The Paston Letters, A.D. 1422-1509. Volume 6 (of 6), Part 2 (Index) New Complete Library Edition — Edition Insights

Two Indexes, One Purpose

The volume is divided into two main sections: the Index of Letters and Titles, and the General Index of Names, Places, Subjects, and Obsolete Words. The first index lists writers and recipients of letters, keyed to letter numbers rather than page numbers, with a note that each volume's letter range is indicated at the top of every page. This dual system—letter numbers for the correspondence index, volume-and-page for the general index—requires the reader to toggle between references. The general index is more expansive, including not only personal names but also place names (e.g., Kelsall, Herts), subject entries (e.g., coat of mail), and obsolete words with brief definitions (e.g., Jape. To deceive). Cross-references are frequent, though the editor notes that many are misspelled; corrected forms are supplied in brackets.

Recurring Names and Networks

Scanning the index reveals the dense social and legal networks surrounding the Pastons. William Jenney, a sergeant-at-law and justice, appears in over 60 entries across multiple volumes, often in connection with property disputes. The index entry for him lists dozens of page references, sometimes with sub-entries like Brother of, ii. 252. Other figures, such as John Jermyn or Sir John Fastolf, recur with similar frequency. The index also captures lesser-known individuals: a messenger named Judy (Juddy, or Jwde) appears in ten entries, suggesting a trusted courier. This granularity allows a reader to trace the movements of a single person through the correspondence, though the index itself offers no narrative—only the raw coordinates of names and pages.

Obsolete Words as Windows

A distinctive feature of the general index is its inclusion of obsolete or dialectal words, each with a brief gloss. Examples include Joperte (jeopardy), Jornade (a kind of cloak), and Junkeryes (junketings). These entries are scattered among personal names and place names, creating a lexical map of 15th-century English. The definitions are terse—often a single word or phrase—and appear to be drawn from the letters themselves. For instance, ‘Jakkyd and saletted’ is glossed as armed with coats of mail and helmets, with a reference to volume iii, letter 297. This practice turns the index into a miniature glossary, offering glimpses of everyday language that the letters otherwise embed in context.

Corrections and Editorial Choices

The index is not a neutral list; it bears the marks of editorial intervention. The front matter states that unambiguous punctuation and typographical errors have been silently corrected, while other errors are marked with mouse-hover popups. In the index itself, misspelled cross-references are corrected in brackets—for example, Jernemouth. See Yarmouth. The editor also notes when a letter or punctuation mark is missing, using the term invisible. These choices reflect a commitment to accuracy, but they also remind the reader that the index is a constructed tool, not a transparent window onto the original manuscripts. The presence of multiple volumes and a separate e-text for the general introduction further underscores the editorial framework.

This index volume is best used as a companion while reading the letter texts themselves. Its value lies in its ability to connect scattered references across the five volumes of correspondence. Readers should note the dual reference system—letter numbers for the correspondence index, page numbers for the general index—and be prepared to toggle between them. The inclusion of obsolete words and cross-references makes it a useful resource for scholars of late medieval English, but its primary function remains navigational: to help a reader find their way through the Paston family's world.

This index reminds me of my grandmother’s letters, tied in ribbon, where I’d trace names and dates, sensing lives between the lines. Flipping through these entries, I felt that same quiet ache of people reduced to lists—until a similar warmth returned from A Letter to Lord Fielding. Suggested by the late proceedings at the New Church at Pantasa — Edition Insights, where a single letter holds a whole argument, and I felt again how words outlive their speakers.