[216.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is certainly in the year 1460, for it was written after the death of Sir John Fastolf, and before the deposition of Henry VI., Margaret of Anjou being still spoken of as ‘the Queen.’

[217.1] See [p. 199, Note 2].

[217.2] Elizabeth Paston, now wife of Robert Poynings.

[218.1] Aubrey de Vere, son of the Earl of Oxford, who suffered death, with his father, in February 1462.

[218.2] Anne, eldest daughter of Humphry, Duke of Buckingham.

[407]
THE ABBOT OF LANGLEY TO JOHN STOKES[218.3]

To the ryght worchepfull Sere, Mayster John Stokes.

1460
MAY 8

Ryght worshypfull Sere, I recomaund me to yow; and for asmyche as it is informyd me that it was appoynted that alle the executors of the worshepfull knyght, Sere John Fastolf, whos soule God asoyle, shuld be at London as on Monday next comyng, of wheche executors I am namyd for on, as I ondyrstond; wherfore, in as myche as ye be ordenary and on of the same executors, I prey yow tendre my laboure, withoute my comyng, be youre dyscrecion, myght be more profyt to the dede; for I conseyve it shuld be but charge to the dede, and lytell avayleable, consyderyng that John Paston, Squyere, and Thomas Howys, parson of Blofeeld, schall come up at this time, wheche were[218.4] the persones above all other that the seyd Sere John Fastolf put in hys most sengulere love and trust, and wold they shuld have the kepyng and dysposicion of hys goods, as wele in hys lyve as after hys deseas, to dyspose for the well of hys soule; and that non other namyd hys executors, but only they tweyn, shuld have ony kepyng or dysposyng of ony part of hese goods duryng ther lyves; and that alle other namyd executors shuld supporte them and geve them to the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys here good avyse in performyng of hys desyre in that behalve. Wherfor that it lekyth yow in ony thyng ye desyre me to do in thys cause or matere to geve yowre feyth and credence to the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys; and so desyred me the seyd Knyght feythefully to do, that knowyth God, whom I be seke preserve yow from alle adversyte.

Wretyn in the Abbey of Langeley, the viij. day of the monyth of May, the yeere of oure Lord ml.cccc.lx. Youre preest, Abbot of Langeley.[219.1]