Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutés of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyer. Pleasyt yow to vndyrstand that, wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me ought of the heyer that I am jn, it is so that I must put me in God, for her must I be for a season; and in good feyth I shall never, whyll God sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe then shame. And thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd here; and also my besyness puttyth a-wey my fere. I am drevyn to labore in lettyng of th'execucyon of myn vnkynd onclys entent, wher-in I haue as yet non other dyscorage but that I trust in God he shall fayle of it.
I haue spokyn wyth my lord of Ely dyvers tymys, whyche hathe put me in serteynté by hys woord that he wyll be wyth me ayenst myn oncle in iche mater that I can shewe that he entendyth to wrong me in. And he wold fayne haue a resonable end be-twyx vs, wher-to he wyll helpe, as he seythe. And it is serteyn my brodyr, God haue hys soule, had promysed to a-byde the reule of my lord Chamberleyn and of my lord of Ely, but I am not yett so ferr forthe, nor not wyll be tyll I know my lord Chamberleyns intent. And that I purpose to do to-morow, for then I thynk to be wyth hym, wyth Godys leve.
And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys mater, I thank hym of hys grace for the good lordys, mastyrs, and frendys that he hathe sent me, whyche haue parfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther owne; and those frendys be not a fewe. And, modyr, as I best can and may I thank yow and my cosyn Lomenore of the good avyse that ye haue sent me, and I shall aplye me to do ther-aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche you on my behalff to thank myn cosyn Lomnorre for þe kyndness that he hathe shewyd on-to me in gevyng of hys answer to myn onclys seruaunt whyche was wyth hym.
Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for I haue not most leyser. And also, when I haue ben wyth my lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not to tery longe aftyr in London, but to dresse me to yow wardys; at whyche tyme I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynté of all the fordell that I haue in my besyness then I can as yett wryght. I am put in serteynté by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my lord of Ely is and shalbe bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet; and yet hathe he delt wyh me ryght well and honourably.
Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to to purvey me as myche money as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst my comyng hom, for I haue myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costys, dettys, and legattys that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston if ther be eny, wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were ought of the tenauntys handys, for thyngys that I here. Kepe ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys; whyche mater I shall appese if God wyll geve me leve.
Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutés of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyer. Pleasyt yow to vndyrstand that, wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me ought of the heyer that I am jn, it is so that I must put me in God, for her must I be for a season; and in good feyth I shall never, whyll God sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe then shame. And thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd here; and also my besyness puttyth a-wey my fere. I am drevyn to labore in lettyng of th'execucyon of myn vnkynd onclys entent, wher-in I haue as yet non other dyscorage but that I trust in God he shall fayle of it.
I haue spokyn wyth my lord of Ely dyvers tymys, whyche hathe put me in serteynté by hys woord that he wyll be wyth me ayenst myn oncle in iche mater that I can shewe that he entendyth to wrong me in. And he wold fayne haue a resonable end be-twyx vs, wher-to he wyll helpe, as he seythe. And it is serteyn my brodyr, God haue hys soule, had promysed to a-byde the reule of my lord Chamberleyn and of my lord of Ely, but I am not yett so ferr forthe, nor not wyll be tyll I know my lord Chamberleyns intent. And that I purpose to do to-morow, for then I thynk to be wyth hym, wyth Godys leve.
And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys mater, I thank hym of hys grace for the good lordys, mastyrs, and frendys that he hathe sent me, whyche haue parfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther owne; and those frendys be not a fewe. And, modyr, as I best can and may I thank yow and my cosyn Lomenore of the good avyse that ye haue sent me, and I shall aplye me to do ther-aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche you on my behalff to thank myn cosyn Lomnorre for þe kyndness that he hathe shewyd on-to me in gevyng of hys answer to myn onclys seruaunt whyche was wyth hym.
Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for I haue not most leyser. And also, when I haue ben wyth my lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not to tery longe aftyr in London, but to dresse me to yow wardys; at whyche tyme I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynté of all the fordell that I haue in my besyness then I can as yett wryght. I am put in serteynté by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my lord of Ely is and shalbe bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet; and yet hathe he delt wyh me ryght well and honourably.
Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to to purvey me as myche money as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst my comyng hom, for I haue myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costys, dettys, and legattys that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston if ther be eny, wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were ought of the tenauntys handys, for thyngys that I here. Kepe ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys; whyche mater I shall appese if God wyll geve me leve.
Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutés of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyer. Pleasyt yow to vndyrstand that, wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me ought of the heyer that I am jn, it is so that I must put me in God, for her must I be for a season; and in good feyth I shall never, whyll God sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe then shame. And thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd here; and also my besyness puttyth a-wey my fere. I am drevyn to labore in lettyng of th'execucyon of myn vnkynd onclys entent, wher-in I haue as yet non other dyscorage but that I trust in God he shall fayle of it.
I haue spokyn wyth my lord of Ely dyvers tymys, whyche hathe put me in serteynté by hys woord that he wyll be wyth me ayenst myn oncle in iche mater that I can shewe that he entendyth to wrong me in. And he wold fayne haue a resonable end be-twyx vs, wher-to he wyll helpe, as he seythe. And it is serteyn my brodyr, God haue hys soule, had promysed to a-byde the reule of my lord Chamberleyn and of my lord of Ely, but I am not yett so ferr forthe, nor not wyll be tyll I know my lord Chamberleyns intent. And that I purpose to do to-morow, for then I thynk to be wyth hym, wyth Godys leve.
And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys mater, I thank hym of hys grace for the good lordys, mastyrs, and frendys that he hathe sent me, whyche haue parfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther owne; and those frendys be not a fewe. And, modyr, as I best can and may I thank yow and my cosyn Lomenore of the good avyse that ye haue sent me, and I shall aplye me to do ther-aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche you on my behalff to thank myn cosyn Lomnorre for þe kyndness that he hathe shewyd on-to me in gevyng of hys answer to myn onclys seruaunt whyche was wyth hym.
Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for I haue not most leyser. And also, when I haue ben wyth my lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not to tery longe aftyr in London, but to dresse me to yow wardys; at whyche tyme I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynté of all the fordell that I haue in my besyness then I can as yett wryght. I am put in serteynté by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my lord of Ely is and shalbe bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet; and yet hathe he delt wyh me ryght well and honourably.
Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to to purvey me as myche money as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst my comyng hom, for I haue myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costys, dettys, and legattys that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston if ther be eny, wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were ought of the tenauntys handys, for thyngys that I here. Kepe ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys; whyche mater I shall appese if God wyll geve me leve.
Right worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutés of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseech you of your dayly blessing and preyer. Pleasyt you to vndyrstand that, where as you wyllyd me by Poiness to haste me ought of the heyer that I am jn, it is so that I must put me in God, for her must I be for a season; and in good faith I shall never, while God sends me life, dred more dethe then shame. And thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd [here/her]; and also my besyness puttyth a-wey my fere. I am drevyn to labore in letting of th'execucyon of [mine/my] vnkynd onclys entent, where-in I have as yet no other dyscorage but that I trust in God he shall fayle of it.
I have spokyn with my lord of Ely dyvers tymys, which hathe put me in serteynté by his woord that he wyll be with me ayenst [mine/my] oncle in iche matter that I can show that he entendyth to wrong me in. And he would fayne have a resonable end be-twyx vs, where-to he wyll helpe, as he said. And it is serteyn my brother, God have his soule, had promysed to a-byde the reule of my lord Chamberlain and of my lord of Ely, but I am not yett so ferr forth, nor not wyll be until I know my lord Chamberleyns intent. And that I purpose to do to-morow, for then I thynk to be with him, with Godys leve.
And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys matter, I thank him of his grace for the good lordys, mastyrs, and frendys that he hathe sent me, which have parfytely promysyd me to take my cause as there owne; and those frendys be not a fewe. And, modyr, as I best can and may I thank you and my cousin Lomenore of the good avyse that you have sent me, and I shall aplye me to do there-aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseech you on my behalff to thank [mine/my] cousin Lomnorre for þe kyndness that he hathe shewyd on-to me in gevyng of his answer to [mine/my] onclys seruaunt which was with him.
Modyr, I wryght not so largely to you as I would do, for I have not most leyser. And also, when I have [be/been] with my lord Chamberlain, I purpose not to tery long aftyr in London, but to dresse me to you wardys; at which time I trust I shall brynge you more serteynté of all the fordell that I have in my besyness then I can as yett wryght. I am put in serteynté by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my lord of Ely is and shalbe bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet; and yet hathe he delt wyh me right well and honourably.
Modyr, I beseech you that Pekok may be sent to to [obtain/purchase] me as myche money as is possybyll for him to make ayenst my coming hom, for I have myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costys, dettys, and legattys that must be happy in gretter haste then shalbe [mine/my] ease. Also I would the ferme barley in Winterton - Flegg manor, as well as at Paston if there be eny, wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the maltyng; but I would at Caister-on-Sea that it were ought of the tenauntys handys, for thyngys that I [here/her]. Keep you consell thys from Pekok and all folkys; which matter I shall appese if God wyll geve me leve.
Right worshipful mother, I start with all my duties of lowly commendation; as humbly as I can, I ask for your daily prayers and blessing. Do understand that while Poiness has advised to leave this environment as quickly as possible, I must trust in God, for I must stay for a while. In faith, while God gives me life, I am less afraid of death rather than of shame. Thanks be to God, the plague has well passed here, and my business puts away my fear. I need to work against my uncle's unkind intentions; when discouraged, I trust in God that he will fail.
I have spoken with the Bishop of Ely several times, who has assured me he will be with me against my uncle in each matter where I can show he intends me injury. He would like to have a reasonable agreement between us, towards which he says he will help. I am certain my brother, God rest his soul, has promised to agree to whatever the Lord Chamberlain and the Bishop of Ely decide, but I'm not yet sure of things, and won't be until the Lord Chamberlain decides. I hope I will know tomorrow, for I expect to be with him, with God's leave.
Since God has decided I have to be the instigator of this matter, I thank him for the good lords, masters and friends he has sent me, who have promised to take my cause as their own, and there are not a few of them. And mother, as best I can I thank you and my cousin Lumnor for the good advice you have sent me, and I shall do my best to follow it. Also, mother, I ask you to thank on my behalf my cousin Lumnor for the kindness he has shown me in giving his answer to my uncle's servant who came to him.
Mother, I'm not writing as much to you as I would wish, as I don't have much time. Also when I have seen the Lord Chamberlain, I don't intend to stay long in London but to head to you, and when I do that, I hope to bring you more certainty about all the progress I've made in the business that I can't write. I am assured by my special good master, the Master of the Rolls, that the Bishop of Ely is and will be a better lord to me than he has shown so far – and yet he has dealt with me well and honourably.
Mother, I ask that Pekok be sent to bring me as much money as possible, to help with my travel home, for I have much to pay here in London; what with the funeral costs, debts and legacies that are greater than are easily paid. Also I would like the barley at Flegg, as well as at Paston, if there is any, to be gathered in, and sold at a reasonable price, if possible, or used for malting; at Caister i would rather it were not dealt with by the tenants, from what I hear. Get information on this from Pekok and others; I'll sort things out, with God's leave.