To my ryght worchepfull brodyr, Sir John Paston, Knyght.
Ryght worchepfull sir, I recomand me to yow, letyng yow wet that your desyer as for the Knyghts of the Shyer was an impossoybyl to be browght abowght; ffor my Lord of Norffolk and my Lord of Suffolk wer agreid i mor then a fortnyght go to have Sir Robert Wyngfeld, and Sir Rychard Harcort, and that knew I not tyll it was Fryday last past. I had sent or I rod to Framlynham, to warne as many of your frends to be at Norwyche as thys Monday, to serve your entent as I koud; but when I cam to Framlynham, and knew the apoyntment that was taken for the ij. knyghts, I sent warnyng ayen to as many I myght to tery at hom; and yet ther cam to Norwyche thys day as many as ther costs dreave to ix_s._ i_d._ ob., payid and reknyd by Pekok and R. Capron, and yet they dyd but brak ther fest and depertyd. And I thankyd hem in your name, and told them that ye wold have noo voyse as thys day, for ye supposyd not to be in Inglond when the Perlement shold be, and so they cam not at the sherhous; for if they had, it was thought by syche as be your frends here, that your adversarys wold have reportyd that ye had mad labor to have ben one, and that ye koud not bryng your purpose abowght.
I sent to Yermowthe, and they have promysyd also to Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to be mor then iij. wekys goo.
Jamys Arblaster hathe wretyn a lettyr to the Bayle of Maldon, in Essex, to have yow a bergeys ther; howe Jwde shall sped, let hym tell yow, when ye spek to gedyr.
Syr, I have ben twyis at Framlyngham sythe your departyng, but now, the last time the consayll was ther, I sye yow lettyr whyche was bettyr then well endyghtyd. R. C. was not at Framlyngham when the consayll was ther, but I took myn owne avyse, and delyvered it to the consayll with a propocysion ther with, as well as I kowd spek it, and my wordys wer well takyn, but your lettyr a thousand fold bettyr. When they had red it, they shewd it to my Lady. Aftyr that my Lady had sen it, I spok with my Lady offryng to my Lord and her your servyse, and besyd that, ye to do my Lord a plesur] and hyr a bettyr, so as ye myght depert wyth ought eny some specyfyid. She wold not tell in that mater, but remyttyd me ayen to the consayll, for she seyd, and she speke in it, tyll my Lord and the consayll wer agreed, they wold ley the wyght of all the mater on hyr, whyche shold be reportyd to hyr shame; but thys she promyseid to be helpyng, so it wer fyrst mevyd by the consayll. Then I went to the consayll, and offyrd befor them your servyse to my Lord, and to do hym a plesure, for the haveing ayen of your place and londys in Caster, xl_li._ not spekyng of your stuff nor thyng ellys. So they answerd me your offyr was more then resonabyll; and if the mater wer thers, they seyd, they wyst what conscyence wold dryve hem to. They seyd they wold meve my Lord with it, and so they dyd, but then the tempest aros, and he gave hem syche an answer that non of hem all wold tell it me; but when I axid an answer of them, they seyd, and [_if_] som Lordys or gretter men mevyd my Lord with it, the mater wer your (kepe consaile), and with thys answer I depertyd. But Syr W. Brandon, Sothewell, Tymperley, Herry Wentworthe, W. Gornay, and all other of consayll, undyrstand that ye have wronge, insomyche that they mevyd me that ye shold take a recompence of other lond to the valew; but they wold not avowe the offyr, for I anserd hem that if they had ryght they wold have ofred no recompence. Dyscovyr not thys, but in my reason, and my Lord Chamberleyn wold send my Lady a letter with some privy tokyn betwyx theym, and allso to meve my Lord of Norffolk when he comyth to the Parlement, serteynly Caster is yours.
If ye mysse to be burgeys of Maldon, and my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, ye may be in a nother plase; ther be a doseyn townys in Inglond that chesse no bergeys, whyche ought to do, and ye may be set in for one of those townys, and ye be frendyd. Also in no wyse forget not in all hast to get some goodly ryng, pryse of xx_s._, or som praty flowyr of the same pryse, and not undyr, to geve to Jane Rodon, for she hathe ben the most specyall laborer in your mater, and hathe promysyd hyr good wyll foorthe, and she doeth all with hyr mastresse. And my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, he may cause my Lord of Norffolk to com up soner to the Parlement then he shold do, and then he may apoynt with hym for yow, or the ferm corn be gadryd. I profyrd but xl_li._, and if my Lord Chamberleyn profyr my Lady the remenaunt, I can thynk it shall be taken. My Lady must have somwhat to bye hyr kovercheff besyd my Lord. A soper that I payd for, wher all the consayll was at Framlyngham, ij_s._ iij_d._, and my costs at Framlyngham twyis lying ther by viii. dayis, with ix_s._ i_d._ ob., for costs of the contre at Norwyche drawyth abowght xx_s._, I trowe more: by our Lady, if it be lesse, stand to your harmys, and _sic remanet_ v_li._ xiij_s._ iii_d._
I axe no more gods of you for all the servyse that I shall do yow whyll the world standyth, but a gosshawke, if eny of my Lord Chamberleyns men or yours goo to Kaleys, or if eny be to get in London; that is, a mewyd hawk, for she may make yow sporte when ye com into Inglond a doseyn yer hens, and to call upon yow owyrly, nyghtly, dayly, dyner, soper, for thys hawk. I pray noo more but my brother E., J. Pampyng, Thyrston, J. Myryel, W. Pytte, T. Plattyng Jwde, lityll Jak, Mastyr Botoner, and W. Wood to boote, to whyche persons I prey yow to comand me; and if all thes lyst to spek to yow of thys mater when Sir George Browne, W. Knyvett, R. Hyd, or eny folk of worchepp and of my aqweyntanse be in your compeny, so that they may helpe forthe, for all is lytyll i nowe, and ye be not very well wyllyng, I shall so pervey for hem, and ever ye com to Norwyche, and they with yow, that they shall have as deynte vytayll and as gret plente therof for i_d._ as they shall have of the tresorer of Caleys for xv_d._, and ye, peraventure, a pye of Wymondham to boote. Now thynk on me, good Lord, for if I have not an hawke, I shall wax fatt for default of labor, and ded for default of company by my trowthe. No more, but I pray God send you all your desyrs, and me my mwyd gosshawk in hast, or rather then fayle, a sowyr hawke. Ther is a grosser dwellyng ryght over ayenst the well with ij. boketts a lytyll fro Seynt Elens, hathe evyr hawkys to sell.
Wretyn at Norwyche the xxj. day of September, Anno E. iiijti xijo.
J. P.
Rather then faylle, a tarsell provyd wyll occupy the tyme tyll I com to Caleys.
To my ryght worchepfull brodyr, Sir John Paston, Knyght.
Ryght worchepfull sir, I recomand me to yow, letyng yow wet that your desyer as for the Knyghts of the Shyer was an impossoybyl to be browght abowght; ffor my Lord of Norffolk and my Lord of Suffolk wer agreid i mor then a fortnyght go to have Sir Robert Wyngfeld, and Sir Rychard Harcort, and that knew I not tyll it was Fryday last past. I had sent or I rod to Framlynham, to warne as many of your frends to be at Norwyche as thys Monday, to serve your entent as I koud; but when I cam to Framlynham, and knew the apoyntment that was taken for the ij. knyghts, I sent warnyng ayen to as many I myght to tery at hom; and yet ther cam to Norwyche thys day as many as ther costs dreave to ix_s._ i_d._ ob., payid and reknyd by Pekok and R. Capron, and yet they dyd but brak ther fest and depertyd. And I thankyd hem in your name, and told them that ye wold have noo voyse as thys day, for ye supposyd not to be in Inglond when the Perlement shold be, and so they cam not at the sherhous; for if they had, it was thought by syche as be your frends here, that your adversarys wold have reportyd that ye had mad labor to have ben one, and that ye koud not bryng your purpose abowght.
I sent to Yermowthe, and they have promysyd also to Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to be mor then iij. wekys goo.
Jamys Arblaster hathe wretyn a lettyr to the Bayle of Maldon, in Essex, to have yow a bergeys ther; howe Jwde shall sped, let hym tell yow, when ye spek to gedyr.
Syr, I have ben twyis at Framlyngham sythe your departyng, but now, the last time the consayll was ther, I sye yow lettyr whyche was bettyr then well endyghtyd. R. C. was not at Framlyngham when the consayll was ther, but I took myn owne avyse, and delyvered it to the consayll with a propocysion ther with, as well as I kowd spek it, and my wordys wer well takyn, but your lettyr a thousand fold bettyr. When they had red it, they shewd it to my Lady. Aftyr that my Lady had sen it, I spok with my Lady offryng to my Lord and her your servyse, and besyd that, ye to do my Lord a plesur] and hyr a bettyr, so as ye myght depert wyth ought eny some specyfyid. She wold not tell in that mater, but remyttyd me ayen to the consayll, for she seyd, and she speke in it, tyll my Lord and the consayll wer agreed, they wold ley the wyght of all the mater on hyr, whyche shold be reportyd to hyr shame; but thys she promyseid to be helpyng, so it wer fyrst mevyd by the consayll. Then I went to the consayll, and offyrd befor them your servyse to my Lord, and to do hym a plesure, for the haveing ayen of your place and londys in Caster, xl_li._ not spekyng of your stuff nor thyng ellys. So they answerd me your offyr was more then resonabyll; and if the mater wer thers, they seyd, they wyst what conscyence wold dryve hem to. They seyd they wold meve my Lord with it, and so they dyd, but then the tempest aros, and he gave hem syche an answer that non of hem all wold tell it me; but when I axid an answer of them, they seyd, and [_if_] som Lordys or gretter men mevyd my Lord with it, the mater wer your (kepe consaile), and with thys answer I depertyd. But Syr W. Brandon, Sothewell, Tymperley, Herry Wentworthe, W. Gornay, and all other of consayll, undyrstand that ye have wronge, insomyche that they mevyd me that ye shold take a recompence of other lond to the valew; but they wold not avowe the offyr, for I anserd hem that if they had ryght they wold have ofred no recompence. Dyscovyr not thys, but in my reason, and my Lord Chamberleyn wold send my Lady a letter with some privy tokyn betwyx theym, and allso to meve my Lord of Norffolk when he comyth to the Parlement, serteynly Caster is yours.
If ye mysse to be burgeys of Maldon, and my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, ye may be in a nother plase; ther be a doseyn townys in Inglond that chesse no bergeys, whyche ought to do, and ye may be set in for one of those townys, and ye be frendyd. Also in no wyse forget not in all hast to get some goodly ryng, pryse of xx_s._, or som praty flowyr of the same pryse, and not undyr, to geve to Jane Rodon, for she hathe ben the most specyall laborer in your mater, and hathe promysyd hyr good wyll foorthe, and she doeth all with hyr mastresse. And my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, he may cause my Lord of Norffolk to com up soner to the Parlement then he shold do, and then he may apoynt with hym for yow, or the ferm corn be gadryd. I profyrd but xl_li._, and if my Lord Chamberleyn profyr my Lady the remenaunt, I can thynk it shall be taken. My Lady must have somwhat to bye hyr kovercheff besyd my Lord. A soper that I payd for, wher all the consayll was at Framlyngham, ij_s._ iij_d._, and my costs at Framlyngham twyis lying ther by viii. dayis, with ix_s._ i_d._ ob., for costs of the contre at Norwyche drawyth abowght xx_s._, I trowe more: by our Lady, if it be lesse, stand to your harmys, and _sic remanet_ v_li._ xiij_s._ iii_d._
I axe no more gods of you for all the servyse that I shall do yow whyll the world standyth, but a gosshawke, if eny of my Lord Chamberleyns men or yours goo to Kaleys, or if eny be to get in London; that is, a mewyd hawk, for she may make yow sporte when ye com into Inglond a doseyn yer hens, and to call upon yow owyrly, nyghtly, dayly, dyner, soper, for thys hawk. I pray noo more but my brother E., J. Pampyng, Thyrston, J. Myryel, W. Pytte, T. Plattyng Jwde, lityll Jak, Mastyr Botoner, and W. Wood to boote, to whyche persons I prey yow to comand me; and if all thes lyst to spek to yow of thys mater when Sir George Browne, W. Knyvett, R. Hyd, or eny folk of worchepp and of my aqweyntanse be in your compeny, so that they may helpe forthe, for all is lytyll i nowe, and ye be not very well wyllyng, I shall so pervey for hem, and ever ye com to Norwyche, and they with yow, that they shall have as deynte vytayll and as gret plente therof for i_d._ as they shall have of the tresorer of Caleys for xv_d._, and ye, peraventure, a pye of Wymondham to boote. Now thynk on me, good Lord, for if I have not an hawke, I shall wax fatt for default of labor, and ded for default of company by my trowthe. No more, but I pray God send you all your desyrs, and me my mwyd gosshawk in hast, or rather then fayle, a sowyr hawke. Ther is a grosser dwellyng ryght over ayenst the well with ij. boketts a lytyll fro Seynt Elens, hathe evyr hawkys to sell.
Wretyn at Norwyche the xxj. day of September, Anno E. iiijti xijo.
J. P.
Rather then faylle, a tarsell provyd wyll occupy the tyme tyll I com to Caleys.
To my ryght worchepfull brodyr, Sir John Paston, Knyght.
Ryght worchepfull sir, I recomand me to yow, letyng yow wet that your desyer as for the Knyghts of the Shyer was an impossoybyl to be browght abowght; ffor my Lord of Norffolk and my Lord of Suffolk wer agreid i mor then a fortnyght go to have Sir Robert Wyngfeld, and Sir Rychard Harcort, and that knew I not tyll it was Fryday last past. I had sent or I rod to Framlynham, to warne as many of your frends to be at Norwyche as thys Monday, to serve your entent as I koud; but when I cam to Framlynham, and knew the apoyntment that was taken for the ij. knyghts, I sent warnyng ayen to as many I myght to tery at hom; and yet ther cam to Norwyche thys day as many as ther costs dreave to ix_s._ i_d._ ob., payid and reknyd by Pekok and R. Capron, and yet they dyd but brak ther fest and depertyd. And I thankyd hem in your name, and told them that ye wold have noo voyse as thys day, for ye supposyd not to be in Inglond when the Perlement shold be, and so they cam not at the sherhous; for if they had, it was thought by syche as be your frends here, that your adversarys wold have reportyd that ye had mad labor to have ben one, and that ye koud not bryng your purpose abowght.
I sent to Yermowthe, and they have promysyd also to Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to be mor then iij. wekys goo.
Jamys Arblaster hathe wretyn a lettyr to the Bayle of Maldon, in Essex, to have yow a bergeys ther; howe Jwde shall sped, let hym tell yow, when ye spek to gedyr.
Syr, I have ben twyis at Framlyngham sythe your departyng, but now, the last time the consayll was ther, I sye yow lettyr whyche was bettyr then well endyghtyd. R. C. was not at Framlyngham when the consayll was ther, but I took myn owne avyse, and delyvered it to the consayll with a propocysion ther with, as well as I kowd spek it, and my wordys wer well takyn, but your lettyr a thousand fold bettyr. When they had red it, they shewd it to my Lady. Aftyr that my Lady had sen it, I spok with my Lady offryng to my Lord and her your servyse, and besyd that, ye to do my Lord a plesur] and hyr a bettyr, so as ye myght depert wyth ought eny some specyfyid. She wold not tell in that mater, but remyttyd me ayen to the consayll, for she seyd, and she speke in it, tyll my Lord and the consayll wer agreed, they wold ley the wyght of all the mater on hyr, whyche shold be reportyd to hyr shame; but thys she promyseid to be helpyng, so it wer fyrst mevyd by the consayll. Then I went to the consayll, and offyrd befor them your servyse to my Lord, and to do hym a plesure, for the haveing ayen of your place and londys in Caster, xl_li._ not spekyng of your stuff nor thyng ellys. So they answerd me your offyr was more then resonabyll; and if the mater wer thers, they seyd, they wyst what conscyence wold dryve hem to. They seyd they wold meve my Lord with it, and so they dyd, but then the tempest aros, and he gave hem syche an answer that non of hem all wold tell it me; but when I axid an answer of them, they seyd, and [_if_] som Lordys or gretter men mevyd my Lord with it, the mater wer your (kepe consaile), and with thys answer I depertyd. But Syr W. Brandon, Sothewell, Tymperley, Herry Wentworthe, W. Gornay, and all other of consayll, undyrstand that ye have wronge, insomyche that they mevyd me that ye shold take a recompence of other lond to the valew; but they wold not avowe the offyr, for I anserd hem that if they had ryght they wold have ofred no recompence. Dyscovyr not thys, but in my reason, and my Lord Chamberleyn wold send my Lady a letter with some privy tokyn betwyx theym, and allso to meve my Lord of Norffolk when he comyth to the Parlement, serteynly Caster is yours.
If ye mysse to be burgeys of Maldon, and my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, ye may be in a nother plase; ther be a doseyn townys in Inglond that chesse no bergeys, whyche ought to do, and ye may be set in for one of those townys, and ye be frendyd. Also in no wyse forget not in all hast to get some goodly ryng, pryse of xx_s._, or som praty flowyr of the same pryse, and not undyr, to geve to Jane Rodon, for she hathe ben the most specyall laborer in your mater, and hathe promysyd hyr good wyll foorthe, and she doeth all with hyr mastresse. And my Lord Chamberleyn wyll, he may cause my Lord of Norffolk to com up soner to the Parlement then he shold do, and then he may apoynt with hym for yow, or the ferm corn be gadryd. I profyrd but xl_li._, and if my Lord Chamberleyn profyr my Lady the remenaunt, I can thynk it shall be taken. My Lady must have somwhat to bye hyr kovercheff besyd my Lord. A soper that I payd for, wher all the consayll was at Framlyngham, ij_s._ iij_d._, and my costs at Framlyngham twyis lying ther by viii. dayis, with ix_s._ i_d._ ob., for costs of the contre at Norwyche drawyth abowght xx_s._, I trowe more: by our Lady, if it be lesse, stand to your harmys, and _sic remanet_ v_li._ xiij_s._ iii_d._
I axe no more gods of you for all the servyse that I shall do yow whyll the world standyth, but a gosshawke, if eny of my Lord Chamberleyns men or yours goo to Kaleys, or if eny be to get in London; that is, a mewyd hawk, for she may make yow sporte when ye com into Inglond a doseyn yer hens, and to call upon yow owyrly, nyghtly, dayly, dyner, soper, for thys hawk. I pray noo more but my brother E., J. Pampyng, Thyrston, J. Myryel, W. Pytte, T. Plattyng Jwde, lityll Jak, Mastyr Botoner, and W. Wood to boote, to whyche persons I prey yow to comand me; and if all thes lyst to spek to yow of thys mater when Sir George Browne, W. Knyvett, R. Hyd, or eny folk of worchepp and of my aqweyntanse be in your compeny, so that they may helpe forthe, for all is lytyll i nowe, and ye be not very well wyllyng, I shall so pervey for hem, and ever ye com to Norwyche, and they with yow, that they shall have as deynte vytayll and as gret plente therof for i_d._ as they shall have of the tresorer of Caleys for xv_d._, and ye, peraventure, a pye of Wymondham to boote. Now thynk on me, good Lord, for if I have not an hawke, I shall wax fatt for default of labor, and ded for default of company by my trowthe. No more, but I pray God send you all your desyrs, and me my mwyd gosshawk in hast, or rather then fayle, a sowyr hawke. Ther is a grosser dwellyng ryght over ayenst the well with ij. boketts a lytyll fro Seynt Elens, hathe evyr hawkys to sell.
Wretyn at Norwyche the xxj. day of September, Anno E. iiijti xijo.
J. P.
Rather then faylle, a tarsell provyd wyll occupy the tyme tyll I com to Caleys.
To my right worchepfull brother, Sir John Paston, Knyght.
Right worchepfull sir, I recomand me to you, letyng you wet that your desire as for the Knyghts of the Shyer was an impossoybyl to be browght abowght; ffor my Lord of Norfolk and my Lord of Suffolk wer agreid i more then a fortnyght go to have Sir Robert Wyngfeld, and Sir Rychard Harcort, and that knew I not until it was Fryday last past. I had sent or I rod to Framlingham, to warne as many of your frends to be at Norwich as thys Monday, to serve your entent as I koud; but when I cam to Framlingham, and knew the apoyntment that was taken for the two. knyghts, I sent warnyng ayen to as many I might to tery at hom; and yet there cam to Norwich thys day as many as there costs dreave to ix_s._ i_d._ ob., payid and reknyd by Pekok and R. Capron, and yet they dyd but brak there fest and depertyd. And I thankyd hem in your name, and told them that you would have no voyse as thys day, for you supposed not to be in Inglond when the Perlement shold be, and so they cam not at the shire houseshire house; for if they had, it was thought by syche as be your frends [here/her], that your adversarys would have reported that you had mad labor to have [be/been] one, and that you koud not bryng your purpose abowght.
I sent to Great Yarmouth, and they have promysyd also to Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to be more then three. wekys goo.
Jamys Arblaster hathe written a lettyr to the Bayle of Maldon, in Essex, to have you a bergeys there; howe Jwde shall sped, let him tell you, when you spek to gedyr.
Syr, I have [be/been] twyis at Framlingham sythe your departyng, but now, the last time the consayll was there, I saw you lettyr which was bettyr then well endyghtyd. R. C. was not at Framlingham when the consayll was there, but I took [mine/my] owne avyse, and delivered it to the consayll with a propocysion there with, as well as I kowd spek it, and my wordys wer well taken, but your lettyr a thousand fold bettyr. When they had red it, they shewd it to my Lady. Aftyr that my Lady had sen it, I spok with my Lady offryng to my Lord and her your servyse, and besyd that, you to do my Lord a present] and hyr a bettyr, so as you might depert with ought eny some specyfyid. She would not tell in that matter, but remyttyd me ayen to the consayll, for she said, and she speak in it, until my Lord and the consayll wer agreed, they would ley the blame of all the matter on hyr, which shold be reported to hyr shame; but thys she promyseid to be helpyng, so it wer fyrst mevyd by the consayll. Then I went to the consayll, and offyrd before them your servyse to my Lord, and to do him a plesure, for the haveing ayen of your place and londys in Caister-on-Sea, xl_li._ not spekyng of your stuff nor thing ellys. So they answerd me your offyr was more then resonabyll; and if the matter wer thers, they said, they wyst what conscyence would dryve hem to. They said they would meve my Lord with it, and so they dyd, but then the tempest aros, and he gave hem syche an answer that no of hem all would tell it me; but when I axid an answer of them, they said, and [_if_] som Lordys or gretter men mevyd my Lord with it, the matter wer your (keep consaile), and with thys answer I depertyd. But Syr W. Brandon, Sothewell, Tymperley, Herry Wentworthe, W. Gornay, and all other of consayll, undyrstand that you have wronge, insomyche that they mevyd me that you shold take a recompence of other land to the valew; but they would not avowe the offyr, for I anserd hem that if they had right they would have ofred no recompence. Dyscovyr not thys, but in my reason, and my Lord Chamberlain would send my Lady a letter with some privy tokyn betwyx theym, and allso to meve my Lord of Norfolk when he comyth to the Parlement, serteynly Caister-on-Sea is yours.
If you mysse to be burgeys of Maldon, and my Lord Chamberlain wyll, you may be in a nother plase; there be a doseyn townys in Inglond that chesse no bergeys, which ought to do, and you may be set in for one of those townys, and you be frendyd. Also in no wise forget not in all haste to get some goodly ryng, pryse of xx_s._, or som praty flowyr of the same pryse, and not undyr, to geve to Jane Rodon, for she hathe [be/been] the most specyall laborer in your matter, and hathe promysyd hyr good wyll foorthe, and she doeth all with hyr mastresse. And my Lord Chamberlain wyll, he may cause my Lord of Norfolk to come up soner to the Parlement then he shold do, and then he may apoynt with him for you, or the ferm corn be gadryd. I profyrd but xl_li._, and if my Lord Chamberlain profyr my Lady the remenaunt, I can thynk it shall be taken. My Lady must have somwhat to bye hyr A head-dress or a handkerchief besyd my Lord. A soper that I paid for, where all the consayll was at Framlingham, two_s._ three_d._, and my costs at Framlingham twyis lying there by viii. dayis, with ix_s._ i_d._ ob., for costs of the contre at Norwich drawyth abowght xx_s._, I trowe more: by our Lady, if it be less, stand to your harmys, and _sic remanet_ v_li._ xiij_s._ iii_d._
I axe no more gods of you for all the servyse that I shall do you while the world stood, but a gosshawke, if eny of my Lord Chamberleyns men or yours goo to Calais, or if eny be to get in London; that is, a mewyd hawk, for she may make you sporte when you come into Inglond a doseyn yer hence, and to call upon you owyrly, nyghtly, dayly, dinner, soper, for thys hawk. I pray no more but my brother E., J. Pampyng, Thyrston, J. Myryel, W. Pytte, T. Plattyng Jwde, lityll Jak, Mastyr Botoner, and W. Wood to boote, to which persons I pray you to comand me; and if all thes [please/wish] to spek to you of thys matter when Sir George Browne, W. Knyvett, R. Hyd, or eny folk of worchepp and of my aqweyntanse be in your compeny, so that they may helpe forth, for all is lytyll i now, and you be not very well wyllyng, I shall so pervey for hem, and ever you come to Norwich, and they with you, that they shall have as deynte vytayll and as great plente thereof for i_d._ as they shall have of the tresorer of Calais for 15_d._, and you, peraventure, a pye of Wymondham to boote. Now thynk on me, good Lord, for if I have not an hawke, I shall wax fatt for default of labor, and ded for default of company by my trowthe. No more, but I pray God send you all your desyrs, and me my mwyd gosshawk in haste, or rather then fayle, a sowyr hawke. There is a grosser dwelling right over ayenst the well with two. boketts a lytyll from Saint Elens, hathe evyr hawkys to sell.
Written at Norwich the xxj. day of September, Anno E. iiijti xijo.
J. P.
Rather then faylle, a tarsell provyd wyll occupy the time until I come to Calais.
To my brother, Sir John Paston, Knyght.
Right worshipful Sir, I write to let you know that your plan for the Knights of the Shire was impossible to bring about, for my Lords Norfolk and Suffolk were agreed more than a fortnight ago to have Sir Robert Wingfield and Sir Richard Harcourt. I didn't know this until last Friday. I rode to Framlingham to warn as many of your friends to be at Norwich this Monday to serve your aim but when I got to Framlingham I found that the appointments had been taken for the two knights I sent a warning to as many as could to stay at home. Yet some came to Norwich and their costs were 9s and 1pence – paid and reckoned by Pecock and R Capron. They had breakfast and departed. I thanked them in your name and told them that you didn't have a voice as you weren't going to be in England when Parliament is sitting. They didn't come to the Shire Hall – for if they had it was thought by your friends here that your enemies would have reported that you had tried to have a meeting and that you couldn't make it happen.
I sent to Yarmouth and they had promised Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to become bailiffs more than 3 weeks ago.
James Arblaster has written to the Bailiff of Maldon in Essex to make you an MP there, how Jude got on - let him tell you when you speak together.
Sir, I have been to Framlingham twice since you left, but now the last time the Council was there I presented your letter which was well composed.
RC wasn't at Framlingham when the Council was there but I took my own advice and delivered it to the Council with a proposition – as well as I could present it – and my words were well taken but your letter was a thousand times better. When they had read it they showed it to my Lady. After my Lady had seen it, I spoke to her and offered your service to her Ladyship and the Duke. Also, for you to offer a sum to my Lord and Lady without the amount being specified. She said nothing more but commended me to the Council for she said she would speak there until all were agreed- even though they would blame her for this, but she thought this would help. So I went to the Council and offered them your terms for recovering your place in London and at Caister. I spoke of nothing else. They replied that your offer was more than reasonable and if it was in their hands their consciences would make them act. They said they would approach my Lord – and so they did but he raged and none of them would tell me his answer and when I asked, they said that if other Lords tried to persuade him that I should keep quiet about this. But the Lords Brandon, Southwell, Timperley, Wentworth, Gornay and all the rest of the Council agreed that you had been wronged and that you should be compensated with other lands. But I replied that if you were in the right there would be no need of compensation. If my Lord Chamberlain sends my Lady some token of this and to speak to my Lord of Norfolk when he comes to Parliament, then Caister certainly will be yours.
If you miss being the MP for Maldon my Lord Chamberlain will try another place – there are a dozen towns in England that do not have an MP and you could be set for one of those. Don't forget to hurry to get me a good ring for about 20 shillings or some pretty brooch for the same price – no less – and give it to Jane Rodon for she has been a real help in all of this. .
If the Lord Chamberlain manages to get Norfolk to come sooner to Parliament he can then arrange an appointment and the harvest will be done. I offered a good sum and if the Lord Chamberlain offers my Lady the remainder, I think it will work. My Lady must be discreet with my Lord. I paid for a supper for the Council at Framlingham (2s 3d) and my other costs for staying there for 8 days (9s 1d) and for my costs in Norwich about 20 shillings. I owe more to my Lady – if it is less, stand the losses which leaves 13s and 3d.
I ask no more of you for my services except to have a Goshawk – if any of the Lord Chamberlain's men or yours go to Calais, or if any can be found in London – that is a mewd hawk (one that has moulted) – for she will make you good sport and give you a dozen hens when you return to England. I call upon you hourly, nightly, daily, at dinner and supper for this hawk! No more, but my brother Edmund, Pamping, Thurston, J Mirvel, W Pytte, T Platting , Jude, little Jack, Master Botoner and W Wood to boot – to everyone I look after – to all speak to you about this and to Sir George Browne, W Knyvett, R Hyd and anyone else we know so that they will put my case. I know this isn't much and that you aren't very keen but I shall press them and if you ever come to Norwich with them I will feed them with the best from Calais for 15d and perhaps you can have a Wymondham pie! Now think about this my Lord – if I don't have a hawk I shall grow lazy and die from lack of company. No more but I pray God send you all your desires and for me my mewd Goshawk quickly – or if not, an unmoulted hawk. There is a dealer living near the double Bucket Well close to St Elens who always has hawks to sell.
Written at Norwich 21st September 1472
JP
Rather than fail, a tercil (falcon)will keep me occupied until I can get to Calais
