Volume Iii Part 4 (1/2)

[Sidenote: 1455 / MARCH 17]

Wurchepefull Sire, and right well be lovyd, I grete yow well, desyryng to here of youre well fare, praying you interlych to bie with me at dyner on Seynt Benett day, the whiche xall be on Friday next comyng, or ell[es] in brief tyme covenable to your ease, to th'entent that I may commoun wyth yow of divers maters, the whiche I purpose to have a doo in be your good advyse, and in on especyall as for the chirche of Stokesby, whiche I understand xall moche be reulyd after your advyse and content; tristyng our communicacion had in the seyd [matters] xall cause pees and pleaser to all parties be leve of our Lord, the whiche Lord mote preserve you in all goode.

Wreten in my Monastery the xvij. day of Marche.

Be your good frend,

THE ABBOT OF S. BENETTS.

[Footnote 17.1: [From Fenn, iii. 236.] This letter was written by John Martin, Lord Abbot of St. Benet's of Hulme. The heads of this monastery were mitred abbots, and sat in Parliament. The date may be a.s.signed to the year 1455 for two reasons--first, that in that year St. Benet's day (the 21st of March) fell on a Friday; and second, that in the same year the living of Stokesby lapsed to the Bishop of Norwich.]

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ABSTRACT

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AND ---- YELVERTON.

[Sidenote: Between 1455-9]

Thanks them for speeding his action against Thomas Fauconere. Begs them to sue it out, as Fauconere is obstinate, and has wrought against Byckwod right unjustly, who owes great sums to divers creditors, etc.

Castre, 20th March.

[The date of this letter must be during Sir John's residence at Caister between 1455 and 1459.]

276

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON, ESQ.[18.1]

_To myn ryght weel beloved cosyn, John Paston, Squier._

[Sidenote: 1455 / MARCH 29]

Wors.h.i.+pfull cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that at this tyme I sende to yow myn welbeloved frende and servant, Sir Thomas Howys, to have youre good councell and advyse how and in what wyse he may best be demened there at this tyme in his yeldyng to the Sheref upon his exigend, wheche is and shal be v. tymes called as on Monday next comyng, as I understande; and, the same by good and discrete advyse concluded and sette in a good weye by sewertes found to appere at London the day of the retorn of the wrytte or otherwyse, that thenne if ye thenke hit be to do'n [_to do_], ye lyke to take upon yow to comon with myne Lord of Norwyche,[18.2] recomaundyng me to hys good and tender Lords.h.i.+p, and declaryng to hym how and in what wyse the seyd Sir Thomas was demened in the _oyer and determyner_, and sethe how he hath wrongously and with ought cause be vexed by John Andrews and other, and greetly trowbled, wherupon this atteynt now is grownded, in such wyse as ye thenk best to be done; and that his Lords.h.i.+p by youre medyacion here after geve not any favore to any persone or persones on myne contrarye partye for any synystre informacion geven other wyse than the trought in the mater shal require, as he shal weel understande by youre good reporte, for ye know the same mater weel. Wherfore, cosyn, I praye yow that ye wole tender the same for the weel and good speed therof, as myne syngler trust is in yow. And the blessed Trinyte preserve yow to his pleaser.

In hast, at Castre, the xxix. day of Marche.

Youre,

JOHN FASTOLF, Chr.

Item, cosyn, I sende youre a lettre to delyver to myne seyd Lord with a copye of the same, wheche I praye yow to se, and if ye thenk hit be to do'n, delyveret [_deliver it_] youre self, &c., to th'entent he myght know the disposicion of the pepul how they be sette, &c.; for he weel advertysed in this mater shalbe a greet supporter of trought in this be half, for the partye contrarye wole do'n that they can to labore the jure, and don to have theym rewled after theyr entent and contrary to trought; wheche mater I remytte ondly to youre ryght wyse discrecion.

[Footnote 18.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The reference here made to the process of attaint, which Fastolf had resolved to sue in November 1454 (_see_ No. 268), shows that this letter must belong to the month of March following. It is written in Barker's hand.]

[Footnote 18.2: I suspect 'Norwyche' is here a slip of the pen, and that 'my Lord of Norfolk' was intended.]

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