To my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be þis lettyr delyveryd in hast.
Ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to ȝw, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝwr wel fare, praying ȝw to wete þat I was with my Lady Morley on the Satyrday next after þat ȝe departyd from hens, and told here qhat answer þat ȝe had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth straw[n]gely, and seyd þat sche had told ȝw, and schewyd ȝw j-now, qher by ȝe myth have knowleche þat the releve owt to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel þat ȝe delay it forthe, þat sche xuld nowth have þat longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs was weddyd; and sche seyd sythyn þat ȝe wyl make none end with her, sche wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
I conseyvyd be here þat sche had cwnsel to labore aȝens ȝw therin withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her þat sche wuld vwche save nowth to labowr aȝens ȝw in þis mater tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche seyd nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days ȝeve ȝw therin. Sche seyd sche had sett ȝw so many days to a kord with her, and ȝe had broke them, þat sche was ryth wery therof; and sche seyd sche was but a woman, sche must don be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had avysyd her, so sche seyd sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azyn þat sche wuld teryn tyl ȝe kom hom, and I seyd I trostyd veryly þat ȝe wuld don qhan ȝe kom hom, as itt longeth to ȝw to don; and if ȝe myth have very knowleche þat sche awyth of ryth for to have itt, I seyd I wyst wel þat ȝe wuld pay it with ryth gode wyl, and told her þat ȝe had sergyd to a fownd wrytyng therof, and ȝe kwd non fynd in non wyse. And sche sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng therof inow, and sche hath wrytyng therof hw Syr Robert of Mawthby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and dyverse other of myn awncesterys payd it, and seyd nevyre nay therto. And in no wyse I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche bad me þat I xuld don an erand to my moder, and qhan I kam hom, I dede myn erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my lady of þis forseyd mater, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer I had; and sche seyd sche xuld gon to my Lady Morles on the nexst day, and sche xuld speken to her therof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to sesyn of the forsayd mater tyl þat ȝe kom hom. And truly my moder dede her dever ryth feythfully therin, as my cosyn Clare xal tellyn ȝw qhan þat he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my seyd lady þat there xuld nowth ben don aȝens ȝw therin, and ȝe wold acordyn with her, and don as ȝe owyn to do be twyx þis tym and Trinyte Sunday.
Lauerawnce Rede of Mawthhy recommawndeth hym to zu, and prayt ȝw þat ȝe wyl vwchesave to leten hym byn of ȝw the ferm barly þat ȝe xuld have of hym, and if ȝe wyl laten hym have it to a resonabyl pris, he wyl have it with ryth a gode wyl; and he prayit ȝw if ȝe wyl þat he have it, þat ȝe wyl owche save to send hym word at qhat pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ȝe may, and ellys he must be purvayd in other plase.
As twchyng other tydyngs, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send ȝw word in a letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London þis term.
It is seyd in þis contre þat Danyell is owth of the Kyngs gode grase, and he xal dwn and all hys mene, and all þat ben hys wele wyllers; there xal no man ben so hardy to don nether seyn aȝens my Lord of Sowthfolk, nere non þat longeth to hym; and all þat have don and seyd aȝens hym, they xul sore repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be weddyd on the Munday nexst after Trinyte Sonday, as it is told me, to the galaunte with the grete chene; and there is purvayd for her meche gode aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other gode aray, and he hathe purcheysyd a gret purcheys of v. mark be ȝer to ȝevyn her to her joynture.
I am aferd þat Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, þat he wyl sett hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre gode frendys, but if I can hold hym inne the better, ere ȝe kom hom. He hath ben arestyd sythyn þat ye went, and hath had moche sorw at the sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for x. mark þat Sparham owt to hym; and in gode feyth he hath had so moche sorow and hevynesse þat he wyst nowth qhat he myth don. I fell hym so disposyd þat he wold asold and asett to morgage all þat he hath, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so þat he myth an had mony to an holpyn hym self wyth; and I entretyd hym so, þatt I sopose he wyll nother sellyn ner sett to morgage, nother catel ner other gode of hese, tyl he speke with ȝw. He soposeth þat al þat is don to hym is att the request of the Parson of Sparham and Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort hym, for in gode feyth he is ryth hevy, and hys wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he hath payd hys feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd att Sparham, of on of Knatysales men.
Hodge Feke told me þatt Sym Schepherd is styl with Wylly, and if ȝe wyl I xal purvey þat he xal be browth hom er ȝe kom hom. It is told me þat he þat kept ȝwr schep was owth lawyd on Munday at the swth of Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ȝe arn nowth lyk to kepe hym longe. And as twchyng þat þat ȝe badeyn me spekyn for to Bakton, he seyth he is wel avysyd þat sche seyd sche wuld never have to don with all, ner he kan not pek þat sche seyd sche hath non ryth to have it, and he wyl say lyche as he hath herd her seyd; and if sche speke to hym therof, he wyll rather hold with ȝw than with her. I pray ye þat ȝe wyl vwche save to send me word hw ȝe spede in ȝwr matter twchyng Gressam, and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath browth to me xl s. of Gressam syn ȝe ȝede, and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he may pyk it up.
I sopose Jamys Gressam hath told ȝw of other thyngs þat I have sped syn ȝe ȝedyn hens. If I her any strawnge tydyngs in þis contre, I xall send ȝw word. I pray ȝw þat I may ben recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
The Holy Trynyté have ȝw in hys kepyng, and send ȝw helth and gode spede in al ȝwr maters twchyng ȝwr ryth.
Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Wedenys day nexst after þatt ȝe partyd hens.
Yors, MARGARETE PASTON.
To my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be þis lettyr delyveryd in hast.
Ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to ȝw, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝwr wel fare, praying ȝw to wete þat I was with my Lady Morley on the Satyrday next after þat ȝe departyd from hens, and told here qhat answer þat ȝe had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth straw[n]gely, and seyd þat sche had told ȝw, and schewyd ȝw j-now, qher by ȝe myth have knowleche þat the releve owt to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel þat ȝe delay it forthe, þat sche xuld nowth have þat longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs was weddyd; and sche seyd sythyn þat ȝe wyl make none end with her, sche wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
I conseyvyd be here þat sche had cwnsel to labore aȝens ȝw therin withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her þat sche wuld vwche save nowth to labowr aȝens ȝw in þis mater tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche seyd nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days ȝeve ȝw therin. Sche seyd sche had sett ȝw so many days to a kord with her, and ȝe had broke them, þat sche was ryth wery therof; and sche seyd sche was but a woman, sche must don be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had avysyd her, so sche seyd sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azyn þat sche wuld teryn tyl ȝe kom hom, and I seyd I trostyd veryly þat ȝe wuld don qhan ȝe kom hom, as itt longeth to ȝw to don; and if ȝe myth have very knowleche þat sche awyth of ryth for to have itt, I seyd I wyst wel þat ȝe wuld pay it with ryth gode wyl, and told her þat ȝe had sergyd to a fownd wrytyng therof, and ȝe kwd non fynd in non wyse. And sche sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng therof inow, and sche hath wrytyng therof hw Syr Robert of Mawthby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and dyverse other of myn awncesterys payd it, and seyd nevyre nay therto. And in no wyse I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche bad me þat I xuld don an erand to my moder, and qhan I kam hom, I dede myn erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my lady of þis forseyd mater, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer I had; and sche seyd sche xuld gon to my Lady Morles on the nexst day, and sche xuld speken to her therof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to sesyn of the forsayd mater tyl þat ȝe kom hom. And truly my moder dede her dever ryth feythfully therin, as my cosyn Clare xal tellyn ȝw qhan þat he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my seyd lady þat there xuld nowth ben don aȝens ȝw therin, and ȝe wold acordyn with her, and don as ȝe owyn to do be twyx þis tym and Trinyte Sunday.
Lauerawnce Rede of Mawthhy recommawndeth hym to zu, and prayt ȝw þat ȝe wyl vwchesave to leten hym byn of ȝw the ferm barly þat ȝe xuld have of hym, and if ȝe wyl laten hym have it to a resonabyl pris, he wyl have it with ryth a gode wyl; and he prayit ȝw if ȝe wyl þat he have it, þat ȝe wyl owche save to send hym word at qhat pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ȝe may, and ellys he must be purvayd in other plase.
As twchyng other tydyngs, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send ȝw word in a letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London þis term.
It is seyd in þis contre þat Danyell is owth of the Kyngs gode grase, and he xal dwn and all hys mene, and all þat ben hys wele wyllers; there xal no man ben so hardy to don nether seyn aȝens my Lord of Sowthfolk, nere non þat longeth to hym; and all þat have don and seyd aȝens hym, they xul sore repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be weddyd on the Munday nexst after Trinyte Sonday, as it is told me, to the galaunte with the grete chene; and there is purvayd for her meche gode aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other gode aray, and he hathe purcheysyd a gret purcheys of v. mark be ȝer to ȝevyn her to her joynture.
I am aferd þat Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, þat he wyl sett hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre gode frendys, but if I can hold hym inne the better, ere ȝe kom hom. He hath ben arestyd sythyn þat ye went, and hath had moche sorw at the sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for x. mark þat Sparham owt to hym; and in gode feyth he hath had so moche sorow and hevynesse þat he wyst nowth qhat he myth don. I fell hym so disposyd þat he wold asold and asett to morgage all þat he hath, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so þat he myth an had mony to an holpyn hym self wyth; and I entretyd hym so, þatt I sopose he wyll nother sellyn ner sett to morgage, nother catel ner other gode of hese, tyl he speke with ȝw. He soposeth þat al þat is don to hym is att the request of the Parson of Sparham and Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort hym, for in gode feyth he is ryth hevy, and hys wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he hath payd hys feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd att Sparham, of on of Knatysales men.
Hodge Feke told me þatt Sym Schepherd is styl with Wylly, and if ȝe wyl I xal purvey þat he xal be browth hom er ȝe kom hom. It is told me þat he þat kept ȝwr schep was owth lawyd on Munday at the swth of Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ȝe arn nowth lyk to kepe hym longe. And as twchyng þat þat ȝe badeyn me spekyn for to Bakton, he seyth he is wel avysyd þat sche seyd sche wuld never have to don with all, ner he kan not pek þat sche seyd sche hath non ryth to have it, and he wyl say lyche as he hath herd her seyd; and if sche speke to hym therof, he wyll rather hold with ȝw than with her. I pray ye þat ȝe wyl vwche save to send me word hw ȝe spede in ȝwr matter twchyng Gressam, and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath browth to me xl s. of Gressam syn ȝe ȝede, and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he may pyk it up.
I sopose Jamys Gressam hath told ȝw of other thyngs þat I have sped syn ȝe ȝedyn hens. If I her any strawnge tydyngs in þis contre, I xall send ȝw word. I pray ȝw þat I may ben recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
The Holy Trynyté have ȝw in hys kepyng, and send ȝw helth and gode spede in al ȝwr maters twchyng ȝwr ryth.
Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Wedenys day nexst after þatt ȝe partyd hens.
Yors, MARGARETE PASTON.
To my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be þis lettyr delyveryd in hast.
Ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to ȝw, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝwr wel fare, praying ȝw to wete þat I was with my Lady Morley on the Satyrday next after þat ȝe departyd from hens, and told here qhat answer þat ȝe had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth straw[n]gely, and seyd þat sche had told ȝw, and schewyd ȝw j-now, qher by ȝe myth have knowleche þat the releve owt to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel þat ȝe delay it forthe, þat sche xuld nowth have þat longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs was weddyd; and sche seyd sythyn þat ȝe wyl make none end with her, sche wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
I conseyvyd be here þat sche had cwnsel to labore aȝens ȝw therin withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her þat sche wuld vwche save nowth to labowr aȝens ȝw in þis mater tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche seyd nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days ȝeve ȝw therin. Sche seyd sche had sett ȝw so many days to a kord with her, and ȝe had broke them, þat sche was ryth wery therof; and sche seyd sche was but a woman, sche must don be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had avysyd her, so sche seyd sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azyn þat sche wuld teryn tyl ȝe kom hom, and I seyd I trostyd veryly þat ȝe wuld don qhan ȝe kom hom, as itt longeth to ȝw to don; and if ȝe myth have very knowleche þat sche awyth of ryth for to have itt, I seyd I wyst wel þat ȝe wuld pay it with ryth gode wyl, and told her þat ȝe had sergyd to a fownd wrytyng therof, and ȝe kwd non fynd in non wyse. And sche sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng therof inow, and sche hath wrytyng therof hw Syr Robert of Mawthby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and dyverse other of myn awncesterys payd it, and seyd nevyre nay therto. And in no wyse I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche bad me þat I xuld don an erand to my moder, and qhan I kam hom, I dede myn erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my lady of þis forseyd mater, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer I had; and sche seyd sche xuld gon to my Lady Morles on the nexst day, and sche xuld speken to her therof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to sesyn of the forsayd mater tyl þat ȝe kom hom. And truly my moder dede her dever ryth feythfully therin, as my cosyn Clare xal tellyn ȝw qhan þat he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my seyd lady þat there xuld nowth ben don aȝens ȝw therin, and ȝe wold acordyn with her, and don as ȝe owyn to do be twyx þis tym and Trinyte Sunday.
Lauerawnce Rede of Mawthhy recommawndeth hym to zu, and prayt ȝw þat ȝe wyl vwchesave to leten hym byn of ȝw the ferm barly þat ȝe xuld have of hym, and if ȝe wyl laten hym have it to a resonabyl pris, he wyl have it with ryth a gode wyl; and he prayit ȝw if ȝe wyl þat he have it, þat ȝe wyl owche save to send hym word at qhat pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ȝe may, and ellys he must be purvayd in other plase.
As twchyng other tydyngs, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send ȝw word in a letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London þis term.
It is seyd in þis contre þat Danyell is owth of the Kyngs gode grase, and he xal dwn and all hys mene, and all þat ben hys wele wyllers; there xal no man ben so hardy to don nether seyn aȝens my Lord of Sowthfolk, nere non þat longeth to hym; and all þat have don and seyd aȝens hym, they xul sore repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be weddyd on the Munday nexst after Trinyte Sonday, as it is told me, to the galaunte with the grete chene; and there is purvayd for her meche gode aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other gode aray, and he hathe purcheysyd a gret purcheys of v. mark be ȝer to ȝevyn her to her joynture.
I am aferd þat Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, þat he wyl sett hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre gode frendys, but if I can hold hym inne the better, ere ȝe kom hom. He hath ben arestyd sythyn þat ye went, and hath had moche sorw at the sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for x. mark þat Sparham owt to hym; and in gode feyth he hath had so moche sorow and hevynesse þat he wyst nowth qhat he myth don. I fell hym so disposyd þat he wold asold and asett to morgage all þat he hath, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so þat he myth an had mony to an holpyn hym self wyth; and I entretyd hym so, þatt I sopose he wyll nother sellyn ner sett to morgage, nother catel ner other gode of hese, tyl he speke with ȝw. He soposeth þat al þat is don to hym is att the request of the Parson of Sparham and Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort hym, for in gode feyth he is ryth hevy, and hys wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he hath payd hys feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd att Sparham, of on of Knatysales men.
Hodge Feke told me þatt Sym Schepherd is styl with Wylly, and if ȝe wyl I xal purvey þat he xal be browth hom er ȝe kom hom. It is told me þat he þat kept ȝwr schep was owth lawyd on Munday at the swth of Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ȝe arn nowth lyk to kepe hym longe. And as twchyng þat þat ȝe badeyn me spekyn for to Bakton, he seyth he is wel avysyd þat sche seyd sche wuld never have to don with all, ner he kan not pek þat sche seyd sche hath non ryth to have it, and he wyl say lyche as he hath herd her seyd; and if sche speke to hym therof, he wyll rather hold with ȝw than with her. I pray ye þat ȝe wyl vwche save to send me word hw ȝe spede in ȝwr matter twchyng Gressam, and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath browth to me xl s. of Gressam syn ȝe ȝede, and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he may pyk it up.
I sopose Jamys Gressam hath told ȝw of other thyngs þat I have sped syn ȝe ȝedyn hens. If I her any strawnge tydyngs in þis contre, I xall send ȝw word. I pray ȝw þat I may ben recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
The Holy Trynyté have ȝw in hys kepyng, and send ȝw helth and gode spede in al ȝwr maters twchyng ȝwr ryth.
Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Wedenys day nexst after þatt ȝe partyd hens.
Yors, MARGARETE PASTON.
To my right wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be þis lettyr delivered in haste.
Right wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to ȝw, desiring heartily to heryn of ȝwr well fare, praying ȝw to wait þat I was with my Lady Morley on the Satyrday next after þat ȝe departed from hence, and told [here/her] qhat answer þat ȝe had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it right straw[n]gely, and said þat sche had told ȝw, and schewyd ȝw enough, qher by ȝe myth have knowledge þat the releve ought to [be/been] paid to her. And sche said sche wyst well þat ȝe delay it forth, þat sche xuld nowth have þat longyth to her right. And sche told me hw it was paid in Thomas Chawmbers time, qhan her dowther Hastyngs was weddyd; and sche said sythyn þat ȝe wyl make none end with her, sche wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
I conseyvyd be [here/her] þat sche had cwnsel to labore aȝens ȝw therin withyn right schort time. And than I prayd her þat sche wuld vwche save nowth to labowr aȝens ȝw in þis matter tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche said nay, be her faith, sche wuld no more days ȝeve ȝw therin. Sche said sche had sett ȝw so many days to a kord with her, and ȝe had broke them, þat sche was right wery thereof; and sche said sche was but a woman, sche must done be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had advised her, so sche said sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azin þat sche wuld wait tyl ȝe kom hom, and I said I trostyd veryly þat ȝe wuld done qhan ȝe kom hom, as it longeth to ȝw to done; and if ȝe myth have very knowledge þat sche awyth of right for to have it, I said I wyst well þat ȝe wuld pay it with right good wyl, and told her þat ȝe had sergyd to a fownd wrytyng thereof, and ȝe kwd no fynd in no wise. And sche sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng thereof inow, and sche has wrytyng thereof hw Syr Robert of Mautby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and dyverse other of [mine/my] awncesterys paid it, and said nevyre nay therto. And in no wise I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ȝe kom hom; and sche bade me þat I xuld done an erand to my mother, and qhan I kam hom, I did [mine/my] erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my lady of þis forseyd matter, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer I had; and sche said sche xuld gone to my Lady Morles on the nexst day, and sche xuld speken to her thereof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to sesyn of the forsayd matter tyl þat ȝe kom hom. And truly my mother did her dever right feythfully therin, as my cousin Clare xal tellyn ȝw qhan þat he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my said lady þat there xuld nowth [be/been] done aȝens ȝw therin, and ȝe would acordyn with her, and done as ȝe own to do be twyx þis time and Trinity Sunday.
Lauerawnce Rede of Mawthhy recommends him to zu, and prayt ȝw þat ȝe wyl vwchesave to leten him byn of ȝw the ferm barley þat ȝe xuld have of him, and if ȝe wyl laten him have it to a resonabyl pris, he wyl have it with right a good wyl; and he prayit ȝw if ȝe wyl þat he have it, þat ȝe wyl vouchsafe to send him word at qhat pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ȝe may, and ellys he must be purvayd in other plase.
As twchyng other tidings, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send ȝw word in a letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London þis term.
It is said in þis contre þat Daniel is owth of the Kyngs good grase, and he xal dwn and all his mene, and all þat [be/been] his wele wyllers; there xal no man [be/been] so hardy to done nether say aȝens my Lord of Sowthfolk, nere no þat longeth to him; and all þat have done and said aȝens him, they xul [badly/sorely] repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be weddyd on the Monday nexst after Trinity Sonday, as it is told me, to the galaunte with the greet chene; and there is purvayd for her meche good aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other good aray, and he hathe purcheysyd a great purcheys of v. mark be ȝer to ȝevyn her to her joynture.
I am frightened þat Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, þat he wyl sett his good to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre good frendys, but unless I can hold him Inn the better, ere ȝe kom hom. He has [be/been] arestyd sythyn þat you went, and has had much sorw at the sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for ten. mark þat Sparham out to him; and in good faith he has had so much sorow and hevynesse þat he wyst nowth qhat he myth done. I fell him so disposyd þat he would asold and asett to morgage all þat he has, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so þat he myth an had money to an holpyn him self with; and I entretyd him so, þat I sopose he wyll nother sellyn nor sett to morgage, nother catel nor other good of hese, tyl he speak with ȝw. He soposeth þat al þat is done to him is at the request of the Parson of Sparham and Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort him, for in good faith he is right hevy, and his wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he has paid his feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd at Sparham, of on of Knatysales men.
Hodge Feke told me þat Sym Shepherd is styl with Wylly, and if ȝe wyl I xal [obtain/purchase] þat he xal be browth hom er ȝe kom hom. It is told me þat he þat kept ȝwr sheep was owth lawyd on Monday at the swth of Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ȝe arn nowth lyk to keep him long. And as twchyng þat þat ȝe badeyn me spekyn for to Bacton, he said he is well advised þat sche said sche wuld never have to done with all, nor he kan not pek þat sche said sche has no right to have it, and he wyl say lyche as he has herd her said; and if sche speak to him thereof, he wyll rather hold with ȝw than with her. I pray you þat ȝe wyl vwche save to send me word hw ȝe speed in ȝwr matter twchyng Gresham, and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld has browth to me xl s. of Gresham syn ȝe ȝede, and he said I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he may pyk it up.
I sopose Jamys Gresham has told ȝw of other thyngs þat I have sped syn ȝe ȝedyn hence. If I her any strawnge tidings in þis contre, I xall send ȝw word. I pray ȝw þat I may [be/been] recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
The Holy Trynyté have ȝw in his keeping, and send ȝw helth and good speed in al ȝwr maters twchyng ȝwr right.
Written at Norwich, on the Wedenys day nexst after þat ȝe partyd hence.
Yors, MARGARETE PASTON.
My dearest husband, my best wishes; I long to know how you are. This is to let you know that I was with Lady Morley on the Saturday before last after you left here; I told her of the answer that you had had from John Butt and she took it very strangely and said that she had told you and showed you where you could get information that the relief ought to be paid to her. She said she knew very well that you delayed it because it rightly belonged to her. She told me how it used to be paid in Thomas Chambre's time, that time when her daughter Ann Hastings was married; she said that since you won't make a settlement with her, it will have to be settled by law.
I saw that she intended to work against you soon, and then I asked her to promise me that she wouldn't take action against you until you were home, and she said no, she wouldn't give you any more time. She said she had given you enough days to settle with her and you had not done so and said that as she was just a woman she would have to let her lawyer do what was necessary and he had advised he, so it will be done. I asked her again to wait until you were home, as we both hope will happen soon, and if you knew any reason why she should have it. I said I hoped that you would pay it willingly and told her that you had looked for written proof and you couldn't find any. She said there was plenty of written proof and that she had such which showed how Sir Robert Mautby, Sir John and my grandfather and several more of my ancestors paid it without refusing. I said no wife could settle it until you came home. She said I should go to my mother, and when I came home I did so. She asked me if I had talked to the Lady about it; I told her what had been done and said. She said she would go to Lady Morley's next day and would speak to her and ask her to delay until you were home. She did her best, as cousin Clere will tell you when she speaks to you, and Lady Morley agreed that nothing would be done against you for the moment if you came to agreement with her between now and Trinity Sunday.
Laurence Reed of Mautby asks to be remembered to you and that you will agree to let him buy the barley from the farm that he should give to you. He'll be pleased to give a good price and if you're agreeable he'll send you the price of a comb as quickly as possible, otherwise he must buy somewhere else.
On other news, John Damme has probably sent you a letter. I'm told Heydon won't come to London for the moment.
It is said here that Daniel is out of the King's good books and he'll go down with all his men and that of all his well-wishers, nobody will be foolish enough to do or say anything again my Lord of Suffolk or any of his men. All who have spoken against him will be sorry. Katharine Walsham will be married on the Monday after Trinity Sunday to the chap with the large gold chain. She's been bought a lovely selection of gowns, girdles and dresses, and much other good clothing, and he's settled five marks a year on her.
I'm afraid that John of Sparham is so dim that he'll mortgage his possessions to Heydon, or to some other of your good friends, unless I can hold him to something better until you come home; he has been arrested since you went away and is greatly troubled by the charge brought against him by John Stokes of London for ten marks that Sparham owed to him. He has so much sorrow and weight on his shoulders that he won't do what he should; I feel him so out of sorts that he might sell or mortgage everything he has to anyone, just so that he has some money to get by; I've begged him not to sell cattle or property until he's had a chance to talk to you. He believes that all that has been done to him is because of the parson of Sparham and Thomas Knatysale. I suppose it's best to comfort him, for he's certainly very miserable and his wife as well, he is not now under arrest, as he's paid his fees, and goes about freely; he had been arrested at Sparham by one of Knatysale's men.
Hodge Feke told me that Sym Shepherd is still with Wylly, and if you wish I'll arrange for him to come home before you're home. It's told me that he kept your sheep and was outlawed on Monday on the order of Sir Thomas Tuddenham, and if that's correct, you're not likely to keep him for long. On the same matter, you asked me to speak to Bacton. He says he's been advised to have nothing to do with it, he has no right to have it and he'd say the same as her, and if she talks to him about it, she will side with you rather than with her. I hope you'll send me word how you're getting on with the matter concerning Gresham and how Daniel is. Harry Goneld has brought me 40 shillings from Gresham since you went away and tells me there'll be more at Whitsun, if he can collect it.
I expect James Gresham has told you of other things that have happened since you left here. If I hear any strange news around here I'll let you know. Give my best wishes to my lord Daniel.
The holy Trinity have you in his keeping and send you health and best wishes in all your matters to do with your rights. Written at Norwich on the Wednesday after you left.
Yours,
Margaret Paston
