Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER XCV.

To John Plaston
and to non otbyr.

I Recomand me to yow and promyfe yow y^t J haue and fchall
labore and fynde y^e mean y^t ye shall haue honor of yowr
delyng as ye haue hyddr towards as all Jngelond and cu?y man
reportythe and moeou? J am in weye for it by many dyu?se weys.
Wherof ther schall be one exicutyd by thys day xiiij nyght at
y^e fertheft and p?auentu^r w?in vij dayes and iff ye maye kepe it
fo louge J wolde be gladde. And aftr that iff ye have nott from
me other wryghtyng that than ye do ther in for yowr faffgards
and yowr felashep only and to yowr worschypys, and as for the
place no force therfor ye knowe thys hande y?for nedythe no
mencon from whem it Comythe and more ouyr they that be abut
yow be in obloquy of all men and mor ouyr they haue ben
wretyn to by alfe speciall wryghtyng as might be aft? the worlde
yt now is and promyfe yow y? the Dukes Concell worlde y? they
had neuyr be gon it. And more ouyr they be chargyd in payne
of ther lyuys that thow they gate the place they fcholde not
hurt on of yow, ther is nowther ye ner none w^t yow but and he
knewe what is gen?ally reportyd of hym he or ye and god for-
tewne yow wele may thynke hym iiij rymes better in reputacon
of all folk than euyr he was be war whome ye make a concell
to thys mat?. Alfo J lete yow wete Y^t I am in moche mor Com-
fort of yow yan J maye wryght and they J? be about yow haue
cawfe to be mor ferde than ye haue And alfo bewar of spedyng
of yowr stuffe of qwarellys powdr and stone fo that if they assaut
yow er we Come that ye havfe stuffe to dyffende yow of y ovr
and than of my lyfe ye get no mor And that your felaschyp be
euyr ocopyed in renewing of your stuffe Wretyn the mondaye
next aftr holy Roode Daye.

J trow thow ye be not preuy ther
To ther is taken a trews new tyl
Thys Day vij nygh.

8 ? by 9
Paper Mark
A Ring
Pl, XXII, N* 17.

  This Letter is written by Sir John Paston, to his Brother John Paston, to encourage
him to hold out Cailter Castle as long as he has hopes of relief; he tells him of the good
opinion which entertained of the courage and conduct of those in the place, but that
those who besiege it are mentioned in very different manner.

   The Letter is carious, and written in a ftyle to give both spirits and hope to the
besieged.

LETTER XCV.

                        To John Pafton, and to none otber.

I Recommend me you, and promise you that I have and
shall labour and find the mean that ye shall have honour of
your dealing, as ye have hither towards, as all England and
every man reporteth; and moreover I am in way for it by many
divers ways, whereof there shall be one executed by this day
fortnight at the furtheft, and peradventure within seven days,
and if ye may keep it so long I would be glad, and after that if
ye have not form me other writing, that then ye do therin for
your safe-guard and your fellowship only, and to your wor-
ship; and as for the place, no force therefore; ye know this
hand, therefore needeth no mention from whom it cometh; and
moreover they that be abour you be in opliquy of all men. and
moreover they have been written to by as special writing as
might be, after world that now is, and promise you that the
Duke?s consel would that they had never begun it; and more-
over they be charged in pain of their lives, that though they get
the place, they should not hurt one of you; there is neither ye
nor none with you, but, and (if) he knew what is generally
reported of him, he or ye, and God fortune you well, may
think him four times better in reputation of all folk than ever
he was.

    Beware whom ye make a counfel to this matter.

    Also, I let you weet that I am in much more comfort of you
than I may write, and they that be about you have cause to be
more ferde (afraid) than ye have; and also beware of spending
of you stuff of quarrels (square beaded arrows), powder, and
stone (stone bullets), so that if they assault you ere we come, that
ye have stuff to defend you of over, and then of my life ye get
no more and that your fellowship be ever occupied in renewing
of your stuff.

    Written the Monday next, after Holy Rood day.

    I trow, though ye be not privy thereto, there is taken a truce new till this day few night.

Monday,
18th of September,
1469 9 E.IV.

  This Letter is written by Sir John Paston, to his Brother John Paston, to encourage
him to hold out Cailter Castle as long as he has hopes of relief; he tells him of the good
opinion which entertained of the courage and conduct of those in the place, but that
those who besiege it are mentioned in very different manner.

   The Letter is carious, and written in a ftyle to give both spirits and hope to the
besieged.

729

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON³

To John Paston, and to non othyr.

I RECOMAND me to yow, and promyse yow that I have
     and schall labore and fynde the meane that ye schall have
     honor of yowr delyng as ye have hyddr towards, as all
Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I am in
weye for it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one
exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and pera-
ventur within vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it so longe, I
wold be gladde, and aftr that iff ye have nott from me other
wryghtyng, that than ye do ther in for yowr saffgarde and
yowr felaschep only, and to yowr worschypys; and as for
the place, no force therfor. Ye knowe thys hande, therfor
nedythe no mencion from whem it comythe; and more ovyr,
they that be abut yow be in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr
they have ben wretyn to by alse speciall wryghtyng as myght
be, after the worlde that now is, and promyse yow that the
Dukes concell wolde that they had nevyr be gon it; and more
ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther lyvys, that thow they
gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of yow. Ther is
nowther ye ner none with yow, but and he knewe what is
generally reportyd of hym, he or ye, and God fortewne yow
wele, may thynke hym iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all
folk than evyr he was. Be war whom ye make a concell to
thys mater.

     Also I lete yow wete that I am in moche mor comfort of
yow than I maye wryght, and they that be about yow have
cawse to be mor ferde than ye have; and also bewar of
spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and stone, so
that if they assaut yow er we come, that ye have stuffe to
dyffende yow of over, and than of my lyfe ye get no mor,
and that your felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your
stuffe.

     Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.

     I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a trews
new tyl thys day vij. nygh.

     ³ [From Fenn, iv. 394.] See preliminary note to No. 724.

1469
SEPT. 18

1469
SEPT. 18