Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Geography

A LIST of all the Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Barons of the Cinqueports, that serve in Parliament, according to the Roll taken at their last Sessions in Anno 1671.

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SOUTHAMPTON, or HANTSHIRE.

Right Honourable Charles L. St. John.
Sir Jo. Norton Baronet.
Winchester / Sir Robert Holmes Kt. / Lawrence Hide Esq.
Southampton / Sir Richard Ford Kt. / William Legg Esq.
Portsmouth / Sir George Carteret Kt. & Bar. / Richard Norton Esq.
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Peterfield / Thomas Neale Esq. / Arthur Bold Esq.
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Stockbridge / Sir Robert Howard Kt. / Robert Phillips Esq.
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Christ-church / Humphrey Weld Esq. / Henry Tulse Esq.
White-church / Henry Wallop Esq. / Giles Hungerford Esq.
Limmington / Sir William Lewis Baronet. / Sir Nicholas Steward Baronet.
Andover / Sir Jo. Trott Baronet. / Jo. Collins Esq.
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The Priviledges which the Nobility do, or may enjoy, are very great, and too terious to repeat: ...

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The Priviledges which the Commonality, or those under the Degree of Nobiles minores, enjoy, are also many. They are not to be fined for misdemeanours, but according to the quality of the offence. They are not to be forced to march out of the County where they dwell, to serve as a Souldier, except it be upon a Rebellion at home, or the invasion of an enemy. Neither are they constrained to go out of the Kingdom to serve a foreign Prince. They are not to be Imprisoned, without cause shewed, and that according to the Laws of the Land: And if imprisoned, they are not denied a Writ of Habeas Corpus. They have the priviledge of Hawking, Hunting, Fowling, and Fishing, with divers other immunities to tedious to name. ...

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An Esquire is a degree of honour, either made so by the King, or else by birth, or office. Those made so by the King, are such, as for their noble parts, or publick undertakings, have merited the same. Those by birth, are the sons of Viscounts, Barons, the younger sons of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls, the eldest sons of Baronets and Knights. And those by office are such as are chief Officers at Court, (if persons no otherwise dignified;) also those taht are imployed in publick offices of State, such as Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Majors, &c.

Lastly Gentlemen, and such are those that are either descended of ancient Families, and bear Coats of Arms; or such as have arrived to fair estates by their virtuous endeavours, and qualified with those natural endowments befitting the mind of man, and are made so by the Kings at Arms, by giving them a Coat of Arms. And although they have no other Title then a Gentleman, yet if well qualified, they are received as fellow Companions with those of the highest degree of the Nobility.

But before we pass further, let us take a Survey of the several Counties of England, which for method sake shall be placed Alphabetically; and then the first that offereth it self to view will be Barkshire.