_To the ryght worchepfull Sere, Mayster John Stokes._
[Sidenote: 1460 / MAY 8]
Ryght worshypfull Sere, I recomaund me to yow; and for asmyche as it is
informyd me that it was appoynted that alle the executors of the
worshepfull knyght, Sere John Fastolf, whos soule God asoyle, shuld be
at London as on Monday next comyng, of wheche executors I am namyd for
on, as I ondyrstond; wherfore, in as myche as ye be ordenary and on of
the same executors, I prey yow tendre my laboure, withoute my comyng, be
youre dyscrecion, myght be more profyt to the dede; for I conseyve it
shuld be but charge to the dede, and lytell avayleable, consyderyng that
John Paston, Squyere, and Thomas Howys, parson of Blofeeld, schall come
up at this time, wheche were[218.4] the persones above all other that
the seyd Sere John Fastolf put in hys most sengulere love and trust, and
wold they shuld have the kepyng and dysposicion of hys goods, as wele in
hys lyve as after hys deseas, to dyspose for the well of hys soule; and
that non other namyd hys executors, but only they tweyn, shuld have ony
kepyng or dysposyng of ony part of hese goods duryng ther lyves; and
that alle other namyd executors shuld supporte them and geve them to the
seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys here good avyse in performyng of hys
desyre in that behalve. Wherfor that it lekyth yow in ony thyng ye
desyre me to do in thys cause or matere to geve yowre feyth and credence
to the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys; and so desyred me the seyd
Knyght feythefully to do, that knowyth God, whom I be seke preserve yow
from alle adversyte.
Wretyn in the Abbey of Langeley, the viij. day of the monyth of May, the
yeere of oure Lord m^{l.}cccc.lx.
Youre preest,