To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.
About 1456(?)
Ryth wurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I cum not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart. And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of the habeas corpus with ducens tecum, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys. Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [sic] as I may. And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in that mater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be Goddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.
No more, &c., but &c. —Be your man and servaunt, John Dory under Schreve of Norffolk.
[113.1] [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 170.] The name of Dory occurs only once elsewhere in these letters, and then without a Christian name; but the person so referred to (at the end of [No. 330]) is probably the under-sheriff of Norfolk; and this letter, which is likewise concerned with Fastolf’s business, may have been written about the same period.
[354]
JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON[114.1]
1457(?)
APRIL 2
Sire, lyke it your maistership to wete that I sende you at this tyme the rolle of the copies of all patentes, and the appoyntement with Wentworth laste, and also a abstracte drawen as it come simply to my remembrance. And I shalbe with you sumtyme the next weke. All men ar owte at this tyme, as the Parson,[114.2] Worcester, and Barker; and therfore til thei come, I may not owte. H. Wyndesor departid on Monday, and will doo that he can. He telleth me Lumleys patent is in his awarde, but it is of noo force. And also he hathe Constable is ij. [second ?] patente, and that is moste ayenst us, &c. He wil purveie therfore as ye knowe myn maister[114.3] comaundit hym to yow.
Here hath ben Wilton with the dede of feffement yesterday, and all men hadde ensealed sauf myn maister that now hathe ensealed, and H. Inglose is right soory. I can no newe tidinges, but that myn maister hath put his matier of Issabells in Scroudeby, and the rente of the priour of Norwiche dieu to Heilesdon in your hande and Thomas Grene. Ye shal the next weke have the evidences. And Jesu kepe you and youres.
I sende myn Maistres Crane a lettre fro hir brother, but I have the credence, whiche I can not say but if she appose me for certein materes of hir brotheres.