[124.1] [From Fenn, iii. 40.] As there is no distinct evidence of the date of this letter, I have placed it after another paper written by Agnes Paston, and making mention of Clement, though I rather suspect it may be a little later. It certainly cannot have been, as Fenn supposes, written within a short time after William Paston’s death in 1444, as Clement Paston was then only two years old. From some of the expressions we might be led to suspect that John Paston was in trouble at the time.
[364]
WILLIAM BOTONER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[125.1]
To my ryght worshypful master, Sir John Fastolf.
1458
FEB. 1
Ryght worshypfull Sir, and my ryght gode maister, I recomaund me to yow yn my full humble wyse. Please yow to wete, as to nouveltees here both[125.2] Christofr Barker wryteth to you more along.
The Kyng came the last weke to Westminster, and the Duk of Yorke came to London with hys oune housole onlye to the nombre of cxl. hors, as it ys seyd; the Erle of Salysburye with iiijc. [400] hors yn hys companye, iiijxx [fourscore] knyghts and sqwyers.
The Duke of Somerset came to London last day of Janyver with ijc. [200] hors, and loggyth wythoute Temple Barre, and the Duc of Excestr shalle be here thys weke with a grete felyshyp and strong, as it ys seyd.
The Erle of Warwyke ys not yhyt com, because the wynde ys not for hym.
And the Duke of Excester takyth a grete displesir that my Lord Warewyke occupyeth hys office, and takyth the charge of the kepyng of the see uppon hym.
Item, as for tydyng of beyend see, I hyre none certeyn, but that the Frensh Kyng[125.3] shulde hafe maryed hys doughter to the Kyng of Hungerye,[125.4] whych had the descomfytur uppon the Turks, and the seyd Kyng ys decesed wythynne thys vj. wekes, or the spouselle was made; but he ordeyned or he dyed that the Frensh Kyngs doughter shuld be named Quene of Hungerye duryng hyr lyffe.