[Sidenote: 1460 / JAN. 6]
Paston was misinformed as to what Sperlyng said of his late
master’s[202.2] will. What he said was that about Hallowmas was
twelvemonth he was about eight weeks with his said master, who one day
examined him about the conveyance of his lands, and said there was no
man of worship in Norfolk had so many auditors as he, yet he could never
get the certainty how his livelode was disposed; but he had found a
means to be quiet, ‘whereof,’ he said, ‘I am as glad as a man had geve
me 1000 mark,’ by granting his cousin Paston all his livelode in Norfolk
and Suffolk, on condition he should amortise sufficient lands to
maintain a master and six secular priests at Castre. Paston was to take
the risk of any counter claim and trouble hereafter, etc.
Norwich, Epiphany Day.
[The date of this letter must be 1460, as it is after Fastolf’s
death, and speaks of a conversation the writer had with him about
the management of his lands a twelvemonth before Hallowmas preceding
the date of the letter. At Hallowmas 1459 Sir John was dying, and
quite unable to support any conversation for want of breath, so that
the reference must be to Hallowmas 1458.]
[Footnote 202.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
[Footnote 202.2: Sir John Fastolf.]
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