_To my right wourshipful maister, John Paston, Esquyer, be this letter
delyvered._
[Sidenote: 1461(?)]
Right wourshipful maister, I recommaunde me un to your maistership, and
I thank your maistership that hit pleased your maistership to sende me
wourde a yen of my letter that I sende you by the brynger herof. Sir, as
I am enfourmed, ye sent me wourde how that my fader was dede long tyme
passed, and also ye desired to knowe my titylle of ryght. Sir, I am very
heyre, by the disceas of my fader, to a place called Keswyk, in
Taverham, with all the apportenauncez, and that comyth by enherytaunce
and discente to me, for I am the helder and heyre; and though my Lorde
Cromwell[8.1] hath taken Thomas Taverham, my yonger brother, as warde
for the same enheritaunce, that maketh no mater to me, in so moche I am
helder brother. Wher for I beseche you to sende me a letter of attournay
made to you in my name in the strengest wise that ye can, for to entre
in to the same lyvelode, and I shall asseal that, and than I shall do my
service and feaute to the seid Lorde Cromwell in all thing as by the
tenure of the same lyvelode of olde tyme aught to be done. And herin I
kno well the King shal cause my Lorde Cromwel to do me bothe lawe and
right; and also my Lorde Chaunceler, with oder Lordes diverse, shall do
the same. And, sir, I beseche your maistership to do and to take
possession in the saide place with the apportenaunce in short tyme, for
losyng of the rent this yer passed.
And, sir, as for the place of Attylbrigge that my moder in lawe now
duellith in, sir, your maistershep shal right not [_naught_] attempte
ther now in; for my Lorde of Warwik[8.2] hath seen how the same place
was yeven me by testament by Sir Roger Dallyng after the disease of my
fader, whiche is redy to be shewed. And therupon my Lorde of Warwik hath
comaunded certeyn gentilmen to entre in the same place, and your
maistership hadde be moved ther in or this, but for cause that ye love
wel Lumpnour,[8.3] and that my moder in lawe is his sister; but I knowe
wel hit woul cost CCC_li._, but that she shal be dispossedded of that
place in short tyme. And, maister, how ye woul be rewled in the seid
place of Keswyk, I be seche you to sende me wourde, as my sengler trust
is in you; for and ye woulde not take possession in the saide place, my
Lorde Wenlok[8.4] woulde have that ful fayne, for all the contray
knowith while that while I leve, I am heyr and non other. And therfor I
beseche you in all hast sende me wourde by the bryngger herof in hast,
quia mora trahit periculum. And, sir, I would come speke with you. I am
seke, and may not goo; but telle the bryngger heroff all your entent.
For my liff duryng I hadde lever that ye hadde that place for j_d._ than
a nother man, thow he woulde yeff me meche mony, for your maistership
ther shewed to me in my yong age. And God kepe you, &c.
Your chapeleyn,