Volume Vi Part 12 (1/2)

EDMOND PASTON.

[Footnote 44-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Fenn dates this letter 1479-80, suggesting that it must have been written very soon after Edmund Paston's marriage with the widow of William Clippesby, as it seems to imply that he had not yet carried his bride to pay her duty to his mother. I do not, for my part, know the date of this marriage, and I suspect Fenn had no other clue to it than the fact that William Clippesby, the lady's first husband, died on the 24th September 1479; but I presume his widow was still unmarried when she proved his will on the 18th May 1480 (_see_ Blomefield, xi.

144). I consider, therefore, that the letter must have been written between the years 1481 and 1484, as Margaret Paston died in November of the latter year.]

976

MONASTERY OF ST. FAITH[45-1]

[Sidenote: 1481 / AUG.]

Robertus filius domini Walteri de Mauteby militis insp[ex]sit cartas an[tiquas] ... . concessas Deo et monasterio Sanctae Fidis quinque quarteria salis annualis redditus . . e olim ... ... quinque _wayes_ percipienda de salinis ma[r]issi de Mauteby secundum mensuram ejusdem [mari]ssi. Quam quidem concessionem praedictus Robertus ratificat ... . . suum sub sigillo suo quid est[[45-2]]. And this deed sawe John Paston at the seid Seynt Feythes, mense Augusti Anno xxj^o Regis E.

[Q]uarti. And for this rent a . . the prior and the monkys there shewyd [to th]e seyd John, the same moneth and tyme, thes obitis foloyng tightled in the ... . . they s[ay]d that they ... . . whiche wold be knowyn and wachid. So the sayd ... . the obbites ... ... ... .

bi Maltby xij. die mensis Aprilis. Et d'ns d'nii (?)

JOHANNES DE MALTB[Y].

[Footnote 45-1: [Add. Charter 17,252, B.M.]]

[Footnote 45-2: Here occurs a representation of a s.h.i.+eld in the middle of the text of the MS.]

977

ABSTRACT[46-1]

ANONYMOUS TO MRS. [MARGARET PASTON?]

There is no tachment made in the land unless it be done privily. The sheriff has been thrice in our town in these three weeks. As for the panel of Frances' matter, there is none of the sheriff's deputies but Francis to inquire of.

[I am quite unable to attach a date to this letter, or to conjecture by whom it was written. Even the person to whom it is addressed is very uncertain, though I have suggested Margaret Paston.]

[Footnote 46-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

978

MARGARET PASTON'S WILL.[46-2]

[Sidenote: 1482 / FEB. 4]

In the name of G.o.d, amen. I, Margaret Paston, widowe, late the wiff of John Paston, Squier, doughter and heire to John Mauteby, Squier, hole of spirit and mynde, with perfite avis.e.m.e.nt and good deliberacion, the iiij^te day of February, in the yer of Our Lord G.o.d a m^{l.}cccclx.x.xj.

make my testament and last wille in this fourme folowyng. First, I betake my sowle to G.o.d Almyghty and to Our Lady His blissid Moder, Seint Michael, Seint John Baptist, and to Alle Seintes, and my body to be beried in the ele of the cherch of Mauteby, byfore the ymage of Our Lady there. In which ele reste the bodies of divers of myn aunceteres, whos sowles G.o.d a.s.soile.

Item, I bequethe to the high awter of the seid cherch of Mauteby xx_s._

Item, I wulle that the seid ele in which my body shalbe beried be newe robed, leded, and glased, and the walles therof heyned [_heightened_]

convenyently and werkmanly.