Volume Ii Part 38 (1/2)
_Endorsed:_ Literae Fastolff, Yelverton, circa le oyrdeterminer.
--Memorandum de billa actus justic' apud Walsingham.
[Footnote 179.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The tone of this letter so closely resembles that of William Wayte of the 6th October 1450, especially in its warnings to Paston and John Damme, and in the information it contains as to Lord Moleyns not being in favour with the Duke of York, that it may be safely inferred to have been written about the same period.]
[Footnote 179.2: _See_ page 84, Note 2.]
[Footnote 179.3: Probably the Duke of York.]
[Footnote 180.1: Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon.]
146
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[180.2]
_To my wors.h.i.+pfull Maister Paston, at Norwich, in haste, be this delyvered._
[Sidenote: 1450 / [OCT.]]
Please it yow to wete that I come to London the Wednesseday at even late next after my departyng from yow, and it was told me that my Maister Calthorp hadde writyng fro my Lord of York to awayte on hym at his comyng in to Norffolk to be oon of his men, and that no gentilman of Norffolk had writyng to awayte on hym but he; and sum folke wene that it is to th'entent that he shuld bo outhir s.h.i.+ref or knyght of the s.h.i.+re, to the fortheryng of othir folks, &c.
The Kyng is remevid from Westminster, summe men sey to Fysshwick,[181.1]
and summe sey to Bristowe. And it is seid that he hath do wretyn to alle his men that be in the chekroll[181.2] to awayte on hym atte Parlement in their best aray; why, no man can telle. Heydon[181.3] was with my Maister Yelverton,[181.4] and desired hym to see the recordes of his endytementz, and axed of hym if he were indited of felonye; and my Maister Yelverton told hym it was. And thereto H. seide 'Sir, ye wole recorde that I was never thef;' and he seid he trowed right weel that he cowde telle why he took Plumpsteds goods, and othir words whiche were long to write. And my Maister Y. seid to hym he cowde not knowe the laborer of th'endytement, and H. seid ageyn he knewe weel the laborer thereof; and my Maister Y. conceyte is H. ment yow. Wherfor he advyseth yow that in onywyse ye make Plumpsted to take apell accordyng; for if he so do, thanne is H. barred of his conspirace, and also of his damages, though that he be nonnsewed therin, or though it be afterward discontynued, &c., and ellis are ye in jopardy of a conspirace, for H.
hopeth to have the world better to his entent thanne it is nowe. For it is told me that rather thanne he shuld fayle of a s.h.i.+ref this yeer comyng for his entent, he wole spende m^{l.}_li._ [1000].
This communicacion be twene them was on Moneday last pa.s.sed, and on Tewisday last pa.s.sed H. mette with Maister Markham,[181.5] and he tolde H. his part how that he levid ungoodly in puttyng awey of his wyff, and kept an other, &c.; and therwith he turned pale colour, and seid he lyved not but as G.o.d was pleased with, ne dede no wrong to no person.
And therupon Maister Markham reherced how he demened hym a genst men of Court, and named yow and Genneye; and H. seid, as touchyng the peple that rifled yow, and the doyng thereof, he was not privy therto, for he was that tyme here at London; and as touchyng the Lord Moleyns t.i.tle, H.
enforced gretly, and seid his t.i.tle was better thanne yours.
Yisterday was my Maister Yelverton at dyner with my Maister Fastolf,[182.1] and there among other thei were avysed that my Maister F. shall write to my Lord of Norffolk that he certifie the Kyng and his Counseill how the c.u.n.tre of N. and S. [_Norfolk and Suffolk_] stonde right wildely, withowt a mene may be that justice be hadde, whiche wole not be but if a man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be s.h.i.+ref thes yer comyng, to lede the peple in most peas; and therto thei named Maister Stapilton,[182.2] if it wole happe, &c. Also that my Lord Norffolk shall certifie the Kyng and his Counseill that but if the day of the oyer and termyner stonde, it wole be full harde, by cause the peple is so wylde.
Also that alle knyghtes and escuyers of the same c.u.n.tre shuld certifie the same, for summe of H. part have boosted that all ... . at Norwich shuld not be worth an haughe. _Ideo_, &c.
Item, Prentise is now in the Mydle Inne, and Dynne ... . .
Almyghty G.o.d have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after my departyng... . .
Your,
J. GRESHAM.
[Footnote 180.2: [From Fenn, iii. 94.] This letter, though it has no date except of the day of the week, must have been written about October 1450, after the Duke of York had come over from Ireland, and before the elections for the Parliament which met in November, and the appointment of sheriffs in the different counties for the ensuing year. The references to the affair of Lord Moleyns and to the indictment of Heydon cannot belong to a later year.]
[Footnote 181.1: In Lancas.h.i.+re, now in the suburbs of Preston.]
[Footnote 181.2: The check-roll is a roll or book, containing the names of such persons as are attendants, and in pay to the King, or other great men, as their household servants, &c.--F.]