[117.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is erroneously dated by Fenn 1487-8. Although Lord Woodville made an unauthorised expedition into Brittany in the spring of 1488, which is alluded to in [No. 1026], no succours were sent by Henry for the relief of the Duchy till after the crushing defeat of Duke Francis at the battle of St. Aubin (July 28, 1488). The Duke died on the 9th September following, and his daughter Anne became Duchess of Brittany. Commissions to raise archers for the relief of Brittany were issued in December, and musters were commanded to be taken in February 1489.

[118.1] Parliament was dissolved on the 27th February 1489.

[118.2] Sir Richard Edgecombe was Controller of the King’s Household.

[118.3] Sir Thomas Brews, Margery Paston’s father, took for his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Giles, and sister of Sir Gilbert Debenham.

[1031]
WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[120.1]

To hys broder, Sir John Paston, be thys letter delyvered.

1489
MARCH 7

Sir, I recomaunde me to yow, letynge yow wete that . . . . . . . . .[120.2]

As for my Lord Treserer,[120.3] he was not with the Kynge of all the counsell tyme, the whyche was endyd on the iijde day of Marche. And theder come my Lorde of Northethombyrland the fyrste day of Marche, and departyd the even afore the makyng of thys letter, and hath endentyd with the Kynge for the kepynge owt of the Schottys and warrynge on them, and schall have large money, I can not telle the some for certeyn.

Also ther is an rover takyn at Brystowe, on [one] Cowper, as I wene, and he is lyke to be hanged, and he confessythe more of hys felawis. Also Edward Heestowe of Dovere is apechyd of treson of many straunge poynts; and hys accuser and he were bothe afore the Kynge, and then they were takyn apert. And he hymselfe confessyd it that hys accusere accusyd hym of, and many other thyngs more than he was accusyd of. And he had many lords and gentylmen to aunswere for hys trowthe and his demenynge afore tyme, for, as I hard sey, bothe the Kynge in a maner, nor non of the tother lords nor gentylmen belevyd not hys accuser, tyl that he confessyd it hym selfe; and so he is in the Towre and lyke to be dede.