extraordinary great He only hath the patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen but by his Conge d'Esâ—ire whom he hath first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent He is Guardian or Nursing Father of the Church which our Kings of England did so reckon amongst their principal Cares as in the Three and twentieth year of King Edward the First it was alledged in a pleading and allowed The King hath power to call a National or Provincial Synod and with the advice and consent thereof to make Canons Orders Ordinances and Consâ—itutions to introduce into the Church what Ceremonies he shall think sit to reâ—orm and correct all Heresies Schisms and pâ—nish Contempts c The King hath power not only to unite consolidate separate inlarge or contract the limits of any old Bishoprick or other Ecclesiastical Benefice But also by his Letters Patents may erect new Bishopricks as Henry the Eighth did Six at one time and the late King Charles the Martyr intended to do at St. Albans for the Honour of the first Martyr of England and for the contracting the too large extent of the Bishoprick of Lincoln In the 28. of Eliz. when the House of Commons would have passed Bills touching Bishops granting Faculties conferring Holy Orders Ecclesiastical Censures the Oath Ex Officio Non-Residency c. The Queen being much incensed forbade them to meddle in any Ecclesiastical Affairs for that it belonged to her prerogative His Majesty hath also power of Coynage of Money of pardoning all Criminals of dispensing with all Statutes made by him or his Predecessors which are Malum prohibitum and not Malum in se. The diversity between these terms is set down in the Statute made Term. Mich. Anno 11 H. 7. 11. Thus where the Statute doth prohibit a man to coyn Money if he do he shall be hanged this is Malum prohibitum for before the said Statute it was lawful but not after and for this Evil the King may dispense But Malum in se neither the King nor any other can dispense with As if the King would give leave to rob on the High-ways c. this is void yet after the Fact done the King may pardon it So it is in Ecclesiastical Laws for conformity to the Liturgy c. which are Malum prohibitum and the King may by his Prerogative Royal as well dispense with all those penal Statutes as with Merchants to transport Silver Wooll and other prohibited Commodities by Act of Parliament The King cannot devest himself or his Successors of any part of his Royal Power Prerogative and Authority inherent and annext to the Crown nor bar his Heir of the Succession no not by Act of Parliament for such an Act is void by Law These Prerogatives do of right belong to the Crown of England which I have collected out of the most Authentick Modern Authors And to compleat this Chapter I shall proceed to his Superiority and Precedency The King of England acknowledgeth no Superior but God alone not the Emperor Omnem potestatem Rex Angliae in Regno suo quam Imperator vendicat in Imperio yet he giveth Precedency to the Emperor Eo quod antiquitate Imperium omnia regna superare creditur Touching our King's Supremacy before any other these Reasons are offered First Lucius King of this Land was the first Christian King in the World as also Constantine our Country-man the first Emperor that publickly planted Christianity Secondly The King of England is anoynted as no other King is but France Sicily and Ierusalem Thirdly He is crowned which honour the Kings of Spain Portugal Navarr and divers other Princes have not The honour of Precedency amongst Christian Kings is often disputed by their Ambassadors and Commissioners representative at General Councils Diets publick Treaties and other Honourable Assemblies at Coronations Congratulations in Foreign Countries c. which by the best Information I can get is thus stated As to England next to the Imperial Ministers the French take place as being the largest Realm in Christendom and most Noble since Charles le mayne their King obtained the Imperial Diadem the second place in the Western Empire was undisputably the right of our English Kings so enjoyed for hundreds of years 'till Spain grown rich and proud by the addition of the Indies claimed the priority yet could not gain it till their Charles the Fifth was Elected Emperor but after his Resignation the Controversie renewed upon the Treaty of Peace between Queen Elizabeth and Philip the Third King of Spain at â—oloign in France Anno 1600. Our Ambassadors were Sir Henry Nevil Iohn Harbert and Thomas Edmonds Esquires and for Spain Balthazer de Coniga Ferdinando Carillo Io. Ricardett and Lewis Varreyken The English challenged precedency as due to them before the Emperor Charles his time as doth appear by Volatteram in the time of our Henry the Seventh when the like difference being in question 't was joyntly referred to the Pope who adjudged to England the most Honourable place But the Spaniards refusing to stand to that old Award or to admit of an equality the Treaty of Peace broke up neither hath any certain Resolution been hitherto taken in the matter as ever I heard of OF THE PRINCE CHAP. III. THE King 's Eldest Son and Heir apparent from the Day of his Birth is entituled Prince of the Latin word quasi Principalis post Regem The first that we read of in England was Edward eldest Son to King Henry the Third since which time the eldest Son of the King hath been by Patent and other Ceremonies created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and Flint By Patent also Edward the Third in the Eleventh year of his Reign added the Dukedom of Cornwal to the Principality of Wales and Anno Regni 36. he makes his eldest Son Edward the Black Prince Prince of Aquitain for which he did Fealty and Homage at Westminster Sed tamen Principatum Walliae Ducatum Cornubiae Comitatum Cestriae Cantii non reliquit Walsing fol. 172. Since the Union of England and Scotland his Title hath been Magnae Britanniae Princeps but ordinarily Prince of Wales As eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth And so long as Normandy remained in the possession of the English he had always the style of Duke of Normandy At his Creation he is presented before the King in Princely Robes who putteth a Coronet upon his Head a Ring on his middle Finger a Verge of Gold in his Hand and his Letters Patents after they are reaâ— His Mantle which he wears in â—arliament is once more doubled upon the shoâ—â—â—â—rs than a Dukes his Cap of State indenteâ—â—nd his Coronet formerly of Crosses and Flower de lis mixed But since the happy Restauration of his Majesty it was solemnly ordered that the Son and Heir apparent
time but by a Statute made the Twelfth of Edward the First Wales was incorporated and united to England and became part thereof Also by another Statute made 27 Hen. 8. c. 24. a general resumption of many Liberties and Franchises heretofore granted or taken from the Crown as the Authority to pardon Treasons Murder Manslaughter and Felony also power to make Justices in Oyer Justices of Assize Justices of the Peace Goal deliveries and such like so that from thenceforth the King 's eldest Son hath only the Name and Style of Prince of Wales but no other Jurisdiction than at the King's pleasure is permitted and granted him by his Letters Patents as by the tenor thereof here following made by King Henry the Eighth to Edward his Son and Heir apparent may appear HENRY by the Grace of God King of England and of France Lord of Ireland c. To all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Iustices Viscounts Governors Ministers and to all our Bayliffs and faithful Subjects Greeting Out of the Excellency of Royal Preheminence like leaves from the Sun so do inferior humours proceed neither doth the integrity of Royal Lustre and Brightness by the natural disposition of the Light affording Light feel any loss or detriment by such borrowed Lights yea the Royal Scepter is also much the more extolled and the Royal Throne exalted by how much the more Nobleness Preheminencies and Honours are under the power and command thereof And this worthy Consideration allureth and induceth us with desire to increase the Name and Honour of our Firstbegotten and best Beloved Son Edward in whom we behold and see our self to be honoured and our Royal House also and our people subject to us hoping by the grace of God by conjecture taken of his gracious future proceedings to be the more honourably strengthened that we may with honour prevent and with abundant grace prosecute him who in reputation of us is deemed the same with us Wherefore by the counsel and consent of the Prelates Dukes Earls Viscounts and Barons of our Kingdom being in our present Parliament We have made and created and by these Presents do make and create him the said Edward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester And unto the same Edward do give and grant and by this Charter have confirmed the Name Style Title State Dignity and Honour of the said Principality and Connty that he may therein in Governing Rule and in Ruling direct and defend we say by a Garland upon his Head by a Ring of Gold upon his Finger and a Verge of Gold have according to the manner invested him to have and to hold to him and his Heirs the Kings of England for ever Wherefore we will and command for us and our Heirs that Edward our Son aforesaid shall have the Name Style Title State Dignity and Honour of the Principality of Wales and of the County of Chester aforesaid unto him and his Heirs the Kings of England for ever These being Witnesses the Reverend Father John Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England our Chancellor and William Archbishop of York Primate of England Thomas Bishop of London John Bishop of Lincoln William Bishop of Norwich our most well beloved Cosins Richard Earl of Warwick Richard Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Wiltshire and our well beloved and faithful Ralph Cromwel Chamberlain of our House William Falconbridge and John Stourton Knights Dated at our Palace at Westminster the 15th day of March and in the year of our Reign 32. And here by the way may be observed That in ancient time and in the time of the English-Saxon Kings the use was as well in pennings of the Acts of Parliament as of the King's Letters Patents when any Lands Franchises or Hereditaments did pass from the King of any Estate of Inheritance as also in the Creations of any man unto Honour and Dignity the Conclusion was with the sign of the Cross in form aforesaid his testibus c. But long since that form hath been discontinued so that at this day and many years past the King's Patents for Lands Franchises and Hereditaments do conclude with Teste me ipso Nevertheless in all Creations of Honour and Dignity of Letters Patents the ancient form of concluding His testibus is used at this day And it hath been resolved by the Judges of all Acts of Parliament and Statutes which do concern the Prince who is the Firstbegotten Son of the King and Heir apparent to the Crown for the time being perpetuis futuris temporibus be such Acts whereof the Judges and all the Realm must take Cognizance as of General Statutes For every Subject hath interest in the King and none of his Subjects who are within his Laws be divided from him being he is Head and Sovereign so that the business and things of the King do concern all the Realm and namely when it doth concern the Prince the Firstbegotten Son of the King and Heir apparent to the Crown Although the Prince by express words hath no priviledge by the Great Charter of the Forestâ— 9 Hen. 3. cap. 11. for hunting in the King's Forests or Parks passing by them and sent for by the King's Command yet the Prince is to take the benefit and advantage thereby as well as the Earls Bishops or Barons who are expressed Crompton's Courts des Iustices de Forest 167. In the Parliament 31 Hen. 8. cap. 10. an Act concerning the placing of King's Children and Lords in the Parliament and other Assemblies was amongst other things made as followeth That no person or persons of what degree estate or condition soever his or they be of except only the King's Children shall at any time hereafter attempt to sit or have place on any side of the Cloth of Estate in the Parliament Chamber whether his Majesty be there personally present or absent The Prince shall not find Pledges for the prosecution of any Action and therefore shall not be amerced no more than the King or Queen should be The Prince is a distinct person from the King he is a Subject and holdeth his Principalities and Seigniories of the King and subject to the Law of the Land as a Subject And in token of the Prince's subjection he doth not upon his Posie in his Arms disdain the old Saxon words Ich Dieu I serve And there is a Case that Glascoine Chief Justice of England in the time of Henry the Fourth did commit the Prince who would have taken a Prisoner from their Bar in the King's Bench And the Prince did humbly submit himself and go at his Command And this did much rejoyce the King to see that he had a Judge so bold to administer Justice upon his Son and that he had a Son so gracious as to obey his Laws The Exercises befitting Princes whilst they are young are Chivalry and Feats of Arms and to adjoyn therewith the knowledge of the Law and God For it is the Duty and
of the most noble order of the Garter c â— The Right Reverend Father in God Henry Compton by Divine permission Lord Bishop of London Deane of his matys Chappel and one of the Lords of his most honble privy Councell brother to the Rt. honble Iames Earle of Northampton The Right Reverend Father in God Nathaniel Crew by divine permission Lord Bishop of Durham Clerk of the Closetâ— to his Maty and one of the Lords of his most honble privy Councell son to the Rt. honble Iohn Ld. Crew Baron of Steane The Right Reverend Father in God Iohn Pearson by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Chester The Right Reverend Father in God Peter Gunning by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Ely OF THE Lords Spiritual CHAP. VIII ACCORDING to the Laws and Customes of this Realm many are the Ecclesiastical Dignities and Priviledges belonging to the Bishops and Clergymen who in all succeeding Ages have been reverenced with the greatest observance imaginable as being acknowleded by all good Christians to be those Messengers sent and particularly appointed by God to take care of our Souls The Subjects of England are either Clergy or Laymen both which are subdivided into Nobility and Commons Thus we find in our Parliament the Lords Spiritual and Temporal make the Upper House the Commons Spiritual viz. the Clergy elected to sit in Convocation who once had place and suffrage in the Lower House of Parliament and the Commons Temporal viz. the Knights and Burgesses make the Commons Most evident it is by the Consent of all the Councils Fathers Histories and Universal Tradition That for the first Fifteen hundred years continuance of Christianity there is no Example to be found of any Church governed by any Authority Ecclesiastick but that of Episcopacy they were ordained by the Apostles themselves to be their Successors in Christ's Church to have a vigilant eye over the Pastors and Teachers under them as to their Lives and Doctrine for the preservation of Truth and Peace the prevention of Scandal suppression of Heresie and Schism and to have a care of their Flock to bring them to Salvation 'T is not therefore without reason that in all times they have been the first of the two Divisions of the people the Clergy and Laity and as Spiritual Barons take place of Temporal they take their name from the Saxon word Biscoep a Super-intendent or Overseer They are three ways Barons of the Realm viz. by Writ Patent and Consecration They precede all under the Degree of Viscounts and are always placed upon the King 's right hand in the Parliament House They have the Title of Lords and Right Reverend Fathers in God And their Sees by the piety of former times are endowed with fair Revenues for the due administration of what belongs to their places And to keep them from corrupt and sinister affections the King 's most Noble Progenitors and the Ancestors of the Nobility and Gentry have sufficiently endowed the Church with Honour and Possessions Many Priviledges and Immunities were likewise granted to them and the Clergy by the Saxon and Danish Kings as coyning of Money conferring the Order of Knighthood c. which hath been long since appropriate to the Crown Thus Laufranck Archbishop of Canterbury made William the Second Knight in the life time of his Father Of Priviledges remaining some belong to to the Archbishops some to the Bishops as they are so and some to them and all other of the Clergy We read of three Archbishopricks in England before the Saxons came amongst us viz. that of London York and Carleon upon Vske But Christianity being thence expelled by the Pagans the succession of those Sees ceased till it pleased God to restore the Light of his Gospel to the blind Saxons which in this Kingdom had planted themselves by the Ministration of St. Augustin who first preached Salvation to them at Canterbury and was there buried for whose sake they removed the Episcopal See from London unto Canterbury and in process of time placed another Archbishop at â—ork which two Provinces included England and Wales and have Five and twenty Bishops under them Six and twenty Deans of Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches Sixty Arch-Deacons Five hundred forty four Prebendaries many rural Deans and about Ten thousand Rectors and Vicars of Parishes The Archbishop of Canterbury was anciently the Metropolitan of England Scotland Ireland and the Isles adjacent and was therefore sometime styled a Patriarch and had several Archbishops under him His style was Alterius orbis Papa orbis Britannici Pontifex The Date of Records in Ecclesiastical Affairs ran thus Anno Pontificatus nostri primo c. He was Legatus Natus which power was annexed to that See near One thousand years ago whereby no other Legat or Nuntio from Rome could exercise any Legantive power without the King 's special Licence In General Councils he had place before all other Archbishops at the Pope's right Foot Nor was he respected less at home than abroad being according to the practise of most other Christian States reputed the second person in the Kingdom and named and ranked before the Princes of the Blood By the favour of our present King he still enjoys divers considerable preheminences as Primate and Metropolitan of all England hath power to summon the Arch-bishop of York and the Bishops of his Province to a National Synod is primus par Regni preceding not only Dukes but all the Great Officers of the Crown next to the Royal Family He is styled by the King Dei Gratia Archiopiscopus Cantuarii Writes himself Divina Providentia as doth the Archbishop of York other Bishops write Divina permissione and hath the Title of Grace given him as it is to Dukes and Most Reverend Father in God His Office is to Crown the King and wheresoever the Court shall happen to be 't is said the King and Queen are Speciales Domestici Parochiani Domini Archiepisc. Cant. The Bishop of London is accounted his Provincial Dean the Bishop of Winchester his Chancellor and the Bishop of Rochester his Chaplain He hath the power of all the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration where the party hath bona notabilia that is Five pounds worth or above out of the Diocess wherein he dieth or Ten pounds worth within the Diocess of London By Statute of Hen. 8. 25. he hath power to grant Licences Dispensations c. and holds divers Courts of Judicature viz. his Courts of Arches of Audience his Prerogative Court and his Court of Peculiars And he may retain and qualifie eight Chaplains which is more by two than a Duke can do The Arch-bishop of York was also Legatus Natus and had that Authority annexed to his See He had all the Bishopricks of Scotland under his Province till the year 1470. He hath the place and precedency of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood and of all great Officers except only the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper
He hath the Title of Grace and Most Reverend Father in God He hath the Honour to Crown the Queen and to be her perpetual Chaplain He is also styled Primate of England and Metropolitan of his Province He hath the Rights of a County Palatine over Hexamshire in Northumberland He may qualifie Chaplains and hath divers other Prerogatives which the Archbishop of Canterbury hath within his own Province but Durham being one hath in many things a peculiar Jurisdiction exempted from the Archbishop Priviledges belonging to the Bishops are as followeth IN their own Court they have power to judge and pass Sentence alone without any Colleague which is not done in any other Court And therefore the Bishops send sorth their Citations in their own Names not in the King 's as the Writs in other Courts run They may depute their Authority to another as doth the King either to their suffragan-Suffragan-Bishops their Chancellors Commissaries or other Officers which none of the King's Judges can do In whatever Prince's Dominions they come their Episcopal Dignity and Degree is owned they may confer Orders c. whereas no Lay-lord is acknowledged but in the King's Dominions who gave him the Title None of them can be Indicted of any Crime before a Temporal Judge without especial Licence from the King A severe penalty to be inflicted on them that raise any Scandal or false Report In a Tryal where a Bishop is Plaintiff or Defendant the Bishop may as well as any Lay-lord challenge the Array if one Knight at least be not returned upon the Jury In Criminal Tryals for life all Bishops are to be tryed by their Peers who are Barons and none under that Degree to be impanelled but anciently they were exempted from any Tryal by Temporal Judges In Parliament they may Vote in any thing but in sentence for Life or loss of Member they being by Common Law to absent themselves and by Common Law to make Proxies to Vote for them They are freed from all Arrests Outlawries Distresses c. They have liberty to hunt in any of the King's Forests or Parks to take one or two Deer coming or going from the King's Presence and to have Wine free from Impost c. Their Persons may not be seized for Contempt but their Temporalities only and their word only is to be taken and their Certificate allowed in the Tryal of Bastardy Heresie c. And such respect has been shewed their Persons that an Offence by a Clergyman to his Bishop is called Episcopicide and punished as Paracide equal to petty Treason Every Bishop may qualifie as many Chaplains as a Duke They are all Barons and Peers of the Realm and have place in the upper House of Parliament as afore noted and take place according to Seniority of their Consecration except London Durham and Winchester who precede by Statute made in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth It will not be amiss to speak somewhat of the Immunities common to all Ecclesiasticks as well Commons as Lords Spiritual as followeth All Suffragan Bishops Deans Archdeacons Prebends Rectors and Vicars have priviledge some by themselves others by proxy to sit and vote in the lower House of Convocation No Subsidy or other Tax can be imposed upon them without their own consent No Clergyman may be compelled to undergo any personal Service in the Commonwealth nor to serve in the Wars or to bear any servile Office They are free from the King's Purveyors Carriers Posts c. for which they may demand a protection from the King cum clausula nolumus They are not obliged to appear at the Sheriffs Turns or Views of Frank pledge nor are impanelled to serve upon Inquests at Assizes or elsewhere If a Clergyman acknowledge a Statute his Body shall not be taken thereupon for the Writ runs Si Laicus sit c. Their Goods are discharged from Tolls and Customs si non exerceant Merchandizas de eisdem but they must have the King 's Writ to discharge them As the Clergymen are exempted from the Wars being by reason of their Function they are prohibited the wearing a Sword so every man in the order of Priesthood is debarred the Order of Knighthood of the Sword cum eorum militia sit contra mundum carnem diabolum saith Sir Iohn Fern yet laying aside their Cures and also lying themselves to a secular life they have been admitted Dei natalin saith Matth. Paris Iohannem de Gatesden clericum multis ditâ—atum beneficiis sed omnibus resignatis quia sic oportuit Baltheo cinxit militari These and many other Rights Liberties and Priviledges belong to the Clergy of England all which the King at his Coronation solemnly swears to preserve to them And they have been confirmed by above Thirty Parliaments and if any Act be made to the contrary it is said to be Null by the Statute of the 4 th of Edward the Third OF BARONS CHAP. IX AMONGST the Nobles and Honourable Persons Barons have the next place And first of the Dignity and Degrees of a Baron in general Secondly of the Etymology of the Name Thirdly of the Antiquity thereof and of the divers uses in former Ages Fourthly of the Division and the consideration of the several kinds of Barons And lastly a Declaration of the divers and sundry Priviledges allowed them and the rest of the Nobles by the Laws of this Realm The Definition or Description of a Baron IT is a certain Rule in Law Definitiones in jure sunt periculosissimae earum est enim 〈◊〉 non subverti possunt and therefore I do not often find any Definition or Description of a Baron delivered by Writers nevertheless in this our Kingdom it is my Opinion that a Baron may be described in a generality answerable unto every special kind thereof in this manner A Baron is a Dignity of Nobility and Honour next unto the Viscount And the Books of Law do make a difference between Dukes Marquisses Earls and Viscounts which are allowed Names of Dignity and the Baron for they affirm That such a Baron need not to be named Lord or Baron by his Writ but the Duke Marquiss Earl or Viscount ought to be named by their Names of Dignity Cambden fol. 1692. saith That our Common Laws do not allow a Baron one of the Degrees of Nobility But I take it to be understood of Barons by Tenure or Barons by Writ only For the Title of a Baron by Patent is in his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England adorned by the name of Status Gradus Dignitas and therefore is requisite to be named And such Dignities are a parcel of the Name of the Pohenor as well as the Title and Style of a Duke Marquiss Earl or Viscount And although there may be conceived this Difference last mentioned between the Baron by Tenure or Writ and the Baron by Patent yet they being all Members of the higher House of Parliament they are thereby equally made Noble
knowing of the Felony doth receive him he is Accessory Also when the King doth Summon his Parliament Writs shall be sent to the Sheriff to make choice of Knights of every Shire in this form Rex Vicecom N. Salutem quia de avisamento asseâ—su nostri Concilii pro quibusdam arduis urgentibus negotiis nos statum defensionem Regni nostri Angliae Ecclesiae Anglicanae concernentibus quoddam Parliamentum nostrum apud Civitatem nostram Westm. duodecimo die Novembris proxime futuro teneri ordinavimus ibidem cum Praelatis magnatibus proceribus dicti Regni nostri colloquium habere tractare tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod facta Proclamatione in prox Comit. tuo post receptionem hujus brevis nostri tenendi die loco praed duos Milites gladiis cinctos Magisidouers Discretos Com. praed c. electionem partes sub sigillo tuo sub sigillis eorum qui electioni illi interfuerunt nobis in Cancellaria nostra ad dictum diem locum certifices indilate See the Statute 23 Hen. 6. cap. 15. where amongst other things it is enacted That the Knights of the Shires for Parliaments hereafter to be chosen shall be notable Knights of the same Counties for the which they shall be chosen or else such notable Esquires or Gentlemen being of the same Counties as shall be able to be Knights Peers of the Realm are by intendment of Law sufficient of Freehold and that is one of the Reasons wherefore no Capias or Exigit liethâ— against them for Debt or Trespass But the Law hath not that Opinion of the Knights sufficiency of Freehold for he may be a Knight without Land therefore and then he is not to be returned of any Jury or Inquest howsoever he may be worthy and sufficient to serve the Commonwealth in Marshal Affairs The Wives and Widows of Knights in Legal Proceedings and in Courts of Justice have not the Title of Lady as the Wives or Widows of Noblemen have yet by the Courtesie of England that Title is given them And if in any action they be not called Ladies for that cause the Writ shall not abate for that Surplusage because Domina is general to Women as Domini to Men. So where Women after Fourteen years of Age are called Dominae for Ladies or Dames and with us anciently marriageable Women were called Dominae and in our old English Leets Dames First Dominae is often used for Women generally as a special Honour for that Sex being not out of fashion at this day nor with the French as also amongst the Italians Domina for them is familiar But if she be named Comitessa or Baronessa whereas she is no Countess or Baroness in Law then without question the naming of her so shall abate the Writ By the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 21. Knights are freed from Cart-taking that no Demesne Cart of them shall be taken By the Statute 1 Iacobi cap. 27. it seemeth that Knights Sons may keep Greyhounds and Setting-Dogs and Nets to take Pheasants and Partridges in though they cannot expend Ten pounds per Annum nor be worth Two hundred pounds for by the express words of the Statute all the Sons of Knights are excepted Observations concerning Knights Batchelors A Baronet cannot claim the Priviledge that Knights have from Cart-taking by Magna Charta 23. A Baronet's Son cannot keep a Grey-hound c. because he is not within the Statute of 1 Iac. 27. unless he hath Ten pounds per Annum tamen quâ—re See the said Statute and Statute 22 23 Car. 2. Quaere whether the Baronets Addition doth abate any Action If one be Knighted in the life time of his Father it frees him from Wardship but contra of a Baronet Knights are excused from attendance at Leets which Baronets are not Note That by the Statute 12 Car. 2. chap. 24. the Court of Wards Tenures in Capite Liveries Ouster le maines and other dependance upon the Court is taken away and then was repealed the Statute 32 Hen. 8. chap. 6. 33 Car. 22. A Knight Batchelor is a Title as before noted borrowed from Horsmanship and therefore ought to be represented by the Efâ—igies of a Captain of a Troop of Horse I shall here set down the manner of making Knights about the year of Christ 500 near which time King Arthur Reigned in England as I find it in Sir William Segar's Book of Honour Military and Civil page 53. where he saith That a Prince being minded to make a Knight commanded a Stage or Scaffold to be erected in some Cathedral Church in his Kingdom or some spacious place near unto it to which place the Gentleman was brought to receive that Honour and being come was forthwith placed on a silver Chair adorned with green Silk Then it was demanded of him if he were of a healthy Body and able to undergo the Travel required in a Souldier also whether he were a man of honest conversation and what credible Witnesses he could produce to affirm the same Then the Bishop or chief Prelate of the Church took the Bible and holding it open before the Knight in presence of the King and all others spake these words Sir you that desire to receive the Order of Knighthood swear before God and by this Holy Book that you shall not fight against this mighty and excellent Prince that now bestoweth the Order of Knighthood upon you unless you shall be commanded so to do in the service of your own King for in that case having first yielded up the Collar Device and other Ensigns of Honour now received it shall be lawful for you to serve against him without reproach or offence to all other Companions in Arms. But otherwise doing you shall incur Infamy and being taken in War shall be subject to the pains of death You shall also swear with all your force and power to maintain and defend all Ladies Gentlewomen Widows Orphans and distressed Women and you shall shun no adventure of your person in any War wherein you shall happen to be My Author further saith That this Oath being taken two of the chief Lords led him to the King who presently drew forth his Sword and laid it upon his Head saying God and St. George or what other Saint the King pleaseth to name make thee a good Knight Then came to the Knight seven Noble Ladies attired in white and begirt a Sword unto his side which being done four Honourable Knights put on his Spurs These Ceremonies being past the Queen took him by the right Arm and a Dutchess by the left and led him to a rich Seat placed on an Ascent where they seated him the King sitting on his right hand and the Queen on his left then the Lords and Ladies also sate down upon other Seats three Descents under the King And being all thus seated they were entertained with a Delicate Banquet or Collation and so the
A. 1351. they came to an Agreement and shortly after with the consent of Pope Clement the Sixth the Queen and Lewis Prince of Tarentum were crowned King and Queen of that Kingdom And in commemoration of so happy a Union the Prince instituted this Order into which were enrolled Seventy of the noblest Lords in Naples together with some Strangers Their Habit appointed them was a white Garment and their Ensign was a Knot intermixed with Gold But this Order expired soon after the death of the Founder Knights of the Argonauts of St. Nicholas in Naples THIS Order was instituted in Anno 1382. by Charles the Third King of Naples for the advancement of Navigation which was much wanting amongst the Neopolitans but others say it was erected for the preserving of Amity amongst the Nobles who were the Persons that were inveâ—â—ed with the said Honour Their Ensign appointed them by the said King was a Ship toâ—â—ed in a Storm with this Motto Non credo tempori Their Habit was a white Garment and their great Feast was held in the Convent of that stately Church built by St. Nicholas Bishop of Smyrna But by reason of the King 's not settling a Revenue thereon upon his death it became disused Knights of the Ermyn in Naples FErdinand the First King of Naples having ended the War which he had against Iohn of Lorain Duke of Calabria his Brother in Law Marinus Marcianus Duke of Sessa and Prince of Rosiano had raised a Confederacy against him and intended to kill him when they were together by which means the Kingdom might be transferred to the Duke of Calabria But this Plot being discovered and the Duke apprehended instead of causing him to be executed the King elected him one of this Order and also admitted thereunto all the Nobles of his Kingdom The Collar with which they were invested was of Gold intermixed with mud or dirt to which hung an Ermyn with this Motto Malo mori quam foedari DEGREES OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SAVOY Knights of the Annunciation THIS Order was instituted in the Year 1362. by Amedeo the Sixth Earl of Savoy Surnamed Il Verde in memory of Amedeo the first Earl thereof who having valorously defended the Isle of Rhodes against the Turks won those Arms which are now born by the Dukes of Savoy viz. Gules a Cross Argent The Collar belonging to this Order is of Gold on which are these Letters Engraven F. E. R. T. which signifie Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit and to this Collar hangeth a Tablet wherein is the figure of the Annunciation which is their daily Badge which they wear about their Shoulders This Order at first consisted of Fifteen of which the Founder was the Sovereign which number was afterwards enlarged The Church where the Ceremonies were observed and the Chapters held by the Sovereign and the Knights was first at Pierre Chastle which afterwards removed to Montmeillar and thence to the Hermitage of Camaldule seated upon the Mountain of of Turin Their Habit is now a purple Mantle seeded with Roses and Flames in embroidery of Gold and Silver bordered with the Symbols of the Order fringed with Gold and lined with Cloth of Silver and tissued blew under which instead of a Surcoat is worn a white Satin Suit embroidered with Silk and the Breeches like Trouses half way their Thighs In the said Church were entertained Fifteen Priests who were to say Fifteen Masses daily to the honour of the fifteen Joyes of the blessed Virgin to the Souls health of him his Predecessors and all who have been were or should hereafter be Knights of this Order Amongst the Orders by them observed every Knight at his death was to give to the maintenance of the Church One hundred Florins which was to be paid to the Prior for the time being That at the death of any of the Knights the rest should assemble themselves to bury the dead in an honourable order and every Knight to wear a white Gown and so make his Offering each bringing with him four Wax Torches weighing One hundred pound and afterwards for Nine days to apparel themselves in mourning And that every Knight at his burial should give unto the Church a Collar a Banner his Armour and Coat of Arms all which to be offered at the day of Entertainment at the Church in memory of the deceased Knights of St. Maurice AMadis the eighth Duke of Savoy with ten of his Court Knights retired themselves to the Desart of Ripaille near the Lake of Geneva where they led a Solitary and Hermetical Life And in the Year 1434. as well to honour St. Maurice the titular Saint and Patron of Savoy as of his Launce or Sword and Ring which as a Pledge of Dominion are delivered to them with great Solemnity at their Inauguration This Order was instituted and was made subject to the Rule of St. Augustine The Habit assigned them was an Ash-colour or grey Gown and Chaperon with Sleeves faced with red Chamlet also a Vest of the same girded about them with a golden Girdle and on the Breast of the Mantle a white Cross pommette of Cloth or Taffaty About Nine years after the Papal See being void by the Deposition of Pope Eugenius the Fourth this Duke for his devout Life was elected Pope â— which with much perswasions he accepted of But he had not been in it above Nine years but he resigned the Chair to Pope Nicholas the Fourth and retired again to a Solitary Life at Ripaille where he ended his days in Anno 1451. and was interred in the Cathedral of Lausanna Knights of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus THese two Orders were erected by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy in Anno 1572. and at the request of the said Duke were confirmed and united into one Order by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth who constituted the said Duke and his Successors Dukes of Savoy Grand Masters thereof obliging them to set out two Gallies for the Service of the Papal See against the Turkish Pirats Their Ensign is a green Cross of St. Lazarus charged with a white Cross of St. Maurice which they wear either tied to a gold Chain or a Ribon Their Habit is a Gown of crimson Tabby with a long Train wide Sleeves and edged about with white Taffaty and a Cordon with a Tassel of white and green fixt to the Collar thereof A DEGREE OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SWITZERLAND CALLED Knights of the Bear THE Emperor Frederick the Second going in Pilgrimage to the Abbey of St. Gall in Anno 1213. gave great Priviledges in acknowledgment of their Assistance in pulling down the Emperor Otho and establishing himself and erected this Order of Knighthood which he conferred on several Noblemen which Annually met at the Abbey of St. Gall on the Sixteenth of October where all new Knights were to receive the Order from the Abbot the Patron thereof on which day such as were to be admitted into the Fraternity were girded with a Military Belt the Sword being
Lord Mayor of this City which is evident by the noble Entertainment given to Strangers and by his great attendance both at home and abroad for besides the abundance of inferiour Officers he hath his Sword-Bearer Common Hunt Common Cryer and four Water Bailiffs which by their places are Esquires then the Coroner three Sergeant-Carvers three Sergeants of the Chamber a Sergeant of the Channel four Yeoman of the Water-side the Under-water-Bailiff two Yeoman of the Chamber with divers others The publick Officers belonging to this City are the two Sheriffs the Recorder the Chamberlain the Common Sergeant the Town Clerk and the Remembrancer who by their places are Esquires The Sheriffs who are persons of repute and ability are annually by the Commons that is the Livery-men of each Company in formality chosen on Midsomer-day and the day after Michaelmass the Lord Mayor and Aldermen go with them to the Exchequer-Chamber at Westminster where they are presented and sworn and the two old Sheriffs also sworn to their Accounts On Simon and Iudes day the old Lord Mayor being attended with the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their formalities go to the Hustings Court where the Lord Mayor elect taketh his Oath and receiveth from the Chamberlain the Scepter the Keys of the Common Seal and the Seal of the Majoralty and from the Sword-Bearer the Sword all which according to custom he delivereth to them again On the day following in the morning the old Lord Mayor with the Aldermen and Sheriffs attend the Mayor elect from his House to Guild-hall from whence in their formalities they go to the Vintrey and take Barge to Westminster being attended by the Livery-men of divers of the Companies in their Barges which are bedecked with Banners Pennons and Streamers of their Arms c. which with their Musick makes a pleasing show Being come to Westminster-hall having saluted the Judges they go up to the Exchequer Barr where the Lord Mayor tâ—keth his Oath and after some usual Ceremonies in the Hall and at the Abby in seeing the Tombs they return to their Barges and are rowed back to London being landed go to the Guild-hall in great pomp where a most stately Dinner is prepared as well for the Lord Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs and the several Companies as for the Nobility Judges and Gentry that are invited to the said Feast which oft-times is graced with the Royal Presence of their Majesties the King and Queen and the Duke of York c. The Ceremony of the day being ended the Lord Mayor is attended to his House where he liveth in great grandure during his Majoralty looking after the Affairs of the City to whose fatherly care the Government thereof is committed These with other Ceremonies in the electing and swearing the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs being largely treated of in Stow's Survey and Howel's Londinensis I forbear to speak further of them here but referr the Reader A List of the Names of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs that for this present year 1678 have the government of this Honourable City with the Names of the six and twenty Wards to which the said Aldermen do belong viz. THe Right Honourable Sir Iames Edwards Kt. Lord Mayor and Alderman of Candlewick Ward Sir Richard Chiverton of the Ward of Bridge without Kt. Sir Thomas Allen of Aldgate Ward Knight and Baronet Sir Iohn Frederick of Coleman-street Ward Kt. Sir Iohn Robinson of Tower-street Ward Knight Baronet and Lieutenant of the Tower of London Sir Iohn Laurence of Queen-hith Ward Kt. Sir Thomas Bludworth of Aldersgate-street Ward Kt. Sir William Turner of Castle-Baynards Ward Kt. Sir George Waterman of Brides Ward within Kt. Sir Robert Hanson of Basingshaw Ward Kt. Sir William Hooker of Cornhill Ward Kt. Sir Robert Vyner of Langborn ward Knight and Baronet Sir Ioseph Sheldon of Bishops-gate ward Kt. Sir Thomas Davies of Farendon ward without Kt. Sir Francis Chaplin of the Vintrey ward Kt. Sir Robert Clayton of Cheap ward Kt. Sir Patience Ward of Farendon ward within Kt. Sir Iohn Moore of Walbrook ward Kt. Sir William Prichard of Bread-street ward Kt. Sir Henry Tulse of Bread-street ward Kt. Sir Iames Smith of Portsoken ward Kt. Sir Nathaniel Herne of Billingsgate ward Kt. Sir Robert Ieffreys of Cordwainer ward Kt. Sir Iohn Shorter of Cripple-gate ward Kt. Sir Thomas Gold of Dowgate ward Kt. and Sir William Rawstorne of Limestreet ward Kt. The Sheriffs for this year are Sir Richard How and Sir Iohn Chapman Knights Having thus in brief treated of the Government of the City with their Immunities Priviledges Courts of Judicature c. in general in the next place we will treat of each particular Incorporated Company as Stems thereof And first with the several Companies of Merchants next with the twelve chief Companies out of which the Lord Mayor is to be Annually chosen and so end with the other Companies as Stars of a less magnitude The East-India Company though not the ancientest yet the most honourable and eminent was first Incorporated in the year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and since confirmed with divers other Priviledges added to their Charter by succeeding Kings having now power of making Acts and Ordinances so as not repugnant to the Law of the Land or detriment of the King for the good and well government of the said Trade and Company likewise power to hear and decide Causes and to implead fine and punish Offenders as they please to raise and maintain Souldiers in their Factories and to man out Ships of warr for their further security for warr offensive as well as defensive as occasion requireth also the using of a Seal and the bearing of a Coat of Arms as it is depicted in the Escocheon of Arms of the several Companies of Merchants This Company is managed by a joynt stock which makes them potent eminent and rich and is found several ways to be very advantageous to the Kingdom as in their building of Ships in the imploying and maintaining of thousands not only in their Ships but in their Plantations and Factories as at Surat Cambaya Bambay Curwar Baticale Calicut Fort St. George Pentapoli Musulipatan Ougely Gonro Bantam in the Indies Ormus in Persia â— with some other places of less concern And to their Presidents Factors and other Servants they allow good Salaries and are raised to higher preferments with greater Salaries as their merits deserve And the great Trade that they drive to these places exporting such vast quantities of our Manufactures and Commodities and importing so many sundry and rich Commodities cannot but make them to be very beneficial to the Nation This worthy Company for the better negotiation of their Affairs is governed by a Governour Deputy-Governour and Committâ—e consisting of four and twenty who about the midst of April are Annually elected by the Adventurers of the said Company of which there must be eight new ones always chosen and these meet at their House in Leaden-hall-street London called the East-India
the City of London â—â—â—â—â—e his Coronation which was on Monday tâ—e 22 th of April 1661. First the Duke of York's Horse Guard Messengers of the Chambers in their Coats with the King's Arms before and behind Esquires to the Knights of the Bath in number 140. Knight Harbinger and Serjeant Porter Sewers of the Chamber Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters in Cloaks Clerks of the Chancery 6. Clerks of the Signet 4. Clerks of the Privy Seal in Gowns Clerks of the Council 4. in Cloaks Clerks of the Parliament 2. Clerks of the Crown 2. in Gowns Chaplains having Dignities 10. in Gowns and square Caps The King's Advocate The King's Remembrancer Masters of the Chancery The King's Counsel at Law 2. in Gowns The King's puisne Serjeants 2. The King's Attorney The King's Solicitor The King's eldest Serjeants 2. in Gowns Two Secretaries of the French and Latin Tongue in Gowns Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters in Cloaks Sewers in Ordinary in Cloaks Carvers in Ordinary in Cloaks Cup-bearers in Ordinary in Cloaks Esquires of the Body 4. The Effigies of the Right honble Heneage Lord Finch Baron of Daventry Lord High Chancellor of England one of the Lords of the most honble Privy Councell to King Charles ye. second Anno DnÌ„i 1676. The Effigies of the Right honble Anthony Earle of Shaftsbury Baron Ashley of Wimbourne St Giles Ld. Cooper of Pawlet Ld. High Chancellor of England Ld. Leiutenant of the County of Dorset and â—one of the Lords of ye. most honble Privy Councellâ— to King Charles yâ— 2d. Anno Domini â—673 Masters of standing Offices Tents 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Revels 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Ceremonies 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Armory 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Wardrobe 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Ordnance 1. in Cloaks Masters of the Requests 4. Chamberlains of the Exchequer 2. in Gowns Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in Cloaks Knights of the Bath 68. in long Mantles with Hats and Feathers The Knight Marshal in a rich Coat Treasurer of the Chamber Master of the Jewel House in Cloaks Barons younger Sons Viscounts younger Sons Barons of the Exchequer 3. in Robes and Caps Justices of the King's Bench and Common Pleas 6. in Robes Caps and Collars Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Robes Caps and Collars Master of the Rolls in a Gown Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in his Robe Cap and Collar Knights of the Privy Council in Cloaks Barons eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Viscounts eldest Sons Kettle Drums The King's Trumpeters in rich Coats The Serjeant Trumpeter with his Mace Two Pursuevants at Arms in their Coats of Arms. Barons 51. in Cloaks Marquisses younger sons Earls eldest Sons Two Pursuevants at Arms in their Coats of Arms. Viscounts 7. Dukes younger Sons Marquisses eldest Sons Two Heralds in their Coats with Collars of SS Earls 32. in Cloaks Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshold with his white Staff Dukes eldest Sons Two Heralds in Coats with Collars of SS Two Marquisses in Cloaks Two Heralds in Coats with Collars of SS The Duke of Buckingham Clarencieux King at Arms in Coats with Collars of SS Norroy King at Arms in Coats with Collars of SS The Lord Treasurer with his white Staff The Lord Chancellor with the Purse The Lord High Steward with his white Staff Two Persons one representing the Duke of Aquitain and the other the Duke of Normandy in broad Caps and Robes of Ermyn The Gentleman Usher with the black Rod on the right hand bareheaded in a rich Cloak Garter King of Arms bareheaded in his Coat and Collar of SS The Lord Mayor of London carrying the City Scepter on the left hand bareheaded The Duke of York Serjeants at Arms with their Maces 8 on a side from the Sword forwards in rich Cloaks The Lord Great Chamberlain on the right hand The Sword born by the Earl of Suffolk Marshal pro tempore The Earl of Northumberland Lord Constable of England pro tempore on the left hand Gentlemen Pensioners with Pole-Axes The King Gentlemen Pensioners with their Pole-Axes Esquires Footmen The Master of the Horse leading a spare Horse The Vice Chamberlain Captain of the Pensioners Captain of the Guard The Lieutenant of the Pensioners the King's Horse Guard The Lord General 's Horse Guard As in Man's Body for the preservation of the whole divers Functions and Offices of Members are required even so in all well governed Common-wealths a distinction of persons is necessary and the policy of this Realm of England for the Government and Maintainance of the Common-wealth hath made a threefold Division of persons that is to say First the King our Soveraign Monarch under which Name also a Soveraign Queen is comprised as it is declared by the Statute made in the first of Queen Mary cap. 1. Parliam 2. Secondly the Nobles which comprehend the Prince Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Lords Spiritual and Temporal Thirdly the Commons by which general word is understood Baronets Knights Esquires Gentlemen Yeomen Artificers and Labourers It is observed that our Law calleth none Noble under the Degree of a Baron and not as men of Forreign Countries do use to speak with whom every man of Gentle Birth is counted Noble For we daily see that both Gentlemen and Knights do serve in Parliament as Members of the Commonalty Neither do these words the Nobles the high and great men in the Realm imply the Person and Majesty of the King but with the Civilians the King is reckoned among the Nobility The Nobility are known by the general Name of Peers of the Realm or Barons of England for Dukes Marquisses Earls and Viscounts did anciently sit together in the King 's great Council of Parliament as Barons and in right only of their Baronies And therefore by the general Name of Barons of the Realm and for the Baronage thereof we underâ—â—and the whole Body of the Nobility the Parliament Robes of the Dukes differing nothing from the Barons but that they wear the Guards upon their Shoulders three or four folds For though Dukes Marquisses Earls and Viscounts in their Creations are attired with Ornaments of Silk and Velvet yet in Parliament they use the same that Barons do made of Scarlet with divers differences of white Fur set as Fringes or Edgings on their Shoulders and although they sit in right of their Baronies yet they take their places according to their degrees of Dignity And hence it is that those bloody Civil Wars concerning the Liberties granted in the Great Charter both in the time of King Iohn and Henry the Third his Son prosecuted by all the Nobility some few excepted are called in our Histories the Barons Wars Neither have the Spiritual Lords any other Title to that preheminence but by their ancient Baronies For although originally all the possessions of Bishops Abbots and Priors were given and holden in Frank Almoign most of
Realm to do Justice shew Mercy keep Peace and Unity c. The King is enabled to perform this great and weighty Office by certain extraordinary powers and priviledges which he holds by the Law of Nations by the Common Law of England or by Statutes The Regalia were anciently called Sacra Sacrorum as his Lands are called in Law Patrimoniâ—â— Sâ—câ—â—â— now commonly Royal Prerogaâ—ives The King being Principium Capâ—â— â—inis Parliâ—menti may of his meer will and pleasure Convoke Adjourn Remove and Dissolve Parliaments He may to any Bill that is passed by both Houses of Parliament refuse to give his Royal Assent without rendring a Reason and without his Assent a Bill is as a â—ody without a Soul He may at his pleasure encrease the number of the Members of both Houses by creating more Peers of the Realm and besâ—owing priviledges upon any other Towns to send Burgelles by Writ to Parliament and he may refuse to send his Writ to some others that have sate in former Parliaments He hath alone the choice and nomination of all Commanders and Officers for Land and Sea-service the choice and election of all Magistrates Counsellors and Officers of State of all Bishops and other Ecclesiastick Dignities also the bestowing and conferring of Honours and the power of determining Rewards and Punishments By Letters Patent his Majesty may erect new Counties Universities Bishopricks Cities Boroughs Colledges Hospitals Schools Fairs Markets Courts of Judicature Forests Chases Free Warrens c. The King by his Prerogative hath power to enfranchise an Alien and make him a Denison whereby he is enabled to purchase Lands and Houses and to bear Offices He hath the power to grant Letters of Mart or Reprisal to grant safe Conducts c. He hath at all times had the right of Purveyance or Preemption of all sorts of Victuals within the Verge viz. Twelve miles round of the Court and to take Horses Carts Ships or Boats for the Carriage of his Goods at reasonable rates Also by Proclamation to set reasonable rates and prices upon Flesh Fish Fowl Oats Hay c. sold within the limits of the Verge of the Court in the time of his Progress Debts due to the King are in the first place to be satisfied in case of Executorship and Administratorship and until the King's Debts be satisfied he may protect the Debtor from the Arrest of other Creditors He may disâ—rein for the whole Rent upon one Tenant that holdeth not the whole Land He may require the Ancestors Debt of the Heir though not especially bound He is not obliged to demand his Rent according to the Custome of Landlords He may distrein where he pleaseth and sue in any of his Courts No Proclamation can be made but by the King No protection for a Defendant to obstruct the course of the Law against him if he be not one of his Majesties Menial Servants In case of loss by Fire or otherwise his Majesty granteth Patents to receive the Charitable Benevolences of the people No Forest Chase or Park to be made nor Castle Fort or Tower to be built without his Majesties especial Licence Where the King hath granted a Fair with Toll to be paid yet his Goods shall be there exempted from the said Duties of Toll His Servants in Ordinary are priviledged from serving in any Offices that require their Attendance as Sheriff Constable Church-warden or the like All Receivers of Money for the King or Accomptants to him for any of his Revenues their Persons Lands Goods Heirs Executors and Administrators are at all times chargeable for the same for Nullum tempus occurrit Regi His Debtor hath a kind of Prerogative Remedy by a Quo minus in the Exchequer against all other Debtors or against whom they have any cause of personal Action supposing that he is thereby disabled to pay the King and in this Suit the King's Debtor being Plaintiff hath some priviledges above others In doubtful Cases semper praesumitur pro Rege no Statute restraineth the King except he be especially named therein The quality of his Person alters the descent of Gavelkind the Rules of joynt Tenancy No Estoppel can bind him nor Judgment final in a Writ of Right Judgments entred against the King's Title are entred with Salvo Iure Domini Regis That if at any time the King's Counsel at Law can make out his Title better that Jugment shall not prejudice him which is not permitted the Subject The King by his Prerogative may demand reasonable Ayd-money of his Subjects for the Knighting his Eldest Son at the Age of Fifteen years and to marry his eldest Daughter at the Age of Seven years which Ayd is 20 s. for every Knights Fee and as much for every 20 l. per annum in Soccage Moreover if the King be taken prisoner Ayd-money is to be paid by the Subjects for his Redemption The King upon reasonable Causes him thereunto moving may protect any of his Subjects from Suits of Law c. In all Cases where the King is party his Officers with an Arrest by force of a Process at Law may enter and if any entrance be denied may break open the House of any man by force A Benefice or Spiritual Living is not full against the King by Institution only without Induction although it be so against a Subject None but the King can hold Plea of false Judgments in the Courts of his Tenants The King by his Prerogative is Summus Regui Custos and hath the Custody of the Persons and Estates of such as for want of understanding cannot govern themselves or serve the King that of Ideots to his own use and that of Lunaticks to the use of the next Heir So the Custody or Wardships of all such Infants whose Ancestors held their Lands by Tenure in Capite or Knights Service were ever since the Conquest in the King to the great honour and benefit of the King and Kingdom But abuses which too often happened made the people complain thereof which was the cause of its laying aside His Majesty is Vlâ—imus Haeres Regni and is as the great Ocean is of small Rivers the Receptacle of all Estates for want of Heirs or by Forfeiture Revert or Escheat to the King All Spiritual Benefices for want of presentation in due time by the Bishop are elapsed to the King All Treasure Trove that is Money or Gold and Silver plate or Bullion found and the owners unknown belongs to the King So doth all Waifs Strays Wrecks not granted away by him or any former Kings All waste Ground or Land recovered from the Sea All Lands of Aliens dying before Naturalization or Denization and all other things whereof the property is not known All Gold and Silver Mines in whose Ground soever they are found Royal Fish as Whales Sturgeons Dolphins c. Royal Fowl as Swans not mark't and swimming at Liberty on the River belong to the King In the Church the King's prerogative and power is
to the Crown of England shall bear his Coronet of Crosses and Flower de lis with one Arch and in the midst a Ball and Cross as hath the Royal Diadem That his Royal Highness the Duke of York and all the immediate Sons and Brothers of the Kings of England shall use and bear their Coronets composed of Crosses and Flower de lis only But all their Sons respectively having the Title of Dukes shall bear and use their Coronets composed of Leaves only as the Coronets of Dukes not being of the Royal Blood Note That by Order not Creation our present King was admitted Prince of Wales had the Principality with the Earldom of Chester c. confirmed to him by Patent and was allowed to hold his Court apart from the Kings The Prince by the Common Law is reputed as the same Person with the King and so declared by Statute temp Hen. 8. The Civilians say the King 's eldest Son during his Fathers life may be styled King by the Law of Nations because of his so near Relation to the Crown that if the Father die he is ipso momento Rex though he be not crowned A usual custome in Spain and once allowed here to Henry Son of King Henry the Second yet he holdeth his Seigniories and Principalities of the King as Subject to him and giveth the same respect to him as other Subjects do He hath certain priviledges above other persons To him it was permitted by the Statute 24 Hen. 8. cap. 13. to wear Silk of the colour of Purple and cloth of Gold of Tissue in his Apparel or upon his Horse And by the Statute 24 Ed. 3. ca. 2. Takings shall not be from henceforth made by others than the Purveyors of the King of the Queen and of the Prince their eldest Son And that if any mans Purveyor make such takings it shall be done of them as of those that do without Warrant and the Deed adjudged as a thing done against the Peace and the Law of the Land and such as do not in manner aforesaid shall be duly punished To eschew Maintenance and nourish Peace and Amity in all parts of the Realm many Statutes have been made in the Reign of King Henry the Fourth prohibiting the giving of Signs or Liveries to any but Menials nevertheless by the Statute 2 Hen. 4. cap. 21. it is provided that the Prince may give his honourable Liveries or Sign to the Lords or to his Menial Gentlemen and that the same Lords may wear the same as if they were the King's Liveries and that the Menials of the Prince may also wear the same as the King's Menials But afterwards by occasion of divers other Statutes made by sundry Kings for the suppressing oâ— that enormity of Maintenance and of the general word in them that priviledge of the Prince was abridged or rather taken away therefore the Statute 12 Ed. 4. cap. 4. was made By the Statute 21 H. 8. cap. 13. the Prince may retain as many Chaplains as he pleaseth although all other of the Nobility except those of the Blood Royal are constrained to a certain number and they or any of them may purchase Licence and Dispensation and take and retain two Parsonages or Benefices with Cure of Souls By the Order of the Common Law the King may Levy a reasonable Ayd of all his Tenants as well of those that did hold their Lands of him by Knights Service as in Soccage pur faire fitz Chevalier pur File marrier and the sum of Money was not in certainty Note that the Ayd is not to be recovered before the Son be of the Age of Fifteen years and the Daughter accomplish the Age of Seven years Fitz. Natur. B. 28.6 But in the King's pleasure till by the Statute in the 25 Ed. 3. cap. 11. it was Enacted That for the Knighting his eldest Son and marrying his eldest Daughter as aforesaid the Ayd following shall be demanded and levied viz. of every Knight so holden of the King without mean 20 s. and no more and of every 20. l. of Land holden of the King without mean in Soccage 20 s. and no more And so after this rate for the Lands in Soccage and for Land in Tenure of Chivalry according to the quantity of the Fee By another Statute made in the said 25 th of Edward the Third cap. 2. amongst other things it is declared That to compass or imagine the death of the King 's eldest Son and Heir is Crimen laesae Majestatis or if a man do violate the Wife of the King 's eldest Son and Heir it is High Treason And so the Statute 26 Hen. 8. cap. 13. doth declate And so was the ancient Common Law of this Realm and not a new Law made by the Statute Coke 8. part 28. b. but this Statute is a Manifestation and Application of the ancient Common Law in this Case Because the people were in ambiguity Whether Children born in parts beyond the Sea and out of the King's Dominions should be able to demand any Inheritance within his said Dominions or not It was declared at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the Seventeenth of King Iames for the removing of those doubts That les Enfants du Roy the Children of the Kings of England in whatsoever parts they are born in are able and ought to bear the Inheritance after the death of their Ancestors Read the Statute in Coke's Seventh Part 8. a. where you shall see that though generally the Birth-place is observed yet many times Legiance and Obedience without any place in the King's Dominions may make a Subject born For we see by Experience almost in every Parliament that Ambassadors Merchants and the King's Souldiers do sue therein in such Cases to have their Children Naturalized or made Denisons And in the Articles confirmed by Parliament touching the Marriage between Philip King of Spain and Queen Mary Anno primo Parliamenti 2. cap. 2. a special Proviso was to bar him from being Tenant by the Courtesie of the Crown in case he should have Issue by her and survive which was superfluous because the Common Law would have denied it For this last point see the Lord Chancellor's Speech in the Case Postnati f. 36. But note If an Alien Enemy come into this Realm and his Wife English or Stanger be here delivered of a Child this Child notwithstanding his Birth-place is an Alien born for want of Allegiance in the Parents ibid. King Henry the Third did create Edward his eldest Son the first Prine of Wales and did give unto him the Dominion and Dignity thereof to be holden of him and his Heirs Kings of England And after that time the eldest Sons of the Kings of England have been Princes of Wales and as incident to the State and Dignity of a Prince did and might make Laws and Statutes and use Jurisdiction and Authority as amply as any King of that Nation could do for Wales was a Kingdom in ancient
Hen. 1. fol. 3. and so doth Vlpian the Civilian determine And this is one of the three Reasons alledged wherefore by the policy of our Law the King is a Body Politick thereby to avoid the attainder of him that had right to the Crown Coke's seventh part 12. a. lest in the interim there should be an interregnum which the Law will not suffer because of the manifold Incumbrances thereof For it hath been clearly resolved by all the Judges of the Land That presently by the descent of the Crown the next Heir is compleatly and absolutely King without any essential Ceremony or Act to be done ex postfacto And that Coronation is but a Royal Ornament and outward Solemnization of the Descent And this appeareth evidently by abundance of Presidents and Book-Cases Let us take one or two Examples in a Case so clear for all King Henry the Sixth was not crowned till the Eighth year of his Reign and yet divers men before his Coronation were attainted of Treason Felony and the like Crimes and he was as absolute and compleat a King for matters of Judicature Grants c. before his Coronation as he was after Queen Mary reigned three moneths before she was crowned in which space the Duke of Northumberland and others were condemned and executed for Treason which they had committed before she was Queen And upon this reason there is a Maxim in the Common Law Rex nunquam moritur in respect of his ever living and never dying politique capacity In France also the same Custome hath been observed and for more assurance it was expresly enacted under Charles the Fifth That after the death of any King his eldest Son should immediately succeed for which cause the Parliament Court of Paris doth accompany the Funeral Obsequies of those that have been their Kings not in mourning attire but in Scarlet the true Ensign of the never dying Majesty of the Crown Nevertheless certain Cities in France not long since alledged for themselves that because they had not reputed Henry the Fourth for their King and professed Allegiance unto him they were not to be adjudged Rebels Whereupon the chief Lawyers of our Age did resolve That forasmuch as they were original Subjects even Subjects by Birth they were Rebels in bearing Arms against their King although they had never professed Allegiance unto him To conclude this Chapter I shall give you a View of the Ceremonies of the Creation of Henry Prince of Wales which began on the Thirtieth of May 1610. as followeth The Prince accompanied with divers young Noblemen together with his own Servants rode from his Court at St. Iames's to Richmond where he reposed that night on the next day the Lord Mayor Aldermen with the several Companies in their Barges attended his Highness about Barn Elmes where he was entertained with a Banquet and in other places with Speeches by a Neptune upon a Dolphin and a Sea Goddess upon a Whale c. His Highness landing at Whitehall was received by the Officers of his Majesties Houshold according to order viz. by the Knight Marshal and the Serjeant Porter In the Hall by the Treasurer and Comptroller of the Houshold in the great Chamber by the Captain of the Guard and in the presence Chamber by the Lord Chamberlain from whence he went into the Privy Chamber where the King and Queen met him the Saturday after was taken up with the usual Ceremonies of making Knights of the Bath to attend his Highness at his Creation which were Five and twenty in number Upon Monday following these Knights of the Bath met in the Queens Closet where they put on long Purple Satten Robes lined with white Taffata and a Hood like a Batchelor of Law about their Necks and in a Barge prepared for them went before the Prince to Westminster Palace where his Highness landed and proceeded to his Creation thus First the Heralds Next the Knights of the Bath Then the Lords that were imployed in several Services Garter King at Arms bearing the Letters Patents The Earl of Sussex the Robes of Purple Velvet The Earl of Huntington the Train The Earl of Cumberland the Sword The Earl of Rutland the Ring The Earl of Derby the Rod. The Earl of Shrewsbury the Cap and Coronet The Earl of Nottingham and Privy Seal supported his Highness being in his Surcoat only and bareheaded to the Parliament Chamber The King was already set with all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in their Robes of State all the Knights and Burgesses of the lower House present as also the Foreign Ambassadors the great Ladies of the Realm and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London seated upon Scaffolds The Procession entring in manner aforesaid made three several low Reverencies to his Majesty and when they came to the Throne Garter King at Arms kist the Letters Patents and gave them to the Lord Chamberlain who presented them to the King who delivered them to the Earl of Salisbury Principal Secretary of State who read them the Prince kneeling all the while before the King and at the words accustomed the King put on the Robe the Sword the Cap and Coronet the Rod and the Ring The Patent being read the King kist him on the Cheek and the Earl Marshal with the Lord Chamberlain placed him in his Parliament Seat viz. on the left hand of the King which Ceremony being ended they returned to the Palace Bridge in manner as followeth First the Masters of the Chancery the King's Council and others then the Officers of Arms the Knights of the Bath next twenty Trumpets before them then the Judges and after them all the Members of Parliament in order the Barons Viscounts Earls and Marquisses having Coronets on their Heads then Norroy and Clarenceaux King at Arms going next before the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Chancellor then Garter next before the Sword and then the Prince and King They took Barge at the Palace Stairs and landed at Whitehall Bridge where the Officers at Arms the Members of Parliament and the Lords being first landed attended the King and Prince and went before into the Hall and so into his Majestie 's Presence Chamber whence the Prince descended again into the Hall to Dinner himself seated at the upper end of a Table accompanied with the Lords that attended him at his Creation who sate on both sides of the Table with him At another Table on the left hand sate the Knights of the Bath in their Robes along one side attended by the King's Servants At the second Course Garter with the Heralds came to the Prince's Table and after due reverence proclaimed the King's Style with three Largesses viz. King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. And then proclaimed the Prince's Titles viz. Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Rothsay Earl of Rothsay Earl of Chester and Knight of the Garter with two Largesses Then with Feasting Masques and all sort of Courtly Gallantry that joyful
all true Wisdom And therefore our wise and religious Ancestors called to their General Council or Wittengemote or Court of Wisemen as they called it those chief and principal persons of the Clergy which by their places and professions by their Gravities Learning and Wisdom might best advise them what was the Law of God's acceptable will and pleasure that they might frame Laws answerable or at least wise not contrary and repugnant thereunto And touching the Temporal Barons by Tenure mention is made of them in the Books of Law Records and ancient Monuments of the Realm and these Baronies were anciently uncertain and rentable at the pleasure of the King But such incertainty was brought to certainty by the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 2. Bracton doth make express mention of Barons Temporal by Tenure it shall be needful here again to remember the former assertion of Bracton That the head of a Barony descending to Daughters should not be divided by partition which argueth likewise the Tenure of Barony But let us descend to other Authority viz. the Book-Case in the 48 Edw. 3. fol. 30. Sir Ralph Everdon's Case by which Case of Law 't is most evidently proved that there are Barons by Tenure which in regard of such their Tenure ought to be summoned to Parliament And furthermore That there were or are Barons by Tenure read the Statute of Westminster 2. cap. 41. where the Fees of the Earl-Marshal and the Lord Chamberlain are expressed which are to be taken by them upon the Homage done of every Baron by Tenure whether the Baron holdeth by a whole Barony or by a less But here ariseth a Question If a Baron by Tenure alien and grant away the Honour Castle and Mannor holden by Barony whether shall such Alien or Grauntee take upon him the State Title and Dignity of a Baron or not Or what shall become of such Dignity of Baronage after such Alienation and Grant made They which do deny that there are any such Baronies by Tenure do use these as their principal Motives or Reasons First If there be any Baronies by Tenure then the Alience or Grantee of such Honour Castle and Mannor so holden must hold by the same Tenure that his Grantor or Feoffer before held but that was by Barony therefore such Grantee must hold by Barony And if such Grant or Alienation be made to persons Vulgar or Ignoble then should such Tenure be made Noble which were very absurd and full of inconveniency for Ornanda potius est dignitate domus quam ex domo dignitas utcunque quibus quaerenda est ab iis honestanda Milles peroration 3. Secondly It is very evident and manife stthat many ancient Mannors which in old time were holden by Baronage and were the head of Baronies are now in the Tenures of mean Gentlemen and others who neither may nor do challenge unto themselves in any respect hereof any Nobility without the great favour of the King 's most Excellent Majesty who is the Fountain of all Honour within his Dominions Thirdly Some ancient Barons there are that have aliened and sold many of those Castles and Mannors which did bear the Name and Dignity of Baronage and yet themselves do still retain and lawfully keep their Estate Dignity and Degree of Baron and have been and usually are such Alienations notwithstanding summoned nevertheless to the Parliament and there do take and hold their ancient place accordingly To these Objections it shall be convenient for the more easie unfolding the sâ—ate of this Question to exhibit certain necessary distinctions and upon them to draw true and infallible Conclusions and then to prove them by authority of Law consent of Time and manifold Presidents which done the Answer will be presently made as I conceive to every of the aforesaid Objections First therefore If a Baron by Tenure which holdeth any Castle Honour or Mannor by Baronage do Alien oâ— give the same away he doth it either with or without a Licence obtained from his Majesty for the same If he doth it without a Licence then the Conclusion is certain But by the Laws of this Realm the Barony Honour Castle or Mannor so aliened without licence or consent is forâ—eited and the same Honour Castle and Mannor â—o â—olden by Barony and so aliened is to â—e seized in the King's hands and the â—aid Forfeiture and such Dignity and Estate no longer to be born and continue but to be resumed and extinguished in the Crown from whence it was derived The reason therefore is notable if we call to remembrance that which was formerly alledged out of Bracton That Baronies are the strength of the Realm and suffer no division they suffer also no alienation without the consent or licence of the Sovereign Monarch for so should the Realm be infeebled and base persons ennobled without desert of Vertue or Prowess For where the thing so aliened is an Honour or Head of a Barony it differeth much from the ordinary Tenure in Capite whereof if the Tenant make Alienation without Licence he is only to pay a Fine by the Statute of 1 Edw. 3. cap. 12. whereof also before the making of the Statute there was diversity of Opinions at the Common Law after the Statute of Magna Charta cap. 31. And for further proof see Glanvile In Edward the Third certain Lands being parcel of the Barony of Bremberway were aliened by William de Browse the Baron thereof without the King's Licence and in the Argument of the Case concerning the same Judge Green delivered this for Law First That parcel of a Barony or Earldom of the King in chief cannot be aliened or dismembred without his Licence and if it be it shall be seized into the King's hands as forfeited and the King shall be seized thereof in his own right again In 43 Edw. 3. it was found by an Office that William Bishop of Chester had leased unto one Iohn Preston for his Life a Mannor which was parcel of the Mannor of the said Bishoprick without Licence and it was resolved by the Judges and others of the King's Council That the same was forfeited but by mediation of the said Council the Bishop submitted himself to the King and made a Fine and several Scire Facias's issued out against them that had received the many proâ—its to answer unto the King thereof And thus much concerning Alienations of Baronies without Licence But on the other part if a Baron by Tenure who holds any Honour Castle or Mannor by Barony do grant or alien the same by Licence I must again distinguish for either such Alienation is made for the continuance of his Barony Honour Lands and Tenements in his own Name Blood and Issue Male or else the same Alienation is made for Money or other Recompence or otherwise to a meer Stranger and hereof ensueth this second Conclusion or Assertion That if such Alienation be made for the continuance of his Barony in his Name and Blood or Issue Male
but afterwards the Lord upon such dislike or other cause do discharge any of them from their attendance or service the Lord in this case cannot retain other thereby to give them priviledge during the life of them so retained and discharged And the reason thereof is because the first Chaplains were lawfully retained and by virtue thereof during their lives might purchase Dispensations to have advantage according to the Statute and therefore if the discharge of their service and attendance might give liberty to the Lord to retain others by such means he might advance Chaplains without number by which the Statute might be defrauded And the said Statute must be strictly construed Non-residents Pluralities as a thing prejudicial to the service of God and the ordinary instruction of the people of God By the Statute 3 Hen. 7. cap. 4. it is enactect as followeth Forasmuch as by quarrels made to such as have been in great Authority Office and of Council with the King 's of this Realm hath ensued the destruction of the Kings and therefore the undoing of this Realm so as it hath evidently appeared when the compassing of the death of such as were of the King 's true Subjects was had the destruction of the Prince was imagined thereby and for the most part it hath grown and been occasioned by malice of the King 's own Houshold Servants and for that by the Laws of this Land if actual deeds were not there was no remedy for such false compassing imaginations and confederacies had against any Lord or any of the King's Council or great Officers in his Houshold and so great inconveniences did ensue because such ungodly demeanours were not strictly punished before that any actual deed was done for remedy whereof it was by the said Statute ordained That the Steward Treasurer or Comptroller of the King's Houshold for the time being or one of them shall have full authority to enquire by twelve discreet persons of the Check Roll of the King 's honourable Houshold if any person admitted and sworn the King's Servant and his name put in the Check Roll in any quality or degree whatsoever under the state of a Lord do make any Confederacies or Conspiracies with any person or persons to destroy or murther the King or any Lord of this Realm or any other person sworn to the King's Council Steward Treasurer or Comptroller of the King's Houshold that if it be found before the said Steward for the time being by the said twelve men that any such of the King's Servants as aforesaid hath confederated or conspired as abovesaid that he so found by the enquiry be put thereupon to answer and the Steward Treasurer or Comptroller or two of them have power to determine the said matter according to Law And if he put in trial that then he be tried by Oath of twelve discreet men of the same Houshold and that such Misdoers have no challenge but for maliace And if such Misdoers be found Guilty by confession or otherwise that the said Offence is adjudged Felony and they to have Judgment and Execution as Felons attainted ought to have by the Common Law By the Statute made in the second of King Henry the First cap. 8. Authority is given to the Sheriffs and other the King's Justices for the better suppressing of Riots to raise posse Comitatus and the same liberty doth in Common Law guide in many other cases Nevertheless the Sheriff may not by such Authority command the person of any Nobleman to attend the Service But if the Sheriff upon a Supplicavit against a Nobleman in that case do return that he is so puissant that he cannot nor dare not arrest him the Sheriff shall be grievously amerced for such his return For by the Writ under the Great Seal of England the King's Command is to all Archbishops Bishops Earls Counts and Barons and to all Leigemen of the County to be aiding unto him in that which to his Office appertaineth and therefore no person whatsoever can respit the execution of the said Writ of the King 's Also the Sheriff at his discretion may levy three hundred men if need be to aid him in that behalf The words of the great Charter of the Forest in the eleventh Chapter are as followeth To every Archbishop Bishop Earl or Baron coming to us and passing by our Forest it shall be lawful for him to take one Beast or two by the view of the Forest if he be present or else he shall cause one to blow a Horn for him that he seem not to steal our Deer Although the Statute doth speak but of Bishops Earls and Barons yet if a Duke Marquiss or Viscount which are Lords of the Parliament be coming towards the King by his command they also shall have the benefit of this Article So if the King send to any of the Lords aforesaid to come to his Parliament or send for him by Writ of Subpoena to appear in the Chancery or by Privy Seal to appear before his Council or send for him by Letters Missive or by Messenger or Serjeant at Arms in all these cases he shall have the benefit of this Statute because that they come at the King's command The same Law is if a Scire Facias go out of the Chancery or Kings Bench to a Lord of Parliament But if such Process go forth against a Lord to appear before the Justices of the Common Pleas or the Barons of the Exchequer and he cometh upon the same he shall not have the benefit of the Statute for he doth not come unto the King and the words of the Statute are Veniens ad nos And all the Process which are made out of the Chancery and King's Bench are Quod sit coram nobis and so are the Process out of the Star-Chamber Also Lords which come to visit the new King after the death of his Father though not sent for shall have the same priviledge And so that this Statute is a Warrant dormant to such Lords which also is to be understood as well of their returning homeward as of their coming to the King And note that this Statute doth extend to give Licence to kill or hunt in the King's Parks though the Letter of the Statute be Transiens per Forestam nostram The Oath of Supremacy is not imposed on the Peers of the Realm A Peer shall for his first Offence of Felony though he cannot read have the benefit of his Clergy and without burning If any person shall divulge false and scandalous Reports of any Lord of Parliament the Offender is to be imprisoned until he bring forth the Author In personal Actions the Plaintiff may pray a day of Grace but against a Lord of Parliament it shall not be allowed him It is Actionable for any to deface the Coat Armour c. of any Nobleman or Gentleman that is placed in a Church or Window Certain Cases wherein a Lord of the Parliament hath no
and is equal in power to a King as before noted She is her Husband 's Sovereign and he her Subject in England although he were an Emperor So was King Philip of Spain to Queen Mary and her Authority is included in the foregoing Chapter of Monarchy and therefore need not to be here repeated The second in Honour is the Queen Consort and the third the Queen Dowager or Queen Mother As from the benign influence of the glorious Planet the Sun all Creatures by God's decree in the order of Nature receive life and motion so from the King God's Vicegerent on earth all degrees of Nobility take their advance and dignity 'T is therefore requisite the King should as far excel his Subjects in Majesty and Splendor as doth the Sun the other Planets And as the Moon is the mirror of the Sun representing his Glory by Night so the Queen Consort the Counterpart of the Royal Majesty shines amongst us for whom and for whose Posterity the Nation is bound to send up their Prayers to God The Queen of England during the life of the King hath as high prerogatives and priviledges and liveth in as great state as any Queen in Europe She is reputed the second person in the Kingdom and the Law setteth so high a value upon her as to make it High Treason to conspire her death or to violate her Chastity She is allowed Regal Robes Ornaments and a Crown of the same form as an absolute Queen weareth and may be as formerly they were crowned with Royal Solemnity the performance of which Office properly belongeth to the Archbishop of York And although their Coronations of late have been disused yet they have as much honour and enjoy the same priviledges as if that Ceremony had been done And the manner and solemnity at the Coronation of a Queen is at large set down in most of our Chronicles and in particular in Holinshead and Stow upon the splendid Coronation of Anna Bulloign in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth to which I refer the Reader The Queen is permitted to sit in state by the King and to keep a distinct Court from the King 's although she be the Daughter of a Nobless and hath her Courtiers in every Office as hath the King though not altogether so many and hath her Yeomen of her Guard to attend her on foot and within doors and her Lifeguard of Horse for her state and security when she goeth abroad She hath her Attorney Solicitor and Counsel for the management of her Law concerns who have great respect shewed them being placed within the Barr with the King's Counsel in all Courts of Judicature Although she be an Alien and a Feme covert during the King's Life yet without any Act of Parliament for Naturalization or Letters Patents for her Denization she may purchase Lands in Feesimple make Leases in her own Name without the King hath power to give to sue and to contract Debts which by the Law is denied any other Feme Covert she may not be impleaded till first petitioned nor is the formality of fifteen days Summons to the Defendant needful if she be Plaintiff nor can she be amerced if she be Nonsuited in any Action she may present by her self to a Spiritual Benefice Anciently the Queens had a Revenue called Aurum Reginae that is the Queen's Gold which was the tenth part of what came to the King by the name of Oblata upon Pardons Gifts c. but of late they keep to their Dowry viz. Forty thousand pounds per Annum besides fines upon the renewing of Leases which said Dowry is as large as any Queens in Christendome The like honour and respect that is due to the King is exhibited to the Queen as well by Foreigners as by the King's Subjects as is also to the Queen Dowager who looseth not her Dignity or Reverence although she should marry a private Gentleman as did Queen Kathâ—rine Widow to King Henry the Fifth who after she was married to Owen Teudor Esquire maintained her Action at Law as Queen of England The present Queen Consort is the thrice Illustrious Donna Katherina Infanta Portuguesa whose vertue and true piety ought to be taken notice of in all Histories â—or succeeding Queens to trace her Noble footsteps whom God preserve The Queen Dowager takes place next to the Queen Consort and in the absence of the King her Son or in his minority is sometimes made Queen Regent or Protectress but this trust is usually by the King 's own command or at the request of the three States assembled in Parliament to prevent the danger of an usurpation of the Crown the like trust is sometimes imposed upon the Queen Consort in her Husband's absence as by King Henry the Eighth twice during his Wars in France Note That during the minority of the King of England whatsoever Laws are enacted in Parliament under a Queen Regent or a Protectress are no longer binding than till the King attains to full age after which he may revoke and make void by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal The Daughters of the Kings of England are all styled Princeâ—â—es The eldest is called the Princess Royal and hath an aid or certain rate of money paid by every Tenant in Capite Knights Service and Soccage towards her marriage Portion as was levied by K. Iames when he married the Princess Elizabeth and to violate her Chaâ—â—ity is by the Law adjudged High Treason Of Noble VVomen WOmen in England according to their Husbands Qualities are either Honourable and Noble or Ignoble Their Honourable Dignities are Princesses Dutchesses Marchionesses Countesses Viscountesses and Baronesses The Nobless as the French call them are all Knights Ladies who in all writings are styled Dames all Esquires and Gentlemens wives only Gentlewomen The third sort comprehends the Plebeans and are commonly called Goodwives Noble women are so by Creation Descent or Marriage Of women honourable by Creation are divers Examples of which the first as I remember that we read of was Margaret Countess of Norfolk created by Richard the Second Dutchess of Norfolk And many of them had their Honours granted by Patents to themselves and the Heirs Males of their Bodies to be begotten with special Clauses that their Heirs Male shall have voices in Parliament Creation money their Mothers Titles as if a Dutchess he a Duke and if a Countess he an Earl with the Ceremony of Mantle Surcoat Coronet c. The like Grant was to Anna Bulloign when she was created Marchioness of Pembroke by Henry the Eighth Of a later date was the Lady Finch made Countess of Winchelsey who had all the said priviledges granted to her and her Heirs Male The Dutchess of Buckingham also in the time of King Iames. And in our Age we have divers Noble Ladies advanced to degrees of Honour viz. the Countess of Guilford Groom of the Stool to the Queen Mother and a faithful Servant to her in her banishment being
Heraldry written by Iohn Guillim about fol. 18. That Sisters are allowed no differences of Badges in their Coat-Armour by reason that by them the name of the House cannot be preserved but are admitted to the Inheritance equally and are adjudged but one Heir to all intents and purposes whatsoever And the knowledge of this point in these days is worthy to be enquired into for this is to be observed out of Presidents and to be acknowledged of every dutiful Subject that the King can advance to Honour whom he pleaseth And therefore whereas Radulph Cromwell being a Baron by Writ died without Issue having two Sisters and Coheirs Elizabeth the eldest married unto Sir Thomas Nevill Knight and Ioan the younger married to Sir Humphrey Bowcher who was called to Parliament as Lord Cromwell and not the said Sir Thomas Nevill who married the eldest Sister And Hugh Lupus the first and greatest Earl of Chester Habendum sibi haeredibus adeo libere per gladium sicut iple Rex tenuit Angliam per tenorem Hugh died without Issue and the Inheritance of his Earldom was divided amongst his four Sisters and the eldest had not the Seigniory entire unto herself If a Woman be Noble by Birth or Descent with whomsoever she doth marry although her Husband be under her Degree yet she doth remain Noble for Birth-right est Character indelebilis Other Women are enobled by Marriage and the Text saith thus viz. Women ennobled with the Honour of their Husbands and with the Kindred of their Husbands we worship them in the Court we decree matters to pass in the Names of their Husbands and into the House and Surname of their Husbands do we translate them But if afterwards a Woman do marry with a Man of a baser Degree then she loseth her former Dignity and followeth the condition of her latter Husband And concerning the second disparaged Marriage as aforesaid many other Books of the Law do agree for these be Rules conceived in those Cases Si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili desinit esse nobilis eodem modo quo quid constituitur dissolvitur It was the Case of Ralph Howard Esq who took to Wife Anne the widow of the Lord Powes they brought an Action against the Duke of Suffolk by the Name of Ralph Howard Esq and the Lady Anne Powes his Wife and exception was taken for mis-naming of her because she ought to have been named of her Husband's Name and not otherwise and the Exception was by the Court allowed For said they by the Law of God she is Sub potestate viri and by our Law her Name of Dignity shall be changed according to the Degrees of her Husband notwithstanding the Courtesie of the Ladies of Honour and Court Dyer 79. And the like is also in Queen Maries Reign when the Dutchess of Suffolk took to her Husband Adrian Brook Title Brief 54. 6. And many other Presidents have been of later times And herewith agreeth the Civil Law Digest lib. 1. title q. lege 1. In this Case of acquired Nobility by marriage if question in Law be whereupon an Issue is taken between the Parties that is to say Dutchesses are not Dutchesses Countesses are not Countesses and Baronesses are not Baronesses the Trial whereof shall not be by Record as in the former Case but by a Jury of Twelve men and the reason of the diversity is because in this Case the Dignity is accrued unto her by her Marriage which the Lawyers term Matter in Fact and not by any Record But a Noble Woman by marriage though she take to her second Husband a man of mean Degree yet she may keep two Chaplains according to the Proviso in the Statute of 11. Hen. 8. Case 13. for and in respect of the Honour which once she had viz. at the time of the Retainer And every such Chaplain may purchase Licence and Dispensation c. And Chaplains may not be Non-residents afterwards And forasmuch as the retaining of Chaplains by Ladies of great Estate is ordinary and nevertheless some questions in Law have been concerning the true understanding of the said Statute Law I think it not impertinent to set down subsequent Resolutions of the Judges touching such matters So long as the Wife of a Duke is called Dutchess or of an Earl a Countess and have the fruition of the Honour appertaining to their Estate with kneeling tasting serving so long shall a Baron's Widow be saluted Lady as is also a Knight's Wife by the courtesie of England quamdiâ— matrimonium aut viduitas uxoris durant except she happen to clope with an Adulterer for as the Laws of this Kingdom do adjudge that a Woman shall lose her Dowry in that as unto Lands Tenements and Justice so doth the Laws of Gentry and Nobleness give Sentence against such a Woman advanced to Titles of Dignity by the Husband to be unworthy to enjoy the same when she putting her Husband out of her mind subjects her self unto another If a Lady which is married come through the Forest she shall not take any thing but a Dutchess Marchioness or Countess shall have advantage of the Statute de Charta Forest. 12 Artic. during the time that she is unmarried This is a Rule in the Civil Law Si filia Regis nubat alicui Duci vel Comiti ducetur tamen semper regalis As amongst Noble Women there is a difference of Degrees so according to their distinct Excellencies the Law doth give special priviledges as followeth By the Statute 25 Edw. 3. cap. 1. it is High Treason to compass or imagine the death of the Queen or to violate the King's Companion The King's Response is a sole person except by the Common Law and she may purchase in Feesimple or make Leases or Grants with the King she may plead and be impleaded which no other married Woman can do without her Husband All Acts of Parliament for any cause which any way may concern the Queen are such Statutes whereof the Judges ought to take Recognizances as of general Statutes though the matter doth only concern the capacity of the Queen yet it doth also concern all the Subjects of the Realm for every Subject hath interest in the King and none of his Subjects within his Laws are divided from the King who is Head and Sovereign so that his business concerns all the Realm and as the Realm hath interest in the King so and for the same Reason is the Queen being his Wife A man seized of divers Lands in Fee holden by Knight's Service some by Priority that is by ancient Feoffment holden of others and some other part holden of the King in posteriority the King granteth his Seigniory to the Queen during her life and afterwards the Tenant dieth his Son within Age in this case he shall have the Wardship of the Body and have the Prerogative even as the King himself should have had The Queen Consort or Dowager shall not be amerced if she be Nonsuited
in any Action or otherwise in which case any other Subject of what degree soever shall be amerced for in that case the Queen shall participate of the King's Prerogative But the Queen shall not in all cases have the same prerogative as the King as for Example Petition is all the remedy the Subject hath when the King seizeth his Lands or taketh away his Goods from him having no Title by order of Law so to do contrary to the Opinion of some ancient Books as you may see Stamford's Prerogative Case 19. But no such Suit shall be made to the Queen but Actions as against other Lieges of the King according as the Case shall require For by the same Reason that the Queen may be Plaintiff or Demandant in Actions without the King by the same Reason she shall be Defendant without the part taking of such Prerogatives as do appertain to the King Against the King by his Prerogative nullum tempus occurrit but it is not so with the Queen 18 Edw. 3. 2. a. And plenarily by six months is a good Plea in a Quare Impedit brought by Philip Regina Anglia ibidem fol. 1. 13. b. Stamford's Prerogative Case 18. prope finem In the 22 Edw. 3. 6. it is thus to be read Note that a Protection was sued forth against the Queen in a Writ which she brought and it was allowed though she be a person exempt Nevertheless by this short Case following may be observed That the Justices do not easily suffer any proceedings in Law against the Queen Wife or Widow but will hold with their Immunities so much as by Law they may A Writ of Dower was brought against Isabel Queen of England and Mother to the then King and the Court said to the Plaintiff The Queen is a person of Dignity and Excellency and we are of Opinion that she shall not answer to the Writ but that she should be sued unto by Petition And thereupon the Demandant dixit gratis and she prayed the Court to grant a Continuance of Action until another day so that in the mean time she might speak with the Queen But the Court would not agree to make a Continuance but said That upon her request they might give day prae re pertin and so it was done for the Queen's Counsel would not agree to a Continuance for thereby the Queen shall be accepted as answerable Neither do I suppose that I have digressed from any former purpose for making mention in those Cases concerning the Queen Consort For notwithstanding the intermarriage with the Sovereign King yet she is no other than a King 's Subject whether she be of a Foreign Nation or a Native born and though she be by the favour of the King solemnly crowned Queen yet that is but a Royal Ceremony and no essential Exception whereby she may not from henceforth be accounted in the rank of Noble Women And this hath been proved by the effect in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth when some of the Wives crowned Queens have been Arraigned of High Treason and therefore put to Trial by the Nobles of the Realm as her Peers The Wife of the King 's eldest Son hath also some Prerogatives in regard of the Excellency of her Husband which the Wives of other Noblemen have not For by the Statute of the Thrteenth of Edward the Third it is High Treason to violate the Wife of the King 's eldest Son and Heir Dutchesses and Countesses have special Honours appertaining to their Estates as Kneeling Tasting c. which things are more appertaining properly to the Heralds than to be here treated of Ladies in Reputation THE Wife or Widow of the Son and Heir of a Duke or Earl in the life time of his Father is a Lady by Courtesie of Speech and Honour and taketh place according as in ancient time hath been permitted by the Sovereign Prince and allowance of the Heralds but in legal proceedings they are not Priviledged nor to be named according to such Names of Dignity But the King may at his pleasure create such Men in the life of their Ancestors unto degrees of Lord's of his Parliament and then the Law is otherwise If a Noble Woman of Spain come into this Realm by safe Conduct or otherwise though in the Letters of safe Conduct by the King she be styled by such her Sovereign Title yet in the King's Courts of Justice she shall not be named by such Title though in common Speech she is styled a Lady An English Woman born doth taken to her Husband a French or Spanish Duke though he be made a Denizen yet she shall not bear his Title of Dignity in Legal Proceedings A German Woman is married to a Peer of the Realm and unless she be made a Denizen she cannot lawfully claim the Priviledges or Titles of her Husband no more than she can to have Dower or Joynture from him An English Woman doth take to her Husband an Irish Earl or if a Lord of Scotland though he be a Postnatus take an English Woman to his Wife their Wives shall not participate of their Husbands Titles of Dignity But if the King do create one of his Subjects of Scotland or Ireland a Peer of this Realm then shall he and his Wife enjoy all the Priviledges of a Nobleman But if an English man by the Emperor be made an Earl of the Empire his Wife shall not bear that Title of Honour All the Daughters of Dukes Marquisses and Earls are by the ancient Custome of the Realm styled Ladies and have precedency according to the Degrees of their Parents And of this Custome the Laws do take notice and give allowance for Honour and Decency But nevertheless in the King's Courts of Justice they bear not those Titles of Honour no more than the Sons of such Noble persons may do So in this point the Law is one way and the Honour and Courtesie of Ladies another And as a Civilian in like Case saith Aliud est jus aliud privilegium nevertheless the Books of our Law do make mention thereof and allow of it as a Courtesie though not as a Law Thus much of Women If I have been too large upon this Subject I crave their pardons and if too short I wish I had been more large for their Honour Yet let them compare their Conditions with that of their Neighbouring Nations and 't is believed they have reason to judge themselves the happiest Women in the World but Nemo sua sorte contentus None truly value what they do possess Birth Beauty Titles Riches in excess Are all a Plague if ought else we desire The loss of that makes all our joys on fire The Right Noble Frances Stewart dutchess dowager of Richmond and Lenox ◠a. The Rt. honble Ann Stuart Baroness of Castle Stuart in ye. Kingdome of Ireland Relict of the Rt. honble Iosias Baron of Castle Stuart and Daughter of Iohn Maddē of Rousky Castle in ye. County of
King Edward And thirdly for the many Emperors Kings and Princes that have been admitted into the said Fraternity First I find it agreable to all Histories that 't was instituted by King Edward the Third Anno 1350. which was fifty years before the Instituting the French Order of St. Michael by Lewis the Eleventh Two hundred twenty nine years before Henry the Third devised the new Order of the Holy Ghost full Eighty years before the Order of the Golden Fleece was instituted by Philip the Good of Burgundy One hundred and ninety years before King Iames the Fifth refined the Order of St. Andrew in Scotland and about Two hundred and nine years before the Kings of Denmark begun the Order of the Elephant which gives it clearly the pre-eminency before other Orders in point of Antiquity For the occasion of the pristine Institution you must know King Edward the Third having engaged himself in a War with France for the obtaining of that Crown which descended on him in right of his Mother thought fit to allure to his party all such Gallant Spirits as were Friends to Bellona and to that end erected a Round Table in the Castle of Windsor in imitation of King Arthur's at Winchester where they were exercised at Tilts and Tournaments and Royally entertained with magnificent Feasts and other Princely Favours to engage them unto him But Philip of Vallois who was in actual possession of the Crown of France countermined him by erecting a like Table in his own Court whereby he drew away many from King Edward so that being disappointed in that Project and yet proving victorious in his Arms against France and Scotland at his Return he rewarded the most eminent of those Heroick Knights that had born the brunt of the Day and persevered in their Loyalty with this Noble Order which consisted of Six and twenty of which himself was one being all persons of choice Endowments of great renown in Chivalry and such as should be bound by Oath and Honour to adhere unto him And upon the death of any one of them the place was to be supplied by another elected by the King and his Successors who are Sovereigns of the said Order with the consent of the Fraternity but now the Election is at the entire pleasure of the King Therâ— are many Articles confirmed unto them to which all that are enstalled Subscribe besides the forementioned Oath viz. that whilst they shall be Fellows of the Order they will defend the Honour Quarrels Rights and Lordships of the Sovereign that they will endeavour to preserve the Honour of the said Order and all the Statutes made for the same without fraud or covin Quinam perjurati It is also esteemed most Honourable there having been more Emperors Kings and Foreign Princes of this one Order than of all others in a manner in the World which Honour is obtained by keeping precisely to the primitive Number never exceeding Six and twenty whereas all others of this kind have been so frankly communicated unto all pretenders that at last they lost their lustre and esteem in the World Of this Order there hath been no less than eight Emperors seven Kings of Portugal two Kings of Scots before the Union five Kings of Denmark three of Naples one of Poland and two of Sueden besides many Foreign Sovereign Princes of Italy Germany c. The Order and Institution being Honourable and by many Learned Pens sufficiently cleared from the envy of Froysart and other French men as also from the folly of Polydore Virgil who favours the Romantick Story of the fair Countess of Salisbury who being a dancing with the said King Edward let fall her Garter which the King took up and tied about his Leg at which the Queen being jealous he gave this Motto Honi sort qui mal y pense that is Evil be to him that evil thinks The Patron of this Order is St. George a Man of great Renown for Chivalry he suffered Martyrdom at Lydda under Dioclesian saith Mr. Selden supposed by Dr. Helyn to have been martyrred at Nicomedia the principal Seat then of the Eastern Empire and by others at Diosprilia or Lyddea in Palestine where he is said to be interred whose Fame was so great in the World that many Temples and Monasteries were dedicated to him in the Eastern Countries from whence his esteem came into England who celebrated to his memory the Three and twentieth of April with the rest of the Universal Church But how long he has been honoured as Patron and Protector of England is disputable Mr. Selden concludes before the Conquest And 't is no marvel saith he that so warlike a people should make choice of such a Souldier-Saint known by the particular name of Tropheophorus of greater eminency in both the Eastern and Western Churches than any other Souldier-Saint To this Tutelary Saint or Patron of Martial men King Edward commends himself and his Companions called The Knights of St. George And having both beautified and enlarged his Castle at Windsor to be the Royal Seat of this Order he caused a solemn Proclamation to be made in France Spain c. to invite all Military Spirits to attend those Tilts and Tournaments which were intended to be kept not only on St. George's day then next ensuing which was designed for the day of Institution but for fifteen days before and as many after and that the memory of St. George might be still continued he gave them for a part of their daily Habit the Image of St. George encountring with the Dragon or Devil inchased with Pearls and precious Stones appendant to a blue Ribon continually to be worn about their necks As for the Habit of this Order besides the George and Ribon before mentioned and a Garter enamelled with Gold Pearl and precious Stones with the Motto Honi soit qui mal y pense embroydered upon it which is fastned about the left Leg with a buckle of Gold from whence they were called Knights of the Garter and without these two Ornaments none of these Knights are to appear in publique There also properly belongs to this Order a Cassock of crimson Velvet and a Mantle and Hood of purple Velvet lined with white Sarsnet on the left shoulder whereof is an Escocheon of St. George embroidered with a Garter within the Motto The Escocheon is Argent a Cross Gules But these to be worn only upon St. George's day and when it shall please the Sovereign to celebrate the Ceremonies of the Installations To each Knight belongs a Collar of the Order made of pure Gold weighing thirty Ounces of Troy weight composed of Garters and Roses enamelled with Roses red and white and since the coming of King Iames there hath been an intermixture of Thistles the Image of St. George enriched with precious Stones appendant to it to be worn over all the Robes at St. George's Feast and over their ordinary Cloaks upon all such days on which the Sovereign is bound
personal Installation of a Knight in seven Sections 1. That Installation gives the Title of Founder 2. Of the time and place appointed for Installation 3. Of Commissions for Installation 4. Of Letters of Summons 5. Of Warrants for the Livery of the Order 6. The removal of Atchievements and Plates And 7. preparations made by Knights Elect. Chap. XII Treats of the personal Installation of a Knight-Subject in eleven Sections 1. Of the Cavalcade to Windsor 2. The Offerings in the Chappel on the Eve of the Installation 3. The Supper on the Eve 4. The order in proceeding to the Chapter-house 5. The Ceremonies performed in the Chapter-house 6. The proceeding into the Choire 7. The Ceremonies of Installation 8. The order observed when two or more Knights are installed in one day 9. The Offerings of Gold and Silver 10. The grand Dinner at the Installation And 11. of setting up the Knight's Atchievements Chap. XIII Treats of the Installation of a Knight-Subject by proxy in nine Sections 1. The original cause of making Proxies 2. Letters of Procuration 3. Qualifications of a Proxy 4. Preparations for Installations 5. Proceeding to the Chapter-house 6. Transactions in it 7. Proceeding to the Choire 8. Ceremonies performed there And 9. the grand Dinner Chap. XIV Treats of the signification of Election to Strangers in five Sections 1. In what time and manner Certificate is made for their Election 2. Of notice given of an Election before sending the Habit 3. Notice of Election sent with the Habit 4. Certificate of acceptation And 5. of an Election not accepted of Chap. XV. Treats of the Investiture of Strangers with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order in four Sections 1. The time for sending the Habit and Ensigns unlimited 2. Preparations made for the Legation 3. The Ceremonies of Investiture And 4. Certificates of having received the Habit and Ensigns of the Order Chap. XVI Treats of the Installation of a Stranger by Proxy in thirteen Sections 1. Touching the choice and nomination of a Proxy 2. The Proctor's qualifications 3. His Letters of Procuration 4. Of the Proctor's Reception 5. The preparations for Installation 6. The Proctor's Cavalcade to Windsor 7. Supper after his arrival there 8. Of the proceeding to the Chapter-house 9. The Ceremonies performed therein 10. Of the proceeding to the Choire 11. The Ceremonies of Installation 12. The Proctor's Offerings And 13. the Dinner Chap. XVII Treats of the Duties and Fees payable by the Knights-Companions at their Installations in four Sections 1. Concerning the Fees due to the Colledge of Windsor 2. Fees due to the Register Garter Black Rod and Officers of Arms 3. Fees belonging to others of the Sovereign's Servants And 4. Fees payable for Strangers Chap. XVIII Treats of the Grand Feast of the Order in ten Sections 1. The Grand Feast appointed to be annually kept on St. George's day 2. The Anniversary of St. George fixed by the Church unto the Three and twentieth of April 3. St. George's day made Festum duplex 4. The place for celebrating the Grand Feast assigned to Windsor Castle 5. St. George's day kept apart from the Grand Feast and how then observed 6. The Grand Feast neglected by King Edward the Sixth 7. Removed from Windsor by Queen Elizabeth 8. Of prorogation of the Grand Feast 9. Of Commissions for prorogation And 10. that the Grand Feast ought to be celebrated once every year Chap. XIX Of preparations for the Grand Feast of the Order in eight Sections 1. Of Letters giving notice of the time and place 2. Of Dispensations for not attending at the Grand Feast 3. Of Commissions of Lieutenancy and Assistance 4. Warrants for the Removal of Atchievements 5. Scutcheons of Arms and Styles 6. Of adorning the Chappel 7. The furnishing of St. George's Hall And 8. Officers and Servants appointed to attend at the Grand Feast Chap. XX. Treats of the order of the Ceremonies on the Eve of the Grand Feast in seven Sections 1. Of the beginning of the Grand Feast 2. Of setting the proceeding in order 3. Of proceeding to the Chapter-house 4. Of the opening of the Chapter 5. Transactions in the Chapter held before the first Vespers 6. The Ceremonies relating to the first Vespers And 7. the Supper on the Eve Chap. XXI Treats of the Order of the Ceremonies on the Feast day in nine Sections 1. The proceeding to the Chappel in the morning 2. The proceeding to the second Service 3. Of the Grand Procession 4. The order of the said Service 5. The Offering of Gold and Silver 6. The return to the presence 7. Of the Dinner on the Feast-day 8. The Ceremonies belonging to the second Vespers And 9. of the Supper on the Evening of the Feast-day Chap. XXII Treats of the Ceremonies observed on the last day of the Feast in four Sections 1. Of proceeding to the Chapter-house in the morning 2. Of the elect Knights proceeding into the Choire 3. Of the Ceremonies performed at Divine Service And 4. the Diets at some of the Grand Feasts Chap. XXIII Treats of the Observations of the Grand Feast by absent Knights in five Sections 1. Absent Knights enjoyned to observe the Grand Feast 2. More particular directions for their observation thereof 3. How to be observed in case of Sickness 4. In what manner the Feast hath been observed by absent Knights And 5. Dispensation for absence granted during life Chap. XXIV Treats of Degradation of a Knight-Companion in three Sections 1. Of the Degradation of a Knight Batchelor 2. The manner of Degrading a Knight-Companion of the Garter And 3. of Restauration into the Order after Degrading Chap. XXV Treats of Honors paid to deceased Knights-Companions in four Sections 1. Of the celebration formerly of Masses for defunct Knights-Companions 2. Of fixing on the Stalls Plates of their Arms and Styles 3. The Offering of Atchievements And 4. of depositing the deceased Knights Mantles in the Chapter-house Chap. XXVI Treats of the Founder the first Knights-Companions and their Successors in four Sections 1. Of what number they consisted 2. A short view of the Founder's Wars 3. Some account of the first Five and twenty Knights-Companions And 4. a Catalogue of their Successors OF Knights Bannerets CHAP. XVIII THIS Degree of Knighthood called by some Equites Vexillarii or Chevaliers a Banier is a most ancient Order having been used in England ever since King Edward the First and hath been always conferred on most deserving persons for their signal Valour as I shall anon take occasion to speak of 'T is the Judgment of some Antiquaries that these Bannerets were once used as a part of the three States of the Realm and that it was the Custome of Kings hertofore to summon by Writ the Lords Spiritual and Temporal with such other worthy persons of this Order as they thought fit to call to consult about the Publick Affairs of the Kingdom which persons thus assembled were then called a Parliament And that those Bannerets often serving their King
of Horeham in Sussex Esq. 827 29. 1677. Sir Robert Cotton of Cumbermere in Cestr. Kt. 828 April 7. Francis Willoughby of Wollaton in Nottinghamshire Esq. 829 Iuly 28. Richard Newdigate Serjeant at Law 830 Sept. 29. Richard Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire Esq. 831 Octob. 8. Francis Anderton of Lostock in Lancashire Esq. 832 18 Iames Symeon of Chilworth in Oxfordshire Esq. 833 25. Iames Poole of Poole in Worrell in Cheshire Esq. 834 Dec. 31. George Wharton of Kirkby-Kendal in Westmoreland Esq. 835 Ian. 31. Hugh Ackland of Cullum-Iohn in Devonshire Esq. 836 Apr. 22. Francis Edwards of Shrewsbury in Shropshire Esq. 837 May 8. Sir Henry Oxinden of Deane in Kent Kt. 838 18. Iames Bowyer of Leighthorne in Sussex Esq. for life and after to Henry Goring of Higden in the said County Esq. 839 Iune 29. Ignatius Vitus alias White of Limberick in Ireland Esq. KNIGHTS OF THE BATH CHAP. XX. KNights of the Bath so called from part of the Ceremony at their Creation are commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen at the Creation of a Prince or of a Duke of the Blood Royal Thus at the Creation of Henry Prince of VVales and Charles Duke of York the second Son of King Iames Knights of the Bath were made and at the Coronation of our dread Sovereign King Charles the Second 68 were made whose Names you will find in the ensuing Catalogue This Order was first erected saith Froysard in Anno 1399. by King Henry the Fourth who to add to the lustre of his Coronation created 46 Knights of the Bath and Mr. Selden thinks them more ancient But that great Antiquary Elias Ashmole Esq is of the Opinion that the said King did not constitute but rather restore the ancient manner of making Knights for formerly Knights Batchelors were created by Ecclesiasticks with the like Ceremonies and being thus brought again into use and made peculiar to the Degree of Knights of the Bath they have ever â—ince continued and the better to maintain this his Opinion saith That they have neither Laws nor Statutes assigned them neither are they to wear their Robes but upon the time or solemnity for which they were created except the red Ribbon which they are allowed always to wear cross their left Shoulder and upon any vacancy their number which is uncertain is not supplyed They are created with much noble Ceremonies and have had Princes and the prime of the Nobility of their Fellowship The particular manner of their Creation is mentioned by many Authors but most exactly described and illustrated with Figures of all the Ceremonies by the learned Hand of VVilliam Dugdale Esq Norroy King at Arms in his Description of VVarwickshire to which laborious Peece I refer the curious Reader borrowing from him and some others this small abstract of their Ceremonies When one is to be made a Knight of this Order at his coming to Court he is honourably received by the Chief Officers and Nobles of the Court and hath two Esquires appointed to wait upon him who convey him to the Chamber without more seeing him that day where he is to be entertained with Musick then a Bath is to be prepared by the Barber who is to trim him and the King being informed that he is ready for the Bath he is by the most grave Knights there present instructed in the Orders and Fees of Chivalry the Musick playing to his Chamber door then they hearing the Musick shall undress him and put him naked into the Bath and the Musick ceasing some one of the Knights shall say Be this an honourable Bath unto you then shall he be conveyed to his Bed which shall be plain and without Curtains and so soon as he is dry they shall help to dress him putting over his inward Garment a Rusâ—et Robe with long sleeves and a Hood like unto that of an Hermit and the Barber shall take all that is within and without the Bath with his Collar about his Neck for his Fees then shall he be conducted to the Chappel with Musick where being entred the Knights and Esquires shall be entertained with Wine and Spices for their favours done unto him then they take their leaves of him and he and his two Esquires and a Priest performs a Vigil till almost day with Prayers and Offerings beseeching God and his blessed Mother to make him worthy of that Dignity and being confessed he shall with one of the Governours hold a Taper till the reading of the Gospel and then he shall give it to one of the Esquires to hold till the Gospel is ended and at the elevation of the Host one of the Governours shall take the Hood from the Essquire and after deliver it again till the Gospel in principio and at the beginning take the Hood again and give him the Taper again in his hand having a penny ready near the Candlestick at the words Verbum caro factum est the Esquire kneeling shall offer the Taper to the Honour of God and a penny to the Honour of the person that makes him a Knight This Ceremony being ended he shall be conducted to his Chamber for some repose until the King's pleasure is known and then he is dressed and attended into the Hall which is ready for his Reception being girded with a Girdle of white Leather without Buckles having a Coif on his Head Mantles of Silk over a Kirtle of red Tartarin tied with a lace of white silk with a pair of white Gloves hanging at the ends of the Lace and this Attire is the Chandlers Fees Then he is conducted by the Knights on Horsback to the King's Hall with his Sword and his Spurs hanging at the Pomel of the Sword being carried before him and the Marshal and Ushers meeting him do desire him to alight the Marshal shall take his Horse for his Fee and being brought to the high and second Table with his Sword being held upright before him the King coming into the Hall doth ask for the Sword and Spurs which the Chamberlain shall take and shew the King who takes the right Spur and delivers it to the most Noble Person there wishing him to put it on the Esquire which being done a Knight puts on the left Spur then the King taking the Sword which he girts about him and putting his Arms about his Neck saith Be thou a good Knight and after kisseth him then he is conducted to the Chappel and kneeling with his right hand lying on the high Altar he promiseth to maintain the Rites of Holy Church until his death and ungirting his Sword with great Devotion he offereth it there to God then at his going out the King's Master Cook who is there ready to take off his Spurs shall say I the King's Master Cook am come to receive thy Spurs for my fee and if you do any thing contrary to the order of Knighthood which God forbid I shall back your Spurs from your heels Then he is conducted
certain Lands in Escuage like as the Knight himself did of the King by Knights Service The beginning of giving Arms in Europe amongst Christians is supposed from the Holy Wars for the Turks paint them not And so with us about Henry the Third's time they became here more firmly established And when the Prince enobled any he usually gave them the particular of his bearing in Blazon Iohn Selden in his Preface fol. 5. where you may also see an Example in King Richard the Second But now there are five distinct sorts of Esquires observed and those that have been already spoken of are now in no request Of these sorts the principal at this day are the eldest Sons of Viscounts and Lord next are all Noblemens younger Sons then are accounted those that are select Esquires for the King's Body the next are Knights eldest Sons successively in a fourth rank are reckoned those unto whom the King himself together with the Title giveth Arms or createth Esquires by putting about their Necks a Silver Collar of SS and in former times upon their Heels a pair of white silvered Spurs whereupon at this day in the Western part of the Kingdom they be called White-spurs for distinction from Knights who were wont to wear gilt Spurs and to the first begotten Sons only of these doth this Title belong In the fifth and last place be those that have any superiour publick Office in the Kingdom as high Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c. or serve the King in any worshipful Calling At the Coronation of Kings and Queens Knights of the Bath are made men of worth and honourable blood to the end that their Majesties may be accompanied in their own Honours every of which Knights having two Gentlemen to attend them in that Ceremony who are ever after by that Service enabled to be Esquires during their lives But the name of Esquire in ancient time was a name of Charge and Office and first crept in amongst other Titles of Dignity and Worship so far as ever I could observe in the Reign of King Richard the Second vide Sir Thomas Smith de Republica Anglorum fol. 26. where he saith That the Esquire is no distinct Order of the Commonwealth A Serjeant of the King's Kitchin may bear the Name and Addition of Cook or Esquire according to the Opinion of Newton But Ienne saith Such Officers of his Majestie 's Houshold would be much grieved if they should be named by their Trade or Office Peradventure in that case the Writ may be good because of the Statute viz. 1 Hen. 5. ch 5. For the Statute is That he should be named of the Town Degree State Condition or Mystery and when he was named Cook he observed the Statute for he hath named him by his own name of Mystery and yet he may be in that case an Esquire and a Cook If a man be an Esquire or Gentleman only by Office and loseth the same he loseth also that title of Gentility Note That an Esquire or Gentleman is but an Addition to satisfie the said Statute but names of Dignity are parcel of the name And thereupon if a Praecipe quod reddat be against Iohn a Stiles Yeoman and recovery is had whereas the Tenant was a Gentleman yet the Recovery is good The same Law where a Release is made to Iohn a Stiles Yeoman who is a Gentleman and where addition is given by the party where it needeth not by the Law being no Dignity it is void So if a deed be made to a Gentleman by the name of a Yeoman for there is a great difference between Deeds and Writs If an Esquire be to be Arraigned of High Treason he may and ought to be tried per probos Legales homines that may expend Forty shillings of Freehold or be worth One hundred pounds in the value of Goods And so the Statute that doth speak of men of his condition hath always been put in ure Dyer 99. b. Note a Knight hath no other priviledge by Statute or Common Law The King may make an Esquire by Patent viz. Creamus te Armigerum c. Note the Preface to the printed Book of Titles of Honour 5. b. 318. By the statute 21. Hen. 8. chap. 13. amongst other things it is enacted that the Brethren and Sons born in Wedlock of every Knight being Spiritual men may every of them purchase License or Dispensation and receive take and keep two Parsonages or Benefices with cure of souls The Son or Sons of any Knight and heir apparent of an Esquire is priviledge to keep Greyhounds setting Doggs or Nets to take Pheasants or Partridges though he cannot dispend ten pounds in his own right or in his Wives right of Estate of Inheritance or of the value of thirty pounds of Estate for life By the precedent discourse of Knights Batchelors we understand that all persons by the common Law are compellable to take the degree of Knighthood or to fine if they are possest of such an Estate as the King and his Council shall judge fit to maintain that Port in their Country And his annual Revenue deemed fit for that Dignity and the fines imposed upon such as refused we find in our Histories and Statutes to vary with the times and certainly the best Esquires or at least none under the Reputation of Gentlemen were compelled although 't was at the King's pleasure And therefore 1 Edw. 2. Stat. de Militibus the Parliament saith Sanderson more for ease of the Subject than profit of the King limited it to such as had Twenty pounds per Annum and better and afterwards 't was raised to Thirty pounds and a plentiful Revenue in those times when a Dowry of Three thousand pounds per Annum to a Queen was deemed a great impoverishment to the Crown and Kingdom but the East and Western part of the World being laid open to the Merchants money began to be more common and by consequence Land to its value so that in the reign of King Charles the First Forty pounds per Annum being the rate set for such as ought to be made Knights or to fine many Farmers Leaseholders Merchants Inholders and others were called in whereby above 100 thousand pounds was brought into the Exchequer Notwithstanding which divers persons made Friends and took the Degree of Knighthood which occasioned the extinguishment of the ancient Tax For many Esquires by birth wealth and education who bore the chiefest Offices of Honour and Trust in the Commonwealth disdained to stoop or give place to those new dubbed Knights countenanced the Complaints of the common people against the Law it self as a grievance and prevailed so far in the following Parliament to get it repeal'd as you may see 17 Car. chap. 20. Since which time the difference between the Degree of Knighthood and Dignity of an Esquire consists only in Title a double rate in the Pole Tax and priority of place which as I before noted is often
Palace a Prison Mint Armory Wardrobe and Artillery its Guild-hall where the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen meet about the concerns of the City and where their Courts of Judicature are kept its Halls for the several Companies its Colledges and Free-Schools its Hospitals and Alms-houses its Theatres Tennis-Courts and places of Recreation and its great plenty of all sorts of Provision which its Shambles and Markets are stored with it may be deservedly styled the Mistress of the World It s Government This famous City when under the Government of the Britains Romans and Saxons was destroyed by the Danes but AElfred King of the West-Saxons having reduced the whole Land to one Monarchy repaired and re-peopled it and committed the custody thereof to his Son in Law Alhered Earl of Mercia after whose decease it returned to King Edward sirnamed the Elder who had it governed under him by Port-Graves or Port-Reves which in divers Records are styled Vicecomites Viscounties or Sheriffs In the first of King Richard the first the Citizens obtained to be governed by two Bailiffs or Sheriffs and afterwards obtained to have a Mayor for their principal Magistrate the first of which was Henry Fitz-Alwyn a Draper who was constituted and so continued four and twenty years The City within the Walls and Freedom thereof is divided into six and twenty Wards and the government thereof committed to the care of as many grave Citizens of good repute and quality which are Aldermen each of which having the overseeing of his respective Ward And besides these Aldermen there are two Sheriffs which are annually chosen as also a Lord Mayor who according to his degree and seigniority of being Alderman after Sheriff is by the consent of the Citizens that is the Livery-men of each Company yearly elected and these are clothed in Scarlet Gowns and wear Gold Chains and as Coadjutors every Alderman hath his Deputy of the Ward as also Common-Councel-men This City by their Charter hath ample and large Priviledges and Immunities granted unto it which hath been confirmed and enlarged by most of our Kings and Queens as the making of Acts and Ordinances for the regulation and better government of the several Incorporated Companies and the Members thereof so as they are not repugnant to the Law of the Nation and detriment of the King they have also the power of keeping of Courts holding Pleas Assizes and Goal Delivery with the punishment of Offenders by Fine Imprisonment or Death as occasion requireth The Citizens are not constrained to go out of the said City to warr without an emergent occasion to suppress a Foreign Invasion they may pass Toll-free throughout all England they have a Common Seal and Armorial Ensigns of Honour and for Recreation have Free-warren or Liberty to hunt about the said City with many other Immunities too tedious to set down Courts appropriate to the City The Hustings is a Court of great Antiquity and Concern being to preserve the Rights Laws Franchises Customs and Dignities of the said City and is kept by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen every Tuesday The Court of Requests or Conscience the Judges whereof are some of the Common-Councel-men who are monthly chosen by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and sit twice every week to hear and determine all matters brought before them betwixt Freemen where the just Debt or Dammage doth not exceed forty shillings for the proof of which the Plaintiffs Oath is sufficient for them to award the Defendant to pay the same either by present or weekly payment as the said Judges shall think fit which sentence cannot be avoided for it is to be presum'd that no man especially of some repute which is to be considered of will forswear himself for so small a sum of money The Lord Mayor's Court being an ancient Court of Record held every Tuesday and Thursday by the Mayor and Aldermen and is to redress and correct the errors and defaults which happen in the Government of the City and indeed taketh cognizance of all matters wich concern the City for Receipts and Payments of money the granting Leases purchasing of Lands building and repairing of Houses and the like and appointing their several Officers to look after the same The two Sheriffs Courts â— one for each Compter is on Wednesdays and Fridays for Trials for Woodstreet Compter and on Thursdays and Saturdays for the Poultrey Compter and each Court hath its Judge which is a Lawyer of good repute for the hearing and trial of all Actions brought before them but if the Action brought be above 5 l. it may be by the Defendant removed to a higher Court. And to these Courts belong four Counsellors eight Attorneys besides Secondaries Clerks Keepers of the Compters sixteen Sergeants and their Yeomen with other Sub-Officers The Court of Orphans which medleth with the Estates of deceased Citizens to provide for the Orphans until they come to Age and to see that an equal division of the Estate be made the City being their Guardians The Court of Common-Councel much resembling the High Court of Parliament consisting of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen which may be termed the Higher House and the Common-Councel the Lower House and these make and constitute Laws and Acts as aforesaid which are binding to the Inhabitants The Court of the Chamberlain for the binding and making free Apprentices and for the reforming grievances betwixt the Master and the Apprentice and this is an Office of great Trust and of such Power that no Apprentice if not sworn by him can set up and open Shop and those that disobey his Summons he hath power to Imprison or Fine This Office is at present committed to the care of Sir Thomas Player Kt. a Person every way fit for so great a Trust. The Courts of the Coroner and Escheater which doth belong to the Lord Mayor The Court of Policies and Assurances for Merchants The Court of Halmote which is kept by the Master Wardens and Court of Assistance of every Company generally every month The Court of Wardmote or Wardmote Inquest for the whole City being divided into six and twenty Wards every Ward having such an Inquest consisting of about twelve or sixteen of the Inhabitants thereof who meet at every Christmass time and enquire after the Disorders and Abuses of Tradesmen in their Weights Measures and the like and according to their Misdemeanours they make their Presentments The Sessions of Oyer and Terminer and Goal Delivery of Newgate for the City of London and County of Middlesex holden every month at Iustice-hall in the Old Baily for the trial of Felons the Lord Mayor being cheif Judge and hath power of Reprieving The Court for the conservation of the Water and Rivers of Thames and Medway The Court of the Tower held within the Verge of the City before the Steward by Prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions There is no Magistrate in Europe that liveth in greater state and hath more power than the
House generally twice a week and keep Courts â—or the negotiation of their Affairs The government of this Company for this present year 1678. is committed to the care of Sir Nathaniel Herne Kt. Governour Major Robert Thomson Deputy-Governour and to the Right Honourable George Lord Berkeley Sir Samuel Barnadiston Sir Iohn Banks Baronets Sir William Thomson Sir Stephen White Sir Iames Edwards Sir Iohn Moore Sir Iohn Lethulier Knights Iosia Child Iohn Iolliff Iohn Bathurst Col. Iohn Clarke Iames Houblon Samuel Moyer Charles Thorold Thomas Papillon Esquires Mr. Christopher Boone Mr. Thomas Canham Mr. Ioseph Herne Mr. Nathaniel Letton Mr. Iohn Page Mr. Edward Rudge Mr. Daniel Sheldon and Mr. Ieremy Sambrook Assistants The Levant or Turky Company of Merchants which by their Discovery made the first Trade into the Seigniory of Venice and then into the Dominions of the Grand Seignior and including the Trade of the East-Indies which as then was undiscovered to us by Sea their goods being brought upon Camels and Ass-negroes to Aleppo and other parts of Turky but since the discovery of the Indies by Sea the Trade of this Company is something eclipsed for those Commodities which are now brought us by the East-India Company The benefit that ariseth to this Nation from this Company besides the imploying so many Ships and Seamen is in the Exporting and Importing of so many rich Commodities and in particular Clothes both died and drest at the least thirty thousand pieces yearly Kersies Lead Tinn Iron Steel Wire Pewter Furrs pieces of Eight Sugar Hides Elephants-teeth Brasill red and white Lead Indico Logwood Couchaniel Callicoes Spices and several Indian Commodities And for these they Import raw Silks of Persia Damascus Tripoli c. also Camblets Grograins Grograin-yarn Mohairs of Angor Woolls Cottons Cotton-yarn of Smyrna and Cyprus Galls of Mosolo and Toccat the Coralls and Oyls of Zant Zeffalonia Morea c. the Drugs of Egypt and Arabia also Turky-Carpets Cordovants Box-wood Rhubarb Worm-seed Sena Cummin-seed with several other rich Commodities This worshipful Company of Merchants was first Incorporated in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and since confirmed by her Successors and have ample Priviledges and Immunities granted unto them as making of Laws and Orders for the well government of the said Fellowship power of deciding Controversies which arise in the said Company as to their Trade giving Oaths imposing Fines or imprisoning of Offenders according to their discretion the using of a Publick Seal and the bearing of a Coat of Arms as is set forth in the Escocheon of Arms aforesaid And for the better management of the Affairs of this Honourable Company they are governed by a Governour Deputy-Governour and Court of Assistants consisting of 18 who in the Month of February are Annually chosen by a general Consent out of the Members of the said Company and these meet and keep Courts monthly weekly or as oft as their occasions require for the management of the concerns of the said Society as binding and making free electing and sending over Consuls Vice-Consuls Factors and Servants to Constantinople Smyrna Aleppo Cyprus and such places where their Factories are kept The management of the Affairs of this Honourable Company for this present year 1678. is committed to the care and prudent government of the Right Honourable George Lord Berkeley of Berkeley whose worthy parts and great love to Traffick makes him every way so fit for it that the Company for these several years past have by an unanimous consent elected his Lordship their Governour Iohn Buckworth Esq Deputy Mr. Iohn Harvey Treasurer Mr. Thomas Vernon Husband Sir Iohn Lethulier Kt. Charles Thorold Esq Iohn Morden Esq Mr. Thomas Pilkington Mr. Richard Poulter Mr. Henry Griffith Mr. Iohn Morice Mr. Richard Onslow Mr. Thomas Hartopp Mr. Walter Conventrey Mr. William Hedges Mr. Iasper Clotterbook Mr. Abraham Wessell Mr. Richard Nicol Mr. Bernard Saltonstall Mr. George Carew The Russia or Moscovy Company of Merchant Adventurers for discovery of new Trades was first Incorporated in the beginning of the Reign of King Philip and Queen Mary upon the Discoveries of Lands Territories Seigniories and Isles by Seas lying Northwards North-eastwards and North-westwards from England and was afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament in the eighth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth so that now they enjoy several Immunities and Priviledges as to raise Arms for the subduing of Countreys in the limits aforesaid and to enter thereon and set up the English Standards to make Acts and Ordinances for the good of the said Society so as they are not repugnant to the Laws of the Kingdom to punish Offenders by Fine or Imprisonment to use a Common Seal to bear a Coat of Arms c. as is here depicted The Commodities that this Company Exporteth are woollen Clothes both died and dressed of all sorts Kersies Bayes Cottons Perpetuances Fustians Norwich Stuffs Lace Thread Lead Tinn Pewter Allom Copper much defective Wines and Fruits not fit to be spent in this Kingdom with most sorts of English Goods And for these and the like they Import Pot-ashes Tarr Cordage Cable-yarn Tallow Wax Isinglass several sorts of Hides in the Hair Goat-skins undrest Cordovants tan'd Hides Hogs-brissles raw Silk Linseed Slod Bever wooll and wombs several sorts of rich Furrs Seal-skins Rhuberb Castorum Agarick Train-oyl Flax Hemp Linen Caviare Salmon Stockfish Codfish c. This worshipful Company of Merchants is governed by a Governour four Consuls and Assistants consisting of four and twenty who on the first of March are Annually chosen out of the Members of the said Society and for this present Year 1677. the management thereof is committed to the care of Iohn Iolliff Esq Governour Sir Benjamin Ayloff Baronet Samuel Moyer Esq Charles Thorold Esq Mr. Charles Carill Consuls to Mr. Edward Bell Treasurer and to Iohn Gould Esq Mr. Daniel Edwards Mr. Benjamin Glanvile Mr. Iames Young Mr. Benjamin Colds Mr. George Grove Mr. Francis Pargiter Mr. George Carew Mr. Heritage Lenten Captain Gervase Lock Mr. Edward Grace Mr. Thomas Thursby Mr. Thomas Hancox Mr. Iohn Ashby Mr. Richard Adams Mr. Edward Davenport Mr. Thomas Hawes â— Mr. George Cooks Mr. Gilbert Ward Mr. Ioseph Wolfe Mr. Iohn Porter Mr. Iohn Osborne and Mr. Iohn Penning Assistants The Eastland Company first Incorporated in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and confirmed by King Charles the Second and by their Charter have ample Immunities and Priviledges granted to them and as large a scope to traffick in including the Trade of the Kingdoms Dominions Dukedoms Countreys Cities and Towns of Norway Swedeland and Poland with the Territories of the said Kingdoms as also in Lettow Liffland and Pomerland from the River Odera Eastwards and likewise in the Isles of Findland Eoland and Berâ—tholine within the Sound The Commodities by this Company Exported are Woollen Clothes Perpetuances Kersies Serges Norwich Stuffs Cottons Lead Tinn Pewter Stockins Hats Gloves together with several Southern and Eastern Commodities as Sattins Silks Spices