[290.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

[679]
CECILY DAWNE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[291.1]

To the right worshipfull, and with my faithful hert and service full entyerly beloved gode maister, Sir John Paston.

1463-7
NOV. 3

Right worshipfull Sir, and with my faithfull herte and service full entierly beloved gode maister, in my moste humble wyse I recommaund me unto your goode maistreship. Pleace it the same to wite that I thenke right longe to I have veerey knolege of your welfare, the which undrestande wil be to me right grete comfort. And that causeth me to write unto you as nowe. And also to late you wite that I herde reperte ye shuld be wedded unto a Doughter of the Duchez of Somerset, which mater, and I spake with you, I couth enforme your maistership that were to longe to write as nowe. But I shal and do pray God dayly to sende you such one unto your worldes make that wil drede and faithfully unfeyned love you above alle othir erthely creatures. For that is most excellent richesse in this worlde, as I suppose. For erthely goodes bene transsitory, and wedding contynues for terme of lyfe, which with some folke is a full long terme. And therfore, Sir, savyng your displeasir, me semez wedding wolde have goode avysement. Moreover, Sir, like it your maistership to undirstond that wynter and colde weders draweth negh, and I have but fewe clothez but of your gift, God thanke you. Wherefore, Sir, and it like you, I besech your gode maisterschip that ye will vouchsafe to remembre me your servaunte with some lyverey, such as pleaseth you, ayens this wynter, to make me a gown to kepe me from the colde wedders. And that I myght have it and such answare as ye pleace in the premisses sente unto me be the bringer herof. And I schal contynuwe your oratrix and pore servaunte and hertely pray to God for your prosperite, Whom I besech have you, Right worshipful Sir, and with my faithful herte and service full entierly beloved gode maister, in His blessed governaunce. Writen at Hellowe the iiide. Day of Novembre. Cecile Daune.

[291.1] [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 166.] This letter is of course not earlier than 1463, when Sir John Paston received his knighthood, but probably belongs to a period before his flirtations with Anne Haute, who first appears on the scene in the summer of 1468.

[680]
ABSTRACT[292.1]

1468
JAN. 11

Release by William, Bishop of Winchester, John, Lord Beauchamp, Sir John Howard, Sir William Yelverton, Justice of the King’s Bench, Thomas Lytelton, Justice of the Common Pleas, William Jenney, Serjeant-at-Law, William Paston, Esq., Thomas Howys, clerk, and William Grene, to Sir John Paston, Knight, of the manors of Castre, in Flegge, called Vaux and Bosoms, and the lands in Castre called Redham, the manors or tenements in Heryngby called Spensers and Fennes, a third part of the manor of Runham, the manor of Wynterton, called Begvyles, with a windmill, the manor of Reppes in Bastewyk, and messuages, &c., in Yarmouth; the lands called Billes in Stokesby and Cattes in Heryngby, &c.; the manors of Guton in Brandeston, Heynford, the manor of Saxthorp, called Loundhalle, with a watermill, the manor of Lincolnhalle, in Boyton, &c., in Norfolk; and the manor called Caldecotes in Freton, Suff.; the manors of Akethorp in Lowestoft and Spitlyngges in Gorleston, and lands called Havelound in Bradwell, &c.; also in the manor of Tichewell, &c., in the hundred of Smethedon, Norf.; and the manor of Hempnales in Cotton, and Burnevyles in Naketon, Suff.; all which the said Bishop and the others had, inter alia, of the gift of Ralph, Lord Sudeley, Sir William Oldhall, Richard Waller, Esq., Thomas West, Esq., William Wangford, and Nicholas Girlyngton.

Dated 11th Jan. 7 Edw. IV.