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.

151. THOMAS STAUNTON OR STONOR TO WILLIAM STONOR [? 1475]

Though the signature to this and to No. 153 is certainly Staunton, it seems clear that the writer was William Stonor's own brother Thomas; in its language it closely resembles No. 142. Thomas seems to have been of a jocular turn, and there may be some private jest in the use of the name. No. 153 shows that the writer had lately been in trouble, and this letter may perhaps be a little earlier in date. In both letters "Katermanes" is quoted for a proverbial saying; possibly it may refer to Richard Quater|mayns—see Nos. 94 and 141. The letter was printed in Excerpta His|torica, 356. From A.C., xlvi, 124.

Rygth worchypfull broder and suster, after dew recomendacion plesse yt you to hunderstonde þat I have a grett mysse of you thys terme. And I lett you whitte I am grette with the Kyng: for I com hoppe be preve sell, and grette nede I hadde now of you and of your counsell for ther ys no more a counsell agynes me but all the juges and serjaunttes and no man dare be with me for displessyng of them: so I am in wars cause then a theffe, for a theff in appell shall have counsell. I purposse to se my suster or ye com out of Devysshirre, yf I may for the Flete, but sore I fere lest ye shall fynde me in the Flete when ye com out of Devysshyre. God send never wras tyryngys to Englonde. Fene I wolde here tell þat I shulde be sende fore to be your gossheppe, but yt hys tolde me ye stryke flatte. More over suster, remembre my pauntener and my pursse, and þat I have the teune of them sende me shortely, apon pene þat woll fall there on: wat ys þat, trow ye, lossyn my lordesshyppe &c.: quod Katermanes, for the indyngnacion of a prince ys dethe. No more to you at thys tyme, but Jhesu have you and yours ever in kepyng. More over I entende to kepe my gresse tyme in þat countre, where fore I woll þat no man huntte tyll I have bene there:

purve not for over many for my comyng, for I woll com but with Willm., my man, and my selfe: and se þat my wyne be kowged.

Your fethfull broder Th. Staunton.

To my well beloved broder Willm. Stonar thys letter be delyvered in hast.