Sir John Fastolf to John Paston

  • Medieval Family Life
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Title
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston
Reference
Add. 34888, f. 111
Date
7 February 1455
Library / Archive
  • The British Library
Transcript location(s) in printed volume(s)
Gairdner, Vol III, item 272; Fenn, Vol III, Henry VI item 57
Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume III' (1st transcript)

LETTER LVII.

          To my Right trusty and
          welbelovyd Cosyn Iohn Paston
          in goodly haste.

RYGHT trusty and welbelovyd Cosyn I comaund me to
      yow And please yow to wete that I am av’tysed that at
adynr in Norwiche wher as ye and othyr Jentylmen wer p’sent
that that ther were certeyn p’sonez Jentylmen whiche utteryd
skornefull language of me as in thys wyse wt mor seyeng war
the gosune war and goo we to Dynr goo we wher to Sr John
Fastolf and ther we shall well paye ther fore what ther menyng
was I knowe well to no good entent to me ward wherfor Cosyn
J prey yow as my truste is in yow that ye geve me knowelege
be writing what Jentylmen they be that had this report with
mor’ and what mo Jentylmen wer p’sent as ye wold I shuld and
wer my deute to do for yow in semblabyll wyse And I shall kepe
yowr informatyon in this mater secret And wt godds grace so
p’vey for hem as they shall not all be well pleasyd at suche a tyme
a man may knowe hese Frendes and hese fooes asond’r &c. Jhu
p’serve and kepe yow wretyn at Cast’r the vij day of Fev’er Ao.
xxxiij R. H. vjti.

                                                       JOHN FASTOLF, Knight.

 

    12 by 4.

           Caister, Thursday,
               7 Feb. 1454.
                 33 H. VI.

Though Sir John Fastolf knew the meaning of these scornful words, we, at this di-
stance of time shall find a difficulty in explaining them. They seem to signify, that Sir
John was a Gascon, (a Boaster), and that it was necessary to beware of him, as those
who cat at his table were often deceived by him to their cost.

At the time that this spirited Letter was dictated by him and written by his Secre-
tary, he was nearly 80 years of age; we see however the youthful ardour of the ve-
teran soldier rekindling at the insulting language used in his absence to defame his
character.

     Autograph. Pl. II. No 15.
Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume III' (2nd transcript)

LETTER LVII.

        

To my right trusty and well beloved Cousin John Paston, in goodly
haste.

 

RIGHT trusty and well beloved Cousin, I commend me
      to you, and please you to weet that I am advertised that
at a Dinner in Norwich, where as (at) ye and other Gentlemen
were present that there were certain persons, Gentlemen, which
uttered scornful language of me, as in this wise with more,
saying, “War the Gosune war and go we to dinner, go we
where? to Sir John Fastolf’s, and there we shall well pay
therefore.” What their meaning was I know well to be no
good intent to me ward; wherefore, Cousin, I pray you,as my
trust is in you, that ye give me knowledge by writing what
Gentlemen they be that had this report with more; and what
more Gentlemen were present, as ye would I should, and (it)
were my duty to do, for you in semblable (similar) wise. And
I shall keep your information in this matter secret; and with
God’s grace so purvey for them as they shall not all be well
pleased. At such a time a man may know his friends and his
foes asunder, &c.

     Jesu preserve and keep you, written at Caister, the 7th day
of February, in the 33d year of King Henry VI.

 

                                                     JOHN FASTOLF, Knight.

    12 by 4.

           Caister, Thursday,
               7 Feb. 1454.
                 33 H. VI.

Though Sir John Fastolf knew the meaning of these scornful words, we, at this di-
stance of time shall find a difficulty in explaining them. They seem to signify, that Sir
John was a Gascon, (a Boaster), and that it was necessary to beware of him, as those
who cat at his table were often deceived by him to their cost.

At the time that this spirited Letter was dictated by him and written by his Secre-
tary, he was nearly 80 years of age; we see however the youthful ardour of the ve-
teran soldier rekindling at the insulting language used in his absence to defame his
character.

     Autograph. Pl. II. No 15.
Transcript from James Gairdner, 'The Paston Letters, A.D., 1422-1509, New Complete Library Edition, Volume III'

272

 

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON

 

To my right trusty and welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston,
in goodly haste.

 

   RYGHT trusty and welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to
     yow. And please yow to wete that I am avertysed
     that at a dyner in Norwiche, wher as ye and othyr
jentylmen wer present, that that ther were certeyn personez,
jentylmen, whiche utteryd skornefull language of me, as in
thys wyse, with mor, seyeng, ‘War the, gosune [cousin?] war,
and goo we to dyner; goo we wher? to Sir John Fastolf, and
ther we shall well paye ther fore.’ What ther menyng was,
I knowe well to no good entent to me ward; wherfor, cosyn,
I prey yow, as my truste is in yow, that ye geve me knowelege
be writing what jentylmen they be that had this report with
more, and what mo jentylmen wer present, as ye wold I shuld
and wer my deute to do for yow in semblabyll wyse. And I
shall kepe yowr informatyon in this mater secret, and with
Godds grace so purvey for hem as they shall not all be well
pleasyd. At suche a tyme a man may knowe hese frendes and
hese fooes asonder, &c. Jesu preserve and kepe yow.

     Wretyn at Caster, the vij. day of Feverer, anno xxxiij.
R. H. vjti.                                        JOHN FASTOLF, Knyght.

 

1 [From Fenn, iii. 232.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1455
FEB. 7