Volume Ii Part 36 (2/2)
139
HENRY VI. TO JOHN PASTON[171.2]
_To oure trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Squier._
By the King.
[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 18]
Trusty and welbeloved, for asmuche as oure right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Moleyns is by our special desire and comaundement waitting upon us, and now for divers consideracions moeving us, we purpose to sende hym in to certaine places for to execute oure commaundement, for the whiche he ne may be attendant to be in oure countees of Northfolk and Suffolk at the time of oure Commissioners sitting upon oure commission of oier determiner within the same oure counties: We therfore desire and praye that considering his attendance upon us, and that he must applie hym to execute oure commaundement, ye wol respite as for any thing attempting ayenst hym as for any matiers that ye have to do or seye ayenst hym, or any other of his servants, welwillers, or tenaunts, by cause of hym, unto tyme he shal mowe be present to ansuere there unto; wherein ye shall ministere unto us cause of pleasure, and over that, deserve of us right good thanke. Yeven under oure signet at oure Palois of Westmynster, the xviij. day of September.
[Footnote 171.2: [From Fenn, iii. 362.] The bearing of this letter upon the contents of Nos. 135 and 136 proves it to be of the same year.]
140
ABSTRACT[172.1]
THE VICAR OF SPORLE TO JOHN PASTON.
[Sidenote: 1450(?) / SEPT. 29]
Reports the disposition of 'my master,' the Provost. Francis Costard brought his evidence to my master's presence, where it was examined. He wondered what t.i.tle you would claim to the land. I said, men said it was once free till it was soiled by a bondman. He gave more weight to the evidence of John Aleyn and Nicholas Waterman. Aleyn says he was steward of the manor, in Garleke's days, forty years, and never knew it claimed for bond ground; and the said Nicholas says it was he who moved your father to buy the manor. Many others have set their seals to corroborate this. Asked him to be good unto Henry Halman, who was amerced in his court for chastising a servant of his, a bondman of yours. My master asked mockingly if a man might not beat his own wife.
Sporle, Michaelmas morning.
[This letter would seem to belong to the same year as No. 128, in which 'Costard's _nisi prius_' and an action against Halman are referred to. No. 129 also mentions Halman and the writer of this letter.]
[Footnote 172.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
141
THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[173.1]
_To my maister Paston in hast._
[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 4]
Right wors.h.i.+pfull and my right good maister, I recomaund me to you. And like you wete that it is now ... . I haf for Danyels sake put my self withynne the maner of Rydon; and her is with me a kynnesman [of] my mastres your wifes, John Bendyssh. And as yestirday cam John Wodehous with a xij. hors to Geyt[on]; on the othre side cometh Fitz William with xx. hors; and on the third parte, oon Hoberd of Midelton hath redy a xx.
felaws; and on the fourth parte, stant the toune of Lynne redy with Herry Wodehous; and thei all be gon thedir this nyght. This day folwyng cometh to thaym Herry Tudenham, William Narburgh, Thomas Trusbut, Thomas Kervile, and Shuldham servauntez, Salesbury and William Owayn. It is so that of my lorde[173.2] gete I no socour, and lever I had to dy than gif up the place sith I am ther yn. And I wene if thei gete the place upon me ther helpith my lif no pardon. Wherfore I lowly beseche yow, maister Paston, advertise in your wisdom that this was the first porpose of Tudenham and Heydon whils thei regned, to gete this place; and to that intent thei brought hider the lord Roos, which now is full simpely thought on with my maister that I serve. And ye wete wele that I have most encountred the entent of Tudenham and Heydon of ony pouer man on lyve; And if I be lost or put to an ungoodly rebuke heryn my service is the lesse of valu to you that be gentils of the s.h.i.+re. Wherfore I requyre your maisters.h.i.+p to come hider in your persone with suych as ye seme not to that intent to take party in the mater, but to that intent to help to set peas in the s.h.i.+re, and to stire my lord for his honour.
For yisterday my lord sent to Lynne and made a cry to be made that he wold be named in the writ of the statute of Northampton, and that cry hath caused the common pople of the toun of Lynne to stere the more.
Neverthelesse all the substaunce of the toun is in peas and peasid by the wisdam of the Meir theer, but not for than sum of thaym come with Harry Wodehous, so that I deme he hath a vj^xx. persones in all on all sides. I beseche you to send me hider sum socour beside forth, with John Osbern and John Lister with thaym, and come ye aftir a parte by your good wisdome soukyng (_sic_) their demenynges, and send me your advyse.
Wretyn the nyght of the Sunday a forn seynt Feithesday.
Your servaunt,
<script>