Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	baron_n	earl_n	viscount_n	2,923	5	11.7819	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60214	Discourses concerning government by Algernon Sidney ... ; published from an original manuscript of the author.	Sidney, Algernon, 1622-1683.	1698 (1698)	Wing S3761; ESTC R11837	539,730	470

to_o their_o country_n i_o say_v that_o all_o nation_n among_o who_o virtue_n have_v be_v esteem_v have_v have_v a_o great_a regard_n to_o they_o and_o their_o posterity_n and_o though_o king_n when_o they_o be_v make_v have_v be_v entrust_v by_o the_o saxon_n and_o other_o nation_n with_o a_o power_n of_o ennoble_v those_o who_o by_o service_n render_v to_o their_o country_n may_v deserve_v that_o honour_n yet_o the_o body_n of_o the_o nobility_n be_v more_o ancient_a than_o such_o for_o it_o have_v be_v equal_o impossible_a to_o take_v sumere_fw-la king_n according_a to_o tacitus_n out_o of_o the_o nobility_n if_o there_o have_v be_v no_o nobility_n as_o to_o take_v captain_n for_o their_o virtue_n if_o there_o have_v be_v no_o virtue_n and_o prince_n can_v not_o without_o breach_n of_o that_o trust_n confer_v honour_n upon_o those_o that_o do_v not_o deserve_v they_o which_o be_v so_o true_a that_o this_o practice_n be_v object_v as_o the_o great_a crime_n against_o 446._o vortigern_n the_o last_o and_o the_o worst_a of_o the_o british_a king_n and_o though_o he_o may_v pretend_v according_a to_o such_o cavil_n as_o be_v usual_a in_o our_o time_n that_o the_o judgement_n of_o those_o matter_n be_v reser_v to_o he_o yet_o the_o world_n judge_v of_o his_o crime_n and_o when_o he_o have_v render_v himself_o odious_a to_o god_n and_o man_n by_o they_o he_o perish_v in_o they_o and_o bring_v destruction_n upon_o his_o country_n that_o have_v suffer_v they_o too_o long_o as_o among_o the_o turk_n and_o most_o of_o the_o eastern_a tyranny_n there_o be_v no_o nobility_n and_o no_o man_n have_v any_o considerable_a advantage_n above_o the_o common_a people_n unless_o by_o the_o immediate_a favour_n of_o the_o prince_n so_o in_o all_o the_o legal_a kingdom_n of_o the_o north_n the_o strength_n of_o the_o government_n have_v always_o be_v place_v in_o the_o nobility_n and_o no_o better_a defence_n have_v be_v find_v against_o the_o encroachment_n of_o ill_a king_n than_o by_o set_v up_o a_o order_n of_o man_n who_o by_o hold_v large_a territory_n and_o have_v great_a number_n of_o tenant_n and_o dependent_n may_v be_v able_a to_o restrain_v the_o exorbitance_n that_o either_o the_o king_n or_o the_o commons_o may_v run_v into_o for_o this_o end_n spain_n germany_n france_n poland_n denmark_n sweeden_n scotland_n and_o england_n be_v almost_o whole_o divide_v into_o lordship_n under_o several_a name_n by_o which_o every_o particular_a possessor_n owe_v allegiance_n that_o be_v such_o a_o obedience_n as_o the_o law_n require_v to_o the_o king_n and_o he_o reciprocal_o swear_v to_o perform_v that_o which_o the_o same_o law_n exact_v from_o he_o when_o these_o nation_n be_v convert_v to_o the_o christian_a religion_n they_o have_v a_o great_a veneration_n for_o the_o clergy_n and_o not_o doubt_v that_o the_o man_n who_o they_o esteem_v holy_a will_v be_v just_a think_v their_o liberty_n can_v not_o be_v better_o secure_v than_o by_o join_v those_o who_o have_v the_o direction_n of_o their_o conscience_n to_o the_o nobleman_n who_o have_v the_o command_n of_o their_o force_n this_o succeed_v so_o well_o in_o relation_n to_o the_o defence_n of_o the_o public_a right_n that_o in_o all_o the_o forementioned_a state_n the_o bishop_n abbot_n etc._n etc._n be_v no_o less_o zealous_a or_o bold_a in_o defend_v the_o public_a liberty_n than_o the_o best_a and_o great_a of_o the_o lord_n and_o if_o it_o be_v true_a that_o thing_n be_v thus_o establish_v the_o commons_o do_v neither_o personal_o nor_o by_o their_o representative_n enter_v into_o the_o general_a assembly_n it_o can_v be_v of_o no_o advantage_n to_o king_n for_o such_o a_o power_n as_o be_v abovementioned_a be_v equal_o inconsistent_a with_o the_o absolute_a sovereignty_n of_o king_n if_o place_v in_o the_o nobility_n and_o clergy_n as_o if_o the_o commons_o have_v a_o part_n if_o the_o king_n have_v all_o no_o other_o man_n nor_o number_n of_o man_n can_v have_v any_o if_o the_o nobility_n and_o clergy_n have_v the_o power_n the_o commons_o may_v have_v their_o share_n also_o but_o i_o affirm_v that_o those_o who_o we_o now_o call_v commons_o have_v always_o have_v a_o part_n in_o the_o government_n and_o their_o place_n in_o the_o council_n that_o manage_v it_o for_o if_o there_o be_v a_o distinction_n it_o must_v have_v be_v by_o patent_n birth_n or_o tenure_n as_o for_o patent_n we_o know_v they_o begin_v long_o after_o the_o come_n of_o the_o norman_n and_o those_o that_o now_o have_v they_o can_v pretend_v to_o any_o advantage_n on_o account_n of_o birth_n or_o tenure_n beyond_o many_o of_o those_o who_o have_v they_o not_o nay_o beside_o the_o several_a branch_n of_o the_o family_n that_o now_o enjoy_v the_o most_o ancient_a honour_n which_o consequent_o be_v as_o noble_a as_o they_o and_o some_o of_o they_o of_o the_o elder_a house_n we_o know_v many_o that_o be_v now_o call_v commoner_n who_o in_o antiquity_n and_o eminency_n be_v no_o way_n inferior_a to_o the_o chief_a of_o the_o titular_a nobility_n and_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o absurd_a than_o to_o give_v a_o prerogative_n of_o birth_n to_o crun_a t-ft-n_a ha'_a b-nn-t_a osb-rn_a and_o other_o before_o the_o clifton_n hampden_n courtney_n pelham_n st._n john_n baintons_n wilbrahams_n hungerford_n and_o many_o other_o and_o if_o the_o tenor_n of_o their_o estate_n be_v consider_v they_o have_v the_o same_o and_o as_o ancient_a as_o any_o of_o those_o who_o go_v under_o the_o name_n of_o duke_n or_o marquis_n i_o forbear_v to_o mention_v the_o sordid_a way_n of_o attain_v to_o title_n in_o our_o day_n but_o whoever_o will_v take_v the_o pain_n to_o examine_v they_o shall_v find_v that_o they_o rather_o defile_v than_o ennoble_v the_o possessor_n and_o whereas_o man_n be_v true_o ennoble_v only_o by_o virtue_n and_o respect_n be_v due_a to_o such_o as_o be_v descend_v from_o those_o who_o have_v brave_o serve_v their_o country_n because_o it_o be_v presume_v till_o they_o show_v the_o contrary_a that_o they_o will_v resemble_v their_o ancestor_n these_o modern_a courtier_n by_o their_o name_n and_o title_n frequent_o oblige_v we_o to_o call_v to_o mind_v such_o thing_n as_o be_v not_o to_o be_v mention_v without_o blush_v whatever_o the_o ancient_a nobleman_n of_o england_n be_v we_o be_v sure_o they_o be_v not_o such_o as_o these_o and_o though_o it_o shall_v be_v confess_v that_o no_o other_o than_o duke_n marquess_n earl_n viscount_n and_o baron_n have_v their_o place_n in_o the_o council_n mention_v by_o cesar_n and_o tacitus_n or_o in_o the_o great_a assembly_n of_o the_o saxon_n it_o can_v be_v of_o no_o advantage_n to_o such_o as_o now_o be_v call_v by_o those_o name_n they_o be_v the_o title_n of_o office_n conser_v upon_o those_o who_o do_v and_o can_v best_o conduct_v the_o people_n in_o time_n of_o war_n give_v counsel_n to_o the_o king_n administer_v justice_n and_o perform_v other_o public_a duty_n but_o be_v never_o make_v hereditary_a except_o by_o abuse_n much_o less_o be_v they_o sell_v for_o money_n or_o give_v as_o recompense_n of_o the_o vile_a service_n if_o the_o ancient_a order_n be_v total_o invert_v and_o the_o end_n of_o its_o institution_n pervert_v they_o who_o from_o thence_o pretend_v to_o be_v distinguish_v from_o other_o man_n must_v build_v their_o claim_n upon_o something_o very_o different_a from_o antiquity_n this_o be_v sufficient_a if_o i_o mistake_v not_o to_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o the_o ancient_a council_n of_o our_o nation_n do_v not_o consist_v of_o such_o as_o we_o now_o call_v nobleman_n it_o may_v be_v worth_a our_o pain_n to_o examine_v of_o what_o sort_n of_o man_n they_o do_v consist_v and_o though_o i_o can_v much_o rely_v upon_o the_o credit_n of_o camden_n which_o he_o have_v forfeit_v by_o a_o great_a number_n of_o untruth_n i_o will_v begin_v with_o he_o because_o he_o be_v cite_v by_o our_o author_n if_o we_o will_v believe_v he_o 63._o that_o which_o the_o saxon_n call_v wittenagemot_n we_o may_v just_o name_v parliament_n which_o have_v the_o supreme_a and_o most_o sacred_a authority_n of_o make_v abrogate_a and_o interpret_n law_n and_o general_o of_o all_o thing_n relate_v to_o the_o safety_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n this_o wittenagemot_n be_v according_a to_o william_n of_o malmsbury_n malm_n the_o general_a meeting_n of_o the_o senate_n and_o people_n and_o sir_n harry_n spelman_n call_v it_o spelm._n the_o general_a council_n of_o the_o clergy_n and_o people_n in_o the_o assembly_n at_o calcuth_n it_o be_v decree_v by_o the_o archbishop_n bishop_n abbot_n duke_n senators_z and_o the_o people_n of_o the_o land_n populo_fw-la terrae_fw-la that_o the_o eligantur_fw-la king_n shall_v be_v elect_v by_o the_o priest_n and_o elder_n of_o the_o people_n by_o these_o offa_n ina_n and_o other_o be_v make_v king_n and_o alfred_n

in_o his_o will_n acknowledge_v his_o dederunt_fw-la crown_n from_o they_o edgar_z be_v elect_v by_o all_o the_o people_n and_o not_o long_o after_o depose_v by_o they_o and_o again_o restore_v in_o a_o anglorum_fw-la general_n assembly_n these_o thing_n be_v sometime_o say_v to_o be_v do_v by_o the_o assent_n of_o the_o baron_n of_o the_o kingdom_n camden_n say_v that_o under_o the_o name_n of_o the_o camd._n baronage_n all_o the_o order_n of_o the_o kingdom_n be_v in_o a_o manner_n comprehend_v and_o it_o can_v be_v otherwise_o understand_v if_o we_o consider_v that_o those_o call_v nobleman_n or_o the_o nobility_n of_o england_n be_v often_o by_o the_o historian_n say_v to_o be_v infinita_fw-la multitudo_fw-la a_o infinite_a multitude_n if_o any_o man_n ask_v how_o the_o nobility_n come_v to_o be_v so_o numerous_a i_o answer_v that_o the_o northern_a nation_n who_o be_v perpetual_o in_o arm_n put_v a_o high_a esteem_n upon_o military_a valour_n seek_v by_o conquest_n to_o acquire_v better_a country_n than_o their_o own_o value_v themselves_o according_a to_o the_o number_n of_o man_n they_o can_v bring_v into_o the_o field_n and_o to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o villain_n call_v those_o nobleman_n who_o noble_o defend_v and_o enlarge_v their_o dominion_n by_o war_n and_o for_o a_o reward_n of_o their_o service_n in_o the_o division_n of_o land_n gain_v by_o conquest_n they_o distribute_v to_o they_o freehold_v under_o the_o obligation_n of_o continue_v the_o same_o service_n to_o their_o country_n this_o appear_v by_o the_o name_n of_o knight_n service_n a_o knight_n be_v no_o more_o than_o a_o soldier_n and_o a_o knight_n fee_n no_o more_o than_o be_v sufficient_a to_o maintain_v one_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o knighthood_n be_v always_o esteem_v nobility_n so_o that_o no_o man_n of_o what_o quality_n soever_o think_v a_o knight_n inferior_a to_o he_o and_o those_o of_o the_o high_a birth_n can_v not_o act_v as_o nobleman_n till_o they_o be_v knight_v among_o the_o goth_n in_o spain_n the_o cut_n off_o the_o hair_n which_o be_v long_o be_v the_o mark_n of_o knighthood_n be_v account_v a_o degrade_n and_o look_v upon_o to_o be_v so_o great_a a_o mark_n of_o infamy_n that_o he_o who_o have_v suffer_v it_o can_v never_o bear_v any_o honour_n or_o office_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n and_o there_o be_v no_o dignity_n so_o high_a but_o every_o knight_n be_v capable_a of_o it_o there_o be_v no_o distinction_n of_o man_n above_o it_o and_o even_o to_o this_o day_n baron_n or_o varon_n in_o their_o language_n signify_v no_o more_o than_o Ê‹ir_a in_o latin_a which_o be_v not_o proper_o give_v to_o any_o man_n unless_o he_o be_v free_a the_o like_a be_v in_o france_n till_o the_o come_n in_o of_o the_o three_o race_n of_o king_n in_o which_o time_n the_o 12_o peer_n of_o who_o 6_o only_a be_v layman_n be_v raise_v to_o a_o high_a dignity_n and_o the_o command_v annex_v make_v hereditary_a but_o the_o honour_n of_o knighthood_n be_v thereby_o no_o way_n diminish_v though_o there_o be_v duke_n earls_z marquess_n and_o baron_n in_o the_o time_n of_o froissart_n yet_o he_o usual_o call_v they_o knight_n and_o philip_n de_fw-fr commines_fw-la speak_v of_o the_o most_o eminent_a man_n of_o his_o time_n call_v they_o good_a wise_a or_o valiant_a knight_n even_o to_o this_o day_n the_o name_n of_o gentleman_n comprehend_v all_o that_o be_v raise_v above_o the_o common_a people_n henry_n the_o four_o usual_o call_v himself_o the_o first_o gentleman_n in_o france_n and_o it_o be_v a_o ordinary_a phrase_n among_o they_o when_o they_o speak_v of_o a_o gentleman_n of_o good_a birth_n to_o say_v il_fw-fr est_fw-fr noble_a comme_fw-fr le_fw-fr roy_fw-fr he_o be_v as_o noble_a as_o the_o king_n in_o their_o general_n assembly_n of_o estate_n the_o chamber_n of_o the_o noblesse_n which_o be_v one_o of_o three_o be_v compose_v of_o the_o deputy_n send_v by_o the_o gentry_n of_o every_o province_n and_o in_o the_o inquiry_n make_v about_o the_o year_n 1668_o concern_v nobility_n no_o notice_n be_v take_v of_o such_o as_o have_v assume_v the_o title_n of_o earl_n marquess_z viscount_n or_o baron_n but_o only_o of_o those_o who_o call_v themselves_o gentleman_n and_o if_o they_o can_v prove_v that_o name_n to_o belong_v to_o they_o they_o be_v leave_v to_o use_v the_o other_o title_n as_o they_o please_v when_o duel_n be_v in_o fashion_n as_o all_o know_v they_o be_v late_o no_o man_n except_o the_o prince_n of_o the_o blood_n and_o marechals_n of_o france_n can_v with_o honour_n refuse_v a_o challenge_n from_o any_o gentleman_n the_o first_o because_o it_o be_v think_v unfit_a that_o he_o who_o may_v be_v king_n shall_v fight_v with_o a_o subject_a to_o the_o danger_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n which_o may_v by_o that_o mean_n be_v deprive_v of_o its_o head_n the_o other_o be_v by_o their_o office_n commander_n of_o the_o nobility_n and_o judge_n of_o all_o the_o controversy_n relate_v to_o honour_n that_o happen_v among_o they_o can_v reasonable_o be_v bring_v into_o private_a contest_v with_o any_o in_o denmark_n nobleman_z and_o gentleman_n be_v the_o same_o thing_n and_o till_o the_o year_n 1660_o they_o have_v the_o principal_a part_n of_o the_o government_n in_o their_o hand_n when_o charles_n guslavus_fw-la king_n of_o sweden_n invade_v poland_n in_o the_o year_n 1655_o it_o be_v say_v that_o there_o be_v above_o three_o hundred_o thousand_o gentleman_n in_o arm_n to_o resist_v he_o this_o be_v the_o nobility_n of_o that_o country_n king_n be_v choose_v by_o they_o every_o one_o of_o they_o will_v say_v as_o in_o france_n he_o be_v noble_a as_o the_o king_n the_o last_o king_n be_v a_o private_a man_n among_o they_o not_o think_v to_o have_v have_v more_o than_o four_o hundred_o pound_n a_o year_n he_o who_o now_o reign_v be_v not_o at_o all_o above_o he_o in_o birth_n or_o estate_n till_o he_o have_v raise_v himself_o by_o great_a service_n do_v for_o his_o country_n in_o many_o war_n and_o there_o be_v not_o one_o gentleman_n in_o the_o nation_n who_o may_v not_o have_v be_v choose_v as_o well_o as_o he_o if_o it_o have_v please_v the_o assembly_n that_o do_v it_o this_o be_v the_o nobility_n of_o the_o northern_a nation_n and_o the_o true_a baronage_n of_o england_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o they_o be_v call_v nobiles_fw-la the_o most_o eminent_a among_o they_o magnate_v principes_fw-la proceres_fw-la and_o so_o numerous_a that_o they_o be_v esteem_v to_o be_v multitudo_fw-la infinita_fw-la one_o place_n be_v hardly_o able_a to_o contain_v they_o and_o the_o inconvenience_n of_o call_v they_o all_o together_o appear_v to_o be_v so_o great_a that_o they_o in_o time_n choose_v rather_o to_o meet_v by_o representative_n than_o every_o one_o in_o his_o own_o person_n the_o power_n therefore_o remain_v in_o they_o it_o matter_n not_o what_o method_n they_o observe_v in_o the_o execution_n they_o who_o have_v the_o substance_n in_o their_o hand_n may_v give_v it_o what_o form_n they_o please_v our_o author_n sufficient_o manifest_v his_o ignorance_n in_o say_v there_o can_v be_v no_o knight_n of_o the_o shire_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o saxon_n because_o there_o be_v no_o shire_n for_o the_o very_a word_n be_v saxon_a and_o we_o find_v the_o name_n of_o berkshire_n wiltshire_n devonshire_n dorsetshire_n and_o other_o most_o frequent_o in_o the_o write_n of_o those_o time_n and_o duke_n earls_z thanes_z or_o aldermen_z appoint_v to_o command_v the_o force_n and_o look_v to_o the_o distribution_n of_o justice_n in_o they_o selden_n cite_v ingulphus_n for_o 5._o say_v that_o alfred_n be_v the_o first_o that_o change_v the_o province_n etc._n etc._n into_o county_n but_o refute_v he_o and_o prove_v that_o the_o distinction_n of_o the_o land_n into_o shire_n or_o county_n for_o shire_n signify_v no_o more_o than_o the_o share_n or_o part_v commit_v to_o the_o care_n of_o the_o earl_n or_o comes_n be_v far_o more_o ancient_a whether_o the_o first_o division_n by_o the_o saxon_n be_v great_a or_o lesser_a than_o the_o shire_n or_o county_n now_o be_v be_v nothing_o to_o the_o question_n they_o who_o make_v they_o to_o be_v as_o they_o be_v can_v have_v make_v they_o great_a or_o lesser_a as_o they_o please_v and_o whether_o they_o do_v immediate_o or_o some_o age_n after_o that_o distinction_n cease_v to_o come_v to_o their_o great_a assembly_n and_o rather_o choose_v to_o send_v their_o deputy_n or_o whether_o such_o deputy_n be_v choose_v by_o county_n city_n and_o borough_n as_o in_o our_o day_n or_o in_o any_o other_o manner_n can_v be_v of_o no_o advantage_n or_o prejudice_n to_o the_o cause_n that_o i_o maintain_v if_o the_o power_n of_o the_o nation_n when_o it_o be_v divide_v into_o seven_o kingdom_n or_o unite_v under_o one_o do_v reside_v in_o the_o micklegemot_n