_To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly._
[Sidenote: 1456 / MAY 2]
Worchepfull Cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als
moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of
Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to
informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and
me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of
yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne
we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterbury and
of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges
suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it
please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by
obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all
tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily
knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner
delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary
concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the
lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I
pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the
seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow
to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a
litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby
and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen
by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take
your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground,
and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other
part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and
besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler
affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow,
my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the
ij^de. day of Maij.
And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London,
I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I
have to comowne with yow, &c.