Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. Please it you to wete that myn awnte is dissesid, whos sowle God assoyll. And if it please you to send word how ye wull þat we do for the lifflode that she had at Walcote, wheder ye wull þat any body take possession there in yowr name or not, and if it like you to haue wyth you my cosyn William, here sone, I trow ye shuld fynde hym a necessary man to take hede to yowre howshold and to bye all maner of stuffe nedefull þer-to, and to se to þe rewle and gode gidyn per-of; it hath be told me be-fore þat he can gode skill of such thynges. And if ye wull þat I send for hym and speke wyth hym there-of I shall do as ye send me word, for in feyth it is tyme to crone yowr old officere for diuerse thynges, where-of I haue know parte be Dawbeney and more I shall telle you whan ye come home.
Also it is thought be my cosyn Elisabeth Clere and þe vikere and othere þat be yowr frendes that it is rig.t necessary for you to haue Hew of Fen to be yowr frende in yowr materes, for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frendes þat trost hym. And as it is reported here he may do myche wyth the Kyng and þe lordes, and it is seid þat he may do myche wyth hem þat be yowr aduersaryes. And perfore, for Goddes sake, if ye may haue his gode wille forsake it not. Also it is thought the more lerned men that ye haue of yowr owyn contré of yowr councell the more wurchepful it is to you.
Richard Callys brothere sent a letter heder to you which I send you be Dawbeney. I wuld, if it pleasid you, that he myght haue an answere there-of as sone as ye may. Also, me semyth, savyng yowre better avyse, þat it were wele do þat ye sent a letter to Yepeswhich to them þat were John Pampyngges borwys, thankyng them for there gode will, letyng hem wete þat thei shall be savyd harmles; for, as I herd say, thei marveyle that thei here no word from you, ner that he come not a-geyn to saue them harmles.
Also, if ye be at home this Cristmes it were wele do ye shuld do puruey a garnyssh[/2@] or tweyn of pewter vesshell, ij basones and ij heweres and xij candilstikes, for ye haue to few of any of thes to serue this place. I am a-ferd to purvey mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrere per-of. Asfor the wode at Mauby, I shall haue heder but litill till ye come home, þat ye may chese where ye wull haue it. I hope it shall not be longe till ye come home, be the grace of God. Asfor othire tydynges of þis countré, Dawbeney shall tell you.
I pray you þat ye wull vochesaf to be gode mayster to Loveday, and þat he may haue mony of you to bye such thynges as be necessary for hym, for I wote wele he shuld go right evill or he shuld compleyne. And if it pleasid you to purvey for hym þat he myght be in sum gode seruyce ye myght do gret almesse vp-on hym, and so ye haue do be-fore this tyme, which I trost God shall reward right wele.
The blissid Trinyté haue you in his blissid kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.
Be yowr M. P.
Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. Please it you to wete that myn awnte is dissesid, whos sowle God assoyll. And if it please you to send word how ye wull þat we do for the lifflode that she had at Walcote, wheder ye wull þat any body take possession there in yowr name or not, and if it like you to haue wyth you my cosyn William, here sone, I trow ye shuld fynde hym a necessary man to take hede to yowre howshold and to bye all maner of stuffe nedefull þer-to, and to se to þe rewle and gode gidyn per-of; it hath be told me be-fore þat he can gode skill of such thynges. And if ye wull þat I send for hym and speke wyth hym there-of I shall do as ye send me word, for in feyth it is tyme to crone yowr old officere for diuerse thynges, where-of I haue know parte be Dawbeney and more I shall telle you whan ye come home.
Also it is thought be my cosyn Elisabeth Clere and þe vikere and othere þat be yowr frendes that it is rig.t necessary for you to haue Hew of Fen to be yowr frende in yowr materes, for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frendes þat trost hym. And as it is reported here he may do myche wyth the Kyng and þe lordes, and it is seid þat he may do myche wyth hem þat be yowr aduersaryes. And perfore, for Goddes sake, if ye may haue his gode wille forsake it not. Also it is thought the more lerned men that ye haue of yowr owyn contré of yowr councell the more wurchepful it is to you.
Richard Callys brothere sent a letter heder to you which I send you be Dawbeney. I wuld, if it pleasid you, that he myght haue an answere there-of as sone as ye may. Also, me semyth, savyng yowre better avyse, þat it were wele do þat ye sent a letter to Yepeswhich to them þat were John Pampyngges borwys, thankyng them for there gode will, letyng hem wete þat thei shall be savyd harmles; for, as I herd say, thei marveyle that thei here no word from you, ner that he come not a-geyn to saue them harmles.
Also, if ye be at home this Cristmes it were wele do ye shuld do puruey a garnyssh[/2@] or tweyn of pewter vesshell, ij basones and ij heweres and xij candilstikes, for ye haue to few of any of thes to serue this place. I am a-ferd to purvey mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrere per-of. Asfor the wode at Mauby, I shall haue heder but litill till ye come home, þat ye may chese where ye wull haue it. I hope it shall not be longe till ye come home, be the grace of God. Asfor othire tydynges of þis countré, Dawbeney shall tell you.
I pray you þat ye wull vochesaf to be gode mayster to Loveday, and þat he may haue mony of you to bye such thynges as be necessary for hym, for I wote wele he shuld go right evill or he shuld compleyne. And if it pleasid you to purvey for hym þat he myght be in sum gode seruyce ye myght do gret almesse vp-on hym, and so ye haue do be-fore this tyme, which I trost God shall reward right wele.
The blissid Trinyté haue you in his blissid kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.
Be yowr M. P.
Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. Please it you to wete that myn awnte is dissesid, whos sowle God assoyll. And if it please you to send word how ye wull þat we do for the lifflode that she had at Walcote, wheder ye wull þat any body take possession there in yowr name or not, and if it like you to haue wyth you my cosyn William, here sone, I trow ye shuld fynde hym a necessary man to take hede to yowre howshold and to bye all maner of stuffe nedefull þer-to, and to se to þe rewle and gode gidyn per-of; it hath be told me be-fore þat he can gode skill of such thynges. And if ye wull þat I send for hym and speke wyth hym there-of I shall do as ye send me word, for in feyth it is tyme to crone yowr old officere for diuerse thynges, where-of I haue know parte be Dawbeney and more I shall telle you whan ye come home.
Also it is thought be my cosyn Elisabeth Clere and þe vikere and othere þat be yowr frendes that it is rig.t necessary for you to haue Hew of Fen to be yowr frende in yowr materes, for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frendes þat trost hym. And as it is reported here he may do myche wyth the Kyng and þe lordes, and it is seid þat he may do myche wyth hem þat be yowr aduersaryes. And perfore, for Goddes sake, if ye may haue his gode wille forsake it not. Also it is thought the more lerned men that ye haue of yowr owyn contré of yowr councell the more wurchepful it is to you.
Richard Callys brothere sent a letter heder to you which I send you be Dawbeney. I wuld, if it pleasid you, that he myght haue an answere there-of as sone as ye may. Also, me semyth, savyng yowre better avyse, þat it were wele do þat ye sent a letter to Yepeswhich to them þat were John Pampyngges borwys, thankyng them for there gode will, letyng hem wete þat thei shall be savyd harmles; for, as I herd say, thei marveyle that thei here no word from you, ner that he come not a-geyn to saue them harmles.
Also, if ye be at home this Cristmes it were wele do ye shuld do puruey a garnyssh[/2@] or tweyn of pewter vesshell, ij basones and ij heweres and xij candilstikes, for ye haue to few of any of thes to serue this place. I am a-ferd to purvey mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrere per-of. Asfor the wode at Mauby, I shall haue heder but litill till ye come home, þat ye may chese where ye wull haue it. I hope it shall not be longe till ye come home, be the grace of God. Asfor othire tydynges of þis countré, Dawbeney shall tell you.
I pray you þat ye wull vochesaf to be gode mayster to Loveday, and þat he may haue mony of you to bye such thynges as be necessary for hym, for I wote wele he shuld go right evill or he shuld compleyne. And if it pleasid you to purvey for hym þat he myght be in sum gode seruyce ye myght do gret almesse vp-on hym, and so ye haue do be-fore this tyme, which I trost God shall reward right wele.
The blissid Trinyté haue you in his blissid kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.
Be yowr M. P.
Right wurchepfull husband, I recommend me to you. Please it you to wait that [mine/my] aunt is dissesid, whos soul God assoyll. And if it please you to send word how you wull þat we do for the lifflode that she had at Walcott, wheder you wull þat any body take possession there in your name or not, and if it like you to have with you my cousin William, [here/her] soon, I trow you should fynde him a necessary man to take hede to your howshold and to bye all manner of stuffe nedefull þer-to, and to se to þe rewle and good gidyn per-of; it has be told me be-fore þat he can good skill of such thynges. And if you wull þat I send for him and speak with him there-of I shall do as you send me word, for in faith it is time to discharge your old officere for diuerse thynges, where-of I have know parte be Dawbeney and more I shall telle you whan you come home.
Also it is thought be my cousin Elisabeth Clear and þe vikere and othere þat be your frendes that it is rig.t necessary for you to have Hew of Fen to be your frende in your matters, for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frendes þat trust him. And as it is reported [here/her] he may do myche with the King and þe lordes, and it is said þat he may do myche with hem þat be your adversaries. And perfore, for Goddes sake, if you may have his good will forsake it not. Also it is thought the more lerned men that you have of your own contré of your councell the more wurchepful it is to you.
Richard Callys brothere sent a letter heder to you which I send you be Dawbeney. I wuld, if it pleasid you, that he might have an answer there-of as soon as you may. Also, me semyth, savyng your better avyse, þat it were wele do þat you sent a letter to Yepeswhich to them þat were John Pampyngges borwys, thankyng them for there good will, letyng hem wait þat they shall be savyd harmles; for, as I herd say, they marveyle that they [here/her] no word from you, nor that he come not a-geyn to saue them harmles.
Also, if you be at home this Cristmes it were wele do you should do puruey a garnyssh[/2@] or tweyn of pewter vesshell, two basones and two water-jugs and xij candilstikes, for you have to few of any of thes to serve this place. I am a-ferd to [obtain/purchase] mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrere per-of. Asfor the wode at Mauby, I shall have heder but little till you come home, þat you may chese where you wull have it. I hope it shall not be long till you come home, be the grace of God. Asfor othire tydynges of þis countré, Dawbeney shall tell you.
I pray you þat you wull vochesaf to be good mayster to Loveday, and þat he may have money of you to bye such thynges as be necessary for him, for I wote wele he should go right evill or he should compleyne. And if it pleasid you to [obtain/purchase] for him þat he might be in sum good seruyce you might do great almesse vp-on him, and so you have do be-fore this time, which I trust God shall reward right wele.
The blessed Trinyté have you in his blessed keeping. Written the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.
Be your M. P.
To my honoured and respected husband, John Paston.
Dearest husband, my best wishes to you. This is to let you know that my aunt has died, God rest her soul, and perhaps you could write and let me know what you want to do about the lands she had at Walcot. Do you wish someone to take possession in your name of not? Would you like my cousin William – her son – to work on your behalf? I think you'll find him a reliable man to look after your household, to buy the various things needed, and to see to the organisation and direction of it. I've been told before that he has the skills for these sort of things, and if you want me to send for him and speak to him about it, I'll do as you instruct me. Truly it is time to discharge your old officials for various things that I understand from Daubney; I'll tell you more when you come home.
My cousin Clere, and the vicar and other friends of yours, all think that you need to have Hugh Fenn as a friend in these matters,. He is known to be faithful and trustworthy by those who trust him, and it is said here that he has influence with the King and the Lords. It's said he can act against your enemies and so, for God's sake, if you can get his goodwill, don't lose it. It's also thought the more learned men that you have on your side in your own country around here, the better it is for you.
Richard Calle's brother sent a letter here for you which I sent on to you with Daubney. It would be helpful if you could give him an answer as soon as possible. Also, it seems to me, unless you have better advice, that it would be good if you sent a letter to Ipswich, to those who are John Pampynges guarantors, thanking them for their goodwill and letting them know that they will be kept from being liable, for I have heard say that they are surprised that they haven't heard from you, and that he has not come in to keep them from being liable.
Also, if you're home at Christmas it would be helpful if you would purchase a dozen or two pewter vessels, two shallow plates, two water-jugs and twelve candlesticks, for you have too few of any of these to make use of here. I am afraid to buy too much for this place until we are sure of it. As for the wood at Mautby, I shan't do much until you come home, so that you can choose what you want to do. I hope it won't be long before you come home, by the grace of God. As for other news of this part of the world, Daubney will tell you.
I hope that you will be a good master to Loveday, and that you will pay him so that he can buy what he needs for himself, as I hope he won't be unhelpful or complain. And if it pleases you to take him on for useful service, you will be bestowing a favour on him, as you have done before, for which I trust God will reward you well.
The blessed Trinity have you in his blessed keeping. Written the day after St. Andrew's Day.
By your MP
