_To the ryght reverent and worship sir, John Paston, sum tyme Lord of
Gresham, and now fermour therof, as hit is seide._
Perys of Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even in the fresshest
wise, and there he dyned so as was; bot when my Lorde of Oxenforde herde
hereof he with his feliship and suche as I and other your presoneres
come rydyng unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where the seid
Perys dyned with other of his feliship. My Lorde pulled hym oute of the
seid gaole and made to kest hym opon an horse, and tyed an halter by his
arme, and so ledde hym furth like hym selff. And even furthwith the seid
Bysshop, the Mair, and other their feliship mette with my seide Lorde
and your presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an halter, the
Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with his pillion[28.2] in his
handes, ‘My Lordes, this is a presoner, ye may knowe by his tepet and
staff. What will ye do with hym?’ Therto my Lorde seide, ‘He is my
presoner nowe.’ Wherto the Bysshop seid, ‘Where is youre warraunt or
commission therto?’ My Lorde seide, ‘I have warraunt sufficiaunt to me.’
And thus they departed, the Mair and all the cominaltie of Lynne kepyng
theire silence. Bot when we weren goon, and Perys of Legh fast in Rysyng
Castell, then the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement weren fast
sperred [_shut_] and keped with men of armes. And then the Bysshop and
his squyers rebuked the Mair of Lynne and seid that he hade shamed both
hym and his toun for ever, with muche other langage, &c.
The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse at Gaywode, bot yet he
come not oute of Lynne. In faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym als
curageousely as ever I wist man do. The Bysshop come to the toun with
lx. persones the same tyme, and made to sper the yates after hym, bot
when we mette, ther bode not with hym over xij. persones atte the most,
with his serjaunt of armes; whiche serjaunt was fayn to lay doun his
mase; and so atte the same yates we come in we went oute, and no blode
drawen, God be thanked.
Yf ye will any thyng atte I may do, send me worde; hit shall be doon to
my power, &c. Comaunde me to my maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar
joperdie your suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se you. And elles have
me excused, for, &c.
From your oune,