[243.2] The Christian name Herry is crossed out, and Meye (?) appears to be written over.
[244.1] William Pope was vicar of Paston from 1447 to 1455.
[244.2] Probably the Vicar’s Curate.
[244.3] Haywards were (originally) persons who guarded a farm and crops in the night, and blew a horn on an alarm or robbers.—Halliwell.
[195]
AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[245.1]
To John Paston be thys byll deliverd in hast.
1451
or later
I spacke thys day with a man of Paston syde, and he told me that a man of Paston told hym that Paston men wold not goo presessyon ferther than the chyrche yerde on Sent Markys day,[245.2] for he seyd the presessyon wey was stoppyd in, and seyd with in chort tyme men hopyd that the wall chuld be broke doun ageyn. Item, he seyd that I was amercyid for stoppyng of the seyd [way][245.3] at the last generall court, butt he cowd not tell who meche the mercyment was. And he that told it me askyd the man that told it hym if he had the mercyment in hys exstrete for to distreyn there fore; and he seid nay, but seyd he that chuld do it chuld bettyr doe take it up on hym than he chuld. Item, the same man told me that he mett with a man of Blyclyng, hyght Barker, that cam late fro London, and he told hym that I had a sute att London ageyn Wareyn Herman of Paston, and seyd that Roberd Branton was hys attornnye, and seyd he seygh hym ryght besy for hym att London. And for yete not yor sustyr;[245.4] and God have yow in kepyng. Wretyn att Norwyche the xij. day of May, Be yor modyr, A. Paston.
[245.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has the appearance, to judge from its contents, of being perhaps a few weeks later than the preceding one. It is, however, in a different hand.
[245.2] April 25.