Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER XXVII.

To my Modr and to my Brother John Paston.

BROTHER it is so y^t the Kyng schall come in to Norff’
     in hast and I wot nat whethyr y^t I may com’ w^t hym or
nowt if I come I most do make a liu’e of xx^ti gownes whyche
I most pyke owt by your advyse and asfor Clothe for suche
p’sones as be in y^t contre if it myght be had ther at Norwyche
or not I wot not and what p’sones I am not remembryd.
     If my Modre be at ¹ Cast’ as ther schall be no dowt for
the kepyng of y^e place whyl the Kynge is in that contre
that I may have the most p’te at Cast’ and whether ye woll offre
your selfe to wayte uppon the Lorde of Norfolk or not I wolde
ye dyde y^t best wer to do I wolde do my Lorde plesur and s’vyse
and so I wolde ye dyde if I wyst to be sur of hys gode Lorde-
schyp in tyme to kome he schall have CC in a lyu’ye blewe and
² tawny and blew on the leffte syde and bothe darke Colors.

     I pray yow sende me worde and your advyse by Judd of
what men and what horse I cowde be p’veyd off if so be y^t
I most nedys kome and of your advyse in all thyngs be wrygh-
tyng and I schall send yow hastely other tydyngs late ³ Sorell
be well kept.

                                                                       John Paston, Kt.

12 by 8 ½.

     There is no date to this Letter; whether it refers therefore to the coming of the King
into Norfolk, in 1469 or in 1474, is uncertain, and of little Consequence; the chief
reason for inserting it was to show the preparations expected to be made for the attending
upon and receiving him. Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 9.

     The peculiarity of the Duke of Norfolk’s Liveries is worthy notice, being to be made
party-coloured of blue and tawney, having the left side of the former, and the right
of the latter colour.

     N. B. Dresses of this kind may be seen in various illuminated Manuscripts of this age.

     ¹ Caister, near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, formerly the Residence of Sir John Fastolf,
Knight.

     ² Tawney Colour appears to have been a yellowish dusky brown orange colour, and
much worn at this time.

                   ³ A Horse so called.

LETTER XXVII.

To my Mother, and to my Brother John Paston,

BROTHER, it is so that the King shall come into Norfolk
     in haste, and I wot (know) not whether that I may come
with him or not; if I come, I must do make a Livery of 20
Gowns, which I must pick out by your advice; and as for the
Cloth for such persons as be in that Country, if it might be had
there at Norwich, or not, I wot not; and what Persons I am
not remembered.

     If my Mother be at ¹ Caister, as there shall be no doubt for
the keeping of the place while the King is in that Country,
that I may have the most part at Caister.

     And whether ye will offer yourself to wait upon my Lord
of Norfolk or not, I would ye did that best were to do; I
would do my Lord pleasure and service, and so I would ye
did, if I wist (thought) to be sure of his good Lordship in
time to come. He shall have 200 in a Livery blue and ² tawny,
and blue on the lest side, and both dark colours.

     I pray you send me word, and your advice by Judd of what
men, and what horse I could be purveyed of, if so be that I
must needs come, and of your advice in all things by writing,
and I shall send you hastily other tidings. Let ³ Sorrell be
well kept.

                                                      JOHN PASTON, Knight.

12 by 8 ½.

     There is no date to this Letter; whether it refers therefore to the coming of the King
into Norfolk, in 1469 or in 1474, is uncertain, and of little Consequence; the chief
reason for inserting it was to show the preparations expected to be made for the attending
upon and receiving him. Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 9.

     The peculiarity of the Duke of Norfolk’s Liveries is worthy notice, being to be made
party-coloured of blue and tawney, having the left side of the former, and the right
of the latter colour.

     N. B. Dresses of this kind may be seen in various illuminated Manuscripts of this age.

     ¹ Caister, near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, formerly the Residence of Sir John Fastolf,
Knight.

     ² Tawney Colour appears to have been a yellowish dusky brown orange colour, and
much worn at this time.

                  ³ A Horse so called.

715

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my Modr, and to my brother, John Paston.

BROTHER, it is so that the Kyng schall come in to
     Norffolk in hast, and I wot nat whethyr that I may
     come with hym or nowt; if I come I most do make a
livere of xx^ti gownes, whyche I most pyke owt by your advyse;
and as for clothe for suche persones as be in that contre, if it
myght be had ther at Norwyche, or not, I wot not; and what
persones I am not remembryd.

     If my modre be at Caster, as ther schall be no dowt for
the kepyng of the place whyl the Kynge is in that contre, that
I may have the most parte at Caster; and whether ye woll
offre your selfe to wayte uppon the Lorde of Norfolk or not,
I wolde ye dyde that best wer to do; I wolde do my Lorde
plesur and servyse, and so I wolde ye dyde, if I wyst to be sur
of hys gode lordeschyp in tyme to kome. He schall have
CC. in a lyverye blewe and tawny, and blew on the leffte syde,
and bothe darke colors.

     I pray yow sende me worde, and your advyse by Judd of
what men and what horse I cowde be purveyd off, if so be that
I most nedys kome, and of your advyse in all thyngs be
wryghtyng, and I schall send yow hastely other tydyngs.
Late Sorell be well kept.

                                                                      JOHN PASTON, Kt.

     ¹ [From Fenn, ii. 22.] This letter must have been written in the beginning of
June 1469. Edward IV., as appears by the dates of his privy seals, was at Windsor
on the 29th May and at Norwich on the 19th June in that year. Fenn says he was
also in Norfolk in the year 1474, but I can find no evidence of the fact.

1469
JUNE