_To my wurschypfull cosyn, John Paston, be thys bill delyvered, &c._
[Sidenote: 1476 or 1477]
Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un to yowe, thankyng zowe
hertely for the grette chere that ze made me the last tyme that ze were
with me at Norwych, &c.
And, cosyn, as for the mater that was put in my nowncle Hastynges and
Henry Heydon, I ondyrstand be myn uncle, that ther was made non ende
therin, whech I am ryght sory for. Cosyn, ze be remembred what ze
promysed me that, and so were that myn uncle and Herry Heydon made none
ende therin, that ze wold put the mater in me; and if it please zowe so
for to do, in good faith, cosyn, I schall goo as wele and as ryghtfully
and consciensly as I can for both the partyes. And, cosyn, if it please
zowe to com to Topcroft, and poynt ze what dey when ze will com,
I schall sende for my cosyn to be ther the same day. And, cosyn, I pray
zowe to sende me worde agayn be the brynger of thys letter, howe ze will
do, &c.
And Almyghty Jesus hafe zowe in kepyng, &c.
Be zour cosyn,
Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.
[Footnote 264-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is the first of a
series of letters, some of which were certainly written in
February 1477, relating to the engagement of John Paston to
Margery Brews. How early they began it is not easy to say
precisely. On the back of this letter is written, apparently in
the hand of John Paston, to whom it is addressed, ‘Letræ dominæ
Elyzabethæ Brews et Margariæ filæ (_sic_) ejus.’]
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