_To my ryght worchepfull and hertly beloved nevew, John Paston, Sqwyer._
[Sidenote: 1485 / SEPT. 23]
Right worchepfull, and my ryght hertly beloved nevew, I recomand me to
yow. And wher as ye desier me to send yow woord whether my brodyr John
Paston, your fadyr, was with my fadyr and hys, whom God assoyle, duryng
hys last syknesse and at the tyme of hys dissease at Seynt Brydis, or
nowght.
Nevew, I assarteyn yow upon my feythe and poore honore that I was
xiiij., xv. yer or xvj. yer old, and[86-2] at Seynt Brydis with my fadyr
and my modyr when my fadyrs last syknesse took hym, and tyll he was
disseassid; and I dare depose befor ony persone honorable that when my
fadyrs last siknesse tooke hym, my brodyr your fadyr was in Norffolk,
and he came not to London tyll aftyr that my fadyr was disseassid, and
that can Sir William Cootyng[86-3] and Jamys Gressham record, for they
bothe were my fadyrs clerkys at that tyme. And I remembre and wot well
that Jamys Gressham was with my fadyr at Seynt Brydys duryng all hys
siknesse and at hys disseasse, and thys wyll I wyttnesse whyle I leve
for a trowthe, as knowith God, Whom I beseche to preserve you and yours.
And, nevew, I prey yow recomand to my neese your wyff, whom I wold be
glad to se onys a yen in London, wher thys bylle was wretyn, signed with
myn hand, and sealed with my seale [the Thursday next befor
Whyghtsonday, the second yer of Kyng Richard the Thred],[87-1] the
xxiij. daye of September the first yer of the reyngne of Kyng Herry the
vij^{th}.
Your loveing awnte,