_To hys worshipful master, John Paston, Esquier._
[Sidenote: 1471 / OCT. 21]
Ryght wurchupfull ser, I comaund me to your good maysterchepe, &c. Plese
it you to understond that Redford desyryd me on your byhalfe that I
chuld goo and comon with the woman that was the fullars wyfe of South
Walsham, whech woman is now maryed to on Thom Styward, dwellyng in the
parysch of Seynt Gyll in Norwych, whech woman seyd to me that che sewyd
never the pele, but that she was by sotyle craft brought to the New In
at Norwych, and ther was Maystir Southwell, and he entretyd hyr to be my
Lords wewe [_widow_],[114-2] by the space of an hole yer next folwyn,
and therto he mad hyr to be bowne in an obligacyon. And whan that yer
was past he desyred hyr to be my Lords wedow another yer; and than she
seyd that she had lever lose that that she had do, than to lose that and
meer; and therfor she seyd pleynly that she wold no mor of that mater.
And so she toke hyr an husbond, whech is the seyd Thom Styward; and she
seyth that it was full sor ageyn hyr wylle that ever the mater went so
forforth, for she had never non avayle therof, butt it was sewyd to hyr
gret labor and losse, for she had never of my Lords councell, but berely
hyr costs to London. No mor, but God have you in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn at Norwych, the Monday next after the Fest of Seynt Luke.
By your servant,