[314.3] Easter.
[315.1] John Paston, Chevalier.
Footnote 314.1, Gairdner’s addition:
This suggestion is quite a mistake.—See ‘my Robert’ in the PS., p. 315.
[928]
CONSTANCE REYNFORTH TO SIR JOHN PASTON[315.2]
[To Sir] John Paston, Chevalier, be this byll delyveryd in hast.
1478
MARCH 21
Ryth reverent and worchepful ser, I recomend me on to yowr masterschep, effectually desyryng to here of yowr welfare and contynual prosperite; and if it ples yow to here of my pour estat, I was in good hele at the makyng of this sympyll byll. Towchyng the cause of my wrytyng to yowr masterschep is, for as moche as I poyntyd with yow to a be with yow be the day that ye asynyd me of, the wheche, with outh yowr good supportacyon, I con not well have myn entent, withouth it ple yow to send oon of yowr men to me, and I psal provyd a letter in myn unkyll name, the wheche he psall delyver to my cosyn as he were myn unkyll masagear, and be this mene I wyll come at yowr request; for my cosyn wold I psuld not depart with hym, with outh it were to myn unkyll servyse; hoys and all others I refuse for yowres, yf my sympul servyse may be to yowr plesure. And of an answer herof I beseke yow be the brynger of my byll, and I wyll conforme me to yowr en tente, be the grace of Good, the Wheche mot preserve yow at all oures.
Wretyn at Cobham, the xxj. day of Marche. By yowr woman and sevnt, Constans Reynforth.
[315.2] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this letter was Sir John Paston’s mistress, by whom he left a natural daughter. The date is ascertained by an endorsement in Sir John’s own hand, ‘Custaunce Raynford, anno xviijo.’