Dame Elizabeth Brews to John Paston

LETTER XXXV.

To my Wurschypfull Cosyn
     John Paston be thys bill
     delyu^red, &c.

RYGHT wurschypfull Cosyn I reco˜mande me on to yowe
Thankyng zowe hertely for the grette Cher y^t ye made
me y^e last tyme y^t ye wer w^t me at Norwych &c And
Cosyn as for the mat^r yat was put in my nowncle Hastyngs
and Henry Heydon J ondyrstand be myn uncle y^t y’ was
made non ende y’in whech J am ryght sory for Cosyn ye be
reme˜bred what ye p^rmysed me y^t and so wer y^t myn uncle
and Henry Heydon made non ende y’in y^t ze wold put the
mat^r in me And if it please zowe so far to do jn good faith
Cosyn I schall goo As well and as ryghtfully and Consciensly
as I can for both the p^rtyes And Cosyn if it please zowe
to Com to Topcroft and poynt ze what dey when ze will
Com I schall sende for my Cosyn to be y’ the same day
And Cosyn I pray zowe to sende me worde Agayn be the
bryng^r of thys lett^r howe ze will do &c And almyghty Jhe
hafe zowe in kepyng &c.

       11¾ by 3¼.

                  Seal,
          A Squirrel seiant.
          Pl. xxxiv. No. 3.

     As the Letters published in the second volume of this work, relative to the
alliance between John Paston, and Margery, the daughter of Sir Thomas
Brews, were so well received and eagerly perused by the public, I have great
pleasure in being able to furnish a few more on the same subject, from which
the modes of entering into matrimonial connexions will be set in a still clearer
light; and the conditions expected by each party will exhibit a pleasing picture
of the interest taken by parents and relations in the future happiness of their
children.

     Lady Brews appears to have had conversation at Norwich and elsewhere
with J. Paston on this connexion, but the letter here given seems to be the
first written on the subject, and to have been occasioned by the friends, em-
ployed to talk with Sir Thomas Brews, not having been able to settle terms
with him.

     The style of the letter is easy and polite, and shews the inclinations of the
writer to be interested in the proposed alliance.

     Autograph, Pl. v. No. 26.

LETTER XXXV.

To my Worshipful Cousin John Paston, be this bill delivered, &c.

RIGHT Worshipful Cousin, I recommend me unto you,
thanking you heartily for the great cheer that ye made me
the last time that ye were with me at Norwich, &c.

     And, Cousin, as for the matter that was put in my uncle
Hastings and Harry Heydon, I understand, by mine uncle,
that there was made none end therein, which I am right
sorry for; Cousin, ye be remembred what ye promised me,
that, and so were that mine uncle and Harry Heydon
made none end therein, that ye would put the matter in
me; and if it please you so for to do, in good faith, Cousin,
I shall go as well and as rightfully and consciensly [consci-
entiously] as I can for both the parties; and, Cousin, if it
please you to come to Topcroft, and point [appoint] ye
what day when ye will come, I shall send for my Cousin,
&c. to be there the same day; and, Cousin, I pray you to
send me word again by the bringer of this letter, how ye
will do, &c. And Almighty Jesu have you in keeping, &c.

                                                             By your Cousin,

                                                        Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.

         Jan. or Feb.
       1476-7. 16 E. IV.

   As the Letters published in the second volume of this work, relative to the
alliance between John Paston, and Margery, the daughter of Sir Thomas
Brews, were so well received and eagerly perused by the public, I have great
pleasure in being able to furnish a few more on the same subject, from which
the modes of entering into matrimonial connexions will be set in a still clearer
light; and the conditions expected by each party will exhibit a pleasing picture
of the interest taken by parents and relations in the future happiness of their
children.

     Lady Brews appears to have had conversation at Norwich and elsewhere
with J. Paston on this connexion, but the letter here given seems to be the
first written on the subject, and to have been occasioned by the friends, em-
ployed to talk with Sir Thomas Brews, not having been able to settle terms
with him.

     The style of the letter is easy and polite, and shews the inclinations of the
writer to be interested in the proposed alliance.

     Autograph, Pl. v. No. 26.

894

DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my wurschypfull cosyn, John Paston, be thys bill
delyvered, &c.

RYGHT wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un to
     yowe, thankyng zowe hertely for the grette chere that
     ze made me the last tyme that ze were with me at
Norwych, &c.

     And, cosyn, as for the mater that was put in my nowncle
Hastynges and Henry Heydon, I ondyrstand be myn uncle,
that ther was made non ende therin, whech I am ryght sory
for. Cosyn, ze be remembred what ze promysed me that,
and so were that myn uncle and Herry Heydon made none
ende therin, that ze wold put the mater in me; and if it
please zowe so for to do, in good faith, cosyn, I schall goo as
wele and as ryghtfully and consciensly as I can for both the
partyes. And, cosyn, if it please zowe to com to Topcroft,
and poynt ze what dey when ze will com, I schall sende for
my cosyn to be ther the same day. And, cosyn, I pray zowe
to sende me worde agayn be the brynger of thys letter, howe
ze will do, &c.

     And Almyghty Jesus hafe zowe in kepyng, &c.

                                        Be zour cosyn,

                                                              Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is the first of a series of letters, some of which
were certainly written in February 1477, relating to the engagement of John Paston
to Margery Brews. How early they began it is not easy to say precisely. On the
back of this letter is written, apparently in the hand of John Paston, to whom it is
addressed, ‘Letræ dominæ Elyzabethæ Brews et Margariæ filæ (sic) ejus.’

1476
or
1477