[_Circa_ 1468.] Long declaration in English (on a paper roll) by Thomas
Howes, ‘for the discharge of his conscience,’ impugning the authenticity
of the will nuncupative, said to have been made by Sir J. Fastolf on the
day of his death, and propounded by John Paston and the said Thomas in
opposition to an earlier will propounded by Sir W. Yelverton and
W. Worcetyr; containing details intended to prove that the alleged will
was fabricated by Paston. Amongst other things, Howes says that at
Paston’s desire he did, a year before Fastolf’s death, move Fastolf that
Paston might buy three of his manors and live in his college, ‘and the
seyd Fastolf, mevyd and passyoned gretely in his soule, seyd and swar by
Cryst ys sides, “And I knewe that Paston woolde by ony of my londes or
my godes he shulde nevyr be my feffe, nother myn executor.” Albeyt he
seyde that he wolde suffer that the said Paston for terme of hys lyf
shall have a loggyng yn a convenyent place yn the seyd maner of Castre
withoute denyance of ony havyng intrest yn the seyd maner.
[Footnote 303.1: [From a MS. in Magdalen College, Oxford.] This
Abstract is derived from Mr. Macray’s Report on the Muniments of
Magdalen College, printed in the Fourth Report of the Historical
MSS. Commission.]
690