_Un to my ryght wurschypffull cosyn, John Paston, be thys lettur
delyvered, &c._
Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un [to] yowe, &c. And I send
my husbonde a bill of the mater that ze knowe of, and he wrote an other
bill to me agayn towchyng the same mater; and he wold that ze schuld go
un to my maistresse yowr modur, and asaye if ze myght gete the hole
xx_li._ in to zowr handes, and then he wolde be more gladd to marye with
zowe, and will gyffe zowe an C_li._ And, cosyn, that day that sche is
maryed, my fadur will gyffe hyr l. merk. But and we acorde, I schall
gyffe yowe a grettere tresur, that is, a wytty gentylwoman, and if I sey
it, bothe good and vertuos; for if I schuld take money for hyr, I wold
not gyffe hyr for a m_li._ But, cosyn, I trust zowe so meche that I wold
thynke her wele besett on zowe, and ze were worthe meche more. And,
cosyn, a lytyll after that ze were gone, come a man fro my cosyn Derby,
and broght me wurde that suche a chance fell that he myght not come at
the day that was set, as I schall let zowe undyrstond more pleynly, when
I speke with zowe, &c. But, cosyn, and it wold please zowe to come agayn
what dey that ze will set, I dare undyrtake that they schall kepe the
same daye; for I wold be glad that, and myn husbond and ze myght acorde
in thys maryage, that it myght be my fortune to make and ende in thys
mater betwene my cosyns and zowe, that yche of zowe myght love other in
frendely wyse, &c. And, cosyn, if thys byll please not zowr entent,
I pray zowe that it may be brent, &c.
No more unto yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve zowe, &c.
By zowr cosyn,
Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.
[Footnote 265-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] _See_ preliminary note
to last letter.]
896