_To my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of
Castellcombe._
[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 27]
Trusty and welbelovyd frende, I grete you well.[152.2] . . . . And I
pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my
ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law
and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they
shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd; that ys to sey, by God or the
Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be
myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse,
&c.
Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my
place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng,[152.3] yn
my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle[152.4] of
my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement[152.3] of my londys;
praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and
that ye suffre no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well
gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it.
Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviijº
regni Regis Henrici VI.
JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.
[Footnote 152.1: [From Fenn, i. 52.]]
[Footnote 152.2: Here, says Fenn, follow some orders respecting
his affairs at Caister.]
[Footnote 152.3: Approving lands or chattels meant turning them
to profit, and in the former case commonly implied increasing
the rents.]
[Footnote 152.4: Use or profit.]
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