Richard Calle to John Paston

Add. 34889, f. 29

10 July 1465

Gairdner, Vol IV, item 593; Fenn, Vol IV, Edward IV item 55

LETTER LV.

To my mastre Iohn
Paston in hast.

PLESITH it youre Maysterschip to witte of the rwle and
disposicon of the 1 M. Phip and the balyf of Cossey wt
others of my lorde of Suff. men on Monday last past at aftre-
noon were at Heylesdon wt the nombre of CCC men for to haue
entred notwtstandyng they seyde they Come not for to entre but
wtoute dought and they had been strong Jnough for vs they
wolde haue entred and that we vndrestonde nough but we know-
yng of ther Comyng and p'veyd so for hem yt we wer stronge
J nough we had lx men wti?e the place and gonnes and suche
ordynauns so that if they had satte vppon vs they had be
distroyed And ther my 2 Mastres was wtine and my Mastr Sr
Iohn and hathe gate hym as grete worschip for that day as any
gentelm? myght doo and so is it reported of the p'tye and in all
Norwiche And my lorde of 3 Norwiche sent theder M. John
Salett and M John Bulleman for to trete and so they ded And
the Duc men seide they had a warant for to Attache Ioh' Daw-
beney Wyks Calle Hunewrthe and bliclyng and other weche they
wuld haue and my M S^r Iohn Answerd them and seide y^t they
were not w^tine and though we had ben they shuld not haue had
hem And so they desired oon of our men and so Naunton stede
by my mastres ad haxed hem whom they wold haue and seyde
if they wold haue hem he wold go w^t hem And so he de And
on the next day they caryed hym forthe to my lord of Suff. to
Claxton through Norwich And ther we had founde a remedy
for hym for to haue lette hym and he wold not but nedys go
forthe w^t hem but like a jentelman he was entreated amongs
hem And Harleston desyred at Heylesdon to speke w^t my Mastre
S^r John And so the ded And seyde to hym it were ryght weele
don that he rode to my lord of Suff. and desired hym in any
wich that he schulde do so And seyde that it was hes dwte so for
to do in asmoche as my lorde was Come to Contre and that he
wolde ryde w^t hym And brynge hym to my lorde And he
Answerd and seide to hym what that he vndrestode that my lord
were hes fathers goode lord and hes y^t yanne he wolde se hes
lordship And ell he had non aronde to hym and so they dep'ted
And thanne Appoyntement was taken that they shull sende home
ther men and we schuld send home oure And nough my lord of
Suff. men come from Claxton to Norwich and face vs and fray
vppon vs this dayly ther fylle vppon me befor sevayne dore xij
of hes men viij of them in harneys and ther they wold haue
myscheved me and the scheryf letted hem and other and they
make ther Awaunte were y^t I may be goten J schul dye and so
they lye in A wayte for to myscheve me Dawbeney and Wyks
And so I dare not ryde out alone w^toute A man w^t me And I
vndrestonde ther is Comyn an heyre determyner to enquer of all
ryots And my lord of Suff and Yelu^rton be Comysconers And
so they sey as money of vs as can be taken shal be endyted And
hanged for' w^t And so the people here are dysmayed w^t ther rwle
wherfore that it like you to sende werd how my mastres schal do
at Heylesdon and we in all other maters And wether ye wol
that we feche A yene the flok of Heylesdon for they are nough
dreven to Causton and there go they on the heythe and my lord
of Suff. wolbe at Drayton on lames Daye and kepe the Coort
ther Wherefor ye must seke An remedy for it or ell it wol not do
weele if my lord of ⁴ Norff. wold come he schulde make all
weel for they feere hym Above All thyngs for it is noyced
here y^t my lord of Norff. hathe taken p'tye in thes mater And
all the Cuntre is cladde of it seyng y^t if he come they wooll
hooly go w^t hym And me senethe it were wele don to meve my
lord in it though ye schuld geue hym the p'fyghts of Heylesdon
and Drayton for the kepyng and som money be side for ye must
seke som other remedy that ye do or ell in my Conseyte if schull
go to the divell and be distroyed and that in ryght schorte tyme
And therfore at the reu^rence of god take som Appoyntement
w^t M Yelu^rton suche as ye thynke schuld most hurt I beseche
you to p^rdon me of my writyng for I haue pitte to se the trybu-
lacon that my Mastres hathe here and all youre frends &c.
Almyghty Jhu p'serue and kepe you wretē the Wednesday next
seint Thom's daye.

Yo^r pore s^rvūt and bedman

⁵ Ric Calle.

11 ? by 11.

Seal, and Eagle's Head erased,

having an escroll issuing

from his mouth.

Pl. XXIII. N^o 8.

This and the following Letter, giving an account of the proceedings of the Duke of
Suffolk's men at Hellesdon, of their attempts there, and of the steps taken by those in
possession to oppose them, exhibit a true picture of the times, when the numerous fellow-
ships of the great men, sometimes with, and sometimes without the knowledge of their
Lords, attacked the smaller fellowships of their inferior neighbours, either on a pretence
of having some title to their Estates, or under colour of having warrants to apprehend
them on civil suits, or on prosecutions for felonies, &c.

¹ This does not clearly point out the person.

² We have often seen Margaret Paston in the character of Wife, Mother, and Friend.
but this is the first time of her appearance as the Governess of a fortress, for such this

may now be called.
Walter Lyhart, was Bishop o f Norwich from 1446 to 1472.

⁴ John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, whose favour, it appears here, must have been
purchased at a high price.

⁵ Autograph. Pl. XVIII. No 9.

LETTER LV.

To my Master John Paston, in baste.

PLEASETH it your mastership to weet of the rule and dis-
position of the ¹ M Philip and the bailiff of Cossey, with
others of my Lord of Suffolk's men, on Monday last past at after-
noon (who) were at Hellesdon, with the number of three hundred
men for to have entered, notwithstanding they said they came not for
to enter, but without doubt and (if) they had been strong enough
for us, they would have entered, and that we understand, now
but we knowing of their coming and purveyed so for them, that
we were strong enough; we had sixty men within the place,
and guns, and such ordnance, so that, if they had set upon us,
they had been destroyed; and there my ² Mistress was within
and my Master Sir John, and (he) hath gotten him as great wor-
ship for that day as any gentleman might do, and so is it reported
of the party and in all Norwich; and my Lord of 3 Norwich
sent thither Master John Salett, and Master John Bulleman for
to treat, and so they did; and the Duke's men said they had a
warrant for to attach John Daubeney, Wykes, Calle, Hunworth,
and Blickling and other, which they would have, and my
Master Sir John answered them and said that they were not
within, and though we had been, they should not have had
them; and so they desired one of our men, and so Naunton
stood by my Mistress and asked them whom they would have,
and said if they would have him, he would go with them, and
so he did, and on the next day they carried him forth to my Lord
of Suffolk to Claxton, through Norwich, and there we had
found a remedy for him for to have let him, and he would not,
but needs go forth with them; but like a gentleman he was
entreated amongst them. And Harleston desired at Hellesdon to
speak with my Master Sir John, and so he did, and said to him
it were right well done that he rode to my Lord of Suffolk, and
desired him in any wife that he should do so, and said that it was
his duty so for to do, in as much as my Lord was come (in)
to (the) country, and that he would ride with him, and bring
him to my Lord; and he answered and said to him, when that
he understood that my Lord were his Father's good Lord and his,
that then he would see his Lordship, and else he had none errand
to him; and so they departed; and then appointment was taken
that they should send home their men, and we should send home
ours; and now my Lord of Suffolk's men come from Claxton to
Norwich, and face us and fray upon us, this daily, there fell
upon me before Swaine's door twelve of his men, eight of them
in harness, and there they would have mischieved me, and the
Sheriff letted (hindered) them and other, and thy make their
avaunt were that I may be gotten, I should die, and so they lie
in await for to mischief me, Daubeney and Wykes; and so I
dare not ride out alone without a man with me, and I understand
there is coming an Oyer (and) Determiner to enquire of all
riots, and my Lord of Suffolk and Yelverton be Commissioners;
and so they say as many of us as can be taken shall be endicted
and hanged forthwith; and so the people here are dismayed with
their rule, wherefore that it like you to send word how my
Mistress shall do at Hellesdon, and we in all other matters; and
whether ye will that we fetch again the flock of Hellesdon, for
they are now driven to Causton, and there go they on the heath;
and my Lord of Suffolk will be at Drayton on Lammas-day, and
keep the Court there, wherefore ye must seek a remedy for it,
or else it will not do well.

If my Lord of ⁴ Norfolk would come, he should make all
well, for they fear him above all things, for it is noised here
that my Lord of Norfolk hath taken party in this matter, and
all the country is glad of it, saying, that if he come they will
wholly go with him.

And me seemeth it were well done to move my Lord in it,
though ye should give him the profits of Hellesdon and Drayton
for the keeping, and some money beside; for ye must seek some
other remedy than ye do, or else in my conceit it shall go to the
Devil, and be destroyed, and that in right short time, and
therefore at the reverence of God take some appointment with
Master Yelverton, and such as ye think should most hurt.

I beseech you to pardon me of my writing, for I have pity
to see the tribulation that my Mistress hath here, and all your
Friends, &c.

Almighty Jesu preserve and keep you. Written the Wednes-
day next Saint Thomas's day (7th of July).

Your poor Servant and Beadsman

⁵ RICHARD CALLE.

Wednesday,

10th of July, 1465,

5 E. IV.

This and the following Letter, giving an account of the proceedings of the Duke of
Suffolk's men at Hellesdon, of their attempts there, and of the steps taken by those in
possession to oppose them, exhibit a true picture of the times, when the numerous fellow-
ships of the great men, sometimes with, and sometimes without the knowledge of their
Lords, attacked the smaller fellowships of their inferior neighbours, either on a pretence
of having some title to their Estates, or under colour of having warrants to apprehend
them on civil suits, or on prosecutions for felonies, &c.

¹ This does not clearly point out the person.

² We have often seen Margaret Paston in the character of Wife, Mother, and Friend.
but this is the first time of her appearance as the Governess of a fortress, for such this

may now be called.
Walter Lyhart, was Bishop o f Norwich from 1446 to 1472.

⁴ John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, whose favour, it appears here, must have been
purchased at a high price.

⁵ Autograph. Pl. XVIII. No 9.

593

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my mastre, John Paston, in hast.

PLESITH it youre maysterschip to witte of the rwle and
disposicion of the Master Philip and the Balyf of
Cossey, with others of my Lorde of Suffolkes men.
On Monday last past, at aftrenoon, [they] wer at Heylesdon,
with the nombre of CCC. men, for to have entred, notwith-
standyng they seyde they come not for to entre; but withoute
dought, and they had been strong inough for us, they wolde
have entred, and that we undrestonde nough, but we knowyng
of ther comyng and purveyed so for hem, that we wer strong
j nough. We had lx. men withinne the place, and gonnes,
and suche ordynauns, so that if they had satte uppon us, they
had be distroyed. And ther my mastres was withine, and my
mastre, Sir John, and hathe gate hym as grete worschip for
that day as any gentleman myght doo, and so is it reported
of the partye and in all Norwiche. And my Lorde of Nor-
wiche sent theder Master John Salett and Master John Bulle-
man for to trete, and so they ded; and the Duc men seide
they had a warant for to attache John Dawbeney, Wyks,
Calle, Hunewrthe, and Bliclyng and other, weche they wuld
have; and my master, Sir John, answerd them, and seide that
they were not withine, and though we had ben, they shuld not
have had hem; and so they desired oon of our men. And so
Naunton stede by my mastres and haxed hem whom they wold
have, and seyde if they wold have hem he wold go with hem,
and so he ded. And on the next day they caryed hym forthe
to my Lord of Suffolk to Claxton, through Norwich; and ther
we had founde a remedy for hym for to heve lette hym; and
he wold not, but nedys go forthe with hem; but like a jentel-
man he was entreated amongs hem. And Harleston desyred
at Heylesdon to speke with my mastre, Sir John, and so he
ded, and seyde to hym it were ryght weele don that he rode
to my Lord of Suffolk and desired hym in any wice that he
schulde do so, and seyde that it was hes dwte so for to do, in as-
moche as my Lorde was come to contre, and that he wolde ryde
with hym, and brynge hym to my Lorde; and he answerd and
seide to hym, whan that he undrestode that my Lord were hes
fathers goode Lord and hes, that thanne he wolde se hes Lord-
ship, and [ell]es he had non aronde to hym; and so they de-
parted. And thanne appoyntement was taken that they shull
sende home ther men, and we schuld send home oure. And
nough my Lord of Suffolks men come from Claxton to Nor-
wich, and face us and fray uppon us, this dayly. Ther fylle
uppon me befor Sevayne dore xij. of hes men, viij. of them
in harneys, and ther they wold have myscheved me and the
Scheryf letted hem and other, and they make ther awaunte
were that I may be goten I schul dye; and so they lye in a
wayte for to myscheve me, Dawbeney, and Wyks; and so I
dare not ryde out alone withoute a man with me. And I
undrestonde ther is comyn an Heyre Determyner¹ to enquer
of all ryots, and my Lord of Suffolk and Yelverton be Comys-
cioners; and so they sey as money of us as can be taken shal
be endyted and hanged forth with; and so the people here are
dysmayed with ther rwle. Wherfore that it like you to sende
werd how my mastres schal do at Heylesdon, and we in all
other maters; and wether ye wol that we feche a yene the
flok of Heylesdon, for they are nough dreven to Causton, and
there go they on the heyth; and my Lord of Suffolk wolbe at
Drayton on Lames Daye, and kepe the Coort ther; wherefor
ye must seke an remedy for it, or ell[es] it woll not do weele.

If my Lord of Norffolk wold come, he schulde make all
weele, for they feere hym above all thyngs, for it is noyced
here that my Lord of Norffolk hathe taken partye in thes
mater, and all the cuntre is cladde of it, seyng that if he come
they wooll hooly go with hym.

And me senethe it were wele don to meve my Lord in it,
though ye schuld geve hym the profyghts of Heylesdon and
Drayton for the kepyng, and som money be side; for ye must
seke som other remedy than ye do, or ell[es] in my conseyte
it schull go to the Divell, and be distroyed, and that in ryght
schort tyme. And therfore at the reverence of God take som
appoyntement with Master Yelverton, suche as ye thynke
schuld most hurt.

I beseche you to pardon me of my writyng, for I have
pitte to se the trybulacion that my mastres hathe here, and all
your frends, &c.

Almyghty Jesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten the
Wednesday next Seint Thomas Daye.

Your pore servaunt and bedman,

RIC. CALLE.

¹ [From Fenn, iv. 212.] From what has been already said about the Duke of
Suffolk’s claim to the manor of Hellesden, it is clear that this letter is of the year
1465. Later it cannot be, as John Paston was dead before July 1466.

¹ An Oyer and Terminer, or Special Commission.

JULY 10

1465
JULY 10