[_To my_] _right trusty and welbeloved Jon Paston, Esquier._
[Sidenote: About 1454]
Right trusty and intierly welbelovyd, I grete you wele. Prayng you as I
specially trust you that ye wole be good frend to James Arblaster in his
mater touchyng the maner of Smalbergh, as I wote wele ye haf ever be to
hym ryght especiall frend; and thogh it so be that the sayd James had
gret trebles, losses, and adversite herbeforn, neverthelesse he shall
not be so bare of frendys ner goodes but that I wole se hym holpyn with
the mercy of God. In performmyng wherof the berer of this shal enforme
you of myn inten and disposicion more largely than I wole put in
wrytyng. And the Trinite have you in hys kepyng. Wretyn at
Wefnow,[294.2] the vij. day of August.
ELIZABETH VER, Countes of Oxenford.
[Footnote 294.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] At the bottom of the
letter is a contemporary note which appears to show that it was
filed along with others of various dates before Michaelmas
1454:-- ‘Literæ de diversis annis ante Michaelem xxxiij.’ More
precise evidence of its date does not seem to be attainable.]
[Footnote 294.2: Wivenhoe, near Colchester, in Essex.]
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