A Letter from Dame Cecilie Mannerynge, Prioresse of the Priorie of S. Anne in Brewode, to Dame Ioan Beaufitz, Prioresse of S. Helene in Wenlock-by-Severne
kept folded betweene the leaues of the Liber Sacristae of S. Helene; the addresse in a clerke's hand, the bodye in a different and more practised one.
Iesu Maria. — To my deare suster in Religion Dame Ioan Beaufitz, Prioresse of S. Helene, salutem in Domino & gracias.
Right reuerend and welbeloued, I rec'd your letter of the xxiijth daie last past, & the smale bookes you sente by yor carrier whiche I haue redde with my owne handes & founde of good comforte. I sende you in returne the lengthe of russet cloth I had layd by for your sacristie's vse, which I trust will not be founde stynted; & a paper of seedes for your gardenere.
Wee haue had such a stille of weather these xv dayes that what is to be moued may be moued before the bynding agayne; for the Severne is downe, though the dykes be still hyghe. The wayes that were foul a moneth past are nowe drye to the verge.
The visitacioun is much spoken of in this contrey, but I will not write more of it. Quae scribimus, scribuntur. What may be sayd is best sayd a parlour. — As to your other matter, I am of one mynd with you; lett it goe to him you knowe of, for the keepinge.
Pray for vs as wee for you. — In viscera Christi te dilectam habeo.
Dame Cecilie Mannerynge, Prioresse.
at our house this Quinquagesima Sondaye, anno xxix Henry viij.
[in the other hand, lower margin:]
deliuered to me at the gate by a man of our owne, R. Trevor, the xij of February. — A. H.