XI. William Shave, roper of Yarmouth, illiterate, of free condition, fifty-eight years old. On the Saturday before Fastolf’s death, was at the house of John Balle, at the sign of the Cock, in Yarmouth, in a parlour near the public street, when Sir Thomas Howes informed John Rus, there present, that he had been desired by John Paston to remit to him £20 of the price of a house sold to Rus by the said Thomas, and thereupon he remitted to him the said £20 and 5 marks, in which he was bound to Sir John Fastolf. He also promised him the lands of Akethorp Hall for 40 marks less than any other, provided he would favour the intention of Howes and Paston. [It is remarked in the margin that witness does not say what intention.] William Lynde, a servant of Sir John Fastolf, was present, besides others. He saw Russ and Cutteler that Saturday at Yarmouth, between nine and twelve A.M., and spoke with them and drank in the house of Thomas Lounde. As to Thomas Torald, witness was at Yarmouth one Saturday, when he heard Robert Cutteler and Torald conversing; and the former told the latter that Sir Thomas Howes loved him well, and that John Paston could do him much good, and in the name of Paston and Howes he promised Torald 20s. for his labour, besides expenses, if he would depose for them. Knows that on the Saturday before Fastolf’s death Bartholomew Elys was in Yarmouth from half-past eight to eleven A.M., for he and witness bought fish called roches together, sold some, and divided others in Elys’s house. That day he saw John Rus in Yarmouth several times every hour from seven to eleven A.M., for he was in the market-place all that time on his business, and at vespers he saw John Rus in the parish church of the said town. Next day, Sunday, he also saw him there at matins and at mass.
XII. Nicholas Chirche of Yarmouth, merchant, literatus, of free condition, forty years old and more. Testifies concerning a conversation held in John Balle’s parlour at the Cock in Yarmouth after the Christmas following Fastolf’s death, with Sir Thomas Howes, John Paston, John Rus, Friar Clement Felmyngham, Dan Robert Cutteler, Robert Boteler, Thomas Neve, and others, when Howes remitted to John Rus £20 of the price of a house he had sold him, and 5 marks of the arrears of his accounts. He also testifies to other acts of the same nature on that occasion, and to the absence of Rus and Cutteler at Yarmouth on the Saturday above referred to, &c.
[In the margin it is remarked that this witness has been proved corrupt by three others.]
On the 22d May John Naseby, proctor for Yelverton and Howes, produced as a witness one John Rugge, in presence of Master Robert Kent, Paston’s proctor.
XIII. Thomas Newton of Burgh, agricultor, illiterate, of free condition, fifty years old and more.
XIV. Thomas Spycer of Southtown, by Yarmouth, tailor, illiterate, of free condition, fifty years old and more.
XV. Thomas Neve of Jernemuth [Yarmouth], merchant, literatus, of free condition, forty years old and more.
XVI. John Rugge, mariner, of Yarmouth, illiterate, of free condition, fifty years old.
XVII. John Clerke of Gorlaston, agricultor, illiterate, of free condition, fifty years old. Heard Clement Felmyngham report to him at the Austin Friars in Southtown that Paston and Howes had given him a pension of 8 marks a year for life, and 40s. for his servant, to say masses for the soul of Sir John Fastolf. Cannot witness of bribery otherwise. A little after Michaelmas, two years before Fastolf’s death, William Worceter in Fastolf’s name delivered possession of six of his manors in Lodylond, viz. Spytlyng in Gorlaston, Bradwell Hall in Bradwell, Hadlounde in Bradwell, Calcotes in Freton, Beytons in Belton, and Akethorpe in Leystoft, to Sir Thomas Howes and others, his co-feoffees named in a charter of enfeoffment, to the use of Sir John during his life, and to execute his will afterwards. This he knows, because he rode with Howes to the said manors when he took possession, and saw and heard Worceter deliver possession thereof. Thomas Torald reported to witness in Lent last that Paston and Howes had promised and paid him 20s., besides his expenses, to give evidence in the proving of Fastolf’s will, and had given each of his fellow-witnesses as much.
XVIII. Robert Bunche of Yarmouth, mariner, literatus, of free condition, fifty years old. Swears to having seen John Rus that Saturday at Yarmouth between seven and eight. [A marginal note says that being afterwards produced as a witness by Paston, he admitted having been suborned, and having deposed falsely.]