To my right worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, desyring to here of your welfar; praying yow to wete þat Sir Thomas Howes hath purveyed iiij. dormants for þe drawte chamer, and þe malthouse, and þe browere, wherof he hath bought iij., and þe forte, þat shall be þe lengest and grettest of all, he shall have from Heylesdon, whiche he seyth my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be made þer-with. As for þe laying of þe seyd dormants, þey shall be leyd this next weke, be cause of þe malthous, and as for þe remenant, I trow it shall abyde tyll ye come hom, be cause I can noþer be purveyed of joystys, ne of bords not yette.
I have take þe mesure in þe draute chamer, þer as ye wold your cofors and [@4}cowntewery[/@4] shuld be sette for þe whyle; and þer is no space besyde þe bedd, thow þe bedd wer remevyd to þe dore, for to sette boþe your bord and your kofors þer, and to have space to go and sitte be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd þat ye shall have þe same drawte chamer þat ye had befor þer, as ye shall ly to your self; and whan your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil hous, þe dore shall be lokkyd, and your baggs leyd in on of þe grete koforis, so þat þey shall be sauff, I trost.
Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom þe chyld] from Rokelond Toftes, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me þat Wyll is att Blyklyng with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman þat was sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word þerof; I pray yow send me word if ye woll þat any thyng þat ye woll be do to hym or ye com hom. Richard Charles sendeth yow word þat Wylles hath be at hym here, and offerd hym to make hym astate in all thyngs according to þer in dentur, and if he do þe contrary ye shall sone have word.
My moder prayith yow to remembr my suster, and to do your parte feythfully or ye com hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth be my moders langage þat she wold never so fayn to have be delyveryd of her as she woll now.
It was told here þat Knyvet þe heyer is for to mary; boþe his wyff and child be dede, as it was told here. Wherfor she wold þat ye shuld inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what hys lyvelode is, and if ye thynke þat it be for to do, to lete hym be spoke with þerof.
I pray yow þat ye be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix this and þat ye come hom. If I myght I wold have every day on from yow. þe blyssed Trinyté have yow in his kepyng. Wrete att Norwyche, on þe Tesday next after þe Conuercion of Seynt Poull.
Be yours,
M. P.
To my right worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, desyring to here of your welfar; praying yow to wete þat Sir Thomas Howes hath purveyed iiij. dormants for þe drawte chamer, and þe malthouse, and þe browere, wherof he hath bought iij., and þe forte, þat shall be þe lengest and grettest of all, he shall have from Heylesdon, whiche he seyth my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be made þer-with. As for þe laying of þe seyd dormants, þey shall be leyd this next weke, be cause of þe malthous, and as for þe remenant, I trow it shall abyde tyll ye come hom, be cause I can noþer be purveyed of joystys, ne of bords not yette.
I have take þe mesure in þe draute chamer, þer as ye wold your cofors and [@4}cowntewery[/@4] shuld be sette for þe whyle; and þer is no space besyde þe bedd, thow þe bedd wer remevyd to þe dore, for to sette boþe your bord and your kofors þer, and to have space to go and sitte be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd þat ye shall have þe same drawte chamer þat ye had befor þer, as ye shall ly to your self; and whan your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil hous, þe dore shall be lokkyd, and your baggs leyd in on of þe grete koforis, so þat þey shall be sauff, I trost.
Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom þe chyld] from Rokelond Toftes, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me þat Wyll is att Blyklyng with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman þat was sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word þerof; I pray yow send me word if ye woll þat any thyng þat ye woll be do to hym or ye com hom. Richard Charles sendeth yow word þat Wylles hath be at hym here, and offerd hym to make hym astate in all thyngs according to þer in dentur, and if he do þe contrary ye shall sone have word.
My moder prayith yow to remembr my suster, and to do your parte feythfully or ye com hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth be my moders langage þat she wold never so fayn to have be delyveryd of her as she woll now.
It was told here þat Knyvet þe heyer is for to mary; boþe his wyff and child be dede, as it was told here. Wherfor she wold þat ye shuld inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what hys lyvelode is, and if ye thynke þat it be for to do, to lete hym be spoke with þerof.
I pray yow þat ye be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix this and þat ye come hom. If I myght I wold have every day on from yow. þe blyssed Trinyté have yow in his kepyng. Wrete att Norwyche, on þe Tesday next after þe Conuercion of Seynt Poull.
Be yours,
M. P.
To my right worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, desyring to here of your welfar; praying yow to wete þat Sir Thomas Howes hath purveyed iiij. dormants for þe drawte chamer, and þe malthouse, and þe browere, wherof he hath bought iij., and þe forte, þat shall be þe lengest and grettest of all, he shall have from Heylesdon, whiche he seyth my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be made þer-with. As for þe laying of þe seyd dormants, þey shall be leyd this next weke, be cause of þe malthous, and as for þe remenant, I trow it shall abyde tyll ye come hom, be cause I can noþer be purveyed of joystys, ne of bords not yette.
I have take þe mesure in þe draute chamer, þer as ye wold your cofors and [@4}cowntewery[/@4] shuld be sette for þe whyle; and þer is no space besyde þe bedd, thow þe bedd wer remevyd to þe dore, for to sette boþe your bord and your kofors þer, and to have space to go and sitte be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd þat ye shall have þe same drawte chamer þat ye had befor þer, as ye shall ly to your self; and whan your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil hous, þe dore shall be lokkyd, and your baggs leyd in on of þe grete koforis, so þat þey shall be sauff, I trost.
Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom þe chyld] from Rokelond Toftes, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me þat Wyll is att Blyklyng with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman þat was sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word þerof; I pray yow send me word if ye woll þat any thyng þat ye woll be do to hym or ye com hom. Richard Charles sendeth yow word þat Wylles hath be at hym here, and offerd hym to make hym astate in all thyngs according to þer in dentur, and if he do þe contrary ye shall sone have word.
My moder prayith yow to remembr my suster, and to do your parte feythfully or ye com hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth be my moders langage þat she wold never so fayn to have be delyveryd of her as she woll now.
It was told here þat Knyvet þe heyer is for to mary; boþe his wyff and child be dede, as it was told here. Wherfor she wold þat ye shuld inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what hys lyvelode is, and if ye thynke þat it be for to do, to lete hym be spoke with þerof.
I pray yow þat ye be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix this and þat ye come hom. If I myght I wold have every day on from yow. þe blyssed Trinyté have yow in his kepyng. Wrete att Norwyche, on þe Tesday next after þe Conuercion of Seynt Poull.
Be yours,
M. P.
To my right worchippfull husband, John Paston, be thys delivered in haste.
Right worchipfull husband, I recommand me to you, desyring to [here/her] of your welfar; praying you to wait þat Sir Thomas Howes has purveyed iiij. dormants for þe drawte chamer, and þe malthouse, and þe browere, wherof he has bought three., and þe forte, þat shall be þe lengest and greatest of all, he shall have from Hellesdon, whiche he said my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be made þer-with. As for þe laying of þe said dormants, þey shall be leyd this next weke, be cause of þe malthous, and as for þe remenant, I trow it shall abyde until you come hom, be cause I can noþer be purveyed of joystys, no of bords not yette.
I have take þe mesure in þe draute chamer, þer as you would your cofors and [@4}cowntewery[/@4] should be sette for þe whyle; and þer is no space besyde þe bedd, thow þe bedd wer remevyd to þe dore, for to sette boþe your bord and your kofors þer, and to have space to go and sitte be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd þat you shall have þe same drawte chamer þat you had before þer, as you shall ly to your self; and whan your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil house, þe dore shall be lokkyd, and your baggs leyd in on of þe greet koforis, so þat þey shall be sauff, I trust.
Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom þe chyld] from Rockland St Peter, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me þat Wyll is at Blickling with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman þat was sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word þerof; I pray you send me word if you will þat any thing þat you will be do to him or you come hom. Richard Charles sends you word þat Wylles has be at him [here/her], and offerd him to make him astate in all thyngs according to þer in dentur, and if he do þe contrary you shall soon have word.
My mother prayith you to remembr my suster, and to do your parte feythfully or you come hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth be my moders language þat she would never so fayn to have be delivered of her as she will now.
It was told [here/her] þat Knyvet þe heyer is for to mary; boþe his wyff and child be did, as it was told [here/her]. Wherfor she would þat you should inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what his lyvelode is, and if you thynke þat it be for to do, to let him be spoke with þerof.
I pray you þat you be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix this and þat you come hom. If I might I would have every day on from you. þe blyssed Trinyté have you in his keeping. Wrete at Norwich, on þe Tesday next after þe Conuercion of Saint Poull.
Be yours,
M. P.
To my honoured and respected husband, John Paston, to be delivered as quickly as possible.
Respected husband, I send my best wishes to you and want to hear how you are. I want to let you know that the Rev Thomas Howes has obtained four large beams for the drawing room and the malthouse and the brewery. He has bought three, and the fourth, the longest and greatest of all, he'll get from Hellesdon, which he says my Master Fastolf will give me because it will complete the building of my room. As for the laying of these beams, that will be done this coming week because of the malthouse. As for the remaining work, I trust it will wait until you come home because I cannot obtain joists or boards yet.
I have measured in the drawing room for where you want your coffers and writing desk to be for the moment. There is no space beside the bed, even if the bed was moved near to the door, to fit both your writing board and your coffers there and have space to sit beside it. I've therefore arranged that you have the same drawing room as you had before; you'll be able to have it to yourself and when your equipment is moved from your little house the door will be locked and your bags laid in one of the large coffers, so that they will be safe, I trust.
Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched home the child from Rockland Toftes; it's a pretty boy. I'm told that Will is at Blickling with a poor man of the town; a young woman who was with Burton from this town sent me this information. Do send me word if you wish anything to be done with him before you come home. Richard Charles sends you word that Willes has been talking to him to make him knowledgable in all things according to their agreements, and if he doesn't do it, you'll soon know.
My mother asks you to remember my sister and to do your part faithfully before you come home to get a good marriage for her. It seems from what my mother says that she has never so much wanted to be rid of her as now.
My mother was told that Knivet the heir is available to marry; I hear that both his wife and child have died. My mother would like you to check if this is correct and what his livelihood is, and if you think it would be right to speak to him about it.
I pray that you're not tired of writing letters to me between this one and when you come home. I'd like to have one from you every day. The blessed Trinity have you in his keeping. Written at Norwich on the Tuesday after the conversion of St Paul.
By yours, M.P.
