_To my ryght wurchypfull and especiall good mother, Margaret Paston._
[Sidenote: Between 1481-4]
Ryght worchypfull and moste especialle good modyr, in my moste umble
wyse, with alle my dute and servyse, I recomawnd me to yow, besechynge
zow of zour blyssyng, whyche is to me moste joy of erthely thynge; and
it plese zow to be so good and kynd modyr to me to forgeve me, and also
my wyffe, of owr leude offence that we have not don ower dute, whyche
was to have seyn and ave waytyd up on zow or now. My huswyffe trustythe
to ley to zow her huswyferey for her excuse, wyche I muste beseche zow
not to accepte, for in good faythe I deme her mynde hathe ben other weys
ocapyed than as to huswyfery, whyche semyth welle by the latchesnes of
the tylthe of her landdes. I beseche God for the forderawnce of them as
now rewarde zow and the good parson of Mautby, and also Mastyer Baley,
who I wende woold not have balkyd this pore loggeyng to Norwyche wardes.
I undyrstand by the bryngger here of that ze entende to ryde to
Walsyngham; yf it please zow that I may wete the seayson, as my dute is,
I shalle be redy to awayte up on zow.
Plese it zow that the brynggar here of cam to me for x_s._ viij_d._
whyche I shuld ow hys fadyr; trew it was at my laste departyng from hym,
I owte hym somych, but sertaynly or I cam at Thetfford homewardes,
I thowt of concyence he owte to have restoryd me as myche. I had my
horsse with hym at lyvery, and amonge alle one of them was putte to
gresse and to labur, so that he dyed of a laxe by the wey. I payed for
hard mete ever to hym.
Plese it zow to delyver Kateryn v_s._, wyche I send zow in this bylle.
I am not assartaynd how she is purveyde of mony towardes her jornay. Yf
her fadyr cowde not acleymed j_d._ of me, I woold not se her dysporveyd,
yf I myght, nor the poreste chyld that is belonggyng to hys loggeyng.
Modyr, my wyffe is boold to send zow a tokyn. I beseche zow pardon alle
thyngges not done acordyng to dute. I beseche God send zow the
accomplyshment of zour moste and woorchypfull desyers.
At Owby, the Saterday next before Candylmes.
Zour umble son and servant,