In 1448 Paston's manor of Gresham was seized by Robert
Hungerford, Lord Moleyns (1431-1464), and although it was afterwards
recovered, the owner could obtain no redress for the loss and injury he
had sustained. More serious troubles, however, were at hand. Paston had
become very intimate with the wealthy knight, Sir John Fastolf, who was
probably related to his wife, and who had employed him on several
matters of business. In 1459 Sir John died without children, leaving his
affairs in rather a tangled condition. In accordance with the custom of
the time, he had conveyed many of his estates in Norfolk and Suffolk to
trustees, among whom were John Paston and his brother William, retaining
the revenues for himself, and probably intending his trustees after his
death to devote the property to the foundation of a college. However, it
was found that a few days before his decease Fastolf had executed a
fresh will in which he had named ten executors, of whom two only, John
Paston and another, were to act; and, moreover, that he had bequeathed
all his lands in Norfolk and Suffolk to Paston, subject only to the duty
of founding the college at Caister, and paying 4000 marks to the other
executors. At once taking possession of the lands, Paston soon found his
rights challenged. Various estates were claimed by different noblemen;
the excluded executors were angry and aggressive; and Paston soon found
himself in a whirlwind of litigation, and exposed also to more violent
methods of attack. Something, like a regular warfare was waged around
Drayton and Hellesdon ,between John de la Pole, duke of Suffolk, and the
Pastons under Margaret and her eldest son, John; Caister Castle was
seized by John Mowbray, 3rd duke of Norfolk (d. 1461); and similar
occurrences took place elsewhere. Some compensation, doubtless, was
found in the fact that in 1460, and again in 1461, Paston had been
returned to parliament as a knight of the shire for Norfolk, and
enjoying the favour of Edward IV. had regained his castle at Caister.
But the royal favour was only temporary, and, having been imprisoned on
three occasions, Paston died in May 1466, leaving the suit concerning
Fastolf's will still proceeding in the church courts. John Paston left
at least five sons, the two eldest of whom were, curiously enough, both
named John, and the eldest of whom had been knighted during his father's
lifetime. Sir John Paston (1442-1479) was frequently at the court of
King Edward IV., but afterwards he favoured the Lancastrian party, and,
with his brother John, fought for Henry VI. at the battle of Barnet.
Meanwhile the struggle over Fastolf's estates continued, although in
1461 the king and council had decided that Paston's ancestors were not
bondmen, and consequently that his title to his father's lands was good.
Caister Castle was taken after a regular siege by John Mowbray, 4th duke
of Norfolk (1444-1476), and then recovered by the Pastons, and retaken
by the duke. But in 1474 an arrangement was made with William Waynflete,
bishop of Winchester, the representative of the excluded executors, by
which some of the estates were surrendered to the bishop for charitable
purposes, while Paston was secured in the possession of others. Two
years later the opportune death of the duke of Norfolk paved the way for
the restoration of Caister Castle; but in 1478 a fresh quarrel broke out
with the duke of Suffolk. Sir John, who was a cultured man, had shown
great anxiety to recover Caister; but in general he had left the conduct
of the struggle to his mother and to the younger John. Owing to his
carelessness and extravagance the family lands were also diminished by
sales; but nevertheless when he died unmarried in November 1479 he left
a. goodly inheritance to his brother John. About this time the
Letters begin to be scanty and less interesting, but the family
continued to flourish. The younger John Paston (d. 1503), after
quarrelling with his uncle William over the manors of Oxnead and
Marlingford, was knighted at the battle of Stoke in 1487. He married
Margery, daughter of Sir Thomas Brews, and left a son, William Paston
(
c. 1479-1554), who was also knighted, and who was a prominent
figure at the court of Henry VIII. Sir William's second son, Clement
(
c. 15151 597), served his country with distinction on the sea,
and was wounded at the battle of Pinkie. The family was continued by Sir
William's eldest son, Erasmus (d. 1540), whose son William succeeded to
his grandfather's estates in 1554, and to those of his uncle Clement in
1597 This William (1528-1610) was knighted in 1578. He was the founder
of the Paston grammar-school at North Walsham, and made Oxnead Hall,
near Norwich, his principal residence. Christopher Paston was Sir
William's son and heir, and Christopher's grandson, William (d. 1663),
was created a baronet in 1642; being succeeded in the title by his son
Robert (1631-1683), who was a member of parliament from 1661 to 1673,
and was created earl of Yarmouth in 1679. Robert's son William
(1652-1732), who married a natural daughter of Charles II., was the
second earl, and, like his father, was in high favour with the Stuarts.
When he died in 1732 he left no son, and his titles became extinct, his
estates being sold to discharge his debts.
Continued on page three.
This article is from the 1911 edition of an
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