For his second son John’s setting out in life, the father had made better provision than for his eldest. He had succeeded in getting him placed in the household of the new Duke of Norfolk, the last of the Mowbrays, who succeeded his father [215] towards the close of the year 1461, the first year of King Edward’s reign. It was the preceding duke who had occupied Caister just before the coronation; but he died on the 6th November following, at the beginning of Edward’s first Parliament, when his son and heir had just attained the age of seventeen.[215.1] John Paston the father evidently hoped to have the young duke for his friend, and so to maintain himself in undisturbed possession of the lands which he claimed under Sir John Fastolf’s will. His son must have been as nearly as possible of the same age as the young nobleman, in whose service he was placed, and he was soon made familiar with the stir and bustle of life. At first he went down with the duke to his castle of Holt, in Wales, where he expected to keep his Christmas. The young duke, who was already married, being desired by the king to repair thither for the quiet of the country, had left his wife behind him, but after a while proposed to send for her to keep Christmas in Wales along with him. This intention, however, he was compelled to abandon. At that very time Queen Margaret had come out of France, and had won the castle of Bamborough: Bamborough Castle taken by Margaret of Anjou. and though Warwick was sent to the north as the king’s lieutenant, and the king himself was following with an army of his own, it was shortly afterwards determined that the Duke of Norfolk also should repair into Northumberland. A.D. 1462. Oct. The castles of Alnwick, Dunstanborough, and Bamborough were invested by the royal forces; but it was fully expected the Scots would make a strong attempt to rescue them. The Earl of Warwick’s headquarters were at Warkworth, three miles out of Alnwick, but he rode daily to each of the three castles to superintend the siege operations at each. The Duke of Norfolk had the task assigned him to conduct the victuals and ordnance from Newcastle. The king himself lay at Durham; and young John Paston had an opportunity of making acquaintance with a number of influential persons, including the Lord Hastings and Lord Dacres, who had continual access to the presence of their sovereign. Altogether, John Paston the youngest had certainly begun the world well.[215.2]
Of the other children of John and Margaret Paston it is unnecessary to say anything at present. At the time of which we now treat there was hardly one of them far advanced beyond childhood; nor do they, in fact, occupy very much attention even in later years, although we shall meet with casual notices of one or two of them.
[203.3] Patent Roll, 1 Edward IV. p. 1, m. 18 d., dated March 16; and m. 19 d., dated May 10; p. 4, m. 22 d., February 24 and March 1 (1462); also p. 2, m. 12 d. (against the Scots), Nov. 13.
[203.4] Ib. p. 1, m. 27 d., March 28, and p. 3, m. 3 d., July 8.
[203.5] Ib. p. 2, m. 10 d., Aug. 17.
[203.6] Ib. p. 2, m. 12 d., Nov. 4; and p. 4, m. 22 d., Feb. 28 (1462).
[203.7] Ib. p. 3, m. 3 d., July 12.
[204.1] Ib. p. 3, m. 3 d. and 27 d., Aug. 6 and 12; also m. 8 d., Jan. 29.
[204.2] Such, I think, must be the meaning intended. The expression in the original is, ‘they shuld aley (qu. should a’ laid?) on her bodyys.’
[204.3] No. 469.