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.

294. MARY BARANTYNE TO SIR WILLIAM STONOR [13 NOV. 1481]

John Barantyne of Little Haseley, Chalgrove and Churchill, son of Drue Barantyne by Jane, daughter of Sir John Wroughton, married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of Sir Stephen Popham. He died on 30 June, 1474 (Chancery Inq. p.m., Edward IV., file 50, no. 36). On 5 Aug., 1475, Richard Frebodie and others were accused of having abducted Elizabeth, widow of John Barantyne, by force from the House of the Friars Preachers in London (Early Chancery Proceedings, 52/3). In his will (dated 28 June, 1474, proved 8 April, 1477) John Barantyne directed that his sons, John the elder, Austyn, and John the younger, and his daughter Anne, should "be ruled and guyded by Elizabeth, my wife," who was to hold all his lands for life, except lands in Chalgrove purchased of Sir Richard Harcourt, and lands in Goldore called Symyuns lands, purchased of Alice, Duchess of Suffolk, which John his son and heir was to have (P.C.C., Wattys, 34). All the children were under age; John the elder was returned as fourteen years of age and more in October, 1474. A document in Ch. Misc., 37, iv, 20 gives particulars "for the astate to Marie Barantyne" which are thus summarised: "Of Seyntcleres lond in Chalgrove, lx. s. Symeons in Goldore, lxvj. s. viij. d. And of Atyndon in the paroch. of Thame, lxxiij. s. viij. d. Summa, x. li. For my mastres Marie Barantynes joyntour." From No. 172 it would appear that the marriage took place before 22 Oct., 1476, when John Barantyne's widow seems to have been married to Sir John Boteler; in No. 310 it is implied that it took place before the death of John Barantyne the elder. Mary Barantyne's son William was born on 31 Dec., 1481; John Parson remembered that at his christening there was a fire in the belfry, by which the midwife stripped the child, and that Sir William Stonor, who was godfather, said the child loved it (Cal. Inquisitions, Henry VII., ii, 6). This points to 1481 as the probable

year for this letter; in 1481 the feast of St. Hugh (17 Nov.) was on a Saturday. It is probable that John and Mary Barantyne were both at this time still under age and so under the control of Elizabeth Barantyne (or Boteler)—see Nos. 310 and 311. In May, 1482, there was a suit brought in the Common Pleas by Thomas Danvers against John Barantyne as to the manor of Wynnale and lands in Wynnale and Henton, which was settled by the sale to Danvers on 8 May, 1482, of the manor together with lands in Wynnale, Shynnor and Henton (Placita de Banco, Roll 880, m. 481, and Rotulus de Cartis, m. 2). Mary Barantyne's letter probably has reference to this transaction. John Barantyne and his mother were involved in much litigation at this time; as to "Seynclere's lands" in a friendly suit with Sir Richard Harcourt; and with John Nowers as to the manor of Churchill (id., Roll 881, mm. 296, 451, and Rotulus de Cartis, m. 2; see also Roll 876, mm. 443, 444 as to lands in Aston Torold and Northmorton, and the manor of Attyndon).

The body of the letter and the signature are all in the same hand, which is unusually good and probably that of a professional scribe. From A.C., xlvi, 134.

Ryght reverent and worschypfull brother, I recomende me unto yow as hertely as I can: thankyng yow of yowr good brothyrhed to me before thys tyme schewyd, wyche I pray yow of contynuance: lettyng yow wytt, as I ham informyd, that my husbonde be the mevyng, pro|curyng, and struyng of my lady hys modyr, that they wull syll serteyne of my husbondes lyvelode: what hytt ys I cannot informe yow, but as a credebyll man that schulde know be my reson hytt schulde be Henton: wherfor I beseche yow and requyre yow, as ye ar a trewe Goddes knyth and the Kyngges, that ye avyse and cownsell my seyde husbond the contrary, so beyng dysposyd, as my very tryste is in yow: for I thonke God we have feyr yssew, and by possybylyte be lyke to have: and I beseche yow that thys seyde cownsell and avyse cum by your selfe, and not of me in no wyse. And I shall pray to God for yowre honor and welfare, wyche preserve yow bodely and gostely. I|writyn att Lytyll Haseley the Tewseday before the feste of seynt Hewe the bysshoppe.

By your owne syster, Mare Barantyne.

To my rygth reverent and worshypfull brothyr, Syr Willm. Stonor, knyth, be thys bylle delyverede.