Richard Southwell to John Paston

LETTER XXI.

To the Right Worshippfull
      and my right feithfull gode
      Cosin Iohn Paston Esquier

RIGHT Worshippfull and my right feithfull gode Cosin I
recomaunde me onto you And as hertily as I can thanke you
of yo^r right gentill and kynde remembraunce that I Con-
seyve well by yo^r late writyng that ye have to me wardes
undes^rved in dede but not in Will so god helpe me as ye
shuld weell known if my power might accorde with my will
And Cosin in the mat^r that it liked you to remembre me in
bothe to my Worshipp and pleas’ I feere me that nouther
my pou’e doughter nor pou’e purs can nor may be to his
pleas? wold god outher might And I shuld take me right
neer to his pleas’ savyng myself I ensure you by my trowth
and howe to understand his pleas’ and disposicon therin J
see no mean as thus advised, but if it might please you by
y^r wisdam to attempte it forther as ye seme moste conve-
niente And theruppon to be guyded by yo^r gode advise as
the cas shall require wherin ye shall bynde me hereft^r to do
that may be to yo^r pleas’ to my power and yette with no
bett^r will than I have had so god help me Who have you
eu^r in his keping and sende you yo^r herts desire to his pleas’
And if it pleas you to rememb^r further in the p’misses I trust
ye shall leese no labo^r on my pou’e p^rte howe be it I fere
me sore as J be gan bothe of my pou’e dought^r and purs
Writon at Woderysyng the morn aft^r our lady Day in haste
I require you this bill may be secrete.

                                             By y^r trew cosin,

                                                                      R. SOUTHWELL.

 12 by 4¼.

     No one can read this Letter, written so apparently from the heart, without
wishing that both the young lady and her fortune might prove agreeable to the
gentleman here hinted at. It is probable they both did; for John Berney of
Reedham, Esq. the person here meant, I believe, married Alice, daughter of
Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood Rising.

     The Southwells were a family of consequence, and for many generations
seated at Wood Rising, in Norfolk. A female descendant, in the fifth gene-
ration from the writer of this Letter, a very beautiful young lady, stole abroad
in the habit of a page with Sir Robert Dudley, when he left the kingdom in
discontent during the reign of James I. to whom he was afterwards married in
Italy.

     Autograph, Pl. xx. No. 27

LETTER XXI.

To the Right Worshipful and my Right Faithful good Cousin,
John Paston, Esquire.

RIGHT worshipful and my right faithful good cousin, I
recommend me unto you, and, as heartily as I can, thank
you of your right gentle and kind remembrance, that I
conceive well by your late writing that ye have to me wards,
undeserved in deed, but not in will, so God help me, as ye
should well know, if my power might accord with my will.

     And, cousin, in the matter that it liked you to remember
me in, both to my worship and pleasure, I fear me that
my poor daughter nor poor purse can nor may be to his
pleasure; would God either might; and I should take me
right near to his pleasure, saving myself, I ensure you by
my troth; and how to understand his pleasure and dispo-
sition therein, I see no mean as thus advised; but if [unless]
it might please you by your wisdom to attempt it farther,
as ye seem most convenient, and thereupon to be guided by
your good advice, as the case shall require, wherein ye shall
bind me hereafter to do that may be to your pleasure to my
power, and yet with no better will than I have had, so God
help me, who have you ever in his keeping, and send you
your heart’s desire to his pleasure; and if it please you to
remember farther in the premises, I trust ye shall lose no
labour on my poor part: how be it I fear me sore, as I
began, both of my poor daughter and purse. Written at
Wood Rising, the morn after our Lady Day, in haste: I
require you this bill may be secret.

                                            By your true Cousin,

                                                              RICHARD SOUTHWELL.

             Wood Rising,
       26th March, about 1475.
                15 E. iv.

     No one can read this Letter, written so apparently from the heart, without
wishing that both the young lady and her fortune might prove agreeable to the
gentleman here hinted at. It is probable they both did; for John Berney of
Reedham, Esq. the person here meant, I believe, married Alice, daughter of
Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood Rising.

     The Southwells were a family of consequence, and for many generations
seated at Wood Rising, in Norfolk. A female descendant, in the fifth gene-
ration from the writer of this Letter, a very beautiful young lady, stole abroad
in the habit of a page with Sir Robert Dudley, when he left the kingdom in
discontent during the reign of James I. to whom he was afterwards married in
Italy.

     Autograph, Pl. xx. No. 27

867

RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON²

To the right worshippfull, and my right feithfull
gode cosin, John Paston, Esquier.

RIGHT worshippfull and my right feithfull gode cosin,
            I recomaunde me unto you, and, as hertily as I can,
            thanke you of your right gentill and kynde remem-
braunce, that I consceyve well by your late writyng that ye
have to me wardes, undeserved in dede, but not in will, so
God helpe me, as ye shuld weell knowe, if my power might
accorde with my will. And, cosin, in the mater that it liked
you to remembre me in, bothe to my worshipp and pleaser, I
feere me that nouther my pouere doughter nor pouere purs
can nor may be to his pleaser; wold God outher might; and
I shuld take me right neere to his pleaser, savyng myself,
I ensure you by my trouth. And howe to understand his
pleaser and disposicion therin, I see no mean as thus advised,
but if [unless] it might please you by your wisdam to attempte
it forther, as ye seme moste conveniente, and theruppon I to
be guyded by your gode advise, as the cas shall require;
wherin ye shall bynde me herefter to do that may be to your
pleaser to my power, and yette with no better will than I have
had, so God help me, Who have you ever in His kepinge, and
sende you your hertes desire to His pleaser; and if it pleas
you to remembre further in the premisses, I trust ye shall
leese no labour on my pouere parte; howe be it I fere me
sore, as I be gan, bothe of my pouere doughter and purs.

     Writon at Woderysyng, the morn efter Our Lady Day, in
haste.

     I require you this bill may be secrete.

By your trewe cosin,

                                                                                 RIC. SUTHWELL.

     ² [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Fenn thinks the gentleman here referred to was
John Berney of Reedham, Esquire, who married Alice, daughter of Richard South-
well, Esquire, of Wood Rising, the writer of this letter. He accordingly dates it
about the year 1475, and I see no reason to question his opinion.

MARCH 26

1475
MARCH 26