Volume Iii Part 12 (1/2)
MARGARET PASTON.
[Footnote 52.1: [From Fenn, iii. 252.] St. Andrew's day fell on Sunday in 1455 and 1460. This letter must be written in one of these two years, and the probabilities are greatly in favour of the former, as John Paston and William Worcester were not on good terms after the death of Sir John Fastolf.]
[Footnote 52.2: Osbert Moundford, Esq. of Hockwold, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Berney, Esq., and by her had Mary, their daughter and sole heir, who married Sir William Tindale, Knight of the Bath.]
307
ABSTRACT[53.1]
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON.
[Sidenote: [1455] / DEC. 11]
Thanks him for his pains in the advancement of his 'chargeable matters.'
Was never so much bound to any kinsman as to Paston, who tenders so much his wors.h.i.+p and profit. Sends Worcestre with important letters to my Lord Privy Seal and the Abbot of Bermundsey, and would like Paston to common with them. Thanks him for informing him of the answer made to the bill of Wentworth, 'which I know had stand in great jeopardy had not ye be.' Sends his evidences concerning Bradwell, that the Judges and Parliament may have better consideration of his right, and of the patents granted to Paston and Howys in that behalf. Desires credence for William Worcestre.
Castre, 11 Dec.
[The date of this letter must be between the year 1454, when Sir John Fastolf settled at Caister, and 1458, as he was not alive in December 1459. The reference to Parliament fixes it more precisely, as 1455 was the only year during this period in which Parliament sat in December.]
[Footnote 53.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 262.]]
308
RICHARD BINGHAM TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[54.1]
_Copie of my fader Bynghames lettre to my fadre F._
[Sidenote: About 1455]
Right honorable and reverend maistre, after due and hertely recomendacion, I thank yow als hertily as I can that it likith your G.o.de maisterschip, of your G.o.dnesse, to let to ferme to my son Scrope the pouer enheritance that he schal enherit after your decesse, if G.o.d will that he life therto. And I hafe for my saide son comonde with my maistres of your counsell, that is to sey, Paston and other, and I fynde them not straunge, bot right streyte to dele with in the mater; and therfore my saide sone, and I for hym, must sue to the well of mercy, that is to say, to your honurable person, where is special refuge for my saide son in this cas. My saide son is and hath be, and will be to hys lifes ende, your true lad and servaunt, and glad and well willed to do that myght be to your pleaser, wirschip, and profit, and als loth to offend yow as any person in erth, gentill and well disposid to every person. Wherfore I besech your G.o.de grace that ye will vouchesafe remember the premissez, my saide sons age, his wirschipfull birth, and grete misere for verrey povert, for he hath had no liflode to life opon sithen my lady his moder deed, safe x. marc of liflode that ye vouched safe to gife hym this last yer, and therfore to be his good maister and fader. And thof he be not worthy to be your son, make hym your almesman, that he may now in his age life of your almesse, and be your bedeman, and pray for the prosperite of your n.o.ble person. And if I durst, for your displesance, I wolde besech yow that ye wolde vouchesafe lat my saide son hafe the saide lifelode to ferme for terme of your life, payng to yow therfore yerely CC. marc at ij. festes of the yere, that is to say, Cristema.s.se and Middesomer, and ye schall be paied hit truly at London, in Hillary terme for the feste of Cristema.s.se, and Trinite terme for the feste of Midsomer; and I will be bounden for hym and [_i.e._ if]
your maisterschip will vouchesafe to take me, and he and I schall ever pray for yow. And thof the saide lifelode be better to yow in availl yerely then I offer yow therefore, this summe of CC. marc schal be truly paid to yow yerely; and G.o.d, that rewardeth every G.o.de dede, schal pey for hym the remenant to yow, for every peny an C., in relesyng of yow in Purgatory, or ellys encresyng of your merite in Heven. And how your maisterschip will that my saide son schall do in this mater, I besech yow that he may be certified be your writing.
[Footnote 54.1: [From Castlecombe MSS., Add. 28,212, f. 26, B.M.] This letter has been printed by Mr. Poulett Scrope in his privately printed _History of Castle Combe_. From evidences contained in other of the family muniments, Mr. Scrope supposes it to have been written about the year 1455, which is probably not far from the true date. Compare Letter 349 following.]
309
FASTOLF'S CLAIMS AGAINST THE CROWN.--I.[55.1]
_Billa de debitis Regis in partibus Franciae Johanni Fastolf militi debitis._
[Sidenote: 1455]
These ben the injuries, losses, and damages that the seyd Fastolf hath had, as well withynne this royaume of England as in othir parties in maner and fourme as it ensewith.
First, it is to consider how that the seyd Fastolf hath ben vexed and troubled seth he came last into this lande by the myght and power of the Duc of Suffolk, and by the labour of his counseill and servaunts in divers wyses, as in grete oppressions, grevous and outrageous amerciemants and manye grete horrible extorcions, as it may appere more pleynly by a rolle of articles thereuppon made, the damages of which entenden to the somme of
V. m^{l}. marc.