Simon Stallworth to Sir William Stonor

331. SIMON STALLWORTH TO SIR WILLIAM
STONOR

21 JUNE, 1483

Printed in Excerpta Historica, pp. 16, 17. The greater part of the letter,
down to "menne of my lord," is not in Stallworth's writing. Sir Clements
Markham (Life of Richard III, p. 214) has argued that: "As Saturday was
the 21st, Friday last was the 20th. We have here evidence that Lord
Hastings was not beheaded until a week after his arrest. . . . The story of
Morton about the hurried execution on the 13th, and the log of wood, is there-
fore false." Dr. Gairdner (Eng. Hist. Review, vi, 454) contested this con-
clusion. But the fact that the letter was written in two hands affords an easy
explanation; the first part may well have been written on Friday, the 20th,
and the end added by Stallworth on the Saturday. This also explains the
change of Stallworth's opinion as to the likelihood of the early release of the
bishops. Compare, however, the dating of No. 174 on "All Soules dai last
past". From A.C., xlvi, 207.⁷⁴

    Worschipfull Sir, I commend me to you, and for tydynges I hold
you happy that ye ar oute of the prese, for with huse is myche trobull,
and every manne dowtes other. As on Fryday last was the lord
Chamberleyn hedded sone apone noon. On Monday last was at
Westm. gret plenty of harnest men: ther was the dylyveraunce of the
Dewke of Yorke to my lord Cardenale, my lord Chaunceler, and other
many lordes Temporale: and with hym mette my lord of Bukyngham in
the myddes of the hall of Westm.: my lord protectour recevynge hyme at
the Starre Chamber Dore with many lovynge wordys: and so departed
with my lord Cardenale to the toure, wher he is, blessid be Jhesus, mery.
The lord Liele is come to my lord protectour, and awates upon hyme.
Yt is thought ther schalbe xx thousand of my lord protectour and my
lord of Bukyngham men in London this weeke: to what intent I knowe
note but to kepe the peas. My lord haith myche besynes and more
then he is content with all, yf any other ways wold be tayn. The lord
Arsbyschop of Yorke, the Byshop of Ely ar зit in the toure with Master
Olyver Kynge. [I suppose they schall come oute neverÞelesse].¹ Þer
ar men in ther placese for sure kepynge. And I suppose Þat Þer shall
be sente menne of my lord protectour to Þeis lordys places in Þe countre.
They ar not lyke to come oute off ward зytt. As for Foster he is in
hold and meue fer hys lyke. Mastres Chore² is in prisone: what schall
happyne hyr I knowe nott. I pray you pardone me of mor wrytyng, I
ame so seke Þat I may not wel holde my penne. And Jhesu preserve
you. From London Þe xxj day of June by Þe handys of your servand.

                                                              Simon Stallworthe.

    All Þe lord Chamberleyne mene be come my lordys of Bokynghame
menne.

    To the right worsehipfull Ser Willm. Stoner, knyht.

    ¹ A line has been drawn through these words in the original.     ² Shore.

331. SIMON STALLWORTH TO SIR WILLIAM
STONOR

21 JUNE, 1483

     Printed in Excerpta Historica, pp. 16, 17. The greater part of the letter,
down to “menne of my lord,” is not in Stallworth’s writing. Sir Clements
Markham (Life of Richard III, p. 214) has argued that: “As Saturday was
the 21st, Friday last was the 20th. We have here evidence that Lord
Hastings was not beheaded until a week after his arrest. . . . The story of
Morton about the hurried execution on the 13th, and the log of wood, is there-
fore false.” Dr. Gairdner (Eng. Hist. Review, vi, 454) contested this con-
clusion. But the fact that the letter was written in two hands affords an easy
explanation; the first part may well have been written on Friday, the 20th,
and the end added by Stallworth on the Saturday. This also explains the
change of Stallworth’s opinion as to the likelihood of the early release of the
bishops. Compare, however, the dating of No. 174 on “All Soules dai last
past”. From A.C., xlvi, 207.

     Worschipfull Sir, I commend me to you, and for tydynges I hold
you happy that ye ar oute of the prese, for with huse is myche trobull,
and every manne dowtes other. As on Fryday last was the lord
Chamberleyn hedded sone apone noon. On Monday last was at
Westm. gret plenty of harnest men: ther was the dylyveraunce of the
Dewke of Yorke to my lord Cardenale, my lord Chaunceler, and other
many lordes Temporale: and with hym mette my lord of Bukyngham in
the myddes of the hall of Westm.: my lord protectour recevynge hyme at
the Starre Chamber Dore with many lovynge wordys: and so departed
with my lord Cardenale to the toure, wher he is, blessid be Jhesus, mery.
The lord Liele is come to my lord protectour, and awates upon hyme.
Yt is thought ther schalbe xx thousand of my lord protectour and my
lord of Bukyngham men in London this weeke: to what intent I knowe
note but to kepe the peas. My lord haith myche besynes and more
then he is content with all, yf any other ways wold be tayn. The lord
Arsbyschop of Yorke, the Byshop of Ely ar Зit in the toure with Master
Olyver Kynge. [I suppose they schall come oute neverþelesse].¹ þer
ar men in ther placese for sure kepynge. And I suppose þat þer shall
be sente menne of my lord protectour to þeis lordys places in þe countre.
They ar not lyke to come oute off ward Зytt. As for Foster he is in
hold and meue fer hys lyffe. Mastres Chore² is in prisone: what schall
happyne hyr I knowe nott. I pray you pardone me of mor wrytyng, I
ame so seke þat I may not wel holde my penne. And Jhesu preserve
you. From London þe xxj day of June by þe handys of your servand.

                                                                                 Simon Stallworthe.

     All þe lord Chamberleyne mene be come my lordys of Bokynghame
menne.

     To the right worschipfull Ser Willm. Stoner, knyht.

     ¹ A line has been drawn through these words in the original.     ² Shore.