And I thank you hertly for my pore woman, she shuld com to you at your
commaundment late or rathe, but for gelosye and mysdemyng of peple that
hafe me yn greete awayt; and ye know welle, maistras, better ys afrende
unknow then knowen; the world ys to mysdemyng and redy to make dyvysyon
and debate that comyth of an envyouse disposicion. And I am ryght glad
that Castr ys and shall be at your comaundment, and yowres yn
especialle. A ryche juelle yt ys at neede for all the cuntre yn tyme of
werre; and my Maister F. wold rather he had nevyr bylded yt then hyt
shuld be yn the gouvernaunce of eny sovereyn that wole oppresse the
cuntree. And I fynde the relygyoux of Seynt Benetts full unkynde toke
away a chambre, the elder Abbot had put me yn possessyon for my solace,
when I myzt com thedr and desport me, and toke that chambre to Maister
John Smyth, that Sir Thomas Howys seyd to me, was none holsom counceller
yn the reformacion of the last testament made but ij. executors to hafe
the rule allone. I wold he had nevyr medled of yt, that councell made
moch trouble. I pray you kepe thys letter close to your sylf, as I trust
you and Sir Jamys, and also yn R. Toly that I undrestand hym close and
just.
I had no tyme to speke withyn now late, when I was but one day at
Norwych. W. Barker sclaundred me yn certeyn maters of gode to the some
of v^c. mark that Reynold Harneys shuld kepe and take me half. Wold Jesu
B[a]rker had seyd true, hyt myzt hafe do me moch gode! And, Maistras, as
I dar desyre you, I pray you recomaund me to my best maistras, your
moder Agnes, for she favorued me and dyd me grete cherytee, to be the
better disposed to hyr son, Maister John, and by my soule yt made me the
hertyer to safe the lyfelode fro trouble or from claymes, as I support
me to alle the world, I put nevyr maner ne lyfelode of my Maister
Fastolf yn trouble, ne entitled no crettur to na place, and ye may speke
wyth hyr herof when ye be allone.
[Footnote 293.1: [From Fenn, iv. 280.] It seems probable that this
letter was written about the beginning of the year 1468. As to the
time of year, we may judge by one expression that it was not very
long after Christmas; and as the writer congratulates Margaret
Paston that Caister is to be at her command, we may with great
probability suppose the date to be about the same as that of the
preceding document.]
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