--wife of John Paston, and one of the most notable
and businesslike, though not the least affectionate of wives
and mothers--is interesting for its combination of the two
motives (were there also _two_ "Mistress Blanches"?) and for
the delightfully English frankness of its confession that
"we were well and truly beat." On the other hand, that of
Miss Margery Brews to John Paston the youngest (the John
named above had two sons of his own name) is one of the most
agreeable pieces of "plain and holy innocence," as Miranda
calls it, on record. It is immediately preceded in the
collection by another in which she is equally loving, and
quotes some of the shockingly bad fifteenth century verse.
One regrets to say that her "Valentine" had, apparently,
more than one string to his bow at the moment. However,
after vicissitudes in the "matter," as she delicately calls
it, John and Margery did marry, and from them proceeded the
later stages of the family. Whether things went equally well
with Mr. Jernyngan and his Blanche (or either of his
Blanches) does not seem to be recorded. (It has been thought
better, though the taste of the moment seems to go rather
the other way, not to encumber the reader with the original
spelling, but there is no further modernisation.)

1. LETTER 317 (GAIRDNER)

Date June 1, 1458

Right worshipful and my most best beloved mistress and cousin, I
recommend me to you as lowly as I may, ever more desiring to hear of
your good welfare; the which I beseech almighty Jesus to preserve you
and keep you to his pleasure and to your gracious heart's desire. And,
if it please you to hear of my welfare, I was in good heal(th) at the
making of this letter, blessed be God.

Praying you that it please you for to send me word if my father was at
Norwich with you at this Trinitymas or no, and how the matter doth
between my mistress Blanche Witchingham and me and if ye suppose that it
shall be brought about or no, and how ye feel my father, if he be well
willing thereto or no; praying you lowly that I may be recommend(ed)
lowly to my mistress Arblaster's wife, and to my mistress Blanche her
daughter specially.

Right worshipful cousin, if it please you for to hear of such tidings as
we have here, the embassy of Burgundy shall come to Calais the Saturday
after Corpus Christi day, as men say, 500 horse of them. M