To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner Temple at London, in hast.
Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her of yowr wilfar, thanckyng God of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys for yow; be my trowth I had never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your fader and myn was dysday sevenyth at Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day. And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have dan, tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.
My fader Garneyss senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch weke, and my emme also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys, and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal exscusse me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is cum that I xulde sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that wol wochesaf to sende me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow it wer of scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey to yow yf I myth speke with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.
All myth God have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.
Yorys,
M. PASTON.
My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow Goddys blyssyng and hers; and sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your helthe ward. Your sone faryth wel, blyssyd be God.
To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner Temple at London, in hast.
Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her of yowr wilfar, thanckyng God of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys for yow; be my trowth I had never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your fader and myn was dysday sevenyth at Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day. And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have dan, tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.
My fader Garneyss senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch weke, and my emme also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys, and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal exscusse me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is cum that I xulde sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that wol wochesaf to sende me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow it wer of scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey to yow yf I myth speke with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.
All myth God have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.
Yorys,
M. PASTON.
My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow Goddys blyssyng and hers; and sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your helthe ward. Your sone faryth wel, blyssyd be God.
To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner Temple at London, in hast.
Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her of yowr wilfar, thanckyng God of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys for yow; be my trowth I had never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your fader and myn was dysday sevenyth at Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day. And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have dan, tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.
My fader Garneyss senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch weke, and my emme also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys, and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal exscusse me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is cum that I xulde sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that wol wochesaf to sende me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow it wer of scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey to yow yf I myth speke with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.
All myth God have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.
Yorys,
M. PASTON.
My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow Goddys blyssyng and hers; and sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your helthe ward. Your sone faryth wel, blyssyd be God.
To my right worshipful husband, John Paston, dwelling in the Inner Temple at London, in haste.
Right worshipful husband, I recomande me to you, desiring hertely to her of your wilfar, thanckyng God of your a mendyng of the greet disease that you have had; and I thancke you for the letter that you sent me, for be my trowthe my mother and I wer nowth in hertys es from the time that we woste of your sickness, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My mother be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of you to oyer Lady of Great Walsingham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Friars at Norwich to pray for you, and I have be hestyd to gone on pylgreymmays to Great Walsingham, and to St. Leonard's Priory, Norwich for you; be my truth I had never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the time that I woste of your sickness tyl I woste of your a mendyng, and zyth [mine/my] hert is in no greet ease, no nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze [be/been] very hale. Your father and [mine/my] was seven days ago at Beccles for a matter of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gorleston-on-Sea that nyth, and was there tyl it was ix. of the clock, and the toder day. And I sent thedyr for a gown, and my mother said that I xulde have done, tyl I had be there a no, and so they cowde no gete.
My father Garneyss senttee me word that he xulde [be/been] her the nexch weke, and my emme also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys, and they xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal excuse me of [mine/my] going dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have tydyngys from you herr done I xulde have there. I xal send my modyr a tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is come that I xulde sends her, yf I keep the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have tolde you wat it was. I pray you hertely that wol wochesaf to send me a letter as hastily as ze may, yf wryhyn be no dysesse to you, and that you wollen wochesaf to send me word quowe your sor dott. Yf I mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne you er dystyme; I would you wern at hom, yf it wer your ease, and your sor myth [be/been] as wyl lokyth to her as it tys there ze [be/been], now lever done a gown zow it wer of scarlet. I pray you yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to ryde, wan my father come to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and come hom wan the hors xul be sent hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kept as tenderly herr as ze [be/been] at London. I may no leyser have to do wrytyn half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey to you yf I myth speak with you. I xall send you a nothyr letter as hastily as I may. I thanke you that ze would wochesaffe to remember my girdle, and that ze would write to me at the time, for I sopose that wrytyng was no ease for you.
All myth God have you in his kepyn, and send you helth. Written at Oxnead, in right greet haste, on Sent Michaelmass Evyn.
Yorys,
M. PASTON.
My modyr greets you well, and sends you Gods blessing and hers; and sche prayeth you, and I pray you also, that you be well [dieted/fed] of mete and drink, for that is the greatest helpe that you may have now to your helthe ward. Your soon fairs well, blessed be God.
To my dear husband John Paston, Inner Temple, London, written in haste.
My dear husband, I send you my love. I would really like to hear more about how you are. I thank God you are recovering from the serious illness you had, and thank you for the letter you sent me. I tell you truthfully that neither my mother nor I could stop worrying about you from the time we heard of your sickness until we were sure you were getting better.
My mother has promised another wax image of you to our Lady of Walsingham, and she sent four nobles to the four orders of friars at Norwich to pray for you. I promised pilgrimages to Walsingham and to St Leonard's Priory in Norwich for you; I have never been so busy as I have been from the moment I heard of your sickness till I knew you were improving, and my heart is still not at rest, nor will it be till I know for sure that you are really better.
Your father and mine (William) was at Beccles a week ago on a matter concerning the Prior of Bromholm, and he stayed at Geldeston that night till nine o'clock, and the same the day after. And I sent there for a gown, and my mother said that I should have done in case I had to be there; but they could not find it.
My (god)father Garneys sent me word that he will be here next week, and my uncle too, making sport with their hawks, and they would like to take me home with them. God help me, I shall try to excuse myself, because I am more likely to get tidings from you here than there.
I shall send my mother a token that she gave me, for I suppose it's time that I should send for her if I am to keep the promise I made. I think I told you what it was.
Please be sure to send me a letter as quickly as you can if it is not painful for you: promise me also to send word how your sore is. If I had my way I would much prefer that you were home at this time, so that you and your sore could be properly looked after, rather than I should have a new gown, even a scarlet one!
Please, if your sore is better and you are well enough to ride, when my father comes to London, ask if you can come with the horse when it is sent home again. You will be looked after as tenderly here as you are in London. I have no time to write a quarter as much as I would say to you if I could speak to you in person.
I shall send you another letter as soon as I can. Thank you for promising to remember my girdle, and that you wrote to me at the time, for I guess writing was not easy for you.
Almighty God have you in his keeping and send you health. Written at Oxnead, in very great haste, on St Michaelmas Eve.
Yours, M Paston
PS My mother wishes you all the best, and sends you God's blessing and hers; and she begs you, as I beg you, that you eat and drink well, for that is now the best way to recover your health. I am glad to say that your son is doing well, thank God.