_To the right worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght._
[Sidenote: 1468 / [APRIL 12]]
Right worchepfull sir, I recommand me to you. Like you wete a distresse
was take in Caster by Thomas Pekok, I trowe your servant, a besy man,
called of a full true sowle, John Hadynet of Haryngby, a pore man his
plow hath loyn ever sith, he seith; I understonde it is for Catts
landes. I sent my clerk to my mastresse, your moder, and the seid John
with hym therfor; and my mastresse wold hym come ageyn a nother day, for
Pecok was not thanne at home; so he ded, and can not have it, as he
seith, but that ye wold I shuld speke with you at Castr therof, and of
other maters he tolde me this day. And by cause of my moders yereday
holden this day, God have hir sowle, and to morwe shal be a good day,
I wol by Goddes grace dispose me to His mercy ageyns Thursday, as I have
used; therfor I pray you pardon my comyng. In the weke after Ester,
I entend to se you and my seid mastresse certeynly; it is loong seth I
sy hir, me semeth. And if ye be not thanne at Castr, I pray you send me
worde that I may come soner to you to comon with you in this mater, and
in all other what ye wil, and sone departe to London fro thens; and
therfor I wil abide with you a good while.
Sir, as to Catts ye be remembred what I seid to you at London at ij.
tymes. I am the same man; I have sith I cam geten th’evidences in to myn
handes, and I am redy to shewe them what lerned man her that ye wol
assigne. The mater is cler to my thynkyng. Titleshale that solde it to
Sir J. Fastolf myght as wele a solde hym your lande or myn; and if the
sale be lawfull, I shal leve my hands at the first as I said at London.
The distresse to be kept for that, I wisse it nede not, and it was
unlawfully taken. Like it you to do delyvere the pore man his goods
ageyn, I am redy to answer you for elde and new as right wol. I shal
breke no day to be assigned, for to leve all other thyngs.
By the blissed Lady I beleve that ye wol dispose you wele, and so I pray
God ye do, and have you in His blissed governaunce. Wretyn at the hede
town of Norffolk this Tuysday.
Your owen,
H. atte FENNE.
[Footnote 295.1: [From Fenn, iv. 290.] This letter was written on
the Tuesday before Easter, probably in the year 1468, _i.e._ after
the other executors of Fastolf had released to Sir John Paston.
The date could hardly be later than 1469, when Sir John was driven
out of Caister by the Duke of Norfolk; and in 1469 he does not
seem to have been residing there about Easter.]
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