ry protracted, the Duchess of
Somerset (who was the daughter and heiress of Earl Jocelyn) brought
the matter once more before the Lords in 1685, and her petition was
referred to the Committee of Privileges. In reply to her petition
Percy presented one of complaint, which was also sent to the
Committee. No decision, however, seems to have been arrived at, and
the reign of King James came to a close without further action. In the
first year of the reign of William and Mary (1689), Percy returned to
the charge with a fresh petition and a fresh demand for recognition
and justice. These documents are still extant, and some of them are
very entertaining. In one he candidly admits that he has been, up to
the time when he writes, in error as to his pedigree, and, abandoning
his old position, takes up fresh ground. In another, "The claimant
desireth your lordships to consider the justice and equity of his
cause, hoping your lordships will take such care therein that your own
descendants may not be put to the like trouble for the future in
maintaining their and your petitioner's undoubted right;" and lest the
_argumentum ad homines_ should fail, he asks, "Whether or no three
streams issuing from one fountain, why the third stream (though
little, the first two great streams being spent) may not justly claim
the right of the original fountain?" In addition, he appends a sort of
solemn declaration, in which he represents himself as trusting in God,
and waiting patiently upon the king's sacred Majesty for his royal
writ of summons to call him to appear and take his place and seat
according to his birthright and title, "for true men ought not to be
blamed for standing up for justice, property, and right, which is the
chief diadem in the Crown, and the laurel of the kingdom." That
summons never was destined to be issued. When the Committee for
Privileges gave in their report, it declared Percy's conduct to be
insolent in persisting to designate himself Earl of Northumberland
after the previous decisions of the House; and the Lords ordered that
counsel should be heard at the bar of the House on the part of the
Duke of Somerset against the said James Percy.

This was accordingly done; and the Lords not only finally came to the
decision "that the pretensions of the said James Percy to the earldom
of Northumberland are groundless, false, and scandalous," and ordered
that his petition be dismissed, but added to their judgment this
sentence