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.

172. ELIZABETH STONOR TO WILLIAM STONOR 22 OCTOBER [1476]

From the allusions it is clear that this was written shortly before the next letter; so the year is fixed for 1476, and the day was a Tuesday. "My lady of Southfolke" is Elizabeth of York, wife of John de la Pole, the second Duke of Suffolk. "Cossyne Rokyse" is presumably Thomas Rokes (see No. 89). "My Cyster Barantyne" is William Stonor's sister Mary, whose hus|band John Barantyne was under age (see No. 294). Elizabeth Stonor, the third sister, was apparently unmarried. John Barantyne's mother Elizabeth had married as her second husband Sir John Boteler, who died on 14 June, 1477 (Chancery Inq. p.m., Edward IV, file 61, No. 25). As to Fowler see No. 169. The last clause of the letter is autograph. From A.C., xlvi, 121.

Right interly and best belovyd husbond, I recomaund me unto you in my most herty wyse, evermore thankyng you right hertely off all kyndeness to me schewed at all tymes, and nowe ffor your good Veny|sone and Coneys, the wheche you sent me be Heri Blakhall, the whech is gret deyntis to have here in London: wherfor I sent the halffe hawnche to my ffadyr and a cowpyll off coneys: and they recomaund them unto you and thanke you ryght hertely. And sur, you schall undyrstond that I have be with my Lady of Southfolke as on Thursday last was, and wayted uppon hyr to my lady the Kynges Modyr and hyrse, be hyr commaundment. And also on Satyrday last was I wayted uppon hyr thedyr ageyne, and allso ffro thens she wayted uppon my lady hyr Modyr, and browght hyr to Grenwyche to the Kyngis good grace and the quenyse: and ther I sawe the metyng betwyne the Kynge and my ladye his Modyr. And trewly me thowght it was a very good syght. And sire, I was with my lady of Southfolke at this day hopyng that I myght have hade hyre at sume leysyre that I myght a spokyn to hyr ffor the money, but trwly sche was very besy to make hyre redy, ffor sche is redyne to Cauntyrbery as this same day, and sche wyll be here ageyne as on Satyrday next comyng, ffor so sche told me hyr selff. Also Sire, I spake with my cosyn Fowler at my lady the Kyngis Modyr; and I thankyde hyme as hertely as I cowde for his gret kyndnese that he schewid to you and to me at all tymys, prayeng hyme of his good con|tynuans: and he askyde me when you wyld cum hydyr. And I tellyd hym that I supposyd that you wyld be her as this weke. And also I spake with my cosyne Rokysse: and he askyd me in leke wyse, and he seyth itt is not hys ffortune to mete with you here in London: and I spake to hyme ffor John Mathews mater, and prayed hym to be good master unto hym: and he awnswerd me ageyne, and seyde that he had lytyll cause, for he seyth that he have ben the most importune manne that myght be to hymewardes. And I awnswerd and seyde to hyme, that I coude never undyrstond hyt but that he owght hyme his servyse to his powre. And Sire, my lady of Southfolke is halfindell ["halfendele," the half-part.] dysplesyd because that my Cystere Barantyne is no better arayed, and leke wyse my Cyster Elysabeth. And sche seyth with owght they be otherwyse arayed, sche seyth, sche may not kep them: and sche seyth that my Moder and yours schuld saye that you have I-nowe to ffynd my Cyster Elysabeth with all. Also I undyrstond þat Sure John Buttelyr hath spokyn to my lady to have my Cyster Barantyne with hyme: what he menyth therin

we wot nere, with oute that he wold have the rewle of hyr husbandys lyvelode be that meane. Wherffore my Cyster wold speke with you ffore that mater to have your cownsell in what is best to do. And Sire, as ffor my sone Betsonne I herde no worde ffrome hyme sith you de|partyd: for ther commyth no passage this viij dayese. And Sire, I wold pray you whenne Davy Wrixame commyth to you owght off Cottys|wold, that ye wold send hyme hydder that he myght wryght to my sonne howe he have done in the contre. And good Sire, I pray you that my blewe gowne of damaske may be sent to me ageyne alhalowne day, and my cofferse and my dowter Caterynes, that I spake to you ffore. And sire, suche kercherse and smokkys and small japys that be in the chest that Cateryne my womanne had role of, whech chest stondyth in my sonne Betsonys Chaumbre. And Sire, I wold pray you that ȝee wold send this gere to me that I myght take rekenyg of hyre: ffor she skevisith hyr and sey that suche gere as I aske her is there. Sir, I pray you send me no more ryngis with stonys: ffore the ryng that you sent me be Hery Blakhall, the stone is ffallyn owght be the way and loste: wherffore I ame sory. Good sire, let it not be long or I may se you: for truly me thynke ryght long syth I se you. Your chylderne and myne ffare well, blessyd be God, and they be to me a gret cowmfort in your absens. No more to you at this tyme, but almyghti Jhesu preserve and kepe you in long helth and vertue to hys plesure. At London the xxij day of Octobre.

My owne Cosyne, I sende you a bladyr with powdyr to drynke when ȝe go to bede, ffor hit is holsome ffor you.

Be your ovne to my powre Elysabeth Stonore.

To my Ryght well-belovyd Cosyn Wyllm. Stonor, squyer, at Stonore, this be delyveryd.