Ryt wurchypful hosbond, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝowr wele-fare, be-seching ȝou þat ȝe be not displesyd þow I be com fro þat place þat ȝe left me in; for be my trawth þer were brawth me seche tydyngys be dyuerys þersonys qhiche ben ȝowre wele-willerys and myn þat I durst no lengere abyd there, of qhyche þersonys I xall late ȝou have wetyng qhan ȝe corn horn. It was done me to wete þat dyuerys of þe Lord Moleynys men saydyn jf þei myt gete me þey xuld stele me and keþe me wyth-jnne þe kastell, and þan þey seyd þei wold þat ȝe xuld feche me owth. An þei seydyn it xuld ben but a lytyll hert-brennymg to ȝou. And after þat I herd þese tydyngys I kowd no rest have in myn hert tyl I was here, nere I durst nowt owt of þe place þat I was jn tyll þat I was redy to ryden; nere þer was non in þe place wist þat I xul corn þens save þe godewyf not an owre be-fore þat I kam þens. And I told here þat I xuld corn hedder to don maken seche gere as I wold haue made for me and for þe childer, and seyd I sopposyd þat I xuld be here a fowrtennythe or iij wekys. I pray ȝou þat þe caws of my komyng away may ben kownsell tyl I sþeke wyth ȝou, for þei þat lete me haue warnyng þer-of wold not for no good þat it were diskuryd.
I spac wyth ȝowr modyr as I kam hidderwardys, and sche prafyrd me, if ȝe wold, þat I xuld abydyn in pis town. Sche wold wyth rytȝ a good will þat we xul abyde in here place, and delyueryn me seche gere as sche myt for-bere, to keþen wyth hwsold tyl ȝe mytȝ ben purvayd of a place and stuff of ȝowr owyn to keþe wyth howsold. I pray ȝou send me word be þe brynger of pis how ȝe wil þat I be demenyd. I wol hen rytȝ sory to dwel so nere Gressam as I dede tyl þe mater were fullys determynyd be-twix þe Lord Moleynis and ȝou
Barow told me that þer ware no better evydens in Inglond þan þe Lord Moleynys hathe of þe maner of Gressam. I told hym I sopposyd þat þei were seche evydens as Willyam Hasard seyd þat ȝowr were: he seyd þe sellys of hem were not ȝett kold. I seyd I sopposyd his lordys evydens were seche. I seyd I wost wele, as for ȝowr evydens, þer mytȝ no man haue non better þan ȝe have, and I seyd þe selys of hem were to hundred ȝere elder þan he is. þe seyd Barow sayd to me if he com to London qhil ȝe were there he wold drynk wyth ȝou, for any angyr þat was be-twyx ȝow. He seyd he dede but as a servawnt, and as he was commawndyd to don. Purry xall tell ȝou qhat langage was be-twyx Barow and me qhan I kam fro Walsyngham. I pray ȝou hertyly, at þe reverens of God, be ware of þe Lord Moleynys and his men, þow þei sþeke neuer so fayr to ȝou trost hem not, ne ete not nere drynk wyth hem, for þei ben so fals it is not for to trost in hem. And also I pray ȝou be ware qhat ȝe eten ar drynk wyth any othere felaschep, for þe þepyll is ful on-trosty.
I pray ȝou hertylye þat ȝe wil vowche-save to send me word how ȝe don and how ȝe sþeden in ȝowr materis be þe brynger of this. I merveyl meche þat ȝe send me nomore tydyngys pan ȝe haue sent.
Rogere Foke of Sparham sent to me and seythe þat he dare nott gon owt of his hows for be kawse of þe sewte þat Heydon and Wymdam haue aȝens hem, for he is thrett þat if he may be gette he xal be ladde to preson. Heydon sent Spendlove and oþer to wayte qhere he were, and to arest hym to þe kastell, and þe forseyd Roger is so aferd þat his drede makyth hym so seke þat but if he haue sokowr sone it is lyke to ben his dethe. Qhere-for I pray ȝou, and he bothyn, þat ȝe wil purvay a remedy for hym, þat he may gon at large, for it hurtit bothen ȝowr katel and hym. Ȝowr closys and ȝowr pastowr lythe all opyn be-kawse he may not gon abrodde to don hem amendyn, and ȝowr schep ar not lokyd at as þey xuld hen for þer is no schepeherd but Hodgis sonys, for oþer schepherd dare non abyd þer ner corn up-on þe comown be-kause þat Wichyngham men thretyn hem to bete if þei comen on here komon. And but if ȝowr bestys mown comown þer jt xall hen grette hurt to hem but if þe haue more pasture pan þei haue be-syd þatt.
Watkyn Schipdam recommawndyth hym to ȝou, and prayt ȝou þat ȝe woll sþeke to Sere Jon Fastolf for þe harneys þat ȝe hadden of hym, and tellyn hym how it is þat som þer-of is gon, and sþeke to hym þat þei þat am bownd þer-for nere þei þat delyueryd it hen no hurt.
I haue ȝove Purry a gown; I pray ȝou take heed qhat it is and send me word if ȝe wil þat I purway all ȝowr leuerés of þe same. þe pris of a ȝerd þer-of is xiij d. ob., and so me semyt it is wele worth.
The parson of Sparrammys dowter and oþer talkedyn largely, and seydyn þat ȝe haue hadde on schote and but if ȝe hen ware ȝe xall haue more or Estern - ȝe xall for-bere Sporyl and Sweynysthorp also but if ȝe bere ȝou wele, er ȝe haue do wyth þe mater of Gressam. It is told me as for Gressam þe Lord Moleynys xuld not cleym it now noþer be tayl nere be evydens, but be infefment of on of his anseteris qhiche dyid sesynnyd, and in þe same wise it is seyd þat Sweynysthorp xul be cleymyd. In qhat wyse Sporyl xuld hen cleymyd I wote not; but if þer be any seche thing to-ward I send ȝou word here-of þat ȝe may taken hede the .... Thomas Skipping seyd qhan he kam fro London to a man þat he wend xuld not a diskuryd it þat p....yke to for-gon þe maner of Sporyll wyth-in rytȝ schort tym. As for þe pleyntys in þehundred Purry xall tell ȝou qhat is don and of aþer thingys more.
The Holy Trynyté haue ȝou in his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche on þe Fryday nexst after Puver Weddenysday.
Ryt wurchypful hosbond, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝowr wele-fare, be-seching ȝou þat ȝe be not displesyd þow I be com fro þat place þat ȝe left me in; for be my trawth þer were brawth me seche tydyngys be dyuerys þersonys qhiche ben ȝowre wele-willerys and myn þat I durst no lengere abyd there, of qhyche þersonys I xall late ȝou have wetyng qhan ȝe corn horn. It was done me to wete þat dyuerys of þe Lord Moleynys men saydyn jf þei myt gete me þey xuld stele me and keþe me wyth-jnne þe kastell, and þan þey seyd þei wold þat ȝe xuld feche me owth. An þei seydyn it xuld ben but a lytyll hert-brennymg to ȝou. And after þat I herd þese tydyngys I kowd no rest have in myn hert tyl I was here, nere I durst nowt owt of þe place þat I was jn tyll þat I was redy to ryden; nere þer was non in þe place wist þat I xul corn þens save þe godewyf not an owre be-fore þat I kam þens. And I told here þat I xuld corn hedder to don maken seche gere as I wold haue made for me and for þe childer, and seyd I sopposyd þat I xuld be here a fowrtennythe or iij wekys. I pray ȝou þat þe caws of my komyng away may ben kownsell tyl I sþeke wyth ȝou, for þei þat lete me haue warnyng þer-of wold not for no good þat it were diskuryd.
I spac wyth ȝowr modyr as I kam hidderwardys, and sche prafyrd me, if ȝe wold, þat I xuld abydyn in pis town. Sche wold wyth rytȝ a good will þat we xul abyde in here place, and delyueryn me seche gere as sche myt for-bere, to keþen wyth hwsold tyl ȝe mytȝ ben purvayd of a place and stuff of ȝowr owyn to keþe wyth howsold. I pray ȝou send me word be þe brynger of pis how ȝe wil þat I be demenyd. I wol hen rytȝ sory to dwel so nere Gressam as I dede tyl þe mater were fullys determynyd be-twix þe Lord Moleynis and ȝou
Barow told me that þer ware no better evydens in Inglond þan þe Lord Moleynys hathe of þe maner of Gressam. I told hym I sopposyd þat þei were seche evydens as Willyam Hasard seyd þat ȝowr were: he seyd þe sellys of hem were not ȝett kold. I seyd I sopposyd his lordys evydens were seche. I seyd I wost wele, as for ȝowr evydens, þer mytȝ no man haue non better þan ȝe have, and I seyd þe selys of hem were to hundred ȝere elder þan he is. þe seyd Barow sayd to me if he com to London qhil ȝe were there he wold drynk wyth ȝou, for any angyr þat was be-twyx ȝow. He seyd he dede but as a servawnt, and as he was commawndyd to don. Purry xall tell ȝou qhat langage was be-twyx Barow and me qhan I kam fro Walsyngham. I pray ȝou hertyly, at þe reverens of God, be ware of þe Lord Moleynys and his men, þow þei sþeke neuer so fayr to ȝou trost hem not, ne ete not nere drynk wyth hem, for þei ben so fals it is not for to trost in hem. And also I pray ȝou be ware qhat ȝe eten ar drynk wyth any othere felaschep, for þe þepyll is ful on-trosty.
I pray ȝou hertylye þat ȝe wil vowche-save to send me word how ȝe don and how ȝe sþeden in ȝowr materis be þe brynger of this. I merveyl meche þat ȝe send me nomore tydyngys pan ȝe haue sent.
Rogere Foke of Sparham sent to me and seythe þat he dare nott gon owt of his hows for be kawse of þe sewte þat Heydon and Wymdam haue aȝens hem, for he is thrett þat if he may be gette he xal be ladde to preson. Heydon sent Spendlove and oþer to wayte qhere he were, and to arest hym to þe kastell, and þe forseyd Roger is so aferd þat his drede makyth hym so seke þat but if he haue sokowr sone it is lyke to ben his dethe. Qhere-for I pray ȝou, and he bothyn, þat ȝe wil purvay a remedy for hym, þat he may gon at large, for it hurtit bothen ȝowr katel and hym. Ȝowr closys and ȝowr pastowr lythe all opyn be-kawse he may not gon abrodde to don hem amendyn, and ȝowr schep ar not lokyd at as þey xuld hen for þer is no schepeherd but Hodgis sonys, for oþer schepherd dare non abyd þer ner corn up-on þe comown be-kause þat Wichyngham men thretyn hem to bete if þei comen on here komon. And but if ȝowr bestys mown comown þer jt xall hen grette hurt to hem but if þe haue more pasture pan þei haue be-syd þatt.
Watkyn Schipdam recommawndyth hym to ȝou, and prayt ȝou þat ȝe woll sþeke to Sere Jon Fastolf for þe harneys þat ȝe hadden of hym, and tellyn hym how it is þat som þer-of is gon, and sþeke to hym þat þei þat am bownd þer-for nere þei þat delyueryd it hen no hurt.
I haue ȝove Purry a gown; I pray ȝou take heed qhat it is and send me word if ȝe wil þat I purway all ȝowr leuerés of þe same. þe pris of a ȝerd þer-of is xiij d. ob., and so me semyt it is wele worth.
The parson of Sparrammys dowter and oþer talkedyn largely, and seydyn þat ȝe haue hadde on schote and but if ȝe hen ware ȝe xall haue more or Estern - ȝe xall for-bere Sporyl and Sweynysthorp also but if ȝe bere ȝou wele, er ȝe haue do wyth þe mater of Gressam. It is told me as for Gressam þe Lord Moleynys xuld not cleym it now noþer be tayl nere be evydens, but be infefment of on of his anseteris qhiche dyid sesynnyd, and in þe same wise it is seyd þat Sweynysthorp xul be cleymyd. In qhat wyse Sporyl xuld hen cleymyd I wote not; but if þer be any seche thing to-ward I send ȝou word here-of þat ȝe may taken hede the .... Thomas Skipping seyd qhan he kam fro London to a man þat he wend xuld not a diskuryd it þat p....yke to for-gon þe maner of Sporyll wyth-in rytȝ schort tym. As for þe pleyntys in þehundred Purry xall tell ȝou qhat is don and of aþer thingys more.
The Holy Trynyté haue ȝou in his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche on þe Fryday nexst after Puver Weddenysday.
Ryt wurchypful hosbond, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝowr wele-fare, be-seching ȝou þat ȝe be not displesyd þow I be com fro þat place þat ȝe left me in; for be my trawth þer were brawth me seche tydyngys be dyuerys þersonys qhiche ben ȝowre wele-willerys and myn þat I durst no lengere abyd there, of qhyche þersonys I xall late ȝou have wetyng qhan ȝe corn horn. It was done me to wete þat dyuerys of þe Lord Moleynys men saydyn jf þei myt gete me þey xuld stele me and keþe me wyth-jnne þe kastell, and þan þey seyd þei wold þat ȝe xuld feche me owth. An þei seydyn it xuld ben but a lytyll hert-brennymg to ȝou. And after þat I herd þese tydyngys I kowd no rest have in myn hert tyl I was here, nere I durst nowt owt of þe place þat I was jn tyll þat I was redy to ryden; nere þer was non in þe place wist þat I xul corn þens save þe godewyf not an owre be-fore þat I kam þens. And I told here þat I xuld corn hedder to don maken seche gere as I wold haue made for me and for þe childer, and seyd I sopposyd þat I xuld be here a fowrtennythe or iij wekys. I pray ȝou þat þe caws of my komyng away may ben kownsell tyl I sþeke wyth ȝou, for þei þat lete me haue warnyng þer-of wold not for no good þat it were diskuryd.
I spac wyth ȝowr modyr as I kam hidderwardys, and sche prafyrd me, if ȝe wold, þat I xuld abydyn in pis town. Sche wold wyth rytȝ a good will þat we xul abyde in here place, and delyueryn me seche gere as sche myt for-bere, to keþen wyth hwsold tyl ȝe mytȝ ben purvayd of a place and stuff of ȝowr owyn to keþe wyth howsold. I pray ȝou send me word be þe brynger of pis how ȝe wil þat I be demenyd. I wol hen rytȝ sory to dwel so nere Gressam as I dede tyl þe mater were fullys determynyd be-twix þe Lord Moleynis and ȝou
Barow told me that þer ware no better evydens in Inglond þan þe Lord Moleynys hathe of þe maner of Gressam. I told hym I sopposyd þat þei were seche evydens as Willyam Hasard seyd þat ȝowr were: he seyd þe sellys of hem were not ȝett kold. I seyd I sopposyd his lordys evydens were seche. I seyd I wost wele, as for ȝowr evydens, þer mytȝ no man haue non better þan ȝe have, and I seyd þe selys of hem were to hundred ȝere elder þan he is. þe seyd Barow sayd to me if he com to London qhil ȝe were there he wold drynk wyth ȝou, for any angyr þat was be-twyx ȝow. He seyd he dede but as a servawnt, and as he was commawndyd to don. Purry xall tell ȝou qhat langage was be-twyx Barow and me qhan I kam fro Walsyngham. I pray ȝou hertyly, at þe reverens of God, be ware of þe Lord Moleynys and his men, þow þei sþeke neuer so fayr to ȝou trost hem not, ne ete not nere drynk wyth hem, for þei ben so fals it is not for to trost in hem. And also I pray ȝou be ware qhat ȝe eten ar drynk wyth any othere felaschep, for þe þepyll is ful on-trosty.
I pray ȝou hertylye þat ȝe wil vowche-save to send me word how ȝe don and how ȝe sþeden in ȝowr materis be þe brynger of this. I merveyl meche þat ȝe send me nomore tydyngys pan ȝe haue sent.
Rogere Foke of Sparham sent to me and seythe þat he dare nott gon owt of his hows for be kawse of þe sewte þat Heydon and Wymdam haue aȝens hem, for he is thrett þat if he may be gette he xal be ladde to preson. Heydon sent Spendlove and oþer to wayte qhere he were, and to arest hym to þe kastell, and þe forseyd Roger is so aferd þat his drede makyth hym so seke þat but if he haue sokowr sone it is lyke to ben his dethe. Qhere-for I pray ȝou, and he bothyn, þat ȝe wil purvay a remedy for hym, þat he may gon at large, for it hurtit bothen ȝowr katel and hym. Ȝowr closys and ȝowr pastowr lythe all opyn be-kawse he may not gon abrodde to don hem amendyn, and ȝowr schep ar not lokyd at as þey xuld hen for þer is no schepeherd but Hodgis sonys, for oþer schepherd dare non abyd þer ner corn up-on þe comown be-kause þat Wichyngham men thretyn hem to bete if þei comen on here komon. And but if ȝowr bestys mown comown þer jt xall hen grette hurt to hem but if þe haue more pasture pan þei haue be-syd þatt.
Watkyn Schipdam recommawndyth hym to ȝou, and prayt ȝou þat ȝe woll sþeke to Sere Jon Fastolf for þe harneys þat ȝe hadden of hym, and tellyn hym how it is þat som þer-of is gon, and sþeke to hym þat þei þat am bownd þer-for nere þei þat delyueryd it hen no hurt.
I haue ȝove Purry a gown; I pray ȝou take heed qhat it is and send me word if ȝe wil þat I purway all ȝowr leuerés of þe same. þe pris of a ȝerd þer-of is xiij d. ob., and so me semyt it is wele worth.
The parson of Sparrammys dowter and oþer talkedyn largely, and seydyn þat ȝe haue hadde on schote and but if ȝe hen ware ȝe xall haue more or Estern - ȝe xall for-bere Sporyl and Sweynysthorp also but if ȝe bere ȝou wele, er ȝe haue do wyth þe mater of Gressam. It is told me as for Gressam þe Lord Moleynys xuld not cleym it now noþer be tayl nere be evydens, but be infefment of on of his anseteris qhiche dyid sesynnyd, and in þe same wise it is seyd þat Sweynysthorp xul be cleymyd. In qhat wyse Sporyl xuld hen cleymyd I wote not; but if þer be any seche thing to-ward I send ȝou word here-of þat ȝe may taken hede the .... Thomas Skipping seyd qhan he kam fro London to a man þat he wend xuld not a diskuryd it þat p....yke to for-gon þe maner of Sporyll wyth-in rytȝ schort tym. As for þe pleyntys in þehundred Purry xall tell ȝou qhat is don and of aþer thingys more.
The Holy Trynyté haue ȝou in his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche on þe Fryday nexst after Puver Weddenysday.
Ryt wurchypful husband, I recommend me to ȝou, desiring heartily to heryn of ȝowr wele-fare, be-seching ȝou þat ȝe be not displesyd þow I be come from þat place þat ȝe left me in; for be my trawth þer were brawth me such tydyngys be dyuerys þersonys qhiche [be/been] ȝowre wele-willerys and [mine/my] þat I durst no lengere abyd there, of qhyche þersonys I xall late ȝou have wetyng qhan ȝe corn horn. It was done me to wait þat dyuerys of þe Lord Moleynys men saydyn jf þei myt gete me þey xuld stele me and keþe me with-jnne þe kastell, and þan þey said þei would þat ȝe xuld feche me owth. An þei seydyn it xuld [be/been] but a lytyll hert-brennymg to ȝou. And after þat I herd þease tydyngys I kowd no rest have in [mine/my] hert tyl I was [here/her], nere I durst nowt out of þe place þat I was jn until þat I was ready to ryden; nere þer was no in þe place wist þat I xul corn þens save þe godewyf not an owre be-fore þat I kam þens. And I told [here/her] þat I xuld corn hedder to done maken such gere as I would have made for me and for þe childer, and said I sopposyd þat I xuld be [here/her] a fowrtennythe or three wekys. I pray ȝou þat þe caws of my coming away may [be/been] kownsell tyl I sþeke with ȝou, for þei þat let me have warnyng þer-of would not for no good þat it were diskuryd.
I spac with ȝowr modyr as I kam on this account, and sche prafyrd me, if ȝe would, þat I xuld abydyn in pis town. Sche would with rytȝ a good will þat we xul abyde in [here/her] place, and delyueryn me such gere as sche myt for-bere, to keþen with hwsold tyl ȝe mytȝ [be/been] purvayd of a place and stuff of ȝowr own to keþe with howsold. I pray ȝou send me word be þe bringer of pis how ȝe will þat I be demenyd. I wol hen rytȝ sorry to dwel so nere Gresham as I did tyl þe matter were fullys determynyd be-twix þe Lord Moleynis and ȝou
Barow told me that þer ware no better evydens in Inglond þan þe Lord Moleynys hathe of þe manner of Gresham. I told him I sopposyd þat þei were such evydens as Willyam Hasard said þat ȝowr were: he said þe sellys of hem were not ȝett kold. I said I sopposyd his lordys evydens were such. I said I wost wele, as for ȝowr evydens, þer mytȝ no man have no better þan ȝe have, and I said þe selys of hem were to hundred ȝere elder þan he is. þe said Barow sayd to me if he come to London qhil ȝe were there he would drynk with ȝou, for any angyr þat was be-twyx ȝow. He said he did but as a servawnt, and as he was commawndyd to done. Purry xall tell ȝou qhat language was be-twyx Barow and me qhan I kam from Great Walsingham. I pray ȝou heartily, at þe reverens of God, be ware of þe Lord Moleynys and his men, þow þei sþeke neuer so fair to ȝou trust hem not, no ete not nere drynk with hem, for þei [be/been] so fals it is not for to trust in hem. And also I pray ȝou be ware qhat ȝe eten ar drynk with any othere felaschep, for þe þepyll is ful on-trosty.
I pray ȝou hertylye þat ȝe will vowche-save to send me word how ȝe done and how ȝe sþeden in ȝowr matters be þe bringer of this. I merveyl meche þat ȝe send me nomore tydyngys pan ȝe have sent.
Rogere Foke of Sparham sent to me and said þat he dare not gone out of his hows for be kawse of þe sewte þat Heydon and Wymdam have aȝens hem, for he is thrett þat if he may be gette he xal be ladde to preson. Heydon sent Spendlove and oþer to wayte qhere he were, and to arest him to þe kastell, and þe forseyd Roger is so frightened þat his drede makes him so seke þat but if he have sokowr soon it is like to [be/been] his dethe. Qhere-for I pray ȝou, and he bothyn, þat ȝe will purvay a remedy for him, þat he may gone at large, for it hurtit bothen ȝowr katel and him. Ȝowr closys and ȝowr pastowr lythe all opyn be-kawse he may not gone abrodde to done hem amendyn, and ȝowr sheep ar not lokyd at as þey xuld hen for þer is no shepherd but Hodgis sonys, for oþer shepherd dare no abyd þer nor corn up-on þe comown be-kause þat Wichyngham men thretyn hem to bete if þei comen on [here/her] komon. And but if ȝowr bestys mown comown þer jt xall hen greets hurt to hem but if þe have more pasture pan þei have be-syd þat.
Watkyn Schipdam recommawndyth him to ȝou, and prayt ȝou þat ȝe will sþeke to Sere Jon Fastolf for þe harneys þat ȝe hadden of him, and tellyn him how it is þat som þer-of is gone, and sþeke to him þat þei þat am bownd þer-for nere þei þat delyueryd it hen no hurt.
I have ȝove Purry a gown; I pray ȝou take heed qhat it is and send me word if ȝe will þat I purway all ȝowr leuerés of þe same. þe pris of a ȝerd þer-of is xiij d. ob., and so me semyt it is wele worth.
The parson of Sparrammys dowter and oþer talkedyn largely, and seydyn þat ȝe have had on schote and but if ȝe hen ware ȝe xall have more or Estern - ȝe xall for-bere Sporle and Swainsthorpe also but if ȝe bere ȝou wele, er ȝe have do with þe matter of Gresham. It is told me as for Gresham þe Lord Moleynys xuld not cleym it now noþer be tayl nere be evydens, but be infefment of on of his anseteris qhiche dyid sesynnyd, and in þe same wise it is said þat Swainsthorpe xul be cleymyd. In qhat wise Sporle xuld hen cleymyd I wote not; but if þer be any such thing to-ward I send ȝou word [here/her]-of þat ȝe may taken hede the .... Thomas Skipping said qhan he kam from London to a man þat he wend xuld not a diskuryd it þat p....yke to for-gone þe manner of Sporyll with-in rytȝ schort time. As for þe pleyntys in þehundred Purry xall tell ȝou qhat is done and of aþer thingys more.
The Holy Trynyté have ȝou in his keping. Written at Norwich on þe Fryday nexst after Puver Weddenysday.
My dear husband, I have been thinking of you and am very anxious to hear how you are; please don't be angry that I have moved from where you left me, for honestly I was brought such news by various people about your well-being and mine that I no longer dare stay there: I will tell you which people they were when you come home. I was given to understand that some of Lord Moleyns' men said that if they could get hold of me they would keep me inside the castle, so that you would come and try to get me out. And they said you would be quite fierce about it. After I had heard this news I could not rest until I got here, although I knew nothing of this place until I was ready to ride here, and no-one in that place knew I was going to leave – except the housekeeper – until an hour before I left. And I told her I would just stay here to make enough clothes for me and the children, and said I thought it would take a fortnight or three weeks. I beg you that the real cause of my coming away should not be revealed until I speak with you, for those who warned me would not want it widely known.
I spoke with your mother about this, and she said it would be better, if you permitted it, that I should stay in this town. She would be very happy for us to stay at her place, and she would fetch us as much stuff as she could so that I could set up a household until you get a place and furnishings of your own. Please sene me word by the man who brings you this letter how you would like me to proceed. I really don't want to live as near Gresham as I was until things are sorted out between Lord Moleyns and yourself.
Barrow told me there was no better evidence in England than Lord Moleyns had over the ownership of the manor of Gresham. I told him I supposed he was talking about the evidence William Hasard had been talking about: he said the seals on them were not yet cold, and I supposed his lord's evidence were like that. I further said that I knew very well that no-one had better evidence than you: the seals on them were a hundred years older than his. Barow said that if he came to London while you were there he would drink with you, because any ill-feeling there was between you happened because he was acting as a servant and had been under orders. Purry will tell you what Barow and I said to each other when I came from Walsingham. I do beg you to beware of Lord Moleyns and men; however fair they speak to you, do not trust them. Do not eat or drink with them, for they are so false that you cannot trust them. Also be careful if you eat or drink with any other group. You cannot trust anyone.
I beg you to send word, by the messenger who brings this, how you are doing and how your business is going. I am very surprised that you have sent me no more news that you have.
Roger Foke of Sparham net me a message saying he he dare not go out of his house because of the lawsuit that John Heydon and John Wymondham have against him, because he has been threatened that if he is captured he will be put in prison. Heydon sent Spendlove to find out where he was and to arrest him and take him to the castle, and the aforesaid Roger is so terrified that he feels if he does not get help soon, it will mean his death. Therefore I beg both of you that you will sort things out for him so that he can go about freely, for the current situation is hurting both your cattle and him. Your enclosures and your pasture lie open because he is unable to go about freely and make repairs, and your sheep are not looked after as they should be, for there is no shepherd except for Hodgis' sons: no other shepherd dare stay there or come up on the common, because Witchingham's men threaten to beat them if they come on the common. Even if your best men were to come there, it would be a great hurt to them, because there is much more pasture to look after beside that.
Shipdham wants to be remembered to you, and asks you to speak to Sir John Fastalf about the harness that you had from him and tell him that some of it is gone, and those that were supposed to have delivered it do not have it.
I have given Purry a gown; please have a look at it and let me know if you want me to let all your lawyers have one. The price of a third of it is 13d each, and it seems good value.
The parson of Sparham's daughter and others have spoken optimistically and said that you had received less than you should but would get more before Easter. They spoke of Sporle and Swainsthorpe too and said you had behaved well, as you had in the matter of Gresham. I have been told that concerning Gresham, Lord Moleyns could not claim it now, either by a will or by other evidence, but through one of his ancestors who seized it. It is the same with Swainsthorpe. I don't know about Sporle, but if hear anything about it I shall send you word.Thomas Skipping said to a man when he came from London that he should not... discovered ... likely to forgo the manor of Scole in a short time. As for the situation in the hundred, Purry will tell you what has happened, and many other things too.
The Holy Trinity have you in his keeping. Written in Norwich on the Friday after Puver Wednesday.
