_To my Maister Paston._
[Sidenote: 1454 / MAY 3]
Right reverent and wurshipfull Sir, and myn especiall good maister,
I recomaund me to you. And for as moche as oon Lord above giffeth and
takith as hym plesith, I thank His grace of every thyng; and for the
bounte that ye shew to me in this troble, I haf no spirite to thank you
as I shuld. Sir, as for certeyn evidence of myn touchyng your place in
Seint Andrues Parissh, my wif tellith me that she lefft thaym in a chest
at Ovyes shette; the key ther of she hath sent now to Ovy also. And as
for more evidence, sum is in the kepyng of Frere John Mendham, wherto I
beseche your maistership that ye wole se for the sauf and secreet kepyng
therof. God wote my wif delyvered all, myn unwetyng; ever therfore I
doute, trustyng with such hope as is be lefft me to the best, with Godds
grace.
Othre evidence of myn is at Folsham, I wote not with whome. I thank God
of my conyng; but as sone as I may know, I shal write to you. Wherfore,
sith it is thus, I beseche your maistershep disdeigne not, but for our
Lords love ye vouchsauf to take it to you, or to se that it be sauf, if
it plese you. And that ye wole send for John Maile, for I conceyve hym
right feithfull to me, and I am enfourmed that he is gretly manasid for
me. And that ye vouchsauf to do put hym in comfort that I lese not his
good wille, and that ye shew hym your good maistership and favor that he
be holpen and not hurt for me. Ferthermore, I wrote to you for such smal
thynges as I had leid to plegge to you for such good as that I borwid of
you. Wheryn I beseche your maistership that if my frends pay you
accordyng to my writyng, that ye than vouchsaf to do the said plegges be
sent hider to me by such conduyte as your wisdam like to avise, and that
they myght be here by the iiij^to die of the xv^cim[319.1] of Ester, for
than is my grettest jouparte touchyng myn imprisonement; for sith myn
enmyes coude not avail to send me to the castel of Bristow (which was
their purpose, whan thei undirstood the disposicion of the Comons Hous
agayn their billes), ever sith they make a privy labor to haf me
remevid, and I wote not whedir, ne wethir that tyme I shal be sent to
the Kynges Bench, and abide ther, or remittyd hider agayn.
Neverthelesse, if I haf releve of such pouer godes as shuld be myn by
reson, than I hope to do better, and sumwhat to aquyte, wherby I hope to
put my frends in gretter corage to do for me. And if I haf no releve,
than can I nomore, but all refere to God as I do daily. Wherefore, if ye
be not paied, I pray you to councell my said frendes to send me suche
mony as thei may gete of myn agayn that day, ever your maistership and
wisdam seyng to the conduyte therof. More over, I doute lest that
Richard Davy of his untrouth enfourme myn enmys wher such pouer thyng as
I haf is, to that intent that thei may riffel and dispoil all. Wherof,
if such case hapne, I can no ferthre, but I besech your help in every
thyng. It is yours all, ther is a dede of gifft therof to you among myn
evidence, as ye vouchsauff to do or do to be don in every thyng I holde
me content. And Al myghti God preserve you.
Wretyn in non hertis ease at Flete, the iij. day of Maii.