Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Birth1421
Deathca 22 May 1466
BurialBromholm Priory
GeneralLetter-writer & gent.
EducationInner Temple, Peterhouse.
FatherSir William Paston (1378-1444)
MotherAgnes Barry (-1479)
Spouses
Will notes for John Paston
In the name of God, amen. I, Margaret Paston, widowe, late the wiff of John Paston, squier, doughter and heire to John Mauteby, squier, hole of spirit and mynde, with parfite avisement and good deliberacion, the iiijte day of February in the yer of our Lord God a ml cccclxxxj, make my testament and last wille in this fourme folowyng. First, I betake my sowle to God Almyghty and to Our Lady his blissed moder, Seint Michael, Seint John Baptist, and to alle seintes, and my body to be beried in the ele of the cherch of Mauteby byfore the ymage of Our Lady there, jn which ele reste the bodies of diuers of myn aunceteres, whos sowles God assoile.
Item, I bequethe to the high awter of the seid cherch of Mauteby xx s.
Item, I wulle that the seid ele in which my body shalbe beried be newe roved, leded, and glased, and the walles therof heyned conuenyently and werkmanly.
Item, I wull that myn executours purveye a stoon of marble to be leyde alofte vpon my grave within a yer next after my decesse; and vpon that stoon I wulle have iiij scochens sett at the iiij corners, wherof I wulle that the first scochen shalbe of my husbondes armes and myn departed, the ijde of Mawtebys armes and Berneys of Redham departed, the iijde of -384-Mawtebys armes and the Lord Loveyn departed, the iijte of Mawtebys armes and Sir Roger Beauchamp departed. And in myddys of the seid stoon I wull have a scochen sett of Mawtebys armes allone, and vnder the same thise wordes wretyn: 'In God is my trust'; with a scripture wretyn in the verges therof rehersyng thise wordes: 'Here lieth Margret Paston, late the wif of John Paston, doughter and heire of John Mawteby, squier', and forth in the same scripture rehersed the day of the moneth and the yer that I shall decesse, 'on whos sowle God have mercy'.
Item, I wulle that myn executours shall purveye xij pore meen of my tenauntes, or other if they suffice not, the which I wulle shalbe apparailled in white gownes with hodes according, to holde xij torches abowte myn herse or bere at such tyme as I shalbe beried, during the exequies and masse of my berying; which xij torches I wille remayne in the seid cherch of Mawteby whil they may last for my yerday. Which yerday I wull myn heire kepe in the same cherch for me, my seid husbond, and myn aunceteres yerly during the terme of xij yeres next after my decesse; and I wull that ich of the seid xij pore meen the day of my beriing have iiij d. Also I wull that iche preste being at my berying and masse have viij d. and ich clerk in surplys iij d. Also I wull that the prest which shall berie me have vj s. viij d., so that he seye ouer me at the tyme of my berying all the hole seruice that to the berying belongeth. Also I wull that from the day and tyme that I am beried vnto the ende of vij yeres than next folowyng be ordeyned a taper of wexe of a li. to brenne vpon my grave ich Sonday and haliday at all diuine seruice to be seid or sunge in the seid cherch, and dailly at the masse of that preest that shall singe there in the seid ele for my sowle. Item, I wulle that vj tapers ich of iij li. brenne abowte myn herse the day of my beryng, of which I wull that iiji yerly be kept to brenne abowte myn herse whan my yerday shalbe kept aslong as they may honestly serue.
Item, I wulle have an honest seculer prest to synge and pray in the seid ele for my sowle, the sowles of my father and mother, the sowle of the seid John Paston, late my husbond, and for the sowlys of his aunceteres and myn during the terme of vij yeres next after my decesse.
Item, I wull that myn executours purveye a compleet legende in oon book and an antiphoner in an other book, which bookes I wull be yeven to abide ther in the seid cherch to the wursship of God aslonge as they may endure.
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Item, I wulle that euery houshold in Mauteby, as hastily as it may be conuenyently doo after my decesse, have xij d.
Item, to the emendyng of the cherch of Freton in Suffolk I bequethe a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that ich houshold being my tenaunt there have vj d. And I bequethe to the emendement of the cherch of Basyngham a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that euery houshold there have viij d.
Item, I bequeth to the emendyng of the cherch of Matelask a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that euery pore houshold that are my tenauntes there have viij d.
Item, I bequethe to the emendyng of the cherch of Gresham a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that ich pore houshold that be my tenauntes there have vj d.
Item, I wull that ich pore houshold late my tenauntes at Sparham have vj d.
Item, to the reparacion of the cherch of Redham, there as I was borne, I bequeth v marc. and a chesiple of silk with as awbe with myn armes therupon, to the emendement of the same cherche.
Item, to ich of the iiij houshes of freres in Norwich, xx s.
Item, to ich of the iiij houshes of freres of Yermouth and at the south toun to pray for my sowle I bequeth xx s.
Item, to the ankeres at the Frere Prechours in Norwich I bequeth iij s. iiij d. And to the ankeres in Conesford I bequeth iij s. iiij d. Item, to the anker at the White Freres in Norwich I bequeth iij s. iiij d.
Item, to ich hole and half susters at Normans in Norwich, viij d. Item, to the Deen and his bretheren of the Chepell of Feld, to the vse of the same place to seye a dirige and a masse for my sowle, xx s.
Item, to the hospitall of Seint Gile in Norwich , also for a dirige and a masse for my sowle, xx s. Item, to ich of the iiij pore meen and to either of the susters of the seid hospitall, ij d.
Item, to the mother cherch of Norwich for a dirige and masse, xx s. Item, to iche lepre man and woman at the v yates in Norwich, iij d. -386-And to ich forgoer at euery of the seid yates, ij d.
Item, to ich lepre without the north gates at Yermouth, iij d., and to the forgoer ther, ij d.
Item, to ich houshold of the parissh of Seint Peter of Hungate in Norwich that wull receyve almes have iiij d.
Item, I wull have a dirige and a masse for my sowle at the parissh cherch of Seint Michael of Coslany in Norwich, and that euery preste ther havyng his stipend being therat have iiij d., and ich clerk in surplys of the same parissh than ther being have ij d., and the parissh clerk vj d., and the curat that shall seye high masse have xx d. And I bequeth to the reparacion of the bellys of the same cherch vj s. viii d., and to the sexteyn there, to rynge at the seid dirige and masse, xx d.
Item, I wull that myn executours shall geve to the sustentacion of the parson or preste that shall for the tyme mynystre the sacramentez and diuine seruice in the cherch of Seint Petre of Hungate in Norwich xx li. of laufull money, which xx li. I wull it be putt in the rule and disposicion of the cherch reves of the same cherch for the tyme being, by the ouersight of the substanciall persones of the seid parissh, to this intent that the seid cherch reves, by the ouersight as is befor-seid, shall yerly yeve, if it so be that þe profites of the seid cherch suffice not to fynde a prest after ther discrecions, part of the seid xx li. to the seid parson or preste vnto the seid xx li. be expended.
Item, I bequeth to Edmund Paston, my sone, a standing pece white couered, with a white garleek heed vpon the knoppe and a gilt pece couered with an vnicorne, a fetherbedde and a traumsom at Norwich and the costers of worsted that he hath of me.
Item, I bequeth to Katerine his wiff a purpill girdill herneisid with siluer and gilt, and my bygge bras chafour, a brasen morter with an jren pestell, and a stoon morter of cragge.
Item, I yeve and graunte to Robert, sone of the seid Edmund, all my swannes morken with the merke called Dawbeneys merk and with the merk late Robert Cutler, clerk, to have, hold, and enjoye the seid swannes with the seid merkes to the seid Robert and his heires for euermore.
Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, wiff of William Yeluerton, my grene hangyng in my parlour at Mauteby, a standing cuppe with a couer gilt with a flatte knoppe, and a flatte pece with a couer gilt withoute, xij siluer spones, a powder boxe with a foot and a knoppe enamelled blewe, my best corse girdill, blewe herneised with siluer and gilt, my premer, my -387-bedes of siluer enamelled.
Item, I bequeth to the seid Anne my fetherbedde with sillour, curteyns, and tester in my parlour at Mauteby, with a white couering, a peir blankettes, ij peir of my fynest shetes ich of iij webbes, a fyne hedshete of ij webbes, my best garnyssh of pewter vessell, ij basyns with ij ewres, iij candelstekes of oon sorte, ij bras pottes, ij bras pannes, a bras chafour to sett by the fyre, and a chafour for colys.
Item, I require myn executours to paie to the seid William Yelverton and Anne the money that I shall owe them of ther mariage money the day of my decesse, of such money as shalbe receyved of such londes as I have putte in feffement to accomplissh my wille.
Item, I bequeth to William Paston, my sone, my standing cuppe chased parcell gilt with a couer with myn armes in the botom, and a flatte pece with a traill vpon the couer, xij siluer spones, ij siluer saltes wherof oon is couered, the hole bedde of borde Alisaundre as it hangeth on the gret chaumber at Mauteby, with the fetherbedde, bolster, blankettes, and coueryng to the same, ij peir shetes, ij pilwes, and my best palet, a basyn, an ewre, and a litel white bedde that hangeth ouer the gresyngges in the litell chaumber at Mauteby for a trussyng bedde.
Item, I bequeth an c marc. in money to be paied and bestowed to the vse and byhoff of the seid William Paston after this fourme folowyng, that is to sey, in purchasyng of asmoch lond to him and to his heires as may be had with the same money, or ellys to bye a warde to be maried to him if eny such may be goten, or ellys to be paied to him assone as it may be conuenyently gadered and receyved of succh londes as by me are put in feffement as is beforseid, after the ele in Mauteby cherch be fynsshed and parfourmed as is beforseid, and after the stipend of the preste lymyted to singe for me be yerly levied, aswell as the money be dispended vpon the keping of my yerly obite. And if the seid William dye or he come to the age of xxj yer, than the seid c marc. to be disposed for the wele of my sowle by myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to John Paston, my sone, a gilt cuppe standyng with a couer and a knoppe lich a garleek heed, vj gobelettes of siluer with oon couer.
Item,I bequeth to Margery Paston, the wif of the seid John, my pixt of siluer with ij siluer cruettes and my massebook, with all myn awterclothes.
Item, I bequeth to William Paston, sone of the seid John Paston, and Elizabeth his suster, c marc. whan they come to laufull age, to be take and receyved of the londes beforseid. And if either of them die or they come
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to the seid age, than I wull that the part of him or hir so deying remayne to the survyver of them at laufull age; and if they bothe dye or they come to the seid age, than I wull that the seid c marc. be disposed for the helth of my sowle by th'avise of myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to Custaunce, bastard doughter of John Paston, knyght, whan she is xx yer of age x marc., and if she die bifore the seid age, than I wull that the seid x marc. be disposed by myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to John Calle, sone of Margery my doughter, xx li. whan he cometh to the age of xxiiij yer. And if the seid John dye or he cometh to the seid age, than I wulle that the seid xx li. evenly he diuided attwen William and Richard, sones of the seid Margery, whan they come to the age of xxiiij yer; and if either of the seid William and Richard dye or he come to the seid age, than I wull that the part of him so dying remayne to the survyver. And if bothe the seid William and Richard dye or the come to the seid age, than I wull that seid xx li. be disposed by the good advys of myne executours for me and my frendes.
Item, I bequethe to Marie Tendall, my goddoughter, my peir bedys of calcidenys gaudied with siluer and gilt.
Item, I wull that ich of myn other godchilder be rewarded by th'avyse of John Paston my sone.
Item, I bequeth to Agnes Swan, my seruaunt, my musterdevelys gown furred with blak, and a girdell of blak herneised with siluer gilt and enamelled, and xx s. in money.
Item, to Simon Gerard my siluer gobelet cured, and a flatt pece with verges gilt, and myn hole litel white bedde in my chapell chuamber at Mauteby, with the fetherbedde lich as it is nowe in the seid chapell, with a peir blankettes, a peir shetes, and a pilwe of doun.
Item, to John Heythe a materas with a traunsom, a peir shetes, a peir blankettes, and a couerlight.
Item, I wull that myn housholt be kept after my decesse by half a yer, and that my seruauntes wages be truly paied at ther departing, and also that euery persone being my seruaunt the day of my decesse have a quarter wages beside that they at her departing have do seruice fore.
Item, I wull that all such maners, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and seruices which are descended vnto me by weye of inheritaunce immediatly after my decesse remayne vnto myn heires accordyng to the last wille of Robert Mauteby, squier, my grauntfader, except such londes as I have putte in feffement to accomplissh therof my last wille, and except v marc.
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of annuyté which I have graunted out of the maner of Freton in Suffolk to Edmund Paston my sone, Katerine his wiff, and Robert ther sone, for terme of ther lyves.
Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, x li. to hir propre vse. And to Osbern Berney x marc. of the money comyng of the londes by me put in feffement as is beforseid.
Item, I wull that the residewe of the stuffe of myn houshold vnbiquothen be diuided equally betwen Edmund and William, my sones, and Anne, my doughter.
The residewe of all my godes and catall, and dettes to me owing, I yeve and comitte to the good disposicion of myn executours to parfourme this my testament and last wille, and in other dedes of mercye for my sowle, myn aunceterez sowlez, and alle Cristen sowles, to the most pleaser of God and profit to my sowle.
Of this my testament I make and ordeyne the seid John Paston, squier, my sone, Thomas Drentall, clerk, Simon Gerard, and Walter Lymyngton myn executours. And I bequeth to the seid John Paston for his labour x li. And to iche of myn other executours for their labour v marc. In witnesse wherof to this present testament I have putto my seal. Yevyn day and yer biforseid.
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Item, I bequethe to the high awter of the seid cherch of Mauteby xx s.
Item, I wulle that the seid ele in which my body shalbe beried be newe roved, leded, and glased, and the walles therof heyned conuenyently and werkmanly.
Item, I wull that myn executours purveye a stoon of marble to be leyde alofte vpon my grave within a yer next after my decesse; and vpon that stoon I wulle have iiij scochens sett at the iiij corners, wherof I wulle that the first scochen shalbe of my husbondes armes and myn departed, the ijde of Mawtebys armes and Berneys of Redham departed, the iijde of -384-Mawtebys armes and the Lord Loveyn departed, the iijte of Mawtebys armes and Sir Roger Beauchamp departed. And in myddys of the seid stoon I wull have a scochen sett of Mawtebys armes allone, and vnder the same thise wordes wretyn: 'In God is my trust'; with a scripture wretyn in the verges therof rehersyng thise wordes: 'Here lieth Margret Paston, late the wif of John Paston, doughter and heire of John Mawteby, squier', and forth in the same scripture rehersed the day of the moneth and the yer that I shall decesse, 'on whos sowle God have mercy'.
Item, I wulle that myn executours shall purveye xij pore meen of my tenauntes, or other if they suffice not, the which I wulle shalbe apparailled in white gownes with hodes according, to holde xij torches abowte myn herse or bere at such tyme as I shalbe beried, during the exequies and masse of my berying; which xij torches I wille remayne in the seid cherch of Mawteby whil they may last for my yerday. Which yerday I wull myn heire kepe in the same cherch for me, my seid husbond, and myn aunceteres yerly during the terme of xij yeres next after my decesse; and I wull that ich of the seid xij pore meen the day of my beriing have iiij d. Also I wull that iche preste being at my berying and masse have viij d. and ich clerk in surplys iij d. Also I wull that the prest which shall berie me have vj s. viij d., so that he seye ouer me at the tyme of my berying all the hole seruice that to the berying belongeth. Also I wull that from the day and tyme that I am beried vnto the ende of vij yeres than next folowyng be ordeyned a taper of wexe of a li. to brenne vpon my grave ich Sonday and haliday at all diuine seruice to be seid or sunge in the seid cherch, and dailly at the masse of that preest that shall singe there in the seid ele for my sowle. Item, I wulle that vj tapers ich of iij li. brenne abowte myn herse the day of my beryng, of which I wull that iiji yerly be kept to brenne abowte myn herse whan my yerday shalbe kept aslong as they may honestly serue.
Item, I wulle have an honest seculer prest to synge and pray in the seid ele for my sowle, the sowles of my father and mother, the sowle of the seid John Paston, late my husbond, and for the sowlys of his aunceteres and myn during the terme of vij yeres next after my decesse.
Item, I wull that myn executours purveye a compleet legende in oon book and an antiphoner in an other book, which bookes I wull be yeven to abide ther in the seid cherch to the wursship of God aslonge as they may endure.
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Item, I wulle that euery houshold in Mauteby, as hastily as it may be conuenyently doo after my decesse, have xij d.
Item, to the emendyng of the cherch of Freton in Suffolk I bequethe a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that ich houshold being my tenaunt there have vj d. And I bequethe to the emendement of the cherch of Basyngham a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that euery houshold there have viij d.
Item, I bequeth to the emendyng of the cherch of Matelask a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that euery pore houshold that are my tenauntes there have viij d.
Item, I bequethe to the emendyng of the cherch of Gresham a chesiple and an awbe. And I wull that ich pore houshold that be my tenauntes there have vj d.
Item, I wull that ich pore houshold late my tenauntes at Sparham have vj d.
Item, to the reparacion of the cherch of Redham, there as I was borne, I bequeth v marc. and a chesiple of silk with as awbe with myn armes therupon, to the emendement of the same cherche.
Item, to ich of the iiij houshes of freres in Norwich, xx s.
Item, to ich of the iiij houshes of freres of Yermouth and at the south toun to pray for my sowle I bequeth xx s.
Item, to the ankeres at the Frere Prechours in Norwich I bequeth iij s. iiij d. And to the ankeres in Conesford I bequeth iij s. iiij d. Item, to the anker at the White Freres in Norwich I bequeth iij s. iiij d.
Item, to ich hole and half susters at Normans in Norwich, viij d. Item, to the Deen and his bretheren of the Chepell of Feld, to the vse of the same place to seye a dirige and a masse for my sowle, xx s.
Item, to the hospitall of Seint Gile in Norwich , also for a dirige and a masse for my sowle, xx s. Item, to ich of the iiij pore meen and to either of the susters of the seid hospitall, ij d.
Item, to the mother cherch of Norwich for a dirige and masse, xx s. Item, to iche lepre man and woman at the v yates in Norwich, iij d. -386-And to ich forgoer at euery of the seid yates, ij d.
Item, to ich lepre without the north gates at Yermouth, iij d., and to the forgoer ther, ij d.
Item, to ich houshold of the parissh of Seint Peter of Hungate in Norwich that wull receyve almes have iiij d.
Item, I wull have a dirige and a masse for my sowle at the parissh cherch of Seint Michael of Coslany in Norwich, and that euery preste ther havyng his stipend being therat have iiij d., and ich clerk in surplys of the same parissh than ther being have ij d., and the parissh clerk vj d., and the curat that shall seye high masse have xx d. And I bequeth to the reparacion of the bellys of the same cherch vj s. viii d., and to the sexteyn there, to rynge at the seid dirige and masse, xx d.
Item, I wull that myn executours shall geve to the sustentacion of the parson or preste that shall for the tyme mynystre the sacramentez and diuine seruice in the cherch of Seint Petre of Hungate in Norwich xx li. of laufull money, which xx li. I wull it be putt in the rule and disposicion of the cherch reves of the same cherch for the tyme being, by the ouersight of the substanciall persones of the seid parissh, to this intent that the seid cherch reves, by the ouersight as is befor-seid, shall yerly yeve, if it so be that þe profites of the seid cherch suffice not to fynde a prest after ther discrecions, part of the seid xx li. to the seid parson or preste vnto the seid xx li. be expended.
Item, I bequeth to Edmund Paston, my sone, a standing pece white couered, with a white garleek heed vpon the knoppe and a gilt pece couered with an vnicorne, a fetherbedde and a traumsom at Norwich and the costers of worsted that he hath of me.
Item, I bequeth to Katerine his wiff a purpill girdill herneisid with siluer and gilt, and my bygge bras chafour, a brasen morter with an jren pestell, and a stoon morter of cragge.
Item, I yeve and graunte to Robert, sone of the seid Edmund, all my swannes morken with the merke called Dawbeneys merk and with the merk late Robert Cutler, clerk, to have, hold, and enjoye the seid swannes with the seid merkes to the seid Robert and his heires for euermore.
Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, wiff of William Yeluerton, my grene hangyng in my parlour at Mauteby, a standing cuppe with a couer gilt with a flatte knoppe, and a flatte pece with a couer gilt withoute, xij siluer spones, a powder boxe with a foot and a knoppe enamelled blewe, my best corse girdill, blewe herneised with siluer and gilt, my premer, my -387-bedes of siluer enamelled.
Item, I bequeth to the seid Anne my fetherbedde with sillour, curteyns, and tester in my parlour at Mauteby, with a white couering, a peir blankettes, ij peir of my fynest shetes ich of iij webbes, a fyne hedshete of ij webbes, my best garnyssh of pewter vessell, ij basyns with ij ewres, iij candelstekes of oon sorte, ij bras pottes, ij bras pannes, a bras chafour to sett by the fyre, and a chafour for colys.
Item, I require myn executours to paie to the seid William Yelverton and Anne the money that I shall owe them of ther mariage money the day of my decesse, of such money as shalbe receyved of such londes as I have putte in feffement to accomplissh my wille.
Item, I bequeth to William Paston, my sone, my standing cuppe chased parcell gilt with a couer with myn armes in the botom, and a flatte pece with a traill vpon the couer, xij siluer spones, ij siluer saltes wherof oon is couered, the hole bedde of borde Alisaundre as it hangeth on the gret chaumber at Mauteby, with the fetherbedde, bolster, blankettes, and coueryng to the same, ij peir shetes, ij pilwes, and my best palet, a basyn, an ewre, and a litel white bedde that hangeth ouer the gresyngges in the litell chaumber at Mauteby for a trussyng bedde.
Item, I bequeth an c marc. in money to be paied and bestowed to the vse and byhoff of the seid William Paston after this fourme folowyng, that is to sey, in purchasyng of asmoch lond to him and to his heires as may be had with the same money, or ellys to bye a warde to be maried to him if eny such may be goten, or ellys to be paied to him assone as it may be conuenyently gadered and receyved of succh londes as by me are put in feffement as is beforseid, after the ele in Mauteby cherch be fynsshed and parfourmed as is beforseid, and after the stipend of the preste lymyted to singe for me be yerly levied, aswell as the money be dispended vpon the keping of my yerly obite. And if the seid William dye or he come to the age of xxj yer, than the seid c marc. to be disposed for the wele of my sowle by myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to John Paston, my sone, a gilt cuppe standyng with a couer and a knoppe lich a garleek heed, vj gobelettes of siluer with oon couer.
Item,I bequeth to Margery Paston, the wif of the seid John, my pixt of siluer with ij siluer cruettes and my massebook, with all myn awterclothes.
Item, I bequeth to William Paston, sone of the seid John Paston, and Elizabeth his suster, c marc. whan they come to laufull age, to be take and receyved of the londes beforseid. And if either of them die or they come
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to the seid age, than I wull that the part of him or hir so deying remayne to the survyver of them at laufull age; and if they bothe dye or they come to the seid age, than I wull that the seid c marc. be disposed for the helth of my sowle by th'avise of myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to Custaunce, bastard doughter of John Paston, knyght, whan she is xx yer of age x marc., and if she die bifore the seid age, than I wull that the seid x marc. be disposed by myn executours.
Item, I bequeth to John Calle, sone of Margery my doughter, xx li. whan he cometh to the age of xxiiij yer. And if the seid John dye or he cometh to the seid age, than I wulle that the seid xx li. evenly he diuided attwen William and Richard, sones of the seid Margery, whan they come to the age of xxiiij yer; and if either of the seid William and Richard dye or he come to the seid age, than I wull that the part of him so dying remayne to the survyver. And if bothe the seid William and Richard dye or the come to the seid age, than I wull that seid xx li. be disposed by the good advys of myne executours for me and my frendes.
Item, I bequethe to Marie Tendall, my goddoughter, my peir bedys of calcidenys gaudied with siluer and gilt.
Item, I wull that ich of myn other godchilder be rewarded by th'avyse of John Paston my sone.
Item, I bequeth to Agnes Swan, my seruaunt, my musterdevelys gown furred with blak, and a girdell of blak herneised with siluer gilt and enamelled, and xx s. in money.
Item, to Simon Gerard my siluer gobelet cured, and a flatt pece with verges gilt, and myn hole litel white bedde in my chapell chuamber at Mauteby, with the fetherbedde lich as it is nowe in the seid chapell, with a peir blankettes, a peir shetes, and a pilwe of doun.
Item, to John Heythe a materas with a traunsom, a peir shetes, a peir blankettes, and a couerlight.
Item, I wull that myn housholt be kept after my decesse by half a yer, and that my seruauntes wages be truly paied at ther departing, and also that euery persone being my seruaunt the day of my decesse have a quarter wages beside that they at her departing have do seruice fore.
Item, I wull that all such maners, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and seruices which are descended vnto me by weye of inheritaunce immediatly after my decesse remayne vnto myn heires accordyng to the last wille of Robert Mauteby, squier, my grauntfader, except such londes as I have putte in feffement to accomplissh therof my last wille, and except v marc.
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of annuyté which I have graunted out of the maner of Freton in Suffolk to Edmund Paston my sone, Katerine his wiff, and Robert ther sone, for terme of ther lyves.
Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, x li. to hir propre vse. And to Osbern Berney x marc. of the money comyng of the londes by me put in feffement as is beforseid.
Item, I wull that the residewe of the stuffe of myn houshold vnbiquothen be diuided equally betwen Edmund and William, my sones, and Anne, my doughter.
The residewe of all my godes and catall, and dettes to me owing, I yeve and comitte to the good disposicion of myn executours to parfourme this my testament and last wille, and in other dedes of mercye for my sowle, myn aunceterez sowlez, and alle Cristen sowles, to the most pleaser of God and profit to my sowle.
Of this my testament I make and ordeyne the seid John Paston, squier, my sone, Thomas Drentall, clerk, Simon Gerard, and Walter Lymyngton myn executours. And I bequeth to the seid John Paston for his labour x li. And to iche of myn other executours for their labour v marc. In witnesse wherof to this present testament I have putto my seal. Yevyn day and yer biforseid.
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DNB Main notes for John Paston
Paston, John 1421-1466
Name: Paston, John
Dates: 1421-1466
Active Date: 1461
Gender: Male
Field of Interest: Literature and Writing, Land Ownership, Royalty and Society
Occupation: Letter-writer and country gentleman
Place of
Education: Inner Temple, Peterhouse
Death: London
Burial: Bromholm Priory
Spouse: Margaret Mauteby
Sources: Paston Letters, ed. Gairdner; Norfolk Archæology, vol. iv...
Contributor: J. T-t. [James Tait]
Article
Paston, John 1421-1466, letter-writer and country gentleman, the eldest son of William Paston [q.v.] the judge, born in 1421, was brought up to the law in the Inner Temple, and by 1440 was married by his parents to a Norfolk heiress. We may infer that he had been at Cambridge from his residing for a time in Peterhouse, even after his marriage (Paston Letters, i. 42). After his father's death in 1444 he divided his time between his Norfolk estates and his London chambers in the Temple. The great additions which the judge had made to the Paston lands were viewed with jealousy, and John Paston incurred the further hostility of Sir Thomas Tuddenham and other officers of the duchy of Lancaster in Norfolk, of which he held some of his land in Paston. He was perhaps already seeking to round off his patrimony there, and secure the manorial rights at the expense of the duchy (ib. iii. 420). Tuddenham and his friends, who had the ear of William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk [q.v.], the minister in power, prompted Robert Hungerford, lord Moleyns [q.v.], to claim and take possession (1448) of the manor of Gresham, near Cromer, which Judge Paston had purchased from the descendants of Thomas Chaucer [q.v.]. Paston's title was legally unassailable, but the times were such that he thought it useless to go to law, re-entered on the manor after vainly trying diplomacy, was driven out by an armed force, and only recovered possession when the fall of Suffolk brought in a ‘changed world.’ But the new ‘world’ was so unstable that he failed to get a judgment against Moleyns for the damage he had sustained, and the indictments which he and others brought against Tuddenham and his supporters likewise fell to the ground. His friends had advised him to get elected as knight of the shire; but his patron, the Duke of Norfolk, forbade him to prosecute his candidature. Shortly after this he came into close relations with Sir John Fastolf [q.v.], which had important effects upon his fortunes and those of his family. His wife was a cousin of Fastolf, the connection being probably through the Berneys of Reedham, and in 1453 we find him exercising a general oversight of the building of the great castle at Caistor, near Yarmouth, where Sir John had decided to spend his declining years. After he had taken up his residence there in the summer of the next year, Paston transacted much legal business in London for his kinsman, who frequently thanked him for the zeal he showed in his ‘chargeable matters.’ Fastolf was childless, and had set his heart on disappointing the Duke of Norfolk and other great lords who turned covetous eyes on Caistor by founding in it a college for ‘seven priests and seven poor folk.’ But such a prohibitive sum was demanded for the mortmain license that he died (5 Nov. 1459) before any arrangement had been arrived at. There was nothing, therefore, inherently improbable in the will, dated two days before his death, propounded by Paston, which gave the latter all his Norfolk and Suffolk estates on condition that he secured the foundation of the college, and paid four thousand marks into the general estate. Ten executors were named, but the actual administration was confined to Paston and Fastolf's Norfolk man of business, Thomas Howes. How far the objections which were presently raised by two of the executors were prompted by the Duke of Norfolk, who seized Caistor Castle before June 1461, and other claimants to the estates, it would be hard to decide; but there was certainly a prima facie case against the will, which was obviously nuncupative at best, bore signs of hasty drafting, and cancelled a will made only five months before, leaving the foundation of the college and the administration of the estate to the whole body of executors. Howes, too, after Paston's death, declared the later will a fabrication. But his testimony is not free from suspicion, and was contradicted by others. The facts before us hardly justify Sir James Ramsay (ii. 345) in assuming without question that Paston was guilty of ‘forgery and breach of trust.’ The reopening of the civil war in the autumn of 1459 may very well have convinced Fastolf that unless he gave some one a strong personal interest in the foundation of his college his intentions were very likely to be defeated (Paston Letters, i. 491). For the rest of his life Paston's whole energies were devoted to retaining his hold upon the Fastolf estates against the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and the recalcitrant executors. Once his enemies laid a plot to carry him off into the north, and three times he was imprisoned in the Fleet, on the second occasion (1464) just after he had obtained Edward IV's license for the foundation of Fastolf's college. The suit against the will began in the spiritual court of Canterbury in 1464, and was still going on at his death. He was compelled to bring evidence to prove that he was not of servile blood. But the Fastolf succession had made Paston a man of greater importance than before; he sat in the last parliament of Henry VI and the first of Edward IV as knight of the shire for Norfolk, and had some influence with Edward, in whose household he seems for a time to have resided. He managed to retain possession of Caistor and most of the disputed estates down to his death, which took place at London on 21 or 22 May 1466 (ib. ii. 290). He was buried in Bromholm Priory.
Paston was somewhat hard, self-seeking, and unsympathetic. He grudged his younger brothers the provision which their father made for them, and his dealings with his own eldest son leave something to be desired. His letters reveal the cool, calculating, business temperament, which we have chiefly to thank for the preservation of the unique family correspondence, in which he is the central, though not the most interesting, figure (for the history of the ‘Paston Correspondence’ see under Fenn, Sir John, where the reprint of Fenn's collection, edited by Ramsay in 1841 for Charles Knight, is not mentioned).
By his wife, Margaret Mauteby (d. 1484), daughter and heiress of John Mauteby of Mauteby, near Caistor, Paston had five sons and two daughters. The sons were: John the elder (1442-1479) [q.v.], who is separately noticed; John the younger (d. 1503), who was the father of Sir William Paston (1479?-1554) [q.v.]; Edmund, living in 1484; Walter, who took the degree of B.A. at Oxford in June 1479, and died a few weeks later; and William, who was at Eton in 1479, and was afterwards attached to the household of John de Vere, earl of Oxford [q.v.], until, some time after 1495, he became ‘crased in his mind.’ Paston's daughters were Margery, who married in 1469 Richard Calle; and Anne, who married in 1477 William Yelverton, grandson of William Yelverton [q.v.], the judge.
Sources
Paston Letters, ed. Gairdner; Norfolk Archæology, vol. iv. (1855); Ramsay's Lancaster and York.
Contributor: J. T-t.
published 1895
Name: Paston, John
Dates: 1421-1466
Active Date: 1461
Gender: Male
Field of Interest: Literature and Writing, Land Ownership, Royalty and Society
Occupation: Letter-writer and country gentleman
Place of
Education: Inner Temple, Peterhouse
Death: London
Burial: Bromholm Priory
Spouse: Margaret Mauteby
Sources: Paston Letters, ed. Gairdner; Norfolk Archæology, vol. iv...
Contributor: J. T-t. [James Tait]
Article
Paston, John 1421-1466, letter-writer and country gentleman, the eldest son of William Paston [q.v.] the judge, born in 1421, was brought up to the law in the Inner Temple, and by 1440 was married by his parents to a Norfolk heiress. We may infer that he had been at Cambridge from his residing for a time in Peterhouse, even after his marriage (Paston Letters, i. 42). After his father's death in 1444 he divided his time between his Norfolk estates and his London chambers in the Temple. The great additions which the judge had made to the Paston lands were viewed with jealousy, and John Paston incurred the further hostility of Sir Thomas Tuddenham and other officers of the duchy of Lancaster in Norfolk, of which he held some of his land in Paston. He was perhaps already seeking to round off his patrimony there, and secure the manorial rights at the expense of the duchy (ib. iii. 420). Tuddenham and his friends, who had the ear of William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk [q.v.], the minister in power, prompted Robert Hungerford, lord Moleyns [q.v.], to claim and take possession (1448) of the manor of Gresham, near Cromer, which Judge Paston had purchased from the descendants of Thomas Chaucer [q.v.]. Paston's title was legally unassailable, but the times were such that he thought it useless to go to law, re-entered on the manor after vainly trying diplomacy, was driven out by an armed force, and only recovered possession when the fall of Suffolk brought in a ‘changed world.’ But the new ‘world’ was so unstable that he failed to get a judgment against Moleyns for the damage he had sustained, and the indictments which he and others brought against Tuddenham and his supporters likewise fell to the ground. His friends had advised him to get elected as knight of the shire; but his patron, the Duke of Norfolk, forbade him to prosecute his candidature. Shortly after this he came into close relations with Sir John Fastolf [q.v.], which had important effects upon his fortunes and those of his family. His wife was a cousin of Fastolf, the connection being probably through the Berneys of Reedham, and in 1453 we find him exercising a general oversight of the building of the great castle at Caistor, near Yarmouth, where Sir John had decided to spend his declining years. After he had taken up his residence there in the summer of the next year, Paston transacted much legal business in London for his kinsman, who frequently thanked him for the zeal he showed in his ‘chargeable matters.’ Fastolf was childless, and had set his heart on disappointing the Duke of Norfolk and other great lords who turned covetous eyes on Caistor by founding in it a college for ‘seven priests and seven poor folk.’ But such a prohibitive sum was demanded for the mortmain license that he died (5 Nov. 1459) before any arrangement had been arrived at. There was nothing, therefore, inherently improbable in the will, dated two days before his death, propounded by Paston, which gave the latter all his Norfolk and Suffolk estates on condition that he secured the foundation of the college, and paid four thousand marks into the general estate. Ten executors were named, but the actual administration was confined to Paston and Fastolf's Norfolk man of business, Thomas Howes. How far the objections which were presently raised by two of the executors were prompted by the Duke of Norfolk, who seized Caistor Castle before June 1461, and other claimants to the estates, it would be hard to decide; but there was certainly a prima facie case against the will, which was obviously nuncupative at best, bore signs of hasty drafting, and cancelled a will made only five months before, leaving the foundation of the college and the administration of the estate to the whole body of executors. Howes, too, after Paston's death, declared the later will a fabrication. But his testimony is not free from suspicion, and was contradicted by others. The facts before us hardly justify Sir James Ramsay (ii. 345) in assuming without question that Paston was guilty of ‘forgery and breach of trust.’ The reopening of the civil war in the autumn of 1459 may very well have convinced Fastolf that unless he gave some one a strong personal interest in the foundation of his college his intentions were very likely to be defeated (Paston Letters, i. 491). For the rest of his life Paston's whole energies were devoted to retaining his hold upon the Fastolf estates against the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and the recalcitrant executors. Once his enemies laid a plot to carry him off into the north, and three times he was imprisoned in the Fleet, on the second occasion (1464) just after he had obtained Edward IV's license for the foundation of Fastolf's college. The suit against the will began in the spiritual court of Canterbury in 1464, and was still going on at his death. He was compelled to bring evidence to prove that he was not of servile blood. But the Fastolf succession had made Paston a man of greater importance than before; he sat in the last parliament of Henry VI and the first of Edward IV as knight of the shire for Norfolk, and had some influence with Edward, in whose household he seems for a time to have resided. He managed to retain possession of Caistor and most of the disputed estates down to his death, which took place at London on 21 or 22 May 1466 (ib. ii. 290). He was buried in Bromholm Priory.
Paston was somewhat hard, self-seeking, and unsympathetic. He grudged his younger brothers the provision which their father made for them, and his dealings with his own eldest son leave something to be desired. His letters reveal the cool, calculating, business temperament, which we have chiefly to thank for the preservation of the unique family correspondence, in which he is the central, though not the most interesting, figure (for the history of the ‘Paston Correspondence’ see under Fenn, Sir John, where the reprint of Fenn's collection, edited by Ramsay in 1841 for Charles Knight, is not mentioned).
By his wife, Margaret Mauteby (d. 1484), daughter and heiress of John Mauteby of Mauteby, near Caistor, Paston had five sons and two daughters. The sons were: John the elder (1442-1479) [q.v.], who is separately noticed; John the younger (d. 1503), who was the father of Sir William Paston (1479?-1554) [q.v.]; Edmund, living in 1484; Walter, who took the degree of B.A. at Oxford in June 1479, and died a few weeks later; and William, who was at Eton in 1479, and was afterwards attached to the household of John de Vere, earl of Oxford [q.v.], until, some time after 1495, he became ‘crased in his mind.’ Paston's daughters were Margery, who married in 1469 Richard Calle; and Anne, who married in 1477 William Yelverton, grandson of William Yelverton [q.v.], the judge.
Sources
Paston Letters, ed. Gairdner; Norfolk Archæology, vol. iv. (1855); Ramsay's Lancaster and York.
Contributor: J. T-t.
published 1895