John Pympe to Sir John Paston

LETTER LXXVII.

To Mast’ Sir John Paston be ths Lett’ delyverid in Calis.

HONWRE and Joye be to yow my ryght gode Mast’ and
      most assured brother letyng yow know that al yowre
welwillers and s’vaunts in these p’tyes that I know fare well
and bett’ wold if they mowht here of yowre wellbeyng and
forthw^t sum of yowre frenche and borgoyne tidyngs ffor we in
these p’tyes be in grete drede lest the french Kyng w^t sum
assaults shuld in eny wise distourbe yow of yo^r. soft sote and
sewre slepys but as yet we no thyng can here that he so dis-
poseth h[SYM].

     Mary we have herd sey that the Frowys of Broggys w^t there
hye cappes have gyven sum of yow grete clappys and that the
fete of her armys do[SYM]g is such that they smyte al at the mowthe
and at the grete ende of the thyeh but in faith we care not for
yow for we know well that ye be gode ynowh at defence but
we here sey that they be of such corage that they gyve yow moo
strokys than ye do to thē and that they strike sorer than ye also
but I thynk that the english Ladyes and Jentylwomē and the pore
also can do as well as they and lyst not to lerne of them no thyng
and therefor we drede lest ther hye corages shuld meve them to
make yow warre also; but God defend for by my trowth than
have ye much to do for ht were bett’ and more ese for to labor
iij or fowre dayes wt mattokks and pykeisys to over turne yo^r
sande hills as we here saye ye do ryht wurshipfully than only
one day to endure theyre fers encountrys so as ye myht owther
gete or save yo^r wurshippys by, and loke that ye trust to have no
rescow of us for so God me helpe we have y nowh to do in
these p’tyes w^t the same werrs. But in one thyng we preyse
yowre sadnessys and discrecōnys ryht much that is in kepyng of
yo^r trewse and pese w^t the Kyng of Fraunce as the Kyng hath
commaundid and a grete reson why for ht were to much for
yow to have werre w^t all the world at onys ffor the werre a fore
seid kepith yow blameles ffor every resonable mā wetyth well
that ht is to much for eny pepyll levyng to do bothe at
onys.

     Syr as for the more p’ts off my thowht I praye yow re-
comaunde me un to yowr self prayyng yow that y may con-
tynew in such case as yo^r godenes hath taken me of old and
if ye lyst to send eny tydyngs or other th[SYM]g to the partyes
that were wont to warme theym by yo^r fyre in feith I shall
do yo^r erand.

     And as for Barley ht is of the same pryce that ht was wont
to be of and is the most sure corne and best enduryng that may
be, and Syr where that sumtyme was a lytyll hole in a wall is
now a dore large ynowh and esy passage whereof ye were the
deviser and have thank for yo^r labor of sum p’tyes but no thyng
lastyth evyr. Y mene that y trow my passage shall hastyly
faile me and the dore shalbe shet up agayne, lesse than Fortun
be agreable to have my counseile kept for not long ago mak[SYM]g
my entre at that passage I saw a Sparow that useth those
ewrys and I saw her sytt so stille that y cowde not endure
but y must neds shote her and so God me help I smote her I
trow ev[SYM] to the hert and so I drede me lest owther the Barley
wyll ete the Sparow or ells the Sparow wyll ete the Barley but
as yet all is well but reson shewt me that ht must neds sayle
by contynewauns lesse than I forsake bothe the Sparow and the
Barley also.

     Syr I have thank for the shew that I onys made of yow and
daily gramercy, and ye theire prayer.

     Syr forthemore I beseche yow as ye wyll do eny thyng for me
that ye se o day for my sake and for yo^r own plesure all the gode
Hors in Caleys and if ther be among theym eny pric horse of
deds that is to sell in especiall that he be well trottyng of his
owne corage w^t owte fort of sporis and also a steryng hors
if he be he is the bett’ I pray yow send me word of his color
deds and corage and also of his pric’ seyn[SYM]g as ye wold by h[SYM]
yo^rself and also I wold have h[SYM] sumwhat large, not w^t the
largest, but no smalle hors as more than a dowble hors prayyng
yow above all thyngs to have the in remembrauns and that
hastily as may be for ther is late p’mysed me help to such an
entent and I wote not how long ht shall endure and therfor
I beseche yow send me word by tyme.

     I trow the Frenshe men have taken up al the gode hors in
Pycardye and also they be wont to be hevy hors in labor and y^t
I love not, but a hevy hors of flesh and lyht of corage y
love well, for y love no hors that wyll al way be lene and slender
like grehounds God kepe yow.

                                                                          Yo^r.

                                                                                  J. Pympe.

     Y pray yow to recomaund me to my cos[SYM] S^r. John Scot and
all his in especiall mastres ¹ Ben[SYM]gfeld.

            8 ¾ by 11 ¾.

(Rec^d) Sunday, 16th of March,
             1476, 17 E. IV.

     Under the Direction of this Letter, and in a hand of the time (I believe in Sir John
Paston’s hand) is written “Jon Pympe,” “xvj die Mar’ A^o. E. 4. 17.” (16th day of
March, 17 E. IV.) being the date when the Letter was received.

     I have given this Letter merely as a specimen of the humour of the time, and, though
indelicate, may I fear be matched by many a modern correspondence.

     Some Amour seems to be couched under the Simile of the Sparrow, the Barley, and
the Door, &c.

     The latter part of this epistle shews us what were the qualities of a Horse at that time
most esteemed.

     The Writer was a Person of some consideration, as he was to have had Sir J. Paston’s
Lodgings in London, and was Cousin to Sir J. Scot, Deputy Governor of Calais.
Pl. VI. N^o 29.

     ¹ Margaret, Daughter of Sir John Scot, and wife to Edmund Bedingfeld.

LETTER LXXVII.

To Master Sir John Paston, be this Letter delivered in Calais.

HONOUR and Joy be to you, my right good Master, and
      most assured Brother, letting you know that all your
Wellwillers and Servants, in these parts, that I know, fare well,
and better would, if they might hear of your well being, and
forthwith some of your French and Burgundy tidings; for we
in these parts be in great dread lest the French King with
some assaults, should in any wise disturb you of your soft, sote
(sweet), and sure, sleeps, but as yet we nothing can hear that he
so disposeth him.

     Marry we have heard say, that the Frows (women) of Bruges,
with their high Caps, have given some of you great claps; and
that the feat of their arms doing is such, that they smite all at
the mouth, and at the great end of the thigh, but in faith we
care not for you, for we know well that ye be good enough
at defence; but we hear say, that they be of such courage,
that they give you more strokes than ye do them, and that they
strike surer than ye also; but I think that the English Ladies,
and Gentlewomen, and the Poor also, can do as well as they,
and list (desire) not to learn of them nothing; and therefore we
dread lest their high courages should move them to make you
war also; but God defend, for by my truth then have ye
much to do; for it were better and more ease for to labour
three or four days with Mattocks and Pickaxes to overturn your
Sand hills, as we hear say ye do right worshipfully, than only
one day to endure their fierce encounters, so as ye might
either get or save your worships by; and look that ye trust to
have no rescue of us, for so God me help, we have enough
to do in these parts with the same wars.

     But in one thing we praise your sadnesses (wisdoms) and
discretions right much, that is, in keeping of your Truce and
Peace, with the King of France, as the King hath commanded;
and a great reason why, for it were too much for you to have
war with all the world at once, for the war aforesaid keepeth
you blameless, for every reasonable man weeteth well, that
it is too much for any people living to do both at once. Sir,
as for the more part of my thought, I pray you recommend
me unto yourself, praying God that I may continue in such
case as your goodness hath taken me of old, and if ye list
to send any tidings, or other thing to the parties that were
wont to warm them by your fire, in faith I shall do your
errand.

     As for Barley it is of the same price that it was wont to
be of, and is the most sure corn, and best enduring that may be;
and Sir, where that some time was a little Hole in a wall, is
now a Door large enough and easy passage, whereof ye were the
Deviser, and have thank for your labour of some parties, but
nothing lasteth ever; I mean that I trow, my passage shall
hastily fail me, and the Door shall be shut up again; less then
(unless) Fortune be agreeable to have my Counsel kept; for not
long ago making my entry at that passage, I saw a Sparrow
that useth those Eaves, and I saw her sit so still that I could not
endure, but I must needs shoot her, and so God me help. I smote
her I trow even to the heart; and so I dread me; lest either the
Barley will eat the Sparrow, or else the Sparrow will eat the
Barley, but as yet all is well, but reason shew it me, that it
must needs fail by continuance, less then (unless) I forsake both
the Sparrow and the Barley also.

     Sir, I have thank for the shew that I once made of you and
daily Gramercy, (Grant me mercy,) and ye their prayer.

     Sir, farthermore I beseech you, as ye will do any thing for
me, that ye see one day for my sake, and for your own pleasure,
all the good Horse in Calais, and if there be amongst them any
prized horse of deeds, that is to sell, in especial that he be
well trotting of his own courage, without force of Spurs, and
also a stirring horse, if he be he is the better; I pray you send
me word of his colour, deeds, and courage, and also of his
price, feigning as ye would buy him yourself, and also I would
have him somewhat large, not with the largest; but no small
horse, as more than a double horse; praying you above all
things to have this in remembrance, and that hastily as may be,
for there is late promised me help to such an intent, and I
wote not how long it shall endure; and therefore I beseech you
send me word by time.

     I trow the French men have taken up all the good horse in
Picardy, and also they be wont to be heavy horse in labour,
and that I love not, but a heavy horse of flesh, and light of cou-
rage I love well, for I love no horse that will always be lean and
slender like Greyhounds. God keep you.

                                                                           Your,

                                                                               JOHN PYMPE.

     8 ? by 11 ?.

(Rec^d) Sunday, 16th of March,
             1476, 17 E. IV.

     I pray you to recommend me to my Cousin Sir John Scot
and all his, in especial Mrs. Bedingfeld.

     Under the Direction of this Letter, and in a hand of the time (I believe in Sir John
Paston’s hand) is written “Jon Pympe,” “xvj die Mar’ A^o. E. 4. 17.” (16th day of
March, 17 E. IV.) being the date when the Letter was received.

     I have given this Letter merely as a specimen of the humour of the time, and, though
indelicate, may I fear be matched by many a modern correspondence.

     Some Amour seems to be couched under the Simile of the Sparrow, the Barley, and
the Door, &c.

     The latter part of this epistle shews us what were the qualities of a Horse at that time
most esteemed.

     The Writer was a Person of some consideration, as he was to have had Sir J. Paston’s
Lodgings in London, and was Cousin to Sir J. Scot, Deputy Governor of Calais.
Pl. VI. N^o 29.

     ¹ Margaret, Daughter of Sir John Scot, and wife to Edmund Bedingfeld.

906

JOHN PYMPE TO SIR JOHN PASTON²

To Master Sir John Paston, be this letter delyverid in Calis.

HONWRE and joye be to yow, my ryght gode master,
     and most assured brother; letyng yow know that al
     yowre welwillers and servaunts, in these partyes, that
I know, fare well, and better wold, if they mowht here of
yowre wellbeyng, and forthwith sum of yowre Frenche and
Borgoyne tidyngs; ffor we in these partyes be in grete drede
lest the French Kyng with sum assaults shuld in eny wise
distourbe yow of yowr soft, sote [sweet], and sewre slepys, but
as yet we no thyng can here that he so disposeth hym.

     Mary, we have herd sey, that the frowys¹ of Broggys,
with there hye cappes, have gyven sum of yow grete clappys,
and that the fete of her armys doyng is such, that they smyte
al at the mowthe, and at the grete ende of the thyeh; but in
faith we care not for yow, for we know well that ye be gode
ynowh at defence. But we here sey, that they be of such
corage, that they gyve yow moo strokys than ye do to them,
and that they strike sorer than ye also. But I thynk that the
English ladyes and jentylwomen, and the pore also, can do as
well as they, and lyst not to lerne of them no thyng; and
therefor we drede lest ther hye corages shuld meve them to
make yow warre also. But God defend, for by my trowth
than have ye much to do; for hit were better and more ese
for to labor iij. or fowre dayes with mattokks and pykeisys to
over turne yowr sande hills, as we here saye ye do ryht wur-
shipfully, than only one day to endure theyre fers encountrys;
so as ye myht owther gete or save yowr wurshippys by; and
loke that ye trust to have no rescow of us, for, so God me
helpe, we have y nowh to do in these partyes with the same
werrs. But in one thyng we preyse yowre sadnessys and dis-
crecionys ryht much, that is, in kepyng of yowr trewse and
pese with the Kyng of Fraunce, as the Kyng hath com-
maundid; and a grete reson why, for hit were to much for
yow to have werre with all the world at onys, ffor the werre
a fore seid kepith yow blameles; ffor every resonable man
wetyth well, that hit is to much for eny pepyll levyng to do
bothe at onys.

     Syr, as for the more parts off my thowht, I praye yow
recomaunde me un to yowr self, prayyng yow that y may
contynew in such case as yowr godenes hath taken me of old,
and if ye lyst to send eny tydyngs, or other thyng to the
partyes that were wont to warme theym by yowr fyre, in feith
I shall do yowr erand.

     And as for barley, hit is of the same pryce that hit was
wont to be of, and is the most sure corne, and best enduryng
that may be. And, syr, where that sumtyme was a lytyll hole
in a wall, is now a dore large ynowh and esy passage, whereof
ye were the deviser, and have thank for yowr labor of sum
partyes, but no thyng lastyth evyr. Y mene that y trow, my
passage shall hastyly faile me, and the dore shalbe shet up
agayne, lesse than Fortun be agreable to have my counseile
kept; for not long ago, makyng my entre at that passage, I
saw a sparow that useth those ewrys [eireys], and I saw her sytt
so stille that y cowde not endure, but y must neds shote her, and
so, God me help, I smote her, I trow evyn to the hert; and
so I drede me lest owther the barley wyll ete the sparow,
or ells the sparow wyll ete the barley, but as yet all is
well, but reson shewt me that hit must neds fayle by con-
tynewauns, lesse than I forsake bothe the sparow and the
barley also.¹

     Syr, I have thank for the shew that I onys made of yow
and daily gramercy, and ye theire prayer.

     Syr, forthemore I beseche yow, as ye wyll do eny thyng
for me, that ye se o day for my sake, and for yowr own
plesure, all the gode hors in Caleys, and if ther be among
theym eny pric² horse of deds, that is to sell, in especiall that he
be well trottyng of his owne corage, with owte fors³ of sporis,
and also a steryng [stirring] hors if he be, he is the better; I
pray yow send me word of his color, deds, and corage, and also
of his price, feynyng as ye wold by hym yowrself, and also I
wold have hym sumwhat large, not with the largest; but no
smalle hors, as more than a dowble hors; prayyng yow above
all thyngs to have this in remembrauns, and that hastily as
may be, for ther is late promysed me help to such an entent,
and I wote not how long hit shall endure; and therfor I be-
seche yow send me word by tyme.

     I trow the Frenshe men have taken up al the gode hors in
Pycardye, and also they be wont to be hevy hors in labor, and
that I love not, but a hevy hors of flesh, and lyht of corage y
love well, for y love no hors that wyll al way be lene and
slender like grehounds. God kepe yow.

                                                 Yowr,                              J. PYMPE.

     Y pray yow to recomaund me to my cosyn Sir John Scot
and all his, in especiall Mastres Benyngfeld.¹

     ² [From Fenn, ii. 226.] This letter, Fenn tells us, was endorsed under the
address in a handwriting of the time which he believed to be Sir John Paston’s—’Jon
Pympe, xvj. die Mar’., anno E. 4, 17,’ showing the date at which it was received.

     ¹ Frau’s, i.e. women. The writer’s pleasantry in this passage is certainly rather
coarse.

     ¹ Perhaps this enigmatical passage may have reference to the Mrs. Barly
mentioned in No. 903.

     ² In the modern version, Fenn reads here, ‘any prized horse of deeds,’ a reading
which seems to me questionable.

     ³ ‘Fort’ in Fenn, which is probably a misprint, as the word is spelled ‘force’ on
the opposite page.

     ¹ Margaret, daughter of Sir John Scot, and wife to Edmund Bedingfeld.—F.

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