Volume Iii Part 66 (1/2)
[Footnote 286.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.]
[Footnote 286.2: 12th July in 1461.]
[Footnote 286.3: Thomas Denys.]
[Footnote 286.4: Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.]
[Footnote 286.5: This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relations.h.i.+p between him and Fastolf.]
[Footnote 286.6: Interlined.]
466
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[287.1]
_To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast._
[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 9]
Right worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, G.o.d her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys[287.2] goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and wold be rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vj_s._ viij_d._ Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i' feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of G.o.d, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. G.o.d for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters.
Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas.
By your,
M. P.
[Footnote 287.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys's wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret's cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.]
[Footnote 287.2: _i.e._ her husband's.]
467
JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON AND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE[288.1]
_To the wors.h.i.+pfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris, and to everych of them._
[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 10]
Right wors.h.i.+pfull cosynes, I rec.u.mmaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas Denys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith G.o.d, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E.
iiij. primo.
JOHN BERNEYE.
Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.
[Footnote 288.1: [From Fenn, i. 236.]]
468