Richard Whynbergh to Sir John Paston

880

ABSTRACT¹

ROBERT WHYNBERGH TO SIR JOHN PASTON

     Has ridden 100 miles to get out the obligation of Craksheld and Salter.
Has been opposed by Mr. Lovell, as they are his tenants. Understands it is
in my lord’s closet, and the tenants are warned to pay no money without it.
They keep from him the farm of the Priors Maner as well as Strehalle.²
Desires him to write to Mr. William Paston to inform my lord of a wrongful

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distress taken by John Markham at Strehall in Cressingham, which is held of
the King’s manor of Necton. They took cattle in lambing time in March,
in the 14th year of this King, ‘and put Craksheld and Salter in such fear of
losing of their cattle that they were bound to my lord by obligation, and
Craksheld is dead for thought.’ Will take the letter to Mr. William though
it cost him fourteen days’ labor. Was five weeks riding ‘to Canterbury, and
again I will no longer drive, for in winter I may not ride,’ etc.

     [From the reference to ‘the 14th year of this King,’ it is evident that this letter
was written after 1474, the 14th year of Edward IV. It may, perhaps, be of the reign
of Henry VII.; in which case it was addressed to the younger John Paston, who was
then a knight, his brother being dead, about the year 1500.]

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

     ² Street-Hall or Straw Hall, in Great Cressingham, was one of the manors which
belonged to Judge Paston. In 1451, Blomefield tells us that Walter Paston, clerk,
gave it to his brother John. In the reign of Henry VIII. Sir William Paston sold it to
Dame Elizabeth Fitzwilliams.—Blomefield, vi. 99.             

1475