_To my Rygth worsschipful cosyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this Letter
delyveryd, &c._
[Sidenote: 1464 / JAN. 28]
Ryght worsschypfull and reverent cosyn, I recomaunde me on to you wyth
al myn hert, as your feythful kynnesman and oratour, desyrynge to here
of the goode prosperite and welfare of your worsschipfull modyr my Lady
and cosyn, wyth your wyff, Sir John Paston, your brethern Wylliam and
Clement, with all your sonys and doughters, to whom I beseche you
hertely that I may be recomaundyd. God of His hyghe mercy preserve you
all un to Hys mercy and grace, and save you from all adversite.
Worsschipfull cosyn, my speciall writynge and hertys desire afore
rehersyd, nature naturaly so me compellyth,
Watt thou I be putt fer ought of conceyte and syght,
I have you all in remembrance both day and nyght;
besechynge you, gentyll cosyn, to tender my writynge. I take God to my
wyttnesse, I wold as fayn do that myght be un to your honor,
worsschippe, and profit as any herthly man can thynke.
Worfor now late deyde the Abbot of our Monastery, and lefte us in grete
ded [_debt_]; the brynger heroff is my speciall frende: the holdyst
brother in our place never hard nor saw our chirche in that mysere that
is now; we have cast the perellys amongys us, and there is nowne other
helpe, butt every brother that hath any worsschipfull kynne or frendys,
every man to do his part to the well fare, socour, and releve of our
monasteri; therfor, worsschipfull cosyn, I, a brother of that
worsschipfull monastery, wer inne begoon the feyth of all thys lond,
mekely besechyth you in the reverence of Allmygty God to render help,
and socour us in our grete necessite; for in London lyth to wedde many
ryche jowells of ouris, with other grete detts, wych my brother wyll
enforme you of.
Plesyth your goodnesse, for Godys sake, and all the Seyntts of evyn, and
att my sympyll request, to have compassion upon us, ye havynge dooe
swerte [_due surety_] both in obligacions and pleggs; in the reverens of
All myghti God, do your allmesse and charite; hitt schall cause you to
be prayed for, and all your kynne as long as the chirche stantt; and be
this menys, I trust to All myghty God, to se my cosyn William, or
Clement, to be stward of our londys, and so to have an intresse in
Kentt, to the worsschippe of God and you all, wych ever have you in His
kepynge. Amen.
Writyn at Caunterbiry in hast the xxviij^ti day of Januare.
Also I beseche you, schew the brynger of this letter sum humanite and
worsschipe, that when he comyth home, he may reporte as he fyndeth.
[91.1][This is the cause every wele thi putt my kynne in my berd,
seyinge, I am come of lordys, knygtes, and ladys. I wold they wer in
your daunger a m^l. merke, that they mygte know you, &c.]
Be your cosyn and bedman,