Roger L'Estrange to Sir John Paston

LETTER XXXII.

To the ryth Worchypfull
     S^r John Paston Knyth
     be thys delyu’yd

MASTYR Paston J recomawnd me to yow S^r so it is y^t I am
not yet p^rveyd of men to my nowmbyr of Archers suych as
chold go hovyr see w^t me wer for S^r J be ceche yow y^t it
wold plese yow at thys tyme to do so mych for me as to a
purveyd me of ij or iij such as ye thynk chold be for me S^r
J undyrstond S^r Tery Robstert lyth but lyttyll from yow
wer as J trow he myde help me of j by yowyr menys and
as for ther wags they xall have the Kyngs wags and some
what ells so y^t I trost y^r they xall be plessyd S^r J be cech
yow to tak the peyne for me at thys tyme and J xall do yow
y^t s^ruys y^t lyth in me by the grace of Jhu ho p^rs^rue you on
Monday next aftyr Palme Sonday by yowyr howne to hys
pouyr S^r J be sech yow y^t thys byll may recomawnd me on
to my lady and J trost J xall a wayt on you sone on Estyr.

                                                          ROGER LESTRAUNGE.

      12¼ by 5¼.

     These archers seem to be wanted to attend Sir Roger to Calais, where he was
going with his Sovereign, Henry VII. to whom he was Esquire of the Body.
He died on the 27th of October, 1506, and lies buried in the chancel of Hun-
stanton church, in Norfolk, under a beautiful altar monument of marble, having
on the top his portraiture in brass at full length, in complete armour, sur-
rounded by the portraitures and arms of his ancestors.

     This family was of very ancient extraction, and came into England with Wil-
liam the Conqueror. A branch of it was settled at Hunstanton, in Norfolk,
early in the reign of Henry I. (1100), and that remained the principal seat of
the family till the death of Sir Henry L’Estrange, Bart. in 1763.

     The male branch of this respectable family is now extinct, and the Hunstan-
ton estate is passed to the Stylemans, who are the descendants of a female.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 13.

LETTER XXXII.

To the right worshipful Sir John Paston, Knight, be this
delivered.

MASTER Paston, I recommend me to you: Sir, so it is that I
am not yet purveyed of men to my number of Archers, such
as should go over sea with me; wherefore, Sir, I beseech
you that it would please you at this time to do so much for
me, as to have purveyed me of two or three, such as ye think
should be for me.

     Sir, I understand Sir Terry Robsart lieth but little from
you, where, as I trow, he might help me of one by your
means, and as for their wages, they shall have the King’s
wages and somewhat else, so that I trust that they shall be
pleased. Sir, I beseech you to take the pain for me at this
time, and I shall do you that service that lieth in me, by the
grace of Jesu, who preserve you.

     On Monday next after Palm Sunday, by your own to his
power.

     Sir, I beseech you that this bill may recommend me unto
my Lady, and I trust I shall await on you soon on Easter.

                                                          ROGER L’ESTRAUNGE.

     Monday, 16th April,
         1492. 7 H. vii.

     These archers seem to be wanted to attend Sir Roger to Calais, where he was
going with his Sovereign, Henry VII. to whom he was Esquire of the Body.
He died on the 27th of October, 1506, and lies buried in the chancel of Hun-
stanton church, in Norfolk, under a beautiful altar monument of marble, having
on the top his portraiture in brass at full length, in complete armour, sur-
rounded by the portraitures and arms of his ancestors.

     This family was of very ancient extraction, and came into England with Wil-
liam the Conqueror. A branch of it was settled at Hunstanton, in Norfolk,
early in the reign of Henry I. (1100), and that remained the principal seat of
the family till the death of Sir Henry L’Estrange, Bart. in 1763.

     The male branch of this respectable family is now extinct, and the Hunstan-
ton estate is passed to the Stylemans, who are the descendants of a female.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 13.

1054

ROGER L’ESTRANGE TO SIR JOHN PASTON²

To the ryth worchypfull Syr John Paston, Knyth,
be thys delyveryd.

MASTYR PASTON, I recomawnd me to yow. Syr,
     so it is that I am not yet purveyd of men to my
     nowmbyr of archers, suych as chold go hovyr see
with me; wer for, syr, I be ceche yow that it wold plese yow
at thys tyme to do so mych for me as to a purveyd me of ij.
or iij., such as ye thynk chold be for me.

     Syr, I undyrstond Syr Tery Robstertt lyth but lyttyll
from yow, were, as I trow, he myde help me of j. by yowyr
menys, and as for ther wages, they xall have the Kynges wages
and some what elles, so that I trost that they xall be plessyd.
Syr, I be cech yow to tak the peyne for me at thys tyme, and
I xall do yow that servys that lyth in me, by the grace of
Jesu, Ho preserve you.

     On Monday next aftyr Palme Sonday, by yowyr howne to
hys pouyr,                                              ROGER LESTRAUNGE.

     Syr, I be sech yow that thys byll may recomawnd me on
to my lady,¹ and I trost I xall a wayt on you sone on Estyr.

    ¹ Probably Margaret, first wife of the Earl of Oxford.

     ² [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is probably of the year 1492, when the
King was going over to France. But there are other occasions, both earlier and
later, on one of which it might have been written.   

APRIL 16

1492
APRIL 16