The following document is derived from a transcript made by Sandford
in the Genealogy mentioned in No. 641, and some previous papers, and
is likewise reprinted from Mr. Worship’s article. Prefixed to it in
Sandford’s MS. are these words:-- ‘The Briefe followinge was
delivered to Edward Paston, Esq., amonge other evidence, by his
uncle Clement Paston, and it is written in an old hand.’ It would
appear, however, from the wording, not to be a ‘brief’ or abstract,
as Sandford considered it, but an extract from some certificate made
in the King’s name in behalf of Sir John Paston, setting forth what
had been proved on examination as to the gentility of his ancestry.
They shewed divers great evidences and court rolles, how that they and
their ancetors had been possessed of a court and seniory in the town of
Paston, and of many and sundry bondmen, sithen the time that no mind is
to the contrary; and how that Agnes Paston, wife to the said William
Paston, father to the said John, William, and Clement, in title of her
dower, is in possession of bondholders, and also of bondmen, whose
ancetors have been bondmen to the ancetors of the said John Paston
sithen the time that no minde is to the contrary. And they shewed divers
fines, some leavyed in the time of the begining of the reigne of our
noble progenitor, Edward the First, son of Kinge Henry, son of King
John, of liveloude whereof they and theire ancetors have been possessed
ever since to this day.
Also they shewed divers inquests which is matters of record. Also they
shewed divers deeds and grants before time of mind, how that their
ancetors had licence to have a chaplen and have divine service within
them. And that divers of their ancetors had given lyvelyhood to houses
of religion to be prayed for, and confirmacions under the Great Seale of
our noble ancestor Kinge Henry the Third, son of Kinge John, confirming
the same grants.
Also they shewed divers old deeds, some without date, insealed under
autenticke seales, of divers particular purchases in the town of Paston,
reciting in the said deeds that the land was holden of the ancetors of
the said . . . . . Paston, as of the chiefe lord of the fee, and by
homage, and had ward, marriage and reliefe. Also they shewed how their
ancestors were infeoffed in divers men’s mannors and lands in trust.
Also they shewed a great multitude of old deeds, without date and with
date, wherein their ancetors were alwaies sett first in witness, and
before all other gentlemen. Also they shewed how their ancetors had, in
old time and of late time, married with worshipfull gentlemen; and
proved, by deeds of marriage and by other deeds, how their ancetors had
indowed their wives, and by discents of livelyhood, and by testaments
and wills of their ancestors under seale; and made open by evident
proofe, how they and their ancetors came lineally descended of right
noble and worshipfull blood, and of great lords, sometime liveing in
this our realme of Ingland. And also they made open proofe how they were
nere of kin and blood to many of the worshipfullest of the country, and
also nere to many and sundry great estates and lords of this realme, and
was openly proved and affirmed, without contradiction or proofe to the
contrary.
They shewed how they had kept pl’ce with divers . . . . and with Plays
that had wedded the Earle Warren’s daughter, the third yeare of Edward
the First. They shewed a lineall discent, how their first ancetor,
Wulstan, came out of France, and Sir William Glanvile together, his
kinsman, that after founded the pryory of Bromholme by the towne of
Paston and the towne of Bentley; and how Wulstan had issue Wulstan,
which bare armes gould flowret azure; and how he had issue, Raffe and
Robert; which Raffe, senior, bare armes as his father, and Robert the
younger bare silver flowret azure. And Robert had issue Edmund and
Walter; which Edmund the elder bare as his father; and his brother,
because he married Glanvile’s daughter, a cheife indented gold, the
field silver, flowret azure; and how their ancetors after bare with
lesse number; and how Sir John Paston was heire to all those, for they
died sans issue. And this was shewed by writinge of olde hand, and by
old testaments and evidences.
644