Margaret Paston to Sir James Gloys?

LETTER XXXIV.

I RECOMAUND me to you and thanke you hertyly of your
lett’is and delygente labour yat ye have had in thoes mat’is
yat ye have wretyn to me of And in all other to my p’fette
and worschep and Jn esspeciall atte this sesons towchyng
the mater yat I sent you ye Indentur of ye have lyghtyd
myne hert y’in by a pound for I was in fere yat it wold not
have bene doo so hastyly with oute danger And as for the
letters yat Thom Holler son schuld have brought me I see
nother hym ne the letters yat he schuld have brought
wherefor I pray you hertely yeve it be no dysese to you yat
ye will take the labour to bryng ¹Walt^r theyr he schuld be
and to p^ruaye for hym yat he may be sette in good and sad
rewle for I were loth to lese hym for I trust to have more
Joye of hym yan I have of them yat bene owlder though it
be more Coste to me to send you forth w^t hym I hold me
plesed for I wote well ye shall best p’uaye for hym and for
suche thyngs as is necessar to hym Than another schuld
doo (after myne jntent) And as for Ane hors to lede hys
gere me thynke it were best to porvaye one atte Cambe-
rach lesse than ye canne gytte ony carreours from thens to
Oxynforth more hastyly And I mervell yat the letters come
not to me whether I may laye the defaute to the fauder or
to the son y’ of And I wold Water schuld be copilet w^t a
better than Holler son is y’ as he schalbe (howr bett^r I wold
not yat he schuld make nev^rthelesse of hym) by cause he is
his contre ma˜ and neghbour and also I pray you wryte a
letter in my name to Watere After yat ye have knowne
myne entent by fore this to hym ward so yat he doo
welle lerne well and be of good rewle and disposycion y^t
shall nothyng faylle hym yat I may helpe w^t so yat it be
nessessare to hym And bydde hym yat he be not to hasty
of takyng of Orderes yat schuld bynd hym till yat he be of
xxiiij yeere of Agee or more thoff he be consaled the
contrare for oftyn Rape rewith I will love hym better to be
a good secular ma˜ yan to be a lewit Prest and I am sore
yat my Cosyn ²Bernay is seke and I pray you yeff me white
wine or ony of my wat’is or ony other thyng that I have yat
is in your Awarde may doo hym ony Comforth lette hym
have it for I wold be right sory y^t ony thyng schuld come
to hym bette good And for god sake advise hym to doo
make hys will yeve it be not doo and to doo well to my
Cosyn his wiff And els it were pete and I pray you to re-
comaunde me to hyr and to my nawnte And to all the gen-
till men and gentil women ther And as for John Daye And
he be dede I wold be sory for I know not howe to come by
my money that he oweith me and I porpose yat Pacoke
schall have les to doo for me another yere than he haith had
if y may be better porvayed with your helpe for he is for
hym self bett not for me and as for ony marchands to my
corn I can gytte none her y’ for I pray you doo ye als wele
y’n as ye canne Also I send you by the berer hereof the bill
of myne Resayts And yef ye go forth with Walter I pray
you Come to me Als sone as ye may aft^r ye be comyn home
and me lyketh myne Abydyng and ye Contre here right
well And I trust whan somm^r comith and fayre wether I
schall lyke it better for I am Cherysed here botte to well
and I constrew your lett^r in other mat’is well j nough
whereof I thanke you and if it nede not to send forth Walt^r
hastyly I wald ye myght Come to me thowe ye schuld Com
opon one day and goo Agayne on ye next day than schuld
I comon w^t you in all mat’is and I hold best if ye have not
ye lett’is y^t Holler son schuld have brough me yat ye send
sym ov^r for them this nyght yat I may have them to mo-
rowe and yif ye may combe your self I wold be ye bett^r
playsed and I remember yat Wat^r of Mynte or Wat^r of
³Millefole were good for my Cosyn bernay to drynke for to
make hym to browke and yeve thei send to Dame Elesebeth
⁴Callethorppe y^t ye shall not fayill of the tone or of both
sche haith other wat’is to make folkis to browke god kepe
you Wrytyn on ye Monday next Aft^r Sent Hiller I have
no longer leyser atte this tyme.

       11½ by 12.

               Paper Mark,
                a Coronet.
            Pl. xxvi. No. 2.

     This long letter, without either name, date, or superscription, was written
by Margaret Paston about 1476 to one of her trusty domestics during her
absence from home; and, as it gives her directions concerning her son Walter’s
removal from Cambridge to Oxford, and her opinion of what he should do there,
I have thought it of sufficient consequence to lay it before the reader; the
prescriptions for her Cousin Berney’s illness, I likewise thought too curious
to be withheld, as we are very ignorant of the kinds of medicinal assistance
afforded to the sick at this period.

     ¹ Walter Paston was the fourth son of Margaret Paston; he took his degree
at Oxford in 1479, and died soon after. She shews her respect for the Church
by the advice she wishes should be given to her son by the person here en-
trusted with the care of him to Oxford.

     ² John Berney, of Reedham, Esq., married Catherine, daughter of Osbert
Mundeford, Esq., of Hockwell; his mother Elizabeth, the daughter of John
Clippesby, of Clippesby, Esq., was still living; she was aunt to Margaret
Paston.

     ³ This, I suppose, is the herb Yarrow.

     ⁴ Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Calthorpe, and daughter and coheir of Sir
Miles Stapleton.

LETTER XXXIV.

Margaret Paston to^{* * *}

I RECOMMEND me to you, and thank you heartily of your
letters, and diligent labour that ye have had in those mat-
ters that ye have written to me of, and in all other, to my
profit and worship, and in especial at this season, touching
the matter that I sent you the Indenture of; ye have
lightened mine heart therein by a pound, for I was in fear
that it would not have been done so hastily without danger.
And as for the letters that Thomas Holler’s son should
have brought me, I see neither him, nor the letters that he
should have brought; wherefore I pray you heartily, if it be
no disease to you, that ye will take the labour to bring
¹Walter where he should be, and to purvey for him, that he
may be set in good and sad [sober] rule, for I were loath to
lose him, for I trust to have more joy of him than I have of
them that be older; though it be more cost to me to send
you forth with him, I hold me pleased, for I wot well ye
shall best purvey for him, and for such things as is neces-
sary to him, than another should do, after mine intent. As
for any horse to lead his gear, methink it were best ye
purvey one at Cambridge, less then [unless] ye can get any
carrier from thence to Oxford more hastily; and I marvel
that the letters come not to me, and whether I may lay the
default to the father or to the son thereof. And I will
Walter should be coupled with a better than Holler’s son
is, there as he shall be; how be it I will not that he shall
make never the less of him, because he is his countryman
and neighbour; and also I pray you write a letter in my
name to Walter, after that ye have known mine intent
before this to him ward; so that he do well, learn well, and
be of good rule and disposition, there shall nothing fail him
that I may help with, so that it be necessary to him; and
bid him that he be not too hasty of taking of orders that
should bind him, till that he be of twenty-four years of age
or more, though he be counselled the contrary, for often
rape [haste] rueth: I will love him better to be a good
secular man than to be a lewit [ignorant] priest.

     And I am sorry that my cousin ²Berney is sick; and I pray
you gif my white wine, or any of my waters, or any other
thing that I have, that is in your award, may do him com-
fort, let him have it, for I would be right sorry if any thing
should come to him but good; and for God’s sake advise
him to do make his will, if it be not done, and to do well to
my cousin his wife, and else it were pity; and I pray you to
recommend me to her, and to my aunt, and to all the gen-
tlemen and gentlewomen there. And as for John Day, if
he be dead I would be sorry, for I know not how to come by
my money that he oweth me; and I purpose Peacock shall
have less to do for me another year than he hath had, if I
may be better purveyed with your help, for he is for himself,
but not for me.

     And as for any merchants to my corn, I can get none
here, therefore I pray you do ye as well therein as ye can.
Also I send you, by the bearer hereof, the bill of mine
receipts; and if ye go forth with Walter, I pray you come
to me as soon as ye may after ye be come home; and me
liketh mine abiding and the country here right well, and
I trust when summer cometh and fair weather, I shall
like it better, for I am cherished here but too well; and
I construe your letters into other matters well enough,
whereof I thank you, and if it need not to send forth
Walter hastily, I would ye might come to me, though
ye should come upon one day, and go again on the next
day, then should I commune with you in all matters; and
I hold best if ye have not the letters that Holler’s son
should have brought me, that ye send Sym over for them
this night, that I may have them to morrow, and if ye may
come yourself I would be the better pleased; and I re-
member that water of mint or water of ³Millefole were
good for my cousin Berney to drink for to make him to
browke; and if they send to Dame Elizabeth ⁴Calthorpe
there ye shall not fail of one or of both; she hath other
waters to make folks to browke. God keep you; written
on the Monday next after Saint Hilary, (13th Jan.)

     I have no longer leisure at this time.

                                                                 MARGARET PASTON.

           Monday, Jan.
    about 1476-7. 16 E. iv.

    This long letter, without either name, date, or superscription, was written
by Margaret Paston about 1476 to one of her trusty domestics during her
absence from home; and, as it gives her directions concerning her son Walter’s
removal from Cambridge to Oxford, and her opinion of what he should do there,
I have thought it of sufficient consequence to lay it before the reader; the
prescriptions for her Cousin Berney’s illness, I likewise thought too curious
to be withheld, as we are very ignorant of the kinds of medicinal assistance
afforded to the sick at this period.

     ¹ Walter Paston was the fourth son of Margaret Paston; he took his degree
at Oxford in 1479, and died soon after. She shews her respect for the Church
by the advice she wishes should be given to her son by the person here en-
trusted with the care of him to Oxford.

     ² John Berney, of Reedham, Esq., married Catherine, daughter of Osbert
Mundeford, Esq., of Hockwell; his mother Elizabeth, the daughter of John
Clippesby, of Clippesby, Esq., was still living; she was aunt to Margaret
Paston.

     ³ This, I suppose, is the herb Yarrow.

     ⁴ Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Calthorpe, and daughter and coheir of Sir
Miles Stapleton.

825

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JAMES GLOYS (?)¹

I RECOMAUND me to you, and thanke you hertyly of
     your letteris, and delygente labour that ye have had in
     thoes materis that ye have wretyn to me of, and in all
other, to my profette and worschep, and in esspeciall atte this
sesons towchyng the mater that I sent you the indenture of.
Ye have lyghtyd myne hert therin by a pound, for I was in
fere that it wold not have bene doo so hastyly with oute
danger. And as for the letters that Thom Holler son schuld
have brought me, I see nother hym ne the letters that he
schuld have brought; wherefor, I pray you hertely, yeve it be
no dysese to you, that ye will take the labour to bryng Walter
theyr he schuld be, and to purvaye for hym that he may be
sette in good and sad rewle. For I were loth to lese hym, for
I trust to have more joye of hym than I have of them that
bene owlder; though it be more coste to me to send you
forth with hym, I hold me plesed, for I wote wele ye schall
best purvaye for hym, and for suche thynges as is necessar to
hym, than another shuld doo, after myne intent. And as for
ane hors to lede hys gere, me thynke it were best porvaye
one atte Camberage, lesse than [unless] ye canne gytte onye
carreours from thens to Oxynforth more hastyly; and I
mervell that the letters come not to me, and whether I may
laye the defaute to the fauder or to the son therof. And I
wold Water schuld be copilet with a better than Holler son is,
there as he schalbe; howe be it I wold not that he schuld
make never the lesse of hym, by cause he is his contre man
and neghbour. And also I pray you wryte a letter in my
name to Watere, after that ye have knowne myne entent by
fore this to hym ward; so that he doo welle, lerne well, and
be of good rewle and disposycion, ther shall nothyng faylle
hym that I may helpe with, so that it be nessessare to hym;
and bydde hym that he be not to hasty of takyng of orderes
that schuld bynd hym, till that he be of xxiiij. yeere of agee or
more, thoff he be consaled the contrare, for oftyn rape [haste]
rewith. I will love hym better to be a good secular man than
to be a lewit prest.

     And I am sore that my cosyn Bernay is seke, and I pray
you yeff me white wine, or ony of my wateris, or ony other
thyng that I have that is in your awarde, may doo hym ony
comforth. I lette hym have it; for I wold be right sory yf
ony thyng schuld come to hym botte good. And for Godsake
advise hym to doo make hys will, yeve it be not doo, and to
doo well to my cosyn, his wiff, and els it were pete; and I
pray you to recomaunde me to hyr, and to my nawnte, and to
all the gentill men and gentil women there. And as for John
Daye, and he be dede I wold be sory, for I know not howe to
come by my mony that he oweith me; and I porpose that
Pacoke schall have les to doo for me another yeres than he
haith had, if I may be better porvayed with your helpe, for he
is for hym self, bott not for me.

     And as for ony marchandes to my corn, I can gytte none
here; therfor I pray you, doo ye als wele therein as ye canne;
also I send you by the bereer hereof the bill of myne resaytes.
And yef ye go forth with Walter, I pray you come to me als
sone as ye may after ye be commyn home; and me lyketh
myne abydyng and the contre here¹ right well, and I trust
whan sommer comith and fayre wether, I schall lyke it better,
for I am cherysed here botte to wel.

     And I constrew your letter in other materis well i nough,
whereof I thanke you; and if it nede not to send forth
Walter hastyly, I wald ye myght come to me, thowe ye schuld
com opon one day and goo agayne on the next day, than
schuld I comon with you in all materis; and I hold best if ye
have not the letteris that Holler son schuld have brough me,
that ye send Sym over for them this nyght that I may have
them to morowe, and yif ye may combe your self, I wold be
the better playsed.

     And I remember that water of mynte or water of millefole
were good for my cosyn Bernay to drynke, for to make hym
to browke,² and yeve thei send to Dame Elesebeth Callethorppe
ther ye shall not fayill of the tone or of both, sche haith other
wateris to make folkis to browke. God kepe you.

     Wrytyn on the Monday next after Sent Hiller.

     I have no longer leyser atte this tyme.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The allusion by the writer to her cousin Berney’s
sickness makes it probable that this letter was written in 1473, when the Monday
after St. Hilary would be the 18th of January. John Berney of Reedham died on the
20th January in that year (Inquis. post mortem, 13 Edw. IV., No. 17). The letter has
neither signature nor address, but was probably written by Margaret Paston to her
priest, Sir James Gloys, who died in the course of this year.

     ¹ I think this must have been written at Maltby, where Margaret Paston certainly
lived during her later years, and where she was doubtless staying when she desired a
license of the Bishop to have the Sacrament in her private chapel. See No. 821.

     ² i.e. to enable him to retain food in his stomach.

1473
JAN. 18

1473
JAN. 18

1473
JAN. 18