John Pympe to Sir John Paston

LETTER XLI.

To S^r John Paston
     Knyght be th’s
     delyverid in Calic.

MAST^R Paston J recomaund me to zow and by cause that
J haue wryty˜ to yow iij long letters which as yet be an-
swereles J wote not wheth^r that the length of mat^r acom-
bred yow or ells the simpylnes of the effect displesid yow
or ells that ye haue utterly refusid the p’fers of my pore
s’uyce and frendeship but which of these so euer h^t be h^t
heuyeth me Syr h^t nedith not J trow to send yow the
tidyngs of these p^rtyes how be h^t J haue thryes send yow
such as here were in entent that ye shuld send us of yowrs
but as long as my lord and yowrs is there ye can not faile
to have the c^rteynte of all owre english aventurs which is
grete ese to yo^r frends and s^ruaunts in the c’tre for so much
as they may make her letters shorter by so much. Syr at
the wrytyng of th’s lett^r J was in Kent where all thyng that
I rewisid I wishid yow p^t of (or all) and as for myself I am
styll yo^r s^ruaunt and bedema˜ and so am bownd to be so sore
and sewrely that J can not unbynde me. Syr th’s is the
v lett^r that J haue sent zow whereyn thys entent that fo-
lowyth was all wayes on That is to say that h^t plesid yow
sum on day to take so much labo^r for me for to se the Jen-
tyllest hors in Calic that is to be sold and to lett me know
of his Colowre deds and pric remembry˜g that he be also
large as mesure wyll for I loue no small hors nor hors that
wyll euyr be lene and slendyr but J wold haue hy˜ hye
truttyng if h^t wylbe and if he be styryng w^t all he shall
plese me the bett^r for I wuld haue hy˜ all for the plesur and
not for the Werre but if he myght be for bothe veryly ther
is no tidyngs on that side the se safe only the welfare of
yow and all oth^r there that I wuld so fayne here of as of a
Jentyll trotty˜g hors that were lyght and pleasaunt in deds
if eny such be there. Flemysh hors J thenk ye have y
nowh that wyll play for a myle or ij but such we have here
also how be h^t J pray yow send me word of yowre store and
be sewre of the p’c if ye like eny or elles let summa˜ for yow.
No more but god kepe yow prayyng yow to recomaund me
to my Cosy˜ S^r John Scot and to Syr Tyry Robsert let the
lett^r be sent to the godewif of yo^r loggyng.

                                                                              By yo^r JOHN
                                                                                   PYMPE.

     8½ by 11¾.

             Paper Mark,
      Bull’s-head and Star.
            Pl. ix. No. 12.

     This letter may seem superfluous, as I have given two on the same subject
from the same person in the second volume; but his style and easy manner of
writing induced me to add this, as they so nearly agree with the present mode
of correspondence. His description of a fine horse may be also agreeable to
some of my readers.

     We learn that all the public news in England was sent over to Lord Has-
tyngs, who was Governor of Calais, &c.

     What he says of the Flemish horses is worth recording.

     Autograph, Pl. vi. No. 29.

LETTER XLI.

To Sir John Paston, Knight, be this delivered in Calais.

MASTER Paston, I recommend me to you, and because that
I have written to you three long letters, which as yet be
answerless, I wot not whether that the length of matter
accumbred you, or else the simpleness of the effect dis-
pleased you, or else that ye have utterly refused the proffers
of my poor service and friendship; but which of these
soever it be, it heavyeth me.

     Sir, it needeth not, I trow, to send you the tidings of
these parts, howbeit I have thrice sent you such as here
were, in intent that ye shall send us of yours, but as long
as my Lord and yours is there, ye cannot fail to have the
certainty of all our English adventures, which is great ease
to your friends and servants in this country, for so much as
they may make their letters shorter by so much.

     Sir, at the writing of this letter, I was in Kent, where all
things that I revised, I wished you part of, or all; and as
for myself I am still your servant and beadsman, and so am
bound to be so sore and surely, that I cannot unbind me.

     Sir, this is the fifth letter that I have sent you, wherein
this intent that followeth was always one, that is to say, that
it pleased you some one day to take so much labour for
me for to see the gentlest horse in Calais that is to be
sold, and to let me know his colour, deeds, and price,
remembring that he be also large as measure will, for I
love no small horse, nor horse that will ever be lean and
slender, but I would have him high trotting, if it will be,
and if he be stirring withal, he shall please me the better,
for I would have him all for the pleasure and not for the
war, but if [unless] he might be, for both; verily there is no
tidings on that side the sea, save only the welfare of you
and all other there, that I would so fain hear of as a gentle
trotting horse that were light and pleasant in deeds, if any
such be there; Flemish horse I think ye will have enough
that will play for a mile or two, but such we have here also;
howbeit I pray you send me word of your store, and be sure
of the price, if ye like any, or else let some one for you.
No more, but God keep you, praying you to remember me
to my cousin Sir John Scott, to Sir Terry Robsart; let the
letter be sent to the goodwife of your lodging.

                                                                             By your

                                                                          JOHN PYMPE.

       March, 1477.
          17 E. IV.

   This letter may seem superfluous, as I have given two on the same subject
from the same person in the second volume; but his style and easy manner of
writing induced me to add this, as they so nearly agree with the present mode
of correspondence. His description of a fine horse may be also agreeable to
some of my readers.

     We learn that all the public news in England was sent over to Lord Has-
tyngs, who was Governor of Calais, &c.

     What he says of the Flemish horses is worth recording.

     Autograph, Pl. vi. No. 29.

907

JOHN PYMPE TO SIR JOHN PASTON²

To Syr John Paston, Knyht, be this delyverid in Calice.

MASTER Paston, I recommaund me to yow; and by
     cause that I have wrytyn to yow iij. long letteres;
     which as yet be answereles, I wote not whether that
the length of mater acumbred yow, or elles the simpylnes of
the effect displesid yow, or elles that ye have utterly refusid
the proferes of my pore servyce and frendeship; but which of
these soo ever hit be, hit hevyeth me.

     Syr, hit nedith not, I trow, to send yow the tidynges of
these partyes, how be hit I have thryes send yow such as here
were, in entent that ye shuld send us of yowres; but as long
as my lord and yowres is there, ye can not faile to have the
certeynte of all owre English aventures, which is grete ese to
yowr frendes and servauntes in this contre, for so much as
they may make her letteres shorter by so much.

     Syr, at the wrytyng of this letter, I was in Kent, where all
thyng that I rejoisid, I wishid yow part of, or all; and as for
myself, I am styll yowr servaunt and bedeman, and so am
bownd to be so sore and sewrely, that I can not unbynde
me.

     Syr, this is the v. letter that I have sent yow, whereyn
thys entent that folowyth was all wayes on, that is to say, that
hit plesid yow sum on day to take so much labour for me for
to se the jentyllest hors in Calice that is to be sold, and to lett
me know of his colowre, dedes, and price, remembryng that
he be also large as mesure wyll, for I love no small hors, nor
hors that wyll evyr be lene and slendyr; but I wold have hym
hye truttyng, if hit wylbe, and if he be styryng with all, he
shall plese me the better, for I wuld have hym all for the plesur,
and for the werre, but if he myht be for bothe. Veryly ther
is no tidynges on that side the se, safe only the welfare of yow
and all other there, that I wuld so fayne here of as of a jentyll
trottyng hors that were lyght and pleasaunt in dedes, if eny
such be there. Flemysh hors I thenk ye have y nowh that
wyll play for a myle or ij., but such we have here also; how
be hit I pray yow send me word of yowre store, and be sewre
of the price, if ye like eny, or elles let sum man for yow.

     No more, but God kepe yow, prayyng yow to recom-
maund me to my cosyn Syr John Scot, and to Syr Tyry
Robsert. Let the letter be sent to the godewif of yowr
loggyng.                                                 By yowr JOHN PYMPE.

     ² [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was probably written about the end of
March 1477, as the first of the three which preceded (No. 906) was received by Sir
John in Calais on the 16th of the month.

[MARCH ?]

1477
[MARCH?]