William Paston to John Paston

LETTER LXXXVII.

           To my maistr jon
           Paston in Norffolk.

RYTHE will belovyd brod^r I r’comand me to zow serte-
     fyeng zow y^t on Fryday last was in the mornyng Wurcet^r
and I wer come to london be viij of y^e clok and we spak w^t my
lord ¹ Chanceler and I fund hym well disposyd in all thyng and
ze schall fynd hym ryth p’fytabyll to zow, &c. and he desyred
me to wrythe zow a lett^r in hys name and put trust in zow in
gaderyng of y^e good toged^r and p’y zow to do so and have all
his good owthe of ev^rry place of his, and his awne place qwer so
eu^r they wer and ley it secr’tly wer as ze thowth best at zowr assyne-
mēt and tyll y^t he speke w^t zow hym selff and he seyd ye schuld
have all lawfull favor I purpose to ryde to him y^is day ffor Wryttis
of ² diem clawsit extr’mū and I sopose ze schall have a lett^r sent
from hym selff to zow as for the good of powlis it is safe j now
and y^is day we have grant to have y^e good owthe of ³ barmūsey
w^t owthe avyse of any mā sawyng Worset^r Plom’ and I my selff
and no body schall know of it but we thre my brod ⁴ tr’ sorer
spekyth fayr but zet many avyse me to put no trust in hym ther
is laboryd many menys to intytill y^e kyng in his good. Sothe-
well is eschetor and he is rythe good and well disposyd. My
lord of ⁵ exsat^r cleymyth tytill in m[SYM] mast^r plase w^t y^e aporty-
nancys in Sothewerk and veryly had purposyd to have entrid
and his Consayll wer w^t us and spak w^t Wurset^r And me and
now aft^rward they have sent no word that they wold meve my
lord to sue be menys of y^e lawe, &c. I have spoke w^t my lord
of Cant^rbury and mast^r jon Stokys and I fynd hem rythe will
disposyd bothe, &c. It’ to morow ar y^e nexst day ze schall haue
a nod^r lett^r For be that tyme we schall know mor than we do
now my lord Chanceler wold y^t my mast^r schuld be beryed
wurchyply and C. mark almes done for hym but y^is day I
schall holly know his enthent mast^r jon Stokys hathe y^e same
consaythe and Almes gevyng Harry Fenyngley is not in this
towne. Ner y^e lord bechamp It’ we have gethe mē of y^e Sper’-
tuall law w^t haldyn w^t us qwat casse some eu^r hap we haue mast^r
Robert Kenthe but in any wyse haue all y^e good ther to gedyr
and tary for no lettyng. thow ze schuld do it be day a lythe
opynly for it is m[SYM] lord Chanceler ffull in thenthe that ze
schuld do so as For Wyllyam ⁶ Worcet^r he trustythe veryly ze
wold do for hym And for his avaylle in reson and I dowthe
nott and he may veryly and feythefully und^rstand zow so dis-
posyd to hym ward ze schall fynd hym feythefull to zow in leke
wysse I und^rstand by hym he will neu^r haue od^r mast^r butt his
old mast^r and to m[SYM] Consaythe it were pete butt iff he schull
stand in suche casse be m[SYM] mast^r that he schuld nev^r nede Ser-
vyce cōserying how m[SYM] mast^r trustyd hym and y^e long zers that
he hathe be w^t hym in and many schrew jornay For his sake,
&c. I wrythe zow no mor be cawse ze schall a nod^r lett^r wr’t[SYM]
to morow Wr’t[SYM] at lūdon y^e xij day of novēbr in hast

Be

                                                                           ⁷ William Paston.

          11 ? by 10.

            Paper Mark,
         a Bull?s Head and Star,
            Pl. XXII. N^o 15.

        London, Monday,
   12 Nov. 1459. 38 H. VI.

     We have in this Letter an account of the proceedings on the death of that renowned
Knight and valiant Soldier Sir John Fastolf, relative to his effects.

     He was born about the year 1377, in the last year of the reign of Edward III. and
is said to have been brought up in the Norfolk family.

     In 1408, 9 H. IV. he married in Ireland Milicent, Daughter of Robert Lord Tibe-
tot, and Relict of Sir Stephen Scroop, by whom she had a son Stephen.

     From the year 1412, 13 H. IV. to the year 1440, 18 H. VI. he was chiefly en-
gaged in the wars in France, where he performed many gallant actions, and acquired
honour and wealth. He took the Duke of Alen?on prisoner at the battle of Verneuil,
in 1424, in 1425 was created Baron of Sillie le Guillem, and in 1426 was elected into
the Order of the Garter.

     After his return and settlement in his native country, he became a great builder; and at
Caister are still to be seen such magnificent remains of his Seat or Castle, as even now do
testify its former state and grandeur; it was a square building of brick, coped with free
stone, each side of it being about 300 feet long, having a large and lofty Tower at each
corner, one of which was a few years ago standing almost entire, and of which a view is
given in the title-page to this work, drawn by that accurate and ingenious Preserver of our
ancient Buildings, &c. Francis Grose, Esq. the Hall, we are informed, was 59 feet
long and 28 broad; the whole was surrounded by a moat, and was a place in those
days of strength and defence, having in the year 1469, 9 E. IV. sustained a siege by
the Duke of Norfolk, &c. After the death of Sir John Fastolf this was for several ge-
nerations the seat of the Paston Family, and so continued until Clement Paston, Esq.
In the reign of Elizabeth, built Oxnead-hall, which then becoming their chief place of
residence, this noble Mansion began to be neglected. About the middle of the last
Century this Estate was purchased by the Crowes, from whom it came to the family
of Bedingfield, and it is now (1788) by a female heiress, the property of Sir John
Rous, bart.

     He likewise built a splendid house in Yarmouth, and a Palace in Southwark. At
length being nearly 83 years of age, and as he says of himself in his will, dated 4th
Nov. 1459, ?in good remembraunce albeit gretely vexed with sickness, and through
age infebelyd,? he departed this life, without issue, on Monday the 5th of November,
1459, 38 H. VI. at his Manor of Caister, and was most sumptuously buried in the
Conventual Church of St. Bennet in the Holm, in Norfolk, under the Arch of the
new Chapel, which he had lately rebuilt there, on the south side of the Choir or Chan-
cel, under a marble tomb by the Body of Dame Milicent his wife.

     When we consider this our worthy Knight, as sprung from an ancient and honour-
able family, inheriting ample fortunes, but immensely increasing them through a long,
laborious, and indefatigable life, spent in the service of his Country, and acquiring
Riches at the cost of its Enemies only; acting in a very high and exalted sphere, re-
nowned for his courage and conduct in the field, and his abilities in the council, dis-
persing the fruits of his riches by his magnificent buildings and hospitality in his life
time, and at his death devising the Capital itself for almost every purpose be could think
of useful to the public, can we help exclaiming, Thou hast founded the fair fabric of
thy fame upon a rock to last for ages!

     ¹ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester.

     ² This was a Writ which issued out of Chancery to the Escheator of the County, up-
on the death of any of the King?s tenants in Capite, to enquire by a Jury of what lands
he died seized, and of what value, and who was next heir to him.

     ³ An Abbey in Southwaak, where some of his Goods were deposited.

     ⁴ James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. Beheaded in 1461.

     ⁵ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter.

       ⁶ For an Account of William Worcester, see Letter XXV. vol. i. p. 104, note¹.

     ⁷ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 21.

LETTER LXXXVII.

To my Master, John Paston, in Norfolk.

RIGHT well beloved Brother, I recommend me to you,
     certifying you that on Friday last was in the morning
Worcester and I were come to London by 8 of the clock, and
we spake with my Lord ¹ Chancellor, and I found him well dis-
posed in all things, and ye shall find him right profitable to
you, &c.

     And he desired me to write you a letter in his name, and put
trust in you in gathering of the goods together, and pray you to
do so, and have all his goods out of every place of his, and his
own place, where soever they were, and lay them secretly where
as ye thought best at your assignment, and till that he speak with
you himself, and he said ye should have all lawful favour.

     I purpose to ride to him this day for Writs of ² diem clau-
sit extremum, and I suppose ye shall have a letter sent from
him self to you

     As for the Goods of Paul’s they are safe enough, and this day
we have grant to have the Goods out of ³ Bermondsey without
advice of any man saving Worcester, Plomer, and I myself, and
nobody shall know of it but we three.

     My ⁴ Lord Treasurer speaketh fair, but yet many advise me
to put no trust in him; there is laboured many means to intitle
the King in his Goods. Southwell is Escheator, and he is right
good and well disposed.

     My Lord of ⁵ Exeter claimeth title in my master’s place with
the appurtenances in Southwark, and verily had purposed to
have entered, and his counsel were with us and spake with Wor-
cester and me; and now afterwards they have sent us word that
they would move my Lord to sue by means of the law, &c.

     I have spoken with my Lord of Canterbury, and Master John
Stokes, and I find them right well disposed both, &c.

     Item, to-morrow or the next day ye shall have another letter,
for by that time we shall know more than we do now.

     My Lord Chancellor would that my Master should be buried
worshipfully, and one hundred marks (66l. 13s. 4d.) alms done
for him; but this day I shall wholly know his intent; Master
John Stokes hath the same conceit and alms giving.

     Harry Fenyngley is not in this town, nor the Lord Beauchamp.

     Item, we have gotten men of the Spiritual Law with holden
with us, what case soever happen, we have Master Robert Kent,
but in any wise have all the Goods there together, and tarry for
no letting, though ye should do it by day-light openly, for it is
my Lord Chancellor’s full intent that ye should do so.

     As for William ⁶ Worcester he trusteth verily ye would do for
him and for his avail and in reason, and I doubt not, and (if)
he may verily and faithfully understand you so disposed to him
ward, ye shall find him faithful to you; in likewise I under-
stand by him he will never have other master but his old mas-
ter, and to my conceit it were pity but if he should stand in such
case by mine master that he should never need service, consider-
ing how my master trusted him, and the long years that he hath
been with him in, and many shrewd journey for his sake, &c.

     I write you no more because ye shall (have) another letter
written to morrow. Written at London the 12th day of No-
uember in haste.

                                         By

                                                        ⁷ WILLIAM PASTON.

            11 ½ by 10.

            Paper Mark,
         a Bull’s Head and Star,
            Pl. XXII. N^o 15.

       London, Monday,
    12 Nov. 1459. 38 H. VI.

     We have in this Letter an account of the proceedings on the death of that renowned
Knight and valiant Soldier Sir John Fastolf, relative to his effects.

     He was born about the year 1377, in the last year of the reign of Edward III. and
is said to have been brought up in the Norfolk family.

     In 1408, 9 H. IV. he married in Ireland Milicent, Daughter of Robert Lord Tibe-
tot, and Relict of Sir Stephen Scroop, by whom she had a son Stephen.

     From the year 1412, 13 H. IV. to the year 1440, 18 H. VI. he was chiefly en-
gaged in the wars in France, where he performed many gallant actions, and acquired
honour and wealth. He took the Duke of Alençon prisoner at the battle of Verneuil,
in 1424, in 1425 was created Baron of Sillie le Guillem, and in 1426 was elected into
the Order of the Garter.

     After his return and settlement in his native country, he became a great builder; and at
Caister are still to be seen such magnificent remains of his Seat or Castle, as even now do
testify its former state and grandeur; it was a square building of brick, coped with free
stone, each side of it being about 300 feet long, having a large and lofty Tower at each
corner, one of which was a few years ago standing almost entire, and of which a view is
given in the title-page to this work, drawn by that accurate and ingenious Preserver of our
ancient Buildings, &c. Francis Grose, Esq. the Hall, we are informed, was 59 feet
long and 28 broad; the whole was surrounded by a moat, and was a place in those
days of strength and defence, having in the year 1469, 9 E. IV. sustained a siege by
the Duke of Norfolk, &c. After the death of Sir John Fastolf this was for several ge-
nerations the seat of the Paston Family, and so continued until Clement Paston, Esq.
In the reign of Elizabeth, built Oxnead-hall, which then becoming their chief place of
residence, this noble Mansion began to be neglected. About the middle of the last
Century this Estate was purchased by the Crowes, from whom it came to the family
of Bedingfield, and it is now (1788) by a female heiress, the property of Sir John
Rous, bart.

     He likewise built a splendid house in Yarmouth, and a Palace in Southwark. At
length being nearly 83 years of age, and as he says of himself in his will, dated 4th
Nov. 1459, “in good remembraunce albeit gretely vexed with sickness, and through
age infebelyd,” he departed this life, without issue, on Monday the 5th of November,
1459, 38 H. VI. at his Manor of Caister, and was most sumptuously buried in the
Conventual Church of St. Bennet in the Holm, in Norfolk, under the Arch of the
new Chapel, which he had lately rebuilt there, on the south side of the Choir or Chan-
cel, under a marble tomb by the Body of Dame Milicent his wife.

     When we consider this our worthy Knight, as sprung from an ancient and honour-
able family, inheriting ample fortunes, but immensely increasing them through a long,
laborious, and indefatigable life, spent in the service of his Country, and acquiring
Riches at the cost of its Enemies only; acting in a very high and exalted sphere, re-
nowned for his courage and conduct in the field, and his abilities in the council, dis-
persing the fruits of his riches by his magnificent buildings and hospitality in his life
time, and at his death devising the Capital itself for almost every purpose be could think
of useful to the public, can we help exclaiming, Thou hast founded the fair fabric of
thy fame upon a rock to last for ages!

     ¹ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester.

     ² This was a Writ which issued out of Chancery to the Escheator of the County, up-
on the death of any of the King’s tenants in Capite, to enquire by a Jury of what lands
he died seized, and of what value, and who was next heir to him.

     ³ An Abbey in Southwaak, where some of his Goods were deposited.

     ⁴ James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. Beheaded in 1461.

     ⁵ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter.

     ⁶ For an Account of William Worcester, see Letter XXV. vol. i. p. 104, note¹.

     ⁷ Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 21.

391

WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON

To my Maistr Jon Paston in Norfolk.

      RYTHE will belovyd broder, I recomand me to zow,
          sertefyeng zow that on Fryday last was in the morn-
          yng, Wurceter and I wer come to London be viij. of
the clok, and we spak with my Lord Chanceler,³ and I fund
hym well disposyd in all thyng, and ze schall fynd hym ryth
profytabyll to zow, &c. And he desyred me to wrythe zow a
letter in hys name, and put trust in zow in gaderyng of the
good togeder, and pray zow to do so and have all his good
owthe of every place of his, and his awne place, qwer so ever
they wer, and ley it secretly wer as ze thowth best at zowr
assynement, and tyll that he speke with zow hym selff, and he
seyd ye schuld have all lawfull favor. I purpose to ryde to
him this day ffor wryttis of diem clawsit extremum,⁴ and I sopose
ze schall have a letter sent from hym selff to zow.

     As for the good of Powlis, it is safe j now [enough]; and
this day we have grant to have the good owthe of Barmundsey
with owthe avyse of any man, sawyng Worseter, Plomer, and
I my selff, and no body schall know of it but we thre.

     My Lord⁵ Treasorer⁶ spekyth fayr, but zet many avyse
me to put no trust in hym. Ther is laboryd many menys to
intytill the Kyng in his good. Sothewell⁷ is Eschetor, and he is
rythe good and well disposyd. My Lord of Exsater¹ cleymyth
tytill in myn master plase, with the aportynancys in Sothewerk,
and veryly had purposyd to have entrid; and his consayll wer
with us, and spak with Wurseter and me. And now afterward
they have sent us word that they wold meve my Lord to sue
be menys of the lawe, &c. I have spoke with my Lord of Can-
terbury and Master Jon Stokys, and I fynd hem rythe will
disposyd bothe, &c.

     Item, to morow ar the nexst day ze schall have a noder
letter, for be that tyme we schall know mor than we do now.

     My Lord Chanceler wold that my master schuld be beryed
wurchyply, and C. mark almes done for hym; but this day I
schall holly know his enthent. Master Jon Stokys hathe the
same consaythe and almes gevyng. Harry Fenyngley is not
in this towne, ner the Lord Bechamp.

     Item, we have gethe men of the speretuall law with haldyn
with us, qwat casse some ever hap. We have Master Robert
Kenthe, but in any wyse have all the good ther to gedyr, and
tary for no lettyng, thow ze schuld do it be day a lythe [day-
light] opynly, for it is myn Lord Chanceler ffull in thenthe that
ze schuld do so.

     As for Wyllyam Worceter, he trustythe veryly ze wold do
for hym and for his avaylle, in reson; and I dowthe nott and
he may veryly and feythefully understand zow so disposyd to
hym ward, ze schall fynd hym feythefull to zow in leke wysse.
I understand by hym he will never have oder master butt his
old master; and to myn consaythe it were pete butt iff he
schull stand in suche casse be myn master that he schuld never
nede servyce, conserying [considering] how myn master trustyd
hym, and the long zers that he hathe be with hym in, and many
schrew jornay for his sake, &c.

     I wrythe zow no mor, be cawse ze schall [have] a noder
letter wretyn to morow. Wretyn at Lundon the xij. day of
Novembr, in hast, be

                                                                      WILLYAM PASTON.

     ² [From Fenn, iii. 352.] This letter gives an account of the steps taken by
William Paston in behalf of his brother, who was Sir John Fastolf’s principal executor,
to secure the goods of the deceased knight immediately after his death.

     ³ William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester.

     ⁴ See vol. ii. p. 16, Note 1.

     ⁵ The left-hand copy in Fenn reads ‘brod,’ which seems to be a misprint.

     ⁶ James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. Beheaded in 1461.—F.

     ⁷ Richard Southwell.

    ¹ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter.

1459
NOV. 12

1459
NOV. 12