_To the Ryght worshypfull sir, Sir John Paston ch’l’r logged at the
signe of the George next to Poulys Wharf; or to lefe thys letter at a
barbourys house ovyr the seyd George to delyver it to Sir John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1478 / MARCH 1]
Plese yor gode masterschyp to wete that I herd thys day how a man wend
that a jugement ys passed ayenst your entent yn the ende of the last
terme (hyt was not of verray certeyn tolde me, but as a dreme) yn the
kynges Chauncerye. I coude gefe none aunswer therto. I prai God alle be
well; hyt wold ease som of your frendes hertys yff they coude understand
ony gode comfort. Sir, as for Robert,[314-1] I wold pray and requyre
your maistershep that he may for his lernyng be abydyng with your cousyn
of Lincoln Inne, as yt was promysed, and to be occupyed under drede of
displesir under subjecion, wyth erly rysyng accustomed, for slouth ys
the moder and norysher of all vices. He hath cost me moch goode and
labour, and now he ys uppon hys makyng by vertues governance, or undoyng
to the contrarye, and yn especyalle to be not conversant ne neere
amongis women, as I was kept froo her [_their_] company xxx. yeres or
ony suche were of my councelle, I thank God of yt. Sir, and ye write to
me as ye lust, let no name be wythynne wryt whens yt com, and that yt be
sent by sure comer to delyver yt me, for yt ys better brent then founde.
Also your discrecion ought not loth (to take the cost and labour wolle
not be gret, nether importune) for to send a man of purpose to my lord
of [_sic_] Bysshop Waltham and to hys councell lerned, ye wete to whom,
for redy serch to be made for the bill of half lefe of paper quantite of
my hand I faythfully delyvered to Master T. Danvers for to ovyrsee, of
the fyrst appoyntment ye wote off, that ye desyre so hertly to see as of
othyr manyfolde wrytyngis belongyng to yow and to me. Yt ys seyd yne a
vers: _Gutta cavat lapidem non vi set sepe cadendo_, &c.; to a slow man
or a foryetefull or lothfull man must be importune callyng allway uppon
hym tille he hafe hys entent, for now thys vacacion to spede or nevyr
shall stand in yow no stede. I can no ferther then the walle.
Item, Sir, I comyned wyth Doctor Yotton at Camebrygge late, because
there ys no dyvyne service seyd yn the free chapelle at C.,[314-2] that
he wold hafe a grete concience yn yt, and to depart wyth an honest
preste called Sir John Brykkys that ys now duellyng wyth a ryzt lovyng
kynnesman of yowres; the seyd Doctor gevyng me to aunsuer he wold comyn
wyth yow by Pasch,[314-3] and the rather wyth your gode wylle wold
depart to such one ye owe affeccion unto. Sir, I wold, as I dar tak
uppon me to owen your affeccion to the seyd John Brickys, that he may
wyth more help of your cellary hafe the better to lyve and serfe God
there to abyde and do yow service also. I mene faythfullye, and soo I
pray yow take yt; to remembre a thyng in seson ys gretely to commend,
and of a spedy avantage. The blessed Trinite be wyth yow. Wret the fyrst
day of Marche.