10. The Experience of the Paston Family Flashcards
Who were the Paston family?
An upwardly mobile gentry family based in Norfolk. Entire collection of letters survive
What did John Paston I, the lawyer, do in 1440 that improved his status?
Made a highly advantageous marriage to Margaret Mauteby
What did the 1440 event make John?
A confidante and legal adviser to a wealthy local Norfolk knight, Sir John Fastolf
When Fastolf died in 1458, John claimed to be the main beneficiary thanks to what bill, and explain
A nuncupative will
A will that was delivered orally and written down later
Who did the fact Paston was the main beneficiary cause wrangling with?
Fastolf’s two other heirs, Thomas Howes and Sir William Yelverton
When did the dispute concerning Fastolf’s will descend into violence and why?
Early 1460s when Edward IV usurped the throne so the national political situation was more fraught
What did this dispute turning violent show?
Local quarrels getting out of control during the political turmoil of the WOR
Who had strong territorial interests in the estates claimed by the Pastons?
the Mowbrays (earls of Norfolk) the de la Poles (earls of Suffolk)
What did the earls do to further their own claims on the inheritance?
Used the crown’s weakness and the political upheavals of the period to further their own claims
What did the duke of Norfolk do in 1461
Seized Caister Castle for a period
What did the duke of Suffolk make claim to in 1465 and how did this develop into violence?
Two disputed Norfolk manors of Hellesdon and Drayton & had his men attack and rob the properties, causing considerable damage
Although John Paston I had allied to Yorkist cause, what did this not prevent in May 1466?
Edward IV’s brother-in-law, Anthony Woodville, (Lord Scales) claiming Paston’s property in the king’s name
Why can the Pastons not be believed to be completely innocent?
They were an extremely ambitious and quarrelsome family, who were rarely blameless in the disputes with which they became embroiled
Was the matter of the inheritance resolved after John’s death in May 1466?
No- his two sons (John) inherited a complex legal dispute, focused on manors of Caister Castle and Cotton and Caldecott Hall
Where was Caister Castle?
Norfolk
Where was Cotton and Caldecott Hall?
Suffolk
What did John II’s connections with the royal household lead to? (Associating himself with Yorkist cause, joining king’s household)
Shortly following father’s death, he received confirmation of his ownership of Caister Castle
What did Fastolf’s other trustees do in October 1468 that made the inheritance problems worse?
Yelverton and Howes sold their rights to the inheritance to the duke of Norfolk
When did Norfolk decide to besiege Caister?
As the national political situation deteriorated 1469 (rebellion in North and Clarence & Warwick conspiring against Edward IV)
How long did Norfolk besiege Caister for?
5 weeks until the defenders (led by John Paston III) surrendered
How did John II manage to remove Norfolk from Caister briefly?
Altered their allegiance awY from the Yorkists and towards the Lancastrians with some associations with the earl of Oxford, an influential Lancastrian
Why did this quick change of loyalty prove to be ill-judged?
Henry VI’s readeption was short-lived
Which side were the Paston brothers on at the Battle of Barnet?
The losing Lancastrian side
What did the Battle of Barnet lead to in terms of the inheritance?
Norfolk felt confident to once again occupy Caister
