THE PASTON LETTERS Richard III. 994 JOHN, DUKE OF NORFOLK, TO JOHN PASTON 73.1 |
To my right welbeloved frynde, John Paston, be this delivred in hast. 1483
OCT. 10 Right welbeloved frynde, I comaunde me to you. It is soo that the Kentysshmen be up in the weld, and sey that they wol come and robbe the cite, which I shall lett yf I may. Therefore I pray you that with alle diligence ye make you redy and com hidder, and bring with you six talle felaws in harnesse, and ye shall not lyse yowr labour, that knoweth God, Whoo have you in His keping. Written at London, the xth day of October. Yowr frend, J. Norffolk. 995
ABSTRACT74.1 1484 Proviso to be inserted in an Act of Parliament in favour of Margaret, widow of John Paston, touching her right to the manor of Castre. Below is written—‘Guy Fayrefax, Knyght, [Ric. Pygot, one of the King’s Serjeants of the Law,]74.2 and Roger Townesend, [another of]74.2 the King’s Serjeants of the Law. [This proviso must have been drawn up in connection with some measure that was to have come before the Parliament of January 1484. Earlier it cannot be, as Roger Townesend was not appointed King’s Serjeant till June 1483; and as Margaret Paston died in November 1484, it could not possibly be later.] 996
ABSTRACT74.3 1484
FEB. 8 Release by John, Duke of Norfolk, and William, Earl of Nottingham, kinsman and heir of John, late Duke of Norfolk, to John Paston, Esq., brother and heir of Sir John Paston, Knight, of all right and title in the manor of Caister called Redehams, Vawx, and Bosouns by Great Yarmouth, of which Sir John Paston was disseised unjustly by the said late Duke. 997
THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO THOMAS JEFFREYS74.4 The Duc of Suffolk. To Thomas Jeffreys our ffermour of Maundevills, greting. 1484
MAY 1 We wole and streitly charge you that ye content and paie unto the bringer herof for money imployed in our houshold thre pound threttenne shillings and foure pens for such stuff as we our owne person have promysed, and not to be failed upon our worship. Of the which some of lxxiijs. iiijd. so by you contented and paied, we wole and also stretly charge our auditors for the tyme being, by virtu of this our writing, signed with our hand, to make you dew and pleyn allowaunce at your next accompt. At Wingfeld, the first day of May in the first yer of Kyng Richard the IIIde. Suffolk. And ffayle not on peyn [of] losyng off yor fferme. 998
COMPLAINTS OF JOHN PASTON AGAINST HIS UNCLE WILLIAM75.1 1484 All so the seyde John Paston, now compleynaunt, seyth that John Paston, fadyr off the same John, was seased off the maner callyd Hollwellhawe, wyth th’appurtenaunces in Estodenham, joyntly wyth all the londis, tenementes, rentes, and services, whyche sume tyme were John Jerham, Ewstase Rows, John Davy,75.2 vikere off the chyrche off Estodenham, ande Water Danyell, or any off thers, lyeng in the townys off Estodenham, Mateshalle, Mateshalebergh, and othir townys adjoynyng, ande off all the londis and tenementes, rentes, services, and lybertes wyth ther appurtenaunces callyd Toleys, lyeng in the townys off Wymondham and Carleton and othir townys adyoynyng, whyche sume tyme were William Thuxston; and off the scite off on mese [messuage] wyth a pece londe lyenge in a croffte to the same mese adyoynyng, wyche is accomptyde xiiij. acres off londe wyth th’appurtenaunces, callyd Colneys, othyr wys callyd Whynnes in Carleton ——75.3 in hys demeane as off ffee; ande so beyng seased ther off, up on trust enffeffede William Yelverton, Justys, John Fastolff, Knyght, Myles Stapelton, Knyght, and othir, to be hadde to them and theyr heyrs for ever, be the fores wher off they were ther off seased in theyr demeane as off ffee, ande afftyr the seyd ffeffment in forme afforseyd mad, the seyd John Paston the fadyr disseassed. The ryght off the whyche maner, londis, tenementes, and othir the premysses, afftyr the desses of the seyd John the fadyr, owith to come to the seyd John, now compleynaunt, as sone and heyr off the seyd John Paston, ffor as myche as the seyd John the fadyr made no wylle nor mencyon of the aforseyd maner, londis, tenementes, nor off othir the premysses, whyche maner, londis, and tenementes, and othir the premysses the seyd William Paston hath, and agenst the cours of the lawe ocupyeth. Item, the seid John requerith an astate to be takyn in those londys lymyted to William the sone for deffaut off issu off Clement Paston by the will of there fadir accordyng to the seid will, as well as in those londis that ar or shuld be purchased with the ml. [1000] mark accordyng to th’endentur mad by twyn th’executors of William Paston, Justice, that is to sey, to the seid William the son, and to the eyres of his body, and for defaute of yssue of his bodye, to remayn to th’eyers of William Paston, Justice, which the seid John is. All so the seyd John Paston, now compleynaunt, seyth that ther be decayed at Marlyngfford and Oxenhed be meane off th’enterupsion off the seyd William tweyn water melles, wher off iche was letyn ffor x. marke be yer. And all so othir howsyng be the same ockasion at Oxenhed, Marlyngfford, Stansted, and Orwelbury decayed to the hurt off the seyd John Paston off v. C. [500] mark whech the seyd John Paston desyreth to be recompensede. Item, the seid John axith of the seid William for wast don in the maner of Paston for lak of reparacion, xlli. Item, the seid William hath takyn awey owth of the maners of John Paston, that is to sey, of hes maners of Paston, Oxened, Marlyngford, Stansted, and Horwelburye, siche stoff and greynys, catell and hotilementis of the seid maners as were agreyd be the executors of the seyd William Paston, Justyse, to be left and latyn with the seid maners to the value of xlli. Item, the seid John axith to be restored to all the evydence longyng to the maners aforesaid and other the premysses which the seid William wrongfully witholdith. Item, the seid John axith to hys possession which he hath of [and] in the maner of Caster and other maners adyongnyng, the relesse of all such title and interest as the seid William hath be wey of feffement in the foresaid maner and maners, in like forme as other his cofeffes have in tyme past relassed to Sir John Paston, whoos eyre the seid John is. Also, the seid John Paston desireth the performance of diverse comenauntis and articles conteyned in diverse indentures and writynges mad be the avise of the reverend fadir in God, William, Bisschoppe of Lyncolne,76.1 supervisour of the testement of the seid William Paston, Justice, bytwix th’executors of the same William Paston for kepyng of the trewe intent and will of the seid William Paston, Justice, as by the same indentures and writynges redye to be schewed more pleynlye shall appere, the entent and performance of which writyng is interupted and brokyn by the seid William Paston and his meanys to the hurt and damage off the seyd John Paston, now compleynaunt off ——.76.2 Item, the seid William hath, contray to trouuth and conscience, vexed and trouubled and put to cost and charge the seid John nowe be the space of v. yer saffe a quarter,76.3 and hath distorbede the same John to take and perceyve th’issus and profetes off the same maners, to the hurt and damage off the seyd John in defendyng of his right off and in the maners afforeseyd of ij. ml. mark, besyde greffe, gret labour and disseace that the seid John hath dayly be putt onto by th’okcasion afforseyd.77.1 Item, accordyng to the will of William Paston, Justice, the seid John axith to be restored to parth of such goodis as hath ben dispendid by John Paston the fader, Sir John Paston, and the seid John nowe compleynaunt, in defence, kepyng, and recoveryng of such londis as were William Paston, Justice, which draweth above the summa of mlli. Item, where on ——77.2 Lomnor had a cofur in kepyng and and D.ml. mark in the same be extymasion to the use of John Paston, fadir of the forsayed Sir John and John, the seid William Paston fraudelently atteyned the seid cofur wyth the seyd sume of money after the dissece of the seid John the fadir, and had it in his kepyng serteyn dayes, and did with it his pleasur unknowyn to the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston, his brother; and after at Herry Colettes77.3 house the seid William brought the seid cofur to the seid John Paston, Knyght, and there openyd the seid cofur, where was then lefte but CC. old noblis which wer by extymacion in value Cli. And the seid William toke ther the seid gold awey with hym, ageyn the will of seid Sir John, and witholdith the same, whereof the seyd John preyeth to be restored. Item, the seid William atteynyd and gate a payer of basons of silver and parte or all gilt from the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston, now compleynaunt, abouuth such season as he toke the cofur and coyne aforerehersed, which basons were in value C. mark; and the seid William yet witholdith the seid basons, to the whyche the seyd John preyeth also to be restored. Item, the seid William gate in to his possession a charger of silver in value x. marke, and iij. bollys of silver that were in kepyng of Bacheler Water, a Frier Carmelit of Norwich, to th’entent that a certeyn coost shuld have ben doon upon the liberarye of the Friers Carmelites aforesaid for the sowlis of William Paston, Justice, and Augnes, his wiff; which charger and bollys the seid William yet withholdith and kepith to his owne use, and therfore the seid charges ar not fulfylled. Item, the seid John axith restitucion of suche inportable charges as the seid William hathe put the forsaid Sir John onto by the space of many yeres, as in plesures doyng and rewardis, which apperith by writyng of the hande of the seid Sir John; which pleasures and charges the seid Sir John was constreyned to doo in defence of the seid William; wher of the seid John axeth to have amendys of Cl. mark. Item, by the occacion and meanys of the seid William, the seid Sir John was constreyned to lende onto the Reverende Fadere in God, George, late Archebsschop of York77.4 ml. mark, which was nat payed ageyn by the summa of Cli. The seid John axith to be restorid ther of. Item, the seid William hath fellyd tymbre and wodys in the maners of the seid John, that is to sey, the maners of Oxened and Marlyngford, to the hurth of the seid John of xxli. Item, the seyd John Paston, compleynaunt, axith to be restoryd to alle syche money as hathe be takyn and dyspendyd by alle siche persones as have ben assigned by meanes of the seyd Wylliam to distorbe and interupt the seyd John, compleynaunt, of hys ryght, tyghtyll, possessyon, entrest, of and in the maners, londis, and tenementes, and other the premysses dwryng the seyd v. yer sauff a quarter, as well as to all syche money as hathe ben dyspendyd dwryng the seyd v. yer sauff a quarter by the servauntys of the seyd compleynaunt by hym assigned to tery and abyd up on the seyd maners, londes, and tenementes, and other the premysses ther, to kepe the possessyon of the seyd compleynaunt, whyche extendith to the some of xlli. and above. Item, the seyd John, compleynaunt, axith to be restoryd to all syche money as hathe bene receyved by meanys of the seyd William, dwryng the seyd v. yer sauff a quarter, of syche as ar or have ben fermors or tenauntes of the maners, londis, and tenementis aforseyd duryng the seyd season, as well as to all syche money as is not levyable of dyvers of the seyd fermors and tenauntes fallyn in poverte sythe the trowblows season of the v. yer sauff a quarter befor rehersed, whyche extendeth to the some of CCli. or above. Lomnor had a cofur in kepyng and and D.ml. mark
text unchanged: “and and” duplicated at mid-line George, late Archebsschop of York
spelling unchanged Footnote 75.3
footnote text has “4” for “3” 999
MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON78.1 To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston. 1484(?)
DEC. 24 Ryght worschipful husbond, I recomaund me onto you. Plese it you to wete that I sent your eldest sunne to my Lady Morlee78.2 to have knolage wat sports wer husyd in her hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the decysse of my lord, her husbond; and sche seyd that ther wer non dysgysyngs, ner harpyng, ner lutyng, ner syngyn, ner non lowde dysports, but pleyng at the tabyllys, and schesse, and cards. Sweche dysports sche gave her folkys leve to play and non odyr. Your sunne dede hese heyrne [errand] ryght wele as ye shal her aftyr this. Isent your yonger sunne to the Lady Stabylton,79.1 and sche seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn husyd in places of worschip79.2 ther as sche hathe beyn. I pray you that ye woll asur to your some man at Caster to kepe your botry, for the mane that ye lefte with me woll not take upon hym to breve79.3 dayly as ye commandyt. He seyth he hath not usyd to geve a rekenyng nothyr of bred nor alle [ale] tyll at the wekys end; and he seyth he wot well that he shuld not condenyth [give satisfaction] and therfor I soposse he shall not abyd, and I trow ye shall be fayne to purveye another man for Symond, for ye har never the nerer a wysse man for hym. I ham sory that ye shall not [be] at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you that ye woll come as sone as ye may. Ishall thynke myself halfe a wedow, because ye shal not be at home, &c. God have you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn on Crestemes Evyn. By yor, M. P. 1000
ABSTRACT79.4 Stansted and Harwellbury 1484(?) The manor of Stansted is in the county of Suffolk. The estate of this manor passed not by the deed that the estate was taken by at Huntingfeld, in Norf.,80.1 but I claim this manor by my mother’s gift. ‘This manor is but a mile from Clopton’s and not far from Smalbrigge, where your Grace is now.’ John Barell is farmer of this manor, who, when I came to your Grace just after my mother’s death, confessed before your servants, Piers Rumbold and William Smyth, that he was privy of mine estate in my mother’s days, and took the farm of me at that time. ‘Madam, this is the man ye sent your servant W. Smyth to, for to keep the possession there; and after he had tarried there awhile he took a promise of the farmer that he should pay no money to nobody without commandment from your Grace; contrary to which promise, by the favour of some folks that your Grace can deem, he hath paid my nephew a £10 or £20.’ I think, Madam, you need send no man to keep possession there; but your Grace might send a servant thither to show the tenants your displeasure, inasmuch as he hath broken his promise with your Grace, and threaten to distrain. The manor of Harwellbury is in Hertfordshire, four miles from your manor of Weston Baldok80.2 and two from Roiston. This manor also passed not by the estate taken in Norfolk, not being in the same shire. Of this manor ‘he’80.3 received no money, for the farmers are true and fear not his threats. The manor is worth £8. [Footnote 79.4] the document cannot be five years earlier
printed as shown: missing “over”, “more than” or similar? 1001
PROCLAMATION AGAINST HENRY TUDOR81.1 R. R. Ricardus, etc. salutem. Precipimus tibi, etc. 1485
JUNE 23 Forasmoche as the Kyng our sovereign Lord hath certeyn knowlege that Piers, Bisshop of Exeter,81.2 Jasper Tydder,81.3 son of Owen Tydder, callyng hymself Erle of Pembroke, John, late Erle of Oxon,81.4 and Sir Edward Wodevyle,81.5 with other dyvers his rebelles and traytours, disabled and atteynted by the auctorite of the High Court of Parlement, of whom many be knowen for open murdrers, advoutrers [adulterers], and extorcioners, contrary to the pleasure of God, and a yenst all trouth, honour, and nature, have forsakyn there naturall contrey, takyng them first to be under th’obeisaunce of the Duke of Bretayn,81.6 and to hym promysed certeyn thyngs whiche by him and his counsell were thought thynggs to gretly unnaturall and abominable for them to graunt, observe, kepe, and perfourme, and therfore the same utterly refused. The seid traytours,82.1 seyng82.2 the seid Duke and his counsell wolde not aide nor socour theym ner folowe there wayes, privily departed oute of his contrey in to Fraunce, and82.3 there takyng theym to be under the obeisaunce of the Kynggs auncient enemy, Charlys,82.4 callyng hymself Kyng of Fraunce, and to abuse and blynde the comons of this seid Realme, the seid rebelles and traitours have chosyn to be there capteyn one Henry Tydder,82.5 son of Edmond Tydder, son of Owen Tydder,82.6 whiche of his ambicioness and insociable82.7 covetise82.8 encrocheth82.9 and usurpid82.10 upon hym the name and title of royall astate of this Realme of Englond, where unto he hath no maner interest, right, title, or colour, as every man wele knowyth;82.11 for he is discended of bastard blood bothe of ffather side and of mother side, for the seid Owen the graunfader was bastard borne, and his moder was doughter unto John, Duke of Somerset, son unto John, Erle of Somerset, sone unto Dame Kateryne Swynford, and of ther82.12 indouble82.13 avoutry [adultery] gotyn, wherby it evidently apperith that no title can nor may [be]82.14 in hym, which fully entendeth to entre this Reame, purposyng a conquest. And if he shulde atcheve his fals entent and purpose, every man is lif, livelod, and goddes shulde be in his hands, liberte, and disposicion, wherby sholde ensue the disheretyng and distruccion of all the noble and worshipfull blode of this Reame for ever, and to the resistence and withstondyng wherof every true and naturall Englishman born must ley to his hands for his owen suerte and wele. And to th’entent that the seid Henry Tydder myght the rather atcheve his fals intent and purpose by the aide, supporte, and assistence of the Kynggs seid auncient enemy of Fraunce,83.1 hath covenaunted and bargayned with hym and all the counsell of Fraunce to geve up and relese inperpetuite all the right, title, and cleyme that the Kyng[es] of Englond have, had, and ought to have, to the Crowne and Reame of Fraunce, to gether with the Duchies of Normandy, Anjoy, and Maygne, Gascoyn and Guyne, castell[es] and townys of Caleys, Guysnes, Hammes, with the marches apperteynyng to the same,83.2 and discevir and exclude the armes of Fraunce oute of the armes of Englond for ever. And in more prove and shewing of his seid purpose of conquest, the seid Henry Tidder hath goven as well to dyvers of the seid Kynggs enemys as to his seid rebelles and traitours, archebisshoprikes, bisshoprikes, and other dignitees spirituels, and also the ducheez, erledomez, baronyes, and other possessions and inheritaunces of knyghts, squyres, gentilmen, and other the Kynggs true subjetts withynne the Reame, and entendith also to chaunge and subverte the lawes of the same, and to enduce and establisse newe lawes and ordenaunces amongez the Kynggs seid subjetts.83.2 And over this, and beside the alienacions of all the premyssez into the possession of the Kynggs seid auncient enemys to the grettest anyntisshment,83.3 shame, and rebuke that ever myght falle to this seid land, the seid Henry Tydder and others, the Kynggs rebelles and traitours aforeseid, have extended [intended] at there comyng, if they may be of power,84.1 to do the most cruell murdrers, slaughterys, and roberys, and disherisons that ever were seen in eny Cristen reame. For the wich, and other inestymable daungers to be escheuved, and to th’entent that the Kynggs seid rebelles, traitours, and enemys84.2 may be utterly put from there seid malicious and fals purpose84.3 and sone discomforted,84.4 if they enforce to land,84.5 the Kyng our soveraign Lord84.6 willith, chargeth, and comaundith all and everyche of the naturall and true subgetts of this his Reame to call the premyssez to there mynds, and like gode and true Englishmen to endover themselfs with all there powers for the defence of them, there wifs, chylderyn, and godes, and heriditaments ayenst the seid malicious purposes and conspiracions which the seid auncient enemes84.7 have made with the Kynggs seid rebelles and traitours84.8 for the fynall distruccion of this lande as is aforesaid. And our said soveraign Lord, as a wele willed, diligent, and coragious Prynce, wel put his moost roiall persone to all labour and payne necessary in this behalve for the resistence and subduyng of his seid enemys, rebells, and traitours84.9 to the moost comforte, wele, and suerte of all84.10 his true and feithfull liege men and subgetts. And over this, our seid soveraign Lord willith and comaundith all his seid subgetts to be redy in there most defensible arraye to do his Highnes servyce of werre, when thy be opyn proclamacion, or otherwise shall be comaunded so to do, for the resistence of the Kynggs seid rebelles, traitours, and enemyes. Et hoc sub periculo, &c.—T. me ipso apud Westmonasterium, xxiij. die Junij, Anno regni nostri secundo. the Kyng our soveraign Lord84.6 willith
misplaced footnote tag? note 84.6 refers to verb Footnote 82.6: ‘one Herry. . . .Owen Tydder’
body text has “Henry”: confusion with following MS. citation? [Footnotes 82.11, 82.12] [Footnotes 84.9, 84.10]
each pair of footnotes printed as shown 1002
THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON85.1 To my welbelovyd frend, John Paston, be thys byll delyveryd in hast. 1485
AUG. Welbelovyd frend, I cummaunde me to yow, letyng yow to undyrstond that the Kyngs enmysse be a land, and that the Kyng wold hafe set forthe as uppon Monday but only for Howre Lady Day;85.2 but for serten he gothe forward as uppon Tewsday, for a servant of myne browt to me the sertente. Wherfor, I pray yow that ye met with me at Bery,85.3 for, be the grace of God, Ipurposse to lye at Bery as uppon Tewsday nyght, and that ye brynge with yow seche company of tall men as ye may goodly make at my cost and charge, be seyd that ye have promysyd the Kyng; and I pray yow ordeyne them jakets of my levery, and I shall contente yow at your metyng with me. Yower lover, J. Norffolk. |
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