_To my ryght reverent and most wurschipfull Maistre my Maister John
Paston the eldre, esquyer, at London in the Inner Tempyll._
[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
Ryght reverent and my mooste wurschipful maistre, I recommaunde me unto
youre goode maisterschip. Like you to witte that I have taken astate in
the londe at Gresham as your maisterschep aviced me; wherfore I besche
you that ther may be taken an axion in my feffes name and myn a yenst
Jamys Gatte, as you semeth beest, and as hasty processe as may be had a
yenst hym, with your goode avice I wold; for what tyme as I had taken
astate he labored to men of the toun to have putte it in a ward, but I
wold not tyll I had spoken with your masterschip, &c. Also John Warles
schal gather the rente and ferme of Basyngham this yere. Item, William
Smythe schal occupie hes ferme this yere, and Croumer. And as for the
yeris aftre I have founde a meane that all your landis schall be letten
as weele as ever they weere in that maner, with helpe of one Robert
Coole, weche Robert fereth hym sore of the affence weche he ded a yenst
John Herbynger; for he is informed that your maisterschip hath taken a
axion a yenst hym, and John Herbynger hath du hym lost in the hundred
xl_d._, and he hath hym in the scheryffis turne. Wherfore that it like
you to withdrawe if any axion ye have a yenst hym for he will a bide any
ij. men award ther aboute; and more over he is the most able man to take
a ferme of lond that I knowe in your lordeship, and he schal be a gret
fermour of your the next yere. Ferthermore, ther is on Robert Wyghte,
otherwise Farbusschour, aftre that your officer of Matelask had seased
al Lyghtfot catell for suche dwtees as whas owynge the seid Robert
Wyght, come upon your bonde grounde, and brak doun the gardeyn dike of
the seid Lyghtfotes and toke a wey a bullok of ij. yere age and hath
caryed it a wey out of your lordschip; wherfore the tenauntes desireth
your maisterschip that ye well take an axion a yenst hym that he may be
punyssched. Item, as for a dey at Mauteby we can non geete, for Wynston
woll not of it in no wice. And as for tidinges here we here non but my
lord of Wurcestre lithe at Blakney and kepith housold there in the
Frieri. Item, Wymondham had entred in to Felbryge and he whas put out be
the comens and like if had beden to have lost hes heed. My ryght
wurschipful mastre, All myghty Jhesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten at
Heyneford on Sein Marteyn Day. Be your pore servaunt and bedman,