The following memoranda occur on the back:—
| Br[adwe]ll juxta Jernemut. | |
| Kirley juxta Leystoft, viijli. | |
| Foxhole | xviijli. |
Cowhaw in Nakton | |
Langston in Brustall, | iijli. |
Bentele, ij. mile beyond Brustall,xiiijli. (?) | |
[19.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. of this is a corrected draft. Although the person addressed is not named, the style in which he is addressed, and particularly the last sentence, leave no doubt that it is the Duke of Norfolk. Indeed, this is not unlikely to be the letter mentioned in the postscript to the last, of which a copy or draft was sent along with the original to John Paston that he might deliver the latter, only if he approved of its contents. If so, it is probable that Paston withheld it, as we find by the letter immediately following that Fastolf addressed another memorial to the Duke on the subject of his dispute with Wentworth four days later.
[19.2] They were John Paston and Thomas Howes, and their patent was dated 6th June 32 Hen. VI. (1454).—See Rolls of Parl. v. 371.
[278]
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK[20.1]
1455
APRIL 2
Right high and myghty Prynce, my right noble and good Lord, in my right humble wyse I recomaunde me to your good grace. And for the noble lordship and supportacion shewid unto me at all tymes, I beseche our Lord God guerdon yow, where as I may not, but only as yowr daily and contynuell bedeman, now in myn age, pray for the good prosperite of youre right highe and noble estate, as I am gretly bounde to doo; prayng tendirly yowre Highnesse to contynue yowre good lordship and supportacion in the materes touchyng your servaunt John Porter and my pore Chappelleyn Sir Thomas Howes, trustyng verily to God that, with the supportacion of your good Lordship, there mater shall yette come to a good conclusion in punisshyng of perjure and embracery that many yeris hathe ben and yette is usid in this shire, whiche were grete merite, and to my conceyte, in yow that ar soo noble a Prynce, a singler renoune, as for the beste dede that may be doo for the weel of bothe shires.
And in like wise that it please youre right good grace to contynue youre noble favour and supportacion to me in remedyeng the force doon by Sir Philip Wentworth, kepyng now wrongful possession of certeyn londes in Suffolk, nygh youre Castel of Framyngham; whiche londs certeyn of my frendes, to myn use, have of the Kyngs graunte by his lettres patent byfore ony patent that the seid Sir Philip hathe, whiche is my singler matier in myn owen parte that I have now to doo, as my cosyn Paston can enforme yowr Lordship, for he knowith the mater and myn hole entente, to whom your good grace lyke to yife credence. He cometh to awaite upon your Lordship at this tyme, as I understande, by my cosyn youre servaunt Richard Suthwell, youre Lordship desired.
Right highe and myghty Prynce, my noble and right good Lord, I beseche the Holy Goste be with yow, and evere more sende yow the accomplishment of youre right noble desires to his plesir and youres.
Writen at my pore place of Castre, the ijde day of Aprill. Your humble man and servaunt, J. Fastolf.