Source.—Paston Letters, vol. iii., No. 827.

William Paston Junior to John Paston.

Right reverend and worshipful brother, after all duties of recommendation, I recommend me to you, desiring to hear of your prosperity and welfare, which I pray God long to continue to His pleasure, and to your heart's desire; letting you wit that I received a letter from you, in the which letter was eight pence with the which I should buy a pair of slippers.

Furthermore certifying you, as for the 13s. 4d. which ye sent by a gentleman's man, for my board, called Thomas Newton, was delivered to mine hostess, and so to my creditor, Mr. Thomas Stevenson; and he heartily recommended him to you.

Also ye send me word in the letter of 12 lbs. figs and 8 lbs. raisins. I have them not delivered, but I doubt I shall have, for Alwedyr told me of them, and he said that they came after in another barge.

And as for the young gentlewoman, I will certify you how I first fell in acquaintance with her. Her father is dead; there be two sisters of them; the elder is just wedded; at the which wedding I was with mine hostess, and also desired by the gentleman himself, called William Swanne, whose dwelling is in Eton.

So it fortuned that mine hostess reported on me otherwise than I was worthy; so that her mother commanded her to make me good cheer, and so in good faith she did. She is not abiding where she is now; her dwelling is in London; but her mother and she come to a place of hers five miles from Eton, where the wedding was, for because it was nigh to the gentleman which wedded her daughter. And on Monday next coming, that is to say, the first Monday of Clean Lent, her mother and she will go to the pardon at Sheen, and so forth to London, and there to abide in a place of hers in Bow Church Yard; and if it please you to inquire of her, her mother's name is Mistress Alborow; the name of the daughter is Margaret Alborow; the age of her is by all likelihood eighteen or nineteen year at the furthest. And as for the money and plate, it is ready whensoever she were wedded; but as for the livelihood, I trow not till after her mother's decease; but I cannot tell you for very certain, but you may know by inquiring. And as for her beauty, judge you that when ye see her, if so be that ye take the labour, and specially behold her hands; for and if it be as it is told me, she is disposed to be plump.

And as for my coming from Eton, I lack nothing but versifying, which I trust to have with a little continuance.

And these two verses aforesaid be of mine own making. No more to you at this time, but God have you in His keeping. Written at Eton, the even of Saint Mathew the Apostle.