_To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston._
[Sidenote: 1461(?)]
I recomawnde me to your good mastreschep, besechyng yow in the weye of
charyte, and as I maye be your bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete
me have wetyng hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is
seyd that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last; and also if I
be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall be takyn owte.
Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs xal take all my catell and all
other pore good that I have, and so but I maye have helpe of my mayster
and of yow, I am but lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe
to my ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in all
thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be the grace of
God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.
Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall help, but I must
selle or lete to ferme all that I have.
Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of fesyk. If ye wyll
ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye and to morwe. He is ryght a
konnyng man and gentyll.
[Footnote 21.1: [From Fenn, iv. 104.] This letter appears to have
been addressed to Margaret Paston at a period when her husband was
a man of some influence, and perhaps the year 1461 is not far from
the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about the
same time as No. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire
or county court.]
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