Volume Vi Part 27 (1/2)
WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[111-1]
_To Sir John Paston, be thys lettyr delyvered._
[Sidenote: 1488 / MAY 13]
Aftyr all dewe recomendacion, pleasyt yow to undyrstonde that my lorde[111-2] hathe ben with the Kynge in Wyndesour at Seynt Georgys Feste, and ther at the same feste were bothe the inbacetours of Breten and of Flaundyrs, as well fro the Kynge of Romayns[111-3] as fro the yonge Duke.[111-4] But I can not schew yow the certeyn whedyr we schall have with them warre or pease; but I undyrstonde for certeyn that all suche capeteyns as wente to the see in Lente, that is to sey, Sir Charlys Somersett, Sir Richard Hawte, and Syr Wylliam Vampage, makythe them redy to goo to the see ageyn as schortely as they can, to what intente I can not sey.
Also, where as it was seyde that my Lord Woddevyle and other schulde have gone over in to Breten, to have eyded the Duke of Breten,[111-5] I can not tell of non suche eyd. b.u.t.t upon that seynge ther came many men to Sowthehamton, where it was seyd that he schulde have takyn schyppyng, to have waytyd upon hym over; and soo whan he was countyrmaundyd, thos that resortyd thedyr, to have gone over with hym taryde there styll in hope that they schuld have ben lycensyd to have gone over; and whan they sey [_saw_] no lykeleod that they schuld have lycens, there was ij.C. of them that gete them in to a Breten schyppe, the whyche was late come over with salte, and bad the mayster sett them a lond in Breten. And they had nott seylyd not paste vj. leges b.u.t.t they aspied a Frencheman, and the Frencheman mad over to them; and they ferde as thow they wolde not have medylde with them, and all the Englysche men went undyr the hetchys, soo that they schewyd no more but those that came to Sowthehamton with the schype, to cawse the Frenchemen to be the more gladder to medyll with them; and soo the Frencheman burdyd them, and then they that were undyr the hetches came up, and soo toke the Frencheman, and caryed the men, schyppe, and all in to Breaten.
Also, ther was ther an inbacetour fro the Kynge of Schottes,[112-1] who is now put in grete trobyll be hys son and other of the lordes of hys londe.
Syr, as I came homewerde be London, I spake there with Emonde Dormand, and he seyd that he had wretyn onto yow, but he had none aunswere; wherfor he prayd me that if I knew ony man comynge towerdes Norwhyche, and I wold wrythe on to yow that he ferythe, if ye see none other dyreccion, that he schall be comittyd to the Flete.
Also, he schewyd me that Herry Wyott wholde fynde the mene to have yow condemnyd, and recover the obligacion of xl_li_. ageyns yow, and soo he seythe he whote nott how to doo, for he is halfe dysmayd; he ferythe lesse that he schall never come home. But he intendythe to plede the obligacion fulfylyd at Norwyche, for he seythe ther is non other remedy to save yow fro the condemnacion, tyl that he herythe otherwyse from yow, whyche he thynketh longe aftyr.
Wretyn at Henyngham, the xiij^te day of May, with the hand of your brodyr,
WYLLIAM PASTON.
[Footnote 111-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There can be no doubt this letter was written in the year 1488, after Sir Edward Woodville (called Lord Woodville) had gone over to aid the Duke of Brittany against the French, and at the beginning of the rebellion of the young Prince of Scotland (afterwards James IV.) against his father, James III., who was defeated in battle, and afterwards murdered in June of that year.]
[Footnote 111-2: The Earl of Oxford.]
[Footnote 111-3: Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, was elected King of the Romans in 1486.]
[Footnote 111-4: Philip, Duke of Burgundy, son of Maximilian.]
[Footnote 111-5: Francis II., Duke of Brittany.]
[Footnote 112-1: James III.--_See_ preliminary note.]
1027
THOMAS ANDREW TO WILLIAM PASTON[113-1]
_To the ryght ... ... . . William Paston Squyer ... . . my Lord of Ox[ford]._
[Sidenote: 1488(?) / DEC. 1 (?)]
Ryght worchipfull sir, in my best maner I recommend me unto you as he that is and shalbe at your commandment. Sir, I beseche you to showe my good lord and yours that a cordyng to his commandment I have sesed the good of the parson of Testerton[113-2] and of Henry Fox, exsepe thos goodis of the sayd Fox that whare formerly sesed be the servantis of my Lord of Surrey; and, Sir, all thos goodis that I have sesed of them both are nat worthe lytyll mony lytyll past xl_s._ or iij_li._ at the m[os]t, exsepe the parsons corne; and if that may betakyn a way thane the Chyrche may not be served, and that whar pety. I besech you that I may knowe my Lordis plesur in that be halfe, for els I thynke the baly of the franches will have all, for Testyrton is in the Dowchy. And so I am leek to have lytyll or nowt for all my lawbour and costis withowt my Lord be my good lord in that be halff be your mene.
Sir,[113-3] I pray you tell my Lord that the fryer of Lynne that ...
ak ... ... . . cheff, for he served a cherche in Norfolk callyd h.o.r.n.yngtoft and ther ... ... rd a p ... . s callyd Master Thomas Mertyn, and as I wene he had felows privy to that robery (?) an[d ot]her that be nat yet knowyn, and if he whare well a posed he wold tel[l], &c.
Also[113-4] Henry Fox and the parson of Testerton whar gretely (?) acuequyentyd and conversand with one Sir William, a chanon of Hempton Abbay, cause my Lord to inquere if he whar owt privy of the mony makyng or eny other of that Abbay of Hempton. I know nothyng but that they whar gret to gether, &c. Sir, I besech you, be good master to Fox wyff if ye may; how be it he is nowght, but peraventure he may amend, but she is ryght a good woman be my troughe, and it whar gret pety but she and her chyld myght have somwat. And, my Lord, or ye send me eny letter ye may send it me be John a More, this brynger, if he c.u.m agayne, or els be Fox wyff if her husband be not gone to London. And ever Jhesu preserve you to your most gentyll hertis desyer. At Ryburgh this Monday next Sent Andrew.
Your servant,
THOMAS ANDREW.