Writen at Castre, the ij. day of Aprill. Your owen servaunt, J. B.
[114.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain. In 1456 the writer dates from Southwark on the 8th of May, and in 1458 from London on the 14th of March, so that there is rather a presumption against his being at Caister on the 2nd of April in either of these years. But these points, it must be owned, are little to be relied on, as Bokking certainly passed to and fro a good deal between London and Norfolk. The date must, however, be between 1455 and 1459. The letter has no address, but was doubtless intended for John Paston.
[114.2] Thomas Howes.
[114.3] Sir John Fastolf.
[355]
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[115.1]
To my Maister Paston.
1457
APRIL 20
Please you to wete that, after dew recommendacion, hyt yt so that my maister sendyth me to London for the mater of Rochestr, as for dyvers of hys oune particuler maters which concern not the lawe, &c.; and I am lyke to tarye till ye com, in case ye com wythynne iij. wekys.
Sir, at reverence of God, seth my maister ys fully yn wille to renew hys fefment, that it may be do be tyme by the surest grounde that may be had, for, be it nevyr so suerly don, hyt shall be thought lytille ynowgh to kepe hys lond owte of trouble; and to spare for no councell ne cost to make sure, for a peny yn seson spent wille safe a pounde. I comyned with my broyder Spyrlyng, which seyth he wille do hys attendaunce, and to kepe it ryzt close of the namys. Taryeng drawyth parell.
And ye meved a gode mater to the Parson and to me at your last beyng at Castr, that my maister shud be lerned whate hys housold standyth uppon yerlye, seth he kept it holye to ghedr at one place; and that don, then to see by the revenues of hys yeerly lyfelode whate may be leyd and assigned owte for that cause to meynteyn hys seyd housold, and over that, whate may be assigned to beere owte hys plees, and also do pay for hys foreyn chargs[115.2] and dedes of almes to a convenyent somme.