“Thus sons shall be admitted before daughters; or, as our male lawgivers have somewhat uncomplaisantly expressed it, the worthiest blood shall be preferred. As if John Stiles hath two sons, Matthew and Gilbert, and two daughters, Margaret and Charlotte, and dies; first Matthew, and (in case of his death without issue) then Gilbert shall be admitted to the succession in preference to both the daughters.” 2 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 213 (1766).
worthiest of blood
worthiest of blood, n. Hist. Of or relating to males, because of the preference given them in the laws of descent. See PRIMOGENITURE.