_To Mestresse Margrett Paston at Norwyche, or to J. Paston in hyr
absence._
[Sidenote: 1474]
Ryght wyrshypfull and my moste kynde and tendre moodre, I recomaund me
to yow, thankyng yow off the grete cost and off the greet chere that ye
dyd to me and myn at my last beyng wyth yowe; whyche cheer also hath
made me perfyghtly hooll, I thanke God and yow, in so moche that where
as I feeryd me that for weykenesse, and so green recuveryd off my
syknesse, that I scholde have apeyryd by the weye; but, God thanke yow,
I toke so my crommys whyls I was wyth yow, that I felyd my sylfe by the
weye that God and ye had made me stronger than I wenyd that I had ben,
in so myche that I feell my selffe every daye holler than other.
It was soo that I mett wyth myn onkle William by the weye, and there in
the felde I payed hym the iiij_li._ whyche I had borowyd off hym; and he
was passyng inquisytyff howe that I was purveyd for recompensyng off
Towneshend. I tolde hym I hopyd weell; he tolde me that he undrestood
that I had the C_li._ of the Bysshopys executores, and he had herde seye
that I had also borowyd another C_li._ of a marchaunt, and so I lakyd
but an C. marke. I deme he herde thys of T. Lovell, for I tolde hym that
I was in hope to fynde suche a freende that wolde lende me C_li._ He
axed me, who was that? I answeryd hym, an olde marchaunt, a freende of
myn, but myn oncle thowte that shold be by weye of chevyshanse
[_usury_], and to myn horte; wherffor I was pleyne to hym, and tolde hym
that ye wer sewerte therffor, and purveyed it off suche as wolde doo for
yowe. And as for the forte [_fourth_] C. mark, he seyde to me that as
for that he wolde, rather than joperte sholde be, purvey it by weye off
chevyshaunce at London, in so moche that, er he come fro London, he had
for my sake leyde v. C. markes worthe of plate with Hewghe Fenne. The
place at Warwykes Inne is large, and my grawntdame is agyd; it had ben
jopertous to leve moche plate wyth hyr, thoghe halffe were hyr owne. But
if I maye do other wyse, I purpose nott to chevyshe any mony by hys
meane.
Item, I have delyveryd yowre botell to Courbye the caryer thys same
daye, and he promysed me to be with yow on Mondaye nyghte, or ellys on
Touesday tymely. He hathe also xl_d._ to paye for the thryd hyryd horse,
and he bryngythe the iij. horse wyth hym, and is contente for hys labor
and for the mete largely. They be delyveryd hym in as good, and rather
better plyght, than whan I had them forthe, and not gallyd nor hurte. He
hate also ij. sadelys, one of my brotheres, and one other hyred, as ye
woot off.
Item, he hathe a peyre botys off Edmond Reedes, the shomaker, whyche
Saundre borowyd off hym. I beseche yowe that William Mylsent or Symme
maye se that every man have hys owne.
Item, as for my brother Edmond, blyssyd be God, he is weell amendyd.
Item, as for Hankyn owr dogge, I am a fferde never to see hym, but if
[_unless_] yowr good helpe bee.
Item, as for the bookes that weer Sir James, iff it lyke yow that I maye
have them, I ame not able to by them; but somwhat wolde I gyffe, and the
remenaunt with a goode devowte herte, by my trowthe, I wyll prey for hys
sowle. Wherffor iff it lyke yow by the next messenger or karyer to sende
hem in a daye, I shall have them dressyd heer; and iff any off them be
claymyd here aftre, in feythe I wyll restoor it.
Wretyn on Saterdaye.