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.

60. JOHN ELMES TO THOMAS STONOR 6th FEB. [? 1457]

The 6th of February fell on a Sunday in 1452, 1457, 1463, and 1474. If the writer may be identified with John Elmys, the merchant of Henley, who occurs in 1443 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Henry VI, iv, 169), the most likely date is 1457. "My lady your sister" is clearly Isabel, wife of Thomas Sackville of Falley or Fawley, which is halfway between Stonor and Henley. Thomas Sackville died in 1466, and if this letter is read as implying that Isabel Sack|ville was a widow, the date must be 1474. From A.C., xlvi, 43.

Right wurshipfull syr, and my good Maister, y Recommaunde me to yow: and please hyt your Maistershyppe to wete that the Sonday next after my departynge fro yow I come to Hendeley at vij of the clocke in the mornynge, and whan I had herde masse John Mathew come to me fro my lady youre syster, and told me that there had be certain persones at my place at Falley and have take a distresse thre horses of my ten|auntes, whiles that he was at the Chyrche at matyns and have caried hem away: and they have seled up the halle dore with a wrytynge ther apon, what the wrytynge is I wot not as yet: and thys was don wythoute any knowliche or wetynge of my lady, or of any oficer of hereys: where|fore my lady, your syster, wuld that I shuld wryte to yow of this mater, for she feryth that here fraunchese shuld be hurt or broken, becawse of this doyng &c. And syr, I beseke yow to be my goode Maister: for be my trouth I nevir dede any thynge in the mater syne I was with Maister Fowler, and suche promys as I have made on to yow and to Maister Fowler y shall trewly kepe hyt. Also syr, my tennant, Robert Cockes, is a hevy man becawse his hors be take away. I can nor wyll not gefe hym no comfort, onto that I have wurd fro yowr Maistership, that wote Almyght Jhesu, who have yow, Right worshipfull syr, evyr in his blessed kepyng, Amen. Writen at Hendeley in hast the same Son|day that the dede was don, the vj day of Feverer.

By your servaunt John Elmes.

To Right worshipfull syr, and my goode Maister Thomas Stonar, this be delivered.