Silken Thomas’s Letter To John Rothe.

Jhs.

MY trusty servant, I hartely commend me unto you. I pray you that you woll delyver thys othyr letter unto Obryen. I have sent to hym for £20 starlyng, the which yff he take you (as I trust he woll), than I woll that you com over, and bryng ytt onto my Lord Crumwell, that I may so have ytt. I never had eny mony, I cam in to pryson, but a nobull, nor I have had nothyr hosyn, dublet, nor shoys, nor shyrt, but on; nor eny othyr garment, but a syngyll fryse gowne, for a velve furryd wythe bowge, and so I have gone wolward, and barefote, and barelegyd, dyverse tymes (whan ytt hath not ben very warme); and so I shuld have don styll, and now, but that pore prysoners, of ther gentylnes, hathe sumtyme gevyn me old hosyn, and shoys, and old shyrtes. This I wryt onto you, not as complaynyng on my fryndes, but for to show you the trewthe of my grete nede, that yow shuld be the more dylygent in goyng onto Obryen, and in bryngyng me the before sayd 20£, wherby I myght the soner have here mony to by me clothys, and also for to amend my sclender comyns and fare, and for other necessaryes. I woll yow take owte of that you bryng me, for your costes and labur. I pray you have me commendyd onto all my lovers and frendes, and show them that I am in gude helthe.

By me, THOMAS FYTZ GERALD.