Ensign of Regall Authority was the Scepter which is every where spoken of both in the Scriptures and profane Stories There is another Ensign of their Authority which is a Globe with a Cross in use amongst us ever since Edward the Confessor which is placed in the left hand as is seen in most of their Coyns the Cross denoting his Faith and the Globe his Empire both by Sea and Land as it is said of Justinian who was the first Emperor that ever had it At the Coronation of the Emperor it is carried by the Count Palatine of the Rhine where they call it Pomum Imperiale This power dignity and state hath been enjoyed by the Female sex as heirs descending by the common right of Inheritance and not onely in our parts but many others as at this day in Swethen when there is not the least punctilio of a diminution in respect of the Sex Besides for an addition to the honor of a King there is the same state allowed to a Queen during the life of her husband as to a Queen absolute almost and is allowed a Crown She is called Queen from the Saxon word Cuningine as King from Cuning onely by variation of the gender as it was their manner in such cases She is permitted to sit in State at the King 's right hand and to keep a Court distinct from the King although she be but the daughter of an Earl But this was in the time of King Edgbert prohibited and so for a long time continued by reason of Eadburgh who poysoned her husband King Brithick of the West-Saxons And if she be the daughter of a King Superior to her husband she may retain the dignity of her father's daughter and in this case the daughter hath preceded the mother And although in these latter times our Monarchy hath been reduced under the circumference of one Crown Imperiall no others having any other substitute Governors crowned Yet formerly both Scotland and Ireland had King's distinct whilst they acknowledged homage to the Crown of England as also the isles of Man and Wight The Kings of Man were first subject to the Kings of Norway then to the Crown of England and after to the Kings of Scotland and since again to the Kings of England Dominus hujus Insulae Rex vocatur cui fas est Corona aurea coronari The Lord of the Isle is called King and it is lawfull for him to be crowned with a Crown of gold Henry the second allowed with the same honor Roderig of Conaght to be King paying a homagery Tribute The Lord Beauchamp Earl of Warwick under Henry the sixth was in the like manner crowned King of the Isle of Wight Which is enough in this place as to the Dignity of a King Of the Emperor THe originall of this Title as it was long amongst the Romans denoted onely a Generall of an Army and not till the time of Julius Caesar translated to an honorary Title who being made perpetuall Dictator took also that of Imperator into his Title which hath continued in his Successors untill this day and became Superior to the Title of King that before was but substitute under it being yearly created in January and ended in September Which great change hapned upon the Victory of Caesar against Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalia This Title was onely taken up to supply that of King which had not long before been thrown out by Brutus and was supposed by the Usurper to be yet fresh in their memories and odious amongst them and it was long after before they used the Title of King though their power were as much and the Ceremonies and Ensignes of Regality the same and the Emperor's Throne at Rome was called Sedile regni But at last it grew to be as one and then the Emperor of Rome having subjected under his Jurisdiction many Kingdoms thought it however a title of more eminence and so retained it And though the title has not been so generally appropriated to our Crown yet our Kings have been styled Emperors and this Realm of England called an Empire So have the Kings of Spain and France But it is more peculiarly allowed or assumed by the Emperors of Germany who suppose that they have a right to the government of the whole world This Empire after it was divided to Constantinople and Rome and then again that Constantinople had lost it to the Turks it was removed to Germany and in the reign of Otho the third the Election granted to seven Princes of Germany the Archbishops of Mentz Trevers Cullen the Count Palatine of Rhine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse Brandenburgh and the King of Bohemia then called Duke of Bohemia He hath had also the Superiority allowed him by all Secular Princes and whereas other Princes of Regall Authority are crowned with but one Crown he is with three the first of Iron which he receives of the Bishop of Cullen at Aquisgrane the second of Silver which he receives at Modena from the Bishop of Millan the third is of Gold wherewith he is crowned at Rome by the Pope And in latter Ages the title of King of the Romans is given to the Heir or him that is made or chosen Heir of the Empire and he is crowned and Jura Regalia given him though not so absolute as not to have a dependence on the Empire See Mr. Selden part 2. chap 1. The Ensignes of his Imperiall Dignity are a Crosse a Launce and a Sword a Scepter a Mond and a Crown and he is styled 〈◊〉 The Emperor of Russia is not Crowned but is adorned with a rich Cap of Purple neither is the Greek Sultan but vested with a mighty rich Tulipant But there though the Emperor have no Diadem yet the Sultanesse is adorned with a Rich Crown or Diadem Thus have I run through all the degrees of Honor and with as much brevity as so copious a Theam would allow of and for matter of precedency I think the method I have taken will save me the labour and I am unwilling to trouble the brains of the Ingenuous Reader with an unnecessary prolixity onely as to Offices of State because I have omitted them altogether I shall set down their places as in Princely Solemnities they are to be disposed In which those of the Crown are to precede all other of the Nobility that are not except the Blood Royall As the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Privy Councel Lord Privy Seal These six also are placed next the Lord Privy Seal thus according to their state of dignity that is If he be a Baron to sit above all Barons if an Earl above all Earls Lord Great Chamberlain of England Lord High Constable of England Lord Marshall of England Lord Admirall of England Lord Great Master or Steward of the King's House Lord Chamberlain of the King's House So the King 's principall Secretary being a
And there are commonly two Pursevants extraordinary whose names I finde to have varved therefore I name them not The Office of Garter was first instituted by Henry the fifth and though the other received Ordination long before yet is honored with the precedency and hath the prehemimency in all Charters and Assemblies Creations of Nobility and honorable processions especially all concernments of the order of the Garter either in Elections or Funerals The other of Clarenceux and Norroy by 〈◊〉 have power Clarenceux over all England on this side 〈◊〉 Norry beyond to enter into all Churches Castles Houses and any other places to survey and review all Arms Recognizances and Crests to make visitations and to register the pedegrees and marriages of the Nobility and Gentry and at their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or upon suit in their Office to punish with disgrace and 〈◊〉 all such as shall intrude so much upon Honor as to usurp other mens Atchievements or phansie to themselves new against the law of Armes to reverse and 〈◊〉 them and to make infamous by 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 or Sessions all such as 〈◊〉 unduly take upon them the title of Esquire or Gentleman and such as shall use or wear mourning Apparell as Gown Hoods c. contrary to the Order limited in the time of Henry the seventh and to 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 and other Artificers in the setting 〈◊〉 of Arms. In the execution of which commission they have power to command all Justices Sheriffes Mayors Baliffs and other officers and subiects to be aiding and assisting to them And if upon summons any Knight Esquire or Gentleman do refuse to come and appear before him and give an account of their Arms and Gentility they have power in their respective Provinces to summon them by a Suppaena of what penalty they think sit before the Earl Marshal of England for their 〈◊〉 therein And they have the ordering of all Funerals of the Gentry within their respective Province from a Baron downwards taking other Heralds in their courses with them As also the ordering of all Combats Lists and Triumphs with the Fees belonging to them And they have for stipend out of the Exchequer 100 marks a piece annuity The six Heralds are all in equall degree only preceding according to the seniority of their creation their Patents being under the 〈◊〉 Seal of England and their annual stipend is forty marks besides theirs profits and Fees The 〈◊〉 have their Patents in like 〈◊〉 a stipend of twenty pound per annum out of the Exchequer but those extraordinary have neither Patent nor Fee The Arms of the Office is Arg. a Crosse 〈◊〉 between four 〈◊〉 Azure The whole Company are subordinate unto the High Constable or Earl Marshall of England and by him every of them is at his first entry commended to the King by a Bill signed with his hand Which done the King signes the same and so it passes the Privy Seal and broad Seal and that once obtained they are to be 〈◊〉 and created by the King himself or the Earl Martiall in 〈◊〉 following A King of Arms is brought into the King 〈◊〉 Lord Marshall led between a King and a Herald or two Heralds in their Coats the other Heralds 〈◊〉 Pursevants going before in their Coats carrying the severall necessary instruments to 〈◊〉 used on 〈◊〉 the Coat of Arms wherewith 〈◊〉 new King is to be invested another 〈◊〉 Crown another the Patent another he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another the Book and Sword another the Book where his Oath is received all making severall 〈◊〉 and then he kneels down with those two that led him one of which holds the Book and 〈◊〉 whereon he swears the other speaks his Oath then his Patent is read and at the word Creamus and Investimus his Coat is put on and at non violante nomine c. the the water is poured on his head and then he is perfect There is belonging to this Office a Register Marshal and other officers and servants and amongst those Painters called Heralds-Painters every King of Arms hath power to Commission one whom he pleases as appropriate to his businesse and so much for Heralds And thus much for Heraldry The Names of the several Houses and Innes of Court Chancery and other Hostels in and about the City of LONDON Two called Serjeants Inne 1. In 〈◊〉 2. In Chancery lane The two Temples Inner Temple Middle Temple Lyncolns Inne Grays Inne Innes of Chancery Davies Inne Furnivals Inne Bernards Inne Staple Inne Cliffords Inne Clements Inne New Inne Lyons Inne Chesters or Strond Inne The six Clerks Office or Inne Cursiters Inne The Rolls Doctors Commons Gresham Colledge The Exhequer Office Osbournes Office St. Kather. by the Tower The Inns of Court and Chancery in their order FIrst it is to be understood the four Colledges or Innes of Court may be tearmed Collegia Jurisconsultorum that is Colledges of Lawyers The Romans did call such houses Diversoria ordained to entertain strangers which in our English are called Inns and have been acknowledged with us in England to be the residing houses of the Noblest Peers viz. Oxford Inn Warwick Inn Ely Inn and now called Oxford house Warwick house and Ely house Somewhat according to the French whose houses of Nobility in Paris are called Hostels in Latine Hospitium in English Inns. In London and thereabouts there are fourteen two Serjeants Innes four Innes of Court and eight Innes of Chancery The most antient Inne of Court and wherein Serjeants of Law had their first residence was sometimes over against Saint Andrews Church in Holborn and was known by the name of Serjeants Inne which afterwards came to be the Scroop's who then were have since continued Barons of this land and it was called Scroops Iune which is called by another name the possession being likewise altered out of that Family And although the Innes of the Serjeants be somwhat antient for time as also of modern age too yet it must be granted that in respect of some others they must be respected but of a noval foundation Yet forasmuch as they are receptacles and lodging places of the most reverend Judges and grave Barons of the Exchequer and other Judge in Office and Serjeants at Law they are by way of decency to be reckoned in the first rank That Hostel or Inne which now is commonly called Serjeants Inne in Fleetstreet was sometime a Messuage appertaining unto the Dean and Prebends of York And afterwards purchased by the Judges and Serjeants at Law that lived in the Reign of King Henry the eighth for a place of residence for them in Tearm time And that other called Serjeants Inne in Chancery lane was somtimes a Mesluage belonging unto the Bishops of See of Ely as appeareth by Records In these said Houses or Innes of Court commonly called Serjeants Inne the reverend Judges of this land and the Serjeants at Law have for many years lived and have been lodged within the same Being in very deed although
Bordures here is exemplified nine distinct In the first is a Bordure counter-compounded Or and Gules the second a Bordure Purflew of Vayre the third quarterly composed of Ermin and Checky Or and Azure the fourth Gobbonated Or and Sables the fifth Sables Entoyre of eight Bezants the sixth Or a Bordure Gules charged with three Bendlets Sables the seventh Azure Enaleuron of eight Martlets Or the eighth quarterly the first Gules Enurney of three Lyoncels passant guardant Or the second Azure Verdoy of as many Flowerdelis the third as the second the fourth as the first which with a Field Argent was the Coat-Armor of Henry Courtney Earl of Devonshire Marquesse of Exon. This may be blazoned short by England and France The ninth is a Bordure Gules Diapred Entoyre Enurney Enaleuron and Verdoy This kind of Bordure may be of any two or other set number of these also Now to the intent that Coat-Armor might descend to the Posterity with safety and free from dissention of strife Distinctions were invented which I have here set down to the number Nine By which differences the Bearer is understood of what degree or line of Consanguinity he is if he be of the second third or fourth House and what brother of that House by charging his Coat with the difference appertaining and if a younger brother of a younger House then by charging the difference of the House with difference of Line of Fraternity There being so much care taken for the preserving the honor of the entire Coats that the eldest son of the first House during the life of his father so of the rest cannot bear it without his distinction and for this reason hath the Nephew of the first the father being dead been always preferred before the Uncle of the second c. and taketh place before him By the way also we are to take notice that if all the brethren die without issue and leave sisters behind as they are co-inheritors of the Lands and Estare so shall they be of the Coat-Armor also without any distinction at all to either of them because by them the name of the House cannot be preserved they being all reckoned but as one Heir Again if they be not heirs they are not admitted to the bearing of the Coat-Armor for saith Sir John Fern Arma non transeunt ad agnatos affines Yet their husbands are admitted to adjoyn the Arms of their wives families in the sinister side of their Escutcheons with their own but if they have none of their own then not at all Now there is none of those signs but are sometimes born in Arms as Charges of the Coat but when they are distinctions it is easily known by their singularity either of place position or diminutive proportion A The Dexter chief B The precise middle chief C The Sinister chief D The Honor point E The Fesse point F TheNombril point G The Dexter Base H The precise middle Base I The Sinister Base 1 Invecked 2 Ingrayled 3 Wavy 4 Nebule 5 Embattaild or Crenelle 6 Indented 7 Dancette Of these lines the two first differ onely in this that the points of the ingrailed line are turned into the field and the other contrary into the ordinary that those lines do make The two last are both one secundùm quale onely differing secundùm quantum the one being onely wider and deeper then the other And when any of these Ordinaries are drawn withthese lines the Blazoner is to say A Bend Chief Pale or what it is Invecked Ingrayled Wavy or the like But if plain then onely to name the Ordinary with its colours according to the following examples 1 A Crosse. 2 A Chief 3 A Pale 4 A Bend. 5 a Fesse 6 An Inescutcheon 7 A Cheveron 8 A Saltyr 9 A Barre The last of which Ordinaries may easily be mistaken for the same or at least a diminutive of the fifth but it is not and they are distinguished by the space they possesse in the field and also by this difference the Barre hath liberty all over the field with its diminutions the Fesse onely one proper place These Ordinaries according to Leigh do possesse these proportions of the field Crosse containeth uncharged the fifth part but charged the third the Chief the third part the Pale the third part the Bend the fifth uncharged but charged the third the Fesse the third part the Innescut the fifth part the Chever the fifth part the Saltyr the fifth uncharged but charged the third the Barre the fifth part Of these Ordinaries some have their diminutives as the Barre a Closset a Barralet the Bend both Dexter and Sinister the Dexter hath a Bendlet Garter single and double Cottises and a Ribbon the Sinister Bend a Scarp and a 〈◊〉 a Cheveron hath its Cheveronels And here now I shall desire to be excused for digressing from the method of other men especially Mr. Guillim and first to take notice of some other forms near relating to the Ordinaries for their shape and proportion on which are oftentimes rewards and additions of Honor placed in Coats as also the abatements of Honor for misdemeanor and dishonorable actions that afterwards I may not have any thing to interrupt a methodicall proceeding in the rest The first of which are those on which most commonly additions are given which are these The first is a Bordure spoken of before The second a Quarter The third a Canton The fourth a Gyron The fifth a Pile The sixth two Flasques The seventh two Flanches The eighth two Voyders which saith Leigh is the way of bearing a reward given to a Woman The ninth is Ernoin an Inescutcheon Gules named also a Scutcheon of Pretence On any of these may an addition of Honor be placed according to the pleasure of the Prince or the fancy of the Herald that is left to the designing Which reward remains to the posterity of the Atchiever and none of the descendants of his family but his own line may bear it In which manner I have seen the Arms of a Kingdom given to a private Subject nay and sometimes to a Stranger as in the example of Sir Henry St. George Norroy King of Arms who upon an Embassie into Sweden was honored by the King of the Swethes with the addition of the Arms of Swethen in a Canton The Marquesse of Exeter gave the Arms of England in a Bordure as in the Escutcheon of Bordures is seen in the eighth quarter being given him by Henry the eighth Now the Laws of honor having by a continued succession of time maintained and refined these rules of Nobility for the encouragement of brave and generous spirits So foreseeing the pronenesse of all men being apter to fall and decline from the vertues and bravenesse of their Ancestors and to bury the honor of the deceased Purchasers in the dust than to improve the Talent of Renown Time hath entrusted them with as a correction to such dunghill-spirits there is provided a method