_To the worshypfull and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1454 / NOV. 11]
Worshypfull and ryght welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow. Lyke you to
wete that I have resseyved a lettre at thys tyme from John Bokkyng, wyth
a copie of the patent concernyng the wardeshyp that ye wote off, by
whych y understand that ye have both wrought and holpen by your grete
wysdom to bryng thys matier aboute, whych y desyred your frendshyp and
gode avice for the suertee of the seyd waarde;[8.1] and for expedicion
of whych y thank you ryzt hertlye, and pray you to contynew foorth your
gode labours in the same yn such wyse as it may be made sure ynall wyse,
thoy it cost me the more of my gode.
And where as it ys remembred me by the seyd lettres that y shuld labour
to ghete the seyd ward yn to my gouvernance, truely y can not see how y
coude do it to be doon, for y have none acqueyntaunce in that contree
that y coude trust too, wythoute the Shyreve myght be my tender frende
in thys cause, or othyr such as ye thynk best. Wherfor y pray you
hertlye to take thys mater tenderly to hert, and that ye lyke seke a
moyen of such frendys as ye can best avyse, and may verrayly trust
uppon, to gyde thys mater yn such wyse as myne entent myght be sped for
the possession of it; for now that y have go so ferre yn the matier,
I wold not it faylled for no gode, but it preved well, and toke to a
gode conclusion.
And where as y have understand late, by certeyn well willers to you
warde, whych have meoved me, that yn case the seyd warde myght be had,
that ye desyre an alliaunce shulde take atwyx a doughter of yours and
the seyd waard, of whych mocion y was ryght glad to hyre off, and wylle
be ryght well wylling and helpyng that your blode and myne myght increse
yn alliaunces. And yff it please yow that by your wysdom and gode
conduyt that ye wolde help beere owte thys mater substaunciallie ayenst
my partie contrarie and eville willers, that I myght have myne entent,
I ensure you ye and y shuld appoynt and accorde yn such wyse as ye shuld
hale you ryght well plesed both for the encresyng of your lynage and
also of myne. And y pray you be ware whom ye make of your counsaille and
myne yn thys mater, and that it may be well bore owte er ye com thens,
and yn a sure wey; and yff y had knowe rathyr [_i.e._ earlier] of your
entent, it shuld hafe cost me more of my gode before thys, to hafe com
to a gode conclusion, whych y promysse yhyt shall bee, and the mater
take, by the fayth of my bodye.
Worshypfull and ryght welbelovyd cosyn, y pray God spede you yn thys
matier, and sende you your gode desyrs.
Wreten at Castr, the xj. day of November anno xxxiijº R. H. VI.
Your cosyn,