To my ryght reverent and wurschip[full] mayster, my Mayster John Paston in the Ynner Temple at London.
1463
[FEB.]
Plesith your goode maystrechip to witte that ther comen doune to the undrescheryff of Norwiche, a writte to a tache Mr. John P. the yongere, wherof I sende you a copy closed herin, but they woll not a reeste hym within Norwich; but I undrestande ther is comen an other writte to the undrescheryff of Norfolk bothe for hym and me, and for all thoo that ben indyghted. Wherfore I purpose me to ride to Hoonyng to the scheryff thys day, to undrestande how he is disposed, and to desire hym to shewe favour to your pore tenaunts; and as I feele hym disposed I schall send your maystreship answer.
And as for tidyngs here in this contre, we have noon but that ther be many Frenchemen upon the see and do moche answer upon the coosts. Mr. Yelver[ton] knew of the comyng up of the teste within ij. dayes after they were goon, &c. My ryght reverent and wurschipful maystre, the blissed Trinite preserve and kepe and ferther you in all your maters.
Sir William Wyllugby whas at Risynge Castell, and yesterday he come home a yenne. On Tentale hathe entred in to a parte of Felbregge lyvelod, and a corte holden, and the tenaunts retorned. Item, as for the cort that Deben[ham] schuld holde at Calcot we here not of it.
Your pore servaunt and bedman, R. C.
Rex vi[ce]comitibus Norwici, salutem. Præcepimus vobis quod capiatis Johannem Paston juniorem, nuper de Norwico, armigerum, si inventus fuerit in balliva vestra, et eum salvo custodiatis, ita quod habeatis corpus ejus coram nobis a die Paschæ in unum mensem ubicunque tunc fuerimus in Anglia, ad respondendum nobis de quibusdam feloniis et transgressionibus unde in comitatu nostro Suffolchiæ indictatus est. Et si prædictus Johannes in balliva vestra inveniri non poterit, tunc ad duos comitatus in balliva vestra citra terminum prædictum proximo tenendos juxta formam statuti in hujusmodi casu provisi proclamari faciatis quod idem Johannes sit coram nobis ad præfatum terminum ad respondendum nobis de præmissis. Et habeatis ibi hoc breve. Teste Johanne Markham apud Westmonasterium, xxxjº die Januarii, anno regni nostri secundo. Croxton.
Rotulo xxvjº R. Per contr’ Anno secundo Regis Ed. iiijti r. xiij. Irrotulatur coram Rege de recordo, termino Hillarii anno secundo Regis Ed. iiijti, prout patet in rotulo infrascripto.[69.1]
[68.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As the writ, of which a copy is subjoined to this letter, is dated on the 31st January in the second year of Edward IV. (1463), the letter itself must have been written in February.
[69.1] This note is to imply that the writ is enrolled among what are called the Records on the Coram Rege Roll of Hilary term, 2 Edw. IV., rot. 26, a former writ against John Paston, junior, being enrolled in the Controlment Roll, 2 Edw. IV., rot. 13.