[448.]— Memoranda to inquire:— (1) If William Cofe were enfeoffed in Rothnall Hall? (2) If Tylerd knew William Cofe of Northcofe[264.1] before the day of his death two years, one year, half a year, or a quarter, etc.; what seal he used? (3) If Tylerd were not about him, to common with Gernyngham and such as were about him. (4) Item, in case it can be understood that he made none estate, ‘than lete Wodesyde goo to Robert Prymer in his owyn name, saying that John P. (Paston) is his good mayster in hys mater,’ etc.
[263.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]
[263.2] He was rector of Swainsthorp, to which he was presented by William Paston and John Dam in 1444, and which he exchanged for the living of Tichwell in 1450.—Blomefield, v. 63.
[264.1] William Cove of North Cove, Suffolk.—See Suckling’s Hist. of Suffolk, i. 48.
[THE PASTON LETTERS]
Edward IV
[449]
JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO ——[265.1]
1461
I recomand me to yow, and lete yow wete that notwythstandyng tydinggs come down, as ye know, that pepill shuld not come up tyll thei were sent fore, but to be redy at all tymes; this notwithstandyng, most pepill owt of this cuntre have take wages, seying thei woll goo up to London; but thei have no capteyn, ner rewler assigned be the commissioners to awayte upon, and so thei stragyll abowte be them self, and be lyklynes are not like to come at London half of them. And men that come from London sey, there have not passid Thetford, not passyng CCCC.; and yet the townes and the cuntere that have waged hem shall thynk thei be discharged, and therfore if this Lords above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntre, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to get with owt a newe comission and warnyng. And yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have waged pepill to wage any more, for every towne hath waged and sent firth, and are redy to send forth, as many as thei ded whan the Kyng sent for hem be fore the feld at Lodlowe;[266.1] and thei that ar not go, be goyng in the same forme.
Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntre, for ther was a certeyn person forth wyth after the jurney at Wakefeld, gadered felaship to have mo[r]dered John Damme, as is seyd; and also ther is at the Castell of Rysing, and in other ij. plases, made gret gaderyng of pepill, and hyryng of harneys, and it is wele undyrstand they be not to the Kyng ward, but rather the contrary, and for to robbe. Wherfore my fadyr is in a dowte, whedir he shall send my brother up or not, for he wold have his owne men abowte hym, if nede were here; but notwythstandyng, he wyll send up Dawbeney, his spere and bowes with hym, as Stapilton and Calthrop or other men of worship of this cuntre agree to doo. Wherfore demene yow in doyng of yowr erandes ther aftyr, and if ye shall bryng any masage from the Lords, take writyng, for Darcorts massage is not verely beleved be cause he browt no wrytyng.
Item, this cuntre wold fayne take these fals shrewes that are of an oppynion contrary to the Kyng and his Counsell, if they had no auctorite from the Kyng to do so.