_To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to
William Paston if she be absent._
[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY]
Right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my
pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your
husbonds comyng hastly home,--and though he cam or come not, it were
expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the
shire,--therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet
assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for
the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my
said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it
to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf
to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my
Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.
I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and
shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte
Judas slepith not.
Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I
se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn
speke with yow, &c.
My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be
not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght,
be cause he is elyted, as the Comons myght wisely do with help of his
favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride
hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word.
The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.
Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I
write brefly and litell.