Volume Ii Part 15 (2/2)
another weye. And porveythe therfor that thei mow be squarid there, and sentte hedre, for here can non soche be hadde in this conttre. And seye to yowre brothir John it weer wel don to thinkke on Stansted Chirche;[73.1] and I praye yow to sende me tydynggs[73.2] from be yond see, for here thei arn a ferde to telle soche as be reportid.
By yowr Modre,
AUGNEIS PASTON.
[Footnote 72.2: [From Fenn, iii. 32.] This letter must have been written in February 1445, as it appears from the contents that William Paston was dead, but had been alive in the preceding Lent.]
[Footnote 72.3: John Partrick of Swathfield was Vicar of Paston, from 1442 to 1447.--F.]
[Footnote 72.4: William Paston, the Judge.]
[Footnote 72.5: Landmarks. 'Dolestones' are still spoken of in Norfolk in this sense. --_See_ Latham's Edition of Johnson's _Dictionary_.]
[Footnote 72.6: On the 6th July 1443 a licence was granted to William Paston to enclose a portion of the highway at Paston, and another at Oxnead, on his making two other highways in place thereof.--_Patent Roll_, 21 Henry VI. p. 1, m. 10.]
[Footnote 73.1: Stansted Church in Suffolk.--Dame Agnes had possessions in that parish.--F.]
[Footnote 73.2: These tidings relate to our foreign transactions, the giving up of Maine, Truces, &c. &c. on the King's marriage, which had taken place in November.--F.]
63
JOHN HAWTEYN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY[74.1]
_To the most reverent Fader in G.o.d the Archebisshop of Caunterbury, Chanceler of Englond._
[Sidenote: 1444-9]
Besecheth mekely zour gracious Lords.h.i.+p, zour owne servant and oratour John Hauteyn, chapeleyn, that wher he hath dyvers seutees and accions in lawe to be sewed a zent A., that was the wife of W. Paston, of the maner of Oxenedes, in the countee of Northfolk; and for as meche as zour seid besecher can gete no counsell of men of court to be with hym in the seid matiers, by cause that the seid W. P. was one of the Kynges Justices, and John P., son and heir to the seid W. P., is al so a mon of court; that hit plese zour good Lords.h.i.+p to a.s.signe, and most streytly to comaund John Heydon,[74.2] Thomas Lyttylton,[74.3] and John Oelston to be of counsell with zour seid besecher in the seid matiers, and oder that he hath to do azenst the seid Anneys and oder; and zour said besecher shal contente hem well for their labour. And that this be doo in the reverence of G.o.d, and wey of charite.
JOHN HAUTEYN, Chapeleyn.
[Footnote 74.1: [From Fenn, iii. 36.] This is a pet.i.tion addressed to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, as Chancellor, after the death of William Paston in 1444. Stafford was made Archbishop in 1443. His appointment as Chancellor was even earlier, and he held the office till the 31st of January 1450.]
[Footnote 74.2: A lawyer and recorder of Norwich.--F.]
[Footnote 74.3: Afterwards the famous Judge Lyttelton.--F.]
64
SIR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN TO AGNES PASTON[75.1]
_To my right worchepfull Cosyn, Agnes Paston._
[Sidenote: After 1444]
Right worchepfull cosyn, I comand me to you. And as for the mater that ye sent to me fore, touchyng the maner callid Walshams, in Walsham, the trouth is, youre husbond soldyt to my moder upon condition that she shuld never sel it but to youre sones, John or William; and for the suerte of the seid condition, youre seid husbond, as I conseyve, ded the seid maner be charged with a gret annuyte upon the same condition, or the tyme that my seid moder toke estate, of the whech I suppose ye shall fynde sufficiant evydens, if ye serge youre evydences therfor. And I be seche almyty G.o.d kepe you.
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