_To myne worshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Squier._
[Sidenote: About 1457 / AUG.]
Ryght worshipfull cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow, and thanke yow of youre
greet peyn and labores that ye daylye take for me in alle myn causes,
for wheche I am greetly holden to yow, God yelde hit yow. And, cosyn,
hit is so, as I am enformed, that a fermore of myn maner in Saxthorp,
called John Bennes, shuld come be fore yow for to appoynte for suche
dewte as he oweth to me upon his ferme. I sende to yow the bokes of his
accompt to th’entent that Spyrlyng may awayte upon yow at his comyng,
and declare hym his dewte, wheche, as myn receyvore seyth, hit wole
drawe to the summe of xlv_li._ [£45], and more money at Michelmasse now
next comyng. And the ferme is but xx_li._ [£20] yerly, by wheche ye may
understande that he hath hadde greet favore in his payementes to his
weel and myn greet hurt, as I reporte me to youre greet wysdome.
Neverthelesse, sethe hit is so that he hath hadde this advayle upon me,
I wold seen now that suche dewte as shal ben dewly founde upon hym by
accompt to be made at this day, that I may ther of have payement in
hande as reson wole, or of as moche as the day is ronne of; and for the
resydewe to have greable sewerte, that is to sey, of xx_li._ growen at
Mihelmasse next comyng, to have payement therof at the Festes of Seynt
Andrew and the Annunciacion of our Lady next comyng by even porcions, as
in his endenture made of the seyd lees more pleynerly is conteyned. And
this don, I am content that he goo at large, and elles that Spyrlyng
take a rekenyng of hym, so as I may be aunswered accordyng to the
statute, &c. And, cosyn, that overe this ye lyke to yeve credence to the
brynger her of of that he shal declare yow in this be half be mouth. And
oure Lord kepe yow.
Wreten in hast, at myne manoir of Castre, the Saterday next after our
Lady Day the Assumpcion.
* * *
And, cosyn, I praye yow that he have none favore other wyse than lawe
wole, seyng he is so contraryows for any fayer promyse of his behalf,
&c.
Youre cosyn,
JOHN FASTOLF, Ch’r.
[Footnote 119.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a letter of
pure business, and the date is uncertain; but as John Paston had
been giving advice about money matters and the affairs of
Fastolf’s household in 1457, we may insert it here.]
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