Sends his wife to him to explain some business about lands in Lytyl
Pagrave, of which a woman of Sporle has already spoken to him; also
touching some land at Castleacre.--_On parchment._
[Footnote 64.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
56
---- ---- TO JOHN PASTON[64.3]
[Sidenote: 1444]
Righte reverent and my most worshipful maister, I recomaund me to yow.
Please it yow to wite that I sende yow a copie of a verdite take before
my maister Roberd Clere by vertu of a writ _diem clausit
extremum_,[64.4] whiche writ I sende yow also with this, of whiche
verdite the wordis arn as it folwith:--
_Inquisicio capta apud Wynterton, secundo die Novembris anno regni Regis
Henrici vj^ti post conquestum vicesimo tertio, coram Roberto Clere
escaetore domini Regis in com. Norfolk et Suffolk, virtute brevis domini
Regis sibi directi et presenti Inquisitioni consuti, per sacramentum
Johannis Berkyng, Nicholai Pikeryng, Johannis Chapell, Johannis Jekkys,
Willelmi Stiwardson, Roberti Hosele, Johannis Topy, Johannis Wacy,
Johannis Rychers, Thomæ Broun, Walteri Heylok, Willelmi Stotevyle, Thomæ
Mason, Roberti Marche, Johannis Kechon, legalium et proborum hominum in
hac parte pro domino Rege juratorum: Qui dicunt super sacramentum suum
quod Willelmus Paston nominatus in dicto brevi nulla terras et tenementa
tenuit de domino Rege in capite die quo obiit in comitatu predicto. Et
quod obiit quarto decimo die mensis Augusti, anno regni domini Regis
predicti xxij. Et quod Johannes Paston filius ipsius Willelmi est hæres
ejus propinquior, et ætatis xxiij. annorum._
Ther is founde more of other thyngges be the same verdite touchyng other
matieris, whiche he will not certifie yet. And for as moche as my
maister Clere wetyth well that the seid verdite touchyng my maister your
fader, hoes soule God assoyle, must have other maner of makyng thanne he
kan make, he recomaundith hym to my maistres your moder, and yow also;
and prey yow that ye will do it make as effectuel and availeabill for
the wel of my maister your fader and yow as ye kan, and sele it with
your seall, or what seall ellys ye will, in his name, and sealle it also
with as many of other seales as ther be jerores, and delyvere it to
William Bondes, his depute, to delyvere into the Chauncelre. And if
William Bondes be fro London or this may be redy, thanne purveye ye for
the speed of this matier in youre best wise; and what so ever ye do, or
sey, or write, or seale, or avouche in this matier in my maister Cleris
name, he shall avowe it, and [_i.e._ if] it shulde coste hym gret parte
of his good.
Sir, ther is noon enquerre take in Suffolk, for as moche as my maister
your fader helde no londe ther but be my maistres your moder; but if ye
will that he shall inquere ther as sone as he may wete it, it shall be
doo; and if this forseide verdite may serve for bothe, he is right glad
therof. He tolde me that he seide to the jurores, whiche have sealed her
verdite: ‘Seris, I wot well this verdite after my makyng is not
effectuel in lawe, and therfore may happe it shall be makid newe at
London, and ellys peraventure I shulde be amercied in the Kyngges
Courte; and therfore I truste yow, and [_i.e._ if] it be newe mad and
newe sealed, ye will avowe it.’ And thei seide with a good herte ya;
these wordes wern seide _in secreta confessione_ to v. or vj. of the
reuleris of the seide jurre whiche he kan truste righte well. He preyith
yow to holde hym excused that he writyth not to yow for this matier, for
he is ocupied in other wise. He badde me write in this fourme to yow,
which he supposith ye will beleve, and he knoweth alle this writyng, and
is well concented and agreed therto. Sir, ther arn xv. jurores abowe to
certifie ye, as many as ye will: but lete these men that be tottid be
certified, for thei be the rewleris and t . . . . he spk (?) &c. Sir,
atte reverence of God, if I shall make ony purvyaunce in this cuntre for
my maistres comyng hom, lete me have reson[able] warnyng, and so God me
helpe, and I shall do my dever. I here no tydyngges of Thom’ yet. My
maistres Garneys, your moder, . . . . . .[66.1] Berney, and my maisteris
your sonys and my maister your brother arn heyle and mery, and recommend
hem to yow. And I beseche your [mastership][66.1] that this sympil
skrowe may recomaund me to my reverant and worshipful maistres, your
moder. And I prey our Lord of his . . . . . .[66.1] bothe moche worship
and wilfare, and graunte me to do and labour that is to your bothenerys
pleaser.[66.2]