Sir John Paston to John Paston

LETTER XLIX.

A Johan Paston esquyer soit done.

WORSHYPFULL and weell belovyd brother I recomand
     me to yow letyng yow weet y^t I sente yow a Lett’
and a Rynge w^t a Dyamond in whyche Lett’ ye myght well
conceyve, what I wold ye scholde do w^t y^e same rynge, w^t
menye other tydyngs and thyngs whyche I prayed yowe to have
doon for me, whyche Lett’ ¹ Boton’ had the beryng off, it is so
nowe y^t I undrestond that he is owther deed or ellys harde
eskapyd, wheroff I am ryght hevye, and am not serteyn whe-
thyr the seyd Lett’ and rynge come to yowr handys or nott.
I wolde nott that lett’ wer seyn w^t some folkys, wherffor I
praye yow take good heede hoghe that lett’ comythe to yowr
handys hooll or brokyn and in especiall I praye yow gete it
iff ye have it nott.

     Also I praye yow feele my Lady off Norfolks dysposicōn
to me wards and whethyr she toke any dysplesur at my langage
or mokkyd or dysdeyned my words whyche I hadd to hyr at
Yarmothe be twyen the place wher I ffyrst mett w^t hyr and
hyr lodgyng, ffor my Lady Brandon and ² S^r. Will’m also

axhyd me what words I had had to hyr at that tyme. They
seyd y^t my Lady seyde I gaff hyr ther off, and y^t I sholde
have seyde y^t my Lady was worthye to have a Lords Soon
in hyr belye ffor she cowde cheryshe itt and dele warlye w^t
it, in trowthe owther the same or words moche lyke I had
to hyr whyche wordys I ment as I seyde, they seyde to y^t I
seyde she toke hyr ease, Also I scholde have seyde y^t my
Ladye was off satur goode and had sydes longe and large so
that I was in goode hope she sholde ber a sayr chylde, he was
nott lacyd nor bracyd ine to hys peyn but y^t she lest hym rome
to pleye hym in, and they seye that I seyde my Lady was large
and grete and that itt sholde have rome inow to goo owt att, and
thus whyther my Lady mokk me or theye I woote nott, I
mente weell by my trowthe to hyr and to y^t she is w^t as any he
y^t owythe heer best wyll in Ingelond.

     Iff ye can by any meed weete whethyr my Ladye take it
to dysplesur or nowt or whether she thynke I mokkyd hyr or
iff she wyght it but lewdnesse off my selffe I pray yow sende me
worde, ffor I weet nott whethyr I maye trust thys Lady Bran-
don or nott.

     It?m as fsor tydyngs nowe heer be but ffewe saff that as I
undrestande Imbassators off Bretayn? shall come to London
to morawe And men seye that the Lorde ³ Ryverse and Scalys
shall hastelye come hom? and men seye y^t ther is many off
the sowders y^t went to hym into Bretayne been dede off the

fflyxe and other ipedemye and y^t the remenant sholde come
hom w^t the Lorde Skalys and som seye y^t thees Imbassators
come ffor moor men and thys daye rennyth a tale y^t the Duke
of ⁴ Bretayn’ sholde be ded I beleeff it nott.

     I sent yow worde off an Hawke, I herde nott from yow syns
I do and shall doo y^t is possible in suche a neede.

     Also I canne nott undrestand that my Lord off Norff’ shall
come heer thys tyme, wherffor I am in a greet agonye howe
is best ffor me to sue to hym ffor rehavyng off my place y^t
goode Lorde weet full lytell how moche harme he doothe
me and how lytell goode or worshyp it dothe hym. I praye
yow sende me yowr advyce. No moor to yow at thys tyme
but God have yow in hys kepyng Wretyn at London y^e iiij
daye off Novembre A^o. E. iiij^ti xij^o. I feer me y^t idelnesse
ledyth yowr reyne I praye yow rather remembre S^r. Hughe
Levernoy’s tyll yowr Hauke come.

fflyxe and other ipedemye and y^t the remenant sholde come
hom w^t the Lorde Skalys and som seye y^t thees Imbassators
come ffor moor men and thys daye rennyth a tale y^t the Duke
of ⁴ Bretayn? sholde be ded I beleeff it nott.

     I sent yow worde off an Hawke, I herde nott from yow syns
I do and shall doo y^t is possible in suche a neede.

     Also I canne nott undrestand that my Lord off Norff? shall
come heer thys tyme, wherffor I am in a greet agonye howe
is best ffor me to sue to hym ffor rehavyng off my place y^t
goode Lorde weet full lytell how moche harme he doothe
me and how lytell goode or worshyp it dothe hym. I praye
yow sende me yowr advyce. No moor to yow at thys tyme
but God have yow in hys kepyng Wretyn at London y^e iiij
daye off Novembre A^o. E. iiij^ti xij^o. I feer me y^t idelnesse
ledyth yowr reyne I praye yow rather remembre S^r. Hughe
Levernoy?s tyll yowr Hauke come.

                                                                ⁵ John Paston, K.

11 ? by 14.

             Paper Mark,
            A Demy Bull.
             Pl. x. N^o 5.

4th of November, 1472,
             12 E. IV.

     This Letter contains but little information, it is however given as containing a speci-
men of the free and easy conversation of the time, and shows the very intimate ac-
quaintance that subsisted between Sir J. Paston and the Duchess of Norfolk.

     ¹ William Botoner, otherwise Worcester.

² Sir William Brandon, Knight, was Standard-bearer to the Earl of Richmond, and
was slain in Bofworth Field, by Richard III. He was father to Charles Brandon, Duke of
Suffolk.

³ Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, &c. went to endeavour to obtain the possession
of the Earls of Pembroke and Richmond, who were detained as Prisoners by the Duke of
Britany. 

     ⁴ Francis II. the last Duke of Britany, was born in 1435, and died in 1488

London, Wednesday,            

     ⁵ Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 9.

LETTER XLIX.

To John Paston, Esquire, be this delivered.

WORSHIPFUL and well beloved Brother, I recommend
     me to you, letting you weet, that I sent you a Letter,
and a Ring with a Diamond; in which Letter ye might well
conceive, what I would ye should do with the same Ring, with
many other tidings and things which I prayed you to have done
for me; which Letter ¹ Botoner had the bearing of; it is so now
that I understand that he is either dead, or else hard escaped;
whereof I am right heavy; and am not certain whether the
said Letter and Ring came to your hands or not.

     I would not that Letter were seen with some folks, wherefore
I pray you take good heed, how that letter cometh to your
hands, whole or broken, and in especial I pray you get it, if ye
have it not.

     Also I pray you feel my Lady of Norfolk?s disposition to me
wards, and whether she took any displeasure at my language,
or mocked, or disdained, my words which I had to her at
Yarmouth, between the place where I first met with her, and
her lodging; for my Lady Brandon and ² Sir William also

asked me what words I had had to her at that time; they said,
that my Lady said I gave her thereof, and that I should have
said, that my Lady was worthy to have a Lord’s Son in her
belly, for she could cherish it, and deal warily with it.

     In truth either the same, or words much like, I had to her,
which words I meant as I said; they say too, that I said she
took her ease. Also (that) I should have said, that my Lady
was of Stature good, and had sides long and large, so that I
was in good hope she should bear a fair child, he was not laced,
nor braced in, to his pain, but that she left him room to play
him in; they say, that I said my Lady was large and great,
and that it should have room enough to go out at; and thus
whether my Lady mock me, or they, I wot not; I meant
well by my truth to her, and to that she is with, as any he
that oweth her best will in England; if ye can by any mean
weet, whether my Lady take it to displeasure or not, or whether
she think I mocked her, or if she weet it but lewdness of myself,
I pray you send me word, for I wot not whether I may trust
this Lady Brandon or not.

     As for tidings now, here be but sew, save that, as I under-
stand, Ambassadors of Britany shall come to London to-morrow;
and men say, that the Lord ³ Rivers and Scales shall hastily
come home, and men say, that there is many of the Soldiers
that went to him into Britany been dead of the Flux, and other

epidemy (diseases,) that the remanent should come home with
the Lord Scales; and some say, that these Ambassadors come for
more men; and this day runneth a tale, that the Duke of
⁴ Britany should be dead, I believe it not.

     I sent you word of a Hawk, I heard not from you since,
I do and shall do that is possible in such a need.

     Also I cannot understand that my Lord of Norfolk shall come
here this time, wherefore I am in a great agony, how is best
for me to sue to him for rehaving of my place; that good
Lord weet full little how much harm he doth me, and how
little good or worship it doth him. I pray you send me your
advice. No more to you at this time, but God have you in his
keeping.

     Written at London the 4th day of November in the 12th
year of Edward IVth.

     I fear me that Idleness leadeth your reign; I pray you
rather remember Sir Hugh Lavernoy’s tyll your Hawk come.

                                                         ⁵ JOHN PASTON, Knight.

11 ? by 14.

             Paper Mark,
            A Demy Bull.
             Pl. x. N^o 5.

4th of November, 1472,
             12 E. IV.

     This Letter contains but little information, it is however given as containing a speci-
men of the free and easy conversation of the time, and shows the very intimate ac-
quaintance that subsisted between Sir J. Paston and the Duchess of Norfolk.

     ¹ William Botoner, otherwise Worcester.

² Sir William Brandon, Knight, was Standard-bearer to the Earl of Richmond, and
was slain in Bofworth Field, by Richard III. He was father to Charles Brandon, Duke of
Suffolk.

³ Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, &c. went to endeavour to obtain the possession
of the Earls of Pembroke and Richmond, who were detained as Prisoners by the Duke of
Britany. 

     ⁴ Francis II. the last Duke of Britany, was born in 1435, and died in 1488

London, Wednesday,            

     ⁵ Autograph. Pl. IV. N^o 9.

812

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

A Johan Paston, Esquyer, soit done.

WORSHYPFULL and weell belovyd brother, I re-
     comand me to yow, letyng yow weet that I sente
     yow a letter and a rynge with a dyamond, in whyche
letter ye myght well conceyve what I wold ye scholde do with
the same rynge, with menye other tydyngs and thyngs whyche
I prayed yowe to have doon for me, whyche letter Botoner¹
had the beryng off. It is so nowe that I undrestond that he is
owther deed or ellys harde eskapyd, wheroff I am ryght hevye,
and am not serteyn whethyr the seyd lettyr and rynge come to
yowr handys or nott. I wolde nott that letter wer seyn with
some folkys; wherffor I praye yow take good heede hoghe
that letter comythe to yowr handys, hooll or brokyn, and in
especiall I praye yow gete it, iff ye have it nott.

     Also I praye yow feele my Lady off Norfolks dysposicion
to me wards, and whethyr she toke any dysplesur at my
langage, or mokkyd, or dysdeyned my words whyche I hadd
to hyr at Yarmothe, be twyen the place wher I ffyrst mett
with hyr and hyr lodgyng, ffor my Lady Brandon and Syr
William² also axhyd me what words I had had to hyr at that
tyme. They seyd that my Lady seyde I gaff hyr ther off,³ and
that I sholde have seyde that my Lady was worthye to have a
Lords soon in hyr belye, ffor she cowde cheryshe itt, and dele
warlye with it; in trowthe owther the same or words moche
lyke I had to hyr, whyche wordys I ment as I seyde. They
seye to that I seyde she toke hyr ease. Also I scholde have
seyde that my Ladye was off satur [stature] goode, and had
sydes longe and large, so that I was in goode hope she sholde
ber a fayr chylde; he was nott lacyd nor bracyd ine to hys
peyn, but that she left hym rome to pleye hym in. And they
seye that I seyde my Lady was large and grete, and that itt
sholde have rome inow to goo owt att; and thus whyther my
Lady mokk me, or theye, I woote nott. I mente weell by my
trowthe to hyr, and to that she is with, as any he that owythe
heer best wyll in Ingelond.

     Iff ye can by any meed weete whethyr my Ladye take it
to dysplesur or nowt, or whether she thynke I mokkyd hyr,
or iff she wyght it but lewdnesse off my selffe, I pray yow
sende me worde; ffor I weet nott whethyr I maye trust thys
Lady Brandon or nott.

     Item, as ffor tydyngs nowe, heer be but ffewe, saff that, as
I undrestande, imbassators off Bretayne shall come to London
to morawe, and men seye that the Lorde Ryverse¹ and Scayls,
shall hastelye come home; and men seye that ther is many off
the sowders that went to hym into Bretayne been dede off the
fflyxe, and other ipedemye [epidemics], and that the remenant
sholde come hom with the Lorde Skalys. And som seye that
thees imbassators come ffor moor men. And thys daye rennyth
a tale that the Duke of Bretayne² sholde be ded. I beleeff
it not.

     I sent yow worde off an hawke; I herde nott from yow
syns; I do and shall doo that is possible in suche a neede.

     Also I canne nott undrestand that my Lord off Norffolk
shall come heer thys tyme; wherffor I am in a greet agonye
howe is best ffor me to sue to hym ffor rehavyng off my place;
that goode Lorde weet full lytell how moche harme he doothe
me, and how lytell goode or worshyp it dothe hym. I praye
yow sende me yowr advyce. No moor to yow at thys tyme,
but God have yow in Hys kepyng.

     Wretyn at London the iiij. daye off Novembre, anno E.
iiij^ti xij^o. I feer me that idelnesse ledyth yowr reyne; I praye
yow rather remembre Sir Hughe Levernoys tyll yowr hauke
come.                                                                JOHN PASTON, K.

¹ [From Fenn, ii. 112.]

     ¹ William Botoner, otherwise Worcester. He certainly was alive some years later
than this.

     ² Sir William Brandon, Knight, was standard-bearer to the Earl of Richmond, and
was slain in Bosworth Field by Richard III. He was father to Charles Brandon,
Duke of Suffolk.—F.

     ³ Meaning apparently, as Fenn suggests, ‘I paid her off, or treated her with
unceremonious language.’

     ¹ Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, etc., went to endeavour to obtain the posses-
sion of the Earls of Pembroke and Richmond, who were detained as prisoners by the
Duke of Brittany.—F.

     ² Francis II., the last Duke of Brittany, was born in 1435, and died in 1488.—F.

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