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.

260. WILLIAM HARLESTON TO SIR WILLIAM STONOR 16 JAN. [1480]

William Harleston of Denham, Hoxne, and Debenham in Suffolk, died on 4th Nov. 1480 (Ch. Inq. p.m. Edward IV, file 78). He was son of William

Harleston by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Hugh Luttrell. Luttrell gave a moiety of the manor of Debenham to his son-in-law on 5 April, 1406 (Chancery Warrants, Series I, 881/5555). The second William Harleston married Philippa, daughter of Thomas Stonor, the elder, but left no issue. Since Elizabeth Stonor was recently dead the date of this letter must be 1480. "My cosen Ramsey," is no doubt Thomas Ramsey, see No. 179. The whole letter, including the original signature, was written by a scribe; Harleston appended his own signature. From A.C., xlvi, 169.

My Ryght reverent and worshipfull Neve, I an my wiff recommande us unto you with all our hertes. And I beseche almygthy God to have mercy on my lady your wiffes sowle, for verily she was a good woman and a well disposid: and I pray God send you no wersse thane she was. And more over, syr, I have receyvid your letter be my Cosen Ramsey, and also I understonde well the evedens the wiche my Cosen Ramsey browth me from you. And, syr, I shalle put me in my dever to do you a pleasur to my power. And as for C. marcs I shall purwey for you withinne shorte tyme, and if I hadde hadde it at home withyne me I shuld a sent it you be my Cosen Ramsey. But in good feyth I am feyne to make a shefte at London with my frendes ther for. And I shalle ley suerte be my obligacion in C. li. for C. marcs for your pleasur; the wiche C. marcs ye shall not fayle I truste to God to have at London the xxv or xxvi day of January. And at the Sworde in Flestrete ther ye shall here of a frende of myn, the wiche shall serve you of the said C. marcs be the love of God. And, syr, I pray you that it may be payd ayen be sevenyth or fortenyth after Esterne next comyng, in suche money as ys take, be it gold or in sylver; for I have wreten to my frende that he shall have as good ayen as he delyveryth. For I were lothe to displese hym, for he is so true and so speciall a frend to me &c. And more over, syr, for Goddes sake be ware now, for now ye may breke your howshold with your honour and worschep, now after the decesse of my good lady your wiff, and stabill your howsehold now saddely and wisely with a convenient feleshepp so as ye may kepe yow withynne yowr lyvelode; for a wise man will caste afore what falle aftirwarde. And be war of your moder hert, and take your fader hert, on whoys sowle I beseche almygthy God to have mersy. And of certen thynges I wold desire you and pray you in the name of God, that ye wolle not over wissh yow, ner owyr purches yow, ner owyr bild you; for these iij thynges wolle plucke a yongman ryth lowe. Ner medyll not with no gret materis in the lawe. For I truste to God to see you the worshipfullest of the Stoners that ever I sawe or shall se be my days.

And ther for I wold that ye dede as well as any man alyff, or as well as yowr owyn hert canne thynke. And, syr, of on thyng at is tolde me, that ye do make a fayre newe Garden; in the wiche I pray you for my sake to sette too herbis, the wiche ben, Paciens, Tyme: And that theis to herbis be put in the potage that ye ete, so as ye may ete them dayly. And more over, syr, as towchyng to your letter, ye have not assigned in your letter to whoom the money shuld be delyvered. Wher for I have assigned in my letter the day and place, where as ye or my Cosen Ramsey, or any in your name shall have it. And also, syr, ye have wreten in yowr letter, that yf I thynke that yowr wrytyng were not sufficient that I shulde have sufficient pleges. And as towchyng to me your wrytyng were sufficient; but in as much as I am fayne to ley suerte my self for the seid C. marcs, I pray you that my Cosen Ramsey, or whoo sum ever come for the money, that he may bryng sufficient and suer plegis with hym, the wiche shalbe indentid between hym and me. And they shalbe as suer and as saff to you, as they were in your cofer at home. And they shalbe redy for you at your day, the wiche day I beseche you to kepe as ever ye wolle have anythyng that I may doo for you in tyme to come. And, syr, I beseche you to take no displesur ther for to me wardes; for truly I do it for non other cause but be cause of dowt of dethe, as ye knowe well the worlde was never inesier ner more dowtefulle than it is now. And also that my frende shulde not be disseyvid; for if it were to me ward I wold never desyre other plege but ondely your wrytyng &c. No more to you at this tyme but Almygthy Jhesu have you in his kepyng. Wreten at Denham, the xvj day of January. And good Neve thynke on theis pore wordes, the wiche I have sent you, and also I pray you geve credens to my Cosen Ramsey brynger herof &c.

Be yowr true and feythefull vnkell Willm. Harleston. (autograph) Per W. Harleston.

To my ryght reverent and worshipful Neve, Willm. Stoner, knyth, be this letter delyvered in hast.