Anonymous to Margaret Paston - Medieval Family Life

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Title

Anonymous to Margaret Paston

Reference

Add. 34888, f. 200

Date

?1461

Library / Archive

Transcript location(s) in printed volume(s)

Gairdner, Vol IV, item 501; Fenn, Vol IV, Edward IV item 29

Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume IV' (1st transcript)

LETTERS XXIX

To my right Worchepfull
Mastres Paston.

I Recomawnde me to yo^r good Masterschep beschyng yow in
y^e weye of Charyte and as I maye be yor bedeman and serv'nt
y^t y^e wyll lete me haue wetyng hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns
y^e nest Schyer it is seyd yt ther xal be mych more pepyll than
was y^e last and also if I be in my ladys place or in ony oy^t in y^e
town I xall be takyn owte also masters yt my Maystyr Radclyffs
xal take all my catell and all oy^r pore good y^t I haue and so
but I maye haue helpe of my Maystr and of yow I am but lost
Also my serv'nt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my ryght gret
hurte Wherfore Masters I besech yor help in all thes and I xal
content ye costs as ye xall be plesyd by ye g'ce of God hoo eur
p'serve yow &c. Also Mastres I can not be wt owte yo^u cⁿtyall
help but I must selle or lete to ferme all y' I haue Masters my
lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a Doctor of Fesyk if ye wyll ony
thyn w^t hym he xal abyde y^is daye and to morwe he is ryght a
konnyng man and gentyll.

11 ? by 3 ?.

As this Letter has no subscription, the writer cannot be ascertained, though it appears to
bhe written by one who had some concern at the county court, where election, or other
county disputes, seemed to be expected to come on.

He was probably a retainer of some great man or lady, whose interest he was to sup-
port.

The being obliged to send as far as Cambridge for a Physician must have been both
troublesome and expensive.

Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume IV' (2nd transcript)

LETTER XXIX.

To my right worshipful Mistress Paston.

I Recommend me to your good Mistresship, beseeching you in
the way of charity, and as I may be your beadsman and ser-
vant, that ye will let me have weeting how I may be ruled
against the next shire; it is said that there shall be much more
people than were the last; and also if I be in my Lady's place
or in any other in the town. I shall be taken out. Also Mis-
tress that my Master Radcliff shall take all my catell (chattels)
and all other poor good that I have, and so but (unless) I may
have help of my Master and of you, I am but lost. Also my
servant Maryot will go from my wife to my right great hurt,
wherefore Mistress I beseech your help in all these, and I shall con-
tent the costs as ye shall be pleased by the grace of God, who
ever preserve you, &c.

Also Mistress I cannot be without your continual help, but I
must sell or let to farm all that I have.

Mistress my Lady sent to Cambridge for a Doctor of Physic,
if ye will any thing with him, he shall abide this day and to-
morrow, he is right a cunning (skillful) man, and a gentle.

     Written
          Between 1461 and 1466.
          1 and 6 E. IV.

He was probably a retainer of some great man or lady, whose interest he was to sup-
port.

The being obliged to send as far as Cambridge for a Physician must have been both
troublesome and expensive.

Transcript from James Gairdner, 'The Paston Letters, A.D., 1422-1509, New Complete Library Edition, Volume IV'

501

ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTON¹

To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston.

I RECOMAWNDE me to your good mastreschep, besech-
yng yow in the weye of charyte, and as I maye be your
bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete me have wetyng
hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd
that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last; and also
if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall
be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs
xal take all my catell and all other pore good that I have, and
so but I maye have helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but
lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my
ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in
all thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be
the grace of God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.

Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall
help, but I must selle or lete to ferme all that I have.

Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of
fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye
and to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man and gentyll.

¹ [From Fenn, iv. 104.] This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret
Paston at a period when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the
year 1461 is not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about
the same time as No. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire or county
court.

1461(?)