_To my Ryth worshipfull hosband, John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 15]
Rith wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desiring hertily to
her of yowr welfar; preying you to wete that Herry Halmannys wif sent to
me word on Saterday last past that Prentys thretyth her hosbond sor, and
John Robyns, for suche thynges as Prentys seyth that they haue donn
ayens hym; he seyth he shall make hem so besy or he leve hem that he
shall make hem not wurth apeny; and they ben aferd that he woll hold hem
conuawnt if he have powyr ther to. It is seyd her that the kyng shuld
com in to this contre, and sir Thomas Todenham and Heydon arn well
cheryeshid with hym. And also it is seyd they shall have as grett rewill
in this contre as evyr they hadde, and many more folkes arn sory
therfore than mery. Sir Thomas Todenhamys man and Heydonys sowyn this
sedde all abowte the contre, that here maysteris shull cum hom in hast
in here prosperite and be als well att esse as ever they wer. As for
that ye dessyryd that I shuld enquyr wher any stuff is of yowris, I wot
not how to don ther with, for if ever wer aspyid that hath of yowr
stuff, and we had it from hym, other that have more ther of wold ben
ware be hym, and avoyd seche stuff as they have of yowris. I suppose
John Osbern shall tell yow whan ye com hom agode meen to wete wher meche
ther of is becom. Jamys Gloys is ayen to Gressam and I suppose John
Damme shall tell yow what he hath donn ther. Yowr tenawntis wold fayn
that summe mene of yowris shuld abyde amongis hem, for they ben in gred
diswyr what they may do; the langage is so grett on the tother party
that it maketh the tenawntis sor afferd that ye shuld not regoyse itt.
I send to yow a letter be Colynys of Frawnceys Costard what dedis he
woll don. It was told me also that the Lord Molyns was lyke to have aday
ayens yow att Thetford at the next assyse. On [_one_] that loueth yow
rythwell told me how it was told hym so, and warnyd me therof in secrete
wyse. Itt is gode to ben war of ther falsed. I pray yow that ye woll
send me word in hast, if ye woll have red to your levery as ye wer
avysid, and if ye woll not, &c. And also I pray yow that ye woll do bey
ij. gode hattis for your sonys for I can none getyn in this town. Mor
tydynges can I not send yow yett. The Holy Trinyte have yow in his
kepyng. Wretyn att Norwiche on the fyrst Monday of Lent.
Yowris,