The Paston Letters Volume Vi Part 22

ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF SURREY, TO WILLIAM HARWARD[89-1]

[Sidenote: 1485, or later]

Wylliam Harward, I woll that ze delyver to Robert Thorppe of Norwych v.

marc off the next money that ze gadyr; for he hath lent it me, and I have sygned hym to be payed of yow as sone he comyth hom.

E. SURREY.

[Footnote 89-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 228.] This brief note, like No. 1004, was probably written during the imprisonment of the writer's husband. The text is entirely crossed through, doubtless to show that the transaction was closed.]

1006

THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[89-2]

_To our trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Sheriff of Suffolk and Norfolk._

THE DUC OF SUFFOLK.

[Sidenote: 1485 / OCT. 20]

Right welbeloved, we grete you well. And for asmuche as the King our sovereigne Lord hath late addressed his letters of comission undre his seale unto us, reciting by the same that his highnesse undrestondith certayn his rebells a.s.sociate to his old enmys of Scotlond, entending not only to trowble his peax, the n.o.bles and subjects of this Realme to destroy, their goods and possessions to spoill, and reward at thair liberties, but also the lawes of this lond and holy Chirche to subvert.

Our said moost drad soverayn Lord, as a Cristen Prince, ... ... . .

his said enmys and rebels to resist, hath a.s.signed and comaunded us to do all maner ... . and others defensible able to labour, as well archers as hobbyllers,[90-1] to come before us and charge them ... . .

armed and arayed, every man aftre his degre and power, to attend uppon his person, and uppon us, to do him service in defence as well of the Chirche as of the said n.o.bles and subjects of this Realm, against his said enmys and rebels.

We therfore wull, and in our said sovereigne Lords name straitly charge and comaunde you, that in all possible hast ye do this to be proclamed:--And that all maner men able to do the King service, as well knights, esquiers, and gentlemen, as townships and hundreds, as well within franchesse and libertes as without, within the counties of Suffolk and Norffolk, and that they be charged to be redy at all tymes uppon an howre warnyng, and ordered according to the last comission afore this, to attend uppon his Grace and uppon us to do him service, whatsoever they shalbe comaunded, not failing herof, as ye wull answer at your perile. Goven at Long Stratton, the xx. day of October.

And forthermore, that ye yeve credence unto our servaunt this bringer, as this same day we receyved the Kings commission at iiij. aftre none.

SUFFOLK, yor frende.

[Footnote 89-2: [From Fenn, ii. 326.] John Paston was Sheriff of Norfolk in the first year of Henry VII., and entered on his duties at Michaelmas 1485. This letter therefore is of that year.]

[Footnote 90-1: Light hors.e.m.e.n.]

1007

MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[90-2]

_To my mastyr, John Paston, be this delyvird._

[Sidenote: 1486 / JAN. 21]

Ryght reverent and wortshepfull syre, in my most umbill weysse I recomaunde me to you, desyryng to here of your welfare, the wytche I beseche G.o.d to preserve to His plesur and so your hartes desyir. Syr, I thank you for the venyson that ye sent me; and youre schepe is seylyd owt of the havene as this daye.

Syr, I send you be my brodyr Wyllem your stomachere of damaske. As for youre teppet of velvet, it is not here; An seythe that ye put yt in your casket at London.

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 relationship between Paston and Lady Fitzhugh.]

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

1009