who was on the commission of peace for Devonshire from 1420 to 1431, was a lawyer of some prominence. The paper on which the letter is written is so mutilated at the foot that it is impossible to obtain anything of its meaning; a continuation on the other side is equally hopeless (Ch. Misc., 37, i, 32, 33).
Ermyngton.
Syr, as touchant þe ffynes þat ȝe sende to me, syr (?), I knowe ham noȝht what þay be, what is I-payd ne what is to payng, but I have aspyd among ham yn presence of Thomas, your messynger, [who] can enfourme you: and þay wil noȝtt paye . . . with oute hure dedis enselyd and . . . frynd is . . . and his wif hath ȝulde up hure e . . . d. Symon Lode doþ no fors f[or he] is febel and yold, Paulisfot, Ray, John at Wille, this persons [The reading is doubtful.] use makyth ham fulfulle alle [þis]. John Hals welle haþ en|formyd me of ham, and therfore Thomas can enfourme [you] of all hit: but ȝut I shal enquere among ham better, yf y may eny þyng gete yn hast: and þerfor sendith [unto me a] bille of hur namys and what is to pay and touchant R. H[a]lle &c. Thomas can enfourme you by mouthe fully of J. Fortescu, Raff Hatt and Woder, god frendis, of the whiche spareth noȝtt to speke boþ for youre worchip and profet: and touchant my payment I sende by Thomas, your ȝeman, to my maister and Cosyn Hals a letter and a bond to delyvere you, excepte divers expenses and alowans, of þe whiche I send to you a bille. And as touchant myn endentur, reson wolde that þay were had aredy, for drede of changyng of þe world þat is bretell, as sone as hy[t] myth be mad and enselyd ef|fectually, savant my maysteris profit and worchip: for truly ȝe knowe wel, and knowe also þat I am a profitabel Reve for hym and have a gret charge and labor. Saunz rien apprendre. For why comyth, so moche as the clothyng þat was spoke (?) þer of is by hynde, but ȝut I chalynge hit noȝth but after [my] maysteris oune governanse at þis tyme: for me þynkyth h[it] bote a febel reward, for wel I wot he haþ no servant [yn] Engelond þat servyth hym yn suche a labor and travayl [as] I do, payng more to hym þanne þe value ȝerly amontath, takyng ryth noȝth for my travayl, þe which as ȝut I faith wel safe yn hope of amende|ment aftir his discrecion and . . . . . And touchant my maysteris beyng at London, and . . . ns . . . at mois michel; [Or perhaps "mes Michel," for Michaelmas.] I wot wel ȝe most nedes be þer, [for] ȝe shalle save my maysteris enheritance, his profit and his worship, for to answer to þe false sugestion þat is mad [yn] þe admyral is Court: for every man here know[eth] wel þat þe wreke is
