Valentine’s Day Events in History

The oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in the English language was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477. Describing John as her ‘right well-beloved valentine’, she has written, if John loves her he will marry her anyway: ‘But if you love me, as I trust verily that you do, you will not leave me therefore.’ There was a happy ending to the story, as the couple eventually married.