Volume Vi Part 22 (2/2)

Syr, your chyldryn be in goode h.e.l.le, bellsside be G.o.d.

Syr, I prey you sende me the gowild, that I spak to you of be the nexst man that comythe to Norwytche.

Syr, your mast that laye at Yermowyth is letyn to a scheppe of Hull for xiij_s._ iiij_d._, and if there fawyll ony hurt ther to, ye schall have a newe mast ther for.

No mor to you at this time, but Almyty G.o.d have you in His kepyng.

Wretyn at Castyr Hawill, the xxj. daye of Janever, in the furst yere of Kyng Harry the vij^{th}.

Be your servaunt,

MARGERY PASTON.

I prey G.o.d no ladyis no more ovyr com you, that ye geve no lenggar respyt in your materys.

[Footnote 90-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

1008

ALICE, LADY FITZHUGH, TO JOHN PASTON[91-1]

_To my right trusty and welbeloved son,[91-2] Sir John Paston, be this delyvered._

[Sidenote: FEB. 24]

Jon Paston, I recommaunde me to you in my moste hertely maner. And wher I understande be my doghter Lovell, ye desyre to know whedir I woll have the bargane ye made for me in Norwich or nay, and if I wol, I moste content therfor now in mercs; Son, in good faith it is so, I shal receyve no mony of the revenowse of my lyvelod afore Mydsommer; and also I have payd accordyng to my promise to Sir William Cabell a great payment, the which ye knowe wel was due to be payde, so that I can not be of power to content therfore, for the which I am right sory, for I know well I shall never have such a bargane.

Also my doghtyr Lovell[92-1] makith great sute and labour for my sone hir husbande. Sir Edwarde Franke hath bene in the North to inquire for hym; he is comyn agayne, and cane nogth understonde wher he is. Wherfore her benevolers willith hir to continue hir sute and labour; and so I can not departe nor leve hir as ye know well; and if I might be there, I wold be full glad, as knowith our Lorde G.o.d, Whoo have you in His blissid kepynge.

From London, the xxiiij^th day of February.

Your loving moder,

ALISE, LADY FITZHUGH.

[Footnote 91-1: [From Fenn, ii. 336.] There is a difficulty in dating this letter only from the address being to Sir John Paston.

It has every appearance of having been written in the year 1486, when Francis, Viscount Lovel, lay concealed shortly before his outbreak with Humphrey and Thomas Stafford. But in that case the prefix 'Sir' before John Paston's name must not be taken as indicating that he was then a knight; for he was not knighted till the battle of Stoke in June 1487.

The writer of this letter was the widow of Henry, Lord Fitzhugh, who died on the 12th June 1472. She was the daughter of Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, and sister of Warwick the Kingmaker.]

[Footnote 91-2: I find no evidence of any real relations.h.i.+p between Paston and Lady Fitzhugh.]

[Footnote 92-1: Francis, Viscount Lovel, married Anne, daughter of Alice, Lady Fitzhugh.]

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