To John Paston, and to non othyr.
I recomand me to yow, and promyse yow þat I have and schall labore and fynde the meane þat ye schall have honor of yowr delyng as ye have hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I am in weye for it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and peraventur within vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it so longe, I wold be gladde, and aftr þat iff ye have nott from me other wryghtyng, þat than ye do ther in for yowr saffgarde and yowr felaschep only, and to yowr worschypys; and as for the place, no force therfor. Ye knowe thys hande, therfor nedythe no mencion from whem it comythe; and more ovyr, they þat be abut yow be in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr they have ben wretyn to by alse speciall wryghtyng as myght be, after the worlde þat now is, and promyse yow þat the Dukes concell wolde þat they had nevyr be gon it; and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther lyvys, þat thow they gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of yow. Ther is nowther ye ner none with yow, but and he knewe what is generally reportyd of hym, he or ye, and God fortewne yow wele, may thynke hym iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all folk than evyr he was. Be war whom ye make a concell to thys mater.
Also I lete yow wete þat I am in moche mor comfort of yow than I maye wryght, and they þat be about yow have cawse to be mor ferde than ye have; and also bewar of spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and stone, so þat if they assaut yow er we come, þat ye have stuffe to dyffende yow of over, and than of my lyfe ye get no mor, and þat your felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.
Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.
* * *
I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a trews new tyl thys day vij. nygh.
To John Paston, and to non othyr.
I recomand me to yow, and promyse yow þat I have and schall labore and fynde the meane þat ye schall have honor of yowr delyng as ye have hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I am in weye for it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and peraventur within vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it so longe, I wold be gladde, and aftr þat iff ye have nott from me other wryghtyng, þat than ye do ther in for yowr saffgarde and yowr felaschep only, and to yowr worschypys; and as for the place, no force therfor. Ye knowe thys hande, therfor nedythe no mencion from whem it comythe; and more ovyr, they þat be abut yow be in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr they have ben wretyn to by alse speciall wryghtyng as myght be, after the worlde þat now is, and promyse yow þat the Dukes concell wolde þat they had nevyr be gon it; and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther lyvys, þat thow they gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of yow. Ther is nowther ye ner none with yow, but and he knewe what is generally reportyd of hym, he or ye, and God fortewne yow wele, may thynke hym iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all folk than evyr he was. Be war whom ye make a concell to thys mater.
Also I lete yow wete þat I am in moche mor comfort of yow than I maye wryght, and they þat be about yow have cawse to be mor ferde than ye have; and also bewar of spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and stone, so þat if they assaut yow er we come, þat ye have stuffe to dyffende yow of over, and than of my lyfe ye get no mor, and þat your felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.
Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.
* * *
I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a trews new tyl thys day vij. nygh.
To John Paston, and to no othyr.
I recomand me to you, and promyse you þat I have and schall labore and fynde the meane þat you schall have honor of your delyng as you have hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I am in way for it by many dyverse weys, wherof there schall be one exicutyd by thys day xiiij. night at the ferthest, and peraventur within vij. days. And iff you maye keep it so long, I would be gladde, and aftr þat iff you have not from me other wryghtyng, þat than you do there in for your saffgarde and your felaschep only, and to your worschypys; and as for the place, no force therefore. You knowe thys hande, therefore nedythe no mention from whem it comythe; and more ovyr, they þat be abut you be in obloquy of all men, and more ovyr they have [be/been] written to by alse speciall wryghtyng as might be, after the worlde þat now is, and promyse you þat the Dukes concell would þat they had never be gone it; and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of there lyvys, þat thow they gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of you. There is nowther you nor none with you, but and he knew what is generally reported of him, he or you, and God fortewne you wele, may thynke him iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all folk than evyr he was. Be war whom you make a concell to thys matter.
Also I let you wait þat I am in much more comfort of you than I maye wryght, and they þat be about you have cawse to be more ferde than you have; and also bewar of spendyng of your stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and stone, so þat if they assaut you er we come, þat you have stuffe to dyffende you of over, and than of my lyfe you get no more, and þat your felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.
Written the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Day.
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I trow, thow you be not prevy there to, there is taken a trews new tyl thys day vij. nygh.
To John Paston and to no other
I commend myself to you, and promise you that I have and will labour and find a means so that you can be delivered with honour, as you have until now, as all England and everyone says. Moreover I am trying in many different ways, and there will be one carried out by this day fortnight at the latest, and perhaps within a week, and if you can hold out that long I would will glad. After that, if you have not had anything in writing, then do whatever you and your garrison need to do, and for your honour, and as for the place, have no concern. You will recognise my writing, so no need to mention who it comes from.
Moreover, those that are surrounding you are spoken against by all men, and they have been written to by special writing as to what will be after the world that now is, and I promise you that the Duke's council wish they had never got involved. Moreover, they have been charged in pain of their lives that though they capture the place, they must not hurt any of you. Neither you or anyone with you , and he knows what is generally said about him, he or you - and God care for you - may think him three times better in reputation of all folk that ever were.
Beware from whom you take advice on this matter. Also, this is to let you know that I am much more comfortable about you than I can say in writing, and those surrounding you have more cause to be afraid than you have; and also beware of using up your store of quarrels, powder and stones, so that if they assault you before we come, that you have enough to defend yourself, and that of my life you will get no more and that your garrison be ever occupied in reequipping your equipment.
Written the Monday next after Holy Rood Days.
I understand, though you are not privy to it, there is a new truce until a week today.
