] From the royal.uk site:

] "Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, appointment to the Orders of chivalry in England was restricted to members of the aristocracy and high-ranking military figures. "

Knights-bachelor weren't considered to belong to a specific order of chivalry in the sense of Garter, Thistle, etc., so the above statement is irrelevant with respect to Sir William Lucas. By the way, here's one "order" whose membership wasn't restricted to aristocratic figures:

http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/ordcukld.html

;-)