_To his ryght wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Esquier, this byll be
delyverid in hast._
[Sidenote: Date uncertain]
Ryght wurshipfull and myne especyall good maister, I comaund me vonto
your good maistership. Sir, it is so that there hath ben a gret rumour
and mervelous noyse of yower departyng ffro Yermoth; for summe seid that
ye were departed in a Duch ship and some seid in aspaynessh ship and
some seid in yower ship, and some seid ayein your wyll ye were departed;
of wych departyng my lord Steward hadde knowleche and comaunded a noon
after your old servaunt Rychard Fitzwater to ryde to Norwich, and so to
Yermoth, to knowe the trowth. And at Norwich I spoke with your seid
servaunt, and ther he shewed vonto me that my lord hadde send another of
his servauntis vonto my Lord of Oxynford to shew vonto his lordship of
your departyng, &c., and fferthermore he shewed vonto me prevyly that my
Lord hath imagyned and purposed many grevous thyngis ayens your
Maistership; for wych cawse he shewed wnto me that in any wyse your
mastership shuld not come that wey, and I shall shewe your maistership
moch more at your comyng, with the grace of God, whoo ever preserve your
good maistership. At Norwich the Sonday next after Sent Marke.
Your servaunt,