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. Falstone Day Book, \§th 

 November j 1645. 



By an indenture made in 1643 between John Arundel, Esq., 

 Robert Hyde, Serjeant-at-Law, Mr. Whitaker, John Ffoyle, and 



