William Paston to Sir John Paston

Add. 43490, f. 12

7 March 1489

Gairdner, Vol VI, item 1031; Fenn, Vol II, Edward IV item 60

LETTER LX.

To hys Brodyr S^r. John Paston be thys Letter delyu’ed.

SIR I recomaunde me to yow letynge yow wete that,
(Here follows some Account relative to a Grant from the
Crown, &c.)

As for my Lord ¹ Treserer he was not w^t the Kynge of all the
² Counsell tyme y^e whyche was endyd on the iij^de day of Marche.
And theder came my Lorde of ³ Northethomyrland the fyrste
day of Marche and dep’tyd the even afore y^e makyng of thys
Lett’. And hath endentyd w^t the Kynge for the kepynge
owt of the Schottys and warrynge on them and schall have
large money I can not telle y^e some for certeyn.

Also ther is an Rover takyn at Brystowe on Cowper as I
wene and he is lyke to be hanged and he confessythe more
of hys felawis. Also Edwarde Heestowe of Dovere is apechyd
of treson of many straunge poynts, and hys accuser and he
were bothe afore the Kynge and then they were takyn apert
And he hymselfe cōffessyd it that hys accusere accusyd hym
of and many other thyngr more than he was accusyd of And
he had many Lords and Gentylmen to aunswere for hys trowthe
and his demenynge afore tyme for as I hard sey bothe the Kynge
in a maner nor non of the tother Lords nor Gentylmen belevyd
not hys accuser tyl y^t he confessyd it hym selfe and so he is in
the Towre and ⁴ lyke to be dede.

As for the Kyng’s comynge into the contre. On Monday
come fortenyght he well lye at the Abbey of Strattefforde and
so to Chelmnsford, yan to Syr Thomas Mongehombrey, yan
to Hevenyngh’m than to Colchestyr yan to Ipswyche yan to
Bery yan to Dame Anne Wyngfelds and soo to Norwych
and there woll he be on ⁵ Palme sonday euyn and so tary there
all ⁶ Ester and yan to ⁷ Walsyngh’m. Wherefore ye had nede
to warne Wyll’m Gogyne and hys felaws to p’uey them of
wyne I now for eu’y man berythe me on hande that y^e towne
schalbe dronkyn drye as Yorke was when the Kynge was ther’.
Syr Mayst’ Sampson recomaunde hym on to yow and he hathe
sende yow a rynge be Edmonde Dorman and besydys that he
requeryd me to wryte on to yow y^t it were best for yow to
p’vey yow of some Gentyl meny thynges ageyns the Kyngs
comyng for suere he well brynge yow Gests I now and therfore
p’uey yow y^raftyr. Also he sendythe yow worde that it is my
Lords mende y^t my Syst’ w^t all other godely folkys y^r abowt
scholde acompeny w^t Dame ³ Elsebethe Calthrop because there
is noo grete Lady ther abowte ageyns the Kyngs comynge
for my Lorde hathe made grete boste of the fayre and goode
Gentylwomen’ of y^e cōtre and so the Kynge seyd he wolde
see them sure.

Syr my Lorde hathe sente on to y^e most p’te of the Gen-
tyl men of Essex to wayte upon hym at Chelmnysford where
as he entendythe to mete w^t the Kynge and y^t they be well
apoyntyd y^t y^e Lankeschere men may see y^t ther be Gentyl-
men of as grete sobestaunce y^t y^ei be able to bye alle Lan-
kescher’ men thynke that ye amonge yow wol doo y^e same.
Yo^r Contre is gretely bostyd of and also the Inabytors of the
same. I beseche you to remembr my hors that ye p’misyd me.

God kepe yow. Wretyn at Schene in haste y^e vij day of
Marche w^t the hande of yo^r brodyr.

⁹ William Paston.

11 ½ by 8.

            Paper Mark,
             A Unicorn.
            Pl. XI. N^o 14.

Sheen,
Monday, 7th of March,
1473, 14 E. IV.

We have in this Letter a pleasing account of the intended excursion of the King into
divers Counties, in 1474; the motive of which most probably was to raise, more easily
by his presence and chearful address, Benevolences upon his Subjects towards the Expen-
ces of his war with France.

We are here informed likewise that the County of Norfolk had been highly spoken of
to the King, not only for the Riches and Hospitality of its Inhabitants, but for the
beauty and agreeable behaviour of its women; a reason sufficient for so long a stay
amungst them, as seemed intended to be made by an amorous and handsome Monarch.

¹ William Grey, Bishop of Ely.

² The sitting of Parliament.

³ Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland; this Contract was entered into by him
most probably as Warden of the Marches; a place of trust, honour, and profit.

This Nobleman was cruelly murdered by a Mob, in Yorkshire, when he was there
levying a public Tax in 1489.

⁴ This expression seems to insinuate that he would be executed privately in the Tower.

⁵ 3d of April, 1474.

⁶ 10th of April, 1474.

⁷ I suppose, to pay his Devotions to the Image of our Lady there.

⁸ Widow of Sir John Calthorp, and Daughter of Roger Wentworth, Esquire.

⁹ Autograph. Pl. V. N^o 13.

LETTER LX.

To his Brother Sir John Paston, Knight, be this Letter delivered.

SIR, I recommend me unto you, letting you weet that,
(Here follows some Account relative to a Grant from the
Crown, &c.)

As for my Lord ¹ Treasurer he was not with the King of
all the ²council time, the which was ended on the 3d day of March.
And thither came my Lord of ³ Northumberland, the first day
of March, and departed the even afore the making of this Let-
ter; and hath endented with the King for the keeping out of
the Scotts, and warring on them; and (he) shall have large
money, I cannot tell the Sum for certain.

Also there is a Rover taken at Bristol, one Cowper, as I
ween (think,) and he is like to be hanged, and he confesseth
more of his Fellows. Also Edward Heestowe of Dover is
apeached (impeached) of Treason of many strange points; and
his accuser and he were both afore the King, and then they
were taken apart; and he himself confessed it, that his accuser
accused him of, and many other things more than he was
accused of.

And he had many Lords and Gentlemen to answer for his
truth, and his demeaning afore time, for as I heard say, both the
King in a manner, nor none of the other Lords, nor Gentlemen,
believed not his accuser, till that he confessed it himself, and so
he is in the Tower, and ⁴ like to be dead.

As for the King’s coming into the Country; on Monday
come fortnight he will lie at the Abbey of Stratford, and so to
Chelmsford; then to Sir Thomas Montgomery’s; then to Heve-
ningham; then to Colchester; then to Ipswich; then to Bury;
then to Dame Anne Wingfield’s, and so to Norwich; and there
will he be on ⁵ Palm Sunday Even; and so tarry there all
⁶ Easter, and then to ⁷ Walsingham; wherefore ye had need to
warn William Gogney and his Fellows to purvey them of wine
enough, for every man beareth me in hand, that the Town
shall be drank dry as York was, when the King was there.

Sir, Master Sampson recommend him unto you, and he hath
sent you a Ring by Edmond Dorman; and besides that, he
required me to write unto you, that it were best for you to
purvey you of some Gentlemeny (Gentlemanlike) Things against
the King’s coming, for sure he will bring you Guests enough,
and therefore purvey you thereafter. Also, he sendeth you word,
that it is my Lord’s mind, that my Sister, with all other goodly
Folks there about, should accompany with Dame ⁸ Elizabeth
Calthrop, because there is no great Lady there about, against
the King’s coming; for my Lord hath made great boast of
the fair and good Gentlewomen of the Country; and so the
King said, he would see them sure.

Sir, my Lord hath sent unto the most part of the Gentlemen
of Essex to wait upon him at Chelmsford, where, as he intendeth,
to meet with the King, and that they be well appointed, that
the Lancashire men may see, that there be Gentlemen of so
great substance that they be able to buy all Lancashire. Men
think that ye among you will do the same.

Your Country is greatly boasted of, also the Inhabitors of
the same. I beseech you to remember my horse that you
promised me. God keep you.

Written at Sheene in haste, the 7th day of March, with the
hand of your Brother.

⁹ WILLIAM PASTON.

11 ? by 8.

            Paper Mark,
             A Unicorn.
            Pl. XI. N^o 14.

Sheen,
Monday, 7th of March,
1473, 14 E. IV.

We have in this Letter a pleasing account of the intended excursion of the King into
divers Counties, in 1474; the motive of which most probably was to raise, more easily
by his presence and chearful address, Benevolences upon his Subjects towards the Expen-
ces of his war with France.

We are here informed likewise that the County of Norfolk had been highly spoken of
to the King, not only for the Riches and Hospitality of its Inhabitants, but for the
beauty and agreeable behaviour of its women; a reason sufficient for so long a stay
amungst them, as seemed intended to be made by an amorous and handsome Monarch.

¹ William Grey, Bishop of Ely.

² The sitting of Parliament.

³ Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland; this Contract was entered into by him
most probably as Warden of the Marches; a place of trust, honour, and profit.

This Nobleman was cruelly murdered by a Mob, in Yorkshire, when he was there
levying a public Tax in 1489.

⁴ This expression seems to insinuate that he would be executed privately in the Tower.

⁵ 3d of April, 1474.

⁶ 10th of April, 1474.

⁷ I suppose, to pay his Devotions to the Image of our Lady there.

⁸ Widow of Sir John Calthorp, and Daughter of Roger Wentworth, Esquire.

⁹ Autograph. Pl. V. N^o 13.

1031

WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To hys broder, Sir John Paston, be thys letter aelyvered.

SIR, I recomaunde me to yow, letynge yow wete that . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .²

As for my Lord Treserer,³ he was not with the
Kynge of all the counsell tyme, the whyche was endyd on the
iij^de day of Marche. And theder come my Lorde of Northe-
thombyrland the fyrste day of Marche, and departyd the even
afore the makyng of thys letter, and hath endentyd with the
Kynge for the kepynge owt of the Schottys and warrynge on
them, and schall have large money, I can not telle the some
for certeyn.

Also ther is an rover takyn at Brystowe, on [one] Cowper,
as I wene, and he is lyke to be hanged, and he confessythe
more of hys felawis. Also Edward Heestowe of Dovere is
apechyd of treson of many straunge poynts; and hys accuser
and he were bothe afore the Kynge, and then they were takyn
apert. And he hymselfe confessyd it that hys accusere accusyd
hym of, and many other thyngs more than he was accusyd of.
And he had many lords and gentylmen to aunswere for hys
trowthe and his demenynge afore tyme, for, as I hard sey,
bothe the Kynge in a maner, nor non of the tother lords nor
gentylmen belevyd not hys accuser, tyl that he confessyd it
hym selfe; and so he is in the Towre and lyke to be dede.

As for the Kynges comynge into the contre. On Monday
come fortenyght he well lye at the Abbey of Stratteforde and
so to Chelmnsford, than to Syr Thomas Mongehombrey, than
to Hevenyngham,¹ than to Colchestyr, than to Ipswyche, than
to Bery, than to Dame Anne Wyngfelds, and so to Norwych;
and there woll he be on Palme Sunday Evyn,² and so tary
there all Ester, and than to Walsyngham. Wherefore ye had
nede to warne Wylliam Gogyne and hys felaws to purvey them
of wyne i now, for every man berythe me on hande³ that the
towne schalbe dronkyn drye as Yorke was when the Kynge
was there.

Syr, Mayster Sampson recomaunde hym on to yow, and
he hathe sende yow a rynge be Edmonde Dorman, and besydys
that he requeryd me to wryte on to yow that it were best for
yow to purvey yow of some gentyl meny thynges ageyns the
Kyngs comyng, for suere he well brynge yow gests i now, and
therfore purvey yow theraftyr. Also he sendythe yow worde
that it is my lords mende that my syster with all other godely
folkys there abowt scholde acompeny with Dame Elsebethe
Calthrop⁴ because there is noo grete lady ther abowte ageyns
the Kyngs comyng, for my lorde hathe made grete boste of
the fayre and goode gentylwomen of the contre, and so the
Kynge seyd he wolde see them sure.

Syr, my lorde hathe sente on to the most parte of the
gentyl men of Essex to wayte upon hym at Chelmnysford,
where as he entendythe to mete with the Kynge, and that
they be well apoyntyd, that the Lankeschere men may see
that ther be gentylmen of as grete sobestaunce that thei be
able to bye alle Lankeschere. Men thynke that ye amonge
yow wol doo the same. Your contre is gretely bostyd of, and
also the inabytors of the same. I beseche you to remembr
my hors that ye promisyd me. God kepe yow.

Wretyn at Schene in haste, the vij. day of Marche, with
the hande of your brodyr,

WYLLIAM PASTON.

¹ [From Fenn, ii. 158.] This letter was unquestionably written in the reign of
Henry VII., and not in that of Edward IV., to which Fenn assigned it. The
writer, William Paston, was only born in the year 1459, and was still pursuing his
studies at Eton so late in Edward’s reign as the year 1479, in the end of which year
his eldest brother, Sir John Paston, died. The Sir John Paston to whom this is
addressed must therefore be the second son of John Paston, Esquire, who was knighted
at the battle of Stoke in 1487, and died in 1503. The year in which the letter was
written is, however, still doubtful. I do not find by the Privy Seal dates of Henry VII.
that such a progress as is here spoken of was ever carried out. Apparently it was
intended that, beginning on Monday fortnight after the date of the letter, the King
should occupy a fortnight on the way from London to Norwich, and arrive there on
Palm Sunday Eve. The year must therefore have been one in which Palm Sunday
Eve fell between the 5th and the 11th of April, and Easter Day between the 13th and
19th April. The earliest year that will suit these conditions is 1489, when Easter fell
on the 19th April; and that this was the true date of the letter is made probable by
several other circumstances. In 1489 the King was staying at Sheen during March.
A great council had certainly met in the end of the year 1488 about the affairs of
Brittany, and is very likely to have prolonged its meetings or renewed them from
time to time to the 3rd March following. Moreover, if our date be correct, it supplies
an interesting and highly probable fact with regard to Henry, Earl of Northumber-
land, the fourth of the line of Percy, who was slain in an insurrection in the north in
April following, showing that he was with the King at Sheen in the beginning of
March, and had undertaken by indenture to protect the Borders against the Scots,
not long before he found himself called upon to put down the King’s rebellious sub-
jects in Yorkshire.

² Here follows some account relative to a grant from the Crown, etc.—F.

³ John, Lord Dynham.

¹ Not Haveningham in Suffolk, but Heveningham, Hevingham, or, as it is now
commonly written, Hedingham, in Essex, the seat of the Earl of Oxford.

² 11th April. ³ See vol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.

⁴ Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Calthorpe, was daughter and coheir of Sir Miles
Stapleton.

1489
MARCH 7