_To my ryght worchepfull and most kynd modyr, Margarett Paston._
[Sidenote: 1479 / DEC.]
Ryght werchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutes of humble recomendacyon, as
lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your dayly blessyng and preyer. Pleasyt
yow to undyrstand that wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me ought
of the heyer that I am in, it is so that I must pwt me in God, for her
must I be for a season, and in good feyth I shall never, whyll God
sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe than shame; and thankyd be God, the
sykness is well seasyd here, and also my besyness puttyth awey my fere.
I am drevyn to labore in lettyng of th’execucyon of myn unkynd onclys
entent, wher in I have as yet non other dyscorage, but that I trust in
God he shall fayle of it.
I have spokyn with my Lord of Ely[32-1] dyvers tymys, whyche hathe put
me in serteynte by hys woord, that he wyll be with me ayenst myn oncle
in iche mater that I can shewe that he entendyth to wrong me in; and he
wold fayne have a resonable end betwyx us, wher to he wyll helpe, as he
seythe. And it is serteyn my brodyr, God have hys soule, had promysed to
a byde the reule of my Lord Chamberleyn[32-2] and of my Lord Ely; but I
am not yett so far forthe, nor not wyll be, tyll I know my Lord
Chamberleyns intent, and that I purpose to do to morow, for then I thynk
to bewith hym, with Godes leve. And sythe it is so that God hathe
purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys mater, I thank Hym of Hys grace
for the good lordes, mastrys, and frendys that He hathe sent me, whyche
have perfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther owne, and those
frendes be not a fewe.
And, modyr, as I best can and may, I thank yow and my cosyn Lomenore of
the good avyse that ye have sent me, and I shall aplye me to do ther
aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche you on my behalf to thank myn cosyn
Lomnorre for the kindness that he hathe shewyd on to me in gevyng of hys
answer to myn onclys servaunt, whyche was with hym.
Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for I have not most
leyser; and also when I have ben with my Lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not
to tery longe aftyr in London, but to dresse me to yow wardes; at whyche
tyme I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynte of all the fordell
[_advantage_] that I have in my besyness then I can as yett wryght.
I am put in serteynte by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the
Rollys,[32-3] that my Lord of Ely is, and shal be bettyr lord to me then
he hathe shewyd as yet, and yet hathe he delt with me ryght well and
honourably.
Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to purvey me as myche money
as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst my comyng home, for I have myche
to pay her in London, what for the funerall costes, dettes, and legattes
that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold
the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston, if ther be eny, wer
gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the
maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were ought of the tenauntes handys
for thynges that I here (kepe ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys),
whyche mater I shall appese, if God wyll geve me leve.
[Footnote 31-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident from the
contents that this letter was written shortly after the death of
Sir John Paston. The year 1479 was a year of great mortality, in
which the Paston family lost three of its members. The letter is
not signed, but is in John Paston’s hand.]
[Footnote 32-1: John Morton, Bishop of Ely.]
[Footnote 32-2: Lord Hastings.]
[Footnote 32-3: Robert Morton.]
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