‘J. P.’ [JOHN PASTON] TO SIR JOHN PASTON
[Sidenote: 1473 / MARCH 8]
As I promised in the letter that Playter sent, Playter and I have been
with my mother to get her to make chevesance for the £100, but she bade
us send you word, you need look for no other comfort from her. Jwde can
tell you Barker’s answer. As for John Kook you promised him payment
yourself and to Sir John Styll 5 marks in part payment. My mother has
sold her barley for 14_d._ I never meet John Smyth but I speak of it to
him. He keeps his courts here at Norwich all the week. As for Fastolf,
I can only speak to Wymondham his father-in-law, which I do as often as
I see him. Would be sorry the great matter which requires hasty answer
‘lest the kok be in perayle’ should be delayed by his negligence. Thinks
Edmund Fastolf ‘was a reasonable man to Robert of Lyne. Wherefore, let
my brother Edmund sue for the same, for one wife may serve for us both
till better peace be. So God help me ye may allege a plain excuse that
these dyrk wars have so hindered me that her lyvelode and mine both
should be too little to live at our ease till I were further before the
hand than I could be this two year, and she found after her honor and my
poor appetite.’ Would rather forbear what he would have than bring them
in pain. ‘Say better for me, for ye can and ye will. This matter must be
honestly handled, for I wot well my young lady of Oxenforthe shall hear
of it. We have here no tidings, but a few Frenchmen be whyrlyng on the
coasts, so that there dare no fishers go out but under safe conducts.
I pray you, and ye have any more oranges than ye occupy, that poor men
may have part for a great bellied lady.’ First Monday of Clean Lent,
13 Edw. IV.
_Addressed_--‘A Mys^r John Paston, schevaller, soyt done.’
_Endorsed_--‘Mens’ Marcii Anno xiij^{o}.’
[Footnote 177-1: [From MS. Phillipps 9735, No. 257.]]
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