Corporals 150 l. each The King hath many other Inferiour Officers which over-passing we come now to The Government of the Queen's Court IS suitable to the Consort of so Great a King Splendid and Magnificent And hath all Officers and a Houshold apart from the King For Maintenance whereof there is usually setled 40000 l. per Annum and is as followeth The Ecclesiastical Government of the Queens Court. THe Lord or Grand Almoner He hath Superintendency over all the Ecclesiasticks belonging to the Queen One Confessor to the Queen and Four Almoners One Treasurer of the Chappel Two Preachers Four Clerks of the Chappel and Four Boys Sixteen Chaplains Divers belonging to the Musick and Two Vergers or Porters The Civil Government of the Queen's Court. THere is a Counsel consisting of Persons of Great Worth and Dignity A Steward of the Revenue A Keeper of Her Majesties Great Seal A Chamberlain Master of the Horse A Vice-Chamberlain A Principal Secretary and Master of Requeste A Treasurer and Receiver General Attorney General Solicitor General A Surveyor General Six Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber Two Cup-bearers Two Carvers Two Sewers Five Gentlemen Ushers daily Waiters Ten Grooms ef the Privy Chamber Seven Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters Six Pages attending at the Back-Stairs Four Pages of the Presence Officers of the Robes A Surveyor Proveditor Clerk Yeoman Groom Page Tayler and Brusher Twelve Grooms of the Great Chamber One Porter of the Back Stairs A Master of the Queens Barge and Twenty Four Watermen The Grooms of the Stole Lady of the Robes and of the Privy Purse Seven Ladies of the Bed-chamber One Keeper of the Sweet Coffers Six Maids of Honour and A Governess or Mother of the Maids Six Chamberers or Dressers A Laundress A Sempstress A Starcher A Necessary Woman These are all paid by Her Majesty out of her own Revenue There are besides Divers other Officers Below Stairs belonging to the Queens Table and Stable paid by the King for which is allowed 20000 l. more The Prince of Wales and other the King's Children have likewise their Courts or Housholds apart But these being not certain no certain Allowance or Settlement is of them but are rather at pleasure And therefore I shall not particularize them but refer to Chamberlain's Present State of England The Government of Cities ALthough every City is within some of the Counties herein before mentioned yet each of them are like a little Common-wealth Governed by Laws and Customs Ecclesiastical Civil and Military within themselves And this by Charter or Priviledges granted and cofirmed to them by several Kings of this Realm And there is for The Ecclesiastical Government of Cities A Bishop every City being or having been a Bishops See and hath a Cathedral to which belong a Dean A Chapter A Treasurer and Prebendaries who have Lands and Revenues belonging to them for their Maintenance and though the Bishoprick be dissolved the City remains as Westminster and Cambridge which was antiently reputed a City And for The Ecclesiastical Government of Parishes there is a Rector or Vicar for every Parish who is to have the Cure of the Souls of his Parishioners every one of which hath a Parsonage or Vicaridge-House and a Competent allowance of Tithes for their Maintenance And there is for The Civil Government of Cities A Mayor who is the King's Lieuetenant chosen by the Citizens and approved by the King and is for one year as a Judge to determine all Matters within his Jurisdiction and to Mitigate the Rigour of the Law And next in Government of Cities are the Two Sheriffs who are Judges in Civil Causes within the City and to see all Execution done whether Penal or Capital To Execute the Kings Mandates within the City c. And might rather be called State Reeves or Port-Reeves i. e. Urbis vel Portus Praefecti The Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen of every City may make Laws called By-Laws for the Government of the City provided they are not Repugnant to the Laws of the Kingdom And these have several Courts which have Jurisdiction in all Civil and Criminal Causes only with Restraint that all Civil Causes may be removed from their Courts to the Higher Courts at Westminster But of all these we shall speak more at large when we come to treat of the City of London and other Cities in particular which may serve for an Example or Pattern of all the rest And therefore we shall begin with The City of London LOndon so called as some conjecture from the British word Longdin signifying in the Saxon Tongue Shipton or Town of Ships But others derive it otherwise And therefore not to insist thereon Nam utere tuo Judicio nihil impedio It was Built as some Write 1108 years before the Incarnation of our Saviour In the time of Samuel the Prophet Is in length about 7 Miles and half and about 2 Miles and half in breadth Hath above 500 Streets and Alleys and 15000 Houses within the Walls which may not be accompted above a Sixth part of the whole City The Cathedral Church of St. Paul was Built or begun by Ethelbert King of Kent about Anno Christi 610 and is the only Cathedral of that Name in Europe Besides this there are 130 Parish Churches besides Chappels which is double the number to be found in any other City in Christendom The Ecclesiastical Government OF London is as before mentioned of Cities in General By a Bishop and was in the time of the Britains by an Archbishop but by the Saxons the Archiepiscopal See was removed to Canterbury for the sake of St. Austin who first Preached the Gospel there to the Heathen Saxons and was there buried since which there have been 100 Bishops to the present Bishop there To this Cathedral belongs a Dean a Chapter and 30 Prebendaries maintained in like manner before mentioned in the General Government of Cities The Ecclesiastical Government of Parishes is as before mentioned by a Parson Rector or Vicar To have cure of Souls in every Parish who have a Parsonage or Vicaridge-House and a competent Allowance in Tithes which was anciently besides the Tithes of Tradesmen's gains and mortuaries c. 3 s. 5 d. in the pound Rent which they paid by a Half every Sunday and Holiday Afterwards by 25 Hen. 8. It was ordained and afterwards confirmed by 27 Hen. 8. and 37 Hen. 8. That 2 s. 9 d. in the pound should be paid for the Rent of all Houses Shops c. to the Parson with power to the Lord Major to Imprison any Person should refuse to pay the same The Civil Government OF London is by a chief Magistrate anciently called The Prefect of London In the Saxons time Portegreeve by the Norman's Bailiff or Bailiffs till King Rich. the First Anno 1189 changed the name of Bailiff to Mayor which is now The Lord Mayor and is a Citizen yearly chosen by the Citizens and approved by the King unless sometimes for Disloyalty their
And sometimes the Kings of England have called the Nobles of Ireland to come to the Parliaments of England Coke's 4 Inst 350. And by Special Words the Parliaments of England may bind the Subjects of Ireland Co. 4 Inst ibid. And seeing good Acts of Parliament made in England since the Reign of King John extended not to Ireland unless it were especially named or by General Words included a Right profitable Act was made at a Parliament holden in Ireland Anno 10 Hen. 7. before Sir Edward Poynings then Deputy or Pro-Rex in Ireland and thereupon called Poyning's Law That all Statutes late made in England concerning the publick Weal should be accepted used and executed in Ireland Co. 4 Inst. 351. In what manner a Parliament is to be holden in Ireland and how Bills offered to the Parliament there shall be first Transmitted hither under the Great Seal of that Kingdom and having received Approbation here shall be returned hither to be preferr'd to the Parliament and several Questions and Doubts Resolved concerning this matter Vide Co. 4 Inst 353. By the Statute of 3 Hen. 2. all Persons having Lands Tenements or Offices Ecclesiastical or Temporal shall Reside upon the same and those that have Castles must there reside and repair and fortifie them And if they Depart they must appoint some able to supply their room or the Governour may dispose half their Living to such Defence Co. 4 Inst 356. At a Synod holden by St. Patrick in Ireland it was unanimously agreed That Irish Priests should have Wives Co. 4 Inst 356. There is an Ancient Record concerning Ireland necessary to be Explained In these Words REX Thesaurario Hiberniae Solutem Cum Edwardus primogenitus noster terram Hiberniae habeat teneat de dono nostro cum omnibus pertinentiis suis adeo libere quiete sicut eam in manu nostra teneremus per quod charissima filia nostra Alianora Consors dicti filij nostri Aurum suum tam de finibus quam sponte Oblatis in terra Hiberniae habere Debet sicut charissima Consors nostra Alianora Regina Angliae Aurum suum habet de eisdem in Regno nostro Angliae Vobis mandamus c. quatenus praefat ' Consorti filij nostri praedicti Aurum praedictum de finibus sponte oblatis etiam de quibuscunque aliis finibus praedictis habere facias in forma praedicta Et hoc c. In cujus c. Teste Rege 29 die Februarij Anno 52 Hen. 3. By this Record first it appeareth that as the Law was taken at that Day by Gift of King Henry the Third his Eldest Son Prince Edward was Lord of the Dominion and Lordship of Ireland Secondly That albeit the Wife of Prince Edward was not Queen in Name but had the Effect of it therefore she should have a Duty called Aurum Reginae as well as the Queen of England being but Lady in Ireland For albeit the Kings of Ireland were until the Statute of 33 Hen. 8. styled by the Name of Lords of Ireland yet was he Supremus and absolutè Dominus and had Royal Dominion and Authority and that his Consort was in rei veritate Regina or else she could not have had Aurum Reginae Albeit this Royal Dominion and Land of Ireland was of ancient time permitted to be granted De facto to the King's Sons before-mentioned yet by the Law the King by his Letters Patent could not grant so Royal a Member of his Imperial style to any no more than he could do of the Kingdom of England Co. 4 Inst 357. What was the Duty of Aurum Reginae and when due Vide 4. Coke's Inst 358. At a Parliament holden in Ireland by Howel Duke of Clarence Lieutenant there Anno 40 Edw. 3. called The Statute of Kilkenny The Brehon Law which was the Irish Judges Law is no Law but a Lewd Custom crept in of later times and never was the Law of the Ancient Britains from whom they are descended Co. 4 Inst 358. The Pro-Rex there hath been sometime called Custos Warden Lieutenant Chief Justice Deputy of Ireland Coke's 4 Inst ibid. If an Archbishoprick or Bishoprick in Ireland be void then the Chapter shall Sue to the King in England to go to Election and after Election made they ought upon Certificate thereof made to the King to obtain his Royal Assent to this Election and thereupon a Writ shall be directed out of the Chancery here to the Chief Justice of Ireland or his Lieutenant rehearsing all this matter and commanding him to take Fealty of the Bishop and to restore him to his Temporalties But now the Course is in Ireland to make such Writs there in the Name of the King But the King Names the Archbishops and Bishops there as he doth in England and then the Chapter chuse him whom the King Names and thereupon Writs are made of Course Coke's 4. Institutes 359. And whereas some have Divided this Kingdom into the English Pale and Wild Irish let Oblivion bury it for now all are reduced to Obedience and civil Behaviour◠So as a Man may justly say of the Old Britains Sunt in Bello fortes in Pace fideles And whereas some have said the Crown of England had the Country of Ireland by Donation from the Pope the following Record will manifest the Truth therein Altitonantis Dei largiflua Clementia qui est Rex Regum Dominus Dominantium ego Edgarus Anglorum Basileus omniumque rerum Insularum Oceani qui Britanniam circumjacent cunctarumque Nationum quae infra eam includuntur Imperator Dominus gratias ago ipsi Deo Omnipotenti Regi meo qui meum imperium sic ampliavit exaltavit super regnum patrum meorum Qui licet Monarchiam Totius Angliae adepti sunt à tempore Athelstani qui primus Regum Anglorum omnes Nationes quae Britanniam incolunt sibi armis subegit nullus tamen eorum ultra fines Imperium suum Dilatare aggressus est Mihi tamen concessit propitia Divinitas cum Anglorum imperio omnia regna Insularum Oceani cum suis ferotissimis Regibus usque Norvegiam maximamque partem Hiberniae cum sua Nobilissima Civitate de Dublina Anglorum regno Subjugare quos etiam omnes meis imperiis colla subdere Dei favente gratia Coegi Quapropter ego Christi gloriam laudem in regno meo exaltar◠ejus servicium amplificare devotus deposui Et per meos fideles fautores Dunstanum viz. Archiepiscopum Ayelyolanum ac Oswaldum Archiepiscopos quos mihi patres spirituales consiliatores eligi magna ex parte disposui c. Facta sunt haec Anno Domini 964 Indictione 8. Regni vero Edgari Anglorum Regis 6 in Regia urbe quae ab incolis Ocleayeceastrie nominatur in natale Domini festivitate Sanctorum Innocentium feria 4 c. ✚ Ego Edgar Basileus Anglorum Imperator Regum gentium cum consensu principrim
dicti Domini Regis in dicto Com' Devon ' The Lord Warden hath Jurisdiction of all the Tynn in Cornwal and Devon and is guided therein by Special Laws by Customs and by Prescriptions Time out of mind And the Officers be the Steward Under-Warden c. By Exposition of the Charters of 33 E. 1. Made and Declared in Parliament Anno 50 E. 3. it appears that all Tynners and Workers in the Tynn-Works should be Free so that they should not Answer for any Matter or Thing arising within the Stannaries before any other Judge or Officer but only before the Warden of the Stannaries Except for Pleas of Land Life or Member and should not depart from their Work for the Summons of any the King's Officers except of his said Warden of the Stannaries and shall be quit of all Tallages Tolls Stallagiis aliis Custumis in Towns Ports Fairs and Markets within the said County De bonis suis propriis Upon any cause of Complaint ministred the same is to be redressed by Appellation First to the Steward of the Stannary-Court where the matter lyeth Then to the Under-Warden of the Stannaries and from him to the Lord Warden and for want of Justice at his hands to the Princes Privy Council For the Laws Jurisdictions c. of this Court see more in Co. 4 Inst c. 45. and Records c. there cited It was Resolved 4 Jac. 1. in Camera Stellata That Stannum Tynne otherwise White Lead nor Black Lead nor any other base Metal did belong to the King by his Prerogative as Gold and Silver do albeit there may be tryed out of the base Metal Gold and Silver but that is as the seed or strength of the base Metal which being Extracted becomes Defective There be Five kinds of Base Metals viz. Aes sive Cuprum because it was found out as some hold in Cypro Copper Stannum Tynn Ferrum Iron Plumbum Lead and Orychalcum Latyn Polybius 209 years before Christ wrote That this Island was abundantly stored with Tynn Britanni qui juxta Belerium promontorium incolunt Mercatorum usu qui eo Stanni gratia navigant humaniores reliquis hospites habentur hij ex terra Saxosa cujus venas sectati effodiunt Stannum igne eductum in quandam Insulam ferunt Britannicam juxta quam Vectam vocant Ex hiis Insulis Mercatores emptum Stannum in Galliam Portant inde diebus fere triginta cum equis ad fontem Eridani fluminis perducunt Coke 's 4 Inst cap. 45. The Court of the Major of the Staple THis Court is guided by the Law Merchant which is the Law of the Staple and is holden at the Wool-Staple in Westminster and there also are Two Constables and a certain number of Correctors to do that which pertaineth to their Office as in other Staples is accustomed And though it be more ancient is warranted by Parliament 27 Ed. 3. Whereby it is Ordained That The Staple of Wools Leather Woolfells and Lead shall be holden at Newcastle upon Tine York Lincoln Norwich Westminster Canterbury Cicester Winchester Exeter and Bristol For Wales at Caermardyn and for Ireland at Deuelin Waterford Cork and Droghoada And that such as shall be carryed out of the Land shall be brought to some of the said Staple-Towns to be weighed by the Standard and the Customs paid But from such of the said Staple-Towns which are not Port Towns the said Staple Commodities shall be sent to the next respective Port Towns as from Westminster to London c. there to be weighed again by the Customers Item That in every Town where the Staple is Ordained shall be a Mayor chosen yearly by the Comminalty who hath knowledge in the Law Merchant and Two convenable Constables who have power to keep the Peace arrest the Offenders in Staples for Debts Trespass and other Contracts and them to Imprison and punish after the Law of the Staple and a Prison appointed for that purpose The Mayors Sheriffs and Bayliffs of the Towns where the Staple is or joyning to the Staple shall be attending to the Mayors and Ministers of the Staple for Executing their Commandments upon grievous Forfeiture and one Lord or other of the most Sufficient where the Staple is shall be assigned to be Aidant to the Mayor and Ministers of the Staple to justifie the Rebels that cannot be justified by the Mayors and Ministers of the Staple and to redress all Complaints c. The Bounds of the Staple at Westminster shall begin at Temple-Bar and extend to Tuthill In other Cities and Towns within the Walls and where there are no Walls through all the City or Town By the Statute of 27 Ed. 3. the Major of the Staple may take Recognizances of Debts under the Seal of the Office but not with the Seal of the Party By the Statute of 23 H. 8. the Major of the Staple at Westminster and Recorder of the City of London in the absence of the Two Chief Justices out of Term have power to take Recognizances of Debts according to that Statute and this is in the Nature of a Statute Staple but it hath besides the Seal of those that take it the Seal of the Party By the Statute of 36 Ed. 3. Merchant Strangers may sue before the Major of the Staple according to Law Merchant or at the Common Law By the Statute of 8 H. 6. cap. 17. there are in England Five Staple Merchandizes viz. Wool Woolfells Leather Lead and Tyn. The Mayor and Constables are sworn in Chancery to do lawfully that which pertaineth unto them That Staple cometh from the French Estape signifying a Mart or Market and for other Matters concerning the Staple see Coke's 4 Inst cap 46. and the Statutes and Records there mentioned The Principality of Wales WALLIA Wales by the Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wales unde Wallenses Walli i. e. Exteri seu Perâ—grini The Britons calling Englishmen Saisons They are of the Posterity of the ancient Britons Inhabiting on the West part of Great Brittany This was sometime a Realm or Kingdom Governed per Regulos suos But Jure Feodali the Kingdom of Wales was holden of the Crown of England and thereby as Bracton saith was Sub potestate Regis and so continued until the 11th Year of King Edward the First when he subdued the Prince of Wales and Executed him for Treason Whereof Fleta who lived in those days speaketh thus Et unico Malefactori plura poterunt infligi tormenta sicut contigit de Davide Principe Walliae cum per Edwardum Quinque Judiciis mortalibus torquebatur suis namque Meritis exigentibus Detractus Suspensus Dismembratus fuit combustus cujus caput principali Civitati quatuorque Quarteria ad quatuor partes Regni in Odium tradit deferebuntur suspendendum And in the 12th of E. 1. by Parliament it is declared speaking in the Person of the King as ancient Statutes were wont to do Divina Providentia quae in sua dispositione non
in the 17th year of his Reign by Charter Established in Parliament created his Son Son called the Black Prince Prince of VVales in these words De Concilio Praelatorum Comitum Baronum Communiam in Generali Parliamento nostro apud Wesmonaster ' die Lunae in Quindena Paschae proximè praeterito convocato Ipsum Edwardum Pricipem Walliae fecimus creavimus Et dictum Principatum sibi dedimus concessimus per Chartam nostram confirmavimus ac ipsum de dicto Principatu ut ibidem praeficiendo praesidiat praesidendo dictas partes dirigat defendat per sertum in Capite Annulum in Digito aureum ac virgam argenteam investivimus juxta morem Habendum tenendum de nobis sibi Haeredibus suis Regibus Angliae imperpetuum c. And in the same manner is the Noble and primary County Palatine of Chester granted to him at the same time with the same words Sibi Haeredibus suis Regibus Angliae which import a limited Fee and that by his decease or attaining to the Crown these Dignities might be Extinguished in the Crown to the end the King for the time being might have the Honour and power to create his Heir apparent Prince of VVales and Earl of Chester as he himself had been by his Progenitors But otherwise it is in the Case of the Dutchy of Cornwal Vide Coke's 4 Inst cap. 48. that being without Creation and ever since 11 Ed. 3. the First begotten Son of the King is ever Duke of Cornwal And this may suffice for a Short Survey of the Principality of Wales And now proceed to The Military Government of England THe King hath the Sole Supream Goverment Command and Disposition of the Military Power of England both by Land and Sea As is at large declared in Parliament Anno 14 Car. 2. And By Land the next under the King is the Generalissimo when in being of all his Majesties Forces in his Three Kingdoms Horse and Foot in Say as well within Garison as without These Forces in the late King Charles the Seconds time consisted of 4 Regiments of Foot The King's Regiment 24 Companies and near 1700 Men The Dukes Regiment 720 Men Another Regiment 600 Men And the Earl of Craven's Regment of 960 Men And the Earl of Oxford's Regiment consisting of 8. Troops about 500 Horse besides Officers There were likewise in King Charles the Seconds time Three compleat Troops of Horse for his Life-Guard The Kings Troop 200 Horse The Queens Troop 150 Horse and the Duke of Yorks Troop 150 Horse The rest of his Majesties Forces in constant pay were disposed under several Governors in several Garisons of which there are about Thirty two and in some of them the King had 500 Men in constant pay The pay of a Colonel of Horse 12 s. per diem A Collonel of Foot 20 s. per diem and other Officers proportionably Each of the Life-Guards 4 s. per diem And each Trooper 2 s. 6 d. per diem Each Foot Soldier in London 10 d. per diem Each Foot Soldier in Garrison 8 d. per diem These Forces were afterwards much encreased but no Orders are yet setled by Act of Parliament for these Land Forces as there are for Sea Forces But now they are settled by Act of Parliament to be 7000 natural born Subjects The Officers included Besides these Forces before mentioned the Standing Militia of the Kingdom is settled in the King by Acts of Parliament Tempore Car. 2. to be Governed Ordered and Enlarged from time to time as his Majesty shall see occasion For Government of these the King by Commission Creates divers of the Peers of the Kingdom Lieutenants of the several Counties with power to Arm Array and Form into Companies Troops and Regiments and to conduct upon occasion of Rebellion or Invasion and employ there Men so Armed within their respective Counties or into any other County as the King shall direct To give Commissions to Colonels and other Commissionated Officers To present to the King the Names of Deputy Lieutenants To charge ay person with Horse Horse-Men and Arms or Foot Soldiers and Arms within the said County proportionable to their Estates with limitation that no person be charged with a Horse unless he hath 500 l. yearly or 6000 l. personal Estate or with a Foot Soldier unless he hath 50 l. yearly or 600 l. personal Estate Those that have meaner Estates are to joyn Two or Three together to find a Horse or Horseman or a Foot Soldier The said Horse or Foot to Muster once or twice a year and each Horse-Man while he serves to have 2 s. a day and each Foot Soldier 12 d. per diem They have likewise power to levy a Fourth part of the Tax of 70000 l. per Mensem for Ammunition And in case of Marching against an Enemy they have power to cause every Man so charged to allow each Soldier a Months pay which the King is after to pay before they be charged with another Months pay In 1588 Upon the Muster made by Commission from Queen Eliz. in expectation of the Spanish Invasion there were found to be Three Millions and of those fit for War about 600000 Men. In all times of danger some are set to watch at every Beacon to give notice in a few Hours to the whole Kingdom There were anciently many Castles in all parts of England But Inland Castles have been either demolished or willingly suffered to decay that Rebels or Invaders might have no Shelter or the Invaded any Refuge to Fly to whereby to occasion any Lingring And now we come to the Military Courts amongst which the chief is The Court of Chivalry before the Constable and Marshal THis Court is called Curia Militaris and the Marshal Court wherein the Lord Constable and Earl Marshal of England are Judges And is the Fountain of the Martial Law Constable Is compounded of two Saxon words Cunning per contractionem King Stable id est Columen q. Columen Regis anciently written Coningstable Marshal Likewise of two Saxon wards Mare for Equus and Stale for Curator The Jurisdiction is declared by the Statute of 13 R. 1. To the Constable it appertaineth to have Conusance of Contracts and Deeds of Arms and of War out of the Realm and also of Things that touch War within the Realm which cannot be determined or discussed by the Common Law with other Usages and Customs to the same pertaining which other Constables have duly and reasonably used in their time joyning to the same that every Plaintiff shall declare plainly his Matter in his Petition before that any Man be sent for to answer thereunto And if any will complain that any Plea be commenced before the Constable and Marshal that might be Tried by the Law of the Land the same Complainant shall have a Privy Peal of the King without difficulty directed to the said Constable and Marshal to Purcease in that Plea
Servants of the Houshold at a Day Place and under a pain therein appointed to appear whereof the Judges or Officers before whom they shall be returned shall cause 12 without Challenge to be allowed except for Malice To try the Offenders and if they are Found Guilty of Treason Murder or Manslaughter they shall have Judgment of Life and Member and other Forfeitures as if Tried by the Common Laws of the Realm If Guilty of Strking whereby Bloodshed Then to have his Right hand stricken off Imprisonment during Life and Fine and Ransom at the Kings Pleasure The Execution to be done in the Solemn manner by the Act directed A Cryer to be appointed from time to time to call Juries make Proclamations and do other things belonging to the Cryer of the Court. The Coroner to be appointed from time to time by the Lord Steward Tryal of Peers as hath been used The Priviledges and Authorities of the Marshalsea Court within the Verge saved The Limits and Bounds of the said House or Houses to be for these offences within all the Edifices Courts c. within the Porters Ward or within 200 Foot of the Standard of any Gate or Gates of the said Houses This Act extends not to any Nobleman or other Person that shall Strike to correct his Servants or any of the Councel or other Head Officers Striking with their Hand of small Strick in Executing their Office To Steal the Kings Goods or entring his House to Steal shall be Felony Vide le Statute at large The Servants in Ordinary above Stairs THe Groom of the Stole that is according to the Greek from whence the Latin and French derive it Groom or Servant of the Robe or Garment he having the Honour to present and put on His Majesties first Garment or Shirt every Morning and to order things of the Bed-chamber The Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber consisting of the prime Nobility of England Their Office in general is To Wait a Week in every Quarter by Turn in the King's Bed-chamber there to lye by the King in a Pallat-Bed all Night and in the absence of the Groom of the Stole to supply his place Moreover they Wait on the King when he eats in private for then the Cup-bearer Carver and Sewers do not Wait. The Fee to each is 1000 l. Of these are Fourteen or more Then there is The Vice-Chamberlain The Keeper of the Privy-Purse Treasurer of the Chamber He pays Riding and Lodging Wages as the Lord Chamberlain shall direct The Master of the Robes belonging to His Majesty's person who is to have the ordering of all His Majesty's Robes as those of Coronation St. George's Feast Parliament and of all His Majesty's Wearing Apparel of his Collar of Esses Georges and Garters beset with Diamonds and Pearls Grooms of the Bed chamber ought to be Twelve these are to be under the Degrees of Knights Their office is to Attend in the King's Bed-chamber to Dress and Undress the King in private and the yearly Fee to each is Five hundred pounds Pages Six whereof one is Keeper of the King's Cabinet Closet Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy-chamber These Wait one at a time in the Privy Lodgings c. and are Four Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary Forty eight Quarter-Wainters by Turns Their office is Twelve every Quarter to Wait on the King's Person within Doors and without so long as he 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 Reception of Ambassadors and every Night lye Two of them in the King's Bed-chamber A Gentleman of the Privy Chamber by the King's Commandment only without any written Commission is sufficient to Arrest any Peer of England as Cardinal Woolsey acknowledged These wear Cloak and Sword Grooms of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary Six all Gentlemen of Quality These as all Grooms wait without Sword Cloak or Hat Gentlemen Ushers daily Waiters in the Presence Chamber Four The First whereof hath that considerable Office of the Black Rod and in the time of Parliament is to attend every day the Lord's House and is also Usher of the most Honourable Order of the Garter Their office is to wait in the Presence Chamber and to attend next to the King's person and after the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain to order all Affairs and all Under Officers above Stairs are to obey these Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters in Ordinary Eight These wait also in the Presence Chamber and are to give Directions in the absence of the Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters to the Grooms and Pages and other Under Officers Gentlemen Waiters Six Cupbearers Five Carvers in Ordinary Four Sewers to the Person in Ordinary Four Esquires of the Body in Ordinary Six Their office is to Guard the King's 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 The Sewers of the Chamber are Eight Groom Porter his Office is to see the King's Lodgings furnished with Tables Chairs Stools and Firing To furnish Cards Dice c. To decide Disputes arising at Cards Dice Bowlings c. Serjeants at Arms Sixteen all Gentlemen or Knights attending upon His Majesty There are also Four other Serjeants at Arms whereof one attends the Lord President of Wales another the Speaker of the House of Commons and another the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Physicians in Ordinary Four one assigned to the Queen and one to the Houshold besides Twelve more who are not the King 's sworn Servants nor have Fee Master and Treasurer of the Jewel-House and Three Under Officers called Yeomen and Grooms Their office is to take charge of the Gold or Silver Gilt Plate for the King and Queens Table of all Plate in the Tower of Chains and loose Jewels not fixed to any Garment The Master of the Ceremonies Fee 200 l. One Assistant Fee 120 l. and One Marshal One Geographer One Historiographer One Hydrographer One Library Keeper One Poet Laureat One Publick Notary The King 's Great Wardrobe THe Master or Keeper of the Great Wardrobe is an Office of great Antiquity and Dignity High Priviledges and Immunities were conferred by King Henry the Sixth confirmed by his Successors and enlarged by King James the first who ordained this Great Officer should be an Incorporation or Body Politick for ever His Office is to make Provisions for Coronations Marriages and Funerals To furnish the Court with Beds Hangings Carpets and other Necessaries To furnish Houses for Ambassadours at their first Arrival here Presents for Foreign Princes and Ambassadours Cloaths of State and other Furniture for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord President of Wales and His Majesty's Ambassadours abroad To provide all Robes for the Foreign Knights of the Garter for the Officers of the Garter Coats for Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms Robes for the Lord
And the late King Charles the Second was made Free of the Grocers There are near LX other Companies or Corporations All enjoying large Priviledges by the Charters of several Kings and have Fair Halls to meet in The Military Government in London HIs Late Majesty King Charles the Second after his Restoration sent a Commission of Lieutenancy appointing several Persons His Lieutenants giving them the same Power in London the Lord Lieutenants have in their respective Counties And in pursuance of that Commission the Regiments then in being were New setled in this manner viz. Six Regiments of Trained Bands Commanded by six Citizens Knights and their Lieutenant Colonels all Knights and six Regiments of Auxiliaries In these Twelve Regiments were 20000 Men Then there were Listed Two Regiments of Horse each consisting of five Troops in all 800 Horse But in case of need in London and within the Liberties may in a Few days be Raised 40000 Men. There is in Southwark One Regiment of Trained Bands Fifteen Hundred Men. In the Hamlets of the Tower Two Regiments in all Three thousand Men Then Holbourn Regiment and Westminster Regiment Two thousand each and in case of Necessity they can Raise 20000 more The Artillery Company is as a Nursery of Souldiers and hath been so for above 60 years the late King Charles when Prince of Wales Listed himself therein and the Duke of York did the like at the same time who after the Restoration took upon himself the Command thereof and under him was a Leader who Exercised them every Tuesday Fortnight and the other Tuesday the Exercise was performed by the several Members of the Company who are there Trained up to Command Of this Society are many of the Nobility also the Lord Mayor and most of the Aldermen All the Commanders of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries here Exercise Arms. This Company consists of 600 Men. Their Officers are A Leader Two Lieutenants Two Ensigns Two Serjeants A Provost Martial Four Gentlemen of Arms c. They have also a Court Martial consisting of A President A Vice-President a Treasurer and Twenty four Members of the Company On the Second Tuesday in February at a General Rendezvous every Year the Officers are Elected For the Security and Defence of this Famous City and River there hath been anciently divers Fortresses But the most Eminent and Chief is that called The Tower of London WHich is not only a Fort or Cittadel to command and defend both City and River but also A Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have sometimes Lodged A Royal Arsenal where are Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Men The Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The only Mint for coyning Gold and Silver The Great Archive where are conserved All the Records of the Courts at Westminster The Chief Prison for the safe Custody of Great Persons that are Criminals and if the great Extent thereof within the Walls be considered and its Authority over the several Hamlets without and the many high Priviledges and Liberties belonging thereunto it may rather be Reputed a City than a Cittadel The Governour of this Important Fortress is the Constable or Lieutenant of the Tower Who is High Steward of a Court there held by Prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions of any Sum Greater or Lesser and hath a Deputy Before the late Act might refuse a Habeas Corpus may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower within the Realm of England hath Priviledge to take Unam Lagenam of all Wine-Ships that come Is Virtute Officij to be in Commission of the Peace for the Counties of Kent Surrey and Middlesex and as some hold to be Custos Rotulorum of the County of Middlesex His Salary is 200 l. per Annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner is 20 l. at Entrance and 3 l. a Week for an Esquire For a Knight 5 l. a Week For a Baron or above 50 l. at Entrance to whom the King allows 10 l. Weekly whereof Two part goes to the Prisoner the other Third part to the Lieutenant for Lodgings and Dyet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The Gentleman Porter of the Tower holds his Place by Patent and at the Entrance of a Prisoner hath for his Fee Vestimenta Superiora or a Composition for it The Gentleman Gaoler is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman 5 l. of a Knight Forty Warders of the Tower accounted the King's Domestick Servants and Sworn by the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Cheque The Tower is not within any County or Parish only a small part some account to be in Middlesex but is a Liberty of it self exempt from all Taxes to the King Church or Poor It hath A Parochial Church exempt from all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Archbishop and is a Donative bestowed by the King without Institution or Induction And there are Thirteen Hamlets of large Extent belonging to the Tower whose Train-Bands are all bound to Assist the Constable or Lieutenant of the Tower which are called The King's Company and are to Wait on the King's Person in time of Need and to go no further than the King And within the Tower is kept The Office of the Ordnance BEing the grand and standing Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliaments Utensils and Instruments of War as well by Sea as Land for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and consequently hath Influence in the Navies Forts Castles and Armies thereof having the Superintendence Ordering and Disposing as well of the Grand Magazine lodged in the Tower as at the Minories Woolwich Chatham Windsor Portsmouth Plimouth Hull and elsewhere And is under the Government of The Master of the Ordnance under whom The Administration and Management of the said Office is committed to the Principal Officers following viz. The Lieutenant of the Ordnance who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance is to Impart all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and to see them duly Executed and to give Order for Discharging the Great Ordnance when required upon Coronation Days Days Festival Triumphs c. As also to see the Train of Artillery fitted with all its Equipage for Motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to Survey all the Ordnance Stores and Provisions of War in the custody of the Store-keeper which he is to see so distinguished and placed as shall be best for their Preservation and Safety for a decent View and a ready Account to allow all Bills of Debt and to keep Check upon all Labourers and Artificers Works and to see that all Provisions received be good and serviceable and duly proved with the Assistance of the rest of the Officers and the Proof Masters and marked with the King's Mark if they ought so to be The Clerk of the Ordnance is to Record all Orders and Instructions given for
of each Inns of Court who sitting as the Benchers do in the Inns of Court at their Mootes they hear and Argue his Case In the Term time the only Exercise of Learning is Arguing and debating Cases after Dinner and Mooting after Supper as in the Vacation time The Keeping Christmass in the Inns of Court IF there be a sufficient number of Students to keep a Solemn Christmass then the Students before Christmass hold a Parliament and certain of them are appointed to be Officers in Imitation of the Kings Court as Comptroller of the Inner Temple so of the Middle Temple stiled Lieutennant of the Tower and Treasurer c. These bear Rule during the time of Christmass and are to behave themselves with that Port and Gravity as if they as perhaps they may afterwards were so in the Kings House At such time they have divers Divertisments as Feasting every day Singing Dancing Dicing which is allowed to all Comers and is so Excessive that the Butlers Box usually amounts to above 50 l. a Day and Night With which and a Small Contribution from each Student are the great Charges of the Christmass defrayed When their Treasure is great they sometimes create a Prince giving him such Title they think fit And he hath all Officers and a Court Suitable to a Great Prince and many of the Prime Nobility and Great Officers of State have been Entertained by him with Feasting Enterludes c. As was sometime done with Great Magnificence by Sir John Lort by the Title of Prince de la Grange From All Saints-day to Candlemass each House usually hath Revells on Holy days that is Musick and Dancing and for this is usually chosen some young Student to be Master of the Revels The Manner of holding Parliaments in the Inns of Court EVery Quarter the Benchers cause one of the Standing Officers of the House to Summon a Parliament which is an Assembly of the Benchers which are called the Sage Company in a place called the Parliament Chamber Where they treat of matters for good Ordering of the House Here are the Readers for Lent and Summer Vacation Elected The Treasurer chosen Auditors appointed To take the Accompts of the old Treasurer Offences committed by any of the Society Punished c. In the Four Inns of Court are about 800 Students The Serjeants Inns. THe Common Law Student when he hath been admitted of some Inn of Court where he is first called a Moote Man and after about Seven years Study an Utter Barrister and after Twelve years more and having performed his Exercises is chosen a Bencher and sometime after a Reader He then wears a long Robe different from other Barristers and is in Capacity to be made Serjeant when the King please to call him and when he is arrived to that Degree he hath his Diet and Lodging in one of those Two Inns called Serjeants Inn And these are called Servientes ad Legem Serjeants at Law and are as Doctors in the Civil Law Only Doctoris appellatio est Magisterij Servientis vero Ministerij And therefore Doctors of Law are allowed to Sit within the Bar in Chairs covered whilst Serjeants stand without the Bar bare Headed Only their Coifs or Caps on And The Call or Creation of Serjeants IS when the number of Serjeants is Small The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas by the Advice and Consent of the other Judges makes choice of 6 or 8 more or less of the most grave and learned of the Inns of Court and presents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Keeper who sends by the Kings Writ to each of them to appear on such a day before the King to Receive the State and Degree of a Serjeant at Law at the Time appointed They being habited in Robes of Two Colours viz. Brown and Blew come accompanied with the Students of the Inns of Court and attended by a Train of Servants and Retainers in certain Peculiar Cloth Liveries to Westminster-Hall there in Publick take a Solemn Oath and are Clothed with certain Robes and Coifs without which they may no more be seen in publick and making their Count at the Common Pleas Bar and causing Rings to be distributed amongst the Officers and Clerks of the Court they afterwards Feast the great Officers and Persons of the Kingdom in a Magnificent manner and give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Blood Archbishops Chancellor and Treasurer of Forty shillings value to Earls and Bishops Rings of Twenty Shillings value to other Officers Barons Prelates c. Rings of less value And out of these are chosen The Judges WHen any Judges are wanting The King by Advice of his Counsel makes choice of some of these Serjeants to supply his or their Places and Constitutes him if Chief Justice of the King's Bench by Writ But if others then he or they are Constituted by Letters Patents Sealed by the Chancellor who Sitting in the Middle of the rest of the Judges in open Court by a Set Speech Declares to the Serjeant or Serjeants there brought in the King's Pleasure and to the People the Kings Goodness in providing the Bench with such Able Honest Men and causeth the Letters Patent to be Read and being departed The Chief Justice placeth him on the Bench Junior to all the rest and having taken his Oath well and truly to serve the King and his People in the Office of Justice To take no Reward To do equal and Speedy Justice to all c. he Sits to the Execution of his Office And now being a Judge hath thereby great Honour and a Considerable Salary besides Perquisites for each one hath at least 1000 l. a year from the King and now besides his Serjeants Habit he hath a Cloak put over him and closed on his right Shoulder and instead of his Caputium lined with Lamskins it is now lined with Minever or De Minuto vario only the Two Lord Chief Justices and the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer have their Hoods Sleeves and Collars turn'd up with Trimme To these Two Serjeants Inns belong the Twelve Judges and about Twenty six Serjeants The Colledge of Civilians in London CAlled Doctors Commons being Purchased by Dr. Henry Harvy long since Dean of the Arches for the Professors of the Civil Law in this City where Commonly the Judge of the Arches The Judge of the Admiralty And the Judge of the Prerogative and divers other Eminent Civilians Presiding and having their Diet and Lodging there in a Collegiate Manner It was usually known by the name of Doctors Commons which being consumed in the late Dreadful Fire and now Rebuilt at the Charge of the said Doctors they now keep their Courts and Pleadings there every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with that at Westminster Those that are allowed to be Advocates and plead in these Courts are all to be Doctors of the Civil Law in one of the Universities of England who upon their Petition to
are in the Possession of the English at this day and intending to begin from the North and proceed South towards the Equinoctial Line The farthest as being North is Newfoundland CAlled also by some Estotiland Scituate between 46 and 53 Degrees North Latitude Hath South Terra Corterialis North the Streights called Fretum Davisij from John Davis an Englishman who endeavoured by the North of America to find a more quick passage to Cathai and China Sebastian Cabot first attempting it Anno 1527. Who is said to be the first discoverer of this Country not then known to be an Island and Sir Martin Frobisher seconded him in 1576 who made three Voyages and called a great Promontory there Queen Elizabeth's Foreland and the Sea runing by it Frobisher's Streights on the other side of these Streights lieth Groenland and not far distant Friesland This Island is Esteemed as big as England The North part being more Inhabited than the South tho' that be fitter for Habitation within 50 Leagues of the Shore is a Bank or Ridge of Ground many Hundred Leagues long in breadth where broadest only 24 About it are certain Islands which Calvert called Baccaloes for the great number of Codfish of which one Man may catch One hundred in an hour the Sea Coasts abounding likewise with Salmons Herring Thornbacks Oysters Muscles with Pearls and the Island with Bears and Foxes After the first discovery the business of Trading thither was laid aside for many years in the mean time the Normans Portugals and Britains of France resorted to it and changed the Names which had been given by the English to the Bays and Promontories but the English not willing to Relinquish their Pretensions in 1583. Sir Humphrey Gilbert took Possession thereof in the Name and by the Commission of Queen Elizabeth forbidding all other Nations to use Fishing and intended to have setled an English Colony there but being Wreckt in his Return the setling of the Colony was discontinued till 1608 when John Guy a Merchant of Bristol in 23 days Sailed from thence to Conception Bay in Newfoundland By Jus Gentium or the Law of Nations whatever wast Country is discovered at the charge of any Prince It is the right of that Prince who was at the charge of the discovery now this Country being among others in that part of America which hath been discovered at the charge of the Kings of England King James the first by Letters Patents Anno Dom. 1623. Granted unto Sir George Calvert afterwards Lord Baltimore part of Newfoundland which was Erected into the Province of Avalon where he setled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferriland where he dwelt sometime which since his Death is descended to the present Lord Baltimore New England WAs first discovered by Sebastian Cabot in 1497 and in 1584 Mr. Philip Amadas and Mr. Arthur Barlow were the first who took Possession of it for Queen Elizabeth The next year Sir Richard Greenvil conveyed an English Colony thither under the Government of Mr. Ralph Lane who continued there till the next year and then returned with Sir Francis Drake into England who is by some accounted the first discoverer thereof It hath New France North and Virginia South North East Norumbegia and South West Novum Belgium on other parts it hath Woods and the Sea-coast Situate between 40 and 41 Degree of North Latitude In the midst of the Temperate Zone yet is the Clime more uncertain as to Heat and Cold than those European Kingdoms which are in the same Latitude The Air is Clear Healthful and agreeable to the English well watered with Rivers having variety of Beasts Tame and Wild with several sorts of Trees and excellent Fruits The Commodities it Yieldeth are Rich Furs Flax Linnen Amber Iron Pitch Tar Cables Masts and Timber to Build Ships with several sorts of Grain wherewith they drive a considerable Trade to Barbadoes and other English Plantations in America supplying them with Flower Bisket Salt Flesh and Fish and in return bring Sugars and other Goods To England they Trade for Stuffs Silks Cloath Iron Brass and other Utensils for their Houses The Weights and Measures are the same with England Though the Planting of this Country by the English was designed by divers yet it lay much neglected till a small Company of Planters under the Command of George Popham and Captain Gilbert were sent over at the charge of Sir John Popham in 1606. to begin a Colony in the Northerly part of this Country but that design in Two years expiring with its Founder soon after some Honourable persons of the West of England commonly called the Council of Plymouth being well informed of several Navigable Rivers and Commodious Havens with other places fit for Traffick and Planting obtained of King James the first a Patent under the Great Seal of all that part of North America called New-England from Forty to Forty eight Degrees of North Latitude In 1612 It was Canton'd and Divided by Grants into many lesser parcels according as Adventurers presented But afterwards for want of good Conduct they were by degrees in a manner destitute of Laws and Government In 1610 One Mr. Robinson a Presbyterian or Independent Preacher and several English then at Leyden in Holland Intreated King James to grant them Liberty under his Royal Authority to place themselves in some part of New-England and obtaining a Patent or Grant they Sailed from Plymouth in England to the Southern parts of New-England there laying a Foundation for a new Colony naming their Town New Plymouth after which things were very prosperously and succesfully carried on in New-England till An. 1636. The Indians committed many Outrages upon the English and Dutch whereupon all the Colonies unamimously falling upon them suppressed them in 1637. The English possess many potent Colonies being since very numerous and powerful and are Governed by Laws of their own making having several Courts of Judicature where they meet once a Month so they be not Repugnant to the Laws of England Every Town sends two Burgesses to their Great and Solemn General Court The Government both Ecclesiastical and Civil is in the Hands of the Independents or Presbyterians The Military part of their Government is by one Major General and three Serjeant Majors to whom belong the 4 Counties of Suffolk Middlesex Essex and Norfolk They have several Towns whereof Boston is the Metropolis likewise Dorchester Cambridge Beautified with two Colleges and many well Built Houses Reading Salem Berwick Fraintree Bristol and many others having most of them Names of some Town in Old England New York FOrmerly named New Netherland being part of that New England which the Dutch once possess'd It was first Discovered by Mr. Hudson and sold presently by him to the Dutch without Authority from his Sovereign the King of England in 1608. The Hollanders in 1614 began to plant it there and called it New Netherlands but Sir Samuel Argall Governour of Virginia routed them after