the Nobility or Bishops is made choice of by the Three States assembled in the name of the Infant King who by Nature or Alliance hath most Interest in the preservation of the Life and Authority of the Infant and to whom least benefit can accrue by his Death or Diminution as the Uncle by the Mothers side if the Crown come by the Father and so vice versa is made Protector so during the minority of Edward 6. his Uncle by the Mothers side the Duke of Somerset had the tuition of him and was called Protector and when this Rule hath not been observed as in the minority of Edw. 5. it hath proved of ill consequence If the King of England be Non compos mentis or by reason of an incurable disease weakness or old age become uncapable of governing then is made a Regent Protector or Guardian to govern King Edward 3. being at last aged sick and weak and by grief for the death of the Black Prince sore broken in body and mind did of his own will create his fourth Son John Duke of Lancaster Guardian or Regent of England If the King be absent upon any Foreign Expedition or otherwise which antiently was very usual the Custom was to constitute a Vice-gerent by Commission under the Great Seal giving him several Titles and Powers according as the necessity of affairs have required sometimes he hath been called Lord Warden or Lord of the Kingdom and therewith hath had the general power of a King as was practised during the Absence of Edward the First Second and Third and of Henry 5. but Henry 6. to the Title of Warden or Guardian added the Stile of Protector of the Kingdom and of the Church of England and gave him so great power in his absence that he was tantum non Rex swaying the Scepter but not wearing the Crown executing Laws summoning Parliaments under his own Teste as King and giving his assent to Bills in Parliament whereby they became as binding as any other Acts. Sometimes during the Kings Absence the Kingdom hath been committed to the care of several Noblemen and sometime of Bishops as less dangerous for attempting any usurpation of the Crown sometimes to one Bishop as Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury was Viceroy of England for many years and when Edward 3. was in Flanders though his Son then but nine years old had the Name of Protector John Stafford Archbishop of Canterbury was Governour both of the Kings Son and of the Realm Lastly Sometimes to the Queen as two several times during the absence of Henry 8. in France Of the QUEEN of ENGLAND THe Queen so called from the Saxon Konigin whereof the last syllable is pronounced as gheen in English it being not unusual to cut off the first Syllables as an Almes-House is sometimes called a Spital from Hospital She hath as high Prerogatives Dignity and State during the life of the King as any Queen of Europe From the Saxon times the Queen Consort of England though she be an Alien born and though during the life of the King she be femme covert as our Law speaks yet without any Act of Parliament for Naturalization or Letters Paâ—ents for Denization she may purchase Lands in Feesimple make Leases and Grants in her own Name without the King hath power to give to sue to contract as a femme sole may receive by gift from her Husband which no other femme â—overt may do Had anciently a Revenue of Queen Gold or Aurum Reginae as the Records call it which was the tenth part of so much as by the Name of Oblata upon Pardons Gifts and Grants c. came to the King Of later times hath had as large a Dower as any Queen in Christendome hath her Royal Court apart her Courts and Officers c. The Queen may not be impleaded till first petitioned shall not be amerced if she be nonsuited as all other Subjects are if she be Plaintiff the Summons in the Process need not have the solemnity of 15 dayes c. Is reputed the Second Person in the Kingdom The Law setteth so high a value upon her as to make it High Treason to conspire her death or to violate her Chastity Her Officers as Attourney and Sollicitor for the Queens sake have respect above others and place within the Barre with the Kings Council The like honour the like reverence and respect that is due to the King is exhibited to the Queen both by Subjects and Foreigners and also to the Queen Dowager or Widdow Queen who also above other Subjects loseth not her Dignity though she should marry a private Gentleman so Queen Katharine Widdow to King Henry the Fifth being married to Owen ap Theodore Esquire did maintain her Action as Queen of England much less doth a Queen by inheritance or a Queen Soveraign of England follow her Husbands condition nor is subject as other Queens but Soveraign to her own Husband as Queen Mary was to King Philip. Of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of ENGLAND THe Children of the King of England are called the Sons and Daughters of England because all the subjects of England have a special interest in them though the whole power of Education Marriage and disposing of them is only in the King The Eldest Son of the King is born Duke of Cornwall and as to that Dutchy and all the Lands Honours Rents and great Revenues belonging thereunto he is upon his Birth-day persumed and by law taken to be of full age so that he may that day sue for the Livery of the said Dukedom and ought of right to obtain the same as if he had been full 21 years of age Afterwards he is created Prince of Wales whose Investiture is performed by the Imposition of a Cap of Estate and Coronet on his Head as a Token of Principality and putting into his Hand a Verge of Gold the Emblem of Government and a Ring of Gold on hs Finger to intimate that he must be a Husband to his Countrey and Father to her Children Also to him is given and granted Letters Patents to hold the said Principality to him and his Heirs Kings of England by which words the separation of this Principality is prohibited From the day of his Birth he is commonly stiled the Prince a Title in England given to no other Subject The Title of Prince of Wales is ancient and was first given by King Edward 1. to his Eldest Son for the Welsh Nation till that time unwilling to submit to the yoke of strangers that King so ordered that his Queen was delivered of her first Child in Caernarvan Castle in Wales and then demanded of the Welsh If they would be content to subject themselves to one of their own Nation that could not speak one word of English and against whose life they could take no just exception Whereunto they readily consenting the King nominated this his new born Son and afterwards created
him Prince of Wales and bestowed on him all the Lands Honours and Revenues belonging to the said Principality The Prince hath ever since been stiled Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitaine and Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Flint which Earldomes are alwayes conferred upon him by his Patent since the Union of England and Scotland his Title hath been Magnae Britanniae Princeps but more ordinarily the Prince of Wales As Eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth The King of Englands Eldest Son so long as Normandy remained in their hands was alwayes stiled Duke of Normandy Antiently the Princes of Wales whilest they were Soveraigns bare quarterly Gules and Or 4 Lyons passant gardant counterchanged The Arms of the Prince of Wales differ from those of the King only by addition of a Labell of three points and the Device of the Prince is a Coronet beautified with three Ostrich Feathers inscribed with Ich dien which in the German or old Saxon Tongue is I serve alluding perhaps to that in the Gospel The Heir whilest his Father liveth differeth not from a Servant This Device was born at the Battel of Cressy by John King of Bohcmia as serving there under the King of the French and there slain by Edward the Black Prince and since worn by the Princes of Wales and by the Vulgar called the Princes Arms. The Prince by our Law is reputed as the same Person with the King and so declared by a Statute of Henry 8. Corruscat enim Princeps say our Lawyers radiis Regis Patris sui censetur una persona cum ipso And the Civilians say the Kings Eldest Son may be stiled a King He hath certain Priviledges above other Persons To imagine the death of the Prince to violate the Wife of the Prince is made High Treason Hath heretofore had priviledge of having a Purveyor and taking Purveyance as the King To retain and qualifie as many Chaplains as he shall please To the Prince at the Age of 15 is due a certain Aid of Moneys from all the Kings Tenants and all that hold of him in Capite by Knight Service and Free Socage to make him a Knight Yet as the Prince in nature is a distinct person from the King so in Law also in some cases He is a Subject holdeth his Principalities and Seignories of the King giveth the same respect to the King as other Subjects do The Revenues belonging to the Prince since much of the Lands and Demesnes of that Dutchy have been aliened are especially out of the Tinne Mines in Cornwall which with all other profits of that Dutchy amount yearly to the summe of The Revenues of the Principality of Wales surveyed 200 years ago was above 4680 l. yearly a rich Estate according to the value of Money in those dayes At present his whole Revenues may amount to Till the Prince come to be 14 years old all things belonging to the Principality oâ— Wales were wont to be disposed of by Commissioners consisting of some principal Persons of the Clergy and Nobility The Cadets or younger Son of England are created noâ— born Dukes or Earls of what Places or Titles the King pleaseth They have no certain Appanages as in France but onely what the good pleasure of the King bestows upon them All the Kings Sons are Consilii nati by Birth-right Counsellors of State that so they may grow up in the weighty affairs of the Kingdom The Daughters of England are stiled Princesse the eldest of which have an Aid or certain rate of Money paid by every Tenant in Capite Knight Service and Soccage towards her Dowry or Marriage Portion To all the Kings Children belong the Title of Royal Highness All Subjects are to be uncovered in their presence to kneel when they are admitted to kiss their hands and at Table they are out of the Kings Presence served on the Knee The Children the Brothers and Sisters of the King if Plaintiffs the summons in the Process need not have the solemnity of 15 dayes as in Case of other Subjects The Natural or Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the King after they are acknowledged by the King take precedence of all the Nobles under those of the Blood Royal. They bear what Surname the King pleaseth to give them and for Arms the Arms of England with a Bend Sinister border Gobionnee or some other mark of illegitimation Some Kings of England have acknowledged many and had more illegitimate Sons and Daughters King Henry the First had no fewer than sixteeen illegitimate Children Henry the Eighth amongst others had one by Elizabeth Blount named Henry Fitzroy created by him Duke of Somerset and Richmond Earl of Notingham and Lord High Admiral of England Ireland and Aquitain OF THE PRESENT KING OF ENGLAND THe King now raigning is CHARLES the Second of that Name His Name of Baptisme Charles in the German Tongue signifies one of a Masculine strength or vertue The Royal and also the most princely and antient Families of Europe at this day have properly no Surnames for neither is Burbon the Surname but the Title of the Royal Family of France nor Austria of Spain nor Stuart of England since the coming in of King James nor Theodore or Tudor for his 5 immediate Ancestors in England nor Plantagenet for 11 Generations before as some vainly think for although Geffery Duke of Anjou was surnamed Plantagenet from a Broom Stalk commonly worn in his Bonnet yet his Son H. 2. King of England was surnamed Fitz-empresse and his Son Richard Coeur de Lion So Owen Grandfather to King Henry 7. was ap Meredith and he ap Theodore pronounc'd Tyder Surnames being then but little in use amongst the Cambrobritans So Walter Father to Robert King of Scotland from whom our present King is descended was only by Office Grand Seneschal or High Steward or Stuart of Scotland though of later times by a long vulgar errour it hath so prevailed that they are accounted Surnames of many Families descended from him Steward is a Contraction from the Saxon word Stedeward that is in Latine Locum-tenens in French Lieu-tenant because the Lord High Steward was Regis Locum tenens a Name not unfit for any King who is Dei Locum tenens Gods Stuart or Lieutenant or Vicegerent upon Earth The King now raigning is Son to King Charles the Martyr and the Princess Henretta Maria Daughter of King Henry the Great of France from which two Royal Stocks he hath in his Veins all the Royal Blood of Europe concentred Is descended lineally and lawfully from the British Saxon Danish Norman and Scottish Kings and Princes of this Island From the first British King the 139th Monarch from the Scottish in a continued Succession for almost 2000 years the 109th from the Saxon the 46th and from the first of the Norman Line the 26th King So that for Royal
Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male Line of the Cliffords Finally the Kings forces at land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterward made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after divers disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652 where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperours Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of his Majesty now raigning after which returning into England was made a Privy Counsellour in 1662 and in 1666 being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarle first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the Enemy soon to flight He enjoys a Pension from his Majesty of 4000 l. per Annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of England are 3 French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward lately deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Rehemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. Sterling a year After these is the Princess Elizabeth eldest Sister living to the Prince Elector Palatin born 26 Decemb. 1618. unmarried and living in Germany The next is another Sister called the Princess Louisa bred up at the Hague with the Queen her Mother in the Religion of the Church of England at length embracing the Romish Religion is now Lady Abbess of Maubisson at Ponthoise not far from Paris Last of all is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659 wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and Free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters Of these three Princesses it is said that the first is the most learned the second the greatest Artist and the last one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Of the Great Officers of the Crown NExt to the King and Princes of the Blood are reckoned the Great Officers of the Crown whereof there are Eight viz. the Lord High Chancellour the Lord High Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal the Lord High Admiral the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Steward for the time being First the Lord High Chancellour Summus Cancellarius so called because all Patents Commissions Warrants coming from the King and perused by him are signed if well or cancelled if amiss He is after the King and Princes of the Blood in Civil Affairs the highest Person in the Kingdom as the Archbishop of Canterbury is in Ecclesiastical Affairs His Office is to keep the Kings Great Seal to judge not according to the Common Law as other Civil Courts do but to moderate the rigour of the Law and to judge according to Equity Conscience or Reason His Oath is to do right to all manner of People poor and rich after the Laws and Customs of the Realm and truly counsel the King to keep secret the Kings Counsel nor suffer so far as he may that the Rights of the Crown be diminisht c. From the time of Henry 2. the Chancellours of England have been ordinarily made of Bishops or other Clergy-men learned in the Civil Laws till Henry 8. made Chancellour one Richard Rich a Common Lawyer from whom is descended the present Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Holland since which time there have been some Bishops but most Common Lawyers This High Office is in France durante vitâ but here is durante beneplacito Regis The Salary from the King is 848 l. per Annum and when the Star-Chamber was up 200 l. per Annum more for his Attendance there The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper who differ only in Name is created per traditionem magni Sigilli sibi per dominum Regem and by taking his Oath The Great Seal being lately taken from Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour was by his Majesties great favour bestowed upon Sir Orlando Bridgeman with the Title of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England The next Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Treasurer of England who receives this high Office by delivery of a White Staffe to him by the King and holds it durante beneplacito Regis Antiently he received this Dignity by the delivery of the Golden Keys of the Treasury His Oath is little different from that of the Lord Chancellour He is Praefectus Aerarii a Lord by his Office under whose Charge and Government is all the Kings Revenue kept in the Exchequer He hath also the check of all the Officers any way emploied in collecting Imposts Customs Tributes or other Revenues belonging to the Crown He hath the gift of all Customers Controllers and Searchers in all the Ports of England He hath the nomination of the Escheators in every County and in some Cases by Statute is to appoint a Measurer for the length and breadth of Clothes He with others joyned in Commission with him or without letteth Leases of all the Lands belonging to the Crown He giveth Warrants to certain Persons of Quality to have their Wine Custom free The Annual Salary of the Lord High Treasurer is in all 383 li. 7s 8d per Annum Since the decease of Thomas Wriothesly last Earl of South-hampton and last Lord High Treasurer of England this Office hath been executed by a Commission granted to five eminent Persons viz. the Duke of Albemarle Lord Ashley Sir Thomas Clifford Sir Will. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb The Third Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Privy Seal who is a Lord by his Office under whose hands pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons signed by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England also divers other matters of less Concernment as for payments of money c. which do not pass the Great Seal He is by his Place of the Kings Privy Council and Chief Judge of the Court of Requests when it shall be re-continued and besides his Oath of Privy Counsellour takes a particular Oath as Lord Privy Seal His Salary is His Place according to Statute is next to the Lord President of the Kings Council It is an Office of great Trust and Skill that he put not this Seal to any Grant without good Warrant under the Kings Privy Signet nor with Warrant if it be against Law or Custom until that the King be first acquainted This great Officer is mentioned in the Statutes of 2 Rich. 2. and then â—anked amongst the Chief Persons of the Realm And is at present enjoyed by John Lord Robarts Baron Robarts of Truro The Fourth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord
High Admiral of England whose Trust and Honour is so great that this Office hath usually been given either to some of the Kings younger Sons near Kinsmen or to some one of the highest and chiefest of all the Nobility He is called Admiral from Amir in Arabick and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek that is Praefectus Marinus a word borrowed from the Eastern Empire where such kind of compounds were much in re-request and introduced into England after the Wars in the Holy Land by King Richard or King Edward 1. The Patent of the Lord Admiral did anciently run thus Angliae Hiberniae Aquitaniae Magnus Admirallus but at present thus Angliae Hiberniae ac Dominiorum Insularum earundem Villae Callesiae Marchiarum ejusdem Normandiae Gasconiae Aquitaniae Magnus Admirallus Praefectus Generalis Classis Marium dictorum Regnorum To the Lord High Admiral of England is by the King intrusted the management of all Marine Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as Protection He is that High Officer or Magistrate to whom is committed the Government of the Kings Navy with Power of decision in all Causes Maritime as well Civil as Criminal of all things done upon or beyond the Sea in any part of the World all things done upon the Sea Coasts in all Ports and Havens and upon all Rivers below the first Bridge next toward the Sea The Lord Admiral hath the power to commissionate a Vice-Admiral a Reer Admiral and all Sea Captains also Deputies for particular Coasts Coroners to view dead bodies found on the Sea Coasts or at Sea Commissioners or Judges for exercising Justice in the Court of Admiralty to imprison release c. He hath sometimes a power to bestow Knighthood to such as shall deserve it at Sea To the Lord Admiral belongs by Law and Custom all penalties and amercements of all Transgressors at Sea on the Sea Shore in Ports and from the first Bridge on Rivers towards the Sea also the Goods of Pyrats Felons or Capital Faulters condemned outlawed or horned Moreover all Waifs Stray Goods Wrecks of Sea Deodands a share of all lawful Prizes Lagon Jetson and Flotson as the Mariners term them that is Goods lying in the Sea on Ground Goods floting on the Sea and Goods cast by the Sea on the Shore not granted to Lords of Mannors adjoyning to the Sea All great Fishes as Sea Hogs and other Fishes of extraordinary bigness called Royal Fishes except only Whales and Sturgeons This High Dignity is at present enjoyed by the Kings only Brother the Illustrious Prince James Duke of York The Fifth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Great Chamberlain of England an Officer of great Antiquity to whom belongs Livery and Lodging in the Kings Court and certain Fees due from each Archbishop and Bishop when they do their Homage or Fealty to the King and from all Peers of the Realm at their Creation or doing the Homage or Fealty and at the Coronation of any King to have 40 Ells of Crimson Velvet for his own Robes and on the Coronation day before the King riseth to bring him his Shirt Coyfe Wearing Clothes and after the King is by him apparelled and gone forth to have his Bed and all Furniture of his Bed-Chamber for his Fees all the Kings Night Apparel and to carry at the Coronation the Coyfe Gloves and Linnen to be used by the King upon that occasion also the Sword and Scabberd and the Gold to be offered by the King and the Robe Royal and Crown and to undress and attire the King with his Robes Royal and to serve the King that day before and after Dinner with water to wash his hands and to have the Basin and Towells for his Fees c. This Honour was long enjoyed by the Earls of Oxford from the time of Hen. 1. by an Estate Tayle or Inheritance but in the two last Coronations by the Earls of Lindsey and that by an Estate of Inheritance from a Daughter or Heir General claimed and controverted The Sixth Great Officer is the Lord High Constable of England so called some think from the Saxon Cuning by contraction King and Stable quasi-Regis columen for it was antiently written Cuningstable but rather from Comes Stabuli whose Power and Jurisdiction was antiently so great that after the death of Edward Bohun Duke of Buckingham 1521 the last High Constable of England it was thought too great for any Subject But since upon occasion of Coronations as at that of King Charles 2. was made the present Earl of Northumberland and at Solemn Trials by Combat as at that which was intended between Rey and Ramsey 1631 was made Robert Earl of Lindsey there is created pro hac vice a Lord High Constable His Power and Jurisdiction is the same with the Earl Marshal with whom he sits Judge in the Marshals Court and takes place of the Earl Marshal The Seventh Great Officer of the Crown is the Earl Marshal of England so called from Mare in the old Saxon i.e. Horses and Schal Praefectus He is an Earl some say by his Office whereby he taketh as the Constable doth Cognisance of all matters of War and Arms determineth Contracts touching Deeds of Arms out of the Realm upon Land and matters concerning Wars within the Realm which cannot be determined by Common Law This Office is of great Antiquity in England and antiently of great Power The last Earl Marshal was Henry Howard Earl of Arundel who died in 1652 his Father Thomas Earl of Arundel and he enjoying that Office onely for the Term of their lives by the Kings Letters Patents At the Coronation of His Majesty now raigning the present Earl of Suffolk for that Solemnity only was made Earl Marshal The Eighth and last Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Steward of England quasi Stedeward Locum tenens the Kings Lieftenant in Lawyers Latin Seneschallus of Sen in Saxon Justice and Schals Governour or Officer His Power antiently in Civil Matters was next to the King and was so transcendent that it was thought fit not longer to trust it in the hands of any Subject for his Office was Supervidere regulare sub Rege immediatè post Regem as an antient Record speaks totum Regnum Angliae omnes ministros Legum infra idem regnum temporibus pacis guerrarum The last that had a State of Inheritance in this High Office was Henry of Bullinbrook Son and Heir to the great Duke of Lancaster John of Gaunt afterwards King of England since which time they have been made only hâc vice to officiate at a Coronation by vertue of which Office he sitteth judicially and keepeth his Court in the Kings Palace at Westminster and there receiveth the Bills and Petitions of all such Noblemen and others who by reason of their Tenure or otherwise claim to do Services at the New Kings Coronation
be verified of Religion and Gods Service amongst us The time thereof may be Threescore years and ten if it continue till Fourscore it will be but small joy to those that shall then behold the Condition of the English Church and the best read Historian cannot produce one example of a happy State where the Clergy hath been exposed to the peoples Contempt which must needs happen where their Benefices their Maintenance is scandalous and their Persons despicable It is the last Trick saith St. Gregory that the Devil hath in this World when he cannot bring the Word and Sacraments in disgrace by Errours and Heresies he invented this Project to bring the Clergy into contempt and low esteem as it is now in England where they are accounted by many as the dross and refuse of the Nation Men think it a stain to their blood to place their Sons in that Function and Women ashamed to marry with any of them whereas antiently in England as among the Jews the Tribe of Levi was counted Noble above all other Tribes except that of the Royal Tribe of Judah the Function of the Clergy was of so high account and esteem that not only the best Gentry and Nobility but divers of the Sons and Brothers of divers of our English Kings since the Conquest and before disdained not to enter into Holy Orders and to be Clergy-men as at this day is practised in most other Monarchies of Christendome Ethelwolph Son and Successor to Egbert first sole King of England was in Holy Orders and Bishop of Winchester at his Fathers death Odo Bishop of Bayeux in Normandy was Brother to William the Conquerour Henry de Blois Brother to King Stephen was Bishop of Winchester Geofry Plantagenet Son to Henry 2 was Bishop of Lincoln Henry de Beaufort Brother to Henry the 4th was Bishop also of Winchester And of later Times that most prudent Henry 7 had designed his second Son to be a Clergyman to omit many others of Noble Blood Which Policy is still observed even amongst the few Families of the Romish Religion in England wherein are to be found at this day some Brothers or Sons of Dukes Marquisses Earls and Barons in Holy Orders and all the rest of the Stock of Baronets Knights or Gentry and for this cause find respect not only amongst those of their own Opinions but even of the more sober moderate and best civilized Protestants Whilst this Policy lasted in England the Clergy were judged the fittest Persons to execute most of the Chief Offices and Places of the Kingdom according to the Divine Policy amongst Gods peculiar People where the Priests and Levites were the Principal Officers and Judges in every Court to whom the People were to be obedient on pain of death and the Laity did with much reverence and respect submit to them And as then Os Sacerdotis Oraculum erat plebis according to that of Malachi 2. 7. So Os Episcopi Oraculum erat Regis Regni Rex amplectabatur universum Clerum lata fronte ex eo semper sibi eligebat primos a Consiliis primos ad officia Regni obeunda Primi igitur sedebant in omni Regni Comitiis Tribunalibus Episcopi in Regali quidem Palatio cum Regni Magnatibus in Comitatu una cum Comite in Turno cum Vicecomite in Hundredo cum Domino Hundredi sic ut in promovenda Justitia usquequaque gladius gladium adjuvaret nihil inconsulto Sacerdote vel Episcopo ageretur And because the Weal of the Kingdom and the Service of the King depended so much upon them and their presence for that end so oft required at London it was judged expedient that every Bishoprick should have a Palace or House belonging to it in or about London and it is known at this day where stood the Houses of every one except that of St. Asaph which also might probably have had one but more obscure than some other that Bishoprick having been as still very mean Great was the Authority of the Clergy in those dayes and their Memory should be precious in these dayes if we consider that they were the Authors of so great benefits and advantages to this Kingdom that there are few things of any importance for promoting of the welfare of this Church and State wherein the Bishops and Prelats under God have not been the Principal Instruments The Excellent Laws made by King Ina King Athelstan King Edmund and St. Edward from whom we have our Common Laws and our Priviledges mentioned in Magna Charta were all made by the perswasions and advice of Bishops and Archbishops named in our Histories The Union of the 2 Houses of York and Lancaster whereby a long and bloody War was ended was by the most wise Advice and Counsel of Bishop Morton then a Privy Councellour The Union of England and Scotland that inexpressible advantage to both Nations was brought to pass by the long fore-sight of Reverend Bishop Fox a Privy Councellour in advising Henry the 7th to match his Eldest Daughter to Scotland and his Younger to France Most of the Great Publick Works now remaining in England acknowledge their antient and present being either to the sole Cost and Charges or to the liberal Contributions or at least to the powerful Perswasions of Bishops as most of the best endowed Colledges in both our Vniversities very many Hospitals Churches Palaces Castles have been founded and built by Bishops even that famous chargeable and difficult Structure of London-Bridge stands obliged to the liberal Contributions of an Archbishop and it was a Bishop of London at whose earnest request William the Conquerour granted to the City of London so large Priviledges that in a grateful remembrance thereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to this day upon some solemn dayes of their resort to St. Pauls Church do go in Procession to the Grave Stone where that Bishop lies interred But above all The Converting England to the Christian Religion the Reforming that Religion when corrupted and since that the maintenance of the Doctrine thereof against all Romish Writers and of the Discipline thereof none of the least good Offices against all the Practices and Power of the Puritan and Presbyterian Factions and all those other Sectaries lineally descended from them all this and more is owing if not solely yet principally to Bishops and Prelats by the late want of whom to sit at the Stern how soon was this goodly Vessel split upon the Rocks of Anarchy and Confusion Even since the late Restauration of Bishops to set down the many considerable Publick Benefits flowing from them and other Dignified Clergy would tire the Reader What Sums of Money have been by them expended in repairing Cathedral Churches Episcopal Houses in founding and building Hospitals in Charity to poor Widdows of Clergymen utterly ruined by the late Rebels for redeeming of poor Christian Slaves at Algier what publick and private Sums for supplying the Kings Necessities at his
but to have expedition of Justice At the beginning of Parliament when the Oath of Supremacy is exacted of all those of the House of Commons yet is it not reqnired of any of the Lords because the King is otherwise assured of their Loyalty and Fidelity as is presumed In all Cases wherein the Priviledge of Clergy is allowed to other men and also in divers Cases where that Priviledge is taken away from other men every Peer of the Realm having Place and Voice in Parliament shall upon his Request by Stat. 1. Ed. 6. without burning in the hand loss of Inheritance or corruption of Blood be adjudged for the first time as a Clerk convict though he cannot read All Barons of England are exempted from all attendance at Sherives Turns or any Leets as others are to take the Oath of Allegeance A Peer cannot be outlawed in any Civil Action because he cannot be arrested by any Capias and by the same reason lies no Attachment against him By the Custom of England as is by the Law of the Empire Nobiles non torquentur in quibus plebeii torquerentur Nobiles non suspenduntur sed decapitantur yet this by the meer favour of the King and in some cases especially of Felony hath been otherwise sometimes For the suppressing of Riots and Routs the Sheriff may raise the Posse Comitatus that is â—all able men are to assist him yet may not the Sheriff command the Person of any Peer of the Realm to attend that Service A Baron of Parliament being sent for by the Kings Writ or Letter or by his Messenger to come to Court or to Parliament or to appear before the Council-Board or in his Court of Chancery may both coming and returning by the Kings Forest or Park kill one or two Deer In any Civil Trial where a Peer of the Realm is Plaintiff or Defendant there must be returned of the Jury at least one Knight otherwise the Array may be quasht by Challenge The Laws of England are so tender of the Honour Credit Reputation and Persons of Noblemen that there is a Statute on purpose to prohibit all offence by false reports whereby any scandal to their persons may arise or debate and discord between them and the Commons and because it is to defend not only Lay Lords but Bishops and all great Officers of the Realm it is called Scandalum Magnatum If a Peer of the Realm appear not upon a Subpena yet may not an Attachment be awarded against him as it may against a common person though of later times the practice hath been otherwise The House of a Peer cannot in some Cases as in search for Prohibited Books for Conventicles c. be enâ—â—red by Officers of Justice without a Warrant under the Kings own hand and the hands of 6 of his Privy Council whereof 4 to be Peers of the Realm No Peer can be assessed towards the standing Militia but by 6 or more of themselves The Law allowing any one of the Commonalty to be arâ—aigned for Felony or Treason in favorem vitae to challenge 35 of his Jury without shewing cause and others by shewing cause yet allows not a Peer of the Realm to challenge any of his Jury or to put any of them to their Oath the Law presuming that they being all Peers of the Realm and judging upon their Honour cannot be guilty of Falshood oâ— Favour or Malice All Peers of the Realm have a Priviledge of qualifying a certain number of Chaplains who after a Dispensation from the Archbishop if to him iâ— seem good and the same ratified under the Great Seal of England may hold Plurality of Benefices with Cure of Souls In this manner every Duke may qualifie 6 Chaplains every Marquiss and Earl 5 apiece every Vicount 4 and every Baron 3. A Peer of the Realm may retain 6 Aliens born whereas another may not retain above 4. In Case of Amercements of the Peers of the Realm upon Non-suits or other Judgements a Duke is to be amerâ—ed only 10 pounds and all under only 5 l. and this to be done by their Peers accordâ—ng to Magna Charta alâ—hough it is oft done by the Kings Justices instead of their Peers All Peers of the Realm beâ—ng constant hereditary Councellours of the King in his Great Council of Parliament and being obliged upon the Kings Summons to appear and attend in all Parliaments upon their own Charges are priviledged from contributing to the Expences of any Member of the House of Commons for which no levy may be made upon any of their Lands parcel of their Earldoms or Baronies any of their antient Demesnes Copyhold or Villain Tenants The Estates of all Peers of the Realm being judged in the Eye of the Law sufficient at all times to satisfie all Debts and Damages satisfaction is to be sought by Execution taken forth upon their Lands and Goods and not by Attachments Imprisonments of their Persons those are to be alwayes free for the Service of the King and Kingdome noâ— by Exigents or Capias Utlegatum c. Other Priviledges belong to the Peers of England as 8â— Tun of Wine Custome free to every Earl and to the rest proportionably c. Notwithstanding these great Priviledges belonging to the Nobility of England yet the greatest of them no not the Brother or Son of the King ever had the Priviledge of the Grandees of Spain to be covered in the Kings Presence except only Henry Ratcliffe Earl of Surrey as before Pag. 147. nor had ever that higher Priviledge of the Nobility of France whose Domain Lands and their Dependants holding them are exempted from all Contributions and Tailles whereby they are tied to their King and so enabled to serve him that although Rebellions are frequent yet seldome of long continuance and never prosperous whereas the highest born Subject of England hath herein no more Priviledge than the meanest Plowman but utterly want that kind of reward for antient Vertue and encouragement for future Industry Touching the Places or Precedences amongst the Peers of England it is to be observed that after the King and Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and noâ— farther Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquisses Dukes eldest Sons Earls Marquisses eldest Sons Dukes younger Sons Vicounts Earls eldest Sons Marquisses younger Sons Barons Vicounts eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Barons eldest Sons Vicounts younger Sons Barons younger Sons Here note That it was decreed by King James that the younger Sons of Barons and Vicounts should yeeld Place and Precedence to all Knights of the Garter quateâ—us tales and to all Privy Councellours Master of the Wards Chancellour and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer Chancellour of the Dutchy Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Master of the Rolls Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Chief Baron of the Exchequer and all other Judges and Barons of the Degree of the Coise of the said Courts
and that by reason of their Honourable Order and Employment and also to all Bannerets made under the Kings Banner or Standard displayed in an Army Royal in open War and the King personally present Note also That if any of the Degrees of Nobility above-mentioned are descended of the Blood Royal they are to have place of all those of the same Degree with them Moreover Observe that all the Nobles of the same Degree take place according to the Seniority of their Creation There are certain Marks of State that belong to each Degree amongst the Nobility which they may practise or not practise at pleasure A Duke may have in all places out of the Kings presence a Cloth of Estate hanging down within half a yard of the ground so may his Dutchess and her Train born up by a Baron and no Earl to wash with a Duke without the Dukes pleasure A Marquiss may have a Cloth of Estate reaching within a yard of the ground and that in all places out of the presence of the King or a Duke and his Marchioness to have her Train born by a Knights Wife and no Vicount to wash with a Marquiss but at his pleasure An Earl also may have a Cloth of Estate without Pendants but only Fringe and a Countess may have her Train born by a Gentlewoman out of the presence of her Superiours and in their presence by a Gentleman A Vicount may have a Cover of Assay holden under his Cup while he drinks but no Assay taken as Dukes Marquisses and Earls may have And a Vicountess may have her Gown born up by a Woman out of the presence of her Superiours and in their presence by a Man A Baron may also have the Cover of his Cup holden underneath whilst he drinketh and a Baroness may have her Gown born up by a man in the presence of a Vicountess All Dukes eldest Sons be as Earls and the younger as Lords with the addition of their Christian Names as Lord Thomas Lord John c. A Dukes eldest Son of the Blood Royal shall take place of a Marquiss that is not and of an Earl that is of the Blood Royal. A Marquisses eldest Son is called Lord of a place and the younger Sons Lord Thomas Lord John c. A Marquisses eldest Son of the Blood Royal shall go before an Earl that is not and of a Vicount that is of the Blood Royal. An Earls eldest Son is called Lord of a place and all his Daughters Ladies but his younger Sons not Lords An Earls eldest Son of the Blood Royal takes place of a Vicount that is not and of a Lord that is of the Blood Royal. A Vicounts eldest Son is no Lord nor his Daughters Ladies and therefore the eldest Son and the eldest Daughter of the first Vicount of England is said to be the first Gentleman and Gentlewoman without Title in England A Vicounts eldest Son of the Blood Royal takes place of all Barons The Princes of the Blood the Great Officers of the Realm and the Bishops are to precede according to an Act of Parliament 31 H. 8. The Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Kings Council Lord Privy Seal These being Barons or above shall in Parliament sit above all Dukes except the Son Brother Grand-Child or Nephew of the King The Lord High Steward of England is not here named because it was intended that he should not continue beyond the occasion for which he should be made Next hath place the Lord Great Chamberlain of England then the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal the Lord High Admiral Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold These shall sit after the Lord Privy Seal above all of their Degree only And if the Kings Principal Secretary be a Baron he takes place of all Barons that are not of the Offices before mentioned but if he be a Vicount or higher Degree he shall take place only according to his Degree Also if the Kings Secretary be a Bishop as antiently was usual he takes place next to the Bishop of Winchester of all other Bishops that have none of the Offices aforesaid All Dukes Marquisses Earls Vicounts and Barons not having any of the said Offices shall take place according to the antiently of their Creation All Dukes eldest Sons have the Title of Earls and the eldest Son of an Earl hath the Title of the Earls Barony and sometimes of the Vicountry according to the Patent A Catalogue of the Peers of England according to their Precedence Dukes of the Royal Blood JAMES Duke of York and Albany Earl of Ulster Lord High Admiral of England the Kings only Brother Rupert Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holderness Edgar Duke of Cambridge The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Privy Seal take place before all Dukes not of the Blood Royal. Dukes Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk William Seymour Duke of Somerset George Villars Duke of Buckingham Charles Stuart Duke of Richmond George Monk Duke of Albemarle James Scot Duke of Monmouth William Cavendish Duke of Newcastle Marquisses John Pawlet Marquiss of Winchester Edward Somerset Marquiss of Worcester Henry Pierrepont Marquiss of Dorchester Earls These three take place in respect of their Offices Bertue Earl of Lindsay Lord High Chamberlain of England James Butler Earl of Brecknock Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Edward Montague Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Earls Awbrey de Vere Earl of Oxford Algernon Percy Earl of Northumberland Francis Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey Earl of Kent Charles Stanley Earl of Derby John Mannours Earl of Rutland Theophilus Hastings Earl of Huntingdon William Russel Earl of Bedford Philip Herbert Earl of Pembroke Theophilus Clinton Earl of Lincoln Charles Howard Earl of Nottingham James Howard Earl of Suffolk Richard Sacvile Earl of Dorset William Cecil Earl of Salisbury John Cecil Earl of Exeter John Edgerton Earl of Bridgewater Robert Sydney Earl of Leicester James Compton Earl of Northampton Charles Rich Earl of Warwick William Cavendish Earl of Devonshire Basil Fielding Earl of Denbigh George Digby Earl of Bristol Lionel Cranfield Earl of Middlesex Henry Rich Earl of Holland John Hollis Earl of Clare Oliver St. John Earl of Bullingbroke Mildmay Fane Earl of Westmorland Montague Earl of Manchester Thomas Howard Earl of Berkshire Thomas Wentworth Earl of Cleveland Edward Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave Thomas Savage Earl Rivers Bertue Earl of Lindsay Nicolas Knowles Earl of Banbury Henry Cary Earl of Dover Henry Mordant Earl of Peterborough Henry Grey Earl of Stamford Henage Finch Earl of Winchelsey Charles Dormer Earl of Caernarvon Montjoy Blunt Earl of Newport Philip Stanhop Earl of Chesterfield John Tufton Earl of Thanet William Wentworth Earl of Strafford Robert Spenser Earl of Sunderland James Savil Earl of Sussex George Goring Earl of Norwich Nicholas Leak Earl of Scarsdale John
Angliae Notitia OR THE PRESENT STATE OF England Together with DIVERS REFLECTIONS UPON The Antient State thereof In Magnis voluisse sat est In the SAVOY Printed by T. N. for John Martyn and are to be sold at the Sign of the Bell without Temple-Bar 1669. To the Reader IN this small Treatise the Reader may not reasonably expect to have his Fancy much delighted Ornari res ipsa negat contenta doceriâ— but only to have his Understanding informed and therefore the Author hath industriously avoided all curious Flowers of Rhetorick and made it his whole business to feed his Reader with abundant variety of Excellent Fruits Here are interspersed some Observations which though already known to many English men yet may be unknown to most Strangers and Forreigners for the information of whom this Book is secondarily intended and for that end will shortly be translated into the French Tongue whereby may be extinguisht in some measure the Thirst which Forreigners generally have to know the Present State of this Considerable Monarchy Although the main aim is to inform all men of the Present State of this Kingdom yet divers Reflections are made upon the past State thereof that so by comparing that with the present some men may thereby not only be moved to endeavour the Restauration of what was heretofore better and the abolition of what is now worse but also in some measure may fore-see without consulting our Astrologers and Apocalytick men what will be the future state of this Nation according to that Excellent Saying Qui respicit praeterita inspicit praesentia prospicit etiam futura A good Historian by running back to Ages past and by standing still and viewing the present times and comparing the one with the other may then run forward and give a Verdict of the State almost Prophetick In the many Reflections upon the Antient State of England frequent use is made of divers grave Authors as of Horn in his Mirror of Justice of Glanvile Bracton Britton Fortescue Linwood Stamford Smith Cosens Camden Cook Spelman Selden c. And for the present State Consultation was had with several eminently learned Personages yet living to the end that the Reader might receive at least some satisfaction in every particular without the trouble and charges of a great Library And as the Author doth sometimes use both the Words of the Living and the Writings of the Dead without quoting any to avoid Ostentation so he hopes that this ingenuous Confession being made at first no man will be offended though he give no notice when the Observation is theirs and when it is his own having taken special care that both in theirs and in his own there should be nothing but the truth so that although the Reader not perceiving every where by what Authority divers things are averred may be apt to suspect that some things are gratis dicta yet if it shall please him to make search he will find that generally they are vere cum authoritate dicta However in a Subject so multiform as this where so many Marks are aimed at no wonder if in some the Author hath not hit the White but wheresoever it was missed it is not perhaps much wide there-from and if in any thing by mis-information or mis-observation there be any palpable mistake as humanum est errare it shall in the next Impression be duly corrected if any Reader will be so couâ—teous as to advertise either the Author the Printer or Publisher by Letter or otherwise Brevity and a Laconique Stile is aimed at all along that so there might be Magnum in Parvo that it might be mole minimus though Re magnus that the whole State of England might be seen at once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as in a Map that as it will be a necessary Book for all Englishmen at all times so every one might without trouble alwayes carry it about with him as a Companion to consult upon all occasions Mistakes in printing to be corrected thus PAg. 4. line 23. read complexion p. 9. l. 6. blâ—â— out Nightingales and l. 20. adde Rie p. 8. l. 3. blot out Snipes p. 23. l. 17. adde It wants not 〈◊〉 Batâ—s and abounds in Mâ—dicinal Springs p. 31. l 6. r. had p. 42. l 22. r. Treaties p 47. l. 14. r. 25th p. 73. l. 20. make a Cross within the Circle p. 81. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 98. l. 6. r. Dominium p. 114. l. 10. r. Lieu. p. 122. l. 6. r. Eslire p. 132. l. 15. r. Dominium p. 136. l. 5. r. Vice ii p. 168 l. 16. r. Coâ—siliâ—â— ii p. 189 l. 17. r. thirteenth p. 192. l. 4 r. married to Prince William only Son to Henry c. 〈◊〉 20â— l. 4. r. 17 â—eâ—â—n b. 1619. p. 237. l. 8. for Esses r. tâ—â— Garter p. 247. l. 21. for Stool r. Stole p. 251. l. â—3 foâ— George Dâ—ke of Albemarle r. George Duke oâ— Buckingham p. 269. l. 10. r. Lord Chamberlain p. 272. l. 14. for Crey r. Crew p. 335. l. 14. r. Saxonâ— p. 445. l. 11. r. William Craven p. 446. l. 13. r. Audley p. 449. l. 9. blot out Richard Boyle p. 454. l. 17. r 170 p. 504. l. 23. r. may descend The Contents OF England in general p. 1. to p. 80. and therein Of its Name Climat Dimensions Air Soil Commodities Inhabitants their Language Stature Diet Attire Buildings Number Dispositions Vertues Vices and Reâ—reations Of the Weights Measures and Moneys Of the English Computation Manner of Numbring Names and Surnames Of the Government of England in general p. 80. Of the King of England p. 87. to p. 149. and therein of his Name Title Arms Patrimony Dominions Person Office Prerogative Power Supremacy Soveraignty and Respeet Of Succession to the Crown of England p. 149. Of the Kings Minority Incapacity and Absence Of the Queen of England p. 156. Of the Sons and Daughters of England p. 160. Of the present King of England p. 171. to p. 183. and therein of his Name Surname Genealogy Birth Baptisme Education Restauration Marriage c. Of the present Queen of England p. 183. Of the Queen Mother p. 189. Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood p. 194. to p. 213. Of the Great Officers of the Crown p. 213. to p. 233. Of the Kings Court the Ecclesiastical Civil and Military Government therein p. 233. to p. 300. Of the Queen Consorts Court p. 300. Of the Q. Mothers Court p. 305. Of the Duke of York's Court p. 312. Of the Three States of England and first of the Clergy p. 326. to p. 405. and therein of their Dignity Name and Degrees c. Of the Priviledges belonging to the Archbishops p. 335. Of the Priviledges belonging to Bishops p. 352. A Catalogue of all the Bishops p. 363. Of the Priviledges of the Inferior Clergy p. 376. A Catalogue of all the Deans of England p. 402. Of the
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith The King only is Dei Gratiâ simply i.e. from the favour of none but God and the Archbishops and Bishops that pretend to that Title must understand Dei gratiâ Regis or Dei gratiâ voluntate Regis Defender of the Faith was antiently used by the Kings of England as appears by several Charters granted to the University of Oxford but in the year 1521 more affixt by a Bull from Pope Leo the Tenth for a Book written by Henry the Eighth against Luthers in defence of some points of the Romish Religion but since continued for defence of the Antient Catholck and Apostolick Faith Primogenitus Ecclesiae belongs to the Kings of England because their Predecessor Lucius was the first King that embraced Christianity Christianissimus was by the Lateran Council under Pope Julius the 2d conferred on the Kings of England in the 5th year of Henry 8 though now used only by the French King The Title of Grace was first given to the King about the time of H. 4. to H. 6. Excellent Grace to Ed. 4. High and Mighty Prince to Hen. 8. first Highness then Majesty and now Sacred Majesty after the Custom of the Eastern Emperours that used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The King of England in his Publick Instruments and Letters stiles himself Nos We in the plural number before King John's time the Kings used the singular number which Custom is still seen in the end of Writs Teste meipso apuâ— Westm In speaking to the King is used often besides Your Majesty Syr from Cyr in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Abbreviation o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominus much used to the Greek Emperours but Syr or Domine iâ— now in England become the ordinary word to all of better rank even from the King to the Gentleman It was antiently in England given to Lords afterwards to Knights and to Clergymen prefixt before their Christian Names â—ow in that manner only to Baâ—onets and Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelours yet in France Syr or Syre is reserved only for their King About the time that our Saviour lived on Earth there was a Jewish Sect whose Ring-â—eader was one Judas of Gaile mentioned Acts 5. 37. that would not give this Title of Sir or Dominus to any man affirming that it was proper only to God and stood not unlike our new Fanaticks called Quakers so perversely for such Nominal Liberty being â—n other points meer Pharisees that no penalties could force them to give this honorary Title to any man no not to the Emperour uti videre 〈◊〉 apud Josephum alios Sed hâ—â— obiter The Saxon Kings before the Conquest bare Azure a Crossâ— Formy between four Martlet Or. Afterward the Danish King raigning in England bare oâ— Semi de Harts Gules 3 Lyon Passant Gardant Azure After the Conquest the Kings of England bare two Leopards born first by the Conquerour as Duke of Normandy till the time of Hen. 2 who in right of his Mother annext her Paternal Coat the Lyon of Aquitaine which being of the same Field Mettal and Form with the Leopards â—â—om thence-forward they were â—intly marshalled in one Shield and Blazoned 3 Lyons as at â—resent King Edward the Third in â—â—ght of his Mother claiming â—he Crown of France with the Arms of England quartered the Arms of France which then were Azure Semy Flower â—eluces Or afterwards changed to 3 Flower deluces whereupon Hen. 5. of England caused the English Arms to be changed likewise King James upon the Union of England and Scotland caused the Arms of France and England to be quartered with Scotland and Ireland and are thus blazoned The King of England beareth for his Soveraign Ensigns Armorial as followeth In the first place Azure 3 Flower deluces Or for the Regal Arms of France quartered with the Imperial Ensigns of England which are Gules threâ— Lyons Passant Gardant in Palâ— Or. In the second place with in a double Tressure counter-flowered de lys Or a Lyon Rampant Gules for the Royal Arms of Scotland In the third place Azure an Irish Harp Or Stringed Argent for the Royal Ensigns of Ireland In the fourth place as in the first All within the Garter the chief Ensign of that most Honourable Order above the same an Helmet answerable to His Majesties Soveraign Jurisdiction upon the same a rich Mantle of Cloth of Gold doubled Ermine adorned with an Imperial Crown and surmounted for a Crest by a Lyon Passant Gardant Crowned with the like supported by 〈◊〉 Lyon Rampant Gardant Or Crowned as the former and an unicorn Argent Gorged with a Crown thereto a Chain affixt passing between his foreâ—egs and reflext over his back Or both standing upon a Compartment placed underneath and in the Table of the Compartment His Majesties Royal Motto Dieu mon Droit The Supporters used before the Union of England and Scotland were the Dragon and Lyon The Arms of France placed first for that France is the greater Kingdom and because from the first bearing those Flowers have been alwayes Ensigns of a Kingdom whereas the Arms of England were originally of Dukedoms as beforesaid The Motto upon the Garter Honi soit qui mal y pense that is Shame be to him that evil thereof thinketh was first given by Edward 3 the Founder of that Order upon occasion as some have written of a Garter falling from the Countess of Kent and Salisbury as she danced and taken up by that King whereat the Queen being jealous or the Courtiers observing it the King first uttered those words now upon the Garter whereof the Order was soon after instituted The Motto Dieu mon Droit that is God and my Right was first given by Richard the First to intimate that the King of England holdeth his Empire not in Vassallage of any mortal man but of God only and after taken up by Edward 3. when he first claimed the Kingdom of France King William the Conquerour getting by right of Conquest all the Lands of England except Lands belonging to the Church to Monastenies and Religious Houses into his own hands in Demesne as Lawyers speak soon bestowed amongst his Subjects aâ— great part thereof reserving some retribution of Rents and Services or both to him and his Heirs Kings of England which reservation is now as it was before the Conquest called the Tenure of Lands the rest he reserved to himself in Demesne called Coronae Regis Dominica Domaines and Sacra Patrimonia Praedium Domini Regis Directum Dominum cujus nullus est Author nisi Deus all other Lands in England being held now of some Superiour and depend mediately or immediately on the Crown but the Lands possest by the Crown being held of none can escheat to none being sacred cannot become prophane are or should be permanent and inalienable Which Royal Domaines are by Time the Gift and Bounty of
Kings of Ireland but also over the Welsh Scottish and French Kings He acknowledgeth onely Precedence to the Emperour Eo quod Antiquitate Imperium omnia Regna superare creditur As the King is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the State so he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Church He acknowledgeth no Superiority to the Bishop of Rome whose long arrogated Authority in England was 1535 in a full Parliament of all the Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal declared null and the King of England declared to be by Antient Right in all Causes over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Supreme Head and Governour The King is Summus totius Ecclesiae Anglicanae Ordinarius Supreme Ordinary in all the Dioceses of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for his Superintendency over the whole Church hath the Tenths and First-Fruits of all Ecclesiastical Benefices The King hath the Supreme Right of Patronage over all England called Patronage Paramount over all the Ecclesiastical Benefices in England so that if the mean Patron as aforesaid present not in due time nor the Ordinary nor Metropolitan the Right of Presentation comes to the King beyond whom it cannot go The King is Lord Paramount Supreme Landlord of all the Lands of England and all landed men are mediately or immediately his Tenants by some Tenure or other for no man in England but the King hath Allodium Directum Dominum the sole and independent Property or Domain in any Land He that hath the Fee the Jus perpetuum and Utile Dominium is obliged to a duty to his Soveraign for it so it is not simply his own he must swear fealty to some Superiour The King is Summus totius Regni Anglicani Justitiarius Supreme Judge or Lord Chief Justice of all England He is the Fountain from whence all Justice is derived no Subject having here as in France Haute moyenne basse Justice He only hath the Soveraign power in the Administration of Justice and in the Execution of the Law and whatsoever power is by him committed to others the dernier resort is still remaining in himself so that he may sit in any Court and take Cognisance of any Cause as antiently Kings sate in the Court now called the Kings Bench Henry the Third in his Court of Exchequer and Hen. 7. and King James sometimes in the Star-Chamber except in Felonies Treasons c. wherein the King being Plaintiff and so Party he sits not personally in Judgement but doth performe it by Delegates From the King of England there lies no Appeal in Ecclesiastical Affairs to the Bishop of Rome as it doth in other principal Kingdoms of Europe nor in Civil Affairs to the Emperour as in some of the Spanish and other Dominions of Christendom nor in either to the People of England as some of late have dreamt who in themselves or by their Representatives in the House of Commons in Parliament were ever Subordinate and never Superiour nor so much as Co-ordinate to the King of England The King being the onely Soveraign and Supreme Head is furnisht with plenary Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction to render Justice to every Member within his Dominions whereas some Neighbour Kings do want a full power to do Justice in all Causes to all their Subjects or to punish all Crimes committed within their own Dominions especially in Causes Ecclesiastical In a word Rex Angliae neminem habet in suis Dominiis Superiorem nec Parem sed omnes sub illo ille sub nullo nisi tantùm sub Deo a quo secundus post quem primus ante omnes super omnes in suis ditionibus Deos Homines The Title of Dii or Gods plurally is often in Holy Writ by God himself attributed to Great Princes because as Gods Vicars or Vice-dei upon Earth they represent the Majesty and Power of the God of Heaven and Earth and to the end that the people might have so much the higher esteem and more reverend awfulness of them for if that fails all Order fails and thence all Impiety and Calamity follows The Substance of the Titles of God was also used by the Antient Christian Emperours as Divinitas nostra Aeternitas nostra c. as imperfectly and analogically in them though essentially and perfectly only in God and the good Christians of those times out of their excess of respect were wont to swear by the Majesty of the Emperour as Joseph once by the life of Pharaoh and Vegeâ—ius a learned Writer of that Age seems to justifie it Nam Imperatori saith he tanquam praesenti corpoarli Deo fidelis est praestanda Divotio pervigil impendendus famulatus Deâ— enim servimus cum fideliter diligimus cum qui Deoregnat Autore So the Laws of England looking upon the King as a God upon earth do attribute unto him divers excellencies that belong properly to God alone as Justice in the Abstract Rex Angliae non potest cuiquam injuriam facere So also Infallibility Rex Angliae non potest errare And as God is perfect so the Law will have no Imperfection found in the King No Negligence or Laches no Folly no Infamy no stain or corruption of blood for by taking of the Crown all former though just Attainders and that by Act of Parliament iâ— ipso facto puâ—ged No Nonage or Minority for his Grant of Lands though held in his Natural not Politick Capacity cannot be avoided by Nonage Higher than this the Law attributeth a kind of immortality to the King Rex Angliae non moritur his Death is in Law termed the Demise of the King because thereby the Kingdom is demised to another He is said not subject to Death because he is a Corporation in himself that liveth for ever all Interregna being in England unknown the same moment that one King dies the next Heir is King fully and absolutely without any Coronation Ceremony or Act to be done ex post facto Moreover the Law seemeth to attribute to the King a certain Omnipresency that the King is in a manner every where in all his Courts of Justice and therefore cannot be non-suited as Lawyers speak in all his Palaces and therefore all Subjects stand bare in the Presence Chamber wheresoever the Chair of State is placed though the King be many miles distant from thence He hath a kind of universal influence over all his Dominions every soul within his Territories may be said to feel at all times his Power and his Goodness Omnium Domos Regis Vigilia defendit Omnium Otium illius Labor Omnium Delicias illius Industria Omnium vacationem illius Occupatio c. So a kind of Omnipotency that the King can as it were raise men from death to life by pardoning whom the Law hath condemned can create to the highest Dignity and annihilate the same at pleasure Divers other semblances of the Eternal Deity belong to the King He in his own Dominions as God saith
Vindicta est mihi for all punishments do proceed from him in some of his Courts of Justice and it is not lawful for any Subâ—ect to revenge himself So he onely can be Judge in his own Cause though he deâ—â—ver his Judgement by the Mouth of his Judges And yet there are some â—hings that the King of England cannot do Rex Angliae â—ihil injuste potest and the King cannot devest himself or his Successors of any part of his Regal Power Prerogative and Authority inherent and annext to the Crown not that there â—s any defect in the Kings Power as there is none in Gods Power though he cannot lie nor do any thing that implies Contradiction not but that the King of England hath as absolute a power over all his Subâ—ects as any Christian Prince rightfully and lawfully hath oâ— ever had not but that he still hath a kind of Omnipotency noâ— to be disputed but adored by his Subjects Nemo quidem 〈◊〉 factis ejus praesumat disputarâ— saith Bracton multo minuâ— contra factum ejus ire nam dâ—â— Chartis Fact is ejus non debenâ— neâ— possunt Justiciarii multâ— minus privatae personae disputare Not but that the King may do what he please without either opposition or resistance and without being questioned by his Subjects for the King cannot be impleaded for any Crime no Action lieth against his Person because the Writ goeth forth in his own Name and he cannot arrest himself If the King should seize his Subjects Lands which God forbid or should take away his Goods having no Title by Law so to do there is no remedy Onely this Locus erit saith the same Bracton supplicationi quod factum suum corrigat emendet quod quidem si non fecerit sufficit ei â—d paenam quod Dominum Dèum expectet Vltorem There may be Petitions and Supplications made that His Majesty will be pleased to rule according to Law which if he shall refuse to do it is sufficient that he must expect that the King of Kings will be the Avenger of Oppressed Loyal Subjects But there are also divers things which the King cannot do Salvo jure Salvo Juramento Salvâ Conscientia sua Because by Oath at his Coronation and indeed without any Oath by the Law of Nature Nations and of Christianity he holds himself bound as do all other Christian Kings to protect and defend his people to do justice and to shew mercy to preserve Peace and Quietness amongst them to allow them their just Rights and Liberties to consent to the Repealing of bad Laws and to the Enacting of good Laws Two things especially the King of England doth not usually do without the consent of his Subjects viz. make New Laws and raise New Taxes there being something of Odium in both of them the one seeming to diminish the Subjects Liberty and the other his Property therefore that all occasion of disaffection towards the King the Breath of our Nosthrils and the Light of our Eyes as he is stiled might be avoided it was most wisely contrived by our Ancestors that for both these should Petitions and Supplications be first made by the Subject These and divers other Prerogative rightfully belong and are enjoyed by the King of England Nevertheless the Kings of England usually govern this Kingdom by the ordinary known Laws and Customs of the Land as the great God doth the World by the Laws of Nature yet in some Cases for the benefit not damage of this Realm they make use of their Prerogatives as the King of Kings doth of his Extraordinary Power of Working of Miracles Lastly To the Kings of England quatenus Kings doth appertain one Prerogative that may be stiled super-excellent if not miraculous which was first enjoyed by that pious and good King Edward the Confessor which is by the touch to remove and to cure the Struma that stubborn disease commonly called the Kings Evil. In consideration of these and other transcendent Excellencies no King in Christendom nor other Potentate receives from his Subjects more Reverence Honour and Respect than the King of England All his People at their first Addresses kneel to him he is at all times served upon the Knee all Persons not the Prince or other Heir Apparant excepted stand bare in the presence of the King and in the Presence Chamber though in the Kings absence Only it was once indulged by Queen Mary for some eminent services performed by Henry Ratcliffe Earl of Sussex that by Patent he might at any time be covered in her presence but perhaps in imitation of the like liberty allowed by King Philip her Husband and other Kings of Spain to some of the principal Nobility there called Grandees of Spain Any thing or Act done in the Kings Presence is presumed to be void of all deceit and evil meaning and therefore a Fine levied in the Kings Court where the King is presumed to be present doth bind a Feme Covert a married Woman and others whom ordinarily the Law doth disable to transact The Kings only Testimony of any thing done in his presence is of as high a nature and credit as any Record and in all Writs sent forth for dispatch of Justice he useth no other Witness but himself viz. Teste me ipso Of the Kings Succession to the Crown of ENGLAND THe King of England hath right to the Crown by Inheritance and the Laws and Customs of England Upon the Death of the King the next of Kindred though born out of the Dominions of England or born of Parents not Subjects of England as by the Law and many Examples in the English Histories it doth manifestly appear is and is immediately King before any Proclamation Coronation Publication or Consent of Peers or People The Crown of England descends from Father to Son and to his Heirs for want of Sons to the Eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughters to the Brother and his Heirs and for want of Brother to the Sister and her Heirs The Salique Law or rather Custom of France hath here no more force than it had anciently among the Jews or now in Spain and other Christian Hereditary Kingdoms Among Turks and Barbarians that French Custom is still and ever was in use In Case of descent of the Crown contrary to the Custom of the descent of Estates among Subjects the Half Blood shall inherit so from King Edward the Sixth the Crown and Crown Lands descended to Queen Mary of the half blood and again to Queen Elizabeth of the half blood to the last Possessor At the death of every King die not only the Offices of the Court but all Commissions granted to the Judges durante beneplacito and of all Justices of Peace If the King be likely to leave his Crown to an Infant he doth usually by Testament appoint the person or persons that shall have the tuition of him and sometimes for want of such appointment a fit person of
Extraction and long Line of just Descent his Majesty now raigning excells all the Monarchs of all the Christian if not of the whole World Is the first Prince of Great Britain so born and hath in possession larger Dominions than any of his Ancestors He was born the 29th of May 1630. at the Royal Palace of St. James over which House the same day at Noon was by thousands seen a star and soon after the Sun suffered an Eclipse a sad presage as some then divined that this Princes Power should for some time be eclipsed and some subject signified by a star should have extraordinary splendor Was christened the 27th June following by the then Bishop of London Doctor Land Had for Godfathers his two Uncles Lewis the 13th King of France and Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine then called King of Bohemia represented by the Duke of Richmond and Marquiss Hamilton his Godmother being his Grandmother then Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchesse of Richmond Had for Governess Mary Countess of Dorset Wife to Edward Earl of Dorset In May 1638 he was first knighted and immediately after he was made Knight of the Garter and installed at Windsor About this time by Order not Creation he was first called Prince of Wales and had all the profits of that Principality and divers other lands annexed and Earldom of Chester granted unto him and held his Court apart from the King At the Age of Eight he had for Governour the Earl afterwards Marquiss and now Duke of Newcastle and for Tutor or Preceptor Doctor Duppa then Dean of Christchurch after Bishop of Salisbury and lately of Winchester At the Age of 12 was with the King his Father at the Battel of Edge-hill and soon after at Oxford was committed to the care of the Marquiss of Hertford About 14 years old was in the Head of an Army in the West of England At the Age of 15 a Marriage was proposed between him and the Eldest Daughter of the King of Portugal the Infanta Joanna since deceased Two years after was from Cornwall transported to the Isle of Scilly and after to Jersey and thence to his Royal Mother to St. Germains near Paris In 1648 was at Sea with some Naval Forces endeavouring to rescue the King his Father then in the Isle of Wight out of the wicked hands of his rebellious Subjects Not many moneths after upon the sad News of the horrid Murther of his Royal Father he was in Holland first saluted King and soon after proclaimed in Scotland being not yet 19 years of Age. At the Age of 20 from Holland he landed in Scotland June 1650 and in January following was crowned at Scoon The 3d of September 1651 fought the Battel of Worcester whence after the unfortunate loss of his whole Army wandring in disguise about England for six weeks he was at length transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Fecam near Havre de Grace in France in which Kingdom with his Royal Brothers and divers English Nobility Clergy and Gentry he was for some years received and treated as King of England and by his mediations and interest with the Prince of Conde and Duke of Lorraine then in the Head of two great and mighty Armies against the French King quenched the then newly kindled fires of a great and universal rebellion against him much resembling that of England and was a means of recalling the then fled and banished Cardinal Mazarine After which in Germany Flanders Spain c. he passed the residue of his time in the Studies and Exercises most befitting a Prince in solliciting the Aid of Christian Princes and in advising and vigorously promoting the several attempts of his Friends in England until the year 1660 at which time being at Brussells within the Spanish Territories and perceiving a general inclination and disposition of all England to receive him he providently removed himself to Breda within the Dominions of the United Netherlands in the moneth of April and thence in May to the Hague from whence after a magnificent Entertainment and an humble Invitation by English Commissioners sent from the then Convention at Westminster he embarkt at Schevling the 23th of May 1660 and with a gallant English Fleet and a gentle gale of Wind landed the 25th at Dover and on the 29th following being his Birth-day and then just 30 years of Age he entred into London and was there received with the greatest and most universal Joy and Acclamations and Magnificence that could possibly be expressed on so short a warning On the first of June following His Majesty fate in Parliament and on the 22th of April 1661 rode in triumph from the Tower to Westminster on the next day being St. Georges was crowned with great Ceremony On the 28th of May following declared to his Parliament his Resolution to marry the Infanta of Portugal who accordingly in May 1662 being landed at Portsmouth was there espoused to the King by the then Bishop of London now Archbishop of Canterbury Of the present Queen of England DONNA CATHERINA Infanta of Portugal being Queen Consort of England and the Second Person in the Kingdom was Daughter of Don Juan the Fourth of that Name King of Portugal descended from our English John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and King of Castile and Jean Fourth Son of Edward the third King of England and of Donna Lucia Daughter of Don Guzman el bueno a Spaniard Duke of Medina Sidonia who was lineally descended from Ferdinando de la Cerde and his Consort Blanche to whom St. Lewis King of France her Father relinquisht his Right and Title to Spain descended to him by his Mother Blanche eldest Daughter and Heir of Alphonso the Spanish King She was born the 14th of November 1638 at Villa Vicosa in Portugal she was baptized Catherina signifying in Greek Pure her Father being then Duke of Braganza though right Heir of the Crown of Portugal the most potent Subject in Europe for a third part of Portugal was then holden of him in Vassallage and is only Sister at present of Don Alphonso the Sixth of that Name and 23th King of Portugal born 1643. Hath one Brother more called Don Pedro born 1648. Had another Brother called Don Theodosio the eldest Son of that King who was the most gallant and hopeful Prince of all Europe but died 1653 aged but 18 years yet his life thought worthy to be written by divers grave Authors of Portugal Having been most carefully and piously educated by her Mother and at the age of 22 desired in Marriage by King CHARLES the Second and the Marriage not long after concluded by the Negotiation of Don Francisce de Melo Conde de Ponte Marquis de Sande and then Extraordinary Ambassadour of the King of Portugal and solemnized at Lisbon She embarkt for England upon the 23th of April 1662 being the Festival of St. George Patron as well of Portugal as England and was safely
by the Earl of Sandwich conducted by a Squadron of Ships to Portsmouth where the King first met her and was remarried On the 23th of August 1662 her Majesty coming by water from Hampton Court was with great Pomp and Magnificence first received by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at Chelsey and thence conducted by water to Whitehall The Portion she brought with her was Eight hundred Millions of Reas or two Millions of Crusado's being about Three hundred thousand pounds Sterling together with that important place of Tangier upon the Coast of Africk and the Isle of Bombaim neer Goa in the East Indies with a Priviledge that any Subjects of the King of England may trade freely in the East and VVest Indie Plantations belonging to the Portugueses Her Majesties Joynture by the Articles of Marriage is Thirty thousand pounds Sterling per Annum and the King out of his great affection toward her hath as an addition settled upon her 10000 l. per Annum more The Queens Arms as Daughter of Portugal is Argent 5 Scutcheons Azure cross wise each Scutcheon charged with 5 Plates or Besants Argent Saltier-wise with a Point Sable the Border Gules charged with 7 Castles Or. This Coat was first worn by the Kings of Portugal in memory of a Signal Battel obtained by the first King of Portugal Don Alphonso against 5 Kings of the Moors before which Battel appeared Christ crucified in the air and a Voice heard as once to Constantine the Great In hoc signo vinces before which time the Portugal Arms were Argent a Cross Azure Queen CATHERINE is a Personage of such rare perfections of Mind and Body of such eminent Piety Modesty and other Vertues that the English Nation may yet promise all the happiness they are capable of from a Succession of Princes to govern them to the end of the World Of the Queen-Mother THe Third Person in the Kingdom is the Queen-Mother or Dowager Henretta Maria de Bourbon Daughter to the Great King Henry the Fourth Sister to the Just King Lewis the Eleventh Wife to the Pious Martyr King Charles the First Mother to our Gracious Sovereign King Charles the Second and Aunt to the present Puissant King Lewis the 14th She was born the 19th of November 1609 married first at Nostre Dame in Paris by Proxy 1625 and shortly after in the moneth of June arriving at Dover was at Canterbury espoused to King Charles the First In the year 1629. was delivered of her First born a Son that died shortly after in 1630 of her Second our present Soveraign whom God long preserve in 1631 of her Third Mary the late Princess of Orenge a Lady of admirable Vertues who had the happiness to see the King her Brother restored 6 or 7 moneths before her death In 1633 of her Fourth James now Duke of York In 1635 of her Fifth named Elizabeth who being a Princess of incomparable Abilities and Vertues died for grief soon after the murther of her father In 1636 of her Sixth named Anna who died young In the year 1640 of her Seventh Child Henry of Oatlands designed Duke of Glocester who living till above 20 being most excellently accomplished in all Princely Endowments died four moneths after the Restauration of the King In the year 1644 of her Eighth the Lady Henretta now Dutchess of Orleans In the year 1641 her Majesty fore-seeing the ensuing storm of Rebellion and seeing the groundless Odium raised already against her self timely withdrew her self with her eldest Daughter then newly married to Henry Prince of Orange into Holland whence in 1643 after a most furious storm and barbarous fierce pursuit of the English Rebels at Sea she landed at Burlington Bay with Men Money and Ammunition and soon after with a considerable Army met the King at Edgehill and thence was conducted to Oxford In April 1644 marching with competent forces from Oxford towards Exeter at Abington took her last farewel of the King whom she never saw again In July following embarkt at Pendennis Castle she sailed into France where entertained at the Charges of her Nephew the persent King of France she passed a solitary retired life until the moneth of October 1660. when upon the Restauraution of her Son to the Crown of England she came to London and having settled her Revenues here she went again with her youngest Daughter the Lady Henretta into France to see her espoused to the then Duke of Anjou now of Orleans and in the moneth of July 1662 being returned into England she settled her Court at Somerset-House where she continued till May 1665 then crossed the Seas again and hath ever since continued in France her Native Countrey She needeth no other Character then what is found in the Seventh Chapter of that inimitable Book compiled by him that knew her best Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal of England THe First Prince of the Blood in France called Monsieur sans queue is the Most Illustrious Prince James Duke of York Second Son to King Charles the Martyr and only Brother to the present King our Soveraign He was born Octob. 14. 1633 and forth-with proclaimed at the Court Gates Duke of York the 24th of the same moneth was baptized and afterward committed to the Government of the then Countess of Dorset The 27th of July 1643 at Oxford was created by Letters Patents Duke of York though called so by special command from his Birth without those Solemnities the iniquity of the times not admitting thereof that were used to the King his Father 1605 when being Second Son to King James and so Duke of Albany in Scotland was created Duke of York with the preceding Solemn Creation of divers young Noblemen to be Knights of the Bath and the Robes of State put upon him the Cap of State on his Head and the Golden Rod into his Hand the Prime Nobility and Heralds assisting at that Ceremony After the Surrender of Oxford his Royal Highness was in 1646 conveyed to London by the then prevailing disloyal part of the Two Houses of Parliament and committed with his Brother Glocester and Sister Elizabeth to the care of the Earl of Northumberland In 1648 aged about 15 was by Colonel Bampfield conveyed in a disguise or habit of a Girle beyond Sea first to his Sister the Princess Royal of Orenge in Holland and afterward to the Queen his Mother then at Paris where he was carefully educated in the Religion of the Church of England and in all Exercises meet for such a Prince About the Age of 20 in France he went into the Campagne and served with much Gallantry under that great Commander the Protestant Mareschal de Turenne for the French King against the Spanish forces in Flanders Notwithstanding which upon a Treaty between the French King and Cromwell in 1655 being obliged with all his retinue to leave the French Dominions and invited into Flanders by Don Juan of Austria he there served
under him against the French King then leagued with the English Rebels against Spain where his Magnanimity and Dexterity in Martial Affairs though unsuccessful were very eminent In the year 1660 came over with the King into England and being Lord High Admiral in the year 1665 in the War against the Vnited States of the Netherlands commanded in person the whole Royal Navy on the Seas between England and Holland where with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp dispute he obtained a Signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Ships in that Fight He married Anne the eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England by whom he hath had a numerous issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary born 30 April 1662 whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchesses of Buckingham and Ormond Secondly the Lady Anne born in Febr. 1664 whose Godfather was Gilbert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth She is lately for her health transported into France Thirdly 15 Sept. 1667 was born Edgar lately created Duke of Cambridge by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England whose Godfathers were the Duke of Albemarle and the Marquiss of Worcester his Godmother the Countess of Suffolk The Titles of his Royal Highness are Duke of York and Albany Earl of Ulster Lord High Admiral of England Ireland and all Foreign Plantations Constable of Dover Castle Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Governour of Portsmouth c. Of the Prince of Orenge NExt to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassau Prince of Orenge only Issue of the lately deceased Princess Royal Mary eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641 to William of Nassau Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was born 9 dayes after his Fathers death on the 14th Novemb. 1650 had for Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delft Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then wife to the Heer van Hemvliet At 8 years of age was sent to the University of Leyden His Revenue is about 60000 l. Sterling besides Military Advantages enjoyed by his Father and Ancestors which amounted yearly to about 30000 l. Sterling more He is a Prince in whom the high and princely qualities of his Ancestors already appear Of the Princess Henretta THe next Heir after the fore-named to the English Crown is the Princess Henretta only Sister living to the present King of England She was born the 16th of June 1644 at Exeter during the heat of the late Rebellion after the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646 to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkieth she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the age of 16 years came with the Queen Mother into England and 6 moneths after returning into France was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Anjou till the death of his Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livres Tournois besides his Appanage not yet setled Her Portion was 40000 l. Sterling her Joynture to be the same with the present Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess hath issue one Daughter if she hath a Son the French King allows him 50000 Crowns yearly and the Appanage after the death of the present Duke reverts to the Crown Of the Prince Elector Palatine THere being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of England are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose eldest Son living is Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsgrave from the High Dutch pfaltzgraff Palatii Comes was born the the 22th December 1617 at Heydelberg and afterwards in Holland at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the age of 18 years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel in Westphalia In the year 1637 passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by that quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes whence after 23 weeks imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of England set at liberty In the year 1643 he came again into England and with the Kings secret consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilst the Rebels possest the greatest part of his Majesties Revenues made his Addresses to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murder of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinat according to the famous Treaty at Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his right to the Upper Palatinat and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of time when the King of England had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all other at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest advantages there In 1650 he espoused the Lady Charlotte Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen by which Lady he hath one Son named Charles aged about 16 and one Daughter aged about 14. Of Prince Rupert NExt to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatin is Prince Rupert born at Prague 27 Novemb. 1619 not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatin Family was for almost 30 years dispossest of all their Possessions in Germany At 13 years of age he marcht with the then Prince of Orenge to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the age of 18 he commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in a Battel being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a prisoner above three years In 1642 returning into England and made General of the Horse to the King fights and defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-hill took Cirencester recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham House fought the great Battel at Marston Moor was created Earl of Holderness and
Garter upon the Left Leg upon pain of paying 2 Crowns to any Officer of the Order who shall first claim it onely in taking a Journey a Blew Ribon under the Boot doth suffice Upon the Left Shoulder upon Cloak Coat or Riding Cassack in all places of Assembly when they wear not their Robes they are to wear an Escutcheon of the Arms of St. George that is a Cross with a Garter and this by an Order made April 1626. That Ornament and Embellishment about the said Escutcheon now worn and called the Star or rather the Sun in its glory was at the same time enjoyned The The greatest Monarchs of Christendome have been enrolled and have taken it for an Honour to be of this Order There have been of this Order since the Institution 8 Emperours 25 or 26 Forreign Kings besides many Soveraign Princes c. The Fellows and Companions of the Most Noble Order of St. George are at present these that follow ranked according as they are seated in their several Stalls at Windsor IN the first Stall on the right hand is the Soveraigne of the Order King Charles the Second who is Patron and Sole Disposer of the Order The Stall opposite to His Majesty is now void In the other Stalls on the Sovereign Side are thus placed these that follow 2 The Duke of York 3 Prince Rupert 4 Marquiss of Brandenbourgh 5 Earl of Salisbury 6 Earl of Northumberland 7 Duke of Buckingham 8 Earl of Bristol 9 Count Marsin 10 Earl of Sandwich 11 Duke of Richmond 12 Earl of Strafford 13th Stall is void On the other side opposite to these afore-named are placed in this Order these that follow 2 Prince Elector Palatine 3 Prince of Orenge 4 Prince of Denmark 5 Earl of Berkshire 6 Duke of Ormond 7 Duke of Newcastle 8 Prince of Tarent 9 Duke of Albemarle 10 Earl of Oxford 11 Earl of Manchester 12 Duke of Monmouth 13th Stall on this Side also is void The whole number of Fellows of this Order is not to exceed 26. In the next place are Knights Bannerets Equites Vexilliferi antiently a high Honour now obsolete there being at this time none of this Order in England These may bear Supporters of their Arms and none under this Degree Knights of the Bath so called of their Bathing used before they are created The first of this sort were made by Henry 4th Anno 1399. They are now commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen or Installation of 〈◊〉 Prince of VVales They weaâ— a Scarlet Ribon Belt-wise They are still made with much Ceremony too long here to be described Other Knights called Equites Aurati from the Gilt Spurs usually put upon them and Knights Batchelors quasi Baschevaliers Knights of lower Degree So Bachelors in Arts or Divinity quasi Low Knights or Servitors in Arts. These were antiently made by girding with a Sword and Gilt Spurs and was bestowed onely upon Sword men for their Military Service and was reâ—uted an excellent and glorious Degree and a Noble Reward â—or Courageous Persons but â—f late being made more common and bestowed upon â—own Men contrary to the â—ature of the thing as Degrees â—n the University are sometimes â—estowed upon Sword men it â—s become of much less reputaâ—ion Yet amongst Gown men 〈◊〉 is given only to Lawyers and â—hysitians and not to Divines â—ho may as well become that Dignity and be Spiritual Knights as well as Spiritual Lords These are now made with no other Ceremony but kneeling down the King with a drawn Sword lightly toucheth them on the Shoulder after which heretofore the King said in French Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu and then Avances Chevalier When a Knight is to suffeâ— death for any foul Crime hiâ— Military Girdle is first to be ungirt his Sword taken away hiâ— Spurs cut off with an Hatchetâ— his Gantlet pluckt off and hiâ— Coat of Arms reversed Next amongst the Loweâ— Nobility are Esquires so called from the French word Escuyers Scutigeri because they were wont to bear before the Prince in War or before the better sort of Nobility 〈◊〉 Shield or else perhaps because they bear a Coat of Arms as Ensigns of their descent and by our Lawyers are called Armigeri Of this Title are first all Vicounts eldest Sons and all Vicounts and Barons younger Sons and by the Common Law of England all the Sons of Earls Marquisses and Dukes are Esquires and no more Next are the Esquires of the Kings Body mentioned among the Officers of the Kings Court after these are reckoned Knights eldest Sons and their eldest Sons for ever then younger Sons of the elder Sons of Barons next Esquires created by the King by putting about their Necks a Collar of Esses and bestowing on them a pair of Silver Spurs Lastly any that are in superiour Publick Office for King or State are reputed Esquires or equal to Esquires as Justices of the Peace Mayors of Towns so Councellours at Law Batchelors of Divinity Law or Physick although none of them really are so In the last place among thâ— lower Nobility are accounted the Gentry of England that have no other Title but are descended of antient Families that have alwayes born a Coaâ— of Arms. This Kind of Honour is derived from the Germans to the rest of Christendome and was never known in any Countrey where the German Customs were unknown as in Asia Africa and America The Germans antiently warring oft amongst themselves painted their Scutcheons with the Picture of some Beast Bird or other thing for distinction and put some eminent and visible Mark upon the Crest of their Helmets and this Ornament both of Arms and Crest descended by inheritance to their Children to the eldest pure and to the rest with some note of distinction such as the Old Master of Ceremonies in High Dutch Here-alt now Herald thought fit Gentlemen well descended and well qualified have alwayes been of such repute in England that none of the higher Nobility no nor the King himself have thought it unfitting to make them sometimes their Companions The Title of Gentleman in England as of Cavalier in France Italy and Spain is not disdained by any Nobleman All Noblemen are Gentlemen though all Gentlemen are not Noblemen The State of Gentry was antiently such that it was accounted an abasing of Gentry to put their Sons to get their Living by Shop-keeping and our Law did account it a disparagement of a Ward in Chivalry to be married to a Shop-keepers Daughter or to any meer Citizen for Tradesmen in all Ages and Nations have been reputed ignoble in regard of the doubleness of their Tongue without which they cannot grow rich for Nihil proficiunt nisi admodum mentiuntur as Tully observed and therefore amongst the Thebans no man was admitted to places of Honour or Trust unless he had left off trading ten years before So by the Imperial Laws a Tradesman is not capable of any
Willmot Earl of Rochester Henry Jermin Earl of St. Albans Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich James Butler Earl of Brecknock Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon Arthur Capel Earl of Essex Thomas Brudnel Earl of Cardigan Anthony Annesly Earl of Anglesey John Greenvile Earl of Bath Charles Howard Earl of Carlile John Craven Earl of Craven Thomas Bruce Earl of Alisbury Richard Boyle Earl of Burlington Vicounts Leicester Devereux Vicount Hereford Francis Brown Vicount Montague James Fiennes Vicount Say and Seale Edward Conway Vicount Conway Baptist Noel Vicount Camden William Howard Vicount Stafford Thomas Bellasis Vicount Falconbridge John Mordant Vicount Mordant George Savil Vicount Halifax Barons John Nevil Lord Abergavenny James Touchet Lord Andley Charles West Lord de la Warre George Berkly Lord Berkly Thomas Parker Lord Morly and Monteagle Francis Lennard Lord Dacres Conyers Darcy Lord Darcy and Menil William Stourton Lord Stourton William Lord Sandys de la Vine Edward Vaux Lord Vaux Thomas Windsor Lord Windsor Thomas Wentworth Lord Wentworth Wingfield Cromwel Lord Cromwell George Evre Lord Evre Philip Wharton Lord Wharton Francis Willoughby Lord Willoughby of Parham William Paget Lord Paget Dudly North Lord North. William Bruges Lord Chandos William Petre Lord Petre. Dutton Gerard Lord Gerard. Charles Stanhop Lord Stanhop Henry Arundel Lord Arundel of Warder Christopher Rooper Lord Tenham Fulk Grevil Lord Brooke Edward Montague Lord Montague of Boughton Charles Lord Howard of Charlton William Grey Lord Grey of Wark John Robarts Lord Robarts John Lovelace Lord Lovelace John Pawlet Lord Pawlet William Mainard Lord Mainard Thomas Coventry Lord Coventry Edward Lord Howard of Escrick Warwick Mohun Lord Mohun William Butler Lord Butler Percy Herbert Lord Powis Edward Herbert Lord Herbert of Cherbury Francis Seymour Lord Seymour Francis Newport Lord Newport Thomas Leigh Lord Leigh of Stonelty Christopher Hatton Lord Hatton Henry Hastings L. Loughborough Richard Byron Lord Byron Richard Vaughan Lord Vaughan Charles Smith Lord Carington William Widrington Lord Widrington Humble Ward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Isaack Astley Lord Astley Richard Boyle Lord Clifford John Lucas Lord Lucas John Bellasis Lord Bellasis Lewis Watson Lord Rockingham Charles Gerard Lord Gerard of Brandon Robert Sutton Lord Sutton of Lexinton Charles Kirkhoven Lord Wotton Marmaduke Langdale Lord Langdale William Crofts Lord Crofts John Berkley Lord Berkley Denzil Hollis Lord Hollis Frederick Cornwallis Lord Cornwallis George Booth Lord de la Mere. Horatio Townsend Lord Townsend Anthony Ashley Cooper Lord Ashley John Crew Lord Crew c. Henry Bennet Lord Arlington John Freschevile Lord Fresschevile Richard Arundel Lord Arundeâ— of Trerice Of Temporal Lords or Peer of England there are at presenâ— about 170 whereof there arâ— 10 Dukes 3 Marquisses 6â— Earls 8 Vicounts and 78 Barons whereas within 60 yearâ— last past there was not onâ— Duke but one Marquiss abouâ— 20 Earls 3 or 4 Vicounts anâ— 40 Lords The Laws and Customs of England alwayes willing that Decorum and Conveniency should be every where observed and considering the Charges and Expences appertaining to the several Degrees of Honour as they belong to Men of Principal Service to the King and Realm both in time of War and Peace expected that each of them should have a convenient Estate and Value of Lands of Inheritance for the support of their Honours and the Kings Service Therefore antiently when the intrinsique value of a Pound Sterling was worth 30 l. of our Money now every Knight was to have about 800 Acres reckoned at 20 l. yearly in Land that is about 600 l. of our Money at this day A Baron to have 13 Knights Fees and one third part which amounted to 400 l. which multiplied by 30 was as much as 8000 l. a year at this day An Earl 20 Knights Fees and a Duke 40. And in case of decay of Nobility or that they had so far wasted their Revenues that their Honours could not decently be maintained as the Roman Senators were in such case removed from the Senate so sometimes some English Barons have not been admitted to sit in the Higher House of Parliament though they kept the Name and Title of Dignity still For the better support oâ— these Degrees of Honour the King doth usually upon the Creation of a Duke Marquiss Earl or Vicount grant an Annuity or yearly Rent to them and their heirs which is so annext to the Dignity that by no Grant Assurance or any manner of Alienation can be given from the same but is still â—ncident to and a support of the same Creation contrary to that Principle in Law That every Land of Feesimple may be charged with a Rent in Fee-simple by one way or other To a Duke the King grants 40 l. heretofore a considerable Pension to a Marquiss 40 Marks to an Earl 20 l. and to a Vicount 20 Marks To Barons no such Pensions is ordinarily granted onely the late King creating Mountjoy Blount the late Earl of Newport Lord Mountjoy of Thurlston granted him a Fee of 20 Marks per annum to him and his heirs for ever As the King of England hath ever had the repute of the richest in Domaines of any King in Europe so the Nobility of England have been accounted the richest in Lands of any Neighbouring Nation some having above 20000 l. yearly others 15000 and so many of them above ten that if one with another they have 10000 l. yearly it will amount to in all amongst the 160 Lords Sixteen hundred thousand pounds a year about the ninth part of the yearly Revenue of all England which upon Computation is found to be about Fourteen Millions yearly The English Nobility for Valour Wisdome Integrity â—nd Honour hath in all former Ages been equal to any in Christendom Every Lords House was a kind of a well disciplined Court insomuch that the Gentry Males and Females were wont to be sent thither for vertuous breeding and returned excellently accomplisht At home their Table Attendance Officers Exercises Recreations Garb was an Honour to the Nation Abroad they were attended with as brave numerous and uniform Train of Servants and Followers as any â—uâ—ope not thinking it consistent with their Honours to be seen walk the Streets almost in Cuerpo with one Lackey or not that much less to be found drinking in a Tavern c. If the English Nobility by â— long continued Peace excessive Luxury in Diet want oâ— Action c. were before thâ— late Wars born more feeble in body than their Ancestors anâ— by too fine and too full Dieâ— afterwards were rendred weaker in mind and then during thâ— late troubles by much licentiousness and want of fit Education were so debauched thaâ— it was lately difficult to finâ— as some are bold to affirme the Courage Wisdom Integrity Honour Sobriety and Courtesie of the Antient Nobility yet is it not to be doubted but that under a Warlike Enterprising Prince all those Vertues of their Fore-Fathers may spring afresh especially if we consider the vicissitude
of all sublunary things and remember that there was once a time when the Juvenes Nobiles in Old English the Edel Knaben were so leud that those words came at length to signifie as now Idle Knaves Of the Commonalty or Third State of England THe Law of England contrary to the Laws and Customs of other Countries â—alleth none Noble under a Baron so that not only all Baronets all sorts of Knights all Esquires and Gentlemen but also all the Sons of the Nobility are by our Law reckoned amongst the Commons of England and therefore the eldest Son of a Duke though by the Courtesie of England stiled an Earl yet shall be arraigned by the Stile of Esquire only and may be tried by a Jury of Common Freeholders and in Parliament can sit only in the House of Commons if elected till called by the Kings Writ to the Lords House Yet doth it seem very absurd that all Noblemens Sons with all Knights Esquires and Gentlemen should be esteemed Plebeans but rather as in Rome they were in a middle Rank inter Senatores Plebem or else as â—n other Christian Kingdomes they should be considered as â—he Minor Nobilitas Regni so â—hat as Barons and all above may be stiled Nobiles Majores â—o from a Baron downward to â—he Yeoman all may be not â—â—fitly stiled Nobiles Minores The Lower Nobility then of England consists of Baroâ—ets Knights Esquires and Gentlemen The next Degree to Barons â—re Baronets which is the lowâ—st Degree of Honour that is â—ereditary An Honour first â—nstituted by King James Anno â—611 given by Patent to a Man and his Heirs Males of his Body lawfully begotten for â—hich each one is obliged to â—ay into the Exchequer so much money as will for 3 years at 8â— d. per diem pay 30 Foot Souldiers to serve in the Province oâ— Vlster in Ireland which summe amounts to 1095 l. which with Fees doth commonly arise to 1200 l. Baronets have precedencâ— before all Knights excepâ— Knights of the Garter and Knights Bannerets made under the Kings Banner or Standard displaied in an Army Royaâ— in open War and the Kinâ— personally present Baronets have the Priviledgi to bear in a Canton of theiâ— Coat of Arms or in a wholâ— Scutcheon the Arms of Vlster viz. In a Field Argent a Hanâ— Gules also in the Kings Armies to have place in the gros near the Kings Standard witâ— some other particulars for their Funerals The whole number of Baronets in England are not to exceed 200 at one and the same time after which number compleated as any for want of heirs come to be extinct the number shall not be made up by new Creations but be suffered to diminish as appears by their Patent No Honour is ever to be created between Baronets and Barons The first Baronet that was created was Sir Nicholas Bacon of Suffolk whose Successor is therefore stiled Primus Baronettorum Angliae This Word Knight is derived from the German Word Knecht signifying originally 〈◊〉 Lusty Servitor The Germans as the antient Romans gave their young men Togam Virilem by Publick Authority bestowed on their young men able to manage Arms a Shield and a Javelin as fit for Martial Service and to be a Member of the Common wealth accounted before but a part of a Family and such a young man publickly allowed they called Knecht whence we had our Institution of Knighthood The thing Knight is at this day signified in Latine French Spanish Italian and also in the High and Low Dutch Tongues by a Word that properly signifies a Horseman because they were wont to serve in War on Horsback and were sometimes in England called Radenyhts id est Riding Servitors yet our Common Law stiles them Milites because they commonly held Lands in Knights Service to serve the King in his Wars as Soldiers The Honour of Knighthood is commonly given for some personal desert and therefore dies with the person deserving and descends not to his Son In England there are several sorts of Knights whereof the chiefest are those of the Order of St. George commonly called Knights of the Garter This Order is esteemed the most Honourable and most Antient of any now in use in Christendom It began as appears in the Statutes of this Order in the 23th year of the Warlike and Puissant King Edward 3 who was Founder thereof and at first made choice of the most Illustrious Persons of Europe to be of that Royal Society no doubt upon a Martial and not upon any such Amorous Account as is intimated Page 96 of this Treatise which ridiculous Story to the dishonour of the Order was first fancied by Polydore Virgil and since upon his credit taken up by many late Authors It appears by Antient Writings that this Honourable Company is a Colledge or Corporation having a Great Seal belonging to it and consisting of a Soveraign Guardian which is alwayes the King of England and of 25 Companions called Knights of the Garter of 14 Secular Canons that are Priests of 13 Vicars who are also Priests of 26 poor Knights who have no other Maintenance but the allowance of this Colledge which is given them in respect of their Prayers to the Honour of God and of St. George who is the Patron of England and of this Order in particular and is none of those Fabulous St. Georges as some have vainly fancied but that famous Saint and Soldier of Christ St. George of Cappadocia a Saint so universally received in all Parts of Christendom so generally attested by the Ecclesiastical Writers of all Ages from the time of his Martyrdome till this day that no one Saint in all the Calendar except those attested by Scripture can be better evidenced There be also certain Officers belonging to this Order as the Prelate of the Garter which Office is settled on the Bishoprick of VVinchester A Chancellour of the Garter A Register who of later times hath been constantly the Dean of VVindsor though antiently it was otherwise The Principal King at Arms called Garter whose chief function is to manage and marshal their Solemnities at their Installations and Feasts Lastly The Usher of the Garter There are also certain Orders and Constitutions belonging to this Society touching the Solemnities in making these Knights their Duties after Creation and their high Priviledges too long for this place The Colledge is seated in the Castle of VVindsor with the Chappel of St. George there erected by King Edward 3. and the Chapter House The Order of the Garter is wont to be bestowed upon the most excellent and renowned Persons for Honour and Vertue and with it a Blew Garter deckt with Gold Pearl and Pretious Stones and a Buckle of Gold to be worn daily on the Left Leg also at High Feasts they are to wear a Surcoat a Mantle a Black Velvet Cap a Coller of Garters and other stately and magnificent Apparel They are not to be seen abroad without their
Honourable Estate nor to be a Commander over Souldiers and therefore the English Nobility and Gentry till within late years judged it a stain and diminution to the honour and dignity of their Families to seek their Childrens support by Shop-keeping but only as in all great Monarchies by Military Court State or Church Emploiments much less to subject their Children to an Apprentisage a perfect Servitude for during that time whatever they gain by their Masters Trade or their own wit belongs all to their Master neither can they lie our of their Masters House noâ— take a Wife nor trade of their own but subject to all Houshold Work all Commands oâ— their Master undergo what punishment and eat and wear what their Master pleaseth which Marks of Slavery considered Heralds are of opinion that a Gentleman thereby loses his Gentility for ever till he can otherwise recover it and yet to the shame of our Nation we have seen of fare not onely the Sons of Baroners Knights and Gentlemen sitting in Shops and sometimes of Pedling Trades far more fit for Women and their Daughters but also an Earl of this Kingdom subjecting his Son to an Apprentisage and Trade but the folly of the English in swerving from their Ancestors steps herein as in other things is now apparent for those young Gentlemen possessing more noble and active Spirits could not brook such dull slavish lives and being thereby unfitted for other emploiments have generally taken ill debauched courses Priviledges The lower Nobility of England have fewer and lesse Priviledges than those in other Monarchies Some few Priviledges belong to Knights quatenus Knights 〈◊〉 a Knight be a Minor yet shall he be out of Wardship both for Lands Body and Marriage for though the Law doth judge him not able to do Knights Service till the Age of 21 years yet the King being Sovereign and Supreme Judge of Chivalry by dubbing him Knight doth thereby allow him to be able to do him Knights Service Knights are excused from attendance at Court-Leets They and their eldest Sons not compellable to find Pledges at the Visus Franci Plegii Knights by Magna Charta cap. 21. are so freed that no Demesne Cart of theirs may be taken The Son and Brother of a Knight by Statute law are capacitated to hold more than one Beenfice with cure of Souls By the Stat. Primo Jacobi It seems that Knights and their Sons though they cannot spend 10 l. per annum nor are worth 200 l. may keep Greyhounds Setting Dogs or Nets to take Pheasants or Partridges Some Priviledges also beâ—ong to Gentlemen Antientâ—y if an ignoble person did â—trike a Gentleman in England he was to lose his hand A Gentleman by Stat. Quint. Eliz. may not be comâ—elled to serve in Husbandry The Child of a Gentleman â—rought up to singing cannot â—e taken without the Parents â—nd Friends consent to serve â—n the Kings Chappel as others may The Horse of a Gentleman may not be taken to ride post Note That as there are somâ— Great Officers of the Crownâ— who for their Dignity anâ— Worth of their Places although they are not Noble men yet take place amongâ— the highest of the Higher Nobility so there are some Persons who for their Dignities in the Church-degrees iâ— the University Offices in thâ— State or Army although thâ— are neither Knights nor Gentlemen born yet take place amongst them So all Deanâ— Archdeacons Chancellours Prebends Doctors of Divinity Law and Physick Heads of Houses in the University usually take place nexâ— to Knights and before all Esquires and Gentlemen Likewise all Judges of Courts Mayors Bailiffs Justices of the Peace All Commissionated Officers in the Army as Colonels Master of Artillery Quarter-Master General c. All higher Officers in the Kings Court or State All Sergeants at Law c. These are wont to precede Esquires All Batchelors of Divinity Law and Physick all Doctors in the Arts commonly called Masters of Art all Barresters in the Innes of Court all Captains Officers in the Kings Houshold c. may equal if not precede Gentlemen that have none of those qualifications In England Gentry as in Germany all Nobility and Arms are held in Gavelkind descending to all the Sons alike only the eldest Son beareth Arms without difference which the younger may not Of the low Nobility in England the number is so great that there are reckoned at present above 500 Baronets more than the first intended number that is in all above 700 who are possest one with another of about 1200 l. a year in Lands Of Knights above 1400 who one with another may have about 800 l. Lands a year Of Esquires and Gentlemen above 6000 each one possest one with another of about 400 l. a year in Lands besides younger Brothers whose number may amount to about 16000 in all England who have small Estates in Lands but are commonly bred up to Divinity Law Physick to Court and Military Emploiments but of late too many of them to Shop-keeping The Lands in the possession of the lower Nobility will amount to about four Millions and sixty thousand pounds yearly Next to the lower Nobility and the first Degree of the Commons or Plebeans are the Freeholders in England commonly called Yeomen from the High Dutch Gemen or Gemain in English Common so in the Kings Court it signifieth an Officer which is in a middle place between a Sergeant and a Groom or else from the Low Dutch Yeman Some-body as the Spaniard calls a Gentleman Hidalgo Hijo d' algo that is the Son of Some-body The Yeomanry of England having Lands of their own to a good value and living upon Husbandry are lookt upon as not apt to commit or omit any thing that may endanger their Estates and Credits nor apt to be corrupted or suborned c. wherefore they are judged fit to bear some Offices as of Constable Churchwarden to serve upon Juries to be Train-Souldiers to vote in the Election of Knights of the Shire for Parliament c. In Cases and Causes the Law of England hath conceived a better opinion of the Yeomanry that occupy Lands then of Tradesmen Artificers or Labourers Husbandry hath in no age rendred a Gentleman ignoble nor uncapable of places of Honour Amongst the Romans some of the greatest Dictators and Consuls had been once Husbandmen and some of them taken from Plowing their Ground to bear those Highest Offices and Dignities so divers Princes Kings and Emperours have exercised Agriculture and the Grand Scipâ—o and the Emperour Dioclesian left their Commands to enjoy Husbandry By the Statutes of England certain Immunities are given to Freeholders and landed men though they are not Gentlemen Vide Stat. 1 Jacobi cap. 27. alibi Of the Free-holders in England there are more in number and richer than in any Countrey of the like extent in Europe 40 or 50 l. a year a piece is very ordinary 100 and 200 l. a year in some Counties is not rare Besides these
to E. Chamberlayn she writes her self Susanna Clifford Chamberlayn Notwithstanding all which their condition de facto is the best in the World for such is the good nature of Englishmen towards their Wives such is their tenderness and respect giving them the uppermost place at Table and elsewhere the right hand every where and putting them upon no drudgery and hardship that if there were a Bridge over into England as aforesaid it is thought all the Women in Europe would run thither Besides in some things the Laws of England are above other Nations so favourable to that Sex as if the Women had voted at the making of them If a Wife bring forth a Child during her Husbands absence though it be for some years within England and not beyond the Seas that Husband must father that Child If a Wife bring forth a Child begotten by any other before Marriage yet the present Husband must own the Child and that Child shall be his Heir at Law The Wife after her Husbands death may challenge the third part of his yearly Rents of Lands during her life and within the City of London a third part of all her Husbands moveables for ever As the Wife doth participate of her Husband Name so likewise of his Condition If he be a Duke she is a Dutchess if he be a night she is a Lady if he be an Alien made a Denison she is ipso facto so too If a Freeman marry a Bondwoman she is also free during the Coverture wherefore it is said as before Uocor fulget radiis Mariti All Women in England are comprised under Noble or Ignoble Noble Women are so three manner of wayes viz. by Creation by Descent and by Marriage The King the Fountain of Honour may and oft hath created Women to be Baronesses Countesses Dutchesses c. By Descent such Women are Noble to whom Lands holden by such Dignity do descend aâ— Heir for Dignities and Titles of Honour for want of Males descend to Females but to one of them onely because they are things in their own nature entire and not to be divided amongst many as the Lands and Tenements are which descend to all the Daughters equally besides by dividing Dignities the Reputation of Honour would be lost and the Strength of the Realm impaired for the Honour and Chevalry of the Realm doth chiefly consist in the Nobility thereof By Marriage all Women are Noble who take to their Husbands any Baron or Peer of the Realm but if afterwards they 〈◊〉 to Men not Noble they 〈◊〉 their former Dignity and follow the condition of their laâ—â— Husband for eodem modo distolvitur earum Nobilitas quo constituitur But Women Noble by Creation or Descent or Birthright remain Noble though they marry Husbands under their Degree for such Nobility is accounted Character indelebilis Here note that by the Courtesie of England a Woman Noble only by Marriage alwayes retaineth her Nobility but if the Kings Daughter marry a Duke or an Earl illa semper dicitur Regalis as well by Law as Courtesie Noble women in the Eye of the Law are as Peers of the Realm and are to be tried by their Peers and to enjoy most other Priviledges Honour and Respect as their Husbands Only they cannot by the opinion of some great Lawyers maintain an Action upon the Statute De Scandalo Magnatum the Makers of that Statute meaning only to provide in that Case for the Great Men and not for the Women as the words of that Statute seem to import Likewise if any of the Kings Servants within his Check Roll should conspice the death of any Noblewoman this were not Felony as it is if like Conspiracy be against a Nobleman None of the Wives Dignities can come by Marriage to their Husbands although all their Goods and Chattels do onely the Wives Lands are to descend to her next Heir yet is the Courtesie of England such that as the Wife for her Dower hath the third part of her Husbands Lands during her life so the Husband for the Dignity of his Sex and for playing the Man in begetting his Wife with Child which must appear by being born alive shall have all his Wives Lands for his Dower if it may be so called during his life By the Constitutions of England married persons are so fast joyned that they may not be wholly separated by any agreement between themselves but only by Sentence of the Judge and such separation is either a Vinculo Matrimonii and that is ob praecontractum vel ob contractum per metum effectum vel ob frigiditatem vel ob affinitatem sive Censanguinitatem vel ob Saevitiam or else such separation is a Mensa Thoro and that is ob Adulterium The Wife in England is accounted so much one with her Husband that she caunot be produced as a witness for or against her Husband Concerning Children in England The Condition of Children in England is different from those in our Neighbour Countries As Husbands have a more absolute Authority over their Wives and their Estates so Fathers have a more absolute Authority over their Children Fathers may give all their Estates from their own Children and all to any one Child and none to the rest the consideration whereof keeps the Children in great awe Children by the Common Law of England are at certain ages enabled to perform certain Acts. A Son at the age of 14 may choose his Guardian may claim his Lands holden in Socage may consent to Marriage may by Will dispose of Goods and Chattels At the age of 15 he ought to be sworn to his Allegeance to the King At 21 he is said to be of full age may then make any Contracts may pass not only Goods but Lands by Will which in other Countries may not be done till the Annus consistentiae the age of 25 when the heat of youth is somewhat abated and they begin to be staied in mind as well as in growth A Daughter at 7 years is to have aid of her Fathers Tenants to marry her for at those years she may consent to Marriage though she may afterwards dissent At 9 she is dowable as if then or soon after she could virum sustinere and thereby Dotem promereri At 12 she is enabled to ratifie and confirm her former consent given to Matrimony and if at that age she dissent not she is bound for ever she may then make a Will of Goods and Chattels At 14 she may receive her Lands into her own hands and is then out of Wardship if she be 14 at the death of her Ancestor At 16 though at the death of her Ancestor she was under 14 she shall be out of Wardship because then she may take a Husband who may be able to perform Knights-service as well as hers At 21 she is enabled to contract or alienate her Lands by Will or otherwise The Eldest Son inherits all Lands and to the younger Children are disposed Goods and Chattels and commonly the Eldest Sons Wives Portion and besides they are carefully educated in some Profession or Trade If there be no Son the Lands as well as Goods are equally divided amongst the Daughters Concerning Servants in England The Condition of Servants in England is much more favourable than it was in our Ancestors dayes when it was so bad that England was called the Purgatory of Servants as it was and is still the Paradise of Wives and the Hell for Horses Ordinary Servants are hired commonly for one year at the end whereof they may be free giving warning 3 Moneths before and may place themselves with other Masters only it is accounted discourteous and unfriendly to take another Mans Servant before leave given by his former Master and indiscreet to take a Servant without a Certificate of his diligence and of his faithfulness in his Service to his former Master All Servants are subject to be corrected by their Masters and Mistresses and resistance in a Servant is punisht with severe penalty but for a Servant to take away the life of his or her Master or Mistris is accounted a Crime next to High Treason and called Petty Treason and hath a peculiar Punishment Capital Slaves in England are none since Christianity prevailed A Slave brought into England is upon landing ipso facto free from Slavery but not from ordinary service Some Lands in England are holden in Villanage to do some particular Services to the Lord of the Mannor and such Tenants may be called the Lords Servants There is a Twofold Tenure called Villanage one where the Tenure only is servile as to plow the Lords ground sow reap and bring home his Corn dung his Land c. the other whereby both Person and Tenure is servile and bound in all respects at the disposition of the Lord such persons are called in Law pure Villans and are to do all Villanous Services to improve the Land he holds to the Lords use themselves to be wholly at the Lords Service and whatever they get is for their Lord of such there are now but few left in England The nearest to this condition are Apprentices that signifies Learuers a sort of Servants that carry the Marks of pure Villans or Bond-slaves as before in the Chapter of Gentry is intimated differing however in this that Apprentices are Slaves only for a time and by Covenant the other are so at the Will of their Masters FINIS Name Climat Dimensions Aire Soyle Comâ—odities Inhabitants Their Language Stature Dyet Attire Buildings Number of Inhabitants Dispositions and humours of the Inhabitants Recreations Weights and Measures Measures Moneys English Coâ—â—â—tation English Numbring English Names Surnamesâ— Name Title Arms. Patrimony Dominions Person Office Power and Prerogative Supremacy and Soveraignty Divinity Respect Minor â—capaâ—ty Absence â—â—me â—erogaâ—es Dignity Eldest Son Title Arms. Dignity Priviledges Revenues Cadets Name Surname Genealogy Birth Baptisme Court Education Marriage Arms. Lord Chancellour Dignity Office Oath Salary Lord Treasurer Oath Office Lord Privy Seal Dignity Admiral Office Chamberlain Constable Earl Marshal High Steward Clergy their Dignity Name Degrees Bishop Archbishop Suffragan Bishop Dean Archdeacon Priviledges of the Clergy Archbishop Canterbury York don Revenues of the Clergy Name Use Degrees Duke Marquisâ— Earl Vicount Baron Priviledges Precedence State Marquiss Earl Vicount Baron Number Revenue Baronets Knights Knights of the Garter Knights Bannerets Knights of the Bath Knights Bachelors Gentleman