_To my right worshipfull cosyn, Syr John Paston, Knight, be thys lettre
delivered._
[Sidenote: 1488(?) / APRIL 7]
Right worshipfull cosyn, in my most herty wise I [comme]nd me to you.
And where I am enformed that ye have takyn a disthresse within the
[Du]chy of Lankastir for suche money as was commyng toward you of ryght
for the tyme that ye were shiryef, me seme, cosyn, ye aught not to take
it within the said Duchy of noon auncyen demene holdyn upon the King;
for there be places inow to gadir it upon without the said auncyen
demene, and so ye cannot lose it. And also, cosyn, I am enformed that it
is paied alredy to oon John Burnam, which is of sufficyency inow. For
whiche cause mesemythe it werne resone to levey it upon hym than ther
where as is noon auctorite to levey it upon. Wherfore, cosyn, I pray you
to be good mastir for my sake to thies pore men, whiche be the Kingz
tenauntz, and to shew them the favour that ye may. And I shall be as
glad to doo you as gret plesure in tyme commyng, by Goddz grace, Who
preserve you.
Wretyn at Attylborow, the vij. daie of Apryll.
Zowir cosyn and frend,
[J.] SIR FYTZ WAUTER.
[Footnote 109-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Sir John Paston had been
sheriff in the year 1485-6, but he did not receive his knighthood
till June 1487 at the battle of Stoke, so that this letter cannot
be earlier than 1488. It is, however, not unlikely to have been
written in that year, or one or two years later. The writer, Lord
Fitzwalter, was beheaded and attainted in 1495 as an adherent of
Perkin Warbeck.]
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