Volume Ii Part 59 (1/2)
M. PASTON.
[Footnote 284.1: [From Fenn, i. 68.] According to Blomefield (_Hist. of Norf._ iii. 158), Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI., visited Norwich in the spring of 1452; but by the same authority, it would appear that she had returned to Westminster before the 17th of March in that year, which would not suit the date of this letter. Besides, John Paston was at Norwich in April 1452, and dates a letter at Norwich on St.
George's day, complaining of the a.s.sault made upon him at the door of Norwich Cathedral on Monday before Easter. It is impossible, therefore, that Margaret Paston could have written to him from Norwich two days before St. George's day in that year. From an undated entry in the Norwich city records, which bears internal evidence of having been made in the year 1453, it would appear that the King's half-brothers, Edmund, Earl of Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, visited Norwich in that year.--(_See_ fol. 19 of a volume, ent.i.tled _An Old Free Book_, in the Norwich city archives.) As to the Queen's visit I find no direct evidence, but I think it possible she may have come with _one_ of the King's brothers, and that the other may have come a little later.]
[Footnote 284.2: Here (says Fenn) follows some account of money received, etc.]
[Footnote 284.3: Margaret of Anjou.]
[Footnote 284.4: Widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, who died in 1446. Fenn says his daughter, but no notice is found of a daughter of that name, while the widow occurs frequently in this correspondence.]
[Footnote 285.1: Bailiff.]
[Footnote 285.2: Either Edmund Tudor, who was created Earl of Richmond about November 1452, or Jasper, who was created Earl of Pembroke at the same time. They were half-brothers to the King, being sons of his mother, Catherine, Queen of Henry V., by her subsequent marriage to Sir Owen Tudor.]
227
AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[285.3]
_To my welbelovyd Son, John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
Sone I grete yow well and send you G.o.dys blessyng and myn, and lete you wete that Robert Hyll cam homward by Horwelle bery, and Gurney tellyd hym he had byn at London for mony and kowd nat spedyng, and behestyd Robert that he shuld send me mony be you. I pray for getyt not as ze com homward, and speke sadly for i. nothyr fermor.
And as for tydyngs, Phylyppe Berney[286.1] is pa.s.syd to G.o.d on Munday[286.2] last past wyt the grettes peyn that evyr I sey man; and on Tuysday Ser Jon Henyngham zede to hys chyrche and herd iij. ma.s.sys, and cam hom agayn nevyr meryer, and seyd to hese wyf that he wuld go sey a lytyll devocion in hese gardeyn and than he wuld dyne; and forthwyth he felt a feyntyng in hese legge and syyd don. This was at ix. of the clok, and he was ded or none.
Myn cosyn Cler[286.3] preyt you that ze lete no man se her letter, wheche is in selyd undir my selle. I pray you that ze wyl pay your brothir William for iiij. unces and j. half of sylke as he payd, wheche he sende me by William Tavyrner, and bryng wyt yow j. quarter of j. unce evyn leke of the same that I send you closyd in thys letter; and sey your brothyr William that hese hors hath j. fa.r.s.eyn and grete rennyng sorys in hese leggis. G.o.d have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche on Sent Thomas evyn in grete hast.[286.4]
Be your modyr,
A. PASTON.
[Footnote 285.3: [From Fenn, iii. 182.] Sir John Heveningham, whose death is mentioned in this letter, was found, by an inquisition taken on the 29th September 32 Henry VI., to have died on the 3rd of July preceding, which was in the year 1453.--(Inquis. _post mortem_, 31 Hen. VI., No. 7.) He left a son named John, over twenty-three years old, who was afterwards knighted.]
[Footnote 286.1: Third son of John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, who was the father of Margaret Paston's mother.]
[Footnote 286.2: July 2.]
[Footnote 286.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby.]
[Footnote 286.4: The Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr (Becket) was celebrated on the 7th July.]
228
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[286.5]
_To my ritht worchipfull Mayster John Paston, be this deliveryd in hast._
[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
Rytht worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete that I have spoke with Newman for his place, and I am thorow with hym therfor, but he wold not lete it in no wyse lesse than v. marc. I told hym that sekyrly ye shuld not know but that I hyrid it of hym for iij_li._ I seyd as for the n.o.ble,[287.1] I shuld payt of myn owyn purse, that ye shuld no knowlech have therof. And this day I have had inne ij.