John Paston to Margaret Paston

LETTER LXXV.

To my Ryght worchepfull Modyr Margaret Paston.

RYGHT worschepfull Modyr aftyr all dwtes of recōmen-
       dacyon in as humble wyse as I can I beseche yow of yo^r
dayly blyss[SYM]g Modyr please yt yow to wett that the cause that
Dam’ Elizabeth Brews desyreth to mete w^t yow at Norwyche
and not at Langley as I apoyntyd w^t yow at my last beīg at
Mawtby is by my meanys, for my brodyr Thomas Jermyn
whyche knowyth nought of the mate telyth me that the causey
or ye can com’e to Bokenh’m fery is so over flowyn that ther
is no man that may on ethe passe it though he be ryght
well horsyd, whyche is no mete wey for yow to passe over
God defend it, but all thyngs rekynyd it shalbe lesse cost to
yow to be at Norwyche as for a day or tweyn and passe not
then to mete at Langly wher every thyng is dere and your
horse may be sent hom’ ayen the same wednysday.

     Modyr I beseche yow for dyvers causys that my Syst’ Anne
may come w^t yow to Norwyche, Modyr the mater is in a
resonable good wey and I trust w^t Gods mercy and w^t yo^r good
help that it shall take effect bettyr to myn avūtage then I
told yow of at Mawtby for I trow ther is not a kynder woman
leveīg then I shall have to my Modyr in lawe if the mater take
nor yet a kynder fadyr in lawe then I shall have though he be
hard to me as yett, all the cyrcumstancys of the mater whyche
I trust to tell yow at yo^r com[SYM]g to Norwyche cowd not be wretyn
in iij levys of paper and ye know my lewd hed well I nough
I may not wryght longe wherffor I ffery over all thyngs tyll I
may awayte on yow my selff I shall do tonñe in to yo^r place
a doseyn ale and bred acord[SYM]g ayenst wednysday if Syme myght
be forborn it wer well don’ that he war at Norwyche on wed-
nysday in the morn[SYM]g at markett.

     Dam’ Elizabeth Brewse shall lye at Jon Cookys if it myght
please yow I wold be glad that she myght dyne in yo^r howse
on thursday for ther shold ye have most secret talkyng and
Modyr at the reu’ence of God beware that ye be so p’veyd for
that ye take no cold by the wey towards Norwyche for it is
the most p’aylous marche that ever was seyn by eny manys
dayes that now lyveth and I prey to Jhu p’serve yow and yours.

     Wretyn at Topcroft the viij day of Marche.

                                              Yo^r Sone and humbyll Seru’nt,

                                                                        J. P.

           11 ¾ by 4 ¼.

Topcrost,
                 Saturday, 8th of March,
                 1476-7, 17 E. IV.

     We find by this Letter that J. Paston (PI. IV. N^o 12.) was as desirous of having
all obstacles to the match removed, as the Lady could be, and now writes from the
house where she was, and to which I suppose he went on the receipt of her last
letter.

   He takes great pains to explain the reason for the meeting at Norwich to have been
fixed by his desire, fearing his Mother might have been displeased with any alteration in
the original plan.

   John Cooke was Mayor of Norwich in 1484.

LETTER LXXV.

To my right worshipful Mother Margaret Paston.

RIGHT worshipful Mother, after all duties of recommen-
      dation, in as humble wise as I can, I beseech you of
your daily blessing. Mother, please it you to weet, that the
cause that Dame Elizabeth Brews desireth to meet with you at
Norwich, and not at Langley, as I appointed with you at my
last being at Mawtby, is by my means, for my brother Thomas
Jermyn, which knoweth nought of the mate (match), telleth me,
that the Causey ere ye can come to Bokenham Ferry is so over-
flown that there is no man that may an ethe (scarcely) pass it,
though he be right well horsed; which is no meet way for you
to pass over, God defend (forbid) it. But all things reckoned,
it shall be less cost to you to be at Norwich, as for a day or
tweyn and pass not, than to meet at Langley, where every thing
is dear; and your horse may be sent home again the same
Wednesday.

     Mother, I beseech you for diverse causes, that my Sister Anne
may come with you to Norwich; Mother, the matter is in a
reasonable good way, and I trust with God’s mercy, and with
your good help, that it shall take effect better to mine ad-
vantage than I told you of at Norwich; for I trow (believe)
there is not a kinder woman living than I shall have to my
Mother in law, if the matter take, nor yet a kinder Father in
law than I shall have, though he be hard to me as yet.

     All the circumstances of the matter, which I trust to tell you
at your coming to Norwich, could not be written in three leaves
of paper, and ye know my lewd (poor) head well enough,
I may not write long, wherefore I ferry over all things till I
may await on you myself. I shall do tonne (tun) into your
place a dozen Ale, and Bread according, against Wednesday.
If Sym might be forborn (spared) it were well done, that he
were at Norwich on Wednesday in the morning at market.
Dame Elizabeth Brews shall lie at John Cook’s; if it might
please you, I would be glad that she might dine in your house
on Thursday, for there should you have most secret talking.

     And Mother, at the reverence of God, beware that ye be so
purveyed for, that ye take no cold by the way towards Norwich,
for it is the most perilous March that ever was seen by any
man’s days now living; and I pray to Jesu preserve you and
yours.

     Written at Topcroft, the 8th day of March.

                                    Your Son and humble Servant,

                                                                        JOHN PASTON,

11 ? by 4 ?.

Topcrost,
                 Saturday, 8th of March,
                 1476-7, 17 E. IV.

     We find by this Letter that J. Paston (PI. IV. N^o 12.) was as desirous of having
all obstacles to the match removed, as the Lady could be, and now writes from the
house where she was, and to which I suppose he went on the receipt of her last
letter.

   He takes great pains to explain the reason for the meeting at Norwich to have been
fixed by his desire, fearing his Mother might have been displeased with any alteration in
the original plan.

   John Cooke was Mayor of Norwich in 1484.

901

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON¹

To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston.

RYGHT worschepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of recom-
     mendacyon, in as humble wyse as I can, I beseche
     yow of your dayly blyssyng. Modyr, please yt yow
to wett, that the cause that Dame Elizabeth Brews desyreth to
mete with yow at Norwyche, and not at Langley, as I apoyntyd
with yow at my last being at Mawtby, is by my meanys, for
my brodyr Thomas Jermyn, whyche knowyth nought of the
mate [match], telyth me, that the causey or ye can comme to
Bokenham Fery is so over flowyn that ther is no man that may
on ethe passe it, though he be ryght well horsyd; whyche is
no mete wey for yow to passe over, God defend it. But, all
thyngs rekynyd, it shalbe lesse cost to yow to be at Norwyche,
as for a day or tweyn, and passe not, then to mete at Langly,
wher every thyng is dere; and your horse may be sent home
ayen the same Wednysday.

     Modyr, I beseche yow for dyvers causys, that my syster
Anne may come with yow to Norwyche; modyr, the mater
is in a resonable good wey, and I trust with Gods mercy, and
with your good help, that it shall take effect bettyr to myn
avauntage then I told yow of at Mawtby; for I trow ther is
not a kynder woman leveing then I shall have to my modyr
in lawe, if the mater take, nor yet a kynder fadyr in lawe then
I shall have, though be he hard to me as yett. All the cyr-
cumstancys of the mater, whyche I trust to tell yow at your
comyng to Norwyche, cowd not be wretyn in iij. levys of
paper, and ye know my lewd hed well i nough, I may not
wryght longe, wherffor I ffery over all thyngs tyll I may
awayte on yow my selff. I shall do tonnen¹ in to your place
a doseyn ale, and bred acordyng, ayenst Wednysday. If
Syme myght be forborn it wer well done, that he war at
Norwyche on Wednysday in the mornyng at markett.

     Dame Elizabeth Brewse shall lye at Jon Cookys; if it
myght please yow, I wold be glad that she myght dyne in
your howse on Thursday, for ther shold ye have most secret
talkyng. And modyr, at the reverence of God, beware that
ye be so purveyd for, that ye take no cold by the wey towards
Norwyche, for it is the most peraylous marche that ever was
seyn by eny manys dayes that now lyveth; and I prey to Jesu
preserve yow and yours.

     Wretyn at Topcroft, the viij. day of Marche.
                          Your sone and humbyll servaunt,             J. P.

     ¹ [From Fenn, ii. 220.] This letter evidently refers to a meeting arranged between
Margaret Paston and Dame Elizabeth Brews on the subject of John Paston’s approach-
ing marriage, which took place in the latter part of the year 1477.

     ¹ i.e. cause to be tunned.

MARCH 8

1477
MARCH 8