[Sidenote: 1465]
To alle trewe Cristen pepill the wiche these present letteres schall se
or here, Roberd Banyngham, confessour to Nicholas Pekeryng of Filby,
Alson the wyfe of the seide Nicholas, Roger Silveryn, John Herte of
Cowteshall, Robarde Yoxsale, Richarde Hawe, Robarde Manufrac (?), John
Case, servaunt of the forseid Nicholas, and Henry Becham, servaunt of
the seide Nicholas, and Thomas Page of Beston, sende gretyng in oure
Lorde. Where it is merytory nedefull to bere wytenesse of troughthe,
alle ye mot knowe us that we herde the forseide Nicholas Pekeryng seyn,
lying on his dede bedde, these wordes folwyng, as we willen answere
before God, that whanne William Pekeryng, sone of the seide Nicholas
rekenyd with his fadir for xx. quarteres barly that the seid William
cleymed of his faderys yifte to his mariage; and for vij. dayes cariage
of corne in hervest, and for als a thousande waltyle that his fadir had
fro ye seide Williams wyfes place, the wiche reknyng greved the seide
Nicholas his fadir, and seide, ‘Thou comyst in with many bak
rekenyngges. Remembre the that thou hast be the costlyest childe that
evere I hadde, and how that I yaf ye x. acres of fre londe, and[178.2]
a place in mariage, and many othir thyngges that is muche better than
all thi bak rekinyngges. And I have now yove ye other x. acres of fre
londe aftir my discesse; and me thynketh be the thou heldest the not
lowest, but woldest have all. But on thyng I shall sey to the; if thou
trouble John, thy brother, or ony of myn executores, or cleyme ony more
londes or goodys that evere were myne, I shal yeve ye Goddys curse and
myn, for thou hast be ever frowarde to me.’ In witnesse and recorde
herof we have sette oure sealys.
* * *
To alle trewe Cristen pepill the qwiche these presente letters shal see
or here, John Herte of Couteshale, Roberd Yoxhale, Roger Silveryn,
Thomas Dawes, and Thomas Drye, sende gretyng in oure Lorde. Where it is
merytory, nedefull and medefull to bere witnesse of trought, all ye mot
knowe us, that we herde William Pekeryng, sone of Nicholas Pekeryng,
seyn that his fadir wolde he shulde have but x. acres of fre londe aftir
his decesse be syde other x. acres of fre londe that he yaf hym in
maryage. In wittenesse and recorde heer of we have setto oure seales.
* * *
_Endorsed:_ A Testymonyall.
[Footnote 178.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the contents of the
preceding letter it is probable that this document was drawn up in
1465. Blomefield, indeed, states (vol. ii. p. 221) that Nicholas
Pickering was buried in the steeple of Filby church in 1466. But
the date may be an error, for he certainly seems to have been dead
in or before 1465.]
[Footnote 178.2: _and_ repeated in MS.]
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