_Onto my ryght reverent and worchipfull maister, John Paston, Esquyer,
be this letter delyvered._
[Sidenote: 1465 / JUNE 18]
Ryght reverent and worchipfull sir, I recomende me onto your good
maisterchip in the moste lowly wise that I can or may, letyng your
masterchippe understonde howe that John Smyth, of Freton, and John
Hopton, of Freton, and I were attached and led onto Gippeswich, and
there putte into the Kynges pryson by cawse of the fyn which was sessed
upon the forsaid John Smyth, John Hopton, and me, as your maisterchippe
knowith well. And as for John Smyth and John Hopton, they had labored
the meanes onto Master Jenney, that they were delyvered owt of pryson or
than the massenger come ageyn to theym which they sent onto yow; and I
remayne stille in pryson, and I can not knowe but that they labour the
meanes to make me to paye the money for theym. And so I can not se non
other meane but that I shall ly stille in pryson, and been ondo for ever
withoute your good masterchippe shewed to me at this tyme; for as I am
enformed that Jenney hath promysed theym that I shall paye the fyne for
theym, and also alle the costes that haith be spent ther upon, and shall
be spent, for thei say that I am sufficient to bere the hole daunger.
And my keper yafe me licence to goon home, and thei had hevyed the peple
that dwelle ther, and that gretly, and said playnly how that ye myght
not beere the dawnger a geyns Jenney for your self; therfor the seiden
that ye myght not helpe them owt of dawnger when thatte ye myght not
helpe your self. Wherfor I pray your masterchippe to lete me have word
in as hasty tyme as ye may, to knowe whether that I shall abyde her
stylle or not, and if I myght do yow any good at London, I pray your
mastershippe that ye will sende for me, and I will come up to yow. And
if ther be non other remedy but that the money most nedys be paid,
I pray your masterchippe that ye will make such purveyaunce therfor that
it may be to myn delyveraunce at the reverence of God, and in the weye
of charite as myn hole truste is in your masterchippe, for I can not
seke to no man, nor will not but only to yow. Wherfor I pray yow that ye
will tenderly understond this letter, as I may pray for yow onto God,
who have yow in His kepyng. Wretyn at Gippeswich the xviij. day of June.
These ar the names of theym that have parte of my catell, Gilbert
Nicoll, of Sprowton, William Merssh and John Woode of Gippeswich,
bocher.
By your man and feithfull servant,