[Sidenote: 1476(?)]
Mastresse, thow so be that I, unaqweyntyd with yow as yet, tak up on me
to be thus bold as to wryght on to yow with ought your knowlage and
leve, yet, mastress, for syche pore servyse as I now in my mynd owe yow,
purposyng, ye not dyspleasyd, duryng my lyff to contenu the same,
I beseche yow to pardon my boldness, and not to dysdeyn, but to accepte
thys sympyll byll to recomand me to yow in syche wyse as I best can or
may imagyn to your most plesure. And, mastress, for sych report as I
have herd of yow by many and dyverse persones, and specyally by my ryght
trusty frend, Rychard Stratton, berer her of, to whom I beseche yow to
geve credence in syche maters as he shall on my behalve comon with yow
of, if it lyke you to lystyn hym, and that report causythe me to be the
more bold to wryght on to yow, so as I do; for I have herd oft tymys
Rychard Stratton sey that ye can and wyll take every thyng well that is
well ment, whom I beleve and trust as myche as fewe men leveing,
I ensuer yow by my trowthe. And, mastress, I beseche yow to thynk non
other wyse in me but that I wyll and shall at all seasons be redy wythe
Godes grace to accomplyshe all syche thynges as I have enformyd and
desyerd the seyd Rychard on my behalve to geve yow knowlage of, but if
[_unless_] it so be that a geyn my wyll it come of yow that I be cast
off fro yowr servyse and not wyllyngly by my desert, and that I am and
wylbe yours and at your comandmen in every wyse dwryng my lyff. Her I
send yow thys bylle wretyn with my lewd hand and sealyd with my sygnet
to remayn with yow for a wyttnesse ayenste me, and to my shame and
dyshonour if I contrary it. And, mastress, I beseche yow, in easyng of
the poore hert that somtyme was at my rewle, whyche now is at yours,
that in as short tyme as can be that I may have knowlage of your entent
and hough ye wyll have me demeanyd in thys mater, and I wylbe at all
seasons redy to performe in thys mater and all others your plesure, as
ferforth as lythe in my poore power to do or in all thers that ought
wyll do for me, with Godes grace, Whom I beseche to send yow the
accomplyshement of your most worchepfull desyers, myn owne fayer lady,
for I wyll no ferther labore but to yow, on to the tyme ye geve me leve,
and tyll I be suer that ye shall take no dysplesur with my ferther
labore.
[Footnote 255-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed
from a draft in the hand of John Paston the younger. I suppose it
must have been written about the year 1476, and intended for
Margery Brews, whom he afterwards married. It will be seen that
Richard Stratton, whom in his last letter he recommended to Lord
Hastings, is here the bearer of a confidential message to the
lady.]
888