extraordinary great He only hath the patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen but by his Conge d'Esâ—ire whom he hath first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent He is Guardian or Nursing Father of the Church which our Kings of England did so reckon amongst their principal Cares as in the Three and twentieth year of King Edward the First it was alledged in a pleading and allowed The King hath power to call a National or Provincial Synod and with the advice and consent thereof to make Canons Orders Ordinances and Consâ—itutions to introduce into the Church what Ceremonies he shall think sit to reâ—orm and correct all Heresies Schisms and pâ—nish Contempts c The King hath power not only to unite consolidate separate inlarge or contract the limits of any old Bishoprick or other Ecclesiastical Benefice But also by his Letters Patents may erect new Bishopricks as Henry the Eighth did Six at one time and the late King Charles the Martyr intended to do at St. Albans for the Honour of the first Martyr of England and for the contracting the too large extent of the Bishoprick of Lincoln In the 28. of Eliz. when the House of Commons would have passed Bills touching Bishops granting Faculties conferring Holy Orders Ecclesiastical Censures the Oath Ex Officio Non-Residency c. The Queen being much incensed forbade them to meddle in any Ecclesiastical Affairs for that it belonged to her prerogative His Majesty hath also power of Coynage of Money of pardoning all Criminals of dispensing with all Statutes made by him or his Predecessors which are Malum prohibitum and not Malum in se. The diversity between these terms is set down in the Statute made Term. Mich. Anno 11 H. 7. 11. Thus where the Statute doth prohibit a man to coyn Money if he do he shall be hanged this is Malum prohibitum for before the said Statute it was lawful but not after and for this Evil the King may dispense But Malum in se neither the King nor any other can dispense with As if the King would give leave to rob on the High-ways c. this is void yet after the Fact done the King may pardon it So it is in Ecclesiastical Laws for conformity to the Liturgy c. which are Malum prohibitum and the King may by his Prerogative Royal as well dispense with all those penal Statutes as with Merchants to transport Silver Wooll and other prohibited Commodities by Act of Parliament The King cannot devest himself or his Successors of any part of his Royal Power Prerogative and Authority inherent and annext to the Crown nor bar his Heir of the Succession no not by Act of Parliament for such an Act is void by Law These Prerogatives do of right belong to the Crown of England which I have collected out of the most Authentick Modern Authors And to compleat this Chapter I shall proceed to his Superiority and Precedency The King of England acknowledgeth no Superior but God alone not the Emperor Omnem potestatem Rex Angliae in Regno suo quam Imperator vendicat in Imperio yet he giveth Precedency to the Emperor Eo quod antiquitate Imperium omnia regna superare creditur Touching our King's Supremacy before any other these Reasons are offered First Lucius King of this Land was the first Christian King in the World as also Constantine our Country-man the first Emperor that publickly planted Christianity Secondly The King of England is anoynted as no other King is but France Sicily and Ierusalem Thirdly He is crowned which honour the Kings of Spain Portugal Navarr and divers other Princes have not The honour of Precedency amongst Christian Kings is often disputed by their Ambassadors and Commissioners representative at General Councils Diets publick Treaties and other Honourable Assemblies at Coronations Congratulations in Foreign Countries c. which by the best Information I can get is thus stated As to England next to the Imperial Ministers the French take place as being the largest Realm in Christendom and most Noble since Charles le mayne their King obtained the Imperial Diadem the second place in the Western Empire was undisputably the right of our English Kings so enjoyed for hundreds of years 'till Spain grown rich and proud by the addition of the Indies claimed the priority yet could not gain it till their Charles the Fifth was Elected Emperor but after his Resignation the Controversie renewed upon the Treaty of Peace between Queen Elizabeth and Philip the Third King of Spain at â—oloign in France Anno 1600. Our Ambassadors were Sir Henry Nevil Iohn Harbert and Thomas Edmonds Esquires and for Spain Balthazer de Coniga Ferdinando Carillo Io. Ricardett and Lewis Varreyken The English challenged precedency as due to them before the Emperor Charles his time as doth appear by Volatteram in the time of our Henry the Seventh when the like difference being in question 't was joyntly referred to the Pope who adjudged to England the most Honourable place But the Spaniards refusing to stand to that old Award or to admit of an equality the Treaty of Peace broke up neither hath any certain Resolution been hitherto taken in the matter as ever I heard of OF THE PRINCE CHAP. III. THE King 's Eldest Son and Heir apparent from the Day of his Birth is entituled Prince of the Latin word quasi Principalis post Regem The first that we read of in England was Edward eldest Son to King Henry the Third since which time the eldest Son of the King hath been by Patent and other Ceremonies created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and Flint By Patent also Edward the Third in the Eleventh year of his Reign added the Dukedom of Cornwal to the Principality of Wales and Anno Regni 36. he makes his eldest Son Edward the Black Prince Prince of Aquitain for which he did Fealty and Homage at Westminster Sed tamen Principatum Walliae Ducatum Cornubiae Comitatum Cestriae Cantii non reliquit Walsing fol. 172. Since the Union of England and Scotland his Title hath been Magnae Britanniae Princeps but ordinarily Prince of Wales As eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth And so long as Normandy remained in the possession of the English he had always the style of Duke of Normandy At his Creation he is presented before the King in Princely Robes who putteth a Coronet upon his Head a Ring on his middle Finger a Verge of Gold in his Hand and his Letters Patents after they are reaâ— His Mantle which he wears in â—arliament is once more doubled upon the shoâ—â—â—â—rs than a Dukes his Cap of State indenteâ—â—nd his Coronet formerly of Crosses and Flower de lis mixed But since the happy Restauration of his Majesty it was solemnly ordered that the Son and Heir apparent
Office of a King to fight the Battels of his people and rightly to judge them 1 Kings 8. And the Prophet David saith Be ye learned you that judge the Earth Whereto if they also would endeavour to have knowledge in the Principles and Grounds of the Laws of their own Country which they in due time inherit they shall be much the more enabled to govern their Subjects and it is a point of Wisdom in such to acknowledge that Rex datur propter Regnum non Regnum propter Regem And to move the Princes to these things there is an excellent Book Dialogue-wise between a Prince a King's Son of this Realm and Sir Iohn Fortescue a Judge entituled De laudibus Legum Angliae Many that have been Heirs apparent to the Crown of England ever since the Norman Conquest have been taken away either by their natural deaths or by violence during the life of their Ancestors so that they have not attained to the Crown William the only Son of Henry the First was drowned in his passage from Normandy his Father reigning Eustace King Stephen's only Son died mad to the great grief of the King his Father William the eldest Son of King Henry the Second died in the Fourth year of his Age and in the Third year of his Fathers Reign King Henry the Second's Son called Curt-Mantel was in his Father's life time crowned King by the Name of King Henry the younger but died in the life time of his Father Geffrey the fourth Son of the said King died during the Reign of Richard Coeur de Leon his third Brother which King Richard had no Son and so Geffrey was Heir apparent to the Crown King Edward the First had Issue Iohn Henry and Alphons but all three died in their Childhood in their Father's life Edward the Black Prince of famous memory eldest Son to King Edward the Third died before his Father Richard the Third had Issue only one Son named Edward who died without Issue Arthur the eldest Son and Heir apparent to King Henry the Seventh died in the life time of his Father Henry Prince of Wales eldest Son to King Iames also left the World before his Father These Examples may serve as a Mirror for all succeeding Princes and others to see how transitory the Glory of this World is whereof the saying of the Princely Prophet David may never be out of remembrance Psal. 82. I have said ye are Gods and ye are all the Children of the most High but ye shall die like men and ye Princes like others Also divers other Heirs apparent and those that have been in possession of their Crowns have been defeated by Usurpers And namely Robert Duke of Normandy eldest Son to William the Conqueror was defeated of his Birth-right by his two younger Brethren William Rufus and Henry successively one after another and after Six and twenty years Imprisonment having both his Eyes put out died in the Reign of his Brother Henry Maud the sole Daughter of the said King Henry was defeated of her Birth-right to the Crown by Stephen the Son of her Fathers Sister Arthur the only Son and Heir of Geffrey the fourth Son to Henry the Second was next Heir to the Crown after the death of his Uncle Richard the first King of that Name who died without Issue his Father being dead before but his Uncle Iohn Son to the said Henry the Second defeated him not only of his right to the Kingdom but also of his Life and that by starving him King Edward the Second was deposed by his eldest Son who in the life time of his Father took upon him to be the King of England Richard the only Son to Edward the black Prince and next Heir to the Crown after the death of his Grandfather King Edward the Third was defeated both of his Crown and Life by Henry of Lancaster Son to Iohn of Gaunt who was but the fourth Son of King Edward the Third yea although Lionel the third Son of the said King Edward had Issue Philip his only Daughter who by consequence was next to the Crown before the Issue of Iohn of Gaunt which Philip was married to Edward Mortimer Earl of March from whom the House of York by the name of Edward the Fourth are lineally descended For William of Hatfield second Son to King Edward the Third died young without Issue King Henry the Sixth having but one Son named Edward he was slain in the life time of his Father and the King himself deposed by Edward the Fourth and murthered in the Tower So the Act of Parliament made between them for an indented Peace exemplified in our Books of Law Edward and Richard the two only Sons to Edward the Fourth after the descent of the Crown and before the Coronation of Prince Edward were both of them murthered in the Tower by their Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester who thereupon took upon him the Crown although there were remaining alive divers Daughters of the late King Edward the Fourth During these troublesome and tragical times each of the Kings prevailing attainted the other their Adversary of High Treason by Act of Parliament intending utterly to disable them and make them to be incapable by the Law of the Crown And it is a matter worthy of Observation how the Hand of God did not forget to pursue Revenge in these Cases for William Rufus died without Issue Henry his Brother had a Son and one Daughter but his Son died an Infant and his only Daughter Maud was defeated of her Birthright by Stephen King Iohn who defeated Arthur his Nephew of his Birthright and Life lived in continual Wars never enjoyed Peace but was driven to submit himself and subject his Kingdom to the Pope In his time Normandy which King William the First brought with him and which in five Descents continued in actual Obedience of the Kings of England was in the sixth year of his Reign lost until King Henry the Fifth recovered it again and left it to King Henry the Sixth who again lost it in the Eight and twentieth year of his Reign as doth appear both in our Chronicles and in our Books of Law Concerning the violence done to King Henry the Second albeit Edward his Son enjoyed a long and prosperous Reign yet his Successor King Richard was in the like violent manner imprisoned deprived and put to death King Henry the Fourth by whom King Richard was deposed did exercise the chiefest Acts of his Reign in executing those who conspired with him against King Richard His Son had his Vertue well seconded by Felicity during whose Reign by the means of Wars in France the humour against him was otherwise imployed But his next Successor King Henry the Sixth was in the very like manner deprived and together with his young Son Edward imprisoned and put to death by King Edward the Fourth This Eward died not without suspicion of poyson and after his death his two Sons were likewise
lawfully do by Office that is to say The Steward of the King's Houshold notwithstanding the Liberty of any other although in another Kingdom when the Offender may be found in the King's Houshold according to that which happened at Paris in the Fourteenth year of Edward the First when Engelram of Nogeut was taken in the Houshold of the King of England the King himself being then at Paris with silver Dishes lately stoln at which deed the King of France did claim Cognizance of the Plea concerning that Theft by Jurisdiction of that Court of Paris The matter being diversly debated in the Council of the King of France at length it was Ordered That the King of England should use and enjoy that Kingly Prerogative of his Houshold who being Convicted by Robert Fitz-Iohn Knight Steward of the King's Houshold of the Theft by consideration of the said Court was hanged on the Gallows in St. Germans Field And here by the way may be noted from those recited Books alledged That the person of the King in another King's Dominions is not absolutely priviledged but that he may be impleaded for Debt or Trespass or condemned for Treason committed with in the said Dominions For it is the general Law of Nations that in what place an Offence is committed according to the Law of the said place they may be judged without regard to any priviledge Neither can a King in any other Kingdom challenge any such Prerogative of Immunity from Laws For a King out of his proper Kingdom hath not merum Imperium but only doth retain Honoris titulos dignitatis so that where he hath offended in his own Person against the King in whose Nation he is per omnia distringitur etiam quoad personam And the same Law is of Ambassadors ne occasio daretur delinquendi That Ambassadors are called Legats because they are chosen as fit men out of many and their Persons be sacred both at home and abroad so that no man may injuriously lay violent hands upon them without breach of the Law of Nations and much less upon the person of a King in a strange Land Bracton a Judge of this Realm in the Reign of King Henry the Third in his first Book and eighth Case saith There is no respect of Persons with God but with men there is a difference of Persons viz. the King and under him Dukes Counts Barons Lords Vavasors and Knights Counts so called because they take the Name from the County or from the word Sociati who also may be termed Consules of Counselling for Kings do associate such men unto them to govern the People of God ordaining into great Honours Power and Name where they do gird them with Swords that is to say Ringis gladorium Upon this cause were the Stations and Encampings of Arms called by the Romans Castra of the word Castrare since they ought to be Castrata vel Casta. In this place ought a good General to foresee that Venus Delights be as it were gelded and cut off from the Army So Sir Iohn Fern's Book entituled The Glory of Generosity Ring so called quasi renes girans circundans for that they compass the Reins of such that they may keep them from Incest of Luxury because the Luxurious and Incestuous persons are abominable unto God The Sword also doth signifie the Defence of King and Country And thus much in general of the Nobility of England Now followeth a more particular Discourse of each particular Degree and first of his Majesty the Fountain from whence all these Rivulets and swelling Streams of Honour's Spring The most high and mighty Monarch CHARLES the second by the Grace of God King of Great Britaineâ— France and Irelandâ— Defender of the faith ca. The Effiges of the most high and mighty Monarch CHARLES the second by the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Deâ—ender of the faith câ—â— OF THE KING OR MONARCH OF Great Britain CHAP. II. MONARCHY is as ancient as Man Adam being created Soveraign Lord of the Universe whose Office was to govern the whole World and all Creatures therein His Posterity after his Death dividing into Tribes and Generations acknowledged no other Dominion than Paternity and Eldership The Fathers of Nations were instead of Kings and the Eldest Sons in every Family were reverenced as Princes from whence came the word Seignior amongst the Italians and French and Seignories for Lordship and Dominion of which Seneca makes two kinds viz. Potestas aut Imperium power to command Proprietas aut Dominium Property or Dominion These Empires in the Golden Age were founded upon natural Reverency and Piety their Power was executed with the soft Weapons of paternal perswasions and the greatest penalties that they inflicted upon the most Capital Criminals was the malediction of their Primogenitors with an Excommunication out of the Tribes But as Men and Vice began to increase Pride and evil Examples overshadowed Filial Obedience and Violence entred upon the Stage of the World the mighty Men truâ—ling in their own strength oppressed the Feeble and were at length forced to truckle under the tyranny of others more Gygantick than themselves which necessitated them to submit to Government for self-preservation many housholds conjoyning made a Village many Villages a City and these Cities and Citizens confederating established Laws by consent which in tract of time were called Commonwealths some being governed by Kings some by Magistrates and some so unfortunate as to fall under the yoak of a popular Rule Nam Plebs est pessimus Tyrannus The first Chiefs or Kings were men of Vertue elected for their Wisdom and Courage being both Reges Duces to govern according to their Laws in Peace and to lead them forth to Battel against their Enemies in time of Hostility And this Rule proving more safe for the people honourable amongst men and â—â—rm in it self than the other most Nations followed it approving the Sentence of Tacitus Prâ—stat sub Principo â—alo esse quam nulle Lamentable Experience the Mistress of Fools in some and of Wisdom in others in the Ages sequent necessitated them again to quit the â—orm of Election and to entail the Soveraign Power in the Hereditary Loyns of their Kings to prevent the fatal consequence of Ambition amongst equal pretenders in popular Elections Thus the beginning of an Empire is ascribed to reason and necessity â—ut 't was God himself that illuminated the minds of men and let them see they could not subsist without a Supream in their human affairs Necessitas â—st firmum judicium immutabilis providentiae potestas This Island of Great Britain when Barbarism was so happy as to submit to a Regal Power as Caesar in his Commentaries witnesseth then divided into many Kingdoms under which Government of Kings with some small alterations according to the necessity of times and pleasure of Conquerors it hath flourished descending from the British Saxon Danish Norman and
to the Crown of England shall bear his Coronet of Crosses and Flower de lis with one Arch and in the midst a Ball and Cross as hath the Royal Diadem That his Royal Highness the Duke of York and all the immediate Sons and Brothers of the Kings of England shall use and bear their Coronets composed of Crosses and Flower de lis only But all their Sons respectively having the Title of Dukes shall bear and use their Coronets composed of Leaves only as the Coronets of Dukes not being of the Royal Blood Note That by Order not Creation our present King was admitted Prince of Wales had the Principality with the Earldom of Chester c. confirmed to him by Patent and was allowed to hold his Court apart from the Kings The Prince by the Common Law is reputed as the same Person with the King and so declared by Statute temp Hen. 8. The Civilians say the King 's eldest Son during his Fathers life may be styled King by the Law of Nations because of his so near Relation to the Crown that if the Father die he is ipso momento Rex though he be not crowned A usual custome in Spain and once allowed here to Henry Son of King Henry the Second yet he holdeth his Seigniories and Principalities of the King as Subject to him and giveth the same respect to him as other Subjects do He hath certain priviledges above other persons To him it was permitted by the Statute 24 Hen. 8. cap. 13. to wear Silk of the colour of Purple and cloth of Gold of Tissue in his Apparel or upon his Horse And by the Statute 24 Ed. 3. ca. 2. Takings shall not be from henceforth made by others than the Purveyors of the King of the Queen and of the Prince their eldest Son And that if any mans Purveyor make such takings it shall be done of them as of those that do without Warrant and the Deed adjudged as a thing done against the Peace and the Law of the Land and such as do not in manner aforesaid shall be duly punished To eschew Maintenance and nourish Peace and Amity in all parts of the Realm many Statutes have been made in the Reign of King Henry the Fourth prohibiting the giving of Signs or Liveries to any but Menials nevertheless by the Statute 2 Hen. 4. cap. 21. it is provided that the Prince may give his honourable Liveries or Sign to the Lords or to his Menial Gentlemen and that the same Lords may wear the same as if they were the King's Liveries and that the Menials of the Prince may also wear the same as the King's Menials But afterwards by occasion of divers other Statutes made by sundry Kings for the suppressing oâ— that enormity of Maintenance and of the general word in them that priviledge of the Prince was abridged or rather taken away therefore the Statute 12 Ed. 4. cap. 4. was made By the Statute 21 H. 8. cap. 13. the Prince may retain as many Chaplains as he pleaseth although all other of the Nobility except those of the Blood Royal are constrained to a certain number and they or any of them may purchase Licence and Dispensation and take and retain two Parsonages or Benefices with Cure of Souls By the Order of the Common Law the King may Levy a reasonable Ayd of all his Tenants as well of those that did hold their Lands of him by Knights Service as in Soccage pur faire fitz Chevalier pur File marrier and the sum of Money was not in certainty Note that the Ayd is not to be recovered before the Son be of the Age of Fifteen years and the Daughter accomplish the Age of Seven years Fitz. Natur. B. 28.6 But in the King's pleasure till by the Statute in the 25 Ed. 3. cap. 11. it was Enacted That for the Knighting his eldest Son and marrying his eldest Daughter as aforesaid the Ayd following shall be demanded and levied viz. of every Knight so holden of the King without mean 20 s. and no more and of every 20. l. of Land holden of the King without mean in Soccage 20 s. and no more And so after this rate for the Lands in Soccage and for Land in Tenure of Chivalry according to the quantity of the Fee By another Statute made in the said 25 th of Edward the Third cap. 2. amongst other things it is declared That to compass or imagine the death of the King 's eldest Son and Heir is Crimen laesae Majestatis or if a man do violate the Wife of the King 's eldest Son and Heir it is High Treason And so the Statute 26 Hen. 8. cap. 13. doth declate And so was the ancient Common Law of this Realm and not a new Law made by the Statute Coke 8. part 28. b. but this Statute is a Manifestation and Application of the ancient Common Law in this Case Because the people were in ambiguity Whether Children born in parts beyond the Sea and out of the King's Dominions should be able to demand any Inheritance within his said Dominions or not It was declared at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the Seventeenth of King Iames for the removing of those doubts That les Enfants du Roy the Children of the Kings of England in whatsoever parts they are born in are able and ought to bear the Inheritance after the death of their Ancestors Read the Statute in Coke's Seventh Part 8. a. where you shall see that though generally the Birth-place is observed yet many times Legiance and Obedience without any place in the King's Dominions may make a Subject born For we see by Experience almost in every Parliament that Ambassadors Merchants and the King's Souldiers do sue therein in such Cases to have their Children Naturalized or made Denisons And in the Articles confirmed by Parliament touching the Marriage between Philip King of Spain and Queen Mary Anno primo Parliamenti 2. cap. 2. a special Proviso was to bar him from being Tenant by the Courtesie of the Crown in case he should have Issue by her and survive which was superfluous because the Common Law would have denied it For this last point see the Lord Chancellor's Speech in the Case Postnati f. 36. But note If an Alien Enemy come into this Realm and his Wife English or Stanger be here delivered of a Child this Child notwithstanding his Birth-place is an Alien born for want of Allegiance in the Parents ibid. King Henry the Third did create Edward his eldest Son the first Prine of Wales and did give unto him the Dominion and Dignity thereof to be holden of him and his Heirs Kings of England And after that time the eldest Sons of the Kings of England have been Princes of Wales and as incident to the State and Dignity of a Prince did and might make Laws and Statutes and use Jurisdiction and Authority as amply as any King of that Nation could do for Wales was a Kingdom in ancient
time but by a Statute made the Twelfth of Edward the First Wales was incorporated and united to England and became part thereof Also by another Statute made 27 Hen. 8. c. 24. a general resumption of many Liberties and Franchises heretofore granted or taken from the Crown as the Authority to pardon Treasons Murder Manslaughter and Felony also power to make Justices in Oyer Justices of Assize Justices of the Peace Goal deliveries and such like so that from thenceforth the King 's eldest Son hath only the Name and Style of Prince of Wales but no other Jurisdiction than at the King's pleasure is permitted and granted him by his Letters Patents as by the tenor thereof here following made by King Henry the Eighth to Edward his Son and Heir apparent may appear HENRY by the Grace of God King of England and of France Lord of Ireland c. To all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Iustices Viscounts Governors Ministers and to all our Bayliffs and faithful Subjects Greeting Out of the Excellency of Royal Preheminence like leaves from the Sun so do inferior humours proceed neither doth the integrity of Royal Lustre and Brightness by the natural disposition of the Light affording Light feel any loss or detriment by such borrowed Lights yea the Royal Scepter is also much the more extolled and the Royal Throne exalted by how much the more Nobleness Preheminencies and Honours are under the power and command thereof And this worthy Consideration allureth and induceth us with desire to increase the Name and Honour of our Firstbegotten and best Beloved Son Edward in whom we behold and see our self to be honoured and our Royal House also and our people subject to us hoping by the grace of God by conjecture taken of his gracious future proceedings to be the more honourably strengthened that we may with honour prevent and with abundant grace prosecute him who in reputation of us is deemed the same with us Wherefore by the counsel and consent of the Prelates Dukes Earls Viscounts and Barons of our Kingdom being in our present Parliament We have made and created and by these Presents do make and create him the said Edward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester And unto the same Edward do give and grant and by this Charter have confirmed the Name Style Title State Dignity and Honour of the said Principality and Connty that he may therein in Governing Rule and in Ruling direct and defend we say by a Garland upon his Head by a Ring of Gold upon his Finger and a Verge of Gold have according to the manner invested him to have and to hold to him and his Heirs the Kings of England for ever Wherefore we will and command for us and our Heirs that Edward our Son aforesaid shall have the Name Style Title State Dignity and Honour of the Principality of Wales and of the County of Chester aforesaid unto him and his Heirs the Kings of England for ever These being Witnesses the Reverend Father John Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England our Chancellor and William Archbishop of York Primate of England Thomas Bishop of London John Bishop of Lincoln William Bishop of Norwich our most well beloved Cosins Richard Earl of Warwick Richard Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Wiltshire and our well beloved and faithful Ralph Cromwel Chamberlain of our House William Falconbridge and John Stourton Knights Dated at our Palace at Westminster the 15th day of March and in the year of our Reign 32. And here by the way may be observed That in ancient time and in the time of the English-Saxon Kings the use was as well in pennings of the Acts of Parliament as of the King's Letters Patents when any Lands Franchises or Hereditaments did pass from the King of any Estate of Inheritance as also in the Creations of any man unto Honour and Dignity the Conclusion was with the sign of the Cross in form aforesaid his testibus c. But long since that form hath been discontinued so that at this day and many years past the King's Patents for Lands Franchises and Hereditaments do conclude with Teste me ipso Nevertheless in all Creations of Honour and Dignity of Letters Patents the ancient form of concluding His testibus is used at this day And it hath been resolved by the Judges of all Acts of Parliament and Statutes which do concern the Prince who is the Firstbegotten Son of the King and Heir apparent to the Crown for the time being perpetuis futuris temporibus be such Acts whereof the Judges and all the Realm must take Cognizance as of General Statutes For every Subject hath interest in the King and none of his Subjects who are within his Laws be divided from him being he is Head and Sovereign so that the business and things of the King do concern all the Realm and namely when it doth concern the Prince the Firstbegotten Son of the King and Heir apparent to the Crown Although the Prince by express words hath no priviledge by the Great Charter of the Forestâ— 9 Hen. 3. cap. 11. for hunting in the King's Forests or Parks passing by them and sent for by the King's Command yet the Prince is to take the benefit and advantage thereby as well as the Earls Bishops or Barons who are expressed Crompton's Courts des Iustices de Forest 167. In the Parliament 31 Hen. 8. cap. 10. an Act concerning the placing of King's Children and Lords in the Parliament and other Assemblies was amongst other things made as followeth That no person or persons of what degree estate or condition soever his or they be of except only the King's Children shall at any time hereafter attempt to sit or have place on any side of the Cloth of Estate in the Parliament Chamber whether his Majesty be there personally present or absent The Prince shall not find Pledges for the prosecution of any Action and therefore shall not be amerced no more than the King or Queen should be The Prince is a distinct person from the King he is a Subject and holdeth his Principalities and Seigniories of the King and subject to the Law of the Land as a Subject And in token of the Prince's subjection he doth not upon his Posie in his Arms disdain the old Saxon words Ich Dieu I serve And there is a Case that Glascoine Chief Justice of England in the time of Henry the Fourth did commit the Prince who would have taken a Prisoner from their Bar in the King's Bench And the Prince did humbly submit himself and go at his Command And this did much rejoyce the King to see that he had a Judge so bold to administer Justice upon his Son and that he had a Son so gracious as to obey his Laws The Exercises befitting Princes whilst they are young are Chivalry and Feats of Arms and to adjoyn therewith the knowledge of the Law and God For it is the Duty and
Creation of the Prince ended Although at present we have no Prince of Wales yet I shall give you the Badge or Armorial Ensign of Honour appropriate unto them which is as it is here depincted OF DUKES CHAP. IV. THE Title and Degree of a Duke hath been of ancienter standing in the Empire and other Countries than amongst us for the first English Duke was Edward the black Prince created Duke of Cornwal by his Father King Edward the Third by which Creation according to the Tenure of his Patent the Firstborn Sons of the Kings of England are Dukes of Cornwall Nor is there any Creation required for the said Honour although there is for Prince of Wales A Duke is said to be so called à Ducendo from leading being at the first always a Leader of an Army Imperial or Regal and was so chosen in the Field either by casting of Lots or by common Voice and the Saxons called this Leader an Hertzog but now and for some time past it is a Dignity given by Kings and Princes to men of great Blood and excellent Merit In some Countries at this day the Soveraign Princes are called Dukes as the Duke of Savoy Duke of Muscovy Duke of Saxony Duke of Florence and the like All Noblemen at their Creation have two Ensigns to signifie two Duties viz. their Heads are adorned ad consulendum Regem Patriam in tempore pacis and they are girt with Swords ad defendendum Dominum Regem Patriam in tempore belli The Chapeau or Head-attire saith Chassanaeus Dukes were accustomed to wear in token of Excellency it is of a Scarlet Colour lined or doubled Ermin And now Marquisses Earls and Viscounts plead Custome for the use thereof as also for Coronets which his Majesty King Charles the Second hath also granted Barons to wear but with due difference as is also in their Robes which may appear by the Portraiture of the said Degrees here lively set forth His Sword is girt about him and his short Cloak or Mantle over his Shoulders is guarded with four Guards his Coronet is Gold the Cap Crimson doubled Ermin but not indented as those of the Blood Royal are and the Verge which he holds in his hand is also of Gold Dukes of the Royal Line or Blood are reputed as Arch-Dukes and are to have their Coronets composed of Crosses and Flower delis as other Dukes A Duke tantùm shall take place before any Lord that is both Marquis and Earl but a Duke that is both a Marquis and Earl shall precede him The Dukes Marquisses and Earls at their Creations have a Sword put over their Shoulders or girt about them which the Viscounts and Barons have not A Duke may have in all places ouâ— of the King 's or Princes presence a Cloth of Estate hanging down within half a yard of the Ground so may his Dutchess who may have her Train born up by a Baroness And no Earl without permission from him ought to wash with a Duke The Effigies of the Most Noble George Duke Marquess Earle of Buckingham Earle of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter a. R. While sculp His Royall Highness Iames Duke of Yorke and Albany Knight of the most noble order of the Garter sole Brother to his sacred Majesty King Charles the second coet. The most Illustrious Prince Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and Duke of Cumberland Earle of Holderness Governor of Windsor-Castle Lord Leivtenant of Berâ—shire Knight of the Garter Nephew to the late King of blessed memory and one of his Ma â—â—es most Honourable privy Councell c â— The Right Noble Henry Duke of Norfolk Earle of Arundell Surrey Norwich Earle Marshall of England Baron Howard Fitz-Allen Matravers Mawbrey Seagrave Bruceâ— Cluâ—n Oswalds tree Castle Riseing The Right Noble Francis Seumour Duke of Somerset Marquess Earle of Hertford Viscount Beauchamp Baron Seymour ct. The Right Noble George Duke Marquess Earle of Buckingham Earle of Coventrey Viscount Villiers â—â—ron of Whaddon Knight of the most noble order of the Garter ct. The Rt. Noble Christopher Duke of Albemarle Earle of Toringtoâ— Baron Monck of Potheridge Beauchamp Teys Kt. of ye. most noble order of ye. Garter Lord Leivtenant of Devon-shire Essex one of the Gentlemen of his matys Bedchamber one of ye. Lords of his most honble privy Counâ—â— The Right Noble Iames Duke of Noâ—â—â—uth Buccleuth Earle of Doncaster Dalkeith Baron of Askedale Teâ—dâ—lâ— Whitchâ—â—â—â—â—en 〈…〉 Chamberlaine of Scotland Masâ—â—r of his Ma â— horse Captain of his life Guard Gouernor of Hull Lord Leivtenant of ye. East Rideing of Yoâ—k-shire Chancellor of ye. Vniversity of Cambridge Knight of ye. Garter one of ye. Lords of his matys most honble privy Councell ct. The Right Noble William Cavendish Duke Marquess Earle of Newcasâ— Earle of Ogle Viscount Mansfield Baron Ogle Bertram Bolesmere Kt of thâ— Garten Ld. Leiutenant of Nottinghamshire Gent of his matys Bedchamber Iustice in Ire of all his matys Parks fforests and Chases Northwards of Trent one of ye. Lords of his matys most honble privy Councell â— The Right Noble Charles Fitz-Roy Duke of Southampton Earle of Chichester Baron of Newbury Knight of the Garter and heyre in Succession to the Dutchy of Cleaveland câ— The Right Noble Charles Lennox Duke of Richmond and Lennox Earle of March and Darneley Baron of Settrington and Tarbolton ct. The Right Noble Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Grafton Earle of Euston Viscount Ipswich and Baron Sudbury â—â— A Duke hath the Title of Grace and being written unto is styled Most High Potent and Noble Prince And Dukes of the Royal Blood are styled Most High most Mighty and Illustrious Princes The younger Sons of Kings are by courtesie styled Princes by birth but have their Titles of Duke Marquiss c. from Creation The Daughters are styled Princesses and the Title of Royal Highness is given to all the King's Children both Sons and Daughters The form of a Patent of the Duke of York tempore Iacobi JACOBUS c. To all Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts Barons Iustices Knights Governors Ministers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting Whereas oftentimes we call to mind how many and innumerable Gifts and what excellent Benefits that Great Maker of all Goodness of his own benignity and clemency hath abundantly bestowed upon us who not only by his power hath consociated divers and mighty Lyons in firm Peace without any strife but also hath amplified and exalted the Bounds and Limits of our Government by his unspeakable Providence above our Progenitors with an indissolvable Conjunction of the ancient and famous Kingdoms in the right of Blood under our Imperial Diadem In regard whereof we cannot boast but most willingly acknowledge our fruitfulness and Issue plentifully adorned with the gifts
of Nature which he hath vouchsafed unto us because in truth in the Succession of Children a mortal man is made as it were immortal neither unto any mortal men at leastwise unto Princes not acknowledging Superiors can any thing happen in worldly causes more happy and acceptable than that their Children should become notable in all vertuous Goodness Manners and Increase of Dignity so as they which excel other men in Nobleness and Dignity endowments of Nature might not be thought of others to be exceeded Hence it is that we that great goodness of God which is shewed unto us in our felicity not to pass in silence or to be thought not to satisfie the Law of Nature whereby we are chiefly provoked to be well affected and liberal to those in whom we behold our Blood to begin to flourish coveting with great and fatherly affection that the perpetual memory of our Blood with Honour and increase of Dignity and all praise may be affected our well beloved Son Charles Duke of Albony Marquis of Ormond Count of Ross and Lord of Ardmannoth our second begotten Son in whom the Regal form and beauty worthy Honour and other gifts of Vertue do now in the best hopes shine in his tender years We erect create make and ordain and to him the Name Style State Title and Dignity and Authority and Honour of the Duke of York do give to him that Name with the Honour to the same belonging and annexed by the girding of the Sword Cap and Cirtlet of Gold put upon his Head and the delivery of a Golden Verge we do really invest To have and to hold the same Name Style State Dignity Authority and Honour of the Duke of York unto the aforesaid Charles our second begotten Son and to the Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten for ever And that the aforesaid Charles our second begotten Son according to the decency and state of the said Name of Duke of York may more honourably carry himself we have given and granted and by this our present Charter we confirm for us and our Heirs unto the aforesaid Duke and his Heirs for ever out of Farms Issues Profits and other Commodities whatsoever coming out of the County of York by the hands of the Sheriff of the said County for the time being at the times of Easter and Michaelmas by even portions For that express mention of other Gifts and Grants by us unto the said Duke before time made in these Presents doth not appear notwithstanding these being Witnesses The most excellent and most beloved Henry our Firstbegotten Son Ulrick Duke of Hellet Brother of the Queen our beloved Wife and the Reverend Father in Christ Richard Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England and also our beloved and faithful Counsellor Thomas Lord Elsmere our Chancellor of England Thomas Earl of Suffolk Chamberlain of our Houshold and our dear Cosin Thomas Earl of Arundel our welbeloved Cosins and Counsellors Henry Earl of Northumberland Edward Earl of Worcester Master of our Horse George Earl of Cumberland and also our welbeloved Cosins Henry Earl of Southampton William Earl of Pembroke and also our welbeloved Cosins and Counsellors Charles Earl of Devonshire Master of our Ordinance Henry Earl of Northampton Warden of the Cinque Ports John Earl of Warwick Robert Viscount Cranborne our Principal Secretary and our well-beloved and faithful Counsellor Edward Lord Zouch President of our Council within the Principality and Marches of Wales and also our welbeloved and trusty Robert Lord Willoughby of Eresby William Lord Mounteagle Gray Lord Chandois William Lord Compton Francis Lord Norris Robert Lord Sidney our welbeloved and faithful Counsellor William Lord Knowles Treasurer of our Houshold and our welbeloved and faithful Counsellor George Dunbar Lord of Barwick Chancellor of our Exchequer Edward Bruce of Kinloss Master of the Rolls of our Chancery and also our welbeloved and faithful Thomas Eareskine of Birketon Captain of our Guard James Lord Barmermoth and others Given by our Hand at our Palace at Westminster in the Second year of our Reign of England c. King Edward the Third in the third year of his Reign by his Charter in Parliament and by Authority of Parliament did create Edward his eldest Son called the black Prince Duke of Cornwal not only in Title but cum feodo with the Dutchy of Cornwal as by the Letters Patents may appear in Coke's Eighth Part in the Pleadings Habendum tenendum eidem Duci ipsius haeredum suorum Regum Angliae filiis Primogenitis dicti loci Ducibus in Regno Angliae ei haereditarie successuris So that he who is hereditable must be Heir apparent to the King of England and of such a King who is Heir to the said Prince Edward and such a one shall inherit the said Dukedom which manner of limitation of Estate was short and excellent varying from the ordinary Rules of the Common Law touching the framing of any Estate of Inheritance in Fee-simple or Fee-tayl and nevertheless by the Authority of Parliament a special Fee-simple is in that case only made as by Judgment may appear in the Book aforesaid fol. 27. and 27 Ed. 3.41 b. And ever since that Creation the said Dukedom of Cornwall hath been the peculiar Inheritance of the King 's eldest Son during the life of the King his Father so that he is ever Dux natus non creatus and the Duke at the very time of his Birth is taken to be of full and perfect Age so that he may send that day for his Livery of the said Dukedom And the said black Prince was the first Duke of England after the Conquest For though Bracton who made his Book in the Reign of King Henry the Third saith sunt sub rege Duces as appeareth that place is to be understood of the ancient Kings before the Conquest For in Magna Charta which was made in the Ninth of King Henry the Third we find not the name Duke amongst the Peers and Nobles there mentioned for seeing the Norman Kings themselves were Dukes of Normandy for a great while they adorned none with this Honour And the eldest Son of every King after his Creation was Duke of Cornwall as for example Henry of Monmouth eldest Son of King Henry the Fourth Henry of Windsor eldest Son of King Henry the Fifth Edward of Westminster eldest Son of King Edward the Fourth Arthur of Winchester eldest son of King Henry the Seventh and Edward of Hampton first Son of King Henry the Eighth But Richard of Burdeaux who was the first Son of Edward the black Prince was not Duke of Cornwall by force of the said Creation For albeit after the death of his Father he was Heir apparent to the Crown yet because he was not the Firstbegotten Son of a King for his Father died in the life of King Edward the Third the said Richard was not within the limitation of the Grant and Creation by
Authority of Parliament made in the Eleventh of King Edward aforesaid and therefore to supply that defect in the Fifth of Edward the Third he was created Duke of Cornwall by special Charter Elizabeth eldest Daughter of King Edward the Fourth was not a Dutchess of Cornwall although she was the Firstbegotten Daughter of Edward the Fourth for the Limitation is to the First-begotten Son Henry the Eighth was not in the life of his Father King Henry the Seventh after the death of his eldest Brother Arthur Duke of Cornwall by force of the said Creation for although he was sole Heir apparent yet he was not his eldest begotten Son And the Opinion of Stamford a Learned Judge hath been That he shall have within his Dukedom of Cornwall the King's Prerogative because it is not severed from the Crown after the form as it is given for none shall be Inheritor thereof but the King 's of the Realm For example whereas by Common Law if a man hold divers Mannors or other Lands or Tenements of divers Lords all by Knights Service some part by Priority and ancient Feoffment and other Land by Posterity and a later Feoffment and the Tenant so seized dieth and his Son and Heir within Age in this case the custody and wardship of the Body and his marriage may not be divided amongst all the Lords but one of them only shall have right unto it because the Body of a man is intire And therefore the Law doth say That the Lord of whom some part of those Lands are holden by Priority and by the same Tenure of Chivalry shall have it except the King be any of the Lords for then though the Tenant did purchase that Land last yet after his death the King shall be preferred before any of the other Lords of whom the Tenant did hold the Priority And so shall the Duke of Cornwall in the same Case have the Prerogative if his Tenant die holding of him but by posterity of Feoffment for any Tenure of his Dutchy of Cornwall although the same Duke is not seized of any particular Estate whereof the Reversion remaineth in the King for the Prince is seized in Fee of his Dukedom as beforesaid Iohn of Gaunt the fourth Son of King Edward the Third took to Wife Blanch Daughter and Heir of Henry Duke of Lancaster who had Issue Henry King of England so that the said Dutchy of Lancaster did come unto the said Henry by descent from the party of his Mother and being a Subject he was to observe the Common Law of the Realm in all things concerning his Dutchy For if he would depart in Fee with any thereof he must have made Livery and Seisin or if he had made a Lease for life reserving Rent with a Re-entry for default of payment and the Rent happen to be behind the Duke might not enter without making his Demand or if he had alienated any part thereof whilst he was within Age he might defeat the Purchaser for that Cause and if he would grant a Reversion of an Estate for life or years in being there must also be Attornment or else the Grant doth not take effect But after that he had deposed King Richard the Second and did assume the Royal Estate and so had conjoyned his Natural Body in the Body Politick of the King of this Realm and so was become King then the possession of the Dutchy of Lancaster was in him as King but not as Duke which degree of Dignity was swallowed up in that of the King for the lesser must always give place to the greater And likewise the Name of the Dutchy and the Franchises Liberties and Jurisdictions thereof when in the King's Hands were by the Common Law extinct and after that time the possessions of the Dutchy of Lancaster could not pass from Henry the Fourth by Livery of Seisin but by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal without Livery of Seisin and with Attornment And if he make a Lease for Life being Duke reserving a Rent with a Re-entry for default of payment and after his Assumption of the Crown his Rent happen to be unpaid he might Re-enter without Demand for the King is not bound to such personal Ceremonies as his Subjects are Therefore to have the said Dutchy to be still a Dutchy with the Liberties to the same as it was beâ—ore and to alter the order and degree of the Lands of the Dutchy from the Crown the said King Henry the Fourth made a Charter by Authority of Parliament which is entituled Charta Regis Hen. 4. de separatione Lancastriae à corona authoritate Parliamenti Anno Regni sui primo as by the Tenor thereof may appear And so by Authority of that Parliament the said Dutchy with all the Franchises and Liberties was meerly resigned from the Crown and from the Ministers and Officers thereof and from the Order to pass by such Conveyance which the Law did require in the possessions of the Crown But now the possessions of the Dutchy by force of the said Statute stood divided from the Crown and ought to be demeaned and ordered and pass as they did before Henry the Fourth was King yet there is no Clause in the Charter which doth make the person of the King who hath the Dutchy in any other Degree than it was before But things concerning his pleasure shall be in the same estate as they were before such separation insomuch as if the Law before the Charter by Authority of Parliament adjudged the person of the King always of full Age having regard unto his Gifts as well of the Lands which he doth inherit in the right of his Crown or Body Politick it shall be so adjudged for the Dutchy Land after the said Statute for the Statute doth go and reach unto the Estate Order and Condition of the Lands of the Dutchy but doth not extend unto the person of the King who hath the Lands in points touching his person Neither doth that distinguish or alter the preheminences which the Law doth give to the person of the King For if King Henry the Fourth after the said Act had made a Lease or other Grant of parcel of the Dutchy by the Name of Henry Duke of Lancaster only it had been void for it should have been made in the Name of Henry the Fourth King of England And thus stood the Dutchy of Lancaster severed from the Crown all the Reign of Henry the Fourth Henry the Fifth and Henry the Sixth being politickly made for the upholding of the Dutchy of Lancaster their true and ancient Inheritance however the right Heir to the Crown might in future time obtain his right thereunto as it happened in King Edward the Fourth's time but after the said King Edward obtained his right unto the Crown in Parliament he attainted Henry the Sixth and appropriated and annexed the said Dutchy again to the Crown as by the Statute thereof made in the first of the King's Reign
his matys most honble privy Councell for England Ireland câ—â— The Right honble Iohn Earle of Bath Viscount â—renvile of Lonsdowne Baron Greenvile of Kilkhampton Bidiford L â— Warden of the Stanneries high Steward of the Dutchy of Cornwall Ld. Leivetenant of Cornwall Governour of Plymouth Groom of the Stoole first Gent. of his matys Bedchamber and one of his Ma â—â— privy Councell câ—t. The Right honble Charles Howard Earle of Carlisle Viscount Morpeth Baron Dacres of Gisland Lord Leivtenant of Cumberland and Westmorland Vice Admirall of the Coast of Northumberland Cumberland Westmoreland Bishoprick of Durham Towne and County of New castle and Maritin parts adjacent and one of the Lords of his Maties most honble privy Councell câ—t The Right honble William Earle of Craven Viscount Craven of Vffington Baron Craven of Hampsted-Marshall Lord Leivtenant of the County of Middâ—x and Borough of Southwark one of the Lords of his Mtys most honble privy Councell câ—t The Right honble Robert Bruce Earle of Alisbury Elgin Viscount Bruce of Ampthill Baron Bruce of Whorâ—â—on Skelton Kinloss Hereditary High Steward of the Honour of Ampâ—hiâ—â— Lord Leivtenant of the County of Bedford and High Steward of Leicester ct. The Right honble Richard Boyle Earle of Burlington Baron Clifford of Lansborow in Englandâ— Earle of Corke Viscount Dungarvan Baron Yaughalâ— and Lord High Trâ—asurer of Ireland â— â— The Right honble Henry Bennet Earle and Baron of Arlington Viscount Thetford Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord Chamberlaine of his matys Household and one of the Lords of his most honble Councel ct. The Right honble Anthony Earle of Shaâ—tesbury Baron Ashley of Wimbourne St. Giles and Lord Cooper of Pawleâ— The Right honble Henry Howard â—arle of Norwich Earle Marshall of England Baron Howard of Castle Riseing Now Duke of Norfolkâ— see in the Catalogue of Duâ—es The Right Honourable William Herbert Earle and Baron of Powis ◠〈◊〉 Right Honourable Edward Henry 〈◊〉 of Litchfield Viscount Quarenton â—â—d Baron Spilsbury The Rt. Noble Iohn Maitland Earle of Guilford and Baron of Petersham in England Duke of Latherdale Viscount Maitland Baron of Thirleston Miescleborougâ— and Bolton in Scotland Ld. Comissioner for his present Ma â—y of that Kingdome Kt. of the Garter Gentlemâ—â— of the Bedchamber and one of his matys most honble privy Councell for the Kingdomes of England Irelandâ— The Right honble Chaâ—les Fitz-Charles Earle of Plymouth Viscount Totnes and Baron Dartmouth The Right Honourable Thomas Osborne Earle of Danby Viscount Latimer Baron Osborne of Kiveton Viscount Osborne of Danblaine in Scotland Kt. of the most noble order of the Garter â— L d high Treasurer of Englandâ— ctâ— The Right Honourable George Fitz Roy Earle of Northumberland Viscount Falmouth and Baron Ponteâ—fract c a. The Right Honourable Thomas Leonard Earle of Sussex and Lord Dacres of Giles land c a. The R t Honourable Lovis Earle of Feversham Viscount Sondes Lord Duras Baron of Holdenby and Throwley Captaine of his Royall Highness Troop of his matys Guards Leivtenant Geneâ—rall of his Maties forces and Collonell of his matys owne Royall Regiment of Dragoons The Right Honourable Charles Beauclair Baron of Heddington and Earle of Burford The Right honble William Oâ—Brien Earle Baron of Insiâ—uin Baron of Burren in the Kingdome of Ireland Captaine Generall of his matys Forces in Affrica Gouernor of the Royoll Citty of Tanger vice Admirall of the same and of the parts adjacent and one of his Mat ys most honble privy Councell for the Sd. Kingdom of Ireland The Right Honourable Charles Moore Earle and Viscount of Drogheda and Baron of Mellefont in the Kingdom of Ireland c a. The Ri t honble Luke Plunkett Earle of Fingall and Baron of Killeene in the Kingdome of Ireland c a. The Rtâ— Honerable Sr. Arthur Chichester Kt Baron of Belfast Vist. Chichester of Carikfergus Earle of Donegall in ye. Kingdom of Ireland Gouernor of Carikfergus ye. Teritoryes Therâ—â—â—â— Belonging one of his mat ys Most Hoâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Councell for ye. S â— Kingdom The Rt. honble Iames Ogilby Earle of Airly Elight and Glentrahen in the Kingdome of Scotland c a. The Right Honourable Iohn Fitz Gerard Earle of Kildeare primier Earle of the Kingdome of Ireland c a. The Right Honourable William Pope Earle of Downe Baron and Lord Pope of Bellterbitt in Ireland c a. The Rt. honble Roger Palmer Earle of Castlemaine and Baron of Lamberick in the Kingdome of Ireland c a. OF EARLES CHAP. VI. THE next Degree of Honour is an Earl which Word and Title came from the Saxons For it is observed That originally within this Realm in the ancient English-Saxon Government Earldomes of Counties were not only Dignities of Honour but Offices of Justice having the charge and custody of the County whereof they were Earls and for their Assistance had their Deputy called Vicecomes which Office is now managed by Sheriffs each County having his Sheriff Annually chosen out of the eminent Inhabitants thereof under the Degree of Nobiles Majores And the Earls in recompence of their Travels concerning the Affairs of the County then received a Salary viz. a third peny of the Profits of the County which Custome continued a long time after the Conquest and was inserted as a Princely Benevolence in their Patents of Creation as by divers ancient Patents may appear which afterwards were turned into Pensions for the better support of that Honour as appeareth by a Book-Case 32 Hen. 6. 28. And therefore in respect of such Pensions or such other Gratuities given in lieu thereof some men have not without probability thereof imagined quod Comites nominabantur quia à multis fisci Regii socii Comites eidem participes essent The word Earl by the Saxons was called Erlig or Ethling by the Germans Graves as Lantgrave Palsgrave Margrave Rheingrave and the like and by the Dutch was called Eorle But upon the coming in of the Normans they were called Comes or Comites that is Counts and for Gravity in Council they are called Comes Illustris a Comitando Principem And as Earls for their Vertues and Heroical Qualities are reputed Princes or Companions for Princes so ought they to deport themselves answerable to the said Dignity as well in their Attendance and Noble House-keeping as otherwise The Dignity of Earl is of divers kinds and is either local or personal Local as from the denomination of some place and Personal as being in some great Office as Earl-Marshal and the like Those Local are also Palatine and Simplices Those that are Palatine or Count Palatine are Chester Lancaster and the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely and retain some of the ancient Priviledges allowed them by the Saxons Hugh Lupus who was the first Hereditary Earl had the County Palatine of Chester given him by the Conqueror who governed it
the former which is by lybelling secret slandering or defaming of others for this privy Backbiter doth not by words impeach his Adversary in so manifest and turbulent manner as the cholerick Menacer in his fury doth but seeming to sit quietly in his Study doth more deeply wound his Fame and Credit than the other boisterous person doth for he in a moment threatneth to do more than peradventure he is either able or hath courage to perform in all his life For his Passion thus discovering the Malice of his Heart doth give his Adversary warning to defend himself from him But this secret Canker the Libeller concealeth his Name hideth himself in a Corner and privily sâ—ingeth his Reputation and Credit and he knoweth not how to right himself and the greater is this Offence if done to a publick Magistrate or Minister of State for then it may bring a disturbance to the peace of the King and Kingdom And if it be against a private person the staining his Reputation will cause him not to be at quiet in Body and Mind until he hath found his Enemy which many times may lie so secretly hid that he cannot be discovered and then probably one innocent upon some suspicion or other may come to suffer for it Sometimes the malicious Defamer poureth forth his poyson in writing by a Scandalous Book Ballad Epigram or Rhime near the place where the party so abused doth most converse In which cases the Law hath provided that the party delinquent when he is found out and discovered shall be severely punished for he may either be Indicted by the ordinary Course of the Common Law and if it be an exorbitant Offence then by Pillory loss of Ears Whipping c. or the party grieved may have an Action upon the Case against the Offender and recover his Damages And in this it is not material whether the Libel be true or false or the party scandalized be alive or dead or be of a good or ill Name yet our Laws are so made as to punnish him and such like men by a due Course of Justice And to conclude this matter concerning Wrongs done to the Name and Dignity of a Nobleman this may be added That it is usual for any person to usurp the Arms of another Further if a Nobleman's Coat-Armour and Sword of other Gentleman 's bearing Arms at the solemnizing of their Funerals is set up in the Church for the Honour of the deceased and is by the covetousness of the Incumbent that pretendeth right thereunto as Offerings due unto him afterwards taken down or if they be defaced by any other such are to be severely punished as Malefactors And in that case the Action shall not be given to the Widow though she be Executrix or Administratrix of her Husband's Goods for such things which serve for the Honour of the party deceased are not to be accounted inter bona Testatoris And the Heir shall have his Action as the Defender of his Ancestor's Honour But the wrong is offered to the House and Blood and therein specially to the Heir qui est totius geniturae splendor and therefore to him accrueth the right of Action for so it is reported by Sir Iohn Fern in his Glory of Generosity fol. 83. that the Lady Withers Case in 9 Edw. 4. 14. hath been adjudged OF VISCOUNTS CHAP. VII THE next Degree of Honour to an Earl is a Viscount which was anciently a Name of Office under an Earl who being an immediate Officer of the King 's in their County for that their personal attendance was oft-times required at the Court had his Deputy to look after the Affairs of the County which at this day is an Office and called a Sheriff retaining the Name of his Substitution in Latin therefore called Vicecomes But about the Eighteenth of Henry the Sixth it became a Degree of Honour who conferred this Title upon Iohn Lord Beaumont by Letters Patent A Viscount is created by Patent as an Earl hath a Hood Surcoat and Mantle which hath on it two Guards and a half of white plain Furr without Ermins And his Coronet is only pearled with a row of Pearls close to the Chaplet He hath the Title of the Right Honourable and truly Noble or Potent Lord He may have a Taveress in his own House and his Viscountess may have her Train born up by a Woman out of her Superior's presence and in their presence by a Man The Effigies of the Right honble Thomas Belasise viscount Falconbergh of Henknowle Baron Falconbergh of Yarum Ld. Leiuetenant of the North rideing of York shire And one of ye. Lords of his maties most honble Priuy Councell ct R. Whiâ—â— sculp The Rt. Honourable George Sauile Viscount Halifax Baron Sauile The Rt. Honourable Robert Paston Viscounâ— Yarmouth Baron Paston of Paston The Rt. Honourable Francis Viscount Nervport â—f Bradford Baron Nervport of High Ercâ—ll Ld. Leutenant of ye. County of Salop. Treasurer of his matys Household one of ye. Lds of his matys most honble Privy Councell The Rt. Honâ—rblâ— Thomaâ— Needham Lâ—rd Viscount Killmurrâ—y of the Kingdome of Ireland The Rt. Honorable Wiâ—liam Viscount Brouncker of Lyonâ— and Baron Brouncker of Nâ—â— Castle in the Kingdome of Ireland a. The R t Honâ—rable Charles Ld. Fairfax Viscount Emula in the Kingdome of Ireland The Rt. Honorable Maurice Berkeleyâ— Baron Beckeley of Rathdowne Viscount Fitz Harding of â—ear hauen in the Kingdome of Ireland The Right Honourable Leicester Devoreux Viscount Hereford and Baron Ferrers of Chartley. The Right Honourable Francis Browne Viscount Montague The Right Honourable William Finnâ—â— Viscount and Baron Say and Seale The Right honble Edward Viscount Conway Barâ—n of Ragley in England and Viscount of Kilultagh in Ireland Leivetenant Generall of the Horse and one of the Lords of his Majestys moâ—t honble privy for the said Kinâ—dome of Ireland The Rt. Honourable Baptist Noel Viscounâ— Baron Noel of Ridlington and Elmington And Lord Leiutenant of Rutlandshire The Right Honourable William Howard Viscount and Baron Stafford The Rt. Honourable Thomas Bellasisâ—â— Viscount Folconbergh of Henknowle 〈◊〉 Falconbergh of Yarum Lord Leivtenant of North rideing of Yorkeshire one of the Ldâ— of his 〈◊〉 Most honble Priuy Councell â—he Rt. Honourable Iohn Mordant 〈…〉 Mordant of Aveland and Baron of Rygate The most Reverend Father in god Gilbert Sheldon by Divine Providence Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate Metropolitan of all England one of yâ— Lords of his matys most honble privy Councell The most Reverend Father in God Richard Sterne by Divine Prouidence Lord Arch-Bishop of Yorke Primate and Metropolitane of England c a. The Right Reverend Father in god Humfrey Hinchman by Divine permission Lord Bishop of London Grand Almoner to his Maty one of the Lords of his matys most honble privy Councell c a. The Right Reverend Father in God Seth by Diuine permission Lord Bisshop of sarum Chancellor
Viscount 3 Sir Thomas Mauncell of Mergan in Glamorganshire Kt. 4 George Shirley of Staunton in Leicestershire Esq 5 Sir Iohn Stradling of St. Donates in Glamorganshire Kt. 6 Sir Francis Leeke of Sutton in Derbyshire Kt. now English Earl 7 Thomas Pelham of Laughton in Sussex Esq 8 Sir Richard Houghton of Houghton-Tower in Lancashire Kt. 9 Sir Henry Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk Kt. Attorney General to the King 10 Sir George Booth of Dunham-Massey in Cheshire Kt. now English Baron 11 Sir Iohn Peyton of Isleham in Cambridgeshire Kt. Extinct 12 Lionel Talmache of Helmingham in Suffolk Esq 13 Sir Gervase Clifton of Clifton in Nottinghamshire Knight of the Bath 14 Sir Thomas Gerard of Bryn in Lancashire Kt. 15 Sir Walter Aston of Tixhall in Staffordshire Kt. of the Bath since a Baron of Scotland 16 Philip Nevet of Buckenham in Norfolk Esq Extinct 17 Sir Iohn St. Iohn of Lidiard-Tregoz in Wiltshire Kt. 18 Iohn Shelley of Michelgrove in Sussex Esq Iune 29. 1611. 9 Iacobi 19 Sir Iohn Savage of Rock-Savage in Cheshire now English Earl 20 Sir Francis Barington of Barington-hall in Essex Kt. 21 Henry Berkley of Wimundham in Leicestershire Esq Extinct 22 William Wentworth of Wentworth-wood-house in Yorkshire English Earl 23 Sir Richard Musgrave of Hartley-Castle in Westmoreland Kt. 24 Edward Seymour of Bury-Pomeray in Devonshire Esq 25 Sir Moyle Finch of Eastwell in Kent Kt. now English Earl 26 Sir Anthony Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire Kt. 27 Sir Thomas Mounson of Carleton in Lincolnshire Kt. 28 George Gresly of Drakedow in Derbyshire Esq 29 Paul Tracy of Stanway in Glocestershire Esq 30 Sir Iohn Wentworth of Coffield in Essex Kt. 31 Sir Henry Bellasis of Newborough in Yorkshire Kt. now Viscount Faulconberg in England 32 William Constable of Flamborough in Yorkshire Esq 33 Sir Thomas Leigh of Stoneley in Warwickshire Kt. since English Baron 34 Sir Edward Noel of Brook in Rutlandshire Kt. now Viscount Cambden in England 35 Sir Robert Cotton of Conington in Huntingtonshire Kt. 36 Robert Cholmondleigh of Cholmondleigh in Cheshire Esq since Earl of Lempster Extinct 37 Iohn Molineux of Taversal in Nottinghamshire Esq 38 Sir Francis Wortley of Wortley in Yorkshire Kt. 39 Sir George Savile Senior Thornhill in Yorkshire Kt. now Viscount Halifax in England 40 William Kniveton of Mircaston in Derbyshire Esq 41 Sir Philip Woodhouse of Wilberly-hall in Norfolk Kt. 42 Sir William Pope of Wilcot in Oxfordshire Kt. now Earl of Down in Ireland 43 Sir Iames Harington of Ridlington in Rutlandshire Kt. 44 Sir Henry Savile of Metheley in Yorkshire Kt. Extinct 45 Henry Willoughby of Risley in Derbyshire Esq Extinct 46 Lewes Tresham of Rushton in Northamptonshire Esq Extinct 47 Thomas Brudenell of Dean in Northamptonshire Esq now Earl of Cardigan in England 48 Sir George St. Paul of Snarsford in Lincolnshire Kt. Extinct 49 Sir Philip Tirwhit of Stainfield in Lincolnshire Kt. 50 Sir Roger Dalison of Loughton in Lincolnshire Kt. Extinct 51 Sir Edward Carre of Sleford in Lincolnshire Kt. 52 Sir Edward Hussey of Henington in Lincolnshire Kt. 53 L'Estrange Mordant of Massinghamparva in Norfolk Esq 54 Thomas Bendish of Steeple-Bemsted in Essex Esq 55 Sir Iohn Wynne of Gwidder in Carnarvanshire Kt. 56 Sir William Throckmorton of Tortworth in Glocestershire Kt. 57 Sir Richard Worsley of Apledercombe in Hantshire Kt. 58 Sir Richard Fleetwood of Calwiche in Stafforshire Kt. 59 Thomas Spencer of Yarnton in Oxfordshire Esq 60 Sir Iohn Tufton of Hothfield in Kent Kt. 61 Sir Samuel Peyton of Knowlton in Kent Kt. 62 Sir Charles Morrison of Caishobury in Hartfordshire Kt. Extinct 63 Sir Henry Baker of Sissinghurst in Kent Kt. 64 Roger Apleton of South-Bemsted in Essex Esq 65 Sir William Sidley of Ailesford and Southfleet in Kent Kt. 66 Sir William Twisden of Royden-hall in East-Peckham in Kent Kt. 67 Sir Edward Hales of Woodchurch and now of Tunstall in Kent Kt. 68 William Monins of Waldersher in Kent Esq 69 Thomas Mildway of Mulsham in Essex Esq 70 Sir William Maynard of Eastanes or Easton parva in Essex Kt. now English Baron 71 Henry Lee of Quarendon in Buckinghamshire Esq now Earl of Litchfield in England Anno 1612. Nov. 25. 72 Sir Iohn Portman of Orchard in Somersetshire Kt. 73 Sir Nicholas Saunderson of Saxby in Lincolnshire Kt. now Viscount Castleton in Ireland 74 Sir Miles Sandys of Wimbleton in the Isle of Ely Kt. 75 William Gostwick of Willington in Bedfordshire Esq 76 Thomas Puckering of Weston in Hartfordshire Esq Extinct 77 Sir William Wray of Glentworth in Lincolnshire Kt. 78 Sir William Aylofte of Braxsted magna in Essex Kt. Nov. 25. 1612. 79 Sir Marmaduke Wivell of Constable-Burton in Yorkshire Kt. 80 Iohn Penshall of Horsley in Staffordshire Esq 81 Francis Englesfield of Wotton-Basset in Wiltshire Esq 82 Sir Thomas Ridgeway of Torre in Devonshire Kt. now Earl of Londonderry in Ireland 83 William Essex of Bewcott in Berkshire Esq 84 Sir Edward Gorges of Langford in Wiltshire Kt. since a Baron of Ireland 85 Edward Devereux of Castle-Bromwich in Warwickshire Esq now Viscount Hereford in England 86 Reginal Mohun of Buckonnock in Cornwal Esq since an English Baron 87 Sir Harbottle Grimston of Bradfield in Essex Kt. 88 Sir Thomas Holt of Aston juxta Burmingham in Warwickshire Kt. Sept. 24. 1612. 89 Sir Robert Naper aliàs Sandy of Lewton-How in Bedfordshire Kt. 90 Paul Banning of Bentley parva in Essex since Viscount in England Extinct 91 Sir Richard Temple of Stow in Buckinghamshire Kt. 92 Thomas Penystone of Leigh in Sussex Esq 93 May 27. 1615. Thomas Blackstone of Blackstone in the Bishoprick of Durham Esq 94 Iune 10. Sir Robert Dormer of Wing in Bucks Kt. since Earl of Carnarvan 95 April 5. 1617. Sir Rowland Egerton of Egerton in Cheshire Kt. 96 April 16. Roger Townsend of Rainham in Norfolk Esq now an English Baron 97 May 1. Simon Clark of Salford in Warwickshire Esq 98 Oct. 2. Edward Fitton of Houseworth in Cheshire Esq Extinct 99 March 11. Sir Richard Lucy of Broxburne in Hertfordshire Kt. now enjoyed by Sir Kingsmill Lucy of Facombe in Hantshire 100 May 25. 1618. Sir Matthew Boynton of Bramston in Yorkshire Kt. 101 Iuly 25. Thomas Littleton of Frankley in Worcestershire Esq 102 Dec. 24. Sir Francis Leigh of Newnham in Warwickshire Kt. an English Earl Extinct 103 Feb. 25. Thomas Burdet of Bramcote in Warwickshire Esq 104 March 1. George Morton of St. Andrews Milborn in Dorsetshire Esq 105 May 31. 1619. Sir William Hervey of Kidbrook in Essex Kt. since a Baron of England and Ireland now Extinct 106 Iune 4. Thomas Mackworth of Normanton in Rutlandshire Esq 107 15. William Grey of Chillingham in Northumberland Esq now Baron Warke in England 108 Iuly 19. William Villiers of Brooksby in Leicestershire Esq 109 Iuly 20. Sir Iames Ley of Westbury in Wiltshire Kt. since Earl of Marlborough in England 110 21. William Hicks of Beverston in Glocestershire Esq 111 Sept. 17. Sir Thomas Beaumont of Coleorton
in Leicestershire Kt. since a Viscout of Ireland 112 Nov. 10. Henry Salisbury of Leweney in Denbeighshire Esq 113 16. Erasmus Driden of Canons-Ashby in Northamptonshire Esq 114 28. William Armine of Osgodby in Lincolnshire Esq 115 Dec. 1. Sir William Bambury of Howton in Yorkshire Kt. Extinct 116 3. Edward Hartop of Freathby in Leicestershire Esq. 117 31. Iohn Mill of Canons-Court in Sussex Esq 118 Ian. 31. Francis Ratcliff of Darent-water in Cumberland Esq 119 Feb. 6. Sir David Foulis of Ingleby-mannour in Yorkshire Kt. 120 16. Thomas Phillips of Barington in Somersetshire Esq 121 Mar. 7. Sir Claudius Forster of Bramburgh-Castle in Northumberland Kt. 122 23. Anthony Chester of Chickley in Buckinghamshire Esq 123 28. 1620. Sir Samuel Tryon of Laire-Marney in Essex Kt. 124 April 2. Adam Newton of Charlton in Kent Esq 125 12. Sir Iohn Boteler of Hatfield-Woodhall in Hartfordshire Kt. since a Baron of England 126 13. Gilbert Gerrard of Harrow-hill in Middlesex Esq 127 May 3. Humphrey Lee of Langley in Shropshire Esq 128 5. Richard Berney of Park-hall in Redham in Norfolk Esq 129 20. Humphrey Forster of Aldermaston in Berkshire Esq 130 29. Thomas Bigs of Lenchwick in Worcestershire Esq Extinct 131 30. Henry Bellingham of Helsington in Westmoreland Esq Extinct 132 31. William Yelverton of Rougham in Norfolk Esq 133 Iune 1. Iune Scudamore of Holm-Lacy in Herefordshire Esq now an Irish Viscount 134 2. Sir Thomas Gore of Stitnam in Yorkshire Kt. 135 22. Iohn Packington of Alisbury in Buckinghamshire Esq 136 28. Ralph Ashton of Lever in Lancashire Esq 137 Iuly 1. Sir Baptist Hicks of Camden in Glocestershire Kt. now Viscount Camden in England 138 Iuly 3. Sir Thomas Roberts of Glassenbury in Kent Kt. 139 8. Iohn Hanmer of Hanmer in Flintshire Esq 140 8. Edward Fryer of Water-Eaton in Oxfordshire Esq Extinct 141 13. Edward Osborn of Keeton in Yorkshire now Earl of Danby in England 142 20. Henry Felton of Playford in Suffolk Esq 143 20. William Challoner of Gisborow in Yorkshire Esq 144 24. Sir Thomas Bishop of Parham in Sussex Kt. 145 26. Sir Francis Vincent of Stoke d' Abernon in Surrey Kt. 146 Feb. 27. Henry Clere of Ormsby in Norfolk Esq 147 March 8. Sir Benjamin Titchborne of Titchborne in Hantshire Kt. 148 May 5. 1621. Sir Richard Wilbraham of VVoodhey in Cheshire Kt. 149 8. Sir Thomas Delves of Duddington in Cheshire Kt. 150 Iune 23. Sir Lewes VVatson of Rockingham-Castle in Northamptonshire Kt. since an English Baron 151 29. Sir Thomas Palmer of VVingham in Kent Kt. 152 Iuly 3. Sir Richard Roberts of Truro in Cornwall Kt. now Baron Truro 153 19. Iohn Rivers of Chafford in Kent Esq 154 Sept. 6. Thomas Darnell of Heyling in Lincolnshire Esq 155 14. Sir Isaac Sidley of Great Chart in Kent Kt. 156 21. Robert Brown of VValcot in Northamptonshire Esq 157 Oct. 11. Iohn Hewit of Headley-hall in Yorkshire Esq 158 16. Henry Iernegan of Cossey in Norfolk Esq 159 Nov. 8. Sir Nicholas Hide of Albury in Hertfordshire Kt. Extinct 160 9. Iohn Phillips of Picton in Pembrokeshire Esq 161 24. Sir Iohn Stepney of Prendergast in Pembrokeshire Kt. 162 Dec. 5. Baldwin VVake of Clevedon in Somersetshire Esq 163 20. VVilliam Masham of High-Laver in Essex Esq 164 21. Iohn Colebrond of Bocham in Sussex Esq 165 Ian. 4. Sir Iohn Hotham of Scarborough in Yorkshire Kt. 166 14. Francis Mansell of Mudlescomb in Carmarthenshire Esq 167 18. Edward Powel of Penkelley in Herefordshire Esq Extinct 168 Feb. 16. Sir Iohn Gerrard or Garrard of Lamer in Hartfordshire Kt. 169 23. Sir Richard Grosvenour of Eaton in Cheshire Kt. 170 Mar. 11. Sir Henry Moody of Garesdon in VViltshire Kt. Extinct 171 17. Iohn Barker of Grimston-hall in Trimley in Suffolk Esq 172 18. Sir VVilliam Button of Alton in Wiltshire Kt. 173 26. 1622. Iohn Gage of Ferle in Sussex Esq 174 May 14. VVilliam Goreâ—â—g of Burton in Sussex Esq 175 18. Peter Courteen of Aldington in VVorcestershire Esq Extinct 176 23. Sir Richard Norton of Rotherfield in Hantshire Kt. 177 30. Sir Iohn Laventhorp of Shingle-hall in Hertfordshire Kt. 178 Iune 3. Capell Bedell of Hamerton in Huntingtonshire Esq Extinct 179 13. Iohn Darell of VVestwoodhey in Berkshire Esq 180 15. VVilliam VVilliams of Veynol in Carnarvanshire Esq 181 18. Sir Francis Ashby of Hatfield in Middlesex Kt. 182 Iuly 3. Sir Anthony Ashley of St. Giles-VVinborne in Dorsetshire Kt. Extinct 183 4. Iohn Cooper of Rochbourn in Hantshire Esq now Earl of Shaftsbury in England 184 17. Edmund Prideaux of Netherton in Devonshire Esq 185 21. Sir Thomas Haselrigg of Nousley in Leicestershire Kt. 186 22. Sir Thomas Burton of Stockerston in Leicestershire Kt. 187 24. Francis Foliamb of VValton in Derbyshire Esq Extinct 188 30. Edward Yate of Buckland in Berkshire Esq 189 Aug. 1. George Chudleigh of Ashton in Devonshire Esq 190 2. Francis Drake of Buckland in Devonshire Esq 191 13. VVilliam Meredith of Stansly in Deubighshire Esq 192 Oct. 22. Hugh Middleton of Ruthin in Deubighshire Esq 193 Nov. 12. Gifford Thornhurst of Agne-Court in Kent Esq 194 16. Percy Herbert ofâ— Redcastle in Montgomeryshire Esq 195 Dec. 7. Sir Robert Fisher of Packington in VVarwickshire Kt. 196 18. Hardolph VVastneys of Headon in Nottinghamshire Esq 197 20. Sir Henry Skipwith of Prestwould in Lincolnshire Kt. 198 22. Thomas Harris or Herris of Boreatton in Shropshire Esq 199 23. Nicholas Tempest of Stella in the Bishoprick of Durham Esq 200 Feb. 16. Francis Cottington of Hanworth in Middlesex Esq since an English Baron and now Extinct 201 April 12. 1623. Thomas Harris of Tong-Castle in Shropshire Esq Extinct 202 Iune 28. Edward Barkham of South-acre in Norfolk Esq 203 Iuly 4. Iohn Corbet of Sprouston in Norfolk Esq 204 Aug. 13. Sir Thomas Playters of Sotterley in Suffolk Kt. Baronets according to their Creations by King Charles the First 205 Iuly 27. 1626. Sir Iohn Ashfield of Netherhall in Suffolk Kt. 206 Sept. 8. Henry Harpur of Calke in Derbyshire Esq 207 Dec. 20. Edward Seabright of Besford in Worcestershire Esq 208 Ian. 29. Iohn Beaumont of Grace-dieu in Leicestershire Esq Extinct 209 Feb. 1. Sir Edward Dering of Surrenden-Dering in Kent Kt. 210 5. George Kempe of Pentlone in Essex Esq 211 Mar. 10. William Brereton of Hanford in Cheshire Esq 212 12. Patricius Curwen of Workinton in Cumberland Esq Extinct 213 William Russel of Witley in Worcestershire Esq 214 14. Iohn Spencer of Offley in Hartfordshire Esq 215 17. Sir Giles Estcourt of Newton in Wiltshire Kt. 216 Apr. 19. 1627. Thomas Aylesbury Esq one of the Masters of Requests Extinct 217 21. Thomas Style of Waterinbury in Kent Esq 218 May 4. Frederick Cornwallis of in Suffolk Esq 219 7. Drue Drury of 〈◊〉 in Norfolk Esq 220 8. William Skeffington of Fisherwick in Staffordshire Esq 221 11. Sir Robert Crane of Chilton in Suffolk Kt. Extinct 222 17. Anthony Wingfield of Goodwins in Suffolk Esq 223 17. William Culpeper of Preston-hall in
c. and the Commodities by them â—mported are Deals Masts Timber Oars Balks Clapboards Bom-spars Cant-spars Pipe-staves Wainscot and Quarters Flax Hemp Linen-cloth Fustians Cordage Cable-yarn Pitch Tarr Tallow Hides Pot-ashes Wheat Rye Iron Lattin Copper Steel Wire Quicksilver rich Furrs Buck-skins Train-oyl Sturgeon Stock-fish Mather with several other good Commodities For the management of the Affairs of this worshipful Company they are governed by a Governour Deputy-Governour and Court of Assistants consisting of four and twenty who are yearly elected out of the Members of the said Society in the month of October and keep their Courts for the management of the concerns of the said Company as others do having also large Immunities granted unto them The present Governour for this Year 1678. is Sir Richard Chiverton Kt. Governour Francis Asty Esq Deputy-Governour Randolph Knipe Treasurer Sir Benjamin Ayloffe Edward Bilton Senior Esq Iohn Dogget Esq Nathaniel Tench Esq Peter Rich Esq Mr. Thomas Canham Mr. Henry Moody Mr. Edw. Bilton Junior Mr. Samuel Feake Mr. William Rivett Mr. Hugh Vpton Mr. William Nutt Mr. William Cooper Mr. Iohn Mathews Mr. Oliver Westland Mr. Edward Harwell Mr. Abraham Wessel Mr. Ioseph Martin Mr. Thomas Philpe Mr. Thomas Warren Mr. William Taylor and Mr. Iohn Sayer Assistants The Royal Affrican Company of England was by his Majesties great prudence and care for the general good of this Nation and of his Foreign Dominions and Plantations erected into a Company and is likely to prove the most beneficial Trade that belongs to his Crown as well by the Commodities Exported and Imported as by the Negro Trade The Goods of English growth Exported are Sayes Perpetuances Broad-clothes Welsh-plains and other Woollen Manufactures in great abundance besides quantities of other English Goods and Stuffs the large consumption whereof doth not only enable the Tenant the better to pay his Rent and maintain his Family but also sets many thousands of poor people at work in making dying and dressing of these Stuffs and Clothes And together with these Goods of English growth are also sent vast quantities of Foreign Goods chiefly imported by our East-India Company by which his Majesties Customes the wealth of his People and the Navigation of this Kingdom are much encreased The Foreign Commodities Imported are Gold Elephants-teeth Wax Hides and other Commodities almost all as good as gold And as to the benefit of the Negro Trade it is such that by it all the American Plantations are yearly furnished with great quantities of Slaves not elsewhere to be had by whose labour and the Planters industry the King and his People are very much enriched The bounds of this Companies Trade are large viz. from Sally in South-Barbary to Cape Bona Esperanza inclusive The Voyage out and home is short usually within the compass of a year Many ships and seamen are constantly employed in the Companies Service who for the securing their Trade have at a very great expence erected several Forts and Factories all along the Coast of Guiny without which the Trade cannot possibly be preserved to this Nation and for that very reason this Trade cannot be managed but by a Company and a joynt Stock for no private person will undergo the Charge of Forts and Factories abroad besides such as Venture one Voyage and perhaps no more do usually consult the cheapest way in their Exports and will not have that care to send so good and merchantable Commodities as a Company who are constantly to trade thither will who are obliged so to do as well for supporting the credit of their trade as for bringing our English Manufactures into a better reputation than those of our Neighbours which this Company hath really effected in several Commodities formerly bought in Holland as Sayes Muskets Knives c. being now all Exported of our own make And of this difference in and between the Commodities send by the Company and those sent by private Traders the Natives of Guiny who are a sagacious people are very sensible by the ill-dealings they have met with in that kind from some private Traders which hath been a thing very disadvantageous to our English Manufactures and Trade but these miâ—chiefs have been removed ever since his Majesties settling the Trade in a Company with prohibition to all such interloping Traders This Company consisteth of a Governour who is his Royal Highness Iames Duke of York the very life of the said Company under his Sacred Majesty a Sub-Governour Deputy-Governour and a generality mixt of divers Noblemen honourable Persons and eminent Merchants to the number of about two hundred out of which are Annually chosen by Vote at a general Court four and twenty Assistants of whom any six with the Governour Sub-Governour or Deputy-Governour make a Court which by their Charter dated Sept. 27. 1672. is called a Court of Assistants and impowered for the well ordering and governing of the Affairs of the said Company subject nevertheless to a general Court when occasion requireth The management of the Affairs of this Honourable Company for this Year 1678. is committed to the prudent care and government of his Royal Highness Governour Sir Gabriel Roberts Sub-Governour Benjamin Newland Esq Deputy-Governour Twenty four Assistants viz. Sir Iohn Banks Knight and Baronet Sir Thomas Bludworth Knight and Alderman Mr. Benjamin Bathurst William Earl of Craven Sir Peter Colleton Knight and Baronet Mr. Roger Chappel Mr. Samuel Dashwood Thomas Lord Viscount Fauconberg Edward Hopegood Esq Mr. Peter Ioy Sir Andrew King Mr. Iohn Mead Sir Iohn Mathews Mr. Nicholas Mead Mr. Thomas Nichols Lawrence du Puy Esq Mr. Peter Proby William Roberts Esq Mr. Edward Rudge Col. Iohn Searle Mr. Benjamin Skutt Sir William Turner Knight and Alderman Mr. Thomas Vernon Mr. William Warren The Coat of Arms and Motto belonging to this Company is also depicted in the Plate of Arms of the Companies of Merchants This worshipful Company as indeed all others are is governed by a Master Wardens and Court of Assistants Thus having briefly treated of the City of London the Metropolis of the Kingdom with some of the chief Incorporated Companies our next business shall be to treat of the Cities in England with the principal places or Shire-Towns in every County CHAP. II. Treats of the Cities of England with the Shire or chief Town Corporate in each County and first with Berkshire ELY a City of more antiquity than beauty being but meanly built nor well inhabited or frequented and would be farr less were it not the See of a Bishop It is a place that enjoyeth ample Immunities for in the Isle of Ely the Bishop hath all the Rights of a County Palatine and beareth chief sway therein and appointeth his Bailiff and other Officers WELLS another City in Somersetshire of no large extent but well inhabited and of good account being the See of a Bishop under whose Jurisdiction is that of Bath Its buildings are fair and good its Cathedral a stately Pile of building adjoyning to which