_To my ryght trusty ffrend John Carenton, Baylye of Maldon._
[Sidenote: 1472 / SEPT. 20]
Ryght trusty frend, I comand me to yow, preying yow to call to your mynd
that, lyek as ye and I comonyd of, it were necessary for my Lady and you
all, hyr servaunts and tenaunts, to have thys Parlement as for one of
the burgeys of the towne of Maldon, syche a man of worchep and of wytt
as wer towardys my seyd Lady; and also syche on as is in favor of the
Kyng and of the Lords of hys consayll nyghe abought hys persone.
Sertyfying yow, that my seid Lady for hyr parte, and syche as be of hyr
consayll be most agreeabyll, that bothe ye, and all syche as be hyr
fermors and tenauntys, and wellwyllers, shold geve your voyse to a
worchepfull knyght, and one of my Ladys consayll, Sir John Paston,
whyche standys gretly in favore with my Lord Chamberleyn; and what my
seyd Lord Chamberleyn may do with the Kyng and with all the Lordys of
Inglond, I trowe it be not unknowyn to you most of eny on man alyve.
Wherefor, by the meenys of the seyd Sir John Paston to my seyd Lord
Chamberleyn, bothe my Lady and ye of the towne kowd not have a meeter
man to be for yow in the Perlement, to have your needys sped at all
seasons. Wherfor, I prey yow labor all syche as be my Ladys servauntts,
tenaunts, and wellwyllers, to geve ther voyseys to the seyd Sir John
Paston, and that ye fayle not to sped my Ladys intent in thys mater, as
ye entend to do hyr as gret a plesur, as if ye gave hyr an C_li._ And
God have yow in Hys keping.
Wretyn at Fysheley, the xx. day of Septembyr.