To the ryght worchipfull mayster, William Paston, Squyer, with my Lord of Oxynford, [be t]his bill delyverd in hast.
1488
DEC. 16
Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaund me un to you in my best maner, acordyng to my deute. Sir, I sent you a letter by Henre Fox wyff, and I had non answer from you of it. On of the gretest thynges that I wrot to you of, was that the fryer shuld be aposed, howo was prevy with hym, whan he robbed Master Martyn, the prest, at Hornyngtoft in Norffolk; also that Fox and the parson of Testerton,[114.2] shuld be aposed if eny of Hempton Abbay whar out [were aught] prevy to the mony makyng.
Sir, now I beseche you to send me a copy of thes mony makers confeschon, and ther namys, for I ame bothe sworne on the quest of the oyer determiner, and also on the quest at large, and of that we most make our verdyte at the sessyons after Crystmes for the quest at large; for we toke day over at the last sessyons tyll the sessyons after Crestmes for the quest at large. Lytefot, of your hows, is sworne on the oyer determiner.
I beseche you to speke with my lord, to know of his good lordchepe how we shall demene ourselff in that be half; and I beseche you send me word as sone as ye can.
I thynk that Yelvertons servant, that is with you in preson, shall com a gayne hether, and he may bryng your letter to me. He[115.1] bryngythe you this letter, and if it may be nat a fendyng, I pray you be good master to Yelverton for my sake. I have fownd hym a good persone.
Sir, I shall not be with my lady is grace[115.2] this Crystmes, far her grace shalbe with the Kynges Grace after Crystmes; and thane I shall awayt on her grace, wher ye shall have my servyce be the grace of Jesu, He preserve you.
At Ryburgh, the xvj. day of December.
And ye hepe [help] nat, I am leke to losse moche mony of my costes for thes mony makers. I pray helpe, &c. Your servant, Thomas Andrew.
[114.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Thomas Andrew, the writer of this letter, was a servant of William Paston, the uncle of Sir John, but the William Paston to whom this letter is addressed seems to have been Sir John’s brother, whom we find to have been in service with the Earl of Oxford during the years 1488-90.