My lady sweryth, and so dothe Barnard on hyr behalff, that she wold as fayne ye had it as eny body; notwithstandyng she seyd not so to me, sythe I cam hom, for I spak not with hyr but onys sythe I sye yow last. Yet she lythe in Norwyche, and shall do tyll she be delyverd; but I have be seek ever sythe I cam on thys syd the see, but I trust hastyly to amend for all my seknesse that I had at Caleys, and sythe I cam over also, cam but of cold. But I was never so well armyd for the werre as I have now armyd me for cold; wherfor I avyse yow, take exampyll by me, if it happyn yow to be seek, as ye wer when I was at Caleys, in eny wyse kepe yow warme. I weene Herry Woodhous nor Jamys Arblaster ware never at onys so many cotys, hose, and botewx as I doo, or ellys by God we had gone therfor. What we shall yet I can not sey, but I bere me bold on ij. dayes amendyng.
My modyr sendyth yow Godes blyssing and hers, and she wold fayne have yow at home with hyr; and if ye be onys mette, she tellyth me ye shall not lyghtly depart tyll dethe depart yow.
As I was wryghtyng thys lettyr, on told me that the Kyng shold be at Walsyngham thys next.[239.1] If it be so, it wer best for yow to awayte on the Kyng all the wey, and if ye have not men and horse i nowghe I shall send yow. Do as ye thynk best; and as ye wyll have me to do, send me your avyse, and I shall accomplyshe it to my power, with Godes grace, Who preserve yow.
Wretyn at Norwyche, the x. day of October, anno xvo E. iiijti. P. J.[239.2]
[238.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]
[238.2] The Morrow of All Souls, i.e. 3rd November.
[239.1] So in MS. Qu., the word ‘week’ omitted?
[239.2] It is curious that John Paston has here reversed his initials.
[877]
JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[239.3]
To Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wherff, in London.