[Footnote 150-3: The manor of Mauteby, which came to John Paston by his marriage, was only three miles distant from Caister.]
There in his completed castle of Caister he had at length taken up his abode, to spend the evening of his days in the place of his birth, and on the inheritance of his ancestors. There during the next five years he spent his time, counting over the items of a number of unsettled claims he had against the crown,[151-1] and meditating also, it would seem, on another account he had with Heaven. For the latter the foundation of a college[151-2] or religious endowment, in which were to be maintained 'seven priests and seven poor folk' at Caister, might possibly liquidate his debts. But in his transactions with his fellowmen he was certainly for the most part a creditor, and by no means one of the most generous. Instances will be found in his letters in abundance showing with what vehemence (testy old soldier that he was!) he perpetually insisted on what was due to himself;--how he desired to know the names of those who would presume to resist his agent, Sir Thomas Howes--how they should be requited 'by Blackbeard or Whitebeard, that is to say, by God or the Devil';[151-3]--how he noted that Sir John Buck had fished his stanks and helped to break his dam;[151-4] how he had been informed that at a dinner at Norwich certain gentlemen had used scornful language about him, and desired to know who they were.[151-5] In this perpetual self-assertion he seems neither to have been over-indulgent towards adversaries nor even sufficiently considerate of friends and dependants. 'Cruel and vengeable he hath been ever,' says his own servant Henry Windsor, 'and for the most part without pity and mercy.'[151-6] So also on the part of his faithful secretary, William Worcester, we find a complaint of shabby treatment, apparently at this very time when the household was removed to Caister. To a letter in which John Paston had addressed him as 'Master Worcester,' the latter replied with a request that he would 'forget that name of mastership,' for his position was by no means so greatly improved as to entitle him to such respect. His salary was not increased by one farthing in certainty--only 'wages of household in common, _entaunt come nows plaira_'--which apparently means, assured to him only during his master's pleasure. When he complained to his master of this, all the satisfaction he obtained was that Sir John expressed a wish he had been a priest, when he could have rewarded him with a living.[152-1]