Document for Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII analysing the role of the gentry and their experiences during the War of the Roses and how this challenges the traditional power politics of the epoch.
Being a member of the gentry during the Wars of the Roses: the experience of the Paston family
• Historians analysis of the Paston family added personal colour to the study of the War of the Roses
➢ The Pastons were an upwardly mobile gentry family based Norfolk + considerable significance to modern historians as
their entire collection of letters survives; providing scholars unparalleled evidence for interplay of local and national
politics of the period
• 14th/15th centuries, Pastons rose from peasant to gentry status; 1440, John Paston I a lawyer who made advantageous marriage
to Margaret Mautby
➢ Through marriage John became confidante + legal adviser to wealthy local Norfolk knight, Sir John Fastolf
➢ When Fastolf died 1459, Patson claimed the main beneficiary thanks to a nuncupative will (delivered orally)
➢ Widely contests by the other executors + resulted in legal wrangling with Fastolf’s two other heirs (Thomas Howes + Sir
William Yelverton)
➢ As national political situation became more fraught early 1460s (Edward IV usurped throne), the dispute concerning
Fastolf’s will, descended into violence
➢ Classic example local quarrels getting out of control during W of R’s
• Tenson concerning disputed inheritance more significant as 2 noble families, the Mowbrays (earls of Norfolk) + the de la Poles
(earls of Suffolk) had strong territorial interests in the estates claimed by the Pastons
➢ Both seemed to use the crown’s weakness + political upheavals as opportunity further their own claims at expense of less-
powerful neighbours
➢ 1461: duke of Norfolk seized Caister Castle (for a period) while 1465 duke of Suffolk laid claim to 2 disputed Norfolk
manors of Hellesdon + Drayton (had his men attack + rob the properties causing considerable damage)
➢ During the legal disputes regarding the Fastolf inheritance, John Paston ended up in Fleet Prison in London twice 1464-65
• John Paston I allied primarily to Yorkist cause during W of Rs, doesn’t seem to have prevented Edward IV’s brother-in law,
Anthony Woodville (Lord Scales) from claiming Paston’s property’s in the king’s name (Jan 1446)
➢ Supporting evidence widespread contemporary view that family of Queen Elizabeth Woodville sought use their
connections with the king to advance their power
➢ Noted that the Pastons extremely ambition + quarrelsome family; rarely blameless in disputes that became embroiled
➢ The strain of the Fastolf dispute on John Paston I considerable + may have contributed to his early death May 1466
➢ Matter still unresolved + both his sons, also called John, inherited a complex legal dispute (focused upon the manors of
Caister Castle in Norfolk + Cotton and Caldecott Hall in Suffolk)
• John II, the eldest son, had become associated with the Yorkist cause from 1461 when he joined the king’s household
➢ By mid-1460s seems to have become well connected + competed in a jousting tournament with the king + Lord Scales
(1467)
➢ Shortly after his father’s death he received conformation of his ownership of Caister Castle (despite Lord Scales’ early
attempts to seize Paston property that year)
➢ October 1468: problems concerning the inheritance continued when Fastolf’s other trustees, Yelverton + Howes, sold their
rights to the inheritance to more formidable duke of Norfolk
➢ National political situation deteriorated 1469 (rebellion in North + Clarence + Warwick conspiring against Edward IV)
Norfolk took advantage of the crisis to further his own interests
➢ Norfolk besieged Caister for 5 weeks, forcing the defenders led by John Paston III (younger brother) to surrender
• Local and national politics, 1470 was a complex year: John II managed to reach an accommodation with his opponents via legal
compromise on the ownership of various manors, but the duke of Norfolk continued to occupy Caister Castle regardess
➢ John II had developed associations with earl of Oxford (influential Lancastrian) + family altered allegiance away from
Yorkists
➢ Pastons succeeded in having Norfolk removed from Caister briefly (change in loyalty ill-judged as Henry VI’s readeption
short lived)
➢ Both Paston brothers fought on the losing side at the Battle of Barnet 1471 + Norfolk felt confident to reoccupy Caister
➢ Both Paston brothers pardoned as not considered important enough figures to be a target of much recrimination from
Edward IV
➢ John II spent considerable time serving the king in Calais 1473-1477
➢ Duke of Norfolk died Jan 1476, Pastons finally able to gain both practical + legal possession of Caister
➢ John II not able to enjoy his victory for long: 1479 died of plague during stay in London + was succeeded as head of family
by his younger brother
The problems of the evidence from the Paston letters
• Traditional scholarly view later Middle Ages intrinsically violence + anarchic age
➢ According to this interpretation, 15th century period political + social decline + highly violent period
➢ Classic work of this kind was ‘The Waning of the Middle Ages’ (J. Huizinga): focused on history of France + Netherlands,
but similar theme noticeable in historiography of England (regarded as the ‘poor relation’ of the Tudor age, seen to
represent return of order/stability)
➢ To large extent, works of Shakespeare responsible for widespread nature of this view, as scripts sought to emphasis the
problems that faced England during the Wars of the Roses, in order to highlight the comparative strength of his patron’s
dynasty
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