Ryght wurschypfull Ser, after ryzth hertely recomendacion, lyke it yow to wete that my Maister Fastolf, hoose sowle God asoyle, whan I bowth of hym the maner of Blyclyng, consideryng the gret payment that I payed therfor, and the yerly annuyte duryng his lyfe after his entent, was to me gret charge; and the same tyme, in his place at Southwerk, by his othe made on his primer ther, grauntted and promitted to me to have the maner of Guton, with all the apportenaunce for a resonable pris afor ony other man. And, Ser, as I understande ye be that person that my seid maister, consideryng your gret wysdom, most trosted to have rewle and dyreccion of his lyfelode and goodes,—and, Ser, trewly, yf I hed ben nere unto yow, I wold have spoken to yow herof be for this tyme; neverthelasse I wolde desyre and pray yow to schewe me yowr goode wyll and favour in this by halve, wher inne ye schall dyscharge my seid maistres sowle of his othe and promyse, and I schall do yow servyce in that I can or maye to my power. And of yowr goode wyll and favour herynne I pray yow to late me have wetyng, and I schall be redy to wayte on yow at ony tyme and place wher ye wull assyne. And owr blysyd Lord have yow in his kepyng.—Wret the v. day of Decembre. Be youer owyn, Geffrey Boleyn.[247.1]

[246.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was probably written in the year 1460. It is evident some time had elapsed since Sir John Fastolf’s death, but as the subject was one which the writer wished to bring early before Paston’s notice, it is not likely that he allowed much more than a twelvemonth to pass by.

[247.1] The subscription and signature only are in Boleyn’s hand.

[429]
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO [JOHN PASTON][247.2]

1461(?)
JAN. (?)

Jhesus help, Marye mercy, et Franciscus cum Sanctis subveniant defuncto et suis in tribulationibus. Amen.

Præcordialissime in Jhesu Christo prædilecte, et omissis pro præsenti singulis vestram amicabilem benevolentiam concernentibus, propter quasdam materias mihi a fidedignis personis nuper relatas, &c., equitetis quam cito potestis secure pro corporis vestri conservatione. Scitote quod commissionarius J. Heydon, vester ac meus capitalis inimicus, Philippus Wentworth et J. Andrw malignantur maxime contra vos et M. T. H.[248.1] et me et alios vestros. Et magister Clemens et ego sequemur vos usque Colcestriam, ibidem expectando donec vos aliquem nuncium de London illuc miseritis, et tunc ad vos veniemus cum duobus vel tribus famulis nostro proposito necessariis, R. Botilere Matthaeo Gowh vel Johanne Lore. Sumus nempe equestres pessimi, nec ascensum equi seu descensum scientes, sed adjutorium ad minus duorum est nobis duobus necessarium, &c. Certe si non esset aura tam contraria, et pluvialis nimis, quare equitare est nobis omnino necessarium; aliter vere melius profecissem pro me in itinere per ambulare quam per equitare. W. Y.[248.2] judex cum omni consilio Johanni Heidon faciet contra vos et me et M. T. H. quicquid potest; quare dicit Gregorius, ‘Minus jacula feriunt quæ prævidentur.’ Si W. P., vester germanus, et T. Playtere, cum associatis antecederent, plura percipere possent quæ jam non cognoscent, &c., utinam velletis hoc instancia cordiali considerare in effectu. Notate q. .[248.3] literam a me primo vobis scriptam de pigricia, &c., quanta mala proveniunt ex illa, &c., W. Rokewode est rogatus a W. Y. judice ut faveat sibi et Tendale contra Wyndham armigerum pro manerio de Felbrigge, cum pertinenciis, &c., et tunc scietur utrum J. H. favebit Wyndham vel Judici, &c., cum ejus flatus olim calidus, olimque frigidus existat, et aliquando nec calidus nec frigidus sed satis tepidus. Sed oretis cum propheta, ‘Confundantur qui me persequuntur et non confundar ego, paveant illi et non paveam ego; induc super eos diem affliccionis et duplici contritione contere eos,’[248.4] domine Deus. Et Psalmista ait ‘Averte mala inimicis meis et in veritate tua disperde illos’[248.5] et sequentia. Et [super] inimicos meos despexit oculus meus. Valete in Christo Jhesu. Scriptum festinantissime, feria vja. Recommendetis me specialissime magistro T. H. et J. Berneye, &c.—Vester ad vota, F. J. B.

[247.2] [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 156.] This letter has no date, except that it was written on a Friday (feria sexta). It might, perhaps, be a little hazardous to date it Friday the 2nd January 1461, just after news of the defeat and death of the Duke of York reached Norfolk; but this date agrees well with the warning to John Paston to ride to London with all haste for his safety, which can hardly mean anything else than that the Lancastrian party, with their Norfolk supporters (several of whom, indeed, are expressly named here), were now sure to bear rule.

[248.1] Magistrum Thomam Howys.

[248.2] William Yelverton.