Sir John Paston to Margaret Paston

LETTER XXIV.

To Mestresse Margret
      Paston at Norwyche

RYGHT reu^rend and my most tendre and kynde moodr I
recomande me to yow please it yow to weete y^t blessyd be
god thys wyage of the Kyngs is fynyshyd for thys tyme and
alle the Kyngs ost is comen to Caleys as on Mondaye last
past y^t is to seye y^e iiij daye of Septembr and at thys daye
many of hys host be passyd y^t see in to Jnglond ageyn and
in especiall my lorde of Norff. and my bretheryn Jt’ I was
jn goode hope to have hadde Cast^r ageyn y^e Kynge spake to
my lorde of Norff. for it and it was full lyke to have comyn
but in conclusyon it is delayed tyll yis next terme by whyche
tyme the Kynge hat comaundyd hym to take advyce of hys
co˜ncell and to be sywer y^t hys tytle be goode or ellys y^e
Kyng hathe asserteynyd hym y^t for any Favor he most do
me ryght and Justyce &c And if Cast^r hadde comen by my
feythe I had comyn streyhte home Notw^tstondyng if I may
do yow servyce or eese as ye and J have comonyd her to
foor aftr as I heer from yow as god helpe me J p’pose to
leefe alle heer and come home to yow and be yowr hosbonde
and balyff. wher in J spake to my brother Iohn to telle yow
myn advyce I also mysselyke somwhat the heyr heer for by
my trowte I was in goode heele whan J come hyddr and
all hooll and to my wetyng J hadde neu^r a bett^r stomake in
my lyfe and now w^t in viij dayes I am crasyd ageyn I sup-
pose y^t I most be at london at Mychelmesse and ther to
p^rueye for payment for myn oncle Will’m by whyche tyme
I praye yow y^t J may heer from yow and of yowr advyce
and helpe if any thynge be growyn of Sporle woode For had
nott yit that danger have been J mygh yit haue ben at
home w^t yow at thys daye or w^t in vij dayes aftr No mor
but J beseche Jhu have yow in kepyng Wretyn at Caleys
the xj daye of Septembr

                                                                 JOHN PASTON, K

    11¾ by 5¾.

           Paper Mark,
    French Arms crowned,
         and the Letter t.
         Pl. xii. No. 21.

T. KERRICH del.                                                                                                                 Facius sc. 1804.

 MARGARET DUTCHESS of BURGUNDY.

Sister of Edward 4^th King of England

An ancient Picture, in the possession of T. KERRICH M.A.

Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge.

Published Nov^r. 1^st. 1804. by W^m. Richardson York House N^o. 31 Strand.

     This curious Letter was written immediately after King Edward?s return
from his personal interview with Lewis XI. King of France, at Pequini, on
the 29th of August, when these monarchs met on the bridge over the Somme.
Sir John Paston expresses himself in such a manner as shows he was glad that
the King and his army were returned to Calais.

     Edward had now been about two months in France, where he went with a
most formidable army, expecting to have been joined by the Duke of Bur-
gundy with a powerful one likewise; thus supported, he hoped to have con-
quered that kingdom. The French king pursued another plan; he soothed
and bribed Edward’s ministers, and by these means brought about a truce, and
peace for seven years.

     Thus ended the expedition, for the undertaking of which Edward had been
collecting money from his subjects in England, by subsidies and benevolences
for almost two years, by which he had occasioned great discontents. After his
return he gave himself up to dissipation and avarice.

     Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 9.

     ¹ Debt.

LETTER XXIV.

To Mistress Margaret Paston at Norwich.

RIGHT reverend, and my most tender and kind mother, I
recommend me to you; please it you to weet that, blessed
be God, this voyage of the King’s is finished for this time,
and all the King’s host is come to Calais as on Monday last
past, that is to say, the 4th day of September; and at this
day many of his host be passed the sea into England again,
and in especial my Lord of Norfolk and my brethren.

     Item, I was in good hope to have had Caister again; the
King spoke to my Lord of Norfolk for it, and it was full like
to have come, but in conclusion it is delayed till this next
term, by which time the King hath commanded him to take
advice of his counsel, and to be sure that his title be good,
or else the King hath ascertained him, that for any favour
he must do me right and justice, &c.

     And if Caister had come, by my faith I had come strait
home; notwithstanding, if I may do you service or ease, as
ye and I have communed heretofore, after as I hear from
you, as, God help me, I purpose to leave all here, and come
home to you, and be your husband and bailiff; wherein I
spake to my brother John to tell you mine advice.

     I also mislike somewhat the air here; for, by my troth, I
was in good health when I came hither, and all whole, and
to my weeting I had never a better stomach in my life, and
now within eight days I am crazed again. I suppose that I
must be at London at Michaelmas, and there to purvey for
payment for my uncle William; by which time I pray you
that I may hear from you, and of your advice and help, if
any thing be grown of Sporle Wood; for had not yet that
danger¹ have been, I might yet have been at home with you
at this day, or within seven days after. No more: but I
beseech Jesus have you in keeping. Written at Calais, the
11th day of September.

                                                                     JOHN PASTON, Kt.

                 Calais,
        Monday, 11th Sept.
           1475. 15 E. iv.

  This curious Letter was written immediately after King Edward?s return
from his personal interview with Lewis XI. King of France, at Pequini, on
the 29th of August, when these monarchs met on the bridge over the Somme.
Sir John Paston expresses himself in such a manner as shows he was glad that
the King and his army were returned to Calais.

     Edward had now been about two months in France, where he went with a
most formidable army, expecting to have been joined by the Duke of Bur-
gundy with a powerful one likewise; thus supported, he hoped to have con-
quered that kingdom. The French king pursued another plan; he soothed
and bribed Edward’s ministers, and by these means brought about a truce, and
peace for seven years.

     Thus ended the expedition, for the undertaking of which Edward had been
collecting money from his subjects in England, by subsidies and benevolences
for almost two years, by which he had occasioned great discontents. After his
return he gave himself up to dissipation and avarice.

     Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 9.

     ¹ Debt.

875

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON¹

To Mestresse Margret Paston, at Norwyche.

RYGHT reverend and my most tendre and kynde moodre,
            I recomaunde me to yow. Please it yow to weete that,
            blessyd be God, thys wyage of the Kynges is fynysshyd
for thys tyme, and alle the Kynges ost is comen to Caleys as
on Mondaye last past, that is to seye, the iiij. daye of Septem-
bre; and at thys daye many of hys host be passyd the see in
to Inglond ageyn, and in especiall my Lorde off Norffolk and
my bretheryn.

     Item, I was in goode hope to have hadde Caster ageyn.
The Kynge spake to my Lorde off Norffolk for it, and it was
full lyke to have comyn; but in conclusyon it is delayed tyll
this next terme, by whyche tyme the Kynge hat comaundyd
hym to take advyce off hys councell, and to be sywer that hys
tytle be goode, or ellys the Kyng hathe asserteynyd hym that
for any favor he most do me ryght and justyce, &c.

     And iff Caster hadde comen, by my feythe I had comyn
streyhte home. Notwithstondyng, iff I may do yow servyce
or eese, as ye and I have comonyd heer to foor, aftre as I heer
from yow, as God helpe me, I purpose to leeffe alle heer, and
come home to yow, and be yowr hosbonde and balyff; wher in
I spake to my brother John to telle yow myn advyce.

     I also mysselyke somwhat the heyr heer; for by my trowte
I was in goode heele whan I come hyddre, and all hooll, and
to my wetyng I hadde never a better stomake in my lyffe, and
now with in viij. dayes I am crasyd ageyn. I suppose that I
most be at London at Mychelmesse, and ther to purveye for
payment for myn oncle William, by whyche tyme I praye yow
that I may heer from yow and off yowr advyce and helpe, iff
any thynge be growyn off Sporle woode. For had nott yit

that danger have been, I mygh yit have ben at home with yow
at thys daye, or with in vij. dayes aftre. No more, but I
beseche Jesus have yow in kepyng.

     Wretyn at Caleys, the xj. daye of Septembre.

                                                                          JOHN PASTON, K.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that this letter was written after the
return of King Edward IV. from France in 1475.

1475
SEPT. 11

1475
SEPT. 11