Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howes

LETTER XXX.

                   To my trusty Frendys
                   S^r Thomas Howys p^rson of
                   Castellcombe beyng at
                   Castre.

RYGHT trusty frendys I grete you well It’ where as the
     Bysshop of ¹ Norwych makyth but delayes in my reson-
able desyre for an eende to be had in the xxv marc of ² Hyke-
lyng y am uppon a Appoyntem’t and throw wyth the heyr of
Clyfford that he shall entree in the hole maner that ys charge-
able wyth my xxv m’rc Rent which the Pryour and Convent
have forfeted the seid hole manor to the heyers undre her Convent
seele of Record because of myne nonne paym’t of xxv m’rc and
so then the Pryo^r shall lese for ever iiij^xx m’rc of Rent And that
wythout onye concience for they have be fals both to the Clyf-
fordys and to me thys vij yeere day and y trust to god to correct
hem so by spirituell law and temp^rell law that all othyr Rely-
gyoux shall take an example to breke the Coven’nt or wille of anye
benefacto^r that avu’cyth hem wyth londs Rents or gode and my
confessours have exorted me gretely ther too.

And Almyghty god kepe you Wryt at london the xxiij
day of Septēber A^o xxx^o R. H. vj.

                                                                   ³ John Fastolf, Kt.

     There is one Walsam wold desyre acquitunce of pardon for
the wydow of Hygh’m, I hafe no cause for hyr husband left
hyr whereoff to pay hyr debts suffisūnt and for me he ferre
the bett^r.

     The wydow noysyth you S^r Thomas that ye sold a wey salt but
for xx^s that she might hafe had xl^s for ev^ry wey I p^ry you aun-
swer that for yo^r acquytaille.

     Itm, sende me the value of Cooke ys ⁴ tenem’t in Drayton
wyth xx acres lond y^rto what it was worth yeerly when it
stode hoole for Sellyng seith it was worth but j noble by yeer.

     This Letter affords a curious instance of Sir John Fastolf’s resolution in determining
to attack a religious society in the Courts of law, and that he should do so by the advice
of his Confessors appears very extraordinary, but I suppose they were Seculars, and they
had always a dislike to the Regular Clergy.

     ¹ Walter Lyhart, or Hart, became Bishop of Norwich in 1446, and died in 1472.

     ² The estate out of which this Rent-Charge of xxv marks had been reserved was settled
on the Priory of Hickling by some of the family of Clifford. William Clifford, in 1419,
assigned this rent-charge to Henry Barton; who, in 1428, assigned it to Sir John Fastolf,
who was now going to convey it to a Clifford again. This Priory was first founded in
1185, 31 H. II. and Roger Oakham was at this time Prior, a most turbulent man, of
whom Sir John Fastolf, in another letter to Sir Thomas Howes, dated 28th of June,
1451, 29 Hen. VI. says (speaking of giving money to religious houses), “The untrouthe
of the Priour of Hykelyng draweth away my devotion in such causes.”

     ³ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 15.

     ⁴ Sir John seems to think that Selling had undervalued the tenement and 20 acres of
land, he set it only at 4d. an acre yearly rent.

LETTER XXX.

To my trusty Friend, Sir Thomas Howes, Parson of Castlecomb,
being at Caister.

RIGHT trusty friend I greet you well, and whereas the
     Bishop of ¹ Norwich maketh but delays in my reasonable
desire for an end to be had in the xxv marks (16l. 13s. 4d.) of
Hickling, I am upon an appointment and through with the
heir of Clifford, that he shall enter in the whole manor that is
chargeable with my xxv marks rent, which the Prior and Con-
vent have forfeited the said whole manor to the heirs under their
Convent Seal of Record, because of mine non-payment of xxv
marks, and so then the Prior shall lose for ever fourscore marks
(53l. 6s. 8d.) of rent, and that without any conscience, for they
have been false both to the Cliffords and to me this seven year
day; and I trust to God to correct them so by Spiritual Law and
Temporal Law, that all other Religious shall take an example
to break the Covenant or will of any Benefactor that advanceth
them with lands, rents, or goods; and my Confessors have
exhorted me greatly thereto. And Almighty God keep you.
Written at London the 23d day of September in the 30th year
of King Henry VI.

                                                ³ JOHN FASTOLF, KNIGHT.

     There is one Walsham would desire acquittance of pardon for
the widow of Heigham, I have no cause, for her husband left
her whereof to pay her debts sufficient, and for me he fares the
better; the widow noiseth you, Sir Thomas, that ye sold a wey
(of) salt but for 20s. that she might have had 40s. for every
wey, I pray you answer that for your acquittal.

     Item, send me the value of Cooke’s ⁴ tenement in Drayton
with twenty acres (of) land thereto, what it was worth yearly,
when it stood whole, for Selling, saith it was worth but one
noble (6s. 8d.) by the year.

     This Letter affords a curious instance of Sir John Fastolf’s resolution in determining
to attack a religious society in the Courts of law, and that he should do so by the advice
of his Confessors appears very extraordinary, but I suppose they were Seculars, and they
had always a dislike to the Regular Clergy.

     ¹ Walter Lyhart, or Hart, became Bishop of Norwich in 1446, and died in 1472.

     ² The estate out of which this Rent-Charge of xxv marks had been reserved was settled
on the Priory of Hickling by some of the family of Clifford. William Clifford, in 1419,
assigned this rent-charge to Henry Barton; who, in 1428, assigned it to Sir John Fastolf,
who was now going to convey it to a Clifford again. This Priory was first founded in
1185, 31 H. II. and Roger Oakham was at this time Prior, a most turbulent man, of
whom Sir John Fastolf, in another letter to Sir Thomas Howes, dated 28th of June,
1451, 29 Hen. VI. says (speaking of giving money to religious houses), “The untrouthe
of the Priour of Hykelyng draweth away my devotion in such causes.”

     ³ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 15.

     ⁴ Sir John seems to think that Selling had undervalued the tenement and 20 acres of
land, he set it only at 4d. an acre yearly rent.

          London
    Thursday 23 Sept^r.
       1451. 30 H. VI.

205

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWES⁵

To my trusty frendys, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of
Castellcombe, beyng at Castre.

       RYGHT trusty frendys, I grete you well. Item where
           as the Bysshop of Norwych⁶ makyth but delayes in
           my resonable desyre for an eende to be had in the
xxv. marc of Hykelyng, y am uppon a appoyntement and
throw wyth the heyr of Clyfford, that he shall entree in the
hole maner that ys chargeable wyth my xxv. marc rent, which
the Pryour and Convent have forfeted the seid hole manor
to the heyers undre her Convent seele of record, because of
myne nonne payment of xxv. marc; and so then the Pryour
shall lese for ever iiij^xx [four score] marc of rent, and that
wythout onye concience, for they have be fals both to the
Clyffordys and to me thys vij. yeere day. And y trust to God
to correct hem so by spirituell law and temporell law, that all
othyr Relygyoux shall take an example to breke the covenant
or wille of anye benefactor that avauncyth hem wyth londs,
rents, or gode; and my confessours have exorted me gretely
ther too. And Almyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London,
the xxiij. day of September anno xxx^o R. H. VI.

                                                                       JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.

     There is one Walsam wold desyre acquitaunce of pardon
for the wydow of Hygham, I hafe no cause, for hyr husband
left hyr whereoff to pay hyr debts suffisaunt, and for me he
ferre the better. The wydow noysyth you, Sir Thomas, that
ye sold a wey salt but for xxs. that she might hafe had xls. for
every wey, I pray you aunswer that for your acquytaille.

     Item, sende me the value of Goold ys tenement in Drayton,
wyth xx. acres lond therto, what it was worth yeerly when it
stode hoole; for Sellyng seith it was worth but j. noble by
yeer.

     ⁵ [From Fenn, iii. 132.]                                                   ⁶ Walter Lyhart or Hart.

SEPT. 23

1451

SEPT. 23