Item, she sent divers tokenes of massage to Sothwell be Robert Inglose, wheche previth welle at that tyme she lovyd not Lancasterother.
Item, a man of the master of Carbrokes come dyvers tymes in the weke before she was raveshid to Wychynghams hous, and inquerid of her mayde whedyr her mastras was insuerid to Sothwell or nay, the wheche prevyth well that Lancasterother was not sure of her godwill ne knew not of her counseyl, for if he had, he ne nedid not to have sent no spyes.
Whech seen, I avyse yow to move my Lord and my Lady to do in this mater as affettualy as they have do before, for this mater touchyth hem, consideryng that they have begonne; and dowt not, what so ever falle of the woman, well or evel, my Lord and my Lady shal have worchep of the mater if it be wel laborid, and also ye shall have avayl therof and the advers parte chall gret trobil.
Also it were necessarie that Wychyngham were sent to and cofortyd in hese seute, and that he avysid hym of seche articlis and preves of the mater as I have sent to yow and put hem in writing, but not to disclose non tho preves to non creature unto that tyme that it fortune the mater to be tried be enquest, or other wyse take end, but avyse hym for to seye to the Lords and all (?) in generall termes that what so ever Lancasterother or hese douter seyn nowh, it shal be wel prevyd she was reveshid ayens her wyll; and let him desire of the Lordis that his dowter mith be in his kepyng, and at large fro Lancasterother un tylle the mater were duly examynd. I wold this mater sped the bety[r] be cause my Lady spoke so feythefully to me therin, and that mevyth me to wryte to yow this long symple lettyr of myn intent. [262.1][Also wher ye be informyd that vj. men of Osbern Monforthes shuld a be at the seid raveshing, I certifie yow verily it was not soo; for Osbern Mondeford wol do in the mater all that ever he can or may to help to punisse the doer, and desirith to know the grownd of that tale, of whech I pray send me word if and what ye will ellis.] God kepe yow.
Wret at Norwich the Soneday nex before the fest of Sent Margret.
Item, [if] she had be of hes assent affter the time she was in hes possescion in Lynkoln shire, hit had be bett—[262.2]
[260.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a corrected draft in a hand which may be that of Margaret Paston, writing in her husband’s name. The beginning may perhaps refer to the impending marriage of Richard Southwell with Amy, daughter of Sir Edmund Wichingham, which took place, according to Blomefield (x. 274), about the beginning of Edward IV.’s reign. From the mention made of Osbert Mundford, however, the letter cannot be later than 1460. The ravishment of Jane Boys, as here related, corresponds so closely with that of Dame Joan Beaumont, of which notice will be found in the Rolls of Parl., v. 269, that we might almost surmise the same person is spoken of; but this can hardly be.
[260.2] Probably the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk.
[261.1] According to Blomefield (viii. 299) Joan (or Jane), one of the four daughters of Edmund de Wichingham, married, first, Robert Longstrather, and afterwards Robert Boys of Honing, in Norfolk.
[262.1] This passage is crossed out in the MS.