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.

Kingsford, Charles Lethbridge, editor. 1862-1926.

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282. WALTER ELMES TO SIR WILLIAM STONOR [3 JAN. 1481]

The letter contains an obvious reference to the arrangements for the ward|ship of the Fenns. The appointment of the fresh trustees took place on 7 April, 1481 (Letter Book, L. 176; see also No. 287). This points to 3 Jan., 1481, as the date for this letter. The reference to the Exeter Almshouse (see Nos. 285 and 289) makes an earlier date impossible, and a later one unlikely. The date, 1481, confirms (by the reference to Colet) the dates assigned to Nos. 273 and 276. Agas Lovell may be one of the Lovell wards referred to in No. 237. Hugh and Margaret are the Fenns. From A.C., xlvi., 154.

Page 117, vol. 2

After all dewe recommendacion, plesyth hit yow to undyrstond that I merveyle gretely þat ye send not Thomas Mathewe with the evydens &c. Thonkyng yow all weyys of youre grete bownteowsnesse unto me and in especyall of your offer to me grauntyd: wherfor I am bownd to be your trewe servaunt, and Bedeman whylys I lyve. Syr, I have re|membryd me of your comynycacion of Agas Lovell, whome, yf hit lykyd yow that I myte have undyr the forme folowyng, I trust hit shuld be to yow moste proffyte and avayle, and I and all myn to be your perpetuall Bedemen: yff hit lyke yow to take me CCCC. li. accordyng to your offre, I shall ffynd yow suerte to pay yow att viij yeres end your CCCC. li. ageyne, and CCCCC. marcs for the ward of the seyde Agas, wych wull drawe nye to the hole stokke of your ij chyldryn, Hewe and Margarete: and so there stok shall be redy at all tymes, with the on half in myne hondys, and that othyr half now in your owne hondes, at your day to do þat with what ye wull, and thus shall ye be purveyd of money and your stokk not brokyn. And as for the contentacion of Harry Colett, yf hit lyke yow to delyver me the next obligacion of Bet|son of C. li., I shall at my charge schevyshe so much and rathyr than fayle the hole: so now lakkyth non other but suerte in the Yeld hall, wych wull be gevyn apon such feoffement as ye spake of. Syr, I beseche yow remembre this, and bete hit ryth well in your mynd. And I trust hit shalbe your avayle and wurshuppe both to make your power alye, wych shall ever be bownd to pray for yow, and so*. [So MS., apparently an error either for "so to" or for "to".] yow the profyte and wurshuppe, and to me and myn a makyng for ever. Syr, yf this wey lyke yow, I pray yow to send me a byll fro yow to your Almes hows at Exeter, that I may þe sonner spede mee for Harry Colettes payment. Furthermore, I beseche yow that þis sympyll byll may recommaund me my good lady, your wyffe, and to all yowrs. And our blessyd lord hold his holy hand over yow and them with long lyff and grete wurshupp here to endure, Amen. I trust, thou I be fer fro yow, that þis lytyll byll [wull cause]*. [These two words have been crossed out; probably Elmes meant to erase this "cold whedere" also.] this cold whedere, and my erand wull make me and shew me present. Scrybylyd with hond of hym þat is yowr servaunt to the extreme of my lytyll power.

W. Elmes.

At Andever the Wenesday after Newe Yeres day at vj at Clokk in þe mornyng.

To my ryth wurshipfull Master, Syr Wylyam Stonor, knyth for the kynges Body.

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