Page:English Historical Review Volume 35.djvu/433

 1920 COURT OF STAR CHAMBER 425 Hargrove must have been dead before October 1491. I have not been able to trace the previous litigation which his sons-in- law Thomas Dormer and John Wells in their answer alleged to have taken place. Nor is there any record of the result of the Star Chamber proceedings. But when Sir WiUiam Stonor died in 1494 it was found that James Markes had enfeoffed Sir William Stonor and Ralph Vyne in the manor of Nusshelyng and Beaufeo, but that Thomas Dormer, David KnoUis, and William Grerveys had taken all the issues and profits from Stonor's death to 21 July, the day before the inquisition.^ Stonor, by his will dated 11 April 1494,^ made Thomas Ramsey and Walter Elmes his executors, to whom with others he had delivered possession of his manors (including Nursling and Beaufoos). Markes was probably an intermediary in the settlement of Nursling. Sir WiUiam Stonor's son did not long survive his father, and a dispute then ensued between Sir William's brother Thomas and Sir Adrian Fortescue, who had married Sir William's daughter Anne, as to the title to the ancestral estates. Nursling, as an acquisition of Sir William Stonor, was of course not in question. In Easter term 1502 Sir Adrian Fortescue brought an action in the common pleas against Thomas Dormer and others for forcible entry on his manor of Nusselyng Beupho.^ Beyond the formal pleadings the record contains no further information. The case came up again next term, and a writ was issued to the sheriff for the appearance of Dormer and his associates on the quinzaine of Michaelmas. On that date they did not appear, and ultimately the hearing was postponed till Easter 1503.^ The roll for that term is unfortunately too decayed to be of any use. Dormer would, however, appear to have lost his suit, for before 1506 Sir Adrian Fortescue and his wife sold Nursling to Edmond Dudley.^ C. L. Kingsford. To the King our soueraine lord and the lordes of his moost honnourable and discrete Counsaille. Sheweth vnto youre highnes youre humble and true subject Syr William Stoner, knight for youre most noble body. That wher diuerse personnes being peaxibly seased of the manoirs of Nusselyng and Beaufoos in your Countie of Sutht. in their demean as of fee to thuse of the said syr William and of his heires, and so contynued of long tyme vnto the xviij*li day of August the vijt^ yere of your moost noble Reigne, on whiche day oon Thomas Dormer, John Welles, Syr Walter, parsonne of Est Wodham in your Countie of Berkesshire, John Michel of Houshole, yoman, Richard Bartihnewe of Motfount, yoman, John Boeher, and John » Placita de Banco, 960, m 315. ♦ Ibid, roll 961, m. 374.
 * Col. of Inquisitions, Henry VII, i. 961.
 * Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 20 Vox.
 * Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, x. 1091.