To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston, at Seynt Peter of Hundgate.
1479
NOV.
Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyeres. And, moder, John Clement, berer heroff, can tell yow, the mor pite is, if it pleasyd God, that my brodyr is beryed in the Whyghte Fryers at London; whych I thought shold not have ben, for I supposyd that he wold have ben beryed at Bromholme, and that causyd me so sone to ryd to London to have purveyd hys brynging hom, and if it had ben hys wylle to have leyn at Bromholm, I had purposyd all the wey as I have redyn to have brought hom my grauntdame[28.2] and hym to gedyrs; but that purpose is voyd as now. But thys I thynke to do when I com to London to spek with my Lord Chamberleyn,[28.3] and to wynne by hys meanys my Lord of Ely,[28.4] if I can; and if I may by eny of ther meanys cause the Kyng to take my servyse and my quarrell to gedyrs, I wyll, and I thynk that Sir George Brown, Sir Jamys Radclyff, and other of myn aqueyntance, whyche wayte most upon the Kyng, and lye nyghtly in hys chamber, wyll put to ther good wyllys. Thys is my wey as yet. And, modyr, I beseche yow, as ye may get or send eny messengers, to send me yowr avyse and my cosyn Lomeners to John Leeis hows, taylere, with in Ludgate. I have myche more to wryght, but myn empty hed wyll not let me remembre it.
Also, modyr, I prey that my brodyr Edmond may ryd to Marlyngforthe, Oxenhed, Paston, Crowmer, and Caster, and all thes maners to entre in my name, and to lete the tenants of Oxenhed and Marlyngfor know that I sent no word to hym to take no mony of theym but ther attornement; wherfor he wyll not, tyll he her fro me ayen, axe hem non, but lete hym comand theym to pay to servaunts of myn oncles, nor to hymsylff, nor to non othyr to hys use, in peyne of payment ayen to me. I thynk if ther shold be eny money axid in my name, peraventure it wold make my Lady of Norfolk ayenst me, and cause hyr to thynk I dellt more contrary to hyr plesure than dyd my brodyr, whom God pardon of Hys gret mercy. I have sent to entre at Stansted and at Orwellbery, and I have wretyn a bylle to Anne Montgomery and Jane Rodon to make my Lady of Norffolk, if it wyll be. Your sone and humble servaunt, J. Paston.
[28.1] [From Fenn, ii. 280.] Sir John Paston died in London on the 15th November 1479, as Fenn informs us. I presume he had some authority for the precise date, which I have not seen. The inquisition post mortem is not now to be found; but the writ to the Escheator still exists, and is dated 30 Nov., 19 Edw. IV. This letter refers not only to the burial of Sir John Paston, but also to the death of his grandmother Agnes. The year was one of great mortality.
[28.2] Agnes, widow of William Paston the Judge.
[28.3] William, Lord Hastings.
[28.4] John Morton, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal, etc.
[963]
WILLIAM LOMNOR TO JOHN PASTON[29.1]
To the ryght worchypfull John Paston, Squyer, yn haste.