_To my most reverent and worshipfull master, Sir John Paston, Knyght._
[Sidenote: 1470 / JULY 15]
Right worshipfull sir and my good master, I recomaund me unto yow in my
moost lowly wise. And please yow to wete I have with the mony ye sent me
by Judy rewardid my felaship as ye comaundid, wretyn in a bille closid
herin; and as for William Milsent I lete hym wete hough ye undirstood he
was disposed to goo hoom to his fadere, wherof ye were pleasid and wold
he shuld do so. He said he intendid not to be with his fadir, ner it was
not in his power so to do; nevirthelesse he is home to his fadir and
ther abidith, but what he purposith to do I wote not. Davy is at home
and takyth heed to his lond. Homeworth is content and gooth to his
labour. As for Stompis, I have be with the Abbot of Sen Benetts for hym
as ye comaundid. And he recomaundith hym to yow, and said to me he was
right glad that ye wold send to hym for any servaunt ye had, saying that
if he coud do any thyng for yow, and for any servaunt of yours, he wold
do it feithfully. And also he said he wold not fayle yow whill he levid
in that he coud and myght do, trustyng heraftir to have your help and
favour in that he shall have a do. And he told me and Stompis bothe,
whanne so evir he come he shuld be welcome, and that he wold do as welle
to hym as to fewe servauntes he had for yowr sake, and that he wold kepe
hym for yow. As for my self my mastres saith she woll geve me mete and
drynk for a season; nevirthelesse I am warnyd to be ware, for it is told
me that ther is processe out upon the appele ayens me and other;
wherfore I beseche yow that that mater may be take heed to as ye may,
that we myght have knowlech of any processe ther be, that we may be
ware, for I thynk verely, and I or any other come in ther hands this
world, we shuld not escape without shame at the leest.
Item, as for the remnaunt of the mony biside this bille, ye owe to the
parson of Sent Edmondes Caster for iiij. combe malt, and ij. combe
whete, x_s._ whiche I promysid hym to pay; and Rob. Newton lymebrenner
for lyme, xiij_s._ iiij_d._, calling upon me for it; and Robert Bery for
shoyng, x_s._; and if it please yow that I make payment herof there
shall remayne in my handes xxiij_s._ iiij_d._ And what ye woll I do
herin, I beseche yow to send me word. Judy hath be with Thom Fastolff,
he can telle yow answer in that mater. As for the rewle at Caster, they
selle and make mony of such stuffe as they fond there, and kepe other
rewle that the contre is full sory and irk of, and of my lordes men
resortyng to hem, and riden about the contry onknowen, and by berynges
on hand[78-1] take large bribys. I pray God be your spede and send yow
some good meane for your wele and ease to them that owe yow servise.
Wretyn at Norwich the Monday next aftir Relik Sonday,
Your pore servaunt,