254 Charles, Lord Stourton, S^c. 



was still keeping her bed from the blow she had received from 

 Lord Stourton's sword) and probably before Lord Stourton's 

 execution : otherwise the writer of it (no friend to his Lordship), 

 though unwilling to detail all the rest of the alleged " routs, 

 ryottes, robberies and murders," would surely have resumed his pen, 

 before the manuscript left his hands, to add the result of them. 

 It would seem that upon the very Monday, the 11th of January, 

 when Lord Stourton met the Hartgills at Kilmington Church, and 

 " arrested them of felony," some quick application must have been 

 made by their friends to the Council : for the Council Books con- 

 tain the following Orders dated the 14th January. 



(No. I.) At Grenewich the xiiij* day of January Ati" 1556-7. 



A Letter to the Lord Sturton to cause the bodyes of William Hartegill and 

 John Hartegill (whome the Lordes of the Councill are infourmed he hath 

 attached for felonye and keepeth them in his owne custodie) to be delivered to 

 the Sherife of Somersetsheire to be used accordyng to justice, and to repairo 

 hether himself to morowe to make declaracons of his doinges in this behalfe. 



(No. 2.) A letter to the sherife of Somersetsheire to take the Bodies of William 

 Hartegill and John Hartegill (whom the Lord Sturton hath attached of fellonie) 

 into his custodie, and in case they be baileable to cause sufficient bandes to be taken 

 of them for their forthecominge to be ordered accordinge to justice, and to sett 

 them thereupon at theire libertye ; or if they be not baileable then to cause them 

 to be sente upp hether under safe and sure custodie to be farther used as occasion 

 shall serve. (Council Book.) 



But the interference of the Council came too late ; for it was 

 about 11 o'clock on the night of Tuesday, January 12th, that this 

 murder was committed. 



On the 28th January Lord Stourton was committed to the Tower : 

 and some of his money appears to have been seized upon, towards 

 payment of costs. Sir John Fitz Williams was also sent to prison 

 on suspicion of being concerned in it. 



(No. 3.) Hilary Term 1557. 



Lord Sturton in the Fleete, sent for to be in courte to 



The Lord Stourton heare the judgment of the coiu-t for the assessment of his fyn« 

 committed te the for the procureing his men to comitt the r5'ottes of the Hart- 

 Tower upon the read- gilles plaintiffs against him. The Lord Chancellor then do- 

 ing of the informa- olaring his fyne to bee 300 markes, saying, "He was not content 

 tiou against him con- ^^^^ ^-^e order of the Court of his conviction the last terme," 

 ceming murthering j^^^,^ Sturtou repUed " I am sorie to see that Retorick doth 

 of the HartgiUs. ^^^^ where law should take place," which wordes the Lord 



