New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-18
HERI0T RIGHTS.
Strange old PrerOgatiues of Lords
of NaROrs'' ~ England

Although people IN this country talk very slibiy
Nolt lordships OF the mano-s. which are about ,bs
,nlv English titles which can be acquired b,, nur-
shssa yet they are apt 10 ignore the fact mar
mere al sorts OF strange Old prerosatives ana
-.srilesez dating back 10 the Anelo-Saxon times a
'rousaa years ago. which 80 with these titles snd
,-e included in the manoTial rights Thus in most
,ases the lord OF the manor has what is known as
Hog5ot rights over all The district which may have
yurraelly formed part and parcel oe the immortal
ta;e bEt which have long ceased to belong there
N The Heriot rights authorize the lord OF The
manor 20 seize and appropriate the best horse or
raas or failing that, the best chattel OF persons
griag in the district. either their death or on
ne ,TsnSfer Of their lands 70 a second party
through sale or gift
MS some time ago. q ar. Alfred CouIdrey pur-
,h'ssd a small estate at Dunton Green, near Seven
,,rs. in Kent and on going through the documents
go that II situated within the limits OF the
s1er Manor OF Oxford. OF which Lord Amherst is
IS lord Mr.. conldrey thought nothing more
shous tho matter. and a short time ago found il
,orrcnient sell three acres OF his land A couple
y days later man walked into his stable yard
al seeing doscaTt and horse standing there
.,srtred TO whom tho horse belonged Being in
4,-ned that il owned By Mr. Couldrey the
-,sa proceeded 10 snip few hairs of the animals
-uane and theTeupon intimated that he was tho
.seEsrd OF Lord Amherst and that he had seized
4 n behalf OF the latter, as lord OF the AR.
c0uldyey consulted his lawyer but found that he
harr
e. or SO in order 10 redeem his nag.
ghere is q case record where lord OF the
manor ssized a famous racehorse worth $4,000.
peslot and the great Sir Robert Peel is said TO
rave been so afraid OF having one Of his Rubens
u Van Dycls seized as Heriot that he purchased,
AZ considerable expense. the immortal rights OF
Dray;en Manor. near Tamworth.
erio rights have their origin in the fact that in
oldea times the lord Of the manor used TO lend TO
his vassals and 10 the people his lands a horse
AID arnor for life. which on their death reverted
% him Il is said that the custom was introduced
b the Danes IN the reign of King canute-that is
70 say long before the Norman Conquest Among
,bs Americans who are lords Of the manor in Eng
Ind and who enjoy Heriot rights James J.
Van Alon who is lord OF the manor OF Rushton:
hut he would render himself extremely unpopular
we're he TO attempt 20 enforce them, although he
kes perfect right to do
Lord Amherst. who must not be COMPOUNDED with
Lord Amherst of Hackney. claims descent from
certain Gilbert OF Hemmehurst, who lived in the
gsign Of King Edward III But the first Of the
family TO attain distinction and win seat In the
House OF Lords was Sir Godfrey Amherst, COM
fasader-in-chief OF the British forces in North
America from 1853 TO I764. and Governor Of Vir-
ginla He commanded the troops at the siege OF
Iouisburg and was fond OF Canada that he gave
he name Of Montreal TO his country seat IN Kent
when be returned to England. Moreover. when
raisea 10 the House Of Lords he chose as his title
thar Of Lord Amherst OF Montreal The second
Lord Amherst and first earl was Governor General
Of India. after having been ambassador to China,
where his mission proved fruitless owing to his re-
fusal 10 submit TO the demands OF the Chinese au-
fhorties that he should approach the throne all
fouFs The present earl is his grandson. and is q
veteran OF the army, having served with the
Guards IN the Crinea. receiving wound at the
battle of InkerTnan. may add that he is OF
the principal Masonic dignitaries Of the United
gT-p5or1