To my rytȝ wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be þis delyvered in hast.
Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝour wele fare, preying ȝou to weten þat I commawndyd Herry Goneld to gon to Gunnore to have copys of þe pleyntes in þe hundrede, and Gunnore was not at home; but þe seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no copys, thow he wor at home, tyl þe nexst hundred; qher for I send ȝou þat byl þat was wownd abowt þe relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng wold adysavowyd here swtes rytȝ fayn þe last hundred, as I herd sayn of rytȝ thryfty men; but þe Lord Moleynys men thrett hem þat boþe þey xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if þey wold avow it; and after þat Osborn was gon, Hasard intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow þe swtys after þat þey hadde disavowyd itt, and ȝave hem mony to zȝef to þe clerkes to entren aȝen þe pleyntes. But if ȝe seke a remedy in hast for to remeve itt, I soppose þey wyl distreyn for þe mersymentes er þe nexst hundred.
As for Mak, he gate respyt þat he xuld not sew tyl þe nexst hundred. As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd ȝysterday for rent and ferm, and he must pay it to morue, xxij s., or elles lesyn his dystresse. þey gadder mony fast of all þe tenawntes. All þe tenawntes ben chargyd to pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.
It ys told me þat þe Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase. þe seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tydyngs þey hadde I wote nott; but on þe nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas Bampton, a man of þe Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and þey þat ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of þe letter in hast. Barow, and Hegon, and all þe Lord Moleynys men þat wer at Gressam qhan ȝe departyd hens bene þere styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom anoþer; and I here sey þei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom . . . to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt þe cawse was þat þei thrett men . . . . Goneld and oþer of ȝour servawnts and wele willers to zow, þe qheche wer namyd to hym þat were thrett . . . . . swore pleynly þat þey were never thrett; but I know veryly þe contrary, for of his owyn felaschep layn in awayt sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and som of þem zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys housys, bothen in þe hallys and þe bernys, and askyd qher þei were, and þei were answeryd þat þey were owth; and þei seydyn aȝen þat þey xuld meten with hem anoþer tyme. And be dyvers oþer thyngs I know, if þei mytzȝ aben kawt, oþer þey xuld aben slayn or sor hurt.
I sent Kateryn on þis forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it, and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desyryd of Barow to have an answer of her masage, and if þese forseyd men mytȝ levyn in pese for hem, and seyd þer xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem. And he made her grett chere, and hem þat wer þer with her, and seyd þat he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to me; and Kateryn seyd to hym þat sche supposyd þat I desyryd not to speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby þis plase on huntyng after non, and þer xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his owyn men; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And after none þey come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if þei mytȝ speken with me, and praying þat þei mytz speken with me, and þey abedyn styl with owtȝ þe zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with hem with owt, and prayid hem þat þei wold hold me exkusyd þat I browth hem not in to þe plase. I seyd in as meche as þei wer nott wele wyllyng to þe gode man of þe plase, I wold not take it up on me to bryng hem in to þe jantylwoman. þey seyd I dede þe best, and than we welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for þat I hadde sent to hem for. þei sayd to me þei had browtz me seche an answer as þei hopyd xuld plese me, and told me how þei had comownd with all her felaschep of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and þat þei durst under take þat þer xud no man ben hurt of hem þatt wer rehersyd, ner no man þat longeth to ȝou, noþer for hem ner non of her felaschep, and þat þey answeryd me be her trowþis. Never lese I trest not to her promese, in as meche as I fend hem on-trew in oþer thyngs.
I conseyvyd wele be hem þat þey wer wery of þat þei haden don. Barow swor to me be his trowth þat he had lever than xl s., and xl. þat his lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam; and he seyd he was rytȝ sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of ȝw before, he was rytȝ sory of þat þat was don. I seyd to hym þat he xuld have compascion on ȝou and oþer þat wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told me þat he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don tyl he may gete his gode aȝen. I seyd to hym þat ȝe had sewyd to my Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for þe maner of Gressam syth ȝe wer dissesyd, and ȝe cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym; and þer fore ȝe entred azen, as ye hopid þat was for þe best. And he seyd he xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for þe entre in his lyvelode, for he seyd my seyd lord was sett þer up on be þe informacion of a fals schrew; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is þe matier be twyx þe Lord Moleynys and ȝou. I told hym I wost wele he sett never þer upon be no tytyl of rytȝ þat he hadde to þe maner of Gressam, but only be þe informacion of a fals schrew. I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be hem þat þei wost ho I ment. Meche oþer langage we hadde, qhyche xuld taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem þat it xuld abe seyd þatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and þey for swer it, as þei do oþer thyngs more þat it was never seyd, and meche thyngs þat I know veryly was seyd.
I here seyn þat ȝe and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn thow ȝe ben at London, ȝe xul ben met with þer as wele as thow ȝe were her; and þer for I pray ȝou hertyly be ware how ȝe walk þer, and have a gode felaschep with ȝou qhan ȝe xul walk owt. Þe Lord Moleynys hathe a cumpany of brothell with hym þat rekk not qhat þey don, and seche ar most for to drede. þei þat ben at Gressam seyn þat þey have not don so moche hurte to ȝou as þei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek and Purry dare not abyd att hom tyl þei here oþer tydyngs. I wold not Jon of Damme xuld com hom tyl þe cuntre be storyd oþerwyse than it is. I pray Godde grawnt þat it mot sone ben oþerwyse than it is. I pray ȝou hertyly þat ȝe wil send me word how ȝe don, and how ȝe spede in ȝour materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ȝe don. þe most part of ȝour stuff þat was at Gressam is sold, and ȝovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me in þe most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem þei wold fayn plese me. þei seyd þei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres to don owth for me, save only in þat þat longeth to her lordes rytȝ. I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as þey had do to ȝw and to me, I desyr no mor þat þei xuld do noþer to ȝw ner to me. Þei seyd I myt an had of þem att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and had as moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay; if I mytȝ an had my desyr, I xuld noþer a departid owth of þe place, ner from þe stuff þat was þer in. Þei seyd, as for þe stuff it was but esy. I seyd ȝe wold not a ȝoven þe stuff þat was in þe place qhan þei com in, not for c li. Þei seyd þe stuff þat þei sey [saw] þer was skars worth xxli.
As for ȝour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God.
Þe blissyd Trynyté have ȝou in his kepyng, and send ȝou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn at Sustede, on þe Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day.
Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for ȝou in þis cuntre, Godde amend it.
Ȝowrys,
M. P.
To my rytȝ wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be þis delyvered in hast.
Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝour wele fare, preying ȝou to weten þat I commawndyd Herry Goneld to gon to Gunnore to have copys of þe pleyntes in þe hundrede, and Gunnore was not at home; but þe seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no copys, thow he wor at home, tyl þe nexst hundred; qher for I send ȝou þat byl þat was wownd abowt þe relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng wold adysavowyd here swtes rytȝ fayn þe last hundred, as I herd sayn of rytȝ thryfty men; but þe Lord Moleynys men thrett hem þat boþe þey xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if þey wold avow it; and after þat Osborn was gon, Hasard intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow þe swtys after þat þey hadde disavowyd itt, and ȝave hem mony to zȝef to þe clerkes to entren aȝen þe pleyntes. But if ȝe seke a remedy in hast for to remeve itt, I soppose þey wyl distreyn for þe mersymentes er þe nexst hundred.
As for Mak, he gate respyt þat he xuld not sew tyl þe nexst hundred. As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd ȝysterday for rent and ferm, and he must pay it to morue, xxij s., or elles lesyn his dystresse. þey gadder mony fast of all þe tenawntes. All þe tenawntes ben chargyd to pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.
It ys told me þat þe Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase. þe seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tydyngs þey hadde I wote nott; but on þe nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas Bampton, a man of þe Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and þey þat ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of þe letter in hast. Barow, and Hegon, and all þe Lord Moleynys men þat wer at Gressam qhan ȝe departyd hens bene þere styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom anoþer; and I here sey þei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom . . . to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt þe cawse was þat þei thrett men . . . . Goneld and oþer of ȝour servawnts and wele willers to zow, þe qheche wer namyd to hym þat were thrett . . . . . swore pleynly þat þey were never thrett; but I know veryly þe contrary, for of his owyn felaschep layn in awayt sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and som of þem zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys housys, bothen in þe hallys and þe bernys, and askyd qher þei were, and þei were answeryd þat þey were owth; and þei seydyn aȝen þat þey xuld meten with hem anoþer tyme. And be dyvers oþer thyngs I know, if þei mytzȝ aben kawt, oþer þey xuld aben slayn or sor hurt.
I sent Kateryn on þis forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it, and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desyryd of Barow to have an answer of her masage, and if þese forseyd men mytȝ levyn in pese for hem, and seyd þer xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem. And he made her grett chere, and hem þat wer þer with her, and seyd þat he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to me; and Kateryn seyd to hym þat sche supposyd þat I desyryd not to speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby þis plase on huntyng after non, and þer xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his owyn men; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And after none þey come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if þei mytȝ speken with me, and praying þat þei mytz speken with me, and þey abedyn styl with owtȝ þe zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with hem with owt, and prayid hem þat þei wold hold me exkusyd þat I browth hem not in to þe plase. I seyd in as meche as þei wer nott wele wyllyng to þe gode man of þe plase, I wold not take it up on me to bryng hem in to þe jantylwoman. þey seyd I dede þe best, and than we welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for þat I hadde sent to hem for. þei sayd to me þei had browtz me seche an answer as þei hopyd xuld plese me, and told me how þei had comownd with all her felaschep of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and þat þei durst under take þat þer xud no man ben hurt of hem þatt wer rehersyd, ner no man þat longeth to ȝou, noþer for hem ner non of her felaschep, and þat þey answeryd me be her trowþis. Never lese I trest not to her promese, in as meche as I fend hem on-trew in oþer thyngs.
I conseyvyd wele be hem þat þey wer wery of þat þei haden don. Barow swor to me be his trowth þat he had lever than xl s., and xl. þat his lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam; and he seyd he was rytȝ sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of ȝw before, he was rytȝ sory of þat þat was don. I seyd to hym þat he xuld have compascion on ȝou and oþer þat wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told me þat he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don tyl he may gete his gode aȝen. I seyd to hym þat ȝe had sewyd to my Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for þe maner of Gressam syth ȝe wer dissesyd, and ȝe cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym; and þer fore ȝe entred azen, as ye hopid þat was for þe best. And he seyd he xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for þe entre in his lyvelode, for he seyd my seyd lord was sett þer up on be þe informacion of a fals schrew; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is þe matier be twyx þe Lord Moleynys and ȝou. I told hym I wost wele he sett never þer upon be no tytyl of rytȝ þat he hadde to þe maner of Gressam, but only be þe informacion of a fals schrew. I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be hem þat þei wost ho I ment. Meche oþer langage we hadde, qhyche xuld taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem þat it xuld abe seyd þatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and þey for swer it, as þei do oþer thyngs more þat it was never seyd, and meche thyngs þat I know veryly was seyd.
I here seyn þat ȝe and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn thow ȝe ben at London, ȝe xul ben met with þer as wele as thow ȝe were her; and þer for I pray ȝou hertyly be ware how ȝe walk þer, and have a gode felaschep with ȝou qhan ȝe xul walk owt. Þe Lord Moleynys hathe a cumpany of brothell with hym þat rekk not qhat þey don, and seche ar most for to drede. þei þat ben at Gressam seyn þat þey have not don so moche hurte to ȝou as þei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek and Purry dare not abyd att hom tyl þei here oþer tydyngs. I wold not Jon of Damme xuld com hom tyl þe cuntre be storyd oþerwyse than it is. I pray Godde grawnt þat it mot sone ben oþerwyse than it is. I pray ȝou hertyly þat ȝe wil send me word how ȝe don, and how ȝe spede in ȝour materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ȝe don. þe most part of ȝour stuff þat was at Gressam is sold, and ȝovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me in þe most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem þei wold fayn plese me. þei seyd þei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres to don owth for me, save only in þat þat longeth to her lordes rytȝ. I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as þey had do to ȝw and to me, I desyr no mor þat þei xuld do noþer to ȝw ner to me. Þei seyd I myt an had of þem att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and had as moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay; if I mytȝ an had my desyr, I xuld noþer a departid owth of þe place, ner from þe stuff þat was þer in. Þei seyd, as for þe stuff it was but esy. I seyd ȝe wold not a ȝoven þe stuff þat was in þe place qhan þei com in, not for c li. Þei seyd þe stuff þat þei sey [saw] þer was skars worth xxli.
As for ȝour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God.
Þe blissyd Trynyté have ȝou in his kepyng, and send ȝou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn at Sustede, on þe Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day.
Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for ȝou in þis cuntre, Godde amend it.
Ȝowrys,
M. P.
To my rytȝ wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be þis delyvered in hast.
Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to ȝou, desyryng hertyly to heryn of ȝour wele fare, preying ȝou to weten þat I commawndyd Herry Goneld to gon to Gunnore to have copys of þe pleyntes in þe hundrede, and Gunnore was not at home; but þe seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no copys, thow he wor at home, tyl þe nexst hundred; qher for I send ȝou þat byl þat was wownd abowt þe relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng wold adysavowyd here swtes rytȝ fayn þe last hundred, as I herd sayn of rytȝ thryfty men; but þe Lord Moleynys men thrett hem þat boþe þey xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if þey wold avow it; and after þat Osborn was gon, Hasard intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow þe swtys after þat þey hadde disavowyd itt, and ȝave hem mony to zȝef to þe clerkes to entren aȝen þe pleyntes. But if ȝe seke a remedy in hast for to remeve itt, I soppose þey wyl distreyn for þe mersymentes er þe nexst hundred.
As for Mak, he gate respyt þat he xuld not sew tyl þe nexst hundred. As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd ȝysterday for rent and ferm, and he must pay it to morue, xxij s., or elles lesyn his dystresse. þey gadder mony fast of all þe tenawntes. All þe tenawntes ben chargyd to pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.
It ys told me þat þe Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase. þe seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tydyngs þey hadde I wote nott; but on þe nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas Bampton, a man of þe Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and þey þat ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of þe letter in hast. Barow, and Hegon, and all þe Lord Moleynys men þat wer at Gressam qhan ȝe departyd hens bene þere styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom anoþer; and I here sey þei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom . . . to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt þe cawse was þat þei thrett men . . . . Goneld and oþer of ȝour servawnts and wele willers to zow, þe qheche wer namyd to hym þat were thrett . . . . . swore pleynly þat þey were never thrett; but I know veryly þe contrary, for of his owyn felaschep layn in awayt sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and som of þem zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys housys, bothen in þe hallys and þe bernys, and askyd qher þei were, and þei were answeryd þat þey were owth; and þei seydyn aȝen þat þey xuld meten with hem anoþer tyme. And be dyvers oþer thyngs I know, if þei mytzȝ aben kawt, oþer þey xuld aben slayn or sor hurt.
I sent Kateryn on þis forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it, and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desyryd of Barow to have an answer of her masage, and if þese forseyd men mytȝ levyn in pese for hem, and seyd þer xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem. And he made her grett chere, and hem þat wer þer with her, and seyd þat he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to me; and Kateryn seyd to hym þat sche supposyd þat I desyryd not to speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby þis plase on huntyng after non, and þer xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his owyn men; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And after none þey come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if þei mytȝ speken with me, and praying þat þei mytz speken with me, and þey abedyn styl with owtȝ þe zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with hem with owt, and prayid hem þat þei wold hold me exkusyd þat I browth hem not in to þe plase. I seyd in as meche as þei wer nott wele wyllyng to þe gode man of þe plase, I wold not take it up on me to bryng hem in to þe jantylwoman. þey seyd I dede þe best, and than we welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for þat I hadde sent to hem for. þei sayd to me þei had browtz me seche an answer as þei hopyd xuld plese me, and told me how þei had comownd with all her felaschep of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and þat þei durst under take þat þer xud no man ben hurt of hem þatt wer rehersyd, ner no man þat longeth to ȝou, noþer for hem ner non of her felaschep, and þat þey answeryd me be her trowþis. Never lese I trest not to her promese, in as meche as I fend hem on-trew in oþer thyngs.
I conseyvyd wele be hem þat þey wer wery of þat þei haden don. Barow swor to me be his trowth þat he had lever than xl s., and xl. þat his lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam; and he seyd he was rytȝ sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of ȝw before, he was rytȝ sory of þat þat was don. I seyd to hym þat he xuld have compascion on ȝou and oþer þat wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told me þat he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don tyl he may gete his gode aȝen. I seyd to hym þat ȝe had sewyd to my Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for þe maner of Gressam syth ȝe wer dissesyd, and ȝe cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym; and þer fore ȝe entred azen, as ye hopid þat was for þe best. And he seyd he xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for þe entre in his lyvelode, for he seyd my seyd lord was sett þer up on be þe informacion of a fals schrew; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is þe matier be twyx þe Lord Moleynys and ȝou. I told hym I wost wele he sett never þer upon be no tytyl of rytȝ þat he hadde to þe maner of Gressam, but only be þe informacion of a fals schrew. I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be hem þat þei wost ho I ment. Meche oþer langage we hadde, qhyche xuld taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem þat it xuld abe seyd þatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and þey for swer it, as þei do oþer thyngs more þat it was never seyd, and meche thyngs þat I know veryly was seyd.
I here seyn þat ȝe and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn thow ȝe ben at London, ȝe xul ben met with þer as wele as thow ȝe were her; and þer for I pray ȝou hertyly be ware how ȝe walk þer, and have a gode felaschep with ȝou qhan ȝe xul walk owt. Þe Lord Moleynys hathe a cumpany of brothell with hym þat rekk not qhat þey don, and seche ar most for to drede. þei þat ben at Gressam seyn þat þey have not don so moche hurte to ȝou as þei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek and Purry dare not abyd att hom tyl þei here oþer tydyngs. I wold not Jon of Damme xuld com hom tyl þe cuntre be storyd oþerwyse than it is. I pray Godde grawnt þat it mot sone ben oþerwyse than it is. I pray ȝou hertyly þat ȝe wil send me word how ȝe don, and how ȝe spede in ȝour materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ȝe don. þe most part of ȝour stuff þat was at Gressam is sold, and ȝovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me in þe most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem þei wold fayn plese me. þei seyd þei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres to don owth for me, save only in þat þat longeth to her lordes rytȝ. I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as þey had do to ȝw and to me, I desyr no mor þat þei xuld do noþer to ȝw ner to me. Þei seyd I myt an had of þem att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and had as moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay; if I mytȝ an had my desyr, I xuld noþer a departid owth of þe place, ner from þe stuff þat was þer in. Þei seyd, as for þe stuff it was but esy. I seyd ȝe wold not a ȝoven þe stuff þat was in þe place qhan þei com in, not for c li. Þei seyd þe stuff þat þei sey [saw] þer was skars worth xxli.
As for ȝour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God.
Þe blissyd Trynyté have ȝou in his kepyng, and send ȝou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn at Sustede, on þe Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day.
Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for ȝou in þis cuntre, Godde amend it.
Ȝowrys,
M. P.
To my rytȝ wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be þis delivered in haste.
Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommend me to ȝou, desiring heartily to heryn of ȝour wele fare, preying ȝou to weten þat I commawndyd Herry Goneld to gone to Gunnore to have copys of þe pleyntes in þe hundrede, and Gunnore was not at home; but þe said Herry spake with his clerk, and he told him plainly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late him have no copys, thow he wor at home, tyl þe nexst hundred; qher for I send ȝou þat byl þat was wownd about þe relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng would adysavowyd [here/her] swtes rytȝ fayn þe last hundred, as I herd sayn of rytȝ thryfty men; but þe Lord Moleynys men thrett hem þat boþe þey xuld [be/been] betyn and lesen [here/her] hows and land and all [here/her] goods, but unless they would_confirm_it it; and after þat Osborn was gone, Hasard intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow þe swtys after þat þey had disavowyd it, and ȝave hem money to zȝef to þe clerks to entren aȝen þe pleyntes. But unless ȝe seke a remedy in haste for to remeve it, I soppose þey wyl distreyn for þe mersymentes er þe nexst hundred.
As for Mak, he gate respyt þat he xuld not sew tyl þe nexst hundred. As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd ȝysterday for rent and ferm, and he must pay it to morue, xxij s., or besides lesyn his dystresse. þey gadder money fast of all þe tenawntes. All þe tenawntes [be/been] chargyd to pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.
It is told me þat þe Lord Moleynys xuld keep his Fastyngong at Jon Wynters plase. þe said Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tidings þey had I wote not; but on þe nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas Bampton, a man of þe Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and þey þat [be/been] at Gresham waytyn after an answer of þe letter in haste. Barow, and Hegon, and all þe Lord Moleynys men þat wer at Gresham qhan ȝe departed hence bene þere styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom anoþer; and I [here/her] sey þei xul abyd [here/her] styll tyl her lord kom . . . to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt þe cawse was þat þei thrett men . . . . Goneld and oþer of ȝour servants and wele willers to zow, þe qheche wer namyd to him þat were thrett . . . . . swore plainly þat þey were never thrett; but I know veryly þe contrary, for of his own felaschep layn in awayt sondery dayis and nytis about Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and som of þem zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys housys, bothen in þe hallys and þe bernys, and asked qher þei were, and þei were answeryd þat þey were owth; and þei seydyn aȝen þat þey xuld meten with hem anoþer time. And be dyvers oþer thyngs I know, if þei mytzȝ aben kawt, oþer þey xuld aben [killed/slain] or sor hurt.
I sent Kateryn on þis forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it, and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desired of Barow to have an answer of her masage, and if þease forseyd men mytȝ levyn in pese for hem, and said þer xuld besides [be/been] purveyd other remedy for hem. And he made her grett chere, and hem þat wer þer with her, and said þat he desired for to spekyn with me, if it xuld [be/been] no displesans to me; and Kateryn said to him þat sche supposed þat I desired not to speken with him. And he said he xuld come forby þis plase on huntyng after no, and þer xuld no more come with him but Hegon and on of his own men; and than he would bryng such an answer as xuld plese me. And after none þey come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if þei mytȝ speken with me, and praying þat þei mytz speken with me, and þey abedyn styl with outȝ þe zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spoke with hem with out, and prayid hem þat þei would hold me exkusyd þat I browth hem not in to þe plase. I said in as meche as þei wer not wele wyllyng to þe good man of þe plase, I would not take it up on me to bryng hem in to þe jantylwoman. þey said I did þe best, and than we welk forth, and desired an answer of hem for þat I had sent to hem for. þei sayd to me þei had browtz me such an answer as þei hopyd xuld plese me, and told me how þei had comownd with all her felaschep of soche matters as I had sent to hem fore, and þat þei durst under take þat þer xud no man [be/been] hurt of hem þat wer rehersyd, nor no man þat longeth to ȝou, noþer for hem nor no of her felaschep, and þat þey answeryd me be her trowþis. Never lese I trest not to her promese, in as meche as I fend hem on-true in oþer thyngs.
I conseyvyd wele be hem þat þey wer wery of þat þei haden done. Barow swor to me be his truth þat he had lever than xl s., and xl. þat his lord had not comawndyd him to come to Gresham; and he said he was rytȝ sorry hidderward, in as meche as he had knowledge of ȝw before, he was rytȝ sorry of þat þat was done. I said to him þat he xuld have compascion on ȝou and oþer þat wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as meche as he had [be/been] dissesyd him self; and he said he was so, and told me þat he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and would done tyl he may gete his good aȝen. I said to him þat ȝe had sewyd to my Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for þe manner of Gresham syth ȝe wer dissesyd, and ȝe cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of him; and þer fore ȝe entered azen, as you hopid þat was for þe best. And he said he xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for þe entre in his lyvelode, for he said my said lord was sett þer up on be þe informacion of a fals schrew; and I said to him in like wise is þe matter be twyx þe Lord Moleynys and ȝou. I told him I wost wele he sett never þer upon be no tytyl of rytȝ þat he had to þe manner of Gresham, but only be þe informacion of a fals schrew. I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be hem þat þei wost ho I ment. Meche oþer language we had, qhyche xuld taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem þat it xuld be said þat I xuld not long dwell so nor hem as I dewe and þey for swer it, as þei do oþer thyngs more þat it was never said, and meche thyngs þat I know veryly was said.
I [here/her] say þat ȝe and Jon of Damme [be/been] [badly/sorely] thrett alway, and say thow ȝe [be/been] at London, ȝe xul [be/been] met with þer as wele as thow ȝe were her; and þer for I pray ȝou heartily be ware how ȝe walk þer, and have a good felaschep with ȝou qhan ȝe xul walk out. Þe Lord Moleynys hathe a cumpany of brothell with him þat rekk not qhat þey done, and such ar most for to drede. þei þat [be/been] at Gresham say þat þey have not done so much hurt to ȝou as þei were commawndyd to done. Rabert Lauerawns is wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He said plainly he wyl compleyn of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he has cause. Bek and Purry dare not abyd at hom tyl þei [here/her] oþer tidings. I would not Jon of Damme xuld come hom tyl þe cuntre be storyd oþerwyse than it is. I pray Godde grawnt þat it mot soon [be/been] oþerwyse than it is. I pray ȝou heartily þat ȝe will send me word how ȝe done, and how ȝe speed in ȝour matters, for be my truth I kan not [be/been] well at ease in my hert, nor not xal [be/been] tyl I [here/her] tydynges how ȝe done. þe most part of ȝour stuff þat was at Gresham is sold, and ȝovyn away. Barow and his felaw spoke to me in þe most plesawnt wise, and me semyth be hem þei would fayn plese me. þei said þei would do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres to done owth for me, save only in þat þat longeth to her lordes rytȝ. I said to hem, as for such servys as þey had do to ȝw and to me, I desyr no more þat þei xuld do noþer to ȝw nor to me. Þei said I myt an had of þem at Gressham qhat I had desired of hem, and had as much as I desired. I said, nay; if I mytȝ an had my desyr, I xuld noþer a departid owth of þe place, nor from þe stuff þat was þer in. Þei said, as for þe stuff it was but esy. I said ȝe would not a ȝoven þe stuff þat was in þe place qhan þei come in, not for c li. Þei said þe stuff þat þei sey [saw] þer was skars worth xxli.
As for ȝour mother and [mine/my], sche fairs well, blessed be God, and she had no tydynges but good zett, blessed be God.
Þe blissyd Trynyté have ȝou in his keeping, and send ȝou hele, and good speed in al your maters. Written at Sustead, on þe Satyrday next after Saint Valentynys day.
[here/her] dare no man say a good wurd for ȝou in þis cuntre, Godde amend it.
Ȝowrys,
M. P.
Dear Husband
I hope you are well. I would like you to know that I sent Harry Goneld to Gunnor's to get copies of the court complaints – Gunnor wasn't at home and Harry spoke to his clerk who told him that his master would not let him have any copies until the next court session. I'll send you that note about the relief.
Custans, Mack and Kenting would been have been denied their rights as Lord Moleyns men threatened to take all their lands and possessions if they would deny them and after Osborn was gone William Hasard asked Kenting and Mack if they had done as they had been asked and gave them money to make a complaint. If we don't do something they will be fined at the next Court.
As for Mack, he said he would not sow till the next court. As for Harry Goneld, he was asked to pay the rent to them by tomorrow – 22s -or else to make it easier, they would gather money first from all the other tenants and get them to pay by Shrovetide.
I am told that Lord Moleyns will keep Shrovetide at John Winter's place. It is said that his people had a letter last Thursday but I don't know what it contained, but the next morning Thomas Bampton, one of Moleyns men, rode with a letter to his Lord and those at Gresham waiting for a reply. Barrow and Hegon and all Moleyn's men who were at Gresham since you left, have still been here – except Brampton who was replaced, and I have heard that they will remain there till Moleyns comes.
I wrote to Barrow as you ordered to ask why they threatened men. Goneld and other servants and well wishers of yours were named as having been threatened but he swore that they hadn't been threatened. But I know that the opposite is true because his companions lay in wait several days and nights around Goneld's, Purry's and Bek's places. And some of them went into Bek's and Purry's houses and asked where they were, and they were told that they were out, and they answered that they would meet them some other time. And from various things I know that if they could have caught them they would either have killed them or badly wounded them.
I sent Katherine with the message I mentioned , because I could not get any of the men to go, and sent James Halman and Harry Holt with her; and she asked Barrow to give her an answer to her message and also asked whether the men in question could live in peace, saying that otherwise some other remedy would be found. And he made her welcome, and the men who were with her, and said he would like to speak to me, if it did not displease me. And Katherine said to him that she thought I would not want to speak to him. And he said he would come past this place when he was out hunting that afternoon, and no one would come with him except Hegon and one of his own men. And in the afternoon they came and sent a message to me to ask if they could speak to me; they stayed outside the gates and I came out to them and spoke to them outside, asking them to excuse me for not taking them into the place. I said that because they were not friendly towards the owner of the place, I would not take it on myself to bring them in to meet his lady. They agreed that I acted for the best and then we walked out and asked them to answer my previous message. They said they had brought me an answer that they hoped would please me and told me how they had consulted all their fellows about the matters that I had raised before. They were prepared to undertake that none of those who had been named would be hurt, nor any of the men belonging to you, by them or any of their companions; and they assured me of this on their word of honour. Nevertheless, I do not trust their promises, because I find them untrue in other things.
I gathered form them that they were weary of their doings. Barrow swore to me on his word of honour that he would have preferred to lose 40 shillings twice over than have been ordered by his Lord to come over to Gresham and he said that he was very sorry that it had come about, because he knew you beforehand, he was very sorry for what had been done. I said to him that he ought to be sympathetic to you and others who had been ejected from estates because he himself had been ejected in the same way. He said that he was, and told me that he had petitioned my lord of Suffolk several times and would continue to do so until he gets his possessions back again. I said that you had petitioned Lord Moleyns several times about the manor of Gresham since you were ejected and could never get a reasonable answer from him, so you had re-entered the manor since you thought that this was the best thing to do. He said he would never blame my lord of Suffolk for taking over his estates, because he said his lordship was put up to it on information given to him by a false villain. And I said to him that the business between you and Lord Moleyns is the same; I told him that I knew that he did not embark on it because he had any title or right to the manor of Gresham, but only did so on the information of a false villain. I did not name names , but I think they knew who I meant. We had much other conversation which would take a long tome to write about. I informed them that it had been said that I could not live close to them as I was for long; and they swore it was never said and denied such things, including much that I know was indeed said.
I hear it said that you and John Damme are always threatened, and that although you are in London you will be met there just as though you were here, so I beg you with all my heart to beware how you go; and to have good company with you when you go out. Lord Moleyns has a company of brothel–haunters with him who do not care what they do and such men are most dreaded. Those who are at Gresham say they have not done as much harm to you as they were ordered to. Robert Laverawns is much better and I hope he will recover. He says openly he will make a complaint about his injury and I think Bek will do so too, and he has cause for it. Bek and Purry dare not stay at home until they hear different news. I would not like John Damme to come home until the country is in a different state than it is now. I pray that God may grant that it will soon be otherwise. I beg you with all my heart to send word of how you are and how your affairs are going, for on my word of honour I cannot really be at ease with my heart, nor will I be until I hear news of how you are.
Most of your stuff that was at Gresham has been sold and given away. Barrow and his companion spoke to me very pleasantly and it would seem to me would be glad to please me.They said they would do any service and kindness they could, if it lay in their power to do anything for me, except insofar as it concerned their lord's right.
I said to them that as far as the 'service' they had done for you and me, I would not want them to do it again either to you or me. They said I could have had whatever I asked of them at Gresham, and as much as I would. I said on the contrary, that if I had my way I would neither have left the pace nor the goods that were in it. They said that the goods were not worth very much. I said you would not have exchanged the goods that were in the place when they broke in for a hundred pounds. They said that the goods they saw there were hardly worth £20.
As your mother and mine, she is well, blessed be god, and has only good news so far, blessed be God.
The blessed Trinity have you in their keeping and send you health and good fortune in all your affairs. Written at Sustead on the Saturday after St Valentine's day
Here no one say a good word for you in the county, may God change that!
Yours M.P.
