been returned; and Sir John says: "Sir Robert Wingfield offered me yesterday twenty marks (137. 6s. 8d.) for it; but I wot well ye shall have more for it, if ye will sell it." It will be seen from a subsequent letter that it was to be sold in order to purchase a cloth for her husband's tomb, which we have already seen had been much neglected. The latter

part of the letter alludes to some domestic matter, implying that the "hostess at Fritton," who had been rebuking "our chyldyr" for "playing wanton," "hath gotten her such a thing to play with, that our other chyldyr shall have leave to sport them. God send her joy of it." The letter is dated Sunday, May or June, 1476.]

LETTER CCCLXXI.—(XXXI. vol. v. p. 141.)

[IN this letter, dated Norwich, May 6, 1476, J. Paston writes to his brother Sir John again on the old subject of marriage. He says: understand that Mistress Fitzwalter hath a sister, a maid, to marry; I trow, an ye entreated him, she might come into Christian men's hands. I pray you speak with Master Fitzwalter of that matter; and ye may tell him that since he will have my service, it were as good, an such a bargain might be

made, that both she and I awaited on him and my mistress his wife, at our own costs, as I alone to await on him at his cost, for then he should be sure that I should not be flitting an I had such a quarrel (quarry) to keep me at home; an I have his good will, it is none impossible to bring about." He had evidently not seen the lady, but he is constant to his old idea of bargaining his marriage.]

LETTER CCCLXXII.-(XXXII. vol. v. p. 145.)

[SIR JOHN PASTON writes from London to his
mother or brother of his good success in having
at length procured a decree for the restitution
of the manor of Caister, which "now lacketh
nothing but the privy seals, and writing to
Master Colvill to avoid." He says, how-
"that it shall cost me great money and
ever,
hath cost me much labour; it is so that the
king must have an hundred marks (667. 13s.
4d.), and other costs will draw forty marks
(261. 13s. 4d.)." He adds that he shall

have much pain to get so much money,' but hopes to accomplish it with the assistance of his uncle William, the resource in all

straits. He lets us into an approximation of the real value of Caister with great naïveté, for he states that "the king would have bought it, but he was informed of the truth, and that it was not for a prince, and of the great price that I would sell it at, for that I might not forbear [do without] it, for [though] he should have paid two thousand marks (13337. 6s. 8d.), or more if he had had it. Sir John seems to have been greatly excited by his success, for he addresses his brother as John Paston, knight, and he dates his letter on Monday the 26th of May, 1476, Monday being in fact the 29th.]

LETTER CCCLXXIII.—(XXXIII. vol. v. p. 149.)

[THIS letter contains a very curious notice of the bargaining in marriage. It is from Sir John in answer to one from that general wooer John Paston, who seems at length to have

come to terms with some lady. Sir John objects to the proposed terms as improvident: "To be bound in five hundred marks (3334. 6s. 8d.) I think it is too much; whereas I

felt [understood] by you ye should have with the gentlewoman but four hundred marks (2667. 13s. 4d.); nevertheless I agree; but ye shall understand that I will not be bound for you that ye shall make her jointure past 207. by year, within a certain day limited, be it one year or two, that is the largest that ye may perform; for as for the manor of Sparham, my mother and ye accord not in your sayings; she will nought grant you therein while she liveth, save, as she saith to me, she hath granted you ten marks (67. 13s. 4d.) by year till 401. be paid, that is but six years; and after her death she will agree with good will, so that it may your proferment [preferment-advantage], that ye should have that manor in jointure with your wife to the longer liver of you both, paying ten marks (61. 138. 4d.) by year, so [imperfect in M.S.] or as she will that it shall be; therefore as for fifty marks (331. 6s. 8d.) jointure, I pray you bind me in no such clause; but if it be for 201. by a reasonable day, and twenty marks (131. 68. 8d.) after the decease of my mother." He then goes on to say, "ye make

you surer than I deem you be, for I deem that her friends will not be content with Bedingfield's surety, nor yours; I deem this matter will occupy longer leisure than ye deem for. Item, I remember that this money that she should have is not ready, but in the hands of merchants of the staple, which at a proof ye shall find per case so slack payers that ye might be deceived thereby; I know divers have lost money ere they could get their dues out of the staple." This is very curious, as the merchants of the staple have been generally considered as so opulent, that their security would have been undeniable. If the lady here in question was Mistress Fitzwalter's sister, the negotiation was fruitless, as the marriage was not effected. Sir John then reminds his brother of "the gown cloth of old camblet, I would have it home for my sister Ann, ye forgot it; I pray you send it home by the next messenger." concludes his letter by saying, "Blessed be God, I have Caister at my will; God hold it better than it (has) done heretofore." Dated Sunday, June 30, 1476.]

He

LETTER CCCLXXIV.—(XXXIV. vol. v. p. 153.)

[MARGARET Paston being absent from home, though it is not said where, writes to her steward or some trusty domestic, about various matters, in all of which he has given her much satisfaction. The principal matter is of her son Walter. We must premise that she says some letters had miscarried that should have been brought by Thomas Holler's son. She then proceeds-" Wherefore I pray you heartily, if it be no disease to you, that ye will take the labour to bring Walter 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 necessary for him, than another should do, after mine intent. As for any horse to lead his gear, methink it were best that ye purvey at Cambridge, less than

(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 beit I would not that he should make never the less of him, by cause 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 a lewd (ignorant) priest." The whole of this is said in good

sound sense and in most excellent feeling, and is alike honourable to her head and her heart, and creditable to her epistolary powers. The object of this good counsel and maternal care was her fourth son; he took his degree at Oxford in 1479, and died soon afterwards. The rest of her letter relates to the illness of her cousin Berneys, and here her good and right feelings are again displayed. She says, "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 comfort, let him have it, for I would be right sorry if anything 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." She afterwards remembers "that water of mint or water

of millefoil (yarrow-Achilla'a millefolium) were good for my cousin Berney to drink for to make him to brouke; and if they send to Dame Elizabeth Calthorpe, there ye shall not fail of one or both, she hath other waters to make folks to brouke." We do not know exactly the meaning of "brouke;" in Percy's Reliques the word "brok" is used in the sense of enjoy or please, but it will not bear that meaning. It may be from the German brechen, to be sick, but mint-water can hardly be an emetic. She speaks very favourably of the place where she is staying: "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." This interesting letter is dated Monday, Jan. about 1476 or 1477.]

LETTER CCCLXXV.–(XXXV. vol. v. p. 159.)

[THIS letter is from Dame Elizabeth Brews, the wife of Sir Thomas Brews, of Stinton Hall in Salle, and of Topcroft, to John Paston, and is chiefly interesting as being the commencement of a new treaty for a wife, that at length proved successful. Dame Brews seems from the first to have been decidedly favour

able to him, and this letter contains an urgent invitation to come to Topcroft and meet some of her influential relations, she promising in the mean time that she will "go as well and as rightfully and as consciensly (conscientiously) as I can for both the parties." It is dated Jan. or Feb. of either 1476 or 1477.]

LETTER CCCLXXVI.-(XXXVI. vol. v. p. 161.)

[ANOTHER letter, evidently quickly following
the preceding, from Dame Elizabeth Brews to
John Paston. She gives the following ac-
count of the progress she has already made.
"I sent mine husband a bill of the matter
that ye
know of, and he wrote another bill to
me again touching the same matter, and he
would that ye should go unto my mistress
your mother, and assay if ye might get the
whole 201. into your hands, and then he
would be more glad to marry with you, and
will give you an 1007.; and, cousin, that
day that she is married my father [Sir Giles
Debenham] will give her fifty marks (331. 6s.
8d.). But an we accord I shall give you a
great treasure, that is, a witty gentlewoman,

and, if I say it, both good and virtuous; for if I should take money for her I would not give her for a 10007.; but, cousin, I trust you so much, that I would think her well beset on you an she were worth much more." Parental fondness is here very pleasingly exhibited, but the sums mentioned on each side are much smaller than any that John Paston had been bargaining for previously, and we may, therefore, hope that he properly estimated her goodness and virtue. The letter concludes with another invitation to Topcroft. It is dated in Jan. or Feb. about 1476-7.

1 [Erroneously printed ge in Fenn.]

LETTER CCCLXXVII.-(LXX. vol. ii. p. 205.)

The politicians of these times, we here see, looked upon the death of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, as an event of great importance to all Europe. He was dismounted from his horse, and slain in a battle fought on the 5th of January, 1476, before Nancy, the capital city of Lorrain, between his forces and those of Renate, Duke of Lorrain. To John Paston, Esq., at Norwich, in haste.

LETTER CCCLXXVIII.-(LXXI. vol. ii. p. 209.)

This is another curious letter from Lady Brews. We here see that the custom of choosing valentines was a sport practised in the houses of the gentry at this time.

To my worshipful cousin, John Paston3 be this bill delivered, &c.

COUSIN, I recommend me unto you, thanking you heartily for the great cheer ye made me and all my folks the last time that I was at Norwich; and ye promised me that ye would never break the matter to Margery unto

And, cousin, upon Friday is Saint Valen- | tine's Day, and every bird chuseth him a make (mate); and if it like you to come on Thursday at night, and so purvey you that ye may abide there till Monday, I trust to God that ye shall so speak to mine husband; and I shall pray that we shall bring the matter to a conclusion, &c.

For, cousin, "it is but a simple oak,
That's cut down at the first stroke,"

for ye will be reasonable I trust to God,

which have you ever in his merciful keep-
ing, &c.
By your cousin,
DAME ELIZABETH BREWS,
Otherwise shall be called by God's grace.1

Jane they both 26 ho

Between the 8th and 14th

of February, 1476-7. 16 E. IV.

[That is, not cousin, but en.]

LETTER CCCLXXIX.-(LXXII. vol. ii. p. 211.)

Some parts of the letter seem intended for verse, as the lines, though unequal, rhyme. I have written them, in the modernised letter, so that the rhymes end the lines, though perhaps I am wrong. The lady appears conscious that she has opened her heart in the letter, and with a becoming modesty conjures J. Paston, that it may be seyn of non' erthely creatur safe only himself." [This is certainly an interesting specimen of the love-letters of a young lady of the fifteenth century, and goes far to justify John Paston's final choice, though from the tenour of her letter he does not seem perfectly satisfied with her fortune, and to have been endeavouring to get it increased; the lady indeed fears that it may break off the match; as from the next letter appears to have been nearly the case; her own sentiments are much more honourable and disinterested. We have great doubts as to the intended versification, but we have let it stand.]

And for to be dead (for my life), I dare it not dyscur' (discover).

And my lady my mother hath laboured the matter to my father full diligently, but she can no more get than ye know of, for the which God knoweth I am full sorry. But if that ye love me, as I trust verily that ye do, ye will not leave me therefore; for if that ye had not half the livelihood that ye have, for to do the greatest labour that any woman alive might, I would not forsake you.

Paston, Esq., be this bill delivered, &c.

And if ye commaud me to keep me true wherever
I go,

I wis I will de all my might you to love, and

never no mo.

And if my friends say that I do amiss,

They shall not me let so for to do,
Mine heart me bids evermore to love you
Truly over all earthly thing,
And if they be never so wrath,

I trust it shall be better in time coming.

No more to you at this time, but the Holy Trinity have you in keeping; and I beseech you that this bill be not seen of none earthly creature save only yourself, &c.

And this letter was endited at Topcroft, with full heavy heart, &c.

By your own
MARGERY BREWS.

599/2257

Topcroft,
February, 1476-7. 16 E. IV.