[260.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter relates to Sir John Paston’s claim to Caister after the Duke of Norfolk’s death, which claim he succeeded in establishing in June 1476, as appears by the letter following. The date 26th May at the end of the letter is an error. The ‘Monday next Holy Thursday’ was the 27th.

[260.2] i.e. if they do not get worse.

[260.3] Paper decayed.

[Salutation] or to hyr sone John Paston, Knyght.
printed as shown: misreading of Fenn’s header?
To Mestresse Margret Paston,
in Norwyche or to hyr Sone
John Paston Kt

[892]
SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[261.1]

To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at the Syngne of the George, at Powles Wharffe.

1476
JUNE 30

I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I hav receyvyd yowr letter, wretyn the next daye aftre Mydsomer; for answer wheroff I thynke that to be bownde in vc. [500] marke, I thynke it is to moche, where as I felt by yow ye sholde have with the gentylwoman but iiijc [400]; neverthelesse I agree. But ye shall undrestande that I wyll not be bownde for yow that ye shall make hyr joyntour past xxli. by yer, within a sertayne daye lymyted; be it j. yere or ij., that is the largest that ye maye performe. For as for the maner of Sparham, my moodre and ye acorde notte in yowr saynges; she wyll nowght graunte yow ther in, whylse she levyth, saff, as she seythe to me, she hathe grauntyd yow x. marke by yeer tyll xlli. be payed, that is but vj. yeer; and aftre hyr dyscease she woll agree with goode will, so that it maye be yowr proferment, that ye sholde have that maner in joynture with yowr wyffe to the lenger lyver off yow bothe, payng x. marke by yeer, soo or th . . . as she wyll that it shall be. Therfore, as for l. marke joynture, I pray yow bynde me in no suche clawse, butt iff it be for xxli. by a resonable daye, and xx. marke aftre the dyssease off my moodre. Take example at Derby.

Item, ye make yow sywerer than I deme yow bee, for I deme that her frendes wyll nott be content with Bedyngfeldes sywerte, nor yowres. I deme thys mater will ocopy lenger leyser than ye deme for.

Item, I remembre thatt thys mony that she sholde have is nott redy, but in the handes of marchauntes of the Estaple, whyche at a prove ye shall fynde per case so slakke payeres, that ye myght be deseyvyd ther by. I knowe dyverse have lost mony er they cowde gete ther dywtes owte off the Staple. God spede yow, and sende yow that ye wolde have.