Richard Calle to Margery Paston

LETTER LXXXVIII.

MYN owne lady and mastres and be for god very trewe
wyff I w^t herte full sorowefull recomaunde me unto you
as he that can not be mery nor nought shalbe tyll it be other-
wise w^t us then it is yet For thys lyf y^t we lede nough is now-
ther plesur to godde nor to the worlde Consederyng the gret
bonde of matrymonye y^t is made be twix us and also the greete
loue y^t hath be and as J truste yet is be twix us and as on my
parte neu^r gretter wherfor J beseche almyghty godde Comfort us
as sone as it plesyth hym for we y^t ought of very ryght to be
moost to gether ar moost asondre me semyth it is a m^ll yerē a goo
son yt I speke wt you J had leur thenne all the goode in the
worlde J myghte be wt you alas alas goode lady full litell remem-
bre they what they doo yt kepe us thus asunder iiij tymes in the
yere ar they a cursid that lette matrymonye it causith many men
to deme in hem they haue large consyence in other maters as
wele as herin but what lady suffre as ye haue do and make you
as mery as ye can for I wys lady at the longe wey godde woll
of hys ryght wysnes helpe hys s^runts that meane truly and
wolde leue accordyng to hes lawys &c. J undrestende lady ye
haue hadde asmoche sorwe for me as any gentelwoman hath
hadde in the worlde aswolde godd all that sorwe y^t ye haue hadde
had rested upon me so y^t ye hadde be discharged of it for J wis
lady it is to me a deethe to her y^t ye be entreted other wise thene
ye ought to be this is a peyneful lyfe y^t we lede J can not leue
thus w^toute it be a gret displesure to godde Also like you to
wete y^t I had sent you a lett^r be my ladded from london and he
tolde me he myght not speeke w^tyou ther was made so gret
awayte upon hym and upon you boōthe he told me Iohn Thres-
cher come to hym in yo^r name and seide y^t ye sent hym to my
ladde for a letter or a token weche J shulde haue sent you but
he truste hym not he wold not delyu^r hym noon after that he
brought hum a rynge seyng y^t ye sent it hym comaundyng hym
y^t he schulde delyu^r the lett^r or token to hym weche J conceyue
sethen be my ladde it was not be your sendyng it was be my
mastres and S^r Jamys a vys Alas what meane they J suppose they
deeme we be not ensuryd to gether and if they so doo j mer-
veyll for thene they ar not wele avised remembryng the pleynes
y^t I breke to my mastres at the begynnyng and I suppose be you
bothe and ye dede as ye ought to do of very ryght and if ye
haue do the Contrare as J haue be enformed ye haue do ye dede
nouther Concyensly nor to the plesure of godde w^toute ye dede
it for feere and for the tyme to please suche as were at that tyme
a boute you and if ye so dede it for this f^ruice it was a resonable
cause Consederyng the grete and importable callyng upon y^t ye
hadde and many an on trewe tale was made to you of me weche
god know^t J was neu^r gylty of my ladde tolde me y^t my mastres
your modre axyd hym if he hadde brought any lett^r to you and
many other thyngs she bare hym on hande and a monge all other
at the last she seide to hym that J wolde not make her p'vy to
the begynnyng but sche supposyd J wolde at the endyng and as
to that god know^t sche knewe furst of me and non other J wott
not what her mastreschip meneth for be my trowthe ther is no
gentywoman on lyue that my herte tendreth more then it dothe
her nor is lother to displese sauyng only your p^rson weche of
very ryght I ought to tendre and loue beste for I am bounde
therto be the lawe of godde And so wol do whyle y^t I leue what
so eu^r falle of it J supose And ye telle hem sadly the trouthe they
wold not dampne ther soules for us though I telle hem the touthe

they woll not be leue me as weele as they woll do you And ther
for goode lady at the reu^rence of godde be pleyne to hem and
telle the trouthe and if they woll in no wise agree therto betwix
God the deelf and them be it and that perell y^t we schuld be in
J beseche godde it may lye upon them and not upon us J am
heuy and fory to remembre ther disposicon god sende them grace
to gyde all thyngs weele as wele J wolde they dede godde be
ther gide and sende them peas and reste &c. J mervell moche y^t
they schulde take this mater so heedely as J undrestonde they
doo remembryng it is in suche case as if can not be remedyed
and my desert upon eu^ry be halse it is for to be thought ther
shulde be non obstacle a yenst it And also the worchipfull y^t is
in them is not in your mariage it is in ther owne mariage weche I
beseche godde sende hem suche as may be to ther worschip and
plefur to godde and to ther herts ease for ell were it gret pety
mastres J am aferde to write to you for I undrestonde ye haue
schewyd my lett's y^t J haue sent you be for this tyme but J pery
you lete no creatur se this lettr as sone as ye haue redde it lete it
be brent for I wolde no man schulde se it in no wife ye had no

wrytyng from me this ij yere nor J wolle not sende you no mor
therfor J remytte all this matre to your wysdom Almyghty Jhu
preserue kepe and you your hertys desire weche I wotte weele
schulde be to goods plefur &c. Thys lett^r was wreten w_r as greete
peyne as eu^r wrote j thynge in my lyfe for in goode feyth I haue
be ryght feke and yet am not veryly weele at ease god amend
it &c.

                                  11 ? by 16 ?.

                                  Paper Mark.

          YHS. within a radiated Star of 16 points.

                                  Pl. VIII. N^o 5.

    On the back of this Letter is the following memorandum, "Lrā Rici Calle Margerie
"Paston silie Johīs Paston a'ri quā p^tea duxit in ux^rem."

    We cannot read this Letter without entering into the private family-concerns of the
Pastons, and however we may think with them that their daughter may have made
without their knowledge and consent an improper contract, yet we must pity the lover.
In ancient times families intermarried more amongst those of their own rank than at pre-
sent; the Gentry considered those in trade as moving in a different sphere to them; they
dealt with them and required their attendance, but they scorned to intermarry.

    The extension of commerce and the large fotunes raised by the merchants and men
of business, have however broken down those barriers of distinction; and not only the
Gentleman, but the Nobleman, now often select their wives from the city, and introduce
into their families the daughters of those, who, by their honourable and extensive deal-
ings in various branches of traffic, have enriched themselves, an trained up their chil-
dren to become that elevated situation which theri beauty, their education, and their
good bualities, enables them to adorn.

    The picture drawn in this Letter is a true one, gives us a much better idea of
antient family matters than the most laboured disquisition of a dry historian.

    Autogaph. Pl. XVIII. N^o 9. Seal. an Eagle's head erased, &c. Pl. XXIII. N^o 8.

LETTER LXXXVIII.

To Mistress Margery Paston.

MINE own Lady and Mistress, and, before God, very true
wife, I with heart full sorrowful recommend me unto
you, as he that cannot be merry, nor nought shall be till it be
otherwise with us then it is yet, for this life that we lead now is
neither pleasure to God nor to the world, considering the great
bond of matrimony that is made betwixt us, and as on
my part never greater; wherefore I beseech Almighty God
comfort us as soon as it pleaseth him, for we that ought of
very right to be most together, are most asunder, me seemeth
it is a thousand year ago since that I spake with you, I had
lever(rather) than all the good in the world I might be with
you; alas,alas! good Lady, full little remember they what they
do that keep us thus asunder, four times in the year are they
accursed that let (hinder) matrimony; it causeth many men to
deem in them they have large conscience in other matters as well
as herein, but what Lady suffer as ye have done, and make you
as merry as ye can, for I wis, lady, at the long way, God will of
his rightwiseness help his servants that mean truly, and would
live according to his laws, &c.

    I understand, Lady, ye have had as much sorrow for me as any
Gentlewoman hath had in the world, as would God all that
sorrow that ye have had had rested upon me and that ye had
been discharged of it, for I wis, Lady, it is to me a death to hear
that ye be entreated otherwise than ye ought to be; this is a
painful life that we lead, I cannot live thus without it be a great
displeasure to God.

    Also like you to weet that I had sent you a Letter by my lad
from London, and he told me he might not speak with you,
there was made so great await upon him and upon you both; he
told me John Thresher come to him in your name, and said
that ye sent him to my lad for a Letter or a token, which I
should have sent you, but he trust him not, he would not deli-
ver him none; after that he brought him a ring, saying that ye
sent it him, commanding him that he should deliver the Letter
or token to him, which conceive since by my lad it was not
by your sending, it was by my Mistress and Sir James's advice;
Alas, what mean they? I suppose they deem we be not ensured
together, and if they so do I marvel, for then they are not well
advised remembering the plainness that I brake to my Mistress at
the beginning, and I suppose by you both, and ye did as ye

ought to do of very right, and if ye have done the contrary, as
I have been informed ye have done, ye did neither conciensly
(conscientiously) nor to the pleasure of God, without ye did it for
fear, and for the time to please such as were at that time about
you; and if ye did it for this cause it was a reasonable cause,
considering the great and importable calling upon that ye had,
and many an untrue tale was made to you of me, which , God
know it, I was never guilty of.

    My Lad told me that my Mistress your mother asked him, if
he had brought any Letter to you, and many other things she
bare him on hand, and among all other at the last she said to him
that I would not make her privy to the beginning, but she sup-
posed I would at the ending; and as to that, God know it, she
knew it first of me and none other, I wot not what her mistres-
ship meaneth, for by my troth there is no gentlewoman alive
that my heart tendereth more than it doth her, nor is loather to
displease, saving only your person, which of very right I ought
to tender and love best, for I am bound thereto by the law of
God, and so will do while that I live, whatsoever fall of it ; I
suppose and (if) ye tell them sadly (seriously) the truth, they will
not damn their souls for us; though I tell them the truth they
will not believe me as well as they will do you, and therefore,
good Lady, at the reverence of God be plain to them and tell
the truth, and if they will in no wise agree thereto, betwixt God,
the Devil, and them be it, and that peril that we should be in, I
beseech God it may lie upon them and not upon us; I am heavy
and sorry to remember their disposition, God send them grace
to guide all things well, as well (as) I would they did; God be
their guide and send them peace and rest, &c.

    I marvel much that they should take this matter so heedely
(cautiously) as I understand they do, remembering it is in such
case as it cannot be remedied, and my desert upon every behalf
it is for to thought there should be none obstacle against it;
and also the worshipful that is in them, is not in your marriage,
it is in their own marriage, which I beseech God send them such
as may be to their worship and pleasure to God and to their hearts
ease, for else were it great pity. Mistress I am afraid to write
to you for I understand ye have shewed my Letters that I have
sent you before this time; but I pray you let no creature see this
Letter, as soon as ye have read it let it be burnt, for I would no
man should see it in no wise, ye had no writing form me this
two year, nor I will not send you no more, therefore I remit
all this matter to your wisdom; Almighty Jesu preserve, keep,
and (give) you your heart's desire, which I wot well should be
to God's Pleasure, &c.

    This Letter was written with as great pain as ever wrote I
thing in my life, for in good faith I have been right sick, and
yet am not verily at ease, God amend it, &c.

                                                                     RICHARD CALLE.

    1469. 9 E. IV.

    On the back of this Letter is the following memorandum, "Lrā Rici Calle Margerie
"Paston silie Johīs Paston a'ri quā p^tea duxit in ux^rem."

    We cannot read this Letter without entering into the private family-concerns of the
Pastons, and however we may think with them that their daughter may have made
without their knowledge and consent an improper contract, yet we must pity the lover.
In ancient times families intermarried more amongst those of their own rank than at pre-
sent; the Gentry considered those in trade as moving in a different sphere to them; they
dealt with them and required their attendance, but they scorned to intermarry.

    The extension of commerce and the large fotunes raised by the merchants and men
of business, have however broken down those barriers of distinction; and not only the
Gentleman, but the Nobleman, now often select their wives from the city, and introduce
into their families the daughters of those, who, by their honourable and extensive deal-
ings in various branches of traffic, have enriched themselves, an trained up their chil-
dren to become that elevated situation which theri beauty, their education, and their
good bualities, enables them to adorn.

    The picture drawn in this Letter is a true one, gives us a much better idea of
antient family matters than the most laboured disquisition of a dry historian.

    Autogaph. Pl. XVIII. N^o 9. Seal. an Eagle's head erased, &c. Pl. XXIII. N^o 8.

713

RICHARD CALLE TO MARGERY PASTON¹

MYN owne lady and mastres, and be for God very trewe
     wyff, I with herte full sorowefull recomaunde me
     unto you, as he that can not be mery, nor nought
shalbe tyll it be othewise with us then it is yet, for thys lyf
that we lede nough is nowther plesur to Godde nor to the
worlde, consederyng the gret bonde of matrymonye that is
made be twix us, and also the greete love that hath be, and as
I truste yet is be twix us, and as on my parte never gretter;
wherfor I beseche Almyghty Godde comfort us as sone as it
plesyth Hym, for we that ought of very ryght to be moost to
gether ar moost asondre; me semyth it is a m^ll. [thousana] yere
a goo son that I speke with you. I had lever thenne all the
goode in the worlde I myght be with you. Alas, alas! goode
lady, full litell remembre they what they doo that kepe us thus
asunder; iiij. tymes in the yere ar they a cursid that lette
matrymonye; it causith many men to deme in hem they have
large consyence in other maters as wele as herin. But what
lady suffre as ye have do; and make you as mery as ye can,
for I wys, lady, at the longe wey Godde woll of Hys ryght
wysnes helpe Hys servants that meane truly, and wolde leve
accordyng to Hes lawys, &c.

     I undrestende, lady, ye have hadde asmoche sorwe for me
as any gentelwoman hath hadde in the worlde, aswolde Godd
all that sorwe that ye have hadde had rested upon me, so that
ye hadde be discharged of it, for I wis, lady, it is to me a
deethe to her that ye be entreted other wise thene ye ought to
be. This is a peyneful lyfe that we lede. I can not leve thus
withoute it be a gret displesure to Godde.

     Also like you to wete that I had sent you a letter be my
ladde from London, and he tolde me he myght not speeke with
you, ther was made so gret awayte upon hym and upon you
boothe. He told me John Threscher come to hym in your
name, and seide that ye sent hym to my ladde for a letter or a
token, weche I shulde have sent you, but he truste hym not;
he wold not delyver hym noon. After that he brought hym a
rynge, seyng that ye sent it hym, comaundyng hym that he
schulde delyver the letter or token to hym, weche I conceyve
sethen be my ladde it was not be your sendyng, it was be my
mastres and Sir Jamys¹ a vys. Alas, what meane they? I
suppose they deeme we be not ensuryd to gether, and if they
so doo I merveyll, for thene they ar not wele avised, re-
membryng the pleynes that I breke to my mastres at the
begynnyng, and I suppose be you bothe, and ye dede as ye
ought to do of very ryght; and if ye have do the contrare, as
I have be enformed ye have do, ye dede nouther concyensly
nor to the plesure of Godde, withoute ye dede it for feere, and
for the tyme to please suche as were at that tyme a boute you;
and if ye so dede it for this service it was a resonable cause,
consederyng the grete and importable callyng upon that ye
hadde, and many an on trewe tale was made to you of me,
weche God knowt I was never gylty of.

     My ladde tolde me that my mastres your modre axyd hym
if he hadde brought any letter to you, and many other thyngs
she bare hym on hande,¹ and a monge all other at the last she
seide to hym that I wolde not make her prevy to the begynn-
yng, but she supposyd I wolde at the endyng; and as to that,
God knowt sche knewe furst of me and non other. I wott
not what her mastreschip meneth, for be my trowthe ther is
no gentylwoman on lyve that my herte tendreth more then it
dothe her, nor is lother to displese, savyng only your person,
weche of very ryght I ought to tendre and love beste, for I am
bounde therto be the lawe of Godde, and so wol do whyle that
I leve, what so ever falle of it. I supose, and ye telle hem
sadly the trouthe, they wold not dampne ther soules for us;
though I telle hem the trouthe they woll not be leve me as
weele as they woll do you; and ther for, goode lady, at the
reverence of Godde be pleyne to hem and telle the trouthe,
and if they woll in no wise agree therto, betwix God, the
Deelf, and them be it, and that perell that we schuld be in, I
beseche Godde it may lye upon them and not upon us. I am
hevy and sory to remembre ther disposicion, God sende them
grace to gyde all thyngs weele, as wele I wolde they dede;
Godde be ther gide, and sende them peas and reste, &c.

     I mervell moche that they schulde take this mater so
heedely as I undrestonde they doo, remembryng it is in suche
case as it can not be remedyed, and my desert upon every be
halfe it is for to be thought ther shulde be non obstacle a
yenst it; and also the worchipfull that is in them, is not in
your mariage, it is in ther owne mariage, weche I beseche
Godde sende hem suche as may be to ther worschip and plesur
to Godde, and to ther herts ease, for ell[es] were it gret pety.
Mastres, I am aferde to write to you, for I undrestonde ye
have schewyd my letters that I have sent you be for this tyme;
but I prey you lete no creatur se this letter. As sone as ye
have redde it lete it be brent, for I wolde no man schulde se it
in no wise; ye had no wrytyng from me this ij. yere, nor I
wolle not sende you no mor, therfor I remytte all this matre
to your wysdom. Almyghty Jesu preserve, kepe, and [give]
you your hertys desire, weche I wotte weele schulde be to
Goods plesur, &c.

     Thys letter was wreten with as greete peyne as ever wrote
I thynge in my lyfe, for in goode feyth I have be ryght seke,
and yet am not veryly weele at ease, God amend it, &c.

     ¹ [From Fenn, iv. 350.] This letter was evidently written about the same period
as No. 710. The original appears to have had no address, although Fenn prints one
in the right-hand copy; but on the back was the following memorandum, evidently
not quite contemporary: ‘Litera Ric’i Calle Margeriæ Paston filiæ Joh’is Paston ar’i
quam postea duxit in uxorem.’

     ¹ Sir James Gloys, a priest.

     ¹ See vol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.

1469

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1469

1469