_Un to ryth reverent Sir, and my good mayster, John Paston._
[Sidenote: About 1454]
Ryth wurthy and wurchypfull Sir, and my ryth good mayster, I recomaunde
me on to you, thankyng you evermore of your gret jentylness and good
maystyrhod shewyd on to me at all tymys, and specyally now to my herthys
ease, qwyche on my part can nowt be rewardyd, but my sympyll service is
ever redy at your comaundement. Ferthemor, as for the mater that ye wete
of, I have laboryd so to my feydr that your entent as for the jointoure
xal be fulfellyd; and, Sir, I besheche you sethyn that I do my part to
fullefelle your wyll, that ye wolle shew me your good maystyrhod in here
chambyr, as my full trust is, in so moche that it xall nowth hurthe you
nor non of youris, and the profite ther of xal be on to the avayle of my
maystress your suster, and to me, and to non odyr creature.
And also my maystress, your modyr, xall nouth be charchyd the with her
bourd aftyr the day of the mariage, but I to discharge her of here
persone, and to ease me that hat here chambyr may be non contradiccion.
And, Sir, I am redy, and alwey wolle to performe that I have seyd on to
you, &c.
Ferthemor, lykyd you to wete I was a Thursday last passyd at Cavendyshe,
to dylyver an astate to Wentworth in the londe that was my brothyr
Cavendyche, as I tolde you wan I was last with you. And ther I spak with
Crane; and he be sowthe me that I wolde sende over to my maystress your
modyr for his excuse, for he myth nowth be with here at this tyme, but
on the Saterday in Esterne wyke he wolle nouth fayll to be with her.
So he counsellyd me that I and my brothyr Denston xulde mete with hym
there; and so, withoute your better avyse, I and my brothyr purpose us
to be with you ther at that tyme; for the sonner the levyr me, for, as
to my conceythe, the dayys be waxyn wondyrly longe in a scorte tyme.
Qwerfor I besheche you sende me your avyse how ye wolle have me rewlyd,
&c.
No more I wrythe to you at this present tyme, but be schechyng you to
recomaunde in the lowlyest wyse. And the Trinite preserve you body and
sowle.
Wretyn with my chauncery hand, in ryth gret haste, on the Fryday be forn
Palmesoneday.
Your,