324 The Wiltshire Compounders. 
years later, when, by distinct offices in 17° and 18° Caroli, the 
title and estate of the co-heirs were found, and the King became 
entitled to the wardship of the said infant Frances and to livery 
and primer seisin of the residue. But the Lord Baltimore, not 
content with his part in right of his wife as co-heir, brought forward a 
deed made by the said Thomas, Lord Arundel, in his sickness shortly 
before his death, when his memory failed him, which deed, being 
got secretly and by surprize, was void in law. The other co-heirs, 
therefore, exhibited an information in the Court of Wards, to which 
Lord Baltimore responded by a cross bill against the co-heirs ; but 
when respective answers had been put in, issues joined, witnesses on 
both sides examined, publication passed, and the cause ready for 
hearing, the affair was brought to an abrupt termination by the 
court itself being dissolved by ordinance of Parliament. This was 
in 1642, when graver matters of public concernment were about to 
be put in issue, and Lord Baltimore, taking advantage of the times, 
proceeded to cut down woods and levy fines and rents to his own 
use. This lasted till 1648, when the co-heirs petitioned ; but as the 
remnant of the House of Peers then sitting were soon after silenced 
by the Commons, the result was postponed. 
In the meanwhile Thomas Blandford, of Semley, had made oath 
before the Wilts Committee to the following effect, that about the 
beginning of November, 1645, John Weekes, of Shaftesbury, in 
the capacity of steward, held a court-baron in Hook-house at 
Semley, for the Lord Baltimore, as lord of the manor; and sum- 
moned all the freeholders, and demanded of one Haskell whether he 
would be sworn to serve as a homager, who answered that he would, 
if it might do him or his neighbours no hurt—that Lord Baltimore 
was himself present at the court, and took notice who were absent, 
threatening that he would re-enter on their tenements. The said 
Weekes being asked by some of the tenants by what authority he 
kept the court for Lord Baltimore, answered “ by order from the 
committee,” yet would not show it. alstone Day Book, 19th 
November, 1645. 
By an indenture made in 1643 between John Arundel, Esq., 
Robert Hyde, Serjeant-at-Law, Mr. Whitaker, John Ffoyle, and 
q 
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