To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delivered.
Trusty and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to ȝow, desyryng to here of ȝowre weelfare and good spede in ȝowre matere, þe qwech I prey God send ȝow to his plesaunce and to ȝowre hertys ease.
Cosyn, I lete ȝow wete þat Scrope hath be in this cuntré to se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn ȝowre moder, and sche desyreth of hym þat he schuld schewe ȝow þe endentures mad be twen þe knyght þat hath his dowter and hym, whethir þat Skrop, if he were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld enheryte his lond, or his dowter, þe wheche is maried.
Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad to schewe ȝow hem, or whom ȝe wol a sygne with ȝow; and he seith to me he is þe last in þe tayle of his lyflode, þe qweche is CCCL. marke and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a sone an eyre, his dowter þat is maried schal have of his liflode L. marke and no more; and þerfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, with[out] þat ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ȝe can gete a better, I wold avyse ȝow to labour it in as schort tyme as ȝe may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes, for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but þat sche bereth hire an hand otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen Esterne þe most part be betyn onys in þe weke or twyes, and som tyme twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn, sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me þat I wold send to ȝow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir good brothyr, as hir trost is in ȝow; and sche seith, if ȝe may se be his evydences þat his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his condicions, þat and ȝe will sche will have hym, whethyr þat hir moder wil or wil not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple, for sche seyth men shull have þe more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire to hym as sche awte to do.
Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of þe qweche þe fadyr deyed litte, and if ȝe thynk þat he were better for hir than Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere þat he be not put of tyl ȝe be sure of a bettyr; for he seid whan he was with me, but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of ȝow, he wil no more laboure in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she is; and þat causeth hym to demyr þat hir moder was not weel willyng, and so have I sent my cosyn ȝowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse than thei schuld do, and if sche where in þat case, I wot weel ȝe wold be sory. Cosyn, I prey ȝow brenne this letter, þat ȝowre men ne non other man se it; for and my cosyn ȝowre moder knew þat I had sent yow this letter, sche shuld never love me. Nomore I wrighte to ȝow at this tyme, but Holy Gost have ȝow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys day, be candel lyght.
Be youre Cosyn,
ELIZABETH CLERE.
To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delivered.
Trusty and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to ȝow, desyryng to here of ȝowre weelfare and good spede in ȝowre matere, þe qwech I prey God send ȝow to his plesaunce and to ȝowre hertys ease.
Cosyn, I lete ȝow wete þat Scrope hath be in this cuntré to se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn ȝowre moder, and sche desyreth of hym þat he schuld schewe ȝow þe endentures mad be twen þe knyght þat hath his dowter and hym, whethir þat Skrop, if he were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld enheryte his lond, or his dowter, þe wheche is maried.
Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad to schewe ȝow hem, or whom ȝe wol a sygne with ȝow; and he seith to me he is þe last in þe tayle of his lyflode, þe qweche is CCCL. marke and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a sone an eyre, his dowter þat is maried schal have of his liflode L. marke and no more; and þerfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, with[out] þat ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ȝe can gete a better, I wold avyse ȝow to labour it in as schort tyme as ȝe may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes, for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but þat sche bereth hire an hand otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen Esterne þe most part be betyn onys in þe weke or twyes, and som tyme twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn, sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me þat I wold send to ȝow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir good brothyr, as hir trost is in ȝow; and sche seith, if ȝe may se be his evydences þat his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his condicions, þat and ȝe will sche will have hym, whethyr þat hir moder wil or wil not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple, for sche seyth men shull have þe more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire to hym as sche awte to do.
Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of þe qweche þe fadyr deyed litte, and if ȝe thynk þat he were better for hir than Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere þat he be not put of tyl ȝe be sure of a bettyr; for he seid whan he was with me, but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of ȝow, he wil no more laboure in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she is; and þat causeth hym to demyr þat hir moder was not weel willyng, and so have I sent my cosyn ȝowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse than thei schuld do, and if sche where in þat case, I wot weel ȝe wold be sory. Cosyn, I prey ȝow brenne this letter, þat ȝowre men ne non other man se it; for and my cosyn ȝowre moder knew þat I had sent yow this letter, sche shuld never love me. Nomore I wrighte to ȝow at this tyme, but Holy Gost have ȝow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys day, be candel lyght.
Be youre Cosyn,
ELIZABETH CLERE.
To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delivered.
Trusty and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to ȝow, desyryng to here of ȝowre weelfare and good spede in ȝowre matere, þe qwech I prey God send ȝow to his plesaunce and to ȝowre hertys ease.
Cosyn, I lete ȝow wete þat Scrope hath be in this cuntré to se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn ȝowre moder, and sche desyreth of hym þat he schuld schewe ȝow þe endentures mad be twen þe knyght þat hath his dowter and hym, whethir þat Skrop, if he were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld enheryte his lond, or his dowter, þe wheche is maried.
Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad to schewe ȝow hem, or whom ȝe wol a sygne with ȝow; and he seith to me he is þe last in þe tayle of his lyflode, þe qweche is CCCL. marke and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a sone an eyre, his dowter þat is maried schal have of his liflode L. marke and no more; and þerfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, with[out] þat ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ȝe can gete a better, I wold avyse ȝow to labour it in as schort tyme as ȝe may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes, for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but þat sche bereth hire an hand otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen Esterne þe most part be betyn onys in þe weke or twyes, and som tyme twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn, sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me þat I wold send to ȝow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir good brothyr, as hir trost is in ȝow; and sche seith, if ȝe may se be his evydences þat his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his condicions, þat and ȝe will sche will have hym, whethyr þat hir moder wil or wil not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple, for sche seyth men shull have þe more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire to hym as sche awte to do.
Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of þe qweche þe fadyr deyed litte, and if ȝe thynk þat he were better for hir than Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere þat he be not put of tyl ȝe be sure of a bettyr; for he seid whan he was with me, but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of ȝow, he wil no more laboure in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn ȝowre sustyr, and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she is; and þat causeth hym to demyr þat hir moder was not weel willyng, and so have I sent my cosyn ȝowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse than thei schuld do, and if sche where in þat case, I wot weel ȝe wold be sory. Cosyn, I prey ȝow brenne this letter, þat ȝowre men ne non other man se it; for and my cosyn ȝowre moder knew þat I had sent yow this letter, sche shuld never love me. Nomore I wrighte to ȝow at this tyme, but Holy Gost have ȝow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys day, be candel lyght.
Be youre Cosyn,
ELIZABETH CLERE.
To my Cousin, John Paston, be thys letter delivered.
Trusty and well be loved cousin, I comaunde me to ȝow, desiring to [here/her] of ȝowre weelfare and good speed in ȝowre matere, þe qwech I pray God send ȝow to his plesaunce and to ȝowre hertys ease.
Cousin, I let ȝow wait þat Scrope has be in this cuntré to se my cousin ȝowre sustyr, and he has spoken with my cousin ȝowre mother, and sche desyreth of him þat he schuld schewe ȝow þe legal documents mad be twen þe knyght þat has his dowter and him, whethir þat Skrop, if he were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld enheryte his land, or his dowter, þe wheche is maried.
Cousin, for this cause take good hede to his endentures, for he is glad to schewe ȝow hem, or whom ȝe wol a sygne with ȝow; and he seith to me he is þe last in þe tayle of his lyflode, þe qweche is 350 marks and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he has take a compt of his liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a soon an eyre, his dowter þat is maried schal have of his liflode L. marke and no more; and þerfore, cousin, me semeth he were good for my cousin ȝowre sustyr, with[out] þat you might gete her a bettyr. And if ȝe can gete a better, I would avyse ȝow to labour it in as schort time as ȝe may goodly, for sche was never in so great sorow as sche is now a days, for sche may not speak with no man, ho so ever come, no not may se no speak with my man, no with servauntes of hir moderys but þat sche bereth hire an hand otherwyse than she menyth. And sche has since Easter þe most part be betyn onys in þe weke or twyes, and som time twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cousin, sche has sent to me by Frere Newton in great counsell, and preyeth me þat I would send to ȝow a letter of hir hevynes, and pray you to be hir good brothyr, as hir trust is in ȝow; and sche seith, if ȝe may se be his evydences þat his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have resonable joynture, sche has herd so mech of his birth and his condicions, þat and ȝe will sche will have him, whethyr þat hir mother will or will not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is simple, for sche said men shull have þe more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire to him as sche awte to do.
Cousin, it is told me there is a goodly man in your Inn, of þe qweche þe fadyr deyed litte, and if ȝe thynk þat he were better for hir than Scroop, it would be laboured, and if Scroop a goodly answer þat he be not put of tyl ȝe be sure of a bettyr; for he said whan he was with me, but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of ȝow, he will no more laboure in this matter, be cause he might not se my cousin ȝowre sustyr, and he said he might a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she is; and þat causeth him to demyr þat hir mother was not well willyng, and so have I sent my cousin ȝowre mother word. Wherfore, cousin, thynk on this mateer, for sorow oftyn time causeth women to be set hem otherwyse than they schuld do, and if sche where in þat case, I wot well ȝe would be sorry. Cousin, I pray ȝow brenne this letter, þat ȝowre men no no other man se it; for and my cousin ȝowre mother knew þat I had sent you this letter, sche should never love me. Nomore I wrighte to ȝow at this time, but Holy Gost have ȝow in keeping. Written in haste, on Saint Peterys day, be candel lyght.
Be your Cousin,
ELIZABETH Clear.
Trusty and beloved cousin, my best wishes to you; I enjoy hearing from you, and hope to hear you are well. I hope what you are undertaking goes well, and I ask God to support you and ease your heart.
Cousin, this is to let you know that Scrope has been in these parts to see my relative, your sister, and he has spoken to my cousin, your mother. She asked him to show you the agreements made between him and the knight that married his daughter; to ascertain whether, if Scrope were married and fortunate enough to have children, those children or his married daughter would inherit his land.
Cousin, pay attention to these documents; he'll be pleased to show them to you, or for your representative to see them. He said to me he is the last in a succession of his inheritance, which is 350 marks, and better, as Watkin Shipdham has said, for he has checked on Scrope's income many times. Scrope said to me that if he marries and has a son and heir, his married daughter will have 50 marks of his income and no more, and therefore cousin, it seems to me you might be advised to get a better match for your sister. If you can get a better, I would work on it as quickly as possible, for she is sorrowful these days; she can't speak to any visitor or servant without deceiving her mother about what she is doing. Since Easter, she has been beaten once or twice a week, and sometimes twice a day, and her head hurt in two or three places.
So, cousin, she has sent to me details, in great secrecy, through Friar Newton and asks me to send to you a letter about her distress, and ask you to be a good brother, as she trusts you. She says, if you see from his evidence that his children and hers would inherit, and she were to have reasonable rights, she has heard sufficient about his background and his terms, that if you will, she will marry him, whether her mother wishes it or not; even though she is told his personality is ordinary; she says they will respect each other and she will behave to him as she ought to do.
Cousin, I'm told there is a good man where you work whose father died recently, and if you think he would be better for her than Scrope, it could be worked on. And if you give Scrope a reasonable answer, he could be put off until you have found a better match, for he said when he was with me that unless he could get a reasonable answer from you, he would no longer pursue the matter without seeing your sister as he says he might get a better impression of her than she actually is, and that would cause him to assume her mother didn't approve, so I've sent my cousin what your mother says.
So, cousin, think about it, for sadness often causes women to think other than they should, and if that were the case I know you would be sorry. Cousin, please burn this letter, so that neither your men nor anyone else sees it, for if my cousin your mother knew I had sent it to you, she would not like it.
I'll write no more for the moment, but the Holy Ghost take care of you. Written in haste on St Peter's Day by candlelight.
By your cousin Elizabeth Clere
