place of Comes the ceremony of Creation much at one and the title hereditary the annuity money in their Patent is forty marks And here by the way I cannot but observe one note of Mr. Seldens that John Beaufort Earl of Somerset modestly refused to be made Marquesse of Dorset by Henry the fourth because the title was then so strange and new in the Kingdome The Marquesse is honored with a Coronet of gold flurred the points and flowers of equall height whereas of the Earls the pearled points are much longer then the flowers His Mantle also doubled Ermine as is the Earls also but the Earls is but of four and the Marquesses is of five the doubling of the Viscount is to be understood to be but of Miniver or plain white Fur so is the Barons the Barons of two the Vice-counts of three doublings Of the Duke The Creation Robe of a Duke Where by the way one note is proper to be understood that as he was here created without any Ceremony except the girding with a Sword so in all other degrees of honor where a lesser degree is conferred on a person of a greater there needs nothing but meer Patent without any ceremony of creation But John son to Edward the third being created Duke of Lancaster had a Cap of furre added to the ceremony and succeeding times have had the Sword Crownet and Verge of Gold a Surcoat Mantle and Hood and a Ducal cap doubled Ermin but not indented and is honored with the style of Gratious and Excellent These if they be of Royall line are reputed as Arch-dukes It is also allowed that a Duke tantum shall take place before any Lord that is both Marquesse and Earl but a Duke that is Marquesse or Earl besides shall precede him The Duke Marquesse and Earl at their creation have a sword put over their shoulders which the Vice-count and Baron have not Of the Arch-Duke THis title is of neer relation to the other but not found in any place save in the house of Austria the addition of which word Arch is from the Greek word Archos which is as much as Princeps in Latin So he taketh place of all other Dukes and he is allowed a Surcoat a Mantle and a Hood of Crimson Velvet at his Creation He hath also a Chapeau or Ducal Cap doubled Ermin indented with a Coronet about the same and an arch of Gold with an Orbe and Verge of Gold Of these titles the Duke Marquesse and Earl are esteemed Princely especially the two last These also are allowed to bear their Crests with Helmets the Beaver directly forward whereas a Gentleman Knight and Baron bare them with half the Beaver seen The Creation Robe of the Prince of Wales The Prince THe next and first immediately subordinate to the Crown amongst these radiant Stars is The Prince who in England onely is the Prince of Wales the first-born of the King These in the Saxons time were called Clitons and clitunculi from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Illustrious But since it hath been a title of creation for honor to the rising sun there were none created in the Nation but the King 's eldest son who are in all Nations honored above all other subjects and amongst some as in Spain have been called King 's during the life of their Fathers because of his so neer a relation to the Crown that if the Father dye he is ipso 〈◊〉 Rex there being no interregnum though he be not crowned In a Statute of the second of Henry the fourth it is provided that the Prince may give his honorable Liveries of signes to the Lords or to his meniall Gentry and that the said Lords may wear the same as they wear the Kings Livery and that the Menials of the Prince may wear the same as the King's menials but this hath been since abridged So likewise by a Statute of the 25. of Edward the third chap. 2. it is declared that to compasse or imagine the death of the Kings eldest son and heir is Crimen laesae Majestatis high Treason as also to violate the wife of the King 's eldest son And again see Coke 8. part 28. The Prince shineth with the beams of his Father and is holden to be one person with him Yet doth he acknowledge a reverence not only as to a Father but Soveraign and to that purpose continues that Motto which the Black Prince took up Ick dien I serve He is called Princeps quia principalis in strenuitate post regem saith Sir William Segar The first that we read of in England was Edward eldest son of Henry the third and after him the eldest son of the King hath been ever by Patent and Ceremonies of Instalment created Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Flint being born Duke of Cornwall The Prince or first born of the King in France is called the Dauphin in Spain l' Infanta There are in other Countries Princes by Creation as the Prince of Piemont the Prince of Orange and many others but these are also now become hereditary and in some Countries all the Royall line are styled Princes When he is created he is presented before the King in Princely Robes who putteth about his neck a Sword bend-wise a Cap and Coronet over his head a Ring on his middle finger a Verge of gold in his hand and his Letters Patents after they are read His Mantle is once more doubled then the Dukes and his Coronet of Crosses and Flowers de Luce and his Cap of State doubled indented The King THe King is the next and in our Nations the highest being subordinate to no sublunary power as those of Spain Portugall and other Kingdoms of Europe and other parts of the world are He is the true Fountain from whence all these Rivulets and swelling Streams of Honor spring He is called Rex from whence the word Rego came and King amongst us from the Saxon word Koning and Kuning To say any thing of the Originall of the Government here were in vain for it is unknown onely I may say that none can produce any thing to assure any Government before it and what I spake in the beginning concerning the first institution of it universally is sufficient Besides these times have said enough to that purpose He hath ever bin of great reverence amongst these Kingdoms of Europe the very Title carrying Divinity in it being of Heavenly institution ordained by God himself the Bond of Peace and the Sword of Justice He is God's Vicegerent and to be obeyed accordingly both in Church and State If good he is a blessing if bad a judgment He is styled Pater Patriae Caput Reipub and for that the protection of his Subjects lies in his breast the Militia is annexed to his Crown and the Sword as well as Scepter put into his hand He hath power of pardoning where the Law
King who gives it him that is created Then he returning thanks for his great honor withdraws in the same manner he came in the Trumpers sounding and so he goes to dinner Where after the second service is gone up the Garter with the rest of the Heralds cometh neer the Table where first pronouncing Largesse with a loud voyce he declareth the King's style in Latin French and English and then standing somewhat further off pronounceth Largesse again with the style of him that is newly created In which form was William Cecill created Lord Burghley 15. of Febr. 13. Elizab. Of the Viscount THis word in Latin is Vice-comes which is interpreted from the office of the person who was one cui Dominus hoc est Comes committit vices suas sive gubernationem castri saith Sir John Ferne. The Title is derived from the same Order in France which there were only first substitutes to Earls till getting themselves first in power got also to have the title honorary and hereditary between the Earl and Baron it being the same word which signifieth our Sheriffe and began not with us till about the 18. year of Henry the sixth who then created John Lord Beaumont Viscount Beaumont by Letters patent Though Sir John Fern tells us of it in the time of Henry the first and King Stephen and though the Elder sons of Dukes are styled Earls during their fathers life time so the Eldest sons of Marquesses are styled by their Fathers Vicounties and Baronies and called Lords and the younger sons saluted with Lord yet it is by 〈◊〉 only To this degree is allowed a Surcoat Mantle Hood and a Circulet without either flowers or points as in the discourse of Armory shall be seen and is created with the same ceremony those above him are Of the Count or Earl THe next precedency is an Earl called in Latin Comes and thence is an English word Count which word Comes we have from the example of the Romans amongst whom they used it for the title of sundry offices Coke defines them thus Dicuntur Comites quia à Comitatu five à societate nomen sumpserunt qui etiam dici possunt Consules a Consulendo c. But John of Salisbury who writ in the time of Henry the second says thus Comites dici à 〈◊〉 participatione And the word Earl we had from the Saxons from whence till we borrowed the word Honor we used the word Earl for gentle or noble and Ethel which was sometimes abridged to el so that of Ear-ethel it was Ear-el and by abbreviation Earl which the Dutch called Eorle Amongst the Germans they have the word Grave for it as Palsgrave Landgrave Reingrave c. from the word Gerefa by abbreviation Gereve and Grave as also Reve from whence our Shierreve or Shirriffe as some do abbreviate it Which word in the Teutonick signifies a Disposer or Director Others have That the word with the Saxons was Erlig and Ethling and used for the same office of Ealderman was before and the word Ealderman which now is writ Alderman was transferred to a lower degree who used the word also Thegon or Thaine for Baron as I said before But the word Ealderman and Ethling it seems did only signifie them according to Civill power and the word Heretoga from whence Hertshog for their Military power the former word being no more then Senior or Senator This title of Ealdermen continued for Duces Principes Comites untill Canutus reign when the word Earl was brought in and the other lost as to that Honor. What the Jurisdiction of the Ealderman in those times was and how absolute or large is to me yet uncertain though large it was doubtlesse because of the severall Offices that were under them but as it hath remained since the Conquest we find more reasonable satisfaction Their possessions were sometimes the whole Territories they derived their Title from and sometimes not but some particular 〈◊〉 or place in it We find also that both it and Thane were honorary and feudall Titles Upon the coming in of the Normans this word was turned into Comes or Count since when it hath remained And this word in the Empire was given to Quotquot è Comitatu Principis erant to all that were admitted to society of the Prince So the 〈◊〉 styled them in Warre Commilitones in the Court Comites The dignity is of divers kinds for an Earl acknowledging no Superior is equall to a Prince This Title as it continues since the Conquest is either locall or personall Locall as from the denomination of some County or other Territory and Personall that hath its being in some great Office as Earl-Marshal and the like Those locall are also simplices and Palatine which last retain the same constitution the Saxons time allowed them which is Juraeregalia or merum mixtum Imperium and could make Barons under them as those of Chester Lancaster the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely Hugh Lupus had the County Palatine of Chester given him by the Conquerour Ita liberè ad Gladium 〈◊〉 ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam Who governed the County forty years he created eight Barons and built the Abbey of Chester Lancaster was made a Palatinate by Edward the third as says Sir William Segar and had Barons Chancery and Seal and so had the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely The office of those Barons being to sit in Councell and Judgment with the Earl To the County Palatine of Chester 〈◊〉 been Chamberlains who supplied the place of Chancellor Justices before whom the causes that should else belong to the King's Bench and Common Pleas are triable a Baron of the Exchequer a Sheriffe and other offices proportionably to those of the Crown at Westminster which being since reserved in the Crown is given to the Prince of Wales when he is created This County had this honor I conceive out of regard to the great trust was reposed in the first Earl which was to subdue and keep in order the British or Welch after the Conquest Of those that are not Palatine we find their Creation also as ancient as the Conquest William theConqueror made Alan Fergent thenDuke of Brittaign Earl of Richmond by a Patent The Creation Robe of a Marquesse Of the Marquesse THis word Marquesse at the first was used to all Earls and Barons that were Lords Marchers or Lords of Frontires and came afterward into a Title of speciall dignity between that of Duke and Earl beginning in the time of Richard the second who created Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Marquesse of Dublin Per gladii cincturam circuli aurei suo capiti positionem The form of the Patent was then and many ages since very various but it is now regulated to one method which is the same in a manner with that of Earl only the word Marchio is put in the
of eight pieces Gules and Or by the name of Holland The sixth is paly-bendy Or and Sables The seventh is paly of six Argent and Gules on a chief as the field as many crescents all counter-changed The eighth is barry of six Argent and Sables indented one in the other The ninth is barry bendy Arg. and Sables Thus I have run through all the bearings of the Ordinaries both plain and in their variety together with the partitions and counter-changes I shall now as concisely lay down all the Ordinary bearings as well of Natural and Celestial things as all Sublunaries of Beasts Birds Fishes Vegetables and Artificials in the best method I can according to the Blazon of Leigh 〈◊〉 Guillim and others the best I could consult in this study Of Celestialls As for Celestialls I shall skip over some of them as Angells Cherubims and the like because they are obvious enough to every man's judgment when ever they are met with as some of these examples are also The first of these quarterings shews the example of Gules an Increscent Or by the name of Descus The second Azure the Sun in its full glory by the name of St. Cleere The third is Azure the Moon decrescent proper where the difference from the first is from the contrary position of them which is the same in the Firmament And by this rule any man at the first sight may know in what state the Moon is though he never saw an Almanack The fourth is Azure a Moon in her complement proper The fifth Or the Sun eclipsed Sables The sixth is Argent the Moon in her Eclipse Sables The seventh Azure a Ray of the Sun issuing out of the dexter corner of the Escutcheon bend-wayes proper by the name of Aldham The eighth is Gules a chief Argent at the lower part thereof the Rayes of the Sun issuing out of a Clowd proper by the name of Lesone of Northamptonshire The ninth is Azure a Comet Or streaming proper And unto these I have added one more Escutcheon of the like bearings because of the rareness of them The first is Azure Jupiters Thunderbolt in Pale Or enflamed at both ends proper shafted Saltyre-wayes and winged Fesse-wayes Argent The second Argent a Rain-bowe proper issuing out of two peteet clowds in fesse Azure The third Gules a chief Argent over all an Escarbuncle of eight staves-pommette and Florette Or which saith Guillim was the Coat-Armor of the Earls of Anjou of whom was Geoffry Plantagenet The fourth is Or six fire-brands enflamed proper The fifth Sables a bend Or between six Fountains proper by the Lord Sturton The sixth Argent a Cheveron Sables between three flames of fire proper The seventh is Sables a Star of eight points Or between two Flanches Ermin and a Canton of Ulster by Sir John Hubbart of Norfolk The eighth party per bend Crenelle pointed the one in the other Argent Azure four Crescents by couples enterlaced counterchanged The ninth Ermin on a chief Sab. three Crescents arg Of Beasts NExt of Beafts as in my opinion the most proper to order as the more noble creatures though I confesse it is contrary to Mr. Guillims Method And of those in the first place Lions as the principall of them which are diversly born and from their severall postures receive a severall character of blazoning which is cautiously to be observed as well as in other things and it is not difficult for any indifferent genius without much discourse which would but make up a tedious prolixity to little or no purpose when Verbum sapienti sat est is a Proverb in every man's mouth The first example is of Azure a Lion Rampant Argent being the Coat-Armor of Roger de Montealto who was a Benefactor to Westminster-Abbey The second is Or a Lion Sayliant Gules The third is Gules a Lion passant Guardant Or which being the Coat-Armor of the Dukes of Aquitane was joyned with the Coat of the Kings of England by the 〈◊〉 of Henry the second being before two Lions the posture and colours one then indeed called Leopards as they are most properly so called where they are not of Royall bearing if they be more then one in a field and Guardant as 〈◊〉 would have it This same single Lion passant guardant onely the colours contrary as Or a Lion passant guardant Gules says the Welch petegree was the Coat-Armor of Roderick the great Prince of Wales in the year 843. By which account Coat-Armor hath gained a great Antiquity The fourth example is of Lions passant and not guardant which is Gules two barres Ermin in chief a Lion passant party per pal Or Argent by the name of Hill of Norfolk The fifth is Gules a Lion Seiant Argent The sixth is Or a Lion Couchant Gul. The seventh is Azure a Lion Dormant Or. The eighth is Or a Lion Rampant regarding Coward Sables The last is Gules a tri-corporated Lion issuing out of three corners of the field and meeting under one head in fesse Or which was the Coat-Armor of Edward Crouchback Earl of Lancaster Lions are sometimes with the tail elevated over the head sometimes with the tail forked and sometimes you shall meet with Demy-Lions which is half Lions passant and Rampant and sometimes heads erased or couped but if Cabossed then they are ever 〈◊〉 Leopards heads as in these examples The first Azure on a chief Or a Demy-Lion Rampant issuant out Gules languid and armed of the first by the name of Markham The second is Azure three Demy-Lions passant guardant Or languid and armed Gules by the name of Hammon of Acris in Kent Now the French are so severe that they will not allow the tearms of Lion to any either Whole or Demy that are guardant but I think without reason The third is Or out of the midst of a Fesse Sable a Demy-Lion Rampant Naissant Gules languid and armed Azure Where it is proper to take notice that if it be armed or languid by any other colour than the body unlesse Gules it is a blemish to it but Gules signifying blood addes to it So it is an abatement if it be without tongue teeth or claws The fourth is Verry Argent Azure on a pale Gules three Leopards heads Or by the name of Ockould The fifth is Azure three Leopards heads cooped Or. This Coat is in the Walk under Lincolns Inne Chappel and I think is very rare The sixth is Azure a Cheveron betwixt three Lions he ids erased Ermin crowned Or the Coat-Armor of 〈◊〉 worthy Benefactor of Pauls Sir Paul Pindar The seventh is Sables three Lions tails erased Argent by the name of Cork The eighth is Gules a Cheveron betwixt three Lions paws erected and erased within a bordure Argent in a chief of the second an Eagle displayed Sables by the name of Brown The ninth is Sables two Lions paws one issuing out of the Dexter the other out of the Sinister point of the Escutcheon in
aged Gentlemen established to be maintained with stipends by the name of Knights of Windsor who had appointed to them robes of cloath according to the manner of the Order which were to pray for the Order Of the Knights of the Round Table in England IT is said by many writers that the Order of the 〈◊〉 was inftituted in imitation 〈◊〉 the Round Table but I can give no great assurance of it only I believe it probable enough the beginning of them both agreeing also in some kind of Analogy This of the Round Table for so much as is remaining in History appears to me to have been the most noble in the world either before or since for ought yet I can understand And pity it were the memory of it should perish as it is almost being buried in the metamorphosis of ridiculous fables and by that means only 〈◊〉 with the shadowie reputation of a Romance in the minds of many and indeed most men It was erected by King Arthur who reigned in the year of our Redemption 490. and conquered Norway Scotland and so much of France that he was crowned King of Paris as both ours and the French annals testifie Of this King many fabulous things have been writ but we may collect so much from the more serious as may assute us that without doubt many noble and beyond ordinary heroick acts were performed by this generous Prince Which caused the society of this Order to shine with so much the more splendor than the ordinary stars of this sublunary world insomuch that it is recorded in some Chronologies that at one time summoning them to a meeting at a place in Wales called Carlion or Carlignion there resorted to him ten Kings thirteen Earls and many Barons and other persons of great quality that were of the Fraternity This I have also in Sir William Segar and in a very antient Chronicle which I have seen my selfe in Manuscript in that Country which was much the same with the relations I have since met with of this Order And that these Kings were not petty Kings must be understood since there was at that time no Heptarchy or Provincial Kings but all Monarchies much in the same nature as they have been in our ages This King is generally reported by Chronologers and some of them solid too to be taken alive from the earth or at least miraculously disposed of invisibly but this is a riddle too great for me to unfold Many of them 〈◊〉 this fable I conjecture from an Epitaph that Merlin writ on him Hic jacet Arturus Rex quondam Rexque futurus Which very thing to my Judgement must make clear that he was buryed which is their argument that he was not The Order or Fraternity however was certainly in very great repute in the world and being only a banquet of Honor could not but whet the emulations of all generous spirits for none were admitted to it but such as had shewed their merit by some eminent exploit Their place of convention was Winchester where they had their Round Table and at the Feast of Pentecost they alwayes met and feasted So saith Sir William Segar in whose Orders of Knighthood the articles of this Order are set down but others are of another opinion and tell us that Windsor Castle was the most peculiar place where a Round Table was erected for their meeting being a Castle built by the same King and the Records of the place shew us as much though Winchester may sometimes have been the place according as the time of the Kings being in progresse or keeping his Court accidentally there as sometimes it was at Carleon and sometimes in the North. Knights of St. Andrew in Scotland THe Scots ever since the reign of Hungus the Pict have received St. Andrew for their Tutelar-Saint Who as it is reported in their Histories making war on the English saw in the skie a bright Crosse of St. Andrew which is in the Shape of the Saltire and in that battail after gained a very great victory From which time ever since they flye that Crosse in their Banners And from thence erected the Order of St. Andrew But I find nothing in Favin Aubertus Mereus or the Scotch Writer 〈◊〉 that can satisfie me in what time it began Only it was refined by James the fifth Who being honored with the Garter from England the Toyzon d'or from the Emperor and St Michael from France celebrated the Festivals of them all and setting up their several arms with their orders about them over the gate of 〈◊〉 erected his own also with the order of Saint Andrew in the midst which Order is ensigned with a Collar of Rue and Thistles with a Medal of St. Andrew hanging at it and this Motto Nemo me impune 〈◊〉 Of the Golden Fleece in the Empire THis Order of the Toyzon d'Or was instituted by Philip Duke of Burgundy an 1429. upon his expedition to the Holy Land in memory of Gideon who with three hundred men fought against and overthrew a mighty Army of the Midianites as Favin is of opinion Which perchance may be true he marching upon a great enterprise with a smal Army might do it to raise courage and emulation in his Commanders The Patron is St. Andrew the Soveraign the Dukes of Burgundy the number twenty four besides the Soveraign all of Noble blood Their habit is a Cassock of Crimson Velvet and over it a Mantle of the same lined with white which openeth on the right fide and is turned upon the left over the shoulder embroydered round about with a bordure of flames fusils and fleeces and a Hood of Crimson Velvet on their heads The Collar of the Order is of gold wrought with flames fusils and fleeces which they are bound to wear alwayes upon a penalty The power of making new is in the Soveraign only And who ever enters into it renounces all other orders of Knighthood unlesse the Soveraigns be Emperors Kings or free Princes To the order belongs a Chancellor a Treasurer Register and a King of Armes called Toyzon Dor. At the Collar hangs a golden Fleece And formerly there was an Impresse peculiar to it which was an instrument to strike fire with his Motto Ante ferit quà m flamma micet The Emperor Charles the fifth being afterwards Soveraign as Duke of Burgundy did much increase the Order The severall Orders of Knighthood in France Knights of the Star THis order I find of very great eminence in France called the Star of the Sea and sometimes also of the Virgin Mary It was instituted by King Robert an 〈◊〉 And himself and succeding Kings were of the Fraternity Their Ensigne was a Star which they wore was their Hoods or Caps But this Order in time grew so common and distributed so immeritorioufly that Charles the seventh as 〈◊〉 at it commanded every Yeoman of his Guard to wear a Star in like manner which the Knights seeing