I 



By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 



309 



Hartgyll's bragg hath any ground or no and what your oppynyon is theryn. 

 This fare you well. 



" Your neyghbor and frynd, 



Chaeolls Stourton." 



[Address) 

 "To my frynd Syr Jho Thynne." 

 [Docketed) " Received from Lord Stourton 1553." 



Stourton and Sherington. 

 What had occurred to provoke the angry epistle next following, 

 or when precisely it was written, we are unable to say. The paper 

 (at Longleat) is not the original letter itself but only an un-dated 

 transcript, endorsed " Copy of Letter sent from the Lord Stourton 

 to Sir William Sherington." From the "King's Majesty" being 

 mentioned, it must have been written before the reign of Queen 

 Mary: and there being a reference to Sherington's "authority" 

 and his " commission," it may perhaps have been addressed to him 

 when Sheriff of Wilts in 1552-3. Sir William was owner of 

 Lacock Abbey, purchased at the Dissolution, and the person who 

 obtained a discreditable notoriety by mal-practices in the matter of 

 the coinage. 1 



The "Mr. Herbert" alluded to, was William, created 10th 

 October 1551 Baron Herbert, and next day, Earl of Pembroke. 

 Unless therefore Lord Stourton undesignedly speaks of him by his 

 more familiar name, the letter must have been written before that 

 date. 



(No. 41.) Charles Lord Stourton to Sir William Sherington. [Copy at 

 Longleat.) 



"I have rcceaved your letters. First as for Thynne's part, I will doo as I 

 see cause, and doubt you not but the cause shalbe agreable to the deade, your 

 warning not geven. As for your authorite to commaunde, it is to me more 

 straunge in this case then I suppose you have commission for. Well I knowe 

 that Mr. Herbert is High Lieutenaunt of the Shire of Wiltshire, and even as I 

 have no vaine hoope but certainly do knowe him to be myn especiall frende 

 whom I wolde trust for my lief and gooddes, so do I not a litle wonder that he 

 will putt wyne into a broken bottell (as you saie he doth). I have also to geve 

 you thanks for your honest reapport made to the King's Majestie's counsell of 

 me, but indeade not thankes wourthie. I doubt not but my truth thearin, 

 scarce as yet well knowen, shalbe hable within fewe daies to blanke your untruth 



1 See " Collections for Wilts," Aubrey and Jackson, p. 91. 



