_To my ryght welebelovyd cosyn, John Paston, Swyer, be this letter
delyveryd, &c._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]
Ryght wurschypfull and welebelovyd Volentyne, in my moste umble wyse,
I recommande me un to yowe, &c. And hertely I thanke yowe for the lettur
whech that ye sende me be John Bekarton, wherby I undyrstonde and knowe,
that ye be purposyd to come to Topcroft in schorte tyme, and withowte
any erand or mater, but only to hafe a conclusyon of the mater betwyx my
fader and yowe; I wolde be most glad of any creatur on lyve, so that the
mater myght growe to effect. And ther as ye say, and ye come and fynde
the mater no more towards you then ye dyd afortyme, ye wold no more put
my fader and my lady my moder to no cost ner besenesse, for that cause,
a good wyle aftur, wech causyth myne herte to be full hevy; and yf that
ye come, and the mater take to none effecte, then schuld I be meche mor
sory and full of hevynesse.
And as for my selfe, I hafe done and undyrstond in the mater that I can
or may, as Good knowyth; and I let yowe pleynly undyrstond, that my
fader wyll no mor money parte with all in that behalfe, but an C_li._
and l. marke, whech is ryght far fro the acomplyshment of yowr desyre.
Wherfore, yf that ye cowde be content with that good, and my por
persone, I wold be the meryest mayden on grounde; and yf ye thynke not
yowr selffe so satysfyed, or that ye myght hafe mech mor good, as I hafe
undyrstonde be yowe afor; good, trewe, and lovyng volentyne, that ye
take no such labur uppon yowe, as to come more for that mater, but let
is [_it ?_] passe, and never more to be spokyn of, as I may be yowr
trewe lover and bedewoman duryng my lyfe.
No more un to yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve yowe, bothe
body and sowle, &c.
Be your Voluntyne,