To my right wurshipfull husbonde, John Paston, be this delivered, in hast.
Right wurshipfull husbonde, I recomaunde me unto you. Plesith you to witte that myn aunt Mondeforthe[52.2] hath desiryd me to write to you, besechyng you that ye wol wochesafe to chevesshe for her at London xxti marke for to be payed to Mastre Ponyngs, outher on Saterday or Sonday, weche schalbe Seint Andrwes Daye, in discharchyng of them that be bounden to Mastre Ponyngs of the seide xxti marke for the wardeship of her doughter, the weche xxti marke she hath delyvered to me in golde for you to have at your comyn home, for she dare not aventure her money to be brought up to London for feere of robbyng; for it is seide heere that there goothe many thefys be twyx this and London, weche causeth her to beseche you to content the seide money in dischargyng of the matre, and of them that be bounden, for she wolde for no goude that the day were broken. And she thankyth you hertely for the greet labour and besynesse that ye have had in that matre, and in all others touchyng her and hers, wherfore she seithe she is ever bounden to be your bed-woman, and ever wolle be whyle she levethe.
My cosyn, her sone, and hese wife recomaundethe them unto you, besechyng you that ye woll weche safe to be her goode mastre, as ye have ben a fore tyme; for they be enformed that Danyell is comen to Rysyng Castell, and hes men make her bost that her mastre shal be a yene at Brayston withinne shorte tyme.
Ferthermore, as for the matre that my sone wrote to me for the boxe wheron wreten _Falce Carte Sproute_ that I shulde enquer of William Wurcestre wher it were, the seide William was not at home sen that I had hes letter; but as sone as he comethe home, I shall enquere of hym, and sende you an answer.
As towchyng for your leveryes, ther can noon be gete here of that coloure that ye wulde have of, nouther murrey, nor blwe, nor goode russets, undrenethe iij s. the yerde at the lowest price, and yet is ther not j nough of on clothe and coloure to serve you. And as for to be purveid in Suffolk, it wul not be purveide nought now a yenst this tyme, with oute they had had warnyng at Michelmesse, as I am enformed. And the blissed Trenyté have you in his kepyng.
Wreten at Norweche, on Seint Kateryn Day.
Be your,
MARGARET PASTON.
To my right wurshipfull husbonde, John Paston, be this delivered, in hast.
Right wurshipfull husbonde, I recomaunde me unto you. Plesith you to witte that myn aunt Mondeforthe[52.2] hath desiryd me to write to you, besechyng you that ye wol wochesafe to chevesshe for her at London xxti marke for to be payed to Mastre Ponyngs, outher on Saterday or Sonday, weche schalbe Seint Andrwes Daye, in discharchyng of them that be bounden to Mastre Ponyngs of the seide xxti marke for the wardeship of her doughter, the weche xxti marke she hath delyvered to me in golde for you to have at your comyn home, for she dare not aventure her money to be brought up to London for feere of robbyng; for it is seide heere that there goothe many thefys be twyx this and London, weche causeth her to beseche you to content the seide money in dischargyng of the matre, and of them that be bounden, for she wolde for no goude that the day were broken. And she thankyth you hertely for the greet labour and besynesse that ye have had in that matre, and in all others touchyng her and hers, wherfore she seithe she is ever bounden to be your bed-woman, and ever wolle be whyle she levethe.
My cosyn, her sone, and hese wife recomaundethe them unto you, besechyng you that ye woll weche safe to be her goode mastre, as ye have ben a fore tyme; for they be enformed that Danyell is comen to Rysyng Castell, and hes men make her bost that her mastre shal be a yene at Brayston withinne shorte tyme.
Ferthermore, as for the matre that my sone wrote to me for the boxe wheron wreten _Falce Carte Sproute_ that I shulde enquer of William Wurcestre wher it were, the seide William was not at home sen that I had hes letter; but as sone as he comethe home, I shall enquere of hym, and sende you an answer.
As towchyng for your leveryes, ther can noon be gete here of that coloure that ye wulde have of, nouther murrey, nor blwe, nor goode russets, undrenethe iij s. the yerde at the lowest price, and yet is ther not j nough of on clothe and coloure to serve you. And as for to be purveid in Suffolk, it wul not be purveide nought now a yenst this tyme, with oute they had had warnyng at Michelmesse, as I am enformed. And the blissed Trenyté have you in his kepyng.
Wreten at Norweche, on Seint Kateryn Day.
Be your,
MARGARET PASTON.
To my right wurshipfull husbonde, John Paston, be this delivered, in hast.
Right wurshipfull husbonde, I recomaunde me unto you. Plesith you to witte that myn aunt Mondeforthe[52.2] hath desiryd me to write to you, besechyng you that ye wol wochesafe to chevesshe for her at London xxti marke for to be payed to Mastre Ponyngs, outher on Saterday or Sonday, weche schalbe Seint Andrwes Daye, in discharchyng of them that be bounden to Mastre Ponyngs of the seide xxti marke for the wardeship of her doughter, the weche xxti marke she hath delyvered to me in golde for you to have at your comyn home, for she dare not aventure her money to be brought up to London for feere of robbyng; for it is seide heere that there goothe many thefys be twyx this and London, weche causeth her to beseche you to content the seide money in dischargyng of the matre, and of them that be bounden, for she wolde for no goude that the day were broken. And she thankyth you hertely for the greet labour and besynesse that ye have had in that matre, and in all others touchyng her and hers, wherfore she seithe she is ever bounden to be your bed-woman, and ever wolle be whyle she levethe.
My cosyn, her sone, and hese wife recomaundethe them unto you, besechyng you that ye woll weche safe to be her goode mastre, as ye have ben a fore tyme; for they be enformed that Danyell is comen to Rysyng Castell, and hes men make her bost that her mastre shal be a yene at Brayston withinne shorte tyme.
Ferthermore, as for the matre that my sone wrote to me for the boxe wheron wreten _Falce Carte Sproute_ that I shulde enquer of William Wurcestre wher it were, the seide William was not at home sen that I had hes letter; but as sone as he comethe home, I shall enquere of hym, and sende you an answer.
As towchyng for your leveryes, ther can noon be gete here of that coloure that ye wulde have of, nouther murrey, nor blwe, nor goode russets, undrenethe iij s. the yerde at the lowest price, and yet is ther not j nough of on clothe and coloure to serve you. And as for to be purveid in Suffolk, it wul not be purveide nought now a yenst this tyme, with oute they had had warnyng at Michelmesse, as I am enformed. And the blissed Trenyté have you in his kepyng.
Wreten at Norweche, on Seint Kateryn Day.
Be your,
MARGARET PASTON.
To my right wurshipfull husbonde, John Paston, be this delivered, in haste.
Right wurshipfull husbonde, I recommend me unto you. Plesith you to witte that [mine/my] aunt Mondeforthe[52.2] has desired me to write to you, asking you that you wol wochesafe to borrow on security for her at London xxti marke for to be paid to Mastre Ponyngs, outher on Saturday or Sonday, weche schalbe Saint Andrew's Day, in discharging of them that be bounden to Mastre Ponyngs of the seide xxti marke for the wardeship of her daughter, the weche xxti marke she has delivered to me in golde for you to have at your comyn home, for she dare not aventure her money to be brought up to London for feere of robbyng; for it is seide heere that there goothe many thefys be twyx this and London, weche causeth her to beseech you to happy the seide money in discharging of the matre, and of them that be bounden, for she would for no goude that the day were broken. And she thankyth you hertely for the greet labour and besynesse that you have had in that matre, and in all others touching her and hers, wherfore she seithe she is ever bounden to be your bed-woman, and ever will be whyle she levethe.
My cousin, her soon, and hese wife recomaundethe them unto you, asking you that you will weche safe to be her good mastre, as you have [be/been] a fore time; for they be informed that Daniel is comen to Castle Rising, and hes men make her bost that her mastre shall be a yene at Bradeston Marsh withinne shorte time.
Furthermore, as for the matre that my soon wrote to me for the box wheron wreten _False Carte Sproute_ that I should enquer of William Wurcestre where it were, the seide William was not at home sen that I had hes letter; but as soon as he comethe home, I shall enquire of him, and send you an answer.
As towchyng for your leveryes, there can no be gete [here/her] of that coloure that you wulde have of, nouther mulberry-coloured, nor blwe, nor good russets, undrenethe three s. the yerde at the lowest price, and yet is there not j nough of on clothe and coloure to serve you. And as for to be purveid in Suffolk, it wul not be purveide not now a yenst this time, with oute they had had warnyng at Michelmesse, as I am informed. And the blessed Trenyté have you in his keeping.
Wreten at Norwich, on Saint Kateryn Day.
Be your,
MARGARET PASTON.
To my honoured and respected husband, John Paston, to be delivered as soon as possible.
Dearest husband, my best wishes to you. This is to let you know that my Aunt Moundford has asked me to write to you, requesting that you will arrange to provide for her at London 20 marks to be paid to Mr Poynyngs, either on Saturday or Sunday, St Andrew's Day, to discharge the duty owed to Mr Poynyngs for that 20 marks for the wardship of her daughter; she delivered 20 marks to me in gold for you to have when you come home. She dare not send her money to London because of the fear of robbery, because it's said there are many thieves between here and London. That's why she asks you to settle the matter with those to whom it is due and she doesn't want to miss the due date. She thanks you greatly for the effort and involvement you've had in the matter, and in everything else you've done for her and hers; she says she'll be in your debt, and will be as long as she lives.
My cousin, her son, and his wife ask to be remembered to you, asking that you will agree to be their good master, as you have been previously, because they've been told that Daniel is coming to Castle Rising and his men are boasting that their master will be at Brayston within a short time.
Also, as for the matter that my son wrote to me about, the box with False Carte Sproute written on it, suggesting that I should ask William Worcester where it is – William hasn't been at home since I had his letter, but as soon as he is at home I shall ask him and send you an answer. As for your liveries, nothing can be obtained here of the colour that you'd like, neither mulberry-coloured nor blue, nor a good russet, for less than three shillings a yard, the lowest price, and there isn't enough of one cloth to do what you want. As for getting some from Suffolk, it could not be obtained now unless they had notification at Michaelmas - so I am told. The blessed Trinity look after you. Written at Norwich on St Katherine's Day.
By your
Margaret Paston
