_To the ryght wurshipfull sir and meyster, myn Mayster John Paston,
Squier._
[Sidenote: 1462 / [FEB.]]
Ryght worshipfull sire and mayster, I recomaunde me to yow. And please
yow that the chirche of Drayton is or shal be resyngned in hast in to
the Bysshopys hands by Sir John Bullok, desyryng yow hertly that ye lyke
I may have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew of myn,
callyd Sir Reynold Spendlove, whiche I truste youre maystership wold
agree to make in youre name and myn as was last, &c. And, sir, please
yow also that I have hadde diverse communicacions with Worcestr sethe
Crystmesse,[32.1] and I fele by hym otterly that he wole not appoynt in
other fourme than to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in
Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde that that he
desyreth of myn mayster, whom God assoyle, whiche mater I remytte to
your noble discrecion.
And as for answere of the bylles that I have, I have ben so sekelew
seythe Crystmasse that I myght not yette don hem, but I shal in alle
hast, wher inne ye may excuse yow by me if ye please tyl the next terme,
at whiche tyme alle shal be aunswered, be Godds grace, who preserve yow
and send yow th’ accomplyshement of youre desyres, &c.
Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten me wete in ryght
secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy to aryve in thre parties of this
londe, by the meane of Kyng Herry and the Quene that wes, and by the
Dewk Somercete and others, of vi.^xx. m.^l. [120,000] men; and here day,
if wynde and weder hadde servyd theym, shuld a’ ben here sone upon
Candelmasse; at Trente to London werdes thei shuld a’ ben by Candelmasse
or sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte comyng from Walys,
and the thredde fro Yernessey and Garnesseye. Wher fore it is weel don
ye enforme myn Lord Warwyk, that he may speke to the Kyng that good
provy[s]ion be hadde for withstandyng there malicyous purpose and evyl
wylle, whiche God graunt we may our come theym; and so we shuld,
I dought not, if we were alle on [_one_]. There ben many medelers, and
they ben best cheryshed, whyche wold hurt moche if these come to, as God
diffende, &c.