[Sidenote: 1443-9]
This day at x. of the clok Edmund Paston and the parson of Oxened went
owth of the Manor doun to Wantown Gapp, for thei herd tydynges that the
freyr[60.2] was comyng; and with the seyd frier came John Cates and on
Whalter Herman of Wheytte, and Wylliam Yemmys of Burgh, the frieres man.
And Edmund Paston seyd to John Cates Welcome, and he askyd hem what
here[60.3] cause was in commyng. The Frier seyd he cam for to speke with
the gode lady, and Edmund seyd that he shuld speke with her. At this
tyme sche was so ocupied he myth not speke with her. And he seyd that he
shuld assay; and he cam redyng fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate; and
there he lyted and knokkyd on the gate; and we folwyd as yarn as we
myth; and ther was with in John Jaallere and John Edmundes, and asked
the friere what he wold; and he seyd that he wuld comyn inne for to
speke with the gode ladi of the hows. And thei seyd nay, he shuld not
come in. And than cam on Edmund Paston and the parson, and asked hym
what was cause of his comyng at this tyme. And he seyd for to entre in
the maner of Oxened, the which his fader was possessid of and his
auncestres from kyng Edward the thred on to Colbys tyme, and that he had
fownd a tayll ther of in the kynges bokes. And than Edmund Paston
answeryd hym and seyd that it wher best declaryng of his evydence in
Westminster hall. And he seyd a geyn, so he shuld whan he myth. And he
seyd to hem that come with hym, ‘Serys, I chargge yow ber record how
that I am kept owth with stronge hand, and may not take poscession.’ And
evyn forth with he presyd to the gate ward to a leyd hand on the gate.
And than the seyd Edmund put hym fro the gate and seyd, ‘Ne wer for
reverence of thy lord and myn, and thow leyst any hand on the gate I
xall sey thye hert blod or thow myn.’ And than the seyd frier seyd
scornfully that he myth thanke his mayster. And than the seyd Edmund
seyd that he myth sey his lord ryght wele; and than he stowpyd doun and
toke up herd and delivered to his man, seying to hem that come with hym,
‘I charge yow all of the kynges behalffe ye bere record that I take here
poscession of myn inheritance.’ And Edmund seyd that this takyng of
poscession skylled nowgt. And than the friere seyd that sen he myth not
have it nowe, he shuld come a geyn a nothir tyme. Edmund is rede forth
to Heydon. It was told us this afternon that ther wer iij. men come fro
Skeyton and mette with the frier in the feld and spoke with hym a gode
while, and than redyn the same wey that they come.
[Footnote 60.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 19.] This paper, like No.
63, which also refers to Friar Hauteyn’s claim to Oxnead, can be
assigned to no definite year; but its date must be before the
death of Edmund Paston in 1449. It is indorsed in a later hand:
‘A Frier came to take possession of the mannor of Oxned.’]
[Footnote 60.2: John Hauteyn.]
[Footnote 60.3: _here_ (or _her_) for _their_.]
[[fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate
_text unchanged: error for “Gate”?_]]
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