_To the most reverent Fader in God the Archebisshop of Caunterbury,
Chanceler of Englond._
[Sidenote: 1444-9]
Besecheth mekely zour gracious Lordship, zour owne servant and oratour
John Hauteyn, chapeleyn, that wher he hath dyvers seutees and accions in
lawe to be sewed a zent A., that was the wife of W. Paston, of the maner
of Oxenedes, in the countee of Northfolk; and for as meche as zour seid
besecher can gete no counsell of men of court to be with hym in the seid
matiers, by cause that the seid W. P. was one of the Kynges Justices,
and John P., son and heir to the seid W. P., is al so a mon of court;
that hit plese zour good Lordship to assigne, and most streytly to
comaund John Heydon,[74.2] Thomas Lyttylton,[74.3] and John Oelston to
be of counsell with zour seid besecher in the seid matiers, and oder
that he hath to do azenst the seid Anneys and oder; and zour said
besecher shal contente hem well for their labour. And that this be doo
in the reverence of God, and wey of charite.
JOHN HAUTEYN, Chapeleyn.
[Footnote 74.1: [From Fenn, iii. 36.] This is a petition
addressed to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, as
Chancellor, after the death of William Paston in 1444. Stafford
was made Archbishop in 1443. His appointment as Chancellor was
even earlier, and he held the office till the 31st of January
1450.]
[Footnote 74.2: A lawyer and recorder of Norwich.--F.]
[Footnote 74.3: Afterwards the famous Judge Lyttelton.--F.]
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