Letter from Martin Rondelle to Sir John Paston
- Author: Letter from Martin Rondelle to Sir John Paston
- Original Language: Middle French
- Place of Composition: Bruges
- Date of Composition: 28 August 1473
- Source of Text: James Gairdner, ed., The Paston Letters, vol. v no. 838 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/42239/42239-h/42239-h.htm#tag193_1
- Source of Translation: n/a
- Conditions of Use: Please credit Project Gutenberg for transcribing this text. Please give me credit for the translation and ask permission before quoting in print. Some of these translations are rougher than others and I may be able to improve or expand something.
The Paston letters include a letter from Martin Rondelle, armourer of Bruges, to one of the Sirs John Paston (probably John Paston II who died in 1479). You can find a transcription with some possible typos here.
Martin Rondelle must have been respected (or good at selling himself) because he was armourer to Antoine the Bastard of Burgundy. For more information see capwell-aotek-iii, hood-kettle-hat-found-in-london pp. 169-170, terjanian-king-and-the-armourers-of-flanders pp. 5, 6 n. 35, and the salet attributed to Rondelle in williams-edge-wallace-a-20 pp. 197, 198
As of January 2024 this translation is rough in spots but should get the general sense.
| Original | Translation |
|---|---|
| Mon treschier et honnore seigneur, je me recomande a vous outant que je puis ne scay. Et vous plaise savoir que je ay oy novelles de vous par ung de vo marchans de Calais touchant unne armura de unna sella que je vous doy, et de una barbuta, laquelle est en diferansce entre vous et moy, de laquelle je vous ay aultre foix dist que je estoie contant de fere toute rexon [raison], et en quore le vous dige prexentement que je suis prest de fer tout chou qu’il apartient en tout rexon, set [c’est] asavoir de la barbute et de l’armura de sella. D’aultre chiox ne vous suis en riens tenut, forque en toute les chiox que me seroint posible de faire pour l’amour de vous a vostre honneur et a vostre profit, je suis tout jour prest a vostre comendement. | To me very dear and honoured lord, I commend myself to you as much as I may not say. And may it please you to know that I have news from you from one of your merchants at Calais touching an armour of one saddle which I wish to give, and a barbuta, which is in dispute between you and me, concerning which I said to you another time that I would be content ... |
| Item, en houltre, je ay entendut que vous voulles avoir unng harnax complet. Com je prins vostra mexure dernierement quant vous fustes en ceste ville de Bruges, saichies que je ay en quor vostre mexure de toutes lez piesces; pour quoy, se il vous plaist que je la vous fasa, je la vous faray de bon ceur, et tout cella que il vous plaira avoir fait; et au regard du pris, je faray tellement que vous seres content de moy pour tant quant il vous plaira lesiem savoir queles piesses que vous voles avoir, et la faisson et le jour que vous la voles avoir par quelcun aqui je puis in chauder en nom de vous, et qui me ballia argant de sus, je feray si bien que se Dieu plaist vous vous loeres de moy. Aultre chiox ne vous say que mander pour le prexent, senon que je prie a Dieu que il vous doint ce que vostre ceur desir. | Another item: I have understood that you want to have a complete harness. Because I took your measure previously when you were in this city of Bruges, you know that I have in heart (quor) your measure for all the pieces, which is why, if it pleases you that I make it for you, I would do it in good heart, and all that which it pleases you to have made; and with regard to the price, I will do so much (tellement) that you will be satisfied with me as soon as it pleases you to let me know which pieces you want to have, and the style (la faisson) and the day on which you want to have them by someone with whom I can speak (chauder = Modern French chatter?) in your name, and in addition (de sus) who will pay me money, I will do so well that if God pleases you you will employ me. I don't know (say > savoir) what else to send you at present, except that I pray to God that He gives you (doint > donner) that which your heart desires. |
| Escript a Bruges, le xxviij. jour de Ahoust, l’an lxxiij. Le tout vostre serviteur, Martin Rondelle, Armurier de Monsire le Bastart de Bourgogne. | y |
Notable Vocabulary
outant = autant "as much"
The first version of this translation was posted on a web forum on 27 October 2022.
This site is free, but its not costless. Help keep it going with a donation on paypal.me, Patreon, ko-fi or Liberapay.
created and copyrighted on 2024-01-29 by S. Manning ~ last updated 2024-03-08