Ryght worshipfull husbond, I recomaund me to yow, and prey yow to wete þat on Friday last passed be-fore noon, þe parson of Oxened beyng at messe in our parossh chirche, euyn atte leuacion of phe sakeryng, Jamys Gloys hadde hen in þhe tovne and come homward by Wymondams gate. And Wymondam stod in his gate and John Norwode his man stod by hym, and Thomas Hawys his othir man stod in þhe strete by þhe canell side. And Jamys Gloys come with his hatte on his hede betwen bothe his men, as he was wont of custome to do. And whanne Gloys was a-yenst Wymondham he seid þus, 'Couere thy heed!' And Gloys seid ageyn, , 'So I shall for þhe .' And whanne Gloys was forþhe r passed by þhe space of iij or iiij strede, Wymondham drew owt his dagger and seid, 'Shalt þow so, knave?' And perwith Gloys turned hym and drewe owt his dagger and defendet hym, fleyng in-to my moderis place; and Wymondham and his man Hawys kest stonys and dreve Gloys into my moderis place. And Hawys folwyd into my moderis place and kest a ston as meche as a forthyng lof into þhe halle after Gloys; and pan ran owt of þhe place ageyn. And Gloys folwyd owt and stod with-owt þhe gate, and þanne Wymondham called Gloys thef and seid he shuld dye, and Gloys seid he lyed and called hym charl, and bad hym come hym-self or ell þhe best man he hadde, and·Gloys wold answere hym on for on. And þanne Haweys ran into Wymondhams place and feched a spere and a swerd, and toke his maister his swerd. And with þhe noise of þis a-saut and affray my modir and I come owt of þhe chirche from þhe sakeryng; and I bad Gloys go in to my moderis place ageyn, and so he dede. And thanne Wymondham called my moder and me strong hores, and seid þhe Pastons and alle her kyn were (... )myngham (... )e seid he lyed, knave and char! as he was. And he had meche large langage, as ye shall knowe her-after by mowthe .
After non my modir and I yede to þhe Priour of Norwich and told hym al þis cas, and þhe Priour sent for Wymondham and þerwhyle we yede hom a-geyn and Pagraue come with vs horn. And whil Wymondham was with þhe Priour, and we were at hom in our places, Gloys stod in þhe strete at my moderis gate and Hawys aspyed hym þere as he stod on þhe Lady Hastyngis chambre. A-non he come doun with a tohand swerd and assauted ageyn þhe seid Gloys and Thomas my moderis man, and lete flye r a strok at Thomas with þhe sword and rippled his hand with his sword. And as for þhe latter assaut þhe parson of Oxened sygh it and wole a-vowe it. And moche more thyng was do, as Gloys can tell yow by mouthe. And for þhe perilx of þat myght hapþhe by þese premysses and þhe circumstances þerof to beu eschewed, by þ'aduyse of my modir and oþer I send yow Gloys to attend up-on yow for a seson, for ease of myn owen hert; for in good feyth I wolde not for xl li. haue suyche an-oþer trouble.
As touchyng my Lady Morlé, she seith þat she atte hire will wole haue þhe benyfyce of hire obligacion, for hir counseyll telleth hir, as she seith, þat it is forfayt. And she wole not haue þhe relif til she hath your homage, &c.
The Lord Moleyns man gaderyth up þhe rent at Gresham a gret pace, and Jamys Gresham shall telle yow more pleynly perof at his comyng.
Nomore at éis tyme, but Almyghty God haue yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Trynyté Sunday at euyn.
Yours, MARGARETE PASTON
As touchyng Roger Foke, Gloys shall telle yow all, &c.
Qwhan Wymdham seyd þat Jamys xuld dy I seyd to hym þat I soposyd þat he xuld repent hym jf he schlow hym or dede to hym any bodyly harm; and he seyd nay, he xuld never repent hym ner have a ferdyng wurth of harm þow he kelyd ȝw and hym bothe. And I seyd ȝys, and he sclow þe lest chylde þat longyth to ȝwr kechyn, and jf he dede he were lyke, I sopose, to dy for hym. It js told me þat he xall kom to London jn hast. I pray ȝw be ware hw ȝe walkyn jf he be þere, for he js ful cursyd-hertyd and lwmysch. I wot wel he wyl not set vp-on ȝw manly, but I be-leve he wyl styrt vp-on ȝw or on sum of ȝwr men leke a thef. I pray ȝw hertyly þat ȝe late not Jamys kom hom aȝen in non wyse tyl ȝe kom home, for myn hertys ese; for be my trwth I wold not þat he were hurt, ner non man þat longyth to ȝw jn ȝwr absens for xx pwnd. And in gode feyth he js sore hatyd both of Wymdam and sum of hys men, and of oþer þat Wymdam tellyth to hys tale as hym lyst, for þer as Wymdam tellyth hys tale he makyth hem be-levyn þat Jamys js gylty and he no þyng gylty.
I pray ȝw hertyly here masse and oþer servys þat ȝe am bwn to here wyth a devwt hert, and I hoþhe veryly þat ȝe xal spede ryth wele in all ȝwr materys, be þhe grase of God. Trust veryly in God and leve hym and serve hym, and he wyl not deseve ȝw. Of all oþer materys I xall sent ȝw wurd jn hast.
Ryght worshipfull husbond, I recomaund me to yow, and prey yow to wete þat on Friday last passed be-fore noon, þe parson of Oxened beyng at messe in our parossh chirche, euyn atte leuacion of phe sakeryng, Jamys Gloys hadde hen in þhe tovne and come homward by Wymondams gate. And Wymondam stod in his gate and John Norwode his man stod by hym, and Thomas Hawys his othir man stod in þhe strete by þhe canell side. And Jamys Gloys come with his hatte on his hede betwen bothe his men, as he was wont of custome to do. And whanne Gloys was a-yenst Wymondham he seid þus, 'Couere thy heed!' And Gloys seid ageyn, , 'So I shall for þhe .' And whanne Gloys was forþhe r passed by þhe space of iij or iiij strede, Wymondham drew owt his dagger and seid, 'Shalt þow so, knave?' And perwith Gloys turned hym and drewe owt his dagger and defendet hym, fleyng in-to my moderis place; and Wymondham and his man Hawys kest stonys and dreve Gloys into my moderis place. And Hawys folwyd into my moderis place and kest a ston as meche as a forthyng lof into þhe halle after Gloys; and pan ran owt of þhe place ageyn. And Gloys folwyd owt and stod with-owt þhe gate, and þanne Wymondham called Gloys thef and seid he shuld dye, and Gloys seid he lyed and called hym charl, and bad hym come hym-self or ell þhe best man he hadde, and·Gloys wold answere hym on for on. And þanne Haweys ran into Wymondhams place and feched a spere and a swerd, and toke his maister his swerd. And with þhe noise of þis a-saut and affray my modir and I come owt of þhe chirche from þhe sakeryng; and I bad Gloys go in to my moderis place ageyn, and so he dede. And thanne Wymondham called my moder and me strong hores, and seid þhe Pastons and alle her kyn were (... )myngham (... )e seid he lyed, knave and char! as he was. And he had meche large langage, as ye shall knowe her-after by mowthe .
After non my modir and I yede to þhe Priour of Norwich and told hym al þis cas, and þhe Priour sent for Wymondham and þerwhyle we yede hom a-geyn and Pagraue come with vs horn. And whil Wymondham was with þhe Priour, and we were at hom in our places, Gloys stod in þhe strete at my moderis gate and Hawys aspyed hym þere as he stod on þhe Lady Hastyngis chambre. A-non he come doun with a tohand swerd and assauted ageyn þhe seid Gloys and Thomas my moderis man, and lete flye r a strok at Thomas with þhe sword and rippled his hand with his sword. And as for þhe latter assaut þhe parson of Oxened sygh it and wole a-vowe it. And moche more thyng was do, as Gloys can tell yow by mouthe. And for þhe perilx of þat myght hapþhe by þese premysses and þhe circumstances þerof to beu eschewed, by þ'aduyse of my modir and oþer I send yow Gloys to attend up-on yow for a seson, for ease of myn owen hert; for in good feyth I wolde not for xl li. haue suyche an-oþer trouble.
As touchyng my Lady Morlé, she seith þat she atte hire will wole haue þhe benyfyce of hire obligacion, for hir counseyll telleth hir, as she seith, þat it is forfayt. And she wole not haue þhe relif til she hath your homage, &c.
The Lord Moleyns man gaderyth up þhe rent at Gresham a gret pace, and Jamys Gresham shall telle yow more pleynly perof at his comyng.
Nomore at éis tyme, but Almyghty God haue yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Trynyté Sunday at euyn.
Yours, MARGARETE PASTON
As touchyng Roger Foke, Gloys shall telle yow all, &c.
Qwhan Wymdham seyd þat Jamys xuld dy I seyd to hym þat I soposyd þat he xuld repent hym jf he schlow hym or dede to hym any bodyly harm; and he seyd nay, he xuld never repent hym ner have a ferdyng wurth of harm þow he kelyd ȝw and hym bothe. And I seyd ȝys, and he sclow þe lest chylde þat longyth to ȝwr kechyn, and jf he dede he were lyke, I sopose, to dy for hym. It js told me þat he xall kom to London jn hast. I pray ȝw be ware hw ȝe walkyn jf he be þere, for he js ful cursyd-hertyd and lwmysch. I wot wel he wyl not set vp-on ȝw manly, but I be-leve he wyl styrt vp-on ȝw or on sum of ȝwr men leke a thef. I pray ȝw hertyly þat ȝe late not Jamys kom hom aȝen in non wyse tyl ȝe kom home, for myn hertys ese; for be my trwth I wold not þat he were hurt, ner non man þat longyth to ȝw jn ȝwr absens for xx pwnd. And in gode feyth he js sore hatyd both of Wymdam and sum of hys men, and of oþer þat Wymdam tellyth to hys tale as hym lyst, for þer as Wymdam tellyth hys tale he makyth hem be-levyn þat Jamys js gylty and he no þyng gylty.
I pray ȝw hertyly here masse and oþer servys þat ȝe am bwn to here wyth a devwt hert, and I hoþhe veryly þat ȝe xal spede ryth wele in all ȝwr materys, be þhe grase of God. Trust veryly in God and leve hym and serve hym, and he wyl not deseve ȝw. Of all oþer materys I xall sent ȝw wurd jn hast.
Ryght worshipfull husbond, I recomaund me to yow, and prey yow to wete þat on Friday last passed be-fore noon, þe parson of Oxened beyng at messe in our parossh chirche, euyn atte leuacion of phe sakeryng, Jamys Gloys hadde hen in þhe tovne and come homward by Wymondams gate. And Wymondam stod in his gate and John Norwode his man stod by hym, and Thomas Hawys his othir man stod in þhe strete by þhe canell side. And Jamys Gloys come with his hatte on his hede betwen bothe his men, as he was wont of custome to do. And whanne Gloys was a-yenst Wymondham he seid þus, 'Couere thy heed!' And Gloys seid ageyn, , 'So I shall for þhe .' And whanne Gloys was forþhe r passed by þhe space of iij or iiij strede, Wymondham drew owt his dagger and seid, 'Shalt þow so, knave?' And perwith Gloys turned hym and drewe owt his dagger and defendet hym, fleyng in-to my moderis place; and Wymondham and his man Hawys kest stonys and dreve Gloys into my moderis place. And Hawys folwyd into my moderis place and kest a ston as meche as a forthyng lof into þhe halle after Gloys; and pan ran owt of þhe place ageyn. And Gloys folwyd owt and stod with-owt þhe gate, and þanne Wymondham called Gloys thef and seid he shuld dye, and Gloys seid he lyed and called hym charl, and bad hym come hym-self or ell þhe best man he hadde, and·Gloys wold answere hym on for on. And þanne Haweys ran into Wymondhams place and feched a spere and a swerd, and toke his maister his swerd. And with þhe noise of þis a-saut and affray my modir and I come owt of þhe chirche from þhe sakeryng; and I bad Gloys go in to my moderis place ageyn, and so he dede. And thanne Wymondham called my moder and me strong hores, and seid þhe Pastons and alle her kyn were (... )myngham (... )e seid he lyed, knave and char! as he was. And he had meche large langage, as ye shall knowe her-after by mowthe .
After non my modir and I yede to þhe Priour of Norwich and told hym al þis cas, and þhe Priour sent for Wymondham and þerwhyle we yede hom a-geyn and Pagraue come with vs horn. And whil Wymondham was with þhe Priour, and we were at hom in our places, Gloys stod in þhe strete at my moderis gate and Hawys aspyed hym þere as he stod on þhe Lady Hastyngis chambre. A-non he come doun with a tohand swerd and assauted ageyn þhe seid Gloys and Thomas my moderis man, and lete flye r a strok at Thomas with þhe sword and rippled his hand with his sword. And as for þhe latter assaut þhe parson of Oxened sygh it and wole a-vowe it. And moche more thyng was do, as Gloys can tell yow by mouthe. And for þhe perilx of þat myght hapþhe by þese premysses and þhe circumstances þerof to beu eschewed, by þ'aduyse of my modir and oþer I send yow Gloys to attend up-on yow for a seson, for ease of myn owen hert; for in good feyth I wolde not for xl li. haue suyche an-oþer trouble.
As touchyng my Lady Morlé, she seith þat she atte hire will wole haue þhe benyfyce of hire obligacion, for hir counseyll telleth hir, as she seith, þat it is forfayt. And she wole not haue þhe relif til she hath your homage, &c.
The Lord Moleyns man gaderyth up þhe rent at Gresham a gret pace, and Jamys Gresham shall telle yow more pleynly perof at his comyng.
Nomore at éis tyme, but Almyghty God haue yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Trynyté Sunday at euyn.
Yours, MARGARETE PASTON
As touchyng Roger Foke, Gloys shall telle yow all, &c.
Qwhan Wymdham seyd þat Jamys xuld dy I seyd to hym þat I soposyd þat he xuld repent hym jf he schlow hym or dede to hym any bodyly harm; and he seyd nay, he xuld never repent hym ner have a ferdyng wurth of harm þow he kelyd ȝw and hym bothe. And I seyd ȝys, and he sclow þe lest chylde þat longyth to ȝwr kechyn, and jf he dede he were lyke, I sopose, to dy for hym. It js told me þat he xall kom to London jn hast. I pray ȝw be ware hw ȝe walkyn jf he be þere, for he js ful cursyd-hertyd and lwmysch. I wot wel he wyl not set vp-on ȝw manly, but I be-leve he wyl styrt vp-on ȝw or on sum of ȝwr men leke a thef. I pray ȝw hertyly þat ȝe late not Jamys kom hom aȝen in non wyse tyl ȝe kom home, for myn hertys ese; for be my trwth I wold not þat he were hurt, ner non man þat longyth to ȝw jn ȝwr absens for xx pwnd. And in gode feyth he js sore hatyd both of Wymdam and sum of hys men, and of oþer þat Wymdam tellyth to hys tale as hym lyst, for þer as Wymdam tellyth hys tale he makyth hem be-levyn þat Jamys js gylty and he no þyng gylty.
I pray ȝw hertyly here masse and oþer servys þat ȝe am bwn to here wyth a devwt hert, and I hoþhe veryly þat ȝe xal spede ryth wele in all ȝwr materys, be þhe grase of God. Trust veryly in God and leve hym and serve hym, and he wyl not deseve ȝw. Of all oþer materys I xall sent ȝw wurd jn hast.
Right worshipful husband, I recommend me to you, and pray you to wait þat on Friday last passed be-fore no, þe parson of Oxnead beyng at messe in our parossh chirche, euyn at leuacion of phe sakeryng, Jamys Gloys had hen in þhe tovne and come homward by Wymondams gate. And Wymondam stod in his gate and John Norwode his man stod by him, and Thomas Hawys his othir man stod in þhe strete by þhe canell side. And Jamys Gloys come with his hatte on his hede between both his men, as he was wont of custome to do. And whanne Gloys was a-yenst Wymondham he said þus, 'Couere thy heed!' And Gloys said again, , 'So I shall for þhe .' And whanne Gloys was forþhe r passed by þhe space of three or iiij strede, Wymondham drew out his dagger and said, 'Shalt þow so, knave?' And perwith Gloys turned him and drewe out his dagger and defendet him, fleyng in-to my moderis place; and Wymondham and his man Hawys kest stones and dreve Gloys into my moderis place. And Hawys folwyd into my moderis place and kest a ston as meche as a forthyng lof into þhe halle after Gloys; and pan ran out of þhe place again. And Gloys folwyd out and stod with-out þhe gate, and þanne Wymondham called Gloys thef and said he should dye, and Gloys said he lyed and called him charl, and bade him come him-self or ell þhe best man he had, and·Gloys would answer him on for on. And þanne Haweys ran into Wymondhams place and feched a spere and a swerd, and toke his master his swerd. And with þhe noise of þis a-saut and affray my modir and I come out of þhe chirche from þhe sakeryng; and I bade Gloys go in to my moderis place again, and so he did. And thanne Wymondham called my mother and me strong hores, and said þhe Paston's and all her kyn were (... )myngham (... )e said he lyed, knave and char! as he was. And he had meche large language, as you shall knowe her-after by mowthe .
After no my modir and I Went to þhe Priour of Norwich and told him al þis cas, and þhe Priour sent for Wymondham and þerwhyle we Went hom a-geyn and Pagraue come with vs horn. And whil Wymondham was with þhe Priour, and we were at hom in our places, Gloys stod in þhe strete at my moderis gate and Hawys aspyed him þere as he stod on þhe Lady Hastyngis chambre. A-no he come doun with a tohand swerd and assauted again þhe said Gloys and Thomas my moderis man, and let flye r a strok at Thomas with þhe sword and rippled his hand with his sword. And as for þhe latter assaut þhe parson of Oxnead sygh it and wole a-vowe it. And much more thing was do, as Gloys can tell you by mouthe. And for þhe perilx of þat might hapþhe by þease premysses and þhe circumstances þerof to beu eschewed, by þ'aduyse of my modir and oþer I send you Gloys to attend up-on you for a seisin, for ease of [mine/my] own hert; for in good faith I would not for xl li. have suyche an-oþer trouble.
As touching my Lady Morlé, she seith þat she at hire will wole have þhe benyfyce of hire obligacion, for hir counseyll telleth hir, as she seith, þat it is forfayt. And she wole not have þhe relif til she has your homage, etc..
The Lord Moleyns man gaderyth up þhe rent at Gresham a great pace, and Jamys Gresham shall telle you more plainly perof at his coming.
Nomore at éis time, but Almighty God have you in his keeping. Written in haste on Trynyté Sunday at euyn.
Yours, MARGARETE PASTON
As touching Roger Foke, Gloys shall telle you all, etc..
Qwhan Wymdham said þat Jamys xuld dy I said to him þat I soposyd þat he xuld repent him jf he schlow him or did to him any bodyly harm; and he said nay, he xuld never repent him nor have a ferdyng wurth of harm þow he kelyd ȝw and him both. And I said ȝis, and he sclow þe least chylde þat longyth to ȝwr kechyn, and jf he did he were like, I sopose, to dy for him. It js told me þat he xall kom to London jn haste. I pray ȝw be ware hw ȝe walkyn jf he be þere, for he js ful cursyd-hertyd and lwmysch. I wot well he wyl not set vp-on ȝw manly, but I be-leve he wyl styrt vp-on ȝw or on sum of ȝwr men leke a thef. I pray ȝw heartily þat ȝe late not Jamys kom hom aȝen in no wise tyl ȝe kom home, for [mine/my] hertys ease; for be my trwth I would not þat he were hurt, nor no man þat longyth to ȝw jn ȝwr absens for xx pwnd. And in good faith he js [badly/sorely] hatyd both of Wymdam and sum of his men, and of oþer þat Wymdam tellyth to his tale as him [please/wish], for þer as Wymdam tellyth his tale he makes hem be-levyn þat Jamys js gylty and he no þyng gylty.
I pray ȝw heartily [here/her] masse and oþer servys þat ȝe am bwn to [here/her] with a devwt hert, and I hoþhe veryly þat ȝe xal speed right wele in all ȝwr matters, be þhe grase of God. Trust veryly in God and leve him and serve him, and he wyl not deseve ȝw. Of all oþer matters I xall sent ȝw wurd jn haste.
My dear husband, I have as always been thinking of you. I want you to know that last Friday morning, when the parson of Oxnead was celebrating mass at the parish church, James Gloys had been in the town and was coming home past Wymondham's gate. John Wymondham stood in his gate and his man John Norwode stood there with him – with his other man, Thomas Hawes, standing in the street by the side of the river. James Gloys came with his hat on between both men, as he normally would do. And when Gloys came up to John Wymondham, Wymondham said in an offensive way: "So you cover your head!" And Gloys replied: "Yes, I will for you!" And when James Gloys continued walking three or four steps, Wymondham drew his dagger and said: "Oh you will, will you, you knave?" At that Gloys turned and drew his own dagger to defend himself, fleeing into my mother's place. And Wymondham and his man Hawes threw stones and forced Gloys further into my mother's place. Hawes followed and threw a stone as big as a farthing loaf into the hall after Gloys, and then ran out again. Gloys followed him out and stood outside the gate, and then Wymondham called Gloys a thief. Gloys said he lied and called him a churl, then told him to come himself or send the best man he had, and Gloys would fight him one-to-one. Then Hawes ran into Wymondham's place and fetched a spear and a sword; he also brought his master's sword and gave it to him. With the noise of this assault and affray my mother and I came out of the church from the mass; I told Gloys to go into my mother's place again, and he did. Then John Wymondham called my mother and me strong whores, and insulted the Pastons and all her kin. We said he lied, knave and churl that he was. And he said many foul and unpleasant things, as you will hear later.
In the afternoon my mother and I went to the Prior of Norwich and told him what had happened. The Prior sent for Wymondham, and we went home again – Pagrave coming with us. While Wymondham was with the Prior and we were at home, Gloys was standing in the street at my mother's gate, and Hawes, who was standing in Lady Hastings' room, saw him there. He came down with a two-handed sword and assaulted again both Gloys and Thomas, my mother's man. He let fly at Thomas with the sword and ripped his hand open. This assault was seen by the parson of Oxnead, and he will confirm it. This was not the end of it, as Gloys can tell you himself. To avoid any similar trouble in this area, on the advice of my mother and others, I am sending you Gloys to serve you for a while. This will make me feel much easier, for in good faith I would not for £40 have any more trouble like that.
Lady Morlé is concerned that she should remain in your good books and not forfeit your approval.
Lord Moleyns man is collecting rents at Gresham very quickly. James Gresham will give you more details when he sees you.
Nothing else at the moment, but I pray that Almighty God has you in his keeping. Written in haste on Trinity Sunday in the evening.
Yours, MARGARET PASTON
Concerning Roger Foke, James Gloys will tell you everything.
When John Wymondham said that James would die, I told him I thought he would be sorry if he killed him or did him any harm. But he said no, he would never be sorry or suffer a farthing's worth of harm even if he killed you both. And I said no, if he killed the least child serving in your kitchen he would probably die as a result. I am told that he will be coming to London quickly. Please be careful if he is there, because he is full of resentment and inclined to evil. I don't suppose he is likely to attack you man-to-man, but I believe he will come against you or some of your men like a thief. I beg you not to let James come home until you come, or I will not rest. I really do not want to see him hurt, nor any of your men in your absence, even for £20. And he really is hated both by Wymondham and by some of his men, and by others to whom Wymondham has told the story – for Wymondham tells it, of course, to make it seem that James is guilty and he is innocent.
I beg you to hear mass and other services that you have to hear with a devout heart. And I truly hope that everything will go well for you by the grace of God. Trust God, and love him and serve him, and he will not desert you. I will let you have further news very soon.
