Welsh Journals

SOME OF THE FREEHOLDERS OF CARDIGANSHIRE IN 1632 IT had long been the practice at coronations to summon gentlemen of a certain standing to attend the ceremony for the purpose of receiving the degree of knighthood at the hands of the king.1 Whatever its origin, it had eventually become a device for raising funds, and heavy fines were imposed on those who did not attend. Henry II levied fines ranging from £ 10 to £ 15 per annum on those who refused the honour and Henry VIII demanded £ 40 a year in land.2 Charles I was, therefore, but reviving an old law when he summoned all freeholders with an income of £ 40 or more in land or rents to attend his coronation in order to be knighted.3 But knighthoods were less liked in those days and the summons was unwelcome to many commoners because they knew that it involved the payment of about £ 50 in fees as well as another £ 20 on each subsidy levied.* So slow was the response to the order that the king appointed a commission to deal with those who had not answered the royal summons.5 Sheriffs were instructed to submit new lists of men who were eligible for knighthoods, a task which some of them tried to avoid.' Even some of the members of the commission seem to have questioned the king's right to fines but the Court of Exchequer ruled unanimously in his favour, a verdict which made the king sure that his subjects would not now be backward in this service.'7 But many still remained obdurate and despite Charles's desire to reduce them by sweet and gentle means' he was eventually forced to order that those who would not pay be brought before the commission.8 It is interesting to note that in Huntingdon one of those who was summoned to appear before the commission was Oliver Cromwell.* Cardiganshire, too, had its recalcitrants and below is a list of those Cardis who fought shy of a knighthood and, what was more import- ant, perhaps, of the expense entailed. Unfortunately, nothing is known of the findings of the commission with regard to these men. P.R.O. Special Commission Cardigan 7 Charles I. 5938. The list of all such persons as were convented for making of fynes and composition for not atending his highenes Coronation to receave the order of Knyghthoode according to his Maties writt of Summons with the servall answers as ensueth. Stephen Parry Esquier of Cwmtidy appeared not. David Parry of Trevour Esqr saith that he at the tyme of the coronation was not seised of any estate at all and hath not as yet sued such his Livery and is indebted in Leagacies, portions and otherwise to the value of a thousand powndes.