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Add MS 34888
- Record Id:
- 040-002087893
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-002087892
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100000001453.0x000247
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Add MS 34888
- Title:
- Paston Letters and Papers
- Scope & Content:
-
The first of two volumes in this series of letters and papers of the Paston family (Additional MSS 34888 and 34889), corresponding to Fenn, Paston Letters (1787-1823), vol. III. The label on the spine is 'Correspondence of the Family of Paston, Vol. I., 1425-1463'.
(Numbers in brackets refer to numbering in Davis, Paston Letters (Early English Text Society, 2004), from which the dates are also drawn).
Contents:
f. 1: Letter from Nicholas, Prior of Bromholm Priory to William Paston, 5 July, 1425 (Davis, 422);
f. 3: Petition to Parliament by William Dalling against Judge William Paston I, ?1433 (Davis, 869);
f. 4: Letter from John Gyn (Gyne) to John Paston I, ?before 1440 (Davis, 438);
ff. 7, 8, 18, 23, 24, 29, 55, 64, 65, 66, 72, 74, 84, 85, 87, 89, 91, 122, 150, 155, 173, 184, 185, 187, 195, 199, 213, 215, 220: Correspondence between John Paston I and Margaret Paston, his wife, 1443-1465. (Davis, nos 56, 58, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 135, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 154, 156, 158, 161, 162, 163, 166, 172, 174);
f. 9: Letter from James Gresham to William Paston I, 28 January, ?1444 (Davis, 432);
f. 9v: Covenant between Judge William Paston and the town of Paston, in Latin, 1444 (imperfect);
f. 10: Copy of the will of Edmund Norman of Filby, 1444;
f. 12: Letter from Katherine Mowbray, widow of John, 2nd Duke of Norfolk to John Paston III, 2 October 1480-6 (Davis, 808);
f. 13: Letter from Agnes Paston to Edmond Paston I, 4 February, 1445 (Davis, 14);
f. 14: Letter from John Hauteyn to John Stafford, Archbishop Canterbury, between 1444 and 1449;
f. 15: Letter from Sir Roger Chamberlain (or Chambirleyn) to Agnes Paston, after 1444 (Davis, 434);
f. 16v-17r: Pleas in court: 1444-1445;
f. 19: Unsigned letter from the household of Agnes Paston relating how John Hauteyn, friar, took possession of Oxnead Manor, 1449;
f. 22: Letter from Edmond Paston II, to John Paston III, 16 May, 1472 (Davis, 395);
f. 28: Letter from Robert, Prior of Bromholm, to John Paston I, ?1450 (Davis, 469);
ff. 30, 43, 50, 51, 73, 205, 216: Letters from James Gresham to John Paston I, 1449 -1464 (Davis, 447, 455, 461, 467, 453, 663);
ff. 32, 51: Letters from John Damme (Damer) to John Paston I, 30 November, 1448 (Davis, 444), 11 November, 1450 (Davis, 467);
ff. 33, 40, 71, 76, 86, 88, 92, 135: Letters from Agnes Paston to her son John Paston I, 1449-1457 (18, 20, 24, 23, 25, 26, 19, 30);
f. 34: Letter from Elizabeth Clere to John Paston I, 29 June, not after 1449 (Davis, 446);
f. 35: Letter from Viscount Beaumont to William Tailboys, 20 August, ?1449 (Davis, 971);
f. 36: Impeachment of William De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, 1450;
ff. 41, 99: Letters from Thomas de Scales, Baron Scales to John Paston, 16 October, not after 1459 (Davis, 596), 17 May, not after 1454 (Davis, 495);
ff. 42, 164, 166, 168, 169: Letters from John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford to John Paston I, 1450-1461 (Davis, 490, 476, 642, 468, 622);
f. 44: Letter from King Henry VI to John Paston I, 18 September, 1450 (Davis, 458);
ff. 45, 93, 94, 175, 178: Letters from Thomas Denyes to John Paston I, 1450-1461 (Davis 459, 491 492, 626, 629);
ff. 47, 63: Letters from William Wayte to John Paston I, 6 October, 1450 (Davis, 460), 3 January, 1451 (Davis, 471);
f. 49: Letters from Sir John Fastolf to William Barker and Sir Thomas Howes (Howys), 15 and 18 October, 1450 (Davis, 989);
ff. 68, 75, 102: Correspondence between Sir Thomas Howes (Howys) and Sir John Fastolf, 9 May, 1451 (Davis, 1008), 23 September, 1451 (Davis, 1011), 12 July, 1451 (Davis, 1015);
f. 52: Letter from Sir William Yelverton, Justice, to Sir John Fastolf, ?1450;
f. 53: Letter from Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howes (Howys) and John Bokkyng, 4 December, 1450 (Davis, 994);
ff. 54, 179, 209, 210: Letters from Richard Calle to John Paston I, 1450-1465 (Davis, 653, 632: 179, 670);
ff. 57, 120, 193: Letters from James Gloys to John Paston I, c.1450-1461 (Davis, 443, 532, 645);
ff. 60, 97: Letters from John Clopton to John Paston I, 1 April 1452 (Davis, 486), ?12 April, 1454 (Davis, 493);
f. 61: Letter from John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford to John Jermyn, Sheriff of Norfolk, 2 January, 1451 (Davis, 999);
f. 62: Letter from John Bokkyng to William Wayte, 2 January, 1451 (Davis, 1001);
f. 67: Letter from Sir John Heveningham (or Hevenyngham) to Margaret Paston, 7 May, not after 1466 (Davis, 723);
ff. 70, 83: Letters from John Osbern to John Paston I, 27 May, 1451 (Davis, 479), 14 May, 1452 (Davis, 487);
ff. 78, 108: Letters from Richard Southwell (Suthwell) to John Paston I, 18 December, 1451 (Davis, 483), 6 October, ?1458 (Davis, 575);
f. 79: Letter from Osbern Mundeford to John Paston I, 9 February, 1452 (Davis, 485);
f. 82: Proclamation by John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1452;
f. 90: Petition to the Privy Council by John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1453;
f. 98: Marriage settlement between John Clopton and Elizabeth Paston, ?1454 (Davis, 27);
f. 100: Letter from R. Dollay to John Paston I, 29 June, 1454 (Davis, 497);
ff. 101: Letter from Edmund Grey, Baron de Ruthyn, Earl of Kent, to John Paston I, 11 July, 1454 (Davis, 499);
f. 104: Draft of a letter from John Paston I to Edmund Grey, Baron de Ruthyn; Earl of Kent, 15 July, 1454 (Davis 50);
ff. 105, 119, 127, 132, 133: Letters from William Worcester (Wyrcestre, or Botoner), agent and secretary to Sir John Fastolf, to John Paston I, ?1454 - 1457 (Davis 506, 529, 537, 572);
ff. 106, 110, 203: Letters from Thomas Howes (Howys), parson, of Castle Combe, Wiltshire to John Paston I, ?1454 - 1462 (Davis, 507, 510, 662);
f. 107, 140: Letters from William Paston II to his brother John Paston I, 6 September, 1454 and 12 November, 1459 (Davis, 84, 86);
ff. 109, 111: Letters from Sir John Fastolf to John Paston I, 11 November, 1454 (Davis, 509);
f. 112: Letter from John Martin, Abbot of St. Benet's of Hulme to John Paston I, 10 February, not after 1455 (Davis, 515);
f. 113: Draft letter from Sir John Fastolf to John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 2 April 1455 (Davis, 102);
f. 114: Copy of a memorandum to Henry VI of England from the Duke of York and Earls of Warwick and Salisbury before the battle of St. Albans, 21 May, 1455 (Davis, 1022);
f. 115: Copy of a letter from William Pryce, Under-Sheriff of Norfolk to John Paston I, 18 June, 1461 (Davis, 633);
ff. 116, 117: Letters from John Jenney to John Paston I, 24 June, 1455 (Davis, 527), 25 June 1455 (Davis, 528);
f. 118: Letter from Alice Crane to Margaret Paston, 9 June, ?1455 (Davis, 711);
f. 121: Letter from John Chedworth, Bishop of Lincoln to John Paston I, 26 July, 1455 (Davis, 533);
ff. 123-126: Claims by Sir John Fastolf against the Crown, 1455;
f. 128: Letter from Hugh a Fenne to John Paston I, 1 March, 1456 (Davis, 543);
f. 129: Letter from Dame Alice Ogard to John Paston I, 30 March, 1456 (Davis, 545);
f. 130: Letter from Henry Windsor to John Paston I, 16 May, ?1456 (Davis, 550);
f. 131: Letter from Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury to John Paston I and William Norwiche, 7 September, 1456 (Davis, 562);
f. 134: Letter from Sir John Fastolf to Stephen Scrope, 30 October, 1457 (Davis, 1035);
f. 136: Letter from Elizabeth Poynings (later Browne, nee Paston) to Agnes Paston, wife of William Paston I, her mother, 3 January, 1459 (Davis, 121);
f. 138: Letter from William Jenney to John Paston I, 22 August, ?1459 (Davis, 580);
ff. 139, 142, 147, 151, 152, 157, 158, 161: Letters from John Brackley, Friar to John Paston I, 1459 - 1460 (Davis, 583, 582, 608, 609, 611, 617, 610, 616);
f. 141: Advice on Sir John Fastolf's will from William de Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, ?1459;
f. 143: Letter from Hugh at Fenne to William Worcester, 9 April, 1460 (Davis, 1037);
ff. 146, 218: Letter from the Abbot of Langley Abbey, Norfolk to J. Stokes: 1460;
f. 149: Letters from the Yorkist lords, Edward, Earl of March (later King Edward IV) and Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick to the authorities in Norfolk, 1460;
f. 156: Letter from Piers (or Pers), servant of the late John Berney, to Sir Robert Rokesby (or Rokysby), ?1460 (Davis, 1041);
f. 163: From Piers (or Pers), servant of the late John Berney to Margaret Paston, c. 1461 (Davis, 715);
f. 170: Letter from Sir John Wingfield (Wyngefeld) to John Paston I, ?1461 (Davis, 623);
f. 171: Sermon by James Gloys, ?1466 (Davis, 919);
f. 172: Letter from John, Prior of Bromholm to John Paston I, 31 January, 1461 (Davis, 624);
f. 174: Letter from John Davy to John Paston, ?1460 (Davis, 602);
ff. 177, 212, 214: Letters from Thomas Playter to John Paston I, 1461-1463, (Davis, 628, 673, 677);
f. 180: Letter from Thomas Denys (Denyes) to Margaret Paston, 21 or 28 June, 1461 (Davis, 716);
f. 181: Letter from Thomas Plaiter to John Paston I, ?July-August 1461 (Davis, 641);
f. 186: Letter from John Berney (Berneye) of Witchingham to John Paston, 17 July, 1461 (Davis, 639);
ff. 188, 206, 211: Letters from John Russe to John Paston I, 1461-1462 (Davis, 669, 643, 666);
ff. 137, 189v-190r, 204, 207: Letters from John Paston II to John Paston I, his father, 5 March 1464 (Davis, 234), 23 August, 1461 (Davis, 231), 13 March, 1462 (Davis, 232), ?May 1462 (Davis, 233);
f. 191: Letter from Clement Paston to his brother John Paston I, 25 August, 1461 (Davis, 116);
f. 192: Letter from John, Baron Beauchamp, Lord Treasurer, to Sir Thomas Howes (Howys), 28 August, ?1460 (Davis, 1038);
f. 194: Letter from William Nanton to John Paston I, October, 1461 (Davis, 648);
ff. 196, 197: Letters from Roger Taverham to John Paston I, 1461-1466 (Davis, 697, 698);
f. 198: Letters from Robert Cutler to John Paston I, December, 1461 (Davis, 652), May, 1463 (Davis, 680);
f. 200: Letter from Thomas Gnatyshale to Margaret Paston, ?1450 (Davis, 710);
f. 201: Letter from Elizabeth Mundeford to John Paston I, 1461-1466 (Davis, 657);
f. 202: Letter from Sir Robert Williamson (or Willyamson) to Agnes Paston ?1460-1464 (Davis, 436);
f. 208: Letter from John Daubeney to John Paston I, 3 July, 1462 (Davis, 668);
f. 216: Letter from John Pampyng to Margaret Paston, ?1453 (Davis, 719);
f. 217: Letter from John Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk to John Paston I, 31 August, 1462-1463 (Davis, 672);
f. 218: Letter from the Abbot of Langley Abbey, Norfolk, to John Paston II, 4 September, 1463 (Davis, 739);
f. 219: Letter from R. C. V. C to John Paston, 1463;
f. 221: Letter from Margaret Paston, wife of John Paston I, to her son, Sir John Paston II, 15 November, 1463 (Davis, 175).
The verso of each letter has the address and traces of the wax seal visible.
- Collection Area:
- Western Manuscripts
- Project / Collection:
- Additional Manuscripts
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-002087892
040-002087893 - Is part of:
- Add MS 34888-34889 : Paston Letters and Papers
Add MS 34888 : Paston Letters and Papers - Hierarchy:
- 032-002087892[0001]/040-002087893
- Container:
- View / search within Archive / Collection: Add MS 34888-34889
- Record Type (Level):
- File
- Extent:
-
A collection of letters and papers bound together, 221 folios
- Digitised Content:
- http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_34888 (digital images currently unavailable)
- Thumbnail:
-
- Languages:
- English
Latin - Scripts:
- Latin
- Start Date:
- 1400
- End Date:
- 1499
- Date Range:
- 15th century
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
-
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- Physical Characteristics:
-
Materials: Paper.
Dimensions: 355 x 320 mm (the dimensions of the letters and papers vary).
Foliation: ff. 221 (+ 2 unfoliated paper flyleaves at the beginning and 2 at the end).
Script: Gothic cursive.
Binding: BM/BL in-house. Green leather.
- Custodial History:
-
Origin: England.
Provenance:
William Paston (b. 1653/4, d. 1732) 2nd Earl of Yarmouth, by descent through the Paston family.
Peter le Neve (d. 1729), collector and antiquary, purchased by him from William Paston (see Gairdner, Paston Letters (1900), I, p. 4).
Thomas Martin (d. 1771), antiquary of Palgrave, acquired by him as executor of Peter le Neve (see Gairdner, Paston Letters (1900) I, p. 4).
John Worth, chemist of Diss, sold by him in 1774 to John Fenn (see Gairdner, Paston Letters (1900) I, p. 6).
John Fenn (b. 1739, d. 1794), antiquary, the third of five volumes of his Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III...., published together with material now in Additional MS 34889 (volume IV) in May 1789.
?John Frere (b. 1740, d. 1807), landowner and antiquary of Roydon Hall, brother-in-law of John Fenn and inheritor of his library, though his son, William Frere, was unable to find Fenn's manuscripts in the library in 1823 (see Davis, Paston Letters (2004), II, pp. xxviii-xxx).
George Frere (b. 1821), F.R.S., by descent and found by him at Roydon Hall in c. 1870; each letter is stamped 'Roydon Hall Library', his sale, Christies 1888: sold to an unknown purchaser.
Bought by the British Museum from Bernard Quaritch, booksellsers, on 13 April, 1896, together with Additional MS 34889.
- Information About Copies:
-
Full digital coverage available for this manuscript: see Digitised Manuscripts at http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts.
- Publications:
-
Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III..., ed. by John Fenn, 5 vols (London, Robinsons, 1787-1823), vols III and IV.
Catalogue of Additions to the Manuscripts in the British Museum in the Years 1876-1881 (London: British Museum, 1882), p. 110.
The Paston Letters, 1422-1509 A.D., ed. by James Gairdner, 4 vols (Westminster, 1900-1901); 6 vols (London and Exeter, 1904).
H.S. Bennett, The Pastons and their England: Studies in an Age of Transition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1937).
Norman Davis, 'A Scribal Problem in the Paston Letters', English and Germanic Studies, 4 (1952), 31-64.
David Stoker, '"Innumerable letters of good consequence in history": the discovery and first publication of the Paston letters', The Library, 6th series 17 (1995), 107–55.
Colin Richmond, The Paston Family in the Fifteenth Century, 3 vols (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996-2001).
The Paston Women: Selected Letters, trans. by Diane Watt (Cambridge; D.S. Brewer, 2004).
Paston Letters and Papers of the Fifteenth Century, ed. by Norman Davis, 3 vols, Early English Text Society, Supplementary Series, 20-22 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) [an edition of the texts in this and other manuscripts, with notes and additional bibliography].
Alexander Bergs, Social Networks and Historical Sociolinguistics: Studies in Morphosyntactic Variation in the Paston Letters, 1421-1503 (Berlin : Mouton de Gruyter, 2005).
Joel T. Rosenthal, Margaret Paston: ?1422-1484 (Dereham, Norfolk: Larks Press, 2009).
Jukka Tyrkkö, 'The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters', in Meaning in the History of English: Words and Texts in Context, ed. by Andreas H. Jucker, Daniela Landert, Annina Seiler and Nicole Studer-Joho (Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing, 2013), pp. 211-28.
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)