Richard, Erl of
Warrewik.
R. Warrewyk.

[332.2] [From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the last letter (p. 331, Note 1).

[258]
WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON[333.1]

To my Maister Paston.

H. R.

1454(?)
SEPT. 2

Aftyr dewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your maistershyp to wete, that as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to contynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th’officer to hafe leysure to be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it alone, &c.

And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr, I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of housold in comune entaunt come nows plaira. By Worcestr or Botoner I hafe vs. yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose. I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the Byshop, but he wold; and so I endure inter egenos ut servus ad aratrum.

Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh; and our Lord bryng my maister yn a better mode for othyrs as for me.

At Caistr, ijd day of September.