Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER LXXX.

       To Sr John Paston.

I Grete you wele and send you godds blissyng and myn thank-
     yng you for my seall that ye send me but I am right sory that
ye dede so grete cost y' up on for on of xl^d shuld haue s^rued me
right wele, send me ward what it cost you and J shall send you
money therfor J send you a lett^r be a man of Yarmoth send me
word if ye haue it for I marveyll ye sent me non answer ther of
be Juddy J haue non very knowleche of yo^r ensuraunce but if
ye be ensured J p'y god send you Joy and wurchep to ged^r and so
I trost ye shull haue if it be as it is reported of ^I her and a nemps
god ye arn as gretly bownd to her as ye were maried and y'for
I charge you up on my blissyng that ye be as trew to her as she
wer maried on to you in all degrees and ye shall haue the mor
g'ce and the bettr spede in all other thyngs. Also J wuld y^r ye
shuld not be to hasty to be maried till ye wer more suer of yo^r
lyuelode for ye must remembr what charge ye shall haue and if
ye haue not to mayntene it it wull be a gret rebuke and therfor
labo^r that ye may haue releses of the londs and be in more suerte
of yo^r lond or than ye be maried The Duchesse of ⁱ Suff. is at
Ewhelm in Oxford Shir and it is thought be yo^r frends her that
it is do y^t she myght be ferr and ought of the wey and y^e rather
feyne excuse be cause of age or sikenesse and if yt the kyng wuld
send for her for yor maters yor elmyse be as bold her as thei wer
befor wherfor J can not thynk but that thei haue sume Comfort
J sent to Caystr that thei shuld be war in kepyng of y^e place as
ye dede wright to me hast you to spede your maters as spedily
ye can that ye may haue lesse felesshep at Cayst^r for the expencs
and costs be grete and ye haue no nede y'of and ye remembre
you wele what chargs ye haue beside and how yo^r liffelode is
dispoyled and wasted by yor adursaries also J wuld ye shuld
p^rvey for yo^{r 3} Sust^r to be w^t my lady of ⁴ Oxford or w^t my lady of
⁵ Bedford or in sume other wurchepfull place wher as ye thynk
best and J wull help to her syndyng for we be eyther of us
werye of other. J shall telle you more when I speke wt you J
p'y you do yo^r devy^r her in as ye wull my Comfort and wele-
far and yo^r wurchep for diurse causes which ye shall undrstand
aft^rward &c. J spake w^t the lord Skales at Norwich and thanked
hym for the good lordshep that he had shewed to you and de-
sired his lordshep to be yo^r contynuall good lord and he swore
be his trought he wold do that he myght do for you and he told
me that Yelurton the iustice had spoke to hym in yo^r maters but
he told me not what' but J trow and ye desired hym to telle you
he wuld ye ar be holdyng to my lord of his good report of you
in this Contre for he reported bettr of you than J trow ye desrue.
J felt be hym that ther hath be prfered hym large prferes on
yo^r adu^rsaries p[ILL]te ageyn you. Send me word as hastly as ye
may aftr the begynnyng of the trme how ye haue sped in all yo^r
maters for I shall thynk right long till J her sume good tidyngs
Jt' I p'y you recomaund me to the good ⁶ Maystr that ye gaffe
to the Chapell of Caystr and thank hym for the gret Cost that
he dede on me at Norwych and if J wer a grette lady he shuld
und^rstand that he shuld far the bettr for me for me semyth be his
demenyng he shuld be right a good man Jt' I send you the
⁷ nowche wt the Dyamauch be the berer herof.

     I pray yow forgate not to send me a ⁸ kersche of Cr'melle for
nekkerchys for y^r syst'. Anne for I a schente of y^e good lady y^t
sche is wt be cawse sche hathe non and I ca non gette I alle thys
towne I xuld wrythe mor to yow but for lakke of leyser God
have yow I hys kepyng and send yow good spede I alle y^r maters
wryt I haste on Eestern muday.

                                                                       Be yr mod^r

                        11 ? by 9 ?.

     The reader cannot help being interested in the family scenes here laid before him ; the
pleasure his Mother expresses at her Son's engagement, and the good and prudent ad-
vice she gives him relative to his marriage, shews her anxiety for his future happiness.

     The desire wich she has to have her Daughter ( Margery I suppose ) introduced into
the family of some noble Lady, shews her concern for her education, at the same time
that it hints at their not being comfortable together.

     The handsome character given of Sir John Paston, by my Lord Scales, and repeated
to him by his mother, shews her satisfaction at hearing so good a report of him.

     ¹ Who the Lady is, does not appear in this Letter, but it most probably meant Anne
Hault.

     ² Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was the daughter and heir of
Thomas Chaucer, Esq. of Ewelm, and grand-daughter of our famous Poet, Geoffry
Chaucer.

     ³ This was most probably Margery Paston, with the whole family were, very
soon after the writing of this Letter, so much displeased for having without their consent
contracted herself in marriage to Richard Calle.

     ⁴ Elizabeth, the Daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, and widow of John de Vere,
Earl of oxford, who was beheaded in 1461-2.

     ⁵ Jaqucline, Daughter of Peter, of Luxenburgh, Earl of St. Paul, the widow of John,
Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, was at this time the wife of Richard Widville, Earl
Rivers, by whom she was the Mother of Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, the nobleman
mentioned in this Letter ; she died in 1472.

     ⁶ Dr. John Yotton, to whom Sir John Paston had given the Chapel of Caister 1468.

     ⁷ An Ouch is a collar of gold, formerly worn by women ; a gold button, set with some
jewel, is likewise so called, and that most probably was the ornament here mentioned to
be sent to Sir John by his Mother ; we may suppose it was intended as a present to his
betrothed Bride.

     ⁸ A Kersche of Cr'melle, perhaps means a kerchief of Cremell, crewel or worsted,
to be made into neck-handkerchiess for her Daughter Anne, who appears to have been
for education and board with some Lady of consequence.

     ⁹ Autograph. PI. II. No 25.

     On the back of this Letter is this Note.

     "The L. Scales is now frend to Sr J. Paston," which implies that he had not always
been so.

LETTER LXXX.

                                To Sir John Paston.

I Greet you well, and send you God's blessing and mine, thank-
     ing you for my Seal that ye sent me, but I am right sorry that
ye did so great cost thereupon, for one of forty pence should
have served me right well ; send me word what it cost you,
and I shall send you money therefore ; I sent you a Letter by a
man of Yarmouth, send me word if ye have it, for I marvel ye
sent me none answer therof by Juddy.

     I have none very ( certain or true ) knowledge of your insurance
(engagement) , but if ye be insured, I pray God send you joy and
worship together, and so I trust ye shall have, if it be as it is
reported of i her ; and anemps ( before ) God, ye are as greatly
bound to her, as ( if ) ye were married, and therefore I charge
you upon my blessing, that ye be as true to her as ( if ) she were
married unto you in all degrees, and ye shall have the more
grace and the better speed in all other things.

     Also, I would that ye should not be too hasty to be married
till ye were sure of your livelihood, for ye must remember what
charge ye shall have, and if ye have not to maintain it, it will
be a great rebuke ; and therefore labour that ye may have re-
leases of the lands, and be in more surety of your land, or than
( before ) ye be married.

     The Duchess of 2 Suffolk is at Ewelm,. in oxfordshire, and it
is thought be your friends here, that it is done, that she might
be far and out of the way, and the rather seign excuse because
of age or sickness, if that the King would send for her for your
matters.

     Your enemies be as bold here as they were before, wherefore
I cannot think but that they have some comfort ; I sent to
Caister that they should beware in keeping of the place, as ye
did write to me ; haste you to speed your matters as speedily as
ye can, that ye may have less fellowship at Caister, for the ex-
pences and costs be great, and ye have no need thereof ; and ye
remember you well what charges ye have beside, and how your
livelihood is dispoiled and wasted by your adversaries.

     Also I would ye should purvey for your Sister to be with
my Lady of ⁴ Oxford, or with my Lady of ⁵ Bedford, or in
some other worshipful place, whereas ye think best, and I will
help to her finding, for we be either of us weary of other ; I
shall tell you more when I speak with you ; I pray you do your
devyr ( endeavour ) herein, as ye will my comfort and welfare,
and your worship, for divers causes which ye shall understand
afterward, &c.

     I spake with the Lord Scales at Norwich, and thanked him
for the good Lordship that he had shewed to you, and desired
his Lordship to be your continual good Lord ; and he swore by
his troth he would do that he might do for you, and he told me
that Yelverton the Justice had spoken to him in your matter, but
he told me not what ; but I trow, and ( if ) ye desired him to
tell you, he would. Ye are beholden to my Lord of his good
report of you in this country, for he reported better of you than
I trow ye deserve. I felt by him that there hath been prossered
him large prossers on your adversaries part again you

     Send me word as hastily as ye may after the beginning of the
term, how ye have sped in all your matters, for I shall think
right long till I hear some good tidings.

     Item, I pray you recommend me to the good 6 Master that
ye gave to the Chapel of Caister, and thank him for the great
cost that he did on me at Norwich ; and if I were a great
Lady he should understand that he should fare the better for
me, for me seemeth by his demeaning he should be right a good
man.

     Item, I send you the ⁷ ouch with the diamond, by the bearer
hereof. I pray you forget not to send me a ⁸ kersche of Cr'melle,
for neckerchiess for your sister Anne, for I am schent ( blamed )
of the good Lady the she is with, because she hath none, and I
can none get in all this town.

     I should write more to you but for lack of leisure ; God have
you in his keeping , and send you good speed in all your matters.
Written in haste, on Easter Monday.

                        By your Mother

                                                                        ⁹ MARGARET PASTON.

     Norwich, Monday,

         3d of April, 1469.

         9 E. IV.

     The reader cannot help being interested in the family scenes here laid before him ; the
pleasure his Mother expresses at her Son's engagement, and the good and prudent ad-
vice she gives him relative to his marriage, shews her anxiety for his future happiness.

     The desire wich she has to have her Daughter ( Margery I suppose ) introduced into
the family of some noble Lady, shews her concern for her education, at the same time
that it hints at their not being comfortable together.

     The handsome character given of Sir John Paston, by my Lord Scales, and repeated
to him by his mother, shews her satisfaction at hearing so good a report of him.

     ¹ Who the Lady is, does not appear in this Letter, but it most probably meant Anne
Hault.

     ² Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was the daughter and heir of
Thomas Chaucer, Esq. of Ewelm, and grand-daughter of our famous Poet, Geoffry
Chaucer.

     ³ This was most probably Margery Paston, with the whole family were, very
soon after the writing of this Letter, so much displeased for having without their consent
contracted herself in marriage to Richard Calle.

     ⁴ Elizabeth, the Daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, and widow of John de Vere,
Earl of oxford, who was beheaded in 1461-2.

     ⁵ Jaqucline, Daughter of Peter, of Luxenburgh, Earl of St. Paul, the widow of John,
Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, was at this time the wife of Richard Widville, Earl
Rivers, by whom she was the Mother of Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, the nobleman
mentioned in this Letter ; she died in 1472.

     ⁶ Dr. John Yotton, to whom Sir John Paston had given the Chapel of Caister 1468.

     ⁷ An Ouch is a collar of gold, formerly worn by women ; a gold button, set with some
jewel, is likewise so called, and that most probably was the ornament here mentioned to
be sent to Sir John by his Mother ; we may suppose it was intended as a present to his
betrothed Bride.

     ⁸ A Kersche of Cr'melle, perhaps means a kerchief of Cremell, crewel or worsted,
to be made into neck-handkerchiess for her Daughter Anne, who appears to have been
for education and board with some Lady of consequence.

     ⁹ Autograph. PI. II. No 25.

     On the back of this Letter is this Note.

     "The L. Scales is now frend to Sr J. Paston," which implies that he had not always
been so.

704

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To Sir John Paston.

I GRETE you wele, and send you Godds blissyng and myn,
     thankyng you for my seall that ye sent me; but I am
     right sory that ye dede so grete cost ther up on, for on
of xld. should have served me right wele. Send me ward
what it cost you, and I shall send you money therfor. I send
you a letter be a man of Yarmoth; send me word if ye have
it, for I marveyll ye sent me non answer ther of be Juddy.

     I have non very knowleche of your ensuraunce [engage-
ment], but if ye be ensured I pray God send you joy and
wurchep to geder, and so I trost ye shull have, if it be as
it is reported of her¹; and a nemps God, ye arn as gretly
bownd to her as ye were maried, and therfor I charge you up
on my blissyng, that ye be as trew to her as she wer maried on
to you in all degrees, and ye shall have the mor grace and the
better spede in all other thyngs.

     Also, I wuld that ye shuld not be to hasty to be maried til
ye wer more suer of your lyvelode, for ye must remembr what
charge ye shall have, and if ye have not to mayntene it, it wull
be gret rebuke; and therfor labour that ye may have releses
of the londs, and be in more suerte of your lond, or than ye be
maried.

     The Duchesse of Suffolk² is at Ewhelm, in Oxford shir,
and it is thought be your frends her that it is do that she
myght be ferr and ought of the wey, and the rather feyne
excuse be cause of age or sikenesse, and if that the Kyng wuld
send for her for your maters.

     Your elmyse [enemies] be as bold her as thei wer befor,
wherfor I can not thynk but that thei have sume comfort. I
sent to Cayster that thei shuld be war in kepyng of the place,
as ye dede wright to me. Hast you to spede your maters as
spedily ye can, that ye may have lesse felesshep at Cayster, for
the expences and costs be grete, and ye have no nede therof
and [if] ye remembre you wele what charges ye have beside,
and how your liffelode is dispoyled and wasted by your adver-
saries.

     Also I wuld ye shuld purvey for your suster³ to be with
my Lady of Oxford,¹ or with my Lady of Bedford,² or in sume
other wurchepfull place, wher as ye thynk best, and I wull
help to her fyndyng, for we be eyther of us werye of other. I
shall tell you more whan I speke with you. I pray you do
your devyr her in as ye wull my comfort and welefar, and your
wurchep, for diverse causes which ye shall understand after-
ward, &c.

     I spake with the Lord Skales at Norwich, and thanked hym
for the good lordshep that he had shewed to you, and desired
his Lordship to be your contynuall good lord; and he swore
be his trought he wold do that he myght do for you; and he
told me that Yelverton the Justice had spoke to hym in your
maters, but he told me not what; but I trow, and ye desired
hym to telle you, he wuld. Ye ar be holdyng to my Lord of
his good report of you in this contre, for he reported better of
you than I trow ye deserve. I felt be hym that ther hath be
profered hym large proferes on your adversaries parte ageyn
you.

     Send me word as hastly as ye may after the begynnyng of
the terme, how ye have sped in all your maters, for I shall
thynk right long till I her sume good tidyngs.

     Item, I pray you recomaund me to the good mayster³ that
ye gaffe to the chapell of Cayster, and thank hym for the gret
cost that he dede on me at Norwych; and if I wer a grette
lady he shuld understand that he shuld far the better for me,
for me semyth be his demenyng he shuld be right a good
man.

     Item, I send you the nowche⁴ with the dyamaunch, be the
berer herof. I pray yow forgate not to send me a kersche⁵
of Cr’melle for nekkerchys for your syster Anne, for I am
schente of the good lady that sche is with, be cawse she hathe
non, and I can non gette in all thys towne.

     I xuld wrythe mor to yow but for lakke of leyser. God
have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good spede in alle
your maters. Wryten in haste on Eestern Munday.

                                                                          Be your Moder.

     ¹ [From Fenn, iv. 312.] Allusion is made in this and the next letter to the
expected visit of Edward IV. to Norfolk in 1469. Owing to the proposed marriage
of Sir John Paston with his kinswoman, Anne Haute, Lord Scales appears at this time
to have interested himself in Sir John’s behalf. On the back of this letter, as Fenn
tells us, is a note: ‘The L. Scales is now frend to Sr. J. Paston.’ But the hand-
writing is not contemporaneous.

     ¹ The lady here referred to is Anne Haute.

     ² Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.

     ³ This was most probably Margery Paston, with whom the whole family were,
very soon after the writing of this letter, so much displeased for having without their
consent contracted herself in marriage to Richard Calle.—F.

     ¹ Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, and widow of John de
Vere, Earl of Oxford, who was beheaded in 1461-2.—F.

     ² See vol. iv. p. 188, Note 3.

     ³ Dr. John Yotton. See No. 703.

     ⁴ An ouch is a collar of gold, formerly worn by women; a gold button, set with
some jewel, is likewise so called, and that most probably was the ornament here men-
tioned to be sent to Sir John by his mother; we may suppose it was intended as a
present to his betrothed bride.—F.

     ⁵ A kersche of Cr’melle, perhaps means a kerchief of Cremell, crewel or worsted,
to be made into neck-handkerchiefs for her daughter Anne, who appears to have been
for education and board with some lady of consequence.—F.

APRIL 3

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1469
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1469
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