To my ryght wyrschypful fadre, John Paston, Esquyer, be thys letter delyveryd in hasty wyse.
1459
MARCH 5
Ryght worschypful Syr, in the most lowly wyse, I comaund me to yowr good faderhod, besechyng yow of yowre blyssyng. Mut it plese yowr faderhod to remembre and concydre the peyn and hevynesse that it hath ben to me syn yowr departyng owt of thys contre, here abydyng tyl the tyme it please yow to schewe me grace, and tyl the tyme that by reporte my demenyng be to yowr plesyng; besechyng yow to concydre that I may not, ner have noo mene to seke to yow as I awght to do, and savyng under thys forme, whych I besech yow be not take to no dysplesur, ner am not of power to do any thynge in thys contre for worschyp or profyht of yow, ner ease of yowr tenantys whych myght and scholde be to yowr pleasyng. Wherfor I besech yow of yowr faderly pyte to tendre the more thys symple wryghtyng, as I schal owt of dowght her after doo that schal please yow to the uttermest of my power and labor; and if ther be any servyce that I may do if it please yow to comaund me, or if y maye understonde it, I wyl be as glad to do it as any thyng erthely, if it wer any thyng that myght be to yowr pleasyng. And no mor, but Allmyghty God have yow in kepyng.
Wretyn the v. day of Marche. By your older sone, John Paston.
[137.1] [From Fenn, iii. 336.] By Letter 377 following, it will be seen that the writer of this letter had given displeasure to his father in the early part of the year 1459. There can be no doubt that this letter refers to the same occasion.
[376]
ABSTRACT[138.1]
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston and Sir Thomas Howes, Parson of Blofeld
1459
APRIL 13
As you desire me to write letters to certain lords, etc., on ‘such matters as ye beth now to London for,’ and as you know best what it would be most expedient for me to write, I send my servant Colyn Newman to you with my signet sealed in a little leather bag, under a signet of a ram, that you and William Jenney, or two of you, may make out letters in my name as you think fit, keeping copies of those you write. When Sir Thomas comes home again, let him bring back my signet sealed under your signets and the copies you have sent. ‘And also peradventure I might as well write to them that ben away as to those that been present. And among others ye may say to my nephew, Henry Filongley, I trust right greatly in my Lord Treasurer’s good Lordship that he will be my good Lord’s supporter to me in my right.’
Castre, 13th April 37 Hen. VI. (Signature not Fastolf’s own.)