Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore, help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.
From London, the furst day of Marche. Your, Hugh a Fenne.
[77.1] [From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the Crown set forth in [Nos. 309] and [310], and as these seem to have been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention, at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this year.
[77.2] Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth of a cause.—F.
[77.3] An Escheator was a county officer who certified into the Exchequer the King’s escheats, i.e. lands which fell to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of tenants in capite, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen. VI. to 4th November 34 Hen. VI., i.e. from 1454 to 1455.
[77.4] A writ which lies for him who is molested contrary to the King’s protection granted him.—F.
[77.5] A writ of liberate is a warrant either for the payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal, or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the custody of a sheriff.
[325]
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[78.1]
To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.
1456(?)
[MAR. 24]