Ih’s.
[Sidenote: 1469 / APRIL 10]
Wyrshypfull and my ryght gode frend, I comaund me to you. And where as I
am enformed that my Lorde of Norffolk pretendeth title to serteyn londys
of Sir John Pastons whych were late of Sir John Fastolf, it is sayd that
by the comaundement and supportacyon of my sayd Lord, sertayn hys
servaunts felleth wode, maketh grete wast, and destrayned the tenants of
the seyd lands, to the grete damage of the seyd Sir John Paston and hys
sayd tenants; and also that my sayd Lord entendyth to entre sertayn
places of the same. And for asmoch as maryage ys fully concluded by twyx
the seyd Sir John Paston and on of my nerrest kynneswomen, I dout not
that your reason wele conceyveth that nature must compelle me the rather
to shewe my gode wylle, assystens, and favour unto the seyd Sir John in
such thyngs as concerne hys enherytans. And because I am on of my said
Lordys councayll, and must and will tendre hys honour, I hertely pray
you that it may lyke you to advertyse and avyse my sayd Lord and yourys,
that all such entres, fellyng of wode, destraynyngs of tenants, and all
such maters lyke touchyng the sayd londes or any part of them, be cessyd
unto such tyme as a resonabell meane may be founde by my sayd Lords
counsayll, my Lord my faders[19-1] and other cousyns and frendes of my
seyd kynneswoman thys next terme, as may be to my sayd Lordys honour,
and to the savyng of the ryght tytle of the seyd Sir John Paston.
Over thys I pray you that ye wille enforme my gode frend James Hobard of
the premysses, that he may advertyse my seyd Lord in lyke wyse; and that
ye will yeve credens unto William Paston, and I shal be welwilled to do
that may be to your plesur, with Godds mercy.
Fro Westmynstre, the x. day of Apryll.
[Footnote 18-1: [From Fenn, iv. 322.] This and the following
letter were printed by Fenn from contemporaneous copies, written
on the same paper without signature or address. On the back,
however, is the following memorandum:--‘Copea litērz Dñi de
Scales;’ to which has been added in a later handwriting: ‘ad
Conciliū Duc’ Norff’ et aliis (_sic_) in favore J. Paston mil. eo
quod maritaret cognatā suam Annā Hawte.’ The date is clearly in
the year 1469, when the Duke of Norfolk laid claim to Caister.]
[Footnote 19-1: Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers.]
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