BASS i.e. Viscount of the Bass, see Castelbianco, Dukedom, cr. 17 17 by the titular James III, and vol. i. Appendix F. BASSETO (of Drayton) Ralph Basset, s. and h. of Ralph B., of Drayton, co. Stafford, and of Colston Basset, Notts, (*") was sum. to Pari. 24 Dec. (1264) 49 Hen. Ill, by writ directed Radulfo Basset de Drayton ; which writ however, having issued in rebellion, should not create a peerage dignit)^('=) He m. Margaret, ('^) da. of Roger de Somery, of Dudley, CO. Worcester, by his ist wife (to whom she was da. and coh.), Nicole, da. and eventually coh. of William (dAuBiGNv), Earl of Arundel. {*) In Dugdale's Usage of Arms., edit. 1 81 2, pp. 12 and 13, are given the numerous variations (for the sake oi ^'■difference") in the armorial ensigns borne by the various members of the Basset family. From this it would appear that the house of Weldon, and that of Drayton, both of whom derived from the elder sons of Richard Basset by Maud, da. and h. of Geoffrey Ridel (a powerful feudal Baron, whose lands they inherited), adopted the "3 piles" (the Ridel coat), but that William Basset (ancestor of the house of Sapcote, being the yst. s. of the said William and Maud), " having no advancement by the house of Rydell, retained Undie, the devise of the Bassets, and only changed the colours thereof [from gold and red] into silver and black. But, about the time of Edward III, Simon Basset, Baron of Sapcote (descended from the forenamed William) and Sir John Basset of Blore [also so descended], both of them (I know not the cause why) at one instant (as I think) relinquished their devise of Undie and invested themselves into Ridels" [i.e. the 3 piles with certain variations]. G.E.C. J. H. Round, however, points out that all this is invalidated by the fact that Geoffrey Ridel d. as early as 11 20, when there cannot have existed a family coat of Ridel. V.G. C") This Ralph, who d. 1254-61, was s. of Ralph who d. 121 1, s. of Ralph who d. 1 1 60, s. of Richard B., the Justiciar temp. Henry I, who held Drayton through his marriage with Maud Ridel, and d. 1144. V.G. (*=) As to this writ see Preface, and as to how far these early writs of summons did in fact create any peerage title, see last volume. Appendix A. V.G. (^) On 5 Nov. 1265, the King conceded the manor of Pattingham, co. Stafford, fefc, " Margarete que fuit uxor Radulfi Basset de Drayton filie dilecti et fidelis nostri Rogeri de Sumery... pro laudabili servicio a prefato Rogero hactenus nobis impenso... quoad vixerit ad sustentacionem suam et familie sue." [Patent Roll, 50 Hen. Ill, m. 46). [ex inform. G. W. Watson). V.G, I
