_To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas
West, Escuiers._
[Sidenote: 1456 / JAN. 26]
Worchipfull Sirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you.
And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I
laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I
might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne
absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of
Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be
sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought
that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of
Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you,
that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said
mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of
substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille
lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief
supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle
and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the
iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may
be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion,
and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne
letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir
amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille,
after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be
to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that
alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedient and
according that my Lord Chaunceller[71.1] were meoved that it might
please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up
for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain
juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie,
and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court
before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.
Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar.
Your,