Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER LVI.

To John Paston Esqer be thys delyveryd.

RYGHT wyrshypfull brother I comand me to yow let-
     yng yow weet y^t thys daye I was in very p’pose to
Caleys warde all redy to have goon to y^e Barge, saff I teryed
ffor a yonge man y^t I thoght to have had w^t me thyddr, on
that was w^t Rows whyche is in the cowntre, and because I
cowde not geet hym and y^t I have no mor heer w^t me butt
Pampyng Edward and Jak therffor Pampyng remembryd me
that at Caleys he tolde me y^t he p’posed to be w^t the Duchesse
off Norff’ my Lady and yowrs and Edward is syke and semythe
nott abydyng he wolde see what shold falle off thys worlde,
and so I am as he that seythe com’ hyddr John my man, and
as happe was yist’day Juddy went affor to Caleysward wherffor
I am nowe ille p’veyd, whyche ffor owte y^t I knowe yit is lyke
to kepe me heer thys ¹ Wytsontyd wherffor iff ye knowe any
lykly men and ffayr condycōned and good Archers sende them
to me thowe it be iiij and I wyll have them and they shall
have iiij mrks by yer and my Levere.

     He maye com to me hyddr to the Gott or yit to Caleys w^t
a ^* riall iff he be wyse, whyche iff nede bee I wolde y^t
Berker toke hym to come uppe w^t iff it be suche on’ as ye
tryst.

     It’m I suppose bothe Pytte and Kothye Plattyng shall goo
ffrom me in hast, I wyll neu’ cherysshe knaves soo as I have
don ffor ther sakys.

     It’m I praye yow sende me a newe Vestment off whyght
Damaske ffor a Dekyn’, whyche is among myn other geer
at Norwiche, ffor he shall ther too as ye woot off I wyll make
an armyng Doblett off it thow I sholde an other tyme gyff
a longe Gown off Velvett ffor another vestment and send it in
all hast to Hoxon to send me.

     I hopyd to have been verry mery at Caleys thys Whytson-
tyde and am weell apparayled and apoyntyd saff that thes ffolks
ffayle me soo and I have mat’ ther to make off Ryght excellent.
Som man wolde have hastyd hym to Caleys thowe he had
hadd no bett’ erand and som men thynke it wysdom and pro-
fyght to be theer now weell owt off the weye.

     It’m as ffor the ² Bysshop and I we bee nerr^r to a poynt than
we weer, so that that my part is nowe all the londes in Flegge
holly, the man’ off Heylesdon, Tolthorpe, and Teñts in Nor-
wyche and Erlh’m excepte Fayrechylds, but ffarweell Drayton
the Devyll doytt them.

     It’m large and fferr comynycācon hathe ben bytwyen S^r. John
Fogge Ric Haulte ffor ther Sust’ and me byffor Doctor Wynt-
borne and ellys wher so that I am in bett’ hope than I was by
Seynt ³ Lawrens that I shall have a delyu’aunce.

     lt’m as ffor tydyngs heer I trow ye have herde yowr part
howe y^t y^e Erle off Oxenfford landyd by Seynt Ofyes in Essexe
y^e xxviij daye off Maye saff he teryed nott longe ffor iff he
had the Erle of ⁴ Essexe rod to hym wardys and the Lords
Denh’m and Durasse and other mor whyche by lyklyod sholde
have dystrussyd hym but yit hys comyng savyd Hogan hys
hed and hys Profesye is the mor belevyd ffor he seyde that thys
troble sholde begyn in Maye and y^t the Kynge sholde North-
wards and that y^e Scotts sholde make us werke and hym
batayle.

     Men loke afftr they wot not what but men by harneys
ffast the Kyngs menyall men and y^e Duke off Clarauncs ar
many in thys town y^e Lord ⁵Ryu’se com to daye mē seye to
p’veye in lyke wyse.

     It’m how y^t y^e Cowntesse off ⁶Warwyk is now owt off
Beweley Seyntwarye and ⁷ S^r. James Tyrell conveyth hyr North-
warde men seye by the Kynges assent wherto som men seye
y^t the Duke off Clarance is not agreyd.

     It’m men seye y^t the Erle off Oxenfford is abowt the Ilde
off Tenett hoveryng som seye w^t grett companye and som seye
w^t ffewe.

     No mor but God kepe yow. Wretyn at London the iij
daye off June A^o. E. iiij^ti xiij^o.

                                                                John Paston, K.

           11 ? by 8 ?.

            Paper Mark,
  The Letter P, and Quaterfoil.
            Pl. XI.. N^o 15.

London,
              Thursday, 3d of June,
              1473, 13 E. IV.

     The former part of this Letter is of little consequence, except to shew us the Attend-
ants necessary for a Person of Sir John Paston’s (Pl. IV. N^o 9.) rank; the latter hints
to us the unsettled state of the government; and that the King and the Duke of Clarence
were not on amicable terms.

     ¹ Whitsunday, 6th of June, 1473.

     ^* A Rial, a gold coin of 10^s. value.

     ² James Goldwell, Bishop of Norwich, 1472.

     ³ 10th of August.

     ⁴ Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Lord Treasurer.

     ⁵ Anthony Wideville, Earl Rivers, beheaded at Pontefract, 1483.

     ⁶ Anne, widow of Richard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick, Sister and heir to
Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, and Mother of Isabel, the wife of George,
Duke of Clarence.

     ⁷ If this be the Person, who was afterwards thought to be concerned in the murder
of Edward V. and his Brother, the Duke of York, he must have been a Knight much
longer than those who have written on this particular part of our History supposed him to
have been.

LETTER LVI.

To John Paston, Esquire, be this delivered.

RIGHT worshipful Brother, I recommend me to you,
     letting you weet, that this day I was in very purpose
to Calais ward, all ready to have gone to the Barge; save I
tarried for a young man, that I thought to have had with me
thither, one that was with Rows which is in the country; and
because I could not get him, and that I have no more here
with me but Pampyng, Edward, and Jack, therefore Pampyng
remembered me, that at Calais he told me, that he purposed
to be with the Duchess of Norfolk, my Lady and yours; and
Edward is sick, and seemeth not abiding, he would see what
shall fall of this world, and so I am as he that saith; “come
“hither, John, my man;” And as hap was yesterday Juddy
went afore to Calais ward, wherefore I am now ill purveyed;
which for ought that I know yet, is like to keep me here this
¹ Whitsuntide, wherefore if ye know any likely men, and fair
conditioned, and good Archers, send them to me, though it
be four, and I will have them, and they shall have four Marks
(2l. 13s. 4d.) by the year, and my Livery.

     He may come to me hither to the Goat, or yet (else) to
Calais with a ^* rial if he be wise, which if need be, I would
that Barker took (gave) him to come up with, if it be such
one as ye trust.

     Item, I suppose both Pytte, and Kothye Plattyng shall go
from me in haste: I will never cherish Knaves so as I have done,
for their sakes.

     Item, I pray you send me a new Vestment of white Damask
for a Deacon, which is amongst mine other Geer at Norwich,
for he shall thereto as ye wot of; I will make an arming
Doublet of it, though I should another time give a long Gown
of velvet for another vestment; and send it in all haste to
Hoxon to send me.

     I hoped to have been very merry at Calais this Whitsuntide,
and am well apparelled and appointed, save that these folks fail
me so, and I have matter there to make of right excellent.
Some man would have hasted him to Calais, though he had
had no better errand, and some men think it wisdom and profit
to be there now well out of the way.

     Item, as for the ² Bishop and I, we be nearer to a point than
we were, so that my part is now all the Lands in Flegg wholly,
the Manor of Hellesdon, Tolthorpe, and Tenements in Norwich
and Earlham, except Fairchild’s; but farewell Drayton, the
Devil doytt (take) them.

     Item, large and fair communication hath been between Sir
John Fagge and Richard Haulte for their Sister and me, before
Doctor Wyntborne and elsewhere, so that I am in better hope
than I was by St. ³ Lawrence that I shall have a deliverance.

     Item, as for tidings here, I trow ye have heard your part,
how that the Earl of Oxford landed by St. Osyth’s in Essex,
the 28th day of May, save he tarried not long; for if he had, the
Earl of ⁴ Essex rode to him wards, and the Lords Denham
and Duras, (Galliard de Durefort) and other more, which by
likelihood should have distressed him; but yet his coming
saved Hogan his head; and his Prophecy is the more believed;
for he said, that this trouble should begin in May, and that the
King should Northwards, and that the Scots should make us
work, and him battle.

     Men look after they wot not what, but men buy Harness
fast; the King’s menial men, and the Duke of Clarence’s, are
many in this town, the Lord ⁵ Rivers came to day, men say, to
purvey in likewise.

     Item, how that the Countess of ⁶ Warwick is now out of
Beverley Sanctuary and ⁷ Sir James Tyrell conveyeth her North-
wards, men say, by the King’s assent, whereto some men say,
that the Duke of Clarence is not agreed.

     Item, men say, that the Earl of Oxford is about the Isle of
Thanet, hovering, some say, with great company, and some
say, with few.

     Nor more but God keep you. Written at London the 3d
day of June, in the 13th year of Edward IV.

                                                       JOHN PASTON, Knight.

11 ? by 8 ?.

            Paper Mark,
  The Letter P, and Quaterfoil.
            Pl. XI.. N^o 15.

London,
              Thursday, 3d of June,
              1473, 13 E. IV.

     The former part of this Letter is of little consequence, except to shew us the Attend-
ants necessary for a Person of Sir John Paston’s (Pl. IV. N^o 9.) rank; the latter hints
to us the unsettled state of the government; and that the King and the Duke of Clarence
were not on amicable terms.

     ¹ Whitsunday, 6th of June, 1473.

     ^* A Rial, a gold coin of 10^s. value.

     ² James Goldwell, Bishop of Norwich, 1472.

     ³ 10th of August.

     ⁴ Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Lord Treasurer.

     ⁵ Anthony Wideville, Earl Rivers, beheaded at Pontefract, 1483.

     ⁶ Anne, widow of Richard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick, Sister and heir to
Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, and Mother of Isabel, the wife of George,
Duke of Clarence.

     ⁷ If this be the Person, who was afterwards thought to be concerned in the murder
of Edward V. and his Brother, the Duke of York, he must have been a Knight much
longer than those who have written on this particular part of our History supposed him to
have been.

834

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To John Paston, Esqer, be thys delyveryd.

RYGHT wyrshypfull brother, I comand me to yow, letyng
     yow weet that thys daye I was in very purpose to Caleys
     ward, all redy to have goon to the barge, saff I teryed
ffor a yonge man that I thoght to have had with me
thyddr, on that was with Rows, whyche is in the cowntre; and
because I cowde not geet hym, and that I have no mor heer
with me butt Pampyng, Edward, and Jak, therffor Pampyng
remembryd me, that at Caleys he tolde me that he purposed
to be with the Duchesse off Norffolk, my Lady and yowrs.
And Edward is syke and semythe nott abydyng; he wolde see
what shold falle off thys worlde; and so I am as he that seythe
‘Come hyddr John, my man.’ And as happe was yisterday,
Juddy went affor to Caleysward; wherffor I am nowe ille
purveyd, whyche ffor owte that I knowe yit is lyke to kepe me
heer thys Wytsontyd.² Wherffor iff ye knowe any lykly men,
and ffayr condycioned, and good archers, sende them to me,
thowe it be iiij. and I wyll have them, and they shall have iiij.
mrks by yer, and my levere [livery].

     He maye com to me hyddr to the Gott [Goat], or yit to
Caleys with a riall³ iff he be wyse, whyche iff nede bee, I
wolde that Berker toke hym to come uppe with, iff it be suche
one as ye tryst.

     Item, I suppose bothe Pytte and Kothye Plattyng shall goo
ffrom me in hast; I wyll never cherysshe knaves soo as I have
don, ffor ther sakys.

     Item, I praye yow sende me a newe vestment off whyght
damaske ffor a dekyne, whyche is among myn other geer at
Norwiche, ffor he shall ther too as ye woot off: I wyll make
an armyng doblett off it, thow I sholde an other tyme gyff a
longe gown of velvett ffor another vestment, and send it in
all hast to Hoxon to send me.

     I hopyd to have been verry mery at Caleys thys Whytson-
tyde, and am weell apparayled and apoyntyd, saff that thes
ffolks ffayle me soo, and I have mater ther to make off ryght
excellent. Som man wolde have hastyd hym to Caleys thowe
he had hadd no better erand, and som men thynke it wysdom
and profyght to be theer now weell owt off the weye.

     Item, as ffor the Bysshop¹ and I, we bee nerrer to a poynt
than we weer, so that my part is nowe all the londes in Flegge
Holly, the maner off Heylesdon, Tolthorpe, and tenements in
Norwyche and Erlham, excepte Fayrechylds, but ffarweell
Drayton; the Devyll do ytt them.

     Item, large and fferr comynycacion hathe ben bytwyen Sir
John Fogge, Ric. Haulte, ffor ther suster and me, byffor
Doctor Wyntborne and ellys wher, so that I am in better hope
than I was, by Seynt Lawrens² that I shall have a delyveraunce.

     Item, as ffor tydyngs heer, I trow ye have herde yowr
parte, howe that the Erle off Oxenfford landyd by Seynt Osyes
in Essexe, the xxviij. daye off Maye, saff he teryed nott longe,
ffor iff he had, the Erle of Essexe³ rod to hym wardys, and
the Lords Denham and Durasse, and other mor, whyche by
lyklyod sholde have dystrussyd hym; but yit hys comyng
savyd Hogan hys hed, and hys profesye is the mor belevyd
ffor he seyde that thys troble sholde begyn in Maye, and that
the Kynge sholde northwards, and that the Scotts sholde make
us werke and hym batayle.

     Men loke afftr they wot not what, but men by harneys
ffast; the Kyngs menyall men and the Duke off Claraunces,
ar many in thys town; the Lord Ryverse⁴ com to daye, men
seye to purveye in lyke wyse.

     Item, how that the Cowntesse off Warwyk⁵ is now owt
off Beweley Seyntwarye, and Sir James Tyrell conveyth hyr
northwarde, men seye by the Kynges assent, wherto som men
seye that the Duke off Clarance is not agreyd.

     Item, men seye that the Erle off Oxenfford is abowt the
Ilde off Tenett hoveryng, som seye wyth grett companye, and
som seye, with ffewe.

     No mor, but God kepe yow.

     Wretyn at London the iij. daye off June, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^o.

                                                                        JOHN PASTON, K.

                          ¹ [From Fenn, ii. 138.]

                          ² Whitsunday fell on the 6th June in 1473.

                          ³ A royal, a gold coin of 10s. value.

     ¹ Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester.                 ² 10th of August.

     ³ Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Lord Treasurer.

     ⁴ Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, beheaded at Pontefract, 1483.

     ⁵ Anne, widow of Richard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick, sister and heir to
Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, and mother of Isabel, the wife of George,
Duke of Clarence.

1473
JUNE 3

1473
JUNE 3

1473
JUNE 3