The Paston Letters Volume Ii Part 12

[Footnote 54.1: The celebrated Thomas Netter of Walden, provincial of the Carmelite order in England; a great opponent of Wycliffe.]

[Footnote 54.2: Richard II. was committed to the Tower in 1399, just before his formal resignation of the crown.]

47

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[55.1]

_To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner Temple at London, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1443 / SEPT. 28]

Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her of yowr wilfar, thanckyng G.o.d of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. n.o.belys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys[55.2] for yow; be my trowth I had never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your fader[56.1] and myn was dysday sevenyth [_this day se'nnight_] at Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day.

And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have dan [_then_], tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.

My fader Garneyss[56.2] senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch weke, and my emme [_uncle_] also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys, and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so G.o.d help me, I xal exscusse me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is c.u.m that I xulde sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that [ye] wol wochesaf to sende me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow [_though_] it wer of scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey [_say_] to yow yf I myth speke with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.

All myth G.o.d have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.

Yorys,

M. PASTON.

My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow G.o.ddys blyssyng and hers; and sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your helthe ward. Your sone[57.1] faryth wel, blyssyd be G.o.d.

[Footnote 55.1: [From Fenn, iii. 20.] This letter was written after the birth of John Paston's eldest son, who was born in 1442, and cannot be later than 1443, as William Paston, who is mentioned, died in August of the year following.]

[Footnote 55.2: St. Leonard's Priory, Norwich.]

[Footnote 56.1: William Paston.]

[Footnote 56.2: Perhaps her G.o.dfather. The family of Garneys were Lords of Gelderstone, the place called by Margaret Paston Gerlyston, a few lines above.]

[Footnote 57.1: Almost certainly his eldest son, John, afterwards Sir John Paston.]

[[yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow _text unchanged: error for "wrytyn"?_]]

48

ABSTRACT[57.2]

LAND IN PASTON.

[Sidenote: 1443 / OCT. 17]

Warrant to Sir Roger Frenles, Knight, Chief Steward of the Duchy lands in Norfolk and other counties, and Sir Thomas Tudenham, particular Steward of the lords.h.i.+p and manor of Gymyngham, to demise (_dimittere et tradere_) to the undertenants (_ba.s.sis tenentibus_) specified in an act of Parliament, certain charterhold land in Paston and Edithorp granted to the King by William Paston, Robert Clere, and Edmund Clere in exchange for certain parcels of copyhold land, in accordance with an act of the last Parliament holden at Westminster. The copyhold land granted to them consisted of 36 acres 9 perches 1 qr. of a perch and 1 pekke of land, pasture, heath, and marsh, with two houses built on certain parcels thereof, with of a rood of waste land [not belonging to the Duchy?] in Paston; and it was given in recompense for 36 acres 26 perches and half a quarter of a perch, half a 'pekke' and one 'naylle'

of land, pasture, and heath, called 'Chartrehold,' with two houses built on certain parcels thereof, in Paston and Edithorp, which are to be annexed to the Duchy. These parcels are specified in an inquisition dated 18 May 18 Hen. VI., remaining in the treasury of the Duchy, which was taken by virtue of letters of the Cardinal to Lord Bardolf and others.

17 Oct. 22 Hen. VI.

[Footnote 57.2: [From the Chancery Roll of the Duchy of Lancaster, 22 Hen. VI., Y. 2 c., No. 79.]]

49

WILLIAM PASTON AND WILLIAM JOYE[58.1]

[Sidenote: 1444]

Hec sunt hostilmenta et vutensilia domus, bona et catalla, que Willelmus Paston, in indentura presentibus annexa nominatus, tradidit et dimisit Willelmo Joye in eadem indentura nominato, secundum formam ejusdem indenture, ex communi a.s.sensu eorundem Willelmi et Willelmi, per Robertum Gynne, Johannem Albon de Paston et alios appreciata, a.s.signata et specificata, modo subsequenti, videlicet: tres equi precii quinque marcarum; quatuor vacce, quelibet precii vij_s._ vj_d._; una juvenca brendyt precii v_s._; unus tauriculus, precii iiij_s._; una juvencula dowet precii iij_s._; due sues, quelibet precii iij_s._ iiij_d._; tres porculi, quilibet precii xvj_d._; tres porcelli, quilibet precii xij_d._; quatuor alii porcelli, quilibet precii viij_d._; una carecta, precii vj_s._ viij_d._; apparatus carette, videlicet una sella, unum par des stroppys; duo paria dez trayses, precii ij_s._; due caruce c.u.m les hokys et stappilles; unum par rotarum; due herpice, precii v_s._; quatuor paria dez trayses ad aratrum, precii viij_d._; due furse fimose, precii vj_d._; una vanga, precii iij_d._; unus tribulus, precii iij_d._

Hec sunt blada et alia hostilmenta et utensilia domus, bona et catalla, per predictum Willelmum Paston predicto Willelmo Joye secundum formam dicte indenture similiter dimissa et non appreciata, videlicet: s.e.x quarteria frumenti; xxv. quarteria ordei; viij. quarteria avenarum; quidam ta.s.sus pisarum in fine australi antique grangie messuagii predicti, qui est alt.i.tudinis iij. virgarum et iij. quarteriorum unius virge, et quidam alius ta.s.sus vescarum in boriali fine ejusdem grangie, alt.i.tudinis iij. virgarum et j. quarterii unius virge; qui quidem duo ta.s.si fuerunt vesture xij. acrarum et dimidii, et dimidii rode terre; iij. vasa vocata Kelerys; j. Gilyngsat; iiij. stondes pro servitio; j.

stonde in coquina; ij. patelle c.u.m ligaminibus ferreis; j. parva patella c.u.m ligamine ferreo; j. magna olla ennea [_aenea_]; alia olla ennea minor; j. parva olla ennea; j. tabula; j. par des trostelles; j. longum hostium jacens in boteria; j. par des trestelles, j. trow, ij. bolles, j. morter, j. thede, j. temse, j. mashsterell, j. tankard c.u.m ligamine ferreo; j. bultyngpoke, j. magna trow pro farina, cista pro farina, j.

fleshoke, j. tripes ferreum, j. veru ferreum; j. aunderun, j. par de tongys, j. lach'gres ennua, j. seturis, j. magnum lavacrum pendens, j.

kynderkyn, ij. soos leeke, j. par de belwes, j. magnum planke super mensam coquine hargour; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; iij. sauserys de pewter; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; j. magnus discus, vj. sissorn, iij.

ciphi de ligno, j. chayer; duo longa scanna, j. scannum mediocre longitudinis; ij. scanna vocata buffet stoles; ij. bankar; j. gladius, ij. ferra vocata aplates; j. chirne; j. chyrnyng staf; j. curta falx; j.

candelabrum ferreum; j. parvum salerium; j. beryngsceppes, unum par dez pepyrquens, ij. uteri, j. cadus c.u.m vergous; j. parva cista in boteria; j. selura supra servisiam; j. metesetell; j. pykforke; iij. longa bordclothis; j. towayll, j. san ... et j. walet pro autumpno; j.

lucerna; ij. vomeri et ij. cultri que ponderant xvij. li. et dim.; j.

carectula, Anglice, a carre; j. sunvectorium (?); ij. novi rowintrees et j. curtum lignum in le carthows; ij. veteres bige; j. par rotarum ferratarum; ij. kemell c.u.m hopys ferreis; j. frena, j. pelvis; viij.

sacci; iiij. longa ligna fraxinora in pistrina; j. fetyrlok.

_In dorso_--

Summa catall' infrascriptorum et appreciat', v_li._ 19_s._ 8_d._ Summa granorum infrascriptorum ultra persas (?) et vesias, iiij_li._ xviij_s._ iiij_d._ Quarterium frumenti ad iiij_s._, quarterium ordei ij_s._ iiij_d._, et querterium avenarum ad ij_s._ Item, vestura xij. acrarum et di., et di. rod. pisarum et vescar'.

Item, dicta vestura piseii et vescar. ad l_s._, lacr' ad iiij_s._ de xij. acr' et di. rod. non lax.

Summa totalis, xiiij_li._ viij_s._

[Footnote 58.1: [From Douce Charters in Bibl. Bodl., No. 18.]]

50

OXNEAD AND FRIAR HAWTEYN[60.1]

[Sidenote: 1443-9]

This day at x. of the clok Edmund Paston and the parson of Oxened went owth of the Manor doun to Wantown Gapp, for thei herd tydynges that the freyr[60.2] was comyng; and with the seyd frier came John Cates and on Whalter Herman of Wheytte, and Wylliam Yemmys of Burgh, the frieres man.

And Edmund Paston seyd to John Cates Welcome, and he askyd hem what here[60.3] cause was in commyng. The Frier seyd he cam for to speke with the G.o.de lady, and Edmund seyd that he shuld speke with her. At this tyme sche was so ocupied he myth not speke with her. And he seyd that he shuld a.s.say; and he cam redyng fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate; and there he lyted and knokkyd on the gate; and we folwyd as yarn as we myth; and ther was with in John Jaallere and John Edmundes, and asked the friere what he wold; and he seyd that he wuld comyn inne for to speke with the G.o.de ladi of the hows. And thei seyd nay, he shuld not come in. And than cam on Edmund Paston and the parson, and asked hym what was cause of his comyng at this tyme. And he seyd for to entre in the maner of Oxened, the which his fader was possessid of and his auncestres from kyng Edward the thred on to Colbys tyme, and that he had fownd a tayll ther of in the kynges bokes. And than Edmund Paston answeryd hym and seyd that it wher best declaryng of his evydence in Westminster hall. And he seyd a geyn, so he shuld whan he myth. And he seyd to hem that come with hym, 'Serys, I chargge yow ber record how that I am kept owth with stronge hand, and may not take poscession.' And evyn forth with he presyd to the gate ward to a leyd hand on the gate.

And than the seyd Edmund put hym fro the gate and seyd, 'Ne wer for reverence of thy lord and myn, and thow leyst any hand on the gate I xall sey thye hert blod or thow myn.' And than the seyd frier seyd scornfully that he myth thanke his mayster. And than the seyd Edmund seyd that he myth sey his lord ryght wele; and than he stowpyd doun and toke up herd and delivered to his man, seying to hem that come with hym, 'I charge yow all of the kynges behalffe ye bere record that I take here poscession of myn inheritance.' And Edmund seyd that this takyng of poscession skylled nowgt. And than the friere seyd that sen he myth not have it nowe, he shuld come a geyn a nothir tyme. Edmund is rede forth to Heydon. It was told us this afternon that ther wer iij. men come fro Skeyton and mette with the frier in the feld and spoke with hym a G.o.de while, and than redyn the same wey that they come.

[Footnote 60.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 19.] This paper, like No.

63, which also refers to Friar Hauteyn's claim to Oxnead, can be a.s.signed to no definite year; but its date must be before the death of Edmund Paston in 1449. It is indorsed in a later hand: 'A Frier came to take possession of the mannor of Oxned.']

[Footnote 60.2: John Hauteyn.]

[Footnote 60.3: _here_ (or _her_) for _their_.]

[[fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate _text unchanged: error for "Gate"?_]]