_To my ryght wurchepfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquier._
[Sidenote: Between 1444 and 1460]
Right worchepful cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow, thankyng yow as hertyly
as I kan for my selff, &c., and specially for that ye do so moche for
Oure Ladyes hous at Walsyngham, which I trust veryly ye do the rather
for the grete love that ye deme I have therto; for trewly if I be drawe
to any worchep or wellfare, and discharge of myn enmyes daunger,
I ascryve it unto Our Lady.
Preyng yow therfore that ye woln ben as frendly to Our Ladyes hous as I
wote well ye have alwey ben, and in especyall now, that I myght have of
yow the report certeynly be your letter of that, that Naunton your cosyn
informyd yow, and told yow be mouth of all maters towchyng Oure Ladyes
hous of Walsyngham.
For me thynkyth be that I have herde be Oure Ladys prest of Walsyngham,
if I understode weel that mater, that it shuld do moch to the gode spede
of the mater; and dought yow not our Lady shall quyte it yow and here
poer priour here aftyr, as he may, &c.
Preying yow also, cosyn, and avysyng for the ease of us both, and of our
frendes, and of many other, that ye be at London be tymes this terme,
and if we spede well now, all well all this yere aftir; for I knowe
veryly ther was nevyr made gretter labour thanne shall be made now, and
therfore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her blissid Sone, which have
you in His holy kepyng.
Wreten at your poer place of Bayfeld, on Sent Fraunces day,[77.1] in
hast.
Your cosyn,
WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justis.
[Footnote 76.3: [From Fenn, i. 20.] The date of this letter is
not earlier than 1444, when William Yelverton was appointed a
Justice of the King’s Bench; and, as Fenn remarks, it is
probably not later than 1460, when he was made a Knight of the
Bath, otherwise he would have signed himself Knight as well as
Justice.]
[Footnote 77.1: St. Francis’ day is the 4th of October.]
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