Sir John Paston to Edmund Paston

LETTER LVII.

A Edmond Paston Esquyer a Caleys soyt donne.

BROTHER Edmond I grete yow weell letyng yow weete
     y^t abowt thys daye vij nyght I sende yow a Letter by
Nycholas Bardeslee a sowdyer whyche is wont woute to be at
borde^r Perauntys and also an ¹ hoseclothe off blak ffor yow.
I wende y^t ye sholde have hadde itt w^tin ij dayes but I am
afferde y^t he deseyved me.

     It’m I lete yow weet y^t Plattyng is comen hyddr and he
seythe y^t ye gaffe hym leve to ffetche hys geer and Pittys and
that is hys erande hyddr and noon other, ner he thowt neu’
to goo ffro me ner he wyll nott goo ffro me as he seythe,
wherffor I praye yow sende me worde off hys condycōns and
whyghe ye thynke y^t he sholde neu’ do me worshypp.

     He seythe also y^t he and Pytte weer at y^e takyng off the
Est’lyngs and that he was in the Pakker and Pytte in the
Crystoffre. I praye yow sende me worde howe bothe he and
Pitte quytte them by the report off som’ indyfferent trewe
man y^t was ther iff they quytte them weell I wolde love them
the bett’, wherffor the next daye afftr the syte of thys Lett
I praye yow wryght ageyn and sende it by the next passage.

     It’m I sende a lytell praty boxe herwith whyche I wolde
y^t Juddy sholde delyu’ to y^e woman y^t he wetyth off and
praye hyr to take it to y^e man y^t she wetyth off, y^t is to seye,
as moche as ye knowe all well i now but ye maye nott make
yow wyse in no wyse.

     It’m I praye yow sende me worde as ye wer wont to do off
heer wellffar and whether I weer owt and other inne or nott
and whether she shall fforsake Caleys as sone as ye sende me
worde off or nott.

     By God I wolde be w^t yow as ffayne as yowr selff and shall
be in hast w^t Godds grace.

     It’m as ffor my brother John I hope w^tin thys monyth to
see hym in Caleys ffor by lyklyhod to morowe or ellys the
next daye he takyth shyppe at Yarmothe and goothe to Seynt
² James warde and he hathe wretyn to me y^t he wyll come
homwarde by Caleys.

     It’m I suppose y^t James Song’ shall com’ w^t me to Caleys
y^e rather ffor yowr sake.

     It’m Mestresse Elysabett ffareth well, but as yit Song’ know-
eth nott so p’ffytly all y^t ye wolde weet y^t he woll nott wryght
to yow off thees ij dayes tyll he knowe moor, but iff she hadde
ben bolde and durst have abydyn styll at hyr Gate and spoken
w^t me so God helpe me she had hadd thys same y^t I sende
nowe wher ye woot off whyche ye shall see woryn heer afftr
itt is a praty ryban w^t praty ³ Agletts and goodlye.

     Make yow not wyse to Juddy nowther not y^t ye wolde weet
any thynge ffor I maye sey to yowe at hys comyng ovr he
browt goodly geer reasonablye.

     It’m as ffor my ⁴ byll y^t is gylt I wolde it weer taken head
too ther is on’ in the town y^t can glaser weell i nowe as I
herde seye. Also ther is on comythe eu’y Markett daye ffro
Seynt Omerys to Caleys and he bryngethe Dagers and ffetchyth
also he may have it w^t hym and brynge it ageyn the next
markett daye ffor xij^d. or xvjd^d. at y^e most and ellys late it be
weel oylyd and kepte tyll I come No mor’, wretyn at London
y^e v daye of Jull. A^o. E. iiij^ti xiij^o.

         12 by 8 ½.

         Paper Mark,
The Letter P, and a Quaterfoil.
          Pl. XI. N^o 13.

 London,
              Monday, 5th of July,
              1473, 13 E. IV.

     Though this Letter from Sir John Paston (Pl. IV. N^o 9.) contains nothing very
material, it informs us of an Engagement at Sea between some Ships of this Country,
and those of the Easterlings or Inhabitants of the Eastern part of Germany.

    It likewise acquaints us with some private Anecdotes of Sir John Paston as a man of
gallantry.

     ¹ Cloth for hosen.

     ² On a Pilgrimage, I suppose, to Saint James of Compostella, in the province of
Gallicia, in Spain.

     ³ Pendant ornaments of metal, like Tags or Points, &c.

     ⁴ A warlike Instrument of Offence.

LETTER LVII.

To Edmund Paston, Esquire, at Calais, be this delivered.

BROTHER Edmund, I greet you well, letting you weet,
     that about this day sev’night I sent you a Letter, by
Nicholas Bardesley a Soldier, which is wont to be at border
(query, brother) Perauntys; and also an ¹ Hosecloth of black
for you; I wend (understood) that ye should have had it within
two days, but I am afraid that he deceived me.

     Item, I let you weet that Plattyng is coming hither, and he
saith, that ye gave him leave to setch his Geer and Pytt’s; and
that is his errand hither and none other, nor he thought never
to go from me, nor he will not go from me, as he saith;
wherefore I pray you send me word of his conditions, and why
ye think that he should never do me worship.

     He saith also, that he and Pytt were at the taking of the
Esterlings, and that he was in the Packer, and Pytt in the Chris-
topher; I pray you send me word how both he and Pytt quit
them, by the report of some indifferent true man that was there;
if they quit (acquitted) them well, I would love them the
better; wherefore the next day after the sight of this letter,
I pray you write again, and send it by the next passage.

     Item, I send a little pretty Box herewith, which I would
that Juddy should deliver to the woman that he weeteth of,
and pray her to take it to the man that she weeteth of; that
is to say, as much as ye know all well enough, but ye may
not make you wise in no wise.

     Item, I pray you send me word as ye were wont to do
of her welfare; and whether I were out and other in or not;
and whether ye shall forsake Calais as soon as she sent me
word of, or not.

     By God I would be with you as fain as yourself, and shall be
in haste with God’s grace.

     Item, as for my brother John, I hope within this month to
see him in Calais; for by likelihood to-morrow, or else the
next day, he taketh ship at Yarmouth, and goeth to Saint
² James ward; and he hath written to me that he will come
homeward by Calais.

     Item, I suppose that James Songer shall come with me to
Calais, the rather for your sake.

     Item, Mistress Elizabeth fareth well, but as yet Songer
knoweth not so perfectly all that ye would weet, that he would
not write to you of these two days, till he know more; but
if she had been bold, and durst have abiden still at her gate,
and spoken with me, so God help me, she had had this same

(box) that I send now, where ye wot of, which ye shall see
worn hereafter, it is a pretty ribbon with pretty ³ Aglets
and goodly.

     Make you not wise to Juddy neither (nevertheless,) not that ye
would weet any thing, for I may say to you, at his coming
over he brought goodly Geer reasonably.

     Item, as for my ⁴ Bill that is gilt, I would it were taken
heed to, there is one in the town, that can glaze well enough,
as I heard say; also there is one cometh every market day
from St. Omer’s to Calais, and he bringeth Daggers and fetch-
eth also, he may have it with him, and bring it again the
next market day for 12d. or 16d. at the most; and (or) else let
it be well oiled and kept till I come.

     No more. Written at London the 5th day of July, in the
13th year of Edward IV.

                                                     JOHN PASTON, Knight.

 12 by 8 ?.

         Paper Mark,
The Letter P, and a Quaterfoil.
          Pl. XI. N^o 13.

 London,
              Monday, 5th of July,
              1473, 13 E. IV.

     Though this Letter from Sir John Paston (Pl. IV. N^o 9.) contains nothing very
material, it informs us of an Engagement at Sea between some Ships of this Country,
and those of the Easterlings or Inhabitants of the Eastern part of Germany.

    It likewise acquaints us with some private Anecdotes of Sir John Paston as a man of
gallantry.

     ¹ Cloth for hosen.

     ² On a Pilgrimage, I suppose, to Saint James of Compostella, in the province of
Gallicia, in Spain.

     ³ Pendant ornaments of metal, like Tags or Points, &c.

     ⁴ A warlike Instrument of Offence.

836

SIR JOHN PASTON TO EDMUND PASTON²

A Edmond Paston, Esquyer, a Caleys soyt donne.

BROTHER Edmond, I grete yow weell, letyng yow weete
     that abowt thys daye vij. nyght I sende yow a letter by
     Nycholas Bardeslee a sowdyer, whyche is wont woute³
to be at border [brother] Perauntys,⁴ and also an hoseclothe⁵ off
blak ffor yow. I wende that ye sholde have hadde itt within
ij. dayes, but I am afferde that he deseyved me.

     Item, I lete yow weet that Plattyng is comen hyddr, and
he seythe that ye gaffe hym leve to ffetche hys geer and Pittys,
and that is hys erande hyddr and noon other, ner he thowt
never to goo ffro me, ner he wyll nott goo ffro me as he seythe,
wherffor, I praye yow sende me worde off hys condycions, and
whyghe ye thynke that he sholde never do me worshypp.

     He seythe also that he and Pytte weer at the takyng off
the Esterlyngs, and that he was in the Pakker, and Pytte in the
Crystoffre. I praye yow sende me worde howe bothe he and
Pytte quytte them, by the report off some indyfferent trewe
man that was ther, iff they quytte them weell, I wolde love
them the better, wherffor the next daye afftr the syte of thys
letter, I praye yow wryght ageyn, and sende it by the next
passage.

     Item, I sende a lytell praty boxe herwith, whyche I wolde
that Juddy sholde delyver to the woman that he wetyth off,
and praye hyr to take it to the man that she wetyth off; that
is to seye, as moche as ye knowe all well i now, but ye maye
nott make yow wyse in no wyse.

     Item, I praye yow sende me worde as ye wer wont to do
off heer wellffar, and whether I weer owt and other inne or
nott; and whether she shall fforsake Caleys as sone as ye sende
me worde off or nott.

     By God I wolde be with yow as ffayne as yowr selff, and
shall be in hast with Godds grace.

     Item, as ffor my brother John, I hope within thys monyth
to see hym in Caleys, ffor by lyklyhod to morowe or ellys the
next daye he takyth shyppe at Yarmothe, and goothe to Seynt
James¹ warde, and he hathe wretyn to me that he wyll come
homwarde by Caleys.

     Item, I suppose that James Songer shall come with me to
Caleys, the rather ffor yowr sake.

     Item, Mestresse Elysabett ffareth well, but as yit Songer
knoweth nott so perffytly all that ye wolde weet, that he woll
nott wryght to yow off thees ij. dayes tyll he knowe moor, but
iff she hadde ben bolde, and durst have abydyn styll at hyr
gate, and spoken with me, so God helpe me, she had hadd
thys same that I sende nowe wher ye woot off, whyche ye shall
see woryn heer afftr, itt is a praty ryban with praty agletts²
and goodlye.

 Make yow not wyse to Juddy, nowther not that ye wolde
weet any thynge, ffor I maye sey to yowe at hys comyng ovr,
he browt goodly geer reasonablye.

     Item, as ffor my byll¹ that is gylt, I wolde it weer taken
head too; ther is one in the town, that can glaser weell i nowe,
as I herde seye. Also, ther is on comythe every markett daye
ffro Seynt Omerys to Caleys and he bryngethe dagers, and
ffetchyth also, he may have it with hym, and brynge it ageyn
the next markett daye ffor xijd. or xvjd. at the most, and ellys
late it be weel oylyd and kepte tyll I come. No more.

     Wretyn at London the v. daye of Julle, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^o.

     ² [From Fenn, ii. 146.]     ³ So in Fenn.

     ⁴ Fenn suggests a fanciful explanation of the expression ‘border Perauntys,’ pre-
suming the latter word not to be a proper name; but see page 163.

     ⁵ Cloth for hosen.

                 ¹ See page 186, Note. 5.

                 ² Pendant ornaments of metal, like tags or points, etc.—F.

     ¹ A warlike instrument of offence.—F.

JUNE 3

1473
JUNE 13

1473
JULY 5