_To my rytth worchupfull son, Sir Jon Paston, be thys byll delyvyrd in
hast._
[Sidenote: 1487, or later]
Ryth worchupfull son, I recommend me on to zow and to my lady zowyr wyf,
and thankyng zow harttyly for the grett labyr thatt ze had on Thorys day
for me, and for zowyr kyndnes; for and odyr had don asse ze ded, I had
had my purpos; qwerfor I prey God do be them asse they do be me.
Son, I must prey zow to have a dosseyn men in harnes, with bowys and
wepyn convenyent for them, that I may feche my stres ageyn. The schrevys
man wasse here wythe me, and [j. of] yowyres, he seyth he ys, and he
hatth mad me feythful promes that he wol be wyth me ageyn on Monday,
qwerfor I prey zow harttyly, son, and reqwere zow that zowyr men may be
wyth me on Monday, as my werry tros ys in zow, qwo sknowyth blyssyd
Jesu, Hom haff zow and zowyr in Yss keppyng.
Be zowyr trew modyr,