_Tradatur Johanni Paston, of the Inner In in the Temple, att London._
[Sidenote: 1447(?)]
Ryth worschipfull brothir, I recomaund me to yow, &c. I preye write to
myn modre of your owne hed as for to consell her howh that sche kepe her
prevye, and tell no body ryth nowth of her counsell; for sche woll tell
persones many of her counsell this day, and to morwe sche woll sey be
Goddis faste that the same men ben false. I have seen parte of the
evydence, and the maner[79.2] hath be pourchasid be parcell, and certeyn
feffement mad of the avowson, and certeyn pecis of lond enterlessant the
maner; and I wote well ye have on collaterall rellesse wyth a warente of
on of the wyffys of Hauteyn[79.3] of all the holl maner.
Steward, the chiffe constable, told me he was enpanellyd up on the
assise be twex yow and Frauncesse; he axyd me counsell what he myght do
ther inne, for he told me it was take in Sir Thomas Tudham name. He wold
fayne be chalengyd. I concellyd him swere the trewthe of the issue that
he shall be swore to, and thanne he nedyd never to drede hym of noon
atteynte. I yave him this counsell, and noon othir. He enqueryd me of
the rewle of myn master Danyell[80.1] and myn Lord of Suffolke,[80.2]
and askyd wheche I thowte schuld rewle in this schere; and I seyd bothe,
as I trowh, and he that survyvyth to hold be the vertue of the survyvyr,
and he to thanke his frendes, and to aquite his enmyys. So I fele by him
he wold forsake his master, and gette him a newh yf he wyste he schuld
rewle; and so wene I meche of all the contre is so disposyd. The holy
Trenyte kepe yow.
Wrete at Norwiche, on the Wednysday after Seynt Peter[80.3] in hast.
Your Brother,