To my ryght worchepfull and hertly beloved nevew, John Paston, Sqwyer.

1485
SEPT. 23

Right worchepfull, and my ryght hertly beloved nevew, I recomand me to yow. And wher as ye desier me to send yow woord whether my brodyr John Paston, your fadyr, was with my fadyr and hys, whom God assoyle, duryng hys last syknesse and at the tyme of hys dissease at Seynt Brydis, or nowght.

Nevew, I assarteyn yow upon my feythe and poore honore that I was xiiij., xv. yer or xvj. yer old, and[86.2] at Seynt Brydis with my fadyr and my modyr when my fadyrs last syknesse took hym, and tyll he was disseassid; and I dare depose befor ony persone honorable that when my fadyrs last siknesse tooke hym, my brodyr your fadyr was in Norffolk, and he came not to London tyll aftyr that my fadyr was disseassid, and that can Sir William Cootyng[86.3] and Jamys Gressham record, for they bothe were my fadyrs clerkys at that tyme. And I remembre and wot well that Jamys Gressham was with my fadyr at Seynt Brydys duryng all hys siknesse and at hys disseasse, and thys wyll I wyttnesse whyle I leve for a trowthe, as knowith God, Whom I beseche to preserve you and yours.

And, nevew, I prey yow recomand to my neese your wyff, whom I wold be glad to se onys a yen in London, wher thys bylle was wretyn, signed with myn hand, and sealed with my seale [the Thursday next befor Whyghtsonday, the second yer of Kyng Richard the Thred],[87.1] the xxiij. daye of September the first yer of the reyngne of Kyng Herry the vijth. Your loveing awnte, El[iza]beth Browne.

[86.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. from which this letter is printed is not in the handwriting of Dame Eliz. Browne. It is a corrected draft in the handwriting of John Paston, with the address at the head.

[86.2] The words ‘xiiij. —— old, and’ are an interlineation, J. P. apparently did not know his sister’s exact age at the time and wished her to supply it.

[86.3] Rector of Swainsthorpe from 1444 to 1450, and of Titchwell from 1450 to 1457. He was presented to the former living by Judge Paston and John Dam.

[87.1] This date is scratched through with the pen.

Footnote 86.2: apparently did not know his sister’s exact age at the time
text unchanged: error for “aunt’s”?