_To my ryght worshipfull maister and brother, John Paston, this letter
be taken._
[Sidenote: 1464(?) / DEC. 3]
Ryght worshipfull and reverend mayster and brother, with alle my service
I recommaunde me on to yow. Please hit onto your grete wysedom to have
yn your descrete remembrauns the streite Ordre on which we ben
professid, and on which ze er bownden to kepe your residens, and
specially on this tyme of Crystmas amonggis your confrerys of this holy
Ordre, the Temple of Syon; for ynlesse than ze kepe dewly the poynts of
your holy Religion, owr Maister Thomas Babyngton, maister and soverayn
of owr Order of th’assent of his brythryn ben avysed to awarde azenste
yow ryght sharp and hasty proces to do calle yow to do your obcervauns,
and to obeye the poynts of your Religion, which wer on to me grete
hevynesse. Wherfore I, as he that hath most grettest cause, and ys most
bownden on to your grete gentylnesse, and also whom nature and kynde
most specially byfore every of alle owr breth[r]yn bynden me to owe and
wilne yow goode wylle and trewe hert, consyderyng the grete tyme of
penawns that ze havyn ben yn fro sone upon Mighelmas hederto, that ys to
say, yn relevyng and sustenawns of your evyn Crysten,[119.1] and also yn
the charytable and meritory dede of almyssdoyng, that ys to say yn
plenteous and liberall zeftis, which ys more precyusseur than goolde er
sylver, which hath nat be at alle tymys to your grete ease, neyther
hertis plesauns, but rather to your grete desese and yntollerable peyne.
And wher Godds lawe and manys lawe acorden that hit shall nat be lawful
to non erthely man to be so lyberall and plenteous of that that God
sendith hym, that he sholde so despose hit so that he sholde nowgch have
to lyve by; and forasmych as I have perfite knowlich of your
freel[119.2] [_frail_] and naturall disposiseon so set on to theym that
ben nedy and hunggery that of your selfe ze have no myght, neyther power
to absteyne and rewle yourself, but also long as God sendith and zevyth
yow whereof to dispose and help your evyn Crysten ze most nedis despose
hit forth a monggus your evyn Cristen, I conseile yow that yn also hasty
and goodely tyme as ze kan to come on to your holy brytheryn that ben of
that devowt and clos conversacion, to th’entent that ze myght ben
advertysid and lernyd by theym the goode rewle and messur that ze owght
and sholde have yn the despociscion and delyng of your almys.
And also, sethnys ze haven chosen zow a place yn this seson of Avent, yn
which ze have had a resonable leysour and space to do your penauns yn,
which drawith fast to a ende; which hath been a convenyent place as for
the ceson of the yer; and now hit drawith fast on to Cristmas, on which
tyme every trewe Crysten man sholde be mery, jocunde, and glad. And
sethnys ther is no place which by lyklyhod of reason ze shulde fynde yn
your hert to be so gladde and yocunde yn as ze sholde be yn the place of
your profession a mounggis your holy brytheryn; yn which place yn this
ceson of the yer hit ys a custumyd to be alle maner of desport, lyke as
hit is nat unknowe to your wisse descrescion; wherfore, as my symple
reason ledith me your grete descrescion sholde rewle you that ze sholde
approche nygh the plase of your holy relegion yn also hasty tyme as ze
code er myght, of whos comyng alle your saide bretheryn wolde be glade
and fayn, and yn especiall I, your servaunt and brother, lyke as I am
most syngguler bownden to th’encresse of your prosperite and welfar,
which I shall ever desir with Godds mersy, which have yow undir His
blessid and favorable proteccion. Wrytten yn the Temple of Syon, iij^d.
day of December, yn grete hast.
By your Servaunt and brother,
[Illustration {signature: T and symbol}]
[Footnote 118.1: [From Fenn, iii. 418.] It is difficult to assign
with confidence either a date or a meaning to this strangely
worded epistle. The signature itself is a mystery. The order of
the Temple of Sion is unknown to archæologists, and the place from
which the letter is dated cannot be identified. From the peculiar
device used as a signature, resembling what in heraldry represents
a fountain, Fenn threw out a suggestion that Fountaine was the
writer’s name, remarking that a family of that name resided at
Salle, in Norfolk, and might have been related to Paston as the
writer claimed to be. But there seems to be an air of irony about
the whole communication which forbids us to construe any of its
statements seriously; nor do we find the slightest allusion to
this letter or its contents in all the rest of the correspondence.
For my part, I am inclined to think it was a mocking letter
addressed to John Paston by one of the prisoners in the Fleet,
where Paston had himself been confined in 1464. His imprisonment
on that occasion was probably of short duration, but I cannot tell
the precise date of his release. He was committed to the Fleet, as
we are informed by William Worcester (_Itinerary_, p. 366), on
Saturday the 3d November. If I am right in my conjecture about
this letter, he had, perhaps, been already liberated; but some of
his late fellow-prisoners, probably members of the Inner or Middle
Temple like himself, who had formed themselves into a fancy ‘Order
of the Temple of Sion,’ amused themselves by speculating on the
probability that he was not yet quite clear of the toils of the
law, and that he would be obliged to come back and spend Christmas
in gaol, among the jolly companions whom he had recently deserted.
I may remark that the name of Thomas Babington occurs in Dugdale’s
_Origines Juridiciales_, p. 163, as having been elected a reader
in the Inner Temple in 22 Hen. VII., when he seems to have been an
old man; for, owing to his sight failing, he was excused from
reading, and John Port, who was afterwards Attorney General, and,
later still, Justice of the King’s Bench, read in his place.]
[Footnote 119.1: _i.e._ your fellow-Christians.]
[Footnote 119.2: Fenn interprets this word _free will_, which I
cannot think to be the meaning intended.]
575
[JOHN PASTON] TO MARGARET PASTON AND OTHERS[121.1]
_To my mastres Margrete Paston, and to my welbelovid Frendis, John
Daubeney and Richard Calle._
[Sidenote: 1465 / JAN. 15]
I pray yow, see to the god governaunce of my housold and guydynge of
other thynges touchyng my profite, and that ye, with Daubeney and
Richard Calle, and with other such of my frendis and servauntis as can
avise yow aftir the mater requireth, wekely take a sad comunecacion of
such thynges as be for to do, or oftenner and nede be, takyng avise of
the master, and of the viker[121.2] and Sir Jamis,[121.3] that is for to
say, as well for provision of stuffe for myn howsold as for the gaderyng
of the revenew of my livelode or greynes, or for setting awerk of my
servauntis, and for the more poletik meane of sellyng and carryng of my
malt, and for all other thynges necessari for to be do; and that whanne
I come home I have not an excuse, seying that ye spoke to my servauntis
and that Daubeney and Calle exkuse them that thei wer so besy thei myght
not attende; for I woll have my mater so guided that if on man may not
attende a nother shall be comaunded to do it; and if my servauntis faile
I had lever wage some other man, for a jorny or a season, thanne my
mater should be on sped.
As for my livelode, I left with Daubeney a bille of many of my dettis,
wherby ye alle myght have be indused whedir ye shulde have sent for
silver.
It liketh me evill to here that my prestis and pore men be onpaiid, and
that no mony sent to me more thanne x. markis be Berney of alle this
season, and yet therof telle Richard Calle he sent me viii. nobils in
goold for v. markis, and that as longe as gold was better payment thanne
silver I had nevir so moche gold of hym at onys; and telle hym that I
wolle nat that he shall kepe that use, for I trowe my tenauntis have but
litell gold to pay.
Also remembir yow in any housold, felaship or cumpany that will be of
good rewle, purvyauns must be had that every persone of it be helpyng
and furtheryng aftir his discrecion and powyr, and he that woll not do
so without he be kept of almes shuld be put out of the houshold or
felachep.
Item, where ye desire me that I shuld take your sone[122.1] to grase,
I woll for your sake do the better, and will ye knowe he shall not be so
oute of my favour that I will suffir hym to mischefe without be eftsones
his owne defaut. And hough be it that in his presumptuouse and
ondiscrete demenyng he gaf bothe me and yow cause of displeasir, and to
other of my servauntis ille exaumple, and that also guided hym to alle
mennes undirstandyng that he was wery of bidyng in myn hows, and he not
insurid of help in any other place; yet that greveth nat me so evill as
doth that I nevir coud fele nor undirstand hym poletyk ne diligent in
helpyng hym self, but as a drane amongis bees which labour for gaderyng
hony in the feldis and the drane doth nought but takyth his part of it.
And if this myght make hym to knowe the better hym self and put hym in
remembrauns what tyme he hath lost, and hough he hath leved in idelnes,
and that he coud for this eschewe to do so heraftir, it myght fortune
for his best. But I here yet nevir from no plase that he hath be in of
any poletyk demenyng or occupacion of hym. And in the kynges hows he
coud put hym self foorth to be in favour or trust with any men of
substauns that myght forther hym; neverthelesse as for your house and
myne I purpose not he shall come there, ner be my will non othir but if
[_i.e._ unless] he can do more thanne loke foorth and make a fase and
countenauns.
Item, send me word whedir my glasier hath do at Bromholm and at the
friers of the South Towne,[123.1] and whedir he be paiid such mony as I
sent home word he shuld be paiid, and if he have do all he must have
more mony, but I remembir not certeynly what, till I come home, for I
remember nat what his bargeyn was for the work at the Southtowne.
I trowe Mr. Clement can telle, and also fele hym self and send me word.
Also that ye and Richard Calle and Daubeney see that Mr. Clement and Mr.
Braklee[123.2] which hath grete nede I wote well, and my prestis and
pore men be paiid and also all othir men. And that ye see that I be not
callid on for that is my dewte. Also that ye see amongis yow that that
is owynge me be not lost ne forborn for lewdnes, for that shall bothe
hurt me and do my tenauntis harme. Lete Richard Calle remembir that my
fermour of Sweynesthorp is falle in gret dette for defaut of callyng
upon but be on [_one_] yere; And I deme that bothe John Willeys and my
new fermour of Snaylewell arn like to be in the same case, and
peraventure Aleyn of Gresham and other.
Item, remembir yow or evir I had a doo with Fastolffis livelode, whill I
toke hede to my livelode my self, it both served myn expenses at home
and at London and all other charges, and ye leid up mony in my cofirs
every yere, as ye knowe. And I wote well that the payment of my prestis
and other charges that I have for Fastolffis livelode is not so gret as
the livelode is, thow part therof be in trobill. And thanne consider
that I had nought of my livelode for myn expenses at London this twol
monyth day; ye may verely undirstand that it is not guided wittely nor
discretly; and therfore I pray yow hertly put alle your wittes to gedir
and see for the reformation of it. And ye may remembre be this how ye
shuld do if this wer yowris alone, and so do now.
And that ye woll remembir I have sent yow all many lettirs touchyng many
maters, and also a bille now last by Pecok of erandis, desiryng yow to
see hem alle to gedir and send me an answere articlerly; and such as ye
can not spede at this tyme, lete hem be sped as sone as ye may, that ye
se over my seyd lettirs oft tymes til they be sped.
Item, I remembir that myn heygh at Heylisdon the last yere was spent and
wasted fwll recklesly and colored under my shep.[124.1] I pray yow see
that I be not servid soo this yere.
Item, Pecok told me of a fermour that wold have had Mautby Mersh, paying
xij. markis as it went afore; and Richard Calle told me of on [_one_]
that wold pay more. Burgeys paiid me first xij. markis vj_s._ viij_d._,
and I had the reed and the rushis, and he found the shepherdis hyre in
shakke tyme for my fold; and sithen he brigged awey the shepherdis hyre
and thanne the nobill, and I trowe he occupyth ne lenger hym self. And I
remembir he told me vij. yere goo that my merssh shuld alwey apeyr
[_impair_] till the prime were past the nombre of xix., and thanne it
shuld amend a ix. or x. yers, promittyng me he wold thanne amend my
ferme. I praye yowe help to lete it aswell as ye can, rather to hym
thanne a nother man if he woll do aswell, and that ye comon with Pecok.
Item, as for the mater that I wrote of to the viker and other goode
felaws, desire hem that thei be not to excessive hasty in the mater for
non nede, but to do that the may do therin [goodly][124.2] and wittely
as sone as thei may; And as for the respite of the mater here, lete hem
not care therfore. I shall do well ineugh, telle hem; for certeyn, the
mater is in as good case as any such mater was this xx. wynter, as my
counsell tellyth me; but I will be sure of all weyes that I may have,
and specially of the declaracion of the trought of my mater and of my
frendis.
Item, as for the mater athwyx the parson of Mautby, Constantine[124.3]
and the viker of Derham,[124.4] whedir it were smalle mater or gret I
care not, but I am sure that too witnesse which I knowe were apposed
therin before a juge spirituall, whech as I suppose was Master Robert
Popy or some other; the viker of Derham can telle, and as I trowe can
John Wynter of Mautby, or othir parysshons telle, where the sute was
athwyx hem, and I can think it was in the chapitell; if ye can easely
gette me what the witnesse seid, I wold nomore; but do no gret cost over
it.
Item, recomaund me to Master Robert Popy, and telle hym, as for any
thyng seid ayens hym in my mater then myn adversaris ment ontrewly, they
proved nought but that he is a good man and a worshipfull and a trewe.
Item, if I have any otis beside my stuffe, or may any bye aftir
xiiij_d._, spare not, and take good mesure of bartirre for some other
chafers, and send me word hough moch ye may bye.
Item, it is told me ye make no wood, nowther at Caster nor Mautby,
wherof I merveyle; remembir yow we must brenne wood a nodir yere.
Item, I send yow a titelyng that I mad whill I was at home, what malt I
had by estimacion set at the lest; wherfore see that Brigge make a
reknyng of his malt, and cast ye my book and loke what ye can amend it;
and apeyre [_impair_] it shall not if alle folkis have do trewly; but I
suppose fewe of you have take any heed at it as moch as I ded.
Item, I may selle here for vj_s._ viij_d._ a quarter clene fyed after
Royston mesure, whech is lesse thanne the water mesure of London.
Cambrigge shire malt is here at x_s._ Cast ye what I may selle of new
and old, savyng stuffe for myn hows. Item, to remember that Guton malt
must be shipped at Blakeney. Item, Lynstedis malt at Wolcote may be
shipped there; therfore cast amongis yow what malt may best be sold.
Item, if on [_one_] man may not attende to gader silver, sende a nother,
and send me word what hath be reseyved and spent.
Item, that I have an answer of alle my lettirs and of every article in
hem.
Item, but if ye make such purvyauns that my prestis be paiid and pore
men, beside other charges, and purvey mony for me beside; owther ye
gadir shrewdly or ellis ye spend lewdly.
Item, I sent a lettir by Rauff Greneakyr to James Gresham and to yow,
which he promised me shuld be at Norwich on Wednesday aftir Thwelth day,
and therin wer divers maters; and in especiall of a mater that shuld be
in communication on Teusday last past bethwyx Yelverton and Robert
Wyngfeld, as in the seid lettir is specifiid. It is so that the seid
Robard shall be here within this ij. dayes; if any thyng ye have aspied
of it send me word. Item, yonge Knevet tellith me that he is my good
frend, and he is come ridyng homeward on Friday last was. I pray yow,
ley wetche whedir ye here any thyng that he medillyth hym at that mater,
and send me word; for I wold understand whedir he wer just and trew or
nought, and that do [_done_] it shall not ligh in his power to hurt me.
But take ye hed and inquere and knowe other mennes purpos, and kepe your
intent as close as ye can; and what some evir boost be mad, werk ye
wisely and set not by it but send me word what ye here.
Item, Calle sendyth me word that Sir Thomas Howes is seke and not like
to askape it, and Berney tellyth me the contrary; wherfore I pray yow
take hed therat, and lete me have knowleche, for though I be not behold
to hym I wold not he were ded for more thanne he is worth.
Item, take the viker the bille that I send yow herwyth.
Item, that ye, if ye can fynd the meane, to aspie what goodis Edmond
Clere eschetith of any mannes.[126.1]
Item, remember well to tak heed at your gatis on nyghtis and dayes, for
theves, for thei ride in divers contres with gret felaship like lordis,
and ride out of on [_one_] shire in to a nother. Wretyn at London, the
Tuisday next aftir Sent Hillary.
Item, that Richard Calle bryng me up mony, so that my prestis [_i.e._
borrowings] be paiid, and that he come up suerly with other men and
attornis.
_Endorsed in a later hand:_-- ‘Some speciall lettres towching John
Paston’s trowbells and sute for Fastolfs landis by the Duke of
Suffolk.’
[Footnote 121.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 15.] The contents of this
letter show it to be of the year 1465, when Daubeney and Calle, as
we know, were with Margaret Paston (_see_ No. 576). Reference is
made to the displeasure Sir John Paston had given to both his
parents in 1463 (_see_ No. 552), and what his mother writes about
his return home in May of this year (No. 579) goes to confirm the
date. Further proof will be found in the footnote at p. 126.]
[Footnote 121.2: If this be the vicar of Paston, it was William
Warner, who succeeded Robert Williamson in 1464.]
[Footnote 121.3: James Gloys, the priest.]
[Footnote 122.1: Sir John Paston.]
[Footnote 123.1: South Town, Yarmouth, where there was a house of
Austin Friars.]
[Footnote 123.2: Dr. John Brackley, the Grey Friar.]
[Footnote 124.1: Meaning, that the waste was attributed to his
sheep.]
[Footnote 124.2: This word ‘goodly’ has been lined out, and a very
illegible word inserted above it.]
[Footnote 124.3: Constantine Dalby had been rector of Mautby from
1453 to 1460, and appears also to have held the vicarage of East
Dereham from 1451 to 1458. He was succeeded at Mautby by Thomas
Howes from 1460 to 1465, and then by Robert Cutler or Cotteler,
who must be the ‘parson of Mautby’ spoken of just before.]
[Footnote 124.4: Robert Sheringham was vicar of East Dereham from
1458 to 1467.]
[Footnote 126.1: Edmund Clere, as appears by evidences in the
Record Office, was escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from November
1464 to November 1465.]
[[I may selle here for vj_s._ viij_d._ a quarter
_text has “viij_a._” (italic a for d)_]]
576