By the Rev, J. E. Jackson. 



285 



said Charles Stourton to the value of £500. And the said Charles produceth 

 here in Court Letters of Administration to the said William Stourton. He 

 therefore prays, &c. Agnes pleads not guilty. Jury summoned for Thursday 

 after the quindene of Easter.* 



What the verdict of the Jury was is not stated : nor with mere 

 fragments of information is it possible to form a connected story. 

 But from the " Depositions in Chancery " above referred to, it 

 appears that the litigants found their way thither : and from the 

 minutes of the Council Book it is to be gathered that in this same 

 I year, 1550, the Chancellor (Stephen Gardiner) granted an injunction 

 | against Agnes Byce : that Charles Stourton (most likely for some 

 intemperate conduct in the affair) was committed to the Fleet 

 prison: and that this dispute coming before the Council they 

 reversed the Chancellor's decision, and on 28th October sent a 

 letter to him accordingly. This being in favour of M ris . Agnes 

 Byce, she appears to have lost no time in acting upon it. 



Under the Will she was entitled to certain farming-stock on the 

 Manor of Stourton : and (if the documents are not misunderstood) 

 she appears to have been authorized by the Council to go to 

 Stourton House and take possession of the said stock : for, in July 

 I 1551 the Sheriff of Wilts, John Mervyn of Fonthill, was instructed 

 to execute a Writ of Entry : Charles Stourton's own wife Lady 

 Anne (Stanley) being at that time resident in Stourton House. 

 Stourton himself was within the rules of the Fleet, but being 

 probably suspected of an intention personally to oppose the Sheriff, 

 he received on 27th July a warning letter from the Council at 

 Hampton Court to appear before them at once, on pain of his 

 allegiance. His wife however may have taken upon herself to 

 resist, for opposition of some kind or other was reported to the 

 Council. 



(No. 22.) 21st July 1551. (Council Book.) 



By letters from the Bishop of Sarum and other Justices of the peace in 

 "Wiltes unto Sir W m . Herbert Lieutenant there, it was declared that a reskewe 

 was made by the L. Sturton upon the Shiref when he wold have executed a 

 writ of entre upon assise for the manor of Stourton : whereupon the said Lord 

 Stourton was sent for and being examined how he durst contempt the Kinges 



* The Quindene or Quinzaine of Easter means the eight days preceding and the eight days 

 following Easter Day. 



