To my Mayster, Jon Pastone, Esqwyer, be this letter presentid.
Jesu mercy.
Ryte reverent mayster, &c., as sone as ȝe may goodly, comyth to Castre, and Ȝelverton with ȝow, and ȝe think it to be done; and sendyth home ȝowr men and hors, tyl ȝe haf do here, &c. And by grace of God and ȝour polityk wisdham, ȝe schal conclude more effectually in gret matyers of substans, to my maysterys and ȝour worschip and profyte. It is hey tyme; he drawyt fast home ward, and is ryte lowe browt, and sore weykid [_weakened_] and feblyd, &c. And ȝe must bryng with ȝow a forme of a supplicacyon made at London in what maner wyse Mr. R. Popy, a cunnyng and a crafty man, schal presentyn and purposyn to the Kyng for the inmorteysing of Castre to Seynt Benet, &c., which he promittyd up a certeyn mony, &c., and undirtoke it, &c., and fond that tyme no bonys in the matere, &c. And now he seyth he wil labour and ryde and do hise part, &c. And he wold haf me to help hym, &c., quod non fiet, &c., or elles a man of credens of my masterys, &c., quod dubito fieri, &c. God bryng ȝow sone hidyr, &c., for I am weri tyl ȝe come.
Sir Thomas the parson, ȝowr owne most trewe, &c., be myn trewthe, and I ȝour bedeman and ȝowrys at ȝour comaundement, in ȝour letter haf no more towchid of the mater, &c., to my mayster, &c. Every day this v. dayes he seyth, 'God send me sone my good cosyn Paston, for I holde hym a feythful man, and ever on man.' Cui ego, 'That is soth,' &c. Et ille, 'Schew me not the mete, schew me the man.' Hæc verba replicat sæpius cum magno stomacho, &c. Colinus Gallicus dicit in Jernemuta et aliis locis se esse executorem, &c. Dixit etiam heri coram pluribus, si semel fuerit London' nunquam vult videre Norfolchiam, &c. Dicit etiam, ubi executores credunt se habituros claves, &c., post mortem alii habebunt claves, ita bene sicut illi, &c. Falsissimus est, et ego bene dixi in partem suam inter ipsum et me, &c. Propter Deum, faciatis Spirlyng venire juxta promissum in f'cu [_factum ?_], &c. Gallicus ipse maxime odit rectorem et vellet supplantare eum, &c. Item, valde desiderat suum, quietus est quia absit, &c.
Henricus Todyham continue aspirat post mortem magistri cum mille habeat oculos nocendi, &c., si quorum duos deperderit, nullus cæteros timeret, &c.
To my Mayster, Jon Pastone, Esqwyer, be this letter presentid.
Jesu mercy.
Ryte reverent mayster, &c., as sone as ȝe may goodly, comyth to Castre, and Ȝelverton with ȝow, and ȝe think it to be done; and sendyth home ȝowr men and hors, tyl ȝe haf do here, &c. And by grace of God and ȝour polityk wisdham, ȝe schal conclude more effectually in gret matyers of substans, to my maysterys and ȝour worschip and profyte. It is hey tyme; he drawyt fast home ward, and is ryte lowe browt, and sore weykid [_weakened_] and feblyd, &c. And ȝe must bryng with ȝow a forme of a supplicacyon made at London in what maner wyse Mr. R. Popy, a cunnyng and a crafty man, schal presentyn and purposyn to the Kyng for the inmorteysing of Castre to Seynt Benet, &c., which he promittyd up a certeyn mony, &c., and undirtoke it, &c., and fond that tyme no bonys in the matere, &c. And now he seyth he wil labour and ryde and do hise part, &c. And he wold haf me to help hym, &c., quod non fiet, &c., or elles a man of credens of my masterys, &c., quod dubito fieri, &c. God bryng ȝow sone hidyr, &c., for I am weri tyl ȝe come.
Sir Thomas the parson, ȝowr owne most trewe, &c., be myn trewthe, and I ȝour bedeman and ȝowrys at ȝour comaundement, in ȝour letter haf no more towchid of the mater, &c., to my mayster, &c. Every day this v. dayes he seyth, 'God send me sone my good cosyn Paston, for I holde hym a feythful man, and ever on man.' Cui ego, 'That is soth,' &c. Et ille, 'Schew me not the mete, schew me the man.' Hæc verba replicat sæpius cum magno stomacho, &c. Colinus Gallicus dicit in Jernemuta et aliis locis se esse executorem, &c. Dixit etiam heri coram pluribus, si semel fuerit London' nunquam vult videre Norfolchiam, &c. Dicit etiam, ubi executores credunt se habituros claves, &c., post mortem alii habebunt claves, ita bene sicut illi, &c. Falsissimus est, et ego bene dixi in partem suam inter ipsum et me, &c. Propter Deum, faciatis Spirlyng venire juxta promissum in f'cu [_factum ?_], &c. Gallicus ipse maxime odit rectorem et vellet supplantare eum, &c. Item, valde desiderat suum, quietus est quia absit, &c.
Henricus Todyham continue aspirat post mortem magistri cum mille habeat oculos nocendi, &c., si quorum duos deperderit, nullus cæteros timeret, &c.
To my Mayster, Jon Pastone, Esqwyer, be this letter presentid.
Jesu mercy.
Ryte reverent mayster, &c., as sone as ȝe may goodly, comyth to Castre, and Ȝelverton with ȝow, and ȝe think it to be done; and sendyth home ȝowr men and hors, tyl ȝe haf do here, &c. And by grace of God and ȝour polityk wisdham, ȝe schal conclude more effectually in gret matyers of substans, to my maysterys and ȝour worschip and profyte. It is hey tyme; he drawyt fast home ward, and is ryte lowe browt, and sore weykid [_weakened_] and feblyd, &c. And ȝe must bryng with ȝow a forme of a supplicacyon made at London in what maner wyse Mr. R. Popy, a cunnyng and a crafty man, schal presentyn and purposyn to the Kyng for the inmorteysing of Castre to Seynt Benet, &c., which he promittyd up a certeyn mony, &c., and undirtoke it, &c., and fond that tyme no bonys in the matere, &c. And now he seyth he wil labour and ryde and do hise part, &c. And he wold haf me to help hym, &c., quod non fiet, &c., or elles a man of credens of my masterys, &c., quod dubito fieri, &c. God bryng ȝow sone hidyr, &c., for I am weri tyl ȝe come.
Sir Thomas the parson, ȝowr owne most trewe, &c., be myn trewthe, and I ȝour bedeman and ȝowrys at ȝour comaundement, in ȝour letter haf no more towchid of the mater, &c., to my mayster, &c. Every day this v. dayes he seyth, 'God send me sone my good cosyn Paston, for I holde hym a feythful man, and ever on man.' Cui ego, 'That is soth,' &c. Et ille, 'Schew me not the mete, schew me the man.' Hæc verba replicat sæpius cum magno stomacho, &c. Colinus Gallicus dicit in Jernemuta et aliis locis se esse executorem, &c. Dixit etiam heri coram pluribus, si semel fuerit London' nunquam vult videre Norfolchiam, &c. Dicit etiam, ubi executores credunt se habituros claves, &c., post mortem alii habebunt claves, ita bene sicut illi, &c. Falsissimus est, et ego bene dixi in partem suam inter ipsum et me, &c. Propter Deum, faciatis Spirlyng venire juxta promissum in f'cu [_factum ?_], &c. Gallicus ipse maxime odit rectorem et vellet supplantare eum, &c. Item, valde desiderat suum, quietus est quia absit, &c.
Henricus Todyham continue aspirat post mortem magistri cum mille habeat oculos nocendi, &c., si quorum duos deperderit, nullus cæteros timeret, &c.
To my Mayster, Jon Paston, Esqwyer, be this letter presentid.
Jesu mercy.
Ryte reverent mayster, etc.., as soon as ȝe may goodly, comyth to Caister-on-Sea, and Ȝelverton with ȝow, and ȝe think it to be done; and sends home ȝowr men and hors, tyl ȝe haf do [here/her], etc.. And by grace of God and ȝour prudent wisdham, ȝe schal conclude more effectually in great matyers of substans, to my maysterys and ȝour worschip and profyte. It is hey time; he drawyt fast home ward, and is ryte lowe browt, and [badly/sorely] weakened [_weakened_] and feblyd, etc.. And ȝe must bryng with ȝow a form of a supplicacyon made at London in what manner wise Mr. R. Popy, aclever and knowledgeable man, schal presentyn and purposyn to the King for the inmorteysing of Caister-on-Sea to Saint Benet, etc.., which he promised upon a certeyn money, etc.., and undirtoke it, etc.., and fond that time no bonys in the matere, etc.. And now he said he will labour and ryde and do hise part, etc.. And he would haf me to help him, etc.., quod no fiet, etc.., or besides a man of credens of my masterys, etc.., quod dubito fieri, etc.. God bryng ȝow soon hidyr, etc.., for I am weri tyl ȝe come.
Sir Thomas the parson, ȝowr owne most true, etc.., be [mine/my] trewthe, and I ȝour petitioner and ȝowrys at ȝour commandment, in ȝour letter haf no more towchid of the matter, etc.., to my mayster, etc.. Every day this v. days he said, 'God send me soon my good cousin Paston, for I hold him a feythful man, and ever on man.' Cui ego, 'That is soth,' etc.. Et ille, 'Schew me not the mete, schew me the man.' Hæc verba replicat sæpius come magno stomacho, etc.. Colinus Gallicus dicit in Great Yarmouth et aliis locis se ease executorem, etc.. Dixit etiam heri coram pluribus, si semel fuerit London' nunquam vult videre Norfolchiam, etc.. Dicit etiam, ubi executores credunt se habituros claves, etc.., post mortem alii habebunt claves, ita bene sicut illi, etc.. Falsissimus est, et ego bene dixi in partem suam inter ipsum et me, etc.. Propter Deum, faciatis Spirlyng venire juxta promissum in f'cu [_factum ?_], etc.. Gallicus ipse maxime odit rectorem et vellet supplantare eum, etc.. Item, valde desiderat suum, quietus est quia absit, etc..
Henricus Todyham continue aspirat post mortem magistri come mille habeat oculos nocendi, etc.., si quorum duos deperderit, nullus cæteros timeret, etc..
This letter is for Mr John Paston,
May Jesus have mercy on us.
Reverend master, come to Caister as soon as you conveniently can, and bring William Yelverton with you, if you think it appropriate, and send your men and horses until you're done here. By the grace of God, and with prudent wisdom, you'll be able to bring matters of great importance to my master – and to yourself – to a conclusion and the benefit of both of you.
The time has come. He is on his final journey; he is very low and weak and feeble. You must bring with you a form of request made in London as instructed by Mr R Popy, a wise and knowledgeable man, who will propose to the King that ownership of Caister should be transferred to St Benet's Abbey, to which he has promised money, and he agreed on this, making no bones about it. He (Robert Popy) said he would work and ride as necessary, and wanted me to help him, which will not be done, or else a man of my master's who has the necessary authority, which I doubt will be done. God bring you here soon, as I am unsettled until you come.
Sir Thomas the parson, who is true to you, and I, just as much, ask this and as commanded by you in your letter, can do no more of the matter for my master. Every day for the last five days he has said, "God send me soon my good cousin Paston, a faithful man, a trusted man, true to himself." I said to him, "That is true". He replied, "Don't tell me how good he is; show me the man himself."
He often repeats these words with great feeling. Nicholas Newman, the Frenchman, puts it about in Yarmouth and other places that he is an executor. He also said yesterday, in front of many, that if anyone had ever been to London, they wouldn't want to see Norfolk. He also says that where the executors believe that they will have the keys and so on, after death, others will also have keys. He is the most false, and I have said so when speaking to him. For God's sake, cause Spirlyng to come as actually promised. The Frenchman himself hates the governor most of all and would like to take over from him. Likewise, he greatly misses his own and is quiet because he is away.
Henry continually aspires to get Tuddenham after the death of his master; since he has a thousand eyes to hurt, if he lost two of them, no one would fear the others.
