_To my right goode maister, John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1456 or 1457]
Reverent Sir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of
his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent
to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiij^{xx}_li._
[_fourscore pounds_] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre
patent;[106.2] and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he
shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed
me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me
content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth
prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c.
Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of
Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be
God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete
alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his
disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a
maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre
bedeman that ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke,
or x_li._ in hande and x_li._ yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good
love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the
tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele
beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket
straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.
Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxv^to.