BRITISH FREEWOMEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRITISH FREEWOMEN _THEIR HISTORICAL PRIVILEGE_ BY CHARLOTTE CARMICHAEL STOPES DIPLOMÉE, EDIN. UNIVERSITY “I do own for myself that Seneca the Declaimer saith, that I take pleasure in going back to studies of antiquity, and in looking behind me to our grandsires’ better times.” As saith another poet: “Antique, buried in rubbish, old and musty, Which make one verst in customs old and new, And of Laws, Gods, and Men giving a view, Render the careful student skilled and trusty.” _Inner Temple_ Dec. 25, 1610. John Selden’s Janus Anglorum, translated by Redman Westcott, _alias_ Littleton. LONDON _SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO._ PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1894 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS [Illustration] CHAP. PAGE PREFACE vii I. ANCIENT HISTORY AND BRITISH 1 WOMEN II. THE MODERN BASES OF PRIVILEGE 15 III. ROYAL WOMEN 27 Queens Consort 27 Queens Regnant 28 Queens Regent 33 IV. NOBLEWOMEN 35 They paid Homage 36 They received Homage 37 They held Courts Baron 37 They held by Military Service 40 They could be Knights 42 They could inherit Public 42 Offices They could be High Sheriff 43 They could be Earl Marshal 45 They could be High Constable, 47 High Steward, High Chamberlain They could be Champion, 48 Governor of Royal Castles They could be appointed to 51 various offices They could act as Femes Soles 51 when married They had the Cure of Churches 53 As Peeresses summoned to 53 Parliament in person or in proxy V. COUNTY WOMEN 60