W Paston and Thomas Playters to John Paston

LETTER I.

To my Maist’ John Paston In hast.

   PLEASE you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my
     Lady of York hath by a l’re of Credens und^r the signe
manuel of oure sou’ayn Lord King Edward whiche l’re cam
un to oure sayd Lady this same day ¹ est’ne evyn at xj clok and
was sene and red be me Will’m Paston ffyrst oure sou’ayn
Lord hath wonne the feld and uppon the munday next aft’
² Palmesunday he was ress’ in to York w^t gret solempnyte and
p’cessyons, and the mair and comons of the said Cite mad ther
menys to have g’ce be Lord ³ Montagu, and Lord ⁴ Barenars
whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said Cite desyred
hym of grace for y^e said Cite whiche g’unted hem g’ce, on the
Kyngs parte is slayn Lord ⁵ Fitz water and Lord ⁶ Scrop sore
hurt John ⁷ Stafford Horne of Kent ben ded and Umfrey
⁷ Stafford Will’m ⁸ Hastyngs mad Knyghts with oy^r Blont is
knygth, &c.

     Un the c’t’ry part is ded Lord ⁹ Clyfford Lord ¹⁰ Nevyle
Lord ¹¹ Welles Lord ¹² Wyllouby Antony Lord ¹³ Scales Lord
¹⁴ Harry and be supposyng y^e Erle of ¹⁵ Northumb’land Andrew
Trollop w^t many oy^r gentyll and comons to y^e nomb’ of xx^ml.

     It’. Kyng Harry the Qwen the Prince ¹⁶ Duke of Som’s’
Duke of ¹⁷ Exet’ Lord ¹⁸ Roos be fledde in to Scotteland and
they be chased and folwed, &c. We send no er un to you be
cause we had non c’tynges tyl now for un to y^s day London was
as sory Cite as myght and because Spord’uns had no c’teyn
tydyngs we thought ye schuld take them a worthe tyl more
c’tayn It’ Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn as Spord’uns can telle
you, and J’hu spede you we p’y you that this tydyngs my
Moder may knowe.

                                                              Be your Brod’,

                                                                              W. Paston.

                                                                              Th. Playters.

            11 ½ by 4 ½.

            Paper Mark,
       Bull’s Head and Star.
            Pl. x. N^o 1.

On a piece of Paper pinned to the above Letter, is a List of the Names of the
     Noblemen and Knights, and the Number of Soldiers slain at the above Battle
of Towton, as follow:

                    5 ½ by 4 ½.

     This Letter gives a very curious and authentic Account of the bloody Battle of Tow-
ton (a village about 10 miles S. W. from York,) fought on Palm Sunday, the 29th of
March, 1461; within a Month after Edward’s possessing himself of the Crown, and upon
the sate of which, his future hopes of retaining it depended.

     The Facts, here related, are those sent by the King himself, to his Mother Cecily,
Duchess of York, Widow of Richard, Duke of York, Daughter to Ralph Neville, Earl
of Westmoreland.

     ¹ Eastern Eve, was this year on the 4th of April.

     ² Palm Sunday fell on the 29th of March.

This Account therefore from the King did not arrive in London till six days after the
battle.

     ³ John Neville, Lord Montague, was, in 1464, created Earl of Northumberland,
and, on his resignation of that title, in 1470, Marquis of Montagu; he fell in the battle
of Barnet, in 1471, fighting against King Edward.

     ⁴ Sir John Bourchier, Lord Barners, in the battle of St. Alban’s, in 1450, fought
on the part of Henry VI. but after that time, he and his family espoused the cause of the
Yorkists: he died in 1474.

⁵ It does not appear from our Baronages that there was at this time a Lord Fitzwalter;
our Historians however mention such a Nobleman, as commanding at Ferry-Bridge for
Edward IV. where he was defeated and killed a few days before this battle; and this
Letter confirms the existence of such a Title.

     ⁶ John, Lord Scroop, of Bolton, died in 1494.

     ⁷ John Stafford, and Humphrey Stafford, were both of the family of the Duke of Buck-
ingham.

     ⁸ William Hastyngs, was soon after created Lord Hastyngs, and, in 1483, beheaded, by
the command of Richard III.

     ⁹ John, Lord Clifford, killed at Ferry-Bridge, the day before the battle of Towton,
was the man who basely stabbed Edmund, Earl of Rutland, immediately after the battle
of Wakefield, in December, 1460.

     ¹⁰ John, Lord Neville.

     ¹¹ Lionel, Lord Welles.

¹² Richard Welles, a son of Lord Welles, in 1455, was summoned as Lord Willough-
by, in right of his wise, Joanna, Heir of that great Warrior Robert, Lord Willoughby.

     ¹³ Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, was not killed in this battle, but became afterwards
Earl Rivers, and died in 1491. This Nobleman and Lord Montagu must have been cre-
ated Lords immediately on the accession of Edward IV.

     ¹⁴ Lord Harry, Query, Stafford.

     ¹⁵ Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, jointly commanded with the Duke of So-
merset, and was then slain, being about the age of 36 years.

     ¹⁶ Henry Beaufort, Doke of Somerset, was taken Prisoner at the battle of Hexham, in
1464, and beheaded by order of Edward IV.

     ¹⁷ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, took Sanctuary at Westminster, after the battle of
Burnet, in 1471; went thence privately abroad, where he lived in great poverty.

     ¹⁸ Thomas, Lord Roos.

 ¹⁹ Thomas Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, was taken and beheaded.

     ²⁰ Sir Richard Fynes, was at this time Lord Dacre, but he was not killed in this
battle.

     ²¹ This Number is less than that given by our Historians.

     Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 21. Pl. V. N^o 14.

     The Seal has the Impression of a Fleur de Lys within a Crescent, with a Motto
above it.

     It having been a doubt amongst several of our Historians, in what year King Ed-
ward IV. began his reign, the following Extract, from an Original Manuscript, (in my
possession,) containing; “The various Expences of Sir John Howard, Knight, on his
“own

“ own account, and on that of his Lord, John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, from 1462
“ to 1469;” will indisputably ascertain it.

”Anno R. R. E. q’rti q’rto.”

     “It^m, y^e fferste day off Apryll my Mast’ offyrd at y^e croffe on Est^r day, xx^d.”

     By the Tables, to find Easter for ever, it appears that in 1464, (the Golden Number
being 2, and the Dominical Letters AG), Easter Sunday was on the 1st day of April.

     Edward IV. began his reign on the 4th of March.

     The 1st of April, 1464, was therefore the fourth of Edward IV. and consequently he
began his reign on the 4th of March, 1460, or, as we should say now, 1460-1.

     N. B. The Date of the New Year commenced annually on the 25th day of March.

LETTER I.

To my Master John Paston in haste.

   PLEASE you to know and weet of such tidings, as my Lady
     of York hath by a Letter of Credence, under the sign
manual of our Sovereign Lord King Edward; which Letter
came unto our said Lady this same day ¹ Eastern Even at xj
o’clock, and was seen and read by me Will^m Paston.

     First, Our Sovereign Lord hath won the field; and upon the
Monday next after ² Palm Sunday, he was received into York
with great Solemnity and Processions. And the Mayor and
Commons of the said City made their means (mediation) to
have grace by Lord ³ Montagu, and ⁴ Lord Barners, which
before the King’s coming into the said City, desired him of
grace for the said City, which granted them grace.
On the King?s part is slain Lord ⁵ Fitzwalter, and Lord
⁶ Scroop sore hurt; ⁷ John Stafford, Horne of Kent be dead,
and ⁷ Humphrey Stafford and ⁸ William Hastyngs made Knights
with others; Blont is knighted, &c.

     On the contrary part is dead Lord ⁹ Clifford, Lord ¹⁰ Nevyle,
Lord ¹¹ Welles, Lord ¹² Wylloughby, Anthony Lord ¹³ Scales,
Lord ¹⁴ Harry, and by supposition the Earl of ¹⁵ Northumber-
land, Andrew Trollop with many others, gentle and commons,
to the number of twenty thousand.

     Item, King Harry, the Queen, the Prince, Duke of ¹⁶ So-
merset, Duke of ¹⁷ Exeter, Lord ¹³ Roos be fled into Scotland,
and they be chased and followed, &c. We send no er (no sooner)
unto you because we had none certain till now; for unto this
day London was as sorry City as might; and because Spordams
had no certain tidings, we thought ye should take them a worth
(as you would) till more certain.

     Item, Thorp Waterfield is yeilded as Spordams can tell you.

And Jesu speed you; we pray you that this tidings my
Mother may know.

                                                               By your Brother,

                                                                          W. PASTON.

                                                                          TH. PLAYTERS.

         London, Saturday,
              Easter Eve,
              4th April, 1461,
              1 E. IV.

     A List of the Noblemen, Knights, and Soldiers, slain in the above Battle
of Towton.

This Letter gives a very curious and authentic Account of the bloody Battle of Tow-
ton (a village about 10 miles S. W. from York,) fought on Palm Sunday, the 29th of
March, 1461; within a Month after Edward’s possessing himself of the Crown, and upon
the sate of which, his future hopes of retaining it depended.

     The Facts, here related, are those sent by the King himself, to his Mother Cecily,
Duchess of York, Widow of Richard, Duke of York, Daughter to Ralph Neville, Earl
of Westmoreland.

     ¹ Eastern Eve, was this year on the 4th of April.

     ² Palm Sunday fell on the 29th of March.

This Account therefore from the King did not arrive in London till six days after the
battle.

     ³ John Neville, Lord Montague, was, in 1464, created Earl of Northumberland,
and, on his resignation of that title, in 1470, Marquis of Montagu; he fell in the battle
of Barnet, in 1471, fighting against King Edward.

     ⁴ Sir John Bourchier, Lord Barners, in the battle of St. Alban’s, in 1450, fought
on the part of Henry VI. but after that time, he and his family espoused the cause of the
Yorkists: he died in 1474.

⁵ It does not appear from our Baronages that there was at this time a Lord Fitzwalter;
our Historians however mention such a Nobleman, as commanding at Ferry-Bridge for
Edward IV. where he was defeated and killed a few days before this battle; and this
Letter confirms the existence of such a Title.

     ⁶ John, Lord Scroop, of Bolton, died in 1494.

     ⁷ John Stafford, and Humphrey Stafford, were both of the family of the Duke of Buck-
ingham.

     ⁸ William Hastyngs, was soon after created Lord Hastyngs, and, in 1483, beheaded, by
the command of Richard III.

     ⁹ John, Lord Clifford, killed at Ferry-Bridge, the day before the battle of Towton,
was the man who basely stabbed Edmund, Earl of Rutland, immediately after the battle
of Wakefield, in December, 1460.

     ¹⁰ John, Lord Neville.

     ¹¹ Lionel, Lord Welles.

¹² Richard Welles, a son of Lord Welles, in 1455, was summoned as Lord Willough-
by, in right of his wise, Joanna, Heir of that great Warrior Robert, Lord Willoughby.

     ¹³ Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, was not killed in this battle, but became afterwards
Earl Rivers, and died in 1491. This Nobleman and Lord Montagu must have been cre-
ated Lords immediately on the accession of Edward IV.

     ¹⁴ Lord Harry, Query, Stafford.

     ¹⁵ Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, jointly commanded with the Duke of So-
merset, and was then slain, being about the age of 36 years.

     ¹⁶ Henry Beaufort, Doke of Somerset, was taken Prisoner at the battle of Hexham, in
1464, and beheaded by order of Edward IV.

     ¹⁷ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, took Sanctuary at Westminster, after the battle of
Burnet, in 1471; went thence privately abroad, where he lived in great poverty.

     ¹⁸ Thomas, Lord Roos.

 ¹⁹ Thomas Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, was taken and beheaded.

     ²⁰ Sir Richard Fynes, was at this time Lord Dacre, but he was not killed in this
battle.

     ²¹ This Number is less than that given by our Historians.

     Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 21. Pl. V. N^o 14.

     The Seal has the Impression of a Fleur de Lys within a Crescent, with a Motto
above it.

     It having been a doubt amongst several of our Historians, in what year King Ed-
ward IV. began his reign, the following Extract, from an Original Manuscript, (in my
possession,) containing; “The various Expences of Sir John Howard, Knight, on his
“own

“ own account, and on that of his Lord, John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, from 1462
“ to 1469;” will indisputably ascertain it.

”Anno R. R. E. q’rti q’rto.”

     “It^m, y^e fferste day off Apryll my Mast’ offyrd at y^e croffe on Est^r day, xx^d.”

     By the Tables, to find Easter for ever, it appears that in 1464, (the Golden Number
being 2, and the Dominical Letters AG), Easter Sunday was on the 1st day of April.

     Edward IV. began his reign on the 4th of March.

     The 1st of April, 1464, was therefore the fourth of Edward IV. and consequently he
began his reign on the 4th of March, 1460, or, as we should say now, 1460-1.

     N. B. The Date of the New Year commenced annually on the 25th day of March.

450

W. PASTON AND THOMAS PLAYTERS TO
JOHN PASTON²

To my maister, John Paston, in hast.

PLEASE you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my
     Lady of York hath by a lettre of credens, under the
     signe manuel of oure Soverayn Lord King Edward,
whiche lettre cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne

Evyn,¹ at xj. clok, and was sene and red by me, William
Paston.

     Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,² and
uppon the Munday³ next after Palmesunday, he was resseved
in to York with gret solempnyte and processyons. And the
Mair and Comons of the said cite mad ther menys to have
grace be Lord Montagu⁴ and Lord Barenars,⁵ whiche be for
the Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of grace
for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngs
parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt;
John Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford,
William Hastyngs mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth,
&c.

     Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle,
Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord
Harry, and be supposyng the Erle of Northumberland,
Andrew Trollop, with many other gentyll and comons to the
nomber of xx.^ml. [20,000].

     Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of
Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to Scotte-
land, and they be chased and folwed, &c. We send no er
[no sooner] un to you be cause we had non certynges tyl now;
for un to this day London was as sory cite as myght. And
because Spordauns had no certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye
schuld take them a worthe tyl more certayn.

     Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle
you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs
my moder may knowe.

                                      Be your Broder,                 W. PASTON.
                                                                                   T. PLAYTERS.

‘On a piece of paper pinned to the above letter,’ says Fenn, ‘is a list of the

names of the noblemen and knights, and the number of soldiers slain at the
above battle of Towton, as follow:—’

   ² [From Fenn, i. 216.] The date of this letter is sufficiently apparent from the
contents.

 ¹ 4th April.

     ² The battle of Towton, fought on Palm Sunday, the 29th March 1461.

     ³ 30th March.

     ⁴ John Nevill, Lord Montague, brother of the Earl of Warwick.

     ⁵ Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners.

APRIL 4

1461
APRIL 4

1461
APRIL 4