The Stonor letters and papers, 1290-1483; ed. for the Royal historical society, from the origial documents in the Public record office, by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford.

166. THOMAS BETSON TO KATHERINE RYCHE 1 JUNE, 1476

Katherine Ryche, whom Betson married in 1478, was clearly at the time of this letter little more than a child. Katherine was the eldest daughter of Elizabeth Stonor by her first husband, Thomas Ryche or Riche. She was god-daughter of her mother's grandfather, William Gregory, who left her 20s. in his will dated 6 November, 1465 (Collections of a London Citizen, p. xlvi); Gregory does not mention any other of his great-grand-children; it may be conjectured that Katherine was born in 1463 or 1462. "Holake, your gentyll squyer," is probably Thomas Howlake (see Nos. 164 and 223). From A.C., xlvi, 255.

Jhesus. An^o. xvj^o.

My nowne hartely belovid Cossen Kateryn, I recomande me unto yow withe all the inwardnesse of myn hart. And now lately ye shall understond þat I resseyvid a token ffrom you, the which was and is to me right hartely welcom, and with glad will I resseyvid it; and over that I had a letter ffrom Holake, youre gentyll Sqwyer, by the which I understond right well þat ye be in good helth off body, and mery at

hart. And I pray God hartely to his plesour to contenew the same: ffor it is to me veray grete comfforth þat ye so be, so helpe me Jhesu. And yff ye wold be a good etter off your mete allwaye, that ye myght waxe and grow ffast to be a woman, ye shuld make me the gladdest man off the world, be my trouth: ffor whanne I remembre your ffavour and your sadde loffynge delynge to me wardes, ffor south ye make me evene veray glade and joyus in my hart: and on the toþersyde agayn whanne I remembre your yonge youthe. And seeth well that ye be none eteter off youre mete, the which shuld helpe you greately in waxynge; ffor south þan ye make me veray hevy agayn. And therffore I praye you, myn nown swete Cossen, evene as you loffe me to be mery and to eate your mete lyke a woman. And yff ye so will do ffor my loveff, looke what ye will desyre off me, whatsomever it be, and be my trouth I promesse you by the helpe of our Lord to perfforme it to my power. I can [no] ["No" omitted in MS.] more say now, but at my comyng home I will tell you mych more betwene you and me and God beffore. And where as ye, ffull womanly and lyke a loffer, remembre me with manyffolde re|comendacion in dyversse maners, remyttynge the same to my discresscion to depart them þer as I loveff best, ffor south, myn nown swete Cossen, ye shall understond þat with good hart and good will I resseyve and take to my self the one halff off them, and them will I kepe by me; and the toþer halff with hartely loveff and ffavour I send hem to you, myn nown swete Cossen, agayn, ffor to kepe by you: and over that I send you the blissynge þat our Lady gaveffe hir dere sonne, and ever well to ffare. I pray you grete well my horsse, and praye hym to gyffe yow iiij off his yeres to helpe you with all: and I will at my comynge home gyff hym iiij off my yeres and iiij horsse lofes till amendes. Tell hym þat I prayed hym so. And Cossen Kateryn I þannke you ffor hym, and my wiff shall þanke you ffor hym hereafter; ffor ye do grete cost apon hym as it is told me. Myn nown swete Cossen, it was told me but late þat ye were at Cales to seeke me, but ye cowde not se me nor ffynde me: ffor south ye myght have comen to my counter, and þer ye shuld bothe ffynde me and see me, and not have ffawtid off me: but ye sought me in a wronge Cales, and þat ye shuld well know yff ye were here and saw this Cales, as wold God ye were and som off them with you þat were with you at your gentill Cales. I praye you, gentill Cossen, comaunde me to the Cloke, and pray hym to amend his unthryffte maners: ffor he strykes ever in undew tyme, and he will be

ever affore, and that is a shrewde condiscion. Tell hym with owte he amend his condiscion that he will cause strangers to advoide and come no more there. I trust to you that he shall amend agaynest myn commynge, the which shalbe shortely with all hanndes and all ffeete with Godes grace. My veray ffeiȝtheffull Cossen, I trust to you þat thowe all I have not remembred my right worshipfull maystres your modyr affore in this letter þat ye will off your gentilnesse recomaunde me to her maystresshipe as many tymes as it shall ples you: and ye may say, yff it plese you, that in Wytson Weke [This letter was written on Whitsun Eve.] next I intend to þ^e marte ward. And I trust you will praye ffor me: ffor I shall praye ffor you, and, so it may be, none so well. And Almyghty Jhesu make you a good woman, and send you many good yeres and longe to lyveffe in helth and vertu to his plesour. At greate Cales on this syde on the see, the ffyrst day off June, whanne every man was gone to his Dener, and the Cloke smote noynne, and all oure howsold cryed after me and badde me come down; come down to dener at ones! and what answer I gaveffe hem ye know it off old.

Be your ffeiȝtheffull Cossen and loffer Thomas Betson.

I sent you this rynge ffor a token.

To my ffeiȝtheffull and hartely belovid Cossen Kateryn Ryche at Stonor this letter be delyvered in hast.