To my right worshipfull Cousin, Sir John Paston.

1490,
or later

Cousin Paston, in my most herty wyse I recomaund me unto you, and thank you for many kindnesses of tyme past, and also for that ye have bene so good maister unto my sarvaunt William May, and now at his comyng to me ye have at your greate coste sent him to me dressed in suche wise as is veray necessary for me to have men appareled; for the whiche your kindnesse I think myselfe right muche beholden to do you pleasure and it moght lye in my power, which I wuld right gladly do, as knoweth our Lord, whom I beseche to send you moche harte pleasure. Wreten at Sherifhoton, the vjth day of July, with the hand of Your lovyng Cousin, Thomas Su[rrey].[135.2]

[135.1] [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This letter may well follow the last as being probably of the same year. At all events it lies within much the same range of date.

[135.2] Mutilated. Below is written in a later hand, and also mutilated: ‘Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, the . . . . of Scots at Flodden.’ The letter is indorsed ‘Litt. Com. Surrey.’

[1045]
THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON[135.3]

To the right worshipfull and my right intierly welbelovyd counsellour, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

1491(?)
MARCH 27

Right worshipfull and right intierly welbelovyd councellour, I commaund me hertely to you. And forasmoche as for certayne especiall causes moving, there be sessions appoynted to be holden at Gyppiswiche, the Friday sevenyght aftre Estre, which shall be the xv. day of Aprile, where I purpose then certaynly to be, and to have aswell the matere by twene Sir Edmounde Benyngfeld[136.1] and Yelverton[136.2] there to be harde and commenyd, as diverse othre grete maters in that contrey necessary to be had in comynycacion; I therfor desire and pray you that ye fayle nat to be there the same day, bryngyng with you the forseide Yelverton, trusting that then suche direccion shall be takyn in that matere as can be thought resonable, and to the weale of the parties; nat doubting but that Sir Edmound Benyngfeld shall be there in like wise. And Almyghty God kepe you.

Wretin at my castell of Hedingham, the xxvij. day of Marche. Oxynford.