To my rytz worchypful maystyr, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.
1450
MARCH 12
Rytz worchipful hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar, &c.[136.2] . . . . Wyllyam Rutt, the whiche is with Sir Jon Hevenyngham, kom hom from London zesterday, and he seyd pleynly to his master, and to many other folks, that the Duke of Suffolk is pardonyd, and hath his men azen waytyng up on hym, and is rytz wel at ese and mery, and is in the Kyngs gode grase, and in the gode conseyt of all the Lords, as well as ever he was.
Ther ben many enemys azens Yermowth and Crowmer, and have don moche harm, and taken many Englysch men, and put hem in grett distresse, and grettely rawnsommyd hem; and the seyd enmys been so bold that they kom up to the lond, and pleyn hem on Caster Sonds, and in other plases, as homely as they were Englysch men. Folks ben rytz sore afred that they wel don moche harm this somer, but if [i.e. unless] ther be made rytz grett purvyans azens hem.
Other tydyngs know I non at this tym. The blysseful Trinyte have zow in his kepyng.
Wryten at Norwyche, on Seynt Gregorys day. Yowrs, M. P.
[136.1] [From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke of Suffolk’s pardon proves this letter to have been written in the year 1450.
[136.2] Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as he says, to some common business about Paston’s farms and tenants.
[107]
ABSTRACT[137.1]
Sir Jo. Fastolf to Sir Thos. Howys, Parson of Castlcombe, Will. Coke, and Watkin Shypdam.