Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

PROBABLY TO THE SHERIFF OF NORFOLK: DRAFTS 1452, 04, 23

Reuereremovent and Right wurchepfull ser, we comaund vs to yow. Please it yow to wete that we and othire jentilmen of the shire of Norffolk hath be in purpose to assuyd to þe hygh and migthi prens and owr right gode and gracyous lord the Duke of Norffolk to Framyremovengham to haue enformyd his Highnesse of dyuers assautis and riott mad be Charlis Nowell and odir ageyn þe Kiremovengis pees vpon Jon Paston and odir of owr kyn, frend, and neyboris, ne had be þat dayly þes x days jt hath be do vs to vndirstand þat hys Highnes shuld com in-to Norwich or Claxton.

we not being in serteyremoven yet where he shall remeuremovee; prayiremoveng yow, as we trust þat ye tender þe welfare of þis shyre and of the gentilmen þerin, þat ye well let owr seyd lord haue knowremoveing of owre intent, and after to send vs ansewere whedir it plese his Hynes we shuld com to his presens and at what plase, or to send owr compleyremovent to him, trostiremoveng to his god lordsremovehep of remedi in þis mater, whech do semith vs shall be to owr seyd lordis honure and gret rejoy to þe gentilmen of þis shyre, and cause þe pese to kep be þe grase of God, ho haue yow in his blesid kepiremoveng, &c. Wret at Norwych on Sent Georgis Day.

Right wurchipfull, we commawnd us to yow. Please it yow to wete that we and othere jentilmen of the shyere of Norffolk hath be in purpose to assewyd to the hygh and myghty prynce and owre ryght gode lord the Duke of Norffolk to Framlyngham, to have enformyd his Highnesse of dyuers assaughtes and ryottes made be Charles Nowell and othere ageyn the Kyngys lawe and peas withowt any cause or occaciun vp-on John Paston and othere of owre kynne, frendes, and neyghborys, ne had be that dayly this x days it hath be do us to wete that his Highnesse shuld come in-to Norwych or Claxton, we not beyng in certeyn yet whedyre he shall remeve; prayng yow, as we trust that ye woll tendere the welfare of this shyere and of the jentylmen there-in, that ye woll lete owre seyd lord haue knowyng of owre entente in this, and aftere to send us answhere wheder it please his Highnesse we shuld come to his presens and in what place, or to send owre compleynt to hym if more informaciun be thowth behoffull, trostyremoveng to his gode lordshep of remedy in this matere, whiche do semyth vs shall be to owre seyd lordys honure and gret reioyng to all the jentylmen of this shyere, and cause the peas to be kept hereaftere be the grace of God, how have yow in hys blyssed kepyremoveng. Wretyn at Norwyche vn Seynt Georgys Day. Ser John Heuenynham, John Ferrers, Thomas Gurnay, John Groos, W. Rokewode, John Bakon, senior, John Bakon, junior, J. Pagraue, Robert Mortimer, Nichulas Appilyard.

Reuerent and right wurchepfull ser, we recomaund vs to yow. Please it yow to wete that we and othre jentilmen of the shire of Norffolk hath be in purpose to haue sued to the high and myghty prynce and owre right gode lord the Duke of Norffolk to Framlyngham, to haue enformyd his Highnesse of diuers assaughtes and riottes mad be Charlles Nowell and othre a-geyn the Kynges lawe and peas wyth-ought any cause or occasyon vp-vn John Paston and othre of owre kynne, frendes, and neghbores, ne had be that dayly this x days it hath be do vs to wete that his Highnesse shuld come in-to Norwhich or Claxton, we not beyng in certeyn yet wheder he shall remeve; prayng yow, as we trust that ye wull tendere the welfare of this shire and of the jentilmen there-in, that ye wull lete owre seid lord haue knowyng of owre entent in this, and after to send vs answere wheder it please his Highnesse we shuld come to his presens and in what place, or to send owre conpleynt to hym if more enformacion be thought behoffefull; trustyng to his gode lordshep of remedy in this matere, which do semyth vs shall be to owre seid lordes honure and gret reioyng to all the jentilmen of this shire, and cause the peas to be kept here-after be the grace of God, how haue you in his blyssid kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche vn Seynt Georges Day.