428 Millicent v Flacke

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Citation:

Richard Cust, Andrew Hopper, '428 Millicent v Flacke', 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/428-millicent-flacke [accessed 24 November 2024].

Sir John Millicent of Linton, co. Cambridge, knt v Robert Flacke of the same, yeoman

May - June 1639

**Figure 428:**
The funeral monument to Sir John Millicent and his wife in St Mary’s church, Linton, Cambridgeshire.

Abstract

Millicent complained that in the presence of several witnesses, between January and March 1639, Flacke called him 'a base gentleman' and a 'base knight', calling on the bystanders to tell Millicent that he said so. Process was granted on 25 May 1639 and Millicent entered bond to prosecute the cause in June; but no further proceedings survive.

Initial proceedings

6/112, Petition

'Your petitioner is a gentleman descended of an ancient and generous family, and hath beene a servant in place of neare attendance on the person of King James, late of famous memory, deceased, and likewise of our gracious King Charles that now is. And that the premises notwithstanding, one Robert Flacke of Linton in the county of Cambridge on a day happening in the months of January, February or March last past, in some or one of them, did, in the presence and hearing of diverse witnesses, in a very disgraceful manner, say and affirm that I was a base man, and that I was a base knight; and bid them, that were by, tell mee he said soe; alsoe that I was a base gentleman, all which words was uttered to thee greate reproach and dishonour of your petitioner, thereby provoking him to duell.'

Petitioned that Flacke be brought to answer.

Maltravers granted process on 25 May 1639.

6/111, Plaintiff's bond

22 June 1639

Bound to appear 'in the Court in the Painted Chamber at Westminster'.

Signed by John Millicent.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of Humphrey Terrick.

Notes

The Millescents of Linton are mentioned in the Visitation of 1619, but there was no record of a Sir John Millicent.

J. W. Clay (ed.), The Visitations of Cambridge, 1575 and 1619 (Publications of the Harleian Society, 41, 1897), p. 112.

On 13 January 1630, Sir John Millicent, the king's sergeant porter was granted for life, and to his successors thereafter, a fee of 40s upon the creation of every archbishop, £6 for every duke, £5 for every marquis, £4 for every earl, £3, 6s for every viscount, 20s for every bishop, 40s for every baron, and 20s for every baronet and knight. The order was endorsed: 'My lord Marshal being acquainted herewith sent his secretary to me that he found these fees to have been usually paid heretofore, therefore this grant might well pass.' Later, on 2 March 1635, the commissions of Sir John Cutts and Sir John Millicent to repair the great bridge at Cambridge were renewed.

J. Broadway, R. Cust and S. K. Roberts (eds.), A Calendar of the Docquets of Lord Keeper Coventry, 1625-1640 (List and Index Society, special series, 34 and 35, 2004), part 1, p. 42; part 2, p. 251.

Documents

Initial proceedings
- Petition: 6/112 (25 May 1639)
- Plaintiff's bond: 6/111 (22 Jun 1639)

People mentioned in the case

Cutts, John, knight
Flacke, Robert, yeoman
Howard, Henry, baron Maltravers
Millicent, John, knight
Stuart, Charles I, king
Stuart, James I, king
Terrick, Humphrey

Places mentioned in the case

Cambridgeshire
- Linton
Middlesex
- Westminster

Topics of the case

denial of gentility
royal servant