The Paston Letters Volume Iii Part 24

Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorks.h.i.+re, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law[109.3]

should have all the lyvelode of my wife's in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of 34--much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me.

I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.

Castre, 10 Nov.

Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.

[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (_see_ No.

265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (_see_ Nos. 305 and 306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]

[Footnote 109.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 241.]]

[Footnote 109.3: Richard Bingham, Judge of the King's Bench.]

350

ABSTRACT[110.1]

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AT THE TEMPLE.

[Sidenote: 1456 / NOV. 15]

Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett's hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff.

Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill 'right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.' Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice 'rectid the matter' in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has doc.u.ments proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, 'and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.' Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, 'as ye and I have commoned of before.' William Worcester can show him a copy of one pa.s.sed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.

Castre, Monday after St. Martin.

[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]

[Footnote 110.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 259.]]

351

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[111.1]

_To the wors.h.i.+pful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered._

[Sidenote: 1456 / NOV. 18]

Wors.h.i.+pful cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury[111.2] and Wynchestre[111.3] for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his n.o.ble fader, whom G.o.d a.s.soile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.

And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right n.o.ble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.

Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynte me and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;[112.1] for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of G.o.d is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.

My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,[112.2] and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre.

Your cosyn,

J. FASTOLF.

[Footnote 111.1: [From Fenn, i. 164.] This letter, as printed by Fenn, bears no date in itself, but in the editorial note at the foot it is dated: 'Caister, 18th of November.' Probably this date is expressed in the original, but has been accidentally omitted in the printing. If so, the year in which it was written must be either 1456 or 1457, and most probably the former. In 1455 the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor were one and the same person, which they evidently are not here; and in 1458 it appears by the Castlecombe MSS. that Sir John Fastolf was in London on the 26th November, so that he is not likely to have been expecting a visit from the Duke of Norfolk at Caister eight days before. On the other hand, if this was written in the year 1456, it must be remembered that Archbishop Bourchier had been just recently discharged of the office of Lord Chancellor, which was given to Bishop Waynfleet on the 11th October, and it is highly probable that the Archbishop had been already spoken to on the subject in his capacity of Chancellor.]

[Footnote 111.2: Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop.]

[Footnote 111.3: William Waynfleet, Bishop.]

[Footnote 112.1: William Waynfleet, the Bishop of Winchester before mentioned.]

[Footnote 112.2: On pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham.]

352

ABSTRACT[112.3]

PROCEEDINGS IN A SUIT IN MICHAELMAS TERM, 35 HEN. VI.

[Sidenote: 1456 / NOV.]

I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.

II. Pleadings. The King committed the wards.h.i.+p of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen. VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen. VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of 360, and underwood to the value of 40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed. _Venire facias_ was then awarded _a die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies_.

[Footnote 112.3: [Add. Charter 17,244, B.M.]]

353

JOHN DORY TO JOHN PASTON [113.1]

_To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: About 1456(?)]

Ryth wurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I c.u.m not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart.

And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of the _habeas corpus_ with _ducens tec.u.m_, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys.

Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [_sic_] as I may.

And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in that mater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be G.o.ddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.

No more, &c., but &c.

Be your man and servaunt,

JOHN DORY under Schreve of Norffolk.