184 Dugdale v Kittermaster

The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640.

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'184 Dugdale v Kittermaster', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640, (, ) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/184-dugdale-kittermaster [accessed 25 April 2024]

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184 DUGDALE V KITTERMASTER

William Dugdale of Shustoke, co. Warwick, gent v Thomas Kittermaster of Coleshill, co. Warwick, gent

May 1637

Figure 184:

William Dugdale portrayed in the frontispiece of his The Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656) (By permission of the University of Birmingham)

Abstract

Dugdale complained that Sumner, a local attorney, had said that he was a more eminent gentleman than Dugdale, and dared Dugdale to question him before the Earl Marshall. When Kittermaster demanded what arms Dugdale bore, Dugdale replied, 'I beare Argent a Cross Moleyn gules with a Torteaux in the dexter quarter '. Kittermaster replied, 'You are mistaken, your armes are a paire of hornes, if they bee anything'. No further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

EM52, Libel

Dugdale's family had been gentry for up to 200 years, while Kittermaster alias Sumner was of plebeian stock. Dugdale complained that Kittermaster alias Sumner 'said he was the more eminent person and as good a gentleman as myself, and that he would prove it against me, and dared me to question him before my Lord Marshall, and Sumner demanding of me what armes I bore, I answeared, I beare Argent a Cross Moleyn gules with a Torteaux in the dexter quarter , to which Sumner replyed, you are mistaken, Your armes are a paire of hornes, if they bee anything.'

Endorsed 24 May 1637

Signed by Arthur Duck.

Notes

Sir William Dugdale of Blyth Hall in the parish of Shustoke, co. Warwick (b. c.1605), Garter King of Arms, was the son of John Dugdale of Shustoke, gent (d.1624), and Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur Swynfen of Dunchurch, co. Warwick. Sir William married Margery, daughter of John Huntbache of Seawall, co. Stafford, gent.

A Thomas Kittermaster of Coleshill, co. Warwick, died around 1640, but his son was another Thomas Kittermaster of Coleshill (c.1603-1666), who became an attorney in the Court of Wards, and married Anne, daughter of William Holbech of Birchley Hall, in the parish of Fillongley, co. Warwick, esq. This Thomas Kittermaster, while at Lincoln's Inn, was granted a patent of arms by Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms.

J. Fetherston (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Warwick, 1619 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 12, 1877), p. 327; W. H. Rylands (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Warwick, 1682-3 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 62, 1911), pp. 36, 135, 177; G. Parry, 'Sir William Dugdale (1605-1686)', Oxford DNB (Oxford, 2004).

Documents

  • Initial proceedings
    • Libel: EM52 (24 May 1637)

People mentioned in the case

  • Duck, Arthur, lawyer
  • Dugdale, Elizabeth
  • Dugdale, John, gent
  • Dugdale, Margey
  • Dugdale, William, gent
  • Holbech, Anne
  • Holbech, William, esq
  • Howard, Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey
  • Huntbache, John, gent
  • Huntbache, Margery
  • Kittermaster, Thomas, attorney (also alias Sumner)
  • Kittermaster, Thomas, gent (also alias Sumner)
  • Segar, William, knight
  • Swynfen, Arthur (also Swinfen)
  • Swynfen, Elizabeth (also Swinfen)

Places mentioned in the case

  • Middlesex
    • Lincoln's Inn
  • Staffordshire
    • Seawall
  • Warwickshire
    • Birchley Hall
    • Blyth Hall
    • Coleshill
    • Dunchurch
    • Fillongley
    • Shustoke

Topics of the case

  • allegation of cuckoldry
  • coat of arms
  • comparison
  • Court of Wards
  • inns of court
  • King of Arms
  • sexual insult
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