_To the ryght reverent and worshipffull my mastres, Margaret Paston, in
haste._
[Sidenote: 1472 / NOV. 27]
Plesith it you to wete that I have receyved your letter, wherin I
conceyve ye wolde undrestonde how I do with the sale of Sporle Wode. It
is so that I have begonne to felle asshe at the townes ende for to sette
the contre on werke, and be that I shall undrestonde how the remnaunt
wol doo. I have sette suche a classe [_glass_] before here ien [_their
eyes_] ther, that they are madde upon it, so that I truste be Ester to
make of money, what with the barke and with the asshe, at the leest l.
marke for to retayle the wode our selfe, and be Cristemas next after
that, other l. marke, and so yerely l. marke at Cristemesse as longe as
the wode lasteth, to the some that I tolde you, and I truste more; and
to this I durste be bound. Nevertheles, I am a bowte to selle it all a
grete and to brynge it to all moste to as goode proffe as thowe we
retayled it oure silffe, for it is so that ther is a man of Carbroke,
they calle hym Saunders, I may have of hym for all the wode and barke
that is in Sporle xj^xx. marke, to paye at suche dayes a fore reherseyd,
we to bere the costes of the fense and of the tithe; but we are not
throw yet, nor nought shal be tille I have worde from you a yene, weche
I must have be Sonday come sevenyte at the fertheste, for on the
Wednesdaye nexte after that we shal mete a yene at Sporle. Wherfore I
beseche you sende me your avice how ye thynke herein, and I shal doo
that in me is be Godes grace; if I can do better with hym I shall. It
shal be harde werke, but if I haunse hym som what, for ther is moche
money be twix us, and therfore spare not to sende my master, Sir John,
worde to take suche dayes of payment as is a bove wreten, for it shalbe
performed what wey som ever we take be Godes grace.
Item, mastres, as for your write [_wright_] ye may not have hym tille
after Cristemas, for he had taken an howse to make while I was with you,
it wolbe this iij. wekes yet or then he make an ende, &c.
Item, I mette with Robert at Heythe of Matelaske at Norwiche, when I
come from you. I felle on hande with hym for Matelaske Kerre, I myght
have had of hym for that vij. marke and xx_d._ Dele nogh as ye thynke.
Item, as for money of the fermour of Sporle, he telles me he is bounde
to Tounesende to pay hym at this Candelmesse. And he seythe if he may be
discharged a yenst hym your money shalbe redy at hys daye, be Godes
grace, Who have you in His blissed kepyng.
Wreten at Sporle, the Friday next after Seint Edmund the Kynge.
Your servaunt,