_To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle._
[Sidenote: 1461 / AUG. 1]
First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken
of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and
contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not
suffrid to occupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the
distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no
replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the
lond may be undirstand.
ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich
on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof
I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll
not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this
tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be
on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall
be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my
good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves
assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that
occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what
flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last
eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and
riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate
of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any
fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore
ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the
peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they
departe.
iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had
divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told
me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny
roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.
iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that
Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei
myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other
occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come
home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I
woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with
owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng, and the
peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to
shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to
the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the
seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe
[_satisfaction_] to the pore peple.
v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as
wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any
remedy.
vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be
remembyrd.
vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles
Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but
assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals.
Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay,
or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton
were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first
founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had
it.[298.1]
viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.
ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the
canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle
knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne
mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle,
and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth
theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,[298.2] Thome
Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,[298.3] Johanni
Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the
next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may
not be don er that tyme. I wold have the seyd dedis leyd in a box, both
old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that
whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [_seisin_] and stat
to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.
[Footnote 296.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed
from a draft which is partly in John Paston’s own hand. The
contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461,
which it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the
electors at the shire-house; and secondly, the necessity of
electing a new coroner after the murder of Thomas Denys. The
date is therefore certain.]
[Footnote 298.1: Between this and the next paragraph is the
following sentence crossed out:-- ‘Item, I send yow a writ
direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Norwich for to receyve of hem
an C. [_hundred_] mark yerly for suche jowellys as the Kyng hath
of me.’]
[Footnote 298.2: This name is substituted for three others
crossed out, viz. ‘John Grenefeld, Thomas Playter, Water
Wrottisle, Squyer.’]
[Footnote 298.3: Here occurs the name, ‘Christofere Grenacre,’
crossed out.]
476