_To John Paston, and to non othyr._
[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 18]
I recomand me to yow, and promyse yow that I have and schall labore and
fynde the meane that ye schall have honor of yowr delyng as ye have
hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I
am in weye for it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one
exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and peraventur within
vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it so longe, I wold be gladde, and aftr
that iff ye have nott from me other wryghtyng, that than ye do ther in
for yowr saffgarde and yowr felaschep only, and to yowr worschypys; and
as for the place, no force therfor. Ye knowe thys hande, therfor nedythe
no mencion from whem it comythe; and more ovyr, they that be abut yow be
in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr they have ben wretyn to by alse
speciall wryghtyng as myght be, after the worlde that now is, and
promyse yow that the Dukes concell wolde that they had nevyr be gon it;
and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther lyvys, that thow they
gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of yow. Ther is nowther ye ner
none with yow, but and he knewe what is generally reportyd of hym, he or
ye, and God fortewne yow wele, may thynke hym iiij. tymes better in
reputacion of all folk than evyr he was. Be war whom ye make a concell
to thys mater.
Also I lete yow wete that I am in moche mor comfort of yow than I maye
wryght, and they that be about yow have cawse to be mor ferde than ye
have; and also bewar of spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and
stone, so that if they assaut yow er we come, that ye have stuffe to
dyffende yow of over, and than of my lyfe ye get no mor, and that your
felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.
Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.
* * *
I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a trews new tyl thys
day vij. nygh.
[Footnote 53-3: [From Fenn, iv. 394.] _See_ preliminary note to
No. 724.]
730