_To hys broder, Sir John Paston, be thys letter delyvered._
[Sidenote: 1489 / MARCH 7]
Sir, I recomaunde me to yow, letynge yow wete that . . . . . .
. . .[120-2]
As for my Lord Treserer,[120-3] he was not with the Kynge of all the
counsell tyme, the whyche was endyd on the iij^de day of Marche. And
theder come my Lorde of Northethombyrland the fyrste day of Marche, and
departyd the even afore the makyng of thys letter, and hath endentyd
with the Kynge for the kepynge owt of the Schottys and warrynge on them,
and schall have large money, I can not telle the some for certeyn.
Also ther is an rover takyn at Brystowe, on [_one_] Cowper, as I wene,
and he is lyke to be hanged, and he confessythe more of hys felawis.
Also Edward Heestowe of Dovere is apechyd of treson of many straunge
poynts; and hys accuser and he were bothe afore the Kynge, and then they
were takyn apert. And he hymselfe confessyd it that hys accusere accusyd
hym of, and many other thyngs more than he was accusyd of. And he had
many lords and gentylmen to aunswere for hys trowthe and his demenynge
afore tyme, for, as I hard sey, bothe the Kynge in a maner, nor non of
the tother lords nor gentylmen belevyd not hys accuser, tyl that he
confessyd it hym selfe; and so he is in the Towre and lyke to be dede.
As for the Kynges comynge into the contre. On Monday come fortenyght he
well lye at the Abbey of Stratteforde and so to Chelmnsford, than to Syr
Thomas Mongehombrey, than to Hevenyngham,[121-1] than to Colchestyr,
than to Ipswyche, than to Bery, than to Dame Anne Wyngfelds, and so to
Norwych; and there woll he be on Palme Sunday Evyn,[121-2] and so tary
there all Ester, and than to Walsyngham. Wherefore ye had nede to warne
Wylliam Gogyne and hys felaws to purvey them of wyne i now, for every
man berythe me on hande[121-3] that the towne schalbe dronkyn drye as
Yorke was when the Kynge was there.
Syr, Mayster Sampson recomaunde hym on to yow, and he hathe sende yow a
rynge be Edmonde Dorman, and besydys that he requeryd me to wryte on to
yow that it were best for yow to purvey yow of some gentyl meny thynges
ageyns the Kyngs comyng, for suere he well brynge yow gests i now, and
therfore purvey yow theraftyr. Also he sendythe yow worde that it is my
lords mende that my syster with all other godely folkys there abowt
scholde acompeny with Dame Elsebethe Calthrop[121-4] because there is
noo grete lady ther abowte ageyns the Kyngs comyng, for my lorde hathe
made grete boste of the fayre and goode gentylwomen of the contre, and
so the Kynge seyd he wolde see them sure.
Syr, my lorde hathe sente on to the most parte of the gentyl men of
Essex to wayte upon hym at Chelmnysford, where as he entendythe to mete
with the Kynge, and that they be well apoyntyd, that the Lankeschere men
may see that ther be gentylmen of as grete sobestaunce that thei be able
to bye alle Lankeschere. Men thynke that ye amonge yow wol doo the same.
Your contre is gretely bostyd of, and also the inabytors of the same.
I beseche you to remembr my hors that ye promisyd me. God kepe yow.
Wretyn at Schene in haste, the vij. day of Marche, with the hande of
your brodyr,