Lord Cromwell to John Paston

Add. 43490, f. 41

before 1456

Gairdner, Vol III, item 313; Fenn, Vol II, Appendix Edward IV item 2

LETTER II.

To my Right trusty ffrend John Paston Squier.

TRUSTY and Welbeloved frend I grete you wele And
for as much as hit is don me to understande that there is
a greet straungenesse betwix my Right trusty frend ¹ John Rad-
cliff and you withoute any matier or cause of substaunce as I am
lerned Wherfore in as much as I love you wele bothe I am not
content hit shulde so be.

Praying you hertly to forbere the said straungenesse on yo^r
p’tie to suche tyme as I speke with you next my self leting
you wite I have wreten to him to do the same And that ye
faile not herof as I may do any thing for you heraster And o^r
lorde have you in his keping. Wretin at London the x day of
ffeurier.

² Cromwell.

9 ? by 5.

London,
10th of February, E. IV.

This Letter shews the friendly disposition of the Lord Cromwell, and seems to hint his
suspicions, that some disagreeable circumstance might attend this strangeness, if both
parties did not obey his injunctions.

¹ John Radcliff was afterwards Lord Fitzwalter.

² Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, was third Son of Henry, Earl of Essex;
and marrying Joanna, coheiress of Maud, Sister of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, had summons
to parliament as Baron Cromwell, in 1461, 1 E. IV. Pl. IV. N^o 8.

This Letter therefore was written in this reign.

LETTER II.

To my Right trusty Friend, John Paston, Esquire.

TRUSTY and well beloved Friend, I greet you well, and
as for as much as it is done me to understand that there
is a great strangeness betwixt my Right trusty friend ¹ John
Radcliff and you, without any matter or cause of substance, as I
am learned. Wherefore in as much as I love you well both, I
am not content it should so be.

Praying you heartily to forbear the said strangeness on your
part, to such time as I speak to you next myself, letting you
weet, I have written to him to do the same. And that ye fail
not hereof, as I may do any thing for you hereafter.

And our Lord have you in his keeping. Written at London
the 10th day of February.

² CROMWELL.

9 ? by 5.

London,
10th of February, E. IV.

This Letter shews the friendly disposition of the Lord Cromwell, and seems to hint his
suspicions, that some disagreeable circumstance might attend this strangeness, if both
parties did not obey his injunctions.

¹ John Radcliff was afterwards Lord Fitzwalter.

² Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, was third Son of Henry, Earl of Essex;
and marrying Joanna, coheiress of Maud, Sister of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, had summons
to parliament as Baron Cromwell, in 1461, 1 E. IV. Pl. IV. N^o 8.

This Letter therefore was written in this reign.

313

LORD CROMWELL TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my right trusty ffrend, John Paston, Squier.

   TRUSTY and welbeloved frend, I grete you wele. And
     for as much as hit is don me to understande that
     there is a greet straungenesse betwix my right trusty
frend John Radcliff and you, withoute any matier or cause
of substaunce, as I am lerned; wherfore, in as much as I love
you wele bothe, I am not content hit shulde so be.

Praying you hertly to forbere the said straungenesse on
your partie to suche tyme as I speke with you next my
self, leting you wite I have wreten to him to do the same;
and that ye faile not herof, as I may do any thing for you
herafter. And our Lorde have you in His keping.

Wretin at London, the x. day of Fevrier.

CROMWELL.

¹ [From Fenn, ii. 290.] This letter was attributed by Fenn to Humphrey
Bourchier, who was created Lord Cromwell in the first year of Edward IV., and it was
accordingly placed by him in that reign. The signature, however, of which Fenn
gives a facsimile, is not that of Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, but of Ralph,
Lord Cromwell, who died on the 4th January 1456.

Before
1456