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.

127. WILLIAM STONOR TO THOMAS STONOR [? 20 APRIL, 1473]

The most probable year is 1473. In 1471 St. George's Day was on a Thursday, so that year is out of the question. In April-May, 1472, William Stonor seems to have been at Horton and in London (see Nos. 121 and 122); in this letter he proposes to come home by Henbury. The letter has to do with the dispute about the water of Erme, of which we hear first in the pre|vious letter, and get the conclusion in No. 184. Selenger is probably Thomas St. Leger, who was on the commission of peace for Devonshire. As to Lady Arundell, see No. 125. From A.C., xlvi, 74.

My ryght reverent and wurshypfull fadyr, I recomaund me unto your good fadyrhod in the most umbylle wyse that I kan or may, mekely besechyng your good fadyrhod of your dayly blessyng: lykyth your good fadyrhod to wytt that I have spokyn with master Selenger for your dute of your water sondage and sute of the Flete Damerell, and I am answeryd that I shuld be at Holbyntun at the corte, the wyche shalle be at holy rode tyde nexte comyng, and there to show evydens and recorde by mouth how hyt hath byn usyd yn tymys past: and as after Selenger seyyng in to my ladys counsell and hys that my lady wold not nother he but that your tytyll shuld be knowyn and no maner of fraude by them leyd to abatryt, and yff yt were tryyd with your fadyrhod so to be re|corded and you to yn-joyye: and I found Gybbys welle disposyd to your fadyrhod, but Orcherd and Columb made many resuns ayen the water and eke ayen the sondage, the wold ye shuld have a wey to your grounde, but they wold ye shuld nat cum and send that wey. And yt lyke your fadyrhod I spoke to master Selenger acordyng to your comaund|ment for my brother Tomas mater, and enfourmyd hym hov they had

resseyvyd the rent, and hov your fadyrhod had don acordyng to hys desyre, and they entend nat: and he hath wrytyn unto the party to de|lyver the mon[ey] ayen: the wyche letter I send unto your fadyrhod that ytt myte be delyveryd unto the seyde party. Master Selenger de|syryth your fadyrhod to forbere your sute ayen them thys terme, and that the trety go forth yff yt may be, or ellys your fadyrhod to take your a-wantage the nexte terme: but he ys dysplesyd sore with them for the reseyvyng of the money, and seyth they shall pay yt ayen. Also fadyr, master Selenger hath comaundyd alle my ladys counsell that non of my ladyse tenantes shuld fysche yn your water, and that the tenantes be so warnyd. Fadyr, and yt lyke yov, Umfrey Salman ys ded, and he hath a may chyd of x yere old to hys eyyr, the wyche ys ward unto your fadyrhod, and I trust to sesen yt unto the behofe of your fadyrhod, thov I tary a day or to the lengger. And also, fadyr, Frynd kannat yt delyver me, but he seyth unto me that your fadyrhod shalle be plesyd, and that I shalle have alle maner of dutys with me, both the old and eke the nev: corte day shalle be at Ermyngtun on a Sunday on senyte, and I caste me to departe on the morrov after, with the grace of Jhesu: for erst I kannat be delyveryd the lond of the ward wych [wych, om. MS.] dravyth to rent by yere xx marke: and I porpose fadyr to cum hom ward by Henbery, and so forth, as I dyd the laste tyme. No more to your good fadyrhod at thys tyme: but I mekely beseche your good fadyrhod that thys my bylle may recomaund me unto my good modyr yn my most umbyl vyse, mekely besechyng my good modyr of hir dayly blessyng &c., mekely besechyng your fadyrhod in lyke vyse, and I mekely besechyng alle myty Jhesu to preserve your good fadyrhod and your [wyf, my] modyrs good modyrhod, amen. I-wrytyn in Exeter the Thursday next afore seynt Jorgeys day. My lady Arundell prayyth your fadyrhod to be good cosyn unto her yn suche maters as her servant shall move your fadyrhod of.

By your chyld Wylliam Stonor.

To my ryght reverent and worshypfull fadyr, my fadyr Stonor.