person with us Wherefore by the Councell and consent of the Prelats Dukes Earls Viscounts and Barons of our Kingdom being in our present Parliament we have made and created and by these presents make and create him the said Edward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and to the same Edward we give and grant and by this Charter have confirmed the Name Stile Title State Dignity and the honour of the said Principality that he may therein in governing rule and in ruling direct and defend We by a Garland upon his head by a Ring of Gold upon his Finger and a Virge of Gold have according to the manner invested him to have and to hold to him and to his Heirs the Kings of England for ever Wherefore we will and straightly command for us and our Heirs that Edward our Sonne aforesaid shall have the Name Stile Title State Dignity and honour of the Principality of Wales and of the County of Chester aforesaid unto him and his Heirs the Kings of England aforesaid for ever These being witnesses the Reverend Father John Cardinall and Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England our Chancellor and William Archbishop of York Primate of England Thomas Bishop of London John Bishop of Lincolne and William Bishop of Norwich our most welbeloved Cousins Richard Duke of York Humphry Duke of Buckingham our welbeloved Cousin Richard Earl of Warwick Richard Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Wiltshire and our welbeloved and faithfull Cousins Ralph Cromwell Chamberlain of our House William Falconbridge and John Sturton Knights Dated at Our Palace at Westminster the fifteenth day of March and in the yeer of Our Raign thirty two And here by the way may be observed that in ancient time and in the time of the English Saxon Kings the use was as well in penning the Acts of Parliament as of the Kings Letters Patents when any lands franchises or hereditaments did passe from the King of any estate of inheritance as also in their creations of any Man unto honour and dignity the conclusion was with the signe of the Crosse in forme aforesaid that is his Testibus c. But long time that forme hath been discontinued so that at this day and for many yeares past all the Kings Patents for lands franchizes and hereditaments doe conclude with teste me ipso neverthelesse in all creations of honour and dignity by Letters Patents the ancient forme of concluding with his testibus is used at this day Cookes 8. part 19. And it hath been resolved by the Judges that all Acts of Parliament and Statutes whien doe concerne the Prince who is the first begotten son of the King and heire apparant to the Crowne for the time being Perpetuis futuris temporibus in all succession of ages and times be such Acts whereof the Judges and all the Realme must take conusance as of generall Statutes for every subject hath interest in the King and none of his subjects who is within his Lawes be divided from him being his head and Soveraigne so that the businesse and things of the King doth touch all the Realme and namely when it doth concerne the Prince the first begotten sonne of the King and Heire apparant to the Crowne Corruscat enim Princeps radiis Regis Patris sui censetur una persona cum ipso For the Prince shineth with the beames of the King his Father and is holden to be one person with him Cookes 8. part 28. Although the Prince by expresse words hath no priviledge by the great Charter of the Forrest 9 H. 3. cap. 11. for hunting in the Kings Forrests or Parks passing by them and sent for by the Kings commandment yet by construction the Prince is to take benefit and advantage thereby as well as Bishops Earls or Barons who are expressed Crompt Courts des Justices de Forrests 167. In the Parliament 31 H. 8. c. 10. an Act concerning the placing of the Kings children and Lords in the Parliament and other assemblies were amongst other things made as followeth First it is enacted by the authority aforesaid that no person or persons of what degree estate or condition whatsoever he or they be except only the Kings children shall at any time hereafter attempt or presume to sit or have place at any side of the cloth of state in the Parliament chamber neither of the one hand of the Kings Highnesse or of the other whether the Kings Majesty be there personally present or not The Prince shall not find pledges for the prosecution of any Action and therefore shall be amerced more then the King should be or the Queen his wife Vide Cooks 8. part 61. b. Of the most noble and excellent Prince that now is it is truly said that he is omni nomine numine magnus by destiny name providence of God the greatest before Cook to the Reader before his 8. Book the last leaf Neverthelesse as he is a distinct person by nature from the King so is he distinct by the Law viz. a Subject and holdeth his principalities and seigniories of the King neither shall he have all those Prerogatives which the King shal have for example when the King seizeth his Subjects lands or taketh away his goods from him having no title by order of the Law so to do In this case the Subject is to sue to his Soveraign Lord by way of Petition onely for other remedy hath he not but suit by Petition can be to none other then to the King for no such suit shall be made to the Prince but Actions as the case requireth as against a Subject Stamf. praerog ca. 22. And in token of subjection the Prince doth not upon his Posie of his Arms disdain the old Saxon word Ich dien I serve as Lambert doth mention in his Book of Perambulation of Rent 364. And there is a case that Gascoin chief Justice of Engl in the time of H. 4. did commit the Prince who would have taken a prisoner from the Bar in the Kings Bench and the Prince did humbly obey and did go at his command in which the King did greatly rejoyce that hee had such a Judge who durst minister justice upon his son and also that hee had a son so gracious as to obey Court de Banco Regis 79. Crompton A question was moved to the Justices in the first yeer of H. 7. what order should be in that present parliament for the anulling and making void certain attainders for so much as divers who were returned of that Parliamēt did stand attainted of treason and all the Justices resolved That so many of the Knights of the shires or Citizens or Burgesses as stood then attainted of treason should depart out of the Parliament house at the reversall of the Act of Parliament for their attainders But as soon as the Act of Parliament was reversed and annuld that they and every of them that is to say Lords and Commons should come into their places and
Councell or any of the Kings great Officers in his houshold as Steward Treasurer Controller and so great inconveniences did ensue because such ungodly demeanours were not straightly punished before that an actuall deed was done For remedy whereof it was by the same statute ordained that the Steward Treasurer or Controller of the Kings house for the time being shall have full authority and power to enquire by twelve sad men and discreet persons of the Check-roll of the Kings honourable houshold if any servant admitted to be his servant sworne and his name put into the Check-roll of the houshold whatsoever he be serving in any manner office or roome reputed had and taken under the estate of a Lord make any confederacies compassings conspiracies imaginations with any person or persons to destroy or murder the King or any Lord of this Realme or any other person sworne to the King Councell Steward Treasurer or Controller of the Kings house that if it be found before the said Steward for the time being by the said-twelve men that any such of the Kings servants as is aforesaid hath confederated compassed conspired or imagined as abovesaid that he so found by the enquiry be put thereupon to answer and the Steward Treasurer or Controller or two of them have power to determine the same matter according to the law and if hee be put in tryall that then he be tryed by other twelve sad men and discreet men of the same houshold and that such misdoers have no challenge but for malice and if such misdoers be found guilty by confession or otherwise that the said offence be adjudged felony and they to have judgment and execution as felons attainted ought to have by the Common law In the statute made in the second yeare of H. 5. cap. 10. authority is given to the Sheriffe and other the Kings Justices for the better suppressing of Riots and Routs c. to raise Posse Comitatus the power of the County and the same liberty doth the Common law give in many other cases Neverthelesse may not the Sheriffe upon such authority command the person of any Nobleman to attend that service but if the Sheriffe upon a Supplicavit against any Nobleman in that case doe returne that he is so puissant that he cannot or dare not arrest him the Sheriffe shall be grievously amerced for such his returne For by the writ under the Great Seale of the King commandement is to all Archbishops Bishops Dukes Earles Vicounts and Barons and to all liege men of the County to be ayding unto him in that which to his office appertaineth And therefore by intendment no person whatsoever can resist the execution of the said writ of the King Also the Sheriffe may by his discretion levie three hundred men if need be to aid him in that behalfe Cromptons Justice 134.3 H. 7.1 Cookes 5. part 71. b. The words of the great Charter of the Forrest in the eleventh Chapter are as followeth Every Archbishop Bishop Earle or Baron comming to us at our commandement and passing by our Forrest it shaâ—â— be lawfull for hini to take one beast or two by the view of the Forrester if he be present or else he shall cause one to blow a Horne for him that he seeme not to steale our Deere This statute doth speake but of Archbishops Bishops Earles and Barons yet if a Duke Marquesse or Viscount which be Lords of Parliament be comming towards the King by his commandement they also shall have the benefit of this article So if the King send to any of the Lords aforesaid to come to his Parliament or send to him by writ of Subpoena to appeare in the Chancery before his Councell or send for him by his missive or by Messenger or Serjeant at Armes in all these cases he shall have the benefit of this statute because they came at the Kings commandement The same Law is if a Scire facias goe out of the Chancery or Kings Bench to a Lord of the Parliament but if such processe goe forth for a Lord to appeare before the Justices of the Common Pleas or before the Barons of the Exchequer and he commeth upon that he shall not have the benefit of the statute for he doth not come unto the King and the words be veniens ad nos and all the processe which are made out of the Chancery and Kings Bench are quòd sit coram nobis and so are the Processe out of the Star-chamber Also Lords which come to visite the new King after the death of his Father though not sent for shall have the priviledge and so note this statute is a warrant dormant to such Lords which is also to be understood as well of their returning homewards as of their comming towards the King Manwood Forrest Lawes cap. 181. Cromp. Courts 167. b. Note this statute doth give licence to kill or hunt in the Kings Parks though the letter of the statute be transientes per forrestam nostram Passing by our Forrest Cromptons Court 168. Note in certain cases the Law doth give priviledge to the Sons or Brethren of Noblemen though themselves be not of that degree Vide 21. H. 8 cap. 13.7 E. 6. cap. 5. CERTAINE CASES WHEREIN A LORD of the Parliament hath no PRIVILEDGE THe King may by his absolute power commit a Nobleman to prison durante beneplacito suo from whence he cannot be discharged by bail or mainprise or by the common writ de homine replegiando And by the same power it is if a Noble person bee committed to prison by the Kings Councell for they are incorporate to his Highnesse and do command as with the Kings mouth And the same law is if a Noble be committed to prison by the absolute commandement of the Kings Judges sitting in their places of Judicature Stamf. lib. 2. cap. 18. fol. 72.1 as you have before when the Prince himself was committed by the chiefe Justice sitting in the Kings Bench and hee was not baileable Also if a Capias and an Exigent may bee awarded by the Iustices out of their ordinary Jurisdiction against such persons upon an Indirement for Felony or Treason as common experience she weth The statutes of Praemunire are 27. E. 3. cap. 1.16 R. 2. cap. 5. upon which statutes an Abbot which was a Lord of the Parliament was impleaded and he did pray priviledge to appeate by an Atrurney and by the rule of the Court he could not because the statute is generall and against it but by speciall writ out of the Chancery he might And so in case where he doth pray to be received For if a Lord of the Parliament holding lands of another in Fee simple doth forbeare or with-hold to doe and pay his services due to his Land lord and that by the space of two yeares whereupon he doth bring a writ of Cessavit which is his remedy given him by the Law thereby to recover the inheritance of the land but the said Lord
Cooks 8. parts 156. John Stile is bound by obligation to W. B. the obliger is afterwards made into a title of honour or a Knight the Bond is forfeited W. B. by his Atturney draweth a note or title for an originall according to the Defendants degree although it vary from the specialty as it ought to be made by the Statute but the Cursitor mistaking did make the originall onely according to such addition as was specified in the obligation omitting his degree of dignity and the entry of the Câ—pias alias plures was according to the said Originall but in the Exigent and Proclamation and in the Entry of it the Desendant was named according to his degree of dignity upon a Writ of Errour after judgement doubt was if this might be amended in another Court then where the originall was made Injuries done to the name and honour of a Nobleman IN the second yeer of Richard 2. in the first Chapter It was inacted that counterfeiters of false news and of horrible and false lyes of Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and other Nobles and great men of the Realm and also of the Chancellor Treasurer Clerk of the Privy Seal Steward of the Kings House Justices of the one Bench or of the other and of other great officers of the Realm of things which by the said Prelates Lords Nobles and Officers aforesaid were never spoken touched nor thought in great slander of the said Prelates Lords Nobles and Officers whereby debates and discords might arise betwixt the said Lords and Commons which God forbid and whereof great perill and mischief might come to all the Realm and quick subversion and destruction of the said Realm if due remedy be not provided It is straightly defended upon grievous pain for to eschew the said dammages and perils that from henceforth none be so hardy to finde say or tell any false news lyes or other false reports of Prelates Lords and of other Officers aforesaid whereof discord or any slander might arise within the said Realm and he that doth the same shall incurre and have the pain ordained thereof by the Statute of Westminster in the first Chapter 33. which will that he be taken and imprisoned till he have found him of whom the word shall be moved And further By another Statute made in 22. Richard 2. cap. 11. It was moreover enacted That when the said offender is taken and imprisoned and cannot finde him that spake the words then he shall be punished by the advise of the Councell And to the intent that such evill disposed persons which by their lewd speeches and slanderous words or reports do endeavour to break or disquiet the peace of the Realm might the sooner be inquired found out and punished by a Statute made Anno 2. Phil. Mary It was further established That the Justices of Peace in every Shire City or Town Corporate within the limits of their severall Commissions shall have full power to examine hear and determine the causes aforesaid in the said two Acts of Edward the first and Richard the second specified and to put the said two Statutes and every branch in them contained in due execution that condigne punishment be not deferred from such offenders and besides the afore mentioned penalties assigned to be inflicted upon transgressors by the aforesaid Statutes every Nobleman and great Officer of the Realm against whom any scandalous words false news or lyes be spoken may prosecute against the offender an action de scandalis magnatum and recover dammages against him and in like sort may every inferiour person for any such like words of infamy against him persue an action upon his cause against the offender and recover his dammages And if any person shall exhibite a Bill into the Starrechamber against a Nobleman or other and amongst other things charge him with murther piracy robbery or other fellony or to be a procurator thereof or accessary thereunto or with any other offence which is not examinable in the said Court the defendant in the said Bill may prosecute against the complanant therein an action upon the cause and recover his dammages for his Bill was exhibited of malice by the complainant to remain of record in the said Court to the infamy and slander of the defendant and not punish him for the said offences suggested in the said Bill by a course of Justice seeing the Court of Starre-chamber hath no authority to inquire of or punish the same offence but if the complainant did suggest in his Bill of complainant any matter against the defendant which is examinable in the said Court then no action upon the case is maintainable against him by the defendant therefore though the matter surmised be meerly false for it is done in course of Justice sub judice lis est whether the matters suggested be true or false untill they be proved And in former ages speeches tending to the reproach of others were so odious that King Edgar Le. 4. ordained that his tongue should be cut out which did speak any infamous or slanderous words of another Dyer 285. and in Kelway 13. Henry 7.27 Cooks 4. part 14. Book 2. Richard 3.9.6 In which Book you may read at large where the Lord Beauchampe did sue an action upon the Statute of the 2. Rich. 2. cap. 5. de scandalis magnatum against Sir Richard Crafts because he did sue a Writ of forging of false deeds against the said Lord Beauchampe and the defendant doth justifie the said slander by the use of the said Writ c. And the demurrer was good and out of the intendment of the Common Laws or Statute Laws concerning slanderers for no punishment hath been at any time appointed for suits in Law though the matter be false and for vexation only other then amerciaments or fine to the King and therefore the plantiff is sufficiently discharged against the said Lord Beauchampe not only for the time that the suite is depending but after the action tryed or otherwise ended yea though the Plantiff were non-suited or by other means it went against him for if actions of revenge upon the event it would terrifie and discharge many who have just cause to complain for fear of infinite vexations for the event and successe of suits and matters in action is uncertain Cooks 6. part 40. a. There is another foul puddle that ariseth from the same corrupt quagmire and distilleth out of a heart likewise infected with malice and envy but is divised and practised by another mean then the former which is by libelling secret slandering and defaming of another for this privy backbiter doth not by words impeach his adversary in so manifest and turbulent manner as the collerick menacer in his fury doth seeming to sit quietly in his Study he doth more deeply pinch him and infixeth a more durable wound into his fame and credit then the other boysterous fellow doth in his body who in a moment threatneth to do more then
Patents doe grant and give licence for us and our heires so much as in us lyeth to the said Edmond to dispose and give all his Manours Lands Tenements and Knights fees with their appurtenances and Advowsons of Churches Abbies and Priories and Hospitalls which he holdeth of us in chiefe to whom he pleaseth To have and to hold to him and his heires for us and our heires by the service thereof for ever By which Grant the said Edmond gave all his Lands and Tenements to one William sonne of John Deyncourt and to his heires of his body comming And the said Edmond dyed the last yeere of Edward the second and the said William in the time of Edward the third was summoned among other Barons to the Parliament by vertue of the same gift untill his death which was Anno 3. E. 3. It appeareth by divers offices in the time of King Edward the third that John Handlow in the right of Maud his wife was seized of the Mannour of Holgate Acton Burnell c. for terme of her life remainder to Nicolas Handlow alias Burnell sonne to the said Maud and John by a fine in the Court levied and that John Lovell was next heire of the said Maud and her first-borne sonne by her first husband and afterwards the said Nicolas was summoned among other Lords to the Parliament by reason of the fine aforesaid and not the said John Lovel who was next heire Edward Burnell Baron of Holgate Philip Burnell Baron of Holgate Maud Burnell heire to her brother John Lovell the first husband John Lord Lovell Iohn Lord Lovell John Handlow second husband Nicolas Handlow Baron of Holgate Hugh Handlow alias Burnell Baron of Holgate Thomas de Beauchamp the elder Earle of Warwick by a fine levied 18. E. 3. entailed the Mannour and Castle of Warwicke with divers other possessions to himselfe for terme of his life the remainder whereof to Guy his eldest sonne and to the heires males of his body issuing for want of such heires the remainder to come to Thomas Beauchamp brother to the foresaid Guy and to his heires males of his body issuing c. And afterwards the said Guy died without heires male of his body leaving two daughters and heires living afterward the said Earle dyed and the said Thomas the sonne entred into the Castle and Mannour aforesaid with other the premisses and was Earle of Warwick by reason of the entaile aforesaid notwithstanding that Katharine daughter of Guy and next heire to the said Thomas the elder was living 30. yeers after his death Thomas Beauchampe Earl of Warwick Guy de Beauchampe first son obiit ante patrem 30. E. 3. Katharine lived in 21. R. 2. Elizabeth Tho. de Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke by reason of the entail obiit anno 1. H. 4. Rich. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick obiit 17. H. 6. William Beauchampde Beauchamp L. of Aberganey obiit 12. H. 4. Richard de Beauchamp Earl of Warwicke obiit 9. H 5. Richard Earle of Arundell by a fine 21. E. 3. entailed the Castle Towne and Mannor of Arundell with other Lands to him and to his heires Males begotten of the body of Ellenor his wife By vertue of which entaile John Lord Matrovers Earle of Arundell after the decease of Thomas then Earle which died without heire Male although the sisters of the said Thomas possessed divers Lands and honors or the which the said Thomas died seised in Fee simple war Earle of Arundell Richard Earle of Arundell Richard Earle of Arundell obiit anno 21. R. 2. Thomas Earle of Arundell obiit anno 3. H. 5. Elizabeth married to Tho. Mowbray Duke Norfolk Married to Lewthall Jane Lady of Abergany John Arundell Knight Lord Matrovers John Arund Lord Matrovers obiit 6. H. 4. Io. Arund L. Matrovers obiit 9. H. 5. Io. E. of Arun. by reason of the entail Thomas Lord Barkley was seised in his demesne as of fee of the Castle of Barkley and Mannour c. and a fine levied in the Kings Court 23 E. 3. of the aforesaid Castle Mannour c. to him for terme of his life remainder to Morrice his sonne and to the heires males of his body issuing with other remainders as aforesaid the which said Morrice had issue Thomas Lord Barkley and Iames Barkley Knight which Iames dyed in the life of his brother leaving Iames his sonne and heire living After the said Thomas Lord Barkley died Anno 5. H. 5. leaving Elizabeth his daughter and heir married to Richard Earle of Warwick after whose death Iames his Nephew on the brothers side entred into the Lands Castles and rem ' aforesaid by virtue of the entaile and was summoned among the Barons to the Parliament as Baron of Barkley 9. H. 5. which Elizabeth died in 1. H. 6. Tho. Lord Barkley Morrice Lo Barkley Tho. Lord Barkley Eliz. married to Rich Earle of Warwick Sir Ia. Barkley died before his brother Iames Lo. Barkley by reason of the entaile Thomas Lord Delaware died seised in his demesne as of fee taile to himselfe and to the heires males of his body issuing by reason of a fine levied in the time of his ancestors of the Barony Delaware with divers other lands in other counties and died 5 H. 6. without heires of his body and Reignold West Knight of the halfe blood was next heire by reason of the entaile aforesaid and was summoned to the Parliament by the name of Reignold Lord Delaware Knight although Iohn Griffith was heire generall of the aforesaid Thomas Delaware being of the whole blood as appeareth by the genealogie ensuing Iohn Lord Delaware son of Roger. Iohn Lord Delaware Elisabeth daughter to Adam L. Wels. Iohn Lord Delaware died without issue Thomas Lord Delaware died without issue Roger Lord Delaware Elisabeth daughter to the Lord Mowbray his second wife Iohn Griffin heire generall to the Lord Delaware Sir Reignold West Lord Delaware by the entail Katharine married to Nicolas Latimer Katharine married to Griffin Iohan married to Tho West Knight John de Vere Earle of Oxford seised in his demesne as of Fee taile to him and his heires Males of his body issuing of the honour and county of Oxford with divers other Lands Anno 18. H. 8. died without heires of his body and his three sisters were his next heires generall but Iohn de Vere his next heire Male as appeareth was Earle of Oxford by reason of the said entaile and none of the three sisters obtained Dignity Richard de Vere Earle of Oxford died 4. H. 5. Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford died 1. E. 4. John de Vere Earle of Oxford died without issue 4. H. 8. George de Vere Knight Iohn de Vere Earl of Oxfo died without issue 18. H. 8. Eliz. married to Sir Antho Wingfield Knight Vrsula married to Edm. Knightley Esq Dorothy married to Nevill Sir Robert de Vere Kt. Iohn de Vere Iohn de Vere Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford by vertue of the entaile William Lord Paget of
act in law presently upon the death of the Ancestor unto the heire or not at all Wherefore the custome of our countrey and manifold presidents doe prove that this kind of Barony doth descend from the Ancestors to the heire and there needs not any words of heirs in the writ of summons Onely one president there is in a speciall writ sometimes directed to Sir Henry Bromsted in 27. H. 6. wherein he was stiled Lord Veysey wherein there are these words inserted Volumus tamen vos haeredes vestros masculos de corpore vestro legitimè procreatos excuntes Barones de Veysey existere which is to bee read in Co. 7. part 33. b. Wherefore as it is true that where the heire of any such Baron by writ is called to the Parliament that his descent of honour is thereby established and approved by the gracious judgment of our sacred Soveraigne so it is also true that if it shall stand with his Highnesse pleasure that such heire shall not be summoned at all for none can come to so high a Councel unlesse he be called then that Nobility is much empaired and in a manner extinguished in the censure of all men for that it had none other originall but by writ of summons from the which in the judgment of the supreme soveraign he is excluded As to the second principall point whether the Barony by writ may descend to the heires females it shall not be amisse likewise to view the reasons of either part and by conflict of argument the truth may the better be discerned Those that maintain the affirmative part do reason after this manner In reason the sexe of the heire female ought no more to bar her of the dignity than the nonage of the heire male ought to bar him although during his nonage he be unable to do the service but as the service of the one is forborne for a time so the sexe of the other may at all times be supplied by the maturity and sufficiency of her husband Offices of honour which do much import the publique weale being passed by inheritance do descend to the heire female if there be no nearer heire male As the office of the high Constableship of England which descended to the daughters of Humphrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex a memoriall whereof is in Dyer 285. but more at large in Keilway 6. H. 8. Also the office of Lord-Steward descended to Blanch daughter to H. Earle of Lancaster the like may be said of the office of Earle Marshall which descended by an heire female unto the house of Norfolk all which offices are unfit to be exercised by a woman as it is unfit for a woman to be summoned to the Parliament as a Baronesse by writ And many noble houses in England do support the dignity of Baronage unto them descended by women They which stand on the negative part of this controversie do encounter their adversaries on this manner viz. The writ of summons to the Parliament whereby the Baron by writ hath his originall is to call that honourable and worthy person so summoned to be one of the number of that right high and honourable Assembly and to be a Judge to sit heare and determine life and member plea and right of land if there shall come occasion likewise to give counsell and advice in the most weighty affaires of the Realme But these things are convenient for the quality of men unfitting and altogether unbeseeming the sexe of women Ergo having respect unto the finall purpose of such writs such inheritances should only descend unto the heire male and not unto the heire female Secondly if it shall be answered that although the heire female to whom such inheritance is descended be unfit in her owne person for the accomplishing of these things yet she may marry with one sufficiently able for her and in her behalf to execute the same this answer will neither satisfie nor salve the inconveniences For admit that such heire female were at full age at the death of her Ancestor unmarried it doth lie in her own choice who shall be her husband so shall the pleasure of the Soveraigne in the choice of his Councell in the great causes of the Realme be subject to the will of his subject in the choice of her husband which were altogether inconvenient Thirdly if such husband shall be called in the right of his wife the writ should make some mention hereof for otherwise it may well be taken that the husband was chosen in his own person and in behalfe of himselfe and not in regard of his wife or such pretended dignity descended unto him But there was never such writ of summons seen wherein the wife was mentioned and if the husband of such wife have been called to the Parliament which is alwayes by generally writ not mentioning his wife he is now made thereby a Baron of himself and in his own right by that writ Having thus heard both sides speak place doth now require to interpose opinion to compound this controversie This question or point is somewhat perplexed by means of difficult presidents for first it is observed that some presidents do prove that Baronies by writs have descended unto heires females whose husbands have beene called to the Parliament whether in regard of themselves or in regard of their wives it matten not But sure it is that the marriage of such Ladies gave them occasion so to be summoned and such husbands and their posterity have and do lawfully beare the same name of dignity which the Ancestors of such wife did before rightfully beare For by this controversie there is no purpose to call the right of such noble houses into question Howbeit secondly this is to be observed out of the presidents and to be acknowledged of every dutifull subject that the Kings Majesty is neverthelesse at liberty to call to the high Councell of Parliament whom his Highnesse shall in his Princely wisdom think most meet which his Majesties Progenitors have in former ages observed And therefore whereas Radulph Lord Cromwell being a Baron by writ died without issue having two sisters and coheirs Eliz. the eldest married to Sir Tho. Nevill Knight and Joan the younger married Sir Hunt Bourcher he who had married the younger sister was called to the Parliament as L. Cromwell and not the said Sir Tho. Nevill who had married the elder sister 3. It is to be observed that if a Baron by writ die without heire male having his daughter sister or other collaterall heire male that doth or can challenge the lands of the said Baron deceased by any ancient entaile or otherwise the title of such heire female hath bin heretofore allowed as by the honourable opinions and relations of the right honourable the late Commissioners in the office of Earle Marshall signified unto the late Queene upon the Petition of the sister and heire of Gregory late Lord Dacres deceased may appeare Moreover in the
same Pedegree of the said Lord Dacres it is expressed that Thomas sometimes Lord Dacres had issue Thomas his eldest son Ralph his second sonne and Humphrey his third sonne Thomas the eldest dyed in the life time of his Father having Issue Ioan his daughter and heire who was marryed unto Sir Richard Fines Knight And after Thomas Lord Dacres her Grandfather and Father unto the said Sir Ralph and Humphrey dyed After whose death Henry 6. by his Letters Parents bearing date at Westminster 7. Novem. Anno 7. regni reciting the said Pedegree and Marriage doth by his Letter a Pattents accept declare and repute the said Richard Fines to be Lord Dacres and one of the Barons of his Realme But afterward in the time of Edw 4. the said Humphrey Dacres after the attaindor of the said Ralph and himselfe by an Act of Parliament which was in 1. Ed. 4. and after the death of the said Ralph and after the reversall of the same Act by another Act 12. Edw. 4. the said Humphrey made challenge unto the said Barony and to divers Lands of the said Thomas his Father whereupon both parties after their title had been considered in Parliament submitted themselves unto the Arbitrement of King Edw. 4. and entred into Bond each to other for the performance thereof Wherupon the said King in his award under his Privie seale bearing date at Westminster 8. April Anno regni 13. did award that the said Rich Fines in the right of Ioan his wife and the Heires of his body lawfully begotten should be reputed had named and called Lord Dacres and that the said Richard Fines and the Heires of his body by the said Ioane begotten should keepe have and use the same state and place in every Parliament as the said Thomas Dacres Knight late Lord Dacres had used kept c. that the heires of the body of the said Thomas Dacres Knight late Lord Dacres lawfully begotten should have and hold to them their Heires the Mannor of Holbech And furthermore the said King did award on the other part that the said Humphrey Dacres Knight and the Heires males of the said Thomas late Lord Dacres should be reputed had named and called the L. Dacres of Gillesland And that he and the heires males of the said Thomas then late Lord Dacres should have use and keepe the place in Parliament next adjoyning beneath the said place which the said Rich Fines Knight Lord Dacres then had and occupied and that the heires of the body of the said Ioan his wife should have and occupie And that the Heires males of the said Thomas Dacres late L. Dacres should have to them to the heires males of their bodies begotten the Mannor of Jothington c. And so note that the name of the ancient Barony namely Gilestand remained unto the Heire male unto whom the land was entailed Moreover this is specially observed if any Baron by writ doe dy having none other issue then Female and that by some speciall entail or other assurance there be an heire male which doth enioy all or a great part of the lands possessions and inheritances of such Barons deceased the Kings of this Realme have used to call to the Parliament by writ as Baron such heire male omitting the Husband or issue male of such heire female and this also appeareth by a notable controversie in the time of Henry 7. betweene Sir Robert Willoughby Lord Brooke and Richard Lord Latimer for the Barony of Latimer which in effect was The said Lord Brooke did challenge the Barony of Latimer as cosen and Heire to Elizabeth his great grandmother who was sister and heire to Iohn Nevill Lord Latimer who died without issue and hereupon exhibited a Petition to Henry 7. in Parliament whereto Richard then Lord Latimer was called to answer because he then enioyed the said title and dignity The said Richard Lord Latimer by his answer did shew that it was true that after the death of the said Iohn Nevill Lord Latimer dying without issue the said Elizabeth was the sister and next heire and married unto Sir Thomas Willlonghby Knight second son of the Lord VVilloughby but Henry 6. for that the said Iohn Nevill was dead without issue and that the next heire was female did therefore call to the Parliament George Nevill Knight second son of Ralph Earle of Westmerland to be Lord Latimer as Cozen and next heire male of the said Iohn Nevil Lord Latimer which George was grandfather of the said Richard Lord Latimer namely Father of Henry Lord Latimer Father of the said Richard In debate of which cause the question now in hand whether a Barony by writ may discend unto the heirea semales was advisedly considered of by the said King and his Nobility in Parliament and in the end adjudged with the said Richard Lord Latimer which President doth afford us two Iudgements in this point one in the time of Hen. 6. when the writ was directed to the said Sir George Nevill whereby he was summoned as Lord Latimer to the Parliament and as heire Male and not the said Sir Thomas Willoughby Knight husband of the said Eliza. heire male And the second judgement was given in the time of Henry 7. whereby the Barony was adiudged vnto the said Richard Lord Latimer comming of the speciall heire male against the said Lord Brooke descended of the generall heire male But here the President before remembred of the Barony of Dacres may be objected to incounter this confusion For there was an heire female martied unto Sir Richard Fines who by the declaration of Hen. 6. was Baron of Dacres in the right of his wife and there was also Ralph and Humfrey the heires males before whom the heire female was preferred by the censure of Henry 6. and Edward 4. This objection is easily answered For although Hen. 6. through the Princely favour which hee bare unto Sir Richard Fines had declared him to bee Lord Dacres in the right of his wife yet notwithstanding did Ralph Dacres being heire male unto the then Lord Dacres deceased beare also the name of 〈◊〉 Dacres and by that name was attainted in Parliament Wherefore the reason why the heire male could not bee regarded was the said attainder of the said Ralph and Humfrey his brother and therefore when Humphrey 12. Edw. 4. laboured to have the said attainder reversed he submitted himselfe vnto the Arbitrament of the King who to satisfie both Competitors because both had well deserved of him after he had admitted them to his favour he allowed the one to be Lord Dacres the other to be Lord Dacres of Gillesland thus much concerning the second point whether a Barony by writ may discend unto the heire female or not As concerning the third point admitting such discent to bee to the heire female when there is no heire male at all that may claime the same for then doth this question take place whether the husband of such heire
to answere without feare 〈◊〉 then hee shall cause the Clarke of the Crowne to reâ—â— his endictment unto him and aske him if hee 〈◊〉 guilty or not whereunto when hee hath answerâ— not guilty the Clarke of the Crowne shall aske hâ—â— how he will be tryed and then hee will say by Gâ—â— and his Peeres and then the Kings Sergeants 〈◊〉 Atturney will give evidence against him whereunto when the Prisoner hath made answere thâ— Constable shall bee commanded to retire the Prisonâ— from the Barre to some other place while the Lorâ— doe secretly conferre in the Court together and theâ— the Lords shall rise out of their places and consuâ—â— amongst themselves and what they affirme shall bee done upon their Honour without any oath to be ministred unto them and when they all or the greatest part of them bee agreed they shall returne to their places and sit downe and then the High Steward shall aske of the youngest Lord by himselfe if he that is arraigned bee guilty or not of the offence whereof hee is arraigned and then of the youngeâ—â— next him and so of the residue one by one untill hee have asked them all and every Lord shall answer by himselfe and then the High Steward shall send for the Prisoner againe who shall bee led to the Barre to whom the High Steward shall reherse the verdict of the Peeres and give iudgement accordingly 〈◊〉 Stamford Pleas dol Corona lib. 3. cap. 1. Poulton 188. The antiquity of this kind of triall by the opinion of the last recited Authours is grounded from the Statute of Magna charta so called not in regard of the quantity but in regard of the weight thereof Cooke Epistle to the 8. part fol. 2. c. 29. beginning thus Nullus liber homo c. nec super eum ibimus neâ— super eum mittimus nisi per legale judicium parvu ' â—â—orum But I take it to be more ancient then the â—â—me of Hen. 3. as brought into the Realme with the Conquerour being answerable to the Norman and French Lawes and agreeable with the Customes Fewdall where almost all the controversies arising betweene the Soveraigne and his vassall are tried per judicium Parvu ' suorum And if a Peere of the Realme upon his arraignement of treason doe stand mute or will not answer directly iudgement shall bee given against him as a Traytour convicted and he shall not bee pressed to death and thereby save the forfeiture of his lands for treason is out of the Statute of Westminster the first c. 12 15. E. 4.33 Dyer 205 and 300. But if hee bee arraigned upon an indictement of fellony he may bee mute It appeareth by this Statute of Magna charta that a Peere of the Realme shall be tried by his Peeres onely in case where he is indicted at the Kings suite of treason or fellony for the words of the Statute be We will not passe or sit in judgement upon him but by his Peeres But if an appeale of murder or other fellony be sued by any Common person against a Peere of the Realme hee shall bee tried by Common persons and not by his Peeres Stam. Pleas del Coron lib. 3. cap. 1. Brooke triall 14â— Poulton 188 6. This priviledge hath some restrainâ— as well in regard of the person as in the manner of proceedings As touching the person First the Archbishops and Bishops of this Realme though they bee Lords of the Parliament if they bee impeached of such an offence they shall not be tryed by the Peeres of the Realme but by a jury of Knights and other substantialâ— persons upon their oaths the reasons thereof alleadged is for as much as Archbishops and Bishops cannot passe in like cases upon the triall of any other of the Peeres for that they are prohibited by the Common and Ecclesiasticall Lawes to bee Iudges of life and death and reason would that the other Peeres should not trie them for this triall should bee mutuall for as much as is performed upon their Honours without any oath taken And so by the way you may see the great regard the Law hath to the word of a Peere of the Realme when he speaketh upon his Honour even in a case concerning the life of a man and that of a Peere and therefore ought they much more to keepe their words and promises in smaller matters when they engage their Honours for any fast cause or consideration Crompton Courts 13. Secondly as touching the Persons no temporall Lords but they that are Lords of the Parliament shall have this kind of triall and therefore hereout are excluded the eldest Sonne and Heire apparant of 〈◊〉 Duke in the life of his Father though he be called an Earle and it was the case of Henry Howard Earle of Surrey Sonne and Heir apparant of Thomas Duke of Suffolke in 38. H. 8. which is in Brooks abridgement treason likewise the Son and Heir apparant of an Earl though he be called Lord or Baron And all the younger Sonnes of the Kings are Earles by birth though they have no other creation but shall not be partakers of this or other priviledges incident to the Lords of the Parliament Thirdly those that are Barons of the Nobility of Ireland or of Scotland if upon the like offence committed in England they be apprehended in England they shall not have their triall by Peeres no though they were borne within England for they received their dignity from a King of their Nations But if the King of England at this day do create one of his subjects of Scotland to be Viscount Rochester within England or by ordinary summons under his great Seale doe call him to his upper House of Parliament do assign him a place and to have a voice there in his great Councell amongst the Lords and Peeres of the Realme he shall thereby also be a Peere of the Realme and be partaker with them in all priviledges and thus much concerning the restraint of the said priviledges in respect of the person as touching the manner of proceeding it appeareth by the said statute of Magna charta c. 29. that a Peere of the Realme shall be tried by his Peeres only in case where he is indicted at the Kings suite of treason or fellony for the words of the statute be Nec super cum ibimus But if an appeale of murder or other fellony be sued by any Common person by a Peere of the Realme he shall be tried by Common persons and not by his Peeres Stam. Pleas del Corone lib. 3. cap. 1. Poulton 118. and so was Fines Lord Dacres tried in appeale of murder 33. H. 8. Brooke Abridgement trials 142. The Nobility of this Realme enjoy that priviledge that they are not to be impanelled in any Iury or Inquests to make tryall or Enquiry upon their corporall oathes betweene party and party for they may have their writ for their discharge to the Sheriffe Rex Vic ' Com c. quia barones regni
heires which Judgement was that the said Earldome should bee divided amongst the said copartners as other lands and that the eldest should not have it alone 23. H. 3. Fitz. partic 18. But this judgement was holden erroneous even in those times wherein it was given For Bracton a learned Judge who lived in that age thus writeth thereof treating of Partition among Copartners lib. 2. cap. 34 fol. 76. b. De hoc autem quod dicitur quod de feodo militare veniunt in divisione capitalia messuagia inter cohaeredes dividuntur hoc verum est nisi capitale messuagium illud sit caput comitatus propter jus gladis quod dividi non potest vel caput Baroniae castrum vel aliud aedificium hoc ideo ne sit caput per plures particulas dividetur plura jura Comitat ' Baroniarum deveniant ad nihilum per quod deficiat regnum quod ex Comitatibus Baroniis dicitur esse constitutum Si autem plura sunt aedisicia quae sunt capita Baronia dividi possunt inter cohaeredes facta electione salvo jure essentiae quia cùm plura sunt ibi jura quodlibet per se poterit integrè observare quod quidem non est in uno ut praedictum est licèt à quibusdam dicatur quòd in aliis regionibus aliquando de consuetudine dividatur sed quod nunquam divids debeat in Anglia videtur nec visum fuit contrarium erit consuetudo regionis observanda ubi haereditas quae petitur personae nascuntur quae petunt unde sic dicatur quòd in regno Anglia aliquando facta fuit partitio hoc fuit injustum It is therefore evident that Baronies and dignities of Honour do by the Lawes of this Realm descend unto the eldest Coapercener and the Iudgement given once to the contrary thereof Bracton doth rightly account to be unjust his reason is notable for in as much as the honour of the Chivalry of the Realme doth chiefly consist in the Nobility reason would not that such dignitie should be divided amongst Coaparceners whereby through multitude of partitions the reputation of Honour in such succession and so divided might be impaired or the strength of the Realme being drawne into many hands with the decrease of livelihood by partition should be enfeebled in which Resolution Britton the learned Bishop of Hereford who compiled his Booke of the Lawes of the Realme by the commandement and in the name of E. 1. according Britton 187. and therefore howsoever that Judgement was given or whensoever it is neverthelesse very evident that it was soone redressed for if it were given upon the death of Renulph the last of that name the Earle of Chester who dyed about 17. H. 3. without issue the Writers of that time doe testifie that the Earledome of Chester came wholly unto Iohn Scot the sonne of David Earle of Huntington and Anguish and of Maud the eldest sister of the said Renulph if it were given upon the death of the said Iohn Scot who dyed without issue about 14. H. 7. yet notwithstanding the said Judgement stood not in force for that the said King assumed the said Earledome into his owne hands upon other satisfaction made to the sisters Coparceners of the said Iohn Scot. Ne tanta hereditas colos deduceretur Matth. Paris Monast S. Albani in Arr. fol. 3.66 B. tamen vido Vill. fol. 75. et Ioh. Guill 78. For this it is to be observed out of Presidents and to be acknowledged of every dutiful Subject that the King is at liberty to call and advance to honour whom his Highnesse shall in his Princely wisdome thinke most meet and therfore whereas Ralph Lord Cromwell being a Baron by Writ dyed without issue having two sisters and co-heires Elizabeth the eldest married unto Sir Thomas Nevill Knight and Ioane the younger married unto Sir Hunt Burther hee who married the younger sister was called unto the Parliament as Lord Cromwell and not the said Sir Thomas Nevill who had married the eldest sister and Hugh Lupus the first and great Earle of Chester was by the Conquerour his Uncle creared Earle of Chester Habemus sibi heredibus adeo libere per gladium sicut ipse Rex tenuit Angliam per Corenam Hugh dyed without issue and the inheritance of his Earledome was divided amongst his foure sisters and the eldest had not the Seigniory entire unto her selfe Reade Mills 74 75. Cookes b. part 53. 7. part 15. If a Woman be Noble by birth or by discent with whomsoever she doth marry though her Husband bee under her degree yet she doth remaine Noble for her Birthright Est Character in delibilis Cook 4. part 118. b. 6. part 53. b. Other Women are enobled by Marriage and the text saith thus viz. Women with the honour of their Husbands and with the kindred of their Husbands we worship them in the Court we decree matters to passe in the name of their Husbands and into the house and sirname of their Husbands wee doe translate them but if afterwards a woman doe marry with a man of baser degree then loseth she her former Dignitie and followeth the condition of her latter Husband Fortescue de laudibus legum Angl. 100. And as concerning the second disparaged Marriage as aforesaid many other bookes of the law doe agree for these bee rules received in those Cases Si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili desit esse nobilis eadem modo quo quidem Constitut dissolvitur Cookes 6. part 53. B. 4. part 118. It was the Case of Ralph Hayward Esquire who tooke to his wife Anne the widdow of the Lord Powes they brought an Action against the Duke of Suffolke by the name of Ralph Hayward Esquire and the Lady Anne Powes his wife and exception was taken for misnaming her because shee ought to have beene named by the Husbands Name and not otherwise and the exception was by the Court allowed For said they by the Law of God shee is Sub potestate viri and by our Law her Name of Dignitie shall bee changed according to the degree of her Husband notwithstanding the curresies of the Ladies of Honour and Court Dyer 79. And the like was also in Queene Maries Raigne when the Dutchesse of Suffolke tooke to her Husband Adrian Stoakes Prob. 4 5 6. and many other presidents have beene of latter time and herewith agreeth the Civill Law punctually Digest lib. 1. Tit. 9. Lege 8. Eodem de Dignitate Liber 12. Lege 2. In this case of acquired Nobility by Marriage of Question in Law be whereupon an issue is taken betweene the parties that is to say Dutchesse or not Dutchesse Countesse or not Countesse Baronesse or not Baronesse the tryall hereof shall not be by Record as in the former case but by a Jury of 12. men and the reason of the diversity is because in this case the Dignity is accrewed unto her by marriage which the