Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER XLIII.

To hys well belovyd John Paston esqēr at Norwyche or to Mes-
tresse Margret hys Modre.

I Comande me to yow letyng yow weet that, &c. (Here follows
     an account that the Duchess of ¹ Suffolk and Duke of Nor-
folk intend again commencing appeals against Sir John Paston
and his brother, &c. concerning Caister, &c.)  I wolde ffayne
have the mesur wher my ffadre lythe at ² Bromholm bothe the
thyknesse and cōpase off the peler at hys hed and ffrom that
the space to y^e Alter and the thyknesse off the Alter and
Imagery off tymbre werk and what hyght the arche is to the
gronde off y^e Ilde and how hye the grounde off the Qwyr is
hyer than the grownde off y^e Ilde.

     It’m I praye yowe late the mesur by pekthred be taken or
elt mesured by yerde, how moche is ffrom the northe gate
ther the brygge was at ³ Gressh’m to y^e sowthewall, and in
lyke fforme ffrom the Este syde to y^e west, also the hyght off
the estewall and the hyght off y^e sowthest towr ffrom y^e grownde
iff ye maye easely. Also what bredde eu’y towr is w^tin y^e
wall and whych towr is moor then other w^tin.

Alsso how manye ffote or what brede eche towr takythe w^tin
iche corner off y^e q’drate ⁴ ovyrthwert the dorys and how many
taylors yards is from y^e moote syde wher the brygg was to y^e
hyghe weye or to y^e heddge all a longe the entre and what
brede the entre is be twyen y^e dykys. I praye yow iff ye have
a leyser in any wyse se thys doone yowrselffe, iff ye maye or ellys
iff Pampyng do it or who y^t ye thynke can doo it I wolle
spende xx^d or as ye seme to have the s’tayn off eu’y thyng
her in. And as for my ffaders tombe I charge yow se it yowr
selffe, and when I speke w^t yow I woll tell yow the cawses why
y^t I desyr thys to be doon.

     As ffor tydyngs the Kyng and y^e Qwyen and moche other
pepell ar ryden and goon to Canterbery nevyr so moche peple
seyn in ⁵ Pylgrymage hertofor at ones as men seye.

     Alsso it is seyde y^t y^e erle of ⁶ Penbroke is taken on to
Brettayn and men saye y^t the Kynge schall have delyu’e off
hym hastely, and som seye y^t the Kynge off France woll se
hym saffe and schall sett hym at lyb’te ageyn.

     It’m Thom’s Fauconbrydge hys hed was yest’daye sett uppon
London brydge lokyng into Kent warde and men seye y^t hys
brother was sor hurte and scope to Seyntwarye to Beu’le.

     S^r. Thom’s Fulfforthe escaped owt of Westm’ w^t an C ⁷ sperys
as men seye and is in to Devenshyr and ther he hathe strekyn
off S^r John Crokkers hed and kylt an other knyght off the
Corteneys as men seye. I wolde ye hadd yowr verry p’don
at onys wherfor I praye yow ffayle not to be at London w^tin
iiij daye afftr Seynt ³ Feythe ye schall do goode in many thynges
and I praye yow sende me worde heroff by the next massenger
and if it come to Mestresse Elysabeth Hyggens at y^e blak Swan
sche schall conveye it to me ffor I woll not ffayle to be ther at
London ageyn w^tin thys vj dayes.

     Mestresse Elysab^th hathe a son and was delyu’yd w^tin ij dayes
afftr Seynt ⁹ Bertelmew and hyr Dowtr A. H. was y^e next
daye afftr delyu’yd off an other Sone as sche seythe xj weks
er hyr tyme it was crystened ¹⁰ John and is ded God save all. No
mor tyll I speke w^t yow.

     Wretyn at London on Mychellmesse Evyn.

                                                                                   J. P. K.

     It’m I praye yow late some wytty Felaw or ellys yowrselff
goo to y^e townes ther as thes ij women dwelle and inq’re
whether they be maryed syns and ageyn or not, ffor I holde
the Hoorys weddyd and iff they be than the appelys wer abba-
tyd ther by I remēbr not ther names ye knowe them better
then I. Alsso in y^e Schreffvys bookys ther maye ye ffynde
off them.

12 by 8 ½.

 London,
              Saturday, 28th of September,
              1471, II E. IV.

We may from this Letter pick out some curious particulars relative to the Church of
Bromholm Abbey, in Norfolk, and likewise form some plan of the embattled Mansion of
the Pastons at Gresham, in Norfolk, Buildings which are now both in ruins.

     ¹ Elizabeth, Sister of Edward IV.

 ² John Paston, was most sumptuously buried in the Abbey Church, of Bromholm, in
1466; these measures, I suppose, were required in order to adopt a Plan for his mo-
nument.

     ³ This mansion, built by the Stutevilles, was, by licence from Edward II. embattled
by the Bacons; Sir William Paston, the Judge, purchased this estate.

⁴ The Drawing, here given in the Original Letter, is intended, by Sir John Paston,
for a Plan of the Quadrangle at Gresham, and if we suppose that the projection in the
side represents the Bridge, then that must be the North side, and so we have a complete
Ichnography of the whole. See Pl. XI. N^o 17.

     ⁵ Perhaps on account of the Sickness mentioned in the last Letter.

 ⁶ Jasper Tudor de Hatfield, Earl of Pembroke, half brother to Henry VI. He went
into Bretany, to his Nephew, Henry, Earl of Richmond, whom he attended at Bosworth
Field, and was by him created Duke of Bedford; he died in 1495.

     ⁷ Spearmen;—men armed with Spears.

 ⁸ 5th of October.

     ⁹ 24th of August.

     ¹⁰ The conclusion of this Letter seems to refer to some private Amours of Sir John,

(Pl. IV. N^o 10.) and if A. H. stand for Anne Hault, she appears to be a Mistress of his;
but this is not certain, yet it is probable, by the next Letter but one, that she was his
Mistress, as he there says, “he will tempt God no more so.”

LETTER XLIII.

To his well beloved John Paston, Esquire, at Norwich, or to
Mrs. Margaret, his Mother.

I Commend me to you, letting you weet that, &c. (Here follows
     an account, that the Duchess of ¹ Suffolk and Duke of Nor-
folk intend again commencing Appeals against Sir John Paston
and his Brother, &c. concerning Caister, &c.) I would fain
have the measure where my Father lieth at ² Bromholm; both
the thickness, and compass of the Pillar at his head, and from
that, the space to the Altar, and the thickness of that Altar, and
Imagery of timber work; and what height the Arch is to the
ground of the Isle, and how high the ground of the Choir is
higher than the ground of the Isle.

     Item, I pray you let the measure by packthread be taken, or
else measured by yard, how much is from the North Gate,
where the Brigg was, at ³ Gresham to the South Wall, and in
like form from the East side to the West; also the height of the
East Wall, and the height of the South-east Tower from the
ground, if ye may easily. Also what breadth every Tower is
within the Wall, and which Tower is more than other within.

Also how many foot, or what breadth each Tower taketh
within each corner of the Quadrate ⁴ overthwart the Doors,
and how many Taylor’s Yards is from the Mote side, where
the Brigg was, to the highway, or to the hedge all along the
Entry, and what breadth the Entry is between the Dikes.

     I pray you, if ye have a leisure in any wise, see this done
yourself if ye may, or else if Pampyng do it, or who that ye
think can do it; I would spend 20d. or as ye seem (more,
if you think proper,) to have the certain of every thing herein.

     And as for my Father’s Tomb, I charge you see it yourself,
and when I speak with you, I will tell you the causes, why that
I desire this to be done.

     As for tidings, the King, and the Queen, and much other
People, are ridden and gone to Canterbury, never so much peo-
ple seen in ⁵ Pilgrimage heretofore at once, as men say.

     Also it is said, that the Earl of ⁶ Pembroke is taken unto
Bretagne; and men say, that the King shall have delivery of
him hastily; and some say, that the King of France will see him
safe, and shall set him at liberty again.

     Item, Thomas Fauconbridge his head was yesterday set upon
London Bridge, looking into Kent ward; and men say, that his
Brother was sore hurt, and escaped to Sanctuary to Beverley.

     Sir Thomas Fulforth escaped out of Westminster with 100
⁷ Spears, as men say, and is into Devonshire, and there he hath

stricken off Sir John Crokker’s head, and killed another Knight
of the Courtenays, as men say: I would ye had your very
(true) Pardon at once; wherefore I pray you fail not to be at
London within four days after Saint ⁸ Faith’s; ye shall do good
in many things, and I pray you send me word hereof by the
next messenger; and, if it come to Mrs. Elizabeth Higgens at
the Black Swan, she shall convey it to me, for I will not fail to
be there at London again within this six days.

     Mrs. Elizabeth hath a Son, and was delivered within two
days after Saint ⁹ Bartholomew; and her Daughter A. H. was,
the next day after, delivered of another Son, as she saith, eleven
weeks ere her time; it was christened ¹⁰John, and is dead,
God save all; no more till I speak with you.

     Written at London on Michaelmas Even.

                                                         JOHN PASTON, Knight.

     Item, I pray you let some witty Fellow, or else yourself, go
to the towns there as (where) these two women dwell, and
inquire whether they be married since and again or not, for
I hold the Hoorys (Whores) wedded; and if they be, then the
appeals were abated thereby. I remember not their names, ye
know them better than I. Also in the Sheriff’s Books there
may ye find of them.

12 by 8 ½.

 London,
              Saturday, 28th of September,
              1471, II E. IV.

We may from this Letter pick out some curious particulars relative to the Church of
Bromholm Abbey, in Norfolk, and likewise form some plan of the embattled Mansion of
the Pastons at Gresham, in Norfolk, Buildings which are now both in ruins.

     ¹ Elizabeth, Sister of Edward IV.

 ² John Paston, was most sumptuously buried in the Abbey Church, of Bromholm, in
1466; these measures, I suppose, were required in order to adopt a Plan for his mo-
nument.

     ³ This mansion, built by the Stutevilles, was, by licence from Edward II. embattled
by the Bacons; Sir William Paston, the Judge, purchased this estate.

⁴ The Drawing, here given in the Original Letter, is intended, by Sir John Paston,
for a Plan of the Quadrangle at Gresham, and if we suppose that the projection in the
side represents the Bridge, then that must be the North side, and so we have a complete
Ichnography of the whole. See Pl. XI. N^o 17.

     ⁵ Perhaps on account of the Sickness mentioned in the last Letter.

 ⁶ Jasper Tudor de Hatfield, Earl of Pembroke, half brother to Henry VI. He went
into Bretany, to his Nephew, Henry, Earl of Richmond, whom he attended at Bosworth
Field, and was by him created Duke of Bedford; he died in 1495.

     ⁷ Spearmen;—men armed with Spears.

 ⁸ 5th of October.

     ⁹ 24th of August.

     ¹⁰ The conclusion of this Letter seems to refer to some private Amours of Sir John,

(Pl. IV. N^o 10.) and if A. H. stand for Anne Hault, she appears to be a Mistress of his;
but this is not certain, yet it is probable, by the next Letter but one, that she was his
Mistress, as he there says, “he will tempt God no more so.”

782

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON³

To hys well belovyd John Paston, Esquier, at Norwyche,
or to Mestresse Margret, his Modre.

I COMANDE me to yow, letyng yow weet that, &c.⁴
     I wolde ffayne have the mesur wher my ffadre lythe
     at Bromholm; bothe the thyknesse and compase off the
peler at hys hed, and ffrom that the space to the alter, and the
thyknesse off that alter, and imagery off tymbre werk; and
what hyght the arche is to the grounde off the ilde, and how
hye the grounde off the qwyr is hyer than the grownde off
the ilde.

     Item, I praye yowe late the mesur by pekthred be taken
or elt mesured by yerde, how moche is ffrom the northe gate,
ther the brygge was, at Gressham to the sowthewall, and in
lyke fforme ffrom the este syde to the west, also the hyght off
the estewall, and the hyght of the sowthest towr ffrom the
grownde, iff ye maye easely. Also what bredde every towr is
within the wall, and whych towr is moor then other within.

     Alsso how manye ffote, or what brede eche towr takythe
within iche corner off the quadrate¹ ovyrthwert the dorys, and
how many taylors yards is from the moote syde, wher the
brygg was, to the hyghe weye, or to the heddge all a longe
the entre, and what brede the entre is be twyen the dykys. I
praye yow, iff ye have a leyser in any wyse, se thys doone
yowrselffe iff ye maye; or ellys iff Pampyng do it, or who
that ye thynke can doo it, I wolle spende xxd. or as ye seme to
have the sertayn off every thyng her in. And as for my
ffaders tombe, I charge yow se it yowr selffe, and when I
speke with yow I woll tell yow the cawses why that I desyr
thys to be doon.

     As ffor tydyngs, the Kyng, and the Qwyen, and moche
other pepell, ar ryden and goon to Canterbery, nevyr so
moche peple seyn in Pylgrymage hertofor at ones, as men
seye.

     Alsso it is seyde that the Erle of Penbroke² is taken on to
Brettayn; and men saye that the Kynge schall have delyvere

off hym hastely, and som seye that the Kynge off France woll
se hym saffe, and schall sett hym at lyberte ageyn.

     Item, Thomas Fauconbrydge hys hed was yesterdaye sett
uppon London Brydge, lokyng into Kent warde; and men
seye that hys brother was sor hurte, and scope to seyntwarye
[sanctuary] to Beverle.

     Sir Thomas Fulfforthe escaped owt of Westminster with
an C. sperys, as men seye, and is in to Devenshyr; and ther
he hathe strekyn off Sir John Crokkers hed, and kylt an other
knyght off the Corteneys, as men seye. I wolde ye hadd
yowr verry pardon at onys; wherfor I praye yow ffayle not
to be at London within iiij. daye afftr Seynt Feythe;¹ ye
schall do goode in many thynges, and I praye yow sende
me worde heroff by the next massenger; and if it come to
Mestresse Elysabeth Hyggens, at the Blak Swan, sche schall
conveye it to me, ffor I woll not ffayle to be ther at London
ageyn within thys vj. dayes.

     Mestresse Elysabeth hathe a son, and was delyveryd within
ij. dayes afftr Seynt Bertelmew;² and hyr dowtr A. H. was
the next daye afftr delyveryd off an other sone, as sche seythe,
xj. weks er hyr tyme; it was crystened John, and is ded.
God save all! No mor tyll I speke with yow.

     Wretyn at London on Mychellmesse Evyn.

                                                                                       J. P., K.

     Item, I praye yow late some wytty felaw, or ellys yowr-
selff, goo to the townes ther as thes ij. women dwelle, and
inquire whether they be maryed syns and ageyn or not, ffor I
holde the hoorys weddyd; and iff they be, than the appelys
wer abbatyd ther by. I remembr not ther names; ye knowe
them better then I. Alsso in the Schreffvys bookys ther maye
ye ffynde off them.

     ³ [From Fenn, ii. 80.] The evidences of date in this letter are the same as in
the last.

     ⁴ Here follows an account that the Duchess of Suffolk and Duke of Norfolk intend
again commencing appeals against Sir John Paston and his brother, etc., concerning
Caister, etc.—F.

¹ A drawing is here given in the original letter, apparently designed as a plan of
the quadrangle of Gresham, of which the subjoined is a facsimile.

 ² Jasper Tudor.

¹ 5th of October.              ² 24th of August.

SEPT. 28

SEPT. 28

1471

SEPT. 28