To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston.
Ryght wvrschipful husbond, I recomaund me on-to yov. Plese it yov to wete that I sent yovr eldest svnne to my Lady Morlee to haue knolage qwat sportys were husyd in here hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the deceysse of my lord here husbond. And sche seyd that þere were non dysgysynggys nere harpyng nere lvtyng nere syngyn, nere non lowde dysports, but pleyng at the tabyllys and schesse and cardys, sweche dysportys sche gave here folkys leve to play, and non odyr.
Yovr svnne dede hese heyrne ryght wele, as ye xal here aftyr þis. I sent yovr yongere svnne to the Lady Stabylton, and sche seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn hvsyd in placys of wvrschip þere as sche hathe beyn.
I pray you that ye woll asay to gett sume man at Castere to kepe your botry, for the mane that ye lefte wyth me woll not take vp-on hym to breve dayly as ye commandyt. He seyth he hath not vsyd to geve a rekenyng nothyre of bred nor alle tyll at the wekys end, and he seyth he wot well that he xuld not condenyth; and therfore I soposse he xhall not abyd. And I trowe ye xall be fayne to porveye another man for Symond, for ye hare nevere the nerer a wysse man for hym.
I am sory that ye xall not at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you that ye woll come as sone as ye may. I xhall thynke my-selfe halfe a wedowe because ye xal not be at home, &c. God haue you in hys kepyng.
Wretyn on Crystemes Evyn.
By your M. P.
To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston.
Ryght wvrschipful husbond, I recomaund me on-to yov. Plese it yov to wete that I sent yovr eldest svnne to my Lady Morlee to haue knolage qwat sportys were husyd in here hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the deceysse of my lord here husbond. And sche seyd that þere were non dysgysynggys nere harpyng nere lvtyng nere syngyn, nere non lowde dysports, but pleyng at the tabyllys and schesse and cardys, sweche dysportys sche gave here folkys leve to play, and non odyr.
Yovr svnne dede hese heyrne ryght wele, as ye xal here aftyr þis. I sent yovr yongere svnne to the Lady Stabylton, and sche seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn hvsyd in placys of wvrschip þere as sche hathe beyn.
I pray you that ye woll asay to gett sume man at Castere to kepe your botry, for the mane that ye lefte wyth me woll not take vp-on hym to breve dayly as ye commandyt. He seyth he hath not vsyd to geve a rekenyng nothyre of bred nor alle tyll at the wekys end, and he seyth he wot well that he xuld not condenyth; and therfore I soposse he xhall not abyd. And I trowe ye xall be fayne to porveye another man for Symond, for ye hare nevere the nerer a wysse man for hym.
I am sory that ye xall not at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you that ye woll come as sone as ye may. I xhall thynke my-selfe halfe a wedowe because ye xal not be at home, &c. God haue you in hys kepyng.
Wretyn on Crystemes Evyn.
By your M. P.
To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston.
Ryght wvrschipful husbond, I recomaund me on-to yov. Plese it yov to wete that I sent yovr eldest svnne to my Lady Morlee to haue knolage qwat sportys were husyd in here hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the deceysse of my lord here husbond. And sche seyd that þere were non dysgysynggys nere harpyng nere lvtyng nere syngyn, nere non lowde dysports, but pleyng at the tabyllys and schesse and cardys, sweche dysportys sche gave here folkys leve to play, and non odyr.
Yovr svnne dede hese heyrne ryght wele, as ye xal here aftyr þis. I sent yovr yongere svnne to the Lady Stabylton, and sche seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn hvsyd in placys of wvrschip þere as sche hathe beyn.
I pray you that ye woll asay to gett sume man at Castere to kepe your botry, for the mane that ye lefte wyth me woll not take vp-on hym to breve dayly as ye commandyt. He seyth he hath not vsyd to geve a rekenyng nothyre of bred nor alle tyll at the wekys end, and he seyth he wot well that he xuld not condenyth; and therfore I soposse he xhall not abyd. And I trowe ye xall be fayne to porveye another man for Symond, for ye hare nevere the nerer a wysse man for hym.
I am sory that ye xall not at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you that ye woll come as sone as ye may. I xhall thynke my-selfe halfe a wedowe because ye xal not be at home, &c. God haue you in hys kepyng.
Wretyn on Crystemes Evyn.
By your M. P.
To my right worschipful husband, John Paston.
Right wvrschipful husband, I recommend me on-to yov. Plese it yov to wait that I sent yovr eldest svnne to my Lady Morlee to have knolage qwat sportys were husyd in [here/her] hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the deceysse of my lord [here/her] husband. And sche said that þere were no dysgysynggys nere harpyng nere lvtyng nere syngyn, nere no lowde games, but pleyng at the tabyllys and chess and cardys, sweche dysportys sche gave [here/her] folkys leve to play, and no odyr.
Yovr svnne did hese errand right wele, as you xal [here/her] aftyr þis. I sent yovr yongere svnne to the Lady Stabylton, and sche said according to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche had say hvsyd in placys of wvrschip þere as sche hathe beyn.
I pray you that you will asay to gett sume man at Caister-on-Sea to keep your [#7]botry[/#7], for the mane that you lefte with me will not take vp-on him to [#6]breve[/#6] dayly as you commandyt. He said he has not vsyd to geve a rekenyng nothyre of bred nor all until at the wekys end, and he said he wot well that he xuld not [#5]condenyth[/#5]; and therfore I soposse he xhall not abyd. And I trowe you xall be fayne to porveye another man for Symond, for you hare nevere the nerer a wysse man for him.
I am sorry that you xall not at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you that you will come as soon as you may. I xhall thynke my-self halfe a wedowe because you xal not be at home, etc.. God have you in his keeping.
Written on Crystemes Evyn.
By your M. P.
To my dearest husband John Paston,
Dearest husband, my best wishes to you. I thought you'd like to know that I sent your eldest son to Lady Morley to find out what entertainments there had been at her house over Christmas after the death of her husband. She said there were no masked entertainments or harp or lute playing, no professional singers, no recreational activities other than backgammon, chess and cards; these she gave permission for, but no others.
Your son did well, as I will tell you. I sent your younger son to Lady Stapleton, and she agreed with what Lady Morley had said, and reported what she had seen at church services.
I would advise you will find someone to look after the pantry at Caister, as the man you left with me will not report daily as you instructed. He says he is not used to reporting on bread or ale until weekends and he said he knew that he couldn't do it, so I suggest he doesn't stay on. I think you would be pleased to get someone to replace Symond, as you are no closer to having a sensible man with him.
I'm sorry you won't be home for Christmas. I hope you will come as soon as you can; I shall consider myself a widow if you're not at home. May God look after you. Written on Christmas Eve.
By your M.P.