Margery de Brewse

From: http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/pastons.html

Margery Brews Paston

Margaret's[i.e. Margaret Mautby] eldest son (whom editors call John II) never married; her second son (John III) tried until he was 33 to find the "right" wife: she had to be of a good family, reasonably good-looking, and above all, rich. In later letters to his elder brother, even looks and family became unimportant; at one point he said he would settle for "some old thrifty draff wife [ale wife]" if she had enough money. Finally he met the 17-year-old Margery Brews; she had the proper family background, but she was by no means the heiress that his mother and grandmother had been. Worse, her father had other daughters, so her dowry would be rather small.

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"I would not forsake you."

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[From Margery Brews to John Paston III in February 1477. John III and her parents could not come to an agreement on her dowry. In her Valentine's Day letter, Margery assured John that she would love him no matter how little money he had; since she trusted that he also loved her, money wouldn't matter (see online):]

Most respected and honourable and my most dearly-beloved Valentine, I commend myself to you with all my heart, desiring to hear of your happiness.... And if it please you to hear how I am, I am not in good health in body nor in heart, nor will be until I hear from you....

And my lady my mother has pursued the matter with my father very industriously, but she cannot any more than you know of, because of which, God knows, I am very sorry.

But if you love me, as I truly believe you do, you will not leave me because of that. Because even if you did not have half the wealth that you do, and I had to undertake the greatest toil that any woman alive should, I would not forsake you....

And I beg you that you will not let anyone on earth see this letter, except yourself. [pp.127-28]

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"If you... believe that you could get more money...."

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[But within a few days, she was forced to realize that, to John, money mattered a great deal (see online):]

I thank you with all my heart for the letter you sent me... from which I know for certain that you intend to come... shortly, with no other errand or business except to bring to a conclusion the business between my father and you. I would be the happiest one alive if only the business might come to fruition.... And if you come and the business comes to nothing, then I will be even sorrier and full of sadness.

As for myself, I have done and endured in the business as much as I know how or am able to, God knows. And I want you to understand clearly that my father refuses to part with any more money than 100 [pounds] and 50 marks in this business, which is far from fulfilling your wishes.

For which reason, if you could be content with that amount and my poor person, I would be the happiest maid on earth. And if you do not consider yourself satisfied with that, or believe that you could get more money, as I have understood from you before, good, faithful and loving Valentine, do not take the trouble to visit anymore on this business. Rather let it be finished and never spoken of again, on condition that I may be your faithful friend and petitioner for the duration of my life.

No more to you now, but may Almighty Jesus preserve you, in both body and soul. [p.128]

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"It seems to me a long time since I lay in your arms."

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[Margery and John III did in fact marry before the end of 1477, in part because of the intervention of their mothers. The ending of a letter Margery wrote her husband a few years later suggests that her affection for him continued (see online):]

It seems to my mother-in-law that she has not heard from you for a long time. She is in good health, blessed be God, and all your babies are too. I am Surprised that I hear nothing from you, which greatly troubles me. I sent you a letter by the son of Brasier of Norwich, of which I have not heard a word....

Sir, I entreat you that it will please you to send for me, if you remain long in London, because it seems to me a long time since I lay in your arms. [pp.129-30]

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[This is the standard critical edition, by Norman Davis, and the source of the letters available online. Volume 1 gives the 421 letters by the Pastons, to 1495. There are detailed biographical summaries and a helpful chronology. (See online the table of contents of a 2005 edition of Volume 1.):]

Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century (2 vol); edited by Norman Davis. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1971-. (v. 15 plates. facsims., map)

LC#: DA240 .P294; ISBN 0198124155 (v. 1)