Mezera-Morris - Person Sheet
Mezera-Morris - Person Sheet
NameSTAFFORD, William Ii 
, 10G Grandfather
, 10G GrandfatherBirth Date1 Mar 1554
Birth PlaceRockford, Essex, England
Death Date16 Nov 1612 Age: 58
Death PlaceAntingham, Norfolk, England
FlagsHistorical, Morris Line, Nobility
FatherSTAFFORD, Sir William I (1508-1556)
MotherSTAFFORD, Lady Dorothy (1526-1604)
Misc. Notes
William Stafford was educated at Winchester College, where he was admitted in 1564, and New College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1571.
In 1573 he was elected a fellow of New College, but two years later he was deprived of his fellowship for being away without leave.
He came to London, where his mother Dorothy was in attendance on Queen Elizabeth. In 1585, William went to France secretly, staying in the lodgings of his brother Sir Edward Stafford, ambassador to France, and spying on his own account. When this was found out, he begged Sir Francis Walsingham's intercession with his mother. He soon returned to England.
The following year, William became involved with the plans of Châteauneuf, the French ambassador. By 1587, Châteauneuf was conspiring to poison Queen Elizabeth (Babington Plot), using William Stafford's court connections to plant a poisoned gown or saddle for the Queen's use. William confessed the plot to Walsingham, who arrested the conspirators. William was released from the Tower in Aug of 1588 without any charges being brought. It is speculated that William was an agent provocateur for Walsingham in this plot; certainly, he suffered no lasting harm from the episode.
After this, William retired to a quiet life in the country.
Note: His son was another William Stafford, a notable author of 'The Reason of the War, with the Progress and Accidents Thereof, written by an English Subject' which was published in 1646, arguing for Charles I to give more power to the Parliament.
In 1573 he was elected a fellow of New College, but two years later he was deprived of his fellowship for being away without leave.
He came to London, where his mother Dorothy was in attendance on Queen Elizabeth. In 1585, William went to France secretly, staying in the lodgings of his brother Sir Edward Stafford, ambassador to France, and spying on his own account. When this was found out, he begged Sir Francis Walsingham's intercession with his mother. He soon returned to England.
The following year, William became involved with the plans of Châteauneuf, the French ambassador. By 1587, Châteauneuf was conspiring to poison Queen Elizabeth (Babington Plot), using William Stafford's court connections to plant a poisoned gown or saddle for the Queen's use. William confessed the plot to Walsingham, who arrested the conspirators. William was released from the Tower in Aug of 1588 without any charges being brought. It is speculated that William was an agent provocateur for Walsingham in this plot; certainly, he suffered no lasting harm from the episode.
After this, William retired to a quiet life in the country.
Note: His son was another William Stafford, a notable author of 'The Reason of the War, with the Progress and Accidents Thereof, written by an English Subject' which was published in 1646, arguing for Charles I to give more power to the Parliament.
Spouses
1GRYME, Anne , 10G Grandmother
, 10G GrandmotherBirth Dateabt 1555
Birth PlaceAntingham, Norfolk, England
Death DateSep 1612 Age: 57
Death PlaceLondon
FlagsMorris Line
ChildrenWilliam