16. l. 40. for imitating r. intimating l. 44. for then r. when p. 20. l. 20. r. filiolem p. 27. l. 2. r. was not then decided p. 31. near the foot r. aliis Magnatibus l. penult r. sons p. 39. l. 32. r. Senescallo p. 46. l. 44. r. his Procutor l. 47. for Antoun r. Aiton p. 69. Quest. 11. l. 2. r. current p. 74. Quest. 17. l. 14. r. defective p. 77. l. 5. r. officium l. 10. dele at the same time p. 80. l. 2. for perceed r. precede p. 91. l. 36. r. unnecessar Literal faults and errours in the Pointing may be easily perceived by the Reader Advertisement from the Author to be subjoyned to the third Chapter of the Precedency BEing desired to prove that from Chronology it is Impossible that Kenneth 3. King of Scots did row Edgar King of the English Saxons over the Dee I prove it thus Kenneth the 3. did not Succeed to the Crown of Scotland till the Year 977. At which time Ethelred Edgars youngest Son did Reign in England Ethelred having begun his Reign Anno 975. two Years before Kenneths coming to the Crown of Scotland It is also remarkable that Heylen relates that the King of Scotland was ordained at the Council of Constance to precede the King of Castile as being one of the five absolute Monarchs which was inconsistent with his being a Tributary or Homager Prince This was done in Presence of the King of Englands Ambassador who reclaimed not as certainly he had done if the King of Scotland had been Vassal to his Master By all which we see how solidly Heylen writes upon this Subject And the learned Speed doth in his History of Great Britain most Solidly and Modestly in many Parts thereof clear us from this pretension and especially in the Life of William the Conqueror who to clear Marches between Scotland and England did set up a Cross at Stranmoor with the Arms of England on the South side and the Arms of Scotland on the North side The King of Scotland doing only Homage for Cumberland And in the Life of Edward the first when some of the Great Men of Scotland waited on Edward in Northumberland in the Controversie betwixt the Bruce and Baliol he sayes that Edward made then claim to the Superiority of Sotland alledging that the Crown of Scotland was holden of him To whom the Scots replyed that they were ignorant that any such Superiority belonged to the King of England neither could they make answer to such things without a King c. And that thereupon the King delivered to them his Letters Patents in which he acknowledged that the coming of those Scots on this side the Water of Tweed should not be at any other time urged to prejudice them for coming again into England That is sayes he that their example should not so be drawen to an Argument of King Edwards right over them as if they were to come again upon Duty So prudently jealous sayes this Author were these Patriots of their Countries Liberty And a little after he acknowledges that King Edward was then Plotting this Homage because Scotland wanted a Head He also confesses that Baliol lost the love of the Scots by the Homage he had made and that by Letters to King Edward he did afterward renounce this Homage as being contrary to his Oath as extorted by violence and as being made without consent of the three Estates And speaking of King Edwards big Oath as that he swore by the Lord he would consume all Scotland from Sea to Sea if he heard any more debate in that adds that the Scots did boldly enough reply that in this Cause they would shed their blood for defence of Justice and their Countries liberty And further in the Reign of Edward the third he observes that this short lif'd pretence was renounced by that King who quitted Scotland of all claim and pretence of right to the Superiority thereof and delivered up the Roll called Ragmans Roll wherein were contained the Names of those few Scots who had been forced to acknowledge this Superiority Advertisement from the Printer IT being objected by some who are not so well acquainted with the methods taken by Heraulds in handling the Art of Blasoning that many old Sirnames and Noble Families of this Kingdom are omitted and not set down in the Treatise of Herauldry and others of less Note insert To satisfie such it is answered that the Author did never design as no other Writer on that Subject ever did to publish a Register of all the Sirnames and Bearings in the Nation These being to be found in the Lyons Registers only nor does he intend any advantage to such as are insert or disadvantage to such as are left out as not being induced to name any for instances of Bearings either from the Antiquity and greatness of the Families and Sirnames or his relation and kindness to them but meerly from the specifick suitableness of their Armes to the several kinds of Charges and Ornaments Treated of throughout the Work It is to be noticed that the observe made Preced p. 52. l. 4. of a mistake committed p. 42. is now unnecessary The Sheet wherein that mistake was being since Re-printed OF PRECEDENCY CHAP. I. The Precedencie of Kings and Common-wealths MENS Ambition as well as Curiosity doth breed in them a Desire to understand this Subject which is a part of the Civil Law and Law of Nations exceeding as far all other parts of the Law as Honour exceeds Money But the same Ambition which makes men very curious to know this Subject will make them very unwilling to hear any thing that may decide against themselves And so such as writ upon it run a great risque of Displeasing those whom they intended to Satisfie But my designe being to defend and inform my own Countrey I shall be little disappointed though I want praise and esteem since I do not deserve or expect either And he is an unworthy man who does not think the serving his Countrey a sufficient Sallarie for greater Pains than I have here bestowed Amongst those who are Supreme Kings have the Preference from Commonwealths and amongst Kings the Emperour is allowed the first place by the famous Ceremonial of Rome as succeeding to the Roman Emperours who are alleadged to have been Universal Monarchs Because in Scripture they are said to have taxed the whole world And therefore the German and Italian Lawyers who are subject to the Empyre have with very much Flattery asserted that the Emperour is the Vicar of GOD in Temporals Bald. in l. 1. c. de Iure aur an And that Jurisdictions are derived from him as from the Fountain calling him Dominum Caput totius Orbis And for this they do very impertinently cite several Texts of the Civil Law which being Laws made by the Romans themselves cannot bind or prove against other Nations Nor is the Translation of the old Roman Dignity upon Charles le maigne
preferred because he dwells in a house where Christianity was first professed which were in it self very ridiculous And if the first Christian Race be allowed the Preference the King of Scotland ought to be preferred for Donald King of Scots imbraced the Christian Faith in anno 199. before either William the Conquerour succeded to England or Hugh Capet to France and long before Spain obeyed this Race of Monarchs for which we can cite not only our own Historians but Baronius ad annum 449. Duchesne and many others and particularly Beda and Polidor the worthiest of English Historians Beda relates That imbuebantur a Scotis parvuli Anglorum quin ipse Alsridus Anglorum Rex in Insulis Scotorum operam dedit sacras Literas didicit lib. 3. hist. c. 27. Reges Angliae cupidi salutis aeternae Legatos ad Eugenium quartum Scotorum Regem miserunt ut ille digneretur Viros idoneos mittere per quos illi Christianae Fidei Rudimenta docerentur sacro Baptismatis fonte abluerentur quod ille haud gravate indulsit Which clears fully that our Kings were Christian before those of England and so ought to be preferred to the Kings of England by their own Arguments and their own Authors King Donalds Conversion is attested by Bellar. in his Answer to King Iames by Barronius ad annum 429. Sanderus lib. 4. de clav David Arnoldus de conversione Gentium c. And since King Donald was before Fergus the second it appears clearly even from Forreign Histories that we had Kings before Fergus the II. I cannot deny but that in the Council of Constans England and France were preferred to Scotland but that proceeded as Gothofred observes from the partiality of the Church of Rome which alwayes preferred those who were able to do them most Service but if we consider the Principles of the Christian Religion according to these that Race ought to be preferred whose Title is justest and I am sure that according to this Rule Scotland ought to be preferred for its Kings have not Usurped over the People which they Governed And not only does Religion consider this ground of Preference as suteable to Devotion but the Law considereth it as suteable to Justice And Lawyers have therefore thought a Succession of Kings enjoying a just Title free from Violence and Tyrrany one of the chief Grounds of Preference and Precedency And thus Vasquez in praefat ad illustres questiones sayes That multum ad nobilitatem praelationem confert ex veris legittimis Regibus non a Tyrannis descendisse Nor does the Custome either of Courts or Councils invert the Precedency which is founded upon Antiquity and the right of Blood from which Consuetude cannot derogat in the matter of Precedency since that Consuetude is only respected in Law quae in se rationabilis juri nec naturae nec gentium contrariatur And likewayes since this matter of Precedency is setled by Lawyers upon these solid Foundations for securing the publick Peace and Interest of mankind it were unjust that the same should be so easily overthrown by the Partiality of Interested Church-men or the Pride and Power of other Competing and Rival Princes and therefore to secure the Rights of Justice and Blood against all such Invasions Lawyers have unanimously concluded that Consuetudine induci non potest ut prior in dignitate praeferatur posteriori Crus de praeemi cap. 12. Which Principle they so farr assert as to conclude that this could not be conceded even by express Paction Rumellin dissert 1. thes 18. even though that Paction were confirmed by an Oath Rippa ad l. 3. ff de donat And albeit it may seem that every man may renounce that which is introduced in his own favours yet to this it is answered That men cannot renounce what is introduced in their own favours when that which they renounce was not principally introduced in their favours but arose to them necessarily by the Laws of Nature and Nations or was introduced principally in favours of the common interest of Mankind rather than of them and in which third parties would likewise be concerned All which is clear not only by the principles of Reason but by L. 3. ff de pactis and it cannot be denyed but that the Precedency from the Antiquity of blood is no such private Right as may be renounced it being a priviledge not given by Law but arising from nature Lex non data sed nata and introduced for regulating the common Interests of mankind and preventing their differences or oppressions whereas how unfortunate or irregular should men be if subjects might force their Magistrates or younger brothers the Elder or stronger Princes the weaker to Renounce by Paction or might serue from them by Custom and Inadvertance the Seniority and Precedency due to them whereas now the impossibility of prevailing in such Designes takes happily away all lusting after them and whatever may be ascribed to Consuetude or Decisions in that Precedency which because it sprung meerly from Custome may be regulated by it or in dubious Cases where a grain weight may cast a ballance yet I see no Law nor Reason that can be adduced for taking away by Decisions Negligence or Consuetude a clear right of Precedency founded upon the Antiquity of Blood Especially since all who writ upon precedency are clear That no man can prejudge his Successors as to the precedency due to them by blood Licet positus in dignitate suo ipsius facto possit sibi prejudicium afferre non tamen praejudicare potest quoad successores suos Dec. consil 21. num 74. vid. Gothofred de praeced pag. 55. Rub. decis 298. qui tradit ea quae a genere natura tribuuntur non obstante facto majorum manent incolumia Which Rule should rather hold in Kings than in any else because they are but Administrators But in this case there is no Decision against our Kings nor have they ever consented to any such preference And therefore whatever may be said for others against them in a possessory Judgement the matter of Right is still intire Vasquez the illustrious Spainish Lawyer did at the Council of Trent adduce several Arguments for the precedency of the king of Spain which if they were well founded would I confess inferr a Precedency to England and France and which I shall the willinglier adduce and answer that I have heard them urged for France and Spain against the King of Britain and because they are the generall topicks and common places which are necessary to be known and understood for clearing not only the Precedency of Princes but even of the Nobility and Gentry The first is That these who are most powerfull and greatest ought still to be preferred c. statuimus de major obed and he must be accounted most powerful who is most powerfull the time of the debate Nam qualitas adjecta verbo debet intelligi secundum tempus verbi l.
in dilectis § si extraneas ff de noxalibus The second is That those who command the noblest and best Subjects are accounted the noblest and best Authent de defensoribus civitatum § nos igitur 3. Riches are the rise and occasion of Dignity and therefore are the chief grounds of precedency amongst Equals 4. He is to be preferred in Dignity whom generally men esteem the greatest 5. Since Honour is the Reward of pains and dangers those who take most pains and are lyable to most dangers for Christendom and the Christian Faith ought to have the precedency in Christendom and amongst Christian Princes And that pains and dangers are grounds of predency is urged from l. semper § negotiatores ff de jur immunitat 6. As all Goodness is the Nobler the more communicative it be so these must be concluded the Noblest by whom most people have advantage and therefore these Kings under whom Trades flourish most and who bestow Sallaries upon and give a livelyhood to most men ought by Mankind to be preferred To a'l which Arguments it is answered that if preference were to be given by choice and did not descend from the Right of Blood and Antiquity then the former Arguments were indeed considerable and ought to direct the Electors but where the Antiquity of Blood can be instructed it still gives precedency as is clear from the Authors above cited And thus though we do confess that the Kingdoms of France and Spain and particularly the kingdom of England are Richer Greater and more Considerable upon these Accounts than Scotland is yet since the Race of our Kings is more Ancient than either of theirs I conclude That therefore they ought to be preferred CHAP. III. That the CROWN of Scotland was not subject to England SOme English Historians Lawyers and Heralds do too frequently abuse the World with a most Groundless Tradition by which they contend That the Kings of Scotland were Vassals to the Kings of England and did them Homage for the Crown of Scotland Which if it were true would have taken from the Kings of Scotland not only the Precedency for which I have been debating but would have placed them after the Kings of Castile and many others to whom they were preferred And therefore not only to remove this Objection but to free my Country from this most unjust Imputation I am Resolved with very much Respect to the English Nation whose Wit Courage and Learning I very much esteem to inform the Curious how unjust this pretence is and to which I have been not only inclined but forced upon the Reading of a Rapsodie printed lately by Mr. Prin in Vindication as he speaks pag. 487. of the Dominion of the English Kings against the Vngrate Perfidious and Rebellious Kings of Scotland In which none of the Learned or Discreet English are concerned since I find none who deserve that praise engaged in this Debate which has been agitated only by such of that excellent Nation as have had more Humor than Discretion I deny not but that the Kings of Scotland did hold the Lands of Northumberland Cumberland and Westmerland in capite of the Crown of England and that they did them Homage for it which was not Dishonourable to Scotland that being most ordinary amongst Soveraigne Princes For thus Henry King of England and severall others of their kings did Homage to Philip and other kings of France for the Provinces possest by them in France and the king of Spain does at this day Homage yearly to the Pope for Naples and Sicily And yet the Homage done for these Countrys has been the occasion of an ignorant Mistake in some and a malicious pretext for others to misrepresent the Homage done for these Counties as done for the Kingdom of Scotland And the Occasion of getting these Provinces from England is too Honourable to be denyed by us it being most undenyable That the Scots being called in to assist first the Britans against the Romans and thereafter the Saxons against the Danes they had these provinces bestowed upon them as a Reward of what they had done and an Encouragement to them to continue their Friendship for the future And by a Statute made by St. Edward and ratified by William the Conquerour as Holinshed observes the Scots were for that Service likewise Naturalized English for which Naturalization that Statute gives two Reasons one quia omnes ferme Scoti Proceres ex Anglis conjuges coeperunt ipsi rursus ex Scotis and the other was quia simul in unum contra Danos Norvegos atrocissime pugnaverunt But that the kings of Scotland did hold the Crown of Scotland as Vassals of England or did Homage to the kings of England therefore will appear to be most false from the following Arguments which must not be tryed by the Law of England but by the Civil and Feudal Laws which are now become the Laws of Nations and are reverenc'd as the sole Judges in all Differences betwixt Nation and Nation and which must be presumed equal to both Nations since made by neither 1. All Lands are presumed to be free from Servitude except the Servitude be clearly instructed but much more are all kingdoms presumed to be free since ex natura rei kings and kingdoms are independent qualitas quae inesse debet inesse presumitur and by how much the presumptions are strong by so much ought the probation which elids them be the stronger And albeit all Domestick proof ought to be rejected in all cases as suspect and partial yet the English can adduce nothing for obtruding this Servitude upon us save the Testimonies of their own Historians Lawyers and Heralds 2. The Natural and Legal way of proving any man to be a Vassal is by production of the Feudal Contract betwixt the Superiour and Vassal all Feus requiring necessarily writ in their Constitution Nor can Vassalage be legally prov'd otherwise whereas here the English can produce no formal nor original Constitution of this Fue such as is to be seen betwixt the Pope and the King of Spain the Emperour and the Princes of the Empyre c. For all they can adduce is only posteriour acknowledgements of this Vassalage via facti which is but a begging of the question and these being but Accessories and Consequential Inferences cannot subsist except the original Constitution be first proved no more then the payment of Feu Duties to a Superiour either by Force Ignorance or Mistake could prove the Payer to be Vassal for the future except the originall Feu were produced And as this is necessary in Law so it cannot be imagined in Reason but that some Obligation in Writ or Feudal Contract would have been taken by the English who were a very wise people and consulted very prudently their own Securities in every thing else And if this Contract had been once entred into it had been yet extant since the English cannot alleadge that ever they lost any of
any who have sworn Alleadgeance and live within the Spainish Dominions though not within Milain since then the English would not allow us the Right of Sucession nor the other benefits due naturally to Subjects it was strangely monstruous and repugnant that they designed to make the World believe that we were Subjects It is also very remarkable that if our Kingdom had been only a Feu holding of England our Nobility could not have precedency from others according to their Antiquity for all the Nobility of the Superiour Kingdom ought in the opinion of such as writ of precedency to be preferred to these who live in the Vassal-kingdom 10. If Scotland had been a Feu to England the king of England as Superiour would have had the keeping of our young Princes and the disposing of them in Marriage and the Feu would have been in his hand during their Minority that being implyed in the Right of proper Feus by the Feudal Law And this must be presumed to have been a proper Feu as all Feus are presumed to be except the Vassal can prove that the Nature of the Feu was impropriated for the Vassals Advantage But yet no king of England did ever pretend to the Guardianship of our young Princes nor to name Governours during their Minority But on the contrare Alexander king of Scotland having left only a young Princess called Margaret who was Nice to the King of England he did not pretend to the keeping of the young Princess but intreated that she might be married to Edward the second his son and that if there should be no issue of that Marriage Scotland should remain a free Kingdom as it was formerly inthe dependent from all pretentions of the kings of England Which is likewise another acknowledgement made by the kings of England themselves of the independency of Scotland And if the kings of England had been Superiours of Scotland there would have been some Vestige of this Superiority to be seen in our Laws whereas all our Laws call still our Crown the Imperial Crown of Scotland Or in our Coyne all Coyns bearing some Impressions from the Superiour And the Kings of England might have remanded from our Courts or out of our Country such as had committed crimes against their kings or Laws It being an undoubted principle of the Feudal Law That qui habet dominium directum potest jurisdictionem suam explicare tam in territorio Vassalli quam in suo habet enim dominus jurisdictionem cumulativam cum Vassallo But so it is that it can never be alleadged That the Kings of England offered to exerce any Jurisdiction in Scotland or did require any criminals who had fled into Scotland to be delivered up to them Nor did ever the English pretend to punish such Scotsmen as were taken fighting against them abroad as Traitors and Guilty of Treason as certainly they would have done if they had been Vassals to England But on the contrair the English did also ransome them and use them every way as they did other Strangers and Forreigners 11. The Scots having intended a Declarator of Freedome against Edward the first king of England the Process was delegated by Pope Boniface the VIII to Baldredus one of the greatest Lawyers of that time who considered very fully the Reasons proponed hine inde by both parties and having made a full Report to the Pope the Pope did very sharply reprove the king of England and declared that Scotland did not depend upon it any manner of way and that the English had attacked Scotland most unjustly against all both Divine and humane Laws as Duchesne observes pag. 66. The Letter it self that was writ to the king of England with all the process which was called Processus Baldredi being yet extant in Fordons Chronicle And it cannot be denyed but that England might have expected much more favour from the Pope than Scotland could since they payed him a constant Revenue called Peters pence and since England was known to afford much greater Casualties to the Pope then could have been expected from this kingdom In stating the Arguments which are proposed by the English for proving that the kings of Scotland were Vassals for their Crown to England I shall begin with these which were insisted upon by King Edward the 1. in the former process The first was That Brutus descended from the Trojans did conquer Britain and divided it amongst his three sons to the Eldest of whom called by Historians Locrin or Locuus as he is termed in that process he left Logria now called England To the Second called Albanactus he left Albanie now called Scotland To the Third called Camber he left Cambria now called Wales But Humbert King of the Huns having killed Albanactus Locrin the elder to revenge his brothers Death did kill Humbert and reunite Albanie to Logria or England The second was That Donvall king of the Britans killed Staterius king of Scotland who rebelled against him and became Master of the whole Isle which Dunvall having two sons Belinus and Brounus he left the Superiority of Scotland with England to the eldest and the property only of Scotland to the second The third was That Arthur king of the Britans having overcome Scotland he gave that kingdom to Angusell who acknowledged him as his Superiour and carried the Sword before him The fourth was That Aldestan king of England having conquered Constantine king of Scotland did pray to GOD that by the intercession of St. Iohn de Benlaco he might by a miracle be declared the just Superiour of Scotland Whereupon he did strick with his sword at a Rock near Dumbar and made a Gape in it a full yard in length The fifth was That William king of Scotland did acknowledge himself Vassal to William the Conquerour Alexander king of Scots acknowledged himself Vassal to king Henry And that the Nobility of Scotland called in the said Edward to arbitrate the Differences betwixt the Bruce and Baliol. Peter Heylen speaking of Scotland in his Geographie pag. 1289. affirms That the Kings of Scotland were still Vassals to the Crown of England which he endeavours to confirm by these Arguments 1. By the Homages Services and other Duties done by the kings of Scotland to those of England Malcome the third doing Homage to William the Conquerour as William one of his Successors did to Henry the second and that not only for three Counties in the North of England or the Earldome of Huntingdoun as is by some pretended but for the very Crown it self Kenneth the third being also one of those Titulary or Vassal Kings who rowed king Edgar over the Dee 2. By the interposing of king Edward the first and the Submission of the Scots to that interposing in determining the Contraversie of Succession betwixt Bruce and Baliol as in the like case Philip the fair adjudged the Title of Artoys which was holden of the Crown of France and then in question betwixt the Lady Mawd
by Leo the 3. of greater Authority amongst such as acknowledge the Pope to be no infallible Judge And whatever may be debated against other Kingdoms which were once Subject to the Roman Empyre Yet his Plea against Scotland is very ill founded since in the opinion of Scalliger and the best of Historians Scotland nor its Kings were never subject to the Roman Empyre nor conquered by them for they to defend themselves against the Scots were forced to build a Wall called Vallum Adriani which is Extant to this day as an undenyable Proof that Scotland did set Limits to the Roman Empyre And thus as Scalliger observes Romani Imperii fuit olim Scotia limes It is likewise pretended by the German Lawyers that the Emperour ought to precede all others because he is crowned with three Crowns one of Iron at Aquisgrane one of Silver at Milan and one of Gold at St. Peters Church Gloss. ad Clement 1. And since the King of the Romans who is but Emperour in hope debates with other Kings as in anno 1533. he who is actual Emperour ought to be preferred to them For the Emperour it is also pretended That in the Ottomon Court and in all other Courts the Emperours Ambassadors are still preferred and that he only is still styled your Majesty in all Adresses made to him by all other Kings as by France anno 1628. by Pole anno 1621. c. And that the Kings of Pole Sweden Denmark and others have taken Confirmations from him ab eo petierunt veniam aetatis Hering de fidejus c. 2. And yet the Kings of Britain and France may debate the precedency with him because the Empyre is but Elective whereas they are Hereditary the Empyre is a Limited but they have Absolute Monarchies vide Peregrin de jur fise tit 1. num 47. The French King debates his precedency with the King of Spain the Spaniard contending that he ought to be preferred because he is the most Catholick King and King of maniest Kingdoms and some of them are so foolish as to say That the Spainish Nation is more ancient than the French as owing their Origin to Athamaricus one of the first Governours amongst the Goths But for the French it is answered 1. That they are the most Christian Kings 2. That they are Consecrated and Anoynted 3. That Swardus was first King of that Nation in the Reign of Alexander the Great 4. That they were preferred in many General Councils to the Spaniards as in the Lateran Council anno 1215. in the Council of Constans anno 1416. and in the Council of Basil anno 1433. That the Venetians preferred the French after much Debate anno 1558. the Case being submitted by both to that Senate and Pius the IV. preferred him at Rome anno 1564. the King of Spain having appealed from the Venetian to him And though the Emperour has of late decided in favours of Spain yet that Decision is little considered because of the Relation which the Emperour has to the Spainish Crown And therefore the French King does very wisely send only Envoys and Residents to the Imperial Court lest if he sent Ambassadours the Spainiards might be preferred to his Nor was this Precedency ever acclaimed by the Spaniard till the Reign of Charles the V. who being both Emperour and King of Spain did begin this Debate which after many Contests the Spainiard has at last ceded having commanded his Ambassadour the Marquess de la Fuente to acknowledge the same to the most Christian King in Satisfaction of the Injury done to his Ambassadour in anno 1661. at London The King of Great Britain founds his Precedency to both upon 1. His being King of that Isle which was first Christian. 2. Upon his being Anointed and one of the quatuor Vncti which were before all other Kings 3. That having conquered France in the time of Henry the V. he has Right to all the Precedency which France can acclaim And to Spain the King of England was preferred in the General Councils of Pisa Constans and Basil. I find likewise in Golstad lib. 1. cap. 30. That Pope Iulius the II. decided after debate in favours of Henry the II. King of England against Ferdinand the V. Caspar Eup. thesaur polit part 3. apot 63. And therefore in the Book of Roman Ceremonies 1504. England was placed before Castil nor can it be denyed but that Charles the V. in ranking the Knights of the Golden Fleece did give the right hand to the King of England and the left to the King of Spain And though of late the Court of Rome has decided in favours of Spain yet that proceeds from the dislike that Rome had to England for its Separation and the great Esteem which dayly grows there for Spain because Spain has never indulged any who have left the Romish Church CHAP. II. Of the Precedency due to the Kings of SCOTLAND I Must here crave Leave to say That the King of Great Britain may justly claim the Precedency from all those Kings as he is properly King of Scotland For it is an uncontroverted Ground in Law That amongst those of equal Dignity he who first attained to that Dignity is to be preferred L. 1. C. de Consul Quis enim prior esse debet in eodem genere Dignitatis nisi qui prior eum adeptus est L. 1. ff de albo scribendo With which agrees the Canon Law Cap. 1. de major ob And this is declared the uncontraverted Test of Precedency by Crus de jur preced pag. 66. Menoch concil 51. Cuj ad L. 2. C. de Consul And we see that this Rule holds in all other Dignities without respect to Riches or multitude of Possessions And thus amongst Dukes or Earles in all Nations the first who attained to the Dignity is still preferred though others be much richer and have suceeded to moe Earldoms This being then the true and solid Ground of Preference I may truly subsume That the King of Scotland being equall in Dignity with the Kings of England France and Spain attained to that Dignity before either of these For our King Fergus came into Scotland 330. years before the birth of CHRIST Whereas Polydor an English Historian confesses that Egbert the first King of England did begin his Reign eight hundred years after our Saviours birth and the King of Scotland marryed the daughter of Ambrosius Aurelius who was the first King of the Britans and whose Reign preceeded the Origin of the English Kingdom As to the Monarchy of Spain and their Race of Kings they are no older than Rudolphus King of the Romans elected in the year 1273. by whom the house of Austria did rise to this Dignity As to the Kings of France who now Reign they are only descended from Hugh Capet who usurped that Throne in anno 987. And not being descended of either the Carolovingian or Merovingian Races they cannot compet with our Kings Achaius King of Scotland
their Monuments or Records And it is clear that we had Charters for these Lands we held in England and that England had Charters at the same time for the Lands they held in France And it is very observeable that in the Reign of King Edward the 1. that King stiles himself Rex superior Dominus Regni Scotiae during his violent Usurpation over Scotland whereas never any King of England did so formerly And yet if they had had any such pretensions they had assumed the same Titles but this imaginary Title began and ended with the Force which only maintained it 3. The English cannot condescend upon any Reason which might have prevailed with the Scots to have become Vassals to England nor any particular time when they first became Vassalls and all they can alleadge is That upon some impressions of Force some of our own Kings being prisoners or some of our people being opprest they did elicite from them acknowledgements of a Vassalage formerly stated Whereas Force renders all acknowledgements null and that these acknowledgements were null upon many other Accounts and that the Kings of England have been forced to grant the like to other Princes shall be proved clearly in answer to the Instances which the English adduce 4. Scotland has been habite and repute and acknowledged to be a free Monarchie and their Kings Independent and Supreme and that not only by all Forreign Princes the best Judges in this Case who have received and preferred their Ambassadours as the Ambassadours of free Princes but even in General Councils the King of Scotland has been preferred to the Kings of Castile Hungary Pole Navarr Cyprus Bohemia Denmark and thus they were ranked by Pope Iulius the II. anno 1504. vid. Besold sinop. doct politicae lib. 20. cap. 10. Which could not have been done if he had been only a Feudatory Prince since all free princes are preferred to all feudatory princes Yea and if Scotland had been Vassals to England for the Crown of Scotland the Kings of England had certainly craved and obtained the precedency from other Kings upon that account since he had been Rex Regum And since France craved to be preferred to Spain because the king of England was his Vassal as Chassanaeus observes part 5. consider 19. so much rather ought the Kings of England to have been preferred because they might have alleadged that there was a Crown holden of them whereas they held only some Feu-Lands of the kings of France 5. Not only Christian Princes and Councils but even Popes have declared Scotland to be a Free Kingdom and Independent from England And thus Pope Honorius allowed to Scotland That is Subjects should not be obliged to answer by way of Appeal to any Court without their own Kingdom salva solummodo authoritate sedis Apostolicae 2. Edward king of England having petitioned Pope Innocent the IV. that the Kings of Scotland might not be Anoynted or Crowned without his Knowledge quod non posset se facere ipso inscio in Regem coronari vel inungi the said Pope did refuse the same presentibus procuratoribus parium in Consilio Lugdunensi satis per hoc determinans Regnum Scotiae Regno Angliae non subesse 3. The King of England having likewise petitioned the same Pope Innocent that he might have Liberty to Collect the Tiths of Scotland since he had Right terrarum omnium suae jurisdictioni subjectarum the same was also refused 4. Pope Boniface the eight does in a Letter to Edward king of England Declare That ad celsitudinem regiam potuit pervenisse qualiter ab antiquis temporibus c. quodque Regnum Scotiae sicut accepimus a progenitoribus tuis Regni Angliae Regibus feudale non extitit nec existit c. The copy of which Letter I have at present and Duchesne writing the History of Great Britain does pag. 661. relate That le mesine Pape renvoya d' autres Lettres au roy d' Anglterre pour soustenir que le royaume de Escosse ne dependoit point d' Anglterre que contre le droit Divin la justice il s' en vindicoit la subjection That is to say The same Pope sent Letters at the same time to the King of England in which he maintained That the Kingdom of Scotland was no way subject to that Kingdom and that his seeking to subject it to him as superiour was contrare to the Law of GOD and Men. 6. By the Feudal Law and Law of Nations a Vassal cannot Mortifie any part of his Feu without the consent of his Superiour because the Superiour by the Mortification looses the Services due to him out of his Feu Church-men being obliged to no reddendo but Praeces Vota And therefore in all Mortifications made by Vassals the Superiours Confirmation is still required and it cannot be imagined but that if Scotland had been a Feu holding of England the Popes their Conclaves and the Monastries themselves would have sought Confirmations from the Kings of England of the Mortifications made by the Kings and Subjects of Scotland there being more Erections of that kind in Scotland than in any Nation of equal Revenue and yet never any such Confirmation was sought or pretended to But on the contrare the Pope still confirms these Erections as made per Reges Scotiae as he does in all other Nations or the Kings of Scotland confirm these Erections if they be made by any of his Vassals and it is observable that the Pope does in these Confirmations designe our King Regem Scotiae and not Scotorum 7. The Historians also of other nations did concurr with those of our Nation in asserting this freedom and thus Arnisaeus the best Lawyer who has writ upon these politick questions does look upon this pretence as a meer fiction lib. 1. cap. 5. Anglus Scotorum regem habebat sibi fiduciarium sive ratione aliquot regionum sive ratione ipsius regni ut nimis audacter asserit Math. Steph. Nam haec vetustate temporis obscuritate authorum sunt incerta And Duchesne pag. 21. speaking of Scotland asserts positively That its Kings does recognosce no Superiour but GOD and is every way a Soveraign Prince notwithstanding of the old pretentions of England Le Roy le possede en toute souverainté sans recognoistre au cun superieur que dieu bien que c ' estoit ancienne praetension des Anglois que le Roy D'escosse est vassal de leur couronne 8. Not only have forreign Princes General Councils and the Lawyers and Historians of other Nations declared Scotland to be a free Kingdom but even the Kings of England have acknowledged this freedom and independency as may appear by these instances 1. The King and Parliament of England have treated with the Ambassadours of Scotland whereas no Superiour can treat with his own Vassal as a forreigner nor can a Vassal send Ambassadors to his Superiour for an Ambassadour must be
equal to him to whom he is sent and is in Law no way lyable to his Jurisdiction And this is amongst others the opinion of Alberic Gentil an Engglish Lawyer de Legationibus l. 2. c. 10. And it is clear from Liv. lib. 6. lib. 43. 2. King Henry of England being to enter upon a War with Simeon Earl of Leister did intreat Supply from Alexander King of Scots and lest this might inferr any Acknowledgement of his Superiority he did by Letters under his hand and by his Ambassadours publickly declare that he did not crave this aid as Superiour to which Superiority he had no pretence 3. The same King Alexander being invited to assist at the Coronation of King Edward and being unwilling to go there lest it might inferr an acknowledgement King Edward did declare Quod non ex Debito sed ex Gratia tantummodo hoc petebat 4. The same King Alexander being to make homage in England to king Edward for the Lands of Penrith and Tindale which he held of king Edward he did publickly protest Quod non pro Regno Scotiae sed pro terris in Anglia dictum Homagium faciebat Rexque iste Angliae hujusmodi Homagium admisit per quod praesumitur talia fuisse similia prius facta homagia Regno Angliae per Reges Scotiae Nam talia fuisse praesumitur quale fuit illud declaratum expositum Homagium nam talia sunt subjecta qualia praeadicata admittunt which are the very Words used in the Answer made by the Scots before the Pope where all the former four instances are fully discussed and were offered to be proved by Witnesses beyond all Exception the Writs themselves having been designedly taken away by king Edward And Fordon has in his History unprinted Copies of several Letters written by the said Pope Boniface and others declaring that those Instances consisted in their knowledge and some of those Instances are fully repeated by Duchesne pag. 661. who is to be believed since he is a Stranger And even Matthew Paris a Learned English Historian does declare That king Richard the first did when he was going to the Holy War disclaim this pretended Superiority over Scotland anno 1188. Which Disclamation is likewise observed by Hovedean another Historian of the same Nation And when Matthew Paris speaks of the Homage done to the king of England he makes it only to be for his Lands in England Rex Scotorum Willielmus fecit Homagium Regi Anglorum Ricardo de jure suo in Anglia Which is ordinarly the stile used by Historians when they writ of this Subject And thus Duchesne sayes that Alexander made Homage to Henry the third for his possessions in England but refused to make him Homage for Scotland and that king Alexander sent a Cartell to king Henry for asserting that he had made him Homage for Scotland The Copy of the Homage is yet extant at Rome and the minute of it is thus exprest in the Records of our old Abbacies Memorandum anno Gratiae milesimo ducentesimo septuagesimo octavo Apostolorum Simonis Iudae apud Westmonasterium Alexander Rex Scotiae fecit Homagium domino Edwardo Regi Angliae filio Regis Henrici sub his verbis Ego devenero hominem vestrum pro Terris quas de vobis teneo in Regno Angliae de quibus Homagium vobis debeo salvo regno meo tunc dixit Episcopus Norvicensis salvum sit Regi Angliae si jus habuerit ad homagium vestrum de regno cui Rex statim respondit aperte dicens ad homagium regni mei Scotiae nullus jus habet nisi solus DEUS nec de ullo teneo nisi solo DEO 4. King Alexander having dyed without Males Edward the first treated for a Marriage betwix Margaret Princess of Scotland called the Maid of Norway and Edward his son In which there are many pregnant Acknowledgements of this Freedom Volentes concedentes quod deficientibus praedictis Edwardo Margarita vel eorum altero absque Liberis extantibus in omni casu eventu in quo ad proximiores haeredes regnum praedictum debeat de jure reverti integre habere absolute absque ulla subjectione revertatur restituatur iisdem And in the close of that paper it is said That there shall be no prejudice done to either of the kingdoms Quin libere habeant statum suum And in the Deputation given by the Governours of Scotland dated at Melross anno 1289. for treating that Marriage this express Reservation is insert Salvis tamen in omnibus singulis per omnia Libertate Honore Regni Scotiae Which Reservation is likewise insert in a Warrand granted by king Edward for treating the said Marriage And it is observable That in all the Scottish Addresses to him and accepted by him he is only designed Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae but never designes himself Dominus superior Scotiae till after the War which shews that his former airie Title was very unjust 9. As the kings of England have acknowledged the Scots to be no Vassals so have their Laws and Lawyers For it is contented by these That the Scots were Aliens to England and could not have succeeded to any Estate in England without being Naturalized whereas alibi genitura presupposes that the alibi nati are not Vassals For this jus alibi geniturae called by the French droit d' aubeyne is settled upon this Maxime of the Feudal Law That because Feus are granted by Over-lords or Superiours upon designe and promises that their Vassals shal serve them upon all occasions against all persons and never reveal their secrets nor conceal what may be their disadvantage therefore Feudalists do justly conclude That no man can be Leidge man to two supreme Superiours or Over-lords because these Duties are imprestable to both seing the secrets of the one may be incompatible with the Safety of the other and they may by warring against one another distract the Alleadgeance of their Vassal And because men are more prone to serve their Native Prince then others therefore Strangers are alwayes suspect nor have they allowance to sell the Feus to which they succeed lest they should carry away the price out of the Country and possibly imploy it against the same Country Which principle seems at first to have flowed from the Roman Law by which the Goods of Strangers dying in Rome fell to the Exchequer or Fisk fiebant caduca With this foundation of the Feudal Law founded upon so clear Reason do the Customs of other Nations agree who account not these Aliens who live under the same Alleadgeance Thus Rageau pag. 67. Aubains sont estrangers mais 〈◊〉 qui n' est pa de la soveraignete de la Courounne de France Vid. Bacquet du droit d' aubeyne printed in the year 1557. And by the Custom of Milain the Expertest Feudalists of all the World alibi genitura extends not to
and her Nephew Robert Or as king Edward the third in the Right of the said Crown of France determined of the Controversie betwixt Iohn Earl of Montford and Charles of Bluis for the Dukedom of Bretaigne 3. By the Confession and acknowledgement of Prelats Peers and others the Estates of Scotland subscribed by all their hands and seals in the Roll of Ragman wherein they did acknowledge the Superiority of the kings of England not only in regard of such Advantages as the sword had given him but as his original and undoubted Right Which Roll was treacherously delivered into the hands of the Scots by Roger Mortimer Earl of March in the begining of the Reign of king Edward the third 4. By the tacite Confession of the kings themselves who in their Coyns Commissions and publick Instruments assume not to themselves the Title of kings of Scotland but of Reges Scotorum or the kings of the Scots and thereby imitating that though they are kings of the Nation yet there is some Superiour Lord king Paramount as we may call him who hath the Royalty of the Land 5. By the Judgements Arrests of the Courts of England not only in the times of king Edward the first but in sometimes since For â—hen William Wallace a Scotsman by birth and the best Souldier of that Country was taken prisoner and brought to London he was adjudged to suffer Death as a Traitor which had been illegal and unrighteous judgement had he been a prisoner of War and not lookt upon by the Judges as subject to the Crown of England The like done in the case of Simeon Fraâ—â—ll another of that kingdom in the same kings Reign In like manner in the time of king Edward the third it was resolved in the Court in the Lord Beaumonts case when it was objected That one of the Witnesses was a Scot and therefore as an Alien not to give his evidence that his Testimony was to be allowed because the Scots in the Law of England did not go for Aliens And when one indicted for a Rape in the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeths Reign desired a medietatem linguae because he was a Scots-man and so an Alien it was denyed him by the Court because the Scots were not reputed here as Aliens but as Subjects rather So also when Robert Vmsramville Lord of Kyme was summoned to the Parliament of England in the Reign of king Edward the third by the name of Robert Earl of Angus which is a Dignity in Scotland and after in a Writ against him was called by his own name of Vmsramville without any Addition of that Honour the Writ was adjudged to abate which I conceive the Learned Judges had not done if Scotland had not been reputed to be under the Vassalage of the kings of England 6. And lastly by a Charter of Lands and Arms which I have in my Custody granted by king Edward the first in the last year of his Reign to Peter Dodge of Stopworth in the Countie of Chester one of the Ancestors of my mother In which it is exprest that the said Lands and Arms were conferred upon him by that king for his eminent Services encontre son grand enemi rebel Baliol king of Scotland and Vassal of England In Answer to these Objections founded upon the Reign of Brutus I need say no more save that Cambden and the other Learned English Writers do look upon the same as a meer fiction And for proving the Crown of Scotland to hold of England there must be authentick Documents in Writ produced as has been formerly debated And this does sufficiently answer all that is said of Bellinus king Arthur c. But to refute these Fictions and to show how much of Cheat is in all these Contrivances I need only cite a passage from the Learned Aylet Sammes in his Britannia antiqua pag. 159. whose words are That which gave some Authotity to this Fiction was the use king Edward the first made of it in vindicating his Title to Scotland against the pretence of Pope Boniface and the Church of Rome who laid claim to that kingdom by ancient Right as part of St. Peters Patrimony and that Churches Demesne It appears that the Monks and Friers had a great hand in making out this Title by Brute which story was now new vampt and from all parts sent out of these shops where at first it had been forged and hammered out And this doth more evidently appear if we consider many other parts of the same Letter as it is found in the Records cited by Mr. Prin but especially that miracle of king Adelstane who in perpetuam rei memoriam to give an evident signe of his Right to Scotland with his sword struck a blow upon a Rock near Dumbar that he Cleft it at least an Elne wide As to the Homage made by king Malcome to William the Conquerour it is answered That the matter of Fact is absolutely denyed And not only do our Historians and the Historians of Forreigners mention no such submission but they do on the contrair relate That William the Conquerour having come with a Designe to conquer Scotland he was forced by Malcome king of Scotland to a Peace very Honourable and Advantagious for Scotland one Article whereof was That William the Conquerour should restore such of the English Nobility as had fled to Scotland for shelter to their Estates and Honours And how can it be imagined that Scotland being then very Unite and living under a most warlike Prince would have submitted to a king who had too much to do at home or that King Malcome would have submitted to him whom he forced to restore even the English who had Rebelled against him And as the Constitution of Vassalage requires Writ so if any such Vassalage had been acknowledged he had accepted of a Charter holding of the Conquerour as all the other Vassals did As to King Williams Homage to Henry the second it is Answered That William having been treacherously made Prisoner he was forced by a long and tedious Imprisonment to make this Homage and consequently the Homage it self was null being extorted by Force and made by a person who was not sui juris being in prison It being certain by the Laws of all Nations That Deeds done by Prisoners are null but especially in this case where the Deed was such as that it would have been null however For even the most absolute Kings are so far from being able to alienate their Kingdom or enslave it that by so doing as some say they forfeit their own Right and make the Throne void for the next Successour who is not obliged by what they have done And if any such Act as this were binding then England by the same Argument had remained a Feu of the Empyre since Richard the first their King did Homage to Henry the Emperour for England and King Iohn his brother did the like Homage to the Pope and offered to
hold England in capite of Murmelius a Sarazen King Edgar's being rowed over the Dee by Kenneth king of Scotland is taken off by the former Answer though it were true as it is not nor can it be made appear by a Chronological Computation if the Enquiry were worth our pains The great Instance founded upon the Homage made by the Baliol is as weak since it is known that King Robert the Bruce refused to do Homage to King Edward choosing rather to want a Crown then to be a Vassal for it But Iohn Baliol the other Competitor preferring his Ambition to his Native Country was therefore justly disowned by the Nobility who as Duchesne a Stranger to us observes sent Ambassadours to King Edward to show him that they did Revoke and Disown the Homage made by the Baliol and asserted their primitive Liberty And so hateful an Act was this esteemed in him that he losed the Crown by it whereas had this pretence of England been founded upon any Justice it could never have been so severly either opposed or punished But though Baliol had been a lawful King as he was not King Robert the Bruce's Title being preferable in Law yet could not the Baliol have subjected the Kingdom in Vassalage to England since by the Feudal Law a Superiour cannot superinduce or interpose another Superiour nec sine Vassalli consensu alienare jus suum directum c. 1. § ex eodem descendit de Leg. Lotharii And though some debate that by such Alienations of the Superiority the Superiour forfeits his Right yet all agree that the Alienation is null nulla irrita D. D. in cap. imperialem § praeterea de prohibit alien per Fredric Curt. p. 16. num 3. latissime Rosenth cap. 9. conclus 62. Whereas it is pretended That the Parliament of Scotland consented It is Answered That any Parliamentary Consent is altogether denyed For though we have exact Records of all our Parliaments yet there is not so much as Mention made amongst all our Statutes or Books of any Parliament held by Iohn Baliol. And albeit Prin has published all the Records which the English have upon this Subject yet he dares not so much as assert much less produce the Copy of any such Act of Parliament And certainly if there had been such an Act of Parliament not only the Records of that Parliament but that particular Act had been carefully preserved and published and that this Parliament and Statute is a meer Fiction appears not only by our own but Forreigne Historians And it is not imaginable that the greater part of the Nobility and Kingdom having immediatly disowned the Baliol for acknowledging this Subjection that they would themselves have ratified it in a free Parliament But though this were true as it is not yet there is not any Kingdom so Loyal Happy or Invincible but some few Cowards or Rogues may be found in it who may assume the name of a Parliament and disown the true Interest of the Kingdom without any Warrand from the People for that effect And I would very willingly know if England remains still Vassal to the Pope because a Monk prevailed with King Iohn to hold his Crown of him or if Portugal should not be acknowledged a free Crown because Spain did once elicite from them a National Consent by Force of Arms Or if these three or four pretended English Parliaments who acknowledged Oliver Cromwel the Usurper did settle a Legal Right upon him by their Concourse Nor did Prescription Supply here the Original illegality of that Consent for the Scots did immediatly reclame and did within much fewer years than Prescription requires restore themselves to their Liberty under the Conduct of that Glorious Prince King Robert the Bruce for whom GOD did so Miraculous things as did Convince the World how much the LORD of Hosts detasted the Bribry and Cruelty of King Edward the first Et ita res facile redeunt ad suam naturam quae mox rediit divertisse non videtur But to show how great Aversion even that Generation had for any such Submission to the English Monarchy I have set down the Copy of a Letter yet extant under all the Seals of our Nobility directed to Pope Iohn in anno 1320. Wherein they Declare that if their King should offer to submit to England they would disown him and chuse another Not that the power of Electing Kings was ever thought to Reside in our Nobility But because it was represented to them as the Opinion of all Lawyers that a King could not alienat his Kingdom or submit himself by his sole Consent to a Forreigne Prince Since by that Alienation and Submission he does Forfeit his Right to the Crown As to which Letter likewise I think fit to observe to prevent any Mistake as to the Calculation of the number of our Kings that the Writers thereof have as is usual with us numbred amongst our Kings such of the Royal Family as were for the time Regents or Viceroys The Letter follows SAnctissimo Patri in CHRISTO ac Domino Domino Ioanni Divina Providentia Sacrosanctae Romanae Vniversalis Ecclesiae summo Pontifici Filii sui humiles devoti Duncanus Comes de Fyfe Thomas Ranulphi Comes Moraviae Dominus Manniae Vallis Anandiae Patricius de Dumbar Comes Marchiae Malisius Comes de Strathern Malcolmus Comes de Levenox Willielmus Comes de Ross Magnus Comes Cathaniae Orcadiae Willielmus Comes Sutherlandiae Walterus Senescallus Scotiae Willielmus de Soules Buttelarius Scotiae Iacobus dominus de Dowglas Rogerus de Moubray David dominus de Brechine David de Grahame Ingelramus de Vmsravile Ioannes de Meneteith Custos Comitatus de Meneteith Alexander Frazer Gilbertus de Haia Constabularius Scotiae Robertus de Keith Mariscallus Scotiae Henricus de Sanctoclaro Ioannes de Grahame David de Lindesey Willielmus Olifant Patricius de Grahame Ioannes de Fenton Willielmus de Abernethie David de Weyms Willielmus de Monte fixo Fergusius de Ardrosan Eustachius de Maxwell Willielmus de Ramsay Willielmus de Monte alto Alanus de Moravia Douenaldus Campbell Ioannes Camburn Reginaldus le Chen Alexander de Seton Andreas de Lescelyne Alexander de Straton caeterique Barones Libere-tenentes ac tota Communitas Regni Scotiae omnimodam Reverentiam filiolem cum devotis pedum osculis beatorum Scimus sanctissime Pater Domine ex antiquorum Gestis Libris colligimus quod inter caeteras Nationes egregias nostra sciz Scotorum Natio multis Praeconiis fuerit insignita Quae de majori Scythia per mare Tirenum Columnas Herculis transiens in Hispania inter ferocissimos per multa temporum Curricula residens a nullis quantumcunque Barbaricis poterat alicubi subjugari Indeque veniens post mille ducentos annos a transitu populi Israelitici sibi sedes in Occidente quas nunc obtinent expulsis Britonibus Pictis omnino deletis
petitionem Willielmi Regis Scotiae he grants a Liberty to the Monks of Aberbrothick to Transport their Goods through England free from Custome And Matth. Par. in many Treatises related by him gives them that Title And Pope Innocent the third in an express Rescript in the body of the Canon Law cap. 4. decret de immunit Eccles. writes Innocentius III. Illustri Regi Scotiae which behoved to be to King William who did reign in that Popes time Nor is this Argument from the Designation concluding since it is not convertible For even Feudatory Kings did and do assume their Designation from the Kingdom they hold as the Kings of Naples Sicily c. Which evinces that it follows not necessarly that the Kings of these Kingdoms are Feudatory Kings because they were designed Reges Scotorum and not Scotiae And in many places of his History Matth. Paris calls the Kings of England Reges Anglorum as in the whole Lives of King Iohn Henry the third It appears also by the former Transaction betwixt Edward the first and the Governours of Scotland that Margaret is even by the King of England constantly Designed Regina ac Domina Scotiae And I observe that in the Contract of Marriage betwixt Henry the VII for his Daughter Queen Margaret and Iames the IV. that sometimes the King of Scotland is called Rex Scotorum and sometimes Rex Scotiae in the same paper and the Commission granted by the King of Scotland for compleating that Marriage is called Commissio regis Scotiae pro matrimonio in all which Contract the King of Scotland is called Charissimus noster frater a Title never granted to a Feudatory King by his Superiour and the people of Scotland are there called Subditi Regis Scotiae whereas if the King of Scotland had been only a Feudatory Prince we had been Subjects to the King of England and not to the King of Scotland And there needs no other Argument against Heylen to prove that the Kings of Scotland were oft-times called reges Scotiae than the instance brought by himself of the Charter granted by King Edward the first to Peter Dodge wherein Baliol is confessed by himself to be called Roy de Escosse King of Scotland And this proves that the said Heylen layes down Grounds which are not only false but inconsistent But secondly though this were true yet it proves nothing seing the Goths and Picts were a free people and yet their Kings were called Reges Pictorum Gothorum which Phrase was ordinary amongst Conquering Nations such as the Scots were whose Princes having at first no fixed Kingdom did whilst their people were spreading themselves in Collonies rather assume a Title from the people than from their Country And seing Men are Vassals and not Land it will follow according to the terms used by Feudalists that seing our Kings were reges Scotorum that therefore the men were not Vassals and so they hold not their Land of the Crown of England nor were ejus subvassalli aut Valvassores The Argument urged from many Decisions in England finding that we were punishable as Traitors in England and that we were lookt upon as Subjects and not as Aliens by their Judges deserves no other Answer then that since their Kings by their power could not make us Vassals neither could their Parliaments or Judges treat us as such And if their Gown-men could have made us such they needed not have imployed Arms to have shed so much Blood in the quarrel Nor can such Domestick Testimonies prove in a case of so great importance And yet even the English Proceedings against those of our Nation shows that their own Judicatories and Lawyers consider us not as Vassals but as the Subjects of a free and independent Kingdom And amongst many other Instances I shall only remember that of Queen Mary against whom that Nation proceeded not as a Vassal but as a person who had made her self lyable to their Jurisdiction ratione loci delicti Which is very clear by Zouch de judicio inter gentes part 2. sect 6. whose very words I have here set down to prove not only this but that the Kings of Scotland were absoluti and equal to and independent from those of England being both pares absoluti principes His words are Erant boni rerum Estimatores qui asperius cum illa actum affirmabant eo quod fuerit Princips libera absoluta in quam solius Dei sit Imperium quod in majestatem peccare non posset cui subdita non fuerit quod par in parem non habeat potestatem unde judicium Imperatoris in Robertum Siciliae regem irritum pronounciatum est quia Imperio ejus non esset subditus Alii aliter censebant illam scilicet subditam esse etsi non originariam tamen temporariam Quia duo absoluti principes quoad authoritatem in uno Regno esse non possunt parem in parem habere potestatem quoties paris judicio se submiserit vel expresse verbis vel tacite contrahendo vel delinquendo intra paris scilicet jurisdictionem Papam sententiam Imperatoris in Robertum Siculùm rescidisse quod factum in territorio Imperiali non fuerit sed Papali Denique nullum magnum extare exemplum quod non aliquid ex iniquo habeat And in the Process against the Bishop of Ross as it is related both by the Forreign Lawyers and by Cambden it clearly appears that he was proceeded against not as a Subject of England but as a meer stranger who not being subject ratione originis became subject ratione delicti as they alleadged And the Learned Author of the late jus maritimum pag. 451. having spoken of the Jurisdiction of England over Ireland has these words But in Scotland it is otherwayes for that is a Kingdom absolute and not like Ireland which is a Crown annexed by Conquest but the other is by Union And though they be United under one Prince ad fidem yet their Laws are distinct so as they had never been United and therefore the Execution of the judgements in each other must be done upon Request and that according to the Law of Nations Nor need I answer the Argument brought from the procedure against the Heroick Wallace and others for these instances show rather an excessive resentment upon present Hostilities then the Justice of those who against the Law of Nations proceeded to murther such as were indeed prisoners of War fighting for their own Native King and Country And even the English of that age by entring into Truces Ransoming of Prisoners and doing all other things which are only allowable in a just War may convince all Mankind that in this and the like Instances they succumb'd to the bitterness of their present Passion I must here also crave Leave to assert That though Vassals are not to be treated as Aliens yet we find very frequently in History that whole Nations have been Naturalized and have
in their respective Robes and Crowns on their Heads Coming before the King they made their Reverence Then they were led up by the Master of Ceremonies some steps and sitting down on their Knees on Velvet Cushions the Lyon made an Harrangue both to His Majesty and to them Declaring to the Noblemen That it pleased His Majesty to promote them to that Dignity and that he desired them to Fear GOD and obey His Power Then he took their Oaths that they should obey GOD his Majesty and mantain the Religion then profest Thereafter the Lyon delivered to His Majesty the Patents and His Majesty redelivered them to the Lyon who gave them to the Noblemen In token that they should obey GOD and His Majesties Laws Afterwards the Lyon delivered His Majesty the Marquesses Coronets His Majesty redelivered them to the Lyon The Lyon put the Crowns on their Heads saying Iohn Marquess of Hamilton Earl of Arran Lord Even c. George Marquess of Huntly Earl of Enzie Lord Gordon and Badzenoch c. The same was Proclaimed furth of the windows by the Heraulds and Pursivants with sound of Trumpet Then were they conveyed to their Seats and placed above the Earles upon the Kings left Hand Trumpets sounding The Lyon desired His Majesty to Honour the Gentlemen who bare the Honours with the Honour of Knight-hood His Majesty consented The Lyon caused them sit down on their Knees at the foot of all the Stage and after he had made an Exhortation to them and received all their Oaths they holding up their Hands and promising to obey all the Injunctions The Lyon presented the Sword to His Majesty who stroke each of them therewith on the Right shoulder and Sir offered the Spur the Lyon first proclaiming their Styls and after the Heraulds and Pursivants at the windows with sound of Trumpet I find this Difference in the Creation of many Earles from what is here set down That the four Gentlemen bear the Honours thus The first the Penon the second the Standart the third Sword and Belt the fourth the Crown and lastly the Lyon bear the Patent in a Velvet bag And that the Lyon offered first to His Majesty the Sword and Belt and receiving it back put it on the Person Nobilitat As also when the King was not present and after His going to England The Ceremony was performed be His Majesties High Commissioner if there was one at the time Or otherwise a Writ was direct to the Lord Chancellor appointing him Commissioner for that Creation And then the first thing that was done after the person to be Created was brought in the Lyon gave the Patent to the Commissioner who gave it to the Register or Clerk of Council to be read And I Observe this in all Our old Creations that if the person to be Dignified was a Lord formerly he was conveyed in be two Lords and the Ceremony of the new Creation being over was conveyed to his place by two of that degree to which he was advanced The English Nobility are sometimes Created by being called in a Write to Parliament under the Designations of Earles Viscounts c. Which way is unknown to Us in Scotland though the King may introduce it at His pleasure The Precedency amongst Subjects is thus Established in both Kingdoms Dukes of the Blood Royal Other Dukes according to their Creation The Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal Marquesses according to their Creation Dukes Eldest Sons Earles according to their Creation Marquesses Eldest Sons Dukes Younger Sons Viscounts according to their Creation Earles Eldest Sons Marquesses Younger Sons Barrons whom We call Lords Viscounts Eldest Sons Earles Younger Sons Barrons Eldest Sons Barronets Viscounts Younger Sons But the Officers in England are by Act of Parliament Henry the 8. thus Ranked Lord Chancellour Lord Thesaurer The Lord President of the Privy Council The Lord Privy Seal These four being of the Degree of a Barron or above shall sit in Parliament and all Assemblies of Council above Dukes not being of the Blood Royal. The Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord High Constable of England The Earl Marishal of England The Lord Admiral of England The Lord Great Master or Steward of the House The Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold These last Six and the Kings principle Secretary take place according to their present State So that if they be Barrons they take place above all Barrons If Earles above all Earles If Dukes above all Dukes By a Decree and Establishment under the Great Seal of England 1 o. Iacobi the following persons are thus Ranked Knights of the Garter Knights of the Privy Council The Master of the Wards and Liveries The Lord Chancellor and Under-Thesaurer of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Dutchy The Chief Justice of the Kings Bench The Master of the Rolls The Chief Justice of the common Pleas The Chief Barron of the Exchequer The other Judges and Barrons of the degree of the Coif The Younger Sons of Viscounts The Younger Sons of Barrons The Barronets The Precedency amongst Our Nobility differs nothing from what is here set down England and We agreeing in all points since the Union of the two Kingdoms And especially since the Coronation of King Charles the first at which time he Declared he would have it so But to prevent Differences betwixt the Nobility of both Kingdoms It was Ordered That all those of the same Degree in England should in England take place from all those of the same Degree in Scotland And all those of the same Degree in Scotland should in Scotland take place of the English That is to say All the English Dukes should take place in England of all the Scots Dukes And all the Scottish Dukes in Scotland should take place of all the English Dukes which was very Just and Suetable to the Laws of Nations But as to the Ranking of Our Officers We Differ much from England For clearing whereof it is fit to know That with Us there were Officers of the Crown and Officers of State The Officers of the Crown were all Designed of Scotland as Constabularius Scotiae c. In King Malcom the II. his Parliament The Offices then Extant were The Chancellour the Justice General the Chamberlain the Steward the Constable and Marishal and they are thus Ranked and have their Respective Fees But by the Act 31. Parl. 11. Ia. 6. The Offices of the Crown are Declared to be The Thesaurer Secretar the Collector which Office is now joyned with the Thesaurers the Justice General Justice Clerk Advocat Master of Requests Clerk of Register And though these be called Officers of the Crown there I conceive they Differ not from the Officers of State And these words Officers of the Crown and Officers of State are now Equipollent Terms so far that all the Officers of State are Officers of the Crown by this Act But the High Chamberlain Constable Admiral and Marishal are Officers of the Crown but are not Officers of State
had all the Priviledges of Subjects communicated to them without being Vassals or Subjects And thus the Pelopidae were naturalized Persians by Artaxerxes King of the Persians and allowed to enjoy all their Priviledges in remuneration of the great Services done by them to the Persians as Plutarch observes in the Life of Pelopidas And thus the Athenians communicated their Priviledges to the Rhodians and the Latins to the Romans as Livius observes lib. 25. And it is very clear that the like was done by the English to us by a Statute of St. Edward which is yet extant in a Book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 published by William Lambert anno 1568. And Ratified by the Conquerour amongst the good Laws of that Prince as Hollenshed observes Amongst others who are to be reputed of the same Nation with the English we find the Scots mentioned in the Statute for which two Reasons are given in it quia omnés ferme Scoti proceres ex Anglis conjuges coeperunt ipsi rursus ex Scotis sic sacti sunt duo in carne una That is to say Because most of all the Scotish Nobility did take Wives of English Extraction and the English of Scotish The second Reason added in that Statute is quia simul in unum contra Danos Norwegos atrocissime pugnaverunt And it is very well known to such as understand History that untill these late and unhappy Wars occasioned by the Shires of Northumberland Westmorland and Cumberland the Scots assisted the English in all their Wars especially as that Statute sayes against the Danes and Norwegians by whom they were called by those Invaders to share in the Victory but they refused the offer and fought near two hundred Years against these Usurpers In which Wars they are said to have lost two Kings with an hundred thousand Men all which the Scots might have preveened by suffering the Danes to pass peaceably to England through their Territories And it is observable in the Histories of both Nations that the Danes were never expulsed from England till they were first beat in Scotland till at last they were forced to swear that they should never return into this Isle and in Return of which Assistance we got from England this Priviledge in the same manner that Lewis the XII communicated to us a general Naturalization in France with all the Priviledges competent to the Natives of that Kingdom when we were forced to associat with it to secure our selves against the invasions of our old friends CHAP. IV. The Debates betwixt the Kings of Pole Sweden Denmark c. and other Princes THe King of Sweden pretends to Precedencie from the other two and Nolden in his Treatise of Nobilitie chap. 9. num 107. leaves the Precedencie betwixt Sweden and Denmark to be dubious And though some prefer the Dane as a Member of the Empyre grafted therein in anno 1542. Yet others think him upon that account the less preferable because he is thereby in a manner no free and Soveraign Prince Peter King of Denmark having really become Vassal to Fredericus 1. Emperour Otto Fris. lib. 2. cap. 21. But Pontanus relates that the Emperour did upon this account give him the right hand and thereby preferred him to Sweden I find also in the Council of Basil that Ravallus Arch-bishop of Vpsale did claim Precedencie to his Master the King of Sweden from all the Christian Princes he being the true Successour of the Gothish Kings who exacted Tribute even from the Emperours and Kings of France Both Denmark and Sweden claim the Precedencie from the King of Pole as an Elective and Limited Monarch And in the Ceremonial of Rome Pole is placed after the other two And it is undenyable that Sigismund King of Swed being chosen King of Pole he did in all his papers prefer always the Title of Sweden to that of Pole The King of Pole has debated for Precedency with the King of Portugal in anno 1557. But at Rome Pope Iulius the second preferred Portugal And yet the Debate was renewed under Charles the fifth In whose Reign both their Ambassadours meeting in his Court at Church and the Ambassadour of Portugal having possest the first place the other made a sign as if he would have spoken in private with him at which the Portugal rose whereupon the Polonian run in to his seat Hottoman de Legat. lib. 3. cap. 21. The King of Hungarie contests for Precedency with the King of Pole But in the interview betwixt Maximilian the Emperour Sigismund King of Pole Vladislaus King of Hungarie and Lodowick King of Bohemia in anno 1515. the King of Pole was preferred to walk on the Emperours right hand But this Controversie being renewed at the Council of Trent They as all other Kings were ordained to take place not according to their Dignities but according to the date of the Production of their Commissions in the Council The King of Hungarie argues for the Precedency from the King of Bohemia Because amongst the Emperours Titles Hungarie is set down before Bohemia But Bohemia oppons the Golden-bull of Charles the fourth Emperour Wherein it is ordained that in all Acts which concern the Empire Bohemia shall proceed all other Kings So that it seems that the King of Hungarie ought to preceed in all things not relating to the Empire But that Bohemia is to preceed in all that relates thereto There are other Soveraigns who are not Crowned-heads Such as Savoy Mantua Florence Ferara Parma Venice who Debate also their respective Precedencies in this manner The Duke of Savoy is by Pius the fifth Declared to be the first Prince of Italy And in the Chappels of France Venice c. gets the first Sâ—â—l And as King of Cyprus pretends to be ranked amongst the Crowned-heads But it may be admir'd why the Duke of Savoy takes the Title of Royal Highness For if he be King of Cyprus he ought to have the Title of Majesty and if he be not King Royal Highness is not due to him And the Duke of Mantua did contend with him though his Competition was not sustained vid. Crus pag. 511. And though the Title of Eminencie was bestowed upon the Dutchess of Mantua by Ferdinand the second Yet that was a Complement bestowed by the Emperour rather with respect to her Sex and her Relation to the Imperial Family then to the true Dignity due to her as Dutchess of Mantua vid. Limneum Iur. pub lib. 5. cap. 14. The Duke of Florence was still preferred to the Duke of Ferara by Charles the fifth And Port. lib. 4. Resp. Juris 167. confesses That Florence was acknowledged to be first by the Emperour by Rome and by France But yet Paul the third considering that the Dutchie of Florence was onely erected in anno 1531. Whereas the Family of Est were raised to be Dukes by Paul the third 1452. and were declared Dukes of Ferara by the Emperour 1454. did therefore prefer Ferara to Florence CHAP.
1654. Excepting onely the Ambassadours of Austria and the Ambassadours of Forreign Kings were still allowed to take place from all the Electors except the King of Bohemia in all the Solemnities of the Empire But the Ambassadours of Common-wealths having claimed the same precedency The Emperour Leopold has Decerned against them in favours of the Electors Crus lib. 4. cap. 4. The eldest Sons of the Electors preceed all the other Princes of the Empire The Arch-dukes of Austria have the first Seat next to the Electors CHAP. VII Of the Precedency of Church-men I Need not debate the Differencies that have fallen in amongst the Patriarchs of Rome Constantinople Antioch Alexandria and Ierusalem Those of Rome and Constantinople having claimed Precedency because their See were the seats of the Roman and Grecian Empires Those of Ierusalem claiming preference because the chief Priest-hood was once settled there Those of Antioch claiming precedency because Antioch was the first seat of Christianity as is clear by the 11. chapter of the Acts And those of Alexandria pretending that they were equal to the Roman Patriarch at least because Alexandria was the chief City of the East before the building of Constantinople and the Church thereof being by Euseb. lib. 11. said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vide Salmas de Primat pap cap. 12. Thus far did Precedency invade even Religion and raise Emulation amongst those who pretended to be the greatest Paterns of Humility The Roman Patriarch was by Phocas the Emperour raised above all the rest in the year 606. since which time they have raised themselves by several Degrees to the Papacy though it cannot be denyed but even before that time the Bishops of Rome had the first Seat in all Councils as is clear by Iustinians Novella 131. cap. 2. And in the Council of Nice Adrian Bishop of Rome had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or the power of preceeding did still belong to the Emperours as hath been fully cleared by Crusius and others And though it be pretended that Constantine the Great did from Christian Humility prefer the Successour of St. Peter as Vicar of IESVS CHRIST to himself and that in the Canon Law cap. Constantinus 14. Dist. 96. the Emperour Constantin is brought in acknowledging himself to have led the Popes Bridle and in the Famous Ceremonial of Rome Fol. 21. the Emperour is allowed no higher place then the Popes Foot-stool Yet Frederick the 1. Emperour did contentiously Debate this Precedency with Adrian the fourth since which time it hath been variously acquiesced in by Popes and Emperours And though the Legats be Representatives of the Popes yet Thuan tells us lib. 98. That the Learned Brissonius President of the Parliament of Paris would not suffer the Popes Legat to preceed him And at the Coronation of Charles the fifth the Pops Legat was denyed the precedency from the Electors The Cardinals have Debated for Precedency with the Patriarchs though by the Novella 132. c. 2. Iustinian places Patriarchs next to the Pope And Panormit in cap. antiqua X de privileg excess Praelat prefers the Patriarchs to the Cardinals and now by the Concession of Sextus Quintus that Pope hath raised the Cardinals to an equal Degree with Kings and if Kings be present at Table or other Solemnities with Cardinals If there be but one King he is to sit after the first Cardinal Bishop and if there be moe Kings they sit mixtly with the Cardinals first a Cardinal and then a King But though this holds amongst Popish Princes yet the Authour of Les Memoirs des Ambassadeurs does Observe That Leicester Grotius and the other Ambassadours of PROTESTANT Princes never yeelded Precedency to Cardinals till Lockhart Ambassadour for Cromwel yeelded it to Cardinal Mazarine Where he likewise observes That though the Prince of Condie yeelded the Precedency to Cardinal Rechlieu yet the Count of Soisson refused it The Bishops of Scotland preceed in this manner Arch-bishops of St. Andrews Arch-bishops of Glasgow Bishops of Edinburgh Bishops of Galloway Bishops of Dunkel Bishops of Aberdeen Bishops of Murray Bishops of Rosse Bishops of Brechin Bishops of Dumblane Bishops of Caithness Bishops of the Isles Bishops of Argyl Bishops of Orknay I find by Letter in anno 1625. that before King Iames going into England the Marquesses of Scotland did take place from the Arch-bishops But now the Arch-bishops take place from all Dukes and Marquesses in imitation of England And by a Letter in anno 1626. renewed in anno 1664. The Arch-bishop of St. Andrews is to take place from all Subjects which is to be limited as not to exclude the Kings Children and Brothers as I conceive And de facto the Arch-bishops of St. Andrews ceds to the Chancellour since the Letter The Bishops of England Preceed thus Arch-bishops of Canterbury Arch-bishops of York Bishops of London Bishops of Durham Bishops of Winchester Bishops of St. Davids Bishops of Ely Bishops of Norwich Bishops of Hereford Bishops of Salisbury Bishops of Peterborough Bishops of Carlisle Bishops of Worcester Bishops of Rochester Bishops of Landaff Bishops of Lincoln Bishops of Bangor Bishops of Exeter Bishops of Chichester Bishops of St. Asaph Bishops of Oxford Bishops of Lichfield and Coventrie Bishops of Bristol Bishops of Glocester Bishops of Chester Bishops of Bath and Wells CHAP. VIII General Observations concerning the Precedency of Subjects NObility is devided with Us as in England in Nobiles Majores Minores the Greater and the Lesser Nobility Under the Greater are comprehended all such as are Lords of Parliament Under the Lesser are comprehended Knights and Gentlemen And though all these be not Peers of Parliament yet they are all Peers to one another And thus a Gentlemen may be offered to a Dukes Daughter whose Ward and Marriage falls to the King as has been often decyded nor can that Match be refused upon the account of Inequality And it hath been found that though Noblemen must be judged by their Peers yet Landed Gentlemen may pass upon their Assyse and a Nobleman is oblieged to accept of a Challenge from a Gentleman as his Peer where Duels are Lawful Under the word Barron all Our Nobility are comprehended as is clear by the 81. Act. Parl. 14. Ia. 2d And the Inscription of the first Parliament of K. Ia. 5th where the Parliament is said to be holden per Regis Regni tutorem una cum Praelatis Barronibus Burgorum Commissariis Albeit the Parliament of Rob. 1. was cum Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Barronibus aliis Magnatibus which shews that there were other Magnates infra Barrones It may be Doubted Whether the Younger Son of Dukes Marquesses c. are to be Ranked inter Nobiles majores since they sit not in Parliament Or inter Nobiles Minores since they are designed Lords and take place from many of the Nobiles Majores The Sons of the Kings of France were all Kings and Soveraigns in
appoint Sheriffs in their place to command the Counties who are therefore still called Vice-comites Some were likewise appointed to command Towns and so these Comites Vrbium were of a meaner Degree than the Comites Provinciarum But now Earls who have their Designations from Towns are in the same Degree with those who have their Designations from Provinces Counts Palatine were such as had Office in the Kings Palace and had their name à Palatio as is clear by the whole Titles C. de Palavinis sacrar Largit tit de Castren Palatinorum peculio But it is fit to know that these Counts Palatin or Officers of the Palace differed in the Roman Law from Domestici for the Domestici these were properly and onely those who were of the Emperours guards as is clear by l. 3. c. de Protect Domest and Cujac upon that law The Counts Palatin in England were such as had Regal power within their own Jurisdictions nor do I in my reading find any Counts Palatin in Scotland save Walterus Palatinus de Stratherne who designs himself Atholiae Cathaniae Comes he gives his lands of Cortowhy to the Bishop of Brichen in anno 1429. And I believe the Reason why We have so few Counts Palatin in Scotland is because Our Lords of Regality have the same power But properly the Officers of the Kings house are onely now what the Comites Palatini were of old For Regulating the Precedency amongst Earles and Lords with Us K. Iames the 6. did grant a Commission to some Noblemen in March 1606. who upon Citation did pronunce the following Decreit according to which Decreit these Noblemen are at present Ranked and if any of the Noblemen therein prejudged do Reclaim they use to raise a Reduction of the said Decreit before the Session and Adject a Conclusion of Declarator Craving it may be found and declared that they ought to have Precedency from the Noblemen whom they therein cite This Decreet is from its Effect called the Decreet of Ranking whereof this is the Tenor. AT Edinburgh the 5th of March 1606. anent Our Soveraign Lords Letters directed Makand mention Forasmuch as His Majesty and the Lords of His Secret Council Considering the great contentions and differencies quilks many times occurrit and fell out amongst the Nobility of this Kingdom of Scotland anent the Precedency and Priority in Ranking and Voting in Parliament and general Councils and how that this their Contentions lay ever unremembred or agitat but at the very instance of their Meeting at His Majesties Parliaments and Coventions at whilk time there was greater matter of Impashment offered to the Estates to compone their Differences then to intreat upon the principal Subjects for whilk they were assembled His Majesty and the saids Lords therefore being careful to have this Contention removed and the contraversies and elists whilks arises amongst the Nobility for that cause settled and pacified wherethrow the Estates and Nobility being freed and relieved of such matter of Contention they may in Peace Love and Amity concur together and Deliberat upon such matters as shall be entreated and motioned in Parliament hereafter His Majesty for this effect has given his Highnes Commission under the great Seal to a number of His Nobility and who are most indifferent and no wayes suspect of partiality to conveen and call before them the hail Noblemen of this Kingdom of Scotland and according to their Productions and Verifications to set down every mans Rank and Place as in the Commission foresaid past under the great Seal at length is contained and anent the Charge given to Lodovick Duke of Lennox Iohn Marques of Hamilton George Marques of Huntly Patrick Earl of Orkney George Earl of Caithnes Alexander Earl of Sutherland Iames Earl of Murray Francis Earl of Errol George Earl Marishal David Earl of Crawfurd Iames Earl of Athol Iohn Earl of Montrose Iames Earl of Pearth Earl of Monteith Andrew Earl of Rothes Alexander Earl of Dumfermling Archibald Earl of Argyl Iames Earl of Glencairn Iohn Earl of Cassils Earl of Eglington William Earl of Angus William Earl of Morton Iohn Earl of Marr Alexander Earl of Lithgow Earl of Winton Alexander Earl of Home Simond Lord Fraser Edward Lord Bruce of Kinlosse Iohn Lord Forbes Patrick Lord Glames Iames Lord Ogilvy Alexander Lord Spynie Patrick Lord Gray Laurence Lord Oliphant Iohn Lord Murray of Tillibairn David Lord Scoon Iames Lord Lindsey Lord Sinclar Iames Lord Balmerinoch Patrick Lord Lindors Iames Lord Colvil of Culros Iohn Lord Fleyming Alexander Lord Elphingston Alexander Lord Stuart of Ochiltry Thomas Lord Boyd Allan Lord Cathcart Hugh Lord Lowdoun Robert Lord Semple Lord Pasley Iames Lord Abercorn Iohn Lord Maxwel Iohn Lord Harres Robert Lord Sanchar Lord Ross Iames Lord Carlyl Robert Lord Roxburgh Iames Lord Hay of Yeaster Lord Newbottle Iames Lord Thirlstain Iames Lord Torphichen Iames Lord Borthwick Thomas Lord Dirlton Lord Seaton And the Tutors and Curators of the saids Dukes Marquesses Earles Lords if they any have to have compeard before the saids Lords Commissioned at an certain day by gaine and to have brought and produced with them such Writs Evidents Documents and Testimonies as they have or can use for acclaiming that Rank and Place of Precedency and Priority challenged be them before others To have been seen and considered be the saids Lords Commissioners and they to have heard and seen their Ranks and place of Precedency and Priority appointed and set down be them according to their Antiquities of their Productions and that whilk should be verified in their presence and they and every one of them directed to take that place whilk should be appointed and prescrived unto them be the saids Commissioners as said is Certifying all such persons as should not compear themselves or their Procutors in their names That the saids Lords Commissioners will go on forward in setting down every mans Rank according to that which should be verified as said is and should proceed according to the several Instructions given be His Majesty to the saids Lords Commissioners for this purpose and the saids Lords Commissioners their Determination should stand in full force and effect aye and while an Decreit before the ordinar Judge be recovered and obtained in the contrar Likeas at more length is contained in the saids Lords Executions and Indorsations thereof which being called and divers Times and Dyets keeped to that Effect And the said Iohn Earl of Montrose Alexander Earl of Dumfermling Francis Earl of Errol George Earl Marishal and Alexander Earl of Lithgow Compearand personally and the said Alexander Earl of Sutherland compearand be Mr. Robert Learmont their Procutor and the said Earl of Marr compearand be Mr. Thomas Hope his Procutor the said David Earl of Crawfurd compearand be Laurence Scot his Procutor the said Andrew Earl of Rothes compearand be Mr. David Antoun his Procutor the said William Earl of Mortoun compearand be Mr. Thomas Learmond his procutor the said Earl of
but appointed Sheriffs who depended upon their own Nomination and were therefore called Vicecomites In Bretagn Barons take place from Viscounts But there are no Viscounts in Germany Bourgrave being in their place Speculat tit de Vicecometatu la Roque de nobilit C. 83. We had no Viscounts in Scotland before 1606. for by the aforesaid Decreet the Lord is declared next to the Earl Barons according to Spelman sunt Clientes Feodales Vassalli Capitales qui Pagos Vrbes Castra vel eximiam ruris portionem cum Iurisdictione acceperunt a Rege And the word according to him comes from Vir or Vi i. e. robur belli But it is more probable that it comes from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gravis they being chosen wise and Discreet men With Us all are called Barons who hold their lands of the King in libera Baronia and who have power of pit and gallows and of old they were all heritable Members of Parliament as all Barons in England are as is clear by Act 52. Parl. 3. Ia. 1. whereby all Barons are appointed to come to Parliament and though this Act may seem to be abrogated by the 101. Act Parliament 7. Iames the first whereby the Barons of each Shire are allowed to choose two wise men to Represent them which is the custom at this day Yet it is observable that though by that Act they may for their conveniency choose two yet they are by no express Law discharged to come in greater numbers And by the 78. Act Par. 6. Ia. 4. no Baron that had below the Rent of 1OO Merks was to be compelled to come to Parliament unless the King particularly wrote for him And when Taxations were laid on by the Council I find by the old Records as particularly in October 1562. that Noblemen and Burgesses are called but no Barons the Barons and Noblemen having been then represented promiscuously and that long after the Act of Parliament allowing them to send Commissioners And this is the Reason why Our old Barons who are not Lords and hold onely their lands in free Barony have supporters in their Atchievement and that with some reluctancy they yeeld the Precedency to Knights-Baronets they being Originally heritable Counsellours to the King as Members of Parliament and not Debarred The several Degrees of Nobility before Treated of did alwayes bear their respective Coronets as in England excepting the Lords who had no Coronet till the year 1665. There being a Warrand under His Majesties hand in Iune 1665. Allowing to the Barons or Lords of Parliament in Scotland a certain Crimson Velvet Cape with a Golden Circle decored with six Pearles on the Top equally distant one from another which is the same with the Barons Coronet in England But the figure of this Coronet on the margine of the principal Signator is done far contrare to the words in the Body The same having points like to that of the Earles which has certalnly been a mistake and ignorance in the Painter and ought to be adverted to be the Lyon and Heraulds This Warrand is Registrat in the books of Council and in the Lyon Books I have here set down for the Readers further Satisfaction a List of all the Nobility at present in this Nation their Sir-names and Principal Titles And Titles of their Eldest Sons With such Officers as have Precedency be Vertue of their Offices The Duke of Albany onely Brother to His most Sacred Majesty Lord Chancellour Lord Thesaurer Lord President of the Privy Council Lord Privy-seal Lord Secretary above all of his degree â‚ Nota. Stuart Duke of Lennox was the premier Duke but this Family is lately extinct DUKES Hamilton Duke of Hamilton His Eldest Son Earl of Arran Scot Duke of Buccleuch His Eldest Son Earl of Dalkeith Maitland Duke of Lauderdale His Eldest Son Earl of Lauderdail Lenos Duke of Lennox His Eldest Son Earl of Darnly MARQUESSES Gordon Marquess of Huntly His Eldest Son Lord Gordon Dowglas Marquess of Dowglas His Eldest Son Lord Angus Graham Marquess of Montrose His Eldest Son Lord Graham Murray Marquess of Athol His Eldest Son Lord Murray EARLES Campbel Earl of Argyl His Eldest Son Lord Lorn Lindsay Earl of Crawsurd His Eldest Son Lord Lindsay Hay Earl of Errol His Eldest Son Lord Hay Keith Earl Marischal His Eldest Son Lord Keith Gordon Earl of Sutherland His Eldest Son Lord Strathnaver Areskin Earl of Marr His Eldest Son Lord Areskin Graham Earl of Airth and Monteith His Eldest Son Lord Kilpont and Kilbryd Lesly Earl of Rothes His Eldest Son Lord Lesly Dowglas Earl of Morton His Eldest Son Lord Aberdour Areskin Earl of Buchan His Eldest Son Lord Auchterhouse Cuningham Earl of Glencairn His Eldest Son Lord Kilmawrs Montgomery Earl of Eglington His Eldest Son Lord Montgomery Kennedy Earl of Cassils His Eldest Son Lord Kennedy Stuart Earl of Murray His Eldest Son Lord Down Maxwel Earl of Nithisdale His Eldest Son Lord Maxwell Seton Earl of Winton His Eldest Son Lord Seton Livingston Earl of Linlithgow His Eldest Son Lord Livingston Home Earl of Home His Eldest Son Lord Coldingham Drummond Earl of Pearth His Eldest Son Lord Drummond Seton Earl of Dumfermling His Eldest Son Lord Fyvie Fleeming Earl of Wigton His Eldest Son Lord Fleeming Lyon Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn His Eldest Son Lord Glames Hamilton Earl of Abercorn His Eldest Son Lord Paslie Ker Earl of Roxburgh His Eldest Son Lord Ker Areskin Earl of Kelly His Eldest Son Lord Pettinweem Hamilton Earl of Haddington His Eldest Son Lord Binning Stuart Earl of Galloway His Eldest Son Lord Garlies Mackenzie Earl of Seaforth His Eldest Son Lord Mackinzie Ker Earl of Lothian His Eldest Son Lord Newbottle Hay Earl of Kinnoul His Eldest Son Lord Duplin Campbel Earl of Lowdown His Eldest Son Lord Mauchlaâ— Crichton Earl of Dumfries His Eldest Son Lord Crichton Dowglas Earl of Queensberry His Eldest Son Lord Drumlanerick Alexander Earl of Striveling His Eldest Son Lord Alexander Bruce Earl of Elgin His Eldest Son Lord Kinlosse Carnagie Earl of Southesk His Eldest Son Lord Carnagie Stuart Earl of Traquair His Eldest Son Lord Linton Ker Earl of Ancram His Eldest Son Lord Nisbets Weems Earl of Weems His Eldest Son Lord Elcho Ramsay Earl of Dalhoussie His Eldest Son Lord Ramsay Ogilvy Earl of Airly His Eldest Son Lord Ogilvy Ogilvy Earl of Findlator His Eldest Son Lord Deskfoord Dalziel Earl of Cranwath His Eldest Son Lord Dalziel Livingston Earl of Callender His Eldest Son Lord Almond Lesly Earl of Leven His Eldest Son Lord Balgonie Ruthven Earl of Forth His Eldest Son Lord Ettrick Iohnston Earl of Anandale His Eldest Son Lord Iohnston Maule Earl of Panmure His Eldest Son Lord Maule Murray Earl of Dysert His Eldest Son Lord Huntingtour Hay Earl of Tweeddale His Eldest Son Lord Yester Carnagie Earl of Northesk His Eldest Son Lord Rosehill Bruce Earl of Kincardin His Eldest Son Lord Bruce Lindsay Earl of Balcarras His Eldest Son Lord Balneâ—l Dowglas
Earl of Forfar His Eldest Son Lord Wendal Midleton Earl of Midleton His Eldest Son Lord Clearmont Scot Earl of Tarras His Eldest Son Lord Alemoor Gordon Earl of Aboyn His Eldest Son Lord Glenlivet Boyd Earl of Kilmarnoch His Eldest Son Lord Boyd Cochran Earl of Dundonald His Eldest Son Lord Cochran Dowglas Earl of Dumbritan His Eldest Son Lord Dowglas of Attrick Keith Earl of Kintore His Eldest Son Lord Inverury Sinclar Earl of Caithnes His Eldest Son Lord Berrendule VISCOUNTS Cary Viscount of Faulkland Constable Viscount of Dumbar Murray Viscount of Stormont Gordon Viscount of Kenmore Arbuthnet Viscount of Arbuthnet Crichton Viscount of Frendraught Seton Viscount of Kingston Macgil Viscount of Oxenford Livingston Viscount of Kilsyth Osburn Viscount of Dumblane LORDS Forbes Lord Forbes Fraser Lord Salton Gray Lord Gray Cathcart Lord Cathcart Sinclar Lord Sinclar Dowglas Lord Mordington Semple Lord Semple Elphingston Lord Elphingston Oliphant Lord Oliphant Fraser Lord Lovat Borthwick Lord Borthwick Ross Lord Ross Sandilands Lord Torphichen Lesly Lord Lindors Elphingston Lord Balmerinoch Stuart Lord Blantyre Areskin Lord Cardross Balfour Lord Burleigh Drummond Lord Madderty Cranston Lord Cranston Melvil Lord Melvil Napier Lord Napier Fairfax Lord Cameron Richardson Lord Crawmond Macky Lord Rae Forrester Lord Forrester Forbes Lord Pitsligo Mackleland Lord Kircudbright Fraser Lord Fraser Hamilton Lord Bargeny Ogilvy Lord Bamff Murray Lord Elibank Galloway Lord Dunkel Falconer Lord Halkerton Hamilton Lord Bethaven Sandilands Lord Abercromby Carmichal Lord Carmichael Sutherland Lord Duffos Rollo Lord Rollo Ruthven Lord Ruthven Colvil Lord Colvil Mackdonald Lord Mackdonald Bellenden Lord Bellenden Lesly Lord Newwark Rutherfurd Lord Rutherfurd Ker Lord Iedburgh Weems Lord Bruntisland ¶ It is to be observed that the eldest Sons of Viscounts and Lords are designed Masters by their Fathers Titles Lord Thesaurer-deput Lord Register Lord Advocat Lord Iustice-Clerk This is the Precedency stated by the present Rolls of Parliament albeit it is not acquiesced in by all the Nobility For the Earl of Sutherland contends with all the Earles who are ranked before him and generally such as are dissatisfied with these Rolls do protest whilst the Rolls are called against such as they conceive are unjustly ranked before them Sometimes also the Son has a different Precedency from what was possessed by his Father As the Earl of Lothian who now as succeeding to his great Grand-father by the Mother comes to have his Precedency next to the Earl of Wigton though his Father taking place by a new Patent was ranked as in the above written Rolls The Justice General pretends to the same precedency with the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in England by a report made by the Lord Thesaurer in the Kings name the 17. Iune 1637. but neither is the Letter to which this report relates extant nor has he been in possession since And it is fit to observe that notwithstanding of what is said before page 42. by a Servants mistake that the Lord Privy-seal takes place with us as in England The Order of Baronet in Scotland was erected for advancing the Plantation of Nova Scotia in America and for settling a Colony there to which the Aid of these Knights was Designed The Order was onely intended be K. Ia. 6. before his Death for in his first Charter of Nova Scotia in favours of Sir William Alexander 10. Septem 1621. And in another Charter granted to Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar of a part of Nova Scotia Designed the Barony of Galloway 8. Novem. 1621. there is no mention made of this Order So that the same was onely erected by K. Charles 1. anno 1625. In the several Patents granted to Baronents His Majesty did dispone to each of these Knights a certain portion of land in Nova Scotia erecting the same in a free Barony with great and ample priviledges unnecessary to be insert here And moreover for their encouragement did Erect Creat Make Constitute and Ordain that Heritable State Degree Dignity Name Order Title and Stile of Baronet to be enjoyed be every of these Gentlemen who did hazard for the good and increase of that Plantation And so preferred them to that Order and Title Creating them and their Heirs Male heritable Baronets in all time coming with the Place Preeminency Priority and Precedency in all Commissions Breeves Letters-patents Namings and Writes and in all Sessions Conventions Congregations and places at all times and occasions whatsomever before all Knights called Aequites aurati all lesser Barons commonly called Lairds and before all other Gentlemen Excepting Sir William Alexander His Majesties Lieutenant of Nova Scotia who with his Heir their Wives and Children conform is not onely excepted in each of these Letters-patents granted to the Knights his Consorts But likewise the Charter granted to himself be King Charles 1. 1625. did bear expresly this exception and provision As also excepting Knights-Bannerets who should be Created under the Royal Standard in His Majesties Army and in open War the King himself being present and that during the Bannerets lifetime onely And with Precedency before all of the same Order whose Patents are of a posteriour date His Majesty did moreover Declare and Ordain That the Wives of these Knights and of their Heirs Male should have the Precedency aswell after as before the deaths of their Husbands if they should happen to survive before the Wives of all those of whom the Knights Baronets and their Heirs Male had the Precedeny and even before the Wives of Knights-Bannerets before excepted the Degree of Baronet being heritable And also that the Children Male and Female of the Baronets should take place before the Bairns Male and Female respectively of all persons of whom the Baronets and their Heirs Male had the Priority And likewise before the Children of the Bannerets and that the Wives of the Sons of the Baronets and of their Heirs Male should preceed the Wives of all persons whom their Husbands might preceed and that aswell their Husbands being dead as living And further His Majesty did Declare and Promise That whensoever the eldest Sons and appearand Heirs Male of the Baronets should attain to the Age of twenty one years they should be by His Majesty and his Successours created Equites aurati or Knights Batchelours without payment of any Fies or Dues for the same providing they should desire it But here it is to be observed that some of the eldest Sons of Baronets pretend to the title of Knight at their Majority be vertue of this clause without any previous desire or dubbing which certainly is an errour for if they will not be at the pains to desire it of His Majesty or His Commissioner they should not assume it Likeas His Majesty did Declare and Ordain That the Baronets and their Heirs Male should as an additament of Honour to their Armorial Ensigns bear either on a Canton or Inescutcheon in their option the Ensign of Nova Scotia being argent a cross of St. Andrew azur the Badge of
does the Son possess this Title by his Father but by his Family And Lawyers have resolved that Filius retinet Nobilitatem etiam repudiata haereditate Bart. in L. Iurisjur § 1. ff de Oper. lib. Iac. in L. si non sortem ff de condict in debit But yet this decision may seem unsuteable to the Analogy and Principles of Law For 1 o. Since Honour is by the first Patent and Erection granted to a man and his Heirs It seems Just and Legal that none can enjoy the same but such as are Heirs so that this seems to be a qualified Right granted by the King and consequently can be enjoyed by none but such as Purge and Purifie the qualities and are Heirs 2 o. We see that in other Rights granted to a man and his Heirs no Successor can have Right without being Heir and since this holds in Accessions of the meanest Nature Why should it not much rather hold in Titles and Dignities which are things of great importance 3 o. We have no way nor method to know who is Heir but by an Inquest after which he who is served Heir is lyable to all Debts and if he who is to use the Title needs not be found Heir by an Inquest any man may use the Title of a Deceist Peer and if two contended for it this could not be tryed without an Inquest and Service 4 o. The making men lyable to their Predecessors Debts for using his Title would be very advantagious for the Defuncts Creditors and it is the Interest of the Common-wealth that Creditors should be payed nor could the apparent Heir complain since he may choose to use the Title or not as he pleases 5 o. It were advantagious to the Common-wealth that none had a Title but he who had the Estate which was given out with it and out of which it was to be mantained a Poor Nobility being a great burden upon a Common-wealth and a ruine to it And I find that the Parliament of England did Degrade George Nevil from being Duke of Bedford for want of an Estate suteable to his Dignity which Statut. 17. Ed. 4. expresses the inconveniencies here mentioned which are greater in Scotland than in England because Our Peers have more Interest in laying on Taxes than Lords in England have 6 o. The Law considers not in other cases whether the thing used by the apparent Heir may be advantagious to him Or whether he may pay Debt with it for the using of meer Ornaments which can yeeld no Money Or things of the meanest advantage do make him lyable yea and he would be lyable though he were a looser by the thing he used whereas not onely are Honours and Precedency things of great Advantage and which men would buy at any Rate But if a man have Liberty once to use the Title of his Predecessor it gives him a great Opportunity to inhance his Predecessors Estate by indirect means And the former Arguments prove onely that the Blood interest as to Honour is transmitted without a Service but not that the Feudal Title of Earl can be so transmitted QVESTION XII Whether does the Appearancy of Blood give Precedency where the Predecessor is not Dead This is called by the Doctours Spes expectantia successionis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and upon this account it is Debated Whether the Son of a King ought to be preferred to his Brother and all the Peers And generally whether the Nephew ought to be preferred to the Uncle who was his Fathers second Brother And I find it Recorded that Lycurgus did decide for himself against his Nephew being the Son of his eldest Brother But I would distinguish here thus First in the Families of Kings and Princes all the Kings Children are preferred to the Kings Brothers and all the Kings Brothers to the Kings Uncles and thus it was decided in France by Henry the third Rupanus pag. 508. But formerly the Uncles were preferred by the Constitution of Philip the Long anno 1316. And though in the Roman Empire before Alexius Comnenius the Emperours Son was still preferred to his Uncle Yet that Emperour desiring to put a Mark of Respect upon his own elder Brother preferred him to his Son and now the Sons of Princes are so farr preferred that not onely they but all the Princes of the Blood are preferred to all other Peers though they be last Created as was found by the Parliament of Paris anno 1541. betwixt the Dukes of Neveres and Monpensier 2 o. If in other Families the Brother be of a Dignity equal to his elder Brother then the Brother will be preferred to the Nephew as if the Brother be an Earl and the Nephew a Lord as being an Earles Son in this case Expectation will not prefer the Nephew because there are other actual Degrees of Preferrence 3 o. If the Uncle were a Lord by Creation and the Nephew a Lord by Birth in which case if the Uncle was a Lord before the Nephew was born the Uncle ought to be preferred as first in Time but not if the Nephew was first born and thus Baldus distinguishes ad L. ut intestato C. de su Leg. Hered 4 o. If neither the Nephew nor Uncle have any special Dignity then the Son of the elder Brother is to be preferred to the Uncle And this last case shews that the immediate hope of Succession or jus expectantiae is in it self a ground of Precedency and since a man and his apparent Heir are una eadem Persona in the Construction of Law and that in many things that are Disadvantagious to the Son he is look'd upon as Heir apparent in the same way as if his Father were dead it is therefore just that as he has the Disadvantages of an apparent Heir so he ought to have the Advantages of an apparent Heir And thus We see that Our Statutes having Declared Comprisings bought in by the apparent Heir to be Redeemable by the Defuncts Creditors It was found that a Comprising bought in by the eldest Son even whilst his Father lived was Redeemable from him and that he was an apparent Heir in the construction of Law And therefore since the Law puts him in the same case as if the Father were Dead he ought to have the same Precedency and consequently ought to be preferred to his Uncle to whom he would certainly be preferred if his Father were dead It is remarkable that in Scotland the Uncle was of old acknowledged to be King during not only the Pupillarity of his Pupil but during the Uncles own Natural Life which being an Invasion upon the Natural Right of Our Kings was abrogated under Kenith the third QVESTION XIII Whether should an elder Brother who was Born before the Father was Preferred to the Dignity of a King Marquess Earl c. be Preferred to a younger Brother who was Born after his Father had attained to either of these Dignities Lawyers have varied very much