By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 



287 



insolence towards Mr. Fauntleroy. Complaint was forthwith made 

 to the Council, and letters were also sent up from the rival party. 

 The Council required an impartial report of what took place to be 

 laid before them ; and the next document is that report, signed by 

 seven of the neighbouring gentry and others. 



(No. 24.) 1551, 31st July. Roger Basyng and others to the King's Most 

 Honourable Council. 1 



It may please yo r honorable Lordshipes to be advertised that upon the request 

 of Mr. Fauntleroye to thentent we shulde reporte the troythe as well yn the 

 denieano r of the Shirif upon the reeepte of your honorable letters as allso the 

 demeano' of the sayde Fauntleroye, we repaired to Stourton the laste daye of 

 July whereat we found the Shirif and then the Shirif came to the mano r place 

 of Stourton and found the yeates faste barred beyng kept by force with gunes, 

 bowes, and other weapons, and yrnediatly after, William Hartgyll then beyng 

 present, after that he had secret comynycacon with the Shirif, came unto the 

 gate and there secretly disclosid his mynde to the portar through an hole of the 

 gate. Whereupon M es . Ryse came her self to the gate and caused it to be openyd : 

 and the Shirif declared that he had receved yo r honorable letters at the sute of 

 the sayde Fauntleroye (but shewyng none yn our sight) declaryng unto the 

 sayde M es . Ryse that he was comaundyd upon the sight of his lease to deliver 

 hym the possession thereof, and that the Shirife's request was at the leste that 

 M cs . Ryse shuld be contentid yf Fauntleroye shulde put yn servauntes yn to the 

 ground and a keper yn to the parke for the tyme : who made aunswer, (any 

 letters notwithstanding) but that ' ' if Fauntleroye or any other for hym wolde 

 come upon the ground for any suche purpose he shulde never go oute of the 

 same on lyve." She suffred the Shirif and his servauntes with Eartgill and 

 others to come yn, peaseably to come yn, to the place, and kept Fauntleroye and 

 all other oute : and there they remaynyd by the space of half an houre and 

 more : and then came oute agayne : and M es . Ryse kepyng the gate hereself 

 sayde "that she wolde kepe the possession thereof untill she were discharged 

 by a lawe," (any letters notwithstanding.) The saide Fauntleroye then, having 

 his lease yn his hande, offrid it to the Shirif, desiryng hym to execute his office 

 accordyng to the purporte of yo r sayde honorable letters ; who made awnswer 

 and sayde " I have allready seen yo r lease, but ye heare what M es . Ryse say the, 

 I will medle no more yn this matter withoute farder auctoryte." And then the 

 eayde Fauntleroye beyng offended for that he sawe the rames * of deare lying 

 yn the base Court spoyled and eaten with dogges and brought oute of the parke 

 of Stourton, the sayde Hartgill sayde " What! dothe this sight greve thee? 

 thou shalt see xx or xl deare kylled theire yn one daye before thy face within 

 this sevennyght, and therefore grudge not at this: " and thereupon the Shirif 

 departid, as knoweth the lyvinge Lorde who long preserve yo r honorable Lorde- 



1 State Papers Domestic, Edw. VI. vol. xiii. Article 32. 



* Raraes, " the relics of a branch after the leaves are off. Ranes (Devon), the carcase or skeleton 

 of a bird." Ha lliwell's Dictionary of Archaic words. 



VOL. VIII. NO. XXIV. DD. 



