Volume Ii Part 60 (2/2)
[Footnote 292.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 225.] This letter is shown by the memoranda on the back to be of the year 1453, _i.e._ 31 Henry VI. Agnes Paston had tenants at Cromer, and her property there descended to her grandchildren, as she outlived her son John.]
[Footnote 293.1: Blank in MS.]
232
THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.1]
[_To my_] _right trusty and welbeloved Jon Paston, Esquier._
[Sidenote: About 1454]
Right trusty and intierly welbelovyd, I grete you wele. Prayng you as I specially trust you that ye wole be good frend to James Arblaster in his mater touchyng the maner of Smalbergh, as I wote wele ye haf ever be to hym ryght especiall frend; and thogh it so be that the sayd James had gret trebles, losses, and adversite herbeforn, neverthelesse he shall not be so bare of frendys ner goodes but that I wole se hym holpyn with the mercy of G.o.d. In performmyng wherof the berer of this shal enforme you of myn inten and disposicion more largely than I wole put in wrytyng. And the Trinite have you in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Wefnow,[294.2] the vij. day of August.
ELIZABETH VER, Countes of Oxenford.
[Footnote 294.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] At the bottom of the letter is a contemporary note which appears to show that it was filed along with others of various dates before Michaelmas 1454:-- 'Literae de diversis annis ante Michaelem x.x.xiij.' More precise evidence of its date does not seem to be attainable.]
[Footnote 294.2: Wivenhoe, near Colchester, in Ess.e.x.]
233
THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.3]
_To John Paston, Sqwyer, dwellyng in Norwich._
[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
Ryght entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, and pray yow that ye woll be good frende un to Arblaster in suche matiers as he shal enfo[rme]
yow, and I thanke yow for the good frends.h.i.+p that ye have shewed to hym.
And I sent a letter to Margaret Gurnay byfore Cristemesse of certeyn langage that I herd, wich plesed me nowght, and so I prayed my Lord to gif me leve to wrytte to hir; and therfore and ye here any thyng, answere, as my trust is in yow. Right entierly welbeloved, the Holy Gost have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast the first day of February.
OXENFORD, } } ELYZABETH DE VEER. }
[Footnote 294.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the letter immediately following are inserted here merely on account of their similarity to the last. Their dates are quite uncertain.]
234
THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[295.1]
_To my right, entierly welbeloved John Paston of Norwich, Squyer._
Right entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, thankyng yow of the gret jentylnesse that ye have shewed un to my right welbeloved James Arblaster, prayng yow of contynuaunse; and if ther be any thyng that I may doo for yow or any of yowres, here or in any other place, I pray yow let me wete and I shall be redy to do it, with the grace of G.o.d, ho have yow in his kepyng. And I pray yow to be frendly unto my right welbeloved Agneys Arblaster, wich is to me gret plesier and hertes ease and ye so be. Wretyn at Wevenho the xiij^e day of Aprill.
OXENFORD.
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