But very shortly afterwards the manner in which Worcester spoke of Paston revealed a bitter sense of disappointment and injustice. He asserted that Fastolf had actually granted him a portion of land to live upon, and that Sir Thomas Howes, Fastolf's confessor, who was his wife's uncle, had been present in the chapel at Caister when this gift was conceded. Worcester's wife had in fact asked Sir Thomas to choose the land. Nevertheless, when he came to demand of Paston that to which he considered he had a lawful claim, the latter was displeased with him; nor did the two come to a good understanding again during Paston's life.[199-1]
[Footnote 199-1: No. 401. It appears by a document inrolled in the _Close Roll_ of 39 Henry VI., m. 13, _in dorso_, that Worcester on the 28th August 1460 executed a deed making over all his goods and chattels (_bona mea et catalla mobilia et immobilia, viva et mortua, ubicumque et in quorumcumque manibus_), and all debts due to him from whatever persons, to Henry Everyngham, Esq., Hugh Fenne, gentleman, Henry Wyndesore, gentleman, Robert Toppes, jun., gentleman, and John Bokkyng, gentleman; which deed he acknowledged in Chancery on the 1st September following (_see_ Appendix to this Introduction). Apparently the object of this was to give others an interest in vindicating what he supposed to be his rights.]
It was but nine days after Sir John Fastolf's death, and three days after his first interview with the chancellor, Bishop Waynflete, that William Paston, in writing to his brother, expressed his intention of going to the bishop again for writs of _diem clausit extremum_. These writs were the ordinary authority under which the escheators of the different counties wherein the deceased had held lands would proceed to inquire what the manors were, and to whom they ought to descend. [Sidenote: Claimants of Fastolf's property.] That many pretenders would lay claim to the different portions of those rich domains, John Paston and his brother knew full well. The Duke of Exeter had already set up a claim to Fastolf's place in Southwark, on what grounds it is impossible to say. Others, who had no hope of proving title to any part of the property themselves, expected to win favour at court by offering to establish the rights of the crown in all the goods and chattels. William Paston accordingly endeavoured to secure the friendship of the Lord Treasurer, James, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond; but though the earl gave him fair words, William Paston was advised to put no trust in him.[199-2] In point of fact, soon after Christmas, the earl entered Sir John's mansion in Southwark, and occupied it for a time as if it had been his own dwelling-house.[199-3]