I wolde nat that myn oncle William scholde cawse hym to take on hym as
hys felawe, for iff myn oncle William doo thus moche in the corte I
suppose it may here afftre doo ease. For as God helpe me I cannot sey
verrely iff my fadre (God have hys sowle!) agreyd that he shold be one,
but in my sowle he never thowt that he sholde be, for he never namyd no
moor butt my modre and me, and afftre, yow, whan I rehessyd myn oncle
Clement, yow and Arblaster, and than he chase yow, seyng he thoght that
ye were good and trewe. Kepe thys secrett. Iff myn oncle be noon
executor, it maye happely brynge ageyn a trussyng coffre with CC. old
peyse noblis, whyche he toke from me as executor.
[Footnote 259.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. from which this
letter is printed is a draft in the handwriting of Sir John
Paston. There can be little doubt it was addressed to his brother
John, and as it refers to the administration of their father’s
will, we place it in the year of his death.]
656