_To my good Maister, H. B. of Lincoln._
[Sidenote: 1460 / APRIL 9]
Right worchepful sir, after my recommendation, like you to wete I wold
yisterday have spoken with you if ye had be allone at good leiser, for
my aquytaile to God and to you, and for the wele of my maister, God
pardon hym. I have many thynges to remembre you if ye wol. Wherof
diverse specialtes that I wold sey, I may not write. For I meved you at
your chamber wyndow at Lammes homward from London some thynges of my
good wil, and me thought ye toke it gretely to displeisur; the which
caused me to sey the lesse of thynges that had be worchepfull to have be
doon. But, Sir, as I remembred you late at Norwich of the variaunce by
twix the worchepfull man and you, for Goddes love and your most ease,
folwe the meanes of his good wil by help of holsom gentilmen, and also
the feithfull love of other that grucchen to you warde, as I fele moche
thof thei speke litil therof to you, rettyng in you singuler fastnesse
ageyns kyndenesse and reson; for with love and unyte ye shal do moost
good for oure maister to your worchep. And with the contrary many mysse
dispenses as han be and thanne moche lette in doyng of good dedis to the
causers perill and slawnder God hath sent you wysdham grete that telleth
you the best is to drede God. A man shal never have love of God nor love
nor drede of good men for myskepyng of moche good thof it wer his owen,
for it is dampnable; but wher it is truly delt with and godly disposed,
thanne folwith bothe grete meryte and worchep. Pety it is that mo more
is do for hym. At the gate is nowther mete, drynke nor money, _ut
dicitur_, no man wele spekyng thof thacte above be not do necessary
almesse to the nedy that peynen wold and myght be do dayly. And, Sir, be
ware what ye talke to som men of the lordes your coexecutours, and what
is spent for the man, and what he was worth. Thei reporten you
unfavorabely and withoute credence, as men seyn, and some I have herd.
Also your entretyng and other for you with them that have entres with
you for to have your entent sped, is tolde oute whow, and your iournay
to lorde Beauchamp to Cambrig is taken as men like, and your associacion
is seid made by your witt to your purpos. As somme fer of and grete that
may nor peraventur wiln not medle, somme ye wold thei left, somme havyng
no conduyt, somme no stomak, and somme glosours and witnesses for lucre;
this is not my seyyng, I have often herd it. Therfor to have such a post
as the seid man is that ye be in variaunce; so he do wele, as I fully
beleve, he shuld help you to bere moche, and cause eschuyng of moche of
this noyse. This variaunce grew of mater of noght and japes; the soner
may be accorde. And thynke not, Sir, that any persone hath stered me
herto; for by the good Lorde I trist to receyve this holy tyme it is my
owen steryng and good hert to you warde, for that I her and see, and
moost of your wele willers, in eschuyng of inconvenyentz as right many
talke must ensue to you ward. For I fonde you pleyn at Cristemesse, and
I toke you that ye loved me, wher to fore, withoute cause truly, to my
seid maister moch ye hyndred me, as parte he tolde me, and thanne I
praied you in that your good maistership and amendement, and sith I have
be pleyn and wol be. And I require you as ye arn a gentilman, kepe thees
maters secrete by twix God, you and me; for by Almyghty Jhesu of me
knoweth this non erthely creatur, nor shal knowe. Other thynges been
that sounden not wele, but as I fele your wisdham take me in this, so
herafter I wil demene me with you in maters. I am urke of variaunces,
for parties waxen wrooth if men hold not with there oppynyons whan thei
in angre trotte over fer by yon hem self. I may not come by you to
London ward, I trow I must by Suffolk; elles I had not writen this. Oure
Blissed Lorde have you in His governaunce and be your conduytour to His
pleisur, Amen. This Wednesday, ix. day Aprill.
As ye arn a veray gentilman, be my true confessour as I am youres and
take me as I mene, thof my termes been not discreet. Brenne this scrowe
or kepe it pryvy, as ye like and I beseche you, if ye wil trist me, wil
me pleyn, &c.--Your owen, &c., to my power.
[Footnote 214.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 143.] This letter is
mysterious, but seems to have some bearing on Sir John Fastolf’s
will, and may be assigned with tolerable certainty to the year
1460, as the 9th April, the day it was dated, was a Wednesday,
and one expression in it shows that it was written immediately
before Easter, which in that year fell on the 13th April.]
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