_To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at the Syngne of the George, at Powles
Wharffe._
[Sidenote: 1476 / JUNE 30]
I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I hav receyvyd yowr
letter, wretyn the next daye aftre Mydsomer; for answer wheroff I thynke
that to be bownde in v^c. [500] marke, I thynke it is to moche, where as
I felt by yow ye sholde have with the gentylwoman but iiij^c [400];
neverthelesse I agree. But ye shall undrestande that I wyll not be
bownde for yow that ye shall make hyr joyntour past xx_li._ by yer,
within a sertayne daye lymyted; be it j. yere or ij., that is the
largest that ye maye performe. For as for the maner of Sparham, my
moodre and ye acorde notte in yowr saynges; she wyll nowght graunte yow
ther in, whylse she levyth, saff, as she seythe to me, she hathe
grauntyd yow x. marke by yeer tyll xl_li._ be payed, that is but vj.
yeer; and aftre hyr dyscease she woll agree with goode will, so that it
maye be yowr proferment, that ye sholde have that maner in joynture with
yowr wyffe to the lenger lyver off yow bothe, payng x. marke by yeer,
soo or th . . . as she wyll that it shall be. Therfore, as for l. marke
joynture, I pray yow bynde me in no suche clawse, butt iff it be for
xx_li._ by a resonable daye, and xx. marke aftre the dyssease off my
moodre. Take example at Derby.
Item, ye make yow sywerer than I deme yow bee, for I deme that her
frendes wyll nott be content with Bedyngfeldes sywerte, nor yowres.
I deme thys mater will ocopy lenger leyser than ye deme for.
Item, I remembre thatt thys mony that she sholde have is nott redy, but
in the handes of marchauntes of the Estaple, whyche at a prove ye shall
fynde per case so slakke payeres, that ye myght be deseyvyd ther by.
I knowe dyverse have lost mony er they cowde gete ther dywtes owte off
the Staple. God spede yow, and sende yow that ye wolde have.
I sende yow the obligacion here with acordyng to yowr desyr, and a
letter to Bedyngfelde, thankyng hym for yow, and more over letyng hym
know of myn entent. Opyn it, and close it ageyn, if ye lyst.
Item, where I tolde yow that the gowne clothe off olde chamlott, I wolde
have it hoome for my suster Anne; ye for gate it. I praye yow sende it
home by the next massenger, and a letter with it of suche tydynges as ye
knowe.
Item, blissed be God, I have Castre at my will. God holde it better than
it doone her to foore.
No moore, but wretyn the next daye aftre Seynt Petre, anno E. iiij^ti
xvj^{o}.