Right reverend and worshipful, and my right well beloved Valentine, I
recommend me unto you, full heartilie desiring to hear of your
welfare, which I beseech Almighty God long for to preserve unto his
pleasure, and your heart's desire.
And if it please you to hear of my welfare, I am not in good heele
(_health_) of bodie, nor of heart, nor shall be till I hear from you
For there wottes (_knows_) no creature that pain I endure
And for to be dead (_for my life_), I dare it not discur
(_discover_)
And my lady my mother hath labored 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.
And if ye command me to keep me true wherever I go,
I wis I will do all my might you to love, and never no mo,
And if my friends say, that I do amiss
They shall not me let (_hinder_) so for to do,
Mine heart me bids ever more to love you--
Truly over all earthlie 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 earthlie creature
save only yourself.
And this letter was endited at Topcroft, with full heavy heart &c.
By your own
MARGERY BREWS.