Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER XII.

To John Paston
Esquyer be thys d˜d

RIGHT Wyrshypfull and hertyly belovyd brother I comand
me to you letyng you wet y^t I receyuyd a lett^r that com
from yow wretyn circa viij Mychalys wherin ye leet me weet
of y^e decesse of S^r Jam^s and y^t my moodre is in p’pose to be
at Norwyche and I am ryght glad y^t sche wyll now doo
somwhat by your advyce Wherfor be war fro hense forthe
y^t noo suche felawe crepe in be twyen hyr and yow and if
ye lyst to take a lytell labo^r ye may lyff ryght well and she
pleasyd it is as good that ye ryde w^t a cople of horse at
hyr cost as syr Jam’ or Richard Calle ye sende me worde
also y^t she in noo wyse wyll p^rueye thyr c li For y^e redemyng
of Sporle late it goo as towchyng that mat^r Iohn Osbern
tolde me that he comonyd w^t yow at Sporle of that
mat^r Ferr he devysed y^t Kokett or suche an other man
sholde to have it the bett^r cheppe leye owt the valewe of
vj yer For to have it vij yer wherto I wolde agr and for
goddys sake if thatt maye be browt abowt late it be doon as
ye woot of it is laten For xxij li by yer yit y^e Fermor graunt
but xxj but to Koket it wolde be worthe xxv li yea and bett^r
                                                        xx
Neu^rthelesse if Koket wyll delyu^r vj li J wolde he had it for
vij yeer w^t thys that my moodr be agreble to y^e same by
cawse of thentresse that she hathe for my brother Will’m
whyche shall nott be of Age thys vij yeer Neu^rthelesse as ye
know myn olde entent I p’pose to p^rvey for hym in an other
plase bett^r thatt theer whyche graunte of my moodre I praye
yow to be my solycytor in whyche and it be browt abowt
Sporle shall be in as goode case as euyr he was. Iohn
Osbern willyd me to make yow a sufficiaunt waraunt to selle
and felle wood at Sporle whyche I remembr ye have in as
ample Forme as can be Neu^rthelesse if thys meane above
wretyn of letyng to Ferme maye be hadde it shall I hope nat
nede to felle ner selle moche but I remytt that geer to yowr
dyscrescon but if ye have suche comforte I praye yow sende
me worde I maye seye to yow John Osbern flateryd me for
he wolde have borowyd mony of me It’m jn retaylyng of
woode theer it weer harde to trist hym he is nedye if
Kokett or whoo so euyr had that man^r to ferme for vij yer
                                    xx
and payd therfor but vj li he sholde to lete it ageyn wynne
xxxvj li whyche be moche wherfor if itt myght bee y^t wer
                        xx
more resenable vj vij li to be reseyvyd and yit is ther lost
xxix li or ellys if ye take lesse mony and fewer yerys so it be
aftr the Rate so ther be p^rueyd C li at y^e lest send worde
It’m ye wroot y^t lyke a trewe man ye sende me xviij^s by
Rycharde Radle ye weer to trewe but he semys to be a false
shrewe For he browt me noon yitt whethyr he be owt of
town or nott kan J nott seye.

     Ye prayed me also to sende yow tydyngs how I spedde in
my mat’ir and in cheff of Mestresse Anne Hault J have
Answer ageyn froo Roome that ther is the welle of grace
and salve sufficiaunt for suche a soor and that J may be
dyspencyd w^t Neu^rthelesse my proctor ther axith a m^1
1 docatys as he demythe but Mast^r Lacy another Rome renner
heer whyche knowyth my seyde proctor theer as he seythe
as weell as bernard knewe hys sheeld seythe y^t he menyth
but an C docats or CC at y^e most wherfor aftr thys Comythe
moor he wrote to me Also q’ papa hoc facit hodiernis diebus
multociens.

     It’m as towchyng Castr I tryst to god y^t ye shall be in it
to myn use or Crystmesse be past.

     It’m yowr ost brygh’m recomand hym to yow and when
he and I Rekenyd I gave hym ij Noblis For yowr borde
whyll ye weer theer in hys absence but in Feythe he wolde
For nowth y^t I kowde doo take j^d. Wherfor ye most thanke
hym or charge me to thanke hym on yowr behalve in som
nexte epystyll y^t ye wryght to me to Caleys he leete me
weet y^t he wolde do moor for yow than soo.

     It’m my lady bowgcher was almost deed but she ys
Amendyd I trowe they Com in to Norff.

     It’m as for W Berker J heer no worde from hym I
praye you Comon w^t Berney ther in he knoweth myn
Conceyt and also J praye yow hast Berney ageyn J wold
not y^t he played the feoll ner wastyd hys tyme ner hys sylu^r

     It’m as for the brace of growndes or on verry goode or
in especiall y^e blak of germyn J can nott seye but ye be a
trewe man but Will’m Mylsent isse a false shrewe So mote I
thee and I trow hys Mast^r y^s too.

     It’m I most have myn Jnstruments hydd^r whyche are
in the chyst in my chambre at Norwyche whyche I praye
yow and berney to gedre Joyntly but natt seu^rally to trusse
in a pedde and sende them me hyddr in hast and a byll ther
in how many pecs thys most be had to avoyde Jdelnesse at
Caleys.

     It’m I preye yow take heed among thatt my stuffe take
noon harme ner that myn evydence wher ye wott of be owt
of Iop^rte.

     It’m J praye yow doo for Berneye as ye kan so y^t he
maye be in sewerte for hys Annywyte and that it be nott
cost’ fro hense forthe to hym any mor to come or sende for it
I pray you wynne yowr sporys in hys mat^r.

     It’m I p’posed to have sent heer w^t the testament of my
fadyr and the scytacons to my Moodr to yow and Arblast^r
but they be nott Redy w^tin ij dayes aftyr the comyng of thys
I suppose they shall be w^t yow and than I shall wryght mor
to yow.

     As for other tydyngs I trust to God thatt the ij dukes of
Clarans and Glowcest^r shall be sette att on by the Adward of
the Kyng.

     Jt’m I hope by the means of y^e Duke of Gloucest^r y^t my
lord ²Archebyshop shall com hom.

     It’m as towchyng my sustr ³Anne I undrestand she hathe
ben passyng seek but I wende y^t she had ben weddyd as for
Yelu^rton he seyde but late y^t he wold have hyr if she had hyr
mony And ellis nott Wherfor me thynkyth that they be nott
verry sewr but amonge all other thyngs I pray yow be war y^t
y^e olde love of Pampyng renewe natt he is nowe fro me J
wott nat what he woll doo No mor Wretyn at london the
xxij daye of Novembr A^o RR E iiij^ti xiij^o.

                                                                ⁴ JOHN PASTON, Kt.

      11 ½ by 17. A whole sheet.
                 Paper Mark,
                 Wheels, &c.
                Pl. x. No. 9.

    This long letter contains a variety of matter, and some curious information
relative to the terms on which manors and estates were let to farm. The par-
ticulars relative to the Court of Rome are interesting, and in some degree
laughable; but we are not clearly informed of the nature of the business be-
tween Mistress Ann Hault and Sir John. The slightest intimation of any
transactions, wherein the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester were parties, de-
mand attention, as most matters in which they were concerned remain at this
day mysterious and obscure.

     ¹ The value of these ducats cannot be readily ascertained.

     ² George Neville, Archbishop of York, though formerly pardoned, had
been accused of holding correspondence with the Earl of Oxford, for which he
was imprisoned at Guines.

     ³ Anne Paston married William Yelverton, grandson of Sir William Yel-
verton the Judge.

     ⁴ Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 9.

LETTER XII.

To John Paston, Esq. be this delivered.

RIGHT worshipful and heartily beloved brother, I commend
me to you, letting you weet that I received a letter that
came from you, written circa viii Michaelis [6 October],
wherein ye let me weet of the decease of Sir James [Glois],
and that my mother is in purpose to be at Norwich, and I
am right glad that she will now do somewhat by your advice,
wherefore beware from henceforth that no such fellow creep
in between her and you; and if ye list to take a little labour,
ye may live right well, if she pleased: it is as good that ye
ride with a couple of horses at her cost, as Sir James or
Richard Calle. Ye send me word also, that she in no wise
will purvey the 100l. for the redeeming of Sporle; let it go:
as touching that matter, John Osbern told me that he
communed with you at Sporle of that matter; farther, he
devised that Cocket, or such another man should, to have it
the better cheap, lay out the value of six years for to have it
seven years, whereto I would agree; and for God’s sake, if
that may be brought about, let it be done: as ye wot of, it
is let for 22l. by the year, yet the farmer grant but 21l.; but
to Cocket it would be worth 25l.; yea, and better: neverthe-
less, if Cocket will deliver six score pounds, I would he had
it for seven years, with this, that my mother be agreeable to
the same, because of the interest that she hath for my
brother William, which shall not be of age this seven years;
nevertheless, as ye know my old intent, I purpose to purvey
for him in another place better than there; of which grant of
my mother, I pray you to be my solicitor; in which, and
[if] it be brought about, Sporle shall be in as good case as
ever he was.

     John Osbern willed me to make you a sufficient warrant
to sell and fell wood at Sporle, which I remember ye have in
as ample form as can be: nevertheless, if this mean above
written, of letting to farm, may be had, it shall, I hope, not
need to fell nor sell much; but I remit that geer to your
discretion: but if ye have such comfort, I pray you send
me word.

     I may say to you John Osbern flattered me, for he would
have borrowed money of me. Item, in retailing of wood
there, it were hard to trust him; he is needy. If Cocket, or
whosoever had that manor to farm for seven years, and paid
therefore but six score pounds, he should, to let it again,
win 36l. which be much; wherefore if it might be, it were
more reasonable six score and seven pounds to be received,
and yet is there lost 29l. or else if ye take less money and
fewer years, so it be after the rate, so there be paid 100l. at
the least, send word.

     Item, ye wrote that like a true man ye sent me 18s. by
Richard Raddle; ye were too true: but he seems to be a
false shrew, for he brought me none yet; whether he be out
of town or not can I not say. Ye prayed me also to send
you tidings how I sped in my matters, and in chief of
Mistress Ann Hault: I have answer again from Rome, that
there is the Well of Grace and salve sufficient for such a
sore, and that I may be dispensed with: nevertheless my
Proctor there asketh a 1000 ¹ducats, as he deemeth; but
Master Lacey, another Rome Renner [Runner] here, which
knoweth my said Proctor there, as he saith, as well as
Bernard knew his shield, saith that he meaneth but an 100
ducats, or 200 at the most; wherefore after this cometh
more: he wrote to me also, Quod Papa hoc facit hodiernis
diebus multociens.

     Item, as touching Caister, I trust to God that ye shall be
in it to mine use, ere Christmas be past.

     Item, your host Brigham recommends him to you, and
when he and I reckoned, I gave him two nobles for your
board, while ye were there in his absence; but in faith he
would, for nought that I could do, take a penny; wherefore
ye must thank him, or charge me to thank him on your
behalf, in some next epistle that ye write to me to Calais:
he let me weet that he would do more for you than so.

     Item, my Lady Bourchier was almost dead, but she is
amended: I trow they come into Norfolk.

     Item, as for W. Barker, I hear no word from him: I pray
you commune with Berney therein, he knoweth my conceit;
and also I pray you hasten Berney again, I would not he
played the fool, nor wasted his time nor his silver.

     Item, as for the brace of growndes [greyhounds], or one
very good, or an especial the black of Germyns; I cannot
say but ye be a true man, but William Mylsent is a false
shrew [knave], so mote I thee [thrive], and I trow his master
is too.

     Item, I must have my instruments hither, which are in
the chest in my chamber at Norwich, which I pray you and
Berney, together jointly, but not severally, to truss in a ped,
and send them me hither in haste, and a bill therein how
many pieces: this must be had, to avoid idleness at Calais.

     Item, I pray you take heed among, that my stuff take
none harm, now that mine evidence, where ye wot of, be out
of jeopardy.

Item, I pray you do for Berney as ye can, so that he may
be in surety for his annuity, and that it be not costious
[expensive] from hence forth to him any more, to come, or
send for it. I pray you win your spurs in his matter.

     Item, I proposed to have sent herewith the Testament
of my father, and the citation to my mother, to you, and
Arblaster; but they be not ready: within two days after the
coming of this I suppose they shall be with you, and then I
shall write more to you. As for other tidings, I trust to
God that the two Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester shall
be set at one by the award of the King.

     Item, I hope by the means of the Duke of Gloucester,
that my Lord ²Archbishop shall come home.

     Item, as touching my sister ³ Ann, I understand she hath
been passing sick; but I wend that she had been wedded: as
for Yelverton, he said but late, that he would have her if
she had her money, and else not; wherefore methinketh that
they be not very sure: but, among all other things, I pray
you beware that the old love of Pampying renew not; he is
now from me: I wot not what he will do.

     No more. Written at London the 22d day of November,
the 13th year of Edward IV.

                                                                ⁴JOHN PASTON, Knt.

              London,
     Monday, 22d November,
          1473. 13 E. iv.

     This long letter contains a variety of matter, and some curious information
relative to the terms on which manors and estates were let to farm. The par-
ticulars relative to the Court of Rome are interesting, and in some degree
laughable; but we are not clearly informed of the nature of the business be-
tween Mistress Ann Hault and Sir John. The slightest intimation of any
transactions, wherein the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester were parties, de-
mand attention, as most matters in which they were concerned remain at this
day mysterious and obscure.

     ¹ The value of these ducats cannot be readily ascertained.

     ² George Neville, Archbishop of York, though formerly pardoned, had
been accused of holding correspondence with the Earl of Oxford, for which he
was imprisoned at Guines.

     ³ Anne Paston married William Yelverton, grandson of Sir William Yel-
verton the Judge.

     ⁴ Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 9.

842

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON²

To John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyvered.

      RYGHT wyrshypfull and hertyly belovyd brother, I
          comand me to yow, letyng you wet that I re-
          ceyvyd a letter that come from yow, wretyn circa
Syr James, and that my moodre is in purpose to be at Nor-
wyche, and I am ryght glad that sche wyll now doo somwhat
by yowr advyce; wherffor be war fro hense forthe that noo
suche felawe crepe in be twyen hyr and yow, and iff ye lyst to
take a lytell labore, ye may lyff ryght well, and she pleasyd.
It is as good that ye ryde with a cople off horse at hyr cost as
Syr James or Richard Calle.

     Ye sende me worde also that she in noo wyse wyll purveye
thyr Cli. for the redemyng off Sporle. Late it goo. As
towchyng that mater, John Osbern tolde me that he comonyd
with yow at Sporle of that mater; ferr he devysed that
Kokett, or suche an other man, sholde, to have it the better
cheppe, leye owt the valewe off vj. yere for to have it vij.
yere, wherto I wolde agre; and for Goddys sake, if thatt
maye be browt abowt, late it be doon. As ye woot of, it is
laten for xxijli. be yere, yit the fermor graunt but xxj.; but
to Kokett it wolde be worthe xxvli., yea and better. Never-
thelesse, if Kokett wyll delyver vj^xx. li., I wolde he had it for
vij. yeer, with thys that my moodre be agreable to the same,
by cawse of th’entresse that she hathe for my brother William,
whyche shall nott be off age thys vij. yeer; neverthelesse, as
ye know myn olde entent, I purpose to purvey for hym in an
other plase better than theer; whyche graunte off my moodre
I praye yow to be my solycytor in, whyche [and] it be browt
abowt, Sporle shall be in as goode case as evyr he was.

     John Osbern willyd me to make yow a sufficiaunt waraunt
to selle and felle wood at Sporle, whyche I remembre ye have
in as ample forme as can be; neverthelesse iff thys meane
above wretyn off letyng to ferme maye be hadde, it shall, I
hope, nat nede to felle ner selle moche. But I remytte that
geer to yowr dyscrescion, but iff ye have suche comforte, I
praye yow sende me worde. I maye seye to yow, John
Osbern flateryd me, for he wolde have borowyd mony off me.

     Item, in retaylyng of woode theer, it weer harde to tryst
hym; he is nedye. If Kokett, or whoo so evyr had that
maner to ferme for vij. yere, and payd therffor but vj^xx.li., he
sholde, to lete it ageyn, wynne xxxvjli., whyche we[re] moche;
wherffor, iff it myght bee, yt wer more resenable vj^xx. vijli. to
be reseyvyd, and yit is ther lost xxixli., or ellys iff ye take lesse
mony and fewer yerys, so it be aftre the rate, so ther be
purveyd Cli. at the lest; send worde.

     Item, ye wroot that lyke a trewe man ye sende me xviijs.
by Richarde Radle. Ye weer to trewe; but he semys to be a
false shrewe, for he browt me noon yitt. Whethyr he be owt
of town or nott, kan I nott seye.

     Ye prayed me also to sende yow tydynges how I spedde in
my materis, and in cheff of Mestresse Anne Hault. I have
answer ageyn fro Roome that there is the welle of grace and
salve sufficiaunt for suche a soore, and that I may be dyspencyd
with; neverthelesse my proctore there axith a m^1. docatys, as
he demythe. But Master Lacy, another Rome renner heer,
whyche knowyth my seyde proctor theer, as he seythe, as
weell as Bernard knewe hys sheeld, seythe that he menyth but
an C. docates or CC. at the most; wherffor afftre thys comythe
moor. He wrote to me also, quod Papa hoc facit hodiernis diebus
multociens.

     Item, as towchyng Caster, I tryst to God that ye shall be
in it to myn use or Crystmesse be past.

     Item, yowr ost Brygham recomand hym to yow, and when
he and I rekenyd, I gave hym ij. noblis for yowr borde, whyll
ye weer theer in hys absence; but in feythe he wolde, for
nowth that I kowde doo, take jd. Wherffor ye most thanke
hym or charge me to thanke hym on yowr behalve in some
nexte epystyll that ye wryght to me to Caleys. He leete me
weet that he wolde do moor for yow than soo.

     Item, my Lady Bowgcher was almost deed, but she ys
amendyd. I trowe they come in to Norffolk.

     Item, as for W. Berker, I heer no worde from hym. I
praye yow comon with Berney ther in, he knoweth myn
conceyt; and also I praye yow hast Berney ageyn. I wold not
that he played the fooll, ner wastyd hys tyme ner hys sylver.

     Item, as for the brace of growndes [greyhounds], or one
verry goode, or in especiall the blak of Germynes, I can
nott seye but ye be a trewe man, but William Mylsent
isse a false shrewe, so mote I thee, and I trow hys master
ys too.

Item, I most have myn instrumentes hydder, whyche are in
the chyst in my chambre at Norwyche, whyche I praye yow
and Berney to gedre joyntly, but natt severally, to trusse in a
pedde,¹ and sende them me hyddre in hast, and a byll ther in
how many peces. Thys most be had to avoyde idelnesse at
Caleys.

     Item, I preye yow take heed among thatt my stuffe take
noon harme, ner that myn evydence, wher ye wott of, be owt
of joperte.

     Item, I praye yow doo for Berneye as ye kan, so that he
maye be in sewerte for hys annywyte, and that it be nott
costious fro hense forthe to hym any mor to come, or sende
for it. I pray yow wynne yowr sporys in hys mater.

     Item, I purposed to have sent heer with the testament
off my fadre and the scytacions to my moodre to yow and
Arblaster; but they be nott redy. Within ij. dayes aftre
the comyng of thys, I suppose they shall be with yow, and
than I shall wryght mor to yow.

     As for other tydynges, I trust to God thatt the ij. Dukes
of Clarans and Glowcester shall be sette att one by the adward
off the Kyng.

     Item, I hope by the means of the Duke of Glowcester that
my Lord Archebyshop² shall come home.

     Item, as towchyng my sustre Anne,³ I undrestand she
hathe bene passyng seek; but I wende that she had ben
weddyd. As for Yelverton, he seyde but late that he wold
have hyr, iff she had hyr mony, and ellis nott; wherffor me
thynkyth that they be nott verry sewre. But, amonge alle
other thynges, I praye yow be ware that the olde love of
Pampyng renewe natt. He is nowe fro me; I wott nat what
he woll doo.

     No more. Wretyn at London, the xxij. daye of Novembre
Anno R. R. E. iiij^ti xiij^o.                                    JOHN PASTON, Kt.

     ² [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

     ³ i.e. circa octabas Michaelis—about the Octaves of Michaelmas, or 6th October.

     ¹ A kind of basket.

     ² George Neville, Archbishop of York, though formerly pardoned, had been
accused of holding correspondence with the Earl of Oxford, for which he was im-
prisoned at Guines.

     ³ Anne Paston married William Yelverton, grandson of Sir William Yelverton,
the Judge.

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NOV. 22