Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston

LETTER LXV.

To the right worshipffull S_r. John Paston knyght in haste.

RIGHT welbeloved Sone &c. (The chief part of this
     Letter relates to Sir John Paston’s private affairs, his
rents and lands, and informs him that William Jenney had entered
into Holme-halle in Filby in the ryght and titell of his Douterlawe
weche was Boys Doughter, &c.)

     As for tidyngs here in this Contre we have non but that the
Contry is bareyn of money and y^t my Lady of ¹ Yorke and all
her howsold is here at Sent ² Benetts and p’posed to abide there
stille til the Kynge come from be yonde the ³ see and lenger
if she like the eyre ther as it is seide.

     I thynke ryght longe tille I here som’ tidyngs ⁴ for you and
from yo^r brethern I prey God sende you and al yo^r Company
goode spede in yo^r Jōrneys to his plesure and to yo^r worshippes
and p’fights. Wreten at Mauteby on Sen Lawrens even the
xv yere of the regne of Kyng E. the iiijth.

                                                                       Be yor ⁵ Moder.

            12 by 9 ½.

Mawthy,
             Thursday, 10th of August,
             1475, 15 E. IV.

     ¹ Cecily, Duchess of York, Daughter of Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmoreland, was
the Widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and Mother of King Edward IV. &c.

     She died in 1495, and was buried near her husband in the college of Forheringay.

     ² The Abbey of St. Bennet at Holm was situated in the parish of Horning in Norfolk,
in the midst of a now dreary and solitary marsh, not likely to be chosen for the whole-
someness of the air.

     The remains of this once grand and mitred Abbey, are now very small, standing in
the midst of a level marsh, intersected by a great number of almost stagnant ditches.

     I am however informed by a most respectable Gentleman, whose Seat is in the neigh-
bourhood; that many of the Towns surrounding this spot are remarkable for the longevity
of their Inhabitants.

     If such is the effect of this air now, perhaps in the flourishing state of the Abbey, it
might be still more salubrious.

     ³ He was at this time in France.

     ⁴ Quaere, from?

     ⁵ Margaret Paston, Daughter and Heir of John Mawtby, Esquire, and widow of
John Paston, Esquire. Pl. II. N^o 20.

LETTER LXV.

To the right worshipful Sir John Paston, Knight, in haste.

RIGHT well beloved Son, &c (The chief part of this Letter
     relates to Sir John Paston’s private affairs, his rents, and
Lands, and it informs him that William Jenney had entered into
Holm Hall, in Filby, in the right and title of his Daughter in
law, which was Boy’s Daughter, &c.)

     As for tidings here in this Country, we have none, but that
the Country is barren of money; and that my Lady of ¹ York
and all her Household is here at Saint ² Bennet’s, and purposed
to abide there still, till the King come from beyond the ³ Sea,
and longer if she like the air there, as it is said.

     I think right long till I hear some tidings ⁴ for you and
from your brethren. I pray God send you, and all your Com-
pany good speed in your Journies, to his pleasure, and to your
worships and profits.

     Written at Maultby, on Saint Laurence’s even, the 15th year
of the reign of King Edward the IV.

                                                                  BY YOUR ⁵ MOTHER.

12 by 9 ?.

Mawthy,
             Thursday, 10th of August,
             1475, 15 E. IV.

     ¹ Cecily, Duchess of York, Daughter of Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmoreland, was
the Widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and Mother of King Edward IV. &c.

     She died in 1495, and was buried near her husband in the college of Forheringay.

     ² The Abbey of St. Bennet at Holm was situated in the parish of Horning in Norfolk,
in the midst of a now dreary and solitary marsh, not likely to be chosen for the whole-
someness of the air.

     The remains of this once grand and mitred Abbey, are now very small, standing in
the midst of a level marsh, intersected by a great number of almost stagnant ditches.

     I am however informed by a most respectable Gentleman, whose Seat is in the neigh-
bourhood; that many of the Towns surrounding this spot are remarkable for the longevity
of their Inhabitants.

     If such is the effect of this air now, perhaps in the flourishing state of the Abbey, it
might be still more salubrious.

     ³ He was at this time in France.

     ⁴ Quaere, from?

     ⁵ Margaret Paston, Daughter and Heir of John Mawtby, Esquire, and widow of
John Paston, Esquire. Pl. II. N^o 20.

874

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To the right worshipffull Sir John Paston, Knyght,
in haste.

RIGHT welbeloved sone, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .
     . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .²

     As for tidyngs here in this contre, we have non, but that
the contry is bareyn of money; and that my Lady of Yorke³
and all her howsold is here at Sent Benetts,⁴ and purposed to
abide there stille, til the Kynge come from be yonde the see,
and lenger if she like the eyre ther, as it is seide.

     I thynke ryght longe tille I here some tidyngs for [quoere,
from?] you and from your brethren. I prey God sende you
and al your company goode spede in your journeys, to His
plesure, and to your worshippes and profights.

     Wreten at Mauteby, on Sen Lawrens Even, the xv. yere
of the regne of Kyng E. the iiijth.

                                                                                Be yor Moder.

     ¹ [From Fenn, ii. 180.]

     ² The chief part of this letter relates to Sir John Paston’s private affairs, his rents
and lands, and informs him that William Jenney had entered into Holme Halle, in
Filby, ‘in the ryght and titell of his douterlawe, weche was Boys doughter,’ etc.—F.

     ³ Cecily, Duchess of York, daughter of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland,
was the widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and mother of King Edward
IV., etc. She died in 1495, and was buried near her husband in the college of
Fotheringay.—F.

     ⁴ The Abbey of St. Bennet at Holm.

1475
AUG. 10