[Footnote 223.1: [From Fenn, iv. 36.] According to Fenn,
Margaret Paston’s uncle, John Berney, second son of John Berney,
Esq. of Reedham, died in July 1461, and he accordingly places
this letter in that year. It is evident, however, that John
Berney was dead at the date of Nos. 431 and 462, the former
written in January 1461, the latter certainly not so late as the
28th July in the same year, for Thomas Denys was murdered at the
very beginning of the month. Indeed, it is clear that in No. 462
Margaret Paston wishes to arrange about the approaching
anniversary of her uncle’s death. John Berney must therefore
have died in July 1460, although from the troubled character of
the times his will (which is preserved in the Principal Registry
at Somerset House), made on the 2nd June 1460 (Monday after the
Feast of St. Petronilla the Virgin), was not proved till the 1st
December 1461.]
[Footnote 223.2: When Berney’s will was proved at Lambeth, 1st
December 1461, administration was granted provisionally to
Thomas Hooler, who was to send in accounts before the morrow of
the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 26) following. Power was,
however, reserved of committing administration to John Paston.
But John Paston did not appear on the day, and left the
undivided administration to Hooler.]
[[written in January 1461 _text has “1561”_]]
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