THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT and moderne Estate of The Principality of Wales Dutchy of Cornewall and Earldome of Chester Collected out of the Records of the Tower of LONDON and diuers ancient Authors By Sir IOHN DODRIDGE Knight late one of his Maiesties ludges in the Kings Bench. And by himselfe Dedicated to King IAMES of euer blessed memory LONDON ¶ Printed by Tho. Harper for Godfrey Emâ—ndson and Thomas Alchorne M. DC XXX TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY JAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. My most dread Soueraigne and Liegelord AMong temporall blessings giuen from God and powred vpon men this is not the least for a man to behold the fruit of his owne body surculum exradice an impe or graffe the Oliue branches about his table the hope of his posterity the image of himselfe and the staffe of his old age The consideration of the want whereof caused that good Patriake out of the bitternesse of his soule to cry and make his complaint vnto his God in these words Behold I goe childlesse and the Steward of my house is Eleazer of Damascus loe to me thou hast giuen no seed wherefore a servant of mine house must bee mine heire But to be furnished with masculine issue and to haue his first borne of that sex to whom the Birthright is due as to the sanctfiied of God and the preseruer of his name and patrimony is a double blessing vnto all men much more vnto Kings the Lords anointed whereby his horne is established his subiects in the middest of the day present do behold the Sunne that shall arise vpon them the day suceeding and haue their hearts setled to say vnto their Soueraine wee and our seed will serue thee and thy seed for euer This made the Propheticall King in the day of his departure to blesse God and say Blessed be the Lord my God who hath caused mine eyes to see this day that one of mine own loynes shall fit vpon my Throne But contrariwise was Achah accursed of whom God said he would not leaue him one mingentem ad parietem threatning as it were by that circumlocution to root out all issue male of Achab that might succeed him And hence it is that all Potentates of the world haue highly respected and aduanced in the eyes of their subiects their heire apparant and giuen and conferred vpon him very high and eminent titles of honor Of the Romans he was called Caesar and Princeps juventutis as the principall of all their hopes in their posterity Of the French he is honored by the name of the Dolphin of that part of the Country being his patrimony And in like manner in this our Country of England the Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester He is next his father the chiefe in the Realme and by course of the ciuill Law is to sit at his right hand in all solemne assemblies of state and honor So that not without reason did King Edward the third King of England place Richard his grandchild and next heire apparant in his solemne feast at Christmas at his table next vnto himselfe aboue all his Vncles being the sonnes of that King and men manifoldly renowned for their prowes and virtue And yet hath not the Prince any Kingly prerogatiues allowed vnto him by the Lawes of this Realme in the life of his progenitors other then such as are due vnto other Noble men that hee might acknowledge himselfe to bee but a subiect and whereof he is put in remembrance euen by the Poesy that he vseth in the old English or Saxon tongues in this forme conceiued Ie dien I am a seruant The due consideration whereof hath caused me by the encouragement of an honorable learned and worthy Councellor my Lord of Buckhurst your Maiesties Lord high Treasurer of England and my very good Lord and being eased therein by the carefull paines and industry of a Gentleman Mr. Richard Connock his seruant in some conuenient method after my rude and vnlearned manner to set downe what the ancient and true estate of his excellency the Lord Prince hath beene what it now is and how impaired and to what estate and dignity by your Maiesties high and Princely wisdome it may againe be reduced Beseeching your highnesse of your accustomed clemency to pardon this my bold attempt and to accept my poore trauels therein with that gratious aspect as you do the manifold gratulations of other your Maiesties louing subiects Your Maiesties loyall and obedient subiect I. D. ABSTRACTS AND ADVERTISEMENTS concerning the Contents of this HISTORIE THe originall and antient estate of Wales before and vntill the Conquest thereof by King Edward the First in the eleuenth yeere of his Raigne Edward of Carnaruon so called because he was born at Carnaruon Castle in VVales and sonne to King Edward the First constituted Prince of VVales and the policy vsed therein by King Edward the First The creation of Edward sirnamed the blacke Prince to be Prince of VVales and the antient manner of the inuesture of the Princes of VVales The strange limitation of the estate of the Lands of the said Principality and the reasons thereof and the difference betweene the Principality of VVales and the Dutchy of Cornewall for the eldest sonne and heire apparant of the King of England is Duke of Cornewall as soone as be is borne or as soone as his father is King of England But he is created Prince of VVales by a speciall creation inuesture and donation of the lands thereunto belonging and not by birth The yeerely value of the reuenues of the Principality of VVales as the same were in the bands of the Prince commonly called the blacke Prince Richard sirnamed of Burdeaux sonne of the said blacke Prince was after the death of his father created Prince of VVales at Hauering at the Bower in the Countie of Essex by E 3. his Grandfather Henry of Munmouth sonne to King Henry the Fourth created Prince of VVales he was afterwards King by the name of King Henry the Fift Edward the sonne of King Henry the Sixt created Prince of VVales and Earle of Chester and for that hee was then very yong there was ordained by an Act of Parliament what allowance should bee made vnto the said Prince for his Wardrobe seruants wages and other necessary expences vntill the said Prince should be of fourteene yeers of age There was also a Counsaile of diuers honourable personages as Bishops Earles and others for the gouernement and direction of the reuenues of the said Prince which dispose the same accordingly with the assent and aduice of the Queene who was also especially appointed in that behalfe Edward the sonne and heire apparant of King Edward the Fourth created Prince of VVales and a Councell of honourable personages allowed to him also for the gouernement of his reuenues and the Lord Riuers Vncle by the mothers side of the
same vpon his Minion Pierce de Gaueston but hee being afterwards attainted of Treason and executed the same Earledome was bestowed vpon Iohn sirnamed of Eltam because hee was borne there yonger brother to King Edward the Third who dying likewise without issue it was lastly erected into a Dutchy as hath beene said and conferred vpon Edward afterward surnamed the black Prince in the eleuenth yeere of the raigne of the said King Edward the third his father Therefore the said King Edward purposing to augment the title of his said sonne did in the Parliament holden in the eleuenth yeere of his reigne create not only the said Edward then before made Earle of Chester to be Duke of Cornwall but also to honor that publique proceeding the more did at the same time create diuers and sundry worthy persons and well deseruing to sundry dignities of nobility as by the records extant thereof doth appeare The manner of the first creation of the Duke of Cornwall was very speciall for the said dignity was conferred vnto the said Edward then Earle of Chester and to the first begotten sonnes and heires apparant of him and his heires Kings of England for euer So that it seemeth that the intention thereof was first that none should bee Dukes of Cornwall but such as were eldest sonnes and heires apparant to the Crowne and that when there was any faile of such person then the said dignity should remaine insuspence vntill such son heire apparant againe were extant Secondly that the said sonne and heire apparant without any further solemnity or creation should presently vpon his birth being then heire apparant to the King or from the time that hee is heire apparant to the Kingdome bee also Duke of Cornwall herein much differing from the order of the Principality of Wales which requireth in euery new succeeding Prince a new creation and inuesture and gift of that Principality as hath formerly appeared The truth of this assertion is made most euident by an act of Parliament in the 33. yeere of the reigne of King Henry the 6. the words whereof are these Moreouer the King considering that his said best beloued first begotten sonne at the time of his birth is Duke of Cornwall and ought of right to haue Liuery of the said Dutchy and of all Honors Lordships Signiories Castles Mannors Lands Tenements Rents Possessions Hereditaments with their appurtenances to the said Dutchy belonging or parcell of the same in any wise by the aduice assent and authority c. deliuereth and doth cause to bee deliuered to the said Prince his first begotten sonne the said Dutchy of Cornwall and all Honors Lordships Signiories Castles Mannors Lands Tenements c. with all other things Possessions and Inheritances Profits and commodities with their appurtenances to the said Dutchy annexed vnited pertaining or belonging or parcell of the same in any wise The same was after many likewise verified by the Charter of King Henry the seuenth being the Charter of Liuety made vnto Prince Arthur his sonne whereof some part followeth in these words Hemicus deigratta Angliae Franciae Rex dominus Hiberniae c. Salutem Sciatis quod nos considerantes quod regnum Angliae cuius regni soliâ—â— dei gratia portimur filij primogeniti in ducatu Cornubiae haereditario in perpetuum dicti regni nostriiure sunt successuri atque ex speciali superinde Actu promulgato primo nativitatis suae die maioris atque perfectae praesumitur aetatis fic quod liberationem dicti ducatus eo tum à nobis petere valeant atque de iure obtinere debeant acsi viginti uninius annorum aetatis plene fuissent volentes etiam uti debemus praecharissimo filio nostro primogenito Arthuro ius reddere in nullo eius iure derogare eundemque ducatum Cornubiae cum omnibus singulis suis membris atque iuribus dicto primogenito nostro sicuti caeterorum Principum temporibns bactenus fieri consuevit liberare ex certa scientia mero motu nostro acâ—de advisamento assensu Consilij nostri dedimus concessimus liberamus damusque per praesentes concedimus liberamus pro nobis haeredibus nostris bac praesenti charta nostra confirmavimus eidem filio nostro sub nomine honore Ducis dictiloci castra manneria terras tenementa alia subscripta ut ipse statum honorem ducis dicti ducatus decentius generis sui nobilitatem valcat continuare onera in hac parte incumbentia facilius supportare c. By which is proued not only that the sonne and heire apparant of the Crowne is Duke of Cornwall from his birth or when he is knowne to be sonne and heire apparant but that the King his father is by law to make vnto him liuery of the said Dutchy Lands and the hereditaments thereunto belonging although though he be within the age of one and twenty yeeres as if he were of full and perfect age But to returne againe vnto King Edward the third and to consider the bestowing of the reuenewes of the said Dutchy and the managing thereof for orders sake I shall therein observe these generall things First what reuenewes were bestowed vpon the said Dutchy Secondly the yeerly value of the same aswell of ancient time as of latter yeers And lastly to set downe the particular officers of the said Dutchy aswell ancient as moderne by all which the present state of the said Dutchy may best appeare As concerning the former namely the reuenewes of the said Dutchy as it is obserued that the same doe consist generally of these two kindes first the lands and hereditaments that are annuall and secondly the reuenewes that are casuall The reuenewes annuall are of three kindes first the lands giuen by the Charter made in the eleuenth yeere of King Edward the third and were sometimes the ancient of the said Dutchy Secondly certaine Knights fees and other hereditaments gâ—uen by other letters patents of the same King Edward the third vnto the said Duke which were vnited and annexed by the said latter letters patents vnto the said Dutchy Thirdly and lastly the lands giuen by act of Parliament vnto the said Dutchy and annexed thereunto in liew of other lands that by act of Parliament were afterwards taken from the same againe at sundry times as hereafter shall appeare for in euery of these there is difference of estate and quality The reuenewes annuall giuen by the Charter made by King Edward the third in the eleuenth yeere of his reigne and established for the Dutchy are situate and doe lye first in the County of Cornwall secondly in the County of Devon thirdly in other Shires dispersed within this Realme And first of all in the County of Cornwall are these following County of Cornwall 1 The Castle Mannor and Parke and Borough of Launceston with his appurtenances 2 The Castle and Mannor of Trematon and the Borough of Saltash and the Parke
Also there was a Charter of the grant of the lands of the said Principality Earldome of Chester and Flint dated the twenty seuenth of February in the said fift yeere of the said King made vnto the said Prince The said King Henry the seuenth by his Charter bearing date the twentieth day of March in the eight yeere of his reigne did constitute and appoint the said Prince Arthur to bee his Iustice in the County of Salope Hereford Glocester and the Marches of Wales adioyning to the said Shires to enquire of all liberties priuiledges and fraunchises being possessed or claimed or which then after should be possessed or claimed by any person or persons and which were to bee seized into the Kings hands and of all escapes and fellons and those Inquisitions so from time to time to be taken to certifie into the Chancery And by the same Charter gaue him power to substitute and appoint others vnder him for the better execution of the same which after wards by commission was executed accordingly And the said King also by his Charter bearing date the fourteenth of Iune in the eight yeere of his reigne made and constituted the said Arthur Prince of Wales and Gouernor and Warden of the Marches of England towards Scotland and substituted as his Lieutenant and vice-warden vnder him Thomas Earle of Surrey for the due execution thereof Likewise the said King by his letters patents dated the fift day of Nouember in the ninth yeere of his reigne in augmentation of the reuenew of the Prince did grant vnto the said Prince the honor Castle and Lordship of Wigmore and diuers other Castles Mannors and Lands which sometime had beene belonging to the Earledome of March which came to the Crowne by King Edward the fourth who was himselfe Earle of March before he assumed his regall estate To haue and to hold during the pleasure of the King yeelding yeerly the rent of two hundred pounds This Prince was sent into the Marches of Wales for the gouernment of that Country and in the seuenteenth yeere of the reigne of the said King his father had a Councell of very wise and worthy persons assigned vnto him as namely Sir Richard Poole chiefe Chamberlaine of the said Prince Sir Henry Vernon Sir Richard Crofts Sir Dauid Phillips Sir William V dall Sir Thomas Englefield and Sir Peter Newton Knights Iohn Wilson Henry Marian Doctor William Smith President of his Councell and Doctor Charles where not long afterwards the said Prince died in the Castle of Ludlow without issue After the death of the said Prince Arthur King Henry the seuenth by his letters patents dated the eighteenth of February in the 19. yeere of his reigne in Parliament created Henry then his onely soune who after was King Henry the eight and whom before that in the 11 th he had made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by another Charter of the same yeere Constable of the Castle of Douer to be Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester being then about the age of twelue yeeres to haue and to hold to him and his heires Kings of England for euer being the like limitation of estate and with the like inuesture as in former times had beene accustomed But whether the said King did grant the lands and reuenewes belonging to the said Principality vnto the said Prince Henry or no as hee had done vnto Prince Arthur his brother doth not appeare by any Charter that as yet thereof can be found After the death of King Henry the seuenth the said Prince Henry was King of England by the name of King Henry the eight he had issue a sonne called Henry who dyed very yong hee likewise had issue the Lady Mary afterwards Queene and the Lady Elizabeth our late Soueraigne of most happy memory and lastly Prince Edward the yongest in yeeres who first reigned after the death of his said father by the name of King Edward the sixt But there cannot be found any Charters among the records whereby it may appeare that any of them were created Princes of Wales or whereby any of the reuenewes of the said Principality were giuen or conferred vnto any of them so that it seemeth they were Princes generally by their birth and not Princes of Wales by any creation or investure for in a record of an accompt of the Dutchy of Cornwall in the time of the said Prince Edward he is called by the name of the Prince of England and not by the name of the Prince of Wales And thus much touching the succession or rancks of the Princes of Wales which I haue drawne in an historicall although a plaine and homely manner thereby the better to take away the harshnesse of the particularities of records intermingled therewith which of themselues although they affoord profitable knowledge yet they doe carry with them small delight but also for that the variety of things in those succeeding ages in the sundry occurences and accidents thereof doe yeeld good matter of obseruance and worthy memory representing as it were the English State for the time of more then two hundred yeeres together Now therefore do rest neuerthelesse three things concerning the said Principality to be further considered of First in what manner and order the said Principality and Marches of Wales were gouerned and directed vnder the said Prince Secondly what officers aswell domesticall as others the said Princes had about them and their fees as farre forth as I could come to any certaine knowledge thereof And thirdly an abstract of the reuenewes of the said Principality as they now stand in charge and be esteemed to your Maiesty whereby may bee perceiued what in time past the said reuenewes haue beene and in what case they now stand The manner of the gouernment of the Principality and Marches of Wales THe said Principality being vnder the gouernment of the Princes of the Welsh blood whose ancient patrimony yet remained vntill the Conquest thereof by King Edward the first as before hath beene shewed was guyded gouerned and directed by their owne municipall and homebred Lawes and the Customes of their Country Most of which had their commencement from the Constitutions of one of their ancient Princes called Howell Dah as their Historians haue recorded But being reduced vnder the yoke by the said King Edward he diuided certaine parts of that Territory into Shires as hath beene declared he caused the Welsh Lawes to bee perused some whereof he did allow and approue some others he did abrogate and disanull and in their place appointed new altogether according to the English manner of executing Iustice Hee caused to be deuised ce taine Briefes Writs or formulaeturis and he instituted their manner of Processe pleadings and course of their Iudiciall proceedings All which things doe manisestly appeare by the act of Parliament made at Rithlan in Wales called therefore Statutum Walliae which afore is remembred and when they want a writ of forme
of Chester 1082. l. 21. d. The County of Flint The profits of the Mannor of Hope and Hopedale 63. l. The profits of the Mannor of Ellow and of the Mynes of Coles there 6. l. The profits of the office of Constable of Rothlan whereof he was countable 8. l. 14. s. The rent of the towne of Flint 56. l. The rent of the towne of Colshull 4. l. 7. s. 10. d. The rent of the towne of Carourse 22. l. 6. s. 8. d. The rent of the towne of Bagherge 14. l. 3. s. 4. d. ob The towne of Veyuoll yeerly 13. l. 6. s. 8. d. The towne of Rothlan and rent thereof 72. l. 9. s. 2. d. The towne of Mosten and rent thereof 15. l. 6. s. 8. d. The profits of the office of Escheator of Englefield 56. l. The Bloglot of the County of Flint which consisteth of the profits of the hundred Courts within the said County 72. l. 11. s. 9. d. ob The perquisits of the Sessions in Flint 30. l. The profits of the Escheator in the said County 8. l. Summe totall of the reuenews of the Earldome rising in the County of Flint 442. l. 19. s. 5. d. The rents of the Borough of Macklefield 31. l. The profits of the Hundred of Macklefield 31. l. 14. s. The profits of the Forrest of Macklefield 88. l. The accompt and profits of the store of Macklefield 13. l. 6. s. 8. d. The herbage and agistments of the Parke of Macklefield 6. l. Summe totall of the Lordship of Macklefield 170. l. 8. d. The summe totall of all the reuenew of the said Earldome of Chester in the said Counties of Chester and Flint and the Lordship of Macklefield 1694. l. 9. s. 8. d. Out of which totall summe there was deducted these summes following Pentions in almes of the said Earledome 61. l. 6. s. 8. d. To Sir Richard Stafford the summe of 129. l. paid vnto him as due of a rent out of the said Earldome 129. l. The fee of the Iustices yeerly 100. l. Which being deducted the whole reuenew of the said Earldome remaining not allowing any other fees to officers amounted vnto 1304. l. 15. s. 4. d. The reuenews of the same Earldome as they now stand in charge to your Maiestie are in this manner The County of Chester The fee farme of the City of Chester 22. l. 2. s. 4 d. ob The escheated Lands with the same City 7. s. The rents of the Mannor of Dracklow and Rudeheath 26. l. 2. s. 6. d. The farme of the towne of Medywick 21. l. 6. s. The profits of the office of Mara and Modern 34. l. 9. d. The profits of the Mannor and Parke of Stotwick 23. l. 19. d. The Fulling M 〈…〉 vpon the riuer Dee 11. l. The annuall profits of the Mannor of Fordsham 48. l. The profits of the Hundred of Macklefield 6. l. 20. d. The farme of the Borough of Macklefield 16. l. 13. d. The profits of the Forrest of Macklefield 85. l. 12. s. 11. d. ob q. The profits of the Escheeter of Chester 24. l. 19. s. The profits of the office of the Sheriffe of the said County 43. l. 12. s. 3. d. The profits of the Chamberlaine of the County of Chester 55. l. 14. s. Samme totall of the revenewes in the said Earldome of Chester in the County of Chester 418. l. 14. d. q. The County of Flint The yeerly value of Ellow 20. l. 8. s. The farme of the towne of Flint 33. l. 19. s. 4 d. The farme of Cayrouâ—e 7. l. 2. s. 4. d. The Castle of Ruthlan 5. l. 12. s. 10. d. The rents and profits of Mosten 7. l. The rents and profits of â—olshill 54. s. 16. d. The rents of the towne of Ruthlan 44. l. 17. s. 6. d. The Lands in Englefield in yeerly value 23. l. 10. d. The profits of Vayuoll 5. l. 9. s. The profits of the o 〈…〉 ce of the Esche 〈…〉 6. l. 11. s. 9. d. The mynes of Cole and Wood within the Mannor of Mosten 10. s. The office of the Sheriffe in rents and casualties 120. l. The mynes and profits of the faires of Northope 3. l. 9. s. 2. d. The totall summe of the said reuenue in yerely rent 244. l. 5. s. 4. d. In casualties was lastly 37. l. 8. d. The totall in the whole 281. l. 6. s. The fees of the Officers of the said Earledome The County of Chester The fee of the office of the Escheator 10. l. 10. s. The fee of the Iustices of Assizes in the Counties of Chester and Flint 100. l. The fee of the Attourney generall 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. The fee of faure Sergeants at law in the said County 14. l. 6. s. 8. d. The fee of the Chamberlaine of Chester 20. l. The fee of the Sheriffe of Chester 20. l. The fee of the Constable of the Castle of Chester 18. l. 5. s. The fee of the Constable of the Castle of Flint 10. l. The fee of the Ranger of the Forrest of Mara 4. l. 11. s. 3. d. The fee of the Porter of the Castle of Flint 6. l. 1. s. 8. d. The fee of the Porter of the said Castle and of the Bailiffe itinerant there 9. l. 2. s 6. d. The fee of the Gouernour of the Forrest of Macklefield 12. l. The fee of two Clarkes of the Exchequer at Chester for euery of them 4. l. 11. s. 3. d. 9. l. 2. s. 6. d. The fee of the Surueyor of the workes within the said Countie Palatine 6. l. 20. d. The fee of the keeper of the Gardens of the Castle of Chester 4. l. 11. s. 3. d. The fee of the Cryer of the Exchequer at Chester 3. l. 15. s. The yeerely fee of the Master Carpenter 9. l. 12. s. 6. d. The fee of the Controller of the Counties of Chester and Flint 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. The yeerely fee of the Pregnatory 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. The fee of the Master Cementer 8. l. 12. s. 6. d. The fee of the Chalpaine of the Castle of Chester 40. s. The fee paid vnto the Deane and Chapter of Chester 19. l. 10. s. To the Master of the Hospitall for his fee 4. l. 11. s. The summe of this charge in Chester amounteth vnto 310. l. 9. s. 9. d. Which summe of 310. l. 9 s. 9. d. being deducted out of the former totall summe of 699. l. 7 s. 2 d. q. there doth remaine 388. l. 17. s. 5 d. q. which is the cleere remaine of the Earledome of Chester and Flint 388. l. 17. s. 5. d. q. Hitherto haue beene expressed the reuenues of the Principality of Wales Dutchie of Cornewall and Earledome of Chester and the state of them as well antient as moderne which moderne estate is much impaired in the reuenue of the land and so greatly diminished from his former amplitude that I may fitly say thereof Quantum mutatus aâ—â—llo for the reducing whereof to the pristine dignitie there
rebellions and disorders the kings of England deuised their Scutagium or Escuage as it is called in the Lawes of England that is to leuy ayd assistance of their tenants in England which held of them Per Seruitium militare to suppresse such disordred Welsh tanquaÌ„ Rebelles and Non hostes as Rebells and not as forraine Enemies And hence it is that King Henry the third vpon those often reuolts of the Welsh indeuored to resume the Territory of Wales as forfeit vnto him selfe and conferred the same vpon Edward the Longshanckes his heire apparant yet neuerthelesse rather in title then in possession or vpon any profit obteyned thereby For the former prince of Wales continued his gouernment notwithstanding this betweene whome and the said Edward warres were continued Whereof when the said Edward complained to King Henry the third his father the said King made this answer as recordeth Matthew Paris a Cosmographer liuing in that time Quid ad me terra tua est ex dono meo Exerevires primitiuas famam excita iuuenilem et de caetero timeant inimici c. But the Charter of this gift is not now readilie to be found among the Records For after this time it appeareth by the Records of the Tower of London that by the mediation of Othâ—bon Deacon Cardinal of S Andrews a peace was concluded between the then Prince of the Welsh blood and the said Henry the 3. which neuerthelesse as it seemeth continued not long for sundry battells were fought betweene the said Edward both before and after he was King of England Lewlyn the last Prince of the Welsh blood and Dauid his brother vntill both the said Prince his said brother were ouercome by the said Edward after he was King of England and who thereby made a finall and full conquest of Wales annexing the same vnto the Crowne of England diuiding some parts thereof into Shires and appointing Lawes for the gouernment of that people Although the Welsh nation doe not willingly acknowledge such conquest but referres it rather to composition The words of the Statute made in Wales at Ruthlan presently vpon the conquest are these Diuina Prouidentia quae in sui dispositione non fallitur inter alia dispensationis munera quibus nos regnum nostrum Angliae decorari dignata est Terram Waliae cum incolis suis prius nobis iure fendali subiectam jam sui gratia in proprietatis nostrae dominium obstaculis quibuscunque non obstantibus totaliter et cum integritate conuertit et corona Regni pradicti tanquam partem corporis eiusdem annexit et vniuit This Territory of Wales thus being vnited the said King Edward vsed meanes to obtaine the peoples good will to strengthen that which he had gotten by effusion of blood with the beneuolence of his Subiects of Wales who promised their harty and most humble obedience if it would please the King either to remaine among them him selfe in person or else to appoint vnder him a gouernour ouer them that was of their owne nation cuntrey The King thereupon purposing a pretty policie sendeth for the Queene then being greate with Child to come vnto him into Wales who being deliuered of a sonne in the Castle of Carnaruon in Wales called by reason thereof Edward of Carnarnon the King thereupon sent for all the Barons of Wales tooke their assurance and submission according to their offers formerly made if they should haue a gouernour of their owne nation affirming vnto them that he was then ready to name vnto them a Gouernour borne in their Countrey and who could not speake any word of English whose life and conuersation no man was able to staine and required their promise of obedience whereunto they yeelding the King thereupon named vnto them his said sonne borne at Carnaruon Castle a few dayes before vnto whom the Barons of Wales afterwards made their homage as appeareth Anno 29 E 1. at Chester The said Edward of Carnaruon after the death of his father was King of England by the name of King Edward the second liuing in a turbulent time betweene him and his Barons was afterwards deposed for his ill gouernment and came to a violent death in the Castle of Barkeley and Edward his sonne by the name of King Edward the third reigned in his steade Neuerthelesse this Edward the third being called Edward of Windsor in the life of his father was created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitane in a Parliamant holden at Yorke Edward the third in a Parliament holden at Westminster in the fifteenth yeare of his reigne created Edward his eldest sonne surnamed the blacke Prince Prince of Wales being then of tender yeeres and inuested him in the said Principalitie with these ensignes of honour and as in the Charter is conteined Per sertum in capite et annulum in digitâ— aureuÌ„ ac virgam argenteam iuxta moreÌ„ By a Chaplet of Gould made in the manner of a Garland for the word SertuÌ„ importeth by a gould ring set on his finger and by verdge Rod or Scepter of Siluer how be it in the inuesture of the succeeding Princes this Rod or Scepter as appeareth by the Charters of their seuerall creations was changed into a verge of gould The said King for the better maintainance of the said Prince his sonne in honorable support according to such his state and dignity gaue vnto him by his Charter dated the twelfth of May in the seuenth yeere of his reigne of England and in the fourth yeere of his reigne of France and inrolled in the Exchequer in the Terme of S. Hillary in the eighteenth yeere of the said King Edward the third The said Principality and the Mannors Lordships Castles and Lands ensuing to appertaine to the said Principalitie viz. All his Lordships and Lands in Northwales Westwales and Southwales 1 The Lordship Castle towne and County of Carnaruon 2 The Lordship Castle and towne of Conway 3 The Lordship Castle and towne of Crucketh 4 The Lordship Castle and towne of Bewmarish 5 The Lordship Castle and towne of Hardlagh 6 The Lordship Castle and townes and Countys of Anglesey and Merioneth 7 The Lordship Castle towne and County of Caermardin 8 The Lordship Castle and towne of Lampaderuaur 9 The Lordship and Stewardship of Cantermawer 10 The Lordship Castle towne and County of Cardigan 11 The Lordship Castle and Towne of Emelyn 12 The Lordship Castle and Towne of Buelt 13 The Lordship Castle and Towne of Hauerford 14 The Lordship Castle and Towne of Montgomery And all the Lands that were of Rice ap Meridick which came to the hands of King Edward the first together with all the Lordships Cities Castles Borrowes Townes Manours Members Hamlets Lands Tenements Knights fees Voydances of Bishopricks Aduowsons of Churches and of Abbeys Priories and of Hospitals with Customes and Prisages of wines The exercise and execution of
lesse yeerly and not of one certaine value the Commissioners obserued this course they did make choice of three seuerall yeeres viz. 47. and 48. and 49 of E. 3. and did take out of the seuerall profits of those yeeres and did cast them all into one summe which they againe diuided into three equall parts esteeming only of the said three parts to be the iust yeerly value of the said reuenewes communibus anâ—iâ— that is one yeere with another And in this accompt we finde no other charges or reprizes allowed then the Iustices fees only This survey and accompt made aboue 200. yeeres past is here inserted to the end it might appeare what the reuenew of this Principallity alone was besides the Dutchy of Cornwall and Earledome of Chester neere the first certaine erection thereof in the hands of that worthy Prince commonly called the Black Prince The said Prince of Wales surnamed the Black Prince being also Duke of Aquitane Guies and Cornwall and Earle of Chester after many fortunate victories atchieued by him hauing subdued a great part of France and hauing taken Iohn the French King prisoner at Poyteers in France and after that also hauing vanquished Henry at Naue-roit in Spaine and restored Peter King of Arragon he died in Iune being then about the age of forty six yeeres and in the fiftieth yeere of the reigne of his father King Edward the Third leauing behinde him Richard his sonne and heire borne at Burdeaux and thereof surnamed Richard of Burdeaux This Richard surnamed of Burdeaux sonne and heire of the said Edward the Black Prince after the death of his father was created by his grandfather King Edward the Third to bee Prince of Wales at Havoring at the Bower in the County of Essex the twentieth day of Nouember in the fiftieth yeere of the reigne of the said King Edward the third the said Richard then being about the age of eleuen yeeres and vpon Christmas day then next following the said King Edward the third caused the said Prince being his Nephew to sit at his table in high estate aboue all his vncles being the Kings sonnes as representing the personage of the heire apparant to the Crowne and gaue to him the two parts of all the said Principalitie Counties Lordships Castles and the most of the said Lands which belonging to the said Blacke Prince and the reuersion of the third part thereof the possession of the third part thereof then being to the mother of the said Prince Richard for her dowry with a hundred thirteene pound sixe shillings eight pence yeerely rent payable by the Earle of March as a fee farme for the Lordship and Lands of Beult and eighty fiue markes for the fee Farme of the Castle Lordship and Land of Montgomery with the vacations of Bishoprickes excepting the fees of the Baron Marches of VVales which doe alwaies hold of the Crowne in Capite and excepting the auoydance of the Bishopricke of S. Dauids in VVales which anciently also belonged to the Crowne with the like limitation of estate viz. To the said Prince Richard his heires Kings of England It seemeth that these Lordships of Beult and Montgomery being formerly granted to Edward the blacke Prince were before this time giuen away in fee farme rendring the rents here spoken of After the death of the said King Edward the Third which was in the 51. yeere of his raigne the kingdome of England descended vnto the said Richard being his grandchilde and he was Crowned King thereof by the name of King Richard the Second and in the three and twentieth yeere of his raigne he resigned his kingdome or rather more truely was deposed against his will and after by a violent death departed this life without issue Henry of Bullinbrooke Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Darby Leicester and Lincolne sonne and heire to Iohn of Gaunt fourth sonne to King Edward the Third raigning in his stead Henry of Bullingbrooke by the name of King Henry the Fourth by his Charter dated at Westminster the fifteenth day of October in the first yeere of his raigne created Henry his eldest sonne surnamed of Munmouth Prince of Wales and inuested him with the said Princely ornaments viz. the Chaplet Gold-Ring and Rod or Verge of gold To haue and to hold vnto him and his heires Kings of England And by one other Charter of the same date gaue vnto him and to his heires Kings of England the said Principalitie with the Lordships Castles and Lands before mentioned in the Chartermade to the Blacke Prince together with foure Comots in the Countie of Carnaruon viz. the Comots of Isaph Vghaph Nanconeway and Grewthyn not named before and the reuersion of the Lordship of Hauerford with the prices of Wines there and of the Lordships Newyn and Pughby in North-wales which Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester then held for tearme of his life of the demise of King Richard the Second together also with the reuersion of the County and Lordship of Anglesey in North-Wales and the Castle of Bewmarris and the Comots Lands Tenements and Hereditaments belonging thereunto which Henry Percy sonne of the Earle of Northumberland then held for terme of his life of the demise of the said King Henry the Fourth and by an Act of Parliament made in the first yeere of King Henry the Fourth whereby the Dutchie of Lancaster is seuered from the Crowne of England The Stile of the said Prince is declared to be this Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane of Lancaster and of Cornwall and Earle of Chester For the said King Henry the Fourth hauing beene himselfe Duke of Lancaster before his assumption of the Crowne and knowing that the name of Duke being an inferiour dignity would extinguish and bee surrounded in the Crowne as in the Superiour desired as by that Act of Parliament appeareth not onely to separate the said Dutchie of Lancaster and the lands thereof from the Crowne to the intent he might still hold the said Dutchie as his ancient Patrimony if he were put from the Crowne being but his new acquired dignity but also to preserue the said stile title and name of Duke of Lancaster in his posterity which as the said act affirmeth his Ancestors had so worthily borne and sustained Afterwards the said Henry the Fourth died in the fourteenth yeere of his raigne and the said Henry of Munmouth Prince of Wales succeeded him in the kingdome by the name of King Henry the Fift who also in the tenth yeere of his raigne died leauing Henry his sonne behinde him being an Infant of the age of tenne moneths who by reason of his tender age was not as by any record extant can be proued euer created Prince but was proclaimed King immediately after the death of his father by the name of King Henry the Sixt. King Henry the Sixt by the aduice and counsell of his Lords spirituall and temporall giuen to him in his Parliament holden in the thirtie one
yeere of his raigne did after wards by his Charter bearing date at Westminster the fifteenth day of March in the thirty two yeere of his raigne created Edward his sonne borne at Westminster by one and the selfesame patent to be both Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester and inuested him therin with the vsuall ensignes of that dignitie as had beene in former time accustomed To haue and to hold the said dignities to him and his heires Kings of England which Charter is recited in the Act of Parliament made for the confirmation thereof by Parliament holden at Westminster the ninth day of Iuly in the three and thirtieth yeere of the raigne of the same King In which act of Parliament is also recited another Charter likewise confirmed by the said Parliament whereby the said King did giue vnto the said Prince the said Principalitie of VVales together with all his Lordships and Lands Castles and Tenements by speciall names aboue mentioned and in the former Charters granted and conuaied to the former Princes and the said fee Farmes and Rents of 113. l. 6. s. 8. d. out of the Lordship and towne of Buelt and the said 56. l. 13. s. 4. d. out of the Lordship Castle and Towne of Montgomery likewise mentioned in the Charters of the former Prince To haue and to hold the same to him and his heires Kings of England By the same act of Parliament also it was enacted because the said Prince was then of tender yeeres there was assigned vnto him a certaine number of seruants to attend on him according to his estate and dignity which should beat dyet in the Kings house vntill the said Prince should accomplish the age of fourteene yeeres and that the King should haue all such summes of money as should cleerely remaine vnto the Prince due of all manner issues and reuenues which the Prince then had in respect of his said Principalitie Dutchie and Earledome vntill the said age of fourteene yeeres the said Reuenues to be accounted for to the King in his Exchequer reseruing vnto the said Prince vntill he should come to be of the age of eight yeeres a thousand pound yeerely and from that age till he come to fourteene yeeres two thousand markes yeerely for his wardrobes wages of seruants and other necessarie expences But sauing alwaies vnto the King the Aduousons of Bishoprickes and spirituall liuings and the gifts of all offices wards releefes and escheats belonging to the said Prince vntill he should accomplish the said age of fourteen yeeres sauing such estate in certaine of the said lands as the Queene had to her before the said time assured vnto the said Prince should be of the said age of fourteene yeeres and sauing certaine particular summes of money in the said Act of Parliament mentioned as were formerly appointed out of the said Lands as well for expence of the Kings of England for their houshold as otherwise during such particular times as are therein declared prouided that all offices formerly granted by the King and needing actuall exercise and the fees due to the same should not be preiudiced by the said Act. Afterwards by another Charter the said King doth release vnto the said Prince all the said grant of the said yeerely summes of money issuing out of the reuenues aforesaid and all things by the said Act granted and appointed vnto the said King reseruing onely for the same vnto the said King yeerely fiue hundred twenty seauen markes foure shillings seauen pence halfepenny to be issuing out of the said Principality and Earledome and feauen hundred sixty seauen markes eleuen shillings seauen pence halfepenny yeerely out of the said Dutchy vntill the said Prince should be of eight yeeres of age then reseruing out of the said Principality and Earledome yeerely vnto the King two hundred seuenty seuen markes foure shillings seuen pence halfe penny and out of the said Dutchy yeerely fiue hundred and seuenteene markes eleuen shillings seauen pence halfe penny vntill the said age of fourteene yeeres of the Prince for the said Dutchy and to be imployed towards the charges of the Kings houshold and not otherwise And the said King by his Letters Patents dated the eighteenth of Ianuary in the fiue and thirtieth yeare of his raigne during the minority of the said Prince ordained the then Archbishop of Yorke the then Bishop of VVinchester Hereford Couentry and Lichfield and the Lord Keeper of the priuie Seale the Earles of Shrewesbury Stafford and VViltes the then Viscount Beamont and also Iohn Sutton and Thomas Stanley Knights to be of the priuie Councell vnto the said Prince enioyning all Officers and Ministers of the said Prince that they and euery of them should be obedient in the execution of all Commandements and Warrants of the said Councellors or at the least soure of them together with the assent and consent of the Queene in all causes and matters concerning the titles rights possessions and interests of the said Prince and that the said Commandements and Warrants should be as auaileable in that behalfe as if the same had beene made or done by the said Prince himselfe being of full age which Commandement in all Leases of the said Princes inheritance was pursued accordingly In the nine and thirtieth yeere of the said King Henry the Sixts raigne he being of the house of Lancaster such is the mutability and so vnstable are all humane things that the said King being a man as the times then were deuout and religious the founder of Schooles and Colledges vertuous and a louer of peace was by the violence of the heires of the house of Yorke put from his kingdome and committed to prison and Edward Earle of March sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke raigned in his stead by the name of King Edward the Fourth But yet behold the hand of God for in the tenth yeere of the said King Edward the Fourth vpon discontentment conceiued against him by Richard Earle of VVarwicke a man more popular and potent then was fit for a Subiect the said Richard with a collected power so pressed the King that he was driuen to flye the Realme and to seeke forraigne aide seeing his homebred subiects proued so vnfaithfull Then King Henry the Sixt after tenne yeeres imprisonment readepted the kingdome and in the said tenth yeere of King Edward the Fourth wrote the fortie ninth yeere of his raigne hauing indured tenne yeeres intermission in the computation of his time as appeareth in the bookes of Law of that age But being thus seated he was yet vnsetled and after much effusion of bloud for in a ciuill warre there is no true victory in as much as he that preuaileth is also a looser King Henry the Sixt was compelled againe to giue place to his aduersary and after to make that part sure was depriued of life hauing lost also Edward his sonne Prince before spoken of the hope of all his posterity in the battell of Tewkesbury
Edward the Fourth hauing thus gained the Crowne which had beene thus shaken from his head did by his Charter dated the 26. of â—une in the eleuenth yeere of his raigne create Edward of VVestminster his sonne heire apparant Prince of VVales and Earle of Chester And by another like Charter of the same yeere gaue vnto him the Lands and reuenues of the said Principality and Earledome To haue and to hold to him and his heires Kings of England This Edward the Prince being of tender yeeres was borne in the Sanctuary of VVestminster whither the Queene his Mother was fled for her security and during the time that the King her husband had auoided the Realme Afterwards the said King by his letters Patents bearing date the eight day of Iuly in the said eleuenth yeere of his raigne ordained his Queene the then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of Gloucester brothers to the said king The then Bishops of Bath and VVels and Durham Anthony Earle Riuers the then Abbot of VVestminster Chancellor to the Prince VVilliam Hastings knight Lord Chamberlaine to the king Richard Fynes Lord Dacres Steward of the said Prince Iohn Fogge Iohn Scot knights Thomas Vaughan Chamberlaine to the Prince Iohn Alcocke and Richard Fowler to be of Councell vnto the said Prince giuing vnto them and euery foure of them thereby with the aduice and expresse consent of the Queene large power to aduise and counsaile the said Prince and to order and dispose the Lands reuenues and possessions of the said Prince and the nomination of Officers belonging to the said Prince when they should happen to become void or that the parties were insufficient The said authority thus giuen vnto the said Councellors to continue vntill the said Prince should accomplish the age of fourteene yeeres which was performed by them accordingly in all Leases Dispositions and Grants of the reuenues of the said Prince The said king Edward the Fourth by one other Charter composed in English and bearing date the tenth of Nouember in the thirteenth yeere of his raigne appointed the said Earle Riuers being brother vnto the Queene to be the Gouernour of the person of the said Prince and to haue the education and the institution of him in all vertues worthy his birth and to haue the gouernement and direction of his seruants King Edward the Fourth hauing raigned full two and twenty yeeres in the foure and twentieth yeere of his raigne left this mortall life ended his dayes at VVestminster was enterred at VVindsor Edward the Prince his sonne and heire then being at Ludlow necre the Marches of Wales for the better ordering of the Welsh vnder the gouernment of the said Lord Riuers his vncle on the Mothers side and vpon the death of his father drawing towards London to prepare for his Coronation fell into the hands of his vncle by the father Richard Duke of Glocester and the said Lord Riuers being vpon the way towards London was intercepted and lost his head at Pomfret for what cause I know not other then this that hee was thought to be too great an obstacle betweene a thirsty tyrannous desire and the thing that was so thirstily and tyrannously desired Edward King of England the fist of that name for so he was although he enioyed it not long being thus surprized vnder the power of his naturall vncle and yet his mortall enemy was brought to London with great solemnity and pompe and with the great applause of the people flocking about to behold his person as the manner of the English Nation is to doe whose new ioyes cannot endure to be â—ettred with any bonds His said vncle calling himselfe Lord Protector of the King and his Realme but indeed was the woolfe to whom the Lambe was committed for hauing thus surprized the Kings person hee laboured by all meanes to get into his possession also the yonger brother being Duke of Yorke knowing that they both being sundred the safety of the yonger would be a meanes to preserue the elder and therefore by all sinister perswasions and faire pretences hauing obtained the yonger Duke from his mother the King and the Duke both for a time remained in the Tower of London and there shortly after both in one bed were in the night smothered to death and buried in an obscure and secret place vnknowne how and where vntill one of the executioners thereof after many yeeres being condemned to die for other his manifold crimes confessed also his guilty fact in this pitifully tragedy and the circumstance thereof of which by reason of the secrecy and incertainty diuers had before that diuersly coniectured And by this meanes all the prouision for the coronation of innocent Edward serued the turne to set the Crowne vpon the head of tyrannous Richard Out of which by the way I cannot but obserue how hatefull a bloody hand is to almighty God the King of Kings who reuenged the bloodshed of those ciuill broiles whereof Edward the father had beene the occasion and the breach of his oath vpon those his two innocent infants This tyrant and staine of the English Story Richard Duke of Glocester vsurped the Kingdome by the name of Richard the third and became King yet as our records of Law witnesse de facto sed non de iure And in the first yeere of his reigne created Edward his sonne being a child of ten yeeres of age Prince of Wales Lieutenant of the Realme of Ireland But for that the prosperity of the wicked is but as the florishing of a greene tree which whiles a man passes by is blasted dead at the roots and his place knoweth it no more So shortly afterwards God raised vp Henry Earle of Richmond the next heire of the house of Lancaster to exteute iustice vpon that vnnaturall and bloody vsurper and to cast him that had beene the rod of Gods iudgements vpon others into the fire also For in the third yeere of the reigne of the said Richard at the battell of Bosworth whereinto the said Richard entred in the morning crowned in all Kingly pompe he was slaine and his naked carkasse with as much despight as could be deuised was carried out thereof at night and the said Henry Earle of Richmond the Solomon of England father to Margaret your Maiesties great Grandmother reigned in his stead by the name of King Henry the seuenth This King Henry the seuenth tooke to wife Elizabeth the eldest daughter and after the death of her brothers the relict heire of King Edward the fourth by which mariage all occasions of further contention-betweene those noble families of Yorke and Lancaster were taken away and vtterly quenched and the red rose conioyned with the white The said King Henry the seuenth by his letters patents dated the first day of December in the fift yeere of his reigne created Arthur his eldest sonne and heire apparant being then about the age of three yeeres Prince of Wales
to serue the present case then vse they the writ of Quod ei deforciat which supplieth that defect And although the Principality of Wales as hath appeared by some of the records aboue mentioned were diuided into three Prouinces Northwales Southwales and Westwales for so in some of the former patents they are mentioned yet for the Iurisdiction thereof it was diuided into two parts Northwales and Southwales for a great part of Westwales was comprehended within the Shire of Pembrooke which is a very ancient Shire of Wales and the Territory thereof conquered by the English in the time of William Rufus Long time before the generall conquest of Wales by Richard Strangbow being English and the Earle thereof and called also by some Earle of Strigulia or Chepstow was the first that attempted the conquest of Ireland in the dayes of Henry the second which was aboue an hundred yeeres before the conquest of Wales by King Edward the first This Earledome of Pembrooke had in ancient time palatine Iurisdiction and therefore in some records is called regalis comitatus Pembrochiae The Prouinces of Northwales and Southwales were gouerned for Law in this manner The Prince had and vsed to hold a Chancery and a Court of Exchequer in the Castle of Carnarvon for Northwales and had a Iudge or Iustice which ministred Iustice there to all the Inhabitants of Northwales and therefore was called the Iustice of Northwales The like Courts of Chancery and Exchequer he held in the Castle of Carmarthen for Southwales where he had a Iustice also called the Iustice of Southwales and the Courts of their Iustices or Iudges so held within their seuerall Prouinces were called the great Sessions of those Prouinces and sometimes these Iustices were itinerant and sate in euery of the seuerall Counties of his Prouince in these great Sessions the causes of greatest moment reall personall and mixt and pleas of the Crowne concerning life and members were heard and determined In these great Courts also vpon creation of euery new Prince there were granted by the people of that Prouince vnto the Prince nomine recognitionis ad primum adventum principis certaine summes of money as it were in acknowledgement or reliefe of the new Prince which summes of money are called by them Mises These Mises or summes of money were granted by the people vnto the Prince for his allowance of their Lawes and ancient Customes and a generall pardon of their offences fineable or punishable by the Prince and that summe of these Mises for the Shire of Carmerthen only amounted vnto eight hundred markes and for the Shire of Cardigan the totall summe of these Mises amounted vnto sixe hundred markes as by sundry records doth appeare these summes of mony were paid at certaine daies by seuerall portions such as were appointed and in the said Sessions agreed vpon Also in â—uâ—ry Shire of euâ—ry of the said Prouinces there were holden certaine inferior Courts called therefore County Courts and Shire Courts and Tournes after the manner of England and which by some were also the petty Sessions And there were also Courts inferior in sundry Counties for ending of causes of lesse moment and importance and if any wrong iudgement were giuen in any of these Courts inferior the same was redressed by a writ of false iudgement in the Court superior And if any â—rronious iudgement were giuen in the great Sessions which was the supreme Court of Iustice that error was either redressed by the iudgement of penall Iustices itinerant or else in the Parliament and not otherwise in any the Courts of Iustice now at Westminster As touching the gouernment of the Marches of Wales it appeareth by diuers ancient monuments that the Conqueror after hee had conquered the English placed diuers of his Norman Nobility vpon the confines and borders towards Wales and erected the Earldome of Chester being vpon the borders of Northwales to Palatine and gaue power vnto the said persons thus placed vpon those borders to make such conquests vpon the Welsh as they by their strength could accomplish holding it a very good policy thereby not only to encourage them to be more willing to serue him but also to prouide for them at other mens costs And hereupon further ordained that the lands so conquered should be holden of the Crowne of England in capite and vpon this and such like occasions dâ—uers of the Nobility of England hauing lands vpon the said borders of Wales made roades and incursions vpon the Welsh whereby diuers parts of that Country neere or towards the said borders were wonne by the sword from the Welshmen and were planted partly with â—nglish Collonies and and the said lands so conquered were holden per Baronia and were called therefore Baronyes Marchers In such manner did Robert Fitzhamoâ— acquire vnto himselfe and such others as assisted him the whole Lordship of Glamorgan vsâ—â—g in some resemblance the Roman policy to enlarge Territories by stepping in betweene two competitors and by helping the one hee subdued the other and after â—urning his â—word against him whom he assisted and making this the pretence of his quarrel alleadge that he whom he had assisted had denied to make vnto him sufficient recompence for his susteined trauils and so made himselâ—e abso'ute owner of all likewise Barnard Newmarch conquâ—â—ed the Lordship of Brecknock containing three Cantreds and established his conquest by a mariage in the Welsh blood Hâ—gh Lacy conquered the lands of Ewyas called after his name Ewyas Lacy and others did the like in other places of the borders all which were Baronies Marchers and were holden by such the Conquerors thereof in capite of the Crowne of England and because they and their posterity might the better keepe the said Lands so acquired and that they might not bee withdrawne by suits of Law from the defence of that which they had thus subdued The said Lordships and Lands so conquered were ordained Baronies Marchers and â—ad a kinde of Palatine â—urisdiction erected in â—uâ—ry of them and power to administer Iustice vnto their Tenants in euery of their Territories hauing therein Courts with diuers priuiledges franchises and immunities so that the Writs of ordinary Iustice out of the Kings Courts were for the most part not currant amongst them Neuerthelesse if the whole Barony had come in question or that the strife had beene two Barons Marchers touching their Territories or confines thereof for want of a Superiour they had recourse vnto the King their supreame Lord and in these and such like cases where their owne Iurisdiction failed Iustice was vnministred vnto them in the Superiour Courts of this Realme And this was the state of the gouernement of the Marches of Wales both before and after the generall Conquest of Wales made by king Edward the First as hath beene declared vntill the seauen and twentieth yeere of King Henry the Eight And as touching the first
Councell established in the Marches of VVales it is conceiued by the best and most probable opinions amongst Antiquaries that the same began in or about the seauenteenth yeere of king Edward the Fourth when as Prince Edward his sonne was sent vnto the Marches of VVales vnder the tuition of the Lord Riâ—ers his Vncle by the Mothers side as aâ—ore hath appeared and at what time also â—ohn Bishop of VVorcester was appointed Lord President of VVales Prince Arthure the sonne of King Henry the Seauenth in the seauenteenth yeere of the raigne of the said King went into VVales at what time Doctor VVilliam Smith was then President of the Councell of the Marches of VVales who was after Bishop of Lincolne and founder of the Colledge of Brâ—sen nose in the Vniuersity of Oxford This man was also President in the time of king Henry the eight vntill the fourth yeere of the raigne of the same king at what time â—effry Blyth Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield succeeded in the office of President of the said Councell The Lady Mary eldest Daughter of king Henry the Eight and afterwards Queene did carry the title of Princes of VVales for a while although the parent of her creation bee not now to be found vnder whom â—ohn Voysey Doctor of the lawes and afterwards Bishop of Exceter was President of that Councell There succeeded him in the office of President of the Councell of the Marches of Wales Rowland Lee Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield And this was the state and gouernement of the Principality and Marches of Wales in the seauen and twentieth yeere of king Henry the Eight The said king by a Statute made in the seauen and twentieth yeere of his raigne vnited and annexed the Principality and Dominion of Wales vnto the Realme of England altering in many parts the former iurisdiction and gouernement thereof bringing the same to the like administration of Iustice as was and yet is vsuall in England appointing that the lawes of England should take place there and that all Welsh Lawes sinister Customes and Tenures not agreeable to the Lawes of England should be thenceforth for euer abrogated and abolished Of which vnion and annexation first for that there of hath ensued great peace tranquility ciuility and infinite good to the Inhabitants of that Country of Wales Secondly because in some respect it may serue as a proiect and president of some other vnion and annexation by your Maiesty of as much or of more consequence and importance And thirdly because the same vnion doth containe an expresse image of the politique gouernement of the Realme of England I haue presumed with conuenient breuity vpon this good occasion here in this place to expresse the same Therefore whereas in former time there had beene in Wales anciently eight seuerall Shires or Counties besides the County of Munmouth which was the ninth and that some other Territories in Wales were then no shire grounds by reason where of the lawes of England could haue no currant passage therein For all the ordinary Ministers and executioners of the processe of the Lawes of England or which haue Vicountiell iurisdiction are the Officers of particular Shires as the Sheriffes the Coroners the Escheators and such like Therefore by the said Act of Parliament there are erected in Wales foure other new ordayned Shires of the Lands not formerly so diuided namely the seuerall Shires of Radnor Brecknock Montgomery and Denbyh and those also together with the former ancient shires are by that Act of Parliament and by the Statute of 38. h. 8. subdiuided into Cantreds and all the Marche grounds being then neither any part of Wales although formerly conquered out of Wales neither any part of the Shires of England The said king by his said Act of Parliament did annexe and vnite partly vnto the said Shires of England and partly vnto the Shires of VVales next adioyning as was thought then by reason of vicinity of place and other correspondency most conuenient as by the said Acts of Parliament appeareth which the said king was the rather occasioned to doe for most of the said Baronies Marchers were then in his owne hands And for that also diuers murthers rapes robberies and enormities had beene there committed and by reason of the flight of the offenders from one Barony as is vsuall vpon the borders they had escaped due and condigne punishment for their such enormities and odious offences He ordained also that the Countie of Mounmouth formerly being a Shire of Wales should be gouerned from thenceforth in like manner and by the same Iudges as other the Shires of England And for the other twelue Shires he ordained a speciall Iurisdiction and Officers but yet in substance agreable and after the manner of the English Lawes although for the circumstance of time and place and persons in some few things discordant He ordained that out of euery of the said Shires of Wales there should be one Knight and out of euery of the shire Townes of Wales named in the said Act of Parliament there should be one Burgesse elected after the English manner which Knights and Burgesses so selected and duly vpon summons of euery Parliament in England returned should haue place and voice in the Parliament of England as other the Knights and Burgesses of England vsed to haue And for the administration of iustice in the said twelue Shires of Wales there was by the Act of Parliament of 34. H. 8. ordained soure seuerall Circuits Precyncts or Conuentus Iuridicus allotting to euery of them three of those Shires so that the chiefe Iustice of Chester hath vnder his iurisdiction the three seuerall Shires of Denbigh Flint and Montgomery his fee is yeerely 100. l. The Shires of Carnarnon Merioneth and Anglesey are vnder the Iustice of North-Wales whose fee is 50. l. The Counties of Carmardin Pembrooke and Cardigan haue also their Iustice whose yeerely fee is 50. l. The Counties of Radnor Brecknocke and Glamorgan haue also their Iustice whose fee is yeerely 50. l. After by an Act of Parliament made 18. Eliz. cap. 8. one other Iustice assistant was ordained to the former Iustices so that now euery of the said foure Circuits haue two Iustices viz. one chiefe Iustice and a second Iustice assistant Their Jurisdiction THese Iustices in euery of their Circuits haue almost the same iurisdiction that the ancient Iustices in Eyre or Iustices Itinerant had First they had power to heare and determine all criminall causes which are called in the lawes of England The pleas of the Crowne and herein they haue the same absolute iurisdiction that the Iustices haue of your Maiesties Bench commonly called the Kings Bench. They haue also iurisdiction to heare and determine all ciuill Causes which are called in the Lawes of England Common pleas and to take the acknowledgement of all Fines leuied of lands or hereditaments without suing any dedimus potestatem and
any greater number In euery of the said Shires where the said Commission of the Peace is established There is also a Clarke of the Peace for the entring and ingrossing of all proceedings before the said Iustices and this Officer is appointed by the Custos Rotulorum Euery of the said Shires hath his Sheriffe which word being of the Saxon English is as much to say as a Sbire Reeue or minister or Bayliffe of the Countie his Function or Office is two fold Ministeriall or Iudiciall As touching his Ministeriall office he is the Minister and executioner of all the proces and precepts of the Courts of Law and thereof ought to make return or certificate And as touching his Iudiciall office he hath authority to hold two seuerall Courts of distinct natures the one called the Tourne because he keepeth a Tourne or Circuit about his shire holding the same in seuerall places wherein he doth inquire of all offences perpetrated against the Common Law and not forbidden by any Statute or Act of Parliament And the Iurisdiction of this Court is deriued from Iustice distributiue and is for criminall offences The other is called the County Court where he doth determine all petty and small causes Ciuill vnder the value of forty shillings arising within the said County and thereof it is called the Countie Court And the iutisdiction of this Court is drawne from Iustice Commutatiue and is held euery moneth The office of the Sheriffe is Annuall and by the Statute of 34. h. 8. it is ordained that the Lord President Councell and Iustices of Wales or three of them at the least where of the President to be one shall yeerely nominate three fit persons for that office of whom the Kings Maiestie may elect and chose one who thereupon shall haue his Patent and be Sheriffe of the said shire Euery of the said Shires hath an Officer called an Escheator which is an officer to attend the Kings reuenue and to seaze into his Maiesties hands all lands either escheated goods or lands for seited and therefore he is called Escheator and he is to enquire by good enquest of the death of the Kings Tenants and to whom their lands are descended and to seaze their bodies and lands for ward if they be within age and is accountable for the same And this Officer in Wales is named by the Lord Treasurer of England by the aduice of the Lord President Councell and Iustices or three of them at the least whereof the Lord President to be one There are also in euery of the said shires two Officers called Coroners they are to enquire by inquest in what manner and by whom euery person dying of a violent death came to his death and to enter the same of Record which is matter criminall and a plea of the Crowne and thereof they are called Coroners or Crowners as one hath written because their enquiries ought to be publique in corona populi These Officers are chosen by the Free-holders of the Shire by vertue of a Writ out of the Chauncery de Coronatore eligendo and of them I need not to speake more because these Officers are elsewhere Forasmuch as euery shire is diuided into hundreds there are also by the said Statute of 34. h. 8. cap. 26. ordained that two sufficient Gentlemen or Yeomen shall be appointed Constables of euery hundred Also there is in euery Shire one Goale or Prison appointed for the restraint of liberty of such persons as for their offences are therunto committed vntill they shall be deliuered by course of law Finally in euery hundred of euery of the said shires the Sheriffes thereof shall nominate sufficient persons to be Bayliffes of that hundred and Vnderministers of the Sheriffe and they are to attend vpon the Iustices in euery of their Courts and Sessions The Gouernment of the Marches of VVales after the Statutes of an 27. 34. H. 8. BY the said Statute of 34. H. 8. ca. 26. it is further ordayned that the President and Councell in the said Dominion and Principality of Wales and the Marches of the same with all Officers Clarks and incidents thereunto should continue and remaine in manner and forme as was then formerly vsed and accustomed And therefore the said Rowland Lee spoken of before being Lord President of the Councell of the Marches of Wales at the time of the making of the said Statute so continued after the making thereof vntill his death being in the foure and thirtieth yeere of the said King Henry the eight After whom succeeded in the office of the said President Richard Samson Bishop first of Chester and after remoued to Couentry and Litchfield who continued Lord President vntill the second yeere of King Edward the sixt at what time Iohn Dâ—dley then Earle of Warwick and after Duke of Northumberland was President of the said Councell who so continued vntill the fourth yeere of the said King And after him succeeded Sir William Herbert Knight of the noble Order of the Garter and after Earle of Pembrooke who continued President vntill the first yeere of Queene Mary Next succeeded Nicholas Heath then Bishop of Worcester and after Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor of England And vpon the remouing of the said Archbishop the said Sir William Herbert againe succeded as President of the said Councell vntill the sixt yeere of the said Queene Mary at what time followed him Gilbert Browne Bishop of Bath and VVels who so continued vntill the death of the same Queene In the beginning of the reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth Sir Iohn VVilliams Lord VVilliams of Tame of whom the Lord Norris is descended was appointed President of the said Councell and died the same yeere And after him succeeded Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the noble Order of the Garter whose loue to learning fauour to learned men need not here to be spoken he continued Lord President of Wales about foure and twenty yeeres and six moneths he serued in Ireland eight yeeres and six months being there three seuerall times Lord Deputy generall in that Country During some part of the time of the aboade in Ireland of the said Sir Henry Sidney there serued in Ireland as President or Vice-President Iohn Bishop of VVorcester and now Lord Archbishop of Canterbury After this succeeded Henry Earle of Pembrooke sonne in law to the said Sir Henry Sidney and father to the right honorable the Earle of Pembrooke that now is And after him Edward Lord Zouch now present Lord President of that Councell The President and Councell of the Marches of Wales haue power and authority to heare and determine by their wisdomes and discretions such causes and matters as bee or shall bee assigned to them by the Kings Maiesty and in such manner as shall be so prescribed vnto them by instruction signed with his hand The Councell assisting the Lord Prince consisteth of these the chiefe Iustice of Chester together
with three other of the said Iustices of Wales who after their Sessions ended are for the most part resident at the Councell and these are ordinary there are diuers extraordinaries both Lords and Knights and such others as are learned in the Lawes and are to be called to Councell when the Lord President shall thinke requisite and euery such of the Councell extraordinary learned in the Lawes when they are called and doe serue there they are allowed their diet for them and their men and sixe shillings eight pence per dum during the time of their Attendance The Officers there seruing to the administration of Iustice as I am informed are these The Clarke of the Counsell the Clarke of the Signet the Register all which were granted to one man by the late Queene Elizabeth and are executed by his deputy the Examiner the Remembrancer the Receiuer of the Fines the Attorney the Solicitor the Porter to whose custody such delinquents as deserue to suffer restraint of liberty are committed c. Two Messengers and a Serieant at Armes And thus much briefly touching the ancient and moderne estate and gouernment of the Principality of VVales and of the Marches of the same Next followeth to be considered according to the former order proposed the ancient and moderne officers of the sayd Principality seruing the Lord Prince and what fees and sallary were allowed vnto them The ancient Officers their names and fees collected out of diuers ancient Accompts were these following In Northwales THe Iustice of Northwales whose ancient fee was vncertain but yet for the most part yeerly his fee was 50. l. howbeit I finde that Sir William Stanley Knight to whom King Henry the seuenth gaue the office of Iustice of Nothwaâ—es for his life he had the yeerly fee of 133. l. 8. s. 8. d. a. â— H. 7. but this seemeth to haue beene of fauor 50. l. The Chamberlaine of Northwales whose ancient fee was yeerely 20. l. The Auditor of Northwales viz. Chester and Flint his ancient fee was 10. l. yeerly with allowance of 10. s. per diem while he was in executing this office and finishing the accompt 10. l. The Comptroller of all pleas fines amerciaments and redemptions or ransomes his yeerly fee was 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. The Atturney for Northwales viz. of the Counties of Carnarvon Merioneth and Anglesey his fee was yeerly 56. s. 8. d. The Supervisor or Surueyor of the Castles Manners Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of the Prince in Northwales his yeerly fee was 10. l. The Constable of the Castle of Carnarvon his fee was vncertaine sometimes 60. l. and sometimes but 40. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Carnarvon his fee was yeerly 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. and some times one man had both the offices of Constable of the Castle and Captaine of the Towne hauing 60. l. yeerly for both the offices 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were allowed sometime vnto the said Constable and Captaine 24. Souldiers for the safe custody of the Castle and Towne and euery of them was allowed 4. ds per diem amounting in the whole vnto 146. l. by the yeere 146. l. The Porter of the Gates of the said Towne of Carnarvon whose fee was yeerly 3. l. 10. d. The Constable of the Castle of Conway his fee was yeerly sometimes 40. l. and sometimes 50. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Conway had for his yeerly fee 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. and most commonly he that was Constable of the Castle was also Captaine of the Towne 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were also allowed to the said Constable and Captaine 24 souldiers for the safe custody of the said Towne and Castle and euery of them was allowed 4. d per diem amounting yeerly to 146. l. The Keeper and Porter of the Gates of Conway his fee was 4. d. per diem The Constable of the Castle of Hardlaigh in the County of Merioneth his fee yeerly was 26. l. 13. s. 4. d in some accompts he was allowed 50. l. which I thinke was for â—oth offices of Constable and Captaine 26. l. 13. s. 4. d. There were also allowed 24 souldiers for the guard of the said Towne and Castle of Hardâ—aigh their wages amounting yeerly to 146. l. The Constable of the Castle of Bewmarisse his yeerly fee was 40. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Bewmarisse his yeerely fee was 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were also 24. souldiers allowed for the guard of the said Towne and Castle of Bewmarisse euery of which were allowed 4. d. per diem amounting to 146. l. The Porter or Keeper of the Gate of Bewmarisse had for his fee 9. l. 2. s. 6. d. The chiefe Forrester of the Forrest of Snowdon his fee. 11. l. 8. s. The office of the Steward of the Townes of Newborough and Roffaire his fee was yeerly 10. l. The Marshall and Keeper of the Iustice house in the Towne of Carnarvon his yeerly fee was 26. s. 8. d. The Clarke of the great Sessions I finde not There was a Court of Exchequer of the Princes reuenewes for Northwales holden in the Castle of Carnarvon in which Court there were certaine fees allowed for expences of parchment paper bagges for money and for portage of mony and such other small charges which were variable according to the occasions and times Southwales THe Iustice of Southwales whose ancient fee was yeerly 20. l. at some times 40. l. The Auditor of Southwales his ancient fee was yeerly 40. l. but sometimes his fee was but 20. l. and 5. s. per diem whiles he exercised his office The Atturney of South wales who had yeerly for his fee 8. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Constable and Vsher of the Castle of Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 20. l. The Sherife of the County of Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 50. s. The Steward generall of the Comets of the County of Carmarthens fee 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Clarke of the County Courts and small Sessions in the County of Carmarthen his yeerly fee 40. s. The Cryer of the County Courts and small Sessions in the said County whose fee is yeerly 6. s. 8. d. The Steward of the Welsh Courts in the County of Carmarthen his fee 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The office of the Penkeys in the Comets of Widegada and Elvet fee 4. s. The Steward of the VVelsh Courts of Widegada and Elvet his yeerly fee 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. The Clark of the VVelsh Courts of Widegada and Elvet whose yeerly fee 6. s. 8. d. The Bailiffe itinerant for Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 5. l. The Bailiefe itenerant for Gantree whose yeerly fee was 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Constable of the Castle
there with the appurtenances 3 The Castle Borough and Mannor of Tyntagell if histories doe not fable this is supposed to bee the place of birth and Seat of King Arthur 4 The Castle and Mannor of Restormell with the parke there 5 The Mannor of Clymesland and Parke of Kerrybollock 6 The Mannor of Tibesta with the Bayliwick of Powdershire 7 The Mannor of Tewynton with the appurtenances 8 The Mannor and Borough of Helston in Kerier with the appurtenances 9 The Mannor of Moresk with the appurtenances 10 The Mannor of Trewervaile also Tywervaile with the appurtenances 11 The Mannor of Penkneth with the appurtenances 12 The Mannor of Peulyn with the Parke there 13 The Mannor of Relaton also Rillaton with the Beadlery of Eastwyveâ—shire 14 The Mannor of Helston in Trigshire with the appurtenances and the Parke of Hellesbury 15 The Mannor and Borough of Leskeret also Liskerd and the Parke there 16 The Mannor of Kallestock with the fishing there and other his appurtenances 17 The Mannor of Talskydo with the appurtenances in the said County of Cornwall 18 The Borough or Towne of Lostwythiell together with the Milles. Devonshire 19 The fee farme of the City of Exeter 20. l. per annum 20 The Mannor of Lydford with the appurtenances together with the Chace of Dartmore 21 The Mannor and Borough of Braduish 22 The water and Riuer of Dartmouth In diuers other Shires dispersedly 23 The Castle of Wallingford with the Hamlets and members thereof and the yeerely farme of the Towne of Wallingford with the honors of Wallingford and Saint Valeries in the County of Oxford and in all other Counties wheresoeuer the said honours doe lie 24 The Castle Mannor and Towne of Barkhampsted with the Parke there and together with the honour of Barkhampsted in the Counties of Hertford Buckingham and Northampton 25 The Mannor of Byflet with the appurtetenances in the County of Surry 26 The Castle and Mannor of Meere in the County of Wiltshire 27 The Castle and Mannor of Knaresborugh with his Hamlets and members together with the honour of Knaresbury and York and elsewheresoeuer the said honors doe lie 28 The Mannor of Isleworth in the County of Middlesex 29 The Mannors of Kenmigton and Franckshall together with a meadow in Lambeth and Newton in the County of Surry 30 The Mannor of Rising with the appurtenances in the County of Norfolk and the fourth part of the Talbot of Linne with the appurtenances in the said County 31 The Mannor of Chisiemore and fourescore and eighteene pounds six shillings and eight pence rent with the appurtenances in the City of Coventry which were then in lease to the Queenes mother for her life And thus much concerning the reuenew locall and annuall of this Dutchy of the first kinde according to the former proposed diuision being the first inheritance giuen thereunto and which is so annexed to this Dutchy by the words of the said Charter as that by the intent thereof it should in no case be aliened therefrom As concerning the reuenew locall and annuall of this Dutchy of the second kinde the said King Edward the third for further increase of the said Dutchy by his Charter bearing date the said 11 th yeere of his reigne did giue vnto the said Duke in such manner as is aforesaid All his Knights fees which hee then had in the said County of Cornwall with all wards Escheates forfeitures profits and commodities whatsoeuer thereunto belonging which fees hee also annexed vnto the said Dukedome by the words of the said letters patents as that the same should in no wise by the intention of that patent be seuered from the same Howbeit some difference may bee conceiued in Law as touching the value of such annexation made by letters patents only and the former annexation by letters patents which were confirmed or strengthned by act of Parliament concerning the power and ability of aliening and disannexing the same from the Dutchy The last branch of the reuenewes locall and annuall belonging to this Dutchy are such Mannors Lands and Hereditaments as haue beene giuen by act of Parliament and annexed vnto the said Dutchy in liew of other lands that by act of Parliament were formerly taken from the same And therefore whereas by the former letters patents hath appeared the Mannors of Isleworth in the County of Middlesex was giuen and annexed by King Edward the third vnto the said Dutchy King Henry the fift hauing afterwards founded the Monastery which hee called Syon neere adioyning to the said Mannor did by an act of Parliament in the ninth yeere of his reigne seuer the said Mannor of Isleworth from the said Dutchy and conferred the same vnto the said Monastery and in liew thereof by the same act of Parliament gaue and annexed to the said Dutchy the Mannor of Curry Mallet Stoke Vnder Hamden Milton Fawconberge Stratton vpon Fosse Inglesoome Norton with Welweyton Widcome Farrent Lauerton and the moyty of the Mannor of westharptrâ—e and Sheptonmallet with their appurtenances in the County of Somerset the Mannor of Ryme with his appurtenances in the County of Dorset and also the moyty of the Mannors of Maydencot in the County of Barkshire and of Magor in the Marches of Wales and the fourth part of the Mannor of Sellings in the County of Kent All which premisses did exceed the value of the Mannor of Isleworth yeerly two hundred pounds which doth appeare aswell by the said act of Parliament made in the ninth yeere of King Henry the fifth as also by one other act of Parliament made in the three and thirtieth yeere of King Henry the fixt wherein the said former act of Parliament is mentioned Likewise King Henry the eight at his Parliament holden at VVestminster the one and thirtieth yeere of his reigne and proroged vpon diuers prorogations vntill the foure and twentieth day of Iuly in the two and thirtieth yeere of his reigne did seuer the honor and Castle of Walling ford and all Lordships Mannors Lands Tenements and other hereditaments thereto belonging from the Dutchy of Cornwall being moued thereunto for that the said Castle and honor is neere adioyning vnto the Mannor of Newelme which was by the said Act of Parliament made an honour and therefore for the commodious scituation and vicinitie thereof the said King did seuer the same from the said Dutchie and made it parcell of the said honour of Newelme whereof hee was then seised in the right of his Crowne and in liew thereof there were giuen and annexed vnto the said Dukedome the Mannors of VVestanton Portlow North-hill Portpighan Laudren Triloweia Treganoe Trelagan Crosthole Treuitherne Courtney Landulph Leighdurant and Tinton in the Countie of Cornewall and all other his Lands in the said places which came to the said King by the attainder of Treason of Henry Courtney Marquesse of Exceter Also the Mannors of Anstell Fentregan Tremeynalls Tremageuon Fowey Credyowe and Portheaprior in the said Countie of Cornewall which came to
the said Kings hands by the dissolution of the Priory of Trewardreth in the said Countie of Cornewall And also the Mannors of Breadford Cauerdon Clymesland Pryor Treworgy Stratton Eastway Bowyton Bradrissey Bucklawrue and Bonyaluey which came to the said Kings hands by the surrender and suppression of the Priory of Lanceston All which Mannors so newly granted vnto the said Dutchie were by the said Act of Parliament so annexed thereunto as were the said Castle and honour of VVallingford and the members and parcels of the same before the making of the same Act of Parliament any Act Law vsage or custome to the contrary notwithstanding And thus much concerning the reuenues locall and called in the lawes Heâ—editamenta corporea and of annuall value which were either originally giuen by King Edward the Third and afterward by Patent conferred or by Act of Parliament in liew of other lands granted vnto the said Dutchie which threefold distinction of the said reuenues is here made and induced to this end that it might be obserued that those Castles Lordships Mannors and Lands which were either first giuen vnto the said Dutchie and established by Act of Parliament or lastly giuen by Act of Parliament in liew of other the lands seuered from the said Dutchie might appeare so to be annexed vnto the said Dutchie by the intent and meaning of the said Acts of Parliament and so knit and conioyned thereunto as that they should not be alienated therefrom and are of more validitie in that respect then the reuenues of the second sort which were onely conferred by Letters Patents without helpe of Parliament and therefore not so firmely vnited vnto the said Dutchie as are those two former kindes mentioned Inheritances of casuall value belonging to the said Dutchie were these 1 The Duke hath granted vnto him and his heires inheritable vnto the said Dutchie yeerely to elect choose create and make the Sheriffe of Cornewall in such sort as the King himselfe doth elect the Sheriffes of other Counties 2 The Prises Customes of all Wines brought into these Ports of the said Countie of Cornewall and the profits of the Ports and Hauens there and the Customes of all Wooll Leather and Woollsels shipped to be transported out of the said Dutchie to be collected by Officers appointed by the said Duke wrecke of the Sea and the prerogatiue of all Royall Fishes taken and brought to land within the said Countie the Hundred Courts and Countie Courts and the profits thereof The prises and Customes of Wines of the Port of Sutton which is now called Plymouth and is partly with in the Countie of Deuon Also the said Duke hath free warren in all his said landsgranted Also hee hath the liberty and returning of all Writs and summons directed to the Sheriffe of the said Countie which shall not be returned but by the Officers of the said Duke for the time being Also the goods and chattels of all Felons and Fugitiues being Tenants of the said Dutchie And the benefit of all Fines imposed for any trespasse or crime fynable and all Fynes to be paid for Licences to leuye any Fyne or Concord of record And all Ame cements Issues and Forfeitures and the yeere day and wast streepe and spoile of the lands of such as are Tenants of the said Dutchy vpon murthers or Felons by them committed and whereof they shall be attainted and likewise the Escuage of all Tenants holding by Knights seruice which they are to pay being assessed in Parliament for their faile of seruice absence not being with the King when he should make any Army or voyage Royall against his enemies whereby such escuage doth come due Also there is annexed vnto the said Dutchie the Stannaries and profits of the Coynage of Tynne within the said Counties of Deuon and Cornewall For the better vnderstanding whereof it is to be obserued that in the said Counties being in many parts thereof mountanous full of wast grounds and Moores there is found great quantities of Tynne the purest best and most plentifullest in Europe by reason whereof it hath euer beene accounted one of the Staple Commodities of this Kingdome and of good estimation in forraigne regions These Mynes of Tynne in these West parts of the kingdome were not vnknowne to the Romanes as appeareth by Diodorus Siculus who liued in the time of Augustus the Emperour aboue 1600. yeeres sithence and who thus writeth thereof Britanij qui iuxta Velerium promontorium incolunt mercatorum vsum qui co Stanneri gratia nauigant humaniores reliquis ergahospites habentur Hiexterra Saxosa cuius venas sâ—quuti effodiunt Stannum ignem eductum in quandam Insulam ferunt Britanicum iuxta quam Ictam vocant maris fluxu videntur insulae cum vero refluit exsicato interiecto littore curribus co Stannum deferunt c. Ex hijs Insulis mercatores emptum Stannum in Galliam portant inde diebus fere triginta cum equis ad fontem Eridani fluminis perducunt That Promontorie which he calleth Velerium by the iudgement of all learned in Cosmographie is now called the Lyzard and is scituate in the West part of Cornewall The Island that he calleth Icta is the Wight and that which he saith was an Island and at the Floud and at low water passable from the mayne is a true description of Portland as it is at this day being not farre from the I le of Wight vnto which place out of Cornewall the Tynne was brought to be transported into France from whence it was carried thirty dayes iourney on horsebacke and so ouer the Alpes into Italy euen to the Fountaines of Eredanus as he saith which is the Riuer now called the Po in Piemont and Lumbardy I doe alledge his authority the rather for that he in a manner set out the laborious search for Tynne in those dayes euen as it is vsed by the Spaliard at this day with great industrie and paines Hi ex terra Saxosa venas sequunti effodiunt Stannum c. All the moores and wastes wherein the Tynne is found being of ancient time belonging to the Kings and many of the said moores at this day being parcell of this Dutchie of Cornewall The Kings of this land in former times haue cast their Princely care to establish a good and orderly mannaging of the said Commoditie and haue endowed the Tynners with sundry priuiledges for their good gouernement thereby the more to encourage them in the search of Tyn. And thereupon by ancient Charters the whole Company and body of Tynners in euery of the said Counties of Deuon and Cornewall are cast and diuided in foure seuerall Stanneryes or Iurisdictions In euery of which Stanneries there is a Court to minister iustice in all causes personall arising betweene Tynner and Tynner and betweene Tynner Forraigner and also for and concerning the right and ownership of Tynne Mynes and the disposition thereof except in causes of land life and member
Tynners in that County amounted vnto the summe of 14. l. 2. s. 8. d. Forraine Counties The issues and profits of the forraine Minnors which doe lie out of the said Counties of Deuon and Cornwall in other the Counties of England 958. l. So that the whole reuenew of the said Dutchy of Cornwall without reprizes amounted vnto 10095. l. 11. s. 9. d. q. But to the intent it may appeare what are the Castles Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments now or lately belonging vnto the said Dutchy and how the present reuenewes thereof do rise I will here enter into the particularity thereof as they were accompted for to Queene Elizabeth in the fourth and fortieth yeere of her reigne which is the last accompt extant Cornwall Mannors in the County of Cornwall 1 The Mannor of Rylaton of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 12. s. 4. d. 2 The Mannor of Clymesland of the yeerly rent of 60. l. 7. s. 2. d. 3 The Mannor of Helston of the yeerly rent of 67. l. 3. s. 10. d. 4 The Mannor of Liskerd of the yeerly rent of 64. l. 6. s. 10. d. 5 The Mannor of Tybefta of the yeerly rent of 33. l. 2. s. 4. d. q. 6 The Mannor of Tywaruaile of the yeerly rent of 22. l. 2. s. 7 The Mannor of Tallyskydy of the yeerly rent of 5. l. 12. s. 8. d. 8 The Mannor of Penninayne of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 14. s. 7. d. 9 The Mannor of Calestock of the yeerly rent of 60. l. 4. s. 6. d. q. 10 The Mannor of Trematon of the yeerly rent of 52. l. 9. s. 5. d. ob 11 The fee of Trematon of the yeerly rent of 2. l. 5. s. 12 The Mannor of Refflormell of the yeerly rent of 33. l. 15 s. 1. d. ob 13 The Mannor of Penkneth of the yeerly value of 4. l. 18. s. 6. d. ob 14 The Mannor of Peulyn of the rent of 6. l. 18. s. 6. d. ob 15 The Mannor of Tewynton of the rent of 38. l. 12. s. 7. d. ob q. 16 The Mannor of Helston in Kerier of the rent of 56. l. 5. s. 6. d. ob q. 17 The Mannor of Tyntagell of the rent of 36. l. 6. s. 6. d. 18. The Mannor of Moresk of the rent of 32. l. 9. s. 9. d. The Mannors in the County of Cornwall newly annexed by King Henry the eight vnto the said Dutchy in liew of the honor of Wallingford and were in times past parcell of the possessions of the Priory of Trewardreth in the County of Cornwall 19 The Mannor of Anstell of the yeerly rent of 5. l. 3. s. 6. d. 20 The Mannor of Fentrigan of the rent of 3. l. 13. s. 4. d. 21 The Mannor of Trewenuen of the rent of 9. l. 11. s. 7. d. 22 The Mannor of Crediock of the rent of 10. l. 19. s. 6. d. ob 23 The yeerly farme of the Mannor of Fowye 39. s. 2. d. 24 The Mannor of Porthea Prior of the rent of 7. l. 10. s. 10. d. The summe totall of these annexed Mannors belonging sometimes to the Priory of Trewardreth 38. l. 17. s. 11. d. ob The Mannors in the County of Cornwall annexed vnto the said Dutchy in liew of the honor of Wallingford which were sometimes parcell of the Priory of Launceston 25 The farme of the Mannor of Carvidon Prior of the yeerly rent of 19. l. 15. s. 9. d. 26 The Mannor of Clymesland Prior of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 15. s. 10. d. 27 The Mannor of Treworgy of the yeerly rent of 8. l. 19. s. 7. d. 28 The farme of the Mannor of Stratton of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 5. s. 8. d. 29 The farme of the Mannor of Bucklawren of the yeerly rent of 21. l. 14. s. 8. d. 30 The farme of the Mannor of Eastway of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 5. s. 8. d. 31 The farme of the Mannor of Bonialvay of the yeerly rent of 7. l. 15. s. 32 The farme of the Mannor of Boyton of the yeerly rent of 4. l. 17. s. 2. d. The summe totall of these Mannors which were sometimes parcell of the Priory of Trewardreth 85. l. 7. s. 10. d. ob q. The Mannors of the County of Cornwall which lately were the Lands of the Marquesse of Exceter and annexed vnto the Dutchy of Cornwall in liew of the honor of Wallingford and S. Valeries 33 The Mannor of Crosthole of the rent of 28. s. 7. d. 34 The Mannor of Port Pighan of the rent of 55. s. ob q. 35 The fee farme of the Mannor of Portlow of the yeerly rent of 15. l. 16. s. 10. d. ob 36 The fee farme of the Mannor of Northill 26. s. 3. d. 37 The fee farme of the Mannor of Laudreyn 49. s. 10. d. 38 The Mannor of Tregameere of the rent 4. l. 17. d. 39 The Mannor of Trelugan of the rent of 6. l. 17. s. 9. d. 40 The Mannor of Trevarven Courtney 19. l. 15. s. 3. d. 41 The Mannor of Leighdurrant of the rent of 22. l. 9. s. 7. d. Now aliened away from the said c. 42 The fee farme of the Mannor of Tinton 63. l. 6. s. 7. d. The Receiuer accompted for 13. l. 6. s. 8. d. Summa totalis 130. l. 2. s. 5. d. q. The Boroughs in Cornwall 1 The Borough of Liskerd of the rent of 18. l. 2 The Borough of Grampound 12. l. 11. s. 4. d. 3 The Borough of Helston in Kerier 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. 4 The Borough of Bossymy 11. l. 16. s. 9. d. q. 5 The Borough of Lostwythiell of the rent 11. l. 19. s. 10. d. ob 6 The Borough of Camelford of the rent 4. l. 5. s. 4. d. q. 7 The Borough of Saltash of the rent 18. d. 8 The Borough of Launceston of the rent 10. l. 8. s. 8. d. 9 The Borough of Eastlow of the yeerly value of 20. s. The summe totall of the rent of the Boroughs in Cornwall 93. l. 15. s. 4. d. ob The Hundreds in the County of Cornwall and the profits thereof belonging to the said Dutchy 1 The Hundred of Kerier the issues were 8. l. 5. s. 2 The Hundred of Pewith the issues 3. l. 19. s. 6. d. 3 The Hundred of Powder the issues 10. l. 4. s. 5. d. 4 The Hundred of Pyder the isues are 9. l. 8. s. ob 5 The Hundred of East the issues whereof 4. l. 3. s. 4. d. 6 The Hundred of West the issues were 8. l. 5. s. 4. d. 7 The Hundred of Stratton the issues 58. s. 8. d. ob 8 The Hundred of Trigshire the issues 5. l. 1. s. 4. d. 9 The Hundred of Lesâ—ewith the issues 58. s. Summa totalis of the Hundreds amounteth 55. l. 3. s. 8. d. The Profits of the office of the Sheriffe which are casuall and vncertaine and not accompted for vpon the last Receiuers accompt The profits of the Hauenor the profits of whose office were this last yeere 38. l. 5.
l. 13. s. 4. d. The fee of the Steward and keeper of the Courts of the Mannors in the County of Cornewall which sometimes were the Marquesse of Exceter and now parcell of the lands annexed vnto the said Dutchy 46. s. 8. d. The fee of the Bailiffe Itinerant of the said Dutchie of Cornewall 3. l. 10. d. The fee of the Woodward of the said Dutchie of Cornewall yeerely 5. l. The summe totall of the fees of the Officers of the said Dutchie of Cornewall 138. l. 3. s. 4. d. Money paid vnto the Captaine of the Castle of Saint Mawes 118. l. 12. s. 6. d. Money paid to the Captaine of the Castle of Pendynas both which Castles are for the defence of the Hauen of Falmouth 118. l. 12. s. 6. d. Summe totall 237. l. 5. s. Paid yeerely to the Bishop of Exceter for the tenth of the coynage of Tynne in Deuon and Cornewall 16. l. 13. s. 4. d. Paid yeerely vnto the Barons of the Exchequer forth examination of the accounts belonging to the said Dutchie 5. l. The summe totall of all the charges and reprizes taken out thereof amounted vnto 615. l. 9. s. 6. d. Which being deducted out of the generall summe of the reuenues of the said Dutchie being by estimation 4569. l. 12. s. 2. d. q. there may remaine of cleere reuenue the summe of 3954. l. 2s 8 d. q. which cannot be cast into a certaine yeerely value by reason of the casuall profits and casuall expences which may happen yeerely And thus much of the Dutchie of Cornewall THE EARLEDOME OF CHESTER The third reuenue is the Earledome of Chester whereunto is annexed the Countie of Flint belonging to the Prince as Earle of Chester THe Earledome of Chester is the third reuenue before spoken of this Earledome bordering vpon North-Wales for the better defence of that Country and that the Inhabitants should not be thence withdrawne in sutes of law was made Palatyne and conferred by the Conquerour vpon his kinsman Hugh sirnamed Loupe or Lupus sonne to the Earle of Awrenches in Normandy to whom hee gaue this Earledome To haue and to hold to him and his heires as the words of the first donation import It a libere adgladium sicut ipse Rex tenebat Angliam Coronam This Earledome for the more honour thereof and for the better accomplishment of the Palatyne iurisdiction therin hath certaine substitute Baronyes vnder it who doe acknowledge the Earle Palatyne to be their superiour Lord as 1 The Baron of Halton 2 The Baron of Mountalt 3 The Baron of Maâ—banâ—k 4 The Baron of Shibrooke 5 The Baron of Malpas 6 The Baron of Mascey 7 The Baron of Kinderton 8 The Baron of Stockport This Earledome from the said Hugh Lupus discended in his bloud and kâ—ndred by sundry descents vnto Iohn sirnamed Scot Earle of Chester Anguise Galway and Huntingdon who in the time of King Henry the Third dying without issue the said King Henry the Third seized the same into his hands giuing the Aunts and next coheires of the said Iohn other Lands by exchange which thing the said King was induced to doe as the Record saith netanta haereditas inter colos diduceretur not willing that so great a patrimony should beâ— parted amongst disttaffs Afterward King Edward the first was by his father the said King Henry the third created Earle of Chester But the same Earldome being afterwards conferred vpon Simon de Monford by his attainder it came the Crowne After that Edward the third in the life-time of his father and before he tooke vpon him the Kingdome had the said Earledome but afterwards hee being King gaue the same to his eldest sonne Edward surnamed the Black Prince by his Charter bearing date at Pomfret the eighteenth day of March in the seuenth yeere of his reigne and inrolled of record in the Exchequer anno 33. of the same King By which Charter the said King did grant vnto the said Earle of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothlan and Flint and all his lands there And also the cantred and lands of Englefield together with the Knights fees aduousons liberties franchises forrests chaces parks woods warrens and other the appurtenances thereunto belonging to haue and to hold to him and to his heires Kings of England And the same King by another Charter bearing date the ninteenth of March in the seuenth yeere of his reigne granted vnto the said Earle of Chester all his goods chattels stock of cattell then being in or vpon the said lands of the said Earldome formerly granted Moreouer all the Kings of England succeeding when they created their sonnes and heires apparant Princes of Wales did also create them Earles of Chester to haue and to hold the same vnto him so created and his heires Kings of England in such manner as the Principality of Wales was giuen vnto him And did by their seuerall Charters giue vnto the said Earle the said Earledome and lands as namely the said Castles of Chester Beston Rothlan and Flint and the Castle also of Hope and the Mannors of Hope and Hopedall and of Foreshaâ— and the said Cantred and lands of Englefield and other their lands in the said Counties of Chester Flint and elsewhere belonging vnto the said Earledome And the Aduouson of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Asaph in Wales and the auoydance issues and profits of the temporalities of the Bishopricks of Chester and Saint Asaph aforesaid together with all aduousons pentions portions corrodies offices prizes customes liberties franchises lordships comots hundreds escheats forfeitures and hereditaments vnto the said Earldome belonging And to the intent that it may the better appeare both what the ancient reuenewes were of the said Earledome and also what it is at this present I shall according to the order before pursued set downe the ancient reuenew thereof as it was in the latter time of King Edward the third and also how it now standeth in charge to your Maiestie The ancient reuenews of the Earldome of Chester as it was taken vpon the suruey thereof made in the fiftieth of Edward the third The County of Chester The fee farme of the City of Chester 100. l. For other profits out of the said Citie 4 l The farme of the towne of Medwick 64. l The Farme of the Milles vpon the Riuer of Dee 240 l The Manner of Dracklow in yeerly rent 49. l. 22. d. The farme of the Mannor of Dummarsh 15. l The Forrest of Mara the issues and profits thereof 51. l. 7. s. The rents and profits of Norwich are 66 l The Mannor of Shotwick the rents are 30. l. 14. s. 1. d. The Mannor of Eordsham in yeerly rent 56. l. 13. s. 4. d. The profits of the office of the Sheriffe of the said County 124. l. 7. s. 4. d. The perquisits of Courts holden by the Iustice of Chester 180. l. The profits of the office of the Escheator 100 l The summe totall of the reuenew of the said Earldome