_To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston._
[Sidenote: 1484(?) / DEC. 24]
Ryght worschipful husbond, I recomaund me onto you. Plese it you to wete
that I sent your eldest sunne to my Lady Morlee[78-2] to have knolage
wat sports wer husyd in her hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the
decysse of my lord, her husbond; and sche seyd that ther wer non
dysgysyngs, ner harpyng, ner lutyng, ner syngyn, ner non lowde dysports,
but pleyng at the tabyllys, and schesse, and cards. Sweche dysports sche
gave her folkys leve to play and non odyr.
Your sunne dede hese heyrne [_errand_] ryght wele as ye shal her aftyr
this. I sent your yonger sunne to the Lady Stabylton,[79-1] and sche
seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn
husyd in places of worschip[79-2] ther as sche hathe beyn.
I pray you that ye woll asur to your some man at Caster to kepe your
botry, for the mane that ye lefte with me woll not take upon hym to
breve[79-3] dayly as ye commandyt. He seyth he hath not usyd to geve a
rekenyng nothyr of bred nor alle [_ale_] tyll at the wekys end; and he
seyth he wot well that he shuld not condenyth [_give satisfaction_] and
therfor I soposse he shall not abyd, and I trow ye shall be fayne to
purveye another man for Symond, for ye har never the nerer a wysse man
for hym.
I ham sory that ye shall not [be] at hom be for Crystemes. I pray you
that ye woll come as sone as ye may. I shall thynke myself halfe a
wedow, because ye shal not be at home, &c. God have you in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn on Crestemes Evyn.
By yor,