John Paston to Margart Paston

Add. 27446, f. 9

3 February 1478

Gairdner, Vol V, item 926; Fenn, Vol V, Edward IV item 49

LETTER XLIX.

To my ryght worchepfull
Modyr Margaret Paston.

RYGHT worchepfull modyr aftyr all dwtes of humble re-
comendacyon in as humble wyse as I can I beseche yow of
yo^r dayly blyssy˜g pleasyt yow to wett that at my bei˜g now
at London lyck as ye gaue me in Comandeme˜t I mevyd to
Mastyr Pykenh’m and to Jamys Hubard for ther bei˜g at
Norwyche now thys lent that ye myght haue ther avyses
in syche maters as ye let me haue understandy˜g of And as
for Mastyr Pykenh’m he is now Juge of the Archys And
also he hathe an other offyce whyche is callyd Auditor
Causar’ and hys besyness is so gret in bothe the offyces that
he can not tell the season when that he shall haue leyser to
Come in to Norff’ but I left not tyll I had gotyn Jamys
Hubbart and hym togedyrs And then I told theym yo^r Intent
And then Mastyr Pykenh’m told Jamys and me hys Jntent
and he preyed Jamys that he shold in no wyse fayle to be
w^t yow thys lent not w^tstandy˜g it was no gret ned to prey
hym myche for he told Doctore Pykenh’m that there was
no gentyl woman in Inglond of so lytyll aqueyntance as he
had w^t yow that he wold be glader to be servyse on to and
myche the glader for he p’posyth fro hens forthe dury˜g
hys lyff to be a norfolk man and to lye w^tin ij myle of
Loddon whyche is but viij or x myle at the most fro Mautby
And in Conclusyon he hathe appoyntyd to awayte on
yow at Norwyche the weeke nexte afty^r mydlent Sonday all
the hole weke if nede be all other maters leyd apart Also
J comend w^t my brodyr S^r John at london of syche maters
as ye wold haue amendyd in the bylle that he sent on to
yow And he stake not gretly at it Also modyr I herd whyle
I was in london wher was a goodly yong woman to mary
whyche was doughter to one Seff a merser and she shall
haue CC li in money to hyr Maryage and XX mark by yer
of lond aftyr the dyssease of a steppe modyr of hyrs whyche
is upon L yer of age And er I departyd ought of london I
I spak w^t some of the maydys frendys and haue gotyn ther
good wyllys to haue hyr maryd to my brodyr Edmu˜d not-
w^tstandy’g those frendys of the maydys that I Comend w^t
avysyd me to get the good wyll of on Sturmyn whyche is in
Mastyr Pykenh’ms danger so myche that he is glad to please
hym And so I mevyd thys mater to Mastyr Pykenh’m And
incontinu’ he sent for Sturmyn and desyred hys good wyll
for my brody^r Edmu˜d And he grantyd hym hys good wylle
so that he koud get the good wyll of the remen’nt that wer
executours to Seff as well as the seyd Sturmyn was and
thus fer forthe is the mater Wherfor modyr we must be-
seche yow to helpe us forward w^t a lettyr fro yow to Mastyr
Pykenh’m to reme˜byr hym for to handyll well and dyly-
gently thys mater now thys lent And for I am aqueyntyd
w^t yo^r Condycyons of old that ye reke not who endytyth
more lettres than ye ther for I haue drawyn a note to yowr
secretarys hand Freir Perse whych lettre we must prey yow
to send us by the berer herof and I trust it shall not be
longe fro Mastyr Pykenh’m your doughter of Sweynsthorpp
and hyr soiorn’nt E Paston recomandyth hem to yow in ther
most humble wyse lowly besechy˜g yow of yo^r blyssy˜g and
as for my brodyr Edmu˜d Sweynsthorp for non Jntrete that
hys ostas yo^r doughter nor I koud jntrete hym myght not
kepe hym but that he wold haue ben at home w^t you at
Mautby on Sonday last past at nyght and as he was departy˜g
fro hens had we word fro Frenshes wyf that god yeld yow
modyr ye had govyn hym leve to dysperte hym her w^t us
for a vij or viij dayes And so the drevyll lost hys thank of
us and yet abod never the lesse yow^r doughter sendyth yow
part of syche poore stuff as I sent hyr fro london besechy˜g
yow to take it in gree though it be lytyll plente that she
sendyth yow but as for datys I wyll sey trowthe ye haue
not so many by ij pownd as wer ment on to yow for she
thynkys at thys season datys ryght good mete what so
euer it menyth I prey god send us good tydy˜gs whom I
beseche to p’serve yow and yours and so send yow your
myst desyred Joye at Sweynsthorp on Ashe Wednesday.

Yo^r sone and humble serv˜unt,

J. PASTON.

Modyr plesit yow to remember that ye had need to be
at Norwyche v or vj dayes befor that Jamys Hubbart and
yo^r Consayll shall be ther w^t yow for to look up yo^r Evy-
dence and all other thyngs redy Also if ye thynk that thys
bylle that I send yow her w^t be good j now to send to
Doctore Pykenh’m ye may close up the same and send
itt sealyd to me ayen and I shal Convey it forthe to hym.

           Paper Mark,
       French Arms, and
              Letter t.
         Pl. xii. No. 21.

The business for the examination of Dr. Pykenham and James Hobart was
the inspection of Margaret Paston’s title deeds, &c., relative to the matters in
dispute between her and the Duke of Suffolk, &c.

Dr. Pykenham had been Chancellor of Norwich.

James Hobart was afterwards knighted, and made Attorney General to
Henry VII.; he resided at Haleshall, by Loddon, where his wife was buried
in the church of her husband’s building.

The treaty of marriage which J. Paston was so anxious about, and after
which he had taken such pains in favour of his brother, appears to have been
worthy his attention; for if we estimate the lady’s fortune as then able to
produce about ten times the comforts and conveniences that the same would
at this day, we may say that she had ?2000 on her marriage, and the reversion,
on the death of her mother-in-law, of a landed estate of upwards ?130 a year.
The desire of J. Paston and his wife to detain their brother Edmund, and

his determination to return to his mother, are pleasing traits in their several
characters.

I dare say Margaret Paston easily excused the deficiency in the Dates sent
to her, as they had been applied to so good a purpose as to satisfy her daugh-
ter-in-law’s inclination for them in her situation; a situation in which they
used to be esteemed proper, as tending to strengthen the child in the womb.

Dates are the fruit of the Palm Tree, are gathered in Autumn before they
are ripe, and resemble our bullace, being then green, very sharp and astringent;
when ripe they become ruddy; they are brought hither from Egypt, Syria,
Africa, and the Indies.

The manor of Swainsthorpe at this time belonged to the Pastons.

Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 12. Seal, Fleur-de-lys and Annulet, Pl. xiv. No. 22.

LETTER XLIX.

To my Right Worshipful Mother Margaret Paston.

RIGHT Worshipful Mother, after all duties of humble re-
commendation, in as humble a wise as I can, I beseech you
of your daily blessing; please it you to weet that at my
being now at London, like as ye gave me in commandment,
I moved to Master Pykenham and to James Hobart for
their being at Norwich this Lent, that ye might have their
advices in such matters as ye let me have understanding of.
And as for Master Pykenham he is now Judge of the
Arches, and also he hath another office which is called
Auditor Causarum, and his business is so great in both these
offices, that he cannot tell the season when that he shall have
leisure to come into Norfolk; but I left not till I had gotten
James Hobart and him together, and then I told them your
intent; and then Master Pykenham told James and me his
intent; and he prayed James that he should in no wise fail
to be with you this Lent; notwithstanding it was no great
need to pray him much, for he told Doctor Pykenham that
there was no gentlewoman in England, of so little acquaint-
ance as he had with you, that he would be gladder to do
service unto, and much the gladder, for he proposeth from
henceforth during his life to be a Norfolk man, and to lie
within two miles of Loddon, which is but eight or ten miles
at the most from Maultby; and in conclusion he hath ap-
pointed to await on you at Norwich the week next after
Midlent Sunday, all the whole week, if need be, all other
matters laid apart.

Also I communed with my brother Sir John at London
of such matters as ye would have amended in the bill that
he sent unto you, and he stuck not greatly at it.

Also, Mother, I heard while I was in London, where was
a goodly young woman to marry, which was daughter to
one Seff, a mercer, and she shall have 200l. in money to
her marriage, and 20 marks (13l. 6s. 8d.) by year of land
after the decease of a step-mother of hers, which is upon
fifty years of age; and ere I departed out of London, I
spake with some of the maid’s friends, and have gotten their
good wills to have her married to my brother Edmund, not-
withstanding, those friends of the maid’s, that I communed
with, advised me to get the good will of one Sturmyn,
which is in Master Pykenham’s danger [debt] so much that
he is glad to please him; and so I moved this matter to
Master Pykenham, and incontinent [immediately] he sent for
Sturmyn, and desired his good will for my brother Edmund,
and he granted him his good will, so that he could get the
good will of the remanent that were executors to Seff, as
well as the said Sturmyn was; and thus far forth is the
matter; wherefore Mother we must beseech you to help us
forward with a letter from you to Master Pykenham to
remember him for to handle well and diligently this matter
now this Lent; and, for I am acquainted with your con-
ditions of old, that ye reek [care] not, who enditeth more
letters than ye, therefore I have drawn a note to your Se-
cretary’s hand, Fryer Perse, which letter we must pray you
to send us, by the bearer hereof, and I trust it shall not be
long from Master Pykenham.

Your daughter of Swainsthorp, and her sojournant,
Edmund Paston, recommendeth them to you in their most
humble wise, lowly beseeching you of your blessing; and
as for my brother Edmund Swainsthorp, for none intreat
that his hostess your daughter nor I could intreat him,
might not keep him, but that he would have been at home
with you at Maultby on Sunday last past at night; and as
he was departing from hence, had we word from French’s
wife, that, God yeld [thank] you, Mother, ye had given him
leave to disport him here with us for a seven or eight days;
and so the drevyll [simpleton] lost his thank of us, and yet
abode nevertheless. Your daughter sendeth you part of
such poor stuff as I sent her from London, beseeching you
to take it in gree [favour], though it be little plenty that
she sendeth you; but as for Dates, I will say truth, ye have
not so many by two pounds, as were meant unto you, for
she thinks at this season Dates right good meat, whatsoever
it meaneth, I pray God send us good tidings, whom I be-
seech to preserve you and yours, and to send you your
most desired joy.

At Swainsthorp on Ash Wednesday.

Your Son and humble servant,

JOHN PASTON.

             Swainsthorp,
      Ash Wednesday, 4th Feb.
             1477-8. 17 E. IV.

Mother, please it you to remember that ye had need to
be at Norwich five or six days before that James Hobart
and your Counsel shall be there with you, for to look up
your evidence and all other things ready; also if ye think
that this bill that I send you herewith be good enough to
send to Doctor Pykenham, ye may close up the same, and
send it sealed to me again, and I shall convey it forth to
him.

The business for the examination of Dr. Pykenham and James Hobart was
the inspection of Margaret Paston’s title deeds, &c., relative to the matters in
dispute between her and the Duke of Suffolk, &c.

Dr. Pykenham had been Chancellor of Norwich.

James Hobart was afterwards knighted, and made Attorney General to
Henry VII.; he resided at Haleshall, by Loddon, where his wife was buried
in the church of her husband’s building.

The treaty of marriage which J. Paston was so anxious about, and after
which he had taken such pains in favour of his brother, appears to have been
worthy his attention; for if we estimate the lady’s fortune as then able to
produce about ten times the comforts and conveniences that the same would
at this day, we may say that she had ?2000 on her marriage, and the reversion,
on the death of her mother-in-law, of a landed estate of upwards ?130 a year.
The desire of J. Paston and his wife to detain their brother Edmund, and

his determination to return to his mother, are pleasing traits in their several
characters.

I dare say Margaret Paston easily excused the deficiency in the Dates sent
to her, as they had been applied to so good a purpose as to satisfy her daugh-
ter-in-law’s inclination for them in her situation; a situation in which they
used to be esteemed proper, as tending to strengthen the child in the womb.

Dates are the fruit of the Palm Tree, are gathered in Autumn before they
are ripe, and resemble our bullace, being then green, very sharp and astringent;
when ripe they become ruddy; they are brought hither from Egypt, Syria,
Africa, and the Indies.

The manor of Swainsthorpe at this time belonged to the Pastons.

Autograph, Pl. iv. No. 12. Seal, Fleur-de-lys and Annulet, Pl. xiv. No. 22.

926

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON¹

To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston.

       RYGHT worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of humble
           recomendacyon, in as humble wyse as I can, I beseche
            yow of your dayly blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wett
that at my being now at London, lyek as ye gave me in
comandment, I mevyd to Mastyr Pykenham and to Jamys
Hubart for ther being at Norwyche now thys Lent, that ye
myght have ther avyses in syche maters as ye let me have
understandyng of. And as for Mastyr Pykenham, he is now
Juge of the Archys, and also he hathe an other offyce, whyche
is callyd Auditor Causarum, and hys besyness is so gret in
bothe thes offyces that he can not tell the season when that he
shall have leyser to come in to Norffolk. But I left not tyll
I had gotyn Jamys Hubbart and hym togedyrs, and then I
told theym your intent; and then Mastyr Pykenham told
Jamys and me hys intent, and he preyed Jamys that he shold
in no wyse fayle to be with yow thys Lent. Not withstandyng
it was no grete nede to prey hym myche; for he told Doctore
Pykenham that there was no gentyl woman in Inglond of so
lytyll aqueyntance as he had with yow, that he wold be glader
to be servyse on to; and myche the glader, for he purposeth
fro hensforthe duryng hys lyff to be a Norffolk man, and to
lye with in ii. myle of Loddon, whyche is but viij. or x.
myle at the most fro Mautby. And in conclusyon he hathe
appoyntyd to awayte on yow at Norwyche the weeke nexte
aftyr Mydlent Sonday, all the hole weke, if nede be, all other
maters leyd apart.

Also I comend with my brodyr Sir John at London of
syche maters as ye wold have amendyd in the bylle that he
sent on to yow, and he stake not gretly at it.

Also, modyr, I herd whyle I was in London wher was
a goodly yong woman to mary, whyche was doughter to one
Seff, a merser, and she shall have CCli. in money to hyr
maryage, and xx. mark by yer of lond aftyr the dyssease of
a steppe modyr of hyrs, whyche is upon l. yer of age; and or
I departyd ought of London, I spak with some of the maydys
frendys, and have gotyn ther good wyllys to have hyr maryd
to my brodyr Edmund. Notwithstandyng, those frendys
of the maydys that I comond with avysyd me to get the
good wyll of one Sturmyn, whyche is in Mastyr Pykenhamys
danger¹ so myche that he is glad to please hym; and so I
mevyd thys mater to Mastyr Pykenham. And incontinent
he sent for Sturmyn, and desyred hys good wyll for my
brodyr Edmund, and he grantyd hym hys good wylle, so
that he koud get the good wyll of the remenaunt that wer
executours to Seff, as well as the seyd Sturmyn was; and thus-
ferforthe is the mater. Wherfor, modyr, we must beseche yow
to helpe us forward with a lettyr fro yow to Mastyr Pykenham
to remembyr hym for to handyll well and dylygently thys
mater now thys Lent; and for I am aqueyntyd with your
condycyons of old that ye reke not who endytyth more lettres
than ye, ther for I have drawyn a note to yowr secretarys
hand, Freir Perse, whyche lettre we must prey yow to send us
by the berer herof, and I trust it shall not be longe fro Mastyr
Pykenham.

Your doughter of Sweynsthorpp and hyr sojornaunt E.
Paston recomandyth hem to yow in ther most humble wyse,
lowly besechyng yow of your blyssyng; and as for my brodyr,
Edmund Sweynsthorpe, for none intrete that hys ostas your
doughtyr, nor I koud intrete hym, myght not kepe hym, but
that he wold have bene at home with you at Mautby on Son-
day last past at nyght; and as he was departyng fro hens, had
we word fro Frenshes wyf that, God yeld yow, modyr, ye
had govyn hym leve to dysporte hym her with us for a vij. or
viij. dayes; and so the drevyll lost hys thank of us, and yet
abode nevyr the lesse.

Your doughtyr sendyth yow part of syche poore stuff as I
sent hyr fro London, besechyng yow to take it in gree, though
it be lytyll plente that she sendyth yow. But as for datys, I
wyll sey trowthe, ye have not so many by ij. pownd as wer
ment on to yow, for she thynkys at thys season datys ryght
good mete. What so ever it menyth, I prey God send us
good tydynges, Whom I beseche to preserve yow and yours,
and so send yow your myst desyred joye.

At Sweynsthorp, on Ashe Wednysday.

Your sone and humble servaunt,

J. PASTON.

Modyr, pleasit yow to remember that ye had need to be
at Norwyche v. or vj. dayes befor that Jamys Hubbart and
your consayll shall be ther with yow, for to look up your
evydence and all other thynges redy. Also if ye thynk that
thys bylle that I send yow herwith be good i now to send to
Doctore Pykenham, ye may close up the same, and send it
sealyd to me ayen, and I shall convey it forthe to hym.

¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter appears from the contents to have been
written after John Paston’s marriage, at a time when his wife was staying at Swains-
thorpe. He also apologises to his mother for his wife having detained two pounds
out of a certain quantity of dates that he himself had sent to her from London by
way of Swainsthorpe, as Margery thought them ‘at this season right good meat,’
apparently referring to her approaching confinement.

¹ i.e. in his debt.

1478
FEB. 3