make alienation without licence 50. E. 3 c. 10. he is onely to make a fine by the Statute For authoritie Glanvill saith Mag. Char. cap 31. Glanv l. 7. cap. 1. Notandum est quod nec Episcopus nec Abbas quia corum Baroniae sunt de Eleemosina Regis non possunt de Dominicis suis aliquam partem dare ad remanenciam sine assensu consensu Domini Regis In 20. E. 3. certaine land being parcell of the Baronie of Brenbur was aliened by W. de Bruce 20. Ass 1 8 20 E. 3. Ass 122. 224. the Baron thereof without licence and in the argument of a Case concerning the same Greene said that parcell of a Baronie c. held in chiefe cannot bee aliened without his Licence Againe 46. E. 3. it was found by Office that W. Bishop of Chester had Leased for life to Io. Peston a Mannor 46. E. 3. Forf 18. parcell of the Baronie without Licence and resolved that it was forfeited but by mediation of the said Counsell the Bishop submitted and made a fine and severall Scire faec issued against the perceptors of the profits to answer the King Distinct 2. Thus much of Alienation without Licence But of the other part if a Baron by tenure doth aliene by Licence wee must distinguish for it is either made for the continuance of his Barony c. or else for some other consideration That if any such Alienation be made for the continuance of the Barony in the name then have the issue male with the Castle c. retained the Dignitie of a Baron and hereof have the Heires generall or next Heires females beene excluded And for proofe of this assertion many antient Presidents may be produced seeing they have happened almost in every age for three hundred yeares space of which some certaine doe ensue Barony of Grooby in Com. Leycest Willielm dr Ferariis Co. Derbie obiit anno 38. H. 3 Margaret Com. Derb Domina deGrooby Robeitus de Ferariis Comes de Derbie VVil De Ferariis Dom De Grooby ex Do. Mris Iohannes de Ferariis Dominus de Cartley VVill. de Ferariis Do. Minus de Grooby It appeareth by an Office found after the death of William de Ferarijs Lord of Grooby 23 H. 6. that Margaret Lady of Grooby gave to William Ferarijs her second sonne in taile the Mannor of Grooby by vertue whereof hee and his Heires wee Barons of Grooby The Barony of Kelpâ—cke Com Hereof Temp. E. 1. VVillelm Baro de Kelpecke Rob. VVallero Baro de Kel obit si neprodâ—â— F. 1 Alicca Nuptal Laynec VVilielmus VValleion Aâ—anus â— Laynet Baro de Kelp ra io Don. Robertus VValleron Prox Hae-res Robertus Walleron Baron of Kelpecke died 1. E. 1. without heire of his body and Robert Sonne of William Brother of the said Robert was his next Heire yet he gave to Allen Playnell the Lordship of Kelpecke c. in taile by force whereof he was Baron and summoned to the Parliament and he died Anno 27. E. 1. The Barony of Plankenoy in Com. Lincolne Temp. E. 2. Iohn Dreyn court tam Dâ—eâ—n court Baâ—on of Blaâ—knoy obiit â—o E. 2 VV. Dreyne ba. of Blank â—ntayled o-biit 38. E. 3 Iohn Dreyn-court Edmond Dreyncourt VVillielm Dreyncourt obiit ante â—atrem Isabell his next heire VVilliam Dreyncourt baron of Blanknoy The King to all Pat. Anno 10 E. 2. part 2. num 13. c. greeting Know yee that whereas lately our welbeloved Edm. Dreincourt considered that both his sirname and also his Armes after his death in the person of Isabel Dreincourt should bee quite blotted out of memory most earnestly desired c. To whose request in consideration of service to our Father and our selfe by our Letters Patents do grant so much as in us lyeth to the said Edm. to dispose to whom hee pleaseth By vertue whereof he gave them to William sonne of John Dreincourt in taile Esch 22. E. 3. Sâ—m Parl. 7. E. 3. Claus dors part 25. the said Edm. died ult Ed 2. tempore E. 3. William was summoned to the Parliament by vertue of that gift till his death which was Anno 38. E. 3. The Barony of Holgate Com. Salop. Philip Barnell baron of Holgate Edward Barnell baron of Holgate Iohn Lovell â—he first Husband Maude Barnell heire to her brother Iohn Hand-lowe the scond hus-band Iohn Lord Lovell Nicholas Handlowe Baron of Holgate Iohn Lord Lovell Hugh Handlowe alias Bunnell Baron of Holgate Iocosa Vxor Thoâ—nae Ed-dington Margery uxor Ed-wardi Hungerford Paterina ux-or Iohannis Talbot It appeareth by divers officers in the time of Ed. the third that Iohn Handlowe in the right of Maude his wife was seized of the Mannor of Holgate Acton Burnell c. for life the remainder to Nic. Handlowe alias Burnell sonne of the said Maude and Iohn by a fine in Court And that Iohn Lovell was next heire of the said Maude and her first borne sonne by her first Husband And afterwards the said Nicholas was summoned among the Barons of this Realme to the Parliament by reason of the fine aforesaid And not the said Iohn Lovell that was next heire Thomas de Beauchampe Esch Anno 43. Ed 3. the elder Earle of WarWicke by a fine levyed 18. E. 3. intayled the Mannor and Castle of Warw. with divers other possessions to himselfe for terme of his life the Remainder thereof to Guy his eldest sonne and to the heires males of his body issuing and for want of such Heires the Remainder to come to Tho. Beauchampe brother to the aforesaid Guy and to the Heires males of his body c. And after the said Guy died without Heires males of his body leaving two Daughters and Heires living Afterward the said Earle died and the said Thom. the sonne entered into the Castle and Mannor aforesaid with other the premisses and was E. of Warw. by reason of the intaile aforesaid notwithstanding that Katherine Daughter of Guy next heire to the said Tho. the elder was living thirty yeeres after his death Richard Earle of Arundell by a fine levied 21. Ed. 3. intayled the Castle towne Esch Anno 9. H. 5. c. of Arund to him and the Heires males of the body of Elinor his wife by vertue whereof Iohn Matravers was E. of Arun. after the death of Tho. the Earle who died without issue male although his Sisters possessed divers lands whereof he died seized in fee. Thomas the elder Lord Barkeley Esch 5. H. 5. was seized in Fee of the Castle of Barkely and mannor c. And by a fine levied in 23. E. 3. he intayled the said Castle c. to himselfe for life the Remainder to Maurice his sonne in taile with other Remainder as before which said Maurice had issue Tho. Lord Barkley and Sir Iohn which Iohn died in the life of his Brother leaving James his Sonne and heire living after the said Tho. died 5. H. 5.
the said Milliscent were allotted the Castle of Totnes in Devon c. Eyton in the County of Bedford and Farringworth c. with divers other lands The said Iohn came to full age the first Iohn Hastings Baton of Aberg 11. E. 1. and did his homage and had his Livery as appeareth by Record but by the same Record appeareth that the Barony of Hastings was never redeemed according to the Edict Kellenworth but granted to Peter de Sabandia Claus 11. E. 1. Mem. 6. as aforesaid This Iohn did lawfully beare the Title of Lord Abergavenny by this partition The said John being one of the Competitors for the Crowne of Scotland with the rest submitted himselfe 19. E. 1. to the determination of the said King as Supreame Lord of Scotland which Commission was framed in these words A tout crus In magno Rot. ScaÌ„r c. Florence Comit. de Holland Robert de Bruse seigneur de Vasdaum Io. Balioll Seigneur de Badenaw Patrick de Dumbar Comite de la March Ia. de Vascye pur son pier Nich de Seules Gulielm de Rosse Salus en dieu cum nous entendomus daver droit en Roylme de Escoce cel duel jure chalenger avouer devant ceoque pluis de pouer jurisdiction reason eist de trier nostre droit Et le noble Prince Seig. Edward c. nous syant enforme per bo sufficient reasonque a luy come aver droit Soveraigne SuÌ„r seÌ„ du dit Roylme de Escoce la Conusance d'oyer trier determin nostre droit nous ne nostre volunt sans nul maner de force ou distresse de droit devant luy come Soveraigne SuÌ„r de la terre c. l'an de grace 1291. There was another like writing whereby these competitors doe yeeld some of the Kingdome of Scotland unto the said E. 1. untill he should determine the controversie After the sentence given by E. 1. for John Balioll who afterwards adhered to the French against England Whereupon Ed. 1. prosecuting war against Scotland the Pope intermedling a Parliament was proclaimed to be held at Lincolne 29. E. 1. where it wass agreed that the King should write to the Pope touching his right to that Crowne and the wrong offered him And that the Nobility should write that they neither could nor ought to suffer Nota that the King of England should referre the same to the Popes sentence they subscribing their names and titles of Honour among which was the said Iohn Hastings name in this manner Iohannes Dominus de Aburgavenny In 16. E. 1. the King purposing to go to France Ex Rot. mal 17. E 1. in dors charged the Lords Marchers of Wales to be resident upon their Baronies fearing the invasion of the Welch and Anno 17. in the Rebellion of Rise ap Meredocke the King being in France directeth his Writ unto the said Marchers under the Test Edmundi fratris sui And among other the Barons there named as Ed. de Mortimer Roger Mortimer Pet. Corbet Roger le Strange Fulk Fitzwarren Galfrid de Canmyl William Mortimer Guy de Brian Iohn de Hastings Ra. de Tony William de Bruse Iohn Tregouse Bogok Nevill Ric. Fiz-Allen Io. Fitz-Reginald and all Barons Marchers Againe 20. E. 1. When therer was a great quarrell between Gilbert de Clare 20. E. 1.14 in recept Scacar Earle of Gloucester and Hereford and Humfrey de Bohum late E. of Hereford and Essex whereupon murders c. had beene committed in their lands in Brecnocke A Commission was awarded to the Bishop of Ely William de Valence the Kings vncle Io. de Mettingham one of the Iudges and unto Robert de Hereford to heare and determine the same In which Commission the said Iohn Hastings was one In which the Commissioners would have had the said Barons to have beene sworne to make presentment thereof which they refused standing upon their priviledge and therfore the Enquest was impannelled of others P. 23. E. 1. The said Iohn was summoned ot the Parliament Som. Parliamen Anno 24. E. 1. Som. Parl. a. 35. E. 1. which was to be holden the Sunday next after the feast of St. Martin as also to a Parliament at Carlile 35. E. 1. It will be objected that Iohn his father was summoned in 49. H. 3. and therfore in regard thereof and not in respect of this Barony was this Iohn summoned It is true that Henry Hastings was summoned it 49. H 3. he was Captaine of the Caste of Killingworth Respon and held it against the King and beheaded the Kings Messenger sent unto him for the which fact was the said imprisonment before spoken of Ed. Kenel act 34. Cron. Holens And the Barony of Hastings descended not to the said John Therfore in the letters to the Pope and in his claime to Scotland he writeth himselfe Iohannes Hastings c. and not Dominus Hastings which if that title had belonged to him he had expressed it Object 2 That he used the Title of Dominus Abergav as Dominus Proprietarius and not as Dominus Honorarius The same may be said of the other Competitor and the Letters to the Pope which were ridiculous In the Summons 23. E. 1. â—e is named Io. Hastings Mil. and not Iohannes Dominus Hastings therefore Respon c. Object 3 They used not then to expresse the place except for distinction Now to the Descent THis Iolin died Continuance of the descent 6. E. 2. having issue Iohn who died 18 E. 2. And in the Diem eligit extremum he is stiled Johannes Hastings Dominus de Abergav and Earle of Pembrooke tempore E. 3. he died 12. E. 3. having issue Iohn his Heire Ex bundel Esc 18. E. 2. Earle of Pembrooke and Lord of Abergav who died 49. E. 3. having issue Iohn Earle of Pembrooke c. who died by reason of a wound received at a Just at Woodstocke about 13. R. 2. he was the last of that name Baron of Aburgavenny The Family of Beauchampe Lord Aburgavenny AFter the death of the said Iohn Peauchamp Lord of Aberg Reginald Gray Lord Richyn Sonne of Elizabeth Sister of the said Iohn the great Grandfather of him that last died claimed this Barony and thereof had Livery And thereupon grew a contention concerning the bearing of the Armes of Hastings without difference betweene the Lo. Gray of the whole blood and Sir Edward Hastings of the halfe blood which was adjudged for the Lord Gray in the Earle Marshalls Court A like contention was betweene the Lord Gray and William Beauchampe third sonne of Thomas the elder Earle of Warwicke who claimed this Barony against the said Lord Gray by vertue of an intaile from the said John the elder which proved and upon Composition the said Reginald 15. R. 2. levied a Fine to M. 15. R. 2 recordat Term. H. prox c. whereby he acknowledged the right of the said Castle to the use of the said William Beauchampe as by an old Msss remaining with the Earle of Kent may appeare Vid. the Earle of Kents booke as also by a partition of the said Lands FINIS
A TREATISE OF THE NOBILITIE Of the Realme COLLECTED OVT OF THE BODY Of the Common Law with mention of such Statutes as are incidet hereunto upon a debate of the Barony of Aburgavenny With a Table of the heads contained in this Treatise LONDON Printed by A.N. for Mathow Walbanke and Richard Best and are to be sold at their shops at Grayes-Inne gate 1642. The Table OF Barons Page 3. The definition and description of a Baron Page 37 Of the name Baron Page 40 The Antiquitie of the Dignitie of Barons and the uses of the Name Page 43 If a Baron by Tenure grant the Honour holden by Barony whether shall the Grantee have the Dignity or otherwise Page 68 Certaine Cases wherein a Baron hath no priviledge Page 127 Noblitie and Lords in reputation onely Page 131 Noble Women Page 132 Honourable Women of three sorts Ibid. â—adyes in Reputation Page 140 The Hypothesis or particular question Page 143 The Barony of Aburgavenny a Barony by Tenure and an ancient Honour Page 145 The Line of the Hastings owners of the Castle of and Barons of Aburgavenny Page 149 The Descent Page 156 The family of Beauchampe L. Aburgavenny Ibid. A Treatise of the Nobilitie of the Realme according to the Law Question Whether the Barony of Aburgavenny with the title and dignitie be descended unto the Lady being the Daughter and Heire of the Honourable Hen. Nevill the late Baron of Aburgavenny or unto the speciall heire male unto whom the Castle of Aburg being antiently the head of hat Barony is descended WHerein are three things considerable 1. First this generall Thesis whether within the Realme of England there be any Baronies by Tenure And whether Baronia sit dignitas annexa â—odo vizt whether the heire male haâ—ing the Castle holden per Baroniam shall have the title or the heire generall which hath not the Castle 2. The second is Hypothesis whether by former presidents it may be shewed that this Barony of Aburg hath beene guided by the lawfull descent of the Castle of Aburgavenny or whether the same hath gone to the heires generals sundred from the Castle 3. The third is that it is not to bee doubted whether the dignitie of Baron may descend to the heire female for where such Castles is holden per Baroniam and doth descend unto the heire female There likewise the title c. as in many Noble houses of this Realme is most evident but The Question is whether the title of Baron or Baronesse may descend to the heire female whereas that fee holden by Barony is descended to the Heire male or no and whether the fee to support the dignitie may bee severed from the dignitie A Treatise of the Barons of this Realme IT is true of Vlpian Publicè interest quod ordinum familiarumque solva sit Lib. O sed si F. de ventre inspiciend Baldwin in la sacraledge divinis rescript Ante Nobilit cap. 6. Which duly considered is cause that the speciall heire male of the late Baron deceased without any affection of honour or humour of ambition desireth to make knowne what things former times observed hee hath now found to have been considered in such like Quaeries Neverthelesse with all humility and loyall dutie hee submitteth himselfe to the princely pleasure of the Queenes most excellent Majestie â—n whom is the fountaine of all Nobilitie and unto the censure of the right Honourable the Earle Marshall of England unto whom the jurisdiction and Cognisance of the same cause by office appertaineth But before proofe be produced 1. By what law this Quer. is to be determined it shall not bee amisse to consider two principall things what manner of proofe in these causes is most pregnant and by what law this controversie might best bee determined 3. 2. Touching the state ofour Bâ—renies Some things are requisite to bee delivered before in generall manner touching the state of the Baronies within the Realme whereby the Querie in hand may be the better apprehended and receive the more easie resolution As touching the first it is to bee observed that the dignity of a Baron and that name given to a degree of Nobilitie was not usuall any where untill neere the declination of the Rom. Monarchy and therefore those parts of the civill Law which containe the ancient Roman lawes doe affoord small proofe of the deciding of this kind of controversie otherwise then prechance now and then there are inserted some generall sentences or axiomes of the law of nature which may be particularly applied as the occasion serveth Therefore in those times upon the sundry invasions of those Northerne people Goths Vandalls which hastened the ruine of the Romane estate when Tenures and it which they call Feuda had their first originall divers new dignities of Nobilitie were devised and drawne from the service of the field whereof some of them formerly had beene but names of Offices as may appeare in the second booke de feudis in the title Quis dicatur dux Marchio c. Hee that would not have the controversies moved within the Realme concerning this kind of Dignities to be deterined by the Common law and yet would that the common custome of our Countrey should direct the same speakes in my understanding contrary things for it is a generall Maxime 7. H. 6. Martin 9. Ed. 4. 38 H. 8. Custom B. 59 that the Common custome of the Realme is the common law of the Realme Therefore to affirme that the common usage of the Countrey should direct the controversie and to denie that the common Law should determine it is contrary to it selfe That the common Law doth determine this kind of Controversie it cannot seeme strange to him that considereth the generall division whereby the said law is distributed into parts Bracton lib. 1. cap 5. 2 de justo jure Est autem jus publicum jus privatum Jus publicum Bracton disposeth it Est jus quod ad statum Reipub. pertinet consistit in sacris Sacerdotibus Magistris Others give a more large scope to this division Ioachimus Hosp de juris arte lib. 2. de rebus humanis sive de jur ' civil distributing jus publicum into three parts into Jus civile jus fecile jus questortum The first part jus civile though it be the generall name of the whole Law yet in this division thye doe understand thereby that part of the Law wherein consideration of many things are had tending chiefly to the publick good and wherein persons of men are considered diversly Dividumtur quinque formae modis pro loco pro facultate pro ordine pro jure pro dignitate Under that division which is in respect of Order all degrees of persons Noble and ignoble are comprehended and under the division in regard of dignity the Prince Magistrate Pro ordine Officers of all kinds are contained Pro dignitate The consideration therefore of
Likewise the said first rule touching the Nobilitie of Women married unto persons ignoable doth faile where they inherit those dignities For if a Dukedome Earldome or Barony descend unto any woman who taketh an ignoble man to husband that husband shall not debase the wife having such Dignities descended but rather he in her right shall beare the title of such dignities especially if he be intituled by the Courtesie Object 3 A third Object is this It is said that by the law of Chivalry exercised within the Realme if a Baron be created an Earle c. that the heire apparent of such Earle c. shall after such Creation of his Father beare the title of the Barony c. but this is not usuall by the course of the Common law therefore the descent of such Dignities not to be guided by the Common Law The common law doth not disallow any such usage Resolu for it being the custome of the Realme is the law of the Realme Howbeit the Common Law doth put a difference betweene such Heires apparent as carry those Titles lawfully in respect of the usage and such others as have them by Creation or otherwise for such Heire apparent is no Peere of the Realme as those by Creation or such as have the Earldome c upon descent after the death of his Auncestor and therefore as when the Lord Hen. Howard Earle of Surry Son Heire apparent to Thomas Duke of Norfolke An Earle by Nativity was attainted his Triall was by Iury of Knights and Gentlemen not by Barons c. for that hee was an Earle by Nativity which in respect of tryall the Law doth not allow The like tryal chanced to the Lord Gray who 33. H. 8. was in B. K. arraigned of treason and appointed to bee tried by a Jury of Knights and Gentlemen and not by Peeres Causa qua supra but he confessed the Indictment and the Jury were dismissed yet such shall hold precedency of place at Court and in the presence of their Soveraigne as is usuall in that behalfe Obje 4 It is objected fourthly that by the Common law a man may not bee called Lord of that he hath not But by the law of Chivalry a man may bee created Earle of a County having no land therein therefore differ Resol 1 It is true that some particulars of ordinary proceedings in the law doth differ from other proceedings concerning Chivalry and yet their difference is no other then as one hand doth differ from another both are hands and both of one body That part of the law which concemeth purporty doth not allow a man to bee called Lord of that wherein he is no way owner in demesne or seignory but when you draw the law to the consideration of dignity the whole resolution must rest upon the Patent of creation Earle pur autre vie 31. H 6.29 pur Danby wherein the name is appointed at the pleasure of the Soveraigne for one may be Earle during the life of another if the Creation be so But I answer further that it is not true that every Earle must be Earle of a place nor every Earle of a place Earle of a County nor that every Earle of a County hath nothing in that County whereby he is Earle For the better manifestation consider that originally within this Realme Earldome of Counties in the antient English Saxon Governours were not onely dignities of honour but also offices of Justice Vea leg Edgar regis de Consil Lamb. 80. n. 5. for that they did further the administration of Justice in the County whereof they were Earles or Aldermen they likewise had their Deputies under them the Sheriffe an Officer yet containing the name of his substitution in Latine Vicecomes Camden 107. These Earles in recompence of their travailes received a Salary name by the third penny of the profits of the said County which continued long after the Conquest and was inserted as a princely benevolence in the Patent of Creation as by divers antient Charters may appeare which afterward were turned into Pensions H 3. dedit Haberâ—o de burgo 40 pro 3. deno Com. Cant. de quoeund creavit comit habeÌ„d sibi haered de corpore Marger uaeor Alexand. reg Scotiae 13. H 3. in turr Lond. 33 H. 6.29.6 H. 8. Dy. 2. for the better maintenace of that honour and as appeareth by a booke case upon the pleading of the Patent whereby H. 6. Created that worthy Knight Sir John Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury which Pension is so annexed unto their Dignitie as that by any meanes of alienation it cannot be severed and therefore in respect of such Pensions which were the third part of the profits of the County or other summe in lieu thereof some have not without probabilitie imagined Quod Comites nominabant capiend fisco Regis socij Comites fido participes essent Lamberd c. Of the single Ear. and not Palentine with Engl there have beene principally two kinds but every one of them againe subdivided into severall branches for either they take their names of a place or hold their Title without any place Those that take their names of a place are of two kinds for either the same place is a County which is most usuall or else some other place and no County as a Towne Castle or honour c. of which later sort some are more antient having their originall even from the Conquest or shortly after as the Earledome of Richmond in Yorkshire Clarence in Suff. Arundell in Essex all which had their originall in the time of the Conquerours by donation of those Castles c. The Earledomes of Bath temp H. 7. H. 8. erected in the family where now it remaineth and the Earledome of Bridgewater whereof Sir Giles Dawbeney was Created Earle temp H. 7. Earledomes which have their titles without any place are likewise of two kinds either in respect of office as is the Earle Marshall for it is granted in this or the like manner Officium Comit. Marescal ' Angl ' with further words vizt A.B. c. Comit. Marescallum Angl. creamus ordinamus c. by which it appeares that the very office is an Earledome Earle by birth The second sort are Earles by birth and so are all the Sons of the Kings of England if they have none other dignitie bestowed upon them and therefore it is said that John afterwards King of England in the life-time of his Father H. 2. was called Counte sans terre before he was affied unto Alice the Daughter of the Earle of Morton in France Object 5 A fifth Object is this The law of Chivalry proceedeth not in the accomplishment of a combate in such manner as is performed by the course of the Common law either in the Writ of right by Champion or in the Appeale by person therefore the managing of the causes in Chivalry is not in the common law especially 37. H.
6.36 37. H. 6. forasmuch as our bookes doe acknowledge them to be determined by course of the Civill law It is true Resol that the manner of performance of those severall kinds of Combates is very different and although the combate for Honour or upon the Appeale for treason be performed within England according to the custome of forraigne Nations in some respects although not altogether so that almost every particular Countrey hath a particular manner by meanes whereof some men seeing the difference betwixt those and the ordinary course of observance of Combates for land in the Writ of right or for life in the Appeale of felony have therefore imagined that the proceeding in Combate before the Lord Constable or Lord Marshall in the Appeals of treason or in causes of Honour betwixt such persons Paris de Putio Iohannes de delignatio Iac. de Castilio And. Assiatus Iul. Herret Anthon. Mosseus Cod. lib. 21. gladiatus lege unica Dig lib 9. ad legem aqualiam leg 7. Justus Lipsius de gladiatoribus as by the law may wage the same should be according to the course of the Civill law yet neverthelesse it must been certaine that the Civill law of the Romanes is so farre off from giving any allowance thereto as that it seemeth to forbid it For that law of the Christian Emperour Constantine is most notably alledged to this purpose by most of the learned Doctors of the Civill law that have written De duello the words of which law are these Cruenta spectacula in otio civili domest quiete non placent And that which for disputation sake is alledged to the contrary Si quis in collustratione vel pancratio vel pugiles dum inter se exercenturs alius alium occideret Si quidem in publico certamine alius alium occiderit cessat equalia quia gloriae causa virtutis non injuriae gratia vitetur damnum datum is understood rather of Justs and such like playes de gladiatoribus as were usuall among the Romanes all which were abrogated by this law of Constantine I. de Lignano de Duel a 5. Inlius Ferret de duel n. 20.5 Andr. Ascicus de duâ—ll cap. 4. de legibus Congobard â—it de Monarchijs n. â— Iul. Ferreâ— de duelâ—o 17 â—et Gregor lib. 48. cap 161. n 8. Neverthelesse among these warlike Nations that invaded the Romane Empire this kind of single Combate hath beene againe exercised in divers Kingdomes according to the custome of every severall Countrey Among the Lumbards it was permitted in 19 cases Their weapons being nothing else but the Shield and the Baston And yet of the use or rather abuse therreof the King Katharius seemeth to complaine purposing to have abrogated the some Quia incerti sumus de judicio dei multos audivimus per pugnam sine justa causa suam causaem perders sed propter consuetua gentis nostre Longobardor legem impiam vetare non possumus In the severall Kingdomes of Cicilie in Spaine it hath beene allowed in some Cases Likewise in France by the constitution of Philip le Beau. Anno 1306. Likewise the Emperour Fredericke did permit it in certaine cases expressed in the Treatise De consuetud feodorum in the title De Pace tenenda ejus violatoribus si quis hominem si quis alium si quis Miles c. In some places of Italy the battell hath beene allowed upon lesse occasion De pugn cern cap. 4. in fine of the which Alciatus maketh mention with some detestation Hereof it is evident that the order manner and causes of single Combate are different in divers Countries and every Countrey that people following their owne Customes and usages being their peculiar Law and in this our Realme it was a tryall much more frequented in antient times neere the Conquest then succeeding ages for it is evident by some antient Records and Plea rolls yet extant of King Steven Wager of battell in personall causes H. 2. R. 1. and King Iohn that it was permitted to be waged in personall occasions in cases wherein men now commonly wage their law 37. H. 6. fol 36.37 H. 6. fol. 20. Glan lib. 8. cap 8. Que battalle partee gage en ascun case en vn ' bre de fac Iudgement and therefore in 37. H. 6. and 37. H. 6. fol. 20. Needehams opinions are much more agreeable to the truth where both doe affirme that such waging of battell before the Lord high Constable and Earle Marshall is by the Lawes of this Realme although it bee determined before them and so great a Sympathy is betweene that Court and others of common Justice as that the Judges shall take notice of the proceedings before the Lord Constable and Earle Marshall upon occasion offered rising in debate before them Object 6 The sixth Objection is this The common Law in the trials of matters in sentence doth proceed by a Jury of 12. but the law of Chivalry in the triall of matters in fact concerning Honour and ARmes proceedeth upon examination of witnesses which is according to the course of the civill Law therefore matters of Honour are to bee determined by the civill not common Law I the tryall of matters in fact Resolu the common law doth not alwayes proceed by a Jury for although they most properly lye in the Conusance of the Jury 8. Ed â—â— triall 94. 9 Ed 2. Iudg meÌ„t 231. yet in other matters the Law hath ordained some other manner of tryall as they gage others by Witnesses as if a Wife bring a Writ of Dower supposing her Husband to bee dead and the tenant saith that he is alive whereupon they arer at issue this shall be tried by Witnesses only and not by Jury 33. H. 6.9 35. H. 6.47 So likewise if land be recovered by default and after brings a Writ of discript for that hee was not lawfully summoned in the former action upon which they are at issue 13. Ed. 1.36.37 13. H 7. vill 43.47 H. 3 15. Ed 2. Coron 385. Vill. 3â— 19 H. 6.32 this shall be tried by examination and depositions of the summoners c. and not by the Jury In a Write de Nativo habendo whereby the Plaintife claimeth the Defendant to bee his villaine the Defendant saith hee is a freeman and thereupon they are at issue this shall not be tried by a Jury but by Witnesses namely such males as be of the blood and kindred of the Defendant and not otherwise 48. Ed. 3. n. 34. H 2. 46. E. 3. Some matters of tryall in fact are tried by view and inspection of the Court 8. Account 121. not by a Jury as the Nonage of the Plaintife or defendant alledging himselfe to be within the age of twenty one yeares And the like tryall is of a Maykem 21. H. 7 33. 39. E. 3.32 7. H 4.24 38 E. 3 27. 18 E. 4 36. 2 H 4.17 22. H 6.27 wherras in
an Appeale of Maykem the parties bee at issue whether the hurt be a Maykem or no sometimes the Courts of the ordinary of some other Iudge or Officer as in matters spirituall by Certificate thereof from the ordinary c. And concerning matters done beyond the Seas in the Kings Army or concer-cerning Combate for honour armes c. by Certificate of the Lord Constable or Earle Marshall 3 H 6.6 48 E. 3.3 c. whereby appeareth the weakness of the former Argument but in cases usuall the law alloweth the triall by Witnesses without Iury And therefore in the Lord Constable and Earle Marshals Court matter in fact concerning Honour and Armes which lie not in the knowledge of the vulgart sorz the the Common Law grounded upon the best reason would it should be tried by witnesses or matters of Record as the cause shall require and not that the same should be tried by the conscience of the vulgar people 22. Assess pl. 24. being matters whereof they have no knowledge sufficiently to discerne Hitherto have I wandred of purpose to shew that our homebred Law is sufficiently able and ought to trie all causes civil other then Marine such as are rising with the body of the Realme and not in forraigne parts whereby appeared the excellencie of the Common Law which maintaineth the particular jurisdiction of every particular Court. For it is the common Law through the sundry Writs of prohibition which it useth which keepeth every Court within the compasse of his proper sphere and upholdeth the jurisdiction of the Court of the Earle Marshall By that therfore which hath beene said two things may sufficiently appeare First that the Court of the Lord Constable and Earle Marshall have had and now the Earle Marshals Court hath particular jurisdiction originally and primarily to determine matters of controversie concerning Chivalry Dignity Honour Armes and some other things acknowledged to belong to the said Court by the Lawes and Statutes of our Countrey Howbeit by a consequent but not originally some other Courts of ordinary justice may as the case shall require determine likewise such like controversies touching honour c. but not ease or in sua but rather by an adjunct as by this example may appeare If there bee two competitiours of a Barony and during the time that their cause is litigious the one of them is impleaded at the common Law by originall Writ Cap. alz plures in a personall action and thereupon an exigent is awarded whereupon insueth an Outlary the party outlwaed brings a Writ of errour and assigneth for errour that hee having such a Castle to him descended c. holden per Baroniam whereupon his Ancestours have beene Barons anp he himselfe Baron no Cap. ought to be awarded against him but in very speciall cases onely therefore the outlary erroneous This matter of errour alledged the Court cannot consider without due determination of the title of the Barony wherein if the Court of the Earle Marshall should adjudged one way by any forraigne Law in the same question depending there and the Court of B.R. adjudge another way by the common law of the Realme upon this Writ of errour there would ensue thereof a great confusion and inconveniencie in the Common-wealth which the law will rather eschew then any other mischiefe whatsoever Secondly therefore it doth appeare by the speeches aforesaid that the common law ought to decide this controversie and that both Courts ought to follow one and the same law in as much as the common law is more ample then ordinary reports of Cases in the yeare bookes For whatsoever is not disagreeing from the law of God and is consonant to the lawes of nature and Nations allowed by the customes of our Countrey not disagreable to former presidents answerable to all good learning is the vndoubted common law of the Realme which knowledgeth no other Author but God and nature and whereof the Iuges in all ages have ever thought it honourable to receive all good helpes from every faculty of literature in the ending of difficulties questioned before them The proofe therfore in this controversie to be produced shall be arguments of reason What māner of proofes are to be used in your Controversies allegations of authoritie presidents of time drawne out of Records Histories ouncient Monuments Lawes and customes of our owne countrey and furnished with such other matters of necessary knowledge as may tend to the better explanation It followeth somewhat to speake in generall of the dignitie and degree of a Baron The 2. matters before proposed whereby the Qu. in hand may be the better conceived and be reduced to a more cleere determination which for order sake I will reduce to the consideration of these principall heads 1. The definition or description of a Baron 2. The Etimologie of the name of Baron 3. The antiquitie thereof and the divers vse of the name 4. The division and consideration of the severall Kinds of Barons 5. The determination of certaine Qu. and difficulties tending to the more manifestation of the natures of the severall Kinds of Barons 6. And lastlie a declaration of the divers and sundry priviledges allowed by the lawes of this Realme unto the Barons and Nobilitie of the same wherin the vulgar c. hath no participation Which things being discouered there will be laied open as I doe conceiue a plaine way to the finall conclusion and resolution of the question in hand The definition or description of a Baron IT is a rule of Law that Om nis definitio in jure periculosissima Dig. l. 51. de regulis juris 203. omnis defifinitio Rarum est enim ut non subverti possit And therefore I doe not often see any definition or description of a Baron Baldus thus describeth a Baron Baldus Canotus de sectionibus vt sit quisquis merum mixtumque imperium in aliquo Castro opidove concessione principes habeatur But his seemeth rather particular to some then generall to all and therefore Alciatus vseth these words Nobis alia est sententia quia sciamus et in Germania Andr. Alciatus de duello c. 32. Refer Pet. Greg. in reg jur H. 6. capire 10. et Gallia solum Barones dici quibus super opidorum jurisdictionem haec dignitas specialiter concessa est Some thinke they are those which are meant under the name of Valvasores majores Capitanei In the second booke De feodis de titulo Quis dicatur dux c. And some others would have the dignitie of a Baron to containe every noble dignitie under the Earle Grand de supplenda neglig plator in Sexto Some common Lawyers there are which extoll the dignitie of a Baron before that of the Earles by reason of a subcription to a decretall epistle directed Baronibus Comit. regin Portugal They not considering that in another place in the same decretals it is more orderlie placed
antient Saxon Testament of one Arfrie an Earle which is brought to light by Master Lambert in the description of Mephem in the preambulation of Kent in those times The Thanis were for the most part deemed Noble and held one and the same dignitie as the Barons doe The word Thanis being usuall in that sence not onely among our English Saxons but also with the Scots and Danes as concerning the Scots Hector Poet writeth Malcolmum regem titulo Comitatum honestasse And as touching the Dane the Thanis among them are yet in use as liberi Domini such as are the Barons by this it may appeare that the name of Baron was not usuall amongst the ancient English Saxons for that in the subscription unto the graunts of Kings whereunto with the signe of the X were subscribed the names of all noble personages as well temporall as spirituall the said word Baron cannot bee heard of but in an antient Charter made in the name of Zolpher sometimes King of Mercia unto the Church of Peter-borough having these words Praecipimus quod praedict Monast dona sua sint habenda c. ab omni diminutione exact comitum c. Likewise to this effect have I seene in an old booke belonging to the Monast of West Edg. Rex concilio habito infra basilicum Westm presidente eo cum filio suo Edw. Dunstano Archiepiscopo universis Episc Baronibus suis dictā Ecclesiā de Westm. renovavit Neverthelesse the name of Baron was not much vsed within the Realme untill the Norman Conquest after which it grew very frequent In which time the notable cases c. of the Realme were debated before him and his Barons and by them adjudged as by divers Monuments extant may appeare Doomes-day in Canterbury whereof one is in this manner in the Record of Doomes-day 21. E. 3.6 Quidam Preposit Brumanus eo tempore R. Edw. coepit consuet de extraneis mercatoribus c. Also 21. Ed. 1. doth set forth by exemplification an act of Parliament made in a cause between the Abbot of Saint Edmondsbury and Arfast sometimes Bishop of Thetford which See was afterwards translated by Herbert to Norwich concerning the Visitation of the said Monasterie which Parliament was holden by the said King the Archbishop of Cant Barkshire and all other the Bishops Earles c. appeareth Moreover in the Record of Doomes-day in the description of Donesh is declared that at the time of the said Record there were at Warham of certaine Barons lands twenty houses standing and seventy destroyed by which appeareth that both name and dignitie of a Baron was sufficiently knowne in the time of the Conquest and as touching the vse of the name the word Baron seemeth to be frequented among the Norman Conqu of this Realme In lieu of the word Thane among the Saxons for as they in a large signification did sometime use the same to the sence c. of a free man borne of free parentage c. and so did the Normans vse it and therefore called their free Citizens of their best esteemed Cities and Burgesses c. by the name of Barons Bracton 272. and therfore the Citizens of London were called Barons Lond. in divers auntient Monuments of whom also Bracton writeth Per Barones Lond. c. So also there are diverse Charters wherin mention is made of such like Barons as the Barons of Warw. in Dooms-day and in our time the Burgesses of the five ports are called Barons and divers of the Nobility of Barons as well spirituall as temporall did in antient time set in the Exchequer in judicature Moreover as our Saxons had two kinds of Thanis Fleta lib. 2. cap. 24. the judges of that Court have been from antient times and yet are called Barons of the Exchequer the like hath been observed of Barons among the Norman Conqu for the Kings of this Realme have had their immediate Barons being the Peeres of this Realme so certaine other Noblemen especially the Earle Palatine and Earle Marchers whose Counties have confined upon the coasts of the enemie have had under them a kind of Barons as namely under the County Palatine of Chester were these Barons the Barons of Hatton Monbatte Mulbanke Shipbrooke Malpas Masy Kingderston Stockport c. The Earle-dome of Pembrooke being first erected by Arnulphus Mountgomery 7 H. 6.35 17. E. 3. inter placita 18. E. 2. Assis 30. Camois that conquered some part of the County and therefore the Earle thereof being an Earle Marcher had also under him his Barons for it appeareth by the Parliament rolles 18. E. 3. that the Baronies of Haverford Cammois Rochie and Castlegoton were antiently belonging to the Iurisdiction of the Earledome of Pembrooke and had their Chancery and Scals as other Barons upon the Marches vsed to have Hereof also it followed not onely in this Realme but also else-where that Earles had under them such as they called their Barons who held under them lands in Knights service and in the defence of their Lords and therefore in the Register of the Monast of Saint Iames of Northampton it is found that Simon Ea. of Northampton did get and confirme unto the said Abbey Omnia dona c. quae Barones sui c. infra burgum extra North. illis dederunt Many old Charters also are extant whereby it appeares which now time hath worne out of memory and yet the knowledge thereof serveth to good purpose namely to reconcile the different opinion of some men concerning the law 20. E. 3. Ass 122. for 20. E. 3. Thorpe holdeth opinion that none can hold per Baron but of the King onely and that no subiect can aliene his land to another to hold of such alienor per Baroniam which some Serjeants denyed to the which opinion of Serjeants Wilby and other judges agreed 2. E. 3. Ass 124. Prerog cap 7. Adding further that before the statute of Prerog Regis those that held per Baroniam might aliene some parcell thereof to bee holden by other since which is evident saith he in this that the antient Baronies doe consist most of services which began by occasion of such suites as aforesaid The assertion of both the said Iudges is good law for none can hold per Baroniam but of the K. Qu. c. Monarchs of the Realme And againe it is true that in some kind of feme a man may hold per Baron of a subject but diversis respect ergo distinguendū est None can hold per Baroniam as a Peere of the Realme and in course of perfect Nobilitie but of the Crowne onely For of this Bar. Bracton understandeth when he saith it is the strength of the Realme and these Barons according to the law Senderl are these Capitanei or Valvasor Majores there spoken of for Qui a principe vel ab aliqua potestate de plebe aliquare per feudum vestitus Lib 2. feudall tit
leaving Elizabeth his daughter and heire married to Richard Earle of Warw. after whose death James the Nephew entered into the said Castle Som Parliament 9 H. 5. Esch 5. H. 6. c. and was summoned to the Parliament as Lord Barkley Tho. Lo. de la Ware died seized in taile by reason of a fine levied in the time of his Ancestors of the Baronie de la Ware with divers other lands in other Counties and died 5. H. 6 without issue And Reginald West Knight of the halfe blood was next Heire Som. Parliament An 7. H. 6 by reason of the intaile And was summoned to the Parliament by the name of Regin Lo. de la Ware Knight although Iohn Griffeth was heire of the whole blood Iohn de Vere Esch 9. H 6 20. H. 6. E. of Oxford seized in his demesne as of fee taile to him and to the Heires males of his body issuing of the Honour and County of Oxford with divers other lands Ao. 18. H. 8. died without Heires of his body and his three sisters viz. Elizab. Vrsula and Dorothy were his next heire generall but Iohn De Vere next heire male was E. of Oxford by reason of the said intaile and none of the said three Heires obtained the dignitie William Lord Paget of Bewdsert Esch Anno 11. Eliz. was seized in fee of the Baronies of Longden and Haywood and of and in the Mannors of Bewdsert Longden c. and being so seized by fine 1. Mar. intayled the Mannours and Baronies aforesaid to him and the Heires males of his body issuing and after anno 5. Eliz. died leaving Hen. his Son next heire male which Hen. entred into the Baronies and lands aforesaid by vertue of the aforesaid fine and died thereof seized 11. Eliz. leaving Elizabeth his onely Daughter and heire after whose death Tho. Paget brother and heire male of the said Hen. entred into the Baronies and Mannors aforesaid and was summoned to the Parliament by vertue of the aforesaid fine Robert le Ogle intayled the Mannors of Bothall and Ogle Esch 6. Eliz. with divers other Mannors c. Com. Northumb. to himselfe for life the Remainder to the Heires males of his body and tooke to his first wife Dorothy Witherington by whom he had issue Robert his eldest sonne and Margery his daughter married Gregory Ogle of Chippington and the said Rob. after the death of his first wife married Iohan Ratliffe Brother of the half blood by whom he had issue Cuthbert his second sonne and died after whose death Robt. the Sonne was Lord Ogle and from him to Cuthbert brother of the halfe blood by vertue of the intaile and not vnto Marg. nor Cuthbert her sonne of the whole blood Moreover thirdly 3. Conclusion if a Baron by tenure doth Aliene by Licence to a meere stranger upon consideration or c. if such Alience be nobly descended in such cases after such alienations such Alience hath borne the name and dignitie of a Baron in respect of such Barony so aliened And if he had no Dignity before hee in respect of that hath beene summoned to the Parliament and enjoyed the Barony hereof are Presidents extant Maude Esch 22. Ric. 2. Countesse of Angiers and Northumb. Heire of the Barony of Cockermouth after the death of Lucy her Brother who dyed without issue intailed the honour c. of Cocker-mouth to her selfe and to Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland then her Husband and to the Heires males of their bodyes upon condition that that should beare the Armes of the said Earle which are Armes given Or a Lyon rampant 6. quartered with the Armes of Lucie viz. Gules 3. Lucies argent bearing the said Armes so often as they shall appeare and afterwards viz. 22. R. 2. died without issue Neverthelesse the said Earle and after him the said Hen. Percy his Son were Barons of the said Honour by the said assurance and Sir William Melton Knight Couzen and next Heire of the said Countesse never had the said Armes Amongst the Parents in the Tower Chart patent in 41. H 3. Anno 41. H. 3. it appearth that one Herward de Marisco and Rameta his wife did grant unto Simon de Mountfort then Earle of Leycester the Barony of Elinden in the County of Northampton which descended to the said Rameta from John de Vescount which Graunt seemeth to be with Licence for that the said King doth by his Patent confirme the same and further gave to the said Earle and his Heires divers priviledges there Also Exchange of a Barony this antient Charter following concerning the exchange of a Barony with the King is worthy memory which is K. Iohn ao. 7. granted unto Robert de Newbergh Fordington for the honour of Burstocke in exchange and granted that it should be the head and the chiefe of the Baronship as Burstock was aforetime and that all Knights and others should attend upon him and his lands in Fordington as chiefe of his Baronship as they aforetime were attendant upon Robert Burstock By these Presidents appeareth that Barony by tenure is annexa feodo So that the former questions are fully satisfied and answered viz. 1. That by alienation without Licence the Barony is ferfeited 2. The heires Males have enjoyed them and the Females excluded 3. That the Alience of such a Barony nobly descended is Baron But if such alienation with Licence be made to any person ignoble Nora 1. though the burden of the tenure doth remaine on him for the K. best advantage yet he may not take upon him the Dignitie without the Kings speciall favour upon his merit Upon consideration therefore of these assertions all the former objections are answered and as touching the first it is answered by that which is last specified that an ignoble Alience may challenge nothing as a Baron by tenure In 11. H. 4.2.6 in a Case concerning a Distresse it is agreed that a Baron 11. H. 4.2.6 c. are not contributary for such lands parcell of their Barony but for other lands they are but there is question made if one which is not Baron purchase a Barony whether hee shall be discharged which was not worthy the questioning if such a purchaser challenge by reason of his purchase place in Parliament For as land holden by villein service doth not make the owner a villein which doth purchase the same although by tenure he must doe villein service So land holden by Baron service doth not make the ignoble noble though the charge of such tenure lay upon him Yet if the King will give to any man ignoble in recompence of service any Castle c. to be holden per Baroniam hee is forthwith noble because hee draweth this Nobilitie from the fountaine without other Creation But a question by the way what yeerely revenue is sufficient for a Baron Qu. Diversitie of times hath brought forth divers determinations as touching the French constitution R.
Honour given in respect of wisdome and vertue of him on whom it was first bestowed is not onely a due reverence of him c. while he liveth but also a memorable reward thereof to his posteritie see Tully Cicero pro Sextio Therefore this kind of honour is patrimoniall If infamy of the ancestor be a blot to posteritie as for it the law doth corrupt the blood for the offence of the Ancestor Reason would that the honour due to the Ancestor should be likewise Honour to the posteritie for Contraries doe carrie their contrary in reason For determination whereof it is to be noted that diversitie of reason hath bred diversitie of opinions Some thinke it is not descendable vnlesse the Heire be likewise called by Writ and that then its an inheritance but this is repugnant to the nature of a descent which commonly carieth the patrimony descendable by act in law vpon the death of the ancestors to the heire or not at all Wherefore divers presidents prove that this doth descend and there needs not any word of heire in the Writ of Summons onely there is a speech of a speciall Writ sometimes directed to Sir Henry Bromflet Teste Rege apud West 24 Iun. 27. H 6. when he was called Lo. Vescy by H. 8. in 27. yeere of his raigne wherein there are these words inserted Volumus tamen vos haeredes vestros masculos de corpore vestro legitime exeuntes Barones de Vescye Wherfore it is ever true that the heire of such a Baron when he is called to the Parliament that his descent of honour is thereby established and approved by the gratious Iudgment of our Soveraigne so it is also true that if it shall stand with her highnesse pleasure that such heire shall not be summoned at all for none come to so high a Councell except he be called then that Nobilitie is much impaired and in manner extinguished in the censure of all men for that it had no other originall but by writ of Summons for the which in the Judgement of the supreme Soveraigne he is secluded And thus much as concerning the first Article or point touching the descent in generall of this kind of Baronie As for the second principall Point The second point whether the Barony by Writ may descend to the heire Male it shall not be amisse likewise to view the reasons of each part that by the conflict of Argument the truth may the better be discerned Those which doe maintaine the affirmative part doe reason after this manner Ratio 1. On the affirmative part In reason the sexe of the Heire female ought no more to barre her of the dignitie then the nonage of the Heire male ought to barre him although during his nonage hee be not able to doe the service But as the service of the one is forbearing for the time So the sexe of the other may at all times be supplyed by the maturitie and sufficiencie of her husband Ratio 2. Offices of Honour which doe much import the publike weale being possessed by inheritance to descend to the heire female if there bee no Neeces heire male as the office of high Constable of England which descended unto the Daughter of Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex as afore declared the office of Lord Steward descended unto Blanch Daughter of Henry Earle of Lancaster in whose right Iohn of Gaunt her Husband enjoyed the same The like may be said of the Office of Earle Marshall which descended by an Heire female unto the house of Norfolke All which Offices are as unfit to be exercised by a woman as it is unfit for a woman to bee summoned to the Parliament as a Baron by Writ And yet notwithstanding the Law doth allow the Husband of such a woman to exercise the Office of the one And therefore by the same congruitie of reason such Husband is likewise by law inabled to performe the other Ratio 3. Many Noble houses in England doe support and lawfully beare the Dignitie of Baronage unto them descended by women Renatus Cap nus de dom cap. H. 7. 8. of the which many are by Writ Moreover in France the dignitie to be a Peere of the Realme as Opimus by many examples proveth descendeth to the heire female for want of heire male The dignitie of Nobilitie descendeth likewise in Spaine vnto the female for want of Heire male which custome not being onely currant in our neighbour countries but with vs in an evident proofe in the case in question Ratio 1. on the Negat The adverse part object that the writ of summons c. by which the Baron hath his originall is to call him to be one of the members of that right high assemby of Parliament there to determine life and member plea and right of land c. but these things are convenient onely for the qualitie of men not to the other sexe Ergo it not to descend to the heire female Ratio 2. If it be answered that such heire female be unfit in her owne person yet may she marry one fufficiently able to excecute the same this answer will neither satisfie nor salve the inconvenience for admit she were at age at the death of her Ancestors vnmarried being in her owne choice the great causes of the Realme should be subject to her will in the choise of her Husband which were inconvenient Ratio 3 Thirdly if such husband bee summoned the writ should make meantion thereof for otherwise it may be taken that he was chosen in his owne person and not in her right but such a Summons wherein the wife was mentioned was never seene and if by a generall writ without mentioning his wife hee is thereby made Baron in his owne right Obser 1 Having heard the arguments on both sides place doth now require that we should interpose opinion to compound this controversie This question is somewhat perplexed by different Presidents for some Presidents prove that Baronies by Writ have descended to Heires females whose Husbands have beene called to the Parliament whether in their owne or Wives right it matters not but sure it is that such Marriage gave occasion to the Summons and such Husbands and their posterities beare the dignitie of the wives Ancestors for by this controversie wee purpose not to question the right of such Noble houses Obser 2 Secondly wee must acknowledge that the Qu. is to summon to the Parliament whom she please and therefore whereas Rodulph Lord Cromell being a Baron by Writ died having two Coheires Barony of Cromwell Eliz. married to Sir Thomas Nevill and Ioan the younger to Sir Humfrey Bourchier the said Sir Humphrey was called to the Parliament as Lord Cromwell and not Sir Thomas Nevill who had married the eldest Sister Obser 3 That if a Baron by Writ die his Daughter Sister or other collaterall Heire female being his Heire and that no collaterall Heire
p. 2. whereby Hugh de Burga was made Earle of Kent in the time of H. 3. which was Habend sibi haered suis de corpore Margaret uxoris suae sororis Alexandri Regis Scociae procreat pro defectu talis exitus reman Ricīs haered dicti Hugonis c. The manner of the Solemnitie used in the Creation of Barons by Patent The forme of Creation of a Baron is much after this forme The Baron newly to be Created is presented unto the Queenes Majestie sitting in her Chaire of state After this order he is apparelled In his Surcote with the hood a Baron bearing the mantle before him and two Barons in their Parliament robes on each hand one leading him The principall King at Armes bearing the Patent and the Officers at armes proceeding on before him when they come in presence of her Majestie they make their solemne obeysance three times And the Baron to be Created kneeleth downe before the Chaire of Estate the said King at Armes delivereth the Patent of Creation to the Lord Chamberlaine who humbly presents the same to her Majestie who delivereth the same to the principall Secretary to bee read who reading the same with a loud voyce at the word Creavimus the Baron which carrieth the Mantle presenteth the same to her Majestie who puts it on the new Baron whereby he is Created and then is the Patent read out to the end and delivered to the Queene who delivereth it to the Baron so Created who after most humble thankes given to her Majesty hee riseth up and they depart in like solemne order as they came with the Trumpets sounding before them The particular more full knowledge of these Solemnities I doe referre to the Colledge and Corporation of Heraulds to whom the knowledge of these things doth most specially appertaine For the better explanation of this kind of Dignitie the resolution also of certaine questions shall bee very requisite Quest 1 First if a Nobleman and his Progenitors have for a long time beene called to the Parliament and he a Baron either by tenure or by Writ And have had in regard thereof a place certaine in Parliament if afterwards the same Noble man shall be created a Baron of that Barony and by the same name by Letters Patents whether shall he and his heires retaine his old place in Parliament which he had according to the former dignitie or whether shall he lose his old place and take a new place according to the time of his creation onely The case of the Lord De la Ware received a resolution some what answerable to this Question De laware 11. Rep. Looke fol 1. E. 3 6. The Lord De la Ware 3. E. 6. being in sore displeasure which William West his Nephew and heire who was father to Tho. now Lord De la Ware procured an act of Parliament by the which the said William West was during his naturall life onely cleerely disabled to claime demand or have any manner of right Title or interest by descent remainder or otherwise in or to the Mannors Lands tenents or hereditaments title or dignitie of Tho. Lo. de la Ware his vncle And after the said Tho. Lo. De la Ware died and the said William West in the time of Qu. Mary was attainted of treason by verdict 2. 3 Ph. Mary 5. Eliz. and afterwards pardoned by Q. Mary and after by Parliament in the time of the O. Marestie that now is And after in 8. Eliz. was created Lo. De la Ware by Patent and had place in the Parliament according to his creation For that by the said act of Parliament in the time of E. 6. hee was excluded to challenge the sormer auntient Barony and after died whether the now Lo. De la Ware should take his place according to the Baron by Writ or according to his creation was the question The opinions of the Qu. Councell being her Maiesties Attorny generall and Solliciter were that the acceptance of the new creation by the said William West could not extinguish the antient dignity for he had not that antient Dignitie in him at the time of his Creation but that Dignitie was at the time of his Creation by the Act of E. 6. in abbeyance suspence or consideration of law and he thereby utterly dis-inabled to have the same during his life onely so as his acceptance could not extinguish that dignitie which he then had not nor could conclude his heire who was not disabled by the said act of 3. E. 6. to claime the antient Barony which opinion of theirs was soone allowed by the resolutions of the Lo. cheife Iustice of Engl. and Lord cheife Baron and so signified to the Lord Keeper But this to be noted by the reasons made for the said resolution That if the said Sir William West had beene Baron and intitled Nota. or in possession of the antient dignitie when he accepted the creation the law perchance might have beene otherwise but that remaineth as yet unresolved Quest 2 Secondly it may be questioned whether a Baron called by Patent ought to be named by the name of his dignitie in every Writ to be sued by him or against him The bookes of law doe make difference herein betweene Duke Marquesse 8. H. 6.10 30 H. 8.30 Earle Viscount c. which are allowed names of Dignitie and the Baron for they affirme that such Baron needeth not to be named Lord or Baron by his Writ but the Duke Marquesse Earle or Viscount ought to be named by their Names or Dignities Neverthelesse I doe take these bookes to be understood of the Barony by tenure or Barons by Writ onely for the title of a Baron by Patent in his Letters Patents under Seale adorned and named by the name of Status gradus dignitas and therefore is requisite to be named and such dignities are a parcell of the name of the possessor as well as the Title and Stile of Duke Marquesse Earle Viscount c. And although there may be conceived this difference last mentioned betweene the Baron by tenure or Writ and the Baron by Patent yet they being all members of the higher house of the Parliament they are thereby equally made Noble Honourable and Peeres of the Realme as they are Barons onely without any other distinction that I have observed And thus much concerning the three degrees of Barons within this Realme may suffice to be said in generall upon this occasion for the better understanding and resolution of the controversie in hand The priviledge of Barons There resteth last of all in this Treatise of Baronage that I would expresse some certaine of the sundry priviledges that the Lawes doe allow unto Barons and the Nobilitie of the Realm ingenerall in regard of that favour which all good policy in every wel-governed Common-wealth doth bestow and yeeld to the Noble and Honourable wherein I shall content my selfe onely with certaine of those
priviledges which I find mentioned in the Lawes of this Realme purposely omitting such as either the Civill Common or the lawes of forraigne Countries doe afford referring them to a fit place in an intended Treatise of Nobilitie Priviledge First therefore it is a priviledge that the Peeres and Nobilitie of the Parliament doe enjoy namely to bee tried in the cases of Treason Felony Mag. Char. 29 10. E. 4.6.20 H. 6. cap. 9 and such like by their Peeres The antiquitie and originall of this kind of triall hath as some men doe thinke his ground from the Statute of Magna Charta cap. 29. beginning that Nullus liber homo in these words Nec super eum ibimus nec super eum mittimus nisi per legale judicium Parium suorum But I take it to be more antient Triall by Peeres Where allowable De consuet feudorum as brought into this Realme with the Conquerour being answerable to the Norman and French lawes and agreeable with the customes severall where almost all controversies arising betweene the Soveraigne and his Peeres are tried per judicium Parium suorum This Triall in antient time was very oft had in Parliament as may bee collected by the Statute of 15. E. 3. cap. 6. 15. E. 3. cap. 6. 1. H. 4.1 13 H. 8.11 But neverthelesse the same may as well be performed by Commission under the Lord Steward of Eng. the forme manner and Solemnitie wherof is expressed in the bookes of Law This priviledge hath some restraint as well in regard of the person The restraint of the praviledge as in the manner of proceedings As touching the person First the Archbishops of this Realme although they bee Lords of the Parliament if they bee impeached of such assent as aforesaid shall not be tried by the Peeres of this Realme but by a Jury of other substantiall persons upon their oathes the reason thereof as I can conceive as before remembred 27. H. 8. Br. Inquest 100 Triall 142. Fine 2. Stamf. 153 namely for as much as the Archbishops and Bishops cannot passe in the like cases upon the tryall of any other of the Peeres for that they are prohibited by the Ecclesiasticall lawes to bee judges of life and blood reason would that the other Peeres should not trie them for this triall should be mutuall forasmuch as it is performed upon their Honour without any oath taken Secondly as touching the person 38. H. 6. Br. Treason none but Lords of the Laytie being Lords of the Parliament 38. H 8. Case Leo. Grey en leâ— Con. shall have this kind of Triall And therefore hereout are excluded the eldest Sonne and heire apparent of a Duke in the life of his Father though he be called Earle beare that title Likewise the eldest Sonne and Heire apparent of an Earle though he be onely a Lord or Baron or beare such Title Those that are Barons and of the Nobility of Ireland 19 20. Eliz 36.6 if upon the like offence committed in Engl. if they chance to be apprehended in Engl. they shall not be tried herein by their Peeres For the Lords of the Parliament of England are not their Peeres but the Lords of the Parliament in Ireland And thus much concerning the Restraints of the said priviledges in respect of the person As touching the manner of Proceeding the Nobilitie of this Realme doe injoy the priviledge of triall by their Peeres in Course of Inditement onely 33. H 8. Br. Iurors 48. Triall 142. 10 E. 3.6 Stam 152. which is a kind of proceeding ex officio between the Qu. highnesse and them But in any case of Appeale of felony which is in the suite of the subject they shall not have the same but shall be tried by a Jury of 12. men upon their oathes And thus much concerning this priviledge at this place and upon this occasion may suffice Likewise this priviledge the Nobility of this Realme doe enjoy PrivilegiuÌ„ secundum 48. E. 3.30 48. Assis 6. 35 H. 6.46 22. H. 8.22 Reg. 1 79. 15 Eliz. 315. That they are not so to be inpannelled in any Jury or inquest to make triall or inquiry upon their corporall oathes between partie and partie And if they be impannelled contrary thereunto they may have a writ out of the Chancery repeating this priviledge directed to the Iustices before whom such noble personages are impannelled commanding them to dissmisse him or them that were so impannelled out of the said Pannell This priviledge hath restraint in two cases Restraint 1. first if he inquire concerning the King and CoÌ„mon-wealth in any necessary and important Decrees as businesse of this Realme then this priviledge is not allowed nor taketh place And therefore divers Barons of the Marches of Wales were impaÌ„nelled before the Bishop of Ely and other Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer to inquire of notable outrage committed by Gilbeâ—t de Clare Earle of Gloucester against Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Pereford and Essex and his suits in Wales in the 20. yeere of E. 1. where Iohn de Hastings Edmond de Mortimer Theobald de Verdune and other of the Barons of the Marchâ—s of Wales challenged their priviledges aforesaid and much insisted upon the same but it was afterwards answered by the Court as by the words of the appeareth 20 E. 1. Rel. 14. Camera Scar. Eo quod res ist a dominum Regem coronam dignitatem suos tangit deinde fuit ex parte domini Regis IohaÌ„nt Hastings omnibus alijs magnat supranominat quod pro statu jure regnt Pro conservatione dignitatis Coronae pacis suae opponant manum ad librum ad faciend c. quod eis ex parte Domini Regis injungentur c. The Barons aforesaid neverthelesse did persist in their Challenge and in the end both the said Earle betweene whom the said outrage had heene perpetrated submitted themselves to the Kings grace and made their Fines Secondly Restraint 2 this priviledge hath no place in case of necessitie where the truth can no otherwise come to light for the Writ is Regist 179. Quia Barones in Assissis jurat c. poni non consuêrunt ut dicunt nisi eorum Sacrament adeo sit necessarium quod sine illis verit as in qua non possit tibi praecepimus c. In many Cases the Protestation of honour shall satisfie in Noblemen Privileg 3. Bract. l. 5. cap. 9. fol. 352.8.3.1 H. 4.1.13 H. 8.1 3 H. 6.48 Cooke 6.53 as in triall of their Peeres they proceed upon their honour not upon their oath And if a Nobleman on an action of debt upon an Accompt in case where the Plaintife is to be examined upon oath upon the Statute of 5. H. 4. cap. 8. it shall suffice to examine his Attorney and not himselfe upon his oath Yet if a Nobleman will give evidence to a Jury reason would that he should bee sworne
upon paine of forfeiture of all their goods except Lo. and other great men and true and notable Merchants and the Kings souldiers and all others shall forfeit c. But because the Statute is abrogated by 4. Iacobi c. 2. I do not set this down for one of the priviledges at this day But Philip Earle of Arundell Son of Thomas Duke of Norfolke Cromptons Iurisd 31. was taken upon the Sea passing into France about 30. Eliz. and was fined in the Starre chamber because he tooke not shâ—pping at one of the Ports mentioned in that Statute In the Priviledge before mentioned of his Clergie it shall be allowed him for breaking a house by day or night for robbing upon the high-way and in all other cases excepted in the Stat. of 1. E. 6.12 saving in wilfull murder and poysoning But in all other cases wherein Clergie is taken away he is in the same degree with a common person but the Court will not give him the benefit of this Statute if he requireth not the same If a Lord doth confesse his offence upon arraignment or abjure or is outlawed for felony in these cases it seemeth he may have the benefit of this Statute viz. his Clergie for that by the Statute of 18. Eliz. cap. 81. hee nor any other need to make purgation Stat. 18. Eliz. cap. 18. but shall bee forthwith delivered out of prison by the Justice Sed quaere Bolton 202. by the Imperiall constitution Nobiles non torquentur in casibus in quibus plebei torquentur nec suspenduntur sed decapitantur Which forme by favour of the Prince is allowed in England Iurisd Br. 48. Yet Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South in the 37. H. 8. and the Lord Sturton 4. Mar. were hanged By the Staute of 1. Eliz. cap. 1. for uniformitie of Common prayer 1. Eliz cap. 1. there is a proviso that the Baron shall bee tried per Pares and not by any Ecclesiasticall Courts read the Statute at large At the Common law it was lawfull for any to retaine as many Chaplains as he would but by the Statute of 21. H. 8 13. a restraint was made viz. to every Archbishop and Duke sixe Chaplains with dispensation to keepe two Benefices with Cure to every Marquesse or Earle five with the like priviledge To the Lord Chancellour every Baron and Knight of the Garter three with the same priviledge If a Bishop bee made an Archbishop or a Baron an Earle yet can they have but Chaplains as Archbishop or Earle because though there be divers Dignities yet the service is to be done but to one person so if he be removed from his Office in this case he cannot be Non-resident without he procure a non obstante So if a Baron retaine a Chaplaine and before he is advanced his Lord is attainted Cooke rep 4.117 Actons Case as the Earle of Westmerland was hee cannot accept a second Benefice Those that are first retained shall onely have priviledge in case c. By the Statute of 2. H. 5.8 that gives authoritie to the Sheriffe to raise Posse Comitat. Neverthelesse may he not command the person of a Nobleman to attend that service but if the Sheriff upon a supplicavit against him returne that he is so puissant that he dare not arrest him the Sheriffe shall be grievously amerced for such returne for the Writ is to all Archbishops Bishops Dukes Earles c. and to all liege men of the County to to be ayding to him therefore by intendment none will resist the execution The words of Charta de forest cap. 11. are every Archbishop Bishop Earle or Baron comming to us at our commandment and passing by our forrests may take one beast or two by the view of the forester if he be present or else he shall cause one to blow an horne that he seeme not to steale our Deare In this Stat. though a Duke Marquesse or Viscount being Lord of the Parliament being commanded c. shall have the same priviledge so if the King send for him letters missive Messenger or Sergeant at arms or by writ of Sub-paena to appear in Chanc. they shall have the benefit of this Statute because they came at the Kings commandement so in case of Scire facias out of the Chancery or D. R. But if such Processe goe out of the C. B. to appeare before the Iustices or the Barons of the Exchequer he shall not have the benefit of the Statute because the Statute is Veniens ad nos and in those Courts they are Quod coram nobis c. So of the Starre-chamber Also Lords that come to visit the new King though not sent for shall have the priviledge and so note this Statute is a Warrant dormant and is to be vnderstood of their returning homeward Manwood cap. 13. Crompton Iuris Nota. D. 167. note the Statute doth give licence to kill or hunt in the Kings Parkes though the Letter bee Transiens per forrestam nostram Note that in certaine Cases the Law doth give priviledge to the sonnes or brethren of Noblemen though they bee not of that degree Stat. 21. H. 8.13 c. 7. E. 6. cap. 5. Certaine Cases wherein he hath no Priviledges IF the King commit a Baron to prison Durante bene placito he cannot be discharged by Bayle or mainprise or by the common Writ De homine replegiando And by the same power it is if a noble person bee committed by the Kings Councell for they are incorporated to his Highnesse and doe command as with the Kings mouth and the same law is if a Nobleman be committed to prison by the absolute Commandment of the Kings Judges sitting in their place of Judicature Stam. lib 2. cap 18. fol. 72. Stamf. lib. 2. cap. 18. fol. 72. as you have before when the Prince himselfe by the chiefe Justice sitting in the Kings Bench and was not bay leable Also a Capias and an Exigent may be awarded upon an Indictment of a felony This Statute of Praemunire cap. 1.16 R 2. cap. 1. upon which Statute an Abbot which was Lord of the Parliament being impleaded did pray priviledge to appeare by attorney Et per Curiam could not for a Cessavit lyeth against him Upon contempt of Peeres a Capias may bee awarded 1. H. 5. ult 27. H. 8.22 If he depart the Realme as Embassadour c. and returne not at the Kings commandement the King may seize his lands and goods Dyer 108.176 The Dutches of Suffolkes case if he imprison any man in his house whereupon there is a writ De homine replegiando if he convey him from the Sheriffe the Court will award a Withernam to arrest 11. H. 4.15 and imprison him till he deliver the prisoner All Lords are compellable to take the oath mentioned in the Statute 3. Iacobi and see the Statute of 7. Iacobi 3. Iac. ca. 4. 7 Ia. cap. 6. who hav eauthoritie to administer it unto them
Being arraigned of felony in an Appeale he shall not be tried by his Peeres as in case of Inditement in which case he may not challenge any of the Triers either peremptorily or upon causes which is permitted to all other common persons The Iudgment is the vsuall Iudgement given against common persons and though the King pardon all but the losse of his head that is of speciall grace not ex debito By Attainder the blood is corrupted and he and his posterity made ignoble Stam. lib. 3. cap. 34. and cannot be restored by the Kings pardon but onely by authoritie of Parliament And note that Nobility is not a thing substantiall but meerely accidentall present or absent without corruption of his subject for experience shewes that honourable titles are restrained by exorbitant crimes when the nature in the meane while cannot be thrust out with a forke wherefore though we tearme extinguishment of Nobility in cases of Attainder yet this phrase is not vsed as though Nobility were essentially in the homour of the blood more then any other hereditary faculty But because the right of inheritance which descends by communication of blood is by that meanes determined and also in regard of the detestation of the crime it is called corruption of blood 16. Eliz. Dyer 332. The Lord Charles Flowards case if one be made a Knight by a forraign King he is so to be stiled in all legall proceedings in this Realme But if he be created by the Emperour an Earle it is other wise Coke 7.16 If the King Create the son a Duke c. and the father dies he within age shal be in ward but if he had bin made a Knight in his fâ—â—hers life he should not be in ward neither for the lands descended nor marriage Coke 74. Drueries Case though he be within age Nobilitie and Lords in reputation onely THere be other Lords in reputation and appellation who neverthelesse are not Iure neither can they enjoy the priviledges of those of the Nobilitie of the Parliament viz. The Sonne and heire of a Duke during the life of his father is onely by curtesie called an Earle and the eldest sonne of an Ea. a Baron but not in legall proceedings Br. Treason 2. Coke 8-16 But the King may create them in the life of their Auncestors Lords of the Parliament A Duke or other of the Nobilitie of a forraign Nation being named Duke in Letters of safe conduct that makes him not Duke to be sued by that name in England but a forraigne King ought so to be stiled though he hath not merum imperium out of his owne Kingdome Cok 7.15 c All the younger Sonnes of the King of England are Earles by birth without other creation and onely Lords by reputation A Lord of Ireland or Scotland though he be post-natus is but onely Lord in reputation Noble Women ALthough Noble Women may not sit in Parliament in respect of their Sexes yet are they in Law Peeres of the Realme and may challenge all Coke 8.53 or most of the former Priviledges But the opinions of some have been Crompt Iust de peace 85. that they cannot maintaine any Action upon the Statute of 2. R. 2. cap. 2. de Scand Magnat because the Statute speakes onely of other Sexes If any of the Kings servants within in the Checkroll conspire the death of any Noble woman that is not felony within the Statute of 3. H. 7.13 Honourable women of three sorts By Creation Descent Marriage H. 8. Created Anne Bullen Marchionesse of Pembrooke King James Created the Lady Compton Wife to Sir Thomas Compton Countesse of Buckingham in the life of her said Husband without any addition of honour to him And formerly by Patents openly read in Parliament without any other investure did Create Mary sole Daughter and heire of the late Baron of Aburgauen Camden 63.6 Baronesse de le Spenser Noble Women by Descent are those to whom lands holden by such Dignitie doe descend or whose Ancestors were seized of an estate descendable in their Titles of Dukedomes c. or those whose Ancestors were summoned to the Parliament by this an Inheritance doth accrue to their posteritie They who take to Husband any Peere of the Realme though they themselves were not noble Fortescue fol. 100. Question hath bin made whether the Dignitie of one suÌ„moned to the Parliament dying without issue male may descend to the female but this may appeare by the former Treatise Concerning the title of Honour descendable to the Heire female it is cleere that such offices being of estate of inheritance doe descend as the office of the high Constableship of England challenged tempore H. 3. by the Duke of Buckingham was adjudged to descend to the Daughter of Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford So the office of Earle Marshall descended to the house of Norfolke all which offices are as unfit to be exercised by their sexes as unfit for them to be summoned to the Parliament And if such Title come in competition the issue shall bee tried by record and certified by the Kings Writ and not by Jury Coke 6.5 3.7 part 15. Though all Daughters be Coperceners and make but one Heire yet in descent of Dignities it is otherwise for they bee things entire participating of superioritie therefore descendable onely to the eldest And so is the Civill Law yet there was a Judgement tempore H. 3. touching the descent of the Earledome of Chester Obijt 17. H. 3. the Earle dying without issue leaving his Sisters his Heires The Judgement was that it should be divided equally among Coperceners But this Judgement was held erroneous in that very age Vide Bract. li. 2. cap. 34 fol. 76. hoc fuit injustum c. His reasons are because the honour of Chivalrie chiefly consisting in the Nobilitie may not be divided for by multitude of partitions the reputation of Honours in such succession must bee impaired and the strength of the Realme being drawne into many hands by such partition much infeebled In which resolution Britton by commandment and in the name of E. 1. accorded fol. 187. The former Judgement was given about 17. H. 3. And the Writers of that time testifie that it came holy unto Iohn Scot Son of David Earle of Huntington and Anguish and Maude the eldest Sister of the said Randolph if it were given upon the death of John Scot who died without issue about 24. H. 3. yet it stood in force because the King assumed the Earledome to himselfe upon other satisfaction to the coperceners Mat. Par. 366. tamen vide Mills 75. Guillem 28. Hugh Lupus the first Earle of Chester was by the Conquerour his vncle created into that dignitie Mills 74.75 Coke 35.7 part 15. habend fibi c. adeo libere per gladium sicut Rex ipse tenuit Angliam per Coronam c. he died without issue and the Earldome divided among his 4. sisters If she be noble
by birth though she marry vnder her degree she remaines noble but those innobled by marriage and after marry with a man of meaner degree utterly lose her former dignitie Fortescue 100. Cooke 6.33.4.118 It was the case of Ra. Howard Esquire husband of the widow of the Lord Powes against the Dutches of Suffolke the Writ naming her Ladie Anne Powes Dyer 79. so also in Qu. Maryes times when the Dutches of Suffolke married Stokes bre Bro. 146. digest lib. 1. Tit. 9. for the dignity accruing by marriage is but in fait and not by any record Coke 6.53 Coke 4.117 Cawells instit lib. 1. Tit. 10.15 So long shall a Dukes wife be called Dutches and an Earles Countesse and enjoy all honours appertaining to that estate with tasting kneeling serving c. And a Baronesse and Knights wife saluted Lady Quamdiu matrimonium aut viduitas vxoris durant except she elope for as then every woman shall lose her dower so being advanced by titles of dignitie by that husband by such elopement loseth them If a Ladie which is married come through the forrest shee hath no priviledge by the Statute but a Dutchesse or Countesse during the time she is vnmarried may Crompt Juris dict 167. Such Ladies whether they be married or sole upon Indictment shall be tried per Peeres by the Statute of 20. H. 6. cap. 9. it being a declaration of the common law Coke 6.52 By the Civill Law Si filia Regis nubat alicui Domino vel Comit. dicetur tamen semper Regalis Among Noble women there is difference of degrees and according to their qualities the law gives speciall priviledges as followeth by the Stat. of 25. of E. 3 2. it is high Treason to compasse or imagine the death of the Queene or to violate the Kings companion The Kings Spouse is a sole person in law to purchase c. plead and be impleaded Coke 4.23.6 Theboal lib. 1. cap. 4 24 E. 3.3.8 Bract. 363. And of such acts of Parliament as concerne her the Iudges ought to take notice Coment 231. a Coke 8.28 In some cases she shall have Prerogative as the King himselfe See the case of Wardship 5. E. 3.4 Stamf. prerog cap. 2. The Qu. Wife to the King or widow shall not be amerced if she be non-suited whereas all other subjects shall for she shall participate with the Kings prerogative Coke 8.62 but not in all cases for the subject shall not sue to her by Petition as to the King 11. H. 4 67. Stamf. prerog cap. 22. Against the King Nullum tempus occurrit otherwise of the Queene 18. E. 3.2 Philippa Regina Angl. Ibid. fol. 1. 13. Stam. prerog 18. In 21. E. 3.6 A Protection was allowed against the Queene In a Writ of dower against Isabel Qu. of England mother to the then King the Iudges were of opinion that shee was not to answer to any Writ but said they to the plaintife it behoveth you to go to her by Petition to whom the Demandant Dixit graits and prayed the court for a continuance of the action vntill shee might speake with the Queene But they nor the Queenes Councell would agree that the Qu. should be accepted as answerable 10. E 3.379 The Wife of the Kings eldest Son hath some prerogative not communicable to the Wives of other Noblemen for by the Statute of 25. E. 3. It is high Treason to violate her Dutchesses also and Countesses have speciall honour appertaining to their estates as kneeling and tasting which things I leave to the Heraulds The Statute of 7. Iac. cap. 6. intituled an Act for the administring the oath of Allegiance requireth those of 18. yeares or above to take the said oath The title is for administration of the Oath c. and reformation of married women Recusants Ladyes in Reputation THe Wife or Widow of the sonne and heire of a Duke or Earle in the life of his Father is a Lady by Curtesie and taketh place according to the antient time as they have beene permitted by their Soveraigne Prince and allowance of the Herauld But in legall proceedings they are not to have such Priviledge If a Noblewoman of Spaine come into England by a safe conduct or c. And so stiled in the said Letters yet is shee but a Lady in reputation And English woman borne taketh to Husband a Spanish or French Duke though hee be made Denizen yet shall she not beare the title of Dignitie in legall proceedings A German woman is married to the Marquesse of Northampton or c. unlesse she be made Denizen shee cannot claime the priviledge or title of her Husband no more then shee can claime Dower or Joynture An English woman doth take the Earle of Kildare in Ireland to her Husband or if a Lord in Scotland though hee be post natus c. their wives shall not aprticipate their Husbands Dignities But if the King Create one of his Subjects naturalized by Parliament to be Viscount Rochester within England and after summon him to the Parliament by Writ and assigne him place there by this is he made Peere of the Realme and partakes with them of all Priviledges and by consequence his Wife Widow and Children after him E. of Angus in Scotland 34. E. 3.35 Gilbert Humfrevils case But if an English man be made by the Emperour Earle of the Empire his Wife shall not beare that title either according to law or reputation All Daughters of Dukes Marquesses and Earles are by custome long used in the Kings Palace to be named Ladies and to have precedencie according to the degrees of their parents and of this custome the Law taketh notice But neverthelesse in the Kings Courts of Justice they beare not this title of Honour no more then the Sons of such noble personages Brothers to such Ladyes may doe The Hypothesis or particular Question WHether the Dignitie of Aburgavenny Sit conjuncta feodo and such as ought to descend to the speciall Heire male seized of the Castle bearing the head of that Barony and of the lands that make that Honour Or whether the Dignitie Name and Stile to be Baron of Aburgaven ought to descend to the generall Heire male who is not interessed in the said Castle or honour For the more orderly proceeding herein to avoid confusion and that every thing appeare concerning his question in his proper person There shall be shewed First that the Barony is a Barony by by tenure a very antient Honour and no Barony by Writ onely whereof will ensue by the former Declaration in the treatise of Barony That the dignitie and name de jure ought to go and descend with the Castle and Honour so holden as long as the same shall or may continue in the name blood and line of such as are nobly descended and may support the same There shall be Proved Secondly That the said Barony of Aburgav and the name title and dignitie of Lord and Barony of Aburg de facto