_To the right worshipfull and my right intierly welbelovyd counceillor,
Sir John Paston, Knyght._
[Sidenote: About 1491(?) / OCT. 20]
Right worshipfull and right intierly welbelovyd counceillor, I comaund
me to you. And where as I late have receyved your writing, wherby I
. . . . . . the demeanyng of Richard Barkeley and his shipp as other,
I have ta . . . . . . . . of hym to be redy at all tymes to answer to
all suche thynges as can be l . . . . . . . . . he demeanyng. I woll
therfor that ye suffre hym, his men and shippys, . . . . . . . . d as
for a last of hering and an half, whiche I undirstond by hy . . . . . .
of his, I woll that ye delyver hit to the countroller of my howshold. A
. . . . . . . o put undyr suertie all suche hering so takyn or revid by
the carveyll of . . . . . . . any other. And God kepe you.
Wretin at Melford, the xx. day of Octobre.
And where as I am enformyd that ye take hym nat for my servaunt, and so
he ys noysed in the contrey ther, I woll that hit be knowin that I take
hym as my servaunt, and so will do as long as I know no cause of the
contrary.