Sir John Paston to John Paston, 9th November 1468

To my ryght welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Esqer, beyng at Caster, or to John Dawbeney there, be this letter delyvered.

Ryght welbelovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng yow wete þat I have wagyd for to helpe yow and Dawbeney to kepe the place at Castr, iiij. wel assuryd and trew men to do al maner of thyng what þat they be desyryd to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the seyd place; and mor ovyr they be provyd men, and connyng in the werr, and in fetys of armys, and they kan wele schote bothe gonnys and crossebowes, and amende and strynge them, and devyse bolwerkys, or any thyngs þat scholde be a strenkthe to the place; and they wol, as nede is, kepe wecche and warde. They be sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of them, whyche is ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny, whyche is as goode a man as gothe on the erthe, savyng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, be a lytel copschotyn, but yit he is no brawler, but ful of cortesye, meche uppon James Halman; the other iij. be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys Son, savyng þat as yit they have non harneyse comyn, but when it komyth it schall be sent to yow, and in the meane whyle I pray yow and Dawbeney to purvey them some.

Also a cople of beddys they most nedys have, whyche I pray yow by the help of my modre to purvey for them, tyl þat I com home to yow. Ye schall fynde them gentylmanly, comfortable felawes, and þat they wol and dare abyde be ther takelyng; and if ye undrestond þat any assawte schold be towardys, I sende yow thes men, becawse þat men of the contre ther about yow scholde be frayed for fer of losse of ther goods; wherfor if ther wer any suche thyng towards, I wolde ye take of men of the contre but few, and þat they wer well assuryd men, for ellys they myght discorage alle the remenant.

And asfor any wryghtyng fro the Kyng, he hathe promysyd þat there schall come non; and if ther do his unwarys, yowr answer may be thys, how the Kyng hathe seyd, and so to delay them tyll I may have worde, and I schall sone purvey a remedy.

I understond þat ye have ben with my Lorde of Norfolke now of late. What ze have done I wete not; we se þat he shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr, I trow John Alforde schall not longe abyde with my Lorde; I schall sende yow tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who, &c. Wretyn on Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn.

JOHN PASTON.

I fer þat Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew howsold longe; lete hym send me worde in hast, and I wyll releve hym to my power, and or longe to I hope to be with yow.

Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be good jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.

Also, þat thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as corteysly as ye can.

Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr be the next massanger þat comyth.

Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know non suche in myn adward as yit.

Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblygacion, I never sye it þat I remembre; wherfor I wolde and prey my modre to loke it up.

Also, as for the Byble þat the master hath, I wend the uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I trowe he wyl geve it: wet, I pray yow.

Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate, I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe, folfayne be dyschargyd of them.

To my ryght welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Esqer, beyng at Caster, or to John Dawbeney there, be this letter delyvered.

Ryght welbelovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng yow wete þat I have wagyd for to helpe yow and Dawbeney to kepe the place at Castr, iiij. wel assuryd and trew men to do al maner of thyng what þat they be desyryd to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the seyd place; and mor ovyr they be provyd men, and connyng in the werr, and in fetys of armys, and they kan wele schote bothe gonnys and crossebowes, and amende and strynge them, and devyse bolwerkys, or any thyngs þat scholde be a strenkthe to the place; and they wol, as nede is, kepe wecche and warde. They be sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of them, whyche is ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny, whyche is as goode a man as gothe on the erthe, savyng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, be a lytel copschotyn, but yit he is no brawler, but ful of cortesye, meche uppon James Halman; the other iij. be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys Son, savyng þat as yit they have non harneyse comyn, but when it komyth it schall be sent to yow, and in the meane whyle I pray yow and Dawbeney to purvey them some.

Also a cople of beddys they most nedys have, whyche I pray yow by the help of my modre to purvey for them, tyl þat I com home to yow. Ye schall fynde them gentylmanly, comfortable felawes, and þat they wol and dare abyde be ther takelyng; and if ye undrestond þat any assawte schold be towardys, I sende yow thes men, becawse þat men of the contre ther about yow scholde be frayed for fer of losse of ther goods; wherfor if ther wer any suche thyng towards, I wolde ye take of men of the contre but few, and þat they wer well assuryd men, for ellys they myght discorage alle the remenant.

And asfor any wryghtyng fro the Kyng, he hathe promysyd þat there schall come non; and if ther do his unwarys, yowr answer may be thys, how the Kyng hathe seyd, and so to delay them tyll I may have worde, and I schall sone purvey a remedy.

I understond þat ye have ben with my Lorde of Norfolke now of late. What ze have done I wete not; we se þat he shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr, I trow John Alforde schall not longe abyde with my Lorde; I schall sende yow tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who, &c. Wretyn on Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn.

JOHN PASTON.

I fer þat Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew howsold longe; lete hym send me worde in hast, and I wyll releve hym to my power, and or longe to I hope to be with yow.

Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be good jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.

Also, þat thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as corteysly as ye can.

Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr be the next massanger þat comyth.

Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know non suche in myn adward as yit.

Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblygacion, I never sye it þat I remembre; wherfor I wolde and prey my modre to loke it up.

Also, as for the Byble þat the master hath, I wend the uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I trowe he wyl geve it: wet, I pray yow.

Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate, I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe, folfayne be dyschargyd of them.

To my ryght welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Esqer, beyng at Caster, or to John Dawbeney there, be this letter delyvered.

Ryght welbelovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng yow wete þat I have wagyd for to helpe yow and Dawbeney to kepe the place at Castr, iiij. wel assuryd and trew men to do al maner of thyng what þat they be desyryd to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the seyd place; and mor ovyr they be provyd men, and connyng in the werr, and in fetys of armys, and they kan wele schote bothe gonnys and crossebowes, and amende and strynge them, and devyse bolwerkys, or any thyngs þat scholde be a strenkthe to the place; and they wol, as nede is, kepe wecche and warde. They be sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of them, whyche is ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny, whyche is as goode a man as gothe on the erthe, savyng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, be a lytel copschotyn, but yit he is no brawler, but ful of cortesye, meche uppon James Halman; the other iij. be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys Son, savyng þat as yit they have non harneyse comyn, but when it komyth it schall be sent to yow, and in the meane whyle I pray yow and Dawbeney to purvey them some.

Also a cople of beddys they most nedys have, whyche I pray yow by the help of my modre to purvey for them, tyl þat I com home to yow. Ye schall fynde them gentylmanly, comfortable felawes, and þat they wol and dare abyde be ther takelyng; and if ye undrestond þat any assawte schold be towardys, I sende yow thes men, becawse þat men of the contre ther about yow scholde be frayed for fer of losse of ther goods; wherfor if ther wer any suche thyng towards, I wolde ye take of men of the contre but few, and þat they wer well assuryd men, for ellys they myght discorage alle the remenant.

And asfor any wryghtyng fro the Kyng, he hathe promysyd þat there schall come non; and if ther do his unwarys, yowr answer may be thys, how the Kyng hathe seyd, and so to delay them tyll I may have worde, and I schall sone purvey a remedy.

I understond þat ye have ben with my Lorde of Norfolke now of late. What ze have done I wete not; we se þat he shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr, I trow John Alforde schall not longe abyde with my Lorde; I schall sende yow tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who, &c. Wretyn on Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn.

JOHN PASTON.

I fer þat Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew howsold longe; lete hym send me worde in hast, and I wyll releve hym to my power, and or longe to I hope to be with yow.

Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be good jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.

Also, þat thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as corteysly as ye can.

Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr be the next massanger þat comyth.

Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know non suche in myn adward as yit.

Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblygacion, I never sye it þat I remembre; wherfor I wolde and prey my modre to loke it up.

Also, as for the Byble þat the master hath, I wend the uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I trowe he wyl geve it: wet, I pray yow.

Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate, I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe, folfayne be dyschargyd of them.

To my right welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Esqer, beyng at Caister-on-Sea, or to John Dawbeney there, be this letter delivered.

Right welbelovyd brother, I comand me to you, letyng you wait þat I have wagyd for to helpe you and Dawbeney to keep the place at Caister-on-Sea, iiij. well assuryd and true men to do al manner of thing what þat they be desired to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the said place; and more ovyr they be provyd men, and connyng in the werr, and in fetys of armys, and they kan wele schote both gonnys and crossebowes, and amende and strynge them, and devyse bolwerkys, or any thyngs þat scholde be a strenkthe to the place; and they wol, as need is, keep wecche and ward. They be sadde and well advysed men, savyng on of them, which is ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny, which is as good a man as gothe on the erthe, savyng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, be a lytel copschotyn, but yit he is no brawler, but ful of cortesye, meche uppon James Halman; the other three. be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys Son, savyng þat as yit they have no harneyse comyn, but when it komyth it schall be sent to you, and in the meane whyle I pray you and Dawbeney to [obtain/purchase] them some.

Also a cople of beddys they most nedys have, which I pray you by the help of my modre to [obtain/purchase] for them, tyl þat I come home to you. You schall fynde them gentylmanly, comfortable felawes, and þat they wol and dare abyde be there takelyng; and if you undrestond þat any assawte schold be towardys, I send you thes men, becawse þat men of the contre there about you scholde be frayed for far of losse of there goods; wherfor if there wer any suche thing towards, I would you take of men of the contre but few, and þat they wer well assuryd men, for ellys they might discorage all the remenant.

And asfor any wryghtyng from the King, he hathe promysyd þat there schall come no; and if there do his unwarys, your answer may be thys, how the King hathe said, and so to delay them until I may have word, and I schall soon [obtain/purchase] a remedy.

I understond þat you have [be/been] with my Lorde of Norfolk now of late. What ze have done I wait not; we se þat he shall be her again thys day. More ovyr, I trow John Alforde schall not long abyde with my Lorde; I schall send you tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who, etc.. Written on Wednysday nexte before Saint Martyn.

JOHN PASTON.

I far þat Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew howsold long; let him send me word in haste, and I wyll releve him to my power, and or long to I hope to be with you.

Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolk, and he schall be good jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.

Also, þat thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as corteysly as you can.

Also, I pray you to send me my flowr be the next massanger þat comyth.

Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know no suche in [mine/my] adward as yit.

Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblygacion, I never sye it þat I remembre; wherfor I would and pray my modre to loke it up.

Also, as for the Byble þat the master has, I wend the uttermost pryse had not passed v. mark, and so I trowe he wyl geve it: wet, I pray you.

Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate, I would, if they kan [obtain/purchase] for them self, folfayne be dyschargyd of them.

To my right well-beloved brother, John Paston Esquire, who is at Caister, or to John Daubeney there, please deliver this letter.

Right well beloved brother, I commend myself to you, and this is to let you know that I have employed, to help you and Daubeney to assist in defending Caister, four competent and true men to take on all tasks that they are asked to do in safeguarding and reinforcing the place, moreover they are experienced men, cunning in war and feats of arms, and they can shoot guns and crossbows well; they can mend and string them; they can build defences or anything else that is needed to strengthen the place. They will, as necessary, keep watch and ward. They are prudent and well-trained men, except one of them, who is bald, and called William Penny; he is as good as any man on earth, except that, as I understand, he can be a little inclined to excessive drinking - though he is no brawler but full of courtesy, particularly towards James Halman; the other three are named as Peryn Sale, John Chapman and Robert Jackson. As yet their defensive clothing hasn't come, but when it does come it will be sent to you, and in the meantime I ask you and Daubeney to obtain some for them.

Also they must have a couple of beds, which I hope that with the help of my mother you will obtain for them, until I come home to you. You'll find them gentlemanly, easy-going fellows, and they will be firm and stand their ground; if you understand that any assault is to be made, I send you these men, because the men of the locality would be afraid for the loss of their property; therefore if there were any such move against us, I would suggest you assemble just a few of the men from the locality, and that they were all well-committed men, or else they might discourage the remainder.

As for the letter from the King, he has promised that no-one will come, and if they do it without his knowledge, you can ask what the King says and so delay them until I may speak to him, and I will obtain a remedy.

I understand that you have been with my Lord of Norfolk recently. I don't know what you have done; we expect him to be here again today. Moreover I know John Alforde will not stay with my Lord for long; I will send you news of other things very soon, with the grace of God, who etc.

Written of Wednesday next before St Martin's Day.

John Paston

I fear that Daubeney is not best provided with supplies to feed the household for very long; let him send me word quickly and I will do my best for him, and want to be with you.

Roger Ree is sheriff of Norfolk, and he will be helpful to you I know. The escheator I don't yet know about.

Also, these men from the start should be treated as courteously as possible.

Also I would like you to send me my flower brooch with the next messenger that comes.

Also, as for my Lord Fitzwater's legal document, I don't know anything about it yet.

Also, the document of the Bishop of Norwich's legal obligation, I don't recall it, so please ask my mother to look it up.

Also, as for the bible that the master has, I see the top price has not gone over five marks, so I think he will get it; can you find out please?

Also, as for Rev. William Barber and Sir William Falgate, I would, if they can look after themselves, very eagerly be discharged of them.