Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male Line of the Cliffords Finally the Kings forces at land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterward made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after divers disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652 where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperours Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of his Majesty now raigning after which returning into England was made a Privy Counsellour in 1662 and in 1666 being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarle first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the Enemy soon to flight He enjoys a Pension from his Majesty of 4000 l. per Annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of England are 3 French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward lately deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Rehemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. Sterling a year After these is the Princess Elizabeth eldest Sister living to the Prince Elector Palatin born 26 Decemb. 1618. unmarried and living in Germany The next is another Sister called the Princess Louisa bred up at the Hague with the Queen her Mother in the Religion of the Church of England at length embracing the Romish Religion is now Lady Abbess of Maubisson at Ponthoise not far from Paris Last of all is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659 wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and Free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters Of these three Princesses it is said that the first is the most learned the second the greatest Artist and the last one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Of the Great Officers of the Crown NExt to the King and Princes of the Blood are reckoned the Great Officers of the Crown whereof there are Eight viz. the Lord High Chancellour the Lord High Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal the Lord High Admiral the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Steward for the time being First the Lord High Chancellour Summus Cancellarius so called because all Patents Commissions Warrants coming from the King and perused by him are signed if well or cancelled if amiss He is after the King and Princes of the Blood in Civil Affairs the highest Person in the Kingdom as the Archbishop of Canterbury is in Ecclesiastical Affairs His Office is to keep the Kings Great Seal to judge not according to the Common Law as other Civil Courts do but to moderate the rigour of the Law and to judge according to Equity Conscience or Reason His Oath is to do right to all manner of People poor and rich after the Laws and Customs of the Realm and truly counsel the King to keep secret the Kings Counsel nor suffer so far as he may that the Rights of the Crown be diminisht c. From the time of Henry 2. the Chancellours of England have been ordinarily made of Bishops or other Clergy-men learned in the Civil Laws till Henry 8. made Chancellour one Richard Rich a Common Lawyer from whom is descended the present Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Holland since which time there have been some Bishops but most Common Lawyers This High Office is in France durante vitâ but here is durante beneplacito Regis The Salary from the King is 848 l. per Annum and when the Star-Chamber was up 200 l. per Annum more for his Attendance there The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper who differ only in Name is created per traditionem magni Sigilli sibi per dominum Regem and by taking his Oath The Great Seal being lately taken from Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour was by his Majesties great favour bestowed upon Sir Orlando Bridgeman with the Title of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England The next Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Treasurer of England who receives this high Office by delivery of a White Staffe to him by the King and holds it durante beneplacito Regis Antiently he received this Dignity by the delivery of the Golden Keys of the Treasury His Oath is little different from that of the Lord Chancellour He is Praefectus Aerarii a Lord by his Office under whose Charge and Government is all the Kings Revenue kept in the Exchequer He hath also the check of all the Officers any way emploied in collecting Imposts Customs Tributes or other Revenues belonging to the Crown He hath the gift of all Customers Controllers and Searchers in all the Ports of England He hath the nomination of the Escheators in every County and in some Cases by Statute is to appoint a Measurer for the length and breadth of Clothes He with others joyned in Commission with him or without letteth Leases of all the Lands belonging to the Crown He giveth Warrants to certain Persons of Quality to have their Wine Custom free The Annual Salary of the Lord High Treasurer is in all 383 li. 7s 8d per Annum Since the decease of Thomas Wriothesly last Earl of South-hampton and last Lord High Treasurer of England this Office hath been executed by a Commission granted to five eminent Persons viz. the Duke of Albemarle Lord Ashley Sir Thomas Clifford Sir Will. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb The Third Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Privy Seal who is a Lord by his Office under whose hands pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons signed by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England also divers other matters of less Concernment as for payments of money c. which do not pass the Great Seal He is by his Place of the Kings Privy Council and Chief Judge of the Court of Requests when it shall be re-continued and besides his Oath of Privy Counsellour takes a particular Oath as Lord Privy Seal His Salary is His Place according to Statute is next to the Lord President of the Kings Council It is an Office of great Trust and Skill that he put not this Seal to any Grant without good Warrant under the Kings Privy Signet nor with Warrant if it be against Law or Custom until that the King be first acquainted This great Officer is mentioned in the Statutes of 2 Rich. 2. and then â—anked amongst the Chief Persons of the Realm And is at present enjoyed by John Lord Robarts Baron Robarts of Truro The Fourth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord
shall any way offend It is called the Green Cloth of a Green Cloth whereat they sit over whom are the Arms of the Compting House bearing Vert a Key and a Rod Or a Staffe Argent Saultier signifying their Power to reward and correct as Persons for their great wisdom and experience thought fit by His Majesty to exercise both these Functions in his Royal House The Treasurer of the Kings House is alwayes of the Privy Council and in absence of the Lord Steward hath power with the Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsea to hear and determine Treasons Felonies and other inferiour Crimes committed within the Kings Palace and that by Verdict of the Kings Houshold Houshold Servants within the Check Roll if any be found guilty of Felony no benefit of Glergy is to be allowed him Antiently this Court might have held Pleas of Freehold also His yearly Fee 124 l. 14 s. 8 d. and a Table of 16 Dishes each Meal He bears a white Staffe and is at present Sir Thomas Clifford The Comptrollers Office is to controul the Accounts and Reckonings of the Green Cloth His yearly Fee is 107 l. 12 s. 4 d. a Table of 16 Dishes each Meal He bears a white Staffe and is at present the Lord Newport The Cofferer is also a Principal Officer hath a special charge and oversight of other Officers of the House for their good Demeanour and Carriage in their Offices and is to pay the Wages to the Kings Servants below Stairs His yearly Fee is 100 l. a Table of 7 Dishes daily and is now Colonel Will. Ashburnbam The next is the Master of the Houshold whose Office is to survey the Accounts of the House His Fee 100 Marks and 7 Dishes daily enjoyed by Sir Herbert Price The Two Clerks of the Green Cloth are Sir Henry Wood and Sir Stephen Fox and the two Clerks Comptrollers Sir William Boreman and Sir Winston Churchill The yearly Fee to each of these four is 48 l. 13 s. 4 d. and between them 2 Tables of 7 Dishes to each Table The rest of the Compting-House being less considerable shall for brevity be past over and for other Officers below stairs onely their Names and Number shall be noted their Fees being not considerable except the Sergeants Fee of each Office In the Bake-House A Sergeant a Clerk divers Yeomen a Garnitor divers Purveyors Grooms and Conducts in all 17 Persons In the Pantry A Sergeant Yeomen Grooms Pages c. in all 11. In the Cellar A Sergeant a Gentleman Yeomen Grooms Purveyors Pages in all 12. In the Buttry A Gentleman Yeoman Grooms Pages Purveyors in all 11. In the Pitcher-House A Yeoman Grooms Page and Clerk in all 5 persons In the Spicery Three Clerks and a Grocer In the Chandlery A Sergeant 2 Yeomen 2 Grooms and a Page in all 6 persons In the Wafery A Yeoman and a Groom In the Confectionary A Sergeant 2 Yeomen a Groom and a Page In the Ewry A Sergeant a Gentleman 2 Yeomen a Groom and 2 Pages In the Landry A Yeoman a Groom 3 Pages and a Draper In the Kitchin Six Clerks a Master Cook to the King a Master Cook to the Houshold 6 Yeomen 7 Grooms 5 Children in all 26 persons In the Larder A Sergeant a Clerk 3 Yeomen 3 Grooms 2 Pages In the 〈◊〉 or the Caterers Office a Sergeant a Clerk Purveyors for Flesh and Fish Yeomen in all 12 persons In the Boyling-House a Yeoman 2 Grooms In the Poultry A Sergeant a Clerk Yeomen Grooms Purveyors in all 10 persons In the Scalding-House Yeomen Grooms and Pages in all 6. In the Pastry A Sergeant a Clerk Yeomen Grooms and Children in all 11 persons In the Scullery A Sergeant a Clerk Yeomen Grooms and Pages in all 12 persons In the Wood-Yard A Sergeant a Clerk Yeomen Groom and Pages in all 8 persons Harbingers 2 Gentlemen 6 Yeomen In the Almonry Sub-Almoner 2 Yeomen Grooms Porters at Gate A Sergeant Sir Edward Bret 2 Yeomen 4 Grooms Cart-Takers 6 in number Surveyors of the Dresser 2 persons Marshals of the Hall 4. Sewers of the Hall 5. Wayters of the Hall 12. Messenger of the Compting-House 1. Bell-Ringer 1. Long-Cart-Takers 4. Wine-Porters 8. Wood-Bearer 1. The Cock 1. Supernumerary Servants to the last King viz. In the Poultry 2 in the Almonry 1 and in the Pastry 1. Besides the fore-named Officers below Stairs there are also under the said Lord Steward all the Officers belonging to the Queens Kitchin Cellar Pantry c. and to the Kings Privy Kitchin and to the Lords Kitchin together with Children Scowrers Turn-broaches c. in all 68. A List of His Majesties Servants in Ordinary above Stairs GEntlemen of the Bed Chamber whereof the first is called Groom of the Stole that is according to the signification of the word in Greek from whence first the Latines and thence the Italian French derive it Groom or Servant of the Robe or Vestment He having the Office and Honour to present and put on His Majesties first Garment or Shirt every morning and to order the things of the Bed-Chamber The Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber consist usually of the Prime Nobility of England Their Office in general is each one in his turn to wait a Week in every Quarter in the Kings Bed-Chamber there to lie by the King on a Pallet-Bed all Night and in the absence of the Groom of the Stole to supply his place The yearly Fee to each is 1000 l. Their Names follow according to their Order John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole and first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber George Duke of Buckingham Charles Duke of Richmond William Duke of Newcastle George Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Ormond Earl of Suffolk The Earl of Newport Earl of Ossory Earl of Ogle Lord Gerrard Lord Crofts Lord Lauderdale Lord Mandevil Mr. May Privy Purse Sir George Carteret Vice-Chamberlain George Lord Viscount Grandison Captain of the Guard Sir Edward Griffin Knight Treasurer of the Chamber Sir John Denham Knight of the Bath Surveyor to His Majesty Grooms of the Bed-Chamber Henry Seymour Esquire John Ashburnham Esquire Thomas Elliot Esquire David Walter Esquire William Legg Esquire Sylvius Tytus Esquire Thomas Killegrew Esquire Robert Philips Esquire Edward Progers Esquire Richard Lane Esquire Henry Coventry Esquire These are not to be above the degree of Gentlemen Their Office is to attend in the Kings Bed-Chamber to dress and undress the King in private c. The yearly Fee to each is 500 l. Pages of the Bed-Chamber 6 in number whereof one is Keeper of his Majesties Closet Gentlemen Vshers of the Privy-Chamber Sir William Flemming Marmaduke Darcy Sir Paul Neale Sir Robert Stapleton These wait one at a time in the Privy Lodgings Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber in Ordinary Sir Edward Griffin Sir Francis Cobb Sir John Boys Sir John Talbot Sir Robert Bindlos Sir Thomas Sandys c. in number forty eight all Knights or Esquires of note Their Office is 12 every
and that by reason of their Honourable Order and Employment and also to all Bannerets made under the Kings Banner or Standard displayed in an Army Royal in open War and the King personally present Note also That if any of the Degrees of Nobility above-mentioned are descended of the Blood Royal they are to have place of all those of the same Degree with them Moreover Observe that all the Nobles of the same Degree take place according to the Seniority of their Creation There are certain Marks of State that belong to each Degree amongst the Nobility which they may practise or not practise at pleasure A Duke may have in all places out of the Kings presence a Cloth of Estate hanging down within half a yard of the ground so may his Dutchess and her Train born up by a Baron and no Earl to wash with a Duke without the Dukes pleasure A Marquiss may have a Cloth of Estate reaching within a yard of the ground and that in all places out of the presence of the King or a Duke and his Marchioness to have her Train born by a Knights Wife and no Vicount to wash with a Marquiss but at his pleasure An Earl also may have a Cloth of Estate without Pendants but only Fringe and a Countess may have her Train born by a Gentlewoman out of the presence of her Superiours and in their presence by a Gentleman A Vicount may have a Cover of Assay holden under his Cup while he drinks but no Assay taken as Dukes Marquisses and Earls may have And a Vicountess may have her Gown born up by a Woman out of the presence of her Superiours and in their presence by a Man A Baron may also have the Cover of his Cup holden underneath whilst he drinketh and a Baroness may have her Gown born up by a man in the presence of a Vicountess All Dukes eldest Sons be as Earls and the younger as Lords with the addition of their Christian Names as Lord Thomas Lord John c. A Dukes eldest Son of the Blood Royal shall take place of a Marquiss that is not and of an Earl that is of the Blood Royal. A Marquisses eldest Son is called Lord of a place and the younger Sons Lord Thomas Lord John c. A Marquisses eldest Son of the Blood Royal shall go before an Earl that is not and of a Vicount that is of the Blood Royal. An Earls eldest Son is called Lord of a place and all his Daughters Ladies but his younger Sons not Lords An Earls eldest Son of the Blood Royal takes place of a Vicount that is not and of a Lord that is of the Blood Royal. A Vicounts eldest Son is no Lord nor his Daughters Ladies and therefore the eldest Son and the eldest Daughter of the first Vicount of England is said to be the first Gentleman and Gentlewoman without Title in England A Vicounts eldest Son of the Blood Royal takes place of all Barons The Princes of the Blood the Great Officers of the Realm and the Bishops are to precede according to an Act of Parliament 31 H. 8. The Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Kings Council Lord Privy Seal These being Barons or above shall in Parliament sit above all Dukes except the Son Brother Grand-Child or Nephew of the King The Lord High Steward of England is not here named because it was intended that he should not continue beyond the occasion for which he should be made Next hath place the Lord Great Chamberlain of England then the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal the Lord High Admiral Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold These shall sit after the Lord Privy Seal above all of their Degree only And if the Kings Principal Secretary be a Baron he takes place of all Barons that are not of the Offices before mentioned but if he be a Vicount or higher Degree he shall take place only according to his Degree Also if the Kings Secretary be a Bishop as antiently was usual he takes place next to the Bishop of Winchester of all other Bishops that have none of the Offices aforesaid All Dukes Marquisses Earls Vicounts and Barons not having any of the said Offices shall take place according to the antiently of their Creation All Dukes eldest Sons have the Title of Earls and the eldest Son of an Earl hath the Title of the Earls Barony and sometimes of the Vicountry according to the Patent A Catalogue of the Peers of England according to their Precedence Dukes of the Royal Blood JAMES Duke of York and Albany Earl of Ulster Lord High Admiral of England the Kings only Brother Rupert Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holderness Edgar Duke of Cambridge The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Privy Seal take place before all Dukes not of the Blood Royal. Dukes Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk William Seymour Duke of Somerset George Villars Duke of Buckingham Charles Stuart Duke of Richmond George Monk Duke of Albemarle James Scot Duke of Monmouth William Cavendish Duke of Newcastle Marquisses John Pawlet Marquiss of Winchester Edward Somerset Marquiss of Worcester Henry Pierrepont Marquiss of Dorchester Earls These three take place in respect of their Offices Bertue Earl of Lindsay Lord High Chamberlain of England James Butler Earl of Brecknock Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Edward Montague Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Earls Awbrey de Vere Earl of Oxford Algernon Percy Earl of Northumberland Francis Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey Earl of Kent Charles Stanley Earl of Derby John Mannours Earl of Rutland Theophilus Hastings Earl of Huntingdon William Russel Earl of Bedford Philip Herbert Earl of Pembroke Theophilus Clinton Earl of Lincoln Charles Howard Earl of Nottingham James Howard Earl of Suffolk Richard Sacvile Earl of Dorset William Cecil Earl of Salisbury John Cecil Earl of Exeter John Edgerton Earl of Bridgewater Robert Sydney Earl of Leicester James Compton Earl of Northampton Charles Rich Earl of Warwick William Cavendish Earl of Devonshire Basil Fielding Earl of Denbigh George Digby Earl of Bristol Lionel Cranfield Earl of Middlesex Henry Rich Earl of Holland John Hollis Earl of Clare Oliver St. John Earl of Bullingbroke Mildmay Fane Earl of Westmorland Montague Earl of Manchester Thomas Howard Earl of Berkshire Thomas Wentworth Earl of Cleveland Edward Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave Thomas Savage Earl Rivers Bertue Earl of Lindsay Nicolas Knowles Earl of Banbury Henry Cary Earl of Dover Henry Mordant Earl of Peterborough Henry Grey Earl of Stamford Henage Finch Earl of Winchelsey Charles Dormer Earl of Caernarvon Montjoy Blunt Earl of Newport Philip Stanhop Earl of Chesterfield John Tufton Earl of Thanet William Wentworth Earl of Strafford Robert Spenser Earl of Sunderland James Savil Earl of Sussex George Goring Earl of Norwich Nicholas Leak Earl of Scarsdale John
Willmot Earl of Rochester Henry Jermin Earl of St. Albans Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich James Butler Earl of Brecknock Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon Arthur Capel Earl of Essex Thomas Brudnel Earl of Cardigan Anthony Annesly Earl of Anglesey John Greenvile Earl of Bath Charles Howard Earl of Carlile John Craven Earl of Craven Thomas Bruce Earl of Alisbury Richard Boyle Earl of Burlington Vicounts Leicester Devereux Vicount Hereford Francis Brown Vicount Montague James Fiennes Vicount Say and Seale Edward Conway Vicount Conway Baptist Noel Vicount Camden William Howard Vicount Stafford Thomas Bellasis Vicount Falconbridge John Mordant Vicount Mordant George Savil Vicount Halifax Barons John Nevil Lord Abergavenny James Touchet Lord Andley Charles West Lord de la Warre George Berkly Lord Berkly Thomas Parker Lord Morly and Monteagle Francis Lennard Lord Dacres Conyers Darcy Lord Darcy and Menil William Stourton Lord Stourton William Lord Sandys de la Vine Edward Vaux Lord Vaux Thomas Windsor Lord Windsor Thomas Wentworth Lord Wentworth Wingfield Cromwel Lord Cromwell George Evre Lord Evre Philip Wharton Lord Wharton Francis Willoughby Lord Willoughby of Parham William Paget Lord Paget Dudly North Lord North. William Bruges Lord Chandos William Petre Lord Petre. Dutton Gerard Lord Gerard. Charles Stanhop Lord Stanhop Henry Arundel Lord Arundel of Warder Christopher Rooper Lord Tenham Fulk Grevil Lord Brooke Edward Montague Lord Montague of Boughton Charles Lord Howard of Charlton William Grey Lord Grey of Wark John Robarts Lord Robarts John Lovelace Lord Lovelace John Pawlet Lord Pawlet William Mainard Lord Mainard Thomas Coventry Lord Coventry Edward Lord Howard of Escrick Warwick Mohun Lord Mohun William Butler Lord Butler Percy Herbert Lord Powis Edward Herbert Lord Herbert of Cherbury Francis Seymour Lord Seymour Francis Newport Lord Newport Thomas Leigh Lord Leigh of Stonelty Christopher Hatton Lord Hatton Henry Hastings L. Loughborough Richard Byron Lord Byron Richard Vaughan Lord Vaughan Charles Smith Lord Carington William Widrington Lord Widrington Humble Ward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Isaack Astley Lord Astley Richard Boyle Lord Clifford John Lucas Lord Lucas John Bellasis Lord Bellasis Lewis Watson Lord Rockingham Charles Gerard Lord Gerard of Brandon Robert Sutton Lord Sutton of Lexinton Charles Kirkhoven Lord Wotton Marmaduke Langdale Lord Langdale William Crofts Lord Crofts John Berkley Lord Berkley Denzil Hollis Lord Hollis Frederick Cornwallis Lord Cornwallis George Booth Lord de la Mere. Horatio Townsend Lord Townsend Anthony Ashley Cooper Lord Ashley John Crew Lord Crew c. Henry Bennet Lord Arlington John Freschevile Lord Fresschevile Richard Arundel Lord Arundeâ— of Trerice Of Temporal Lords or Peer of England there are at presenâ— about 170 whereof there arâ— 10 Dukes 3 Marquisses 6â— Earls 8 Vicounts and 78 Barons whereas within 60 yearâ— last past there was not onâ— Duke but one Marquiss abouâ— 20 Earls 3 or 4 Vicounts anâ— 40 Lords The Laws and Customs of England alwayes willing that Decorum and Conveniency should be every where observed and considering the Charges and Expences appertaining to the several Degrees of Honour as they belong to Men of Principal Service to the King and Realm both in time of War and Peace expected that each of them should have a convenient Estate and Value of Lands of Inheritance for the support of their Honours and the Kings Service Therefore antiently when the intrinsique value of a Pound Sterling was worth 30 l. of our Money now every Knight was to have about 800 Acres reckoned at 20 l. yearly in Land that is about 600 l. of our Money at this day A Baron to have 13 Knights Fees and one third part which amounted to 400 l. which multiplied by 30 was as much as 8000 l. a year at this day An Earl 20 Knights Fees and a Duke 40. And in case of decay of Nobility or that they had so far wasted their Revenues that their Honours could not decently be maintained as the Roman Senators were in such case removed from the Senate so sometimes some English Barons have not been admitted to sit in the Higher House of Parliament though they kept the Name and Title of Dignity still For the better support oâ— these Degrees of Honour the King doth usually upon the Creation of a Duke Marquiss Earl or Vicount grant an Annuity or yearly Rent to them and their heirs which is so annext to the Dignity that by no Grant Assurance or any manner of Alienation can be given from the same but is still â—ncident to and a support of the same Creation contrary to that Principle in Law That every Land of Feesimple may be charged with a Rent in Fee-simple by one way or other To a Duke the King grants 40 l. heretofore a considerable Pension to a Marquiss 40 Marks to an Earl 20 l. and to a Vicount 20 Marks To Barons no such Pensions is ordinarily granted onely the late King creating Mountjoy Blount the late Earl of Newport Lord Mountjoy of Thurlston granted him a Fee of 20 Marks per annum to him and his heirs for ever As the King of England hath ever had the repute of the richest in Domaines of any King in Europe so the Nobility of England have been accounted the richest in Lands of any Neighbouring Nation some having above 20000 l. yearly others 15000 and so many of them above ten that if one with another they have 10000 l. yearly it will amount to in all amongst the 160 Lords Sixteen hundred thousand pounds a year about the ninth part of the yearly Revenue of all England which upon Computation is found to be about Fourteen Millions yearly The English Nobility for Valour Wisdome Integrity â—nd Honour hath in all former Ages been equal to any in Christendom Every Lords House was a kind of a well disciplined Court insomuch that the Gentry Males and Females were wont to be sent thither for vertuous breeding and returned excellently accomplisht At home their Table Attendance Officers Exercises Recreations Garb was an Honour to the Nation Abroad they were attended with as brave numerous and uniform Train of Servants and Followers as any â—uâ—ope not thinking it consistent with their Honours to be seen walk the Streets almost in Cuerpo with one Lackey or not that much less to be found drinking in a Tavern c. If the English Nobility by â— long continued Peace excessive Luxury in Diet want oâ— Action c. were before thâ— late Wars born more feeble in body than their Ancestors anâ— by too fine and too full Dieâ— afterwards were rendred weaker in mind and then during thâ— late troubles by much licentiousness and want of fit Education were so debauched thaâ— it was lately difficult to finâ— as some are bold to affirme the Courage Wisdom Integrity Honour Sobriety and Courtesie of the Antient Nobility yet is it not to be doubted but that under a Warlike Enterprising Prince all those Vertues of their Fore-Fathers may spring afresh especially if we consider the vicissitude
him Prince of Wales and bestowed on him all the Lands Honours and Revenues belonging to the said Principality The Prince hath ever since been stiled Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitaine and Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Flint which Earldomes are alwayes conferred upon him by his Patent since the Union of England and Scotland his Title hath been Magnae Britanniae Princeps but more ordinarily the Prince of Wales As Eldest Son to the King of Scotland he is Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal of Scotland from his Birth The King of Englands Eldest Son so long as Normandy remained in their hands was alwayes stiled Duke of Normandy Antiently the Princes of Wales whilest they were Soveraigns bare quarterly Gules and Or 4 Lyons passant gardant counterchanged The Arms of the Prince of Wales differ from those of the King only by addition of a Labell of three points and the Device of the Prince is a Coronet beautified with three Ostrich Feathers inscribed with Ich dien which in the German or old Saxon Tongue is I serve alluding perhaps to that in the Gospel The Heir whilest his Father liveth differeth not from a Servant This Device was born at the Battel of Cressy by John King of Bohcmia as serving there under the King of the French and there slain by Edward the Black Prince and since worn by the Princes of Wales and by the Vulgar called the Princes Arms. The Prince by our Law is reputed as the same Person with the King and so declared by a Statute of Henry 8. Corruscat enim Princeps say our Lawyers radiis Regis Patris sui censetur una persona cum ipso And the Civilians say the Kings Eldest Son may be stiled a King He hath certain Priviledges above other Persons To imagine the death of the Prince to violate the Wife of the Prince is made High Treason Hath heretofore had priviledge of having a Purveyor and taking Purveyance as the King To retain and qualifie as many Chaplains as he shall please To the Prince at the Age of 15 is due a certain Aid of Moneys from all the Kings Tenants and all that hold of him in Capite by Knight Service and Free Socage to make him a Knight Yet as the Prince in nature is a distinct person from the King so in Law also in some cases He is a Subject holdeth his Principalities and Seignories of the King giveth the same respect to the King as other Subjects do The Revenues belonging to the Prince since much of the Lands and Demesnes of that Dutchy have been aliened are especially out of the Tinne Mines in Cornwall which with all other profits of that Dutchy amount yearly to the summe of The Revenues of the Principality of Wales surveyed 200 years ago was above 4680 l. yearly a rich Estate according to the value of Money in those dayes At present his whole Revenues may amount to Till the Prince come to be 14 years old all things belonging to the Principality oâ— Wales were wont to be disposed of by Commissioners consisting of some principal Persons of the Clergy and Nobility The Cadets or younger Son of England are created noâ— born Dukes or Earls of what Places or Titles the King pleaseth They have no certain Appanages as in France but onely what the good pleasure of the King bestows upon them All the Kings Sons are Consilii nati by Birth-right Counsellors of State that so they may grow up in the weighty affairs of the Kingdom The Daughters of England are stiled Princesse the eldest of which have an Aid or certain rate of Money paid by every Tenant in Capite Knight Service and Soccage towards her Dowry or Marriage Portion To all the Kings Children belong the Title of Royal Highness All Subjects are to be uncovered in their presence to kneel when they are admitted to kiss their hands and at Table they are out of the Kings Presence served on the Knee The Children the Brothers and Sisters of the King if Plaintiffs the summons in the Process need not have the solemnity of 15 dayes as in Case of other Subjects The Natural or Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the King after they are acknowledged by the King take precedence of all the Nobles under those of the Blood Royal. They bear what Surname the King pleaseth to give them and for Arms the Arms of England with a Bend Sinister border Gobionnee or some other mark of illegitimation Some Kings of England have acknowledged many and had more illegitimate Sons and Daughters King Henry the First had no fewer than sixteeen illegitimate Children Henry the Eighth amongst others had one by Elizabeth Blount named Henry Fitzroy created by him Duke of Somerset and Richmond Earl of Notingham and Lord High Admiral of England Ireland and Aquitain OF THE PRESENT KING OF ENGLAND THe King now raigning is CHARLES the Second of that Name His Name of Baptisme Charles in the German Tongue signifies one of a Masculine strength or vertue The Royal and also the most princely and antient Families of Europe at this day have properly no Surnames for neither is Burbon the Surname but the Title of the Royal Family of France nor Austria of Spain nor Stuart of England since the coming in of King James nor Theodore or Tudor for his 5 immediate Ancestors in England nor Plantagenet for 11 Generations before as some vainly think for although Geffery Duke of Anjou was surnamed Plantagenet from a Broom Stalk commonly worn in his Bonnet yet his Son H. 2. King of England was surnamed Fitz-empresse and his Son Richard Coeur de Lion So Owen Grandfather to King Henry 7. was ap Meredith and he ap Theodore pronounc'd Tyder Surnames being then but little in use amongst the Cambrobritans So Walter Father to Robert King of Scotland from whom our present King is descended was only by Office Grand Seneschal or High Steward or Stuart of Scotland though of later times by a long vulgar errour it hath so prevailed that they are accounted Surnames of many Families descended from him Steward is a Contraction from the Saxon word Stedeward that is in Latine Locum-tenens in French Lieu-tenant because the Lord High Steward was Regis Locum tenens a Name not unfit for any King who is Dei Locum tenens Gods Stuart or Lieutenant or Vicegerent upon Earth The King now raigning is Son to King Charles the Martyr and the Princess Henretta Maria Daughter of King Henry the Great of France from which two Royal Stocks he hath in his Veins all the Royal Blood of Europe concentred Is descended lineally and lawfully from the British Saxon Danish Norman and Scottish Kings and Princes of this Island From the first British King the 139th Monarch from the Scottish in a continued Succession for almost 2000 years the 109th from the Saxon the 46th and from the first of the Norman Line the 26th King So that for Royal
under him against the French King then leagued with the English Rebels against Spain where his Magnanimity and Dexterity in Martial Affairs though unsuccessful were very eminent In the year 1660 came over with the King into England and being Lord High Admiral in the year 1665 in the War against the Vnited States of the Netherlands commanded in person the whole Royal Navy on the Seas between England and Holland where with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp dispute he obtained a Signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Ships in that Fight He married Anne the eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England by whom he hath had a numerous issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary born 30 April 1662 whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchesses of Buckingham and Ormond Secondly the Lady Anne born in Febr. 1664 whose Godfather was Gilbert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth She is lately for her health transported into France Thirdly 15 Sept. 1667 was born Edgar lately created Duke of Cambridge by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England whose Godfathers were the Duke of Albemarle and the Marquiss of Worcester his Godmother the Countess of Suffolk The Titles of his Royal Highness are Duke of York and Albany Earl of Ulster Lord High Admiral of England Ireland and all Foreign Plantations Constable of Dover Castle Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Governour of Portsmouth c. Of the Prince of Orenge NExt to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassau Prince of Orenge only Issue of the lately deceased Princess Royal Mary eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641 to William of Nassau Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was born 9 dayes after his Fathers death on the 14th Novemb. 1650 had for Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delft Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then wife to the Heer van Hemvliet At 8 years of age was sent to the University of Leyden His Revenue is about 60000 l. Sterling besides Military Advantages enjoyed by his Father and Ancestors which amounted yearly to about 30000 l. Sterling more He is a Prince in whom the high and princely qualities of his Ancestors already appear Of the Princess Henretta THe next Heir after the fore-named to the English Crown is the Princess Henretta only Sister living to the present King of England She was born the 16th of June 1644 at Exeter during the heat of the late Rebellion after the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646 to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkieth she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the age of 16 years came with the Queen Mother into England and 6 moneths after returning into France was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Anjou till the death of his Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livres Tournois besides his Appanage not yet setled Her Portion was 40000 l. Sterling her Joynture to be the same with the present Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess hath issue one Daughter if she hath a Son the French King allows him 50000 Crowns yearly and the Appanage after the death of the present Duke reverts to the Crown Of the Prince Elector Palatine THere being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of England are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose eldest Son living is Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsgrave from the High Dutch pfaltzgraff Palatii Comes was born the the 22th December 1617 at Heydelberg and afterwards in Holland at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the age of 18 years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel in Westphalia In the year 1637 passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by that quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes whence after 23 weeks imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of England set at liberty In the year 1643 he came again into England and with the Kings secret consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilst the Rebels possest the greatest part of his Majesties Revenues made his Addresses to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murder of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinat according to the famous Treaty at Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his right to the Upper Palatinat and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of time when the King of England had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all other at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest advantages there In 1650 he espoused the Lady Charlotte Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen by which Lady he hath one Son named Charles aged about 16 and one Daughter aged about 14. Of Prince Rupert NExt to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatin is Prince Rupert born at Prague 27 Novemb. 1619 not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatin Family was for almost 30 years dispossest of all their Possessions in Germany At 13 years of age he marcht with the then Prince of Orenge to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the age of 18 he commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in a Battel being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a prisoner above three years In 1642 returning into England and made General of the Horse to the King fights and defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-hill took Cirencester recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham House fought the great Battel at Marston Moor was created Earl of Holderness and
High Admiral of England whose Trust and Honour is so great that this Office hath usually been given either to some of the Kings younger Sons near Kinsmen or to some one of the highest and chiefest of all the Nobility He is called Admiral from Amir in Arabick and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek that is Praefectus Marinus a word borrowed from the Eastern Empire where such kind of compounds were much in re-request and introduced into England after the Wars in the Holy Land by King Richard or King Edward 1. The Patent of the Lord Admiral did anciently run thus Angliae Hiberniae Aquitaniae Magnus Admirallus but at present thus Angliae Hiberniae ac Dominiorum Insularum earundem Villae Callesiae Marchiarum ejusdem Normandiae Gasconiae Aquitaniae Magnus Admirallus Praefectus Generalis Classis Marium dictorum Regnorum To the Lord High Admiral of England is by the King intrusted the management of all Marine Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as Protection He is that High Officer or Magistrate to whom is committed the Government of the Kings Navy with Power of decision in all Causes Maritime as well Civil as Criminal of all things done upon or beyond the Sea in any part of the World all things done upon the Sea Coasts in all Ports and Havens and upon all Rivers below the first Bridge next toward the Sea The Lord Admiral hath the power to commissionate a Vice-Admiral a Reer Admiral and all Sea Captains also Deputies for particular Coasts Coroners to view dead bodies found on the Sea Coasts or at Sea Commissioners or Judges for exercising Justice in the Court of Admiralty to imprison release c. He hath sometimes a power to bestow Knighthood to such as shall deserve it at Sea To the Lord Admiral belongs by Law and Custom all penalties and amercements of all Transgressors at Sea on the Sea Shore in Ports and from the first Bridge on Rivers towards the Sea also the Goods of Pyrats Felons or Capital Faulters condemned outlawed or horned Moreover all Waifs Stray Goods Wrecks of Sea Deodands a share of all lawful Prizes Lagon Jetson and Flotson as the Mariners term them that is Goods lying in the Sea on Ground Goods floting on the Sea and Goods cast by the Sea on the Shore not granted to Lords of Mannors adjoyning to the Sea All great Fishes as Sea Hogs and other Fishes of extraordinary bigness called Royal Fishes except only Whales and Sturgeons This High Dignity is at present enjoyed by the Kings only Brother the Illustrious Prince James Duke of York The Fifth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Great Chamberlain of England an Officer of great Antiquity to whom belongs Livery and Lodging in the Kings Court and certain Fees due from each Archbishop and Bishop when they do their Homage or Fealty to the King and from all Peers of the Realm at their Creation or doing the Homage or Fealty and at the Coronation of any King to have 40 Ells of Crimson Velvet for his own Robes and on the Coronation day before the King riseth to bring him his Shirt Coyfe Wearing Clothes and after the King is by him apparelled and gone forth to have his Bed and all Furniture of his Bed-Chamber for his Fees all the Kings Night Apparel and to carry at the Coronation the Coyfe Gloves and Linnen to be used by the King upon that occasion also the Sword and Scabberd and the Gold to be offered by the King and the Robe Royal and Crown and to undress and attire the King with his Robes Royal and to serve the King that day before and after Dinner with water to wash his hands and to have the Basin and Towells for his Fees c. This Honour was long enjoyed by the Earls of Oxford from the time of Hen. 1. by an Estate Tayle or Inheritance but in the two last Coronations by the Earls of Lindsey and that by an Estate of Inheritance from a Daughter or Heir General claimed and controverted The Sixth Great Officer is the Lord High Constable of England so called some think from the Saxon Cuning by contraction King and Stable quasi-Regis columen for it was antiently written Cuningstable but rather from Comes Stabuli whose Power and Jurisdiction was antiently so great that after the death of Edward Bohun Duke of Buckingham 1521 the last High Constable of England it was thought too great for any Subject But since upon occasion of Coronations as at that of King Charles 2. was made the present Earl of Northumberland and at Solemn Trials by Combat as at that which was intended between Rey and Ramsey 1631 was made Robert Earl of Lindsey there is created pro hac vice a Lord High Constable His Power and Jurisdiction is the same with the Earl Marshal with whom he sits Judge in the Marshals Court and takes place of the Earl Marshal The Seventh Great Officer of the Crown is the Earl Marshal of England so called from Mare in the old Saxon i.e. Horses and Schal Praefectus He is an Earl some say by his Office whereby he taketh as the Constable doth Cognisance of all matters of War and Arms determineth Contracts touching Deeds of Arms out of the Realm upon Land and matters concerning Wars within the Realm which cannot be determined by Common Law This Office is of great Antiquity in England and antiently of great Power The last Earl Marshal was Henry Howard Earl of Arundel who died in 1652 his Father Thomas Earl of Arundel and he enjoying that Office onely for the Term of their lives by the Kings Letters Patents At the Coronation of His Majesty now raigning the present Earl of Suffolk for that Solemnity only was made Earl Marshal The Eighth and last Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Steward of England quasi Stedeward Locum tenens the Kings Lieftenant in Lawyers Latin Seneschallus of Sen in Saxon Justice and Schals Governour or Officer His Power antiently in Civil Matters was next to the King and was so transcendent that it was thought fit not longer to trust it in the hands of any Subject for his Office was Supervidere regulare sub Rege immediatè post Regem as an antient Record speaks totum Regnum Angliae omnes ministros Legum infra idem regnum temporibus pacis guerrarum The last that had a State of Inheritance in this High Office was Henry of Bullinbrook Son and Heir to the great Duke of Lancaster John of Gaunt afterwards King of England since which time they have been made only hâc vice to officiate at a Coronation by vertue of which Office he sitteth judicially and keepeth his Court in the Kings Palace at Westminster and there receiveth the Bills and Petitions of all such Noblemen and others who by reason of their Tenure or otherwise claim to do Services at the New Kings Coronation
and to receive the Fees and Allowances due and accustomed as lately at the Coronation of King Charles the Second the Duke of Ormond was made for that occafion Lord High Steward of England and marching immediately before the King bore in his hands St. Edwards Crown Or else for the Arraignment of some Peer of the Realm their Wives or Widdows for Treason or Felony or some other great Crime to judge and give Sentence as the antient High Stewards were wont to do which ended his Commission expireth During such Tryal he sitteth under a Cloth of Estate and they that speak to him say May it please your Grace my Lord High Steward of England His Commission is to proceed Secundum Legem consuetudinem Angliae He is sole Judge yet doth call all the Twelve Judges of the Land to assist him Is not sworn nor the Lords who are the Tryers of the Peer arraigned During his Stewardship he bears a White Staffe in his Hand and the Tryal being over openly breaks it and so his Office takes an end Of the Kings Court. THe Court of the King of England is a Monarchy within a Monarchy consisting of Ecclesiastical Civil and Military Persons and Government For the Ecclesiastical Government of the Kings Court there is first a Dean of the Kings Chappel who is usually some grave Learned Prelate chosen by the King and who as Dean acknowledgeth no Superiour but the King for as the Kings Palace is exempt from all inferiour Temporal Jurisdiction so is his Chappel from all Spiritual it is called Capella Domenica the Demean Chappel is not within the Jurisdiction or Diocess of any Bishop but as a Regal Peculiar exempt and reserved to the Visitation and Immediate Government of the King who is Supreme Ordinary and as it were Prime Bishop over all the Churches and Bishops of England By the Dean are chosen all other Officers of the Chappel viz. a Subdean or Praecentor Capellae 32 Gentlemen of the Chappel whereof 12 are Priests and one of them is Confessor to the Kings Houshold whose Office is to read Prayers every Morning to the Family to visit the Sick to examine and prepare Communicants to inform such as desire advice in any Case of Conscience or Point of Religion c. The other 20 Gentlemen commonly called Clerks of the Chappel are with the aforesaid Priests to perform in the Chappel the Office of Divine Service in Praying Singing c. One of these being well skilled in Musick is chosen Master of the Children whereof there are 12 in Ordinary to instruct them in the Rules and Art of Musick for the Service of the Chappel Three other of the said Clerks are chosen to be Organists to whom are joyned upon Sundayes Collar dayes and other Holy-dayes the Saickbuts and Cornets belonging to the Kings Private Musick to make the Chappel Musick more full and compleat There are moreover 4 Officers called Vergers from the Silver Rods carried in their hands also a Sergeant 2 Yeomen and a Groom of the Chappel In the Kings Chappel thrice every day Prayers are read and Gods Service and Worship performed with great Decency Order and Devotion and should be a Pattern to all other Churches and Chappels of England Twelve dayes in the year being high and principal Festivals His Majesty after Divine Service attended with his principal Nobility adorned with their Collars of Esses in a grave solemn manner at the Altar offers a sum of Gold to God in signum specialis dominii that by his Grace he is King and holdeth all of him All Offerings made at the Holy Altar by the King and the Queen did antiently belong to the disposal of the Archbishop of Canterbury if his Grace were present wheresoever the Court was but now to the Dean of the Chappel Those 12 dayes are first Christmass Easter Whitsunday and All Saints called Houshold-dayes upon which the Besant or Gold to be offered is delivered to the King by the Lord Steward or some other of the Principal Officers then New-years-day and Twelf-day upon the later of which Gold Frankincense and Myrrhe in several Purses are offered by the King Lastly Candlemas Anuntiation Ascention Trinity Sunday St. John Baptist and Michaelmass day when only Gold is offered Upon Christmass Easter and Whitsunday His Majesty usually receives the Holy Sacrament none but two or three of the Principal Bishops communicating with Him The King hath also besides many Extraordinary 48 Chaplains in Ordinary who are usually eminent Doctors in Divinity whereof 4 every Moneth wait at Court to preach in the Chappel on Sundayes and other Festivals before the King and in the Morning early on Sundayes before the Houshold to read Divine Service before the King out of Chappel daily twice in the Kings Private Oratory to give Thanks at Table in the Clerk of the Closets absence In time of Lent according to antient laudable Custom the Divine Service and Preaching is performed in a more solemn manner Antiently at Court there were Sermons in Lent only and that in the Afternoon in the Open Court and then only by Bishops Deans and principal Prebends Our Ancestors judging that time enough and those persons only fit to teach such an Auditory their duty to God and Man Antiently also the Lent Preachers were all appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Now on the first Wednesday called Ashwednesday in the Morning begins the Dean of the Chappel to preach and on each Wednesday after one of his Majesties more eloquent Chaplains and every Friday the Dean of some Cathedral or Collegiat Church and on the last Friday called Good Friday is alwayes to preach the Dean of Westminster and on every Sunday in Lent some Right Reverend Bishop preacheth and on the last Sunday of Lent called Palm-Sunday is to preach an Archbishop and upon Easter day the Lord High Almoner who is usually some principal Bishop that disposeth of the Kings Almes and for that use receiveth besides other moneys allowed by the King all Deodands Bona Felonum de se to be that way disposed In France the Grand Aumosnier is principal of all the Ecclesiastiques of the Court and all Officers of the Kings Chappel he receiveth their Oaths of Allegeance and himself swears only to the King for that Office he hath the disposition of all Hospitals the Charge for delivering Prisoners pardoned by the King at his coming to the Crown or at his Coronation or first entrance into any of his Cities Under the Lord High Almoner there is a Subalmoner two Yeomen and two Grooms of the Almonry Besides all these the King hath a Clerk of the Closet or Confessor to His Majesty who is commonly some reverend discreet Divine extraordinarily esteemed by His Majesty whose Office is to attend at the Kings right hand during Divine Service to resolve all doubts concerning spiritual matters c. The present Dean of the Chappel is Doctor Herbert Crofts Bishop of Hereford whose Fee is 200 l. yearly and a Table
his Subdean is Doctor Jones whose Fee is 100 l. yearly The Fee of each Priest and Clerk of the Chappel is 70 l. yearly The Clerk of the Closet is Doctor Blandford Bishop of Oxford hath no Fee The Lord High Almoner is Doctor Henchman Bishop of London hath no Fee his Sub-Almoner is Doctor Perinchef whose Fee is 6 l. 6 s. 10 d. Of the Civil Government of His Majesties Houshold FOr the Civil Government of the Kings Court the Chief Officer is the Lord Steward quasi Stede ward Locum tenens called also in the time of Henry 8. the Great Master of the Kings Houshold after the French Mode but Primo Mariae and ever since called the Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold He hath Authority over all Officers and Servants of the Kings House except those of His Majesties Chappel Chamber and Stable c. He judgeth of all disorders committed in the Court or within the Verge which is every way within 12 miles of the chief Tunnel of the Court only London by Charter is exempted for the Law having an high esteem of the dignity of the Kings settled Mansion House laid out such a Plot of ground about his House as a half-pace or Foot-Carpet spread about the Kings Chair of Estate that ought to be more cleared and void than other places to be subject to a special exempted jurisdiction depending on the Kings Person and Great Officers that so where the King comes there should come with him Peace and Order and an Awfulness and Reverence in mens hearts besides it would have been a kind of eclipsing of the Kings Honour that where the King was any Justice should be sought but immediately from the Kings own Officers and therefore from very antient times the Jurisdiction of the Verge hath been executed by the Lord Steward with great Ceremony in the nature of a peculiar Kings Bench and that not only within but without the Kings Dominions for so it is recorded that one Engleam of Nogent in France for stealing Silver dishes out of the House of Edward 1. King of England then at Paris after the matter had been debated in the Council of the King of France touching the Jurisdiction and ordered that the King of England should enjoy this Kingly Prerogative of his Houshold was condemned by Sir Robert Fitz-John then Steward to the King of England and hanged in St. Germans Fields The Lord Steward is a White Staffe Officer for he in the Kings Presence carrieth a White Staffe and at other times going abroad it is carried by a Foot-man bare-headed At the death of the King over the Hearse made for the Kings Body he breaketh this Staffe and thereby dischargeth all the Officers whom the succeeding King out of his meer grace doth re-establish each one in his former Office This eminent Emploiment is now enjoyed by James Duke of Ormond Lord Lieftenant of Ireland whose Fee is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes daily each Meal with Wine Beer c. The next Officer is the Lord Chamberlain who hath the over-sight of all Officers belonging to the Kings Chamber except the Precincts of the Kings Bed-Chamber which is wholy under the Groom of the Stool and all above Stairs who are all sworn by him or his Warrant to the Gentlemen Ushers to the King He hath also the over-sight of the Officers of the Wardrobes at all his Majesties Houses and of the removing Wardr or of Beds of the Tents Revels Musick Comedians Hunting and of the Messengers of the Trumpetters Drummers of all Handy-Crafts and Artisans retained in the Kings Service Moreover he hath the over-sight of the Heraulds and Pursivants and Sergeants at Arms of all Physitians Apothecaries Surgeons Barbers c. To him also belongeth the over-sight of the Chaplains though himself be a Lay-man contrary in this particular to the Antient Custom of England and Modern Custom of all other Kingdoms where Ecclesiastiques are never under the ordering of Lay-men The Fee of the Lord Chamberlain of the Kings House is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes each Meal with all the Appurtenances This Office is now in the hands of Edward Montague Lord Montague and Earl of Manchester Most of the above-named Offices and Places are in the Gift and Disposal of the Lord Chamberlain The Third Great Officer of the Kings Court is the Master of the Horse antiently called Comes Stabuli or Constable to whom a higheâ— Employment and Power was then given and this taken from him This great Officer hath now the ordering and disposal of all the Kings Stables and Races of Horses and had heretofore of all the Posts of England He hath also the power over Escuiries and Pages over the Footmen Grooms Riders of the Great Horses Farriers Smiths Coach-men Sadlers and all other Trades working to the Kings Stables to all whom he or by his Warrant the Avener giveth an Oath to be true and faithful He hath the Charge of all Lands and Revenues appointed for the Kings breed of Horses and for Charges of the Stable and for Litters Coaches Sumpter Horses c. Also for the Charges of Coronations Marriages Entries Cavalcades Funerals c. He only hath the Priviledge to make use of any Horses Pages Foot-men belonging to the Kings Stable At any Solemn Cavalcade he rides next behind the King and leads a Lear Horse of State This great honour is now enjoyed by George Monk Duke of Albemarle in consideration of his unparalleld Services to the King to his Crown and Dignity at a juncture of time when his Affairs and Friends were in a very desperate condition His yearly Fee is 666 l. 16 s. 4 d. Under these Three Principal Officers of His Majesties Houshold are almost all the other Officers and Servants First under the Lord Steward in the Compting-House is the Treasurer of the Houshold Comptroller Cofferer Master of the Houshold Two Clerks of the Green-Cloth Two Clerks Comptrollers One Sergeant Two Yeomen The Cofferers Clerk The Groom Two Messengers It is called the Compting-House because the Accompts for all Expences of the Kings Houshold are there taken daily by the Lord Steward the Treasurer the Comptroller the Cofferer the Master of the Houshold the two Clerks of the Green Cloth and the two Clerks Comptrollers who also there make Provisions for the Houshold according to the Law of the Land and make Payments and Orders for the well governing of the Servants of the Houshold In the Compting-House is the Green-Cloth which is a Court of Justice continually sitting in the Kings House composed of the Persons last mentioned whereof the three first are usually of the Kings Privy Council To this Court being the first and most ancient Court of England is committed the charge and oversight of the Kings Court Royal for matters of Justice and Government with Authority for maintaining the Peace within 12 miles distance wheresoever the Court shall be and within the Kings House the power of correcting all the Servants therein that
Quarter to wait on the Kings Person within doors and without so long as His majesty is on foot and when the King eats in the Privy Chamber they wait at the Table and bring in his Meat They wait also at the reception of Embassadours and every Night two of them lie in the Kings Privy-Chamber A Gentleman of the Privy-Chamber by the Kings Commandment onely without any written Commission is sufficient to arrest any Peer of England Grooms of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary in number 6 all Gentlemen of Quality these as all Grooms wait without Sword Cloak or Hat whereas the Gentlemen wear alwayes Cloak and Sword In the Presence Chamber Gentlemen-Ushers daily Waiters in Ordinary are 4 whereof the first hath the Office of Black Rod and in time of Parliament is to attend every day the Lords House and is also Usher of the Honourable Order of the Garter They are now Sir John Ayton Sir Edward Carteret Richard March Sir James Mercer Tho. Duppa Assistant Daily Waiter Their Office is to wait in the Presence Chamber and to attend next the Kings Person and after the Lord Chancellour and the Vice-Chamberlain to order all affairs and to obey these are all Under-Officers above Stairs Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters in Ordinary in number 8 these wait also in the Presence Chamber and are to give directions to the Grooms and Pages and other under Officers who are to attend in all servile Offices next to the Grooms The Grooms of the Great Chamber are 12 the Pages of the Presence Chamber 4. Cup-Bearers in Ordinary James Halsal Charles Littleton Sir William Fleetwood Sir Philip Palmer Mr. Ayrskyn Carvers in Ordinary 4. Sewers in Ordinary 4. Esquires of the Body in Ordinary 4. Their Office to guard the Kings Person by Night to set the Watch and give the Word and keep good Order in the whole House by Night as the Lord Chamberlain and his other Officers are to do by Day Groom Porter Col. Offley His Office to see the Kings Lodgings furnisht with Tables Chairs Stools Firing to furnish Cards Dice c. to decide disputes arising at Cards Dice Bowlings c. Sergeants at Arms 16 all Gentlemen Chaplains in Ordinary 4 for every Moneth as followeth January Dr. Sandcroft Dr. Brideock Dr. Jos Beaumont Dr. Colebrand February Dr. Peirce Dr. Shute Dr. Duport Dr. Cradock March Dr. Crofts Dr. Reeves Dr. Brough Dr. Bell. April Dr. Maine Dr. Gullston Dr. Stillingfleet Dr. Creighton May. Dr. Fell Dr. Sudbury Dr. Crey Dr. Bathurst June Dr. Wood Dr. Carlton Dr. Basire Dr. Neale July Dr. Cartwright Dr. Castillian Dr. Smith Dr. John Loyd August Dr. Fleetwood Dr. Gunning Dr. Thorne Dr. Offly September Dr. Pearson Dr. Bolton Dr. Perinchief Dr. Tillotson October Dr. Ovtram Dr. Meuse Dr. Tho. Tulley Dr. Smallwood November Dr. Allestree Dr. Benson Dr. Geo. Beaumont Dr. Will. Loyd December Dr. Hodges Dr. Hardye Dr. Ball Dr. Lamplagh These 48 Chaplains in Ordinary are usually Doctors in Divinity and for the most part Deans or Prebends and all principal Predicators Messengers of the Chamber in Ordinary first 2 Clerks of the Check then 40 more in all 42. Musitians in Ordinary 62. Trumpeters in Ordinary and Kettle Drummers are in all 15. Drummers and Fifes 7. Of Wardrobes the King hath besides the Great Wardrobe now in the Savoy whereof Edward Earl of Sandwich is Master divers standing Wardrobes at Whitehall Windsor Hampton-Court the Tower of London Greenwich c. whereof there are divers Officers Lastly removing Wardrobes whereof there is one Yeoman 2 Grooms and 2 Pages Jewel House Sir Gilbert Talbot Master and three Under Officers called Yeoman and Grooms Whose Office is to take Charge of all Vessels of Gold or Silver gilt for the King and Queens Table of all Plate in the Tower of Chains and loose Jewels not fixt to any Garment Physitians in Ordinary to His Majesties Person are Sir Alexander Fraser Sir John Baber Doctor Clark Doctor Hinton Physitians in Ordinary to the Houshold Doctor Waldron Doctor Scarborough for the Tower of London Apothecaries 2 one for the Kings Person and one for the Houshold Chirurgeons 6. Barbers 2. Printers 2. Bookbinder 1. Taylers 2. Hydrographer 1. Stationer 1. In the Office of the Tents Toyles Hales and Pavilions 2 Masters 4 Yeomen 1 Groom 1 Clerk Comptroller 1 Clerk of the Tents A Master of the Revels Office to order all things concerning Comedies c. Engraver Sculptor 1 in each Office In the Office of the Robes 1 Master 4 Grooms a Purveyor Clerk Tayler and Page and a Dyer In the Matter of Ceremonies A Master Sir Charles Cotterel and one Marshal A Master of the Game of Cock-fighting Two Sergeant Skinners Three Embroiderers Two Keepers of the Privy Lodgings Two Gentlemen and one Yeomen of the Bows One Crossbow-Maker one Fletcher One Mrs Sempstress and one Laundress One Perspective Maker One Master Fencer One Haberdasher of Hatts One Comb-Maker One Coffee-Maker Shoo-maker Joyner Copier of Pictures Watch-maker Cabinet-maker Lock-Smith Library-Keeper Rat-Killer of each one Game of the Bears and Bulls 1 Master 1 Sergeant 1 Yeoman Operators for the Teeth 2. Coffer-Bearers to the Back-Stairs 2. Falconers Sir Allen Aspley Master of the Hawks and other Officers under him about London and other places belonging to the King in all 33. Huntsmen for the Buck-hounds in Ordinary John Carey Esquire Master of the Buck-hounds and under him a Sergeant and 34 other persons Otter-hounds Smith Esquire Master of the Otter-hounds and 4 more under him Huntsmen for the Harriers Master of the Harriers Mr. Elliot and 5 under him One Yeoman of the Leash Watermen 55. Silkmen 2. Perfumer Feather-maker Milliner Mercer Hosier Draper Upholster Letter-carrier Forreign Post of each one Officers belonging to Gardens Bowling-Greens Tennis-Courts Pall-Mall 10 persons Culter Spurrier Girdler Corn-Cutter Button-maker one of each Embosser Enameler of each one Armory at the Tower Master of the Ordinance now in several Commissioners William Legg Lieutenant of the Ordnance and Master Armorer and 17 under Officers Heraulds 3 Kings at Arms. Sir Edward Walker Garter Sir Edward Bish Clarenceux William Dugdale Norroy Also 4 Heraulds and 4 Pursuivants Comedians 17 Men and 8 Women Actors Gunner Gilder Cleanser of Pictures Scene-Keeper Coffer-Maker Wax-Chandler Mole-Taker Publick Notary one of each Keeper of Birds and Fowle in St. James's Park 1. Keeper of the Volery Goffe-Club-maker Sergeant Painter one for each A List of His Majesties Servants under the Master of the Horse There are FIrst 14 Queryes so called from the French word Escuyers derived from Escuyrie a Stable their Office is to attend the King on Hunting on Progress or on any occasion of riding abroad to help His Majesty up and down from his Horse c. The yearly Fee to each is 20 l. 2. The Chief Avener which place with all the following are in the Gift of the Master of the Horse so called from Avena Oates whose Office is to provide Provender and yearly Fee is 40 l. There
Baron was used for Vir as at this day Baron or Varon in the Spanish Tongue is used for the same so that a Baron is Vir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vir Notabilis Principalis so the Chief Burgesses of London antiently and still those of the Cinque Ports are called Barons Antiently those Barons only were accounted Peers of the Realm that held of the King per integram Baroniam which consisted of 13 Knights Fees and one third part each Knights Fee being 20 l. which make in all 400 Marks and whoever had so much was wont to be summoned to Parliament Now to hold per Baroniam is to hold per haereditatem Baronis whether greater or less Barons in the beginning of the Raign of H. 3. were not of so much repute as afterwards when that King after that great Rebellion against him was supprest called by Writ unto Parliament only such great men as had continued loyal which the succeeding Kings observing they only were accounted Peers of the Realm that were called by the Kings special Writ and the others lost their Peerage The Earls Palatines and Earls Marchers of England had antiently also their Barons under them as in Cheshire there are yet such Barons but as no Bishops but those that hold immediately of the King are Peers of the Realm for the Bishop of Man holding immediately of the Earl of Derby is no Peer so no Barons but those that hold immediately of the King are Peers of the Realm Caput Baroniae is some Castle or Chief Seat of a Nobleman which is not to be divided amongst Daughters if there be no Son but must descend to the Eldest Daughter caeteris filiabus aliunde satisfactis Lands holden by Barony doth not make the purchaser that is ignoble to be noble although the charge of such Tenure doth lie upon him in respect of the Service of the Realm no more than Lands by Villain Service doth make the Purchaser that is a Freeman a Villain though he shall thereby be bound to his Villain Service due for those Lands Barons are sometimes made by Writ being thereby called to sit in the Higher House of Parliament but most usually by Patent All the fore-mentioned Degrees have the Title of Lord from the Saxon word Laford Dominus All the Lords of England both Spiritual and Temporal are Feudataries to the King and in their Creation and also in their Succession do swear an Oath of Fealty and do Homage to the King their Soveraign and pay certain Duties as Signs and Symbols of their Subjection to their Prince All Honours in England are given by the King who is the sole Fountain of Honour The Law of England prohibiteth all Subjects of the Realm to receive any Title of Honour or Dignity of the Gift of any Forreign Prince King or Emperour Est enim jus Majestatis inter Insignia summae potestatis None of these Honours bestowed by the King on a Family can be lost but by want of Issue or else by some heinous Crime and then that Family cannot be restored to their Blood but by Parliament All Noblemen at their Creation have two Ensigns to signifie two Duties Their Heads are adorned ad consulendum Regem Patriam tempore pacis and they are girt with a Sword ad defendendum Regem Patriam tempore belli The several Degrees of the English Nobility are differenced and distinguisht one from another by their Titles and Ensigns of Honour A Duke hath the Title of Grace and being written unto may be stiled Most High Potent and Noble Prince A Marquiss Most Noble and Potent Prince An Earl Most Noble and Potent Lord. A Vicount Right Noble and Potent Lord. And A Baron Right Noble Lord. Their Coronets are all different A Baron hath a Coronet of 6 Pearls upon the Circle given to that honour by the present King A Vicount hath a Coronet with 8 Pearls without the Circle â—n â—â—arls Coronet hath the Pearls raised The Marquiss a Pearl and Strawbeâ—ry Leaf round And a Dukes Coronet only Leaves without Pearls They are more especially distinguisht by their Robes of Parliament by their several Guards on their Mantles or Short Cloaks about their Shoulders A Baron hath but 2 Guards a Vicount two and and a half an Earl 3 a Marquiss 3 and a half and a Duke 4. The Nobility of England have in all times enjoyed many considerable Priviledges All Peers of the Realm being lookt on as the Kings Hereditary constant Counsellours their Persons out of Parliament time are priviledged as others in Parliament time from all arrest unless for Treason Felony or breach of Peace Condemnation in Parliament or Contempt to the King No Supplicavit can be granted against them No Capias or Exigent sued out against them for Actions of Debt or Trespass No Essoin lies against any Peer of the Realm In Criminal Causes Treason or Felony they cannot be tried by any other Jury but by a Jury of Peers of the Realm who are not as other Juries to be put to their Oath but their Veâ—dict given in upon their Honour sufficeth In Civil Causes they are not to be empanelled upon any Jury nor upon any Enquests de facto though in a matter between two Peers In case any Peer be returned upon any such Jury there is a special Writ for his discharge Upon no case to be bound to the good behaviour nor put to swear they will not break the Peace but only to promise it upon their Honour which was ever counted so sacred as upon no terms to be violated A Peer of the Realm may not be put to the Rack or Torture to discover the truth though accused of High Treason Every Peer of the Realm called to Parliament hath the Priviledge in his lawful absence to constitute a Proxy to vote for him which none of the Commons may do Also in places of trust committed to them they are allowed to make Deputies by reason of the necessity supposed in the Law of their attendance on the Person of the King Though neither Civil Law nor Common Law allow any others Testimony to be valid but what is given upon Oath yet the Testimony of a Peer of England given in upon his Honour without any Oath is esteemed valid and they were wont to be examined upon their Allegeance and the Loyalty of their Chivalry and to put in their Answer to a Bill super honorem without taking an Oath though of later times that Priviledge by the neglect of some Lords hath been infringed sometimes A day of Grace by the favour of the Court is not to be granted to the Plaintiff in any Suit or Action wherein a Peer of the Realm is Defendant and this by Statute Law because the Law presumes that a Peer of the Realm must alwayes be ready to attend the Person of the King and the Service of the Commonwealth and therefore it is not to be delayed longer than the ordinary use of the Court
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith The King only is Dei Gratiâ simply i.e. from the favour of none but God and the Archbishops and Bishops that pretend to that Title must understand Dei gratiâ Regis or Dei gratiâ voluntate Regis Defender of the Faith was antiently used by the Kings of England as appears by several Charters granted to the University of Oxford but in the year 1521 more affixt by a Bull from Pope Leo the Tenth for a Book written by Henry the Eighth against Luthers in defence of some points of the Romish Religion but since continued for defence of the Antient Catholck and Apostolick Faith Primogenitus Ecclesiae belongs to the Kings of England because their Predecessor Lucius was the first King that embraced Christianity Christianissimus was by the Lateran Council under Pope Julius the 2d conferred on the Kings of England in the 5th year of Henry 8 though now used only by the French King The Title of Grace was first given to the King about the time of H. 4. to H. 6. Excellent Grace to Ed. 4. High and Mighty Prince to Hen. 8. first Highness then Majesty and now Sacred Majesty after the Custom of the Eastern Emperours that used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The King of England in his Publick Instruments and Letters stiles himself Nos We in the plural number before King John's time the Kings used the singular number which Custom is still seen in the end of Writs Teste meipso apuâ— Westm In speaking to the King is used often besides Your Majesty Syr from Cyr in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Abbreviation o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominus much used to the Greek Emperours but Syr or Domine iâ— now in England become the ordinary word to all of better rank even from the King to the Gentleman It was antiently in England given to Lords afterwards to Knights and to Clergymen prefixt before their Christian Names â—ow in that manner only to Baâ—onets and Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelours yet in France Syr or Syre is reserved only for their King About the time that our Saviour lived on Earth there was a Jewish Sect whose Ring-â—eader was one Judas of Gaile mentioned Acts 5. 37. that would not give this Title of Sir or Dominus to any man affirming that it was proper only to God and stood not unlike our new Fanaticks called Quakers so perversely for such Nominal Liberty being â—n other points meer Pharisees that no penalties could force them to give this honorary Title to any man no not to the Emperour uti videre 〈◊〉 apud Josephum alios Sed hâ—â— obiter The Saxon Kings before the Conquest bare Azure a Crossâ— Formy between four Martlet Or. Afterward the Danish King raigning in England bare oâ— Semi de Harts Gules 3 Lyon Passant Gardant Azure After the Conquest the Kings of England bare two Leopards born first by the Conquerour as Duke of Normandy till the time of Hen. 2 who in right of his Mother annext her Paternal Coat the Lyon of Aquitaine which being of the same Field Mettal and Form with the Leopards â—â—om thence-forward they were â—intly marshalled in one Shield and Blazoned 3 Lyons as at â—resent King Edward the Third in â—â—ght of his Mother claiming â—he Crown of France with the Arms of England quartered the Arms of France which then were Azure Semy Flower â—eluces Or afterwards changed to 3 Flower deluces whereupon Hen. 5. of England caused the English Arms to be changed likewise King James upon the Union of England and Scotland caused the Arms of France and England to be quartered with Scotland and Ireland and are thus blazoned The King of England beareth for his Soveraign Ensigns Armorial as followeth In the first place Azure 3 Flower deluces Or for the Regal Arms of France quartered with the Imperial Ensigns of England which are Gules threâ— Lyons Passant Gardant in Palâ— Or. In the second place with in a double Tressure counter-flowered de lys Or a Lyon Rampant Gules for the Royal Arms of Scotland In the third place Azure an Irish Harp Or Stringed Argent for the Royal Ensigns of Ireland In the fourth place as in the first All within the Garter the chief Ensign of that most Honourable Order above the same an Helmet answerable to His Majesties Soveraign Jurisdiction upon the same a rich Mantle of Cloth of Gold doubled Ermine adorned with an Imperial Crown and surmounted for a Crest by a Lyon Passant Gardant Crowned with the like supported by 〈◊〉 Lyon Rampant Gardant Or Crowned as the former and an unicorn Argent Gorged with a Crown thereto a Chain affixt passing between his foreâ—egs and reflext over his back Or both standing upon a Compartment placed underneath and in the Table of the Compartment His Majesties Royal Motto Dieu mon Droit The Supporters used before the Union of England and Scotland were the Dragon and Lyon The Arms of France placed first for that France is the greater Kingdom and because from the first bearing those Flowers have been alwayes Ensigns of a Kingdom whereas the Arms of England were originally of Dukedoms as beforesaid The Motto upon the Garter Honi soit qui mal y pense that is Shame be to him that evil thereof thinketh was first given by Edward 3 the Founder of that Order upon occasion as some have written of a Garter falling from the Countess of Kent and Salisbury as she danced and taken up by that King whereat the Queen being jealous or the Courtiers observing it the King first uttered those words now upon the Garter whereof the Order was soon after instituted The Motto Dieu mon Droit that is God and my Right was first given by Richard the First to intimate that the King of England holdeth his Empire not in Vassallage of any mortal man but of God only and after taken up by Edward 3. when he first claimed the Kingdom of France King William the Conquerour getting by right of Conquest all the Lands of England except Lands belonging to the Church to Monastenies and Religious Houses into his own hands in Demesne as Lawyers speak soon bestowed amongst his Subjects aâ— great part thereof reserving some retribution of Rents and Services or both to him and his Heirs Kings of England which reservation is now as it was before the Conquest called the Tenure of Lands the rest he reserved to himself in Demesne called Coronae Regis Dominica Domaines and Sacra Patrimonia Praedium Domini Regis Directum Dominum cujus nullus est Author nisi Deus all other Lands in England being held now of some Superiour and depend mediately or immediately on the Crown but the Lands possest by the Crown being held of none can escheat to none being sacred cannot become prophane are or should be permanent and inalienable Which Royal Domaines are by Time the Gift and Bounty of
our Kings and some Necessities for the preservation of the Weal Publick too much alienated The Antient Dominions of the Kings of England were first England and all the Seas round about Great Britain and Ireland and all the Isles adjacent even too the Shores of all the Neighbour Nations and our Law saith the Sea is of the Ligeance of the King as well as the Land and as a mark thereof all ships of Foreigners have antiently demanded leave to fish and pass in these Seas and do at this day Lower their Top-sailes to all the Kings Ships of War To England Henry 1. annext Normandy and Henry 2. Ireland being stiled only Lord of Ireland till 33 H. 8. although they had all Kingly Jurisdiction before Henry 2. also annext the Dukedomes of Guien and Anjou the Counties of Poictou Turein and Mayn Edward the First all Wales and Edward the Third the Right though not the Possession of all France King James added Scotland and since that time there have been super-added sundry considerable Plantations in America The Dominions of the King of England are at this day in Possession besides his just Right and Title to the Kingdom of France all England Scotland and Ireland Three Kingdoms of large extent with all the Isles above 40 in number small and great whereof some very considerable and all the Seas adjacent Moreover the Islands of Jersey Garnsey and Alderny Parcel of the Dutchy of Normandy besides those profitable Plantations of New England Virginia Barbados Jamaica Florida Bermudos besides several other Isles and Places in those Quarters and some in the East Indies and upon the Coast of Africa also upon the main land of America by right of first discovery to Estoit land Terra Corterialis New found Land Novum Belgium Guiana the King of England hath a Legal Right though not Possession Rex Angliae est Persona mixta cum Sacerdote say our Lawyers He is a Priest as well as a King He is anointed with Oyle as the Priests were at first and afterward the Kings of Israel to intimate that his Person is Sacred and Spiritual and therefore at the Coronation hath put upon him a Sacerdotal Garment called the Dalmatica c. and before the Reformation of England when the Cup in the Lords Supper was denied to the Laity the King as a Spiritual Person received in both kinds He is capable of Spiritual Jurisdiction of holding of Tythes all Extra-Parochial Tythes some Proxies and other Spiritual Profits belong to the King of which Laymen both by Common and Canon Law are pronounced uncapable He is an External Bishop of the Church as Constantine the Emperour said of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But I am constituted Bishop for external things of the Church Rex idem hominum Phaebique Sacerdos He is as the Roman Emperours Christian as well as Heathen stiled themselves Pontifex Max. He is the Supreme Pastor of England and hath not only Right of Ecclesiastical Government but also of Exercising some Ecclesiastical Function so far as Solomon did 1 Kings 8. when he blessed the People consecrated the Temple and pronounced that Prayer which is the Pattern now for Consecration of all Churches and Chappels but all the Ministerial Offices are left to the Bishops and Priests as the determinination of Causes are to the Kings Judges although the King may himself sit in Judgement if the Affairs of State did not alwayes require his Presence at the Helme and the Administration of Sacraments Preaching and other Church Offices and Duties to the Bishops and their Ordained Clergy Of this Sacred Person of the King of the life and safety thereof the Laws and Customs of England are of tender that they have made it High Treason onely to imagine or intend the death of the King And because by imagining or conspiring the death of the Kings Counsellors or Great Officers of his Houshold the destruction of the King hath thereby sometimes ensued and is usually aimed at saith Stat. 3 H. 7. that also was made felony to be punisht with death although in all other Cases Capital the Rule is Voluntas non reputabitur pro facto and an English Man may not in other Cases be punisht with death unless the Act follow the Intent The Law of England hath so high esteem of the Kings Person that to offend against those Persons and those things that represent his Sacred Person as to kill some of the Crown Officers or the Kings Judges executing their Office or to counterfeit the Kings Seals or his Moneys is made High Treason because by all these the Kings Person is represented and High Treason is in the Eye of the Law so horrid that besides loss of Life and Honour Real and Personal Estate to the Criminal his Heirs also are to lose the same for ever and to be ranked amongst the Peasantry and Ignoble till the King shall please to restore them Est enim tam grave crimen saith Bracton ut vix permittitur haeredibus quâ—d vivant High Treason is so grievous a Crime that the Law not content with the Life and Estate and Honour of the Criminal can hardly endure to see his heirs survive him And rather than Treason against the Kings Person shall go unpunisht the Innocent in some Cases shall be punished for if an Idiot or Lunatick who cannot be said to have any will and so cannot offend during his Idiocy or Lunacy shall kill or go about to kill the King he shall be punisht as a Traytor and yet being Non compos mentis the Law holds that he cannot commit Felony or Petit Treason not other sorts of High Treason Moreover for the precious regard of the Person of the King by an Antient Record it is declared that no Physick ought to be administred to him without good Warrant this Warrant to be made by the Advice of his Council no other Physick but what is mentioned in the Warrant ro be administred to him the Physitians to prepare all things with their own hands and not by the hands of any Apothecary and to use the assistance only of such Chyrurgeons as are prescribed in the Warrant And so precious is the Person and Life of the King that every Subject is obliged and bound by his Allegeance to defend his Person in his Natural aswell as Politick Capacity with his own Life and Limbs wherefore the Law saith that the life and member of every Subject is at the service of the Soveraign He is Pater Patriae Dulce erit pro Patre Patriae mori to lose life or limb in defending him from Conspiracies Rebellions or Invasions or in the Execution of his Laws should seem a pleasant thing to every loyal hearted Subject The Office of the King of England according to the Learned Fortescue is Pugnare bella populi sui eos rectissime judicare To fight the Battels of his People and to see Right and Justice done unto them Or according to
ever since thâ— Conquest in the Kings of England to the great honour anâ— benefit of the King and Kingâ—dom though some abuseâ— made some of the people out 〈◊〉 love with their good and thâ— Right of that part of his juâ—â— Prerogative The King by his Prerogative is Ultimus Haeres Regni and is as the Great Ocean is 〈◊〉 all Rivers the receptacle of aâ— Estates when no Heir appears for this cause all Estates foâ— want of Heirs or by forfeiture revert or escheat to the King All spiritual Benefices for want of Presentation by the Bishop is lapsed at last to the King all Treasure Trove that is Money Gold Silver Plate or Bullion found and the Owner unknown belongs to the King so all Wayfs Strays Wrecks not granted away by him or any former Kings all Wast ground or Land recovered from the Sea all Lands of Aliens dying before Naturalization or Denization and all things whereof the property is not known All Gold and Silver Mines in whosoever ground they are found Royal Fishes â—s Whales Sturgeons Dolphins c. Royal Fowl as Swans not markt and swimming at liberty on the River belong to the King In the Church the Kings Prerogative and Power is extraordinary great He only hath the Patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen but by his Conged ' Estier whom he hath first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the Kings special Writ or Assent He is the Guardian or Nursing Father of the Church which our Kings of England did so reckon amongst their principal cares as in the 23th year of King Edward the First it was alledged in a pleading and allowed The King hath power to call a National or Provincial Synod and by Commissioners or by his Metropolitanes in their several Jurisdictions to make Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to introduce into the Church what Ceremonies he shall think fit reform and correct all Heresies Schismes and punish Contempts c. and therein and thereby to declare what Doctrines in the Church are fit to be publisht or professed what Translation of the Bible to be allowed what Books of the Bible are Canonical and what Apocryphal c. In 28 of Eliz. when the House of Commons would have passed Bills touching Bishops granting Faculties conferring Holy Orders Ecclesiastical Censures the Oath Ex Officio Non Residency c. the Queen much incensed forbad them to meddle in any Ecclesiastical Affairs for that it belonged to her Prerogative c. The King hath power to pardon the violation of Ecclesiastical Laws or to abrogate such as are unfitting or useless to dispense with the Rigour of Ecclesiastical Laws and with any thing that is only prohibitum malum per accidens non malum in se as for a Bastard to be a Priest for a Priest to hold two Benefices or to succeed his Father in a Benefice or to be Non Resident c. Hath power to dispense with some Acts of Parliament Penal Statutes by Non Obstantes where himself is only concerned to moderate the rigor of the Laws according to Equity and Conscience to alter or suspend any particular Law that he judgeth hurtful to the Commonwealth to grant special Priviledges and Charters to any Subject to pardon a man by Law condemned to interpret by his Judges Statutes and in Cases not defined by Law to determine and pass Sentence And this is that Royal Prerogative which in the hand of a King is a Scepter of Gold but in the hands of Subjects is a Rod of Iron This is that Jus Coronae a Law that is parcel of the Law of the Land part of the Common Law and contained in it and hath the precedence of all Laws and Customs of England and therefore void in Law is every Custom quae exaltat se in Praerogativam Regis Some of these Prerogatives especially those that relate to Justice and Peace are so essential to Royalty that they are for ever inherent in the Crown and make the Crown they are like the Sun-beams in the Sun and as inseparable from it and therefore it is held by great Lawyers that a Prerogative in point of Government cannot be restrained or bound by Act of Parliament but is as unalterable as the Laws of the Medes and Persians wherefore the Lords and Commons Rot. Parl. 42. Edw. 3. num 7. declared that they could not assent in Parliament to any thing that tended to the disherison of the King and the Crown whereunto they were sworn no though the King should desire it and every King of England as he is Debitor Justitiae to his people so is he in conscience obliged to defend and maintain all the Rights of the Crown in possession and to endeavour the recovery of those whereof the Crown hath been dispossest and when any King hath not religiously observed his duty in this point it hath proved of very dreadful consequence as the first fatal blow to the Church of England was given when Hen. 8. waving his own Royal Prerogative referred the redress of the Church to the House of Commons as the Lord Herbert observes Hist Hen. 8. So the greatest blow that ever was given to Church and State was when the late King parting with his absolute Power of dissolving Parliaments gave it though only pro illâ— vice to the Two Houses of Parliament And indeed it greatly concerns all Subjects though it seem a Paradox to be far more solicitous that the King should maintain and defend his own Prerogative and Preeminence than their Rights and Liberties the truth whereof will appear to any man that sadly considers the mischiefs and inconveniencies that necessarily follow the diminution of the Kings Prerogative above all that can be occasioned by some particular infringements of the Peoples Liberties As on the other side it much concerns every King of England to be very careful of the Subjects just Liberties according to that Golden Rule of the best of Kings Charles I That the Kings Prerogative is to defend the Peoples Liberties and the Peoples Liberties strengthen the Kings Prerogative Whatsoever things are proper to Supreme Magistrates as Crowns Scepters Purple Râ—be Golden Globe and Holy Unction have as long appertained to the King of England as to any other Prince in Europe He holdeth not his Kingdom in Vassallage nor receiveth his Investiture or Installment from another Acknowledgeth no Superiority to any but God only Not to the Emperour for Omnem Potestatem habet Rex Angliae in Regno suo quam Imperator vendicat in Imperio and therefore the Crown of England hath been declared in Parliaments long ago to be an Imperial Crown and the King to be an Emperour of England and Ireland and might wear an Imperial Crown although he choseth rather to wear a Triumphant Crown such as was anciently worn by the Emperours of Rome and that because his Predecessors have triumpht not only over Five
Kings of Ireland but also over the Welsh Scottish and French Kings He acknowledgeth onely Precedence to the Emperour Eo quod Antiquitate Imperium omnia Regna superare creditur As the King is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the State so he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Church He acknowledgeth no Superiority to the Bishop of Rome whose long arrogated Authority in England was 1535 in a full Parliament of all the Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal declared null and the King of England declared to be by Antient Right in all Causes over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Supreme Head and Governour The King is Summus totius Ecclesiae Anglicanae Ordinarius Supreme Ordinary in all the Dioceses of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for his Superintendency over the whole Church hath the Tenths and First-Fruits of all Ecclesiastical Benefices The King hath the Supreme Right of Patronage over all England called Patronage Paramount over all the Ecclesiastical Benefices in England so that if the mean Patron as aforesaid present not in due time nor the Ordinary nor Metropolitan the Right of Presentation comes to the King beyond whom it cannot go The King is Lord Paramount Supreme Landlord of all the Lands of England and all landed men are mediately or immediately his Tenants by some Tenure or other for no man in England but the King hath Allodium Directum Dominum the sole and independent Property or Domain in any Land He that hath the Fee the Jus perpetuum and Utile Dominium is obliged to a duty to his Soveraign for it so it is not simply his own he must swear fealty to some Superiour The King is Summus totius Regni Anglicani Justitiarius Supreme Judge or Lord Chief Justice of all England He is the Fountain from whence all Justice is derived no Subject having here as in France Haute moyenne basse Justice He only hath the Soveraign power in the Administration of Justice and in the Execution of the Law and whatsoever power is by him committed to others the dernier resort is still remaining in himself so that he may sit in any Court and take Cognisance of any Cause as antiently Kings sate in the Court now called the Kings Bench Henry the Third in his Court of Exchequer and Hen. 7. and King James sometimes in the Star-Chamber except in Felonies Treasons c. wherein the King being Plaintiff and so Party he sits not personally in Judgement but doth performe it by Delegates From the King of England there lies no Appeal in Ecclesiastical Affairs to the Bishop of Rome as it doth in other principal Kingdoms of Europe nor in Civil Affairs to the Emperour as in some of the Spanish and other Dominions of Christendom nor in either to the People of England as some of late have dreamt who in themselves or by their Representatives in the House of Commons in Parliament were ever Subordinate and never Superiour nor so much as Co-ordinate to the King of England The King being the onely Soveraign and Supreme Head is furnisht with plenary Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction to render Justice to every Member within his Dominions whereas some Neighbour Kings do want a full power to do Justice in all Causes to all their Subjects or to punish all Crimes committed within their own Dominions especially in Causes Ecclesiastical In a word Rex Angliae neminem habet in suis Dominiis Superiorem nec Parem sed omnes sub illo ille sub nullo nisi tantùm sub Deo a quo secundus post quem primus ante omnes super omnes in suis ditionibus Deos Homines The Title of Dii or Gods plurally is often in Holy Writ by God himself attributed to Great Princes because as Gods Vicars or Vice-dei upon Earth they represent the Majesty and Power of the God of Heaven and Earth and to the end that the people might have so much the higher esteem and more reverend awfulness of them for if that fails all Order fails and thence all Impiety and Calamity follows The Substance of the Titles of God was also used by the Antient Christian Emperours as Divinitas nostra Aeternitas nostra c. as imperfectly and analogically in them though essentially and perfectly only in God and the good Christians of those times out of their excess of respect were wont to swear by the Majesty of the Emperour as Joseph once by the life of Pharaoh and Vegeâ—ius a learned Writer of that Age seems to justifie it Nam Imperatori saith he tanquam praesenti corpoarli Deo fidelis est praestanda Divotio pervigil impendendus famulatus Deâ— enim servimus cum fideliter diligimus cum qui Deoregnat Autore So the Laws of England looking upon the King as a God upon earth do attribute unto him divers excellencies that belong properly to God alone as Justice in the Abstract Rex Angliae non potest cuiquam injuriam facere So also Infallibility Rex Angliae non potest errare And as God is perfect so the Law will have no Imperfection found in the King No Negligence or Laches no Folly no Infamy no stain or corruption of blood for by taking of the Crown all former though just Attainders and that by Act of Parliament iâ— ipso facto puâ—ged No Nonage or Minority for his Grant of Lands though held in his Natural not Politick Capacity cannot be avoided by Nonage Higher than this the Law attributeth a kind of immortality to the King Rex Angliae non moritur his Death is in Law termed the Demise of the King because thereby the Kingdom is demised to another He is said not subject to Death because he is a Corporation in himself that liveth for ever all Interregna being in England unknown the same moment that one King dies the next Heir is King fully and absolutely without any Coronation Ceremony or Act to be done ex post facto Moreover the Law seemeth to attribute to the King a certain Omnipresency that the King is in a manner every where in all his Courts of Justice and therefore cannot be non-suited as Lawyers speak in all his Palaces and therefore all Subjects stand bare in the Presence Chamber wheresoever the Chair of State is placed though the King be many miles distant from thence He hath a kind of universal influence over all his Dominions every soul within his Territories may be said to feel at all times his Power and his Goodness Omnium Domos Regis Vigilia defendit Omnium Otium illius Labor Omnium Delicias illius Industria Omnium vacationem illius Occupatio c. So a kind of Omnipotency that the King can as it were raise men from death to life by pardoning whom the Law hath condemned can create to the highest Dignity and annihilate the same at pleasure Divers other semblances of the Eternal Deity belong to the King He in his own Dominions as God saith
the Nobility or Bishops is made choice of by the Three States assembled in the name of the Infant King who by Nature or Alliance hath most Interest in the preservation of the Life and Authority of the Infant and to whom least benefit can accrue by his Death or Diminution as the Uncle by the Mothers side if the Crown come by the Father and so vice versa is made Protector so during the minority of Edward 6. his Uncle by the Mothers side the Duke of Somerset had the tuition of him and was called Protector and when this Rule hath not been observed as in the minority of Edw. 5. it hath proved of ill consequence If the King of England be Non compos mentis or by reason of an incurable disease weakness or old age become uncapable of governing then is made a Regent Protector or Guardian to govern King Edward 3. being at last aged sick and weak and by grief for the death of the Black Prince sore broken in body and mind did of his own will create his fourth Son John Duke of Lancaster Guardian or Regent of England If the King be absent upon any Foreign Expedition or otherwise which antiently was very usual the Custom was to constitute a Vice-gerent by Commission under the Great Seal giving him several Titles and Powers according as the necessity of affairs have required sometimes he hath been called Lord Warden or Lord of the Kingdom and therewith hath had the general power of a King as was practised during the Absence of Edward the First Second and Third and of Henry 5. but Henry 6. to the Title of Warden or Guardian added the Stile of Protector of the Kingdom and of the Church of England and gave him so great power in his absence that he was tantum non Rex swaying the Scepter but not wearing the Crown executing Laws summoning Parliaments under his own Teste as King and giving his assent to Bills in Parliament whereby they became as binding as any other Acts. Sometimes during the Kings Absence the Kingdom hath been committed to the care of several Noblemen and sometime of Bishops as less dangerous for attempting any usurpation of the Crown sometimes to one Bishop as Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury was Viceroy of England for many years and when Edward 3. was in Flanders though his Son then but nine years old had the Name of Protector John Stafford Archbishop of Canterbury was Governour both of the Kings Son and of the Realm Lastly Sometimes to the Queen as two several times during the absence of Henry 8. in France Of the QUEEN of ENGLAND THe Queen so called from the Saxon Konigin whereof the last syllable is pronounced as gheen in English it being not unusual to cut off the first Syllables as an Almes-House is sometimes called a Spital from Hospital She hath as high Prerogatives Dignity and State during the life of the King as any Queen of Europe From the Saxon times the Queen Consort of England though she be an Alien born and though during the life of the King she be femme covert as our Law speaks yet without any Act of Parliament for Naturalization or Letters Paâ—ents for Denization she may purchase Lands in Feesimple make Leases and Grants in her own Name without the King hath power to give to sue to contract as a femme sole may receive by gift from her Husband which no other femme â—overt may do Had anciently a Revenue of Queen Gold or Aurum Reginae as the Records call it which was the tenth part of so much as by the Name of Oblata upon Pardons Gifts and Grants c. came to the King Of later times hath had as large a Dower as any Queen in Christendome hath her Royal Court apart her Courts and Officers c. The Queen may not be impleaded till first petitioned shall not be amerced if she be nonsuited as all other Subjects are if she be Plaintiff the Summons in the Process need not have the solemnity of 15 dayes c. Is reputed the Second Person in the Kingdom The Law setteth so high a value upon her as to make it High Treason to conspire her death or to violate her Chastity Her Officers as Attourney and Sollicitor for the Queens sake have respect above others and place within the Barre with the Kings Council The like honour the like reverence and respect that is due to the King is exhibited to the Queen both by Subjects and Foreigners and also to the Queen Dowager or Widdow Queen who also above other Subjects loseth not her Dignity though she should marry a private Gentleman so Queen Katharine Widdow to King Henry the Fifth being married to Owen ap Theodore Esquire did maintain her Action as Queen of England much less doth a Queen by inheritance or a Queen Soveraign of England follow her Husbands condition nor is subject as other Queens but Soveraign to her own Husband as Queen Mary was to King Philip. Of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of ENGLAND THe Children of the King of England are called the Sons and Daughters of England because all the subjects of England have a special interest in them though the whole power of Education Marriage and disposing of them is only in the King The Eldest Son of the King is born Duke of Cornwall and as to that Dutchy and all the Lands Honours Rents and great Revenues belonging thereunto he is upon his Birth-day persumed and by law taken to be of full age so that he may that day sue for the Livery of the said Dukedom and ought of right to obtain the same as if he had been full 21 years of age Afterwards he is created Prince of Wales whose Investiture is performed by the Imposition of a Cap of Estate and Coronet on his Head as a Token of Principality and putting into his Hand a Verge of Gold the Emblem of Government and a Ring of Gold on hs Finger to intimate that he must be a Husband to his Countrey and Father to her Children Also to him is given and granted Letters Patents to hold the said Principality to him and his Heirs Kings of England by which words the separation of this Principality is prohibited From the day of his Birth he is commonly stiled the Prince a Title in England given to no other Subject The Title of Prince of Wales is ancient and was first given by King Edward 1. to his Eldest Son for the Welsh Nation till that time unwilling to submit to the yoke of strangers that King so ordered that his Queen was delivered of her first Child in Caernarvan Castle in Wales and then demanded of the Welsh If they would be content to subject themselves to one of their own Nation that could not speak one word of English and against whose life they could take no just exception Whereunto they readily consenting the King nominated this his new born Son and afterwards created
by the Earl of Sandwich conducted by a Squadron of Ships to Portsmouth where the King first met her and was remarried On the 23th of August 1662 her Majesty coming by water from Hampton Court was with great Pomp and Magnificence first received by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at Chelsey and thence conducted by water to Whitehall The Portion she brought with her was Eight hundred Millions of Reas or two Millions of Crusado's being about Three hundred thousand pounds Sterling together with that important place of Tangier upon the Coast of Africk and the Isle of Bombaim neer Goa in the East Indies with a Priviledge that any Subjects of the King of England may trade freely in the East and VVest Indie Plantations belonging to the Portugueses Her Majesties Joynture by the Articles of Marriage is Thirty thousand pounds Sterling per Annum and the King out of his great affection toward her hath as an addition settled upon her 10000 l. per Annum more The Queens Arms as Daughter of Portugal is Argent 5 Scutcheons Azure cross wise each Scutcheon charged with 5 Plates or Besants Argent Saltier-wise with a Point Sable the Border Gules charged with 7 Castles Or. This Coat was first worn by the Kings of Portugal in memory of a Signal Battel obtained by the first King of Portugal Don Alphonso against 5 Kings of the Moors before which Battel appeared Christ crucified in the air and a Voice heard as once to Constantine the Great In hoc signo vinces before which time the Portugal Arms were Argent a Cross Azure Queen CATHERINE is a Personage of such rare perfections of Mind and Body of such eminent Piety Modesty and other Vertues that the English Nation may yet promise all the happiness they are capable of from a Succession of Princes to govern them to the end of the World Of the Queen-Mother THe Third Person in the Kingdom is the Queen-Mother or Dowager Henretta Maria de Bourbon Daughter to the Great King Henry the Fourth Sister to the Just King Lewis the Eleventh Wife to the Pious Martyr King Charles the First Mother to our Gracious Sovereign King Charles the Second and Aunt to the present Puissant King Lewis the 14th She was born the 19th of November 1609 married first at Nostre Dame in Paris by Proxy 1625 and shortly after in the moneth of June arriving at Dover was at Canterbury espoused to King Charles the First In the year 1629. was delivered of her First born a Son that died shortly after in 1630 of her Second our present Soveraign whom God long preserve in 1631 of her Third Mary the late Princess of Orenge a Lady of admirable Vertues who had the happiness to see the King her Brother restored 6 or 7 moneths before her death In 1633 of her Fourth James now Duke of York In 1635 of her Fifth named Elizabeth who being a Princess of incomparable Abilities and Vertues died for grief soon after the murther of her father In 1636 of her Sixth named Anna who died young In the year 1640 of her Seventh Child Henry of Oatlands designed Duke of Glocester who living till above 20 being most excellently accomplished in all Princely Endowments died four moneths after the Restauration of the King In the year 1644 of her Eighth the Lady Henretta now Dutchess of Orleans In the year 1641 her Majesty fore-seeing the ensuing storm of Rebellion and seeing the groundless Odium raised already against her self timely withdrew her self with her eldest Daughter then newly married to Henry Prince of Orange into Holland whence in 1643 after a most furious storm and barbarous fierce pursuit of the English Rebels at Sea she landed at Burlington Bay with Men Money and Ammunition and soon after with a considerable Army met the King at Edgehill and thence was conducted to Oxford In April 1644 marching with competent forces from Oxford towards Exeter at Abington took her last farewel of the King whom she never saw again In July following embarkt at Pendennis Castle she sailed into France where entertained at the Charges of her Nephew the persent King of France she passed a solitary retired life until the moneth of October 1660. when upon the Restauraution of her Son to the Crown of England she came to London and having settled her Revenues here she went again with her youngest Daughter the Lady Henretta into France to see her espoused to the then Duke of Anjou now of Orleans and in the moneth of July 1662 being returned into England she settled her Court at Somerset-House where she continued till May 1665 then crossed the Seas again and hath ever since continued in France her Native Countrey She needeth no other Character then what is found in the Seventh Chapter of that inimitable Book compiled by him that knew her best Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal of England THe First Prince of the Blood in France called Monsieur sans queue is the Most Illustrious Prince James Duke of York Second Son to King Charles the Martyr and only Brother to the present King our Soveraign He was born Octob. 14. 1633 and forth-with proclaimed at the Court Gates Duke of York the 24th of the same moneth was baptized and afterward committed to the Government of the then Countess of Dorset The 27th of July 1643 at Oxford was created by Letters Patents Duke of York though called so by special command from his Birth without those Solemnities the iniquity of the times not admitting thereof that were used to the King his Father 1605 when being Second Son to King James and so Duke of Albany in Scotland was created Duke of York with the preceding Solemn Creation of divers young Noblemen to be Knights of the Bath and the Robes of State put upon him the Cap of State on his Head and the Golden Rod into his Hand the Prime Nobility and Heralds assisting at that Ceremony After the Surrender of Oxford his Royal Highness was in 1646 conveyed to London by the then prevailing disloyal part of the Two Houses of Parliament and committed with his Brother Glocester and Sister Elizabeth to the care of the Earl of Northumberland In 1648 aged about 15 was by Colonel Bampfield conveyed in a disguise or habit of a Girle beyond Sea first to his Sister the Princess Royal of Orenge in Holland and afterward to the Queen his Mother then at Paris where he was carefully educated in the Religion of the Church of England and in all Exercises meet for such a Prince About the Age of 20 in France he went into the Campagne and served with much Gallantry under that great Commander the Protestant Mareschal de Turenne for the French King against the Spanish forces in Flanders Notwithstanding which upon a Treaty between the French King and Cromwell in 1655 being obliged with all his retinue to leave the French Dominions and invited into Flanders by Don Juan of Austria he there served
are 2 Clerks of the Avery or Avenry One Clerk of the Stable Three Surveyors 2 Gentlemen Riders 4 Yeomen Riders 4 Coachmen 8 Littermen a Sergeant of the Carriage 2 Sadlers a Squire Sadler and a Yeoman Sadler a Yeoman of the Stirrup 4 Yeomen Purveyors 4 Yeomen Granators a Sergeant Farrier 4 Yeomen Farriers a Yeoman of the Male a Yeoman Peckman a Yeoman Bilmaker a Yeoman of the Close Cart Sixty four Grooms of the Stable 26 Footmen in Liveries to run by the Kings Horse There is besides some other Officers not here named an Antient Officer in the Kings Houshold called Clerk of the Mercat who within the Verge of the Kings Houshold is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures and to burn all false Weights and Measures and from the Pattern of this Standard are to be taken all the Weights and Measures of the Kingdom There are divers other Offices belonging to the King of great importance which are not subordinate to any of the 3 fore-mentioned Great Officers as Master of the Great Wardrobe Master of the Ordnance Warden of the Mint c. and above all for profit is the Office of Post-Master settled by Act of Parliament on the Duke of York and worth about 20000 l. yearly but managed by the order and oversight of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State who also are Principal Domestiques of the King of whom a farther account shall be given in the Chapter of the Kings Privy Council Master of the Robes is Laurence Hyde Esquire second Son to the late Lord Chancellour whose Office is to have in Custody all His Majesties Robes as those of Coronation of St. Georges Feast and of Parliament also the Custody of all His Majesties Wearing Apparel and of his Collar of Esses Georges and Garters beset with Diamonds Pearls c. Of this Office there is one Master 2 Yeomen 4 Grooms 3 Pages c. In the Court of King James there were many more Offices and to many Offices there belonged many more persons which King Charles the first much lessened and the present King now raigning hath yet lessened much more Of the Military Government in the Kings Court. AS in a Kingdome because Civil Governours proposing Temporal and Ecclesiastical Governours Eternal Rewards and Punishments are not sufficient to secure Peace therefore a Military force is alwayes in readiness so in the Kings Court besides Civil and Ecclesiastical Officers it is thought necessary alwayes to have in readiness Military Officers and Souldiers to preserve the Kings Person whereupon depends the Peace and Safety of all his Subjects Belonging peculiarly to the Kings Court besides above 4000 Foot and above 500 Horse who are alwayes in Pay and readiness to assist upon any occasion there are Guards of Horse and Foot The Horse Guard which the French call Garde du Corps the Germans Lieb Guardy we corruptly Life Gard that is the Gard of the Kings Body hath consisted of 500 Horsemen all or most Gentlemen and old Officers commanded by the Captain of the Guard now James Duke of Monmouth whose Pay is 30 s. a day and each Horseman 4 s. a day These Horse have been divided into Three Parts whereof 200 under the immediate Command of the Captain of the Guard 150 under Monsieur le Marquis de Blancfort and 150 under Sir Philip Howard whose Pay to each is 20 s. a day Under the Captain of the Guard are four Lieutenants Sir Thomas Sandis Sir Gilbert Gerard Major General Egerton and Sir George Hambleton the Cornet is Mr. Stanly Brother to the Earl of Derby also four Brigadeers The Office of the Captain of the Life Guard is at all times of War or Peace to wait upon the Kings Person as oft as he rides abroad with a considerable number of Horsemen well armed and prepared against all dangers whatsoever At home within the Kings House it is thought fit that the Kings Person should have a Guard both above and below Stairs In the Presence Chamber therefore wait the Gentlemen Pensioners carrying Pole-axes there are 50 who are usually Knights or Gentlemen of good Quality and Families their Office is to attend the Kings Person to and from his Chappel only as far as the Privy Chamber also in all other Solemnities their yearly Fee is 100 l. to each Over these there is a Captain usually some Nobleman at present the Lord Bellassis whose Fee is 200 l. yearly a Lieutenant Sir John Bennet his Fee 66 l. 13 s. 4 d. a Standard-Bearer Fee 100 l. a Pay-masters Fee 50 l. and a Clerk of the Check Again in the first Room above Stairs called the Guard-Chamber attend the Yeomen of the Guard whereof there are 250 men of the best quality under Gentry and of larger Stature wearing Red Coats after an Antient Mode bearing Halberds at home and Half-Pikes in Progress and alwayes wearing a large Sword Their Pay is daily 2 s. 6 d. Their Captain the Lord Grandison The Kings Palace Royal ratione Regiae Dignitatis is exempted from all Jurisdiction of any Court Civil or Ecclesiastical but only to the Lord Steward and in his absence to the Treasurer and Comptroller of the Kings Houshold with the Steward of the Marshalsey who may by vertue of their Office without Commission hear and determine all Treasons Felonies Breaches of the Peace committed within the Kings Court or Palace The Kings Court or House where the King resideth is accounted a place so sacred that if any man presume to strike another within the Palace where the Kings Royal Person resideth and by such stroke only draw blood his right hand shall be stricken off and he committed to perpetual prison and fined By the Antient Laws of England only striking in the Kings Court was punisht with death and loss of goods To make the deeper impression and terrour into mens minds for striking in the Kings Court it hath been ordered that the Punishment for striking should be executed with great Solemnity and Ceremony in brief thus The Sergeant of the Kings Woodyard brings to the place of execution a square Block a Beetle Staple and Cords to fasten the hand thereto the Yeoman of the Scullery provides a great fire of Coals by the Block wherein the Searing Irons brought by the Chief Farrier are to be ready for the Chief Surgeon to use Vinegar and Cold Water brought by the Groom of the Saucery the Chief Officers also of the Cellar and Pantry are to be ready one with a Cup of Red Wine and the other with a Manchet to offer the Criminal after the Hand cut off and the Stump seared The Sergeant of the Ewry is to bring linnen to wind about and wrap the Arm. The Yeoman of the Poultry a Cock to lay to it the Yeoman of the Chandry seared Clothes the Master Cook a sharp Dresser Knife which at the place of Execution is to be held upright by the Sergeant of the Larder till Execution be performed by an Officer appointed thereto
c. In the Kings Court not only striking is forbidden but also all occasions of Striking and therefore the Law saith Nullas Citationes aut summonitiones licet facere infra Palatium Regis apud Westm vel alibi ubi Rex residet The Court of the King of England for Magnificence for Order for Number and Quality of Officers for rich Furniture for Entertainment and Civility to Strangers for plentiful Tables might compare with the best Court of Christendom and far excel the most Courts abroad of one whereof see the Description made by an ingenious Person beyond Sea writing to a Friend of his at Court there Annon in Inferno es Amice qui es in Aula ubi Daemonum habitatio est qui illic suis artibus humanâ licet effigie regnant atque ubi Scelerum Schola est Animarum jactura ingens ac quicquid uspiam est perfidiae ac doli quicquid crudelitatis ac inclementiae quicquid effraenatae superbiae rapacis avaritiae quicquid obscaenae libidinis ac faedissimae impudicitiae quicquid nefandae impietatis morum pessimorum totum illic acervatur cumulatissimè ubi stupra raptus incestus adulteria ubi inebriari jurare pejerare Atheismum profiteri palam principum nobilium ludi sunt ubi fastus tumor ira Liver faedaque cupido cum sociis suis imperare videtur ubi criminum omnium procellae virtutumque omnium inerrabile naufragium c. But the Court of England on the contrary hath been and is hoped ever will be accounted as King James adviseth in his Basilicon Doron a Pattern of Godliness and all Honesty and Vertue and the properest School of Prowess and Heroick Demeanour and the fittest Place of Education for the Nobility and Centry The Court of England hath for a long time been a Pattern of Hospitality to the Nobility and Gentry of England All Noblemen or Gentlemen Subjects or Strangers that came accidently to Court were freely entertained at the plentiful Tables of His Majesties Officers Divers Services or Messes of Meat were every day provided Extraordinary for the Kings honour Two hundred and forty Gallons a day were at the Buttry Barr allowed for the Poor besides all the broken Meat Bread c. gathered into Baskets and given to the Poor at the Court Gates by 2 Grooms and 2 Yeomen of the Almonry who have Salaries of His Majesty for that Service Moreover the Court is an eminent Pattern of Charity and Humility to all that shall see the performance of that Antient Custom by the King and the Queen on the Thursday before Easter called Maundy Thursday wherein the King in a solemn manner doth wash the Feet cloth and feed as many poor Old Men as His Majesty is years old bestowing on every one Cloth for a Gown Linnen for a Shirt Shooes and Stockings a Joul of Salmon a Pol of Ling 30 Red and 30 White Herrings all in clean Wooden Dishes 4 Six Penny Loaves of Bread and a Purse with a 20 s. Piece of Gold The Magnificence and abundant plenty of the Kings Tables hath caused amazement in all Forreigners when they have been informed that yearly was spent of gross Meat 1500 Oxen 7000 Sheep 1200 Veals 300 Porkers 400 Sturks or young Biefes 6800 Lambs 300 Flitches of Bacon and 26 Boares Also 140 Dozen of Geese 250 Dozen of Capons 470 Dozen of Hens 750 Dozen of Pullets 1470 Dozen of Chicken For Bread 36400 Bushels of Wheat and for Drink 600 Tun of Wine and 1700 Tun of Beer Moreover of Butter 46640 Pounds together with Fish and Fowl Venison Fruit Spice proportionable This prodigious plenty caused Forreigners to put a higher value upon the King and caused the Natives who were there freely welcome to encrease their affection to the King it being found as necessary for the King of England this way to endear the English who ever delighted in Feasting as for the Italian Princes by Sights and Shews to endear their subjects who as much delight therein The Court of the Queen Consort of England THe Queens Court sutable to the Consort of so great a King is Splendid and Magnificent Her Majesty hath all Officers and a Houshold apart from the King for the maintenance whereof there is settled 40000 l. per annum For the Ecclesiastique Government of her Court there is first the Grand Almoner Father Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk He hath the superintendency over all the Ecclesiastiques belonging to the Queen The next is the Dean of the Chappel Doctor Goodwin The Third is the Treasurer of the Chappel Besides there are 4 Almoners and 4 Preachers 11 Franciscan Monks all Portuguez 6 Benedictins all English divers Persons belonging to the Musick of the Chappel to serve at the Altars Porters c. For the Civil Government of Her Majesties Court she hath a Council consisting of Persons of High Worth and Dignity whereof there are 12. 1. The Lord Vicount Cornbury her Lord Chamberlain 2. The Earl of Manchester 3. Earl of Sandwich 4. Lord Brunkard her Chancellour 5. Sir Richard Beclin her Secretary 6. Mr. Harvey Treasurer of her Houshold 7. Sir William Killigrew her Vice-Chamberlain 8. Mr. Montague her Atturney-General 9. Mr. Montague Brother to the Earl of Manchester her Sollicitor General 10. Mr. Montague Son to Lord Montague of Boughton 11. Sir Charles Harbord 12. Sir Henry Wood. Of Her Majesties Bed-Chamber are six Ladies of high rank first the Countess of Suffolk is her Groom of the Stole next are the Dutchess of Buckingham the Countesses of Castlemaine Bath Mairshal and Falmouth Her Majesty hath six Maids of Honour to wait at other times these must be all Gentlewomen unmarried over whom there is placed a Governess called The Mother of the Maids of Honour who is at present the Lady Sanderson The Maids are Mrs Cary Mrs Boynton Mrs Wells Mrs Price c. There are also 4 Dressers viz. the Ladies Scroop Freyser Killegrew and Mrs Le Guard moreover one Laundress Mrs Nun one Seamstress Mrs Chivens There are five Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber Sir William Courtney c. Five Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters Six Pages of the Back Stairs Eight Grooms of the Privy Chamber Two Carvers two Sewers two Cupbearers all Persons of quality Seven Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters Four Pages of the Presence Master of Her Majesties Horse is Mr. Montague Son to the Lord Montague of Boughton To her Stable belong 4 Queries Persons of worth and 13 Grooms and 3 Messengers c. Of the Court of the Queen Mother THe highest Office in Her Majesties Court is that of Lord Chamberlain and Steward of Her Majesties Revenue enjoyed at present by Henry Lord Germin Earl of St. Albans whose Salary is and a Table of Dishes Monsieur Vantelet Vice-Chamberlain whose Salary is 200 l. per annum The third place is Her Majesties Chancellour enjoyed at present by Sir J. Winter Sir Henry Wood and Sir Robert Long whose Salary is and a Table of Dishes The
Cure of Souls To abolish irregularity gotten without a mans own default as by defect of body or birth or by accidental killing of a man c. To abolish the guilt of Simony To allow a Beneficed Clerk for some certain Causes to be Non-Resident for some time To allow a Lay-man to hold a Prebend c. whilst by study he is preparing himself for the Service of the Church To grant Dispensations to sick to Old People to Women with Child to eat flesh on dayes whereon it was forbidden To constitute Publick Notaries whose single Testimony is as good as the Testimonies of any two other Persons He hath the Power to grant Literns Tuitorias whereby any one that brings his Appeal may prosecute the same without any molestation To bestow one Dignity or Prebend in any Cathedral Church within his Province upon every Creation there of a new Bishop who is also to provide a sufficient Benefice for one of the Chaplains of the Archbishop or to maintain him till it be effected By the Stat. Primo Eliz. it is provided that the Queen by the Advice of the Archbishop might ordain and publish such Rites and Ceremonies as may be for Gods glory for edifying the Church and due reverence of the Sacraments He hath the Prerogative to Consecrate a Bishop though it must be done in the presence and with the assistance of two other Bishops as every Bishop gives Ordination but with the assistance of Presbyters to assign Co-adjutors to infirm Bishops to confirm the Elections of Bishops within his Province to call Provincial Synods according to the Kings Writ alwayes directed to him to be Moderator in the Synods or Convocations to give his Suffrage there last of all to visit the whole Province to appoint a Guardian of the Spiritualties during the Vacancy of any Bishoprick within his Province whereby all the Episcopal Rights of that Diocess belong to him all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction as Visitation Institutions c. The Archbishop may retain and qualifie 8 Chaplains which is 2 more than any Duke by Statute is allowed to do The Archbishop of Canterbury hath moreover the Power to hold divers Courts of Judicature for deciding of Differences in Ecclesiastical Affairs as his Court of Arches his Court of Audience his Prerogative Court and his Court of Peculiars of all which shall be handled particularly and apart in the Second Part of the Present State of England These and other Prerogatives and Priviledges the Wisdom of our first Reformers thought fit to be retained and added to the Chief Person under the King of the Church of England The next Person in the Church of England is the Archbishop of York who was antiently also of very high repute in this Nation and had under his Province not only divers Bishopricks in the North of England but all the Bishopricks of Scotland for a long time until the year 1470 when Pope Sixtus the 4th created the Bishop of St. Andrews Archbishop and Metropolitan of all Scotland He was also Legatus Natus and had the Legantine Office and Authority annext to that Archbishoprick He hath still the place and precedence of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood and of all Great Officers of State except only the Lord Chancellour hath the Title of Grace and Most Reverend Father hath the Honour to Crown the Queen and to be her perpetual Chaplain He is stiled Metropolitan of England and hath under his Province the Bishopricks of York Durham Carlile Chester and that of the Isle of Man Hath the Rights of a Count Palatine over a certain Territory near York erected by King Rich. 2. into a County Palatine May qualifie also 8 Chaplains and hath within his Province divers other Prerogatives and Priviledges which the Archbishop of Canterbury hath within his own Province The next in place amongst the Clergy of England are the Bishops so called from the Saxon word Biscop and that from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Speculator Explorator vel Superintendens an Officer amongst the Heathen so called quia praeerat pani victui quotidiano Episcopus enim apud Christionos praeest pani victui spirituali All the Bishops of England are Barons and Peers of the Realm They are Barons by a threefold manner which cannot be said of the Lay Lords they are Feodal in regard of their Lands and Baronies annext to their Bishopricks They are Barons by Writ being summoned by the Kings Writ to Parliament and they are created Barons by Patent which at their Consecration is alwayes exhibited to the Archbishop They have the Precedence of all Temporal Barons under Vicounts In the Parliament have place in the Upper House in a double capacity not only as Barons but as Bishops for before they were Barons they had in all times place in the Great Council of the Kingdome and there ever placed on the Kings right hand not only to give their Advice as the Judges do but ad tractandum ordinandum statuendum definiendum c. They have the Title of Lords and Right Reverend Fathers All Bishops in England have one or two transcendent Priviledges which seem almost Regal as In their own Courts to judge and pass Sentence alone by themselves without any Collegue or Assessor which is not done in other of the Kings Courts for the Bishops Courts though held by the Kings Authority Virtute Magistratus sui are not accounted to be properly the Kings Courts and therefore the Bishops send forth Writs in their own Names Teste the Bishop and not in the Kings Name as all the Kings Courts properly so called do Moreover Bishops have this other transcendent Priviledge To depute their Authority to another as the King doth either to their Bishops Suffragans to their Chancellours to their Commissaries or other Officers which none of the Kings Judges may do All Bishops have one Priviledge above and beyond all Lay Lords viz. That in whatsoever Christian Princes Dominions they come their Episcopal Dignity and Degree is acknowledged and they may quatenus Bishops confer Orders c. whereas no Lay Baron Vicount Marquiss nor Duke is in Law acknowledgeed such out of the Dominions of the Prince who conferred those Honours The Laws and Customs of England are so tender of the Honour Credit Reputation and Person of Bishops our Spiritual Fathers that none might without special Licence from the King first obtained be endited of any Crime before any Temporal Judge Upon severe Penalty by our Laws no man may raise reports whereby Scandal may arise to the Person of any Bishop or Debate and Discord between them and the Commons of England In Civil Trials where a Bishop is Plaintiff or Defendant the Bishop may as well as any Lay Lord challenge the Array 〈◊〉 one Knight at least be not â—eturned of the Jury and it â—hall be allowed unto him as 〈◊〉 Priviledge due to his Peerage In Criminal Trials for life all â—ishops by Magna Charta and â—tat 25 Edw. 3.
are to be tryâ—d by their Peers who are Baâ—ns and none under notâ—ithstanding the late conceit of â—ome Lawyers that because Bishops may not be on the Criminal Trial of a Peer thereâ—ore are not to be tried by â—eers for so neither may Bishops be tried by a Common â—ury Because they may not â—e on the Trial of such men Moreover Noble-women may â—ot be on the Trial of Peers â—nd yet they are to be tried by Peers of the Realm And there is no Legal Precedent 〈◊〉 England of a Bishop remaining a Bishop that ever was tried for his life but by Peers of thâ— Realm Antiently indeed Bishops were so ecempted as noâ— at all to be tried by Temporâ—â— Judges till after deprivatioâ— and degradation and then being thereby rendred no Peers but common Persons theâ— might be tried by Common Juries Since the Reformation thâ— English Protestant Bishopâ— have been so constantly loyaâ— and true to the Crown 〈◊〉 which they are so much mâ—ligned by Non-Conformists and so free from all Capitaâ— Crimes that there is yet 〈◊〉 Precedent in England for theiâ— manner of Trial for Life A◠〈◊〉 that Common Assertion â—hat no Lords of Parliament 〈◊〉 to be tried by their Peers 〈◊〉 such as sit there Ratione â—obilitatis and that all Lay â—ords have place in Parliament 〈◊〉 that reason it is not onâ—â— false but frivolous in the â—â—dgement of very many judiâ—â—ous men And indeed how â—â—urd and unreasonable must it â—â—eds be let all men judge â—â—at an Archbishop of Canterâ—â—ry who is by all acknowâ—â—dged to be Primus Par Regâ—â— should be tried by a Comâ—on Jury of Freeholders â—â—en as the meanest Lay Baâ—â— though created but yeâ—â—â—rday may not be tried by aâ—â— under Barons In Parliament Bishops as Baâ—â—as may be present and vote at the Trial and Arraignment 〈◊〉 a Peer of the Realm only bâ—fore Sentence of Death or loâ—â— of Member be pronounced that they may have no hand 〈◊〉 blood no hand in destroying but only in saving they havâ— by Canon Law the Priviledâ—â— and Injunction to absent themselves and by Common Laâ— to make Proxies to vote for them Primo Eliz. cap. 2. It is expresly declared that all Lords 〈◊〉 Parliament without any exception of Lords Spiritual 〈◊〉 should be tried in that particular by their Peers The Bishops of England enjoy at this day many other Priviledges as freedom from Arrests Outlawries Distress pâ—â— Equitaturam or in a Journey Liberty to hunt in any of the Kings Forrests or Parks to kill one or two Deer going from or coming to the King upon his Order The Persons of Bishops may not be seised upon Contempt as the Persons of Lay Lords but their Temporalities only may be seised Every Bishop may by Statute Law qualifie as many Chaplains as a Duke viz. six The Laws of England attributeth so very much to the Word of a Bishop that not only in the Trial of Bastardy the Bishops Certificate shall suffice but also in Trial of Heresie which toucheth a mans Life upon the Bishops bare Certificate that any hath been convicted before him of Heresie the Secular Power puts him to death without any trial by his Peers The Persons the Spiritual Governours of the Church of England are of such high and tender respect in the eye of the Law that it is thought fit to exact the same respect from a Clergyman to his Bishop or Ordinary as from a Child to his Father and therefore made the Offences of Parricide and Episcopicide equal viz. both Petty Treason Next to the two Archbishops of England the Bishop of London amongst all the Bishops hath the pre-eminence Episcopus Londinensis saith an ancient Record speciali quadam Dignitate caeteris anteponendus quia Ecclesiae Cantuariensis Decanus est Provincialis Being Bishop over the Imperial and Capital City of England it is by a Statute of later times expresly provided that he should have the preference and precedence of all the Bishops of England whereby he is become as heretofore the Lord Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Primus Baro Regni as the Lord Abergavenny is Primus Baronum Laicorum Next amongst those of the Episcopal Colledge is the Bishop of Durham within the Province of York who hath been a Count Palatine 6 or 700 years wherefore the Common Seal of the Bishoprick hath been of a long time an Armed Knight holding in one hand a naked Sword and in the other a Church In the fifth place by vertue of the fore-mentioned Statute is the Bishop of Winchester reputed antiently Earl of Southampton and so stiled in the Statutes of the Honourable Order of the Garter by Hen. 8. though soon after that Earldome was otherwise disposed of After these afore-named all the other Bishops take place according to the Seniority of their Consecration unless any Bishop happen to be made Lord Chancellour Treasurer Privy Seal or Secretary of State which antiently was very usual as reputed for their Piety Learning Single Life Diligence c. far more fit for the Advantage and Service of the King and Kingdome than any Laymen and in such case a Bishop being Lord Chancellour had place next to the Archbishop of Canterbury and above the Archbishop of York and being Secretary of State had place next to the Bishop of Winchester All the Bishops of England now living take place as they are ranked in this following Catalogue Dr. Gilbert Sheldon Lord Archbishop of Canterbury consecrated Bishop of London 1660 and translated to Canterbury 1663. Dr. Richard Stern Lord Archbishop of York consecrated Bishop of Carlile 1660 and translated to York 1664. Dr. Humphrey Henchman Lord Bishop of London consecrated Bishop of Salisbury 1660 and translated to London 1663. Dr. John Cosens consecrated Bishop of Durham 1660. Dr. George Morley consecrated Bishop of Worcester 1660 and translated to Winchester 1662. Dr. William Piers Bishop of Bath and Wells consecrated 1632. Dr. Robert Skinner consecrated Bishop of Bristol 1636 then translated to Oxford 1640 and lastly to Worcester 1663. Dr. Henry King Lord Bishop of Chichester consecrated 1641. Dr. William Lucy Lord Bishop of St. Davids consecrated 1660. Dr. Benjamin Laney Lord Bishop of Ely consecrated 1660 Bishop of Peterborough thence translated to Lincoln 1663 lastly to Ely 1667. Dr. Gilbert Ironside Bishop of Bristol consecrated 1660. Dr. Edward Reynolds consecrated 1660 Bishop of Norwich he is also Abbot of St. Bennet de Hulmo the sole Abbot now remaing in England Dr. William Nicolson consecrated Bishop of Glocester 1660. Dr. John Hacket consecrated Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield 1661. Dr. Seth Ward consecrated Bishop of Exeter 1661 translated to Salisbury 1667. Dr. Herbert Crofts consecrated Bishop of Hereford 1661. Dr. Henshaw consecrated Bishop of Peterborough 1663. Dr. Rainbow consecrated Bishop of Carlile 1664. Dr. Blandford consecrated Bishop of Oxford 1665. Dr. Dolben Bishop of Rochester consecrated 1666. Dr. Davis Bishop of Landaff consecrated 1667. Dr. Fuller consecrated Bishop of Lincoln 1667. Dr.
Glemham consecrated Bishop of St. Asaph 1667. Dr. Price consecrated Bishop of Bangor 1667. Dr. Sparrow consecrated Bishop of Exeter 1667. Dr. Wilkins consecrated Bishop of Chester 1668. These are all Barons and Peers of the Realm these have place in the Upper House of Parliament and in the Upper House of Convocation and these are the Lords Spiritual next follow the Commons Spiritual consisting of Suffragan Bishops Deans Archdeacons Prebends Rectors and Vicars to whom also belong divers considerable Priviledges All Suffragan Bishops all Deans Archdeacons Prebendaries Rectors and Vicars have Priviledges some by themselves others by proxy or by representative to sit and vote in the Lower House of Convocation No Subsidies or other Taxe to the King may legally be laid upon them without their own consent first had in Convocation The Clergy as appears by the words of the Writ as also by Modus Tenendi Parliam and by 21 Rich. 2. cap. 12. hath per Procuratores Cleri Place and Suffrage in the Lower House of Parliament as was antiently practised in England and of later years in Ireland though now not used in either and as the Bishops still have and use in the Higher House of Parliament No Clergyman may be compelled to undergo any Personal Functions or Services of the Commonwealth or to serve in War If any man by reason of his Land be subject to be elected to any Temporal Office if he take Orders he is free and there is a Writ purposely to free him All Clergymen are free from the Kings Purveyors the Kings Carriages the Kings Posts c. for which they may demand a Protection from the King cum clausula nolumus If a Clergyman acknowledge a Statute his Body shall not be taken by vertue of any Process thereupon for the Writ runs Si Laicus sit c. Clergymen are not obliged to appear at Sherives Tourns or Views of Frank Pledge there to take their Oath of Allegeance the Antient Laws presuming that those whose principal care and Office should be to teach the People Loyalty and Allegeance to their King could not themselves want Loyalty By Magna Charta no Clergy-man is to be fined or amerced according to his spiritual means but according to his temporal estate and according to the Crime committed The Goods of Clergymen are discharged by the Common Law of England from Tolls and Customes si non exerceant Marchandizas de eisdem of Avirage Pontage Muriage Paviage for which they have the Kings Writ to discharge them The Glebe Lands and Spiritual Revenues of Clergymen being held in pura perpetua Eleemosyna i. e. in Frankalmoine are exempted from arraying and mustering of Men or Horses for the War as appears in a Statute still in force viz. 8 Hen. 4. Num. 12. in the unprinted Rolls of that Parliament The Clergy being by their Function prohibited to wear a Sword or any Armes their Coat alone being their defence cannot serve in Person in War They serve their Countrey otherwise and for that Service have alwayes been thought worthy of their Spiritual Profits and Revenues and of the Kings Protection The Clergy paying to the King the First years profits of all Spiritual Benefices called First Fruits and yearly the Tenth of all the said Benefices are with great reason thought fit to be exempted from all other Taxes though to give the Laity good example they often lay Subsidies or other Great Taxes upon themselves It was an Antient Maxime in England Nullus pro decimis debet onerari de aliqua reparatione Pontis seu aliquibus oneribus temporalibus These and other Immunities of the Clergy the Great Aquinas thought agreeable to Natural Equity or the Law of Nature thence it was that King Pharaoh 47 Gen. when all the Lands of his Subjects were mortgaged to him for Bread yet spared the Lands of the Priests So Ezra 7. 24. and so in our Antient Laws we find De Danigeldo libera quieta erat omnis Ecclesia in Anglia etiam omnis Terra quae in proprio Dominio Ecclesiae erat ubicunque jacebat nihil prorsus in tali redditione persolvens and the reason thereof is added Quia magis in Ecclesiae confidebant Orationibus quam in Armorum defensionibus Many more Priviledges Immunities Liberties and Franchises there are rightly belonging to the Clergy of England so many that to set down all saith Sir Edward Coke upon Magna Charta would take up a whole Book The Priviledges of the Clergy and Franchises of the Church were with the Lities of the People granted confirmed and sealed by the King in full Parliament Anno 1253. in such a solemn manner as no Story can parallel it The King stood up with his Hand upon his Breast all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal stood with burning Tapers in their hands the Archbishop pronounced as followeth By the Authority of God Omnipotent of the Son and of the Holy Ghost c. We excommunicate anathematize and sequester from Our Holy Mother the Church all those which henceforth knowingly and maliciously deprive and spoil Churches of their right and all those that shall by any art or wit rashly violate diminish or alter secretly or openly in Deed Word or Counsel those Ecclesiastical Liberties c. granted by Our Lord the King to the Archbishops Bishops Prelates c. For everlasting memory whereof We have hereunto put Our Seals After which all throwing down their Tapers extinguisht and smoaking they all said So let all that shall go against this Curse be extinct and stink in Hell Since which all Kings of England at their Coronations have by Solemn Oaths promised to preserve the same and they have been confiremed by above 30 Successive Parliaments commanded to be read once a year in Churches and if any Act should be made to the contrary it is to be held for null and void by the Statute of 42 Edw. 3. Antiently men were very tender and fearful to do any thing that might make them incur the said dreadful censure but of later times especially since our Reformation many men pretending to more Christianity and to more knowledge have made little conscience of infringing and violating any Rights Priviledges or Franchises of the Church or Churchmen whilst the Liberties of the People though very little violated have been exacted even to Sedition and Rebellion To the end that men of the best rank and abilities should in all times be encouraged to embrace the most painful and severe Profession of a Clergy-man and that the People â—hould the more willingly be â—uided and conducted by them Our most Christian Ancestors â—ccording to the Pattern of Gods antient People the Jews â—nd of all other Christian Commonwealths judged it expeâ—ient to allot large Revenues â—nd a most plentiful mainteâ—ance to the English Clergy â—aving observed with Solomon â—hat a Wiseman for his poverâ—y is too oft contemned and â—espised and that there is noâ—hing more contemptible and â—diculous than a poor Clergy-man The
but to have expedition of Justice At the beginning of Parliament when the Oath of Supremacy is exacted of all those of the House of Commons yet is it not reqnired of any of the Lords because the King is otherwise assured of their Loyalty and Fidelity as is presumed In all Cases wherein the Priviledge of Clergy is allowed to other men and also in divers Cases where that Priviledge is taken away from other men every Peer of the Realm having Place and Voice in Parliament shall upon his Request by Stat. 1. Ed. 6. without burning in the hand loss of Inheritance or corruption of Blood be adjudged for the first time as a Clerk convict though he cannot read All Barons of England are exempted from all attendance at Sherives Turns or any Leets as others are to take the Oath of Allegeance A Peer cannot be outlawed in any Civil Action because he cannot be arrested by any Capias and by the same reason lies no Attachment against him By the Custom of England as is by the Law of the Empire Nobiles non torquentur in quibus plebeii torquerentur Nobiles non suspenduntur sed decapitantur yet this by the meer favour of the King and in some cases especially of Felony hath been otherwise sometimes For the suppressing of Riots and Routs the Sheriff may raise the Posse Comitatus that is â—all able men are to assist him yet may not the Sheriff command the Person of any Peer of the Realm to attend that Service A Baron of Parliament being sent for by the Kings Writ or Letter or by his Messenger to come to Court or to Parliament or to appear before the Council-Board or in his Court of Chancery may both coming and returning by the Kings Forest or Park kill one or two Deer In any Civil Trial where a Peer of the Realm is Plaintiff or Defendant there must be returned of the Jury at least one Knight otherwise the Array may be quasht by Challenge The Laws of England are so tender of the Honour Credit Reputation and Persons of Noblemen that there is a Statute on purpose to prohibit all offence by false reports whereby any scandal to their persons may arise or debate and discord between them and the Commons and because it is to defend not only Lay Lords but Bishops and all great Officers of the Realm it is called Scandalum Magnatum If a Peer of the Realm appear not upon a Subpena yet may not an Attachment be awarded against him as it may against a common person though of later times the practice hath been otherwise The House of a Peer cannot in some Cases as in search for Prohibited Books for Conventicles c. be enâ—â—red by Officers of Justice without a Warrant under the Kings own hand and the hands of 6 of his Privy Council whereof 4 to be Peers of the Realm No Peer can be assessed towards the standing Militia but by 6 or more of themselves The Law allowing any one of the Commonalty to be arâ—aigned for Felony or Treason in favorem vitae to challenge 35 of his Jury without shewing cause and others by shewing cause yet allows not a Peer of the Realm to challenge any of his Jury or to put any of them to their Oath the Law presuming that they being all Peers of the Realm and judging upon their Honour cannot be guilty of Falshood oâ— Favour or Malice All Peers of the Realm have a Priviledge of qualifying a certain number of Chaplains who after a Dispensation from the Archbishop if to him iâ— seem good and the same ratified under the Great Seal of England may hold Plurality of Benefices with Cure of Souls In this manner every Duke may qualifie 6 Chaplains every Marquiss and Earl 5 apiece every Vicount 4 and every Baron 3. A Peer of the Realm may retain 6 Aliens born whereas another may not retain above 4. In Case of Amercements of the Peers of the Realm upon Non-suits or other Judgements a Duke is to be amerâ—ed only 10 pounds and all under only 5 l. and this to be done by their Peers accordâ—ng to Magna Charta alâ—hough it is oft done by the Kings Justices instead of their Peers All Peers of the Realm beâ—ng constant hereditary Councellours of the King in his Great Council of Parliament and being obliged upon the Kings Summons to appear and attend in all Parliaments upon their own Charges are priviledged from contributing to the Expences of any Member of the House of Commons for which no levy may be made upon any of their Lands parcel of their Earldoms or Baronies any of their antient Demesnes Copyhold or Villain Tenants The Estates of all Peers of the Realm being judged in the Eye of the Law sufficient at all times to satisfie all Debts and Damages satisfaction is to be sought by Execution taken forth upon their Lands and Goods and not by Attachments Imprisonments of their Persons those are to be alwayes free for the Service of the King and Kingdome noâ— by Exigents or Capias Utlegatum c. Other Priviledges belong to the Peers of England as 8â— Tun of Wine Custome free to every Earl and to the rest proportionably c. Notwithstanding these great Priviledges belonging to the Nobility of England yet the greatest of them no not the Brother or Son of the King ever had the Priviledge of the Grandees of Spain to be covered in the Kings Presence except only Henry Ratcliffe Earl of Surrey as before Pag. 147. nor had ever that higher Priviledge of the Nobility of France whose Domain Lands and their Dependants holding them are exempted from all Contributions and Tailles whereby they are tied to their King and so enabled to serve him that although Rebellions are frequent yet seldome of long continuance and never prosperous whereas the highest born Subject of England hath herein no more Priviledge than the meanest Plowman but utterly want that kind of reward for antient Vertue and encouragement for future Industry Touching the Places or Precedences amongst the Peers of England it is to be observed that after the King and Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and noâ— farther Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquisses Dukes eldest Sons Earls Marquisses eldest Sons Dukes younger Sons Vicounts Earls eldest Sons Marquisses younger Sons Barons Vicounts eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Barons eldest Sons Vicounts younger Sons Barons younger Sons Here note That it was decreed by King James that the younger Sons of Barons and Vicounts should yeeld Place and Precedence to all Knights of the Garter quateâ—us tales and to all Privy Councellours Master of the Wards Chancellour and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer Chancellour of the Dutchy Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Master of the Rolls Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Chief Baron of the Exchequer and all other Judges and Barons of the Degree of the Coise of the said Courts
of all sublunary things and remember that there was once a time when the Juvenes Nobiles in Old English the Edel Knaben were so leud that those words came at length to signifie as now Idle Knaves Of the Commonalty or Third State of England THe Law of England contrary to the Laws and Customs of other Countries â—alleth none Noble under a Baron so that not only all Baronets all sorts of Knights all Esquires and Gentlemen but also all the Sons of the Nobility are by our Law reckoned amongst the Commons of England and therefore the eldest Son of a Duke though by the Courtesie of England stiled an Earl yet shall be arraigned by the Stile of Esquire only and may be tried by a Jury of Common Freeholders and in Parliament can sit only in the House of Commons if elected till called by the Kings Writ to the Lords House Yet doth it seem very absurd that all Noblemens Sons with all Knights Esquires and Gentlemen should be esteemed Plebeans but rather as in Rome they were in a middle Rank inter Senatores Plebem or else as â—n other Christian Kingdomes they should be considered as â—he Minor Nobilitas Regni so â—hat as Barons and all above may be stiled Nobiles Majores â—o from a Baron downward to â—he Yeoman all may be not â—â—fitly stiled Nobiles Minores The Lower Nobility then of England consists of Baroâ—ets Knights Esquires and Gentlemen The next Degree to Barons â—re Baronets which is the lowâ—st Degree of Honour that is â—ereditary An Honour first â—nstituted by King James Anno â—611 given by Patent to a Man and his Heirs Males of his Body lawfully begotten for â—hich each one is obliged to â—ay into the Exchequer so much money as will for 3 years at 8â— d. per diem pay 30 Foot Souldiers to serve in the Province oâ— Vlster in Ireland which summe amounts to 1095 l. which with Fees doth commonly arise to 1200 l. Baronets have precedencâ— before all Knights excepâ— Knights of the Garter and Knights Bannerets made under the Kings Banner or Standard displaied in an Army Royaâ— in open War and the Kinâ— personally present Baronets have the Priviledgi to bear in a Canton of theiâ— Coat of Arms or in a wholâ— Scutcheon the Arms of Vlster viz. In a Field Argent a Hanâ— Gules also in the Kings Armies to have place in the gros near the Kings Standard witâ— some other particulars for their Funerals The whole number of Baronets in England are not to exceed 200 at one and the same time after which number compleated as any for want of heirs come to be extinct the number shall not be made up by new Creations but be suffered to diminish as appears by their Patent No Honour is ever to be created between Baronets and Barons The first Baronet that was created was Sir Nicholas Bacon of Suffolk whose Successor is therefore stiled Primus Baronettorum Angliae This Word Knight is derived from the German Word Knecht signifying originally 〈◊〉 Lusty Servitor The Germans as the antient Romans gave their young men Togam Virilem by Publick Authority bestowed on their young men able to manage Arms a Shield and a Javelin as fit for Martial Service and to be a Member of the Common wealth accounted before but a part of a Family and such a young man publickly allowed they called Knecht whence we had our Institution of Knighthood The thing Knight is at this day signified in Latine French Spanish Italian and also in the High and Low Dutch Tongues by a Word that properly signifies a Horseman because they were wont to serve in War on Horsback and were sometimes in England called Radenyhts id est Riding Servitors yet our Common Law stiles them Milites because they commonly held Lands in Knights Service to serve the King in his Wars as Soldiers The Honour of Knighthood is commonly given for some personal desert and therefore dies with the person deserving and descends not to his Son In England there are several sorts of Knights whereof the chiefest are those of the Order of St. George commonly called Knights of the Garter This Order is esteemed the most Honourable and most Antient of any now in use in Christendom It began as appears in the Statutes of this Order in the 23th year of the Warlike and Puissant King Edward 3 who was Founder thereof and at first made choice of the most Illustrious Persons of Europe to be of that Royal Society no doubt upon a Martial and not upon any such Amorous Account as is intimated Page 96 of this Treatise which ridiculous Story to the dishonour of the Order was first fancied by Polydore Virgil and since upon his credit taken up by many late Authors It appears by Antient Writings that this Honourable Company is a Colledge or Corporation having a Great Seal belonging to it and consisting of a Soveraign Guardian which is alwayes the King of England and of 25 Companions called Knights of the Garter of 14 Secular Canons that are Priests of 13 Vicars who are also Priests of 26 poor Knights who have no other Maintenance but the allowance of this Colledge which is given them in respect of their Prayers to the Honour of God and of St. George who is the Patron of England and of this Order in particular and is none of those Fabulous St. Georges as some have vainly fancied but that famous Saint and Soldier of Christ St. George of Cappadocia a Saint so universally received in all Parts of Christendom so generally attested by the Ecclesiastical Writers of all Ages from the time of his Martyrdome till this day that no one Saint in all the Calendar except those attested by Scripture can be better evidenced There be also certain Officers belonging to this Order as the Prelate of the Garter which Office is settled on the Bishoprick of VVinchester A Chancellour of the Garter A Register who of later times hath been constantly the Dean of VVindsor though antiently it was otherwise The Principal King at Arms called Garter whose chief function is to manage and marshal their Solemnities at their Installations and Feasts Lastly The Usher of the Garter There are also certain Orders and Constitutions belonging to this Society touching the Solemnities in making these Knights their Duties after Creation and their high Priviledges too long for this place The Colledge is seated in the Castle of VVindsor with the Chappel of St. George there erected by King Edward 3. and the Chapter House The Order of the Garter is wont to be bestowed upon the most excellent and renowned Persons for Honour and Vertue and with it a Blew Garter deckt with Gold Pearl and Pretious Stones and a Buckle of Gold to be worn daily on the Left Leg also at High Feasts they are to wear a Surcoat a Mantle a Black Velvet Cap a Coller of Garters and other stately and magnificent Apparel They are not to be seen abroad without their
Garter upon the Left Leg upon pain of paying 2 Crowns to any Officer of the Order who shall first claim it onely in taking a Journey a Blew Ribon under the Boot doth suffice Upon the Left Shoulder upon Cloak Coat or Riding Cassack in all places of Assembly when they wear not their Robes they are to wear an Escutcheon of the Arms of St. George that is a Cross with a Garter and this by an Order made April 1626. That Ornament and Embellishment about the said Escutcheon now worn and called the Star or rather the Sun in its glory was at the same time enjoyned The The greatest Monarchs of Christendome have been enrolled and have taken it for an Honour to be of this Order There have been of this Order since the Institution 8 Emperours 25 or 26 Forreign Kings besides many Soveraign Princes c. The Fellows and Companions of the Most Noble Order of St. George are at present these that follow ranked according as they are seated in their several Stalls at Windsor IN the first Stall on the right hand is the Soveraigne of the Order King Charles the Second who is Patron and Sole Disposer of the Order The Stall opposite to His Majesty is now void In the other Stalls on the Sovereign Side are thus placed these that follow 2 The Duke of York 3 Prince Rupert 4 Marquiss of Brandenbourgh 5 Earl of Salisbury 6 Earl of Northumberland 7 Duke of Buckingham 8 Earl of Bristol 9 Count Marsin 10 Earl of Sandwich 11 Duke of Richmond 12 Earl of Strafford 13th Stall is void On the other side opposite to these afore-named are placed in this Order these that follow 2 Prince Elector Palatine 3 Prince of Orenge 4 Prince of Denmark 5 Earl of Berkshire 6 Duke of Ormond 7 Duke of Newcastle 8 Prince of Tarent 9 Duke of Albemarle 10 Earl of Oxford 11 Earl of Manchester 12 Duke of Monmouth 13th Stall on this Side also is void The whole number of Fellows of this Order is not to exceed 26. In the next place are Knights Bannerets Equites Vexilliferi antiently a high Honour now obsolete there being at this time none of this Order in England These may bear Supporters of their Arms and none under this Degree Knights of the Bath so called of their Bathing used before they are created The first of this sort were made by Henry 4th Anno 1399. They are now commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen or Installation of 〈◊〉 Prince of VVales They weaâ— a Scarlet Ribon Belt-wise They are still made with much Ceremony too long here to be described Other Knights called Equites Aurati from the Gilt Spurs usually put upon them and Knights Batchelors quasi Baschevaliers Knights of lower Degree So Bachelors in Arts or Divinity quasi Low Knights or Servitors in Arts. These were antiently made by girding with a Sword and Gilt Spurs and was bestowed onely upon Sword men for their Military Service and was reâ—uted an excellent and glorious Degree and a Noble Reward â—or Courageous Persons but â—f late being made more common and bestowed upon â—own Men contrary to the â—ature of the thing as Degrees â—n the University are sometimes â—estowed upon Sword men it â—s become of much less reputaâ—ion Yet amongst Gown men 〈◊〉 is given only to Lawyers and â—hysitians and not to Divines â—ho may as well become that Dignity and be Spiritual Knights as well as Spiritual Lords These are now made with no other Ceremony but kneeling down the King with a drawn Sword lightly toucheth them on the Shoulder after which heretofore the King said in French Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu and then Avances Chevalier When a Knight is to suffeâ— death for any foul Crime hiâ— Military Girdle is first to be ungirt his Sword taken away hiâ— Spurs cut off with an Hatchetâ— his Gantlet pluckt off and hiâ— Coat of Arms reversed Next amongst the Loweâ— Nobility are Esquires so called from the French word Escuyers Scutigeri because they were wont to bear before the Prince in War or before the better sort of Nobility 〈◊〉 Shield or else perhaps because they bear a Coat of Arms as Ensigns of their descent and by our Lawyers are called Armigeri Of this Title are first all Vicounts eldest Sons and all Vicounts and Barons younger Sons and by the Common Law of England all the Sons of Earls Marquisses and Dukes are Esquires and no more Next are the Esquires of the Kings Body mentioned among the Officers of the Kings Court after these are reckoned Knights eldest Sons and their eldest Sons for ever then younger Sons of the elder Sons of Barons next Esquires created by the King by putting about their Necks a Collar of Esses and bestowing on them a pair of Silver Spurs Lastly any that are in superiour Publick Office for King or State are reputed Esquires or equal to Esquires as Justices of the Peace Mayors of Towns so Councellours at Law Batchelors of Divinity Law or Physick although none of them really are so In the last place among thâ— lower Nobility are accounted the Gentry of England that have no other Title but are descended of antient Families that have alwayes born a Coaâ— of Arms. This Kind of Honour is derived from the Germans to the rest of Christendome and was never known in any Countrey where the German Customs were unknown as in Asia Africa and America The Germans antiently warring oft amongst themselves painted their Scutcheons with the Picture of some Beast Bird or other thing for distinction and put some eminent and visible Mark upon the Crest of their Helmets and this Ornament both of Arms and Crest descended by inheritance to their Children to the eldest pure and to the rest with some note of distinction such as the Old Master of Ceremonies in High Dutch Here-alt now Herald thought fit Gentlemen well descended and well qualified have alwayes been of such repute in England that none of the higher Nobility no nor the King himself have thought it unfitting to make them sometimes their Companions The Title of Gentleman in England as of Cavalier in France Italy and Spain is not disdained by any Nobleman All Noblemen are Gentlemen though all Gentlemen are not Noblemen The State of Gentry was antiently such that it was accounted an abasing of Gentry to put their Sons to get their Living by Shop-keeping and our Law did account it a disparagement of a Ward in Chivalry to be married to a Shop-keepers Daughter or to any meer Citizen for Tradesmen in all Ages and Nations have been reputed ignoble in regard of the doubleness of their Tongue without which they cannot grow rich for Nihil proficiunt nisi admodum mentiuntur as Tully observed and therefore amongst the Thebans no man was admitted to places of Honour or Trust unless he had left off trading ten years before So by the Imperial Laws a Tradesman is not capable of any