ii burgesses Christes Church ii burgesses Ipswich ii burgesses Dunwich ii burgesses Oteford ii burgesses Aldborough ii burgesses Sudbury ii burgesses Ey ii burgesses Welles ii burgesses Taunton ii burgesses Bridge water ii burgesses Minhed ii burgesses Horsham ii burgesses Midhurst ii burgesses Lewes ii burgesses Shereham ii burgesses Brember ii burgesses Steyning ii burgesses East Gréenstéed ii burgesses Arundel ii burgesses Apleby ii burgesses Wilton ii burgesses Hindon ii burgesses Heytesbury ii burgesses Westbury ii burgesses Calue ii burgesses Deuises ii burgesses Chipenham ii burgesses Malmesbury ii burgesses Bodwin the great ii burgesses Ludgarsail ii burgesses Olde Salisbury ii burgesses Wâ—tton basset ii burgesses Marleborough ii burgesses Wiche ii burgesses Warwick ii burgesses Mongomery i burgesse Radnor i burgesse Dinghby i burgesse Pembrook i burgesse Cardigan i burgesse Flint i burgesse Carmarthan i burgesse Carnaruan i burgesse Brecknock i burgesse Cardiffe i burgesse Bew moris i burgesse Harford west i burgesse As the King by aduancing any man to the honor of a Baron dooth inlarge and augmeÌ„t the number of the Lords of the higher house so dooth he also increace the number of the lower house when he dooth make and erect any new Countie or incorporate any Borough or Town so that in his letters Pattents hée dooth nominate them by the name of a Burgesse And therfore when so euer the King dooth call his high Court of Parlement the writs of summons must be sent out for choosing of Knights in the new Counties and Burgesses in the new incorporated Boroughs or Townes aswel as to the other olde and auncient Citties and Townes and euery of them shall upon such summons bée bound to appéer and haue the ful priuiledges belonging to a Knight or a Burgesse of the Parlement Post mortem vita ¶ THE DISCRIPtion of the Cittie of Excester COLLECTED AND GAthered by Iohn Vowel alias Hooker gentleman and Chamberlain of the same Cittie Floret virtus in aeternum THE DISCRIPTION OF the Cittie of Excester collected and gathered by Iohn Vowel alias Hooker gentleman and Chamberlain of the same Cittie EXcester or Exeter is a famouse and ancient Cittie béeing the Metropole and Emporium of the west parts of England scituated in the Prouince called Deuonia which is Deuonshéer Of the first foundation therof by reason of the sundry inuations of forrain and straunge nations and of their hostilities and mortall warres in burning and destroying this Cittie there remaineth no certain memoriall neither emong the records of the said Cittie nor yet in any other writer But moste certain it is that it was first builded by the Brutes or Britons for the names which they gaue vnto it are yet at these presents had in remembraunce as wel emong the Cronographers of this Realme as also emong the Cornish people who sometimes were one with this Prouince but are now in a Prouince of them selues and borderers to this béeing the remanent of the blood of Brutus For when Cadwalader King of this land by reason of a great famin and Pestilence was inforced to forsake the same and flée into little Britain which now is vnder the dicion of the French King diuers and moste parte of his people fled also some into Wales and some into Cornwall wher euer sitheÌ„ce they and after them their posteritie haue remained and continued The olde Cronographers serchers and writers of antiquities doo finde that this Cittie was called Corinia and therof the Monastary of this Cittie was called Ecclesia Coriniensis whiche name if it were first giuen as it should seem by Corineus who after the ariuall of Brutus into this land was made the first Duke of these two Prouinces of Deuon and Cornwall and who theÌ„ after his owne name called it Corinia but now Corinibia wherof this Cittie euer hath béen and is the Metropolie and Emporium and alwaies parcel sometimes of the kingdome then of the Duchie after wardes of the Earledome and now again the Duchie of Cornewall out of all dout it is of no lesse antiquitie then the said names doo importe The Britons in their tung call it by sundry and diuers names The first and eldest in remembraunce in their spéech is Cairpenhulgoyte that is to say the prosperous chéef Town in the wood as it dooth appéer by Geffery of Monmoth and Ponticus Virimus It was also called Penhaltcayr that is to say the chéef Cittie or Town vpon the hil as appéereth in the trauerse betwéen the Bishop Dean and Chapter of this Cittie and the Mayor and comminaltie of the same in a long sute concerning their liberties But the names which the Cornish people doo at these presents remember retain are Pencayr Cayrruthe Cayrriske Pencayr is to say the chéef Cittie Cayrruthe signifieth the red Cittie taking that name of the soyle of the ground whervpon it is situated which is red Cayrryske is the Cittie of Iske béeing so called and taking his denomination of the Riuer whiche fléeteth by the said Cittie called in Brittish Iske And of this name Houedon in his Cronicle maketh mentioÌ„ saying thus Anno domini 877. Excercitus danorum ab warham nocte quadam federe dirupto ad Exancester diuerterunt quod brittannice dicitur Caerwiske Ptolomeus the famose Astronomer who was about the yéer of our Lord. 162. Coel béeing King of this land nameth the Cittie Isca and the Riuer Isaca And Bale the sercher of antiquities folowing the same opinion dooth also name the Cittie Isca and the in habitant or dweller therin Iscanus But vnder correction and with reuerence be it said a man may think that Ptolomeus béeing in Alexandria and so farre distant from this Realme was happely misinformed or els the Printer mistaken because it is moste likely that the Riuer should be called Isca according to the Brittish spéech in those dayes when it was called Isca which name by traÌ„sposing of two middle letters dooth yet remain being now named Icla or Ecsa. But whatsoeuer Ptolomeus or Baleus censures and iudgements be heerin it is moste certain that the names which the Britons gaue were of longest continuance and this Cittie called by their dominations by the space of xv hundred yéeres vntil the comming of the Saxons the Pictes and Scots into this Realme whiche was about the yéer of our Lord 450 for they as they preuailed and conquered did alwaies alter and chaunge the names of all places and Townes accounting it a great parte of their glory and renown to giue new names of their owne deuice or of their owne natiue Contries for so write the Cronographers Picti Scoti Angli Daci et Normandi in hac insula rerum potiti cuncta immutarunt pro trophaeis habentes Locis a se deuictis noua imponere nomina Wherfore as of all other Citties and Townes few excepted so of this also they chaunged and altred the olde names and called it Muncketon by which name it was so called
by the space of thrée hundreth and od yéeres vntil the time and comming of King Adlestane For he about the yéer of our Lord. 932. beeing muche gréeued with the Rebellion of the Cornish people because they refused and denyed to acknowledge him for their lawful King did bend his power and conducted his armie against them and with force when he had subdewed them returned to this Cittie and for a perpetuall memory to this common welth whiles he soiorned him self therin repaired and new builded the Cittie and the walles therof whiche before with force and fire were vtterly destroyed And then altred and chaunged the name therof calling it after the name of the Riuer Esseterra or Exeterra that is to say Exeter For so writeth Polidorus Est Exonia vrbs Deuonie comitatus loco precelso ad occidentem versus posita abluiturque flumine Exi a quo nomen habet Others therbe which name it Excestrum and thinketh it to be so called of the Riuer whiche is named Exestrum for this write they Clarissima vrbum est Excestria que ab amni Excestro qui eandem preterfluit est sic nuncupata I finde it also in an olde written Cronicle that it is named Exancestria or Exancestre which name should séem to be so giuen by the Sarons at their abode and béeing in this land for commonly the names which they gaue to such Townes Citties and Fortes as they either builded or reedified did end in Cestre as Chestre as Glocestre Lecestre MaÌ„chester winchestre worcestre Oscestre Colchestre Cicestre Ilcestre Bicestre and this Cittie of Exancestre with others for Cair in British and Cestre in Saxony is in English a Fort Town or Castle This Cittie is walled round about and so is thought was from the begininig It is all togither foure square but declineth towards a roundnes and containeth in circuite or compasse xvj hundred whole paces after fiue foot to the pace which accounting one thousand paces to a Mile is a mile and halfe and some what more The scituation of it is very plesaunt and amenous béeing set vpon a little hil emong many hilles the Contrie round about béeing Mountanose and ful of hilles It is pendeÌ„t towards the Sowth and West partes after and in such sort that be the Stréets neuer so foule or filthy yet with a shower of rain they are clensed aad made swéet And albeit commonly hilles are dry yet nature is so beneficial to this hil that it is ful of springê and by that menes euery parte of the Cittie is furnished with welles and Tyepittes the commoditie wherof hath wel appéered in sundry times of necessitie but especially in the late Commotion whiche was in the yéer of our Lord. 1549. for though then the enemy by spoiling of the Pipes wherby water was conuayed to the fountains of the Cittie from certaine Springs distant not a Mile from the same did abridge them of that water yet moste comfortably did they inioy the welles and Tyepittes within the walles whiche abundantly fléeted with waters to the satisfying of all the people therin There are also within this Cittie certain Fountains called Conduits vnto which through certain canalis or Pipes of Lead waters are conueyed from Springs rising out of certain places and féelds without this Cittie and these waters are of moste price the same by reason of the cariage béeing purified and made lighter then the waters springing within the Cittie and by that menes more fit for the dressing of meates Of these Fountains one béeing of great antiquitie and of late réedifyed staÌ„deth in the middle of the Cittie at the méeting of foure principall Stréets therof and wherof it taketh his name beeing called the Conduit at Quarterfoies of Carsoxe and this serueth eche parte of the Cittie a like At the higher parte of this Cittie is a very olde and auncient Castle called by the name of Rugemont that is to say the red hil taking that name of the red Earth whervpon it standeth The Cite of it is eminent and aboue bothe the Cittie and countrie adioyning for they doo all lye as vnder the lée ther of It hath a goodly prospect towards the Seas for betwéen that and it is no hil at all it is strongly diched round about and was so builded as is thought by Iulius Caesar â–ª or rather by the Romains after him for they had their recourse to it for their defence and refuge many yéeres The same also was sometimes the Palaice of such Kings as to whome the Kingdome of west Sex or west Saxons was alloted vnto After that it was the habitation of the Earles of Cornwall and last of all to the Dukes of Exon and of Cornwall for to those estates the signiory of this Cittie did appertain the same béeing parcel sometimes of the Earledome but now of the Duchie of Cornewall It. is now in meruelous ruin and decay not easely by force to be gotten were it réedified and inuironed At the lower end and parte of this Cittie without the walles fléeteth a goodly Riuer called in British Iske Ptholomeus by misinformation calleth it Isaca but the olde writers name it Esse Exe Exa or Excestrum which names be yet retained It hath his spring or hed in a certain Moer or desert distant from this Cittie néer about xxiiij miles called Exemore it floweth into the main Seas but by the way is increced with sundry Riuers Brookes and Lakes namely Creedy Collome and others in it is great plenty of Salmon Trout Peal dace Pike and other fresh water Fish whiche are had in the lesse price for that the Seas béeing so néer doo furnish the Cittie and the cuntrey abundantly with sundry kindes of Sea Fish moste delicate The main Sea it self is not distant from the Cittie abooue eight miles out wherof commeth an Arme seruing for the Port of the same which sometimes as appéereth by olde and auncient records did flow vp to the walles of the Cittie where bothe Shippes were wunt to be laden and vnladen of all kinde of Merchandise at a proper place appointed for the same which at this presents kéepeth his olde and ancient name béeing callen the VVatergate The decay therof happened in the yéer of our Lord. 1312. by one Hugh Courtney the third of that name and Earle of Deuon who béeing offended and incenced against this Cittie his wrathful humour could not be satisfied vnlesse he might impair the state of that common welth and therfore séeing and vnderstanding emong other commodities the vse of the Hauen to be one of the chéefest did neuer quiet him self vntil he had destroyed the same Wherfore in the yéer of our Lord. 1313. béeing the fifth yéer of the reign of King Edward the second he enterprised his pretenced deuise and mischéef For where as the Lady Awmerle Countesse of Deuon his Ancestrix had builded certain Weares vpon the Riuer of Exe th' one within the mannor of Exminster béeing in the
it is to be noted that the two principall Clarks of the Parlement for the King and his Councel and other secondary Clarks of whom and of whose office mencion shal be héerafter made The chéef Cryer of England with his deputies and the chéef Porter of England howbeit these two offices were accustomed to be occupyed by one person these ought to be there the first day of the Parlement The Lord Chaunceler of England the Treasurer the Chamberlain the Barons of the Eschequer the Iustices all the kings Clarks and knights with Sergeants at the Law of the kings retinew or fée ought to be there the second day vnlesse they haue a resonable impediment or let Of the beginning of the Parlement THe King ought to be in the Parlement the first day and should sit in the midst of the high bench The sixt day the Chaunceller the Treasurer the Barons of the Eschequer and the Iustices were accustomed to recorde the defaults doon in the ParlemeÌ„t in forme folowing The first day they must call all the Citizens and Burgesses of all England and for lack of their apparaunce a Citty shal be amerced in a C. pound and a borough a C. markê The second day they shall call knights of Shéeres and in default of their apparance the shéere shal be amerced a C. pouÌ„d The third day the Barons of the fiue portes after them th' other Barons and then the Earles and for lack of apparance of euery Baron they shal be amerced a C. markê and of an Erle a C. pound the like shal be doon to them that be Earles and Barons Péeres that is to say as haue Lands and rents to the yéerly value of an Earledome or of a barony as is before expressed The fourth day the Proctors of the Clergie shal be called and for lack of their apparance their Bishops shal be amerced a C. marks for euery Archdeaconry that maketh default The fifth day Deanes Priors Abbots Bishops and Archbishops and for lack of apparaunce of an Archbishop he shal be amerced a C. pound a Bishop an Abbot and a Prior whiche holde an whole barony a C. marks Of the Proclamations THe first day of the Parlement proclamation shal be made first in the Hall or in the Monastery or some other open place where the Parlement shal be holden or kept and after in the Citty or Town opeÌ„ly that euery man hauing Bil or Peticion to be eranuned or determined in the Parlement that is should be laid in within fiue dayes of the beginning of the parlement Of the preaching of the Parlement AN Archbishop or some famose discrete and eloquent Clark tobe assigned by the Archbishop in whose prouince the Parlement shal be kept and holden shall preach on the first of the fiue dayes in the ful Parlement in the Kings presence and he shall begin when all the Parlement or the moste parte shal be there assembled in his prison or prayer he shall require all the whole Parlement that they humbly beséech almightie God for the peace and tranquilitie of the King and Realme Of the Speaker of the Parlement AFter the Sermon doon the L. Chaunceller of England or the chéef Iustice elect shall stand declaring in the parlement house first generally and then specially the causes of the Parlement and wherfore the same is holden And it is to be noted that euery man the King excepted shall stand while the said Speaker dooth declare his matter to th'entent that euery man may hear him in cace he doo speak obscurely or darkly or so lowe that he cannot be heard he must begin again or els an other speak in his place What the King shall say after the Speaker hath doon THe King after the speaker hath declared the causes of the Parlement shall desire the Spiritualtie and the Temporaltie naming euery degrée that is to say Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Archdeacons proctors and others of the Clergie Earles Barons knights Citizens and Burgesses and others of the Temporaltie that they doo diligently studiously and loouingly indeuer them selues to examin pertract and handle the causes of the Parlement to the honor of God principally secondarely to the Kings honor and lastly to the welth of the Realme Of the Kings absence THe King ought dayly to be present in the Parlement vnlesse he be sick or diseased and then he may kéep his chamber so that he lodge not out of the manor or town where the Parlement is holden and then he ought to send for xij persons of the great estates that be monished or summoned to the Parlement wherof two to be Bishops two Earles two Barons two Knights two Citizens and two Burgesses to sée his person to certifie of his estate in their presence he ought to commit power to the Archbishop of the prouince to the Lord Steward and to the chéef Iustices that they ioyntly and seuerally shall begin and continew the Parlement in the Kings name making expresse mention in his commission of his disease to th' other estates and that the persons abooue named can expresse the same for it is a perilous cace and dangerous for the communaltie and Realme that the King should be absent from the Parlement but onely for bodely sicknes Of places and seates in the Parlement FIrst as it is before said the King shall sit in the midst of the bench vpon the right hand the Archbishop of Canterbury at his left hand the Archbishop of Yorke and then Bishops Abbots and Priors in order and then euery man in his degrée and amongst his péeres and that this order be kept the Lord Steward of England is bound to look vnto vnlesse the King assigne some other At the Kings righ foot the Chaunceller of England the chéef Iustice of England with his felowes and their Clarks that be of the ParlemeÌ„t And at his left foot shall sit the Treasurer the Chamberlain the Barons of the Eschequer the Iudge of the common place with their Clarks that been of the Parlement Of the porters of the Parlement THe chéef Porter of the Parlement shall stand within the great gate or Monastery hall or place wher the Parlement is holden and shall attend that no man enter into the Parlement except he be called for matters that he sheweth in the Parlement And it is expedient that the said Porter haue knowledge of euery mannes name that shall enter into the Parlement and if need require to haue many porters vnder him Of Cryers of the Parlement THe Cryer shall stand without the Parlement door and the Porter shall shew him when and what he shall call The king was accustomed to appoint his SergeaÌ„ts at armes to kéep the Parlement door that no thrust presse or noyse were made there by meanes wherof the Parlement might be letted and that such thrust preace or noyse might he auoyded and proclamation should be made that no person enterprise such things there vnder pain of imprisonment for by Law
west side of the Riuer and th' other within her manor of Topsham béeing in the East side of the Riuer leuing between the said twoo weres a certain aparture or open roume of thirtye foot through which all Botes Shippes and Vessails without let might haue their vsuall passage and repassage towards and from this Cittie The said Earle to abridge destroy this commoditie did leuye build a new Weare in the said open place stopping filing and quirting the same with trées timber and Stones in such sort that no vessail could passe or repasse After him Edward Courtney Earle of Deuon and Nephew to the said Hugh did not onely maintaine and continew the fact of his ancester and grandfather by dayly repairing and defending the same but also woorking an vtter destruction for any passage for Shippes thencefoorth to the Cittie vnder pretēce to buyld certain Milles did erect and make two other weares the one Sainct Iames ouerthwart the Riuer and the other at Lamperford by meanes wherof not onely the Cittie susteined the whole losse of their hauē but the whole Contrey adioyning for which iniuryes vpon complaints made writs and commissions of inquiry were sent out the said Earles for the same by verdict and presentment at seuerall times found guilty but such was his authoritie and power that it auailed nothing Neuerthelesse the said Earle Hugh the water course vnto the Cittie thus destroyed buylded a place called a Key for the charge and discharge of all Wares and Merchandise within that port at a Town of his owne called Topsham distant from the Cittie about thrée miles from whence euer sithence all wares and Merchandises haue béen caryed and recaryed to and from the Cittie by Horse Cart or Wain though to the gain of the Earle and his Tenaunts yet to the great trouble and hindraunce of this Cittie and Merchaunts therof Neuerthelesse the port hath euermore yet dooth retain his olde and ancient name béeing called the Port of this Cittie of Exon and alwaies hath béen and presently is a tribute paid vnto the Cittie for all kindes of wares and Merchandise discharged within that Port and called by the name of the pettie town costome And albeit the water course thus destroyed can hardely be restored to his olde pristinate naturall estate for that through long continuaunce the olde course cannot be discerned yet now at length after many attempts and great expences a water course and passage begun in the yéer 1564. is recouered and by sluces Botes and vessailes of xx tunnes tight are brought to the Citie and there discharged at the olde and ancient place called the VVater gate Where is buylded a fair and a large Key or Wharf as also an engine called a Crane fit for the purpose Within this Cittie were sometime but few parish Churches but when that Innocencius tertius in the yéere of our Lord. 1198. had established the Article of Transubstanciation adding the same to the Simbole as appéereth in the Decretal titulo de summa trinitate canō firmiter thē his next successor Honorius Anno. 1218. did not onely confirme the same but also decreed Reseruation Candlelight and praying for the dead as appéereth Decret titulo de celebratione missarum canon sane cum et sane cum creatura by which meanes the number of Préests did not onely increace but Churches also in all places begā dayly to be buylded And therfore in this Cittie in the yéer of our Lord 1222. béeing the .vj. yéere of Henry the third the parish Churches therin were limitted out and augmented to the number of xix Churches within the Cittie and suburbes of the same And moste certain it is that in times past they were liuings competent and sufficient to maintain an Incumbent but that kinde of Religion now auoyded the Gospel preched the liuelihods are so small as not sufficient to maintain a poore Clark or Scoller which is the cause that so many of them dooly vacant without Incumbents Besides these parish Churches there was also a Monastery sometime of Monkes of Saint Benets order but sithence a Cathedrall Church béeing very fair and sumptuously buylded with free Stones and the Pillers of grey Marble standing and scituated in the East parte of the Cittie which as some doo reporte that Etheldred the third Sonne of Echelwolphus should first found and buyld Some think that King Edgar did it trueth it is that bothe the said Kings buylded euery of them a house of Religious persons within this Cittie but the first was vtterly burnt and destroyed by the Danes and th' other in processe of time vnited to the Monastery which now is a Cathedrall Church which is moste certain and trew that King Athelstane the Sonne of King Edvvard the elder did bothe foūd and buyld it as it dooth plainly appéer in the history of the said Church where it is written Athelstanus subiugatis cornuquallen sibus reuersus est ad ciuitatem que antiquitus Muncketon vocabatur nunc autem Exeter ac ibi sedens Anno. 932. non tam lacerata eiusdem Ciuitatis maenia reparabat quin et mansum quoddam dedit ad fundandum Monasterium pro monachis Deo et Sancto Petro famulantibus This King besides his expences charges in building of this Church which at the first was but small placed therin Munkes of S. Benettes order prouided liuelehodes for them and made vnto them a gouernor and Ruler called by the name of an Abbote towards whose liuelihodes he gaue Morckshull and Treasurers Beare which at these presents doo yet remain béeing annexed to the dignitie of the Tresurership The Church thus begun Kings Princes and noble men from time to time were gladly contributors to the absoluing and finishing of the same For about lxxx and od yéers after Adlestene King Knoght called Cahutus or Canutus at the sugestion of one of his Dukes named Athelred did confirme and graunt to Athelwolde then Abbot of the said Church to his successors many and sundry priuileges and liberties vnder his Letters Patentes dated the second yéer of his reign Anno domini 1019. After him néer about xxx yéeres King Edward the confessor remooued the Munkes vnto VVestminster and made this a Cathedrall Church remoouing the Sea thē at Crediton to this Cittie making Leofricus Bishop therof as appéereth by his letters Patents dated the viij yéer of his reign An. 1050. Howbeit the Munck of Bury and Polidorus others doo affirme and write that the setling of this Bishops seat in this Cittie was in the xij yéer of VViliam the Conquerour for thus they write Habitum est Londini sub Lanfrāco Antistitum et sacerdotū comitium quo decretum est quod aliquot sedes Episcopales que in opidulis et pagis ante fuerant in vrbibus et locis celeberrimis collocarentur quo factum est vt Bathonia Lincolnia Sarisburia Exonia Cestria et Cicestria vrbes huiusmodi nouis Episcoporū
taken them vnwares and vpon a sudain Sed Ciuibus viriliter resistentibus recesserunt the inhabitaÌ„ts and people of Deuon Somerset and Dorset hearing therof in all haste assembled theÌ„selues minding bothe to reskew the Cittie as also to encounter and aduenture the feeld with the Danes And méeting with them as they were comming from the siege of the Cittie ioyned battail with them at a place called Pinho distant about iij miles froÌ„ the Cittie where was a cruel fight and a great slaughter had between them And thus dooth Houedon also testifie for saith he Memoratus paganorum exercitus de Normannia in Angliam reuectus ostium fluuii Eaxe ingreditur et mox ad extinguendam vrbem Exancestre egreditur sed dum murum illius destruere moliretur ac ciuibus vrbem viriliter defendentibus repellitur vnde nimis exasperatus more solito villas succendendo agros depopulando hominesque cedendo per domnoniam vagatur quare domnanienses in vnum congregati in loco qui dicitur Pinho certamen cum eis ineunt King Sweno béeing in Denmark aduertised héerof as also how King Eldred alias Etheldred or Egelred had caused all the Danes in the Realme sudainly in one night to be slain béeing much gréeued ther with did prouide prepare an armye for the reuenge therof and in the yeer 1002. landing into diuers partes of this Realme did moste cruelly spoil the land sley the people and bring the whole estate to an vnspeakable miserye But at length receiuing a tribute for peace returned home again into his owne contrey howbeit the Citizens of Exon hearing of this crueltie vsed in the East partes made them selues strong and prepared the Cittie in redynes to withstand y force of such an enemye if happely he should attempt hostilite and force against them But the Dane béeing returned home and knowing nothing of this preparation one Hugh then Earle of Deuon as Princes lack no fawners sent his letters into Denmark to King Sweno certifying him bothe of the state welth of this Cittie and of the great preparation made therin to withstand him perswading him not to sustain such a matter and as Coles wil be soon enkendled so foorthwith the Dane was in his heat and prepared all thinges in a redynes to woork his wil against this Cittie Wherfore the yéer folowing béeing the yéer of our Lord. 1003. he landed vpon the costs of Deuon and Cornwall with a huge hoste and marching towards this Citie gaue and laid siege to the same in the beginning of August and continued vntil the xiiij of the Kalendes of September during which time though the assaultes were often ferce and cruel yet there wanted no stomack in the Citizens to withstand the same But in continuance of time when they sawe them selues weke Victualles to fail the fire round about them their walles beaten down them selues dayly slaughtered and murthered and with this their decay the enemye to be the stronger and yet in all their distresse their king Eldred fled into Normandye hauiÌ„g no care for their miseryes nor preparing reskewes for their ayd and succour it was no maruail though in so heauye a case they were amased and astonied yet consulting considering with theÌ„ selues that Sweno was a Dane a cruel enemie a bloody murtherer a very vsurper hauing no other title to the Realme of England but tiranny did with one consent agree and conclude neuer to yéeld or giue ouer as long as any were left aliue which might withstand such an enemye wishing rather to dye in trueth and for their common welth then to liue with reproche and infamy and to departe rather with mortall Fame then to be miserable slaues to an vsurping tirant When therfore after manâ— long assaultes they were spent and few or none left aliue to withstaÌ„d so mightie so many enemyes the Dane on the .xxvij. of August entred the Cittie and when he had serued his bloody appetite in murdering the poor widdowes and Children he spoyled the Cittie burned the houses rased the walles beat down the Temples and left nothing which either by swoord fire or spoyling might be consumed And so Renolph writteth Daci cum suo Rege Swano Excestriam venerunt et vrbem funditus destruxerunt nulla re incolumi relicta que aut ferro aut igne poterat vastari et omnia spolia cineribus tantum relictis secum deportauerunt The like woords Henry of Huntington in the sixt Booke of his historyes writeth in this sort Anno dom 1â—03 Daci ira exarserunt sicut ignis quem sanguine velit aliquis extinguere aduolantes igitur quasi multitudo locustarum quidam Exestriam veneruÌ„t et vrbem totam funditus destruxerunt et omnia spolia secuin cineribus tantum relictis deportauerunt Houedon also writteth Rex danorum Swein per iniuriam et proditionem Normanici comitis hugonis quem Emma Domnaniae prefecerat ciuitateÌ„ Exon infregit spoliauit murum ab orientali vsque ad occidentaleÌ„ portam destrux it et cum ingenti praeda naues repetiit 6 It was also besieged by VVilliam the Conquerour in the first yeer of his reign Anno. 1068. for when he first entred the land vsing by dent of Sword all hostilitie this Cittie entring in leage with the nobilitie and Townes of this Contrey did conclude and promise eche to the other to withstand the enemye to the vttermoste accordingly did prepare for the same but when the Conquerour had preuailed and subdued almoste the whole Realme and vnderstanding that this Cittie would not yéeld sent his Armye from London and besieged the same and perceiuing the siege to continew marched him self as far as Salisbury towards the same In the mean time y Citizens aduertised that the whole Realme had yeelded and seeing their confederats to shrink dayly from them and by that menes they to war dayly weaker and weaker beeing not able to withstand so great a power and Armye as was round about them did by way of intreatie offer conditions of peace and submitted them selues to the King who according to their composition receiued their submission after a greeuouse fine taken did restore the Cittie vnto them again But in token of his conquest he altred the Gates of the Castel and swore all the people to be his liege Subiects Houedon in his History maketh mencion that King Harolds wife should be within the Cittie during this assault besiege for these be his woords Hyeme imminente Rex VVil helmus de Normania in Angliam rediit et Angliae importabile tributum imposuit deinde in domnomam hostâ—â—â—er profectus est ad ciuitatem Excestriam quam ciues et nonnulli Anglici ministri contra illum retinebant et obsedit et in fregit Githa vero commitissa mater scilicet Haroldi Regis Anglorum ac soror Swani Regis danorum cum multis de ciuitate fugiens euasit eâ— Flandriam petiit ciues autem dex tris acceptis regi
it was feared either that the people must yéeld to the enemye or perish with famin How beit the Magistrates though sory in such destesse yet hauing a speciall regarde of their dutie toward the Prince and their charge to the common welth left no meanes vnsought to quiet the people and stay them in their deutye and obidience Wherfore comforting the people with fair promises and liberall reléeuing their necessities did in such sort and order handle the matter that euery body with one assent was resolued in hope of some spéedy reléef to abide the end and in no wise to giue place to the â—â—â—mye but to continue faithful to the Prince and trusty to â—heir common welth And yet in the meane while the gouernours left no deuises and prouisions which might be for the reléefe and comfort of the poore hungrye bellyes wherfore the corne and Meale consumed they caused of course and olde refused Bran bread to be moulded vp in clothes for otherwise it would not stick togither Also they caused some excurtions to be made out of the Cittie for the praying and taking of such Cattel as were néer about the walles which béeing taken was distributed emong the poor Likewise the Prisoners in captiuitie were contented to be fatisfied with such victualles as could bée prouided and albeit mannes nature can scarcely abide to féed vpon the flesh of a Horse yet these poor men were fed therwith and wel contented The noble King and Councel aduertised of this distresse did at length after .xxxv. dayes send the honorable S. Iohn Russel Knight Lord Russel Lord priuy Seale and afterwards Earle of Bedford with a company and band of Souldiers who after sundry conflicts had with the enemyes came to this Cittie the vj. of August reskewing and deliuering the same from the enemye and set them at libertie For the which as God was moste worthy of all praise and glory so is the same his deliueraunce at this present had in perpetuall memory the vj. of August béeing a holy day in the remembraunce therof Thus this little Cittie which in antiquitie is not inferiour to other hath from time to time felt the smartes and chauÌ„ges of all times and indured great troubles daungers extremities and perilles and yet God regarding their faith obedieÌ„ce to their Prince and common welth before all other sacrifices hath defended an preserued them alwaies rewarding them with immortall Fame for which his great benefits his name be praised for euer and euer The sundry and seuerall names of the Ciâ—â— of Excester and the interpretation of the same COrinea or Corinia is the first and eldest name of this Cittie and so named by Corineus who ariuing with Brutus into this laÌ„d and seasing or taking laÌ„d vpon these west parteê was by brutus Lord of the same And he then building Cittie as is thought called it by his owne name Corinia whiche béeing so then is this Cittie one of the first Townes or Cittyes buylded by the Brittons in this land Cayrpenhuelgoite is compounded of foure woords Cayr is a Fortresse or a walled Town pen is a hed or the chéef of any thing hovvel is good luck prosperitie or knowledge goyed is wood a forest or timber woork now these put togither after the English phrase is the prosperouse chéef Town in the wood Penhaltcayr is compounded of thrée woords Pen is the hed or chéef halt is high a top of hil or the brim or edge of a thing cayr is a Town walled or a Fortresse these put togither doo signify the hed Town or Cittie vpon the Hil. Pencayr is compounded of two woords of Pen and Cayr which signify the cheef Cittie Cayrruthe Cayrrith is compounded of Cair and Rith Rith is tawnish or a dark red and so it signifyeth the red town Cittie or Fort. Cayrriske is likewise a compound of two words Iske signifieth a fresh water also a quil or a wing but in this place it is the name of the Riuer which fléeteth by the Cittie and so 〈◊〉 signifieth the Cittie of Iske Isca was also the name of the Town and Isaca the name of the Riuer which fleeteth by it as Ptolomeus and certain latter writers folowing him doo suppose write though it should séeme rather the Cittie to be called Isaca and the Riuer Isca Muncketon was so called by the Saxons but vpon what reason it dooth not appeer others theÌ„ that they did at their comming chaunge and alter the names of all or moste parte of places in this land giuing new names either of Townes or places of the Contrey from wheÌ„ce they came or of their owne deuise or els King Etheldred or King Edgar when they had builded eche of them a Monastery for Muncks did giue that name Exeter was the name which King Adelstane gaue vnto it when he soiourned in this Town calling it so of the riuer Exe and then it is to say Exeterra the town or soyle of Exe. Exancestre is thought to be so called by the Saxons who commonly and for the moste parte named such Fortes and holdes as they buylded by this woord Cestria as Cicestria Dorcestria Osestria and many other like for Cestir in the Saxon tung is a Forte a Town or a Cittie Excestrum or Excestre is the name moste now in vse and so named as some write of the Riuer whiche they write to be named Excestrum Brutus Cadwalader Corinnia Cairpenhulgoit Penhaltcair Pencayr Cayrruth Cayrriske king Coil Bale Muncketon Adlestane Exeterra Excestre Exancestre Caesar. Courtney Churche of Exon. Ethelvvolphus Etheldred Edgar Canutus S. Edward Leofricus Aruiragus Edvvin Cadvvalline Alphred Svveno VVilliam CoÌ„querer king Stephen Baldwin Ridiuers King Richard Duke of York Duke of Glocestre Vere Delapole Lord Dinham Lord Fitzvvarren Baron of Carevve Duke of Clarence Neuel erle of VVarvvick king Henry King Edvvard
neither fear god nor hate iniquitie which are of no experience or knowledge sit in Senate of the wise and giue iudgemēt emong the graue and learned Finally if the olde Senators and wise Fathers ought there to sit in ancient order and in graue maner what place is there for punies rash heddes and yung men who hauing no learning and lesse experience are caried away as a fether with the winde with euery light toy making no account nor hauing any regarde at all to the publique weale And surely that our Parlements should be kept in such order the good ancient Kings of this realme with great aduise did so ordain and great penalties are prescribed and punishments appointed against such as shal be remisse in obseruing or guiltie in the breach therof If we therfore for whose safetie and preseruation so good and wholsome lawes which haue been made and heertofore obserued should degenerate from our forefathers and be remisse or carelesse in the keeping of the same let vs be assured that as we shall right worthely so shall we assuredly feel the smart therof to the vtter destruction of our selues the subuertion of the common welth and decay of our posteritie for so hath it happened and be fallen to all the estates kingdomes Realmes Citties and common welths of all the world whose destruction and decay began with the contempt and decay of their lawes and orders Where is the wel gouerned estate of the Atheniences What is become of the noble estate of the Romains What is become of the prudent gouernment of the Ephoros in Sparta Nay what is become of the Israelits the chosen people of God are not they driuen out of their owne land and become vagabōds through the whole world are not they so lothesome that all sorts of people doo in a manner shun and abhorre them It is an olde saying Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum happy is he that can beware by an other mannes harme Wel if their be any feare of God in vs if any zeale to our cōmon weale any care of our posteritie or account of our owne safetie let vs haue an ernest regarde to the preseruation of that which is the preseruation of vs Let vs keep that which keepeth vs maintain that which maintaineth vs and defend that whiche defendeth vs Let vs preuent and beware that in choice of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses none be chosen which are straungers to the common welth yung of yeeres weke of discretion and timerose to speak but such as are graue wise anciēt and expert fearing God dealing truely according to the ancient orders lawdable customes and prescribed lawes of this Realme And for asmuch as the orders vsages and customs of the Parlements of this Realme are for the most part and to most men hidden and vnknowen and yet moste expedient and necessary that none should be ignoraunt of them I haue thought good vpon considerations to make a collection of them and finding some alteration and varietie of the Parlements in these dayes from them which were vsed in the elder dayes I haue made the discription bothe of the one and of thother The first and ancientest orders I haue translated out of an olde and an ancient Lattin Record which I haue of the Parlemēts kept in the time of King Edward the Sonne of King Etheldred named Edward the confessor about the yeer of our Lord. 1046 which were duely for many yeeres before and after his dayes kept and obserued The others are of mine owne deuise and collection according to that which I saw and learned at the Parlement holden at Westminster in the xiij yeer of the reign of Queene Elizabeth Anno. 1571. at which I was present being one though vnworthy of the said house and assembly I haue beē the more willing to set the same foorth because I knowe it moste necessary and needful to be knowen and that it toucheth the whole estate and common wealth of this Realme very neer For if the Rulers and gouernours of Citties and townes doo not more carefully look to the choice of their Citizens and Burgesses their states may paraduenture be in daunger to be shaken and their gouernments be in peril to perish And as for zeale and good wil to the whole common welth and my natiue Contrey I haue taken this little trauail so of bounden deutie I haue thought good to offer and presēt the same vnto you partely that a Legiar memoriall of so worthy and necessary a matter might remain and be emong your Records for the better instruction of your selues and all others which shal repair vnto you for the same But cheefly to yeeld my self vnto you moste humble and thankful for your good wil and tender affection towards me for albeit you had the choice of sundry wise men which for their grauitie experience and knowledge farre exceeding me were more fit to haue supplyed a place in that honorable assembly yet you of a good wil conceiuing the best made choice of me preferring me before the wise and ioyning me with the discreet and although by meanes of sicknes the vse of my speech not seruing I could not speak my minde in that pluce as of duety and consciēce I ought and would haue doon yet in such credit of that assembly I was that by a whole and a generall concent of the Parlemēt I was eftsoones chosen to be a Comitte in sundry matters of charge and importaunce and they with whome I was ioyned although they were personages of much honor and great experience yet such credit they gaue to my words and so allowed of my sayings that with good allowance they relyed vnto the same Whatsoeuer credit or cōmendation groweth to me heerby I doo must and wil wholly impute it vnto you And therfore as one bounden vnto you and altogither dedicated to your seruice and commaundement I doo offer this my simple and rude collection vnto your worships praying and beseeching you not to haue respect to the simplicitie rudenes and sclendernes of the matter offred but to the good wil of the offerer I haue before this attempted and begun to to draw and make a discourse of the antiquitie estate and gouernment of this Cittie thinking when I began I should long ere this haue absolued the same and haue offred it vnto you But in the middle of my trauails beeing by your consēts called to folow the weightie affaires of the right worshipful Sir Peeter Carew knight in Ireland I was cut of and dissapointed sithens beeing returned I haue for the moste part been so ouer charged with sicknes and mine affections haue been and are so distempered as that oportunitie and power haue not yet serued to folow the absoluing of that whiche my good wil and ernest desire wissheth Neuerthelesse hauing perused the discription of this Cittie which was of mine owne collection I haue vpon the sight of more matter enlarged augmēted and brought the same to such a perfection
the Parlement door should not be shut but he kept by the Porter or Sergeaunt at Armes Of the help for the King. THe King was not accustomed to demaūd help of his Realme but onely for war that was instant or for the creation of his Sonnes to bée made knights or his Daughters to be maryed and these helps ought to be demaunded in the ful Parlement and in writing to be deliuered vnto euery degrée and they in writing to make answere And if this help ought to be graunted then euery degrée of the Parlemēt should cōcent therto And it is to be knowen that two Knights or two Citizens or two Eurgesses whiche come to the Parlement in graunting or denying any thing demaunded in the Parlement haue more aucthoritie then the greatest Earle in England And in like cace two proctors for the Clergie in one diocesse haue more aucthoritie then their Bishops in things to be graunted or denyed in Parlement and the reason is this The King may holde his parlemēt for the communaltie of his Realme without Bishops Earles or Barons so that they haue lawful sūmons and come not for some time there was no Bishop Earle nor Baron and yet the King hid kéep his Parlemēt but of the contrary if the communaltie of the Clergie and of the Temporaltie be monished to the parlement as they ought to be by the Law and for certain causes they doo not or wilnot come as if they pretend that the King hath not ruled or gouerned them accordingly and doo therin expresse wherin he hath not ruled them accordingly in this cace the Parlement whiche the King holdeth with the Bishops Earles and Barons is of no effect and therfore in all things that are to be graunted ordayned established or broken by parlement the communaltie of the parlement of necessitie must concent therunto For in the cōmunaltie are conteyned iiij degrées of Parlement that is to say proctors of the Clergie Knights of Shéers Citizens of Cittyes and Burgesses of Townes these persons doo represent the whole cōmunaltie of England wher as th' other estates doo represent but their owne persons For billes and peticions of the Parlement THe Parlement ought not to bée ended whiles any peticion dependeth vndiscussed or at least to whome a determinate aunswere is not made and if the King permit the contrary hée is periured also no Péere of the Parlement shall departe from the same without licence obtayned of the King and of his péeres which licence is to be obteyned in open parlement and to be recorded in rolle of Parlement And if it happen any of the Péeres to be sick during the Parlement so that he cannot come to it then for thrée dayes he shall send his excuse to the Parlement but if after thrée dayes passed he come not then two of his péeres shal be sent to him to sée his person and therof to aduertise the Parlement and if any suspicion be had these two Péeres shal be sworne to testifie the very trueth and if it appéer he haue fained him self sick he then to be amerced as a fault for his not appéeraunce at the beginning of the Perlement and if he be sick then before then he shall make a sufficient to appéer in Parlement for him No person of the Parlement can be excused hauing his helth and memory The ending of the Parlement THe finishing of the Parlement must be assigned appointed and openly proclamed bothe in the Parlement and within the palace of the Parlement And if there be any wil say that he hath no answere of his bil deliuered into the Parlement then the Parlement to continue but if no man so say it is to be supposed that euery man hath remedye or assigned how to haue remedy by the Lawes and at the proclamation made if there be no Billes to be laid in the King may licence his Parlement Of the Coppyes of the Records of the Parlement THe Clark of the Parlement shall deny to no man the coppy of his processe but shall deliuer vnto euery man that demaundeth it taking for euery ten lines a peny And if the party be poore and therupon maketh his othe to haue nothing the rolle of the Parlement shal be tenne inches brode The Parlement shal be kept whersoeuer it shall please the King. THese orders in processe of time did successe and were out of all vse few or no Parlements béeing kept from the time of William the Conqueror vntil the reign of King Edward the first who by th' aduise of his wise learned counsailers prescribed a forme order how the Parlements within this Realme should be obserued and kept which orders also in the course of certain yéeres grew out of vse in many points and the order héer ensuing is that which is in our dayes receiued and vsed THE ORDER AND Vsage how to keep a Parlement in England in these dayes colected by Iohn Vowel alias Hooker gentleman one of the Citizens for the Cittie of Exeter at the Parlement holden at VVestminster Anno domine Elizabethae Reginae decimo Tertio 1571. By whome and for what cause a Parlement ought to be summoned and called THe King who is Gods anoynted béeing the hed and chéef of the whole Realme and vpon whome the gouernment and estates therof doo wholy and onely depend hath the power and authoritie to call and assemble his Parlement and therin to séek aske the aduise councel and assistāce of his whole Realme and without this his authoritie no parlement can properly be summoned or assembled And the King hauing this authoritie ought not to summō his Parlement but for weightie great causes and in which he of necessitie ought to haue the aduise and counsel of all the estates of his Realme whiche be these and suche like as foloweth First for Religion for for asmuche as by the Lawes of God and this Realme the King next and immediatly vnder God is his deputye and Vicar in Earth and the chéefest ruler within his Realmes and dominons his office function and duty is abooue all things to séek and sée that God be honored in true Religion and Vertue and that he and his people doo bothe in profession and life liue according to the same Also that all Idolatries false Religions heresies scismes errors supersticions and what so euer is contrary to true Religion all disorders and abuses either among the Clergie or the Laietie be reformed ordred and redressed Also the assuraunce of the King and Quéens persons and of their Children their aduancement preferment in mariages the establishing of succession the suppression of Traitors the aduoyding or eschewing of warres the attempting or mooving of warres the subduing of Rebelles and pacifying of ciuil warres and commotions the leuying or hauing any aide or Subsidye for the preseruation of the King and publique estate Also the making and establishing of good and wholsome Lawes or the repealing and debarring of former Lawes as whose execution may be
hurtful or preiudiciall to the estates of the Prince or common welth For these and such like causes beeing of great weight charge and importaunce the King by the aduise of his councel may call summon his high Court of Parlement and by the authoritie therof establish and order such good Lawes and orders as then shal be thought moste expedient and necessary The order and manner how to summon the Parlement THe King ought to send out his writs of summons to all the estates of his Realme at least forty dayes before the beginning of the Parlement First to all his Lords and Barons that is to wit Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquesses Earles Vicountes and Barons and euery of these must haue a speciall writ then to the Clergie and the writ of their summons must be addressed to euery perticuler Bishop for the Clergie of his diocesse all these writs which are for the Clergie the King alwaies sendeth to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York by them they are sent and dispersed abrode to euery perticuler Bishop within their seuerall prouinces and so the Bishops giue summons to the Clergie Lastly for the summoning of the Commons hée sendeth his writ to the Lord warden of the fiue portes for the election of the Barons therof and to euery seuerall Shiriffe for the choice and election of Knights Citizens and Burgesses within his countie How and what persons ought to be chosen for the Clergie and of their allowaunces THe Bishop ought vpon the receipt of the writ sent vnto him for the sumoning of his Clergie forthwith to summoÌ„ and warne all deanes and Archdeacons within his diocesse to appéer in proper person at the Parlement vnlesse they haue some sufficient and resonable cause of absence in whiche cace he may appéer by his Proctor hauing a warrant or proxie for the same Then must he also send the like summons to the Deane and Chapter of his Cathedrall Churche who shall foorthwith assemble their Chapter and make choice of some one of them selues to appéer in their behalf and this man thus chosen must haue thrir commission or proxie He must also send out his summons to euery Archdeaconry and peculier requiring that the whole Clergie doo appéer before him his ChauÌ„celler or Officer at a certain day time and place who béeing so assembled shall make choice and election of two men of the said Clergie to appéer for them and these shall haue their commission or proxie for the same These Proctors thus to be chosen ought to be graue wise and learned men béeing professors either of Diuinitie or of the ecclesiasticall Lawes and that can wil and be able to dispute in cause of controuersie conuincing of heresies appeasing of Scismes and deuising of good and godly constitutions concerning true Religion and orders of the Church These Proctors thus elected ought to haue resonable allowances for their charges according to the state qualitie or condition of the person as also a respect had to the time the proctors of the Dean and Chapter are to be paid out of the Eschequer of the Cathedrall Churche The Proctors of the Clergie are to be paid of the Clergie among whome a collection is to beleuied for the same according to an olde order vsed among them How and what maner of Knights Citizens and Burgesses ought to be chosen and of their alowances THe Sheriffe of euery Countie hauing receiued his writê ought foorthwith to send his precepts summons to the Maiors Bayliffes and hed Officers of euery Citty Town corporate Borough and such places as haue béen accustomed to send Burgesses within his Countie that they doo choose and elect among them selues two CitizeÌ„s for euery Citty two Burgesses for euery Borough according to their olde custome and vsage And these hed Officers ought then to assemble them selues and the Alder men and commen councel of euery Citty or Town to make choice among them selues of two able and sufficient men of euery Citty or Town to serue for and in the said Parlement Likewise at the next Countie day to be holden in the said Countie after the receipt of this writ the Sheriffe ought openly in the Court of his Shéer or Countie betwéen the houres of viij and .ix. of the fore noon make Proclamation that euery frée holder shall come into the Court and choose two sufficient men to be Knightê for the Parlement then he must cause the writ to be openly and distinctly read whervpon the said frée holders then and there present ought to choose two Knights accordingly but he him self cannot giue any voice neither be chosen These elections a forsaid so past and doon there ought to be seuerall Indentures made betwéen the Sheriffe the frée holders of the choise of the knights and betwéen the Maior and the hed Officers of euery perticuler Cittie Town of the choice of their Citizens and Burgesses and of their names of their mainperners and Sureties Of these IndeÌ„tures the one parte béeing sealed by the Sheriffe ought to be returned to the Clark of the Parlement and th' other parte of the Indentures sealed by such as made choice of the Knights and such as made choice of Citizens and Burgesses vnder the seuerall common seales of their Citties and Townes ought to remain with the Sheriffe or rather with the partyes so elected and chosen The charges of euery knight and Citizen was wunt to be a like which was xiij shillings .iiij. peÌ„ce by the day but now by the Statute it is but viij shillings that is to euery Knight euery Citizen iiij shillings to euery Burgesse the olde vsage to haue v. shillings but now it is but iij. shillings iiij pence limitted by the Statute which alowaunces is to be giuen from the first day of their iorney towards the Parlement vntil the last day of their return from theÌ„ce Prouided that euery such person shal be alowed for so many daies as by iorneyiÌ„g xxvj miles euery day in the Winter and xxx miles in the Summer hée may come and return to and from the Parlement In choice of these Knights Citizens and Burgesses good regarde is to be had that the Lawes customs of the Realme be héerin kept and obserued for none ought to be chosen vnlesse he be resiant and dwelling with in the Shéer Citty or Town for which he is chosen And he ought to be a graue wise learned skilful and of great experience in causes of policies and of such audacitie as bothe canne and will boldely vtter and speak his minde according to duety and as occation shall serue for no man ought to bée silent or dum in that house but according to his talent hée must and ought to speak in the furtheraunce of the King and common welth And the Knights also ought to be skilful in martiall affaires and therfore the woords of the writs are that such should be chosen for Knights as be Cincti gladio not because
The Bishop of Oxford The Bishop of Glocester The Bishop of Peterborough The Bishop of Bristowe The Bishop of Westchester The Bishop of Carliel The Bishop of Saint Dauid The Bishop of Saint Asse The Bishop of Bangor The Bishop of Landaffe The Duke of Norfolke The Marques of Northampton The Marques of Winchester The Earle of Arundel The Earle of Shrewsbury The Earle of Oxford The Earle of Darby The Earle of Rutland The Earle of Cumberland The Earle of Worcester The Earle of Bathe The Earle of Warwick The Earle of Lecester The Earle of Susser The Earle of Huntington The Earle of Penbrook The Earle of Harford The Earle of Sowthampton The Earle of Bedford The Vicecount Montagew The Vicecount Hereford The Vicecount Bindon The Lord Sowch The Lord be la ware The Lord Aburgaueny The Lord Awdeley The Lord Barkley The Lord Morley The Lord Cobham The Lord Dakers of the South the Lord Dakers of Gudeslond The Lord Gray The Lord Scroope The Lord Latimer The Lord Sturton The Lord Clinton The Lord Dudley Baron of Dudley The Lord Lomeley The Lord Mountioy The Lord Conyes The Lord Mountegle The Lord Winsor The Lord Wentworth The Lord Sandes The Lord Vaus The Lord Mordant The Lord Borough The Lord Bray the Lord Wharton The Lord Rich. the Lord Crumwel The Lord Euere the Lord Stafford The Lord Darcy of Menel the Lord Willoughby The Lord Paget The Lord Darcy of Chiche the Lord Chandoys The Lord of Loughborough the Lord S. Iohn of Blastowe The Lord Buckhurst the Lord Hunsdon The Lord of Effingham the two chéef Iustices The Barons of Th'eschequer the Kings Attorney The Kings Sergeants at Law. the Kings Sollicitor The Kings learned Counsel Likewise euery such person whome the King endoweth and honoreth with the degrée and estate of a Baron ought to be suÌ„moned to the Parlement and to haue place there emong the Barons according to his degrée And yet neuerthelesse the SoÌ„ne of a Duke of a Marquesse or of an Earle though he bée a Baron his Father yet liuing he shall not haue a place in the Parlement except he be otherwise honored either by the King or bée aduaunced by meanes of some Mariage to the degrée of a Baron In the lower house ¶ The Countie of Bukingham ij Knights The Countie of Midlesex ij Knights the Countie of Bedford ij Knights The Countie of Cornewail ij Knights the Countie of Cumberland ij Knights The countie of Cambridge ij Knights the Countie of Chester ij Knights The countie of Darby ij Knights the Countie of Deuon ij Knights The countie of Dorset ij Knights the Countie of Essex ij knights The countie of York ij Knights the Countie of Glocester ij Knights The countie of Huntington ij Knights the Countie of Hertford ij Knights The countie of Hereford ij Knights the Countie of Kent ij knights The countie of Lincolne ij knights the Countie of Lecester ij knights The countie of Lancaster ij knights the Countie of Monmouth ij knights The Countie of Northampton ij knights the Countie of Notingham ij knights The countie of Norfolke ij knights the Countie of Northumberland ij knights The countie of Oxford ij knights the Countie of Rutland ij knights The countie of Berkshere ij knights the Countie of Surrey ij knights The countie of Stafford ij knights the Countie of Shropshéer ij knights The countie of Sowthampton ij knights the Countie of Suffolke ij knights The countie of Somerset ij knights The countie of Sussex ij knights the Countie of Westmerland ij knights The countie of Wiltshéer ij knights the Countie of Worcester ij knights The countie of Warwick ij knights the Countie of Mongomerie j. Knights The countie of Radnor j. Knight the Countie of Dinghby j. Knight The countie of Pembrook j. Knight the Countie of Cardigan j. Knight The countie of Mayoth j. Knight the Countie of Carmarthan j. Knight The countie of Carnaruan j. Knight the Countie of Brecknock j. Knight The countie of Glamorgan j. Knight the Countie of Anglesey j. Knight The countie of Merioneth j. Knight ¶ The Cittie of Earlile ij Citizens The Cittie of Chester ij Citizens the Cittie of Excester ij Citizens The Cittie of York ij Citizens the Cittie of Glocester ij Citizens The Cittie of Hereford ij Citizens the Cittie of Canterbury ij citizens The Cittie of Rochester ij citizens the Cittie of Lincolne ij citizens The Cittie of Westminster ij citizens the Cittie of London ij Citizens The Cittie of Norwich ij citizens the Cittie of Oxford ij citizens The Cittie of Winchester ij citizens the Cittie of Bristow ij citizens The Cittie of Bathe ij citizens the Cittie of Chichester ij Citizens The Cittie of Salisbury ij Citizens the Cittie of Worcester ij Citizens The Cittie of Couentrie ij Citizens The Barons of the fiue Portes ¶ Hastings ij Barons Winchelsey ij Barons Rye ij Barons Rumney ij Barons Hyeth ij Barons Douer ij Barons Sandwich ij Barons Burgesses ¶ Bedford town ij Burgesses Buckingham town ij burgesses Wickham ij burgesses Ailisbury ij burgesses New Windsor ij burgesses Reding ij burgesses Wallingford ij burgesses Abingdon ij burgesses Launceston ij burgesses Leskerd ij burgesses Lestuthiel ij burgesses Dunheuet ij burgesses Truro ij burgesses Bobmin ij burgesses Helston ij burgesses Saltashe Ì„ij burgesses Camelford ij burgesses Portlowe ij burgesses Grounpound ij burgesses Perin ij burgesses Tregonye ij burgesses Tresenna ij burgesses Saint Iyes ij burgesses Saint Germins ij burgesses Saint Michael ij burgesses Foy ij burgesses Saint Mawes ij burgesses East Loo ij burgesses Cambridge ij burgesses Derby town ij burgesses Totries ij burgesses Plimmouth ij burgesses Barstable ij burgesses Plimpton ij burgesses Tauistock ij burgesses Dartmouth ij burgesses Poole ij burgesses Dorchester ij burgesses Lime ij burgesses Melcombe ij burgesses Weymouth ij burgesses Birtport ij burgesses Shaftisbury ij burgesses Warham ij burgesses Colchester ij burgesses Maldon ij burgesses Kingston vpon Hul ij burgesses Knaresborough ij burgesses Scatborough ij burgesses Ripton ij burgesses Haydon ij burgesses Boroughbridge ij burgesses Tuske ij burgesses Aldeborgh ij burgesses Beuerley ij burgesses Cicester ij burgesses Huntington ij burgesses Saint Albâ—ns ij burgesses Lempster ij burgesses Maidstone ij burgesses Boston ij burgesses Grimesby ij burgesses Stampford ij burgesses Grantham ij burgesses Lecester ij burgesses Lancaster ij burgesses Preston in Aldernes ij burg Liuerpool ij burgesses Newton ij burgesses Wigan ij burgesses Clithero ij burgesses Monmouth ij burgesses Northampton ij burgesses Peterborough ij burgesses Berkley ij burgesses Higham ferry ij burgesses Notingham ij burgesses East Stratford ij burgesses Lin. ij burgesses Yermouth ij burgesses Thetford ij burgesses Castle ij burgesses New Castel vpon tine ij bur Morepeth ij burgesses Barwick ij burgesses Woodstock ij burgesses Banbury ij burgesses Sowthwark ij burgesses Blenchingly ij burgesses Rigat ij burgesses Gattâ—n ij burgesses Lichféeld ij burgesses Stafford ii burgesses New Castel vnder Line ii bur Tamworth ii burgesses Shrewisbury ii burgesses Bridgenorth ii burgesses Ludlow ii burgesses Great wenlock ii burgesses Sowthampton ii burgesses Portesmouth ii burgesses Peterfeeld ii burgesses Stockbridge
domiciliis sunt nobilitate But the reuerence of these writers reserued this cannot be so of this Church the Charter therof witnesing the contrary declaring how that King Edward Edith his wife did put Bishop Leofricus in possession of this Sea them selues Likewise VVilliam the Conquerour in the third yéer of his reign Anno. 1069. did not onely confirme the former Charter but also at the instance and sute of VVilliam vvareweste then his Chaplain and after Bishop of the same Sea did giue vnto it the segniory of Plimpton Brampton and S. Stephens in Exeter which the said VVilliam béeing Bishop did distribute giuing Plympton to the Channōs there Brampton was afterward annexed to the Deanry but Saint Stephens with a Court Baron to the same was alwaies reserued to the Bishop and his successors wherby they are Barons and so Lords of the Parlement It was also enlarged from time to time with possessions reuenewes buildings riches priuileges by Kings Princes Prelates Bishops and sundry others as héerafter I shal particulerly touch declare by Gods grace at large in a perticuler Book therof And this one thing is to be noted that albeit there were néer iiij hundred yéeres distant from the foūdation to the absoluing therof yet is so vniformely and decently compact as though it had béen buylded at one instant The Bishop is distinct from the Channons bothe in house and reuenew his liuelihods béeing no parcel of that which doth appertain to the Church and Channons It was sometimes of great large reuenewes but the more parte therof prodigally hath béen exhaunsed by a wastful Bishop The Bishop and Chānons haue very fair houses which are situated about the Church and Cemitory and are inclosed euery night by shutting fast of certain gates wherby they claime them selues to be exempted from the iurisdiction of the Cittie In the middle therof is a very fair Conduict or fountain wher into waters by certain pipes are conueyd from certain places out of the Cittie and the same from thence conueyed to the Bishops and some of the Channons houses The Cittie it self is very populus was sometimes chéefly inhabited with Clothyers or Clothworkers of brode clothes seruing much for the Spanish and South Countries whiche were of such goodnes and substaunce as that the names of them doo yet continew in these partyes but now it is chéefly inhabited with Merchaunts Kersey Clothyers of all sortes of Artificers emong whom the Merchants are the chéefest the welthiest The gouernment of this Cittie was sometimes by foure Bayliffes called Prouostres but shortly after the Conquest there was ordred a Senate of xxxvj and in these latter dayes of xxiiij persons of the moste sober graue and wisest Cōmoners and franchised men of the same of which number one was and is yéerly chosē to be the chéefest gouernour for the yéer folowing and is called by the name of a Maior This Mayor associated with the foresaid foure Bayliffes hath the discerning of and in all maner of actions betwixt partie and partie for which he kéepeth on euery Monday a Court in the Guilde hall of the said Cittie but the Bayliffes hauing the like iurisdiction doo according to their olde and ancient customes kéep the like Courts beeing distinct from the Mayor at all dayes and times when them best liketh which their Court is called by the name of the Prouostres Court for Prouostres was their first names Thus the Maior and Bayliffes bothe ioyntly and seuerally haue iurisdiction to discerne in causes betwéen partie and partie but if the matter doo touch the Prince the Crown the common peace or the state of the Cittie and the common welth of the same then the same are decided and determined either by the Maior and Iustices or by the Mayor and common Coūcel or by the Maior him self or by some other Officer or officers according to the nature or qualitie of the cause or matter But because it requireth a large discourse to discribe the gouernment of the common welth of this Cittie the charge of euery seuerall Officer the diuersitie of officers their seuerall iurisdictions with a number of other things incident to their charges I doo minde héerafter by Gods grace at large to set the same foorth in such sort that all estates and degrées and euery perticuler Officer and other person within that Cittie shall knowe his charge Office and dutie and what to euery of them appertaineth In the mean time let it suffise that partely through good gouernment and partely of a ciuil inclinatiō the people of this Cittie as very obsequions and obediēt to the Quéen and her lawes and haue in great reuerence and awe their gouernours and Magistrates for the time béeing And this one thing is not so straunge as notable that euen from the beginning they haue from time to time béen careful for their common welth moste vigilant for the preseruation therof which as in time of peace they did wel rule gouerne so also in the troublesome times and vnquiet estates they haue moste valiantly defēded against the incurtions and assaultes of their enemyes as by the sundrye Historyes it may appéer For Aruiragus King of this land minding to stay the Realme in his ancient libertyes denyed to pay to the Romains the tribute which they demaunded wherfore Claudius the Emperour sent Vespasian the Duke of the Romain Armye into this Realme either to recouer the tribute or to subdue the land This Vespasian is he who in the xxiiij yéer after this did besiege and destroy Iherusalem wherfore the Duke landing in Torbay which was then called Totonesium littus came to this Cittie layd siege to the same with continuall assaults and batteryes for eyght dayes Aruiragus the King béeing then in the East partes and hearing of this gathereth his Armye and power marcheth towards this Cittie and incountreth with the enemye The Romain after long fight not able to preuail endeth the matter by composicion and because this shall not séem to be a deuised and fained matter I wil write the woords of foure sundry Historyes The Cronicle of the Cathedrall Church of the said Cittie hath these woords Anno dom 49. Vespasianus cum Romano exercitu ciuitatem nunc voca tam Exeter octo diebus obsedit sed minime preualuit Aruirago Rege Ciuibus auxilium prestante Gaulfride of Monmothe writeth thus Vespasianus a Claudio missus est vt Aruiragū vel pacificaret vel Romanae subiectioni restitueret cum igitur in portu in rutupi applicare Vespasianus cepisset obuiauit ei Aruiragus atque prohibuit ne portū ingrederetur retraxit itaque se vespasianus a portu illo retortisque velis in littore Totnesio applicuit nactus de inde tellurem Kayerpenhulgoite que nunc Exonia vocatur obsessurus eandem adiuit cumque diebus octo eam obsedisset superuenit Aruiragus cum exercitu suo preliumque commisit die illa valde laceratus sunt vtrorumque exercitus sed neuter est