150 Darcy v Savile

The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640.

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Citation:

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, '150 Darcy v Savile', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640, ed. Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/150-darcy-savile [accessed 24 November 2024].

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, '150 Darcy v Savile', in The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640. Edited by Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online, accessed November 24, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/150-darcy-savile.

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper. "150 Darcy v Savile". The Court of Chivalry 1634-1640. Ed. Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, British History Online. Web. 24 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/court-of-chivalry/150-darcy-savile.

In this section

150 DARCY V SAVILE

Sir Conyers Darcy of Hornby Castle, co. York, knt v Thomas Savile of Copley, co. York

May 1640

Figure 150:

Sir Conyers Darcy of Hornby Castle, Yorkshire by Johannes Priwitzer, c.1630

Abstract

Darcy complained that Savile had called him in his absence 'an errant base knave', and 'a base stinking knave' on 13 January 1640 in the presence of the magistrates and aldermen of Ripon. No further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

18/4g, Libel

1. The plaintiff's family had been gentry for up to 200 years and reputed as such.

2. On 13 January 1640, Thomas Savile said in public, before the magistrates and aldermen of Ripon, in Darcy's absence, 'that I was an errant base knave', and 'that I was a base stinking knave, addendo that in calling me soe his words would beare not accon [sic]'. These words were provocative of a duel.

No date but filed under Easter term, 1 May 1640.

Signed by Thomas Ryves.

Notes

Sir Conyers Darcy (1570-1654) was the son of Thomas Darcy, esq, of Hornby Castle, co. York (d.1605), and Elizabeth, daughter of John Conyers, Lord Conyers of Hornby.

Sir Conyers married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Bellasis of Newborough, co. York, bart. He was created Lord Darcy on 10 August 1641 and Lord Conyers on 11 August 1641, and then entitled to the Barony of Conyers by writ on 13 July 1644. He was buried at Hornby on 11 May 1653. Several of his sons engaged for the royalist cause. Thomas Savile of Copley, esq, was included in Dugdale's Visitation at Pontefract on 7 April 1666. Thomas was the eldest son of Henry Savile of Copley, esq, and Anne, the sister and heir to John, Lord Darcy. Thomas married Frances, daughter of a Mr Dawson of Azerley, esq.

J. W. Clay (ed.), Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with additons (Exeter, 1907), vol. 2, p. 81; P. R. Newman, Royalist officers in England and Wales, 1642-1660: A biographical dictionary (London, 1981), p. 103; P. R. Newman, The Old Service: Royalist regimental colonels and the Civil War, 1642-46 (Manchester, 1993), pp.94-5, 114, 259-60, 265; R. Davies (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Yorke begun in 1665 and finished in 1666, by William Dugdale (Surtees Society, 36, 1859), pp. 108, 209, p. 310.

Documents

  • Initial proceedings
    • Libel: 18/4g (1 May 1640)

People mentioned in the case

  • Bellasis, Dorothy
  • Bellasis, Henry, baronet
  • Conyers, Elizabeth
  • Conyers, John, baron Conyers of Hornby
  • Darcy, Anne
  • Darcy, Conyers, knight
  • Darcy, Dorothy
  • Darcy, Elizabeth
  • Darcy, John, baron Darcy
  • Darcy, Thomas, esq
  • Dawson, Frances
  • Dawson, Mr, esq
  • Ryves, Thomas, lawyer
  • Savile, Anne
  • Savile, Frances
  • Savile, Henry, esq
  • Savile, Thomas, esq

Places mentioned in the case

  • Yorkshire, North Riding
    • Hornby
    • Hornby Castle
    • Newborough
  • Yorkshire, West Riding
    • Azerley
    • Copley
    • Pontefract
    • Ripon

Topics of the case

  • corporation
  • denial of gentility
  • insult before gentlemen
  • provocative of a duel
  • royalist
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