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.

220. RICHARD PAGE TO SIR WILLIAM STONOR 7 JULY [? 1478]

This letter clearly belongs to the same time as Nos. 219 and 221. Since Stonor is a knight the date cannot be earlier than 1478. Otherwise the only clue to the date is the statement in this letter that the King was to be at Windsor on 8 July, and was going thence to Nottingham. Edward IV was at Nottingham in 1478, 1481, and 1482. In 1482 he went north at the end of May—see No. 313—and during July was in Kent—3rd, Manor of Knoll, 7th and 8th, Canterbury, 9th to 18th, Dover (Chancery Warrants, Series I, File 882). In 1481 he seems to have been at Southwell on 28th June to 5th July, and at Scrooby on 13th to 19th July (Cal. Pat. Rolls, iii, 279-80). The Chancery Warrants (for Privy Seals) do not give clear evidence for move|ments in July, 1481, which year the evidence of the Patent Rolls makes un|likely. If the year is 1481 there is the further difficulty that Stonor must have married his third wife within two months of the death of his second. In 1478 Edward IV was at Greenwich from 2nd to 6th July, was perhaps in

London on the 7th and 8th, was at Ditton on 12th and 13th, Windsor on 15th to 18th, Berkhamstead on 20th, Higham Ferrers on 26th, and Notting|ham on 7th August (Chancery Warrants, Series I, File 866). In No. 247 and all subsequent letters Page addresses Stonor as "knight for the King's body"; he does not do so in this letter nor in No. 221, an omission which suggests that they were earlier than 1479. So on the whole 1478 seems to be the most likely date, but the point is of no great importance. The Chamber|lain is William Hastings. From A.C., xlvi, 186.

I recommaunde me to youre good mastership in my best maner: besechyng of you this pore byll may recommaunde me to my synguler good lady, my lady your wif, as your servaunt and hirres. Syr, wher ye write on to me y shold take an accion in the kynges name ayenst on of Wycomb for cuttyng down and fellyng of certen treys, y have taken an accion redy, and y shall send you the writte. Syr, ye wrote to me in your letter that ye hadde seasid certen corne, whiche was regratyd and forstallid from the comen marketes to the grete hurt of the Comen peple. Syr, me semys by my lernyng ye may not sease not none maner cornes in suche case and put thaym under arest: and if ye have don, yt wold be well don to se thaym delyveryd ayen in manerly forme: it is inquer|able at the Cessons of pees and in every lete and fraunchise of regrators and forstallers of all maner of vitaill, and, if it be presentid, to make a fyne therfor: but it is not the maner ne the care of the law to sease none forstallid ne regratyd vitaill. I remit the delyng with the delyver|aunce hereof to your discreson: but y wold not ye confessid your self to thaym that ye have mys don in that case: but honestly take a promys of thaym [that] [that omitted in MS.] thay shall not dele so herafter, and for this thay have don thay may be indited, and let thaym have deliveraunce of thaire cornys. The Kyng purposeth as to morow to be at Wendesor, and from thens to Notyngham. My lord Chamberleyn rides to morue hame to Leycestre. Other news ben ther non her. I pray God send you as well to fare as your hert can thynk. Writen at London on seint Thomas ys day with the honde of your aune

Page.

To my master syr Willm. Stonor, knyght, be this deliveryd.