The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.

Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.

Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes. At your comaundement, and Servaunt, Henry Wyndesore.

[311.1] [From Fenn, i. 240.] For the date of this letter, compare [No. 480].

[312.1] Henry Holland. He married Anne, sister of King Edward IV., but remained a steady Lancastrian, and was attainted this year in Parliament.

[312.2] Jasper Tudor, half-brother of Henry VI.

[484]
CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[313.1]

To his right reverent and worshipfull broder, John Paston, Esquier, be this delivered in great haste.

1461
OCT. 11

Brother, I recommende me to you. After all dewe recommendacions, &c. Sir, it was tolde me by rythe a worshipfull man that loveth you rythe well, and ye him, and ye sall knowe his name hereafter, but put all things out of doubt he is such a man as will not lye: on the xjth day of October the Kinge said, ‘We have sent two privy sealys to Paston by two yeomen of our chamber, and he disobeyeth them; but we will send him anoder tomorrowe, and by Gods mercye, and if he come not then he sall dye for it. We will make all oder men beware by him how they sall disobey our writinge. A servant of our hath made a complainte of him. I cannot thinke that he hath informed us all truely, yet not for that, we will not suffer him to disobey our writinge; but sithen he disobeyeth our writinge, we may beleve the better his gydinge is as we be informed.’ And therwith he made a great avowe that if he [ye] come not at the third commandement ye xulde dye therefore. This man that told me this is as well learned a man as any is in England; and the same xjth day of October, he advised me to send a man to yow in all the hast that might be to lett yow have knowlache, and that ye xulde not lett for none excuse, but that ye xulde make the man good cheere and come as hastily ye might to the Kinge, for he understandeth so much that the King will keep his promise. Notwithstanding, by mine advice, if ye have his letter or the messenger come to you, come to the Kinge wards or ye meet with him, and when ye come ye must be suer of a great excuse. Also if ye doe well, come right stronge, for Howards wife made her bost that if any of her husbands men might come to yow ther yulde goe noe penny for your life; and Howard hath with the Kinge a great fellowship.