_To the Kyng, our Sovereyn Lord._
[Sidenote: 1464]
Please it yowr highnes to graunte unto yowr humble servant John Paston
the older, Squier, yowr gracious lettres patents of licence to fownde,
stabelysh, and endewe in the gret mancion of Castre be Mekyll Yermowth
in Norffolk, that late was John Fastolffs, knyght, cosyn to yowr seyd
besecher, a colage of vij. prystes wheroff on to be master, and vij.
pourmen, to praye for your noble astate, and for the sowle of the said
Fastolff and suche othir as he was be holde to inperpetuite, and to
inmortese and gyve to the seyd prystes, and to ther successours for the
sustentacion of hem, and of the seyd pourmen C. marke of annunite and
rent charge, yerly goyng owt of all maneres, londes, and tenementz that
were the seyd Fastolffs within the Shyres of Norffolk and Suffolk, and
vj. acres of londe in the sayd town of Castre, and the iiij. parte of
the sayd mancion for the habitacion of the sayd prystes and pourmen, to
be repared at the costes of your seyd besecher and hys heyres and
assignes for ever, as suerly and lawfully as your seyd besecher can
devise. And also be your letters patentz to graunt the same prystes to
be one bodie incorperate, and to have succession perpetuall, and a comon
seall, and to be persones abyll to plede and be impletid, and to
purchase and alienyn all maner londs, tenements, godes, and catell, be
the name of the master and hys brethyrn of the collage of Saynt John
Baptiste of Castre aforsayd. And also be your letters patentz to licence
the sayd prystes to take and receyve, and to holde to theym and to ther
successours the sayd annaunite, rente charge, vj. acres of lond,
avowsons, and the seyd iiij. parte of the said mancion for ever, with
owte eny ffyne or fe to be payde for the sayd lettres patentz, licens or
grauntes be your sayd besecher, or be the said pristes. And thei shall
pray hertly to God for you.
_Endorsed in a later hand:_--Peticio Joh’is Paston Arm’ ad Regem pro
collegio in Caister.
570