to another, not to one in England."

This was a true expression of the king's intentions. But either he
was changeable in his moods, or during these early years he was
hardly settled enough on the throne always to be able to carry out
his wishes. This time, however, in some way or another, the great
duke was reduced to submission, and Caister was restored to Paston.

In 1465 a new claimant appeared; and claimants, though as
troublesome in the fifteenth as the nineteenth century, proceeded
in a different fashion. This time it was the Duke of Suffolk, who
asserted a right to the manor of Drayton in his own name, and who
had bought up the assumed rights of another person to the manor of
Hellesdon. John Paston was away, and his wife had to bear the
brunt. An attempt to levy rent at Drayton was followed by a threat
from the duke's men, that if her servants "ventured to take any
further distresses at Drayton, even if it were but of the value of
a pin, they would take the value of an ox in Hellesdon."

Paston and the duke alike professed to be under the law. But each
was anxious to retain that possession which in those days seems
really to have been nine points of the law. The duke got hold of
Drayton, while Hellesdon was held for Paston. One day Paston's men
made a raid upon Drayton, and carried off seventy-seven head of
cattle. Another day the duke's bailiff came to Hellesdon with 300
men to see if the place were assailable. Two servants of Paston,
attempting to keep a court at Drayton in their master's name, were
carried off by force. At last the duke mustered his retainers and
marched against Hellesdon. The garrison, too weak to resist, at
once surrendered.