Career
They had three children, all of whom died in infancy. He was elected to the English House of Commons as knight of the shire (Member of Parliament) for Leicestershire in 1559. The Duchess of Suffolk died in 1559 and Stokes remarried in 1572 Anne Carew, daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew, having been returned again as Member of Parliament for Leicestershire the previous year.
He served as marshal of Newhaven in 1546, and in 1547 was a plaintiff in a court case for trespass in the Great Park of Brigstock.
Elizabeth I was known to express envy at the happiness of Duchess of Suffolk and Adrian.