl of Northumberland, the regulations and
establishments of whose household, begun in 1512, were published from the
original MS. now in the possession of the present Duke of Northumberland,
in 1770.

     The Pilgrimage here mentioned was most probably to Our Lady of Walsing-
ham, to offer up some petition for her own health and prosperity, or for that of
her husband.

     Though a large sum of money was granted by parliament, and great prepa-
rations were begun, to assist the Duke of Bretaigne, little was accomplished,
and Henry put the chief part of the money collected into his own coffers.

     The battle of St. Aubin, wherein the Duke was defeated, was fought on the
28th of July, and some of our English historians say, that a reinforcement from
hence arrived some days after; be that as it may, the Duke, worn out with age
and misfortunes, died on the 9th of September following, and was succeeded
by his daughter Ann.

     It seems by this letter that troops did go over into Bretaigne about this
time.

     Autograph, Pl. xxix. No. 11.

LETTER XIII.

To my Right Worshipful Master, Sir John Paston, Knight,
this letter be delivered in haste.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful Sir, in the most humble
wise I recommend me unto you, desiring to hear of your
welfare, the which God long continue.

 Sir, mine brother William recommends him unto you; and
as for the letter that ye sent unto him, he hath showed mine
Lord the intent thereof, and he thinketh himself, that it is
no part of his duty to have any part of the fish, or any
money that should grow thereof; nevertheless, my Lord,
according as your desire was in the letter, had questioned
John a’Lowe of this fish, afore the coming of John Daniel,
what he had done withall; and he answered, as for the
nether chavil thereof he had put it in surety, and laid it
in a house, because your deputy seized it to mine Lord’s
use, till it might be understood whether the property were
in the King, or in my Lord; and so my Lord held him well
content it should be so, inasmuch as the King and my Lord
have commanded John a’Lowe that this foresaid chavil
should be brought up to the King in all goodly haste.

     Furthermore, my brother William perceived by your writ-
ing, that ye could make the remanent of the fish worth a four
pound to my Lord; my Lord would ye should not trouble
yourself no more withall, because he thinketh that the property
is not in him. And also another, my brother William heareth
say in the court, that the King and my Lord be content that
the remanent of the fish be to the use of them of the country,
the which ye shall hear the more certain thereof hereafter.

     Also my brother William saith, that my Lord willed you
that ye should send the return of the commission, as hastily
as ye can, and marvels that ye have not sent it up ere this.

     As towards the breaking up of the Parliament, many like-
lihoods there be, that it should continue no while, and these
be they: my Lord the Archbishop of York, as yesterday,
and mine Lord of Northumberland shall go, as on Friday,
and also all such folks, as shall go into Bretaigne, shall be at
Portsmouth on Saturday come fortnight, and the Monday
after on sea board, at which season the King intended to be
there to take the musters; and as for those gentlemen that
took shipping to have gone over into Bretaigne upon a fortnight
ago, that is to say, Sir Richard Edgecomb, the Comptroller,
Sir Robert Clifford, Sir John Trobylvylle [Turberville], and
John Motton, serjeant porter, be arrived again upon the
coast of England, save only Sir Richard Edgecombe, who
landed in Bretaigne, and there was in a town called Mor-
laix, which anon upon his coming was besieged with the
Frenchmen, and so [he] escaped hardly with his life; the
which town the Frenchmen have gotten, and also the town
called Brest; howbeit the castle holdeth, as we hear say.

     And there be appointed certain captains at this season,
which be Lord Brooke, Sir John Cheney, Sir John of Arun-
del, Sir John Becham [Beauchamp], Sir John Gray, mine
brother Awdley, mine uncle Sir Gilbert Debenham, and
Thomas Stafford, and many other knights and esquires.

     And, Sir, I thank you for the letter that ye sent me; also
Sir, I have fulfilled my pilgrimage, thanks be to God.

     Also, Sir, we understand that it is enacted of every ten
marks (6l. 13s. 4d.) of movable goods 20d. to the King, be-
side the tenth of every man’s lands.

     And, Sir, my brother Heydon shall send you the certain
of all other things granted at this parliament, for he hath
caused John Daniel to tarry all this day for his letter, be-
cause he was with the King at Westminster, so that he might
not intend to write it till night.

     Also, Sir, Master Calthorpe hath payed one hundred
marks (66l. 13s. 4d.) to the King. Also, Sir, I have deli-
vered the ten pounds to Master Hawes, and received of him
he obligation. Also, I have delivered the twenty marks
(13l. 6s. 8d.) to Edmund Dorman, by my brother Heydon’s
commandment.

     No more to you at this time, but God and the Holy Tri-
nity have you in their keeping; and my sister Ann, with
all the company, recommend them unto you.

     Written at London, the 10th day of February.

                                                     By your servant,

                                                                  MARGERY PASTON.

              London,
      Sunday, 10th February,
        1487-8. 3 H. vii.

 This letter from Sir John Paston’s lady, through his brother William’s infor-
mation, gives him Lord Oxford’s directions concerning the fish. The chavil is
to be sent to the King, and the rest his Lordship desires may be divided amongst
those who took the fish. The money to be raised on the subject by the taxes
passed in this parliament was for carrying on the war in Bretaigne; and the
Earl of Northumberland here mentioned was killed in a popular insurrection in
Yorkshire, occasioned by the strict levying of this tax, on the 28th of April,
1488.

     He left a minor son, Henry Earl of Northumberland, the regulations and
establishments of whose household, begun in 1512, were published from the
original MS. now in the possession of the present Duke of Northumberland,
in 1770.

     The Pilgrimage here mentioned was most probably to Our Lady of Walsing-
ham, to offer up some petition for her own health and prosperity, or for that of
her husband.

     Though a large sum of money was granted by parliament, and great prepa-
rations were begun, to assist the Duke of Bretaigne, little was accomplished,
and Henry put the chief part of the money collected into his own coffers.

     The battle of St. Aubin, wherein the Duke was defeated, was fought on the
28th of July, and some of our English historians say, that a reinforcement from
hence arrived some days after; be that as it may, the Duke, worn out with age
and misfortunes, died on the 9th of September following, and was succeeded
by his daughter Ann.

     It seems by this letter that troops did go over into Bretaigne about this
time.

     Autograph, Pl. xxix. No. 11.

1030

MARGERY PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To my rygth wurchypfull mastyr, Syr John Paston,
Knyth, this lettyr be delyvered in hast.

   RYGTH reverent and worchypfull sir, in the most
     owmble wyse I recomand me un to yow, desyryng
     to here of yowre welfare, the qwech God long
contynew.

     Sir, myn brodyr Wyllyam recomawnd hym on to yow.
And as for the lettyr that ze sent on to hym, he hath schewyd
my lord the entent ther off, and he thynkyth hym self, that it
is no part of hys dute to have any part of the fysch, or any
mony that schuld grow ther of. Never the lasse, my lord,
acordyng as yowr desyre was in the letter, had qwestyond
John a Lowe of thys fych, afor the comyng of John Danyel,
what he had doon with all; and he answerd, as for the nedyr
chavyll [jaw] therof, he had put it in sewrte, and leyd it in a
howse, be cawse youre debyte [deputy] seasyd it to myn lords
use, tyll it myth be undyrstond wedyr the propyrte ware in
the Kyng or in my lord; and so my lord held hym well
content it schud be so, in so moche as the Kyng and my lord
have comawndyd John a Lowe that thys forsayd chavyll schuld
be browth up to the Kyng in all goodly hast.

     Fardermore, my brodyr Wyllyam perseyvyd be yowre
wrytyng that ye cowd make the remnawnth of the fych worth
a iiijli. to my lord. My lord wold ze schuld not trobyll yowre
self no more with all, becawse he thynkyth that the propyrte
is not in hym. And also anodyr, my brodyr Wyllyam heryth
sey in the corte, that the Kyng and my lord be content
that the remenaunt of the fych be to the use of them of
the cuntre, the wech ze schall here the more serteyn therof
here after.

     Also my broder Wyllyam seyth, that my lord wyllyd yow
that ze schuld send the retorne of the comyscion as hastyly as
ze can, and mervell that ze hath not sent it up or thys.

     As touards the brekyng up of the Parlement,¹ many
lykelywoodes ther be, that it schuld contynew no wyle, and
these be they. My Lord the Archebyschop of Yorke departyd
as zysterday, and my Lord of Northethomyrlond schall goo
as on Fryday; and also all schuch folkys as schall goo in to
Breten schall be at Portysmowth on Satyrday cum forthnyth,
and the Munday after on see bord, at wech seassun the Kyng
intentyd to be ther to take the mustyrs.

     And as for thos jantylmen that toke schyppyng to a gon
over in to Breten up on a fortnyth a goo, that is to sey, Syr
Richard Egecum, the cowntroller,² Sir Roberd Clyfford, Sir
John Trobylvyll, and John Motton, sarjant porter, be a ryvyd
ageyn up on the cost of Yngland, save all only Syr Richard
Egecum, wech londyd in Breten, and ther was in a towne
callyd Morleys, wech a non up on hys comyng was besegyd
with the Frenchmen, and so skapyd hardly with hys lyff, the
wech towne the Frenchemen have gotyn, and also the town
callyd Breest; how be it the castell holdyth, as we here say.

     And ther be apoyntyd serteyn captens at thys seasun, wech
be Lord Bruke, Sir John Cheney, Sir John of Arundell, Sir
John Becham, Sir John Gray, myn broder Awdley, myn unkyll
Syr Gylberd Debnam,³ and Thomas Stafford, and many odyr
knytys and esqwyrys.

      And, sir, I thanke yow for the lettyr that ze sent me.
Also, syr, I have fulfyllyd myn pylgremage, thanke it be
God.

     Also, sir, we undyrstond that it is anactyd of every x.
marke of mevable goodes xxd. to the Kyng, besyd the tennyth
of every mannys londys.

     And, sir, my brodyr Heydon schall send yow the serteyn
of all odyr thyngys grawntyd at thys Parlement, for he hath
cawsed John Danyell to tery all thys day for hys letter, be
cawse he was with the Kyng at Westmestre, that he myth not
entend to wryth it tyl nyth.

     Also, sir, Master Calthorp hath payd j.C. marke to the
Kyng. Also, sir, I have delyverd the xli. to Master Hawes,
and reseywed of hym the oblygacion. Also, I have delyverd
the xx^ti marke to Edmund Dorman, be my brodyr Heydons
comawndment.

     No more to yow at thys tyme, but God and the Holy
Trinyte have yow in Her kepyng. And myn syster Anne,
with all the company, recomawnd hem on to yow.

     Wretyn at London, the x. day of Februar.

                 Be yowr servaunt,                   MARGERY PASTON.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is erroneously dated by Fenn 1487-8.
Although Lord Woodville made an unauthorised expedition into Brittany in the
spring of 1488, which is alluded to in No. 1026, no succours were sent by Henry for the
relief of the Duchy till after the crushing defeat of Duke Francis at the battle of
St. Aubin (July 28, 1488). The Duke died on the 9th September following, and
his daughter Anne became Duchess of Brittany. Commissions to raise archers for
the relief of Brittany were issued in December, and musters were commanded to be
taken in February 1489.

 ¹ Parliament was dissolved on the 27th February 1489.

     ² Sir Richard Edgecombe was Controller of the King’s Household.

     ³ Sir Thomas Brews, Margery Paston’s father, took for his second wife Elizabeth,
daughter of Sir Giles, and sister of Sir Gilbert Debenham.

1489
FEB. 10

1489
FEB. 10

1489
FEB. 10