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.

153. THOMAS STAUNTON OR STONOR TO WILLIAM STONOR 19 JULY, [1475]

Like the previous letter this is written from France during the expedition of 1475. For the curious signature see the note to No. 151. This letter shows that William Stonor must have married Elizabeth Ryche in the summer of 1475; her first husband died before 1st July of that year (perhaps in August, 1474, see No. 168 and p. xxvii above), though his will was not proved till 4 October, 1475. From A.C., xlvi, 113.

Ryght reverent and worchypfull broder, with as many hartely re|comaundacions as may be I recommande me to you, dirsiryng spessially

to here of your wellfare, and of my suster your wyffe also, to whom I pray you þat I may be recommendet to: and yf hyt woll like you to here of the wellfare of my broder Edmonde Stonor and of myne, at the makyng of this letter whe where in good helth and mery, thankyd be Jhesu, and to say þat Edmonde Stonor parte shall be my parte as and Willm. Stonor where here. I putte you out of dowte hyt shall: and more yettes no man of me in the worde: and I on certen you he shall whante no thyng þat I on eny forme may do for hym. My brother Edmonde tolde me þat my suster, your wyffe, sende a man to Cales, and þat at your command shulde have speken with me, and a delyvered me a token: certenly ther cam non suche to me, and þat I was rygth sory fore. Evermore, brother, I thankke you for the luffe þat ye sewde to my sole whan ye harde of my distres, as well as ye have sewde to my body afore tyme and at all tymes, whiche lise not ne may ... [The MS. is defective.] esyryng and quite, but God kennes þat, and my powre, where to my wylle I shulde as largely quite your kyndenes and gentilnes as ever dud eny gentlyman to armes: ye gette no thyng of me but my hole harte with all my powre. And syr, I thankke you for your good consell, and certenly I thynkke to do ther after: but ye may thankke my suster, your wyfe, þat ye be of so gode disposission to avertes and avyse me to leve all foly, for þat comys of the holy sacrament of wedlokke, wheche I pray Jhesu sende me sone to after I come home: for I fere me, þat, tyll þat tyme þat þat youkke of wedlokke ly in my nekke as hyt dose now in yours, þat youth shall rene in me as hyt has done in you afore tyme: I have dispysed þat order afore tyme, and þat repentes me, for God have ponyssed me sore there fore. The dewke of Burgon cam to Cales to the kyng the xiiij day of Julii and departed the xviij day, and the kyng also, in to France warde. I suppose the kyng wyll go the next way to Pares. The kyng wyll muster all hys host at Fauconbrygge [Fauquembergue.] xxx myle out of Cales the morne next after seynt Margarett day: [21st July.] and yf the frenchemen wyll do us þe day, hyt shall not be longe or whe mete. They be mony in nomber. They wryte on there speres: "yf I hytte the, sheryfe the, yf I mysse the, blysse the": thesse bene parles wordes. On of them þat so wrote was stryken to the harte with a narow at Abvyle: and he nede blyssed hym and yitte shrowffe hym. I trust mo of them shall be so sarvedde in hast. I thankke God I am strynger then ever I was, for all my coruppud blode hys gonne. And I have new he hys now out of preson þat stroke me, and hasse payde for all my costes and

charges syth I was hurte, and hys bonden to abyde my lordes rewle as for the offence þat he hasse done me: but I purposse to se England or I hende with hym. And, broder, ever as eny comys betwene, ye shall have worde. No more at thys tyme, but the holy gost have you yn kepyng. Wrytten at Genes [Guisnes.] the xix^th day of Julii. And fare well my none broder, for be that next letter ye shall here oder tyrynges, Jhesu be howr goode spede. And ever fare well my none broder &c., quod Katermane.

Your broder Th. Staunton.

Thys letter be delyvered to my brother Wyllm. Stonor in haste.