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earth, faving a little, he will, as I understand, be a little copfchotyn (high crefted), but yet he is no brawler, but full of courtefy, much upon (much like) James Halman; the other three be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jack's Son Jackfen), faving that as yet they have none harness come, but when it cometh it fhall be fent to you, and in the mean while I pray you and Dawbeney to purvey them fome.'

One other circumstance, which we confider as curious, and is of a public nature, we shall extract: it relates to the exportation of wool.

'I fuppofe Playters fhall be with you on Sunday or on Monday next coming if he may; ye have many good prayers of the poor people that God fhould fpeed you at this parliament, for they live in hope that ye fhould help to fet a way that they might live in better peace in this country than they have done before, and that wools fhould be purveyed for, that they should not go out of this land, as it hath been fuffered to do before, and then fhall the poor people more live better than they have done by their occupation therein. Thomas Bone hath fold all your wool here for 20d. a stone, and good furety found to you therefore to be paid at Michaelmas next coming, and it is fold right well after that (because) the wool was for the most part right feeble.'

The Letters in these volumes are, as the editor obferves, more frequently of a, private kind, and defcriptive of the mode of living and of the manners of the times, rather than of political tranfactions. Though written in the middle of the thirteenth century, the language is free, eafy, and unaffected. Little compliments are delicately turned, and, except when the fubject appears to be studied, we find no affected refinement of expreffion, no aukward inverfion of the phrafeology. When John Pafton gives directions about his stockings, vol. ii. p. 225; when conversation is written down, as in p. 139, of the second volume, if a word or two be occafionally changed, it will appear to be the natural language of the prefent æra: making a letter,' inftead of writing it, is a phrase which we find still prevails on the fea-coaft. Some of the more modern contradictory words are occafionally avoided, and Margaret Pafton very properly orders neck kerchys,' inftead of neck band kerchiefs. Left we should omit it, let us here remark, that 31. 6s. 8d. was thought a good price for a Latin Bible, printed by Fuft, in the original rude style in 1462. But we shall now purfue more regularly the information cafually picked up from the Letters before us.

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In private life, young ladies were educated at home, or more generally in the fuite of ladies of rank and fortune. Their education

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education confifted in the useful and ornamental parts of needlework, as well as in the practical economy of housekeeping. They feem to have been treated with an indelicate feverity. Chastisement was not uncommon; and one of the daughters of Agnes Pafton, but by no means her favourite, is faid to have had her head frequently broken. The education of wards was very advantageous, and fought after, as is well known, by every method, without regarding what was either juft, honest, or honourable. The poffeffion of the ward's person gave a claim to the management of the eftate; and therefore it was guarded with the most anxious caution. When removed, fome one to refemble the ward accompanied, while the real ward was conveyed by night, or by the most unfrequented road; fo that, in cafe of an attack, the fictitious minor was only feized. Ta prolong the advantages derived from this charge, it was not uncommon to delay the majority by a fictitious computation of his age, or to fecure the eftate by an early marriage with one of the guardian's own family. To grant a wardship was often the price of public or private fervices from the prince. Marriage, if it was fuitable, was not unfrequently follicited by the young lady's friends; and, if the family of the Paftons be the criterion by which we are to judge of the manners in this respect, proper fettlements in that way feem to have been looked for with much anxiety. A jointure of five marks annually (31. 6s. 8d.) was confidered as handfome; and three or four hundred pounds conftituted an ample fortune. Land, at that time, feems to have been estimated at fourteen or fifteen years value; a reward of five marks yearly is offered to a person who fhould procure a place, during the time it is held.

The medical arrangements of that æra feem not to have been very scientific. We hear of the Leech of Orwall, without any particular character; and, at another time, a physician is fent for from Cambridge, fo far as Norfolk: he is described as a right cunning man and a gentle.' Treacle feems to be a re medy of great importance; and to have the treacle of Genoa unadulterated, was an object of anxiety, Margaret Pafton employs much time and attention to afcertain the comparative genuinenefs of different pots, and to defcribe them, fo as not to be mistaken, Chardequins are recommended for unwholefome air; but we cannot discover what is meant by this title. Dates and cinnamon are fent for a lying-in woman, and green ginger of almonds is ordered, perhaps as a food in Lent.

The fummary proceedings in the fiege of Caifter feem to show that law was fometimes fuppreffed by force; but fir John Fenn has very properly preferved every hint relative to the legal proceffes. The neceffity of preferving the different papers is in

fifted

fifted on, and is a fufficient proof of the general regularity of the proceedings. Lawyers were fo delicate that they would undertake no cause against the widow and fon of a judge; and the antagonist applied to the court to be allowed counsel.

We have no very fatisfactory account of the religion of that

The profeffors of religion do not feem to have been very careful of their own conduct, for the vicar of Pafton denies his agreement after fir William's death; and what perhaps we fhould fcarcely fufpect, mafs was no fanctuary for a debtor at that time. We find by fome hints, that the confeffors in great families had very powerful intereft, and fometimes employed it improperly. A fermon of that age is however preferved, and is by no means a despicable performance: it is very fhort. The order of the temple of Syon fent an invitation to J. Pastón, inviting him to a temporary refidence in their convent; and we perceive that temporary retirements were not uncommon, fometimes for the fake of religion, and at others for the purposes of œconomy, fince housekeeping at the castles was broken up, and the fervants put on board-wages.

Of the miscellaneous circumftances we can felect only a few. The hour of dinner feems to have been between nine and ten. The valuables were often cautiously concealed in unfufpected houses, and five hundred marks in money, (3361. 6s. 8d.) with as much in jewels and plate was confidered as a very large fortune. Two pewter veffels, two ewers, and twelve candlesticks, were ordered by Margaret Pafton, because there was not enough of thefe utenfils.

Of the family to whom thefe Letters relate, there are fome particulars which may appear interefting. Of fir William Pafton we meet with nothing but what would constitute an honest worthy man. His fon, however, feems to be a very inferior character. His loyalty is fufpicious: even his honesty, in neglecting the affairs as executor of fir John Faftolfe, may perhaps be called in queftion: the maffes for the repofe of his father's foul, and of the knight's, are very irregularly paid for. Of Agnes Pafton, the mother of John, and wife of fir William, we shall preferve the following excellent and tender letter, feemingly written foon after her husband's death.

To my well beloved Son, John Pafton, be this delivered in hafte. 'Son, I greet you well, and let you weet, that for as much as your brother Clement letteth me weet that ye defire faithfully my bleffing; that bleffing that I prayed your father to give you the last day that ever he fpake, and the bleffing of all faints under heaven, and mine mote (muft) come to you all days and times; and think verily none other but that ye have it, and fhall have it, with that (on condition) that I find you kind

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kind and willing to the weal of your father's foul, and to the welfare of your brethren.

By my counsel dispose yourself as much as ye may to have lefs to do in the world; your father faid, in little bufinefs lieth much reft." This world is but a thoroughfare, and full of woe; and, when we depart therefrom, right nought bear with us, but our good deeds and ill; and there knoweth no man how foon God will clepe (call) him; and therefore it is good for every creature to be ready. Whom God vifiteth him he loveth.

And as for your brethren they will I know certainly labour all that in them lyeth for you. Our Lord have you in his bleffed keeping, body and foul. Written at Norwich, the 29th day of October.

By your Mother,

AGNES PASTON.'

Margaret Pafton, in early life, feems to have been mild, gentle, amiable, and obedient. She commends herself to her husband with all her fimple heart;' and when he is ill in London, urges him to return, for fhe had rather have him under her own care than a new gown, though it was of fcarlet.' In more advanced life, however, this mildness is not fo confpicupus. Yet in every part of her conduct she appears fhrewd, difcerning, attentive to her own and her children's interest, active, and judicious. We shall extract part of a letter, where the appears in the amiable character of a peace-maker; the last paragraph we add as a trait of human nature, which in every age is the fame.

I greet you well, and fend you God's bleffing and mine, letting you weet that I have received a letter from you, the which ye delivered to mafter Roger at Lynn, whereby I conceive that ye think ye did not well that ye departed hence without my knowledge, wherefore I let you weet I was right evil paid with you, your father thought, and thinketh yet, that I was affented to your departing, and that hath caufed me to have great heaviness; I hope he will be your good father hereafter, ye demean you well, and do as ye ought to do to him; and I charge you upon my blething that in any thing touching your father that fhould be (to) his worship, profit, or avail, that ye do your devoir and diligent labour to the furtherance therein, as ye will have my good will, and that shall cause your father to be better father to you.

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I was told me ye fent him a letter to London, what the intent thereof was I wot not, but though he take it but lightly, I would ye fhould not fpare to write to him again as lowly as ye can, befceching him to be your good father; and fend him fuch tidings as be in the country there ye be in, and that ye be ware of your expences better and (than) ye have been before this

time,

time, and be your own purse-bearer, I trow ye fhall find it most profitable to you.

I would ye fhould fend me word how ye do, and how ye have shifted for yourself fince ye departed hence, by some trufty man, and that your father have no knowledge thereof; I durft not let him know of the laft letter that ye wrote to me, because he was fo fore displeased with me at that time.

Item, I would ye fhould fpeak with Wykes, and know his difpofition to Jane Walfham, the hath faid, fince he departed hence, but (unless) the might have him, she would never (be) married, her heart is fore fet on him; fhe told me that he faid to her, that there was no woman in the world he loved fo well; I would not he fhould jape (deceive) her, for fhe meaneth good faith; and if he will not have her, let me weet in haste, for I fhall purvey for her in other wife.'

The eldest son of Margaret seems to have been idle, inattentive, and diffolute; but his brother was able, active, and brave. Of the daughters we can only diftinguish Mary, who with becoming spirit perfifted in her attachment to Richard Calle, a retainer indeed of the family, but apparently an able and an honeft man. A retainer in those times was by no means a fervant, but fometimes a relation, or more frequently a depend

ant.

We have dwelt too long on this fubject; but it is so seldom that we can catch an artless picture of the manners of remote ages, that we have copied its outlines with great care. We must now leave the work, with our acknowledgments to the very attentive and accurate editor, who has done every thing that could have been expected in his department; an office which may appear of inferior rank in the paths of literature, but which requires induftry, knowledge, and, above all, an unwearied and patient attention.

An Account of the principal Lazarettos in Europe; with various Papers relative to the Plague: together with further Obfervations on fome Foreign Prifons and Hofpitals; and additional Remarks on the prefent State of thofe in Great Britain and Ireland. By John Howard, F. R. S. 4to. 155. in Boards.

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Cadell.

UROPE and Afia have long fince obferved and applauded the benevolent labours of Mr. Howard: eager, active, and unwearied, with a zeal approaching to enthufiafm, and a fpirit raised above the most impending dangers, he has followed the objects of his purfuits in Turkey, and the bale. ful atmosphere of an hofpital or a lazaretto. This volume, containing the refult of his enquiries, is illuftrated by nume

rous

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