_Copie of my fader Bynghames lettre to my fadre F._
[Sidenote: About 1455]
Right honorable and reverend maistre, after due and hertely
recomendacion, I thank yow als hertily as I can that it likith your gode
maisterschip, of your godnesse, to let to ferme to my son Scrope the
pouer enheritance that he schal enherit after your decesse, if God will
that he life therto. And I hafe for my saide son comonde with my
maistres of your counsell, that is to sey, Paston and other, and I fynde
them not straunge, bot right streyte to dele with in the mater; and
therfore my saide sone, and I for hym, must sue to the well of mercy,
that is to say, to your honurable person, where is special refuge for my
saide son in this cas. My saide son is and hath be, and will be to hys
lifes ende, your true lad and servaunt, and glad and well willed to do
that myght be to your pleaser, wirschip, and profit, and als loth to
offend yow as any person in erth, gentill and well disposid to every
person. Wherfore I besech your gode grace that ye will vouchesafe
remember the premissez, my saide sons age, his wirschipfull birth, and
grete misere for verrey povert, for he hath had no liflode to life opon
sithen my lady his moder deed, safe x. marc of liflode that ye vouched
safe to gife hym this last yer, and therfore to be his good maister and
fader. And thof he be not worthy to be your son, make hym your almesman,
that he may now in his age life of your almesse, and be your bedeman,
and pray for the prosperite of your noble person. And if I durst, for
your displesance, I wolde besech yow that ye wolde vouchesafe lat my
saide son hafe the saide lifelode to ferme for terme of your life, payng
to yow therfore yerely CC. marc at ij. festes of the yere, that is to
say, Cristemasse and Middesomer, and ye schall be paied hit truly at
London, in Hillary terme for the feste of Cristemasse, and Trinite terme
for the feste of Midsomer; and I will be bounden for hym and [_i.e._ if]
your maisterschip will vouchesafe to take me, and he and I schall ever
pray for yow. And thof the saide lifelode be better to yow in availl
yerely then I offer yow therefore, this summe of CC. marc schal be truly
paid to yow yerely; and God, that rewardeth every gode dede, schal pey
for hym the remenant to yow, for every peny an C., in relesyng of yow in
Purgatory, or ellys encresyng of your merite in Heven. And how your
maisterschip will that my saide son schall do in this mater, I besech
yow that he may be certified be your writing.
[Footnote 54.1: [From Castlecombe MSS., Add. 28,212, f. 26,
B.M.] This letter has been printed by Mr. Poulett Scrope in his
privately printed _History of Castle Combe_. From evidences
contained in other of the family muniments, Mr. Scrope supposes
it to have been written about the year 1455, which is probably
not far from the true date. Compare Letter 349 following.]
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