_To Mestresse Margret Paston, in Norwyche, or to hyr sone John Paston,
Knyght._
[Sidenote: 1476 / MAY 27]
Please it yow to weete that as for my materes, and theye appeyre
nott,[260-2] the doo, blessyd be Godde, as weell as I wolde they dyd,
saffe that it shalle cost me grett mony, and it hathe cost me moche
laboor. It is soo that the Kynge most have C. marke, and other costes
will drawe xl. marke. And my mater is examynyd by the Kynges Cowncell,
and declaryd affoor alle the Lordes, and now lakkythe noo thynge but
[the Pry]vy Seals, and wryghtyng to Master Colv[ill][260-3] to avoide;
for the[260-3] [Kyng hath p]romysed me as moche as I wolde he sholde
fullefille, and alle the Lordes, Juges, Serjauntes, have affermyd my
title goode. Nott withstandyng Sowthewell, James Hubberde, and Sir W.
Braundon, where at ther owne desyrs, offryd to afferme and advowe my
tytell for goode, and that my Lorde off Norffolk that ded is had noo
tytell, thatt they knywe, they tolde my tale as ille as they cowde, and
yitt a lye or too to helpe it, and yit it servyth them nott, they be
knowen as they ar (in Cowncell be it seyde, and so most all thys letter
be).
I have moche payne to gete so moche mony. Neverthelesse, but iff myne
oncle schewe hym selfe werse than ever he was, I shalle nott fayle, if
he kepe me promyse, and thatt is but as he dyde last, that is butt to be
my sywerte, and I to make hym sywerte ageyn.
The Kynge departythe thys daye, and wille nott be heer tyll Frydaye,
whyche lettyth me, or ellys by thatt daye I wolde have hopyd to have
comen homeward, and erst per aventure. No moor, but Jesus have yow in
kepyng.
Wretyn at London, the xxvj. daye of Maye, the Mondaye next Holy
Thurrysdaye, the Assencion.
* * *
The Kynge wold have bowte it, but he was enfformyd off the trowthe, and
that it was nott for a prynce, and off the greet pryse that I wolde
selle it att; for that I myght nott for bere it, for he scholde have
payed m^{l.}m^l. marke or moor, iff he hadde hadde it.
Your sone,