Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howys....

153

ABSTRACT¹

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe.

     ‘Right trusty and welbeloved friends,’ I thank you for the quittance of
Richard Sellyng you have sent me by Worcestre, with a quittance of Fauconere
for the purchase of Davyngton, and another of Roys for the purchase of
Tychewell. Ask my cousin Herry Sturmer’s wife to search for an indenture
and other writings between me and Sellyng or Lady Wiltshire. As you
inform me that Sir Thomas Todenham has sent to John Clerc to be at London,
you must ask him and his wife to go before the bailiffs of Yarmouth, and
certify how it was Bysshop’s wife did not receive the £100 I was ruled to pay
her. John Clerc must not come up till I send for him.—(In margin, ‘eyer
and determiner.’) Special labour has been made that Justice Yelverton should
not come down this Martinmas, but the King and Lords have determined that
he shall keep his day; ‘and the labour that ye, with my cousin Paston, made
late to my Lord Norfolk was right well avised, in case that the Justice should
be countermanded.’ Urge my friends to do their very best for me now in the
matters ‘labored last at the oyer and terminer,’ that they may take a worshipful
end. Thank Nicholas Bokkyng for what he did about the certificate of the
jury in the office² of Tychewell, and beg him to get it sealed in time, which
will be a great evidence for the recovery of my manor. Sends home some
horses ‘to be occupied in the cart.’ Commendations to his cousin John
Berney.     Signed.

     Send for William Cole about the accounts, and thank the Parson of
Haylesdon¹ for the three writings of Wiltshire’s will and Gorney he sent me
by Worcester; but say I prayed him to search for more.

     London, St. Martin’s day.

 [This letter is dated on Martinmas day, at which date in the year 1450 it will be
seen by the preceding number that Justice Yelverton was going down into Norfolk,
and an oyer and terminer was going to be held at Norwich. The reference to the
‘office,’ or inquisition, of Tychewell also proves the year to be 1450.—See Nos. 162
and 164, pp. 199-201.]

     ¹ [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 226.]

     ² An inquisition taken by the escheator of a county by virtue of his office was
frequently called an ‘office.’ Its object was to ascertain the King’s title to certain
lands.

     ¹ Thomas Hert was presented to Haylesdon by Sir John Fastolf in 1448.

NOV. 11

1450
NOV. 11