DUTTON, (Cheshire) on the Weever, N. W. of Northwich, was the manor-seat of the Duttons, who had a park here, but now Ld.
Gerard's of Bromley. 'Tis remarkable of the ancient family of these Cheshire Duttons, that no fidler, or other musician,
is suffered to play in this Co. without the licence of the Ld. of Dutton, who keeps a court for the same, on Midsummer-
day, at Chester; and, in the R, of Hen. VII. a quo warranto was brought against Lawrence Dutton, of Dutton, Esq; to shew
why he claimed all the fidlers, &c. of Cheshire, to attend him at the time and place aforesaid, and then and there to give
him 4 bottles of wine and a lance; and also every musician to pay him 4 d. half-penny, and every whore following her
calling to pay him 4 d. to which he pleaded prescription; and those minstrels licenced by the heirs of Dutton, are
exempted out of the statute of Rogues, 39th Eliz. This has been the custom of the family above 500 years, ever since Ralph
Dutton, joining his rabble of fidlers, pipers, and other minstrels, with Roger de Lacy his father-in-law, who was
constable of Chester, frighted the Welshmen from besieging Ranulph II. Earl of Chester, in the castle of Ruthlan, where he
would probably have been taken prisoner.