Volume Ii Part 10 (1/2)

No more atte this tyme, b.u.t.te the Trynyte have you in proteccion, &c.; and qwan your leysyr is, resorte ageyn on to your college, the Inner Temple, for ther ben many qwych sor desyr your presence, Welles and othyr, &c.

Wretyn in le fest de touts Seynts, entre Messe et Mateyns, _calamo festinante_, &c.

Yours,

ROB. REPPES.

[Footnote 46.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 46.2: [From Fenn, i. 4.] This letter was written in 1440, the year of the release of the Duke of Orleans.]

[Footnote 46.3: Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and had never since been released.]

[Footnote 46.4: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, uncle of the King, and before this time Protector.]

[Footnote 47.1: Harfleur.]

[Footnote 47.2: Afterwards Earl Rivers, father of Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 47.3: Third son of John, the famous Earl of Shrewsbury.]

[Footnote 47.4: _i.e._, in an a.s.size of novel disseisin--an ancient law process.]

[Footnote 47.5: Ralph, Lord Cromwell.]

37

ABSTRACT[48.1]

---- ---- TO FRIAR BRACKLEY (?).

[Sidenote: About 1440 (?)]

Touching a suit of Reynold Rowse against William Burgeys. This suit was inst.i.tuted originally for 5_s._ 4_d._ of rent; but when Rouse found he could not prevail by right, he maliciously sued the other for trespa.s.s in having fished his water, and driven him away by force. He afterwards got him arrested for treachery upon an obligation (_i.e._, a bond).

Burgeys complained to Justice Paston, who counselled him not to plead; 'For zyf thu do, he seyd, thu xalte hafe the werse, be thi case never so trewe, for he is feid with my Lord of [N]orthfolke, and mech he is of he [_sic_] counsel; and also, thu canst no man of lawe in Northfolke ne in Sowthfolke to be with the azens hym; and, for [s]othe no more myth I qwan I had a ple azens hym; and therfor myn counsel is, that thu make an end qwat so ever the pay, for he xal elles on do the and brynge the to nowte.'

[This letter is mutilated, and in part defaced. It is addressed on the back-- 'Be this take to Mayster Brele (?) of the Greye Freres.'

Although the name seems to be written Brele, it was probably intended for Friar Brackley of Norwich, of whom we have several letters of a later period. The date must be between the year 1429, when William Paston was made a judge, and 1444, when he died; and as the name of Reginald Rows occurs in Blomefield (_Hist. of Norfolk_, ix. 441) 'about 1440,' this letter will probably not be far out of its true place if inserted in that year.]

[Footnote 48.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

38

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[49.1]

_To my worshepfull husbond, John Paston, abidyng at Petyrhous in Cambrigg._

[Sidenote: After 1440]