Sir John Paston to John Paston

Add. 43491, f. 16

15 September 1471

Gairdner, Vol V, item 781; Fenn, Vol II, Edward IV item 42

LETTER XLII.

To Mestresse Margret Paston or to John Paston Esqier byr
Sone in hast.

RYGHT well belovyd brother I comende me to yow
letyng yow wete y^t I am in wellffar I thanke God and
have ben euyr syns y^t I spake last w^t yow, and mervayle for y^t
ye sent neu’ wryghtynge to me syns ye departyd I herde nevyr
syn’ y^t tyme any worde out off Norff’ ye myght aft’ ¹ Bertle-
mai feyr have had messengers I nowe to London and iff ye
had sent to Wykys he scholde have cōveyed it to me. I herde
yist’daye y^t a Worsted man off Norff’ y^t solde ² Worstedys at
Wynchest’ seyde y^t my Lord of Norff’ and my Lady wer on
pylgrymage at ³ Our Lady on ffoot and so they went to Cast’
and y^t at Norwyche on scholde have had large langage to yow
and callyd yow ⁴ Traytor and pyked many q’rellys to yow,
sende me worde ther off, it wer well doo y^t ye wer a lytell
sewrer off yowr pardon than ye be auyse you, I deme ye woll
her afftr ellys repent yow.

I undre-

I undrestonde y^t Bastarde⁵Faucōbryge is owther hedyd or
lyke to be and hys brother bothe; Some men seye he wolde
have deservyd it and som sey naye.

I p’pose to be att London the ffyrst daye off the terme send
me worde, whethyr ye schall be ther or nott.

It’m I wolde wete whether ye have spoken wyth my Lady off
Norff’ or not and off hyr disposicōn and the howsoldys to me
and to yow wardes and whether it be a possible to have Cast’
ageyn and ther goodewylles or not; and also I praye yow
undrestande what ffelaschyp and guydyng is in Cast’ and have
a spye resortyng in and owt, so maye ye know the secretys
among them. Ther is moche adoo in the Northe as men seyn
I pray yow be ware off yowr guydyng and in cheff off yowr
langage, and so y^t ffro hense fforthe by yowr langage noo
man p’ceyve y^t y^e ffavor any p’son cotrary to y^e Kynges ple-
sur. I undrestonde. y^t y^e Lord ⁶ Ryu’s hathe lycence off y
Kynge to goo to Portyngale now w^tin thys vij nyght. I pray
yow recomande me to my modre and beseche hyr off hyr
blyssyng on my be halve. (Here follow some directions about
payments of money.) It’m I praye yow sende me worde iff
any off owr ffrendys or wellwyllers be dede, ffor I feer y^t ther
is grete dethe in Norwyche and in other Borowgh townese in

Norff’,

Norff’, ffor I ensur you it is the most unyu’sall dethe y^t euyr
I wyst in Ingelonde ffor by my trowthe I kan not her by Pyl-
grymes y^t passe y² contre nor noon other man y^t rydethe or
gothe any contre y^t any borow town in Ingelonde is ffree ffrom
y^{t 7} Sykenesse God scase it whan it pleasyt hym. Wherffor
ffor Goddysake late my Moodre take heede to my yonge bry-
theren that they be not in noon place wher that sykenesse is
regnyng, nor that they dysport not w^t noon other yonge peple
whyche resortythe wher any sykenesse is, and iff y^r be any off
that sykenesse ded or enffect in Norwyche ffor Goddes sake
lete hyr sende them to som ffrende off hyrse in to the contre
and do ye y^e same by myn advyce, late my Moodre rather
remeve hyr howsesolde in to y^e contre.

Even now Thyrston browt me word ffro London y^t it was
Doctor Aleyn y^t cawsyd yowr troble y^t ye had at Norwych, and
y^t John Pamp[SYM]ng roode ffor a dyscharge ffor yow and y^t he hathe
sped well but hōghe y^t wot I nott, iff ye be cleer owt off Doctor
Aleyn danger kepe yow ther and her afftr ye maye schoffe as
well at hys carte I praye yow sende me worde off all the fforme
off hys delyng w^t yow.

I had almost spoke w^t Mestresse An’ Hault, but I dyd not
nevyrthelesse thys next terme I hope to take on weye w^t hyr
or other sche is agreyd to speke w^t me and sche hopythe to doo
me ease as sche saythe.

I p’ye yow sende me worde hoghe ye doo w^t my Lady
Elysabeth Boghscher ye have a lytell chaffyd it but I can not
tell howe, sende me worde whether ye be in bett’ hope or
werse. I her seye y^t the Erle off Oxenffordys bretheryn be
goon out off ⁸ Sceyntewarye, S^r. Thom’s ⁹ Fulfforthe is goon
owt off Sceyntewarye and a gret ffelaschyp ffettchyd hym a
iij^xx and they sey y^t w^t in v myle off London he was CC
men and no man watethe wher he is become not yit.

The Lordes Hastyngs and Howerd be in Caleys and have it
pesebely and S^r. Walter Wrettesle and S^r. Jessrey Gate be comyn
thense and woll be at London thys daye as it is seyde.

Wret[SYM]n at Walth’m besyd Wynchest’ the daye nex ¹⁰ Holy
Roode daye.

J. P. K.

11 ? by 11 ?

             Paper Mark,
             Bull’s Head.
             Pl. XI. N^o 12.

13th or 15th of September,
1471, 11 E. IV.

This Letter contains no Anecdotes of much consequence, yet we may learn from it
how little intercourse was kept up between one part of the kingdom and another; no
opportunity perhaps having occurred of sending a Letter from Norwich to London,
unless at the time of the Fair;—another thing strikes us, which is, the use that Pilgrims
were of, in conveying intelligence. The advice which Sir John (Pl. IV. N^o 10,)

hints to his brother is good, and his anxious concern for the safety of his young bre-
thren, gives us a favourable opinion of his kind disposition towards them.

¹ Bartholomew Fair, in Smithfield.

² Worsted, in Norfolk, a town formerly famous for the spinning of the fine thread,
with which the yarn called Worsted, is made.
³ Of Walsingham.

⁴ This refers to the part he had taken previous to, and at, the restoration of Henry VI.

⁵Thomas Neville, the natural Son of William, Lord Fauconberg, called the Bastard
Fauconberg, having adhered to Henry VI. was, on his taking the Government, appointed
Vice Admiral of the Channel, which place, on the change of Affairs, he lost; and being
a man of loose Character, first turned Pirate, and then landing, collected a large army,
with which he attempted to surprise London; where being repulsed, he retired, and on the
King’s advancing towards him submitted; when he was not only pardoned, but knighted,
and again appointed Vice Admiral. This happened in May, 1471, but was of short
continuance, for between the 13th and 29th of September following, he was beheaded,
though whether for any fresh crime or not is uncertain.

⁶ On a Pilgrimage.

⁷ I do not find this year marked by our Historians, as a year of Sickness.

⁸ Till the reign of Henry VIII. all our Churches and Church-yards were Sanctuaries,
and protected Traitors, Murderers, &c. if within forty days they acknowledged their
fault, and submitted themselves to banishment;—the most eminent Sanctuaries in Eng-
land were St. John’s of Beverley, St. Martin’s Le Grand, Rippon in Yorkshire,
St. Burien’s in Cornwall, and Westminster.

⁹ Sir Thomas Fulford, was Son of Sir Baldwin Fulford, beheaded at Bristol, in
1461; he likewise ended his life on the Scaffold.

¹⁰ Holyrood day, 14th of September.

LETTER XLII.

To Mrs. Margaret Paston, or to John Paston, Esquire, her
Son, in baste.

RIGHT well beloved Brother, I commend me to you,
letting you weet, that I am in welfare I thank God, and
have been ever since that I spake last with you; and marvel
sore, that ye sent never writing to me since ye departed; I heard
never since that time any word out of Norsolk; ye might at
² Bartholomew Fair have had Messengers enough to London,
and if ye had sent to Wykes, he should have conveyed it to me.
I heard yesterday, that a Worsted man of Norfolk, that sold
² Worsteds at Winchester, said, that my Lord of Norfolk and
my Lady were on Pilgrimage at ³ Our Lady on foot, and so
they went to Caister; and that at Norwich one should have had
large language to you, and called you ⁴ Traitor, and picked
many quarrels to you; send me word thereof; it were well
done, that ye were a little surer of your pardon than ye be,
avise you, I deem ye will hereafter else repent you.

I understand that Bastard ⁵ Fauconbridge is either headed, or
like to be, and his Brother both; some men say he would have
deserved it, and some say nay.

’I purpose to be at London the first day of the term, send
me word whether ye shall be there or not.

Item, I would weet whether ye have spoken with my Lady
of Norfolk, or not, and of her disposition and the household’s to
me and to you wards, and whether it be a possible (thing) to
have Caister again and their Good Wills, or not.

And also I pray you understand what Fellowship and Guiding
is in Caister; and have a Spy resorting in and out, so may ye
know the secrets amongst them.

There is much ado in the North, as men say; I pray you
beware of your Guiding, and in chief of your language, so
that from henceforth, by your language no man perceive, that
ye favour any person contrary to the King’s pleasure.

I understand that the Lord ⁶ Rivers hath Licence of the
King to go to Portugal now within this seven-night.

I pray you recommend me to my Mother, and beseech her of
her blessing on my behalf. (Here follow some directions about
payments of money.)

Item, I pray you send me word, if any of our Friends or
Wellwillers be dead, for I fear that there is great death in
Norwich, and in other Borough Towns in Norfolk; for I en-

sure (assure) you, it is the most universal Death that ever I wist
in England; for by my truth, I cannot hear by Pilgrims that
pass the country, nor none other man that rideth or goeth
any country, that any Borough Town in England is free from
that ⁷ Sickness; God cease it, when it please him.

Wherefore for God’s sake, let my Mother take heed to my
young Brethren, that they be not in none place where that
Sickness is reigning, nor that they disport not with none other
young people, which resorteth where any sickness is; and if
there be any of that sickness dead or enfect (infected) in Nor-
wich, for God’s sake, let her send them to some friend of hers
into the country, and do ye the same by mine advice; let my
Mother rather remove her household into the country.

Even now Thyrston brought me word from London, that it
was Doctor Allen that caused your trouble that ye had at
Norwich; and that John Pampyng rode for a discharge for you,
and that he hath sped well, but how, that wot I not; if ye be
clear out of Doctor Allen’s danger, keep you there, and here-
after ye may scoff as well at his cart; I pray you send me
word of all the form of his dealing with you.

I had almost spoken with Mrs. Anne Hault, but I did not,
nevertheless this next term I hope to take one way with her or
other; she is agreed to speak with me, and she hopeth to do
me ease, as she saith.

I pray you send me word how ye do with my Lady Elizabeth
Bourchier, ye have a little chassed it, but I cannot tell how;
send me word whether ye be in better hope or worse.

I hear say that the Earl of Oxford’s Brethren be gone out of
⁸ Sanctuary. Sir Thomas ⁹ Fulforth is gone out of Sanctuary,
and a great Fellowship setched him, a three score, and they say,
that within five miles of London he was 200 men, and no man
wateth (knoweth) where he is become not yet. The Lords
Hastings and Howard be in Calais, and have it peaceably; and
Sir Walter Wrottesly and Sir Jessrey Gate be coming thence,
and will be at London this day as it is said.

Written at Waltham beside Winchester the day next ¹⁰ Holy
Rood day.

JOHN PASTON, Knight.

11 ? by 11 ?

             Paper Mark,
             Bull’s Head.
             Pl. XI. N^o 12.

13th or 15th of September,
1471, 11 E. IV.

This Letter contains no Anecdotes of much consequence, yet we may learn from it
how little intercourse was kept up between one part of the kingdom and another; no
opportunity perhaps having occurred of sending a Letter from Norwich to London,
unless at the time of the Fair;—another thing strikes us, which is, the use that Pilgrims
were of, in conveying intelligence. The advice which Sir John (Pl. IV. N^o 10,)

hints to his brother is good, and his anxious concern for the safety of his young bre-
thren, gives us a favourable opinion of his kind disposition towards them.

¹ Bartholomew Fair, in Smithfield.

² Worsted, in Norfolk, a town formerly famous for the spinning of the fine thread,
with which the yarn called Worsted, is made.
³ Of Walsingham.

⁴ This refers to the part he had taken previous to, and at, the restoration of Henry VI.

⁵Thomas Neville, the natural Son of William, Lord Fauconberg, called the Bastard
Fauconberg, having adhered to Henry VI. was, on his taking the Government, appointed
Vice Admiral of the Channel, which place, on the change of Affairs, he lost; and being
a man of loose Character, first turned Pirate, and then landing, collected a large army,
with which he attempted to surprise London; where being repulsed, he retired, and on the
King’s advancing towards him submitted; when he was not only pardoned, but knighted,
and again appointed Vice Admiral. This happened in May, 1471, but was of short
continuance, for between the 13th and 29th of September following, he was beheaded,
though whether for any fresh crime or not is uncertain.

⁶ On a Pilgrimage.

⁷ I do not find this year marked by our Historians, as a year of Sickness.

⁸ Till the reign of Henry VIII. all our Churches and Church-yards were Sanctuaries,
and protected Traitors, Murderers, &c. if within forty days they acknowledged their
fault, and submitted themselves to banishment;—the most eminent Sanctuaries in Eng-
land were St. John’s of Beverley, St. Martin’s Le Grand, Rippon in Yorkshire,
St. Burien’s in Cornwall, and Westminster.

⁹ Sir Thomas Fulford, was Son of Sir Baldwin Fulford, beheaded at Bristol, in
1461; he likewise ended his life on the Scaffold.

¹⁰ Holyrood day, 14th of September.

781

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To Mestresse Margret Paston, or to John Paston, Esqier,
hyr sone, in hast.

RYGHT well belovyd brother, I comende me to yow,
letyng yow wete that I am in wellffar, I thanke God,
and have ben evyr syns that I spake last with yow;
and mervayle for that ye sent never wryghtynge to me syns
ye departyd; I herde nevyr synes that tyme any worde out off
Norffolk; ye myght aft Bertlemai Feyr² have had messengers
i nowe to London, and iff ye had sent to Wykys, he scholde
have conveyed it to me. I herde yisterdaye, that a Worsted
man of Norffolk, that solde worstedys³ at Wynchester, seyde
that my Lord of Norffolk and my Lady wer on pylgrymage
at Our Lady⁴ on ffoot, and so they went to Caster; and that
at Norwyche on scholde have had large langage to yow, and
callyd yow traytor, and pyked many quarellys to yow. Sende
me worde ther off; it wer well doo, that ye wer a lytell sewrer
off yowr pardon than ye be: avyse you, I deme ye woll her
afftr ellys repent yow.

I undrestonde that Bastarde Fauconbryge⁵ is owther hedyd
or lyke to be, and hys brother bothe; some men seye he wolde
have deservyd it, and som sey naye.

I purpose to be att London the ffyrst daye off the terme;
send me worde whethyr ye schall be ther or nott.

Item, I wolde wete whether ye have spoken wyth my Lady
off Norffolk or not, and off hyr disposicion and the howsoldys
to me and to yow wardes, and whether it be a possible to have
Caster ageyn and ther goodewylles or not; and also I praye
yow undrestande what ffelaschyp and guydyng is in Caster,
and have a spye resortyng in and owt, so maye ye know the
secretys among them. Ther is moche adoo in the Northe, as
men seyn; I pray yow be ware off yowr guydyng, and in
cheff off yowr langage, and so that ffro hense fforthe by yowr
langage noo man perceyve that ye ffavor any person contrary
to the Kynges plesur. I undrestonde that the Lord Ryvers
hathe lycence off the Kynge to goo to Portyngale now within
thys vij. nyght. I pray yow recomande mo to my modre, and
beseche hyr off hyr blyssyng on my be halve.¹

Item, I praye yow sende me worde iff any off owr ffrendys
or wellwyllers be dede, ffor I feer that ther is grete dethe in
Norwyche, and in other Borowgh townese in Norffolk, ffor I
ensur you it is the most unyversall dethe that evyr I wyst in
Ingelonde; ffor by my trowthe, I kan not her by pylgrymes
that passe the contre, nor noon other man that rydethe or
gothe any contre, that any Borow town in Ingelonde is ffree
ffrom that sykenesse; God sease it whan it pleasyt Hym.
Wherffor, ffor Goddysake, let my moodre take heede to my
yonge brytheren that they be not in noon place wher that
sykenesse is regnyng, nor that they dysport not with noon
other yonge peple whyche resortythe wher any sykenesse is,
and iff ther be any off that sykenesse ded or enffect in
Norwyche, ffor Goddes sake, lete hyr sende them to som
ffrende off hyrse in to the contre, and do ye the same by myn
advyce; late my moodre rather remeve hyr howsesolde in to
the contre.

Even now Thyrston browt me word ffro London that it
was Doctor Aleyn that cawsyd yowr troble that ye had at
Norwych; and that John Pampyng roode ffor a dyscharge
ffor yow, and that he hathe sped well, but howghe, that wot I
nott; iff ye be cleer owt off Doctor Aleyn danger, kepe yow
ther, and her afftr ye maye schoffe as well at hys carte. I
praye yow sende me worde off all the fforme off hys delyng
with yow.

I had almost spoke with Mestresse Ann Hault, but I dyd
not; nevyrthelesse thys next terme I hope to take on weye
with hyr or other; sche is agreyd to speke with me, and sche
hopythe to doo me ease as sche saythe.

I praye yow sende me worde hoghe ye doo with my Lady
Elysabeth Boghscher; ye have a lytell chaffyd it, but I can
not tell howe; sende me worde whether ye be in better hope
or werse. I her seye that the Erle off Oxenffordys bretheryn
be goon owt off Sceyntewarye. Sir Thomas Fulfforthe¹ is
goon owt off Sceyntewarye, and a gret ffelaschyp ffettchyd
hym, a iij.^xx., and they sey that with in v. myle off London
he was CC. men; and no man watethe wher he is become
not yit.

The Lordes Hastyngs and Howerd be in Caleys, and have
it pesebely; and Sir Walter Wrettesle and Sir Jeffrey Gate
be comyn thense, and woll be at London thys daye as it is
seyde.

Wretyn at Waltham besyd Winchester the daye nex Holy
Roode Daye.²

J. P., K.

¹ [From Fenn, ii. 72.] Apart from the reference to John Paston’s pardon, the
date of this letter is fixed by what is said of the bastard Falconbridge.

² Bartholomew Fair, in Smithfield.

³ Worsted, in Norfolk, a town formerly famous for the spinning of the fine thread
with which the yarn called Worsted is made.—F.

⁴ Of Walsingham.

⁵ Thomas Nevill, a natural son of William, Lord Fauconberg. He was beheaded
in 1471, and, as mentioned in Letter 782 following, his head was placed on London
Bridge.

¹ Here follow, says Fenn, some directions about payments of money.

¹ Sir Thomas Fulford was son of Sir Baldwin Fulford, beheaded at Bristol in
1461; he likewise ended his life on the scaffold.

² Holyrood Day, 14th of September.

1471
SEPT. 15