By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 301 



Lease of the Rectory had been granted to Hartgill are destroyed ; 

 but the words " reiyn of Echo. VI," remain. There is a little 

 nicety in the matter that makes the remnant of date important. 

 The reign of Edward VI. began 28th January 1547. The Lease 

 must therefore have been granted after that day. But at that 

 time William Lord Stourton, though living, was absent in France, 

 and there continued until his death October 1548. It must there- 

 fore have been during his absence that Hartgill obtained the lease. 

 Recollecting that one of the very first questions raised by Charles 

 Stourton 8th April 1549 (see above p. 263) had been as to Hartgill's 

 right to feed his sheep on the Rectory, it becomes probable that 

 this Lease of the Rectory was one of the acts of Hartgill in which 

 Charles Stourton considered that some unfair advantage had been 

 taken during his father's absence. Still, as that alone would not 

 have formed any justification whatsoever for an ejectment, it may 

 be presumed either that Hartgill had refused explanations, or that 

 Charles Stourton had some counter-claim which he was foolish 

 enough to prosecute in the violent manner described. 



(No. 35.) A.D. 1550. To the King our soverayne Lorde.* 

 In most lamentable wise compleyninge sheweth unto your excellent Majestie 

 your poor subject and daylie orator William Hartgill of Kylmington in your 

 grace's countie of Somerset Esquier that whereas Thomas Benet clerke beinge 

 lawfully seased in his demesne as of fee as in the right of his churche of Kyl- 

 myngton ... of the parsonage and rectory of Kylmyngton in the said 

 countie of Somerset, and he beinge therof so seased at th . . . , of our Lorde 

 God in the said yere of your Majesties reign did demyse grante and to ferme lett 



unto yor said orator Rectory with all and singuler the 



membres and appurtenaunces for terme of certen yeres yet enduringe by vertue 



wherof was and is therof lawfully possessed ; so it is, most 



dere soveraign Lorde, that one Henry Symes of Stourten in the countie of Wiltes 

 and Owyn at Yew of the said towne yeoman accompayned with too other persons 

 being all servauntes to the Lorde Stourton, of malice prepensed and borne 

 towardes your saide subjecte the xj [day] of December in the thirde yere of yor 

 most gracious reign (1549) riotously with force and armes that is to sale with 

 staves and billes, the mancion house of the said parsonage brake and entred, 

 and then and there on one Robert Rydeowte a poore ympotent shepherde unto your 

 said subjecte being sycke in the said parsonage of dyvers greate beatinges and 

 woundes by the said Henry and Owyn to hyni before that tyme given and made, 

 and on oone Richard Coker gent also servaunte to your saide subjecte then and 

 there, beinge in Goddes peace and your higbnes, made a grevious assault and 

 affray, and then and there forceablie and riotously brake up the dores of the hall 

 ' star Chamber Proceedings. 



