Ensign of Regall Authority was the Scepter which is every where spoken of both in the Scriptures and profane Stories There is another Ensign of their Authority which is a Globe with a Cross in use amongst us ever since Edward the Confessor which is placed in the left hand as is seen in most of their Coyns the Cross denoting his Faith and the Globe his Empire both by Sea and Land as it is said of Justinian who was the first Emperor that ever had it At the Coronation of the Emperor it is carried by the Count Palatine of the Rhine where they call it Pomum Imperiale This power dignity and state hath been enjoyed by the Female sex as heirs descending by the common right of Inheritance and not onely in our parts but many others as at this day in Swethen when there is not the least punctilio of a diminution in respect of the Sex Besides for an addition to the honor of a King there is the same state allowed to a Queen during the life of her husband as to a Queen absolute almost and is allowed a Crown She is called Queen from the Saxon word Cuningine as King from Cuning onely by variation of the gender as it was their manner in such cases She is permitted to sit in State at the King 's right hand and to keep a Court distinct from the King although she be but the daughter of an Earl But this was in the time of King Edgbert prohibited and so for a long time continued by reason of Eadburgh who poysoned her husband King Brithick of the West-Saxons And if she be the daughter of a King Superior to her husband she may retain the dignity of her father's daughter and in this case the daughter hath preceded the mother And although in these latter times our Monarchy hath been reduced under the circumference of one Crown Imperiall no others having any other substitute Governors crowned Yet formerly both Scotland and Ireland had King's distinct whilst they acknowledged homage to the Crown of England as also the isles of Man and Wight The Kings of Man were first subject to the Kings of Norway then to the Crown of England and after to the Kings of Scotland and since again to the Kings of England Dominus hujus Insulae Rex vocatur cui fas est Corona aurea coronari The Lord of the Isle is called King and it is lawfull for him to be crowned with a Crown of gold Henry the second allowed with the same honor Roderig of Conaght to be King paying a homagery Tribute The Lord Beauchamp Earl of Warwick under Henry the sixth was in the like manner crowned King of the Isle of Wight Which is enough in this place as to the Dignity of a King Of the Emperor THe originall of this Title as it was long amongst the Romans denoted onely a Generall of an Army and not till the time of Julius Caesar translated to an honorary Title who being made perpetuall Dictator took also that of Imperator into his Title which hath continued in his Successors untill this day and became Superior to the Title of King that before was but substitute under it being yearly created in January and ended in September Which great change hapned upon the Victory of Caesar against Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalia This Title was onely taken up to supply that of King which had not long before been thrown out by Brutus and was supposed by the Usurper to be yet fresh in their memories and odious amongst them and it was long after before they used the Title of King though their power were as much and the Ceremonies and Ensignes of Regality the same and the Emperor's Throne at Rome was called Sedile regni But at last it grew to be as one and then the Emperor of Rome having subjected under his Jurisdiction many Kingdoms thought it however a title of more eminence and so retained it And though the title has not been so generally appropriated to our Crown yet our Kings have been styled Emperors and this Realm of England called an Empire So have the Kings of Spain and France But it is more peculiarly allowed or assumed by the Emperors of Germany who suppose that they have a right to the government of the whole world This Empire after it was divided to Constantinople and Rome and then again that Constantinople had lost it to the Turks it was removed to Germany and in the reign of Otho the third the Election granted to seven Princes of Germany the Archbishops of Mentz Trevers Cullen the Count Palatine of Rhine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse Brandenburgh and the King of Bohemia then called Duke of Bohemia He hath had also the Superiority allowed him by all Secular Princes and whereas other Princes of Regall Authority are crowned with but one Crown he is with three the first of Iron which he receives of the Bishop of Cullen at Aquisgrane the second of Silver which he receives at Modena from the Bishop of Millan the third is of Gold wherewith he is crowned at Rome by the Pope And in latter Ages the title of King of the Romans is given to the Heir or him that is made or chosen Heir of the Empire and he is crowned and Jura Regalia given him though not so absolute as not to have a dependence on the Empire See Mr. Selden part 2. chap 1. The Ensignes of his Imperiall Dignity are a Crosse a Launce and a Sword a Scepter a Mond and a Crown and he is styled 〈◊〉 The Emperor of Russia is not Crowned but is adorned with a rich Cap of Purple neither is the Greek Sultan but vested with a mighty rich Tulipant But there though the Emperor have no Diadem yet the Sultanesse is adorned with a Rich Crown or Diadem Thus have I run through all the degrees of Honor and with as much brevity as so copious a Theam would allow of and for matter of precedency I think the method I have taken will save me the labour and I am unwilling to trouble the brains of the Ingenuous Reader with an unnecessary prolixity onely as to Offices of State because I have omitted them altogether I shall set down their places as in Princely Solemnities they are to be disposed In which those of the Crown are to precede all other of the Nobility that are not except the Blood Royall As the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Privy Councel Lord Privy Seal These six also are placed next the Lord Privy Seal thus according to their state of dignity that is If he be a Baron to sit above all Barons if an Earl above all Earls Lord Great Chamberlain of England Lord High Constable of England Lord Marshall of England Lord Admirall of England Lord Great Master or Steward of the King's House Lord Chamberlain of the King's House So the King 's principall Secretary being a
first turned their possessions into Baronies and thereby made them Barons of the Kingdom by tenure That all Bishops Abbots Priors and the like that held in chief of the King had their possessions as Baronies and were accordingly to do services and to sit in judgment with the rest of the Barons in all cases but cases of Blood from which they are prohibited by the Canon-Law This Honor of Baronady is of three kinds by Tenure by Creation and by Writ Barons by Tenure are the Barons Spirituall as I said before which are reputed Peers of the Realm and were ever first in nomination and take place on the Prince's right hand in Parliament and have been capable of temporall 〈◊〉 and some of them are accounted Count Palatines in their Jurisdictions And by tenure Temporall which are such as hold their Honor Castle or Mannor as the head of their Barony per Baroniam which is Grand Serjanty By which tenure they ought to be summoned to Parliament See Bracton lib. 5. fol. 351. 357. But he is no Lord of the Parliament untill he be called by Writ to the Parliament These Barons by renure in the time of the Conqueror and after were very numerous and 〈◊〉 his time as I conceive distinguished into Majores Minores and summoned accordingly to Parliament the Majores by immediate Writ from the King the others by generall Writ from the high Sheriff at the King's command But these had also another distinction which was the first were called onely Barons by tenure then and the last Tenants in chief which were after quite excluded the Parliament as Mr. Cambden says in the reign of Henry the third by a Law made that none of the Barons should assemble in Parliament but such as were summoned by speciall Writ from the King And that King Edward the first summoned always those of antient Families that were most wise but omitted their sons after their death if they were not answerable to their parents in understanding But Mr. 〈◊〉 opinion is that not long after the Grand Charter of King John the Law for excluding all Tenants in chief was made From whence came that other dignity of Barons by Writ the King summoning whom he pleased though he were but a private Gentleman or Knight as many Seculars Priors Abbots and Deacons also all which have been fince omitted that held nothing of the King in chief or Grand Tenure This title of Baron by Writ is by some esteemed onely temporary pro termino Parliamenti but that cannot be for the ceremony of his admittance signifies more than a titular or temporary Honor which is this He is first brought by the Garter-King at Arms in his Soveraign Coat to the Lord Chancellor between two of the youngest Barons who bear the Robe of a Baron there he shews his Prescript which the Chancellor reads then congratulates him as a Baron and invests him with those Robes and sends him to take his place Then the Writ is delivered to the Clerk of the Parliament and he by the Garter shewed to the Barons and placed in the House and from thence is this title allowed him as hereditary Since these two sorts of Barons in the time of Richard the second hath another been established which is Barons by Patent and indeed more usuall in our latter times than those by Writ He first created John de Beauchamp Steward of the houshold Baron of Kiderminster to him and his heirs males of his body And this comming afterwards to be the onely way of creation they had commonly creation-mony granted them as Sir Ralph Botiller who had one hundred marks granted him annuity out of the County of Lincoln Some of those Minores have yet remained to our memories as the Barons of the Cinque Ports Barons of the Exchequer c. and some others which are called Barons yet have not the honor such are those that were created by Count Palatines as the Baron of Kinderton and some few others As concerning the descent of this Honor and the extension of it it many times descends to heirs female as when there is no speciall entail on the heirs male yet then no husband of that heir female shall enjoy the style and honor in right of his wife unlesse he have issue by her as it was decreed by Henry the eighth in the case of Mr. Wimbry for the style of the Lord Talboyes Neither shall any honor of Barony by Tenure be conveyed with the 〈◊〉 of any place from whence the title is derived without licence immediate from the King but all such as shall without is absolutely forfeited and stopt and returns again into that great Fount ain of Honor the Crown Now though this dignity be not allowed the Princely distinction of a Coronet yet is he as a Lord of the Parliament reckoned among the Peers of the Realm and priviledged amongst them in all these things as first in all trialls of criminall causes he is not tried by a Jury but a Bench of Peers If for Treason he be indicted and shall stand mute he shall be convicted but not prest but if it be for Felony his standing silent shall not convict him Upon any tryall of Peers the Lords that are to give Verdict are not like a Jury put upon their Oaths but upon their Honor. A Peer of the Realm is not to be Empannelled in any Jury but what concerns the King 's Enquiry Neither are they to be arrested by any Warrant of Justice of Peace either for the peace or good behaviour Neither is he to be put upon his Oath upon any appearance he shall make in Court but his Honor to be esteemed as binding And whereas all Burgesses of the Commons House are sworn to Supremacy the Barons of the Upper-House of Parliament are not with many other priviledges But it is to be noted that by these are onely meant to Lords of the Parliament not to the sons of Dukes Marquesses or Earls during the life of their fathers Nor to any Baron of another Kingdom in this though under the same allegiance who are not triable out of their own Kingdome unlesse they enjoy some honor in this The form of creating a Baron is in this manner The King sitting in state in the Presence-Chamber First the Hetalds by two and two and their Garter Principall King alone proceed bearing in his hand the Patent of creation next to him a Baron bearing the Robes and then the Person to be created followeth betwixt two other Barons Being entred the Chamber of Presence they make their obeysance to the King three times Garter then delivereth the Patent to the Lord Chamberlain of the houshold and he to the King and the King to one of his Principall Secretaries of State who readeth it and at the word Investimus the King putteth on him the Baron's robe so soon as the Patent is read it is to be delivered to the
several by distance of place yet held to be but one entire Society or Confraternity by the name of Brethren The Arms of these two Innes of Judges and Serjeants First Gules two Garbs in Saltyre Or bands Azure The Second Or an Ibis proper which is a bird neer the colour of a Jay Next to the two Serjeants Innes in order are the four Innes of Court that is to say Inner Temple Middle Temple Lyncolns Inne Grayes Innne And first of the two houses or Societies which are called by the name of Temples or the Templars Inne The Middle Temple beareth for distinction Argent on a plain crosse Gules the holy Lamb 〈◊〉 The said two Temples or the Templars Inne are of any other of the Innes of Court the the most renowned and famous for antiquity They were at the prime and in their original but one entire foundationand body But in processe of time became divided at first founded by a religious and devout Order of Souldiers called Templarii that is to say Templars Which Knights within the Kingdome of England purchased to themselves certain Lands in Fleetstreet bordering upon the shore of the River Thames and thereon wit hin a short time built a large Edifice and withall a round Synagogue like unto a Chappel or Temple as it is now standing and was by Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem Anno Dom. 1185. dedicated to the service of God In which place these Templars by the space of one hundred years lived in great honor and opulency enjoying large possessions and those situate in the best places of the Realm the like they had in other places the Prelate of which Order was ever a Baron of England Now after the suppression of these Knights Templars their Colledge or Hostel came to the hands of Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster who being attainted for Disloyalty and Treason the same became invested to the Crown And afterwards the Earls Hugo le Dispencer Earl of Chester obtained the possession of the same house who for the like transgression was justly attained also and then it came to Damare de Valence Earl of Pembrook the Lusignian family in France who lodged therein but for a small season so that in the reign of Edward the third the Sages and worthy professors of the Common Laws of this Realm obtained a long lease of this house for 10. l. per annum A third part whereof called the outward Temple one Doctor Stapleton Bishop of Exeter in the dayes of King Edward the second procured for a residing Mansion to him and his successors Bishops of that See and it was called Exeter Inne And so continued untill the dayes of Queen Mary when the Lord Paget her principal Secretary of State and obtained the said third part called Exeter house to him and his heirs and did re-edifie the same After whom the said house or the third part of the said Templars house came to Thomas late Duke of Norfolk and was by him conveyed to Sir Robert Dudley Knight al. Sutton Earl of Lieoester who bequeathed the same to Sir Robert Dudley Knight his Son and lately came by purchase to Robert Devoreux late Earl of Essex that dyed in the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth and it is called to this day Essex house And not to omit what is written touching the antiquity of the Coat of Arms belonging to this house it is warranted by the same was and yet is to be seen purtraicted in an old Manuscript written many years since concerning the foundation of that Order and which Manuscript now is or of late was in the custody of the Right Honorable Lord William Howard a lover of Nobility and honorable Arms. It is to be understood that before the Order of Knight Templars assumed to themselves the said Coat Armour they now wear that they did embrace as to them appropriate this Ensign A Horse galloping with two Men on his back The which Ensign was usually engraven on their Signet or Common Seal It hath been conjectured that the significancy thereof was that the Originall of this Order began in poverty and want So that when they were to undertake any expedition of Christian service they were enforced for want of ability to ride two of them upon one horse But it is more truly conceited that the same was rather an 〈◊〉 of Love and Charity and was a true Hieroglyphick of an ingenious disposition and of a 〈◊〉 kindnesse used amongst noble and free-hearted Souldiers whereof none were of greater note then this Order Who being professed 〈◊〉 and honorable spirits when they should come to the rescue of a Christian Souldier who might happen to be wounded or sick and comfortlesse in the field they would relieve him and set him behinde one of them upon his own horse and by that means conveigh him to some place of safety where they should likewise take some speedy course for his relief Neither was this work of Chariy only practised by the Christian Knights in those ages but it was used by the very Infidels and Pagans who also usually were exercised in the same works of Charity as may be observed and read out of the famous and renowned Poet Ariosto who relates that Reginaldo and Fernand two Knights Charlemaine did fight together and each of them was mortally wounded and therefore they agreed to adjourne the Combate till another day And that during the space of the Parly Reginaldo's Palfrey strayed away and could not be found whereupon Fer nand proffered Reginaldo a part of his horse to ride upon and willed him to mount up behind him with assurance he would convey him safe to the place he desired which Reginaldo accepted and Fernand performed This History is writ by Ariosto in the Italian language and not unworthy observation to this intent The Knights Templars took their originall about the year of Grace 〈◊〉 and upon this occasion many Noble men who were religiously bent obliged themselves by speciall vows to serve Christ as regular Cannons in Chastity and Obedience and to renounce their own proper will for ever The first of that Order was Hugo Paganus and Godfrido de Sancto Hadomaro Their habit was prescribed by Pope Honorius to be a white habit and after by order from Pope Eugenio these Knights had their first habitation appointed them by Baldwin King of Jerusalem neer unto the holy Temple there they were ever after saluted by the names of Knights Templars This Order in processe of time did grow so universally great that many great 〈◊〉 and Townes of Christendome received their Order of the Knights Templars as well in this our Nation as in other parts where they enjoyed fair revenewes and large possessions for in England this University called the Temple was the feat and habitation of divers Knights of that Order But it hath of late by the Princely donation of King James our late Soveraign been confirmed to the professors of the Common Law under the great Seal of England The Society of
Chancery are only handled and discust Cursitors Inne Beareth Gules on a chief Arg. two Mullets Sables within a bordure Compone Or and Azure This Edifice was in 〈◊〉 dayes of Queen Elizabeth of famous memory built by the Right Honourable and Grave Counsellor of State Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord keeper of the Great Seal of England for the benefit and decency of a new contrived Office now called Cursitors therein to lodge and to keep their severall Offices These Cursitors have the making of all Originall Writs according to the Register which are sued out and taken forth in causes commenced by the Students at the common Law In times past the chiefe Officer of the Court of Chancery was ever a Bishop and termed Cancellarius because he sat in Cancellis that is to say in Chancels or places letticed after the manner of Chancels in Churches as Petrus 〈◊〉 a learned writer hath left to posterity The Masters of this Court were for the most part Doctors of Divinity and had Prebendaries in Churches and other dignities and promotions The Cursitors or rather the Choristers as it befitteth a Chorus there being no honourable Cathedrall or Collegiate Church la Esglise which can be vvell without them And in former dayes both antient and modern the Ghostly Fathers or Confessors were examiners in Chancery as men held most conscionable and thereupon fittest for that function But fince in those dayes all the former Ecclesiasticall persons are become meerly lay-men and yet no doubt held to be as Godly Conscionable and Honest as any provided ever that they be men of skill persons who are of great Integrity and able of understanding Nam ad pietatem requiritur Scientia The Colledge called Doctors Commons Beareth Gules on a bend Argent three treefoils within a bordure Vert. The Professors of the Civil Law or the Imperial being also in some sort Canonists and professors of the Laws 〈◊〉 have their Hostels or residing place upon St. Bennets hill neer Pauls Chain This house was by the industry and cost of Mr. Henry Harvey Doctor of the Civil or Canon Law and at that time Master 〈◊〉 Trinity 〈◊〉 in Cambridge and Dean of the Arches instituted for the Company and Society of the said Doctors professors of the same study Gresham Colledge Beareth Argent a 〈◊〉 Erminoys between three Mullets Sables This famous work and most worthy Colledge scituate in Bishopsgate street had its foundation laid by that worthy Merchant Sir Thomas Gresham Knight about the year of our Lord 1579. who ordained therein seven Lectures of seven severall Arts to be there publickly read 〈◊〉 Divinity Civill Law Phyfick Rhetorick Astronomy Geometry Musick And this to be performed by seven severall persons learned professors thereof only in the time of the Terms at Westminster The annual stipendary to every Lecturer is 50. l. by annual pay and each of the Lecturers hath a convenient lodging provided for his use there in the same Colledge The Office of the Remembrancers of the Exchequer at Westminster Beareth Or a Cheveron Gules and a Canton Ermin in a bordure Compony Argent and Azure This house wherein now the Kings Remembrancer keepeth his Office was sometimes antiently the Inne belonging to the Barons of Stafford was in former time called Staffords Inne which said house and that other in Ivie-lane where Mr. Osborn the King's Remembrancer keepeth his Office or rather the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer and the house called Hospitium Johannis de 〈◊〉 Laurentio wherein 〈◊〉 Brainthwait Serjeant at the Law 〈◊〉 his abode and dwelling in Amen-Corner the Bishop of Elyes house now Stationers-hall the Three Tuns Tavern the Bull-head Tavern the Chamber belonging to Diana the next house to Doctors Commons called the old Camera 〈◊〉 were of antient times the lodging for the Residents and Canons and Prebends of St. Pauls who belonged unto that famous Cathedrall Church of St. Paul St. Katherine's Hospitall Beareth party per fesse Gules and Azure in 〈◊〉 a Sword bar-wise Argent pomelled and hilt Or in poynt a demy Catharine wheel of the fourth By the Licence of the Prior of the Covent and the Society of holy Trinity in London the said Hospitall called St. Katherines was founded by Queen Matilda wife to King Stephen The ground whereon this Hospitall is 〈◊〉 was then the proper inheritance of the said Prior and Covent and the said Hospitall was after enlarged by Queen Elianor Wife to Edward the first and after Philippa Wife to Edward the third founded there a Chancery and it hath been of late a free Chappell or Hospital for poor sisters FINIS ERRATA Page 41. l. 4. a mistake in the last quarter of the cut p. 52. a mistake in the cut the eighth quarter should have been the last Fern. Glo. Gen. p. 4. Seg. Hon. mil. civ l. 4. c. 5. Bartol de Dig. l. 12. Seld. 〈◊〉 of Hon. c. 〈◊〉 p. 4. Drus. observat lib. 3. cap. 19. Psal. 49. 2. Fern. l. gen p. 9. Pro. 17. 6. Fern p. 13 Fern. Selden p. 856 Aristot. l. 4. de pol. Fern. p. 14 Segar l 4. p. 226. Bart. l. 1. cap. de dig 12. Seg. p. 〈◊〉 Ibid. Fern p. 1. Noble by Merit Nobility mixt Sir J. Fern. Segar l. 4 c. 15. Seld. Tit. of Hon. c. 8 p. 853. p. 832. Rot. Vasco 24 Hen. 6. M. 7. N. 3. Sel. p. 870. C. Theod. l. 6. 〈◊〉 21. l. 1. Sir J. 〈◊〉 Form l. 3. p. 382. Edit Rom. 1621. Seld. Tit. of Hon. c. 〈◊〉 f. 858. Seld. Tit. of Hon. pag. 862. pag. 864. Ibid. p. 865. Sir John 〈◊〉 p. 37 Ibid. p. 36. Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 4. cap. 4 Cypr. lib. de 12. Abusionibus Sir John Fern. Ibid. Poetrie Ibid. Painting Vid. Paul Lomazzo p. 14. History Sir John 〈◊〉 Ferne. Ibid. Sir John Ferne. p. 61. Ibid. Bart. in l. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. li. de capitu Ferne p. 86. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Vid. Fortescue de laud. Ang. cap. 49. Sir John Feine p. 95. M. Seld. Tit. of Ho. p. 555. * Cam. fol. 176. †lib. 4. p. 507. Ad 〈◊〉 Brit. Art 88. Verst p. 322. Sir Tho. Smith de Rep. Aug. * p. 667. 〈◊〉 Sir John Ferne. p. 100. Camb. de Ordin p. 117. de reliquiis p. 23. Spel. Glos. p. 51. Segar p. 224. ibid. Spelm. p. 10. c. 2. ibid. Segar Ferne. Spel. p. 51. Segar l. 4. p. 246. Seld. Tit. Ho. p. 769. Camb. Brit. p. 170. Segar ch 1 p. 51. Will. of Malmsb. de gest Reg. l. 〈◊〉 c. 6. Seld. 〈◊〉 of Hon. p. 773. p. 778 Ibid. p. 779 Bract. 〈◊〉 36. Cook 5. Jacobi part 6. Selden p. 772. Mat. Patis Sir 10. Fern Glo. of Genere Cam. Brit. p. 74. pag. 175. Vid. Stat. de An. 23. H. 6. c. 15. Seg. lib. 2. lin 2. Vid. Mills fol. S 〈◊〉 4 Ed 4. 20 See Stow in Anal. p. 693. 694. edit vet in 4. Dor. Cl. 〈◊〉 20 Hen 7. 20 Sep. For K. of the Bath see Far. f. 65. 5 Book Mr. Seld. fol. 790.