Has ridden 100 miles to get out the obligation of Craksheld and Salter.
Has been opposed by Mr. Lovell, as they are his tenants. Understands it
is in my lord’s closet, and the tenants are warned to pay no money
without it. They keep from him the farm of the Priors Maner as well as
Strehalle.[244-2] Desires him to write to Mr. William Paston to inform
my lord of a wrongful distress taken by John Markham at Strehall in
Cressingham, which is held of the King’s manor of Necton. They took
cattle in lambing time in March, in the 14th year of this King, ‘and put
Craksheld and Salter in such fear of losing of their cattle that they
were bound to my lord by obligation, and Craksheld is dead for thought.’
Will take the letter to Mr. William though it cost him fourteen days’
labor. Was five weeks riding ‘to Canterbury, and again I will no longer
drive, for in winter I may not ride,’ etc.
[From the reference to ‘the 14th year of this King,’ it is evident
that this letter was written after 1474, the 14th year of Edward IV.
It may, perhaps, be of the reign of Henry VII.; in which case it was
addressed to the younger John Paston, who was then a knight, his
brother being dead, about the year 1500.]
[Footnote 244-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
[Footnote 244-2: Street-Hall or Straw Hall, in Great Cressingham,
was one of the manors which belonged to Judge Paston. In 1451,
Blomefield tells us that Walter Paston, clerk, gave it to his
brother John. In the reign of Henry VIII. Sir William Paston sold
it to Dame Elizabeth Fitzwilliams.--Blomefield, vi. 99.]
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