Ensign of Regall Authority was the Scepter which is every where spoken of both in the Scriptures and profane Stories There is another Ensign of their Authority which is a Globe with a Cross in use amongst us ever since Edward the Confessor which is placed in the left hand as is seen in most of their Coyns the Cross denoting his Faith and the Globe his Empire both by Sea and Land as it is said of Justinian who was the first Emperor that ever had it At the Coronation of the Emperor it is carried by the Count Palatine of the Rhine where they call it Pomum Imperiale This power dignity and state hath been enjoyed by the Female sex as heirs descending by the common right of Inheritance and not onely in our parts but many others as at this day in Swethen when there is not the least punctilio of a diminution in respect of the Sex Besides for an addition to the honor of a King there is the same state allowed to a Queen during the life of her husband as to a Queen absolute almost and is allowed a Crown She is called Queen from the Saxon word Cuningine as King from Cuning onely by variation of the gender as it was their manner in such cases She is permitted to sit in State at the King 's right hand and to keep a Court distinct from the King although she be but the daughter of an Earl But this was in the time of King Edgbert prohibited and so for a long time continued by reason of Eadburgh who poysoned her husband King Brithick of the West-Saxons And if she be the daughter of a King Superior to her husband she may retain the dignity of her father's daughter and in this case the daughter hath preceded the mother And although in these latter times our Monarchy hath been reduced under the circumference of one Crown Imperiall no others having any other substitute Governors crowned Yet formerly both Scotland and Ireland had King's distinct whilst they acknowledged homage to the Crown of England as also the isles of Man and Wight The Kings of Man were first subject to the Kings of Norway then to the Crown of England and after to the Kings of Scotland and since again to the Kings of England Dominus hujus Insulae Rex vocatur cui fas est Corona aurea coronari The Lord of the Isle is called King and it is lawfull for him to be crowned with a Crown of gold Henry the second allowed with the same honor Roderig of Conaght to be King paying a homagery Tribute The Lord Beauchamp Earl of Warwick under Henry the sixth was in the like manner crowned King of the Isle of Wight Which is enough in this place as to the Dignity of a King Of the Emperor THe originall of this Title as it was long amongst the Romans denoted onely a Generall of an Army and not till the time of Julius Caesar translated to an honorary Title who being made perpetuall Dictator took also that of Imperator into his Title which hath continued in his Successors untill this day and became Superior to the Title of King that before was but substitute under it being yearly created in January and ended in September Which great change hapned upon the Victory of Caesar against Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalia This Title was onely taken up to supply that of King which had not long before been thrown out by Brutus and was supposed by the Usurper to be yet fresh in their memories and odious amongst them and it was long after before they used the Title of King though their power were as much and the Ceremonies and Ensignes of Regality the same and the Emperor's Throne at Rome was called Sedile regni But at last it grew to be as one and then the Emperor of Rome having subjected under his Jurisdiction many Kingdoms thought it however a title of more eminence and so retained it And though the title has not been so generally appropriated to our Crown yet our Kings have been styled Emperors and this Realm of England called an Empire So have the Kings of Spain and France But it is more peculiarly allowed or assumed by the Emperors of Germany who suppose that they have a right to the government of the whole world This Empire after it was divided to Constantinople and Rome and then again that Constantinople had lost it to the Turks it was removed to Germany and in the reign of Otho the third the Election granted to seven Princes of Germany the Archbishops of Mentz Trevers Cullen the Count Palatine of Rhine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse Brandenburgh and the King of Bohemia then called Duke of Bohemia He hath had also the Superiority allowed him by all Secular Princes and whereas other Princes of Regall Authority are crowned with but one Crown he is with three the first of Iron which he receives of the Bishop of Cullen at Aquisgrane the second of Silver which he receives at Modena from the Bishop of Millan the third is of Gold wherewith he is crowned at Rome by the Pope And in latter Ages the title of King of the Romans is given to the Heir or him that is made or chosen Heir of the Empire and he is crowned and Jura Regalia given him though not so absolute as not to have a dependence on the Empire See Mr. Selden part 2. chap 1. The Ensignes of his Imperiall Dignity are a Crosse a Launce and a Sword a Scepter a Mond and a Crown and he is styled 〈◊〉 The Emperor of Russia is not Crowned but is adorned with a rich Cap of Purple neither is the Greek Sultan but vested with a mighty rich Tulipant But there though the Emperor have no Diadem yet the Sultanesse is adorned with a Rich Crown or Diadem Thus have I run through all the degrees of Honor and with as much brevity as so copious a Theam would allow of and for matter of precedency I think the method I have taken will save me the labour and I am unwilling to trouble the brains of the Ingenuous Reader with an unnecessary prolixity onely as to Offices of State because I have omitted them altogether I shall set down their places as in Princely Solemnities they are to be disposed In which those of the Crown are to precede all other of the Nobility that are not except the Blood Royall As the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Privy Councel Lord Privy Seal These six also are placed next the Lord Privy Seal thus according to their state of dignity that is If he be a Baron to sit above all Barons if an Earl above all Earls Lord Great Chamberlain of England Lord High Constable of England Lord Marshall of England Lord Admirall of England Lord Great Master or Steward of the King's House Lord Chamberlain of the King's House So the King 's principall Secretary being a Baron of the Parliament hath place above all Barons and if he be of a higher degree
before all other Bannerets as the younger sons of Viscounts and Barons as also before all Baronets but not otherwise And this Order was of so great estimation that divers Knights Bachelers and Esquires served under them which Title it seems in many antient Writs hath been mis-writ Barronets as in a Patent to Sir Ralph Fane a Knight Banneret under Edward the sixt he is called Barronettus for Bannerettus which Title of Baronet was not amongst us till King James Of Baronet THe Title of Baronet was erected by King James in the ninth year of his Reign He made diverse on the 22 day of May whose Patents were all of one form without any difference at all the 〈◊〉 or Argument being for the propagating a Plantation in Ulster in Ireland to which the aid of these Knights was ordained the words run thus 〈◊〉 ex certa scientia mero 〈◊〉 nostris Ordinavimus ereximus constituimus creavimus quendam statum gradum dignitatem nomen titulum Baronetti Anglice of a Baronet infra hoc Regnum nostrum Angliae perpetuis temporibus duraturum Their aid was the maintenance of thirty Soldiers in that Province for three years Their Titles were to descend to the heirs male of their body and to take place before all Knights Bachelers Knights of the Bath and Knights Bannerets the other Degree before specified being afterward made and that the name of Baronet in all Writs Commissions and Style should be added to his Surname and that the addition of Sir should precede in all mentionings of his name as the Title of Lady and Madam to the Wives of them and their Successors and that they should take place according to the priority of the date of their Patents inter se and so to their successors In which Patents also the King did engage for himself and successors that there should be but two hundred of them made and that there should be never any degree of Honor established that should take place between the Baronet and Baron and if for want of heirs male the Title in any should fall there should never be any created in their room but that the Title should diminish to the honour of them remaining and be by that means reduced to a 〈◊〉 number And afterward a Commission was ordained under the great Seal for filling up the number who had instructions also enacted among which they that desired to be admitted into the dignity of Baronets must maintain the number of thirty Foot-Soldiers in Ireland for three years after the rate of eight-pence sterling a day and a years pay to be paid in at the passing of the Patent to the Exchequer And again That they must be of good reputation and descended of a Grand-father at least by the father's side that bare Arms and have also a certain yearly revenue of one thousand pounds de claro They were to take bond also for the true payment of that maintenance and to appoint one particular Treasurer for it that it might not come into the King's Exchequer After this many being made it was also ordained by the King That they and their descendents being of full age should be Knighted and that they should in a Canton or Inescutcheon as they pleased bear the Arms of Ulster which is Argent a sinister hand and Gules There are many other Orders of Knighthood almost in every Nation some appropriated to the Country and some of more excellency as is that of the Garter whereof in another place I shall speak with the rest but these Titles have an estimated honor due to them greater or lesse according to the quality of the creator for the Knight made by the King shall be preferred before a Knight made by a Prince of meaner title So all Emperors Kings and Princes acknowledging no lawfull Superior may make Knights as also some Common-wealths as the State of Venice and Genoa The Popes also sometimes do make Knights calling them after their own names as Chevaleri de San Pedro San Paulo 〈◊〉 c. And so much for Knights may serve in this place Of Barons THis word Baron is very variously interpreted as first that it comes from the word Baria in Greek which signifies Authoritas gravis Bracton interprets it Robur belli Again saith Sir Henry Spelman the word Baro is the same in Latine with Vir whose derivation is from Vi Force and from thence Sunt alii potentes sub rege qui dicuntur Barones id est robur belli And taking of it in that sense we now understand it Sir Henry Spelman calls him Cliens feodalis and Vassallus capitalis Hujusmodi sunt saith he qui Pagos Urbes Castra vel eximiam ruris portionem cum jurisdictione acceperunt à Rege The Creation Robe of a Baron This word is a generall notion in England to all Lords of the Great Council of Parliament as it is in Naples and Lumbardy where all those Lords that are called Titulati are in generall styled Barons thus dignitas Baronalis stat ut genus This word was used by the Danes in the stead of Thane which was among the Saxons a Title of Honor and being next the King he was called the King's Thane And in the Laws of William the first instead of the Earl King's Thane and middle Thane of the Saxons times the title of Count or Earl of Baron and of Valvasor are used By which we understand it to have been though not in the same name yet notion a Feodall honor of great antiquity Sir Henry Spelman says they were such as had not onely Castles Towns or great parts of Countries in their jurisdiction but they had their Valvasores Minores I conceive for there were then Valvasores Majores Minores Milites libere tenentes Which should signifie an honor of command in the Common-wealth In France Germany and Italy Baronem vocant qui merum mistumque Imperium habet in aliquo Castro ex concessione 〈◊〉 And it hath been a common opinion that every Earldom in times past had under it ten Barons and every Barony ten Knights Fees holden of him But those Knights Fees say other Authors were uncertain for number However we find many Barons created in the times after the comming in of the Normans that held both of Knights service and of the Crown in chief which were either Spiritual or Temporall and it is certain that all honorary Barons from the Conquest till the latter time of King John were onely Barons by tenure These Spirituall Barons were distinguished from the Temporall Thane in the time of the Saxons by holding their lands free from all secular service excepting trinoda necessitas as it was called which was assistance in War in building of Bridges and Castles Which continued till the fourth year of William the first who then made the Bishopricks and Abbies subject to Knights service in chief by creation of new tenures and so
according to the former rule The Spirituall Nobility are thus placed The Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of York Bishop of London Bishop of Durham Bishop of Winchester The two first are placed according to ancient dignity and the three last by act of Parliament and the rest of the Bishops to take their places according to the seniority of Consecration Segar lib. 4. cap. 24. By an Act of Parliament An. 31. Hen. 8. See the Act in Mr. Selden's Titles of Honor. So all men serving near unto the Prince's Person either Civil or Military are allowed a precedency in pari dignitate and themselves according to his seniority of place As to their precedency otherwise Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons are to take their places according to the antiquity of their Title and their Ancestor's creation and their Wives accordingly A Duke's eldest son takes place as a Marquesle but beneath him and his Wife beneath a Marchionesse and if she be the daughter and heir of a Duke she shall go before all Duke's eldest sons wives and however are equall to a Marchionesse but to go beneath them and the younger sons of Dukes are in equall degree with an Earl but to go beneath him and Marquesles eldest sons and their Ladies to take place accordingly So the eldest son of a Marquesse as an Earl and the younger as Viscounts and their Ladies and sisters to take place accordingly as before An Earl's eldest son takes place as a youngest Viscount and the younger as Barons their wives and sisters accordingly Viscounts eldest sons as Barons and their youngest sons to take place with Barons eldest sons above Knights Baronets by an Act of King James and above all Bannerets but those made by the King himself under the Stander and all Knights Batchelers Of Women NOw lest I should be thought malitious to a Sex I owe much honor to before I conclude I shall take some short observations more then already I have And first that although they are not allowed to sit in Parliament yet do they enjoy almost all priviledges due to the other Sex The honorable Feminine Dignities are Princesse Dutchesse Marchionesse Countesse Vicountesse and Baronesse Which are either by Creation by Descent or by Marriage This honor by Creation as it is rare amongst us so it is more rarely taken notice of though many examples have been as Richard the second created Margaret Countesse of Norfolk into the title of Dutchess of Norfolk See the Charter in Mr. Selden Anne Bullen was created Marchionesse of Pembrook by Hen. 8. limited to her and the heirs males of her body to be begotten with creation-mony of twenty five pounds per annum and the ceremony of Mantle and Coronet The Lady Finch was by King James created Vicountesse of Maidston to her and her heirs of her body with speciall clause that her heirs male should have a voice in Parliament and afterward she was likewise made Countesse of Winchester c. Of these Titles thus conferred Sir John Fern takes no notice though else he discourses largely enough By Descent we have continuall examples When any daughter of an Earl or Vicount shall continue a Virgin or marry an Esquire she shall retain that honor that springs from her father's blood take place according and be saluted by the Title of Lady Which word Lady came from Hleafdian or Leafdian by contraction in the Teutonick and so Lafdy and thence Lady as from Laford Lord. The word Laf signifying bread and Dian serve It seems from that they called those persons that for their quality could entertain others and distribute corn and bread to their neighbours by that Title And of old though in the Empire and here the word Dominus was used in generall for salutation amongst men of all sorts yet Domina onely to persons of honor amongst women as the widows of all Tenants in chief and daughters and heirs of all Knights c. The heirs females of any Count or Baron shall enjoy both the Estate divided and Titles too if they be to be divided and they shall be enjoyed by their husbands if they marry in the right of their wives So that if there be two or three or more sisters to share the estate and the honors and dignities inherent be enough they shall enjoy every one one as in the case of the Earldom of Pembrooke in the time of Edward the third and now the Lord Darcy of the North by the same right enjoys the title of the Lord Conyers But this holds not when the title is held by Jus gladii or Knight's service or if the Honor be in any Castle or place onely it cannot be divided but falls and dissolves in the Crown or left to the disposing of the King And again if the estate of honor and dignity be not descending to the heirs generall but entail'd to the heirs male it cannot be the inheritance of a daughter as many times it is But we may understand this the better by that more eminent demonstration of high Offices of the Kingdom which descending by inheritance on the heirs generall have been challenged by the husbands of heirs female in right of their wives the Descent-male failing as in the case of the Duke of Buckingham in the time of Henry the eighth challenging the Office of High-Constableship of England The Office of Lord Steward descended to Blaunch daughter of Hen. Earl of Lancaster in whose right Joh. of Gaunt her husband enjoy'd it So the Office of Earl Marshall descended to the house of Norfolk by an heir female afterward being forfeited by treason was conferred to the Lords Howards of Arundell And in this and all such Descents where there are not dignities enough to allow a partition to all the Sisters but the Honor shall be undividable it shall descend to the eldest or be disposed by the King to which he please And for ennobling by birth these rules are observed That if a Gentleman Knight or Baron do marry a wife of ignoble parents she shall enjoy the title name and dignity of her husband For saith Sir John Fern let the wife be shining and glorious with the dignities of her husband Whereas on the contrary if a Gentlewoman of blood and Coat-Armor shall marry a Francklin Yeoman or the like that is ignoble having no Coat-Armor his condition is no whit advanced by marriage in point of honor Although let him be inferior to her whom she shall marry yet she shall retain the honor state and dignity she was born to But there is this Law for them to walk by too that is Si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili desinit esse nobilis that is If a Noble-woman marry with an ignoble her nobility is extinguished for she is under the power of her husband and ought not to be in