William Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER XV.

To hys Brodyr
      Syr John Paston.

SYR I recomaunde me on to yow And where as ye desyre
that I schulde sende yow worde of suche tydyngs as Phylyp
Lewes and Wyndesor bryngythe to the Corte they be come
thens bothe but we here of no tydyngs that they brynge
but that yondyr folkys Abyde stylle abowte y^e place where
as thys onhappy dede was done and not w^t no grete
nowmbyr they sey not paste w^t v and vj C where they were
moste howbeyt they haue made p’clamacons in y^e cuntrey
to mete w^t oder of ther Affynyte as on tuesday last past as
it Aperythe in the copy of ther p’clamacon heraftyr folow-
yng Also they schew the Kynge intendythe to holde on
hys jurney. And Phylyp Lewes is redyn ageyn to the
Kyng and schall brynge w^t hym money for all ther wags
that schall be in my lordys retynew as yow and vj of Syr
Wyll’m bolens s^rv’nts and odyrs Syr M Clopton sye yowre
lettyr And a seythe he knew my lords mende suche that he
durste not meue hym w^t it ther was S^r Wyll’m Say but
clopton wolde not it schulde be knowen of non other but
yo^r selfe he sent my lorde be a s^rv’nt of his xl li to haue
excusynd hym and it wolde not be takyn and y^t J m^rvell of.
Howbeyt he brake thus fer to my lorde he asched hym how
many he apoyntyd yow to brynge w^t yow and he Answerde
hym xx^ti and than he schewyd hym yowr chargs y^t ye haue
had my lorde seyd ye myght haue men A nowe and ther
wags schal be payd for Clopton Aunswerde how that it
wolde coste yow large money besyde y^r wags to hors them
and hernes them and how that to sey the trowthe ye were
not well at ese. Notw^tstandynge all thys my lorde wyllyd
that y^e schulde come to hym to Cambryge on tuesday at
nyght w^t as many as y^e myght and ye and he schulde do
well Jnow. Soo Clopton thyngyth that and ye brynge A
dosen w^t yow it is suffycyent Howbeyt y^t S^r Emonde Be-
dyngfeld S^r Thomas Tyrell¹ and S^r Rye Lewes haue ben w^t
my lorde and yche of them haue offyrde to mete w^t my
lorde at Cambryge w^t xxx me˜ apese of them So I wolde not
ye schulde be so ferre undyr them Wherfor I thynke best
that ye puruey yow so as and y^e schulde goo forthe yor
selfe for I can p^rseue non othyr wyse My bedfelawe Corn-
waleys² is maryed in the northe and he came as yesternyght
to my lorde streyt owt of the contre and he scheythe non
othyr wyse but as I haue wretyn here afore in thys lettyr
ye schall haue for yor self and for yche of yor s^rv’nts horsyd
and herneyssyd xx^s in hande At Cambryge for a monthe and
I truste we schall haue done or xx days to An ende w^t y^e
grace of god who haue yow in kepynge At Henyngh’m.

                                                         Be yo^r brodyr

                                                                         WYLLM PASTON.

THE REBELLES P’CLAMAC˜ON.

To be knowyn to all the Northe p’t of England to eu˜ry
lorde Knyght Esquyer Jentylman And yeman that they
schalbe redy in ther defensable Aray Jn the Est p’te on
tuysday next comyng on Aldyrton more And in the west
p’te on Gateley More the same Day upon peyne of losyng
of ther goods and bodyes For to geynstonde suche p^rsons
As is Aboutward for to dystroy oure suffereyn lorde the
Kynge and the Comowns of Engelond for suche vnlawfull
Poynts As seynt Thomas of Cauntyrbery dyed for And thys
to be fulfyllyd and kept by eu?ry ylke Comenere vpon
peyn of dethe.

                                       And thys is in the name of Mayster
                                       HOBBE HYRSTE

                                       ROBYN GODFELAWS brodyr he is as
                                       J trow

     11? by 12?.

     Seal, a Bull’s Head cahoshed. Pl. xxxiv. No. 8.

   This letter refers to the rising of the people near Thirsk in Yorkshire, where
the Earl of Northumberland was killed in endeavouring to levy the supplies
granted by the parliament for the expenses of the war to be undertaken in sup-
port of Francis II. the last Duke of Bretaigne.

     We see here the method of collecting the forces, and the number of men
expected to be raised by individuals; we may observe too, how strictly the
personal attendance of the gentry was required, when forty pounds sent to the
Earl of Oxford would not be taken to excuse appearance at the place of ren-
dezvous. A month’s wages were to be advanced beforehand, and W. Paston
seemed to think their attendance would be over in less than that time.

     The proclamation of the rebels pretends that they are assembled to resist
such as are endeavouring to destroy the King and the Commons of England.

     Those who resist legal government never have wanted, and, I believe, never
will want, a pretence for their actions.

     ¹ Whether the Sir Thomas Tyrell here mentioned was the head of the
Essex branch of this family, or whether he was the Sir Thomas, younger bro-
ther to Sir James Tyrell, the supposed murderer of Edward V. and his brother
the Duke of York, does not appear.

     ² This was most probably William Cornwallis, Esq. who married Elizabeth,
daughter and heir of John Stamford, Esq. They were ancestors to the pre-
sent Marquis Cornwallis; he died in 1519, and was buried at Oakley; she
continued his widow till her death in 1537, and was interred at Thrandeston, in
Suffolk.

     The term “bedfellow” was often used in this age by one friend speaking of
another, as persons of the highest quality in the days here spoken of frequently
slept together.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 12.

LETTER XV.

To his Brother Sir John Paston.

SIR, I recommend me unto you, and whereas ye desire that
I should send you word of such tidings as Philip Lewes
and Windsor bringeth from the court; they be come thence
both, but we hear of no tidings that they bring, but that
yonder folks abide still about the place whereas this un-
happy deed was done, and not with no great number, they
say not with past 5 or 600, when they were most; however
they have made proclamations in the country, to meet with
other of their affinity, as on Tuesday last past, as it ap-
peareth in the copy of their proclamation hereafter follow-
ing.

     Also they show the King intendeth to hold over his jour-
ney, and Philip Lewes is ridden again to the King, and
shall bring with him money for all their wages that shall be
in my lord’s retinue, as you and six of Sir William Bolein’s
servants and other.

     Sir, Master Clopton saw your letter, and a seythe [he
saith] he knew my lord’s mind such, that he durst not move
him with it. There was Sir William Say, (but Clopton would
not it should be known of none other but yourself;) he sent
my lord, by a servant of his, 40l. to have excused him, and
it would not be taken, and that I marvel of. Howbeit he
brake thus far to my lord: he asked him how many he ap-
pointed you to bring with you; and he answered him
twenty; and then he showed him your charges that ye have
had; my lord said ye might have men enough, and their
wages shall be paid for.

     Clopton answered, how that it would cost you large
money beside their wages to horse them and harness them;
and how that, to say the truth, ye were not well at ease.

     Notwithstanding all this, my lord willed that ye should
come to him to Cambridge on Tuesday at night with as
many as ye might, and ye and he should do well enough.
So Clopton thinketh that and [if] ye bring a dozen with
you it is sufficient; howbeit that Sir Edmund Bedingfield,
Sir Thomas Tyrell,¹ and Sir Richard Lewes have been with
my lord, and each of them have offered to meet with my
lord at Cambridge with thirty men apiece of them; so I
would not ye should be so far under them; wherefore I
I think best that ye purvey you so as and [if] ye should go
forth yourself, for I can perceive none otherwise. My bed-
fellow Cornwallis² is married in the north, and he came as
yesternight to my lord strait out of the country, and he
saith none otherwise, but as I have written here before in
this letter.

     Ye shall have for yourself and for each of your servants
horsed and harnessed 20 shillings in hand at Cambridge for
a month, and I trust we shall have done ere twenty days to
an end, with the grace of God, who have you in keeping.
At Henyngham.

                                                    By your brother,

                                                                 WILLIAM PASTON.

       Heningham Castle,
   between 6th and 13th May
         1488. 3 H. vii.

THE REBELS’ PROCLAMATION.

     To be known to all the north parts of England, to every
lord, knight, esquire, gentleman, and yeoman, that they
shall be ready in their defensible array, in the east part, on
Tuesday next coming, on Alderton Moor, and in the west
part on Cately Moor the same day, upon pain of losing of
their goods and bodies; for to gainstand [resist] such per-
sons as are about for to destroy our sovereign Lord the
King and the Commons of England, for such unlawful
points as Saint Thomas of Canterbury died for. And this
to be fulfilled and kept by every ylke [separate] commoner
upon pain of death.

               And this is in the name of Master HOBBE HYRSTE,
                        ROBIN GOOD FELLOW’S brother, he is, as I
                        trow.

     Seal, a Bull’s Head cahoshed. Pl. xxxiv. No. 8.

    This letter refers to the rising of the people near Thirsk in Yorkshire, where
the Earl of Northumberland was killed in endeavouring to levy the supplies
granted by the parliament for the expenses of the war to be undertaken in sup-
port of Francis II. the last Duke of Bretaigne.

     We see here the method of collecting the forces, and the number of men
expected to be raised by individuals; we may observe too, how strictly the
personal attendance of the gentry was required, when forty pounds sent to the
Earl of Oxford would not be taken to excuse appearance at the place of ren-
dezvous. A month’s wages were to be advanced beforehand, and W. Paston
seemed to think their attendance would be over in less than that time.

     The proclamation of the rebels pretends that they are assembled to resist
such as are endeavouring to destroy the King and the Commons of England.

     Those who resist legal government never have wanted, and, I believe, never
will want, a pretence for their actions.

     ¹ Whether the Sir Thomas Tyrell here mentioned was the head of the
Essex branch of this family, or whether he was the Sir Thomas, younger bro-
ther to Sir James Tyrell, the supposed murderer of Edward V. and his brother
the Duke of York, does not appear.

     ² This was most probably William Cornwallis, Esq. who married Elizabeth,
daughter and heir of John Stamford, Esq. They were ancestors to the pre-
sent Marquis Cornwallis; he died in 1519, and was buried at Oakley; she
continued his widow till her death in 1537, and was interred at Thrandeston, in
Suffolk.

     The term “bedfellow” was often used in this age by one friend speaking of
another, as persons of the highest quality in the days here spoken of frequently
slept together.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 12.

1039

WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON²

To hys brodyr, Syr John Paston.

      SYR, I recomaunde me on to yow. And where as ye
          desyre that I schulde sende yow worde of suche tydyng
          as Phylyp Lewes and Wyndesor bryngythe fro the
corte, they be come thens bothe, but we here of no tydynges
that they brynge, but that yondyr folkys abyde stylle abowte
the place where as thys onhappy dede was done, and not with
no grete nowmbyr, they sey not paste with v. or vj. C., where
they were moste. Howbeyt they have made proclamacions
in the cuntrey to mete with oder of ther affynyte as on Tues-
day last past, as it aperythe in the copy of ther proclamacion
heraftyr folowyng. Also they schewe the Kynge intendythe
to holde on hys jurney. And Phylyp Lewes is redyn ageyn
to the Kyng, and schall brynge with hym money for all ther
wages that schall be in my lordys retynew, as yow and vj. of
Syr Wylliam Bolens servauntes and od[yrs].

     Syr, Mr. Clopton sye [saw] yowre lettyr, and a seythe he
knew my lordes mende suche, that he durste not meve hym
with it. Ther was Syr Wylliam Say, but Clopton wolde not
it schulde be knowen of non other but your selfe. He sent
my lorde be a servaunt of hys xlli. to have excusyid hym, and
it wolde not be takyn, and that I mervell of. Howbeyt he
brake thus fer to my lorde; he asched hym how many he
apoyntyd yow to brynge with yow, and he answerde hym
xx^ti, and than he schewyd hym yowr charges that ye have had.
My lorde seyd ye myght have men a nowe, and ther wages
schal be payd for. Clopton aunswerde how that it wolde
coste yow large money, besyde ther wages, to hors them and
hernes them; and how that, to sey the trowthe, ye were not
well at ese.

     Not withstandynge all thys, my lorde wyllyd that ye
schulde come to hym to Cambryge on Tuesday at nyght, with
as many as ye myght, and ye and he schulde do well i now.
Soo Clopton thyngyth that and ye brynge a dosen with yow,
it is suffycyent; howbeyt that Syr Emonde Bedvngfeld, Syr
Thomas Tyrell, and Syr Ryc. Lewes have ben with my lorde,
and yche of them have offyrde to mete with my lorde at
Cambryge with xxx. men a pese of them. So I wolde not ye
schulde be to ferre undyr them; wherfor I thynke best that
ye purvey yow so as and ye schulde goo forthe yor selfe, for I
can perseve non othyr wyse.

     My bedfelawe Cornwaleys is maryed in the Northe, and
he came as yesternyght to my lorde streyt owt of the contre,
and he scheythe [showeth] non othyr wyse but as I have wretyn
here afore in thys lettyr.

     Ye schall have for yor self and for yche of your servauntes
horsyd and hernessyd xxs. in hande at Cambryge for a monthe,
and I truste we schal have done or xx. days to an ende, with
the grace of God, Who have yow in kepynge.

     At Henyngham.

                                    Be your brodyr,

                                                                     WYLLIAM PASTON.

[The Rebels’ Proclamation.]

     To be knowyn to all the northe partes of England, to
every lorde, knyght, esquyer, gentylman, and yeman that they
schalbe redy in ther defensable aray, in the est parte, on
Tuysday next comyng, on Aldyrton More, and in the west
parte on Gateley More, the same day, upon peyne of losyng
of ther goodes and bodyes, for to geynstonde suche persons as
is abowtward for to dystroy oure suffereyn Lorde the Kynge
and the Comowns of Engelond, for suche unlawfull poyntes as
Seynt Thomas of Cauntyrbery dyed for; and thys to be ful-
fyllyd and kept by every ylke comenere upon peyn of dethe.

     And thys is in the name of Mayster Hobbe Hyrste, Robyn
Godfelaws brodyr he is, as I trow.

     ¹ 12th May.

     ² [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that this letter was written shortly
after the preceding, which is dated the 6th May. In that letter Paston is desired to
be at Cambridge on the Tuesday following to do the King service, and here we find
that it was intended by the King himself to have been there, leading an army against
some Northern rebels in person. The expressions in the beginning of this letter leave
very little doubt that the insurrection referred to was that in which the Earl of
Northumberland was slain on the 28th April 1489.—See Leland’s Collectanea, iv.
246.

MAY

1489
MAY

1489
MAY