A Lettre to J. Paston, Armig., from his wife, shewing his imprisonment in the Fleete.
Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet þat I receyvyd yowyr lettyr þat ye sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, þat ye sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche lettyrs I thanc yow; for I schold ellys a' thowt þat it had be wers with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the last lettyr tyll thys day þat the Meyir sent to me, and sent me werd þat he had knowlege for very trowthe þat ye wer delyveryd owt of the Flet, and þat Howard was comytyd to ward for dyvers gret compleynts þat wer mad to the Kyng of hym. It was talkyd in Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on Saterday last past, þat ye wer comytyd to Flet, and in good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth sory ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye ar ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho þat love yow, þat ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye have. Ye ar myche behold to the Meyir and to Gylberd, and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe yow good wyll to ther porys.
I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me þat he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd; and in good feyth, as my brodyr and Playter kan tell yow, as be hys seying to us, he is and wole be feythfull to yow. And as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall telle yow, þat they hope he wole do well i now. The parson seyd ryth well and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde me þat he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn, and with hys wyfe, and he thynkyth þat they wole do well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so þat they be plesantly intretyd. The parson tolde me þat he wyst well þat Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn cowd do more ese in swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng my Lord of Bedford, than ony man kowd do þat leveyth at thys day. Also he tolde me þat he felt by hem þat they wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so þat ye wold owe hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make yow acordyd when he comyth to London.
Item, my brodyr and Playter wer with Calthorp to inquer of the mater þat ye wrot to me of. What answer he gave hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the Parson of Heylysdon to Gurnay to spek to hym of the same mater, and he seyth feythefully ther was no swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and thow it had be desyiryd, he wold nowthyr a' seyd nor done a yens yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lovyng and feythfull to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to hys power, and desyiryng me þat I wold not thynk hym the contrary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole; ther for he myth not be spok with.
I pray yow þat ye wole send me word whedyr ye wole þat I schall remeve frome hens, for it begynyth to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can do ther in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to yow on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.
My brodyr and Playter schold a be with yow er thys tym, but þat they wold a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brodyr Wylliam as ye bad me, and he told me, so God hym help, þat he hyryd ij. horse ij. dayis be for þat ye redyn, þat he myth a' ryde forthe with yow; and be cause þat ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he seyd þat he wend ye wold have had hym with yow.
Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow for hyr sone. Sche prayith yow, at the reverens of God, þat ye wole be hys good mastyr, and to help hym in hys ryth, þat he may have hom hys lyvelod owt of ther handys þat have had it in hys nownage. Sche seyth þat they wold mak hym a yer yonger than he is, but sche seyth þat he is more thane xxj., and upon þat sche dare take an othe.
And the Blyssyd Trynyté have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary of all yowyr enmyis.
Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.
By yowyrs,
M. P.
A Lettre to J. Paston, Armig., from his wife, shewing his imprisonment in the Fleete.
Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet þat I receyvyd yowyr lettyr þat ye sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, þat ye sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche lettyrs I thanc yow; for I schold ellys a' thowt þat it had be wers with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the last lettyr tyll thys day þat the Meyir sent to me, and sent me werd þat he had knowlege for very trowthe þat ye wer delyveryd owt of the Flet, and þat Howard was comytyd to ward for dyvers gret compleynts þat wer mad to the Kyng of hym. It was talkyd in Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on Saterday last past, þat ye wer comytyd to Flet, and in good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth sory ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye ar ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho þat love yow, þat ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye have. Ye ar myche behold to the Meyir and to Gylberd, and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe yow good wyll to ther porys.
I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me þat he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd; and in good feyth, as my brodyr and Playter kan tell yow, as be hys seying to us, he is and wole be feythfull to yow. And as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall telle yow, þat they hope he wole do well i now. The parson seyd ryth well and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde me þat he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn, and with hys wyfe, and he thynkyth þat they wole do well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so þat they be plesantly intretyd. The parson tolde me þat he wyst well þat Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn cowd do more ese in swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng my Lord of Bedford, than ony man kowd do þat leveyth at thys day. Also he tolde me þat he felt by hem þat they wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so þat ye wold owe hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make yow acordyd when he comyth to London.
Item, my brodyr and Playter wer with Calthorp to inquer of the mater þat ye wrot to me of. What answer he gave hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the Parson of Heylysdon to Gurnay to spek to hym of the same mater, and he seyth feythefully ther was no swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and thow it had be desyiryd, he wold nowthyr a' seyd nor done a yens yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lovyng and feythfull to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to hys power, and desyiryng me þat I wold not thynk hym the contrary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole; ther for he myth not be spok with.
I pray yow þat ye wole send me word whedyr ye wole þat I schall remeve frome hens, for it begynyth to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can do ther in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to yow on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.
My brodyr and Playter schold a be with yow er thys tym, but þat they wold a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brodyr Wylliam as ye bad me, and he told me, so God hym help, þat he hyryd ij. horse ij. dayis be for þat ye redyn, þat he myth a' ryde forthe with yow; and be cause þat ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he seyd þat he wend ye wold have had hym with yow.
Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow for hyr sone. Sche prayith yow, at the reverens of God, þat ye wole be hys good mastyr, and to help hym in hys ryth, þat he may have hom hys lyvelod owt of ther handys þat have had it in hys nownage. Sche seyth þat they wold mak hym a yer yonger than he is, but sche seyth þat he is more thane xxj., and upon þat sche dare take an othe.
And the Blyssyd Trynyté have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary of all yowyr enmyis.
Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.
By yowyrs,
M. P.
A Lettre to J. Paston, Armig., from his wife, shewing his imprisonment in the Fleete.
Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet þat I receyvyd yowyr lettyr þat ye sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, þat ye sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche lettyrs I thanc yow; for I schold ellys a' thowt þat it had be wers with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the last lettyr tyll thys day þat the Meyir sent to me, and sent me werd þat he had knowlege for very trowthe þat ye wer delyveryd owt of the Flet, and þat Howard was comytyd to ward for dyvers gret compleynts þat wer mad to the Kyng of hym. It was talkyd in Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on Saterday last past, þat ye wer comytyd to Flet, and in good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth sory ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye ar ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho þat love yow, þat ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye have. Ye ar myche behold to the Meyir and to Gylberd, and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe yow good wyll to ther porys.
I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me þat he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd; and in good feyth, as my brodyr and Playter kan tell yow, as be hys seying to us, he is and wole be feythfull to yow. And as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall telle yow, þat they hope he wole do well i now. The parson seyd ryth well and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde me þat he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn, and with hys wyfe, and he thynkyth þat they wole do well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so þat they be plesantly intretyd. The parson tolde me þat he wyst well þat Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn cowd do more ese in swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng my Lord of Bedford, than ony man kowd do þat leveyth at thys day. Also he tolde me þat he felt by hem þat they wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so þat ye wold owe hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make yow acordyd when he comyth to London.
Item, my brodyr and Playter wer with Calthorp to inquer of the mater þat ye wrot to me of. What answer he gave hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the Parson of Heylysdon to Gurnay to spek to hym of the same mater, and he seyth feythefully ther was no swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and thow it had be desyiryd, he wold nowthyr a' seyd nor done a yens yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lovyng and feythfull to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to hys power, and desyiryng me þat I wold not thynk hym the contrary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole; ther for he myth not be spok with.
I pray yow þat ye wole send me word whedyr ye wole þat I schall remeve frome hens, for it begynyth to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can do ther in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to yow on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.
My brodyr and Playter schold a be with yow er thys tym, but þat they wold a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brodyr Wylliam as ye bad me, and he told me, so God hym help, þat he hyryd ij. horse ij. dayis be for þat ye redyn, þat he myth a' ryde forthe with yow; and be cause þat ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he seyd þat he wend ye wold have had hym with yow.
Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow for hyr sone. Sche prayith yow, at the reverens of God, þat ye wole be hys good mastyr, and to help hym in hys ryth, þat he may have hom hys lyvelod owt of ther handys þat have had it in hys nownage. Sche seyth þat they wold mak hym a yer yonger than he is, but sche seyth þat he is more thane xxj., and upon þat sche dare take an othe.
And the Blyssyd Trynyté have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary of all yowyr enmyis.
Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.
By yowyrs,
M. P.
A Letter to J. Paston, Armig., from his wife, shewing his imprisonment in the Fleete.
Right worchepfull husband, I recomand me to you. Plesyt you to wet þat I receyvyd yowyr lettyr þat you sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, þat you sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the which lettyrs I thanc you; for I schold ellys a' thowt þat it had be wers with you than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the last lettyr until thys day þat the Meyir sent to me, and sent me werd þat he had knowlege for very trowthe þat you wer delivered out of the Flet, and þat Howard was comytyd to ward for dyvers great ccmplaints þat wer mad to the King of him. It was talkyd in Norwich and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on Saturday last past, þat you wer comytyd to Flet, and in good faith, as I herd sey, the pepyle was right sorry there of, both of Norwich and in the contre. You ar right myche bownde to thank God, and all tho þat love you, þat you have so great love of the pepyll as you have. You ar myche behold to the Meyir and to Gylberd, and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe you good wyll to there porys.
I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys as you wrot to me for, and he promysyd me þat he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd; and in good faith, as my brother and Playter kan tell you, as be his seying to us, he is and wole be feythfull to you. And as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson and by othyr, as my brother and Playter schall telle you, þat they hope he wole do well i now. The parson said right well and plainly to him. The parson tolde me þat he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chamberlain, and with his wyfe, and he thynkyth þat they wole do well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so þat they be plesantly intretyd. The parson tolde me þat he wyst well þat Syr Wylliam Chamberlain cowd do more ease in swyche matyers as you wrot of, towchyng my Lord of Bedford, than [any/only] man kowd do þat leveyth at thys day. Also he tolde me þat he felt by hem þat they would owe you right good wyll, so þat you would owe hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make you acordyd when he comyth to London.
Item, my brother and Playter wer with Calthorpe to inquer of the matter þat you wrot to me of. What answer he gave hem, they schall tell you. I sent the Parson of Hellesdon to Gurnay to spek to him of the same matter, and he said feythefully there was no swyche thing desired of him, and thow it had be desired, he would nowthyr a' said nor done a yens you. He said he had ever fownde you lovyng and feythfull to him, and so he said he would be to you to his power, and desiring me þat I would not thynk him the contrary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole; there for he myth not be spok with.
I pray you þat you wole send me word whedyr you wole þat I schall remeve frome hence, for it begynyth to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can do there in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to you on the Monday next aftyr Saint Leonardys Day.
My brother and Playter schold a be with you er thys time, but þat they would a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brother Wylliam as you bade me, and he told me, so God him help, þat he hyryd two. horse two. dayis be for þat you ridden, þat he myth a' ryde forth with you; and be cause þat you spoke not to him to ryde with you, he said þat he wend you would have had him with you.
Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr you wer ridden, to have spoke with you for hyr soon. Sche prayith you, at the reverens of God, þat you wole be his good mastyr, and to help him in his right, þat he may have hom his lyvelod out of there handys þat have had it in his minority. Sche said þat they would mak him a yer yonger than he is, but sche said þat he is more thane xxj., and upon þat sche dare take an othe.
And the Blessed Trynyté have you in His keeping, and send you good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary of all yowyr enmyis.
Written in haste, on Sowlemas Day.
By yowyrs,
M. P.
A letter to John Paston from his wife Margaret, showing that he is imprisoned in the Fleet prison.
Dearest husband, my best wishes to you. You'll want to know that I received the letter you sent to me by John Holme last Wednesday, and I also received another letter on Friday evening, sent with Nicholas Newman's man. My thanks for the letters; without them I would have thought things were even worse than they are, by the grace of God, but I couldn't be happy until I had the last letter today that the mayor sent to me, saying that he was certain you had been released from the Fleet and that Howard had been imprisoned for many complaints that were made to the King about him. The gossip in Norwich and many other places around the county from Saturday was that you had been put in the Fleet; truly I have heard that people, both in Norwich and elsewhere, were saying that they were very sorry that this had happened. You can be grateful to God, as can all those who love you, that you have the love of the people. You are indebted to the mayor and to Gilbert and to several other aldermen, for they all owe you goodwill.
I have spoken to the Rev Thomas Howes about the things you mentioned, and he promised he would do his best for you as quickly as he could; in good faith, as my brother and Playter can tell by what he said to us, he is and will continue to be faithful to you. As for William Worcester, he has been spoken to so sharply by the parson and others, as my brother and Playter will confirm, that they hope he will do the right thing; the parson was very forceful with him. The parson told me he has spoken with Sir William Chamberlain, and with his wife, and he thinks they will speak in your interest, as they were politely asked to. The parson also told me that he hoped that Sir William Chamberlain could help more in the matter you wrote about Lord Bedford than anyone could who is alive today. He also told me he thought they would show you goodwill, so that you showed goodwill to them. The parson hopes to keep you informed what he comes to London.
My brother and Playter were with Calthorpe to find out about the matter you mentioned; they'll tell you what he said. I sent the parson of Hellesdon to Gurney to talk to him about the same matter, and he said as definitely that there was no such thing asked of him, and even if there had been, he would not have said or done anything against you. He said you had always been loving and faithful towards him and he said he'd be the same to you as far as was in his power. He ask me that I would not think otherwise.
As for John Gros, he is at Sloley; so he can't be spoken to.
Let me know when you wish me to move from here, for it's getting very cold staying here. The Rev Thomas Howes and John Russ will bring to completion all that you wish to be done, as much as they can this week, and he intends to come to you on the Monday after St Leonard's Day.
My brother and Playter should have been with you by now, but they waited until now because of the county court. I spoke to my brother William as you asked me and he told me, God help him, that he hired two horses two days before you rode off, so that he could ride with you. Because you did not speak to him about riding with you, he said that he supposed you did not want him with you.
Thomas Fastolf's mother was here the day after you left, wanting to speak to you about her son; she wants you in God's grace to be responsible for him and to help him with his rights, so that he may have his livelihood out of the hands of those who have had it in his minority. She says they are trying to make out he is a year younger than he is, but she says he is now over 21, and she'll swear to that.
The blessed Trinity look after you and send you good speed in all that you do, and send you victory over all your enemies. Written in haste on Soulmass Day.
By your M P
