_To my feithful lovyng gode cousyn, Johan Paston._
[Sidenote: 1474(?) / MAY 9]
Cousyn Paston, I recommaunde me to you in as speciall wise as I cane.
And like you to witte, on Sondaye at even last I hadde writing and
evedence frome my lorde by Punche of tidyngis and have understonde them
wel al a longe. And on Monday erly in the mornyng I came to Calais to
have spoken with you, but I came to late. Praying you to advertise my
lord[205-2] to se wel to him self, etc. And at my comyng home the same
nyght I felle doune syke, and have ever sith kept my bedde and yitte do.
And, as you knowe wel, the Connestable sykened with you in his goyng to
Calais, of whome I doubt me, and so I do of my self bothe. So that here
amongis us nowe is no man to stirre about and see quykly to alle thingis
as ther aught to be and is nede to be, which hevieth me gretly; and
though I were up and might somwhat stire myself, yitte I am not seure so
to contynue ij. daies to-geder, etc. As for moo men, my Lord hathe
praied me and advised me to holde me content with thoo that I have, and
that I shulde make as litel coste in reparacions as I maye, because he
cannot se wel howe the monney cane be goten to content them. Cousyn, as
for moo men ye knowe right wel thoo that we have are to fewe, and we
have nede; notwithstonding I shal do as wel as I may with thoo that I
have. But as [for][205-3] eny ferther reparacions, might I ones for oure
seurte have this fournisshed that I am about, I kepe not to make moo,
for I doubt me that this we are about, that parte therof wil reste in my
nekke, because we cane not be seure of oure assignement. I pray you,
cousyn, brekes to my Lord all suche maters that ye cane remembre and
thinke[205-4] may be for the wele of us and the seurte of this place, as
my ful speciall truste and alle othir mennes here is in you. I hadde
thought to have writton to my lord to have sente some othir seure man
hidre to have assisted and holpen us during oure infirmitees, but I fele
by Punche that my Lord saith I write always so plainly to him that hit
fereth him, and therfore I dar not but shal forbere to write any more
so; howe be hit, it were ful necessarye and behofful so to do, that
knoweth God, Who ever preserve you. Writton at Guysnes, the ix^e daye of
May.
I praye you to sende us some of your tidingis by this berer as oft as ye
may. And if ther be anything I may do to your plesir, I shal do it with
as good hart as ye cane desire.
Your tru luffuyng coussen,