Wryten at Shirrifhoton, the xxiiij. day of Januare.
Your trew brodir, wich prayth you hertely to excuse me to the Kings Heghnesse. R. Salisbury.
[121.2] [From Fenn, i. 146.] Fenn considers this letter to have been called forth by the summons sent by the King to the Lords of both parties to come to London, in the beginning of 1458, with a view to a reconciliation. On this view, the excuse of illness given by Salisbury is, of course, a mere pretence, and, moreover, was not adhered to, for within a week after it was penned Salisbury actually was in London with a company of 400 horse and 80 knights and squires (see Botoner’s letter of the 1st February). This sudden change of tactics on the part of the Earl seems to me hardly probable, and I see no reason why the letter should not refer to a genuine illness upon a different occasion. Nevertheless, as there is no positive evidence on the subject, I leave the date suggested by Fenn, with a query, on which the reader may use his own judgment.
[362]
AGNES PASTON[123.1]
Erands to London of Augnes Paston, the xxviij. day of Jenure, the yer of Kyng Henry the Sext, xxxvj.
1458
JAN. 28
To prey Grenefeld to send me feythfully word, by wrytyn, who Clement Paston hath do his dever in lernyng. And if he hathe nought do well, nor wyll nought amend, prey hym that he wyll trewly belassch hym, tyl he wyll amend; and so ded the last maystr, and the best that ever he had, att Caumbrege. And sey Grenefeld that if he wyll take up on hym to brynge hym in to good rewyll and lernyng, that I may verily know he doth hys dever, I wyll geve hym x. marcs for hys labor, for I had lever he wer fayr beryed than lost for defaute.
Item, to se who many gownys Clement hathe; and the that be bar, late hem be reysyd. He hathe achort [a short] grene gowne, and achort musterdevelers[123.2] gowne, wer never reysyd; and achort blew gowne that was reysyd, and mad of a syde gowne, whan I was last at London; and asyde russet gowne, furryd with bevyr, was mad this tyme ij. yer; and asyde murry gowne was mad this tyme twelmonth.
Item, to do make me vj. sponys, of viij. ounce of troy wyght, well facyond and dubbyl gylt.
And sey Elyzabet Paston that she must use hyr selfe to werke redyly, as other jentylwomen done, and sumwhat to helpe hyr selfe ther with.