W C to John Paston

516

W. C. TO JOHN PASTON¹

To myn ryght worshipfull and ryght singler good mayster,
myn Mayster John Paston.

     Myn ryght worshipfull mayster, I recomaunde me to yow in myn ryght
homble wyse. And please your maystership that I have ben at Wetyng and
there hald the court and lete on Hokmonday² as hit hath bene of olde tyme
accostomed; and the tenauntes have attorned and bene full gladde that myn
lady shuld rejoyse hit and kepe here possession. The priour of Bromhill that
was fermoure his terme is expired, and wole sewe to myn lady and hir councell
to have a newe terme; but lete myn lady be ware, for, as I here seyn, he
bydeth but a tyme that he myght gete a summe of money to geders of myn
ladyes lyflode, and to gone ther with³ a love of his sojornyng as yette in
Hokehold. She hath bene dreven fro town to town for his sake. Hit is wele
done ye advertyse myn lady, if she be in that cas that she hath governaunce of
hir owen londes, that she do no thyng to that lyflode ner non other in Norffolk,
with ought advyse of theym that have vysyted and overseen theym; for there
hath bene straunge rewle, bothe in woodsales and sale of londes helde at wylle
for fre rent, as ye shal knowe here after. Thoresby, a man that was generall
attorney for myn Lord Oxenford that was, told me that the Kynge hadde
made Keche generall receyvoure by priveseale of alle londes that were the Erle
of Oxenford and Dame Elyzabet, ecept tho that Howard hadde entered and
Lanham and an other graunted to Wykes, and certeyn lyflode in Kent that was
assigned to the tresorer of howshold of the Kynges hows; and she shuld have
be Keches hande v.^c. [500] mark, ij.^c. and l. [250] mark to bene payed at this
Estern and the remulant at Mihelmasse. And of the remulant the Kyng shuld
be answered. Ye shal sone understande how it is; and if hit be so, hit [is]⁴
but foly to laboure any ferther. I wold fayn knowe, for the courtes for the half
yere wold bene holde for nede. And our Lord be with youre maystership and
sende yow th’accomplyshement of youre noble desyres. Wreten hastely at
Norwyche, the iiij^te day of May.

                                                                             Youre servaunt to his power,

                                                                                                   W. C.

     And whan ye comon with myn ryght worshipfull lady I beseche yow
remembre myn pore maters in whiche is greet concyens, &c.

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     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The manor of Weeting, in Norfolk, came to John
Vere, twelfth Earl of Oxford, by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heir of
John Howard, Esquire, son and heir of Sir John Howard, Knight. This Earl was
beheaded in February 1462, for treason against Edward IV., and the present letter
seems to have been written in May following.

     ² Hock Monday was a fortnight after Easter Monday. In 1462 it fell on the 3rd
May, the day before this letter was written.

     ³ With repeated in MS.                                             ⁴ Omitted in MS.

1462
MAY 4