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
c. in procurator ad hujusmodi parliamenta per clerum mittenda consentient ut moris est expensis contribuant corundam In cujus rei Test c. 15. Febr. Anno 26. Franc. 13. per Petition parliament Whereby it appeareth that Barons by tenure are summoned in respect of their tenure As touching the temporall Barons by tenure mention is often made of them in the yeare-booke Records Glan 9. c. 6 c. as Glanv lib. 9. cap. 6. Baroniam retinet rex donec haeres c. Which reliefe for Baronies was at that time incertaine and rentable at the Kings pleasure but such incertainty of reliefe was brought to certaintie by the Statute of Magn. Chart. si quis Mag Char. cap. 2. c. de Comitat. integro per C.1. haeres Baron per C. mercas haeres Mil. per feodo mil. C. solidos Thus much of the temporall Baron and his reliefe In 3. H. 3. there was agnized an auntient perogative belonging to the Crowne and usuall from the Conqu in these words and so reported by Fitz-Herb Quod si aliquis Baron obijsset non hâ—beret haereâ—em nisi filias primogenit filia marit sit in vita patris Rex daret post natum filium quod remaneret in haereditat patris Bract lib. 5 Tract 2. cap. 2. fol. 337. c. Bracton writing of essoignes delivereth this learning that if any Baron that holdeth per Baroniam hath his absence excused by essoigne he which casteth such essoigne ought to find suretie that it is true but in the case of common persons that shall rest upon credit and the integritie of the Essoigner His words be these Ideo ne essoniator c. by which appeareth that there are temporall Bar. by tenure Now let us descend to the other authorities Sir Ralph Everdon Knight 48. E. 3.30 being one of the Barons of the Realme tempore E 3. was impannelled in a Jury to their priviledge and therefore for his exemption procured a Writ directed to the Judges of C.B. before whom the Jury was impannelled by which they were commanded to discharge the said Sir Ralph Reg. 179.14 15. H 8.35 H. 6.46 whereupon Belke chiefe Justice of C.B. examined him whether he held per Baroniam or no c. and whether hee had come to the Parliament as a Baron to which he answered that he held by a certaine part of a Baron and that his Auncest had likewise so done vpon good advice by means whereof he was discharged in which case is proved that there are â—arons by tenure and that they in regard of their tenure ought to be summoned In the Parliament 23. H. 6. there was a controuersie between W. E. of Arundell Inter. rot Parliamen 27. H. 6. and Tho. E. of Devon for their places in the Kings presence as well in the Parliament c. wherevpon there were diuers writings c. declared betweene them in the said Parliament the consideration whereof was coÌ„mitted by the King to certaine Lords of the Parliament to decide the said title with all incidents thereto belonging Neverthelesse it being not accordingly performed and the said controversie remaining vndecided in the next Parliament 27. H. 8. the said K. was pleased that the Iudges should examine the said matter who having considered the allegations of either part and also an act of Parliament made 11. H. 6. concerning the same in the behalfe of Iohn E. of Arundell decided his Ancestors they certified first that the controversie was never matter of Parliament 2. that the said act wherby it was ordained that the said Iohn should have his seat in the Kings presence aâ— well in Parliament as els-where as E. of Arundell there was no mention made of his heires but of himselfe 3. That to the castle c. of Arundell the name c. of Earle then was and time out of mind had beene vnited and annexed and by reason thereof the saide E. did hold that name and not by creation all which being so certified it was enacted that the said W. E. of Arundell should retaine his prehemience by reason of the eastle as worshipfully for so are the words of the act as any of the E. of Ar. above the E. of Devon c. saving alwayes to the said E. of Devon his lawfull suite to the King in his high court of Parliament for his right by which President we do plainly see that the dignitie of that Earled was annexa feode and an Earldome by tenure in regard of which the Earles thereof have had their place in Parliament from whence may be deduced that the like may be observed of Baronies by tenure as of this E. by tenure I would wish those that denye Baronies by tenure to consider the statute of West 2. cap 42. where the Fees of the E. Marshall and Lord Chamberlaine are expressed which are to be taken by them vpon the homage of euery Baron by tenure where he holdeth by a whole Barony or by lesse And lest any should thinke that this ordained by the Statute should concerne any other Marshall or Chamberlaine Fleta will put him out of doubt Fleta lib. 2. cap. 5. which applyeth them to this purpose But ere wee proceed further there a riseth a Quere If a Baron by tenure grant the hononr holden by Barony whether shall such grantee have the said dignitie or otherwise Argument ex parte neg THey which deny Baronies by tenure doe vse this as their principall reason first if there be any then the Grantee of them must hold by the same tenure as their Feoffer 10.2 ca 1. Qu. â—mp terrar but that was per Baroniam the refore And if such Grant bee made to persons ignoble they then should bee Noble which were absured Ratio 1. Secondly it is very evident that many antient Mannors which in antient time were holden per Baron are now in the tenures of meane Gentlemen who may not dare to challenge it Thirdly some antient Barons are which have sold those Castles c. and yet retaine their dignitie and have been and are summoned to Parliament notwithstanding Distinctions considerable For the better anser it shall bee convenient to exhibit certaine necessary distinctions and thence to draw infallible distinctions and then Authorities and Presidents First therefore if a Baron by tenure doe aliene the same Distinct 1 either he doth it without licence or else with licence obtained If without Licence The conclusion then the Conclusion is certaine that it is forfeited and to be seized to the King and the Dignity extinguished in the Crown from whence it was derived The reason is out of Bracton because Baronies are the strength of the Kingdome and if they should be aliened without consent of the Soveriagne base persons innobled without desert c. for where the thing so aliened is an Honour it differeth much from the ordinary tenure in Cap. whereof if the Tenant
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.
there is an old Pamphlet wherein are these words Summon debeant omnes Comit Barones eorum pares viz qui habent terras reddit ad valentiam Commitat vel Baron integre Modus tenend parliament viz. 20. feod Milit. quolibet feod comput ad 12. librat quae faciunt librat vel ad valenc 13. feod Milit. 3. part Vnius feodi Milit. quolibet feod computand ad 20. librat quae faciunt in toto 400. mercas nulli minores laici sommon debeant ad Parliament ratione tenur nisi eorum praesentia alijs de causis fuerit necesse cap. du Laicis The revenew of a Baron Camden in Britann Others have esteemed it to be foureteene Knights Fees but that doth rest wholly in the pleasure of the King to judge Reason 2 To the second it is true that antient Baronies which were holden per Baroniam are now in the hands of men ignoble but the reason and meanes whereby such Mannors should thus come to the hands of meaner personages are twofold First because they have beene aliened by Licence to them Secondly which was usuall such Mannors have upon divers reasons come to the Crowne by way of Reversion Escheat or forfeiture and after they were conveyed to others reserving other services so that it is no wonder that they be now holden in Soccage c. Object 3 To the third Objection that antient Barons have aliened c. and yet retaine the degree I answer that it is true yet it proveth nothing against the former resolution therefore consider that they be either originally Barons by Writ or by tenure By Writ are of two kinds for either in such Writ whereby they or their Ancestors were at first Summoned they were named only by their owne names or else addition was given them from the principle place of their abode either for some distinction to sever them from some Honour of the same sirname or to give them such honourable title by addition of the place which was not holden per Baroniam therefore if they allene it away he may yet retaine the title because it was not holden per Baroniam but was given by this Writ of summons Thus much of Barons by Writ But if Baron by tenure aliene to one ignoble by licence and after the alienor be called by Writ he is not any more a Baron by tenure but by Writ and may retaine the name of a Baron Now of Barons by Writ A Baron by Writ is he to whom a Writ of summons is directed by the King to come to the Parliament to treat c. of the affaires of the Realme Barons by Writ the forme of which is Rex A Writ of Sūmons c. A. B. c. de salut quia de avisamento consilij nostri pro quibusdam arduis et vrgentibus nos statum defensionem regni nostri Angliae Ecclesiae Anglicanae concernent quoddam Parliament nostrum apud c. die c. teneri ordinavimus ac ibidem vobiscum ac cum caeteris Praelatis Magnatibus proceribus dicti regni nostri colloquium habere tractare vobis in fide legiantia vestra quibus nobis tenemini firmiter injungend mandamus quod consideratis dictorum negotiorum arduitate periculis imminentibus cessante quacunque excusatione dictis die loco personaliter intersitis nobiscum ac cum Praelatis Magnat ac Proceribus praedict superdict negotijs tractatur est urumque cōsiliū impensari hoc sicut nos honorem nostrum salvationem defensionem regni Eccle. praedict expeditio neque dictorum negotiorum deligitis nullatenus omittatis Which kind of Writ is as well directed to Barons by tenure and creation as others which are onely Barons by Writ which thereupon are to enjoy the dignitie because thereby they be associated in Counsell with the King c. Touching their antiquitie and their first institution I find little or no mention before H. 3. his time Antiquity of Barons by Writ and therefore I conceive that either the first or at least the first frequent use of Barons by Writ was 49. H. 3. in case of necessitie and vpon lamentable occasion of civill warre about the great Charter of which rebellion Simon then Earle of Leycester was ring-leader And therfore after divers fields fought at Northampton Rochester Lewes c. that of all was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that tragedie finished at Evesham where the said Earle was slaine and those Rebellious Barons overthrown whereupon presently issued the Parliament at Winchester and after at Westminster where the said Barons were to be attainted Wherfore forasmuch asmuch as the number of the Barons which had continued faithfull was small it was holden a necessary policie to supply the number c. vpon summons by Writ where were called all Abbots c. which held not by Barony as others of the most worthy of the laytie not holding by Barony Note further these Writs in forme of their directions are divers Divers manners of directions of summons some directed by speciall name of a Baron as Rex Baroni de Staffe de Greystock de Dudley others by the name of the partie with addition of the place as Rex Iobanni de Straunge de Knocking Chr. Edm. Gray de Ruthen Chr. Edw. Gray de Grooby c. Naming the cheife Castle c. of such Baron some others are named in this manner with the title of Lord as Iohanni Beauchamp Domino de Beauch Milit. Iohanni domino de Clinton Hen. Percey domino de Poynings To others without additions as William de Lourt Milit. Scals Devereux But the nature and qualitie of other Barons by Writ is aptly discovered by debate of a question concerning the continuance and descent of a Barony by Writ which I divide First whether a Barony by Writ may descend Admit it may then whether it will to the heires females there being no issue male Admit it doth then whether the Husband of such heire female may assume the dignitie of a Baron in jure uxoris Quest 1 Touching the first Question it shall be requisite for satisfaction of all men to alleadge such principall reasons as are wont to bee produced of both parts Object Argument ex parte negat Nobilitie and honour given in respect of wisedome c. which are gifts of God and personall cannot extend to others for privilegium personale personam sequitur extinguitur cum persona but such is the dignitie of such a Baron therefore c. Againe if the calling to the Parliament by Writ be the efficient instrument of Nobilitie in the Ancestor then the not calling the heire is a losse of that Nobilitie For admit some defects of nature in the heire as leprosie Ideocy Frenzie c. he is made uncapable and thereupon they conclude that it shall not descend Argument ex parte affirm Of the contrary part the affirmative is proved thus
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