To myn ryght weel beloved cosyn, John Paston, Squier.
1455
MARCH 29
Worshipfull 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 Lordship, 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 Lordship 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.
[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.
[18.2] I suspect ‘Norwyche’ is here a slip of the pen, and that ‘my Lord of Norfolk’ was intended.
[277]
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK[19.1]
1455
MARCH (?)
Right hy and myghty Prynce, my right gode and gracyous Lord, I recomaund me to your gode Lordship, etc. And please itt your Hyghnesse to wete that Sir Philip Wenteworth purchasid the Kyngs patentis of the ward of the heyer and londes of a por kynnesman of myne called John Fastolf of Cowhawe, late passed to God, to the grett hurte and distruccion as well of the inheritance of the seyd heyer as interrupcion and breking of the last will of the seyd John, and also to my grett troble and dammage; and for asmoche as it fortowned be grase the seyd patentes to be mystake, so that they were not laufull ne suffycyent, be avyce of conceyll, certeyn persones,[19.2] to myn use, purchesid be the Kyngs letters patentes suffycyent and laufull of the ward of the seyd londes. And the rigth of thes bothe patentes hath be putte in juges and lerned men, affor hom the seyd Sir Philipp ne his conceyll cowd never prove hes tytill lawfull be his seyd patents, and this notwithstanding intendith be fors, as I understand, to take the profytes of the seyd londes ageyns all lawe and concyence. Beseching your Lordchip to tender me in myn age and sekenesse that may not ryde ne help myself, and of your habundant grace to supporte me in my right, that I be not be fors ageyns lawe and concyence kepte from the possescion of the seyd londes in this contre, wher ye be Prynce and Sovereyn next owr Sovereyn Lord.