Adversaries in this manner viz. The Writ of Summons to the Parliament whereby the Baron by Writ hath his Original is to call that Honourable and Worthy Person so summoned to the number of that Right High and Honourable Assembly and to be a Judge to sit hear and determine Life and Member Plea and right of Land if there shall come occasion likewise to give Counsel and Advise in the most mighty Affairs of the Realm But these things are convenient for the quality and condition of men unfitting and altogether unbeseeming the Sex of women Ergo having respect unto the scope and final purpose of such Writs such Inheritances should only descend unto the Heir Female The Second Argument contra Secondly If it shall be answered That although the Heir Female to whom such Inheritance is descended be unfit in her own 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 an Heir Female were at full Age at the death of her Ancestor unmarried for it doth lye in her own choice then whom shall be her Husband The Third Argument contra Thirdly If such Husband shall be called by the right of his Wife the Writ shall make some mention thereof for otherwise it may well be taken that the Husband was chosen in his own person and in behalf of himself and not in regard of his wife or such pretended Dignity descended unto him But there was never such a Writ of Summons seen wherein the wife was mentioned And if the husband of such a wife have been called to the Parliament which is always by General Writ not mentioning his wife he is thereby made a Baron of himself by virtue of the said Writ Having thus heard both sides to dispute place it doth now require to interpose Opinion to compound the Controversie This point in queâ—tion is somewhat perplexed by means of difficult Presidents For first it is observed That some Presidents do prove that Baronies by Writ have descended unto Heirs Female whose husbands have been called to Parliament whether in regard of themselves or in respect of their wives right it maketh no matter but since it is that the marriage of such Ladies gave that occasion to be summoned and such husbands and their Poâ—â—erity have and do lawfully bear the same Title of Dignity which the Ancestors of such a wife did before rightfully bear For by this Controversie theâ—e 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 dutiful Subject That the King's Majesty is nevertheless at liberty to call to his High Council of Parliament whom he shall in his Princely Wisdom think fit which by his Majestie 's Noble Progenitors have in former Ages likewise observed And therefore whereas Ralph Lord Cromwell being a Baron by Writ died without Issue having two Sisters and Coheirs Elizabeth the eldest who married Sir Thomas Nevile Knight and Ioan the younger who married Sir Humphrey Butcher Knight who was called to Parliament as Lord Cromwell and not the said Sir Thomas Thirdly It is to be observed That if a Baron by Writ die without Heir Male having his Daughter Sister or other Collateral Heir Male that can challenge the Land of the said Baron deceased by any ancient entail or otherwise the Title of such an Heir Female hath heretofore been allowed as by the honourable Opinions and Relations of the Right Honourable the late Commissioners in the Office of Earl-Marshal signified unto the late Queen upon Petition of the Sister and Heir of Gregory Lord Dacres deceased may appear Moreover in the same Pedigree of the Lord Dacres it was expressed That Thomas sometimes Lord Dacres had issue Thomas his eldest Son Ralph his Second and Humphrey his third Thomas the eldest died in the life of his Father having issue Ioan Daughter and Heir who was married to Sir Richard Fines Knight and after Thomas Lord Dacres his Grandfather and Father to the said Ralph and Humphrey died after whose death Henry the Sixth by his Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the Seventh of November in the Seventh year of his Reign reciting the said Pedigree and Marriage doth by his said Letters Patents accept declare and repute the said Richard Fines to be Lord Dacres and one of the Barons of the Realm But afterwards in the time of Edward the Fourth the said Humphrey Dacres after the attainder of the said Ralph and himself by an Act of Parliament which was the first of Edward the Fourth And after the death of the said Ralph and the Reversal of the said Act by another Act in the Twelfth of Edward the Fourth the said Humphrey made challenge unto the said Barony and unto divers Lands of the said Thomas his Father whereupon both parties after their Title had been considered of in Parliament submitted themselves to the Arbitrement of King Edward the Fourth and entred into Bond each to other for the performance thereof whereupon the said King in his Award under his Privy Seal bearing date at Westminster the Eighth of April Anno Regni sui decimo tertio did Award that the said Richard Fines in the right of Ioan his wife and the Heirs of his body by the said Ioan begotten should keep have and use the same Seat and Place in every Parliament as the said Thomas Dacres Knight Lord Dacres had used and kept and that the Heirs of the body of the said Thomas Dacres Knight then late Lord Dacres begotten should have and hold to them and to their Heirs the Mannor of Holbeach And further That the said King Edward did Award on the other part that the said Humphrey Dacres Knight and the Heirs Males of the said Thomas late Lord Dacres should be reputed had named and called the Lord Dacres of Gillesland and that he and the Heirs Males of the body of the said Thomas then late Lord Dacres should have use and keep the place in Parliament next adjoyning beneath the said place which the said Richard Fines Knight Lord Dacres then had and occupied And that the Heirs of the body of the said Ioan his wife shall have and enjoy and that the Heirs Males of the said Thomas Dacres late Lord Dacres should have to them and the Heirs Males of their bodies begotten the Mannor of Iothington c. And so note that the name of the ancient Barony namely Gillesland remained unto the Heir Male to whom the Land was entailed Moreover this is specially observed If any Baron by Writ do die having no other Issue than Female and that by some special entail or other assurance there be an Heir Male which doth enjoy all or great part of the Lands Possessions and Inheritances of such Baron deceased the Kings have used to call to the
then Countess of Killimeak in Ireland The Lady Dudley Dutchess of 〈…〉 The celebrated Beauties Barbara Villiers Dutchess of Cleaveland and Countess of Southampton and Louyse Rene Angelique de Carwell Dutchess of Portsmouth Countess of Petersfield c. Of Titles by Descent and Marriage there are Examples enough so that I need not trouble the Reader with any repetition I shall only set down some few general Observations not sufficiently discoursed of If a King's Daughter marry a Duke or an Earl illa â—emper dicitur Regalis by Law and Courtesie Noble women by descent Birthright or Creation remain Noble although they marry Husbands under that degree Also any Daughter of an Earl or Viscount that continues a Virgin or marrieth an Esquire yet she retaineth the Honour that sprung from her Parents and shall take place accordingly and be saluted by the Title of Lady If a Gentleman Knight or Peer marry a wife of ignoble Parents she shall enjoy the Title Name and Dignity of her Husband not only during his life but when she is a widow or afterwards married to an Ignoble person but this is by the Courtesie and not by the Law of the Realm Whereas on the contrary let a woman of Blood and Coat-Armour marry a Yeoman or Churle that is Ignoble and hath no Coat-Armour his Condition in point of Honour is in no respect advanced and she shall retain the Honour State and Dignity she was born unto Yet if she have iâ—â—ue by that Yeoman or Ignoble person she being an Heiress that Issue shall have liberty to bear her Coat but Sir Iohn Fern saith only for life and that on a Lozenge Shield with a difference of a Cinquefoil If a French Spanish or other woman Alien be married to a Peer of the Realm or to a Gentleman and be not denizened she is debarred all Priviledges and Titles due to her Husband nor can she claim any Dower or Joynture from him by the Laws of England Yet in some things our Laws are wonderful kind to the Female Sex especially procreandi causa As thus if a man and his wife separate for some fraud or private loathing of the Marriage Bed or the like and so continue for some years after which time the woman bringeth forth a Child which though got by another man and her Husband in all that time not having enjoyed her yet if he live in the Kingdom he must Father the Child and if before that time he had no Child that shall inherit his Lands if entailed or left without Will Also if a Wife be with Child when her Husband dieth and she marry another man before her delivery the latter Husband must own the Child which must be his Heir at Law if he were childless The Wives Dignities and Lands descend to her Heirs not to her Husband yet to encourage him to play the man the Courtesie of England is such that as the Wife hath the third part of his Estate in Lands for her Joynture during her life if a Widow so the Husband if he get his Wife with Child and that Child be heard to cry he shall enjoy all her Lands during his life The Wife can make no contract whatsoever that shall stand good in Law to the detriment of her Husband without his consent nor can she make a Will or dispose of what she hath whilst she is a Feme Covert â—he cannot be produced as a witness for or against her Husband nor shall she be accessory to his felonious acts although she receive the Goods or conceive the Fact if she be not personally an Actor therein Female Children are also by Law capable to give their consent to marriage at Seven years old and the Lord 's eldest Daughter is to have aid of his Tenants to marry her at that age though she may dissent from this Contract when she comes to Twelve but if at that Age she doth not dissent she is bound for life she may then make a Will and dispose of Goods and Chattels by it At Nine years of Age she is Dowable at Fourteen she might receive her Lands into her Hands and was then out of Wardship if she were Fourteen at the death of her Ancestor otherwise she was in Wardship till she accomplished Sixteen years and then she was free At One and twenty she is enabled to contract or alienate her Lands by Will or otherwise If there be no Son the Lands as well as Goods are equally divided amongst the Daughters who are Coheirs In ancient times Women amongst the Romans were thought worthy of enjoying peculiar favours and respect And out of their great love and honour to the Mother of Marcus Coriolanus for diverting his fury which he threatned the Citizens to their ruin for their ingratitude towards him the Citizens granted the Roman Dames the priviledge of wearing the Segmenta Aurea or Bordures of Gold and purple on their Garments They were also permitted to wear gold Ear-rings to have place on the way and in memorial of the said preservation there was erected a Temple dedicated to the Female Fortune Anne of Britain wife to Charles the Eighth of France as an ornamental Honour to several deserving Ladies instead of the Military Belt and Collar bestowed on them a Cordon or Lace and admonishing them to live chastly and devoutly and to put the greater esteem thereon the surrounded her Escocheon of Arms with the like Cordon from which Example it is now become the Custome for unmarried women to bear their Arms in form of a Lozenge which are commonly adorned with such a Cordon Ioseph Micheli Marquez for the further Honour of the Female Sex gives an Example of the Noble women of Tortosa in Aragon whom he calls Cavalleros or Knights For saith he Don Raymond last Earl of Barcellona who by right of his wife Petronilla sole Daughter and Heir to King Ramiro the Monk joyned his Principality to the Kingdom of Aragon having in the year 1149. taken from the Moors the City of Tortosa who in a few months after laid siege to the said City and reduced the Inhabitants to so great a strait that their intentions were of surrendring it up to the Moors but the women hearing thereof for the diverting their ruin put on mens Apparel and by a resolute Sally forced the Moors to raise the Seige And the Earl in acknowledgment of his thanks for this their Noble Act as a reward of Honour instituted an Order not much unlike a Military Order into which were admitted only those brave women and their Descendants The Badge which he assigned them was something like a Fryer's Capouch but of a crimson colour which they wore upon their Head-clothes Amongst the priviledges which this Earl granted them they were to be freed from all Taxes to have precedency of men in publick Meetings and that all the Iewels and Apparel of their deceased Husbands should be their own although of never so great value And these women having thus purchased this
â— Erasmus is now maried to Mary daughter of Hugh Hare Baron of Coleâ—â—â— in Ireland 〈◊〉 the Lady Lucy Mountague daughter of Hen Earle oâ—â—â—â—chester L d 〈◊〉 Coll Robert Werden of Chester Comptroler to his Royall Highness Iames Duke of York and first Leiutenant and Major of his Guards first maried to Iane daughter of Edw Barnham of Cock hall in Kent Esq r and now to Margaret daughter and heyre of Will Towse of Bassingburn hall in Essex Esq. Humphrey Weld of Lulworth Castle in Dorsetshire Esq r Governor of his Ma â—ys Isle and Castles of Portland and Sandes foot lineally desended from Edricke Sylvaticus alias Wildâ— a Saxon of great renowne in the reignes of K. Herold and Will the Conquerorâ—whose father Alfrick was brother to Edricke of Stratton Duke of Merciaâ— wch sd. Humprey is now Maried to Clara daughter of the Rt. honble Thâ—â— Ld. Arundel of Warden Court of the Empire Colâ— Thomas Sackevile of Selscombe in Sussex a Person of great Loyalty being one that served his late maty in all his expeditions and was one of the Captaines of his life guards in the begining of the late warrs He is now maried to Margaret daughter of 〈◊〉 Henry Compton of Brambletye in Sussex K â— of the Bath and Uncle to the late Earle of Northampton Phillip Doughty of Eashere in the County of Surrey Esq descended from an English Saxon family of ye. Dohags who were here Sealed before the Conguest Skynner Byde Esqr. eldest sonn of Sr. Thomas Byde of Ware Park in the County of Hertford Knight now maried to Anne daughter of Tho Austen of Hoxton in Middlesex Esqr. Captaine Iohn Huitson of Clâ—asbey in the County of York one of the Captaines of the Couldstrem Regiment of foot guards to his maty King Charles the second now maried to Martha daughter of Sr. William-Cooper of Ratling Court in Kent Baronet Thomas Tomlins of St. Leonards Bromley in Midd. sx Esq r first maried to Ann daughter of Captaine Will Goodladd of Lee in Essex 2dly to Eliz daughter of Ric Swinglehurst of London Merchant 3dly to Eliz daughter of Reynolds of East Grenwich in Kent Esq r now to Susanna daughter of Geo Cranmer of Canterbury in Kent afore sd Merchant Nicholas Barbon of London M.D. one of the Colledge of Phisitians of the S â— Citty now maried to Margaret daughter of Iohn Hayes of Hadley in Midd sx Esqr. Beaumont Dixie of Bosworth in the County of Leicester Esqsr. sonn and heyre of Sr. Wolstan Dixie of Bosworth aforesaid Bart. now maried to Mary sister and heyre to Sr. William Willoughby of Willoughby in Nottinghamshire Bart. deceased Richard Winwood of Ditton Park and Quainton in the County of Bucks Esqsrâ— sonn and heyre of the Rt. honble Sr. Ralph Winwood Knightâ— Embassador Ledger to â—he States of the united Provinces and principall secretary of state to King Iames. Edward Peck of Samford Hall in the County of Essex sergeant 〈◊〉 Law to his maty King Charles the 2â— sonn and heyre of Will Peck of Metâ—â—â—â—old in the County of Norfolk Esqsr. and intermâ—ried w â— Graâ—e one of the daugâ—â—â—ers â—â—d CoheyrÌ„s of Will Green of East Barnet in Hartfordshire Esqs â— William Peck of Samford hall in the County of Essex Esqs â— sonn and â—eyre of Edw. Peck sergeant at Law and is now maried to Gartrude sole daughter and heyre of Sr. Willâ— Grâ—en of Mitcham in the County of Surry Bart. Iustinian Pagit of Grais Inn in Com Middz Esqss. Cristos Brâ—ium et Recordorum Banco Regis Ioseph Micklethwaite of Swyne in Holderness in the County of York ' Esqs s William Mountagu Esqss. son heyre to the honble William Mountagu Lord cheife Baron of his matys Court of Exchequer maried to Ann Sole daughâ—â—â—â— heyre of Ric Evelyn of Woodcot in the County of Surreyâ— Esqss. Thomas Robinson of the Inner Temple Londoâ— Esqss. cheife Prothonotary of his matys Court of Comon Pleas. Francis Diue of Bromham in the County of Bedford Esq son heirè of Sr Lewis Diue of the said place Kt. now maried to Theophila Daughter of the Right Reverend Father in God Iohn Hackett late Lord Bishop of Litchfeild and Couentry Owen Feltham of Greys Inn in ye. County of Middlesex Esq r now maried to Mary one of ye. Daughters Coheires of Alexander Portree of Barnstaâ—le in Devonshire Esqâ— Francis Wythens of Eltham in the County of Kent Esq one of ye. society of the Middle Temple London Iames Hoare of Edmonton in the County of Middlesex Esq and one of the society of ye. Middle Temple London Thomas Foley of Kidderminster in Worcestersh Esq eldest son of Thomas Foley of Witley Court in Worcestersh Esq now maried to Elizabeth Daughter of Edward Ash of Halsted in the County of Kent Esq. Paul Foley of Stoakâ— Court in the County of Hereford Esq. second sonn of Tho Foley of Witley Court in Worcester shire now maried to Mary daughter of Iohn Lane of ye. Citty of London Esq. Phillip Foley of Prestwood in the County of Stafford Esq third son of Tho Foley of Witley Court in Worcestershire Esq now maried to Penelope daughter of the Rt. honble Wm. Ld. Pagett Baron of Beaâ—desert Tollemach Duke of Lincolns Inn in Middlesex Esq Exigenter for London ct. in the Court of Common pleas sonn heyre of Dr. Edward Duke of HoningtoÌ„ in Suffolk by Eliz his wife onely daughter of Robert 2d son of Sr. Lionel Tollemach of Bently Helmingham in the Sd. County â—ar â— linealy descended in a direct male line from ye. antient family of the Dukes of Brampton Shadingfeild in the Sd. Counâ—y of late Barts Thomaâ— Walker of yâ— Inner Temple London Esqs s som time Comptroller of yâ— S â— society son of Thomas Walker of Warwicâ—shire Esqss. who is descended from an antient family of that name in Leicestershire wch Sd. Tho the bearer hereof is now maried to Elizabeth daughter Coheyâ—e of Hoo Games of Newton in Brecknockshir Esqs â— of wch Sd. familys see more in the body of thâ— Book Sâ—ction chapter Iohn Bennet of â—bington in the County of Cambridge Esqss. Iohn Lewkenor of West Deane in Sussex Esqs s son and heyre of Sr. Iohn Lewkenor Kt. of yâ— Bath deceased by Ann daughter and Coheyre of George Myn of Myn in Shropshir Esqs s decended from the antient family of the Lewkeâ—ors Thomas Coxe M.D. Physitian in ordinary to his maty King Charles the 2d. William Thompson of the Middle Temple London Esq noâ— maried to Mary Sole daughter of Iohn Stephens of Broadway in Worcestershire Gent. William Atwood of Bromfeild in Essex and Grais Inn in Middlesex Esq son and heyre of Iohn Atwood Esq desceased by Elizabeth daughter and Coheyre of Patrick Young Esq son of Sr. Peter Young K â— Abnoner and privy Councellor of Scotland to King Iames. Thomaâ— Plott Esq secretary to his Highness the Great Duke of Tuscany descended of the family of the Plotts of Sparsholt in Berkshire Iohn Warner of
Heraldry written by Iohn Guillim about fol. 18. That Sisters are allowed no differences of Badges in their Coat-Armour by reason that by them the name of the House cannot be preserved but are admitted to the Inheritance equally and are adjudged but one Heir to all intents and purposes whatsoever And the knowledge of this point in these days is worthy to be enquired into for this is to be observed out of Presidents and to be acknowledged of every dutiful Subject that the King can advance to Honour whom he pleaseth And therefore whereas Radulph Cromwell being a Baron by Writ died without Issue having two Sisters and Coheirs Elizabeth the eldest married unto Sir Thomas Nevill Knight and Ioan the younger married to Sir Humphrey Bowcher who was called to Parliament as Lord Cromwell and not the said Sir Thomas Nevill who married the eldest Sister And Hugh Lupus the first and greatest Earl of Chester Habendum sibi haeredibus adeo libere per gladium sicut iple Rex tenuit Angliam per tenorem Hugh died without Issue and the Inheritance of his Earldom was divided amongst his four Sisters and the eldest had not the Seigniory entire unto herself If a Woman be Noble by Birth or Descent with whomsoever she doth marry although her Husband be under her Degree yet she doth remain Noble for Birth-right est Character indelebilis Other Women are enobled by Marriage and the Text saith thus viz. Women ennobled with the Honour of their Husbands and with the Kindred of their Husbands we worship them in the Court we decree matters to pass in the Names of their Husbands and into the House and Surname of their Husbands do we translate them But if afterwards a Woman do marry with a Man of a baser Degree then she loseth her former Dignity and followeth the condition of her latter Husband And concerning the second disparaged Marriage as aforesaid many other Books of the Law do agree for these be Rules conceived in those Cases Si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili desinit esse nobilis eodem modo quo quid constituitur dissolvitur It was the Case of Ralph Howard Esq who took to Wife Anne the widow of the Lord Powes they brought an Action against the Duke of Suffolk by the Name of Ralph Howard Esq and the Lady Anne Powes his Wife and exception was taken for mis-naming of her because she ought to have been named of her Husband's Name and not otherwise and the Exception was by the Court allowed For said they by the Law of God she is Sub potestate viri and by our Law her Name of Dignity shall be changed according to the Degrees of her Husband notwithstanding the Courtesie of the Ladies of Honour and Court Dyer 79. And the like is also in Queen Maries Reign when the Dutchess of Suffolk took to her Husband Adrian Brook Title Brief 54. 6. And many other Presidents have been of later times And herewith agreeth the Civil Law Digest lib. 1. title q. lege 1. In this Case of acquired Nobility by marriage if question in Law be whereupon an Issue is taken between the Parties that is to say Dutchesses are not Dutchesses Countesses are not Countesses and Baronesses are not Baronesses the Trial whereof shall not be by Record as in the former Case but by a Jury of Twelve men and the reason of the diversity is because in this Case the Dignity is accrued unto her by her Marriage which the Lawyers term Matter in Fact and not by any Record But a Noble Woman by marriage though she take to her second Husband a man of mean Degree yet she may keep two Chaplains according to the Proviso in the Statute of 11. Hen. 8. Case 13. for and in respect of the Honour which once she had viz. at the time of the Retainer And every such Chaplain may purchase Licence and Dispensation c. And Chaplains may not be Non-residents afterwards And forasmuch as the retaining of Chaplains by Ladies of great Estate is ordinary and nevertheless some questions in Law have been concerning the true understanding of the said Statute Law I think it not impertinent to set down subsequent Resolutions of the Judges touching such matters So long as the Wife of a Duke is called Dutchess or of an Earl a Countess and have the fruition of the Honour appertaining to their Estate with kneeling tasting serving so long shall a Baron's Widow be saluted Lady as is also a Knight's Wife by the courtesie of England quamdiâ— matrimonium aut viduitas uxoris durant except she happen to clope with an Adulterer for as the Laws of this Kingdom do adjudge that a Woman shall lose her Dowry in that as unto Lands Tenements and Justice so doth the Laws of Gentry and Nobleness give Sentence against such a Woman advanced to Titles of Dignity by the Husband to be unworthy to enjoy the same when she putting her Husband out of her mind subjects her self unto another If a Lady which is married come through the Forest she shall not take any thing but a Dutchess Marchioness or Countess shall have advantage of the Statute de Charta Forest. 12 Artic. during the time that she is unmarried This is a Rule in the Civil Law Si filia Regis nubat alicui Duci vel Comiti ducetur tamen semper regalis As amongst Noble Women there is a difference of Degrees so according to their distinct Excellencies the Law doth give special priviledges as followeth By the Statute 25 Edw. 3. cap. 1. it is High Treason to compass or imagine the death of the Queen or to violate the King's Companion The King's Response is a sole person except by the Common Law and she may purchase in Feesimple or make Leases or Grants with the King she may plead and be impleaded which no other married Woman can do without her Husband All Acts of Parliament for any cause which any way may concern the Queen are such Statutes whereof the Judges ought to take Recognizances as of general Statutes though the matter doth only concern the capacity of the Queen yet it doth also concern all the Subjects of the Realm for every Subject hath interest in the King and none of his Subjects within his Laws are divided from the King who is Head and Sovereign so that his business concerns all the Realm and as the Realm hath interest in the King so and for the same Reason is the Queen being his Wife A man seized of divers Lands in Fee holden by Knight's Service some by Priority that is by ancient Feoffment holden of others and some other part holden of the King in posteriority the King granteth his Seigniory to the Queen during her life and afterwards the Tenant dieth his Son within Age in this case he shall have the Wardship of the Body and have the Prerogative even as the King himself should have had The Queen Consort or Dowager shall not be amerced if she be Nonsuited
Cooke of Kingsthorp in Northampton shire Gent â— Sr. Thomas Player of Hackney in Middlesex Knight Chamberlaine of the Citty of London Sr. Iohn Berkenhead Knight Master of Requests to his Majesty and Master of the Faculties and one of the members of the Honourable house of Comons Sr William Drake of Amersham in the County of Bucks Knight now maried to Elizabeth daughter of the honble â— â— Mountâ—gu Lord cheife Baron of his matys Court of Exchequer Sr William Pargiter of Greetworth in Northampton shire Knight a samily of good Antiquity whose Ancestors have been their Seated for many Generations Sr. William Waller of Winchester in Hantshire K descended from Richard Waller of Groombridg in Kent Esqr. who at the battle of Agencourt took Ioâ— Duke of Orleanse Prisoner and brought him to Groombridg whâ—re he remained a Prisoner 24 yeares and in memory of the Action it hath bin ever since allowed to the family to beare hanging on their Antient Crest the Armes of the said Duke Sr William Hustler of Acklam in Cleaveland in The County of York Kt Sr. Joseph Sheldon of the Citty oâ— London Kt. Alderman Lord Mâ—j therof Anno 〈◊〉 Sr. Robt. Hanson of the Citty of Londoâ— Knight and Alderman Lord Major thereof Anno 1673 Sr. Iohn Maynard of Gunnersbury in the Parish of Ealing in the County of Midlesex Knight sergeant at Law to his Majesty King Charles the second S â— Iohn Shortâ—r of the Citty of London Kt. and Alderman now maried to Ezabeâ— daughter of Iohn Birkhead of Ristwhait 〈◊〉 yâ— parish of Crostwhait in Cumberland Gen â— Robert Peyton of East Barnet in ye. County of 〈◊〉 Kt. descended of ye. Antient Family of ye. Peytonâ— Cambridgshire noâ— Maried to Iane Daughter and 〈◊〉 heyrs of Lionell Robison of Couton in York shire Esq. Sr. Edward Lowe of new Sarum in Wiltshire Kt. one of the Masters of the High Honourable Court of Chancery Sr. Iohn Iames of Wiâ—â—borow in Kâ—nt Kt. dâ—scended of ye. â—ntiâ—â—â— And Sâ—râ—ading Family of ye. Iamâ—â—is Who Transplâ—nted Themseluâ—s out of Cleâ—â— in Germaâ—y into England About ye◠〈◊〉 of yâ—â—â—igne of K. 〈…〉 Family Sâ—◠〈◊〉 in Tâ—â— Body of yâ— Book Sâ—ction Chap 1 Thâ— Sâ—S Ioâ—n is â—â—w Maried to Mâ—â—y dâ—ughtâ—r of Sr. Robert Kiâ—â—eâ—râ—w of Haâ—worth in Middleâ—â—â— Kt. desâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 Câ—â—mâ—erâ—â—n to yâ— Late Queen Mother 〈◊〉 Hon Sr. Robert Bâ—oth of Salford in Lâ—â—câ—shire K â— â— chife Iustice of 〈◊〉 Matâ—s Court of Comâ—n pleas in Ireland one of his Ma â—â—â— most Hon priâ—â—â—â—â—ncell for yâ— S d Kingdome Grandchild heyre of Humfry â—ooth of Salford 〈◊〉 Gâ—n whose Châ—ritable works 〈…〉 his name of w â— see more in â—â—â—dy of yâ— Bocke sâ—e 3 chapt. 1â— The Sd. Sâ—r. Robert was first maried to mary â—â—â—ghter heyre of Spencer Poâ—ts of Chalgraye in Bedfordshire Esq 〈…〉 to Susanna Daughter of Sr. 〈…〉 of Dean in East Kent Kt. Aâ—â—soâ— Dâ—ceased Sr. Charles Pitfeild of Hâ—xton in the Parish of St. Leonard â—horditch in Middlesex Kt. Descended of the Antient family of the Pitfeilds of â—umâ—nâ—sâ—ry in Dâ—rsâ—tshireâ— is now maried to Winefrid one of the Daughters and coeheyrs of Iohn Adderley of Cotton in Stafordshire Esâ— Sr. Thomas Middleton of Stansted Mount Fichit in ye. County of Essex Kt. now maried to Mary ye. Relict of Thomas Style Esq Eldest Son of Sr. Thomas Style of Waâ—ering bury in yeâ— County of Kent Bar â— and only Daughter of Sr. Stephen Langham of the Citty of London Kt. Sr. Francis Theobald of Barking hall in Suffolk Kt. a great Lover of Lerning fautor of Lerned men in Soemuch that Dr. Castle in his Polygâ—oâ— Lexicon makes This mention of him yt. he is harum Linguarum Callentissimus Sr. Robt. Hardinge late of Kings-Newton in the Parish of Melborne in Darby-shire Nâ—w of Grais Inn in Middle â— Kt. his matys Attorney of all his Forests c. from Trent Northward's a great sufferer for there matys King Charles the first second Hee Maried Anna eldest daughr. of Sr. Richard Sprignell of Hâ—gate in Middlesex Bar â— Deceased Sr. Io. Kirke of East Ham in Esex Kt. one of the Band of Gentleman Pentioners to his matyâ— King Charles the 2d. which sd. Sr. Io. and his family hath been very actiue for the Servi c â— of there King and Country in particular at Canade in America Sr. Thomas Marshe of Darkes in the Parish of South Mimms in Com Middlesex Knight Sr. William Beversham of Holbrookhall in Suffolk Knight one of the Masters oâ— the High and Honourable Court of Chancery And it was anciently ordained That all Knights Fees should come unto the eldest Son by succession of Heritage whereby he succeeding his Ancestor in the whole Inheritance might be the better able to maintain War against the King's Enemies or his Lords and that the Soccage of Freehold be partable between the Male Children to enable them to encrease into many Families for the better encrease of Husbandry But as nothing is more unconstant than the Estates we have in Lands and Livings even so long since these Tenures have been so indifferently mixt and confounded in the hands of each sort that there is not now any note of difference to be gathered by them Lambert Peramb of Kent 10. Et quia tale servitium forinsecum non semper manet sub eadem quantitate sed quandoque praestatur ad plus quandoque ad minus ideo eo quantitate Regalis servitii qualitate fiat mentio in charta ut tenens certum tenere possit quid quantum persolvere teneatur And therefore the certainty of the Law in this case is That he that holdeth by a whole and entire Knight's Fee must serve the King or his other Lord forty days in the Wars well and sufficiently arrayed and furnished at all points and by twenty days if he hold by a moiety of a Knights Fee and so proportionable And in the Seventh of Edw. 3. 246. it was demurred in Judgment Whether Forty days shall be accounted from the first day that the King did first enter into Scotland but it seemeth that the days shall be accompted from the first day that the King doth enter into Scotland because the Service is to be done out of the Realm And they that hold per Regale servitium are not to perform that Service unless the King do also go himself into the Wars in proper Person by the Opinion of Sir VVilliam Earle Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Irium Sept. Edw. 3. 246. but vide 3 Hen. 6. tit Protection 2. in which Case it was observed That seeing the Protector who was Prorex went the same was adjudged a Voyage Royal. Also before the Statute de quia emptores terrarum which was made decimo octavo Edw. 1. the King or other Lord had given Lands to a Knight to hold of him by Service and Chivalry scil to go with the King or with his Lord when the King doth make a Voyage Royal to subdue
to the party for so it is termed in Brook's Title Additions 44. but an Honour to the Kingdom And therefore it hath been an ancient Prerogative of the Kings of this Realm at their pleasure to compel men of worth to take upon them that Degree upon payment of a Fine But we see by Experience in these days that none are compelled thereunto and that is the reason wherefore if the Plaintiff be Knighted having the Writ it shall abate because he hath changed his name and that by his own Act. And for that cause also by the Common Law not only the King but every Lord of a Mannor ought to have of every of his Tenants a reasonable Aid to make his eldest Son a Knight And all Lands are subject to these Aids except only ancient Demesne and grand and petty Serjeanty-Tenures as the Law hath â—een anciently delivered And in Io. Shelden 131. where also it is said one that wrote a little after the Statute of Westminster the first allows as a good barr to the Avowry for the Tenant to plead that the Father himself is no Knight so that one not Knighted cannot claim this Ayd of his Tenants Briâ—an cap. de prices de avers And it was at the liberty of the Lord to make more or less of his Tenants by the Common Law in this Case but by the Statute of Westminster the first Chap. 35. it is put in contrary viz. forasmuch as before this time reasonable Aid to make ones Son Knight or to marry his Daughter was never put in certain nor how much should be taken nor at what time whereby some levied unreasonable Aid and more often than seemed necessary whereby the people were sore grieved It is provided that from henceforth of a whole Knight's Fee there be taken but Twenty shillings and of Twenty pounds in Land holden in Soccage Twenty shillings and of more more and of less less after that rate And that none shall levy such Aid to make his Son a Knight until his Son be of fifteen years old nor to marry his Daughter until she be of the Age of seven years And of that there shall be mention made in the King's Writs formed on the same when any will demand it And if it happen that the Father after he hath levied such Aid of his Tenants die before he hath married his Daughter the Executors of the Father shall be bound to the Daughter for so much as the Father received for the Aid And if the Father's Goods be not sufficient his Heir shall be charged therewith unto the Daugher And this Aid is so incident that although the Lord do confirm unto the Tenant to hold by Fealty and certain Rent and release unto him all other Services and Demands yet shall he have the Aid to make his eldest Son a Knight But the King was not bound by the Statute aforementioned because the King was not named in the Statute Therefore by the Statute 25 Edw. 3. chap. 11. the King's Aid were brought to a like value The intention of the Law is That an Heir until the Age of One and twenty years is not able to do Knights Service But such a presumption of Law doth give place to a Judgment of proof to the contrary as Bracton saith Sâ—abitur presumptioni donec probetur in contrarium And therefore when the King who is the Sovereign Judge of all Chivalry hath dubbed him a Knight he by this hath adjudged him able to do him Knight's Service and all men are concluded to say the contrary to it And therefore such an Heir being made a Knight either in the life time of his Father or afterwards during his minority shall be out of Ward and Custody both for his Land and Body and marriage by the Award of the ancient Common Law By reason also that the Honour of Knighthood is so great that it is not to be holden under by any yet if the King do create such an Heir within Age a Duke Marquess Earl Viscount or â—aron by this he shall not be out of Ward and Custody both for his Land and Body And therefore it is propounded by the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 3. Ita tamen quod si ipse dum infra aetatem fuerit fiat miles nihilominus terra remaneat in Custodia Dominorum suorum So that although such an Heir within Age be made Knight and thereby to this purpose is esteemed as of full Age yet the Land shall remain in Custody of the Lord till his Age of One and twenty years by the purview of the said Act. Question If the Son and Heir of the Tenant of the King by Knights Service c. be made Knight in Paris by the French King whether he shall be out of Wardship after the death of his Father or no for thereby he is a Knight in England Coke's seventh part b. 2 Edw. 4. fol. tamen vide in Coke's sixth part 74. b. mention is only made of Knights made by the King himself or by his Lieutenant in Ireland But when the King doth make an Heir apparent within Age of a Tenant by Knights Service a Knight in the life of his Ancestor and after the death of his Ancestor the said Heir being within Age shall in this Case be out of Ward and shall pay no value for his marriage neither shall the Lord have the Custody of the Land for in that Case by the making of him Knight in the life of his Ancestor he is made of full Age so that when his Ancestor dieth no interest either in the Body or in the Land shall invest in the Lord but the Knight may tender his Livery as if he were of full Age And in that case the King shall have primier Seisin as if he had been One and twenty years of Age at the time of the death of his Ancestor and not otherwise For the Statute of Magna Charta doth not extend unto it for the purview of it doth extend only when the Heir in Ward infra aetatem is made Knight then remanet terra in Custodia c. But when the Heir is made Knight in the life of his Ancestor then the Custody cannot remain which never had any inception or essence Also when the Heir after the death of his Ancestor within Age is made Knight if after tender made to him he within Age do marry elsewhere yet he shall not pay the forfeiture of his marriage for by the making him Knight he is out of Ward and Custody of his Lord for then he ought to be sui Iuris and may imploy himself in feats of Arms for defence of the Realm c. and therefore may not be within the Custody of another and none shall pay any forfeiture but when after any refusal he doth marry himself during the time when he is under the custody and keeping of his Lord And this doth appear by the Statute of Merton chap. 6. Si se mariturierit sine licentia
Baron which always stands afterwards for the head place of the Barony whereof the said Baron and his Heirs shall be surnamed and called and shall continue that name of place although he do alien away the same as aforesaid Some others are named with the Title of Lord as Sir Hugh Bramsteed by Writ of the 27 th of Henry the Sixth was styled Lord Veysey Iohan. Beauchamp Domino de Beauchamp Iohanni Domino de Clynton To some others the Writ is directed only by their Name without any addition of place or dignity as William de Lovell Mil. William Devereux Mil. c. But the Nature Quality and Addition of those Barons by Writ is aptly discovered by the debate of a Question moved often amongst men and spoken of concerning the continuance and descent of a Barony by Writ which Question for the more orderly disposition thereof I shall divide into these Heads or Points Question First Whether a Barony by Writ may descend from the Ancestor to the Heir or not Secondly Admit such a Barony may descend then Whether it doth descend to the Heirs although not so near as the Heir Female Thirdly Admit it doth descend to the Heirs Female then Whether may the Husband of such an Heir Female take upon him the Name Style and Dignity of such a Barony in right of his Wife or no Those therefore that maintain the Negative that such a Barony shall not descend do strengthen themselves with these or the like Arguments viz. The first Argument Whether a Barony by Writ may descend Nobility and Honour which are given in respect of Wisdom Connsel and Advise cannot extend to any other person or descend from one man to another for it is a Rule in Law That Privilegium personae personam sequitur extinguitur cum persona But such is the Dignity of a Baron therefore it is reason that it should not descend from the Ancestor to the Heir The second Argument Again If the calling of the Parliament by Writ be the sufficient instrumental cause of such Nobility to the Ancestor the not calling of the Heir is a loss of that Nobility For if the Heir have defects of Nature in him as Idiotsie Frensie Leprosie or the like whereby he is become unfit for Counsels and Conversations for what reason should he enjoy that Dignity whereof he is either unworthy or uncapable for the effect hath no place where the cause faileth and hereof they conclude that such Dignities of Baronies by Writ should not descend If on the contrary part the Affirmation is thus proved Honour which is given in respect of Wisdom and Vertue of him on whom it was first bestowed is not only a due recompence for himself whilst he lived but also a memorable Reward thereof to Posterity The words of Cicero to this effect are most excellent Homines bonos semper nobilitate favimus quia utile republicae est nobiles esse homines dignos majoribus suis quia valere debet apud nos claros hujusmodi senes fuisse è republica moveretur memoria mortucrum Honor. Therefore this kind of Honour is Patrimonial and Hereditary for things which are once granted unto a man by the King for his Honour are not again to be returned to his loss and disgrace or to his Heirs The second Argument Secondly If the Infamy of the Father be a blot to the Posterity as the Wiseman Solomon affirmeth The Children complain for an ungodly Father they are reproved for his sake and for that also the Law of the Realm doth corrupt the blood of the Posterity by and upon the Offence of the Ancestor Reason would also be that the Honour of the Ancestor should be likewise Honour to the Posterity for contraries do also carry their contrary Reason For the determination whereof 't is to be noted that diversity of Reason hath bred diversity of Opinion Some there are that do speak That the Dignity of a Baron by Writ is not discendable from the Ancestor unto the Heir unless the Heir be likewise called by Writ to Parliament and that then it becometh an Inheritance and not before But this Assertion is repugnant to the nature of Descent which for the most part doth carry a Patrimony descendable by act of Law presently upon the death of the Ancestor unto the Heir not at all Wherefore the Custom of the Country and the manifest Presidents do prove that this kind of Baronies doth descend from the Ancestor to the Heir and there needeth not any word of Heir in the Writ of Summons only one President there is in a special Writ sometime directed to Sir Henry Bromfleet in the 27 th of Henry the Sixth wherein he was styled Lord Veysey and wherein there are these words inserted Volumus tamen vos haeredes vestros de corpore vestro ligitime enatos Barones de Veysey existentes Wherefore it is very true that when the Heir of any such Baron by Writ is called to the Parliament that his Descent of Honour is thereby established and approved of by the gracious Judgment of our Sacred Sovereign So it is also true that if it shall stand with his Majesties pleasure that such an Heir shall not be summoned at all then that Nobility is much impaired and in a manner extinguished in the censure of all men for that it hath no other original but by a Writ of Summons from the which by the Judgment of the Supream Sovereign he is excluded As to the second principal point Whether the Barony by Writ may descend to the Heir Female it shall not be amiss likewise to shew the Reasons on either part that by conflict of Argument the truth may the better be discovered Those that maintain the Affirmative part do say That in reason the Sex of the Heir Female ought no more to barr her Dignity than the Nonage of the Heir Male ought to barr him though during his Nonage he be unable to do the Service But as the Service of the one is for time forborn so the Sex of the other may at all times be supplied by the maturity of her Husbands Offices of Honour which do much import the Commonweal being passed by Inheritance do descend to the Heir Female as the Office of the High Constableship of England which descended unto the Daughter of Hum. de Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Also the Office of the Lord Steward descended to Blanch Daughter of Henry Earl of Lancaster The like may be said of the Office of Earl-Marshal which descended by an Heir Female to the House of Norfolk All which Offices are as unsit to be exercised by a woman as for a Woman to be summoned by Writ to the Parliâ—ment as a Baroness c. Many Noble Houses also in England do support and lawfully bear the Dignity of a Baronage unto them descended by a Woman The first Argument contra They which stand of the Negative part in this Controversie do encounter their
Parliament by Writ as Baron such Heir Male omitting the Husband of the Issue of such Heir Female And this also appeareth by a notable Controversie in the time of Henry the Seventh between Sir Robert Willoughby Lord Brook and Richard Lord Lattimer for the Barony of Lattimer which in effect was The said Lord Brook did challenge the Barony of Lattimer as Coâ—in and Heir of Elizabeth his Great-grandmother who was Sister and Heir of Iohn Nevill Lord Lattimer who died without Issue And hereupon exhibited a Petition to Henry the Seventh in Parliament whereunto Richard Lord Lattimer was called to answer because he then enjoyed the said Title and Dignity The said Richard Lord Lattimer did by his Answer shew That after the death of the said Iohn Nevill Lord Lattimer without Issue the said Elizabeth was his Sister and next Heir and married unto Thomas Willoughby Knight second Son of the Lord Willoughby But Henry the Sixth for that the said Iohn Nevill Lord Lattimer was dead without Issue and that the next Heir was Female did therefore call to the Parliament George Nevill Knight second Son of Henry Earl of Westmoreland to be Lord Lattimer as Cosin and next Heir Male of the said Iohn Nevill Lord Lattimer which George was Grandfather of the said Richard Lord Lattimer Father of the said Richard In debate of which cause the Question now in hand namely Whether a Barony by Writ may descend to the Heirs Female was advisedly considered of by the King and his Nobility in Parliament and in the end adjudged with the said Richard Lord Lattimer which President doth afford us two Judgments in this point And in the time of Henry the Sixth when the Writ was directed to the said Sir George Nevill Knight whereby he was summoned as Lord Lattimer to the Parliament and as Heir Male and not the said Thomas Willoughby Knight husband of the said Elizabeth Heir Female And the second Judgment was given in the time of Henry the Seventh whereby the said Barony was adjudged to the said Richard Lord Lattimer coming out of the special Heir Male against the Lord Brook descended of the general Heir Male. But here in this President before remembred of the Barony of Dacres may be objected to encounter this Conclusion for there was an Heir Female married unto Sir Richard Fines who by the Declaration of King Henry the Sixth was Baron of Dacres in right of his wife And there was also Ralph and Humphrey the Heirs Males before whom the Heir Female was preferred by the censure of Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth This Objection is easily answered for although Henry the Sixth through the Princely favour which he bore unto Sir Richard Fines had declared him to be Lord Dacres in right of his wife yet notwithstanding did Ralph Dacres being Heir Male then unto the Lord Dacres and by that name was attainted in Parliament Anno primo Hen. 4. Wherefore the reason why the Heir Male could not be regarded was the said Attainder of the said Raâ—ph and Humphrey his brother and therefore when Humphrey in the 12 th of Edward the Fourth laboured to have the said Attainder Reversed he submitted himself to the Arbitrement of the King who to satisfie both Competitors both having deserved of him after he had admitted them to his favour he allowed one to be Lord Dacres and the other to be the Lord Dacres of Gillesland And thus much concerning the second Point Whether a Barony by Writ may descend unto the Heir Female The third Point As concerning the third Point admitting such Descent to be to the Heir Female when there is no Heir Male that may claim the same for then doth this Question take place Whether the husband of such an Heir Female shall enjoy the Dignity in right of his wife or no Wherein we are to rest upon a Resolution had and given to this special Question which was in this manner In the time of Henry the Eighth when Mr. Winby took upon him the style of Lord Talbois in right of his wife having no Issue by her The said King assisted both by Civil and Temporal Lawyers gave Sentence That no husband of a Baroness in her right should use that Style and Dignity until he had by her a Child whereby she should become Tenant by Courtesie unto her Inheritance The special Reasons that occasioned this Sentence were two First It should be convenient for her husband this day to be a Baron and a Peer of the Realm and to morrow by the death of his wife to become none and without the default of the party Secondly If he had Issue by wife and were entituled to be Tenant by the Courtesie of England of his wives Lands if he shall not also bear the Style and Dignity of his Wives Barony then should the Son after the death of his mother dying in the life time of his father be a Baron and Lord without Land for so the father should have the Land as Tenant by Courtesie and the Son the Lordship without Land And thus much said concerning the Nature Quality and Estate of a Baron by Writ and for the Resolution of the several points and Articles of the Question proposed may suffice CHAP. XII Barons by Patent which is the third kind of Barons mentioned in the former Division of Barons THere is also a fourth means of Creation viz. by Act of Parliament but the first two mentioned and this other by Patent is most usual for the Honour of the King for thereby the Donation doth proceed from his Majesty only as from the Fountain of Honour But when the Creation is by Parliament the King ever is one and may be said to be Donor A Baron therefore by Creation by reason of Letters Patents is that noble Person whom the King or any of his Progenitors Kings of this Realm have created Baron by such their Letters Patents began in the Reign of King Richard the Second This kind of Dignity of a Baron shall be of such continuance in Descent or otherwise as shall be limited in the Habendum in such Letters Patents contained for it may be but for the life of him to whom it is given or for term vanter vie as some hold Opinion in the 32 of Hen. 6. for cujus est dare est disponere It may be in special in our general Tayl and this kind of Tayl was usual before the Statute made decimo tertio of Edw. 1. by which Estate Tayl of Lands and Tenements was created as appeareth by the Patent whereby Hubert de Burgo was made Earl of Kent in the time of Henry the Third by these words Habendum sibi haeredibus suis de corpore Margaretae uxoris sui sorors Alexandri Regis Scotiae procreatis pro defectu talis exitus remanere in directis haeredibus dicti Huberti And that Estates intayl are at this Day of Titles of Honour by the said Statute of Westminster the second Question If a
Honour deported themselves after the manner of Military Knights of those days To look further back ancient Histories do take notice of the Amazons of old whose Fame in Arms is sufficiently known Although Noble women may not sit in Parliament in respect of their Sex yet they are in Law Peers of the Realm and all or most of the prerogatives before mentioned which to the Noblemen are belonging do appertain unto them But the Opinion of some men have been That a Countess Baronness and other women of great Estate cannot maintain an Action upon the Statute de Scandalis magnatum because the Statute 2 Rich. 2. speaketh but of Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and of the Chancellor Treasurer Privy Seal Steward of the King's Houshold and other Nobles great Officers of the Realm by which words they conceive that the meanings of the Makers of that Statute was only to provide in that case for Noblemen and not for Noble women Also if any of the King's Servants within the Check-Roll do conspire the death of any Noble woman it is not Felony within the compass of the Statute 3 Hen. 7. 18. Honourable women as before noted are of three sorts by Creation by Descent and by Marriage And the King may create any woman into any Title of Honour at his pleasure and the King by his Letters Patents openly read in Parliament without any other Investure did create Mary Fane Widow the sole Daughter of Baron of Aburgaveny Baronness de le Spencer Noble women by Descent are either those to whom the Lands holden by such Dignity do descend as Heir and they are said to be Honourable by Tenure or by whose worthy Ancestors to whom they were Heirs was seized of an Estate descendable to them in their Titles of Dukedoms Earldoms or Baronies or those whose Ancestors were summoned to Parliament for hereby also Inheritance doth accrew to their Posterities Noble women are also those who do take to their Husbands any Lord or Peer of the Realm although they themselves were not of any degree of Nobility Question and doubt hath been made Whether if a man be summoned to Parliament and afterwards die without Issue Male the Dignity and Title of Honour may descend to the Heir Female And many Arguments have been pro contra in that case which at this time I purposely omit because I have before discoursed thereof in the Chapter of Barons Concerning the Title of Honour descendable to the Heir Female by reason of a Tenure of her Ancestors there needs no more doubt to be made than of Offices of Honour the which do much support the publick wealth and being of Estate of Inheritance do descend to the Heir Female if there be no nearer Heir Male As the Office of High Constableship of England challenged in the time of Henry the Eighth by the Duke of Buckingham and adjudged by the Advise and Resolution of the Judges as by a note of that Case extant whereof Dyer in his Reports hath a memorial 205. b. Kelway the Sixth of Henry the Eighth 170. b. which descended to the Daughter of Humphrey de Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex as before is declared The Office of the Lord Steward descended to Blaunch Daughter of Henry Earl of Lancaster in whose right Iohn of Gaunt her Husband enjoyed the same The like may be said of the Office of Earl-Marshal which descended by an Heir Female unto the House of Norfolk All which Offices are as unfit to be exercised by a Woman as for a Woman of Honour to be summoned to the Parliament And when a Title of Honour doth descend to a Woman if question in Law do arise between the said Noble woman and any other person whether she be of that Degree of Nobleness or no the Issue shall be tried by the Record thereof and by the King 's Writ it shall be certified and not by a Jury of twelve Men even as it should have been in case her Ancestor had been party Although the Laws of the Realm regularly do make all the Daughters where there are no Sons equally to inherit Lands and Tenements and to be but one Heir to their Ancestor yet it is not so in the descent of Dignity and Titles of Honour for Inheritances concerning matter of Honour being things in their nature participating of Superiority and Eminency are not partable amongst many and therefore must of necessity descend unto one and that is to the eldest Daughter Sister Aunt or Cosin Female and inheritable where there is no Heirs Males that may lawfully challenge the same And so in this point is the Civil Law Nevertheless there was a Judgment in the time of Henry the Third touching the descent of the Earldom of Chester after the death of the Earl who died without Issue his Sisters being his Heirs which Judgment was That the said Earldom should be divided amongst the said Copartners as the other Lands and that the eldest should not have it alone But this Judgment was holden Erroneous even in those times wherein it was given For Bracton a Learned Judge who lived in that Age writeth thereof treating of partition between Copartners lib. 2. Case 24. by which it is evident That Baronies and Dignities of Honour do by the Laws of this Realm descend unto the eldest Copartner and the Judgment given once to the contrary thereof Bracton doth rightly account to be unjust His Reason is notable Forasmuch as the Honour of the Chivalry of this Realm doth chiefly consist in the Nobility Reason would not that such Dignity should be divided amongst Copartners whereby through multitude of partitions the reputation of Honour in such Succession and so divided might be impaired or the strenght of the Realm being drawn into many hands with decrease of livelyhood by such partition should be infeebled In which Resolution Britton the Learned Bishop of Hereford who compiled his Book of the Laws of this Realm by the Commandment and in the Name of Edward the First accordeth Britton 187. And therefore howsoever the Judgment was given or whensoever it is nevertheless very evident that it was soon redressed For if it were given upon the death of Ralph the last of that Name Earl of Chester who died about the Seventh of Henry the Third without Issue the Writers of that time do testifie that the Earldom of Chester came wholly unto Iohn Scott the Son of David Earl of Huntington and Auguish and Maud the eldest Sisters of the said Ralph if it were given upon the death of the said Iohn Scott who died about the Four and twentieth of Henry the Third without Issue yet notwithstanding the said Judgment stood in force for that the said King assumed the Earldom into his own Hands upon other satisfaction made to the said Sisters Copartners of the said Iohn Scottâ— Ne tanta haereditas inter colos deduceretur Matth. Paris Monaster Sancti Allane in Crompton fol. 366. b. Nevertheless you may read in this Treatise of
again into the Hall where he shall sit at Table with the Knights and being risen and retired into his Chamber his Attire is taken off and again clothed with a blew Robe having on his left Shoulder a Lace of white Silk hanging to be worn upon all his Garments from that day forwards till he have gained some Honour and Renown for some Feats of Arms or some Prince or Lady of Quality cut that Lace from his Shoulder After Dinner the Knights must come to the Knight and conduct him into the King's presence to return him thanks for these Honours and so takes his leave of the King and the Governours craving his pardon for any miscarriage and claiming their Fees according to the Custom of the Court also take their leaves of the Knight I shall conclude this Chapter with giving an Account of the Knights made at the Coronation of his Majesty Knights of the Bath made at the Coronation of his Majesty King CHARLES the Second EDward Lord Clinton now Earl of Lincoln Iohn Egerton Viscount Brackley eldest Son to the Earl of Bridgwater Sir Philip Herbert then second Son to the Earl of Pembroke Sir William Egerton second Son to the Earl of Bridgwater Sir Vere Fane second Son to the Earl of Westmoreland Sir Charles Berkley eldest Son to George Lord Berkley Sir Henry Bellasis eldest Son to the Lord Bellasis Sir Henry Hyde now Earl of Clarendon Sir Rowland Bellasis Brother to Viscount Faulconberg Sir Henry Capell Sir Iohn Vaughan now eldest Son to the Earl of Carbery Sir Charles Stanley Grandchild to the late Earl of Derby Sir Francis Fane Sir Henry Fane Grandchildren to the Earl of Westmoreland Sir William Portman Baronet Sir Richard Temple Baronet Sir William Ducy Baronet Sir Thomas Trevor Baronet Sir Iohn Scudamore Baronet Sir William Gardiner Baronet Sir Charles Cornwallis afterwards Lord Cornwallis Sir Iohn Nicholas Sir Iohn Monson Sir Bourcher VVray Sir Iohn Coventry Sir Edward Hungerford Sir Iohn Knevett Sir Philip Boteler Sir Adrian Scroop Sir Richard Knightley Sir Henry Heron. Sir Iohn Lewkenor Sir George Brown Sir William Tyrringhum Sir Francis Godolphin Sir Edward Baynton Sir Greville Verney Sir Edward Harley Sir Edward VValpool Sir Francis Popham Sir Edward VVise. Sir Christopher Calthrop Sir Richard Edgcombe Sir William Bromley Sir Thomas Bridges Sir Thomas Fanshaw Sir Iohn Denham Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Iames Altham Sir Thomas VVendy Sir Iohn Bramston Sir George Freeman Sir Nicholas Slaning Sir Richard Ingoldsby Sir Iohn Rolle Sir Edward Heath Sir William Morley Sir Iohn Bennet Sir Hugh Smith Sir Simon Leech Sir Henry Chester Sir Robert Atkyns now one of the Justices of the Common Pleas. Sir Robert Gayre Sir Richard Powle Sir Hugh Ducy Sir Stephen Hales Sir Ralph Bash. Sir Thomas VVhitmore OF Knights Batchelors With what is incident to that Degree of KNIGHTHOOD According to the Laws of England CHAP. XXI THE particular kinds of Services by which Lands of Inheritance are distinguished are two viz. Knights of Service and Knights of Soccage And in ancient time Tenure by Knights Service was called Regale servitiâ—m because it was done to and for the King and Realm and forinsecum servitium as appeareth in the 19 Edw. 2. Avowry 224. 26. Ass. p. 66. 7. Hen. 4. 19. Coke's seventh Part 8. a. Calvin's case because they who hold by Escuage ought to do and perform their Services out of the Realm Litt. 35. ideo forinsecum dici potest sit quia capitur foris hujusmodi servitia persolvuntur ratione Tenementorum non Personarum And as Knights-Service-Land requireth the service of the Tenant in Warfare and Battel abroad so Soccage-Tenure commandeth the attendance at the Plough the one by Manhood defending the King or his Lord's life and person the other by industry maintaining with Rents Corn and Victuals his Estate and Family For Kings did thus order their own Lands and Tenements one part they kept and detained in their own hands and in them stately Houses and Castles were erected and made for their habitations and defence of their Persons and of the Realm also Forests and Parks were there made for their Majesties Recreation One other part thereof was given to the Nobles and others of their Chivalry reserving Tenure by Knights Service The third part was bestowed upon men of meaner condition and quality with reservation of Soccage-Tenure And in this manner the Dukes and Nobles amongst their Menials and Followers dissipated a great part of their Lands viz. to their Gentlemen of quality to hold by Knights Service and to other of meaner condition by Soccage-Tenure The Right Honourable S. Ioseph Williams on of Milbeck hall in Cumberland Knight one of his Majestys principall Secretarys of State c a. The Honourable Sr. Robert Atkins of Totteridge in Hertford shire and of Sapperton in Glocester shire Knight of the Bath and one of his matys Iustices of the ComÌ„on pleas c a. Sr. Iohn Bennet of Dawly in Midd sx Kt. of the honble order of the Bath Leivtenant to his maties Band of Gentlemen Pentioners and eldest brother to the Rt. honble Henry Earle of Arlington who was first maried to Elizabeth Countess of Mulgrave daughter to the Earle of Midd sx and now to Bridget Howe of the Family of Sr. Grubham Howe Sr. Robert Southwell Knight one of the Clerkes attending his Majesty King Charles the Second in his most Honourable privy Councell câ—t Sr. Hugh Wyndham of Silton in Dorsetshire Kt. one of the Iustices of his matys Court of Comon pleas at Westminster eighth sonn of S. Iohn Wyndham of Orchard-Wyndham in Somersetshire Kt who was lineally descended from the antient Family of the Wyndhams of Felbrigg in Norfolk â—ownâ—r therâ—of Sr. Thomas Daniell of Beswick in the East Rideing of Yorkshire Kt. Major to his matys Regiment of Foot Guards and Captaine of his matys Archchiffe Fort in Dover Sr. Thomas Mompessonâ— antiently Montpintsonâ— of Bathampton in Wiltshire Knight a person of eminent Loyalty and suffering in the late trouble whose Family have been of greate antiquity in the said County Sr. Thomas Lynch of Great Sonkey in Lancashire Kt. one of the Gentlemen of his matyâ— privy Chamber in ordinary and late Governour of his Ma â—â—â— Island of Jamaica decended of the Lincâ—â—s of Groves in Kent and is now maried to Vere Herbert 2â— daughter of Sr. Edw Herbert sometyme Lord Keeper of the groâ—t seaâ—e Sr. William Pelham of Brocklesby in Lincolnshire Kt. whose Grandfatâ—er Sr. William Pelham of the said place Kt. who was descended of the antient family of the Pelhams of Langhtoniâ—â— sussex was employed under Queen Eliz in the offices of L d cheife Justice of Ireland Marshall of the English forces sentinto the Low Countrys Mastâ—â— of her ordnanceâ— and one of her privy Councell Sr Thomas Daviâ—s of the Citty of London Knight Ld. Maior thereof Anno 1677. Sr. William Prichard of the Citty of London Kt. and Alderman now maried to Sarah daughter of Francis
the Desert after the Example of St. Anthony the Hermit and Patron of this Empire and bestowed upon these Knights great Revenues and many Priviledges And thus being instituted they received the Rule of St. Basil submitted to his Constitutions wore a black Garment and for their Ensign a blew Cross in form of the Letter T. Their chief Seat was in the Isle of Meroe where the Abbots both Spiritual and Temporal resided but in many other parts of AEthiopia they have or had great store of Monasteries and Convents with about two Millions of yearly Revenue These Knights vow to defend the Christian Religion to yield Obedience to their Superiors to observe Conjugal Chastity not to Marry or receive any other holy Orders without licence first obtained from the Abbot to guard the Confines of the Empire and to go to War when and where they are commanded Into this Order the eldest Sons of Noblemen or Gentlemen cannot be admitted but the second Sons may And if a man of any degree whatsoever except a Physician have three Sons he is bound to enter one of them into this Order Knights of the Burgundian Cross in Tunis MVlleasses King of Tunis who was driven out of his Kingdom by Barbarossa that noted Pirate was again in Anno 1535. restored thereunto by the assistance of Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany and King of Spain And being desirous to gain the love of all those that had served in that War did as a reward confer this honour of Knighood upon all those Commanders that valiantly behaved themselves in his Service The Ensign that he assigned them was the Burgundian Cross to which was added a Steel striking Sparks of Fire out of Flint with this Inscription BARBARIA which third Badge hung to a Collar of Gold KNIGHTS OF THE West-Indies PErsons that performed valiant Acts in War were by the Mexicans advanced to Honour and had sundry Priviledges granted them insomuch that their chief Nobility sprang from the Camp And Montezuma was so high a Favourer of Knighthood that he ordained divers Orders which he distinguished by several Ensigns The principal Degree of these Knights were those that had the crown of their Hair tied with a small red Ribon with a rich Plume of Feathers from which hung so many Branches and Rolls of Feathers upon their Shoulders as they had performed worthy Exploits in War And these were termed Eagle Knights of which Order the King was the Supream The Order of the Knights of the Lions and Tigers were the most valiant in War and always bore with them their Badges and Armorial Ensigns and went to the War as did the Eagle Knights armed Cap-a-pe The Order of the Grey Knights had their Hair cut round about their Ears were not so much honoured as the former and when they went to Wars were armed but to the middle All these Degrees of Knights had their Apartments in the King's Palace which were distinguished by their several Ensigns And amongst the honourable Priviledges that they enjoyed they might carry Gold and Silver wear rich Cotton and Shoes after their fashion and use painted and guilt Vessels all which were prohibited the common people The Order of Knighthood of the Blood Royal in Peru were of great esteem for their approved Valour for before they could be admitted into the said Degree their Manhood was sufficiently tried as in managing the Dart Lance and other Military Exercises also in Leaping Wrestling Running Shooting c. in all which if they were not very expert they were thought unworthy to receive so great an Honour But being found worthy to be admitted divers Ceremonies were used at their Creation as putting on them fine Shoes and Breeches boreing of holes in their Ears giving them an Ax and adorning their Heads with Flowers c. all which was forbidden the common people And the Peruvian Lords at their solemn Feasts at Cusco used to dedicate their Children to Honour adorning them with Ensigns making holes in their Ears and anoynting their Faces with Blood in token that they should be true Knights to the Ingua The Knights of Cinaloa which is a Province near New Mexico were created by giving them a Bow and ordering them to encounter a Lion or some other savage Beast which if they slew they were received into favour and Honour The Rt. Honourble Henry Coventry Esq his matys principall Secretary of State c a. son tâ— the Rt. Honourble Thomas Lord Coventry Lord Keeper of ye. Great Seale of England The Honourble Iohn Hervey of Ickworth in Suffolke Esq. â— Treasurer to ye. Queens maty The honble William Ashburnham of Ashburnham in ye. County of Sussex Esq. Cofferer to his maty King Charles the 2d. William Wharton Esq. Fourth son to yâ—e Rt. honble Phillip Lord Wharton of Wharton in Westmoreland by Ann Daughter to 〈◊〉 â—am Carr of Fernihast in Scotland Esq. 〈◊〉 of ye. Groomes of ye. Bedchamber to King Iames. SAMVEL GRANT of Crundall in Hantshire Esq. one of the society of the Inner Temple London Esq. â—ender Molesworth of Spring Garden in the parish of St. Katherines in the Island of Jamaica Esq. one of his matys Councell 〈◊〉 the Sd. Isle second son of Hender Molesworth of Pencarrow in Cornwall Esâ—abque who was lineally descended from Sr. Walter de Molesworth of Northamptonshire who flourished in Marshall proess in the dayes of King Edw. the first went wth him to the holy warrs GEORGE LEGGE Esq. Governor of â—ortsmouth master of the Horse to his Royall Highness Iames Duke of Yorke Leiutenant of his matys Forest of Alce holt Woolmer in Hantshire one of the Deputy Leiutenant of the Sd. County Comander of his matys Shipp yeâ—â—yall Katherine one of the principall Officers of his matys Ordnance THOMAS FEJLD of Stanstead Bury in the County of Hertford Esq now maried to Mary eldest daughter of Sr. Thomas Byde of Ware park in the Said County Kt. Humfrey Wiâ—â—ley of the Jâ—â—ter Tâ—mplâ— Esq one of the Prothonotarâ—â—s of his maties Court of Common â—leaâ— at Westminster fift son of Humfrey Wâ—â—rley Esq of Hâ—msted hall in the County of Stafford by Knightley his Wife â—OGER TWâ—SDEN Esq eldest son of S â— Thomas Twisden of Bradborne in thâ— parish of East Malling in Kent Kt. Baâ—â—â— one of the Justices of his matys Court of Kings Bench EDWARD THVRLAND Esq only son of Sr. Edward Thurland of Râ—ygate in the County of Surrey Kt. one of the Barons of his matys Court of Exchequer EDWARD ROBERTS of the Citty of Dublin in the Kingdome of Ireland Esq now Maried to Alce daughter of Edw Chute of SurrendeÌ„ in the Weld of Kent Esq 〈◊〉 much Honoured Daniel Fleming of 〈…〉 in Cumberland of Rydal hall in 〈…〉 and Esq of which family Surname there 〈…〉 Lords of ye. maner of Bâ—ckermet of 〈…〉 bâ—en Kts all ye. rest that then weddâ—d 〈…〉 ye. Daughters of Baronetsâ— or Knighâ—â—â— â—â—â—â—ill Skelton eldest sonn of Sr. Iohn Skelton 〈◊〉 Leiutenant