_To my ryght wurschypfull Ser, John Paston, Esquyer._
[Sidenote: 1460(?) / DEC. 5]
Ryght wurschypfull Ser, after ryzth hertely recomendacion, lyke it yow
to wete that my Maister Fastolf, hoose sowle God asoyle, whan I bowth of
hym the maner of Blyclyng, consideryng the gret payment that I payed
therfor, and the yerly annuyte duryng his lyfe after his entent, was to
me gret charge; and the same tyme, in his place at Southwerk, by his
othe made on his primer ther, grauntted and promitted to me to have the
maner of Guton, with all the apportenaunce for a resonable pris afor ony
other man. And, Ser, as I understande ye be that person that my seid
maister, consideryng your gret wysdom, most trosted to have rewle and
dyreccion of his lyfelode and goodes,--and, Ser, trewly, yf I hed ben
nere unto yow, I wold have spoken to yow herof be for this tyme;
neverthelasse I wolde desyre and pray yow to schewe me yowr goode wyll
and favour in this by halve, wher inne ye schall dyscharge my seid
maistres sowle of his othe and promyse, and I schall do yow servyce in
that I can or maye to my power. And of yowr goode wyll and favour
herynne I pray yow to late me have wetyng, and I schall be redy to wayte
on yow at ony tyme and place wher ye wull assyne. And owr blysyd Lord
have yow in his kepyng.--Wret the v. day of Decembre.
Be youer owyn,