I understond that ye have ben with my Lorde of Norfolke now of late. What ze have done I wete not; we se that he shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr, I trow John Alforde schall not longe abyde with my Lorde; I schall sende yow tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who, &c. Wretyn on Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn. John Paston.
I fer that Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew howsold longe; lete hym send me worde in hast, and I wyll releve hym to my power, and or longe to I hope to be with yow.
Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be good jnow. Th’excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.
Also, that thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as corteysly as ye can.
Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr[307.1] be the next massanger that comyth.
Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know non suche in myn adward as yit.
Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblygacion, I never sye it that I remembre; wherfor I wolde and prey my modre to loke it up.
Also, as for the Byble[307.2] that the master hath, I wend the uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I trowe he wyl geve it: wet, I pray yow.
Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate, I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe, folfayne be dyschargyd of them.
[306.1] [From Fenn, iv. 302.] The original of this letter, Fenn informs us, was written upon a whole sheet of paper, of which a quarter was cut away before the letter was finished, so that the bottom part of it was only half the width of the upper. Roger Ree was made Sheriff of Norfolk in 1468, which fixes the date.