_To my ryght wyrshypful moodre, Margret Paston._
[Sidenote: 1473 / JULY 30]
Ryght wyrshypfull and my ryght tendre modre, I recommaunde me to yow,
besechyng yow of yowr dayly blessyng. Please it yow to weet that I herde
not from yow off longe tyme, whyche cawsythe me to be ryght hevye; ner
at the last tyme that I sende to yow in wryghtyng I hadde from yowr
selffe noo wryghtyng ner answer ageyne, saff by Playter one tyme and by
my brother one other tyme; whyche answer off Playter was noo thyng
acordyng but contraryaunt to other wryghtyng more comfortable that he
hadde sent me nott longe byffore that on yowr behalve, as he wrott,
whyche God amende. Neverthelesse to my more hevynesse, I herde seye that
ye sholde have been passhyng hevy for my sake, and in cheffe for that I
was lyke to late goo the maner off Sporle, wherin I was pytte in comfort
to have had relyffe by the meanes off yow; and syns it was tolde me that
iff I leete it goo that ye wold therfore dysavauntage me more lond in
tyme to come, off syche as by poscybylyte myght come to mee of yowris.
Uppon whyche corage my grauntdame[192-1] and myn oncle[192-2] togedre
gaffe me an answer on hyr part moche lyke, and so my fadre, God have hys
sowle, leffte me scant xl_li._ londe in reste, and ye leffe me as
pleasythe yow, and my grauntdame at hyr plesur; thus may I have lyttel
hope off the worlde. Neverthelesse I beseche yow to be my good moodre,
how so ever ye do with yowr londe; for I feell weell that iff I have one
losse I am lyffe [_q._ like?] therfor to have three. But as for Sporle,
it shall nott goo iff I maye, ner by my wyll; and iff ther hadde been
performed me as largelye as was promysed me by Playter, I were sewre it
sholde nott have goon, nor yit sholde nat goo. Neverthelesse iff ye and
all my frendys and yowris in Norffolk myght have lende me so moche monye
and to have takyn it uppe in v. yere, I suppose they sholde peraventure
have ben payed ageyn in a yer or ij. iff I had solde any woode.
Neverthelesse, plese yow to weet that I have provyd my fadres wyll and
testement, wherin I maye nowt dele on to the tyme that all the
executoris have reffused; wherffor ther most be sende sitatacions
(_sic_) to yow and alle other that weer namyd my fadris executoris.
Wherin iff ye list not to take admynystracion, as I woot well ye woll
nott off olde, ye most than make a proctor that must, on yowr behalve,
byffor my Lorde of Canterbury, with a sufficiaunt warant and autoryte,
undre a notarys syngne ther in the corte, reffuse to take
admynestracion. And this instrument and aultoryte I beseche yow maye be
redy and att London by the fyrst daye of the terme; and iff yow be not
aqueynted with none suche at London, iff it please yowe to take and
avowe for your proctor and sende hym auctoryte, on [_one_] Master John
Halsnothe whyche was a clerke off Master Robert Centis[192-3] and was so
trusty to my fadre, God have hys sowle, and to sende me a letter off
yowre wylle ther in, I undertake that he shall not do but as ye sende me
worde. Plese it yow to gyff credence to Juddy herin. No more to you att
thys tyme, but Jhesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn att Caleys, the last
daye saff one off Julle.--Yowr sone,