die mercurii 9. maii, 1660. upon report this day made to the house from the committee of priviledges, it is ordered by the lords in parliament assembled, that according to the ancient and undoubted rights of peeridge, no lord of parliament, or peer of this realm be or shall be charged, or set at any arms whatsoever, ... england and wales. parliament. house of lords. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a83922 of text r211895 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.25[17]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 1 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a83922 wing e2865 thomason 669.f.25[17] estc r211895 99870568 99870568 163822 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a83922) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163822) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f25[17]) die mercurii 9. maii, 1660. upon report this day made to the house from the committee of priviledges, it is ordered by the lords in parliament assembled, that according to the ancient and undoubted rights of peeridge, no lord of parliament, or peer of this realm be or shall be charged, or set at any arms whatsoever, ... england and wales. parliament. house of lords. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by john macock, and francis tyton, printers to the house of lords, london : 1660. title from caption and opening lines of text. "no peer can be charged or set at arms, on any act for trained bands, militia, &c. their assistants and the attendants of the house are exempt." -cf. steele. order to print dated: die mercurii 9. maii, 1660. signed: jo. browne, cleric. parliamentorum. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng england and wales. -parliament. -house of lords -privileges and immunities -early works to 1800. nobility -great britain -early works to 1800. privileges and immunities -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -politics and government -1660-1688 -early works to 1800. a83922 r211895 (thomason 669.f.25[17]). civilwar no die mercurii 9. maii, 1660. upon report this day made to the house from the committee of priviledges, it is ordered by the lords in parliame england and wales. parliament. 1660 171 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-11 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2007-11 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion honi soit qvi mal y pense dive et mon droit british royal blazon or coat of arms die mercurii 9. maii , 1660. upon report this day made to the house from the committee of priviledges , it is ordered by the lords in parliament assembled , that according to the ancient and vndoubted rights of peeridge , no lord of parliament , or peer of this realm , be or shall be charged , or set at any arms whatsoever , upon any act for the trained bands , militia , or otherwise ; and that their lordships assistants , and attendants of the said house , be , and are hereby exempted in , and from the said charge accordingly . die mercurii 9. maii , 1660. ordered by the lords in parliament assembled , that this order be forthwith printed and published . jo . browne . cleric . parliamentorum . london , printed by john macock , and francis tyton , printers to the house of lords , 1660. the loyal addresse of the gentry of gloucestershire. to the kings most excellent majesty. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a88627 of text r212454 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.25[48]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 7 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a88627 wing l3336 thomason 669.f.25[48] estc r212443 estc r212454 99871065 99871065 163853 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a88627) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163853) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f25[48]) the loyal addresse of the gentry of gloucestershire. to the kings most excellent majesty. herbert of cherbury, edward herbert, baron, ca. 1633-1678. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed for humphrey tuckey, at the black-spread eagle in fleet-street, over against st. dunstans church, london : 1660. signed: lord herbert [and 88 others]. annotation on thomason copy: "june 21". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng charles -ii, -king of england, 1630-1685 -early works to 1800. nobility -england -gloucestershire -early works to 1800. great britain -history -charles ii, 1660-1685 -early works to 1800. a88627 r212454 (thomason 669.f.25[48]). civilwar no the loyal addresse of the gentry of gloucestershire. to the kings most excellent majesty. herbert of cherbury, edward herbert, baron 1660 678 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-09 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-09 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the loyal addresse of the gentry of gloucestershire . to the kings most excellent majesty . most gracious soveraign , we your majesties most humble and loyal subjects of your county of gloucester , who neither to ease our selves of the insupportable burthens and oppressions we lay under , nor to gain favour with our oppressors , could ever be brought to flatter with any address whatsoever , any usurped power which hath been over us , do now think our selves concern'd in duty to express our great joy , and congratulation for your majesties being restored to your just hereditary right , and kingly power , without which , no means on earth could possibly have rendered any settlement to these your kingdoms , or have quieted the anxious thoughts of your people in relation both to church and state : but now that it hath pleased the divine providence to place your sacred majesty at the helme to steer both . we do with all due obedience in all things acquiesce in your royal prudence , and do declare , that as we have alwayes shewed our dislike to all unjust powers , so we will stand by your majesty with our lives and fortunes against all the world , for the preservation of your sacred person and authority . lord herbert . lord campden . lord berkeley . lord tracy . sir baynham throckmorton baronet . sir william hickes baronet . sir richard ashfield baronet . sir william ducy baronet . sir hugh middleton baronet . sir robert poyntez , knight of the bath . sir john seymour . sir henry frederick thynne . sir william catchmay . sir baynham throckmorton . sir nicholas throckmorton . matthew hale esqs ; kts. of the shire . edward stephens henry capel esq ; thomas overbury esq ; henry hall esq ; richard stephens esq ; thomas estcourt esq ; john hall esq ; thomas shyne esq ; william oldsworth esq ; david williams esq ; richard sackvile esq ; richard dowdswell esq ; thomas veale senior , esq ; nicholas veale esq ; thomas veale junior , esq ; john stephens esq ; thomas roberts esq ; philip langley esq ; john freeman esq ; william stratford esq ; john fettiplace esq ; john how esq ; john grubbam how esq ; gabriel lowe esq ; thomas masters esq ; john chamberlain esq ; thomas chamberlain esq ; thomas slaughter esq ; thomas hodges esq ; robert fielding esq ; edward chamberlain esq ; john wintour esq ; john cuddrington esq ; nicholas cuddrington esq ; edward cook esq ; robert oldsworth esq ; richard cook esq ; richard wakeman esq ; richard cockes esq ; edward smith esq ; edward bathurst esq ; robert baleson esq ; giles baleson esq ; edward rich esq ; andrew baker esq ; william bourchier esq ; walter rawleigh esq ; thomas james esq ; thomas brown esq ; edward stephens esq ; samuel codrington esq ; john rich esq ; henry pool esq ; robert oldsworth esq ; john newton esq ; anthony sambach esq ; edward fust esq ; william cook esq ; miles cook esq ; william roper esq ; daniel colchester esq ; thomas howe esq ; lawrence bathurst esq ; thomas seymour esq ; henry browne esq ; william cope esq ; michael rutter esq ; thomas chester esq ; henry guise esq ; henry spiller esq ; john powel esq ; thomas chamborlain esq ; william battison esq ; this address was presented to his majesty the 19th . day of june , by the hand of the right honourable , the lord herbert , accompanied by very many persons of honour and quality of the aforesaid county , to whom his majesty in a very gracious manner was pleased to express his acceptance of this their humble , and loyal address . london , printed for humphrey tuckey , at the black-spread eaglein fleet-street , over against st. dunstans church . 1660. the duke of norfolk's order about the habit the ladies are to be in that attend the queen at her coronation norfolk, henry howard, duke of, 1655-1701. 1685 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a52399 wing n1232 estc r17510 11862243 ocm 11862243 50037 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a52399) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50037) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 503:4) the duke of norfolk's order about the habit the ladies are to be in that attend the queen at her coronation norfolk, henry howard, duke of, 1655-1701. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by nat. thompson ..., [london] : 1685. caption title. reproduction of original in: henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng mary, -of modena, queen, consort of james ii, king of england, 1658-1718 -coronation. james -ii, -king of england, 1633-1701 -coronation. nobility -great britain -costume -early works to 1800. costume -great britain -17th century. broadsides -england -london -17th century 2004-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-10 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2004-10 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the duke of norfolk's order about the habit the ladies are to be in that attend the queen at her coronation . his majesty having been pleas'd to command the attendance of the peeresses of england upon the queen consort at her coronation ; and it being for the honour of so great a solemnity , that they all be in the same habit , with distinction's of the ranks of those that wear them : i have , by his majesties command , order'd a particular direction to be printed , whereby every one may know in what manner they ought to appear . the train of a baroness , a yard on the ground , the ermin cape to be poudred with two bars , the long mantle to be edg'd round with ermin un-poudred an inch broad , the sur-coat to be of crimson velvet , as well as the mantle , made straight-body'd , and clasp'd before , edg'd with ermin two inches broad , and scallop'd down the sides from below the girdle , with a train a little shorter than the long robe , sleeves of velvet ( scallop'd , edg'd with ermin , and fringe of gold or silver , ) to reach a little below the shoulder , the cap to reach only a little above the rim of the coronet . a viscountess to have her train a yard and a quarter upon the ground , the cape poudred with two rows and a half , the long mantle to be edg'd with two inches of ermin , the sur-coat to be of crimson velvet as well as the mantle , and straight to the body , clasp'd before , edg'd with ermin two inches broad , and scallop'd down the sides , with a train something shorter than the mantle , sleeves of velvet ( scallop'd , edg'd with ermin , and fringe of gold or silver , ) to reach a little below the shoulder , the cap to reach a little above the rim of the coronet . a countes's train to be a yard and half upon the ground , the cape poudred with three rows of ermin , the mantle edg'd with three inches of ermin , the sur-coat to be of crimson velvet , close body'd , clasped before , edg'd with ermin two inches broad , and scallop'd down the sides , with a train half a yard , velvet sleeves , scallop'd and edg'd with ermin , and fringe of gold or silver , the cap to reach only a little above the rim of the coronet . a marchioness , to have her train a yard and three quarters upon the ground ; the cape poudred with three rows and a half of ermin , the mantle edg'd with four inches of ermin , the sur-coat to be of crimson velvet , close body'd , clasp'd before , edg'd with ermin two inches broad , scallop'd down the sides , with a train about half a yard , velvet sleeves , ( scallop'd and edg'd with ermin , and fringe of gold or silver ) to reach a little below the shoulder , the cap to reach only a little above the rim of the coronet . a dutchess's train to be two yards upon the ground , the cape poudred with four rows of ermin , the mantle edg'd with five inches of ermin , the sur-coat to be of crimson velvet as well as the mantle , close body'd , clasped before , edg'd with ermin two inches broad , and scallop'd down the sides , with a train about half a yard , velvet sleeves edg'd with ermin , scallop'd and fring'd with gold or silver , to reach a little below the shoulder , the cap only to reach a little above the rim of the coronet . the petticoats to be of cloath of silver , or any other white stuff , either lac'd or embroider'd , according to every ones fancy . the mantles to hang back , being fast'ned on each shoulder with cords of silver or gold suitable to their fringe , with a tassel of the same , hanging one of each side down to the wast . the sur-coats to open before , that the petticoats may appear . norfolk and marshall . printed by nat. thompson at the entrance into old-spring-garden near charing-cross , 1685. the honours of the lords spiritual asserted, and their priviledges to vote in capital cases in parliament maintained by reason and precedents collected out of the records of the tower, and the journals of the house of lords. hunt, thomas, 1627?-1688. 1679 approx. 135 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 30 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45195 wing h3755 estc r24392 08164011 ocm 08164011 40986 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45195) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40986) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1231:15) the honours of the lords spiritual asserted, and their priviledges to vote in capital cases in parliament maintained by reason and precedents collected out of the records of the tower, and the journals of the house of lords. hunt, thomas, 1627?-1688. [2], 32 p. printed by tho. braddyll and are to be sold by robert clavel, london : 1679. attributed by wing to thomas hunt. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng england and wales. -parliament. -house of lords. nobility -great britain. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-02 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the honours of the lords spiritual asserted : and their priviledges to vote in capital cases in parliament maintained by reason and precedents . collected out of the records of the tower and the journals of the house of lords . pray for the peace of jerusalem , they shall prosper that love thee , peace be within thy walls , and prosperity within thy palaces . psal . 122. ver . 6 , 7. london , printed by tho. braddyll , and are to be sold by robert clavel at the peacock in st. pauls church-yard . 1679. to the reader . t is not unknown to any in our english israel , that there are yet here amongst us some remainders of the men of 42. and that the disease it self sticks as close to them , and particularly to some eminent parts of the nation where they skul , and for the present where they make their refuge ( for in the countries they are more easily discovered ) as the leprosie did under the law to the very walls of the house ; and it seems to be as hardly removed as that levitical distemper , which some naturalists and physitians say cannot be done but only by blood , and that is the thing which their fingers itch to be at again , witness their late rebellious commotions in scotland , which had they taken effect , there would not have been wanting these who would have justified them : nay , i speak what i know , and have heard , did excuse them , as a poor people opprest ; and you know oppression makes a wise man mad , especially at this time of the year , the season being a little hot. i must confess i am no stranger to the men or their ways , having been for many years last past , a strict observer of them , though i thank god i have always , and do still from my heart , abhor and detest any confarreation with them , or any the least approbation of their actings or principles ; for i have discovered so much of ill nature , censoriousness , covetuousness , self-seeking , and want of charity in this sort of men , that it did always give me a great suspition that their cause was evil ; especially reflecting upon the means which they made use of to carry on their pretended reformation , ( viz. ) the throwing down of episcopacy , a government of gods church , as antient in this nation as christianity it self ; the takeing away , and abolishing the best of liturgies either ancient or modern , a justified taking up of arms against their native soveraign , the lords annointed , to whom , and to whose ancestors they and their fore-fathers had sworn allegiance : the plundering and devesting of the kings most faithfull subjects of their goods , estates and for their dutiful adherence to the best of kings who ever raign'd in this our isle . and lastly the embrewing their violent , rebellious , and wicked hands in his most sacred blood ; a course which the moral heathen would blash to take , to save his country ready to be lost and ruined , and yet these men in a bad cause to pretend conscience and religion , which hereto fore conquered the heathen world , not by resisting though they were able and wanted not numbers to do it , but by their sufferings ; for these men i say to pretend conscience and religion , clament melicerta perisse frontem de rebus . these are the men i confess against whom the following discourse is aim'd : for i very well know that it lies not in the power or wit of these , though they gladly would and do flatter themselves perhaps in this their folly that they may be able to cajole any persons of loyal hearts or principles , to take part with , or appear against the bishops in the present controversie : no , gentlemen believe it , you smell too strong , and you are too well known , and i can never believe the contrary , till i see you perswade them to carry in once more their plate to guild-hall , for the carrying on your vnholy cause ; or to shut up their shops , as you know who did heretofore and go with you to releive glocester . atqui parvas spes habet troja si tales habet . and so i refer the reader to the perusal of the book . the honours and rights of the clergy asserted : and priviledges of the bishops to vote in capital cases in parliament vindicated , &c. chap. i. the honour of the priesthood asserted by the law of nature and levitical law ; the immumunities thereof under primitive christianity . the returns of gratitude to god for the blessings and labours of the ministers thereof in the reformation of the church , in the last and present age wherein we live ; together with some close reflections thereupon . religion a thing so excellent , ( that to be careless in it , or neglectful of it , is accounted a great disreputation and shame to any party or person ) hath ever had since there were professors of it , and that is so long as there have been men in the world , a select number of persons , who have been the ministers of it . these men dureing the first times , and the administration of the law of nature , were the first born , and they both princes and priests too ; so that the administration of justice , and the performance of religious worship we find then to have been linked together in one and the same person , adam , seth , enoch , and noah , and other the antediluvian patriarchs were in their order and succession both kings and priests also ; as any person may be satisfied , if he will peruse those writers of the jewish antiquities philo and josephus : afterwards , when the law was given by positive precepts to the sons of men , one of the twelve tribes ( viz. ) that of levi had the priesthood annexed to it , together with other great immunities , honours and priviledges , and in the division of the land of canaan ( if mr. seldens authority may sway any , rev. hist . tithes , c. 2. ) they of levi had near three times the annual revenue of the largest among them , they had their places and voices in their sanhedrims and councils : yea and cognizance of capital causes also , as we may find largely proved by the learned spelman in his history of sacriledge ; what sense the very heathens themselves had of the honours of their priesthood , it would be very tedious to relate . the priesthood was not esteemed any shame to him that bore the scepter and wore the crown . in egypt as sr. john marsham in his cronic . canon , well observes those ancient kings after the flood thoth , or mercurius , tosorthrus , or aesculapius , suphis the builder of the greatest of the pyramids were kings and divines too . see him at large , c. ad sec. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . nay in the first ages of the world , the legislative and executive power went along with the priesthood , melchizedeck , abraham , and jacob after the flood , as well as the antediluvian patriarchs were as well executors as makers of laws . let us peruse the holy records , and we find david a king and a prophet , his son solomon the wisest of mortal men , stileing himself by the name of the preacher and valuing himself more upon that name , then upon the score of his other royal titles ; and in the fullness of time jesus christ himself the king of kings , the eternal son of god and original of all power thought it not below him telling us expresly luke 4. 18. that he was sent into the world on no other end than to preach the gospel . true it is , his kingdom was not of this world , and he never went about to dipossess either the roman or jewish governours in judaea ; neither did his disciples ever go about to do any thing like it ; yet when the empire became christians , the prudent piety of the first and most christian emperors for the better encouragement of religion and learning , conferred large immunities and exemptions upon church-men , freeing them from subsidies , impositions , and sundry services wherewith other of their subjects were burdened * eusebius and zozomen , record several priviledges granted by constantine , that those who minister in holy religion be wholly free and exempt from all publick burthens : and some have very well observed , that during the continuance of the gift of tongues , extraordinary learning , and other miraculous effusions of gods holy spirit upon the primitive church , there were no need of the piety and charity which subsequent christian emperors bestowed upon the church , the apostles had no need to study for their preaching , and therefore had leisure enough to fish and make tents for a livelihood , whereas ours are forced to pore upon books , to meditate , write , and all hardly sufficient to search out the deep mysteries which cost them no pains , the spirit supplying the place of all . therefore to make amends for all these extraordinary qualifications , and abundant measure of spiritual graces wherewith they were furnished above us , it hath pleased the lord of the harvest in these latter days to raise up christian magistrates to assist and encourage his labourers , and appoint them a more setled and plentifull allowance ; yea and honour also , and power together with it , for that wisdom without these is commonly contemned . who ever was chosen a magistrate in our neighbour state of holland , or here at home ? who had not riches , and therefore honour to support them , wisdom in the esteem of the vulgar is always thought to be accompanied with riches and power : so that the pretences of those men who for a cloak to their innovations and sacriledges , vainly vaunt that all things should be brought back to the primitive purity , and the clergy also to the apostles poverty , seem to argue thus much that they are no farther true gospel ministers , and the successors of the apostles than they are able to work miracles , and that they though not enabled to it by any education may be required to work in any of those callings of which the apostles were , whose successors they pretend to be . we read in lud. vives in his commentary upon st. aust . de civitate dei , that the priests of ceres [ no other than the mendicants amongst them of rome ] were to renounce the world and riches and honour too ; and therefore that on the day of their initiation they were to put on a coat which they never left off till such time as it was so ragged that it would no longer hang to their backs ; certainly if spiritual persons were left to some mens allowance , this would be their portion from them to be clad with poverty , contempt , and rags , and their callings as well as their necessities would constrain them to fast and pray . i know some men ( particularly luther ) amongst our reformers have sleighted honours , and that portion due to their callings , out of sincere principles and a good meaning , who have yet lived to repent their error , though not able to redress it , when they have seen how much the church has thereby suffered , and religion been damnified , witness luther epist . p. 131. ego per meo stipendio annuo tantum novem antiquas sexagenas habeo , praeter has ne obolus quidem mihi ; aut fratribus è civitate accedit . a great and noble reward for such matchless deserts , and if so happy an instrument of europes reformation , so valiant a champion , who singly opposed the united power of rome and hell , what may the clergy of our days expect ? viz. to be devested of their revenues , honours and immunities , because they are the successors of their forefathers the bishops and reformers in queen marys days , some of the principal whereof were publickly burnt as martyrs for that religion which ( god be thanked ) maugre the monstrous ingratitude of some , we yet through the blessing of god enjoy , by the pains and labours of their worthy successors . who are the persons who have to the eternal shame and infamy of rome laid open the vileness , wickedness , and immorality as well as the false doctrines , idolatries and superstitions of that church ? who are they who have been the watchmen upon the wall , that have ever since the reformation beaten and foiled them in their assaults upon our church ? was not the walls thereof watered , and as it were cemented with the blood of cranmer , latimer , ridley , hooper , and others ; the supestructure raised by jewel , reynolds and others , sed me reprimo . and yet now those days through mercy are over , must their successors still be wounded by the hands of their pretended friends , and receive such hard measure from their pretended well-wishers ? this strikes to the very heart . scilicet , hoc ithacus velit & magno mercentur atridae . chap. ii. the clergy under the law and gospel also , have ingaged in secular causes , and the state very happy in this their administration in the primitive times of the gospel proved from the examples of st. ambrose , st. austine , &c. we all know it was a political maxim mentioned by josephus as derived from moses , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . philo. in vit . mos . the king must ever take the advice of the priest , moses himself was a priest as well as a ruler ; and he appointed priests dureing the levitical administration to be overseers of all things , judges of controversies , and punishment of malefactors , joseph . lib. 2. cont . app. who saw the precept reduced to practice , tells us the thing in fact was so . who hath not heard that ely and samuel the lords priests were at the same time civil judges in israel . chytraeus makes three consistories amongst the jews , of all which the priests were the principal and essential members : ( 1. ) a triumvirat in every city wherein many matters and lighter trespasses was decided ; these grotius calls pedaneos judices . ( 2 ) the little sanhedrim consisting of 23 , wherein capital causes were determined in the gate of every city . ( 3. ) the council of state or grand senate of 70 elders , which some make to consist of 71 , taking in moses ; others in 72. six out of each tribe , the high priest being commonly of the number . now that the priests and levites were part of this great sanhedrim , causabon will bear me out ; who makes it appear out of their best authors , quod hujus concilii ea fuit institutio ut si fieri possit e solis levitis & sacerdotibus constaret , that as near as might be , the endeavour was it might consist only of priests and levites ; whence josephus and philo oftentimes under the title of priests understand the sanhedrim . come we down to david whose government was a pattern to all his successors , his reign was peaceable and flowrishing ; nor did he want states-men of the most raised abilities for his employments : yet did not this wise , this holy prince think it inconsistent with the sacred function ( which yet st. austin tells us in some respects operosius ministerium than that of the gospel ) to engage levites in his weightiest secular charges . for we find hathaliah and his brethren appointed officers on this side jordan , not only in the business of the lord , but in the service of the king : and jerijah another in holy orders is made plenipotentiary or ruler over the reubenites , the gadites , and the half tribe of manassah in every matter pertaining to god , and in the affairs of the king likewise , 1 chron. 26. 30. 32. nor was he singular in it , but was imitated by good jehosaphat who made the priests and the levites judges of all the controversies in israel , not excluding matters of blood , 2 chron. 19. 8 , 10. now run over the catalogue of all the kings of israel and were any to be paralled with these ? i am sure that none went beyond these , none whose government did more prosper with righteousness , justice , and tranquility . and though under the rest of the kings we have no express mention of the same practice ; yet all things considered , we have more reason to conclude it held than the contrary , for we find jehoiada the priest chief counsellour to joash , 2 king. 11. and if we look into after times at the babylonian captivity , the priests command all and possess the scepter for some hundred of years , for the assamonaean , race continued absolute princes till pompeys conquest , joseph . l. 13. c. 9. we may further add that many civil causes are by name reserv'd to the levical cognizance , as the inquisition for murther , false witness , &c. deut. 21. and yet after all , the preachers of the gospel do not hence draw arguments that they are chiefly and solely to be instructed with these great and important ministeries , but i do on their behalf averr , and will be ready to prove and maintain , that a fit allowance being made to the difference of times and persons ; the model prescribed by god himself under this levitical administration may safely be followed now in some things , and those no circumstantials also . but leaving moses , let us come to christ , and see how matters stood under the gospel , here though we have no instances of honours conferr'd by our saviour upon his apostles , yet have we prophesies , that after the publication thereof kings should become the nursing fathers of it , and that the feet of those that brought the glad tydings of peace should be beautiful upon the mountains , which mr. calvin applyeth to the bounty and munificence of princes to the church , isa . 49. but for the first 300 years , what could rationally be expected from the professed enemies of christianity ? no other honours than cruel persecutions whilst the persecuting fury lasted , whilst they were burnt in usum nocturni luminis , as tacit. the historian hath it . the ordinary sentence was , toeda lucebis in illa qua stantes ardent & fixo gutture fumant , juven . but no sooner was gentilism abolish'd , but we have a new and smiling face of affairs under the happy reign of constantine the churches great patron , as well as the clergies friend . and henceforth the primitive piety was not wanting , who thought no honours or powers misplaced upon their spiritual fathers , for whom they judged nothing too dear . all histories ring of constantines kindness to his clergy , by whom the most weighty affairs of his empire dureing his time was most happily transacted , and that most of his successors wrote after his copy will appear by what follows ; for it were very easie to muster a little army of fathers engaged in secular employments . we read zozomen l. 6. c. 32. that epiphanius bishop of cyprus , a person of singular vertue , prudence , and piety , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a man busied in political matters , theodoret reports l. 2. c. 30. that one jacobus bishop of nisibis or the mygdonian antioch was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , bishop , governour , and captain of the same city . in baronius , a. 610. i find that john patriarch of alexandria was accustomed to sit twice a week and judge between those that were at variance , and to reconcile them , and once when none came to him , he departed weeping , that all that day he had done no good , but sophronius replyed , that he had more cause of rejoycing than of weeping ; for having brought the city to such good order , and to so great peace , that they were more like angels than men , having no differences left , but were all in friendship and amity . a rare example to the immortal fame of an exclesiastical judge . we all remember that sir thomas moore commanded it to be scored up as a wonder , that he had once been able to clear the high court of chancery from suites , and not one cause to remain unheard : but here we have a populous city ( hardly short of any in our nation ) by the pains of a good bishop , without any charge to the litigants , reduced to a perfect unity within it self . but wee will pass over such obscure names , whom it were endless to reckon up and select only a few , whose eminent labours have eternized them to posterity , and begin with st. ambrose , who flourished a. c. 378. and to his conduct and government was the great city of milan entrusted , so that st. austin . conf. l. 6. c. 7. complains that he was a long time kept from access to him secludentibus me ab ejus aure atque ore catervis negotiorum hominum quorum infirmit atibus serviebat ; he had whole troops of suiters about him to dispatch their worldly business . the next shall be that great affrican light st. austin , who ep. 147. hath this passage , homines quidem suas saeculares causas apud nos finire capientes , dum iis necessarii fuerimus , sit nos sanctos & dei servos appellant , ut negotia terra suae peragant aliquando agamus negotia & salutis eorum non de auro , non de argento non de fundis & pecoribus pro quibus rebus quotide submisso capite salutamur ut dissentiones hominum terminemus . he saith he was every day sollicited to make up some breaches about gold , silver , land , cattel , &c. and yet where have we found a more faithfull and assiduous preacher and pastor than this good father ? were any more engaged in contests with hereticks , or any that left a larger legacy of his learned labours to the church ? i dare challenge any before or since the churches reformation , who have done the like , and who will say that the good father had mispent his time , that had better been laid out in painfull preaching to his flock ? whereas we all know that preaching is but a very small part of the ministers calling , yet of late times it hath been made by some to swallow up the rest of the ministers duties as necessary and essential to his callings as that can be ; and have observed also , that some ministers themselves , otherwise good men , have been a wanting to themselves and the church , in complying too much with a sort of men amongst us , whose interest it is to draw all causes into their own courts for the support of their own grandeur and faculty ; whereas otherwise those suites and causes might perhaps with little or no charge have been more speedily , yea and satisfactorily determined . our last instance shall be in gregory the great , de cur. past , ( with who some close the good popes ) whom we find complaining that sub colore episcopatus ad seculum retractus sum in quo tantis terrae curis inserrio quantis me in vita laic a nequaquam deseruisse reminiscor . he was never in all his life time so encumbred with worldly business , as after he came to be a bishop ; but he afterwards adds that , et si cogamur terrenis negotiis intendere , mens tamen nostra saeculari varietate non delectatur , sed tota in unum currit , atque confluit finem . though he was forced to do this for the good of his people , yet he took no pleasure in it , and his mind was taken up with better things , for all agree that these must not be undertaken out of love to them , but christian charity and compassion to the oppressed , aug. de civ . dei l. 19. c. 19. now these imployments were conferred upon those father 's not as bishops but as subjects more eminently qualified than others , both by their prudence , experience , and integrity , as well as humane learning . but three there are ( in which they did principally engage ) and which may seem most agreeable to their coat : first , to be in the commission of peace ; and to speak impartially , who fitter for such a work than they , whose business and calling it is to reconcile those that are at variance : and this was the design of the ancients , though at first it began in a way of charity ; yet being found profitable , it was upon mature deliberation by the christian emperors confirmed , particularly by constantine , zozom . lib. 1. c. 9. who leaves it free to any , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . valens and valentinian enlarged it and intrusted them with the rates of commodities sold in the market , cod. l. 1. de aud. ep. tit . 7. their jurisdiction i confess hath been in several ages various , sometimes more sometimes less as the emperors were more or less favourable to the church , whoever kept the soveraignty in their own hands , constantine was the first that passed the royal grant in favour of the clergy , permitting the cognizance of all civil matters , even between laymen to the episcopal tribunal if either party did require it , though the other denyed his consent , and their appeal was to be obeyed by the magistrates whenever made , though the action was already commenced in another court. arcadius and honorius did a little retrench this unlimitted power , yet still allowing it by the joint consent of both parties , and making the bishops as it were referees , l. si quis ex consensu . de aud. episcop . and their decision to be binding and final without appeal . this law was after ratified by theodosius and justinian l. episc . c. eod . nay this latter emperor justinian reposed so much confidence in them , that he made them overseers of the secular judges , novel . const . 56. this then has been the practise of that pure and primitive age , and the greatest enemies the church had , could never deny but that the bishops have had their tribunals for above these 1300 years erected by constantine , confirmed by arcadius and honorius , theodosius and valentinian , &c. only some curiously mince the matter , and allow them power to hear causes , and to become referees and umpires by the consent of both parties , but yet they will not hear talk of any coercive jurisdiction , though as eminent civil lawyers as any are , attribute it to them , and particularly accursius interprets audientia episcopalis , a term frequent in the code by jurisdictio ; and constantine forbad expresly the greatest prince in the empire to revoke what once the bishops had decreed , euseb , vit. const . l. 4. c. 27. in process of time the magistrates having encroached upon , and almost outed the clergy , charlemaine revives that good old law of constantine , confirming the same jurisdiction to all bishops , repeating the charter word for word , car. mag. in capit. l. 6. c. 28. what the practise was in our own country of england shall god willing be made out in what follows , wherein i doubt not but to give abundant satisfaction of the factum that the clergy were employed as much as the laity in the decision of secular causes , so far as we have good authority and record in the times of the saxons , and so downwards till our late and unhappy divisions 1640 , &c. which god grant may be ever buryed in oblivion , and that we may never live to see the same again . secondly , to be of the privy council , where frequently cases of consciences relating to state-matters may arise : as suppose there be a consultation about a war or marriage , the lawfulness or unlawfulness thereof , must be judged in foro conscientiae , and so is the proper subject of a divine or clergyman ; and perhaps the thing will not bear so much delay , as to summons prelates together for advice nor reason of state to be so much published , for want of such knowing and religious counsellours , princes may often be entangled in unjust massacres , and rash wars , and innocent blood be spilt , which otherwise might have been prevented : and for prevention whereof the godly prudent princes both of our own and other nations have ever admitted some spiritual persons to their counsel tables , and closet debates . to the good advice of bishop fox of winchester we owe the union of the two kingdoms of england and scotland ; for the other privy counsellors advising king henry the 7th to marry the eldest of his daughters to france , the more noble and rich kingdom : the old and wise bishop adviseth his majesty the contrary , at which the king seeming somewhat surpriz'd , the bishop gave him this as the reason of his opinion , that by marrying the elder to scotland , that kingdom would be brought to england , and old enmities reconciled and for ever buryed : whereas on the contrary england being under france , we should have here been ruled by a french liuetenant of deputy , which the english he doubted would hardly brook , and perhaps our government and laws by reason of their unagreeableness to the french , might have been attempted to have been changed into those of france , which the english man ( his opinion was ) would hardly bear : whereas those of scotland were not so much differing from the laws and customes of england , and t was to be hoped the two nations would better accord together than the english and french would . the good event of which counsel we have seen with our own eyes , and may it long continue . it is recorded of constantine that he would not in any wise dispense with the absence of his bishops from him , who had he lived in our prophane age , the churches enemies would have said that the good emperour had been priest ridden , a well-meaning man but not overwise : but the good emperors joy it was to see his court to be as it were a church . nay so much use of these holy men he made , that he made them follow him in his journeys and warlike expeditions , euseb . de vit . ejus l. 1. c. 35. idem l. 4. c. 56. so that we read in peter blesensis ep. 84. ad alex. 3. how he proves at large there , that it is not only lawfull but very expedient for prelates to be in the courts and counsels of princes upon such like important reasons as those are , and therein excuses the bishops of winchester , ely , and norwich . thirdly , to be employed in treaties and negotiations of peace and commerce , and this both the ancient and modern practise will justifie , that none have been more frequently or more successfully used and employed in such messages than the ambassadours of christ : solemn embassies cannot be expected before the magistrate embraced the gospel . but in the very beginning of the 4th century we have maruthas bishop of mosopotamia sent embassador from the emperor of rome to the king of persia , socrat. l. 7. c. 8. presently after theodorick dispatcht epiphanius bishop of ticinum or pavia to gunebald king of the burgundians , eunoch . tisin , vit . epiphan . who at his request released great numbers of poor christian captives . then we have st. ambrose sent by valentinian to maximus that commanded the british armys , to desire peace , which he happily effected to the great contentment of his master , ambros . ep. 27. l. 5. where he mentions an other embassy wherein he was imployed . i might add st. chrysostome imployed to treat with gainas as baronius informs us . john bishop of rome commissioned by theodorick to justine the emperor , niseph . with multitudes of others in latter times , whereof if i should give instance some perhaps would reply upon me that those were times of popery and ignorance ; yet perhaps of more candid simplicity and honesty than the times wherein we live ; and for the moderns the time would fail me to speak of our own and neighbour nations ; for this continued the universal practise of christendome till sincerity gave place to hypocrisie , and that new definition of an embassadour came up , that he was , vir peregre missus ad spetiose mentiendum reipub. causa . a good man sent abroad to tell specious lies for his countries service . then indeed it was high time for these holy men to resign up these employements to others whose education and course of life better became them . thus we have seen both ancient and modern usage on the clergys side , the uninterrupted practise of the world for above 5000 years before and under the law in the purest times since the gospel all sorts of men both pagan , jewish and christian , allowing it in their practise , and none ever questioning it , save some late , and those few innovators , who though they have disclaimed the infallibility of the church of rome , seem to stick a little to close to that of geneva or scotland , we have heard the most eminent amongst the fathers engaged by their princes in secular employments , and if yet still this must be an error , sit anima mea cum patribus , i dare cast my lot on that side . 't is confest 't is pitty that any should be misled by authority , but 't is most miserable not to be moved by authority . this then being the factum or usance as is evident , let us a little in the next place examine the jus of it , and for any fanatick to except against it , is a self-contradiction , since their avowed principles and dayly practise allow their teachers to follow any other calling , either of camp , country or city without control . but it is the rigid disciplinarian who takes the most offence at it , and therefore to him we shall address our selves , and for once suppose him to be of the little commonwealth of geneva , and to have the best parts , and to be master of the best head-piece amongst them . if the senate or syndi● should commission him to decide a difference between his quarrelling . neighbours , or send to him to advise with him about a war with their great enemy the duke of savoy , or engage him to solicite at the court of france , or at the suisse cantons as a publick agent , there being none more likely to prevail in such an embasie than himself ; and the little commonwealth otherwise would be in danger to be lost . in this case should he be heard pleading the inconsistency of his holy profession with such an imployment , and thereupon return a denyal ; if so , then the magistrate will be an ill condition , who must be obeyed in nothing more than the others calling enjoins him whether commanded or no , and his being a spiritual person will make the civil magistrate loose the service and use of his subject : a thing yet which the most eminent amongst them have not declined ; for that neither mr. calvin formerly in the one , nor mr. henderson of later times in the other , have not scrupled greater matters . but let matters be made never so clear , it may be feared that the vulgar have taken up such prejudices from the inexcuseable business of some late preachers here amongst us interesting their very pulpits in state matters dureing our late troubles ( a practise never sufficiently to be condemn'd ) that all perhaps may be bound to their good behaviour for a while for the miscarriages of these men , who have been so notoriously guilty of the supposed crime , they have been guilty of in their preaching against it , and chargeing it upon other men , who never ( as they did ) engaged in any thing of that nature , but when they were commanded to it by the magistrate : though 't is hoped that all learned and judicious persons will be more considerate , and distinguish between the frantick madness of a few giddy pates , and the sober actings of eminent prelates commission'd by lawfull authority , and not take an advantage from the miscarriages of this other sort of men to bring an irreparable injury on posterity by debarring others more sober than they . it is a true saying and confirmed by the experience of many hundred of years . laici sunt semper inimici clero . when the world was pagan , the devil taught the multitude to cry out if any publick calamity hapens , that the christians were in the fault , and they must to the lyons : but now the cunning sophister hath changed his note , and if any thing be amiss either in church or state , presently the blame must be cast upon the clergy ; they must be sacrificed to appease the many-headed multitude , their lands sequestred or sold , and all places of honour and trust interdicted them ; certain we are , the qualifications of a bishops calling do not in the least incapacitate him such employments as we have been speaking of : for ( 1. ) 't is required that he be vitae probatissimae , of an upright unblameable conversation . ( 2. ) nullius criminis reus . ( 3. ) aetate gravis , well stricken in years . ( 4. ) doctrina praestans , excelling in learning , with many other of the like nature . now if these are not kept , they have the more to answer for whom it concerns , if they be observed , will not any one who reads this , conclude no persons more fit than they for the most weighty affairs ? for all polititians make integrity , prudence , and learning the principal ingredients of an accomplisht magistrate ; so that if aptitude be respected , we may safely affirm there are none better qualified for counsel than the clergy , whose education and institution hath enabled them to look into all the idaeas and models of government ; to search the depths and mysteries of empires , most of which are lockt up in strange languages , and 't is not every capacity that can gain the key . then for true politicks ( the late florentine's reaches let other men learn and admire ) there 's as much to be found in the historical part of the scripture , as in any books in the world , so that divines may in all probability make good statists . and is it not pitty then that their countrys should be deprived of such hopefull and eminent abilities ? doubtless those of the contrary opinion do not throughly weigh the consequences of their assertion , clearly leading to disjoin the church from being a part of the commonwealth , which for 1300 years and better have been happily united ; if the bishops and other spiritual persons who yet by their revenue are so considerable in the commonwealth , must no longer be lookt upon as citizens , or parts of it , and eo ipso be debarred from employments , but incontinently forfeit all their priviledges as such , the consequence i presume would not be very good . chap. iii. some authorities from scriptures , and the canons of the antient church seemingly contradicting the former position explained . and yet for all this we confess we find many good men are strongly perswaded that ecclesiasticks ought wholly to be excluded from civil matters : an opinion indeed much pretending to humility and self-denyal , and receiving some countenance and colour from scriptures , the practise of three first centuries , and some canons of counsel which must be the subject of our next consideration . the text that is most insisted upon is , 2 tim. 2. 4. which being mistranslated by the vulgar latine militans deo begat greater prejudice in the minds of many . first , then we may take notice that the sentence is general , and belongs to every calling and sort of men , though in a more peculiar manner 't is referred to the preachers of the gospel , yet none can plead exemption , but others are willing to slip their necks out of the collar , , and the clergy only must be tied to it , whom for the present we will grant to be principally concern'd . the stress of all lies upon the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which theophylact expounds by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tumults and confusions of this life , corn. a lapide saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are such employments as concern food and rayment , and instance in these agricultur ; mercatura & artes mechanicae . now who does not readily approve of this , and judge it very improper that a preacher should be a merchant , a plowman or a mechanick , do not both common and cannon laws forbid the same ? estius has much to the like purpose , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. quae quis exercet ut habeat unde vivat , and therefore quotes to this purpose a saying of ambrose , indecorunt est homines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui militant deo , this then rather flies in the face of them that permit their preachers to put on blew aprons , and make them such sordid allowances , that they must either work with their hands or starve , seeing it is not comely that the lords warriours should busie themselves about inferiour matters that tend to get a livelihood , and so valla render it , not negotiis but negotiationibus , when our saviour employed fishermen to preach his gospel , weak instruments to confound the powers of this world , though he furnished them with suitable abilities that they needed not to study , yet he made them leave their nets , and not use them as their ordinary profession . but lastly , and most satisfactorily , the apostle here makes a comparison between prophane and spiritual warfare , and therefore the better to understand the genuine sense we must consider what military discipline did require , veg. l. 2. says that by the laws of war he must not have any private affairs committed to him , nor mind his own gain . hence we read in florus of the romans severely proceeding against posthumius for imploying his soldiers to till the ground , vid. leg. arcad. & honorii tit. miles . and leo the emperor says expresly , those that are armed and maintained by the commonwealth must only mind publick affairs , and not till the ground , keep cattel , or traffick , l. mil. c. de re militari l. 12. all avocations were inhibited , and such matters as tended only to the publick good enjoyned them , and why then should not the same analogy hold here , and such affairs be permitted to the clergy , as tend to the good of the church , and the glory of their great commander . next we are urged by the apostles practice who were so tender of any interruption that they denied to attend upon tables , and make provision for the poor . 't is true , in the infancy of the church , when the gospel was to be published all the world over , the work great , and the labourers exceeding few , the least diversion at such a time would prove a considerable hindrance and destraction to them . but now when the lord of the harvest has encreast the number , and plentifully furnished his peaceable settled church , every village being now supplied , and if the complaints of some be true , the nation so overstock'd , that there 's hardly employment , much less maintenance for the multitude . in this case to make no difference of times , when the mercifull providence of god hath made so vast a distinction seems little agreeable to reason . but if from this , occasion must be taken presently to forbid every petty interruption and disturbance ; how came st. paul to contradict himself , and to follow his tent making , labouring with his hands for a livelihood , which must needs take up a good part of his time , and hinder his praying and preaching . add to this , that the seven deacons appointed by the apostles to succeed them in the care of the collections , were according to epiphanius of the number of the 70 disciples , and yet for the publick benefit , their constant preaching was now and then dispenced with to attend on tables . thirdly , they argue from the canons of the primitive church , prohibiting clergy men to judge and intermeddle in civil matters , or any causes secular ; the prohibitions of this sort are many and various , they may be seen in balsamon , zonarus , binias , &c. it would be an infinite task to give particular answers to each canon , and therefore i shall lay down some general rules , which may the better conduce to the understanding of them all , which if well applyed will make an abundant solution to that so complicated an objection . and here i cannot but admire the modesty of the primitive church , and the charity of the people the earnestness of princes in commissioning of spiritual persons to compose all emergent differences , and the forwardness of the oppressed in flying to the tribunals for justice , whereupon the holy fathers in process of time to take off their clergy from those affairs made sundry and severe canons in divers counsels , and therefore ( 1. ) 't is clear , the great design was to forbid ambitious seeking after , and voluntary engageing in secular matters for sordid ends , and out of covetous principles , and this may probably be collected , because we find a dispensation given when imposed by the supreme magistrate . in the counsel of sardis t is granted upon the motion of osius , si religiosi imparatoris literis vel invitati vel vocati fuerint , and undertaken in obedience as causes of piety and charity , overseeing widdows and orphans , provided it extended not to the notorious neglect of their religious callings . and thus justin martyr calls the bishop the great steward of all the poor , apol. 2. the contributions of the faithfull being laid down at his feet , and by him distributed . and ignatius ep. ad polycarp . calls the bishop the great trustee of the widdows . ( 2 ) 't is not a total prohibition , but only a prudent restraint , least animosities and jealousies should arise in the laity , by too much encroaching upon their courts , and therefore the wisdom of sundry counsels confin'd the clergy to such matters as were properly of ecclesiastical cognizance . but ( 3. ) the ground and reason of these interdictions was not the unfitness and incapacity of spiritual persons , but out of respect to their eminent callings , least they should be disparaged by mean and vile employments , and express mention is made of sordid offices about princes and noble men , as of stewards , bailiffs , &c. but when by the favour of princes their employments were honourable , and their temporary diversions did bring abundant recompence to the church ; we find those that had the principal hadn in enacting these canons themselves engageing . now can it be supposed , if this had been the meaning , they would have been guilty of so great a contradiction , and no future counsel reprove it . st. cyprian much confirms me in this opinion , l. de lapsis , is perswaded that god sent the great persecution under decius onely to awaken the christians , who were growing exceeding corrupt , especially the clergy ; for he there complains that the bishops themselves abandoned their holy functions , and dealt in matters of the world , haunting marts and fairs for filthy lucre sake . and much to same purpose we find in writers of our own country , as gildas , bede , &c. but to make peace between quarrelling nations , to compound differences amongst christians , and such like , tending to the honour of god and the glory of the gospel , which may be often practised without detriment to their spiritual charges , i never find these expresly forbidden , or such as engaged in them , as cyprian , austin , chrysostom , gregory , bernard , &c. condemned ; for st. paul became all things to all men to gain a soul : will not the example bear his successors out , if they go to the utmost verge of their christian liberty , still keeping on this side sin , to preserve kingdoms , the churches peace , and to prevent the effusion of christian blood , their absence some days from their private charges will be abundantly recompenced by such happy consequences . chap. iv. the ancient estate of the clergy and priests in this and other kingdoms . we have before intimated that the prudent piety of the first christian emperours , for the better encouragement of religion and learning did confer many and great priviledges and exemptions upon their clergy in those primitive times . come we now to manifest that the franchise , of our brittish church , were neither short for number or extent , and that they a reall confirmed by magna charta without restraint , the words are we have granted to god ; and by this our present charter confirmed and for our heirs for ever , that the church of england shall be free , and have all her whole rights and liberties invitolable , all the nation being content to stand accursed if this grant were at any time infringed . you may see in ancient authors the manner of its publication ( viz. ) the king , prelates , and peers , &c. came with burning tapers in their hands , throwing them down on the ground , and saying , so let his light be extinguished in the other world , which shall go about to break this charter and agreement , yea more if any thing should be done against it and contrary to it , it was ipso facto declared void , 26. edw. 1. c. 2. and must magna charta be violated only when the clergys priviledges are invaded , why shall it not stand firm and good for them , and on their behalfs , as for the laity ? did not the clergy labour as much as any for the procurement of it ? nay were they not they who procured it from the several and respective kings ? let us desire the enemies of the clergy to see their own cronicles , and they shall receive satisfaction . now what the liberties of the church were , to set them down would ask a volume ; the lord chief justice cooke says expresly , they had more and greater than other of the kings subjects , some few he recites , as that they were discharged from purveyances , tolls , customs , distresses by the sheriff in the old inheritance of the church , with others of the like nature . it might fetch tears from some to look back upon the piety and charity of our saxon ancestors who in their greatest impositions ever held their ecclesiasticks excused , no part of that insupportable tax of danegelt , under which the kingdom so much groaned , being ever paid by them , vid. spelm. gloss . in danegelt . and it may be made appear that till after the conquest ( the tenure of their lands being at that time frank almoigne ) they were ever priviledged . for king ethelwolf in a full convention of his states at winchester , ann. dom. 858. enacted that tithes and church lands throughout all his dominions should be free from civil burdens and exactions , as much as royal tributes great and small , vid. spelm. concil . ad annum dictum . but dureing our late intestine wars , how unequal were quarterings and contributions ? what heavy burthens did the poor clergy bear , no redress being found to their bitterest complaints from the lay judges , who in some places made sport at their miseries and oppressions , as if nothing had been too hard or insupportable for their shoulders ; now those days through mercy are over , and must be forgotten , to receive almost in all places the same hard measure from their pretended well-wishers , this strikes to the very heart . when no regard is had of all their past sufferings ; first-fruits , tenths , ( no small standing revenue of the crown , amounting as some compute to near 40000 l. per annum ) which they joyfully discharge , but they must still be left to the arbitrary disproportionate impositions of every domineering insolent officer : the consideration hereof hath convinced many ( formerly of a different perswasion ) that 't is not only usefull but expedient , yea necessary for the church , to have some of his own ordering power to protect them , and to hear and redress their just grievances . but what further concerns the clergys priviledges and just rights , being so learnedly handled by the immortal spelman ; and the general ones so fully collected by rebuffus de stud. priv. and others , i shall not here any further enlarge upon them . the grand concern at present , and which we principally design is , how far they were priviledged as to publick assemblies and state consultations . and that the holy constantine , and many other famous kings and emperours have made use of their advice both at home and abroad , employed them in embassies and other important transactions hath been already demonstrated . and here in the first place , if such an argument could hope to sway with us christians , it would soon be proved that those who attended the worship of the heathen gods were admitted in greece , the then most knowing and civilized part of the world , into their pan-aetolium and amphyctionian counsels . amongst the athenian areopagites and roman senators , and that the old gauls divided their states in druidas ( who had omnium rerum immunitatem ) equites , plebem , as the egyptians before did into priests , soldiers and tradesmen . but leaving gentilisme we will hasten to christendome : and here once for all , desire our reader to consider , that by the fundamental constitutions of the most and best settled nations in europe , there are three states generally settled whereof the clergy is ever one : now to make this good , though we might produce variety of instances , yet we shall content our selves with the single testimony of calvin alone , knowing that it will go farther with some , than a jury of others , this we find expresly asserted in his institutions , l. 4. c. 20. sect. 31. in singulis regnis tres sunt ordines , &c. which how to make up without the spiritualty will be hard and beyond my skill . in our neighbour nation of france the practise is notoriously known , the ancient stile of the royal edicts always running , as 't is recorded of pepin , ann. 744. per consilium sacerdotum & optimatum ordinavimus , per consilium sacerdotum & optimatum ordinavit carolamanus , thuanus passim . it might farther be noted that six prelates are here pairee of that great and famous kingdom , three of them being stiled dukes , and three counts , see seldens titles of honours , and yet the whole number of the pairee exceeds not twelve . as likewise the arch bishop of paris hath a peculiar indulgence in being present in every court of that royal city without exception chappinus . look we into hungary where thwroczius informs us that by the fundamental constitutions of king stephen , the bishops in concilio regis primi adsistunt . poland comes behind none in its reverence and respect for their clergy , where the arch bishop of gnesna is primas regni & princeps primus , stanis . kristanowick in discrip . polon . whose jurisdiction is not limited to the spirituality alone , but hath the chief place in the rank of the senators assigned him , and is of the greatest authority in all publick consultations : and when at any time there happens an interregnum ( as it frequently doth in those elective kingdoms ) it belongs to him to summon a dyet to give audience to forreign embassadours , and to appoint a time and place for the election of a new king. our author farther enlargeth this to have proceeded from the piety of the popish kings towards the church , that the sons of it should for ever hold the highest places in their conventions , with many other priviledges which to this day they enjoy in his own words , [ and he no clergyman neither , but a lawyer ] maxime illius regni commodo , emolumento , adjumento , addo & ornamento . cromerus another historian of that country adds , that there is ever a royal standing council assigned the king , of which there is to be two arch bishops , and seven bishops . and how considerable a number in all the german dyets the ecclesiasticks are panvinius is a witness beyond exception , who reckons thirty four bishops that have their votes there besides abbots , priors , &c. who pass for religious persons , and in the septemvirate we find no less than three clergy-men , mentz arch chancellour of germany , coln of france , and triers of italy . i shall wholly out of this collection omit spain and italy , as being such known vassals to the pope , where the clergy rule the roast . but one word dashes all this [ with some ] they are papists , a doughty argument to condemn any thing though backed by never so strong reasons : and let us examine how matters stand with others , andreas bureus in his description of sueden , acknowledges that the ecclesiasticks were heretofore the prime men in the senate , till the covetousness of gustavus the first despoiled them of their revenues : yet since the reformation , they still to this day retain their suffrages in all publick dyets of the kingdom . and when the new crowned king makes choice of his counsellors , the arch bishop of upsal is still the first , who is allowed a greater proportion of attendants , when he comes to the king than any noble man in the nation , no fewer than forty horse being permitted him ; whereas the retinue of the other noble men must not exceed thirty . and in the great assembly at lincopen , ann. 1600. we find both bishops and other ecclesiasticks . and as to denmark , pontanus recites seven bishops as the ecclesiastical nobility , and these have their votes in all grand meetings . jonas ab elvervelt distributes the states of holstein into three orders , 1. king and princes . 2. prelates . 3. the families of the nobles . and he makes the bishops of lubeck and slewick the two prime peers in all their dyets . in scotland it is known that anciently the bishops and prelates were essential members of the parliament , and had their seats as ours here in england on the right hand of the king : and in a parliament held at edenborough , ann. 1597. a vote passed for restoring the clergy to their original priviledges , as the third estate in that kingdom ; the learned prince king james condemning that act of annexing their temporalities to the crown as vile and pernitious , basil . dor. l. 2. p. 43. then for geneva it self , who is so much a stranger to that reformation , as to be ignorant what a stroke calvin and others had upon the senate or grand counsel , which gave occasion to that complaint of some , that they had expelled one bishop and admitted many . if remote countries be to be regarded , amongst the abissines the clergy is paramount in affairs of all natures , and we read in damianus a goes of zaga zaba an ethiopian bishop viceroy of bagana sent embassadour to the king of portugal , dress . orat. in muscovy their supreme convention , which those inhabitants call zabore , consists of the great duke , twenty ecclesiasticks , and as many nobles , the common people being wholly excluded ; and when they are met together , the patriarch and ecclesiasticks are always first consulted , and first deliver their opinion . i shall conclude this paragraph , onely reminding , that neither the pagans nor mahometans are so inhumane or irreligious , or discourteous to their priests as to deny them this liberty : for that tully acquaints us that it was the appointment of the gods , that the roman pontifices should not only take care of their religion , but further sumnis reipub. praeesse voluerunt , orat. pro. dom . sua . nay at this very day the barbarous turks never exclude their . mufti , but allow him free entrance , and vote into all their divans and counsels ; yea the great sultan himself so honours the mufti , that as often as he comes into his presence , he rises from his seat , and according to their mode , putting his hand to his breast , bows his head in token of reverence and honour , which he shews not to any other subject , and will hardly vouchsafe the like honours to the mightiest monarch upon earth . chap. v. englands more particular respect and kindness to the clergy . i might here be very large should i but give the world a brief account of the honour which our saxon kings had for their clergy , neither was this a matter onely precarious , and by the courtesie ( as we say ) of england , sed ipsis confirmatum legibus , spelm. concil . ep. ad regem . the person who ministred at the altar was esteemed equal in all things in censu pariter capitis , to the lord of the mannour or any knight , leg. aethel . c. ult . de wirgildis . the abbot was esteemed no less than a greater thane which now we call a baron of the kingdom . the bishop of no inferiour rank than the count or earl , qui integro fruebantur comitatu . the arch bishop equal to any duke , who might happen to be set over , and have the rule of many countries ; for that saith the learned spelman , in these times our kings gave always the greatest respect and honour to their clergy ; for that in their keeping were the keys of learning and knowledge , the seculars in the mean time addicting themselves most what to the wars , so that in those times it came to pass that the priests mouth was the oracle of our common people no less than of the king and commonwealth ; for that they had ever the first place in our commitia's and assemblies , no less than in the kings courts of justice , and law tribunals in the kings palace with the nobles of his kingdom in the counties with the comittees and justices of the counties , in the sheriffs courts [ turno vicecomites ] together with the sheriffs , the bishops had their adsessors , yea in the hundred courts , they or their ministers sate together , with the lord of the hundred : so that one sword was ever helpfull to the other in the administration of justice , and nothing of moment was done in these courts of judgment , but by their advice and assistance , spelm. l. prius citat . the practice of the kingdom ran parallel with the law ; for in all antient charters and laws which heretofore were passed and made by signing their names cum signo crucis , the spiritual lords ever preceeded the temporal . in a donation of ethelbert , a. d. 605. to the monastery of st. peter in canterbury , the first witness subscribing it , is austin the bishop , and after him several dukes and earls , monast . angl. & spelm. conc. passim . in a charter of king inas , ann. dom. 725. to the monastery of glassenbury , after the bishops , boorthwald and fordred , occur waldhere , ethelherd , ummin and winchelin , the greatest peers in the nation putting their names . not long after in a grant of king offus to the abby of worcester , ann. dom. 708. brotdran , berthand , eadbald , and eadbald , two princes , and two dukes , follows the bishops . and at the same kings consecration at st. albans , ann. 793. no less than 10 dukes , besides other nobles give place to the prelates . and to make an end , in a charter of king edward the confessor to the monastery of winchester ; immediately after the king subscribed plegmund and frithestan the bishops , being followed by ethelward the kings brother , aethelstan , aelfweard the kings two sons , oredluf , orced , brorh●●●f and heerferth dukes , many more of this nature might be produced out of the same authors , and others , as standing monuments of the clergies reputation , and the reverence our religious ancestors bare to their functions , particularly the third charter of king edward the confessor of the foundation of the abby of westminster , where more particularly we find osberne and peter two of the said kings chaplains , signing the charter before several of the earls . and furthermore , here is statute law in the case that this usage may not be thought to proceed meerly from the curtesie of england , 't is confirm'd by the statute of the 31 hen. 8. c. 10. wherein all degrees and offices are placed in assemblies and conferences , and there the arch bishop of canterbury as primus par regni the first peer of the kingdom is ranked before all the nobility , and seated at the kings right hand , next and immediately after the royal blood , and the vicegerent , and the rest of the bishops follow him in their due precedency , according to the dignities and aunciencies of their respective sees . see farther , the statute of 8. of eliz. c. 1. where in that statute they are called an high , and one of the greatest estates of the kingdom , nor were they ever excluded from the greatest employments of honours and trust in the kingdom , and to evidence , that this is not spoke without book , we will subjoin a catalogue of churchmen collected out of godwin , malmesbury , spelman , dugdale , and others , &c. that have born all , at least the most honourable offices of state , and ( how ever bespatter'd by some ) discharged them with much integrity and repute ; england owing more of its happiness to men of this calling than any other , though it cannot be denyed but some miscarriages might be here and there found , and yet as few as can be expected in such a multitude : and if a man were disposed to find fault , he might without much pains takeing two for one in critically examining any other profession . let us begin then with englands metropolitan , to whom this primacy justly appertains , and take the rest in order , onely premising this , that t is true indeed we find fewer of this see upon the civil stage than any other , most offices being lookt upon as below the archiepiscopal dignity , and therefore a nobleman upbraided hurbert arch bishop 1199. when he was made chancellour of england , chief justice of england , and high governour of all the dominions under king richard the first , however we shall begin with his person and see. canterbury . hubert under richard 1. and king john , who intrusted the same prelate with the government of the whole realm at his departure into normandy . gualter , reynolds chancellour , ann. dom. 1310. john stratford chancellour under edw. 3. and when the king invaded france , no person thought so fit in his absence to have the government of the nation entrusted to him . simon islip of the privy counsel to the edw. 3. john stafford to hen. 5. john morton to hen. 6. and edw. 4. but we need not stand upon this , when in truth it hath been seldom known that any of them have been at any time omitted : nor was this proper only to the times of propery : come to the reformation , we find arch bishop cranmer of the privy counsel to hen. 8. and edw. 6. and very active in civil matters , yet a man so averse to rome , so instrumental in planting the gospel , so laborious , so holy , that a great apocalyptical man mr. brightman , in his commentaries oa the apocalypse [ a man no friend to the hierarchy ] takes him to be that angel pointed at by god , rev. 14. that had power over the fire . under the renown'd queen elizabeth , john whitgift of the council , and had the government of the principality of wates given to him . york . waler gray chancellour under king john , had the government of the realm entrusted to him under hen. 3. william de melton successively treasurer and chancellour of england , 1317. william de zouche vicegerent to king edw. ann. dom. 1346. john kemp , ann. 1425. twice lord chancellour . and thomas young lord precident of the north , an. dom. 1561. london . there was not long since to be seen in st. pauls the monument of william bishop of london , who obtained from the conqueror the city charter , to which the lord major and his brethren the aldermen used in a gratefull commemoration every year to walk on foot : he was privy counsellor to king william the conqueror . mauritius chancellour under the same king. eustachius de falconbridge one of king rich. 1. his justices , chancellour of the exchequer , treasurer of england , and twice embassadour into france . henry de wingham chancellour under edw. 3. ralph boldoc under edw. 1. richard bintworth under edw. 3. robert braybrook under rich. 2. richard cox dean of westminster ( whom i crave leave to name here as belonging to the diocess ) of the privy counsel to edw. 6. and bishop bancroft sent embassadour to embden , to treat with the king of denmarks commissioners , ann. dom. 1600. durham . geoffrey rufus chancellour of england , ann. dom. 1140. richardus de marisco , ann. dom. 1217. anthony beake of the privy councel , ann. dom. 1294. richard de bury cancellarius , ann. dom. 1334. and treasurer , ann. dom. 1336. thomas langley chancellor , ann. dom. 1406. thomas ruthal of the counsel to henry 8. and as his monument at westminster testifies , secretary to hen. 7. richard neyle of the privy council , a. d. 1627. and here we cannot omit that known passage of newbrigensis , who brings in k. richard , making himself merry with the bishop , boasting what a feat he had done , e vetusto episcopo novitium comitem ego mirus artifex feci , to make a new count of an old bishop , a priviledge yet continued to that ancient see. winchester . swithan chancellour of england under k. egbert , ann. dom. 860. william giffard chancellour under the conqueror , william rufus , and k. henry 1. peter de la roch. lord chief justice under k. john. sendall chancellour , 1316. william edenden treasucr under edw. 3. william of wickam , founder of new colledge in oxon , principal secretary of state , keeper of the privy seal , master of the wards , and treasurer of the kings revenues in france , ann. dom. 1360. william wainfleet founder of magdalen colledge oxon , for his great wisdom and integrity long lord chancellor of england under hen. 6. richard fox ( founder of c. c. c. oxon ) one of the privy counsel to hen. 7. ( as prudent a prince as this nation hath known ) and this bishop as wise a privy counsellor as he a prince ) continually employed either in matters of counsel at home , or embassies and treaties abroad . ely . william longchamp chancellor , ann. dom. 1189. after chief justice and protector of the realm , when k. richard the first undertook his journey to the holy land. eustacius chancellor , ann. dom. 1196. john hotbam chancellor , ann. dom. 1317. simon laughan , and. dom. 1361. first treasurer , then chancellor of england . john barnet treasurer , a. d. 1366. john fordham treasurer , ann. dom. 1385. william gray treasurer , ann. dom. 1469. john alcock chancellor , ann. dom. 1486 : and thomas goodrick chancellor under edw. 6. lincoln . robert bleuet chancellor under the conqueror , ann. 1092. alexander under k. henry the i. lord chief justice of england . galfridus chancellour , a. d. 1180. hugh de wells chancellour . ann. dom. 1209. walter de constantiis chancellour under hen. 6. and dr. williams dean of westminster , and after bishop of this see made lord keeper by the learned k. james . coventry and lichfield . roger de wiseman keeper of the great seal , ann. dom. 1245. william de langton treasurer , ann. dom. 1226. roger northbrough clerk of the wardrope , afterwards treasurer , ann. dom. 1322. geoffrey blyth lord president of wales , ann. dom. 1513. rowland lee his successor in the same office , ann. d. 1535. richard sampson in the same , ann. dom. 1537. william smith founder of brazen-nose colledge oxon ; in the same under hen. 8. sarum . osmond chancellor of england , always of the privy council , and seldom separated from the court , under the conqueror . roger chancellor , 1107. and under k. stephen , ann. dom. 1136. john waltham master of the rools , keeper of the privy seal , and after treasurer of england under richard the ii. nicolas bubwith treasurer , ann. dom. 1407. william ayscoth clerk of the counsel , ann. dom. 1438. bath and wells . robert burnet first lord treasurer then chancellour of england , and always of the council under edw. i. john drokensford keeper of the wardrope , ann. 1309. robert stillington first keeper of the privy seal , then chancellour , ann. dom. 1465. oliver king principal secretary of state , 1492. john clark master of the rolls , a. d. 1523. exeter . leofricus first one of the privy counsel , then chancellour of england , under the conqueror , though sir henry spelman reckons him of bath at that time , and possibly he might be of both . william brewster of the privy counsel under henry the 3. walter stapledon founder of exon colledge oxon first of the privy counsel , then treasurer under edw. 2. john grandesson privy counsellor to edw. 3. john voysey lord president of wales under hen. 8. gervase babington vice precident of wales , a. 1597. norwich . hen. 2. by a special commission makes the bishops of norwich , winchester , and ely , lord chief justices of england in my authors words , radalphus de diceto , archi justitiarios angliae , who there adds , clergymen were pitched upon by the kings for this employment , rather than others , for that they were the likeliest persons not to oppress the poor , nor to respect the face of the rich. john salmon chancellour , a. d. 1319. robert baldock chancellour , an. dom. 1324. john wakering lord keeper of the privy seal , a. d. 1416. hereford . thomas cantelupe chancellour , a. d. 1275. thomas charlton lord treasurer , 1329. john gilbert in the same employment , 1386. thomas melling of the privy counsel to edw. 4. charles booth chancellour of the marches of wales , ann. dom. 1517. worcester . galfridus giffard lord chancellour of england ann. dom. 1267. walter reynold first treasurer then chancellour of england under king edw. 2. john bar●●s lord treasurer ann. dom. 1362. henry wakefield treasurer , an. dom. 1376. nicholas heath lord president of wales and chancellor of england under queen mary . chichester . ralph nevil chancellor of england , ann. dom. 1222. but sir henry spelman reckons it 1226. who saith he was appointed to that employment by parliament . john de langton chancellor under edw. 1. and 2. john stratford lord chancellor ann. dom. 1360. adam molins clerk of the privy council , ann. dom. 1451. and that very learned prelate and industrious preacher lancelot andrews privy councellor of england and scotland , under a prince who knew the worth of learning , and advanced it accordingly . rochester . walter de merton founder of that colledge that bears his name in oxon , lord chancellor of england , ann. dom. 1274. john de shepey lord treasurer , ann. dom. 1358. oxford . hugh curwyn lord chancellor of ireland . st. davids . adam de houghton lord chancellor of england , ann. dom. 1376. lindwood the famous canonist lord keeper of the privy seal , ann. dom. 1440 , and a person much employed in embassies to the king of spain , portugal , &c. i might here add several deans and arch-deacons promoted to the same and like dignities , and with industrious mr. stow , take notice that till the dissolution of abbies and monasteries , the prior of christ church in london was ever a member of the court of aldermen ; and that the dean of westminster is by his charter allowed no small interest in the government of that neighbouring city . but i shall not nauseate the reader any longer with the repetition of any more antient names , but observe ( as others have done before me ) that in the catalogue of chancellors recorded in spelmans glossery , amounting to about 170 , near a 100 of them were clergymen , more than all the other professions put together can make up . these then are the honours which ( if any humane testimony can make a thing certain by an uninterrupted custome ( equal to law ) which wise antiquity in the best of times gave them , through all the saxon , danes , and norman times , without controul and dispute till within these 40 years or thereabout , since which england hath groaned under the very great sin of dispiseing the embassadors of christ , and with some it hath been no small step to preferment to rail at them , to murmure at , and decry their advancements for secular ends of their own , yea to rank the great trustees of souls with the vilest peasants in the nation ; as if there were no better way to shew their love to their redeemer , and their own christianity , than by hatred to his servants who conveyed it to them ; as if men had no other way to manifest their respects to the majesty of the great god , but by powring out contempt and obloquy upon those who represent his person . and thus corah and his accomplices great complaint and grievance against moses and aaron was , that they were too high , took too much upon them , numb . 16. they were advanced and honoured above the rest , this was the main eye-sore , but the revengeing hand of god would not then bear it . nay have we not here in england dureing our late and unhappy troubles , heard such language as this ( nay have we not seen the thing reduced into practise ? ) all the congregation is holy , and one may preach as well as another : thus would these sons of confusion have brought upon us a munster confusion and disorder , by taking away the distinctions of callings . the wise god ( we know ) appointed it otherwise under the old testament , when every one we know was not admitted to the priesthood . we cannot but think , that there were 1000 in israel who knew how to kill , slay , and dress a sheep , ox , or goat , as artificially as the sons of levi , yet none ever attempted it in reference to the altar without a severe rebuke . and was moses a more prudent lawgiver or steward of gods house than jesus christ the wisdom of the father ? would it be fuffered in humane societies , in any well regulated corporation that every man who should conceive himself fitter to discharge an office , manage a trade , husband an estate , should presently exclude another legally possest of it , and invade his propertys ? grant this , and farewell government , and welcome babel . let me say it once for all , ' t is folly for any to expect the prosperity of the nation , whilst the clergy of it is in misery , a low and despicable condition , whilst the sacred function is deposed , nay with black ingratitude revil'd ; to whose learned labours do we owe the translation of our bibles , and who , ( as before once was intimated ) under god were the principal instruments of delivering us from that egyptian darkness our forefathers sate in : is not this like the deer we read of in plutarch , who browsed on that bush in a calm he was glad to creep under in a storm ? certainly they are not worthy the name of christians or friends of the gospel ( whatever their pretences may be ) that despise and vilifie the ministry , than which , nothing more bespeaks a vile and reprobate heart . we all know that under the law presumptuously to rise against the priest was punishable with no less than death , deut. 17. for these are the embassadors of the king of heaven , and how sacred such persons were esteemed by the laws of all nations , all histories do abundantly witness : 't was the shame of our neighbour nation of scotland , the murder of the late learned prelate there , and that small indignities offered to persons of his rank have been highly resented ; the ammonites are a lasting testimony in the days of king david , and prood corinth was for no other reason burnt to ashes by the enraged romans , florus . chap. vi. the antient estate of our bishops and clergy under the times of the britains , saxons , danes and normans . vvhat incouragement the clergy found in the times of the britons will appear to have been very great if we will but read arch bishop usher de primordiis ecclesiae britanicae , through the series and succession of kings , who when converted to the christian faith , were not scanty in conferring honours and riches upon them : see him in his sixth chapter under these respective heads , antiquitatis glastoniensis ecclesiae assertio & nova ab ina rege instauratio . privilegia varia eidem a saxonibus regibus . arthur . donatio & sepulchri inventio , hen. 2. & edw. 3. diplomata . possesiones & libertates ecclesiis a lucio rege tributae . wintoniensis ecclesiae libertates & antiquitates . fundatio ecclesiae sancti petri westmonasteriensis . b. marcae doveriensis & sancti martini cantuariensis . afterwards in his 7th chapter , de pace britanici ecclesiis post caeptam persecutionem constantio chloro , aug. constant . m. patre restituta . and afterwards in his 8th chapter of the british bishops , qui variis consiliis interfuerunt , concilio arelatensi , sardicensi & ariminenst ; where any persons may receive satisfaction of the clergy honour in those first british times . in the times of the saxons what their immunities were will appear if we instance in but one single one , as more eminent and glorious than the rest ( viz. ) their admission to all publick debates and assemblies . such were ( 1 ) their scire gemotis , which spelman and other learned antiquaries resemble to our country courts , and sheriffs turn in which all causes both criminal and civil , concerning church or state were handled ; the persons bound to be present were the sheriff , the bishop and all the nobles of the county ; till at last upon their humble petition in parliament , the clergy were dispensed with by the statute of marleborough , 52 edw. 3. unless urgent necessity required it . secondly , their folk gemotts a kind of annual parliament commonly held in the beginning of may , in which the princes of the kingdom , bishops , and magistrates , and the laity took the oath of allegiance , and confirmed their mutual union before the bishops . the original of this is intimated to be as high as king arthur , vid. leg. edw. confess . 35. thirdly , their wittena gemotts , or michel synoth , the grand convention of their wise men . these who desires to look farther into , may have recourse to spelmans laborious glossary , v. gemot . now out of none of these were the clergy excluded , but ever reckoned an eminent and principal part of each , their counsels votes and approbation demanded and given before any laws were constituted . for proof of this , we shall look back above 1000 years to the laws of king ethelbert , and the authors we shall produce , and on whose authority we lean are bede , spelman , and lambard . and as to king ethelbert presently after the arrival of austin the monk here in england , we find as spelman hath it in spelm. conc. 126. the king to have called a grand assemby , a. 605. tam cleri quam populi . in the laws of king ina , which florentius wigorniensis dates , ann. dom. 686. spelm. 692. lambert 712. we find these laws were made and wrote by the perswasion and advice of his bishops hedda and erkenwald ; and though the learned spelman excerps out of the body of those laws only those which more particularly relate to the church , as being only proper for this design , yet lambard mentions many civil matters there determined . and when the great league and union between the britons , saxons and picts was concluded , we find it ratified per commune concilium & assensium omnium episcoporum , procerum , comitum & omnium sapientum seniorum & populorum & per preceptum regis inae . the very manner of our passing laws in parliament now used in england , bed. eccles . histor . l. 1. in the laws of king athelstan about the year 924. ( spelm. 922 ) there 's no mention of any other counsellors for the enacting , though certainly the form was the same , but his arch bishop ufhelme and his other bishops , and these were at least the prime persons there , though the body of the laws concern secular affairs . spelman selecting only ecclesiastical , yet in the title he owns others passed . in the laws of k. edmund about 946. the king had a full meeting of ecclesiasticks , and laicks at london , in which were present odo and wulstan the arch bishops , none of the rest though without doubt there present once named . again 948. to a great convention of the estates at london under edred , writs of summons are issued out to the arch bishops and bishops , and yet their agitur de negotiis regni , ingulph . p. 87. spel. conc. p. 428. come we to the danes , 1021. we find a publick assembly called at winchester by canutus , where were present wulstan and adelholme the arch bishops with other bishops dukes and earls , &c. spelm. conc. p. 534. now dureing these two periods there 's no mention of baronies , but all the churches tenure was in pura eleemosyna , frank almoigne and the bishops sate onely as eminent prelates by vertue of their spiritual dignities ; for there being hardly any laws but some way or other concerning religion , and the good of souls : therefore in the enacting of them the cergy was ever required by our prudent ancestors . thus much for the grand assemblys , stiled usually by the learned knight sir henry spelman pan anglica and pan britanica . we will only mention the private statute of king edgar which was thus , ex omni comitatu bis quotannis conventus agitur cui quidem illius diocaesae episcopus & senator intersunto , quorum alter jura divina alter populum edoceto . nor doth mr. selden no friend of the clergy ever deny or question but the bishop was joyned in commission with the aarlderman , nay he expresly affirms the same titles of honour , l. 2. c. 5. hitherto of the british , saxon , danish governments , pass we down to the normans , and here we have king william solemnly with an oath ratifying the laws of st. edw. the confessor , and this particularly is added . si quis sanctae ecclesiae pacem infregerit episcoporum est justitia , lambard , p. 139. and in several old precidents of grants such clauses as these occur , nolumus quod libertas ecclesiae per nos vel ministros nostros quoscunque aliqualiter violetur & jura & ilbertates ecclesiasticas illaesas volentes in omnibus observari . yet more particularly in a charter to the church of st. pauls in london , tam liberam volumus ecclesiam , d. pauli london , quam sit anima mea in die judicii . and here now at last we come to that great change in the state ecclesiastick , the bishops who had ever enjoyed the privileges of majores thani among the saxons are translated to barons , which gave occasion to that groundless error of some , to date the first sitting in parliament hence , as if the conquerour to curry favour with the clergy , and the better to settle his new gotten kingdom , confered this honour upon them ; but certainly if there were truth in this , the clergy are much to blaim , and very ungrateful to their patron k. william , for that we find them loosers by his favours , and looked upon their condition under him much worse than before , and all the writers of that age must be corrected for representing him , as a perfect enemy of the church . to clear up this we will only give you one instance , cited from an old record , entituled , liber sancti albani . where we read this passage of frederick the then abbot of st. albans , that to obstruct the march of the conquerour , he caused all the trees round to be cut , and laid them cross the ways , wherewith the conquerour being stopt in his march sent in some passion for the abbot , who under his security coming to him , the conquerour demands the reason for the cutting down the woods , the abbot resolutely answers him , that i have done , but what became me , and if all the spiritual persons through the kingdom had used their endeavours against thee , as they might and were in duty bound to have done , thou wouldst never have been able to have entered the land thus far . the duke then replying , is the spiritualty of england of such power ? if i live and enjoy that , which i have gotten , i will make their power less . add to this that stategem of the kentishmen in surrounding the king , and forcing him to a composition , which they did under the conduct of stigand their arch-bishop , which thing ever after netled him , and that he was never heartily reconciled to the church . and proved afterwards as good as his word to the abbot , oppressing the clergy all his reign , bringing them under knights-service , and ordering how many souldiers each bishop should maintain for him and his successors : the church , as beforesaid , being ever free from that bondage . let no man then say , that the conqueror ( who was ever look'd upon by the bishops as their enemy ) did them any acts of grace or havour by erecting each bishoprick into a barony , which thing was ever by the bishops look'd upon as a grievance , and a more glorious piece of slavery . this was in deed a shrew'd shaking to the bishops , yet still they preserv'd their votes in all assembli●s , and parliamentary summons are ever directed archiep. ep. &c : all antient charters and grants subscribed after the usual form in those times , testibus archiep. ep. in a treatise entituled , the form and mannor of keeping parliaments , whereof it seems there are two very antient copies , the m. s. in arch bods , the other in sr. rober cottons library , the first of which was perused by mr. selden , and he allows it to be as long standing , as edw. 3d. but the lord chief justice cooke adds near 200 years more , and raises it to the conqueror's time ( which the title indeed pleads for ) we are here told , that 40 days before summons are to be issued out to the archbishops , bishops , and other great clarks , that held by county or barony , and that the clergy in each shire are to have two proctors representing them , which in some things had more power than the bishops , for we are there informed , that the k. may hold a parliament for the commonalty of the realm , without bishops , earls , or barons , so they had summons , though they come not , but on the cottrary , if the commonalty of the clergy and temporalty being warned , either doth not , or will not come , in this case whatever the king doth with his bishops , earls and barons is of none effect , for that to all acts of necessity the commonalty of parliament must consent , i. e. the proctors of the clergy , knights of the shire , citizens and burgess●s , for their persons represent the commonalty of england , but the bishops , earls , and barons represent only their own persons . there is , they say , another m. s. in bibl. cotton , confirming the same , and citing other large priviledges of the clergy , i know indeed mr. prinne hath questioned the authority of both these books , in bar of which i return the authority of cooke and selden , and particularly the first , who saith , in his institutes , that 26 spiritual persons ought ex debito justitiae , to have a writ of summons sent them every parliament . these things premised , we will now desire of the clergies greatest adversary that he would produce instances of any solemn meetings , wittena gemots or parliaments whereunto the clergy were not summoned ; any statutes publickly enacted during all the christian british , saxon , danish , or norman times , without their assistance and advice . as for the precedent of their exclusion under edw. 1. at the parliament held at st. edmondsbury , which some triumph in , if there be any truth in the narrative ( as hath been , and is still , questioned ) we know , and can prove , 't was done in a pett and transport of royal displeasure for their too obstinate adhering to the bishop of rome in the scottish quarrel , and for their noncompliance with their kings demands . who yet the very next parliament , about a year after , makes an apology for this charging all upon the exigencies of his affairs . and why should this single instance so circumstantiated be urged more against the clergy than that other is against the lawyers who were shut out of a parliament under henr. iv. where we yet find the bishops and amongst others , thomas arundel stoutly resisting and preserving the clergies temporalities , which these church-robbers gaped after , who , so they might spare their own purses were content to spoil their god to relieve their king. certainly if envy it self could have found the least colour of law to deny them this privilege it had never been reserved for this last , and our most unhappy age . many times have they been struck at , many great blows have they received , as at clarendon , under henr. ii. where their wings were indeed much clipt , yet their privilege of sitting and voting in parliament is left entire to to them for that the words are episcopi intersint curiae domini regis cum baronibus quousque perveniatur ad diminutionem membrorum vel mortem , and though they never voted of late in capital causes , yet that they however made their proxies i hope shall be made appear by what follows , together with their forbearing to vote in capital causes , and the reason of it shall be farther discoursed of . chap. vii . the estate of the bishops and clergy from the conquest ( as to their voting in capital causes in parliament ) till the times of king henr. viii . vve have before intimated the common usages and rights of the bishops to sit and vote in parliaments in all antient times , and that as peers and barons of the realm , we now aver they have a power to sit and vote in all , as well criminal as otherwise , either by themselves or proxies lawfully constituted , which is a privilege of the peerage , and therefore , belongs to the bishops as such , 't is very well known what mr. selden hath wrote in his book of the privileges of the peerage of england , that the bishops was debarred of their privileges by an act of parliament 17 car. i. ann. 1641. and that he was a great notorious stickler in it , but 't is as notorious that not long after we find the commons , nay a small and inconsiderable part of that house , voting the temporal lords useless and dangerous , and that how they were enabled by being assisted by the help of cromwell the late usurper , and the army , to accomplish what they had begun , and the bad consequence of all we have seen with our eyes , and bishops god be thanked restored to their undoubted rights and privileges , and that for as much as they were equally barons ( nay the bishops had usually the first in summons ) they have also equal privileges to make their proxies in parliament as the temporal barons had , we confess , as before , for that they were spiritual persons they were not by the council of clarendon to sit in capital causes , and loss of limb , but then we must know that long before this they both had and exercised this power , as may be made appear out of john crampton's chron. c. 24. where amongst the laws of athelstane we read , episcopo jure pertinet omnem rectitudinem promovere dei ( viz. ) & saeculi & debent episcopi cum saeculi judicibus interesse judiciis , and the ordering of all the measures and weights is there made of episcopal cognizance the standard being still left in the bishops hands , and out of sir henry spelman's glossary , voce comes . comes praesidebat foro comitatus non solus sed junctus episcopo , ut alter alteri auxilio esset & consilio , praesertim episcopus comiti nam in hunc illi animadvertere saepe licuit & errantem cohibere , so much confidence did the antients repose in the clergy that the guidance and overseeing of most temporal affairs was entrusted to them , nay , they had a check upon the laity . and thus lovingly with all sweetness and candor for 4 or 500 years , during all the saxons times and till that unhappy division by the conquerour , who defaced this beautiful and regular composure did the church and state-officers sit together in the morning determining ecclesiastical affairs , and in the afternoon civil . there were then no jars or clashings of jurisdictions heard of , no prohihitions issuing out of one court to obstruct the course of justice in another ; thereby hampering the poor client that he knew not which way to turn himself ; and i am perswaded there is no better expedient to prevent lasting vexatious suits , and to relieve the oppressed , than again to reconcile these two jurisdictions , that according to the primitive usage as well spiritual as temporal judges may be appointed in all courts , that moses and aaron may not interfere and quarrel , but walk hand in hand . though i know this design does not rellish with many of the long robe , yet 't is feared that attempting some such thing purchased the late archbishop laud no few enemies and was one especial cause of hastening his ruine : yet we find mr. selden a lawyer too , lib. 2. de synedriis , proving that for the first 4000 years and better the civil and ecclesiastical courts continued united , and the first distinction proceeded from pope nicholas , gratian. distinct . 96. c. cum ad verum , and that the clergy do not meddle personally to vote in loss of life or limb proceeds from the canons of the antient church which forbad their presence in cases of blood , but i hope that no sober man will hence argue that they being barons of this realm they must lose their priviledges which belong to the spiritual lords as well as to the temporal ; viz. to make proxies though in capital causes ( when by the antient canons of the church they are forbid to be present , ) which they have done , and still have right to doe comes next to be discoursed of . and ( first ) i shall make use of mr. selden's authority , though no friend to the bishops , ( for reasons he best knew of ) who expressly saith in his book of the priviledges of the barons of england , printed 1642. that omnes praelati , magnates , &c. has this priviledge . introduct . though he says there they had lost it by the parliament 17 car. 1. 1641. i hope now they are restored to it again , that they had before he gives you sundry instances cap. 1. these are his words § 2. that the course of elder time was not that barons onely made proxies but other men , as bishops , and parliamentary abbots , and priors , who gave their letters usually to parsons , prebendaries , and canonists . in the parliament of carlisle under edw. 1. the bishop of exeter sent to the parliament henry de pynkney parson of houghton as his proxy . the bishop of bath and wells sent william of cherlton a canon of his church , and in like sort other of the spiritualty of that time , in the beginning of the 17th year of king richard the second the bishop of norwich made richard corqueaux being then deane of the arches , thomas hederset being archdeacon of sudbury and john thorp parson of epingham his proxies by the name of procuratores sive nuntii , and in the same time the bishop of durham ' s proxies were john burton canon of bewdley , and master of the rolls and john of wendlingborough canon of london , and other like in the same time . by which also that of the preamble of the statute of praemunire is understood , where it is said that the advice of the lords spiritual that was present and of the procurators of them that were absent , was demanded . the like under henry the 4th and 5th , are found in the rolls , and under henr. 5. the archbishop of york gives the proxies to the bishop of durham , and to two other clerks of his province . nay farther , that the bishops used to give their proxies in cases of attainder , the said mr. selden expresly saith in the place forecited , and also what sort of persons they used to make their proxies , he there likewise tells you , adding withal this unhandsom reflexion , that the lords spiritual had so much mistaken of late the laws of the kingdom , and the original of their own honours by endeavouring to enlarge the kingdom of antichrist , that they had now ( he means , a. d. 42 ) lost both priviledge and vote in parliament . all sharp , reply to which i shall purposely forbear . and secondly , proceed to shew you express precedents wherein they have voted either personally , or by proxies in capital causes , and here i will produce mr. selden himself , the bishops adversary become their advocate , who saith expressly p. 125. lib. cit . that though in the case of appeal of treason in a parliament of the 11 of richard the second , commenced by thomas duke of gloucester and others against alexander archbishop of york , robert de vere , &c. they absented themselves , i mean , the whole spiritualty in that parliament , and would make no proxy in their room for that time , yet afterwards they agreed to do it in cases of judgments of death , rot parl. 2. henr. 4. & rot. parl. 2. henr. 5. but he there saith , that the first use of such proxies was 21 ric. 2. so that we have him confessing the bishops sitting in cases of blood by their proxies , the next authority i shall make use of , is a parliament roll it self , of that year as i find it in sir robert cotton's collections intituled as followeth . placita coronae coram domino rege in parliamento suo apud wegmonast . diae lunae proximae post festum exaltationis sanctae crucis anno regni regis ric. 2. post conquestum 21. the roll it self you may see in the tower among the records there kept . it is of an impeachment of the earl of arundel and warr. &c. for treason , &c. the articles were exhibited against him by several lords , as edward earl of rutland , thomas earl of kent , john earl of huntington , &c. which the said lords were ready to prove the crimes objected , and demanded the prisoner to be brought to the bar , which the lord nevil then constable of the tower did , and the aforesaid lords in their own persons appeared also . his articles being read , the earl of lancaster lord steward of england by the king's commandment , and assent of the lords , declares the whole matter . and thereupon the said earl's answer to the articles was demanded , who pleaded two pardons , and prayeth they may be allowed , but they were not , whereupon sir walter clopton lord chief justice demands of him what he had farther to say , for that if nothing more to say the law would adjudge him guilty . and the said earl not pleading any thing else , the lords appellants in their proper persons require that judgment may be given against the said earl , as convict of the treason aforesaid . whereupon the lord steward of england , by the assent of the king , bishops and lords , adjudged the said earl guilty and convict of all the articles aforesaid , and thereby a traitor to the king and realm , and that he should be therefore hanged , drawn , and quartered , and forfeit all his lands in fee , &c. though the punishment , in regard he was of noble blood , was changed , and he was ordered to be beheaded ; which was done by the lieutenant of the tower , and this is a short account of that trial for blood in parliament . where 't is plain and evident that the bishops were there present , for 't is said , that the said earl was adjudged guilty and convict by the assent of the king , bishops and lords . q. e. d. next we will produce another instance and precedent of the condemnation of thomas arundel archbishop of canterbury , who was accused by the commons in full parliament , die & loco praedictis , where we find the commons by their speaker sir john bussy petitioning the k. in manner following . for that divers judgments were heretofore undone , for that the clergy were not present , the commons prayed the king that the clergy would appoint some to be their common proctor with sufficient authority thereunto . whereupon the clergy appoint thomas de la percy by their instrument their proctor , who together with the king and the said lords adjudged him the said archbishop guilty of treason , and himself a traitor . the crimes objected to him was his traiterous obtaining a commission from the king , whereby the kings royal power was encroached , his subjects put to death without royal assent , &c. for all which he was found guilty as aforesaid . what i observe in brief is this , from this trial. ( 1. ) that there had been divers errors in judgment , which judgments were in law void , for that the bishops were not present , ( 2. ) that hereupon the commons petitioned the king that the bishops would appoint their proxy , and which accordingly they did thomas de la percy . ( 3. ) he was condemned by the said court wherein sate percy accordingly . ( 4. ) that the said bishops did not vote there personally , for that the arch-bishop their primate was arraigned and it might not be seemly for them so to do . and here we have the case adjudged , judgments in parliament revers'd , for that the bishops were not present by themselves or proxys , the commons petitioning the king that they would make proxys , a judgment obtained for that the bishops had made their proxys . q. e. d. and if any be not satisfied , they may see the roll of parliament as before , among the records in the tower to which they are referred . furthermore to make another discovery of the inconstancy of the said mr. selden , i find him in his titles of honour in the latter end of his book , confessing that thomas becket arch-bishop of canterbury was condemned by the bishop of winchester in case of high treason , vid. titles of honour . and if any person would but a little reflect upon the reason , why the bishops have not sometimes voted in cases of blood but by their proxies ? ( viz. ) their respect they had to the canons of the primitive church , which might give them umbrage for their so doing : and together with this , what hath been said before , of their being frequently appointed by the king , and acting as lord chief justices of england , any person of an ordinary capacity may guess at the reason of their forbearing to judge in matters of blood for the reason aforesaid , and their ready and chearfull compliance with their princes command ; when by the law of this land they were enabled so to do , and which is a sufficient supersedeas to the former canon of the church . another precedent we have of the bishops personally sitting in parliament held at westminster on monday next after the feast of all saints , in the 3d , of hen. 5. wherein henry bishop of winton was chancellour , wherein was tryed richard earl of cambridge and others for treason , for having levyed men against the king , and procured edmund earl of march as heir to rich. 2. to take upon him to be king of england , and had proclaimed him such in wales , and set one thomas trompington an ideot and scotchman to personate rich. 2. where the said earl , and others his adherents in that action , were tryed and found guilty ; the lords spiritual in parliament being present , &c. see the records in the tower , parl. 3. h. 5. p. 2. m. 4. many other precedents of a later date and time might be here ex superabundanti added , but i shall referr them for the matter of another chapter , they being all of them taken out of the journals of the lords house beginning in 32 hen. 8. and ending 29. eliz. 2. i might have enlarged in these which i have taken out of the tower , but i have purposely forborn to do it ; for that i find mr. selden himself in the days of 1642. granting me the matter of fact as clear and evident from the ancient records in the tower , of the spiritual lords priviledges in this matter . and will now proceed to another argument that the bishops have right to sit in all cases as well capital as civil . for that ( 4. ) they are undoubted peers of the realm ; which also i find mr. selden himself granting in his priviledges of the barronage of england , p. 192. for there he saith , though some have doubted ( we know whom he means ) whether the spiritual barons are peers , he saith there , that they are so , is true and plain , and the testimonies many & various , as in the bishop of winchester ' s case , who departed from the parliament at salisbury about the beginning of edw. 3. and was questioned for it afterwards in the kings bench he pleaded to the declaration , quod ipse est unus e paribus regni & prelatus , and in that short disputation of the case , which is left in the year books ; he is supposed both by the court and council to be a peer . but for this if his authority be not good , the year books themselves may be seen . bishop of winchesters case , year book , 3 of edw. 3. and pas . 3. edw. 3. coram rege rot. 9. rep. so afterwards see the bishop of londons case in the year book , 3 edw. 3. in a writ of wards brought against the bishop of london ; he pleaded to issue , and the defendant could not have a day of grace ; for he said ( as the words of the books are ) that a bishop is a peer of the land , & haec erat causa , year book , 3 edw. 3. fol. 186. pl. 28. and in a like case , an action of trespass against the abbot of abington who was one of the lords spiritual , day of grace was denyed against him , because he was peer de la terre , 13 edw. 3. titulo enquest . so expresly upon a question of having a knight returned into a jury where a bishop was defendant ; the rule of the court was that it ought to be so , because the bishop was a peer of the realm , plowden comment . pl. 117. so the judgment given against the bishop of norwich in the time of rich. 2. he is in the roll expresly allowed to be a peer . we find also stafford arch bishop of canterbury upon his being excluded the parliament under edw. 3 , thus challenging his place , ego tanquam major par regni post regem vocem habens jurae ecclesiae meae tantum vendico , & ideo ingressum in parlimentum peto . the same may be made out farther by an assignment of errors under hen. 5. for the revearsal of the attainder of the earl of salisbury , one error is assigned that judgment was given without the assent of the prelates which were peers in parliament , which is clearly allowed in the roll and petition too , that they were peers . so also in an act of parliament under the same king , sta● . 4. hen. 5. c. 6. where the arch-bishops and bishops are called peers of the kingdom . but of the truth of this mr. selden himself saith , that no scruple could ever be made till the unhappy act of the 17 car. 1641. and how that act was procured we all know , how full of tumults and uproars were those times ? to how great a distress was majesty then brought ? how many repulses did it meet with ? was it not past to serve the present interest ? and by what subtile contrivance was it at last carried it is very well known ? have we not reckoned the date of our late embroilments and wild confusions from this fatal apocha ? under what miseries , violencies , and rapins hath not our native country for 20 years time from hence to be reckoned , with so much pitty from all true-hearted english-men long laboured and groaned ? and the whole christian-world about us stood amazed and agasht . all the wealth which the piety of our forefathers had been so many years in heaping up , all their priviledges which their prudence had so deliberately conferred , being in a few days passion swallowed up . had those good men , the then bishops , unadvisedly acted any thing against their prince or kingdom , could no personal-fine or punishment expiate their crime and fault ? must the whole order be raized , and episcopacy it self destroyed root and branch ? must so many merits of their worthy predecessors be buryed in the grave of ungrateful oblivion ? it were an easy matter to produce a large catalogue of eminent prelates , who by their prudent advice have oftentimes prevented bloodshed , preserved peace , saved a sinking kingdom and a dying religion , many good works have they done amongst us , many colledges and schools erected and endowed , many material churches by their munificence , and living temples of the holy ghost built by their ministry ; and for which of these must they now be thus dealt withal ? thus disfranchised ? that they who heretofore carried the principal stroke in all cabinet counsels and publick diets , are acknowledged in several recorded statutes of this kingdom , an high , and one of the greatest estates of this kingdom , as particularly 8 eliz. c. 1. that they are peers of this realm , 25 edw. 3. c. 6. before recited , and 4 henr. 5. c. 6. must now be debarred those immunities of which our nation hath ever reaped the greatest benefit , they must be curtailde in , or excluded from , what is their just right , to vote as peers in the higher house of parliament , certainly 't is now high time , if ever , for men to relent of their merciless cruelty to to learned industry ; the crafty jesuite , who is now at our doors , thinks his day is coming , this will make him keep a jubile , to see england fall again by her own hands . how much ground hath he got by debasing and pouring contempt on our english clergy , ( of all the world ) whom he most dreaded ? let us but enquire of other nations , our neighbours , and they will tell us , that the english divine is the terrour of the papal world , aud that they have wrote more , and better , against rome , than all the world besides . we ought not to take pleasure in upbrading an ungrateful nation : but is this the reward of their unwearied pains , incessant studies , early rising and late watching , beating their brains , wasting their bodies , and contracting incurable diseases , neglecting their families , relations , and accquaintance for the glory of god and good of their countrey ? must they onely have discouragements heaped upon them , bread and water , and raggs ( if some men had their will ) thought to good for them ? must another profession , of which a forreiner , by way of disdain , said , causid●●i angli gens indoctissima ultra doroberniam nihil sapiunt ? must they get honour , riches and preferments without the regret and frowns of any , nay more in 60 years last past than divinity in 600 preceding , and if the matter was not invidious i could easily make appear : 't was an old saying , nulli sua pietas debet esse damnosa , in earnest , this is not for the honour of the gospel , neither doth it become the reformation . of late years some of the long robe , no well wishers to the church , whose names i forbear , have started a very unhappy and destructive notion , and not over beneficial to the english scepter ; and there yet want not those who with much industry keep this notion up , that the three estates of this nation consist of king , lords and commons , which how far it may countenance former actings and endanger future disturbances , i humbly submit to the prudence of those who sit at the helm , and are much better able to determine than my self ; but the consequences of that opinion seem directly to aim at the leveling of sovereignty , and making it accountable to the other two in their esteem coordinate estates . now by restoring the spiritualty the only true third estate to its due rights and antient priviledges , for that it is the true third estate , the lord chief justice cook saith in the fourth of his institutes and the act of parliament of the 8 of eliz. c. 1. speaks to the same thing , this may be the most ready and most natural expedient to remove that destructive and dangerous opinion out of the minds of an unlearned and fickle multitude . so may the crown be safe , and the mitre no longer trampled on . et quae deus olim conjunxit , nemo hoc sequiori saeculo seperet , faxit hoc deus qui solus potis est ! chap. viii . precedents of the bishops sitting and voting in capital causes from the reign of of king hen. 8. till the 29th of eliz. i shall begin with the attainder of cromwel earl of essex , who was attainted in parliament for treason , &c. the articles are every extant , and may be seen ; the first reading of his bill , as i find it in the journal of the lords house was upon the 17th of june , 32. hen. 8th , at which reading were present fourteen bishops ; who they were you may see in the journal ; at the second reading , which was the 19th of june of the said year , 32. hen. 8. were present sixteen bishops , whose names , and sees there you may find ; at the third and last reading , were sixteen likewise , vid. journal ut supra , the bill it self past the royal assent , the 24th of july following , when were 14 bishops present . the next shall be the attainder of tho. duke of norf. and henry earl of surry . 38. h. 8. this also was an attainder in parliament : the first reading of the bill against these noble lords , was on the 18th of january , anno regis supra dicto , when were present ten bishops ; the second reading , was the day following , when were present nine bishops : the third and last reading was on the 20th of the same moneth , when were present thirteen bishops ; the bill past the royal assent , january 27th , 38. hen. 8. the bishops likewise then present . the third instance of hen. d. of suffolk , which indeed was an attainder at common law , but afterward confirm'd in parliament . a. 1 & 2. phil. et mar. at the first reading were present 12 bishops : the bill was read , 5 jan. anno supradicto , at the 2d . reading , which was two days after on the 7th of january were present eleaven bishops ; and on the next day , the bill had its last reading in the lords house , at which were present eleaven bishops : the lords spiritual , were likewise present at the passing of the bill ; which was on the 21 of jan. following ; in each of these , the journal if consulted will satisfie any . the 4th precedent shall be in seymore the lord admiral , who was attainted for treason , in the 2d . of edw. 6. for that he purposed to destroy the young king , and to translate the crown unto himself ; for which , and other crimes objected , he suffered death , on the tower-hill : at his attainder were present nineteeen bishops . i might have before added the case of the lord hungerfords-attainder in parliament ; who was condemned in parliament , in the 32. of hen. the 8th . at whose tryal and condemnation , were present no fewer than seaventeen bishops , vid. journal of the lords house , i will only add two more precedents , and close with them ; they are in the reign of the peaceable queen elizabeth , in whose times if ever , the actings in parliament were regular , and orderly : the first is , the case of the earls of northumberland and westmoreland , for their rebellion in the north , and endeavour to bring in popery , at whose condemnation were present thirteen bishops , vid. journal , and lastly that of pagets , in the 29th of the said queen , at which were ten bishops , vid. journal as before : i shall only add one thing more , and that is the protestation of the bishops . 11. r. 2 where they give the reason why they refused , to be put in some parliaments , their words quia in hoe parliamento agitur de nonnullis materiis in quibus non licet nobis juxta sacrorum canonum instituta quomodolibet personaliter interesse ; but they there add a salvo to their right , in the beginning of their protestation . quod ad archiepiscopum cantuar. qui pro tempore fuerit , n●c non caeteros suos suffraganeos confratres , co-episcopos , abbates et priores aliosque praelatos quoscunque baroniam de domino rege t●nentes in parliamento regis ut pares praed . personaliter interesse pertinet , ibidemque de regni negotiis & aliis ibi tractari consuetis cum caeteris dicti regni paribus & aliis consulere , ordinare , statuere desinire ac caetera facere , quae parliamenti tempore ibid. intendet facien ' , &c. t is true indeed , that as they never intended , but that the appeals , pursuites , accusations , judgements , had and rendred , &c. upon their voluntary absenting themselves ; they should be good and valid in the law , as their protestation expresly granteth : yet by the same their protestation , they reserve their right of being present , &c. doing every thing else which any other peer , though temporal might do . and that they did vote in the 21st of this kings reign , by their proctor in the condemnation of the arch-bishop of canterbury ( yea and upon the commons petition too , for that many judgments had been reversed , for that they were not present as is before proved ) and personally also in the condemnation of the earl of arandel and wardour , &c. the duke of lancaster being then lord high steward , vid. plaoit . coron &c. 21 ric. 2. in the records in the tower. the roll marked with the letters f. i. it is well known that out of respect to the constitution made in the council held at westminster . that no clergy-man should agitare judicium sanguinis . ( this council is mentioned in r. hovenden in h. 2. p. 30. ) the clergy have some time forborn to intermeddle in such matters : and on the other side 't is as notorious , that many of that order have been lord chief justices of england , and that none have discharged that office better , more to the content of the king and subject , and the benefit of the whole commonwealth . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a45195-e370 ad. sec. 1. * euseb . ecc. hist . 10. c. 7. zom . l. 1. c. 9. exerc. 13. c. 5. the priviledges of the baronage of england, when they sit in parliament collected (and of late revised) by john selden of the inner temple esquire, out of parliament rolles ... & and other good authorities ... : the recitalls of the french records in the 4th. chap., also newly translated into english ... selden, john, 1584-1654. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a59090 of text r10915 in the english short title catalog (wing s2434). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 218 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 89 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a59090 wing s2434 estc r10915 12425310 ocm 12425310 61826 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a59090) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 61826) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 294:3) the priviledges of the baronage of england, when they sit in parliament collected (and of late revised) by john selden of the inner temple esquire, out of parliament rolles ... & and other good authorities ... : the recitalls of the french records in the 4th. chap., also newly translated into english ... selden, john, 1584-1654. [7], 167 p. printed by t. badger for matthew wallbanck ..., london : 1642. reproduction of original in british library. eng england and wales. -parliament. -house of lords -privileges and immunities. nobility -great britain. a59090 r10915 (wing s2434). civilwar no the priviledges of the baronage of england, vvhen they sit in parliament. collected (and of late revised) by john selden of the inner temple selden, john 1642 38391 403 0 0 0 0 0 105 f the rate of 105 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2004-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-11 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-11 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the priviledges of the baronage of england , when they sit in parliament . collected ( and of late revised ) by john selden of the inner temple esquire out of the parliament rolles , and journalls , patent , and close rolls ; the crowne rolls , the proceedings of the english courts at westminster , the register of the arch-bishop of canterbury , and the delegates yeare-bookes , of the common law , statutes & other good authorities , and in such sort that frequently the words of the chiefest testimonies are transcribed , least the freedome of the readers iudgement might be other wayes prevented by short collections . the recitalls of the french records in the 4th , chap. also newly translated into english for the benefit of others , as well as the students of the lawes of england . quo communius eo magis bonum quod est justum . london , printed by t. badger for matthew wallbanck , and are to be sold at his shop at grase-inne gate . 1642. the introduction by way of table or index to the chapters following contained in this treatise . priviledges are speciall rights belonging to the baronage of england . in which name are com●rehended all those , who as magnati & proceres regni by common right are summoned to every parliament wherein also they have place and voyce as incident to their dignities , and what things doe concerne them e●ther as they are one estate together in the upper house , or as every one of them is privately a single baron . as for the prelacy who had heretofore the first place in the summons , viz. praelati , magnates &c. they have now lost all their priviledges o● sitting in parliament , and of bearing of any secular offices in the kingdome , they are disabled by act of this present parliament , 17. car. 1641. for priviledges of the first kinde . chap. testimonies are hereby collected touching . chap. 1. their proxies and making of proxies 1 chap. 2. their proceedings in suits as well for followers as for themselves during the parliament . 7. chap. 3. that none of them bee subject to bee questioned before the lower house onely . 9. chap. 4. their jurisdi●●ion in matters of offences as well capital , as not capitall . errors out of the kings bench . 10 chap. 5. their passing of bills and giving of iudgements heretofore without any assent of spirituall lords . 120 chap. 6. their appointing of iudges out of themselves for examination of delaies of iudgements in other courts . 127 chap. 7. their tennants of ancient tennancies , bring discharged of paying the charges of knights of the shiere . 129 for priviledges of the second kinde , of which also some are communicated to baronesses . the heads of the collections are , chap. 1. first touching oathes and protestationt upon honour . 131 chap. 2 tryall by peeres . 142 chap. 3 scandala magnatum . 155 chap. 4. processe against them in english courts proceedings by bill and answere . id . chap. 5. their number of chaplaines is qualified . 158 chap. 6. their retayning of strangers . 159 chap. 7. clergy without reading . id . chap. 8. their libertie of hunting in the kings forrests . 161 chap. 9. amerciaments of them . id . chap. 10. no processe in a civill account to bee awarded against the body of a baron . 163 chap. 11. a knight to bee returned upon every pannell where a baron is party . 16 chap. 12. no day of grace against a baro● of parliament . ib. chap. 13. making deputies of places of trust committed to them without words of the special power . 167 besides these , they have some rights which are so commonly knowne , that there needs no particular mention of them ; as their interest in making , or repealing of lawes , or the like , and divers others may perhaps be found , which have not been oblivious in the late search made for them : but of these particulars before mentioned , according to the order in which they are described , such store as are here collected doe follow . first , of the speciall rights , which concerne them , as they are one estate in the upper house of parliament . chap. i. of proxies of the lords of parliament . vpon the summons of the parliament , licence of absence being obtained , and the same licence as usually it being provided that a proxie bee made , the baron so licensed may appeare onely by that proxie , to whom his voyce is so committed , although his writ bee quod personaliter inter●it , and so also without licence upon sicknesse or such inevitable cause of absence . the first mention of proxies that occurres in the memories of our parliaments , is of carlile under edward the first , where the words are , quia omnes praelati , milites , & alij de communitate regni , tunc plenariè non venerunt receptis quibusdam procurationibus praelatorum , qui venire non poterant adjornantur omn●s qui summoniti sunt ad parliamentum , usqué ad diem mercurij proximum sequentem ad horam primam . and in a parliament held at westminster under edwa●d the second ; the bi●hops of of durham , and carlile remaining upon the defence of the marches of scotland , were severally commanded to stay there ; and in the writ this clause was ordered to both of them . sed procuratorem vestrum sufficientèr instructum ad dictos diem , & locum mittatis ad consentiendum quod tunc ibidem per dictos praelatos & proceres contigerit ordinari . and the like testimonies are afterwards under the same king for allowance , and making of proxies by the name of procuratores sufficientes . and in succeeding times the testimonies of them downe to this day are most frequent . but two things are most especially observable touching them . ( 1. ) that although the generall proxies were admitted , yet when the nature of the parliamentory businesse required more speedie and full advice , a clause was inserted into the summons to premonish the baron summoned , that his proxie should not bee admitted unlesse he were compelled to absent himselfe by most inevitable necessity . so was it in the writs of summons under edward the third to the parliament , held for advice touching the voyage of the king of france , into the holy land , every baron having these words in his writ . scientes pro certo quod nisi evidens , & manifestus id exposcat non intendimus procuratores seu excusatores pro vobis admittere , ea vice propter arduitatem negotiorum praedictorum . and likewise under richard the second , the summons to the arch-bishop of canterbury , and the rest had these words . et 〈◊〉 nullatonus amittatis ●ne quid absit per vestram absentiam quàm necessitate infirmitate tunc ●etenti fueritis quòd aliqualiter illuc laborare non poteritis nullo modo excusatum habere volumus , ista vice expeditio ne potior nostr●rum praedictorum retardetur , seu aliqual●ter deferatur . and divers other exam●l●s are for personall appearance ▪ and exc●uding proxies . ( 2. ) that the course of the elder time was : not that barons onely were made proxies in the upper house as at this day but other men also of low condition , and this hath beene very frequently in the case of bishops , and parliamentory abbots and ●riors , who gave their letters usually to parsons , prebendaries , canonists , and such like . in that parliament of carlile under edward the first , the bishop of exeter sent to the parliament , henry de pynkney parson of houghton as his proxie . the bishop of bath and wells sent william of charleton , a canon of his church , and in like for t other of the spiritualty of that time . in the beginning of the 17th . yeare of richard the second , the bishop of norwich made richard corqueanx being then deane of the arches , thomas hederset archdeacon of sudbury , and iohn thorpe parson of epingham , his proxies by the name of procuratores sive nuntij . and in the same time the bishop of durhams proxies were iohn of burton canon of bewdley , and master of the rolls , and iohn of wendlingborough canon of london , and other like are of the same time . by which also that of the preamble of the statute of praemunire is understood , where it is said that the advice of the lords spirituall being present and of the procuratores of them that were absent , was demanded . the like under henry the fourth and henry the fift are found in the rolls . and under henry the fift the arch-bishop of yorke gives the proxie to the bishop of durham ; and to two other clerkes of his province . and it is observable that in the making of proxies by the whole number of bishops in case of attainders upon appeale , their course was sometime to make a gentleman beneath the degree of a baron , their proxie as under richard the second , first they made their proxie for assenting in the parliament , but afterwards the earle of wiltshire had that place in the same parliament . but this of making others then barons of parliament , proxies is carefully found in the cases of the lords spirituall . one speciall case of it is under henry the fift , in that of thomas de la ware , who being a clergie man had his barony descended unto him , and is stiled in the summons alwayes magister thomas de la ware , and not dominus , hee gave his letters to , john franke and richard hulme clerkes but the proxie rolls for the temporall lords are for the most part lost . the following times especially ever since the first memorie extant of the iournalls of the upper house ; which began the first of henry the eight , have kept a constant course of making parliamentory barons onely proxies . and it appeareth in those iournalls that one two or three are joyned conjunctim , & divisim ; and most commonly temporall lords have given their proxies to temporall and spirituall men : yet not without a temporall lords giving his letters of proxie to a spirituall , and temporall lord together . and under queen mary , francis earle of shrewsbury made anthony viscount mountague , and thomas bishop of ely his proxies . and in the beginning of queene mary stephen gardiner bishop of winchester was joyned in letters of proxie sometimes with a temporall lord . but the lords spirituall have so much mistataken ( of late ) the lawes of this kingdome , the kings prerogative given by the law , and what and whence was the originall of the honours , they themselves had obtained : and have beene ready to inlarge the dominions of antichrist , and to induce an arbitrary government by their writings , and other apparent practises , in so much as now they have lost both priviledge and vote in parliament . chap. ii. priviledges in suites as well for their followes as for themselves during the parliament . in a bill exhibited under henry the fourth , is shewed that the lords knights &c. and their men , and servants &c. should not be arrested or otherwise imprisoned by the custome of the realme , and it is prayed that if any be the parties offending may make fine and ransome , and give dammages &c. hereunto the answer is , there is sufficient remedy in the case . in the beginning of queene elizabeths reign , iohn broxham being plaintiffe , in an assise in the county of lincolne against the lord willoughby , it was ordained , that an injunction should goe out of the chancery subpaena 500. l. that the plaintiffe should not proceed to tryall . to this head may bee referred that case of the lord cromwell , cited in the title of processe against them in english courts , & in the iournalls of queen elizabeth , king james , and our present soveraigne , the testimonies of these priviledges for the servants of every baron of parliament are most frequent . hereunto may be added that of the first citation out of an ecclesiasticall court against the earle of cornewall , which was served upon him in westminster hall , as he was going to the parliament at the suite of bago d● clare , and the prior of saint trinity in london , for the earle sued them for the contempt , and recovered 1000. markes dammages . and in the same parliament the master of the temple petitioneth that he might distraine for rent in a house in london , which it seemes the bishop of saint davids held of him . in qua non potest distringere in tempore parliamenti . but answer is , non videtur honestum quod rex concedat , quod ille de consilio suo distringatur per ostia & fenestras & prout moris est . chap. iii. no peere of the upper house to be called to answer in the lower house only . thomas philips complained of the bishop of london upon divers articles in the lower house , and at first by order of the house , whence it was referred by reason of the slight nature of the offence , &c. whereupon the bishop remembring the upper house of their priviledges , ejus verbis auditis pr●ceres omnes unâ voce dicebant quòd non consentantum fuit aliquem procerum praedictorum alicui in eo loco responsurum . so where the bishop of bristoll had written the booke of vnion , which was conceived to be derogatory to the honour of both houses , yet hee was complained of onely in the upper house , and that so he might bee , and not before the lower house alone , it was acknowledged in the message delivered from the lower house touching him . the like is the priviledge of the bishops complained of in this present parliament , 1641. chap. iv. the iurisdiction of the lords of parliament in matters of offences , aswell capitall as not capitall , and in errors out of the kings bench . the power of iudicature belonging to the lords of parliament , is chiefly seene in their iurisdiction upon writs of error , and their iudgements of offences , as well capitall as not capitall , which they give to any publicke mischiefe in state . of these iudgements of such offences many examples are of former times in the records of parliament , and out of them are here selected , some such as most of all conduce to the opening of the course of accusation , the forme of the defendants , answering the usuall wayes of triall , and other incidents in their various kindes of iudgements , which are found arbitrary in cases not capitall : so that they extend not to the life or inheritance , and in capitall offences so arbitrary , that the forme of the death inflicted sometimes varied from the ordinary course used in the common law for such offences . under the first head these cases of 1. iohn matravers 2. borges of bayons 3. iohn deverill 4. thomas gourney 5. william of ocle . 6. iohn of gomeniz , and 7. william of weston . all condemned to death for treason , and all to bee drawne , and hanged saving gomeniz , who was judged to bee beheaded , because he was a banneret , and had served the king in his warres . under the second head are these cases of 1. iohn at lee steward of the houshold . 2. richard lions . 3. william lord latimer . 4. william ellis . 5. chichester and botesham . 6. alice pierce . 7. cavendish against sir mich. de la poole chancellour of england . 8. the earle of northumberland . for writs of error their power , and course in them may bee seene , some speciall examples which are expressed , whereunto is added that of thorpe being speaker of the lower house , under henry the sixt which specially shewes the power of iudicature in the lords , although otherwise it tast too much of what is wholy against the priviledges of every member of the parliament at this day . ex rot . parliamenti 4. e. 3. mem. 3. num . 3. witnesse the peeres , earles and barons assembled in this parliament , at westminster , that it is openly assented and agreed , that iohn matravers is guilty of the death of edmund earle of kent , the vnckle of our lord the king that now is , as he that principally , traiterously and falsely compassed the death of the said earle , so that the said iohn did know of the death of king edward our father , when the said iohn by haynous manner , and by his false and wicked deeds conspiring with the sonne of the said earle against the life of the king , which hee did actually commit , for which the said peeres of the land and iudges of the parliament , adjudge and award that the said iohn bee drawne , hanged and quartered as a traitor , in what part of the kingdome soever he be found , and the said peeres doe pray our lord the king , that hee will command that a writ be made to make search and enquiry throughout the realme , and that he that can take the said iohn alive , and bring him to the king shall have a hundred markes , and if in case he cannot be taken alive , he that brings his head shall have fiftie pounds of the kings guift . moreover to have such judgement , it is agreed , that it be put in execution of boges de boyons , and john deverell for the cause afore-mentioned , and that hee that can take the said boges alive , and bring him to the king shall have a hundred pounds , and he which brings the head of the said iohn shall have forty pounds of the kings guift . item it is assented and agreed , that thomas gourney and william of ocle , shall have such judgement for the death of king edward ( father of our lord the king that now is ) who falsely and traiterously murdered him ; and who can apprehend the said thomas , and take him alive shall have a hundred pound , and he that can bring the head of him a hundred markes ; likewise he that can take the said william alive shall have a hundred markes , and hee that brings the head of him ( if in case hee cannot be taken alive ) shall have forty pound of the kings guift . rot. parliamen . 4. r. 2. m. 5. in schedula annexa . this schedule the commons made and caused to be brought in parliament , praying the lords to ratefie the same , and to put in execution ; in that schedule amongst divers others , this article occurres . item that all those which have lost , or rendred when necessity required not , castle towne , or fortresse to the dishonour of our lord the king , the lords and commons in this present parliament , being every of them attainted of such fault , shall be punished according to their desert without partiality , for to avoyde the evill example which they have given to all others . then afterwards followes an accusation and a iudgement upon an offence of that nature . item where the supplication is by the commons , that all those which have rendred and lost castle or townes , lost by the very default of captaines may be put to their answer at this parliament , and according to their desert throughly punished by the award of the lords and baronage , avoyding the evill example which they have given to others , and that allen buxall ( constable of the tower of london ) shall cause to come before the lords of parliament at westminster , on friday the 27. day of november in the yeare afore mentioned , iohn lord of gomeniz , and william of weston imprisoned and detain'd in the said tower at the commandement of our lord the king , because they have rendered and lost faithfull castles and townes of our lord the king , for to answer upon the articles which there shall be preferred for the said cause , on the behalfe of our lord the king . at which day being friday , the said john and william were brought by the said constable of the tower before the lords aforesaid , sitting in full parliament in the great chamber ; they were severally put to answer at the commandement of the said lords , by sir richard scroope knight , ( steward of the houshold of our lord the king ) in manner as followeth . william of weston , you have taken upon you to the thrice powerfull prince , whom god have in his keeping , lord edward late king of england ( vnckle of our lord , the king that now is ) surely to keepe to him , and his heires kings of england : the castle of barwick without surrendring the same to any but him ; or his said heirs , have you william who were a leige man of our lord the king that now is ( true heire of the late king edward ) delivered and surrendered the said castle to the enemies of our lord the king , without his commandement in dishonour of him , and his crowne , and of the estate of his realme of england , against your leigeance and undertakings : whereupon hee put his answer in writing , having a schedule contayning the tenor of many things , and came and read the said schedule in full parliament , upon which the law was demanded by the said steward , if the said schedule should bee taken for his finall answer in that behalfe or not . and thereupon the said william prayeth that the said schedule may be redelivered to him , and there hee putteth in his finall answer , and after the said william put in to the said schedule an addition in full parliament for finall in that behalfe : the tenor of which schedule is such as followeth . to the most sage councell , of our lord the king , and to the other nobles and commons of parliament . william of weston beseecheth , and shewes that he is accused maliciously , to have rendered the castle of barwick , which he had in keeping upon the trust and assignement of our lord the king : may it please your just and learned discretion , to have the said william excused for the causes which follow . first , may it please you to remember how that the said william was lately warned by a spie , that a very great power of enemies came against him , for to besiege the said castle , and to batter the same with great ordinance , whereupon the said william forthwith by his attourney , and by his letters requested the councell , that they would please to fo●tifie the said castle with more gentlemen , f●r the defence and safeguard the●of , having regard that the garrison of the said c●stle was not sufficient for halfe the multitude of so great force , to make resistance in so large a place : but in the end for that hee could have no succour of the said councell , and likewise ( the said william being not in default was left without sufficient souldiers of a long time , whereby to keepe and defend the said castle , whereof hee beseecheth you that you will take just , and benigne consideration . likewise may it please you to take notice by the privy scout of warre , that there came the enemies power of armes , and seven hundred fighting men , with 6000. of the common souldiers of the land , having nine great cannons , a great engine , and a trebutchet big above measure , which they carried in their marches , that thereby presently a great part of their gentlemen of armes , & souldiers aforesaid came before the gates of the said castle , to assault it , and there was a knight of theirs killed , which was cozen to the lord of chiffin , insomuch that officers and many others also were there slaine : and in a short time after they beganne to plant their cannons , and engines , and so continuing from day to day their assault ( that is to say ) tuesday , wednesday , and thursday , and the walls then of the houses and of the said castle were broken , and divided in many places , and they had by force filled the ditches of the said castle in three places , if possible to make way for them to issue , and there came upon the said workes a a great part of them , and they by force had broake and spoyled many of our bars , and the morrow after which was friday , they came at the break of day with all their strong men to assaile the said castle , but by the help of god they were not yet conquerours by force of their assault . and of our side and of their side there appeared great death and losses , and the same day the marshall of burgoyny treated with the said william and others , to render the said castle : wherefore and in consideration , that the said castle could not hold out for the smallnesse of the number of gentlemen there , and for that the walls in many places were beaten down by their marvelous ordnance , there was a treatie with the lords , to the end that the said william with his companions , might know what to doe the next morning , whether to stay or depart from thence . likewise the same night the enemies had brought all their ordinance , their engines trebutchet and cannons , upon carriages drawne by horses to the foot of the ditch of the said castle , and the next morning which was saturday , they put themselves all in order to assault the place , and then first of all they sent a herald to the said vvilliam , to know if the same castle should bee rendered or not , whereupon the said william by advice of the graver sort of his companions , having consideration how the said place was destroyed by their ordinances , and also that there were few gentlemen left for the defence , and that twelve of their companions were at that time dead , and that many being wounded and sick , he could not renew the gentlemen of the garrison , and that for safety to defend themselves , there being only but thirty eight , and by common assent the said castle which hee could hold out no longer , was by force rendered for safety of the lives of the men . that all these things aforesaid are true , the said william putteth himselfe upon tryall according to your discreet ordinances . item , it is to be remembred that when the said castle was rendered ( as aforesaid ) certaine gentlemen of france did bargaine with the said william for his victualls , and bought the same tog●ther with certaine persons , which the said william held within the said castle in prison , for which things hee received of them 1000. and 500. franks , whereof hee paid to his companions for part of their wages which then was behind , three quarters of a yeare , 678. franks . item , hee payed at callis for victualls of the said castle before that time due 1442. franks . item for the passage of the said william , and for his expences being at callis 135. franks . and therefore the said william beseecheth that you have regard to iustice and bounty , how that he by envious suggestion hath beene against all reason accused thereof concerning his estate and name , for which offence hee hath seised and stayed some of the cattells of his adversaries , and that you have consideration how that hee hath payd his companions out of his proper goods for their wages , and that you will be pleased for gods sake and piety also to ordaine for him , that by your discreet noblenesse , hee may recover his estate and goods . item the said william weston sheweth how the first day , when the enemies came before ardee he fled thence to the army at callis , to the captaine there , to pray of him more succour and ayde of men to guard the castle of barwick , and to defend if the enemies had assaulted , and the captaine answered him briefly , that he would not deliver nor lend succour , nor aide at that time , for that he doubted himselfe the enemies would come before the towne of callis . and the lord steward came and read the said schedule in parliament . iohn lord of gomeniz , you have undertaken to the thrice powerfull prince , whom god preserve , lord edward late king of england vnckle of our lord the king that now is , safely to keep to him and his heires kings of england , the towne and castle of ardee without surrendring the same to any , but to the said king and his heires , or by the commandement of him and his heires . have you ( lord of gomeniz ) in time of our lord the king surrendred the same without his commandement , to the detriment of him and ●is crowne , and of the estate of his realme of england agai●st your undertaking aforesai● ? what say you to it ? whereupon the said iohn answer●th , that the said towne and c●stle of ardee was so feeble , that hee could not well keepe it against so great power of the enemies , which were readie to assaile the said towne and castle , and therefore he went forth to intreat with the e●●mies , that he might save the liege men of our lord the king being within that towne and castle of ardee , without that that he at any time tooke any thing for the surrender of the said towne and castle of ardee . whereupon one geffery of argentine knight , said in full parliament to the said iohn , that he the said geffery was at that time in the said town and company with the said iohn , and that the town and castle of ardee were not at any time delivered by his assent , but that he was ready to stay & come upon the safe guard thereof , and this the said geffery affirmed . and moreover it was demanded of the said iohn if hee had any other thing to say ? and hee answered no : whereupon the constable was charged with the safe keeping of the said iohn and william , untill the morning of the next day ; and then to bring them againe safely before the said lords in the said parliame●t at the place and day afo●esaid . at which day ( that is to say ) the eight and twentieth day of november , in the yeare aforesaid , w●re the said iohn and william brought againe in full parliament , and there it was shewed severally by the s●id steward at the same day , by commandement of the lords aforesaid , how upon the answers which the said iohn and william have given in the said parliament , ( as before mentioned ) to the lords of the said parliament , viz. the king of castile and of leon , and the duke of lancaster ; edmond earle of march , richard earle of arundell : thomas earle of warwick , hugh earle of stafford , william earle of suffolke , william earle of salislbury , henry earle of northumberland , iohn lord nevill , roger lord clifford ; and many other lords , barons , and baronets being assembled in the said parliament , to advise at the time when the said answers were given in parliament , the friday even at the howe● of three a clock , of the matters touching the answers aforesaid , and viewing and examining diligently the said answers , and other articles concerning that businesse . and upon good and mature deliberation and information , given of the most valiant and discreet knights , and òthers being in the said parliament , it was said in manner as followeth , to the said william by the steward reciting the things aforesaid , touching the said william . it seemed to the lords aforesaid , that you william without ●uresse or default of victualls , have wickedly delivered , and surrendered to the enemies of our lord the king for your owne lucre , contrary to all plea of right or reason , and against your liegeance and undertaking according to an information in such case : which me●tioneth whereas the late baron of graystock , who was a lord and one of the peeres of the realme , had taken upon him safely to keepe to the aforesaid king , the towne of barwick : presently after the said king prepared himselfe to travell to the kingdome of francè ; the said baron without the kings commandement , left the said towne of barwick , and a valiant esquire robert ogle as lievtenant of the said baron , who safely should keepe the said town of barwicke to the king . and the said baron went a● a horseman to the parts of france to the said king , and there stayed in his company , surmizing that an assault of warre was made at the said towne of barwick by the scots . and the said robert as lievtenant of the said baron , defended forcibly there , and at last by their assaults the said towne was taken , and the s●id robert and two of the sonnes of the said robert were slaine , he being in the company of the king in the parts of france : and it was said that it was adjudged by the advise of the said king in the parts of france ; & the said dukes , nobles , and earles t●g●ther with henry duke of lancaster , the earles of northumberland , and stafford , and sir vvalter maney , that the s●id towne was lost in default of the said baron . and for that cause hee had iudgement of life and member , and that he ought to forfeit all that hee had , and iudgement was rendered in these words by the commandement of the king , which things also considered , for that you william have surrendered the castle of barwick to the enemies of our lord the king aforesaid ; without duresse or default of victuall against your alleageance , and undertaking aforesaid , the lords aforenamed sitting in full parliament adjudge you to death , and that you be drawne and hanged , but for that that our lord the king is not yet informed of the manner of this iudgement , the execution thereof shall be put in writing untill the king bee informed : wherefore it is commanded to the said constable safely to keepe the said william , untill he hath other commandement from our lord the king . and as touching the said iohn lord of gomeniz touching the answers aforesaid . it was shewed there by the said steward , how the said lords were assembled , and advised of the said answers as before said . moreover it was shewed how that at the time , that sir ralph ferrars knight had the keeping of the towne and castle of ardee , the said towne was not so strong by the one halfe , as it was at the time when the said iohn surrendered the same , and the said ralph did put himselfe in perill for the safeguard thereof , and forthwith the said ralph did hold , and forcibly defend the same against a very great and forcible assault , and other evidences concerning the said iohn in this behalfe were delivered , ( as followeth ) to the said john being in parliament , by the said steward , reciting all the matters aforesaid touching the forementioned iudgement of the said baron and the cause thereof in manner as before , it seemeth to the lords before named sitting in full parliament , considering your answers in this behalfe , and your examinations , and informations therein , that lately amongst the number of gentlemen , by whom you have strongly undertaken safely to keepe the said towne and castle with twenti● men of armes , and twenty archers you were sent to the said towne and castle of ardee in the afforcement thereof , according to your requ●st thereof made to certain lords , being sent in message to callis under our late king edward , and at such time also as you were advised by the king of castile , that if you could not wel● keepe it , you ought in no sort to take upon you to keepe the same , and there were that would have undertaken the safe keeping thereof to the said king edward and his heires , and you have undertaken safely to guard the same with no surrender to any , but in manner as aforesaid , and now have you iohn , without duresse or default of victualls or of artillery , or of other things necessary for the defence of the said townes and castles of ardee . without commandement of our lord the king , wickedly delivered and surrendered it to the enemies of our lord the king , by your owne default against all plea of right or reason ; and against your undertaking aforesaid , the lords aforesaid in full parliament adjudge you to death ; and for that you were a gentlemen & banneret , and have served the late king edward in his warres , and have not proved a leige man to our lord the king , you shall be beheaded without having other iustice . and for that also our lord the king is not yet informed of the manner of this iudgement , the execution thereof shall be respited untill our lord the king shall be informed thereof , where it is commanded to the aforesaid constable safely to keepe the said iohn , untill he hath other commandement from our lord the king . and it is to be remembred that geffery martyn clerke of the crowne , was named in this record , and delivered the same there in writing in this present roll , by his own proper hand . ex. rot. parliamen . 42. e. 3. m. 2. n. 22 , 23. &c. william latimer of the county of dorset preferred a petition in this parliament , in manner as followeth . to our lord the king and his cou●cell sheweth william latimer of the county of dorset , that whereas ou● lord the king otherwhiles in the pestilence granted to the bishop of salisbury , the wardship of the mannor of dentish , and devillish , in the said county being in his hands , by the minority of robert son and heire of robert latimer knight , together with the marriage of the said robert the son , being then of the age of sixe yeeres for a certaine summe of money to him payed : which estate the said william latimer hath held , untill master iohn lee then steward , by procurement of thomas delaber , sent one richard inworth serjeant at armes in dorset , to the said william latimer , to bring him to london in safeguard as prisoner with the intent aforesaid ; that is to say the monday next before the feast of the nativity of saint iohn the baptist , in the yeare of our lord the king that now is the nine and thirtieth , and the said serjeant also performed the same , and the said master iohn lee did charge , and command the said william in the kings name , that he should not goe out of town upon paine of a hundred marks , untill he had surrendered the body of the said heire , contrary to the patent of the king , to the said mr. iohn lee , and outed the said william of his charter , and moreover made a deed of release , whereupon the said master iohn lee comma●●●● to hold all the lands , and tenements aforesaid , untill the feast of st. michael then next ensuing , for a certain summe of money , and then the said master iohn lee leased to the said william , the wardship of the said mannor of devillish rendring forty pounds per annum , whereof he was seised as prochein amy of the infant , viz. pulchrain helto , whitechurch , oxford , & staket , & let the same to the said william , and to divers other persons at his will , by such duresse , imprisonment and arresting the said william to the great mischiefe , grievous dammages and losses , to the great wrong of his simple estate , wherof hee prayeth remedy . to the points of which petition the said iohn lee answereth , and saith , that because that the mannors , lands , and t●nements of inheritance there comprised in the said petition , were wickedly extended by the escheator , and leased out of the kings hand at too small a value , to the great dammage and deceit of the king , he caused the same mannors , lands and tenements , to be resumed into the kings hands , the wardship of which mannors , and the marriage of which said heire the king had committed to him . and likewise the said iohn lee was put to answer before the lords , of the affaires in such time as hee was steward of the kings houshold , for that he had attaiched divers gentlemen by their bodies , some by serjeants of armes , and some by other wayes ; as william latimer and others , and caused them to come before himselfe , as before the counsell of the king in places where pleased him , out of any of the kings accustomed places , to answer to divers things , whereof the recognizances ought to appertaine to the courts of the king . item it was debated concerning his authority of stewardship , that he within the verge had attaiched divers gentlemen of the verge , as iohn goddard , and others to answer in the marshallsea of things done out of the verge , and caused some men to be apprehended , and sent to the tower of london of his owne authority , without commandement of the king or his councell . it was likewise debated , that hugh lavenham had appealed certaine gentlemen of felony , and that before the kings iustices at newgate , and divers gentlemen arraigned at his suit , whereof some put themselves upon the country , and some defended themselves by their bodies , and stayed in prison as the law demanded , and that an appeallee of murder was let goe at large , by commandement of the said john lee against the law , and command of the iustices , and that hee tooke the said hugh by his owne authority and let him goe at large , and some that were not appeallees in roll of the crowne , at the suggestion of the said hugh were taken and imprisoned , as if they had beene appeallees . it was also affirmed that whereas the said iohn lee was sworne to the king , and his councell ; he did bargaine with master nicholas lovaine , concerning the wardship of the mannor of reinham in kent , being then in the hand of the said nicholas by the under age of the sonne , and heire of iohn stanton as appeared by certaine evidences , as well by letters patents under the kings great seale , as others which the said iohn had in his keeping , that very plainely , the said mannor was holden of our lord the king in chiefe , as of his castle of dover and fort , that the wardship thereof appertained to the king , to the great dammage and deceit of the king against his oath . of which points and articles , hee cannot duely and suffici●ntly excuse himselfe by the law , and therefore was the said iohn commanded to the tower of london , and there to stay as a prisoner , till he had made fine and ransome to the king according to his will , and it was commanded to master allen buxall constable of the tower ; that he take safe keeping of him , and so departed the prelates , dukes , earles , and barons , and afterwards by the commandement of the king , the said iohn was caused to come guarded from the tower to westminster , before the great councell , and at other times examined upon the points of the petition ; the ●ad willi●m latimer answered and said : tha● our lord the king had committed the wardship of the mannors , lan●s and tenements of the said heire , untill the age of the said heire together with the marriage of the said heire ; and as intirely hee would render it into the kings hands and then before the said councell it was agreed and assented by them : that the said mannors , lands and tenements , and the body of the heire aforesaid ought to be released in the kings hand , and delivered to the said william latimer , to hold as hee held of the said bishop untill the full age of the said heire , doing to the king in manner as it was before the said iohn surrendered the same ; and that the letters patents of the king made to the said bishop , of the same ward and marriage , and the letters of the said bishop of the same ward , and marriage made to the said william ; and surrendered to the said iohn by the said william by durity and menaces , bee fully restored to the said william , and that the enrolment of the release to the said iohn by the said william of the same ward , and marriage , also by durity and threatning made as by the said william in the exchequer , be cancelled voyde and holden for nought for ever , saving all times to the king his right in time to come . ex. rot. parl. 50. e. 3. mem. 2. num . 17. first , the said richard lions merchant of london , was impeached and accus●d by the said commons , of many deceits , ( extortions , and other evill deeds commited by him , against our lord the king , and his people , as well in the time that he had beene belonging to the house and councell of the king as otherwise , during the time that he was farmor of the subsedies , and customes of the king . and more especially for that the said richard by covin had betweene him , and some of the privie councell of our lord the king for their singular profit , and advantage , had procured and gotten many patents , and writs of licence to be made to carry great faith and credit . whereby skins , wools , and other merchandises were transported other where then to the stap●e of callis , against the ordinances an● defences made in that behalfe , concerning the same before time in parliament . and for that he had imposed and procured to bee put upon wools , skins , leather , and other merchandises , certaine new impositions without assent of parliament , and those impositions and taxes without permission of the king , or of the high treasurer of the realme , having not medlage therewith , and it was said how hee uncertainly tooke ten shillings in one parcell : and twelve pence in another parcell of every sack , &c. which mounted to a very great summe throughout all the time that hee had beene receiver , or treasurer : and likewise of another new imposition of foure pence by him made , and put upon every pound of money upon the lumbards , and other merchants for a discharge by his owne proper authority , and without warrant and assent in parliament , or otherwise , and the same imposition of foure pence the pound , contrary to piety collected and kept as to the use of our lord the king , whereof hee payed nothing . and also of divers loanes made to the use of the king without cause necessary , and more especially of one loane which he newly had at london , of twenty thousand markes , where our lord the king was bound to pay 30000. markes , and that by the counsell of the said richard , and others in the kings court , who have covenanted with the receivers to have part of the gaine , and to be parties secretly to the said loane : the said richard taketh the said money , and afterwards gaineth by way of vsury of the king his lord , ( of whose councell hee was before ) a great quantity of money in great dammage and deceit to the king , and also many other extortions thro●ghout the realme , and so demeaned himselfe against his councell , treasurer and receiver , concerning the new impositions as otherwise , taking upon him in all the said matters the royall power which was horrible to rehearse . and also for that our lord the king had beene debtor of record to divers gentlemen , of many great summes of money ; so had the said richard by the assent of other privie complices in the kings court , of the said covin , caused many such accounts to be bargained , and compounded sometimes for the tenth penny , and sometimes for the twentieth , or a hundreth penny , and hath procured the king to pay the debts intire , and so by such his subtilties , and for his singular profits as well our lord the king as the said debts , are wickedly abused : and more especially the prior of saint john of ierusalem in england , to whom the king was debtor of a certaine summe , and the said richard hath had twenty foure marks thereof for broakage , to cause the said prior to have payment of the remnant : and another time of the lord steward to whom the king was also a debtor , and the said richard hath had of him by the same manner another great , summe of money , and so of many others in great deceit , slander , and villany to the king and his court . whereunto the said richard present in parliament , saith , that as to all the said loane made to the king of the twenty markes aforesaid , hee is altogether without other fault , and further saith , that he at no time had profit or gaine , nor tooke any thing at all of the loane aforesaid nor of the said money , nor in other things , and that he was ready to prove by all wayes reasonable when they would demand of him : and as to the said impositions of ten shillings and twelve pence the sack of wooll , &c. & 4. pence the pound of money , he could not cleerely excuse himselfe that he had not so levied and collected and thereof taken money his part , that is to say , 12. pence of every sack of wooll , &c. but that was ( hee said ) at the commandement of our lord the king , & at the prayer and assent of the merchants , who demanded such licence , and as to the remnants of these impositions he had wholy delivered them to the receiver of the kings chamber , and accountable is the receiver in the parliament . and the said richard first of all collected the same , having a warrant by which authority he hath before shewed in parliament , under the seale of the king himselfe and his councell so to doe , and thereupon were witnesses produced in parliament , that our lord the king had expressed a day for the same . and some lords there present in parliament were , that knew not how or in what manner he was become in such office under the king , ( and what is more ) that the king knew him not for his officer , and that amongst other articles , the said richard made no answer , wherefore the said richard was awarded to prison during the kings pleasure , and distrained to fine and ransome according to the quantity of his trespasse , and that he loose his freedome of the city of london , and bee no more in office under the king , nor approach to the kings court or councell , and thereupon another time the said richard was sent before the lords of parliament , where it was said to him that it seemed to the lords that his offences were so great and horrible , that hee had not sufficient wherewith to make satisfaction , and forthwith the said richard submitted himselfe into the favour of the king , his body , his lands , tenements , goods and chattells , and willed and granted that his body goods and chattells should bee at the kings will to give , and as to the extortions done by the said richard , or his deputies from the time that hee was farmer of the subsedies , or customes as beforesaid , it is ordained in parliament that good inquiry bee made by sufficient gentlemen in all the ports of england . ibidem n. 21. item william lord latimer was impeached and accused by the vote of the said earles of deceits , extorsions , g●ievances and other mischiefs by him , and others of his faction and covin , during the time he stayed as well under our lord the king in brittaine , when he was in office with the king , as otherwise in england the time that he was chamberlaine , and of the privie councell o● the same our lord the king . first of all concerning that when the said l. lat. had bin long captain of becherell . and officer of the late king edward in brittaine , if before or during the peace or truce it was committed . and thereupon it was proclaimed and published under the king through brittaine that no english man , nor other forreigner shall take wines , victualls nor other things of any persons , towns , castles nor of others , except they pay presently for them nor shall they take or ransome any person , town , fortresse or other place , upon paine of what they may forfeit , notwithstanding all which the said lord latimer , and his lievtenants and officers caused to be taken by wrong and violence , of diverse gentlemen of the countrey , much wines and victuals to a great value , without paying any thing , and likewise ransomed many by oaths , and in taking and receiving ransoms unto the summe of 4 millions , and 3 thousand pounds : whereof our lord the king enjoyed nothing , to the great dammage and villany of the king and oppression of his people and the said parts , and against the proclamation and defence aforesaid , as in a letter made and sealed with the seales of many lords of brittaine cal●ed ragman and sent into england to our lord the king aforesaid more at large appeared , but the said ragman could not be found in any sort , nor any man knew how to say in truth , what become of it , and yet he at another time was accused thereof , that he had taken at becherell and plimoyson , from thence unduly 153 l. w. of gold , whereof the king had never any part nor any restitution made thereof , and the parties from whom those summes were taken , preferred a bill in parliament in forme as followeth . it is to is to bee remembered that the proofes of parties that were ransomed at becherell and plymoison during the time of truce , have paid so much to master john , port-constable of bech●rell for the lord latimer , and to william his sonne , and to hugh middleton receiver of the said town or to the lord latimer departed out of brittaine . the yearly summe 40 franks . and likewise the said constables william and hugh , have received of the ransomes of such as were wont to bee ransomed during the warre more moneys than would have well payd all the souldiers of the said town . the summe 50 franks . and likewise the said countrey of brittaine have paied to the said constables william and hugh , for the death of divers gentlemen liege men of our lord the king that were killed upon the land of britt●ine . the summe 30 franks . and likewise the said constable , and william his son gathered upon the countrey of brittaine , to send monsieur gakes from plimouth dates to england . the summe 12 franks . and likewise the said william for that he lost 20 marks in the isle of garnesey , in a ship , put a fane and ransome upon the said becherell . the summe 1000 franks . and likewise robert ravenstons boy , had stollen stollen a h●lf salt-seller of silver , and therefore the land of brittaine was ransomed . the summe 2 franks . and likewise the said constables william and hugh receivers of the said town , had received divers times for victuals sold as salt , wine , beefe and other commodities , to the summe of 1000 franks , to the great losse of your poore liege-men , and to the town of becherell . for by these extortions which they had borne and sustained by the horrible necessity of the poore people , and likewise of the gentlemen , was the said town lost . wherefore they beseech our lord the king and his councell , to cause the said constables william and hugh to come and answer the aforesaid receits , so that our lord the king may be served of that which belongeth to him , and that your poore liege-men that were in the defence of the said town may be paid , their wages for the time that they were in the said town , if so it be your pleasure . and likewise the said lord latimer was impeached by the commons of divers loanes , made to the use of the king without cause necessary , to the great losse and and grievous dammage of the king , and more especially of a loane that was made of late to the use of the king , by the counsell of the lord latimer , richard lions and others of his covin of 20 thousand markes , where our lord the king was obliged to his creditors in the said case to pay again 30 thousand marks , and that was done by covin of the said lord latimer , and others that were privy with the said creditors , to have part of the said gaine , and to be parties to the said deed , or without answering the said loanes ; for it was furnished in speciall , that the said money was the kings own , taken out of his chamber or treasury , and also the proper money of the said lord latimer and richard lions , who appeared as if oppressed by the said loane , and also for that by like covin between him and the said rich. lions for their singular profit & gaine he had procured and counselled our l. the king to grant many licences by patents and writs , to cause a great quantity of wools skins , and leather and other things , to be carried to parts beyond the sea , other then to callis , against the ordinances and defences made before time , in that behalfe , to the destruction of the staple of callis and of the moneyage there , to the great dammage of the king , and of the realme of england , and hurt of the town of callis ; and likewise that by such covin done betweene him and the said richard lions for their singular profit , he had caus●d to be put upon the wools , skins , leather and other marchandises of the staple , divers new impositions . that is to say of every sack of wooll passing other where than to callis , by such licence 11 s. more against the statutes and ordinances thereof made , and also for that by his singular profit and ill government betweene our lord the king and his realme , they have had and suffered many other grievances , losses , dammages , and villanies without number , as the losse of the towne of s. saviour in normandy , & of the said place of becherell , and of other fortresses which might have been well saved and kept , if the king had been well counselled . and also concerning certaine spies and other felons taken and imprisoned by the king , and after delivered by the lord latimer , of his own proper authority , without the knowledge or pleasure of the king , taking upon him , and incroaching notoriously in doing these things upon the royall power . whereunto the said lord latimer then present in parliament said : that saving to him what ought to be saved to him ; as to one of the peers of the realme , as well in giving of judgement as otherwayes in time to come , if please our lord the king , and the lords assembled , he might be put to answer to him , which in especiall would accuse him of any of the matters aforesaid , and afterwards for that no especiall person would openly accuse the said lord of the same things in parliament , whereof the commons would maintain the said accusations against the said lord latimer , in accusation of his person and declaration of his fame , he said , that true it was , that hee was captain of becherell and that such a peace was made in brittaine under the king , and that an inquiry was made and put in writing & ●ealed with many seales of the lords of brittaine , and sent to our lord the king in england , which enquest is there called ragman , but he saith that this enquest was made by the brittons and french , which would not have our lord the king , nor any englishman for their governor , and falsly to have destroyed the said lord , and he saith now ( as other times he hath said ) to our lord the king when he was in like manner impeached thereof before the king himselfe , that all the profits , which he at any time received by himselfe or otherwise in brittaine , passed not in all things the summe of 10000 l. accounted in the same summe of 10000 l. all the profits which he received for the ransome of viscount of roane and of other prisoners which he tooke at the battaile of crey and this he is ready to prove by all reasonable wayes that one of his estate and degree ought to do , and he saith , that it seemeth by the law of nations , that the said ragman is not to be allowed and that it was done by the enemies of the king and realme , ( as aforesaid ) and likewise made out of the realme , and that therefore all men ought not to hold him of the lesse credit or reputation . and soon after the commons having this answer of submission prayed the lords of parliament in behalfe of the king , that the 10000 l. execution be had forthwith against the said lord latimer , as of a thing past by the said submission thereof as he had knowledged at another time , when he was impeached thereof , and that the said submission be made by him , as it ought to be , nor that any remonstrance or agreement be made to the king , nor pardon , nor other thing gotten , by which he may be discharged . and the lords answered , that the said answer should be reported to our lord the king , and thereupon right shall be done for the king and as to the said bill preferred afore in parliment concerning such men as he made his deputies or lievtenants at becherel and plimoyson , the said lord latimer faith , that hee is altogether innocent and without blame , even at the time that the said ragman was so made and sent to our lord the king . and the lords answered thereunto , that they would take advice of the kings councell , and thereupon right should be done on every part . as to the loanes made to the use of our lord the king without necessary cause , he answereth and saith , that he knew of none without cause very necessary and greatly behoovefull . and to that , that the intent is submitted to be false covin or other disloyalty for profit , or to have part , he saith , that he is altogether innocent and not guilty , and that he never delivered nor tooke any money or other thing of the king , nor of any other to make the said pretended loane and that he was ready to prove by all wayes that a man ought to do . and as to the patents and writs made and granted for the passing of woolls , skins , leather , &c. otherwhere than to the staple of callis , he saith , that those licences were commenced before his time , with the king as well at genoa and venice , as other where , and further saith , that if nothing thereof had been done till his time , the same ha● not been done , nor was persued by his counsell only but by him with others , and that the●e accrewed thereby by vertue of the kings grant , great profit to the king , whereof he was answered in his chamber . and as to the new impositions , the same were never put upon the woolls , skins , and leather by him of late , nor upon the countrey in any part , but only the subsidies thereof granted in parliament , and that at the instance and prayer of those who demanded such licences , which payed voluntary and without any compulsion 11 s. the sack , that is to say , 10 s. to the use of the king , and the 12 d. to the use of the clerks writing and persuing the s●id licences , which moneys he hath not yet put in certain ; and further saith , that he took nothi●g therof to his own profit by himselfe nor any other , and that he is ready to prove by all reasonable ways and thereupon it was witnessed in parliament by m. richard s●roope chancellor . late treasurer of our l. the king , that wil. walworth of london in time when the said loane was made to the king of the said 20 thousand marks , the said wil. walworth profered in behalfe of himsel●e and his companions marchants of the said staple of callis , to the lord latimer to make a loane to our lord the king of 10000 l without repaying any thing for increase by usury or otherwise by covenant so that they might be repayed the said 10 thousand pounds in their proper hands of the subsidies due to the king , of their wooll , &c. then next to be passed to callis , and that the king should covenant and grant that no such licences shall be henceforth granted to carry woolls , &c. out of the kingdom , further then the staple of callis . to which the said lord latimer answers and saith , that he had no such proffer of them and the other affirming the contrary , wondered that the said wil. walworth should make such a profer . and as to the losse of the said townes and forts , and the deliverance of some spies or felons so imprisoned the said lord also saith that he is not guilty and that he will prove & avow by all reasonable ways that he ought to do . and therupon many other words and reasons shewen and pleas as well in fu●l parliament as otherwise before the prelates and lords only as well for the part of our lord the king , as for the part of the said lord latimer , and many examinations in print as well as otherwise , aft●r full deliberation thereof had , iudgement was rendered in parliament against the said l. latimer in these words that follow . for that the said lord latimer is found in full parliament in default by his singular government and counse●l against the profit of the king and his realm . that is to say , of divers loa●es procured unto the kings losse without necessary cause , and also of patent● made in destruction of the staple of callis , and als● of divers impositions put upon woolls against the statute of parliament in that behalfe lately made , he is awarded by the prelates and lords in full parliament to prison , to be kept in ward of the ma●shall , and to make ra●som at the kings will , whereupon the said commons beseech the king for that he is found in such defaults by his singular counsels , he being in all offices of the king and especially one of the kings privy counsell throughout all that time it was requested that the king would bee pleased to grant that the said lord might go under baile , whereupon the king willed and granted that the said lord latimer should find in parliament certain prelates , lords and others during the parliament to have his body before the king and the lords to answer further to the articles wherof he was ●o arrested under a certain paine and forme comprised in a schedule annexed . and under such surety , the marshall of england let him go at liberty . ibidem n. 31. item will●am ellis of great jermouth , is impeached and accused in this present parliament in divers manners first , viz. by the surmise of the commons made to him , that the said william whilest he was farmer to our lord the king of his pety customes in the port of great jermouth , and deputy of richard lions farmour of the subsidies of 6 d. the pound , granted by our lord the king of all marchandizes passing out of the kingdome , and entring in the same for the safeguard of the sea , and of the marchants passing by sea , and of their marchandize , he did take by him and his servants , as well english as of strangers in the said ports and members thereof , by way of extortion , by colour of his said offices , many great summes of money , and otherwise that he ought not to have done , in great prejudice , slaunder of the king , and dammage of the said realme , and to the oppression and wrong of the marchants aforesaid . and the said william ellis present in parliament , saith , that true it is , that he is one of the farmours of the said pety customes of the marchants passing and comming , saving the purport of the commissions thereof made , without that that he tooke the same , or caused any thing to be taken by extortion , more than was clearely due to the king , and that hee was ready to prove to the king : by whatsoever way way hee ought to do , and the commons replying said , that the said william confessed to them in the common assembly in the chapter house within the abbey of westminster the day before , that he had received the said 33 l. & prayed that against his owne ackowledgement so openly and before so many persons he might not at other times be received to say the contrary . and therupon the said commons brought in parliament john botild & willi . cooper of leiwstoft and two others that affirmed they had payed to the said william ellis by the said marchan● of scotland , the said 3● l. for full inform●tio● of the matter aforesaid , which john and william cooper being thereof examined in pa●liament acknowledged that t●ey were obliged to our lord the king and to the said william ellis by their obligations or letters obligatory in the said 33 pounds together with the said scot , which was their hoast , and payed at a certaine day for the said subsidy of 6 d. the pound due of all the marchandizes in the said ship and the truth was that the said scot discharged nothing of all the matters aforesaid , at the day of payment , but that they payed to the said william ellis the 33 l. and therupon the said commons prayed iudgment upon the same said william ellis who said , that although that he had received the said 33 pounds of john botild , and of the other aforesaid be received it not but as supposing the same a gift , and that without c●ndition , and that as often as concerning the ●ame hee should have a writ or other commandement of our lord the king he would make deliverance thereof , which otherwise he would not do voluntarily . item , afterwards the said john botild and william cooper did put in the bils in form which followeth . to our thrice doughty lord the king and to his sage councell , sheweth john botild of lewistoft that the munday next after the ascension of our lord , in the yeare of the raigne of our lord the king that now is , the nine and fortieth that there was chased by tempest in kirke la rode , one cockboat of gotham in pruse , whereof the masters name was henry luce charged with divers marchandizes of the marchants of pruse , that is ●o say , freeze , and other marchandizes . and the same day william savage clerke and servant to wil. ellis , by commandement of the said william ellis , tooke of the said cockboat for the marchandizes ( neither discharged the same from paying custome then ) 17 nobles and a last of leather , the price of the last 10 pounds 16 s. at lewistoft before the boat went out of kirke la rode , to the great danger of the said marchants . and because that the said william ellis knew that wil. cooper would come to this parliament and shew this grievance & others in aid of the marchants , and also set forth how the great charter huc . ang. might be amended in aid of the whole realm , the said wil. by his false suggestion , caused the said wil. cooper to be arrested and cast in prison , for the space of 3 weeks : may it please our thrice doubty l. the king & his sage councell , to make remedy thereof in worke of charity . which billes passed in absence of the said wil. ellis , he saith , that as to the said 17 nobles and skins , called leather , he could not sweare for him , nor for any of the said marchants of pruse , nor other whatsoever , and the said john botild and wil. cooper affirming the contrary ; at last it was said by the lords in parliament , that those billes touching the entry of the leather , were now in the kings bench for triall . and as to the said imprisonment , the said william ellis saith , for that he was warned in cōming to london by many sufficient persons , that the said john , & wil. cooper , with 36 other persons of lewist . did lie in wait for the person of the said wil. ellis at wickham market in suffolke and going there in the high way of gerneith from london , at such time as the said w. was going towards london , carrying with him a great summ of the k. money of the customes & subsidies aforesaid , and for that the said w. ellis is awarded to prison to make fine & ransom to our said l. the k. & it is awarded to either of the said iohn and william cooper twentie pounds for their dammages , and dispences during their said imprisonment , had and suffered . also it is awarded that the said commissions be made to sufficient gentlemen , to enquire of william ellis , and of all others deputies of the said richard lyons throughout the realme . parl. anno 1. r. 2. n. 32. & 33. item william fitz-hugh goldsmith of london preferred his bill in parliament , in form as followeth : to our thrice excellent & thrice noble lord the k. and to his thrice honourable and thrice sage councell shewen the poore commons of the mysterie , and company of goldsmiths in the city of london : that iohn chichester , iohn botesham , and many other gentlemen , and ric● goldsmiths of that mystery in the same city , by their compassing and subtill devising deceitfully have caused many of the said company to enseale severally divers obligations , and those who refused so to doe were taken and imprisoned and in danger of death by many grievous threatnings of the said goldsmiths , who had sealed severally divers obligations as their poore companions had done before , to cause that the said poore goldsmiths should not buy , nor sell to any merchant cutteller , ieweller , vphoulster , nor to any other forraigner nor denizen , any goods of their working except they sold the same at a treble value , and that none of them should carry gilt , nor any other thing of gold or silver to any ladie or other person to make profit thereof , and if they did that the paine comprised in the said obligations should incurre upon them , as before the major sheriffe and aldermen of the s●id citie , as by the confessions of the said rich goldsmiths it was proved , wherupon it was unreasonably debated , so that it was put by good mediation and advice to the said maior , and many of the aldermen of the city : the said rich and poore goldsmiths put themselves in arbitrement of three good men , for a finall accord of all the debates and quarrells betweene themselves , which arbitrators assented upon certaine points rehearsed to the parties aforesaid , and ordained the same points to be affirmed and inrolled in the parliament for ever , and thereupon the said parties were released . but notwithstanding this agreement the said rich goldsmiths would not assent , nor suffer that the s●id points bee inrolled and holden as the said arbitrators adjudged : and furthermore by their procurement many mischiefs doe from day to day arise to the wrong of the said poore commoners so farre as they are like to be undone ( which god defend ) and have purchased likewise a new charter against the said agreement , to the great decay and hurt of the said poore commons : may it please you ( thrice gracious lords ) to ordaine and command that the said accord b●e affirmed , and holden finally for good , and that the said charter and other things , tending to the prejudice and losse of the said poore goldsmiths , bee made voide for gods sake and in the worke of charity . and thereupon the said iohn chichester and iohn botesham , and many other goldsmi●hs of london came i● parliament , and havi●g heard the said bill , it was forthwith demanded of the said william fitz-hugh , if hee would maintaine the said bill , and finde pledge to doe , and answer that which the law demandeth , who said that he would doe so , but af●erwards he could not bring in his surety , nor pleadge to answer the said bill , so was the said william fitz hugh commanded to the tower by the award of the lords in parliament . ibidem anno 41. item the said 24. day of decemb : during yet this present parliament . alice ●ierce was caused to come in the same parliament before the prelates and lords , for to answer certaine matters , which by letters should bee surmised against her in the kings name , and thereupon by commandement of the prelates and lords of the said parliament , master richard scroope treasurer , steward of the house of our lord the king rehearsed in parliament , in the presence of the said alice , an ordinance made in parliament holden at westminster ; the monday next after the feast of saint george , the yeare of the reigne of the king vnckle of our lord the king that now is , the 50. in these words , for that complaint is made to the king that many women have persued in the courts of the king , divers businesses and quarrells by way of maintenance , and to have a share : which thing displeaseth the king to defend , and that h●nceforth no woman shall doe so ; and more especially alice pierce upon paine of whatsoever the said alice may forfeit , and to be banished out of the realme , and after this rehearsall made the said steward surmised to the said alice ; that it seemed to the lords of parliament that she had incurred the paine comprised in the said ordinance , and had forfeited against the said ordinances in certaine points , and more especially in two , viz. that she stayed master nicholas dagworth chancellour , when he was ordayned by the councell of the late king to goe into ireland , for certaine urgent businesses which should have beene profitable to our late king , and his realme ; the said alice after the said ordinance made as aforesaid , perswaded the said king in his court at havering , that at her singular persuit and procurement , the said nicholas was countermanded and his voyage stayed from all that island , to the great dammage of our said late king and his realme . item , that whereas richard lions for misprisions w●ereof he was convicted at the said parliament , holden the said 50. yeare of our late king edward , submitted himselfe in the parliament into the favour of the said king ( that is to say ) his body , all his lands and tenements , and he gave some of them to the earle of cambridge , and some of them to master thomas woodstock now earle of buckingham , for terme of their lives : the which our late k. after having pitie of the said richard , was willing by the assent of his councell to shew him favour , and to pardon him the imprisonment of his body , and to restore him to certaine of his lands , goods , and chattells aforesaid , which pardon seemed to our late king and his councell t● be a grace sufficient , notwithstanding the said alice so perswaded the said late king in his court at sheene , that by the singular persuit , and procurement of the said alice , our late king edward granted to the said richard , all his lands , goods , tenements and chattels aforesaid , together with the said tenements which hee had given to the said earles for terme of their lives as before said , & amongst the same pardoned the said richard 300. l. of certaine arrerages due by the said richard in the exchequer , and also granted him a thousand marks of his treasure to bee ●eceived of the said ladie , which persuit and procurement are contrary to the ordinance aforesaid . and the said steward demanded of the said alice how she would excuse her selfe of those articles ? which alice did answer and say , that she was not guilty of those articles , and that she is ready to shew and prove by the testimony of the said master iohn ipr● then steward of the said king edward , & william street then controller of his house allen buxall knight , and nicholas carrein keeper of the privie seale of the said king and others that did then belong to the said king , and afterwards from him to the time supposed , that she committed forfeiture , and that they can discover the truth . and thereupon day is given unto the said alice untill wednesday next , by the pr●lates , and lords of the parliament , and it was ordained and assented that those articles shall be tried by witnesses and by enquest of those that were of the houshold of the late king edward , whereby the truth may better be knowne , and thereupon were certaine persons examined before the earle of march , the earle of arundell , the duke of lancaster , the earle of cambridge , and the earle of warwick ; that is to say first master roger beauchampe late chamberlaine of the said king edward , sworne upon the holy evangelists , and diligently examined touching the countermand of master nicholas dagworth , and upon the other article concerning the said kings pardon , and favour to richard lions , saith upon his oath , that in presence of the ladie alice pierce a bill was delivered to him , which bill he tooke , and after hee had understood that the same contained the calling back of master nicholas dagworth from ireland , for that he was an en●my to master william winsor , to that which the bill supposed he answered , that hee durst not preferr it to the king for that the counsell had ordained the contrary , and the said alice requested him and said that he might safely deliver it to the king , and presently the king demanded of what matter they discoursed , and the said master roger answered of a bill that doth containe such businesse , & forthwith when the king had understood the bill , hee answered that the petition was reasonable , and when master roger replyed the councell had ordained to the contrary , the king answered that he himselfe was agreeing , and that yet it seemed the bill was reasonable , and commanded him that the said master nicholas be caused ●o be called back , which was likewise done , but what day or moneth it was he remembreth not , and as to the matter of richard lions the said mr. roger saith , that he was chamberlaine but an houre , and so knoweth nothing more then he hath said . item master lanc. diligently examined before the committees saith , that he came one day to havering , and found the ladie alice pierce there , and forthwith master roger beauchampe shewed him billa , and after the king understood the matter , hee said thus that it seemed not reason , that one en●mie should bee judge of another , and the said duke answered that hee was come betweene them , but it was so that the said ma●ter nicholas was sent for the profit of the land , and of all the realme ; and therefore it was ordained before the king that the said master nicholas and master william doe come before the councell , and if the said master william could prove any cause for the enmity betweene them ; that then the said master nicholas shall not goe if he well can prove such enmity ; otherwise the ordinance of the councell made in that behalf shall stand in force : to which thing the king did well assent for that time , but forthwith the king was assailed in his chamber by the said ladie alice , and there came in the said duke and prayed the king that he would not suffer in any sort , that the said mr. nicholas bee called back , who answered , that it should bee no otherwise then it was afore ordained before the king , and when hee came in that behalfe to crave a testimoniall favour , hee could not obtaine it , and the next morning when the said duke did his obeysance to the king in his bed . the king himselfe commanded upon his blessing that he suffer not in any manner that the said master nicholas goe into ireland , the ordinance thereof made the day before to the contrary notwithstanding , and likewise the said master nicholas was countermanded , and as to the article of richard lions , hee saith in his conscience that the said alice was principall promotrix of the said businesse : but he was not present when it was done . item master philip de bath sworne , and diligently examined , saith , as to the article of master nicholas dagworth , that he heard not the said dame alice speak to the king of the same matter , but hee heard in the kings house the said ladie alice make a great murmur and say , that it was no reason nor law , that the said master nicholas who was an enemie to the aforesaid master william , should goe into ireland to enquire , and doe iustice against him , and more hee know●s not how to say in this matter . but as to the article of the said richard hee saith , that he was one day at sheene when the said richard was brought before the king , and that he was called into the kings chamber to heare those things that were to be done , and when he understood a little of the matter he would not stay in the chamber ; and further he saith that there were then in the kings chamber , the said lady alice , nicholas currein ; master allen buxall , walter walsham and many others ; & saith that she was in the court ; and that the said lady alice was an aider and friend in the businesse . item nicholas currein sworn as aforesaid : and diligently examined saith , that he was commanded by the king to come to sheer , & there he found rich : lions : which richard and nicholas were commanded to come before the king to his bed , and there they fou●d the lady alice pierce sitting at the side of the bed : and there it was shewen that the king would pardon the said 300. l. to which he was yet bound to the king , as of the arrerages of his accompt in the exchequer , and also the king would give to the said richard 1000. markes of his treasure , and further would make full restitution of the tenements which had bin given to his sons of cambridge , and woodstock as before said . and thereupon the king commanded the said nicholas to say from him his pleasure to his said s●nnes , but he saith that hee remembreth not i● that matter were showne at that time before t●e king , by relation of any other person , or by the bill of the said richard there read , or otherwise by the said richard himselfe : the said nicholas remembers himselfe very well : that he requested to come before the king , who caused to come from behind ●h● curtaines master allen buxall , and others knights , and bishops which then were there to testifie that which the king had said to the said nicholas in the said commandements and so it was done , and all the commandements of the king were r●hearsed in presence of all those men . and as to the matter of master nicholas dagworth he saith , that he knowes nothing but that master roger beauchampe sent him to countermand the said master nicholas . item master allen buxall sworne in like manner , and diligently examined saith , that one day at sheen after the last parliament he was called to the king , where hee found the lady alice pierce , nicholas currein , and many other knights , & esquires which came with him , and there it was rehearsed by the said nicholas , how the king had shewed favour to richard lions of his tenements , which were holden by the earle of cambridge , and master thomas of woo●stock , and had given him a 1000. marks of his treasury : and as to that which was don , the said dame alice pierce prayed the same mr. allen , that hee would declare to the said earles the kings will , & his chargings upon the blessing of their father , to cease to extend the tenements of ma●ter allen , and that they doe it voluntarily if the king commanded them to doe so . and forthwith at the instance of the said alice the king commanded , and it was also done . and as to the article of master nicholas dagworth he saith , that he knoweth nothing but that hee heard the said lady alice say many tim●s , that it is not reason nor law that the said mr. nicholas who was enemy to master william windsor , should bee sent into ireland to make inquisition of him or against him . item , will : street late controller of the kings house , sworne in like manner , and diligently examined saith , that he was one day at havering , when william●f yorke spake to the k. of william windsor , in presence of the lady alice pierce for to disturb the passage of master ni●holas , and the said lady alice said , that it ●as not reason that one enemy shoul● bee iudge of another , and moreover the said william stre●t saith in his consci●nce , that the said lad●alice was principall and motrix of the said cause , as he verily beleeves . and as to the article of richard lions he knowes nothing before it was all finished . item , john beverill sworne in like manner and diligently examined saith , that he heard not at any time the said lady alice speake to the king concerning neither the one article nor the other , and that she kept her selfe well from him , that she spake nothing in his presence , but hee thinks in his conscience that she was the promotrix in the said businesse , for hee knowes no other which could have followed that matter , and notwithstanding they were caused to come before the said duke , and the said earles , mr. robert beauchampe , master allen buxall , master iohn burle , mr. philip de la page , mr. iohn foxley , and thomas barre knight , nich : currein , iohn beauchampe of holt , john beverly , george felborough , john salisbury , william street , pierce cornewall , thomas lurden , lolvin legat esquires of the house of the said late king edward : which doe say upon their oathes that the said alice was principall promotrix to the said king , at his court a●havering , about the feast of all saints in the 50. yeare of his reigne concerning that article , touching the revocation of the said nicholas dagworth , and for that she was committed . item as to the article touching richard lions , they know well that the said alice was well willing , councelling and aiding to the said busines prevailing with the said king at shee● in the moneth of may last past , and for that she is found guilty in the same impeachment , and the lords of parliament , that were at parliament when the said ordinance was made , remember , that their intention was witnessed , and bearing the force of a statute , and by the generall words ( whatsoever the said alice may forfeit ) extend as well to the forfeiture of lands and tenements as goods and chattells and all other possessions considering the dammages and villanies by her done to the king and to the realme for that it was in effect to restraine , and punish the said lady alice only ( wherefore it is awarded in this present parliament , that the said ordinance have the force and effect according to the intent aforesaid , that she be banished out of the realm , and her lands and chattels , tenements and possessions as well in demeane , as in reversion be forfeited to the king , and seised into his hand and it is the intention of the king , and of the lords , & of the ordinances assented to in the same parliament , that all the lands whereof she hath taken the profit , or bargained to her own profit be forfeited , because of the fraud which may bee presumed in which shee is most abounding , for which c●use the same sh●ll 〈◊〉 ●or●eited to the king , and seised as the o●her lands . and it is the intention of the king and of the lords , that this o●dinance and award made by the king for such odious things in this especiall case , which may extend to a thousand other persons shall in no other case but this bee taken in example . likewise it is ordained and assented , that notwithstanding the said forfeiture if she purchased any lands or possessions by fo●ce or dures ; bee it by fine or by deed in pais or deed inrolled , or otherwise , that the purchase bee holden for nothing , and that the parties which perceiv themselves aggrieved may have remedy by processe in chancery , and by advice of the grandies of the councell right shall bee done to the parties ; and restitution made according to the case demanded , so that the purchases made bona fide be not made voide nor disanulled b● any manner of way . et istud rotulum sic factum ; & scriptum tradidit & libera● it edmundus bradwell clericus de corona &c hoc in parliamento assig . clerico . parliamenti . ex. rot parliam . anno 7. r. 2. n 11. item it is to be understood that the 23. day of may , there was present , one iohn cavendish of london pri●oner in this parliament before the commons of england , in their assembly in presence of some prelates , and lords temporall there being , and afterwards before all the prelates and lords being in this parliament , and prayed the lords , that for go●s s●ke they would hasten for the peace , and safety of his life that hee may have iufficient surety of the peace of those whe●eof hee complained , and especially demanded surety of the peace of master nicholas de la poole chancellor of england , and this request to him was granted , and thereupon by commandements of the lords aforesaid , the said master nicholas there present found sureties to be peaceable towards the said iohn , that is to say the earle of stafford : and the earle of salisbury : and the said iohn rehearsed how at the last parliament hee had made persuit by one savill against gibbon , mansfield , robert de parry : iohn hawkins , and william horsman to have restitution of certaine goods , and marchandizes of great value left upon the sea , in default of the said gibbon , robert john , and william at the time when he had undertooke the safeguard of the sea ; and of the marchandizes passing and comming from sea , for the time against all enemies out of the power royall , which bill was endorsed in the said parliament he confessed , and acknowledged in the chancery for to discontinue and determine the matter , by composition according to law and reason . and further the said iohn saith , that hee being a fishmonger hath preferred at the same pa●liament his bill , for that a clerk and familiar of the chancellor whose name was iohn otler , undertooke that the said fishmonger should the better have good helpe in his case of the said chancellor before whom his busines depended , who was to do iustice to high and low : which clerk demanded copies of his bills , and demeaned the whole businesse that he delivered to him , which when hee had viewed and understood , he promised that for 40. pounds to the use of his said lord , and 4. pounds to his own proper use , hee should have his busines wel● & graciously dispatched by his lord without difficu●●y , & upon this promise the said iohn cavēdish was well agreed , & granted to pay him the said 44. l. in māner as he should demand the same , but for that he said he had not the sum ready in his hand to pay , he obliged himself voluntarily to make payment well & lawfully at a certain day , & ●o it was done , and afterwards the said fishmonger delivered to the clerk certain quantity of herring , sturgeon , and other fish to the value of 9. or 10. marks , to the use and behoofe of the said chancellor , in part of payment of the 40. l. aforesaid , and 3. ells of scarlet , which cost him 32. s. he delivered to the said clerke in part of payment of the said 40. l. which he promised . and further the said cavendish saith , that although he had don so much and promised to give more to one person and another alwayes , yet he found not long friendshi● , aid f●vour , nor succour in effect in the person of the said chancellor in the said suit for all his cost , and also he saith , that a good part of all sorts came with him to the house of the said chancellor , to discourse of his matter where hee found there his adversaries before him , where hee encountred them in presence of the said chancellor : but if the said chancellor be to bee punished for committing of this affaire , or no , he knoweth not , god knowes , but he saith that true it is , that at a certain day past the said chancellor caused him to bee payed for his fishes , and that hee cancelled the obligation , and that the same was cancelled in bounty , and conscience ; or otherwise to shunne a slaunder and reproach in the case , hee knowes not now to say , but saith for certaine , that for the three elles of scarlet , hee was not yet payed , and thereupon the said chancellor first of all before the lords and commons answereth , and saith , that in this affaire , and of all this matter hee is innocent in every degree ; and first of all as to that that is surmised of him by the accusation hee now saith , that the said fishmonger had not beene delayed , nor is yet delayed by the said chancellor , and that right and iustice is done to him in the said suit , and that the accusation containes no truth , and the said chanc●llor voucheth to witnesse all the iudges , and serjeants of the realme who were present in the chancery many times when the said matter was pleaded betweene the parties , which suit is pleaded to issue , whereof part lieth in iudgement , and part remaineth untried , so that nothing now remaineth to doe , but to render iudgement there of what remaineth in iudgement and traverses thereof have beene put in for difficulty , and for other cause , and that it is not truth of the said chancellor , that the fishmonger hath now said , that hee could not have iustice and that hee is unjustly delayed . and as to the remnant of the accusation now made , the said chancellor sweareth by the sacrament of iesvs christ that hee is utterly innocent , and more thereof did never come into his cognizance , but in manner , as hee hath said which is thus and saith , that of late hee had speech with the officers of his house to know the estate thereof , and for ordinary payment of those to whom for the dispences of his said house hee was a debtor , and there first of all , and before his officers hee demanded how such a quantity of herring , and sturgeon was brought into his said house , and not by way of bargained-for provision , and in what manner the same was spent in his house , whereat he marvelled because he knew not the said fishmonger , and there withall he reckoned with his said officers how such an obligation was also made by the said fishmonger , who had a generall suit depending before him , and as soone as the heads of this matter was understood by him , hee was much grieved , and in passion did curse and sweare to his said officers , that hee would not eat nor drinke within his said house , untill the said fishmonger was payed for that which he had sent into his house aforesaid , and the obligation was utterly cancelled and defaced , and thereupon presently was the said fishmonger at his commandement caused to come in presence of the said chancellor in the chappell within his house , where hee stayed for the present time when he was in london , in the same chappell where our lord iesus christs sacrament was continually , he swore by the same sacrament in presence of his said clerk , & of the said fishmonger that he was never boūd to do that which his said clerk had undertaken , & that he touched nothing of the said commodities before reckoned , nor had knowledge thereof in private or in publick , but by relation of those other officers in manner aforesaid , and that hee was never a partner to the said covenant made thereof in any manner , nor caused the said clerk to take the same obligation , but caused the said fishmonger to bee payed for his fish aforesaid . and the said chancellor swore by the sacrament of jesus christ , that his excuse now given , in contained full truth , and that hee is ready to prove in whatsoever manner it pleaseth our lord the king , and his noble lords of the realme there present to ordaine , and the said chancellor prayeth to the lords aforesaid , that they have due consideration to the estate that hee beareth within the realme by his office of chancellor ; that it may so please them to ordayne him due remedie and iustice of the said fishmonger , concerning the defame and grievous slander which hee had brought upon his person in parliament , which is the most high court of the realme , and could not accuse the said chancellor of any thing in his complaint , but onely the clerk of the said lord . and for that the said fishmonger disclaimeth in part , his said accusation , and so denieth by his owne mouth that hee had not any bargaine with the person of the said chancellor but with his said clerk . and also for that as well the said clerk as the said fishmonger thereupon examined , acknowledged that the aforesaid obligation was made to the said clerk onely , and in his name without naming the person of the said chancellor in any part , and that the same clerk upon his oath made in the case had fully excused his master the said chancellor , that hee was not knowing of the said obligation , nor of the covenant aforesaid otherwise then before set forth . and for that also his said officers gibbon , robert , and william were personally in this parliament , and examined upon their alleageances to say the truth of their part in this case answered expressely , that they never gave any thing , nor promised to give reward to the said chancellor in private , nor openly by themselves , or any other person in the world : the lords aforesaid ●old the person of the said chancellor for excused of whatsoever was comprised in the accusation aforesaid . and thereupon the said chancellor prayed againe to the lords there , for that as well the said fishmonger had disavowed his accusation in part , and for that he might every way be excused thereof for any thing that could appeare to the iudgement of every discreet person which heareth the said accusation , that for those words , which the said fishmonger had put in his bill , he the said fishmonger might be arrested untill he had found sufficient sureties to tender him that which should be adjudged upon this matter , and especially upon the false slander aforesaid , which he had drawn upon him . and therupon it was commanded by the lords , that as well the said fishmonger , as the said clerke should be committed , and so they were committed to priso● , 〈◊〉 ●fterwards they were let go at large ▪ that is to say , the said fishmonger by the maine-prise of thomas spicer a●d steven skinner , who w●re obliged body for bo●y to have the said fishmonger from day to day , before the lords aforesaid , or before whatsoev●r judges should be assigned : and afterwards , f●r that the parliament was drawing to an end , and the lords were also greatly busied there amongst o●her great businesses of the realm . the said suit by the pa●liament with all things therof , was referred to the iudges of the kings bench , to be heard and determined , as well for our lord the king as for the parties . in schedula . record . fact . apud westminsterium per justiciarios , &c. et postea die martis proximo post octab . trin. viz. 14 die junii anno regni domini regis r. 2. post conquestum 7 robertus tresilian capitalis justiciarius in banco ipsius regis , robertus belknap capitalis justiciarius in communi banco , & roger . fulthropp unus justiciarius in communi banco vigore commissionis parliamenti dicti domini regis , apud novum sarum ultimo tento fact . & authoritate ejusdem commissionis unde in rotulo parliamenti predicti mentio facta est specialis , contra quendam iohannem cavendish de london fishmonger qui parliamento praedicto primo , viz. coram communitate regni ang. congregat. & postmodum alia vite coram magnatibus ejusdem regni in eodem parliamento , de michali de poole milite , cancellario dicti regni , & iohanne ottre clerico ipsius cancellarii de diversis misprisionibus sibi per eosdem factis , ut asseruit , graviter querelavit ; & ipsum cancellarium per hoc multipliciter accusavit & aefamavit processi , in hunc modum . imprimis , viz. ipsum iohann . cavendish , coram iisdem iusticiariis apud westminst. dicto 14 die iunii , assedentibus sibi tunc ibid. hugone seagrave milite , thesaurario angl. magistro walter de shirlawe , custode privati sigilli , iohanne wal●ham , custode rotulorum cancellariis , nec non waltero clopton , willielmo richell , & iohanne de lockon serviend . ipsius regis venire fecerunt , qui ibidem comparens & de accusatione sua praedict. & fact . & in rotulo parliamenti praedicti , plenius irrotuletur , cujus mat●ria , una cum responsionibus per dominum can●ellarium in eodem parliamento , adhuc in excusationem suam datis prout continetur in rotulo praedic pro majore parte recitat . coram ipso iohanne de cavendish , tu●c ibidem allocatum fuit per iusticiarios praedic . & super hoc quaesitum fuit ab eodem , si quid haberet pro se vel ulterius dicere sciret , quare ipse poenam in statuto contra hujusmodi defamatores edito subire non debeat maxime cum idem cancellarius se in parliamento illo excusavit & omni alio modo possibili se inde excusare est paratus , qui quidem ioh. ad hoc respondebat & dixit quod ipse nunquam personam dicti cancellarii in parliam . illo defamavit , nec aliquid sinistrum sive inhonestum de persona ipsius cancellarii clam vel palam in parliamento ille dixit , vel alias affirmavit quovis modo sed dicit quod quicquid per eum in hac parte fuerit hoc solum de praefato ioh. ottre clerico ipsius cancellarii in ista materia factum & sententia verborum suorum , ac modo & forma eorundem , nec non responsionibus ipsius cancellarii & aliorum ex parte sua hinc inde factis & dictis ibidem debite ponderatis & ulterius haben●a respondit ad hoc quod ubi praefatus ioh. cavendish , dixit quod justiciam coram dicto ●omino cancellario praedict. prout alius praedict. cancellarius allegavit in eodem parlia. clare constare debeat cui cunque discreto , & intelligenti , quod idem ioh. cavendish per accusationem suam praedictam ipsum cancellar. . in eodem parliam . false defamavit . per quod consideratum est quod praefatus ioh. cavendish super defamatione illa convincatur & idem cancellar. . recuperet versus eum dāna sua et quod ioh. cavendish praedict. committitur prisonae domini regis ibid. moratur . quo usque tam preafato cancellario de damnis suis praedictis , quam dicto domino regi pro fine competenti sibi inde debito plenarie satisfecerit . rotulo parliamenti , anno 10. r. 2. m. 4. & 5. in this parliament all the commons with one accord and in one assembly came before the king , prelates and lords in the parliament chamber , complayning grievously of michael de la poole earle of suffolk , late chancellor of england being then present , and accused him by demonstrance of word of mouth in manner following , that is to say , first , that the said earle being chancellor and sworn to do the profit of the king , purchased of our lord the king , lands , tenements and rents to a great va●ue , as appeares by the records , and rols of the chancery , against his oath in tha● behalfe , not considering the great necessity of the king & the realm . and moreover , because the said earle was chancellor in time of the said purchase made , the said lands and tenements were extended at a lesser value than they were worth per annum by a great summe , to the deceiving of our lord the king . item the said lords were assigned at the last parliament to view and examine the estate of the king and realme , and to declare their advice how the same may bee well amended and put in better governance and disposition ; and the examination & report therupon made to the king , as well by mouth as in writing , the said late chancellor said in full parliament , that the said advertisement and ordinance , ought to be put in due execution , and that it was not done in default of him that was the principall officer . item , whereas the charge was granted by the commons in the last parliament , to be put into certain forme , demanded by the commons and assented by the king & the lords , and no otherwise nor in any other manner then was ordayned , many mischiefes are come to the realme , and it seemes true , that ●hey came in default of the said late chancellor . item , it was debated , that whereas one tidman of lymberch , who had to him & his heires , of the gift of our late king edward , 50 l. per annum , of the custome of kingston upon hull , which the said tidman forfeited to the king ; and also the payment of 50 l. a yeare , was discontinued for 20 , or 30 yeares , the said late chancelor knowing thereof , purchased to him and his heires of the said tidman the said 50 l. a yeare , and the purchase was untill the k. ought to enjoy the profit . item , it was debated , whereas the high master of s. anthony is a schismatique , and for that cause the king ought to have the profit which appertaineth to him in the realme of england , the said late chancellor who ought to have advanced and procured the profit of the king , tooke to farme the said profit of the k. for 20 marks a yeare , and there tooke to his own use goods , and 1000 marks and more . and that the said master of s. anthony in england , which now is , ought to have possession of the said profit , and he could not have it before he had two persons bound with him by recognizance in chancery , and other instruments to pay 3000 l. yearly to the said late chancellor , and to john his son 100 l. a yeare , for terme of their two lives . item , that in time of the said late chancellor there were granted and made divers charters and patents of murthers , treasons , felonies , rasure of rols , sale of woods , and in especial after the beginning of this parliament , there was made and ensealed one charter of certain franchizes granted to the castle of dover , in the disherison of the crowne and the subversion of the duties of the places and courts of the king and of his people . item , by the ordinance that was made in the last parliament for the towne of gaunt , that ten thousand marks ought to be gathered , and for default of such collection , there ought to bee forfeited 3000 marks , that by default and negligence therein of the said late chancellor , the said town was lost , and forthwith the said 10000 marks payed & the said 3000 marks lost by def●ult as aforesaid . of all which articles the said commons demand iudgment of parliament , whereunto the said e. made his answer in manner which followeth . first , the said earle saith to the lords of parliament , how that he was chancellor of england , and the same time did represent the person of the king in his absence , and demanded if he ought to answer without the presence of the king , for that he was impeached of things done in time that hee was chancellor . secondly , the said e. had ordained by the advice of his councell , that master richad scroope his brother in law , should put in the words of his answer of the said impeachments . whereunto the lords replyed , that it was honest for him to answer by his owne mouth , and therupon he made protestation that he might adde or diminish in his answer what might be honou●able and profitable to him , by advise of his councell . which thing was granted to him . and as to the first article of his impeachment , that is to say , after that hee was chancellor that hee purchased certain land of the king &c. the said ● . doth answer , &c. after that he was chancellor , he at no time purchased any lands nor tenements of the king nor the king gave to him any , untill the time that the king caused him to take the estate of an earle , but by way of true exchange , videlicet , that how the said earle hath had foure hundred markes a yeare upon the custome of kingston upon hull by descent of inheritance , for which it pleased the king to assigne to the said earle the lands or tenements in value ; and that he assigned and gave part thereof to the profit of the king as well yearely as because of a summ of 1000 marks payed to the king by the said earle for that cause . and further saith that the king at his progresse into scotland pleased to make duks , bannerets , and knights , to the honour of him and his realme , he plea●ed without desire or seeking of the said earle of his own proper motion , to make him earle , and commanded him to take the estate of the earle of suffolke in place of him that late died , and after that he named the quantity of that which he had to maintain that estate , and further saith that he will assigne the quantity of the lands , which were belonging to the said earle of suffolk who last died . item he saith , that the said tidman hath had 50 l. a yeare upon the antient custom of king . upon hull , to him and his heires inheritably for ever , whereof king edward uncle of the king that now is , was not payed of a long time , as appeares by the accounts of customers of kingston upon hull , in the exchequer of our lord the king , which tidman for 1000 ma●kes which he owed to the said earle , granted to him by his deed a long time since the 50 pounds aforesaid to have and to hold to the said earle and his heires for ever . and because the said earle , made restitution of the patent of the said tidman to the king , discharged of arrerages , the k. pardoned the same purchase , without that , that the said earle then committed or had yet committed any forfeiture , or debt against the king concerning the said tidman . item , as to the other article , in which there is mention of a charter granted , &c. he saith that a warrant came to him for so doing , and for that it was a castle and to the profit of the king without evill intent of the said earle , he passed it not intendi●g then that it was against the laws ; and if any man would have declared or informed the said e. that it had been prejudiciall to the king or his laws , he had not ensealed the same , but would have repealed it , and that yet thereof no dammage is come , &c. and as to the other charters specified in the same article , he passed them by warrant without ill intention or covin of his part in any point . and further he prayeth , that no new way bee put upon him otherwise , then had beene used aforetimes upon any lord or such officers understanding that of the chancellor make a patent against reason or law . that such patent shal be repealed and such iudgement reversed , without inflicting other punishment upon such officer o● iudge . and the commons replying to the answer of the said earle , concerning the first article , did shew to the lords the copy of his oath , made when he was created chancellor , in manner as followeth . you shall sweare that well and loyally you will serve our lord the king and his people , in the office of chancellor , and shall do right to all sorts poore and rich , according to the laws and usages of the realm , and lawfully shall counsell the king , and his counsell shall keep . and you shall not be privy , nor suffer any dammage , nor disherison to the k. nor that the rights of the crown be taken away , if you can any way hinder it , and if you cannot hinder it , you shall make the same cleerly and expresly known to the k. together with your loyall advice and counsell , and you shall cause and purchase the profit of the king , by all that lieth in you to do reasonably , so helpe you god and his holy gospell . and praying that the same might be read well understood , and the circumstances of the said answer considered , viz. that he had not denied that he received of the kings gift after that he was made earle , being in the office of the said chancellor , divers lands and tenements which are certai● and sure of the value of 400 marks a yeare , which he hath had upon the custom of kingston upon hull , which are casuall & may deceive the king to his dammage in that behalfe . and how he said that he had received part of the ●●id lands and tenements , so taken ●n ●xchange before he was cha●cellor . the commons say , that he was then of the privy councell , and afterwards sworne in the creation of the office of chancellor , by the aforesaid oath , and he in that office agreeing to the exchanges , takes and receives the remnant of the said lands and tenements in full performance of the exchanges , as by his answer in parliament aforesaid . and in answer to the second article , the commons replying , say , that insomuch as he acknowledgeth in his proper protestations , that he represented the estate of the king , while he was officer : and so extends his power upon all others , wherfore although default was in others , he cannot therefore be excused , and especially of that which the king had commanded him to speake in parliament as he had said , he was the more bound to put the said matter in execution , and to confesse , what he denied not , the dammages are no lesse than they have surmised : they pray the iudgement of parliament . and as to the answer of the fourth article , the commons replying say , that it shall be found of record in the exchequer , the aforesaid tydman to be debtor to the king in great summs as they suppose , and for that cause the said rent appertaines to the king , notwithstandi●g he had otherwise forfeited , and so the king was deceived and they pray that the records may be examined . and further say , that one neele hackney was killed by his wife and his servant , and the said tydman for which felony , the said woman and servant were arraigned found guilty , and suffered the iudgement and execution of the sentence of the law , and the said tydman as followeth . and to the answer of the fift article , the commons prayed again , proposing the example of one william thorpe late chief iustice of the kings bench , surmising that he tooke 20 l. of one party who had an office in plea before him , and for that he sold the law , for which cause he was judged to death & forfeiture of his lands and chattels , and say insomuch as the said earle was so chancellor , and tooke 100 l. &c. of the said provision there commanded to be delivered out of the kings hands of his profits , which hee ought to have done according to the command of the k. freely without taking any thing , it seemeth to them that hee hath sold the lawe and prayen iudgement . and to the answer of the sixt article , the commons replying said , that it appertained to him ( as wise as he is ) to be well advised and counselled , that he assent not , nor do such a thing which may tend to the disherison of the king , and oppression of his people , as he would avoyd the indurance of the iudgement of parliament . and thereupon the said earle replying to the replication of the commons , touching his oath said , that to take the words of the said oath without other speciall intendment no chancellor heraftet will inseale any thing of the kings grant to any persons of lands and tenements or other goods without offence of his oath . but the said earle saith , that it is not comprised in the said oath , nor forbidden him to take to himselfe of the kings gift , nor to any other person . and for that the kings gifts to other persons in the said voyage , nor of divers other things before , be not impeached not holden against the oath of the chancellor , it seemeth to him that no more he ought to be impeached for the gifts given to his personall estate , seeing that in the said oath it is not forbidden nor restrained to him more than to others , & more especially for that the said estate and the gifts given are confirmed by parliament , and further saith , that he accepted of his oath of chancellor according to his conscience and power , and for the causes before expressed , he saith , as he shall answer before god , that he thinks nothing done in the matters aforesaid against his oath , or understanding of his conscience , but that the chancellour may inseale the kings guifts to the lo●ds for to maintaine their estate ; or for other reasonable cause by the kings warrant , and that hee hath done nothing against his oath , &c. and saith that , that which is comprised in the oath that hee suffer no dammage , not disherison of the king &c. that is to bee understood of that which is intended , of matters wherof the king hath not cognisance , and that appeareth by the clause comprised in the oath , that hee shall make known to the king cleerely , and express●ly : and after that the king is informed in such manner , the chancellor may doe the kings commandement without offence of his oath , and s●ith that concerning his estate , and what the king gave him , it was expressely done by the commandement , knowledge , and will of the king , and so not against his oath , and that it may not bee intended that hee should bee impeached concerning this matter . item as to that , that the commons say that the said earle hath deceived the king ; because he hath taken of the king , the manner of faxfleet in value 50. pounds which manno● was worth 200. l. per annum &c. the said earle answereth , that master william morris hath reported to him that hee hath taken of the king the two parts of the said mannor , with the rent in north dalton to serve for 7. yeares for fifty pound a yeare , and that hee hath lost by the said farme in the said time a 100. marks , and further saith that the said mannor with the ten markes of rent in dalton altogether are extended ( as appeares in the chancery ) but at 41. l. 9. s. 3. d ob . and for that that , the said earle understands by the earle of kent , who hath had the said two parts of the said mannor together with the said ten marks , at the value of 50. marks , that the intire mannor could not bee above the value of 50. pounds . and further saith , that the said mannor with the ten markes are not worth more . and that under a certain● paine saith , that whatsoever person will sustaine the charges of the said mannor sufficiently , and pay him for the two parts 50. markes for aid , and as to the third part bee it what it will , let him give security to pay for the said mannor , with the ten markes of rent 50. l. per annum , that hee will so lease it with all his heart . item as to that impeachment of the commons of a 100. pound pension , out of the provision of saint ant●o●y , and that the said earle should sell the lawes , and put in an example of master william thorpe &c the said earle answereth , that the cases are nothing alike , which the parties pleaded before the said master william thorpe as before their iudge for the lawes of england . in which case no iudges ought to take reward of any parties pleading before them . but the s●id provision came to him with the help of saint pierce the pope , and not as a chancellor or iudge in this case , but as father and friend to john his son . at which time a man knew not if the said iohn had obtained it of the popes favour or no . also faults were found by the counsell of the said earle in the bulls of the said provision ; and from the same caus● the said provisour by his friends of his owne accord profered an annuall pension of a 100. and 60. pound for to leave suit in the court of rome by his said sonne , and for that hee should not impeach the bulls : that the matters before said were not done as before a iudge , but by way of composition as may bee prooved by instrument and by witnesses in this towne , and so this matter touched not the lawes of england , and alwayes the said earle intended not but that hee should bee holden to answer to the party in this case . and thereupon after the answers of the said earle given to the accusations of the said commons , and the replications to them made of one part , and of another the said earle at the request of the said commons for the greatnesses of the defaults so of him surmised , was arrested by commandement of the king and commons in ward of the constable of england , and afterwards let at liberty upon bayle . and for that the said earle alleadged not in his answer that hee observed the effect of his oath , in that hee swore that hee would not know nor suffer dammage , nor disherison cleerely and expressely to the king , together with his owne lawfull advice and councell , and that hee should cause and purchase the profit of the king by all that he could reasonably doe : and hee held the premisses although hee were principall officer of the king , knowing the estate and necessity of the king and of the realme , and did take of the king such lands , and tenements as is supposed in the impeachment to him in the said first article surmised , & although he alleadged in his answer , that the deeds to him so made were confirmed by full parliament , there is no such accord in the rolls of parliament wherefore it is awarded that all the mannors , lands , tenements , rents , services , fees , advonsons , reversions & profits with their appurtenances by him so received of the k. ●e reseised & reprised into the k. hand , to have & to hold to our l. the k. the lands & chattells of the said e. from thenceforth is not the intention of the k. nor of the lords , nor that this iudgement extend in the law to cause the said e. to lose his name and title of earle , nor of the 20. pounds a yeare , which the king granted him , to take of the issues of the county of suffolk by the name and title aforesaid . and moreover for that the said e. lately denyed that he was of the k. privy counsel when he demāded of the k. the said exchāge & had acknowledg'd that before the exchāges performed hee was made chancellor , in which office hee was bound by his oath made in the forme aforesaid : and hee so being sworne to the said office , tooke of the king the said 400. markes of land , by reason of the said exchange agreeing to the said covenant of exchange , which hee also made before that hee was chancellor , in which office hee was bound by his oath : and alleadged not in his said answer , that the king gave him mannors , lands , and tenements ; which are certaine and cannot very easily bee destroyed , nor bee countervailed by the aforesaid 400. marks annuity , which are leviable and demandable of the customes and also as casuall , and in divers cases there may losse insue ; it is awarded that all the lands and tenements so taken by the said earle , by the exchanges aforesaid bee resumed into the hands of our lord the king to hold to him and his heires , in manner as hee held the same before the gift or deed in the said exchange , in which the issues and profits aforesaid after the said exchange deducted : if the said issues and profits so taken after the exchanges extend to a gr●ater value then 400. markes a yeare , that then the king shall have the overplus of the lands and chattells of the said earle from thenceforth hereafter . and it is therefore awarded that as well the said mannor of flaxflreet , and the ten marks of rents aforesaid with the appurtenances bee reprised in the kings hand to hold to him , and his heires as hee held the same before the gift to the said earle , so as the charter , the pardon , and confirmation of the purchase of the said fifty pounds of rent bee certaine in the hands of the king , and his heires in firme as it was before the purchase , and it was since to the said earle , and that the issues & profits received or owing to the use of the said earle as well of the said mannor o●faxfleet , and the ten markes of rent as the issues and profits of the said fifty pound of rent , which he thereof had taken by reason of the purchase aforesaid , bee levied to the use of our lord the king of the lands , and chattells of the said earle from henceforth . and as to the article containing the provisions of saint anthony ▪ for that the master of the house of saint anthony in which the profits were taken as proved in england was a schismaticke , and taxed for moving the king and power of france and by such repute as then and yet is taken to bee , wherefore all the said profit ought to appertain to the king as of a schismatick and alien , which thing of reaso● ought to have beene made known by the said ea●le , before hee demanded of the king the said profit , and hee k●ew expressely that hee demanded it for ●is sonne as an hospitall , and alleadged not in his answer , that the king when hee granted the profit was informed of the matters aforesaid : and also in that , that when hee was such an officer as beforesaid , hee sent to the court of rome to have the same profit for his sonne of the collation of the pope ( as benefice of the holy church ) and to have also the profit out of the kings hand by the sea apostolicall ( as the record termeth it ) and hee denies not that hee received of the said profits foure hundred pounds per annum , alleadging that hee rendered to the king the s●me , and that after the said earle had made a bargain● to have the provision which hee claymed of the said profit in england of the pope , a hundred pound per annum of the said provision to him and his sonne john , for term of their two lives for to deliver the said profit to the said provision for payment of which 100. l. to him , and his sonne he tooke surety of the provision by recognizance and obligations of divers summes , notwithstanding that the king had commanded by his letters to deliver all the profit aforesaid out of his hands to the said provision there , where it seems for any thing that yet was shewn , that all the said profit ought to have rested in the kings hand for the causes aforesaid , at least untill it had be●ne discussed whether the said profit were the benefit of holy church grantable by the pope : or appurtenant to the k. by reason of schismasie and endemnity of the said master , and he alleadged not in his answer , that the king was cleerely informed of the matters aforesaid : wherefore it is awarded that the said foure hundred markes per annum in time , that the said profit was so granted to him by the king untill the time that hee delivered the same profit to the said provision , as also the said 100. l. a yeare received also of the s●id provision untill the same bee levied to the use of our lord the king of his lands and cha●tells , and that all the profit which should of late appertaine to the said earle by reason of the said recognizance , or of other obligations , and covenants also made in surety of payment . and as also to the 1000. marke● , which hee had alleadged that he payed to the king for the said exchanges . it is awarded that the said 1000. markes remaining in the hands of the king , as part of payment of the fine and ransome th●t the said earle shall likewise make to the king , before hee be delivered from prison . ex rotulo parliamenti anno 5. h. 4. n. 11. item friday the last day of february , the earle of northumberland came before the king , and the lords and commons of parliament , and there the chancellor of england shewed how on tuesday last past hee had beene before the king , the lords and commons in the same parliament , and there beseeched the king as hee had done at other times at his comming before him in yorke , that it would please our said lord the king to grant him pardon of those things wherein he hath offended against him , not keeping his lawes and statutes as ligeance demandeth as by a petition by him preferred in parliament , written in english , whereof the tenor ensueth may appeare more at large . to my most dreadfull and soveraigne liege lord . i your humble liege , beseech your highnesse to have in remembrance my comming to your highnesse , to have in remembrance my comming to your worshipfull presence unto yorke of my free will by your goodly letters , where i put mee in your grace , as i that nought have kept your lawes and statutes , as liegeance asketh , and especially of gathering of power , and giving of liveries , as that time i put mee in your grace and yet doe . and i sent it like to your highnesse , that all gracelesse should not goe . wherefore i beseech you that your high grace be seene on mee at this time , and of other things which you have examined mee of , i have told you plainely , and of all i put mee wholy in your grace . which petition by commandement of the king , examined by the iustices for to have their counsell , and advice in this behalfe by protestation made by the said lords , that the iudgement appertained to them onely , and after rea●ing and understanding of the same petion before the lords , as peers of the parliament , to whom such iudgements appertaine of right to heare and understand by the statutes made in the 25th . yeare of the king that now is , by deliberation of king edward cozen of our lord the king that now is , they adjudge that those things which the said earle hath don contained in the said petition , are not treason nor felony but onely trespasse , for which trespasse hee ought to make fine and ransome according to the kings pleasure , wherefore the said earle most humbly reverenceth our lord the king , and the said lords , the peeres of parliament concerning the right iudgement , and further the said earle prayed our lord the king , that in affirmance of those matters hee might bee purged from all suspitions , and prayed to bee judged de novo , in the presence of the king , and of the lords and commons in parliament ; the said earle tooke his oath upon the crosse of the arch-bishop to bee faithfull and loyall liege man to our lord the king , and to his eldest sonne and to the heires issuing of his body , and to his brothers and their issue successesively and inheritably , at which time if the king would command him , hee should bee ready to shew and declare that which hee knowes in that he halfe , and set forth the truth thereof . and that our lord the king might not bee deceived , the said earle was present and ( charged in his liberty ) the said earle upon his oath which hee had made upon the said crosse setteth forth and declareth openly in parliament that , which hee knoweth in this matter upon which charge to him given the said e. saith . that at the day of tryall of his life hee knew not of the dukes and bishops , and other lords any thing that ●ounded in derogation of the honourable estate of the k. and of his royall majesty , but that they were and are to him good and lawfull lieges , and that for such our lord the king may hold and repute them , and may faithfully put his trust in them in perill of his life , and by the oath which he● had made as before said . and moreover the said earle of northamberland humbly beseeched the lords , and earles and commoners , that they will beseech our lord the king of his grace towards him concerning the fine and ransome , and if at any time he doe any thing against our lord the king other then liegeancy : that they make no prayer , nor request for him in whatsoever ensueth thereon , but that they be altogether against him . and also the same friday it was adjudged by the king and the lords in parliament , that leave of battaile be made by the said mr. henry & mr. thomas , which are holden to be guilty of treason , and that as well for themselves as for others which shall bee in their company at the time of the said licence : and those to whom the king had granted favour and pardon , the king will that they stand firmely in their force and vertue . ex rotulo parliamenti anno 31. h. 6. n. 26. item the friday the 15. of february it was opened , and declared to the lords spirituall and temporall being in the parliament chamber , by the counsell of the duke of yorke , that whereas thomas thorpe the monday the first day of august , in the raigne of henry the sixt 30. cam● to the place of the bishop of durham , and then and t●ere tooke and bore away certaine goods and ●attle of the same dukes against his will and licence , and thereupon the said duke came and tooke an action by bill in mich : terme last past , against the said thomas in the court of exchequer according to the priviledge , for so much as the said thomas was one of the court , to which bill the said thomas willingly appeared , and had divers dayes to imparle at his request and desire : and to the said bill and action pleaded not guilty , whereupon there was awarded in the said exchequer a venire facias to the sheriffe of middlesex returnaeble in the said exchequer , and thereby the iury that passed betweene the duke and the said thomas , it was found that the said thomas was guilty of the said trespasse contained in the said bill , and the same iury assessed the dammages to the said duke , of the said trespasse to a 1000. l. and for his costs 10. l. and thereupon iudgement was given in the said exchequer , and the said thomas ac●●rding to the ●ourse of the law was committed to the fleete for the fine belonging to the king in that behalfe . and thereupon it was prayed humbly on the behalfe of the said duke : that it should like their good lordships , considering that the said trespasse was done and committed by the said thomas , since the beginning of the present parliament : and also the said bill and action were taken and scanned , and by processe of law iudgement given thereupon against the said thomas in time of vacation of the said parliament , and not in parliament-time , and also that if the said thomas should bee relieved by priviledge of parliament , ere the time that the said duke bee satisfied of his said dammages and costs : the said duke should bee without remedy in that behalfe , that the said thomas according to the law , bee kept in ward according to the time , that he have fully satisfied and contented the said duke of his dammages and costs ; the said lords spirituall and temporall , not intending to impeach or hurt the liberties and priviledges of them , that were come for the commons of this land in this pr●sent parliament , but equally af●er the course of the law to minister iustice , and to have knowledge what the law will weigh in that behalfe opened , and declared to the iudges the premisses , and asked of them whether the said thomas ought to be delivered from prison by force and vertue of the priviledges of parliament or no . to the which question the chiefe iustice in the name of all the iustices after some communication and mature deliberation had among them , answered and said , that they ought not to answer to that question , for it hath not beene used aforetime that the iudges should in any wise determine the priviledges of this high court of parliament , for it is so high and mighty in his nature , that it may make law , and that which is law , it may make no law : and the determination and knowledge of that priviledge belongs to the lords of parliament , and not to the iudges . but as for the declaration of proceedings in the lower courts in such cases as writs of supersedias of priviledge of parliament , to bee brought and delivered to the said chiefe iustice , hee said there be many and divers supersedeas of priviledge of parliament brought into the courts , but there is no generall supersedias brought to surcease all processe , but if there should bee , it should seeme that this high court of parliament that ministreth all iustice should let the proces of the common law . and so it should put off the party complaynant without remedy , for so much as actions of common law be not determined in this high court of parliament , and if any person that is a member of this high court of parliament bee arrested in such cases as be not for felony or treason , or security of the peace , or for condemnation had before a parliament , it is used that all such persons should be released of all such arrests , and make an attourney , so that they may have their freedome , and liberty freely to attend the parliament . after which answer and declaration it was throughly agreed , assented and concluded by the lords spirituall and temporall ; that the said thomas according to the law , should remaine still in prison for the causes above said the priviledge of parliament , or that the said thomas was speaker of the said parliament notwithstanding , and that the premisses should be opened , and declared to them that were common for the commons of this land , and they should bee charged and commanded in the kings name , that they with good hast and speed proceed to the election of another speaker . the which premisses for as much as they were matters in law , by the commandement of the lords were opened , and declared to the commons by the mouth of walter moyle one of the serjeants at law in the presence of the bishop of elie , in the kings name , that they should proceed to the election of another speaker , with all godly hast and speed , so that the matter for which the k. called this parliament , tooke good and effectuall conclusion and end . item 16. die febr. tunc prox . sequenti praefati communes ; & quidam de sociis suis declaraverūt dominis spiritualibus & tēporalibus in presenti parliamento , quòd ipsi per mandatum ex parte domini regis pridie sibi injunct . cum omni diligentia exequentes eligerunt loco praefat. thom. thorp , thom. carleton militem prolocutorem suum humillimè deprecando quatenus praefatus dominus rex hujusmodi electionem vellet acceptare . qu●bus per domi●um cancellarium angliae de mandato dicti domini regis , & advisamento consilii extitit respons . quod quidem dominus rex de electione praesenti thom. carleton se bene contentavit injungendo eis quatenus ad expeditionem negotiorum parliamenti praedicti cum omni diligentia proced●rent , iudgements upon writs of error in parliament . if erroneous iudgements bee given in the kings bench : or in the exchequer chamber upon the statute of 27. eliz. cap. 18. the party may have his writ of ●r●o● retureable in parliament , but not upon judgement given in the common pleas untill the same bee ●ever●ed or affirmed in the kings bench , as it was answered in parliament under ●dward the third , in the case of the bishop of norwich . vpon the writ of er●or the lord chiefe iustice of the kings bench is to bring in the record , and a ●ra●script of it into the parliament , and the●e leaveth the transcript ●ut car●●e●h the record b●ck and there●p●n the er●ou●s bei●g assigned : or as some examples are befo●e the assignamus of the errors . order is to bee given that a scire facias be awarded against the defendant , upon whose appea●anc & examination of the errors by the lords , the iudgement is either affirmed or reversed . after the record thus brought in , clericus parlïamenti habet inde custoaiam & per duos tantum & non per communitatem assignabitur senescallus , qui cum dominis spiritualibus ac temporalibus per con●ilium justiciariorum procedat ad err●rem corrigendum . in which words it is observed ; that the lords have power to make a delegation of their iurisdiction to a person chosen out of themselves , as a steward to judge for them , as also they did in their proceedings against gomemz , and weston under richard the second , when they ap●ointed the lord scroope for steward of the parliament to arraig●e the offenders , but this rests at their pleas●re whether they will judge themselves together , or so appoint a steward . memorandum quod christopherus wray miles capital . iusticiarius de banco regis se●u adduxi● in ●ar . in camera parl inter duos bre . de errore & billa de regina indors . ac rotulat in quibus continebantur placita & processus in quibus suppon●bature●ror , & ib. reliquit transcript totius recordi ci● cler. parl. & super hoc venit richardus herbert . ioh. awbr●y , willielmus filiam & ●imon brow●e in propriis personis suis in parliamento , & statim dixerunt quod in recordo & processu praedict. in redditione iudic●i praedict. manifestè est erratum in hoc quo● postquam iudicium praedict. in loquela praedict versus praefat. thom. gomiel redit . fuit & antequam praedict. iohannes . hunt prosecutus fuit & impetravit praedict. primum breve descire facias versus praefat. thom. ric. herbert & caeteros praedicto : manucaptores praedict. thom. gomiel nullum breve de capias ad satisfaciendum pro debito & damnis , praedict. per praefat. iohannem hunt. in parliamento praedict. prosequendo . et reternat . fuit versus praefat. thom gomiel ubi per consuetudinem curiae dictae dominae reginae coram ipsa regina à tempore contrarii memoria hominum non existit in eadem usitat . & approbat . brev. de cap. ad satisfaciendum versus eundem thom. gomiel , pro debito & damnis praedict. parl. praedict. prosequi & retornari debet antequam aliquid brev. de sci fac . versus manucaptores pr●d●ct . in loquela illa impetr●nt . seu prosequi debe et licet consue●udo , & forum captionum r●cognitionum in curia praedict. usi fuerunt in forma praedict. viz. si contigerit eundem thomam gomiel in parliamento praedict. convinci , tunc iisdem manucaptores concesserunt & quilibet eorum per se concessit tam praedict debitum quam omnia damna & castag . &c. praefat. ioh. hunt. in ea parte adjudicentur de terris & catallis & eorum cuislibet fieri & ad opus praedict. iohannis hunt , levari si contigerit praedict. thom. gomiel debitum & damnae illa praefat. iohannis hunt minime solvere aut se prisonae marescall . dominae reginae coram ipsa regina ea occasione non reddere &c. et petiere iidem rich. herbert & alii praedict. quod iudicium praedict. & processus super bre . de scire fac . prosecut . in curia dominae reginae coram ipsa regina revocetur adnulletur . & peni●us pro nullo habeatur . et super hoc domini per consensum iustitiariorum post longam & maturam deliberationem cum consensu adjudicaverunt quod judicium praedict. & processus super bre . de scire fac . prosecut . in curia dict. domin . reginae coram ipsa domina regina revocetur , adnulletur & penitus pro nullo habeatur . chap. v. bills passed and judgements given without assent of the lords spirituall . vnder edward the third a petition of the commons was thus . item wee are not willing to suffer that payment be made to cardinalls for their juornying into france , for to treat out of the realme of england . the answer is , as to the dispences of cardinalls ; it seemeth ●o all the baronage and other sages of the kings councell , that the commons demanded reason : and for that they are agreed that it shall be so . the like is there in the two petitions of the commons against the clergy , carrying money to rome , and cardinall having benifices here , divers ordinances against the church of rome are agreed by the k. the lay , peers , & commons , but all the prelates made protestation of not assenting or doing what may be , or turne in prejudice of their estate or dignity . the power and direction for iustices of the peace is ordained at the complaint of the commons by the king , by the assent of the lords temporall : and so also divers times without mention of the lords spirituall , who indeed under edward the 3 protested that they had not to do with matters of keeping the peace . the commons exhibite a petition against procurations from rome , & benefices obtained by letters thence , &c. it is ordained & established by the k. by the advise and ass●nt of the lords temporall , that no benefice is to be had here , but by guilt from the kings subjects , &c. and if that any do contrary to this act , he should incurre the danger of a praemunire given by the statute of 27 e. 3. a petition in these words . item , that the appeales pers●ites , accusations , iudgements had and rendered , &c. should be good , notwithstanding the lords spirituall and the procurato●s of the lords spirituall absente● themselvs out of parliament , in time of the said iudgements rendered for salvation of their e●tate : as it is contained in a protestation , by which the lor●s spirituall and procurators were in this present parliament , &c. the king granteth it , and the protestation of the clergy is entered as , followeth . for as much as certaine matters were moved in this present parliament , touching openly the crime of the arch-bishop of canterbury , and the other prelates of his province , who made protestation in the forme and words which followes . in dei nomine , amen , cum de jure & consuetudine regni angl. ad archiep. canterbur . qui pro tempore fuerit , nec non caeteros suos suffragandes , confratres & coeptis . abbates & priores , aliosque prelatos , quoscunque per baroniam de domino rege tenentes pertinet in parlimentum regis quibuscunque ut pares regni praedicti personaliter interesse ibidemque de regni negotiis & aliis ibi tractare consuetis , cum caeteris dicti regni paribus & aliis consulere , ordinare statuere & definire ac caetera facere quae parliamenti . tempore ibid. incendet . faciend . in quibus omnibus & singulis nos willielmus cant. archiepiscopus totius angl. primas & angl. sedis legatus , pro nobis nostrisque suffraganeis , coep . & confratribus , nec non abbatibus , prioribus & prelatis , omnibus supradictis potestat . & eorum quilibet potestatur qui per se , vel procuratorem si fuerit modo presens & publicè & expresse quod intendimus & intendi volumus , ac vult eorum quilibet in hoc presenti parliamento & aliis ut pares regni praedicti more solito interesse considerare tractare , ordinare , statuere , & definire , ac caetera exercere cum caeteris jus interessendi habentibus eisdem statu & ordine juris ; & eorum cuilibet in omnibus semper salvum verum , quia in praesenti parliamento agitur de nonnullis materiis , in quibus non licet nobis alicui eorum juxta sacrorum canonum instituta , quomodo libet personaliter interesse ; eo propter pro nobis & eorum quolibet protestamus , & eorum quilibet hic presens etiam protestatur quod non intendimus , nec volumus sicuti de jure non possumus nec debemus intendi , nec vult aliquis eorundem in praesenti parliamento , dum de hujusmodi materiis agitur vel agetur , quomodo libet interesse , sed nos & eorum quemlibet in ea parte penitus absentare in re paritatis nostrae , & cujuslibet eorum interessend . in dicto parliamento , quoad omnia & singula ibidem exercenda juris , & eorum quilibet statu & ordine in omnibus semper salvo . ad hoc insuper protestamur , & eorum quilibet protestatur quod propter hujusmodi absentiam non intendimus , nec volumus , nec eorum aliquis intendit , nec vult quod habet processus , & habend . in praesenti parliamento , super materiis antedictis . in quibus nec possumus , nec debemus , & permittitur interesse quantum ad nos & queml●bet eorum attinet futuris temporibus , quomodo libet impugnentur infirmentur seu etiam revocentur . which protestation read in full parliament by the commandement of the king , and assent of the lords temporall and commons , in like manner make protestation the bishop of duresme and carlisle , mutatis mutandis . this was upon the occ●sion of the appeale of treason in the same parliament commenced by thomas duke of gl●ucester , and others , against alexander arch-bishop of yorke , robert de vere , duke of ireland and others . but although they thus absented themselves , they made no proxy at this time to assent in their room ; as afterwards they agreed to do in cases of iudgement of death . but the first use of such proxies is in the 21 o●rich . the 2. neither at all are such proxies , or assent of the bishops . for under h. 5. the earle of salisbury by petition in the nature of a writ of error , shewed that the attai●der of john the late earle , father to the p●titioner in the second of h. the 4 might now be reversed , and amongst the errors assigned , one was , that he had been adjudged sans assent in parliament , but it was in parliament now adjudged that it was no error . the arch-bishops of cant. and yorke , for themselvs & their clergy make protestation not to consent to any statute made in this parliament , quatenus ea in restrictione potestatis apostolicae aut in eversione ecclesiae dignitatis tendere dignoscuntur , which at their request was inrolled in parliament , yet an act passed at that time and is publique against the popes giving of benefices by way of provision in england . in the beginning of queene elizabeths raigne , when divers acts passed touching matters of the church , as service and sacraments ▪ and church-possessions , &c. the bils passed , dissentientibus , all the bishops as it is especially entered in the iournals , with particular enumeration of all their names . whereunto may be added that assertion of the iudges in that deliberation had under henry the eight , touching the power royall in the church , as the words were reported , that our lord the king may well enough hold the parliament by himselfe and all his temporall lords , without the spirituall lords , &c , chap. vi . their appointing judges out of themselves for examination of judgements and delayes of other courts . this is given them by a statute of edward the third , in these words . likewise for that many mischiefes are come , &c. that divers places , as well in the chancery as the kings bench , common pleas & the exchequer , the iustices assigned , and other iustices to heare and determine the iudgements , wherein have been delayes sometimes by difficulty , somtimes by divers opinions of the iudges , and sometimes by other occasions , it is assented , established and agreed , that of the commons before said , in every parliament there be one prelate , two earles , and two barons that shall have commission and power of the king . which priviledge is now taken away from the prelacy , by act of parliament , anno 17. car. ) to heare by petition to them delivered , the plaints of all those which complaine of such delayes , or grievances done to them , and that they have power to cause to come before them at westminster or in any other places where the parliament shall be holden , and the courts of records and processes of such iudgements as are delayed ; and shall cause to come before them the same iustices , who shall be there present to heare the cause , and their reason also heard by good advice of them ; the chancellor , three iustices of one bench , and of the other , and others of the kings councell . and in the same parliament accordingly , the arch-bishop of canterbury , the earles of arundell and huntington , and the lord woake , and the lord basset were assigned to the same purpose , and although the iustices , chancellor , treasurer , privy seale , and others , had before taken oath , &c. yet it was ordained that those of the baronage assigned , shall give them a new oath , and increase and diminish the ministers of iustice , as they shall see cause . chap. vii . their tenants of ancient tenancies , being discharged of paying , the charges of knights of the shire . the commons exhibite a petition , that whereas the tennants of the lords that did hold by barony , and summons to the parliament might not be discharged of paying towards the expences of knights , &c. that the king would declare the certainty of it . but the answer of it is on●y , as at other times , &c. a like petition and answer is afterwards under the same king in a petition , touching the same thing , under richard the 2 , it is supposed that all ought to pay , but those which come in parliament by summons , by writ , and do stay there at their own charges , &c. in a petition afterwards , it is supposed that the tennants of such lands as were immediatly held of the lords of the parliament , contributed not to those expences but it is complained against , and the answer is only , let it be as at other times , and if that any found himself agrieved he should have remedy in the chancery , yet by a statute which is not in the rols of three yeares before , the tenants of the lords themselves shall pay for such lands , as of late times they have purchased before being contributary . to this belongs that in fitzherbert , the villaines of lords , which come to parliament shall not be therefore contributary to the expences of the earles , which come to parliament . and to this purpose the lords may by letters in their own names command the sheriffe that he distraine not their villaines . the second kind of their priviledges . priuiledges , or speciall rights , that concerne the barons that have place in parliament , as they are every one single in their private estates . chap. i. touching the oath and protestation upon honour . all oaths being either promissory or assentatory , and the first being , that which binds to a future performance of trust . the second , that which is taken for discovery of a past or present truth . the first kind , they as occasion requir'd used in taking the oath of all the barons for the maintenance of the great charter , and the like was under king john and h. 3 as also swearing of the lords in parliamēt in the time of h. the 6. that they should not take parts in the great controversie between the earle marshall , and the earle of warwick , and the oaths of divers lords appointed for the keeping of the parliament in 8 & 11 h. 4 , where yet the prince was not sworn , being one of those appointed for the keeping of the ordinances . because of the highnesse and excellency of his honorable person ; as the words are in the roll , so under h. the 7. the lords spirituall and temporal swoare in the parliament to the article of taking care for the preserving of the peace , and under h the 8. to the bill of succession ; but under richard the second , the arch-bishop of canterbury challenged , that neither he nor his predecessors were compellable to any oath , but to the k. and this kind of oath is frequently taken by such barons as undertake the great offices of the kingdome , and they are all liable to the like by their tenures , by fealty and by statutes of the oath of allegeance , but of these kinds of oaths for the supremacy they are discharged by the first statute that gives it ; and in the case of essoynes wherein by the ancient law , the essoiner was to sweare that the party essoined should appeare at a certain day , all barons and b●ronesses were excepted from the oath , and instead of the oath they put in surety , ratio vero diversitatis ( saith bracton ) talis esse poterit ut videtur quod ita nobiles & dignae personae in warrantizatione essonii non per se jurabant sed per procuratores ( scilicet ) plegios suos . assentary oaths are in cases of tryall by 12 or 24 witnesses defendants , which proceed by bill and answer . plaintiff●s examined in actions of debt brought upon arrerages of accompt in cases of tryall by 12 they are discharged of the oath that is in cases of tryall of their peeres , in which they answer guilty or not guilty , only upon honour for in other tryals they have no part , but are exempted from being impanelled in juries , nisi eorum sacramentum adeo sit necessarium quod sine illis veritas inquiri non possit , and thence was it that some barons under edward the first of the marches of wales refused to swear● before the iustices of oyer and terminer upon an enquiry to be made by them , and others of certaine outrages committed by cilbert of clare , earle of gloucester , against humphrey of bohun earle of hereford and sussex ; those barons were jo●n de hastings , john fitz raynold , roger de mortimer , theobald of weldon , john troger , and ●efferey of camvill , to whom dictum est ( as the ro● saith ) ex parte regis quod pro statu & ●ure regis , & pro conservatione dignitatis coron● & pacis sua apponit manum ad librum , ad faciendum id quod eis ex parte injungetur qui omnes unanimiter responderent , quod ipsi vel eorum antecessores hactenus in hujusmodi casu , ad praestandum sacramentum aliquid coacti fuerunt . and afterwards the oath being offered them , they answered every one by themselves , quod nihil inde facerent sine consideratione parium suorum . barons being witnesses in cases of witnesses , examples are , that they give in their testimonies only upon honour . in the courts of the delegates in the 3 of e. 6 , in the proceedings against gardiner bishop of winchester , upon a speciall commission from the king , the then l. chancellor , and marquesse of northum . and the earle of wiltsh . and bedfora , are examined only upon their honor or somtime upon alleageance or fidelity to god & the k. and this was upon the speciall priviledg of such persons , for both by the civill laws and common , no testimony is taken regularly but upon oath . in chancery in a case between jeffery and jeffery , and in another between blighton and dantrey , thomas lord buckehurst , under queen elizabeth ; delivers his testimony only upon honour . in the court of chivalery under rich. the 2 , in the great case between sir rich. scroope appellant , and sir robert gravenor defendant , touching matter of armes , the attestations taken by commission from john of gaunt , the earle of darby , the e. of northumberland , the duke of yorke , and the earle of arundell , are for ought appeares without oath ; for whereas others are sworne the entry of their deposition is : ( pray and requests according to the right of armes by the procurator of master rich. scroope , to testifie and say , &c. ) and amongst others the earle of devonshire was examined by commission , by iohn kentwood , who in the returne of his commission and the depositions certifies the court , that hee had swore all the witnesses there being none of the nobility but only the earle in his returne , who was not sworne , but spake in the loyalty of his chivalery . but in the multitude of witnesses of this cause , divers barons are sworn as the lord poynings , the lord scales , the lord gray , the lord ruthen , the lord basset . to every of which names in the attestations is added ( sworn and examined ) and agreeable hereunto is the examination in the case of alice pierce , in the beginning of rich. the 2. barons answering to bils as defendants . for barons answering in chancery as defendants , are divers presidents of such their answers in the times of h. the 7 , and henry the eight : but there are none of that time that cleeres it whether they were sworne or no ; for the answers of that time , as also of the time following , till about the middle of elizabeth or later , are frequently filed without any jurat . to them . bvt under queene mary , in a suit by william armer against thomas lord wentworth , touching the inheritance of copy-holders in stepney , the defendant presents in his answer with master sackfords hand to it , who was his councell . ( and on the upper part of his answer wher iurat . is sometimes but rarely in that age written ) these words are found , this answer is made by councell and the defendant not sworne by order of court . then in queene elizabeths time the lord dacres being plaintiffe against the lord buckhurst , and parker , and manwood , these two defendants are sworne , but not the lord buckhurst . and afterwards the lord buckhursts answer is inscribed per traditionem comitissae super honorem suum . so the countesse of northumberland : in virtute honoris sui agnovit responsionem suam esse veram : as the entry is upon her answer at that time . and in the countesse of rutlands case where she with sir george shaworth were defendants about the later end of queene elizabeth , the dedimus potestatem was to answer upon his oath super evangelia , as also a dedimus towards the end of queene elizabeth , was directed to roger bromeley , and richard upon the bill of complaint of one brooke against george earle of huntington to take his oath super honorem , &c. about which time also the lord eure put in his answer super honorem only to the bill of john barnes and robert talbois . in other courts as the starr-chamber , and court of wards , it was questioned in queene elizabeths time whether barons being defendants , should put in their answers upon oath , and in the court of wards an order was made in the lord mountagues case , that they should and that so the course should be henceforth constant . the like course hath beene held of late in the starre-chamber , as also in the eccl●siasticall proceedings , and about the end of queen elizabeths time in chancery , also the lord wharton by a compulsory order answered there upon oath . and within these few dayes the earle of shrewsbury was ordered to answer upon oath to one revell being plaintife there , and divers noble men have beene sworne to their answers in chancery since the beginning of the king , and some in queene elizabeths time also , neither is the time of queene mary and edward the sixt wholy without example , but the summe of all seemes this that according to the clayme of the barons in 20. e. 1. they were not anciently till about the end of queene elizabeth , or the time of king james , and of our present soveraigne compellable to sweare to their answers , for the first compulsory order falls in the 33. of eliz. in the court of wards , but that some of them taking no advantage of their priviledges in this case , voluntarily tooke the oath , and others standing upon their ancient right , put it in onely upon honour , as also we see in that case of gravenor and scroope , and alice pierce under richard the first , for it were not a speciall priviledge it will fall out , that in all the examples where they were not sworne , the iudges committed great injustice in receiving their answers , and depositions without oath , if they had not beene subject by compulsion to an o●th , no otherwise then if a iudge of the common law should admit evidence given to a iury , or take a verdict without oath which were not excusable . and a few examples of giving in their answer without oath , upon this reason are of great weight against many that shewed that they were voluntary sworne , and these orders which were compulsory , are of so late time , and of so weak power , that they cannot at all take any right from the baronage which was before setled in them . examined as plaintifs in actions of debt upon arrerages of accompts . by the statute of 5. henry 4. cap. 8. in actions of debt upon arrerages of accounts , the iudges have power to examine the attourney of the plaintife , or whom they please , & this examination was meant , and hath beene practised upon oath , yet in action brought by the lady of abergavenny , being a baronesse against another in the time of henry the sixt : when the counsell of the defendant desired that the plaintife might be examined , cockanie the iustice said that they should not doe well to make her being a baronesse , come to be examined . and how ever the statute were generall for high as well as low ( as the words of the bookes are ) yet hee saith the law will bee otherwise , and different betweene another common person . of the forme that was used in swearing of spirituall and temporall barons . in the forme of swearing the promissory oath , a difference hath been amongst the barons of parliament , the temporall barons under henry the 7. sweare with their hand upon the booke , the spirituall with their hand upon their breast , first the one tactis the other vis●s evangeliis : anciently this oath was taken by the lords in the house upon the arch-bishops crosse . to this day the spirituall lords have challenged it , & sometimes have used to sweare visis onely as a thing to be done by the priviledge of the church . but there is the testimony that shewes , that all the bishops in a provinciall synode did sweare here their iuramentum corporale which is tactis & howsoever if it be a priviledge of nobility in some other states or of gentry to depose by writing without a corporall oath , as in bohemia , austria bavier &c. yet there is no sufficient certainty , with us for a● establisht difference of forme in swearing . chap. ii. tryall by peeres . in all cases of treason or felony , or misprision of either of these offences , a temporall lord of parliament is to bee tryed only by his peeres , if arraigned by inditement per judicium parium suorum , or of 12. or more temporall barons of parliament . this holds as well in all cases made treason or felony by statute , as received anciently to be so by the common law , as iustice stamford expressely affirmeth , although usually in statutes which make treason or felony a speciall clause bee inserted for peeres to be tryed by their peeres , as also to the now tryall where perhaps more need was of such a clause , upon the statute of remainder made for tryall of offences committed by the english in scotland ; it is added that if the offender bee a peere of the realme , then his tryall shall bee by his peeres ; and this is cleere for all temporall barons and their ladies ; but it hath beene doubted whether the same law bee in case of tryall of spirituall barons or no , and without doubt one speciall argument among others hath beene made from the name of peeres some concluding thus : spirituall barons are no peeres : therefore not to be tryed by their peeres , others for the other part thus , spirituall barons are peers therefore to be tryed by their peeres , but of these two arguments , the first is false in matter , the second in forme . for the first it is true and plaine , that spirituall lords have beene peeres , and of the antecedent false : the testimonies justifying them to have beene , so are very frequent in the bish : of winchesters case , who departed from the parliament at salisbury , about the beginning of edward the third : and was questioned for it afterwards in the kings bench , hee pleaded to the declaration : quod ipse est unus ê paribus regni & praelatus &c. and in that short disputation of the case which is lest in the the yeare bookes , hee is supposed cleerely both by the court and councell to bee a peere . so afterwards under the same king , in a writ of wards brought against the bishop of london , he pleaded to issue and the defendant could not have day of grace , for he said as the words of the booke are ) that a bishop is a peere of the land . et haec erat causa &c. and in a like case upon an action of trespasse against the abbot of abyndon who was one of the lords spirituall , day of grace was denyed against him , because he was peere de la terre . so expressely upon the question of having a knight returned into a jury where a bishop was defendant in a quare impedit , the rule of the court was that it ought to bee so , because the bishop was a peere of the realme . so the iudgement given against the bishop of norwich in the time of richard the second , hee is in the roll expressely allowed to bee a peere , for hee had tooke eeceptions that some things had passed against him without assent or knowledge of his peeres of the realme . to which exception the answer was , it behooves you not at all to touch your prelate of onely certaine misprisisions , which you as a souldier of the king , &c. have done and committed , &c. here is to be avoided that challenge of stafford , arch-bishop of canterbury under edward the third , when upon his being excluded the parliament , he thus challenged his place . ego tanquam major par regni post regem vocem habeus jure ecclesiae mea tantum vendico & ideo ingressum in parliamento peto , the same is justified by the clergy touching their ius paritatis before recited at large and entered in the parliament roll . and in the assignement of the errours under henry the fifth , for the reversall of the attayndor of the earle of salisbury , one errour is assigned that iudgement was given without assents of the prelates which were peeres in parliament , and that although that were adjudged to bee no errour , yet it hath been allowed cleerely in the roll , and the petition that they were peeres . so in an act of parliament under the same king , the bishops and arch-bishops , and arch-bishops of ireland , are called peers of that kingdome , and divers other passages occurre touching this name of prelate , neither could any scruple bee further made of it , untill the passing of an act of this parliament . 17. car. 1641. but as this is cleere that they were peeres , so also it is cleere that they were not by the lay to bee tryed , as temporall barons by their peeres , and the conclusion of the contrary drawn ( as before ) out of that that they have been peers , is wholy without consequence , this having been a point of the common law , as it is distinguished from acts of parliament , which falls out generally to bee onely the knowne and received custome within the kingdome , if the practise and custome within the kingdome be therein observed , the point of law may bee soone resolved . in the practises and customes divers bishops are found to have beene arraigned , and legally tryed upon capitall offences , yet all that have beene so , have had their triall onely by common iuries , and whether by statute any alteration bee of this common law shall presently be examined , there being many bishops now to be tryed . that practise and custome appeareth in particular examples found from the time of edward the second to the age next before us thus collected ; adam bishop of hereford under edward the second , was indicted of divers felonies , and of joyning with roger mortimer , hee is arraigned in the kings bench : and upon question how hee will be tryed , he saith : quòd ipse est episcopus heref. ad voluntatem dei , & summi pontificis , & quòd materia praedicta articulorum sibi imposit . adeò ardua est quod ipse non debet in curia sic super praedictis sibi impositis respondere , nec inde responders potest absque offensu divino & sanctae ecclesiae : hereupon day is given over , and then the inditement is brought into the parliament , whereupon his arraignment , hee give● the like answer , and walter arch-bishop of canterbury petit eum , & ei liberatur , and this is commanded that hee have him ready at a certaine day in the kings bench . et praeceptum est vicecomiti hereford . quòd venire faciat coram domino rege tot & tales &c. ad inquirend. . prout moris est &c. and a common iury is returned which finds the bishop guilty , whereupon hee is committed to the arch-bishop and convict , and his lands and goods are seised into the kings hands . here was the bishop tryed by a common iury , although it appear●s both in the record , and in the history of that time , that the whole clergy earnestly indeavou●ed to have kept him from conviction , but no pretence of any right of tryall by peeres is once mentioned in this behalfe , though other complaints are full enough expressed against the whol● proceedings . vnder edward the third iohn de isle brother to thomas hen , bishop of ely , was indi●ed in huntingtonshire ; that he with divers others per assensum , & procurationem episcop . 28. e. 3. die lunae post festam sancti iacobi , burnt the house of the lady wake at colne , by sommersham , & quòd praedictus thomas episcopus sciens praedictam combustionem per praedict. servientes suos esse factam dictos servientes apud somersham postea receptavit , &c. and also it was found before the sheriffe and coroner that 29 edward the third , the bishop was guilty de assensu of the murther of one william holme , slaine by ralph carelesse and walter ripton called little watt , upon malice conceived against holme , because hee followed the suit of the lady wake , the principalls were attainted by outlary , the bishop was arraigned , and upon question how hee would bee tried dicebat quòd ille est membrum dom. papae , & quòd ipse ab ordinario suo viz. venerabili patre domino simono archiepiscopo canterburi . angli● primat . respondere non potest . et super hoc idem archiepiscopus prasens hic in curia petit , quòd dictus episcopus eliensis de feloniis pr●dict . sibi impositis hic coram laico iudice , non cogatur respondere , & ut sciatur inde rei veritas per inquisitionem patriae &c. praecept est vicecomiti huntingdon , quòd venire faciat coram dom rege in octab : sancti mich. &c. ubicunque &c. 24 , de iust. de somersham & idem dies datus est episc , &c. ad quem diem coram domino rege venit praedict. episc in propria persona & similitèr iurat . veniunt qui elect● , tricati , jurati & onerati , si idem episc de assensu pr●dictorum rand. & walter . & de recept. . eorundem sit culpabilis , nec non dicunt super sacramentum suum quod idem episc est in nullo culpabilis , sed dicunt quod idem episc. post feloniam receptavit ip●os apud somersham , sciens ipsos feloniam fecisse . ideo inquiratur de bonis , catallis , terris & tenementis &c. et super hoc praedictus archiepisc . presens in curia petit ipsum tanquam membrum ecclesiae sibi liberari , & ei liberatur oustodiend . prout decet , and writs were sent out to the sherifes of all shires where hee had goods or lands to certifie them for the kings benefit , and in this record it is observable that the iurors were tried , which proves , that the bishop had his challenges to them at his tryall . about the beginning of henry the fourth , thomas merke bishop of carlisle was indited of treason before thomas earle of warwick , and other iustices of oyer and terminer in middlesex , the bishop standing before committed to the tower for the same offence . et hoc justiciar . praedict. recognit . mandatum est constabulario turris praedict. vel ejus locum tenenti quod corpus ejusdem episcop . habeant , vel alter eorum habeat coram praefatis iusticiariis apud turrim praedictam die mercurii ex tunc proximo sequente ad respondendum domino regi de proditionibus &c. and the precept est vicecomiti london , quod tunc venire faciat coram praefat. iusticiar . apud turrim praedict. tam aldermannos & cives quam alios probos homines de vicineto warder . praedict. 1. baynards castle & dougate qui praefat. episc. nulla affinitate attingunt ad faciendam tunc ibidem deliberationem de dicto episcopo prout moris est secundum legem regni angliae ad quem diem & locum , the bishop is brought before them , and a writ comes from the king to the said iustices reciting that licet in statuto apud westminsterium nuper edito inter caetera continetur quòd nullus archiepiscopus , nec episcopus coram iusticiar . nostris occasione alicujus criminis impetatur absque speciali praecepto nostro quousque aliud remedium inde foret ordinatum de advisamente tamen consilii nostri vobis mandamus quòd si aliqui archiepiscopi , vel episcop . coram vobis impetiti vel judicati existunt , tunc ad deliberationem ipsorum procedatis prout de jure & secundum legem regni nostri angliae fore videritis faciendum , statuto praedicto non obstante , i este me ipso apud westminsterium 28. die januar. anno regni nostri primo . this writ being read in the court , the bishop was demanded how he would be ●ried , hee first stands upon the priviledge of the church , to whom the iustices reply that the offence was so high , that hee must answer them with protestation of saving the liberties of the church , hee pleads not guilty . et inde de bono & malo ponit se super patriam , inde fiat inde iurat , hoc instante die &c. the iury findes him guilty , but the iustices being not advised of their iudgement , returne him to prison , the record was afterward removed in the kings bench , and the bishop renders himselfe to the prison of the marshallsea ; and then being asked if hee had any thing to shew , why iudgement should not bee given on him hee pleades his pardon , and it is allowed him . to these presidents a learned iudge in queene maries time saith divers were agreeable . among which are specially to bee accounted those of the bishop of rochester in the time of henry the eight , and of cramner arch-bishop of canterbury under queene mary both tryed by common iuries : neither is there any example extant from the first memory of a legall tryall of bishops which is under edward the second , that testifieth any tryall by peeres belonging to a bishop , and accordingly hitherto it was taken cleerely by that learned iudge of queene marie's time , that no ancient statute speaking of tryall by peeres , hath beene put in ure to extend to a bishop , or abbot , although they enjoy the name of lords of the parliament , for they have ( as the words are ) this name of bishop or abbot ratione officii being not chosen in parliament in respect of their nobility , but in respect of their possessions the ancient baronies annexed to their dignities according to which there are divers presidents , whereof one was in the time of h. the 8. where also it is as judiciously & modestly affirmed by a most learned man of this kingdom that the spirituall lords enjoy all legall priviledges , as the temporall barons do saving only this tryall by peeres . that which may be here objected out of the statute of the grand charter wherin every man ought to be tried by his peeres , id est , juditium parium suorum , or out of the statute of 25. e. 3. by which all treasons are to bee tried by men of the same condition , of which the offender is , may easily be answered ; for both these anceint statutes are now to be interpreted , as it is clerely taken in continuall practise , and in the books according to the known use of the legall proceedings , and not by literall interpretation of the words , as it is plainly seene in both of them : for all gentlemen , esquires , knights , batchellors and bannerets , and at this day bannerets are accounted peeres , not only amongst themselves , but also to all other men of the lowest condition which yet cannot be out of the force of the word , only the like appeareth in that non amercientur comites , vel barones , nisi per pares suos . and it is shewed in the title of amerciaments , wherein that which the statute referres to peeres is done so by iudges . and this of bishops referreth to those statutes is only to be adjudged according to use and practise , which is the best interpreter of the statutes and not by the meere interpretation of the word peeres . and it is most likely that if any such right had anciently belonged to them , not only they themselves , but the temporall baronage under h. 6. protesteth by the mouth of viscount beaumont for their triall by peeres , when william de la poole put himselfe upon the king and not on his peeres , in such sort as those bishops put themselves on the pope , and not upon any legall triall . but one particular case is here to be added touching this right singled by it selfe , that is , triall by peeres upon the third offence against the statute of service and sacraments , under queen elizabeth , for the known triall by peeres , is in cases of treasons or misprisions , or one of them . and triall by peeres saved to the baronage in the statute of new treason of felony hath reference only to the known use of such triall , so that in those new treasons , or felonies , such as for other offences , which were before treason or felony , were to be tried by their peeres , are likewise ( and none else ) to be tried by their peeres for new treasons or felonies , and therein the spirituall lords are equally excluded . but this of the third offence , against that statute , is neither treason , felony nor misprision , but a trespasse , punished only by forfeiture of goods , and perpetuall imprisonment . in which case this act saith without reference to the use of triall by peeres , as it is usually expressed in other statutes , that all and singular lords of the parliament for the third offence shall be tried by their peeres . chap. iii. scandala magnatum . if any person shall divulg false tales of any of the lords of parliament , by which dissention may bee betwixt the commons and them , the offender is to be imprisoned untill hee bring forth the author , but this also is communicated to the grea●er officers of the kingdom . chap. iv. proces against them in english courts , by bill and answer . the course of the chancery is , and of the late starcham . was that the chancellor writes to the lords of parliament , and sends out subpoena's and usually his letters are prayed in the bils that are exhibited against them . but whether upon a barons not appearing on a subpoena , an attachement may be awarded hath been a question , neither do i find it cleerely resolved otherwise than that in later times , the practise is , that it may : but in the time of queen elizabeth , in a suit between tavernor and the lord cromwell the defendant disobeying an injunction in the chancery , it was questioned what course should bee taken against him , and upon good and deliberate advice taken by the court , having the opinion of some of the iudges herein , an attachment was awarded to the sheriffe of norfolke and returned so and the sheriffe had his costs for bringing him . this attachment was awarded in michaelmas terme and in hillary terme he was returned so , but afterwards there being a parliament began in may , and ended in june ; the lord chancellor complained of it , and it was pretended that it was gotten in court , in the absence of the lord chancellor , and advice was had with councell , and iudges , and it appeares not ( as the words of the iournall booke are ) that by the common law or by any presidents of the said court of chancery , it was warranted that the person of any lord having place and voyce in parliament ( in the like case ) in the said court of chancery before this time had been attached , and therfore they took it to be against the priviledges of the lords of this kingdom , and he was discharged . but for that of attachment upon subpoenas , and in the course of proceeding against noble men by such writs or bils as are used in the exchequer , chancery or elsewhere , it is not likely that any certain , course of ancient common law , or proceeding in equity can be found to justifie it at all either against them or any other persons beyond the time of r. 2. under whom john waltham , bishop of salisbury , and chancellor of england brought in the writs of subpoena , & caeteris de causis , in the chancery and the exchequer , by example whereof other courts have used them , against which the commons passed a bill in parliament under henry the fift , but the king would not give assent to it . the like is found under henry the sixt , and henry the fourth . chap. v. their number of chaplaines qualified . by the statute of pluralities , every arch-bishop may have eight chaplaines that may take dispensations for a plurality , but for the plenty of schollers of good ability in arts and learning , it is like the law in these points will be altered , that they all have and none want convenient benefice . every marquesse and earle , may have 5 chaplaines . every viscount , may have 4 chaplaines . every bishop , may have 6 chaplaines . every temporall baron , may have 3 chaplaines . every dutchesse , being widdowes two . every marchionesse , being widdowes two . every countesse , being widdowes two . every baronesse , being widdowes two . chap. vi . their retaining of strangers . a baron of the parliament may keepe six strangers borne out of the kings obeysance at one time , whereas another man may retaine not above foure . chap. vii . clergy . vnder edw. the sixt , a priviledge was given to the nobility , that in all cases where a common person , as a clerke convict shall and may have benefit of his clergy , and in all cases where priviledge of clergy is restrained , or taken away by that statute except in willfull murder , that is , burglary , robbery , by or neere the high-way , stealing of horses , and sacriledge ; a lord of the parliament and peere of the realme should at the first offence , only of common grace without prayer have benefit of the clergy , and stand as a clerke convict to make purgation , although hee cannot read . but as stamford notes in all other cases , in which clergy is taken away since that act. a baron of the parliament is in the same case as any other common person is ; and by acts made since , it was taken away generally . 1 for stealing of horses , 1. e. 6. cap. 33. 2 robbing in dwelling houses , &c. in or neere the high way , 5. e 6. c. 9. 3 burning of houses or barnes , pety treason , 5 phil & mar. c. 4. 4 stealing of 5 s. in any dwelling house or any place adjoyning , 39. eliz. cap. 15. 5 stealing of 12 d. or more without the knowledge of the person , &c. 8. eliz. cap. 4. 6 burglary and rape , 16. eliz , cap. 7. 7 killing one that hath no weapon drawn , 1 jac. cap. 9. chap. viii . their liberty of hunting in the kings forrests . qvicunque archiepiscopus comes vel baro veniens ad nos , per mandatum nostrū transiret per forestam nostram liceat ei capere unam bestiam vel duas , per visum forestarii si presens fuerit , sin autem faciat cornare , ne videatur hoc furtim facere , hoc liceat eis redeundo facere sicut praedict est : and this hath been interpreted to the comming of a lord by summons to the parl. by proces out of the chancery , kings bench or otherwise , where the returne is coram rege . chap. ix . amerciaments . in case of amerciaments of barons of parliament upon nonsuits , or other iudgments , ending in misericordia , there is a speciall course , both for the summe and the way of assertaining of it , which differs from the amerciaments of cōmon persons . for the summe , the amerciaments of an earle , or spirituall , or temporall baron is equall , that is , 5 l. of a duke , 10 l. and the sessing of this is by the kings iustices , before whom the action dependeth . the iustices in this place supplying the roome of peeres , by which according to the grand charter they are to be amercied , as expr●ssly it is affirmed in the iudgement under h. 6. against the earle of northumberland , where the words of the iustices are , insomuch as an earle is a peere of the re●lme , he shall be amercied by his peeres , according to the statute ▪ and therefore we put not the amerciament i● ce●taine . and thence and thus is the grand charter to bee understood that saith , c●mites & barones non amer●ientur , nisi per pares suos , but continuall usage hath thus ( as before is shewed ) interpreted that priviledg and so hath the practise been , and thence was it under e. 2. a writ was directed to the iustices of the common pleas that they should not amerce the abb●t of crowland , tanquam baro , because he did not hold per baroniam , aut partem baroniae . for this of amerciament while there were no other titles of greater nobility but earle and baron , which was in the time of e. 3. who created the first duke in england , as rich. the 2. the first marquesse ; and h. 6. the first viscount . and the amerciaments of the lords of the parl. were all at 5 l. whence also is generally so affirmed in the statutes of ireland under h. the sixt , that every lord that is called l. of parl. in all places aswell personall as reall , in which amerciaments do ly , shall be amercied at 100 s. but when other dignities were made , and it seemes according to the proportion of the releifes , paied by those new dignities , for a duke is to be amercied at double the summe of an earle that is 10 l. as his reliefe is double , which is 20. chap. x. no processe in civill actions to bee awarded against the body of a baron . no baron of the parliament or baronesse is to be arrested by capias upon action of debt , account , trespasse or the like , but they are to be distrained only and pay issues , retorned for an apparance . the reason of this was anciently , because the capias in such cases , goes out only upon nihil habet , retorned by the sheriffe which could not be for a baron who was ever to be supposed to be seised of his barony , by which he might be distrained and lose issues . although the reason failes now in those that have not more than the names alone of their baronies , yet the same law still remaines , but this limited to actions between party and party , and party for in cases of rescues , felonies , or the like , where the offence is immediatly to the king , a capias lies against a baron of the parl. and it is as other priviledges which are legal in england , limited also to the barons of the parl. of england , for it appeares under r. 2. that in an action of debt , a capias was awarded against the countesse of ormond , being one irish baronesse , and participating of her husbands dignities as our ladies in eng. neither can a baron of ireland be tried here by the peeres of eng. for they are not his peers , no more than the l. zanchar might being a baron of scotland , who was indicted and arraigned only by the name of rob. creighton esquier and upon this reason , that he was no baron of parl. tried by a common iury . thence it is also that an earle , baron , or duke of france comming into engl. by the kings safe conduct shall not in any legall proceedings be stiled so , as appeares in the time of edw. the 1. in the case of the e. of richmond , being then duke of brittaine , and in the case of sir john douglasse under edw. the 4. and the reason why s. gilbert humfravill , in the time of edw. the 3. was legally to have his title in writs of earle of anguish , was because that in that age the e. of anguish by that name was l. of the parl. as it is expresly noted in our year-books . and this difference it seemes hath beene here between temporall dignities , and spirituall , that in regard the temporall state of england was ever held as severed and distant from other states , not at all communicating with them in civill government . therefore forraigne dignities which are of the civill part of states , had no respect given them as appeares in the examples already brought . but on the other side in dignities spirituall , because there was anciently through christendome supposed an unity in the church . so that england with forraigne nations , and they with england ( as membe●s of one body had a mutuall reference to each others countrey ) was legally valued , as bishops in england , as may be seen in that case of the bishop of v●recht ( for this is the right name , though it be printed vrston ) under e. the 3. where being made bishop of vtretcht makes a prebend of england so the title of cardinall was usually given in legall proceedings to such as had that dignity in england , whence also the archbishop of raguse being parson of a benefice in the bishoprick of carliste , under king john was ( it seemes ) to have been accounted here also an archbishop for dignity , though not for iurisdiction . chap. xi . a knight to be retorned upon every pannel where a baron is party . in every iury impannelled between any baron of parl. and other person whatsoever , one knight at the least is to be returned , which failing the array may bee quashed by challenge : a testimony hereof aswell for spirituall as temporall barons is frequent . chap. xii . no day of grace against a baron . if a baron of the parl. be plaintif or defendant in any action , and the plaintife or defendant pray a day of grace , he shall not have it against him , and this is expresly affirmed in the books . chap. xiii . making deputies of places of trust committed to them . o● late years it was agreed in the case of gilbert earle of shrewsbury that whereas the office of steward-ship was granted to the earle of rutland , without givi●g power to make a deputy ( and this by q. eli●abeth ) that ●et he might exercise the same office by deputy , by reason of the n●c●ssity that is supposed in the lawe to be of the ea●l●s attendanc● upon the king and the gov●rnment of the kingdome , the same reason is it seemes for all barons . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a59090e-1130 u. 8 ▪ dyer . parl. 14 eliz. dyer par . ●9 . & 43. eliz. & l. ●ac . &c. rot. parl. 18. e. 1. rot. 2. dor●o : 2 mareli in dye● parl ● 15. hen : 8 : see 3. e. 3. fol. 9. scroope . rot. parl. 4 , e. 3. m. 7. boges of bovons , iohn deverell . thomas gournev , william of ocle . iohn of gomeniz . william of weston . the same petition is in the roll of petitions , of the first of r. 2. it & ultimo . iohn lee steward of the household the● . ●at . alice piere cavendish against pool c●ancellor . ●ot . parl. 30. ● 3. art. ●8 . ●2 . e : 3. fo : hadlowes case parl. 1 r : 2. m. 3. art : 28.2 r. ● . art. 19.20 ● : 2 art. 26. the case ●ase of the ●ate of the ●arle of sa●i●bury . ●arl . 15. r. ● . m 5. art : 23. & ●6 . art. 8 ● 17. art : ●3 & 18. the case of the dane , ●nd chap●aine of ●●chfield ●nd the pray of new●ort ●annell , ● h. 7. fo : 10 flower●●ens case . ●ot . parl. 20 ● : 3. n : ●3 . ●5 . 38 . see ●lso to this ●liz . stat : c●rl : & 25. e : 3. stat : d●●rovision . rot. par. 3. r. 2. m. 3. n. 37. fine 12. rot. 11. r. 2 m. 2. act. 34. part . it was ordained in a councell held at westminster , that no clergy ma● should agitare judicium , and he that did , was to be deprived of his dignity and orders , roger de hovenden in h. 2. page 30.10 . & gervas . rot : proces . & judicii prob . 11. r. 2 rot. parl. 2 h. 4. & rot. papl . 2. h. 5 rot. parl. 13 h. 2 act. 24 holest● in reg. courtney , 332. dyer ● eliz parlia. yet the act of this year as of most others , is domin . tam spiritualiū quam temporalem assensu . 7 h , 8. f. 104 b. vel 184 b stat. 14. e. 3. cap. 5. rot. parl : 28. e. 3. petit . 7. 28. e. 3. petit . 7. 28. e. 3. art . 20. parl. 15 r. 2. art . 37. stat. 12. r. 2. c. 12. & h. 4. fol. 1. nat. brev. fol. 228. notes for div a59090e-15260 17 johan . reg p. 35 41 h. 1. idem pag 1395. & 1315.3 . h. ro. parl. rot. parl. 7 ●t 8. h. 4. m 4. art . 66 : & h. 4. rot . parl. 39. ●tat . 21. r. ● . c. 3. & 4. rot. parl 1 m. 7. parl. 1 an. 14 art . ● 5. dyer , 15. h ● . parl. stat. jac. 14. & 7. ●ap . 6. stat. 15. eliz. c. 4. vel . 1 lib 5. c. de essoniis , c. 2. & 3. &c 9 fo. 281. 1 henry 4. fol. 1. a 10. e 4 fo. 6. h. 8. fol. 12. a stamford , lib. 3. cap. 1. cooke , liber 3. fol. 30.6 . 48. e. 3. fo. 30.16 . lib. ass. 35. h. 6.46 . a. 22. e 3 fo. 18. a 27. h. 8. fo. 22. cook ●ib . 6 fo. 53. regist. orig f. 179. b. fitz. nat. bre . f. 165. eodem parl. in arce london 20. e. 1 coram rege , ret re●ep . scaccarii . art. in f●ro deleg . 1550 mich. 12 : eliz in ar cur. apud examinar . ro. pro . 10 r. 2. & 10. in ar. lond ro● . parl. ● r. 2. art . 41 : 2● . r 3. & m. & fasce in sacello● . 18. iunii mich. 31. & 32. eliz. 32. eliz. 44. eliz. 7 sept. mr. 42. & 4● . eliz. 40 el●z apud tothill . o●do 10. lib. 10. ja● . in chanc. mic. 4. iac. mic. winton 5. com. pemb. pas. 6. com. sinc . hill. 7. com dorset . & dominus russel pas. 5. jac. hough●on 1. eliz. butter vers dom. mordant m. 13. & 13 eliz. campz . v. com. bedfo●d-mich . 21.22 . eliz. ibidem butvers dom. rich. hill. 4. viscount . mountag : &c. h. 3. & 4. 3. h. 6. fol. 43. & 44. rot. parl. 1 h. 7. part . 1. m. 14. m. 15. parl. 15. e. 3. n. 43 circa e. ● . de templo in anonimi chron. gal. observ. prac . 100. fol. 22. not in appeales 10. eliz. 4. b. lib. in tract tit. appeale de mort. 7. stamf. &c. 1 h 4.1 . an. 10.4.6.13 e. 4.12 . an. stamf. lib. 3 cap. 1. cooke lib. 9 fol. 30. b. stat . 4. iac. cap. 1. stat . 20. h. 6 cap. 9. cook . lib. 6. fo. 52. b. pas. 3. e. 3 c●ram rege rot. 9. rep. 3 e. 3 fo. 186 p● : 28. 13. e. 3. tit. enquest . 43 tit. challenge . plowden com pl. 117 & ve . hill. 8. e. 3. ro● . 23. coram rege . stat. 4. h. 5 ca 6.33 . h. 8. tryal 141. hill 17. e. 2. rot. 87. dorse coram rege & rot. rom. m. 6. thomas walsingha● fol. 199. transert . t●i . 30. e. 3. rot. 11. rep. ●tamf . lib. ● . fol. 133. ●empore● . 8. pro triall 142. ●tamf . lib. ● . pag. 135. ●ambd . in ●●rdi angl. 1 mar. dyer fo. 986. hollenshead cron. fo. 1749. surpleis . case . coo. fo 40.5 parl. 28. h. 6. stat. 1. eliz. c. 1. laurence iennius li. 2 a cromp. iuris● . f. 33. dyer , par● . iun 14. eli. & dyer fo. 314. & 315 rot. parl. 3. h. ● . parl. 1. m. 2. n. 46. rot. parl. 15. h. 6. n. 25. & parl. 2 h. 2 art : 69. parl. cor. lib. 2. fo. 130. a. 38 e. 3 fol. 3● . a. 24. ● . ● . f. ●1 b. 1. h 6 . 7a 9. h 6 f. 2 b 19. e. ●f 9 a. 21. e. 4. f. 77 b. 1. h. 6. f 7. b. cook l. 8 f. ● . gr●sseys case . c. 4 : li. 3. de cor c. 1. fol. 116. b. claul . 15. e. 2. m. 12. 11. h. 14. a. cooke lib. 6. fol. 52. b. 27 h. 8 f. 7. a. 14. a. 22. b. 29. ass. pl. 33 14. eliz. dyer . fol. 315. trin. 1●hen . 4. rot. 8. coram rege cromw . libr. introt & tit. error . utiary 20.13 . r. 2. tit. retorn del . vîc. 74.10 . h. 4. tit. process . 44.198.1 . h. 5. fol. 22. b. v. ass. 21. ● . 3 fol. 59. b. 39. eli. f. 35. b & claus. 39. e. 3. m. 2 19. e. 3. tit. trial 57 ▪ extra . tit. derenuntia . cap. 9. ad supplicationem . 13. e , 3. tit. challeng . 115 & tit. enquest . 43. ploud . com. l. 117. & 1 & 2 phil. & mar. dyer f. 107 63. & 4. ●l. idem f. 208 ● . 27. h. 8. ●● . b. 12. e. 3. f. 9. ● . 27. e. 3. f. ●8 . b. 27. h● . f. 22. b. te j●. f. 4●cook● 〈…〉 the grandeur of the law, or, an exact collection of the nobility and gentry of this kingdom whose honors and estates have by some of their ancestors been acquired or considerably augmented by the practice of the law or offices and dignities relating thereunto the name of such ancestor, together with the time in which he flourished, the society in which he was a member, and to what degree in the law he arrived being perticularly [sic] expressed / by h.p. h. p. (henry philipps) 1684 approx. 300 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 148 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a54698 wing p2022 estc r30532 11352850 ocm 11352850 47553 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a54698) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 47553) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1468:1) the grandeur of the law, or, an exact collection of the nobility and gentry of this kingdom whose honors and estates have by some of their ancestors been acquired or considerably augmented by the practice of the law or offices and dignities relating thereunto the name of such ancestor, together with the time in which he flourished, the society in which he was a member, and to what degree in the law he arrived being perticularly [sic] expressed / by h.p. h. p. (henry philipps) [6], 276, [10] p. printed for arthur jones ..., london : 1684. includes index. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng lawyers -great britain -biography. nobility -great britain -biography. 2007-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-01 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-01 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the grandeur of the law : or , an exact collection of the nobility and gentry of this kingdom , whose honors and estates have by some of their ancestors been acquired or considerably augmented by the practice of the law , or offices and dignities relating thereunto . the name of such ancestor , together with the time in which he fluorished , the society in which he was a member , and to what degree in the law he arrived , being perticularly expressed . by h. p. gent. london , printed for arthur jones at the flying-horse near st. dunstan's church in fleetstreet , 1684. to the right honorable francis lord gvilford , lord keeper of the great seal of england , &c. my . lord , the welfare of mankind hath so necessary a dependance upon laws , and the administration of justice , that by the vote of all ages , the profession of the law hath ever been rank't amongst the most honorable callings . perhaps in the judgment of many , it would not have become any person , less eminent than cicero , to have said , cedant arma togae ; and yet , if a good peace be the end and only justifiable ground of war , and if it be true what philosophy teacheth us , that the end is always more noble than the means , i do not well see how the consequence will be avoided , in favour and preferrence of the gown . but this small treatise hath nothing to do with such polemical debates ; it only designs to set down , and enumerate those illustrious families of our nation , which have been raised to honor and wealth by the profession of the law : the very nature of the subject , does in a manner entitle it to your lordships protection , who are in your self the greatest example of this kind , and the greatest ornament of the law , in this , or any age. others have owed their preferments in honor and estate to the law , to which your lordship is much more a creditor , than a debtor : when we consider your nobility of extraction , eminency of parts , and above all , your inviolable integrity , we are all bound to confess , that you brought with you more honor to the gown , than you receive from it . but these great truths are not fit to be spoken by so mean a person , as i am who shall be too much honored in being permitted to lay my self with this small tribute at your lordships feet , and to make a profession of being , my lord , your honors most obedient and most humble servant h. philipps . to the reader . the method i have taken , is first of all to enumerate so many of the present nobility of england , and such englishmen whose titles of honor are in scotland and ireland , ( of which there are but few ) as by the study and practice of our laws , eminent preferments , and places of trust and profit relating thereunto , are risen and advanced to such their dignities ; and according to the times of their respective creations , have placed them with all circumspection ; yet i do not insist that they are ranked without any error , but submit it to the judgment of those better read in matters of that nature : it may be objected , that i ought not to have preferred the scots and irish nobility any otherwise than according to such english honors as they are here invested with , and truely they ought not ; but in regard they were but few , i thought it would not be improper to place them next after our english nobility according to their titles . the next degree are the baronets , which being an hereditary title , i have with the like care placed them persuant to the date of their several patents . and as to the knights and esquires , forasmuch as there is not any material precedency claimed or used , i have placed those degrees promiscuously as they came to my hands , without the least design or intention of injury to them or any of them , and hope it will be so taken . there have been many families both of nobility and gentry , as have been raised by the means above-mentioned , besides such as i have expressed in this book , who are now become extinct as to their names , though perhaps their estates have been vnited to some other families by daughters and heirs , but being it is difficult to point particularly at such families to whom such estates were carri●d , and least it might be offensive , i have not in the least meddled therewith . the nobility . the first who laid the foundation of that noble , and flourishing family of the howards , was william howard , one of the judges of the court of common-pleas , in the reigns of the two first edwards : from which william , are directly descended , henry howard , duke of norfolk , earl of arundel , surry , norfolk and norwich , and earl marshal of england , &c. james howard , earl of suffolk , and baron howard of walden . thomas howard , earl of berkshire , viscount andover , and baron of charleton . charles howard , earl of carlisle , viscount morpeth , and baron dacres of the north. henry lord stafford . son and heir to william howard , late lord viscount stafford . francis howard , baron of effingham . and william lord howard of escrick , with diverse other honourable persons of this great family . henry cavendish , duke , marquess , and earl of new-castle , earl of ogle , viscount mansfield , baron ogle bertram of bothall and bolesover ; as also william cavendish earl of devonshire , and baron cavendish of hardwick , are both descended from sir john cavendish knight , lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench , in the reigns of king edward the third , and richard the second . * observe , the earl of devonshire is the elder house . charles sackvill earl of dorsett and middlesex , baron of buckhurst , and lord cranfield , is descended of an ancient family of that name in sussex : but the first who made any considerable addition to the estate and honour , was sir richard sackvill knight , one of the benchers of the inner-temple , in the reign of king henry the eighth ; and afterwards under-treasurer of the court of exchequer , whose son and heir was the first lord buckhurst . james cecill earl of salisbury , viscount cranbourne , and baron of essendon ; as also john cecill earl of exeter , and baron of burleigh , are both issued in a direct line , from william cecill , an eminent lawyer of the society of grays-inn , in the reign of king henry the eighth ; in which study he made so great a progress , that ( besides many other worthy offices ) he at last was constituted lord high treasurer of england , and created baron of burleigh , in the reign of queen elizabeth ; and at his death , left an estate of a prodigious vallue . john edgerton earl of bridgewater , viscount brackley , baron of elsmeere , is the grandson of thomas edgerton , a natural son to sir richard edgerton of ridley in cheshire knight , which thomas being placed in lincolns-inn , to the study of the law , so improved himself therein , that he became , first , sollicitor general to queen elizabeth , next , her attorney general , then master of the rolls , then lord keeper , afterwards lord chancellor , and last created baron of elesmere , and viscount brachley , leaving at his death , an estate of his own raising , of at least eight thousand pound per annum . edward rich earl of warwick and holland , lord rich of leez and kensington , is lineally descended from sir richard rich knight , reader of the middle-temple , in the one and twentieth year of henry the eighth , who for his great knowledge in the law , was made sollicitor general to that prince ; and afterwards in the reign of king edward the sixth , farther advanced to the dignity of lord high chancellor of england , and created baron of leez court , obtaining a great share of the revenues of the church to support his dignity ; both which he left to his son robert , created earl of warwick . charles montague earl of manchester , viscount mandevill , and baron of kimbolton ; edward montague earl of sandwich , viscount hitchinbrooke , and baron of st. neotts ; and ralph montague baron of boughton , all persons of great estates : the foundation whereof , was first laid by sir edward montague knight , serjeant at law , first , lord chief justice of the kings-bench , and then lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth : he was the father of sir edward montague knight , who had six sons ; first , sir edward , made lord montague of boughton ; the third son was sir henry montague of the middle-temple , london , knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench , lord high treasurer of england in the reign of king james , afterwards advanced to the dignity of the earl of manchesters : the sixth son was sir sidney montague knight , grandfather to edward now earl of sandwich . john sheffield earl of mulgrave , and baron of butterwick , is directly descended from sir robert sheffield of the inner-temple , knight , recorder of london , and speaker of the house of commons , in the reign of king henry the seventh ; which sir robert , by his great knowledge in the laws of this kingdom , very much advanced his family , and purchased a fair estate in the county of lincoln , which is now part of the inheritance of the present earl , who is the fifth baron , and third earl of the family . henry mordant earl of peterborough , baron of turvey , and charles lord viscount mordant , are both of them the descendants of john mordant of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , and chancellor of the dutchy of lancaster , in the reign of king henry the seventh , who having accumulated a great estate , was before his death , made a peer of this realm by king henry the eighth . thomas weston earl of portland , and baron of neyland , is descended from richard weston of the inner-temple , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth , who being a younger brother , may truly be supposed to be the first advancer of this family to the quality and estate it now enjoys . henry hide earl of clarendon , viscount cornbury , and baron of hindon , as also lawrence hide earl of rochester , viscount kenellworth , and baron of wooton basset , are both of them the sons of edward late earl of clarendon , who was bred up in the middle-temple in the study of the law , in which he arrived to such perfection , that he became first , chancellor of the court of exchequer , and afterwards lord high chancellor of england , by means of which honourable preferments , 't is well known what a vast estate he left to his posterity . robert brudnell earl of cardigan , and baron brudnell of stanton-wivell , is direct heir-male to robert brudnell esq ; , serjeant at law ; and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the time of king henry the eighth , a man of great learning in the laws , and master of a great estate , most of his own acquiring . robert earl of alesbury , viscount bruce of ampthill , and baron of skelton , is the grandson of edward bruce master of the rolls in the reign of king james ; by whom , the said edward was created baron of kinloss in scotland : the place of master of the rolls did doubtless much conduce to the advancement of the estate which the said edward lord kinloss had ; yet notwithstanding , he was honourably descended , and enjoyed an ample fortune before he executed that office : but most of it lay in scotland , the place of his nativity . anthony cooper earl of shaftsbury , baron ashly of wimbourne saint giles , and lord cooper of paulett , is the son and heir to anthony late earl of shaftesbury , who , tho' i cannot say he ever made it his business to study the law , yet was he of the society of lincolns-inn , and by the profits arising out of such offices as he enjoyed , relating to the law , did he greatly augment his estate , being , first , chancellor of the exchequer , and afterwards lord high-chancellor of england . charles gerrard earl of macklesfield , viscount and baron of brandon ; digby lord gerrard , baron of gerrards-bromley , are both descended from that learned and judicious lawyer of grays-inn , sir gilbert gerrard knight , attorney general , and master of the rolls in the reign of queen elizabeth , who being a younger son of the house of bryn in lancashire , was placed to study the law , and thereby lay'd the first foundation of those great estates and honours , which in succeeding times accrewed to this spreading family . * the reader may be pleased to observe , that though the earl of macklesfield , according to his dignity , be placed before the lord gerrard of bromley , yet the said lord gerrard is of the elder house . william paston earl and viscount of yarmouth , and baron of oxnead , is descended from sir william paston knight , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king henry the sixth . much might be mentioned to the antiquity and greatness of this worthy family , were it not contrary to the method designed . daniell finch earl of nottingham , and baron of daventry , is the grandson of sir heneage finch of the inner-temple knight , recorder of the city of london , and son of sir heneage finch barronet , a member of the same society , who was first , attorney general to this king ; next , lord keeper , then baron of daventry , after , lord high chancellor of england , and lastly earl of nottingham ; which first sir heneage was a younger branch of the house of winchelsea , and so consequently it may be presumed what estate this noble earl now enjoys , was in a great measure acquired by those two famous members of the law. a younger brother of this earl , is that most ingeneous and excellent lawyer , heneage finch of the inner-temple esq ; , his now majesties sollicitor general ; as also william finch esq ; his brother , a learned gentleman of the same socity : of this family was john finch of grays-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king charles the first , and for a short time , lord keeper of the great seal of england , and created baron of fordwich in kent , but dyed without issue . william brabazon earl of meath in ireland , is the direct heir male to sir roger brabazon of estwell in the county of leicester knight , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first . francis lord angier , earl of longford in ireland , is descended from francis angier of grays-inn esq ; , reader thereof in the four and fortieth year of the reign of queen elizabeth , and afterwards became master of the rolls in ireland , where he layd the foundation to this honour , and the estate that attends it . horatio townsend , lord viscount raynham , and baron of lynn-regis in the county of norfolk , is descended , by many worthy ancestors , from sir roger townsend knight , reader of lincolns-inn , who , for his great knowledge in the law , was called to the degree of a serjeant , and made one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , in the reigns of king richard the third , and henry the seventh ▪ thomas thynn , viscount weymouth , and baron of warminster , enjoys a very plentiful estate , as descended from sir egremont thynn of the inner-temple , london , knight , serjeant at law in the reign of king james ; which sir egremont did not a little augment the estate of his ancestors , who were before men of very considerable repute and quality . christopher hatton , viscount gretton , and baron of kirby , in the county of northampton , is a branch of the ancient stem of the hattons of cheshire , and is the heir to sir christopher hatton knight , who , from a student in the inner-temple , in the reign of queen elizabeth , did , by his great abillities , and singular knowledge in the laws , raise himself to great honour and estate by the access of divers places of great profit and repute , and at last arrived to the highest step of preferment , being made lord high-chancellor of england ; but dying without islue , a great part of his estate did at length devolve to the ancestor of this lord hatton , who was nephew to the said lord-chancellor . william farefax , lord viscount farefax of the kingdom of ireland , is descended from that famous lawyer , sir guy farefax knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the several reigns of king edward the fourth , and richard the third . bryen cockain , lord viscount cullen of the kingdom of ireland , whose seat is at rushton , in the county of northampton , is descended , by a younger son , from that famous and learned judge , sir john cockain , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer , and afterwards one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , in the reign of king henry the fourth , which john had his residence at ashborn in the peake , in the county of derby , where his ancestors for many ages before , and his successors ever since , continue and live in great honour and esteem . charles mildmay , lord fitz walter , a person of very noble extraction , as descended from the female issue of the antient lords fitz walter , and the ratcliffs earls of sussex ; and by the fathers side , from thomas mildmay esq ; , one of the auditors of the then new erected court of augmentations , in the reign of king henry the eighth . henry yelverton , lord grey of ruthyn , is lineally descended from those two learned judges , sir cristopher yelverton of grays-inn knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench , in the reigns of queen elizabeth , and king james , and also from sir henry yelverton of the same society knight , ( son of the said sir chistopher ) who was called to the degree of a serjeant , and constituted one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , by king charles the first , in the beginning of his reign ; both which eminent persons were the descendants of sir william yelverton knight , one of the justices of the said court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth . vere cromwell , lord cromwell , baron of oakeham in england , and earl of ardglass , viscount lecale , &c. in ireland , is directly descended from thomas cromwell earl of essex , baron of oakeham , and knight of the garter , who being a person of no great extraction , did , by his great knowledge in the laws , and other singular accomplishments , first of all obtain the place of clerk of the hannaper , next , chancellor of the court of exchequer , then master of the rolls , after , lord privy-seal , and lastly to those honourable titles abovementioned , by the access of which offices , and by the dissolution of religious houses ( in which he acted a considerable part ) he did greatly enrich himself , till at last being convicted , attainted and beheaded for treason , or some other great offence , the earldome of essex was thereby lost , and his son an heir only dignified with the said barony , by a new creation ; and restored to a considerable part of his fathers estate . william pagett ; lord pagett and baron of beudesert in stafford-shire , is descended by many noble peers of this realm , in a direct course of succession from sir william pagett knight , a gentleman very learned in the laws , by means whereof he was made one of the clerks of the council , and chancellor of the dutchy of lancaster , in the several reigns of king henry the eighth , and edward the sixth , and afterwards having greatly advanced himself in estate and riches , he was created a baron of this kingdom , being at first but a student in the inns of court. charles north , lord north , baron of carthlidge , and lord grey of rolleston , is lineally descended from edward north esq ; a younger branch of the worthy family of the norths of walkringham , in the county of nottingham , which edward having applyed himself to the study of the laws , and thereby made himfelf capable of those honourable preferments , to which he afterwards arrived , was first , one of the clerks of the council , next , treasurer and chancellor of the court of augmentations in the reign of king henry the eighth ; and lastly made a peer of this realm by queen mary . john lord petre , baron of writtle in the county of essex , is descended from sir william petre knight , doctor of the civil law , and one of the secretaries of state to king henry the 8th , edward the sixth , queen mary , and queen elizabeth , and by his great learning and honourable preferments , became master of a great estate , most of which continueth to his successors at this day . christopher roper , lord tenham , baron of tenham in kent , is very honourably descended from a family of great antiquity in the said county , amongst whom was john roper of lincolns-inn esq ; , direct ancestor to this noble lord ; which john being attorney general to king henry the eighth , and of profound judgement and knowledge in the laws , made a very considerable augmentation to the antient inheritance of this worthy family . john lovelace , lord lovelace , baron of hurly in berkshire , is descended from that eminent lawyer , william lovelace of grays-inn esq ; , reader thereof in the fourth year of the reign of queen elizabeth , and soon after called to the degree of a serjeant at law. john lord coventry , baron of alesbrough in the county of worcester , enjoys an estate of vast extent and worth , as heir to those two most famous lawyers of their time , the first of which was thomas coventry of the inner-temple , london , esq ; serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james , father of the no less learned thomas coventry , a student in the same society , who for his great abillities was , first , recorder of london , next , sollicitor , and afterwards attorney general to king james , and lastly , further advanced to the dignity of lord keeper of the great seal of england . which honourable place , he executed with great honour and justice for the space of fifteen years , in the reign of king charles the first , and was longer than any person before , or since his time , ever held the same , and longer he might have enjoyed it had not death interposed . francis smyth , lord carrington , and baron of woton in warwickshire ; is directly descended from john smyth , esq ; serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the court of exchequer , in the reign of king henry the eighth , which john dyed , seized of a very plentiful estate , most of his own acquiring . john lord colepeper , baron of thoresway in the county of lincolne , is lineally descended , by many worthy ancestors , and men of great quallity in the county of kent , from john colepeper esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , in the reign of king henry the fifth . the father of this lord colepeper was master of the rolls for a short time , till he was devested thereof , for his loyalty , by the parliament , about the year , 1642. thomas crew , lord crew , and baron of stone in the county of northampton , is the grandson and heir to sir thomas crew knight , one of his majesties serjeants at law in the reign of king charles the first ; which sir thomas purchased a very fair estate in the county of northampton , himself being a younger branch of the antient family of the crews of crew in cheshire . a younger brother of the present lord crew , is the right reverend father in god , nathaniel lord bishop of durham . hugh clifford , lord clifford of chudleigh in the county of devon , is the son and heir to the late famous and truly honourable sir thomas clifford , baron clifford of chudleigh , who was of the society of the middle-temple , and for his singular learning and merits , was made lord high-treasurer of england , which great trust he faithfully executed with all the justice and integrity imaginable . francis lord north , baron of guilford in the county of surry , ( whose descent from edward north esq ; , treasurer and chancellor of the court of augmentations , i have herein before expressed ) being a younger son of dudly , late lord north , applyed himself to the study of the law in the middle-temple , in which he became so eminent for his great learning and experience , that he was , first , invested with the honour of knighthood , and then constituted his now most gracious majesties solicitor general , after , attorney general , then one of his said majesties serjeants at law , and shortly after lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas , from whence , upon the death of the late earl of nottingham , his lordship was most worthily removed to the dignity of lord keeper of the great seal of england , in which he now continues , administring justice and equity without partiallity , to the great ease and satisfaction of his majesties subjects , and his own everlasting honour . henry lord farfax , baron of cameron in the kingdom of scotland , is descended from that learned lawyer , sir guy farfax knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth ; which sir guy was descended of a family of great antiquity and honour in the county of york , in which his now lordship's residence is . henry lord richardson , baron of cramond in the said kingdom of scotland , is descended from the late famous sir thomas richardson of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , first , lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas , and thence removed to the same dignity in the court of kings-bench in the reign of king james ; by which honourable places , and his own great abillities , he laid a fair foundation to that honour and estate which now attends this noble lord. henry hare , baron of colerane in the kingdom of ireland , is descended from sir nicholas hare knight , reader of the inner-temple in the reign of king henry the eighth , made master of the rolls in the reign of queen mary , and from hugh hare esq ; , who was reader of the same society in the last year of the reign of queen elizabeth . thomas needham , lord kilmurry of the kingdom of ireland is descended from sir john needham of shevington , alias sheinton , in the county of salop knight , serjeant at law , cheif justice of chester , and one of the judges of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the beginning of the reign of king edward the fourth . baronets . sir edmond bacon of redgrave in the county of suffolke , baronet , ( the first of that dignity within this kingdom ) is descended from the famous sir nicholas bacon of grays-inn knight , attorney of the court of wards , and liveries , and lord keeper of the great seal of england in the reign of queen elizabeth ; a younger son of which sir nicholas , was the no less learned francis bacon of grays-inn aforesaid ; a person singularly read in the laws , and of incomparable parts , in respect whereof , he was created baron of verulam , viscount , st. albans , and lord high chancellor of england by king james , which great honours and preferments were soon blasted by some great offence he committed , during the time he had the custody of the seal , and so became reduced to lead the remainder of his life in privacy , at his chambers in grays-inn till his death , leaving no issue male. sir henry hobart , of intwood , in the county of norfolk baronet , a gentleman of a very fair estate in those parts , is the great grandson and heir to sir henry hobart of lincolns-inn knight and baronet , serjeant at law , attorney general to king james , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas , a person of profound judgment and knowledge in the laws , as by his learned works lately published under the title of hobarts reports , is sufficiently manifested ; which said reverend judge was descended by a younger son from sir james hobart knight , reader of the same society , and attorney general to king henry the seventh . sir john shelly , of michelgrove in the county of sussex , barronet , is descended from william shelly of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas , in the reign of king henry the eighth , which william did very considerably augment the estate of his ancestors , who for many ages before had flourished in this county in great splendor . sir henry mounson , of carleton , in the county of lincoln , and of broxbourn-bury , in the county of hertford baronet , of the antient family of the mounsons of burton , in the county of lincoln , is descended from robert mounson , a learned lawyer of grays-inn , called to the degree of a serjeant at law by queen elizaheth , in the beginning of her reign , and soon after constituted one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , by which means he made a fair addition to his antient inheritance . sir philipp woodhouse of wilber hall in the county of norfolk baronet , is descended by many worthy ancestors of great honour in this county from robert de woodhouse , esq one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king edward the third . sir philip tirwhit , of kettilby in the county of lincoln baronet , is descended from robert tirwhit esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of both benches in the several reigns of king henry the fourth , and henry the fifth . sir robert dallison of lauton in the county of lincoln baronet , is descended from william dallison of grays-inn esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king edward the sixth , and one of the justices of the court of common pleas. sir thomas hussey of hennington , in the county of lincoln , baronet , is directly descended from sir william hussey of grays-inn knight , serjeant at law , attorney general to king edward the fourth , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of kings bench , in the reign of the same prince . sir charles mordant of massingham in the county of norfolk , baronet , is descended by a younger branch from john mordant serjant at law , and attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in the reign of king henry the seventh , created lord mordant of turvey by king henry the 8th . sir thomas spencer of yarnton , in the county of oxford , baronet , ( a younger branch of the spencers earls of sunderland ) had a fair addition made to his estate by the access of divers mannours and lands of great value , given to sir thomas his grandfather , by thomas spencer of claverdon in the county of warwick , esq ; a lawyer of eminent practice and note in lincolns-inn , of which society he was many years one of the governours , or treasurers , in the reign of king james . sir william appleton , of south-bemstead , and great badow , in the county of essex , baronet , is descended from thomas appleton esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king richard the third . sir charles sedley of aylesford , and southfleet in the county of kent baronet ▪ is descended from sir william sedley of lincolns-inn knight and baronet , one of the benchers of the said society in the reign of king james . sir edward hales of woodchurch , and tunstal in the county of kent baronet , is descended from james hales esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the eighth , and one of the justices of the common-pleas , in the reign of king edward the sixth . sir william portman of orchard in the county of somerset , knight of the bath , and baronet , a person of great honour and ample fortune , is descended from william portman esq ; , reader of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , and one of the reverend judges of the kings-bench , in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john wray , of glentworth in the county of lincoln , baronet , is descended from the famous and learned sir christopher wray knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth ; which sir john lately terminating in one daughter and heir , she by her intermarriage with george son and heir apparent to george sanderson , lord viscount castleton of the kingdom of ireland , hath annexed avast estate to that honourable family . sir william ayloff , of braxted-magna , in the county of essex , baronet , is directly descended from william ayloff esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the seventh , and from william ayloff of the same society , esq ; serjeant at law in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir christopher wivel , of constable-burton , in the county of york baronet , ( a family of great antiquity and repute ) is descended from john de wivell , one of the barons of the exchequer , and one of the judges of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the third . sir thomas englefield , of wooton-basset , in the county of wilts , baronet , is descended from thomas englefield of the middle-temple , london , esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john napier of lewtonhow , in the county of bedford , baronet , is descended from sir robert napier of the middle-temple , london , knight , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in ireland . sir henry littleton , of franckley , and over-arley , in the county of worcester , baronet , is the eldest male branch , directly descended from the famous sir thomas littleton , alias westcote of franckley aforesaid , knight of the bath , author of that excellent book , intituled , littleton's tenures , which sir thomas applied himself to the study of the law , in the inner-temple , wherein he soon arrived to such perfection , that he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , ( a dignity in those days esteemed of at a better rate than it is now usually looked upon ) and lastly constituted one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth ; this sir thomas accumulated a very great estate , and therewith made such ample provisions to advance his posterity , that few families in this kingdom , now living , do surpass them in estate and dignity , as by what i shall herein after mention of the rest of the branches thereof , will sufficiently be demonstrated . sir edward philipps of barrinton , in the county of somerset baronet , is directly descended from sir edward philipps of the middle-temple london , knight , serjeant at law , and master of the rolls ( a place of great honour and profit ) in the reign of king james . sir henry newton , alias puckering of the priory near warwick , in the county of warwick , and of charleton in the county of kent baronet , enjoyeth a great estate as heir to the learned sir john puckering of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord keeper of the great seal of england , towards the latter end of the reign of queen elizabeth . sir john boteler of hatfield-woodhall in the county of hatford , baronet , is descended from john boteler of lincolns-inn esque , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the first year of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john packington , of hampton-lovett , in the county of worcester , and of aylesbury , in the county of buckingham , baronet , is descended from john packington of the inner-temple esq ; , one of the kings serjeants at law in the reign of king henry the eighth , which john greatly advanced his estate and family . sir thomas delves of duddington , in the county of chester , baronet , a family of long continuance in that county , is direct heir male to sir john delves knight , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . sir john norton of rotherfield , in the county of southampton , baronet , is descended from richard norton esq ; , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas , in the first year of the reign of king henry the fifth . sir henry skipwith of priestwold in the county of leicester , baronet , is descended , through a continued course of eminent ancestors , from william de skipwith esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer , and also one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . sir thomas tempest of stella , in the bishoprick of durham , baronet , is descended from thomas tempest , a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and twice reader thereof in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth , this family is of far greater antiquity in those northern parts , than in henry the 8th's time , though the said thomas then did considerably add to the antient inheritance thereof . sir john playters of sotterly-hall , in the county of suffolk baronet , a person of a very worthy family ; is descended from thomas playter esq ; , a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of the governours thereof in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir john harpur of calke , in the county of derby baronet , is directly descended from richard harpur of swarkeston , in the said county , esq ; , who being brought up to the study of the law in the inner-temple , became one of the readers of that society in the beginning of queen elizabeth's reign , and in a short time after called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and then made one of the justices of the court of common-pleas . of this family was sir john harpur , late of swarkeston aforesaid , knight , who dyed without any issue surviving . sir thomas beaumont of grace-dieu , in the county of leicester , baronet , ( a younger branch of the antient lords beaumont ) is descended from john beaumount of the inner-temple esq ; , master of the rolls in the reign of king edward the sixth , and from francis beaumont of the same society esq ; , ( son and heir of the said john ) serjeant at law , and one of the learned justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth : by which two eminent persons was this branch of that noble family very considerably advanced both in honour and estate . sir thomas colepeper of preston-hall , in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from that learned lawyer john colepeper esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common pleas in the reign of king henry the fifth . sir henry moore of falley , in the county of berks , baronet , is the heir directly descended from sir francis moore of falley aforesaid , knight , reader of the middle-temple , and a serjeant at law in the reign of king james , author of that elaborate collection of reports , entituled , moores reports , some time since made publick by the learned sir gefrey palmer , knight and baronet . sir henry hele of fleet , in the county of devon , baronet , is descended from john hele of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , in the several reigns of queen elizabeth and king james . sir edward littleton of pillaton-hall in the county of stafford , baronet , is descended from richard littleton , second son of the famous and learned sir thomas littleton , alias westcote , of franckly in the county of worcester , knight of the bath , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth , which richard was also of the society of the inner-temple , where he became very eminent for his great judgement in the law , and thereby , and by his intermarriage with allice sole , daughter and heir to william winsbury of pillaton-hall aforesaid , esq ; , together with what estate the said sir thomas setled upon him , did he leave an ample estate to his posterity , who were and are of as honourable esteem as this county affords . sir henry bacon , of milden-hall , and laund in the county of suffolk , baronet , is descended by many honourable ancestors , from john de bacon , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , in the sixth year of the reign of king edward the second , and from thomas de bacon , one of the learned judges of the same court in the reign of king edward the third . sir john corbett of stoke , upon tene and adderly , in the county of salop ; baronet , is lineally descended from reignald corbett of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench , in the reign of queen elizabeth , which reignald was a younger son of sir robert corbett of moreton corbett in the said county , knight , a family of great antiquity in those parts . sir thomas nitingall of newport-pond , in the county of essex , baronet , is descended from gefrey nitingall of grays-inn , a person very eminent for his great knowledge in the laws , and reader of the said society in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir william colepeper of wakehurst and ardingly in the county of sussex , baronet , is descended , by many renowned ancestors , from john colpeper , one of the learned judges of the court of common-pleas , in the reign of king henry the fifth . sir thomas vavasour of haselwood , in the county of york , baronet , is descended from john vavasour of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , in the reigns of king edward the fourth and fifth , after which , he became reader of the said society , being the first that arrived to that dignity in that house , and in the fifth year of king henry the seventh was constituted one of the justices of the common-pleas : this is a family of very long continuance , and great honour in the county of york for many ages before this learned judges time , yet did he in a large measure augment the estate of his ancestors . sir charles wolsely of wolsely in the county of stafford , baronet , is descended from ralph wolsely esq ; , one of the barons of the court of exchequer in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir john anderson of st. ives , in the county of huntington , baronet , is directly descended from the famous and learned sir edmond anderson of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the first year of the reign of king james , which sir edmond was the author of that learned volume of reports , intituled , anderson's reports . sir roger cave of stanford in the county of northampton , baronet , a person of a very honourable and antient family , who for many generations have had their cheif seat and residence at stanford aforesaid , is descended from john de cave , one of the justices of the kings bench , in the beginning of the reign of the victorious and renowned prince , king edward the first . sir oliver boteler of teston , in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from john boteler reader of lincolns-inn , and called to the degree of a serjeant at law by king henry the seventh , after which , in the first year of the reign of king henry the eighth he was constituted one of the barons of the exchequer . sir robert hatton , of long stanton , in the county of cambridge , baronet , is descended from thomas hatton esq ; , reader of the middle-temple in the reign of king charles the first , a branch of the antient family of the hattons in cheshire . sir thomas hare of stow-bardolf in the county of norfolk , baronet , a person of a very fair estate , is descended from sir nicholas hare knight , reader of the inner-temple in the reign of king henry the eighth , and afterwards made master of the rolls by queen mary . sir roger norwich of brompton , in the county of northampton , baronet , is descended from robert norwich of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john brownlow of humbey and belton , in the county of lincoln , baronet , a person of a vast estate in those parts , is descended from richard brownlow , a learned lawyer , and one of the benchers of the inner temple in the reign of king james , author of brownlow's reports . sir john sidenham of brimpton , in the county of somerset , baronet , is descended by many worthy ancestors , from richard de sidenham esq ; , one of the learned justices of the court of common pleas , in the eleventh year of the reign of king richard the second . sir edward nicholls of hardwick and flaxon , in the county of northampton , baronet , is descended from sir augustine nicholls of the middle-temple , knight , serjeant at law in the reign of queen elizabeth , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james , and chancellor to king charles the first whilst he was prince of wales . sir hugh cholmley , alias cholmondleigh of whitby , in the county of york , baronet , is directly descended from sir roger cholmondley , of lincolns-inn , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth , which sir roger was descended by a younger branch from the cholmondleighs of cholmondleigh in cheshire , the chief of which is hugh lord viscount cholmley of kellis in ireland , residing at cholmley aforesaid . sir thomas trevor of tennington hastings , in the county of warwick , knight and baronet , is descended from sir thomas trevor knight , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king charles the first , which sir thomas is ( as i hear ) lately dead without issue male. sir francis rhodes of barlbrough in the county of derby , baronet , is descended from the learned sir francis rhodes of grays-inn , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir robert bindloss of borrick-hall , in the parish of warton in the county of lancaster ; baronet , is lineally descended from william bindloss , a famous and learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of her majesties serjeants at law in the reign of queen mary ; which william left a great estate to his posterity . sir william walter of saresden in the county of oxford , baronet , is descended from sir john walter of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king james ; which sir john was the son and heir to edmund walter esq ; , a man of great judgement in the law , and divers times reader of the same society in the reign of queen elizabeth , by which two eminent persons , a great part of the lands and estate of this sir william was purchased , and annexed to the ancient possessions of this worthy family . sir robert coke of longford , in the county of derby , baronet , is descended by a younger son , from the famous and profound lawyer sir edward coke of the inner temple knight , serjeant at law , attorney general to king james , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench , whose learned and elaborate works now extant , and made publick , do sufficiently evidence his great abilities , and remain as lasting monuments of honour to him and his posterity . sir john gell of hopton in the county of derby , baronet , is descended from anthony gell , an eminent lawyer of the inner-temple , reader , as also one of the benchers thereof in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth . sir william ingilby of ripley in the county of york , baronet , is lineally descended from thomas ingilby esq ; , one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third ; and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king richard the second . sir john lowther of white-haven in the county of cumberland , and of sockbridge in the county of westmorland , baronet , a family of great antiquity and honour in those northern parts , is descended by many worthy ancestors of signal renown and quality , from hugh de lowther , attorney general to king edward the first , and from thomas de lowther , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . sir robert markham of sedgebrook in the county of lincoln , baronet , is descended from that reverend and learned judge , sir john markham knight , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the sixth , and lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the fourth ; which sir john markham was descended from another sir john markham knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas , in the several reigns of king richard the second , and henry the fourth . sir anthony thorold of marston , in the county of lincoln , baronet , is a person of a very ancient family in this county , and men of great repute and honour in their times , amongst whom was that learned lawyer of grays-inn , sir anthony thorold knight , one of the readers of the said society in the reign of queen mary , by which last named sir anthony , was the estate of this flourishing family considerably advanced . sir william halton of samford , in the county of essex , baronet , is directly descended from robert halton of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and reader of that honourable society in the fifteenth year of the reign of queen elizabeth . sir thomas littleton of stoke-milburge and munslow , in the county of salop , and of north okindon , in the county of essex , baronet , a person of a very ample fortune , is lineally descended from thomas littleton of spechley , in the county of worcester esq ; , the third and youngest son of the deservedly famous , and learned judge , sir thomas littleton of the inner-temple , knight of the bath , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth . the estate of this sir thomas littleton , baronet , was in a large measure augmented by the access of what his mother annexed thereto , who was , ann sole , daughter and heir to that eminent lawyer , edward lord littleton , baron of mounslow aforesaid , who ( being a younger son of the littletons of spechley abovementioned , ) applyed himself to the studies of the law in the inner-temple , and therein arrived to such perfection , that he became first of all , reader of that house , then solicitor general , soon after serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the common-pleas , and lastly , lord keeper of the great seal of england , all in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first ; he was the author of that learned book intituled littleton's reports , lately made publick ; and elder brother of william littleton esq ; , serjeant at law , and to sir timothy littleton of the inner-temple knight , also serjeant at law , and lately one of the barons of the exchequer . sir thomas chamberlain of wickham in the county of oxford , baronet , is descended from sir thomas chamberlain of grays-inn knight , serjeant at law , and chief justice of chester , from whence he was removed , and constituted one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . sir samuell danvers of cullworth in the county of northampton , baronet , is descended from robert danvers , a learned and famous lawyer of lincolns-inn , one of the king's serjeants at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of henry the sixth . sir richard anderson of penley in the county of hertford , baronet , is descended from sir edmond anderson knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the first year of the reign of king james . sir richard foster of stokesly in the county of york , baronet , is descended from william foster esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth , and called to the degree of a serjeant at law by queen mary . sir aston cockain of ashburn in the peak in the county of derby , and of pooley in the county of warwick , baronet , a family of great antiquity in those counties , perticularly in derbyshire , is descended from sir john cockain of ashburne aforesaid , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the fourth , as also lord chief baron of the court of exchequer . sir paul whichcott of hendon in the county of middlesex , baronet , is the son and heir to sir jeremiah whichcott of the inner-temple , baronet , sometime warden of the fleet in his now majesties reign . sir john bridgeman of great leaver in the county of lancaster , and of castle-bromwich in the county of warwick , baronet , is the eldest son , and heir to the late famous sir orlando bridgeman of the inner-temple , knight and baronet , serjeant at law , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer , lord chief justice of the common-pleas , and from thence removed to the dignity of lord keeper of the great seal of england ; he was the first english man that his present majesty advanced to the degree of a baronet after his most happy restoration . sir lewis palmer of carleton in the county of northampton , baronet , a gentleman of a very plentiful estate , is the son and heir to the late worthy sir jefrey palmer of carleton aforesaid , and of the middle-temple , knight and baronet , his majesties attorney general , a person of profound judgement in the laws , and of other singular abilities . sir humphry winch of hannes in the county of bedford , and of harleford in the county of buckingham , baronet , is descended from sir humphry winch of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , lord chief baron of the exchequer , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in ireland , and thence removed to the dignity of one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in england in the reign of king james . sir thomas allen of the city of london , knight and baronet , sometime since lord mayor thereof , is descended from john allen esq ; , serjeant at law , reader of lincolns inn in the beginning of the reign of king henry the seventh , and afterwards one of the barons of the exchequer . sir henry north of mildenhall in the county of suffolk , baronet , a younger branch of the honourable family of the lord north , is descended from sir edward north knight , who was chancellor and treasurer of the court of augmentations in the reign of king henry the eighth , after created lord north. sir thomas darcey of st. cleres hall in the county of essex , baronet , ( of the ancient family of the darcies of the north ) is descended from john darcey of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of that honourable society in the reign of his late majesty king james . sir henry stapleton of mitton in the county of tork , baronet , is descended by many worthy ancestors , ( who by marriages were allyed to the best families in this kingdom ) from nicholas de stapleton , a person of great note in the time of henry the third , and one of the justices of the kings-bench , in the first year of the reign of king edward the first . sir robert cordell of long-melford in the county of suffolk , baronet , is descended from sir william cordell of lincolns-inn knight , a person of great learning and knowledge in the laws ; in respect whereof he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law by queen mary , and afterwards made master of the rolls . sir william wray of ashby in the county of lincoln , baronet , is a younger branch , descended from the famous sir christopher wray knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir george warburton of arely-hall in the county of chester , baronet , a family of long continuance , and great esteem in this county , is descended from sir peter warburton of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law in the time of queen elizabeth , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james , a person very eminent in his time for his great abilities in the law. sir saint andrew saint john of woodford in the county of northampton , baronet , is descended from oliver st. john of lincolns-inn esq ; , a man of great prudence and learning , who was attorney general to king charles the first , in the year one thousand six hundred and fourty , and afterwards lord chief justice of the vpper bench ( as it was then termed ) in the time of the late unhappy usurpation . sir andrew henly of bramsell in the county of somerset , baronet , is descended from sir william henley knight , one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir william ellis of wyham in the county of lincolne , a gentleman of a very great estate , is the son and heir to sir thomas ellis baronet , and nephew and heir to the late famous and learned judge , sir william ellis of grays-inn knight , serjeant at law , and several times one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in his now majesties reign : both which , sir thomas , and sir william , were the descendants of another sir william ellis knight , who was also one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir robert hales of beaksbourne in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from james hales esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the eighth , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the sixth . sir thomas vernon of hodnett in the county of salop , baronet , is descended from george vernon of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the said society , afterwards one of the barons of the exchequer , and lastly , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . sir robert leicester of nether tabley in the county of chester , baronet , a person of a very fair estate , and great antiquity in those parts , is descended , by many honourable ancestors , from roger de leicester , one of the barons of the exchequer toward the later end of the reign of king edward the first . sir john knightly of off-church in the county of warwick , baronet , enjoys the lordship of off-church , and other lands of good worth in that county , as heir to sir edmond knightly of the middle-temple , knight , a learned serjeant at law , and one of the readers of that house in the reign of king henry the eighth ; which sir edmond was a younger son to sir richard knightly of fawsely in the county of northampton knight . sir john bowyer of knipersley in the county of stafford , baronet , a person of a very ample fortune in those parts , is descended from iohn bowyer esq ; , of great judgement in the laws , and several times reader of lincolns-inn , as also many years one of the governors thereof , in the several reigns of queen mary and queen elizabeth . sir felix wilde of st. clement danes , in the county of middlesex , baronet , is the son and heir to sir william wilde knight and baronet , serjeant at law , recorder of the city of london , and lately one of the learned justices of the court of kings-bench . sir iohn wroth of blenden-hall in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from robert wroth of grays-inn esq ; attorney of the dutchy of lancaster , in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir iohn anderson of broughton in the county of lincoln , baronet , is descended from the memorable sir edmond anderson of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas for twenty years together in the reign of queen elizabeth , and so continued for some time in the reign of king james . sir edward ward of bexley in the county of norfolk , baronet , is descended from richard ward of the inner-temple esq ; , reader , as also treasurer of that society in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john jackson of hickleton in the county of york , baronet , is descended from sir james jackson knight , one of the readers of the inner-temple in the beginning of the reign of king james . sir william rookeby of skyers in the county of york . baronet , is descended from ralph rookeby esq ; , an eminent lawyer of lincolns-inn , and twice reader thereof in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir walter ernley of itchilhampton and salisbury in the county of wilts , baronet , is descended from sir john ernley knight , solicitor general to king henry the eighth ; by whom ( in the tenth year of his reign ) he was advanced to that great dignity of lord chief justice of the court of common pleas. sir compton read of burton in the county of berks , baronet , is descended from john read esq ; , serjeant at law in the beginning of the reign of king henry the fourth . sir walter henly of lunchfield in the county of sussex , baronet , is descended by a younger son from sir william henley knight , a learned lawyer of grays-inn , and one of the readers of that house in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir charles golding of colston-bassett in the county of nottingham , * baronet , a person of great integrity and worth , is descended from robert golding esq ; , a learned bencher of the inner-temple , and several times reader of that honourable society in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir charles gawdy of crowshall in the county of suffolk , knight and baronet , is descended from two eminent persons of great knowledge and learning in the laws , and both readers in the inner-temple , the one was sir thomas-gawdy knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth ; and the other was francis gawdy esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james . sir john curson of waterpirry in the county of oxon , baronet , ( a family of great honour and esteem ) is descended from robert curson esq ; , reader of the society of lincolns inn in the reign of king henry the eighth , and afterwards made one of the barons of the court of exchequer by king edward the sixth , in the beginning of his short reign . sir william glyn of amersden near bisseter , alias burncester , in the county of oxon , and of hawarden castle in flintshire , baronet , is the son and heir to that famous and wealthy lawyer , john glyn of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the vpper bench in the time of the late unhappy troubles in this kingdom . sir robert brooke of netton , in the county of suffolk , baronet , is descended from another sir robert brook knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the middle-temple , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen mary . sir henry andrewes of lathbury in the county of bucks , baronet , is descended from eusebius andrewes esq ; , one of the governors of lincolns-inn in the reign of king james ; and one of the readers thereof in the beginning of the reign of king charles the first . sir henry dereham of west-dereham in the county of norfolk , baronet , a family of long continuance there , is descended , by many honourable ancestors , men of singular esteem and reputation , from thomas dereham esq ; , a person of profound learning in the laws , and attorney general to king henry the fourth . sir thomas sylyard of dela-ware in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from john sylyard of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king richard the third , and from william sylyard esq ; , ( son of the said john ) a person of eminent repute for his great abilities in the law , and one of the treasures of that honourable society of lincolns-inn for many years , in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir charles hussey of gaythorpe in the county of lincoln , baronet , is a descendant of the famous sir william hussey of graies-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir john bankes of ailesford in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from sir john bankes of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james . sir henry ingoldsby of lethenborow in the county of bucks , baronet , is descended from john ingoldsby esq ; , one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir walter young of colliton in the county of devon , baronet , is descended from thomas young esq ; , a learned serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir thomas wyndham of orchard wyndham in the county of somerset , knight and baronet , is descended from francis wyndham of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the one and twentieth year of the reign of queen elizabeth ; from which francis , did also descend the late learned and loyal wadham wyndham of lincolns-inn aforesaid esq ; , serjeant at law , and made one of the judges of the court of kings-bench by his now majesty , soon after his happy restoration . sir john southcott of witham in the county of essex , and of bliborrow in the county of lincoln , baronet , is descended from john southcott of the middle temple esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that house , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of queen mary . sir richard bacon of gillingham in the county of norfolk , baronet ( brother and heir to sir edmond bacon , baronet , lately deceased ) is a younger branch , descended from the late memorable sir nicholas bacon of grayes-inn knight , lord keeper of the great seal of england in the reign of queen elizabeth , which sir nicholas was descended from thomas de bacon , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . sir myles stapleton of carleton , in the county of york , baronet , ( a family of great honour and antiquity in the north ) is descended from nicholas de stapleton , one of the judges of the court of kings-bench in the beginning of the reign of king edward the first . sir john bernard of brampton in the county of huntington , baronet , is the son and heir to sir robert bernard knight and baronet , a person very famous for his great judgement in the laws of this kingdom , in respect whereof , he was called to the degree of a serjeant by his now majesty , in the first year of his most happy reign . sir james long of draycott-cerne in the county of wilts , baronet , is the heir both to the honour and estate of sir robert long of the city of westminster , baronet , deceased , late auditor general of the court of exchequer . sir george reeve of thwaites in the county of suffolk , knight and baronet , is descended from edmond reeve esq ; , serjeant at law , and reader of grayes-inn in the reign of king charles the first . sir thomas brogave of hammels , in the county of hertford , baronet , is descended from sir john brograve of grayes-inn knight , one of the readers thereof , and attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in the reign of queen elizabeth and king james . sir william cooke of bromhall in the county of norfolk , baronet , is descended from william cooke esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of the honourable society of grayes-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth , and afterwards made a judge of the common-pleas by king edward the sixth . sir william gawdy of west-herting in the county of norsolk , baronet , is descended from that excellent lawyer , sir thomas gawdy knight , one of the readers of the inner-temple , in the reign of king henry the eighth , afterwards called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and constituted one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth . sir robert barnham of boughton-montchensey in the county of kent , baronet , a family of signal esteem , great antiquity , and an ample estate , is descended from sir walter barnham knight , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king richard the second . sir george selby of whitehouse in the bishoprick of durham , baronet , is descended , through a continued course of eminent ancestors in that northern tract , from william de selby , attorney general to king edward the first in the beginning of his reign . sir edmond fortescue of fallowpitt , in the county of devon , baronet , is descended from lewis fortescue , one of the readers of the middle-temple , as also a serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the court of exchequer in the latter end of the reign of king henry the eighth , which said lewis was a younger son of the antient and flourishing family of the fortescues of the west . sir john tempest of tong in the county of york , baronet , an ancient family in the north , is descended from thomas tempest , a famous lawyer of lincolns-inn , and divers times reader of that society in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir littleton osbaldeston of chadlington , in the county of oxon , baronet , is descended from richard osbaldeston a person of eminent practice and great judgment in the law , and reader of grays inn in the beginning of the reign of his late majesty , king charles the first . sir gyles tooker of maddington , in the county of wilts , baronet , is descended from gyles tooker , one of the readers , and one of the governors of grays-inn in the beginning of the reign of king james . sir stephen anderson of eyworth , in the county of bedford , baronet , is a descendant of the truly honourable and learned sir edmond anderson of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , who for above twenty years successively in the reign of queen elizabeth , and for sometime in the reign of king james , sate in that great place of lord chief justice of the common pleas. sir thomas tayler of parkhouse in the county of kent , baronet , is descended from edward yayler esq ; , serjeant at law , in the reign of king charles the first . sir phillip tyrell of hanslape and castlethorpe , in the county of bucks , baronet , is descended from sir thomas tyrell of castlethorpe aforesaid , and of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas , in the beginning of his now majesties reign . sir abell barker of hambledon , in the county of rutland , baronet , is descended from richard barker esq ; , a learned lawyer of grays-inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir anthony shirly of preston , in the county of sussex , baronet , is descended from that eminent lawyer , sir george shirly knight , reader of the middle-temple , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in ireland in the reign of king james ; which sir george was a branch of the antient family of the shirlyes of shirly in derbyshire , nether ettendon in warwickshire , and stanton harrold in leicestershire , all which lordships , with many more , are now the inheritance of robert shirly , lord ferrers of chartly . sir goddard nelthrope of burton , in the county of lincoln , baronet , is the son and heir to sir john nelthrope baronet , a lawyer of very considerable note , and of the society of grays-inn in his now majesties reign . sir roger twisden of bradburne near east-malling , in the county of kent , baronet , is the son and heir to the late reverend and learned judge , and most excellent lawyer , sir thomas twisden of the inner-temple , and of bradburne aforesaid , knight and baronet , serjeant at law , and for above twenty years together one of the justices of the kings-bench , till through the greatness of age , and the infirmities of his body , he obtained his majesties leave to retire from the affairs of the bench , and spend the short remainder of his days in peace , whereupon he betook himself to a private life at his mannor of bradburne , and there soon expired , in the eighty first year of his age. sir gilbert gerrard of fiskerton , in the county of lincoln , baronet , is descended by a younger son from sir gilbert gerrard of grays-inn knight , reader thereof in the reign of queen mary , and afterwards made attorney general , and master of the rolls by queen elizabeth . sir roger martyn of long-melford , in the county of suffolk , baronet , is descended from roger martyn esq ; , one of the rea●ers , as also one of the governors of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the seventh . sir orlando bridgeman of ridley , in the county of chester , baronet , is the second son to the late famous sir orlando bridgeman of the inner-temple , knight and baronet , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the court of common pleas , and lastly lord keeper of the great seal of england ; which said sir orlando the father was descended from john bridgeman of the inner-temple esq ; , chief justice of chester in the reign of king james . sir francis wyndham of trent , in the county of somerset , baronet , is descended from francis wyndham esq ; , a learned and profound lawyer of lincolns-inn , called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and constituted one of the justices of the common-pleas by queen elizabeth . sir arthur onslow of west-clandon in the county of surry , baronet , ( in revection expectant upon the death of sir thomas foot baronet ) is descended from richard onslow esq ; , a reader of the inner-temple in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth , which richard was a branch of the ancient stock of the onslowes of shropshire . sir thomas rich of sonden , in the county of essex , baronet , is descended from sir richard rich , knight , reader of the middle-temple , and solicitor general to king henry the eighth ; afterwards created baron rich of leez in essex , and constituted lord high chancellor of england by king edward the sixth . sir jobn hoskins of harwood in the county of hereford , baronet , one of the masters of the high court of chancery , is descended from bennet hoskins esq ; , a learned lawyer , and one of the readers of the middle-temple , in the reign of king charles the first . sir francis willoughby of wollaton-hall , in the county of nottingham , and of middleton , in the county of warwick , baronet , is directly descended from sir thomas willoughby of lincolns inn , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth : which said sir thomas was a younger son to christopher lord willoughby of eresby , and married with the only daughter and heir to sir robert read knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the seventh , from which said sir thomas , descended sir percevall willoughby knight , who in the reign of queen elizabeth , did intermarry with one of the daughters and heirs to sir francis willoughby then of wollaton aforesaid , knight , descended from sir richard de willoughby knight , lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . sir john newdigate of erdbury , in the county of warwick , baronet , is son and heir to the late famous and wealthy sir richard newdigate of erdbury and lincolns-inn , baronet , serjeant at law , who was lineally descended from john newdigate , reader of the same society in the reign of king henry the seventh , and made a serjeant at law by king henry the eighth . sir james poole of poole , in the county of chester baronet , a person of singular repute and worth , and of a very honourable family in this county , is descended from ralph pool esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king henry the sixth . sir thomas skipwith , of methringham , in the county of lincoln , and of grays-inn , knight and baronet , serjeant at law , a gentleman of an excellent family , is descended from william de skipwith esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . sir roger bradshaw of haigh in the county of lancaster , knight and baronet , is descended from henry bradshaw of the inner-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof , attorney general , and lord chief baron of his majesties court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth , branched out of the ancient family of bradshaw of bradshaw in the said county . sir thomas parkins of bonney in the county of nottingham , baronet , is lineally descended from richard parkins of the inner-temple esq ; , recorder of the towns of leicester and nottingham , and a lawyer of great note in those counties , in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir john crooke of shilton in the county of buckingham , baronet , is descended from sir john crooke of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , recorder of the city of london , speaker of the house of commons , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king james . the time of the creation of this sir john to the dignity of a baronet , i cannot at present find ; and therefore i place him here till i can be certified of his due precedencey . sir thomas gascoigne of barnbow in the county of york , baronet of scotland , is descended , by many renowned ancestors , persons of great interest in those parts , from the famous sir william gascoigne of grays-inn , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench , in the second year of the reign of king henry the fourth . sir john lowther of lowther-hall in the county of westmorland , and of newton-reigney in the county of cumberland , baronet of scotland , is descended from thomas de lowther ; one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . knights . the right honourable sir william mountague of croft in the county of lincoln , knight , and of the honourable society of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , formerly attorney general to her most gracious majesty queen katharine , and at this time lord chief baron of his majesties court of exchequer , having been most worthily advanced to that great dignity in april 1676. and there sate with great honour and prudence in the worst of times , executing the trust reposed in him with that equality and justice , that the poisonous tongues of factious and malevolent persons ( of late so forward in aspersing his majesties ministers of publick justice ) never once found the least imaginary foundation whereby they might vent their mallice upon this honourable person , honourable in his place of judicature , but much more in blood , as being the son of edward , and brother of edward , both late lords mountague of boughton , and great grandson to that famous lawyer , sir edward mountague of the middle temple knight , serjant at law , and lord chief justice of both benches in the reign of king henry the 8th , and edward the sixth , being first of the kings-bench , and then of the common pleas. sir john ernley of buriton in the county of wilts , and of much-marcle in the county of hereford , knight , sometime since chancellor and under-treasurer of the court of exchequer , and at present one of the commissioners of his majesties treasury , is descended from sir john ernley of grays-inn knight , solicitor general to king henry the seventh , and afterwards in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth , he was created a serjeant at law , and made attorney general to that prince , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas . sir hugh wyndham of sylton in the county of dorset , and of lincolns-inn knight , was called to the degree of a serjeant at law in the year 1653. but not owning the authority whereby he was so called , his present majesty , in the first year of his most happy restoration , directed his writ to this great and famous lawyer , to call him to the said dignity ; after which , in the year 1672. he was made one of the barons of the exchequer , where he sate two years , and then was further advanced to the common-pleas , and continues one of the justices of that court to this day : he is descended from francis wyndham of lincolns-inn esq ; , a person of great learning and judgement in the law ; in respect whereof , the said francis was first made a serjeant , and afterwards one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth : which said sir hugh wyndham is like to terminate in two daughters and heirs , who are very honourably advanced in marriage , the one to john digby the present earl of bristol , and the other to sir nathaniel napper of dorsetshire , knight and baronet . the reverend sir job charleton of whitton in the county of sallop , knight , serjeant at law , lately chief justice of chester , and now one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , is descended of the ancient and honourable family of the charletons of shropshire , who deduce their descent from sir robert de charleton knight , a person of profound judgement and knowledge in the law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king richard the second . the honourable sir edward atkins of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of his majesties court of exchequer , is a younger son of that eminent lawyer sir edward atkins knight , serjeant at law , reader of the said honourable society in the reign of king charles the first , and afterwards one of the barons of the same court ; which sir edward the father , was the son and heir of richard atkins esq ; , reader of that house in the reign of queen elizabeth , and chief justice of north-wales ; and the son and heir to thomas atkins esq ; , another learned member of lincolns-inn , and twice reader thereof , in the reigns of king henry the eighth and edward the sixth . sir richard may of the city of chichester , in the county of sussex , knight , now the puisne baron of the exchequer , is descended from sir humphry may knight , master of the rolls in the reign of king charles the first . sir robert sawyer of the inner-temple , and of lawrence waltham in the county of berks , knight , his majesties attorney general , whose great loyalty , and profound judgement and abilities in the law , are sufficiently conspicuous to the world , by his prudent management of affairs of great import to his prince , and couragiously effecting the same , in a time when fidelity and loyalty were branded with reproach and infamy ; and to serve his majesty , was looked upon as a disservice to his people , by such whose endeavours tended wholly to the subversion of all civil government and society : notwithstanding which , and the affronts of the faction , did this most worthy gentleman faithfully adhere to the service of his prince in those distracted times . he is the son and heir of sir edmond sawyer of the same society , knight , deceased , late one of the auditors of the court of exchequer . sir john franklyn of lincolns-inn knight , one of the masters of the honourable court of chancery , is descended from nicholas franklyn esq ; , a learned lawyer of that society , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king charles the first . sir robert henley of northington in the county of southampton , and of the inner-temple , knight , master of the kings-bench-office , a place of great honour and profit , is descended from sir william henley knight , reader of grays-inn , and a person very eminent for his great learning in the laws , in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john heath of brastead in the county of kent , and of the inner-temple knight , his majesties attorney general of the dutchy of lancaster , is descended from that great lawyer sir robert heath knight , one of the readers of that house , and solicitor general to king james ; after which , in the reign of king charles the first , he was recorder of the city of london , attorney general to that prince , who called him to the dignity of a serjeant at law , and then advanced him to the honour of lord chief justice of the common-pleas . sir edward turner of little paringdon , and hollingbury in the county of essex knight , is the son and heir to the late famous and learned judge , sir edward turner of little parringdon aforesaid , and of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , speaker of the honourable house of commons , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer , which sir edward was the son and heir to arthur turner of the same society esq ; , serjeant at law , and he the second son of edward turner of paringdon aforesaid , and of the middle-temple esq ; , a person very eminent for his learning and practice in the law , in the reign of king james . sir william scroggs of southweal , in the county of essex , and of the society of grays-inn , knight , one of his most gracious majesties council , learned in the laws , is the son and heir apparent to the learned and memorable sir william scroggs of the same society , knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , and thence removed to that great honour of lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench , where he sate not long , but the clamours of the faction , backed by some haughty members of the house of commons , found a means to get him removed from the said dignity , nor would their malice have ended there , had not the dissolutions of those hot spirited men so fortunately ensued , whereby his enemies became dispersed . sir robert atkins of sapperton , in the county of glocester , of totteridge , in the county of middlesex , and of lincolns-inn , knight of the honourable order of the bath , serjeant at law , lately recorder of the city of bristol , and before that time one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , is the son and heir to sir edward atkins knight , serjeant at law , reader of lincolns-inn in his late majesties reign , and since one of the barons of the court of exchequer , soon after this kings most happy restoration . sir john brampston of screnes , in the county of essex , knight of the bath , and high steward of the burough of malden , is directly descended from that able lawyer , sir john brampston knight , one of the readers of the middle-temple , in the reign of king james , by whom he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and by king charles the first advanced to the place of lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas . sir francis popham of little coat , in the county of somerset , knight of the bath , a person of a very plentiful fortune , and a worthy family , is descended from that eminent and judicious lawyer , sir john popham of the middle-temple , knight , reader of that society , serjeant at law , solicitor and attorney general to queen elizabeth , who afterwards made him lord chief justice of the kings-bench , which great trust was also reposed in him by king james . sir edward sylyard of wetherden in the county of suffolk , knight , is descended , through many honourable ancestors , from john sylyard of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers of that house in the reign of king edward the fourth , by whom he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and by king richard the third made one of the justices of the court of kings-bench , whose son and heir william sylyard esq ; , was an eminent and learned lawyer of the said honourable society , and for many years one of the benchers and governours thereof , in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir robert howard of vasterne , in the county of wilts , and of st. margarets westminster , in the county of middlesex , knight , ( of the noble blood of the howards , and a younger branch of the house of berkshire ) is descended from the learned william howard esq ; , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reigns of king edward the first and second . sir thomas yarborough of snaith , in the west-riding of yorkshire , knight , a person of a very plentiful fortune in those parts , is descended from francis yarborough esq ; , a famous lawyer of lincolns inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir william hoskins of oxtead , in the county of surry , knight , is descended from john hoskins of the middle-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and called to the degree of a serjeant by king james . sir nevill catlyn of darsham-hall , in the county of suffolk , knight , is descended from richard catlyn esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn , and made a serjeant at law by queen mary . a contemporary with this richard ; and of the same society and family was that profound lawyer , sir robert catlyn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench , who leaving one only daughter and heir , she by her intermarriage with sir john spencer of althorpe in the county of northamptom , and of wormleighton , in the county of warwick , knight , annexed a considerable estate to that worthy family , from whom robert spencer the present earl of sunderland , and mr. spencer of ashton in lancashire are lineally descended . sir richard ingoldsby of walridge , in the county of bucks , knight of the bath , is descended from john ingoldsby esq ; , a person very well read in the laws , and one of the barons of the court of exchequer in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir thomas engham of godmingston , in the county of kent , knight , is descended from ralph de hengham or engham , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , in the reigns of king-henry the third and edward the first . sir thomas harvey of the town of st. edmonds-bury , in the county of suffolk , knight , is descended from the late famous and profound lawyer , sir francis harvey knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the middle-temple in the reign of king james , and afterwards one of the justices of the court of common-pleas . sir thomas forster , of egham , in the county of surry , knight , is descended from william forster esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth , after which , in respect of his great learning and abilities , he was made a serjeant at law. sir thomas estcourt of st. dunstans in the west , london , and of pinckney , in the county of wilts , knight , is the son and heir to sir thomas estcourt knight deceased , late one of the masters of the hononrable court of chancery , who was descended from edmond estcourt esq ; , one of the benchers of lincolns-inn , and reader thereof in the reign of king james . sir george crooke of waterstocke , in the county of oxon , knight , is the lineal heir , and eldest male branch , descended from the learned sir john crooke of waterstocke aforesaid , knight , and of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , speaker of the house of commons , recorder of the city of london , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king james . sir nicholas bacon of shrubland hall , in the county of suffolk , knight of the honourable order of the bath , is descended , by a younger son , from that famous lawyer , sir nicholas bacon of grays-inn , knight , attorney of the court of wards and liveries , and lord keeper of the great seal of england in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir thomas stephens of little sadbury , in the county of glocester knight , a person of a signal repute and an ample fortune , is descended from thomas stephens esq ; , an eminent practicer in the law , and attorney general to henry prince of wales , after whose decease he executed the like office to prince charles , ( afterwards king charles the first . ) sir francis brampston of the middle-temple , knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that society , and lately one of the barons of the court of exchequer , is also descended from sir john brampston knight , one of the readers of that honourable house , one of his majesties serjeants at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king charles the first . sir bulstrode whitlocke of chilton park , in the county of wilts , knight ; a person of an ample fortune , is the son and heir to bulstrode whitlocke of the middle-temple esq ; , a man of great note in the late miserable distractions of this kingdom , being one of the commissioners of the great seal , and one of the prime favourers of the factions so predominant in those unhappy days , he being commonly called bulstrode lord whitlock . sir henry wood of lowdham-hall , in the county of suffolk , knight , of an ancient and worthy family in that county , is descended from the learned sir thomas wood knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the seventh . sir edward ascough of north kelsey , in the county of lincoln , knight , high sheriff of the said county , is directly descended , by many worthy ancestors , from sir william ascough knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth ; by which sir william , was this worthy family greatly advanced . sir john pooley of boxtead , in the county of suffolk knight , a family of great antiquity and esteem in that county , a great advancer whereof was john pooley , a learned lawyer , and one of the readers of grayes-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth , lineal ancestor to this honourable person . sir john knivet of ketringham in the county of norfolk , knight of the bath , is descended from john knivet esq ; , serjeant at law , first , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , and afterwards constituted lord chief justice of the kings-bench by king edward the third . sir john clopton of clopton , in the county of warwick , knight , a family of eminent quallity , and long continuance at clopton aforesaid , is descended from walter de clopton esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king edward the third , and advanced to the dignity of lord chief justice of the kings-bench by king richard the second . sir john coventry of pit-minster , in the county of somerset , and of mere in the county of wilts , knight of the honourable order of the bath , is descended from thomas coventry of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common pleas in the reign of king james's father , of the famous thomas lord coventry , first a member of the said society , and afterward lord keeper of the great seal . sir henry fitz-james of in the county of essex , knight , is descended from john fitz-james of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth , sir robert crooke of chekers , in the county of bucks , knight , is a branch of the honourable family of the crooks of waterstocke in oxfordshire , descended from sir john crooke of the middle-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas for many years in the reign of king james . sir peter ball of mynehead in the county of devon , knight , is descended from sir peter ball knight , a late worthy member of the middle-temple , and attorney general to her late majesty mary the queen mother . sir anthony browne of chig well in the county of essex , knight , is descended from that eminent and learned lawyer , sir anthony browne of the middle-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the several reigns of queen mary and queen elizabeth . sir william fleetwood of woodstock in the county of oxon , knight , is descended from william fleetwood esq ; , a learned lawyer of the middle-temple , several times reader of that society , and recorder of the city of london in the time of queen elizabeth . sir robert clench of cretinghall in the county of suffolk , knight , is descended from that famous and eminent lawyer of lincolus-inn , john clench esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer , and afterwards one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir john mallett of st. andrews in west-quantox-head , in the county of somerset knight , recorder of the town of bridgewater in the said county , is the son and heir to thomas mallett of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of his late majesty , where he sate , till for his loyalty to that prince , he was forced to retire , but his majesty , upon his most happy restoration , re-advanced him to the same dignity . sir philip howard of sissinghurst , in the county of kent , knight , is a younger branch of the house of carlisle , of the noble blood , and numerous family of the howards , descended from sir william howard knight , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first , as before is expressed . sir drue drury of rougham , in the county of suffolk , knight is descended from robert drury of lincolns inn , esq ; , one of the readers thereof , speaker of the house of commons , and a person of singular note and esteem in the reign of king henry the seventh . sir edward chisnall of chisnall in the county of lancaster , knight , is descended from richard chisnall esq ; , a learned lawyer , and one of the readers of grays-inn , in the beginning of queen elizabeths reign . this is a family of great antiquity and repute in this county for many generations before this eminent person ; yet did he make a very considerable addition to the ancient inheritance of his ancestors . sir dudly north of the city of london , knight and alderman , is descended from edward north ( afterwards lord north ) a person of great judgement in the laws , and treasurer of the court of augmentations in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir francis wingate of harlington in the county of bedford , knight , is descended from that learned gentleman edmond wingate of grays-inn esq ; , author of that excellent book intituled wingate's maxims . sir gilbert ireland of the hutt and beausey in the county of lancaster , knight , a person of great integrity and honour , and of an ample fortune , is descended from sir thomas ireland knight , reader of grays-inn , and vice chamberlayn of the county palatine of chester in the time of king james . sir richard piggott of dedershall in the county of bucks , knight , is descended from thomas piggott esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the inner-temple in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir john walpole of dunston in the county of lincoln , knight , a person of exemplary loyalty and singular repute , is directly descended from john walpole of grays-inn esq ; , reader thereof , and called to the degree of a serjeant by queen mary . sir thomas scott of scots-hall in the county of kent , knight , is descended , by many honourable ancestors of signal renown and quality in this county , from william scott esq ; , serjeant at law first , one of the justices , and afterwards lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third : a descendant also of which william , was that great lawyer sir john scott knight , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir william carleton of carleton in the county of cumberland , knight , a family of great antiquity , is descended from william de carleton esq ; , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king edward the first . sir walter moyle of bake in the county of cornwall , knight , is descended from walter moyle esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common pleas in the time of king henry the sixth . sir robert pye of farrindon in the county of berks , knight , is descended from sir walter pye of the middle-temple , knight , attorney general of the court of wards and liveries , and one of the readers of that honourable society in the time of king james . sir john arderne of arderne in the county of chester , knight , is descended from sir peter arderne of arderne aforesaid , knight , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer in the time of king henry the sixth , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the first year of the reign of king edward the fourth . sir john zouch of codnor in the county of derby , knight , ( of the noble family of the ancient lords zouch , ) is descended from alan-le-zouch , lord chief justice of england in the reign of king henry the third . sir john archer of theydon garron in the county of essex , knight , is the son and heir to john archer esq ; deceased , serjeant at law , and lately one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , a person of great judgement in the laws . sir lumley robinson of the inner-temple , knight , is the son and heir to the late unfortunate gentleman sir thomas robinson of the same society , knight , one of the prothonotories of the court of common-pleas , which said sir thomas had the hard fate to lose his life in august last ; for a sudden fire breaking forth in or near his chamber , he , to avoid the fury and violence of the flames , adventured to leap out at his chamber window , and thereby ( being a very corpulent man ) so bruised his body , that he soon expired , leaving a great estate to this worthy gentleman . sir charles caesar of bennington place in the county of hertford , knight , is the direct and eldest male branch , descended from sir julius caesar knight , master of the rolls in the reign of king james , father of sir charles caesar knight , also master of the rolls in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first . sir philip boteler of wotton-woodhall in the county of hertford , knight of the bath , is descended from sir john boteler of lincolns-inn , knight , serjeant at law in the time of king henry the seventh , and constituted one of the justices of the common-pleas by king henry the eighth . sir thomas daniel of beswick in the county of york , knight , is descended from william daniell of grays-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that honourable house in the time of queen elizabeth , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james ; which william was a younger son of the ancient and worthy family of the daniels of over-tabley in cheshire , where they have flourished for many ages in great repute , and still remain in the name and person of thomas daniell of over-tabley aforesaid , esq ; . sir william coventry of st. martins in the fields in the county of middlesex , knight , a person of great prudence and excellent parts , is one of the younger sons of thomas lord coventry , lord keeper of the great seal of england . sir john henden of biddenden in the county of kent , knight , is descended from edward henden esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of king james , and afterwards made one of the barons of the exchequer by king charles the first . sir robert owen of tundover in the county of salop , knight , is descended from that famous and learned lawyer thomas owen esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the honourable benchers of lincolns inn , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir francis clerke of the city of rochester , and of vlcombe in the county of kent , knight , is descended from henry clerke of rochester aforesaid , and of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of that house in the reign of king charles the first , which henry was a younger branch of the worthy family of the clerks of willough by in the county of warwick , persons of great esteem and plentiful fortune . sir francis rolles of shapwick in the county of somerset , and of east-tedderley in the county of southampton , knight , a gentleman of an ample fortune in these western counties , is descended from the late learned and most excellent lawyer henry roll esq ; , reader of the inner-temple , and called to the degree of a serjeant at law by his majesty of blessed memory ; after which , in the times of the late rebellion , being no great enemy to the predominant factions of this miserable kingdom , then governing , he was pleased to accept of that great office of lord chief justice of the vpper bench , which he executed under the authority of the late traytor and usurper oliver cromwell , and was the author of those learned vollumes , intituled rolls reports and rolls abridgement . sir roger hill of wesdon in the county of bucks , knight , is descended from roger hill esq ; , called to the dignity of a serjeant at law in the year 1655. by the same usurped powers next above mentioned , and further advanced to sit as one of the barons of the court of exchequer then in being . sir charles littleton of st. martins in the fields , in the county of middlesex , knight , a person of renowned vallour , and military conduct ( and younger brother , and heir apparent to sir henry littleton of frankly in the county of worcester , baronet , ) is descended from sir thomas littleton of the inner-temple , and of frankley aforesaid , knight of the bath , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth . sir marmaduke dalton of in the north riding of yorkshire , knight , is descended from james dalton esq ; , a learned and skilful lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of the benchers of that house in the reign of queen elizabeth , author of several learned books now extant . sir mondiford brampston of woodham-walter in the county of essex , and of the middle-temple , knight , lately one of the masters of the high and honourable court of chancery , is descended from the late famous sir john brampston of the said society , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of his late majesty king charles . sir thomas overbury of burton upon the hill , in the county of glocester , knight , is descended from sir nicholas overbury , knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the middle-temple , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james . the eldest son of which sir nicholas , was that ingenuous gentleman sir thomas overbury knight , poisoned in the tower of london during his imprisonment , by the procurement and contrivance of robert carr , earl of somerset ( a great favourite to king james ▪ ) and his countess . sir edward challoner of gisburgh , in the north riding of the county of york , knight , is descended from robert challoner esq ; , a person eminent for his learning in the laws , and one of the readers of grays-inn in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir robert rich of horndon in the county of essex , knight , is a younger branch of the noble family of rich , earls of warwick , descended from richard rich of the middle-temple , esq ; , one of the readers of that society in the reign of king henry the eighth , afterwards created a peer of this realm , and constituted lord high chancellor of england . sir william vnderhill of idlicote in the county of warwick , knight , is descended from william vnderhill of idlicote aforesaid , and of the inner-temple esq ; , an eminent practicer of the law in the reign of queen elizabeth , by means whereof , he raised a considerable estate in this county , which his posterity now enjoys , he himself being a younger son of edward vnderhill of nether-etendon in this county esq ; , where the eldest branch of this family now maketh his residence . sir edward griffin of dingley in the county of northampton , knight , a family of great honour and interest in that county ▪ and possessor of a very plentiful estate , is descended from sir edward griffin of dingly , knight , one of the readers of lincolns-inn , and solicitor general in the reign of king henry the eighth , also attorney general to edward the sixth , and queen mary . sir robert townsend of the city of coventry in the county of warwick , knight , is descended from sir robert townsend of ludlow in the county of salop , knight , reader of lincolns-inn , chief justice of all wales , and called to the degree and dignity of a serjeant at law by king henry the eighth . sir humphry sydenham of dulverton in the county of somerset , knight , is de●sended from richard de sydenham esq ; , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the beginning of the reign of king richard the second , this is a family of great antiquity , and of signal note in these western counties . sir edward rich of milburton in the county of norfolk , knight , is descended from richard rich of the middle-temple esque , chyrographer of the court of common-pleas , reader of the said society , and lord high chancellor of england , in the several reigns of king henry the eighth and edward the sixth . sir edward philips of mountacute in the county of somerset , knight , is descended from the learned sir edward philips of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that honourable society , and thence advanced to that great office of master of the rolls by his late majesty king james . sir thomas colepeper of hollingbourne in the county of kent , knight , is descended from john colepeper esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the learned justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the fifth . sir christopher calthorpe of basham in the county of norfolk , knight of the bath , is descended from the late learned sir henry calthorpe of the middle-temple , knight , one of the readers thereof , and attorney of the court of wards and liveries in his late majesties reign ; this is a family , which for many generations have flourished in great splendor , and executed many honourable offices relating to this county : nevertheless did this sir henry , by his great prudence and eminent practice , together with the profits arising out of the court of wards , in a great measure augment the ancient inheritance of his ancestors . sir stephen hales now or late of newland , and snitfield in the county of warwick , knight of the bath , is descended from sir charles hales of newland aforesaid , and of grays-inn , knight , one of the readers of that society , and one of her majesties council in the north in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir james altham of latton , in the county of essex , knight of the bath , is descended from sir james altham , knight , one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth , and afterwards called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and made one of the barons of the exchequer by king james . sir george carey of dorr-abby in the county of devon , knight , is descended in a lineal course of many renowned ancestors , from john carey of hollway in the county of devon , esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king richard the second , from which john , by a younger branch , did descend john carey , late earl of dover , and robert carey , late earl of 〈◊〉 monmouth , both lately terminated and extinguished in female heirs , ( the too common fate and utter ruin of many great families of this kingdom . ) sir william york of burton-pedwardine in the county of lincoln , knight , is descended from roger york esq ; , a learned lawyer of grays inn , and one of the readers of that ancient and honourable society in the fifteenth year of the reign of king henry the eighth . sir william bastard of west-allington in the county of devon , knight , a person of great loyalty and repute , is descended from that able and learned practicer of the laws , william bastard esq ; , one of the readers of the middle-temple in the reign of king james . sir robert cary of clovel in the county of devon , knight , is also a younger branch , descended from john cary of hollway aforesaid esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king richard the second , which john was of the ancient family of cary , of cary in the said county , and indeed the prime branch thereof . esquires . i shall begin the catalogue of those of this dignity , with the honourable heneage finch of the inner-temple esq ; , a person endowed with all the accomplishments that learning and education can afford , and a most excellent ornament of the laws ; in the studdy whereof , he hath already arrived to so great perfection , that his most gracious majesty , as a mark of his royal favour , hath been pleased to make choice of him to execute the office of his solicitor general , being but an entrance to those future preferments which his great learning , loyalty and elloquence do most justly intitle him to . he is the second son of the late famous and most incomparable lawyer , heneage earl of nottingham , lord high chancellor of england , and the true inheritor of his great abilities and judgement , who ( as in the catalogue of the nobility i have there mentioned ) was the son and heir of another great lawyer of the same society , namely sir heneage finch knight , serjeant at law , and recorder of the city of london , a younger son of sir thomas finch , and brother to thomas finch earl of winchelsea . roger north of the middle-temple esq ; , chief justice of chester , and one of his majesties learned council in the law , is a younger brother to the right honourable francis lord north , lord keeper of the great seal of england , sons of dudley , late lord north of carthlidge , who was descended from edward lord north , a person eminently learned in the laws , and treasurer of the court of augmentations in the reigns of henry the eighth , edward the sixth , and queen mary . evan seys of the city of gloucester , and of boverton in the county of glamorgan esq ; , several times one of the members of parliament for the said city , was called to the degree of a serjeant at law by the arch-traytor oliver cromwell , in the year 1656 , and again , by his present majesty in the year 1660. which said evan seys ( being by birth of the ancient british race ) is descended from roger seys of boverton aforesaid , a man of great note , and attorney general of the whole principality of wales in the reign of queen elizabeth . tristram coniers of the middle temple , serjeant at law , and of walthamstow in the county of essex esq ; , a person of great judgement and knowledge in the law , is descended from william coniers esq ; , a learned member of the said honourable society , and one of the readers thereof in the beginning of the reign of king charles the first . gyles strangwaies of melbury-samford in the county of dorset esq ; , a gentleman of a very fair estate , is the direct descendant of james strangwaies esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the several reigns of king henry the fifth and sixth . john caryll of harting in the county of sussex esq ; , a person of great learning and integrity , is the eldest malebranch , directly descended from sir john caryll of harting aforesaid , and of the inner-temple knight , one of the readers of that honourable society in the thirty sixth year of the reign of king henry the eighth , after which , by queen mary , in the second year of her reign , he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and lastly by queen elizabeth was constituted her attorney of the dutchy of lancaster ; which sir john caryll , was the son and heir to the no less famous and learned john caryll of the inner-temple aforesaid esq ; , advanced to the like dignity of a serjeant at law by king henry the eighth , in the second year of his reign ; by which two great sages of the law , was considerable part of the estate of this honourable family raised , which remains to their posterity at this day . francis plowden of shiplake in the county of oxon esq ; , and cotton plowden of the city of london , gentleman , are lineally descended from that famous and excellent lawyer of his time , edmond plowden , originally of plowden-hall in the county of salop ( a family of great antiquity there ) and of the middle-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen mary , by whom he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , whose learned works now extant , do sufficiently evidence his great abilities . thomas markham of allerton in the county of nottingham , esque , a person of great integrity and repute , is the son and heir to the late valiant and loyal thomas markham of allerton aforesaid esq ; , who discerning the flames of rebellion breaking forth upon this kingdom , which threatned no less then those miseries and calamities which afterwards befel this distressed nation , did cordially put himself in arms on the behalf of his late majesty , in whose service he was slain , at gainsburgh in lincolnshire , fighting stoutly against the parliament forces , in the year 1643. to the no small diminution of his estate ; which thomas was descended , by many ancestors of the greatest note in this county , from sir john markham , knight , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the fourth , and he the son of robert markham and grandson of john markham , both eminent lawyers . john lukener of west-dean in the county of sussex , esq ; , a gentleman of a very ample fortune , is descended from sir roger lukener , knight , one of the readers of the middle-temple , and made a serjeant at law by queen elizabeth in the latter end of her reign , which sir roger was descended from geffrey de lukener , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the beginning of the reign of king edward the first . john stoner of stoner in the county of oxon esq ; , a family of great honour and antiquity in this county , is descended from john de stoner esq ; , serjeant at law , lord chief baron of the court of exchequer ; and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reigns of king edward the second , and edward the third . thomas sympson of the inner-temple esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned and judicious sir john sympson of the same society , knight , one of his majesties serjeants at law , recorder of the town of st. albans in the county of hertford , and one of the judges of the sheriffs court held in the city of london . thomas gawdy of claxton in the county of norfolk , esq ; , is descended from thomas gawdy of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that house , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the beginning of queen elizabeths reign . william fortescue of buckland in the county of devon , esq ; , is descended from the famous sir john fortescue of buckland aforesaid , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth ; he was a man of profound knowledge and experience in the law , as his learned works ( some part whereof ) still extant do manifest , and by birth was a younger son to sir henry fortescue of wood in the said county of devon , knight , chief justice of ireland , and descended of a family of great honour and antiquity in the west of england . edward tildesly of morlies in the county of lancaster , esq ; , is the son and heir to that great patern of loyalty and valour , sir thomas tildesly of morleys aforesaid , knight , who being in arms on the behalf of his late majesty ; after many brave actions by him atchieved , had the hard fate at last to dye in the bed of honour , being killed in the road near preston in lancashire , fighting stoutly in his princes service ; after which , his body was buried in the place where it fell , under a heap of stones there remaining as a monument to perpetuate his memory , it being a custom amongst the ancient romans , to erect such as marks of honour where any great action was performed : which said sir thomas tildesly was descended , by many renowned and honourable ancestors of this county , from thomas tildesly esq ; , a person famous for his great judgement in the laws of our nation , and called to the dignity of a serjeant at law by king henry the fourth , and from whom also did descend another sir thomas tildesly of grays-inn , knight , one of the readers thereof , and one of the council in the north in the reign of king james , but he dyed without issue male. henry guildeford of hempsted in the county of kent , esq ; , a gentleman of a fair estate , and a most excellent family in that county , is descended from henry de guildeford , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first . richard hopton of cannon-frome ( vulgarly ) can-frome in the county of hereford esq ; , is descended from walter de hopton esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of assize for several years , in the reign of king edward the first . collonel john wyndham of norrington , and of the city of salisbury in the county of wilts esq ; , a gentleman of great loyalty and repute , and possessor of a very considerable estate , is the son and heir of the no less loyal wadham wyndham of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the year 1660. who was descended from francis wyndham of the same society esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the same court in the reign of queen elizabeth ; and he descended of a younger branch of the ancient family of the wyndhams of felbrig-hall in norfolk , where the same still remains and flourisheth in great esteem . john caesar of barkway in the county of hertford , is descended from sir julius caesar of the inner-temple , knight , chancellor of the court of exchequer , and master of the rolls in the reign of king james , and one of the privey council to that prince . francis harvey of the middle-temple , and of cockfield in the county of suffolk , esq ; , lately reader of that honourable society , is descended from sir francis harvey of the same house , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common pleas in the reign of king james . lestrange calthorp of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , is descended from sir henry calthorp of the same society , knight , one of the readers thereof , as also attorney of the court of wards and liveries in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first , descended of the ancient family of the calthorp's of cockthorp in the county of norfolk . william fitz-herbert of tissington in the county of derby , esq ; , a gentleman of an ample fortune , is directly descended from the famous sir anthony fitz-herbert of norbury in the said county of derby , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth : he was descended of an ancient family in the said county ; but having an elder brother , who happening to dye without issue male , a great part of his estate descended to this learned judge , who so greatly augmented the same , that thereby he preferred his younger children ( of which he had divers , both sons and daughters ) by matching them to several worthy families of this kingdom ; and yet left a very plentiful estate to his son and heir . christopher danby of masham , thorp-parrow , and scruton in the north riding of yorkshire , of driffield in the east-riding , and of thornby near leeds in the west riding of the said county , esq ; , a family of great interest in those parts , is descended from sir robert danby knight , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the sixth , and constituted lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the first year of the reign of king edward the fourth . william stanford of salford-priors in the county of warwick , esq ; , is descended , by a younger son , from that great and famous lawyer william stanford esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth ; after which , by queen mary he was made one of the justices of the common-pleas . richard walmesly of dunkenhalgh in the county of lancaster , esq ; , a gentleman of excellent parts , and of an ample estate , is the direct heir to the sometime learned and most expert lawyer of his time , sir thomas walmesly of the honourable society of lincolns inn , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the said court of common-pleas , in the several reigns of queen elizabeth and king james . the right honourable henry coventry of enfield in the county of middlesex esq ; , late one of his present majesties principal secretaries of state , and a person of great integrity and stedfastness to the royal interest , is one of the younger sons of thomas lord coventry . lord keeper of the great seal of england , who was the son and heir to thomas coventry of crombe in the county of worcester , and of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james . robert coke of holkham in the county of norfolk esq ; , is the eldest branch , descended from sir edward coke of the inner-temple knight , so much celebrated for his profound judgement and experience in the laws of this kingdom , in respect whereof he became the autumn reader of the said society , in the thirty fourth year of queen elizabeths reign ; soon after which time , he was constituted solicitor , and then attorney general to that princess , as also recorder of the city of london ; and by king james called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and advanced to the dignity of lord chief justice of the common-pleas , whence he was removed to the like honour in the kings-bench , and elected one of his then majesties privy-council . john crew of misterton in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended from the famous sir randolph crew of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and 〈◊〉 lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king james , which said sir randolph was descended of the antient and worshipful family of the crews of crew-hall in the county palatine of chester , where they have flourished for five hundred years and upwards , as men of the greatest honour and esteem of that county , and are at this day so reputed . william whitlocke of fellis-court in the county of oxon , and of the middle-temple esq ; , lately one of the readers and treasurers of that house , a person very well read in the law , and of eminent note for his great knowledge in the rules and practice of the honourable court of chancery , is a younger son to bulstrode whitloke of the same society , esq ; , one of the commissioners of the great seal of england in the time of the late rebellion , and a leading man in those unhappy days ; which bulstrode was descended from sir james whitlocke of the middle-temple aforesaid , knight , serjeant at law , chief justice of chester , from whence he was removed to the court of common-pleas , and made one of the justices thereof by king james . thomas bedingfield of darsham-hall , and other fair possessions of great vallue in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from the late worthy sir thomas bedingfield of darsham-hall aforesaid , and of grays-inn , knight , one of the readers of that society , attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in his late majesties reign , since which , by his now most gracious majesty , in the year 1660. he was called to the dignity of a serjeant : which said sir thomas was a younger branch of the antient and flourishing family of the bedingfields of norfolk and suffolk . charles dallison of the city of lincoln esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned sir charles dallison of lincoln aforesaid , and of grays-inn , knight , serjeant at law , who was descended from william dallison of the same society , esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the sixth . henry lowther of cokermouth in the county of cumberland , a gentleman of an excellent family in those parts , is descended from thomas de lowther esq ; , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench , in the beginning of the reign of king edward the third . francis beresford of fenny-bently in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from william de beresford esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first , and lord chief justice of the same court in the reign of king edward the second . walter littleton of the city of litchfield in the county of stafford esq ; , is one of the descendants of the memorable sir thomas littleton of the inner-temple , knight of the bath , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reigns of king henry the sixth and edward the fourth , this walter being descended from richard littleton ( second son of the said sir thomas ) a learned lawyer , and one of the readers of that society in the reign of king henry the seventh . richard harpur of little-over in the county of derby , esq ; , is descended from sir richard harpur of swarkeston in the said county , and of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . ralph earle of sawle in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from erasmus earle esq ; , one of the honourable benchers of lincolns-inn in his late majesties reign , and afterwards called to the degree of a serjeant at law. wallop brabazon of eaton , in the county of hereford , esq ; , is directly descended , through alineal course of divers renowned ancestors , from the learned sir roger de brabazon of eastwell in the county of leicester , knight , many years lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the first . william milward of eaton in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from sir thomas milward knight , a lcarned lawyer of lincolns-inn , one of the readers thereof , and chief justice of chester in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first . roger wilbraham of nantwich in the county palatine of chester esq ; , is descended from sir roger wilbraham of nantwitch aforesaid , knight , one of the readers of lincolns-inn in the latter end of the reign of queen elizabeth ; after which , king james advanced him to the dignities of master of the requests , and surveyor of the court of wards and liveries ; which sir roger was a younger branch of the ancient family of the wilbrahams of woodhey in the said county of chester , the chief branch whereof is sir thomas wilbraham of woodhey aforesaid , baronet . william fortescue of cokehill in the county of worcester , and of wethele in the county of warwick esq ; , by a younger son is descended from lewes fortescue of the middle temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and one of the barons of the court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth . richard caryll of west-grinstead in the county of sussex , esq ; , a gentleman of singular repute and excellent parts , is descended from those two famous lawyers of the inner-temple herein before mentioned , namely , john caryll esq ; , and sir john caryll knight his son , both serjeants at law in the reigns of king henry the eighth and queen mary , and the latter , attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in the reign of queen elizabeth . richard brudnell of stanton-wivell in the county of leicester esq ; , ( of the honourable family of robert earl of cardigan ) is descended from robert brudnell esq ; , serjeant at law ; and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . charles caesar of gransden in the county of huntington , and of much-hadham in the county of hertford esq ; , is the second son of sir charles caesar of the inner-temple knight , master of the rolls , son of sir julius caesar of the same society knight , also master of the rolls , and chancellor of the exchequer in the reign of king james . anthony gawdey of the town of ipswich in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from the learned sir thomas gawdey knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the honourable society of the inner-temple , and one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth . henry cavendish of donebridge in the county of derby , esq ; , a person of great honour both by birth and otherwise : ( being nearly related in blood to the duke of newcastle and the earl of devonshire ) is descended from sir john de cavendish knight , lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . edward sylyard of runwell in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from william sylyard of lincolns-inn esq ; , a person of eminent note , and one of the governors of that honourable society for many years , in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth ; which william was descended from john sylyard esq ; , serjeant at law , another learned member of the said house , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king edward the fourth , and constituted one of the justices of the court of kings-bench by richard the third . henry bromley of holt-castle , and other mannors and lands of large extent and vallue in the county of worcester esq ; , a gentleman of great loyalty and repute , is the direct heir to the famous sir thomas bromley of holt-castle aforesaid , and of the inner-temple knight , recorder of the city of london , solicitor general , and lastly lord high chancellor of england in the reign of queen elizabeth ; which sir thomas was the second son of george bromley of bromley in the county of chester and of the inner-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the seventh . francis bell of outwell in the county of norfolk , esq ; , is descended from that incomparable lawyer of his time , sir robert bell of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of queen elizabeth . edward vaughan of yrawscoed in the county of cardigan esq ; , is the son and heir to sir john vaughan of yrawscoed aforesaid knight , serjeant at law , late lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas , and author of the learned vollume , entituled vaughan's reports . stephen anderson of eyworth in the county of bedford , and hamstead in the county of middlesex esq ; , is descended from the learned sir edmond anderson of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the several reigns of queen elizabeth and king james . anthony irby of boston in the county of lincoln esq ; , ( a gentleman of a very plentiful fortune ) is descended from anthony irby of the honourable society of lincolns-inn , esq ; , one of the readers , as also for several years one of the governours thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . william lenthall of besselsleigh and burford in the county of oxon esq ; , is the grandson and heir to william lenthall of lincolns-inn esq ; , reader thereof in the reign of king charles the first : after the cruel murther of which royal martyr , the said william complying with the usurped authority of those miserable times , became a person of principal note and action , being constituted master of the rolls , elected speaker of the house of parliament then s●tting , and frequently honoured with the title of william lord lenthall . richard lovelace of wargrave in the county of berks esq ; , is descended from william lovelace esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of grays-inn in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth . john thymelby of iruham in the county of lincoln , esq ; , a gentleman of great integrity and of ample fortune , is descended from stephen thymelby esq ; , very eminent for his learning in the law , and one of the benchers of lincolns-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . george mordant of ickwell in the county of bedford esq ; , is directly descended by a younger branch from the right honourable john mordant of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , and attorney of the dutchey of lancaster in the reign of king henry the seventh , after which , by king henry the eighth he was created baron of turvey in the county of bedford . nicholas overbury of barton on the heath , in the county of vvarwick esq ; , is directly descended by a younger son from sir nicholas overbury of burton on the hill in the county of glocester , and of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king james . hugh trevanion of treluggan in the county of cornwall esq ; is descended from john trevanion esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the eighth year of the reign of king edward the third . geffrey nightingal of knesworth in the county of cambridge esq ; , is descended from geffrey nightingal esq ; , one of the readers of grays-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . allexander crook of studly , in the county of bucks esq ; , is one of the younger branches , descended from sir john crook of waterstock in the county of oxon , and of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . robert berkley of spechly in the county of worcester esq ; , a person of rare accomplishments , singular repute , and of an ample fortune , is the grandson and heir to the learned and loyal sir robert berkly of the middle temple knight , serjeant at law , and for many years one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of his late majesty of blessed memory : but at last the dark clouds of tyranny and rebellion over-spreading this miserable nation ; and all such as favoured or stood firm in their duty and allegiance to their prince , being branded with that ignominious title of malignants and enemies to the arbitrary government of those unhappy days , this great lawyer had the honour to be one of those many worthy and loyal patriots as were then deposed and bereft of their places of trust , and great part of their estates , for not complying with the barbarous cruelties then practiced . mondeford brampston of the middle-temple esq ; , recorder of the burrough of maulden in the county of essex , is descended from sir john brampston of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king charles the first . john mingay of gimingham in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from francis mingay esq ; , one of the readers of the inner-temple , in the reign of king james . john breerewood of the city of chester esq ; , is descended from sir robert brerewood of the middle-temple , knight , serjeant at law , recorder of chester , and one of the justices of the court of the kings-bench in the reign of king charles the first . vvilliam noy of pendrea in the county of cornwall esq ; , is descended from that expert lawyer , vvilliam noy esq ; ( a man of great practice ) one of the benchers of lincolns-inn , and attorney general to his late majesty king charles the first in the beginning of his reign . alexander denton of hillesden in the county of bucks esq ; , is descended from thomas denton a learned lawyer of the middle-temple , and one of the benchers thereof in the reigns of queen mary and queen elizabeth . edward turpin of basingbourne in the county of cambridge esq ; , is descended from john turpin esq ; , one of the governors of lincolns-inn in the reign of king edward the fourth . thomas catesby of ecton in the county of northampton , and of harmead in the county of bucks esq ; , a family of great antiquity , is descended from sir john catesby knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth . francis meynell of bradley in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from robert meynell of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth ; and afterwards called to the dignity of a serjeant at law. william ayloff of chisele in the county of essex , esq ; , is descended from william ayloff esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the readers of lincolns-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth , and he descended from another william ayloff esq ; , a learned lawyer of the same society , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the seventh . bazill fitz herbert of norbury in the county of derby , and of swinnerton in the county of stafford , esq ; , a gentleman of a very fair estate , is descended from the famous and learned sir anthony fitz herbert of norbury aforesaid , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth ; a younger son of which sir anthony , was william fitz herbert , who by marriage with elizabeth , daughter and co-heir to humphry swinnerton of swinnerton aforesaid , esq ; , annexed that lordship and other lands of good vallue to this family , and so continue to this day in the possession of the said bazill . william palmes of ashwell in the county of rutland esq ; , is descended , by many honourable ancestors , from guy palmes of the middle-temple , esq ; , who , for his great judgement and abilities in the law , was called to the state and dignity of a serjeant by king henry the seventh ; and by king henry the eighth constituted one of his council , learned in the laws . william petre of stanford in the county of essex esq ; , ( of the noble family of the lord petre ) is a younger branch , descended from sir william petre knight , doctor of the civil law , secretary of state to king henry the eighth , and a man of great action in most of the revolutions of that princes reign . richard dowdswell of poole-court in the county of vvorcester esq ; , enjoys a very fair estate in that and other adjacent counties , as grand-son and heir to richard dowdswell of poole-court aforesaid esq ; , an eminent practicer in the laws , and principle of new-inn , as also steward to the right honourable george lord coventry . daniel kingsmill of kings-clere in the county of south-hampton esq ; , is descended from george kingsmill of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth ; which george was descended from john kingsmill esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the same court in the reign of king henry the seventh . george scott of chigwell in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from john scott esq ; , a learned lawyer and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth . robert coke of trusly in the county of derby esq ; , is descended by a younger son from sir edward coke of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , attorney general to queen elizabeth , and lord chief justice of both benches in the time of king james . thomas snagg of milbrooke in the county of bedford esq ; , is descended from thomas snagg esq ; , a learned and able lawyer of lincolns-inn , and twice reader thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth ; who in the two and twentieth year of her reign , advanced him to the degree of a serjeant at law. peter phesant of vpwood in the county of huntington esq is descended from peter phesant of grays-inn , esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king james , who was the son and heir to peter phesant another famous lawyer , and one of the readers of that honourable society in the reign of queen elizabeth ; who constituted him her attorney for the northern parts of this kingdom . william purefoy of the sow , in the county of warwick esq ; , is descended from humphrey purefoy of barwell in the county of leicester , and of grays-inn esq ; , one of the readers of that house in the reign of queen elizabeth , which humphrey was a younger branch of the antient and numerous family of the purefoys of drayton in the said county of leicester , where they have flourished for above five hundred years past , sir henry purefoy of wadley in the county of berks and of drayton aforesaid , baronet , being the principal and eldest branch thereof . edward bromley of hampton in the county of chester esq ; , the eldest branch of that honourable and antient family , is descended from george bromley of the inner-temple , esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and chief justice of chester , in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth , which george was the eldest brother to sir thomas bromley knight , lord high chancellor of england , and the eldest son and heir to george bromley esq ; , another learned lawyer of the same society , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the seventh . samuel trotman of siston in the county of glocester , and of bucknell in the county of oxon , esq ; , one of the utter baristers of the inner-temple , and a person of a very fair estate , is descended from edward trotman esq ; , one of the readers of that honourable society in the third year of the reign of his late majesty king charles the first . richard norton of southwick in the county of southampton esq ; , is descended from richard norton esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the fourth , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reigns of king henry the fifth and sixth . john turner of walden in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from edward turner of little-paringdon in the said county esq ; , an eminent lawyer of the middle-temple , and one of the benchers thereof in the reign of king james . thomas babington of rothely in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended by many worthy and honourable ancestors from sir william babington knight ; , serjeant at law , attorney general to king henry the fourth and fifth ; by which last prince he was advanced to that great dignity of lord chief baron of the court of exchequer , and from thence removed to the like honour in the court of common-pleas being constituted lord chief justice thereof . phillip caryll of shipley in the county of sussex esq ; , is descended from sir john caryll of harting in this county , and of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and attorney of the dutchy of lancaster , son and heir to john caryll of the same society esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of henry the eighth . thomas coventry of chilvers coton in the county of warwick esq ; , ( uncle to john now lord coventry ) is descended from thomas coventry of the inner-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth , called to the dignity of a serjeant at law , and made one of the justices of the court of common pleas , in whose reign he dyed , leaving thomas coventry esq ; his son and heir , who studying the laws in the same society , became recorder of london , solicitor and attorney general to king james , lord keeper of the great seal of england , and baron of alesburough in the reign of king charles the first . thomas atkins of easendon in the county of hertford esq ; is descended from thomas atkins esq ; , a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth . richard maunsfield of west-leak in the county of nottingham esq ; , is the son and heir to thomas maunsfield of west-leak aforesaid esq ; , an ingenious practicer of the law , and a barister of the inner-temple in the reign of king charles the first . edward willoughby of boreplace in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from the learned sir thomas willoughby of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth ; which thomas intermarrying with the sole daughter and heir of sir robert read knight , lord chief justice of the same court , did thereby annex an ample estate to this honourable family , amongst whom was edward willoughby of boreplace aforesaid esq ; , who added very considerably thereunto by a match with one of the daughters ; and coheirs to sir francis willoughby of wollaton in the county of nottingham knight , descended in a direct course of succession , from sir richard de willoughby knight , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the beginning of the reign of king edward the third ; from which sir richard , by younger sons , did descend sir henry willoughby late of risley in the county of derby baronet , and sir willoughby late of willoughby in the county of nottingham baronet , both lately terminated in daughters and heirs , who have carried the inheritance of those two honourable persons to several worthy families of this kingdom . edward rich of dowdeswell in the county of glocester esq ; is the son and heir to the late learned sir edward rich of dowdswell aforesaid knight , one of the readers of lincolns inn , and a person eminent for his great experience in the laws in the beginning of his now majestie 's reign . george willoughby of cossale in the county of nottingham esq ; of the ancient family of the lords willoughby of eresby , is descended from sir thomas willoughby of lincolns-inn aforesaid knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . richard shuckburgh of burton upon dunsmore , and birdingbury in the county of warwick esq ; is directly descended from john shuckburgh of birdingbury aforesaid , one of the six clerks in chancery in the reign of queen elizabeth ; which john being a wary provident person , purchased all or the greatest part of the estate which this worthy gentleman is now possessed of . francis morgan of kingsthorp in the county of northampton esq ; is descended from francis morgan of heyford in the county aforesaid , and of the middle-temple esq ; serjeant at law , one of the readers of that house , and one of the justices of the court of kings-bench , in the reign of queen mary . robert brome of woodlow in the county of warwick esq ; is descended from john brome of badsly-chiston in this county esq ; a lawyer of very eminent note in the reign of king henry the sixth , and purchasor of this mannor of woodlow ; which he settled upon nicholas brome his son and heir , who left it to ralph his son by a third venter ( the lineal ancestor of the said robert ) which john was himself the grandson and heir to robert brome of warwick esq ; another learned lawyer in the reign of king richard the second . william seyes of killan in the county of glamorgan esq ; is descended from roger seyes of boverton in the said county esq ; a learned lawyer , and attorney-general of all wales , in the reign of queen elizabeth . gilbert boon of hockerton in the county of nottingham esq is the son and heir to the late learned and loyal gilbert boon of grayes-inn , esq ; called to the degree of a serjeant at law by his late majesty king charles the first , in the year 1636. after which he endured great oppressions in the time of the late rebellion , for his exemplary loyalty and stedfastness to his prince . charles skipwith of gosberton in the county of lincoln esq ; is descended from william de skipwith esq ; serjeant at law , one of the barons of the court of exchequer , in the reign of king edward the third . thomas wetenhall of east-peckham in the county of kent esq ; a gentleman of honorable extraction and great integrity , is descended from george wetenhall esq ; a learned lawyer of grayes-inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth . john philipps of the inner-temple esq ; one of the auditors of his majestie 's court of exchequer , is descended from sir edward philipps of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and master of the rolls in the reign of king james . cecill tirwhitt of cameringham in the county of lincoln esq ; a family of great antiquity and honor in that county , is descended from robert tirwhitt an eminent lawyer , in the reigns of king henry the fourth and fifth , by which two victorious princes , he was first called to the dignity of a serjeant at law , and then constituted one of the justices of the court of common-pleas , out of which court he was removed to the like place in the king's-bench . henry reynell of laytham in the county of middlesex esq ; is descended from richard reynell esq ; reader of the middle temple in the reign of king james . edward atkins of albury-hall in the county of hertford esq ; is descended from thomas atkins of lincolns-inn esq ; one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth . michael lister of burwell in the county of lincoln esq with other worthy gentlemen of that name and family in the said county , are descended from sir richard lister of the middle temple knight , serjeant at law , solicitor-general to king henry the eighth ; which prince in the last year of his reign , constituted him lord chief justice of the king's-bench . thomas herlakenden of woodchurch in the county of kent esq ; a family of long continuance there is descended from thomas herlakenden of woodchurch aforesaid , and of grayes-inn esq ; a person of great judgment in the laws of this nation , and one of the readers thereof in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . george townsend of wrotham in the county of norfolk esq ; is descended from sir roger townsend of lincolns-inn knight , reader thereof in the reign of king edward the fourth , by whom he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law. after which , by king richard the third , he was made one of the justices of the common-pleas , and in that place continued by king henry the seventh . richard raynsford of dallington in the county of northampton esq ; is the eldest son and heir to sir richard raynsford of dallington aforesaid knight , serjeant at law deceased , first one of the barons of the exchequer , then one of the justices of the kings-bench , and lastly , lord chief justice of that court ; in which he sate not long before he was eased of the burthen thereof by his majesties writ . robert heath of o●ford in the county of kent , and of the inner-temple esq ; called to the degree of a serjeant at law in hillary term last , is descended from that excellent lawyer sir robert heath knight , serjeant at law , a worthy member of the same society , recorder of the city of london , and lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king charles the first . francis bacon of the city of norwich esq ; recorder of the said city , lately one of the readers of grayes-inn , is descended from francis bacon esq ; serjeant at law , also one of the readers of that honorable society , and one of the justices of the common-pleas , in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first . george hill of st. martins in the fields in the county of middlesex esq ; is the son and heir to george hill late of clifford's inn esq ; a person of great practice and eminent repute , as also one of his majestie 's justices of the peace for the county of middlesex for many years before his death . robert challoner of the city of london esq ; is descended from robert challoner esq ; a learned lawyer of grays-inn , and one of the readers thereof in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . francis twisden of the inner-temple esq ; one of the masters of the examiners office belonging to the court of chancery , is one of the younger sons of the late famous and profound lawyer , sir thomas twisden of bradburne in the county of kent , and of the inner-temple aforesaid , knight and baronet , serjeant at law , and for many years one of his present majejestie's justices of the court of king's bench. francis crawley of enfield in the county of middlesex , and of someris near luton in the county of bedford esq ; is descended from sir francis crawley knight , serjeant at law , reader of grayes-inn , and lastly , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . henry montague of the inner-temple esq ; a person of noble extraction , is descended from sir henry montague of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the court of king's-bench , and lord high treasurer of england in the reign of king james ; after which , he became earl of manchester , and was descended by a younger son from sir edw. montague of the said honorable society of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the common-pleas , in the reigns of king henry the eighth , and edward the sixth . edward diggs of chilham-castle in the county of kent esq ; , ( 〈…〉 of good account there ) is descended from sir dudley diggs knight , master of the rolls in the reign of his late majesty ; which sir dudley was descended from richard diggs of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king james . john danvers of shackerston , in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended by many worthy ancestors from sir robert danvers of lincolns inn knight , serjeant at law , recorder of the city of london , first one of the barons of the court of exchequer , and afterwards one of the justices of the court of common-pleas for many years in the reign of king henry the sixth . george markham of werksopp-lodge in the county of nottingham esq ; , is descended , by many eminent ancestors , from sir john markham knight , one of the justices of the court of common pleas in the reign of king henry the fourth , who was descended from robert markham , ( son of john ) both very learned lawyers in the reign of king edward the second , and edward the third , which said sir john was father also to the famous sir john markham knight , lord chief justice of the same court , from whom is descended sir robert markham of sedgebrooke baronet , herein before mentioned amongst the baronets . william booth of witton in the county of warwick esq ; , is descended from william booth of witton aforesaid , and of the middle-temple esq ; , reader thereof in the reign of king charles the first ; which william was a younger branch of the honorable family of the booths of dunham-massey in cheshire , originally of barton in lancashire . nevill brome of clifton in the county of oxon esq ; , a gentleman of an ancient family in this county and warwickshire , is descended from robert brome of warwick esq ; , a person very eminent for his knowledge in the laws . in respect whereof , he was made steward to thomas de beauchamp earl of warwick , who lived in the reign of king richard the second , and thereby layed the first step to the estate and preferments , which in succeeding ages accrewed to his posterity . richard seys of swansey in the county of glamorgan esq ; , is descended from roger seys of boverton in the said county esque , attorney general of all wales for many years in the reign of queen elizabeth . cliston rhodes of sturton in the county of nottingham esq ; , is a younger branch , descended from sir francis rhodes of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . george montague of st. martin's in the fields , in the county of middlesex esq ; , is descended from sir henry montague of the midale-temple knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the king's-bench in the reign of king james ; which sir henry was the grandson of sir edward montague of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the same court in the reign of king henry the eighth . john fountayn of melton upon the mount , in the west riding of yorkshire esq ; , is the son and heir to that able lawyer john fountayn , late serjeant at law deceased , a person of very considerable practice and great wealth . thomas sackvill of seddlescombe in the county of sussex esq ; , is descended from sir richard sackvill knight , one of the benchers of grayes-inn in the reign of king henry the eighth , and soon after became under treasurer of the court of exchequer . george harpur of twiford in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from the learned sir richard harpur of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of that ancient house , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . william cartwright of normanton in the county of nottingham esq ; , is the son and heir of william cartwright of normanton aforesaid esq ; ; barister at law , and a person of considerable repute and practice in this county . john sylyard of penshurst in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from john sylyard of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king edward the fourth , and by king richard the third called to the state and dignity of a serjeant at law , and made one of the justices of the kings-bench . thomas ascough of west-terrington in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended by a younger son from sir william ascough of colling in the said county of lincoln knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth . john bingham of bingham's-melcombe in the county of dorset esq ; , is descended from sir richard bingham knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reigns of king henry the sixth , and edward the fourth . george faunt of foston in the county of leicester esq ; , a gentleman of a very ancient and worshipful family in that county , is descended from william de faunt esq ; , one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . clement spelman of magdalen in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from clement spelman esq ; , late serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the year 1663. who was descended from sir john spelman of grayes-inn knight , ( the first reader of that house ) serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of k. henry the eighth . francis howard of thornthwait in the county of westmorland , is a younger branch of the noble house of the howards dukes of norfolk , and consequently descended from william howard esq ; one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first . francis lovelace of baynhurst in the county of berks esq ; , is descended from william lovelace of grays-inn esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of queen elizabeth . william bromley of baginton in the county of warwick esq ; , is descended from sir thomas bromley of the inner-temple , knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king henry the eighth ; after the death of which prince he was constituted chief justice of that court by king edward the sixth : this sir thomas was the son and heir of sir john bromley of radington in the county of chester knight , by his second wife , the daughter of richard widvill earl rivers ; but it so fell out , that sir john had before entailed his whole estate upon the issue of his first lady , who were all daughters , insomuch that the said sir thomas left little to his posterity , but what was of his own acquiring . thomas townsend of horseford in the county of norfolk esq ; , is one of the descendants of sir roger townsend of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the seventh . john chamberlayn of chilvers-coton , in the county of warwick esq ; , is descended from richard chamberlayn of chilvers-coton aforesaid , and of lincolns-inn esq ; , clerk of the court of wards and liveries in the reign of king charles the first . charles baldwin of stoake in the county of salop esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned sir samuel baldwin of stoake aforesaid , and of the inner-temple knight , one of his majesties serjeants at law deceased , which sir samuel was descended from sir john baldwin of the same society knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . — paston of paston and appleton in the county of norfolk esq ; , a gentleman of an honourable family of great antiquity , is descended from sir william paston of paston knight , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of henry the sixth . john keeling of southill in the county of bedford esq ; , is the son and heir to sir john keeling of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , lately deceased , son of another sir john keeling of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the common pleas in his now majestie 's reign . william glanvill of broad-hinton in the county of wilts esquire , is descended from the learned john glanvill of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas towards the latter end of q elizabeths reign . francis fitz herbert of somersall-herbert in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from sir anthony fitz herbert of norbury in the said county knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . john coke of melburne in the county of derby esq ; , is descended by a younger son from the famous sir edward coke of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king james . john hobart of the city of norwich in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from sir james hobart of lincolns-inn knight , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king edward the fourth , and attorney general to king henry the seventh . robert jenny of knats-hall in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from christopher jenny esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the eighth ; which christopher was descended from thomas jenny esq ; an eminent lawyer , several times reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king edward the fourth . baldwyn mallett of poyntington in the county of somerset esq ; , is descended from baldwyn mallett of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . edward skipwith of ketsby in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from william de skipwith esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king edward the third . roger downes of wardley in the county of lancaster esq , is descended from roger downes esq , reader of grayes inn , and vice-chamberlain of the county palatine of chester in the reign of king james . adrian scroope of cockrington in the county of lincoln esq ; , ( brother and heir to the ingenious sir carr scroope baronet , deceased ) is descended by many honorable ancestors and peers of this realm , from geffery de scroope lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of edward the second . vincent denn of denn's-hill in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from thomas denn of denn's-hill aforesaid , a learned practicer of the laws , and reader of the inner temple in the third year of the reign of king charles the first . clement higham of barrow in the county of suffolk esq ; ▪ is descended from richard higham of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of richard the third , and afterwards by king henry the seventh he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law. anthony drury of intwood in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from robert drury of lincolns-inn esq ; , a person of great learning , and speaker of the house of commons in the reign of king henry the seventh . thomas colepeper of hackington in the county of kent esq ; , a younger branch of that truly noble and worthy family of that county , who derive their descent from john colepeper esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the fifth . william bassett of cheale alias chedle in the county of lincoln esque , a person of very noble and honorable parentage , being branched out of the ancient stock of the lords bassett of drayton , whose ancestor was ralph de bassett lord chief justice of england ( the first advancer of this sometime renowned family ) in the reign of king henry the first , which is now almost six hundred years since . richard lister of thorp-arnold in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended from sir richard lister knight , serjeant at law , reader of the middle-temple , and lord chief justice of the kings bench in the reign of king henry the eighth . john petre of feedlers in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from the famous sir william petre of corbican in the county of devon knight , doctor of the civil laws , and one of the principal secretaries of state to that resolute prince king henry the eighth . evers armyne of osgodby in the county of lincoln esq ; , ( the only remaining branch of that honorable and worthy family ) is descended from william armyne esq ; , a learned lawyer , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king henry the fourth . robert oldsworth of bradley in the county of glocester esq ; , is descended from william oldsworth esq ; , reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . thomas turner of queendon in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from edward turner of paringden in the said county , and of the middle-temple esque , a learned lawyer , and one of the benchers of that honorable society in the reign of king james . edward roper of eltham in the county of kent e●que the eldest branch of that ancient and honorable family , is descended from john roper of eltham aforesaid , and of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and attorney general to king henry the eighth . edward briscoe of aldenham in the county of hertford esq ; , is descended from william briscoe esq ; , a person of great experience in the laws , and several times reader of lincolns-inn in the reign of king edward the fourth john empson of boston in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from sir richard empson knight , a learned lawyer , and a person of great note , and employed by king henry the seventh in matters of confiderable moment and advantage to that provident prince . but this sir richard empson incurring the hatred of the people , through the great exactions and oppressions which he imposed upon them ; at length they formed an accusation against him and edmond dudley esq ; , serjeant at law ( father to john dudley duke of northumberland ) both joyntly concerned , of divers misdemeanors & undue courses by them committed beyond the bounds of their authority , for which at length they both suffered death ▪ edmond clench of great belingshall in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from john clench of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth . hugh cholmley of newton-grange in the county of york esq ; , is descended from sir roger cholmley of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth . montfort spelman of narborough in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from the learned sir john spelman of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king henry the eighth . richard crooke of marston in the county of oxon esq ; , is the son and heir to richard crooke of marston aforesaid , and of the inner-temple aforesaid esq ; , serjeant at law deceased , and lately recorder of the city of oxon ; which richard was descended from sir john crooke of the same society knight , serjeant at law , recorder of london , speaker of the house of commons , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king james . john brooke of redlesham in the county of suffolk , is descended from sir robert brooke of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law and lord chief justice of the common-pleas in the reign of queen mary . william frampton of moreton in the county of dorset esq ; , is descended from robert frampton esq ; , one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king henry the sixth . st. leger scroop of louth in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended by many honorable ancestors , from geoffrey de scroop lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king edward the second . francis tirwhitt of misson in the county of nottingham esq ; , a gentleman of honorable blood , is descended from robert tirwhitt esq ; , a serjeant at law , and one of the justices of both benches in the several reigns of king henry the fourth and fifth . edmond walter of godstow in the county of oxon esq ; , is descended from the learned sir john walter of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the exchequer in the reign of king james ; which sir john was the son of sir edmond walter of ludlow in the county of salop , and of the same society knight , several times reader thereof , and chief justice of south-wales in the reign of queen elizabeth . philip bacon of wolverton in the county of suffolk esq ; , with divers other worthy gentlemen of that name in the said county , are descended from john de bacon serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the second . john hody of north-over in the county of somerset esq ; , is descended from sir william hody knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in the reigns of king henry the seventh and henry the eighth ; which said sir william was descended from sir john hody knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the court of kings-bench in the reign of king henry the sixth . vnton crooke of heddington in the county of oxon esq ; , is descended from vnton crooke of the inner-temple esq ; ; called to the dignity of a serjeant at law by mr. oliver cromwell ; which vnton was descended from sir john crooke of waterstock in the said county , and of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of kings-bench in the reign of queen elizabeth and king james . ralph darnall of lawton-hope in the county of hereford esq ; , is descended from john darnall esq ; ; serjeant at law , one of the barons of the court of exchequer in the reign of king edward the sixth . francis charlton of apley in the county of salop esq ; , a gentleman of a very plentiful estate , and of a very ancient family , is descended from sir richard de charlton knight , lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king richard the second . willliam lenthall of great hasely in the county of oxon esq ; , is the grandson of sir john lenthall knight , late marshal of the court of kings-bench , and prison thereunto belonging : the inheritance of which office is vested in the said william . william tate of de-la pree in the county of northampton esque , is descended from francis tate of the middle-temple esq ; ; one of the readers thereof in the reign of king james . roger sydenham of shilgate in the county of somerset esq ; , is descended from richard de sydenham esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king richard the second . henry bromley of vpton in the county of worcester esq ; , is descended from the famous sir thomas bromley of the inner-temple knight , solicitor general , and lastly , lord high chancellor of england in the reign of queen elizabeth . john danvers of bainton in the county of wilts esq ; , is descended from robert danvers of lincolns-inn esq ; , a person of great learning in the law , in respect whereof he was called to the degree of a serjeant at law , and made one of the justices of the court of common-pleas by king henry the sixth . the honorable colonel edward sackvill of st. martins in the fields in the county of middlesex esq ; , a person of exemplary loyalty and valour , is of the noble blood ● of the sackvills earls of dorset , descended from sir richard sackvill of buckhurst in the county of sussex , and of grayes-inn knight ; one of the benchers of that society , and under treasurer of the court of exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth . the honorable edward howard of vrchfont in the county of wilts esq ; , ( a younger son of thomas late earl of berkshire ) is descended from william howard esq ; , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the first . isaac farfax of dunsley in the county of york esq ; , is descended from the learned sir guy farfax knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reigns of king edward the fourth and richard the third . anthony ingilby of clape-dale in the west-riding of yorkshire esq ; , is descended from thomas de ingilby esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the kings bench in the reign of king edward the third , from whence he was removed , and made one of the justices of the common pleas by king richard the second . the honorable robert philipps esq ; , one of the gentlemen of his majestie 's bed-chamber , is descended from sir edw. philipps of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and master of the rolls in the reign of his late majesty king james . nicholas delves of camberwell in the county of surrey esq ; , ( a branch of the ancient name and family of delves of cheshire ) is descended from sir john delves knight , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . robert sheffield of kensington in the county of middlesex esq ; , is descended ( by a younger son of edmond late earl of mulgrave ) from sir robert sheffield of botterwick in the county of lincoln , and of the inner-temple knight , recorder of london , and speaker of the house of commons in the reign of king henry the seventh . edmond pooley of collumbyne-hall in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from edmond pooley esq ; , one of the readers of grayes-inn , and a person very eminent for his learning the laws , in the reign queen elizabeth . john fitz herbert of luckington in the county of wilts esq ; , is descended ( by a younger son ) from sir anthony fitz herbert of norbury in the county of derby knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common pleas in the reign of king henry the eighth . john vavasour of fogarthorp in the east-riding of the county of york esq ; , is descended from john vavasour of the middle-temple esq ; , the first reader of that honorable society in the 17th year of king henry the seventh : after which he was called to the dignity of a serjeant at law , and constituted one of the justices of the common-pleas by that prince . dymock walpole of louth in the county of lincoln , and of grayes-inn esq ; , is descended from john walpole of grayes-inn aforesaid esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and one of her majesties learned serjeants at law in the reign of queen mary . thomas petyte of boughton vnder bleane in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from john petyte of grayes-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth . john gerrard of hilderston in the county of stafford esq ; , is descended from sir gilbert gerrard of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , attorney general for above twenty years together , and also master of the rolls in the reign of queen elizabeth . thomas colepepper of bedgebury in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from john colepepper esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the fifth . henry drax of sibsey in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from richard drax a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of the governors thereof for many years in the reign of king henry the sixth . anthony drury of intwood in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from robert drury esq ; one of the readers of lincolns-inn , and speaker of the house of commons in the reign of king henry the seventh . john kingsmill of sandleford in the county of berks esq ; , is descended from john kingsmill esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the seventh . william walsh of abberlylodge in the county of worcester esq ; , is descended from thomas walsh esq ; remembrancer of the court of exchequer , and one of the barons of the same court in the reign of king henry the eighth . john stapleton of warter in the county of york esq ; , is descended from nicholas de stapleton esq ; one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king henry the third and edward the first . john wyvell of osgerby in the county of york esq ; , is descended from john de wyvell , one of the barons of the exchequer , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the third . thomas keble of newton in the county of suffolk esq ; , with several other worthy gentlemen of that name , family , and county , are descended from thomas keble esq ; , a learned serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the seventh . john higham of east-ham in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from richard higham of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and called to the degree of a serjeant at law by king henry the seventh . henry henly of coleway in the county of dorset esq ; , is descended from sir walter henly knight , a learned lawyer of grayes-inn , and twice reader of that society in the reign of king henry the eighth . charles trevanion of goran in the county of cornwall esq ; , is descended from john trevanion serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the beginning of the reign of king edward the third . christopher turner of milton-erneys in the county of bedford esq ; , is the son and heir to sir christopher turner late of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , and one of the barons of the exchequer deceased . edward north of benaker in the county of suffolk esq ; , is a younger branch of that noble family descended from sir edward north knight , treasurer and chanc●llor of the court of augmentations in the reign of king henry the eighth . bryan farfax of denton in the east-riding of yorkshire esq ; , is descended from sir guy farfax knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king edward the fourth . --- cavendish of cavendish in the county of suffolk esq ; , the principal branch of that truely honorable and ancient family is descended from sir john de cavendish knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third and richard the second . thomas windham of witham in the county of somerset esq ; , is descended from francis windham of lincolns-inn esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . james hobart of great plumstead in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from sir james hobart of lincolns-inn knight , one of the readers thereof , and attorney general to king henry the seventh . john boys of fredvill in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from john boys esq ; , an eminent lawyer of grayes-inn , and several times one of the readers thereof , and attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in the reign of king henry the eighth . thomas berkley of tibberton in the county of worcester esq ; , is descended from sir robert berkley of spechly in the said county of worcester , and of the middle temple knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king charles the first . walter faunt of kingsthorpe in the county of northampton esq ; , is descended from william faunt esq ; , one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the third . thomas carus of horton in the county of lancaster esq ; , is descended from thomas carus of the middle-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof , and called to the degree of a serjeant at law by queen mary , and afterwards by queen elizabeth was constituted one of her justices of the kings-bench . john bagshaw of lulworth in the county of northampton esq ; , is descended from edward bagshaw of the middle-temple esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king charles the first of blessed memory . thomas conningsby of hampton court in the county of hereford esq ; , a family of great interest and antiquity in that county , is descended from humphrey conningsby esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the first year of the reign of king henry the eighth . john cave of horsepoole-grange in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended from john de cave , one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of edward the first . lionell gosnold of otley-hall in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from john gosnold esq ; , a learned lawyer of grayes-inn , and twice reader of that society in the reigns of king henry the eighth and edward the sixth . charles holloway of the city of oxon esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned charles holloway of the inner-temple esq ; , serjeant at law deceased . ambrose philipps of the inner-temple esq ; , a person of great learning and judgment in the laws , and particularly in the rules and practice of the court of chancery , is the son and heir to ambrose philipps gentleman , a worthy practicer in the same court. joseph offley of kentish town in the county of middlesex esq ; , enjoyes a very fair estate as brother , heir , and executor to robert offley late of the middle-temple esq ; deceased . thomas hesketh of rufforth in the county of lancaster esq ; , a gentleman of an ample estate and a very ancient family in that county , is descended from sir thomas hesketh of grayes-inn knight , one of the readers thereof , attorney of the court of wards and liveries , and one of the council in the north in the reign of queen elizabeth and king james ; which sir thomas was descended from richard hesketh esq ; , another able lawyer , and reader of the same society in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . john glanvill of the city of exeter in the county of devon , and of lincolns-inn esq ; , is descended from the learned sir john glanvill of the same society knight , called to the dignity of a serjeant at law by king charles the first ; which sir john was descended from john glanvill of the same society esq ; serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the court 〈◊〉 of common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . gilbert hody of cornworthy in the county of devon esq ; . is descended from sir william hody knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the exchequer in the reign of king henry the eighth ; which sir william was descended from sir john hody knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the kings bench in the reign of king henry the sixth . richard hutton of goldesbrough in the west riding of yorkshire esq ; , is descended from the famous sir richard hutton knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . oliver luke of wood-end in the county of bedford esq ; , is descended from walter luke esq ; , reader of the middle-temple , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the reign of king henry the eighth . john moreton of kiddington in the county of oxon esq ; , is descended from sir william moreton knight deceased , late one of his majestie 's serjeants at law , and one of the justices of the kings-bench in the year of our lord 1666. charles pelham of brocklesby in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from sir edmond pelham of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief baron of the court of exchequer in ireland in the reign of king james ; which sir edmond was descended of the ancient and worshipful family of the pelhams of lawton in sussex , where sir john pelham baronet , the eldest branch thereof , now resideth . francis lane of glen in the county of northampton esq ; , is descended from thomas lane of lincolns inn esq ; , one of the readers of that house in the reign of king henry the eighth . thomas mead of wenden in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from thomas mead of the middle-temple esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of queen elizabeth . thomas neale of wollaston in the county of northampton esq ; , is descended from sir richard neale knight , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the several reigns of edward the fourth , edward the fifth , richard the third , and henry the seventh . robert redmayne of foulforth in the county of york esq ; , is descended from edward redmayne a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , and one of the readers of that ancient society in the reign of king-henry the seventh . john powtrell of west-halome in the county of derby esq ; , is descended from nicholas powtrell of grayes-inn esq ; , called to the degree of a serjeant at law in the first year of the reign of queen elizabeth . nicholas pedley of abbotsley in the county of huntington esq ; , is the son and heir to sir nicholas pedley of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law. richard hopkins of the city of coventry in the county of warwick esq ; , is the son and heir to sir richard hopkins knight , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the inner-temple , and lately recorder of the said city of coventry . littleton powis of lincolns-inn esq ; , is the son and heir of thomas powis of the said society esq ; serjeant at law , and very eminent for his great knowledge therein . john south of skelston in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from thomas south esq ; , a learned lawyer of the middle-temple , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king james . henry portington of portington in the county of york esq ; , ( a gentleman of an excellent family ) is descended from john portington esq ; , serjeant at law , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the sixth . francis roper esq ; , lately gentleman usher to her most gracious majesty queen catherine , is descended from john roper of eltham in kent , and of lincolns-inn esq ; , attorney general to king henry the eighth . edward thurland of rigate in the county of surrey esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned sir edward thurland of rigate aforesaid , and of the inner-temple knight , serjeant at law , sollicitor general to his royal highness james duke of york , and afterwards one of the barons of the exchequer . charles stutevill of daltham in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from thomas stutevill ( or stotevill ) esq ; , one of the benchers of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the sixth . william stratford of barton on the heath in the county of warwick esq ; , is descended from george stratford esq ; , a learned lawyer , and one of the governors of lincolns-inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . william peck of the inner-temple esq ; , a gentleman of a very fair estate , is the son and heir to edward peck of the same society esq ; , serjeant at law , very eminent in that calling , and more particularly for his skill in the rules and practice of the court of chancery . william branthwaite of swarston in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from richard branthwaite of lincolns-inn , serjeant at law , one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . john thorpe of danthorpe in the east riding of yorkshire , esq ; is descended by many worshipful ancestors from sir robert de thorpe knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king edward the third . richard shuttleworth of gawthorpe in the county of lancaster esq ; , is descended from richard shuttleworth of grayes-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof , in the reign of queen elizabeth , by whom he was called to the dignity of a serjeant at law , and made chief justice of chester . charles hare of tottenham-high-cross , in the county of middlesex esq ; , is descended from sir nicholas hare of the inner-temple knight , reader thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth ; to which prince he was master of the requests , and by king edward the sixth was constituted master of the rolls . nicholas townley of royle in the county of lancaster esq ; , ( of the ancient and honorable family of townleys of townley in the said county ) is descended from nicholas townley esq ; , a learned lawyer of grayes-inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of king henry the eighth . robert spelman of holme in the county of norfolk esq ; is descended from the learned sir john spelman of grayes-inn knight , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of kings bench in the reign of king henry the eighth . william sydenham of winford eagles in the county of dorset esq ; , is one of the descendants of richard sydenham esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king richard the second . john boyse of pottshanger in the county of kent esq ; , is descended from john boyse of grayes-inn esq ; divers times reader of that honorable society , and attorney of the dutchy of lancaster in the reign of king henry the eighth . richard naylour of offord-d'arcey in the county of huntington esq ; , is descended from william naylour esq ; , one of the six clerks in the high and honorable court of chancery in the reign of queen elizabeth . james george of bawnton in the county of glocester esq ; , is the son and heir to john george of bawnton aforesaid esq ; , a person of great loyalty , and one of the benchers of the middle temple for many years before his death . edward salter of rich-kings in the county of bucks esq ; , is the grandson and heir to sir edward salter knight , a learned lawyer , and one of the masters of the court of chancery in the reign of his late majesty king charles the first of blessed memory . challoner chute of the vine in the county of southampton esq ; ▪ a gentleman of a fair estate , is the son and heir to challoner chute of sutton-court in the county of middlesex esq ; , a person of great abilities and practice in the law. nicholas martyn of lincolns-inn esq ; , is the son and heir to nicholas martyn esq ; , a late learned lawyer of the said honorable society . roger portington of barnsby upon dun in the west-riding of the county of york esq ; , is descended from john portington esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the justices of the common-pleas in the twenty second year of the reign of king henry the sixth . robert montague of sharnborne in the county of bedford esq ; , is descended from sir henry montague of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the kings-bench and lord high treasurer of england in the reign of king james and king charles the first ; which sir henry was descended from sir edward montague of the same society knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the same court in the reign of king henry the eighth . charles gerrard of lamburne in the county of berks esq ; , is descended from sir gilbert gerrard of grayes-inn , and of gerrards-bromly in staffordshire knight , serjeant at law , attorney general , and master of the rolls in the reign of queen elizabeth . ralph leicester of toft in the county of chester esq ; , ( a younger branch of the worthy family of the leicester's of nether-tabley in the said county ) is descended from roger de leicester one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king edward the first . thomas yarbrough of campsall in the west riding of the county of york esq ; , a gentleman learned in the law , is descended from francis yarbrough esq ; , one of the readers of lincolns inn in the reign of queen elizabeth . richard godbolt of hatfield-peverell in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from john godbolt of grayes-inn esq ; , serjeant at law in the reign of king charles the first . william roper of brentford in the county of middlesex esq ; , a gentleman of great probity and loyalty , and of an excellent family , is descended from john roper esq ; , a learned lawyer of lincolns-inn , of which society he became one of the readers , and was attorney general to king henry the eighth . william broxholme of barrow in the county of lincoln esq ; , is descended from thomas broxholme esq ; , a learned lawyer of grayes inn , and one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . robert houghton of ranworth in the county of norfolk esq ; , is descended from robert houghton of lincolns-inn esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . john cary of wilcott in the county of oxon , is descended from john cary of holway in the county of devon esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the barons of the exchequer in the reign of king richard the second . peter warburton of abbots-bromley in the county of stafford esq ; , is descended from the learned sir peter warburton of lincolns-inn knight , serjeant at law in the reign of queen elizabeth , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king james . john gaynsford of cohurst-place in the county of surrey esq ; , is descended from william gaynsford esq ; , a famous lawyer and one of the governors of the honorable society of lincolns-inn in the reign of king henry the seventh . gyles eyre of brickworth in the county of wilts , and of lincolns-inn esq ; , recorder of the town of southampton , and deputy recorder of the city of salisbury , a gentleman of great experience and judgment in the law , and of eminent practice ; is descended from william eyre of the same society esq ; , one of the readers thereof in the reign of king charles the first . john goodrick of altofts in the west-riding of yorkshire esq ; , is descended from the late learned sir francis goodrick of lincolns-inn knight , temporal chancellor of the county palatine of durham . john scroope of castle-combe in the county of wilts esq ; , ( a younger branch of the noble and ancient family of the lord● scroop ) is descended from sir goffery de scroop knight , serjeant at law , and lord chief justice of the kings-bench in the reign of king edward the second . henry shelly of lewes in the county of sussex esq ; , is descended from william shelly esq ; , serjeant at law , one of the readers of the inner-temple , and one of the justices of the court of common-pleas in the reign of king henry the 8th . william peckham of the city of chichester in the county of sussex esq ; , is the son and heir to the late learned and judicious sir henry peckham knight serjeant at law , and recorder of the said city of chichester . robert hyde of dinton in the county of wilts esq ; , is descended from sir robert hyde of the middle-temple knight , serjeant at law in the reign of king charles the first , and upon his majestie 's restoration was first constituted one of the justices of the common pleas , from whence he was shortly after advanced to the dignity of lord chief justice of the kings-bench . james zouch of woking in the county of surrey esq ; , is descended by many noble ancestors from allan le zouch lord chief justice of england in the reign of king henry the third . robert bernard of syleby in the county of leicester esq ; , is descended from sir robert bernard of brampton in the county of huntington knight and baronet , a wealthy and learned serjeant at law , being called to that degree in the year 1660. thomas needham of dutton in the county of chester esq ; , ( a gentleman of great honor and repute , and of an excellent family ) is descended from sir john needham of sheinton in the county of salop knight ( the ancient seat of this family ) serjeant at law , chief justice of chester , and one of the justices of the common-pleas in the reign of king henry the 6th . charles yaxley of yaxley-hall in the county of suffolk esq ; , is descended from john yaxley of yaxley aforesaid esq ; , a learned serjeant at law in the reign of king henry the seventh . humphrey noy of carnanton in the county of cornwall esq ; , is descended from the famous william noy of lincolns-inn esq ; attorney general to king charles the first . henry mildmay of graces in the county of essex esq ; , is descended from sir walter mildmay knight , chancellor and under-treasurer of the exchequer in the reign of queen elizabeth , which sir walter was the son and heir to thomas mildmay esq ; , one of the auditors of the court of augmentations in the reign of henry the eighth . finis . the index . a. allen , pag. 69 altham , 149 anderson , 53 , 66 , 77 , 91 , 182 andrews , 81 anger lord strangford , 15 appleton , 38 archer , 135 ardern , 134 armyn , 231 ascough , 124 , 220 atkins , 108 114 , 200 , 208 ayloff , 40 , 190 b. babington , 194 bacon , 32 , 50 , 85 , 122 , 237 bagshaw , 253 baldwin , 223 ball , 127 banks , 83 barker , 92 barnham , 89 basset , 229 bastard , 150 beaumont , 47 beddingfield , 172 bell , 181 beresford , 173 berkley , 186 , 252 bernard , 86 , 275 bindloss , 58 bingham , 220 boon , 205 booth , 215 boteler , 43 , 54 , 137 bowyer , 76 boys , 252 boyse , 266 brabazon lord of meath , 14 , 175 bradshaw , 100 brampston , 115 , 123 , 142 , 188 branthwaite , 263 brerewood , 188 bridgman , 67 briscoe , 232 brograve , 88 broome , 204 , 216 bromley , 180 , 196 , 222 , 240 brooke , 81 , 235 browne , 128 brownlow , 56 broxholme , 271 brudnell lord cardigan , 9 , 178 bruce lord alesbury , 10 c. calthorp , 148 , 165 carleton , 133 cartwright , 219 carus , 253 cary , 149 , 151 , 271 caryll , 156 , 177 , 199 catesby , 190 catelyn , 118 cave , 53 , 254 cavendish lord newcastle and devon , 2 , 179 , 251 caesar , 136 , 164 , 176 cecil lord exeter and salisbury , 3 chaloner , 143 , 211 chamberlayn , 65 , 223 charleton , 108 , 239 chisnall , 130 cholmley , 57 , 234 chute , 267 clerk , 139 lord clifford , 27 clopton , 126 cockain lord cullen ; 17 , 67 lord colepeper , 26 , 48 , 51 , 147 , 229 , 246 coke , 60 , 169 , 194 , 226 conyers , 155 coningsby , 253 cooke , 88 cooper lord shaftsbury , 11 corbet , 51 cordell , 71 lord coventry , 24 , 126 , 138 , 168 , 199 crawley , 712 lord crew , 26 cromwell lord ardglass , 20 crook , 101 , 121 , 127 , 186 , 234 , 238 curson , 80 d. dallison , 36 , 173 dalton , 142 danby , 167 daniell , 137 darcey , 70 darnall , 238 danvers , 66 , 214 , 240 delves , 44 , 243 denn , 228 denton , 189 dereham , 82 diggs , 213 dowdswell , 193 downes , 227 drax , 246 drury , 130 , 229 , 247 e. earle , 175 egerton lord bridgewater , 4 ellis , 73 empson , 232 engham , 119 englefield , 40 ernley , 78 , 105 estcourt , 121 eyre , 272 f. lord farfax , 17 , 29 , 242 , 250 faunt , 220 , 252 finch lord nottingham , 13 , 152 fitz herbert , 166 , 191 , 225 , 244 fitz james , 127 fleetwood , 128 forster , 120 fortescue , 90 , 161 , 177 foster , 66 fountain , 218 frampton , 235 franklyn , 111 g. gascoigne , 102 gaudy , 80 , 88 , 160 , 179 gaynsford , 272 gell , 60 george , 267 gerrard lord maxfield , &c. 11 , 95 , 246 , 269 glanvill , 225 , 256 glyn , 81 godbolt , 270 goodrick , 273 gosnold , 254 griffin , 145 guilford , 163 h. hales , 38 , 74 , 148 halton , 63 hare , 264 harpur , 46 , 175 , 218 hare lord colrain , 30 , 55 harvey , 120 , 165 lord hatton , 16 , 54 heath , 112 , 210 hele , 49 henly , 73 , 79 , 111 , 249 henden , 138 herlackenden , 208 hesketh , 255 hide lord clarendon and rochester , 9 higham , 228 , 249 hill , 141 , 211 hobert , 33 , 226 , 251 hody , 237 , 256 holloway , 254 hopkins , 260 hopton , 163 houghton , 271 howard duke of norfolk , &c. 1 , 2 , 117 , 130 , 221 , 241 hussey , 36 , 83 hutton , 257 hyde , 274 i. jackson , 77 jenuy , 226 ingilby , 61 , 242 ingoldsby , 84 , 119 irby , 182 ireland , 132 k. keble , 248 keeling , 224 kingsmill , 193 , 247 knightly , 75 knivett , 125 l. lane , 258 leicester , 75 , 269 lenthall , 183 , 239 lister , 208 , 230 littleton , 41 , 49 , 63 , 141 , 174 long , 87 lord lovelace , 24 , 184 , 222 lowther , 61 , 102 , 173 luke , 257 lukener , 159 m. mallet , 129 , 227 markham , 62 , 157 , 214 martyn , 95 , 268 maunsfield , 200 may , 109 mead , 259 meynell , 190 mildmay lord fitzwalter , 18 , 276 milward , 176 mingay , 188 montague lord manchester , 6 , 104 , 213 , 217 , 268 moore , 48 mordant , lord peterborough , 8 , 37 , 184 morgan , 204 moreton , 258 mounson , 34 moyle , 134 n. napier , 41 naylour , 266 neale , 259 needham lord kilmurry , 30 , 275 nelthorpe , 93 newdigate , 99 nicholls , 56 nitingall , 51 , 186 lord north , 22 , 27 , 70 , 131 , 153 , 250 norton , 45 , 197 , norwich , 55 noy , 189 , 276 o. offley , 255 oldsworth , 231 onslow , 96 osbaldeston , 91 overbury , 143 , 185 owen , 139 p. packington , 44 lord paget , 21 palmer , 68 palmes , 192 parkins , 101 paston lord yarmouth , 12 , 224 peck , 263 peckham , 274 pedley , 260 pelham , 258 pettit , 245 lord petre , 22 , 192 , 230 phesant , 195 philipps , 42 , 147 206 , 243 , 255 piggott , 132 playters , 46 plowdon , 157 poole , 99 pooley , 125 , 244 popham , 115 portington , 261 , 268 portman , 39 powtrell , 260 powis , 261 puckering , 43 purefoy , 195 pye , 134 r. rainsford , 209 read , 79 redmayne , 259 reeve , 87 reynell , 207 rhodes , 58 , 217 rich lord warwick , 5 , 97 , 144 , 146 , 202 lord richardson , 29 robinson , 136 rolles , 140 rookby . 78 roper lord tenham , 23 , 232 , 262 , 270 s. sackvill lord dorset , 3 , 218 , 241 salter , 267 , ●awyer , 109 scroop , 228 , 236 , 273 scott , 133 , 194 scroggs , 113 sedley , 38 selby , 89 seys , 154 , 205 , 216 sheffeild lord mulgrave , 7 , 243 shelly , 34 , 273 sherly , 93 shukburgh , 203 shuttleworth , 264 sidenham , 56 , 146 , 240 skipwith , 45 , 100 , 206 , 227 smith lord carington , 25 snagg , 194 south , 261 southcott , 85 spelman , 221 , 234 spencer , 37 stanford , 167 stapleton , 70 , 86 , 248 stephens , 122 stonher , 159 strangwaies , 155 stratford , 263 stutevill , 262 sylyard , 82 , 116 , 180 219 sympson , 160 t. tate , 239 taylor , 92 tempest , 45 , 90 thorold , 62 thorpe , 264 thurland , 262 thymelby , 184 thyn lord weymouth , 16 tildesly , 161 tirwhit , 35 , 207 , 236 tooker , 91 townley , 265 townsend lord raynham , 15 , 145 , 209 , 203 trever , 58 trevanion , 185 , 249 trotman , 197 turner , 112 , 198 , 231 , 250 turpin , 189 twisden , 94 , 212 tyrrel , 92 v. vavasour , 52 , 244 vaughan , 182 vernon , 74 vnderhill , 144 w. walmesly , 168 walpole , 132 , 245 walsh , 247 walter , 59 , 236 warburton , 72 , 271 weston lord portland , 8 wetenhall , 206 whichcot , 67 whitlock , 123 , 171 wilbraham , 176 wilde , 76 willoughby , 98 , 201 , 203 winch , 69 wingate , 131 wivell , 248 wolseley , 53 wood , 124 woodhouse , 35 wray , 39 , 71 wroth ; 76 wyndham , 84 , 96 , 106 , 164 , 251 y. yarborough , 117 270 yaxley , 275 yelverton lord grey , 19 yorke , 150 young , 84 z. zouch , 135 , 274. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a54698-e510 howard . d. of norfolk . e. suffolk . e. berkshire . e. carlisle . ld. stafford . ld. effingham . ld. escrick . d. of newcastle . e. of devonshire . e. of dorsett . e. of salisbury . e. of exeter . e. of bridgewater . e. of warwick . e. of manchester . e. of sandwich . ld. montague . e. of mulgrave . e. of peter-borough . viscount mordant . e. of portland . e. of clarendon . e. of rochester . e. of cardigan . e. of alesbury . e. of shaftesbury . e. of macklesfield . ld. gerrard e. of yarmouth . e. of nottingham . e. of meath . e. of longford . viscount raynham . viscount weymouth . ld. hatton , viscount gretton . viscount farefax . lord cullen . lord. fitz walter . ld. grey of ruthyn . ld. cromwel . ld. pagett . ld. north , and grey . lord petre. ld. tenham . ld. lovelace . ld. coventry ▪ ld. carrington . ld. colepeper . ld. crew . ld. clifford of chudleigh . ld. north , baron of guilford . ld. farfax . ld. richardson . ld. colerane . ld. kimurry . notes for div a54698-e7220 bacon . hobart . shelly . mounson . woodhouse . tirwhit . dallison . hussey . mordant . spencer . appleton . sedley . hales . portman . wray . ayloff . wivell . englefield . napier . littleton . philipps . newton . alias puckering . boteler . packington . delves . norton . skipwith . tempest . playters . harpur . beaumont . colepeper . moore . hele. littleton . bacon . corbett . nitingall . colepeper . vavasour . wolsely ▪ anderson . cave . boteler . hatton . hare . norwich . brownlow . sidenham . nicholls . cholmley ▪ trevor . rhodes . bindloss . walter . coke . gell. ingilby . lowther . markham . thorold . halton ▪ littleton . chamberlain danvers . anderson . foster . cockain . whichcott . bridgeman . palmer . winch. allen. north. darcey . stapleton . cordell . wray . warburton ▪ st. john. henley . ellis . hales . vernon . leicestar . knightly . bowyer . wilde . wroth. anderson . ward . jackson . rookeby . ernley . read. henley . golding . * this sir charles golding is not properly placed ; for in point of precedency , he ought to stand next above sir thomas littleton of stoke-milburge , baronet . gawdy . curson . glyn. brooke . andrewe . dereham . sylyard . hussey . bankes . ingoldsby ▪ young. wyndham . southcott . bacon . stapleton . bernard . long. reeve . brograve . cooke . gawdy . barnham , selby . fortescue . tempest . osbaldeston . tooker . anderson . tayler . tyrell . barker . shirly . nelthrope ▪ twisden . gerrard . martyn . bridgeman . windham . onslow . rich. hoskins . willoughby . newdigate . poole skipwith . bradshaw . parkins . crooke . gascoigne . lowther . notes for div a54698-e22710 mountague . ernley . wyndham . charleton . atkins . may. sawyer . franklyn . henley . heath . turner . scroggs ▪ atkins ▪ brampston . popham . sylyard . howard . yarborough . hoskins . catlyn . ingoldsby . engham . harvey . forster . estcourt . crooke . bacon . stephens . brampston . whitlocke . vvood. ascough . pooley . knivet . clopton . coventry . fitz james . crooke . ball. browne . fleetwood . clench . mallett . howard . drury . chisnall . north. wingate . ireland . piggott . walpole . scott . carleton . moyle . pye. arderne . zouch . archer . robinson . caesar ▪ boteler . daniel . coventry . henden . owen . clerke . rolles . littleton . dalton . brampston . overbury . challoner . rich. underhill . griffin . townsend . sydenham . rich. philips . colepeper . calthorpe . hales . altham . carey . york . bastard . cary. notes for div a54698-e32160 finch . north. seys . coniers . strangwaies . caryll . plowden . markham lukener . stoner . sympson . gawdy . fortescue . tildesly . guildeford . hopton . wyndham . caesar . harvey ▪ calthorp . fitz-herbert danby . walmesly . coventry . coke . crew . whitlocke . bedingfield . dallison . lowther . beresford . littleton . harpur . earle . brabazon . milward . wilbraham . fortescue . caryll . brudnell . caesar . gawdey . cavendish . sylyard . bromley . bell. vaughan . anderson . irby . lenthall . lovelace . thymelby . mordant . overbury ▪ trevanion ▪ nightingal . crook . berkley . brampston . mingay . breerewood . noy . denton . turpin . catesby . meynell . ayloff . fitz. herbert . palmes . petre. dowdswell . kingsmill . scott . coke . snagg . phesant . purefoy . bromley . trotman . norton . turner . babington . caryll . coventry . atkins . maunsfield . willoughby . rich. willoughby . shuckburgh . morgan . brome . seyes . boon . skipwith . wetenhall . philipps . tirwhitt . reynell . lister . herlakenden . townsend . raynsford . heath . bacon . hill. challoner ▪ crawley . montague . diggs . danvers . markham . booth . brome . seys . rhodes . montague . fountayn . sackvill . harpur . cartwright . sylyard . ascough . bingham . faunt . spelman . howard . lovelace . bromley . townsend chamberlain . baldwin . paston . keeling . glanvill . fitz. herbert . hobart . jenny . malle skipwith . downes . denn . higham . drury . colepeper . bassett . lister . petre. armyne oldsworth . turner . roper . briscoe . empson . clench . cholmley . spelman . crooke . brooke . frampton . tirwhitt . walter . bacon : hody . crooke . darnall . charlton . lenthall . tate . sydenham . bromley . danvers . sackvill . howard . farfax . ingilby . philipps . delves . sheffield . pooley . fitz herbert . vavasour . walpole . petyte . gerrard . colepepper . drax. drury . kingsmill . walsh . stapleton . wyvell . keble . higham . henly . trevanion . turner . north. farfax . cavendish . windham . hobart . boys . berkley . faunt . carus . bagshaw . conningsby . cave . gosnold . holloway . philipps . offley . hesketh . glanvill . hody . hutton . luke moreton . pelham . lane. mead : neale . redmayne . powtrell . pedley . hopkins . powis . south . portington . roper . thurland . stutevill . stratford . peck . branthwaite . thorpe . shuttleworth hare . townley . spelman . sydenham . boyse . naylour . george . salter . chute . martyn . portington . montague . gerrard . leicester . yarbrough . godbolt . roper . broxholme . houghton ▪ cary. warburton . gaynsford . eyre . goodrick . scroope . shelly ▪ peckham . hyde . zouch . bernard . needham . yaxley . noy . mildmay . the antient usage in bearing of such ensigns of honour as are commonly call'd arms with a catalogue of the present nobility of england / by william dugdale ... ; to which is added, a catalogue of the present nobility of scotland and ireland, &c. dugdale, william, sir, 1605-1686. 1682 approx. 329 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 117 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a36790 wing d2478 estc r231444 12142728 ocm 12142728 54873 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a36790) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54873) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 761:3, 2482:15) the antient usage in bearing of such ensigns of honour as are commonly call'd arms with a catalogue of the present nobility of england / by william dugdale ... ; to which is added, a catalogue of the present nobility of scotland and ireland, &c. dugdale, william, sir, 1605-1686. [7], 210 p. : coats of arms. printed at the theater for moses pitt ..., oxford [oxfordshire] : 1682. advertisement: prelim. p. [1]. "addenda" and "errata": prelim. p. [6]-[7]. reproduction of original in:henry e. huntington library and folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng heraldry -england -early works to 1800. nobility -great britain. nobility -scotland. nobility -ireland. 2002-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-08 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2002-08 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion advertisement . that the first , second , and third volumes of the great english atlas are now finish'd ( the fourth volume being in the press ) . a view of the late troubles in england , from the year 1637 to 1660. by sir william dugdale knt. garter principal king of arms. bibles , testaments , and common prayers , in all volumes : also all books printed at the theater : are sold by m. pitt at the angel in st. paul's church-yard london . the antient usage in bearing of such ensigns of honour as are commonly call'd arms . with a catalogue of the present nobility of england . by sir william dugdale knt. garter principal king of arms. to which is added , a catalogue of the present nobility of scotland and ireland , &c. oxford : printed at the theater , for moses pitt at the angel in st. paul's church-yard , london , 1682. to the right honourable robert earl of aylesbury , deputy , with his majesties approbation , to the most noble henry duke of norfolk earl-marshal of england . my lord such have been the extravagant actings of paynters , and other mechanicks in this licentious age ; that , to satisfie those , who are open handed to them , they have not stuck to depict arms only for divers younger branches of families with undue distinctions , if any at all ; but to allow them to such as do bear the same appellation , though of no alliance to that stock : the permission whereof hath given such encouragement to those , who are guilty of this boldness , that there are not a few who do already begin to prescribe , as of right thereto : so that these marks of honour , called arms , are now by most people grown of little esteem : for apparent it is , that they make the crescent , which is the known filial distinction for the second son , to be also the only proper difference of the grandson and heir of that second son , and of his heires male ; and a mullet upon a crescent , and a martlet upon the same mullet to be the distinction for a fourth son of a third brother , whose father was the second son of the chief stock : and according to that rule do , for the most part , frame their differences for others . against this absurd usage therefore , i have thought it requisite , not only to offer to your lordship the light of reason , which ought to be the principal guide ; but the irrfragable authoritie of several persons of great learning and high estimation for their knowledge in points of honour and arms : and likewise to give instance by sundry important presidents , as to the usage of ancient times , when order and regularity were held in repute : not doubting but that your lordship will in this point be so far satisfyed , as that for the future some restraint may be put to those undue practises . resting your lordships most obedient servant william dugdale garter principal king of arms. 10. junij 1681. addenda pag. 148. l. 20. an. 1681. car. 2. xxxiii . 865 nov. 17 sir george jefferys of bulstrode knight one of his majesties serjeants at law , and chief justice of chester created baronet and to the heires male of his body by ann his now wife , and for default of such issue , to the heires male of his body . buck. 866 dec. 6 hugh middleton of hackney esq midd. errata . p. 17. l. 5. r. petite y. ib. l. 13. r. henoursi p. 21. l. 8. r. retained . p. 23. l. 11. r. eleury . p. 24. l. 7. r. hooke . p. 26. l. 7. r. grateful . p. 37. l. 5. r. tres . p. 47. l. 5. r. flos . p. 51. l. penul . r. aspilogia . p. 52. l. 28. r. conspectioribus . p. 54. l. 2. r. ercaloue . p. 57. l. 27 r. ercaleue . p. 59. l. 4. r. estoille . p. 60. l. 6. r. augmenteront . p. 64. l. 3. from the bottom r. round . p. 81. l. 17. r. gosfeild . p. 82. l. 11. after e. of down add extinct . p. 100. l. 19. r. ferrers . p. 113. l. 18. r. of the houshold to k. charles the second . p. 126. l. 27. r. wakeman . the patent was in grossed but never sealed . p. 146. l. 18. r. kent . p. 149. l. 7. from the bottom r. agmondesham . p. 151. betwixt l. 24. and 25. add w. shire carnarvon p. m. 2. burg. 1. and knight 1. p. 154. l. 28. r. p. m. 18. barens of the cinq . p. 8. p. 155. l. 15. r. lestuthiel . p. 159. l. ult . add p. m. 28. barons of the cinq . p. 8. p. 160. l. 19. after great-wendlock strike out burg. 2. p. 161. l. 5. r. burg. 2. l. 9. r. north-yarmouth v. great . yarmouth . p. 162. . 19. after rumney add sandwich . the antient usage in bearing of arms . that these ensignes of honour , as are commonly called armes , which of later times have been chiefly used for distinction of families , had their original from the practise of great commanders in war , is not unknown to the learned : for certain it is , that the faces of all great military officers , being obscured by such hoods and helmets as were antiently worn in times of battel ; it was expedient , that by some other meanes their persons should be notifyed to their friends and followers . necessity therefore requiring it , they , depicted upon their sheilds ( which were borne for the defence of their bodies ) as also upon their surcotes of silke , banners , penons &c. certain badges , that might make them known at a distance from each other . of which sort those that were most conspicuous ; viz crosses , bends , fesses , cheverons , saltiers &c. all single chardges being ever held the best . in bearing whereof ( as appeareth by divers old rolls of armes ) such order was observed that none might assume anothers marke ; but that there should be a plain and apparent difference in each man's sheild , surcote , banner , penon , &c. to the end , that upon any disorder the common souldier might know his leader , and the better repair to his succour in case of danger . but these later times having devised other sorts of armour and weapons , both for offence and defence then of old were used ; those marks and badges in sheilds , surcotes &c. have been for divers past ages , as to any such military purpose , totally layed aside ; and since meerly retained as honourary ensignes by the nobility and gentry ; especially to difference themselves and their families from the vulgar , and one from another : as also to distinguish the collateralls from those of the principal stock ; for if they do not so , what do they signify ; or of what use are they ? in all which the kings of armes , in their respective provinces were to see due order observed . nevertheless such hath been the inadvertencie of sundry gentlemen , in not regarding the ill consequence which the breach of order herein doth produce ; as that , going to common paynters to depict and marshall their arms , seldom any regular differences have been assigned by them for the descendents of younger brothers ! which extravagant practise hath occasion'd such confusion therein ; that this laudable and antient usage in bearing of arms , on which our forefathers did set an high esteem , is now overmuch sleighted and almost grown contemptible . it cannot be denyed , but that in the best times good order was not by every one exactly observed : for i find , that in the reign of q. elizabeth there were some unjustifiable practises in this kind : but , in this last age , through the liberty taken by divers mechanicks since the commencement of the late unparallel'd rebellion , the disorder herein is so far spread , as if greater care be not speedily taken , such a confusion must inevitably follow , that the true use of arms will be utterly forgot ; most people , though of never so mean extraction ; if they obtain a little wealth , intruding themselves into these marks of honour , and usurping what doth justly belong to others , especially if their name doth sound any thing like that of a gentleman . seeing therefore these things relating to honour to be thus out of square , i have here thought fit to add to what i have already briefly sayd , the authorities and opinions of the most learned men in herauldry and antiquities that this last age hath produced : from whose writings i have selected some particulars , which will amply corroborate what is here asserted . beginning with what was publisht in print by mr. william wyrley ( a staffordshire gentleman ) an . 1592 ( 34 eliz : ) and intituled the true use of armes , but written by sampson erdswike then of sandon , in that county esq ( whose deserved fame for his great knowledg in these commendable studies is still fresh and flourishing in all those parts . ) * next proceeding with what i have observed from an excellent but short discourse in elegant latin de origine et antiquitate armorum , written likewise in the same q. eliz. time ( but never printed ) by robert glover esq then somerset-herauld , whose great abilities in this kind of learning i cannot sufficiently extoll ; his most elaborate and judicious work , intituled the catalogue of honour , published after his death by mr. thomas mills his executor in an . 1610 and the voluminous collections from our publick records , and sundry choice old manuscripts , as also from original charters and evidences of note ( which i my self have seen , but which are now disperst into sundry hands ) sufficiently setting forth his great abilities therein . from which discourse ; viz. de origine et antiquitate armorum &c. i have selected certain observations , and added them to this work ; whereby his great judgment as to this point of differences in arms is cleerly shewed . so likewise from what the learned camden , sir henry spelman and others have expressed upon this subject ; and given most evident instances of the laudable practise of antient times herein . i shall begin with what i find so publisht by mr. wyrley ( but penn'd by mr. erdswike ) to the right honourable the lords and others the professors of martial discipline . nobles and gentlemen , i will salute you with a sentence of mine author sir john froysard , the adventures of arms ( saith he ) are so divers , and so far oftentimes beyond expectation , as that their effects causeth great admiration : which saying of his , caused me with the more attention to read over his works , and finding the same most truly prosecuted through the whole course of his history , but espacially in the actions and adventures of two famous captains sage and imaginative , the one sir john chandos , and the other sir † john grayllie by name ( commonly called the captall de buz ) it delighted me ( as a lover of honour and chevalry ) to note * down their several fortunes with some reasons of their falls . i have been careful to set down ( as my manner is ) the standards , pennons , cote-armours ; and other marks of honour , to the end it may publickly be known of what necessity the use of them is , ( as being for that cause first ordained : ) how and in what manner they are to be used , and to whom they do of right most chiefly and properly appertain and belong . and these matters being well conceived ( as indeed without such tokens no martial discipline can be exercised , no army ranged , no attempt of any company atchieved ; and so ( by cnnsequence ) no conquest made , nor so much as any common-wealth ( whatsoever ) defended , neither ftom outward enemies , civil discord , nor the rebellion of any plebeian rout . be the same never so simple , rude , or of small esteem it will ( i hope ) reduce into estimation a matter both of honour , order , and necessity , which now ( through the abuse thereof ) is so far run into contempt , as that ( of many men ) it is holden for a thing of no price , but thought to be a very mockery , and a matter of no other sequence , then to set up vain and fantastical glorious fellows into a pride , and to draw from them some small summes to certain persons into an office instituted , which no doubt was by the wisest and best governed states at the first devised , and generally by all of any pollicy received , to a most necessary end : yet think they ( as it is now in use ) it serveth but only for that purpose . and indeed i must by the way complain , that certain of the said officers ( or others pertaining to them ) either for want of skill or maintenance , or otherwise for their gain , have committed faults not justifiable , whereby they have brought a matter of great honour into defame , and injured thereby the commonwealth , and brought both others that have managed those affairs with more discretion , and themselves into obloquy . but these faults and errors , and some others also ( spoken of in this dedication instituted to that purpose ) will in the handling of this matter more easily appear ; and the thing be ( i hope ) reformed , either by the good endeavors which the officers ( understanding thereof ) will use , or else by the magistrate , when he shall have knowledg of such the abuses as he may be informed of . and first that guydhomes , ensignes , and marks of armory be of necessity , let it be but considered whether wars be sometimes of necessity to be taken in hand or not ; and surely i think there is none of so very mean capacity , but will yeild unto it that they be : especially defensive , and in some cases also offensive : which as a thing granted i will overpass . and when i say further , that wars being lawful and of necessity , it must also be granted , that the same must be made by companies and bands of men , over which some must command , and the rest obey , and then will it follow , that for the ordering and dividing of those to the best advantage , standards and banners must be allotted to every company , to the end they may draw together in their strength , and perform such actions as they shall be commanded ; thus may you see the necessity . and for the use , it doth also appear , that sithence some must be commanders , it is of importance that they be known , both by the persons over whom they command , and generally by all ; and that so perspicuously that upon every sudden occurrent , the meanest and simplest common souldier may thereby know every particular officer , and captain that hath charge : for which purpose our ancestors device was , that such men should wear some such coat of mark over his armor , as whereby they might be easily discerned , to be the same persons which indeed they were : and where somtimes ( when occasion so offered itself ) they were forced to use pavishes for their defence , whereby a great part of the mark which was upon their vesture , was shadowed from sight , it was thought necessary that their marks should be also laid upon their shields : the commanders of horse-men ( their faces being for the most part covered ) they added to the crests of their helmets some further distinction to be the better also known by : thus much for the ordinance and use of armory . and hereby also may it appear to whom they do properly belong and appertain , namely , to kings , princes , archbishops , bishops , earls , barons , lords of provinces and fees ; knights ; officers in the army , navy or peece , and generally to all that have charge over bands and companies of souldiers . and now sithence from henceforth many of my speeches will tend to the discovery of such things as i take to be abused , erronious , or faulty , wherein i may peradventure not square in opinion with some others ; and being myself no officer or of any authority , whereby i should have cause to deal in these affairs , i will therefore first beseech your honours , and all others to whom it may appertain , that if any thing shall pass my pen which shall be offensive , that they will conceive no worse of it then i mean , which is but to bring these matters of armory into question ; to the end that if any thing be amiss ( as i for my part think that many things are ) that then the same may be reformed : but if happily i mistake , that then it would please such as be of judgment or skill , to justifie the same as well done , and i shall most willingly yield to authority and reasons . and so not speaking but under correction , i say that , first i find ( as i conceive ) some blame to be imputed in your selves which be professed souldiers , that where your ancestors and all others generally did in their standards , banners , and pennons shew forth to the view and face of the enemy , certain fair , antient , and known marks , which their elders for the most part had usually before time carried , or at least themselves had then taken ( if they but then were in their rising age ) whereby their own people were in a goodly decent order conducted and led , and their enemies very much terrified , when they should see those marks shewed forth ; the owners whereof had in their memories by plain feat of arms overthrown their parents , or happely themselves , beaten them out of the field , razed down their castels and fortresses , sacked their towns and cities , wasted and spoiled their countries , ransomed their people , and generally so daunted and amazed them , that it , was sometimes found to be true , that very bare names of some valiant persons overcame whole armies : i can but blame you of all sorts , which shall make choice of banners ( which you call colors ) so curtein-like and so far from all due order of ancient bearing as may be ; and for your parts which are descended from ancestors of mark , i would be glad to hear any reason from you , to what end you should lay the same aside , and make choice of a curtein in the place thereof . and you others ( whose wisdom and valure have gained you the reputation of a charge ) i would gladly also hear from you what should move you to be of that mind , as not to take some convenient mark , such a one as may be thought meet by authority for you , whereby you may gain an honour , both to your selves and your posterity , and by your good usage thereof much enlarge the reputation , you have by your valours obtained . an other thing that is amiss , as i take it , and hath great need to be reformed , is the quartering of many marks in one shield , coat , or banner ; for sithence it is true , that such marks serve to no other use but for a commander to lead by , or to be known by , it is of necessity that the same be apparent , fair , and easie to be discerned ; so that the quartering of many of them together , doth hinder the use for which they are provided . as how is it possible for a plain unlearned man ( who may be as good a souldier in some respects as the best ) to discern and know a sunder , six or eight , ( what speak i of six or eight ? ) sometimes thirty or forty several marks clustered all together in one shield or banner , nay though he had as good skill as robert glover late somerset that dead is , and the eyes of an eagle , amongst such a confusion o● things , yet should he never be able to decipher the errors that are daily committed in this one point , nor discern or know one banner or standard from another , be the same never so large ? so that except it be to be made in a pedigree or descent to lock up in an evidence chest , thereby to shew mens titles to their lands or the alliences and kindreds of their houses ; otherwise ( as i say ) i see not to any use in the world they serve , specially so many together to be made upon a mans vesture , target or banner ; and therefore i could wish that every man would content himself with his own peculiar coat of name , and not to use above one quartered therewith at the most : which one yet doth not so much trouble the capacity of a man , but that he may both know and discern a banner or shield well enough . and this one do i the rather esteem well of to be born , for that a prince or noble man making challenge or title to any country ( for which he is forced to make wars before he can obtain it ) it will be a goodly thing for him to shew forth his standard of the arms of that country quartered with his own amongst those people which in reason and conscience owe him duty and obedience , to the end that they may thereby be the sooner induced to submit themselves to their true and lawful soverain , as his subjects . and for that cause ( as i take it ) king edward the third and his valiant sons devised and shewed forth the arms of france and england quartered together , and although my authour saith that jaques * dartvell , was the first deviser thereof , yet will i not believe otherwise , but that the principal reasons that led the king thereto , was to make known the justness of his title to that kingdom where he then intended to make wars . but now it may be objected , sithence a prince or great lord may have title to several countries , that therefore it is necessary for him to beare all such tokens or marks as he hath title too : to this i answer , that although i could yeild to them ( but that it will bring the eonfusion aforesaid ) yet is it of no such necessity , for that a man needs to shew his title but onely to them whom he means to subdue : and if it should fortune that he had title to divers and several countries , and that he would make wars to them all at once , yet should it not be needful to him to shew forth any more marks quartered in one standard , but onely unto every several country the arms of that nation quartered with his own . but this being the case of kings and princes , wherein ( amongst others ) our most famous , noble and worthy kings and princes of this land , have shewed themselves most prudent and wise ; to what purpose is it , that others bring out commanders under their prince , and which of themselves have neither title to country nor are able to maintain wars , should in their princes service pester their banners and shields with such an infinite number as many do ? and in this point i cannot enough commend the baron of stafford , who herein sheweth his great skill and temperance ; for although his ancestors have had title to quarter the marks of that valiant thomas of woodstock ( youngest son of king edward the third ) earl of buckingham and duke of glocester ; of bohune earl. of hereford and northamton and high cunstable of england : and also of that great house of somerset , which by their ancestors john earl of somerset , ( younger son to john of gaunt ) descended from the same king edward the third , ( i omit to speak of divers barons and others of great estate , whose heires both with revenue and honor enlarged greatly his family ) yet the said baron contents himself with the paternal mark of his house . it were to be wished that this matter of quartering should be reformed , as well for untruths therein oftentimes committed , as for the titles that may be brought in question thereby to lands and heritages : and as being one of the chiefest things that bringeth honour of armory into disgrace : for not long ago heard i one speak in this manner , did i not ( quoth he ) know the grandfather of this man ( speaking of the owner of a scuchion wherein were quartered many marks ) to purchase by plain patent ( although he never were man at armes ) both his coat and crest within these forty years , and how comes it now to pass that i see his nephew invested in all this armory ? ( numbring many and divers several devices , all in one shield , by way of quartering ) this being a very mockery to see a man of no valour or estimation in warlike affairs , and the paternal ancestors of whom ( for ought that can be proved ) were not in any late age welders of arms , to entrude themselves into so many badges of armory , is not the least matter to bring into contempt an order so honourable and necessary as the bearing of arms is . differences in arms to younger children , and their descendents . another matter that to my understanding is also to be reformed , is the manner of differings , which are by the younger brothers and their posterities laid upon their marks , being cressants , mollets , &c. and that such little ones , as that a man cannot discern them a very small distance from him , which differences are in reason to be made fair , plain , and large , that they may be also as easie to be discover'd as any other devise that is in the coat , shield , or banner , otherwise they serve not to the purpose for which marks were first ordained . and the inconvenience which ensueth of this error will the more easily appear , if i but set you down the words of mine author ( treating of an accident that happened in such a case ) which be these : et feist mr. robert baileul alter sa banniere tout devant en escriant moriannes les henuiers qui ia estoint esthauses aperceurent la banniere de moriannes qui encore estoit tout droicte , si cuiderent que ce feust la leur ou ilz se deuoient radresser , car mult petitey auoit de difference de lune a l'autre ; car les armes moriennes sount barres contre barres d' argent & d' azure a deux cheverons de gueules , et le cheveron de mr. robert auoit vne petite crosete d'or , si ne l'adviserent mye bien les hennuiers ainsi vindrent bouter de fait dessubs la banniere de mr. robert , si furent moult fierement reboutes et tous discomfis . for these honours being led by sir william baileul thought in the stir and business to have come to his banner hearing the surname of moriens called upon ; and seeing as they supposed , their captains ensigne , and the difference of sir robert , being the younger brother , but a little cross upon the upper cheuron , they could not appercieve ; so that the most of them were either slain or taken , and the elder brother ( the knight their leader ) was glad to save himself as well as he might : the lord of cowcie son in law to king edward the third , suffered also reproch through the hard dealings of the lord of chine , who raised his banner against certain englishmen of sir hugh caveleys company , being either the same that cowcies : was , or the difference so small as might not be discerned , whereby the said lord cowcy though he were abs●nt as far as austrich , had dishonour spoken of him , as in the discourse * of the capital i have touched . thus then having shewed , by example , the harm and inconvenience , that cannot but many times happen , through the littleness and niceness of such differences , i have thought it not amiss to lay before you the differings that antiquity used ; that by comparing them together , you may discern the great wisdom of our ancestors , and our own imperfections in this point , for want of due consideration : which was done at the first by changing of the device born into other colors only ; but when that would not suffice for the number of leaders ( many times all of one house ) then were they forced to vary their marks by adding of either bars , bends , cheurons , cheefes , quarters , borders , labels , losinges , or such like , and very seldome should you see in those times cressant , mollet , or such like small thing born for a difference ; and if any did , yet was the same so large and fair that it might be seen as well as any other device which should be in the shield or banner . and for the proof , i will give you the example but of one house onely for your better information ( though i could do the like of many others ) namely , that of the bassets , who indeed ( in my judgment ) varied their marks of honour very finely and that upon good respect : a multitude more as my authour hath already hinted , ( were it not for brevityes sake ) might be instanced from the practise of sundry branches of noble-families , whereof i shall only make mention of some few which are not unknown to most pretenders to herauldry . such are those of grey of codnore , and grey of s●ndiacre in derbyshire ; grey of barton in ridale , in com . ebor. grey of wilton in com . hereford ; grey of ruthyn in com . denbigh ; grey of groby in com leic. and grey vicount l'isle . of beauchamp earl of warwick ; beauchamp of holt ; beauchamp of powick , and beauchamp of st. amand. of nevill earl of westmorland , nevill earl of salisbury ; nevill earl of warwick ; nevill lord latimer ; nevil lord abergaveny . of stafford duke of buckingham ; stafford of pipe ; stafford of bromshull , ( both in staffordshire ; ) stafford of graston in worcestershire ; stafford of haske in com . dorset and stafford of blatherwick in com . northampton . ; of berkley lord berkley of berkley-castle in com . glouc. berkly of beverston in the same county ; berkley of bruton in com . somerset and berkley of wymundham in com leic. ; of cobham lord cobham of cobham in kent ; cobham of sterborough in surrey ; cobham of black-burgh in com . devon. and cobham of belmerle in com cantii . of radcliffe earl of sussex ; radcliffe of smethels ; radcliffe of drdsale , and radcliffe of chaderton . all retaining the original armes , but distinguisht by various eminent differences . likewise of noell vicount campden ; noell of kirkby in leicestershire ; noell of hilcote , and noell of pelshall ( both in stafforshire ) and others of that antient family . thus have i set down unto you ( though something tediously ) the use that antiquity followed in a very glorious line , for lords , knights and gentlemen , which flourished divers hundreds of years sithence : and you may see that these men ( though they were many of them great barons ) were not ashamed of their differences , but laid them forth largely to the view ; neither do i esteem it a shame whereby any man should covet to hide the same , to be descended as a younger brother , sithence that every brother ( having the like parents ) is as well descended as the eldest , and therefore as good a gentleman ( though not so rich ) as he . and the more is his honour , if without the help which by reason of his patrimony the elder hath , he can advance himself into place of office or dignity , whereby he may raise an other flourishing family of the same surname : and therefere you my masters that be younger brothers , never hide your differences by putting forth a little cressant or a peeping mollet , but use some fair large device , sithence in truth your estimation is by your rising to be had in as good a regard as if you were the elder . and now being in speech of younger brothers and their differences , i have observed two kinds of them which antiquity used , ( besides the aforesaid ) one was , that such as were advanced by kings , princes , or other great lords , did many times bear some part of the device of him who advanced them , by way of addition unto the mark of their own family , which served very aptly to distinguish them from their elder house . the other was , that divers did add unto the mark of their own house , some part of the device of that family from which their mothers descended ; and both these two kinds of differings are ( in my mind ) greatly to be commended , not only for that they may be made large and apparent , and for that cause serve very properly to the use for which badges are ordained , but also that the one makes manifest a greatful mind ( in him that is advanced ) to his prince or lord of whom he received benefit , and by reason thereof linketh them together in a kind of amity , which seldom or never is worn out , and by that means a great strengthening it is unto both houses . the other not only serveth to unite the families which have matched together in the foresaid love and amity , and thereby worketh the like effect ; but besides it sheweth the certainty of the descending of the said younger brother out of both the said houses , and also giveth knowledg of the time thereof , whereby if any title of inheritance be at any time cast upon the younger brother , either descending from ancestor of the fathers side , or mothers , it gives him a testimony of his title , and witnesseth unto the world the truth of that descent by the continual bearing of that device , so that this kind may ( many times ) work profit to the bearer , and avoid many troubles and suits : and therefore into one of these kind of differing● could i wish our younger brothers , which from henceforth shall be advanc'd , to invest themselves , as being both honourable , fair , certain , and profitable . but now it may be objected , that the order in use sheweth plainly enough the diversity of brothers , as the cressant a second , the mollet the third , that by this means the matters are made certain . to this i answer , that first the time is not ( by this means ) signified , neither can it be known which of the cressant-bearers was the uncle or nephew . and further , it is a very usual matter for every new riser at this day , if he can find that there is any of the like surname that beareth mark , presently to usurp the same with a cressant , or some such difference , so that ( for my own part ) i do seldom credit such kind of differings nor their bearers , unless it be by some other testimony or proof made manifest , which cannot be counterfetted so well in the other device , except the riser should be throughly acquainted with the descent of him whose line he seeketh to intrude himself into . and besides , it may be the sooner espied by them of the true line and forbidden ; nor the other dare ( for fear thereof ) so soon venture the committing of a falsity . but what a confusion is it when you shall see the second of a second brother , and sometimes an other second from him , to cluster one cressant upon an other ; many times three or four , one on horseback upon an other ; where as by the aforesaid bearing of the difference from the prince , lord , or mothers family , a man may better distinguish the brothers and set down for a second , a third , and fourth , &c. and after from those again , in a fairer , larger , and more apparent manner : and the more apt am i to speak against these ordinary differences ( as they are called ) knowing them to be but new inventions , and any of them as ordinaries ( in fashion as now they are ) never used before the time of king henry the sixt ; before which time men were much more wary and discreet in bearing of their marks , and in foreseeing that no intruders should enter into their families ; nor that any should lay away or remove their differings without special warrant or license of them that thereby might be prejudiced : for a labell being much in use for the heire apparent ( to wear as his differeuce during his fathers life ) was seldom removed to the second brother , but when the inheritance went unto the daughters of the elder brother ; and then the second was permitted to bear the same for his difference , as being the heire male of his family and as one that remained in expectancy ; yet might not the second brother use to intrude himself into the absolute signs of his house ( the inheritance being in his neeces or kinswomen ) as appeared in the case between gray of ruthine and hastings which was this : john lord hastings married to his first wife izabell one of the sisters and heires of almery de vallence earl of penbrooke , by whom he had issue john hastings , ( after earl of penbrooke ) elizabeth , ( married to roger lord gray of ruthin ) and some other children which needs not to be spoken of ; for that , as i take it , all the lines of them fail'd before the extinguishing of the line of the said john earl of penbrooke . after ( such issue being had ) the said izabel vallence died , and the said john lord hastings took to a second wife izabel the daughter of hugh spenser , by whom he had issue hugh hastings , and thomas , and then died , and left as heir john his son by his first wife ( who was earl of penbrooke , as i have said , erected by reason of his mothers inheritance ) which john earl of penbrooke married and had issue another earl of penbrooke , who also married and had issue a third earl of penbrooke ; but in the end all the line of the said john hastings ( first earl of penbrooke of that family ) failing , there arose a question betwixt the heirs of roger gray and elizabeth his wife being sister ( of the whole blood ) and the heirs of hugh hastings brother ( of the half blood ) to the said john earl of penbrooke , for the inheritance of the hastings . but gray recovering the same ( by the law that saith , possessio fratris de feodo simplici facit sororem esse haeredem ) called the said hastings also ( having removed the difference of his mark for that he was then heir male of that house ) into the court of chevalry , and there having a judgement against him , the said hastings was compelled to use a difference ( which was a label of silver ) upon his mark , a fair red sleeve of his ladies upon his golden vesture : since which the heirs of that younger family have used the said labell even until this our age . so that you may see by this , that the law was then taken to be such , that such an heir male as had not the inheritance of his ancestors should not be suffered to bear his mark without distinction ; for it should seem ( by this ) that the issue of them that had married the heir general of any family ( being by reason thereof possessed of the lands ) had not only an interest in the arms , but might also forbid any man the bearing thereof . there is also another matter out of square , which is , that every man that obtaineth large possessions , ( whether the same be acquired by his judgment in law , traffick in merchandize , or any other mean ) yea although never any of his progenitors , ( from whom he can derive himself ) had the charge to lead men of arms , will yet at this day intrude themselves into the badges and marks of souldiers : for although such as be descended from men of martial discipline , have an interest in their ancestors marks ( amongst other their goods ) and therefore may shew forth the same to their predecessors glory , and their own ( in respect of their descent ) yet such men as rise by their sciences , judgments , or skill in other arts , affairs , or trades ( although they be to be reverenced for their wisdom and praiseful actions , and had in honour answerable to their vertues and dignities ) have yet little to do with the marks or badges of soldiers . for altho a reverend judg , that hath ministred law and justice a long time ( and that so long as that thereby to his great glory ) he hath obtained reputation , wealth , and revenue , is to be had in high estimation , and in respect thereof to have allow'd him some note or mark of honour fit for his calling , yot ( to my simple judgment ) the same should be disposed unto him after the old roman order , by signifying the manner of his rising , rather then to put a corselet on his back , a burgonet on his head , a target on his arm , and a sword by his side , being things that would cumber greatly the good old man to use , either for his own defence , or but to shew ( by way of triumph ) for his glory , sithence , neither is it tolerable ( by reason of his age ) nor in his youth did he exercise himself in welding thereof . and as these things are unseeming for him to wear , no more can i see any reason why he should deck up the moniments of his house with such signs or tokens , except he can derive himself from an ancestor that hath had the use of such things , and then ( to set them sorth as a glory to his deceased parent ) will greatly augment the regard of his rising , which rising yet ( of it self ) is a sufficient honour , the same being by any just , vertuous , or laudable means . and these new risings i could wish to be of more reputation then they seem to be esteem'd of , either by others , or themselves that so rise ; as is apparent by many of their doings , who intrude themselves into marks of antiquity , and setting forth of descents , wherein they are yet fain many times either to counterfet , or else to derive themselves from some poor parents , which they ( either truly , or by surmize ) alledge to have descended from some antient family , and that have been by some accident or other in former time decayed : wherein me thinks men do greatly mistake the matter , for that ( in my opinion ) a man that is but of mean parentage and riseth by commendable means , is equivalent to him that riseth from a decayed family , namely when his said parent hath been overthrown for offence , as many times they alleadge in plain terms . and i could wish that every man that raiseth a house by his good industry , should be honoured with some such badge or mark , as should be answerable to the quality of his rising ; and not every man of what condition soever they be , to entrude themselves into the signs and marks of souldiers , and such as follow the field with martial exploits . some people also there are that be so precise , as that they do disallow altogether the setting forth of any memory of well deserving men , which have shewed themselves valiant either in the act of religion , their princes service , or defence of their country ; neither allowing their posterity to set forth any memory of their praises , nor suffering any monuments or garnishments to remain of their burials ; as tho it were a matter offensive to god to have good men well spoken of , or their valorous doings by their obsequies either reverenc'd , or by any records remembred . to such men i have not thought it amiss to shew them their error by directing them to such places of scripture as do not only tolerate and allow of such actions , but also praise and commend the doing thereof , and in some sort charge and command the same to be done , whereby both they may ( if they be not obstinate ) reform their misconceived opinions , and others may be fortifyed in their praiseful endeavours towards the honouring of vertuous and worthy men , to the animating of posterity to imitate their laudable actions ; sithence indeed the chiefest matter that stirreth up men to do well next their zeal to god , and the love of vertue it self , is to think that not only their souls shall be rewarded with the mercies of god , but also that their doings shall be had in a reverent remembrance with the reports of all good men that shall speak of them . and first , that the using , bearing and setting forth of banners , ensigns and marks of armory are allowable by the sacred scriptures , it appeareth by the holy evangelist saint luke recording the peregrination of saint paul , and speaking of armory without reprehension ( which he would not have done had the use thereof been offensive ) in this sort : ( act. apost . cap. 28. v. 11. ) post menses autem tres navigavimus in navi alexandrina , quae in insula hyemaverat cui erat insigne castorum . and after three months we departed in a ship of alexandria , which had wintered in the isle , whose signs was castor and pollux . and in the book of numeri , god by his prophet moyses commandeth his people of israel to devide and dispose themselves into companies by their ensigns and banners speaking unto them in these words : ( num. cap. 2. v. 1. 2 ) locutusque est dominus ad moysen & aaron , dicens , singuli , per turmas , signa , atque vexilla , & domos cognationum suarum , castra-metabuntur , filiorum israel per gyrum tabernaculi foederis . and the lord spake unto moyses , and unto aaron saying , every man of the children of israel shall pitch by their own standard , with the ensign of their father's house , far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch . so that by this you may see , that as these matters be no new inventions of men , so they are also things allowable by the word of god. neither do obsequies or monuments ensuing worthy acts want the authority of scriptures , for in the book of numeri it is written thus : ( num. cap. 31. v. 48. ) cumque accessissent principes exercitus ad moysen , & tribuni , centurionesque dixerunt , nos serui tui recensuimus numerum pugnatorum , quos habuimus sub manu nostra : & ne unus quidem defuit , ob hanc causam offerimus in donarijs domini singuli quod in praeda auri potui●us invenire , periscelides & armillas , annulos & dextralia ac murenulas , &c. et susceptum intulerunt in tabernaculum testimonij in monimentum coram domino . and the officers which were over thousands of the host , the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds came near unto moses and sayd thy servants have taken the summe of the men of war , which are under the chardge , and there lacketh no one man of us : we have therefore brought an oblation for the lord , what every man hath gotten , of jewels of gold , chains , and bracelets , ear-rings , and tablets , &c. and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation , for a memorial for the children of israel before the lord. and in another place of numeri thus : ( num. cap. 16. v. 36. ) locutusque est dominus ad moysen dicens , praecipe eliazaro filio aaron sacerdoti , ut tollat thuribula quae jacent in incendio , & ignem huc illucque dispergat : &c. producatque ea in laminas , & affigat altari : &c. ut cernant ea pro signo & monimento filij israel . and the lord spake unto moses , saying ; speak unto eleazer , the son of aaron the priest , that he take up the censers out of the burning , and scatter thou the fire yonder &c. let them make broad plates for a covering of the altar &c. and they shall be a sign unto the children israel . also in the book of joshua i find these words : ( josuae cap. 4. v. 5. ) et ait josue ad eos , ite ante arcam domini dei vestri ad jordanis medium & portate inde singuli singulos lapides in humeris vestris , juxta numerum filiorum israel , ut sit siguum inter vos : & quando interrogaverint vos filij vestri cras , dicentes quid sibi volunt isti lapides ? respondebitis , defecerunt aquae jordanis ante arcam foederis domini , cum transiret eum , idcirco positi sunt lapides isti in monimentum filiorum israel usque aeternum . and joshua said unto them , pass over before the ark of the lord your god into the midst of jordan , and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder , according to the number of the tribes of the children of israel , that this may be a sign among you , that when your children ask their fathers in time to come , saying what mean you by these stones : then ye shall answer them that the waters of jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the lord when it passed over jordan ; the waters of jordan were cut off ; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of israel for ever . ( num. cap. 27. v. 8 ) and for the disposing of heritages it is written thus . homo cum mortuus fuerit absque filio , ad filiam ejus transibit haereditas ; si filiam non habuerit , habebit successores fratrs suos ; quod si & fratres non fuerint , dabitis haereditatem fratribus patris ejus ; sin autem nec patruos habuerit , dabitur haereditas his qui ei proximi sunt . eritque hoc filijs israel sanctum lege perpetua siout praecepit dominus moysi . if a man dy and have no son , then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughters : and if he have no daughter , then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren : and if he have no brethren , then ye shall give his inheritance unto his fathers brethren : and if his father have no brethren , then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman , that is next to him of his family , and he shall possess it : and it shall be unto the children of israel a statute of judgment as the lord commanded moses . ( num. cap. 26. v. 1. and v. 5. ) and for the collection of genealogies , thus saith god to moses and elèazar : numerate omnem summam filiorum israel à viginti annis & suprà , per domos & cognationes suas , cunctos qui possunt ad bella procedere : &c. reuben primogenitus israel , hujus filius , henoch , à quo familia henochitarum : & phallu , à quo familia phalluitarum ; & hezron à quo familia hezronitarum . take the summe of the people from twenty years old and upwards , as the lord commanded moses and the children of israel ( according to their families and kindred , all that were able for warr ; reuben the eldest son of israel : the children of reuben , hanoch , of whom cometh the family of the hanochites : of pallu , the family of palluites : of hesron the family of the hesronites . and for a further proof of the recording of genealogies , it is to be considered how diligent the same hath been observed through the whole course of the scriptures , as the descents from adam to noe , and from noe to abraham , &c. do sufficiently testify . and more , that with the spirit of truth the genealogy of christ our saviour and redeemer , as concerning his humanity , is also by the writing of his holy evangelists most plainly and sincerely remembred and set down . all these things being therefore by the scriptures of god ( the decider of all controversiies ) proved and declared : your lordships may see that the bearing of arms , raising and advancing of standards , banners and ensigns , using of obsequies , erecting of monuments , enroling and regestring of pedegrees , and descents , have joyned to the antient customs and laws both of this land and all other nations ; the authority of gods word , being very well accompanied with discretion , reason , and judgment ; for god having by his sacred institution ordained kingdoms , provinces , and seignories , and that over them kings , princes and magistrates , shall command , rule , and govern his people , to the end chiefly that his heavenly kingdom may be replenished with the blessed souls of his servants , for the instructing whereof he hath also ordained his holy church , and the bishops , pastors and ministers of the same , which bishops and other spiritual officers cannot so well enform his christian people without the aid of the said kings and temporal lords : neither can they govern their particular countries either from the invasion of outward tyrants or inward rebels , but through the use of their sword of justice , which sword cannot be exercised against unruly persons being of strength , wanting men skilful in martial discipline , who cannot manage those affairs but by mean of the aforesaid arms and ensigns , in manner as before i have more largely expressed . and in like sort as princes , great lords , judges , magistrates and governours , do use to wear sacred robes of gold , purple , scarler , and other ornaments and apparel ; not to take pride in , or for any vain ostentation or show ; but only that they may be distinguished from the inferior people , to the end that a reverent regard may be had of them in respect of the high office which under god here on earth they bear . and as these things no man of any reason will gainsay , so i see not but as-well may their just vertues and good government be remembred with funerals , obsequies , and monuments , after their decease , whereby such as succeed in government may also be had in more high estimation , and a fair example is thereby given them to imitate the regiment of their predecessors , likewise doth the registring of descents carry with it reason joined to authority and custom ; for as by gods law there is commanded a priviledge of enheritance to the first begotten of israel , and so for want of sons to the females , and from them to others answerable to the proximity of their blood and kindred , which with the laws of this land , and of most nations do concur and agree ; it doth well stand with peaceful government for the avoiding of contentions which may rise for want of records , to testify the truth of mens titles to their enheritances , that genealogies and pedegrees , should be enrolled and kept in remembrance . i have my good lords stood the longer upon this point , for that of late travelling through some countries of this land , and having a desire to see the moniments of antiquity which have remained in such places as i passed by , for which cause as otherwise i many times resorted to churches and other houses to satisfy my affection , i found that many moniments both of burials and in glass were so broken and defaced , that vneth may be had any knowledge what the fragments remaining did signify : and enquiring of the inhabitants how it came to pass that those things were so blemished , they made report that certain persons , delighting as may seem in novelty , for they can abide no mark of antiquity , had defaced the same . these men that take upon them to be reformers , whose desires are great through the singularity and pride they have in their own wits and understandings , weening themselves to be very wise , where indeed they are very simple , and only look but into the abuses of things , and do not see into the grounds and depth of the reasons and causes for which good ordinances were made , go about to find faults , where many times none are ; but if peradventure they hap to find an ordinance well made misused , then streight never seek they to reform the abuse , but by their wills , down goeth ordinance and all , such is their insolency , rashness , and want of judgment . it were well done therefore my good lords , and i could wish that your honours having sometimes access to her majesty , and oftentimes conference with my lords of her privy councel , should enform her highness , and their honours of the said abuses committed , and to be thereby a mean that these simple fellows taking upon them to be reformers , might be reformed themselves , and both kept from destroying of good ordinances , and be punished for their offences in that behalf committed . in the mean time yet shall i desire that honourable personages will look better to the moniments of their ancestors , by correcting the destroyers thereof , and therein to imitate the laudable actions of william fleetwood , serjeant at the law , and recorder of the city of london , who being commissioner amongst others for the visitation of causes ecclesiastical , by the princes authority , by vertue thereof imprisoned certain wilful persons that had defaced the moniment of queen katherine dowyger at preterborough , until such time as they had reformed the same , which thing was through his good endeavour reedified and perfected again , and so remaineth to this day : for although some hapily see standing those of their own parents , yet it were good they should sorsee that no others be pulled down ; for that there is not to be looked for but that suffering such injuries to rest unpunished , the doers thereof will in time grow more insolent , and have a cast to overthrow theirs also . and now being in speech of monuments , i cannot but remember their ignorance who make small account of any ancestor except before the conquest , weening that all that lie cross-legged † so were : and that all antient evidence without date is the like : whereas the one was not had in use until after the palestine wars , and the other , such as be sealed , be also since * the conquest ; for i could never see nor hear of any that had seen sealed deed , but the same was made sithence the conquest of this land , when the use ( as i take it ) of sealing with wax first began in england . but these men will not stoop one jot under the conquest , telling many fables of their ancestors then preserving their houses , honours , and armories , forgetting quite that it is much more glorious and honourable to be descended from a most famous nation conquering , then such people by plain feat of arms subjuged , for as the poet saith , quis enim sua praelia victus commemorare velit ? referam tamen ordine , nec tam turpe fuit vinci , quàm contendisse decorum est , magnaque dat nobis tantus solatia victor . so that if they have any thing praise-worthy left to brag of , it it that they well contended with so puissant conquerors , which were then in their time as wise , glorious , and famous a nation as were in the whole world to be found . another sort there be not much more skilful , who if they see any armory , straight enter into the comparison of the fairness thereof : and foul and false is it , if mettal lie upon mettal alone , or colour upon colour : and yet i could wish we should never have more dishonourable men nor worse souldiers then have so born their armory : for to omit that worthy godfrey , and that mack morise king of lymster in ireland , whose only daughter and heir was married to richard strongbowe earl of penbrook , and bare in a black shield a red ramping lion ; of our own sir richard sanbach of sanbach in chesshire , sir william wakbirge of wakbirge in darbishire , two valiant knights , yet both bare colour upon colour . passing the number of examples , i will recite the words of mine author speaking of the adventures of a brave knight in the company of sir robert canole resting by paris . this knight having vowed to strike with his launce on the barriers of the city , performed it , and then the words be these : celluy cheualier ie ne sca comment il auoit nom ne de quel pays il istoit mais s' armoit a gueulles a de deux fouses noyeres et vne bordure noyre non endente . and although i grant they be not so well to be discerned , as when metal and colour be varied the one with the other ; yet sithence the number be great of most worthy men that have born their arms in such manner , i will esteem their marks as honourable as the rest , and never impute any falsity to them . and this kind of men also commonly discant upon the proportion , nature , and quality of the device , as if the name of ricbard were better then robcrt ; and ralph better then roger ; and in their conceits the eagle or faulcon are the fairest birds to be born of all feathered fowls , and so of other the like : when indeed except for the reverence due to the bearers , who do honour their bearings by their renown , vertue and valure , otherwise there is no difference in the fairness of marks : but that those only are to be preferred which be easiest to be perceived , discerned , and known to be the same things they be marked out for : and therefore the capitale of beuf'z black midas head with his fair long asse-ears , was as good a crest , as sir john chandos chiftains head proper in a white scarffe goodly envellopped : and as fair a coat is hopwells , being three red hares playing on bagpipes in a silver shield , as newinton which bare d' azure three eglets d' argent displaid . and now me thinks i hear . some that esteem me to mend , and become more fine , skilfull , and herauld-like in my emblazons , as using the french phrases of d'azyer & d'argent , who think , i doubt not , but that i have committed a great error for want of using the said french phrases in my emblazons ; notwithstanding i will joyn in opinion with such as esteem it to be more proper to speak and use english terms and phrases in an english book dedicated to englishmen , then french or latin , otherwise than cited authority leadeth . thus far from mr. erdswike publisht by mr. wyrley . i come now to what that most expert herauld robert glover somerset hath sayed upon this subject of differences , in his book de origine & antiquitate armorum , &c. apud nos in anglia , longo & approbato usu , triplices observantur armorum differentiae ; scilicet principales , consanguineorum , & extraneorum . differentiae principales sint labellus , sive lingula , eum pendulis , & appendicibus imparibus : simplex , & quandoque rebus onustis . bordura , sive fimbria simplex , componata , aut alio modo semmata , vel distincta per endenturas , & crenelaturas , quae dicuntur principales differentiae ; quia in armis nunquam cernuntur , nec ullo alio usui destinantur , nisi ad illorum differentiam & discrepantiam . differentiae consanguineorum sunt crescens , macula , merulus , annulus , fos-lilij & similia , quae dicuntur consanguineorum differentiae , quia serviunt & destinantur consanguineis , ab uno & eodem stipite descendentibus : ut filius junior , dum caelebs & innuptus remanserit gerens arma patris sui cum tali parva differentia dignoscatur . et-inter multos fratres , ut quilibet eorum possit bene secerni & cognosci ab alio per sua arma in praelijs & expeditionibus bellicis ; & priaecipue quo ad nativitatis & geniturae suae statum & praeeminentiam , portabunt arma domus & familio unde sunt praegnati , cum tali parva differentia . at postquam ductis uxoribus , mutiplicatisque liberis , novam per se constituerint familiam , rejectis prioribus minutis differentijs , arma domus cum labello , bordura , quarterio , benda , aut alia graviori distinctione , additione , vel commutatione portare debent , quo dehinc & illorum familia , ab originali illa familia , unde oriuntur , armorum delatione facile precipi , distingui , & separari . et tamque est verus , naturalis , & genuinus armorum usus , ut per easdem cognoscantur & distinguantur familiae & agnationes , ob quam causam proculdubio in initio inventa fuerant . differentiae extraneorum sunt , barrulae , bendae , fasces ; tigna , sive signa capitalia , palae , quarteriae , & similia , quae extraneorum dicuntur notae : quia licet extraneo arma cujuscumque domus seu familiae portare & ostendere , cum hujusmodi incrementis et additione sine quorumeumque praejudicio vel offensione . harum differentiarum vero usu neglecto , dum his dieb● juniores filij minutulas illas crescentium , macularum , merulorum , annulorum , atque florum differentias retinere solent , easque ad suos quoque posteros transmittant , famularum notitia ( quae per armorum delationes cognosci , secerni , et distingui solebant ) prorsus obfuscatur , et deletur . with us in e●gland , there hath been a threefold difference observed in arms ; that is to say of the chiefs , or principals ; for those of consanguinity ; and of strangers . the principal differences are a labell , or string with points , or pendents unlike : sometimes plain ; and sometimes chang'd . the border , or plain fillet , componed , or distinguished by endenting , or engrailing , which are called the principal differences ; because they are never seen in arms , or designed , but for differences . the differences for such as are of consanguinity , are a crescent , a mullet , a martlet , an annulet , a flower de lys , and the like ; which are called differences of kinsmen ; because they are designed and serve for those which are descended from one and the same stock : as for example , a younger son , whilst he continues a batcheler and not married , he is known by bearing his fathers arms with such a small distinction or difference . and amongst many brothers , to the end that each of them may be discern'd and known from another by his arms in battels , and warlike expeditions , and specially as to their primogeniture and preheminence , they bore the arms of the house and family , whence they sprung , with such a small distinction . but afterwards , when married , and had children , being heads of new families , they quitted those former minute and petty differences , they bore the arms of their house with a labell , bordure , quarter , bend , or some other greater distinction or addition , which thenceforth might evidently distinguish them and their family from the original house and stock from whence they were descended . such being the true , natural , and genuine use of arms , that each family and kindred might be known and distinguisht from one another ; that being doubtless the cause for which they were at first devised . as to the differences of strangers , they were barrulets , bends , fesses , cheverons , or capital marks ; pales , quarters , and the like , which are said to be the badges and marks of strangers ; because it is lawful for a stranger of any house or family to bear his arms with these kind of distinctions and differences , without doing injury or giving offence to any . but these differences being grown out of use ; now adays younger sons do not only retain these petty distinctions of crescents , mullets , martlets , annulets , and flowers , but transmit them to their posterity ; whence it is , that the distinction and proper knowledg of several families , which had wont to be perspicuous by the bearings in their arms , is now totally confounded and obscured . hereunto i shall add what the most learned camden , sometimes clarencieux king of arms , hath express'd as to this point : * no gentlemen ought to bear their differences in armory , otherwise then the office of armory requireth : and when younger brethren do marry , erect , and establish new houses , are accordingly to bear their arms with such distinctions and differences , that they may be known from their elder families , out of which they were descended ; the king of arms of the province to be consulted withall , and such differences of houses are to be assigned and establish'd by his privity and consent , that so he may advise them to the best , and keep record thereof ; otherwise gentlemen may either hurt themselves , by taking such a difference as shall prejudice the chief house from whom they are descended . let us now see what sir henry spelman ( whose memory is not a little famous for his knowledg i● antiquities , and herauldry ) hath written as to thi● matter . de discerniculis . * pluribus idem insigne deferre , absque debita differentia sua , fas non est : ne ejusdem gentis familijs ; ne ejusdom familiae fratribus . familiae autem coryphaeo symbolum manet integrum et indiscretum ; junioribus omnibus suis discerniculis interstrictis ; quae semper in editiori clypei parte ( cophalicae regionis medio , juxta leum ) expetuntur quod wriothsleus fecialis sub edwardi quarti aevo , a se inventum propagatumque fuisse , ne ulterius quaeras , tradidit . fratrem primogenitum lemniscis , seu virgula lemniscata donant . vivente patre triplici , nondum extincto avo quintuplici ; semper impari , si lei fidem sequamur . corollae praefert similitudinem , lemniscis ex ea dependentibus ; quam ideo primogenito assignatam dixeris , quia familiae decus , sic prae caeteris exornandus videatur . antique autem idem hoc signum , secundo , tertio , quinto conferebatur ; discrimine vel in colore posito , vel in lemniscorum numero . secundo fratri lunulam , crescentem vocant ; graeci 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , assignant ; tertio penticonum ; quarto apodem ; quinto anellum ; sexto lilium . et hisce quidem discerniculis internoscenda exhibentur warwici in fenestra veteri , ecclisiae s. mariae , arma , sex filiorum thomae beauchamp xiiii . comitis illius tractus , qui obijt 34. edw. tertij , ut intelligas istiusmodi distinctionis ritum non a nuperis emanasse . alij qui aetate henrici septimi scripserunt , haeredem ipsum crescenti lunula distinxerunt , ut accessuro huic lumine , accessuram illi haereditatem ostenderent . secundo vero fratrem , quem tertium familiae limen occupare aiunt ( primum enim patri , alterum haeredi tribuunt ) triplici lemnisco consignarunt : tertio fratri quadruplicem : quarto quintuplicem . sed nec haec , nec illa distinguendi ratio satis apud veteres invaluit , qui apertissimis differentiis consusulentes , paternos colores saepe inverserunt : saepe rerum gestarum numerum auxerunt ; saepe minuerunt ; alicui gestamina , praesertim materna , & haereditaria saepissime interseruerunt . interdum desertis integris insignibus , novis gavisi sunt . sin vero protogoni clypeum , per omnes agnationes , familias , gentes retinuisse placuerit ; lemniscis , quos diximus , diagoniis , limbis , quadraturis , angulis , aliisque latis & conspecti ; oribus differentiis usi sunt . en in una gente omnium pene exemplaria . extraneorum gens , vulgo le strange , inter limitaneos proceres notissimae virtutis , & triplici tum olim baronia , amplissimisque familiis perquam potens & splendida , clypeo utebatur rubeo , duobus argenteis leonibus graduarijs , quam johannes le strange quartus baro de knockyn , ut familiarum coryphaeus , purum protulit . fulco le strange , baro de corsham & blakmere , qui a johanne , avo dicti johannis , per — filium tertium descenderet , colores inversit , argenteo clypeo rubeos inducens . rogerus le strange , baro de ellesmere ( ab eodem avo , per filium quartum prognatus ) gentis clypeum , limbo imbricato aureo circundedit . ejus pater etiam rogerus , cum matildem filiam willielmi de bellocampo uxorem duxisset , bellocamporum cruces crucigeras ( sed argenteos numeroque novenario ) argenteis suis leonibus intercalavit . hamo le strange a johanne quarto , per quintum editus , clypeum fratris sui johannis , sexti baronis de knockyn , aurea diagonali virgula trajecit , eodemque discrimine apud hunstanton ( norfolcensi agro ) quam a barone fratre anno gratiae 1309 dono acceperat , consedens , celebri familiae ( quae in hunc usque diem , eadem sede , eademque discernicula , faeliciter claruit ) initium dedit . sed ipse etiam johannes le strange sextus baro de knockyn , leones suos apodum peribolo ( ut e sigillo cernimus ) aliquando circumclusit , eadem tempestate johannes le strange ( glocestriensis puto ) is , qui dominus de ercalene inscribebatur , clypeum rogeri le strange de ellesmere , cerulea mitella transegit . atque hunc quidem decernendi morem potiori laude multi efferunt , quod militaria symbola , ad distinctionem enata , distinctiora multo effecerat : minutulis enim illis recentiorum formulis , nec error defuit , nec periculum . sic elusi ( apud froisardum ) hannones illi , qui sub vexillo willielmi baileul , argenteis cyaneisque repagulis transmutato , rubrique binis fastigijs inducto , recipere se contendebant ; ad vexillum roberti baileul , fratris sui minoris , exigua cruce aurea ( quam male animadverterent ) discriminatam convolabant : fusique & dissipati omnes gravissimas ernoris sui paenas persolverunt . rideo igitur & rejicio icunculas istas , quas tum praecipue in morem venisse arbitramur , cum ipsa insignia , relictis jam nativis stationibus , clypeis , vexillis , apparatuque militari , in aedium fenestris mollique supellectili ( ubi nec refert magnitudo ) potissiimum residerent . touching small differences , being the latin before mentioned , put in english. it is not at all lawful for several persons to bear one and the same arms , without a due difference ; no not to those of the same family though they be brothers thereof . to the chief of the family , the intire arms without any difference do belong , but the younger branches are to have their respective differences , and bear them in the midst of the upper part of the escocheon , according to lee , which wriothesley ( a herauld under k. edw. 4th ) affirms to be of his devising . to the eldest son , in his fathers life time , was assigned a labell of three points ; but if his grandfather was living , with five points , ever different , if we give credit to lee. which ( like a coronet ) the labells hanging at it , is therefore assigned to the eldest son , that as he is the glory of the family he may seem to be adorned above the rest . antiently this distinction was conferred on the second , third or fourth , either by different colour , or number of the labells . to the second brother they assigned a crescent : to the third a mullet of five points ; to the fourth a martlet ; to the fifth an annulet ; to the sixth a flower de lys. and by these differences the six sons of thomas beauchamp the xiiii earl of warwick , ( who died in the thirty fourth year of k. edw. 3. ) are shewed forth in an old window of the church of st. mary at warwick ; so that you may see that this usage is ancient . some who have written in the time of k. henry the seventh , have distinguisht the heir himself by a crescent , that by the accession of light they might shew that the inheritance was coming to him . and to the second brother , whom they take to be the third boundary of the family ( attributing the first to the father , and the second to the heir ) they assign a labell of three points : to the third a labell of four points ; and to the fifth a labell of five points . but none of these kind of distinctions were used amongst the antients ; who studying apparent and perspicuous differences , often inverted the paternal colour ; sometimes augmented the particular chardge in the shield ; sometimes diminishing the same ; and sometimes inserting another sort of bearing , especially from the mother ; but sometimes totally quitting their paternal arms , and assuming new . but if the respective branches of the family did retain their ancestors arms , then they did use apparent and conspicuous differences either by labells , bends , borders , quarters , cantons or the like . examples whereof we have almost all in one family . as in that of le strange , sometimes famous for their valour in the marshes of wales ; whereof there were three distinct barons ; who had a sheild gules , with two lyons passant argent , which john le strange the fourth baron of knockyn , as the chief of that house , did bear . but fulke le strange , baron of corfham and blakmere , who descended from the grandfather of the said john , by a third son , inverted the colours , bearing in a field argent , two lyons passant gules . likewise roger le strange baron of ellesmere , who descended from the same grandfather by a fourth son , bore the same arms , with a border engrayled or. also roger his father , after he had marryed maud the daughter of william de beauchamp , bore nyne cross-croslets argent betwixt his silver-lyons . moreover hamon le strange , who descended from the said john the fourth , by a fifth son , bore the arms of his brother , john the sixth baron of knockyn , with a bendlet or ; and fixing himself at hunstanton in norfolk ( which he obtained in the year 1309 from john his brother ) was the original of that worthy family , which doth still remain there , bearing the same difference . but the sayd john le strange the sixth baron of knockyn , did sometime environ his lyons with an orle of martlets , as by his seals are to be seen . at the same time another john le strange , who was lord of ercalene ( in shropshire ) bore the arms of roger le strange of ellesmere with a bendlet azure . which kind of differences , as many do affirm , are most worthy of commendation , because as military badges , first used for distinction , they are much more discernable . for by these small and petty differences , there is both error and danger , as it is evident by those hennovers of which froisard speakes ; who fighting under the standard of william de baileul , with barrs argent and azure counterchanged , and over them two chevrons gules striving to repair thereto , came to the standard of robert baileul his younger brother , distinguisht but by a small golden-cross , which occasioned a total rout to them all , whereby they paid dear for their mistake . i do therefore smile at , and despise these pettey differences , which now a days are used ; whereas the arms themselves , leaving their native stations , in shields , banners , and habiliments of warr , doth now chiefly appear in glass-windows and sleight houshold stuff , where the largeness of the distinction is not at all regarded . having now done with these english writers , let us hear what the french say thereto . mons. charles segoigne , advocate of the parliament , and of the council of estate , and of the privy-council of the king in his tractate , called tresor heraldique , printed at paris 1657. pag. 459. pour celles des maisons particularies , chascun on use comme il lui plaist , toutes fois les pieces , dont se sert ordinairement pour brisures , sont le lambell , les bordures , le baton , ou cottice , le franc canton ; la molette ; le croissant ; l' estaille ; le besant &c. for differences of particular houses , each one useth as he pleaseth : nevertheless the pieces that ordinarily are used , are the labell ; the bordures ; the baton , or cotice ; the franc canton ( id est the dexter canton ) the mullet ; the crescent ; the star , the besant [ the besant in the french acceptation being a roundell , either or or argent . ] le trophee d' armes ( whose author conceals himself ) a book printed at paris an . 1650. pag. 33. les pleines armes sont reservees aux aisnez par les loix divines & humaines : les cadets & puisnez les portent aussi , mais avec quelque differences d' inferiorite ; ce que l' on appelles brisures , dont le nombre n' est point limite , puis qu' elles dependent de la fantasie . les uns prennent estoilles ; croissans ; soleils , animaux , oyseaux , fleurs , & autres choses posces d' ordenaire sur le flanc dextre de l' escu , en chef ou montantes d' icelui . des autres brisent en diminuant les pieces : & d' autres en changeant les esmail-de leur armes . mais le plus souvent pour brisure , on se sert du lambeau ; de la bordure ; de l' orle ; báston ; bande ou cottice , que ie range ici selon leur dignite . car on tient que s' il se trouvoit cinque puisnez en un maison , le lambeau appertiendroit au premier ; le bordure au second ; & aussi des autres . si bien , que les puisnez : du premier puisnes pour doubles brisures , ou sou brisures , augmente : ront les pendens du lambeau ; le premier d' un : le second de deux autres ; & les autres de mesme jusques a cinque . apres quoy , pour sou-brisures , on chargeroit de lambeau , qui d' une figure qui d' une autre . les sou-brisures de la bordure , sont primierement de la fair engreslee . secondement de la charger de torteaux ou besans : troisiesmement de la componee . et finálement de la charger de plusieurs figures , ou d' une soule . il en est de mesme des autres brisures . which in english is thus . the plain arms are reserved to the eldest sons , both by divine and humane laws : the cadets ( or younger ) bear the same arms , but with some difference of inferiority , which we call brisures : of which the number is not limitted , but depends upon fancy . some take starrs , cressents , sunns , beasts , birds , flowers , and other things , put most commonly upon the dexter flanc of the escocheon ; upon the cheife part of the same ; or moving , or issuing thence . others difference by diminishing the peices of the chardge , or changing the colours . but most commonly for brisures ( or differences ) we make use of the labell ; the bordure ; the orle ; the baton ; the bend , or cottice , which i range here according to their dignity : for we hold , that if there be five puisnes in a house , the labell belongs to the first ; the bordure to the second , and so of the rest . so that the puisnes of the first puisnes for double ( or sub-brisures ) shall augment the pendents of the labell : the first with one ; the second with two : the rest accordingly to the number of five . after which , for sub-brisures , or differences , we must chardge the labell with one figure or another . the sub-brisures of the bordure , are first of all to make it engrailed . secondly to chardge it with torteaux , or besants . thirdly to compone ( or gobone ) it . and finally to chardge it with various sorts of figures or with one alone . the same must be done with the other sort of brisures or differences . note that the french blazoners , do , by torteauxes mean roundles of colors : and by besants those of mettal ; viz. silver , and gold. the book of st. albans sayth , that labells are excellent differences ; as with three , four , five , or more points . it also speaks of cross-croslets , mullets , or the like . likewise of bordures changed , in form , or in color . we will conclude this chapter of arms , and blazons with acknowledging and distinguishing the eldest sons from the younger and inferior . * the eldest are known and discerned from the other by the plain paternal arms without any brisure ( id est diminution ) whatsoever , except the father gave the same so . it is ordinarily seen in illustrious and most noble houses , that the second son quartereth the fathers arms , with them of his mother : but this occasioneth confusion to their descent and linage , if they have store of male children : others diversifye and vary in the chief , or else in the first quarter and canton of the cheife , which is termed of honour ; or else partissent a , flanquent b , entent c , en poincte , ou mettent d sur le tout : but the most certain knowledge is made by brisures , so far as to the seventh generation , the end of all patronage [ brisures signifying any thing added besides the original chardge . ] it is an assured rule , that among males , the eldest acknowledgeth himself , and he ought to be acknowledged by his father's arms , if he be no otherwise stipuled by contracts of marriage , of donation , or of substitution , which do extend so far as to the fourth heir . and if all the males would bear the fathers arms , they ought to be distinguished according to degree of birth , or primogeniture , by brisures . but the second son deit porter le lambeau de trois pieces ; which is to be understood of metal or color , and which also ought to be observed in all other brisures . the third son une simple bordure . the fourth le orle ; the fifth le baston : and the sixth le bande . if there be any more , the cheife ; the first or last canton of the cheife , or else le ente en poincte will serve to be remarked . the assailants or challengers of all the younger thus born must be acknowledged by doubles brisures ; in regard the eldest son issued of the second , ought to retain and bear the fathers arms avecques leur brisure le lambeau de trois pieces en chef . the second le larabeau de quatre pieces en chef . the third pareil lambeau monuant le cheif . and the fourth pareil lambeau charge solon sa fantasie d'aigles , lyons , croissants , roses , aleryons , merlets , ou diapre . the second son issuing of the first third portera la bordure engreslee . the third chargee de befans , ou torteaux . the fourth la bordure componee . the next endentee , or endenchee . and the rest ( if there be any more ) chargee de annulets , partie del un ou l' autre , ou bien le simple , ou be double essanier & trescheur ; id est the diminitive of an orle. the second son issuing of the first fourth , l' orle , which his descendents and he may diversifye ; d' eschecquette , pale , counterpale , lozange , frelte , fusille , faisses , conterfaisses , paile , viure e , cheveronne contre-cheveronne ; verse , f contre-verse ; or chardged with the forenamed beasts with pannes g , marles , molettes , estoiles , ou de rustres h , or other varieties , which may be put into arms. the second son of the first fifth , and his descendents may change and vary le baston , as hath been said before and the like . of the second son , and his assaylants of the first six a la band i , which may be coticee , jumelle k , bretesscee , l feuillee m de six , componee , endenctiee , ou chargee d' animaux , ou de pannes . but it is to be held for a rule , and an infallible maxime in arms , and the noble art of painting , and blazon , that he which beareth least is the best , which will serve for question and enquirie . a true and perfect catalogue of the nobility of england . a true and perfect catalogue of all the nobility , great officers of state and court , lords spiritual and temporal of the kingdom of england , according to their respective precedencies . dukes of the royal blood ( ii ) * james duke of york ( and albany in scotland , earl of ulster in ireland ) * rupert duke of cumberland ( count palatine of the rhine ) archbishops ( ii ) , and great officers ( iv ) , who in respect of their offices precede all the nobility except those of the blood royal. arch-bishop of canterbury primate of all england william sancroft dr. of divinity lord high chancellor of england heneage earl of nottingham arch-bishop of york , primate of england richard stern dr. of divinity lord high treasurer of england this office is now executed by commissioners lord president of the council john earl of radnor lord privy seal arthur earl of anglesey dukes ( ix ) and dutchesses ( ii ) henry howard duke of norfolk ( earl marshal ) charles seymour duke of somerset ( under age ) * george villiers duke of buckingham * christopher monke duke of albemarle * james scot duke of monmouth ( and buccleugh in scotland ) * henry cavendish duke of new-castle barbara dutchess of cleveland ( sole daughter and heir to william villiers vicount grandison in ireland ) for life , with remainder to charles fitz-roy , her eldest son , and for want of issue male to george fitz-roy , her younger son. lovisa de querovalle dutchess of portsmouth ( for life ) * charles lenos duke of richmond ( and lenox in scotland ) under age . * charles fitz-roy duke of southampton ( under age ) * henry fitz-roy duke of grafton ( the remainder , for want of issue male , to george fitz-roy , his younger brother ) under age marquesses ( ii ) charles paulet marquess of winchester * henry somerset marquess of worcester other great officers ( v ) ( who take place in respect of their offices ) lord high chamberlain of england robert earl of lindsey earl marshal of england henry duke of norfolk , with his majesty's approbation at present executes the office by his deputy who now is robert earl of aylesbury lord high admiral of england this office is now executed by commissioners lord steward of the king's houshold james earl of brecknock ( duke of ormond in ireland ) lord chamberlain of the king's houshold henry earl of arlington earls ( lxix ) and ( i ) countess * auberie de vere earl of oxford charles talbot earl of shrewsbury ( waterford and wexford in ireland ) anthony grey earl of kent willlam stanly earl of derby john maners earl of rutland theophilus hastings earl of huntington * william russel earl of bedford philip herbert earl of pembroke and montgomery edward clinton earl of lincoln james howard earl of suffolk charles sackvill earl of dorset and middlesex * james cecil earl of salisbury john cecil earl of exeter john egerton earl of bridgwater philip sidney earl of leicester james compton earl of northampton edward rich earl of warwick and holland ( under age ) william cavendish earl of devonshire william feilding earl of denbigh ( and desmond in ireland ) john digby earl of bristol gilbert holles earl of clare oliver st. johns earl of bolinbroke charles fane earl of westmorland robert mountagu earl of manchester thomas howard earl of berkeshire * john sheffield earl of mulgrave thomas savage earl of rivers robert bertie earl of lindsey ( lord great chamberlain of england ) henry mordant earl of peterborough thomas grey earl of stamford hencage finch earl of winchelsey robert pierrepont earl of kingston upon hull charles dormer earl of carnarvon philip stanhope earl of chesterfield richard tufton earl of thanet thomas weston earl of portland * william wentworth earl of strafford robert spencer earl of sunderland robert leke earl of scarsdale charles wilmot earl of rochester ( and vicount wilmot of athlon in ireland ) under age * henry jermin earl of st. albans edward mountagu earl of sandwich * james butler earl of brecknock ( lord steward of the king's houshold , and duke of ormond in ireland ) henry hyde earl of clarendon arthur capel earl of essex robert brudnel earl of cardigan arthur annesly earl of anglesey ( lord privy seal , and vicount valentia in ireland ) john greneville earl of bath charles howard earl of carlisle william craven earl of craven robert bruce earl of aylesbury ( and elgin in scotland ) richard boyle earl of burlington ( and cork in ireland ) * henry bennet earl of arlington ( lord chamberlain of his majesties houshold ) anthony-ashley cooper earl of shastsbury william herbert earl of powis edward-henry lee earl of lichfield * john maitland earl of guilford ( and duke of lauderdale in scotland ) * thomas osborne earl of danby thomas lennard earl of sussex george fitz-roy earl of northumberland ( under age ) lewis duras earl of feversham charles beauclair earl of burford ( under age ) george savile earl of hallifax charles gerard earl of macclesfield john roberts earl of radnor ( lord president of the council ) robert paston earl of yarmouth george berkeley earl of berkeley edward conway earl of conway ( and vicount killutagh in ireland elizabeth ( lady dacres ) countess of shepey ( daughter of paul vicount banyng , relict of francis lennard lord dacres , and mother to thomas earl of sussex ) for life heneage finch earl of nottingham ( lord high chancellor of england ) uicounts ( viii ) and ( i ) uicountess leceister devereux vicount hereford ( under age ) francis brown vicount mountague william fiennes vicount say and sele baptist noel vicount campden thomas bellassyse vicount fauconberg charles mordant vicount mordant francis newport vicount newport sarah ( lady corbet ) vicountess corbet ( daughter and coheir of sir robert munson of carleton in com. linc. knight relict of sir vincent corbet of morton corbet in com. salop. baronet ) for life laurence hyde vicount hyde bishops ( xxiv ) dr. henry compton l. b. of london dr. nathaniel crew l. b. of durham dr. george morley l. b. of winchester dr. herbert crofts l. b. of hereford dr. seth ward l. b. of salisbury dr. edward rainbow l. b. of carlisle dr. john dolben l. b. of rochester dr. antony sparrow l. b. of norwich dr. peter gunning l. b. of ely dr. thomas wood l. b. of coventry and lichfield dr. guy carleton l. b. of chichester dr. peter mew l. b. of bath and wells dr. john pearson l. b. of chester dr. humphry lloyd l. b. of bangor dr. william lloyd l. b. of peterborough dr. thomas barlow l. b. of lincoln dr. james fleetwood l. b. of worcester dr. john fell l. b. of oxford dr. thomas lamplough l. b. of exeter dr. william thomas l. b. of st. davids dr. william gulston l. b. of bristol dr. william beaw l. b. of landaff dr. william lloyd l. b. of st. asaph dr. robert frampton l. b. of gloucester ( the bishops of london , durham , and winchester do constantly precede the residue of the bishops who take their places according to the seniority of their consecrations ) barons ( lxv ) and baronesses ( iii ) henry howard lord moubray ( beareth the title of earl of arundel ) george nevill lord abergavenny ( under age ) james touchet lord audley ( and earl of castle-haven in ireland ) charles west lord la warre thomas parker lord morley and lord montegle robert shirley lord ferrers conyers darcie lord darcie and lord meinel . charles mildmay lord fitz-walter ( under age ) henry yelverton lord grey ( under age ) frances ( lady ward ) baroness dudley ( grand-daughter and sole heir to edward sutton lord dudley , relict of humble lord ward , and mother of edward lord ward ) william stourton lord stourton conyers darcie lord conyers henry sandys lord sandys thomas-windsor windsor alias hickman lord windsor thomas cromwell lord cromwell ( and earl of arglas in ireland ) ralph eure lord eure philip wharton lord wharton thomas willoughby lord willough by of parham william paget lord paget francis howard lord howard of effingh●m charles north lord north and lord grey of rolleston james brugges lord chandos robert carey lord hunsdon james bertie lord norris william petre lord petre digby gerard lord gerard of bromley ( under age ) henry arundell lord arundell of wardour ( and count of the empire ) the lady catherine ( o brien ) baroness clifton ( daughter of the lord george stuart call'd lord d'aubignie ; sister and sole heir to charles late duke of richmond and lenox , and thereby sole heir to the lady catharine her grandmother , daughter and heir to gervaise lord clifton ) first marryed to henry lord o brien ( son and heir to henry earl of thomond in ireland ) and since his death to sir joseph williamson knight christopher roper lord tenham fulke grevill lord brooke edward mountagu lord mountagu of boughton forde grey lord grey of werke john lovelace lord lovelace john paulet lord paulet william maynard lord maynard ( and baron maynard of wickelow in ireland ) john coventrie lord coventrie william howard lord howard of escrick charles mohun lord mohun ( under age ) henry herbert lord herbert of chirbury ( and baron herbert of castle-island in ireland ) thomas leigh lord leigh christopher hatton lord hatton william byron lord byron richard vaughan lord vaughan ( and earl of carbery in ireland ) francis smith lord carington ( and vicount carington of barrefore in ireland ) william widdrington lord widdrington edward ward lord ward thomas colepeper lord colepeper jacob astley lord astley charles lucas lord lucas john bellassyse lord bellassyse edward watson lord rockingham robert sutton lord lexinton ( under age ) charles-henry kirckhoven lord wotton ( and earl of bellomont in ireland ) marmaduke langdale lord langdale charles berkeley lord berkeley of stratton ( under age ) francis holles lord holles charles cornwallis lord cornwallis george boothe lord de la mer horatio townsend lord townsend thomas crew lord crew john frescheville lord frescheville richard arundell lord arundell of treryse james butler lord butler of moore-parke ( beareth the title of earl of ossory in ireland ) under age hugh clifford lord clifford of chudley ( under age ) richard butler lord butler of weston ( and earl of arran in ireland ) susan ( lady bellassyse ) baroness bellassyse of osgodby ( daughter and coheir to sir williamairmine of osgodby in com. linc. baronet , relict of sir henry bellassyse knight of the bathe son and heir to john lord bellassyse ) for life edward noel lord noel richard lumley lord lumley ( and vicount lumley of waterford in ireland ) george carteret lord carteret ( under age ) all those before , whose names an asterisc ( * ) is prefixed , are knights of the garter . a true and exact list of all the knights of the carter infer scheme of the stalls of the sove●… and the knights companions most noble order as they no●… in st. georges chappel in wi●… castle this tenth of september christian the 5th . king of denmark the soveraigne charles the 2d . king of england &c charles the xi th . king of sweden james york prince rupert count palatine of the rhine william-henry prince of or frederick william prince elector marquess of brandenburgh charles the 2d . prince ele of the rhine james duke of ormond george duke of buckinghan auberie earl of oxford william earl of strafford james duke of monmouth christopher duke of albemar●● james duke of monmouth christopher duke of albemarle john duke of lauderdale henry marquess of worcester henry earl of st. albans william earl of bedford henry earl of arlington charles duke of southampton john earl of mulgrave henry duke of newcastle ●homas earl of danby henry duke of grafton james earl of salisbury charles duke of richmund ●lace this after page 78. a catalogue of the baronets of this kingdom of england ; from the first erection of that dignity until the 4th of july 1681 inclusive . an advertisement to the reader . when the copie , from which this subsequent catalogue of the english nobility is printed , was sent to the press , the name and title of francis lord howard of effingham was omitted , ( tho in the second volume of the baronage of england published in anno 1676 upon the best information i could then obtain , i had there taken notice of that person , as heir expectant to the said honour , after the death of charles earl of nottingham , who was then very aged and issuless ) doubting to fix him therein before he had regularly made his claim thereto , might give offence to the rest of the nobility : but upon view of my copie : by some intelligent persons , who nevertheless thought it proper to be inserted i submitted thereto : whereat if any take offence i humbly crave pardon : it being my clear opinion , that such of a collateral line , as have right by descent to any title of honour , accruing to them by virtue of an entail thereof made long since ; they should openly exhibite their claim unto the king , with due proof of their right thereto ( as hath heretofore in like cases been done ) and thereupon , with his majesties allowance thereof , have the same , by the direction of the earl marshal , orderly registred . whereas in the catalogue of the vicounts , i have inserted leicester devereux vicount hereford , now in minoritie ; i'have hereby thought fitt to advertise the reader ; that , upon certain exceptions taken in parliament in anno 1677 to his right for that title , by reason of the attainder of robert earl of essex and vicount hereford in 43 eliz. and restoration of that honour being only limitted to robert his son and the two sisters of the said robert : the decision ●hereof was then , by order of the house of lords , re●●ited till the said leicester devereux shall come of full age. it is likewise to be noted ; whereas in this ensuing catalogue pag. 71. charles wilmot earl of rochester is inserted ; that since the printing thereof he dyed , whereby that title of honour is totally extinct : and therefore , that the number of earls mentioned in pag. 69. lin . penult . is to be no more then 68. and that james compton earl of northampton mentioned p. 70. is since dead but succeeded by george his son who is under age. i have likewise thought fit , farther to advertise the reader , that the book-seller being desirous to publish catalogues of the scottish and irish nobility : such hath been the unexspected delay , in obtaining perfect copies from scotland and ireland that the publication of my papers ( which have been printed more then four months since ) hath by reason thereof , been so long retarded , that it hath necessitated some alterations and emendations now added . also , that as to the following catalogue of the scottish nobility , sir george mackenzie , the worthy lord advocat of scotland in his letter to me bearing the 30th of december 1681 doth signify , that he did review it and gave his assistance for the better compleating thereof and doth certify that it is very perfect and exact . but the said sir george mackenzie in a learned treatise of precedency ( publish'd at edinburgh 1680 together with another of heraldry both written by himself being a person eminently renow'd for his several other excellent works ) having at large discoursed of the precedency due to the arch-bishops of scotland , to the end that no injury be done to them by concealing their just right therein , i shall here transcribe what he saith as to that point . i find by a letter in an. 1625 , that before king james his going into england , the marquesses of scotland , did take place from the arch-bishops : and by a letter in an. 1626 , renew'd in an. 1664. the arch-bishop of st. andrews is to take place before all subjects . yet i think , this will not give him place from the kings sons , uncles , and nephews , though they be likewise subjects ; since the word subjects must be here interpreted according to the custom of nations , by which these neare relations of princes are preferred to all other subjects . yet defacto since the letter the arch-bishops of st. andrews ceds to the lord chancellor . these advertisements to the reader , are to be prefixt before pag. 67. the preface . whereas in the year 1667 a catalogue of the baronets of england was by authority published ; to the end that such as had obtained patents for that honour , which were not enrolled , should , by discerning an omission of their names therein , take care to supply that defect , so that , upon a second impression thereof they might be inserted : now , whereas , after twelve years and more , no enrollments are yet to be found for sundry persons which have assumed this title , which causeth some to doubt whether they can make any justifiable claime thereto . whereas therefore no person whatsoever ought to take upon them this title of dignity , but such as have been really advanced thereto by letters patents under the great seale of england ; it is thought fit by the right honorable robert earl of aylesbury , who now exerciseth the office of earl marshall of england , that this present catalogue of such , touching whom the docquet-books remaining with the-clerk of the crown in chancery do take notice , shall be published ; to the end that those of whom no memorial upon record is to be found , to justifie their right to this title , may be known ; and care henceforth taken in commissions of the peace , and otherwise , that it be not given unto them until they shall manifest the same unto the lord chancellor of england , and have speciall order from his lordship to enroll such patents , whereby they pretend title to that dignity . as also , that regard be had of giving credit to any other catalogues of the baronets which are already publisht , or that shall be publisht , than what is taken from the authority of those docquet-books above mentioned , or the enrollment of their patents . baronets created by king james . anno dom. 1611. may 22 & anno regis jac. 9. 1 sir nicholas bacon of redgrave knight . suff. 2 sir richard molineux of sefton knight ( irish visc. viz. viscount molineux . ) lanc. 3 sir thomas maunsell of morgan knight . glam . 4 george shirley of staunton esq ( english baron viz. lord ferrers . ) leic. 5 sir john stradling of st. donats kt. glam . 6 sir francis leke of sutton knight ( english earl viz. earl of scaresdale ) . darb. 7 thomas pelham of lawghton esq suss. 8 sir richard houghton of houghton-tower knight . lanc. 9 sir henry hobart of intwood knight ( attourney general to the king afterwards lord chief justice of the common-pleas . ) norff. 10 sir george boothe of dunham-massey knight ( english baron viz. ld. de la mer. ) chesh. 11 sir john peyton of iselham knight cambr. 12 lionel talmach of helmingham esq from whom the present chief lineal descendant hath a just expectancy to be a scotch earl viz. earl of dysert and now beareth the title of lord huntingtower as being eldest son to the countess of dysert daughter of william murray earl of dysert and the relict of the late sr. lionel talmach , but since married to the duke of lauderdale . suff. 13 sir gervase clifton of clifton knight of the bath . nott. 14 sir thomas gerard of bryn knight . lanc. 15 sir walter aston of tixhall knight of the bath . embassador in spain from king james ( scotch baron viz. lord aston . ) staff. 16 philip knevet of buckenham esq ( extinct . ) norff. 17 sir john st. john of lidiard-tregoz knight . wiltf . 18 john shelly of michelgrove esq suss. 19 junij 29 sir john savage of rock-savage knight . ( english earl viz. e. rivers ) chesh. 20 sir francis barington of barington-hall knight . essex . 21 henry berkely of wimundham esq ( extinct ) . leic. 22 will. wentworth of wentworth woodhouse esq ( english earl viz. e. of strafford ) ebor. 23 sir richard musgrave of hartley castle knight . westmerl . 24 edward seymour of bury-pomeray esq devon. 25 sir moyle finch of eastwell knight . ( english earl viz. e. of winchelsey ) rent 26 sir antony cope of hanwell knight . oxon. 27 sir thomas mounson of carleton knight . linc. ( vide charles vavasor junij 22. 1631 ) . 28 george gresely of drakedow esq derb. 29 paul tracy of stanway esq glouc. 30 sir john wentworth of goffield knight . ( extinct ) essex . 31 sir henry belasyse of newborough knight . ( english visc. viz. vicount fauconberge ) ebor. 32 william constable of flamborough esq ( extinct . ) ebor. 33 sir thomas leigh of stoncley knight . ( eng. baron viz. lord leigh ) warw. 34 sir edward noell of brook knight . ( eng. visc. viz. vicount campden ) rutl. 35 sir robert cotton of connington kt. hunt. 36 robert cholmondeleigh of cholmondeleigh esq irish earl viz. e. of lemester as also engl. baron viz. l. cholmondeleigh of wiche-malbank , alias nant-wiche extinct ) . chesh. 37 john molineux of teversal esq nott. 38 sir francis wortley of wortley knight . ( extinct ) ebor. 39 sir george savile senior of thornehill knight ( english earl viz. earl of hallifax ) . ebor. 40 william kniveton of mircaston esq derb. 41 sir philip woodhouse of wilberhall knight . norff. 42 sir william pope of wilcot knight . ( irish earl viz. earl of down ) . oxon. 43 sir james harrington of ridlington kt. rutl. 44 sir henry savile of methley knight . ( extinct ) . ebor. 45 henry willoughby of risley esq ( extinct ) . darb. 46 lewes tresham of rushton esq ( extinct ) . northamp . 47 thomas brudenell of deene esq ( english earl viz earl of cardigan ) . norrhamp . 48 sir george st. paul of snarsford knight . ( extinct ) . linc. 49 sir philip tirwhit of stainefield knight . linc. 50 sir roger dallison of loughton knight ( extinct ) . linc. 51 sir edward carre of sleford knight . linc. 52 sir edward hussey of hennington kt. linc. 53 l'estrange mordant of massingham esq norff. 54 thomas bendish of steeple bamsted esq essex 55 sir john wynne of gwedyr kt. caernarv . 56 sir william throckmorton of tortworth knight . glouc. 57 sir richard worseley of appledore-combe knight . hants . 58 richard fleetwood of calwiche esq staff. 59 thomas spenser of yarnton esq oxon. 60 sir john tufton of hothfield knight . ( english earl viz. e. of thanet ) . kent . 61 sir samuel peyton of knowlton knight kent . 62 sir charles morrison of cashio-bury knight ( extinct ) . hertf. 63 sir henry baker of sillinghurst knight ( extinct ) . kent . 64 roger appleton of south-bemsted esq essex . 65 sir william sidley of ailesford knight . kent 66 sir william twisden of east-peckham knight . kent 67 sir edward hales of wood-church knight . kent 68 william monys of walwarsher esq rent 69 thomas mildmay of mulsham esq ( english baron , viz. lord fitz-walter . ) essex 70 sir william maynard of eastanes-parva kt. ( irish and english baron ) viz. lord maynard . essex 71 henry lee of quarendon esq buck. anno dom. 1612. nov. 25. & regis jac. 10 72 sir john portman of orchard knight . somers . 73 sir nicholas saunderson of saxby knight ( irish visc. viz. vicount castleton ) linc. 74 sir miles sands of wilberton knight . ( extinct ) cambr. 75 william gostwick of willington esq bedf. 76 thomas puckering of weston esq ( extinct ) . hartf . 77 sir william wray of glentworth kt. linc. 78 sir william ailoffe of braxted-magna knight . essex 79 sir marmaduke wivel of constable-burton knight . ebor. 80 john pershall of horsley esq staff. 81 francis englefield of wotton-basset esq uuilts . 82 sir thomas ridgway of torre knight ( irish earl viz. e. of london-derry ) . devon. 83 william essex of bewcot esq berks. 84 sir edward georges of langford knight ( irish baron ) . viz. lord georges uuilts . 85 edward devereux of castle-bromwich esq ( eng. visc. viz. vicount hereford ) uuarw. 86 reginald mohun of boconnok esq ( english baron viz. lord mohun ) cornub. 87 sir harbottle grimston of bradfield kt. essex 88 sir thomas holt of aston juxta bermingham knight . uuarm. 89 sir robert naper , alias sandy , of lewton-how knight ( vid. john napier martij 4. 1660 ) . bedf. 90 paul banning of bentley-parva esq ( english vic. viz. vicount banning extinct ) . essex 91 sir thomas temple of stow knight . buck. 92 thomas penyston of leigh esq suss. anno dom. 1615. & regis jac. 13. 93 maij 27 thomas blackston of blackston esq ( extinct ) durh. 94 junij 10 sir robert dormer of wing kt. ( english earl ) viz. e. of caernarvon . buck. anno dom. 1617. & regis jac. 15. 95 aprilis 5 sir rowland egerton of egerton knight . cestr. 96 apr. 16 roger towneshend of rainham esq ( english baron viz. lord towneshend ) . norf. 97 maij 1 simon clark of salford esq uuarm. 98 oct. 2 edward fitton of gawsworth esq ( extinct ) . cestr. 99 martij 11 sir richard lucy of broxburn knight . ( extinct ) . hartf . anno dom. 1618. & regis jac. 16. 100 maij 25 sir matthew boynton of bramston knight . ebor. 101 julij 25 thomas littleton of frankley esq uuigorn . 102 dec. 24. sir francis leigh of newnham knight ( english earl viz. earl of chichester extinct ) uuarm. 103 febr. 25 thomas burdet of bramcote esq uuarm. 104 martij 1 george morton of st. andrews-milborn esq dors. anno dom. 1619. & regis jac. 17. 105 maij 31 sir william hervey of kidbrook knight with remainder to william hervey his son , and to the heirs males of the body of the said william . ( irish and english baron ; viz. lord hervey extinct ) . kent 106 junij 4 thomas mackworth of normanton esq rutl. 107 junij 15 william grey esq son and heir of sir ralph grey of chillingham knight ( english baron viz. lord grey of warke ) northumv 108 julij 19 william villers of brookesby esq the eldest brother by a former venter to george villers , then marquess , after duke of buckingham . leic. 109 julij 20 sir james ley of westbury knight , serjeant at law , lord chief justice of the king's bench and afterwards lord high treasurer of england ( english earl viz. e. of marlborough extinct ) uuilts . 110 julij 21 william hicks of beverston esq glouc. 111 sept. 17 sir thomas beaumont of cole-orton knight . ( irish vic. viz. vicount beaumont ) lric. 112 nov. 10 henry salisbury of lleweny esq denb . 113 nov. 16 erasmus driden of canons-ashby esq northamp . 114 nov. 28 william armine esq son and heir to sir william armine of osgodby knight . ( extinct ) linc. 115 dec. 1. sir william bamburgh of howton knight ( extinct ) . ebor. 116 dec. 3 edward hartop of freathby , esq leic. 117 dec. 31 john mill of camoys-court esq suss. 118 jan. 31 francis radcliffe of darwentwater esq cumber . 119 febr. 6 sir david foulis of ingleby kt. ebor. 120 febr. 16 thomas philips of barrington esq somers . 121 martij 7 sir claudius forster of bambrough castle knight ( extinct ) northumb. 122 martij 23 anthony chester of chichley esq buck. anno dom. 1620. & regis jac. 18. 123 martij 28 sir samuel tryon of layre-marney knight . essex 124 apr. 2 adam newton of charleton esq kent 125 apr. 12 sir john boteler of hatfield-woodhall knight . ( english baron viz. lord boteler of bramfield extinct ) hertf. 126 apr. 13 gilbert gerard of harrow on the hill esq midd. 127 maij 3 humphrey lee of langley esq salo● 128 maij 5 richard berney of parkhall in redham esq norff. 129 maij 20 humphrey forster of alder-marston esq berks. 130 maij 26 thomas biggs of lenchwike esq ( extinct ) uuigorn . 131 maij 30 henry bellingham of helsington esq ( extinct ) uuestm●●● . 132 maij 31 william yelverton of rougham esq ( extinct ) norff. 133 junij 1 john scudamore of home-lacy esq ( irish vic. viz. vicount scudamore ) heref. 134 junij 2 sir thomas gore of stitnam knight . ebor. 135 junij 22 john pakington of alesbury esq buck. 136 junij 28 ralph ashton of lever esq lanc. 137 julij 1 sir baptist hicks of camden knight . ( english visc. viz. vicount camden extinct ) glouc. 138 julij 3 sir thomas roberts of glassenbury knight . kent 139 julij 8 john hanmer of hanmer esq flint . 140 edward fryer of water-eaton esq ( extinct ) . oxon. 141 julij 13 edward osborne of keeton esq vice-president of king charles the first his councill in the north ( english earl viz. e. of danby ) ebor. 142 julij 20 henry felton of playford esq suss. 143 julij 20 william chaloner of gisborough esq ( extinct ) ebor. 144 julij 24 sir thomas bishop of parham knight . suss. 145 julij 26 sir francis vincent of stoke dabernon knight . surr. 146 febr 27 henry clere of ormesby esq ( extinct ) norff. 147 martij 8 sir benjamin tichburne of tichburne knight . hantsh . anno dom. 1621. & regis jac. 19. 148 maij 5 sir richard wilbraham of woodhey knight . cestr. 149 maij 8 sir thomas delves of dodington knight . cestr. 150 junij 23 sir lewes watson of rockingham castle knight ( english baron viz. lord rockingham ) northamp . 151 junij 29 sir thomas palmer of wingham knight . kent 152 julij 3 sir richard roberts of truro knight ( english earl viz. earl of radnor ) cornub. 153 julij 19 john rivers of chafford esq kent 154 sept. 6 thomas darnell of heyling esq linc. 155 sept. 14 sir isaac sidley of great chart knight . kent 156 sept. 21 robert browne of walcot esq ( extinct ) northamp . 157 oct. 11 john hewet of headley-hall esq ebor. 158 oct. 16 henry jernegan of cossey alias cossese esq norf. 159 nov. 8 sir nicolas hide of albury knight ( extinct ) . hartf . 160 nov. 9 john philips of picton esq pembr . 161 nov. 24 sir john stepney of prendergast knight . pemb. 162 dec. 5 baldwin wake of clevedon esq somers . 163 dec. 20 william mashom of high-laver esq essex 164 dec. 21 john colbrond of borham esq suss. 165 jan. 4 sir john hotham of scarborough knight governor of hull . ebor. 166 jan. 14 francis mansell of mudlescombe esq caermarth . 167 jan. 18 edward powell of penkelley ( one of the masters of the requests ) ( extinct ) heref. 168 febr. 16 sir john garrard of lamer knight . hartf . 169 febr. 23 sir richard grosvenour of eaton knight . cestr. 170 martij 11 sir henry moody of garesdon knight ( extinct ) . wilts . 171 martij 17 john barker of grimston-hall in trimley esq suff. 172 martij 18 sir william button of alton knight . wilts . anno dom. 1622. & regis jac. 20. 173 martij 26 john gage of ferle esq suss. 174 maij 14 william goring esq son and heir of sir henry goring of burton knight . su●● . 175 maij 18 peter courtene of aldington alias aunton esq ( extinct ) . wigorn. 176 maij 23 sir richard norton of rotherfild knight . ha●●s . 177 maij 30 sir john leventhorpe of shingley-hall knight . hartt . 178 junij 3 capell bedell of hamerton esq ( extinct ) . hunt. 179 junij 13 john darell of west-woodhey esq ( extinct ) . berks. 180 junij 15 william williams of veynol esq caernarv . 181 junij 18 sir francis ashbey of harfield knight . midd 182 julij 3 sir anthony ashley of st. giles-winburne knight ( extinct ) . dorf . 183 julij 4 john cooper of rockbourne fsque ( english earl viz. e. of shaftesbury ) hants . 184 julij 17 edmund prideaux of netherton esq devon. 185 julij 21 sir thomas haslerigge of nosely knight . leic. 186 julij 22 sir thomas burton of stockerston knight . leic. 187 julij 24 francis folejambe of walton esq ( extinct ) . derb. 188 julij 30 edward yate of buckland esq berks. 189 aug. 1 geo. chudleigh of ashton esq devon. 190 aug. 2 francis drake of buckland esq devon. 191 aug. 13 william meredith of stansly esq denb . 192 oct. 22 hugh middleton of ruthin esq denb . 193 nov. 12 gifford thornehurst of agnes-court esq kent . 194 nov. 16 percy herbert , son and heir of sir william herbert of red-castle knight . ( english earl ) viz. earl of powis . montgom . 195 dec. 7 sir robert fisher of packington knight . warw. 196 dec. 18 hardolph wastneys of headon esq nott. 197 dec. 20 sir henry skipwith of prestwould knight . leic. 198 dec. 22 thomas harris of boreatton esq salop. 199 dec. 23 nicholas tempest of stella esq durh. 200 febr. 16 francis cottington esq secretary to king charles the i. when prince of wales , afterwards passing thro several eminent employments and great offices he was advanced to be lord high treasurer of england ( english baron ziz . lord cottington extinct ) . anno dom. 1623 & regis jac. 21 201 apr 12 thomas harris of tong-castle serjeant at law ( extinct ) . salop. 202 junij 28 edward barkham of south-acre esq ( lord mayor of london ) . norff. 203 julij 4 john corbet of sprowston esq ( extinct ) . norff. 204 aug. 13 sir thomas playters of sotterly esq suff. baronets created by k. charles i. anno dom. 1626. & regis car. primi 2. 205 julij 27 sir john ashfield of netherhall knight ( extinct ) . suff. 206 sept 8 henry harpur of calke esq derb 207 dec. 20 edward seabright of besford esq wigorn. 208 jan. 29 john beaumont of gracedieu esq leic. 209 febr. 1 sir edward dering of surrenden-dering knight . kent 210 febr. 5 george kempe of pentlone esq ( extinct ) essex 211 martij 10 william brereton of hanford fsque ( extinct ) . cestr. 212 martij 12 patricius curwen of workinton esq ( extinct ) . cumbr. 213 martij 12 william russel of witley esq wigorn. 214 martij 4 john spenser of offley esq hartf . 215 matij 17 sir giles estcourt of newton knight . wilts . anno dom. 1627 & regis car. i. tertio . 216 apr. 19 thomas aylesbury esq ( one of the masters of the requests ) , ( extinct ) . 217 apr. 21 thomas style of wateringbury esq kent 218 maij 4 frederick cornwallis of brome esq treasurer of the houshold to king charles the 2d ( english baron viz. lord cornwallis ) suff. 219 maij 7 drue drury of ridlesworth esq norff. 220 maij 8 william skeffington of fisherwick esq ( irish vic. viz. vicount massereene ) staff. 221 maij 11 sir robert crane of chilton knight ( extinct ) . suff. 222 maij 17 anthony wingfield of goodwins esq suff. 223 maij 17 william culpeper of preston-hall esq kent . 224 maij 17 giles bridges of wilton esq ( engl. baron ) viz. lord chandos . heref. 225 maij 17 john kirle of much-marcle esq heref. 226 maij 20 sir humphrey stiles of beckham knight ( extinct ) . kent . 227 maij 21 henry moor of falley esq berks. 228 maij 28 thomas heale of fleet esq devon. 229 maij 28 john carleton of holcum esq ( extinct ) . oxon. 230 maij 30 thomas maples of stow fsque ( extinct ) . hunt. 231 maij 30 sir john isham of lamport knight . northamp . 232 maij 30 hervey bagot of blithfield esq staff. 233 maij 31 lewes pollard of king's nimph esq ( extinct ) . devon. 234 junij 1 francis mannock of gifford's-hall in stoke juxta neyland esq suff. 235 junij 7 henry griffith of agnes-burton esq ( extinct ) . ebor. 236 junij 8 lodowicke dyer of staughton esq hunt. 237 junij 9 sir hugh stukely of hinton knight . hants . 238 junij 26 edward stanly of bickerstaffe esq lanc. 239 junij 28 edward littleton of pillaton-hall esq staff. 240 julij 7 ambrose brown of betsworth-castle esq surr. 241 julij 8 sackvile crow of llanherne esq for several years embassador to the grand seignior . caerm . 242 julij 11 michael livesey of east-church in the isle of shepey ( extinct ) . kent 243 julij 17 simon bennet of benhampton esq ( extinct ) . buck. 244 julij 19 sir thomas fisher of the parish of st. giles knight ( extinct ) . midd. 245 julij 23 thomas bowyer of leighthorn esq ( vid. sir james bowyer may 18 1678 ) . suff. 246 julij 29 buts bacon of mildenhall esq suff. 247 sept. 19 john corbet of stoke in com. salop. esq salop. 248 oct. 31 sir edward tirrell of thorneton kt. ( vid. sir ed. tirrell feb. 19. 1638 ) buck. 249 febr. 18 basill dixwell of terlingham , alias gerelingham esq ( extinct ) . kent 250 martij 10 sir richard young knight one of the gentlemen of his majesties privy chamber ( extinct ) . anno dom. 1628. & regis car. i. quarto . 251 maij 6 william pennyman the younger of maske , alias marske esq a collonell in the late kings army and sometime governor of oxford ( extinct ) . ebor. 252 maij 7 william stonehouse of radley esq ( v. sir george stonehouse may 5. 16●● ) berks. 253 maij 21 sir thomas fouler of islington knight ( extinct ) . midd. 254 junij 9 sir john fenwick of fen wick knight . northumb. 255 junij 30 sir william wray of trebitch knight . cornub. 256 julij 1 john trelawney of trelawney esq cornub. 257 julij 14 john conyers of horden gent. durh. 258 julij 24 john bolles of scampton esq linc. 259 julij 25 thomas aston of aston esq cestr. 260 julij 30 kenelme jenoure of much-dunmore esq essex 261 aug. 15 sir john price of newtown knight . montgom . 262 aug. 19 sir richard beaumont of whitley knight ( extinct ) . ebor. 263 aug. 29 william wiseman of canfield-hall esq essex 264 sept. 1 thomas nightingale of newport-pond esq essex 265 sept. 2 john jacques of esq one of his majesties gent. pensioners ( extinct ) . midd. 266 sept. 6 robert dillington of in the isle of wight esq hants . 267 sept. 12 francis pile of compton esq berks. 268 sept. 12 john pole of shur esq devon. 269 sept. 14 william lewes of langors esq ( extinct ) . brecknock . 270 sept. 20 william culpeper of wakehurst esq suff. 271 oct. 3 peter van-loor of tylehurst esq ( extinct ) . berks. 272 oct. 9 sir john lawrence of iver knight . buck. 273 oct. 23 anthony slingesby of screvin esq ebor. 274 oct. 24 thomas vavasour of haselwood esq ebor. 275 nov. 24 robert wolseley of wolseley esq staff. 276 dec. 8 rice rudd of aberghaney esq cnerm . 277 dec. 18 richard wiseman of thurndersley esq essex 278 dec. 19 henry forrers of skellingthorpe esq linc. 279 jan. 3 john anderson of st. ives esq hunt. 280 jan. 19 sir william russel of chippenham knight . cambr. 281 jan. 29 richard everard of much-waltham esq essex 282 jan. 21 thomas powell of berkinhead esq cestr. 283 martij 2 william luckin of waltham esq essex anno dom. 1629. & regis car. i. quinto . 284 martij 29 richard graham of eske esq ( scottish vicount viz. vic. preston ) . cumber . 285 apr. 2 george twisleton of barly esq ( extinct ) . ebor. 286 maij 30 william acton of the city of london esq ( extinct ) . lond. 287 junij 1 nicholas l'estrange of hunstanton esq norff. 288 junij 15 john holland of quiddenham esq norff. 289 junij 24 edward aleyn of hatfield esq ( extinct ) . essex . 290 julij 2 richard earl , of craglethorp esq linc. 291 nov. 28 robert ducy lord mayor of london lond. anno dom. 1630. & regis car. i. sexto . 292 apr. 9 sir richard grenevile knight , ( younger brother to sir bevill grenevile ) of kilkhampton , in com. cornw. ( extinct ) . cornub. anno dom. 1631. & regis car. i. septimo . 293 junij 22 charles vavasour of killingthorpe esq with an especial clause of precedency , viz. to take place next below sir thomas mounson of carleton , in comm. linc. bart. and next above sir george gresely of drakelow , in comm. derb. baronet created 29 junij 1611. linc. anno dom. 1638. & regis car. i. xiv . 294 febr. 19 sir edward tirrell of thorn●●● knight , with remainder to the heirs male of toby tirrell one of the sons of the said sir edward tirrell ; and for default of such issue , on francis tirrell another of the sons of the said sir edward , and the heirs male of the body of him the said francis. and to have precedency from the 31 of oct. anno tertio car. reg. according to a patent then granted to him the said sir edward tirrell , which was surrendred upon the sealing of this present patent . buck. anno dom. 1640. & regis car. i. xvj . 295 julij 20 edward moseley of rowlston esq ( extinct ) . staff. 296 jan. 8 martin lumley of bradfield esq essex 297 febr. 15 william dalston of dalston esq cumber . 298 febr. 19 henry fletcher of hutton in the forrest esq cumber . 299 martij 4 nicholas cole of brancepeth esq durh. anno dom. 1641. & regis car. i. xvij . 300 apr. 23 edmund pye of leekhamsted esq ( extinct ) . buck. 301 maij 26 simon every of egginton esq derb. 302 maij 29 william langley of higham-gobion esq bedf. 303 junij 8 william paston of oxnead esq ( english earl viz. earl of yarmouth ) . norff. 304 junij 11 james stonehouse of amerden-hall esq essex 305 junij 24 john palgrave of norwood-barningham esq norff. 306 junij 25 gerard napper of middle-merthall esq dors. 307 junij 28 tho. whitmore of apley esq. salop. 308 junij 29 john maney of linton esq kent 309 junij 30 sir thomas cave jun. of stanford knight . northamp . 310 junij 30 sir christopher yelverton of easton-mauduit knight ( engl. baron viz. lord grey ) . northamp . 311 julij 3 william boteler of teston esq kent 312 julij 5 sir thomas hatton of long-stanton knight . cambr. 313 julij 7 thomas abdy of felx-hall esq essex 314 julij 14 thomas bampfield of poltmore esq devon. 315 julij 14 sir john cotton of landwade knight . cambr. 316 julij 15 sir simonds d'ewes of stow-hall knight . suff. 317 julij 15 henry frederick thinne of cause-castle esq salop. 318 julij 15 john burgoyne of sutton esq bedf. 319 julij 16 john northcote of haine esq devon. 320 julij 17 sir william drake of sherdelow knight . buck. 321 julij 23 thomas rous of rouse-lench esq wigorn. 322 julij 23 raphe hare of stow-bardo●e esq norff. 323 julij 24 sir john norwich of brampton knight . northamp . 324 julij 26 john brownlow of belton prope grantham esq ( extinct ) . linc. 325 julij 27 william brownlow of humby esq linc. 326 julij 28 john sidenham of brimpton esq somers . 327 julij 28 henry prat of coleshall esq ( extinct ) . berks. 328 julij 28 francis nichols of hardwick esq northamp . 329 julij 30 sir william strickland of boynton knight . ebor. 330 aug. 4 sir thomas wolriche of dudmaston knight . salop. 331 aug. 4 thomas mauleverer of allerton mauleverer esq ebor. 332 aug. 4 william boughton of lawford esq uuarw. 333 aug. 4 john chichester of raleigh esq devon. 334 aug. 4 norton knatchbull of mersham-hatch esq kent 335 aug. 4 hugh windham of pilsden-court esq ( extinct ) . dors. 336 aug. 9 rich. carew of antony esq cornub. 337 aug. 9 william castleton of saint edmonds-bury esq suff. 338 aug. 9 ric. price of gogarthan esq cardigan . 339 aug. 10 hugh cholmley of whitby esq ebor. 340 aug. 11 william springe of pakenham esq suff. 341 aug. 11 thomas trevor of enfield esq ( extinct ) . midd. 342 aug. 11 sir john curson of kedleston ( baronet of scotland ) . derb. 343 aug. 11 hugh owen of orrelton esq pembr . 344 aug. 12 morton briggs of haughton esq salop. 345 aug. 12 henry heyman of somerfield esq kent 346 aug. 12 thomas sandford of howgill-castle esq westmerl . 347 aug. 14 sir francis rhodes of barlbrough knight . derb. 348 aug. 14 richard sprignell of coppenthorpe esq ebor. 349 aug. 14 sir john potts of mannington knight . norff. 350 aug. 14 sir john goodrick of ribstan knight . ebor. 351 aug. 16 robert bindlosse of borwicke esq lanc. 352 aug. 16 will. walter of saresden esq dron . 353 aug. 16 thomas lawley of spoonhill esq salop. 354 sept. 6 william farmer of eston-neston esq northamp . 355 sept. 9 john davye of creedy esq devon. 356 sept. 23 thomas pettus of rackheath esq norf. 357 dec. 11 william andrews of denton ( alias dodington ) esq northamp . 358 dec. 11 john meaux of in the isle of wight esq hants . 359 dec. 14 sir richard gurney , knight . the signally loyall lord mayor of london ( extinct ) . lond. 360 dec. 15 thomas willys of fen-ditton fsque cambr. 361 dec. 15 francis armitage of kirklees esq ebor. 362 dec. 18 rich. halford of wistow esq leic. 363 dec. 24 sir humphrey tufton of the mote , juxta maidston knight . kent 364 dec. 30 edward coke of langford esq derb. 365 jan. 21 isaac astley of melton-constable esq ( extinct ) . norff. 366 jan. 21 sir david cunningham baronet of scotland ( extinct ) . lond. 367 jan. 22 sir john rayney of wrotham , baronet of scotland . kent 368 jan. 29 revet eldred of saxham magna esq ( extinct ) . suff. 369 jan. 29 john gell of hopton esq derb. 370 jan. 29 sir vincent corbet of morton-corbet knight . salop. 371 febr. 4 sir john kay of woodsome kt. ebor. 372 febr. 5 thomas trollop of casewick esq linc. 373 martij 3 edward thomas of michaells-towne esq glam . 374 martij 4 sir william cowper of ratling-court , baronet of scotland . kent 375 martij 5 denner strut of little worley hall esq essex 376 martij 8 william st. quintin of harpham esq ebor. 377 martij 14 sir robert kempe of gissing knight . norff. 378 martij 16 john reade of brocket-hall esq hartf . anno dom. 1642. & regis car. 1. xviij . 379 apr. 9 james enyan of flowre esq ( extinct ) . northamp . 380 apr. 19 sir edmund williams of marnehull knight ( extinct ) . dors. 381 apr. 22 john williams of minster in the isle of thanet . kent 382 apr. 29 george wintour of huddington esq uuigorn . 383 maij 4 john borlase of bockmer esq buck. 384 maij 6 henry knollys of groveplace esq ( extinct ) . hants . 385 maij 11 john hamilton of london esq lond. 386 maij 12 edward morgan of llanternam esq monm . 387 maij 13 sir nicholas kemeys of keven-mabley knight . glam . 388 maij 14 trevor williams of llangibbye esq monm . 389 maij 16 john reresby of thribergh esq ebor. 390 maij 17 will. ingilby of ripley esq ebor. 391 maij 18 poynings moore of loseley esq surr. 392 maij 19 christopher dawney of cowick esq ebor. 393 junij 3 thomas hampson of taplow esq buck. 394 junij 3 thomas williamson of east-markham esq nott. 395 junij 3 william denney of gillingham esq ( extinct ) . norff. 396 junij 3 sir richard hardres of hardres kent 397 junij 11 christopher lowther of whit-haven esq cumber . 398 junij 13 sir tho. alston of odell kt. bedf. 399 junij 20 edward corbet of leighton esq montgom . 400 junij 24 george middleton of leighton esq ( extinct ) . lanc. 401 junij 28 edward payler of thoraldby esq ebor. 402 julij 9 sir william widdrington of widdrington knight ( english baron viz. lord widdrington ) . northumv . 403 julij 20 matthew valckenburg of middle-ing esq ebor. 404 julij 20 philip constable of everingham esq ebor. 405 julij 30 ralph blackston of gibside esq durh. 406 aug. 8 sir edward widdrington of cartington , baronet of scotland . northumb. 407 aug. 15 robert markham of sedgbrook esq linc. 408 aug. 15 philip hungate of saxton esq ebor. 409 aug. 15 stephen lennard of west-wickham esq kent 410 aug. 24 sir william thorold of marston knight . linc. 411 aug 29 walter rudston of hayton esq ebor. 412 aug. 30 walter wrotesley of wrotesly esq staff. 413 aug. 30 thomas bland of kippax-park esq 414 sept. 1 robert throckmorton of coughton esq uuarw. 415 sept. 10 will. halton of samford esq essex 416 sept. 26 brocket spenser of offley esq hartf . 417 sept. 27 edward golding of colston-basset esq nott. 418 sept. 27 william smith of crantock esq cornub. 419 oct. 1 henry henn of wingfield esq berks. 420 oct. 5 walter blount of sodington esq wigorn. 421 oct. 14 adam littleton of stoke-milburge esq salop. 422 nov. 2 thomas lidell of ravensholme-castle esq durh. 423 nov. 9 richard lawday of the city of exeter esq ( extinct ) . devon. 424 febr. 4 thomas chamberlain of wickham esq oxon. 425 febr. 28 henry hunloke of wingarworth esq derb. 426 febr. 28 thomas badd of cames-oysells esq hants . 427 martij 20 richard crane of wood-rising esq ( extinct ) . n●rff . 428 martij 21 samuel danvers of culworth esq northamp . anno dom. 1643. & regis car. 1. xix . 429 julij 3 henry anderson of penley esq hartf . 430 william vavasour of esq ( extinct ) ebor. 431 julij 25 sir henry jones of abermarles knight . caernarv . 432 aug. 1 sir edward waldgrave of hever-castle knight . kent 433 oct. 28 john pate of sysonby esq ( extinct ) . lric. 434 nov. 9 john bale of carleton-curley esq ( extinct ) . lric. 435 nov. 13 brian o nele of in comm. dublin esq irish. 436 nov. 16 willoughby hickman of gaynesborough esq linc. 437 dec. 7 john butler of bramfield esq hartf . 438 jan. 17 edward acton of aldenham esq salop. 439 martij 14 sir francis hawley of buckland knight . ( irish baron viz. l. hawley ) somers . anno dom. 1644. & regis car. 1. xx . 440 apr. 1 john preston of the mannour in furnesse esq lanc. 441 apr. 2 john web of odstoke esq uuilts . 442 apr. 25 thomas prestwich of holme esq lanc. 443 maij 4 henry williams of guernevet esq breckn . 444 maij 20 gervase lucas of fenton esq governor of belvoir-castle for king charles the i. in time of the late horrible rebellion ( extinct ) . linc. 445 junij 14 robert thorold of hawley esq linc. 446 julij 23 john scudamore of balingham esq heref. 447 oct. 8 sir henry bard of stanes knight , a commander in the late kings army , and embassadour from our present soveraign to the emperour of persia ( irish viscount viz. vic. bellamount extinct ) . midd. 448 febr. 12 sir richard vivian of trelowren knight . cornub , 449 febr. 28 william van-colster of amsterdam in holland . 450 martij 21 william de boreel of amsterdam in holland . ( v. hugh ackland jan. 21. 1677 ) . ( v. francis edwards apr. 22. 1678 ) . anno dom. 1645. & regis car. 1. xxj . 451 maij 9 george carteret of metesches in the isle of jersey vice-chamberlaine of the kings houshold , one of his majesties most honorable privy-councill , treasurer of the navy , since whose decease sir george his grandson and heir is lately created an english baron viz. lord carteret . jersey . 452 nov. 25 thomas windibanke of haynes esq uuilts . 453 febr. 7 benjamin wright of dennington esq ( this patent was afterwards superseded by the kings warrant ) . suff. 454 martij 6 edward charleton of hesleyside gent. northumb. anno dom. 1646. & regis car. 1. xxij . 455 junij 11 sir richard willis knight ( brother to sir thomas willis of fen-ditton ) colonel of a regiment of horse ; as also colonel general of the counties of lincoln notingh . and rutland , and governour of the town and castle of newarke . cambr. baronets created by k. charles the second . anno dom. 1649. & regis car. 2. primo . 456 sept. 1 richard browne of deptford esq ( for several years resident for king charles i. and his now majesty with the french kings lewis the 13th and the present king lewis the 14th and one of the clerks of his majesties most honorable privy council ) by letters patents , dated at st. germans in france . kent 457 sept. 3 henry de vic of the isle of garnsey ( resident for his late majesty near twenty years in bruxells ) afterwards chancelour of the most noble order of the garter , by letters patents , dated at st. germans in france . garnsey 458 sept. 18 richard forster of stokesley esq ( by letters patents dated at st. germans abovesaid ) . ebor. anno dom. 1650. & regis car. 2. iij. 459 sept. 2 richard fanshaw ( a younger brother to thomas lord viscount fanshaw of dromore in ireland ) secretary of state to his majesty at worcester battel , where he was taken prisoner ; master of the requests ( since his majesties restauration ) and embassador extraordinary in spain and portugal . anno dom. 1652. & kegis car. 2. v. 460 apr. 2 william curtius then resident for his majesty with gustavus king of sweden and the princes of germany . anno dom. 1657. & regis car. 2. ix . 461 octob. 19 sir arthur slingsby of near canterbury ( by letters patents , dated at bruges in flanders ) . kent anno dom. 1658. & regis car. 2. x. 462 thomas orby of esq servant to the queen mother ( by letters patents bearing date at bruxells in brabant ) . linc. 463 tho. bond esq ( servant to the queen mother ) by letters patents bearing date at bruxells . 464 aug. arthur marigny carpentier ( a frenchman ) at bruxells . anno dom. 1659. & regis car. 2. xi . 465 julij 1 henry browne of kiddington esq ( son of sir peter browne knight , slain in the service of k. charles the first ) for default of issue male , to francis his brother &c. dated at bruxells . oxon. anno dom. 1660. & regis car. 2. xij . 466 apr. 2 jeremy whichcot of the inner-temple london . bruxells 467 sir anthony de merces ( a frenchman ) extinct . 468 maij 29 ( stilo novo ) sir john evelin of by letters patents bearing date at the hague in holland . 469 maij 30 ( stilo novo ) sir gualter dc raed of in holland . 470 junij 7 sir orlando bridgeman of great lever knight , chief baron of the exchequer , then lord chief justice of the common pleas and afterward lord-keeper of the great seale of england . lanc. 471 junij 7 sir geofrey palmer of carleton kt. attourney general to his majesty . northamp . 472 junij 7 sir heneage finch of raunston kt. sollicitor general to his majesty , then attourney general , now lord chancellor of england and english earl viz. earl of nottingham . buck. 473 junij 7 sir john langham of cotsbrooke knight alderman of london . northamp . 474 junij 9 humphrey winch of hannes esq now one of the commissioners of the admiralty . bedf. 475 junij 9 sir robert abdy of albins kt. essex 476 junij 9 thomas draper of sunninghill-parke esq berks. 477 junij 11 henry wright of dagenham esq ( extinct ) . essex 478 junij 12 jonathan keate of the hoo esq hertf. 479 junij 12 sir hugh speke of hasilbury knight . wilts . 480 junij 13 nicholas gould of the city of london esq ( extinct ) . lond. 481 junij 13 sir thomas adams knight alderman of london . lond. 482 junij 13 richard atkins of clapham esq surr. 483 junij 14 thomas allen then lord mayor of london . lond. 484 junij 14 henry north of mildenhall esq suff. 485 junij 15 sir william wiseman of rivenham knight . essex 486 junij 18 thomas cullum of hastede esq suff. 487 junij 20 thomas darcy of st. cleres-hall in st. osith's , esq essex 488 junij 20 george-grubham how of cold-barwick esq wilts . 489 junij 21 john cuts of childerley esq ( extinct ) . cambr. 490 junij 21 solomon swale of swale-hall esq ebor. 491 junij 21 william humble citizen of london . lond. 492 junij 22 henry stapleton of miton esq ebor. 493 junij 22 gervase elwes of stoke juxta clare . suff. 494 junij 22 rob. cordell of melford esq suff. 495 junij 22 sir john robinson knight , lord mayor , and lievtenant of the tower , of london lond. 496 junij 22 sir john abdy of moores knight ( extinct ) . essex 497 junij 25 sir robert hilliard of patrington knight . ebor. 498 junij 25 jacob astley of hill-morton esq warw. 499 junij 25 sir william bowyer of denham knight . buck 500 junij 25 thomas stanley of alderley esq cestr 501 junij 26 john shuckborough of shuckborough esq uuarw. 502 junij 27 william wray of ashby esq linc 503 junij 27 nicholas steward of hartley-mauduit esq hants 504 junij 27 george warburton of areley esq cestr 505 junij 27 francis holles of winterburn esq ( son and heir to denzill lord holles ) english baron viz. lord holles . dors 506 junij 28 oliver st. john of woodford esq northamp 507 junij 29 ralph de la val of seton esq northumb 508 junij 30 andraeas henley of henley esq somers 509 junij 30 thomas ellis of wyham esq linc 510 julij 2 john covert of slangham esq suss 511 julij 2 peter lear of london gent. lond 512 julij 2 maurice berkley of bruton esq ( irish visc. viz. vic. fitz-harding ) . somers . 513 julij 3 henry hudson of melton-moubray esq leic. 514 julij 3 thomas herbert of tinterne esq monm . 515 julij 4 tho. middleton of chirk esq denb . 516 julij 6 verney noell of kirkby esq leic. 517 julij 7 george buswell of clipston esq northamp . 518 julij 10 robert austen of bexley esq kent 519 julij 12 robert hales of bekeskurne esq kent 520 julij 13 sir william boothby of bradley-ashe knight . derb. 521 julij 14 wolstan dixey of market-bosworth esq leic. 522 julij 16 john bright of badsworth esq ebor. 523 julij 16 john warner of parham esq 524 julij 17 sir job harby of aldenham knight . hartf . 525 julij 18 samuel morland , alias morley of suthamstede-banaster esq one of the gentlemen of his majesties privy-chamber in ordinary and master of the mechanicks . berks. 526 julij 19 sir thomas hewit of pisho-bury knight . hartf . 527 julij 19 edward honywood of evington esq kent 528 julij 19 basill dixwell of bromehouse esq kent 529 julij 22 richard browne lord mayor of london . lond. 530 julij 23 henry vernon of hodnet esq salop. 531 julij 23 sir john aubrey of llantrithied knight . glam . 532 julij 23 william thomas of fowington esq suss. 533 julij 25 thomas sclater esq ( of cambridge ) . cambr. 534 julij 25 henry conway of botrithan esq flint . 535 julij 26 edward green of sonpford esq essex 536 julij 28 john stapeley of patcham esq suss 537 julij 30 metcalfe robinson of newby esq ebor. 543 aug. 6 anthony oldfield of spalding esq linc. 544 aug. 10 peter leicester of tabley esq cestr. 545 aug. 11 sir william wheeler of the city of westm. knight , with remainder to charles wheeler cosin to the said sir william and the heirs males of the body of the said charles . midd. 546 aug. 16 john newton of barscote fsque glouc. 547 aug. 16 thomas lee of hartwell esq buck. 548 aug. 16 thomas smith of hatherton esq with remainder ( for want of issue male of his body ) to laurence smith his brother , &c. and for want of issue male of laurence , to francis smith his brother , &c. cestr. 549 aug. 17 sir ralph ashton of middleton knight . lanc. 550 aug. 17 john rous of henham esq suff. 551 aug. 22 henry massingbeard of bratosts-hall esq linc. 552 aug. 28 john hales of coventre esq warm . 553 aug. 30 ralph bovey of hill-fields esq ( extinct ) . uuarm. 554 aug. 30 john knightley of offchurch esq uuarm. 555 aug. 31 sir john drake of ashe kt. devon. 556 sept. 5 oliver st. george of carickermrick in the county of trim esq ireland 557 sept. 11 sir john bowyer of knipersley knight . staff. 558 sept. 13 sir william wilde knight , recorder of the city of london , afterwards one of the justices of the kings bench. lond. 559 sept. 19 joseph ashe of tittenham esq midd. 560 sept. 22 john how of compton esq glouc. 561 sept. 26 john swinburne of chap-heton esq northumb. 562 oct. 12 john trot of laverstoke esq ( extinct ) . hants . 563 oct. 13 humphrey miller of oxenheath esq kent 564 oct. 15 sir john lewes of ledston knight ( extinct ) . ebor. 565 oct. 19 john beale of maidston esq kent 566 oct. 16 sir richard fraklin of moore-parke knight . hartf . 567 nov. 8 william russell of langhorn esq caerm . 568 nov. 9 thomas boothby of friday-hill in the parish of chingford esq ( extinct ) . essex 569 nov. 9 william backhouse esq grandchild to rowland backhouse late alderman of london ) ( extinct ) . midd. 570 nov. 12 sir john cutler of the city of london knight . midd. 571 nov. 16 giles mottet of leige esq 572 nov. 21 henry gifford of burstall esq leic. 573 nov 21 sir thomas foote knight , citizen of london . v. arthur onslow maij 8. 1674. midd. 574 nov. 22 thomas manwaring of over-pever esq cestr. 575 nov. 22 thomas bennet of baberham esq cambr. 576 nov. 29 john wroth of blendenhall . kent 577 dec. 3 george wynne of nostell esq ebor. 578 dec. 4 heneage fetherston of blakesware esq hartf . 579 dec. 4 humphrey monnox of wotton esq bedf. 580 dec. 10 john peyton of dodington within the isle of ely esq ( extinct ) . cambr. 581 dec. 11 edmund anderson of broughton esq. linc. 582 dec. 11 john fagg of wiston esq suss. 583 dec. 18 matthew herbert of bromfield esq salop. 584 dec. 19 edward ward of bexley esq norff. 585 dec. 22 john keyt of ebrington esq glouc. 586 dec. 22 william killegrew of arwynike esq with remainder to peter killegrew of arwynike aforesaid esq son of sir peter killegrew knight . cornub. 587 dec. 22 john buck of lamby grange esq linc. 588 dec. 24 william frankland of thirkelby esq ebor. 589 dec. 24 richard stiddolph of norbury esq ( extinct ) . surr. 590 dec. 24 william gardner citizen of london . midd. 591 dec. 28 william juxon of albourne esq suss. 592 dec. 29 john legard of ganton esq ebor. 593 dec. 31 george marwood of little-buskby esq ebor. 594 dec. 31 john jackson of hickleton esq ebor. 595 jan. 2 sir henry pickering of whaddon knight . cantab. 596 jan. 2 henry bedingfield of oxbrough esq norff. 597 jan. 4 walter plomer of the inner-temple london esq midd. 598 jan. 8 herbert springet of broyle esq ( extinct ) . suss. 599 jan. 23 william powell ( alias hinson ) of pengethley esq heref. 600 jan. 25 robert newton of the city of london esq ( extinct ) . midd. 601 jan. 29 nicholas staughton of staughton esq surr. 602 jan. 29 william rokeby of skyers esq ebor. 603 febr. 2 walter ernley of new-sarum esq uuilts . 604 febr. 2 john hubaud of ipsley esq uuarw. 605 febr. 7 thomas morgan of langattock . monm . 606 febr. 9 george lane of tulske in the county of roscommon irish viscount viz. vic. lanesborough . ireland . 607 febr. 13 george wakefren of beckford esq glouc. 608 febr. 15 benjamin wright of cranham hall essex 609 febr. 18 john colleton of the city of london esq midd. 610 febr. 18 sir james modyford of the city of london knight . midd. 611 febr. 21 thomas beaumont of stoughtongrange esq leic. 612 febr. 23 edward smith of eshe fsque durh. martij 4 john napier , alias sandy esq with remainder to alexander napier , &c. with remainder to the heirs male of sir robert napier knight grandfather to the said john : and with precedency before all baronets made since the four and twentieth of september anno 10. regis jac. at which time the said sir robert was created a baronet . which letters patents so granted to the said sir robert napier , were surendred by sir robert napier ( father of the said john and alexander ) lately deceased ; to the intent that the said degree of baronet should be granted to himself , with remainder to the said john and alexander . 613 martij 4 thomas gifford of castle-jordan in the county of meath ( extinct ) . ireland . 614 martij 4 tho. clifton of clifton esq lanc. 615 martij 4 william wilson of eastborne esq suss. 616 martij 4 compton read of barton esq berks. 617 martij 10 sir brian broughton of broughton knight . staff. 618 martij 16 robert slingesby of new cells esq hartf . 619 martij 16 john crofts of stow esq suff. 620 martij 16 ralph verney of middle-claydon esq buck. 621 martij 18 robert dicer of uphall esq hartf . 622 martij 20 john bromfield of south warke fsque surr. 623 martij 20 thomas rich of sunning esq berks. 624 martij 20 edward smith of edmundthorpe esq leic. anno dom. 1661 & regis car. 2. xiij . 625 martij 26 walter long of whaddon esq wilts . 626 martij 30 john fetiplace of chilrey esq bexks . 627 apr. 8 walter hendley of louchfield esq suss. 628 apr. 9 william parsons of langley esq buck. 629 apr. 9 john cambell of woodford esq ( extinct ) . essex 630 apr. 20 william morrice of werrington esq eldest son to william morrice knight ( one of his majesties principall secretaries of state ) . devon. 631 apr. 20 sir charles gawdey of crowshall knight . suff. 632 apr. 29 william godolphin of godolphin esq cornub. 633 apr. 26 william caley of brumpton esq ebor. 634 apr. 30 thomas curson of water-perry esq oxon. 635 maij 1 edmund fowell of fowell esq devon. 636 maij 7 john cropley of clerkenwell esq midd. 637 maij 10 william smith of red-cliff esq buck. 638 maij 10 george cooke of wheatley esq ebor. 639 maij 10 charles llhoyd of garth esq montgom . 640 maij 10 nathaniel powell of ewhurst esq essex 641 maij 15 denney ashburnham of bromham esq suss. 642 maij 16 hugh smith of long-ashton esq somers . 643 maij 18 robert jenkinson of walcot esq oxon. 644 maij 20 william glinne of bisseter alias burncester esq oxon. 645 maij 21 john charnok of holcot esq bedf. 646 maij 21 robert brooke of netton esq suff. 647 maij 25 thomas nevill of holt esq leic. 648 maij 27 henry andrews of lathbury esq buck. 649 junij 4 anthony craven of spersholt esq berks. 650 junij 5 john clavering of axwell esq durh. 651 junij 8 thomas derham of west-dereham esq norff. 652 junij 17 william stanley of houton esq cestr. 653 junij 17 abraham cullen of east-shene esq surr. 654 junij 17 james roushout of milnst-maylers esq essex 655 junij 17 godfrey copley of sprotborough esq ebor. 656 junij 17 griffith williams of penrhin esq caern . 657 junij 18 henry winchecumbe of buckdebury esq bexks . 658 junij 18 clement clarke of lande-abby esq leic. 659 junij 18 thomas viner alderman of london . midd. 660 julij 18 john sylyard of de la warre esq kent 661 julij 10 christopher guise of elsmore esq glouc. 662 julij 11 reginald forster of east-grenewiche esq kent 663 julij 16 philip parker of erwarton esq 664 julij 16 sir edward duke of denhall knight . suff. 665 julij 21 charles hussey of caythorp esq linc. 666 julij 21 edward barkham of waynflete esq linc. 667 julij 23 thomas norton of the city of coventry esq warw. 668 julij 23 john dormer of the grange esq buck. 669 aug. 2 thomas carew of haccombe esq devon. 670 aug. 7 mark milbanke of halnaby ebor. 671 aug. 16 richard rothwell of ewerby and stapleford esq linc. 672 aug. 22 john bankes of the city of london . ( now of alesford in kent ) . midd. 673 aug. 30 henry ingoldsby of lethenborow esq buck. 674 sept. 3 francis bickley of attilborough . norff. 675 sept. 5 robert jason of broad-somerford esq wilts . 676 sept. 26 sir john young of culliton knight . devon. 677 oct. 4 john frederick van freisendorf of herdick , lord of kymp , of councill to the king of sweden , and embassadour extraordinary to his majesty king charles the ii. 678 nov. 8 william roberts of willesdon esq bidd . 679 nov. 15 william luckin of waltham . essex . 680 nov. 28 thomas smith of hill-hall . essex 681 dec. 3 edwyn sadler of temple-donesley esq hartf . 682 dec. 9 sir william windham of orchard-windham knight . somers . 683 jan. 24 george southcote of bliborough esq linc. 684 jan. 24 george trevilian of nettlecombe esq somers . anno dom. & regis car. 2. xiv . 685 febr. 4 francis duncombe of tangley esq surr. 686 febr. 7 nicholas bacon of gillingham esq norff. 687 febr. 7 richard cox of dumbleton . glouc. 688 febr. 11 john osburne of chicksand esq bedf. 689 febr. 27 john coriton of newton esq cornub. 690 febr. 28 john llhoyd of woking esq surr. 691 martij 1 edward moore of moorehall esq note that this patent to edward moore , though at this time the recepi was made , did not pass the seal until 22. nov. 1675. lanc. 692 martij 7 tho. proby of elton hall esq hunt. 693 martij 20 miles stapleton of carleton esq ebor. anno dom. 1662. & regis car. 2. xiv . 694 apr. 16 sir richard braham of new-windsor knight . berks. 695 maij 2 sir john witerong of stantonbury knight . buck. 696 junij 13 philip matthews of great gobions in collyer-rowward esq essex 697 julij 1 robert bernard of huntingdon esq serjeant at law. hunt. 698 julij 15 roger lort of stock-poole esq pembr . 699 julij 15 edward gage of hargrave esq suff. 700 julij 22 thomas hooke of flanchford . surr. 701 julij 24 john savile of copley esq ebor. 702 aug. 5 christopher wandesford of kirklington esq ebor. 703 aug. 13 richard astley of patshull esq staff. 704 aug. 16 sir jacob gerard of langford knight . norff. 705 aug. 21 edward fust of hill esq glouc. 706 sept. 1 robert long of the city of westminster esq auditor general of the exchequer and one of his majesties most honorable privy council with remainder for lack of issue male upon john long of draycot-cerne in com. wilts . and the heirs male of his body . bidd . 707 sept. 13 sir robert can of compton-greenfield knight . glouc. 708 oct. 24 william middleton of belsey-castle esq northumb. 709 nov. 17 richard graham of norton-coniers esq. ebor. 710 nov. 17 thomas tankard of burrow-brigg esq ebor. 711 nov. 20 cuthbert heroh of chipchase esq northumb. 712 nov. 29 sir francis wenman of caswell knight . dron . 713 dec. 4 henry purefey ( son and heir to george purefey of wadley esq ) berks. 714 dec. 9 thomas cobb of adderbury esq dron . 715 dec. 12 henry brook of norton esq cestr. 716 dec. 22 peter pindar of edinshaw esq cestr. 717 jan. 19 sir nicholas slaning of mariston knight of the bath and standard bearer to the band of gentlemen pensioners . devon. 718 jan. 22 sir george reeve of thwayte knight . suff. anno dom. & regis car. 2. xv . 719 martij 18 thomas brograve of hammels esq hartf . anno dom. 1663. & regis car. 2. xv . 720 apr. 7 sir thomas bernardeston of ketton alias kedington knight . suff. 721 maij 11 samuell bernardeston of bright-hall esq and to the heirs males of his boby ; and for want of such issue to nathaniel bernardeston of hackney esq &c. with remainder to pelitiax bernardeston of london esq &c. suff. 722 junij 1 sir john daws of putney kt. bidd . 723 junij 1 sir john holman of banbury knight . dron . 724 junij 29 william cook of bromehall esq norff. 725 junij 30 john bellot of moreton esq cestr. 726 julij 1 sir george downing of east-hatley knight , embassador in holland , secretary to the treasury and now one of his majesties commissioners of the customes . cambr. 727 julij 13 william gawdey of west-herting esq norff. 728 julij 14 sir charles pym of brymmore knight . sonters . 729 julij 29 sir william d'oyley of shottesham knight . norff. 730 aug. 12 sir john marsham of cuckston knight . kent 731 aug. 15 robert barnham of boughton munchensye esq kent 732 dec. 15 francis leeke of newarke upon trent esq governor of gravesend . nott. 733 dec. 30 john st. barbe of broadlands esq hants anno regis car. 2 xvj . 734 febr. 12 thomas cambell of clay-hall esq essex 735 febr. 22 james pennyman of ormesby in cleveland esq ebor. 736 martij 1 thomas muddiford of lincolns inne esq midd. 737 martij 3 george selby of whitehouse esq durh. anno dom. 1664. & regis car. 2. xvij . 738 martij 31 sir edmund fortescue of fallowpit knight . devon. 739 martij 31 samuel tuke of cressing-temple esq essex 740 maij 25 john tempest of tonge esq ebor. 741 junij 25 littleton osboldeston of chadlinglington esq oxon. 742 julij 1 giles tooker of maddington esq uuilts . 743 julij 13 stephen anderson of eyworth esq bedf. 744 aug. 31 thomas bateman of how-hall esq norff. 745 sept. 26 thomas lorrayne of kirke-harle esq northumb. 746 sept. 27 thomas wentworth of bretton esq ebor. 747 nov. 2 sir theophilus biddulph of westcombe knight . kent 748 nov. 2 william greene of micham esq ( extinct ) . surr. 749 dec. 24 william cookes of norgrave esq wigorn. 750 jan. 10 sir john wolstenholme of london kt. ( one of the farmers of the customs ) . midd. 751 jan. 11 sir john jacob of bromley knight , ( another of the farmers of his majesties customs ) . midd. 752 jan. 12 john yeomans of the city of bristol esq somers . 753 jan. 13 john pye of hone esq derb. 754 jan. 18 thomas taylor of the parkehouse in the parish of maydston esq kent anno dom. car. 2. xvij . 755 martij 3 william leman of northaw , alias northall esq hartf . anno dom. 1665. & regis car. 2. xvij . 756 martij 30 sir robert smith of upton knight . essex 757 apr. 14 sir nicholas crispe of hamersmith knight . midd. 758 apr. 15 sir john shaw of the city of london knight , ( one of the farmers of his majesties customs ) . midd. 759 maij 10 john browne of caversham esq oxon. 760 maij 20 george rawden of moira in com. downe esq ireland 761 junij 8 robert jocelyn of hyde-hall esq hartf . 762 junij 16 robert duckenfield junior of duckenfield-hall esq cestr. 763 julij 6 john lawson of brough esq ebor. 764 julij 20 philip tyrrell of hanslap and castlethorpe esq buck. 765 julij 25 francis burdet of burchet esq ebor. 766 julij 26 george moore of mayds-morton esq buck. 767 sept. 9 abell barker of hambleton , alias hambledon esq kotel . 768 dec. 12 sir william oglander of nunwell in the isle of wight knight . hants . 769 jan. 31 william temple of sheene esq resident for his majesty at bruxells . afterwards embassador to the states general of the united provinces and one of his majesties plenipotentiaries at the treaty of nimmegen . surr. 770 martij 1 sir william swan of southflete knight . kent 771 martij 6 anthony shirley of preston esq suss. 772 martij 6 maurice diggs of chilham-castle esq ( extinct ) . kent 773 martij 6 peter gleane of hardwick esq norff. anno dom. 1666. & regis car. 2. xviij . 774 maij 10 john nelthorpe of grays-inne esq midd. 775 maij 10 sir robert viner lord mayor of london knight . midd. 776 junij 13 sir thomas twysden of bradburne juxta east-malling knight , one of the justices of the kings bench. kent 777 julij 4 sir anthony aucher of bishops bourne knight . kent 778 julij 7 john d'oylie of chiselhamton esq oxon. 779 julij 12 edward hoby of bisham esq berks. 780 julij 21 thomas put of combe esq devon. 781 oct. 22 john tirell of siringfield esq son and heir apparent of sir john tirell of heron in com. essex knight . essex 782 nov. 17 gilbert gerard of fiskerton , entayling the same title upon his issue male by mary his second wife , daughter to dr. john cozens lord bishop of durham . linc. 783 dec. 31 sir robert yeomans of redlands knight . glouc. 784 jan. 16 carr scroope of cockerington esq linc. 785 jan. 29 peter fortescue of wood esq devon. anno regis car. 2. xix . 786 feb. 7 sir richard bettenson of wimbleton knight . surr. 787 martij 21 algernon peyton of dodington in the isle of ely. cantabr . anno dom. 1667. 788 martij 28 roger martin of long-melford esq suff. 789 maij 7 richard hastings of redlench esq somers . 790 maij 24 william hanham of winburne esq dors. anno dom. 1668. & regis car. 2. xx . 791 julij 25 francis topp of tormarton esq glouc. 792 aug. 28 william langhorne of the inner-temple london esq lond. anno dom. 1669. car. 2. xxij . 793 apr. 28 edw. mostyn of talacre esq flynt . 794 maij 5 sir george stonehouse , for life ( having surrendred his former patent by a fine ) with remainder to john stonehouse his second son and to the heirs male of his body ; and for lack of such issue to james his third son &c. with precedency to him and his sayd sons according to the first patent dated 7. maij 1628. berks. 795 junij 4 philip carteret of st. owen esq iersey 796 oct. 25 fulwar skypwith of newbold-hall esq uuarw. anno dom. 1670. car. 2. xxiij . 797 martij 22 sir john sabin of eyne in the parish of gravenhurst knight . bedf. anno dom. 1671. car. 2. xxiiij . 798 junij 28 william chater of croft-hall esq ebor. 799 nov. 18 herbert croft of croft-castle ( son and heir to the bishop of hereford . ) heref. 800 dec. 11 john st. aubin of clowance esq cornub. anno dom. 1672. car. 2. xxv . 801 nov. 13 robert eden of west-aukland esq durh. 802 nov. 28 john werden esq secretary to his royal highness the d. of york . chesh. 803 febr. 7 thomas allen of blundesdon a captain at sea , sometime admiral in the streights , then controler of the navy and one of the commissioners thereof . suff anno dom. 1673. 804 junij 2 francis warre of hestercombe esq somers . 805 nov. 12 orlando bridgeman of ridley esq second son to sir orlando bridgeman knight and baronet lord-keeper of the great seal of england . chesh. 806 nov. 18 francis windham of trent esq somers . 807 dec. 1 arthur harris of stoford esq devon. 808 dec. 12 william blaket of newcastle esq northumb. 809 dec. 12 john thompson of haversham esq buck. anno xxvi . car. 2. 810 junij 7 halsewell tint of halsewell esq somers . anno dom. 1674. car. 2. xxvij . 811 martij 25 cornelius martin trump vice-admiral of holland and west-friezland . 812 maij 22 sir robert parker of ralton in the parish of willingdon esq suss. 813 maij 20 john sherrard of lopthorpe esq linc. 814 maij 8 arthur onslow of west-clandon esq in reversion after the death of his father in law sir thomas foote , without issue male ( who was created 21. nov. 1660. ) and with the same precedency . surr. 815 oct. 30 walter cleargis of st. martins in the feilds esq midd 816 nov. 2 thomas williams of eltham esq his majesties physitian in ordinary . kent 817 dec. 26 robert filmer of east-sutton esq kent anno dom. 1674. car. 2. xxviij . 818 febr. 24 sir edward nevill of grove knight . nott. anno dom. 1675. car. 2 xxviij . 819 apr. 23 sir richard tulpe of amsterdam in the province of holland knight . 820 dec. 22 thomas samuell of upton esq northamp 821 jan 24 charles rich of the city of london gent for life with remainder to rober● rich of sonden in com. essex esq. mi● 822 martij 11 benjamin maddox of wormle esq. hert anno dom. 1676. car. 2. xxix . 823 martij 29 will. barker of bockenhall esq e● 824 junij 13 john brookes citizen of york esq ebor. 825 junij 19 rich. head of rochester esq kent 826 junij 21 william pennington of moncaster esq cumbr. 827 dec. 18 bennet hoskins of harwood esq heref. 828 febr. 8 richard standish of esq lans . 829 febr. 26 alexander robertson , alias colyear of the province of holland . 830 martij 3 tho. dike of horeham esq su●● . anno dom. 1677. 831 martij 29 sir robert cotton of cumbermeir knight . chesh. 832 apr. 7 francis willoughby of wollaton esq ( with remainder for lack of issue male to thomas his brother and to the heirs male of his body ) . nott. 833 junij 29 ignatius vitus , alias white ( second son of sir dominlck white of lymerick in ireland ) for want of issue male , to his nephew ignatius maximilian vitus , and to the heirs male of his body . ireland 834 julij 13 john barlowe of slebege esq pembr . 835 julij 24 richard newdigate of erdbury serjeant at law . warw. 836 sept. 29 richard cust of stanford esq linc. 837 oct. 8 francis anderton of lostoke esq lanc. 838 oct. 18 james simeon of chilworth esq oxon. 839 oct. 25 james poole of poole in worrell esq for lack of issue male to william his brother , and to the heirs male of his body . chesh. 840 dec. 31 george wharton of kirkby-kendall treasurer of the ordnance . uustmerl . 841 jan. 21 hugh ackland of columb-john esq with a special clause for precedency before all baronets created since the year 1644. devon. anno dom. 1678. car. 2. xxx . 842 apr. 22 francis edwards of shrewsbury esq and to the heirs male of his body , with remainder to thomas , benjamin , herbert and jonathan and the heirs male of their bodies &c. and a speciall clause for precedency before all baronets created after the year 1644. salop. 843 maij 8 sir henry oxenden of deane kt. lanc. 844 maij 18 sir james bowyer of leighthorne baronet , grandson and heir to sir thomas bowyer baronet ( created 23. julij 3. car. 1. ) surrendring his patent , had now a new creation to that dignity , for life only ; the remainder to henry goring of highden in the same county esq and to the heirs males of his body , with the same precedency as the said sir thomas bowyer enjoyed . suss. 845 junij 20 walter curle of suberton esq hants . 846 junij 22 raphe dutton of sherborne esq glouc. 847 julij 6 william dyer of totenham esq hertf. 848 julij 18 josias childe of wansted esq essex 849 julij 27 sir thomas skypwith of metheringham knight . linc. 850 dec. 6 walter hawkesworth of hawkesworth esq ebor. 851 junij 25 jeremy snow of salesbery esq hertf. anno dom. 1679. car. 2. xxxi . 852 martij 29 william kenrick of whitley esq berks. 853 julij 16 sir samuel marrow of berkswell knight . warw. 854 nov. 17 sir roger bradshaigh of haigh knight . lanc. 855 dec. 20 william stapleton esq governor of the leeward-islands in america . 859 jan. 27 thomas-pope blount of tittenhanger esq hertf. 857 jan. 28 sir george walker of bushey knight . hertf. anno 1680. xxxij . car. 2. 858 oct. 22 gelebrand sas van bosch ( a servant to the prince of orange . ) 859 febr. 2 john roberts of bowe esq essex anno 1681. 860 apr. 15 roger beckwith of alborough esq ebor. 861 maij 18 thomas parkyns of bonney esq nott. 862 junij 29 thomas bunbury of bunbury and stanney esq chesh. 863 julij 1 hugh parker of the city of london esq and to the heirs male of his body : with remainder to henry parker of hunnington in com. warwick esq &c. land. 864 julij 4 henry seymour esq son and heir to henry seymour , one of the groomes of his majesties bed-chamber , and to the heirs mal● of his body ; with remainder to the said henr● the father , and to the heirs male of his body . finis . an exact alphabetical catalogue , of all the shires , cities , burrough-towns , cinque-ports in england and wales ; specifying the number of the knights of the shires , citizens , burghesses , and barons of the cinque-ports , they do respectively elect , to serve as their representatives in parliaments . before each shire and burrough of wales a w is prefixed . after the name of each shire , is set down the number of burghesses citizens and knights chosen in that shire . bur. abington berk-shire burghess 1 amondesham vide amersham bur. st. albans herford-shire burg. 2 bur. aldborough suffolke burg. 2 bur. aldborough york-shire burg. 2 bur. alesbury or aylesbury bucks burg. 2 allerton v. north-allerton bur. amersham alias agmondesham bucks burg. 2 bur. andover hantshire burg. 2 w. shire anglesey parliament men 2 ; burg. 1 and knight 1 bur. appleby westmorland burg. 2 bur. arundel sussex burg. 2 bur. ashburton devonshire burg. 2 bur. banbury oxford-shire burg. 1 bur. barnstable devon-shire burg. 2 city bath somerset-shire citizens 2 shire bedford-shire p. m. 4 ; burg. 2 , and knights 2 bur. bedford bedford-shire burg. 2 bedwyn v. great-bedwyn bur. berealston devon-shire burg. 2 shire berks or berkeshire p. m. 9 ; burg. 7 ; and knights 2 bur. berwicke upon tweed northumberland burg. 2 bur. beaerly yorkshire burg. 2 bur. bewdlye worcester-shire burg. 1 w. bur. bewmorris anglesey burg. 1 bur. bishops-castle shrop-shire burg. 2 bur. blechingly surry burg. 2 bur. bodmin cornwall burg. 2 bur. bossiney cornwall burg. 2 bur. boston lincoln-shire burg. 2 bur. brackley northampton-shire burg. 2 bur. bramber sussex burg. 2 w. shire brecon alias brecknock-shire ; p. m. 2 ; burg. 1 , and knight 1 w. bur. brecon alias brecknock brecknock-sh . burg. 1 bur. bridport dorset-shire burg. 2 bur. bridge-north , alias bruges , shropshire burg. 2 bur. bridgwater somerset-shire burg. 2 city bristol somerset-shire citizens 2 bruges v. bridge-north shire bucks alias buckingham-shire p. m. 14 burg. 12 , and knights 2 bur. bucks alias buckingham buckinghamshire burg. 2 bur. burroughbridge or burroughbrig yorkshire burg. 2 bury v. st. edmonds-bury bur. calne wiltshire burg. 2 shire cambridge-sh . p. m. 6 ; burg. 4 , and knights 2 bur. cambridge university burg. 2 town burg. 2 city canterbury kent citizens 2 bur. camelford cornwall burg. 2 w. shire cardigan-sh . p. m. 2 , burg. 1 , and knight 1 w. bur. cardigan cardigan-shire burg. 1 w. bur. cardiffe glamorgan-shire burg. 1 w. shire carmarthen-shire p. m. 2 ; burg. 1 , and knight 1 w. bur. carmarthen carmarthenshire burg 1 w. bur. carnarvon carnarvon-shire burg 1 city carlile cumberland citizens 2 bur. castle-rising norfolke burg 2 shire chester p. m. 4 ; citizens 2 , and knights 2 city chester cheshire citizens 2 city chichester sussex citizens 2 bur. chippenham wiltshire burg. 2 bur. chipping-wicomb bucks . burg. 2 bur. christs-church hantshire burg. 2 bur. cirencester gloucester-shire burg. 2 clifton v. dartmouth bur. clithero lancashire burg. 2 bur. cockermouth cumberland burg. 2 city colchester essex citizens 2 bur. corfe-castle in the isle of purbecke dorsetshire burg. 2 shire cornwall p. m. 44 burg. 42 , and knights 2 city coventry warwickshire citizens 2 crampound v. grampound . bur. cricklade wiltshire burg. 2 shire cumberland p. m. 6 burg. 4 , and knights 2 bur. dartmouth clifton , and hardness devonshire burg. 2 w. shire denbigh-shire p. m. 2 , burg. 1 , and knight 1 w. bur. denbigh denbigh-shire burg. 1 shire derby-shire p. m. 4 burg. 2 , and knights 2 bur. derby derby-shire burg. 2 shire devonshire p. m. 26 ; burg. 22 , citizens 2 and knights 2 bur. the devizes wiltshire burg. 2 shire dorsetshire p. m. 20 ; burg. 18 , and knights 2 bur. dorchester dorset-shire burg. 2 cinq . p. dover kent barons 2 bur. downton wiltshire burg. 2 bur. droitwich worcestershire burg. 2 dunhevet or dunhivid v. lanceston bur. dunwich suffolk burg. 2 shire durham p. m. 4 ; citizens 2 , and knights 2 city durham citizens 2 bur. east grinstead sussex burg. 2 bur. east-low cornwall burg. 2 bur. east-retford nottingham-shire burg. 2 bur. st. edmonds-bury suffolk burg. 2 shire essex p. m. 8 , burg. 6 , and knights 2 bur. evesham worcester-shire burg. 2 bur. eye suffolk burg. 2 city exeter , alias exon devonshite citizens 2 w. shire flintshire p. m. 2 ; burg. 1 and knight 1 w. bur. flint flintshire burg. 1 bur. fowey , or foy cornwall burg. 2 bur. gatton surry burg. 2 bur. st. germains , or jermins cornwall burg. 2 w. shire glamorganshire p. m. 2 ; burg. 1 and kt. 1 shire gloucestershire p. m. 8 ; burg. 4 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city gloucester gloucestershire citizens 2 bur. grampound or crampound cornwall burg. 2 bur. grantham lincoln-shire burg. 2 bur. great-bedwyn wiltshire burg. 2 bur. great-grimsby lincoln-shire burg. 2 bur. great-marlow bucks burg. 2 bur. great-wenlock shrop-shire burg. 2 bur. great-yarmouth alias north-yarmouth norffolk burg. 2 grnistead v. east-grinstead bur. guilford surry burg. 2 shire hampshire or hantshire , alias southampton p. m. 26 ; burg. 22 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 hardness v. dartmouth bur. harwich essex burg. 2 bur. haslemere surry burg. 2 cinq . p. hastings sussex barons 2 w. bur. haverford-west pembrook-shire burg. 1 bur. helston cornwall burg. 2 shire hereford-shire p. m. 8 ; burg. 4 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city hereford hereford-shire citizens 2 shire hertford p. m. 6 ; burg. 4 , and knights 2 bur. hertford hertford-shire burg. 2 bur. hetsbury or heitsbury wiltshire burg. 2 bur. heydon yorkshire burg. 2 bur. higham-ferrers northampton-shire burg. 1 bur. hindon wiltshire burg. 2 bur. honiton devonshire burg. 2 bur. horseham sussex burg. 2 hull v. kingston upon hull shire huntingtonsh . p. m. 4 , burg. 2 and knights 2 bur. huntington huntington-shire burg. 2 cinq . p. hyth kent barons 2 st. jermins v. st. germains bur. ilcester somerset-shire burg. 2 bur. ipswich suffolk burg. 2 bur. st. ives cornwall burg 2 shire kent p. m. 10 ; burg. 4 ; citizens 4 , and knights 2 bur. killington cornwall burg 2 kings-lyme , v. lyme-regis kings-lynn , v. lyn-regis kings-melcomb , v. melcomb-regis bur. kingston upon hull yorkshire burg. 2 bur. knaesborough yorkshire burg. 2 shire lancaster , or lancashire p. m. 14 ; burg. 12 and knights 2 bur. lancaster lancashire burg. 2 bur. lanceston launcestoun or launston alias dunhevet cornwall burg. 2 shire leicestershire p. m. 4 ; burg. 2 , and knights 2 bur. leicester leicestershire burg. 2 bur. lempster herefordshire burg. 2 bur. leskard cornwall burg. 2 bur. lestathiel , lestwithiel , or lostwithiel cornwall burg. 2 bur. leverpoole , or liverpoole lancash . burg. 2 bur. lewes sussex burg. 2 bur. limmington hantshire burg. 2 shire lincolnshire p. m. 12 ; burg. 8 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city lincoln lincolnshire citizens 2 city litchfield staffordshire citizens 2 city london middlesex citizens 4 lostwithiel v. lestuthiel low v. east-low west-low bur. ludgershall wiltshire burg. 2 bur. ludlow shropshire burg. 2 bur. lyme-regis alias kings-lyme dorsetshire burg. 2 bur. lynn-regis , alias , kings-lynn norfolk burg. 2 bur. maidston kent burg. 2 bur. marlborough wiltshire burg. 2 bur. malden essex burg. 2 bur. malmesbury wiltshire burg. 2 bur. malton yorkshire burg. 2 marlow v. great-marlow bur. st. mawes cornwall burg. 2 medena v. newport bur. melcomb-regis alias kings-melcomb dorsetshire burg. 2 w. shire merionethshire p. m. 1 ; viz. knight 1 bur. st. michael cornwall burg. 2 shire middlesex p. m. 8 , citizens 6 , and knights 2 bur. midhurst sussex burg. 2 bur. milborn-port somerset-shire burg. 2 bur. minehead somerset-shire burg. 2 w. shire mongomery-shire p. m. 2 ; burg. 1 , and knight 1 w bur. mongomery mongomery-shire burg. 1 shire monmouth-shire p. m. 3 ; burg. 1 , and knights 2 bur. monmouth monmouth-shire burg. 1 bur. morpeth northumberland burg. 2 bur. newarke upon trent nottinghamsh . burg. 2 bur. new-castle under line staffordshire burg. 2 bur. new-castle upon tine northumber . burg. 2 bur. newport cornwall burg. 2 bur. newport alias medena in the isle of wight hantshire burg. 2 cinq . p. new-rumney kent barons 2 new-sarum v. salisbury bur. new shoreham sussex burg. 2 bur. newton or newtown in the isle of wight hantshire burg. 2 bur. newtown or newton lancashire . burg. 2 bur. new windsor berkshire burg. 2 bur. new woodstock oxfordshire burg. 2 shire norfolk p. m. 12 ; burg. 8 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 bur. north-allerton yorkshire burg. 2 shire northamptonshire p. m. 9 ; burg. 5 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 bur. northampton northamptonshire burg. 2 shire northumberland p. m. 8 ; burg. 6 , and knights 2 north yarmouth v. great yarmouth city norwich norfolk citizens 2 shire nottinghamshire p. m. 8 ; burg. 6 , and knights 2 bur. nottingham nottinghamshire butg . 2 bur. oke hampton devonshire burg. 2 bur. old-sarum wiltshire burg. 2 shire oxon alias oxford oxfordshire p. m. 9 ; burg 5 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city oxon alias oxford oxfordshire university burg. 2 city citizens 2 bur. ortford suffolk burg. 2 w. shire pembrokeshire p. m. 3 ; burg. 2 , and knight 1 w. bur. pembroke pembrokeshire burg. 1 bur. penryn cornwall burg. 2 city peterborough northamptonshire citizens 2 bur. peterfield hantshire burg. 2 bur. plymouth devonshire burg. 2 bur. plympton devonshire burg. 2 bur. pomfret alias pontefract yorkshire burg. 2 bur. pool dorsetshire burg. 2 port pigham v. west-low bur. portsmouth hantshire burg. 2 bur. preston in amounderness , or anderness lancashire burg. 2 bur. queensborough or quinborough kent burg. 2 w. shire radnorshire p. m. 2 , burg. 1 , and knight 1 w. bur. radnor radnorshire burg. 1 bur. reading berkshire burg. 2 retford v. east-retford bur. richmond yorkshire burg. 2 bur. rippon yorkshire burg. 2 city rochester kent citizens 2 rumney v. new-rumney shire rutland p. m. 2 , viz. knights 2 cinq . p. rye sussex barons 2 bur. ryegate surry burg. 2 city salisbury alias new-sarum wiltsh . citizens 2 salop county v. shropshire town v. shrewsbury bur. saltash cornwall burg. 2 cinq . p. sandwich kent barons 2 sarum new-sarum v. salisbury old-sarum bur. scarborough yorkshire burg. 2 cinque p. seaford sussex barons 2 bur. shaftsbury alias shafton dorsetshire burg. 2 shoreham v. new-shoreham bur. shrewsbury alias salop , shropshire burg. 2 shire salop alias shropshire p. m 12 , burg. 10 , and knights 2 shire somerset-shire p. m. 18 , burg. 10 , citizens 6 , and knights 2 southampton the county v. hampshire bur. southampton hampshire burg. 2 bur. southwarke surry burg. 2 bur. south-yarmouth in the isle of wight hantshire burg. 2 shire staffordshire p. m. 10 , burg. 6 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 bur. stafford staffordshire burg. 2 bur. stamford lincolnshire burg. 2 bur. steyning sussex burg. 2 bur. stockbridge hantshire burg. 2 bur. sudbury suffolk burg. 2 shire suffolk p. m. 16 , burg. 14 , and knights 2 shire surry p. m. 14 , burg. 12 , and knights 2 sh. sussex p. m. 20 , burg. 16 , citiz. 2 , and knights 2 bur. tamworth staffordshire burg. 2 bur. tavistocke devonshire burg. 2 bur. taunton somersetshire burg. 2 bur. tewksbury gloucestershire burg. 2 bur. thetford norffolk burg. 2 bur. thirske yorkshire burg. 2 bur. tiverton devonshire burg. 2 bur. totnes devonshire burg. 2 bur. tregony cornwall burg. 2 bur. truro cornwall burg. 2 vizes v. devizes bur. wallingford berkshire burg. 2 bur. wareham dorsetshire burg. 2 shire warwickshire p. m. 6 , burg. 2 , citizens 2 and knights 2 bur. warwick warwickshire burg. 2 bur. webly or weobly herefordshire burg. 2 city wells somersetshire citizens 2 wendlock v. great wendlock burg. 2 bur. wendover bucks burg. 2 bur. westbury wiltshire burg. 2 bur. west-low alias port-pigham cornw. burg. 2 city westminster middlesex citizens 2 shire westmorland p. m. 4 , burg. 2 , and knights 2 bur. weymouth dorsetshire burg. 2 bur. whit-church hantshire burg. 2 wiccomb v. chipping wiccomb bur. wigan lancashire burg. 2 shire wiltsh . p. m. 34 , burg. 30 , citi. 2 , and knights 2 bur. wilton wiltshire burg. 2 cinq . p winchelsey sussex barons 2 city winchester hantshire citizens 2 windsor v. new-windsor woodstock v. new-woodstock bur. wooton-basset wiltshire burg. 1 shire worcestershire p. m. 9 , burg. 5 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city worcester worcestershire citizens 2 yarmouth v. north-yarmouth south-yarmouth v. great-yarmouth shire yorkshire p. m. 30 burg. 26 , citizens 2 , and knights 2 city york yorkshire citizens 2 the total number of all the knights of the shires , citizens , burghesses , and barons of the cinque-ports of england and wales , which ( when the kings majesty summons a parliament ) are respectively chosen by the several shires &c. as the representatives of all the commons of england . knights of the shires , 2. for each of the 40. shires in england reckoning monmouthshire , as one 80 citizens for the 25. cities in england ; for london 4 , for each of the other cities 2. 52 burghesses 2. for each of the 2. universities , and for each of the 171. burrough-towns in england , except for abington , banbury , bewdly , higham-ferrers , and monmouth , for each of which only 1. 341 barons of the cinque-ports , viz. hastings , dover , hyth , rumney ; and the 3. principal members of the cinque ports , winchelsey , rye , and seaford , of each 2. 16 knights of the shires 1. for each of the 12. shires of wales 12 burghesses 1. for each of the 12. burrough-towns of wales 12 the full and compleat number of all the members of the house of commons . 513 a true and perfect catalogue of the nobility of scotland the bookseller to the reader . the frequent complaints i have heard , from several learned and ingenuous persons , of the errors and defects in all the catalogues , of late printed , of the nobility in his majesties dominions , created in me a belief , that the publication of exact and correct catalogues thereof , wou'd be very acceptable to the publick . and this induced me , to attempt it . in order whereunto , i obtained the preceeding catalogue of the nobility of england , from the author of the aforegoing treatise , a person who by reason of his office of garter , is best enabled to publish it most correctly and authentickly . and in august last ( the parliament of scotland then sitting ) by the favour of a freind there . i procured a copy , of the then lord r●gister his role of the nobility of scotland . but their christian names not being inserted therein , my correspondent was so careful and industrious , as to inform himself thereof , either from the several noblemen themselves , then assembled into parliament , or from the near relations , or intimate acquaintances of those absent ; and for those few christian names of which he could receive no certain information , he hath left blanks ; and having thus procured it , he transmitted it to me . since when it hath been communicated to several , very intelligent persons in the affairs of that kingdom , who have very well approved thereof , so that i may with a modest assurance affirm this present catalogue to be more accurate then most of this nature hitherto publish'd . and yet i will not confidently averr that there are no errors therein , for i am told the nobility of scotland are no more careful , then the noblemen of england , to register their descents and successions ; the defect of which doth almost occasion an impossibility , with an accurate exactness to publish any catalogue of this nature . but if any person shall percieve any error or defect therein , or any nobleman judges himself injured , either by any omission or misrecitall of his name or title , if he shall be pleased to notify it to me , with directions how it ought to be corrected and supplyed , or to inform therein mr. robert meine post-master of ( edinburgh ) i shall take all possible care that in the next edition all the errors may accordingly be amended , and all due right don to every individual nobleman . to the present catalogue , is annexed a list of all the shires and royal burroughs in scotland , with the number of barons , commissioners , and burghesses they do respectively retaine to serve in parliament . which i have don in the same manner , as in compliance with the desires of several persons , i have published the preceeding alphabetical catalogue of all the shires , cities , burroughs and cinque-ports in england and wales . a true and perfect catalogue of the officers of state , nobility , lords spiritual and temporal of the kingdom of scotland , according to their respective precedencies . his majesties high-commissioner his royal highness james duke of albany princes of the blood royal james duke of albany , his majesties aforementioned high-commissioner , and lord high admiral of scotland , ( duke of york in england , and earl of ulster in ireland ) archbishops ( ii ) , and great officers ( iv ) , ( who in respect of their offices , precede all the nobility except those of the blood royal ) the lord high chancellor this office is now vacant the arch-bishop of st. andrews lord primate and metropolitan of all scotland dr. alexander burnet lord arch-bishop of st. andrews the lord high treasurer this office is now executed by commissioners the arch-bishop of glasgow lord primate and metropolitan of scotland dr. arthur ross lord arch-bishop of glasgow the lord president of the privy council john duke of lauderdale the lord privy seal john marquess of atholl dukes ( iv ) william hamilton duke of hamilton * james scot , duke of buccleugh , lord high chamberlain of scotland ( and duke of monmouth in england ) * john maitland duke of lauderdale , lord president of the privy council in scotland ( and earl of guilford in england ) * charles lenos duke of lennox ( and richmond in england ) marquesses ( iv ) george gordon marquess of huntley william douglas marquess of douglas james grahame marquess of montrose john murray marquess of atholl ( lord privy seal and admiral deputy of scotland ) earls ( lxii ) and ( i ) countess the lord secretary of scotland , in respect of his office , preceeds all of his degree , and at present , that office is executed by an earl , viz. alexander earl of murray archibald campbell earl of argyle john lindsay earl of crawford john hay earl of arroll ( lord high constable of scotland by inheritance ) george keith earl marshal ( great marshal of scotland by inheritance ) george sutherland earl of sutherland charles erskeine earl of marre william grahame earl of menteith and airth john lesley earl of rothes william douglas earl of morton william erskeine earl of buchan john cunningham earl of glencairn alexander montgomery earl of eglinton john kenedie earl of cassils george sinclare earl of caithness alexander stewart earl of murray ( lord secretary of scotland ) robert maxwel earl of nidisdail george seaton earl of winton george levingston earl of linlithgow james home earl of home james drummond earl of perth james seaton earl of dunfermling john fleming earl of wigton patricke lyon earl of strathmore and kinghorne hamilton earl of abercorne robert kerr earl of roxburgh alexander ereskeine earl of kellie charles hamilton earl of hadington william stewart earl of galloway kenneth mac-kenzie earl of seaforth robert carr earl of lothian william hay earl of kinnoul john campbell earl of loudoun william crichton earl of drumfreis william douglas earl of queensberrie william alexander earl of sterling robert bruce earl of elgin ( and aylesbury in england ) robert carnegie earl of south-eske john stewart earl of traquaire charles carr earl of ancram david weimes earl of weimes william ramsey earl of dalhousie james ogiluie earl of airlie james ogiluie earl of finlator james dalziel earl of carnwath alexander levingston earl of callander david leslie earl of leven william johnstoun earl of annandail elizabeth ( present dutchess of lauderdale ) countess of dysert , daughter and coheir of william murray earl of dysert ( first marryed to sir lionel talmach baronet of england , her eldest son by whom , now beareth the title of lord hunting-tower , being heir in succession to the earldom of dysert ) george mauld earl of panmeure john hay earl of twedall . david carnegie earl of north-eske alexander bruce earl of kincarden colin lindsay earl of balcarres archibald douglas earl of forfar charles middleton earl of middleton . charles gordon earl of aboyne walter scot earl of tarras james levingston earl of newbrugh william boyde earl of kilmarnocke william cochraine earl of dandonald george douglas earl of dunbarton john keith earl of kintor john campbell earl of braid-albin and holland viscounts ( xiii ) anthony carey viscount falkland robert constable viscount dunbar david murray viscount stormont william gordon viscount kenmeare robert arbuthnet viscount arbuthnet william crichton viscount frendraught alexander seaton viscount kingston robert mackgill viscount oxenford edward ingram viscount irwing james levingston viscount kilsyth peregrine osburne viscount dumblane richard grahame viscount preston james cheney viscount newhaven bishops ( xii ) dr. john patterson l. b. of edinburgh dr. james atkins l. b. of galloway dr. andrew bruce l. b. of dunkell dr. patrick scougall l. b. of aberdeen dr. colin falconer l. b. of murray dr. alexander young l. b. of ross dr. george halliburton l. b. of brechen dr. james ramsey l. b. of dumblane dr. andrew wood l. b. of cathness dr. archibald grahame l. b. of the isles dr. hector mack-clene l. b. of argyle dr. murdo mack-kenzie l. b. of orkney in the same order , as the several bishopricks are here inserted , the respective bishops do constantly precede each other , without regard to the seniority of their consecrations . lords ( xlvii ) alexander forbes lord forbes alexander frazer lord salton robert gray lord gray allan cathcart lord cathcart henry saintclare lord saintclare james douglas lord mordington francis semple lord semple john elphingston lord elphingston charles oliphant lord oliphant hugh frazer lord louat john borthwick lord borthwick george ross lord ross walter sandilands lord torphichen john leslie lord lindoris john elphingston lord balmerinoch and ld. cowper henry erskeine lord cardrass alexander stewart lord blantyre james cranston lord cranston john balfour lord burgleigh robert kerr lord jedburgh david drummond lord madertie george meluil lord meluil archibald napier lord napier henry fairfax lord fairfax of cameron henry richardson lord cramond walter aston lord aston of forfare donald mack-ray alias forbes lord rae james forester lord forester alexander forbes lord pitsligo john mackleland lord kirkudbright charles frazer lord frazer john hamilton lord bargeny george ogiluie lord bamff patricke murray lord elibank thomas galloway lord dunkell alexander falconer lord hackerton john hamilton lord belhaven john carmichael lord carmichael james sutherland lord duffes andrew rollo lord rollo robert colvil lord colvil david ruthuen lord ruthuen john rutherford lord rutherford john bellenden lord bellenden david leslie lord newark james weimes lord burnt island david nairne lord nairne other officers of state these have the title of lord and precedency of all under the degree of noblemen and their eldest sons . charles maitland of hatton lord treasurer depu. sir george mack-kenzie of torbat lord register sir george mack-kenzie of roshaugh lord advocat richard maitland of duddip lord justice clerke a list of the xxxiii shires in scotland each of which send : ii barons commissioners , to serve in parliament , as the representatives of the several respective shires . edinburgh hadington berwick roxburgh selkirk peeblis lanerick drumfreis wigton aire dunbarton bute renfrew sterling linlithgow perth kincarden aberdeen innerness nairne cromartie argyle fife forfar bamff the stewarty of kirkcudbright sutherland cathness elgin orkney clackmannan ross kinross the number of the barons commissioners for the shires . lxvi a list of the royal burroughs in scotland ; each of which send only one burghess to parliament , as their representative except edinburg which sends two burghesses commissioners edinburgh perth dundee aberdeen sterling linlithgow st. andrews glasgow aire hadington dysert kirkcaldie montrose cowper in fife east-anstruther drumfreis innerness burnt island inner-keything kinghorne brechen irwing iedburgh kirkcudbright wigton dunfermling sanyhuar new galloway fort-ross dingwall dornoch queens ferrie innerara pittenweem selkirk dunbarton renfrew dunbar lanerick aberbrothock elgin peeblis crail tayne culross bamff whitherne forfar rothesay nairne forres rutherglen north berwick callen kilrinnie lauder kintor annand lochmaben inner-durie rosemarkie cromartie wick kirkwall inner-beruie the number of burghesses commissioners for the royal burroughs . lxv * note that since this present catalogue was committed to the press archibald campbell earl of argyle hath been and is attainted of high treason . finis . a true and perfect catalogue of the nobility of ireland . to mr. moses pitt at the theater in oxford sir whitehall 24. jan. 1681 / 2. your letter to my lord chamberlaine of 22. of this month his lordship hath sent me to be answered ; but the time you allot for it being the very next post , or else you say the irish catalogue will be printed , in which said catalogue t is questioned whether the present lord ossory be a peer : none can resolve that point better then my lord vicount lansbrough , who is now in ireland ; and was secretary to my lord of ormond , and concerned for his grace , and his sons , at such times when those additional honours were conferr'd upon them in england and ireland ; so that unless i be allowed time to receive his lordships answer , i dare not take upon me to speak to the point in question , so as to justifie the printing thereof . i am your most humble servant richard mulyse to my best remembrance i have heard my lord lansbrough say , that thomas butler the late earl of ossory had his place in the parliament of ireland by the kings writ as earl of ossory ; ( and to precede all other earls , but not to be a president for the future ) and in england as thomas butler baron of moore park : and that by vertue thereof james butler the present earl of ossory was to succeed to his father in the same places and honours . however i will send this night to ireland for better information . a true and perfect catalogue of the great officers of state , nobility , lords spiritual and temporal of the kingdom of ireland , according to their respective precedencies . the lord lievtenant or cheif governor james duke of ormond . princes of the blood-royal . * his royal highness james earl of ulster , duke of york in england and albany in scotland . arch-bishops ( iv ) and great officers ( ii ) ( who in respect of their offices , precede all the nobility except those of the blood-royal ) the lord arch-bishop of armagh primate of all ireland dr. michael boyle lord arch-bishop of armagh the lord chancellor michacl lord arch-bishop of armagh beforementioned the other arch-bishops the lord arch-bishop of dublin primate of ireland dr. francis marsh lord arch-bishop of dublin the lord arch-bishop of cashels dr. thomas price lord arch-bishop of cashels the lord arch-bishop of tuam dr. joseph vesey lord arch-bishop of tuam . the lord treasurer richard earl of cork dukes * james butler duke of ormond lord lievtenant of ireland ( and earl of brecknock in england ) marquesses randolph macdonnel marquess of autrim earls ( xxx ) john fitz-gerald earl of kildare henry o bryen earl of thomond william burgh alias bourke earl of clanrickard james touchet earl of castlehaven ( and baron audley in england ) richard boyle earl of cork lord treasurer of ireland by inheritance ( and earl of burlington in england ) thomas nugent earl of westmeath wentworth dillon earl of roscomon robert ridgway earl of london-derry william fielding earl of desmond ( and denbigh in england ) william brabazon earl of meath richard barry earl of barrimore richard vaughan earl of carbery ( and baron vaughan in england ) luke plunket earl of fingall thomas cromwel earl of arglas ( and baron cromwel in england ) arthur chichester earl of donnegall lambert earl of cauan william o brien earl of inchequin donnugh macarty earl of clancarty richard boyle earl of orrery charles coot earl of montrath henry moore earl of drogheda charles talbot earl of waterford and wexford ( and shrewsbury in england ) hugh montgomery earl of mount-alexander roger palmer earl of castlemain richard butler earl of arran ( and baron butler of weston in england ) nicholas taaf earl of carlingford richard power earl of tyrone richard jones earl of rannelagh francis aungier earl of longford charles-henry kirkhoven earl of bellomont ( and baron wotton in england ) uiscounts ( xlix ) jenico preston viscount gormanston david roch viscount fermoy richard butler viscount mountgarret william viliers viscount grandison arthur annesly viscount valentia ( and earl of anglesey in england ) thomas dillon viscount dillon of costillogallen nicholas nettervile viscount nettervile of dowth arthur luftus viscount luftus of elye beaumont viscount beaumont of swords arthur magenis viscount magenis of evagh thomas needham viscount kilmurry david sarsfeild viscount sarsfeild of kilmallock edward conway viscount killultagh ( and earl of conway in england ) miles burgh viscount burgh of mayo george sanderson viscount castleton patricke chaworth viscount chaworth of armagh john scudamore viscount scudamore of slygoe richard lumley viscount lumley of waterford ( and baron lumley in england ) thomas smith viscount strangford philip wenman viscount wenman of tuam carol molineux viscount molineux of marybourgh william fairfax viscount fairfax of emmely james butler viscount ikerine thomas fits-williams viscount fits-williams of merion lewis odempsi viscount glanmaleyra brien cockain viscount cullen tracy viscount tracy francis smith viscount carington of barrefore ( and baron carington in england ) richard bulkley viscount bulkley of cashells william brounker viscount brounker of lyons richard ogle viscount ogle of catherlough peircy butler viscount galmoy henry barnwell viscount kingland henry boyle viscount shannon john skeffington viscount masarene hugh cholmondley viscount cholmondley of kellis evelyn fanshaw viscount fanshaw of dromore william dungan viscount claine daniel o brien viscount clare lewis trevor viscount dungannon charles boyle viscount dungaruan ( and beareth the title in england of lord clifford ) maurice berkley viscount fitzharding of beerhaven william caulfeild viscount charlemount foliut wingfeild viscount powers-court murrogh boyle viscount blesington arthur forbes viscount granard george lane viscount lanesbrough john dawney viscount downe richard persons viscount ros bishops ( xviii ) dr. anthony doppin l. b. of meath dr. william morton l. b. of kildare dr. hugh gore l. b. of waterford dr. edward wolley l. b. of clonfert dr. john hudson l. b. of elphin dr. richard boyle l. b. of fernes and laghlin dr. roger boyle l. b. of clogher dr. essex digby l. b. of dromore dr. thomas otway l. b. of ossory dr. ezekiel hopkins l. b. of derry dr. thomas hacket l. b. of down dr. john roan l. b. of killallow dr. edward wettenal l. b. of corke dr. simon digby l. b. of limericke dr. patricke sheridan l. b. of cloyne dr. tenison l. b. of killalla dr. smith l. b. of rapho dr. william sheridan l. b. of kilmore the bishop of meath in respect of his bishoprick is always a privy counseller , and he and the bishop of kildare have constantly precedency before the rest of the bishops who take place according to the seniority of their consecrations . barons ( xxxii ) francis bermingham lord bermingham of athenry almericus ceurcy lord courcy of kingsale william fitz-morrice lord of kerry and lixnaw randolph flemming lord slane thomas st. laurence lord of howth robert barnwell baron of trimleston christopher plunket lord of dunsany peircy butler lord of dunboyne brien fitz-patricke lord of upper ossory matthew plunket lord of lowth william bourke lord bourke of castle-connel theobald butler lord of cahire toby bourke lord bourke of brittas steward lord steward of castle steward foliot lord foliot of balishannon william maynard lord maynard of wickelow ( and baron maynard in england ) richard george lord george of dandalk simon digby lord digby of geashil william fitz-williams lord fitz-williams of lifford . henry blany lord blany of monaghan henry herbert lord herbert of castle-island ( and baron herbert of chirbury in england ) john calnert lord baltimore william brereton lord brereton of laghlin henry hare lord colrane benedict sherard lord sherard of letrim claud hamilton lord hamilton of strabane francis hawly lord hawly of donamore william allington lord allington of killard john king lord kingston richard coot lord colonel richard barry lord santry altham anesly lord altham a list of all the shires cityes and burroughs of ireland which make returns of parliament with the number how many each place returns comitatus armagh 2 burrough of armagh 2 bur. of charlemount 2   6 com. antrim 2 bur. of belfast 2 bur. of carickfergus 2 bur. of lishbon 2 bur. of antrim 2   10 com. catherlaugh 2 bur. catherlaugh 2 bur. old leighlin 2   6 com. corke 2 city of corke 2 bur. of mallow 2 bur. of baltimore 2 bur. of cloghnekilty 2 bur. of bandon bridge 2 bur. of kingsale 2 bur. of younghall 2   16 com. cavan 2 bur. of cavan 2 bur. of belturbet 2   6 com. clare 2 bur. of inish 2   4 com. dublin 2 city of dublin 2 university of dublin 3 bur. of new-castle 2 bur. of swords 2   11 com. downe 2 bur. of downe 2 bur. of newtown 2 bur. of newry 2 bur. of balkillaleagh 2 bur. of bangor 2 bur. of hilsborough 2   14 com. donegal 2 bur. of lifford 2 bur. of ballyshannon 2 bur. of killbeggs 2 bur. of donegal 2 bur. of sir johns town 2   12 villa . de drogheda 2   2 com. gallway 2 bur. of gallway 2 bur. of athenry 2 bur. of tuam 2   8 com. fermanagh 2 bur. of eniskilling 2   4 com. kerry 2 bur. of traley 2 bur. of dingleicough 2 bur. of ardfart 2   8 com. kilkenny 2 civit. kilkenny 2 bur. of cullen 2 bur. of thomas town 2 bur. of gowran 2 bur. of enisteoge 2 bur. of knoctopher 2 bur. of st. kennis 2   16 com. kildare 2 bur. of kildare 2 bur. of naas 2 bur. of athy 2   8 com. regis 2 bur. of philips town 2 bur. of banagher 2   6 com. letrim 2 bur. of james town 2 bur. of carricdrumrasck 2   6 com. lymerick 2 civit. lymerick 2 bur. of kilmallock 2 bur. of askeaton 2   8 com. longford 2 town of longford 2 bur. of sir johns town 2 bur. of lanesborough 2   8 com. lowth 2 bur. carlingford 2 bur. of dundalke 2 bur. of atherdee 2   8 com. london-derry 2 civit. london-derry 2 bur. of colraine 2 bur. of limauddy 2   8 com. mayo 2 bur. of castlebarr 2   4 com. meath 2 bur. of trym 2 bur. of kells 2 bur. of navan 2 bur. of athbay 2 bur. of duleeke 2 bur. of ratooth 2   14 com. monaghan 2 bur. of monaghan 2   4 com. reginae 2 bur. of ballinakin 2 bur. of maryborough 2   6 com. roscomon 2 bur. of roscomon 2 bur. of tulske 2   6 com. sligoe 2 bur. sligoe 2   4 com. tipperary 2 bur. of clonnel 2 bur. of fetherd 2 town of cashells 2   8 com. tyrone 2 bur. of donegal 2 town of clogher 2 bur. of agber 2 bur. of strabane 2   10 com. waterford 2 civit. waterford 2 bur. of dungaruan 2 bur. of lismore 2 bur. of tallow 2   10 com. westmeath 2 bur. of athlone 2 bur. of fower 2 bur. of kilbegan 2 bur. of molingra 2   10 com. wicklow 2 bur. of wicklow 2 bur. of caresford 2 bur. of baltinglass 2   8 com. wexford 2 town of wexford 2 town of ross 2 bur. of eniscourthy 2 bur. of feathard 2 bur. of banow 2 bur. of cloghmaine 2 bur. of tughman 2 bur. of newborough 2   18 the total of parliament men returned in the whole kingdom of ireland . 275 a catalogue of books printed at the theater in oxford , since the first printing there which was in the year 1672 to 1682 ( with several others ) and sold in london , by moses pitt at the angel against the great north-door of st. pauls-church . 1682. in folio . bible for churches with chronology and an index . the english atlas vol. 1st . containing the description of the north-pole , as also muscovy , poland , sweden and denmork . the second vol. of the atlas containing half the empire of germany . the fourth vol. containing the 17 rovinces . and the third vol. containing the other half of the empire of germany . now in the press . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive pandectae canonum s. s. apostolorum & conciliorum ab ecclesia graeca receptorum , nec non canonicarum s. s. patrum epistolarum una cum sholijs antiquorum singulis annexis , & scriptis alijs huc spectantibus , quorum plurima e bibliothecae bodleianae , aliarumque mss. codicibus nunc primum edita , reliqua cum iisdem mss. summa fide & diligentia collata . totum opus in duos tomos divisum , gul. beveregius ecclesiae angl. presbyter recensuit , prolegomenis munivit , & annot. auxit . catalogus impressorum librorum bibliothecae bodleianae in acad. oxon. historia universitatis oxoniensis duobus voluminibus comprehensa . autore antonio a wood. oxonia illustrata , sive omnium celeberrimae istius univesitatis collegiorum , aularum &c. scenographia per dav. loggan . plantarum umbelliferarum distributio nova per tabulas cognationis & affinitatis , ex libro naturae observata & detecta , aut. rob. morrison , prof. botanico : plantarum historiae universalis oxoniensis pars 2d . seu herbarum distributio nova , per tabulas cognationis & affinitatis ex libro naturae observata & detecta . autore rob. morrison medico & professore botanico regio 1680. the history of lapland english. marmora oxoniensia , ex arundelianis , seldenian is , aliisque conflata , &c. cum notis lydiati & aliorum . per humph. prideaux . the natural history of oxford-shire , being an essay towards the natural history of england . by r. plot , l. l. d. theatri oxoniensis encaenia , sive comitia philologica , jul. 6. anno 1677. celebrata . dr. pocock's commentary on micha and malachi . iamblichus chalcidensis de mysteriis aegyptiorum graec. lat. interprete t. gale. regis aelfredi vita , cum notis . a short view of the late troubles in england from the year 1637 to 1660 by sir william dugdale kt. garter king of arms ( this book was presented the queens majesty by the university of cambridge when they entertained the king and queen in the year 1681 ) . d. cypriani opera notis illustrata . in the press . gualteri charletoni m. d. onomasticon zoicon , editio secunda , priori longe auctior . josephus gr. lat. cum notis . in the press . irenaej opera . gr. lat. provinciales constitutiones angliae , per guil. lyndwood . hugonis grotij opera omnia theologica intres tomos divisa . lond. 1679. labbaei glossaria latino-graeca & graeco-latina . paris 1679. huetii ( pet. dan ) demonstratio evangelica ad serenis . delphinum paris 1679. episcopij ( simonis ) opera theologica cum horis hebraicis & talmudicis in acta apostolorum . 1678. charras pharmacopoea , galenical & chymical . websters display of witchcraft , wherein is affirm'd that there are many sorts of deceivers and imposters . 1677. the history of the council of ttent written by patre paolo , translated into english , to which is added his life . the journal of st. amour dr. of sorbonne , concerning the five famous propositions . johan . scotus de divisione naturae . de ratione ac jure finiendi controversias ecclesiae disputatio authore herb. thorndike . theses theologicae variis temporibus in academia sedanensi editae , & ad disputandum propositae . authore ludovico le blanc verbi divini ministro & theologiae professore . in quibus exponitur sententia doctorum ecclesiae romanae , & protestantium . 1675. price 20 s. dr. henry hammond's sermons . 1675. a table of ten thousand square numbers , by john pell d. d. sticht , 1 s. 6 d. tuba stentoro-phonica , or the speaking-trumpet ; being an instrument of excellent use both at sea and land ; by sir samuel morland . price of the book 1 s. of the instrument 2 l. 5 s. catalogus librorum in regionibus transmarinis nuper edirorum . the commentaries and life of julius caesar , containing his wars in gallia , and the civil wars betwixt him and pompey , with the notes of clement edmonds . 1677. 16 s. taverneirs travels into persia , the east indies , tounquin &c. vol. 2. in quarto . several english bibles with the liturgy , apocrypha , singing psalms and chronology . icones & descriptiones rariorum plantarum siciliae , melitae , galliae & italiae . autore paulo boccone . common prayer-books . theophilus and philodoxus , 4 controversial dialogues , of prayer in an unkown tongue . the half communion . the worshipping of images . the invocation of saints . by gilb. cole d. d. the divine authority of scripture , a sermon by dr. allestree . the character of the last days , a sermon by dr. johu fell lord bishop of oxford . tractatus maimonidis de donis pauperum , cum versione latina & notis hum. prideaux art. mag . ex aed . chr. historia jacobitarum in aegypto , lybia , nubia , aethiopia tota , & parte cypri insulae habitantium , per jos. abudacnum . a view and survey of the dangerous errors to church and state in mr. hobbs his book entituled leviathan , by edward e. of clarendon . votum pro pace christiana autore an. sall. d. d. benefits of our saviour to mankind . a sermon before the house of peers dec. 22d , 1680. by john lord bishop of oxford . a discourse of convex glasses . dr. willis de anima brutorum . pharmaceutice rationalis vol. 2. claudii ptolomaei harmonica gr. lat. ex recensione & cum notis joh. wallis s. t. d. geom : prof. archimedis opera , apollonii pergaei conicorum libri iiii. theodosii sphaerica , methodo nova illustrata & succincte demonstrata . per isaac . barrow . lectiones geometricae per isaac . barrow . apologia pro ecclesiae patribus adversus johannem dalleum de usu patrum auth. math. scrivener . beveregii codex canonum ecclesiae primitivae vindicatae . hereboordi ( adriani ) melitemata philosophica amsterdam 1680. vita selectorum aliquot virorum , qui doctrina dignitate aut pietate inclaruere london 1681. history of tyths , by john selden london 1618. johannis bonae ( cardinalis ) opera theologica 1677 16 s. dr. pell's introduction to algebra 7 s. nich. mercatoris logarithmo-technia , sive methodus construendi logarithmos , 1668 & jac. gregorii exercitationes geometricae , 1668 2 s. snellii typhis batavus , ludg. bat. 1624 5 s. dr. thomas jacomb , on the eighth chapter of the romans 8 s. dr. wallis opera mechanica , 22 s. hieronymi mercurialis de : arte gymnastica libri sex cum figuris , 1672. j. crellii ethica aristotelica & christiana , 16 s. huic editioni praeter praefixam auctoris vitam , accedit cathechesis ecclesiarum polonicarum , a jo. crellio , jona schlethtingio , m. kuaro , & a wissowatio recognita atque emendata , casmop . 1681. joan. binchii mellificium theologicum , 16 s. holy fast of lent defended , 1667 6 d. a looking-glass for all new converts , 1667 1 s. there is newly published two recantation-sermons , ( preached at the french church in the savoy ) by two converted romanists , mr. de la motte , late preacher of the order of the carmelites , and mr. de luzanzy , licenciate in divinity ? wherein the corrupt doctrines of the church of rome are laid open and confuted . both printed in french and english. a modest survey of the most material things in a discourse , called the naked truth , 6 d. marshal turene's funeral sermon 1677. jer. horrocii . angl. opusc. astron. 1673. an historical vindication of the church of england in point of schism , by sir rob. twisden . dr. tillotson's sermon before the king , april 18 1675. dr. wilkins's two sermons before the king , march 7 1669 and feb. 7 1670. dr. jo. tillotson's rule of faith , 1676. coopers hill , latine redditum ad nobilissimum dominum gulielmum dominum cavendish , honoratissimi domini gulielmi comitis devonioe filium unicum st. cyprian of the unity of the church . in octavo . tho. lydiati canones chronologici , nec non series summorum magistratuum & triumphorum romanorum . saul and samuel at endor , or the new ways of salvation and service , which usually tempt men to rome , and detain them there , truly represented and refuted by dan. brevint d. d. with the vindication of his missale rom. the second impression . a paraphrase and annotations upon the epistles of st. paul to the romans , corinthians and hebrews . the ladies calling . the government of the tongue . the art of contentment . the lively oracles given to us , or the christians birth-right and duty in the custody and use of the holy scripture : these four by the author of the whole duty of man. zenophon cyrop . graec. a short dissertation concernining free-schools , being an essay towards a history of the free-schools of england , by christopher wase of st. mary hall oxon. superiour beadle of the civil law in the same university . epicteti enchiridion , cebetis tabulae , theophrasti caract . gr. l. cum notis 1680. parecbolae , sive excerpta e corpore statutorum univ. oxon. &c. m. fabii quintiliani declamationes undeviginti , cum ejusdem ( utnonnullis visum ) dialogo de causis corruptae eloquentiae , quae omnia notis illustrantur . nemesii philosophi & episcopi● de natura hominis lib. unus , denuo recognitus & manuscriptorum collatione in integrum restitutus , annotationibusque insuper illustratus , graec. lat. west barbary , or a short narrative of the revolutions of the kingdom of fez and morocco , with an account of the present customs , sacred , civil , and domestic , by l. addison . homeri ilias , cum scholiis didymi gr. theocritus cum scholiis graecis . aratus cum scholiis gr. suetonius tranquillus , cum notis . de ecclesiae graecae statu hodierno epist. per tho. smith s. s. th. bac. gul. oughtredi opuscula hactenus inedita . caii plinii caecilii secundi epistolae & oratio panegyrica , cum notis illustratae . rhetores selecti , gr , lat , demetrius philereus , de elocutione ; tiberius rhetor , de schematibus demosthenis ; anonymus sophista , de rhetorica ; severi alexandrini ethiopoeiae . demetrium emendavit , reliquos e mss. 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for the rendring a rational account , both of the frame and the several changes of the mass of the earth , as also the various productions of the same , by nich. steno , 1671 1 s. 3 d. the poetical histories , being a compleat collection of all the stories necessary for a perfect understanding of the greek and latin poets , and other ancient authors , written originally in french , by the learned jesuit p. galtruchius . now englished and enriched with observations concerning the gods worshipped by our ancestors in this island , by the phaenicians and syrians in asia ; with many useful notes and occasional proverbs , gathered out of the best authors : unto which are added two treatises ; one of the curiosities of old rome , and of the difficult names relating to the affairs of that city ; the other containing the most remarkable hieroglyphicks of aegypt . the third edition , with additions . by marius d. assigny , b. d. 3 s. 6 d. an essay about the origine and virtues of gems , by the 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ruyter , 1677 5 s. a vindication of the primitive church and diocessan episcopacy , in answer to mr. baxters church history by h. morice fellow of jesus col. oxon. a catechism . hugo grotius de jure belli ac pacis cum notis 1680. in duo decimo . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . novi testamenti lib. omnes . accesserunt parallela scripturae loca , nec non variantes lectiones ex plus 100 mss. cod. & antiquis versionibus collectae . de secretione animali cogitata , aut. gilb. cole . m. d. h. grotius de veritate relig. christi . st. clementis epist. gr. lat. cum notis . cornelii nepotis vitae excellent . imper. collat. 4 mss. recognitae . accessit aristomenis vita , ex pausania . ars rationis , maxima ex parte ad mentem nominalium . lib. 3. guil. lilii grammatica latina , additis subinde observationibus utiliss . ex despaut . alvar. sanct. sciop . voss. busbeo , & quotquo nuper scripsere , gram. latinis . the education of young gentlemen , in two parts . the christian sacrament and sacrifice by way of 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voyage d'italie , de dalmatie , de graece & du levant fait in aux annes , 1675 , & 1676. par jacob spoon , d. m. et george wheeler gentlehomme anglois , 3 vol. 1678. abrege de la philosophiae de gassendi en viii toms , par f. bernier lyon , 1678. a paradise of delights , or an elixir of comforts offered to believers , in two discourses , the first on heb. 6. 17 , 18. the second on rom. 8. 32. by robert wyne 1 s. grotii sophompaneas . gronovius in livium . primrose ars pharmaceutica . schook de pace . suetonius . swalve alcali . severini synopsis chyrurgiae . terentii flores . trelcatii loci communes . balduinus de calceo & nigronius de caliga veterum . accesserunt ex q. sept. fl. tertulliani , cl. salmasii & alb. rubenii scriptis plurima ejusdem argumenti , 1667. ottonis tachenii hyppocrates chymicus , 1671. theodori kerckringii , d. m. commentarius in currum triumphalem antimonii basilii valentini a se latinitate donatum , 1671. jo. pincieri m. d. aenigmatum libri tres cum solutionibus . 1655. francisci redi experimenta circa res diversas naturales , speciatim illas quae ex indiis adferuntur , 1675. aulus gellius . besterfeldus redivivus . herls wisdoms tripos . wilkins beauty of providence . gramatica rationis . bishop andrews devotions gr. lat. athenagorae apologia pro christianis & de resurréctione mortuorum gr. lat. lactantius de mortibus persecutorum & passionibus s. perpetuae & felicitatis . several other antient books and ms. preparing for the press . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a36790-e1160 * * i was assured by mr. william burton of lindley in leicestershire that mr. erdswike did to him acknowledge , he was the author of that discourse , though he gave leave to mr. wyrley ( who had been bred up under him ) to publish it in his own name . this mr. erdswike from pulick records and antient evidences compiled a brief , but elaborate work , of the antiquities of staffordshire , as yet not made publick by the press , which is now in the hands of an eminent and learned gentleman of that county , walter chetwind esq † † see more of him in the institution of the garter of el. ashmole esq. * * this was done in a poem then published in print by the say'd mr. wyrley an . 1592. of these two persons , but writ by mr. erdswike . * * this jaques d'arvell was a wealthy citizen of gant , and had great interest and authority in flanders under k. edw. 3. in opposition to the french , as the hist , of that time do amply shew . * * viz in the poem mentioned in the margent of pag. 1. † † such as lie cross-legg'd are those who were in the wars of the holy land , or vowed to go and were prevented by death . in the collegiate church of houden in yorkshire lyeth a fair cross-leg'd figure of a man in armour of male ; on whose sheild is the arms of metham of metham a worshipful family in those parts ; as also another of his wife lying close by him , with her leggs also a cross ; by which it may seem that she accompanied him in one of these expeditions . * * this must be understood of subjects ; for k. edward the confessor did use a seale . * * taken out of his papers in the cottonian library . * * henr. spelmanni aspilagia impr. lond. 1654 pag. 140. * * the theatre of honour &c. by andrew favine a french man , translated into english , printed at london an . 1623. lib. 1. cap. 1. pag. 11. a a any kind of partitions . b b flanching bearing upon flanches . c c partitions in base of any sort . d d placing something over all . e e a forme of dancetty . f f turned and counterchanged . g g all sorts of ermins and vairy . h h lozenges rarouranal pierced . i i with the bend. k k double-cotized . l l embatelled m m chardg'd with six leaves of any sort . the abridgement or summarie of the scots chronicles with a short description of their originall, from the comming of gathelus their first progenitor out of græcia into egypt. and their comming into portingall and spaine, and of their kings and gouernours in spaine, ireland and albion, now called scotland, (howbeit the whole number are not extant) with a true chronologie of all their kings. their reignes, deaths and burials, from fergusius the first king of scotland, vntill his royall maiestie, now happily raigning ouer all great brittaine and ireland, and all the isles to them appertaining. with a true description and diuision of the whole realme of scotland, and of the principall cities, townes, abbies, fortes, castles, towers and riuers, and of the commodities in euery part thereof, and of the isles in generall, with a memoriall of the most rare and wonderfull things in scotland. by iohn monipennie. monipennie, john. 1612 approx. 255 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 65 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a07619 stc 18014 99899031 99899031 15691 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a07619) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 1569) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 996:12, 1999:11) the abridgement or summarie of the scots chronicles with a short description of their originall, from the comming of gathelus their first progenitor out of græcia into egypt. and their comming into portingall and spaine, and of their kings and gouernours in spaine, ireland and albion, now called scotland, (howbeit the whole number are not extant) with a true chronologie of all their kings. their reignes, deaths and burials, from fergusius the first king of scotland, vntill his royall maiestie, now happily raigning ouer all great brittaine and ireland, and all the isles to them appertaining. with a true description and diuision of the whole realme of scotland, and of the principall cities, townes, abbies, fortes, castles, towers and riuers, and of the commodities in euery part thereof, and of the isles in generall, with a memoriall of the most rare and wonderfull things in scotland. by iohn monipennie. monipennie, john. [4], 100, [20] p. printed at brittaines bursse by iohn budge [and simon stafford], [london] : 1612. "a short description of the vvesterne iles of scotland .." (caption title) has separate register, and colophon reading: printed at london by simon stafford. some copies have the imprint date altered by hand to 1614. copy at reel 996:12 has altered date. reproductions of originals in: harvard university library (reel 996:12) and henry e. huntington library and art gallery (reel 1999:11). imperfect: reproduction on reel 1999:11 lacks all after p. 100. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database 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illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng nobility -scotland -early works to 1800. scotland -kings and rulers -early works to 1800. scotland -description and travel -early works to 1800. scotland -history -early works to 1800. hebrides (scotland) -description and travel -early works to 1800. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-04 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the abridgement or summarie of the scots chronicles , with a short description of their originall , from the comming of gathelvs their first progenitor out of graecia into egypt . and their comming into portingall and spaine , and of their kings and gouernours in spaine , ireland and albion , now called scotland , ( howbeit the whole number are not extant ) with a true chronologie of all their kings . their reignes , deaths and burials , from fergvsivs the first king of scotland , vntill his royall maiestie , now happily raigning ouer all great brittaine and ireland , and all the isles to them appertaining . with a true description and diuision of the whole realme of scotland , and of the principall cities , townes , abbies , fortes , castles , towers and riuers , and of the commodities in euery part thereof , and of the isles in generall , with a memoriall of the most rare and wonderfull things in scotland . by iohn monipennie . printed at brittaines bursse by iohn budge . 1614. to the most high and mightie monarch , iames by the grace of god , king of great britane , france , and ireland , defender of the faith , &c. it may be by many iustly ( most gracious soueraigne ) imputed to me for no small presumption , to present to your royall maiestie , a prince of so great learning and excellent iudgement , these simple fruits of my vnskilfull endeuours taken in this short abridgement . in most humble and obedient manner , i do preferre vnto your highnesse these my weake and vnlearned labours , according to my ability , which how vnworthy they be of so great a princely fauour , as wel for the meannesse of me the writer , as for the plainnesse and rudenesse of the stile , yet if for the worthinesse of the matter , and of your maiesties great accustomed clemency , vouchsafe then your highnesse fauourable regard , they shall be as fortunate , as if they had beene composed by greater & more learned men , wherein briefly ●…ay be seene , the great and infinite mercy of god towards your royall person , that it hath pleased his superexcellent wisedome by his mighty power to preserue your highnesse ancient kingdome of scotland , vnconquered vnder the empire and gouernment of one hundreth and sixe kings , your maiesties royall progenitors : and in speciall when almost the whole world was brought vnder the romane empire by the sword . also to reduce in one peaceable monarch , these ancient mighty landes & many ilands , which haue bene diuided in many seuerall kingdomes , one of britons seuen of saxons , one of scots , one of pictes , one of orkenay , and sixe of ireland , : also some of the valiant and illustre noble actes of your highnesse most royall and ancient progenitors , and of their raignes , liues , deathes , and burials . accept them most mightie monarch , i most humbly beseech your royall maiesty , in your highnesse gracious protection , and according to my bounden dutie incessantly with all humility , i will pray the great god of all might and power ( to his eternall glory ) long to preserue your royall maiestie , and your gracious queene in blessed health and peace , to raigne ouer these your highnesse great vnited kingdomes , and to enlarge the same , and your maiesties most royall and hopefull posterity to the worlds end . your maiesties most humble , and obedient subiect , iohn monipenny . the abridgment or svmmary of the scots chonicle . with a short description of their originall from the comming of gathelvs , their progenitour out of graecia into egypt , and of their kings and gouernours in spaine , ireland , and albion : ( howbeit the whole number are not extant ) with a true chronologie of all their kings , lineally descended from fergvsivs the first king of scotland , vnto his sacred maiestie , now happily reigning ouer all great britaine , ireland , and all the isles to them appertaining . gathelvs son of cecrops , king of athens , by his insolence made many inuasions , in macedonia , and achaia , in graecia . and because he could not suffer correction , he with many valiant grecians came into egypt , & followed pharao in his warres against the aethiopians ; who with great cruelty had wasted the most part of egypt , vnto memphis the principall citie of that realme ; pharao with support of gathelus vanquished and ouercame the aethiopians in a most dangerous battell . and gathelus valiantly vanquished and wanne their principall citie called meroe . after this great victory , he being a lusty person , strong of body , and of a great spirit , wan great fauour with the king and his familiars , that the kings daughter scota was giuen in marriage vnto gathelus , with many lands . shortly after pharao died , and another pharao succeeded ; who opprest the israelites with great seruitude and tyranny . gathelus abhorring such cruelty , conferring with moyses ; also hauing respons of the oracles of egypt , was foreseene of the plagues to come vpon egypt , made prouision for all things necessary for sayling , and tooke shipping with his wife scota , his valiant grecians , and many egyptians from the riuer nilus , the yeare of the world 2453. after long sayling and trauell he arriued at the land of numidia , being stopped to land , he pulled vp sailes , and with dangerous and painfull passage through the straites , he landed in one part of spaine then called lusi●…nia , by his arriuall called portgathel , now portingall : at his landing the olde inhabitants came against him with arrayed battell , whom he vanquished . he builded one citie vpon the riuer munda , then called brachare , now called barsolona . then after he came into the north part of spaine , now called gal●…ia ; where he builded a citie called brigance , now compostella , where he reigned with princely dignity , and instituted lawes , and named his people scottes , after his wife scota : for she had born vnto him two sonnes twinnes , hiber and hemicvs . he brought with him from egypt the marble fatall chaire , which was transported to ireland , and to albion , now called scotland ; wherein all their kings were crowned , vntil the time of king edward the first , who transported the whole ancient regall monuments of scotland , with the marble fatall chaire to westminster , where it remaineth to this day : the scots shall brooke that realme , as natiue ground , ( if words faile not ) where euer this chaire is found : gathelus sitting in his marble chaire within this citie of brigance , gouerned his people with princelydignity peaceably , and instituted lawes . and seeing his people encrease with such great multitude , and not willing to violate the bande , made with the old inhabitants , being informed by diuers expert explorators , that there was an isle opposite to spaine on the north , with a rude people inhabited , hauing no lawes nor manners . therefore he brought all the shippes he could get with expedition to the next sea port , with sufficient prouision , with hiber and hemicus , accompanied with valiant warriours , and ordeyned hiber to be admirall to passe the said isle , which they obeyed : & hoisting sayles with fortunate windes , arriued the fift day after in the said island . immediately landing , their people then pitched their tents on the next trenches . the rude inhabitants amazed at the arriuing and landing of such a multitude of warriours , fledde with their cattell and goods into their cauernes . hiber commaunding certaine of his warriours to passe forth ; and if the inhabitants would bee willingly subdued , no slaughter to be committed vpon them . the inhabitants being brought as prisoners to the admirall , and seeing him mercifull , rendred themselues and their goods : and he receiued them with such beneuolence , that he suffered the olde inhabitants to encrease with his people , vnder one name and lawe , and called the land hibernia , now ireland . hiber returning into spaine , left his brother himecus with a strong garrison of valiant warriours , with wiues and children to inhabite the land , and to holde the same vnder obedience and subiection . at his returne into spain his father being deceased , he succeeded king , and augmented his empire , and conquered sundry lands from the spaniards , hauing with him at all times a strong guard of valiant men . by his puissance and ch●…alrie he subdued the people in such manner , that he was holden in great estimation and reuerence , that they were constrayned to seeke his peace ; the land being named after hiber , hiberia : the scots and olde inhabitants grew vnder one name and bloud with such tender and friendly beneuolence ( not remembring of old iniuries ) each one willing to defend his neighbour ( as well in peace as warres ) as his brother or father . of hiber descended by long progression , a great posterity lineally succeeding , amongst whom were many noble and famous kings ; howbeit the whole number of them are not extant . himecvs gouerned ireland in great felicity iustice , and tranquility , both the scots and the olde inhabitants during his life time . immediatly after his decease , arose an odious controuersie betweene the scottes and the olde inhabitants for the gouernement , euery nation contending to haue a gouernour of their owne blood , which contention enduring long time , at last they created two gouernors , betweene whom was continuall battels and great slaughter on eyther side , through ambition and burning desire to be sole gouernor of all ireland . after long and dangerous battels , the two people broken with sundry displeasures , were constrained to take peace ; howbeit the same endured but a short time , each one of them pursuing other with battell ; and yet they dwelt many yeares together , by enterchange of peace and warres , while at the last the scots suffering many iniuries , sent their embassador to metellivs , who was then king of the scottes in spaine , desiring to haue support against the old inhabitants of ireland , declaring them to be a rude wilde people , impatient to suffer any empire aboue them ; so that the scots can haue no tranquility , vnlesse the said people were the more speedily tamed and subdued . this foresaid message was the more acceptable to the king metellius : for it concerned the common-wealth both of the scots nation in spaine and ireland , descending ( by long progression ) of our lineage and blood , and willingly satisfying the aforesaid ambassadours request , trusting the same to be no lesse honour and glory to himselfe as profite to his friends . therefore the king sent his three sonnes hermonevs , ptolomevs , and hibert with a great armie of valiant men into ireland , where they with right dangerous battels vanquished the olde inhabitants , and brought them vnder subiection . hermonens returning into spaine , left his two brethren to gouerne the land , who gouerned the same long time after in great tranquility and iustice , ins●…ituting lawes , and instructed the priests to make insence and sacrifice in the same manner as the egyptians vsed : so both the people encreased many yeares in great felicity , peace and riches during the gouernement of ptolomeus and hibert , and long after their decease . but too great prosperity engendreth euill maners , and causeth men to worke often displeasures vpon themselues , finding no forraigne enemies to inuade them at home . the people after long peace were diuided for the gouernement , contending for the same with great rigour and slaughter on both sides , vntill the one had almost vtterly destroyed the other , if they had not been reconciled by a noble man , named thanaus , principall ambassadour , sent by the king , then raigning ouer the scots in spaine ( reioycing of the felicity succeeding to his friends ) and to cause them by his prudent consultation , to encrease together vnder one minde . thanaus being a prudent man , bearing nuturall affection to both the parties , perswading them at sundry conuentions to remoue all contention , and to elect one ( whom they thought most expedient ) to be their king , and to be obedient to him in all their gouernment . through this perswasion the whole people had such feruent desire to haue one king , that all olde iniuries being forgotten , they appointed thanaus to elect a king , whom he thought most expedient ) and hee seeing their mindes willing to haue a nuturall king , declaring to them that there is in spaine a noble prince of great seuerity and iustice , named simon brek , well accustomed with your lawes , and lineally descended from the ancient king metellius , whom he thought most fittest to be their king. the whole people hearing the name of simon brek , were well content to haue him their king , because that name was esteemed very fortunate in those dayes . then after with consent of the whole people , ambassadours were sent into spaine , to request the said simon to come into ireland , to be their king. hee knowing by graue aduisement the intent of the ambassadours , prouid●…d a great fleete of ships with all things necessary , and finally by prosperous windes arriued in ireland , where hee was solemnly receiued , and crowned in the chaire of marble , which he brought out of spaine , esteemed as a most rich jewel in those dayes ; from the beginning of the world 3314. from the floud of noah 1658. from the building of rome 102. before the birth of christ 651. he reigned with great felicity peaceably forty yeares , being specially counsailed by the aforesaid thanaus , to whom he gaue sundry lands , lying in the south part of ireland , beside the riuer birsus , which lands are now called dowdall , where hee dwelt with the people he brought with him out of the famous citie brigance , now called compostella . they were called brigandes ; of whom after by processe of time descended many valiant and noble men , who came with fergusius the first king in scotland , by whom al the lands now called galloway , were then called brigance , whose inhabitants were euer full of manhood and strongest enemies against romanes , britaines , and pickes : simon deceased , his sonne fandvf succeeded king : after fanduf succeeded ethion : after ethion succeeded glavcvs : after glaucus succeeded nathasil : after nathasil succeeded rothesay . rothesay was the first king that brought scots with him into albion . the first isle that he inhabited he called after his owne name rothesay , the remanent isles were called hebredes : after hiber the eldest sonne of gathelus . rothesay hearing the death of his father nathasil , returned into ireland , and was there crowned king. the yeare that scots were brought out of ireland into albion , was from the empire of simon brek in ireland 216. yeares : from the beginning of the world 3530. the scots spread in sundry parts of albion , lying farre north , and inhabited many isles . the first part that they tooke possession of was named ardgael , from gathelus , which now is called ardgile . they being diuided into sundry tribes , elected certaine captaines to euery tribe , to gouerne them both in peace and warre , hauing the name of their captaine in great reuerence , swearing by their names ; which custome was long obserued in those isles and the high lands . then after about 150. yeares , a banished people named pickes , came forth of denmarke to search a dwelling place , and after they were inhibited to land in fraunce , britaine , and ireland . they landed in albion , first in orknay , of olde called the olde realme of the pickes . the seas betweene orknay and caithnes is called pentland firth , & the lands now called loutheane ( was of old called pentland ) after the name of the pickes . then after they came into caithnes , ros , murray , merms , angus , fiffe and loutheaue , and expelled all the olde inhabitants . they were a ciuill people right ingenuous andcrafty both in peace and warres . after their planting in the aforesaid parts , they elected a king to gouerne them , and hold them in iustice , and made great policy in building of munitions , townes , and castles . and because they knew all people , without issue to succeede , should perish , they sent their ambassadours to the scots , to haue their daughters in marriage , shewing ( though they were of strange blood ) they should not be so smally regarded , seeing they with no lesse prudence then manhood haue sustained incredible dangers both by sea and land . and now lately conquered ( through the beneuolence of the gods ) right plenteous lands with such peace and tranquility , that no other people may claime them by reason : trusting surely ( if the gods support them ) by their owne industry to be equall to any their neighbors , both in peace and warre . further if the scots condescended to their honourable desires , it might be they encreasing together ( so strong vnder one bloud ) that they might resist the fury of their enemies the better , when it hapned them to be inuaded . this ambassage was not pleasant to the scots at the first , thinking it vnworthy to haue any society or marriage with an vnknowne and banished people : but by graue aduisement , and being profoundly resolued , and finding themselues as yet not able to resist the force of the britaine 's their olde enemies , they determined to giue their daughters to the pickes in marriage , and to haue a band of peace with them , with conditions that euery one of them shall enioy the lands which perteyned vnto them before the marriage , and to concurre together with their whole puissance , as oft as they were inuaded by enemies . any that did offence to any of them should be reputed as enemy to them both . and as often as the crowne of the pictes should come in question for lacke of an heire , the king to be elected of the neerest of the womans bloud . these conditions accepted on all sides , the scots gaue their daughters in marriage to the pictes . the britaines suspecting this marriage , and dreading the encreasing of this confederate people vnder one bloud in short time , that neyther might the britaines for the time present , nor their posterity resist the puissance of these two vnited people . therfore being minded to destroy them both , and to inuade them with fraudulent sleights , rather then with any force of battell . and sending their ambassadorus to the pictes , allured the pictes to violate their band with the scots . by great perswasion & crafty dealing of the britains , the band was dissolued ; & mouing occasion of battel against the scots , commāded by general edict , no scots to be found in their boūds at a prefixed day , vnder paine of death . the day being expired , all scots within their bounds were killed without mercy , as breakers of their lawes . the scots impatient to sustai●…e such iniuries , killed as many of the pictes ; so there followed continuall killing and murder on all sides , not regarding affinity , bloud , time , nor pl●…ce . in this manner the peace dissolued , the pictes denounced battell to the scots : then after followed continuall incursions and inuasions on eyther parties . the scots assembling in ardgiel , were sufficiently resolued , that the battell that they were to holde , was not onely against the pictes , but also against the britaines . therefore it was agreed , to send their ambassadors to their ancient progenitors and friends in ireland , to haue their support and counsaile in this most dangerous matter , and for that plurality of captaines ( as often occurreth ) raiseth sedition : the best is to elect one to haue empire aboue the rest , by whose manhood and counsaile , they might defend their liues and liberties , against a false and periured people , inuading them without any occasion . the ambassadours being directed to ireland , complained of the wicked offence done by the pictes , and desired support . ferqvhardvs ( then being king of the scots in ireland ) greatly moued for the displeasure done to his friends in albion , sent his sonne . fergvsivs a wise and valiant prince , with many valiant souldiers , and to giue them the more esperance , and assurance of permanent and good fortune , hee sent with them the fatall marble chaire . fergusius was the more pleasantly receiued by the scots of albion , because their common-wealth approched to great danger , by a most perillous apparant battell . then after a councell was called in ardgiel , where fergusius made a large oration , and acceptable speech . therefore by graue consultation , they condiscended to be gouerned by empire of one king , as well in peace as in any trouble appearing against their enemies . furthermore to remoue all suspition of hatred ( because euery tribe desired , a king of their owne linage ) they elected fergusius , both for his noble bloud , and other his excellent vertues , to be their king : moreouer he was so approued in martiall deedes and iustice , that no captaine of the tribes might be any wayes compared vnto him . fergvsivs the first king of scots ( in albion , now called scotland ) sonne to ferquhard king of ireland , was crowned in the fatall marble chaire , which hee brought with him ( by respons of the gods ) to establish his reigne in scotland . the yeare from the creation of the world 3641. before the comming of christ 330. in the first yeare of the 112. olimpiade . in the 421. yeare after the building of rome , about the beginning of the third monarchy . when alexander the great vanquished darius the last monarch of persia , in the reigne of chimarus king of britaine , the king employed his whole minde to resist the iniury of this battell , moued by the pictes ; hee calling all the captains , ordeyned them to be prepared with forty dayes prouision . to passe with him , he made an greement and concord amongst all his nobles and captaines , commanding his people to be obedient to their captaines , hee making sacrifice to his gods ( as the custome was ) praying the gods to take vengeance of the partie that was the first occasion of battell against other , and to graunt him such felicity in his iust defence ; that victory might succeed to him without any great damage of his people . the picts assembled an army , wich many britaines concurring to their support , appear'd on eyther side a wicked & vnnatural battel between two confederate people , friends , fathers and sonnes . the pictes came first i●…o the scots lands ; against whom with no lesse courage then manhood , the king with his valiant scots , with auncient armes displayed in forme of a banner , in which was a ●…dde lion rampant in a fielde of golde , whilst the scots and pictes were in array in each others fight : the armie of britaines stood in array also , deuising what way they might destroy them both , with f●…me purpose when the scots and pcties were vanquished , the one by the other , that the party victorious should vtterly bee destroyed by their fresh army : and when both these peoples were destroyed by this fleight , the britaines might enioy both their realmes in albion , without any impediment . this subtill sleight was discoured to king fergusius by a banished britaine , through which both the armies moued no lesse by feare of enemies , then by their own proper damage , prolonged the battell certaine dayes . king fergusius desiring communication with the king of picts , who willingly with some of his nobles , had communication a long time together , after long conference , and deliberate consultation with their counsellors on both parties , and ruefull crying of the pictes wiues , being the scottes daughters , peace was finally concluded , betweene the two confederate people , vnder these conditions , redresse of all iniuries , being made on all parties . the britaines ( mouers of this battaile ) shall be reputed enemies to them both ; all other charges to be at the pleasure and will of the two kings . and when any enemy occurred , that they and their people should conioine together , vnder one minde and ordinance . this peace being more strongly corroborate , the kings returned home . king fergusius in a most dangerous battell , assisted by the pictes , vanquished the britains , which time king coyl or chimarus ( vnwatily kept by his nobles ) was killed in the land after his name then called coyll , now kyle in scotland . after this victory the king called his whole nobles and subiects to a general conuention ; and hee making a large and plausible oration and speech , the nobles and subiects condiscended and agreed , that king fergusius and his posterity should possesse the crowne of scotland ; whereupon charters and euidences were graunted to him and his sucessors for euer . the kingdome of scotland being confirmed to king fergusius , his heyres and successors , with deliberate counsell of his nobles , he diuided the whole lands then inhabited by the scots amongst his nobles and captaines of the tribes by lots or cauils . the first lot chanced or fell vnto cornath , captaine and his tribe ; the land of caithnes , lying ouer against orkeney , betweene dum misbye and the riuer of thane : secondly to captaine lutorke the landes betweene the water of thane & nesse , now called ros . this lutorke came with a band of valiantmen , out of ireland with king fergusius into albion . this land of ros lyeth in breadth from cromarte to the water of lochtie . in this countrey was the famous castle of vrquhart , of which the ruinous walles remaine in great admiration : thirdly , to captaine warroth , the lands lying betweene spey and neffe , from the almaine to the irish seas , the people inhabitants of this part ( after their captaine ) were called wars , being seditious , they were expelled , and the murrayes possessed that land , and called the same land murray land : fourthly , to captaine thalis the lands of boyne , aynie , bogewall , gariot , formartyn , and bowquhan . these landes were then called vnder one name , thalia by the name of their captaine : fiftly , to captaine martach , all the lands of marre , badzenoth and loth quhabar . the sixth to captaine nouance , the landes of lorne and kyntier , with the high places and mountaines thereof , lying from marre to the irish seas . the seauenth to atholus the lands of athole , for he was descended of the scots of spain , and came out of spaine into ireland , and with fergusius he came into scotland . the eight to creones and epidithes , two captaines of the tribes , the lands of strabrawne and braidawane , lying west from dunkeld . the ninth to captaine argathelus , the lands of ardgile , his people were named argatheles from gathelus their first progenitour ; but now they are called men of ardgile . the tenth to captaine lolgonas , the lands of leuenox and cliddisdale . the eleuenth to captaine silurch , the lands of siluria , which region is now diuided into kyle , carrike , and cunningham ; the inhabitants were right ingenuous and strong . the twelfth to the brigandes , the lands of brigance , now called golloway . king fergusius after the diuiding of these lands , he instituted lawes to represse vice ; he builded the castle of berigone in longhquhaber . he past the remanent of his dayes in good peace with the britaines and pictes . at the last he was elected as iudge arbitrall to discerne vpon certaine high controuersies , chancing amongst his friends in ireland . he accompanied with certaine of his nobles , past into ireland and pacified them of all matters , returning home , by a very dangerous tempest perished with all his nobles that were in his company , vpon a rocke in the sea , called after his name craigfergus , the fiue and twentieth yeare of his raigne . in his raigne was morindus king of britaines , and cruthneus camelon king of pictes , who builded vpon the water of carron the citie of camelon , the principall and strongest citie of the pictes , which resisted the romanes and britaines , vntill that kenneth king of scotland ( who exiled the pictes out of albion ) brought it vnto vtter subuersion . this cruthneus camelon builded also the towne and castle of edinburgh , sometime called the mayden castle ; for all the noble young women of the pictes were nourished , and learned in all skilfull labour of their hands , vntill they were ready to marry . fergusius departing this present life , as aforesaid a conuention was holden by the nobles , for election of a king. after a long disputation and reasoning , it was concluded by plaine consent of parliament , and enacted when it hapned their king to decease , and hauing heyres gotten of his body , being children ; the neerest of the kings bloud , and fittest to doe iustice , shall possesse the crowne for his time ; after his death , the kings sonne shall succeed to the crown without impediment , if he were able thereto : by the same acte it was prohibited children to be kings . this custome endured long time , which raised much discord in this realme of scotland ; for the fathers brother raigning in the minority of his nephew , cast his chiefest busines to destroy him , and likewise the nephew to the fathers brother for ambition of the crowne , through which occurreth continuall killing of kings and nobles , to the great damage of the realme and common wealth . 2 fezitharis brother to fergusius , by the aforesaid act , began his raigne the yeare of the world 3666. before the comming of christ 305. yeares , from the beginning of the raigne of scotland 26. yeares : he was a good king and seuere iusticer , and was willing to haue discharged himselfe of the kingdome , in fauour of ferlegus , eldest sonne to his brother fergusius ; which his nobles would not condiscend vnto , because of the statute and acte of parliament lately made , which continued vntill the time of the raigne of king kenetvs the third almost 1205. years : he was killed by the aforesaid ferlegus the fifteenth yeare of his raigne . ferlegus the murtherer , and all other participant with him being banished , were fugitiues among the pictes , and finding no security of his life , he past into britaine , where he spent the rest of his dayes in great miserie . 3 mainvs king fergusius second sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 3680. before christ 291. after the beginning of the raigne 41. he was a noble king , a good iusticiar ; for he exercised iustice aires , for repressing of trespassors , and ratified the old league with crinus king of pictes , holding good peace with his confederates and britaines . he died peaceably the nine and twentieth yeare of his raigne . 4 dornadilla succeeded his father mainus in the yeare of the world 3709. before christ 262. after the beginning of the raigne 70. hee was a good king , and confirmed peace with the pictes and britaines , he delighting greatly in hunting , races and hounds , made certaine lawes profitable for hunting , which were obserued many yeares after : he died peaceably the eight and twentieth yeare of his raigne . 5. nothatvs succeeded his brother dornadilla , ( whose sonne revvther was a childe not able to gouerne by vertue of the aforesaid statute ) the yeare of the world 3738. before christ 233. after the beginning of the raigne 98. he was an auaritious cruell tyrant : hee was killed by dowall one of his nobles , captaine of the brigandes , the twentieth yeare of his raigne . 6 revthervs dornadella his sonne succeeded the yeare of the world 3758. before christ 213. after the raigne 118. he being young , ( assisted by dowall ) raysed great contention by the perswasion of ferquhart , captaine of kentire and lorne ( cousen to nothatus the tyrant late killed ) a man of subtill wit , and hauing great ambition to the crowne . betweene the aforesaid parties there was cruell warres : ferquhart being fugitiue in ireland returned being assisted with many irish men , with the inhabitants of kyntire , lorne , ardgile , caithnes , murray , and with a great armie . dowall res●…ing , came with a great power ( accompanied with the young king and the king of pictes ) and many other his friends ; there was a cruell battell and killing of chiefetaines and nobles on both parties . the king of pictes with many of his nobles pittifully killed reutherus , the young king pursued and taken at the castle of calender . by this vnhappy battell was such terrible slaughter , that neither scots nor pictes were left liuing sufficient to inhabite their realmes , nor to withstand their enemies . afterwards the scots and pictes were most cruelly inuaded by the britaines , and a great multitude killed , the rest exiled . king reutherus and his people past into ireland , and the pictes past into orkney . king reutherus returning from ireland , and the pictes with their king gethus returning from orkney , they gaue battell to the king of britaines , and obtayning victory by the high and soueraigne manhood , and valiantnesse of the foresaid king reuthorus , the britaines rendred all the forts , landes , and townes pertayning to the scots and pictes , with faithfull promise neuer to inuade them in time comming . this peace being concluded , the scots , pictes and britaines continued in great tranquility many yeares after : the king enduring the rest of his dayes , had good peace , and died the sixe and twentieth yeare of his raigne . 7 rhevda succeeded his brother reutherus in the yeare of the world 3784. before christ 187. after the beginning of the raigne 144. he was a good king , he caused sepultures to be made for noble & valiant men : he brought artificers into his realme , and instituted sundry good lawes . in his time came certaine orators , philosophers from king ptolomeus of egypt , who were pleasantly receiued and well entertained , because they were descended of the egyptians his auncient forefathers . these orators did write and consider the situation of the hilles , mountaines , vallies , riuers , lockes , frithes , isles , townes , and forts within the realme of scotland , and the lands thereto pertayning , as also to the pictes . he raigned peaceably sixteene yeares , and resigned the crowne to therevs , sonne to king reutherus . 8 therevs reutherus sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 3799. before christ 171. after the raign 158. he appeared in the first sixe monethes to be a vertuous prince ; but after he became an vnwise cruell tyrant . therefore being degraded of all honor , he was exiled . and conan captaine of the brigandes elected to be gouernor , who gouerned the realme peaceably during the exile of thereus , who died in the citie of yorke in misery the twelfth yeare of his raigne . 9 iosina succeeded his brother thereus the yeare of the world 3810. before christ 161. after the raigne 170. he was a peaceable and good king , ratifying peace with his confederates the pictes , and also with the britaines : he was a good medecinar and herbestar . in his time were brought to his presence in berigone . two venerable philosophers , pleasant of visage almost naked , being priests of spaine , passing from portingall to athens , and by vnmercifull tempest , were ship-broken at ros , their shippe and company with marriners all perished , they onely saued . after refreshing and good entertainment , the king desired and demaunded of them , what they vnderstood by their science of the nature of the ground of scotland , after good and deliberate aduisement ( so farre as they might coniecture ) there was more riches and profite to be gotten within the veynes of the earth of scotland then aboue ; for it was giuen more to the winning of mines and mettals then any production of corne . they knew this by the influence of the heauens . also they learned the people to worship onely god the creator , prohibiting them to make sacrifice ( as their custome then was ) to isis and apis , the gods of the egyptians , but only to make their sacrifice , prayers , and adoration in their temples ( without any imagery ) to the eternall god , creator of heauen and earth , which the people for the most part obserued long time . king iosina being a vertuous prince died in peace the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne , and buried at berigone . 10 finnanvs succeeded his father iosina the yeare of the world 3834. before christ 137. after the raigne 194. a wise and vertuous king , a good iusticiar , with aduice of his nobles , rewarding them honourably after their deseruings , winning the hearts of his people , ruled with great felicity , encreasing in riches : hee did institute prelates and clerkes to be in the isle of man , instructing noble mens children in their youth . this vertuous king married his sonne durstius with agafia , daughter to the king of britaines : he wan great fauour among them ; he visited the king of pictes , who was vexed with a vehement feuer in camelon : he died there the thirtieth yeare of his raigne , and was brought to berigone , and there buried among the sepultures of his progenitors . 12 dvrstivs succeeded his father finnanus the yeare of the world 3864. before christ 107. from the beginning of the raigne 224. a cruell and traytercus tyrant , killed in battell by his nobles the ninth yeare of his raigne . 12 evenvs primus succeeded his brother durstius the yeare of the world 3873. before christ 98. after the raigne 133. a wise , iust , and vertuous king. he was the first that caused his nobles and subiects to giue their oath of fidelity ; he executed iustice seuerely in all the partes of his realme . at length there came ambassadours from the pictes , shewing that the britaine 's were in armour , purposing to besiege their citie camelon : the king to assist his confederate friends , came with expedition against the britains , scots and pictes , went forward with great courage : the britaines with no lesse audacity on the other part , followeth a very dangerous battell , with vncertaine victory , vntill the night seuered them . the confederate kings seeing their armie broken , retired in the night . the britaines so broken , and dispayring of new support retired in the same manner as discomfited people ; their campe standing with their carriage . the confederate people aduertised hereof , returned and parted the spoyle by custom of armes . the king returned to berigone , rewarded their friends that were slaine in the said battel , and others promoted to publike offices , some with riches and goods : and the rest of his dayes he was a seuere iusticiar , and died in peace the nineteenth yeare of his raigne ; buried in dunstaffage . 13 gillvs bastard , sonne to euenus , vsurped the crown , and trayterously killed two sonns of durstius , contending for the crowne in the yeare of the world 3892. before christ 79. after the raigne 252. a crafty tyrant , killed in battell by cadellus captaine of the brigandes ; the second yeare of his raigne his head cut off , his body buried in dunstaffage . 14 evenvs secundus , donallus sonne , king finnan●…s brother , succeeded in the yeare of the world 3894. before christ 77. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 254. a good iusticiar , ciuill , vertuous and peaceable king. cadallus after the killing of gillus , returning out of ireland with his victorious army , by rage of tempest were almost all perished ; cadallus was truely rewarded with many landes by the king , and comforted by him concerning his great losse of nobles and friends . king euenus marrying siora daughter of gethus , king of pictes , confirmed the olde band . after that hee vanquished balus king of orkney , who finding no way to escape , killed himselfe : hee builded innerlothy and innernes : hee resigned the crowne to ederus , giuing him wise and good counsaile : he died in peace the seuenteenth yeare of his raign , buried in dunstaffage . 15 edervs durstius sonne●… , succeeded in the yeare of the world 3911. before christ 60. after the raigne 271. a wise , valiant , and good king. bredus of the isles ( cousen to gillus , killed as is before mentioned ) made insurrection . shortly after the king pursuing him and his associates , they were all taken captiues , and many with the said bredus killed . cassibilian king of britaines , sent his ambassadours to the king of scots , desiring support against iulius caesar the romane emperour , who was ready with most dreadfull ordinance to come into albion . the king and nobles receiuing the ambassadours courteously , androgeus speciall . ambassadour , after a large and serious oration , the king and nobles being aduised , sent vnto london tenne thousand chosen men , vnder the conduct and gouernment of cadallan and dowall , captaines of the brigandes and lorne . also an army of pictes came at the request of king ederus . the britaines were raised in great esperance of victory by the aide of scots and pictes ; for they had no little confidence in their manhood and chiualry : king cassibilian went forward with his whole power , against the romanes there ensued a dangerous and doubtfull battell ; at the last the romanes were fugitiue , and being minded to renew the battell , iulius ( hearing of the great destruction of his ships ) changed his minde , hoisted sayles in the night , and returned into fraunce , leauing behinde them a great prey of goods , when iulius caesar was forced to auoide albion . the britaines , scots and pictes parted the spoyle gotten in his campe by custome of armes , reioycing of this glorious victory . cadallane and dowall , richly rewarded by cassibilian , returned with the scots army ; at whose comming the king was greatly reioyced ; then followed such loue and kindenesse betweene the britaines , scots and pictes , that it appeared them to liue in perpetuall peace . the king passing to innernes , was certainly enformed by sundry merchants strangers , that iulius had pacified fraunce to his empire , and making prouision for a new armie , to returne into britaine , to reuenge the iniuries done vnto him the last yeare , he sends his ambassadours to cassibilian , promising ( if he pleased ) to send ten thousand chosen men vnto his aide and support . the britaines ( moued with vaine arrogancy ) refused to haue any supply of scots or pictes : iulius returning into britaine , was three sundry times put backe , but at the last cassibilian was vanquished , and his whole valiant captaines taken or killed , and his lands made to pay three thousand pound of siluer to the romanes for tribute . iulius sendeth his ambassadours to the scots and pictes , offering them conditions of peace two seuerall times . they were resolute to remaine free , not to be subiect , and refusing all conditions of peace , were willing to defend their liues and liberties . iulius being minded to inuade the scots and pictes , was aduertised of a suddaine vprore in fraunce ; for which cause he passed into fraunce : murket gildus nephew made insurrection against the king. therefore he sent cadallane with armed men , who hanged murket with his complices . the king continued in good peace the rest of his dayes ; hee died peaceably the forty eight yeare of his raigne : buried in dunstaffage . 16 evenvs tertius succeeded his father ederus , the yeare of the world 3959. before christ 12. after the raigne 319. he was a luxurious , auaritious tyrant , retayning a hundred concubines , and not being saciate with them , he was taken in a battell captiue , and imprisoned , and was killed by a yong childe the first night , the childe was executed on the morrow , the seuenth yeare of his raigne , buried at dunstaffage . 17 metelianvs ederus brothers son , succeeded the yeare of the world 3966. before the comming of christ 4. years ; after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 326. a very modest , ciuill and good king , peace being vniuersally at the birth of our sauiour christ. the romane emperour augustus sent his ambassadours into britaine , requesting the britains to continue peace , with whom the king sent manyrich jewels to augustꝰ to be offered in their capitoll : he wan sure amity of them , which endured long . in this time were in rome v●…rgil , horace , o●…d , tullius , marcus varro , straba , titus , liuius salustius , with many other learned men : he died peaceably the nine and thirtieth yeare , of his raigne ; buried in dunstaffage . 18 caratacvs metellanus sisters sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4005. in the yeare of christ 35. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 365. he enioying the great treasure and riches , left by king metellanus , exceeded all the kings in albion in riches , being wise and valiant , pacifying his realme from all vprore and rebellion , specially in the isles , and executing seuere iustice . the britaine 's at this time rebelling against the romanes , sent their ambassadors to caratacus , desiring support against the romanes , he first reproching them for their wilfull refusall . the scots offering them support , wisely counselling them to solicite the normanes , picards , barteners and all them on the sea coast , to rebell against them , and to kill the souldiers , promising assistance of the kings of albion , with money and valiant warriours , both by sea and land . the romanes shortly inuading the britaines in a dangerous battell vanquished them , and killed their king claudius emperour : and vespasian comming into britaine subdued them againe , and passing into orkney subdued the same , and brought ganus king of orkney his wife and children in his triumph to rome . the britaines comming to yorke , made new insurrection , assisted by caratacus king of scots , and congestus king of pictes , against whom plancius romane gouernour , and aruiragus then king of britaines came with a great armic . caratacus being elected generall , there followed a cruell and dangerous battell , with vncertaine victory vntill the night separated them on either parties : plancius on the morrow seeing his great losse , specially of his horsemen , returned to london , and caratacus returned to yorke : the next yeare vespasian with many legions of romanes were sent into britaine . aruiragus assisting with the rest of the britains , conuened at yorke threescore and fiue thousand chosen men . the consederate kings came with threescore thousand valiant warriours : there was a terrible and cruell battell . the albions ( notwithstanding their great valiantnesse , were discomfited by the prudent gouernement of vespasian , the king of pictes killed , the whole britaines being killed except sixe hundred with their king. caratacus returned with a few number to brigance . vespasian wintered in yorke , and in the spring besieged and wanne camelon , wherein was found many rich monuments and jewels , with a precious crowne of gold , set about with many precious stones of diuers colours , with a sword with hilts of golde , which uespasian vsed in all his warres , hee remayning in camelon . cara●…s assembled a new armie , against whom plancius was sent with a great armie ; a cruell battell ensued . the victory at last succeeded to the romanes . the rest of the scots ( that escaped this sorrowfull battell ) were fugitiue to the mountaines . king caratacus sore wounded , was brought with great difficulty to dunstaffage . vespasian sending his messengers to caratacus , promising ( if he would be obedient to the romane empire ) that he should remaine in honours , and be reputed and holden as a friend to the senate , and people of rome ; who answered that the kingdome of scotland was as free to him as the kingdome of romanes was to caesar. vespasian returning to rome caratacus assembling a new army ; the romanes encountering him with a great multitude , there followed a cruel and terrible battel , long with vncertaine victory ; at the last the romanes obteyned victory . caratacus returned to dunstaffage . plancius dying at camelon , ostorius scapula was sent by the emperor in his place , who after sundry rebellions of the britaine 's conquered them , he came within the bounds of scotland . caratacus gathered a new armie of forty thousand valiant men ; there ensued a dangerous and terrible battell , the victory succeding at last to the romans . caratacus wife , his daughter and brother were taken , himselfe returning to cartamunda his step-mother , queene of scots ( in whom he trusted ) but vnworthily he was by her betrayed , and rendered to the romanes . king caratacus was sent with his wife , daughter and brother to rome , where he was greatly admired , and honourably of the emperour entertayned , and remitted freely with his queene , daughter , and brother to returne home , restoring all his lands againe , he remayning the rest of his daies in good peace , died the twentieth yeare of his raigne , and buried in dunstaffage . 19 corbredvs primus , succeeded his brother caratacus in the yeare of the world 4025. in the yeare of christ 55 after the raigne 385. a wife king and good iusticiar . he conuented his nobles , and tooke counsaile of venisius , the husband of cartamunda his step-mother , queene of scots , who by erafty sleights had taken the aforesaid venisius her husband , and sundry of his friends , and deteyned them prisoners , purposing to render them into the romanes hands . the king impatient thereof , came and relieued them , commaunding her to be buried quicke : after a cruell battell betweene the romanes and the scots and pictes , peace was concluded . the romanes shall possesse the lands of britaine by them conquered , without inuading of scots or pictes , then after by commaund of nero . veraneus was sent into britaine , who shortly died , woada , sister to corbredus queene of britaine , sent to her brother , complayning of her miserie & trouble , her daughters deflowred , her selfe shamefully beaten by vnmercifull romanes . corbredus moued herewith , renued the band with the pictes , and they raysing a great armie , killed all the romanes they might apprehend , and wanne in their iourney barwicke , being then the most populous towne of that region . in this time there came a people called murrayes out of almaine , with their captain rodrik , put forth and expelled out of their natiue land , being inhibited to land in france and britain , arriued in forth between louthiane and fiffe . they were sworne enemies to the romanes , reioycing greatly that they might haue occasion to be reuenged vpon their enemies ; requesting the confederate kings to suffer them to passe formost , in support of their people ; and ( if it chanced the romanes to be vanquished ) to graunt them wiues that they might encrease vnder one bloud with the scots . their conditions were graunted to the murrayes . the confederate king with the murrayes went forwards , and ioyning with the valiant queene of britaines woada , who reioycing of her brother king corbredus and the king of picts comming , after an oration and comfottable speech made by her : proffering her with fiue thousand ladies , armed to passe in the front of the battell , against the vnmercifull and shamefull deflowrers of virgins and matrons , the cruell romanes . the confederate kings allowing her courage , past forwards , cattus the romane gouernor with arrayed armes came to resist them : there followed a sharpe battell : the horsemen of the romanes being vanquisht , the rest were fugitiue with cattus , sore wounded escaped and returned into fraunce . the albions departed the spoyle and riches of this field amongst them , and killed the romanes in all parts where they might apprehend them : in this battell were killed threescore and ten thousand romanes , and thirty thousand albions , had not swetonius romane legate come hastily into britaine , with two legions and ten thousand warriours of sundry nations , the albions had beene perpetually deliuered of the romanes : woada the queene hearing of the new armie of romanes , assembled a new and great armie of britaines , scots and pictes , and murrayes ; there followed a bloudy and terrible battell . at last the albions being vanquished , fourescore thousand killed : the murrayes almost killed with their captaine roderik , woada killed her selfe , to escape the iniury of the romanes ; her two daughters were taken and brought armed to swetonius . the eldest daughter was married vnto a noble romane named marius , who after was by command of caesar made king of britaines . corbredus broken with this sorrowfull battell , returned with the rest of his armie into scotland , and gaue to the rest of the murrayes ( that escaped out of the field ) all the lands betweene spey and innernes , which lands were called after them murray land : for the olde inhabitants being seditious and troublesome were partly expelled . the murrayes were then marryed vnto scottish virgins , and remained vnder one bloud & friendship . corbredus the king continued the rest of his daies in peace , and died the eighteenth yeare of his raigne : buried in dunstaffage . 20 dardanvs nephew to metellanus succeeded , being a lusty person , faire of visage and body : hee was welbeloued of the people , in the yeare of the world 4042. the yeare of christ 72. after the raigne 402. he appeared in the beginning to be a good king ; but being within three yeares degenerate , became an odious tyrant , and would haue trayterously caused to be slaine , the two sonnes of corbredus remayning in the isle of man vnder discipline . this tyrant at last was killed in battell , and beheaded by his nobles the fourth yeare of his raigne , without buriall . 21 corbredvs secundus , surnamed galdus , corbredus primus son succeeded , an excellent person , endowed with sundry vertues and high prerogatiues , in the yeare of the world 4046. the yeare of christ 76. after the beginning of the raigne 406. a valiant and couragious king. he renewed many battels against the romanes , and was often victorious : at this time arriued in forth a company of almaines , named vs●…pians , banished out of their natiue land ; for killing of a romane captaine and his band , they were pleasantly receiued , and ordayned certain lands to be inhabited by them , beside the murrayes , for they were of one bloud . agricola remayning in britaine eight yeares with his romanes , had sundry victories against the scots and picts . domitian the emperour , enuying agricolaes prosperous estate in britaine , sent hastily letters for him ; at whose comming to rome he was poysoned by commaund of the said domitian . gvenvs tabellivs was made gouernor of britaine , dissention engendred among the romanes for the gouernement . king corbredus surnamed galdus ( being by his explorators ) aduertised hereof , came with a new armie of scots and pictes against the romanes : and finally their captain with many romans were killed . the scots with the picts following the whole day ; and killing them where they might apprehend them . the king assembling the scottes and pictes , parted the rich spoyle of their enemies amongst them as they had deserued . afterward the scots and pictes pursued cruelly in all parts the romanes . the romanes conuenting them , elected chelius to be their gouernour , there followed a most dangerous battell , at last the romanes were vanquished and pursued with continuall killing vnto calidon wood . the confederate kings came with their armies into brigance : the romanes assembled themselues in most fearefull ordinance , a company of britaines ( sent by marius their king , in support of the romanes ) came to the confederate kings . there followed a terrible and bloudy battell , the romanes being vanquished and compelled to retire to their tents with great killing of them , defended their tents with great manhood , vntill the night approched . the scots were vigilant all night , and attending that their enemies should not escape ; others were making engines to breake downe their tents , and trenches . the romanes seeing so great preparation against them , and no way to escape the danger , sent their orators to the confederate kings , most humbly entreating peace , on what conditions pleased them . after long consultation , peace was graunted . the romanes to passe and render all lands , forts and munitions pertayning to scots and pictes , with all the goods taken violently from them during the warres , and to remaine their friends at all times after . after this most valiant king corbredus galdus , came to epiake the principall citie then of scotland . the rest of his dayes he continued in peace , exercising seuere iustice : he died peaceably the fiue and thirtieth yeare of his raigne : buried in dunstaffage . 22 lvctacvs succeeded his father corbredus galdus in the yeare of the world 4080. in the yeare of christ 110. after the raigne 440. an odious and cruel tyrant , killed by his nobles the third yeare of his raigne : buried in dunstaffage . 23 mogaldvs corbredus secundus sisters sonne , succeeded the yeare of the world 4083. the yeare of christ 113. after the raigne 443. a good king and victorious in the beginning of his raigne , gouerning his people with great iustice , and obtayned a great victory against lucius and his romanes , by the assistance of the pictes in westmerland and camber ; obteyning a rich spoyle of the romanes , which they parted by law of armes . afterwards the king did degenerate into a cruell tyrant . in his time adrian the emperour came into britaine , and builded the wall of adrian , deuiding the britaines from the scottes and pictes a great wall made of fewell , and earth , and turues , from the mouth of tyne , ouer against the almaine seas , to the floud of eske , at the irish seas fourescore miles in length : he was killed by his nobles for his tyrannie and odious life the thirty sixt yeare of his raigne : buried at dunstaffage . 24 conarvs succeeded his father mogaldus the yeare of the world 4119. the yeare of christ 149. after the raigne 479. a cruell tyrant , degraded and imprisoned by his nobles ( and ardgadus captaine of ardgile , made gouernour , a good and seuere iusticiar ) he died in prison the foureteenth yeare of his raigne : buried in dunsstaffage . 25 ethodivs primus mogaldus sisters sonne , succeeded the yeare of the world 4133. the yeare of christ 163. after the raigne 493. a good iusticiar , who holding sundry battels against the romane captaines victorine trebellius and pertinax , neere the wall of adrian , & ministring good iustice , oppressing rebels , was trayterously killed by an harper ( whom he trusted ) the three and thirtieth yeare of his raigne ; buried in dunstaffage . this harper was most cruelly executed . 26 satrael ethodius primus succeeded the yeare of the world 4165. the yeare of christ 195. after the raigne 525. a cruell tyrant : he was slaine by one of his courtiers the fourth yeare of his raigne : buried in dunstaffage . 27 donaldvs primus , firstchristian king of scotland , succeeded his brother satrael , in the yeare of the world 4169. in the yeare of christ 199. from the beginning of the raigne of scotland 529. a good and religious king ( in his time seuerus the emperour came into britaine ) after many incursions made by the scots and pictes , in abolishing the wall of adrian . anthonius seuerus sonne gouerned britaine , and builded and repaired the wall of adrian strongly with towers seuerus dying . anthonius killing his brother getus , was emperour . he was the first that coined money of golde and siluer , and imbraced the christian faith : he died in peace the eighteenth yeare of his raigne ; buried in dunstaffage . 28 ethodivs secundus ethodius 1. sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4186. the yeare of christ 216. after the raigne 546. anvnwise and base minded king : the realme prudently gouerned by his nobles , he was killed by his guard the sixteenth yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage . 29 athirco succeeded his father ethodius , the yeare of the world 4201. the yeare of christ 231. after the raigne 561. a good prince in his beginning ; afterwards being degenerate , and pursued by his nobles , for his vitious life ( killed himselfe ) the twelfth yeare of his raigne . 30 nathalocvs succeeded in the yeare of the world 4212. the yeare of christ 242. after the raigne 572. a cruell tyrant , killed by his nobles ( vsurped the crowne ) the eleuenth yeare of his raigne . 31 findocvs athicroes sonne , succeeded the yeare of the world 4223. the yeare of christ 253. after the raigne 583. a good and valiant king : hee was killed at a hunting , by instigation of his brother carance , and donald lord of the isles . the traytors killers of him being tormented to death , and carance exiled the eleuenth yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage . 32 donaldvs secundus , succeeded his brother findocus the yeare of the world 4234. the yeare of christ 264. after the raigne 594. a good king : he was wounded in battell ; and being vanquished by the insurrection of donald of the isles , three thousand of his armie killed , and two thousand with their king taken , the third day with melancholy died , the first yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage . 33 donaldvs tertius lord of the isles ( vsurped the crowne ) the yeare of the world 4235. the yeare of christ 265. after the raigne 595. a cruell tyrant , killed by crathalinthus his successor ( at which time there was vniuersall persecution of the christians vnder the empire of decius ) the twelfth yeare of his raigne . 34 crathilinthvs findocus son , succeeded the year of the world 4247. the year of christ 277. after the raigne 607. a valiant good iusticiar , and godly king. hee purged the land of superftition , planting the true christian religion . in this time chaunced in the hunting betweene scots and pictes discord , so hastily that there were many killed on both parties . carance brother to findocus or carasus 77. britaine king , exiled for suspition of his slaughter , was long in the romanes warres , with dioclesian emperour , and vsing himselfe valiantly , returned into albion with many valiant warriours and great riches , placed his people in westmerland , being reconciled with the king , he at length agreed the two long confederate kings & people . carance assisted by the twoconfederate kings with a great army in three battels , comming to yorke , was resisted by quintꝰ bassianus , captain of britains , whom he killed , with many valiant romans . after this battell victoriously won , against the romans , & the rich spoyle , parted according to the law of arms , carance with his victorious armie , past to london , where he was receiued with great reuerence , and possessed the crowne of britaine , contrary to the empire of the romans ; reteyning in his companytwo thousand scots & picts continually for a guard , he being assaulted in battel by the romanes and britaines , was alway victorious . the seuenth yeare of his raigne in britaine hee was killed by alectus romane captaine . king crathalinthus ended the rest of his dayes in good peace , and died the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried at dunstaffage . 35 fincormacvs father , brother sonne to crathilinthus , succeeded the yeare of the world 4271. the yeare of christ 301. after the raigne 631. a godly valiant king : he was a worthy promoter of christian religion in scotland ; at which time traherus romane captaine with many legions sent by constantinus emperour into britaine , to represse octauius then king of britaines , being expelled , was fugitiue in scotland . traherus assembling a great armie against the king of scots , and octauius king of britaines ( whom the foresaid king of scots refused to render ) being solicited friendly , and therefore sharpely and proudly manaced by the said traherus , followed a cruell and dangerous battell ; the romanes finally vanquished , and sixteene thousand of the romanes killed , and fifteene thousand albions . fincormacus and octauius pursued vntill they came to yorke , where the two kings were pleasantly receiued by the nobles of britaine . octauius restored to the crowne fincormacus for his assistance was perpetually confirmed with an oath to him and his successors , the lands of westmerland and cumber ( which carance had graunted in his time to the scots and pictes for the assistance of him by king crathilinthus against the romanes ) king fincormacus continued the rest of his dayes in peace with the britaines and pictes , and died the seuen and fortieth yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage . 36 romachvs brother , sonne to crathilinthus , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4318. in the yeare of christ 348. after the raigne 678. a cruell tyrant , killed and beheaded by his nobles : the third yeare of his raigne ; in whose time arrius beganne , and ireland became christians . 37 angvsianvs crathilinthus brother sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4321. in the yeare of christ 351. after the raigne 681. a good and valiant king ; nectanus king of picts , to reuenge the killing of romanes , gathered an armie against the scots , there followed a sharp battell . the scots being victorious , and many of the nobles of the pictes killed , and their king fugitiue vnto camelon their principall citie . after that the pictes renued battell , and came to the wood of calidone , where the king of scots with a great armie ioyned battell , with great cruelty , both the kings were killed , and many of their nobles , the third yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage without succession . 38 fetheimachvs another brother , sonne to crathilinthus succeeded in the yeare of the world 4324. in the yeare of christ 354. after the raigne 684. hee was a good and valiant king , and victorious against the pictes , and killed their king in battell : he was trayterously murthered in his owne chamber by two distembling pictes and an harper . the third yeare of his raigne , buried in dunstaffage . the murtherers were apprehended and most cruelly tormented . at this time s. andrewes church was builded by the king of pictes , at the request of saint rewell . 39 evgenivs primus fincormacus sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4327. in the yeare of christ 357. after the raigne 687. a vasiant , iust , and good king : he was killed in battell , his brother taken , and all his nobles killed with fifty thousand of his armie by the cruelty of the romanes , britains , and deceitfull pictes , and the whole nation of scottes , exiled a long time , the third yeare of his raigne . 40 fergvsivs secundus , erthus sonne to ethodius eugenius , the first brother , returning into scotland by support of danes , gothes , and his owne countrey men gathered vnto him out of all partes ( where they were dispersed ) conquered his realme of scotland , out of the romans and pictes hands , beginning his ragne in the yeare of the world 4374. in the year of christ 404. from the beginning of the realm of scotland 734. he was a wise , valiant , good and godly king , being confederate with the pictes : he was sundry times victorious against the romanes : at the last he was killed in a battell by the romanes the sixteenth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolukill . 41 evgenivs secundus , fergusius second sonne , succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 4390. in the yeare of christ 420. from the beginning of the raigne of scotland 750. he was a valiant and good king ; in sundry battels victorious against the romanes and britaines : at which time maximian the romane gouernour of britaine made insurrection against the romanes , and cruelly inuaded the land then called armorica , and killed the most part of all the people there , that it should not be a prey to frenchmen their neighbours ; he brought out of britaine a great multitude of people to inhabite the same , some authours write there came a hundred thousand men out of britaine with conanus , who was made king of that land , and called the same land bartany , or litle britaine , after the britaines that came to inhabite there . then after they sent into britaine for women to bee their wiues : at whose request vrsula ( called s. vrsula ) with eleuen thousand virgins were imbarked to passe bartany . they all by contrary and tempestuous windes were compelled to arriue in the low countreyes , iourneying by land to bartany , were all lamentably murthered and killed , because they would not suffer deflowring of their bodies , but rather offered themselues to be cruelly and vnmercifully murthered and killed , after this vnhappy and cruel murther , other women and virgins were sent in great number into bartany , who inhabite that land continually to this day . britaine being desolate of romane support , was occasion that the confederate kings inuaded them after so hardly : for the valiant graham , who was descended of an ancient house of denmarke , and borne of a noble lady of the same countrey , married with a scots noble man , that was exiled out of scotland with ethodius ( brother to king eugenius afore rehearsed , killed in battell by romanes and pictes . this graham married a virgin of the bloud royall of denmark , to whom she bare a daughter of excellent beauty , who was married to fergusius the second king of scots : of him descended the auncient surname of grahams : hee was a great enemy to the romanes ; for hee destroyed to the ground the wall of abircorne , called then after grahams dykes , and past and all vtterly abolished the wall of adrian ouer against the irish seas . the confederate kings accompanied with valiant graham , past with fire and sword through al the bounds betweene tyne and humber : there followed a most dangerous battell , in the which were killed fifteene thousand britains , with the most of the princes and nobles of britaine , and foure thousand scots , and the whole romanes being exiled out of britaine by the confederate kings ; and peace being concluded betweene the confederate kings and the britaines , all the lands lying beyond humber shall remaine perpetually vnder the empire of the confederate kings , and presently to be paide threescore thousand pound to their men of warre , and twentie thousand pound yearely to the confederate kings : and for obseruing hereof , the britaines deliuered one hundred pledges , being within age of thirty yeares , at the will of the confederate kings . in the seuenth yeare of the raigne of eugenius second king of scottes , britaine was deliuered from romane tribute 496. years after that iulius caesar began the first tribute . eugenius encreased in riches and policy , his realme with continuall peace . in the same time the britaines falling at great diuersity , betweene the nobles and commons there were many of both parties miserably killed , he died in peace the one and thirtieth yeare of his raigne ; buried in icolmkill . 42 dongardvs succeeded his brother eugenius the yeare of the world 4421. the yeare of christ 451. after the raigne 781 a godly , wise , and valiant king , in a dangerous and cruell battell betweene constantine , new elected king of britaines , wherein were killed sixteene thousand britaines and foureteene thousand scots and pictes ; the victory falling to the confederates , the king of scottes valiantly fighting , was killed the fift yeare of his raigne ; and buried in icolmkil , which was the buriall for the kings vntill king malonus camors dayes . 43 constantinvs primus , succeeded to his brother dongardꝰ the year of the world 4427. in the year of christ 457. from the beginning of the raign 787 a vitious & odious king killed by one of his nobles , whose daughter he had defloured the 22. yeare of his vnwort hy raigne . 44 congallvs dongardus sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4449. the yeare of christ 479. after the raigne 809. a valiant king , he vanquished the brittaines in a cruell and daungerous battaile , wherein were killed 20000 brittaines with many nobles , with gvytell prince of wales , vortigern vsurping the crowne of brittaine , sent into almaine to fee warriours against the confederate kings , at which time came into brittaine hengest and horsus bretheren with 10000. saxons , immediately the brittaines and saxons past with arrayed battaile to humber , before the confederate kings were admonished of their comming , killing in all parts , without mercy where they came . the king of picts asse●…bled his army and ioyned battaile ( without support of the king of scots , ) where he was vanquished by the saxons and brittaines . the saxons proude of this victorie , and being resolued to conquer the kingdome of brittaine , past further . against them came king congalus with a great army , with the picts there followed a cruell battaile , with vncertaine victorie , at last the brittaines ( that fought in the right wing , against the scots ) being fugitiue , there chaunced a mighty shower of haile with great darknesse : hengist by sounde of trumpet gathered his people to his standard . the scottes and pictes ( hoping their enemies to be vanquished ) followed on the bir●…taines without array . hengist the brittaines vanquisht and the confederate people without order killing and spoyling , he came with his saxons in arrayed battaile , and killed all the confederates that might be ouertaken . this battaile was right sorrowfull to the confederate people , and not pleasant to their enemies , for the most part of the army of brittaines were killed , hengist obteyning new support out of saxony , the next summer came with vortimer king vortigerus sonne , with a great armie : there followed a cruell and long battell , valiantly debated on all parts , with sundry chances ; for many scots and britaines being killed congallus euill wounded , was brought out of the field . long time then after ambrosius ( when he had vanquished uortigern ) and being crowned king of britaine , confederate with the scots and pictes , he assisted by them , and killed with his owne hands hengist , and exiled the rest of the saxons . king congallus ( holding good pcace with britaines and pictes , vexed with long infirmity ) died peace ably the two and twentieth year of his raign , and buried in icolmkill . 45 coranvs succeeded his brother congallus in the yeare of the world 4471. the yeare of christ 501. after the raign 831. a good king and seuere iusticiar . in this time arriued in britaine occa and passentius , sonnes of hengist , with a great multitude of valiant souldiers ( assisted by the princes of almaine , against whom came king ambrosius . there followed a doubtfull and dangerous battell ; the victory enclining to ambrosius , yet very vnpleasant ; for at the same time there were many britaine 's killed . neuerthelesse they parted the spoile of saxons by right of armes . occa being aduertised of the comming of the confederate kings to assist ambrosius , sent his brother passentius to bring greater support out of almaine , by contrary windes he arriued in ireland , where he gathered a great number of hyred warriours , and returned into britaine . occa perswaded one coppa a fained mediciner to poison king ambrosius ; the confederate kings comming with a strong armie to assist ambrosius , were aduertised of his death : therefore they not knowing who was friend or foe ; and being vncertaine how he died , they returned home : arthurus being king of britaines , assisted by the scots and pictes , obtayned sundry victories against the saxons . the confederate nobles abode certaine dayes in london . and being richly rewarded by king arthurus , returned home . the realme of scotland was gouerned in great felicity and iustice by king coranus . then after certaine traytors ( assisted by donald captaine of athole ) murthered the king in his chamber the foure and thirtieth yeare of his raigne , in the sixteenth yeare of the raigne of king arthurus , and in the twentieth yeare of iustinian emperour , the yeare of christ 535. he was buried at icolmkil . 46 evgenivs tertius congallus first sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4505. in the yeare of christ 535. after the raigne 865. a wise godly king , and good iusticiar : he continued in good peace all his dayes , and died the three and twentieth yeare of his raigne , and buried at icolmkill . 47. congallvs secundus , succeeded his brother eugenius the yeare of the world 4528. the yeare of christ 558. after the raigne 888. a good , iust , and godly prince : he instituted many good lawes concerning churches and churchmen : hee died in peace the eleuenth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill ; in whose time was s. colme and s. mungo . 48 kinnatellvs succeeded his brother congallus , the yeare of the world 4539. the yeare of christ 569 after the raigne 899. a good and godly king : hee died in peace the first yeare of his raigne , and buried at icolmkill . 49 aidanvs coranus sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4540. the yeare of christ 570. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 900. he was a valiant and good king , and seuere iusticiar : he confederated with the britaine 's against the saxons and pictes : there followed sundry battels ; at last the britaines and scottes came into northumberland against the saxons , and pictes ; and vanquished them in a dangerous battell ; the tenth part of the spoyie obtained in the field was dedicated to the churches of scotland , and the banners or ensignes gotten at that time , sent to icolmkill : he died in peace the fiue and thirtieth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 50 kennethvs primus , congallus second sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4575. the yeare of christ 605. after the raigne 935. a good and peaceable prince . he died the first yeare of his raigne , and was buried in icolmkill . 51 evgenivs quartus aidanus sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4576. the ye●…re of christ 606. after the raigne 936. he was a godly and good iusticiar , and instituted many godly and good lawes for the common-wealth of his subiects : he raigned peaceably , and died in peace the fifteenth yeare of his raigne ; buried in icolmkill . 52 ferchardvs primus , succeeded his father eugenius , the yeare of the world 4591. the yeare of christ 621. after the raigne 951. a vitious tyrant , degraded by his nobles , and imprisoned : he killed himselfe in prison the eleuenth yeare of his raigne . 53 donaldvs quartus succeeded his father ferchardus the yeare of the world 4602. the yeare of christ 632. after the raigne 962. a good and religious king. holding peace , with his neighbours , being at fishing with his seruants for pastime , he perished in lothay the foureteenth yeare of his raign , his body being found , was buried in icolmkill . 54 ferchardvs secundus succeeded his brother donaldus , in the yeare of the world 4616. in the yeare of christ 646. after the raigne 976. an auaritious and vitious tyrant , bitten by a wolfe in hunting , whereof ensued a dangerous feuer , being penitent of his euill life . he died the eighteenth yeare of his raigne , buried at icolmkill . 55 maldvinvs donaldus sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4634. in the yeare of christ 664. after the raigne 994. he was a godly and wise king , and a seuere iusticiar , holding good peace with his neighbours . he was strangled by his wife in the night by suspition of adultery the twentie yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill , on the morrow his wife was taken with her complices , and burned to death . 56 evgenivs quintus , malduinus brother sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4654 in the yeare of christ 684 after the raigne 1014. he was a valiant and good king , he obteyned a great victory against edfreid king of northumberland , being killed with 10000 saxons , and bredius king of pictes fugitiue , he dyed the fourth yeare of his raigne , and buried in icolmkill . 57 evgenivs sixtus ferchardus secundus sonne , succeeded the yeare of the world 4658 the yeare of christ 688 after the raigne 1018 a good religious and peaceable king , he died in peace the 9. yeare of his raigne . buried in icolmkill . 58 amberkelethvs succeeded in the yeare of the world 4667. the yeare of christ 697 after the raigne 1027 an auaritious euill king , killed by a shot of an arro●… . the second yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 59 evgenivs septimus succeeded his brother amberkelethus , in the yeare of the world 4669. in the yeare of christ 699. after the raigne 1029 a good king , contracting peace with the king of pictes then called garnard , married his daughter spontana , who being with childe , in the next yeare , was murthered in her bedde insteed of the king , by two brethren of athole ( who had conspired the kings death . ) the murtherers at length were apprehended , and cruelly put to death . he continued a religions and vertuous king , he endewed sundry churches liberally , holding good peace with his neighbours , died in peace the 16 yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 60 mordacvs sonne to amberkelethus , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4685 in the yeare of christ 715 after the raigne 1045 an humble and liberall prince , he caused peace to be made in all brittaine , amongst the brittaines , saxons , scots and pictes , he repaired many decayed churches , and builded quhitthorne . in his time was saint beda , he died peaceably the 16. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 61 etfinvs eugenius seuenth sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4700. in the yeare of christ 730. after the raigne 1060. a godly wise king , and seuere iusticiar , holding his realme in good peace , his people encreasing in riches and religion , he being aged elected foure regents . the thaues of ardgiele , athole , galloway and murray to doe iustice to his subiects , which was not obserued , he died in peace the 31. yeare of his raigne , buried at icolmkill . 62 evgenivs octauus mordacus sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4731. in the yeare of christ 761. after the raigne 1091. a good king & seuere iusticiar in the beginning , for he executed to death donald the tyrant , lord of the isles , and the earle of galloway for assenting to his vices , then after he being degenerate vnto all abhominable vices , he was killed by his nobles , the third yeare of his raigne , and buried in icolmkill , his familiars and seruants asisting to his vicious life , were all hanged vppon gibets , to the great contentment of his whole subiects . 63 fergvsivs tertius etfinus sonne succeeded in the yeare of the world 4734. in the yeare of christ 764. after the raigne 1094. he married ethtolia daughter to the king of pictes , he was a leacherous adulterer , and being admonished continued still in whoredome , at last he was murthered by his wife , and sundry of his familiar seruants , who being sharply therefore accused , his wife hearing thereof , came into iudgement and relieued those innocent men , confessing the fact , and imediately stabbing her selfe to the heart with a dagger , died in presence of the whole people . the king was buried in icolmkill the third yeare of his raigne . 64 solvathivs eugenius eight sonne , succeeded in the yeare of the world 4737. in the yeare of christ 767. after the raigne 1097. a noble valiant king , he married the king of brittaines daughter , she bare to him two sonnes and one daughter . he being troubled with the gow●…e gouerned his people , by his captaines and commaunders , seuerely executing iustice , and subduing sundry rebels , especially banus captaine of the isle of tyre , who assembled a great company of rebels and calling himselfe king. he died peaceably of the gowt , the 20. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 65 achaivs etfinus second sonne began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4757. in the yeare of christ 787. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1117. a good godly and peaceable king , he pacified insurrection both in scotland , and ireland , he contracted the band of amitie with charles the great , king of fraunce and emperour of germanye , which band hath continued inuiolably obserued vnto this present time . he married the foresaid charles the great his daughter , who bare to him three sonnes and one daughter . the amitie and confederation of frenchmen and scottes , to be made for euer both for the people present and their successours , and for corroborating of the said band . king achaius sent his brother gviiliam with sundry nobles into fraunce with 4000. valiant warriours to assist the foresaid charles in his warres , in any part he pleased to passe against the enemies of the christian faith , at which time the armes of the kings of scotland , were the red lyon rampant in a field of gold , there was augmented a double treasour with contrary lillies or flower-deluce including the lyon on all parts : guilliam , achaius brother assisting charles in his warres with his valiant scots , purchased great honour , and being so beloued and holden in great estimation among the princes of fraunce , that he was called the knight without reproach , and purchased great riches and lands , he prospered greatly in all his warres & vanquished sundry nations , rebelling against the emperour , he obteined great honours , the time that king charles restored pope leo the third to his seate , after that he was put out of rome by iniury of the romaines , he conquered great honours , when charles passing thorough tuskany , restored the cittie of florence to their auncient honours , after it was destroyed by the gothes , these and many other honourable acts were performed by scottish guilliam , howbeit they were done vnder the name of charles emperour , for he remained not long in italy , but left the charge to guilliam , who did all things with such prouidence , that he augmented the dominion of florence greatly . the florentine in recompence of guilliams humanitie towards them , ordeined solemne playes , to be made in their cittie , in which a lyon is crowned with sundry ceremonyes , they commaunded also quick lyons to be yearely nourished vpon the common purse , because the lyon was the armes of scottish guilliam . this is yet obserued in perpetuall memory . guilliam after infinite trauailes taken with charles the great , for the defence of christian faith grew in age , and because he had no succession of his body ( for he was all his daies giuen to chiualry ) he made christ his heire , and founded many abbaies in italy , almayn , and germanie , liberally distributing vnto them rich rents and lands , and ordeined that scottishmen onely should be abbots , to the same abbeyes . in witnesse hereof are many abbeys in almaine and germanie nothing changed from the first institution . at comming first of scottish guilliam there came two learned clarks with him from scotland , holden in great honour by the emperour for their singular learning , they obteined a place in paris which was giuen to them with certaine lands , to susteine their estate , and to instruct the noble mens children of fraunce , in sundry sciences . to these men came such confluence of people out of all parts , desiring learning , that in short time by their exact diligence in erudition of young children , the cittie of paris was made a solemne vniuersitie of resolute men in all science . the emperour charles hauing great delectation that learning began to flourish in his realme , by the great industry of those two scottish men , commaunded that clement should remaine as principall regent of paris : and iohn his colleague to passe to pauy , a towne of lumbardy for encreasing of learning there . this small beginning was the origenall of the famous vniuesitie of paris : king achaius , continuing in good peace , the romaine empire was deuided , for emperour charles the first emperour of germanes was emperour of the west and constantiue emperour of the east : achaius married fergusiane sister to hungus king of pictes who bare to him one sonne called alpine , who after succeeded to be king of scotland and right inheritour to the king of pictes . king achaius being aged died in peace , the 32. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 66 congallvs achaius cousen germane , began his raigne the yeare of the world 4789. in the yeare of christ 819. after the raigne 1149. a good and peaceable king. he died in peace the fift yeare of his raigne , buried at icolmkill . 67 dongallvs saluathius sonne , beganne his raigne the yeare of the world 4794. the yeare of christ 824. after the raigne 1154. a valiant and good king , sending his ambassadours to the pictes after the death of dorstologvs their king , killed by his brother eganus , who marrying his brothers wife brenna , daughter to the king of marches ; who after murthered the said eganus in his bedde ( notwithstanding his armed guard ) to reuenge the murther of her first husband . the scots ambassadours at commaund and in the name of alpinvs king achaius sonne , begotten betwixt him and fergusian , sister to hungus late king of pictes . the two brethren aforesaid being murthered , without succession , the right and title of the crowne of pictes , succeeded by the law of god and man to the aforesaid alpinus . therefore desiring the pictes to accept him as their naturall prince , both of scotland and picts land : which they refusing , elected feredech to be their king. the scots ambassadors denounced battell to the pictes . king dongallvs preparing a great armie to passe against the pictes , perished in a boat passing ouer the water of spey , the seuenth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 68 alpinvs achaius sonne , began his raigne the yeare of the world 4801. the yeare of christ 831. after the raigne 1161. a valiant and good king , being right heire to the crowne of pictes , in a dangerous and cruell battell , killed feredech their king : then after the pictes elected brvdvs his sonne king , who was killed the first yeare by sedition among the pictes . his brother kenneth was made king , who comming with an armie against the scots , rent off his coate armour , and was fugitiue to the mountaines , where hee was shamefully killed by a countryman ( not knowne who he was ) . the pictes immediatly elected a fierce and valiant prince brvdvs , to be their king ; who directing ambassadors to alpinus , desiring peace , all matters to be redressed , and the olde band to bee renued . king alpinus answered that he would make no peace vntill the crowne of pictes were deliuered vnto him as righteous inheritor . brudus raised a great armie , and came ouer the bridge of dunkeld to angusse . the night afore the battell he caused all the carriage men and women ( that came with his armie ) to stand in arrayed battell with linnen shirts aboue their clothes , with such weapons and armour as they might furnish for the time . this done , hee ordayned an hundred horsemen , to gouerne them , without any noyse or din in the next woode ; commaunding none of them to come in sight vntill the battels were ioyned . king alpinus was at this time in a castle , which was situate on a hill , not farre from dundee , and beheld the armie of pictes , marching forwards , incontinent he arrayed his scots , then the battel 's ioyned with great slaughter on all parts . immediatly the carriage men and women afore rehearsed , came mouing forwards vpon the backe of the scots ; who belieuing that a fresh armie of pictes were to come against them ( not looked for ) at the last the scottes were fugitiue : for this hidden sleight before rehearsed , was the discomfiture of the scots armie . the pictes followed with cruell killing of all they might ouertake . in this battell was king alpinus taken and beheaded . the place where he was beheaded , is called pasalpin , that is , the head of alpin ; his body was buried at icolmkill , the third yeare of his raigne . after this great victory obtayned against the scots , bredus king of the pictes returned to camelon , and conuocated a councell , making their oathes neuer to desist from battell , vntill they had vtterly destroyed the scots , and made a statute , what euer he was that laboured to haue peace with the scots , hee should be beheaded . some of the wise pictes , not allowing their oathes and statutes , counsailed to vse victory with measure ( who were exiled ) and came into scotland . 69 kennethvs secundus ( surnamed the great ) succeeded his father alpine the yeare of the world 4804. in the yeare of christ 834. after the beginning of the realme of scotland 1164. a good and valiant king : he married the lord of the isles daughter , who bare to him three sonnes . the pictes comming against the scots , they contended amongst themselues for a thing of nought : thus was their armie diuided , and many slaine ( vntill night seuered them ) king brudus could not pacifie them ; therefore hee with the rest of his armie past home ; and hee shortly after died for displeasure . donsken his brother was elected king , and redressed all iniuries that he might . three yeares continued sundry incursions on both parts . king kenneth setling his wits to defend his realme , putting strong souldiers in all forts , adioyning to the borders of the picts , and commaunded his people to be daily exercised in chiualry , to be ready against euery trouble that might occurre . in the fourth yeare king kenneth made a conuention of his nobles , consulting how hee might reuenge his fathers slaughter , and obtayne the crowne of pictes ( rightfully appertayning vnto him ) . the season of the yeare being expedient to raise their armie , the nobles not consenting thereunto for the great slaughter lately made on their king and nobles ; therefore the king conuenting all his nobles , perswading them that hee had greater matters to propound . by solemne banquet within his palace , he royally entertayning them , vntill darke night : after they were brought to seueral chambers within the palace : and when they were in profound sleepe , the king caused sundry men to passe to euery seuerall bedde ( where the nobles did lie ) cladde with fish skinnes , hauing in their handes a clubbe of muscane tree , which with the fish skinnes in the darke did shew a marueilous glaunce and light all at one time ; each one holding in the other hands a bugle horne , and speaking through the horne ( appearing to be no mortall mans voice ) did shew they were angels sent by god to the princes and nobles of scotland , to cause them to obey the desires of the king ; for his desire was so iust and right , that the pictes for repulse thereof shall be brought to such extermination , that no puisance nor wisedome of man can resist : their speeches ended , they obscured their clubbe and skinnes vnder their cloathes ; their light vanishing at one time . the nobles seeing this vncouth vision , were astonisht , and tooke little rest that night : on the morrow at their conuention , each one declaring their visions , ( all being at one time ) concluded firmely the same to be no fantasie , but an heauenly vision ; assuring them of victory and felicity , reuealing the same to the king , who assured them that the same vision appeared to him the samehoure ( howbeit he would not first reueale it ) least his nobles should esteeme him glorious . by generall statute all able persons were commaunded sufficiently prepared to meet the king on an appointed day . in two battles the king being victorious against the pictes , to their vtter extermination , king donsken and all his nobles being killed , his sword and coat armour , were sent to icolmkill in perpetuall memory . the citie of camelon after long assault , was vtterly destroyed , and the pictes , men , wiues and children killed , after they had raigned in albion 1181. yeares . king kenneth instituted many good lawes , and brought the fatall chaire from ardgiel to scone , adding the realme of pictes to his dominion . this victorious king died the twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 70 donaldvs quintus , kennethus brother began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4824. in the yeare of christ 854. after the raigne 1184. a vitious & odious king ; his people made effeminate by his vices and sensuall pleasures ; his nobles admonishing him to reforme his euill life ; he continuing still without reformation . the pictes that were fugitiue amongst the englishmen , requesting osbraed and ella , two great princes of england , to moue warres against the scots : these two princes , with englishmen , britaines , and pictes , came into the warres , where king donaldus vanquished them in a great battell at iedbrugh . donald right insolent after this victory , came to the water of tweed with his armie ; and finding two ships laden with wines and victuals , which were taken and parted amongst his warriours . king donald was giuen to such voracity and lust of his wombe ( the whole campe vsing the same ) and being ful of tauernes , brothels and whores , followed dicing and carding , with contention and killing one another . king osbraed being aduertised hereof , preparing a new armie , came suddenly on the scots , and killed twenty thousand , being without armour , full of wine and sleepe . and king donald was taken in manner aforesaid , and ledde through the countrey in derision to all people . at which time king osbraed conquered great landes in scotland , assisted by britaines ; so that striuiling bridge was made marches to scots , britaines , and englishmen . king osbred coined money in the castle of striuiling ( by whom the striuiling money had first beginning ) . king donald being ransomed , returned into scotland , continuing in his vitious and abhominable life . he was taken by his nobles , and imprisoned ; where hee desperately killed himselfe the fift yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 71 constantinvs secundus kennethus sonne , began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4829. the yeare of christ 859. after the raigne 1189. a valiant king : hee married the prince of wales his daughter : she bare to him two sonnes and one daughter . hee instituted sundry good lawes for churchmen , and repressed all vitious vices engendred amongst his subiects by donald the ●…yrant , his predecessor ; in whose time hungar and hubba with a great fleete of danes landing in fiffe , vsed great cruelty ; a great number of religious persons being fugitiue in the isle of maye , with adrian their bishop , were all cruelly tormented and killed by the vnmercifull danes . constantine came with a great armie against hubba , and vanquished him . the scots being proude of this victory , and neglecting themselues , there followed a cruell and desperate battell : at last the scots were vanquished , and king constantine with his nobles , and ten thousand of his armie , killed in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne ; buried in icolmkill . 72 ethvs surnamed the swift , constantinus secundus fonne , began his raigne the yeare of the world 4844. the yeare of christ 874. after the raigne 1204. a luxurious prince , taken by his nobles and imprisoned ; where he died the third day of melancholy the second yeare of his raigne and buried in icolmkill . 73 gregorivs magnus , dongallus sonne , began his raign in the yeare of the world 4846. the year of christ 876. after the beginning of the raign of scotland 1206. he was but two moneths olde when his father perished in the water of spey , a valiant and greatly renowned prince in ●…ll parts : he instituted good lawes for his subiects ; and being very religious , ordeyned good lawes for churches and churchmen , and that all kings his successors at their coronation , should make their oath to defend the christian religion . he obtained great victory against danes and britains : and recouering all his lands lost in king donalds time , enlarged his bounds with northumberland , cumber and westmerland ; and being confederate with alurede king of england , the foresaid lands to remaine perpetually to be possessed by the scots . then after the king to represse irishmen , that were come into scotland , who had robbed the people , and made sundry incursions , he followed with a great armie ; and landing in ireland , vanquished brennius and cornelius , two princes of ireland with the whole nobles of ireland , and vanqu●…shed sundry townes , and besieged dublin with a strong siege , where their young prince duncane was , to whom the crowne of ireland appertained : at last the towne was rendred ( and the king made protector during the princes minority ) with all the fortes , and threescore pledges . the king returning with his victorious armie , and the pledges of the nobles of ireland ; and holding good peace the rest of his dayes , he died in peace the eighteenth yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill : he builded thecitie of aberdene . 74 donaldvs sixtus sonne to constantinus secundus , began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4864. in the yeare of christ 894. after the raigne 1234. a valiant prince and godly : he punished with great seuerity the blasphemers of the name of god : he married the king of britains daughter ; she bare to him one sonne and a daughter . at this time rovvland king of denmarke , gathered or conuened a great multitude of danes out of england , norway , swed●…icke , and denmarke ; and pastthrough fraunce , committing great cruelty vpon the people there . and because charles the great then emperour , was implicat with frequent warres in italy , against the sarazens . the danes raged with such open cruelty , that great bonds of france appeared to come vnder their dominion . emperour charles after his returne from italy , came with a great armie to resist the danes , and they ( nothing affraid ) went forward to meete him in their awfull manner . the princes of fraunce , knowing the great ferocity of the danes , proued and exercised in all partes where they were assayled ; and seeing them by frequent victory so insolent , that but by great slaughter they might not be vanquished , perswaded the emperour charles to make peace with the said rowland , that their realme should not be in ieopardy or put to extreme danger , through the wers both in italy and fraunce . peace was corroborate and contracted with the danes on this manner : the emperour charles his daughter shall be giuen in marriage to rowland , and hee with all the danes , shall receiue the christian faith , and in the name of dowry , shall haue all the landes which were named newstria , lying betwixt deip , picardy , paris , and bartany . these landes were then after rowland called normandy . rowland made king of normandy by receipt of baptisme , was named robert , and ordayned to pay for the said lands one yearely tribute to the aforesaid charles and his posterity , to signifie that the said landes were not conquered , but onely giuen from the crowne of fraunce in marriage . the yeare that the normans began to raigne in normandy , was from the incarnation of christ 886. yeares . the valiant deedes done by the danes , in sundrie parts of the world was in great admiration to all people . rowland called robert begat on the emperour charles his daughter . william who succeeded after his father . to william succeeded richard the first , to him succeeded richard the second , who had two sonnes robert and gvstard : robert begat william the bastard , duke of normandy , who conquered england , and vanquished both englishmen and danes , and possest the crowne thereof . and gustard past into italy , and made many and cruell inuasions in cicill calabre and naples . in this time the murrayes and rosses inuading each other with cruell killing 2000. men were killed on either parties , the king came vppon them with a great army , and punished the principall mouers of this trouble to the death , he dyed in peace the 11. yeare of his raigne : and buried in icolmkill . 75 constantinvs tertius ethus sonne began to raigne the yeare of the world 4874. in the yeare of christ 905. after the raigne 1245. a valiant prince , not fortunate in warres , he married the prince of wales his daughter : she bare to him one sonne , being vexed with warres in the time of king edward and athelstane his bastard sonne , he became a chanon in saint andrewes and died the 40. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 76. milcolvmbvs primus donaldus sonne began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4913. in the yeare of christ 943. after the raigne 1283. a valiant prince and good iusticiar , he married the lord of twylths daughter : she bare to him two sonnes and one daughter . a confederacy was made betweene england and scotland , that cumber and westmerland shal be perpetually annexed to the prince of scotland raigning for the time , to be holden in fee of the kings of england . by vertue whereof indulfus sonne to constantine the third , ( as prince of scotland , ) tooke possession both of cumber and westmerland . the king passing the rest of his dayes in peace & seuere iustice , which caused a conspiracy in murrayland , where this noble king was traiterously killed , the 9. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . the murtherers and their assistants all apprehended , were cruelly tormented and put to death . 77. indvlfvs constantinus tertius sonne , began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4922. in the yeare of christ 952. after the raigne 1282. a noble valiant prince . he vanquished in battaile hagon prince of norwaye and helricke prince of denmarke , and was killed by a stratageme of warre , the 9. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 78 dvffvs milcolumbus sonne began his raign the year of the world 4931. the yeare of christ 9●…1 . after the ragin 1291. a good prince & seuere iusticiar . he was trayterously murthered by one donalde captaine of forres in murrayland , and his wife was buried secretly vnder a bridge at kinlus . the murtherers being apprehended were seuerely executed and put to death the 5. yeare of his raigne , and buried in icolmkill . 79 cvlenvs indulfus sonne began his raigne the yeare of the world 4936. the yeare of christ 966. after the raigne 1296. he was marryed to the king of brittaines daughter , a vitious prince killed by rodardus a noble man at mesfen , whose daughter he had defloured , the 4. yeare of his raigne , and buried in icolmkill . 80 kennethvs tertius duffus brother began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4940. in the yeare of christ 970. after the raigne 1300. one valiant and wise prince and seuere iusticiar , for one time he caused 500. notable theeues to be hanged on gibbets , and inhibited their bodies to be taken downe , beside the castell of bertha to giue example to others . the danes with a great fleete of ships arriued in the mouth of taye , and destroyed the towne of mountrose , killing all the people & demolishing the wals , wasting the whole country comming thorough angus , with great cruelty , and laying a strong siege to the castle of bertha . the king came with a great army , there followed a dangerous and cruell battaile , with vncertaine victorie , valiantly defended on both parties . at the last one haye with his two sonnes , enforcing the scots that were fugitiue , to returne , and by their valiant courage renewing battaile , the danes were vanquished and fugitiue , the most part of them being slaine . the king enriched haye and his sonnes , giuing them a great part of the spoile of the danes , with as much land as a falcon flew ouer , of one mans hand vntill she lighted , called the falcons stone . so he obteined the whole lands betweene tay and arrole , sixe miles of length and foure of breadth . this was the beginning of the noble and ancient surname of hayes decorate with great honours , riches , and lands , valiant defendours of the realme of scotland : this noble king , ( so long decorate with iustice , ) the blinde and immoderate affection ( that he had to his sonne ) was occasion that he killed by poyson malcolme prince of scotland , and lord of cumber and westmerland . he abrogated the old lawes concerning the kings , and instituted . the king being deceased , his eldest sonne or nephew notwithstanding what age soeuer he were of , and though he were borne after his fathers death , shall succeed to the crowne . the nephew borne on the kings sonne shal be preferred before the nephew gotten on the kings daughter , and the nephew gotten by the kings brother shal be preferred before the nephew gotten on his sister : these lawes to be obserued amongst all other nobles in succession of their heritage . when the king is young , one noble man of great prudence and authoritie , shal be chosen gouernour of the realme vntill the king come to age of fourteene yeares , and then the king to gouerne his realme by his owne authoritie . all other inheritours shall succeede to their fathers heritage after the expiration of one and twentie yeares , and within that time they shal be gouerned by curatours or guardians , and vntill those yeares be outrunne , they shall not be admitted to claime their heritage : he proclaimed his sonne malcolme prince of scotland and lord of cumber and westmerland . once when the king was lying in his bed , he heard a voice saying , o kenneth belieue not , that the cursed killing of prince malcolme is hid from god ( o thou vnhappy tyrant which for desire of the crowne ) hast killed an innocent , inuading thy neighbour with treasonable murther , which thou wouldest haue punished with most rigour , if it had bin done by any other person then thy selfe . therefore thou hast incurred such hatred of god , that thou and thy sonne shal be suddainly killed , for thy nobles are conspired against thee . the king was greatly affrayde of this voice , and being very penitent , confessing his offence to a bishop , who comforting him , he did sundry good workes , appertaining to a christian prince . at the last king kenneth comming to the castell of fethercarn was ( as appeared ) thankfully receiued by fenella lady thereof , where in the midle of the castle most curiously wrought was an image of brasse , the similitude of the king , with a golden apple in his hand . the king perceiuing the same ( suspecting no treason ) counselled by the said lady being alone in the tower , the castle being apparelled with rich tapestries of golde & silke ouerlayed or thicked with copper . the king taking the apple with violence out of the hand of the image , immediately the titups of the cross-bowes were throwne vp ( being made with such engyne ) one of them shot the king thorough the body . the lady was fugitiue . there he died the 24. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 81 constantinvs quartus surnamed caluus . culenus sonne began to raigne ( vsurping the crowne ) in the yeare of the world 4964. in the yeare of christ 994 after the raigne 1324. he was killed in battaile at the town of crawmond in louthaine , the second yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 82 grimvs duffus sonne began his raigne in the yeare of the world 4966. in the yeare of christ 996. after the raigne 1326. ( a vitious vsurper of the crowne ) killed in battaile by malcolme his successour the eight yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 83 milcolvmbvs secundus kennethus third sonne beganne his raigne the yeare of the world 4974. in the yeare of christ 1004. after the raigne 1334. a valiant and wise king , he was often victorious against the danes . in his time beganne the auncient noble name of keith , whose house is decorated with great honours , being marshall of scotland . the king repaired and enlarged the cit●…y of aberdene then called murthlacke , he was killed by conspiracy of some of his nobles in the castle of glammess . the 30. yeare of his raigne he married the duke of normandies daughter , who bare to him three sonnes and two daughters , buried in icolmkill . the murtherers fugitiue in the night , chaunced into the loch or poole of forfarr , being frozen ouer , couered with snowe , were all drowned therein , by the righteous iudgement of god. 84 dvncanvs primus malcolme second daughter beatrix her sonne , began to raigne in the yeare of the world 5004. in the yeare of christ 1034. after the raigne 1364. a good and modest prince . in his time was thane or earle of lochquhaber banquho . of whome are descended the auncient and royall name of stevvarts . he was trayterously killed by makbeth the 6. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 85 macbethvs ( dowoda malcolme second daughters sonne ) began to raigne in the yeare of the world 5010. in the yeare of christ 1040. after the raigne 1370. in the beginning he was a valiant prince , and seuere iusticiar instituting many good lawes , at last by illusion of witches and sorcerers , he became a cruell tyrant and oppressor , at last killed in a battaile , vanquished by his successor king malcolme cammore , and killed by makduff thane or earle of fiffe the 17. yeare of his raigne , buried in icolmkill . 86 m●…lcolvmbvs surnamed cammore , duncane the first his sonne began to raign in the year of the world 5027 in the yeare of christ 1057. after the raigne of scotland 1387. he was a religious and valiant king , he rewarded his nobles with lands and offices , and commaunded that the lands and offices should be called after their names , he created many earles , lords , barons , and knights . they that were called thanes as fiff , menteith , athole , lenex , murray , caythnes , ros , angusse , were made earles : many new surnames came in at this time as calder , lokart , gordoun , seytonne , lawder , wauane , meldrome , schaw , liermond liberton struchquhan , cargill , rettray dondas , cock●…urne , mirtoun , me●…es , abercrummy , listye , names of offices steward , du●…ard , bannerman . at this time william duke of normandy conquered england holding battaile with king harold , and killed him in the yeare of christ 1066. edgar within age rightfull heire of england , seing the crowne conquerd , was desperate to succeed any way to the gouernement . to eschew all apparant d●…unger he tooke shipping with purpose to returne with his mother and sisters into vngerland , by contrary winds he arriued in forth in a part called the queenes ferrey . king malcolme was at that time in dunfermling , he came and tenderly receiued the said edgar with his mother and sisters , and married margaret eldest sister to the said edgar , william the conquerour hearing of his marriage , exiled all the friends of the said edgar , wherefore they came into scotland , many people to king malcolme whome he receiued and gaue them lands as their surnames , maxwell●…nd ●…nd sundry surnames , came out of vngerland to queene margaret as creitchton fotheringham , giffard melwill , borthuike out of fra●…nce came into scotland fraiseir , scincler , boswell , moutray , montgomery , cambell ▪ boyes , beton , taylifer and bothwell . in king malcolmes time was the recrosse erected , with the king of englands image on the one side , and the king of sotlands on the other , this stone crosse ( was march betweene the two realmes , standing in the middle of stan-moore ; queene margaret foresaid daughter to edward , sirnamed the outlaw , sonne to edward ironside , king of england , a very religious queene , after called s. margaret , who beare vnto king malcolme sixe sonnes ; edward the prince , edmund , etheldred , edgar , alexander and dauid , and two daughters , matilda or mawde ; sirnamed bona , wife to henry the fourth , sirnamed beauclerke , king of england , of whose vertues are extant an epigram . prosperit ie reioyced her not , to her griefe was no paine , prosperity affrayed her al 's , affliction was her gaine , her beauty was no cause of fall , in royall state nor pride , humbly alone in dignitie , in beauty onely good . she founded the church of carliel . the other daughter was married to eustatius earle of bolloigne : king malcolme builded the church of durham and dunfermling . hee was killed at the siege of anwike , by one robert mowbray , who vnarmed vpon a light horse , came out of the castle of anwike , with a lance in his hand , the keyes of the castle vpon the point of the launce , king malcolme looking earnestly thereunto , the aforesaid robert mowbray ran the king through the left eye , and ran hastily into the next wood . king william changed the name of this valiant knight , calling him percey , of whom are descended the earles of northumberland . king malcolme died the six and thirtieth yeare of his raigne , and his sonne prince edward , both buried in dunfermling . 87 donaldvs septimus , malcolme cammore his brother ( vsurped the crowne ) sirnamed bane , beganne to raigne in the yeare of the world 5063. in the yeare of christ 1093. after the raigne 1423. hee was expelled by duncane , bastard to malcolme , the first yeare of his raigne . 88 dvncanvs secundas bastard aforesaid ( vsurped the crowne ) killed by mak-pender thane of mernis , by procurement of donald the seuenth , who after was crowned . he gaue the north and west isles to the king of norway , to haue his assistance to recouer the crowne : he was taken captiue by his nobles , and his eyes put out : he died miserably in prison the third yeare of his second raigne , buried in dunfermling . 89 edgarvs malcolme cammors sonne , began to raigne in the yeare of the world 5068. in the yeare of christ 1098. after the raigne 1428. a good and religious king , the first annoynted king : he builded the priory of coldingham , and died peaceably the ninth yeare of his raigne , buried at dunfermling without succession . 90 alexander the first , sirnamed fierce , succeeded his brother the yeare of the world 5077. in the yeare of christ 1107. after the raigne 1437. a good and valiant king : he builded the abbeyes of scone and saintcolms inch ; he married sibilla , daughter to william duke of normandy , the seuenteenth yeare of his raigne , he died in peace , buried in dunfermling . 91 david . primus , king malcolms third youngest sonne , began his raigne the yeare of the world 5094. the yeare of christ 1124. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1454. a good , valiant , and very religious king : he builded many abbeyes , as holy-rood-house , kelso , iedborugh , melrose , newbottell , holmcultrane , dundranane , cambuskenneth , kinlosse , dunfermling , holme in cumber , two nunneries , one at carliel , the other at north berwick ; he founded two abbeyes , besides new castle , the one of s. benedicts order , the other of white monkes : hee founded 4. bishopricks , ros , breichin , dunkeld & dunblane ; ordeyning them great lands , rents and possessions , al out of the patrimony of the crown . king dauid of scotlād in his time possessed northumberland , cumber , huntington and westmerland ; he married the inheritrix of the aforesaid lands called mawde , daughter to the earle of northumberland , and iuditha daughters daughterto william the conquerer king of england . in the time of king stephen of england he repaired the towne of carliel with new wals : his sonne prince henry died with great lamentation of the whole realme , hauing three sonnes and three daughters . king dauid caused malcolme , ( eldest sonne vnto prince henry late deceased ) to be declared prince of scotland . after that he past into northumberland , and made william his second nephew earle thereof ; after he went to carliel , where he made henry ( the empresse her sonne prince of england ) knight , taking his oath hee should neuer take northumberland , cumber , westmerland and huntington from the empire of scotland : afterwards this victorious and religious king dauid died in peace , being greatly honoured and beloued of his subiects and neighbors , the nine and twentieth yeare of his raigne : he died in carliel , and buried in dunfermling . milcolvmbvs quartus ( sirnamed the mayden ) nephew to king dauid , began his raigne in the yeare of the world 5123. in the yeare of christ 1153. after the raigne 1483. a good and milde prince : he builded cowper abbey in anguisse , and subdued sundry rebellions , died at iedbourgh , buried at dunfermling the twelfth yeare of his raigne . 93 gvilielmvs ( sirnamed the lion ) succeeded his brother malcolme , in the yeare of the world 5135 in the yeare of christ 1165. after the raigne 1495. ( a good & valiant king vnfortunate ) he married emigerda , daughter to the earle of bewmont , who beare to him two sons and two daughters : he builded the abbey of abirbrothoke , she builded the abbey of bamerinoch , after that the castle of bertha was demolished by inundation of waters ( king guilliam narrowly escaping with his wife and children ) his young sonne and nurse perished , and sundry others : he founded and builded the towne called perth , and graunted sundry great priuiledges thereunto , now called s. iohns towne . the king continuing in peace died the nine and fortieth yeare of his raigne , buried in abirbrothoke . 94 alexander 2. succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 5184. in the yeare of christ 1214. after the raigne 1544. a valiant and good king , and seuere iusticiar : hee pacified all rebellion in his realme ; he agreed with king henry of england , and married his sister , reteyning northumberland , westmerland , cumber and huntington , and king alexanders two sisters were married vnto two great princes of england . he past into france , and renued the auncient band : in the meane time iane his queene died without any succession . the next yeare he married at roxbourgh mary daughter to ingelram , earle of coucey in fraunce , of great beauty , who bare to him a sonne , alexander who succeeded after him : he died in peace the fiue and thirtieth yeare of his raigne , buried in melrosse . 95 alexander tertius , succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 5219. in the yeare of christ 1249. after the raigne 1579. a good young prince , being at his coronation nine yeares of age . after that the kings of england and scotland , with their nobles conuened in yorke , where king henry the third of englands daughter margaret , was married to king alexander of scotland . enduring his tender age the realme of scotland was wel gouerned by his nobles ; be comming to perfect age , willing to execute iustice , summoned the earles of mentieth , athole and buchquhane , and the lord of strabogy , which were all of the name of comminges , and for non comperance denounced them rebels . they with their assistance being a great number , because there was of the same name ( by the aforesaid lords ) thirty knights and landed men . they imprisoned the king in striueling a certaine space . king acho of norway came into the isles with many danes . king alexander to resist him came with a great armie ; there followed a cruell and dangerous battell , long with vncertaine victory , at last the danes being vanquished , and foure and twenty thousand of them killed , acho was fugitiue to his ships : his whole nauie by tempestuous storme being spoyled ( returned with foure ships left of his whole fleete into norway ) . then after his sonne magnus renouncing all title to the isles , contracted his sonne hanigo ( to be married with king alexanders daughter one yeare of age ) at their both perfect age . at this time alexander earle of carrike past to the holy land , hauing a daughter martha , who succeeding in his heritage , who married a nobleman robert bruce , sonne & heire to robert bruce lorde of anandale in scotland , and lord of cleueland in england . this martha aforesaid inheritrix of carike , in the third yeare beare the noble and inuincible champion , robert bruce king of scotland : margaret sister to king henry the third of england , beare to king alexander two sonnes , prince alexander and dauid , one daughter margaret , married vnto hanigo magnus sonne , king of norway , who beare to him margaret called the mayden of norway . in this time died dauid king alexanders second sonne . alexander the prince was married at roxburge , vnto the earle of flanders daughter , whereat many of the nobles of scotland and england were present for thetime . the third yeare after prince alexander died at lundors the twentieth yeare of his age , to the great lamentation of the whole realme ; for in him failed the whole succession of king alexander the third ( except the mayden of norway ) who was begotten on his daughter margaret before rehearsed . king alexander by counsell of his nobles ( after the death of his first queene ) married ioleta the earle of drux daughter in fraunce , by whom he had no succession . he builded the crosse church of peblis . he died of a fal off his horse , ouer the west craig at kingorne , the seuen and thirtieth year of his raigne , buried in dunfermling . the day before the kings death , the earle of march demaunded of one thomas rymour , what wether should be the morrow ? thomas answered , that on the morrow before noone there shal blow the greatest winde that euer was heard in scotland : on the morrow being almost noone ( the ayre appearing calme ) the earle sent for the said thomas , and reprouing him , said , there was no appearance . thomas answering , yet noone is not past , immediatly commeth a post , and sheweth that the king was falne and killed . then thomas said to the earle , that is the winde that shall blow , to the great calamity of all scotland . after the death of king alexander the third , the realme was gouerned by sixe regents ; for the south side of forth , robert archbishop of glasgiue , iohn comming , and iohn the great steward of scotland . for the north side of forth vvilliam frester archbishop of saint andrewes . makduffe earle of fif●…e , iohn comming earle of buchquha●…e : they gouerned the space of seuen yeares . during which time edward the first king of england sent his ambassadors into scotland , for marriage of the mayden of norway aforesaid . the nobles of s●…land being agreed in all points , with the said king edward ( sirnamed longshankes ) the ambassadors of scotland directed to bring the mayden of norway , the right inheritrix of scotland with them : before their arriuing she was departed this present life , by meanes whereof great contention arose betweene robert bruse and iohn balioll , the deciding of the said matter was by the nobles of scotland ( vnwisely ) referred to king edward . 96 iohannes balliolvs was preferred before robert bruse , by king edward , sirnamed longshanke , who being elected iudge in the foresaid controuersie , admitting him king , with condition that the said baliol should acknowledge him for his superiour : which condition ( refused by rob●…rt bruse ) hee as an auaritious vnworthy man receiued , began to raigne in the yeare of the world 5263. in the yeare of christ 1293. after the raigne 1923. a vaine glorious man , little respecting the good of his country , in the fourth yeare he was expelled by the aforesaid king edward into france , where he died long after in exile , scotland being without king or gouernour the space of nine yeares : during which time king edward cruelly oppressed the land , destroyed the whole auncient monuments , and shedde much innocent blood . about this time william wallace , sonne to sir andrew wallace of cragy knight , of huge stature and maruellous strength of body , with good knowledge and skill in warlike enterprises ; hereunto such hardinesse of stomacke , in attempting all maner of dangerous exploits , that his match was not any where lightly to be found : he bare inward hate against the english nation , when the fame of his worthy actes were notified , many nobles and commons were ready to assist him : therefore hee was chosen gouernor vnder the baliol , to deliuer the realme from bondage of england . at this time many abbeyes and spirituall benefices were in englishmens hand , which he by commission of the archbishop of s. andrew , auoyded and put forth of all partes , and receyuing the whole armie that was vnder the conduct of iohn cuning earle of bucquhan ; he conquered many castles , fortes and strengths out of english mens hands , king edward being in fraunce , hearing hereof , sent his lieutenant hugh crassingham with a great armie into scotland , where vvilliam vvallace encountring him at striueling bridge , killed the said crassingham , with the most part of his armie , many being drowned , and few escaping away with life : great dearth being in scotland , he gathered a mightie armie , and past into northumberland , wasting and spoyling the countrey to newcastle ; for he with his armie remained in england , almost the whole winter from the feast of all saints , vntill candlemas , liuing vppon the spoyle of englishmens goods . king edward being in fraunce , hearing the deedes of vvallace , sent his ambassadour , so●…e menacing him that had inuaded his realme , which he durst not haue done , if he had beene at home . vvallace answered , that he had taken the aduantage , as he had done in the wrongfull conquest of scotland ( he being chosen by the nobles as indifferent iudge , and further sent word vnto king edward , that ( if god fortunate him to liue ) he purposed to holde his easter in england : and comming with an armie of thirty thousand valiant men into england at the appointed time , king edward was readie with an army of threescore thousand vpon staines moore to giue them battell . being ready to ioyne , the englishmen drew backe , hauing at that time no lust to fight , as appeared : the scots seeing them draw backe would haue followed , but vvallace fearing deceit , stayed them and returned ( with infinit spoyle and booties gotten in that iourney ) into scotland . king edward being aduertised that vvallace was greatly enuied by the cunings , & robert la bruse , raised a great armie , and came to falkirke , and vvallace not knowing of any deceit , raised a great armie to resist being in sight of englishmen , there began a great contention for the leading of the vantguard , and by their owne misgouernance , many noblemen were killed , robert bruse was against the scottishmen that day . shortly then after vvallace came , and renounced in perth the gouernement , and also refused great and large offers of king edward , to be his subiect , and true man : iohn cuning and simon froser being admitted gouernours , king edward sent a great armie to perth , subduing the countrey . the aforesaid gouernours raised an armie of eight thousand valiant men . king edward sent with ralph comfray thirty thousand men , deuiding them in three armies , to passe in three sundry parts through the countrey and to meete at rosling . the gouernours aforesaid , encountring with the first ten thousand defeated them , and so at three sundry times in one day the scots obtained the victory : king edward impatient hereof , gathered a mighty army of sundry nations , and subdued with great cruelty the most part of the scottish nation . about this time was willam wallace traiterously betrayed by sir iohn menteith at glascoe , and deliuered king to edward , and being brought to london , was cruelly executed in smithfield . king edward accusing robert bruse of a contract made betwixt him and iohn cumyng , and he straitly denying the same was aduertised by the earle of glocester , of the kings displeasure , causing a smith to shoe his horses backward in the winter , the ground being couered with snow he came into scotland , howbeit he was sharply pursued , and mee●…ng with his brother and some friends , and being aduertised that the cumyng was in the friers at dumfreis . after hard commoning , he suddenly killed him , wherethrough hee purchased many enemies , both english men and scottish men , and was hardly pursued ( especially by the cumyngs being then very potent and rich , and a great number of them . 97 robertvs brvss●…vs ( sonne to isabell king vvilliams brothers daughter ) began his raigne in the yeare of the world 5276. in the yeare of christ 1306 after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1636. a valiant king , good and wise ( in his beginning subiect to great affliction and persecution . at last being assisted by iames dowglasse ) cosen to william lambertō archbishop of saint andrewes ) tooke all his gold and horses , with sundrie young valia●…t men of his opinion , who remained with the said king robert , both in warres and peace to the end of his life . of this iames dowglasse descended the valiant and illuster surname of dowglasse the sure target , and defence of scotland , as in old verse sheweth . so many good as of the dowglasse hath beene , of one surname was neuer in scotland seene . king robert hauing van quishet king edward the second of carnaruen being of sundrie nations to horse and foote three hundreth thousand warriours , and king robert not aboue thirtie thousand olde , well exercised valiant men at the battell of bannockburne , deliuered scotland free from all seruitude of england : all englishmen being expelled out of the land . hee married first isabel daughter to the earle of marre , who bare to him margery , married to walter the great steward of scotland , after her death he married the daughter of haymerus de burck earle of haltouia or hulster in ireland , who bare to him dauid the prince , margaret countesse of sudderland , and mawde that died young . iohn balioll transferred his right of the crowne of scotland vnto king robert and his heires . in this time hanton an englishman ) for the killing of one spencer came into scotland , and was courteously receiued by king robert , and rewarded him with the lands of cadyowe , whose posteritie is spread in great number , now called hamiltons endowed with great honour and riches . king robert died at cardrose the 24. yere of his raign , buried in dumfermling . after this time sir iames dowglasse ( as most worthy champion ) was chosen by the nobles to passe with king roberts heart to ierusalem , and there to cause to bury the same within the temple beside the sepulchre of our lord , conforme to the said kings direction , because he had auouched or vowed , till he had past with a great armie in defence of the christian faith against the turkes and saracens ( if he had not beene hindered or stayed by warres at home ) and now preuented by death . sir iames dowglasse willingly obeyed , as he that most faithfully had serued king robert in his life time , and inclosing the heart in a case of gold , enbalmed with sweet spices , and precious oyntments , accompanied with sir william sinclair , and sir robert logane , with many other noble and valiant men , past and buried the said heart with great reuerence and solemnity at the place appointed . therefore the dowglas buries the bloudy heart in their armes or coat . there after sir iames dowglasse with his noble and valiant men accompanied with other christian princes then present : many times obtained great victorie against the turkes and sarazens . so that by his often victories he purchast great honours of the christian name . purposing to returne home , by tempestuous winds , was compelled to land in spaine vpon the borders of granad , where he assisting the king of aragon in his warres against the sarazens , obtaining great victories . at last ( being negligent of himselfe ) was inclosed with one ambushment purposely lead for him by the sarazens , he and his most valiantly defending were vanquisht and killed with all his nobles and valiant men . thus ended the noble and valiant dowglasse , one of the most worthy and renowned knights that was in his daies . it is chronicled that he was victorious against the turks and sarazens , thirteene times , and against others his enemies in battell fiftie seuen times in memory of the dowglasse , in our time there was a port or gate in danskin called the dowglas port . now reedified sumptuously ( called the hochindure ) the high port , also there are sundrie earls in the easterne parts of that name , and specially one was called graue or earle scotus , a great nicromancer , his title was ieronimus scotus , graue or earle of dowglasse , his brethren dwell in italy . 98 david brvssivs succeeded his father the yeare of the world 5300. in the yeare of christ 1330. after the raigne 1660. a good prince subiect to much affliction in his youth , being first after the death of earle thomas ranulph his regent , forced for his preseruation to passe into france , and returning home at the battell of durham , was taken and detained prisoner in england twelue yeares , after he was at liberty , hee married the foresaid iane , daughter to edward the secōd , king of england , after her death he married margaret logy daughter to sir iohn logy knight , and died at edenbourgh without succession , the fortieth yeare of his raigne , buried in hollyrood house . 99 edvvardvs balliolvs , sonne to iohn balioll , assisted by king edward the third , vsurped the crowne the yeare of the world 5302. in the yeare of christ 1332. after the raigne 1662. hee was expelled by king dauids regents , and king dauid established . 100 robertvs stvartvs , the first king of the stewarts , sonne to vvalter the great steward , and margery bruce , king robert bruce his daughter , succeeded his mothers brother in the yeare of the world , 5●…41 . in the yeare of christ 1371. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1701. a good , valiant , and victorious king , hee married eufame , daughter to hugh earle of r●…sse , who bare to him , dauid earle of straitherne . vvaler earle of athole , and alexander earle of buchq●…ham , lord badyenoch , after her death for the affection hee bare to his children begotten before his marriage , hee married elizabeth mure , daughter to sir adam mure knight ; who had borne to him iohn , after called robert the third , earle of carricke , and robert earle of fiffe , and menteth and eufame , wife to iames earle of dowglasse , hee died at dundonald , and buried at scone the nineteenth yeare of his raigne . 101 robertvs tertius ( sirnamed iohn fernyar ) succ●…eded his father , in the yeare of the world 5360. in the yeare of christ 1390. after the raigne 1720. he was a modest and peaceable prince : hee married annabill drummond , daughter to the knight of stobhall , who bare to him dauid the prince , duke of rothsay , who died in prison in falkland , by procurement of robert duke of albany ( who aspired to the crowne ) and iames his second sonne , taken prisoner in his iourney into fraunce , and deteyned by englishmen the space of eighteene yeares . king robert died of displeasure ( when he heard his one sonne deceased in falkland , and the other sonne taken prisoner the sixteenth yeare of his raigne , buried in paslay . robert duke of albany , earle of fiffe and mentieth , gouerned scotland the yeare of the world 5376. in the yeare of christ 1406. after the raigne 1736. iames the first being captiue in england , a noble and valiant prince : he died the fourteenth yeare of his gouernment , duke murdo earle of fiffe and mentieth , was made gouernour foure yeares , iames the first returning home from captiuitie , caused the said murdo and his sonne to be executed for oppression of his subiects . 102 iacobvs primus began his raigne the yeare of the world 5394. in the yeare of christ 1424. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1754. a godly , wise , learned and vertuous prince , and a seuere iusticiar ; hee married iane daughter to the duke of somerset , marquesse dorset , sonne to iohn of gaunt , third sonne to edward the third , the victorious king of england ; who did beare to him two sonnes twinnes , alexander who died shortly , and iames the second , who succeeded his father , and sixe daughters ; margaret wife to lewes the eleuenth dolphin , then after king of fraunce , elizabeth duchesse of britaine , iane countesse of huntley , elenor duchesse of austria , mary wife to the lord camphier , and annabella : he was killed at perth trayterously , by walter earle of athole . robert grahame and their complices , who were all apprehended and cruelly tormented to death the thirteenth yeare of his raigne , after his deliuerance out of england , and the one and thirtieth yeare after the death of his father , buried in the charterhouse of perth , which he founded . 103 iacobvs secundus succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 5407. in the yeare of christ 1437. after the raigne 1767. ( a prince subiect to great troubles in his youth ) hee married margaret daughter to arnold duke of gilder , sisters daughter to charles , sirnamed audax , the last duke of burgundy , who bare to him iames 3. alexander duke of albany ; hee married the earle of orkneyes daughter , and begat on her alexander bishop of murray : hee parting with her , married in fraunce the countesse of boloine , and begat on her iohn stewart duke of albany , who was many yeares gouernour of scotland . the third sonne iohn was earle of marre , died in the canon-gate without succession : the first daughter married one thomas boyd earle of arran , after his death married the lord hammilton ; and by that way the house of hammilton is decorated by the kings bloud . this king was killed at the siege of roxebourgh the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried at holy-rood-house . 104 iacobvs tertius succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 5430. in the yeare of christ 1460. after the raigne 1790. a good prince ( corrupted with wicked courtiers ) hee married margaret , daughter to the king of denmarke ( sirnamed diues ) and king of norway , who in his fauour renounced all title that hee had any manner of way to orkney , schetland and the isles for euer , who bare to him iames the fourth , alexander bishop of s. andrewes and duke of albany , and iohn earle of marre . they died both without succession ; he made peace with king henry of england , who ( like a liberall prince ) for the fauour he had receiued in scotland , restored the towne of berwicke to the king. thomas cochrane and vvilliam rogers ( his peruerse courtiers ) were hanged at the bridge of lawder . the king was killed at bannockburne the nine and twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried at cambuskenneth . 105 iacobvs quartus succeeded his father in the yeare of the world 5459. in the yeare of christ 1489. after the raigne 1819. a noble and couragious prince , both wise and godly : he made peace with england , and married margaret , eldest daughter to henry the seuenth king of england , & elizabeth , daughter to edward the fourth , in whose persons the cruell warres betweene the houses of lancaster and yorke were pacified , the foresaid margaret bare to him iames the fift : he was killed at flowdon in battell the fiue and twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried at holy-rood-house . 106 iacobvs quintus succeded his father in the yeare of the world 5484. in the yeare of christ 1514. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1844. a wise valiant prince , and seuere iusticiar : he married magdalen daughter to the king of fraunce , who died shortly after ; he married mary of lorraine , duchesse of longeuile , daughter to claude duke of guise , who bare to him two sonnes and one daughter marie : hee died of displeasure at falkland , the nine and twentieth yeare of his raigne , buried at holy-rood-house . 107 maria succeeded her father in the yeare of the world 5513. in the yeare of christ 1543. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1873. ( a princesse vertuously enclined ) she married francis dolphin , after king of france ; after whose death she returned into scotland , and married henry stewart duke of albany , &c. lord darley , a comely prince , sonne to mathew earle of lennox ( pronepnoy to henry the seuenth king of england ) to whom she bare charles : iames the sixth now our most gratious soueraigne king , afterwards comming into england , was receiued with greathumanity , and after she was captiue , at length put to death the eighth of february . 1586. 108 carolvs iacobvs sixtus , succeeded to his mother in the yeare of the world 5537. in the yeare of christ 1567. after the beginning of the raigne of scotland 1897. a godly learned prince , indued with singular knowledge , and a sincere professor of the gospell : he married anna daughter to fredericke the second , king of denmarke and norway ; and sophia onely daughter to ulricus duke of meckleburgh , our most gratious queene , who hath borne the royall and hopefull prince , henry frederikc prince of wales , duke of rothsay and cornewall , earle palatin of chester , great steward of scotland , and earle of carect , the nineteenth of february , 1593. in the castle of striueling ; elizabeth the nineteenth of august 1596. charles duke of yorke and albany , earle of rosse , the nineteenth of nouember 1600. his maiesty is now king of great britaine , france and ireland , defender of the faith . the lord of his great mercy , for christ his sake , encrease all royall vertues in his highnesse , that he may remaine a comfort vnto christs church , within his maiesties dominions . to the authour . the romane tullie , rose of all that race , of facund mercurs ; boldly vnaffrayde in milos fence , to clodius deface this sacred sentence in the senate sayd : nought only for our selues we 're borne to toyle , but for our friends , and for our natiue soyle . thou wisely weighed hes these words i finde , thou cairs to cleere thy countrey from obscure , to please thy friends , thou fram'st thy wit and minde , and by thy light thy countries light is pure : she brought thee forth to light , thou takes like paine , who made thee see , to make her shine againe . w. t. a trve description and division of the whole realme of scotland , of the situation , distance , and commoditie in euery part thereof , and of the principall cities , townes , abbeyes , palaces , forts , castles , towres , and riuers . scotland is diuided from england by certaine marches , from the east sea , called the scottish sea , to the west seas , called the ireland sea , from the mouth of tweed , vp the same riuer , till it come betwixt werke and hadden , where the march leaues the riuer , and passing south-west by dearne wayes , knowne onely to the inhabitants of that countrey , till it come to redden-burne , or water ; and so vp the said burne , while it come to the height of the fellis of cheuiot , and so west by the toppes of the fellis , 'till a march ditch ( called the meir ditch ) and so endlong in the meir ditch , till it fall in the riuer of carshope , and downe carshope while it fall in liddail , and downe liddail while eske and liddail meete , and taking aiffe at the north side of eske , goeth endlong a ditch , while it come to the riuer of sarke , and so downe sarke while it fall in sulwait , where the waters of annan , and nith , running seuerally in sulway , all in one channell in the irish sea : maketh plentie of fishes : also by ●…owing and ebbing of furious tides , made through many lands ends , and partly by inundation of the said waters , there is very dangerous quicke sands , called sulway sands , that no man may passe safely ouer them without perill ( except they haue one accustomed guide ) because of sinking holes that are frequent in them , being euery tyde ouerflowed with the sea. the trauellers take their iourney through them at a low or ebbe water : if any man or horse fall in , his fellow trauellers casting their clokes or other clothes about that part where he sinkes in , and so running often about , the sand swels vp in a height , and so vomits out that which is fallen in the sinking hole . vpon the banckes of sulway in iune and iuly , the countrey people gather vp the sand within the flood-marke , bringing it to land , and laying it in great heapes . there after taking the salt spring water , and casting it vpon the sand ( with a certaine deuice ) causing the water to runne through the sand to a hollow pit , purposely made to receiue the water : which water being boiled in a little vessell of lead , there is made thereof good white salt , and sometimes gray salt , after the temperance of the weather . this part is called the salt ●…oats . the reason of the variation of the foresaid marches was , vpon diuers debates and controuersies , arising betwixt the borderers of both the realmes ; which being referred to the arbitr●…ment of sundry commissioners , of both the nations , were set down according to the power of the parties . thus the marches being set forth particularly , beginning at the mers , wherein at the mouth of tweede stands the auncient and martiall towne of barwicke , and strong castle , well walled and strengthned : the chiefe town of the mers , the scottish sea on the east . next is the towne of haymouth , with the castles of aytowne , hutonhall , mander●…own , cockburne , easter and wester nisbets , with wedderlie , the towne and abbey of coldingham by the sea. south-west from barwicke lies the towne of duns , the towne of langton with the castle , the abbeyes of coldstreame and ecklis demolished , the castles of craighame , the earle of homes principall residence , and wedderburne , the very strong castle of fastcastle . the riuers in the mers are ei , whittitur , blakitur , and ednem water . this countrey is plenteous and abundant in all things necessary for the vse of man. west from the mers lies tewiotdail , liddisdail , ewisdail , eskdail , wauchopdail , and annandail , taking their names from t●…ot , liddil , ews , eske , wauchope , and annan , running seueraily through the said dailes . in tewiotdail lies the auncient strong castle of roxbourgh demolished . the castle of cesfurd , the lord of roxbourgh speciall residence : the castles of little-deane , and makerstowne , the auncient towne and abbey of kelso , with the castle of flures , the towne and abbey of iedbourgh , the castles of bown-iedburgh , hunthill , hu●…delie , crailing , and edyarstowne , with many other stone strong houses , tedious to describe , the towne and abbey of melrose , the towne and abbey of driburgh , the towne of hawicke , the castles of kaiwers and branxholme , the lord of balcleuchs special residence . the riuers in tewiotdail are tiot , tweed , kail , auchnom , ied , rewl , slitricke , borthuike and eall . in liddisdail is the auncient castle of harmetage : the castles of prickinhauch , mangerstowne and whittow in eskdail is the castle of langhome . in annundaile is the castle of lochmabane , inuironed with a number of loches , replenished with diuers goodly fishes . the lord maxwels speciall residence . the townes of annandaile are , the towne of annanwich , a strong demolished castle , the towne of lochmabane , the towne of moffat , the castles of bonschaw , newby bred-kirk , hoddon , howmanis , and hoddamstans , next standeth the watch tower of repentance . the castles of loch-house , loch-wood , speldings , ros , and kirk-michael . the riuers in annandaile are annan , sark , kirtill milk , ey , kinnill , ewan , and moffat , a fertile countrie , and good for pastoring : west from annandaile lies niddisdaile , taking the name from the water of nith , where stands the towne and castle of dumfreis with a pleasant bridge of large fine stones , the towne and castle of sanquhar . the lord sanquhars speciall residence the town of disdeare , the colledge of lincluden , the abbey of haliwode . in niddisdaile are diuers ancient houses , and castles demolished : and yet standing , the strong castle of carlauerock , the ancient castle of drumlainrig , and disdeir , the ancient castle of mortoun demolished , the castles of closburn , the castle of torthorrall , the lord of torthorrails , principall residence , the castles of muswell and glencarne . north from niddisdaile a little inclining to the east lies cliddisdaile . cliddisdaile taking the name from the riuer clyde beginning at crawfurd moore , wherein lies crawfert-iohn , dowglasdale , ewendaile ; carne-wath moore , bodwell moore , the townes of cliddisdaile are lanarke , hamilton towne and palice . the marquesse of hamiltons speciall residence with the castle demolished , boithwell with the colledge . the citie and castle of glasgow , the archbishop seate , verie populous with a sumptuous cathedrall church containing a lower and ouer church , couered with lead , also a flourishing vniuersitie in liberall sciences and theology : adiacient to this citie is a large stone bridge ouer the riuer clide , wherein falles diuers other the riuers as ewen , dowglasse●… , lismehago , there is an abbey of the same name , the water of ewan , the water of cadder , the two maidens , and cutter water . in cliddisdaile is the castle of crawfurde , the ancient castle of dowglasse , the earle of anguish principall residence . the castles of crawfurd-iohn , lamington , couthley , the strong castle of draffan . this countrey is plentifull of all necessaries . in the ouer ward of cliddisdaile , there is a hill or mount where ou●… springs three riuers , tweed running in the scottish sea , ann●…n in the irish sea , and clide in the great ocean , south-east from cliddisdaile lyeth , tweddaile , named so from tweed , the speciall towne is peblis with a religious house called the crose church , and the castle of drochellis , with the strong castle of neid●…eth , the lord z●…steris residence . the castles of traquhair , grisum , ormstoun , horsburge , dawicke , dremmelger , smithfield , cringeltie , and dearn-hall . the waters of tweddaile are tweede , quair , mamier , higger , tarffe , lyne peblis water , and lithnops . this countrey is good for pasturing . east from tweddaile lieth heriot moore , galla water , and lauderdaile , with the towne and castle of lauder , taking the name from the water of lidder , there being pendicles of other shieres , i omit particularly to describe them , south from tweddaile lieth forrest shyre , ●…he speciall towne is sel-kirk , three miles distant therefrom is the old castle of neuwark . there is two goodly riuers , zara , and ethrik , both falling in tweede , zara cometh out of a great loth called the loth of the lowis , wherein is abundāce of fishes , this country is also good for pasturing . lothian , taking the name from loth king of the pi●…s is deuided from the mers , by one part called the easter peece , & by lammer-mure on the south from tweddaile on the southwest . in east lothian are the castles of dunglasse , innerwick , broxmouth , and spot , stanypeth , waigtoun , whittingham , nunraw , harmostoun , saltoun , kieto , winttoun ; ormestoun , the townes in lothian are dumbarre , with a stong castle demolished the townes of tuningham , and north barwicke with an abbey , dirltoun and castle , fentoun towne and castle , seitoun towne and pallace . the earle of winton speciall residence , the strong hold and castle of tamtalloun , the towne of aber-lady . haddingtun towne and abbey , the castle of lethingtoun , the lord thirlstans speciall residence , the the castle of creichtoun , sowtray abbey , the towne of prestoun with the castle , the towne of prestoun pannes , the townes of tranent , mussilburgh , and enneresk . the towne of dalkenh with the castle , the earle of mortons speciall residence , the towne of new-botlie , with the abbey : the earle lothians residence , the towne of letth a commodious hauen for ships , and the sea port of edinburgh right well shipped . edinburgh , the speciall and headburgh in scotland , chiefe iustice seate of the realme , strongelie builded with stone . the most part of the houses are fiue , sixe , or seuen stories high , wherein is a goodly vniuersity , florishing in all sciences , for instruction of the youth ; fortified on the west , with a most strong castle builded vpon a high rock , kept by the kings captains , which castle commands the said burgh , called of old the maiden castle , founded by cruthneus camelon , the first king of picts . before the birth of our sauiour 330 yeares : circuite vpon the east , south and west with a stone wall , and vpon the north strengthned with a loch . it is also decored with the kings pallace , and abbey of holy rood-house vpon the east part : within seuen miles to this burgh , vpon the east , south and west parts , and within two miles vpon the north part , there is of noble and gentlemens pallaces , castles and strong builded towres and stone houses ( not as yet nominated ) aboue an hundreth . also the towne of cramond , lying vpon almond . the riuers in lothiane , are tene , aske , the riuer of leith , the water of almond , lothiane is very plenteous & right abundant in all things necessary for the vse and sustentation of man. next east lothian lies in west lothian , the shirifdome of linlithgow , with the towne of linlithgow , and the most pleasant kings pallace , with a very commodious parke and loch vnder the pallace wall . not farre distant is the strong fortresse and castle of blacknesse , inuironed with the sea. the ancient demolished castle of abercorne , the towne of the queenes ferry . the castles of dundas , barnbugall , cragiehall , didestowne , newlistowne , the towne of kirklistown , the castles of neddrie , cadder , torphican , kinneil , the towne of bareston nes. auenne water , whereon there is a stone bridge , deuides sterling shire from west lothean at the south : the firth or forth at the east ; which firth piece and prede becommes narrow , till it grow to the quantity of a reasonable riuer , neerer vnto striueling bridge . there is but one water worthy to make account of , that runnes thorow it , named carron . there are two little earthen knols , builded as may appeare , by men , ( being auncient monuments ) called duini pacis , that is , the knols of peace . two miles downward vpon the same water , there is a round building without lime , made of hard stone , in such sort that one part of the vppermost stones i●…denied with the stone that lies directly vnder it ; so that the whole worke , by this coniunction mutuall , and burthen of the stones , vphold it selfe ; growing narrow by little and little from the ground to the head , where it is open like a doue-coat . the common people call it anthurs ouen . vpon carson was situate the famous citie of camelon , chiefe citie of the pictes , founded by cruthneus camelon , afore the birth of christ three hundred and thirty yeares , destroyed and abolished by king kenneth the great , about the yeare of christ 846. in this country is the abbey of manwell ; the castles of haning , powerile , and cummernald , the earle of wigtowns residence , with the woode , the ●…ore wood , and tore wood side , the towne of falkirk , the castles of kers , and calender , the earle of linlithgow residence . the castles of donipace , harbertshire , west quarter , arth , poffowles , carnoke , bruse castle , the palace of elphigstowne , the lord elphingstones residence , the castles and towers of easter and wester polmais , and chattrishall . the auncient towne , with the most strong fortiesse and castle , and sumptuous palace of striueling , builded vpon a high rock , with a pleasant and commodious parke vnder the castle wall . in this shire is the castles and towres of towch , gargunnok , broich , lekke , dundaffe , kilsyith , manners , and powes . beyond the bridge of striueling lies the abbey of cambus , kinneth , with the castle , the towne and castle of alloway , the towne and castle of clackmannan , the castles of tulliallan & sawchy , blair , valeyfeild , kinnedder , aikinhed , menstre , the town and abbey of culrosh , with the new builded palace . next adiacent to striueling shire lies lennox , diuided from the barony of renfrew , by clyde : from glasgow , by the water of heluin , at the foote of the hilles of grangebean , loch-lomond runnes downe a low valley foure and twenty miles of length , and eight of breadth , hauing more then twenty foure islands within the same . this lo●… besides abundance of other fishes , hath a kinde of fish of the owne , named pollac , very pleasant to eate : the water of leuin runneth out of loch-lomond southward , which water hath giuen the name to the country , running so strong , that no man ( without danger ) may passe the same . lenin entreth into clyde , neere to the most strong and inuincible fortresse and castle of dumbarton , standing vpon very high rockes , with abundance of fresh water springs , one spring being in summer wholsome cold , and in winter sweete , warme : no rocke nor hill , being within more as a mile to the foresaid strength and castle . next adiacent is the towne of dunbarton , pleasantly situate vpon the riuer of leuin , the principall towne in the duchie of lennox ; within the which there is many strong castles , towers and stone houses , as the castles and towers of kirkmichael , rosdo , tarbat , arnecaple , kilmahow , ardeth , kilmarannoch , buquhannane , drummakeil , cragiuarne , ballindalloch , kilcroch , balglas , fentrie , duntreith , craigbarnut , clorct woodhed , cochnoch , balquhannaran , drumry , dunglas with sundry others tedious to declare . the duke of lennox is superior to the most part of the gentlemen inhabitants in this countrey , and many in the barony . next lies the barony of renfrew , taking the name from the towne of renfrew , wherein the session of iustice is kept to the countrey . it is diuided in the midst by two waters , both called carth. the towne of paislay pleasantly situate vpon the riuer carth , with the abbey thereof , the earle of abircornes speciall residence , with most pleasant orchards and gardens . in this countrey lies the castle of sempil , the lord sempils special residence , with the castles and towers of crukstone , marns , cathcart , hag , vpper pollok and nether polloke , hakket , the lord ros residence . cardonald the lord of blantyrs residence , blackhall , caldwel , stanelie , ellerslie , ihonstown , waterstowne , ramfuley , dochail , raalstowne , biltries , craganis , housloun , barrrochane , dargewell , blackstoun , selwiland , walkinshaw , inchchennā , arskin , bishoptoun boghall , funlastown , new werke , grinoke , ardgowan , glengarnoch , kilburne , & lady-land , with many others , strong stone houses tedious to rehearse . these countries aforesaid are plenteous in cornes bestiall and fishings . next lies cuningham , deuided from kyle , by the water of vrwine : at the foote thereof is situate the towne of vrwine , a goodly marchant towne , with a strong stone bridge . the towne of kilmarnocke , the towne and castle of kilmaris , the earle of glencarnes residence , the town & castle of newmils , the towne of salt coats , where great store of white salt is made , the towne of largs , the town and abbey of kilwinning , the castle of deane the lord boyds residēce , the castle & palace of lowdon the lord lowdons speciall residence , the castles of eglintowne , kirelaw , ardrossin , the earle of eglingtowns residence , cuningham-head , blair , robertland , gyffin , eastwood , calwel , rowallen , law , fairly , kelburne , arneil , knock , skelmurly . in the towne of vrwine the iudge ordinary holdes iustice . kyle and cuningham were called of olde silu●…a . their countries are fertile in cornes and bestiall . next lies kyle , diuided from carricke , by the water downe , which descends out of loch-downe , wherin there is a strong tower builded vpon an isle . this water runnes west in the firth of clyde , in the midst of kyle runnes the water of air , which diuides kyle in kings kyle , and kyle stewart , a part of the princes principalitie . at the mouth of the water , on the south side is situate the auncient marchant towne of air , taking the name from the water , the principall bourgh of the whole shire , pleasantly builded in a plaine field , hard on the sea , very populous , and well shipped , with faire stone houses , most couered with blew sklate , with a large stone bridge , passing to the new town of air , with a castle and palace . the towne and castle of machling , the town and castle of cumnoke , the towne of preseike , the iustice seate of kyle stewart , the townes of gastown and ricardtown , the castles of dundonald , sundrum , the lord of cathearts residence . the castles of ochiltrie , with the towne , the lord ochiltres residence . the castles of caprintown , gaitgirth , cragie , entirkign , gastown , sesnocke , carnal , bar , loc●…oreis , terringean cars , drongane , sorne , dregornie , sornbeg , monton , afflecke and barskymmyn , the loch of martuane , with a strong tower . loch fergus , with an isle , with many growing trees , where great plenty of herons resort , with the loch of feal : there is a decayed monastry in it . the riuers in kyle are air , luggar , feal and sesnocke , luggar and feal runnes in the water of air , and so in the firth of clyde . the water of sesnocke runnes in the water of vruing , and so in clyde . this countrey abounds in strong & valiant men , where was borne the most renowned and valiant champion william wallace , in the barony called ricardtown , then his fathers style , thereafter of craigy and ricardtowne . fiue miles from air is a place called coels field , where the king of britons called coell was killed , by the scots and pictes , vpon the water of dewne . this countrey is plenteous of bestiall , reasonably corned with abundance of cornes . next kyle lies carrick , bordering with galloway , vnder lochrean , of old called loch-calpin , declyning while it come to clydis-firth : in carricke are two goodly waters , plenteous of fishes , the water of stinchar , at the foot thereof stands the towne of ballintrea ; where is great plentie of herrings and other fishes , the castles of arstinchar , craigneil , builded vpon a strong rocke with the castle of knockdolean . vpon the water of girwane are the castles of bargany , blairquhan , dalwharran , cassils , dunure , the earle of cassilis residence . the castles of the koe , ardmillanx , careltowne , killoquhan , baltessane , keirs , auchendrane , the abbey of corsraguel . there was a goodly merchant towne , of olde called carrike , founded by caratake king of scots , whereof remaines nothing : the principall towne is now mayeboll , where the iudge ordinary holds iustice . next adiacent with carricke lies galloway , of olde called brigantia , bordering with niddisdail , almost declyning to the south ; the shire whereof inclosed , all the rest of that side of scotland is more plentifull store of bestiall thane cornes . the waters of galloway are vre , dee , terfe , fleit , kenne , cree , and losse ; which runne all in the ireland sea. there is almost no great hils in galloway , but it is full of craggie knols : the waters gathering together in the valleyes betwixt those knols , make almost innumerable loches ; from whence the first floud that comes before the autumnall equinoctiall , causeth such abundance of waters to run , that there come forth of the said loches incredible number of eeles , and are taken by the countrimen in wand creeles , who salting them , obtaine no small gaine thereby . the farthest part of that side is the head , called nouantum , vnder the which there is a hauen at the mouth of the water of lossie named rerigonins . in the other side of galloway , ouer against this hauen from clyddis-forth , there enters another hauen named commonly lochryen , or vidogora : all that lieth betwixt those two hauens , the countrey people call the rynes , that is , the point of galloway : also nouantum , the m●…le , that is , the becke , in galloway are the townes of kirkcubright well situate for a merchant towne a good harbery , with a castle whithorne is the bishops seat there . wigtoun a goodly market town , the towne of innermessane , minigooff , and saint iohns clachane . the abbey of new abbey glenluse , sall-syde , dundrenan , and tongland , the castles of the treaue , barcloy , hillis , orchartoun , bomby in lochfergus , cumpstoun , cardenes , wreythis , kenmure , kirkgunze . the great strength and castle of crowgiltoun , builded on a rocke hard on the sea , the castles of garleis , large , the greate castle of clare , the castles of dunskaye , corsell , lochnee , the loches of galloway are ruhinfranco , carlingwork , myretoun which neuer freezes , for any frost that chances . the westmost of the hils of grangebean make the border of lennox , the hilles are cutted by a little bosome of the sea named for the shortnesse thereof gerloch at the entrie thereof standeth the castle of roseneth , beyond this loch there is a greater loch named from the water that runneth in it lochlowng , this water is the march betweene lennox and cowall , this cowall , argyle , and knapdall altogether called argyle are deuided in many parts by many narrow creekes that run out of the firth of clyde into them . in cowall is the castle and towne of dunnone , where is the bishop of argyle his seate , there is one most notable loch called loch fyne , which is in length threescore miles : vpon lochfyne is situate the castle palace and towne of inraray , the principall residence of the earle of argyle : also doth the sheriffe of argyle keepe his courts of iustice , this loch is most plentifull of herings and all other fishes : on this loch are situate diuers castles and gentlemens places , as castle lauchlane , the otter and dunetrewne in knapdall is loghaw , and therein a little ile where there is a strong castle of the same name , there is also the castle of tarbat . in argyle is the strong castle of carriek , builded vpon a rocke , within loch goyle , there is also the colledge of kilmun , the water of awe runneth out of loch-how , and is the onely water of all that countrey that doe run in the dewcalidon sea. south and by vvest from knapdall lieth kantere : the head land of the countrey right ouer against ireland , deuided by the sea , of the breath of sixteen miles onely . in kantere is the castles of dunauerty , and sadell , the towne and castle of kilkerraine , situate in the loch of the same name kantere is more long then broad , ioyning to knapdal by so narrow a throat about one mile of breadth , which ground is sandy , and lieth so plaine and low that marriners drawing along , their vessels as gallies and boats through it makes their iourney a great deale shorter then to passe about kintire which is the common passage lorne lies next , & contaygne with argyla on the backe thereof where standeth the most ancient castle of dunestaffage , in which were the kinges of scotland in old times crowned , where also the marble fatall chaire remained more then one thousand yeares . in lorne are also the castles of carnacery , and that of makdules built vpon a right rockie mountaine . the countrie of argyle , knapdall & cowell do abound of bestiall , kye , sheepe and great store of venison , and abundant in fishes . lorne marcheth still with argyle vntill it come to haber , or rather loch-haber : a plaine countrey not vnfruitfull . the countrey where the hilles of grangebean are , most easie to be trauelled , named broad alben , that is to say , the highest part of scotland . and the highest part ●…of broad-albin is called drumalbin , that is the backe of scotland so termed . for forth of the backe waters doe run in both the seas . some to the north , and some south . habre or rather lochaber marcheth with badzenoch , which hath as it were a backe running out through the midst of it , which spouts forth waters in both the seas , lochaber marching with badzenoch , tending by little and little towards the deucalidon sea , a country aboundant in cornes and great plenty of fishes , for besides the abundance of fresh water fishes produced by a great number ot waters , the sea runnes within the countrey , in a long channell , and being narrow at the mouth , the water kept in betwixt two high bankes , and spreading wide inward , makes the forme of a stanke , or rather of a loch , a place where ships may lie sure as in a hauen adiacent with calkmananshire , lies fyffe , beginning at the towne of torre-burne , with the castles of torre , cromby , pickfirran , pictincreiff , the towne of dumfermling and abbey thereof , founded by king dauid the first , the kings of scotland were buried there a long time , the pallace therof now repaired by the queenes maiesties cōmand , & charges where the earle of dumfermling chancellor of scotland hath his residence . the towne of lymkellis with the castle of rossynh , the towne of the queens ferry vpon the north. in the middle of forth , vpon a rocke is the fortresse & decayed castle of inchgaruy . by east lies in the same water saint colmis inch , with a demolished abbey , abundant with conies , and good pasturing for sheepe . next in the mid firth lies inchkeith with a demolished fortresse fertile of conies , and good for pasturing of sheepe . east from inchkeith , within forth lies a very high and big rocke inuironed with the sea ; called the basse , inuincible hauing vpon the top a fresh spring where the solane geese repaires much , and are very profitable to the owner of the said strength . next the basse in the mouth of forth lies the i le of may a mile long , and three quarters of a mile in breadth , there was a religious house , with many fresh water springs , with a fresh loch abundant with eeles : this i le is a goodly refuge for saylers in time of tempest . by east the i le of may twelue miles from all land in the german seas , lies a great hidden rocke called inchcape , very dangerous for nauigators , because it is ouerflowed euery tide . it is reported in old times vpon the said rocke , there was a bel fixed vpon a tree or timber , which rang continually , being moued by the sea , giuing notice to the saylers of the danger . this bell or clocke was put there , and maintained by the abbot of aber-brothok , and being taken downe by a sea pirote , who a yeare thereafter perished vpon the same rocke with ship and goods in the righteous iudgement of god. returning to the ancient towne of innerkething , adioyning thereto is the most comfortable and safe refuge for saylers in time of storme , called saint margarets hope . the castles of dunnybirsill , dalgatie , and fordell , the towne and castel of aberdour , the loch of cowstoun , the castell of orterstoun , the towne of brunt-iland , with the castle , the castels of balmuto , balwery , hal-randes , and raith . the towne and castell of kingrne , the castles of seyfield , and abbots-hall : the towne of kirkealdy , the castles of bogy & rauens-houch , the lord sinclairis speciall residence , towne of dysart , the towne of vvesterwemis and the castle , the castle of easterwemis , the lord colweil chiefe residence , the townes of buckhauen , and lewynis mouth , so named from the riuer of lewin out which comes of loch-lewin , the towne of kenneway , the castles of dury , lundy and largow , with the towne thereof , the castles of rires , bulchares , and kinnochar , with the loch thereof , the towne of earles ferry , the castles of kelly and ardrosse , towne of eliot . the towne and castles of saint monanes , carnbie , and balkaskie , the towne and abbey of pictonweme , the lord of pictonwemes residence , the townes of anstruther with the castle , the castles of bofy , pitterthy , the townes of innergelly , and siluer-dikes : the castles of erdry , third part , west-berns , the towne of craile , with the prouestry and demolished castle , the castles and towres of balcomy , wormestoun , randerstoun , newhall , camno , kipper , pitmille , kinkell , strawithy , lamberletham , lachochar . the citie of sanctandros , the metropolitane and archbishops seat , with a strong castle and abbey decored with three vniuersities for learning in all sciences . in old time the churches in this citie most curionsly and sumptuously builded , and now decayed from this citie west vpon the water of eddin lies the castles of nydy , rumgary , dairsey , blebo . the towne of cowper , the chiefe iustice seate , the castle of corstoun , the castle of struther , the lord lendsayes principall residence , the castles of inglishtarwet , craighall , bruntoun , balgony , the towne of merkinsche , the towne of falkland with the kings palace , with a pleasant parke aboundant , with deares and other wilde beasts . the towne stramiglo with the castle , the loch of rossy , with the tower thereof hill-carney and nachtoun . the two promontories called the loumonds , the towne of leslie with the castle , the castles of straith-endrie , and arnat , the loch of inchgaw , with the castle within , the castles of dowhill , killerny , ady , cleisch , the loch of loch-lewin with a strong castle , aboundant in all fresh fishes , with the new-house adiacent thereto , the castle of burley , the lord burleyes residence , the castle of balluaird , the towne of newbrough , the abbey of lundors , the lord of lundors residence . the castle of bambreich , the earle of routhous speciall residence . the abbey of balmerinoch , the castles of collarny , ferne , perbroth , mordocarny , maquhany , forret , kynneir , the towne of lucers , with the castle , the castles of earleshall , colluthy , the townes of east and west ferreis , the riuers in fyiff are lewin , eddin , ore , lochty , the two quichis , the waters of largo , kendlie , and stramiglo . this countrey is abundant in cornes , fruits bestiall , and all sort of fishes , with abundance of coale and salt : and all the aforesaid sea townes , very populous and wel shipped . straitherne taking name from erne , which runneth out of locherne . the principal country of perth-shire is diuided on the south from part of fiffe , kinroshire & clakmananshire by the ochel hilles , the tops of the hils seruing for march : for as the water springs doe fall towards the north , they belong to straithern , and as they fall towards the south they appertaine to kinroshire , culroshire , and clakmananshire , by ambitiō diuided : in old times all their three shires were vnder the iurisdiction of perth . the stewartrie of mentieth , liand in perth shire , wherein lies the abbey of inch-mahomo with the castles and towers of cardrose , archopple , balinton , quolze , burnbanke , row , keir , knockhill , calendar , leny , cambusmore , torre and lainricke , lying vpon teith water , giuing the name to montieth . the strong fort and castle of downe . nowtowne , argatie and kirk-bryd , the earle of monteiths residence . next lies in perthshire , the citie of dumblane , the bishop of dumblans residence , the castles and towers of kippinrose , cromlix , buttergasse and castle campbell . returning to the towne of abirnethy , sometime the metropolitane citie of the pictes , liand in straithern , marching with fiffe , where the earle of angusse hath there sepulchres . by mugdrum and balgony runneth the riuer of erne in tay , which is the greatest riuer in scotland . at the foote of the ochellis lies the castles & towers of craigpotte , & knight-potte , fordel , ardrose balmanno , exmagirdle and forgon , where the water of meth flowed from the ochellis , giuing name to the castle of innermeth , the lord of innermeths residence . the castles and towers of condie , keltie , garuoke , duncrub , newtowne , glenaigles , the towne of doning and auchtirardour , the castle of kincardin , the earle of montroze speciall residence , the castles of nether gaske and tullibardin , the earle of tullibardin speciall residence , the castles and towers of aurchtermachonie , orchell , pannels , ardoch , braikoch and craigrossie . the castle of drymmen , the earle of perths residence : the castles and towers of balloch , petkellany , and boreland . betwixt erne and tay lieth easter and wester rindes : the castles and towers of fingaske , kinmonth , elcho abbey and castle , easter and wester montcreiffis , malar , petthewles , balhoussie : the ancient bourgh of perth , pleasantly situate vpon the riuer of tay , betwixt two commodious greene fields or inches , founded by king william , sirnamed the lion , after the abolishing of the castle of bertha by inundation of waters , about the yeare of christ 1210. the king giuing great and ample priuiledges to the said burgh , decored with a large and long stone bridge ouer tay , of eleuen arches , partly decayed , & now reedifying ; hauing reasonable commodities for shipping , with goodly fishings , of olde decored with sundry monasteries , and specially the charterhouse now demolished . the strong castle of dupplin , the lord oliphants speciall residence : the castles of huntingtore ( of olde called ruthwen ) the castles and towers of methwen , bachilton , logyalmond , cultmalindis , tibbermure , tibbermallow , keillour , gorthy , trewn and strowane , the town of fowlis , the castles and towers of cultoquhay . abircarny , inchbreky , monyuard , carriwechter , fordee , comrre , williamstowne and durndone , with the town of creiffe , octhirtyre and milnabe : the abbey of incheffrey , the lord of incheffreyes residence , innerpeffry , the lord of mathertyes speciall dwelling . betwixt almond and tay lies the stormond of straitherne , wherein is the castles and towres of strathurd vpper bāchels , inchstrewy , ochtirgewin , arlywicht tullibeltane , innernytie , inchstuthil , murthlie , the auncient demolished castle of kinclewin , where the water of ila runneth in tay. in their countries are the riuers of farg , meth , erne , vrdachy , schiochy , and lochtre , falling in almond , where lous werke made of stone , receiues a great channell of water , passing to perth , whereon stands many mils , and filling the ditches to spey tower , the rest of perth is compassed with a stone wal . the citie of dunkeld the bishops seat situate vpon tay , with little dunkeld , the water of brane fals in tay , giuing the name to straitbrane , wherein is the castle of trocharry : adiacent to dunkeld lies the castles and towers of rotmell , carny , cluny , loch and castle gowrdy , mekilhour , lethandy , glesclun , drumlochy , gormoke , blair , ardblair , craighall , rettray and forde . in straithardell , named from the water of ardell , lies the castles and towers of morkley , assintulle , and innerthrosky : in athole liand in perthshire , is the great and strong castle of blair , the earle of atholes speciall residence ; the castles and towers of strowane , ballachan , balladmyn , the olde demolished castle of muling , the old demolished castle of logyrait , where the water of tynmell , flowers in tay , the castles of garntully , the strong fortresse of garth vpon a great rock , the castles of weme , balloch , finlarge , glanurquhar , lawers , and miggerny in glenlyon where the water of lyon runneth in tay. the water of tay commeth forth of lochtay , in broad-albin , which loch is foure and twentie miles of length . there is other countries ( as rannoch , balquhidder ) lying betwixt athole , argyle , lorne and lochaber vnknowne to the author . returning to gowry , and the rest of perthshire lying betwix tay and angusse , where lies the castles and towers of stobhall , campsey , byrs , petcur , ruthwens , banff , camno , balgillo , moncur , inchstur , the ancient and renowned abbey of scone , where the kings of scotland were crowned , from the exterminion of the picts , vnto the time of king robert bruse , at which time the fatall marble chaire was transported to westminster by edward the first ( surnamed longshanks ) king of england . this abbey was sumptuously builded , now wholy decayed : a part whereof is reedified , and pleasantly repaired by the lord of scone , being his speciall residence : the castles and towres of poknyll , pitsindy , balthiok , rait , kilspindie , fingask , kynnarde , meginshe , murey , hill , petfour , the towne and pallace of arroll , the earle of arrols residence , leyis , inchmartine , monorgund , huntley and innergowry . these countreyes ( all in perthshire ) are right plenteous and abundant in all kind of cornes , bestiall , and all sort of fishes , and all other necessaries for the sustentation of man , and athole abounds in all kind of wild beasts and fowles with wild horses . next adiacent to gowry lies angusse , beginning at the bridge of innergowry , with the castle of fowles , the lord grayes residence , the castles of balfour , lundy , and dinnun . the towne of kethens , the towne and abbey of copar , the castle of newtyle , the towne and castle of glammis , the lord glammis speciall residence . the towne of killy-mure , the castles and towers of lowry , brigtoun , thorntoun , innerrichtie , kilkaudrum and quich , clouoy , with parks and woods , innerquharitie , and quich , glen-ilay , wain , dysart , rossie , the castle of fyn-heauin , the earle of crawfurds speciall residence . the castles and towers of melgund , flemyngtoun , woodwre , bannabreich , old bar , with the parke carrestoun and balhall , the citie and castle of brechin the bishops residence . the castles and towers of dun , craig , edzell , balzordy , and newtoun . the towne or brugh of dunde , strongly builded with stone houses , right populous , and industrious with good shipping , and a commodious hauen : a pleasant church with a right high stone steeple , the castles of duddope and autherhouse , the earle of buquhans special residence . the castles & towers of strickmartin , clawers , mayns , wester ogyll , ballumby , and claypottes , the strong fortresse & castle of bruchty , vpon a rocke inuironed with the sea. the townes of north ferrey , and monyfuth , the castles and townes of auchinleck , easter and wester powreis , glen , drumkilbo , and teling , the towne of forfarre with a demolished castle , with a loch and an i le therein with a tower , cassie , logymegle , barnzstaird , innerkelour , the demolished abbey of resenneth , with a loch , and the loch of reskobow , the castles and towers of woodend , balmeshannoch , hakerstoun ; balmady , with a loch balgayis demolished , the castles and towers of turings , carsegowny , guthrie , garne , fernell , and boshane : the lord ogilbies speciall residence , the townes of barre , and panbryde ; the castles of duniken , pammure ; and kelly , the towne and ancient abbey of abirtrothok ; with the castle , the castle of lethame , and ethy ; where a falcon engendes yearely vpon a high rocke past memorie of man. the castles and towers of enblackmond , callistoun , bisack , ardbeky , and the red castle , the castles and towers of dunnenald , vsum , craig , bonytoun and kinnarde . the ancient towne of mont-rosse , with a commodious harbery for shipping , and well shipped , this towne is all builded with stone , and populous , aboundant with all kinde of fishes : the towne and castle of olde mount-rosse , and the castle of westerbracky . the riuers in anglusse are the water of innergowery deuiding gowry from angusse : the riuers of dichty , carbat , ila , brothat lunnen , north and south askis . this countrey of angusse is plentifull and abundant in all kinde of cornes great store of bestiall , with all sort of fishes withall other commodities necessary for man. next adiacent to angus is the mernis , where are the townes kincardin , fordoun , & beruy , cowey and stanehyue , galguein , with the castles of halgrein and lowristoun , the most strong castle of dunotter , with many pleasant buildings within the same , situate vpon a rocke , inuironed with the ocean sea , and well furnished with ordinance and all warlike prouision for defence , the earle martiall his residence , with the castle fatteresso , there is also the castles of glenberuy , puttarrow , arbuthnet , thornntoun , balbegenat , hakertoun , morphie , benholme , allardes and maters . this countrey is plentious of beere , and wheat , abounding in bestiall and fishes : the barrons and gentlemen deteste contention in law , remitting and submitting alwaies their actions debatable , to amicable arbitrements among themselues . north from the mernis is the mouth of the water of dee , where is situate the ancient burgh and , merchant towne of abirdene , wel builded & renowned for the salmond-fishing thereof , well shipped , it hath a florishing vniueruersitie for instruction of the youth , a pleasant bridge builded of stones , at the mouth of the riuer done , is situate the old citie of aberdone , which is the bishops seate , where also is a goodly colledge for learning in sciences specially in philosophy . betweene dee and done beginneth the countrey of mar , growing alwaies wider and wider till it be threescore miles length and comes to badezenoch . in mar is the towne of kinkardin of neil , the castles of drum , leyes , skein , monimusk , halforrest , the towne of kyntor , the castles of abirgeldy , lenturke , corsse , aslun , kyndrymme , innerbuchat , cluny , corsinda , muchall , cragywar , torry and cowgarth , klenkindy , buchholly , and new. lochaber , badzenoch and mar , comprehends the breadth of scotland betweene the two seas . next mar vpon the north lies the gareoch , wherein is the towne of innerwry . the castles of balquhan , fethernere , caskybane , auchenhuiff , meldrum , pitcaple , pittodrie , harthill , not farre distant is the most high mountaine of bannachy , the highest mountaine in the north for saylers , comming from the easter seas , takes vp land first by this mountaine . the castles of lesly and wardens , the ancient castle of dinnedure vpon a high mountaine called the golden mountaine , by reason of the sheepe that pastures thereupon : their teeth are so extraordinary yealow , as if they were coloured with gold , there is also the castle of drumminor , the lord forbes residence . next gareoch vpon the north-east lies bucquhan , wherein is situate the towne of newburgh , vpon the water of itham , aboundant in salmond and other fishes , the townes of peterhead and frisselburgh , the castles of fophern , asselmond , arnage , tochone , kelly , straloch , vdney , & vpon the north-east side therof there is a rocke where are found sundry well coloured stones of diuers hewes , very pleasant , some quadrant pointed , and transparant , resembling much the orientall diamond for they are proued to be better then eyther the virginean or the bohemian diamond . the time of the comming of hengistus in britaine , there came with him one noble germane prince called woden , about the yeare of christ 477. ( as writeth pomarius ) who adioyning their forces with vortiger , then king of the britaine , against the scots and picts , continuing in their fury were called vodenay , conforme to the old saxon language ( as writeth olaus magnus , beda and vliterpius ) of whom by long progression and abbreuiation of speech is descended the ancient name of vdny . there are also the castles of pitmedden , hadde , gicht , fywie , the ancient castle of slanes , watterton , enderrugy , with the strong castle of the craig of enderrugy , the castles of fillorth , pitsligo , feddreth , towy , balquhaly , dalgatie , the tower of torrey , and the castle of mures . this countrey stretches farthest in the germane seas of all the countries of scotland fertile in store , and cornes : and in it selfe sufficient in all other commodities necessary for the countrey , there is abundance of salmon and other fishes taken in all the waters thereof , except the water of rattry , whereunto this day there was neuer any salmon seene . next buehquhan vpon the north lies boyne , and enze in boyne . in boyne is the towne of bamst , and castle thereof , situate vpon the riuer of diuern , there is also the castles of boyne , findetar , and bogygieht , with the towne of culane , situate vpon the sea coast . next lies the lands of straithbogy , where is the castle and pallace of straithbogy , the speciall residence of the marquesse of huntley , the castles of fendrough , pitlurge , carnbarrow , rothemay , the lord saltouns chiefe residence , kinnardi , crombie , achindore , lesmore , balwany , blarsindy , drymmyn , dusky , ballindalloch , balla castle and aikenway , these foresaid countries are plenteous in cornes , bestiall , and in fishings . next vpon the north is the water spey , abundant in salmond and all new fishes , endlong spey lies murrey-land , wherein is situate the citie of elgyn vpon the water of lossy , the bishop of murreyes seat and speciall residence , with a church most curiously and sumptuously builded , which now in part decayes . in murrey are many strong castles & other strong houses , as the castles of blairy , monynesse , the ancient strong castle of vrquhart , the castles of spynay with a pleasant loch abounding in fishes , the castles of innes and duffus , the castle and towne of forres , the great castle of tornuaye , the principall residence of the earle of murrey : the castles of cadall and kilrauicke with diuers gentlemens strong stone houses adiacent about the towne of olde erne . in murrey are two famous abbeyes , pluscardy , and kinlus , the castle of louat the lord louats residence . there is also the most ancient towne of innernes , and the strong castles thereof situate on the water of naes , which descends from a loch , named loch naes thirtie foure miles in length : this water of naes is alwaies warme , and neuer freezeth , in such sort as in winter time , yee falling into it is dissolued by the heat therof : west from lochnes , there lies eight miles of continent ground : and that small peece is the onely impediment that the seas ioyne not , and make the remanent of scotland an iland : for all the land that lies betwixt the strait and the deucalidon sea , is cutte by creekes and loches of salt water running into the land . from the mouth of naesse , where it enters in the germane sea , north lies rosse , shooting in the sea in great promontories or heads . the countrey of rosse is of greater length nor breadth , extending from the germane to the deucalidon sea , where it riseth in craggy and wilde hils , and yet in the plaine fields thereof , there is as great fertilitie of corne as in any other part of scotland . there is in rosse pleasant dales with waters , & loches full of fishes , specially lochbroome : it is broad at the deucalidon sea , and growes narrow by little and little turning southward from the other shore , the germane sea ( winning the selfe an entrie betwixt high clintes ) runs within the land in a wide bosome , and makes an healthfull port and sure refuge against all tempests and stormes : the entrie of it is easie , and within it is a very sure hauen , against all iniuries of sea , and a hauen for great nauies of ships . loch-broome is abundant of salmond and all other fishes . the townes in rosse are the city of the channory , the bishops seat with a strong castle , the towne of rosemarky , the castles of read-castle , dingwall , the abbey of bewly , the castles of cromarty , miltoun , fowlis , ballingoun , the town of tane , the castles of catboll , torbat , loselun , & kayne with many others , the waters in rosse are cromarty , the water tane , the water of naes : also mountains of allabaster and hils of white marble , there is many other parts in rosse too longsome , to describe . next rosse lies sutterland , the speciall towne is d●…norch with a strong castle : the castls of skibow , pulrossy , skelbo , clyne , dunrobene , the earle of sutherlands residence , with goodly orchards , where growes good saphron : the riuers are ferryhuns , brora helmsdeaill , abundant in salmond and other fishes , and good store of bestial , there is also hilles of white marble , with salt and coale . next sutherland lies stranauern , the castle of far , where the lord of makky hath his speciall residence : the castles of tunge , this countrey & stratleigh , with sundry ilands , as ship-iland , hyp-iland marten-iland , conne-iland are vnknown to the author . next lies caithnes , where it marches with stranauerne is the furthest north countrey of all scotland : and those two draw the breadth of scotland in a narrow front . in thē are three promontories or heads : the highest wherof is in stranauern , called orcas , or taruidum , the other two not so high are in caithnes , veruedrum now named hoya : and b●…rebrum now called dunsby , at the foot of this hill there is a pretie hauen for them that trauell from orknay by sea , there is mountains called ordhead , hoburnhead , madēs pape , the castle of berydale , with a riuer abundant in salmond & other fishes . the castle of dumbeth with a goodly riuer , with the towns of wcik & thirso , with ichone a riuer . the castle of gerniggo , the earle of caithnes special residence . the castles of akergile , keis pressik , old weik , ormly , skrabstar , dunray , brawl , and may , dunnethead isa hil of marble , the riuers are the riuer of berridale , dunberth , weik , thirso fors. this countrey is abundant in cornes , bes●…all , salmond , & all other fishes . of the iles of scotland in generall . now refleth it to speake somewhat of the iles , they are diuided ( which as it were crowne scotland ) in three classes or rankes , the west iles , orknay iles , & shetland iles , the west iles lye in the deucalidon sea , from ireland almost to orkenay vpon the west side of scotland , they are called hebrides , and by some aebudae : they are scattered into the deucalidon sea , to the number of three hundreth and aboue : of old the kings of scotland kept these iles in their possession , vntill the time of donald brother to king malcolme the third , who gaue them to the king of norway , vpon condition that he should assist him , in vsurping of the kingdome of scotland , against law and reason . the danes and norway people kept possession of them for the space of 160. yeares : and then king alexander the third , ouercomming the danes and norway men in a great battell , thrust them out of the iles : yet afterward they attempted to recouer their libertie , partly , trusting to their owne strength ; and partly , mooued by seditions in the maine land of this countrey , creating kings of themselues , as not long ago , iohn ( of the house of clandonald ) did vsurpe the name of king , as others had done before . in foode , raiment , and all things pertaining to their family , they vse the ancient frugalitie of the scots . their bankets are hunting and fishing . they seeth their flesh in the tripe , or else in the skinne of the beast , filling the same full of water . now and then in hunting , they straine out the bloud , and eate the flesh raw . their drinke is the broth of sodden flesh . they loue very well the drinke made of whey , and kept certaine yeeres , drinking the same at feasts : it is named by them , blandium . the most p●…rt of them drinke water . their custome is to ●…ake their bread of oates & barly , ( which are the onely kinds of graine that grow in those parts : ) experience ( with time hath taught thē to mak it in such sort , that it is not vnplea sant to eat . they take a litle of it in the morning , & so passing to the hunting , or any other businesse , content themselues therewith , without any other kind of meat til euen . they delight in marled clothes , specially , that haue long stripes of sundry colours : they loue chiefly purple & blew . their predecessors vsed short mantles or plaids of diuers colours , sundry wayes deuided : and amongst some , the same custome is obserued to this day : but for the most part now , they are browne , most neere to the colour of the hadder : to the effect , when they lie amongst the hadder , the bright colour of their plaids shall not bewray them : with the which , rather coloured , then clad , they suffer the most cruell tempests that blow in the open field , in such sort , that vnder a wrythe of snow , they sleepe sound . in their houses also , they lie vpon the ground , laying betwixt them and it , brakens , or hadder , the rootes thereof downe , and the tops vp , so prett●…ily laid together that they are as soft as feather-beds , & much more wholesome : for the tops themselues are dry of n●…ture , whereby it dries the weake humours , and restores againe the strength of the sinewes troubled before , and that so eu●…dently , that they , who at euening goe to rest sore and weary , rise in the morning whole and able . as none of these people care for feather-beds and bedding , so take they greatest pleasure in rudenesse and hardnesse . if for their owne commoditie , or vpon necessity , they trauell to any other countrey , they reiect the feather-beds and bedding of their host. they wrap themselues in their owne plaids , so taking their rest : carefull indeed , lest that barbarous delicacy of the maine land ( as they tearme it ) corrupt their naturall and countrey hardnesse . their armour wherewith they couer their bodies in time of warre , is an iron bonnet , and an habbergion , side almost euen to their heeles . their weapons against their enemies , are bowes and arrowes . the arrowes are for the most part hooked , with a barble on either side , which once entered within the body , cannot be drawne forth againe , vnlesse the wound bee made wider . some of them fight with broad swords and axes . in place of a drum they vse a bag-pipe . they delight much in musicke , but chiefly in harpes and clairschoes of their owne fashion . the strings of the clairschoes are made of brasse-wire , and the strings of the harpes , of sinewes : which strings , they strike either with their nailes , growing long ; or else with an instrument appointed for that vse . they take great pleasure to decke their harpes and clairschoes with siluer and precious stones : and poore ones , that cannot attaine heerevnto , decke them with cristall . they sing verses prettily compounded , containing ( for the most part ) prayses of valiant men . there is not almost any other argument , whereof their rimes entreat . they speake the auncient language , altered a little . finis . a short description of the westerne iles of scotland , lying in the deucalidon sea , being aboue 300. also the iles in orkenay , and schetland or hethland . the first is the i le of man , of olde called dubonia , there was a towne in it named sodor●… , the bishop of the iles seat . it lyes almost midway betwixt ireland and cumber in england , and galloway in scotland , 24. miles in length , and 18. in bredth . next vnto man is ailsay , into the firth of clyde , with a castell therein , an hard high craig on all sides , except at one entrie , vnmanured . there comes a great number of boates there to fish ●…éeling . there are many comes , and solayne géese in it . it lyes betwixt ireland vpon the northwest , carrik vpon the northeast , and kyntire vpon the southeast . 24. miles from ailsay , lyes arrane , almost direct north , 24. miles of length , and 16. of bredth . the whole iland riseth in high and wild mountaynes , manured onely vpon the sea side , where the ground is lowest . the sea runnes in , and makes a well large créeke into it : the entryes whereof are closed by the iland molas : a very sure hauen for shippes : and in the waters , which are alwayes calme , is great abundance of fish , that sundry times the countrey people taking more then may sustayne them for a day , they cast th●… 〈◊〉 ●…ne in the sea , as it were in a sta●…ke . next 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i le flada , fertill of conyes . further in it is situate the ●…se of b●… within the firth of clyde , eyght miles in length , and foure in bredth , from arrane eyght miles , southeast , and from argyill , southwest , halfe a mile . cwnnyngham lyes , by east of it , 〈◊〉 m●…es . it is a low countrey , commodious for corne and store , with a towne of the same name , and the old castle of rosa ; with another castle in the middest of it , named cames . the i le m●…rnoca , a mile of length , and halfe a mile of brédth , lyes low , southwestwards , well manured and fertill . within the firth of clyde lyes little cambra , fertill of fallow déere : and great cambra fertill of cornes . from the mule of kyntire , little more then a mile , is porticosa auona , getting that name from the creeke of water , th●… kept the danes nauie there , at what ●…e they had the iles in their hands . northwest from the mule , ouer agaynst the coast of ireland , lyes rachuda . and from kyntire , foure miles , is the i le caraia : and not farre from thence gigaia , sixe miles of length , and a mile and a halfe of bredth . twelue miles from gigaia lyes iura , foure and twentie miles of length . the shore side of iura is well manured : and the inward part of the countrey is ●…led with wood , full of déere of sundry kinds . two miles from iura lyes scarba , foure miles in length , and a mile in bredth . the tide of the sea , betwixt this i le and iura , is so violent , that it is not possible to passe it , e●…ther by sa●…le or a●…re , except at certayne times . at the bache of this i le , is the i le ballach , ge●…istaria , gearastilla , longaia , the two fidlais , the thrée barbais , culbremna , d●…num , co●…p , cuparia , 〈◊〉 , vikerana , vitulina , lumga , scila , scana . these thrée last ilands are fertill of corne and store , pertayning to the earles of argyle . next vnto them is sklata : named from a sklait quarry , that is in it . then naguigosa , and eisda●…a , and skennia , and the i le thiania , vderga , and the kings iland : then duffa , that is black●… : and the iland of the church , 〈◊〉 triaracha : and then the iland ardu●… , humlis , viridis , and ericea . item , arboraria , capraria , cunicularia , and the i le named , the i le of idle men : and abridita , and li●…mora , where sometimes was the bishops seat of argyle , eyght miles in length , and two in bredth . in this i le are mines of mettals , with other good commodityes . then ouilia , the iland traiecte , the iland garna , the iland of the stane , gressa , and the great iland ardiescara , mus●…dilla , and bernera , sometime called , the holy girth , notable by the trée taxus , that growes in it . mo●…ochasgia , drinacha , full of thornes and bourtrée , ouercouered with the ruines of old houses . wricht●…un , fertill of wood. item , ransa , kernera . the greatest iland , next vnto iura , westward , is yla , foure and twentie miles in length , and sixetéene of bredth , extended from the south to the north , abundant in store , cornes , déere , and lead : there is a fresh water in it , called , lai●… ; and a créeke of salt water ; and therein are many ilands . there is also a fresh water loch , wherein stands the iland , named , falingania , sometime the chiefe seate of all the iles men. there the gouernour of the iles , vsurping the name of a king , was wont to dwell . neere vnto this iland , and somewhat lesse then it , is the round iland , taking the name from counsell : for therein was the iustice seat , and fouretéene of the most worthy of the countrey , did minister iustice vnto all the rest , continually , and intreated of the waighty affayres of the realme , in counsell , whose great equitie and discretion kept peace both at home and abroad : and with peace , was the companion of peace , abundance of all things . betwixt ila and iura , lyes a little iland , taking the name from a cairne of stones . at the south of ila , doel ye colurna , muluoris , ossuna , brigidana , corskera , the low iland , ●…mersga , beathia , texa , ouicularia , noasiga , vinarda , caua , tarsheria , the great iland auchnarra , the iland made like a man , the iland of iohn s●…badis . at the west corner of il●… iyes ouersa , whereth●… sea is most tempostuous , and at certayne houres ●…gable . the marchants iland : and south westwards from it , vs●…brasta , tanasta , and nefa . the weauers iland . 8. miles from ila , somewhat north , lyes ornansa . next vnto it the swines iland . halfe a mile from ornansa , col●…ansa . north from col●…ansa , lyes the mule , 20. miles from ila . this i le is 24. miles of length , and as much in bredth , fruitfull of cornes : there are many woods in it , and many heards of déere , and a good hauen for ships : there are in it two waters well spred of salmond fishes , and some stripes not empty thereof . there are also two loches in it , and in euery one an iland , and in euery iland a tower. the sea running in this iland at 4. sundry parts , makes 4. salt water loches therein , all 4. abounding in herring . to the northwest lyes columbaria , or the dowe iland : to the southeast , era : both the one and the other profitable for bea●…iall , cor●… , and for fishings . from this iland lyes the iland of sanctcolm●… , two miles of length , and more then a mile of bredth , fertill of all things , renowned by the ancient monuments of the countrey . there were two abbeyes in this iland , and a court or a parish church , with many chappels , builded of the liberality of the kings of scotland , and gouernours of the iles. there is as yet remayning amongst the old ruines , a buriall place , or church-yard , common to all the noble families of the west iles , wherein there are thrée tombes higher then the rest , distant one from another a little space , and thrée little houses , situated to the east , builded seuerally vpon the thrée tombes : vpon the west side are stones grauen , which stand in the middest , bearing this title , the tombes of the kings of scotland . it is sayd , there were 48. kings of scotland buried there . the tombe vpon the rightside hath this inscription : the tombes of the kings of ireland . it is recorded , that there were foure kings of ireland buried there . upon the left side it hath this inscription : the tombes of the kings of norway . the report is , that there were 8. kings of that nation ●…uryed there . the notable houses of the iles haue their t●…nbes in the rest of the church-yard , seuerally by themselues . about this iland , and ●…re vnto it , there are s●…e ilands , right fruitfull , giuen by the ancient kings of scotland , and gouernours of the iles , to the abbey of sanctcolme . so●… is a very profitable ground for shéep , but the chiefe commodityes of it consist in sea fowles that build there●…t , specially of their egges . next vnto it is the i le of women : then rudana . néere vnto it be●…nira ; and from that skennia , halfe a mile distant from the mule. the sea sides of it abo●… in c●…es . fiue miles hence lyeth fro●… . all their iles are subiect to sanctcolmes abbey . two miles from fresa lyeth v●…lua , fiue miles of length , fruitfull of corne and shore , with a commodious hauen for gallies or ●…ates . upon the south side of it lyeth toluansa , with a wood of nut●…s , reas●…able fruitfull . about thrée hundred paces from this iland lyeth gomatra , two miles long , and one mile bro●…d , extending from the north to the south . from go●… , foure miles southward , lye two s●…affae , both full of ●…ing places . from thence , foure miles southeast , lye the two ke●…burgae , the more and the lesse , enui●…oned with such sho●…e , high , and furious fide , that by their owne naturall de●… ( supported somewhat by the industrie of man ) they are altogether inuincible . one mile from them lyes an iland , the whole earth is blac●…e , whereof the people make peat●… for their 〈◊〉 . next lyeth longa , two miles of length , and b●…cha halfe as much . from bacha sixe miles lyes tiria , eyght miles in length , and thrée in bredth , most fertill of all the ihon●…s , it 〈◊〉 in store , cornes , fishings , and sea to wie●… . in this ●…and , there is a fresh water lorh , & therein an old castle , with a good hauen for boates. from this iland two miles lies sunna , and from sunna as farre lieth colla , 12. miles of length , and 2. miles of breadth : a fertill iland . not farre from it is culsa , almost full of wood : and then two ilands , named mekle viridis , and little viridis . item , other two of the same names . ouer-against the mules head , and not farre from it lye two ilands , named glassae , and then arden-eider , that is , the high land of the rider . then luparia , or the woolfe iland : and after it a great i le , lying north from colla , extending east and west . then ruma , 16. miles in length , and 6. in bredth : the sea-fowles lay there eggs here and there in the ground : in the middest of spring time when the eggs are layd , any man may take of them . in the high rocks the solayne géese are taken in aboundance . from this iland , foure miles north-east-ward lyes the horse iland . from it halfe a mile , the swine iland , fruitfull enough in all things necessary : the falcon builded in it , with a good hauen . not farre from it , lyes canna and egga , fertill enough . in egga are solayne g●…ese . soabrittella profitable for hunting . from this iland is the i le of skye , the greatest of all the ilands that are about scotland , lying north and south 40. miles in length , and 8. miles broad in some places , and in other places 12. miles , rising in hills , in sundry places full of woods and pastorage : the ground thereof fertill in corne and store : and besides all other kinds of bestiall , fruitful of mares , for bréeding of horse : it hath fiue great riuers rich in salmond , and many little waters , plenty of salmond and other fishes . the sea running in the land on all sides , make many salt waters : thrée principall , and 13. others : all rich in herring . there is in it a fresh water loch , and ●…e castles . about the skye , lye little ilands , scattered here and there . oronsa , fertill in corne and store . cunicularia , full of bushes and connyes . next is paba . 8. miles frō paba southwest , lyes scalpa , which ( besides sundry other commodities ) hath woods full of troopes of déere . betwixt the mouth of zochcarron and raorsa , lies crulinga , 7. miles of length , and two of bredth : there is a sure hauen in it for ships : there are in it also woods full of bucke and déere . halfe a mile from crulinga is rona , full of wood and hadder , with a good hauen in the innermost lorh thereof : in the mouth of the same lorh , is an iland of the same name , called ger-loch . from rona sixe miles northward , lyes flada : two miles from flada , euilmena . upon the south side of skye , lyes oronsa , and a mile from it , knya , pabra , and great bina : and then fiue little ilands . next vnto them is isa , fertill in cornes . beside it is ouia ; then askerma , and lindell●… . 8. miles from skye southward , lyes linga and gigarmena , benera , megala , pana , flada , scarpa , veruecum , sandara , vatersa , which by many other good commodityes , hath a hauen commodious for a number of great ships , whereinto fishermen of all countreys about , conuene certayne times of the yere ordinarily . these last nine ilands are subiect to the bishop of the iles. two miles from vatersa is barra , running from the northwest , to the southeast , seuen miles in length , fruitfull of cornes , and aboundant in fish : there runneth in it a lorh , with a narrow throat , growing round and wide within : in it there is an inche , and therein a strong castle . upon the northside of barra , there riseth an hill full of hearbs , from the foote to the head , vpon the top whereof , is a fresh water well : the spring that runneth from this well , to the next sea , caryes with it little things , like as they were quicke , but hauing the shape of no beast , which appeare ( although obscurely ) in some respect , to represent the fish that is commonly called , cockles : the people that dwell there , call the part of the shore whereunto these things are carryed , the great sands : because that when the sea ebbes , there appeares nothing but dry sands , the space of a mile . out of these sands the people dig out great cockles , which the neighbours about iudge , eyther to grow ( as it were ) of that séede that the springs doe bring from the well , or else ( indéede ) to grow in that sea. betwixt barra and wist lye these ilands : oronsa , onia , hakerseta , garnlanga , flada , great buya , little buya , haya , hell s●… , gigaia , lingaia , foraia , fudaia , erisoaia . from these ilands vistus lyes northward , 34. miles of length , and 6. of bredth . the tide of the sea , running in two places of this i le , causeth it to appeare thrée ilands , but when the tide is out , it becommeth all one iland . in it are many fresh water loches , specially one , thrée miles long . the sea hath worne in vpon the land , and made it selfe a passage to this loch , and can neuer be holden out , albeit the inhabitants haue made a wall of 60. foote broad , to that effect . the water entereth in amongst the stones , that are builded vp together , and leaues behind it , at the ebbe , many sea fishes . there is a fish in it like to the salmond in all things , except , that with the white wombe , it hath a blacke backe , and wanteth scales . in this iland are many fresh water loches , sundry caues , couered with hadder . in it are fiue churches . eyght miles west from it lyes hel●…ther vetularum , pertayning to the nunnes of the i le of ione . a little further north riseth haneskera : about this iland , at certayne times of the yéere , are many sealches , they are taken by the countrey men . southwest , almost 60. miles , lyes hirta , fertill in cornes and store , and specially in shéepe , greater then any other shéepe , in any other ilands . about the 17. day of iune , the lord of this iland sendeth his chamberlayne to gather his dutyes , and with him a minister , who baptizeth all the children that are borne the yéere preceding : and if the minister come not , euery man baptizeth his owne child . this hirtha is the last and farthest ile in albion : so that betwixt the i le of man , being the first i le in albion , and this i le , there is 377. miles . returning to wistus , from the north point thereof , is the iland velaia , two miles long , and one mile of bredth . betwixt this point , and the iland 〈◊〉 , lyes soa , stroma , pabaia , barneraia , e●…saia , keligira , little saga , great saga , harmodra , scaria , grialinga , cillinsa , hea , hoia , little soa , great soa , isa , great seuna , little seuna , taransa , slegana , tuemon . all these ilands are fruitfull of cornes and store . aboue horea , is scarpa . and halfe a mile towards the west equinoctiall , from the lewis , lys seuen little ilands , named flananae , some holy place ( in old times ) of girth or refuge , rising vp in hill●…s full of hearbs . further , north , in the same ranke , lyes garn-ellan , that is , she hard i le , lamba , flada , kellasa , little bernera , great bernera , kirta , great bina , little bina , vexaia , pabaia , great sigrama , cunicularia , plenty of conyes , little sigrama . the iland of the pigmeis , wherein there is a church , in which the pigmeis were buried , ( as they that are neighbours to this iland beléeue . ) sundry strangers , digging déepely in the ground , sometimes haue found , & yet to this day doe find very little round heads , and other little bones of mans body , which seemes to approue the truth and apparance of the common bruite . in the northeast side of the iland leogus , there are 2. loches , running foorth of the sea , named , the north and south loches , wherein at all times of the yéere , there is abundance of fish , for all men that list to take them . from the same side of the loch , somewhat more southerly , lyes fabilla , adams iland , the lambe iland . item , hulmetia , viccoilla , hana , rera , laxa , era , the dowe iland , tora , affurta , scalpa , flada , senta : at the east side thereof , there is a passage vnder the earth , vaulted aboue a flight shoote of length , into the which , little boates may eyther sayle or row , for eschewing of the violent tide . somewhat eastwards lyes an iland , named , old castle , a roome strong of nature , and plenty of cornes , fish , and egges , of sea fowles , to nourish the inhabitants . at that side where lochbrien enters , is situate the iland ew . more northerly lyes the iland grumorta : both these ilands full of wood. the iland , named , the priests iland , lyes the same way , profitable for pastorage of shéepe , and full of sea fowles . next vnto it is afulla , and great habrera : then little habrera : and néere vnto it , the horse i le ; and then marta ika . these last mentioned ilands lye all before the entrie of lochbrie●… : and from them , north , lye hary , and lewis , 16. miles of length , and 16. of bredth : these 3. make an iland , which is not deuided by any hauen 〈◊〉 port of the sea , but by the seuerall lordships of the heritours thereof . the south part is named , haray : in it sometime was the abbey roadilla , builded by maccleude har●…is , a countrey fertill inough in cornes , and good pastorage , with a high hill , ouercouered with grasse , to the very top : many shéepe are séene féeding there masterlesse , pertayning peculiarly to no man ; for there is neyther woolfe , foxe , or serpent séene there : albeit , betwixt that and lewis , there bee great woods full of déere . in that part of the iland is a water , well stored of salmond , and other fishes : upon the north-side it is well manured : upon the sea side there are foure churches , one castle , 7. great running waters , and 12. lesse : all plentifull of salmond , and other fishes . the sea enters in the land in diuers parts , making sundry salt water loches , all plentifull of herring , with abundance of shéepe . in this countrey is great abundance of barley . in this iland is such abundance of whales taken ( as aged men report ) their tenth will extend to 27. whales : also a great caue , wherein the sea at a low water abides two faddome high , and at a full sea , foure faddome déepe . people of all sort and ages sit vpon the rocks thereof , with hooke and line , taking great multitude of all kind of fishes . southeast from lewis , almost 60. miles , there is a fertill iland , low and playne , ●…alled , rona , well manured : the lord of the ground limits certayne number of households to occupy it , appoynting for euery household , few or many , shéepe , according to his pleasure , whereon they may easily liue and pay his rent . in this iland is a chappell , dedicated to saint ronan , wherein ( as aged men report ) there is alwayes a spade , wherewith , when any is dead , they find the place of his graue marked . besides other fishes in this iland , is great plenty of whales . sixetéene miles from rona , west , lyes suilkeraia , a mile of length : but in it growes no kind of hearbe , not so much as hadder . sea fowles lay egges there , and doe hatch . they of leogus , next neighbours vnto it , get great profit thereby . in that iland is séene a rare kind of fowle , vnknowne to other countreyes , called , colca , little lesse then a goose : they come in the spring time , & euery yéere hatch and nourish their young ones . they cast their feathers , which haue no stalke , like vnto downe . now follow the iles of orknay , ( of olde called , the realme of the picts ) lying scattered , partly in the deucalidon sea , partly in the germane seas . the common people to this day are very carefull to kéepe the ancient frugality of their predecessors , and in that respect they continue in good health , for the most part , both in mind and body , so that few dye of sicknesse , but all for age . they haue barley and oates , whereof they make both bread and drinke . they haue sufficient ●…ore of quicke goods , neate , shéepe , and goates , great plenty of milke , chéese , and butter . they haue innumerable sea fowles , whereof ( and of fish , for the most part ) they make their common foode . there is no uenemous beast in orknay . there is is no kind of trée , except hadder . they haue an old cup , amongst them , called , saint magnus cup , the first man that brought the christian religion in that countrey . there are about 33. ilands in orknay : whereof 13. are inhabited : the remnant are reserued for nourishing of cattell . the greatest ile is named , pomona . the firme land , thirtie miles of length , sufficiently inhabited . it hath 12. countrey parish churches , and one towne , called kirkwaa . in this towne there are two towers , builded not farre the one from the other . one of them appertaynes to the king , the other appertaynes to the bishop . betwixt these 2. towers stands one church , very magnifique : betwixt the church and the towers , on eyther side , are sundry goodly buildings , which the inhabitants name , the kings towne , and , the bishops towne . the whole iland runnes out in promontories or heads , the sea running in , and makes sure hauens for ships , and harbours for boates. in 6. sundry places of this i le , there are mynes of good lead and tinne , as is to be found in any part of britayne . this iland is distant from caithnes about 24. miles , diuided by the picts sea. in this sea are diuers ilands , scattered here and there : of whom , stroma , lying 4. miles from caithnes , is one , very fruitfull : the earles of caithnes being lords thereof . northward lyes south ranalsa , 5. miles long , with a commodious hauen ; with 2. little ilands , or holmes , good for pastorage . toward the north lyes burra , suna , flata , fara , hoia , and vvalles . in these ilands are the highest hilles , that are in all orknay . hoia , and walles , are 10. miles of length , distant from ranalsay , eyght miles , and more then twentie from dunkirke in caithnes . north is the i le granisa , and cobesa . siapinsa , turning somewhat east , lyes , two miles from kirkwaa , euen oueragaynst it , sixe miles of length . right west from siapinsa are garsa , and eglisa , 4. miles of length . in this iland , they say , saint magnus is buried . next , and somewhat neerer the continent land , is rusa , foure miles of length , and thrée miles of bredth , well peopled . westward lyes the iland broca . some ilands lye to the north , as stronza , next linga , fiue miles of length , and two of bredth . haa , fiue miles of length , and two of bredth . by east lyes fara . and north from fara , lyes wastra , running out in the sea , in promontories or heads . aboue stronza , at the east end of etha , lyes sanda , northward , 10. miles of length , and foure of bredth , most fertill of cornes of all the iles of orknay ; but it hath no kind of fire within it , making exchange of cornes for peats . beyond sanda , lyes , north , ranalsaa , 2. miles of length , and two of bredth . upon the south si●…e of pomona lyes rusa , 6. miles of length : and from it eastward eglisa : south veragersa : and not farre from it westraa ; from which , hethland is distant 80. miles ; and papastronza lyes 80. miles from hethland . in the midway betwixt lyes fara , that is , the ●…yre iland , standing in the sight of orknay , and hethland both : it riseth in thrée promontories or heads , and shore craig round about , without any kind of entrance , except at the southeast , where it growes little lower ; making a sure harboro●… for small boates. next is the greatest ile of all hethland , named , the mayne-land , 16. miles of length : there are sundry promontories or heads in it , specially two , one long and small , which runnes north : the other broader , in some part , 16. miles , runnes northeast , inhabited vpon the sea coast . there is good fishing in all these parts ; the peoples commodity standing most by the sea. ten miles north lyes zeall , 20. miles of length , and 8. miles of bredth : the bremes marchants doe bring all wares néedfull . betwixt this iland and the mayne-land , lye linga , orna , bigga , sanctferri . two miles northward lyes vnsta , more then 20. miles of length , and sixe miles of bredth , a pleasant countrey and playne . via and vra , are betwixt vnsta and zeall . skenna and burna , lye westward from vnsta , balta , hunega , forlora , seuen miles long : and seuen miles eastward from vnsta , mecla , with the thrée ilands of east skennia , ●…hualsa , nostwad●… , brasa , and musa : vpon the west side lye west sche●…niae , rorira , little papa , veneda , great papa , valla , trondar , burra , great haura , little haura , and many other holmes , lying scattered amongst them . the hethlandish men vse the same kind of foode that the orkney man vse , but that they are more scarce in house kéeping . in this iland no kind of shée beast will liue 24. houres together , except ky , ewes , conyes , and such like beasts , as may be eaten . the people are apparelled after the almayne fa●…ion , and according to their substance , not vnséemely . their commodity consisteth in course cloth , which they sell to norway men , with fish , oyle , and butter . they fish in little cockboates , bought from norway men that make them : they salt some of the fish that they take , and some of them they dry in the wind . they sell th●…se wares , and pay their masters with the siluer thereof . ¶ of the great plenty of hares , red deere , and other wild beasts in scotland . of the strange propertyes of sundry scottish dogges : and of the nature of salmond . hauing made this speciall description of the realme of scotland : now touching some things concerning the same in generall . in the fields , and in al places of the countrey , ( except the parts where continuall habitation of people makes impediment ) there is great abundance of hares , red déere , fallow déere , roes , wild horses , wolues , and foxes , & specially in the high countreys of athole , argyle , lorne , loch-aber , marre , and badzenoch , where is sundry times séene 1500. red déere , being hunted all together . these wild horses are not gotten but by great sleight & policy : for in the winter season the inhabitants turne certayne tame horses and mares amongst them , wherewith in the end they grow so familiar , that they afterward go with them to & fro ; and finally , home into their masters yards , where they bee taken , and soone broken to their hands , the owners obtayning great profit thereby . the w●…lues are most fierce and noysome vnto the heards , and flockes , in all parts of scotland . foxes doe much mischiefe in all steads , chiefly in the mountaynes , where they be hardly hunted : howbeit , arte hath deuised a meane to preuent their malice , and to preserue the poultry in some part : and especially in glenmoores euery house nourishes a young foxe , & then killing the same , they mixe the flesh thereof amongst such meate as they giue vnto the fowles , and other little bestiall : and by this meanes , so many fowles or cattel as eate hereof , are safely preserued from the danger of the foxe , by the space of almost two moneths after , so that they may wander whither they will : for the foxes smelling the flesh of their fellowes , yet in their crops , will in no wayes meddle with them , but eschew and know such a one , although it were among a hundred of other . in scotland are dogs of marueylous condition , aboue the nature of other dogs . the first is , a hound of great swiftnes , hardines , and strength , fierce and cruel vpon all wild beasts , and eger against thieues , that offer their masters any violence . the second is a rach or hound , very exquisite in following the foote ( which is called drawing ) whether it be of man or beast , yea he will pursue any maner of fowle , and find out whatsoeuer fish , haunting the land , or lurking amongst the rocks , specially the otter , by that excellent sent of smelling , wherewith he is indewed . the third sort is no greater then the aforesayd raches , in colour for the most part red , with blacke spots , or else blacke & full of red marks : these are so skilfull ( being vsed by practize ) that they will pursue a thiefe , or thiefe-stollen goods , in most precize maner , and finding the trespasser , with great audacity they will make a race vpon him , or if he take the water for his safegard , he shrinketh not to follow him : and entering and issuing at the same places where the party went in and out , he neuer ceaseth to range , till he hath noysed his footing , and be come to the place , wherein the thiefe is shrowded or hid . these dogs are called sleuthhounds : there was a law amongst the borderers of england and scotland , that whosoeuer denyed entrance to such a hound , in pursute mads after fellons and stollen goods , should be holden as accessary vnto the theft , or taken for the selfe same thiefe . of fowles , such as ( i meane ) liue by prey , there are sundry sorts in scotland , as eagles , falcons , go●…hawks , sparhawks , marlions , and such like : but of water fowles there is so great store , that the report thereof may séeme to excéede all credit . there are other kinds of fowles , the like are rare to be séene , as the capercaily , greater in body then the rauen , liuing onely by the rindes & barks of trées . there are also many moore cockes and hennes , which abstayning from corne , doe ●…éede onely vpon hadder crops . these two are very delicate in eating : the third is reddish , blacke of colour , in quantity comparable to the pheasant , and no lesse delicious in taste and sauour at the table , called the blacke or wilde cocks . salmond is more plentifull in scotland , then in any other region of the world : in haruest time they come from the seas , vp in smal riuers , where the waters are most shallow , and there the male and female , rubbing their bellies , or wombs , one agaynst the other , they shed their spawne , which foorthwith they couer with sand and grauell , and so depart away : from hencefoorth they are gaunt and ●…lender , and in appearance so leane , appearing nought else but skin and bone : and therefore out of vse and season to be eaten . some say , if they touch any their full fellowes , during the time of their leanenesse , the same side which they touched will likewise become leane . the foresayd spawne and milt , being hidden in the sand , ( as you haue heard ) in the next ●…pring doth yéeld great numbers of little fry , so nesh and tender for a long time , that till they come to be so great as a mans finger ( if you catch any of them ) they melt away , as it were gelly or a blob of water : from henceforth they go to the sea , where within 20. dayes , they grow to a reasonable greatnesse , and then returning to the place of their generation , they shew a notable spectacle to be con●…idered . there are many lin●…es or p●…oles , which being in some places among the rockes , very shallow abou●… , and déepe beneath , with the fall of the water , and thereto the salmond not able to pierce through the channell , eyther for swiftnesse of the course , or depth of the discent , hee goeth so n●…re vnto the side of the rocke or damme as he may , and there aduenturing to leape ouer , and vp into the linne , if he leape well at the first , he obtayneth his desire , if not , he assayeth e●…soones the second or third time , till he returne to his countrey . a great fish , able to swimme agaynst the streame : such as assay often to leape , and cannot get ouer , doe bruise themselues , and become meazelled : others that happen to fall vpon dry land ( a thing often séene ) are taken by the people ( watching their time : ) some in cawdrons of hot water , with fire vnder them , sit vpon shallow or dry places , in hope to catch the fattest , by reason of their waight , that doe leape short . the taste of these are estéemed most delicate , and their prices commonly great . in scotland it is straightly inhibited to take any salmond from the 8. of september , vntill the 15. of nouember . finally , there is no man that knoweth readily whereon this fish liueth , for neuer was any thing yet found in their bellyes , other then a thicke s●…ymy humour . in the deserts and wild places of scotland , there groweth an hearbe of it selfe , called , hadder or hather , very delicate for all kind of cattell to féede vpon ; and also for diuers fowles , but bées especially : this hearbe , in iune , yéeldeth a purple flower , as swéete as hunny , whereof the picts , in times past , did make a pleasant drinke , and very wholesome for the body : but since their time , the maner of the making hereof is perished in the subuersi●…n of the picts , neyther shewed they euer the learning hereof to any but to their owne nation . there is no part of scotland so vnprofitable ( if it were skilfully searched ) but it produceth either iron or some other kind of mettall , as may be proued through all the iles of scotland . a memoriall of the most rare and wonderfull things of scotland . among many commodityes , that scotland hath common with other nations , it is beautified with some rare gifts in it selfe , wonderfull to consider : as for example . in orknay , the ewes are of such fecundity , that at euery lambing time , they produce , at least , two , and ordinary thrée . there bee neyther venemous nor rauenous beasts bred there , nor do liue there , although they were tr●…ported thither . in schetland , the iles called , ●…hulae , at the entring of the sunne in cancer , the space of 20. dayes , there appeares no night at all . among the rockes growes the delectable lambre , called , succinum , with great resort of the mertrik , for costly furrings . in the west , and northwest of scotland , there is a great repayring of the erne , of a maruelous nature ; the people are very curious to catch him , & punze his wings , that hee flie not : he is of a huge quantity , & a rauenous kind , as the hawkes , and the same quality : they do giue him such sort of meat , in great quantity at once , that he liues contented there with 14. 16. or 20. dayes , and some of them a moneth : their feathers are good for garnishing of arrowes , for they receiue no rayne nor water , but remayne alwayes of a durable estate , and vncorruptible : the people doe vse them eyther when they be a hunting , or at warres . in the most of the riuers in scotland , beside the maruelous plenty of salmond , and other fishes gotten there , is a shell fish , called , the horse-mussell , of a great quantity ; wherein are ingendred innumerable faire , beautifull , & d●…lectable pearles , conuenient for the pleasure of man , and profitable for the vse of physicke : and some of them so fayre and polished , that they may be equall to any orientall pearles . and generally , by the prouidence of almighty god , when dearth and scarcity of victuals are in the land , then the fishes are most plentifully taken , for the support of the people . in galloway , the one halfe of loch mirton , doth neuer fréese . by innernes , the loch ; called , lochnes , and the riuer flowing from thence into the sea , doth neuer freese but on the contrary , in the coldest dayes of winter , the loch and riuer doe both smoke and réeke , signifying vnto vs , that there is a myne of brimstone vnder it , of a hote quality . in carrik are kyne and oxen , delicious to 〈◊〉 , but their ●…esse is of a wonderfull temperature : all other ●…estable beasts fatnesse , with the cold ayre doth congeale : by the contrary , the fatnes of these beasts is perpetually liquid , like oyle . the woo and parke of commernauld is replenished with kyne and oxen , and those , at all times , to this day , haue béene wild , & of a wonderfull whitenes , that there was neuer among all that huge number there , so much as the smallest blacke spot found to be vpon one of their sainnes , hornes , or cl●…e . in kyle is a rocke , of the height of 12. foote , and as much of bredth , called , the deafe craig : for although a man should cryneuer so loude to his fellow , from the one side to the other , hee is not heard , although hee would make the noyse of a gunne . in the countrey of stratherne , vpon the water of farg , by bal●…ard , there is a stone , called , the rock and stone , of a reasonable bignesse , that if a man will push it with the least motion of his finger , it will mooue very lightly , but if he shall addresse his whole force , he profits nothing : which mooues many people to be wonderfull merry , when they consider such contrariety . in lennox is a great loch , called loch-lowmond , 24. miles in length , & in bredth 8. miles , contayning the number of 30. iles : in this loch is obserued 3. wonderfull things : the one is fishes , very delectable to eate , that haue no fynnes to moue themselues withall , as other fishes do . the second , tempestuous . waues and su●…ges of the water , perpetually raging , without winds , & that in the time of greatest calmes , in the fayre pleasant time of sū●…r , when the ayre is quiet . the third is , one of these iles , that is not corroborat , nor vnited to the ground , but haue béene perpetually loose : and although it be fertill of good grasse , and replenished with neate , yet it moues by the waues of the water ; & is transported , sometimes towards one poynt , and other whiles towards another . in argyle is a stone found in diuers parts , the which laid vnder straw or stubble , doth consume them to fire , by the great heat that it collects there . in buquhan , at the demolished castle of sl●… , is a ca●… , from the top whereof ●…illes water , which in short time doth congeale to hard white stones : the caue is alwayes emptied . in louthian , 2. miles from edinburgh , southward , is a well spring , called , saint katherins well , flowing perpetually , with a kind of blacke famesse or oyle , aboue the water , procéeding ( as is thought ) of the parret coale , being frequent in these parts : this fatnes is of a marueilous nature : for as the coale , whereof it procéedes , is sudden to conceiue fire or flame , so is this oyle of a sudden operation to heale all salt scabs and humours , that trouble the outward skinne of man : commonly the head & hands are quickly healed by this oyle : it renders a maruelous swéet smell . at abridene is a well , of marnelous good quality to dissolue the stone , to expell sand from the rey●…es & bladder , & good for the collick , being drunke in the moneth of iuly , & a few dayes of august . little inferiour to the renomed water of the spaw in almaine . in the north seas of scotland are great clog●… of timber sound , in the which are maruelously ingendred a sort of géese , called , clayk geese , and doe hang by the beake , till they bee of perfection , oft times sound , & kept in admiration of their rare generation . at dumbartan , directly vnder the castle , at the mouth of the riuer of clyde , as it enters in the sea , there are a number of clayk geese , black of colour , which in the night time do gather great quantity of the crops of the grasse , growing vpon the land , and carry the same to the sea : then assembling in a round , and with a wondrous curiostly , do offer euery one his owne portion to the sea floud , & there attend vpon the flowing of the tide , till the grasse be purified from the fresh taste , and turned to the salt : and left any part thereof should escape , they labour to hold it in with their nebs : thereaster orderly euery fowle eats his portion : and this custome they obserue perpetually . they are very fat & delicious to be eaten . finis . errata . pag. 〈◊〉 . lin . 〈◊〉 . word●… , for wierds . p. 42. l. 35. malonus , malcolme . p. 66. l. 35. buries , beares . p. 77. l. 10. higger , bigger . ibid. l. ●…5 . peece , p●… . p. 7●… . l. 〈◊〉 . t●… , ty●… p. 87. l. 17. hal-●…ds , halyards . ibid. l. 31. & 32. pictonweme . pittinweme . ibid , l. 〈◊〉 . bufy , bufy . p. 88. l. 〈◊〉 . kipper , kippo . p. 92. l. 〈◊〉 . po●…yll , po●…yll . p. ●…6 . l. 1●… . new , other . 〈◊〉 . pag. 5. 〈◊〉 . 2●… . rocira , 〈◊〉 ro●…ia . ibid. 〈◊〉 . 2●… . trondar , for trondra . printed at london by simon s●…afford . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a07619-e240 originall of the most ancient surname of murrayes . the originall of the noble surname of the grahams . the comming in of the saxans in brittaine . the beginning of the league with fraunce . beginning of the normanes . originall of the noble surname of hayes . original of the noble surnames of keith . original of the royall and auncient name of stewarts . first earles . originall of surnames , the time of the conquest . originall of the perceyes . originall of the ancient , noble , and vali●…nt sùrname of dowglasse . notes for div a07619-e12190 tewiotdail . liddisdail . eskdail . annandail . edinburgh . west-lothian . linlithgow . the originall of the name of wdny . rosse . sutherland . stranauern . notes for div a07619-e13020 i le of man , pertayning now to england . arrane . an ancient castle rosa. iura . taxus like the fir●…e tree , the fruit thereof is venemous . yla . iland like a man. the weauers iland . the mule. buriall places of the kings of scotland . kings of ireland . kings of norway . horse iland . swine iland . iland of pigmeis . lewis . rona . a maruell . colca , 〈◊〉 fowle vn knowne . orknay . saint magnus cup. kirkwaa . hethland . notes for div a07619-e16840 wild horses . wolues . foxes . three sort of dogs . otter . sleuthhound . capercaily . moore cocke . blacke cocke . salmond hadde●… . notes for div a07619-e17220 the erne . pearles . lochmirton . lochnes white kyne & oxen. deafe craig . rockand stone . lochlowmōd s. katherins well . the well at abridene . clayk geese . blacke clayk geese . medulla historiæ scoticæ being a comprehensive history of the lives and reigns of the kings of scotland, from fergus the first, to our gracious sovereign charles the second : containing the most remarkable transactions, and observable passages, ecclesiastical, civil, and military, with other observations proper for a chronicle, faithfully collected out of authors ancient and modern : to which is added, a brief account of the present state of scotland, the names of the nobility, and principal ministers of church and state, the laws criminal : a description of that engine with which malefactors are tortured, called the boot. alexander, william, fl. 1685-1704. 1685 approx. 330 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 127 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26656 wing a917 estc r21197 12226435 ocm 12226435 56522 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26656) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 56522) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 621:11) medulla historiæ scoticæ being a comprehensive history of the lives and reigns of the kings of scotland, from fergus the first, to our gracious sovereign charles the second : containing the most remarkable transactions, and observable passages, ecclesiastical, civil, and military, with other observations proper for a chronicle, faithfully collected out of authors ancient and modern : to which is added, a brief account of the present state of scotland, the names of the nobility, and principal ministers of church and state, the laws criminal : a description of that engine with which malefactors are tortured, called the boot. alexander, william, fl. 1685-1704. [15], 233, [5] p. : port. printed for randal taylor ..., london : 1685. advertisement: prelim. p. [13] and p. [2]-[5] at end. includes bibliographical references. first edition. dedication signed: w.a. ascribed to william alexander. cf. halkett & laing (2nd ed.). reproduction of original in bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. 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quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng nobility -scotland -registers. scotland -kings and rulers. scotland -history. 2005-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2006-06 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion his royal highness iames duke of alban● , and yorke , only brother to his sacred mayesty , lord high com̄issioner of scotlan● medulla historiae scoticae : being a comprehensive history of the lives and reigns of the kings of scotland , from fergvs the first , to our gracious sovereign charles the second . containing the most remarkable transactions , and observable passages , ecclesiastical , civil , and military , with other observations proper for a chronicle ; faithfully collected out of authors ancient and modern . to which is added , a brief account of the present state of scotland , the names of the nobility , and principal ministers of church and state , the laws criminal : a description of that engine with which malefactors are tortured , called the boot . london , printed for randal taylor , near stationers hall , 1685. to the most noble james earl of perth , lord drummond , and stobhall , &c. lord justice general of the kingdom of scotland , one of the extraordinary lords of the session , and one of the lords of his majesties most honourable privy council in that kingdom . this compendious history of the kings of scotland , is most humbly dedicated by your lordships most humble , most faithful , and most obedient servant , w. a. to the reader . i shall not detain the generous reader with flourishes upon the grandeur , and glory of the scotish crown , nor tell you that it may vie antiquity with the ancientist monarchy of the vniverse , that i leave to your vmpirage , when you have compared the following sheets with the histories of other nations . only thus far i will assure you that scotland will be found to be a country pregnant of wonderfull changes , and revolutions , a theatre whereon divine providence has i exhibited divers remarkable instances , of it's peculiar care over crowned heads , and where all treason and disloyalty has been persued with utter ruine and destruction . it can show a race of kings vnparallel'd for their bravery , and gallantry in the defence of their country , and protection of their allies , and for their heroicism in assisting and redresing the miserable and opprest . but i leave their own acts , as represented in the following mirrour to make good my assertion , and shall proceed to offer something in my own vindication , for i am liable to some reprehension for cramming so large , so bulky a history into so small a volum , but if it be considered that all the curious have neither the leisure to peruse nor the means to provide a larger , i hope i shall need no farther apology upon that point , nor need i advocate much for differing much from many authors , as to the origin of our nation , since i have followed the most authentick , and have only vary'd from those whose writings are vanished with monckery , and savour more of the legend than true history . besides the plain bomespun manner wherein all these matters are deliver'd , will disgust several who only delight in what is flaunting and trick'd up with all the ornaments and gawdiness of rhetorick and elocution ; but be it known i fitted my stile for the capacities of vulgar readers , such as becomes a history , not a panegyrick , and what squars best with the tongue of both kingdoms , wherein there was never yet any chronicle publish'd of the realm of scotland ; so as that those who were unacquainted with the latin , were excluded from the knowledge of the primitive state of so illustrious a kingdom . after having fitted this account for the common use by divesting it of a pompous dress and a too stately dignity of stile , my chief care was to avoid partiality , by a stedy and cauterous stearing between buchanan and bishop lesley , seylla and charybdis , where vast funds of wit and learning might easily have wrought the shipwrack of an unwary pilot ; so that tho' a great part hereof is a translation of eminent authors , yet i left my originalls when i found 'em bias'd , and avoiding their extreams boul'd directly to the block . the introduction , history has been reckon'd , one of the most generous amusements of the greatest personages , and the loftier the subject , the more agreeable the entertainment . now for the advantages , and dignity of a scotish chronicle ; i will not so much insist upon it's novelty , and the wonderful vicissitudes it contains , as the preheminency of that crown , over all common-wealths , empires and monarchies , which , by stating their several claims and pretences , will sufficiently be made appear . the emperor challenges the first rank , as succeeding to the roman emperors , who are supposed to have been universal monarchs ; the french king pretends also to it , upon the account of his being stiled the most christian king , with other such pretences . the king of spain also pleads it , as his right ; being the most catholick king , and king of manyest kingdoms . in this debate of theirs , we are not a little concerned ; our business therefore shall be to prove : first , that the king of great britain hath an unquestionable right of precedency to all the above named princes : secondly , that he hath it it as king of scotland . first , he founds his precedency to them all , 1. upon his being a absolute monarch of the isle of great britain , which was first christian , 2. upon his being one of the quatuor nucti , which were before all other kings , 3. that having conquered france , he hath right to all it's titles , by which he carries it clear from the spaniard , or any other competitor , and lastly , that it was granted him , even as king of england by the popes themselves , in the general councils ; so that had they not relinquished his papacy , it is like his holiness , had not as yet questioned their title to it . ii. his majesty as king of scotland , may justly claim the precedency from all those princes ; it being by lawyers declared the uncontroverted use of precedency , that amongst those of equal dignity , he who first attained to that dignity , is to be preferred , this being a rule among others dignities , we see no reason , but that it should hold here . this being granted , i subsume that the king of scotland , being equal in dignity with the kings of england , france and spain , attained to that dignity , before either of them , for the first king of scotland reigned about three hundred and thirty years before the birth of christ : whereas the english historians confess , that they cannot reckon higher than eight hundred years after christ : nor can either the french , or spaniard come up to the english , for the french take the origine from hugh capi , who usurped that crown , anno. 987. and the spaniards from rudolphus king of the romans , elected 1273. but here it is objected by some , that the kings of scotland , were vassals to the kings of england , and did them homage for the crown of scotland , and so can claim no precedency amongst any free princes , far less amongst such as are of the first magnitude . this some english historians do with great confidence aver ; but that their ignorance , or malice , or both may appear , we are content to refer the matter , not only to the respect the general councils gave to the representatives of the kings of scotland , which was only due to free princes , together with the judgment of forreign princes , lawyers , and historians about it ; but also to the acknowledgment of the kings of england themselves , ( 1. ) king henry of england , having intreated the assistance of alexander king of scotland , against simeon earl of leicester , did by letters under his hand , publickly declare , that he did not crave this assistance , as superior , to which superiority , he had no pretence , but to which is very considerable , the king and parliament of england , have treated with the ambassadors of scotland ; whereas no superior can treat with his own vassal , as a forreigner . we freely grant that the kings of scotland did hold the lands of northumberland , cumberland , and westmerland , in capite of the crown of england , which yet was no disparagment to them ; that being most ordinary amongst sovereign princes , for thus henry king of england , and several others of their kings , did homage to the kings of france , for the provinces possest by them in france ; as the king of spain also doth , this day to the pope , for naples and sicily . and yet the homage done for those countries have been the occasion of an ignorant mistake in some , and a malicious pretence for others , to mis-represent it , as done for the kingdom of scotland . advertisement . by reason of the authors absence from the press ; several faults have escaped , which the reader is desired to amend . a list of the kings of scotland . 1 fergus . 2 ferithar . 3 main . 4 dornadill . 5 hothat . 6 r●ther . 7 rutha . 8 thereus . 9 josine . 10 finnane . 11 durst . 12 euen . 1 13 gill 14 euen . 2. 15 eder . 16 euen . 3. 17 metelan . 18 caratack . 19 corbred . 1. 20 dardan . 21 corbred . 2. 22 luctack . 23 mogald . 24 conar . 25 ethod . 1. 26 satrael . 27 donald . 1. 28 ethod . 2. 29 athirck . 30 nathalock . 31 findoch . 32 donald . 2. 33 donald . 3. 34. crathilinth . 35 fincormach . 36 romach . 37 angusian . 38 fethelmach . 39 ewen . 1. 40 fergus . 2. 41 ewen . 2. 42 dongard . 43 constantine . 1. 44 congall . 1. 45 goran . 46 ewen . 3. 47 congall . 2. 48 kinnatell . 49 aidan . 50 kenneth . 51 ewen . 4. 52 ferchard . 1. 53 donald . 3. 54 ferchard . 2. 55 maldwine . 56 ewen . 5. 57 ewen . 6. 58 amberkelleth . 59 ewen . 8. 60 mordach . 61 etfin . 62 ewen . 7. 63 fergus . 3. 64 solvat . 65 achaius . 66 congall . 3. 67 dongall . 68 alpine . 69 kenneth . 2. 70 donald . 5. 71 constantine . 2. 72 eth. 73 gregory . 74 donald . 6. 75 constantine . 3. 76 malcolm . 1. 77 indulf . 78 duff . 72 culen . 80 kenneth . 3. 81 constantine . 4. 82 grim. 83 malcolm . 2. 84 donald . 7. 85 macbeth . 86 malcolm . 3. 87 donald bane . 88 duncan . 89 edgar . 90 alexander . 1. 91 david . 1. 92 malcolm . 4. 93 william . 94 alexander . 2. 95 alexander . 3. 96 john balliol . 97 robert bruce . 98 david . 2. 99 edward balliol . 100 robert. 2. 101 robert. 3. 102 james . 1. 103 james . 2. 104 james . 3. 105 james . 4. 106 james . 5. 107 henry stewart , and mary stewart . 108 james . 6. 109 charles . 1. 110 charles . 2. an epitome of the history of scotland . the scots by the most judicious writers , and by those who have most carefully studied , not only their own antiquities , but those of other nations are acknowleged ( although they be not of the greatest ) to be undoubtedly among the most antient people in europe . but to speak more particularly of their antient nation , we must know that the whole island 〈◊〉 , it is a part , was at first called albion , or albium : as theophrastus , ptolomy , tacitus and seneca tells us , which name the true race of the ancient scots retain to this day , calling the ancient country albin , and themselves albinich , always keeping their primitive name notwithstanding of the many different people , that have since inhabited it . the etymology of this name is disputed by many , but it seems to be really derived from alb , or alp , signifying a hill or high place . the antient inhabitants of the northern parts of this island were called scots , who were divided into two sorts , the one who were the first possessors , and this posterity doth inhabit it to this day , were called the scoto-brigantes . some have taken upon them to be very accurat , in giving an account of their descent , and the manner of their coming hither , even from the far ends of the earth ; but with so little appearance of truth , that i will not put my reader nor my self to the trouble to refute it . the most probable conjecture , and that which carrieth most evidence with it is , that these first inhabitants came in colonies from spain to ireland ( nor is it improbable , that these colonies were originally from france ) who either for want of accommodation to live at home , or being thrust out by stronger hands came over to ireland , where they continued long , for either themselves or their children desirous of new habitations , transported themselves to the north islands , where they continued in an unsetled course of life for a long time ; the time of their entring albion , is said to have been from the creation , about 3530 years . the first place they took possession of was argyle , they being divided into sundry tribes , elected every tribe their own captain , to govern them in peace and war , this very name they had in great veneration . then after , about 150 ( as some write ) a german , or as beda saith , a scythian navy arrived upon the coast of ireland ; being as is probable , beat thither by a tempest , having neither wives or children with them ; the men were in want of every thing , having by tedious sailing consumed all their provision . they sent to the inhabitants , desiring they might have a residence among which they told them , they could not afford in regard of the barrenness of the place , and the multitude of inhabitants that possess it already ; but that there was a habitable land called albion , not far from them , whether they might go ; it being for the most part , as yet un-inhabited , and such as did inhabit it , like to ruin one another by civil discords those men ( afterward called picts following their advice , set sail and came to that part of albion that lyes toward germany ; and having landed , soon beat out the inhabitants , and made them draw themselves within less bounds . possessing themselves of caithness , ross , murray , merus , angus , fiffe and lothian , together with orkney , which some say was their first habitation . they were a civil people , ingenious and crafty , both in peace and war. having fixed their residence , they sent messingers to the scots , desiring their daughters in marriage , alledging that if they condescended , it would highly conduce to the welfare of both of them ; being thereby made strong , for either an offensive or defensive war , with any of their neigbours . this message the scots at first rejected , but upon mature deliberation they condescended : so having agreed upon the terms , which were that they should concur with all their forces , when they were invaded , and as often as the crown of picts came to want an heir , the next of the womans blood should succeed ; the scots gave their daughters in marriage to them : but the brittons who inhabited the south parts of the island , suspecting that this affinity between the scots and the picts , might tend to their prejudice , sent ambassadors to the picts , perswading them to break with the scots ; by this means the scots suffered extreamly , many of their people who dwelt among the picts , being surprized and cut off , in compensation of which they cut off , as many of the picts as they could catch ; thus they for a long time wasted one anothers country with continual incursions , at last they resolved to put it to the hazard of a general battle . the scots assembling in argyle , consulted what was fit to be done , and considering that they had not only to do with the picts , but with the brittons also ; therefore it was agreed to send ambassadors to ireland , to have the advice and assistance of their old friends , and progenitors in this affair , and finding that by having many supreme captains , sedition and division increased amongst them , they resolve to elect one to have the supreem government over the rest . their ambassadors arriving in ireland , and representing their condition to ferchard king of scots , he was much concerned at the wrongs done them , therefore he sent his son fergus a wise and valiant prince , accompanied with many gallant soldiers ; sending with him also the fatal marble chair for his incouragement : upon his arrival he called a councel in argyle , where having made an elegant oration , he was by unanimous consent elected king of the scots . 1. thus fergus the first king of scots , was crowned in the fatal marble chair , which he brought with him from ireland , in the year from the creation 3641. before the coming of christ 330. about the beginning of the fourth monarchy , when alexander the great vanquished darius the last persian monarch . soon after the picts assisted by the brittons , invaded the country against them , the king most valiantly took the field with his fierce scots ; when the two armies approached one another , the brittons stood off in battle array , resolving that when the scots and picts had sufficiently weakened one another in battle , to break in upon them , and destroy them both ; this by a fugitive britton was discovered to fergus , whereupon he desired an interview with the king of picts ; wherein , representing the eminent hazard that both of them were in , by the treachery of the brittons , after mature deliberation ; it was determined that they both should convert their arms against the brittons , this resolution was most pleasing no doubt to the picts wives , to see their husbands and their fathers agreed . the brittons seeing this disappointment of their hopes break upon the picts , pillaging and spoiling at their pleasure , which when fergus heard of , he went against them , and with the assistance of the picts , he totally routed them killing their king , his name was coil with many of his nobles : upon this victory the nobles and subjects agreed , that fergus and his posterity , should inherit the crown of scotland for ever , whereupon charters and evidences were granted to them , ratifying the same . the kingdom of scotland being thus confirmed to fergus and his successors , he with advice and consent of his councel divided the whole land , then inhabited by the scots among his nobles and captains , making many laws to repress vice and disorders : not long after he was chosen arbitrator , to determine some high controversies amongst his friends in ireland ; whereupon he went thither , accompanied with many of his nobles , and setled all their debates . but returning home , he was by a tempestuous storm driven upon a rock in the sea , where he and all the nobles in his company perished , this rock is called after his name carrib-fergus : thus dyed this brave and valiant prince , in the five and twentieth year of his raign , to the unspeakable grief and loss of his subjects . 2. fergus being dead , left two sons behind , him ferlegus and atainus , neither of which were capable presently to manage the government , because of their tender years : whereupon a convention was holden by the nobles , for electing of a king , wherein some were for choosing one of the late kings children ; alledging , that they were bound by oath to continue the crown in fergus his succession ; others aggravated the danger both at home and abroad , under the government of a child . at length , after a long debate it was enacted , that when it happened their king should dye , ( the heirs begotten of his body , being children ) the nearest of the royal blood , being the best qualified for doing of justice should succeed , and possess the crown for his time ; and after his death , the former kings son to succeed without any impediment , if he is found fit for government . this law was in force till the reign of king malcom the third . thus by this law feritharis brother to fergus the late king was chosen , who begun his reign in the year of the world 3666. before the coming of christ 305 years , from the beginning of the reign of scotland 26. feritharis reigned fifteen years with such equity and modesty , that his subjects found him an excellent king , and his nephews an excellent tutor ; but at length ferlegus having an itching after the government , and having got some loose young men upon his side , went to his uncle and boldly demanded the kingdom from him , alledging that he enjoyed it , only by way of trust , during his minority . feritharis upon this called a convention of the nobles , where he willingly offered to resign the kingdom , in favours of his nephew ; but they being sensible how happy they had hitherto lived , under his government , and knowing that the other was of a rude untractable disposition , by no means would hear of it ; soon after there was a conspiracy discovered against the kings person , managed by ferlegus and some others : whereupon he was presently arraigned and found guilty , but his fathers memory , his uncles desire to the parliament , prevailed to have him pardoned , and committed only to the keeping of some , who were commanded to take special notice of all his actions , but he found a way to deceive his keepers , and make his escape ; he first fled to the picts , then to the brittons , where he spent the rest of his days in great misery , within a month after , feritharis dyed , not without suspicion of being poysoned by some of his nephews accomplices , which so inraged the nation against him , that his very memory was hateful . 3. mainus fergus his second son , succeeded , in the year of the world 3680. before christ 291. after the beginning of the reign forty one . he was a noble prince , and a severe justitiary , he renewed the old league , with crinus king of picts , he dyed peaceably the 29th . year of his reign . 4. his son dornadill succeeded him in the government in the year of the world 3079. before christ 262. after the beginning of the reign seventy , he followed his fathers foot-steps in equity and justice , but was more given to pastimes ; especially hunting ; he is said to have made several laws about hunting , which the ancient scots observe to this day , he dyed peaceably the 28. year of his reign . 5. dornadilles eldest son , being yet a child and not fit to govern , the people set hothat his brother upon the throne in the year of the world 3738. before christ 233 after the beginning of the reign 98. he proved a monstrous tyrant , taking pleasure in nothing more than in murthering his nobility , and destroying his people by all the means that he could devise , till at last one dowall a gallaway man , having gathered together a company of disaffected persons came boldly to the king , telling him how grievous his government was to the people , because of his oppression , and therefore desired him to resign the crown ( which he was unfit to wear ) to such as had a better title to it ; the king tho' surprized by his enemy , yet no ways daunted , told him , that whatever was done by him during his government , was done by royal authority , and if it was grievous to the subjects , they had their own obstinacy to blame for it , hereupon dowall presently fell upon , and killed him after he had reigned twenty years . 6. rewther the son of dornadilles , was by dowals faction made king without the peoples consent , in the year of the world 3758. before christ 213. after the reign 118. the nobles took this very ill . and as for hothat , tho' they knew that he deserved the worst kind of death , yet they did not approve of this fact , as being of bad example ; they knew also , that what dowal did , was for his own ends , as afterward appeared . hothat's relations taking the advantage of the peoples dissatisfaction stirred them up by all means , to make war upon dowall ; at length , they draw to arms under the command of ferguhort , hothat's son-in-law , and captain of kintire and lorn . dowall came against them with great power , accompanied with the young king , the king of picts , and many others of his friends . there followed a most cruel battel , where after two several engagements in one day , dowall was utterly defeated , himself , the king of picts , together with all the chief of the claws were killed upon the place . reuther the young king was pursued , and taken at the castle of callender , but very civilly used . the consequences of this unhappy day , were most fatal both to scots and picts ; not having men enough left alive to inhabit the realm , or to withstand their enemies , upon which the brittons took occasion to invade them , but they no wise being in case to resist them , after several bloody skirmishes , were forced to betake them to the mountains ; the king of scots went into ireland , and the king of picts to orkney , whereafter twelve years misery , they resolved once more to try their fortune , and returning home , the one from ireland , the other from orkney ; they joyned battle with their old enemies , the conflict was so terrible , that none of the parties could boast much of the victory . however , the up-shot of the matter was , a peace was concluded , and the scots , and picts re-installed in their old possessions . this king dyed in the twenty six year of his reign , having left one son begotten by gethus the king of picts his daughter . 7. but he being young and not fit to reign , being scarcely ten years of age , reutha his fathers brother succeeded in the year of the world 3784. before christ 187. after the beginning of the reign 144. he instituted divers laws , which are in force among the old inhabitants to this day ; and having reigned seventeen years with great applause , either for his want of health , or love of solitariness , or for fear of thereus , reuthers son , whom he knew to have an itching after the crown he resigned . 8. thereus succeeded in the year of the world 3799. before christ 171. after the reign 158. the first six months he governed pretty moderately , but he suddenly brake loose , giving reins to all kinds of of wickedness , causing slanders and calumnies to be raised against his nobles , and under this pretence cruelly murthering them ; but at last the people not able to endure his tyranny , degraded him of all his honours . covan captain of the brigants , was made governor , who governed very wisely , about the space of eleven years , at which time being informed , that thereus had dyed at york , he resigned the government . 9. josina the kings brother succeeded to the crown , the year of the world 3818. before christ 161. after the reign 170. he was a peacable and good king , it is observed of him , that he highly esteemed physitians , being himself very expert in that science , whence it came to pass that for many ages after , the heads of families and men of worth , were for the most part excellent physitians : he dyed in a good age , after he had reigned twenty four years . 10. to him succeeded his son finnan , in the year of the world 3834. before christ 137. after the reign 194. this prince followed his fathers foot-steps , he studied nothing more than to gain the hearts of his subjects , and to maintain his royal dignity , more with clemency than force : that he might prove an effectual enemy to tyranny , he made a law that kings should command nothing of great weight , in the state without advice of their parliament , he dyed the thirtieth year of his reign . 11. durstius his son succeeded finnan , a. m. 3864. before christ 107. after the reign 224. a flagitious and wicked tyrant , he banished his fathers friends from the presence , because they advised him to leave off his lewd courses . having prostituted his wife , who was daughter to the king of the brittons to his companions , he repudeated her . but soon after , it was discovered , that he was carrying on a conspiracy against his nobles , and knowing that he could have no shelter , either at home or abroad ; having been so cruel , he feigned a sincere repentance of his former wickedness , calling home his queen , promising by oath to his nobles , that he would no longer follow his irregular courses ; which they readily believing , forgot all former injuries , but not long after having invited them , to make them merry with him , when he got them all together , he caused a company of ruffians to fall upon them and murther them . the noise of this heinous act going all abroad , stirred all the people to revenge , who killed him in battle , after that he had reigned nine years . 12. it was hotly debated among the nobles , whether the next in blood to durstius should succeed , some were against it , fearing lest the successor , if he were in kin to him , might be tempted to revenge the death : others were for keeping up his ancient custom according to the oath sworn to fergus , at length they condesended upon ewen , brother to durstius , him they crowned , a. m. 3873. before christ 98. he is thought to have been the first , who caused his subjects to give him their oath of fidelity . he went with the picts against the brittons , where there was so cruel a battle fought , that night drawing on both parties retired , but the scots and picts understanding that the brittons had left the field , they returned to their camp , where they found great spoil , which they divided by law of arms , and returned home victors , where ewenus spent the rest of his days in peace , he dyed the nineteenth of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 13. durstius his two sons , who were the nearest of the royal line , after evenus his death began to contend for the crown , in the mean time gillus , base son to evenus , having got together some villains for his purpose , suppresseth them both , and murthers them , then sets himself upon the throne , a. m. 3802. before christ 79. after the reign 252. but not thinking himself secure , so long as any of durstius his posterity , were extant resolved , to take off his three nephews , who were in the isle of man ; the eldest two he caught in his snare , and killed , but the third was conveyed away by his nurse , in the night time and carryed to argyle , where she kept him for some years in a cave for fear of the tyrant , who was at last killed in battel in ireland , whether he had fled , by caldebus the captain of the brigrands the second year of his reign . 14. evenus the second king finnans nephew succeeded in the government , a. m. 3894. before christ 77. years ; a good institutor , he confirmed the peace with the picts , having married gethus the third king of picts his daughter , he afterward overcame belus king of orkney in battle , who finding no way to escape killed himself : he also built innerlosher , and innerness , he dyed in the seventeenth year of his reign . 15. ederus durstius his brothers son succeeded in the year of the world 3911. before christ 60. after the reign 271. bredus of the isles , cousin to gillus the tyrant , brake in upon the country ; the king went presently against him , and overthrew him and his followers , and burnt their ships ; he afterward assisted the brittons against julius caesar in england , where by his means a glorious victory was obtained , he dyed in peace the forty eight year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 16. to him succeeded evenus the third his son , a. m. 3959. before christ 12. this man came to such a height of luxury , that not being content , that he took an hundred noble women to be his concubines ; he made an act , that every man should keep as many wives as he pleased , so that he had an estate to maintain them , and another , that the king should have the first nights enjoyment of a noble mans lady , allowing the noble men the same priviledge from their inferiors : he was afterward taken in battle and imprisoned , where he was killed by a young child the seventh year of his reign . 17. mettallan's nephew to ederus succeedeed , a. m. 3966. before christ 4. after the reign 326. a king universally beloved , because that in his time there was universal peace abroad , and tranquility at home ; but yet he could not reduce his nobles from the riotous habit , that they acquired in his predecessors time , he dyed peaceably the thirty ninth year of his reign . 18. to him succeeded , garratacus his sisters son , a. m. 4005. a. d. 35. he first composed some tumults , that were in the isles upon the late kings death , then assisted his neighbours against the romans . some report that in his time , orkney was conquered by claudius the emperor , and the king and queen of it sent in triumph to rome . after many bloody battles fought with the romans , he at last was desired by vespasian to submit to them , and he should be reputed a friend to the senate , and enjoy great honours , to which he answered , that the kingdom of scotland was as free to him , as the kingdom of the romans was to caesar , he dyed peaceably the twentieth year of his reign . 19. to him succeeded his brother corbred , a. m. 4025. after christ 55. after the reign 385. the islanders , who almost in every interregnum stirred up sedition , hoping for a change therein , divers expeditions quite subdued by him : he suppressed thieves , going frequently from place to place , doing justice , he dyed in the tenth year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 20. corbred's son being a child , the parliament chused dardan nephew metellan , a. m. 4042. after christ 72. there were great hopes had of him at first , but within three years he degenerated , and became an odious tyrant , murthering and destroying all the wisest , and best of his councellors , and to compleat his villainies , hired a ruffian to murther corbred's two sons , who were in the isle of man ; but the traitor being taken just ready to perpetrate the villany , was forced to discover the whole plot : whereupon the nobles unanimously resolved , to revenge the treason , but the king absconding himself , and his forces being defeated by the nobles , was at last taken , and his head struck off the fourth year of his reign . 21. corbred the second , surnamed galdus cometh next to the throne , after christ 76. a couragious and warlike prince , in his days the romans had greatly inlarged their borders , for having quite routed the brittons , they went as far north , as the river tay , and had probably gone further , had not that valiant warrier agricola been called home by domitian , who envied his success , he was no sooner gone , but corbred came with an army , and made a great slaughter among the romans , pursuing them from one place to another ; till at length they were glad to beg their peace , which was granted upon very honourable terms . corbred having spent the rest of his days in peace , dyed the thirty fifth year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 22. luctacus succeeded his father corbred , anno dom. 110. a most flagitious man , given to all kinds of lewdness and cruelty ; which his nobles perceiving , at a convention of the states , began to reprove him for his wickness and tyranny : he being inraged at this , commanded some of them to be put to death ; but instead of being obeyed , they fell upon him and his complices , and killed them the third year of his reign , he was buried in dunstaffage . 23. to him succeeded mogald , corbred the second sisters son , a. d. 113. the beginning of his reign was fortunate , for he governed most prudently and successfully . he discharged the romans from approaching the confines of his kingdom , and defended the picts from them , he defeated lucus with his romans in westmorland , and obtained a great victory : in his time adrian the emperor came into brittain , where he built adrians wall , from the mouth of tyne , to the flood of esk fourscore miles in length , he was killed in the thirty third year of his reign . 24. conar succeeded his father mogald , a. d. 149. who became a cruei tyrant , and was suspected to have had a hand in conspiring his fathers death , he did greatly dilapidate the rents of the crown by his extravagancies , being forced to call a parliament ; he pressed mightily for money , alledging that his revenues was not answerable to his charges , but his nobles answered his demands in another manner , then he expected , for they presently degraded and imprisoned him . ardgad captain of argyle made governor : he dyed in prison the fourteenth year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 25. after , him ethod the first sisters son to mogad began to reign , a. d. 163. he highly applauded ardgad his government , keeping him still in great trust with himself . he sent him to the isles , to allay some tumults that were beginning to stir , which he did ( as he thought ) effectually , but he was not long gone , then they became worse than before ; wherefore the king sent him thither again , where he was unfortunately killed , this so inraged the king that he went thither himself in person , and made them soundly smoke for their insolency . having composed his affairs at home and abroad , he began to give himself to ease , but soon after he was killed in his chamber by an irish harper , whom he kept to make musick to him , the thirty third year of his reign . 26. ethod having no sons ripe for the government , his brother satrael succeeded him , a. d. 199. he was so cruel , that he made it his work to cut off all the antient nobility , but was at length stabbed by one of his courtiers the fourth year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 27. his brother donald the first succeeded him , a. d. 199. a prince famous for princely endowments , but especially , in that he was the first king , that imbraced christianity in scotland , and gave it his royal sanction , tho' for several years before his time , the gospel had it's professors , tho' not publickly owned ; he with the concurrence of his nobles made what reformation , he could , yet could he not during his life , get the people weaned from their old heathenish superstitions : in his time sevesus the emperor came into brittain with a prodigious army , intending no less than to conquer the whole island . the scots and picts at his coming , betake them to the hills , and draws him after them , but his army suffered grievously , having as one writes , * lost 50000. men in that expedition , at length they came to a peace with him , after which he built a great wall , reaching from forth to clyde : peace being concluded abroad , donald returned home , and passed the rest of his days in peace , he dyed the eighteenth year of his reign and was buried in dunstaffage . 28. ethodius the second son to ethodius the first , succeeded donald , a. d. 216. a man of a foolish and cross temper , unfit to govern that fierce people ; but his nobles managed the government prudently , he at last was killed in a tumult , made by his domesticks the sixteenth year of his reign and was buried in dunstaffage . 29. his son athircus is made king , a. d. 231. at first he gave great grounds of hope , that he should prove an accomplished prince , but it proved quite contrary , he turned extreamly profligate , prostituting noble mens daughters to his companions : upon which account one hotholocus a noble man conspired against him , which he perceiving , that there was no way to escape , killed himself the twelfth year of his reign . 30. athircus being dead , hatholocus procured himself to be chosen king , a. d. 242. a cruel and lascivious tyrant , being acquainted that ethircus his children were with the picts , he called the chief of the nobility , whom he knew to have been athircus his friends , pretending he wanted their advice , in some matters of state ; whent he had got them convened in one place , he caused them to be thrown in prison , and soon after executed : whereupon their friends rebelled , and the king going about to gather an army to subdue them , was killed by one of his courtiers the eleventh year of his reign . 31. hathalocus being thus dead , athircus his children are called home and findochus , the eldest of them set upon the throne , a. d. 253. a wise and valiant prince ; his first expedition was against donald , of the isles who under pretence of revenging the late kings death , had raised an army , him he subdued forcing him to flee to his ships , where being hotly pursued , he got into a small boat which being over loaden immediately sunk , and he perished , yet his son whose name was donald , keept up the quarrel against him . hindoch , went with an army entering the islands wasted them so that they were left almost quite desolate . donald finding his weakness betakes him to treacherous courses , and striking in with carance the kings brother , they instigated two ruffians to murther him , both which were tormented to death . the 11 th . year of his reign he was buried in dunstaffage . 32. to him succeeded his youngest brother donald the 2 d a. d. 264. an excellent prince , while he was preparing to reveng his brothers death he heard that donald of the isles had made an inroad upon murray , not in the quality of a robber , but of a king. where upon commanding the strength of the kingdom to follow him , he went against him with those forces he had in readiness , which donald hearing of , took such tedious marches that he was close upon the kings camp before any was a ware , which obliged the king to fight , but the inequality of their number was such , that the king was defeated , most of his men killed , himself being wounded , with several of his nobles were taken . he dyed the third day after , partly of his wounds and partly of melancholy , the first year of his reign , he was buried in dunstaffage . 33 donald , lord of the isles usurped the crown a. d. 265. excercising much cruelty , none dared to oppose him having so many of the nobility his prisoners whom he threatned upon every provocation to kill . at length crathelinth son to king findochus , who having lurked long with his nurse , and was believed to be dead , having gathered a few subtil men together went directly to donalds court , who dissembling both his name and quality became in a short time very intimate with him , but when he found his opportunity he put an end to the tyrants days , the 12 th year of his reign , conveying himself and his followers away undiscovered . there was all this time a sore persecution of the christians , under the emperor decius . 34. crathelinth was set upon his fathers throne a. d. 277. a valiant and religious king. he first caused all the late tyrants race to be razed to the foundation for preventing the mischief might follow , he also purged the land of superstitions , planting the true christian religion . this king having peace on all sides , he addicted himself much to hunting , one day as he was at his sport , one of the picts stole away a dog in which he greatly delighted ; but the keeper of the kings dogs being informed where he was kept , went to take him and striving to take him by force was killed in the place , which was the beginning of a sad war , that lasted a long time ; but at last by means of one caransius a roman , ( who was afterward king of britain . ) they made peace . king crathelinth passed the rest of his days in peace , and dyed the 24 year of his reign , he was buried in dunstaffage . 35. to him succeeded his cousin german fincormach , a. d. 301. a prince both pious and valiant , he joyned with the britains against the romans , and after a most bloody battel routed them , pursuing them as far as yorke . having procured peace abroad he wholly applyed himself to the utter extirpating of idolatry . in his days fell out the ninth persecution under aurelius , and the tenth under dioclesian , which gave occasion to many christians from divers parts of the empire , now a second time to flee to scotland , for refuge as they had done once before under domitian . among those fugitives who fled thither for shelter , from the general massacre were many excellent men in piety and learning , whom the king not only did kindly receive but also imployed to assist him and his council in the further setling of christianity in his dominion , and in the total extirpation of idolatry out of it , which was so much the harder work because of the druides , the principal false prophets and idolatrous priests of those days who not only by their subtil hypocrisy and sence pleasing divine service but also by a cunning forcast having drawn into their hands the hearing and determining of civel affairs , had so gained upon the spirits of the poor and simple people , that they could not imagine how to be without them and live . the resolute care and labour of this gracious king and his council , together with the help of these pious and learned men , prevailed at last utterly to overthrow , and abolish the groves with the alters under the oaks , and all idol service ; and to establish the pure worship of god in all places of his dominions , filling the rooms of these false prophets with godly and learned teachers among the people , which was done in all places throughout the kingdom , but especially in the islands which those pious men took for their particular abode , as being most fit for a retired life and namely in the isle of man , the king caused a church to be built to the honour of our saviour , these holy men were for their labouring so much in gods worship called colidei or culdees . this good king dyed in peace the 47 year of his reign and was buried in dunstaffage . 36. romach brothers son to crathelinth , after a hot debate , by the assistance of the picts , possessed himself of the throne , a. d. 348. but proving a cruel tyrant he was killed by his nobles the 3 d year of his reign ; in his time christianity began in ireland . 37. augustian another of crathelinth's brothers sons succeeded , a.d. 351. a valiant and peaceable king. the late kings associates , not thinking themselves secure fled to the picts , whom they instigated to make war upon the scots , in revenge of romacks death : augustian hearing of their purpose sent to hertanus the king of the picts , acquainting him how dangerous , a war betwixt them at that time might prove ; the romans and britains being so apt to take advantage of them , when they are low ; but all would not do , whereupon he went against them with his forces and quite defeated them , killing many of their nobles . afterward they renewed their strength , and came to the wood of camelon where the king of scots with his army lay , where they fought a most bloody battel on both sides , both the kings were killed with many of their nobles in the third year of his reign . he was buried in dunstaffage without succession . 38. fethelmack the youngest of crathelinths brothers sons succeeded , a. d. 354. a valiant prince ; he scarcely reigned two years when having raised an army he went against the picts , and gave them a most fatal overthrow , killing their king in battel , he was afterward trayterously murthered in his bed , by two perfidious picts , who insinuated themselves into his favour with the assistance of an harper , the groans of the dying king being over heard by his servants , they came rushing into the room where they took the villains in the very act of their cruelty , who were afterward tormented to death . at this time st andrews church was built by the king of the picts , at the request of st rewell , he dyed the third year of his reign , and was buried in dunstaffage . 39. to him succeeded ewin the first son to fincormach . a. d. 357. a valiant , just , and good king. in his time the romans resolving to be masters of the whole island , and to destroy both scots and picts , first communicate to the picts , their purpose to eradicat the scots , and that if they would be assistant therein they should enjoy all their lands , holding it of the romans . they as a base ungratefull people accepted the proffer . so that the scots had now to do with romans , britains and picts . in the first battel the romans and the others were worsted , but soon after the romans renewing their strength , with all their adherents eugen , ( or ewen ) upon the other hand convened all that could bear arms in his dominions knowing they were to fight for no less then their country , and liberty . they engaged at the river dun , the battel was most bloody , with doubtful success for a while , but at last the scots being over powered with fresh supplies from the romans , were forced to fly , leaving the king and his brother with fifty thousand of their men dead in the field . they fled some to the isles , some to ireland and scandia , they attempted several times to recover their countrey but in vain , till at length the king of picts dying , the roman legat charged them that they should choose no other king but live under the roman government and by roman laws , when they saw this they became some what sensible of their folly , and treachery to their best neighbours ; resolving at length to call them home and joyne forces them , that the one might recover their country , the other their liberty . 40. echadius the kings brother ( upon the late fatal defeat , ) finding there was no shelter for him in his country departed with his son hutha , and his grandson fergus to scandia , there they were kindly entertained . in process of time echadius and hutha dying , fergus became a most valiant man , gained great fame in france , and pannonia . to him the picts sent embassadors inviting him home , promised there assistance toward the recovering of his country , which he readily accepted of , and having arrived with a few danes and goths in his company ( the scots , likewise gathering to him , ) he soon regained his kingdom , being victorious against the romans in many battels , at last he was killed in battel by the romans , the sixteenth year of his raigne , and was buried in icolmkill , which was the burial place for the kings till king malhiscom kanmors days ; having left the kingdom almost in as bad case as he found it . 41. to him succeeded his son eugenius the second , a. d. 420. a valiant and victorious prince ; he managed the government by the help of the valiant grame , ( whose father was banished out of scotland , with ethod brother to king eugenius the first ) who married a virgin of the blood royal of denmark , she brought forth a daughter to him which was married to fergus the second , eugenius his father . this grame being the kings grandfather was mighty helpful to him against the romans : for he pulled down the wall of abercorn built by the romans called afterward grames dick , as also adrians wall , over against the irish seas ▪ by his help the kings of scots and picts past with fire and sword through all the bounds between tyne and humber , here they fought a most bloody battel in which there were 15000. britains killed , together with most of their princes and nobles , but few of the scots : by which means they totally expelled the romans out of britain , and brought the britains under contribution , reserving also to themselves the whole land lying between tyne and humber . this prince dyed the one and thirtyth year of his reign , having the seventh year delivered his country from the romish yoke , 496 years after that julius caesar brought them first under tribute . 42. to him his brother dongard succeeded . a. d. 451 a prince fitted both for war and peace , in his time the pelagian heresie infested the church , for curing of which celestine bishop of rome sent one paladius into scotland ; he is said to have been the first who instituted bishops there , for untill that time the church was governed by monks ▪ this king dyed the fifth year of his reign . 43. constantine the first succeeded to dongard . a. d. 457. a man full of bad qualities , cruel to his subjects , but fearful of his enemies , given up also to all kind of lasciviousness : the picts seeing his unworthiness broke with him , his subjects also were at the very nick of rebellion . he was slain in the two and twentyth year of his reign by a noble man of the isles , whose daughter he had defloured . 44. to him succeeded congall the first , a. d. 479. his first work was to reduce his subjects from the sottish and base customs to which his father had inured them . the britains seeing him inclin'd to peace , perswaded aurelius ambrosius , to demand restitution of westmorland from him , which he denying to do , they draw to arms on both sides , but being better advised , they again agreed that things should stand as constantine left them . during the reign of congall he had wars with the saxons , but no great action , in his time lived those two famous prophets , merlin and gildas . he dyed the two and twentyth year of his reign . 45. his brother govan succeeded him , a. d. 501. who governed the kingdom with great discretion . in his time arrived in britain occa and passentius the sons of hengist , with an army of german souldiers against whom came king ambrose and fought and routed them , but with small reason to boast of his victory , for he lost the prime of his nobility in that ingagement , he thereupon sent for the king of scots and picts to come to his assistance finding himself so much weakened occa being advertised thereof , sent his brother passentius to germany for assistance , who by contrary winds being driven upon the coast of ireland , gathered a considerable number of souldiers of fortune and returned home . in the mean time ambrosius was poysoned by occaes means to him succeeded the valiant king arthur , who by assistance of the scots and picts , obtained several great victories against the saxons . govan having made peace with all his neighbours returned home , he dyed the thirty fourth year of his reign , not without suspicion of treacherie in which donald captain of athlo had no small hand . 46. eugenius , ( or ewen ) the third , congallus the firsts son succeeded , a. d. 535. a wise and prudent prince , he consulted with some of his nobles about revenging the late kings death , but found by their coldness and unconcernedness in the matter ground of suspicion , that they themselves were not inocent of it , which made him dread their designes against himself . yet he managed the government so wisely , that he dyed in peace the twenty third year of his reign . 47. to him succeeded congal the second his brother , a.d. 558. a prince of a very strict life , contending even with the monks themselves for piety , he made many excellent laws relating to churches , and churchmen . in his time lived these two famous men s. colm and s. mungo . he dyed in peace the eleventh year of his reign . 48. kinnatill succeeded his brother congall , a. d. 569. at which time aidan govans son come to scotland , who being ntroduced to the king by s. colm , was graciously received with assurance that he should be the man who should succeed to the crown . he dyed in peace the first year of his reign . 49. aidan accordingly succeeds , a. d. 570. soon after a conspiracy being discovered , which some of his servants intended against his person , the conspirators fled to the picts , who refusing to deliver them up to justice when demanded , he quite broke with them , and confederated with the britains against them , and the saxons , routing them in several battels . about this time his good friend s. colm dyed to his great grief . soon after augustine the monk came into britain , being sent by pope gregory , who created much trouble by his innovations , in matters of religion . this prince dyed in peace the thirty fifth year of his reign . 50. kenneth the first , congalls second son succeeded , a. d. 605. we have nothing recorded of him worth noting , he dyed in peace the first year of his reign . 51. ewen the fourth , aidans second son succeeded , a. d 606. he was educated by s. colm , but slighted his injunctions in one thing , for that he preferred war to peace , his hand was heavy upon the rebellious and stubborn , but yet a modest conqueror , he dyed in peace the fifteenth year of his reign . 52. to him succeeded his son ferchard the first , a. d. 621. a vitious tyrant , which his nobility not being able to endure , called him to an account , but he refusing to submit was compelled ; having laid before him how injurious he had been to his country , and what an enemy to religion , abetting the pelagian heresie , with many such things , they degraded him , and put him in prison , where soon after he killed himself . 53. to him succeeded his son donald the fourth , a. d. 632. he studied nothing more then to preserve and advance the christian faith , at home , and among his neighbours , he sent some learned divines to northumberland , to restore the christian faith , which was much decayed . he perished ( as some write ) in lochtay , being there at fishing the fourteenth year of his reign , but others affirm he dyed in his bed. 54. his brother ferchard the second succeeded , a. d. 646. a wicked tyrant impious toward god , and cruel towards man , having strangled his wife , and deflowred his daughters , his nobles resolved to call him to account , but were disswaded by one colmar a religious monk who told them that gods hand would soon be upon him which accordingly fell out , for being at hunting he was bitten by a wolfe , which caused a dangerous feavour of which he dyed , declaring his sorrow for his former life , the eighteenth year of his reign . 55. to him succeeded malduin . donald the fourths son , a. d. 664. a wise and religious prince . the argyle and lenox men much infested the country by their animosities between themselves ; the leaders of the sedition he put to death ; at this time the plague had over spread all europe , whereof infinite multitudes dyed every where , but the scots and picts were preserved from it . this good king was strangled by his queen , upon suspicion of adultery the twentyth year of his reign . she and her servants were the next day burnt alive . 56. ewin the first malduins brothers son succeeded , a. d. 684. edfried , king of northumberland invaded scotland , having the assistance of the picts , but they deserting him he was routed and ten thousand of his men killed . the next year edfried invaded the picts , they pretending to fly drew him upon an ambush where he and all his army were cut off . the scots and britains also entering northumberland , so afflicted that king that he was never able to recover his losses . ewin dyed the fourth year of his reign . 57. ewin the sixth , ferchard the seconds son succeeded , a. d. 688. a religious and learned king , he had neither certain peace nor certain war with his neighbours . he dyed the ninth year of his reign , it is said that in his time it rained blood for seven days over all britan , that also the milk butter , and cheese was turned into blood. 58. amberkelleth succeeded , a. d. 697. at first he appeared a sober prince , but he soon put of the mask , turning to all kinds of wickedness , he was killed by the shot of an arrow in the night time , the second year of his reign . 59 to him succeeded ewin the seventh , his brother , a. d. 699. he made peace with the king of picts , and marryed his daughter , who within a year after ( being with child ) was murthered in her bed instead of the king , by two brothers of athols , who had conspired the kings death . he was a good and religious king , he dyed the sixteenth year of his reign . 60. ewin a little before his death recommended to the nobles , mordach amberkeleths son , who was chosen a. d. 715. an excellent prince , he procured peace over all britain , he repaired many decayed churches , and built the monastery of whitehorne . he dyed the sixteenth year of his reign . 61. to him succeeded etfin , ewin the sevenths son , a. d. 730. a religious king and severe justitiar , being aged , after that he had reigned 30 years , he elected four regents , viz. the thanes of argyle athole gallaway and murray to govern his subjects , but their government was greivous . he dyed the thirty first year of his reign . 62. ewin the eighth mordachs son succeeded a. d. 761. his first work was to put to death donald , lord of the isles , and the earle of galloway , for their cruelty in the late kings latter days . but he himself afterward degenerating into all vices , was killed by his nobles the third year of his reign . 63. fergus the third etfins son succeeded , a. d. 764. he married ethiolia , daughter to the king of picts , who having several times admonished him of his adulteries at last with the help of some of his familiar servants strangled him , and being accused thereupon confessed the fact , and presently stabbed her self to the heart with a dagger . the king was buried in icolmkill the third year of his reign . 64. solwath ewin , the eighths son succeeded a. d. 767 , a valiant prince , he was much troubled with the gout , of which donald a bane , captain of the isles . taking advantage proclaimed himself king of the isles , breaking also in upon the continent made great havock , but at length was by duchal captain of argyle and duchal captain of athol beset in a wood , where their was no way to escape , their he and all his followers were cut to pieces . this good king dyed of the gout , the twentith year of his reign . 65. acaius etfins son succeeded a.d. 787. he made a new peace with the english and picts , finding that the irish intended to make war against him , because of a slaughter that was committed in kintire , upon some irish robbers , yet he sent ambassadors to ireland , shewing how little ground they had to denounce war , and how little it would tend to their honour to revenge the quarrel of a pack of thieves , but they not giving ear to his peaceable message , presently rigged out a fleet , which was not two nights at sea , when it was utterly ruined by a storme , which made the irish now supplicate for a peace upon any terms , which the king readily granted . he soon after made a league with charles the great king of france , and emperor of germany , which continues inviolated to this day . for the corroboration of which , achaius sent his brother william with forty thousand valiant warriours to assist the aforesaid charles in his wars , against the infidels where he purchased great fame , being commonly called by the princes of france : the knight without reproach . before this time also some learned men , passed from scotland unto france , among which johannes scotus who was charles's tutor was singular for his learning who together with clemens another of his country men , founded the university of paris . achaius marryed fergusian sister to hungus , king of the picts , who bore to him one son called alpine who afterward succeeded ; to be king of scotland , and heir to the king of picts ; king achaius dyed the thirty second year of his reign . 66. to him succeeded congal , his cousin german , a. d. 819. he governed peaceably for five years . 67. dongal salvatius's son succeeded , a. d. 824. who having settled the peace at home , sent his embassadors to the picts , demanding the right of succession in the name of alpin , son to king achaius , being there own king dyed without succession , which they refusing to do ; dongal denounced war against them but he unfortunatly perished in a boat as he was passing over the river of spey , in the seventh year of his reign . 68. alpin acaius's son succeeded , a-d. 831. a valiant prince , he led the army , which was raised by dongall , against the picts , to assert his title to their crown , wherein a most bloody battel , he with his own hand slew feredech their king ; then they elected brudus his son , who was killed the first year of his reign , in a tumult raised by his subjects : his brother kenneth succeeded to him , who coming with an army against the scots , rent off his coat of armour and fled to the mountains , where he was shamefully killed by a country man ( not knowing who he was ) whereupon the picts elected brudus , a fierce and valiant prince to be their king , who sent his ambassadors to alpine desiring peace ; alpine answered that he would make no peace , untill the crown of the picts were set upon his head , as the right inheritour of it . brudus upon this raised a great army , and came over the bridge of dunkell , marching to augus , where alpin with his army did lye . the night before the battel , he devised a cunning stratagem ; for having a great many women in his army , he caused them to stand in battel array , with linnen shirts above their cloaths , ordaining some horse-men to command them ; he drew them into a wood , commanding none of them to appear , till the armies had joyned battel . king alpin upon the picts approach , presently led out his men , and joyned battel with them , then the aforesaid reserve began to move from their ambush : the scots seeing them , apprehended them to be a fresh army of picts , whereupon they immediately fled . in this battel king alpine himself was taken , and beheaded the third year of his reign . 69. to him his son keneth the second succeeded , a. d. 834. now the picts fully resolve , to banish the scots quite out of their country , for which purpose they procure help from england . but when they were at their full strength , they divided amongst themselves to such a height , that brudus was forced to disband his army ; he soon after dyed for grief , donsken his brother succeeded , who made it his work to keep peace on all hands . but keneth after three years uncertain peace , being desirous at any rate to revenge his fathers death , and to recover the crown , which by right did belong to him ; convened his nobles , and consulted with them concerning the matter , but finding them not inclined to it , he invites them all to a great feast , which he had prepared of purpose , where they were royally entertained within his pallace untill dark night ; after they had liberally feasted , they were conveyed to several apartments within the palace , and when deep sleep had seized upon them ; the king caused some men that he had ready for that end , to pass to their several beds clad with fish-skins , which did cast a dazling light in the dark ; each man having a hunting horn in his hand , through which he spake . the nobles being amazed at this sight , were desired by them , not to be terrified for that they were angels sent from god , to the princes and nobles of scotland , to cause them to obey the kings order ; it being very just and right , and that they needed not to fear the success , for they should be victorious . their speeches being ended , they in an instant vanished : this mightily astonished the nobles , not knowing what to make on 't . it was no sooner day light , than they got up and enquired one for another ; and having convened all together , every man began to declare what appeared to him , which made them all presently conclude , that it was no fancy , but a real vision : the king also assured them , that the same vision appeared to him at the same hour . hereupon they unanimously consented , that all who were able for fighting , should meet the king upon a day appointed , which they did as the picts did also upon the other hand ; they fought most valiantly on both sides , but the picts were routed in one , and quite ruined in another battel ; their king and all his nobles being killed . and their city camelon after a long siege utterly destroyed , and razed ; and the picts men , women , and children put to the sword ; after they had reigned in albion 1181 years . king keneth brought the fatal chair from argyle to scone , adding the picts dominions to his own , he dyed the twentieth year of his reign . 70. donald the fifth , keneth the seconds brother succeeded , having his territories enlarged from the orcades to adrians wall : he was a vicious and luxurious prince , which gave the fugitive picts some ground to hope , that they might recover their lands , whereupon they requested osbred and ella two great princes in england , to restore them , promising to pay homage to them , they accepted the offer invading scotland , with great forces where they were miserably routed in a pitch'd battle . king donald proud of this victory , pursued them to the water of tweed with his army ; there he found two ships laden with wine , which he parted among his souldiers , they not being much used to such liquor drank of it , till they were not able to stir : of which , when king osbred was advertised , he came suddenly upon them , and killed 2000 of them , took the king himself , and carried him about in derision . osbred pursuing this victory conquered great lands in scotland : so that sterling-bridge was made the march between the scots and the english . this osbred coyned money in sterling castle , which was ( as some think ) the first beginning of sterling money . king donald being ransomed , was soon after taken by his nobles , and put in prison , where he desperately killed himself , the fifth year of his reign . 71. to him succeeded constantine the second , who was crowned in scone . a. d. 859. soon after hunger and hubba with a great fleet of danes landed in fife , to shun whose cruelty , many religious persons , with adrian their bishop fled into the isle of may , where they were all cruelly put to death by the unmerciful danes . constantine with his army met them at the river of levin , where he overthrew them , pursuing them toward caryl , where their ships lay ; but the scots being proud of this victory , became too secure : whereupon the danes rallied upon them , where followed a terrible battel , at last the scots were defeated ; the king being taken , and dragged to a cave was basely murdered , the fifteenth year of his reign . 72. to him succeeded ethus his son , surnamed the swift , a.d. 874. his wickedness and cruelty , came to so great a heigth , that his nobles were forced to imprison him , where within three days he dyed of melancholly , the second year of his reign . 73. gregory the great dungalls son succeeded , a. d. 876. a prince of a kingly spirit ; he made a law , that all ●ings hereafter , should at their coronation , swear to defend the christian faith. his first expedition was into fife , against the picts and danes which were left there , when hungar went into en●land ; them he expelled , not only out of fife , but also out of lothian , and the mers . coming to berwick ; the danes durst not venture to fight him ; but leaving a garrison in the town , retired to northumberland , to gather more forces . but gregory in the night time , being guided by some english-men entred the city , and put all the danes to the sword ; thence he went to northumberland , there he utterly routed the rest of them , which gave him occasion to inlarge his dominions with northumberland , cumberland , and westmorland ; after which he entered in a league with the king of england , wherein his right to the foresaid lands was ratified . his next expedition was against the irish , who had landed in galloway , and committed great insolencies , but at his coming they retired back to their own country . he with a great army followed them , where at his landing , he overthrew brennius and cornellius , who were guardians to the young king of ireland , with their nobles taking several forts and castles , at last he laid seige to dublin , where their young king was ; which after some resistance yeilded . the king returning conqueror from ireland , dyed the eighteenth year of his reign ; by him the city of aberdeen was built . 74. donald the sixth , constantine the seconds son succeeded , a. d. 894. he was a religious and good king , fit for either war or peace ; he had some ingagments with the danes , and sent assistance to the king of england against them , toward the latter part of his days , he was troubled with intestine broils , for the murrays , and rosses invading one another , committed great insolencies ; to quench this fire the king came upon them with a great army , and taking the leaders of the faction , put them to death for an example to others . he dyed the eleventh year of his reign . 75. to him succeeded constantine the third , ethus's son , a. d. 905. a valiant , but unfortunate prince ; the perfidious danes , having broken their league with him joyned with the english , but within four years they met with such measures , as made them glad to return to the scots : whereupon followed a hot and cruel war , wherein constantine found himself so unsuccessful , that he resigned his crown , and betook himself to a monastery , where he dyed the fortieth year of his reign . 76. malcolm the first , donald the sixths son succeeded , a. d. 943. a valiant prince , and severe justitiar . a peace being made with england , wherein cumberland and westmorland were annexed to the crown of scotland , to be holden in fee of the kings of england ; this prince passed the rest of his days , in executing of justice , which he did with such strictness , that some villains in murray-land conspired against him , where he was traiterously killed , the ninth year of his reign . 77. indulf constantine the thirds son succeeded , a. d. 952. a brave warrior , the danes landing in the north with a huge army , he went against them , there in a pitch'd battel , he routed them , but dyed himself in the battel , the ninth year of his reign . 78. to him succeeded duff . malcolm the first 's son , a. d. 961. a prince who much studied the peace of his country ; he went about his northern circuits , where he kept his courts , severely punishing malefactors ; coming at last to the castle of forress , suspecting no harm was traiterously murdered by the captain , and his wife , who were afterwards apprehended and put to a cruel death . 79. to him succeeded culen , indulfs son , a. d. 966. who having revenged the late kings death , soon after became a most flagitious and wicked prince , deflowring his own daughters and sisters : he was killed by rodard a noble man at meffen , this daughter he had deflowred the fourth year of his reign . 80. keneth the third , duffs brother succeeded , a. d. 970. the beginning of his reign , was good , executing of justice severely , finding his nobles averse , to deliver up ther friends and vassals , who troubled the peace , to justice ; he called a convention of the states at scone , where having clandestinely conveyed , some men in arms , where the nobles were convened , made them all prisoners , telling them , that so it would be untill they did give up those rebels to justice ; they finding themselves thus hooked , sent to their friends , to perform the terms of their liberation ; thus in a short time he had five hundred notable thieves , delivered up , them he caused to be every one hanged upon gibbets , close by the castle of berth . the danes with a great fleet of ships landing in angus , destroyed all before them , till they came to berth , where the king and his army ran-countered with them ; there followed a most bloody battel , the scots beginning to give ground , were made to rally by the means of one hay and his two sons , who hearing as they were at plowing , not far from the field , that the scots fled , came each of them with a club in his hand , and renewed the battel , putting the danes to flight , there they were all cut off , the king amply rewarded him , giving him so much of the best land in scotland as a faulcon off a mans hand , flew over , which was six miles in length , and four in breadth , this was the original of the noble and ancient surname of hay . but that which darkned all this noble kings acts , was his causing malcolm prince of scotland to be poisoned ; making a law , that the eldest son , or nephew of the deceased prince of what age soever he be , shall succeed to the crown , with divers others laws of the like nature : at last coming to the castle of felercarne , the lady grof had the kings image in brass , in the midst of the house with a golden apple in his hand ; the king upon the ladies desire , pulling the apple out of the images hand , was shot through the body with an engine , that was made in it for the purpose : he dyed the twenty fourth year of his reign . 81. to him succeeded constantine the fourth , surnamed the balde , a. d. 994. he came to the crown by usurpation , he was killed in battel at cramond in lonthian , the second year of his reign . 82. grimus , duffs son usurped the crown , a.d. 996. malcolm whose right it was , sent to the nobles , acquainting them how far he was wronged ; which grimus hearing of , caused the messengers to be cast into prison , which was like to have been , the beginning of a war ; yet they were seemingly agreed for that time by one horthadus a bishop , but not long after his vices being intolerable , malcolm was brought home from england , who killed him in battel , the eighteenth year of his reign . 83. malcolm succeeded to the crown , a. d. 1004. a noble and valiant prince , in his time sweno king of the danes being banished his country , and coming to scotland , was converted to christianity , and supplyed with men for reducing his kingdom ; yet to his great loss he soon after made war against malcolm , who utterly routed his army several times : this prince was killed by a conspiracy , of some of his nobles in the castle of glames , the thirtieth year of his reign , the conspirators flying in the night , chanced to pass over the pool of forfar upon the ice , where the ice breaking , they all miserably perished . 84. duncan the first , malcolm the seconds grand-son , by his daughter beatrix succeeded , a. d. 1034. he was thought to be of too indulgent a spirit , for governing that fierce and untractable people : bancho of whom are descended the ancient and royal name of stewarts , was in his time thane , or earl of lochaber : he was traiterously murdered by his cousin makbeth , the sixth year of his reign . 85. to him succeeded mackbeth , malcolm the seconds daughters son , a. d. 1040. altho' he came to the crown by treachery and blood-shed , yet he governed for a time pretty moderately , but at last brake out into all kind of tyranny , and cruelty , forcing his nobles to the servilest of his work ; which they being not able to endure , macduff earl of fife , posts to england , where he found malcolm the late kings son , at king edwards court , whom he invited home to revenge his fathers death , and possess the crown which was his own by right : malcolm suspecting treachery , pretended several excuses to try macduffs sincerity , but when he found him cordial , he declared his willingness : whereupon getting assistance of men from king edward , he entred scotland ; macbeth hearing of his arrival , went about to oppose him , but macduff surprizing him in his castle of dunfinnan , killed him with his own hand , the seventeenth year of his reign . 86. malcolm surnamed kanmor , son to duncan the first succeeded , a. d. 1057. he was a worthy prince , and in compensation of their service and loyalty , in his restauration created many earls , lords , barons and baronets , commanding that their lands should be called after their names : he made also his thanes earls ; many new surnames began at this time , as calder lochbart , gordoun , seytown , lander kennethe , meldrome , schau , liberton , livermond , cargill , strachan , ratray , dundass , meazeis , mertine , cockbourn , lesly , abercromby : at this time also william duke of normandy conquered england , which was the occasion that these surnames ( being expelled their country ) came to scotland . viz. ramsay , vans , lindsay , lownal , towres , preston , bissat , foules , wandlaw , maxwell , from france came the names of frazer , sintcare , boswel , montray , montgomry , boyes , campbel , beaton . at this time walter son to fleance came to scotland , who shortly after was created high steward of the kingdom . king malcolm was killed at the siege of anwick , by one robert moubray , who came from the castle upon a light horse holding in his hand a lance , with the keys of the castle upon the point of it . king malcolm looking stedfastly to the lance , the other run him through the eye with it , escaping to the next wood : whereupon king william changed this moubrey's name to percy : king malcolm dyed the thirty sixth year of his reign , and was buried in dunfermling . 87. donald the seventh , sirnamed bane , being malcolm kanmores brother usurped the crown , a. d. 1093. but within a year he was expelled by duncan , base son to the foresaid malcolm . 88. duncan the second usurped the crown , but did not enjoy it long , being killed by macpendar earl of mearnes at taich , by procurement of donald the seventh , who after was crowned king. he gave the north and west isles , to the king of norway for his assistance , to recover the crown . he was taken captive by edgar his successor , and put in prison , where after some years he dyed miserably . 89. edgar , malcolm , kanmores son succeeded , a. d. 1098. he was the first anointed king , governing with great wisdom and sobriety : he dyed the nineteenth year of his reign , and was buried in dumfermling . 90. to him succeeded alexander the first , sirnamed fierce , a. d. 1107. soon after his coming to the throne , certain traitors were by his chamberlains means let in to his chamber , intending to have killed him in bed , but he being surprised at their noise , got out of bed and caught a sword in his hand , wherewith he killed the chamberlain , and six of the other traitors ; the rest hasted away , but being pursued , and some of them overtaken confessed , that divers of the nobles were in the conspiracy , them the king pursued , killing some and taking others : he dyed in peace the seventeenth year of his reign , and was buried in dumfermling . 91. to him succeeded his brother david the first , a. d. 1124. he possessed northumberland , and cumberland , huntington , and westmorland . he married maud daughter to the earl of northumberland , who dyed in the flower of her age , for which the king took such grief , that he resolved never to marry again ; but gave himself wholly to works of charity . he purged his court from all vices , so that his whole family were given to vertuous exercises , no rioting nor drunkeness , nor lascivious , or wanton songs were suffered : this victorious and religious king dyed in carlyle , the twenty ninth year of his reign , and was buried at dumfermling ; where king james the first visiting his tomb , called him , a sore saint to the crown . 92. malcolm the fourth ( sirnamed the maiden ) next heir after king david began his reign , a. d. 1153. a just and mild prince ; in the beginning of his reign , there was a great famine in scotland , whereof many dyed . sumerled , thane of argyle , taking advantage of the present calamity raised a rebellion , purposing to make himself king ; but he was soon crush't , his friends killed , and himself forced to fly to ireland ; soon after , being invited to london , by king henry of england , under pretence of confirming him in his title , to northumberland , cumberland , and westmorland ; he carried him with him into france , where he had wars for that time ; he no sooner was returned home , then he made war with england , to the great loss of both kingdoms : he dyed at jedburgh , the twelfth year of his reign . 93. to him succeeded william his brother , sirnamed the lyon , a. d. 1165. he demanded northumberland , which by right belonged to his crown , to be re-delivered to him , which the king of england ( being taken up with wars in france ) durst not altogether refuse ; but condescended to let him have such parts of it , as his grand-father possest ; but soon after he was by a stratagem taken prisoner at alunick , and sent to france where the king of england was , whence not long after he was ransomed with a sum of money ; being returned home , he expelled all the murrays out of murray-land , for that they were seditious and tumultuous in his absence : about this time the pope sent to king william a sword , with the sheath and hilts all of gold , set about with precious stones with a hat , or diadem , giving him the title of the defender of the church . after this , he retired to bertha , where he stayed not long , when by a sudden inundation of two rivers , tay and almond ; the towns walls were beat down , the castle demolished , the young prince and his nurse with several others drowned ( the king himself narrowly escaping : he founded and built the city of perth , granting to it several great and ample priviledges . he dyed the forty ninth year of his reign , and was buried in aberbrothick . 94. his son alexander the second succeeded to him , a. d. 1214. having pacified all rebellions at home , he led his army into england , where having made peace with king john , he married his sister : afterward he went into france and renewed the old league with this addition , that neither of them should receive , or protect the enemies of the others kingdom , nor marry with any stranger , without making one another privy thereto . in the mean time his queen dyed without any succession ; within a year after he married mary daughter to ingelram earl of coucy in france , who bare to him alexander the third ; in his time came cardinal egadius into britain , to beg money for the holy war , of which he got a great deal , but going through france he spent it all , and told his holiness , when he came to rome , that he had been robb'd by the way : whereupon presently another legat was sent to britain . but the people hearing , how they were cheated of their money by the last procured an order , discharging this not to enter the kingdom . king alexander dyed in peace , the thirty fifth year of his reign , and was buried at melross . 95. alexander the third succeeded his father , a. d. 249. being nine years of age at his coronation . ambassadors were sent to england , demanding margaret king henry the third's daughter in marriage for king alexander , which was granted ; the next year , the two kings had a meeting at york , where the marriage was solemnized . during his minority the realm was well governed by his nobles ; taking the government upon himself , his first work was to summon the earls of monterth , athole and buchan , and the lord strabogy , who were all of the name of cumings ; they not daring to appear , were denounced rebels : they being now afraid , thought nothing so much for their safety , as the having the king in their power , which they got , and confined him in the castle of sterling ; but the earl of athel , who was the head of the party , dying , their hearts failed them , and ( every one of them getting his remission ) they set the king at liberty ; soon after the danes with a great army invaded the country , the king with his forces went against them , and routed them , killing twenty four thousand of them ; the king returned to norway with only four ships , which was all that was left of his whole fleet. at this time alexander earl of carrick , passed to the holy-land , having a daughter who succeeded to his estate ; she married robert rance , lord of annaudale , and bare to him , that noble and invincible champion robert bruce king of scotland : king alexander had two sons by his queen , viz. prince alexander and david , and one daughter margaret , who was married to the king of norway ; she bare to him margaret called the maiden of norway . the king and queen going to london , to the coronation of king edward the first : david the second son dyed in their absence ; within a few years after the prince dyed at lundores , to the great grief of the nation , and not long after the king dyed by a fall from over a rock at kinghorn , the thirty seventh year of his reign : leaving none of his own direct line to succeed him . the nobility having met upon this so important occasion , they put the kingdom into the hands of six regents ; for the south side robert arch-bishop of glasgow : john cumine , and john the great steward of scotland . for the north , the arch-bishop of s. andrews , macdiff earl of fife , and cumine earl of buchan . edward of england , sends to demand the daughter grand-child in marriage , as next heir to the crown , which was agreed too , but the death of the lady frustrated all that negotiation , by which means great contention arose between bourn , and john baliol. baliol managing the english , and bruce the french interest , baliol being in the second degree of relation and bruce in the third ; the one being david earle of huntingtons grand child , the other his great grand child : matters standing thus , the whole was referred to king edward , who coming to berwick and calling lawyers to his assistance , pretends all equity , but raised up eight other competitors , the better to weaken the claim of the other two , and so handled the business that ( bruce having refused the crown in homage to england , ) upon his aceptance of these conditions . 96. john balliol was declared king , a. d. 1293. in the fourth year of his reign , an appeal being made against him to king edward , by mac-duff and he refusing to rise from his seat to answer it . king edward enters scotland masters the country , takes baliol and sends him prisoner to london , and afterward to france , where he dyed long after in exile . about this time sir william walace arose , who to his honour did so heroically defend his country , in its low condition , as made it easily appear that if he had had as happy a fortune to advance , as he had to relieve , he might have been commemorated for as great a man as ever was in any age ; for having upon a quarrel slain a young english gentleman , and enforced to lurk in the hills for safety of his life , he became inured to such hardness , that awaking his natural courage , he be came the head of all the malecontents , and filled both the kingdomes with his terror so that having gleaned up to a tumultuary army , he became baliols viceroy ; thus after some little skirmishes he reduced all beyond the forts : after which he went to england , and ranged up and down for some time , and returned without opposition ; after which the english enters scotland with a great army , and finding the scots disposed under three leaders , ( who disputed among themselves for priority ) quite routed them , but soon after they made a general insurrection , to oppose which , king edward sent ralph conniers with a great army , who a by tripple victory were defeated at kolkin . all this while robert bruce continued with king edward , who weary of the kings delays and offputs , at last strikes in with john cumin , baliols cousin german , they agreed that bruce should have the kingdom , and cumine all bruces lands . cumine notwithstanding communicates this agreement to king edward , bruce hath notice , and by shooing his horse backward escapes to lockambban , there he finds cumines letters advising to cut him off , upon which he hastens to dumforess , where he heard that cumin was , and after his exprobrating his infidelity , stabs him dead in the franciscan monastery . about the same time walace was traiterously betrayed by sir john monteits at glasgow , and delivered to the english : and being brought to london was cruelly executed in smithfield , and his limbs hung up in the most eminent places . 97. robert bruce was ( after he had stayed for the popes absolution for defiling the monastery , with the murder of cumine ) crowned at scone 1306. a valiant and heroick prince , he had many enemies both at home and abroad , which edward taking advantage off , with the assistance of the cumines , quite routed him , forcing him to the hills where he endured great misery , to the great ruine and slaughter both of his family and friends , but making to gether some little force , he took carrick and innerness , by surprisal , and by this means augmented his train , so that he was in case to withstand edward , having obtained a considerable victory ( though sick and forced to be held on horse back ) this gave him time to take in the remaining strength , but they were within a year retaken from him , which incouraged edward the second to enter with a great army to scotland , but had a great defeat at bannokburn , which occasioned the loss of berwick , and bruces confirmation in parliament ; some few years after were spent in light skirmishes , and incursions . robert having some rest convened his nobles intending to determine the right of inheritances , which some had unlawfully kept in these unsettled times ; this begat a conspiracy , which being detected , a meeting was held at perth , there by their own papers many were convicted , and executed but some pardoned . in the mean time a legat came from rome , armed with all the thunderbolts of that see , to threaten the scots into a peace with england ; but missing of his errand , the scots followed him with an army , and marched as far as stainmore ; edward in revenge raiseth a most powerfull army , robert therefore considering that his force would not be in case to resist so great a power , caused all the cattel to be carryed unto the avious retreats of the hills , that they might not be serviceable to the enemy , whereupon the english for want of victuals were forced to retire , bruce pursues them as far as yorke , there he obtained a great victory . about this time the family of the hamiltons took their rise , one of them killing an english gentleman , fled to robert for protection , who gave him lands which retain the name to this day . bruce now having subdued his enemies , begins to compose himself to the cares of peace , and by act of parliament settles the crown upon his son , ( though a child ) and in case of his decease , to robert stewart his grand-child by his daughter , soon after thomas randolph , and james dowglas were sent with a flying party of horse into england , from whence they returned without any considerable action , saving only that dowglas with two hundred horse beat up the english quarters , cutting two ropes of the kings tent with his sword , and made a good retreat , bruce finding himself wasted with age , retyred to the abby of kilross , leaving these three counsels behind him . first not to let one man solely command the ebudae . secondly never to put all their strength at one hazard with the english . thirdly never to make long truces with them . thus he dyed leaving charge with the valiant dowglas , to go to jerusalem ( whither himself designed an expedition ) which the dowglas performing , he afterward joyned with the christian princes against the turks and saracens , where he obtained several great victories . he purposing to return home was driven by a tempest upon the coast of spain , where he joyned with the king of aragon against the saracens , and obtained great victories , at last he was killed by an ambushment that was laid for him of purpose , thus ended the noble and valiant dowglas , one of the most renowned warriours that lived in his days ; it is said that he was thirteen times victorious against the turkes and sarazens , and fiftie seven times against the english . in the preceeding age there was a gate in dansick called the dowglas port , in memory of this dowglas . king robert dyed at cardross the twenty fourth year of his reign , and was buried in dumfermling . 98 to him succeeded his son david bruce a. d. 1330. being seven years of age , thomas randal who was continued governour , kept the country in entire peace and prosperity , which king edward hearing of , hired a monk to kill randal by poyson , the monk giving out that he had great skill in curing the stone ( where with the government was sore troubled ) came to be in favour with him , which gave him opportunity to perpetrate his villany , how ever the poyson did not take effect at first , but the monk returned home and told king edward that he had done his business , who immediately raising a great army came to the border , of which the governour being advertised presently marched against him , ( himself not being able to ride nor go , was carryed in a litter ; when king edward heard that the governour was there , in person , he sent an herald under pretence of seeking peace , whom the governour received with a very austere countenance , when edward was by the herald certified of the truth of his being alive , he returned home and burnt the monk alive . the governour returning home dyed at musselbrough , after his death the earle of march and the earle of marr were chosen governours , in which they were scarce warm when news was brought that edward balliol was seen in the fryth with a formidable fleet , his army consisted of both english and scotch , the earle of stafford with divers other english men of note were with him , the governours raised two great armies to oppose the balliol , he came near the water of hone , where he pitched his tents , the earle of marr also encamped within view of him , but he slighting the smallness of their number took little care of himself , the balliol in the night time passed the water of erne , having intelligence of the ford by a stake set up for that purpose , and entering the earle of marrs camp , killed him in his bed , with many other noble men and gentlemen ; namely the earle of carrick , sir william hay constable of scotland , alexander frazier , also robert keith , lord marshal , balliol past immediately and beseiged perth and soon overcame it . the earle of march being encamped at ochterarder , and hearing of the earle of marrs death , and the taking the town of perth marched thither and beseiged it , but after he had filled the ditches , and put himself in a case to make an assault , he most shamefully left it thereupon . 99. balliol usurped the crown at scone , a. d. 1332. coming from thence to perth , they that adhered to david , bruce beseiged him and his party , upon the other hand his adherents wasted and destroyed the beseigers country , perth being well fortified , was by the king committed to the earle of fiffe as governour of it , but the sons of them who were killed with the earle of marr at duplin , beseiged and took it committing the governour to the castle of killdrummie . andrew murry of tullibardin , was executed for fastning the stake in the ford of the river erne , whereby balliol and the englishmen were directed the night wherein they surprised the earle of marre . therefore john kandal earle of murry , and the earle of galloway gathered a great army and came against balliol and quite routed him , killing many of his nobles and taking many prisoners , the kingdom being thus divided the one part for balliol , the other for bruce , the king of england thinking it a fit time for him to make a full conquest of scotland , raised a great army and beseiged berwick , mean while archibald dowglass raised an army and entring the borders , burnt all before him to divert the king of england from the seige , king edward advertised of this , sent a messenger to sir alexander setonn , who was governour , telling him that if he did not presently render he would hang his two sons , whom he had in his hands , which he refusing to do the two young gentlemen were presently hanged then the governour came with an army to northumberland where a most bloody battel was fought on halidown-hill , and the governour himself with many nobles killed , thereupon berwick was rendered , and edward balliol established king , who sought by all means to have gotten robert stewart in his hands , for he knew that ( next to king david ) his title was best to the crown . soon after king edward prepared an army both by sea and land , to enter into scotland , but the most part of his ships perished in forth . the king returning with balliol into england , left cumin earle of athol governour who seized upon all the lands pertaining to robert stewart and his friends , but robert stewart took the castle of dunne , and killed all the englishmen therein ▪ at this time the earle of murray came from france , who together with robert reduced much of the country to the obedience of king david chasing the governour and his followers to the mountains , but the english entred with a great army and ( though a great part of their army was routed ) took perth , but their fleet being harrast at sea , were forced to retreat , and the rather in design of a french war , but some of the nobles still standing out , the english landed in murray , and reduced all , and leaving balliol returned home , the next year the english beseiged dunbar , and sent in two parties under talbot and monford who were both routed , yet the seige continued , at last they were forced to raise the seige , also having received great loss by the valour of robert stewart . murray in the mean time dying , stewart was created viceroy till davids returne , who having the first year gained some victories , did the next year take perth , sterling and the castle of edenburgh , the scots gaining all their ground except berwick . in the year 1336. david resolves upon an expedition into england , though much disswaded by his council , making john randolph general , himself going disguised , soon after a peace for two years was treated of , which david would not accept without the consent of france , whereupon marching as far as the county of durham , had his army quite routed and himself taken prisoner , his kingdom also in a manner depopulated with the plague : by this time john of france was also made prisoner in england ; the scots after eleven years captivity , ransomed their king , who at his returne punished some of those who had deserted him at durham , and endeavoured to remove the succession of the crown from robert stewart , to whom he was some years after reconciled ; he spent the last five years of his reign in composing domestick feuds , queen jane daughter to edward the second of england dying , he marryed margaret logy , daughter to sir john logy , then he purposed to have past to jerusalem , having provided all necessarys for his voyage , but he fell sick of a feavour in the castle of edinburgh , whereof he dyed in the fortyth year of his reign , without succession , and was buried in holyrood-house . 100. robert stewart the first king of that name , succeeded his mothers brother , a. d. 1378. a valiant and worthy prince , he married eupham daughter to the earl of ross , who bare to him david , earl of strathern , walter earl of athol , alexander earl of marr , with several daughters . after her death , he marries elizabeth moor his own concubine , the better to legitimate children he had by her , he honoured them with titles , and declared them his successors , two years after an attempt is made upon berwick ▪ and sir john lilbourn , and 〈…〉 grave captains of it taken 〈…〉 after this , the earl of douglass came with twenty thousand men , to the fair of pennire within england , spoiling all the goods there ; but carried away the pestilence with him , whereof many dyed . to revenge this , the english came with a great army over solway , destroying all before them , mean while the scots gathered together about five hundred men. and lay in ambush , till the english returned back ; then with a sudden noise and clamour , as they passed by they set upon them , forcing them back , till many were drowned in solway . not long after , edward king of england dyed ; whereupon the duke of lancaster came into scotland , intreating to have a peace for three years , which peace being expired : my lord of galloway , laid siege to the castle of lochmaban , and made himself master of it ; defeating a strong party of english , who were coming from carlyle to it's relief : king richard fearing of it , sent the baron of gray-stock with a body of men , to fortifie roxburgh , who being within a mile of it , he was taken by the earl of march , and carried to dunbar ; the same year , the strengths of teviotdale were by the earl of douglas recovered out of the english hands , soon after which he dyed . his son james succeeding to him , went by the kings order with an army into england , whence he was presently after counter-manded home , where he found the admiral of france with two hundred and forty ships well man'd , come to their assistance , with them they passed into england and took the castles of warkford , and corwal . and laying siege to roxburgh , and carlyle ; the scots and french could not agree , in whose names the strengths should be kept if they were won , which brought the business to nothing : whereupon king richard in revenge enters scotland with a great army , and marching through the mers and louthian , did much hurt . but the earls of fife , douglas and galloway followed him into england , and secretly passing the water of solway , came to cokermouth ; where in three days time they spoiled the whole country about , and returned safely with great booty . in the year 1388. the king past again into england with an army , at which time the irish taking their advantage , entered galloway , destroying all before them : whereupon william the lord of galloways son pursued them to ireland , and burnt the town of carlingfoord , and finding sixty ships in several harbors , loaded fifteen of them with the spoil of the town , and burnt the rest : returning home , he spoiled the isles of man. the next year , the king of england sent an army into scotland , which did much hurt in the mers , revenging this affront : king robert sent two armies into england , the one under the command of the earl of fife , entred cumberland ; the other led by the earls of douglass , and march entred northumberland ; the two armies met within two miles of newcastle . the earl of douglass chose out ten thousand men to besiege newcastle , wherein was the earl of northumberland with his two sons , henry hotspur , and ralph . henry challenged the earl of douglass to fight with him , which douglass accepted off , so being mounted upon two starely horses , they assaulted one another desperately , at last douglass beat peircy out of his saddle , but he was presently rescued and brought into the town . immediately douglass assaulted the town , but it was so well defended by the english , that he was forced to retire and encamp at otterburn , whither henry peircy immediately followed , there they fought a bloody battel , until the darkness of the night parted them , but when the moon began to appear , they joyned again with more fierceness than before , victory inclining sometime to one side , and sometimes to another ; till at last patrick hepburn came with fresh men to the scots : whereupon the english retreated , leaving eighteen hundred of their men dead in the place , and a hundred and forty taken prisoners ; among which were the two peircies above mentioned . but the valiant earl of douglass dyed in this battel , being thrice run through the body , and mortally wounded in his head , which was a greater loss and grief to his nation , then the gain of this victory could ballance . the next year a parliament was called at perth , wherein robert earl of fife , the kings second son was elected governor , the king himself by reason of his great age , not being able to govern. he was a valiant , victorious and fortunate prince in all his wars , for his governours and captains returned always with victory . he was very constant , and a great iustitiar , hearing patiently the complaints of the poor ; causing all wrongs to be redressed . he dyed peaceably in the castle of dun-donald , the seventy fifth year of his age , and the nineteenth year of his reign . the same year john his eldest son was called to succeed , who thinking that name ominous to kings ( and there wanted not examples ) as of him of england , and him of france , and thinking something of the felicity , of the two former roberts , was crowned by the name of , 101. robert the third , a. d. 1390. he was more remarkable , for his peaceableness and modesty , then for any other vertue ; the first seven years of his reign were past in peace , by reason of his truce with england , but not without some fierce fiends among his subjects ; especially , the clankays , and clanchattes , the king seeing the difficulty of reducing them , made this proposition to them , that three hundred of each side should try it by dint of sword before the king ; the conquered to be pardoned , and the conqueror advanced , this being agreed to , a place was appointed upon the north-side of perth ; but when the clans presented themselves , there was one of one side missing , whom then his party could not supply : a trades-man steps out , and for half a french crown , and promise of maintenance during his life , filled up the company . the first was furious , but none behaved himself more furiously , then the other mercenary champion , who was the greatest cause of the victory , for of his side their remained ten grievously wounded , the other party had but one left ; who not being wounded , yet being unable to sustain the stroak of the other , threw himself in the tay , and escaped with his life : by this means the fiercest of the two clans , being cut off , the remainder being headless were quiet : two years after , the king in parliament made his two sons dukes , which was the first time that title , was known in scotland . next year richard the second of england , being forced to resign , henry the fourth succeeded , in the beginning of his reign , tho' the truce was not expired ; yet the seeds of war began to bud , upon this occasion , george earl of march betrothed his eldest daughter to david the kings eldest son , archibald earl of douglass incensed at this , got a vote of parliament to revoke this marriage , and giving a greater sum of money , got a marriage confirmed in parliament , betwixt david and mary his daughter . the earl of march nettled at this , demands redress , but not being heard , he leaves the court ; and with his family and friends goes into england , to the lord percy , who with his assistance did much hurt to the lands of the douglasses ; the scots declare the earl of march an enemy , and sends to demand him of the english , which they refusing , several incursions happened upon both sides , till at length piercy was defeated by the douglass's at lynton-bridge . at this time , david earl of cravford , and the lord welles in england , ingaged to run certain courses on horse-back , with sharp spears for life and death upon london-bridge , which they performed most gallantly . the people perceiving the earl of cravford to sit so stifly , cryed , the scotch man was lock'd in his saddle ; he hearing this , leapt out of the saddle upon the ground , and presently mounted again , to the great wonder of the beholders : the second time they run without any hurt , but the third time the lord welles was beat out of his saddle , and sorely hurt with the fall . by this time the queen dying , her son david , who for his extravagancies was by her means kept under restraint , broke out into his former disorders , and committed all kind of rapine , and wickedness ; complaint being brought to his father , he committed him to his brother robert ( this design was to root out all that off-spring ) the business was so ordered , as that the young man was shut up in faulkland castle to be starved ; which yet was for a while delayed , one woman thrusting in some oaten cakes at a chink , and another giving him milk out of her breasts , through a trunk ; but both these being discovered , the youth being forced to tear his own flesh dyed of a multiplyed death , which murder being whispered to the king , he was so abused by the false representations of his brother ; that grief and imprecations was all the relief that he had left him , and being now retired sickly , to boot castle , and unable to punish him . the king therefore solicitous to preserve james his youngest son , is resolved to send him to charles the sixth of france : and having taking shipping at the bassas , he passed by the promontory of flambrough ; and whether he was forced by a tempest , or that he was sea-sick , he was forced to land there , he was taken by the english , and detained prisoner , notwithstanding the eight years truce ; and tho' it came to be debated at the councel table , yet his detention was carried in the affirmative : but the news so struck his aged father , that he had almost presently dyed ; but being carried to his chamber with voluntary abstinence and sorrow : he dyed within three days , the sixteenth year of his reign , and was buried in pasley . upon this , the parliament confirm robert for governour ; about four years after , donald of the isles enters ross as his pretended inheritance , with ten thousand men , which he easily subdued ; thence he went to murray and mastered it also , and so went on to aberdeen ; to stop this torrent , alexander earl of marr , followed by most of the nobility , met him at harlaw , where they joyned in so bloody a battel , and lost so many noble and considerable persons , that tho' night parted them , neither could pretend to the victory , to this year , the university of s. andrews owes it's rise : the english being taken up with a war with france , nothing considerable was acted between them and the scots , for ten years after , at which time robert the governour dyes , and murdoch his son ( a very unfit person , ) was put in his place ; who suffered his sons to come to that petulancy , that they were not only offensive to the people , but with all disobedient to their father ; who having a brave faulcon , which his son walter had often begged , but in vain , he snatched it out of his fathers hand , and wrung off her neck , for which his father being angry well says he , since i cannot govern thee : i will bring one shall govern us both : and from that day , he ceased not to further the redemption of the king , he governed four years . 102. but the nobles weary under this form of government , the governour being also irritated by the misdemeanor of his children , all unanimously determine without longer delays , to work the deliverance of their native prince james , fourth of england , which at length was effected , anno. dom. 1424. having ransomed him for the sum of forty hundred thousand marks . he married jane daughter to the duke of somerset , son to john of gaunt , who bare to him two sons , alexander who dyed shortly after , and james the second who succeeded to him . the king having passed the solemnities of hasterat edenburgh : he with his queen came to perth , and from thence to scone ; where he was crowned in the twenty seventh year of his age , after he held a parliament at perth , where the tax was laid on to pay the sum promised to england for his ransome , from thence he went back to edenburgh , where he called such as were concerned with the crown rents together ; he understood by their accounts , that the most and best part of the crown lands were alienated , and wasted by the late governour , and his sons , whereat he was exceedingly incensed ; yet that time he smothered , and put a fair countenance upon his passion . but soon after , pregnant accusations were brought in against some of the nobility ; especially , the governours friends , upon which some of them were made prisoners , which occasioned much discontent and jealousie on both sides , yet the king securing the body of this estate on his side , resolved to go on ; and having arrested the governour , with two of his sons , and several others his friends , they were all committed to several prisons : whereupon james the governours youngest son , in a desperate rage accompanied with a number of out-laws , came to dumbarton , and set on fire , and killed john stewart the kings uncle , with thirty others . this insolency of the son , quite diverted the kings clemency from his father and brethren : whereupon he calleth a parliament at sterling , where the governour with his two sons , and his father-in-law the duke of lenox , were arraigned and condemned , and soon after executed ; this highly perplexed some other lords and gentlemen , who were prisoners at the same time , fearing that they should also meet with the same measures ; yet the king like a wise physitian , being not willing to take away more blood , than he thought would take away the disease of the body , in a short time set them all at liberty . the wars continuing between france and england , the french sent an ambassador to renew the ancient league with scotland : but his main business was , to carry on a match between lewis the daulphine , tho' then very young ; and margaret daughter to king james , this match the english neglected , but afterward most earnestly sued for it . the south parts of the kingdom , being brought under obedience , the king resolved to have the north follow their example , for which end he went thither himself in person , to keep his courts : when he came there , he found things in a strange condition , all going by strength of hand ; the stronger overthrowing the weaker . the king not knowing well how to go about the taming of these rude villains , seemed to give small faith to what he heard of them , allowing such of them , as seemed to come and see him a great deal of seeming favour , till at length he got forty of their chiefs all at once , within the castle of innerness , whom he presently surprized , making them close prisoners : within a few days after , the king was convinced of this wickedness ; alexander macrory , and john macherter were hanged ; john campbel for murthering john of the isles , was beheaded : the earl of ross being taken in this trap , was brought by the king to perth , where he was accused of oppression and other things ; yet the king pardoned him , and freely dismist him , taking his oath of fidelity . but as soon as he went home , he gathered together a rabble of out-laws , who came towards innerness , burnt both town and castle to the ground : whereupon the king himself went with his forces against him , at whose approach all the rebels fled : alexander thus abandoned of his forces , fled to the isles ; but finding that he was way-laid on all hands , and had no way left him to escape , he came disguised to edenburgh : whereupon yesterday the king being at church , he came wrapped in a mourning garment and fell down at his feet , beging his life , which at the queens request was granted ; but to keep him from any more mischief , the earl of august was appointed to take him into custody , within tanutallon castle . donald balloth cousin-german to the earle of ross raised a great number of outlaws and invaded lochaber , and in a bloody battel overthrew the earles of marr and caithness at innerlochy , the news coming to the king he came with a great army to dunstaffage , which when the clans heard of , they tendred their submission to the king , promising to break balloth and his party , which the king accepted of , balloth fled to ireland where he was taken and his head chopt off and sent to king james . notwithstanding of the many acts of justice that were done upon these disorderly outlaws , yet nothing frighted one macdonald , who was famous for all sorts of villanies ; among other cruelties he is said to have nailed horseshoes to the soles of a widdow , because that she swore to delate him to the king being taken with twelve of his associates , and brought to perth , the king caused them to be shooed in the same manner as he had served the woman , draging him about for a spectacle to the people for three days , then all of them were put to death . in this year a. d. 1430. the first of june was a terrible eclipse of the sun , at three of the clock in the afternoon , the day turning black for the space of half an hour , as though it had been night , which was afterward called by the common people the black hour . the king having setled the country , begins to look to his own affairs , and having advisedly perused all evidences and charters belonging to the crown , he recalls all such lands as had been either alienated from it , or wrongfully usurped , about this time there came ambassadors from the king of denmark requiring of king james a yearly tribute , due to him as king of norway for the western isles , the ambassador was honourably entertained , and the old league renewed with denmark ; soon after the french kings ambassadors came to have margaret already betrothed to lewis the dauphin , delivered to them and conveyed to france , where they found the lord scroop earnestly dealing with the king , that he must bestow his daughter upon king henry the sixth of england , promising that if he would agree thereto , that the town and castle of berwick should be delivered into the hands of the scots , with all the lands lying between tweed and the redcross in in richmondshire , the french ambassadors also proffered great and tempting things , withal puting the king in mind how true they have been to him for so many years , since the first making of the league . the king and his council after mature deliberation , declare they will not break the ancient league with france , whereupon the english ambassadors turned from prayers to threatnings , and being denied friendship denounced war. but the king no wise moved hereat presently prepared his ships , and with a company of able and skilful mariners set his daughter to sea , and having escaped the english fleet that waited for her , safely arrived at the rochel , a. d. 1430. the english to revenge this supposed afront invades scotland both by sea and land ; against their forces commanded by henry piercy of northumberland , went james dowglass earle of angus , with several gentlemen , their numbers were much about one , the lists of their meeting was popperden , adam hepburn of hales , and alexander elphinston led the vanguard of the scots , sir richard piercy and sir john ogle of the english , sir alexander ramsey of dalehouse , and henry clidsdale kept the rears , no sooner came they within distance of joyning but the sounds of drums and trumpets , was out noised by the shouts of the assailants ; guns being about this time invented were here first practised between the scots and english in an open field , then the fight with equal order had been long maintained on both sides , now the scots then the english yielding ground , many of the commanders at length began to fall , most of the english , then was the piercy at once constrained to be both commander and souldier , but all would not do , at last victory declared her self altogether for the scots , two hundred gentlemen and common souldiers of the scots were slain here . of the english dyed sir henry cliddsdale , sir john ogle , sir richard piercy with fifteen hundred gentlemen and common souldiers , and four hundred taken prisoners , of which forty were knights ; king james resolving to prosecute this war raised an army , and cometh to roxburgh , beseigeth the castle defended by sir ralph gray ; but when he came so near his designe that they within were driven to terms to surrender : the queen in great hast cometh to the camp representing to her husband a conspiracy , which if not suddenly prevented would indanger his person and crown , this put the king in great astonishment , not knowing what to do , at last after many doubtful resolutions and conflicts in his thoughts , raiseth the seige , disbandeth the army , and accompanied with some chosen bands of his most assured friends , perplexed pensive and sad returned to perth , staied in the convent of the dominicans , indeavouring so secretly as was possible to find out the conspiracy , but his close practising was not unknown to the conspirators , which made them hasten the mischief before tryal , or remedy could be thought upon . the conspirators were robert graham , robert stewart nephew to waller earle of athole , and one of the kings sworn domesticks , but he who gave motion to all was the earle of athole , he himself the kings fatthers brother ; this quarrel was no less then a pretended title to the crown , and being animated by the oracle of a southsayer , who assured him that he would be crowned in a solemn assembly before his death , never doubted of success . these having associated unto them the most audacious , whom hope of preferment might intice . thus graham and stewart which were accomplices guided with resolution , and guarded with the darkness of the night , came to the black-fryers of perth , and having the way made open to them , entred the gallery before the kings chamber door , where they attended some of their confederates , who should have stole away the bar by which means they might enter the chamber , but before their coming the occasion was put in their hands , for walter streater one of the kings cup bearers came forth of the chamber and finding armed men , rushing rudely to force their entry , with a loud voice gave the alarum of treason , while they were working his death a maid of honour got to the door , and essayed to shut it , but the bar which should have made it fast was gone , she thrust in her arm in the place of it but that easily broken , the conspirators rush into the chamber , and slaying all such of the waiters as made defence , they at last stroke down the king , ( whom while the queen by interposing her body sought to save , she received two wounds ) and he with twenty eight most toward the heart was left dead . the report of this murther being spread abroad , wrought incredible sorrow and grief in the hearts of his subjects of all sorts , the nobles of their own accord and motion assembled to edenburgh , and directed troops of armed men through all the quarters of the kingdom , to aprehend the murtherers ; such diligence was used that within forty days all were taken and put to ignominious deaths : the common sort of the conspirators were hanged upon gibbits , the punishment of athol was continued for three days , the first day he was stript naked to his shirt , and by a crane fixed in a cart often hoisted aloft and thus dragged along the great street of the town , on the second day he was mounted upon a pillar in the market-place , and crowned with a diadem of burning iron with this inscription , the king of all traytors , thus was his oracle accomplished , the third day he was laid naked upon a scaffold , his belly ript , his heart and bowels taken out and thrown in a fire before his eyes , lastly his head was cut of and fixed in the most eminent place of the town , his body sent in quarters , to the most populous cities of the kingdom , to remain a trophy of justice . his nephew was not altogether so vigorously handled , being only hanged and quartered . but it being notorious , that graham had imbrewed his hands in the kings blood , a gallows being raised in a cave , he had his right hand nailed to it , and as he was dragged along the streets , executioners with burning pincers , tearing the most fleshy part of his carcass ; being thus torn and flayed , his heart and intrals were thrown into a fire , his head set up , and his quarters sent among the towns , to satisfie the wrath and sorrow of the injured people : being asked during his torture , how he durst embrew his hand in his princes blood , he made answer , that having heaven and hell before him , he dared leap from heaven into hell ; an answer worthy for such a villain . dueas sylvius then legat in scoltand , from the pope ; having seen this sudden and terrible revenge , being a witness of the execution : said he could not tell , whether he should give them greater commendations , that revenged the kings death , or brand them with a sharper condemnation , that distained themselves with so hainous a parricide . thus dyed this noble and wise prince , in the thirteenth year of his reign : he was buried in the charter-house of perth , which he himself had founded . 103. the three estates of the kingdom , set the crown upon the head of james the second at holy-rood-house ; while yet a child in the sixth year of his age , a. d. 1437. the government is intrusted to alexander levingston of calander , and the custody of the kings person , to sir william crichtoun : whereupon archibald earl of douglass , grudging that these honours had been conferred upon men far below himself , retired home and gave orders , that none of his vassals should acknowledge the present government ; also he used all means to weaken the hands of the chancellor , and governour , sowing ( by his instruments ) the seeds of division between them , which accordingly answered expectation , they begin to cross and counter-act one another , which made them at length that neither of them was obeyed , the country , having usurped a licencious liberty , doing what he thought best . the queen seeing things thus mis-managed betwixt them , and finding that the chancellor was mostly to blame , she at last resolves to change the game of state. to effect her design , she came to edenburgh ; and with fair speeches prevailed with the chancellor , to let her enter the castle ▪ and delight her self some days in the company of her son ; after some days staying , where having fixed every thing for her purpose , she puts the king into a trunck , as if he had been some fardel of her apparel , and conveys him by water to sterling , presently after proclamations are made against the chancellor , and he commanded to render the castle , which he refusing to do , he is presently besieged . but the two rulers being better advised , considering that douglass waited to see them undo one another , come to an agreement . much about this time , the queen dowager married james stewart's son , to the lord of lorn , the governour fearing what might follow upon the novation , committed them both to the castle of sterling , then the queen began to repent her , of her former courtesies to the governour , resolving once more to face about ; which the chancellor observing , lays hold upon the opportunity , and strikes in with her presently , they contrived how to take the prince out of the governours hands , which they after effected thus , the king being one morning hunting in the park ( the governour being at perth ) the chancellor coming to him by the queens assistance , prevails with him to go to edenburgh , and take the government upon himself ; which when the governour hears of , he very calmly came to edenburgh , where the chancellor and he becometh friends . the great confusions that were in the country , did necessitate the the calling of a parliament , where many grievous complaints were brought against several oppressors ; and among the rest william earl of douglass , son to archibald ; was represented as the source , whence the miseries of the country sprang : the parliament resolve to proceed against him , by way of rigour , but the governor and the chancellor advise them rather to write a fair letter to him , and invite him by fair means to come in and submit , which was accordingly done , and wrought so effectually upon him , that he resolves presently to obey ; hoping thereby to get himself set up : he upon his arrival , was together with his brother david , and sir malcolm flyming of cummerald , with great ceremony conducted by the governour to the castle of edenburgh , where the king was ; at this table he was set to dine , this so elevated his heart , that he blessed himself with the expectation of other favours . but amidst these entertainments ( behold the instability of fortune ) near the end of the banquet , the head of a bull ( which was the sign of present death in those days ) is set down before him : at which sudden spectacle , he leapt from the table all agast , but he is presently seized upon by armed men , who led him to the outer court of the castle , and notwithstanding the tears and crys of the young king , that they might spare his life , he together with his brother and flyming , had their heads cut off : this act left grief and terror in the hearts of the people , who ever after hated the actors of the tragedy . the kings nonage being now near expired , he takes the government upon himself , and finding the two rulers being so long settled in the government ; not to be ambitious and head-strong , he resolves to entertain another faction more powerful than they : so setting his thoughts upon william earl of douglass son to the baron of abercon , him he received into favour . this sudden change of court , moved the two rulers to withdraw , after which they were both removed from their offices ; and at last summoned before the king , to answer such things as they should be legally accused of . they finding that there was a design upon them , did not appear : whereupon they were both forfeited . this produced great confusion in the state , all being divided into factions , and parties : whereupon followed much effusion of blood ; especially , between the layndsays , and the ogletives . douglass to keep himself high , did much abett these broils , making his own use of them ; yet not long after , the chancellor notwithstanding douglass's power , and policy , is restored to his fortune and dignity . the king being setled upon the throne , married mary daughter to the duke of gnilders , soon after , the peace with england expired , and the borders of both kingdoms , break and mutually invade each other , which issued in a truce for seven yeers . but this truce stood not long , both nations being equally inclined to break it : whereupon after several incursions on both sides , at last they came to a battel . the scots were commanded by the earl of ormond , the english , by the earl of northumberland , magnus red-beard ; a man trained from his youth in the wars of france , who is said to have required no more for his service to the crown of england , then that by his own valour , he must conquer of scotland . here it is valiantly fought for a long time , with doubtful victory , till at length magnus being killed , it inclined to the scots , the loss of the english was great , many brave men being killed and taken prisoners , upon their side , but the scots lost few of any note , except cragy wallace : this battel brought on a truce for three years . this victory no sooner was obtained , and thereby peace abroad , but presently they fall out at home ; this douglass being always the first mover of strife : but now finding himself over-powered by adversaries , both at court and in the country ; he leaveth the kingdom and goeth to rome , he was not long gone , but by the means of his enemies , he is cited to appear before the council upon several days together , with his brother and vassals , to answer such things as should be objected against them ; and upon not appearing , are all denounced rebels : the earl of douglass hearing of this unexpected news at rome , takes a journey , and comes to the borders of scotland ; whence he sent his brother to court to know the kings mind towards him . the king promised upon his submission , to accept of him , which he performed , making him for his further encouragement lieutenant general of his forces : but he stood not long privately in his prosperity , for going to the court of england upon some design , the king was highly dissatisfied with him , yet upon his humble submission he is pardoned , but divested of all publick imployment within the kingdom . thus being degraded from his honnour 's , he gives himself wholly to study revenge , and that he might the more successfully effect his design ; he gets the earls of cranford , ross-murray , the lord balveny , with many other barons and gentlemen , to enter in a confederacy , both offensive and defensive with him , after they broke out in unsufferable insolences ; spoiling and plundering the lands of such as were not of their faction , and killing , and destroying such as offered to oppose them . the king begins to be apprehensive of their design ; therefore thinks it high time to look to himself and his country : whereupon he sent for douglass , to come and speak with him at sterling , which he at first feared to do , but upon second thoughts , he accompanied with many of the confederates went to court , where the king very graciously received him ; the day being far spent , the gates of the castle shut , all removed except some of the council , and the guards , the king takes the earls apart very friendly , and remembred him of favours received , and wrongs forgotten : taxing him with the exorbitant abuses of his followers , then he told him of a covenant , which he heard was made betwixt him and some of the other nobility , and desired to know what he had to say . douglass answered in plain terms , it was so , but that the covenant was made for his own safety , the king further expostulated with him to break it , which he refusing to do , the king with his dagger ended the quarrel , killing him in the place . about the end of this tragedy , a pair of spurs between two platters , is directed to sir james hamilton , as a part of the kings banquet : whereupon he and the rest takes the allarum , and setting fire to divers places of the town , they make their escape ; the king to vindicate himself , emits declarations , shewing all his good subjects the reasons that moved him to take douglass's life , that it was not a fit of passion , nor an act of private revenge , but meerly to save the state from utter ruin : yet the mobile were diversly affected some justifying the fact , as noble and just , but others ( as the greater number ) as boldly condemned it , as inhumane and cruel ; these of the league missing no opportunity that was for their interest , made it their work to sow sedition and discord , and to encourage all breaches and contempt of the laws , which encreased their number , so that the king was reduced to a very low condition , till at last cranford one of the confederates being routed , by the earl of huntly , he recovered some strength , and having called a parliament at edenburgh , summoned the confederate lords to appear before , which they scornfully refused to do : whereupon the king levying an army , forced them to retire ; yet the country suffered sadly , by their unbridled fury . at length after much loss on both sides ( the king daily prevailing , the earl of cranford submitted himself to his mercy , as several others did afterward . whereupon the earl of douglass fled to england , there having gathered together several desperate men , he made several inroads upon the border . the king having with much difficulty recovered the royal authority of his ancestors , ( england in the mean time being at the point of utter ruine by the contest of henry the sixth , and the duke of york , ) was much solicited by both of them , but he told the ambassadors that he had more reason to look to his own concerns , then to assist either of them which he intended to do , thereupon raising a powerful army he passed the tweed , and besieged roxburgh , where having applyed his battery to the castle , he began to storm it , but by the space of an over-charged piece the king's thigh bone being broken was struck immediately dead , the twenty fourth year of his reign , having left three sons james who succeeded alexander duke of albany , and john earl of marre , and was buried at holy-rood house . after his death the queen with her son came to the siege and encouraged the nobles , who took and demolished the castle , and also the castle of warke . 104. to him succeeded his son james the third , a. d. 1460. a good prince corrupted by wicked courtiers , who with advantage of his years being but seven years of age when he began to reign , his education is intrusted to his mother , the government of the kingdom to the earls of anaudale castle , orkney and the lords , boyd and graham , the bishops of st. andrews , glasgow and dnubek . in this princes nonage great confusions increased both at home and abroad , at home by the islanders who extreamly infested the country , and came as far as the blairth of athole and burnt s. brides church , where the earl and his lady took sanctuary , carrying them to the island ila , from whence as these savages were going further , they were all miserably destroyed by a tempest . nor was it better abroad , england being in a flame by the civil wars , henry being taken and released again by his queen , flees to scotland desiring their assistance against his enemies , and that he might be the better heard caused the town of berwick to be delivered to the scots ; thereupon the queen who managed the war geting some supply , marched ( taking the king with her ) into england , but was soon overthrown at durham . a. d. 1466. the queen of scots dyed having left many sound and profitable instructions to the king her son , who now coming to fifteen years of age , is by his regents committed to the lord boyds brother to be educated in the excercise of chivalry , by which means the boyds became to darken all others in the state , nothing being done without them , the kenedies who had been the kings best friends , seeing things go thus left the court , after which the glory of the court and country suffered a great eclipse . the lord boyde to be yet higher gets the sole government setled upon himself , which laid the foundation of his ruine , and not satisfied with this , he obtains his son to be married to the kings eldest sister , this highly displeased the rest of the nobility that his ambition should be so boundless , which gave matter to his former enemies to work upon , all oppression and violence is winked at on purpose at last they procure complaints from all parts of the kingdom against the boyds , which made the kings affection begin to turn away from them . a. d. 1468. a match being proposed and agreed upon between the king and margaret daughter to the king , of denmark , the boyds enemies procures the earl of arran who had married the kings sister to be sent to bring home the queen ; he was no sooner gone then his interest at court began to fall , for a parliament being called ; the lord boyd and his brother sir alexander are summoned to appear thereupon he distrusting this case fled to england , but his brother was taken and arraigned , the earl of arran also though absent is declared a rebel . the queen arriving with her fleet arriving in the ferth , my lady arran went aboard in disguise and informed her husband of the calamity of his house , perswaded him to do for himself , whereupon he hoisted sails and returned with his lady to denmark . the king sendeth letters full of promises and threatnings to move his sister to return to scotland , which when she did she was constrained to be divorced from her husband , and to marry james lord hamilton ; not long after the earl of arran dyed in great misery at antwerp . queen margaret the third year after her marriage brought forth a son who was named james , the king of denmark to congratulate the happy delivery of his daughter , released all his claims to the isles of orkney and sherland , but in the midst of this calm a cloud begins to overcast the kings splendor , for his brothers being princes of unquiet and restless spirits they set themselves altogether to study novelties , and to bring him into contempt with his subjects , to this end they had drawn away many of the young nobility and gentry to follow them . the king was naturally superstitious , giving much head to divinations which gave also his brothers occasion to vilifie him , and incense his people against him , yea the earl of marre became so insolent that in the kings own presence , he began to raile against the government of the state and court , which the king highly resenting , caused to imprison him where he fell in a high fever whereof he dyed . the duke of albany imputed the death of his brother to the court party , but while he was keeping his cabals in order to an insurrection , he was surprised and imprisoned in the castle of edenburgh out of which he soon after made his escape to france , thence he came to england , and began to tamper with king edward , revealing to him the weakness of the kingdom of scotland , and how easily it might be subdued , the nobility not respecting the king but much affecting a change in the government , which by his assistance might easily be effected , he promised also to settle a corespondence with the nobles of scotland which he did , then that they might get their design wrought , gives way for the breaking loose of the borders , fierce incursions are made by the english upon scotland and by the scots upon the english , and the discontented nobility blame the king for all , thereupon pretending the necessity of the times and the danger the kingdom was in , they entered into a bond of association after which they enter the kings bed chamber , where they seized some of his servants in his presence and put them to death , as incendiaries in the state . about this time the duke of gloucester set forward toward scotland with two and twenty thousand men , finding berwick two strong for him he marches directly to edenburgh , there by publick writings at the market places he gave out high demands , all which king james being shut up in edenburgh castle answered with silence , the disatisfied lords having obtained what they chiefly aimed at , wished the english at home again therefore they desire a peace with them , which the duke of gloucester granted upon condition that all his demands were satisfied ( one of which was to reinstall the duke of albany ) which after much debate was granted and he with his army returned home . the duke of albany having recovered his estate and honours , his first work was to restore the king to his prerogatives , reconciling him to his discontented lords ; but he himself stood not long in his favour , for by the advice of some of his enemies about the king a plot is resolved upon to bring the duke within compass of law , which he being aware of fled to england to present to king edward and the duke of gloucester his grievancies , in his absence he is convinced of many points of treason whereupon he and the lord crightton his associate are both forfeited , which when he heard he presently caused to give up the castle of dunbar , whereof he was lieutenant , to king edward , who immediately put a garison in it . not long after the said king edward dyed , and his brother richard duke of gloucester succeeded . the duke of albany obtains five hundred horse from king richard with which he came with the old earl of douglass to lochmabban to surprise a fair which was held there , whereupon the laird of johnston who was warden dispatched posts about for supply of men with which he encountred the duke , here it is most couragously fought on both sides but at last the english are quite routed , the duke hardly by swiftness of his horse escaped , but the earl of dowglass is taken and brought in triumph to edenburgh where the king adjudged him to perpetual confinement , soon after followed a truce with england for three years , but before the time was expired henry earl of richmond came with some companies out of france , ( of which that famous warriour , bernard stewart , lord albany brother to the lord darnly had the leading , ) which by the resort of his country men turned into an army and rencountred richard at bosworth where he was killed , and henry proclaimed king of england . king james taking advantage of this change besieged dunbar , which was soon surrendred upon articles . after this king henry sent embassadors to king james , to agree if possible upon a lasting , and firm peace between the two crowns , at length after some difficulty they agree upon a truce for seven years . the king having settled a peace with england , betakes himself to the exercise of religion , having founded a colledge for divine service in the castle of sterling ▪ he endeavoured to annex the priory of goldingham to it . the priors of this convent , having for many years been of the name of humealedged , that they were wronged of their right : first they began to petition , but finding this uneffectual , they began to associate with their neighbours , giving it out that the king was a meer tyrant , not to be trusted , by which means many of the hearts of the subjects were alienated from the king. the king understanding how things stood he made choice of a guard to defend his person , resolving to live beyond the river ferth ; of which , when the lords of the insurrection were certified , they surprize the castle dunbar , and tumultuously over-run the countries , besouth the ferth : thus coming to lithgow , they resolved to make the duke of rothesay the kings own son their head , whom having corrupted his keepers with bribes , they constrained to go with them . but the king loosing neither courage , nor councel passeth the ferth , near blackness with his forces , before his arrival at this place , the earls of montross , gleancan , lords , maxwel , ruthwen with others , being advertised by letters came to him , they of the association , having the prince with them , to add authority to their quarrel . gathered from all quarters , the two armies being in readiness to decide their quarrel by battel ; the earl of athole the kings uncle , so travelled between the lords of either party , that the king had a suspension of arms agreed on . the earl rendring himself a pledge for the accomplishment of the kings part , of the reconcilement to lord hails . thus the king lost a good opportunity , the like of which was never again in his offer , for the lords notwithstanding that was agreed upon , continued very troublesome to the country , the town of edenburgh , is pestered with troops of armed men. the king warned of his danger , fortifies the castle of edenburgh for his defence ; then he sent to the lords , to understand their intentions , and what they meant , they finding their offences flew higher than hope of pardon could reach , answered that nothing could secure them , nor the kingdom until he had divested himself of all the government of the kingdom , and resigned the crown in favour of his son. but he resolving to hazard all rather , then condescend to this , was advised by some of his friends , to retire to the castle of sterling , where his forces might have more easie access to him , but this proved a a fatal advice for coming thither , the treacherous constable denyed him entrance , in the mean time news came to him , that the confederates were within six miles of him at falkirk . the king to make a vertue of necessity , resoves to put all upon the hazard of a battel ; the confederates were incamped near the torwood . the king set forward with his army upon the other side of the torwood . both drew up in a plain field near bannock-burn , and engaged most desperately : the first charge is valiantly given , and lance meeting with lance , the vant-guard of the lords began to yield ground . but the next charge being given by anandale men , the middle of the kings army is beat back to the main battel , notwithstanding of which it is fought a while with great obstinacy on both sides , until the standard royal was beaten down ; then began the kings army to bow the horsemen , obeying no orders , begun to turn their backs . in this rout and confusion of horse and foot , the king seeking to retire towards the river ferth , by the fall of his horse in leaping a ditch , being sore bruised , was carried by such , who knew him not , to a well at bannock-burn ; where he was killed in cold blood , by borthwick a priest with some others , the twenty ninth year of his reign , and was buried at kambush-kenneth . 105. to him succeeded his son james the fourth , who was crowned at edenburgh , a. d. 1489. being about sixteen years of age , a noble and couragious prince , and godly ; the beginning of his government was most uneasie , the death of the late king , being yet recent , his followers resolve to have it revenged . in the north , alexander lord forbs displayed the bloody shirt of the murthered king upon a lance in aberdeen , and other places of the north , inviting the country as by an herald to the revenge of his murther . in the west , the earl of lennox hath the same resolution ; also the earl of marshad , lords , goodore and lyle , with the confederates in other parts of the kingdom . but the lord drumond routed the earl of lennox at telliemoss , and also sir andrew wood , obtained a considerable victory over the english ( who pretended to revenge the late kings death ) at the mouth of ferth . the rumor of these victories , so amazed forbs and his confederates , that they laid down their arms , and put themselves into the kings mercy , and were all received into favour . the lords rejoyced greatly , that they had brought things to this pass , but the king gave no sign of joy ; yea upon the contrary , to give a testimony to the world , of the agony of his mind , for the death of his father ; and that remorse and anguish he suffered for the faults of those , who brought him to the field against him , he girded himself with an iron chain , to which every third year thereafter , he added some rings and weight , so long as he lived , and though this might threaten no good to some , yet they pass it by , not daring to attempt ought against the common peace . amidst this grief and sorrow of the kings , andrew forman secretary to alexander the sixth bishop of rome , arrived in scotland , with instructions to the clergy , in a letter , from his master , to the king and nobles , exhorting them to the mutual duties of their stations , after this some head-strong nobility dying , the country enjoyed a great calm of peace , the seeds of dissention , seeming to be quite taken away . but the borders keeping up their old fewds by new accessions , make daily incursions one upon another , which came at last to open hostility : whereupon king james enters england , and spoils all the north parts , and returns home without any considerable action , not long after ambassadors came from england , desiring a peace ; which is granted , and the commissioners for both sides met at edenburgh , where many articles and conditions of the peace were hotly disputed , one of the englishe's demands was an interview between the two kings at newcastle , which being referred to king james his own arbitrement , he answered , that he meant to treat of a peace , but not to go a begging for it . much being said at last they conclude upon a peace for some months following ; after which followed a match between king james of scotland with lady margaret the king of englands eldest daughter , which was consummated at edenburgh . king henry bringeth his daughter as far as cokebiston in the way , and then resigning her to the earl of northumberland , who with a great train of lords and ladys brought her to edenburgh to the king her husband , where they for some days , were taken up with nothing but banqueting , masks , and tilting , with such other exercises ; by this means the king wasted his treasures greatly ; then some of them set their wits awork , to squeeze the subjects for money , which occasioned great murmurings among the poor . a. d. 1507. james prince of scotland and the isles , was born at holy-rood-house the one and twentyth of january but he soon after dyed at sterling , the year following , the queen brought forth another son named arthur , but he dyed also in the castle of edenburgh . then she brought forth her third son at linlithgow , who succeeded to the crown and was named james . about the same time bernard stewart came to scotland , intreating that king james would make war with king henry of england , to keep him from molesting france , which at last he obtained : then began they to go to their old work of making incursions one upon another , till at last it breaks out to an open war. whilst king james staied at linlithgow attending the gathering of an army , now ready to set forward , as he was at his devotion an ancient man came in , in a very strange and majestick manner , and of a comly and reverent aspect , who having enquired for the king , he intruded himself prease , passing through till he eame to him with a clounish simplicity , leaning over the canons seat where the king sat : sir ( said he ) i am sent hither to intreat you for this time to delay your expedition , and to proceed no farther in your intended journey . for if you do , you shall not prosper in your enterprize , nor any of your followers . i am further charged to warn you , if you be so refractory as to go forward , not to use the acquaintance , company , or councel of women , as you tender your honour , life and estate . having delivered his commission , he withdrew himself among the croud , but could never be seen again ; the queen also did greatly shake his resolutions with her tears and prayers , acquainting him with the visions and affrightments of her sleep , but he laughed at all these fancies , thinking them to be only the contrivance of such as hated the french and loved the english faction , so he gave present orders to his army to march over the tweed , not staying till his whole forces came to him , though they were upon their march , yet for all his hast when once he had passed the river , he trifled away his time so idly , that many of his souldiers wanting necessarie provision returned home , which the nobility seeing , advised the king to returne also : having spoiled that country sufficiently already , but he would hear no such advice , though at last his army was brought so low that he had none almost left but the nobility and their attendants . the english army commanded by the earl of surrey consisting of twenty eight thousand men , were come by this time within three miles of the place , where the scotish army was incamped , which made them draw to their arms . the earl of surreys vanguard , passed the water of till at twysel bridge , king james seeing them pass the water imagineth that they intended to gain a hill between his camp and them . to prevent which , he removed to another hill ; whilst the scotish army was removing , the english advance to the foot of flondon hill. the fatal hour of the two armies approaching one another , the english draw up in good order in two battels , one of which was equal in number to the whole scotish army , the scots by their fewness of number , not being able to order many battalions , marshal themselves in four , three of which to enter the fight , and the fourth to attend for supply : the king commanded the middle , or main battel ; the earl of huntly , the right wing , and the earls of cranford , and montross the left ; the third battalion was commanded by the earl of lennox , and the earl of argyle , and the reserved , by the earl of bothwel . the earl of huntly making down the hill , where they incamped , encountred a wing of the english van , led by sir edmund howard ; which after a furious and long fight , he put to flight , the battalion led by the earls of lennox & argyle ( being high-land men ) incouraged with this glance of victory loosing their ranks , brake furiously upon the enemy , invading them in the face of them ; they were not only valiantly received , but hedged in on all hands , and miserably destroyed . the main battel which the king led , being joyned by the earl of bothwel , fought it out couragiously body against body , and sword to sword ; great numbers falling upon both sides , till the darkness of the night , as it were by mutual consent , forced a retreat ; neither of them knowing unto whom victory pertained . many brave scots did here fall , esteemed to be above five thousand of the noblest and worthiest families of the kingdom ; neither was the loss of the english less in number , but most part of them being common soldiers , was thought little of : about the dawning of the next morning , the lord dacres with his troops , taking a view of the field , and seeing the brazen ordnance of the scots , not carried off , sendeth speedy advertisement to the pensive army , inviting all to the setting up of trophies . what the kings fate was , is uncertain , the english hold , that he was killed in this battel ; the scots , that many in like arms , with the like guards , were killed , every one of which was taken for the king : among others , alexander lord elphingston , one of his favourites , being not unlike the king in face and stature , and representing him in his armour in the field , with the valiantest , and most couragious of the army fought it out , and acting heroically his part as a king , was killed , heaps of dead bodies invironing his . in the search , where the fight was , the number , tallness , and the furniture of the dead bodies being observed , their faces , and wounds viewed , his body as if it yet breathed majesty , was amidst the others selected , thought to be his master , brought to berwick and imbalmed . that it was not the kings body , his iron chain which he always wore , and was not there found about him , gave testimony . others have recorded , that the fortune of the day inclining to the english ; four tall men mounted upon lusty horses , wearing upon the tops of their lances for cognizance , streamers of straw , mounting the king upon a sorrel hackney , conveyed him far from the place of fight , and after that he was seen beyond the tweed , between kelso and dunce , after which , what became of him was uncertain . many think , that he was killed in the castle of hume , either by intelligence , between the english and the humes , or in hopes of great fortunes , which would follow innovations , and confusions in the state. to this is added , that one carbreth in the time of john duke of albanies government , vaunted , that however the governour wronged the humes , yet he was one of those who had abated the insolency of king james , and made him know that he was a mortal , all which , increased the suspicion of many . the governour not long after , cut off the heads of the earl of hume and his brother , without any known cause . this noble prince was lost the twenty fifth year of his reign . 106. the fatal overthrow of the king and nobility , filled the remnant of the state with great sorrow and perplexity ; the heads and fairest parts , which majesty , authority and wisdom had made eminent , were cut off , and nothing but some turbulent church-men , orphan-noblemen , and timerous citizens , left to fill their room . in this maze of perplexity , james the prince is set upon the throne , a. d. 1514. and is committed to the tutelage of his mother , together with the government of the realm . but the government of a woman and a child , over a head-strong people , could not stand long firm : a hot contest arose among the clergy for the archbishop-prick of s. andrews ; three being put in at one time , one by the pope , another by the queen , and a third by the chapter ; the state was in as bad case ; alexander ▪ lord gordon usurping almost a royal authority , over the countries benorth the ferth , as the lord hume also did , upon the south-side . the queen seeing her authority contemned , privately , marries the earl of angus ; looking upon him , as one who could protect her , and hers in extremity ; but this match instead of heightning , weakened her interest ; the nobility dividing in two factions , the one pleading for the earl of douglass , and the other opposing him ( thinking him too high already ) made choice of the earl of arran , but a third party steps in , of whom the lord chamberlain was chief , who carried the choice from both ; pitching upon john duke of albany : when king henry heard , that this gentleman was like to carry the day , he writes to scotland , remonstrating to them , how dangerous this choice might prove to their state : yet notwithstanding of all that could be said , they adhered to their choice , and sent to france to call home the duke of albany , who furnished with all necessaries by the french king , with eight well rigg'd ships , takes the seas , and in the month of may , arrived upon the west-coasts of scotland , from whence with a great retinue of the nobles and barons of the country , by easie journies , the queen meeting him , he came to the town of edenburgh , where he is restored in parliament , to his fathers inheritance . at the presence of this new governour , the face of the state turned more beautiful ; oppression is restrained , justice sincerely executed ; the governour not willing to listen to every mans advice , gave himself to follow the councel of john hepburn prior of s. andrews ; this man being of a subtle mind , malicious and crafty , represented to him things as he pleased , representing the factiousness of the nobility , naming several , whom he said the kingdom could not bear . among others , he gave out , the lord chamberlain to be a man unpolish'd , stubbornly stout , mighty in riches , and power , of a working mind , and vehement spirit ▪ that he spoke against the chamberlain , &c. the governour did presently lay hold on this , and changed in his affection toward him , which the chamberlain perceiving , could not but reflect upon the governours ingratitude ; wherefore he resolved to face about , and striking in with the queen and her husband , became very intimate with them , he represented to them what hazard the prince was in , the governour being a man of such an unsatiable spirit , that nothing but the crown could set bounds to his ambition : advising the queen to think of a way to prevent it ; they concluded at last , that their only safety would be , that the queen would transport her son to england . but as privately as the business was managed , it came to the governours ears , who presently sent a troop of horse , who surprized the castle of sterling , and in it the queen with her two sons . the prince and his brother are sequestred from their mother , and committed to the keeping of four noblemen : whereupon the queen , her husband , and the chamberlain , with many others mis-trust-ing the governour , fly to england ; their sudden departure perplexed the court exceedingly , which moved the governour to write to king henry , representing to him , how little reason they had from him to depart the kingdom ; earnestly declaring his respects to the queen ; and that if she , and all that were with her should please to return , she should be very welcom ; they hoping that they were sincere , at last were moved to yield to his desires , but when once he had got them within the country , he resolved to be revenged upon them ; this bred new confusions , for some of the lords being imprisoned , their friends break very loose , the country is daily pestered and impoverished , by incursions and inroads , till at last after great loss on both sides , they come to an agreement , which was followed with the renewing of the truce with england for some months . all things being thus seemingly calmed , both at home and abroad , the forementioned prior of s. andrews , begins to perswade the governour , that all his indeavours to settle the realm , would prove vain , so long as the earl of hume was alive , whom neither rewards could soften , nor honours and preferments make constant , upon this the governour begins to contrive how to get the earl secured ; wherefore he came to edenburgh , and called a convention of the states , having intreated the earl of humes friends , that he would not fail to be there , the matters to be determined , concerned him dearly . the earl of hume with his brother david came to edenburgh , the night , before the day appointed , who were received by the governour with great ceremonies , and with more than ordinary favours entertained , and shortly after , both imprisoned , and a day appointed for their tryal : the first thing laid to their charge , was the death of the late king , whom several witnesses proved to have been seen coming to the castle of hume , from flondon ; this not being proved by pregnant evidences , he was accused of several other points of treason , of which he not being able to clear himself to their satisfaction ; the judges prepared and directed by the governour ; pronounce him and his brother guilty , and condemn them to have their heads chopt off ; which sentence was the next day put in execution , and their heads fixt upon the most conspicuous places of the city . this calamity of the family of the humes , bred terrour and astonishment in many of the noblemen of the kingdom , and greatly estranged their hearts from the governour . ambassadors being sent from france , to renew the ancient league between the two countries : the governour was chosen by the nobility of scotland , to pass into france for accomplishing this solemn action . he was no sooner gone , but the queen after she had stayed a year in england , honourably dismissed by her brother came to scotland : sir anthony darcy , being by the governour made warden of the mers , and lothian , was slain by sir david hume of wedderburn , coming to dunce , to hold a justice court : whereupon the earl of arran was declared supream warden , of the marches , who soundly revenged darcies death upon the humes . the kingdom now began to be sensible of the offence of the governour ; factions increasing daily , the nobility and gentry deciding their rights by their swords ; insomuch , that the earl of arran , who was provost of edenburgh , having been with the prince at dalkeith upon his return had the gates shut upon him ; the citizens pretending that , he intended to invade their priviledges : whereupon followed a tumult in the city , which continued all night , where a deacon of the crafts was killed by one of the hamiltons , which did quite alienate the citizens affection , from the earl of arran ; and made them incline to the earl of angus ; this made the earls of arran , and angus begin to cross each other : whereupon followed much confusion in the country , and much blood-shed between the douglasses and the hamiltons ; at last having encountred one another with their followers , at edenburgh they fight most desperately in the street , till at length the hamiltons were forced to retire , having left above fourscore of their number dead upon the street . these broils coming to the governours ears in france , he made all the haste he could home ; coming to edenburgh , he set himself to amend the enormities , committed in his absence : a parliament is called , to which many noblemen and gentlemen are cited to appear and answer , but some fearing the event appeared not : whereupon their estates are forfeited ; several fled into england , among which were the humes , and the cockburns , who were the authors of darcies death , others submitted and were pardoned . the king of england being informed of the condition of scotland , sent thither an embassador requiring the duke to avoid the country , according to the articles agreed upon , between him , and the king of france in their last truce . to which he answered , that what the kings of france and england agreed upon in their treaties of peace , was to him uncertain , but of this he was most certain that neither the king of england nor france , had power to banish him ( a foraigner over them where authority did not reach , ) his native country , like over like having no jurisdiction . whereupon king henry gathered a great army to invade scotland . now they draw to arms on both sides , the governour marches with his army to carlile , where he pitched his camp upon the river esk , this struck great terror to the citizens of carlile , who offered him divers presents for their safety of the town , which were rejected , but the nobility refusing to go upon english ground ( suspecting that the governour only played the game of the french ) he was forced to come to a truce . however the governour resolving to be revenged upon england , went to france where he obtained from the king , three thousand pikes , and one thousand lances , with which he returned home , and having raised an army with them he marches to england , and besieges wark , but is repulsed ; whereupon much against his will , a truce for some months is concluded on . soon after , the administration of the government was put upon the prince himself , the thirteenth year of his age ; the governour returning to france , after which he never returned to scotland . a parliament is called , wherein a peace is concluded with england , and eight lords appointed to have the custody of the kings person quarterly . embassadors were sent to england , to treat for a marriage between the king , and the king of englands daughter , which came to nothing . the state began of new to be tossed with the troublesom factions of the queen , and the earl of angus ; the queens faction accused angus of high treason , for detaining the king against his will : to which the earl moved the king to give an answer , shewing that he was not kept against his will. but with all sent another letter secretly , desiring by any means he might be removed from the earl ; upon this advertisment , the queen , and they of her faction assemble what forces they could raise , and with great expedition marched from sterling to edenburgh . the earl of angus , with the citizens of edenburgh , and the king ( though against his will ) marched out against them , when the leaders of the queens forces understood , that the king himself was in person in the advers army they would advance no farther , but retired back again to sterling , where they disbanded , and returned every man to his own dwelling place ; presently after the queen sues for a divorce from the earl of angus , which the archbishop of s. andrews granted with the earls own consent . the king wearied of his confinement in the earl of angus his custody , consults with the lord of buccleugh , and some borderers , how he might be set at liberty ; they essayed it by arms at melross , but were put to the worst , then the earl of lenox undertook it , and raised some forces for that end , but the earl of angus having gotten the assistance of the earl of arran , with several others , quite routed him near costerphin where he was killed in cold blood. now , the earl of angus thinks himself secure enough , having put all things in ( as he thought ) to rights , he takes a progress to lothian , leaving the king at faulkland . now the king amidst his solitary walks in his park , bethinks himself what a fair oportunity he had , resolved to essay by stratagem what the factions of his nobles could not perform by force , thereupon he directeth the forester of the park to advertise such gentlemen about as kept hounds , to attend him next morning , for he would have his sport early ; he suppeth sooner then he used , commanding all to their rest ; the waiters all shifted , and the court hush'd , shutting his camber door , in the apparel of one of his grooms , unperceived , he passed the guards to the stable , where with two who attended him with ready horses , he posted to sterline , where many of the nobility and gentry flocking to him , he discharged the earl of angus from all publick offices , whereat he was so exasperated , that he and his friends , followed very extravagant courses , but the king pursued them so , that after much misery at home , they were constrained to fly into england , where they were charitably received , and honourably entertained by king henry . the next year the king visited the borders , holding justice courts , and executing justice upon all oppressors , thieves , and out-laws there in ewsdale ; he caused eight and twenty famous robbers to be hanged , others he brought with him to edenburgh , for more publick execution and example ; yet the borders were nothing the more peaceable , for by the means of the earl of angus , the english make daily incursions , and spoiles the country ; the scots likewise serving the english with the same sauce , till at last , by the mediation of the french king , a peace is concluded on , during the princes lives , and one year after the decease of him who should dye first . about this time the pope's power began to totter in england , king henry having renounced all subjection to him , because he would not grant him a divorce from his queen katharine , who had been before married to his brother , prince arthur , and then ( by a dispensation from the pope ) to him . the pope finding king henry peremptory in his purpose , did , together with the emperor , deal with king james to make war with england , and to this end sent an ambassador privately to scotland : king henry went on with his affairs in england , and executed john fisher , bishop of rochester , for asserting the pope's supremacy in england : upon this , the whole conclave stirr'd up the pope against king henry , wherefore he sent another ambassador to scotland , most invectively exclaiming against the king of england's cruelty , and humbly desiring king james's assistance against him . king james ( to try his uncle's mind ) send an ambassador to england , to acquaint him with the emperors and popes embassage . king henry presently dispatched william lord howard to scotland , who made such hasty journeys , that he prevented the news of his coming ; he found the king at sterline , a part of his ambassage was , that the two kings must have an interview at york ; this so startled the church-men , fearing , that his uncle might infect the king with the opinions of the new reformers , that they opposed it with all their might : yet the king and his council proposed , that the meeting might be at new-castle , which the lord howard would , in no wise , hear of , but departed in a chafe . king james having so many great matches in his offer , now resolves to accept of some one or other ; wherefore sailing from kirkaldie in ten days , he arrived at diep in normandy , and from thence to vandosme , where the lady mary of burbon was ; but upon some considerations he setled not his affections upon her , though a great beauty , but went to paris , where he fell in love with magdalen , daughter to king francis , with her he was married in the church of nostradam , with great solemnity ; and soon after returned with her to scotland , but to his great grief ; she dyed within a few months after , and was buried at holyrood-house . not long after , the king ( desirous of succession ) sendeth david beaton , and the lord maxwel to france , to propose marriage in his name , to mary of lorrain . in the mean time , two plots against his life are discovered at court , one by john , eldest son to the lord forbes , who thereupon was put to death ; yet the king was much grieved afterward , finding great probability , that he was accused through malice : the other was jane doughlass , with her husband archbald campbel of keepneeth , who , in the thoughts of many , were as groundlesly accused as the first , yet both were found guilty , and dyed for it . the king's marriage with the foresaid lady , being concluded , they are married by proxie , and she arrived in scotland , a. d. 1538. soon after the queen dowager dyed at methwen , and was buried in the charter-house of perth . now began the kingdom to be divided in matters of religion , the reformation breaking in upon them , which perplexed the king exceedingly , not knowing what course to take : his council was against violent courses to be followed , but the prelates , who had most his ear , gave him a quite contrary advice ; after which , most vigorous inquisitions are established , and punishments denounced against all such as departed from popery ; whereupon some are burnt alive , others banished , and many imprisoned ; amongst which , was that famous poet and historian , master george buchanan , who whilst his keepers slept , escaped by a window of the prison , the muses holding the rope . the king of england , having by this time , so irritated the pope , that he was excommunicated , sendeth again to his nephew king james , desiring an interview at york ; the nobility were clearly for it , but the church-men fearing their bacon , was as much against it , pretending , the hazard that his person and kingdom would be lyable to . after long reasoning upon both sides , it was agreed , that the king should not altogether refuse to meet his uncle , but adhere to the first offer proposed to his ambassador , concerning this interview ; which the king of england , rather than his sute should take no effect , accepts : but an incursion , which hapened upon the borders , made him that he lost all heart to the interview ; hereupon he sendeth many letters , excusing his stay , also representing his many grievances and wrongs ; thus were the seeds of discord again sown amongst them . the reformed religion , by this time , begins to be professed by many ; for the curbing of which , the prelates presents sir james hamilton , natural son to the earl of arran , to be supream judge of the inquisition , which turned to his own ruine ; for while he is vigorously persecuting all such as were suspected of the reformed religion , having many in jayles , and multitudes in scrolls , to bring within the labyrinth of a process , the supream providence arresteth himself : for having a process against james hamilton , sheriff of lithgow , his own couzen ; the said james accuses him of high treason , for which ( notwithstanding all that the prelates could do in his favour ) he was tryed , condemned , and put to death . not long after , divers of the nobility became to favor the protestant religion , which so perplexed the king , that he knew not what to do ; he became very sullen and retired , that he would scarce suffer his own domesticks to come near , to add to his perplexity , ( as he lay in the palace of lithgow ) in the midst of the night he leaped out of his bed , and called for lights , commandeth his servants to search for thomas scot , his justice clerk , who ( he said ) stood by his bed-side loaden with great weights , cursing the time that ever he served him ; for by too much obedience to him , he was by the justice of god condemned to everlasting torments . soon after , news came , that the said thomas scot dyed at edenburgh , much about the same hour of the night . another instance of the same nature was , sir james hamilton , a little after his death , seemed to the king , to have appeared to him in a gastly manner , with a sword in his hand , with which he thought he cut off both his arms , advertising him , he would come again shortly , and be more fully revenged . the next day after the vision , word came , that both his sons were departed this life almost in one hour . king henry finding himself disappointed , by his nephew , of their meeting , and understanding the church-men to have been the occasion of it , maketh prizes of all the scottish ships that his fleet could meet with by sea , and incursions with his garrisoned souldiers by land. king james directeth james lermonth of darsie to his uncle , to give sufficient reasons for his not meeting him at new-castle , and to demand restitution of his ships . king henry not only refuseth to restore the ships , but also delaying the answer of the scottish ambassador to gain time , sendeth sir robert b●wes , seconded with the earl of angus , and sir george douglass , in hasty manner , to invade scotland : these to the number of three thousand , burn and destroy all before them , till at last the earl of huntly , with some borderers , meeting them at a place called valldanrigg , quite routed them , killed many , and took some prisoners . the next summer king henry sent the earl of norfolk towards scotland with an army of forty thousand men , accompanied with a great many of the english nobility . king james advertised of their coming , mustered an army of thirty thousand men on falla-moor , to oppose them . when the duke of norfolk understood that he was resolved to give him battel , choosing rather to make an honourable retreat , than give a doubtful charge , he retireth off the scottish ground : whereupon king james encouraged his nobility and army to follow them , and revenge old quarrels : the nobles answered , that to defend their prince and country , they would hazzard their lives , or whatever was dear to them . if the enemy had stayed upon scottish ground , they would either make them retire , or dung the field with their carcasses . but to invade england , they did not think their quarrel just enough , neither had they ammunition enough to engage with so strong an enemy in his own country ; that they thought it enough , that upon their approaching , they made the english retire , if not fly ; for whether they did fly or retire , they had suffered as much wrong as they had done . the king finding them thus obstinate , returneth with his army to edenburgh , where he immediately disbanded them ; he begins most bitterly to reflect upon the noble mens refusing to invade england , which was aggravated and abetted by cardinal beat●n , oliver sinclave , and others . the lord maxnel seeing the king so highly offended , desired his majesty to give him ten thousand men , and he would ingage his honour , to effect something to the king's satisfaction ; the king thanketh him for his offer , appointeth a rendezvous upon the west marches : no proclamations are divulged for the levies of men , but close letters sent . the cardinal , and the earl of arran , march towards haddingtoun , and the east borders ; and several earls , lords , and barons , accompanied with the king 's domestick servants , ride to the west borders : the night before they rode , the king himself came to lochmabban to attend the event . sir thomas wharton , warden of the marches , much troubled at such a frequent assembly of the scottish riders ; raising the power of the country , placeth them by a hill , where he might take a view of the forces . the scottish lords beholding the english putting themselves in a fighting posture , desire to know the king's lieutenant-general ; whereupon oliver sinclave is mounted upon crossed pikes , and the commission read , wherein he is designed to be lieutenant , and all commanded , in the king's name , to follow him . no sooner began the commission to be read , but such a tumult , and confused clamour arose in the army , that there was no order kept ; every thing running in confusion . the english taking advantage of the disorder , brake in among them ; while they stand in amaze , doubting whether to fly or stand. here is a general surprize , most part willingly rendering themselves to the english , without any shew of defence ; many of the nobility and gentry were taken and carried prisoners to london , where they remained till after the king's death . the certainty of this voluntary defeat coming to the king at lockmabban , so stupified and astonished him , that he had neither council nor resolution what to follow ; apprehending by this and their former actions , that the nobility had conspired his overthrow . after which he came to faulkland , where he gave himself over to sorrow : now are his thoughts busied with revenge , as also with rage against his nobility . long watchings , continual cares and passions , abstinence from food and recreation , had so extenuated his body , that pierced with grief , anguish , impatience , despair , he remained affixed to his bed. to comfort him , letters came from lithgow to him , that his queen was delivered of a daughter ; when he heard it was a daughter , he turned his face from them that read the letter , and sighing a farewel to the world : it will end as it began ( sayes he ) the crown came by a woman , and it will go with one . the cardinal put some blank papers in his hand , of which they composed a letter-will , which , whether he subscribed or not , is uncertain : after which he spoke not many words that could be understood ; he dyed the thirteenth of december , anno dom. 1542. in the thirty-third year of his age , and thirty-second of his reign ; not without suspition of having got an italian posset by the cardinal's means . the king was no sooner dead ( leaving his young daughter , who was afterward called mary , to succeed ) then the cardinal proclaimed his last will , wherein were expressed four protectors or regents , of whom himself was the first and principal , and with him were joyned the earls of huntly , argyle , and murry . but within a week after , the chase was turned : for the earl of arran being advised by the lord of grange , who was treasurer , and master henry balneaves , with some others , caused to assemble the peers of the realm , representing to them his undoubted title to the government of the kingdom , during the minority of her , to whom , by line , he should succeed , if she want succession of her own body . the cardinal opposed himself , and all his interest against arran , but it was carried by many voices ; whereupon arran was declared governor , and with publick proclamation invested in his office. a parliament soon followed , wherein the clergy most violently pressed , that severe edicts might be published against those they called hereticks : but others propounding in parliament , whether such , of the people , as could not speak latine , might not have the word of their salvation in the language they understood , as lawfully as they that understood latine , must have it in that language ; it was voted affirmative , and at last , after much debating , it passed into an act , that it was free for all men and women to read the scripture in their own vulgar tongue ; and all acts made to the contrary were rescinded . king henry ( before the parliament was ended ) sent an ambassador to scotland , whose embassage was to contract a perpetual league and amity between the two kingdoms ; and that all occasions of wars might be taken away , a match was proposed , by the ambassador , between young prince edward , and the queen of scotland ; which was by the governour and parliament accepted ; whereupon they sent their ambassadors to england , where things came so far , that both partyes declared their agreement in all particulars , except the time when the young queen should be delivered to the english . the papists foreseeing what would probably follow , if the queen should be put in their enemy , the king of england's hand ; begin , with all their might , to oppose it : about this time the governors base brother , john hamilton , came from france , who was very helpful to his brethren the papists , in carrying on all their affairs . at last , partly by few promises of great things , and partly by threatning to declare him an enemy to holy-church , if he complied not , they make him condescend to break with england ; whereupon ensued great and bloody wars between the two kingdoms ; for king henry immediately sent a strong army to scotland , who came as far as edenburgh , committing great hostilities . in compensation of which , the scots enter england : burning and destroying all before them , returning again with great spoil . mr. george wishart , being by cardinal beaton , burnt alive for the protestant religion ; the said cardinal was surprized by norman loslie master of rothes , william kirkaldie of grange , and john loslie of park-hill , in his castle of st. andrews , and put to death ; possessing themselves of the castle for their security , knowing that now they were to have many and powerful enemies , which accordingly fell out ; for the papists procure an army from france , under the conduct of monsieur deosel , who besieged the castle , and soon after took it . king henry being now dead , his son king edward sent an army of ten thousand men to scotland : the popish party there procures the like number from france ; these two armies grievously infested the country . the next year the queen was at six years of age transported by the west seas into france ( escaping the english fleet , that watched for her about calice ) and soon after married to the daulphine . however , the reformation goes on , notwithstanding the queen-mother , who is now stiled queen-regent her opposition . she was assisted in her designs by the french ( as the reformers were also by the english ) but her death put a stop to the persecution ; which gave the protestants opportunity of putting things in order , relating to the worship of god. great preparations were making in france , for invading of scotland , and root out the reformed religion : this terrified the reformers mightily ; but while they were in a consternation , not knowing what to do , the king of france dyed , and their queen remained a widdow ; this was a great deliverance to them , for by his death the intended invasion came to nothing . soon after , the queen comes home , and sets up mass in her chappel , which the reformers opposed . this bred much confusion in the state ; but the queen finding that the body of the people , with most part of the nobility were against her way , she became a little more calm , condescending that some maintenance might be settled upon the ministers . about this time , the earl of huntly breaks out in a rebellion in the north ; to oppose which , the queen went her self in person , and routed him , near aberdeen , his sons , and many of his friends being slain , himself also dying in the place without any wound . the easter following , mass began to be very publick at edinburgh , which so incensed the lords and others , that they imprisoned several priests : the queen began to storm at this , but they told her , that what they did was according to law , and they would justify it in parliament . in july 1564. the earl of lenox , with his son henry stewart , lord darly , return from england , and were very graciously received by the queen , who took such affection to darly , that she posts away lethington to queen elizabeth , shewing her , that she meant to marry him : queen elizabeth ( pretending her disliking of such contracts of princes with subjects ) labours to diswade her from it ; but under-hand promotes it for her own ends . the queen ( with some difficulty ) gets her intended marriage ratified in parliament , which was afterward proclaimed by name , henry and mary , king and queen of scotland , and solemnized the twenty-seventh of july , 1565. this procures great alterations in the state ; for several lords and gentlemen of the reformation , being summoned to appear before the king and queen ; and upon non-appearance , were declared rebels : whereupon , the king and queen presently take armes ; the lords , with their intention , fled into england , where they stayed a while under queen elizabeth's protection , who afterward dismissed them , writing to the king and queen in their favours ; at length they came to an agreement , which yet continued not long . for the king beginning to be jealous of the daily resort of french-men to court , and of their great favor with the queen , caused one of them , called rizio , who from a musitian , was advanced to be the queen's secretary for french , to be seized in her chamber , and presently put to death ; and finding that this action brought him under the odium of the papists , he made a shew of turning protestant , calling home several of the banished lords and others : but however , from that day he began to be despised by the queen , and bothwel is advanced . the nineteenth of june , 1566. the queen , at edinburg , was delivered of a son , to the great joy of all the kingdom ; he was baptized at sterlin , december the seventeenth , and called james ; the witnesses were the earl of bedford for queen elizabeth , who in her name presented a font of pure gold , valued at three thousand crowns ; the count de briance for the french king , and an ambassador for the duke of savoy . the king finding himself daily slighted by the queen , repaired to his father at glasgow , where , by the way , he was taken very ill with a pain in his stomack ; when he came to glasgow his body breaks out in blewish blisters , which when the physitians saw , they knew him to have been poisoned ; but with their antidotes , and his own vigorous youth , he recovered . not long after , the queen visited him at glasgow , and prevailed with him to come to edinburg ; he lodged in the kirk-field for his health ( as was pretended ) : but many suspected that the earl of bothwel had a design upon him , but few durst adventure to tell him of it : yet the earl of orkney told him , that if he retired not hastily out of that place , it would cost him his life ; this advertisement moved the earl of bothwel to hasten forward his enterprize , laying a train of powder under the house where the king lay , which in the night time did blow it up ; but it was said , that the king was taken forth , and brought ▪ alive to a stable , where a napkin was stopped in his mouth , and he therewith suffocated . presently after , bothwel obtains a divorce from the pope , to free him of his wife , and was married to the queen , may the fifteenth , 1567. whereupon the lords take armes ( the queen and bothwel being at dumbar ) resolving to call him to an account for what was past : the queen also , and he , sent to their friends to come to their defence ; the two armies faces each other at seaton : then bothwel steps out upon horse-back , between the armies , offering to fight with any that durst charge him with that foul aspersion of murdering the king : james murray offers the combat , but he is refused , as not equal in honour ; then his brother , the laird of tully-bardine , accepts the challenge ; him he refuseth , because he was not a noble-man ; then the lord lyndsay presents himself , telling him , that he was his equal every way : but the queen recalled bothwel , and would not suffer them to fight . in fine , the queen finding the confederates resolute , and their number exceeding her own , she desires bothwel to shift for himself , for that she would put her self in their hands ; which accordingly she did , and was by them conveyed to edinburgh , and after to the castle of lochlevine . the queen of england sends her ambassador to the lords , desiring , that the queen might have her full liberty ; and that the prince might be sent to england to be educated : at length matters were wrought to that point , that she must of necessity resign the crown to her son 108. this young prince was crowned at sterline , the twenty-fourth of july , anno dom. 1567. at thirteen months and eight days old . the earls of morteun and hume , taking the coronation oath for him : master knox also preached the coronation sermon . the earl of murray is , within a month after , created regent ; he presently summons a parliament , wherein divers are executed , as having accession to the late kings murder ; which occasioned many factions in the state , and much hatred to the regent . in the mean time the queen was conveyed out of lochlavin , by george douglass the governours brother , my lord seaton , and divers of the house of hamiltone , with their dependers waited to receive her , and conveyed her to hamiltoun : the regent being at glasgow , draws together what men he could so suddenly command , and with them marches to langsidemoor , where it was fought most briskly ; but the queen , though being more in number , was worsted ; after which she lost all courage , never resting till she was in england : the regent returned victor , and destributed the spoyl among his friends and dependants . the queen of england sends ambassadors to the regent , desiring him to send commissioners to her , to give her a reason of their thus proceeding against their queen , upon which he himself went to berwick for that purpose : after long reasoning , they parted without concluding any thing . the regent returning home , did not sit long idle ; for the earl of hamilton pretending a right to the regency , conveins his friends at glasgow , the regent presently went against him . he finding himself disappointed of many that he expected to come to his assistance , submitted himself , and is made prisoner , queen mary , being by the queen of englands order conveyed to carlisle . the duke of norfolk in hopes to get her in marriage , became mighty forward to procure her liberation ; which made queen elizabeth begin to grow jealous of him ; whereupon he is committed to the tower , a conspiracy being discovered , which he managed for relievving the queen of scots . the regent having brought things to some order at home , the hamiltons seeing it impossible for them now to contend with him , killed him most treacherously and basely , as he was passing through lithgow , having shot him with a hakbut , out at a window , january the 22 d. 1569. about three months after lennox , the kings grandfather is chosen regent . hamilton being by all refused , he marches with 5000 to lithgow , to suppress the queens faction , they intended to call a parliament ; there great confusion follows over all the kingdom . a parliament being summoned by the regent at sterling , they began to reform abuses , which are very many ; but they thinking themselves secure , took no care to keep guards : whereupon one george bell marches from edenburgh , in the night time as guid to the earl of huntly ; he commanded five hundred men , they surprised them all in their beds , some escaped , and others were taken prisoners ; but the regent himself was killed in the tumult . those who were for the king , chose the earl of mar regent ; about this time the duke of norfolk was arraigned , and found guilty of complotting with queen mary against queen elizabeth , and within four months after had his head chopt off upon tower-hill , where he confessed all the indictment : mar about a year after being chosen regent , dyes at sterline ; to succeed whom , mortoon was without controversie elected . the king was committed to the keeping of alexander arskine , and mr. george buchanan made his tutor , none of the queens party being permitted to come near him . the factious had by this time become very unnatural ; the mother against the son , and the son against the mother . edenburg castle , which kirkaldie of grange kept for the queen , is besieged and taken by the regent , and the governour , with his brother hanged . the regent proud of his success , began to be somewhat extravagant , which was a forerunner of his downfall , which his enemies improved to his disadvantage : whereupon he is deposed . the king seeing that things were turning from bad to worse , took the scepter in his own hand , having the assistance of twelve noblemen , whereof m●rtoun was one : a parliament soon after is called at edingburgh , where the king appeared to his people , being yet but twelve years old. in this parliament was ratified that confession of faith inserted in the late test in scotland . anno dom. 1582. fell out the road of ruthwen , where the king was seized by some of his nobles , and carried to edinburg , upon pretence , that he was misled by bad councils : they kept him under a sort of restraint for above a year ; but at last , being at st. andrews , he was relieved by collonel stewart captain of the castle ; for as the king had entred the gate , the collonel presently shuts it , and by this means shuts out the company that attended the king : soon after , many of them are imprisoned , but all obtain a pardon , except the earl of goury , who was arraigned , condemned , and executed , anno dom. 1584. about which time there is a plot discovered in england , to set the queen of scots at liberty ; in which the lord pag●t throgmorton and others were concerned , who accordingly suffered for it . but the suspition of all reflected upon queen mary , which hastened her ruine : whereupon she was removed from her fifteen years imprisonment under the earl of shrewsberry , to sir amias pawlet , and sir drew drury in fothrengam castle , on purpose to put her upon extremities of redress against their extream imprisoning : whereupon she deals with the pope and spain to hasten the means of her relief , but it proved the hastening of her destruction . the council of england after long deliberation what to do with queen mary , at last resolved to proceed against her upon act 27. eliz. against plotters or contrivers of the queens death . to which purpose a commission under the great seal issued out , impowering twenty-four noble-men and others therein , who came to the castle the 11th . of octob. 1536. to try her . the manner of her tryal was thus . a chair of state was set , as for the queen of england , at the upper end of the presence chamber . beneath against it was placed a chair for the queen of scots ; close to the walls on both sides of the cloath of estate , seats were made for the lords ; next to these were the knights , privy councellors . forward before the earls , sate the two chief justices , and on the other side , other two justices . at a table in the midst sate the attorney general , the solicitor , a sergeant at law , the clerk of the crown , and two notaries . the inditement being read , she declined their jurisdiction , being a free princess , and not a subject to the crown of england ; to which it was answered , that her declinator was in vain , for whosoever offends the laws of england in england must be subject to the same , and accordingly examined and judged . so they proceeded to examine the evidence , and after a long tryal , and much spoken on both sides , she is found guilty . not many dayes after a parliament was called , wherein queen elizabeth was besought , that the sentence against the queen of scots , might be put in execution . the queen desired that some other methods might be consulted for safely , and that poor distressed queen spared ; but they answer , what no other satisfaction ▪ whereupon the sentence was proclaimed throughout london and all the kingdom ▪ king james hearing of his mothers condition , writ several letters to queen elizabeth , passionately desiring , that the sentence might be reversed ; but all to no purpose : for soon after she signed a warrant for a mandate fitted for the great seal for her execution , which was performed upon wednesday , the 8th . of february , 1586. queen elizabeth immediately after writes a letter full of apologies , and fair promises to king james ; yet notwithstanding in great discontent , he calls home his ambassadours from the court of england . the states of scotland urge him to a revenge : the king of spain also , and the pope promise him great assistance , if he would undertake it ; but he thought fit to delay for a time , which made england the more suspitious of his designs . wherefore an ambassadour was sent to him , earnestly desiring him to take off his adherence from forreign friendship , assuring him that his mothers fate would be no prejudice to his right of succession , which was a powerful argument with him . the next year , the kings marriage with the king of denmarks daughter was agreed upon . in the mean time , the popish lords , such as huntly , cranford and a●rol , make a rebellion in the north ; to suppress which , the king himself went in person ; at his coming , the rebels disperse ; the headers of them submitted to the kings mercy , and are commited close prisoners , and not long after tryed and found guilty ; but the sentence was delayed to an indefinite time , which at last turned to a pardon . the king hearing that his marriage was consumated at denmark by proxie , and the queen at sea , was soon after surprised with the news , that her navy was beat into norway by a storm : he presently resolves to go thither , and meet her , which he does very privately ; leaving the government of the kingdom to his council . within five dayes he arrives at norway , where he was solemnly marryed the next sunday . from thence he went with his queen to visit the queen mother of denmark ; where they staid till april following : then having sent for shipping to return , they landed at leith the 20 th . day of may , anno dom. 1590. and a little after the queen was solemnly crowned at holy-rood-house . though the king made severe laws against feuds , yet were they not quite suppressed , for by reason of a quarrel between the earles of huntly , and murray the north broke very loose , as did the kers also in the south ; but they were soon suppressed , till bothwel afterward ( being imprisoned , for consulting with witches to take away the kings life , and having escaped , made an attempt upon the kings lodgings , and was repulsed ; ) being suspected to have been with murray , the earl of huntly procures a warrant to take him ; and coming to dunnibirsle , where murray was , firing the house , murray attempting to make his escape was barbarously murdered . bothwel having so often been disappointed of his designes , at last having got some of the lords on his side , he came in by the postern-gate , under disguise of attending my lady athole , with another of his companions armed , to the very bed-chamber ; where he forced the king to grant him a pardon , which was the next day repealed in council , and bothwel and his associates forced to fly . anno dom. 1593. the queen was delivered of her first born in sterli●g , where he was christned in the chappel roval , by the name of henry frederick . two years after , princess elizabeth was born at edenburgh . the king resolving to bring the church of scotland to a conformity in government , and ceremonies , did occasion much confusion ; for the ministers strong opposed ; having also a great part of the nobility on their side . the popish lords and others unable to stand out any longer , submitted to the censure of the church . the next year a parliament is called , wherein the king will have some of the ministers sit as representing the church ; being church affairs , as well as affairs of state are handled there . anno dom. 1599. john earl of goury , and his brother alexander , attempt to kill the king at perth ; but both of them dyed in the attempt , and had all their lands seized for the kings use . in commemoration of which , the 5th . of august is annually celebrated . the 26 th of february , 1600. prince charles was born at domfermling , which afterward was king of great britain , &c. the jesuits having no hope of toleration in scotland , all their politicks having failed them , they went the old way to work . one moubray at the court of spai● , undertook to kill king james , but as he was upon his way to london , he was discovered by an italian , who accused him of his intended murther ; whereupon they were both taken , and sent to scotland . moubray was committed to the castle ; where having found a way to break the iron grates of the prison window , thought to have let himself down by a rope ; which proving too short , he fell from the precipice , and dashed out his braines upon a rock . queen elizabeths health beginning to decay , by reason of her age , and the great troubles she had undergone , removes from london to richmond , where she daily became weaker and weaker . the lord admiral , lord keeper , and secretary cecil came from the council to know her pleasure concerning her successor . she answered , my throne is for a king , none oth●● shall succeed me . cecil asked her , what king ? she said , what other king , than my kinsman the king of scots : then after some time not stirring , she leasurely turned her head about and dyed , the seventyeth year of her age , the 24th . of march. 1602. her eyes being shut , the same day the lords spiritual and temporal being assembled , proclaimed her death , and declared king james her successor : presently posting letters to him , acquainting him with the queens death , and ( being a body without a head ) humbly desiring his majesty to hasten to them , how soon , and in what manner he pleaseth . the king having communicated these letters to his privy-council ; returns them his acknowledgment of their dutifull affection . the king sets out for england , ordering the queen to follow twenty days after , the princes henry , charles , and princess elizabeth at further pleasure . he was most magnificently entertained all the way , having a gallant train of scottish noblemen and other gentlemen , to convey him to berwick , where he was most magnificently received by the english , and accompanied with shouts and acclamations of joy by all ranks , in his journey through england , till he came to london . his first reception was in the charter-house , where he stayed four days , having confered the honour of knighthood upon 80 gentlemen . on st. jameses's day the king and queen were crowned at westminster in the fatal marble chair . secretary elphingston was within a few years after accused by the king , for writing letters to the pope in his name ; which he confessed , and was thereupon committed , but soon after pardoned . the king was not allowed to enjoy the pleasure of his new title with peace , for soon after followed the treason of the lord cobham and gray , with sir walter rawley , and others ; for which , some of the number being condemned to dye , and brought to the very block , obtained a pardon . his majesty took upon him the title of great britain , to take away every thing that might be occasion of discord amongst the subjects of the two kingdoms , and to that effect were sundry of his majesties chief officers of estate , sent for to england by commission ; viz. the earl of mo●●rose great chancellour of scotland . francis earl of errol , lord great constable , alexander lord urquhart and fyve president . sir thomas hamilton advocate , the lords , lithgow and roxburgh ; with sundry others of the nobility , with sir john sharp , and sir thomas craig , learned lawyers . these meeting with the chancellour , treasurer , secretary , had many learned orations , conferences , and speeches , wherein the king assisted himself sometime in person . this great meeting was dissolved without any great business done . at this time came to england don john de velasco great constable of castile , and extraordinary ambassador from the king of spain , to take oath of the king for observation of the articles of peace concluded between these two kings . like as baron howard of essingham , and earl of nottingham , and high admiral of england , was sent into spain , to take the king of spain's oath for observation of peace . like as edward baron of beauchamp and earl of hartford , were sent into the low countries for the same purpose . the earl of rutland was sent into denmark , and sundry noblemen and gentlemen , to sundry kings and princes , and common-wealths , his confederates and allyances . thomas percie , robert catesbee , thomas winter , by the instigation of some jesuits , having intended to overthrow the king , his queen , and posterity , at one blow , intended that most inhumane and barbarous treason , called , the powder-plot ; and to that effect , associating themselves with sir edward dick●ee , ambrose rockwood , john grant , the two wrights , with sundry others fell to digging of the vault , where after long travail , hearing that the cellers were to let , hyring the cellers which were under the parliament house , to the use of mr. thomas piercie one of the kings gentlemen pensioners , and one of the chief plotters ; where conveying in the said cellers under the parliament-house , a great quantity of gun-powder , with billets and faggots , with sundry other combustible stuff , the principle plotters removed themselves to warwickshire , under pretence of a match hunting , and at that time to surprise lady elizabeth , then in the custody of the lord hadington , whom they meant to proclaim queen , and in her name to enter into arms. but there is an eye in heaven , that seeth mens actions , and lays them open to the view of the world , by weak means , and weak instruments : all things succeeding thus happily , as they thought ; and leaving faukes , alias johnstoun to give fire to the train in the night time by torch : the lord monteagle going along in his coach , an unknown fellow presents him with a letter : the tenor whereof was to withdraw his lordship from that session of parliament , wherein there was something to be done against the catholicks , but there was a terrible blow to be given , and no man should know who should be the giver of it , and when the letter was burnt , the peril was ended . my lord monteagle , in religion popish , notwithstanding delivereth the letter to salisbury , who acquainting my lord chamberlain , and after my lord admiral , and the earls of worster , and northampton , who not finding out the meaning of the letter , and knowing that the king was well seen in such hid misteries , present it to his majesty in the privy gallery : the king reading it over , and over again , salisbury told him that he thought some mad fellow had written it : his majesty asking the reason of salisbury : he replyed , because he writ there was a terrible blow to be given , and no man should know who should be the giver : his majestie answered , that the last sentence made the other more clear : that the letter being burnt , the peril was ended , which the burning of the letter could make to no purpose to hinder the peril . the king assured him that is was some blowing up of powder , and therefore desired that his houses might be surveyed . after examination , wh●ngard , keeper of the parliament house , told that he had let the house to mr. thomas perci● ; & after some pains taken that same night , by the lord chamberlain , the lord knevet , mr. doublede , found the foresaid faukes with a dark lanthorn , ready to enter the house , but he being apprehended , the blow was prevented ; where swift fame carrying it down to the country , the principal plotters knew not where to flee to hide their heads . they surprize warwick castle , where being affrighted with drying of gun-powder , and other strange dreams , seeing castles and towers blown up in the air , they were at last besieged in the castle of warwick where percie and catesbee were both shot with one musquet , shot back to back , the rest were apprehended and brought to london , where after the confession of all for the most part , and penitence and contrition in some , craving pardon of his majestie and countrie , for such an horrible and inhumane fact , catesbee , grant , winter , and bates were executed at the west of pauls ; as also , winter , the two wrights , and faukes , and ambrose rockwood at westminster . so here we see the god of light brought the deed of darkness to light , and as they said by their confession , to cast the aspersion and guilt of the action upon the puritanes , so the god of heaven would have it to fall upon the plotters themselves . after this followed the nuptial of that noble lady , lady elizabeth , matched with the prince palatine of the rhyne . at which time that noble prince , prince henry ▪ a prince so compleat of all vertues , that europe could not shew his second , a prince so mars-like , and so beloved of all military men , and so beloved of them ; that true moecenas of vertue , and learning ; as appeared by his valiant , his active , and his princely prise , wherein he intituled himself by the name , moeliades , lord of the isles ; challenging the gentrie of great britain ; which was performed in the hall of whitehall by torch light ; the challengers were with him , the duke of lennox , the earls of arundal , southampton , pembr●ke , sir thomas somerset , and sir richard preston ; where before the king , the queen , the peers of the whole island , with the concurrence of all forraign ambassadors , where he gave testimony of his activeness , agility and quickness , which cannot be expressed to the life , how every thing was done in the action , and performed , and the prises given to the defendants , where the challengers and defendants were most royally feasted the next day , as the prise and reward of their vertue and valour , given by the noblest lady of britain , according to the tennor of the challenge ; and was given by lady elizabeth his sister , viz. 1. philip earl of montgomerie . 2. thomas dearsie , son to the lord dearsie . 3. sir robert gordon of lochinvar . this triumph being ended to his no small honour . much more might be said of this great prince , who was taken away in the prime of his years , ( to the great grief of all his majesties most loving subjects ) to eternal happiness : for our sun-set , ensued no night , by arising of the day star of our britain , charles our hope , who long may raign over us . his majesty being possest with a longing desire to see his ancient native kingdom ; made progress in anno 1617. and did so much by easie journey , till he came to berwick upon tweed ; where he reposed himself two or three dayes . from thence he came to the bound-rod : the earle hume hereditary sheriff of the mers , welcomed his majesty with a gallant train of gentlemen , being three thousand well mounted . his majesty alighted at the rod , and received the dukes of lennox and buckingham , the earls of arundale , rutland , pembroke , southampton , montgomery , and carlile , with many others of his court , very royally , making them welcome ; and mounted his horse again : he rode to dunglasse the earl of hume his residence , where he was bountifully entertained . the next day he removed to seaton , the residence of the earl winton , where he was most royally entertained . the next day he rode forward towards edinburgh , where compassing the town , riding the way of the long-gate , he entred the west port , where the provost , bayliffs and counsel attended him in their bounds ; where mr. john hay , in name of the town , made an eloquent oration , welcoming his majesty , and was delivered to him a fair bason with a thousand pieces of gold. riding along to the high church , being conducted by the trained bands of the town , being clad in velvet and satin with partizados in their hands ; and entring there he heard a learned sermon , by the right reverend father in god the arch-bishop of st. andrews ; where after sermon , he mounted his horse and going toward the abby , where at st. johns cross , the provost taking leave of him , his majesty knighted him . and within few dayes his majesty rode to his parliament , with his peers , prelats , barons , and burgesses , and thereafter was most sumptuously feasted by the town of edinburgh . it is needless to set down in particulars what was done , because i intend brevity . his majesty removed to linlithgow , and so to striviling ; where he was feasted by the earl of marre : thereafter he went to dunfermling , faulkland , scone , &c. where by the way he was feasted at dearcie the arch-bishops residence . it were tedious to rehearse the learned orations , poetical poems , which were presented to his majesty and are extant in a book , called , the muses welcome . his majesty crossing tay to angus , had every where most royal entertainment ; and returning the same way to sterling , and so to glasgow , where he was received by the town : thereafter he went to lochlowmount , where he hunted , and slew many deer ; and crossing the river of clyde to pasiey , where he was entertained three dayes together by the earl of abercorne : from thence to hamilton pallace , where he was honourably entertained by the marquess : from thence to sanquihair , and so to dumfries : thereafter crossing the river of eske , he went to carlile , where he kept his fifth day of august . and so taking along the west sea bank , through the countries of cumber , westmerland , lancashire , and cheshire , and so crossing through the middle of england , he returned to london in health , with great joy and content of his majesties loving subjects ; where he lived a long time after in great tranquillity and peace with the christian princes his neighbours , ballancing the affaires of europe , and labouring the peace and quiet of all christendom . his piety , religion , learning , bounty and mercy , would of it self take a volume , but every one of these lives after him , and speaks for him , as may appear by many excellent poems he writ , as some part of davids psalmes , some part of du bartus divine weeks , lepanto , his basilicon doron , his book of demonology , his premonition to christian princes , his book against conradus vorstius , &c. are all sufficient of themselves to testify of him , and need no other blazing . he went to england the 36. of his age , and brought with him his queen , with a goodly and royal progeny , bringing with him kingdoms , unity , peace and plenty , and ending his pilgrimage ( being full of dayes ) at his house in theobalds the 59th . year of his raigne , upon the sabbath , to the everlasting sabbath , where he rests . he was buried at westminster . this illustrious monarch having dyed in a good old age , left the diadem of three kingdoms , in succession , to his son charles , the first of that name , who was immediately proclaimed , being on a sunday morning , when doctor laud then bishop of st. davids , was in the pulpit at white-hall , and broke off his sermon upon the first notion of the fathers death . he was set upon the throne , a. m. 5682. anno dom. 1624. he married henrietta-maria , daughter to the french king , henry the fourth ; and sister to lewes the thirteenth , of the family of the b●urbones , whom he had formerly seen , as he passed through france into spain : having gone to meet her at dover , his first complement to her , was , that he desired to be no longer master of himself , than he was servant to her , which he made good to the full . he called his first parliament at westminster , which assembled the fifteenth of june following , anno dom. 1624 , wherein the king declared his want of money , and the great charge he was like to be put to , upon several accounts , both at home and abroad ; especially to maintain the army which was listed for recovering the palatinate . the parliament having several petitions , which were presented to king james a little before his death , un-answered ; petitioned his majesty to redress those grievances which concerned religion and priviledge , without which they could come to no conclusions for raising of money ; whereupon the king gave them full assurance of all their demands ; so they immediately granted two subsidies from protestants , four from papists , and three from the clergy . after this the parliament did not sit long ; for the last subsidies not being enough to defray the king's necessary charges , he urges the parliament for more ; but they , instead of answering his just demands , fall foul upon his servants , who managed his revenues , especially the great duke of buckingham : this came to such a height in the houses , that they came to the canvasing his commings in , his great revenues of crown demeans , which they would revoke , and resume to supply the king's wants ; which made the king , in great regret , resolve to give an end to their sitting ; and accordingly the next day dissolved them . the city of london was at this time much wasted with a long plague , which was the occasion of removing michaelmas term to redding . there was another parliament called soon after , but they began where the former left ; present grievances , and impeach : buckingham . upon may the nineteenth , 1630. the queen was delivered of a son at saint james's , who was christened charles , and preserved by providence , to succeed his father , to the royal scepters of three kingdoms ; the king of france , and the prince elector palatine , represented by the duke of lennox , and the marquess of hamilton were his god-fathers ; and the queen-mother of france , represented by the dutchess of richmond his god-mother . the king in the year 1633. made a journey to scotland , attended with a splend●d train of the nobility of both kingdoms ; and upon june the eighteenth , was solemnly crowned king at edinburgh ; which solemnity being over , his majesty called a parliament , and in which he passed an act , for ratification of the old acts ; some suspecting , that the confirmation of episcopacy was by it intended , with all their strength opposed it , but in vain . not long before his majesty went to scotland , being desirous ( if possible ) to have it prevented , he writ to a lord , who had the trust of the crown , to bring it to england , that he might be crowned there : but the lord answered , that he durst not for his life do it ; but if his majesty would be pleased to accept of it in its proper place , he should find his people there ready to yield him the highest honour ; but if he should put it off much longer , it might tend to his majesties and their great loss ; neither could they be long without some to govern them . in the year 1633. october the thirteenth , the queen brought forth her second son , who was baptized james , and entituled , duke of york : much about this time the discontents in scotland began to increase ; some of the nobility siding with the male-contents ; of which the lord balmirreno , the chief secretary of state was one , who was thereupon arraigned by his peers , and found guilty ; but obtained the king's pardon . december the twenty-eighth , 1635. the lady elizabeth was born ; and now great differences arose about church-matters , chiefly occasioned by arch-bishop laud's zealous injoyning of ceremonies , as placing the communion-table at the east end of the church upon an ascent , with rails altar-wayes , with many other things not formerly insisted on by the church , but now obstinately opposed by many , which brought things into great confusion . his majesty earnestly desiring an uniformity in religion in scotland ( a thing attempted before by king james ) enjoyned the scots the use of the liturgy and surplice , with all the english ceremonies , and began first in his own chappel ; proclamation being made , that the same order should be kept in all churches : the bishops were satisfied with it , but the ministers and people was so discontented , that when the dean of edinburgh began to read the common-prayer , the women began to grumble ; upon which , the bishop of edinburgh steps up into the pulpit to command silence ; but this did but augment their fury to such a height , that they assaulted him ; some with cudgels , others with stones , and others ( for want of better weapons ) were forced to pelt him with the stools upon which they sat , to the great hazard of his life : the arch-bishop of of st. andrews ( being then lord chancellor ) interposing , was like to have been served with the same sawce : the like disturbance happened in several other places ; whereupon the council emitted proclamations to prevent tumults ; which was so little regarded by the multitude , that the bishop of galloway , going the next day to the council , was by them pursued to the council chamber . they seized also the city magistrates , that they might not joyn with the council to curb them . the lords of the council having at length , with fair words , in some measure , pacified them , they presently emit proclamations to keep the peace , but produced no such effect ; for they stifly petitioned against the service-book ; which incensed the king extreamly : thus matters went in the year 1637. the next year the scots hearing , that the king was making preparations in england , to reduce them by force , they entred into a covenant , to defend the religion they profest ; whereupon , they sent for general lesly , and other officers from beyond sea , putting themselves in a posture of defence : but the duke of hamilton obtained a declaration from the king , discharging the use of the service-book , & the five articles of perth for a time ; consenting also , that church-matters may be ordered by general assemblies . this declaration ▪ being published , and a general assembly convened at glasgow ; the bishops are summoned to appear there as guilty persons ; but in answer to the summons , the bishops sent in a protestation against their assembly ; which the covenanters , for a while , would not vouchsafe to read , until they had dispatched what business they pleased : the king , having notice of their proceedings against the bishops , ordered their assembly to be dissolved , which accordingly was done ; but the covenanters presently emit a protestation against it . in this assembly they quite abolished episcopacy : whereupon , the king raises an army in england , with which he marched in person against the scots ; but while his majesty stayed at york , by the mediation of some persons , a treaty of peace was agreed upon ; wherein it was agreed , that the king should publish a declaration , ratifying , what his commissioners had promised in his name : that a general assembly , and a parliament be held at edinburgh within a short time : and lastly , that upon disbanding their forces , and restoring the king to his forts and castles ; the king was to recall his fleet and forces , and make restitution of their goods since the breach . the king not finding the scots punctual to their articles , returned to england , and nullified the agreement resolving now to try other courses : whereupon , the scots apprehending their danger , prepared for their own defence . the king resolves upon a war ; and with some difficulty compleateth his army , whereof himself was generalissimo . he began his march to the north , july the twentieth , 1640. by which time the scottish army was upon the border : wherefore the king sent the lord conway with twelve hundred horse , and three thousand foot , to secure the passes upon the river tyne . general lesly being advanced thither , desired leave to pass to the king with their grievances , which was denied ; whereupon he commands his horse to take the water ( the foot to their no small hazard following ) and force their passage ; which they did , and put the lord conway to a disorderly retreat . soon after , they took new-castle , and then durham . at last , his majesty condescends to treat with them , and to that end , receives a petition from them , containing their grievances ; for redressing of which , it was agreed , that sixteen english lords should meet with as many scots . rippon was a place appointed for the treaty ; here they appointed another treaty to be held at london for composing all differences . much about this time montross fell off from the covenanters , having by several private letters tendered his service to the king , which came all to be discovered by the means of some that were about his majesty . however , the treaty went on at london , and at last was concluded : whereupon the scots , after five months abode in england , returned home . by this time a parliament was called at westminster ; wherein the breach was so far from being healed , that it was made wider . divers of the kings favourites were impeached ; amongst which , arch-bishop laud was one , and soon after him the earl of strafford . this year 1641. his majesty went towards scotland , where he was entertained with great demonstrations of affection ; and confirmed the treaty between the two nations , by an act of parliament , which he summoned himself during his abode there . in the mean time , the horrid rebellion in ireland broke out ; wherein those cruel butchers , did most barbarously murther about 200000. protestants , men , women and children . the king being then in scotland , moved the parliament to send thither sir george monroe with 2500. men to reduce the rebels . the king being returned from scotland , ( the parliament then sitting at westminster ) the breach daily grew wider ; wherefore the scotish commissioners interposed between the king and parliament , for composing their differences , which were now grown to such a height , that the king not long after left london , and returned to york . now began the calamity of a sad war ; for which they began vigorously to make preparations on both sides . the scots finding ( as they pretended ) that the king was refractory to an agreement with his parliament ; and giving ear to those vile libels that were spread abroad , which accused his majesty of conniving at the papists both in england and ireland ( being called by the parliament to their assistance ) entred england , jan. 16. 1643. their army being in number 18000. foot , and 2000. horse . in the mean time matters are fitting in scotland , by james earl ( afterward marquess ) of montross ; who having received the kings commission by sir robert spotswood , to be general governour of scotland , passed into the heart of the kingdom ; where he raised what men he could for the kings service , resolving with them to divert the covenanters . they upon the other side raised an army to oppose him . their first rencounter was near perth ; where the covenanters under the command of the lords elcho , tullibardine , and drumond were quite routed ; here the atholmen and irishmen , of which he had 1500. did him good service . from thence he marcht northward , to aberdeen ; where at the bridge of dee , he defeated another body of the covenanters , under the lord burleighs command . after this victory , he went about most of the northern countries , and brought a great many of them under subjection , though himself and his army were reduced to great straits by reason of the coldness of the weather , and scarceness of victuals , yet he would not give over his enterprise . from thence he marched into argileshire , where he burnt & destroyed all before him , and returned back again to lochabor . he stayed not long there ; when hearing that argile was coming against him , and was already the length of innerlochy , he resolves ( finding his men bent for 't ) to fight him , which accordingly he did , and quite worsted him . not long after , he had an absolute victory over general major hurry at a place in the highlands , called aldearn , which did very much weaken the covenanters . and baily resolving revenge , at alford was served with the same sauce himself . the next victory that this valiant champion obtained , was at kilsyth ; a fatal day it was to the covenanters : for here they lost a great many gentlemen of quality , besides a vast number of common souldiers : yea , such of their leaders as escaped this bout , finding ( as they thought ) their strength quite gone , fled some to england , others to ireland , and some also came in , and submitted to montross upon mercy . thus things being , in humane probability , brought to great order , montross receives orders from the king at oxford , to march southward with his army : where his majesty promised to send him some recruit of horse to fight sir david lesly , who was coming from england against montross : but l●sly preventing the kings recruits , surprises montross at philiphaugh , where he quite routed him . thus the wheele of fortune turnes now upon this gallant nobleman , who was conqueror hitherto , and forces him with a very few followers to shift for himself , leaving many of his friends dead in this fatal place . montross by this loss , being brought very low , he marched toward the north with the few men he had ; and after many endeavours to make up his army again , he is surprised by a message from his majesty , commanding him to lay down his armes , and go into france , where he should stay till further orders ; which accordingly he did , though with great reluctancy , in the year 1646. but to return to the scots army in england : they after they had served the parliament upon several occasions , and particularly at marston-moor , where they helpt them to obtain a victory against prince rupert , retired to new-castle . the king being brought so low , that he was hardly able to keep any thing of an army in the field , came thither in disguise , acquainting the scotish-general , that he would now commit himself to him ; looking upon him as a man of honour , that would do nothing but what is just and loyal , in a matter of such weight ; the general answered his majesty , he would with all his heart serve him , and that the most effectual service that he thought he could do him , was to mediate a peace between his majesty and his parliament . the parliament being advertised , that the king was in the scotish army ; sent their messengers thither , to know upon what account they detained the king of england in their camp ; who were only called in to assist the parliament , but not to act by themselves : telling them further ; that if the king were in scotland , as he was then in england ; they would not presume to keep him up from his subjects there , as the scots did in england ; the committee of the army answered , that they knew very well the people of englands right to the king to be as good as theirs ; neither did they detain his majesty from them , but that he was with them as their king ; in no wise under restraint , but at full liberty as became his majesty to be . and further , that it was their earnest desires to see a well-setled peace between his majesty and his two houses . presently after , they had another message , desiring them to return home ; for that the parliament had no further service for them ; thanking them withal for the service they had done . the committee replyed , that they came not to england without the parliaments call , and that the terms upon which they were invited thither , were not fulfilled by the parliament , their army wanting almost 500000 l. of their arrears : that upon payment of it , they would go home . at last it was agreed , that the scots should have 200000 pound of their arrears in hand , and the rest should afterward be sent after them . so that within — weeks after , they would draw the army out of england . as for the kings person , it was agreed , that he should be kept by the english in honour and splendor suitable to his royal dignity , and that nothing should be transacted in england concerning his majesty , without the advice and consent of the scots . thus were they befooled by perfidious men , which brought a great reproach upon them and their posterity . though it be false that they sold him , yet it is a sad truth , that his majesty told them , that the english would no longer stand to their agreement , than they thought it for their interest . his majesty being now in the english's hands , they at first carried themselves somewhat respectfully to him ; but they began soon after to appear like themselves ; having purged the house of commons of all such as they thought would oppose them , they began to keep his majesty almost a close prisoner in the isle of wight . the scots hearing how the king was thus ( contrary to the promise and engagement ) abused by the english , sent their commissioners to london , to put the parliament in mind of the agreement at new-castle ; but before they came , the game was altered ( the parliament being purged by the army ) the barbarous juncto prove unexorable ; wherefore the commissioners return home , and acquainted the nobility how matters stood : whereupon an army is presently listed under the duke of hamilton , with which he marches to england , but is unfortunately overthrown at preston ; most of the souldiers being killed , and himself taken prisoner , and brought up to london ; where , not long after , he , together with the earl of holland , and lord capel , were executed on tower-hill . within a few days , his majesty is brought from the isle of wight to windsor ; during his abode there , the officers of the army , and the members they left in the house , proceeded to that height of insolence , as to bring the king to a tryal . which , when it was voted , and passed in the pretended house of commons , they proceeded to make an act for the tryal of his sacred majesty ; which they intituled , an act of the commons of england , assembled in parliament , for erecting of an high court of justice , for trying and judging charles stewart king of england . this terrible form of proceeding against his majesty , struck great terrour to the hearts of all sober and good men ; yea , the presbyterian ministers , who before were against him , now declare themselves both in their pulpits , and by earnest petitions to the parliament , to be zealous abhorrers of the kings death , and every where make publick protestations against the tryal ; yet nevertheless the juncto goes on : and upon fryday january the 19 th . 1648. his majesty was brought by a strong guard of horse from windsor to st. james's , and from thence to westminster , where he was tryed , and found guilty , contrary to the laws of god and man : and upon january the 30 th . about two a clock in the afternoon , he submitted his royal neck to the fatal stroak , upon a scaffold erected between white-hall gate , and the gate leading to the gallery to st. jameses : the 24 th year of his reign he was interr'd , in st. georges chappel at windsor . his sacred majesty that now reigns , being at this time in france , with the queen mother , is by unanimous consent of all his subjects in scotland , proclaimed at edenburg , charles the second , by the grace of god , king of scotland , england , france , and ireland , &c. and presently after , they sent their commissioners to treat with his majesty , who was then in the isle of jerzey : after much debating on both sides , at last , breda in holland is agreed upon , as a fit place for a solemn treaty . here the commissioners from the church and state , met the king , and delivered the propositions . during the treaty , the above-mentioned marquess of montross was seized in scotland , and executed , which troubled his majesty so much , that it went nigh to break the treaty ; but at length , through the urgency of affairs , it was concluded . and being brought to edenburgh , it was agreed , that another message should be sent to invite the king over , to take possession of the crown , which was his own by an unquestionable title ; but the english parliament replyed , if they could hinder it , it should not be so . wherefore they prepare an army to invade scotland , under the command of their general oliver cromwell . however , the scots no wise daunted at the storms threatned from england , resolved to adhere to his majesty , ( though upon their own terms ) . the king arriving at the mouth of spey , in the north , several lords were sent to accompany him to edenburgh ; but in the mean time , cromwell was advanced as far as haddington against him . sir david l●sly , sent sir john brown with a party of horse , which continued skirmishing for some while , but produced no great effect : the next rencounter was at dumbar , where the scots had a bloody overthrow from cromwel ; which did exceedingly strengthen his interest in scotland . the first work that the scots went about after this disaster , was the coronation of the king , which was done at scone ; with as great solemnity , as the state of affairs could allow : the ceremony being over , his majesty removed to sterling , resolving to debate his right to cromwell , where people of all ranks flocked to him ; insomuch , as in a short time , he had an army of 22000 men ; but they dividing amongst themselves , gave cromwel opportunity to pass over ; & forthwith defeating a part of the kings army at innerkething , possest himself of the whole country : his majesty seeing ( after the defeat ) that cromwel was like to conquer all scotland , makes choyce of his most faithful friends , to venture with him into england ; where he might with more safety and advantage hazard three kingdoms , than in a field ; wherefore with 16000 men he privately marched to england , by the way of carlyle ; and without any considerable opposition , came to lancashire ; where at warrington bridge , some considerable forces of the parliament were ready to cut down the bridg , but the scots were with them so suddenly , that they prevented the breaking down of the bridg , & forced their way over the planks . hence his majesty marched to worcester in very good order . cromwel hearing of his motions , sends lamb●rt with a select party of horse ; after him the parliament also raised numerous forces in most countryes in england ; all which marched to worcester against the king. in the mean time lambert gained a most advantagious pass at hop●on , by a desperate attempt , having caused some of his troopers to swim the river on horseback , carrying their houlsters and pistols in their hands , to save them from wet ; whereby they put major general massey , and his men , to the retreat : so that the parliamentarians had a fair opportunity to make a bridge over the river , over which cromwel passed , and joyned the rest of the army ; which put the king upon a necessity of fighting , ( the city being attacked on all sides ) : whereupon his majesty marched out of the city with horse and foot against them . where followed a most desperate engagement ; insomuch that his majesties horse was twice shot under him ; every man resolving to dye in the bed of honour , rather than to have their prince and country thus trod upon by the base usurpers : but the enemy still advancing with fresh supplies where there was need of them , so over powered the kings forces , that they were forced at last to give ground , after twice rallying , to retreat to the city . his majesty seeing that all was lost , was forced to retreat to the city by the same gate he came out at , having left the duke of hamilton , sir john douglass , sir alexander forbes , with many other valiant gentlemen behind him . his majesty was exceedingly troubled for the loss of duke hamilton ; for that he did see him behave himself so valiantly , and fighting so desperately , even when he was incompassed with the enemies horse and foot. it being impossible for his majesty to keep the city long , the whole nation almost being in armes against him , he resolves to retire : accordingly , with some few attendants , he marched out at twelve a clock at night ; and thinking their number might discover them , ordered every man to shift for himself : only with three or four in his company , he came to a place called boscobel , where he disrobed himself ; and for want of scissers , had his hair cut off with a knife ; and so with the company of one careless ( who brought him provision ) he betook himself to a wood , where he lodged in that famous royal-oak : the soldiers hunting about for him , and a thousand pounds promised to any that would take him , either dead or alive . soon after , his majesty rode from bently to bristol before mistress lane ( she having a pass for her self and her servants ) whence he returned , and absconded a while in sommersetshire , wiltshire , and hampshire ; and at last came to briggemstone in sussex , where he took shipping , about the end of october , 1651. and was safely wafted over to a creek in normandie , whence he went to diep , and there provided himself of such necessaries as served him until he came to his mother , who was at the french court. cromwel hearing of iretons success in ireland , and of lieutenant general monks success in scotland , makes a motion , that for the security of the common-wealth ( as it was then called ) the parliament should be turned out , as a parcel of drunkards , whore-masters , and oppressors ; which was accordingly done , and then a new convention is called , july , 1653. where the government is put upon oliver's shoulders , by an instrument delivered to him , by their speaker mr. rouse . in this year and the next , were five bloody engagements at sea , between the english and the dutch ; the english for the most part having the victory . in the year 1656. cromwel calls another parliament , which he had so far secured for his interest , that they invite him to take the imperial crown of this realm ; which he , as a cunning fox ( knowing that this step of his advancement would hasten his ruine ) with pretented modesty declined , contenting himself with being lord-protector , which he was made three years before . then they petitioned him to accept of three-hundred thousand pounds a year for his support ; to have a new house of lords ; to name his own successor : all which ( with much ado ) he accepted of . but when fortune had set him so high , that all the world that heard of it were astonished : behold , in the midst of his triumph he is snatched away by death , upon september the third , 1658. he lay in state , at white-hall , about six weeks , and then was , in great splendor , interred in westminster abby , among the princes of the royal blood : his son richard was presently installed in his place , wherein he had hardly time to look about , when fleetwood and lambert , with the rest of the army thrust him out , calling the long-parliament again ; this revolution was followed by another ; for soon after , several gentlemen in cheshire , under the conduct of sir george booth , rose for the defence of their priviledges , but were defeated by lambert ; he immediately after turned out the long-parliament , and erected a committee of safety . his majesties friends looked on with some hope all this while , seeing all these metamorphosing of government , might tend to the opening a door for his majesties entring general monk hearing in scotland , how matters went in england , drew his army towards the borders : against him lambert marched as far as new-castle , resolving to fight him ; but his men had no heart to the work , which forced him to give way . in the mean time the remainder of the long-parliament , had again convened with some difficulty , and dissolved the committee of safety ; inviting general monk to march with his army to london , which he accordingly did ; and to requite their kindness , gets them dissolved . in the year 1660. another parliament was called at westminster , where , by unanimous consent , his majesty was invited home ; and accordingly , the twenty-ninth of may following , his majesty accompanied with the dukes of york and glocester , and attended with a gallant train of lords and gentlemen , arrived at dover , whence he was conducted through london , in great state to white-hall ; where , by a lineal legal succession , he possesses the imperial crown of scotland , for almost two thousand years : so that , for royal extraction , and long line of just descent , his majesty may reckon with any monarch in the christian world. an appendix to the present state of scotland , sect . i. of its climate , dimension , division , air , soil , commodities . scotland is one of the two kingdomes that divides the great island of brittain , being bounded on the east by the german ocean , on the north , by the dewcalledon sea ; on the west , by the irish sea : and divides it self from england , by the rivers tweed and solway , and the cheviot hills . clim . edinburgh is scituated between the degrees of latitude 56 d. 2 minutes , of longitude 3 d. 0 min. from london west . longest day , 17 hours 27 min. aberdeen 57 d. 10. min. of latitude ; 2. d. 20. min. longitude ; the most northernly parts of scotland , is dunsby-head , whose latitude is 58 d. 5 min. dimensions . it s length is about 480. miles ; its breadth is very disproportionable , there being no place in it that is above 70. miles distant from the sea. division . the country is divided according to its inhabitants ; into highland and low-land . the highlanders live in the north and west parts , or in some out islands ; being a bold and hardy people , much given to warlike exercises ; being alwayes in readiness , when ever commanded by their cheif : their weapons were commonly bows and arrows , but not so much used now as formerly ; they are a people that can endure as much hardships of war , as any people in the world. the lowlanders bordering upon the east and south , are as civil , as any other people ; their language much like the english , differing only in the accent . air. the air is very wholsome ; the cold in winter towards the north is very sharp ; but there being great plenty of firing , the inhabitants do not suffer by it . the heat is less scorching in summer , than in some other parts of the continent . the soil is pleasant and healthful , abounding with springs and rivers ; towards the north it is mountainous , yet not wanting fruitful valleys apt to bear any grain . commodities . the country every where affordeth plenty of sheep , oxen , coneys and fallow deer ; as also abundance of geese , ducks , hens , turkies , pigeons , partridges , sea-plover , herons , quailes and larks , &c. with great plenty of fish , such as salmonds , pikes , carps and trouts ; also herrings , oysters , cockles , mussels , turpots and lobsters . fruits . as apples , pears , plums , cherries , peaches and apricocks . corn , barly , rie , beans , pease and oats . also it produceth a great quantity of tin , lead , copper , allom , salt , hops ; with several silver-mines . it is accounted richer under ground , than above , by reason of their mines , which when tryed , yeild much in their quantities of ore. sect . ii. of the laws of scotland . they are made of the municipal and civil laws ; the municipal consists either of acts of parliament , or of the customes and practices of the colledge of justice ; and when neither of these contradict , the civil law is of force . all the rights and evidences of the subject , are committed to registers ; by which means men are sure not to be cheated in buying , or conveying estates . for first , no man can have a right to an estate but by his being seised of it , which is done by delivering earth and stone ; upon which an instrument is made , called a seising , and this within sixty dayes after must be registred , else it is of no force ; by which means all secret conveyances are cut off . next , all bonds have a clause in them for inserting them in the publick registers ; and they being registred without any further action upon a charge of six dayes , the debtor must make payment . a third instance is , that any creditor may serve a writ on his debtor , called letters of inhibitione , by which he can make no disposition of his goods or estate , till the party be satisfied ; if these letters be returned registred , within twenty-one days after they are served , otherwise they have no force . many such instances may be produced , by which it appears how securely the subject may enjoy that he hath , or may purchase . sect . iii. of the cheif officers of state , of the parliament , of the privy council , of the colledge of justice , of the justice court , and of the exchequer . the king administers the government of the kingdom by his officers of state , who are eight in number : the first is the lord chancellour , who is keeper of the great seal , and president of all courts , except the exchequer . this office is in the person of john earl of perth . the second is the lord treasurer , who manages the revenue , and presides in the exchequer , who is at present the marquess of queensbury . the third is the lord privy seal ; which office the marquess of athole enjoyes . the fourth is the lord secretary , who is at present alexander earl of murray . the fifth officer is the lord clerk of the registers , who has the charge of all the publick records ; this office is executed by sir george mikenzie , of tarbet . the sixth is the kings advocate ; he is commonly a judge , except in cases where the king is concerned ; and then he pleads for the king : the present lord advocate is , sir george mikenzie of rosehaugh : the seventh office is , the lord treasurer deputy ; which office was executed by sir charles maitland , of hattoun , now earl of lauderdale . the eighth is the lord justice clerk , who assists the lord justice general in criminal causes . the present justice clerk is , richard maitland , esquire . par. the parliament is made up of three estates : the first is ecclesiastical , consisting of arch-bishops , and bishops : the second estate is , the nobility and barons : the third is , the burroughs . upon the first day of each parliament , there are such solemnities , and magnificent shews , as is not observed in any kingdom upon such occasions . for all the members of parliament according to their degree , riding ( as it were ) in procession from the kings palace to the parliament house . the commissioner riding last : the crown , the sword , and the scepter , with the rest of the honours being carryed before him ; they return in the same order back again to the palace . sometimes the king makes use of a convention of estates , which can make no laws ; only by this meeting impositions are laid upon the subjects . the parliament being the supream court , it is not impertinent to give a list of the nobility with their precedency and surnames , which is as follows . dukes . his royal highness the duke of albany .     surnames . the dukes of hamilton hamilton . buccleauch scot. lenox lenox .   marquesses surnames . the marquess of huntley gordone . douglas douglas . montross graham . athol murray . queensbury douglass .   earls surnames the earls of crawford lindsey . errol hay . marishall keith . southerland southerland marr ereskine airth grahame . morton douglass . buchan ereskine . glencairn cunninghame . eglinton montgomery . casstles kennedy . murray stewart . caithness sinclare . nithifdale maxwell . wintoune seatoune . linlithgow livingstone . hume hume . pearth drummond . dumfermling seatoune . wigtoun fleming . strathmore lyon. abercorn hamilton . roxborough ker. kelly ereiskine . haddingtoun hamilton . galloway stewart . seaforth mac. kenzy . lowthian ker. kinnoule hay . loudon campbell . dumfriess creighton . sterling alexander . elgine bruce . southesk carnaigy . traquair stewart . ancram ker. weimes weimes . dalhousy ramsey . airly ogilvy . callender levingstone . carnwath dalziel . finlator ogilvy . levin lesley . annandale johnstone . dysert murray . panmuire mauld . tweddale hay . northesk carnaigy . kinkardin bruce . forfar douglass . balcarres lindsay . middleton middleton . aboyne gordone . tarras scot. newburgh levingstone . kilmarnock boyd . dundonald cochraine . dumbarton douglass . kintore keith . broad albyne campbell . aberdeen gordone .   viscounts surnames . the viscounts of faulkland carey . dumbarr constable . stormont murray . kenmure gordone . arbuthnet arbuthnet . frendaret creightone . kingstone seatoune . oxenford macgill . kilsyth levingstone . irwing campbell . dumbiane osborne . preston grahame . newhaven sheene .   lords surnames the lords of forbes forbes saltone frazier gray gray . ochiltry stewart cathcart cathcart . sinclare sinclare . mordington douglass . semple semple . elphingstone elphingstone . oliphant oliphant . lovat frazier . borthwick borthwick . rosse rosse . torphighen sandilands . spyne lindsey . lindoris lesley . balmerinoch elphingstone . blantyre stewart . cardrosse ereskine . burghly balfour . maderty drummond . cranstone cranstone . melvil melvil . neaper neaper . cameron fairfax . cramond richardson . rae macky . forrester bailzy . petsl●go — kirkudbright mac-cleland . frazier frazier . bargany hamilton . bamf ogilvy . elibank murray . dunkeld galloway . halcarton falconer . belhaven hamilton . abercromby sandilands . carmichael carmichael rollo rollo . colvil colvil . duffus southerland . ruthven ruthven . mack-donald mack-donald . rutherford rutherford . balanden balanden . newark lesly . burntisland weimes . strathard nairne . his majesties privy council is chiefly imployed about publick affairs ; the power of it hath been mostly raised since king james came to the crown of england ; by reason of which , being necessitated to be absent from scotland himself , he lodged much of his power in the lords of his privy council ; we cannot ( by reason of the late alterations ) give an exact list of the present lords of the council : wherefore we shall forbear . the supream court of judicature , about the property of the subject , is called the colledge of justice . it consists of fourteen judges , who are called senators of the colledge of justice , and a president . this court sits from the first of november , till the last of march. the justice court being the next supream court , where criminals are tryed , consists of a lord justice general , and a lord justice clerk who is his assistant . all tryals for life , are in this court ; where every subject , as well peers as commoners are tryed ; peers by a jury or assize of peers ; and commoners , by a jury of commoners . the next supream court is the exchequer , which consists of , the lord treasurer , the lord treasurers deputy , and some assistants called the lords of the exchequer : here all the kings grants , pensions , gifts of wards , and such like are passed . sect . iv. of sheriff-courts ; also an account of the shires of scotland , with their sheriffs who are ( most of them so ) by inheritance . there are beside the supream courts of the nation , other inferior courts ; the most considerable of which , is the sheriffs courts , where thefts , and all lesser crimes are judged ; as also murthers , if the murtherer be taken in hot blood . the sheriffs in this nation are ( most of them ) so by inheritance ; wherefore it may not be impertinent here to give a list of the shires of scotland , with their sheriffs . shires of scotland , with their bounds and sheriffs . shires sheriffs the shire of edinburgh containeth middle lothian . the earl of lau●erdale . the shire of berwick containeth mers . earl of home . the shire of peeblis containeth tweddail . earl of tweddail . the shire of shelkirk containeth the forrest of etterick . — murray . the shire of roxburgh containeth tiviotdale , lidisdale , eshdail , eusdail . duke of buckleugh . the shire of dumfreis containeth nithisdail , and anandail . marquess of queensbury . the shire of wigton containeth the west parts of galloway . sir patrick agnew of lochnaw . the shire of aire containeth kyle , carrict , and cunninghame . earl of dumfreis . the shire of renfrew containeth the barony of renfrew . earl of eglington . the shire of lanerick containeth clidsdail . duke hamilton . the shire of dumbritton containeth lenox . duke of lenox . the shire of bute containeth the isles of bute and arran . sir james stewart of bute . the shire of innerara containeth argile , lorn , kintyre , with the most part of the west isles . — the shire of pearth containeth athol , goury , glenshee , strath-ardell , broad-albine , ramach , balhider , glenurqhuay , stormont , menteith , and strath-yern . marquess of atholl . the shire of striveling lyeth on both sides the river forth . earl of marr. the shire of linlighgow , west lothian . — hope of hoptoun . the shire of clackmanan containeth a part of fife , lying upon the river forth , towards striveling . bruce of clackmanan . the shire of kinross containeth so much of fife , as lyeth between lochleiven , and the ochell hills . earl of morton . the shire of couper containeth the rest of fife . earl of rothes . the shire of forfar containeth angus , with its pertinents . earl of southesk . the shire of kinkardin containeth mernis . earl of kincardin . the shire of aberdeen containeth mar , with its pertinents , also the most part of buchan , forumarten , and strathbogie . sir — campbel of caddel . the shire of bamf containeth a small part of buchan , strath-dovern , boyn , enzy , strath-awin and balveny . sir james baird of auchmedden . the shire of elgine containeth the eastern part of murray . robert dumbar of — the shire of nairn containeth the west part of murray . — the shire of innerness containeth badenoch , lochabyr , and the south part of ross . earl of murray the shire of cromarty containeth a small part of ross , lying on the south side of cromarty firth . — the shire of tayne containeth the rest of ross , with the isles of sky , lemes , and harrigh . earl of seaforth the shire of dornoch containeth southerland . & strath-naver . earl of southerland . the shire of weik containeth cathness . earl of cathness . the shire of orkney containeth all the isles of orkney and schetland . — the constabulary of haddington containeth east lothian and lauderdale . earl of lauderdale . stewartries . stewards . the stewartry of strathern . earl of pearth . the stewartry of monteith . earl of monteith . the stewartry of annandate . earl of annandale . the stewartry of kirkudbright containeth the east parts of galloway . earl of nithisdale . baileries bailiffs . kyle . — carrict . e. of cassiles . cunninghame . e. eglington . we should in the next place have spoken somewhat of the ecclesiastical government of the kingdom ; but it being done already by so many learned pens , especially arch-bishop spotswood , to which we refer the reader : we shall now pass to sect . v. of the vniversities of scotland . in scotland there are four universities . st. andrews . glasgow aberdeen . edenburgh . of the vniversity of st. andrews . this university was founded by bishop heawardlaw a. d. 1412 the arch-bishops of st. andrews are perpetually chancellors thereof ; the rector is chosen yearly , and hath the same power with the vice-chancellor of oxford and cambridge . there are in this university three colledges , viz. st. salvator , st. leonards , and st. maryes , st. salvators colledg was founded by bishop kennedy who endued it with very sumptuous and costly ornaments ; and provided sufficient maintenance for the masters and professors . st. leonards colledg was founded by prior , john hepburn , a. d. 1525. persons endowed are principal , four professors of philosophy , eight poor schollars . st. maries colledge was founded by arch-bishop beaton , no science is here taught but theologie , which is done gratis , the schools being open to receive any to be instructed . of the vniversity of glasgow . this university was founded by king james the second , and augmented with ample priviledges by king james the sixth . king charles the first did ratify all the old priviledges , and bestowed mony for repairing the fabrick , also king charles the second by consent of parliament bestowed a considerable sum of mony uppon it . of the vniversity of aberdeen . there were in this place an associated company of students of divinity , and the canon and city laws in the times of king alexander the second , but it was by king james the fourth made an university in a. d. 1494 , it was founded with as ample priviledges as any university in christendom . in it both philosophy , divinity , physick , and law , are very accurately taught . the vniversity of edenburgh . king james the sixth , anno. dom. 1580. founded this university upon the supplication of the magistrates of the city ; granting them under the great seal an university with all the priviledges and immunities that any university within the kingdom could pretend to . persons endowed , were , a principal , a professor of divinity ; a professor of philosophy , a professor of humanity ; to which is since added a professor of hebrew . a postscript . of the laws of scotland for torturing criminals ; and of that torture in particular called the boot . the laws of scotland , according to a late learned writer , sir g. mace●zy in his criminals , allow not tortures but in case of obstinacy in the criminal , where there is great presumption of guilt , and therefore it is not allowed to any , but to the councel or justices to use torture in any case . it is a ruled case in law , that torture being adduced , purges all former presumptions , which preceded the torture , if the person tortured be constant in his denyal ; and therefore torture is called , probatio vltima . neither can a person sentenced to dye , be tortured , when sentence is passed against him , for post condemnationem judices functi sunt officio . minors also have this as one of their priviledges , by the scottish laws , that they cannot be tortured lest the tenderness both of their age and judgment make them fail . the most ordinary way of torture in scotland is , by an iron engine called the boot , the manner thus . the criminal is called to be examined before the councel , and upon obstinacy is threatned with the boot , and then dismissed for that time ; with certification , that if within so many dayes he do not confess , he shall be tortured : when this day comes , if he continue obstinate , he is called before the council , or a quorum of them , where the executioner attends with the boot ; there he is again examined by the judges ; if he do not confess , then they order the executioner to put his leg in the boot with some iron wedges ; then they examine him again ; if he continue refractory , then the executioner is commanded to drive one of the wedges , and then another , till the criminal either confess , or the judges are satisfied he hath nothing to confess . finis . books lately printed and sold by william benbridge . the second part of the weeks preparation for the sacrament . consisting of soliloquies , prayers , hymns , ejaculations , thanksgiving and examination , for sunday evening , ( after the celebration of the holy communion . ) as also for morning and evening on every day of the week following . together with directions to lead an holy life . the stile of exchanges , containing both their law and custom , as practised now in the most considerable place of exchange in europe . unfoulding divers misteries , and directing every person , howsoever concerned in a bill of exchange , to what he ought to do and observe , in any case , in order to his own security . translated out of low and high-duch , french and italian-latine authors . the whole methodically digested into chapters and sections , that by the help of an index any particular case many readily be found . by john scarlett , merchant of the eastland company , the second edition . lucian's works , translated from the greek . by ferrand spence . 1. volume . 2. volume . 3. volume . the history of the bucan●ers : being an impartial relation of all the battels , sieges , and other most eminent assaults committed for several years upon the coasts of the westindies by the pirates of jamaica and tortuga , both english , and other nations . more especially the unparallel'd atchievments of sir h. m. made english from the dutch copy : written by j. esquemeling , one of the bucaniers , very much corrected from the errours of the original , by the relations of some english gentlemen , that then resides in those parts . scanderbeg redivivus . an historical account of the life and actions of the most victorious prince john the iii. king of poland : containing an exact and succinct series of affairs from his cradle , to this present day ; with a particular account of the many great and signal victories obtained by him against the turks , from the time he was first made crown-general , and afterwards elected king of poland . the exact englishman : or , the compleat london scholler , a new spelling book . beginning with a choice and methodical collection of all monosyllable , or words of one syllable , ( turned into english metre ; ) and proceeding to those of two , three or more syllables , digested into an order and method never before extant . with graces and prayers . useful not only for english-schoolmasters in teaching children to spell and read , but may be servicable to the elder learners , and to strangers , as a repertory or treasury of english words to be used on occasion . by s. n. schoolmaster in london . the parliament of women : or , a compleat history of the proceedings and debates , of a particular junto , of ladies and gentlewomen , with a design to alter the government of the world. by way of satyr . pandaemonium : or , the devil's cloyster . being a further blow to modern sadduceism , proving the existence of witches and spirits . in a discourse deduced from the fall of the angels , the propogation of satans kingdom before the flood : the idolatry of the ages after , greatly advancing diabolical confederacies , with an account of the lives and transactions of several notorious witches , some whereof have been popes : also a collection of several authentick relations of strange apparitions of daemons and specters , and fascinations of witches , never before printed . by richard bovet gent. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a26656-e3980 pect . boet. ralph l. 306. * dion . honor rediviuus [sic] or an analysis of honor and armory. by matt: carter esq. honor redivivus. carter, matthew, fl. 1660. 1660 approx. 339 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 145 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a67873 wing c659 estc r209970 99868814 99868814 121170 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a67873) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 121170) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 239:e1922[1]) honor rediviuus [sic] or an analysis of honor and armory. by matt: carter esq. honor redivivus. carter, matthew, fl. 1660. gaywood, richard, fl. 1650-1680, engraver. [10], 256, 247-251, [1] p., [8] leaves of plates : coats of arms (woodcuts) printed for henry herringman 1660 and are to be sould by henry herringman at the ancker on the lowest side of the new-exchange, london : [1660] the title page is engraved and signed "r. gaywood fecit"; the plate is an altered version of the one first used in wing c658. with two handwritten pages at end. annotation on thomason copy: "june". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng orders of knighthood and chivalry -england -early works to 1800. heraldry -great britain -early works to 1800. nobility -great britain -early works to 1800. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-01 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-03 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-03 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion honor rediviuus or an analysis of hono and armory by matt : carter esq london printed for henry herringman 1660 and are to be sould by henry herringman at the ancker on the lowest side of the new-exchange andrew coltee ducarel l.l.d. doctor 's commons . a posse ad esse . to the right honourable . williaml d. marquesse and earl of hertford , baron seymour and beauchamp . my lord . that i have preferred so slender a volume to your honorable patronage , is no more than the subject of it ( which is honor ) erects ; as your lordship is known of the first and greatest of those that challenge a concernment therein ; yet not more eminent by that of your blood , then of the inward noblenesse of your vertues , whereof the world hath received unmatchable testimonies . these reasons as they oblige me to this presentment ; so i cannot but hope will also plead pardon for the trouble it brings a long with it ; and ( that once obtained ) i am assured of the preservation of this imperfect essay , under the powerfull protection of your lordships name : of the infinite honorers whereof , none is more ambitious to be known such , than my lord , your honours most humbly devoted matt. carter . to the reader . reader , the unhappy causes of the present neglect of this most noble knowledge , are of so high nature , as will not endure to be named : the ill consequents ( in the imminent degenerateness of this age ) so manifest , that they need not . in this declining condition of honour , nothing is more requisite then the means of its preservation ; amongst which this being one , and that not inconsiderable , gave me occasion of busying my self in this design . such bookes as have beene already publisht , by persons eminent in this kinde , are of large bulke , and some of them too tedious to the most ingenious student . the more they comprehend , the less apt for memory : especially when enlarged with tedious impertinencies , and doubtlesse more difficult for the apprehension of every reader ; to which , method that is most discernable in brevity is the most excellent help . that which i have herein followed , is to treat first of the degrees of honour , and then of armory ; and that although concisely , yet i hope so clearly , and fully , that any person of ordinary capacity may hereby be able to blazon a coat of the greatest difficulty ; the only care being in observing the termes given to things born , and the manner of posture , and position . some errors have escaped both the press , and thegraver , which the reader may at his leisure rectifie by the errata at the end ; so let him peruse seriously , and censure modestly ; and then i shal wish him farewell . of honor in generall , and of its particular divisions . the heraulds of former ages have , many of them , not onely divided the nobler sort of men into severall degrees , but distinguished likewise the inferiour rank into four forms : but ( as in some other things ) in that also i shall forbear to follow their method , as not altogether so pertinent to the intentions of this compilement . it is but an easie caution in me , when i know not how few i shall 〈◊〉 by my best demerits , not to stumble into the hazard of disgusting many , by a rash enterprise in a weak endeavour ; considering especially the present temper of the world . the great and wise disposer of all entities hath contriv'd every thing into such a method , as in every particle of the creation is discover'd a most excellent harmony , in which that of the degrees and honorary distinctions is as admirable as any ; and this is the intended scope of this 〈◊〉 . some he 〈◊〉 created to honor , and some to dishonor ; 〈◊〉 a difference and variety in all things , that by a rule of contraries they might the better display themselves . some men he hath richly adorn'd with excellency , and elevated them with the sublimary glories of honor , nobility , and greatness ; and others again ( in the same light they shine ) hath he obscured with contraries of meanness , ignobility , and indigency . of the latter i shall onely say , that for them to spurn at the more honorable , because themselves are debased to an inferiority , is to kick dirt in the face of that infinitely just and wise god of our creation . the first being the intended concernment , i forbear any farther discourse of the latter . nobility ( saith sir john fern ) is thus defined , vir nobilis idem est , quod notus ac per omnium or a vulgatus ; a gentleman or nobleman is he which is known , and through the heroical vertues of his life talked of in every man's mouth . in short , amongst all men it is defined , a certain eminence of some above the rest . this is by the same author distinguished into three species , nobility supernaturall , nobility naturall , and nobility civill or politicall . supernaturall , as in the heavenly hierarchies , or sacred principalities : and that there are orders and degrees amongst them , we must believe , or renounce our christianity ; but i leave the further discovery thereof ( as too sublime ) to more mature and deliberate contemplations . the second is nobilitas physica , or naturall nobility ; consisting in the great variety of naturall creatures , obvious to our human senses . as for example , among the planets , the sun is the most noble ; among the elements , fire ; among the plants , the cedar ; among flowers , the rose ; of metalls , gold ; of jems , the diamond ; of fish , the dolphin ; of birds , the eagle ; of beasts , the lion ; and amongst men , the king. the last is nobility civill or politicall , which onely relates to mankind ; and though some have distinguished the generality of a common-wealth into two divisions onely , the noble and ignoble , the gentry and commonalty ; yet either part are again subdivided , according to the policy of civill government , as well as the providence of divine ordination . when first this distinction came amongst us , is by some thought uncertain ; but for my part , not . for doubtlesse it hath been continued from the first encrease of mankind in the world ; for if there were kings and governors , certainly other distinctions , ( vertue being still admired , and honored , and some signall put upon it ) ; and , dignitas & nobilitas idem sunt , dignity or preferment to power is that which makes a man noble . and that there were kings long before the floud , as mr. selden ( that excellent master of antiquity ) is of opinion , is evident by those words he inserts , which signifie , that adam , after the propagation of mankind , was esteemed nor onely the father , but governor , in a kind of royall or monarchicall power , during his life ; and seth his son succeeded him in the like . the jews called such as were in the state of nobiles among them , ben ish , or filii viri , or the sons of great men ; and the sons of men of common rank , they tearmed , sons of men , by filiihominis . and the scripture in many places distinguishes men thus , as in that of the psalm : as well the sons of great men , as of men of common rank , both rich and poor together . and this distinction of men hath descended to us with so much severity , that our saviour himself gave example in his practise and rule , in the charge he left us for it , in these words , speak not evill of dignities , and many other the like . and the civill law hath formerly been so severe in the preserving this distinction , that gentle or noble were prohibited the marrying . with the ungentle or ignoble ; as the ignoble were debarred from any honour or dignity , to hinder the evill of introducing mongrell and mechanick dispositions in the common-wealth , and consequently such impostumated humors as is commonly the off-spring thereof , even among the greatest nobility . the law commanded , that in case a guardian , being a person of honor , having the tuition of a child under age , and should marry him to the daughter of an ignoble person , it was an injury done to the whole family , & a penalty should be inflicted upon the guardian ; the reason , for though the husband cannot be ennobled by the wife , yet the issue of that male is debased and a mongrel ; and primogenitus est totius geniturae quasi splendor & gloria ; and the glory of children are their parents . civill nobility is an excellency of dignity , and fame , placed in any nation , people , or blood , through the virtues there shewed forth , to the profit of that common-wealth , as sir john fern defines it . this he divides into three so t s : of n tions , cities , and families . these last are by the greeks termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in latin nobiles , ingenui , and generosi , in french nobles , in the empire 〈◊〉 , among the spaniards hiidalgo , and gentilhome , or gentilhombre ; and in the old saxon , ardel. aristotle maketh four kinds of civill nobility , viz. divitiarum , generis , virtutis , & disciplinae . cicero attributes the crovvn of generosity to the virtuous , and therefore is understood to allow of no other nobility ; and diogenes was so cynicall , as to term nobleness of blood a vail of lewdness , a cloak of sloth , and a vizard of cowardice : and what would he have said had he liv'd in our age ? but to lay by these and many other divisions , the philosophy of latter times have refined civill nobility into a triple division . the first by blood , the second by merit , the third by blood and merit ; which last , without doubt , must receive the estimation of the most honorable . see sir johu fern and mr. segar in his honor military and civill . and also by place in the common-wealth . and bartholus , in the court : his words are , omnes 〈◊〉 principi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & ideo nobiles ; cùm 〈◊〉 & nobilitas idem sunt . nobility of blood , saith sir john fern , is a nobility drawn from the first house , and continued through the virtues of those succeeding ; which the laws and customs of nations have permitted the progeny and kindred to challenge as their inheritance , though for no excellency in themselves that enjoy it . and this is the nobility which boetius takes notice of , when he saith , nobilitas est quaedam laus proveniens de 〈◊〉 parentum . now as nobility by blood and merit is justly esteemed the most honorable , so certainly this the least ; the glory they shine in , being but the reflection of their ancestors , and not their own proper rayes . neither are dignities and discents of blood enough to ennoble us , for whatsoever is not within us cannot justly be called ours , but rather the graces and goods of fortune . genus & proavos , & quae non fecimus ipsi , vix 〈◊〉 nostra vaco . and certainly the honor atchieved by an ancestor , livs in his family as his , and to the memory of his vertues , and example of theirs ; which ought doubly to oblige them to care , first , in keeping that tenderly , which their ancestors purchased so difficulty ; and to shew themselves the true heirs of such noble spirits , in their due imitations of those renowned vertues . therefore it is but vain for a man to boast , that he can derive the foundation of his honor from the renowned catalogue of worthy ancestors , and himself degenerate from their heroicall virtues ; for at the best they blaze but another's honor , and their own shame ; and may quickly be answered as hermodius was by iphierates , ( who upbraided him with the stain of so base a parent ) my house taketh beginning in me , but thine taketh end in thy self . and our nation hath produced too many that deserve the saying of lycurgus , whose soldiers bragged much of the nobility of hercules being derived to them ; he told them , hercules's nobility would avail them nothing , except they did those things whereby hercules became noble . the second is , nobleness of proper virtue , atchieved by merit ; which is certainly to be esteemed above the other : for a country's safety dependeth upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , counsell , and courage of the virtuous ; when the 〈◊〉 boastings of an authentick stock , where vertues fail , do add nothing to the relief of a common-wealth in time of need . the romans attired their knights with a ring for faithfulness , a buckle for stedfastness , and a bracelet for industry , as signes of vertue ; not of sloth , the appropriated priviledge of succeeding nobility . and in all nobility , author & 〈◊〉 à quo primum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in signia profecta sunt , & homo novus fuit : the first atchiever in any stock whatever , was a new man ennobled for some demerit ; sir john fern. and all men will judge him that was the originall of a family more honorable , than him that succeeded him two or three descents , not adding to that honour by any merit of his own . now these two qualities meeting in one man , is it that maketh the perfect gentleman ; and such a man ought to be preferred before all others in the receiving of dignity , office , or rule , in the common-wealth . wherefore by the laws of arms antiently , these seven circumstances were regarded in the chioce of a captain or leader ; his age , his virtues , his faith or allegiance , his knowledge in martiall discipline , his authority , his good fortune ; and lastly , his blood and gentry . and antiently none were admitted into the inns of court , but who were gentlemen of blood , be their merits what ever ; as the foundations of some of 〈◊〉 do yet shew . therefore it is the best patrimony a father can leave his son , to bequeathe him the glory of his merits , with the state of gentility ; and the best honor the son can do to the deceased parent , is , to continue his name in that estate which his ancestors left him , and by imitating the virtues that obtained it , to preserve it without a stain . which consideration hath been the occasion to stir up many generous spirits to a noble contention , and commendable emulation , to exalt the worthiness of their familie's fame . what those virtues are that must thus ennoble men , sir john 〈◊〉 hath taken too much care , i think , in demonstrating ; for whose sake i shall take as little : first , he tells you of all the cardinall virtues , and then what they are ; which i am so confident as to believe , every man understands , that knows any thing : but i shall take up this conclusion , as that from them , as a true fountain , these rivers must flow ; for there is such a connexion and chain of affinity in these virtues , that none may be severed from the rest , and that man may be truly said to be virtuous ; though , like as the body is conserved by the nourishment of the four elements or complexions , so that the extinguishment of any one of them is destruction to the body ; yet the constitution of that body is generally tearmed from the predominancy of some one of them that is most erninent in him : so , the vertues of a man may be esteemed from the paticular discovery of someone more eminent . but if we will make any difference in the merits of atchievment , it may be best done in short , by taking notice onely of prudence and fortitude , from whence that generall opinion of the world , that merit was onely by the pike or pen , is derived . and though it has ever been a dispute , to which of these the precedency should be allowed ; yet , i think , a little reason will decide it , for though there hath been so much of honor allowed in all ages to prudence , yet we ever found the first succession of honor was from the atchievments of fortitude , as in the example of the roman statues ; and at this day the publick example of the shield , whereon all , both civill and military , do illustrate their atchievments , which should be enough to end that controversie ; though some have been very violent in a dispute to prefer the doctor to be before the knight . to obtain estate of gentility by learning , and discovering the secrets of heaven , is very honorable certainly ; but to atchieve it by service in his soveraign's wars , the defence of the church , king , and country , is of all most excellent and worthy . in which case , war is permitted by the law of god , taught us by the law of nature , and commanded by the laws of all nations . sir william segar , when he speaketh of the nobility allowed to prudence , disposeth it in the second place : and sir john fern , speaking of learning , gives it the same ; onely of all under that genus , when the degree of the doctor of divinity differenceth ; he saith , it excelleth all other degrees in learning in four respects ; first , the excellency of the subject it treateth of ; secondly , for the dignity of the matter , treating of things beyond reason of philosophy , or the reach of human wisdom : thirdly , the excellency of the end whereunto it is ordained : lastly , the worthinesse of the author's authority , receiving it not from mortall men , as all other sciences , but from the spirit of god. now a man may be ennobled by leters patent from his prince , though he have not the superior titles added ; as by the example of jo. de king ston , who was by patent from k. richard the second receiv'd into the state of a gentleman , as you may see at large in mr. selden's titles of honor. as also in another example of hen. 6. 〈◊〉 by the word nobilitamus , creates bernard angeuin , a burdelois , a gentleman : and a latter of k. james to a hollander . which examples makes him divide honor into nativa and dativa . there were codicilli 〈◊〉 in the empire , by which men were entitled to the honors of nobles . and there have been edicts made in france for the like ennobling of centry , the form whereof mr. selden's book sets forth at large . there is a whole title , de honorariis condicilliis in theodosius his code , and some laws concerning them , as antient as constantine . there is another kind of nobility , and that is called nobilitas adoptiva , a gentility arising from adoption ; when a gentleman of blood , and coat-armour , for some speciall affection ( though neither allyed to his blood , or a gentleman otherways ) adopteth a stranger to be his son , and constituteth him to succeed , as well in his estate of gentry , as to his name and possessions . an example of the like , also of great antiquity , in salustius tiberius , à 〈◊〉 his formulari , where the greatest part of a gentle family assembling , do by consent adopt a stranger that hath well deserved of them to be of their family , as if he were descended of a male from among them , creating him a gentleman , to be reputed de domo & agnatione ipsorum ; and granted him also their arms , and limited the whole honour to him , and the heirs of his body . but this creation cannot make him a gentleman by birth , as it is in spain a proverb , the king cannot make an hidal go : he may be nobilis , but not generosus ; which mr. selden defines to be qui , bono genere ortus , non degenerat , which the dutch have the word 〈◊〉 for , which is well-born in english. but this word generosus hath been in use amongst us but since the time of hen. 8. since when it hath bin constantly used for a gentleman of what sort soever , if he had no title above it : the word gentleman being before generally used in the like nature in writs , pleadings , and the like , though they were latine . this word gentleman , did first rise from the word gens or gentes , which the christians in the primitive times used for all such as were neither jews nor christians ; which our english translators turn gentiles ; as the french , payens for pagans ; the dutch , heyden , or heydenen , for heathen . so afterward , the same word and gentiles was used in the empire , for all such as were not cives romani , or provincials . but it is more reasonably resolved , that the word gentleman is derived from this origination . that the northern nations , framing their words out of latin to make up their provincial or roman tongues , so esteemed the word gentilis , by which they found themselves styled in the latine , that they now made it in those tongues a distinction or note of honor , for such of them as were of more eminent quality ; ambitious , it seems , to be honored with that very name , with which the romans had before in scorn expressed them . by which means gentil-hommes became generally a word amongst the provincialls for nobiles . so that from the word gentil homme , 〈◊〉 gentilhombre , ( which we received from the french , for till the normans we had it not ) we made out this word gentleman , which was before called aedel . this nobilis or gentleman ( as before we find ) is a generall denomination for all that come under the notions of honor , ( for indeed it is our vulgar genus , for those also that are distinguished by higher titles ) but to those that are not more properly , the species whereof i shall a little further look into . of the doctor of divinity , i spake before ; the next is the doctor of law , which hath also held a dispute of precedency with the knight , but to lesse purpose than the other ; the same reason that held in the major , must of necessity in the minor . besides , admit the great benefit and necessity of laws in a common-weal for the preserving of peace ; yet we must acknowledge , that the peace which produced those laws was the effect of the sword ; and neither is peace able to protect those daws , nor those laws peace , without the assistance of military authority . and so necessary is the profession of arms , that no common-wealth , no city , no publick society , can subsist without it . aristotle , when he speaketh of the constitution of a well-govern'd city , in the first place calleth soldiers the true citizens ; and at the same time faith , ea respublica tyrannidem 〈◊〉 , quae fortes & saptentes minimè honorat . plato , in the institution of his common-wealth , appoints one sort of men ( far more excellent then the rest ) whose office should be the taking up of arms for the defence of the other citizens , to which he allowed many privileges ; and that they should be more honorable than any other state of people . sir john fern determines thus , in artibus militaribus , vel in actu indiffer enti , data paritate militum & doctorum , &c. semper praefertur 〈◊〉 miles doctori , & sic de singulis , de gradu in gradum . and the same author understands this rule to extend also to the serjeant at law , as to the doctor at law. neither can i any way derogate in other respects from the honor due to a doctor at law ; for they are to be preferred in the second place below a knight , that is , next the doctor of divinity , out of the respect due to the law it self ; and what respect hath always bin given to it , you may see by these of the fathers , quid enim sunt regna , nisi latrocinia , remotâ 〈◊〉 quae est legum effectus ? and again , justitia regentis est utilior , 〈◊〉 fertilitas 〈◊〉 , solatium pauperum , haereditas filiorum , & sibimetipsi spes futurae beatitudinis . this doctor , as well as the doctor of divinity , hath for his honor many ceremonies and tokens of honor appropriated to his creation or commencement . as first , a book , in token of his learning . secondly , a habit , which is called biretrum , 〈◊〉 bis rectum . thirdly , a ring , to shew how he is espoused to philosophy and science . fourthly , in token he is a doctor he must sit in a chair , which hath been thus described : it ought to be four-square ; in the forepart should be painted a young-man of great strength , noting labor and love , to work and to finish ; on the hinder part two virgins , called care and vigilancy ; on the right side a young-man well girded , carrying in his arms things of small value , to signifie the mean estate of wealth ; and on the left , a man running away , to shew that the study of science requires a volunary exile from all relations . the fifth ensigne is a girdle about his loyns , with these words , take this girdle , and gird thy loyns with a bond of faith , so that thy body may be adorned with all vertues , that thou mayst seem before god and man perfect in thy degree . lastly , a kiss , with these words , take the kiss of peace , in token thou shalt ever seek to preserve the bonds of concord in thy faculty . the next place amongst these honors is due to the doctor of physick , which being the very perfection of naturall philosophy ; and from the necessity of it in a common-wealth , is allowed the name of liberall , and not mechanicall science . to this profession also is admitted the bearing of arms ; but in that case the herauld ought always to be carefull , to have regard in the designment to the 〈◊〉 . which bearing of arms is the 〈◊〉 badge of all honor , as in its due place shall be set forth . neither are the rest of the liberall sciences debarred from the like priviledges , according to the excellency of the professors . to which is adjoyned poetry , which among antients hath been honored with the style of sacred ; and poets called prophets by the title of vates . st. austine give them this character , poetae theologi dicti fuerunt , cùm de diis immortalibus multa scriberent , quales orpheus , musaeus , & linus . how they have been honoured of princes is evident in every chronologie ; amongst which , that of alexander is most 〈◊〉 : with homer will i sleep , with honor will i wake ; homer is a fit companion for alexander . the ensigne usually given to a poet laureat is the swan , signifying pureness of style , the bird of venus , and consecrated to the muses ; and sometimes a pegasus , as to michael drayton : see his tombe in westminster . to this i must joyn , and indeed should give the precedency to that sister-art of painting , than which none hath received more honour in the world , though too mechanically slighted amongst us ; which hath been the reason we have not arrived to that excellency that some other kingdoms have done in it : for , 〈◊〉 is the true spurre to perfection . this hath been for its sublimity reckoned with much honour among the liberall sciences , by many princes ; nay , pliny calls it plainly , a liberall art , whose reasons not his own onely , but modern times have approved : & much reason there is to give it that honour , since its performance is by the exact engagement of geometry , arithmetick , perspective , and indeed all points and species of natural philosophy ; besides the remembrance of the great estimation it was in amongst the grecians , whose kings ( many of them ) were proud in professing the art. and then the law amongst the romans , that no man should undertake it but such as were gentlemen ; because the brain of a clown must be too durty , and muddy to arrive at excellency in it . they were also to be of estate ; that the labouring for a lively-hood , might not take them off from industrious study for perfection . other examples , that princes have given of their delight in it , is declared in the ingenuity of francis and emanuel , kings of france ; and many germane princes since . under which genus i wish the ingenuity of our nations , like as others , would also comprize that species of graving , an art too noble to be so much slighted as it is amongst ingenuous men . history also being esteemed a witnesse of time , a light of truth , a mistris of life , and a messenger of antiquity , deserves from its country the gratefull return and reward of its merits . in generall ; if any person be advanced by lawfull commission of his prince to any office , dignity , or publique administration , be it either ecclesiasticall , military , or civill ; so that the said office comprehends in it , dignitatem , vel dignitatis titulum , he ought to be matriculated into the rank of gentility . in the state ecclesiasticall are , patriarchs , primates , archbishops , and bishops ; all which by custom of the realme , and royall grants of 〈◊〉 princes , are invested barons , and admitted to the high court of parliament : but more of that in its due place . also are admitted to the state of gentility , vicars generals , guardians of spiritualties ; deans of cathedralls , arch-deacons ( called 〈◊〉 episcopi , ) chancellours , treasurers , and chauntors in every episcopall sea , so sir john ferne ; as also doctors , provosts , deans , and governours of all collegiate assemblies . in the military or marshall government , the high constable , lievtenant-general , marshall , admiral , major general , quartermaster-general , treasurer of the army , guardians of frontiers , the master of the horsemen , or grand essquire , the master of artillery , the colonel , serjeant-major , captain and provost ; and indeed all that receive commission from their prince . in the civill or politicall estate ; the chancellour , president , treasurer , judges , justices , chief-officers of the pallace-royall , secretaries of state , mayors , provosts , and baylifs of incorporate cities and towns. and since from the seat of royalty and majesty , all honours do flow , it is no reason this fountain should by any restriction be limited , neither is it ; for as before in the discourse of gentility , by patent it is signified , so there is another sort of gentility , made by the prince , which as it is by patent , ought to have taken place there ; but being by purchase only , and not of merit , is esteemed of all the most inferior , and therefore to be set in the lowest degree . the king , saith sir john ferne , may also create a gentleman , and give him coat-armour to bear , although he be unworthy of the same , but , saith he again , est haec quaedam fucata nobilitas & non ver a nec essentialis , it is but a counterfeit nobility , so that this gentility brings the purchaser little more then the shadow of honour , to shroud him from the name of plebeian , and these gentlemen by the strictnesse of the laws of honour , are excluded from the priviledges of gentility . then , saith sir wil. segar , a simple subject being 〈◊〉 a gentleman , by the prince's grant , and does not exercise the qualities beseeming that dignity , ought to be deprived of his title . this consideration made sigismond the emperour , answer one soliciting for such honour ; i can , said he , make thee rich , or exempted with priviledges ; but , without virtue or noble desert , it lieth not in caesar's power to make a gentleman . and the retort of a gentleman to a knight , ( which my self knew ) was not amisse , being to the same purpose , who said , it was more honour to be a gentleman and no knight , then to be a knight and no centleman , the knight being then a knight meerly by purchase , without any desert at all in him : too many whereof are 〈◊〉 in our nation . privileges due to gentility . now since others , as sir jo. fern , and sir wil. segar , have been so punctuall in discoursing the priviledges due to gentility , i cannot but touch upon it a little , before i passe to the next degree of noblenesse , which is the esquire . the priviledges , as they have laid them down , are these . 1. pro honore sustinendo , if a churl , alias pesant do detract from the honour of a gentleman , he hath a remedy in law , actione injuriarum ; but if by one gentleman to another , anciently , combate was allowed . 2. in crimes of equall constitution , a 〈◊〉 shall be punished with more favour then a common person ; provided the 〈◊〉 be not heresie , treason , or excessive contumacy . 3. the many observances and ceremonious respects , that a gentleman is , and ought to be honoured with by the ungentle . 4. in giving evidence , a gentlemans attestestation is to precede a clown's . 5. in election of magistrates , and officers by vote ; the suffrage of a gentleman shall take place of an ignoble person . 6. a gentleman ought to be excused from base services , impositions , and duties , both reall and personall . 7. a gentleman condemned to death , ought not to be hanged but beheaded , and his examination taken without torture . 8. to take down the coat-armor of any gentleman , deface his monument , or offer violence to 〈◊〉 ensigne of the deceased noble , is as to lay buffits on the face of him alive ; and punishment is due accordingly . 9. the clown may not challenge a gentleman to combat , quia conditione impares . many others there are , but it would be too tedious to insert them , i referr the reader to sir john ferne , his glory of generosity . for the protection and defence also of this civill dignity , they have discover'd three lawes provided : the first , jus agnitionis , the right , or lawes of discent for the kindred of the father's side : the second , jus stirpis ; for the whole family : the third , jus gentilitatis , a law for the descents in noble families . which tully esteemed the most excllent , of which law a gentleman of blood and coat-armor perfect possessing virtue was only priviledged . to the making of which gentleman perfect , in his blood , was required , a lineall descent on the part of his fathers side , from atavus , abavus , proavus , avus , and pater ; and as much on his mothers line : then is he not only a gentleman of blood perfect , but of ancestors too . the obscurity and neglect of which laws hath introduced other sorts of gentlemen amongst us , which are men taking the style of gentleman being neither of blood nor coat-armor ; which style only serves to hurry them to an unruly pride , when indeed it is but rude and false honour , and is by sir john ferne termed apocryphate , and debarred of all priviledges of gentility . these gentlemen , nomine , non re , he calls such of the students of the law , grooms of the soveraign palace , sons of churls made priests or cannons , &c. and such as have received degrees in the schools , or born office in the city ; so that by that they are styled by the title of master , yet have no right to coat-armor . as to the student of the law , sir john fern allowes him the best assurance of his title of gentleman , of all these irregular and untriall gentlemen , ( as he terms them ; ) for so much as in some acts of parliament he is named with the title of gentleman , yet he saith , that he is also debarred from all honor and priviledge of the law of armes . but those students were antiently by customs of the inns of court , ( as i shewed before ) to be weeded out of the societies , if by chance any were crept in ; and none to be admitted but gentlemen of coat-armour ; by which excellent rule the younger sonns of gentlemen would have the priviledges and benefit of that study , to maintain and support them , as it is in the empire of russia , and many other nations ; when as now every clown , that can but pick up so much money at the plough tayle , as shall fit his son up for that study , receives the benefit , and the gentry of the nation frustrated of that support ; which causes so much decay amongst them , that younger sons of gentlemen , ( being thus destitute of imployment ) are commonly the objects of much pity , either for the suffering , or doing much evill ; and the common-wealth in generall , much prejudiced by the insultancy of such mungrell spirits , in eminent preferments ; which they too often come to , more by insinuated favour , than reall desert : and indeed not in that case only , but in church preferments also ; and by this means is it , that so much corruption and abuse is the daily leprosie both of the civill and ecclesiasticall state. the romans were so carefull of the preservation of honor , that they had a custom by which the children of noble persons unprovided for should be maintained out of the common treasury : which custom , though all ages have most infinitely applauded , our nation hath so absolutely exploded , that the gentry are in all cases hindred as much as may be of all preferments that should give it them , without burthen to the common-wealth : but it is to be hoped , succeeding times will produce better manners . of the esquire . the division of these dignities of honour , was antiently but into twelve parts ; but the addition of knight baronet hath made them thirteen : the six first only noble , as , the gentleman , esquire , knight bacheler , knight banneret , knight baronet , and baron : the other seven princely , and are allowed crowns and coronets ; as the viscount , earl , marquesse , duke , prince , king , and emperour . sir john ferne placeth the viscount in the first division , but i think improperly , in regard of his coronet . of the lowest of these enough is said , the next is the esquire , according to my intended method . the esquire , or escuyer , is called in latine armiger , but more antiently scutiger , from the office of bearing a shield as an attendant upon a knight , and were ( militaris ordinis ) candidati in the field , because they served not as knights bachelers , nor bachelers , which was then a distinction . the etymology of the word will something signifie as much , being from scutum in latin , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the greek , which is a shield , from the antient way of making it in leather . armiger nuncupatus est qui domini sui 〈◊〉 bajulat , ipsisque 〈◊〉 cingit , saith sir henry spelman in his glossarium , p. 50. neither came this title in * honorary amongst us till the reign of richard the second : though the title as to office was much antienter amongst us , yet the antientest mention of it is in † order vitalis , speaking of william fitz-osberne earl of hereford , and odo earl of kent in the time of the conqueror . nam armigeros suos immodicas praedas , &c. facientes . dr. argentre , president of the parliament of rhemes , speaks thus of them : esquires are , qui scutums ducibus aut patronis praeferebant , posteriùs et strateres , qui dominos in equos tolleren , & equos regerent . is qui primus inter coeteros gradus nobilitatis . and verstegen tells us , the teutonick word was scyld-knapae , which is a shield-serviture ; but some have since gotten another distinction for the title , which is , that they are gentlemen , bearing arms and armories , in testimony of nobility , or race from whence they are come . sir edward cook * in his exposition upon the statute of 1 hen. 3. chap. 5. ( of additions ) saith , that the word esquire , armiger , or scutiger , in legal understanding is derived ab armis quae clypeis gentilitiis honoris insignia gestant . in which sense , as a name of estate and degree it was used in divers acts of parliament before the making of that statute , and after also . but by this the honour of the title is lost , and every gentleman of coat-armor shall have as great a share in it as themselves ; which in truth hath not been since the dividing the gentility into these two divisions ; when this title of esquire was made a legall and appropriated addition . of these , there are four sorts : by creation , by birth , by dignity , and by office. esquires by creation are sometimes made by patent , as one jo. de kingston was by king richard , as i mentioned before , being received into the state of a gentleman , and made an esquire , and sometimes by the giving of a collar of ss . by the king , as an ensigne of the title . eúmve ( saith sir henry spelman ) argentatis calcaribus donaverit . which silver spurs were given by the king , as the gold was to the knight , to difference the honor ; from whence they are called white-spurs . there is commonly given to him also an addition to his paternall coat , or a new coat , if he owned none before , which is due to the descendents onely of his body , not related to any of his line besides ; and the eldest son of that coat-armor is ever an esquire . esquires by birth , are the eldest sons of knights , and their eldest sons successively . sir john ferne , and sir henry spelman call all esquires , that being the sons of lords , are not allowed the title of lords : but sir henry spelman again , propriè natalitio jure armigeri dicuntur , equitum auratorum filii primogeniti ; & ex ipsis haeredes inperpetuum masculi . those by office , are such as bearing high offices in the commonwealth or kings palace , have not the augmentation of knighthood or lordship . such are the sergeants at law , sheriffs , escheators , the sergeant of every office in the court. but these are only the possessors of that dignity ; it dying with them : and not only so , but if he lose his office , that is a gentleman by office ; he lo seth his gentility also . and this ennobling by office was also among the saxons , and hath so continued among them , saith mr. lambert , if a churle so thrived , that he had fully five hides of land of his own , a church , and a kitchen , a bell-house , and a gate , a seat , a severall office in the kings hall , then was he the theynes right worthy . amongst which sort of esq those four of the kings body are the principall , which ( he saith ) are to be esteemed above the elder sons of knights . and indeed in all processions of state , they go before the master of the jewell-house , all judges or sergeants at the law. of knighthood in generall , and of the knight bacheler . of the distinctions by knighthood there are many in other parts of the world ; but in england only these , knights batchelers , knights of the bath , knights bannerets , and knights baronets , and knights of the garter . the word knight , as mr. selden saith , coming from the saxon 〈◊〉 , which signified puer , or servus , as dienaknecht is yet among the dutch , for a man-servant . so tenants by knights service were called milites , or chivalers , because their service was military . knights ( saith mr. cambden ) who of our english lawyers are termed also in latin milites , and in all nations almost besides , took their name of horses . the italians call them cavalari , the french chevaliers , the germans kutters , and our britans in wales , margagh , all of riding . englishmen only term them knights , by a word , that in old english-language , as also of the german , signifieth indifferently a servitour , or minister , and a lusty young man. hereupon it cometh , that in the old written gospels translated into the saxon , we read , for christs disciples , christs leorning knights . and elsewhere for client or vassal 〈◊〉 . and bracton ( our ancient civill lawyer ) maketh mention of rad cnyhts , that is serving-men , who had their lands with this condition , that they should serve their lords on horseback , and so by cuting off a piece of the name , ( as our delight is to speak short ) this name of knight remained with us . but whence it came that our country-men should , in penning the laws , and all writings since the norman conquest 's time , term those knights in latin milites , that is , souldiers , was transferred unto those that conversing near about the princes person bare any of the great offices in the prince's court or train . but with us , i conceive , those were first so called , who held any lands or inheritances in fee , by this tenure , to serve in the war , for those lands were tearmed knights fees : and those that elsewhere they named feuditary , that is , tenants in fee , were hete called milites , that is , knights ; as for example , milites regis ; milites archiepiscopi cantuar. milites comitis rogerii ; comitis hugonis , &c. for that they received those lands or mannors of them , with this condition , to serve them in the wars , and to yield them fealty and homage ; whereas others , who served for pay , were simply called solidarii ( from whence the word soldier ) and servientes . this title comming to be a reward or degree of honor , is thought to be in imitation of the equestris order in rome , to which men were onely advanced for extraordinary virtue , and notable merit : who onely were admitted to beautifie the caparizons of their horses & their armor with gold , from whence they were called equites aurati . in which time , all sorts of men were distinguished in their degrees by some garb or habit ; as some by their clothes , some by cutting their hair , &c. the roman knights also were allowed to wear a chain of gold , and therefore called torquati , from manlius torquatus , who wore the first , obtained by him in a victory in france , which is by us yet imitated in the collar of s s. by which it is easily collected , that the true institution of it was a reward of honor and valour , not sloath and riches . and therefore all men thus ennobled , ought either to be deserving by action before , or by endeavour and good service after ; and to be else esteemed unlawfull possessors of that honor , at what rate soever purchased . the first account of ceremonies ( that we have ) at the creating a knight , is in the example of king alfred , knighting his grandson athelstan ; and after the continuance of them ( it seems ) grew more precise and customary , by feasts , giving of robes , arms , spurs , and sometimes horse and arms ; untill our later times produced the new , yet usuall ceremony , of a stroak over the shoulder with a sword , with these words , sois chivaler au nom de dieu , by the king , or some by his commission , though the spur hath lately been observed also . another manner of creation there hath been also among the saxons before the conquest , which was by sacred ceremonies , shew'd by one ingulphus , that lived in the time of the conquest , by a solemn confession , a vigil in the church , receiving of the sacrament after an offering of the sword on the altar , and redemption of it ; then the bishop , abbot , or priest putting it on him , made him a knight , with many prayers , called benedictiones ensis . to this order or degree of honor , an infant may be admitted , though he be a ward , and then ( till a late act of parliament ordained otherwise ) his wardship was free , both of person and estate ; but now their lands are not . and there were feudall laws for , and at , the making the eldest son of a lord a knight , as there was also for the marrying of the eldest daughter , as in the charter of king john , which was mony raised on the tenant . but any man in the order of priesthood is debarred the honor of knighthood of the sword , cùm eorum militia sit 〈◊〉 mundum , carnem , & diabolum . so sir john fern. though i find , that antiently they have been allowed it , but not without first laying aside their spirituall cures , and applying themselves to a secular life . so matthew paris , dei natalis johannem de gatesden clericum , & multis ditatum 〈◊〉 , ( sed omnibus ante expectatum resignatis , quia sic oportuit ) baltheo cinxit militari . and then the persons that gave this honor were sometimes subjects ( without any superior authority granted to them ) as well as soveraignes , though long since it hath been an appropriated priviledge of the crown . landfrank archbishop of canterbury made william the second a knight in his fathers life-time . but the name of bacheler added to it seems not to have been till the 33 of 〈◊〉 the third . sir john fern also tells of ensignes that anciently were marks of knighthood , as a ring on the thumb , a chain of gold , and gilt spurrs . all which tokens of his honor he was as carefully to preserve , as a captain his banner , which ( according to the rules of arms then ) if he once lost basely in the field , he was 〈◊〉 of flying any more again , till he had regained the same or another from the enemy . to which end it was carefully to be provided , that such men as were endowed with this honor , should have these accomplishments , he ought to be faithfull and religious , just in his engagements , valiant in his enterprises , obedient to his superiors , expert in military affairs , watchfull and temperate , charitable to the poor , free from debauchery , not a boaster with his tongue , ready to help and defend ladies , especially widows and orphans : and he ought to be ever in a readinesse , with horse and arms , and to attend the command of his soveraign in all wars , both civill and forrain ; the neglect where of is a crime as great , as to fight against him , and merits at the least a shamefull degrading and formerly when the king hath been to make a knight , he sate gloriously in his state , arrayed in cloth of gold of the most precious and costly bodkin-work , and crowned with his crown of gold : and to every knight he allowed or gave a hundred shillings for his harnessements , &c. and knights in this manner dubbed made this esteem thereof , that in it consisted the guerdon of their virtue and valour , the praise of their house and family , the memoriall of their stock and linage ; and lastly , the glory of their name . there are many priviledges belonging to that dignity ; and mr. selden speaks of a law , that a man was to be punished with the losse of a hand , that should strike a knight ; yet he sayes , he remembers no example of the practise of it , which i think is the greater honor to the dignity , as being a shame , that any such law should be the guard of a man so honored with arms , and appropriated to the sword. against a knight in the war , runneth no prescription . the office of a coroner in former times being honorable , none were capable of it but a knight . by antient custom , none were admitted to the house of parliament , but who were milites gladiis accincti . many other priviledges there were appropriated to them , according to the rules of honor , and custom of the nation , as well as requisites in them ; which more at large may be understood in sir will. segar's honor military and civill . where is to be found the severity in degrading them . when if any knight at any time had been corrupted with mony by his prince's enemy ; or committed any other notable fact against loyalty and honor ; he was apprehended , and caused to be armed from head to foot , and on a high scaffold in the church he was placed ; and after the priests had sung some funerall psalm , as though he had been dead ; first , they took off his helmet , to shew his face , and so by degrees his whole armor : and then the heralds crying out , this is a disloyall miscreant ; with many other ignoble ceremonies , he was thrown down the stage with a rope . this he mentions to have been about the time of king arthur . we have many examples of latter times also of degrading knights , for dishonorably absenting from the service of the king , and other treasons ; with which seising on all that he had ( except one horse ; ne , qui dignitate factus est eques , cogatur pedes incedere : for in all countries , the title is related to a horse , from serving on horseback ; ) and also by the cutting off their spurrs from their heels , taking away his sword , reversing his coat-arms , and the like ; as in the degrading of sir ralph gray . see more at large sir william segar , mr. selden , and sir john fern. the creation robe of a knight of y e garter it is ever to be observed , that when the word knight is found without any addition of distinction , it is meant by the knight batcheler . of the order of the bath , the first that are taken notice of is in 〈◊〉 , who gives an account of 46 made by henry the fourth : but mr. selden is of an opinion , they were long before . mr. upton ( in a manuscript which mr. bish ( a gentleman much deserving of honor from our english gentry ) hath since very 〈◊〉 illustrated and published ) takes notice of this order in these words , creantur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 modis , &c. creantur in alio modo milites per balneum , qui modus multùm observatur in anglia , & in 〈◊〉 regnis . he lived in the time of henry the sixth . the honor is invested with a great deal of noble ceremony , as is seen by the example of henry the seventh , when he sent writs to divers lords and gentlemen , to come up to the making henry his second son knight of the bath , ad ordinem militia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suscipiendum , juxta antiquam consuetudinem in creatione usitatam . when one is to be made a knight of the bath , he comming up to the court , is very nobly received by the officers and nobles of the court ; where he hath two esquires appointed to wait on him , who convey him to a chamber , where is to be musick before he commeth to the tubbs ; then they uncloath him , and put him naked into the bath , where , if there be any other knights of the order in the court , they come in their order and salute him , and after discourse concerning the order , they sprinkle some of the water on his shoulder , and so depart . then the esquires convey him to a bed , where he is dryed , and then he putting on his clothes , they put over them a long gray coat like a hermit's weed , with long sleeves , and a hood ; then the knights return to him again , and lead him to the chappel , where he receives a cup of spiced wine , and with that salutes the knights , who after leave him there , onely with his esquires and priest , where he performs a vigill till almost day , with prayers and offerings . after this , and some repose in his chamber , the next morning , where are robes provided for him ; the knights wait on him again , and do service to him in his making ready ; one giving him his doublet , another his breeches , another combes his head , &c. then with musick he is brought to the hall in the court on horsback , accompanied with those knights and esquires , where the marshall meets him . then the king comming to the hall , commands a lord to put on his right spur , and making a crosse upon his knee , rises up and kisses him , and so another the left . then the king puts the sword about him himself , and smiting him on the shoulder , says , be a good knight , and kisses him . then with the musick he is conducted again to the chappel , where he goes to the altar , and performs some ceremonies , maketh protestation for the performance of the orders of knighthood . then the king's cook comes to him with a knife in his hand , to demand his fee ; and tells him , that if he do any thing against the orders of chivalry , he will cut his 〈◊〉 off from his heels . then he is habited in a blew gown with maunches open , like a priest , and so led again to the hall. the particular manner is more at large set down by sir william segar , in his honor military and civill , and cambden's britannia . they are distinguished ordinarily by the wearing of a red ribbon cross the left shoulder , as knights of the garter by the blew . and have this priviledge above all knights , their sons are free from wardship : as in the example of the heir of sir thomas wise of essex , which was a cause in chancery , and the heir victor . of bannerets . this was antiently an order in france , and ( excert that in england they are not created by parent , not the title hereditary , ) the same : the creation is almost the same with theirs , by the solemn delivery of a banner , charged with the arms of him that is to be created , and cutting or tearing off the end of a pennon or streamers , to make it square into the shape of a banner , are called by some equites vexillarii . sir william segar relates the ceremony thus ; he is led between two other knights into the presence of the king or generall , with his pennon of arms in his hand , and there the heralds declare his merit , for which he deserves to be made a knight banneret , and thenceforth to display a banner in the field . then the king , or generall , causes the point of his pennon to be rent off ; and the new made knight returns to his tent , the trumpets sounding before him . a banneret thus made may bear his banner display'd , if he be a captain , and set his arms thereon , as other degrees above him . and although the knight baronet be an honor given by patent , and made hereditary ; yet , by decree of king fames it is established , that all such bannerets , as shall be made by the kings majesty , his heirs and successors , under their standard , display'd in an army royall in open war , the king personally present ; for the tearm of the lives of such bannerets , shall for ever take place and precedency as well before all other bannerets , as the younger sons of viscounts , and barons , as also before all baronets ; but not otherwise . and this order was of so great estimation , that divers knights bachelers and esquires served under them ; which title , it seems , in many antient writs , hath been mis-writ barronets , as in a patent to sir ralph fane , a knight banneret under edward the sixt , he is called barronettus for bannerettus ; which title of baronet was not amongst us till king james . of baronet . the title of baronet was erected by king james , in the ninth year of his reign : he made diverse on the 22 day of may , whose patents were all of one form , without any difference at all ; the 〈◊〉 or argument being for the propagating a plantation in ulster in ireland , to which the aid of these knights was ordained ; the words run thus , 〈◊〉 , ex certa scientia & mero 〈◊〉 nostris , ordinavimus , ereximus , constituimus & creavimus quendam statum , gradum , dignitatem , nomen & titulum baronetti ( anglice of a baronet ) infra hoc regnum nostrum angliae perpetuis temporibus duraturum . their aid was the maintenance of thirty soldiers in that province for three years . their titles were to descend to the heirs male of their body , and to take place before all knights bachelers , knights of the bath , and knights bannerets , ( the other degree before specified , being afterward made ) and that the name of baronet in all writs , commissions , and style , should be added to his surname ; and that the addition of sir should precede in all mentionings of his name ( as the title of lady and madam to the wives of them ) and their successors ; and that they should take place according to the priority of the date of their patents inter se , and so to their successors . in which patents also , the king did engage for himself and successors , that there should be but two hundred of them made ; and that there should be never any degree of honor established , that should take place between the baronet and baron ; and if for want of heirs male , the title in any should fall , there should never be any created in their room , but that the title should diminish , to the honour of them remaining , and be by that means reduced to a 〈◊〉 number . and afterward a commission was ordained under the great seal , for filling up the number , who had instructions also enacted ; among which , they that desired to be admitted into the dignity of baronets , must maintain the number of thirty foot-soldiers in ireland for three years , after the rate of eight-pence sterling a day ; and a years pay to be paid in ( at the passing of the patent ) to the exchequer . and again , that they must be of good reputation , and descended of a grand-father , at least , by the father's side , that bare arms ; and have also a certain yearly revenue of one thousand pounds de claro . they were to take bond also for the true payment of that maintenance , and to appoint one particular treasurer for it , that it might not come into the king's exchequer . after this , many being made , it was also ordained by the king , that they and their descendents , being of full age , should be knighted ; and that they should in a canton or inescutcheon , as they pleased , bear the arms of ulster , which is argent , a sinister hand , and gules . there are many other orders of knighthood , almost in every nation ; some appropriated to the country , and some of more excellency , as is that of the garter , whereof in another place i shall speak with the rest ; but these titles have an estimated honor due to them , greater or lesse , according to the quality of the creator : for the knight made by the king , shall be preferred before a knight made by a prince of meaner title . so all emperors , kings , and princes , acknowledging no lawfull superior , may make knights ; as also some common-wealths , as the state of venice and genoa : the popes also sometimes do make knights , calling them after their own names , as , chevaleri de san pedro , san paulo , 〈◊〉 , &c. and so much for knights may serve in this place . of barons . this word baron is very variously interpreted , as first , that it comes from the word baria in greek , which signifies authoritas gravis . bracton interprets it , robur belli . again , saith sir henry spelman , the word baro is the same in latine with vir , whose derivation is from vi , force ; and from thence , sunt & alii potentes sub rege qui dicuntur barones , id est , robur belli . and taking of it in that sense we now understand it , sir henry spelman calls him , cliens feodalis ; and vassallus capitalis . hujusmodi sunt ( saith he ) qui pagos , urbes , castra , vel eximiam ruris portionem , cum jurisdictione acceperunt à rege . the creation robe of a baron this word is a generall notion in england to all lords of the great council of parliament , as it is in naples and lumbardy , where all those lords that are called titulati , are in generall styled barons ; thus dignitas baronalis stat ut genus . this word was used by the danes in the stead of thane , which was among the saxons a title of honor , and being next the king , he was called the king's thane . and in the laws of william the first , instead of the earl , king's thane , and middle thane , of the saxons times ; the title of count or earl , of baron , and of valvasor are used . by which we understand it to have been , though not in the same name , yet notion , a feodall honor of great antiquity ; sir henry spelman says , they were such as had not onely castles , towns , or great parts of countries in their jurisdiction , but they had their valvasores , ( minores , i conceive ; for there were then valvasores , majores , & minores ; milites , & libere tenentes . ) which should signifie an honor of command in the common-wealth . in france , germany , and italy , baronem vocant , qui merum mistumque imperium habet in aliquo castro , ex concessione 〈◊〉 . and it hath been a common opinion , that every earldom in times past had under it ten barons , and every barony ten knights fees holden of him : but those knights fees , say other authors , were uncertain for number . however , we find many barons created in the times after the comming in of the normans that held both of knights service , and of the crown in chief ; which were either spiritual or temporall ; and it is certain , that all honorary barons from the conquest , till the latter time of king john , were onely barons by tenure . these spirituall barons were distinguished from the temporall thane , in the time of the saxons , by holding their lands free from all secular service ; excepting trinoda necessitas , ( as it was called ) which was , assistance in war , in building of bridges , and castles . which continued till the fourth year of william the first , who then made the bishopricks and abbies , subject to knights service in chief , by creation of new tenures ; and so 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 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 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 condemns , even parliament-attainder . the things that belongs to justice and peace are annexed to the crown , nor can they be separated . the parliament , in the behalf of henry the eighth , writ thus to the pope : his royall majesty is the head , and the very soul of us all ; his royall majestie 's cause is the cause of us all , derived from the head upon the members ; his griefs and injuries are ours , we all suffer equally with him . mr. camden speaks thus of him , the king is the most excellent part of the common-wealth ; next unto god , he is under no vassallage ; he takes his investiture from no man , he acknowledges no superior but god. in england , france , spain , denmark , and other kingdoms , they are styled kings , dei gratia , by the grace of god. which hath been an antient custom in these nations , in the same or the like words , as in the style of king ethelbald : ethelbaldus divina dispensatione rex merciorum ( an. 716. ) kenulphus , dei misericordia , rex merciorum . beoredus , largiente dei gratia , rex merciorum . ego edwardus dei gratia rex anglorum . ego wilielmus dei beneficio rex anglorum . and the kings of england since , by a bull from rome , in the time of our obedience to the pope , have been styled , defenders of the faith ; and by act of parliament , of henry the eighth , ( to whom that bull was sent ) had the title of supream head of the church of england annexed . as the king of france is styled , rex francorum christianissimus ; the king of spain , rex catholicus , or catholica majestad , catholick majesty ; and the emperor , defender of the church . it is the manner of kings also to write in the plurall number , which is god's own style , as mandamus , volumus , facimus , &c. and indeed , in the scripture we often find them called gods , and in that sense may be styled divi , or dii , quia dei vicarii , & dei voce judicant . mr. selden speaks thus upon this subject : man , as a civill creature , was directed to this form of subjection ; as if the sole observation of nature had necessarily led the affections of men to this kinde of state . whence it is also , that while others of the most curious in philosophy tells us of angells , and the supream heavens being immediately governed by the maker of all things ; of the planets and other stars being ruled by the sun ; and the separated souls , and the aire , being subject to the moon ; they add together , that upon earth , kings are in like sort of government ; as if naturall reason had first ordained them on earth , by an unavoidable imitation of the creator's providence , used in that institution of government in the ayr , starrs , and heaven . neither do the antientest gentiles speak of those elder times , than with clear supposition of monarchy , even in the infancy of the world . and though divers of the chiefest states of the old grecians were in their most flourishing times democracies , or optimacies ; yet the more antient states there , were in every place monarchies , as is expresly noted by pausanias . they are honored in all salutations , not onely with kissing the hand , but bowing the knee also , in acknowledgment of their superiority to all . some are of opinion , that this kind of salutation came first to rome , from the old customes of the asiatick kingdoms . for when the persians meet , you may know whether they be equall or not , for in salutation they kisse each other ; but if one be somewhat inferior , they kisse onely the cheek ; but if one be more ignoble , he falls down adoring the other , and passing by one another he turns his back , as unworthy to look him in the face , that is so much above him in honor . the ceremonies at his coronation are many , and in england more than any other countries , as the annoynting with oyl , the sacred consecration ( which is to no other kings but france , sicily , and jerusalem ) ; and his crown fell on his head with many religious ceremonies , which spain , portugall , aragon , and navar , &c. have not ; besides the ensignes of regality , which are , a ring to signifie his faithfulnesse , a bracelet for good works , a scepter for justice , a sword for vengeance , purple 〈◊〉 to attract reverence , and a diadem triumphant to blazon his glory . the ceremony of anointing , every one almost understands to have been an . institution as old as the law of god almost ; for though we find no speciall command in the law delivered for it , yet we find examples of it in a continued succession from god's own people , and that with the holy oyl , with which none , by the command in the law , were to be anoynted , but the priest ; which oyl never wasted . and that this hath been no innovation among us , is proved by mr. selden , who makes it appear to be of above a thousand years standing , before it was either in the empire or france . though they have had it in france a long time , and they say by divine institution . 〈◊〉 upon us for their authority , the miracle of a dove , that brought a vial of holy oyl from heaven , to anoynt king clovis the first , about five hundred years since christ ; which oyle , they say , hath never wasted . it was the saying of thomas becket , archbishop of canterbury , inunguntur reges in capite , etiam pectore , & brachiis ; quod 〈◊〉 ficat gloriam , sanctitatem , & fortitudinem . kings are annointed on the head , to signifie their glory ; on the breast , to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their sanctity ; on their arms , to 〈◊〉 their power . he is crowned with an imperiall crown , the crown set on his head by the archbishop of canterbury , a prerogative to that see , as it is in spain to toledo , in france to rheims , and in swethen to upsalia . but this imperiall crown hath not been long in use among us , though our kings have have had imperiall commands , as over scotland , ireland , man , and other 〈◊〉 : yet of ireland they were but lords , untill the 33 year of henry the eighth , he being notwithstanding as absolute a monarch over it when he was but lord of ireland , as when he was styled king. the crowns formerly were but the same in a manner with that of an earl now . neither is it to be found , that any such thing as a diadem was in use at all , till the time of constantine 〈◊〉 great , the distinction before being some kind of chaplet , or , which is most certain , a white silk fillet about the brows , which was an ordinary way to distinguish them , as i have my self seen statues of the emperor , with such a kind of fillet about the head . from whence is that which we read , that alexander the great took off his white diadem , to cure the madness of seleucus . the first that was crowned with this kind of imperiall crown , floryed and arched , was henry the third , say some ; but others , henry the first : and indeed it is left disputable to me , so by me to others . however , it is very probable and plain , that the antientest 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 baron of the parliament , hath place above all barons ; and if he be of a higher degree , according to the former rule . the spirituall nobility are thus placed . the archbishop of canterbury . the archbishop of york . bishop of london . bishop of durham . bishop of winchester . the two first are placed according to ancient dignity , and the three last by act of parliament , and the rest of the bishops to take their places according to the seniority of consecration . segar . lib. 4. cap. 24. by an act of parliament , an. 31. hen. 8. see the act in mr. selden's titles of honor. so all men serving near unto the prince's person , either civil or military , are allowed a precedency in pari dignitate , and themselves according to his seniority of place . as to their precedency otherwise , dukes , marquesses , earls , viscounts , and barons , are to take their places according to the antiquity of their title , and their ancestor's creation ; and their wives accordingly . a duke's eldest son takes place as a marquesle , but beneath him ; and his wife beneath a marchionesse : and if she be the daughter and heir of a duke , she shall go before all duke's eldest sons wives ; and however are equall to a marchionesse , but to go beneath them ; and the younger sons of dukes are in equall degree with an earl , but to go beneath him ; and marquesles eldest sons , and their ladies , to take place accordingly . so the eldest son of a marquesse as an earl , and the younger as viscounts ; and their ladies and sisters to take place accordingly , as before . an earl's eldest son takes place as a youngest viscount , and the younger as barons , their wives and sisters accordingly : viscounts eldest sons as barons , and their youngest sons to take place with barons eldest sons , above knights baronets , ( by an act of king james ) and above all bannerets , but those made by the king himself under the stander ; and all knights batchelers . of women . now lest i should be thought malitious to a sex i owe much honor to , before i conclude , i shall take some short observations more then already i have . and first , that although they are not allowed to sit in parliament , yet do they enjoy almost all priviledges due to the other sex. the honorable feminine dignities are , princesse , dutchesse , marchionesse , countesse , vicountesse , and baronesse . which are either by creation , by descent , or by marriage . this honor by creation , as it is rare amongst us , so it is more rarely taken notice of , though many examples have been ; as richard the second created margaret countesse of norfolk , into the title of dutchess of norfolk , see the charter in mr. selden . anne bullen was created marchionesse of pembrook by hen. 8. limited to her , and the heirs males of her body to be begotten , with creation-mony of twenty five pounds per annum , and the ceremony of mantle and coronet . the lady finch was by king james created vicountesse of maidston , to her and her heirs of her body ; with speciall clause , that her heirs male should have a voice in parliament ; and afterward she was likewise made countesse of winchester , &c. of these titles thus conferred , sir john fern takes no notice , though else he discourses largely enough . by descent , we have continuall examples : when any daughter of an earl or vicount shall continue a virgin , or marry an esquire , she shall retain that honor that springs from her father's blood , take place according ; and be saluted by the title of lady . which word lady came from hleafdian , or leafdian , by contraction in the teutonick , and so lafdy , and thence lady , as from laford , lord. the word laf signifying bread , and dian serve . it seems , from that they called those persons , that for their quality could entertain others , and distribute corn and bread to their neighbours , by that title . and of old , though in the empire , and here , the word dominus was used in generall for salutation amongst men of all sorts , yet domina onely to persons of honor amongst women ; as the widows of all tenants in chief , and daughters and heirs of all knights , &c. the heirs females of any count or baron , shall enjoy both the estate divided , and titles too , if they be to be divided ; and they shall be enjoyed by their husbands , if they marry , in the right of their wives . so that if there be two , or three , or more sisters , to share the estate , and the honors and dignities inherent be enough , they shall enjoy every one , one ; as in the case of the earldom of pembrooke in the time of edward the third , and now the lord darcy of the north , by the same right enjoys the title of the lord conyers . but this holds not ; when the title is held by jus gladii , or knight's service ; or if the honor be in any castle or place onely , it cannot be divided , but falls and dissolves in the crown , or left to the disposing of the king. and again , if the estate of honor and dignity be not descending to the heirs generall , but entail'd to the heirs male , it cannot be the inheritance of a daughter , as many times it is . but we may understand this the better by that more eminent demonstration of high offices of the kingdom , which descending by inheritance on the heirs generall , have been challenged by the husbands of heirs female , in right of their wives , the descent-male failing ; as in the case of the duke of buckingham , in the time of henry the eighth , challenging the office of high-constableship of england . the office of lord steward descended to blaunch , daughter of hen. earl of lancaster , in whose right joh. of gaunt her husband enjoy'd it . so the office of earl marshall descended to the house of norfolk , by an heir female ; afterward being forfeited by treason , was conferred to the lords howards of arundell . and in this and all such descents , where there are not dignities enough to allow a partition to all the sisters , but the honor shall be undividable ; it shall descend to the eldest , or be disposed by the king to which he please . and for ennobling by birth , these rules are observed : that if a gentleman , knight , or baron , do marry a wife of ignoble parents , she shall enjoy the title , name , and dignity of her husband : for , saith sir john fern , let the wife be shining and glorious with the dignities of her husband : whereas , on the contrary , if a gentlewoman of blood and coat-armor shall marry a francklin , yeoman , or the like , that is ignoble , having no coat-armor , his condition is no whit advanced by marriage in point of honor ; although let him be inferior to her whom she shall marry , yet she shall retain the honor , state , and dignity she was born to . but there is this law for them to walk by too , that is , si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili , desinit esse nobilis ; that is , if a noble-woman marry with an ignoble , her nobility is extinguished ; for she is under the power of her husband , and ought not to be in a condition above him : for example whereof , a case is cited of one ralph hayward esquire , and the lady anne powes , widow of the lord powes . but i am of opinion , that ( being onely an acception in court by the adversary of the party ) this is not to be understood , but in case the person such a noble : woman shall marry , be no gentleman , and that she hath received the honor she enjoyed before , from the right of a former husband , and not by descent of ancestors ; for the words of judge coke run thus : si mulier nobilis nupserit ignobili , desinit esse nobilis ; & eodem modo , quo quidem constituitur , dissolvitur : that is , if a noble-woman shall marry an ignoble husband , she ceases to be noble , and in the same manner her honor was constituted it is dissolved . so as by the laws of the nation , an adulteresse forfeiteth her dower , so also her honor of nobility , if she commit adultery , either as a wife or widow ; or else having received honor from her deceased husband , and shall so put him out of her mind , as to subject her self to another , by which act she wipeth both the name and memory of the former from her , she hath the sentence of forfeiture against her . so sir john fern , in his glory of generosity , fol. 62. yet the law is thus curious in preserving the memory of vertue in the honor of its reward , that if a woman of noble blood do marry a churl or clown , and have issue by him , she being an heir , that issue shall have liberty of bearing her coat-armor . but sir john fern says , onely for life , and that on a lozenge shield , ( which is the feminine bearing ) with the difference of a cinque-foile . one note more i think proper in this place , which is , if a french , spanish , or german woman be married to any peer of this realm , or other gentleman , and be not denizoned ; by the laws of the nation , she cannot claim the priviledges or titles of her husband , nor have dower or joynter from him . and thus much i think sufficient in this place as to the honor of women ; and if i have said too little , i wish i could have said more ; if too much , i beg their pardons , but refer my self to the law. in the next place , i should proceed to the display of armory , by which the infinite number of persons are distinguisht , by an innumerable variety of different ensignes , that do illustrate and appropriate their dignity and honor : but , by the way , i have stumbled on another theam , which though it be not so much concerned in honor , yet the kingdom is much concerned in it , as a power ; and though i need not say much , yet i cannot passe by it and say nothing . of a parliament . some not altogether knowing of that true constitution of a parliament , may be apt to think , that its authority is onely supream in this nation . but let such understand , that from this argument , if there were none other , it is disproved ; that nothing can be made greater or more excellent than the thing that makes it , propter quod unumquodque tale est , illud majus tale . and such creatures as shall aim at a superiority to their creator , are to be esteemed like those angels , that ( by the same spirit ) attempting the same pride , precipitated themselves from everlasting liberty to eternall chains . this great council did arise from the antient custom of , not onely the saxons , but all nations in the world almost , who have had examples of their king 's summoning the chief peers and nobles to consult in weighty affairs . which councel among the saxons was called 〈◊〉 , which was a meeting of the chief prelates and peers , to deliberate about , and to consent to , what laws the king should enact : and advising in matters of state , giving judgement upon suits or complaints in the same court , as is understood of the time of king ine , ( of west sexe ) about 711. years after christ. and again , of king ethelbert , his ordaining , decreta judiciorum juxta exempla romanorum cum consilio sapientum . and when edwin king of northumberland , was perswaded to be a christian , he consulted , cum principibus & consulariis suis. he called to councell his princes , or ealdermen , and counsellors . and again , king eldred , an. 948. in festo nativitatis beatae mariae , all the nobility of the kingdome , were summoned by an edict from the king , as well arch-bishops , bishops , and abbots , as all of the rest of the lords and chief counsellors , thanes and ealdormen , to come to london , to a 〈◊〉 , or great councel , to consult about affairs of the whole kingdome : as ingulphus his words are . and again , in the time of edward the confessor , the parliament sate at london , rex & omnes 〈◊〉 magnates ; in which parliament , the king attaches earl godwin , for that he had kil'd his brother alfred , and upon his pleading , and submission , the king refers him to the judgement of the court : who a long while debating it , to no purpose : at last , leofricus consul cestriae , probus homo quoad deum , & seculum , ( saith the author ) spake thus ; earl godwin , is a gallant person , and a man next the king , of the best birth in the land ; and it cannot be denied , but by his counsell or design , alfred was slain ; therefore my opinion is , that he with his son , and all we twelve earls , that are his friends and kindred , do present our selves humbly before the king , loaden with as much gold and silver , as every man can carry betwixt his arms , to offer it up with supplication , for an expiation of the crime . which being consented unto , and done ; the king considering the reference he had made to the court , ratified their act , and his pardon . by which , we see their meetings was at the kings summons ; their power only deliberative in giving legall force , by consenting to what he should think fit to make a law ; and to advise de arduis reipub : not that this force given by them , is to be understood otherwise , than that , because , it was enacted by their consent , it was the more binding over them : their consent otherwise , being no whit binding over the soveraign's will , in the enaction ; for it was his volumus that made it ; and let their consultations rise to never so powerfull votes , and results ; be the thing what it would , his nolumus buried it in oblivion , which custom 〈◊〉 ever continued , as a true prerogative of the crown . nay , avisera le roy , which is but , the king will consider of it , was enough to throw a bill out of the house . nothing enacted by them , though by a generall consent of both houses of lords & commons , being of any force , and that not only before , but after the commons were brought in ; which i find to be about the time of edw. 1. his third year of inauguration , an . dom. 1273. who in the 23. year of his reign , confirmed the magna charta , made by henry the third , though mr. selden is of opinion , the first summoning of the commons , was in the 49. year of henry the third . the style of the statutes , running after this manner , the king hath ordained and established these acts underwritten , &c. first , the king willeth , and commandeth that , &c. signifying , the power of enacting to force , and penalty , was derived from the volumus of the king , not the vote of the lords and commons ; their consent only making it of more vigour against themselves . if it were an act of indulgence , or relief to the common-wealth , it run thus ; our lord the king , of his speciall grace , and for the affection that he bears unto his prelates , earls , and barons , and others of his realm , hath granted that , &c. and sometimes , our soveraign lord the king hath granted , and commanded at the instance of the nobles of this realm , &c. no mention at all , being made of the consent of the lords and commons . then afterwards , thus they run , our lord the king , by the counsel of his prelats , earls , & barons , & other great men & nobles of his kingdom , in his parliament hath ordained & 〈◊〉 , &c. an. 33. edward the first , 1307. and so along in other statutes , the commons not at all mentioned in the enacting any statute ; but as thus , in the beginning of edward the third , at the request of the commons of this realm by their petition made before him , and his councel in the parliament , by the assent of the prelates , earls , and barons , &c. untill the 23. of this kings reign , in a statute of labourers , i find the commons not mentioned , and then the power of ordination given to the statute , still by the king , as thus , it is ordered by our lord the king , by the assent of the prelates , farls , barons , and other great men , and all the commons of the realm , summoned to this parliament , &c. and in one act of the same king , the style runs thus , the king of his own will , without motion of the great men or commons , hath granted and ordained in ease of his people , &c. and then to signifie the constitution of the commons in parliament , see the 37. of edward the third , where the statute runs thus ; the king at his parliament , &c. at the request of the commons , and by the assent of the prelates , dukes , earls , and barons , and other great men there assembled , hath ordained , &c. and at the prayer of the commons , &c. in which style , most of the statutes run untill henry the eight . and for provision of the choyce of the commons , in a statute of the 23. of hen. 6. is set down the form of writ , by which they are summoned , where it is also enacted , that the knights of the shires for parliament , hereafter to be chosen , shall be naturall knights , or otherwise such naturall esquires , or gentlemen of the same county , as shall be 〈◊〉 to be knights . and every knight that is elected , ought to be a resident of the place , for which he is elected : and every man that is an elector , ought to have forty shillings of free-hold , within the said county ; and for the security of it , the sheriffe hath power to put them to an oath , upon the evangelist , and the election ought to be betwixt the hours of eight and nine in the forenoon , and so of burgesses . the form of the writ , is this ; rex vic' &c. salutem , quia nostri 〈◊〉 pro quibusdam arduis & ur gentibus negotiis nos statum & defensionem regni nostri angliae & ecclesiae anglicanae concernent ' quoddam parliamentum nostrum westm. 12. die novemb. proxim ' futur ' teneri ordinavimus , & ibidem 〈◊〉 magnatibus proceribus domus regni nostri colloquium habere & tractare , tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes , quod , facta proclamatione in proximo tuo post receptionem hujus literis nostris tenend ' die & loco predicto duos milites gladiis cinctis magis idoneos , & discret ' com' praedict ' &c. & electionem illam in distincte & apertè sigillo tuo , & sub sigillis eorum qui electioni illi 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 bis in cancellaria nostra & locum certisices 〈◊〉 . and still , before they came up to the house , they signed indentures to be true and faithfull to their king and country , and the service thereof , upon a penalty , even to the last long parliament of eternall infamy . and in the third , of queen elizabeth , it was enacted in full parliament , for the safety of the queen's majesty , her heirs , and successors , and the dignity of the imperiall crown of england , for the avoiding both of such hurts , perills , dishonor , and inconveniencies , as have before time befallen ; that not only all persons should take the oath of supremacy , upon divers penalties in that act specified ; but also every knight , citizen , and burgesse of the parliament , should take the said oath before he entred into the said house , or had any voyce there ; else he should be deemed no knight , citizen , or burgesse for that parliament , nor have any voyce ; but shall be to all intents , constructions , and purposes , as if he had never been returned , nor elected for that parliament , and shall suffer all pains , and penalties , as if he had presumed to sit in the same without election , return , or authority . and by king james , the oath of allegiance was added . yet , notwithstanding all this limitation upon the commonalty , parliaments in england were ever esteemed , since magna charta , the greatest liberty of the subject , none else indeed being dreamt of . and as it is as great a flower of the crown to summon parliaments , as foedera , & bellum indicere , to make war and leagues ; which is so absolute , that it is resolved by all the judges of the land , that the king may , before he is crowned , ( if by descent the crown be his right ) summon a parliament , or within age ; as was seen in king henry the sixth , who summoned divers parliaments in his 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. years of his reign , yet was not crowned till the eighth . he being then essentially king , without any ceremony or act , ex post facto ; and coronation , but a royall ornament . so the priviledges of parliament , and of the common-wealth by parliament , are as great : for though we thus see the great prerogative of a king , yet many things there are , which a king in his own kingdome cannot do without a parliament by the laws , by which he hath bound himself ; as the making any man hereditable , or the altering the common law , or customs of the realm , though by his absolute authority , he may commit any man to prison , during his pleasure . therefore , every parliament-man , during the time of the parliament , is priviledged from all disturbance of arrest for debt , or the like , and the servants of any parliament man , as much as the kings are . and to this parliament , for the further security of the good of the common-wealth , were ever admitted certain judges of the land , ( though they had no vote , which sate on woolsacks ) that as the clergy in spiritualties , so the judges of the law , in things of the law , were to advise and determine , when any difficulty did arise . that what laws should be enacted , might be answerable to the will of god , and not repugnable to the customs of the land. and in our latter times , all acts of parliament , though made by the king , have this style ; by the consent of lords and commons ; notwithstanding the civill law , saith , quod principi placuit , legis habet vigorem , the will of the king , is the power of the law. the end of honor. the analysis of armory . i have , with as much brevity , as so copious a theam would admit , run through all the distinctions of honor. in the next place , i shall with as great a contraction , lay down the emblems of those distinctions , and atchievements due to nobility , and the reward of virtue , in the methodicall rules of armory . bearing of arms at this time , being the only externall distinction of degrees and qualities , amongst all civill societies and common-wealths . from whence we received this custom , is uncertain , if especially , we look to the producing of it into rule and form : as it is from imitation , sir john fern is of opinion , that we did borrow it from the egyptians ; meaning from their hieroglyphicks . others will have , that the first institution of these honorable differences , was amongst the israelites ; but however , it is not much material to this discourse , to be too inquisitive of the originall in that kind , since succession of time hath converted it into another custom ; which may be , for ought i know , in imitation of the romans : who were accustomed upon triumphs or festivalls , to produce the statues of their ancestors , as the pedigree of their generous race . which statues were not , ( as some may imagine ) erected from the voluntary phansie of the parties represented , as is the leaving our pictures behind us when we dye , to our progeny ; ( so might every phlegmatick , mechanick do : ) but they were such , as were , for some heroick act , allowed as a publick reward of virtue , which was customary amongst them . and truly , although every good subject ought to be alwayes prepared alike , to offer his body and mind unto the service of the common-wealth , without hope or expectation of mercenary reward , honor , or glory ; yet is honor a necessary perquisite to a crown and common-wealth , being in it self a true spur to generosity . out of which respect , the romans joyned the two temples of honor , and virtue , in such a manner , that no man could enter into that of honor , without , first passing through the other of virtue . sir john ferns opinion is , that the first that imployed these ensignes in this nature , was alexander the great ; so to distinguish those that had done any memorable acts , that they might urge an emulation in their fellow souldiers . it is said of epaminondas , and othraydes , that being ready to dye , they wrote their glorious exployts upon their shields themselves ; to give 〈◊〉 to others , to follow their 〈◊〉 when they were dead . 〈◊〉 believes , that charls the great was the first that put them into this methodicall order ; which doubtlesse , could not be , if , as sir john fern saith also , that julius caesar constituted an office of feciales . but i find it in another author , to be instituted by numa , when he made warre upon the fidenates , a people of latium . however , it is a generall opinion amongst our most judicious heralds , that the bearing of arms , as a badge of honor amongst us , was not till about the time of henry the third , although many coats have been 〈◊〉 in some writers , of much longer standing ; as that of hugh lupus , earl of chester , in the time of the conqueror , a woolfs head errased : of gilbert de gaunt , earl of kime , long before , barry of 6. or & az. over all a bend gule . which are 〈◊〉 of by sir john fern : but how authentick his authority might have been to him , to cause his insertion ; or his to others , i know , not ; but i shall be bold to insert one , which may chance carry some weight with it , which i shall raise from a noble family in the north ; the family of the hiltons , ( whose antiquity , ( not only by an ancient pedegree , which i have seen taken out of the office ; but by the records of the tower ) doth produce the noblest descent that i know any family in england ; ) the pedegree is too large , to be inserted in this place , else i would do it ; however shall extract some notes from it , that may signifie as much . the first , that i find recorded of the family , was sir william hilton , knight , who marrying the daughter of sir john grisly , knight , ( a family long since i think extinct ) had issue adam hilton : which adam living in the time of king athelstan , gave to the monastery of hartlepool , a pix or crucifix , which was in weight twenty five ounces of silver , and caused his armes to be engraven on it ; arg. two barres azure , which are yet seen upon the gate of hilton castle , in the bishopr . of dur. where they lived , with a moses head for creast ; the gate and the chappel , ( which is very stately for its structure and bignesse ) are the only parts remaining of the ancient building . he gave unto the same monastery , a cope & vestment with the stole ; and the like gift unto the two monasteries , of whitby and gisbrough , with fifty seven ounces of silver to make censors . they were five descents before the conquest ; and hath now the nine and twentieth descent surviving . in which line were twenty four knights , eighteen whereof were in a continued succession . but i leave this nicety to more criticall judgments to determine the thing , having for authority custom sufficient to make it a law within it self , without the derivation of any originall institution . former ages having esteemed the laws of heraldry with as great a veneration as any in the nation ; as indeed it ought still to be , and more especially in these , and all such times as ours , the court of heraldry being not onely the law-giver to honor , but the best record of families and inheritances , ( though the gentry of this land are too dull to know it ) since coat-armor hath been hereditary , as it hath ever since the time of lewis le-grosse ( according to the account of sir john fern and guillim : ) as by one instance i shall declare ; if a man being an orphan , and , by such times as ours have been , the records of what estate did rightly belong to him , and from his ancestors , may be burnt , plundered , or otherwise embeselled , and by such spirits , as such times do plentifully afford , have been obtruded from his right , and hath nothing to plead for it , this office being the just record of his pedigree , would produce an evidence sufficient , though from many generations his misfortunes have descended : more particularly of the office in another place . as for the progresse of armory , i have pitcht upon the most methodicall course i could , disposing it into severall divisions and to every division adding its varieties , as in the succeeding scutcheons will appear ; that i have crowded many severals into one scutcheon , is to contract the generall into lesser bulk . the form of placing the devices of arms on escutcheons , is from the antient shields ; and therefore called an escutcheon from the word scutum . they are also called coats of arms from the custome of the antients , embroidering their devises on the coats they wore over their arms. for the form , or rules , for the shape of shields , there can be none ; for , any form that a shield may be devised into , may be taken for the shape of an escutcheon . and next , for the rules of blazoning , there are not many , but every thing to be called according to their denomination ; excepting such as by antiquity have continued other names then our vulgar language doth now give . and again , observing a method from their severall postures and positions in the shield , which gives a severall tearm , and must be very carefully regarded ; for the adding or diminishing the least punctilio , makes the coat so much another thing , that should another man own it , he could not be question'd for it . and although sir john fern gives this definition of it : blazonia est recitatio , vel commemoratio alicujus virtutis ; & quempiam , sub quibusdam 〈◊〉 abunde , & vere laudare , aut decorum dicere : yet our latter times have prescribed a rule of avoiding , in any case of blazoning , as much as may be , multiplicity of words , especially such as are impertinent : this is also called martialling a coat , though that is a word by some esteemed onely to be used when many coats are disposed or quartered in one shield . iterations of words are also to be avoided ; and in blazoning a coat , the field must ever be first exprest , and then the charge ; and in that what possesseth the greatest part , or nearest the center of the shield , first . as for the diversity of kinds of blazon , though by no greater authority than custom of some men , there is three made , by colours and metals , pretious stones , and planets ; the manner of blazoning thereby , making a distinction betwixt private gentlemen , persons ennobled with dignity , and royall families . or topaz sol arg. pearl luna sab. diamond saturn gul rubie mars azure saphir jupiter ver emrald venus purpur 〈◊〉 mercury fenne jacynth dragon's head sanguin sardonix dragon's tail but this is onely a fantastick humor of our nation , and for my part i shall avoid it as ridiculous , being no where in the world used but here ; and not here by any judicious herald . that i insert it , it is to leave it to those humors that will make use of it . for the order , according to the antient rule i have first begun with metalls , and colours , to which i have adjoyned the 〈◊〉 the parts of the escutcheon ; distinction of families , bordures , and crooked lines ; because from them the honorable ordinaries receive a various form and nomination . then i have set down in one escutcheon all the ordinaries , which are afterward in an order , ( beginning with one particular ) followed in their varieties . then all dead things in their order , living and verdent , according to their position and posture ; also those that are composed of some kind of celestiall things , as the sun , moon , and stars ; all kind of martiall things , or mechanick ; or the most part of what is usually born in our english armory . in the 〈◊〉 of arms , there is by all observed a different value ; as first , that the metalls are allowed a precedency to colours ; so also is there by some understood to be more of worth in one colour then another : yet , for my part , i am of opinion , that it is so little , as not 〈◊〉 the taking notice of ; onely for other mens opinions sake , i will touch at it . first , of the metals ; every judgment will be ready without any argument to give gold the preheminence . as for the colours ; i think they are thus to be esteemed in point of priority , sables , gules , azure , verd , purpure ; and some do introduce tenne , but it being a bastard colour , is exempted , especially amongst english armory , onely reserved for abatement of honor , except in one or two examples of things . thus i have placed the colours , though contrary to the rules of some , as guillim placeth yellow in the third place , & green in the fourth . sir john fern allows gules the third honor , and placeth sable in the fifth . mr. guillim bringeth in also another colour , called murrey or sanguin , but i never saw it used in an english coat ; onely this and tenne are appropriated to the abatements of honor , therefore to be set apart from the rest , i think , properly . the next in order is furrs , which may be of one colour alone , or more than one , which furrs are supposed to have been the doublings of mantles . the first of these may seem to go all under the name of ermins , but they are distinguished by various names , according to their colours ; as if as the first it be white powdred with black , it is ermin ; if black with white ermines ; if yellow with black as the erminoys : if as the fourth black with yellow pean : if white with black , and one red hair , erminites . by which it is understood , how precise a man ought to be in the blazon , or tricking a coat , when so small a difference , as the colour of one hair , shall make a coat another thing . the next is called vayre or verry , this being of argent and azure , is termed vaire onely ; but if any other colours , then must it be blazoned verry of such colours ; as for example , ermin and gules by the name of gressey of darbyshire . the next is potent counter-potent , by some varry-copy . the colours whereof must be blazoned . the last is but of two counters , if called countercomponed ; but if more , then checky . if any of which be in a bordure , you must say , a border purflew of such a furre ; blazoning the furre and the colours . now by the way , mr. guillim doth hint one rule in blazon concerning the field ( which is the surface of the shield ) which ought to be well observed for propriety of speaking ; which is not to say , he beareth a field or , or arg. &c. but the field is or , or arg. &c. 〈◊〉 else he beareth or , or arg. gules , or the like , &c. these furres are often born in bordures also , which are in the next place to be treated of . and here in one escutcheon have i placed the bordures ; and in the severall quarters the differences of brethren . of bordures , if it be plain , you must say , a bordure gules , or the like . if it be charged with beasts , then it is blazoned , a bordure enurney of such beasts ; if of birds , enaluran of such birds ; if of flowers , verdoy ; if of dead things , entoyre , as of bezanti , mullets , or the like . the plain or simple bordures have also their varieties , according to all their crooked lines . which i shall shew shortly after . for the charged bordures , here is exemplified nine distinct . in the first is a bordure counter-compounded or and gules ; the second , a bordure purflew of vayre , the third , quarterly composed of ermin and checky , or , and azure ; the fourth , gobbonated , or , and sables ; the fifth , sables entoyre of eight bezants ; the sixth , or , a bordure gules , charged with three bendlets sables ; the seventh , azure , enaleuron of eight martlets or ; the eighth , quarterly , the first gules enurney of three lyoncels passant guardant , or , the second azure verdoy of as many flowerdelis : the third as the second , the fourth as the first : which , with a field argent , was the coat-armor of henry courtney earl of devonshire , marquesse of exon. this may be blazoned short , by england and france . the ninth is a bordure gules , diapred , entoyre , enurney , enaleuron , and verdoy . this kind of bordure may be of any two or other set number of these also . now to the intent that coat-armor might descend to the posterity with safety , and free from dissention of strife , distinctions were invented , which i have here set down , to the number nine . by which differences the bearer is understood of what degree or line of consanguinity he is ; if he be of the second , third , or fourth house , and what brother of that house , by charging his coat with the difference appertaining ; and if a younger brother of a younger house , then by charging the difference of the house with difference of line , of fraternity : there being so much care taken for the preserving the honor of the entire coats , that the eldest son of the first house during the life of his father ( so of the rest ) cannot bear it without his distinction , and , for this reason , hath the nephew of the first ( the father being dead ) been always preferred before the uncle of the second , &c. and taketh place before him . by the way also , we are to take notice , that if all the brethren die without issue , and leave sisters behind , as they are co-inheritors of the lands and estare , so shall they be of the coat-armor also , without any distinction at all , to either of them ; because by them the name of the house cannot be preserved , they being all reckoned but as one heir . again , if they be not heirs , they are not admitted to the bearing of the coat-armor ; for , saith sir john fern , arma non transeunt ad agnatos & affines . yet their husbands are admitted to adjoyn the arms of their wives families in the sinister side of their escutcheons , with their own ; but if they have none of their own , then not at all . now there is none of those signs , but are sometimes born in arms , as charges of the coat ; but when they are distinctions , it is easily known by their singularity , either of place , position , or diminutive proportion . a , the dexter chief . b , the precise middle chief . c , the sinister chief . d , the honor point . e , the fesse point . f , thenombril point . g , the dexter base . h , the precise middle base . i , the sinister base . 1 , invecked . 2 , ingrayled . 3 , wavy . 4 , nebule . 5 , embattaild or crenelle 6 , indented 7 , dancette of these lines , the two first differ onely in this , that the points of the ingrailed line are turned into the field , and the other contrary into the ordinary , that those lines do make . the two last are both one secundùm quale , onely differing secundùm quantum ; the one being onely wider and deeper then the other . and when any of these ordinaries are drawn withthese lines , the blazoner is to say , a bend , chief , pale , or what it is ; invecked , ingrayled , wavy , or the like : but if plain , then onely to name the ordinary with its colours , according to the following examples . 1 , a crosse. 2 , a chief , 3 , a pale . 4 , a bend. 5 , a fesse . 6 , an inescutcheon . 7 , a cheveron . 8 , a saltyr . 9 , a barre . the last of which ordinaries may easily be mistaken for the same , or at least a diminutive of the fifth ; but it is not : and they are distinguished by the space they possesse in the field , and also by this difference , the barre hath liberty all over the field with its diminutions ; the fesse onely one proper place . these ordinaries according to leigh do possesse these proportions of the field . crosse , containeth uncharged the fifth part , but charged the third ; the chief , the third part , the pale , the third part , the bend , the fifth uncharged , but charged the third ; the fesse , the third part , the innescut . the fifth part , the chever , the fifth part , the saltyr , the fifth uncharged , but charged the third ; the barre , the fifth part . of these ordinaries , some have their diminutives , as the barre a closset , a barralet ; the bend both dexter and sinister , the dexter hath a bendlet , garter , single and double cottises , and a ribbon ; the sinister bend , a scarp , and a 〈◊〉 ; a cheveron hath its cheveronels . and here now i shall desire to be excused for digressing from the method of other men , especially mr. guillim ; and first to take notice of some other forms near relating to the ordinaries for their shape and proportion , on which are oftentimes rewards and additions of honor placed in coats ; as also the abatements of honor for misdemeanor , and dishonorable actions , that afterwards i may not have any thing to interrupt a methodicall proceeding in the rest . the first of which are those , on which most commonly additions are given , which are these . the first is a bordure , spoken of before . the second , a quarter . the third , a canton . the fourth , a gyron . the fifth , a pile . the sixth , two flasques . the seventh , two flanches . the eighth , two voyders ; which , saith leigh , is the way of bearing a reward given to a woman . the ninth is ernoin , an inescutcheon gules , named also a scutcheon of pretence . on any of these may an addition of honor be placed , according to the pleasure of the prince , or the fancy of the herald , that is left to the designing . which reward remains to the posterity of the atchiever , and none of the descendants of his family , but his own line may bear it . in which manner i have seen the arms of a kingdom given to a private subject , nay , and sometimes to a stranger , as in the example of sir henry st. george norroy king of arms , who upon an embassie into sweden , was honored by the king of the swethes with the addition of the arms of swethen in a canton . the marquesse of exeter gave the arms of england in a bordure , as in the escutcheon of bordures is seen in the eighth quarter , being given him by henry the eighth . now the laws of honor having by a continued succession of time maintained and refined these rules of nobility , for the encouragement of brave and generous spirits : so , foreseeing the pronenesse of all men , being apter to fall and decline from the vertues and bravenesse of their ancestors , and to bury the honor of the deceased purchasers in the dust , than to improve the talent of renown time hath entrusted them with ; as a correction to such dunghill-spirits , there is provided a method of degrading them from , or giving diminutions of disgrace to the arms of such : as the example of the succeeding escutcheon demonstrates . the first , according to mr. guillim's rules , is a delph tenne , due to him that revoketh a challenge . the second is an inescutcheon reversed sanguin , for deflowring a maid or widow . the third is a point dexter , for too much boasting his martiall acts . the fourth , a point in point , sanguin , due to a coward . the fifth , a point champion tenne , to him that killeth his prisoner . the sixth , two gussets sanguine for adultery . the seventh , a gore sinister tenne , for him that flies from his colours . the eighth , a point plain sanguine , for telling lies to a soveraign or generall . the ninth , the whole coat of arms reversed , and proper onely to a traitor . but there is another stricter punishment also for treason , as sir john fern , sir william segar , and the civil laws relate , which is , that though he have many sons then living , his arms are for ever taken away , unlesse by some extraordinary service his successors do regain the honour of them , and wipe away the stain ; for , eorum memoria destrui debet , says the law. and in the same manner are those other stains of abatement so rivetted to their shield ; when once by the soveraign authority placed there , that neither the immediate possessors , nor succeeding owners , with their greatest force , or the all-corroding teeth of time are able to tear it away ; but by vertuous demeanor to ingratiate the same hand , that put it on , to wipe it off . pitty it is those rules have not been exactly observed in our latter ages ; such a severity would doubtlesse be a means to affrighten many , that are enclined to these abominable enormities , to apply themselves ingenuously to a gentle obedience , and plausible demeanor : for , if not for loyalty , honor , or the punishment of other laws ; yet , rather then leave so great a proclamation of their 〈◊〉 , to be both a plague upon their fames , and a leprosie on their posterity , they would cautiously flye from such senslesse carelessenesse . now having thus laid down the 〈◊〉 as well as the additions of honor , i am brought by my method to the main body of this generall work of armory , which is the variety of bearing the ordinaries , and after the accidents more common ; as of birds , beasts , fishes , plants , mechanicall things , &c. and for the first ( as in my estimation very reasonably ) the most honorable , i begin with the crosse , and its various kinds of bearings , being more numerous by much than any of the other ordinaries . this hath its position in the greatest and most eminent parts of the shield ; and therefore it is much to me , that mr guillim , and others , should place it last of all the ordinaries . the crosse , if uncharged , possesseth the fifth part of the field ; but , if charged , the third . the varieties i have placed in two shields , as first in this . in the first quarter is azure , a plain crosse or , the coat of the sheltons of norfolk . the second is gules , a crosse crossed upon three grees or , by the name of jones in denbyshire . the third , or , a 〈◊〉 pattec sables , fimbriated gules . the fourth arg. a crosse wavy voided sable , by the name of duckenfield in devonshire . the fifth , 〈◊〉 , a crosse moline pierced lozenge , or , which was the coat-armour of molaneux of 〈◊〉 . this piercing a crosse , is alwayes known from a charge on it , by the colour of it ; for if it be the same with the field , then it is supposed the appearance of the field through it ; and is sometimes square , sometimes round , and sometimes lozenge-ways ; but if it be not the colour of the field , then it is a charge , and receives another blazon , as hereafter will appear . the sixth example is azure , a crosse patonce or , which leigh saith , was the arms of king edgbert : this differeth but little from the crosse flory , flurry , or fleury ; as by the next you see . the seventh is arg. a crosse flurry gules . the eighth gules , a crosse avelane or. the ninth azure , a crosse potten fitched or , the coat armour of ethelbert , king of the west-saxons , as saith guillim . the second escut cheon represents , as many as i have exprest in the first , and those as strange . the first is a crosse formy flory . the second is a crosse bottony . the third a crosse couped or , charged with a pellet in the fesse point or center . and by these next examples is seen , that the crosse is many times divided into more then two parts , and sometimes all over the field , as in this fourth , which is or , a crosse triparted flurry gules . the fifth azure , a crosse double-parted arg. the sixth is quarterly , gules and vert , four pheons arg. in crosse , their points meeting in fesse . by which example may be seen , that many times , severall things are born formed into this , or any other ordinary . the seventh is azure , a crosse resarcelled or. which , saith sir john fern , is as it were sewed together again , after a voiding . the eighth is gules , a crosse crossed or : pierced all over the field , which is the arms of the earl of tholouz . the last is argent , a crosse voided couped sables , by the name of woodnoth . sometimes one crosse is charged with another , which differeth from a crosse fimbriated , thus : the sise of the frimbria , is much narrower then that appearance of the crosse , that is surmounted of another , ( as mr. guillim saith ; ) but sir john fern saith , it is not a crosse fimbriated , 〈◊〉 when the uppermost is also charged . the next of these ordinaries to be exemplified , is the chief , which is variously born 〈◊〉 thus . the first gule , a chief argent by the name of worksley . the second tenne , a chief shapernette ermine . the third vert , a chief crenelle argent , charged with a file azure . the fourth gules , a chief argent , surmounted of another , or : which , saith sir john fern , is a double addition of honor. the fifth gules , or a chief azure , filleted in the nether part argent : now , sometimes this ordinary is honoured with an augmentation , which , very rarely , are any of the rest ; as in the next example . the sixth is or , two barres azure , a chief quarterly azure and gules , on the first two flowerdelys or , on the second , one lyon passant guardant of the last ; the third as the second , the fourth as the first , which is the coat armour of the earls of rutland . and this is also sometimes charged with other ordinaries , as in this seventh example , which is barry of six per pale ; in a chief paly of six per fesse , all counter-changed , or & azure , between two cantons gyronny of the first and second ; an inescutcheon argent joyning to the chief . the eighth is sables , a bend , and chief or. the last is gules , two barres and a chief indented or ; by which is seen that this ordinary is sometimes also formed of the crooked lines ; as all the rest are . the pale doth not only vary its form , as the rest with crooked lines , but hath its diminutives too ; as in this example . the first is gules a pale or ; the coat armour of the lord hinkley . the second azure a pallet argent , which possesseth the half part of a pale . the third is or , an endorse gules , which is the fourth part of a pale . the fourth is argent , three pallets wavy 〈◊〉 . the fifth azure a pale radiant rayone or. the sixth argent , three pallet gules , in a chief azure , a barrulet dancettee or. the seventh is argent , on a pale sable , three crosse pattees or , within a bordure engrayled of the second , by the name of crowch . the eighth paly of six argent & azure , fretted with a barrulet in fesse gules a chief and base of the same . the ninth argent on a pallet sable a fesse gules , and two barrulets of the second , quarterly pierced of the first . the bend is an ordinary drawn of two lines from the dexter to the sinister base ; and sometimes from the sinister chief to the dexter base ; and have both their diminutions , and are varied as the rest , as oft as the variety of crooked lines can do it . the first is argent , a bend engrayled sables , by the lord fitzwater , earl of sussex . the second is argent , a bendlet gules , which possesseth half the bend , and according to the rule of some , should begin its upper line in the precise corner of the dexter chief , whereas the bend begins above it , as much as below it . the third is or , a garter gules , which ought to contain but the third part of the bend , and derive its lines as the bend doth . the fourth is gules , a cost , or cottis or ; which containeth the fourth part of a bend . the fifth is or , a ribbon gules ; this containeth but the eighth part of a bend , and is couped at the ends . the sixth is argent , a bend sinister vert , this bend meeting in the same field with the dexter bend , seems to make a saltyre ; but they do not : and care must be taken in the blazon of it , to begin first with that which lies next the 〈◊〉 , and then to say , the one surmounted of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other . the divisions of this , are first a scrape , as in the seventh , which is argent a scarpe azure . the eighth is or , a battune gules , which is most commonly couped at each end as the ribbon is , which is commonly the stain of a 〈◊〉 , when he is admitted the bearing the 〈◊〉 armour of his father's line : but it is not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then in mettle , but by bastards of 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 last , ( which for its variety , i have inserted as rare ) is azure a bend double dancette argent , by the name of lorks . if there be more then one of these ordinaries in a coat , they are to be blazoned thus ; if two bendlets , if more , bendy of so many as it is ; and sometimes 〈◊〉 a bend with its diminutives meet in one field , as in this of sir edmund boyers of camberwel in surrey , which is or , a bend vayre between two cottizes gules . and sometimes these cottizes are born without any bend between them , as in the example empald of john marsham of hornsplace in the county of kent esquire , which is or , a lyon passant in bend gules betwixt two bendlets azure . and this manner of empaling , is a way that a man joyns his wife's coat with his ; and i wish these coats might so come together . now i proceed to the fesse , according to my promised method . and first in its place and genuine nature , as in the first quarter here , which is verry of or , and vert , a fesse gules by the name of duffield . the fecond is or , a fesse dancette sables , the proper coat of sir thomas vavasor . the third argent , a fesse and canton gules , by the name of woodvile . the fourth or , a fesse between two cheverons sables , by the name of lisle . the fifth , by the name of blyton , is gules , a fesse sable & argent indented , par fesse point in point , between three owls head errased of the third . the sixth is vert , on a fesse argent , a barre sable charged with four cheverons between three spades of the second . the seventh sable a fesse wavy argent , between two stars of the second , given to that honorable person sir francis duke , by queen elizabeth , for his service at sea. the eighth is sables , a fesse 〈◊〉 at each end or , which 〈◊〉 i have very rarely seen . the ninth or , a fesse nebule betwixt three trefoyls slipt gules . thus you see a variety of bearing this ordinary : yet it shews not any diminutives , 〈◊〉 changeth its place in the field ; which two only properties belong to the barre , and it only so differs from this in specie . as for the escutcheon born as an ordinary , i find very little variety , only sometimes it is called an inescutcheon , which is when thus born , which is ermin an inescutcheon gules , by the name of hulgrave . and sometimes an escutcheon , as when more then one is in the field , as thus in the second which is argent , three escutcheons sable , by sir john loudham of suffolk . sometimes these are charged only with augmentations of honor , and sometimes the field is charged with other ordinaries promiscuously with these as in the third , which is or , a barruler between two barres gemels , gules , three escutcheons vayre , by the name of gamolle . and sometimes these escutcheons are charged also as in the last , which is or , three escutcheons barry of six vayre and gules . the cheveron containeth the fifth part of the field , and is not so confined to one place , but may be born in another , and also more then one in a field , but if above two , they are called cheveronels : guillim . the first example is 〈◊〉 , a cheveron gules , belonging to the lord 's staffords . the second is or , a cheveron in chief azure . there are divers other accidents , incident to this ordinary , as transposition , coupings , voidings , and reversing , besides it hath its diminutives , for example , the third is ermin , a cheveron cooped sable , by the name of jones . the fourth is azure , a cheveron engrayled , voided or , by the name of dudley . the fifth argent , a cheveronel vert : of which there can be but three in a field . the sixth is vert , a couple close argent , which containeth the fourth part of a cheveron , and is not born but by payres , except a cheveron be between . the seventh is sables , a cheveron rompe or , betwixt three mullets by the name of sault . the eighth is azure , three cheveronels brased in the base of the escutcheon , and a chief or , by the name of fitz-hugh . the ninth is gules , three cheveronels reversed or. the saltyre , is an ordinary formed of a fourfold line , two from the dexter chief , extending towards the sinister base , and two towards the dexter base from the sinister chief , meeting in fesse by couples in acute angles ; in the nature of that which we usually call , a saint andrews crosse. the first is argent , a saltyre gules , by the ancient and noble family of the gerrards of lancashire . the second is azure , a saltyre quarterly quarter'd or , & argent , the arms of the episcopall sea of bath and wells . the third is gules , a saltyre or , surmounted of another vert , by the name of andrews . the fourth is sables , a saltyre argent , in the fesse point an inescutcheon or , charged with a crosse gules ; and this , though we should allow colour upon colour , and metall upon metall , to be false herauldry , yet is good : the last being the charge of a distinct scutcheon , it being of pretence , and of another family . the last of these ordinaries is the barre , which though it is allowed the honor of a particular ordinary , yet in my opinion , is but a diminutive of the fesse , however differs only in this , that it hath the liberty of the field , and taketh place any where which the fesse cannot : this also hath its diminutives , being subdivided into a closette and barrulet . first of the barre , as in the first quarter of this scutcheon , azure three barres wavy 〈◊〉 by the name of 〈◊〉 . the second argent , three barres and a canton gules , by the name of fuller . the third gules , two barres and a chief indented , o , by the name of hare . the fourth is or , a closset sanguine ; this is the one 〈◊〉 of the barre . the fifth is sables , a barrulet argent ; this containeth the one fourth part of the barre . the sixth beareth gules on a cheveron arg. three barres gemmels sables ; these are called gemmells when they are placed in couples at a near distance , and more than two in the field in even number . the seventh is ermin , three barres couped gules , charged with six escollups shells , or three in the first , two in the second , and one in the last ; by the name of sabridge court. the eighth is barry of ten or , and azure in a canton gules , a chaplet argent , by the name of holms of 〈◊〉 . the ninth is barry of six on a chief , between two 〈◊〉 party per bend , dexter and sinister two pallets , or and azure , over all an inescutcheon arg. which was the 〈◊〉 of mortimer earl of march. thus have i run through all the ordinaries , with their varieties of barring in their due order , according to their usuall terms of proper blazonry . in the next i shall shew some other forms of charges , framed of such like lines in the escutcheons ; and then proceed to shew 〈◊〉 all the parting 's & counterchanges . first then , as in this shield there is or , an orle azure , by the name of bartram lord of bothall . the second is or , an orle of three pieces 〈◊〉 . the third argent , an orle engrayled on the inner side gules . the fourth is or , a double tressure flory , 〈◊〉 . the fifth is sables a fret or : by the lord mautravers , now quartered by the earl of arundel . the sixth vert , 〈◊〉 or , this with the distinction of a second brother in a third house , is the coat-armor of sir george whitmore , late lord mayor of london . in the three last are a 〈◊〉 , a lozenge , and a mascle . the pile is an honorable bearing , though not to be reckoned among the ordinaries , as some would have it : this hath divers ways of bearing , and is free to any place of the field ; but its property is to issue from the middle chief , and extend with an acute angle almost to the middle base , and then is termed plainly a pile : but if otherwise , you are to distinguish , as this 〈◊〉 quarterings will demonstrate . the first , argent , a pile gules ; this belonged to sir john candoys in the time of edward the third . the second is or , three piles meeting near in the base of the escutcheon azure , by sir george brian . the third is argent , three piles , one issuing out of the chief between two other transposed sables , by the name of huls . the fourth is argent , a triple pile flory on the tops , issuing out of the sinister base in bend , sables , by the name of wroton . the fifth is argent , a pile in bend , issuing out of the dexter chief in pale sables , cottised engrayled argent . and here in the same scutcheon , for their nearnesse of form , have i inserted the gyron with its varieties . as in the sixth gules , a gyron issuing out of the dexter point or. the seventh is argent ; two gyrons gules . these do always meet in 〈◊〉 with their points ; and therefore 〈◊〉 is needlesse to name the place , onely naming their number and colour . the eighth is gyrony of eight pieces , or , and azure , a canton ermin by the name of octon . the last is gyrony of twelve argent and sables , and so are they always to be blazoned , gyrony of so many , if they be more then two . these , i must confesse , should properly have been placed among the counter-changes . but my digression is excusable , since it is so near concerned , as the single gyron belonging properly to that place ; and then that the counter-changes are so near in a concordancy , as the next discourse must bring them in ; which is , to describe the partitions and counter-changes , according to the disposition of every ordinary ; and first of the partitions , as in the first next example . the first in this example is party per crosse , arg. and gules , by sir henry cock of hertfordshire ; and here is to be noted , that though the mettle be more honorable , yet if the colour possesse the dexter part , or chiefest part of the field , that is first to be named . and , by the way , i must here observe , that some will have this to be blazoned quarterly ; but certainly improperly , unlesse the quarters were charged ; for why should this ordinary above all the rest be denyed the priviledge of partition , which all have , but the chief , that in its propriety is formed but of one line ? the second quarter bears party per pale , a bend counter-changed argent and gules , by sir geofry chaucer . the third party per bend , or , and vert , by the name of hawly . the fourth party per cheveron , sables , and argent , by the name of aston . the fifth party per fesse , or , and azure . the sixth party per pile , in point or , and sables . now the difference betwixt this and the pile alone , is , that the lines meet at the very base of the escutcheon , and others short ; and sometimes this is changed by a reverse , as in the next example , which is the seventh party per pile reversed , or , gules , and sables , which is very rare for the distinction of the field into three colours , as the last is also . the eighth is party per saltyre ermine and gules . the ninth is party per pale and base , gules , argent , and sable . the counter-changes are thus , first , party per pale or , and gules , three roundalls counterchanged . the second is party per cheveron unde , three panthers bends erased , counter-changed sab. and or ; by the name of smith of norfolk . the third is pally of six , a bend-pally , as many all counter-changed , argent and gules ; which is a quartering of that honorable gentleman the lord strafford . the fourth is barry of six party per pale indented , argent and gules counter-changed . the fifth is barry pily 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 cheveron , arg. armed gules , by the name of frampton . there is one rule more that hath been by some , both antient and modern heralds , observed , concerning the blazoning of lions ; which is , that if above one lion be in a field , they must be termed lyoncels , that is , young-lyons ; because the spirit of a lyon is full of majesty , and admits no co-partnership in one territory . but they make two exceptions to this generall rule , that is , when any ordinary parts them ; and , when it is the coat of a monarch ; to which last i must concede , from his argument which is propter regiae maejestatis dignitatem . but for the former , it cannot alwayes hold according to their own argument , without an absurd contradiction . as for example ; mr. guillim blazons a coat thus , a fesse wavy betwixt three lyons passant , whereof three is but one barred from the other . but i must be forc't to beg pardon , and to accuse him again , and by it lay down one exception more ; in the coat of wickombe he blazons thus , two lyoncels rampant combant . when as in ordinary reason , according to his own argument too , being in a fighting posture , they deserve the name of lyons . as i should be bold to blazon my own coat , being the same , only the colours contrarily disposed , as azure , two lyons combatant or , languid and armed gules . i confesse , where i find them indorsed , as in that which he believes to have been the arms of achilles at the siege of troy , i think it much reason to blazon them lyoncels . for other examples of beasts , i shall only adde one more , which is , first argent , 〈◊〉 a mount proper a stagge lodged gules , by the name of hart-hill . the second arg. a stagge tripping armed and unguled or , by the name of holms . the third is vert a stagge stripping proper or , by the name of gilsland . the fourth is argent , an unicorn seiant sab. armed and unguled or , by the name of harling . the fifth azure , a stagge at gaze gules . the sixth is vert , a fesse between three bucks , in full course or , by the name of robertson . the seventh is argent a lyons head erased gules , by the name of gowis : this is the most honorable bearing of the heads or limbs , because it is said to be torn off from the body . the eight is gules , three unicorns heads couped , argent . the last is gules , a cheveron betwixt three bulls heads cabossed argent , armed or ; by the name of baynham . of birds . the second sort of the most noble sensitives are foules of the ayr : all which i shall comprise in a very short example . only , by the way , this note is to be observed ; that as i have disposed them all into an order ; so are they in degrees of excellency in armory . and again when any quick things are born , it is most commendable when born in the most generous and noble action , or the most proper to its nature . of these the first is sables a swan with her wings expansed arg. membred or , within a bordure engrayled of the same , by the name of moore . the second is ermin an eagle displayed , gules , armed or. the third is sables , a goshawke , arg. perching upon a stock fixed in the base point of the shield , of the second , armed jessed , and belled or. the fourth is gules , a pelican in her nest with wings displayed feeding her young or , vulned proper , by the name of carn of wenny in glamor ganshlre . the fifth is arg . three peacoks in their pride proper , by the name of pawne . the sixth is arg . a heron volant in fesse , azure , membred , or , between three escoliops shels , sables . the seventh is gules , three cocks argent , armed , crested , and jellopped or. this was the coat armor of that reverend dr. cocks , bishop of ely , in queen maries , and queen elizabeths times . the eighth is gules , two wings inverted and conjoyned or. the last is or , on a bend sables , three estridge feathers , passing through as many escrowls of the first . many other birds , as well as beasts , are used in the infinite variety of coat armour , but by the observance of these examples they will be all understood . of fishes . mr. leigh observes this general rule in blazoning of fishes , that all fishes that are born feeding should be 〈◊〉 in blazon vorant , or devouring : because they swallow without chewing ; and that what they devour should be named , these are , as beasts , born in divers postures ; as nayant , which is swimming upright , embowed , extended , endorsed , trianguled , and fretted , &c. as in this following demonstration . the first is argent three eeles nayant in pale sables , by the name of ellis . the second is sables , three salmons hauriant argent , by the name of salmon . the third is azure , a dolphin nayant , embowed , argent , by the name of fitz-james . the fourth argent , two barbels hauriant , respecting each other by the name of 〈◊〉 . the fifth gules , two pikes hauria ntendorsed , or. the sixth three trouts fretted in triangle arg. by the name of troutback . the seventh is arg. two lobsters clawes in saltyre , the dexter surmounted of the sinister gules , by the name tregarthick . the eighth is arg. a cheveron engrayled , 〈◊〉 , betwixt thre crevices , gules . the ninth is sables , a fesse engrayled betwixt three welkes , or , by the name of shelly . thus are all manner of shell-fishes as well as others . and some times , reptibles , and insects , all manner of flyes and grashoppers ; but their blazon is obvious enough to every mans judgement , that can distinguish one from another when he sees them , therefore it would be but an unnecessary intrusion in this place . vegetables . i shall not need here , i hope , to run over all parts of philosophy , and diviniry , and to tell what trees are , and their natures ; for as they are not discourses pertinent to this place ; so mr guillim , as well as my self might have 〈◊〉 every ingenious man as knowing as himself in it ; or at least 〈◊〉 : and to none other do i submit my endeavours . i shall only trouble the reader with their various bearing , in the examples of some few , which will direct to all others , and herein the first is argent , on a mount in base a pine-tree fructed proper , by the name of pine. the second is gules , the trunck of a tree in pale eradicated and cooped , sprouting out two branches arg. by the name of stockden of leicestershire . the third is arg. three sterved branches slipped sables , by the name of black-stock . the fourth is arg. a cheveron gules , between three garbs of the second , by the lord sheffield earle of mougrave . the fifth is sables , three lillies slipped arg. the coat-armor of winchester colledge . the sixt is arg. a cheveron sables , between three columbines proper ; by the name of hall of coventry . the seventh is arg. a fesse nebule between three trefoyls slipt gules , by the name of thorpe of glocestershire . the eight arg. 〈◊〉 holly leaves pendant proper , by the name of inwine . the ninth , a fesse arg. three apples transposed in base or , by the name of harwine of devon. of monsters : and here before i proceed to dead and artificial things , i think it proper to take observation of some monsters in nature , which are often born in arms. and the first of these is arg. a griffen rampant with wings displayed sables , by the name of morgan . the second is arg. a wiverne , his wings displayed , and tayl nowed gules , by the name of drake . the third is sables , a cockatrice displayed arg. membred and jolloped gules , by the name of buggine . the fourth is arg. a rearmouse displayed sables , by the name of backster . the fifth is arg. on a bend gules , three mens heads horned or , by the name of wittall , or witwell in yorkeshire . the sixth is azure , a harpy displayed , crined , crowned and armed , or. the seventh is arg. a mermayd gules , crined or , holding a mirror in the right hand , and in the cleft a comb , by the name of ellis . the eight is gules , a bend engrayled arg. between three leopards heads jessant flower-de-luce , of the second , by the name of dennys . the ninth is gules , three leopards heads vorant , as many flower-de-luce or , which , saith guillim , belongs to the see of hereford . of the parts of mans body . there are sometimes whole figures of mans body , born in coat armor , as for example , the arms of sevil in spain , which is or , a king enthronized on his seat royal azure , crowned and sceptred , and invested of the first the doublings of his robe ermine . the arms proper to the episcopal see of salisbury , is az. the virgin mary with her son in her right arm , and a scepter in her left hand , all or. but the like of these are very seldom seen , only the leggs , armes , hands , and other desected members are often met with , as in these following examples i have demonstrated . the first is gules a saracen's head erased arg. environed about the temples with a wreath of the second and sables , by mergith of wales . the second is arg. a fesse gules , betwixt three hearts vulned , distilling drops of blood , on the sinister side proper . the third is gules , a heart betwixt two wings displayed or. the fourth is gules , three dexter arms conjoyned at the shoulders and flexed in triangle , or , with the fist clinched arg. by the name of tremain of devonshire . the fifth arg. a mans leg erased at the thigh , sables , by the name of prime . the sixth is barry of six , or & sab. over all a pale gules , charged with a womans dug , distilling drops of milk proper , by the name of dodge . the seventh is arg. a cheveron sab. between three blackmores heads couped at the shoulders proper , by the name of ives . the eighth is arg. a cheveron gules , betwixt three periwigs sab. the ninth is barry nebule of six pieces , az. & arg. as one chief of the second , three eyes , gul. by delahay . if those drops are charged distinctly in any field , as sometimes they are , and sometimes the field all over , you are to blazon them differently according to the colour , as , if sanguine , then gutte de sang. which is , drops of blood . if arg. then gutte de l' aue , drops of water . or , gutte de or , drops of gold. az. gutte de lermes , drops of tears . vert , gutte de vert , drops of oyl-olive . of artificiall things . having thus cursorily run through these examples , yet i hope sufficiently enough , for the satisfaction of an ingenuous reader ; i now come to the artificiall varieties , of bearing in coat-armour . which since they are as numerous almost as the conceits of ingenuity : i must be excused from inserting the infinite examples of them , yet i shall propose some , and let the eye of the observing student make up the defects of the rest , as it may well do . the first is arg. a cheveron gules , betwixt three ducall caps , azure doubled indented ermin . the second is arg. a mantle of estate , gules , and doubled ermin , ouched or garnished with strings tassals of the same . the third , the arms of the archbishop of canterbury , which is azure , a staffe in pale sol , and thereupon a crosse patree arg. surmounted of a pall of the last , charged with four other crosse pattees fetched sables , edged and fringed as the second . the fourth is arg. on a bend vert , betwixt six crosse crosselets fitched gules , three crosier staffs , by the name of peare . the fifth is arg. three chaplets vert , by the name of richardson of shropshire . the sixth azure , a maunch , or , by the name of conyers . the seventh is gules , three garters buckled and nowed arg. by the name of sydemer . the eighth is gules , six annulets , three , two , and one , or , this is quartered by the earls of cumberland . the ninth is gules , three tassals or , by the name of wooler . of military things . in the next , are those that represent examples of military things born in armour , both of land and sea. as first arg. a tower triple towered , sab. chained transverse the port or , by the name of oldcastle . the second or , a castle 〈◊〉 towred gules , the port displayed of the field leaved , arg. and here is to be noted , that it is never blazoned a castle , but when it extendeth it self crosse the whole field , and sometimes you shall find a single tower not turretted , as the first , in the coat of sir richard mansfield . the third is gules , three single arches arg. their capitals and pedestals by the name of arches . the fourth or , a bridge of three arches in fesse gules , masoned sables , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proper , on it a fane arg. by the 〈◊〉 of trowbridge of trowbridge . the fifth sables , a cheveron between three tents arg. by the name of tenton . the sixth arg. a sweep azure , charged with a stone , or by the name of magnal . the seventh or , a pillar sables , enwrapped with an adder arg. by the name of 〈◊〉 . the eighth is arg. three battering 〈◊〉 bar-wayes proper , headed , az. armed and 〈◊〉 or , by robert 〈◊〉 earl of lyndsey . the ninth azure , three murthering chainshots or , this is quartered by the earl of cumberland . there are many other things born ; as tiltspears , sometimes with penoncels , and sometimes without ; drums , fifes , trumpets , cannons , bows , arrows , and the like : but their blazon is easie to every eye , that knows any thing of armory . of maritine things . of things belonging to the sea , i have these examples . the first gules , three pieces of masts cooped with their tops arg. by the name of cromer . the second gules , three sayls arg. by the name of cavill . the third azure , a rudder of a ship arg. the fourth gules , an anchor in pale arg. the cros-piece or , by the name of goodred . the fifth or , a lighter 〈◊〉 in fesse gul. the sixth gules , the hull of a ship , having only a main mast , and a top , without tackling or. this , saith guillim , is the coat-armor of the duke of alasco in polonia . the seventh is arg. a ship with three masts a sayl furld and hoysted to the main top shrouded sables , by the name of mercers . the eigth his azure , a galley passing under sayl , or. the ninth is arg. a cheveron gules , between three murriours azure , by the lord brudenell . of mechanical things . the last example , that i shall insert , is of other more ordinary mechanical things . the first is arg. a cheveron between three palmers scrips sables , the tassels and buckles or , by sir henry palmer of kent . the second is gules , a cheveron between three irish broges , or. the third is sables , three pickaxes argent , by the name of pigot . the fourth is arg. a fesse between three pheans sables , by the name of rowdon of yorkshire . the sixth is sables , three bels arg. by the name of porter . the sixth is azure , three howboys between as many crosse crosselets or , by the name of bourden . the seventh is or , on a bend az. three katherine wheels arg. by the name of rudhall . the eighth az. three levels with their plumets , or , by the name of 〈◊〉 . the ninth is arg. three bezants , on a chief 〈◊〉 , by the name of 〈◊〉 . and here we are to take notice , that if these roundals are charged in counter-changes as before , then they are only called roundals : but if any other 〈◊〉 , as in this example , they are of a various blazon according to their colors , as thus . if they are or , then they are called bezants , argent , plates , sables , pellets , gules , vorteuxes , ligh-tblew , hurts . vert , pomeyes , purpure , golps , teune , oranges , sanguine , gules . and thus much i think sufficient to be said of the examples of charges in coat-armor . in the next place , i am to shew the differences of helms , which distingnish in some part the honor of the bearer in his degree . the crowns and 〈◊〉 , differing more particularly the highest degrees of nobility , i shall also exemplifie in the conclusion of this discourse ; and i hope shall raise , in some measure , a relation to the old proverb , finis coronat opus . of helmets . the differences of helms is always exprest , when the crest is given : and by this difference a gentleman is known in his degree by his hatchment , as much as these following examples 〈◊〉 . these helmets are sometimes called cask and timbers ; by the french , helenum ; by the romans , cassidem ; by the greeks , galeam , a covering for the head in time of war ; and our manner of bearing crests on them is from their ancient fancy of adorning their helmets with some kind of monstrous device : as the head or mouth of a lyon , the paws or horns of certain beasts ; to appear more terrible . and that which we call mantle , is not , as some doe ridiculously suppose , the vestment which they usually had to wear over their atms in war ; or , as some would have it , to secure their shield from weather ; but from this originall , that princes and chief commanders used to adorn their helmets ( according to their qualities ) with rich buckles , studs , and circlets of gold , garnished with rich and costly stones , and on the top or crests of them , wreaths of corded 〈◊〉 ; being the liveries of their ladies and mistrisses , as also some curled 〈◊〉 of hair , and those cordons ( like waving scarfs ) dangled down behinde them on the cruppers of their horses , the ends being fairly tasselled and enriched , many times with pearls and precious stones : and thus especially they rid upon dayes of triumph . but in germany and many other places where the laws of honour and armory are severely obsetved , a mean gentleman or new atchiever is not permitted to bear helm , mantle , or crest , but by special favour . the first differs from the 2. in that it is a side standing helmet with the beaver close , which is for all esquires and gentlemen . the second , is the common fashion of knights , which is a helmet standing direct forward with the 〈◊〉 open without guards . the third , is a side-helmet open-faced guardevisure , which is proper for all persons of the nobility , beneath a duke and above a knight . the fourth is the helmet of persons executing soveraign authority , which is a helmet which is full forward open-faced , guarde-visure : which belongeth also to princes and dukes . in this manner are all degrees obviously differenced to every mans judgement in all hatchments . and , if they be above the degree of a knight , that these do not distinguish to particulars ; then they are also understood by their 〈◊〉 and crowns . of crowns and coronets . the first whereof is the crown of the empire of germany , which is but little different from that of england in the second , which is emperial too . the third is that coronet of the prince which is the same with the kings , only the arches , mound , and crosse , wanting . the fourth is the crownet of an archduke , which is the same with a duke , the arch only added . the fifth is a crownet floral , only proper to a duke . the sixth is the crownet of a marquesse , which differs thus , it is of leaves and points , the leaves or flowers above the points . the seventh is proper to an earl , which hath points and flowers ; but the points are above the flowers . the eighth is due to a viscount , which is a circulet or coronet pearled , and neither flowers nor points . the last is the form of that crown , which is found to be in fashion in the time of william the conqueror . which i have inserted to shew the difference betwixt the crown imperial of england then , and now . as to the antiquity of these crowns or diadems , as notes of regality : i finde not any where a just authority to assure me of their origination : but , that there were crowns , long before tragedies were in use , is to me very evident ; though sir william segar is of opinion , the use of them came from thence . yet , that the use of them in these parts of the world , might come from the giving of crowns in triumph , and lawrels or wreaths for vertue , is very probable , which was a thing very frequent , and of very great antiquity among the romans ; and hath continued , and been exercised in the empire since the translation to germany , and that with much ceremony , as in the example of joannes crusius , his receiving the laurel as stratsburgh an . 1616. see mr. selden his titles of honor , where it is at large , fol. 402. which custom hath since been in these parts , and indeed long before that time were crowns given to poets here ; as , witnesse the example in st. mary overies church , where one john gower a poet in richard the seconds time hath a statue crowned with ivie mixed with roses ; but since it is more commonly used of laurel . though the crown of laurel or bayes was first appropriated to him that triumphed for victory in the field . at which time , distinctions of crowns were observed according to the variety of merit . as corona muralis , this was due to him that was first seen upon the wall of the enemy . corona castrensis , for him that made a breach in the castle of the enemy ; the first a crown embattail'd , or made with battailment being of gold , the other of towers ; and then they had corona navalis , garnished with fore-castles for service at sea , made of gold too . then corona ovalis of myrtle ; for victory , gotten with little hazard : corona obsidialis , which was made of grass for him that had preserved an army besiged . corona civica , for him that saved a citizen from the enemy , made of oaken boughs : corona olivaris of olive leavs , for victory in the olympick games : and corona populea , for young men that were found industrious and studious in the exercises of vertues . but i find that amongst these rewards of honor , the crown made of ivy , called corona hederalis was only appropriated to the poets ; and here we see the great encouragement given to vertue , which was an age doubtlesse , when it was much exercised in all its species . when vertuous moderation received an estimation in the minds of young nobility , before 〈◊〉 voluptuousnesse . and honor more aimed at by steps of vertue , than the engrossing parsimoniousnesse , or expending profusenesse of the 〈◊〉 and unsatisfying uncertainty of riches ; 〈◊〉 doubtlesse a most noble age. and why should any man make himself so 〈◊〉 concern'd in the true honor of his creation , as to set himself so little before the irrational 〈◊〉 , as the examples of ou idle and 〈◊〉 age do too often demonstrate , whilest all men naturally are ambitious of honor ? and why should not any man blush to be seen reaching at it ( that is only the recompence of vertue ) till by some virtuous testimony he hath declared his desert ? certain i am , no generous and noble spirit ever breathed in any age , that did not present some opportunities of exercising virtue in one degree or other ; and the reward in some measure is ever a concomitant to heroick and ingenious merit . or should it , in some case , fail the truly generous soul , though it misse its reward , yet it thinks it honor to have deserved honor , and satisfies it self with that encouragement . thus i have given a succinct account of all manner of bearings . some will here expect , that i should now lay down rules to discover the worth of the atchiever , by the nature of the atchivement ; as guillim , and others have 〈◊〉 . it may be conjectured , how far a coat-armor is more or lesse honorable , by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of worth in the thing born ; but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 farther , from thence to a 〈◊〉 of the quality of the merit , for which that 〈◊〉 was a reward , is altogether uncertain . therefore ; for conclusion , i shal instance one escutcheon of examples more , which i think ( though not difficult to blazon ) not easily reducible to any such judgement , yet the families well known of noble and 〈◊〉 descent . the first is sab. a crosse engrailed or , in the dexter cant on a mullet arg. an inescutcheon of ulstre , the addition of a knight baronet , being the coat-armor of sir , tho. peyton of knolton in east-kent , knight and 〈◊〉 . the second is ermin on a chief azure , three lyoncels rampant or. the atchivement of sir anthony aucher of little-bourn in east-kent . the third is barry of twelve or , and sable , by sir james and sir thomas thynne of long leak in wiltshire . the fourth is arg. on a cheveron sab. three escollop-shels or , between three peelets , charged with as many martlets of the first ; all within a border vert , by anthony hammon of st. albons in east-kent esq . the fifth is arg. on a bend az. three 〈◊〉 heads cabossed or. on an escutcheon of pretence , arg. a cheveron sab. betwixt three ravens , by thomas stanley of cumberlow in hertfordshire esq the paternal coat his right by descent , ( with the distinstion of the third house ) of the earls of derby , the escutcheon of pretence as by match with the daughter and heir of sir james enyon of flower in northamptonshire . where observe , that although a man marry the daughter and heir of a coat-armor , yet he hath not the power of quartering it , but only to empale it , or bear it thus in an 〈◊〉 of pretence ; the liberty of quartering , being in the heir , who enjoyes both their coats by right of blood . observe also , that if any thing be thus hid by an addition either canton or escutcheon of pretence , it is notwithstanding to be nominated , that no detriment be to the coat . the sixth is gules , three barbed arrows arg. headed or , by edward hales of tunstal in kent , esq the seventh is arg. a cheveron between three milrines , sab. by roger james , of rigale in surrey , esquire . the eighth within a bordure bezanty sab. arg. an imperial eagle , by the family of the killigrews , in cornwall . the ninth arg. a fesse ermines between six mullets , sab. by steven penckhurst of buxsted in sussex , esquire . and now i hope i have not passed by any one thing that can be called pertinent to this discourse without some touch : perhaps , satisfactory enough to any indifferent contemplation . the end of armory . the orders of knighthood in most places of christendome , and in particular first of the order of st. george in england . the creation robe of a knight of y e garter as to knighthood in generall , enough hath been already discoursed in the first part of this treatise . i come now , to speak of the severall otders , and especially those that are called soveraign : amongst which i must needs esteem that of the garter , or st. george in england to be as noble as any in the world ; not from that epidemick humor of most writers , because it is of my own nation ; but for the excellency of it self : especially , in that according to the articles of its foundation , none are to be admitted to the honor , but such as are peers of the realm . for the first occasion of the erecting these soveraign orders of knighthood , above the more common , was , that as all honors were instituted for the reward and encouragement of deserving persons , so these for persons of more eminence , or more excellent merit , to receive a character that might in a higher nature than ordinary blazon their merit to the world . and that order or fraternity must needs be esteemed of greatest honor , where the king shall submit himselfe to the badge of it . this order of the garter we find to be instituted by edward the third , after a return from the warrs against the french and scots , with eminent victories . the occasion sir william segar says was but slight ; alluding as i conceive to the story of the king 's taking up the countesse of salisburies garter ; which he wearing on his own leg , caused a jealousie in the queen . and from thence received the motto life , hony soit qui mal y pens , evill to him that evill imagines . but i am of opinion that this humor arose from the french stories only , who would be apt enough to endeavour an abatement of the honor of it , lest its glory should appear too illustrious in the eye of the world ; and out-shine or eclipse their then blazing star. and that we may a little examine the truth , let us observe the ridiculousnesse of the coherence of these merry scandalizers . first they differ in their time , as shall appear anon ; then concerning the lady , they take notice of to make up the pretty romance , the mistake is very great and plain ; for in some places they say it was the queen's garter , and if so , what needed then the motto ? but most commonly they say , it was the countesse of salisburies ' ; whom they name sometimes alice , and sometimes joan ; when her name was katherine , and mistris , and after wife to the black prince son of the said king , as is well observed in heylyn's history of st. george . by which , froysart's error must appear very perspicuous , who was the first and most eminent author of this mighty fable . mounsier favin in his theater of honor , quotes froysart , and polydore virgil , for the like account . but i am apt to collect another reason from mr. selden's discourse ( an authority that i think needs no apology ) and to think edward the third , being to engage a field , gave st. george for the word , ( long time before , the patron-saint of england ) in which battail he gained a great victory ; which was about the year 1349. and at his return in the year one thousand three hundred and fifty , established thisorder to the honor of st george , which agrees with the black book of windsor that chronologizes it on the three and twentyeth day of april in the year one thousand three hundred and fifty , being the three and twentyeth of that king's reign . and i understand not , but that the addition of the gartet might be after added to the ensignes of the order : for the firstensign together with the robes was the crosse of saint george , yet in use amongst them . and some do adde that the garter was from a martiall rise also , as that a leather-garter upon the left leg was a mark given to some of the eminent commanders with promise of enriching it on those that performed honorably in the charge . for the account of the time according to other authors , it is left disputable . mr. selden takes notice of some of the french authors , that affirm it to be erected in anno 1344. yet after his victories ; as in the relations of the same froysart , and thomas of walsingam : and polydore virgil , ( to whom favin subscribes ) will have it in an. 1347. yet in another place he sets it down in the year one thousand three hundred and forty four . oportet mendacem memorem esse . and one other observation i collect from some of these authors ; that the order was established before either of these passages ; only as a seminary to draw other knights of the world into these parts ; which caused the french king to do the like the same year of another order by way of prevention ; this is averred by some . which is , i conceive by other circumstances , a mistake upon a just or turnment proclaimed by the said king edward ( about the year one thousand three hundred forty and four ) in all places beyond the seas , to be held at windsor ; about which time he caused to be built a very large round table for the entertaining of such princes and persons of great quality , as should repair thither ; when the earl of salisbury was so bruised at the justing , that he dyed . at the news of which meeting ; the french king sodainly after did the like , to obstruct the concourse of great soldiers and honorable personages that this would have produced . the patron of this order is st. george ; who suffered martyrdome at nicomedia , and was buryed at lydda in capadocia according to dr. heylin : but mr. selden sayes , he suffered at lydda , under diocletian , about the 〈◊〉 of christ one hundred and ninty . whose fame was so great in the world , that many temples were built to his name , as that of justinian in armenia ; and in venice the chief church for the grecians ; jo. eucaitensis built a monastery to the honor of st. george in the time of constantine . into which the emperors after were wont to make a solemn procession every saint georges day . in carinthia , there is an order of knighthood of st. george , in very much esteem . and eusebius speaks also of another order of st. george among the greeks whose ensign is a red crosse with this motto sub hec signo vinces , begun by constantiue the great . when first it came into this nation , is by the best antiquaries left disputed ; but that he hath been long honored as patron-protector of england , is proved by all , and by mr. selden , before the conquest ; the three and twentyeth day of april , being constantly celebrated to his memory . and it is no marvail ( saith the same author ) that so warlike a nation should chuse to themselves the name of such a souldier saint , known by the particular name of tropheophorus , and of greater eminence in both the eastern and western churches then any other souldier-saint . the soveraign of this order is the king of england ; the number of the fellowship is twenty six , besides the soveraign ; of which when any of them dye , the place is to be supplyed by another elected by the soveraign , with the consent of the fraternity , as it was antiently ; chosen and estalled at windsor : but since it is referred to the entire disposing of the king. they have many articles confirmed , to which all that are enstalled subscribe ; and have an oath to which they swear that , to their power , during the time they shall be fellows of the order , they will defend the honor , quarels , rights and lordships of the soveraign , and that they will endeavour to preserve the honor of the said order , and all the statutes of it without fraud or covin . quinam perjurati ? the officers of the order are a prelate , which is alwayes the bishop of winchester ; a chancellor register , a king of arms called garter ; and an usher called the black rod , added by henry the eighth . their habit is a cassock of crimson velvet , and a mantle of purple velvet lined with white sarcenet , on the left shoulder whereof is an escutcheon of s. george embroydered within a garter with the motto : the escutcheon is argent , a plain crosse gules . above all , about the neck they wear a collar of the order weighing thirty ounces of gold troy weight , composed of garters and knots enamel'd , and with roses red and white ; and since the coming in of king james , there hath been an intermixture of thistles . at this collar hangeth the image of st. george on horseback , enriched with precious stones . and about the left leg they wear a garter enamelled and enriched with gold , pearl , and stones of great value with the same motto of hony soit qui mal y pens . for their ordinary ensign they wear a blew ribbon over their left shoulder ; and another on their left leg ; and a star of silver embroy dery on the same side of their cloak with the scutcheon of st. george in the center of it . and sometimes at their ribbon a george also , and then they wear it about their necks . their feast is yearly at windsor castle on st. georges day . in which place upon the foundation of it was a church erected with dean and prebends ; as also thirteen poor 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 , quàm 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 , presently left it off , and so the order fell . knights of st. michael . jn the stead of the knighthood of the star the same king charles erected the order of of st. michael as some suppose : but more truly lewis the eleventh at amboys an . 1469. upon the occasion of a vision ( as their historians relate ) of the archangel's appearance on orleans bridge as their tutelar against the english. at which time the famous amazon , joan of france , lived , who did many heroick exployts , leading an army her self in the field against the english. for which the english after having vanquisht her ( much to our disparagement i think ) in revenge caused her to be burnt for a witch in the market-place of orleans : in which place is since a conduit erected to her memory . this order of monsieur st. michael archangel is of thirty six knights , and a soveraign , which is the king. the cognisance of the order is a collar of gold made of cockle-shels and knots , with the image of st. michael pendant at it , which collar ought to weigh two hundred crowns in gold , and not above nor under . for the wearing of this collar there was a very strict article ; as that , every man that did not wear it every day was to cause a masse to be said , and to pay seaven shillings six pence turnoys of forfeiture : except in arms , and then they were permitted to wear only the image of the angel on a chain or ribbon : the motto of the order is , immensi tremor oceani . to this order is established a herald called mon. st. michael , a treasurer , a chancellor , and a register . their habit according to the constitution of henry the second of france was , his doublet , hose , shooes , scabbard , hat-band , and feather , all white ; a surcoat with sleeves , of cloth of silver ; over it a mantle of the same turned up over the left shoulder , and tyed over the right , embroydered with a bordure like the collar . over his shoulder lay a hood of cloth of silver spreading over his back , the tippet hanging down before , and over all the collar . knights of the holy ghost , or st. esprit . to this order of st. michael did henry the third , in honor of whit-sunday , ( on which day he was chosen king of poland ) institute the order of chivaleir du benoist sante esprit : joyning both this and the other into one , an . 1578. as they continue to this day . in this discourse of this order by monsieur favin , is set down the oathes , ceremonies , pensions , accompts , and all the duties : all which should i insert would be too 〈◊〉 for my intention . the manner of their procession to court , and many other particulars , is set down concerning them in sir william segar . their robe is like that of st. michael ; only of black velvet embroydered all about with gold and silver of flowers-de-lysse , and knots of gold between sundry cyphers of silver , and flames of gold , seamed : garnished also with a mantle of green cloth of silver , wrought over with the same manner of embroydery with the mantle both lined with orange coloured sattin . the great mantle they wear turned up over the left shoulder , and open on the right : their hose and doublet white , and black bonnets with white plumes ; the collar over all , wrought in the same manner as the embroydery . they have a crosse hanging at it , with a dove in the center of it , as in another place shall be described . of the order of the gennet . this by the annals of france is reckoned the first order that ever was instituted in that country . but i have not given it the first place , because it is now extinguished , and its essence only remaining in the chronologie of fame . it was ordained by charles called the tyrant , before his usurpation called charles martell seneschall , or high steward of france . who in a battel against the moores , gaining a victory , had , amongst many other spoyls , a great number of genets skins , and some of the beasts ; in memory of which victory he instituted this order , about the year of our lord 726. the number was 16. to whom he gave collars of gold made of a triple chain enterwoven with enameld red roses , at the end whereof hung a gennet of gold enamelled black and red , upon a terrasse or bank of flowers fairly enamel'd : this continued till king robert , and then the star of the sea eclipsed it . these knights saith aubertus meraeus , had other ensignes appropriated also , as a ring after the manner of the romans ; and certain habits for the body . about which time , or not long after , charlemain created another order called of the crown royall : but that was not so much in esteem , being only for a reward of service in friezland , the governour of the country having the power of creating the knights . knights of the broomeflower ; and also of the ship. lewis the ninth in his time instituted two orders of knighthood ; one called of the broomeflower in the cod , and the other of the ship , called also of the crescent , or half moon . the first he instituted at his coronation , and it continued till the end of the reign of charls the fifth , and extinguished with his life . the collar of the order was composed of cods of broomeflowers intermixed with lozanges enamelled with flowers-de-lysse ; and at it , hung a crosse formy flory , with this motto ; exaltat humiles . the other of the ship he erected upon the occasion of the second voyage into egypt , to encourage the nobility that went with him . the collar of the order was enterlaced with double scallops , and double crescents interwoven with a meddal hanging at it , with a ship enamelled under sayl . this king lewis returning from his voyage against the turks , an . 1554 brought home with him a troop of knights , called of st. lazarus , to whom he gave large possessions : but afterwards , this order fell again , and their revenues were given to the knights of malta : untill the time of henry the fourth who instituted that of mount-carmel , and revived that of st. lazarus . there are many other ancient knighthoods recorded in france , but as they were of lesse esteem , so are they also out of date ; and i shall only name them , most of which were more private orders , and had subjects for their soveraigns : there was of the porcupine : of the thistle of bourbon : of the croissant of anjou : of the ermin of britagne . of which examin monsieur favin his theatre of honor. there was also an order of the dog and cock , appropriated to the family of monmorency , and another of de la dame blanke al' escue verd ; or the order of the fair lady of the green field ; instituted by jean de boucicaut marshal of france under charles the sixth , who were sworn unto divers articles , as that they should assist all ladies , and gentlewomen wronged in their honors or fortunes , answer challenges of armes , supply one anothers necessary absence , that if any lady or gentlewoman , required aid of any of them , and after any knight or esquire should challenge him , he should first right the lady ; and then perform the 〈◊〉 or if a chalenge preceded such other accident , it was at their pleasure which to undertake first ; and many more such , which would be too tedious for this place . they are at large in mauchaut sieur de roman ville his history of boucicat . of military orders in spain . of the order of the lilly. this order was erected in 〈◊〉 by garcia the sixth , of the name surnamed naiera , in honor of the virgin mary ; and upon a miracle so great as might make this lilly one of the primest flowers in her little garden . * the substance of it this : the king having been very sick ; in the extremity of his disease sent to st. saviour de leyra , and other places of devotion , that prayers and interercessions might be made for his recovery ; in which time was discovered in the city of naiera , ( where ordinarily he kept court ) the image of the virgin mary issuing out of a lilly , holding her son berwixt her arms . and suddenly after the discovery of this , the king recovered his health ; and many other miracles were done on diseased people in that place , as supposed by vertue of the virgin mother ; whom they tearmed the lilly of the vallyes . in honor whereof the said king erected this order , and made himself soveraign of it , and his sucessors after him . these knights did wear on their breasts a lilly embroydered in silver ; and on festivall dayes a double chain of gold interlaced with letters m , after the manner of the gotish letter ; with an oval meddal hanging at it with a lilly enamelled . knights of san jago , or st. james . this was erected by the resolution of gentlemen , being either barons , or men of great quality , that ( jupon the conquering of their country by the arabians ) retired into the mountains of asturia ; and residing there made an engagement of war against the moors ; agreeing upon religious rules of knighthood , yet reserving to themselves liberty of marriage : but this order favin speaks to be erected by alphonso the ninth , an . 1158. and that it was confirmed in 1175 , by pope alexander the third , their governor is called great master , their feast is on all-saints day ; when they meet in very great magnificence , having very great revenues : their ensign a red crosse shaped like a sword , with an escollop's shell on it , in imitation of the badge of the pilgrims that go to jerusalem , and to the sepulchre of st. james the apostle . now the great master of this order hath alwayes neer him thirteen knights where ever he goes for his aid , and councill ; and so all the other orders in spain . of the order of calatrava . this was begun an . 1158. in imitation of that of st. jago , by don sanctio the third , king of toledo , and it takes it name from the place of its establishment : their habit is a black garment , and on the breast thereof a red crosse ; they have many great priviledges , and possessions in spain , the form of their crosse is set down in the end of this discourse ; which if we will believe monsieur favin , and aubertus maereus , is quite another then that which sir william segar describes . knights of alcantara . these also derive their denomination from the place of their institution , and living under the same orders with those of calatrava , doe wear the same fashioned crosse , only the colour is green they have a very glorious church at alcantara in castiglia upon the river tago , endowed with rich possessions , where their great meetings are . these were first of the order of st. julian , called the order of the pear-tree , ferainando the second king of 〈◊〉 , and gallicia , being the first great master . 1176. knights of the band. sir william segar attributes the originall of this ordsr to alphonso king of spain , an . 1268. but favin sets it down in an . 1330. from the testimony of don antonio de guevara , bishop of mondognedo ; but by the same person alphonso the eleventh , of which order ( that it might receive the more reputation ) he enrolled himselfe and his son. and yet ( as favin sayes ) none were to be admitted but younger brothers , and mean gentlemen of poor and slender sufficiency , who must have been ten years followers of the court ; or at the least had fought three times against the moors . they wear a red scarfe or ribon , crosse the left shoulder , like our knights of the bath , the breadth of three inches . their articles are too many to be inserted here . sir william segar and favin have them at large . d' avis in portugal . there was an order in portugal , erected in the year 1147. called d' avis , by alphonso the first , who were seatrd in the city ebora , and so called from the virgin mary , being patronesse of the city . they had a great master , and were called fratres , and the place of their convention was called frieria . their ensign is the same crosse with calatrava vert , and in the centre of it a pear-tree . of the order of jesus christ. since , in the year 1320. was erected another order of more esteem amongst the portugals called of jesus christ , by dionysius king of that country , and nephew to alphonso the tenth of castile ; to which order was given much of the revenue of the knights templars , that lay in that countrey , the kings of portugal are ever the soveraigns of the order to this day : the ensign of the order is a red crosse surmounted or intersected with another white , on a black vestment ; and they have many priviledges , and articles amongst them . of this order was don pantaleon , ( brother to the portugal embassadour ) who was beheaded at tower-hill , july 10. 1654. knights of montesia . this order was much about the time of those of calatrava and received their name from the place of their residence in valentia , and do wear for their ensign a plain crosse gules . this order was established in the year 1317. and had much of the revenue of the knights templars also , setled on them . knights of redemption : these knights called of redemption , were erected by james king of aragon , upon the conquering the islands of majorica , in the year 1212. their articles are many , but the chief is , they are to redeem prisoners ; from whence their title is derived : their habit is a white garment , with a black crosse ; and their governour is alwayes resident at barcco , na . d'espuella d' orada , or , of the goldeu spnr. there is another order in spain , of far more honor called 〈◊〉 d' espuella d' orada . which was created with much ceremony ; as bathing ( like our knights of the bath ) , then being laid on a rich bed , after brought to the chappel or church , where he performs his vigils , confesses , and supplicates for power to observe the duty belonging to the order ; then his gold spurs are put on , and a sword girt about him , and the sword being drawn , is delivered into his right hand ; in which posture standing , he takes an oath , never to refuse to dye in defence of his law , king , and country . and then receiving a kisse from all the rest of the order , in testimony of the amity betwixt them , he is compleat . other orders there are there , as that of cavaleri armadi , cavaleri 〈◊〉 alarde , and some more antient ; as the order os the dove or holy ghost in castile ; of st. saviour of mont real in aragon ; but these are either out of date , or of low reputation . knights of the annuntiation . this order , saith sir william segar , was erected about the same time with that of st. michael , but how i shall engage my faith to this article i know not ; for i find much uncertainty in the relation , the institution of st. michael being in an . 1469. according to his own account ; and of the annuntiation , an . 1434. besides , there is a greater error yet , in computation ; for monsieur favin , ( who hath some reason in this case to be understood , aud hath been esteemed authentick ) affirms it to be by amedis the fifth , called also the green , or verd : whom he chronologizes to live in an . 1355. which makes a vast difference : and again aubertus maereus , in his symbola equest . ordinum gives the honor of its birth to amedis the sixth , earl of 〈◊〉 : by which i must confesse so great an uncertainty appears , as affrights me from any conclusion ; but that by their general 〈◊〉 , defacto , i am assured such an order was . and that in memory of amedis the fifth , who most couragiously defended rhodes against the turks , where he took the bearing of gules a plain crosse argent , which the dukes of savoy have continued till this day . this order was first called of the snares of love , from the receiving from his lady the favour of a bracelet made of her hair into love-knots , and it was constantly celebrated on st. maurices day , who is patron-saint of savoy . he composed it to consist of fifteen knights , comprehending himself a chief master . the place of their celebration is the church of pietra , in the castle of bellies ; unto which at the institution of this order was given certain lands for the maintenance of fifteen chaplains : and continually every knight at his death gives to the church an hundred florins . and one other article was , that at the funeral of every knight ceremoniously performed at the castle of pietra , every knight of the order should wear black ; ( whereas their mourning was a white gown ) and leave off the collar for certain dayes : and that at the enterment of the soveraign , every knight according to their seniority in order should offer up his collar . every knight was sworn to wear this order dayly , and to accept of no other . and that no person stained with reproach or dishonor should be admitted : or if found so after , to be degraded . of these past knighthoods , these four , of the garter in england ; the toyzon in burgndy ; st. michael , and of st. esprit in france ; and this of the 〈◊〉 in savoy , are the most honorable , and yet in being . of the knights templars . this order as it hath been most famous in the world ( though now extinct ) i think ought to be preserved with an honorable memory . it was erected in a pious design , perpetrated with a glorious fame ; though extinguished in an ignoble and injust stratagem , of the devil , the pope , and the king of france . its first rise was from an accident of certain gentlemen meeting in the holy land , ( some say nine ) an . 1117. who hearing of the great disturbance of the country by the incursion of turks and swarmings of pickaroons , engaged a confederacy , with the hazzard of their lives to suppresse them . which resolution being known was so approved of by the patriarch , that he commanded accommodation for them in the temple neer the sepulchre . and the king of jerusalem appointed them all appertinencies for so religious an enterprize . from whence they received the name of knights-templars . and thus going on with much resolution and courage ; many christians came in to thrir assistance , and many brave exploits were performed by them : insomuch that in nine years time they had erected such a structure of honor , as set all the world at gaze , and establisht their countrey in a happy peace . for a reward whereof , pope honorius , at the suit of the patriarchof jerusalem , prescribed unto them a peculiar order of life ; and distinguished their order by wearing a white garment , and pope eugenius added a red crosse ; after which prosperity they elected a head whom they called great master . yet not long after this , jerusalem and a great part of the countrey was lost for want of supply from other parts of christendome . however they still made war upon the turks for 120. years , and added new breath to the trump of fame , purchasing large revenues to the order in most kingdoms of europe , being the exercise of love in all christian princes , and of emulation in every heroick spirit : insomuch that vitriacus gives this character of them : they were , saith he , leones in bello , agni mansueti in domo , in expeditione milites asperi , in ecclesia vel ut eremitae & monachi ; inimicis christi duri & feroces , christianis autem benigni & mites , &c. but this great glory could not shine for ever , without an eclipse ; nor such favorites of fortune live without envy , as well as emulation ; and their fall was so much the more sodain and violent , by how much their fame was higher . for in england , france , and almost all parts of christendome , was it at an instant ( as it were ) and in one very day , by sentence of pope clement the first , ( to satisfie the the base avarice of philip de beau the roy of france ) totally disolved and supprest . the pretence was upon certain articles exhibited against them ; which have been by all the world , almost not only adjudged false , but ridiculous . as that they used pagan ceremonies in the election of their great master : that they lost the holy land , ( when they alone endeavoured to preserve it ) : that they held some heretical opinions : that they worshipped an image apparelled in a mans skin : and that they drunk mans blood to confirm their oath of confederacy . when indeed itwas most certain , that the crime for which they suffered was their vast wealth ; and their fidelity to the patriarch , whom they owned before the pope : cause sufficient to set the one to solicite , and the other to grant , a monstrous doom , which they suffered under ; for what will not pride and avarice do ? the great master himselfe and sixty others of the order were commited to the mercy of fire in paris at one time , and the rest persecuted , if not executed , in most places ; all of them dying without any acknowledgement of any one allegation , and with the same christian and heroick spirits they had lived in , and by the account of favin ( a french writer and one i think in this not too impartial ) there was , at twice after , one hundred or above burned to death in paris , all dying with innocence in their mouths ; and in the same place many after . but as such notorious evils are ever the ushers of god's infinite judgements , it was not far off here : for the two knights imployed in the accusation , were one hanged , and the other slain , in a short time after . how the revenues prospered in the hands of the new possessors , i know not ; or the possessors in the enjoyment of them ; but i believe like those of church lands in this nation : and the account of stories and traditions i have seen and heard in particular of it , makes me with confidence say , very unfortunately . many of their territories and castles in some places were given to an order of knighthood called the joannites , knights of saint john of jerusalem , and particularly in england , who were after knights of rhodes , and lastly of malta , being conferred by act of parliament , ( how taken from them i cannot say ) , and in vienna by order of a great councel . of the order of st. john of jerusalem , rhodes , and malta . some have been of opinion that this order was originally from the time of the holy war , an . 1099. when , by the conduct of one called peter the hermit , robert duke of normandy , son to william the conqueror , godfrey duke of lorrain , and some other noble persons , jerusalem was 〈◊〉 from the saracens ; being called knights of st. john baptist and of jerusalem . but it is more certainly related , that certain 〈◊〉 christians going to visit the holy sepulchre , obtained leave of the caliph of egypt , to build a little cottage to live in by it : paying a due tribute for their liberty as for their own residence , and for the entertaining such as should adventure to joyne with them in their devout life ; which , monsieur favin relates to be neopolitans . after this , their number so encreased that they built another to entertain women , more large and stately ; and enlarged their oratory ; and another for men in the nature of a colledge or hospital , where they established a rector or master , and from the great charity among them , their religious life , and good deeds to pilgrims , they were called brethren hospitallers of st. john baptist of jerusalem . and upon the conquest of the ciry , they had great franchises granted them , and large revenues , with liberty to mannage armes , and were instituted to be knights of st. john , an. 1164. and for their distinction they wore a black garment , with a white ankerd crosse , with eight points ; but in war they wore a red coat of arms with the same white crosse see the example of the crosses at the end of this discourse . after their successe in the holy war grew very famous , and that they had done very great exploits , almost over all palestine ; in the year 1308 , they wonne the city of rhodes from the turks . and as valiantly maintained it against them afterwards , who four times 〈◊〉 it in vain ; and the fifth time also was o taman himself repulsed , with the losse of 40000 mahometans . but being constantly oppressed , and not encouraged with any reliefe from the christians of other parts , after three moneths siege they lost it , and ever since have remained in malta . into this order no man was admitted but he was first to approve himself a gentleman before the rector . the son of a moore was not to be admitted , nor of a jew or mahometan , though the son of a prince , and a christian himselfe : and they were sworn to fight for the christian faith , to do justice , defend the oppressed , relieve the poor , persecute the mahometans , live vertuously , and protect widows and orphans . of knights teutonicks . this order of the teutonici was founded by an almain , who remaining in jerusalem , after the taking of it , gave great and liberal entertainment to all christians that came to him , and in a short time had drawn such a resort ; that from thence arose a fraternity that bound themselves under certain articles , and elected a great master or governor ; every man of that association , apparelling himself in white with a black crosse pattee voyded with a crosse patonce . which fraternity afterwards grew a very great order ; and purchased a noble fame : but jerufalem being taken by the turks again , they removed , and pitcht their settlement in ptolemaida ; and that being also taken by the saracens , they retired to germany ; and engaging a war against the prusians , they got great victories , and having the emperours grant for enjoying what by the sword they wonne , with expence of some blood , they purchased great revenues in prusia : and built many illustrious 〈◊〉 , with churches , and some cathedrals , establishing bishops to them , whom they enjoyned to wear the habit of the order : this was about the year 1220. frederick the second , being then emperor . the chief church appropriate to this order is marcenburg . the knights besides their large possessions are lords of livonia , and they have a governour , which they still call the great master . knights of st. sepulcher . this was antiently an honorable knighthood , but it is since extinguisht , and nothing but the memory of it remaining , and that inclusively in those of malta . the ensign of the order is yet extant amongst them , as a relique of antiquity ; which is a double crosse , 〈◊〉 , as it were , two conjoyned gules , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 segar relates : but favin speakes 〈◊〉 , as that their crosse was a crosse 〈◊〉 , in each canton of the same a small crosse plain ; being the same as the armes of the kings of jerusalem : and from this originall that godfrey of bullein gave great goods to 〈◊〉 , especially in his last will and testament ; by which also he ordained that himself , and the successors kings of jerusalem , should be buryed in their cathedrall church , which was joyning to the sepulchre ; that their patriarch should have the prerogative of crowning them . and baldwin his immediate successor establisht them an order of knighthood , ( being before put regular chanons ) appointing the patriarch of jerusalem their great master : thus favin relates . knights of st. mary . these were a religious order , erected by certain gentlemen of 〈◊〉 , and madona ; for which they obtained a licence of pope urban , but with mony only , calling themselves knights of st. mary , but were commonly called cavaleri de madona ; and indeed properly enough , for whereas they professed to fight against infidels , they lived allwayes at home in peace , plenty , and ease , for which they gained the heroick character of fratres gaudenti , or good-fellow brethren . their habit was very rich , and on it they wore a crosse , like that of st. john of jerusalem . knights of st. lazaro . the knights of st. lazaro challenge a great antiquity , so high as st. basil ; they had great possessions , and honorable reputation ; but , like the knights templars , were suddenly eclipsed , and had as absolutely been smothered in the funeral croud of obscured honor , had not pope pius quartus a little revived them . this order does own obedience to a great master also , and are engaged to the observance of many articles ; especially they are to be of lawful birth , and gentlemen by double descent , and of christian parents ; to wear a green crosse in the manner of a crosse pattee fimbriated , as sir william segar describes ; but aubertus maereus otherwise , as is exemplified hereafter . of the knights of the bear , called also of st. gall. in the year 1213. the emperour frederick the second , going in pilgrimage to the abbey of st. gall , gave great priviledges in acknowledgment of their assistance in pulling down the emperor 〈◊〉 , and establishing him . whereupon also he established an order of knighthood , called of the bear ; which knights were yearely to meet at the abbey of st. gall , on the 16. of october ; where all new knights were to receive the order from the abbot . this order he called of the bear in honor of st. ursus that was martyred at soleure . unto this order he gave a collar and 〈◊〉 of gold , at which hung a figure of a bear enamelled sable . of the order of the elephant . in denmark is a military order , called of the elephant , and also of the blessed virgin mary : who have for their collar a chain of gold interwoven with elephants and spurs , and at it hangeth a meddal of the virgin mary , encompassed about with rayes of the sun ; at the neather part whereof hangeth another circle enclosing three nayles , which 〈◊〉 term symbola omnia christianae 〈◊〉 . who was the founder is left 〈◊〉 : the elephants are figured with castles on theis backs , which some doe suppose to be the 〈◊〉 or designment of christernus . 4. of the order of mantua . jn mantua , some fryers doe report to be some of the bloud of our saviour kept , with a piece of the spunge in which he received the vinegar and gall. which reliques they say , doe daily work extraordinary miracles . in honor of which bloud vincentio de gonzaga , fourth duke of mantua , did institute an order of knighthood , calling them knights of the bloud , of our saviour jesus christ , making himself the great master of the order ; which was confirmed by pope paul the fifth . the originall of it was about the year 1608. when he created fifteen knights , giving them collars composed of ovals of gold , some the length one way , others another ; in one of which were these words , domine probâsti ; and in the other , flames of fire , flashing about a crucible or melting-pot full of sticks of gold ; and at the same hangeth before another large oval , wherein are designed two angels standing upright , holding a chalice , and pix , crowned ; on the table of it , are seen enamelled 〈◊〉 drops of blood ; and about this oval is this inscription , nihil i sto triste recepto . knights of st. stephano . this order was erected in the year 1561. by cosmo duke of florence ; ordaining amongst them such articles almost as those of the order of malta : their residence is pisa ; where the said duke erected a church to the honor of the order , and is himselfe the great master . other orders of knighthood there are , and have been in the holy land , and other parts : as of st thomas apostle ; st. katherine of mount sinai : of the white eagle in polonia : of the swan in cleveland : the brethren sword-bearers in livonia : of st. blase in armenia : of st. john of acres , and of st. gerian , which was instituted by frederick 〈◊〉 , to which order none were admitted but germaine gentlemen . but these are all , or most of them , out of date , and not so considerable as to trouble an ingenious brain with , in this place . favin and others have discoursed enough of them , to which ( if the reader be desirous of further knowledge ) i refer him . there is also another order called of the white dragon in germany , erected by the emperour sigismond , upon a resolution of extirpating heresie and schism throughout all his dominions , who had for their ensign a white dragon : and in swethen another , which is called of the seraphins : who had at their institution appointed them collars of seraphins heads , intermixed with crosses . and now , if i have not been too tedious in this discourse of knighthood , i have i hope said enough , and conclude with the description of the severall forms of their crosses before mentioned . the first is of st. esprit , the second , of st. michael , the third of calatrava , the fourth of st. john of jerusalem , the fifth of st. lazarus the sixth of the teutonicks , the seventh of st. andrew , the eighth of the sepulchre , the ninth of christus d' avis . and so i take leave of knighthood : and in the next place only cursorily run through the antiquity of heralds , and the inns of court and chancery with their foundations ; for which last ( though not very pertinent to my businesse , ) yet i may expect an excuse , since it hath nor yet been any way done . the end of knighthood . of heralds . the word herald ( saith verstegan ) is derived from the saxon 〈◊〉 , and by abbreviation 〈◊〉 ; and herald which in that language signifies the champian of an army : and growing to be a name of office , it was given to him that in the army had the 〈◊〉 charge of challenging to battail or combat . sir henry spelman cals him nuncius sacer , and speaking of the signification of the word , says , quidam enim herault 〈◊〉 , some doe write herault , that is , dominus celsus , an eminent lord , some herold , which is an old lord ; and some heral , hoc est , says he , ministrum 〈◊〉 , an officer of an army , which last he supposes the most proper . these are officers of great antiquity ( saith dune mensis ) who writes that they are as ancien as kings , and were tearmed of the romans , 〈◊〉 , & caduceatores . and doubtlesse thee ection of our heralds was in imitation of them ; though their authority be not so great with us , as it seems theirs was ; whose office was established by numa pompilius and a colledge or hostell erected of twenty wise and reverend men ; per quos fiebat , ut justum indiceretur bellum , & ut foedere , fides pacis constitueretur : ordering that it was and should be unlawfull to take armes against an enemy without their consent and appointment . which fecialians , when the popular estate was changed into a monarchy again , wore the coats of arms of purple and scarlet , fringed with gold , and an eagle of the same embroydered thereon , and the emperors name then reigning : and they had one principall which was called by the people pater patratus , whom they ever reverenced as sacred , and it was a rule or law among them , that fecialium sacra violare , nefas erat . since when , as the office now is , they have been esteemed as embassadors , and sometimes have been made so ; however , are the messengers of princes and great monarchs , and what ever their message have been , priviledged in the same degree with embassadors , and not only in our parts , but all over the world have been in being ( though not as now in regular office ) ever since there have been kings . in every city of greece ( as saith ulpian the interpreter of demosthenes ) they were called ceryces , and had in much honor of all men , and maintained out of the publique treasury . in rome , and most other places they carryed as ensignes of their office 〈◊〉 rods in imitation of the poeticall fiction of mercury , who is styled the herald of the gods : those of rome wreathed with two serpents ; and the ancient druides of wreaths of vervine , imitating the same . in france , ( where a long time this office hath been in much honor ) not only 〈◊〉 st. dennis the principal king of arms ; but the other heralds , and pursevants are to be of noble 〈◊〉 ; and mountjoy to be of three descents , as well of his fathers as of his mothers side , of noble linage , and coat-armor . their office or colledge is in the church of st. anthony the lesse in paris . and they are allowed the priviledge of entrance into any prince's court ; and an injury offered to them is a publique injury in all parts of the world . but i do not finde they were in this 〈◊〉 and establishment , till the time of philip de valloys . the revenues of them in france was very great , as to mountjoy in particular 2000. l. lands in free tenure , and 1000 pound per annum stipend , as favin relates . and the others 1000 pound per annum stipend , besides , other profits ( and they are many ) : besides their priviledges are very great , which in the same author are at large set down : in which author i cannot but observe the ridiculousnesse of their humor in the christening of their pursevants ( for they call it christening , and the ceremony is performed with the powring a pot of wine on their heads ) ; they name them at their own pleasure , and some they call plain-way , jolly-heart , no-lyar , tell-troth , chearfulnesse , fair-seeming , loftyfoot , and the like . but to come neerer to our own concernment , i think to proceed with the same office in our own nation , where they are now in lesse esteem , i confesse , then they have been in former ages ; yet have ever been honored with messages between potentates for matter of honor and arms. ceremoniarum ministri , as in the coronation of kings and queens , enstalment of princes , and creation of noble dignities of honor , in triumphs , justs , combats , marriages , christenings , interments ; and to attend all solemn assemblies of state and honor , and by some of them ought the proclamations of all great matters of state to be promulged , causes of chivalry , and gentility are referred to their care , as in the right of bearing of arms , in shields , scutcheons , targets , banners , penons , coats , and such like ; correcting of arms in visitations : and observing descents and pedigrees of noblemen and gentlemen . they are the protonotaries , griffiers , and registers of all acts , and proceedings in the court of the high 〈◊〉 and lord marshall of engiand , or of such as have their authority ; and in their books and records they are to preserve to perpetuall memory all facts and memorable designments of honor and arms. they have been long establisht in england ; but i find not that they were incorporated into a collegiate society till richard the third's time ; when they were incorporated by charter , and placed at coleharbor , from whence they often removed , untill they became setled , where now at this time they are placed , by the honorable endeavour of that illustrious family of the howards , formerly dukes of norfolk , and earls marshals of england ; the house being before called darby house . which was established to them in the time of king philip and queen mary , and in these tearms incorporated ; by the names of garter king of arms of england ; clarenceux king of arms of the south parts , and the heralds and pursevants for ever ; and to have and use a common seal to purchase lands to sue and be sued by . edward the sixth in his third year granted them many priviledges , viz. in these words : forasmuch as sundry records and testimonies of great antiquity , and of no lesse credit have now lately reduced to our perfect knowledge the kings of armes , heralds , and 〈◊〉 of arms elected as persons vertuous , and for their good qualites , knowledge , and experience to serve in the affairs of the common-wealth , have been alwayes heretofore by emperors , kings , and princes of christian realms upon most worthy and just considerations not only maintained and supported , as well with yearly stipends and pensions , as daily profits , advantages , and commodities , sufficient to the necessity of the decent and convenient living of them and theirs in honest state . ( which daily profits , advantages , and commodities are now lately much decayed , to their hindrance , especially in this our realm ) but also have been by the said emperors , kings , and princes , enriched and adorned , time out of mans memory , with divers kinds of priviledges , liberties , and franchises ; as , among others , that they and every of them be free , exempt , quite , and discharged not only from subsidies , dismes , fifths , tenths , reliefs , contributions , taxes , profits , grants , benevolences , and generally from all other manner of charges , as well in time of war as peace , in all such realms and dominions , wherein they made their demour ; but also in all market towns , and all other places , from tolls , fines , customes , impositions , and demands ; and aswell from watch and ward in all cities , towns , and castles , borroughs , and villages ; and from the election or appointment to any office , of mayor , sheriff , bayliffe , constable , scavenger , church-warden , or any other publick office in citties , towns , castles , 〈◊〉 , and villages whatsoever . and forasmuch also as we understand all kings of arms , heralds , &c. have alwayes heretofore from the beginning of the office of arms enjoyed , and do presently enjoy , all and singular the priviledges , liberties , and franchises aforesaid , with many other , in all christian realms , without any disturbance , 〈◊〉 , or molestation ; we therefore considering the same , and earnestly minding as well the advancement of the said office of arms , as the quiet and honest supportance of our servants , and ministers thereof ; do , of our speciall grace , certain knowledge , and meer motion , by the advice and consent of our most dearly beloved uncle edward duke of somerset , and our protector of our realms and dominions and subjects , and of the rest of our councel , by these 〈◊〉 , not only confesse and generally approve , give , grant , and confirm to the said kings heralds , &c. and to every of them and their successors for ever , for us and our successors , all and singular the premises before recited , although here not recited , as have been of honorable antiquity upon just 〈◊〉 to them granted , by emperors , kings , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right famous memory heretofore : but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially by these presents , pardon , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 utterly for us and our heires , release the said kings of arms , heralds , &c. aswell all 〈◊〉 , sums of money and demands whatsoever 〈◊〉 , assessed , &c. the officers are thus distinguished . kings of arms garter general & indefinite . of the south p. of eng. beyond trent northw . 〈◊〉 norroy heralds york sometimes styled dukes of arms. 〈◊〉 windsor lancaste . richmond chester pursevants portcullis   blewmantle   raugh dragon   〈◊〉 croixe .   and there are commonly two pursevants extraordinary ; whose names , i finde to have varved , therefore i name them not . the office of garter was first instituted by henry the fifth , and though the other received ordination long before , yet is honored with the precedency ; and , hath the prehemimency in all charters and assemblies , creations of nobility , and honorable processions , especially all concernments of the order of the garter either in elections , or funerals . the other of clarenceux and norroy by 〈◊〉 have power , clarenceux over all england on this side 〈◊〉 , norry beyond ; to enter into all churches , castles , houses , and any other places to survey and review all arms , recognizances , and crests ; to make visitations , and to register the pedegrees and marriages of the nobility and gentry : and at their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or upon suit in their office to punish with disgrace and 〈◊〉 all such as shall intrude so much upon honor , as to usurp other mens atchievements , or phansie to themselves new , against the law of armes ; to reverse and 〈◊〉 them , and to make infamous by 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 or sessions all such as 〈◊〉 unduly take upon them the title of esquire or gentleman , and such as shall use , or wear mourning apparell , as gown , hoods , &c. contrary to the order limited in the time of henry the seventh , and to 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 and other artificers in the setting 〈◊〉 of arms. in the execution of which commission they have power to command all justices , sheriffes , mayors , baliffs , and other officers and subiects to be aiding and assisting to them . and if upon summons any knight , esquire , or gentleman do refuse to come and appear before him , and give an account of their arms and gentility , they have power in their respective provinces , to summon them by a suppaena of what penalty they think sit , before the earl marshal of england for their 〈◊〉 therein . and they have the ordering of all funerals of the gentry within their respective province , from a baron downwards , taking other heralds in their courses with them . as also the ordering of all combats , lists , and triumphs with the fees belonging to them : and they have for stipend out of the exchequer 100 marks a piece annuity . the six heralds are all in equall degree , only preceding according to the seniority of their creation ; their patents , being under the 〈◊〉 seal of england , and their annual stipend is forty marks , besides theirs profits and fees , the 〈◊〉 have their patents in like 〈◊〉 , a stipend of twenty pound per annum , out of the exchequer ; but those extraordinary have neither patent nor fee. the arms of the office is arg. a crosse 〈◊〉 between four 〈◊〉 , azure . the whole company are subordinate unto the high constable or earl marshall of england , and by him every of them is at his first entry commended to the king , by a bill signed with his hand . which done , the king signes the same , and so it passes the privy seal and broad seal ; and , that once obtained , they are to be 〈◊〉 and created by the king himself , or the earl martiall , in 〈◊〉 following a king of arms is brought into the king 〈◊〉 lord marshall , led between a king and a herald , or two heralds , in their coats ; the other heralds 〈◊〉 pursevants going before in their coats carrying the severall necessary instruments to 〈◊〉 used : on 〈◊〉 the coat of arms wherewith 〈◊〉 new king is to be invested , another 〈◊〉 crown ; another the patent ; another he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; another the book and sword : another the book where his oath is received ; all making severall 〈◊〉 , and then he kneels down with those two that led him ; one of which holds the book and 〈◊〉 whereon he swears , the other speaks his oath ; then his patent is read ; and at the word creamus , and investimus , his coat is put on ; and at non violante nomine , &c. the the water is poured on his head , and then he is perfect . there is belonging to this office a register , marshal , and other officers and servants ; and , amongst those painters called heralds-painters , every king of arms hath power to commission one whom he pleases , as appropriate to his businesse : and so much for heralds . and thus much for heraldry . the names of the several houses and innes of court , chancery , and other hostels in and about the city of london . two called serjeants inne 1. in 〈◊〉 . 2. in chancery lane . the two temples inner temple . middle temple . lyncolns inne . grays inne . innes of chancery davies inne . furnivals inne . bernards inne . staple inne . cliffords inne . clements inne . new inne . lyons inne . chesters , or strond inne . the six clerks office or inne . cursiters inne . the rolls , doctors commons . gresham colledge . the exhequer office : osbournes office. st. kather. by the tower. the inns of court and chancery in their order . first it is to be understood the four colledges or innes of court , may be tearmed collegia jurisconsultorum , that is , colledges of lawyers . the romans did call such houses diversoria , ordained to entertain strangers , which in our english are called inns : and have been acknowledged with us in england , to be the residing houses of the noblest peers , viz. oxford inn , warwick inn , ely inn ; and now called oxford house , warwick house , and ely house : somewhat according to the french , whose houses of nobility ( in paris ) are called hostels , ( in latine hospitium ) in english , inns. in london and thereabouts , there are fourteen , two serjeants innes , four innes of court , and eight innes of chancery . the most antient inne of court , and wherein serjeants of law had their first residence , was sometimes over against saint andrews church in holborn , and was known by the name of serjeants inne : which afterwards came to be the scroop's , who then were , & have since continued barons of this land , and it was called scroops iune ; which is called by another name , the possession being likewise altered out of that family . and although the innes of the serjeants be somwhat antient for time , as also of modern age too : yet it must be granted , that in respect of some others they must be respected but of a noval foundation . yet forasmuch as they are receptacles and lodging places of the most reverend judges , and grave barons of the exchequer , and other judge , in office , and serjeants at law ; they are by way of decency to be reckoned in the first rank . that hostel or inne which now is commonly called serjeants inne in fleetstreet , was sometime a messuage appertaining unto the dean and prebends of york . and afterwards purchased by the judges , and serjeants at law that lived in the reign of king henry the eighth , for a place of residence for them in tearm time . and that other called serjeants inne in chancery lane , was somtimes a mesluage belonging unto the bishops of see of ely ; as appeareth by records . in these said houses or innes of court , commonly called serjeants inne , the reverend judges of this land , and the serjeants at law have for many years lived ; and have been lodged within the same ; being ( in very deed ) although 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 said the inner temple hath lately assumed to themselves a pegasus , whereof in particular i spare to relate any more ; for the same is vulgarly known to all . to the inner house was also appropriated divers learned legists from time to time , which in number , continuance , and gifts of nature , did exceed every other of the said innes of court : and therefore was anciently tearmed inner temple boun pleader . which continueth to this very day ; and it is withall much esteemed of , beautified , and graced with a special garden plot , famous for its situation , neatnesse and nearnesse of the river . the ensign is azure , a pegasus argent . lincolns inne . this house , owning a right to the arms as well as name of the lacyes earls of lincolne , have set up over the gate the lyon rampant purpure ; committing a great mistake in that , if sir john fern's account of that familie of the lacyes be true , ( which hath passed for authentick ) : for he tels us that or , a lyon rampant purpure was his right ; but it was only a quartering , and not the paternall coat : for his first and principall bearing was party per crosse , gules & 〈◊〉 a bend sables , over all a file or three labels arg. and this was the proper coat of those lacyes , the other was the coat of the lord nigeld or neal , baron of halton . this society of lincolnes inne , the next for antiquity , and ancient ally to the middle tenple , is situate in a street or lane known formerly by the name of new-street , and now chancery lane being once the mansion-house of a gentleman called william de havershall , treasurer to king henry the third , who for disloyalty to his soveraign , was by the said king attainted of treason , so that thereby his house and lands became annext to the crown . and thereupon the king gave this house to ralph de nova villa , vulgo nevill , chancellor of england , as appeareth by an ancient record : who also was bishop of chichester , and kept his habitation or place of abode in that place . this house came afterwards to the hands of henry lacy earl of lincoln , by reason whereof it was called lincolns inne and keepeth the style to this day . this earl henry deceased in that house about the year of our lord 1310. neverthelesse this house did afterwards continue to the bishops of chichester untill the 〈◊〉 of king henry the eighth , and the interest thereof came by conveyance to justice gullyard and other feoffees , who during his life , and after him his posterity , held it untill the reign of the late queen elizabeth , and then sir edw. gullyard knight , ( to whom the same did successively descend by inheritance ) sold the same with the inheritance thereof to the benchers and society thereof . there is no memory of any florishing estates of the students and professors of the common lawes resident in this colledge , until the reign of king henry the sixth , when it appeareth by the rolls and remembrances of that house , that the same became somewhat to be famous . but now of late time this house hath been much enlarged and beautified , with ranks of goodly edifices , and also with a fair and goodly chappel . the first of the chiefest buildings thereof was begun at the cost of sir thomas lovell knight , then or before a fellow of that society , who erected that fair gate-house into chancery lane , of brick and free stone , whereupon is engraven the arms of lacy earl of lincoln , together with his own . the said chancery lane is so called , for that king edward the third , in the fifteenth year of his reign annexed the house of covents by patent to the office of chancery , now called the rolls . grays inne beareth sables a griffin rampant , or. this house was sometimes the abiding mansion of the noble family of gray , from whence the name of the house is deduced . it is situate within the mannor poorpoole , a prebendary antiently belonging to the cathedral church of st. paul , london . in the reign of king edward the third , the gentlemen students of that society ( as is confidently affirmed ) took a grant of this house from the said baron gray who lived in those dayes . and it is held probable that the grayes armes have been anciently by this fellowship maintained ; and are still taken up , and kept as the proper and peculiar ensigne of that colledge or house , and thus the same is found portraited . barry of six arg. & azure , a bordure quarterly or , and of the second . but now of late yeares this honorable society have assumed for their proper coat armor , or ensign of honor , a griffin or , in a field sables . thavies inne beareth azure , two garbes , or , on a bend gules . on a chief sable , a letter t. arg. hereafter ensue the inferior hostels ordained for students that professe the practice of the common law of this realm , to the end they may the better obtain unto themselves the understanding of the principles & grounds of the same laws ; and be thereby the better prepared for to manage the causes of the subjects in the severall courts of justice within the dominions , whether at westminster , or elsewhere : and also by their labour , and industry to become graduates and be the better enabled to be entred into the innes of court. these inferior courts being nurseries : and are entituled inns of chancery . and first for this thavies inne , it is probable that the house by all conjecture is the most ancient of all others of that nature , and it doth in that regard challenge the precedency in this rank . this house was in the raigne of king edward the third , ( as is by 〈◊〉 to be found ) the dwelling , and mansion house of one john thavye citizen and armourer of london ; and was by the then apprentices of the law held of him at a certain rent annual , as by a record yet to be seen in the husting courts of london , doth appeare and may be verified for antiquity : but since that time the house hath been purchased by the benchers or the antients of lincolns inne , which about the raign of king henry the seventh , to the end that there might be entertained in that place a society of students , practisers , and professors of the common laws of this realm . and this house still retaineth the name of the said thavies , who was the first owner of it , as is before mentioned . furnivals inne beareth arg. a bend betwixt six martlets within a bordure azure . this house was sometime the mansion of sir william furnivall in the raign of king richard the second , as by record appeareth . he was afterwards lord furnival ; his heir general married to sir john talbot , created earl of shrewsbury by king henry the sixth , by reason whereof this mansion house came to the family of the 〈◊〉 , earls of salop : and afterwards of later years , in the raign of queen elizabeth , the same house was by the benchers or the ancients of lincolns inne purchased for the serting into the same a society of students of the common lawes , from george lord talbot earl of salop ; as by sundry deeds in the possession of the late right honorable gilbert earl of shrewbury doth appear . bernards inne beareth party per pale indented ermin and sab. a cheveron gul. fretty . this house was in the thirteenth year of the reign of king henry the sixth , a messuage belonging to one john mackworth then dean of the cathedral church of lincoln ; and in that time in the holding of one lyonel bernard , who next before the conversion thereof into an inne of chancery , dwelt there . and it hath ever since retained the name of bernards inne , or bernards house . staple inne : port de vert un pacquet de doyne arg. this house was sometimes belonging to the english merchants of the staple , as it hath been by ancient tradition held . it is of late adorned with a convenient large garden-plot to walk in , and is at this day rightly esteemed for the most ample and beautifull inne of chancery , within this academy . clifford's inne reareth checky or & azure , of fesse gul. within a bordure of the third , charged with a bezanet . this house albeit it followeth in an after rank from the former , yet it is worthy to be reputed amongst the formest , as being in reputation with the best , both for conveniency and quiet situation thereof , as for worth and good government ; it was also sometime the dwelling house of maccoln de hersey , and came to the king for debts , and was after sometimes the house of the lord clifford , as by inquisition , which was taken that year , and remaining on record , doth appeare , which hath these words , isabella quae fuit roberti clifford , 〈◊〉 cum pertinent . quod robertus habuit in parochia sancti dunstani west ' in suburb . londini &c. tenuit , & illud demisit post mortem dicti roberti , 〈◊〉 de bancho pro 〈◊〉 l. per annum , &c. ut pat . per inquisitionem , cap. 18. edwardi 3. post mortem dict . roberti clifford . this house at this day is the inheritance of that antient and right honorable family of cliffords earls of cumberland , for which there is an annual rent still rendered to the earles of cumberland for the time being . clements inne beareth argent , anchor without a stock in pale proper , entertaining a c. for clement into the body thereof . this house sometimes was a messuage belonging to the parish church of st. clement danes , from whence it took its denomination ; neer to this house is that fountain which is called clements well . this anchor is engraven in stone over the gate of the first entrance into the house , and is an hieroglyphick , figuring thereby that pope clement , as he was pope , was reputed caput ecclesiae romanae , for the roman priesthood , or anchorage of christendome , figured by the anchor , and by the text c. the sacerdotal dignity . some hold that the device of the anchor was rather invented upon this reason ; of the martyrdome of pope clement , as jacobus de voragia writeth , that he received his martyrdome being bound to a great anchor , and cast into the sea by the command of the emperor trajane . new inne beareth vert , a flower-pot arg. maintaining jully flowers , gules . this house is so called by reason of its then late or new creation , being in the reign of king henry the seventh ; therefore the same is not of late a foundation , as some imagine , which is , that the late dissolution of strond inne , being by the duke of somerset uncle to king edward the sixth , this house in lieu thereof was instituted for the dispersed gentlemen professors and students of the common laws of this realm . it is certain that sir thomas moor knight , lord chancellor of england , in the reign of king henry the seventh was a fellow student of this society ; and in the reign of king henry the eighth , removed his study into that of lincolns inne . this house was sometimes called by the name of our ladies inne , for that the picture of our lady was pourtraicted at the doore thereof . and in the reign of king edward the fourth was 〈◊〉 by sir john fyncaullxe , knight , chief justice of england , or of the kings bench , or 6. l. per annum , wherein he placed students , and practisers of the common lawes ; who before that time had a house in the 〈◊〉 bayly called st. georges inne : the passage thereunto was over against st. sepulchers church , and by some is reputed to be the first and most ancient of all other innes of chancery : but the same house at this day is converted into severall tenements and garden plots . lyons inne beareth checkie or , and arg , a lyon saliant , sab. langued and armed gules . this house received its foundation of modern time ; and lately before the acquiring thereof , it was a dwelling house , known by the name of the black lyon ; and in the reign of king henry the seventh , was purchased by divers gentlemen , students , and professors of the common lawes : the first treasurer of this society was one john bidwell . the greatest number of this society are the natives of the west parts , viz devonshire and cornwall ; but for the most part devonshire gentlemen . chesters inne , or strond inne beareth azure within a bordure gules , three garbes , or , in a bend of the second . in the reign of king henry the eighth , this house ( for that sir bevis st. marrour knight duke of somerset kept there his court ) was an inne of chancery called strond inne , and before that time belonged to the bishop of chester , after to the bishop of worcester , and unto the bishop of landaffe , with the parochiall church of st. maries adjoyning thereunto ; all which were swallowed up in an dom. 1549. for to build an ample and spacious edifice to the use of the said duke , the maternall uncle to king edward the sixth . the six clerkes office , otherwise called riderminster's inne beareth azure , two cheveronels , or , between three bezants arg. charged with . eight pellets . this house though it be not saluted by the name of an inne of chancery , as the others are , which are of like name and nature , yet is the same more properly to be called an inne of chancery then any of the rest ; for that the chancery officers do there reside , namely attourneys , commonly called the six clerks of the chancery , and are to this day a society of gentlemen well learned in the laws : these were at the first sacerdotall , and therefore called clerks . and in those days when the institution of them was first established , they were all of them church-men . this house was acquired and gotten for the society by one john riderminster esquire , a member thereof ; who in his time was a very skilfull and well learned man , and both faithfull and just , as well to his client as to his friend . it was antiently the inne , or the mansion of the abbot of norton in lincolnshire , and since that time it hath been the dwelling-house of one andrew hersfleet , and is most proper to be called an inne of chancery , for the officers of chancery only reside there : the house is situate in chancery lane , where the causes appertaining to 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 . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a67873-e350 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. camd. brit. p. 171 seg. f. 69. rot. pat . 10. jacob par . 10. membr . 8. seld. p. 〈◊〉 pat. 9. jac. part 48. sel. f. 827. pat. 10. ja. par . 10. n. 18. segar . l. 2. c. 3. p. 53. albert. rosu dicti . gloss. p. 79. bract. lib. 1 cap. 8. gloss. p. 79. lamb. fol. 336. seld. f. 87. spel. gloss. fol. 79. mr. seld. title of hon. ch . 5. f. 699 , 704 seg. lib. 4. fol. 223. coke par . 2. pag. 5. camden . fol. 122. sel. f. 712. see mr. sol. f. 748. cook 2. part . 80. b. 〈◊〉 pleas . del . coron . lib. 3. ch . 1. 〈◊〉 dir 205. & 300 fitz. nat . br . 165. lamb. just. l. 2. c. 1. fol. 17 dier . 315. 5 eliz. c. 1 mills de nob. pol. vel liv p. 58. pat. 18. h. 6. par . 2. m. 21. rat. pet . 4. 〈◊〉 par . 1. sir wil. segar . f. 821. segar . fol. 220. instit. par . 2. fol. 5. 〈◊〉 fol. 315. ib. f 325. cam. rem . 6. 15. seld. fol. 605. ibid fol. 609. spelman , 〈◊〉 fol. 〈◊〉 . ib. f. 109. selden . fol. 639. see sir jo. 〈◊〉 . hon. mil. & liv . fol. 641. seld. title of honor , ch . 5. f. 641. ib. fol. 646 & camd. brit f. 591. seldens title of honor , pag. 761. segar . fol. title of honor , pars latina . 〈◊〉 . fol. 219. segar . fol. 214. sir john fern. fol. 138. ludovic . de molina de hisp. primogen . lib. 3. c. 6. lamb. per. kent , fol. 364. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 97. fetn glory of generosity . segar . 〈◊〉 . mil. & civil . coke 3. fol. 238. bracton : de acqui . rerum . dom. l. 24. in 1. 7. 11. camd. brit f. 105 see bract. also , lib. 1. chap. 8. seld fol. 123. ingul . hist fol. 484. ib. ib. f. 510. 26 hen. 〈◊〉 chap. 1. sold. title of honor. chap. 7. ibid. f. 44. ibid. fol. 4. her. trismegist . paus. in boeoticis . seld. f. 11. seld. c. 8. fol. 149. chopni de dominio . lib 3. tit . 8. coke 7. par . seld. fol. par . 1. c. 8. ibid. cap 8. seg. hon. mil. & civ . lib. 4. cap. 6. jac. rebust . de dig . lib. 12. th. walsingham 17 rich. 2 seld. c. 3. par . 1. seg. fol. 214. see 〈◊〉 . de divin . lib. 2. 〈◊〉 . ad spartian . stat. hyb . 24 h. 8. cap. 12. & 25. segar l. 4. cap. 4. leunclavius supplement , annal . turc . ann. chr. 1566. seld. fol. 906. coke 8. part . 53. cart. 21. rich. 2. mem . 12. num . 18. pat. 24. hen. 8. par . 1. pat. 21. jac. part . 8 num . 4. versteg . fol. 413. bract. l. 3. de coron . 116. ib. de acq . rer . dom. lib. 2. c. 34. dier's reports . 283. b. glory of generosity . fol. 62. ibid. coke 4. part . 118. b. 6. part . 53. b. ibid. dyer . 79. coke par . 1. fol. 16. 32 of ed. 3. 35. in the case of gilb. humfrevill seld. tit. of honor , fol. 632. bed. hist. eccl. lib. 2. cap. 5. ibid. lib. 2. cap. 15. 〈◊〉 . p. 77. see the statute of the year , 1273. seld. p. 117 anno 18. 1. edw. 1290. stat. de 〈◊〉 : an. reg. ed. 20. an. 36. ed. 1. an. 37 ed. 1. & an 7. rich. 2. hen. 3. ed. 4. rich. 3. vide plow . den f. 121. statute 8. of hen. 6. cap. 15. crompt . courts 16. vid sta. de an 〈◊〉 h. 6. cap 〈◊〉 . 21 of ric. 2. cap. 12. plowd . 221. 6. bract. initio libri . brookes prerog . 13. c. 73. & stamff 72. dyer 60. cromptons courts . fol. 11. notes for div a67873-e17240 rules in blazon . sir john fern makes 〈◊〉 . colours . segar , fern , guillim . guillim . favin p. 1. ca. 3. fol. 24 ib. p. 25. hon. mil. & civ . p. 213. notes for div a67873-e33010 heylyn . fol. 325. & 326. seld c. 5. fol. 792. fav . fol. 68. & 70. heylyn . hist. de st. geo. cap. 1. fol. 142. cedton . pag. 650. de vit . const. l 1. l. 32. seg. f. 155. heyly n-hist . de st. georg. fol. 318. geof . of munmouth . aubertus maereus , fol. 145. lesleus , 〈◊〉 9. pa. 193. favin . l. 4. fol. 14. segar . seld. title of honor ca. 〈◊〉 p. 55. bodin . de rep . lib. 5. cap. 4. seld. pars : sec. cap 3. fol. 552. favin l. 3. pag. 372. hon. mil. & civ . lib. 2. p. 87 88 , 89. fav . lib. 3. fol. 312. & aubert . meraeus . pag. 62. fol. 63. knights of st. lazarus . knights of mount carmel . porcupine . thistle . croissant . ermin . cock and dog . seld. pag. 554 , 555. * a book of devotion full of improbable 〈◊〉 licencedby the church of rome . fau. l. 6. fol. 11. segar . favin . l. 6. fol. 138. ibid. f. 137 aub mae . foi . 99. segar . favin . l. 6. fol. 142. ibid. fol. 163 , 164. aub. maer . fol. 119. seg. aub. 〈◊〉 . mr. seld. title of honor , fol. 576. favin . l. 8. 〈◊〉 . 310. segar . fol. 66. vid. aub. maer . f. 77. & 78. hist. orient . cap. 65. & 66. 〈◊〉 . fol. 92. 7 of ed. 2. segar . fol. 66 , 67. favin . l. 9. fol. 388. 〈◊〉 . l. 2. ol . 105. ibid fol. 106. favin lib. fol. 381. seg fol. 107. favin . l 7. fol. 273. aub maer . lib. 2. f. 79 ibid. sol . 150. favin . fol. 392. notes for div a67873-e41070 verst . 〈◊〉 . 321. gloss. f. 336. vid. pomp. 〈◊〉 . de magist . rom. p. 5. favin . l. 4. cap. 4. ibid. ibid. favin . l. 〈◊〉 . c. 4 f. 36. erōologia anglorum. or, an help to english history containing a succession of all the kings of england, and the english-saxons, the kings and princes of wales, the kings and lords of man, and the isle of wight. as also of all the arch-bishops, bishops, dukes, marquesses, and earles, within the said dominions. in three tables. by robert hall, gent. peter heylyn, 1600-1662. 1641 approx. 494 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 189 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a43536 wing h1713 estc 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a43536) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 32615) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1948:15) erōologia anglorum. or, an help to english history containing a succession of all the kings of england, and the english-saxons, the kings and princes of wales, the kings and lords of man, and the isle of wight. as also of all the arch-bishops, bishops, dukes, marquesses, and earles, within the said dominions. in three tables. by robert hall, gent. peter heylyn, 1600-1662. [6], 379, [1] p. : ill., port. by t. and r. cotes, for henry seile, and are to be sold at his shop in fleet-street, over against saint dunstans-church, london : 1641. robert hall is a pseudonym for peter heylyn. first word of title is in greek characters. each table has separate dated title page; second table has two parts, each with separate dated title page. imperfect; leaves k7-k12 lacking. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng nobility -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -kings and rulers -succession -early works to 1800. 2002-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-11 rina kor sampled and proofread 2002-11 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ηρωολογια anglorvm . or , an help to english history . containing a succession of all the kings of england , and the english-saxons , the kings and princes of wales , the kings and lords of man , and the isle of wight . as also of all the arch bishops , bishops , dukes , marquesses , and earles , within the said dominions . in three tables . by robert hall , gent. london , by t. and r. cotes , for henry seile , and are to be sold at his shop in fleet-streete , over against saint dunstans-church . 1641. to the most excellent prince , charles , prince of wales , heire-apparent to the monarchy of great britaine , &c. most illustrious sir , i doubt not your closet already abounds ▪ and is daily replenished , with volumes of english history , as those mirrours , in whose reflections your royall ancestors , you may best discover theirs , and direct your owne actions . i therefore humbly addresse this piece to your highnesse , not as a booke , but as an index , which cannot offer the pompe of● a volume ▪ yet may yeeld the profit of a manuall . the work is posthumus , bereav'd both of the author and protection ; and had it not desired to live under the patronage of so clement a prince , was willing to dye in the cradle , rather then be expos'd to theadventures of a distempered age. i referre its merits to the judgement of the publique ( to whose use it affords it selfe , ) but humbly begges , that being an orphan , its fatherlesse condition may finde succour and countenance from the splendour of your goodnesse , under which it hath beene first brought ●orth into the world . vouchsafe ● therefore ( great prince ) to cast a gracious eye on this deserted●object , and the poore oblation of your most humbly devoted servant and subject henry seile . a generall preface , touching the use of these three catalogues or tables . having a purpose to peruse our english histories , and those of forraine nations which had any intercourse or commerce with the affaires either of this realme or church of england : i found it no small trouble to me , to know the names of those , whose actions i encountred within the said perusall . for whereas commonly great persons are not called by the names of their families , but of their dignities : it was a matter of no meane difficulty to finde out , what and who they were , who were presented to us by their dignities , as well ecclesiasticall as temporall . upon this ground , to save me from that troublesome inquirie for the time to come ; i set my selfe to draw up a complete and perfect catalogue of all the persons of chiefe ranke in this realme of england , from earles inclusively and upwards ; so farre as any light of story , and warrantable ascent , would direct and guide me . and having formed it in that frame and order , as hereafter followeth , found manifestly that that paines it cost me , was not ill bestowed ; because of that great ease it did me , being once composed . for then no sooner did i meete in any story , with any , either prince or prelate , of , or in this nation ; but i could forthwith turne unto him : and by computing of the times , finde out exactly who he was . and yet me thought it was not perfect , till i had added to the same all those soveraigne princes , which have borne rule in all or any part hereof : the names and actions of the which occurre , as well in our owne chronicles , as forraine stories . that done , i thought it not amisse , to note and adde , according as i met it in my course of reading , what kings and prelates of this nation have beene ennobled in the church with the stile of saints : as also what great offices any of the arch-bishops , bishops , dukes , marquesses , and earles , had severally borne in the civill state. by doing which , as i received great ease and benefit , as before is said ; so i was easily intreated to let all such partake thereof , who thinke it may be either profitable or usefull to them : and for that cause have suffered it to come abroad , that they that will , may take the benefit of my poore endeavours . and this i have the ra●her beene intreated to , to satisfie the mindes of those ( if any thing will satisfie them ) that either are the enemies of regall or episcopall power . for whereas some conc●ive that kings were instituted by the people , on ●ight perhaps of such confusions as had beene noted and observed in a popular government : these following catalogues will make it evident and apparent , that in this countrey there was never any other government then that of kings either in any part thereof , or the whole together . and whereas it is factiously given out by others , that the episcopall authority and regiment in and of the church , is not the proper and peculiar government of the same , but violently obtruded on it by the power of man : the tables of episcopall succession will make it evident , that the said forme of government , is of as long a standing as the church it selfe ; religion and episcopall jurisdiction being brought into this land together . lastly , if any such there be , as have beene formerly , that would crie downe nobility , and that precedencie and power which som● men have above the rest , they may here see , that from the first setling of this monarchie in the norman race , that kings of england have advanced to place and dignity , whom they thought most fit ; and did it sans controule of inferiour people . and so they did no question in the saxons times , and those before them : of which if we have no such cleare and evident succession , as in the rest of later ages ; it is because their digties , and honorarie titles were rather personall then hereditary . now in these catalogues , i shall begin , as reason is , with that of kings , from the first entrance of the romans to this present time : to which i shall adjoyne the kings and princes of wales , as also the kings and lords of man , and the isle of wight● : assigning unto every one his time , according to the computation of our best historians . the catalogue of the bishops i shall bring along , from the first planting of religion here , amongst the saxons ; since which we have a cleare and undeniable succession in the holy hierarchy : the former times , under the empire of the britons , having transmitted to our hands onely some fragments of antiquity , by which we may perceive that the episcopall government was here received together with the faith it selfe ; but cannot gather from the same a constant and continued succession of the persons governing . then for the third catalogue that of the nobility , we have continued that from the first entrance of the normans to this present day ; that at one view a man may see the quality and antiquity of those noble families , which are now both an honour and an ornament to this flourishing kingdome . i shall not neede say more in this generall preface , having prefixed particular prefaces to each severall catalogue , to which i rather shall referre the reader , then detaine him here . the first table , or , a catalogve of all the kings which have reigned in england , since the first entrance of the romans . as also of the kings and princes of wales , the kings and lord of man , and the isle of wight , together with the princes and lords of powys . . printed at london . 1641. the preface to the catalogve of the kings of england . the realme of england is th●t southerne and more flourishing part of the isle of britaine : that which was civi●ized by the romans , and made a province of their empire ; when as the northe●ne parts thereof , were ●ither neglected or not conquered . when it was under the command of the roma● emperours , it wanted not its proper and peculiar kings , over the chiefest and most principall of their tribes and nations : it being the custome of that empire , as ▪ tacitus hath truely noted , habere servitutis instrumenta etiam reges . of these inferiour tributary kings , those which were in their severall times of more power then others , may probably be thought to have assum'd unto themselves the stile and title of kings of the britons : even as in after times , during the heptarchy of the saxons , those which gave law unto the rest , did call themselves , and were accounted the kings or monarchs of the english. but those inferiour petite kings , being , in tract of time worne out , and almost all the south reduced under the immediate command of the roman empire : either the emperours themselves , or such of their lieutenants as did here usurpe the regall state , were stiled kings of britaine , till constantine the great united it inseparably to the roman diadem : and in him ended the first line of the kings of britaine , according to the british story . the second line of kings , beares da●e from the departure of the romans : who being called from hence to looke unto their empire in the continent , le●t their possessions here unto the ●ury of the scots and picts , who dwelling in the northerne and unconquered parts ▪ attempted to subdue the southerne . for the repressing of whose rage the britons chose themselves a king out of armo●ica , ( now called bretag●e ) being extracted from the old british bloud , which had not long before beene planted in that region , by the roman emperours . whose li4e continued here not long , till they were dispossessed both of crowne and countrey , by the saxons , a german people , called in by vortiger to oppose the scots and other nations of the north. who having by degrees subdued all that which formerly had beene conquered by the romans ( the countrey beyond severne excepted onely ) divided it amongst themselves into seven kingdomes ; which finally being all brought under by the west-saxon kings , did at last settle , and continues in the name of england . a kingdome , though of small extent , compared unto the greater countries of france , spaine ▪ and germany , yet of so high esteeme abroad ▪ that it may challenge an equality with either of them , and in some kinde hath had preced●ncie before them . for to the honour of this realme , as well before as since it had the name of england , we may say thus much . it was the first kingdome which received the faith of christ , which was here planted , as it is affirmed by gildas upon certaine knowledge , toward the latter end of tiberius empire . tempore ut scimus summo , tiberii cae●aris , as his owne words are : which by computing of the times , will fall to be five yeares before saint peter came to rome ; and but five yeares after the death of our redeemer . it shewed unto the world the first christia● king , whose name was lucius : and gave unto the church her first christian emperour , even the famous constantine here borne ; by whose example and incouragement the saith was generally received over all the empire , and all the temples of the idols , either demolished or forsaken . it also was the first christian kingdome , out of which the jewes , those bitter and most obstinate enemies of the crosse of christ , were universally expulsed ; and our of which the insolent and usurped supremacie of the popes of rome , was first ejected , after they had a long time domineered in the church of christ. the one of these performed by king edward the first ; the other by king henry the eighth . not to say any thing in this place of their warres and victories in france , spaine , scotland , the netherlands , the isle of cyprus and the holy land . in these regards , the kings of england , as they are a● absolute , so they are as sacred , as of any countrey whatsoever what ever things are proper unto supreme majesty , scepters , and crownes , ●he purple ro●e , the glo●e , or golden ball and vnction , have beene as long theirs , as any others . the foure first are by leland , a ●●●ous antiquarie , ascribed unto king a●thur , who did begin his reigne anno 506. which was as soon● as they were ordinarily in use with the roman emperours . and thi● doth leland justifie , out of an ancient seale of the said king arthurs kept in his time , as an especiall monument in the abbie of westminster : as for their vnction , or annointing , it appeares by the old roman pr●vinciall , and the ancient practise , that of all the kings of christendome , there were none anciently annointed but the two emperours of the east and west ; the kings of france , england , sicilie , and hier●salem . by reason of which vnction or annointing ( besides what is united or annexed to the crowne imp●riall of this realme ) it was declared term. hilarii . 33. edward 3. that the kings of england were capaces jurisdictionis spiritualis , capable of spirituall or ecclesiasticall jurisdiction . as after in the reigne of king henry the eighth , it was declared rather then enacted , that the kings highnesse was the supreme head of the church of england , and that he had authority to reforme all errours , heresies , and abuses in the same . 26. henry 8. cap. 1. which title or supreme head , though used by king edward 6. in a●l his ●eigne , and by queene mary for awhile ; was changed by queene elizabeth into that of supreme governour : and it is now reckoned as a part of the stile of the kings of england , that they are supreme governo●rs in all their dominions and countries , over all persons , in all causes , as well ecclesiasticall as temporall . now as the kings of england are absolute at home ; so are they no lesse honoured and esteemed abroad : the emperour being accounted filius major ecclesiae , the eldest sonne of the church ; the king of france , filius minor , or the second sonne ; and the king of england , filius tertius & adop●ivus , the third and the adopted sonne . in generall councels , the king of france took place at the emperours right hand ; the king of england on his left , and the king of scots having precedencie next before castile . and whereas since the time of charles the fifth , the kings of spaine have challenged the precedencie of all christian princes : yet in the time of king henry 7. pope iulius gave it to the english before the spaniard . nay lest the kings of england might fall short in any thing wherein their neighbour princes glory , they also have an adjunct or peculiar title annexed unto the stile imperiall . for where the king of france is stiled christianissimus , most christian ; and the king of spaine , catholi●us , or the catholick king : the king of england hath the title of defensor fidei , o● the defender of the faith. a title not so much conferred on king henry 8. by the popes of rome , as confirmed unto him . for in a charter of king richard 2. unto the university of oxford , the same stile occurres : for which and other proofes hereof consult the epistle dedicatory before doctor craca●●horp against the arch-bishop of spalato ; and sir isa●c wake , in his rex platonicus . but now we goe unto the kings . south-britaine or england , the kings thereof , according to the british story , from i. caesar unto constantine .   1 cassibelan .   2 theomantius .   3 cymbeline .   4 guiderius . a. ch     45 5 arviragus , called pr●●●sag●● by hector b●●●ius . 73 6 marius . 125 7 coilus . 180 8 lucius , the first christned king of brit●ine and the world ; who dying without children , left the 〈◊〉 emperours his heire . 207 9 severus emperour of rome . 211 10 bassianus sonne of severus . 218 11 carausius a noble briton . 225 12 alectus . 232 13 aesclepiodorus . 262 14 coilus . ii. 289 15 helena daughter of coilus , and constantius emp. of rome .   16 constantine , sonne of helena and constantius : who added , or unite● his estate in britaine , unto the monarchy of rome . south-britaine or england , the kings thereof , from the departure of the romans , unto the setling of the saxons . a. ch.     431 1 constantine of ar●orica or little britaine . 443 2 constantius sonne of constantine . 446 3 vortiger earle of th● gevisses , who called in the saxons . 464 4 vo●●imer , 〈…〉 471 5 vortiger ( againe ) 481 6 aurelius ambrosiu●●●●cond sonne of 〈◊〉 . 500 7 u●er pend●●gon 〈◊〉 son of const. 506 8 arth●r , son of vter ●●●dragon . 542 9 constantine ii. next cousin of arthur . 546 10 conan . 576 11 vorhpor . 580 12 malgo. 586 13 careticus . 613 14 cadwan . 635 15 cadwallan . 678 16 cadwalladar . after whose death ( the saxons having totally subdued all the countrey on this side the severne ) ●he british princes were no longer called kings of britaine , but kings of wales : of wh●m more hereafter . the kingdome and kings of kent . the saxons being called in by vortiger to resist the scots , and other people of the north , did by degrees expulse the britons : and having totally subdued the countrey , erected in the same seven kingdomes . of these the ancientest was that of kent , confined within that county onely : the kings these that follow . a. ch.     455 1 hengist the first king of 〈◊〉 488 2 eske or osca . 512 3 octa. 532 4 immerick . 561 5 ethelbert s. the first christned king , the founder of s. pauls in london . 617 6 edbald . 641 7 ercombert . 665 8 egbert . 673 9 lotharius . 686 10 edrick . 693 11 wightred . 726 12 egbert . ii. 749 13 ethelbert . ii. 759 14 alricus . 794 15 ethelbert . iii. sirnamed pren. 797 16 cuthred . 805 17 baldred , who in the yeare 827. lost both his life and kingdome unto egbert king of the west-saxons . the kingdome and kings of the south-saxons . the kingdome of the south-saxons was begun by ella , a noble captaine of that people . it contained the two counties of sussex and survey , which were thence denominated : the first so called quasi south sex , the countrey of the south-saxons : the second q●asi south rey , as lying on the south of the river t●amise . this kingdome lasted but a while , and had onely these foure kings that follow . viz. a. ch.     488 1 ella the first king of the so●th-saxo●s . 514 2 cissa .   3 ethelwolf or edilwach the first christned king of the south-saxons .   4 berthun and authun two brothers both joyntly reigning , and both joyntly vanquished by crad●all king of the west-saxons . the kingdome and kings of the west-saxons . the third in order of these kingdomes , and that which did in fine prevaile over all the rest , was that of the west-saxons . it contained in it the counties of cornwall , devon , dorset , sommerset , wiltes , southampton , and berks : the kings these . a. ch.     522 1 cerdicus the first king. 17. 539 2 kinricus . 29. 565 3 celingus or che●line . 10. 595 4 cel●icus . 5. 600 5 ceolwolf . 614 6 kingil the first christned king. 646 7 kenewalchin . 31. 677 8 sigebertus . 1. 678 9 es●win . 2. 680 10 centwin . 7. 687 11 s. cedwalla . 3. 690 12 ina 35. who first gave th● peter-pence to the church of rome . 725 13 ethelard . 14. 739 14 cuthbert . 16. 755 15 sigebert . ii. 1. 756 16 kinulphus . 31. 787 17 bithrick . 13. 800 18 egbert , of whom see more in the saxon monarchs . the kingdome and kings of the east-saxons . the kingdome of east-saxons is the fourth in order , of the heptarchie ; begunne in anno 527. some five yeares after that of the w●st-saxons . it comprehended the counties of essex , midlesex , and part of hertfordshire ; the kings these that follow . a. ch.     527 1 erchenwme . 587 2 sledda . 596 3 s. seber , tthe first christned king of the east saxons ; and first founder of s. peters in westminster .   4 seward and sigebert . 623 5 sigebert the little .   6 sigebert . iii. 661 7 swithelme . 664 8 sighere . 664 9 s. sebba .   10 sigherd .   11 seofride . 701 12 offa. 709 13 selred . 747 14 suthred , subdued by eg●ert king of the west-saxons , and his kingdome made a member of that rising empire . the kingdome and kings of the east-angles . next to the kingdome of the east-saxons , was that of the east-angles ; containing in it the counties of norfolke , suffolke , and cambridge shire , with the isle of ely : and had these kings following . a. ch.     575 1 uffa , the first king. 582 2 titullus . 593 3 redwald the first christned king. 624 4 erpenwald . 636 5 s. sigebert . 638 6 egric . 642 7 anna. 654 8 ethelbe●t . 656 9 edelwald . 664 10 alduffe . 683 11 elsewolfe . 714 12 beorne . 714 13 s. etheldred . 749 14 ethelbert . ii. who died anno 793. 870 15 s. edmund . after whose slaughter by the danes , and that his kingdome had beene long wasted by that people ; it was at last united to the west-saxons , by king edw the elder . the kingdome and kings of the north-humbers . the kingdome of the north humbers , or northumberland , was the fifth in course of time , of the saxon hepta●chy ; it was divided into two parts or provinces , the one of which was called bernicia ; the other d●ira : of which the former called bernicia , was founded by one ida , anno 547. the other by one ella , his fellow and companion in armes , anno 559. this last contained the whole countries from the north of humber to the twede , viz. the counties of yorke , durham , lancaster , westmorland , cumberland , and northumberland : the other all that part of scotland , which lieth betweene the river twede , and the frith of edenbourg ; which was as farre as ever the romans had gone before them . those kings of either , which were more powerfull then the other , were honoured with the name of kings of the north humbers , and are marshalled thus . a. ch.     547 1 ella and ida.   2 adda and elappea .   3 theodwald ,   4 frethulfe .   5 theodorick . 589 6 ethelrick . 593 7 ethel●ride . 617 8 edwine the first christned king. 633 9 osrick . 634 10 s. oswald . 643 11 oswy , who having subdued oswin● king of deira , was the first absolute king of all northumberland . 671 12 egfride . 686 13 s. alfride . 705 14 osred . 716 15 kenred . 718 16 osrick . ii. 729 17 ceolnulph . 738 18 egbert . 758 19 oswulph . 759 20 edilwald . 765 21 alured . 774 22 ethelred . 778 23 al●wald . 789 24 osred . ii. 794 25 etheldred . ii. after whose death this kingdome much molested by the danes , became a province of the west-sax●●s . the kingdome and kings of mercia . the last and greatest of the seven kingdomes of the saxons , was that of mercia , so called , for that being seared in the middle of the whole countrey , it was a march or border unto all the rest which abutted on it . it comprehended the counties of gl●●cester , hereford , worcester , warwick , leicester , rutland , northampton , lincoln , bedford , nottingham , b●ckingham , oxford , darby , stafford , shropshire , cheshire , and that other part of hertfordshire , which was not under the kingdome of the east-saxons . by reason of this great extent of empire , ●hey were a long time very powerfull , and over-awed their neighbour princes : till at the last the fatall period being come , it fell into the armes of the west-saxons , after it enjoyed these twenty kings which hereafter follow . a. ch.     582 1 cridda the first king of mercia 593 2 wibba . 614 3 cheorl . 626 4 penda . 656 5 peada , the first christned king. 659 6 wulfher● . 675 7 ethelred . 704 8 kenred . 709 9 chelred . 716 10 ethelbald . 758 11 offa. 796 12 egfride . 797 13 kenwolf . 819 14 kenelm . 820 15 ceolwolf . 811 16 bernulf . 824 17 ludecan . 826 18 withlafe . 839 19 berthulf . 85● 20 burdred . after whose death this kingdome having beene shrewdly shaken in a great battell fought near burford , comit. oxo● . wherein king ethelbal● was vanquished , and his whole strength broken by cuthbert , or cuthred , king of the west-saxons , then his tributary : and after no lesse shrewdly shaken by the valiant egbert , became a province of that empire . the monarchs of the english-saxons . the saxons , though they were divided into the seven kingdomes before named , were for the most part subject unto one alone ; who was entituled r●x gentis anglorum , or king of the english nation : those which were stronger then the rest , giving the law unto them in their severall turnes , till in the end they all became incorporated into the empire of the west-saxons . which monarchs , who they were , and of whence entituled , is next in order shewne . a. ch.     455 1 hengist king of kent . 481 2 ella king of the south-saxons . 495 3 cerdick king of the west-saxons . 534 4 kenrick king of the west-saxons . 561 5 cheuline , or celingus , king of the west-saxons . 562 6 ethelbert king of kent . 616 7 redwald king of the east-angles . 617 8 edwin king of northumberland . 634 9 oswald king of northumberland . 643 10 oswy king of northumberland . 659 11 wulfhere king of m●rci● . 675 12 ethelred king of mercia . 704 13 kenred king of mercia . 709 14 chelred king of mercia . 716 15 ethelbald king of mercia . 758 16 offa king of mercia . 794 17 egfride king of mercia . 796 18 kenwolf king of mercia . 800 19 egbert the son●e of al●mond , king of the west-saxons , the first and absolute monarch of the whole heptarchy : who having vanquished all , or most of th● sax●n kings , and added their estates unto his owne , commanded the whole countrey to be called by the name of england . the kings wh●reof , after th● count●●y was so named , are these that follow . the kings of england of the saxon race . a. ch.     800 1 egbert the 18 king of the west-saxons , the 19 monarch of the english , and first king of england . 37. 837 2 s. ethelwolf 20. 857 3 edelbald . 858 4 edelbert . 5. 863 5 edelfride . 9. 873 6 s. alured , who totally reduced the saxons under one monarchy , and founded the university of oxford . 23. 900 7 edward the elder . 24. 924 8 athelstane . 16. 940 9 edmund . 6. 946 10 eadred who stiled himselfe king of great britaine . 955 11 edwin . 4. 959 12 s. edgar . 16. 975 13 edward the younger . 3. 678 14 ethelred . 1016 15 edmund ironside . the danish race . 1017 16 canutus king of dan●mark . 20. 1037 17 harald harfager . 4. 1041 18 hardie cnute . 4. the saxons repossessed . 1045 19 s. edward who founded and endowed the church of westminster , and was the first that cured the disease called the kings-evill , leaving the same hereditary to his successors . 1066 20 harald the sonne of godwin usurped the crowne , and shortly lost both it and his life to boote , to william duke of n●rmandy . the norman race . 1067 21 william duke of normandy , sirnamed the conquerour . 22. 1089 22 william rufus . 13. 1102 23 henry beauclerk . 35. 1136 24 stephen e. of bloys . 19. the saxon line restored . 1155 25 henry ii. descended by his grandmother , from the bloud royall of the saxons . 34. 1189 26 richard coeur de lyon. 1● . 1201 27 john. 17. 1218 28 henry . iii. 56. 1274 29 edward . i. 34. 1308 30 edward . ii. 19. 1327 31 edward . iii. 50. 1377 32 richard. ii. the line of lancaster . 1399 33 henry . iv. 15. 1414 34 henry . v. 9. 1423 35 henry . vi. 38. the line of yorke . 1461 36 edward . iv. 23. 1483 37 edward . v. 1483 38 richard. iii. 3. the families united . 1486 39 henry . vii . 23. 1508 40 henry . viii . 39. 1547 41 edward . vi. 6. 1553 42 queene mary . 5. 1558 43 queene elizabeth . 45. the union of the kingdomes . 1602 44 james king of scots , reassumed the title of great-britaine . 1625 45 charles by the grace of god , king of great britaine , france , and ireland ; the 63. king in descent from the west-saxon cerdick , the 64. monarch of the english , and 45. king of england in descent from egbert : whom god long preserve . kings of wales . the britons being outed of their countrey by the conquering saxons , retired themselves beyond the severn , and therein fortified themselves ; which countrey thereupon came to bee called wales , and the people walsh , or welch men . not that the word walsh , signified in the saxon language , a foreiner or alien , as it is ●conceived ( for how could they be called aliens in their native countrey ? ) but wales , and wallish , for galles and gallish , by changing g into w , according to the custome of the saxons . the britons being descended of the gaules , kept their old name still ; though somewhat altered in the letter , as before is said : and to this day the french doe call the prince of wales , by the name of le prince de galles . at first their cheifes were honoured with the title of kings of wales , a●d are these that follow . a. ch.     690 1 idwallo . 30. 720 2 roderick . 35. 755 3 conan . 63. 818 4 mervyn . 25. 843 5 roderick sirnamed the great , who divided wales betweene his three sonnes , allotti●g unto each his partthe countrey being divided into north-w●les , south-wales , and powys-land which had their severall lords and princes , as hereafter followeth . the principality and princes of south-wales . south wa●es , in the division of the countrey amongst the sonnes of roderick mawr , ●ell unto cadel the second sonne . it contained all that quantity and tract of ground , which now we call the counties of glamorgan , pembroke , carmarthen , cardigan , and part of brecknock : which being the richer and more fruitfull part of wales , and lying most open to invasion , both by sea and land , was soonest brought under the command of the kings of england . the principall seat of the princes of it , was dyn●sar , or dynevor castle , not farre from carmarthen , who thence were called by their subjects , the kings of dynevor ; and whilest they stood upon their owne legges , were these that follow . a. ch.     877 1 cadell second sonne of roderick .   2 howell . 907 3 howell dha . 948 4 owen .   5 ●neas .   6 theodore mawr . 1077 7 rhese . i. 1093 8 gryffith . i.   9 rhese . ii.   10 gryffith . ii. in whom ended the line of the princes of south-wales , his countrey being conquered by the english , and his two sonnes meredith and cynerick taken by king henry the second , who caused their eyes to be put out . after which time south-wales was reckoned as a part of the realme of england . the principality and princes of north-wales . north-wales in the division of the kingdome of wales , fell to the share of amarawd , the eldest sonne of roderick mawr , the last king thereof ; with a superior●ty of power over both the rest , who were but homagers to this . it contained in it all that territory which now doth comprehend the counties of merioneth , de●bigh , flint , carna●von , and the is●e of anglesey , which being the more mountainous parts ; and consequently of more difficult accesse then the others were , as they did longest keepe their liberties , so doe they still preserve their language from the incursions of the english ▪ abers●aw in the isle of anglesey was the princes seate , who were hence sometimes called the kings of abersraw , and were these ensuing . a. ch.     8077 1 amarawd eldest sonne of roderick . 913 2 idwallo . 3 merick .   4 joanes . 1067 5 conan . 1099 6 gryffith 1120 7 owen . 1178 8 david . i. 1194 9 llewellen . i. 1240 10 david . ii. 1246 11 llewellen . ii. the last of the princes of wales of the british bloud , of whom , and the conclusion of his race , see the following catalogue . the kings and princes of it , according to the history of wales . in the history of wales , writ by humphrey lloyd , the kings and princes of wales are reckoned differently from that succession of them before laied downe . the reason of which difference may be that he reciteth there the predominant princes , such as gave law unto the rest , whether of north-wales , south-wales , or of powys-land : even as wee see was done before , in summing up the monarchs of the english saxons , out of the severall kingdoms in that heptarchie . now for his catalogue of the welch , both kings and princes , he recites them thus . a ch.     688 1 ivor . 720 2 roderick mo●wino● . 755 3 conan tindaethwy . 820 4 mervyn urich . 843 5 roderick mawr . 877 6 amarawdh . 913 7 edward voel . 940 8 howel dha . 948 9 jevaf , and jago . 982 10 howel ap jevaf . 984 11 cadwallan ap jevaf . 986 12 meredith ap owen . 992 13 edwal ap meiric . 1003 14 aedan ap blegored . 1015 15 lhewellen ap sit●ylt . 1021 16 jago ap edwall . 1037 17 gryffith ap llewellen . 1061 18 blethyn , and rhywallon . 1073 19 trahaern ap caradoc . 1078 20 gry●●ith ap conan . 1137 21 owen gwineth . 1169 22 david ap owen . 1194 23 llewellen ap jorweth . 1240 24 david ap llewellen . 1246 25 llewellen ap gryffith , the last prince of wales of the british race , who lost his life and principality to king edward the first , anno 1282. after whose death , the king perceiving that the welch had no affection to be ruled by strangers ; sent for his queene then great with child , to come unto him to carnarvon , and hearing that shee was delivered of a sonne , called the welch lords together , and proffered them a prince to beare rule amongst them , of their owne nation , one who spake no word of english , and such a one whose life no man could tax . to such a prince when they had all sworn to yeeld obedience , he named his new-borne sonne unto them , and made him their prince , since when the eldest sonnes of england have commonly beene created princes of wales . the princes of it , of the bloud royall of england . wales thus brought under the obedience of the kings of england , hath since beene commonly the honourary title and possession of their eldest sonnes . not that they challenge it , as of due belonging to them ; but take it from their fathers as of speciall grace , by solemne creation and investure , tenendum sibi & haeredibus suis regibus augliae , to hold to them and their heires kings of england : our kings not being willing to deprive themselves of such a power of gratifying and obliging their eldest sonnes , as they saw occasion . edward 2. who had been summoned by his father unto the parliament by the name of prince of wales , and earle of chester : summoned his eldest sonne ( king edward 3. ) by no other name then earle of chester and flint . edward 3. first used the ceremony of creation , by letters patents , and investiture , which hath since continued : and for the want of which , edward 6. queene mary and queen elizabeth however in their severall turnes , they have beene called princes and princesses of wales , were not truely such . those which were so created , either by parliamentary writ or especiall charter , are these that follow . a. ch.       1 edward of carnarvon eldest sonne of king edward the first . 1344 2 edward the black prince , eldest son of king edward the third . 1377 3 richard of burdeaux , eldest sonne unto the black prince . 1399 4 henry of monmouth , eldest sonne of king henry the fourth . 1454 5 edward of westminster , onely son of king henry the sixth . 1472 6 edward of westminster , eldest son of king edward the fourth . 1483 7 edward earle of salisbury , eldest sonne of king richard the third . 1492 8 arthur , the eldest sonne of king henry the seventh . 1506 9 henry duke of yorke second sonne to king henry the seventh , after k. henry the eighth . 1610 10 henry , eldest sonne of king iames the first monarch of great britaine . 1616 11 charles duke of yorke ▪ second sonne of king iames , now the second monarch of great britaine . princes and lords of powys-land . powys-land is the third part of wales , but the least of all , containing onely the whole county of montgomery , and part of radnor , brecknock , denbigh , and shropshire . the chiefe seate hereof was matravall , in montgomery shire , from whence the princes of it would be called the kings of matravall . it was bestowed by roderick mawr , in his division of wales , on mervyn his youngest son ▪ and did continue in his line a long time together : but much afflicted and dismembred by the princes of northwales , who cast a greedy eye upon it . the first prince of it was called mervyn , but we have no good constat of his successors : the last that held it all entire , was meredith ap blethin , who divided it betweene his two sonnes , madoc , and gryffith , of the which madoc died at winchester , anno 1160. and gryffith was by henry the first of england created lord powys , the residue of powys-land which pertained to madoc , depending still upon the fortune of north-wales . the lords of powys . a. ch.       1 gryffith ap meredith .   2 owen cynelioc .   3 gwenwynnin .   4 gryffith ap gwenwynnin   5 owen ap gryffith . 6 john charleton , one of the bed-chamber to king edward the second , married h●wys daughter of owen ap gryffith . 1353 7 john charleton , lord powys . 1360 8 john charleton , lord powys . 1374 9 john charleton , lord powys . 1401 10 edward charleton , lord powys . 1420 11 henry grey , nephew of edward lord powys by his daughter iane created earle of tanquerville by king h. 5.   12 richard gray lord powys .   13 john gray lord powys .   14 john gray lord powys .   15 edward gray , the last lord powys of the race of mervyn , sonne of roderick king of wales . 1629 16 william herbert of red-castle , sonne of edward , second sonne of william herbert earle of pembroke , created lord powys , 5. car. apr. 2. now living 1641. kings and lords of man. the isle of man is situate so equally betweene england and ireland , that once it was a controversie unto the which it appertained ; but was in fine adjudged to england , in that some venemous wormes brought hither , did not furthwith die : which kinde of creatures the nature of the irish soyle will by no meanes brooke . it was once subject unto the crowne and kingdome of northumberland , but from them taken by the danes , norwegians , and other people of the north , in their irruptions on these parts : who having mastered it , ordained therein a pe●it king of their owne nation ; who thus succeeded one another . a. ch.   kings of man. 1065 1 godred the sonne of syrrie . 1066 2 fingall sonne of godred . 1066 3 godred the sonne of harald . 1082 4 lagman eldest sonne of godred . 1089 5 dopnald sonne of tade . 1098 6 magnus king of norway . 1102 7 olave third sonne of godred . 1144 8 godred sonne of olave . 1187 9 reginald , base sonne of godred . 1226 10 olave the lawfull sonne of godred . 1237 11 herald sonne of olave . 1249 12 raignald . ii. brother of harald . 1252 13 magnus . ii. brother of raignald . 1266 14 magnus king of man being deceased without issue , alexander third king of the scots , partly by conquest , and par●ly by money paied to the norwegians , brought this and all the rest of the westerne isles under his obedience . after this time , it was sometimes dependant on the crowne of scotland , and sometimes on england , according as their fortunes varied : till in the end , it was regained finally from the scots , by william montacute earle of salisbury ( who was descended from the ancient kings of man ) and by him after sold to the lord scrope , on whose attainder it fell unto the crowne of england , and changed lords as followeth . kings and lords of man , of english bloud . a. ch.     1340 1 william earle of sal●sbury . k. 1395 2 william lord scrope . k. 1399 3 henry earle of northumberland lord. 1403 4 william lord stanley , lord of man.   5 john lord stanley , lord of man.   6 thomas lord stanley , lord of man.   7 thomas lord stanley , lord of man , created earle of darbie by k. henry 7. 1503 8 thomas stanley earle of darby , lord of man. 1521 9 edward stanley earle of darby , lord of man : 1572 10 henry stanley earle of darby , lord of man. 1593 11 ferdinando stanley earle of darby , lord of man. 1604 12 william stanley now earle of darby , and lord of man. 1640. lords and kings . the isle of wight abutting on the coast of hampshire , was taken from the english by william fitz-osborne , earle of hereford , in the time of william duke of normandy , and king of england : who thereupon became the first lord therof . after whose death & the proscription of his sonne roger , it fell unto the crowne , and was by henry the second bestowed upon the family of the ryvers , earles of devon. on the extinction of which line , it fell againe unto the crowne , in the time of king edward the first ; and in the same hath since continued : giving the title onely of one king , and one lord to two potent subjects . now for the lords and king , they are these here following . a. ch.       1 william fitz-osborne , earle of hereford . 1072 2 roger de breteville , earle of hereford .   3 richard de ryvers , earle of devon.   4 baldwin de ryvers , earle of devon. 1154 5 richard de ryvers , earle of devon . 1161 6 baldwin de ryvers , earle of devon . 7 richard de ryvers , earle of devon.   8 william de ryvers , earle of devon. 1216 9 baldwin de ryvers , earle of devon. 1245 10 baldwin de ryvers , earle of devon. 1261 11 isabell , sister to earle baldwin , and wife to william de fortibu● , surrendred up her interest in this iland , to king edward the first . 1445 12 henry beauchamp , earle of warwick , anno 23. of henry 6. was crowned king of the isle of wight , and shortly after made duke of warwick . 1466 13 richard lord wideville earle ryvers , made by king edward 4. lord of the wight . the second table , or , a catalogve of all the bishops which have governed in the church of england , and vvales , since the conversion of the saxons . together with the honourary offices which they , or any of them have enjoyed in the civill government . divided into two parts . printed at london . 1641. the preface to the ensuing catalogue of arch-bishops , and bishops . the ●aith of christ being here planted as ●aith gilda● , tempore summo tiberii caesaris , towards the latter end of tiberius caesar , was as it seemes , concealed and hidden ●ill the time of lucius : who publikely making profession of it , procured three archiepiscopall seates to be erected at yorke , caer-leon upon vsk , and london for the north , west , and southerne parts ; and suffragan bishops to be allotted and assigned unto each of them . of these and their successors wee have little constat , onely some foot-steps in some places , whereby we may discerne the ruine of religion which had beene made here by the saxons . but when the saxons were converted to the christian faith , they grew more zealous of the same , then formerly they had beene a verse from it : and gave it suddenly a generall and unanimous admittance . which being done , that part of england which was then in their possession , was divided into the two provinces of cante●bury and yorke : the ancient britons or the welsh continuing for a long time after under the rule and government of their owne arch-bishop ; but in the ●nd were a●so brought to yeeld obedience to the see of canterbury . the church thus brought into a settled forme and order , became forthwith of such esteeme at home , that they have long time beene accounted peeres of the realme , and are by writ summoned unto all parliaments , as are the temporall barons ; and of such reputation and fame abroad , that the arch-bishops of both provinces were adjudged to be legatinati : the arch-bishop of canterbury having a superintendencie over all the irish bishops ; as he of yorke , had a direct primacie over those of the church of scotland . and in the councell held at constance , what time the fathers there assembled , were for the better dispatch of businesse , divided into severall nations : the english nation , anglicana natio , was reckoned amongst the chiefest . at this time since this church was manumitted from the pope , it may be warrantably said to bee the most exact and perfect of the reformation : keeping a constant & continued succession in the holy hierarchy , and consequently also in all holy orders ; and whatsoever else is necessary , either in doctrine , government , or ceremony , unto the constitution of an apostolicall and orthodax church . as for the method which we meane to use in this following catalogue , it is briefely this : we will begin first with the province and see of canterbury , and those particular sufragan bishops which owe obedience thereunto , which we will marshall in the order of the alphabet , those of wales included . for howsoever they had once the honour to have an arch-bishop of their owne , yet being now reputed members of the province of canterbury ; we will dispose of them accordingly . that done , we will proceed unto the province and see of yorke , and those few bishopricks , which are now remaining of the same : which as the rest before , we will also take along , according to the order of the alphabet . and this we take to be the easiest order for the reader : that of the antiquity of the sees , being very intricate and perplext , and that of the antiquity or consecration of the men themselves , both changeable and uncertaine . for if we went according to the way of precedencie which is now in use , established by act of parliament 31. h. 8. c. 10. we should dispose them in this manner : viz. first the two arch-bishops of canterbury and yorke , next the three bishops of london , dunelm , winchester , and last of all the residue of the prelates according to the seniority of their consecrations . this is the order of precedencie which is now in use , which yet is no new order in regard of london and winton , who anciently had place before the rest , in all assemblies of the clergy : but this being changeable and uncertaine , as before was said , we shall make use rather of the other . now in each see and diocese we will keep this course : first we will shew you the antiquity and ordination of each , together with the foundation of their cathedrall churches ; what counties each of them containeth , what priviledges anciently they enjoyed , and still claime to have ; how many parishes there be in every diocese , by what arch-deacons they are governed , what is the tenth of the whole clergie in every diocese , and how much in the kings bookes is every bishoprick . we shall observe also , what and how many of the prelates have beene extract from honourable houses , whose names shall be distinguished by a little afterisme thus * , as also how many of them have beene canonized and accounted saints , who and how many of them have beene made cardinals in the church of rome , what honourable offices have beene borne by any of them in the civill state . in the performance of the which s. shall stand for saint , and card for cardinall : l. ch. shall signifie l. chancellour ; l. k. lord keeper ; l. tr. lord treasurer ; l. pr. lord president , ch. j. chiefe justice . m. ro. master of the rolls , and ch. ox. chancellour of oxford , as ch. ca. of cambridge . by which it will appeare most plainely what a perpetuall seminary this our church hath beene , of able and of learned men , not onely for discharge of ecclesiasticall , but even temporall businesse . which being premised once for all , we now proceede unto our catalogue : beginning with the province and see of canterbury , and following in the order before proposed . the first part of the catalogve of bishops , containing the svccession of the arch-bishops and bishops of the province of canterbvry , printed at london . 1641 ▪ canterburie and the arch-bishops of it . the see of canter . was first founded with the plantation of religion the amongst english : austin the monk , who first did preach the gospel to the one ▪ being the first arch-bishop of the other . the chaire hereof originally fixt in the city of canterbury ; which being once the regall city of the kings of kent , wa● by king ethelbert , on his conversion , bestowed on austin the arch-bishop , and on his successors for ever . the cathedrall , having beene a church before in the brit●ns time , was by the same arch-bishop austin repaired , and consecrated , and dedicated to the name of christ , which it still retaines ; though a long time together it was called saint thomas , in honour of saint thomas becke● who was therein slaine . the present fabricke was begun by arch-bishop lanfranc , and william corboyl ; and by degrees made perfect by their successo●●●● . take canterbury as the seate of the metropolitan ▪ and it hath under it 21. suffragan bishops , of the which 17. are in england , and 4. in wales . but take it as the seate of a diocesan , and it containeth onely some part of kent to the number of 257. parishes ( the residue being in the diocese of rochester ; ) together with some few particular parishes dispersed here and there in severall dioceses : it being an ancient priviledge of this see , that wheresoever the arch-bishops had either manors or advowsons , the place forthwith became exempted from the ordinary , and was reputed of the diocese of canterbury . the other priviledges of this see , are that the arch-bishop is accounted prima●e and metropolitan of all england , and is the first peere of the realme : having precedencie of all dukes , not being of the royall bloud , and all the great officers of the state. he hath the title of grace offered him in common speech ▪ and writes himselfe divina providentia , where other bishops onely use , divina permissione . the coronation of the king hath anciently belonged unto him : it being also formerly resolved that wheresoever the court was , the king and queene were speciales & domestici parochian● domini archiepiscopi , the proper and domesticall pariihioners of the arch bishop of canterbury . it also did belong unto him in former times , to take unto himselfe the offerings made at the holy altar by the king and queene , wheresoever the court was , if he were present at the same ; and to appoint the lent preachers : but these time hath altered , and the king otherwise disposed of . abroad in generall councels he had place at the popes right foote : at home , this royall priviledge , that those which held lands of him , were liable for wardsh●p to him , and to compound with him for the same , though they hold other lands in cheife of our lord the king. and for the more increase of his power and honour , it was enacted 25 h. 8. c. 21. that all licenses and dispensations ( not repugnant to the law of god ) which heretofore were sued for in the court of rome , should be hereafter granted by the arch-bishop of canterbury and his successours : as also in the 1. eliz. c. 2. that by the advise of the metropolitan , or ecclesiasticall commissioners , the queenes majesty may ordaine and publish such ri●es and ceremonies , as may bee most for the advancement of gods glory , the edifying of his church , and the due reveren●e of christs holy sacraments . to come at last to the arch-bishops , this diocese hath only one arch-deacon , which is he of canterbury ▪ the clergies tenth comes to 651. li. 18. s. 2. d. q. and the arch-bishoprick it selfe is valued in the kings books , at the sum of 2816. li. 17. s. 9. d. q. i onely adde in generall , that this see hath yeelded to the church 16. saints ; to the church of rome 9. cardinals ; to the civill state of england 11. lord chancellours , one lord treasurer , one lord chiefe justice ; and to the university of oxford 9. chancellours . the particulars follow . arch-bishops of canterbury . a. ch.     596 1 s. augustinus . 611 2 s. laurentius . 619 3 s. melitus . 624 4 s. justus . 634 5 s. honorius ▪ 655 6 s. adeodatus , or deus dedit . vacavit sedes annos 4. 668 7 s. theodorus . 692 8 s. brithwaldus . 731 9 tatwinus . 736 10 nothelmus . 742 11 cuthbertus . 759 12 bregwinus . 764 13 lambertus . 793 14 athelmardus . 807 15 wulfredus . 832 16 theogildus .   17 celnothus . 871 18 atheldredus . 889 19 plegmundus . 915 20 athelmus . 924 21 wulfelmus , lord chancellour ▪ 934 22 s. odo . 961 23 s. dunstan , lord treasurer . 988 24 ethelga●us . 989 25 siricius . 993 26 alfricus . 1006 27 s. elphegus . 1013 28 livingus , alias leovingus . 1020 29 agelnothus . 1038 30 s. ead●inus . 1050 31 robertus gemiticen●is . 1052 32 stigandus . 1070 33 s. lanfrancus . vacavit sedes annos 4. 1093 34 s. anselm . 1114 35 rodulphus . 1122 36 william corboyl . 1138 37 theobaldus . 1162 38 s. thomas becket l. chancel . 1171 39 richardus monachus . 1184 40 baldwinus . 1191 41 reginaldns . 1193 42 hubert walter , l. chancel . and l. ch. justice . 1206 43 stephen langton , cardinall . 1229 44 richard wethershed . 1234 45 s. edmund , chancel . of oxford . 1244 46 boniface of savoy . * 1272 47 robert kilwarby , card. 1278 48 john peckham . 1294 49 robert winchel●ey , chan. oxford 1313 50 walter raynolds . 1327 51 simon mepeham . 1333 52 jo. stratford , l. chancel . 1348 53 thomas bradwardin . 1349 54 simon is●ippe . 1366 55 sim. langham , card. l. chan. 1367 56 william witles●y . 1375 57 simon sudbury , l. chancel . 1381 58 william courtney . chan. ox. * 1396 59 thomas arundel , l. chan. * 1414 60 henry chicheley , card. 1243 61 john stafford , card. * 1452 62 jo. kemp. card. l. chancel . 1454 63 thomas bourchier , card. lord chan. and chan. of oxford . * 1486 64 john morton , the like . 150● 65 henry deane . 1504 66 w. warham , l. ch. and ch. ox. 1533 67 thomas cranmer . 1555 68 reginald pole , car. and chan. ox. 1559 69 matthew parker . 1575 70 edmund grindall . 1583 71 jo. whi●gift . 1604 72 richard bancroft , chan. oxford . 1610 73 george abbot . 1633 74 william laud , chan. of the university of oxford , now being . 1641. saint asaph and the bishops there . the bishoprick of saint asaph is exceeding ancient ; first founded by one kentigern a scot , and there bishop of glasco , about the yeere 560. the cathedrall there first built by him , upon the banks of the river elwy : whence it is called by the welsh , llan-elwy ; the bishop in the ancient latine elwensis , or elguensis ; by us saint asaph , from saint asaph an holy man , whom kentigern returning into scotland , left here his successor . it seems 〈◊〉 stood not long , or not long in credit ; there being a great hiatus in the succession of the bishops : none to be found betweene this s. asaph , and geofrie of monmouth , who was here bishop in the latter end of king stephens raigne . and which is more , henry of huntington in his recitall of the welsh bishopricks reckoneth onely three , saint davids , bangor , and landaffe : which may be probably imputed to the frequent watres in this bordering countrey ( for it is ●eated in the county of flint , not farre from chester : ) which made it an unquie● seate for religious persons . this bishoprick , being at the best , not very rich , was made much poorer in the time of bishop parfew , who lived in the daies of king edward 6. for where the bishop had before five episcopall houses , there is none now left but saint asaphs onely , the ●●st together with the lands to them belonging , by him made away , and aliened from the church for ev●r : besides , that keeping an house above his meanes , he was faine to let the residue of his lands into tedious leases , not yet expired . this ●●ocese containeth in it no one whole county , but part of denbigh , flint , montgomery , merioneth , and some townes in shropsh : wherein are to the number of 121 parishes , most of the which are in the immediate patronage of the bishop . it hath but one arch-deaconry ▪ called of saint asaph , which is united to the bishoprick , for the better susten●ation of it . the tenth of the clergy commeth to 186. li. 19. s. 7. d. ob q. and for the bishoprick it selfe , it is valued in the kings bookes , at the summe of 187. li. 11. s. 6. d. bishops of saint asaph . a. ch.     560 1 kentigern .   2 s. asaph .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1151 3 geofry of monmouth .   4 adam . 1186 5 reinerus . 1220 6 abraham . 1235 7 howel ap ednevet . * 1248 8 anian . 1268 9 anian . ii. 1293 10 llewellen de bromfeild . 1319 11 david ap blethin . 12 ephraim .   13 henricus .   14 john trevaur . 1357 15 llewellen ap madoc . 1373 16 william de stridlington . 1382 17 lawrence child . 1390 18 alexander bach. 1395 19 john trevaur . ii. 1411 20 robertus . 1493 21 john lowe , tr . to rochester . 1444 22 reginald peacock , transl . to chich. 1450 23 thomas . 1484 24 richard redman , tr . to exeter . 1503 25 david ap owen . 1513 26 edm. birkhead . 1519 27 henry standish . 1535 28 william barlow , tr . to s. davids . 1536 29 robert parfew , tr . to hereford . 1555 30 thomas goldwell . 1559 31 richard davies , tr . to s. david● . 1561 32 thomas davies . 1573 33 thomas hughes . 1595 34 william morgan . 1604 35 richard parry . 1622 36 john hanmer . 1629 37 john owen , now bishop of saint asaph . 1641. bangor , and the bishops there . bangor , another of the bishopricks of wales , is of ancient standing ; but by whom founded , not yet knowne . the cathedrall there is dedicated by the name of s. daniel , who was bishop here about the yeare 516. which being cruelly defaced by that wretched rebell owen glendowr , was afterward repaired by henry deane , who was once here bishop . the ruine of this bishoprick , came in the time of bishop bulkeley , who not content to alienate and let out the lands ; made a sale also of the bels : and going to the sea-shoare to see them shipped , in his returne was smitten with a sudden blindnesse . this diocese containeth in it the entire county of carnarvon , wherein bangor standeth , and the whole isle of anglesey ; together with parts of denbigh , merioneth , and mountgomery , and in them to the number of 107 parishes , whereof 36. impropriated . it hath moreover in it , three arch deaconries , viz. of bangor , a●glesey , and merioneth , one of the which is added to the bishoprick , for support thereof . the bishoprick is valued in the kings bookes , 131. li. 16. s. 4. d. and answereth for the clergies tenth , 151. li. 14. s. 3. d. q. bishops of bangor . a. ch.     516 1 s. daniel .     ✚ ✚ ✚   1 hernaeus , translated to ely ▪ 1120 2 david . 1139 3 mauritius .   4 gulielmus .   5 guido , alias guianus . 1195 6 albanus . 1197 7 robertus de salopia ▪ 1215 8 caducan . 1236 9 howel .   10 richardus . 1267 11 anianus . 1306 12 caducan . ii. 1306 13 cryffith . 1320 14 ludovicus . 1334 15 matthaeus . 1358 16 thom. de ringsted , 1367 17 gervasius de castro . 1370 18 howell . ii. 1374 19 john gilbert , tr . to s. davids ▪ 1376 20 john cloven●is .   21 john swaffam . 1400 22 richard young , tr . to rochester .   23 ludovicus . ii. 1408 24 benedict nicols , tr . to s. david ▪ 1418 25 william barrow , tr . to ca●lile .   26 nicolaus . 1436 27 thomas cheriton . 1448 28 john stanbery , tr . to hereford .   29 jacobus . 1464 30 thomas ednam . 1496 31 henry deane , tr . to salisbury . 1500 32 thomas pigot . 1504 33 joh. penvy , tr . to carlile . 1505 34 thomas skeving●on . 1534 35 john capon . tr . to salisbury . 1539 36 john bird , tr . to chester . 1541 37 arthur bulkeley . 1555 38 william glynn . 1559 39 rowland merick . 1566 40 nicolas robinson . 1585 41 hugh bellott , tr . to chester . 1595 42 richard vaughon , tr . to chester . 1595 43 henry rowlands . 1616 44 lewys bayly . 1632 45 david dolbin . 1633 46 edward gryffith . 1637 47 william roberts , sub-almoner , now bishop of bangor . 1641. bath and welles , and the bishops of it . the diocese of bath and welles , although it hath a double name , is one single bishoprick . the bishops seate originally at welles , where it still continues , and in respect whereof this church is called in some writers , fontanensis ecclesia . the stile of bath came in but upon the by . the church of welles first built by ina , king of the west-saxons , anno 704. and by him dedicated to saint andrew : after endowed by kenu●●e , an other king of the same people , anno 766. and finally made a bishops see in the time of edward the elder , anno 905. the first that bore that title being adelmus , before abbat of ●lastenbury . the present church , in place where that of ina had stood before , was built most part of it by bishop robert , the eighteenth bishop of this see ; but finished and perfected by bishop ioceline , sirnamed de welles . iohannes de villula , the sixteenth bishop having bought the towne of bath of king henry the first for 500. markes , transferred his ●eate unto that city , 1088. hence grew a jarre betweene the monks of bath and canons of welles , about the election of the bishop . at last the difference was thus composed by that bishop robert , whom before i spake of , that from thence forward the bishop should be denominated from both places , and that precedencie in the stile should be given to bath ; that in the vacancie of the see , a certaine number of delegates from both churches should elect their prelate , who being elected , should bee installed in them both ; both of them to be reckoned as the bishops chapter , and all his grants and patents confirmed in both . and so it stood untill the reigne of king h. 8. what time the monastery of bath having beene dissolved , there passed an act of parliament for the deane and ●hapter of welles , to make one sole chapter for the bishop : anno 35. h. 8. c. 15. but to proceed , this diocese hath yeelded to the church of rome , one card. and to the civill state of england , sixe lord chancellours , five lord treasurers , one lord privie s●ale , one lord president of wales , one principall secretary of estate . the diocese containeth in it the whole county of somerset , and in that 388. parishes , whereof 160. are impropriate . it hath moreover three arch-deaconries of bath , welles , and taunton ; is valued in the kings bookes , at 533. li. 1. s. 3. d. and answereth for the clergies tenth , 353. li. 18. s. ob . q. bishops of welles . a. ch.     905 1 adelmus , translated to cant.   2 wulfelmus , translated to cant.   3 elphegus .   4 wulfelmus . ii. 955 5 brithelmus . 973 6 kinewardus . 985 7 sigarus . 995 8 alwinus .   9 burwoldus . 1002 10 leoningus , translated to cant.   11 ethelwinus .   12 brithwinus .   13 merewith . 1031 14 dudoco , alias bodeca . 1059 15 giso . bishops of bath and welles . 1088 16 johannes de villula . 1123 17 godefridus , l. chancel . 1136 18 robertus lewensis . 1174 19 reginald fitz-joceline translated to cant. 1192 20 savaricus , who removed the see to glastonbury . 1205 21 joceline de welles . 1224 22 rogerus . 1247 23 gul. button , l. chan. and treas ▪ 1264 24 walt. giffard , transl . to york● . 1267 25 gul. button . ii. 1274 26 rob. burnell , l. chan. and l. t● . 1292 27 gul. de marchia , l. treas . 1302 28 walt. haselshaw . 1310 29 joh. ●roken●●ord , l. treas . 1329 30 radulphus de salopia . 1336 31 joh. barne● , transl . to ely. 1366 32 joh. harewell . 1386 33 walt. ski●law , transl . to durham . 1388 34 radulph erghum . 1401 35 henry bowet , transl . to yorke . 1408 36 nic. bubwith . 1425 37 joh. stafford , l. chan. and treas . transl . to cant. * 1443 38 thomas beckington . 1465 39 robert de stillington , l. pr. seale , and afterward l. chan. 1491 40 rich. fox , transl . to durham . 1495 41 oliver king principall secretary . 1505 42 adrian de castello , card. 1518 43 tho. wolsey , changed this see for durham , l. chan. 1523 44 john clarke , master of the rolls . 1541 45 william knight . 1549 46 william barlowe . 1554 47 gilbert bourne , lord president of wales . 1559 48 gilbert barkely . 1584 49 thomas godwin . 1592 50 john still . 1608 51 james montagu . 1616 52 arthur lake . 1626 53 william laud , trans . to london . 1628 54 leonard mawe . 1630 55 walter curle , trans . to winton . 1632 56 william piers , now bishop there . 1641. bristol , and the bishops thereof . the bishoprick of bristol is of new erection , first ●ounded by king henry 8. who having had the spoile of the monasteries , and religious houses , was pleased to refund some of it backe againe upon the church , for the incouragement of learning , and increase of piety . for this end he procured an act of parliament , for the erecting of new bishopricks by his letters patents , 31. h. 8. c. 9. and did accordingly erect sixe new bishops sees , viz. at bristol , oxford , westminster , gloucester , peterburgh , and chester . according to the tenor of which act , he did immediately erect sixe new bishopricks on the foundations of such ancient mo●asteri●s , as 〈◊〉 ●hought fittest for that purpose , and most convenient of honour , in regard of their situation : wherein he failed not any where so much as in this of bristol , the diocese thereof being very much distant from the see ; a●que alio sub sole 〈◊〉 now for this bishoprick , the seate thereof is bristol , as before i said , one of the fairest cities in the realme of england ▪ and a just county in it selfe . the cathedrall church is dedicated by the name of saint austins , founded by robert fitz-harding sonne to a king of danemarke , once a citizen here ; and by him stored with canons regular . anno 1148. but this foundation being dissolved , king h. 8. made it a bishops see , and placed therein a deane , and sixe prebendaries , as it still continueth . for 32. yeeres together in qu ▪ eliz. time it had never a bishop , but all that while was held in commendam by the bishops of gloucester : the patrimony of the church being in the interim much wasted . the diocese hereof containeth , besides the city of bristol , the whole county of dorset ( belonging heretofore to the see of salisbury : ) and therein 236. parishes , of which 64. impropriated . it hath onely one arch-deacon , which is he of dorset ; is valued in the kinges bookes , 383. li. 8. s. 4. d. and answereth for the tenth of the' clergy , 353. li. 18. s. ob . q. bishops of bristol . a. ch.     1542 1 paul bush. 1554 2 john hoiiman , died 1558.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1589 3 richard fletcher , translated to london . 1593.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1603 4 john thornbourgh , translated to worcester ▪ 1617 5 nicolas fel●on , translated to ely. 1619 6 jo. serchfeild . 1622 7 robert wright , translated to lichfeild . 1632 8 george cooke , translated to hereford ▪ 1636 9 robert skinner , now bishop there . 1641. chichester , and the bishops thereof . the see of chichester , was anciently in the isle of selsey , not farre from thence : first planted there by wilfrid arch-bishop of yorke , who being banished his countrey by egfride king of the nort●umbers , did preach the gospel to the south-saxons . to him did edilwach , the south-saxon king assigne this iland for his seate ; and after cedwall king of the west-saxons , having wonne this kingdome , built in the same a monastery , which he made the bishops see. here it continued till the time of bishop s●ig●●d , who first ▪ removed the see to chichester , the principall city of these parts ; first built by cissa the second king of the south-saxons , and by him called cissan-ceaster . the cathedrall church was anciently dedicated to saint peter ; new built by radulph the third bishop here , after the see removed by stigand : which being almost all consumed by a raging fire , was afterwards rebuilt and beautified by siffridus the second . but to proceede , this see hath yeelded to the church two saints , to the realme three lord chancellours , to the court two almoners , one chancellour to the university of oxford : and anciently the bishops here were confessours to the queenes of england , ( for which they have to shew an ancient charter ) and had allowance for the same . this diocese containeth the county of sussex , and in the same 250. parishes ; whereof 112 , impropriated . it hath moreover two arch-deacons , viz. of chichester , and lewys ; is valued in the kings bookes , at 677. li. 1. s. 3. d and answereth for a tenth of the whole clergy . 287. li. 2. s. ob . q. bishops of selsey . a. ch.       1 wilfride . 711 2 eadbertus .   3 eolla ▪ 733 4 sigelmus . alla● sigfridus .   5 alubrith .   6 osa , vel bosa .   7 gi●elherus .   8 to●a .   9 wigthun .   10 ethelulfus .   11 beornegus .   12 coenrede . 131 13 gutheard ▪ 960 14 alfredus ▪ 970 15 eadhelmus . 980 16 ethelgarus . 988 17 ordbright .   18 elmar . 1019 19 ethelricus . 1038 20 grinke●ellur . 1047 21 heca . 1057 22 agelricus , after whose death the bishops see and chaire was removed to chichester ; and from henceforth they were entituled by the name of bishops of chichester . a. ch.     1070 23 stigandus .   24 gulie●mus .   25 radulphus . 1125 26 seffridus .   27 hilarius . 1174 28 john de greenford . 1187 29 s●ffridus . ii. 1199 30 simon de welles ▪ 1209 31 nicolas de aquila . 1215 32 richard poore , tr . to salisbury . 1217 33 radulph de warham . 1223 34 radulph de nevill , l. chan. * 1245 35 s. richard sirnamed de la wich . 1253 36 john clipping . 1261 37 s●ephen de berkstede . 1288 38 s. gilbert de scon. leofardo .   39 john de langton , l. chan.   40 robert stratford , l. chan. 1362 41 gul. de lenn . 1369 42 gul. reade . 1385 43 thomas rushooke .   44 richard mitford , translated to sarum . 1395 45 robert waldby . 1396 46 robert reade . 1417 47 stephen patrington . 1418 48 henry ware. 1422 49 john kempe , transl . to london . 1423 50 thomas poldon , translated to worcester . 1428 51 john rickingale . 1430 52 simon sidenham .   53 richard praty , chancellour of oxford . 1445 54 adam molius , clerke of the counsell . 1450 55 reginald peacock . 1458 56 john arundell . 1477 57 edward story . 1504 58 richard fitz-james , translated to london . 1508 59 robert sherborn . 1536 60 richard sampson , translated to lichfeild . 1543 61 george day . 1551 62 john scory , after of hereford . 1557 63 john christopherson . 1559 64 william barlowe . 1570 65 richard cur●eys . 1585 66 thomas bickley . 1596 67 anth. watson , bishop almoner . 1605 68 lancelor andrewes , tr . to ely. 1609 69 sam. harsenet , tr . to norwich . 1619 70 george charleton . 1628 71 richard montagu , tr . to norwich . 1638 72 brian duppa , now bishop and tutor to the prince his highnesse . coventry and lichfeild , and the bishops thereof . thhe bishoprick of coventry ▪ and lichfeild is like that of bath and welles ; a double name , a single diocese . the bishops see originally at lichfeild , from thence removed to chester , and from both ●o covent●y . hence is it that the bishops are called sometimes cestre●ses , sometimes lichfeildenses , sometimes coventrienses , and now of late , bishops of coventry and lichfeild . for in the yeere 1088. being that very yeere wherein the see of welles was removed to bath ; robert de limesey did remove this see ●o coventry ▪ hugo novant , the sixth from him brought it backe to lichfeild , not without great opposition of the monkes of coventry : and in the end , the difference finally was composed by bishop savensby , much after the same manner , as before at welles . for here it was agreed on that the bishop should be denominated from both places , and that precedencie in the stile episcopall , should be given to coventry : that they should choose their bishop ●lternatim , in their severall turnes ; that they should both make one chapter unto the bishop , in which the prior of coventry should be the principall man. and so it stood till that the priory of coventry being dissolved by king henry 8. ( the stile or title of the bishop continuing as before it did ) there passed an act of parliament 33. h. 8. c. 29 to make the deane and chapter of lichfeild the sole chapter for the bishop . the cathedrall church here first built by oswy king of the mercians , about the yeere 556. who gave unto the bishops many faire possessions . but that old church being taken downe by roger de clinton , the 36. bishop of this diocese , that which now standeth was built by him in place thereof , anno 1148. and dedicated to the virgin mary and saint chad. in following times , and almost in the infancie thereof , the revenues of it were so faire , that lichfeild was thought fit to be the see of an arch-bishop . and one it had , no more , his name adulfus , anno 783. the bishops of winton , hereford , sidnacester , dorchester , ( which two now make lincoln ) and those of elmham and of dunwich ( both which now make norwich ) being appointed to him for his suffragans . but with him and king offa who procured it , this great title died . and now it is content to be a bishoprick , the diocese whereof containeth the whole counties of darby , and stafford , together with a good part of warwickshire and shropshire . in these are comprehended 557. parishes , of which 250. are impropriate : for better government whereof , it hath foure arch-deaconries , viz. of stafford , darby , coventry , and shrewsbury . it is valued in the kings bookes , 559. li. 18. s. 2. d. ob . q. and for the clergies tenth , it commeth unto 590. li. 16. s. 11. d. q. and finally hath yeelded to the church three s. to the realme one chancellour , and three lord treasurers ; to wales three presidents , one chancellour to the university of cambridge , and to the court one master of the wardrobe . arch-bishops and bishops of lichfeild . a. ch.     656 1 dwina .   2 cellach .   3 trumher .   4 jarumanus . 669 5 saint chad , or cedda , tr . to york . 672 6 winfridus . 672 7 s. sexulfus . 692 8 headda , alias eatheadus . 721 9 aldwinus . 733 10 witta .   11 hemel . 764 12 cuthfridus .   13 berthunnus . 785 14 higbertus . 793 15 aldulphus the arch-bishop●   16 humbertus .   17 merewinus .   18 higbertus . ii.   19 ethelwaldus . 857 20 humbertus . ii. 864 21 kinebertus . 872 22 s. cymbertus●   23 tunbright .   24 ella . 928 25 alfgar . 26 kinsey .   27 winsey .   28 elphegus .   29 godwinus .   30 leofgarus .   31 brithmarus . 1039 32 wolfius l. chancell . 1054 33 leofwine . 1067 34 petrus , who removed the see to chester . bishops of coventry and lichfeild . 1088 35 robert de limesey , removed the see to coventry . 1117 36 robert peccham . 1119 37 roger de clinton . * 1149 38 walter durdent . 1161 39 richard peche . 1182 40 gerardus la pucelle . 1186 41 hugo novant . 1191 42 galfridus de muschamp . 1210 43 walter grey , translated to worcester . 1215 44 william de cornhull . 1220 45 alexander de savensby . 1240 46 hugh de pateshul , lord treasurer 1245 47 roger de we●●ham . 1257 48 roger de longespee . 1295 49 walter de langton , lord treasurer 1322 50 roger de 〈…〉 , master of the wardrope , and lord treasurer . 1360 51 robert stretton . 1385 52 walter skirlaw , transl . to welles . 1396 53 richard scrope , tr . to yorke . * 1399 54 john burghill . 1415 55 john ketterich . 1419 56 jacobus carie. 1420 57 gul. heyworth . 1447 58 gul. boothe . 1452 59 nicolas close , chancellour of cambridge . 1453 60 reginald butler . 1459 61 john hales . 1492 62 gul. smith , tr . to lincoln . 1496 63 john arundel , tr . to exeter . 1503 64 geofry blythe , l. pre● . of wales . 1524 65 roland lee , l. pres. of wales . 1543 66 richard sampson , l. president of wales . 1555 67 radulph bayne . 1559 68 thomas bentham . 1578 69 gul. overton . 1609 70 george abbot , tr . to london . 1610 71 richard neile , tr . to lincoln . 1614 72 john overall , tr . to norwich . 1618 73 thomas morton , tr . to durham . 1632 74 robert wright , now bishop of coventry and lichfeild . 1641. saint davids , & the arch-bishops and bishops of it . saint davids now the seate of a suffragan bishop , was once a metropolitans s●e in the brit●sh church , and long time the supreme ordinary of the wel●h . in the first planting of the gospel in king lucius time , wee shewed that there were three arch-bishops seates appointed , viz. at london , york , and of caer-leon upon vsk. that of caer-leon upon vsk was , in the time of arthur , king of the britons , translat●d further off from the saxons furie , to a place called men●w , ( menevia is the latine name ) but since , in memory of david the arch-bishop who so translated it , by us called saint davids . from the first name it is , these bishops use to stile themselves , menevenses . when austin the monk first entred england , the metropolitan of saint davids had th●n remaining under his jurisdiction seven suffragan bishops ; all which gave meeting to the said austin and his associates , for the composing of some differences which were between the old and the new-come christians : viz. the bishop of worces●er ( wicctor●m ) llandaff , bang●r , hereford , llan-elwy , or saint as●p● llan-badern , ( called in latin paternensis a place in card●gan shire , the last is called in latin morganensis , which possibly might have his seate in margan of glamorgan shire , a place still so called . of these , llan badern , and this morganensis are quite extinct , and have long so beene ; hereford and worcester a long time reckoned as english bishopricks , and so none left unto the metropolitan of s. davids , but llandaff , bangor , & s. asaphs now for these bishops of saint davids , we finde that 26. of them retained the title of arch-bishops : the last whereof was sampson , who in a time of pestilence transferd the archiepiscopall pall , & with the same the archiepiscopall dignity to dole in bretagne , yet his successours , though they lost the name , reserved the power of an arch-bishop : nor did the residue of the welch bishops receive their consecration from any other hand then his ; till in the time of h. 1. bernard the 46. bishop of this see was forced to submit himselfe to the church of canterbury . for the cathedrall here , it had beene oft spoyled and ruined by the danes , norwegians , and other pirats : as standing neare the sea , in the extreme corner of pembroke shire . that which we now see is the worke of bishop peter , ( he was the 48. bishop of this diocese ) and by him dedicated by the name of saint andrew , and saint david ; though now saint andrew be left out , and david onely beares the name . this see hath had the greatest number of bishops of any in england , 91. in all : and amongst them the church hath had one saint , the realme of england three lo●d treasurers , one lord privie seale ; the un●versity of oxford one chancellour , and the queene another . the dioce●e containeth the whole counties of pembroke , cardigan , carmarthen , radnor , brecknocke , and some small parts of monmouth hereford , mountgomery , and glamorganshires . in which great quantity of ground there are no more then 308. parishes , whereof 120. are impropriate . for the more easie government of which here are foure arch-deacons , viz. of cardigan , carmarthen , brecknock , and saint davids . finally , it is valued in the kings bookes , at 457. li. 1. s. 10. d. ob . q. the clergies tenth amounting unto 336. li. 14. s. 10. d. arch-bishops of s. davids . a. ch.     519 1 s. davids .   2 eliud .   3 theliaus .   4 ke●ea .   5 morvael .   6 harnurier .   7 elvaeth .   8 gurnell .   9 llendiwith .   10 gornwi●t .   11 gorgan .   12 eynean .   13 cledanc .   14 eludgeth .   15 eldunen .   16 elvaoth .   17 maels●with .   18 madeve .   19 catulus .   20 silvay .   21 nanus .   22 sathveny .   23 doythwell .   24 asser. 906 25 athvael .   26 sampson , the last arch-bishop of the welch . bishops of s. davids , with archiepiscopall power .   27 ruclinns .   28 lyworch .   29 nergu .   30 sulhyder . 942 31 eneuris . 944 32 morgeneu .   33 rhoderick . 961 34 nathan .   35 jevan .   36 argustell .   37 morgenveth . 998 38 ervyn ▪ 1038 39 caermeryn ▪ 1055 40 joseph .   41 blethud ▪ 1070 42 su'gheym . 1076 43 abraham . 1088 44 rithmark .   45 wilfridus , alias griffry . 1115 46 bernardus , chancellour to qu. adeliza , who first submitted himselfe and church to the see of cant. bishops of s. davids suffragans to the see of cant. 1148 47 david fitz-gerald . 1176 48 petrus .   49 galfridus . 1198 50 silvester giraldus . 1215 51 jorwerth . vacat sedes per an. 9. 1228 52 alselmus . 1247 53 thomas wallensis . 1255 54 thomas carren . 1280 55 tho. beck . l. treas . 1293 56 david de s. edmundo . 1320 57 david martyn . 1328 58 henry gower . 1347 59 john thursby , tr . to worc. 1349 60 reginald brian . tr . to werc . 1353 61 thomas fastolf . 1361 62 adam hough●on , chanc. of ox. 1369 63 john gilbert , l. treas . vacat sedes an. 4. 1401 64 guido de mona , l. treas . 1409 65 henry chicheley , tr . to cant. 1414 66 john ketterich , tr . to lichf . 1415 67 stephen patrington , tr . to chich. 1417 68 benedict nicols . 1424 69 thomas rodburne . 1435 70 gul. lindwood , l. pr. seale . 1446 71 john. lang●on , chanc. of cambr. 1447 72 john delabere .   73 robert tully . 1482 74 richard martin . 1483 75 thomas langton tr . to sarum . 1485 76 hugh pavy . 1503 77 john morgan , alias young. 1504 78 roger sherborne , tr . to chich. 1509 79 edward vaughan . 1523 80 richard rawlins . 1536 81 william barlow , tr . to welles . 1549 82 robert farrar . 1554 83 henry morgan . 1559 84 thomas young , tr . to yorke . 1561 85 richard davies . 1567 86 marmaduke . midleton . vacat sedes annos . 4. 1594 87 anthony rudd . 1615 88 richard milborne , tr . to carlile . 16●1 89 william laud , tr . to welles . 1627 90 theoph. feild . tr . to hereford . 1635 91 roger mainwaring , now bishop of s. davids . 1641. ely , and the bishops of it . the church of ely , anciently was a monastery : first built by ethelreda wife to egfride , king of the northumbers , and by her planted with religious virgins , whereof she made her selfe the abbesse . but her plantation being supplanted by the danes , and the church quite ruined , ethelwold bishop of winchester did againe rebuild it , and furnished it with monkes good store : to whom king edg●r , and the succeeding kings gave such ample priviledges , and faire possessions , that it did seeme to equall any church in england . richard the eleventh abbat having a minde to quit himselfe of the bishop of lincoln , within whose diocese it stood ; dealt with king henry the first , both with purse and tater noster , to turne the abby into a cath●drall . and though the king assented to it , and that the businesse was transacted with the bishop of lincoln , ( who had three manors of this abby , viz. spaldwick , biggleswad , and bockden , in exchange for his jurisdiction ▪ ) yet richard lived not to possesse it , leaving the benefit of his industry and ambition to be enjoyed by another man , which was one hervey , bishop of bang●r . as for the church now standing , it is the worke of severall bishops : the west parts being with great charge repaired by bishop rid●ll or new built rather ; as were the quire and lanterne by bishop norwold , which afterwards were fully finished by bishop fordham . the whole church dedicated to s. ethelred . ely thus made a bishoprick , however fortified with great priviledges , ( for in the isle of ely the bishops had all rights of a county palatine ) and that it was endowed with so great possessions , as hardly any better in the realme of england , hath yet beene subject to those changes which time hath wrought . for many of the palatine rights were taken off , or much restrained by the act of parliament , touching restoring to the crowne the antient 〈◊〉 , 27. h. 8. c. 25. in the which act it was enacted , that ( instead thereof ) the bishop of ely , and his temporall steward for the isle of ely , should from thence forth be iustices of the peace in the said iland . however ely may be still reputed amongst the first bishopricks of the second ranke ▪ and may rejoyce it selfe in this ▪ that it yeelded to this realme its many great officers as any other in the kingdome . for it hath given the 〈◊〉 no lesse then 〈◊〉 lord chancellours , seven lord treasurers , one lord privie seale , one chancellour o● the university of oxford , one of the exchequer , two masters of the rolls subesides two saints unto the church , two cardinals to the church of rome , and to the english court three almoners . the dioce●e hereof containeth onely cambridgeshire , and the isle of ely ▪ in which there are 141. parishes ▪ whereof 75 impropriate . it hath but one arch-deacon , which is he of ely ▪ is valued in the kings bookes , 2134. li. 18. s. 5. d. ob . q. the clergies tenth amounting to the summe of 384. li. 14. s. 9. d. q. bishops of ely. a. ch.     1109 1 hervey , bishop of bangor . 1133 2 nigellus , lord treasurer . 1174 3 galfridus rydall . 1189 4 gul. longchamp , l. chan. 1198 5 eustachius , l. chan. 1219 6 s. john de fontibus , l. treas . 1225 7 galfredus de burgo . 1229 8 hugh norwold . 1255 9 gul. de kilkenny , l. chan. 1257 10 s. hugh balsam . 1286 11 joh. de kirby , l. treas . 1290 12 gul. de luda . 1299 13 radul●e walpoole . 1302 14 rob. orford . 1310 15 joh. de keeton . 1316 16 joh. hotham . ch. of the exch. l. chan. and ● . treas . 1336 17 simon montacute . * 1344 18 tho. lyde . 1361 19 sim. langham , l. chan. and tr . to cant. 1366 20 joh. barnet , l. tr. 1375 21 tho. arundel , l. chan. transl . to yorke . * 1388 22 joh. fordham . 1425 23 phil. morgan , l. pr. seale . 1435 24 lewis of luxembourg , card. * 1443 25 tho. bourchier , card. translated to cant. * 1454 26 wil. grey , l. treas . * 1478 27 joh. morton , master of the rolls . l. chan. 1486 28 joh. alcock , master of the rolls . 1501 29 rich redman . 1506 30 james stanley . * 1515 31 nicolas west . 1534 32 tho. goodrich , l. chan. 1554 33 tho. thirlby . 1559 34 rich. cox , alm. chan. oxford . vacat sedes , annos 20. 1599 35 martin heton . 1609 36 lancel . andrewes , alm. transl . to wint. 1618 37 nicolas felton . 1627 38 joh. buckeridge . 1631 39 francis white , bishop almonor . 1638 40 mat●hew wrenn , deane of the chappell , now bishop of ely 1641. exeter , and the bishops there . the diocese of exeter containeth that in it , which was once two bishopricks . for at the first planting of the church in these westerne parts , it was thought convenient to erect two bishops sees , the one for cornwall at s. germans ; the other for devonsh ▪ at cridington , now kirton , a small village . but that of cornwall , being annexed to cridington , about the yeere 1032. both were , not long after , removed to exeter , the most noted city of these parts , where it still continueth . now for the church of exeter it was once a monastery , founded by king athelstane , and by him dedicated unto saint peter . edward the confessour , removing all the monkes from hence to westminster , which he had newly founded and endowed , made it the bishops see for devonsh and cornewall , then united . the church as now it standeth doth owe it selfe to severall patrons ; the quire to bishop warlwast , the body of the church to bishop quivil , the side isles to grandison : that which is now our ladies chappell , being a remn●nt of the old fabrick . the patrimony thereof once very large , was wasted and destroyed by bishop voisie : who being made bishop here by king henry 8. ●ate out the residue of his raigne , and all k. edwards , and some part of queene maries also . for whereas at his comming hither , he found the church possessed of 22. goodly manors , and 14. mansion houses richly furnished : he left not above seven or eight of the worst manors , and those let out in long leases ▪ and charged with pensions ; and not above two houses , both bare and naked , of which see bishop godwins catalogue , and powels history of wales . this diocefe hath yeelded to the realme of england , three lord chancellours , two lord treasurers , one lord president of wales ; and to the university of oxford , one chancellour . it containeth in it the two counties of devon , and cornwall , and in them 604 parish churches , whereof 239. are impropriate ; for government whereof it hath foure arch-deacons , viz. of cornwall , exeter , barnestable , and tawton . the bishoprick was once valued at 1566. li. 14. s. 6. d. but since the diminution , or destruction rather , made by bishop voisie ; it is now valued at 500. l. just . the clergies tenth here very high , or mounting to the sum of 1240. li. 15. s. 2. d. ob . now for the mar●halling of the bishops of this once divided diocese , we will present you with those of devonshire and cornwall , columne-wise , one against the other , according to their time and order , untill wee meere them both in the church of exeter . bishops of devonsh . a. ch.     905 1   eadulphus . 906 2 putta . 910 3 eadulfus . ii. 932 4 ethelgarus . 942 5 algarus . 952 6 alfwoldus . 972 7 alfwolfus . 981 8 sidemannus 990 9 alfredus . 999 10 alfwoldus ii. 1014 11 eadnothus . 1032 12 liningus , who after the death of burwoldus bishop of cornwall , procured that bishoprick to bee annexed unto his owne : which was no sooner done , but that his next successour removed both to exeter ; since when the bishops have beene called cornwall . 905 1 athelstan .   2 conanus .   3 ruidocus .   4 aldredus .   5 britwinus .   6 athelstā . ii   7 wolfi .   8 woronus .   9 wolocus .   10 stidio .   11 aldredus .   12 burwoldus , the last bishop of cornwall . bishops of exeter . a. ch.     1049 1 leofricus , who removed the see to exeter . 1079 2 osbernus . 1107 3 william warlewast . 1122 4 robert chichester . 1150 5 robert warlewast . 1159 6 bartholm . iscanus . 1186 7 johannes . 1191 8 henry marshall . * 1206 9 simon de apulia . 1224 10 gul. brewer . 1245 11 richard blondy . 1257 12 walter bronescomb . 1280 13 peter quivill . 1293 14 thomas button . 1307 15 walter stapleton , l. treas . 1326 16 james barkeley . * 1327 17 john grandison . * 1370 18 thomas brentinsham . l. treas . 1395 19 edm. stafford , l. chan. * 1419 20 john ketterich . 1419 21 john carie. 1420 22 edm. lacy. 1455 23 george nevill , l. chan. and chan. of oxford , tr . to yorke . * 1466 24 john boothe . 1477 25 peter courtney , tr . to winton . * 1486 26 richard foxe , tr . to weles . 1492 27 oliver king , tr . to welles . 1495 28 richard redman . 1501 29 john arundell . 1504 30 hugh oldham . 1519 31 john voysie , l. pres. of walles . 1551 32 miles goverdale . 1556 33 james turberville . 1560 34 gul. alley . 1570 35 gul. bradbridge . 1579 36 john woolton . 1594 37 gervase babington . 1598 38 gul. cotton . 1621 39 valentine cary. 1627 40 joseph hall , now bishop of exeter ▪ 1641 ▪ glocester , and the bishops there . glocester was anciently the seate of a british bishop , whose stile sometimes occurres in the subscriptions of synodicall acts , by the name of cluviensis ; this towne being formerly called clevid , as camden noteth . and i remember that i have seene in the palace of glocester , the name of ✚ ✚ ✚ said to bee bishop there in the britons time . but whether it were so or not ; or whether glocester were a bishoprick in those dayes of old , is not materiall to our purpose . for that which was , was brought to nothing by the saxons , and when they entertained the faith of christ , it was first under the authority of the bishops of lichfeild , as afterwards of those of worcester . but in these later dayes it was dismembred from that diocese , and by king henry 8. made a bishops see , what time the rest of new erection were by him founded , as we have spoke before , when we were in bristol . now for the indowment of this bishopricke by him erected , ( besides a chapter of a deane , and sixe prebendaries by him so founded ) he assigned over all , or most of the lands , unto the ancient monasteries here , once belonging : which being first built by aldred , arch-bishop of yorke , and bishop of worcester , and afterwards repaired by hanley , farley , mo●went , herton , trowcester , and sebroke , severall abbats here , became in fine to be , what it still continueth , one of the fairest fabricks in the realme of england . the diocese containing onely glocester shire , hath in it 267. parishes , whereof 125 are impropriations ; and one archdeacon , being called of glocester . valued it is in the kings bookes , 315. li. 17. s. 2. d. according to the estimate thereof at the first foundation : though in two vacancies which it had in queene eliz. time , much of the lands were taken from it ; ( for which see what was said before in the case of ely. ) and for a tenth of all , the clergie pay unto the king 358. l. 15. s. bishops of glocester . a. ch.     1541 1 john wakeman , last abbat ● tewkesbury . 1550 2 john hooper . 1555 3 james brookes . vacat sedes ann. 3. 1562 4 kichard cheinie . vacat sedes ann. 3. 1581 5 john bullingham . 1598 6 godfr goldsbourgh . 1604 7 thomas ravys , tr . to london . 1607 8 henry parry , tr . to worcest . 1611 9 giles tomson . 1612 10 miles smith . 1624 11 godfr . goodman , now bishop there ▪ 1641. hereford , and the bishops there . hereford also was of old one of the bishopricks erected in the britons time ; first under the metropolitan of caer-leon upon vske , of saint davids afterwards , and when these parts were conquered by the saxon kings , it came to be a member of the province of canterbury . the cathedrall church here founded first by milfride , one of the noblemen of this county in honor of ethelbert , king of the east angles treacherously made away by the queene of mercia , his intended mother in law . that which now standeth , oweth the most part of it selfe to bishop reinelm ; and what he lived not to performe , was finished by his successours , as they had either meanes or opportunity . the diocese hereof containeth the county of hereford , and part of shrop-shire ; wherein it hath 313. parish churches , of which 166. are impropriations : and for the government hereof , hath two arch-deacons , viz. of hereford and salop. it hath afforded to the church one saint , to the state two chancellours , and three lord treasurers , one deputy to the realme of ireland , two chancellours to the university of oxford , and one unto the queenes of england . finally , it is valued in the kings bookes , 768. li. 10. s. 6. d. ob . q. the tenth of the clergy comming unto 340. li. 2. s. 2. d. ob . bishops of hereford . a. ch.     680 1 putta .   2 tirtellus .   3 torteras :   4 wastoldus . 740 5 cuthbertus .   6 podda .   7 ecc● .   8 cedda . 857 9 alber●us .   10 esna . 885 11 celmund .   12 utellus .   13 wulfehard .   14 benna .   15 edulfus .   16 cuthwolfus .   17 mucellus .   18 deorlaf .   19 cunemond .   20 edg●r .   21 tidhelm .   22 wulfehelm .   23 alfricus .   24 athulfus .   25 athelstan . 1055 26 leovegard . vacat sedes ann. 4. 1060 27 walterus . 1079 28 robert losinga .   29 gerrardus , tr . to yorke . 1107 30 reinelmus chan. to the queene . 1115 31 galfredus de cliva . 1120 32 richardus . 1131 33 robert de betun . 1149 34 gilbert foliot , tr . to london . 1162 35 robert de melun . 1174 36 robert foliot ▪ 1186 37 gul. de vere , * 1200 38 egidius de bruse . * 1216 39 hugh de mapenore . 1219 40 hugh foliot . 1234 41 radulph de maydestone . 1239 42 peter de egueblanc . 1268 43 john breton , the geat lawyer . 1275 44 s. thomas canterupe , chan. of oxford , and l. chan. 1282 45 richard swinfeild . 1317 46 adam de orlton , l. treas . transl . to worcest . 1327 47 thomas carlton , deputy of ireland , and l. treas . 1344 48 john trilleck . 1361 49 lud. charlton . 1369 50 gul. courtney , tr . to london . * 1376 51 john gilbert , l. treas . tr . to s. davids . 1389 52 john tre●●ant . 1405 53 robert mascall . 1417 54 edm. lacy , tr . to exeter . 1420 55 tho. polton , tr . to chichest . 1422 56 tho. spofford . 1448 57 rich. beauchamp , tr . to sarum . * 1450 58 reginald butler . * 1453 59 john stanbery . 1574 60 tho. milling . 1492 61 edm. audley , tr . to sarum . * 1502 62 adrian de castello , tr . to welles . 1504 63 rich. mayo , chan. of oxford . 1516 64 charles boothe . 1535 65 edward foxe . 1539 66 john skipp . 1553 67 john harley . 1554 68 robert per●ewe . 1559 69 john scorie . 1585 70 herbert westfaling . 1602 71 robert bennet ,   72 francis godwin . 1633 73 augustin lindsell . 1634 74 matthew wrenn . 1635 75 theophilus feild . 1636 76 geo. cooke , now bishop . 1639. llandaff , and the bishops there . llandaff is one of the most ancient bishops sees either in england or wales ; and claimeth a direct succession from the arch-bishops of caerleon upon vske , as unto the bishopricke ; though for the metropolitan dignity it bee content to let s. davids have what is left thereof . the first bishop here , of whom is any good record , is s. dubritius , consecrate bishop of this places by lupus and germanus , what time they came hither out of france , for the extirpation of the pelagian heresie . the church here dedicated to s. thelians , the next successour to s. dubritius ; founded upon the river taffi , and thence called llandaff ; llan , in the welch tongue , signifying a church ; a church very well endowed by the munificence and piety of great persons in those times : so well , that as it is affirmed by bishop godwin , were it possessed now of the tenth part onely of what once it had , it might be reckoned one of the richest churches in all christendome . the ruine of it came in the time of bishop dunstan , alias kitchin , who thereupon is called fundi nostri calamitas by bishop godwin ; the diocese containeth onely part of glamorganshire , and part of momnouthshire , though the most of each : and in those parts , 177. parishes , whereof 98. impropriations : and for them one arch-deacon , which is called of llandaff . the bishopricke is valued in the kings bookes , 154. li. 14. s. 1. d. the clergy paying for their tenth , somewhat neere that summe , viz. 155. li. 5. s. 4. d. it is to be observed , or may be if it please the reader , that neither here , nor at saint davids , there is any deane , nor never was in any of the times before us : the bishop being head of the severall chapters ; and in his absence the arch-deacon here , as is the chanter at s. davids . bishops of llandaff . a. ch.       1 s. dubritius . 522 2 s. telian , alias eliud .   3 s. oudoceus .   4 ubilwinus .   5 ardanus .   6 elgistil .   7 lunapejus .   8 comegern .   9 argwistill .   10 garvan .   11 guodloin .   12 edilbinus .   13 grecielus .   14 berthgwen .   15 trychan .   16 elvogus .   17 catgwaret .   18 cerenhit . 19 nobis .   20 gulfridus .   21 nudd .   22 cimelianc .   23 libian .   24 marcluith .   25 pater . 982 26 gogwan . 993 27 bledri . 1022 28 joseph . 1056 29 herewaldus . 1107 30 urbanus . vacat sedes annos . 6. 1139 31 uhtred . 1148 32 galfridus . 1153 33 nicolas ap gurgant . 1183 34 gul. de salso marisco .   35 henricus . 1219 36 gulielmus . 1229 37 elias de radnor . 1244 38 gul. de burgo . 1253 39 john la ware. 1256 40 gul. de radner . 1265 41 gul. de brews . * vacat sedes annos 9. 1296 42 john monumeteus . 1323 43 john eglescliffe . 1347 44 john pascall . 1362 45 roger cradoc . 1383 46 thomas rushooke , translated to chichester . 1385 47 gul. de bottlesham , translated to rochester . 1389 48 edm. bromfeld . 1391 49 tidemannus , translated to worcester . 1395 50 andrew barret .   51 john burghill , translated to lichfeild . 1399 52 thomas peverell , translated to worcester . 1408 53 john zouch . * 1423 54 john wells . 1441 55 nicolas ashby . 1458 56 john hunden .   57 john smith . 1478 58 john marshall .   59 john ingleby . 1504 60 miles salley . 1516 61 george athequa . 1537 62 robert holgate , translated to yorke . 1545 63 anthony kitchin. vacat sedes , annos 3 ▪ 1566 64 hugh jones . 1575 65 gul. blethin . 1591 66 gervase babington , translated to oxford . 1595 67 william morgan , tr . the bible into welch . 1601 68 francis godwin , tr . to hereford . 1618 69 george carleton , tr . to chich. 1619 70 thoph . feild , tr . to s. davids . 1628 71 john murrey , bishop of kilfanore in ireland . 1639 72 morgan owen , now bishop there 1641. lincoln , and the bishops there . the bishopricke of lincoln , like that of exeter , was once two dioceses : the bishops of the which had their severall seates , the one at dorchester now a private village , seven miles from oxford ; the other at sianacester , not farre from gainsburgh , ( as camden thinkes ) in the county of lincoln , the ruines of the which are now invisible . but sidnacester being in little time united unto dorchester ; the bishops see was not long after removed to lincoln : and that by reason of a canon made about that time , viz. an. 1075. by which all bishops were enjoyned to live in the most famous and conspicuous place within their dioceses . which was the cause , why many of our bishops did about this time remove their sees ; as we have seene already , and shall see hereafter . for the cathedrall church here , it s of no more standing then the removall of the bishops see to this place from dorchester ; that which was once here founded by paulinus , arch-bishop of yorke , having beene long before this time quite ruined . but when remigius translated hither the episcopall chaire , hee also built this church for receipt thereof . which being not long after defaced by fire , was for the most part repaired and beautified by bishop alexander , one of his successours : but brought unto that state in which now it is , by hugh of burgundy , and certaine other of the bishops the church is dedicated to the virgin mary , and all-saints . as for the diocese , it is the greatest still for jurisdiction , and was once one of the greatest for revenue in all the kingdom . but for the jurisdiction , that hath been shortned , though at severall times : the bishoprick of ely being taken out of it by king henry the first , as those of peterburgh , and oxford , by king henry 8. yet still it is the largest diocese in all the ki●gdome ; containing the whole counties of lincoln , leicester , huntingdon , bedford , buckingham , and part of herefordshire . in which great quantity of ground , there are 1255. parishes , whereof 577. are impropriations ; for government of which under the diocesan there are sixe arch-deacons , viz. of lincoln , leicester , bedford , buckingham , stow , & huntingdon . the clergies tenth is answerable unto this great extent of jurisdictiō , being no lesse then 1751. li. 14. s. 6. d. the bishoprick being valued at 894. li. 10. s. 1. d. ob . in the k. bookes . now for the dignity of this seate , wee will adde but this , that it hath yeelded to the church three saints , and to rome one cardinall ; unto the realme of england sixe lord chancellours , and one lord treasurer , and one lord keeper ; foure chancellours to the university of oxford , two to cambridge ; and that the b●shops here , were heretofore vice ● chancellours to the see of canterbury . which being thus premised , i shall proceede in ordering the bishops here , as i did at exeter . bishops of sidnacester . a. ch.     678 1 eadhedus .   2 ethelwinus .   3 edgar .   4 kinelbertus , 733 5 alwigh . 751 6 eadulfus . 764 7 ceolulfus . 787 8 eadulfus , ii. after whose death this church being a long time vacan● , was joyned to dorchester . bishops of dorchester . 635 1 birinus . 650 2 agilbertus .   ✚ ✚ ✚ 737 3 tota . 764 4 edbertus .   5 werenbertus . 768 6 unwora . 816 7 rethunus . 851 8 aldredus . 873 9 ceolredus .   10 halardus .   ✚ ✚ ✚ 905 11 ceolulfus . 12 leo●winus , who first united the see of sidnacester , unto that of dorchester . 960 13 ailnothus .   14 ascwinus .   15 alshelmus .   16 eadnothus . 1016 17 eadhericus . 1034 18 eadnothus . ii. 1052 19 ulfus normannus . 1053 20 wulfinus , after whose death remigius his successour removed the bishops see to lincoln , who from hence forward are to be entituled bishops of lincoln . 1070 21 remigius de feschamp s. 1092 22 robert bloet . l. chan. 1123 23 alexander , l. chan. 1147 24 robert de chesney . vacat sedes , annos 17. 1183 25 walter de constantiis , l. chan. 1186 26 s. hugh . 1203 27 gul. blesensis . vacat , annos 3. 1209 28 hugo wallis , l. chan. 1235 29 robert grosthead . 1254 30 henry lexington . 1258 31 benedict de gravesend . 1280 32 oliver sutton . 1300 33 john aldbery . 1319 34 thomas beake . 1320 35 henry burwesh , l. treas . * 1341 36 thomas le beck . 1351 37 john sinwell . 1363 38 john bokingham . 1397 39 henry beauford . * 1405 40 phil. de repingdon , card. ch ox. 1420 41 richard flemming ▪ 1431 42 gul. grey . 1436 43 gul. alnwick . 1450 44 marm. lumley , chan. camb. 1452 45 john chadworth . 1471 46 thomas rotheram , lord chancel . and ch. cambr. 1480 47 john russell , lord chan. and chan. oxford . vacat annos 5. 1495 48 gul. smith , chan. oxford . 1412 49 thomas wolsey almoner , trransl . to yorke . 1414 50 gul. atwater . 1521 51 john longland , chan. oxford . 1547 52 henry holbech . 1552 53 john tayler . 1553 54 john white . 1557 55 thomas watson . 1559 56 nicolas bullingham . 1570 57 thomas cowper , tr . to winton . 1584 58 will. wickham , tr . to winton . 1594 59 will. chadderton . 1608 60 will. barlowe . 1613 61 rich. neyle , tr . to durham . 1617 62 geo. monteine , tr . to london . 1921 63 john williams , l. keeper , now bishop of lincoln . 1641. london , and the bishops there . london was heretofore the principall of the three arch-bishopricks amongst the britons , and by pope gregory was intended to have beene so too amongst the english : but that saint austin whom hee sent to convert the saxons , liking of canterbury well , resolved to set his staffe up there , without going further . this had before beene prophecied by merlin , that dignitas londoniae adornaret doroberniam , and was now accomplished . what , and how many were the arch-bishops here , we have no good constat . sixteene are named by bishop godwin , but with no great confidence : but howsoever doe not come within my compasse , who have confined my selfe to the saxons time , in the first infancie of whose conversion , this city was designed for a bishops see. the cathed , church built also in those early dayes by ethelbert , the first christian king of all the english ; but afterwards much beautified and enlarged by er●enwald , the fourth bishop . which church of theirs being 500. yeeres after destroyed by fire : that which now stands was built in the place thereof , by mauritiu● , richardus his successour , and certaine others of the bishops ; a great part of it at their owne charge , the residue by a generall contribution over all the kingdome . and when it was defaced by fire in the late queenes time , an. 1561. the qu. forthwith directed her letters to the major of london , willing him ( as iohn stowe , the city chronicler reports it ) to take order for speedy repairing of the same : which was done accordingly . the bishop of this diocese hath precedencie before all bishops of the realme , next the two archbishops , together with the dignity and place of deane , unto the metropolitan see of canterbu●y . the nature of which office is , not onely to preside over the rest of the bishops at synodicall meetings , in case the metropolitan be absent : but to receive his mandats , for assembling synods , and other businesse of the church ; and having so received them , to intimate the tenour and effect thereof to the suffragan prelates . examples of the which see in the acts and monuments . and for this diocese it selfe , it containeth in it the two counties of middlesex , and essex , with that part of hertfordshire , which is not in the diocese of lincoln : wherein are reckoned 623. parishes , and of th●m 189. impropriated : for government whereof there are five arch-deacons , viz. of lo●don , middlesex , essex , colchester , and saint al●ans . valued it is in the kings bookes 1119. li. 8. s. 4. d. the clergies tenth amounting to the summe of 821. li 15. s. 1. d. finally , th●s see hath yeelded to the church three saints , to the state nine lord chancellours , sixe lord treasurers , one chancellour of the exchequer , two masters of the rolls , besides foure almoners to the court , and two chancellours to the university of oxford ; whose names occurre amongst these following . bishops of london . 606 1 s. melitus , tr . to cant.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 654 2 ceadda . 666 3 wina . 665 4 s. erkonwald . 685 5 waldherus .   6 ingualdus .   7 egwolfus .   8 wighed .   9 eadbright .   10 edgarus .   11 kenwalchus .   12 eadbaldus .   13 hecbertus . 801 14 osmundus , alias oswinus . 833 15 ethelnorthus .   16 ceolbertus .   17 renulfus , alias ceonulfus .   18 suithulfus . 851 19 eadslanus . 860 20 wulfius .   21 ethelwardus .   22 elitan . 898 23 theodredus .   24 walstanus .   25 brithelmus . 958 26 dunstanus , s. tr . to c●nt . 962 27 alfstanus .   28 wulfstanus .   29 alhumus .   30 alwy .   31 elfwardus . 1044 32 robert normannus . 1050 33 gul. normannus . 1070 34 hugo de orevalle . 1087 35 mauritius , l. chan. 1108 36 richard de beaumis . 1128 37 gilbertus . vacat sedes , annos 7. 1140 38 robert de sigillo . 1151 39 richard beaumis . ii 1161 40 gilbert foliot . 1189 41 richard nigellus , l. trea● . 1199 42 gul. de s. maria. 1222 43 eustatius de falcon bridge . chan of the exchequer , and l. treas . * 1229 44 roger nigor . 1244 45 fulco basser . * 1259 46 henry de wingham . , l. treas . 1261 47 richard talbot . 1263 48 henry de sandwich . 1274 49 john de chisul . l. chan. and l. treas . 1280 50 richard de gravesend . 1305 51 radulf de baldock , l. chan. 1313 52 gilbert segrave . 1317 53 richard newport . 13●8 54 stephen gravesend . 1338 55 richard bentworth , l. chan. 1339 56 radulf straford . 1355 57 nicol. northbrooke . 1361 58 sim. sudbury , tr . to cant. 1375 59 gul. courtney , chan. ox. transl . to cant. * 1381 60 rob braybroke . 1404 61 roger walden , l. treas . 1406 62 nicolas bubweth , master of rolls , and l. treas . 1407 63 richard giffard . 1421 64 john kemp. l. chan tr . to cant. 1426 65 cul. grey , tr . to lincoln . 1431 66 robert fitz-hugh . * 1435 67 robert gilbert . 1449 68 thomas kemp. 1489 69 richard hill. 1497 70 thomas savage . 1500 71 will. warham , l. chan. transl . to cant. 1505 72 william barnes . 1506 73 richard fitz-james . 1522 74 cutbert tunstall , tr . to durham . 1530 75 john stokesley . 1540 76 edm. bonner , displa . by k. edw. 6. 1549 77 nicolas ridley , displaced by qu. mary , and bonner restored againe , 1553. 1559 78 edm. grindall , tr . to yorke . 1570 79 edwin sandis , tr . to yorke . 1576 80 john elmer , bishop almoner . 1594 81 richard fletcher , bishop almoner 1597 82 richard bancroft , tr . to cant. 1604 83 richard vaughan . 1607 84 thomas ravis . 1609 85 george abbot , tr . to cant. 1611 86 john king. 16●1 87 george monteine , bishop almoner . 1628 88 will. laud. ch. oxford , transl . to cant. 1633 89 william juxon , bishop of london , and l. treas . 1641. norwich , and the bishops there . the diocese of norwich , like those of exeter and lincoln , was once two bishopricks : the one of suffolk , whose seate was dunwich on the sea shoare ; the other of norfolk , whose see was at north-elmham , now a poore village not farre from repeham . the bishop of the first was felix a burgundian , who first converted the east-angles . the third from him was bisus , who finding himselfe , by reason of his age , too weake for so great a burden , divided his diocese into two , making north elmham the episcopall seate for that part of the whole which we now call norfolke . both of them lay long dead in the times of the danish furie : that of north-elmham after an hundred yeeres desolation , ●eviving onely ; the other laid to rest for ever . north elmham thus possessed of the whole jurisdiction , could not hold it long : the bishops see being removed to thelford first by herfastus ; as afterwards from thence to norwich by herebert losinga . there it hath since continued till these very times , though nothing else continue of it but the see alone . for all the lands thereto belonging were taken from it by king henry the 8. those which did formerly appertaine unto the monastery of saint bennets in the holme ( by that king dissolved ) being assigned unto it by exchange . for which consult ▪ the statute , 32. h. 8. 47. in the which statute it is said that the lands given in recompence were of a greater yeerely value then those taken from it . so that the bishop , as it seemes , got in revenue ▪ then , though he lost in priviledge . for whereas the bishops here had the fi●st f●uits of all the benefices within the diocese , by an ancient custome : that was united to the crowne by act of parliament , 26. h. 8. c. 3. now for the church of norwich , it was founded first by him who first remo●ed hither the bishops see , even by herebertus losinga ; and by him dedicated to the blessed trinity : which being much defaced by fire , ( which was it seemes , a common calamity of all the churches of those times ) was afterwards repaired by iohn of oxford , the third after him ; and once againe being fire-touched , by bishop midleton , who brought it to that state in which now it stands . this see hath yeelded to the church two saints , to the realme five chancellours , one lord treasurer , and one lord chiefe justice , one bishop almoner to the court , and to the king one principall secretary of state. the diocese containeth in the two counties of norfolke and suffolke , 1121. parish churches , whereof 385. impropriate : for better ordering of the which it hath foure arch-deacons , viz. of norwich , norfolke , suffolke , and sudbury . finally , this bishoprick is valued in the kings bookes , 899. li. 18. s 7. d. ob . the tenth of the whole clergy amounting to the summe of 1117. li. 13. s. ob . now for the line of norwich it is thus drawne downe . bishops of the east-angles . a. ch.     630 1 s. felix . 647 2 thomas diaconus . 652 3 bregilfus . 665 4 bisus , by whom this diocese was divided into those of elmham . 1 bedwinus . 2 northbertus . 3 headulacus . 734 4 eadilfredus . 5 lanserthus . 6 athelwolfus . 7 alcarus . 8 sibba . 9 alherdus . 10 s. humbertus , after whose death , both sees lay vacant for the space of 100. yeeres . dunwich . 1 acca . 2 astwolfus . 3 eadfarthus . 4 cuthwinus . 5 aldberthus . 6 aglafius . 7 hardulfus . 8 aelphunus . 9 thedfridus . 10 wer●undus . 11 wilredus . the last bishop of dunwich . 955 11 astulphus , bishop of both sees .   12 alfridus .   13 theodredus .   14 athelstan .   15 algarus . 16 alwinus .   17 alfricus . 1038 18 alifrejus .   19 stigandus , tr . to winton . 1043 20 grinketell . 1047 21 ethelmar .   22 herfastus , who removed the see to the●ford , l. chan.   23 gul. galsagus , l. chan. after whose death the bishops see was removed to norwich , and his successours thence intituled bishops of norwich . 1088 24 herebert losinga , l. chan. 1120 25 everardus . 1151 26 gul. turbus . 1177 27 john oxford . 1200 28 john g●ey , l. chiefe justice . vacat annos . 7. 1222 29 pandulphus . 1226 30 tho. de blundevi●le . 1236 31 radulphus . vacat annos ▪ 3. 1239 32 gul. ralegh , tr . to winton . 1244 33 walter de sufeild . 1253 34 simon de wantam ▪ 1268 35 roger de skerwing . 1278 36 gul. middleton . 1288 37 radul . walpoole , translated to ely. 1299 38 john salmon , l. chan. 1325 39 robert baldock , lord chancellour . 1325 40 william ayermyn , lord keeper , and l. treas . 1337 41 ant de beck .   42 gul. bateman . 1354 43 tho. percy . * 1370 44 henry spencer . 1408 45 alexander . 1413 46 richard courtney . * 1416 47 john wakering . 1426 48 gulielmus alnwick , translated to lincoln . 1436 49 tho. browne . 1445 50 walter hart. 1472 51 james goldwell , principall secretary . 1499 52 tho. jan. 1500 53 richard nix . 1536 54 gul. rugg , alias reppes . 1550 55 thomas thirleby , translated to ely. 1554 56 john hopton . 1560 57 john parkhurst . 1575 58 edm. freke , translated to worcester . 1584 59 edm. scambler . 1594 60 gul. redman . 1602 61 john jegon . 1618 62 john overall . 1619 63 sam. harsnet , tr ▪ to . yorke . 1628 64 fr. white , almoner , tr . to ely. 1632 65 richard corbet . 1635 66 matthew wrenn , deane of the chappell , tr . to ely. 1638 67 richard montague , bishop of norwich , died 1641. oxford , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of oxford is of new erection , first founded by king henry 8. and by him endowed out of the lands belonging to the late dissolved monasteries of abingdon and osney . it was before a part of the dio●ese of lincoln : and being now made a bishoprick , had first the abbey church of osney ( being some halfe a mile from oxford ) for its cathedrall , anno 1541. from whence it was removed to oxford about five yeeres after . that which is now the cathedrall , was anciently dedicated to saint frideswide : but being by king henry made the bishops see , was entituled christ-church : the chapter there consisting of a deane and eight prebendaries by him also founded , part of the lands which had been purchased or procured by cardinall wolsey for the indowment of his colledge , being allotted thereunto . this bishoprick was founded then , an. 1541. and from that time , unto the yeere , 1603. when doctor bridges was made bishop , are 63 , yeeres onely , or there abouts : of which it was kept vacant above 40 yeeres even almost all the long raigne of queene eliz●beth ; to the impoverishing of the church , before well endowed . the diocese containeth onely the county of oxford , and therein 195 ▪ parish churches , of which 88. are impropriated . it hath but one arch-deacon , which is he of oxford ; is valued in the kings bookes , 354. li. 16. s. 4. d. ob . the clergies tenth comming unto 255. li. 8. s. bishops of oxford . a. ch.     1541 1 robert king , last abbat of osney . vacat ann. 10. 1567 2 hugh curwyn . vacat ann. 20. 1589 3 john underhill . vacat ann. 11. 1603 4 john bridges . 1619 5 john howson , tr . to durhum . 1628 6 richard corbet , tr . to norwich . 1632 7 john bancroft , died bishop of oxford , anno 1640. peterburgh , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of peterburgh is of new erection , and taken also out of lincoln , as oxford was . the cathedrall church was anciently a monastery , the place or towne of old called medeshamstede ; but on the building of the abby-church , founded by wol●her king of the mercians , anno 633. and by him dedicated to saint peter , it gained the name of peterburgh . this church by him thus built , was after ruined by the danes , and againe built and beautified by ethetwoldus bishop of winton , anno 960 ▪ or there abouts : upon whose mediation it was exceedingly liberally endowed by edgar then king of england ; adulph then chancellour to that king , giving unto it also his whole estate . thus it continued in a flourishing and faire estate , untill king henry dissolved it ▪ and having so dissolved it , did by his letters patents make it a bishops see , and founded also here a chapter consisting of a deane and sixe prebendaries . the diocese hereto allotted , containeth the two counties of northhampton , ( in the which peterburgh standeth ) and rutland : and in them both 293. parishes , whereof 91. are impropriate . it hath but one arch-deacon , which is entituled of northhampton : is valued in the kings bookes 414. li. 19. s. 11. d. the clergy paying for their tenth , 520. li. 16. s. 8. d. bishops of peterburgh . a. ch.     1541 1 john chamber , the last abhat of peterburgh . 1557 2 david poole . 1560 3 edm. scamber , tr . to norwich . 1584 4 richard howland . 1600 5 thomas dove . 1630 6 gul. pie●s , tr . to welles . 1632 7 augustine lindsell , tr . to heref. 1634 8 john dee of chichester . 1638 9 john towers , dean of peterburgh , now bishop here . 1639. rochester , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of rochester , is the most ancient next to canterbury , of all in england : a bishops see being here erected by that s. austin , who first did preach the gospel unto the saxons , anno 606. which was about ten yeeres after his entrance into england . the cathedrall church here , first ●rected by ethelbert king of kent , when it was first made a bishops see ; and by him dedicated to saint andrew : which growing ruinous and dedicated , was afterwards repaired by gundulp●us , one of the bishops of the same , about the yeere 1080. this bishoprick was anciently , and a long time together , in the immediate patronage of the arch-bishop of cauterbury ; who did dispose thereof as to them seemed best ; and so continued , till under the pretence of free and capitular elections , the popes had brought all churches into their owne hands . however after this , the bishops of rochester owed more then ordinary obedience to their metropolitan : and in all solemne pompes were commonly their crosse-bearers . the diocese hereof is the least in england , containing onely a small part of kent , and therein not above 98. parishes , of which 36. impropriate : for ordering of which jurisdiction , there needed not but one arch-deacon , which is he of rochester . nor is the valuation much , either of the bishoprick , or of the clergy : the one being in the kings bookes , 358 li. 3. s. ● . d. q. the other paying for their tenth , the least of any of the english , viz. 222. li. 14. 6 d. ob . q. and yet this little see hath yeelded to this realme , one chancellour , one lord keeper of the great seale , and one lord ▪ treasurer , and to the church of rome , one cardinall . the bishop of this church writes himselfe roffensis . bishops of rochester . a. ch.     606 1 justus , tr . to canterbury . 622 2 romanus . 631 3 paulinus , arch-bishop of yorke . 644 4 ithamar . 656 5 damianus . 669 6 putta . 676 7 quichelmus . 681 8 gebmundus . 693 9 tobias . 717 10 adulfus . 741 11 duina . 747 12 eardulfus .   13 diora .   14 weremundus . 800 15 beornmod .   16 tadnoth .   17 bedenoth .   18 godwinus . 19 cutherwolf .   20 swithulsus .   21 bu●ricus .   22 cheolmund .   23 chireserth .   24 burrhicus .   25 alfanus . 984 26 godwinus . ii.   27 godwinus . iii. 1058 28 siwardus . 1075 29 arnostus . 1077 30 gundulphus . 1108 31 radulphus , tr . to cant. 1115 32 barnulphus . s. 1125 33 johannes . 1137 34 ascelir●●s . 1147 35 walterus . 1183 36 gualeranus . 1185 37 gilbertus glanvill . 1214 38 benedictus . 1227 39 henry de samford . 1238 40 richard de wendover . 1251 41 laurent . de s. martino . 1274 42 walt. de merton , l. chan. 1278 43 john de bradfeild . 1283 44 tho. de inglethorp . 1291 45 tho. de wuldham . 1319 46 haimo de heath . 1352 47 john de shepey , l. treas . 1361 48 gul. de witlesey , tr . to worcest . 1363 49 tho. trilley . 1372 50 tho. brinton . 1389 51 gul. de bottlesham . 1400 52 joh. de bottlesham . 1404 53 richard young. 1419 54 john kemp , tr . to chichester . 1422 55 john langdon . 1434 56 tho. browne , tr . to norwich . 1436 57 gul. de welles . 1443 58 john lowe . 1467 59 tho. rotheram , tr . to lincoln . 1471 60 john alcock , l. k. tr . to worcester . 1476 61 john russell , tr . to lincoln . 1480 62 edm. audley , tr . to here●ord . * 1492 63 tho. savage , tr . to london . 1496 64 rich. fitz-james , tr . to chic●ester . 1504 65 john fisher , cardinall . 1536 66 john hilsey . 1539 67 nic. heath , almoner , tr . to worc. 1544 68 henry holbech , tr . to lincoln . 1547 69 nic. ridley , tr . to london . 1550 70 jo. poyner , tr . to winton . 1551 71 john scory , tr . to chichester . 1554 72 maurice griff●n . 1559 73 edm. gheast , tr . to sarum . 1571 74 edm. freake , tr . to norwich . 1576 75 john piers , almoner , tr . to sarum . 1578 76 jo. young. 1605 77 gul. barlowe , tr . to lincoln . 1608 78 rich. neyle , tr . to lichfeild . 1611 79 john buckeridge , tr . to ely. 1627 80 walt. curle , tr . to welles . 1630 81 john bowle , now bishop , 1637. 1637 82 john warner , deane of lichfeild . now bishop of rochester , 1641. salisbury , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of salisbury succeeded in the rights of two severall dioceses , whereof the one had its cathedrall or chiese see at sherborn , in the county of dorset ; the other at wilton , once the chiefe towne of wiltshire , but since the growth of salisbury very much decayed . of these the ancienter was sherborn , whose diocese extended once over all those countries , which are now subject to the jurisdiction of sal●●bury , bristol , welles , and exeter . but welles and exeter being made peculiar dioceses , anno 905. as we there have shewed , another was erected the same time at wilton also . which when it had continued under nine bishops , and no more , was then againe united unto sherborne ; and both together presently removed to salisbury , as being the chiefe city of these parts , and consequently more fit for a bishops see. and yet it stayed not long there neither , being removed againe in little time , unto a more convenient place . for by herm●nn●● it was fixed upon the hill , in that old fortified towne , now called old salisbury : which being found by soone experience to be no proper seate for a bishops dwelling ; the see was presently brought lower , and with it the towne . herm●nnus who removed the see from sherborne , did first begin the church at old sarum ( for so some latine writers call it ) which osmund , his successor finished . rich. sirnamed poore , the fourth-from osmund , removed the see into the valley , and first began that church which wee now see standing : which being finished in the yeere ▪ 1258. by bishop bridport , was ded cated to the honour of the blessed virgin. thus was the see of sherborne removed to salisbury , where it hath ever since continued in great fame and lustre . as for the priviledges of this church , the bishops anciently did claime to be praecentors to their metropolitan , and of more late dues to bee chancellours of the most noble order of the ga●ter . which office being instituted by king edward 4. and by him vested in the person of rich. beauchamp of sarum , and his successors in that see : was after in the new starutes made by henry 8. left solely to the kings disposing , either to clergy-man or lay-man , as to them seemed best . nor hath it beene enjoyed by any clergy-man since that time , though in the yeere 16●8 . it was much laboured for by bishop cot●o● . this diocese containeth in it the counties of berks , and wiltes , ( for that of dorset was dismembred from it by king henry 8. and laied to bristol , ) and in them two , 544. parish churches , of which 109. are impropriations . it hath moreover three arch-leacons , viz. of salisbury , berks , and wilts ; is valued in the kings bookes , 1367. li. 11. s. 8. d. the clergy paying for their tenth , 901. li. 8. s. 1. d. finally , this see hath yeelded to the church one saint , and to rome two cardinals , unto the realme of england , one lord cheife justice , three lord chancellours , two lord treasurers , as many masters of the rolls ; two chancellours t● the university of oxford , and one to cambridge . the bishops of this see , we will marshall thus . bishops of sherborne . a. ch.     705 1 adhelmus . 709 2 fordhere . 738 3 herewaldus .   4 ethelwaldus .   5 denesrith .   6 wilbertus . 817 7 easthanus . 868 8 eadmundus . 872 9 eheleage .   10 alfy .   11 asserius , sirnamed menevensis . 883 12 swithelmus , alias sigelmus .   13 ethelwaldus , ii. after whose death this diocese was divided into many parts , those of welles , cridington , and saint germans , ( both which now make exe●er ) being taken out of it , anno 905. by plegmundus arch-bishop of canterbury . at which time also there was another see erected for these parts at wilton , whose seate was sometimes there , and sometimes also at ramsbury , and sunning . bishops of sherborn . wilton . a. ch.     905 14 werstanus . 918 15 ethel●aldus .   16 sigelmus . ii. 934 17 alfredus . 940 18 wulfeinus . 958 19 alfwoldus . 978 20 ethelricus .   21 ethelsius .   22 brithwinus . 1009 23 elmerus .   24 brinwin .   25 elfwoldus , after whose death hermannus , who had be fore beene bishop of wilton , and resigned that church , because the monkes of malmesbury would not give him leave to remove his see episco pall unto their abby ; was made bishop of sherborne : and having joyned both sees together , did shortly after remove both to salisbury : of which himselfe , and his successors were afterwards entituled bishops of wilton 905 1 ethelstanus .   2 odo . 934 3 osulphus . 970 4 alsstanus . 981 5 alfgarus .   6 siricus , tr . to cant. 989 7 alfricus , tr . to cant. 998 8 brithwoldus . 1045 9 hermannus , the last bishop of wilton . bishops of salisbury .   26 hermannus , the 26 bishop of this diocese , and first that had his see at sarum . 27 s osmundus , l. chan. 1107 28 rogerus , l. chiefe justice , lord chan. and l. treas . 1139 29 jocelinus . vacat sedes ann. 4. 1189 30 hubertus walter , tr . to cant. 1193 31 herebertus pauper . 1●17 32 richard poore . 1229 33 robert bingham . 1247 34 gul. eboracensis . 1256 35 egidius de bird-port . 1263 36 walter de la w●le . 1274 37 robert de wike-hampton . 1284 38 walter scammell . 1287 39 henry de braundston . 1289 40 gul. de la corner . 1291 41 nicolas longespee . * 1298 42 simon de gandavo . 1315 43 roger de mortivall . 1329 44 robert wivill . 1375 45 radulph erghum , tr . to welles . 1388 46 john waltam , master of the rolls , and l. treas . 1395 47 richard metford . 1407 48 nicolas bubwith , tr . to welles . 1408 49 rob. hallam , card. chan. oxford . 1417 50 john chaundler . 1427 51 robert nevill . * 1438 52 will. aiscoth , clerk of the coun. 1450 53 richard beauchamp , first chan. of the g. * 1482 54 lionell widdeville , chancel . oxford . * 1485 55 tho. langton , tr . to winton . 1493 56 john blythe , master of the rolls , chan. of cambridge . 1500 57 henry deane , tr . to cant. 1502 58 edmund audley . * 1524 59 laurence campejus , card. 1535 60 nicolas shaxton . 1539 61 john salcot , alias capon . 1559 63 john juell . 1571 64 edm. gheast , bishop almoner . 1578 65 john piers bishop almoner , tr . to yorke . vacat ann. 3. 1591 66 john coldwell . vacat ann. 2. 1598 67 henry cotton . 1615 68 robert abbot . 1618 69 martin fotherby . 1620 70 robert tonson . 1621 71 john davenant , died bishop of salisbury . 1641. westminser bishops , deans , and abbats . the bishoprick of westminster , as it related to the saxons , was of late erection ; and being so erected was of small continuance : but anciently in the britons time , the church there was the see for the arch-bishop of london . for whereas some had found in some record , that the arch-bishops see was planted in the church of saint peter in cornhill : certaine it is , that that was a mistake for saint peters in thorney . now thorney is the ancient name of that , which is since called westminster : and being an ancient saxon name , was farre more likely to be meant by the first reporter , then that of cornehill , which is meerely moderne . but this arch-bishoprick being brought to nothing by the saxons , sebert the first christned king of essex , erected here a church , where the former was , and dedicated it unto saint peter , as was that before , which standing westward of saint pauls , was by the common people commonly called westminster . this temple of king seberts , being in tract of time growne ruinous , and almost de●erted , edward the confessour againe rebuilt , and liberally endowed , and stored with monkes , by him removed hither from exeter . after king henry 3. taking downe the fabrick of the confessour , erected it as now it standeth ; save that the abbats much enlarged it towards the west , and that king henry 7. built that most goodly chappell at the east end thereof . the abbats here had archiepiscopall jurisdiction within their liberties , and had the keeping of the regalia , and a chiefe service in the coronation of the kings of england , and place in parliament : in all which rights , save that of parliament , the deanes now succeed them for when this monastery ( which at the suppression was valued at 3977. li. ) was dissolved by king henry 8. first he erected here a deanrie , anno 1539. then added to the deane a bishop , anno 1541. thi●leby the bishop , having delapidated all the patrimo ny to his see allotted ; and robbed s. peter to pay paul , as the saying is , was removed to norwich , and so the bishoprick determined ; having continued nine yeeres onely : and middlesex , which was the diocese thereof , was restored to london . queene mary afterwards brought in an abbat , and her foundation being dissolved by queene elizabeth , the made it a collegiate church , consisting of a deane and 12. prebendaries , as it still continues . the bishop , deanes , and abbat of westminster . a ch.     1539 1 gul. benson , the last abbat , and first deane . 1541 2 thomas thirleby , the one , and onely bishop of westminster , tr . to norwich . 1550. 3 richard coxe deane , after bishop of ely. 1553 4 hugh weston deane . 1556 5 john fechnam abbat . 1560 6 gul. bill deane . 1561 7 gabriel goodman . 1601 8 lancelo● andrewes , after bishop of chichester , &c. 1605 9 richard neyle , after bishop of rochester , &c. 1610 10 george monteine , after bishop of lincoln , &c. 1617 11 robert tonsou , after bishop of sarum . 1620 12 john williams , lord keeper bishop of lincoln , and deane of westminster . 1641. winchester , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of winchester ( wintoniensis in the latine ) is of good antiquity ; and never changed the see since the first foundation , as all the rest have done in the south-west parts . the city once the regal seat of the west saxon kings . the cathedrall church first founded and endowed by kingil , or kinegilsus , the first christian k. of west-sax : who gave unto it all the land within seven miles of winchester . kinelwalchin , son unto this kingil , went forwards with his fathers fabricke , ratified his donation , and added to it amongst other things , the manors of alresford , downten , and worthy . the church now standing was begun by bishop walkelin , the worke pursued by his successors , but yet not finished till the time of william de wickham , who built the greatest part of the west end thereof . the chappels on the east end beyond the quire , had their severall founders . the whole church dedicated first unto saint amphibalus , then to saint peter , after unto saint swithin , once bishop here ; and last of all unto the blessed trinity , as it still continues . the bishops here are chancellours to the see of canterbury , and prelates of the most noble order of saint george , called the garter : which office was first vested in them by king edward 3. at the first foundation of that order , and hath continued to them even since . they were reputed anciently to be earles of southampton ; and are so stiled in the new statutes of the garter , made by henry 8. but that now otherwise disposed of . finally what for priviledge , and what for large possessions it was prized so high , that henry of bloys , ( he was the brother of king stephen ) once bishop here , had got a faculty from the pope , to make it an arch bishops see ▪ seven of the suffragans of cante●bury , being allotted thereunto . and william de edington , one of the bishops of this church , being elected unto cante●bury , re●used it , saying , though canterbury had the highest rack , yet winchester had the deep●st manger . the diocese hereof contained of old , the counties of s●rrey , and sou●hampton , and the isle of wight : to which was added in qu. elizabeths time , the islles of iarsey , garnsey , sack , and alderney , once members of the bishoprick of constance in norma●dy . of these the english isle and counties containe 362. parishes , of which , 131. impropriate : the isle of iarsey , 121. and garnsey with the other two , as many more . for government of the english part there are two arch-deachns , the one of winchester ; and the other of surrey : iar●●y is governed by a deane or commissary , according to the manner of the english church ; and garnsey with the isles appendant , follow the fashions of geneva . the bishoprick was anciently valued in the kings books , 3885 li. 3. s. 3. d. ob . q. now at , 2793. li. 4. s. 2. d. qa. q. lesse by a thousand pounds then before it was : which plainely sheweth that there hath beene a great abatement of the old revenue ; the tenth of the clergy amounteth unto , 846. li. 12. d. finally , this see hath yeelded to the church seven saints , and to rome , two cardinals ; to england , one lord chiefe justice , sixe lord chancellours , two lord treasurers , one lord privie seale , one chancellour of the university of oxford , another of the exchequer , and 21. prelates of the garter , whose names are to be found among●t these following . bishops of winton . a. ch.       1 wina .   2 eleutherius . 673 3 s. headda . 704 4 daniel . 744 5 humfridus . 756 6 kinchardus .   7 hathelmardus , tr . to cant.   8 egbardus .   9 dudda .   10 kinebertus .   11 alhmundus .   12 wighthenius .   13 herefridus . 834 14 edmundus . 15 helmstanus . 837 16 s. swithinus . l. chan. 863 17 adhferthus . 871 18 dumbertus . 879 19 denewulfus .   20 s. athelmus , alias bertulfus , 905 21 s. frithstanus . 931 22 brinstanus . 946 23 elpheus calvus .   24 elssinus , alias alf●us . 958 25 brithelmus . 963 26 s. ethelwoldus . 984 27 s. elphegus . 1006 28 kenulphus . 1008 29 s. brithwoldus . 1015 30 elsmus . 1038 31 alwinus . 1043 32 stigandus , tr . to cant. 1070 33 walkelinus . vacat sedes , annos 10. 1107 34 gul. giffard . 1129 35 henricus blesensis . * vacat sedes , annos 3. 1174 36 richard toclivius . 1189 37 godfr . de lucy . 1204 38 petr. de rupibus , l. ch. justice . 1243 39 gul. de ralegh . 1249 40 ethelmarus . vacat sedes , annos 4. 1265 41 john oxon. 1268 42 nicolas eliensis . 1280 43 john de pontisara . 1304 44 henry woodlock . 1316 45 john sandal , chan. of the exch. l. chan. and l. treas . 1320 46 reginald asserius . 1323 47 john stratford , l. chan. l. treas . tr . to cant. 1333 48 adam de orlton . 1345 49 gul. de edingdon , l. treas . and the first prelate of the garter . 1365 50 will. de wickham , l. chan. 1405 51 henry beaufort , card. l. ch. * 1447 52 will. de waniflete , l. ch. 1486 53 peter courtney . * 1493 54 tho. langton . 1502 55 rich. foxe , l. privie seale . 1530 56 tho. wolsey , card. l. chan. 1534 57 stephen gardiner , displaced , 1549. 1550 58 john poynet , who being removed , bishop gardiner was restored , 1553. and made l. ch. 1556 59 john white . 1560 60 robert horne . 1580 61 john watson . 1584 62 thomas cowper . 1595 63 will. wickham . 1595 64 will. daye . 1596 65 tho. bilson . 1617 66 james montagu , deane of the chap. 1618 67 lancel . andrewes , deane of the chap. 1628 68 rich. neyle , tr . to yorke . 1632 69 walt. curle , now bishop of winton , prelate of the garter , and bishop almoner , 1641. worcester , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of worcester , ( wigorniensis in the latine ) was founded by etheldred , king of the mercians , anno 679. and taken out of the diocese of lichfeild , of which first it was . the cathedrall church here , by him also built ; but afterwards repaired , or new built rather by severall bishops of this see. oswald the eighteenth bishop here did first undertake it , and casting out the married priests , first brought in the monkes , anno 96● . but his foundation being ruined by the danes , the church was brought to that perfection wherein now it standeth , by bishop wulstan , about the yeere 1030. since when it ha●h enjoyed a flourishing and faire estate : and ( which is very rare ) can hardly make complaint of any vacancie : save that on the exauctoration of bishop heath , it was assigned over in commendam to master hooper then bishop of gloucester . but it held not long . this diocese containeth in it the county of worce●ter , and part of warwickshire : and therein ●41 . parishes , of which 71. impropriate ▪ for these there is but one arch-deacon , which is called of worcester . valued it is in the kings bookes , 1049. li. 17. s. 3. d. ob . q the clergy paying for their tenth , 228. li. in point of honour it may pleade thus much , that in the flourishing times of the see of canterbury , the bishops here were the peculiar chaplaines of the metropolitans : and by their office to say masse in all assemblies of the clergy , wherein he was present . as also that it hath yeelded to the church foure saints ; five chancellours to the realme of england , and one to normandy ; lord treasurers three , one chancellour to the queen then being ; one l. president of wales , and one vice-president : whom , with the residue of the bishops , take here in order . bishops of worcester . a. ch.     679 1 boselus , first bishop of w●rcest .   2 ostforus . 693 3 s. egwinus . 714 4 wilfridus . 717 5 milredus .   6 weremundus . 778 7 tilherus . 781 8 eathoredus . 799 9 denebertus . 822 10 eadbertus . 844 11 alwinus . 872 12 werefridus . 911 13 wilfreth . 915 14 ethelhunus . 922 15 wilfreth . ii. 929 16 kinewoldus .   17 s. dunstanus , tr . to london . 950 18 s. oswaldus . 971 19 adulfus .   20 wulfstanus .   21 leossius . 1033 22 britteagus . 1038 23 livingus . 1049 24 aldredus . 1060 25 s. wulfstanus . 1097 26 sampson . 1115 27 theolphus . 1125 28 simon , chan. to qu. 〈◊〉 .   29 aluredus .   30 john pagham .   31 rogerus . 1181 32 baldwinus , tr . to cant. 1189 33 gul. de northale . 1191 34 robertus .   35 henricus . 1196 36 john de constantiis . 1200 37 maugerus . 1212 38 walt. grey , l. ch. tr . to yorke . 1216 39 silvester . 1218 40 gul. de bloys . 1237 41 walt. de cantilupe . * 1268 42 nich. de ely , l. chan. translated to wint. 1269 43 godsr . giffard , l. chan. 1302 44 gul. de gainsburgh . 1308 45 walt. reynold , l. chan. and l. treas . tr . to cant. 1313 46 walt. maydestone . 1317 47 thomas cobbam . 1327 48 adam de orlton , tr . to wint. 1333 49 simon de montacute . * 1337 50 tho. hennyhall . 1342 51 wulstan de brandford . 1349 52 joh. thursby , l. ch. tr . to yorke . 1352 53 reginald brian . 1362 54 joh barnet , l. treas . tr . to welles . 1363 55 gul. wittlesey , tr . to cant. 1368 56 gul. de lynne . 1375 57 henry de wakefeild , l. treas . 1395 58 tideman de winchcomb . 1401 59 rich. clifford , tr . to london . 1407 60 tho. peve●ell . 1419 61 phil. morgan , chan. of normandy , tr . to ely. 1426 62 tho. polton . 1435 63 tho. bourchier . , tr . to ely. * 1443 64 john carpenter . 1476 65 john alcock , l. chan. tr . to ely. 1487 66 robert morton . 1497 67 john gigles . 14●9 68 silvester gigles . 1521 69 juliu● de medices , after pope cle●ent the 8. * 1522 70 hieron . de nugutiis , an italian . 1535 71 hugh la●●mer . 1539 72 john bell. 1543 73 nico● ▪ heath , displaced by king edward 6. and the see put over in 〈◊〉 to master hooper bishop of glocester , but restored after by queene mary , 〈…〉 l. pres . of wales , tr . to yorke . 1554 74 richard pates . 1599 75 nich. bullingham . 1576 76 john whi●gift , vice-president of wales , for sir h. sidney , transl . to canterbu●y . 1584 77 edm. freake . 1593 78 rich. fletcher , tr . to london . 1596 79 tho. bilson , tr . to winton . 1597 80 gervase babington . 1610 81 henry parry . 1617 82 john thornborough , now bishop of worcester . 1641. the second part of the catalogve of bishops , containing the svccession of the arch-bishops and bishops of the province of yorke . printed at london . 1641. yorke , and the arch-bishops there . yorke is the ancientest metropolitan see at this time in england , so made at the first generall admittance of the gospel in the time of luctus ; the first arch-bishop by him here established , named sampson , and he who held out last in the britons time , being called tadiacus . we have a constat onely of two more , viz ▪ taurinus , and pyrannus : of all the rest no name , or memory to be found amongst our writers . on the conversion of the saxons , this see was by pope gregory designed to its former honour : which not long after took e●●ect , when as paulinus was made arch-bishop of yo●ke , anno 622. in which designment of the said pope gregory , the metropolitan of yorke , was to have as many suffragan bishops , as he of london ( for there the see was to be placed by pope gregories order ) to either of them twelve apeece , which if they ever were erected in this northerne province , were certainly of meane estate , not able to support the honour ; and consequently , swallowed up by the greater churches of yorke and durham : which two were onely left here a long time together untill carlile first was made a bishopricke by k. henry the first ; as chester afterwards by k. henry 8. but that which was the greatest addition to the province of yorke , was the direct and metropolitan jurisdiction which it claimed and had over all the bishops of scotland , who did from hence receive their con●ecration , and swore canonicall obedience unto this see. in this regard , and that it was conceived that by pope gregories institution , he of the two arch-bishops which was first confirmed , should have precedencie over the other : there grew a great contention there abouts , betweene them , and much recourse was made to the court of rome . at last it was determined in favour of the see of canterbury : yet so that still it might he lawfull to the arch-bishop of yorke to write himselfe prim●te of england ; as the other taking to himselfe the stile of primate of all england , as it still continueth . the next misfortune which besell the see and metropolitan of yorke , was that the bishops of scotland did in fine withdraw themselves from his obedience , and had arch-bishops of their owne . this hapned whilest george nevill was arch-bishop here , who was advanced unto this see , an. 1466. not above ninescore yeeres agoe : and then upon pretence , that in consideration of the many and most deadly warres betweene both realmes , the metropolitan of yorke could beare no fatherly affection to his sonnes of scotland . however the archbishop still retaines his●wonted place , having precedencie before all dukes , not being of the royall bloud ; as also before all the great officers of state , except the lord chancellour . for the cathedrall church of yorke , it was first built , or begun rather , by king edwyn , king of the north-humbers , anno 627. but finished by king oswald who succeeded him , and dedicated to saint peter . but this of their foundation being destroyed by fire , and by the fury of the danes , at the first entrance of the normans : that which now standeth was erected in the place thereof by arch-bishop thomas ( the 25. of this see ; ) and after , by degrees , adorned and beautified by his successors . the diocese hereto belonging , containeth in it the two counties of yorke and nottingham : and in them both 581 parishes , of which 336. are impropriations . for government whereof , it hath foure arch-deacons , viz. of yorke , cleveland , east-riding , and nottingham . this bishoprick was at the first rated in the kings bookes , 2035. li. 14. s. 6. d. but now , since the great diminution made by king henry 8. 1609. li. 19. s. 2. d. and for the clergy of the same , their tenth amounteth unto 1113. li. 17. s. 9. d. ob . q. to draw unto an end , this see hath yeelded to the church eight saints , to the church of rome three ca●dinals , unto the realme of england twelve ll. chancellours , and two ll. treasurers , and to the north of england two lord presidents . the bishops write themselves in latine , eboraunses , of eborum , and are these that follow . arch-bishops of yorke . a. ch.     622 1 s. paulinus , died 644. vacat annos 20. 666 2 cedda .   3 wilfridus .   4 s. bosa . 687 5 s. john of beverley . 718 6 s. wilfridus . ii. 731 7 s. egber●us . 767 8 adelbertus . 781 9 eanbaldus . 797 10 eanbaldus . ii.   11 wolsius . 832 12 wimundus . 854 13 wil●erus . 897 14 ethelbaldus .   15 lodewardus .   16 wulf●tanus . 955 17 oskitellus . 972 18 athelwaldus . 972 19 s. oswaldus . 993 20 aldulphus . 1003 21 wulfstanus . ii. 1023 22 alfricus . 1050 23 kinsius . 1061 24 aldredus . 1070 25 thomas . i. 1101 26 girardus . 1109 27 thomas . ii. 1119 28 thurstan . 1141 29 henry murdac . 1153 30 s. gulielmus . 1154 31 rogerus . vacat sedes annos 10. 1191 32 geofr . plantagenet , l. c●an . * vacat sedes annos 4. 1217 33 walter grey , l. chan. 1256 34 s. s●wa●u● . 1258 35 ●od●●ey ●e kinton . 1265 36 walter ●iffard , l. chan. 1279 37 gul. wickwane . 1285 38 john romanus . 1288 39 henry de newark . 1299 40 tho. corbridge . 1305 41 gul. de greenfeild , l. chan. 1317 42 gul. de melton , l. ch. & l. treas . 1342 43 gul. zouche , l. treas . * 1352 44 john thursby , l. chan. 1373 45 alexander nevill . 1388 46 tho arundel . l. chan. tr . to cant. * 1396 47 robert waldby . 1397 48 richard scrope . * 1406 49 henry bowet . 1425 50 john kemp , l. chan. tr . to cant. 1453 51 gul. boothe . 1466 52 george nevill , l. chan. * 1477 53 lawrence boothe 1480 54 thomas rotheram , l. chan. 1501 55 thomas savage . 1508 56 christopher bambridge , card. 1515 57 thomas wolsey , card. l. chan. 1531 58 edward lee. 1544 59 robert holgate , lord pres. of the north. 1553 60 nicolas heath , l. chan. 1560 61 tho. young , l. pres. of the north. 1570 62 edm. grindall . tr . to cant. 1576 63 edwyn sandys . 1588 64 john piers. 1594 65 matthew hutton . 1606 66 tobias matthewes . 1627 67 george monteine . 1628 68 sam. harsnet . 1631 69 richard neyle , who died octob. 31. 1640. carlile , and the bishops there . the most of that which doth now make the diocese of carl●●e , was in the infancie of the english church , as i conceive it , part of the diocese of whit herne , or casa candida , in the province of galloway : now reckoned as a part of scotland , but then a parcell of the kingdome of the north-humbers . but when the scots had mastred all those countries beyond tweede and solway , the towne of carlile , with the county of cumberland , in the which it standeth , were severed from that diocese : carlile , with 15. miles about it being bestowed upon s. cutbert , bishop of lindisfarne , by egfride , king of the north-humbers , anno 679 ; the residue of the countty submitting to the jurisdiction of the arch-deacon of richmond , then being subordinate the see of yorke . thus it contin●ed till the yeere 1133. what time a bishops see was here first established : and by that meanes , another suffragan bishop ●dded to that metropolitan . the cathedrall church he●e had beene founded not long before , by walter , deputy of these parts for king william rufus ; and by him dedicated to the honour of the blessed virgin but finished and endowed by king henry the first , out of that wealth which the said walter had amassed for that very purpose , by the perswasion of athulphus or athelwolfus , whom aft●rwards hee made the first bishop there . the diocese containes the county of westmorland , and most part of cumberland ; and therein onely 93. parishes , but those ( as all the northerne are ) exceeding large ; and of them 18. are impropriate . arch-deacon here was never any , the jurisdiction being claimed by him of richmo●d , as anciently to him belonging . the bishoprick is valued in the kings bookes 530 li. 4. s. 11. d. ob . the clergies tenth amounting onely unto 161. li. 1 s. 7. d. ob . and yet this little see , and so farre remote , hath yeelde● to this kingdome one chancellour , and two ll. treasurers , besides three chancellours unto the university of cambridge . bishops of carlile . a. ch.     1133 1 athelwolsus , or athelwardus .   2 bernardus died anno 1186. vacat sedes ann. 32. 1218 3 hugo . 1223 4 walt. mau-clerke , l. treas . 1247 5 silvester de everdon , l. chan. 1255 6 tho. vipont . * 1258 7 rob. chause . 1280 8 rad de ireton . 1288 9 john de halton . 1318 10 john de rosse . 1332 11 john de kirkby . 1353 12 gilbert de welton . 1363 13 tho. de appleby . 1396 14 robert reade . 1397 15 tho. merkes . 1400 16 gul. strickland . 1419 17 roger whelpdale . 1423 18 will. barrowe . 1430 19 marm. lumley , l. ch and ch. ca. * 1450 20 nith . close , tr . to lich. 1452 21 gul. percy , chan. of camb. * 1362 22 john kingscore . 1464 23 richard scrope . * 1468 24 edw. storey ch. of camb. 1478 25 rich. dunelmensis . 1496 26 gul. sever , tr . to durham . 1503 27 roger leibourne . 1504 28 john penny. 1520 29 john kite . 1537 30 robert aldrich . 1356 31 owen ogilthorpe . 1561 32 john best . 1570 33 rich. barnes , tr . to durham . 1577 34 john mey . 1598 35 henry robinson . 1616 36 robert snowdon . 1620 37 rich. milborne . 1624 38 rich. senhouse . 1628 39 francis white , tr . to norwich . 1629 40 barnabas potter , now bishop of carlile . 1641. chester , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of chester , as it is here to be considered , is of new erection , one of those founded by king henry 8. whereof we spake before when we were in bristol . anci●ntly it was in the diocese of lichfeild , one of the bishops of which church , removing his see hither , anno 1075. as to the more remarkable and noted place ; occasioned that his successours many times were called bishops of chester . but being severed from that diocese by king henry 8. it was erected into an episcopall see , made up of the revenue and jurisdiction of the two arch-deaconries of richmond and chester : of which the first had jurisdiction over richmondshire , and part of cumberland ; the other over lanca-shire and chest-shire . it was at first ●oundation ordained to be of the province of canterbury ; and that in the letters patents of the ●oundation of the same ▪ 33. h. 8. but the king taking into minde , as well the long distance of the same from the see of canterbury , as also that the arch bishop of canterbury had a sufficient number of suffragans before , whereas the arch-bishop of yorke had but onely two : did in the ianuary following , by act of parliament , annex the same for ever to the province of yorke . 33. h. 8. c. 31. the cathedrall church here was once a monastery , founded by leofricus , once an officiary count , in these parts ; and by him dedicated to saint wereberg : but repaired , beautified , endowed , and stored with monkes by h●gh , sirnamed lupus , the first earle of chester . these monkes being ejected by king hen●● 8. he brought into their place a deane and prebendaries : and made it of a monastery , a see episcopall : whose diocese containeth , in the counties before remembred , 256 ▪ parishes , of which 101. are impropriations . the bishoprick is valued in the kings bookes , 42● . li. 1. s. 8. d. and for a tenth unto the crowne , the clergy pay the yeerely summe of 435. s. 12. the bishops of chester . a. ch.     1541 1 john bird , removed hither from bangor . 1556 2 john cotes . 1556 3 cuthbert scott . 1561 4 william downeham . 1579 5 william chadderton , tr . to lincoln . 1595 6 hugh biller . 1597 7 ri●h . vaughan , tr . to london . 1604 8 george lloyde . 1616 9 tho. morton , tr . to lichfeild . 1618 10 john bridgeman , now bishop of chester . 1641. durham , and the bishops there . the bishops see now fixed in durham , was first placed in lind●●arne , a little iland on the sea-coast of northumberland : and there placed by the first bishops of this northerne region , because of the primacie and solitude thereof , which made it thought more fit and proper for devotion . but both the bishop and his monkes being driven from thence , by the mercilesse furie of the danes , ( who here raged extremely ) about the yeere of christ , 800. they wandred up and downe from place to place for 200. yeeres , not finding any place where they might repose themselves in safety , till in the end they sate them downe in durham , anno 990. or there abouts , where it hath ever since continued . the church here dedicated to saint cuthbert , the 6. bishop of lindisfarne , a man of speciall renowne for piety ; whose reliques the said bishops carried up and downe with them in all their wandrings : till at the last they were deposited in this church , as in a place of rest and safety . the founder of it , that aldwinus , by whom the see was fi●st here setled . but his foundation being taken downe by william de carileso , about the first entrance of the nor●ans : that which now standeth was begun by him in the place thereof ; and finished by ranulphus flambard , his next successour . somewhat hath since beene added to it by bishop fernham , and thomas weiscomb pri●ur h●reof , about the yeere 1242. nor did saint cu●hbert onely give name unto the church , but also unto all that countrey , which now we call the bishopricke of durham , and anciently was called saint cuthberts patrimony . for upon 〈◊〉 , and his successours in that see , was all the countrey betweene tois and tine , conferred by alfred king of england : which his donation was confirmed , and in part increased by his successours , edward , athelstan , and c●ute the dane . so fortified it was with priviledges , and royall grants , that at the comming in of the norman conquerer , the bishop was reputed for a county palatine : and did engrave upon his seal an armed chivalier , holding a naked sword in one hand , and in the other the bishops armes . nay it was once adjudged in law , that the bishop was to have all forfeitures & escheates within the liberties , ut rex habet extra , as the king of england had without . but these immunities and priviledges were in part impaired by the statute of king henry 8. 27. h. 8. c. 25. and altogether with the lands and whole rights thereof , conferred upon the crowne by act of parliament , in the last yeere of the ●aigne of king edward 6. but in the second parliam . of qu. maries reigne , that act was totally repealed , and a reviver made of the said late dissolved bishop● ▪ and all the royalties therof , 1. mar. c. 6. as for the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction , the diocese thereof containeth the county of northumberland , and that which properly and distinctly is entituled the bishopricke of durham : each of the which hath an arch-deacon of its owne ; in both , 135. parishes , whereof 87. impropriate : the clergy of the which pay for their tenth unto the crowne , 385. li. 5. s. 6. d. ob . the bishopricke being valued in the first fruit office , 1821. li. 1. s. 5. d. qa . the bishops of this church doe write them selves in latine dunelmenses ; of which five have beene dignified with the name of saints ; one with the patriarchate of hierusalem , and one with the title of a cardinall in the church of rome . there have been also of them , one lord chiefe justice , five ll. chancellours , three ll. treasurers , one principall secretary of estate , one chancellour of the university of oxford , and two masters of the rolls . which wee will now lay downe in order , even the whole succession , beginning with those who had their see and habitation in the isle of lindisfarne . bishops of lindisfarne . a. ch.     637 1 s. ardanus . 651 2 s. finanus . 661 3 colmannus . 664 4 tuda . 665 5 s. ea●a . 684 6 s. cuthbertus . 687 7 s. eadbertus . 698 8 egbertus . 721 9 ethelwoldus . 738 10 kenulfus . 781 11 higbaldus . 802 12 egbertus . ii 819 13 egfridus . 845 14 eanbertus . 854 15 eardulfus .   16 cuthardus . 915 17 tilredus . 927 18 witherdus . 944 19 uhtredus .   20 sexhelmus .   21 aldredus . 968 22 alfius , alias elfinus . 990 23 aldwinus , who first setled the see at durham , from whence both hee and his successors have beene ●●●led bishops of durham . 1020 24 eadmundus . 1048 25 eadredus . 1049 26 elgelricus .   27 egelwinus . 1071 28 walcher , earle of northu●b . 1080 29 gul. de carileso , l. ch. justice vacat sedes annos 4. 1099 30 ranulfus flamhard , l. treas . 1128 31 galfredus rufus , l. chan. 1143 32 gul. de s. barbara . 1154 33 hugh pudsey , e. of northomb . * 1197 34 philip de pictavia . 1217 35 rich. de marisco . 1228 36 rich. poore . 1241 37 nich. de fernham . 1250 38 walt. de kirkham . 1260 39 rob. stitchell . 1274 40 rob. de insula . 1283 41 ant. beck , patriark of hierusalem . 1311 42 rich. kellowe . 1317 43 ludowick beaumont . * 1333 44 rich. de bury , l. ch and l. treas . 1345 45 tho. hatfeild , princ . secretary . 1381 46 john fordham , l. tr. tr . to ●●ly . 1388 47 walt. ski●lawe . 1406 48 tho. langley , card. l. ch. 1438 49 rob. nevill . * 1457 50 lawrence boothe , l. chan. 1476 51 gul. dudley . * 1383 52 john sherwood . 1494 53 rich. foxe , tr . to winton . 1502 54 gul. sevier , chan. of oxford . 1507 55 chr. bambridge , master of the rolls tr . to yorke . 1508 56 tho. ruthall . 1523 57 tho. wolsey , then 〈…〉 of yorke . 1530 58 cuthbert tunstall 〈…〉 rolls . 1360 59 james pilking 1577 60 rich. 〈…〉 vacat sedes annos 2. 1589 61 ma●●h . hu●●on , tr . to yorke . 1594 62 tobias matthew , tr . to yorke . 1606 63 gul. james . 1617 64 rich. neyle , tr . to winton . 1628 65 john howson . 1632 66 tho. morton , now bishop of durham . anno 1641. hexam , and the bishops there . the bishoprick of hexam , hagul●●ad , or hextold , was founded in the infancie of the saxon church . the seate thereof called by the old la●ines axel●dunum , by be●a hagulstadiensis ; by us now hexam : the first who had the name of bishop there being s. eata , the fifth bishop of lindisfarne . ten bishops it enjoyed successively , and then by reason of the spoyle and ravin of the danes , it discontinued : the jurisdiction of it being added to the see of yorke from this time forwards , hexamshire was held to be a fee of that arch-bishoprick , and had reputation of a county palatine : but taken from that see by k. h. 8. ( of which consult the statute , 37. h. 8. c. 16 ) and by authority of parliament united to the county of northumb. now for the bishops of this hexam , they are these that follow . a. ch.     655 1 s. eata , bishop of lindisfarne . 685 2 s. john of beverley , tr . to yorke . 709 3 s. acca . 734 4 frithebertus . 769 5 alhmundus .   6 tilherus . 789 7 ethelbertus . 787 8 heandredus . 809 9 eanbertus .   10 tidferthus , the last bish ▪ of hexam . man , and the bishops there . touching the isle of man , we have spoke already in our first table . the bishoprick here of was first erected by pope gregory , of that name the fourth , and for its diocese had this isle , and all the hebrides , or westerne ilands a●ent scotland . the bishop hath his seate in russin , or casletowne , as now we call it ; and in the latine is entituled sodo●ensis but wh●n this isle was made a member of the english empire , the westerne isles withdrew themselves from the obedience of their bishop , and had a bishop of their own , whom they entitle also sodorensis , but commonly , bishop of the isles . the patronage of the bishoprick , was given together with the iland , by k. h. 4. unto the stanleys , who still keep it : and on the vacancie thereof they nominate their designed bishop unto the king , who having given his royall assent , dismisseth him to the arch-bishop of yorke for his consecration . this is perhaps the reason why the bish. of man , is no lord of parliament , because not at the kings disposing : none having suffrage in that house , but those that hold immediately of the king himselfe ; nor is it reason that they should . whether the bishop of this isle was anciently a su●●ragan to the see of yorke , i can hardly say . i finde ordered in the act of parliament , 33. h. 8. c. 31. wherein the bishoprick of chester was made a member of that province ; that that of man should be reputed of it also : which may perhaps perswade one , that it was otherwise before . the diocese hereof containeth onely 17 parishes , of the which five are market townes ; the rest villages , the people of them all , being very conformable unto the rites and ceremonies of the church of england . now for the bishops of this see , i can meete with few : and therefore . shall desire those who are more conversant in the businesse of this isle , to supply this want , and make a perfect catalogue of the bishops of man , out of the fragments here ensuing . bishops of man.   ✚ ✚ ✚ a. ch.     michael , bishop of man. 1203 nicolas . 1217 reginald . 1257 richard , bishop of man , dedicated the church of s. maries in russin .   ✚ ✚ ✚   he●●● mann , who died , anno 1556 ,   john merick .   george lloyd , removed to chester , an.   1604.   forster .   parry , now bishop of man , 1641. the third table , or , a catalogve of all the dukes , marquesses , and earles , which have been in england since the first entrance of the normans . together with the honourary offices which they , or any of 〈◊〉 have enjoyed in their severall times . the preface to the ensuing catalogne of dukes , marquesses , and earles . the kings of england as they are the fountaine of all authority and jurisdiction in their owne dominions : so are they the foun●aine also of all civill honour ; which they dispose of and dispence , as to them seemes best . king● have so much of god in them , whose deputies they are on earth , as many times where they finde merit and desert , to raise the poore out of the dust , that they may set them with the princes , even with the princes of their people . now for their honourary attributes , which by our kings have beene conferred upon their subjects ; the ancientest are those of earle and baron : the kings of england , of the norman race , not giving unto any the stile of duke , untill that edw. the third , created his sonne edward the black prince , duke of cornwall , anno 1336. as for the title of marquesse , that was made honourary by king richard the second , who first created his great favourite , robert de vere , then earle of oxford , marquesse of dublyn : as afterwards he made his cosen german , iohn de bausort , one of the sonnes of iohn of gaunt , by katherine swinfort , then earle of somerset , the first marquesse dorset . but that of earles hath beene as ancient in this kingdome , as the line of normandy . william the conqu●r●r advancing many to that honour at his first en●●ance on this state , both to reward them for their service , and oblige them to him . of which ranke were the earles of arund●ll , chester , cornwall , kent , oxford , with some others , anno 1067. being the next yeere after he attained the kingdome . which with the other earles of ancient creation , were commonly endowed de tertio denario placitorum comitatus , with the third penny of the pleas of that county wherof they were earles the other two parts being accompted by the sheriffe ( the vice-comes ) into the ▪ exchequer , for the kings use . and though we mean to go no lower in our following catalogue , then the stile of earle ; yet by the way we may take notice , that viscount here became an honourary title in the time of k. h. 6. who in the 18. of his raigne advanced sir iohn beaum●nt unto that honour , and gave him place above all barons , as richard 2. gave his new marquesses precedencie before all earles . now at the ennobling of deserving persons into these high dignities , it is , and hath beene of later times the custome of the kings of england , to give unto them some set pension for the support of their estate : which is now generally brought unto this proportion , that viscounts have a fee of 20. markes , earles of 20. li. marquesses of 40. markes , and dukes of 40. li. assigned unto them , out of some part or other of the kings revenues . which bounty i observe not to have beene used in the creation of a ba●on , excepting onely that it pleased his sacred majesty now being , when hee created the righ● honourable montjoy blount ( now earle of newport ) l. montjoy of thurleston , in the county of darby , to give unto him and his heires , a fee of 20. markes per annum ▪ which i note here , by reason of the singularity and rarenesse of it . nor have the kings of england beene ●●customed to frame new honourary titles , for the advancement of those men which are dear unto them : but to preferre them before others of the same honourary ranke and order ▪ henry the sixth bearing especiall affection unto henry beauchamp , earle of warwick , first made him the prime earle of england , or praecomes angliae . and when he after made him duke of warwick , hee ordered him to have precedencie , next after the duke of norfolke , and before the duke of buckingham . the ●ame king henry making his halfe-brother edmund of h●dham , earle of richmond , gave him the place above all earles , and next of all unto the dukes . thus did king iames of blessed memory conferre upon the earle of n●●tingham , ( on his surrendry of the place and office of lord admirall ) the seniority and precedencie of the mowbraies , ( out of which house he was extracted ) during the life of the said earle . and thus his sacred majesty now being , when he created the right honourable the vis●ount walling ford , earle of banbury , gave him precedencie before all earles , created since his majesties happy comming to the crowne . and in the patent of creation of the right honourable the lord montjoy , 3. can there was a clause of precedencie inserted , before all the barons of that yeere , by which hee forthwith had the place both of the lord craven , and the lord falconbridge , though created before him . so absolute a power have our english monarchs in the dispensing of their honours , and ma●shalling those persons whom they have advanced to these high dignities . as for the female sex , they have no reason to complaine that they have beene neglected or omitted in the distributing of these honourary rewards and dignities : some of them having had the happinesse to taste the bounty of the prince in the highest honours . for thus the lady margaret d● brotherton , daughter of thomas of brotherton , earle of norfolke , was by king richard the second , made dutchesse of norfolke , anno 1398. and thus the lady anne bullen , daughter of thomas earle of wil●s , was by king henry 8 made marchionesse of pembroke , anno 1532 ▪ as was the lady margaret , daughter of georg● d. of clarence , created countesse of salisbury by the same king henry ; anno 1514 ▪ thus also the lady elizabeth finch , being by king iames created viscountesse m●idstone , was by our gracious sove●a●gne lord now being , created countesse of winchelsey , anno 1628. the dignity entailed on the heires males of her body hegotten . and finally , thus was the lady elizabeth richardson , wife of sir thomas richardson lord chiefe justice , created baronesse cramont , by his majesty now re●gning not to say any thing of the lady mary fane baronesse despencer , or of the lady margaret lennard , ba●onesse dacres of the south ; being restitutions rather then creations . now for the method which i am to use in this following catalogue , it shall be after the most naturall of the alphabet ; as being of most ease and speediest use in finding what we have a minde to looke for . and in the same i shall lay downe the just successions of and in each severall title , ( premising first a brief description of the plac● denominating ) together with the yeere of christs nativity , wherein each severall duke , earle , or marquesse either succeeded in the place , or was advanced unto the same . i also shall report in briefe , on what pretext of bloud such and such men attained those honours which they have enjoyed ; if any neernesse or descent of bloud was pretended by them : and where a family breakes off , and a new comes in , that i have marked with a few crosses thus . ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ i have observed also who and how many of each title have managed any of the great and honourary offices in the common-wealth : as those of lord high steward , lord high chamberlaine , lord ●●●●table , lord admirall , lord chancellour , lord treasurer , lord chiefe justice , or lord privie seale ; together with the lord steward , and lord chamberlaine of hi● majesties houshold , and the ll. presidents of yorke and wales , and chancellours or either o● the universities . such of them as have had the honour to be admitted into the order of the garter , i have noted with this littl●●sterisme * . and all this i have done 〈…〉 much brevity as was possible ▪ 〈◊〉 nothing in this place but a nomenc●●tor ▪ a 〈◊〉 and naked catalogue of names and ho●ours , for the more easie understanding of o●r english history , which was the matter which first moved me to compose 〈◊〉 tables . as for the order of precedencie of the men themselves , that are thus dignified and advanced , as now they stand ; that is to be accounted from and by the seniority of their creations in their severall series : save that a course was tooke in parliament , 31. h. 8. c. 10. for placing those above the rest , which were entrusted with the greatest offices of state and court. as , viz. that of the lord chancellour , or lord keeper , lord treasurer , lord president , lord privie seale , lord constable , lord high chamberlaine , lord admirall , lord marshall , together with the lord steward , and lord chamberlaine of his majesties houshold . which manner of precedencie being it is personall , as unto the men , and hath no reference to their place and titl●● , 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 with the times , according as they 〈…〉 and favour with their 〈◊〉 and soveraign● . but for the places which have given 〈◊〉 and title to dukes , marquesses , or earles ; and for the men that have beene honoured with those titles , they are th●se that follow : taking along such lords , and viscounts , as have , ●eene dignified with and by the selfe-same titles , and no more but those . saint albans . s. albans is the fairest and the goodliest town in the county of hertford . it arose out of the ruines of old verulamium , a towne more strong and ancient ●arre , ( as being the strongest fort of all the britaines , in the time of caesar ) though not hai●e so beautifull . it took both name , original , & grandour , from alban , once a citizen of verulamium : who suffering martyrdome for the faith of christ , during the persecution of dioc●●●ian ; had first a faire church built in memoriall of him , in that very place : or if you will , ecclesia mirandi operis , atque ejus martyrio condigna , in the authors language . ( bedae hist. lib. 1. c. 7 ) . but this church and towne of verulam being both destroyed , in those fierce warres , which were betweene the saxons and the britains , offa the great and puissant k. of the mercians , built not farre off from the old seate , a monastery to the honour of saint alban ; endowed it with a great revenue , and many goodly priviledges , as well ecclesiasticall as temporall . this in short time , improved the monastery into a towne : the abbat in regard of his great possession● , and jurisdiction correspondent , drawing no ordinary con●●●ence of all sorts of people , pope adrian , borne at a●bats-langley , about five miles off , added this honour to the place , that as saint alban was the first martyr of the engllsh nation : so should the abbat have precedencie of all english abbats . this house was valued at the suppression , at 2510. li. 6. s. 1. d. per annum ▪ and was surrendred into the hands of sir thomas pope , doctor petre , and master cavendish , for the use of k. h. 8. decemb. 5. anno 1639. the abby church being a stately and magnificent fabrick is le●t standing still ▪ townesmen purchasing the same at the price of 400. li. and turning it into a parish church , as it now remaines . for the great battels fought about this towne , and in the very streets thereof , between the two contending houses of york and lancaster ; i leave you to the common chronicles . the persons which it hath ennobled , are these that follow . viscounts and earles . 1620 1 francis bacon , l. verulam , and l. chan. of england , created visc. s. albans , jan. 18. 1628 2 rich. de burgh , e. of clan-ricard in the kingd . of irel ▪ creat . e. of s. albans , aug. 23 1636 3 vlike de burgh , e of s. albans , and clan-ricard , now living . 1641. anglesey . anglesey is an iland of north-wales , situate over against carna●vonshire , from which it is divided by a narrow straight : called in the latines mona , by the britains mon ; but being conquered by the english , obtained the name of anglesey , as one would say , the iland of the english-men . it is exceeding fruitfull both in corne and cattell , from whence the welch are liberally stored with both : and therefore it is said proverbially , mon mam cymbri , that anglesey is the mother of wales . it was the ancient seate of the druides , and brought with no small difficulty under the command of the romans , by iulius agricola ▪ the people fighting here , ut pro aris & focis , for their religion and their gods . it containeth in it 74. parishes , the principall wherof is named beau●arish , being at this time the head towne of ●he shire : and aberfraw , now an obscure and ●omely place , but anciently the royall seate ●f the kings of north-wales . the persons which it hath given title to are onely these . earles of anglesey . ●624 1 ch●●stop . villiers , brother of geo. d. of buck. created f. of angles . sept. 24. ●630 2 charles villiers , now living . 1641. arundell is the name of an ancient towne and castle in the county of sussex , pleasantly seated neare the river of arun : whence it was called arundale , or a●untina va●●●● , in some latine authors . the castle of great fame and strength ; but farre more famous for the lords and earles therof , then the strength or beauty . a place in this farre different from the rest of england : the title of the earle of arundell , being annexed unto the castle , honour , and signeurie of arundell ; and going along with the possession of the same : as was adjudged in that great controversie , between sir iohn fitz-alan , being in possession of the castle , against iohn-mowbray● . of norfolke , being the right heire in the nearest degree . the earles here of in regard that by ancient charter they had had the ●ertium denarium , or the second penny of the plees of sussex ; and that they sometimes had their residence and abode in chichester , as the chiefe city of that county : are in some old charters ●alled earles of sussex ; and in some others , earles of chichester . that which was theirs most properly , hath stayed longest by them ▪ and is of late increased by the addition of th● titles and dignities of the baronies of fitz-alan , clun , oswaldstree , and mal●raver● with divers other lands , tenements , and here ditaments , annexed unto the title , name , an● dignity o● earle of arundell , by speciall act 〈◊〉 parliam . an. 3. car. r. the noble personage which have borne this title , are these that fol●low . earles of arundell . 1067 1 rog. montgomery . 1091 2 hugh de montgomery . 1098 3 rob. de montgomery , devested of this honour , an. 1102.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚   4 william de albeney . 1189 5 will. de albeney . 1196 6 will. de albeney . 1199 7 will. de albeney . 1224 8 hugh de albeney , died 1243.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1289 9 rich. fitz-alan , descended of the lady isabell , sister of hugh de albeney . 1301 10 edm. fitz-alan . 1326 11 rich. fitz-alan . * 1375 12 rich. fitz-alan , l. tr. & l. adm. 1397 13 tho. fitz-alan , l. tr. died 1416. * 1434 14 john fitz-alan , l. mal●ravers . * 1439 15 will. fitz-alan . * 1487 16 tho. fitz-alan . 1524 17 will. fitz-alan . * 1543 18 henry fitz-alan , ch. of oxford . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1579 19 philip howard , son of tho. d. of norfolk , & the la. mary fitz-alan . 1604 20 tho. howard , now e. of arund . and surry , and e. marshall of engl. anno 1641. avmerle , or a●bemarle , is the name of a small town and territory in the dukedome of normandy . it belonged heretofore to stephen , the sonne of odo , des●●nded from the earles of champagne : whom william the conquerer made earle of albema●le , as being the sonne of his halfe sister by the mothers side ; and gave unto him for the further maintenance of his estate , the territory of holder●●sse in yorkeshire . this title hee enjoyed , and left the same to his posterity , who enjoyed it also . and when his issue failed , the kings of england honoured others with it ; though they had long since lost their estate in normandy : the dukes and earles whereof , take thus in order . dukes and earles of aumerle . 1095 1 stephen , sonne of odo , earle of bloys . 1128 2 will. le gros.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1182 3 will. de magnaville , e. of essex . hawys daught . of will. le gros.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1191 4 will. de fortibus . 1196 5 will. de fortibus . 1244 6 will. de fortibus . 1258 7 tho. de fortibus .     ✚ ✚ ✚   8 tho. of woodstock , d. of gloc. *     ✚ ✚ ✚   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1378 9 edw. plantagenet , d. l. adm. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1412 10 tho. d. of clarence , e. *     ✚ ✚ ✚   11 rich. beauchamp , e. of warwick , created earle of aumerle , by king henry . 6. banbury is a towne in oxfordshire , the second both for wealth and beauty in all that county : most famous in our common chronicles , for the great battell there-by fought betweene the two great houses of lancaster and yorke : in which the victory fell to the eare of warwick , then chie●e of the lancastrian party , who forthwith tooke king edward prisoner ( of that name the fourth ) now forlorne and hopelesse . it was not long since much wasted by a devouring fire , but very well repaired and beautified ; and still is as it hath beene anciently , cas●o conficiendo notissimum , as camden notes it , a towne much famed for the best and most delicate sort of cheeses . it never had but one earle , and he 1626 1 william , l. knollys , visc. wallingford , created e of banbury , aug. 18. and died , anno 1631. bathe , is the fairest , and the principall city in all somersetshire , seated in a very low plaine , and round about environed with hils very high and steepe : from whence come many rivulets and fresh-water springs , to the great commodity of the people . but that which brings most wealth unto the place , are not the waters from without , but those waters which are within ; sending up from them much thinne vapours , and a strong sent withall ; which springs are very medicinable unto many maladies . three of these springs there are in all , the waters of the which being received in large and fitting receptacles for the publick use ; they call the kings bath , the crosse bath , and the hot bath . from bathing in these waters , it was called the bath ; and thence batho●ia in the latine : unlesse perhaps you rather thinke that bathing tooke its hint from hence ; and that this place tooke name from badon , or mons bado●icus , not far off , as certainely caer badon , the old britain● called it . the greeks and latines gave it names according to the nature and condition of the waters , or the baths there being : it being called by ptolomee , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hot waters ; by an●oninus , ●quae solis the waters of the sunne , on ●he selfe same reason . of the ●aire church here we have spoke already in our description of the bishoprick : which being ruined amongst other monasteries in the time of k. h. 8. hath of late times beene , as it were reedified , but certainely repaired , and beautified , and made 〈◊〉 for use , by the great costs of bishop montague , a late bishop there . earle it had none untill the time of h. 7. since it hath had divers ; whose names and times we now present you . earles of bathe . 1486 1 philibert de chandew .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1536 2 john bourchier , lord fitz-wa●in , created e. of bathe , by h. 8. july . 10. 1539 3 john bourchier . 1561 4 william bourchier .   5 edward bourchier . 1638 6 henry bourchier , now e. of bathe , anno 1641. bedford is one of those three counties which anciently were possessed by the cattieuc●lani ▪ the countrey indifferently well provided of all necessaries , both for foode and fewell . it taketh denomination from the chiefe town thereof , called bedford , or in the old saxon , bedanford , i.e. beds , or innes at the ford. a towne conveniently seated on both sides of a river which runneth through it ; well built , and populous , as having in it no lesse then five churches . but the chiefe commendations which it hath , is for the antiquity and strength thereof ; as being a towne of no small note and consequence , anno 572. when as cuthwulf the saxon vanquished the britain● in the open feild , and became master of the countrey . the castle here being counted very strong , and almost impregnable , brought no small mischeife to the place , being a peece much aimed at by all those in the former times , which either pretended to the crown , or bate armes against it . but all the fortifications being demolished in the reigne of k. h. 3. the people have since lived in quiet : and the chiefe reputation of it now consisteth in this , that it hath given the title of dukes and earles to these persons following , being in their severall ages dukes and earles of bedford . 1365 1 ingelram de cow●y , e. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1414 2 john , son of henry 4. l. adm. const. and regent of fr. d. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1470 3 george nevill , d     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1485 4 jasp. de hatfeild , e. of pembroke , halfe brother to king h. 6. d. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1549 5 john l. russell , l. pr. and l. adm. created e of bedford by edw. 6. * 1554 6 francis russell . 1585 7 edward russell . 1628 8 francis russell , now earle , 1641. berkley is the name of a noble and an ancient family , dispersed in many places of this kingdome . they tooke this name from berkley cas●●● ▪ situate neare the severne bankes in the county o● gloucester , of which they were made barons by king h. 2. whereas before that time they were called fitz-harding ; as being descended from one robert fitz-harding of the bloud 〈◊〉 of the danes . which robert fitz-harding by the name of robertus f●●ius ha●dingi 〈◊〉 reg●● dacae , is joyned as a co-founder with 〈◊〉 h 2 of the cathedrall church of bristoll , ( but then a monastery onely ) as doth appeare by an inscription over the gate of the said church . william l. berkley of this house , being descended from the mowbraies , who amongst other titles were earles of nottingham , was in the yeere 1482. created visc. berkley by king richard 3. afterwards earle of nottingham , and earle marshall by king h. 7. and finally , created marqu . berkley by the same king h. a●no 1509. but dying without issue all those titles ended with him : that of the lord berkley still continuing in the line collaterall . visc. and marqu . berkley . 1509 1 will. l. berkley , created viscount berkley , by king r. 3. was created marqu . berkley by k. h. 7. mort sans issue . berkshire was anciently in the saxon times called berro●schire : which name the learned antiquary master camden out of asserius menevensis deriveth from berroc , a certaine forrest , where grew good store of box , to which the people used in the time of danger to retire themselves . i lieth conveniently all along the bankes of the river of thames , which serves them well for the conveyance of their corne , fewell , and other commodities to the city of london : and containeth in it 140. parishes , of the which 12. are market townes ; the chiefe , reading , and abington . but that which gives most lustre to it , is the royall palace and castle of windsore , the principall seate and residence of the most honourable order of the garter : and indeed the most magnificent mansion of the kings of england . camden in his description of this county doth conclude it thus . thus much of barksh ▪ which ( as yet ) hath given the title of earle to no man. and true it was when he so said it . but since it hath bestowed that title on these : earles of berks. 1620 1 francis l. morrys , crea . e of berkshire , jan. 28. mort sans issue masle .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1625 2. tho. howard , visc. andover , created e. of berksh . feb. 7. now living . anno 1641. bridgewater . bridgewater , but more properly and in the old records burgh-walter , that is , walters burgh , so called of walter de duaco , who came in with the normans , & had faire lands given him in these parts by the conquerour ; is a town of somerset-shire . a great and populous town it is , descending by the chaworths to the dutchy of lancaster : and was by hen. 8. the heire of the lancastrian family , adorned with the tlitle of earledome ; which hee bestowed on sir henry d●wbeney , son of that giles dawbeney , who came in with king hen. 7. from britaine in france ; and was by him made his l. chamberlaine , and knight of the garter . which henry dying without issue , this title lying long a sleep , was afterward awakened in another family , ordeined to be a seminary for the earles of bridgewater . a. ch.     1538 1 h●nry l. d●wbeney created earle of bridgewater . 30. h. 8.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1617 2 iohn egerton visc. brackly , created ● . of bridgewater , may 15 l. president of wal●s now living , anno 1641. bristol . bristol the third in ranke of the cities of england , is situate on the rivers of f●ome and avon , not far off from the entrance of the severne into the oc●an . in that regard it stands commodiously for trade and trafick , the ships with full sayle comming up into the bosome of the city ; and verily the cityzens there are wealthy merchants , and trade into the most part of the world with good faith and fortune . part of it stands in somersetsh . and part in gloc●ster shire , though they account themselves of neither : being a county in it selfe incorporate , and independent upon any other than its own officers . a town exceeding populous , and exceeding cleanly : there being sinks and sewers made under ground , for the conveyance of all filth and nastinesse , which by them passeth into the rivers . the castle of it once was a place of strength , and in it k. stephen was kept a prisoner by maud the empresse : but now not able to defend it selfe from the ruines of time . churches it hath in it , and thereto adjoyning , to the number of 18 , or thereabouts , whereof the fairest and most memorable , next to the cathedrall ( of which we have already spoken in our description of the bishoprick , is s. ma●ies of radcliffe , without the wals , esteemed to be the fairest parish church in england , yet however it hath long been a town of fame ; it is not full an hundred yeares , since it was made a bishops see : but lesse since it became a title of nobility ; viz. not till king iames conferred the honour of earle of bristol , on 1622 iohn l. digby of sherborne , cr . e. of bristol , sept. 15. iac 20. now living 1641. bvckingham . bvckingham is another of the three counties , which were once the seate of the cat●ieuchlani : and is supposed to take that name from bucken , that is , beech-trees , with which the countrey is well stored . it is generally a very rich and plentifull soyle , equally good for corne , and grazing , and lieth al along on the banke of the thames , confronting bark-shire . it conteines in it , 185 parishes , eleven of the which are market townes ; and amongst them the chiefe in name is buckingham , the head town of the county . a town of no great note , when it was at the best ; but more considerable heretofore , than at the present ; being once fortified with a castle , now hardly to bee found in the very ruines , as also with a rampire and certaine sconces , built for defence thereof against the danes , now more invisible than the castle . the greatest honour it can chalenge , is that it hath given titles of the highest honour , to many a brave and worthy personage , as well of the bloud royall as of other families : who by the kings of england have been hence denominated . dukes , marq. and earles of buckingham .   1 walter giffard , e.   2 walter giffard .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1164 3 richard strongbow earle of pembroke .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1377 4 thom. of woodstock , d. of glouc. l constab●e . * 1397 5 humfrey plantagene● ; died 1400.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1444 6 humfrey stafford , d.l. constable , descended from a daughter of thom of woodstock . * 1460 7 henry stafford d.l. consta. * 1468 8 edw. stafford d.l. consta. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1616 9 george visc . villiers , or earle of buck. 14 iac. ian. 5. marq. buck. iac. 17. ian. 10. and finally d. of buck. 21. iac. may , 1623. lord admirall and ch. camb. * 162● 10 geo. villiers , now duke , 1641. bvllingbroke . bvlling broke is an antient town in lincolnshire , heretofore belonging to the lacies e. of lincolne : and by the marriage with alice daughter and heire of hen. lacy e. of lincolne , to thomas e. of lancaster ; this with the residue of the lands of lincolne , became united and incorporated with those of lancaster . the greatest fame thereof ; was for a castle built there by william of romara , e. of lincoln : but much more famous in succeeding times , in that it was the birth place of k. h. 4. surnamed ( according to the fashion of that age ) of bullingbroke . ) it hath beene almost eversince his time , one of the honours ( as we call it ) of the crown of england : but never made an honorarie title unto any family , untill k iames conferred it on sr. oliver s. iohns who possibly might affect to bee thence denominated , as fetching his descent from the lad●e margaret beauchamp , grand-mother to king henry the 7. the heire of the lancastrian family . earle of bullingbroke . 1624 1 oliver l. s. iohn of bletho , created e. of bullingbroke , iac. 22. dec. 28. nowliving , 1641. cambridge . cambridge-shire was once part of the pos●essions of the old iceni , and takes that name from cambridge the chiefe town thereof ; and that derived either from the old town called camb●ritum , which antoninus mentions in this tract , or else , as other have conceived , from a bridge built on the river cam , on whose banks it ●tandeth . a town that hath beene long since dedicated unto learning : here being a publique schoole erected an. 630 or thereabouts , by sebert king of the east angles , and that ad morem cantuariorum , as it is in beda . but schooles and studies being overthrown by the danish fury , it lay long forlorne and discontinued , till it beganne to flourish under the calmer times of the normans government , that is to say , about the middle of the reign of k. h. the first , the 3 k ▪ of the norman kings . nor was it long before , that of a famous schoole , or schola illustris , as we phrase it now , it did become as famous an vniversity : robert de remington affirming , that in the reigne of edward the 1 it was made an vniversity such as oxford is , by the court of rome . there are now 16 colleges and hals endowed , replenished with such store of students , that unlesse it be in her sister oxford , the like are not found in all europe . but we must leave this speculation of it as an academy ; and look upon it next as a title of honour : in which consideration we shall find it no lesse fortunate , than we did before , in these earles of cambridge .   1 william de meschines , son to randolph e of chester .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1342 2 iohn de ✚ hainal● uncle to qu. philip , wife of edw. 3.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1349 3 william marq ▪ of iuliers .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1362 4 edm. of langley d. of york . * 1401 5 edw. plantagenet d. of york . * 1414 6 rich. de conisburgh , 2 son of edm. of langley .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1619 7 iames marq. hamilton cr . earle of cambridge , 17. iac. iun. 15. lord steward . * 1625 8 iames marq. hamilton , master of the horse , and now e. of cambridge , 1641 * carlile . carlile is the principall city in the county of cumb●rland , situate in the furthest part of the kingdome toward scotland , on the westerne marches : fortified with a citadel and sundry bulwarks for a defence against the scots , as standing in a place of most advantage for the securing of that border . it flourishedheretofore in the time of the romans , and was by them called lugu-vallum , as standing on the trench , or vallum picticum , the picts wall , as our stories call it ; made by the romans to defend their province from the picts and scots . so that it seemes of old to have been the boundary betweene the nations : though the northumbers after , in the saxon times , enlarged their empire to the banks of dunb●itton fryth . from whence , or when it fi●st was called carl●le , our authors say not ; but by that name , and in the latin by ca●l●olum , it h●th long been known . the danes consumed it into ashes , and it lay unrepaired in rubbish , til the time of willi●m rufus , who rebuilt it . since which by the accession of the episcopall see , erected there by h. the first , who succeeded rufus ; it came to be of wealth and cre●it : and hath given the title of an earldome to two severall families , wh●ch being of a different quality , have in as different times beene earles of carlile . earles of carlile . 1321 1 andrew de harcla .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1622 2 iames hay , visc. doncaster , created e. of carlile , 18. iac. sept. 17 ▪ 1636 3 iames hay now e. of carl●le , 1641. carnarvon . carnarvon is a shire of north-wales , butting upon the irish seas , and pa●ted f●om the isle of anglesey by a streit , or fretum . a mountainous and rocky countrey : but the defects thereof are plentifully supplyed by the isle adjoyning . it tooke name from carnarvon , the chiefe town there of : heretofore very strongly wailed , and for●ified with a faire castle . edward the 2. k. of england was here borne ; and hence according to the custome of those times , entituled edward of carnarvon . for the occasion of it i refer you to the common chronicles . the princes of wales had in this place their chancery and exchequet for all north-wales : which was no small improvement to it . earle it had never any till the present age , in which our soveraigne lord now reigning conferred that title on 1628 1 rob. l. dormer of wing ▪ created e. of carnarvon 4. car. aug. 2. now living , anno 164● . chester . chester is the principall city of cheshire , antiently part of the cornavii . the country not so plentifull in corne , as in fish and cattell ; but fruitfull in no one thing more than the production of ancient gentry ; of which it can still shew more antient families than any one county in the kingdome . the city built in form of a quadrant , fouresquare , is enclosed with a wall that taketh up more than 2 miles in compasse , and hath 11 parishes ; the houses being very faire , and well built , and having all along in the chief streets before the doors , a kind of galleri● ; through which a man may walk dry from one end to the other . seated it is upon the river of dee , on which , to shew his splendor and magnificen●e , k. edgar was once rowed by 7 petie ●ings of the scots and britans , to the great joy of the beholders . the earles hereof were anciently accounted palatines . william the conquerour giving this earldome to hugh lupus , a noble norman ; to be holden as fre●ly by his sword , as the king himselfe held england by his own . and though it be now , and hath long beene incorporated into the patrimony regall ; yet it still holds the rights and privileges of a county palatine : and hath for the administration thereof , a chamberlaine , a iustice for the common● plees of the crown , two barons of the exchequer , a sheriffe , an eschetour and other officers ; to the great case of all the countryin expedition of their businesse . the palatines hereof , before it came into the crown , are these here following , earles of chester . 1067 1 hugh sirnamed lupus . 1103 2 richard son of hugh .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1120 3 randolph de meschines . 1129 4 randolph de gernoniis . 1153 5 hugh kivilioc , son of randolph . 1181 6 randol . blondeville son of hugh .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1233 7 iohn le scot , sonne to the lady maud eldest sister of randolph .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1245 8 edw. eldest son of k ▪ h. 3.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1255 9 simon de montford , earle of leicester , after whose death chesler was laid unto the crowne ; and hath beene since united to the principality of wales : so that who list to see the residue of the earles of chester , shall find them in the former catalogue of the princes of wales , which have beene of the royall bloud of england . chesterfeild . chesterfield is a town of darbysh . commonly called chester●eild in scardale . a towne , which by the ruines of it doth seem to be of good antiquity ; and therefore likely to have had some more ancient name , which seemes to be now buried in those ruines ; or by continuance of time , quite worne out and lost . it glorieth much of being made a free burrough , in the time of k. iohn ; and for the battaile fought hard by between k. henry the 3 , and his rebellious barons , in which rob. de ferrers , earle of darby , being taken prisoner , lost his estate and dignity , though not his life . but that in which it hath most cause to glory , is that from an ordinary market town , it is become the seate of an earldome , the stile and title of earle of chesterfeild , being conferred by our dread soveraigne now being , upon 1628 1. philip lord stanhop of shelford , or earle of chesterfeild . 4 car. aug. 4 and is now living , anno 1640. clare & clarence . clare is an ancient town on the edge of suffolk , where it joyneth to essex , seated not far off from the banks of the river stoure by which the counties are divided . a town that hath not any thing whereof to boast ( the castle and the collegiall church being both in rubbish ) but that it gave both name and title unto that noble family , si●named de clare ; who in their times were earles of hartford , clare and gloucester . but the male issue of these clares being failed , lio●el the 3 sonne of k. edw. the 3. ( having married the sole daughter and heire of william de burgh , e. of vlster in ireland , begotten on the body of elizabeth , one of the sisters and coheires of gilbert de clare , who died anno 1291 , the last e. of clare and glocester of that name ) was made duke of clarence ; the termination of the title , being only changed , not the place denominating . and from the change thus made ( which i note only by the way ) the second king of armes is surnamed clarentieux ; as apperteining formerly to the dukes of clarence : whom with the earles preceding and succeeding , take in order thus ; dukes and earles of clarence . 1139 1 gilbert e. of clare . 1152 2 roger de clare . 1174 3 richard de clare , after whose death , this title lay long drowned in that of gloucester .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1362 4 lionel , d. of clarence , 2 son to k. edw. the 3.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1411 5 tho. d. of clarence , 2 son to k. h. the 4. l. admirall .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1461 6 geo. d. of clarence , brother to k. edw. the 4 ▪ l constable .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1624 7 iohn hollys lord houghton , cr . e. of clare , com. suffolk , 22. iac. nov. 2. 1638 8 iohn hollys now earle of clare , 1641. cleveland . cleveland , is a wapon-take or hundred in the northriding of york-shire , taking that name as camden tels us , of the steepe banks which we call clyffes , which run all along the side thereof , and at the foot of which the countrey spreadeth into a plaine ful of fertile fields . it seemeth to be a place of a faire extent , as being one of those 3 arch-deaconries into which the whole county is divided ; and doth give the title of an earle , to 1625 1 thomas l. wentworth created e. of cleveland , 1 car. feb. 7. who doth still enjoy it , an. 1641. cornwall . cornwall is the most western part of england , and takes denomination from the shape and fashion of it , being like an horne ; which the old britans called kern , as now the welch call the countrey kernaw . the people of it are a remainder generally of the antient britans ; whose language , for much of it , they do still retaine : although by intermixture of the saxons , not easie to be understood by the welch themselves . the countrey very mountainous , as wales is also ; and therefore of the lesse accesse to the conquering saxons : but the sea-costs well beautified with goodly townes , able to set to sea , a good fleet of shippes . and for the mountaines , they doe recompence their defects without , by their abundant wealth within ; as being very full of mines of tinne , which yeelds great profit to the countrey , and furnisheth ▪ most parts of christendome with that commodity . the earles of cornwall heretofore gave great immunities and liberties to those that laboured in these mines ; and when this earldome fell again unto the crown , edw. the 3 erected a l. warden of the stannaries , to have the government thereof . and at that time of its reverting to the crown , the l. k. edw. gave it to his son , surnamed the black prince ; since the which time , the eldest sons of the kings of england , whether it be by birth , or by the death of their elder brothers , are ipso facto dukes of cornwall , without any creation , and are at age to sue their livery , how young soever . whom with their predecessors we shall marshall thus , dukes , and earles of cornwall .   1 robert of morton , e of cornwal . 1087 2 wil. de morton .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1140 3 reginald fitz-harry , base son unto k. hen. the first .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚   4 iohn second son of k. h. the 2. 1227 5 rich. plantagenet , 2 son of k. iohn k. of the romans . 1272 6 edw. plantagenet , son of rich.     ✚ ✚ ✚   7 piers gaveston .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1336 8 iohn of eltham , 2 son of edw. 2. 1336 9 edw. the black prince . 1357 10 rich of burdea●x eldest son of the black prince . * 1399 11 hen. of monmouth , eldest son of h. the 4. * 1422 12 h of windsore , eld . son of h. 5. * 1453 13 edwof west . eld . son of h. 6. * 1470 14 edwof west . eld . son of ●dw . 4. * 1483 15 edw. of west eld . son of rich. 3. * 1487 16 arthur eld . son of k. h. 7. * 1503 17 hen. 2 son of k. h. 7. * 1537 18 edw. eld ▪ son of k h 8. * 1602 19 hen eld son of k iomes . * 1612 20 char 2 son of k ▪ iames. * 1630 21 charles eld . son of our dread sover●●●n● now being , an. 1641. * coventry . coventry is a faire and goodly city , within the limits of warw●ck shire , but now within the county of warwi●k ; heretofore called so from the convent , by which and the translating of the see epi●copal● from lichf●ild hither , it grew exceeding rich and wealthy . and though it now hath neither convent , nor episcopall see ( more than in ruine and in title ) it still continues its old wealth ; being the best city of mart and trade in all these parts ; commodiously built and seated , and more than ordinarily frequented for an inland towne . it belonged once unto the ●arles of chester , and afterward by many meane conveyances to iohn of eltham earle of cornwall ; and so this place became annexed unto that earldome . nor lost it any thing , but rather gained much by that annexation : henry the 6. laying unto it certaine the adjacent villages : and making it with them a county corporate , cleerely distinct from that of warwick . it is now one of the honourary titles of the duke of buckingham , george marquesse of buckingham , being created duke of bukingham , and earle of coven●y , by letters patents bearing date in may , 21 iac. and for the remnant of his life he , and since him , his son enjoyed both the title of dukes of buckingham , and earles of coventry . 1623 1 georges villiers , marquesse of buckingham . 1628 2 george villiers , now duke of buckingham , and earle of coventry , 1641. cvmberland . cvmberland is the furthest country of england , on the northwest side , antiently part of the brigantes . it is called cumbria in the latine , and cumbrorum ●erra ▪ as being inhabited by the true and naturall britans , ( who in their own language are cald kymri ) when as the residue of these northern parts had yeelded to the conquering saxon. a countrey , for the situation of it , neither unpleasant nor unprofitable ; the valleis yeelding corne sufficiently , the mountaines breeding great flocks of sheep , the meeres replenished with all kind of wild foule , and the adjoyning sea affording a variety of excellent fish . it conteineth in it not above 58 parish churches , but very many chappels of ease , as big and large as any parish . of these there are 9 market townes , whereof the chiefe ( next carlile ) for dispatch of busines , is that of perith , wherein they hold their sessions and assises . late was it ere this county became an earldome : viz. when as k. h. the 8. bestowed the stile and dignity of earle of cumberland , upon henry lord clyfford , whose issue still continue earles of cumberland . 1525 1 henry l clifford created earle of cumber . 17 of k. h. 8. iun. 18. * 1542 2 henry clifford . 1569 3 george clifford . 1605 4 francis clifford . 1640 5 henry clifford , now earle of cumberland , 1641. danby . danby is an ancient castle in the hundred or wapontake of cleveland , in the north-riding of york-shire , seated neare to a large parke , and a goodly chase of the same name . it belonged anciently unto the l. latimer , and was sold with other lands belonging to that family unto ralph nevill earle of westmerland , who forth with gave the same to his son sir george nevil , whom k. h. the 6. not long after summoned to the parliament by the name of lord latimer . his issue male failing in qu elizabeths times , and the estate being divided betweene his two daughters and coheires , this castle with the lands adjoyning fell unto the share of his daughter mary , who being married to sir iohn danvers of wil●sh . was by him mother of s hen. danvers , created by k. iames l. danvers of dan●eser , and by our sovereigne now being the first e of danby . 1629 1 henry l. danvers of dantesey , cr . e. of danby , feb. 7. 10 car. now living , anno 1641. darby . darbyshire is a part of the coritani , and tooke that name of darby , the chief town thereof . a town conveniently seated on the river of derwent , beautified with five parish churches , a goodly stone bridg , and a large market-place : and no lesse famous for good ale , than banbury for cakes and che●se . finally , the town is well traded , and of good resort ; and is the usuall place of holding sessions and assisses for all the county . the countrey of the east and south parts well manured and fruitfull ; yeelding a very spacious and pleasing prospect , both out of tutbury castle , and that of boulsover . the west part ▪ which they call the peak , is not so pleasing to the eye , though possible as profitable to the purse ; being rich in iron , lead , and coales , which it yeelds abundantly ; and grazing multitudes of sheep on the mountaine tops . it containes in it 106 parish churches , of the which 8 be market●towns ; the chiefe thereof being darby , as before is said : the catalogue of whose earls now followeth . earles of darby . 1199 1 william de ferrars . 1247 2 wil. de ferrars . 1254 3 wil. de ferrars . 4 robert de ferrars .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1131 5 edm ▪ of lancaster , 2 sonne to king henry the 3. after which time , this title was continued in the house of lancaster . 1338 6 henry of lancaster son of henry earle of lancaster , cr . earle of darby in his fathers life , 11. edw. 3. * 1386 7 henry of bullingbroke sonne of iohn of gaunt , duke of lancaster , cr . earle of darby in his fathers life , 9 ric. 2. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1485 8 thomas lord stanley , cr . earle of darby by king henry the 7. l. constable . * 1503 9 tho. stanley . 1521 10 edward stanley . * 1572 11 henry stanley . * 1593 12 ferdin . stanley . 1594 13 william stanl●● , earle of darby , 1641. * denbigh . denbigh-shire is one of the shires of northwales , heretofore appertaining to the ordevices . the countrey very mounteinous , and as barren generally ; though by the paines and industry of the husband-man , it be made in some parts very fruitfull . the chiefe towne denbigh is well seated on the banks of the river istrad , which from thence runneth into the cluyd , the fairest river of this countrey . a town well peopled and inhabited , especially since it became the head of the county ; which was not till the 27 of hen. the 8. what time the five new shires were added to the rest in wales , of which this was one . but before that it was the head town of the barony of denbigh , being conceived to be one of the goodliest territories in all england , as having more gentlemen holding thereof in fee , and by service , than any other . lords it hath had good store , and of severall families ; but none of them a parliamentary peere ( in reference hereunto ) till these later times . of late it hath given title both of lord and earle to two severall families ; viz. to these lords and earles of denbigh . 1564 1 rob. dudley , created b. of denbigh , & e. of leicester , eliz. 6. sept. 29.   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1622 2 william visc. feilding , created earle of denbigh , 20. iac. sept. 14 master of the wardrobe , and now living , 1641. devonshire . devonshire is the most western countrey of all england , excepting cornwall , together with the which it made up the possession of the old danmon i. it is called devi●an by the cornish britans , that is , the country of low-valleies , because the people dwel for the most part beneath in vales . from thence the saxons had their devenshire ; and the latin●s borrow their devonia a countrey harborous on either side with commodious havens , enriched with inexhaustable mines of tinne , beautified with fresh and pleasant meadows , shaded again in other parts with greater store of woods , and very well replenished with towns and villages ; whereof it reckoneth in the whole 394 parishes , and therein 37 market townes of good note and trade . the countrey of it selfe not so fit for corne , but that the toyle and travaile of the plou●●●an supplies that defect , and addes unto it both by cost and industry what it wants by nature . earles it hath had of severall families ; of which the rivers and the courtneys held the title long : as now the cavendishes may doe , who have possession of it in the third generation . but how long any of them held it , and who they were that interloped , wee shall best see , by looking over the particular names and families of the earles of devonshire .   1 ric. de rivers or riparis . 1106 2 baldwin de rivers . 1154 3 ric. de rivers . 1161 4 baldw. de rivers .   5 rich. de rivers .   6 wil. de rivers . 1216 7 baldw. de rivers . 1245 8 baldw. de rivers .     ✚ ✚ ✚   9 wil. de fortibus , husband of isabel , sister of the last baldw.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1335 10 hugh courtney , next heire of isabel de fortibus . 1340 11 hugh courtney . 1378 12 edw. courtney . 1418 13 hugh courtney . 1421 14 tho. courtney . 1461 15 hen. courtney .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1469 16 humfrey l. stafford of southwick , made e. of devon. by k. edw. the 4.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1469 17 iohn courtney , slaine at tewksbury . 1487 18 edw. courtney . * 1509 19 wil. courtney . 1525 20 henry courtney , marquesse of exeter . * 1553 21 edw. courtney , died 1556.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1603 22 charles blount lord montjoy , created e. of devon , by k. iames.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1618 23 wil. lord cavendish of hardwick created e , of devonshire , 10 iac. aug. 20. 24 wil. cavendish .   25 wil. cavendish , now e. of devonshire , 1641. dorset . the county of dorset , abbutteth upon that of devonshire , having the sea up on the south , and somersetshire upon the north. it was inhabited hertofore by the durotriges , and was all the land they did inhabit . the aire good , and of an healthfull constitution ; the soyle fat and rich in many places , and where in that it is defective ; it yelds good store of woods and pasture . the country generally very pleasant in her situation , as being no lesse beholding to the inner land rivers , than the bordering ocean ; the one yeelding merchandise from far , the other the commodity of conveyance to most parts thereof ; and both of them good store of fish . it conteines in it 248 parishes , and in them 18 market-townes , the chiefe of which in name is dorcester , as that which doth denominate the whole country , and tooke that name it selfe from the durotriges , whom before i spake of ; unlesse you rather think that it comes from dur●ium , which ptolomy placeth in this tract . a towne not famous for much els , than that it hath long been , and doth still continue the honorary title of these noble personages , which have beene severally marquesses and earles of dorset .   1 osmund de sees , e.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1397 2 iohn beaufort , marquesse , lord admirall . *   3 thomas beaufort , earle duke of exeter , lord chancellor and l. adm. * 1444 4 edmund beaufort earle and marquesse . * 1454 5 hen. beaufort , marq. 1462 6 edm. beaufort , marq.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1474 7 tho. grey , marq. * 1494 8 tho. grey , marq. * 1530 9 hen. grey , marq. d. of suff. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1603 10 tho. s●ckvill l. buckhurst , created e. of dorset . 10. iac. march 13 l. tres. and chanc. of oxf. * 1608 11 rob. sackvill 1609 12 rich. sackvill . 1625 13 edw. sackvill , now e. and lord chamberlain unto the queen 1641. dover . dover , is a well knowne and famous town , both for the haven and the castle , for the security and renown of which and the convenient si●uation of it over against france ; it hath long beene accounted one of the cinque ports . seated it is in the very south-east point of kent , from whence a man may easily discerne the coast of f●ance as being but 34 miles distant . the ●own stands in the bottom between the clyffes , very warme and safe ; the castle mounted up aloft , both to comand and to defend it a place indeed of such impregnable strength , and so great importance , that philip king of france , when l●wys his son being called in hither by the factious barons against their soveraigne l. king iohn , had gotten many townes and forts , but yet could not get the mastery of this peece , despised all , saying , verily my son hath not one foot of land in england , if he be not master of dover castle . it now gives title of an earle to 1627 3 henry cary , visc. rochfort , created e of dover 3 car. mart. 8 , and is now living , 1641. essex . essex was anciently perteining to the east saxons , and made a chiefe part of their kingdome ; hence it took the name . before it did belong to the tr●nobantes . a countrey large in compasse , fruitfull of corne and other sorts of graine , plentifull in saffron wel wooded and wel watred also ; & that not only by the sea , and the river of thams , which washeth all one side thereof , but with faire , and fresh , and fishful rivers , which do afford no smal commodity unto it . the greatest want it hath is of sweet fresh aire ; those parts thereof which lye along upon the thames , ( which they call the hundreds ) being very aguish and unhealthy . this county conteineth in it 415 parish churches , whereof 21 are market townes , of which colchester is farre the richest , fairest and best traded . yet in regard it standeth in the extremity of all the countrey , the sessions and assisses are held most commonly at chelmesford , which is almost in the middle of it . but it is time to leave the countrey , and come unto the earles of essex .   1 geofrey de mandeville .   2 geofrey de mand. 1166 3 wil. de mand. 1199 4 geof . fitz-piers , l. ch. iustice. 1213 5 geof . de mand. 1216 6 wil. de mand.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1228 7 humfrey de bohun , e of hereford who married maud , sister and heire of wil. de mand. 1234 8 humf. de bohun , l. con.   9 humf. de bohun , l.c. 1298 10 humf. de bohun , l.c. 1322 11 iohn de bohun , l.c. 1336 12 humf. de bohun . 1361 13 humf. de boh. l.c. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1461 14 h visc. bourchier , l. ch. & l. t. * 1483 15 hen. visc. bourchier , *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1539 16 tho. l. cromwell . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1543 17 w.l. parre , marq. of northamp . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1572 18 walt. d'evreux , l ferrars , descended by the bourchiers from the bohuns . * 1576 19 rob. d'evreux , master of the horse b. marsh ▪ and ch. of cam. * 1604 20 rob. d'evreux , now e. of essex , 1641. exeter . exeter is now the chiefe city of devonshire as heretofore of the danmonii , by ptolomy called isca , and so by antonine , but that the copies are mistaken , in which , instead of isca danmoniorum , we read isca dunmoriorum . a faire and goodly town it is , seated upon the easterne banke of the river ex , from whence it had the name of excester . in circuit it conteines within the wals about a mile and a halfe , besides the suburbs which every way stretch out to a great length ; and in that circuit there are numbred 15 parish churches , besides the cathedrall . the whole enviro●ed with deep ditches , and very strong wals having many towrs therin very well disposed , and yet the animosity of the inhabitants is a greater strength unto it , than the wals or ditch●s ; whereof they have given notable proofe , in these later times . but for that i refer you to the common chronicles ; and now present you with the dukes , marq. and earles of exeter . 1389 1 iohn holland , e of huntingdon , made d. of exeter by k. rich. 2. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1416 2 tho. beaufort , e of dorser , l ch. and adm. made d. of exeter by k. h. the 5.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1444 3 iohn holland , d.l. adm. * 1474 4 hen. holland , d.l. adm.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1525 5 hen. courtney , e. of devonsh . cr . marq. of exeter by k. h ▪ the 8. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1605 6 tho cecill l. burleigh , cr . e. of exeter , 3 iac. may 4. * 1623 7 wil cecill , 1639. * 1640 8 david cecill , now e. of exeter ▪ 1641. flint . f●intshire , is one of the old shires of northwales , and though augmented somewhat by k. h. the 8. what time the march-ground was appropriated unto severall shires ( for which see 37. h. c. 26. ) yet it is still the lest of all , as not containing above 2● parishes , and of them only one market town . the countrey not so mounteinous as the rest of wales ; exceedingly well furnished both with corne for men , and grasse for cattell ; of which it hath good store for number , though for bulke but litle . it tooke denomination from the castle of flint , begun by h. 2 , but finished by k. edw 1 , for a goodfence against the welch . this country hath been always held to bee an appendant on that of chester , and doth ad gladium cestriae pertinere , as the old books ●ay : but both united now unto the principality of wales . edward of windsore eldest son of k. edw. 2 was summoned by his father to the parliament by the name of e. of chester , and flint ; since which it hath continued as a title in the princes of wales ; and there you shall be sure to find who were earles of flint . glocester . glocester●shire , antiently was part of the possessions of the dobuni . a fruitful and a pleasant countrey , being honoured with a full course of the river of severne , and the originall or fountaine of the river of thames . that part thereof which is beyond the se●erne is overspread with woods ; all which included in one name , make the forrest of deane . that part that butteth upon oxfordshire , is swelled up with hils , called the cotswold hils ; but these even covered , as it were with sheep , which yeelds a wooll of notable finenes●e , hardly inferiour to the best of england . between those two is seated a most fruitfull vale , fruitfull to admiration , of all kindes of graine , and heretofore of vine● and vineyards ; the want of which is now supplied by a drink made of apples , called syder , which here they make in great abundance . in this so fruitfull vale stands the city of glocester , denominating all the countrey ; and taking name from the old glevum , herein placed by antonine ; for gleaucester the saxons stiled it . a fine and neate city i assure you t is , daintily seated on the severne ; with a large keye or wharse on the bankes thereof , very commodious to the merchandise and trade of the place ▪ the streets are generally faire , and the town well built . and which addes no smal lustre to it , richard the 3 , once duke hereof , by laying unto it two of the adjacent hundreds made it a county of it selfe ; calling it the county of the city of glocester . a city finally it is , as worthy to denominate so rich a countrey , as is the countrey to give title to those eminent persons , that in their severall times and ages , have been the dukes and earles of glocester . 1100 1 rob. base son of k. h. 1. e. 1147 2 william .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1188 3 iohn sans terre , son to k ▪ h. the 2 who married isabel , daughter and coheire of wil. e. of gloce.     ✚ ✚ ✚   4 geof . de mandeville e. of essex , 2. husband of isabel.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1216 5 abmeric de evreux , son of mabell , another coheire of e. wil.     ✚ ✚ ✚   6 gilbert the clare , son of amice another of the coheires . 1230 7 rich. de clare . 1262 8 gilb. de clare , who married ioane of acres , daughter to k. edw. 1.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1297 9 ralph . de monte hermer , 2 husband of ioane of acres .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1314 10 gilb. de clare , son of gilb. and ioane .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1337 11 hugh l. audley , married isabell sister and coheire of gilb.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1347 12 tho. of woodstock , d. of gloc. & l. constable . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1398 13 tho. l. spencer , grand son of eleanor coheire of gilb e.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1414 14 humf. son to k. h. 4. d *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1461 15 rich. plantagenet brother to k. edw. 4 l ▪ adm. and const. d. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1640 16 henry 3 son of our dread soveraigne l. k. charles ; declared by his royall father d. of gloces . and so now entituled , an. 164● but not yet created . hartford . hartford-shire is another of those countries , which formerly were inhabited by the cattreuch●ani . a country , as it is described by camden , rich in corne fields pastures , meadowes , woods , groves , and cleere riverets ; and which for ancient townes may compare with any of its neighbours ; there being no one shire in england , that can shew more places of antiquity , in so small a compasse . it conteines in it but 120 parishes , and of them 18 are market townes . the shire-towne , which doth also give denomination unto all the country is hertford , seated on the banke of the river lea , by beda called herudford , which some interpret the red ford , and others some the ford of herts . a towne not much frequented , nor greatly inhabited , as overtopped by ware , which enjoyeth the through-fare ; and by s. albans , which enjoyeth the trade of all the countrey . the greatest commendation of it is in the antiquity ; and that it hath been longest ● title of honour , of any other in this country : the family of the clares and seymours having been long enobled with the stile of earles of hartford . 1139 1 gilbert de clare . 1152 2 rog. de clare . 1174 3 rich. de clare .   4 gilb. de clare . 1230 5 rich. de clare . 1262 6 gilb. de clare . 1314 7 gilb. de clare .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1537 8 edw. seymour , visc. beauchamp , created earle of hartford , by king henry the 8 , after d. of somerset , died 1551. * 1558 9 edw. seymour . 1621 10 wil. seymour , now e. of he●●ford 1641. hereford . hereford-shire , was in times past inhabited by the silures . a countrey , which besides that it is right pleasant , is for yeelding of corne , and feeding of cattell , in all places most fruitfull , and therewith passing well furnished with all things necessary for mans life ; insomuch that it would scorne to come hehind any one county in england , the people using it for a byword , that for three w.w.w. that is , wheat , wooll , and water , it yeeldeth to no shire in all the kingdome . the name is taketh from hereford , the chief town thereof , which rose out of the ruines of old ariconium , here placed by antonine ; the tract and foot-steps of which name , it doth still retaine . the town is seated very pleasantly upon the banks of the river wye , in the middle of most flourishing meadowes , and no lesse plentifull corne fields : and for defence thereof , had once a strong and stately castle , which now time hath ruined . the normans became masters of the place , assoone almost as they had made their entrance into england , and unto them the castle oweth its original ; and 2 yeares after the said conquest , it was made an earldom , and hath since given the title of dukes , earles , and viscounts . 1068 1 wil fitz-osborn . e. of heref. 1072 2 rog. de breteville .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1141 3 miles de glocest. l. co● .   4 rog. l. co. 1154 5 w●lter l. co.   6 henry l. c.   7 makel , l. c.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1199 8 henry de bohun , grand-child of marg. daughter of , ● . miles , l.c. 1220 9 humf de bohun , l.c. 1275 10 hum. de bohun , l.c. 1298 11 hum. de bohun , l.c. 1322 12 iohn de bohun , l.c. 1336 13 hum. de bohun , l.c. 1361 14 hum. de bohun , l.c. died 1372. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1397 15 hen. of bullingbrooke , d. of hereford , married mary daug . and coheire of e. hum. after the extinction of his line , the staffords did sometimes use the stile of hereford . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1547 16 walt. d'evreux , visc. descended by the bourchiers from the boh. * 1558 17 walt. d'evreux , visc. e. of essex . * 1576 18 rob. d'evreux , visc. e of essex . * 1604 19 rob. d'evreux , now visc. heref ▪ and e. of essex , 1641. holdernesse . holdernesse is the name of a large promontory or head-land , in the east-riding of york-shire , lying on the south-east of the river of hull : p●olomy seems to call it ocellum , a certaine monk cavam deiram , or the hollow country of the dei●ians ; expressing in those words the new name of holdernesse . william the conquerour gave this territory to stephen the son of od● of champaig●e lord of aumerie , in normandy ; whose issue did continue lords hereof , whiles any issue of that house continued . but that line being extinct in aveline , first wife of edmund earle of lancaster , the earldome of aub●rmarle , and the honour of holdernesse were seised into the kings hands , for default of heires . it hath lien dormant since , till these later days ; in which k. iames ▪ bestowed this title , on 1620 1 iohn ramsey , visc. hadi●gton in scotland , cr . e. of holdernesse and bar. of kingston upon thames , 18 iac. dec. 30. mort sans issue . holland . holland is one of the 3 parts of lincol●sh ▪ situate on the south-west co●ner of it , in the fennes and marishes . the ground surrounded much with waters , heretofore yeelded very small store of graine , but great plenty of grasse , and plentifully furnished ●oth with fish and fowle . but now upon the dreyning of this fenny country , they begi● to plough it , and sowe the same 〈◊〉 ploughed with rape-seed , which yeelds a very great increase , and is become a rich ●ommo●ity . the town of most antiq●ity is crowland , heretofore famous for the abby , valued at the supression at 1217 l. 5 s. 11 d. per annum . that of most trade and note is boston ; a fine town indeed , and very famous for the lan●erne , which is a very excellent sea-mark , and a land-mark too . and this with all , is to be noted of this country , that howsoever one can hardly ●●nd a stone in it ( such is the softnesse of the soyle ) yet you shall no where finde more beautyfull churches , all built of square and polished stone . it now giveth title of an e. to 1624 1 hen. rich ▪ l. ke●sington , cr . e. of holland , 22 iac. apr. 3 , now living and chan. of cam. 1641. hvntingdon . hvntingdon-shire was heretofore inhabited by the iceni . a country generally good for corne and tillage ; and towards the east , where it adjoyneth on the fennes , as rich in pasturage : elsewhere it is as pleasant , though not so profitable , by reason of the rising hils , and fine shady groves . it hath been heretofore well beset with woods , and was indeed a forest till the time of king henry the second , in the beginning of whose reigne , disforested . in this regard , the forest yeelding speciall opportunity , and delight for hunters , the chiefe town of it had the name of hunter downe , we now call it huntingod● , with very little variation . the towne commodiously seated upon the northern bank of the river ouse , rising unto the no●th on the ascent of an hill : adorned with foure parish churches , and had a little a●bey once , founded by maud the emper. and eustace lovelos● : the ruines of the which , and of a far●e more ancient castle , built by king edward the older , anno 917 ▪ are yet to be seene . this county con●●ineth in it five other market townes , besides the shire-towne , and 79 parishes in the whole : and did become an earldome presently on the norman conquest , as it hath ever since continued in these earles of huntingdon . ●068 1 waltheof .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1075 2 simon de senlys ; married maud the daughter of waltheof .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚   3 david pr. of scotland , 2 husband of maud. 1138 4 henry sonne of david king of scots .     ✚ ✚ ✚   5 simon de s. lyz.     ✚ ✚ 1152 6 malcolm king of scots , sonne of hen.   7 wil. after k. of scots . 1174 8 simon de s. lys , e. 1190 9 david 3 son of henry . 1219 10 iohn le scot son of david ,     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1337 11 wil. de clinton .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1377 12 guiscard d●angolesme . ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1388 13 iohn holland , l. high chamb. 1400. 1416 14 iohn holland , d. of exet. ✚ 1447 15 hen. hol. d ▪ of exon.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1474 16 tho. grey , marq. dorset ▪     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1479 17 wil. herb.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1529 18 george lord hastings , created earle of huntingdon by king h. the 8. 1544 19 fr. hastings . ✚ 1560 20 hen. hastings . ✚ 1595 21 geo. hastings .   22 henry hastings , now earle ▪ 1639. kendall . kendall , is the name of a town in westm●rland , called also cand●le , and kirk by candals , as being seated in a dale neere the river can. the town built in the manner of a crosse , two long and broad streets crossing one another ; a town of great resort & trade , especially for woollen cloaths , which they make there in great abundance , and thence vent through all parts of england . this town hath been an antient barony , descending from the talboyses , to the breoses or bruces ; by them unto the rosses of wark , some of whose line a●tained the title of ● . rosse of kendal , so to distinguish them from the lord roos of hamlake ; and so at last unto the parres , to one of which it gave the title of baron of kendall , as it hath done before of e. to others , of more note and eminency ; which are these that follow ,   1 iohn d. of bedford , 3 son unot k. h. 4 , regent of france , and e. of kendall . ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚   2 iohn d. of ●omerset , e. of kend. ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1446 3 iohn de foix , cr . e. of kend. by k. h. 6 , since which , those of that family do write themselves ●●rles of longueville and kendall .   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1539 4 william parre knight , created lord parre of kendall , 30 henry the 8. march 9 ( created after earle of ex. by king henry the 8. and marques●e of northampton by king edward the 6 the rights and interests of which house are now devolved unto the he●berts , earles of pem●roke , descending from the lady anne , sister and heire of the said lord parre . kent . kent , in latine ca●●um , so called as being seated in the canton or corner of the kingdome , is a very rich and pleasant countrey , lying between the t●ames and the narrow seas . a contrey very good for corne , and fit for pasturage , according to the severall plots and parts thereof ; and wondrous full of fruitfull and well-ordered orchards , from whence the city of london is supplied with most sort of fruit . the villages and towns stand exceeding thick , bei●g in all 398 parishes , besid●s lesser hamlets , which make up the two diocesses of canterbury and rochester . it hath also divers safe roades , and sure harbours for ships ; and those exceeding well defended with forts and castles . caesar , when he arrived in k●nt , found here 4 kings ▪ ( for so they cal'd the chiefes of the principall families ) and gives this testimony of the people , that they were the most courteous , and civill of all the britan● . in the declining of whose empire , vor●iger gave this countrey unto the saxons , who being heathens , when the rest of the i●●e were christians , gave an occasion to the proverb of kent and christ●ndome . at that time it was made a kingdome ; as in the entrance of the normans it was made an earldom , and so it hath continued in the p●rsons of these earles of kent . 1067 1 odo b of b●ieux , halfe brother to the conq. l. ch. iust. & l. tr.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1141 2 wil. of ypre● .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1227 3 hub de burgh ▪ l. ch iust.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1321 4 edm. of wood stock , son to k. e. 1. 1330 5 edm. plantag . 1333 6 iohn plantag .     ✚ ✚ ✚   7 tho hol. married the la. ioane , of kent , daugh . of edm. of wood. ✚ 1360 8 tho. holland . 1397 9 tho. hol. d. of surrey . ✚ 1400 10 edm. hol. l. adm.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1461 11 wil. nevill l. falconbridge .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1464 12 edm. grey , l rut●yn . l. tr. cr . e. of kent by k. edw. 4.   13 geo. grey . 1506 14 rich. grey died 1523. 1571 15 reginald grey . 1572 16 henry grey . 1613 17 charles grey .   18 hen. gr●y . 1639 19 anthony grey , clerk , parson of ●urbage in the county of leicester , grand-child of anthony , 3 son of george grey e. of kent , now living , an●o 1641. kingston . kingston , is the name of a well known and eminent town in the east riding of york-shire , which standing on the mouth of the river hull , where it doth fall into the humber , is better known amongst us by the name of hull . a town indeed of no antiquity , being first built by edward the ● , who liking the situation of the place , compounded for it with the abbot of meaux , ( to whom it formerly belonged ) and there built the town , and caused it to be called kingston . it rose up in a little time to great reputation ; so that for faire and sumptuous buildi●gs , strong blockhouses , well furnished ships & wealth of trade , it is become the most remarkable town for merchandise in these parts of eng. michael de la pole , the first e. of suffolk of that family , being son of wil. d● la pole , a rich merchant here ▪ obtained great priviledges for the place , whi●h his successors as they grew in favour , did i●crease and multiply : and in the dayes of h. 6 ●il . e. marq. and d of suffolk , procured it to bee made a county incorporate , as our lawyers phrase it . of late dayes of a county it became the earldome , of 1628 1 rob. pierrepont , visc. newark , cr . e. of kingston upon hull , 4. car. iuly 25 , who is now living , ann● 1641. lancaster . lancashi●e , or the county palatine of lancaster , was heretofore a part of the brigants ; and lieth upon the irish●ea ●ea ▪ to the north of ch●shire . the ground accounted not so fert●le as in other places , fitter for oates and such leane corne , than wheate or barley . and yet it is observed with all , that in t●ose parts thereof , in which the husbandman is not wanting to it , in cost and labour , that there it yeldeth corne in a very good measure . the ayre ther●of may seem to be very healthfull ; and one would easily co●jecture so by the complexion of the people , which ar● faire and beautifull . and yet the country is not much inhabited , as in the n●ighbouring shires ▪ about them : there being in so large a quantity of ground , as this shire con●aines , not above 36 ▪ parishes though indeed many chappel● of ease , equall to p●rishes elsewhere for multitudes of people . it takes name from the town of lancas●e● , or more truly l●ncaster , seated upon the banks of the river l●nc , whence it had the name ; the saxons adding ceaster ( as in other places ) for the ●ermination . the town not very well peopled , nor much frequented ; and yet of that authority and credit , that it gives name to all the county , and hath obteined this priviledge from k. edw. the 3 , that the sessions and assises should be held in no other place . what lords and governours it had in the former times , we regard not here . the first time it became an earldome , was when k. h. 3 , conferred that title on his 2 son edm. and it was destin●te to greatnesse in the first foundation ; there being layed unto it at the ve●y first , besides this county , the whole con●iscated estates of the e●rles of leices●er and darby , and the b●rony of monmouth . and into this by marriages accrewed in time , the great estates of wil. de fortibus , e. of a●merl● and lord of holdernesse , 〈◊〉 , and other goodly lands in frances ; the earldome of lincoln , and good part of that of salisbury , the lorships of ogmore and kidwelly in wales , which were once the chaworths . iohn of ga●nt a d●d hereunto the castles and honours of hertford , and thickhill , and his son b●lling broke a moyetie of the lands of ●ohun ▪ being ● of here●ord , essex , and northampton : so that it was the greatest patrimony ( as i verily thinke ) of any subject prince in christendome . lancaster finally was made a county palatine by k ▪ edward the 3 , and hath been hounoured with the●e dukes and earles of lancaster . 1267 1 edm. ●lantagenet , 2 son of k hen. the 3 , e. of lanc. 1295 2 tho. plantagenet . 1324 3 hen. planta . 1345 4 hen. planta . first d ▪ of l.   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1361 5 iohn of gaunt son of k. edw. the 3 married the la. blanch daughter of h. d. of lanch : ●399 ● hen. of bullingbroke , son of iohn of gaunt , after k. of eng. by whom this county palatine , and all the lands and honors belonging and incorporate into the dutchy of lancaster , were brought unto the crown of eng. though governed as an estate apart , then by its proper officers , as it continued til the time of k. edw. the 4 , who did appropriate it to the crown , and dissolved the former government thereof , to which it was restored again by k. h. 7 , and so still remaineth under the guidance of the chancellor , and other officers of the same . leicester . leicester-shire is a part of the coritani , and ●ooke that name from leicester the chiefe town thereof ; a town indifferent large , and of a reasonable handsom building , and as wel●raded as most inland towns that want ( as this ) the benefit of a navigable river . it had once a very faire collegiate church within it , & a faire abbey close unto 〈◊〉 , and a strong castle therewithall ; but all these the iniquity and inju●y ●f time hath ruined . only the hospitall , of all the antient edifices ; stands still undefaced . as for the countrey hence denominated , it beares corne good pl●nty , but is bare of woods ; the want of which is well supplyed with pit-coale , with which the north part of the country doth store al the rest . it cō●eineth in the whole 200 parishes , and of them 12 are market towns ; the biggest , as in bulke being leicester , so in title too ; as that which hath beene honored even before the ●onquest , with the stile and reputation of an earldome ; and hath continued it till now in the names and families of these earles of leicester . 1057 1 algar the saxon.   2 edwyn died 1071.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1103 3 rob. de bellomont . 1118 4 rob. de bellomont . 1167 5 rob. de beaumont l. s●ew . 1190 6 rob. de beaum. l. high stew.     ✚ ✚ ✚   7 simon de montf . married amicia , sister and coheire to the last e. ro. e. of lei. and l high stew. 1239 8 simon de mont. l. high st●w .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1267 9 edm. e. of lanc. l. high stew. 1295 10 ●ho . e. of lanc. l. high st●w . 1324 11 hen. ● . of lanc. l. high stew. 1345 12 hen. d. of lanc. l. high stew. ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1360 13 wil of bavaria , e. of heinalt married the la. maud of lanc.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1361 14 io. of gaunt , d. of lan. l. stew. ✚ 1399 15 hen. d. of lanc. l. high stew. ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1564 16 rob. dudley , l. denbigh , l. s. and of the house to q. e. died , 1588. ✚ 1618 17 rob sidney , vise . li●le , descended of a sister of the last rob. e. of leicest . was by k. iames cr . e. of leic. aug. 2.   18 robert sidney now earle of leices . ambassadour extraordinary with the k of france , anno 1641. lincoln . lincoln-shire antiently belonged to the core●ani . a very large and spacious countrey , extending almost 60 miles in length , and some 30 in breadth ; within which compasse are included 630 ▪ parish churches , and of them 30 market towns. it is accounted very kindly ground for the yeeld of corn , and feeding of cattell , and furnished in the lower part thereof with good store of fowle , which from hence are conveied to london in great abundance . it takes name from the principall city , by ptolomy and antonin● , called lindum ; and after by the saxons lind●colline , either because it stands on so high an hill ( from the latine collis ) or that it had been formerly some roman colony . a town of great renown and strength in the times of the britans , and in the normans time ( as saith william of malmesbury ) it was one of the best peopled cities of england ; a place of merchandise and traffick for al commers , both by sea and land ; insomuch that 〈◊〉 then bishop of dorc●s●er , thought fitting to translate hither his episcopall see . from this opinion it then had , first began the proverb , that lincoln was , london is , &c. the bishops of lincoln what and how they were , we have seen already . we will now look a while on the ea●les of lincoln . ●140 1 wil. de romara , e. of lincoln .     ✚ ✚ ✚   2 gilb. de gaunt . 1216 3 gilb. de gaunt .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1218 4 randal de meschines , e. of che. whose grand-father , halfe brother unto wil. de romara , by the mothers side .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1232 5 iohn ●acy descended by his mother from e. randall . 1251 6 henry de lacy , whose daughter alice was married unto tho. e. of lancaster , and settled all her lands upon that family .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1354 7 hen. d. of lanc ▪ * ●361 8 iohn of gaunt d. of lanc. * 1399 9 hen. of bullingbroke d. of lanc. after k. of eng.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1467 10 ●ohn de la pole , son and heire of iohn d. of suffolke .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ●525 11 henry brandon son and heire of charl●s d. of suffolk .   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1572 12 edward fenys , lord clinton , lord admirall , created earle of lincolne , by queen elizabeth . 1585 13 hen. fenys . 1616 14 tho. fenys . 1618 15 theophilus fenys . now earle of lincoln , 1641. lindsey . lindsey is one of the 3 parts of lincolnshire , ( the other 2 being holland , which we spake of lately , and kesteven , not yet become an honourary title , as the others are . it conteineth all the northerne parts thereof , from the river witham unto humber , and from the ocean to the trent . happy above the rest , not in bignesse only ; but that in this part stands the city of lincoln , the chiefe denominator of the county , which being the antienly called lindum ( as before i said ) gave to this part the name of lindsey , for by that name of lindsey , it is now the earldome of 1626 1 robert bertu , lord willoughby of eresby , and lord great chamberlaine of england , created e. of lindsey , 2 car. novemb. 29 , now living , 1641 , manchester . manchester is a good town of lancashire , situate on the hithermost part thereof , where it joyneth to the county of darby . a town of very great antiquity , known to the emperour antonine , by the name of manc●nium ; part of which name it still retaines . and still it carrieth a good accompt , and far excels the towns lying round about it , both for the beautifull shew it carrieth , and the resort unto it of the neighboring people , and which allures them thither , the great trade of cloathing , manchester co●tons being famous in all drapers shops . it is remarkable also in those parts for the large market place , for a faire church , and for the colledge : which last being founded first by the lord de la ware , was afterwards refounded or confirmed by qu. eliz. consisting fo a warden and certaine fellows , which notwithstanding , it is y●t more famous , in being made the honorary title of 1625 1 henry montague , vise . mandevi cr . e. of manch . ● car. f●● . 7 , b●ing then l president of the councel , now l. privy seale , anno 1641. march . march is a name of different nature , from the rest before , as being neither towne nor county . vnder that name of march or of marches rather , our ancestors did comprehend those ba●able grounds between wales and eng. for governance whereof , and the repressing of the insolencies of either side , there were certaine lords and potent men , whose lands lay nearest to these parts , which were called lords marchers , who had great power and jurisdiction in their severall quarters . amongst these were the mortimers of wigmore , men of great authority , who after were advanced above the rest , and made earles of march. and it continued in that family , untill it fell by marriage to the house of york ; and so by edw. the 4 , to the crown of eng. nor was it long before the authority of the lords marchers was extinguished quite , by the uniting of wales to e● . & either making new shires of the said march ground , ( such as are monmouth , brecknoch , radnor , denbigh and montgomcry ) or laying it unto the old , for which consult the act of parliament 27 h. 8. cap. 26. however the title of e. of march is revived again ; only translated from the house of mortimer , to that of stewart ; out of which houses have been successively , these earles of march. 1327 1 rog. l. mortimer of wigmore . * 1354 2 roger morti. 1359 3 edm. morti. 1381 4 rog. morti. 1399 5 edm. morti.     ✚ ✚ ✚   6 edw. plantagenet , son of rich. d. of york , and after k. of eng. of that name the 4.   7 edw. eldest son of k. edw. 4. ●     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1619 8 esme steward l. aubigny , created e. of march 17 iac. iun ▪ 7. after d. of lennox . * 1624 9 iames d. of lennox and earle of march , anno 1641. * marlebvrgh . marleburgh is a town in the north-east part of wilt-shire , seated not far off from the head of the river kenet : which runneth thence to hung●rford , and newbury , and so by reading into the thames . the towne called antiently cunetio in antonino's itinerarium , as the river was : but by the normans , in whose time this town revived ( out of the ruines of the old ) it was called marleburgh , as being seated in a chaulky soyle , which in some places still we call by the name of marle . a town stretched out from east to west , upon the pendant of an hill , and had a castle once belonging unto iohn , sirnamed sans t●rre , who afterwards was k. of england which is still famous in our law books , for a parliament there held , 52. h. 3 , in which were made the ●tatutes ( from hence called ) of marleburgh , right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people , as is affirmed in the preamble unto the same . our soveraigne at his coronation made it yet more notable , in making it th● honour , as it was the neighbour of 1625 1 iames l. ley , l. tr. cr . e. of marleburgh , 1 car. feb 7. 1628 2 henry ley.   3 iames ley , now e. of marleburgh , anno 1641. marshall . the title of e. ma●shall is different from the rest of england , all of the which ( the title of earle rivers excepted only ) are locall , or denominated from some place ; this only personall : the residue being only honorary , this honorary and officiary , both together . antiently they that had this office were only marshals of the kings house , according as the same is now discharged by the knights marshall . but in succeeding times it grew to be a place of great power , and honour ; as it still continueth . at first they had the title of l. marshall only . rich. the 2 was the first , who by letters pa●ents advanced them to the dignity of earles marshals , and with all gave them power to beare a staf●e of gold , enammeled black at both ends , with the kings armes on the upper end , and their own armes on the lower ; whereas before that time , the marsh●ls ; had no other than a wooden staffe , as other the great officers have at court. before this time , they were l. ma●shals only , as before i said . for howsoever the title of e. marshall and comes marescallus , doth many times occurre in our antient histories . yet i conceive that it was only given them then by the cour●esie or curiality of england , because the office in those dayes was vested in the person of none but earles ; as by the like mistake or courtesie , we find the title of comes seneschallus , and comes constabularius in some old records . the manour of hamsted marshall in the county of berkshire , was held of old by grand sergianty of the kings of england ; conditioned that the grantees should for ever be the k. marshals , according as the offices of steward , constable , and lord high chamberlaine , in those times were granted . what the authority and jurisdiction is of this great officer , we regard not here , it being our undertaking only to lay down the names of those ( as many at lest as i have met with in my reading ) which in their severall times have borne the title of lords and earles marshall . 1135 1 gilbert de clare , l. marshal , created e of pembrok by k. stephen . anno 1139. 1149 2 richard de clare , sirnamed strongbow , e. of pemb. and l. marsh. died anno 1176. 1176 3 iohn , sirnam●d marshall , fr●m this office , which was conferred on him by k. h. 2 ▪ upon the death of rich. e. of pemb. 4 william marshall , l. marshall , the grand-child of the former iohn , who having married isabel daug . and heire of ric. strongbow , was cr . e ▪ of pemb. by k. io. an. 1201 1219 5 william marshall , the younger , e. of pemb. 1231 6 rich ▪ marsh. e. of pemb. 1234 7 gilb marsh. e. of pemb. 1242 8 wal. marsh. e. of pemb. 1245 9 anselm . marsh. e. of pemb. 1245 10 roge● bigot , e. of norfolk , l. marshall , in right of maud his mother , one of the sisters and heires of the 5 last marshals . 1269 11 roger bigot earle of norfolke , whose estate being confiscated to the crown , came after his decease to the k. hands . 1307 12 robert de clyfford , made lord marshall by k. edw. 2 , duran●e benep●acito .   13 nicolas de seagrave . 1315 14 thomas de brotherton earle of norfolk , was in the 9. of edw. 2. made l. marsh. 1388 15 margaret , daughter and heire of thom. de brotherton , is often honored with the title of la. marsh. and was afterwards cr . dutch. of norf.   16 wil. de montacute .   17 tho. beauchamp .   18 edmund mortimer , did severally and successively discharge the office of l. marsh. but whether as deputies for the la. marga. ●●ndum planè constat . 1377 19 henry lord percy , l. marsh. at the coronation of k rich. 2.     earles marshall . 1383 20 tho. l. mowbray , ● . of notingh . nephew unto the lady marg. by her daughter eliz. was made the first e. marsh. by k. rich. 2 , and was after d. of norfolk . 1398 21 tho. holland , e. of kent and d. of surrey , was made e. marsh , upon the banishment of the d. of norfolk . 1399 22 tho. l. m●wb ▪ e. of noting . did on his fathers death ( at venice ) assume the title of e ▪ marsh. but the office was exercised by   23 ralp . nevill e. of westmerland , made l. m of en. by k. h. 4. for terme of life , in the beginning of his r●igne . 1412 24 iohn l. mowb. brother of tho. e. m. was by k h 5. restored unto the title of e. of notingham , and e. m and by k. h. 6. to that of norfolk . 1432 25 iohn l. mowb. d. of norf. e. mar.   26 iohn l. mo. d. of nor. & e. m.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1476 27 ric. d. of york , 2 son of k. edw. 4 , was by his father cr . d. of n. and ● . marsh. and after married anne daughter and heire of the last mow. d of norfolk . 1483 28 iohn l. how. descended from the l. tho. mow. first d. of norf. cr . d. of norf. and e. marsh. by k. rich. 3. 1486 29 wil. l. berkley , e. of notingham descended from another daughter of the said first d. of norfolk cr . e. marsh. by k. h. 7. and marq. barkeley . 1497 30 hen. d. of york , the 2 son of k. hen 7. cr . e. m. by his father , & was after k. of eng. 1509 31 tho. how. earle of surrey , son of ioh. l. how. d. of norfolk , was by k h. 8. cr . first e. m and afterwards restored to the duk. of norfolk . 1546 32 tho. how. d. of norfolk , and e. marsh. attainted an. 1546. 1547 33 edw. seymour , d. of somerset , and l. protector of k ▪ edw. the 6 , was in the said kings time cr . e. marshall . 1553 34 tho. d. of norfolk and e marsh. restored unto his bloud and honours , by q. mary . 1554 35 thomas howard d. of nor. and e. marsh. beheaded , 1571. 1572 36 geo talbot , e of shrewsbury & e. m. died anno 1590. 1597 37 rob. d'evreux e. of essex , and e. mar. died anno 1601.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1603 37 edw. somerset , e. of worcester executed the office of earl marshall at the coronation of k. iames , after which time the office was a long time executed by commission . 1621 38 thomas howard , earle of arundell and surrey , ( grand son of thomas , duke of norfolk , by his son philip earle of arundell ) was by king iames created earle marshall , as hee still continueth , anno 1641. middlesex . middlesex is a part of the trinobantes , lying upon the banks of the river t●ames . a coun●y not so large as others , but far more remarkable , for sumptuous houses , wel-built villages , a fertile soyle , and temperate aire ; and which addeth most unto it , for the great cities of london and westminster , which are seated in it , and for the constant residence of the court , the receptacle and aboade of the kings of eng. who have made this county happy above others with their royall mansions . whitehall , and hampton court , somerset house and s. iames , still in the possession of the crown ; enfeild , and hanworth , aliened now , have either been the chiefe aboades , or retiring places of our kings and princes . in which regard , the kings of eng. antiently ( as camden notes it ) vouchsafed the title of middlesex unto none , neither d. marq. e. nor b. although , i know not by what popular error , the citizens of london reckoned the l. major elect , for e. of middlesex . which whatsoever ground it had , hath none now to stand on , that title being not long since bestowed on 1622 1 lionel l. cranfeild . l. tr. of eng. cr . e. of middlesex , 20 iac. sep. 17. & now alive , anno 1641. monmovth . monmouth-shire is the neerest shire of wales , though it desires rather to be accounted a part of england , and is indeed included in the circuit of the english iudges . it lieth upon the north of the river sev●n , there where it groweth into a sea ; the east parts full of grasse and woods , the west somewhat hilly , and stony withall ; yet not unprofitable to the husbandman , if he be not wanting to himselfe . it takes name from the chiefe town monmouth , and that from being seated on the mouth of the river mu●ow , there where it shootes into the wye . it was the barony once of iohn l. of monmouth , on whose attaindure it was setled in the house of lancas●er ; from whom it after did receive great priviledges and immunities , which they still enjoy . henry the fift , son unto king henry the fourth ( the first of the lancastrian family ) was in this place borne , ( which shewes that noble family so highly prized it , to make it their dwelling ) and was from hence called henry of monmouth . that one particular enough , to renown the place ; and therefore we shall adde no more . it is b●longing still to the house of lancaster , as to the possession , being dependant on the dutchy ; and not much aliened from it as unto the title : the caries , which derive themselves from lancaster , by the line of somerset , being now honoured with the title of earles of monmouth . 1625 1 robert lord cary of leppington , created e. of monmouth , ● car ▪ feb. 7. 1639 2 robert cary now earle of monmouth , now living , anno 1641 , montacvte . montacute is the name of a very antient & illustrious family , so called from montacute , a sharp ●ill in the south parts of somerset● shire , between evill and martok . the place called biscopeston by the saxons , but by the e. of moriton brother by the mothers side to william the conquerour ( who built a castle on the top of it ) it was called montacute . it afterwards gave name to that noble family ( as before i said ) who being lords hereof came after to be earles of salisbury ▪ and since in other families ( but descending from them ) hath been the honorary stile and appellation of these marq. lords & visc. montacute . 1461 1 iohn nevill , grandchild of thom. mont●cute , e. of salis cr . l. mon. 1 edw. 44. and after marq. monta. anno 1470.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1504 2 hen. pole , great granchild . of rich , nevill , the elder brother of the said iohn l. mont.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1553 3 antho. brown descen . from the la. lucy , daugh ▪ of ioh. mar. mont. cr . visc. mont. 1 ma● . sept. 2. 1592 4 anth. brown visc. monta.   5 anth. brow. now living , an. 1641. montgomery . montgomery-shire is one of the new shires of wales , taken out of the march-grounds by k. h. 8. anno 27 ; of his reigne , so called ●rom the town and castle of montgomery , & that from roger de montgomery a noble norman , earle of shrewsbury , who winning much ●and herabouts from the welch , first built it to secure his conqu . it standeth not for from the banks of the river severne , upon the rising of a rock ; from whence it hath a very free prospect into a pleasant plaine that lyeth beneath it . the family of the herberts is very much diffused , and of great authority in this country ▪ out of which family 1605 philip herbert 2 son of hen. earle of pembrok , was cr e. of montgomery 3 iac. may 4 , and is now also e. of pembrok and l. cham. an. 1641. movlgrave . moulgrave is an antient castle in the north riding of york-shire , situate neare unto the sea , and not far from whitbay . first built it was by peter de mouley , ( or de malo lacu , in the latine ) in the time of rich. 1 , and being in his eye , a very beautifull pile , was by him called moult-grace , but being a greivous yoke to the neighbour inhabitants , was by them called moult-grave , by which name , and no other , now the world takes notice of it . it continued in his line for seven generations , and all of them called peters too : and then the issue male failing , it passed through severall families by the heires generall , and now belong●th to the sheffeilds ; out of which house 1625 1 edm. l. sheffeild l. president of the north , was cr . e. of moulgrave , 1 car. feb. 7 , and is still alive , anno 1641. newcastle . new-castle is the hithermost town of all northumberland , and the chiefe of the north ; seated upon the further banke of the river tine , which is there so deep , and well fenced withall , that it giveth a very safe station to the tallest ships . it standeth on the declining of a very steep hill , adorned with 4 churches , fortified with strong wals , & beautified with goodly buildings . a town of very great resort , especially by reason of the trade of sea cole , which is conveyed hence to all parts of the kingdome , and many other parts of christendome . it rose out of the ruines of old gabrosentum : and had this new name from a castle built by robert son of wil. the conq. and thriving by the benefit and entercourse of trade , became at length of such reputation , that by k. h. 6. it was made a county incorporate , as we use to say ; and finally thought worthy to give the honour of an e to 1623 1 ludowick d. of lennox and e. of richmond , cr . e. of newcastle , 2 iac. in may.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1627 2 wil. cavendish , visc. mansfield , cr e ▪ of newcastle , 3 car mar. 7. now gover. and gent. of the bedchamber of the prince his high . a. 1641 , newport . newport is the chiefe town of the isle of wight , called in times past medena , afterwards novus burgus de meden , and by us now , newport . a town well seated and much frequented , and withall populous in it selfe ; which most ariseth from the benefit of a little haven capable of vessels of the smaller burden , which com● up to the very key . for government within , it hath a major and burgesses , being made a corporation by k. ia●es , and for a further lustre to it , in the world abroad , it pleased our soveraigne l. k. charles , to create 162● montjoy blount , lord montjoy , e. of newport , 3 car. aug. 3 , who is now master of the ordnance , and of the counsell for warre , ann● 1641. norfolk . norfolk is the greatest county of eng. next to yorksh. but far 〈◊〉 populous than that ; as comprehending in the whole 660 parish churches , of which 27 are market towns . it antiently was a part of the iceni , and next the northern part of the kingdome of the east-angles , from whence it had the name of northfolk , as hath the southern people of it , the name of southfolk . the soyle according to the variety of places is of different nature ; in some fat , rank , and full of moysture ; in others very light and sandy : yet so that one contributing unto the other , and the sea giving help to both , it is very plentifull country for corne , sheep , and fish . the people notably industrious both for plough and manufactures ; insomuch that one shall hardly see a begger throughout all the countrey : and yet ( which makes the merveile much the greater ) they are notable wranglers , well versed and studied in the quirks of law , and consequently create more work for the assises , than almost all the circuit else . but then it is observed withall , that this disposition hath brought some reputation with it , as furnishing the courts of ius●ice with many an eminent man in the laws of eng. and yeelding generally the best breed of lawyers . it is observed , by a great antiquary of this kingd . that in this county are ●oo families of antient gentry , which never were attainted of high treason , which if it be true , the gentry of norfolk have had better fortune than the dukes and earles . 1070 1 ralph . de ware , e. of norf.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1137 2 hugh bigot . 1177 3 rog. bigot .   4 hugh bigot . 1125 5 rog. bigot . 1270 6 rog. bigot .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1312 7 tho. de brotherton , first son of k. edw. 1 , e , of norf. 1398 8 marga. daugh . of tho. of brotherton , duch. of norf.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1398 9 tho. l. mowbray son of the lad. marg. d. of norf. * 1427 10 iohn mowb. * 1434 11 iohn mowbray . * 14●1 12 iohn mowbray . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1475 13 rich. d. of york , & norf. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1483 14 iohn l. how. descended from the lad. margaret daugh . of tho. 1 d. of norf. died 1486. * 1512 15 tho. how. l. tr. and adm. * 1524 16 tho. how. l. tr. * 1554 17 tho. how. last d. of norf. died 1572. northampton . the county of northampton , is situate almost in the very mid●le and heart of eng. a champion countrey for the most part , exceeding populous , and ●o replenished with townes and churches , ( being in all 326 , whereof 10 are markets ) that in some places there are 20 or 30 steeples to be seen at once . the soyle exceeding fertile both for tillage and pasture , maintaining numerous flocks of sheep , and herds of cattell ; but somewhat destitute of woods . it takes name from north●●pton , the chiefe towne thereof , seated upon the river nen ; which antiently called a●fona , but corruptly antona , bestowed this name upon the town , being indeed built on the northern bank . a town which for the beauty and circuit of it , may be well ranked with many cities of the kingdome : and heretofore so safe and sure by reason of the strong wals , ( from whence there is a goodly prospect into all the county ) & a strong castle , now demolished ; that once the students of cambridge had a purpose to remove their vniversity unto it . this strength however made it obnoxious to some disadvantage , as being a place much aimed at in our civill wars , and many a battaile fought about it , yet never were the times so turbulent ▪ or the place so dangerous , but that there were some persons of superior ranke , who did affect the name , and enjoy the title of earles and marq. of northampton .   1 walt. e. of huntingdon .     ✚ ✚ ✚   2 simon de senlis married maud daugh . of waltheof . 1153 3 simon de senlis .   4 sim d● senlis .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1337 5 wil. de bohun . 1360 6 humf. de boh. who being after e. of hereford , added this title 10 that house , from whom it came unto the staff. d. of buck.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1547 7 wil. l. parre , marq.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1693 ● hen. how. brother of tho. la●t d. of norf. l. pr. seale     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1618 9 wil. l. compton , cr ▪ e. of northa . 16 iac. aug. 2. l. pres of wa. 1630 10 spencer compton , now e. 1641 , northumberland is a more contracted name now , than in former times . heretofore it included all the countries on the north of humber , possessed of old by the b●igan●●s , and the ottadini , now only the extreame a●d most northerne part , betwixt the rivers of tine and twede , all which the oltadini once inhabited . the aire exceeding sharp and piercing , as being often visited with boystrous winds , hard frosts , and tedious snows ; to remedy which it yeelds abundance of sea-coale for fuell , and at very cheap rates . the soyle in generall neither fertile for corn or pasturage , as being for the most part exceeding rough and very hard to be manured , only in some parts towards the sea , by the late industry of the ploughman , and benefit of sea-weed , wherewith they do improve their ground , it is become indifferent fruitfull . the countrey meanly populous , and but ill inhabited , partly by reason of the barrennesse of the country , as before is said , and partly for the bad neighbourhood of the scots , as commonly it is in march-lands or frontier countreyes . in this regard , it had almost as many castles for defence of themselves ▪ as is parish churches for the service of god , there being 26 of the one , and but 46 of the other ; but then withall the p●●●shes were and are exceeding large , and have many chappels of ease perteining to thē , which inconvenienc● of the soyle & seat may possibly have beene the reason why the possession of it held not long in any family ( although the title and possession of it had been given to many ) untill the percyes : who not without some interruption too , have continued long . by reason of which intermixture of severall families ; it hath given to those families the severall titles of duke , and earles of northumberland . 1065 1 morcar . e. of northumb.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1071 2 gospatrick .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1072 3 waltheof . e. of huntingd.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1076 4 walcher bish of durham .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1086 5 rob. de mowb. devested 1095.     ✚ ✚ ✚   6 hen pr. of scotl.   7 william k of scots .     ✚ ✚ ✚   8 hugh . pudsey b. of durham .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1377 9 hen. per. l. const. 1414 10 hen , percy . 1455 11 hen. percy . 1461 12 hen. percy .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1465 13 iohn nevill , l. monta. cr . e. of northumb. by k , edw. 4 , who after 6 yeares resigned it to the said hen. percy .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1489 14 hen. percy . 15 hen. percy died 1537.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1551 16 iohn dudley e. of warwick , and l. adm. d. of northumb.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1557 17 tho. percy , e. of northumb. 1574 18 hen. percy . 1585 19 hen. percy . 1633 20 algernon percy , now e. of nort. and l. adm. 1641. norwich . norwich is the chiefe city of norfolk , and took that name as did the county , from the northern situation of it . it standeth upon the river of yare , which runs thence to yarmouth , lying out in length a mile and an half ; not above halfe so much in breadth , and in that space conteineth about 30 parishes ; well walled about with many a turret , and 12 gates for entrance . a city which for faire buildings , and resort of people , the painefull industry of the common ●ort , the great humanity of the richer , and the firme loyalty of all , in seditious times , may justly be accounted the 3 of england . amongst the buildings those of speciall note ( next unto their churches ) are the 2 palaces of the d. of norfolk , and earles of surrey . and for the wealth and opulence , which it now enjoyeth , it standeth much indebted to the net●erlanders , who flying from the d. of alva , and the inquisition , brought with them the making of baies and sayes and other manufactures ; whereby the poore are set on work , and the rich grow pursie . a place that hath been honored long with a see episcopall , but neve● made a title of civill honour , till 1626 edw. l. denny of walthan was cr . e. of norwich , a car. aug. 24. mort sans issue masle . nottingham . nottinghamsh ▪ antiently was a part of the coritani , well watred with the river of trent , and many other pleasant streames . the people generally divide it into the sand , and the clay ; that being the e. part , taking up the forrest of sherwood , famous for rob. hood , and his companions , this being the south , and eastern part , more fruitfull , and more fit for corne ; and throughout well furnished both with wood and coale . it conteineth in it 168 parishes , of which the chiefe , and that from whence the shire takes name is nottingham . a town well seated on the trent , though very high up on an hill which overlookes it : for buildings , and faire streets , and a spatious market place , not giving way to many cities . but that which gave the greatest ornament unto it , was indeed the ca●●le , a royall and magnificent building , which for strength , statelinesse , and command of prospect , may justly challenge the precedency of the best in eng. of mortime●s hole there , who was hence haled to his executiō , and of the long imprisonment which david k. of scots here suffred , the people are as good as a common chronicle , and intermixe too , not afew fables with the truth of story . but that which we have good record for , without fraud or fiction , is that it hath af●orded in successive ages , these lords and earles of nottingham .   1 wil. peverell , l. of the honour of nottingham .   2 wil. peverell , l.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1141 3 rob. de ferrers , married margar. daughter of wil. peverell .     ✚ ✚ ✚   4 iohn , after k. of eng.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1377 5 iohn l. mowbray . 1382 6 tho. mow. e. mar. after d. of nor. 1400 7 tho. mow. e. m. and d. n. 1405 8 iohn mow. e. m. and d n. * 1432 9 iohn mow. e. m. and d. n. * 1461 10 iohn mow. e. m and d. n. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1475 11 rich. d. of york , 2 son of k edw. 4 married the la. anne , sole child of iohn d of norf. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1483 12 wil. l. berkley descended from the l isab. daugh . of tho. 1 d. of nor. & e. of nott. 1597 13 charles l. how. of e●●ing . & l. adm. de●cended by the house of nor. from the mow.   14 charles how. now e. of nottin . anno 1641. oxford . oxford-shire is a part of the dobuni , situated north-ward of the thames , which parteth it all along from berkshire . a plentifull and fruitfull countrey , wherein the plaines are garnished with cornefields and meadows , the hils well covered with woods and the downes with sheep , and wanting in no kind of pleasure , which either hawke or hound can afford a gentleman . it conteines in it , being no great circuit , 270 parish churches , and 10 market townes , the chiefe of which in name and beauty , giving denomination to the county , is the famous city and vniversity of oxford . a faire and goodly city , both for site and building ; whether one look on the magnificence of the publique structures , or the compacted uniformity of private houses . and sure it may be said without immodesty and heard without dislike or envy , that for the statelinesse of the schooles and publique library ; the bravery and beauty of particular colledges , all built of faire and polished stone ; the liberall endowments of those houses , and notable incouragements of industry and learning in the salary of the professors in most arts and sciences ; it is not to be parallelled in the christian world : and for the number of her studens , and the well ordering of those students by good laws and ordinances , not to be equalled by any but her sister cambridge . from whence it had the name of oxford , is adhuc sub judice : whether of vadum isidos , the ford of ouse or isis , on whose banks it stands , and so called ousford ; or vada boum , the ford of oxen ( as the greeks had their bosphori in former times ) i determine not . suffice it that this name is very antient , and that it antiently hath beene an vniversity or seat of learning ; in which respect , it hath co-evity with that of paris , if not priority above it , as being refounded by k. alf●ed , anno 806 , after it had been overborne a while by the danish fury . colledges it conteine●h in all 18. hals for students 6 , and about 13 paris● churches . it is moreover a see 〈◊〉 and it hath withall received no small honour from the noble 〈◊〉 of the veres , who now for 20 generations 〈◊〉 been earles of oxford . 1067 1 edgar atheling .     ✚ ✚ ✚   2 aubrey de ver● , l. high chamb. 1146 3 aubrey de vere , l. high ch. 1214 4 rob. de vere , l. high ch. 1233 5 hugh de vere , l. high ch. 1263 6 rob. de vere , l. high ch. 1295 7 rob de vere , l. high ch. 1331 8 iohn de vere , l. high ch. 1358 9 tho. de vere ▪ l high ch. 1310 10 rob. de vere , d. of ireland . 1393 11 aubrey de vere . 1400 12 rich. de vere . * 1415 13 iohn de vere . 1462 14 iohn de vere , l. high ch. * 1512 15 iohn de vere , l. high ch. 1526 16 iohn de vere . * 1539 17 iohn de vere , l. high ch. 1562 18 edw de vere ▪ l. high ch. 1604 19 hen. de vere , l. high ch. 1624 20 rob. de vere . 1632 21 aubrey de vere , now earle of oxon , 1641 ▪ pembroke . pembrok-shire was inhabited of old by the dimetae , a countrey quite surrounded by the sea , save where it joyneth unto cardigan and carmarthen shires : a countrey plentiful in corne and cattell , not destitute of pit-coale ; and which is far above the rest ( as giraldus tels us ) considering that it is so neare to ireland , of a temperate and wholesome aire . it conteines in it 140 parish churches , and 5 markets ; that which is most of note being milford , renowned for its safe and capacious haven . but that from which it takes denomination , is the town of pembrok , seated upon a forked arme of milford haven , and in the best part of all the countrey . a town consisting principally of one long street on a long narrow point of rock ; and hath within the wals there of , two churches . the earles hereof in former times were county palatines , and passed al things that concerned that county under the seale of the earldom . and it continued so untill the reigne of h. 8. when as wales was reduced to england , and the authority of the great lords there , dissolved by parliament . since which the earles of pembrok have been meerely titular , as of other places , and of each sort were these in their severall ages , the marq. and earles of pembrok . 1139 1 gilb. de calre . 1149 2 r●c . de clare , sirnamed strongbow .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1199 3 wil. mar. married isabel , daughter and heire of rich strongbow . 1219 4 wil. marsh and l. chiefe iustice. 1231 5 ric. marsh. 1234 6 gilb. marsh. 1242 7 walt. marsh. 1245 8 anselm marsh.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1247 9 william de valence halfe brother to king henry the 3 whose wife was daughter of a sister of ans. marshall . 1296 10 aymer de valence .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1341 11 lawrence hastings , who married the lady isabell de valence . 1348 12 iohn hastings . * 1373 13 iohn hastings .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1414 14 humf. d. of glocester .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1447 15 wil. de la pole ; d of suff.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1452 16 iasp. of hatfeild half brother to k. h. 6 , after d. of bedf. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1468 17 wil herbert . * 1469 18 wil. herbert .   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1479 19 edw. prince of wales , son of k. edw. 4.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1532 20 anne bolen , marchionesse . of pemb. wife of k. h. 8.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1551 21 wil. herb. l. steward , crea . e. of pemb. by k. edw. 6. * 1570 22 hen. herbert . * 1601 23 wil. herb. l. steward and chan. of oxon. * 1630 24 philip herb. now e. of pembrok and montgom . and l. chamberlaine , 1641. * peterbvrgh . of peterburgh , as it is an epi●copall see , we have spoke already and have not much to adde of it , as it hath the title of an earldom . it standeth in the very nooke or angle of northampton-shire , where formerly had been a gulfe or whirle poole of exceeding depth : but made firme ground by wolpher k. of the mercians , when with great paines and diligence , he laid the foundation of the church . a town , but for the church , of no great note , as standing out of the way for trade and traffick , and seated in no plausible place , whether one look to health or pleasure . yet by occasion of the abbey in the former times , and now by reason of the bishop there ; it drawes resort of people for dispatch of businesse , hath a large marketplace , a faire parish church , and 2 handsome streets . of late unto the ecclesiasticall relation of it is joyned an honourary , it pleasing he kings majesty that now is , to create 1627 iohn l. mordant , e. of peterburgh , 3 car. march. 9. who now enjoyes that title , anno 1641. portland . portland , was once a little island , but now adjoyneth to the mainland of dorset-shire , lieth full against the good town of weymouth , and seemes to take th●s name from port , a noble saxon , who about the yeare 703 infested and annoyed these coasts , and made here his station . it is not above 7 miles in compasse , and very scatteringly inhavited ; but plentifull enough of corne , and good for pastures . on the east side it hath a church on the north a castle , which seems to guard the entrance of weymouth haven . but however it was in former times , it is now remarkable , it gave and gives the stile of earle , 1632 1 richard lord weston , l. high t● created earle of portland , feb. 15. 8 car. 1635 2 hier. weston now e. of portland , anno 1641. richmond . richmond-shire is no county of it selfe , but a part of york-shire lying towards the north-west , with rugged rocks and swelling mountaines , whose sides in some places beare good grasse , the bottomes underneath not being unfruitfull ; and in the hils themselves are found good mines of lead and pit-coale . the chiefe town of the whole is richmond , of a small circuit in the wals , but by reason of the suburbs lying out in length , very well peopled and frequented . a town first built by alane e. of bretagne , the first e. here , after the entrance of the normans , who fenced it with a wall and a most strong castle , the better to assure these parts against the english , and having finished the same according to his own content , gave it the name of richmount , as a place equally participating of strength and beauty . it standeth on the banks of the river of swale , which with a mighty noise runneth underneath it : a river reputed very sacred by antient english , for that in it , paul●nus the first archb. of ●orke baptized in one day above 100●0 men , besides women and children . the earles of bretagne for a long time together continued in the title and possession of this cou●trey : since it hath been bestowed upon other families , who in their severall times have been adorned with the stile of dukes and earles of richmond .   1 alan the red , e. of bretagne . 1093 2 alan the black , e. of breta .   3 steph. e. of bret. 1104 4 alan e. of bret. 1166 5 conan d. of bret.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1170 6 geof . plantag ▪ son of k. h. 2 , married const. daught . of conan . 1186 7 arthur , the son of geof .     ✚ ✚ 1201 8 guido , visc. of touars , 2 husband of constance .     ✚ ✚ ✚   9 randolph of chester , 2 husband of constance .     ✚ ✚ ✚   10 peter of dreux , d. of bret.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1241 11 pet. of savoy unckle to qu. eleon . wife of h. 3.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1268 12 iohn de dreux , d. of bret. 1305 13 iohn de dreux , d. of bret.   14 iohn de bret. e. of richm. 1334 15 iohn de dreux , d. of bret.   16 iohn de montf . d. of richm.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1341 17 iohn of gaunt , after d. of lanc.     ✚ ✚ ✚   18 iohn de montf . sirnamed the valiant , d. of bret. and e. of rich.     ✚ ✚ ✚   19 ralph nevill , e. of westm. cr . e. of rich for term of life . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1425 20 iohn d. of bedford . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1452 21 edm. of haddam , halfe brother to k. h ▪ 6.   22 hen. e. of rich. after k. of eng.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1525 23 hen. fitz-roy base son of h. 8. d. of rich. and somerset , l. adm. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1613 24 lodow. d. of lennox , crea . e. of richm. 11 iac. oct. 9. and after d. of rich. 1623 , may , l. stew. rivers . the title of earle rivers is of different nature from all the rest of england , those being locall ( that of e. marsh. excepted ) and this nominall : those taking their denomination from some speciall place , and this from an illustrious family . the antient name was redve●s , or de ripariis , thence it came to rivers . at first they were but barons of plimpton in the county of devon ; after they came to bee earles of devonsh . which title 8 of them enjoyed successively , and then the masculine issue failing , the name and patrimony both were lost amongst the females or heires generall . from some of these , as i conjecture , came s. rich. woddeville , whom first k. h. 6. advanced unto the honourable title of l rivers , and after edw. 4. marrying his daughter , advanced him higher , and made him e. rivers . which title ending in the 3 e. of this name and family , was since again revived in the honourable houses of darcy and savage , this last deriving a descent hereto by the line of worcester , & huntington , from one of the daught . and coheires of the first e. rivers , whom and his successors take in order , thus 1466 1 rich woodville , l. tr. and l. con. father of qu. eliz. wife of edw. 4 1469 2 ant. wood. 1483 3 rich. wood.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1626 4 tho. l. darcy visc. colch . cr . e. ●●vers . 2 car. nov. 4. 1639 5 iohn savage , son of tho. visc : sav. and eliz. his wife , eldest daught . and one of the coheires of tho. e. riv. by vertue of a speciall entaile in the said creation , succeeded him in the titles of earle rivers , and visc. colchester , is now living , 1641. rvtland . rvtland , for quantity , is the least country of eng. for quality not inferior to the very best , as being a pleasant and fruitfull countrey , especially about the vale of catmosse . the earth thereof is generally very red of colour , so red that even the fleeces of the ●heep are coloured with it ; in which regard it had the name of rudland ▪ the saxons calling that rud , which we now call red , as we retaine the use of ruddy still , in the selfe-same sence . heretofore it was reckoned for a part of northampton-sh . not made a county till of late ; and now again is laid unto northampton-sh ▪ the better to make up a diocesse for the see of peterburgh . it contineth in it but 48 parish churches in the whole ; the chiefe of which are vppingham and oakham , two small market towns , of which the last is the shire town for the assises , sessions , and all publique businesses . yet small and little though it be , can shew the seats and titles of 4 parliamentary barons ; and besides that hath honored many a noble person with the name and title of earles of rutland . 1390 1 edw. planta . eldest son of edm. of langley d. of york . *     ✚ ✚ ✚   2 edm. plantage . 2 son of rich. d. of york .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1525 3 tho. mannours , l. roos descended by the la anne his mother from the said rich d. of york , cr . e. of rutland by k. h. 8. * 1543 4 hen. man. * 1563 5 edw. man. * 1586 6 iohn mann . 1587 7 rog. man. 1612 8 franc. man. 1632 9 geor. man. 1641 41 iohn man. now earle of rutland , 1641. salisbvry . salisbury is the chiefe city of wil●sh . antiently called sorbio●unum , which name it held untill the entrance of the saxons , who gave new names and laws to all parts of eng. ●t was at first seated high upon an hill , as being a place designed for strength and war , yet honored for a while with a bishops see , and a faire cathedrall . but the bishops and the clergy finding no good quarter amongst the souldiers , which were there in garrison , and being destitute of water on so dry an hill ; about the time of rich. 1 , began to leave it , and plant themselves down lower by the water side . being once setled there , and raising a new minster for gods publike service , the people also followed after , and left old sarum to it self , which in short space became so totally deserted , that now the ruines of it are hardly visible . but for new salisbury , that grew up presently into great renown , plea●antly seated on the river , which watreth every street thereof , and for the populousnesse of the place , plenty of provision , a spacious market place , and a faire townhall , is esteemed to be the second city of all this tract . and which addes no small lustre to it , a place that hath been very fortunate in those eminent persons , on whom the kings of england have bestowed the title of earles of salisbury .   1 patrick d'evreux . 1168 2 wil. d'ev.     ✚ ✚ ✚   3 wil. long-espee , base son of k. h : 2 who married ella , daughter of wil. d● ev. 1225 4 wil. long-espee .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1333 5 wil. de montacute . * 1343 6 wil. de mont. 1396 7 iohn de mont. 1400 8 tho. de mont. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1428 9 rich. nevill , who married eleanor daughter of th. mont. l. ch. * 1460 10 rich. nevill , e. of warwick . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1472 11 geo. d. of clarence , who married isab. daugh . of rich. e. of war. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1477 12 edw. eldest son of k. rich. 3. and anne , the 2 daugh . of rich. nev.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1514 13 marg. daugh . of geo. d. of clar. cr . countesse of salis● . by k. h. 8.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1605 14 rob. cecil , visc , cranborn , cr . e. of salisb. 3 iac. may 4 , l. tr. * 1612 15 wil. cecil now e. of salisbury , and captain of the pensioners , 1641. * shrewsbvry . shrewsbury is the principall town in shropshire , called by our ancestors the saxons scrobbesbyrig , for that it was of old a very thicket of shrobs . a place that rose out of the ruines of old vriconium , seated not far off ; but grew not into any great request till the norman conquest . the town stands nea●ly on a hill , and is almost incompassed round by the river severn : that part thereof which is not fenced by the river , being fortified with a very strong castle built by roger de montgomery , the first e. hereof . a faire and goodly town it is , well traded and frequented by all sorts of people both welch & eng. by reason of the trade of cloth , and other merchandise ; this being the common mart or empory between wales & eng. it standeth in the very midst or center , as it were , of the whole county , which generally is inferiour unto none about it , for delight and plenty ; and for the number of townes and castles ' standing exceeding thick on every side ( as having formerly been a frontier-country ) very far above them . it belonged antiently to the cornavii , and presently on the norman conquest , was bestowed on roger de montgom . whom before i spake of , who and his successors , and since them the honorable family of the talbots , enjoyed the stile and title of earles of shrewsbury . 1067 1 rog. de montgomery . 1093 2 hugh de montg . 1098 3 rob. de montg .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1442 4 iohn talbot marsh. of france , cr . e. of shrewsbury by k. h. 6. * 1453 5 iohn talbot , l. tr. * 1460 6 iohn talbot . 1473 7 geo. talbot . * 1541 8 francis talbot . * 1559 9 geo talbot . * 1590 10 gilb. talbot . * 1616 11 edw. talbot . 1618 12 geor. talbot . 1630 13 iohn talbot , now e. of shrewsbury , 1641. somerset . somersetsh . antiently was inhabited by the belga . a country of a fertile soyle , hoth for corne and pasture , exceeding populous ●as comprehending in the whole 385 parish churches , whereof 33 are market towns ) & furnished also with commodious havens for trade and traffick . a country howsoever pleasant in the summer season ; yet in the winter time so deep & miery , that it is scarce passable ; from whence the people have a proverb , that it is bad for the rider , but good for the abider . yet in some parts the●eof , those specially which are towards wiltsh . it is both hilly and stony ; but in the bowels of those hils , particularly in those of mendip , they find rich veines of lead , to the great enriching of the country , and benefit to all the kingd . it took this name from somerton , once the most famous and considerable in all the county , now a small market town of no note nor credit , but for a faire of cattell which is kept there yearely ; in which respect ass●rius calls it , comitatum somertunensem , or somertonsh . but by the name of somerset it is now best known , and by that name hath given the honorary title of dukes , and earles to   1 wil. de de mohun , e.     ✚ ✚ ✚   2 wil. long-espee , e. of salisb. and somerlet .     ✚ ✚ ✚   3 reginald de mohun .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1396 4 iohn beaufort eldest son of iohn of gaunt by his 3 wife , e. 1409 5 henry beauf. 1419 6 iohn beauf. d. of somer . 1442 7 edm beauf. e. and d. 1454 8 hen. beauf. d. 1462 9 edm. beauf.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1499 10 edm. 3 son of k. h. 7.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1525 11 hen. fitz-roy , base son of k. h. 8. d. of somer . & rich.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1546 12 edw. seym , l. pro. of k. e. 6. d.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1614 13 rob. carre , visc. rochester , cr . e of somer . 12 iac. now living , 1641. sovthampton . southampton is the 2 town of hamp-shire , in bignesse and circuit , but not inferiour to the first for wealth and riches . a towne commodiously seated on an arme of the sea , and capable of ships of burden to the very keie ; the opportunity whereof hath made it very faire and populous , as having in it 5 churches for gods publique service , fenced with strong wals and a double ditch , and to secure the haven with a right strong castle , which now time hath ruined . it standeth on the banks of the river of anton , ( which rising about andover , runs here into the sea ) from whence it had the name of southampton and by that name hath given denomination to the whole countrey , though generally it be called hamp-shire . a country rich in all commodities , both of sea and land , and in the upper parts thereof , those which are farthest from the sea , of a very pure and excellent aire . it conteines in it 253 parishes , many of which have chappels of ease as big as parish ▪ besids those in the isle of wight , which is reckoned for a part of hantshire . to return back unto the town , which though it bee within the county , yet is a county in it self ( for which it stands beholding to k. h. 6. ) and both before and since hath been counted worthy to be the highest honourary title of dukes , and earles to 1067 1 beauvois of hampton , that famous soldier so much talked of .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1●27 2 william fitz-williams , lord adm. *   ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1547 3 thomas wriothe●●ey , lord chancellour , created earle of south . by k. edw. 6. * 1550 4 henry wriothesley . 1581 5 henry wriothesley . * 1624 6 thomas wriothesley now earle , 1641. stafford . staffordsh . apperteined antiently to the cornubii , a potent people in these parts , which afterwards by beda , were called angli mediteranei , or the midland englishmen . a countrey on the north part full of hils , and woods ; on the south , stored with coales and mines of iron ; and in the middle part where it is watred with the trent , bravely adorned with meadows , & faire fields of corn . it conteineth in it 120 villages with parish churches , the city , or episcopal see of lichfeild , & 12 other market towns , of which the chief is staff. on the river of owe ; the head town of the shire , which from thence taketh name . a town exceedingly beholding to the barons of staf. who were once lords hereof and were hence denominated : who both procured it to be made a burrough , with ample priviledges , by k. iohn , and also fenced it with a wall , save where it was secured by a large poole of water on the east and north. and on the other side , the town by way of thankfull retribution , honored that noble family with the stile of e. who were from hence entituled in their severall ages , earles , & lords and visc. of stafford . 1353 1 ralph stafford , e. * 1372 2 hugh staff. 1383 3 tho. staff.   4 wil. staff.   5 edm. staff. * 1403 6 hen. staff , d. of bucking . * 1444 7 hum. staff e. 1460 8 hen. staff. d. of buck. * 1486 9 edw. staff. d. of buck. * 1521 10 hen. staff. l.   11 edw. staff. l.   12 hen. staff. l. who dying an. 1639 the family of the staffords died also with him , and is quite extinguished . 1640 13 wil. how. knight of the bath , 2 son of tho. e. of arundel and surrey , having to wife a sister of the last l. staff. was by his majesty now being cr . visc. staff. in nov. 1640 , and is now living , anno 1641. stamford . stamford is the hithermost town of lincoln-sh . seated upon the river w●lland , by which it is there parted from northampton-sh . it standeth in that part thereof , which is called kesteven , of which it is the principall town a town well peopled and of great resort , conteining about 7 parish churches . but that wh●ch gives it most renown , is that upon some quarrell and contention between the southern and northern men in the vniversity of oxford , the scholle●s in the reign of king edw. 3 removed hither , and here held publiqueschooles of al sorts of learning . nor did they leave the place , or return again , untill they were commanded so to do by the kings proclamation , and thereupon it was ordeined in the vniversity , that the ●chollers in the taking of their degrees , should make oath , not to reade publiquely at stamford , to the prejudice of oxford . neverthelesse the town still flourished in trade and merchandise , and doth now give the title of an earle to 1628 hen. l. grey of groby , cr e. of stamf. 3 car. march. 26 , now living . anno 1641. strafford . strafford , or strasforth is the name of a wapontake , or hundred , in the west-riding of york-shire , and lieth on the south therof , where it abutteth on the counties of nottingham and darby . a territory of a large extent , conceived to be almost as big , as the whole county of rutland , and in it comprehending the good towns of sheafeld , rotheram , doncaster , and the honour of tickhil , besides many smaller villages and hamlets . the antient family of the wentworths , out of which cometh the earle of cleveland , have long flourished here , and have their seate at wentworth-wood house , and many a faire and large possession in this wapontake . in which consideration , it was selected purposely for the highest title of 1639 tho. visc wentworth , l. newmerch and ●versley , and l. deputy of ireland , cr . e. of stafford and baron of raby , with great solemnity at whitehall , 15 car. ian 12 , and shortly after l. lieut. of ireland . svffolk was antiently part of the iceni , and afterwards together with cambridg-sh . and norfolk , made up the kingdome of the east angles , of which this being the southerne part gave to the count. and the people both the name of southfolk . a very large and spacious countrey , conteining 575 parish . chur. of the which 28 are market townes , with many a safe and capacious haven . of those the most remarkable towards the sea , is ipswich , a very faire and spacious town , well peopled and well traded too : adorned with 14 churches for the service of god , & many a faire ▪ and goodly edifice for private use . that of most credit in the island is bury , or s. edmundsbury , heretofore famous for the abbey , valued at the suppression at 2336l . 16 s. per ann . a fine neat town , and much inhabited by the gentry , who resort thither from all parts of the countrey . as for the coun. it selfe it sheweth in every place most rich & goodly fields of corne , with grounds as battaille and rich for the feeding of cattell , wherof there is good plenty out of question , as may appeare by the great store of cheese here made and vented to the great commodity of the inhabitants , not only into all parts of eng. but spain , france and germany . long time it was , before the title of suffolk was conferred on any . but when the gapp was opened once , it hath been severally conferred on several families , who as they stood in grace and favour with their princes , attained the titles of dukes , marq. and earles of suffolk . 1335 1 rob. de vsford , e. * 1369 2 wil ▪ de vsford . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1385 3 mich. de la pole , l. ch. 1389 4 mich. de la pole. 1414 5 mich. de la pole.   6 wil. de la pole , first e. after mar. & at last d. of suff. * 1450 7 iohn de la pole , d. * 1491 8 edm. de la pole , e. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1513 9 char. brandon , d. of suff. l. great master . * 1545 10 hen. brandon .     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1551 11 hen. grey , marq ▪ dorset , married frances daugh . of ch. brandon , and was d. of suff. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1603 12 tho. l. how. of walden , cr . e. of suff. 1 iac. iuly 21 , l. tr. and ch. of camb * 13 theo. how. e. of suff. and l. warden of the cinque ports . * 1640 14 iames l. how. now e. 1641. svnderland . svnderland is a demy-island in the north-east part of the bishoprick of durham , over against the mouth of the river of were ; which being pulled a sunder from the land , by the force of the sea , hath the name of sunderland a place of no great note or reputation , till it was made the title of 1627 emanuel lord scrope of bolton and lord president of the north , created earle of sunderland , 3 car. iun. 19. mort sans issue . svrrey . svrrey and sussex antiently were inhabited by the regni , and afterwards made up the kingdome of the south-saxons . this lieth on the south of the river thames , whence it had the name ; the saxons calling that rea , which we call a river : and so from sutbrea , came the name of surrey . a countrey on the outward parts thereof very rich and fruitfull , especially on that side which is towards the thames , where it yeelds plenty both of corne and grasse ; but in the middle part , somewhat hard and barren . from whence the people use to say , that their countrey is like a course peece of cloth , with a fine list . and yet the middle parts thereof what they want in riches , they supply with pleasures , as being famous for good aire , and well stored with parks ; the downes affording excellent opportunity aswell for horse-races , as hunting . a country finally it is of no great quantity . and ye● conteines 140 parishes ( of the which 8 are market townes ) and amongst them the royall mansions of richmond , otelands and non●-such . the chiefe town of the whole is guilford , a fine neat town , seated on the declining of an hill toward the river mole , consisting of 3 parish churches ; which notwithstanding never gave title unto any , of lord , earle of higher . but that defect hath beene supplied by the whole body of the county , in the name of surrey , with which our kings have dignified these dukes and earles .   1 wil. de warren , e. 1088 2 wil. de war. 1138 3 wil. de war.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1148 4 wil. de blois son of k. steph. first husband of isa. de war.   ✚ ✚ ✚ 1164 5 hameline planta . base son of geo. e. of anjou , and halfe brother to k. h. 3 , 2 husband of isa. de war. 1202 6 wil , plantag . 1240 7 iohn plantag . 1305 8 iohn plantag . died 1347.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1347 9 rich. fitz-alan , e. if arund ▪ son of alice , sister and heire of ioh. plantag . 1375 10 rich. fitz-alan , l. tr.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1398 11 tho. holland , e. of kent , and d. of surrey . *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1461 12 iohn l. mowb. son of iohn lord mow. d. of nor. aft . d. of norf. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1475 13 rich. 2 son of k. edw. the 4 , d of york , and norf. & e. of sur. *     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1483 14 tho. how. l. tr. aft . d. of norf. * 1514 15 tho. how. l. tr. & d. of nor. * 1554 16 tho. how. e. marshall and d. of norf died 1572. * 1604 17 tho. how. grand●son of tho. d. of norf. now e. of arund . and sur. and e. marsh , 1641. * svssex . svssex is th● other part of the old possessions of the regnians after that of the south-saxons , from whom it took the name of suths●x . a country that lyeth all along the ocean in a goodly length , extending east and west above 60 miles ; and yet for all so long a coast hath very few havens , the shore being full of rocks and shelves , and the wind impetuous . the northerne parts towards kent & surrey are well shaded with woods , as was all the country heretofore , untill the iron works consumed them . the souther●e parts which are towards the sea , lying upon a chalke or marle , yeeld co●e abundantly ; with a delightfull intermixture of groves and meadows . it conteines in it to the number of 312 parishes , of which 18 are market towns . and amongst these the chief of note is chichester , of which we need say nothing here ▪ having spoke of it its proper place , amongst the bishopricks . it now rests only that i giv● you a compendious catalogue of the earles of sussex .   ● wil. de albeney , e. of arundell . 1178 2 wil. de alb. 1191 3 wil. de alb. 1199 4 wil. de alb. 1224 5 hugh de alb.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1243 6 iohn plantag . e. of surrey . 1305 7 iohn plantag . e. of sur.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1529 8 rob. radclyffe , vis● . fitz-walter , cr . e. of sussex by k. h. 8. 1542 9 hen. rad. ✚ 1559 10 tho. rad. l. ch. ✚ 1583 11 hen. rad. ✚ 1593 12 rob. rad. ✚ 1630 13 edw. rad. now e. of sussex , 〈◊〉 1641. thanet . thanet is a little island in the north-east of kent , environed on 3 parts by the sea , & towards the west , severed from the main-land of kent , by the river of stoure , which is here called yenlade . an island by solinus called athanatos , in some copies thanatos ; from whence the saxons had their thanet , famous as in other things , so in these particulars , that it was here the sax. landed when they came first for britani ; and that s. austin the monk here landed also , when he brought the gospel to the saxons . the whole about 8. m. in . leng . and 4 in brea . was reckoned then to hold about 600 families : and is now very populous for the bignesse , and very plentiful withall of all commodities necessary , but of cor● especially . the people generally are a kind of amphibii , and get their livings both by sea and land , being well skilled according to the year , aswel in stearing of a ship at sea , as holding of the plough at land ▪ & in both courses notably industrious . such is the isle of tha●et , which was to late times made the title of an earldome , in the persons of 1628 1 nico. l. tufton . cr . e. of thanet , 4. car. aug. 5.   2 iohn tuf . e. of thanet now living anno , 1641. totnes . totnes is a town in the southwest of devonshire , situate on the banks of the river of dert , about 6 miles from its influxe into the sea. an antient little town it is , and standeth on the fall of an hill , lying east and west . it hath a major for the chiefe magi●trate , and so hath had ever since the time of k. iohn ; and being a burrough town withall , hath a vote in parliament . the greatest reputation which it had in the former times , was that it gave the title of an arch-deacon , to one of 4 arch-deacons of the diocesse of exeter , who is hence called arch-deacon of totnes , and by that name george carew , d●ctor in divinity ( after deane of windsore , &c. ) subscribes the acts of convocation , a●●● 1536. which possibly may be the reason , why 162● george l. carew of clopton , son of the said george , desired , as hee enjoyed , the title of e. of totnes , unto the which he was advanced , 1 car. feb. mort ●a●●s issue . warwick . warwickshire heretofore was part of the cornavii , a country which for aire and soyle , wants nothing for the profit or pleasure of man. it is divided into two parts by the river . avon , that on the south side being cald the feldon , which yeelds good store of corn , and grasse , and makes a lovely prospect from the neighbouring hils ; that on the north being called the woodland , from the great plenty of woods which grew here formerly , but now grown thin enough by the making of iron . it conteineth in it 158 parishes and market towns ; of which the chief 〈◊〉 one exclude coventry as a county of it selfe ) is that of warwick , called by the romans antiently praesidium , from the garrison there , which name it still retaines in a different language . a town adorned with very faire houses , a strong and well compact stone bridge on the river avon , and two goodly churches : but the chief beauty of it heretofore , as now , is a most stately and magnificent castle ; which as it was of late repaired at the great cost and charges of sir fulk grevill , the late l. broks , who therein dwelt ; so was it anti●ntly the seat and abiding place of the dukes and earles of warwick . 1067 1 hen. de newburgh , e. 1123 2 rog. de new. 1153 3 wil. de new. 1183 4 waleran de new. 1200 5 hen. de new. 1233 6 tho. de new.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1242 7 iohn marsh. first husb . of margery sister and heire of tho. de new. 1243 8 iohn de plessetis , 2 husband of the said margery .     ✚ ✚ ✚   9 wale . de new. uncle and heire of the said margery .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1262 10 wil. mauduit , son of alice sister & heire of waleran .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1268 ●1 wil. beauchamp , son of the la. isa ▪ sister and heire of wil. maud. 1291 12 guido beauch . 1315 13 tho. beau. e. marsh. ✚ 1369 14 tho. beau. ✚ 1401 15 rich. beau. regent of fr. ✚ 1439 16 hen. beau. d. of warw.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1446 17 rich. nevill , who married anne , sister of hen. d. of warw.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1471 18 geo. d. of clarence , who married anne , daughter of rich. nevill , e. of warw. 1478 19 edw. plantag . son of george d. of clarence .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1547 20 iohn dudley , visc , lis. descended from the lady margaret , daughter of rich. beauchamp , e. of warw. ✚ 1562 21 amb. dudley .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1618 22 robert l rich of leeze , created earle of warwick , 16 iac. aug. 2.   23 rob. rich , now living , 1641. westmorland . westmorland was a part of the possessions of the old brigantes , and lyeth on the west of york●sh . from whence and from the mores , as they call them here ( that is , those barren heathy grounds , which are not tractable for corn ) it was named west-more-land . the ayre accounted sharp and piercing ; the soyle in most parts barren and unprofitable ; yet in the vales , which are neither large nor man● , indifferently fruitfull . so that the greatest profit and commodity , which here the people make unto themselves , is by the benefit and trade of cloathing . it containes in it only 26 parishes , which plainly shews that either the countrey is not very populous , or that the parishes are exceeding large , as ge●erally indeed they are , in these northerne parts ; 4 of those 26 are market towns , the chiefe of which next kendale ( which wee ●pake of formerly ) is called appleby , and passeth for the shire town or head of the countie . the viponts antiently , and by them the ●lyffords were the hereditary sherifs hereof ; which notwithstanding ▪ it pleased k. r. 2 , to adde unto the titles of the nevils of raby , the higher and more eminent stile of earles of westmorland . 1398 1 ralph nevill , l ▪ of raby , e. marsh. 1425 2 ralph nevill . 1484 3 ralph nevill .   4 ralph nevill . ✚ 1523 5 hen. nevill . 1564 6 charles nevill .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1624 7 francis fane , eldest son of mary la. despencer , descended from the nevils e. of westmorland , cr . e. of westmorland , 22 iac. dec. 29. 1628 8 mild may fane , now e. of westmorland , 1641. wiltshire . wiltsh , belonging to the relgae in the former times , took this new name from wilton , once the chief town of it ; like as it of the river willy , on the which it standeth . a region which as it breeds a race of hardy men , who in old time , with those of devonsh . & cornwal , chalenged the seconding of the main battaille in our eng. armies ; so is it very plentifull and fruitfull , and withall very pleasant and delightsome . the middle parts thereof , which they call the plaines , are most scant of corne ; but those plaines being large and spacious , & reaching round about to the horizon , do feed innumerable flocks of sheep , which bring as great commodity to the inhabitants by their fleece & wool , and the most gainefull trad of cloathing , as other parts that are more fertile . it contei●eth in it 304 parish ▪ & is traded in 19 market towns ; the chiefe and fairest are salisbury and marlborough , which before we spake of . wilton was formerly the principall , & here●ofore a bishops see , honored with the residence of 9 severall bishops : but by translating of the see of salisbury , and carrying thi●her therewithal the throughfare into the west countrey , which before was here , it fel by little and little to decay , and is now hardly worth the reputation of a poor market town , yet still it gives denomination to the country : as that the stile and honor to these earles of wiltshire . 1397 1 wil. l. scrope l. tr. ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1458 2 iam. butler , e. of ormod , & l. t. ✚     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1470 3 iohn stafford 2. son on humf. d of buck. ✚ 1473 4 edw. staff. died , 1499. 1510 5 hen staff. 2 son of hen. d. of buck.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1529 6 tho. bollen , visc. rochf . father of the la. anne bollen .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1550 7 wil. pawlet , cr . after mar. of winchester , anno 5. edw. 6. 1571 8 iohn paw . 1576 9 wil. paw . 1598 10 wil. paw . 1628 11 iohn paw . now marq. of winche . and e. of wiltsh . anno 164● . winchelsey . winchelsey is a sea town in the east part of sussex , where it adjoyneth upon kent , accounted by a general error to be open of the cinq ports ; whereas indeed it is no cinq port , but a member of them , as ●hi● and feversham , and others are . a towne in former times of great strength and beauty , inclosed with strong wals , and a well placed rampier , for the defence thereof against forreign force : but the sea-shrinking from it by little and litle , brought the town by the like degrees into great decay , though still it beare the shew of a handsome town , and hath a blockhouse for defence raised by h. ● . but what it lost i● wealth , it hath got in honour , being advanced unto the reputation of an earld . in the names and persons of 1628 1 eliz. finch . visc. maidstone , cr , c. of winchel . 4. car. iuly 11. 1634 2 hen. finch , son of the said eliz. 1639 3 henneage finch , e. of winchelsey now living , 1641. winchester . winch . is the chief city of h●●psh . & heretofore the seat royal of the west-saxon k. by antonine and p●olomy called venta belgarum ; and then accounted the prime city of all the belgae , out of which venta , adding ceaster to it , ( according to their wonted manner ) the saxons hammered their vent-ceaster , and we our winchester . in these our dayes , it is indifferently wel peopled , and frequented , commodiou●ly seated in a valley betweene high steep hils , by which it is de●ended from cold and wind . it lyeth daintily on the banks of a pleasant river , str●tching somewhat in length from east to west , and conteineth about a mile and a halfe within the wals , besides ▪ the suburbs ; but much within the wals is desolate and altogether unbuilt . many things certainly thereare which may conduce unto the reputation of it , especially a beautifull and large cathedrall , a goodly and capacious palace for the bishops dwelling , which they call wolvescy house ; a strong and gallant castle bravely mounted upon an hill , with brave command on all the countrey ; a pretty neat colledge neare the wals , built and endowed by wil. of wickham , for a seminary to his other in oxford ; and not far off a very faire hospitall , which they call sain● crosses . and yet lest all this might not raise it high enough , our english monarchs have thought fit to dignifie these following persons with the stile and title of marq. and earles of winchester . 1207 1 sa●r de quincy , e. 1220 2 rog. de qum . died 1264.     ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ 1322 3 hugh despencer , 1326.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1472 4 lewys de bruges .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1551 5 wil. pawler , e. of wiltsh . and l. tr. cr . marq. of winch. by k. edw. 6. 1571 6 iohn paw . 1576 7 wil. paw . 1598 8 wil. paw . 1528 9 iohn paw . now marq. of winchest . and e. of wiltsh . anno 1641. worcestersh . is a part of the cornavii , once a great nation in these parts . a coun. of an aire so temperate , and a soyle so fortunate , that it gives place to none about her , for health and plenty . abundant certeinly it is in all kinds of fruits , and of peares especially ; wherewith , besides the use they have of them for the table , they make a bastard kind of wine , which they here call pirry , which they both sell and drink in great abundance . salt-pits it also hath in some parts thereof , and about powyck , and many places else good store of cherries : and every where well watred with delicious rivers , which afford great variety of fish . a country of no great extent for length and compasse , as not conteining above 152 parish churches , and amongst them 10 market towns . of these the principall is worcester , and gives denomination to the whole . a city delectably seated on the banks of severne ( which runneth quite through the county from north to south ) ever which it hath a faire bridg with a tower upon it : and thence arising with a gentle ascent , affordeth to the upper parts , a very goodly prospect in the vale beneath . a city every way considerable , whether you looke upon it in the situation , or in the number of its churches , or the faire neat houses , or finally on the inhabitants , which are both numerous and wealthy , by reason of their trade of cloathing , which doth there flourish very much . of the cathed ▪ here we have spoke before , and of the castle we shall now say nothing , as having nothing left of it but the name and ruines . all we shall adde is a briefe nomenclature of the earles of worcester . 1144 1 wal●ran . de beaumont .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1397 2 tho. percy , l. adm.     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1420 3 rich. bea●champ .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1450 4 iohn tiptoft , l. tr. and l. con. 1471 5 edw. tiptoft .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1514 6 char. somer . l. ch. cr . e. of worcester by k. h. 8. ✚ 1526 7 hen. som. l. herb.   8 wil. somerset . 1589 9 edw. som. master of the house , & l. privy s●ale . ✚ 1627 10 hen. som. now living , anno 1641. york . york-shire is past all peradventure the greatest county in england , conteining 70 miles in length from north to south , and 80 miles in bredth from west to east ; the circuit being above 300. in this great quantity of ground , are not above 563 parish churches , w●ich is no great number , but then withall there are great plenty of chappels of ease , equall for bignesse and resort of people , to any parish . elsewhere . the soyle is generally fruitfull in a very good measure . if that one part therof by stony and barren ground ; another is as fertile and as richly adorned with corne and pasturage : if here you find it naked and destitute of woods ▪ in other places you shal find it shadowed with most spacious forrests : if it be somwhere moorish , mirie and unpleasant ; elsewhere it is as beauteous and delightsome as the eye can wish . it is divided ordinarily into 3 parts , which according to the quarters of the world are called east-riding , west-riding , and north-riding ; richmondsh . ●omming in to make up the 4 , which is a part of york-sh . as before was said . the whole was antiently possessed by the brigantes , who were diffused all over those northerne parts , beyond the trent ; and for their capitall city had eboracum , seated upon the river vre which we now call ouse ) in the westriding of this county ; and by a later saxon name is now called york . this is the 2 city of all eng. both for fame and greatnesse ; a pleasant large and stately place , well fortified & beautifully adorned , as well with private as publike edifices , and rich and populous withall ; seated ( as e●st was said ) on the river ouse , which cutteth it , as it were , in twaine ; both parts being joyned together with a faire stone bridge , consisting of high and mighty arches . a city of great fame in the roman times , and of as eminent reputation in all ages since ; and in the severall turnes and changes , which have befallen this kingdome under the saxons , danes and normans , hath still preserved i●s antient lustre . adorned it was with an archiepiscopall see in the times of the britans ; nor stooped it lower when the saxons●eceived ●eceived the faith. rich. 2. laying unto it a little territory on the westside therof , made it a county of it selfe , in which the archbishops of york enjoy the rights of palatines . and for a further lustre to it , h. ● . ap . pointed here a councell for the governance of the northern parts , consisting of a l. pre. certaine councellors , a secretary and other officers . and yet in none of these hath york been more fortunate , than that it adorned so many princes of the imperiall line of germany and bloud royall of england , with the stile and attribute of dukes and earls of york . 1190 1 otho of baveria e. of york .     ✚ ✚ ✚ 1385 2 edm. of langley 5 son of k. edw. 3 e. of camb ▪ and d. of york . ✚ 1401 3 edw. planta . son of edm. of lang. e. of rutl. and d. of york . ✚ 1426 4 rich. planta . nephew of edm. of lang. by his son rich. e. of cam. d. of york . ✚ 1474 5 rich. of shrews . 2 son of k. edw. 4. d. of york . ✚ 1495 6 hen. 2 son of k. h. 7. after k. of e● . 1604 7 char. 2 son of k. iames , now the 2 monarch of gr. brit. ✚ 1633 8 iames , 2 son of k. charles , declared d. of york , by his royall father , and so instituted , but not yet created . finis . a discourse whether a noble man by birth or a gentleman by desert is greater in nobilitie nennio. english nenna, giovanni battista. 1600 approx. 349 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 104 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-06 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a08063 stc 18429 estc s112758 99848003 99848003 13075 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a08063) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 13075) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1636:10) a discourse whether a noble man by birth or a gentleman by desert is greater in nobilitie nennio. english nenna, giovanni battista. jones, william, sir, 1566-1640. [4], 98 leaves printed by peter short, and are to be solde [by j. flasket] in paules churchyard at the signe of the blacke beare, at london : 1600. a translation, by sir william jones, of: nenna, giovanni battista. il nennio. with cancel title page, engraved. publisher's name from stc. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode 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page images 2005-06 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-01 spi global rekeyed and resubmitted 2006-03 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-03 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discovrse whether a noble man by birth or a gentleman by desert is greater in nobilitie . at london printed by peter short , and are to be solde in paules churchyard at the signe of the blacke beare . 1600. who so wil seeke by right deserts t' attaine vnto the type of true nobility , and not by painted shewes & titles vaine , deriued farre from famous auncestrie , behold them both in their right visnomy here truly pourtray'd , as they ought to be , and striuing both for termes of dignitie , to be aduanced highest in degree . and when thou doost with equall insight see the ods twixt both , of both thē deem aright and chuse the better of them both to thee , but thanks to him that it deserues , behight : to nenna first , that first this worke created , and next to jones , that truely it translated . ed. spenser . here dost thou bring ( my friend ) a stranger borne to be indenized with vs , and made our owne , nobilitie , whose name indeed is worne by manie that are great , or mightie growne : but yet to him most natural , best knowne , to whom thou doost thy labours sacrifize , and in whom al those vertues best are showne which here this little volume doth comprize . wheron when he shall cast his worthie eies , he here shal glasse himselfe , himselfe shal reed : the modell of his owne perfections lies here plaine describ'd , which he presents in deed : so that if men can not true worth discerne by this discourse , looke they on him and learne . sa. danyel . g. chapman to the author . accept thrice noble nennio at his hand that cannot bid himselfe welcome at home , a thrice due welcome to our natiue strand , italian , french , and english now become . thrice noble , not in that vsde epethite , but noble first , to know whence noblesse sprung , then in thy labour bringing it to light , thirdly , in being adorned with our tung . and since so ( like it selfe ) thy land affoords the right of noblesse to all noble parts , i wish our friend , giuing the english words , with much desert of loue in english harts , as he hath made one strange an englishman , may make our mindes in this , italian . ex tenebris . my artlesse muse ( if any muse at all ) couched in rude , in base , in home attire , not fitting thoughts , or actions that aspire , but led by loue , and graced principall in this , she once was handmaid vnto skill , would ( if she durst her stem to raise so hie ) blazon thy laud , who of nobilitie so much hast shew'd , and therein dipt thy quill . but sithe thy zeale to honour nennio whom thy desires haue brought from forreine soile , hath beene one cause of this thy taken toile , vnwaited on with praise thou mayst not goe . for lookers on that doe partake thy pleasure , must of thy vertue find the pretious treasure . ang. day . a treatise of nobilitie , written by the famous doctor , and worthy knight , sir iohn baptista nenna of bari . the first booke . it is a natural instinct in al liuing creatures , which causeth them to auoide such perillous encounters , as do most commonly crosse them in this life : of the which we haue greatest occasion to beware , vvhen they are most dangerous , and noysome . which was the reason , that remaining with my brother in the learned citie of antenor , not somuch to the intent to get the knowlegde of some new art as to learn the courteous and good behauiour of the place , being assailed with a pestilent mortalitie , in the yeare 1528. we endeuoured as much as in vs lay ( setting our studie aside ) to saue our liues ( to which opinion the most agreed ) and so we departed from thence , and came to the auncient citie that iapiges the sonne of daedalus builded , scituate in the fertile countrey of pouglia , neere vnto the waues of the adriatique sea : which place of abode was farre more pleasing to vs then any other , in regard wee were there straightwaies entertained of our deere parents , and in possession of our owne substance , from the which we had been a long time secluded . but the season drawing neere , in the which the earth beginneth to cloath it selfe againe ; this dangerous mortalitie followed vs euen vnto out own countrey , being besides ( without any pitie ) afflicted , with cruel & sharp wars , by the mightie inuasion of the frenchmen . we being then brought to this extremitie , to issue forth , seemed by the wars to be forbidden vs ; and to forsake ech others company , by reason of the sicknes , seemed not the best . wherefore that we might in some sorte discharge our selues of those heauie cares , which did alwayes oppresse our pensiue imaginations , wee thought it best with choice of delightes ( albeit wee reaped small profite by them ) to passe this wearisome time . as we led this kinde of life , i was one day against my will surprised with a dead sleepe , in the which it seemed vnto me , to be entred into a deepe and most obscure valley , where from a farre off , there came toward me a troup of yong ladies , all of them of verie venerable regard . in y e midst of which ( as their queene ) there marched a ladie , apparelled all in cloth of golde , set forth with most costly iewels . after her there followed another , far stricken in age , yet worthy of great estimation , whose garments were of a sanguine colour , hauing a troupe of noble knightes going before her , some of them carrying in their handes ancient priuiledges , others trophees , & triumphes of their victories . behind these i perceiued another ladie of soueraigne authoritie , whose eies did seeme as sparckles , and her countenance more liuely then anie i had euer before taken notice of , albeit she was verie old : sometimes her bodie seemed not to surpasse the common stature of women , and otherwhiles on the sodaine you would haue thought y t she had exceeded the height of heauen : she held in her hands a roial scepter , and was attended on ( with great reuerence ) with a discreet , & learned company . to conclude , she seemed vnto me to be a most worthy ladie , of a mild aspect , and wonderfull view : before her marched the first three , as lesse worthy , who as she went had on her head a crowne , as the marke of a mighty queene ; her garments were distinguished with diuers yellow , crimson , and greene colours . and in as much as from her princely countenance , did proceed a shining light , i might easily perceiue al those things : & me thought y t turning towards me , she said vnto me . yong man , the burthen of thy thoughtes , and the miserie of the life thou leadest , are not hidden from me : wherefore to ease the one , and remedie the other , depart from this place , and take some new helpe vnto thee , to the end thou maiest at the last purchase a more sure , and vertuous estate of life . scarse had she vttered these wordes , before i heard a rude and feareful voice , which said vnto me : packe hence , and be carefull of thy safetie . being much amazed at that voyce which had euen pierced my heart , and with my spirites loosing my naturall colour ; at one instant breaking off both my dreame , and sleepe , i awaked : and after that i had a little called my wittes togither , i pondered often in my vnsetled imagination , what those thinges might signifie i lately dreamed on . considering then vvith my selfe the trueth of her wordes , and how much man is rather bound to follow vertuous actions then vaine pleasures , which i had addicted my selfe vnto : i vndoubtedly determined , to followe her faithfull counsell , and vtterly to abandon that kinde of life , which by the ill disposition of time , i was forced to leade . wherein notwithstanding , fortune seemed not greatly to fauour me : for much time ouerpassed not , before that the warre being in some sort appeased , all our companie togither with the ladies and others ( some being tied togither by kindred and allyance : others by knot of friendship ) as well to auoide the scorching heate , as the frequentation of much companie in so contagious a season ; transported themselues to a grange of ours , seuen miles distant from the towne . there by reason of the conueniencie of a faire house , and of a most pleasaunt and wonderfull delightfull garden , we still remained , spending the time continually in such sports and pastimes , as the season of the yeare , the place and the companie did require . it happened on a day , that as fabricio , and possidonio ( two young gent. of our companie ) walked abroad , they espied a noble ladie comming towardes them , whose name was virginia , accompanied with an honourable traine , who was going right towardes the citie : whom when they were come neare vnto , they entertained with such reuerence , as was due vnto her , and besought her to make stay in that place , & to dine with vs : shee seeing her selfe constrained by their earnest entreaties , remained there with them , and was courteously receiued of this pleasant companie . after shee had refreshed her selfe togither with other ladies , she took view of the house , garden , & that which was most worthy to behold , the gentlewomen , vvho alvvaies accompanied hir foot by foot , vnto the place vvhere the tables vvere couered for dinner : euery one of vs being serued in very decent & good order , & hauing store of good & delicate meats , & most excellent wine , vve passed out dinner very merily , not vvithout many pretie quips . in the end it pleased this noble lady ( not vvithout great sorrow of the vvhole company ) to depart from vs , & hauing with most gentle speech taken her leaue of the gentlemen and gentlevvomen , she in like sort vvent her vvay , after shee had thanked them all ; vvhich notvvithstanding , the tvvo yong gentlemen vvho first inuited her , did still accompanie hir : but after they had gone some prety distance frō vs , she vvould not suffer them to passe any further , but staying herselfe and turning tovvardes them , shee spake vnto them after this maner . the gratious intertainment , the noble exercise , and pleasant abode of this frolicke companie , haue this day bound my heart vnto them in such sort , that i shall neuer lose the remembrance therof . whervvithall taking a rich gold ring curiously vvrought forth of her bosome , she said : and to the end that you may be as mindfull of me , as is lawfully permitted , i doe bestovv this ring vpon him that is the most noble of you tvvo , vvhom i incharge to vveare it in remembrance of me . the conclusion of hir speech , and her departure vvere at one instant , leauing the ring in his hands , who vvhen she gaue it did not so vvillingly accept thereof . howbeit possidonio ▪ as one descending of an ancient & noble family , being besides indued vvith great riches , claimed the gift : but fabricio , vvho reckoned himselfe nothing inferiour to the other in nobilitie ( albeit that his ancestors were not of so noble bloud , nor himselfe blessed with so great wealth ) hee pretended vvith great vehemencie , that the ring belonged vnto him , because that from his youth , hee had been vertuously raised to that substance he possessed , and thereby become wise , prudent and well conditioned . so soone as they were returned to their companie , they straightwaies declared the cause of their variance , shewing them the ring , which was framed in circle wise : on the one side whereof there was the picture of a yong ladie apparelled like a nymph , vvho held in her hand a royal crowne , in such sort as if she would haue set the same vpon some bodies head , round about the which was vvritten in latine dignus coronabitur ipsa , let the most vvorthy be crowned herewith . on the other side was the pourtraiture of a gallant young man crovvned thervvith , who held in his hand a green bough not much vnlike vnto an oliue branch , about the vvhich vvas ingraued , victor , & merito coronatus ; i am crowned herewith as the conquerour , and that by desart . but by reason the controuersie betweene these tvvo young gentlemen , did grow more and more , vvho by occasion thereof arriued there vnawares , they were all of one opinion ( to the ende , that vvhereas this pleasant companie vvere mette togither onelie for their recreation , that enmitie and hatred might not grovv thorough this sodaine accident ) to boult out the troth of this their doubt , they shoulde one after another set dovvne their reasons , and afterwardes stand to the iudgement of a third person . a gentleman called nennio , ( one of the companie ) vvas indifferently chosen by them , for that purpose , vvho after he had heard the reasons debated on both sides , shoulde by his wisedome , giue iudgement and sentence , from vvhich they promised they would not appeale , but friendly rest satisfied therewith . albeit that the burthen thereof seemed heauie to nennio , yet did he willingly sustaine it , considering that peace on all sides would follow thereby . and because that on either part the discourse was intertained with no lesse profite , then pleasure , with pretie subtill argumentes , and wittie conclusions , i determined ( asvvell to auoide the heate of the season , as to keepe me from idlenesse ) with my pen ( such as it is , ) to set them downe in vvriting . a great part of the day was alreadie ouerpassed , and the sun in his declining , when as both the gentlemen & ladies by common consent did descend to the most pleasant place of the garden , vvhere vve sate orderly in circle-wise vpon the thin grasse , which vnder the shadowy-sweet-smelling trees was defended from the parching heate of the sunne beames . possidonio , as one desirous to be the first that should enter into the listes , was set in a place somewhat higher than the rest ; vvho after he saw vs all equally attentiue , and that our eares seemed as it were readie to heare him , gaue this beginning vnto his speech . fabricio , if i knewe thee to be of that force , that thou wert able to impugne the least of my reasons , how weake soeuer they may seeme to be , i shoulde imagine my selfe to be in farre greater danger then i am . but contrarily , it cannot anie way sinke into my thought , by vvhat meanes thou art able to resist them , nor with what reason that carrieth with it a resemblance of troth , thou art able to arme thy selfe against me . wherfore in my opinion it were far more fit , & more commendable before so worthy an audience ( to the end the mindes of the assistantes might be more intentiue ) to discourse of some other question more doubtful then this we are to intreate of , it rather becomming thy estate and condition , euen at the beginning to keepe silence : and yet it may be , that this discourse liketh thee better , that thereby thou maiest set forth the ancient and honourable stocke of thy predecessors , and their great large riches and reuenues . howsoeuer it be , that thou maiest not take me to be out of the matter , i will returne to our disputation . worthy gentlemen , the doubt vvhich this day is hapned amongst vs , is not vnknowne vnto you ( if so it be that vve ought to call it a doubt ) for surely a more easie controuersie did neuer rise amongst men . vvee shall soone see if fabricio be more noble then i am , or vvhether i am more honourable then hee is . he might vvith more reason make a question , vvhether the day be more cleerer than the night , or the sunne more hote then the moone : and perhaps there might be greater cause to doubt thereat , the basenesse of his birth , and the vvorthinesse of my bloud being more then sufficiently knovvne vnto you . but seeing it is your pleasure that vve shall discourse thereof , i will vvillingly yeeld , being more constrained thereunto to satisfie your desire then forced by reason , not distrusting anie vvhit of obtaining the victorie . it lying then vpon me ( louing gent. ) to prooue vnto you that i am a noble man , yea farre more noble then fabricio : i will first shew you vvhat nobilitie is , which if vve do rightly vnderstand as we ought , i doubt not but that our controuersie vvill be finally determined without anie further debating of the matter . i affirme that to be true nobilitie ( for fabricio , thou canst not varie from the opinion of all men ) vvhich of long time hath beene left by the predecessours vnto the successors , as a hereditarie gift , the name whereof is as wel imprinted in them , as the forme of the body ; in asmuch as hee that is borne of a noble family , so soone as he is broght forth into the world , is esteemed amongst the number of noble men , which is no lesse apparant then true ; for asmuch as if we consider any noble man whatsoeuer , surely those that descend from him , shall be reckoned amongst such as are noble men . who is he so void of reason , that doth not account those as noble men , who are discended of the stocke of the sforsi , of these of ests , of the gonsagui , and of a number of other most noble races ? surely , no manne . he then is a noble man , who is issued of a noble familie . let vs then consider whether i or thou , are sprung of noble parentes , to the end that the most noble of vs both may bee knowne . tell me i pray thee , and take no scorne to let me know , whether thy ancestors were noblemen , or not : nay whether they were so much as reckoned amongst gent. which surely i beleeue thou art not able to shew me . if then no nobilitie was lefte thee by thy auncesters , how doest thou now take that boldnesse vpon thee , to giue thy selfe the tytle of a nobleman ? by what meanes doost thou seeke to intrude thy selfe into the company of gentlemen ? what hope hast thou to bee adiudged the more noble ? surely i know not how i should perswade my selfe therein : but contrarily , you cannot make any doubt , but that this nobilitie was left me by my predecessors , for both my grandfathers , and their great grandfathers and their issue , haue still as it were from hande to hand , maintained themselues in the order of noblemen : forsomuch as they haue alwaies shewed themselues worthie men at armes , and many of them haue beene lords of castles and of townes , albeit that enuious fortune hath bereft them of the greater part of this substance . i will not further inlarge my discourse , to recken vp what my predecessors haue beene , being certaine that they are no lesse knowne vnto you , then to my selfe . wherefore it may well be concluded , that i beeing the successour of right noble men , and thou borne of base parentage , that i am a noble man , and thou art not ; and so consequently the ring which this day was giuen by the lady virginia , belongeth vnto mee , as to the most noble of the two . now see fabricio howe by little and little , i haue made it manifest , that thou art deceiued . yet if so it were that thou shouldst denie my conclusion , which is most true in it selfe , i woulde so forciblie work , that thou shouldst of necessitie be constrained to yeeld therunto . for if they who doe expose their liues to a thousand dangers , as it were men banished from their own houses , the space of many yeares , in the seruice of their king , their coūtrey , or other princes , to purchase to themselues a glorious name euerlastinglie , did consider that so soon as they should depart this life , their renowm and their glorie should die with them , and not remaine to their children , and posterity ; he might surely be accounted foolish that woulde take paines , or indure any trauel or disquiet : but they waighing that this name which they did get amongst bloudy battails , did not onlie adorne their own persons ( which should indeed be but a smal thing ) but likewise all their whole stocke after them , they did not against their wil , but of their own accord enter into such toile , & labour . whereby it followeth of necessitie that we conclude , that the selfe-same renowme , and the selfe-same nobilitie , that was in their ancestors whatsoeuer it be , is trāsferred to their posteritie : bicause that naturally we haue no better instrumēt , nor more perfect means , by which the glorie and nobilitie which is in men , may indure longe , then their children & posteritie : by them nobilitie is preserued , by them the generositie of families is liuelie maintained . hitherto the words of possidonio were continued , with a wonderful attention and without anie interruption : when fabricio turning himselfe tovvards him spake after this manner . passe on no further possidonio , for i intend to answer thee to that thou hast thus far discoursed , & thou shalt vnderstand whether this nobilitie vvhich we seeke for , doth remaine in bloud , or not : & then thou mayst at leisure proceed , for as thou shalt frame thine argumentes , so will i likewise answere thee . at which offer possidonio paused , but the company vvould not suffer that fabricio should intermeddle to answer possidonio his discourse , vntill hee had ended that which he should bee able to alledge in his defence . wherefore silence being made , possidonio proceeded after this maner . you see moreouer ( worthy gent. ) what operation nature affoordeth to the innobling of man. for if wee consider the gifts which it lendeth in the generation of man , you shall finde them wholie assembled in our fauour . forsomuch as first it yeeldeth to this , that the ingendring of children is permitted to man , by meanes of his ovvn bloud ; and after that it hath brought them forth into the vvorld , it laboureth to cause them to bee like vnto those , whose natural bloud is dispersed in their bodies : herehence proceedeth y e excessiue loue which the father naturallie beareth to his son , vvhich to speak the troth surpasseth all other loues in this worlde ; as is best knowne vnto them that haue made tryall therof ; the ingendred being deemed a part and member of the ingenderer . now whosoeuer he be that is begotten of a gentleman , and consequently of noble bloud , who will once denie but that he is part of y e begetter ? surely no man. why then the worthy nobilitie of them , no otherwise then their owne bloud , is dispersed in their children , as in a part of themselues . and namelie adde heereunto y e naturall resemblance of the father , which oftentimes denoteth cleerlie in their posteritie , the gratious countenance and good members , not onely of the father , but euen of the auncesters likewise . herehence afterwards it commeth , that as it were , euen the very manners , and liuely spirits with many of their vvorthy provvesses , are transfused into their children . and of this the valiant deeds of scipio the great may make thee assured , which as i haue often heard , and i beleeue thou knowest right well , were not vnequall to the prowesses of his father cornelio . the like haue i vnderstood of the other scipio : and if these were not of themselues sufficient , i coulde alledge manie other moderne examples . but you may be easilie perswaded herein , by that which we see euerie daie , that vvhilest vve are children , vve doe so retaine within our selues , the childish conditions , vvhich are learned of our fathers , or of anie other whatsoeuer , that grovving afterwardes to greater age , they remaine so fast fixed in our hartes , vvhether they be good or euill , as if we had beene taught them by nature hir selfe : and according to the diuersitie of men , vve doe learne diuers sortes of manners , for a husband man his sonne ( or to speake generallie ) a hosier his child , or such like , wil not be of the same behauior & value , as a gent. his son , bicause there is more care had in y e one , & the other is rudely broght vp . wherby it is easilie gathered , that the maners and prowesse of the father is conueyed from him vnto the children , and so consequently his nobilitie . seeing then that nature doth in the creation of man yeeld bloud and resemblance , whence this fatherly loue doth spring , to whom shall this sort of nobilitie which we tearme of bloud be left , but to a man his own children ? surely not vnto straungers , which euen nature it selfe would withstand . possidonio passed on no further being in his discourse interrupted by madame cassandra ( a wife and beautifull ladie of the companie ) who hauing a little called her wittes togither , set vpon him after this maner . if it be not lawfull for fabricio at this time to answere thy discourse , possidonio , yet shall hee hereafter haue time , and memorie sufficient to satisfie thy reasons . in whose behalfe likewise i doe not seeke to say any thing : and if i should , surely he should be but badly defended by me . but that which i intend is as strongly as i can to maintain those reasons which make for vs women : for without making any mention of thē , you haue sleightly passed ouer them . in your last speech ( if so be that i did wel comprehend what you said ) you gaue vs to vnderstand , that who so is ingendred of the bloud of a noble man , is nobly borne : in asmuch as nature hath granted thus much vnto you , that children are engendred by meanes of your bloud : whereunto you added the resemblance of the father , and his great loue towardes his children , which are all giftes of nature . now , if we will by a more true meane consider the trueth of thy speach , i perswade my self that these gifts which thou callest gifts of nature , being more proper to the woman thē to the man ( as may easily be shewed ) that in the nobilitie of man , the nobilitie of the mother ought rather to be considered then the noblenes of the father . who is so ignorant ( at least if this nobilitie which thou speakest of consisteth in bloud ) that the bloud of the woman is no lesse sought by nature to ingender children , then the bloud of the man ? nay rather much more on our side , because , as you know , the child once cōceiued , is by the space of many months nourished in our wombe , with our owne bloud , & somtimes two yeares after it is borne : whence it appeareth that children receiue a greater quantity of bloud of the mother then from the father . i will forbeare to speake of y e paine of our bodie , the danger we are in , in child bearing ; the anguish , and labour we sustaine to bring them vp : al which things may euidently proue vnto you , y t the loue of the mother is far greater towards her child thē the fathers is : yea and somtimes likewise the child will as well resemble the mother , as the father : all which is most manifest . i say then , that if i would knowe if one be a gent. which is the marke you shoot at , i will haue recourse vnto the qualitie of his mother , whether shee were a gentlewoman , and not vnto the conditiō of his father , whether he were a gentleman , as you lately did argue : which may with reason be beleeued . but you men make laws as you list , & draw your reasōs as liketh you best , setting vs silly women aside , as if we were none of the number of the world : but if it were lawfull for vs to be present at your counsels , peraduenture matters would go otherwise , and so many thinges would not passe for currant ( as this should haue done ) as they do . herewithall the ladie cassandra held her peace , and all the ladies did highly commend that which shee had spoken in their fauour , when as possidonio , not determining to replie anie thing vnto her wordes , spake after this maner . madame , as for me it is all one , whether wee take the bloud of the father , or of the mother : for i not only both by my fathers and mothers side , come of noble bloud ; but my grandfathers , grandmothers , great grandfathers , and great graundmothers , were on both sides of most noble descent , as is not vnknowne vnto you . the wise lady did not rest contented with possidonio his answere , as if he had spoken smallie to the purpose , when as maister dominico , one of my brethren , determining to satisfie her demaund , taking the matter vpon him , said vnto her . madame , i perswade my selfe , that if it were lawfull for you women to be present at our counsailes , as you saie , that your vertues would equall the amazonian ladies , who banished their husbands , tooke vpon them the gouernment of the kingdome , and disposed thereof at their pleasure , defending with their sword the feminine libertie . of the same mind was valasqua queene of the bohemians , vvho conspiring with the principall ladies of that kingdome , effected the same thing : but i beleeue you are not nowe a daies of so haughty a courage . howsoeuer it be , i would not haue you beleeue , that you are any vvaies defrauded of your right , in that you propose , nor in any other thing in the vvorld , but rather vvhere anie fauour or aide may be giuen you , both the lavve , and the lavve makers , are readie therein : and you ought to be persvvaded , that men doe not make lavves as they list , as you doe imagine : for sometimes vvomen ( vvhen as lavves made by men , haue not been pleasing vnto them ) they haue boldly opposed themselues against them . as on a time at rome a generall lavv being made , it vvas scarsely kept tvventie yeares : and it vvas this , that no vvoman should apparell her selfe in diuerse colours , nor weare anie ornament of gold that did exceede the waight of halfe an ounce , with such other like matters , by which the lasciuious and licentious life of women , was restrained : for the principall ladies of rome being assembled togither , without any regard or shame , not without great danger of sedition in the citie , they did breake this lawe . nowe then to satisfie you in that which lately you alleadged for the defence of women , in the middest of this disputation : i saie , that i do not denie that in engendring of children , more quantitie of bloud doth abound on your side then on ours , because that so soone as the creature is conceiued in your body , it is nourished therewith . but you ought to knowe madame , that the men of the worlde haue established this lawe for firme , that in the nobilitie of man , the condition and noblenesse of the father is considered , and not of the mother : for it is manifest , that when as in a subiect of perfection manie degrees doe concurre togither , wee take the name of the most worthy , and that of most power . as for example , wee see in the most renowmed maiestie of our ladie and mistresse , whose life being adorned with all worthinesse , and replenished with a most singular prouidence of honestie and holinesse , is not onelie bruted in our countrey , but thorow all the world , shee is lawfully duchesse of our citie , and of a large extent of land ▪ princes of many other places , and most worthie queene of polonia , and yet we terme her not by the title of duchesse , or princes , but alwaies call her queene , as the name of most worth , and most power . nowe who doubteth but that the man , is farre more worthie , and of greater might then the woman ? peraduenture madame you will denie this . surely you cannot , because this is no law which we men haue made , as you beleeue , but his law that hath made both man , and woman : when as hee taking displeasure against our first mother , said , man shal alwaies beare rule ouer you . it is then no woonder if wee seeke the condition of our father , as more worthy and excellent for the ennobling of man , then our mothers estate . moreouer , consider one of these images , and behold likewise this stone which is neere vnto it , of the which there may easily another image be framed , which of these two will you deeme more worthie , the image or the stone ? surely in my opinion the image . nowe a woman is no other thing then as it were that stone , that is to saie , a simple matter , and man is as the forme or fashion , and like as for the perfection thereof the matter doth couet the forme , so doth a woman for her perfection desire a man. we will then conclude , that a woman is so much lesse worthy then the man , as the matter is of lesse estimation then the forme ; or as that which suffereth , is lesse worthy then that which doeth . hereof it followeth , that we ought to be called after the name of the man as the most worthy . so that this proposition is true , that in nobilitie , we haue onely to consider , the noblenesse of the father . m. dominico hauing ended his talke , the lady being wel aduised , replied nothing thereunto , as though shee had been thoroughly satisfied therwith , when as possidonio following on his enterprise , began to speake after this maner . gentlemen and ladies : the force which nature giueth to this nobilitie is so great , that wee see it doth not only preserue the same in man , but likewise in other liuing creatures , not partakers of reason , yea euen in plants , as we may see in horses , dogs , trees , and in other things . for if i desire a faire horse , or a good dog , or if i intend to graft any excellent fruit , i will first of al seeke out the most noble horse , the best hunting spaniell , and the most excellent tree of that sort which i can possibly finde , because it wil neuer faile to prooue like vnto that which hath engendred it , or to the plant . and euerie kind ( to which nature hath giuen vertue to bring forth fruite ) produceth it like , and not disagreeing to it selfe , as we may see euerie where : whence it commeth to passe that man cannot engender any other thing then man. wherefore if thou grauntest vnto me fabricio ( and impossible it is but thou shouldest yeeld thereunto ) that if i be descended of a noble family , it must needs follow ( if we will not gainsay the law of nature ) that i am a noble man. possidonio paused a while from his discourse , or els made some stay to bethinke himselfe howe hee might further proceede to fortifie his enterprise , and to trouble his enemie , or rather cleane to stop vp the passage , that he might without any outrage obtaine the desired victorie ; when as madam laura ( the yongest amongst the ladies , though no lesse indued with wit and vertue then the rest , being besides of a quicke capacitie ) turning towardes possidonio , with a womanlike bashfulnesse , opened her corall lips , and began to speake in this sort . possidonio and fabricio , i know not whether it may become me or no , to entermeddle with your disputations , which perhaps are not fit for ladies , especiallie for me which haue so little to say : but being rather couetous to learne , then desirous to contradict any of you , if it may be lawfull for me , i will speake that which commeth into my remembrance , least otherwise i should be blamed for a ladie of no sound iudgement , and full of presumption . fabricio immediatly gaue this answere . god forbid madame , nay rather your vertue thereby will appeare more clearer , replenished with most sound iudgment , and not as you say , worthy any blame . for albeit it is not so beseeming for ladies to discourse of this argument , as it is delightfull to heare thē ; notwithstanding it shal be a thing lawful , & permitted both for your self , the rest of these ladies , and anie of the gentlemen , to entermeddle and speake what so shall come into their mindes , whether it be in doubting , answering , reproouing , arguing , or resoluing of any thing , either on the one side or of the other , according to euery man his best iudgement . forsomuch as the trueth of this controuersie ought to be drawne from vs all , albeit that possidonio , and my selfe in mine owne defence are chosen to yeeld our reasons . possid . hauing shewed himself conformable to fabricio his wil , the lady laura after a long cōtinued speech , with a womanlike voice , added that which followeth . this is no smal matter , that hauing demanded leaue for my selfe only , i haue obtained it for the whole companie . for the which i doe giue thanks vnto you both : which being said , she turned againe towards possidonio , and spake vnto him in this sort . it seemeth vnto me possidonio , that the scope of thy last words did tend to this end : that in as much as man cannot engender any thing els but man , that thou being descended of noble parents , art for that cause a noble man , which in my iudgement cannot in any wise be wel concluded . for albeit that a man cannot beget any other thing then man , yet it followeth not that y e same qualities shuld remain in the children which are in the parents ; & so consequently he y t is born of a noble man , albeit that of his father he receiue his being , and the forme of his bodie , yet shall hee not receiue nobilitie therewith , which is as a qualitie , which either may be , or not be in the subiect . nay contrarily madame , quoth possidonio , he which is borne , receiueth in like maner the self same qualities : because that if a man be white , the child shal likewise be participant of his whitenes : if he be blacke , he shall be partaker of his blacknes : in asmuch as whosoeuer giueth the essence or being , he giueth likwise that which followeth the essence , which is manifestly prooued in our selues , and the ethiopians . the yong lady stood at a stay , it may be not knowing how to frame a replie . wherefore possidonio hauing a litle takē breath , folowed on his discourse in this maner . gentlemen , by that which may be gathered by the words which i haue spoken , you may perceiue that nobilitie in man is giuen him of nature , and infused in his bloud ; wherfore like as the lawes of nature are stable , & firme , so likewise nobilitie in the family of man thorow his bloud , by which it is continued , is permanent and durable . here m. iohn francisco , one of the companie taking the speech vpon him , said in this sort . the force of nature is so great in the procreation of children , that verie seldom , or almost not at all , there is any difference betweene the father and the child , as i will make manifest vnto you , by a tale or historie ( if so you please i call it ) by which you may know the mightie power of nature in the nobilitie of man. there was a gallant and noble ladie , who dwelleth not farre from hence ( whose name for the respect i beare vnto her , i wil not manifest ) married to a worthie knight , by whom she conceaued , and did beare a faire yong sonne . and as it happeneth very often , not so much in regard of the opportunitie which these ladies haue , as in respect that for the most part they liue daintily and idlely : it chanced ( whether it were thorowe loue , or of her owne free will ) her husband perceiuing nothing thereof , that she ioyned hirselfe to one of hir seruāts , so that in succession of time she brought forth two children . now these growing further in age , the eldest did so farre exceede his other brethren ( for so were they all esteemed by the father ) as the supposed father , did surpasse the true father : for as he waxed bigger , so did he grow comely of personage , and quicke of wit , whereas the other vvere very fooles , and blockheads ; and the eldest of them did continually exercise himselfe in worthy and valorous actions , he desired to learne to be vertuous , hee tooke pleasure in horses , to run at the ring , and in al other honourable kinds of exercise , which by reason of his age hee was able to vndergoe , but the rest shewed themselues as base , & far from dooing any vertuous action : and indeed hee did no lesse shine amongst them , then the sunne amidst the rest of the planets ; the follie and cowardise of the other tvvo , vvas so great , that the common report did run euery where , that like as in behauiour and wit , they did differ from the other , so likewise they had another father : and their slothfulnesse ( besides that there vvas no resemblance betweene him and them ) imprinted so great a beleefe in the husband , that hee constrained his wife to confesse the troth vnto him , and in the end she being no lesse forced by experience , then by nature it selfe , she opened the whole secret vnto him . and besides the lady i speake of , i knowe yet two other women , who although they be descended of base parentage , yet are they faire and gratious to beholde , who not contenting themselues with their husbandes , as ill disposed vvomen are woont to doe , did when opportunitie serued them , and do stil , take their pleasure with yong men of noble bloud , bringing foorth fruite answereable to their voluptuous pleasure : and this i know for troth , that by them they haue brought forth most noble children , whereas of their husbandes they haue had most clownish creatures , so that euen in beholding their naturall forme , and the constitution of their body , they doe giue sufficient testimony thereof . by this you may see how nature sheweth her power in the nobilitie of bloud ; seeing from the same wombe is borne ( by reason either of the noble or ignoble seede ) a gentle and diuine spirite , and another abiect and base . and as concerning that madam cassandra , which you alledged euen now : answere might be made vnto you besides that which already is saide ; that albeit in the generation of mankind there aboundeth more bloud on the woman her part , greater daungers , and greater labours , yet notwithstanding we ought to haue regard vnto the dignitie of the man , and not of the woman : for as concerning this matter we will compare the woman to the earth , which bringeth foorth fruit according to the seed it receiueth . hereunto maister dominico again taking the speech vpon him said , these examples of yours m. iohn frācisco , doe bring into my remembrance the successe of romulus and remus , who descended of the auncient royall stocke of the siluit , and were as histories doe report , being little ones , by the commandement of their vncle amulius , cast into the riuer tyber , on the bāks whereof faustulus maister of the kinges sheepe did find them , who knowing who they were gaue them to laurencia his wife , that she might bring them vp ; who notwithstanding was called a shee wolfe , because she did willinglie yeeld her bodie as common amongst the shepheards . now these children being brought vp in faustulus his flocke , and growing in age , they did not intend the keeping of the beasts , nor the leading of a country life , but first giuing themselues to hunting , afterwardes to set vpō theeues , who were often endamaged by them , they began to shew the valor which was in them . and as fit occasion fel out , faustulus declared y e whole matter to numitor , whoe before was banished out of the kingdome by his brother amulius , which hee hauing vnderstood , immediatly his mind gaue him that they were his nephews , and comparing the time with their age , and considering their countenance , he verely affirmed , that they seemed not to bee clownes , nor of any base birth , but as if nature hadde certified the troth , hee knewe that they came of the bloud royall , and so accepted them for his nephewes : now whosoeuer will knowe what valour they were of , let him read further of them . you may then see maister iohn francisco , howe nature doth manifest the power of nobilitie of bloud : for albeit they were nourished amongest shepheardes , yet was not their bringing vp a hinderance to their naturall vertue . maister dominico hadde not so soone ended his talke , but possidonio taking the speeche vppon him , followed on his discourse in this sort . gentlemen ; henceforward let vs forbeare to bring so many reasons , as nature doth afford vs for the nobility of bloud , for surely time would not suffice to aledge al that may be said in that behalfe ; & let vs a little weigh that which the cōmon brute & opinion of men dooth generally d●em & beleeu therof i wuld lern this of thee fabricio , vvhat towne , what castle , and what village it is , where thou shalt not find this a general and common custome , to cal and account those noblemen , who are borne of a noble stocke ? surelie ( as i beleeue ) no place in the world . nay rather so soone as they are brought forth , they are reckoned amongst the number of those that are reputed noble , and men doe not without reason attribute vnto them such priuiledges as the countrey yeeldeth , sustaining likewise such labour and trauaile for the seruice and creation of them , as it behooueth them to vndertake . this is a generall custome , which we doe see is put in practise euerie where . and tell me i pray thee , if thou doest so much regard me ; if thou diddest desire to vnderstand or knowe whether one were a gent. or not , were it not sufficient for thee to heare that he is of the stocke of sainct seuerini , of the carraccolli , or of the carrafi , which are accounted most honorable amōgst the noble families of italie ? surely if thou dooest not swarue from common equity ; thou must of force bee constrained to confesse the troth . now i desire that euen thou thy selfe mayest conclude , and iudge whether of the two is the most noble , seeing that my house is as well knowne vnto thee as thine owne and that it is sufficientlie manifest which of them both being named , is reputed the most noble . it may be thy hart will serue thee , to auerre that it is thy familie that is so renovvmed in this citie . i doe not beleeue except thou wert madde , that any such folly would possesse thee , yet doe i perswade my selfe , that thou wouldst not be ashamed , with thy sophisticall arguments , to make men deeme , that white is black : yet know this , that it is an hard matter to resist the troth , & though i had not set vpon thee with any other weapon then this last , it were sufficient to make thee stark dumb but to passe on further , my force wil serue me to assaile thee yet more fiercely ; for albeit thou tokest me to daie vnprouided , yet haue i other weapons to set vpon thee vvithall . gent. i hauing hitherto manifestly proued vnto you , both by nature and common custome , that he is noble , whom nature hath brought forth of noble parentes : i will nowe with no lesse true , then pregnant reasons , confirme the same vnto you . i doe affirme , and it is not a thinge to be doubted of , that if any man or vvoman , did commit any act , that shame and reproch followed thereof ; not onely the said parties , but all their posteritie are spotted with shamefull infamie , which we doe euidentlie see euerie day : as for example , in a thousand places you shall finde such as are murderers of their own wiues , or haue laide violent handes on their owne flesh , or beene executioners of their own sisters , and such like : only to repaire the insupportable dishonour which followeth the fact , which either the vvife , daughter , or sister may haue committed in giuing them selues in pray to others , it dooth like a pestilent mortalitie , which by bad gouernement entreth into a towne , spread it selfe all ouer , and infect all those that are of that stocke . nowe contrarilie i say , if any man by his worthy prowesse , and lawdable actions , doth aspire to great honour , surely all his posteritie ought to bee partakers of that honour , nay they are not partakers therof , but it ought wholy and intirely to remaine vvith them . for it should be against reason , whereas infamy and dishonour shoulde by reason rather bee extinguished , that they should haue a larger scope to extende themselues in mans posteritie then renowme and glorie of man. my predecessors then , hauing beene men worthie of glorie , prosperous in renowme , deseruing honor , and consequently capeable of all nobilitie ; it followeth of necessitie , that all their renowme , glory and honor , and their nobilitie resteth in mee , as their successour . shall we say the like of thy predecessors fabricio , that there remaineth onely in thee , their worthinesse and nobilitie , whatsoeuer it was ? tell me if thou hast any such reason in thy braine ? but let vs yet proceede further , and i will yet alledge vnto thee another reason , to perswade thee more firmely in that which wee seeke after . suppose a father hath two children , valiant knights , and replenished with great learning , by which they make themselues worthy of honour , the father himself notwithstanding , being neither of valour nor learning ; thou canst not denie mee , but y t for al this the childrens honour and renowme redoundeth likewise to the father ; for it is a common prouerbe , that the sons greater estimation , is the fathers greater honour . from whence wee see , that good fathers who haue care of their children , straine themselues in such sort , to bring them vp , as that thereby they merite high reputation . by greater reason then ( not passing , but therein following the order of nature ) the worthinesse and greatnesse of parents , is transferred vnto their children , as a part , and substance of themselues : by which reason i may necessarilie conclude , that this worthinesse , greatnesse , and nobilitie , which hath been in my auncestors , remaineth now in me , who am a part & very substance of them . possidonio pausing a little to gather breath ; maister peter anthonie my brother , desiring to haue some part in this discourse , beganne to speake in this manner . seeing that the lady laura ( with a naturall grace ) hath obtained leaue of you , that it is lawfull for vs to intrude our selues into your disputation , not only in doubting and resoluing , but also in arguing ; i will alleadge without passion or partialitie against any one partye , that which falleth into my remembrance fitte for this purpose : and if it strengthen thy side possidonio , i promise thee fabricio , i will doe the like for thee , as far as my memorie will serue me , and my vnderstanding will affoord me matter . whereunto fabricio answered . spare not to speake freelie what so it liketh you , for you cannot doe me a greater pleasure , then in arguing to alleadge such reasons , as shall bee in fauour of the victorie on possidonio his behalfe , and contrarie to my opinion , forsomuch as with little labour i shall refute them . so much the more willinglie ( quoth maister peter anthonie ) both my selfe and others , will heereafter speake that which shall seeme best vnto vs , especially , before the troth be by this your disputation discouered . there was then in times past , in the famous citie of rome this lawe ( amongst others ) helde in great reuerence , least that the memorable renowme of a valiant knight should with his life take ende , that the images of those who had ouercome the enemies hoast , and conquered kingdomes , not before brought into subiection , shoulde bee ingrauen and set in the most publike place of the citie ; vnder which a remembrance of their actes was written , which yet at this day we see in many places . and that was done to the end ( as i may say ) to preuent nature in y t it could not giue ; which was to make them immortall by perpetuall commendation , as also to the ende that their successours pricked forward with the desire of like glory and renowme ( like as valorous horses at the sound of the trumpet ) might not fear the labours of the bodie , much lesse the dangers of life , to auoid and to repell from their countrey all aduerse accidents hurtfull to the same and to purchase for it , all triumphant and prosperous dignity that might bee for the auaile thereof . in troth the images and triumphes inflamed mens boldnesse , and gaue them great courage , and these eternall remembrances , did mooue the hearts of men : who are naturally desirous of honour and glorie . for it was a thing ordayned among the romaines at a certaine prefixed time , in festiuall manner to visite these bodies , and behold these images . what more greater glorie & greater triumph may be desired in this world of any liuing man ? surely the hart cannot wish , nor the toung demand any greater . appliable to this purpose i say , that if these men in remembrance of their singular vertue and great courage , did attribute such great honour to images , vvhether they were marble or mettall , how much more did these owe to the liuing children , i beleeue no lesse , but rather more ; in asmuch as a fained forme of man , is lesse to be esteemed then that which representeth him truely . which may bee apparantlie discerned by any whosoeuer , though but of small iudgement . for what occasion did the common wealth of rome set in gouernment the camilli , fabii , scipiones , emilij , catones and others , but for the glory and renowme of their predecessors ? see we not the same obserued this day among moderne princes ? it followeth then reasonably , that this grace and nobility which is in the predecessors , doth deseruedly remaine with the children . scarce had maister peter anthony ended his discourse , when possidonio pursued his speach after this maner . it should be surely a foolish thing , to beleeue that it remained with these immoueable and fained images , and not with their children . for what profit are they able to bring vnto the commonwealth ? surely none ( besides the example which by them is left to posteritie ) but the offspring of noble men may yeeld & lend great helpe vnto it dayly as wee see continually . for as much as if wee looke into the estates and common-wealthes of the worlde , which are gouerned diuersly : shalt thou find fabricio that the rule and managing of them is graunted to anie other , sauing to those that are reckoned to be noble ? and if you demaund of whence this proceedeth . i would answere thee in my opinion , it ariseth of no other cause , then that the predecessors of him that is noble , hauing submitted not onely his goodes , but life also , to a thousand dangers and hazardes for his countrey , it should be great vngratitude , ( nay rather might we iudge it crueltie ) if that so soone as they receiued their last mortall wound , they shoulde slip out of remembrance , or that it should denie them the reward worthie their labours . whereupon , that they may not incurre so great note of inhumanitie , the gouernment of commonwealthes ought to be giuen them , as good meanes to preserue them . and as they which doe represent the dead members of their predecessors . maister dominico added hereunto : we doe not onlie see this vsed in our time , as in the rich and well ordered citie of venice and elswhere , we may perceiue that the gouernment and administration of the estate is giuen vnto gentlemen , but as i haue often read , the like was done in time past . in the citie of rome at that time more renowmed then any other , the senators were held in great estimation of nobilitie . and if they were accompted in the order of senators , and consequently of true noble men which were descended of senators : we wil then say , according to the former reasons , that the children and issue of noblemen are true and perfect noble men . these last wordes were scarce ended , when as the ladie camilla , whose naturall whitenesse tempered with a vermillion colour , hiding her selfe as if shee had somewhat been ashamed , her face burning like fire , & turning toward maister dominico , in whom she put great trust , with a womans voice sayde thus . it seemeth vnto me that this day you are all opposed to fabricio , seeing that you cease not together with maister peter anthonie , to alleadge new reasons for possidonio : but beside that hee himselfe in answering them can refute them al , i will not forbeare to pay you in such sort as you know . madame ( quoth hee ) hereafter i will take heed , seeing that you are not pleased that wee shoulde entermeddle in this discourse , to the end that this day , i doe not against my will incurre a penaltie , which i am not able to beare . these last words gaue occasion to the companie of laughter : whereupon fabricio , without any farther stay , sayd : madame , let euerie one of them alleadge the most pregnant and strong reasons they can , for i shall not want courage sufficient to confute them all : doe not you know that the glorie of the conquerour is so much y e greater , as the force of the vanquisher doth exceed : which was the cause that possidonio laughing more at fabricio his speech , as making smal accompt thereof , then at the young ladie , followed on after this sort . we doe not onelie finde this to be true in the gouernment of cities and prouinces , but likewise in bishoprickes , cardinalshippes , and such other . thou shalt not see fabricio ( and if it happen , it is verie seldome ) that these offices and dignities are bestowed vpon anie other then gentlemen . by which thou mayest well consider what helpe and profite those do bring vnto vs , which are borne of noblemen , more then the fained images of the romaines held by them in great obseruance , for an euerlasting remembrance . consider beside those reasons alreadie recited , that with princes , kinges , emperours , popes and in anie place of estate , the noble man by bloud goeth formost , and hee which is noblie borne is onelie honoured , and to him onelie , the place fit for his nobilitie , is by good right alway graunted . m. iohn francisco , with a good grace added herevnto . we doe not only see this in vse among princes , but also among priuate persons , that noble men are preferred before other : especially , when they meete at banquets , where they are more honoured , and serued with more attendance . maister dominico taking the speeche vpon him againe said , i haue yet other reasons to alleadge in the fauour of possidonio , but that i feare to incurre this day her disgrace , which i would not : the ladie camilla , hauing by threates forbidden that , which gratiously you had graunted . to whom in anger shee answered ; and what woulde you say more , then that you haue alreadie spoken ? madam , quoth he , i woulde say that : the great architect of heauen and earth intending to send his only beloued sonne into the world to couer his diuinitie with our humanitie , to the ende to free man , who was miserably wrapped in sinne ( for scarce had he been framed by his creator , but he immediatly shewed himselfe disobedient towardes him , and that by subtle deceite of him , who rebelling against his maker , was with his copartners banished the heauens , and is eternally condemned to the depth of hell ) this diuine word , to become man did not chuse those parents in this world , which were of an abiect and base familie , but his wil was , to descend of the royal bloud of dauid . he was surely most meeke , humble and poore , in that he loued al these things & preached the same to others , yet notwithstanding , he would not be born of a meane and base bloud as i said . if then this nobilitie of bloud , was esteemed of the sonne of god , man incarnate , how much more ought wee who are his followers , deeme it a thing to be beloued and reuerenced ? surely verie much . doe we not reade likewise , that herod ascalonita the sonne of antipater , of base linage , being chosen king of iudea by octauian the second emperor , hee made a decree , that all the bookes wherein were written the noble and great generations of the twelue patriarches shuld be burned , to the end y t he being not found there written among thē , by succession of time might easily be credited , that because hee was king of iuda , was descended of the bloud royall ( i meane of the stocke of israel ) from whence the patriarches were deriued , which he infinitely desired , to the end that he and his successors might be alwaies reputed in the number of noble men ? doe not we reade likewise of equitius , who being the sonne of a bondslaue and made free , did feine himselfe to be the sonne of the most renowmed tiberius gracchus ? what shall i say of him that tooke vpon him that boldnesse , that with a maruellous subtletie , hee perswaded the people of rome that hee was the sonne of octauia , sister of the emperour , and of marcus antonius , and that hee was descended of the royall bloud ? and of that barbarian , sprong of base parentage , who in regard of the naturall resemblance which hee did beare to ariarat king of cappadocia , alreadie slaine by marcus antonius ; tooke vpon him the courage to say that hee was king ariarat , by which meanes the cities of asia , yeelded the kingdome vnto him . you may see how great a number there was of those , who not contenting themselues with their base birth , haue sought ( as manie do at this day ) to ennoble themselues in the worthie families of other men . wee may then well conclude , that there is no small number , but contrarie the greater part of the worlde doe runne after this nobilitie , to make themselues worthy of glory , and leaue a memorable renowne vnto their posteritie . you may see then madame camilla , whether i haue had anie thing to say in the fauour of possidonio , and whether i haue not stopt vp fabricio his passage . whereunto she answered , that which thou hast stopped he will easily breake through , and finde meanes to binde thee surely . some such wordes passing between them , possidonio followed on his discourse , after this maner . surely , faire ladies , there is no man in y e world , which doth not desire and reuerence nobilitie of bloud , that exalteth those that possesse it , euen vnto the cloudes . yet will i not recount vnto you from point to point , all that may be said in fauour thereof . wherefore it is nowe high time , that i drawe neere the matter , and that i bring this my discourse to certaine true effectes . and surely in a fewe wordes , i may conclude , that he being noble , who is borne of noble parentes , as i said ; there neede not be anie doubt whether the ring giuen by the noble ladie , belongeth to any other then to my self , who am the most noble . my ancestors fabricio , were of no base house , i am not descended of any obscure parentage : but contrarily , there are manie ages that their renowne hath shined amongst men , & there is none of you that is ignorant therof , for there are alreadie manie yeares passed , wherein they haue exposed themselues to do their princes seruice . ought the aid that they haue continuallie yeelded them , be of no account ? inasmuch as they haue valiantly fought against their enemies , and couragiously opposed them selues against all hazardous daungers , not flying from any labours in the world . they haue not made anie accompt , neyther of heate , nor colde , nor of all the incumbrances , which did crosse them : and we are not ignoraunt how manie troublesome broyles they haue freed our citie from , and what assistance they haue yeelded thereunto . which the ornamentes of their victories doe sufficiently declare , which may be seene in manie places of the citie . i could ( if there were anie such necessitie therein , as there is not ) shewe you many auncient priuiledges which they haue receiued of auncient kings , by which it may easily be perceiued of what estimation they haue been , and whether they were reputed amongst noble men , or not . i forbeare to speake of the armories of our house , in the which there is no figure , nor marke , which hath not been graunted by some king or other . what wilt thou that i say farther ? truely it is irkesome to me to reckon vp any more . thou seest what matter i might bring in on the behalfe of nobilitie , and worthinesse of my auncestors , albeit that i haue to day alleadged as it were nothing at all . this is the principall part of nobilitie , to bee able before men , at large to display the famous prowesses of his auncestors , whose glorie and renowne , to the ende that it may liue eternallie , doth remaine in their posteritie . wherehence i might rightly affirme , that all their honour , glorie , magnificence , and nobilitie resteth in me . and to conclude , i may tearme my selfe as a part of those noble personages , from whom so great nobilitie is proceeded . in my countenance appeareth their honourable lookes , and all their glorie , as in him who is their lawfull heire , shineth in me . this is then that kind of nobilitie , which amongst men causeth a man to be renowmed and honourable : albeit there is another sort of nobilitie ( as some will haue it ) of so great power , that although a man be not descended of noble bloud , yet doth it notwithstanding cause him to bee esteemed honourable . and that is it ( worthie companie ) ( as i thinke ) wheron fabricio , when hee will indeuour his best to speake what hee can for his nobilitie , will most of all extend his discourse vpon : for he will haue no other prop , nor staie , to keepe himselfe on foote , i meane , that hee will wholly rest himselfe vpon learning , and therewithall make his resistance . wherefore it shall not be from the purpose , vnto that which i haue spoken , to adde these fewe wordes , by the which i doubt not , that without any great trouble vnto you , but that i shall shewe you , what nobilitie learning can bring vnto man , when i shall haue set downe what i shall thinke thereof : which , it may bee , shall not be farre out of the waye , and you may iudge howe greatly fabricio shall be deceiued . i say then ( worthie companie ) that not onely hee is a noble man ( as some doe beleeue ) who draweth his beginning from a noble stocke , as by that i haue alreadie discoursed you may haue vnderstoode : but likewise he is esteemed amongst noble men , who albeit hee be not descended of noble bloud , yet giuing himselfe vnto learning , doth gaine some credite and reputation amongst men . and this kind of nobilitie ( if notwithstanding we ought to tearme it so ) certainly is recommended , as a thing no lesse good then laudable : but i doe flatly denie , that they doe attaine to perfit nobilitie , except they receiue therewith this nobilitie of bloud . yet i will say , and it may be it is not farre from the trueth , that learning is rather an ornament of nobilitie then cause thereof . and will say more , according vnto my opinion , that it giueth a certaine facilitie , or rather a beginning vnto man , to become honourable , but it doth not indeede make him noble , as peraduenture fabricio , thou diddest perswade thy selfe . forasmuch as if in anie matter wee consider learning meerely in it selfe , without anie other qualitie , or ornament that is required in nobilitie , we shall finde that it doth not make him honourable , that possesseth it , but hee shall be like vnto a faire pretious stone , set in the middest of some base and vile mettall : and like as a small candle doth giue but a slender light vnto those that beholde it , i say verie small , in regarde of a great torche : so doth this kinde of nobilitie shine , in regarde of that other which i lately spoke of . and be not thou ouer hard of beliefe heerein , for i shall very easily prooue this vnto thee . imagine such a one in thy mind , who is graced with good manners , learning and knowledge , but in bad apparell , as there are many such ; and likewise another , void of learning , but in braue attire fit for a gentleman , and that they be both vnknovvne vnto thee : what answer wouldest thou make , if my selfe or any other should demand of thee , which of these two were a gentleman ? surelie as i thinke , thou wouldst say the last of them , and whosoeuer hath any sound iudgement would not thinke otherwise ; and this proceedeth of the insufficiencie of learning : for as i haue said vnto you , it is not of it selfe sufficient , at one instant to bring forth the effects of nobilitie . i say then that there wanteth somewhat else , and it is riches , which are an ornament , or rather a part of nobilitie , which if thou dost conioine with learning , it may be that then i will beleeue that he that possesseth both , is become noble ; for then two causes doe concur togither , neither of the which of themselues , would bee sufficient . he then that wil be accounted noble , ought aboue al things especially to abound in wealth . o how many learned men haue i knowne in my time , whoe contemning these goods ( for so are they rightlie called ) haue beene , and are yet vilely despised themselues . doest thou thinke fabricio , that now i tell thee troth ? now i can but imagine what courage thou canst haue , seeing the ground more and more to sinke vnder thy feet , vvhat leaning stocke wilt thou haue , when as that vvhereon thy mind did most of all settle it selfe ( following thy false opinion ) doth least of all serue thy turne ? learning will not much helpe thee , wherefore thou mayest boldlie put thy trust in somewhat else ; for in thee there is no nobilitie at all to be considered . yet to the end that thy hart may not bee ouercharged vvith melancholie , i will grant thee thus much , that thou art become noble thorough learning , which being supposed as true , arguing in this sort , i may saie vnto thee . it is a matter manifest which can in no sort be denied , that dame nature doth both in dignitie and perfection , far surpasse industrious art , seeing it doth onely in the operation thereof force it selfe , to imitate nature . now this sort of nobilitie , which thou wouldst haue in thy selfe , is not naturall , but artificiall , bicause as i haue saide vnto thee , thou art not noble by nature , but ennobled by the exercise of learning , and so consequentlie noble by art. but yet this is not sufficient fabricio , i will yeelde thee many other reasons , to shew thee that i am more noble than thou art , although that there were nobilitie in thee . thou canst not in any sort denie mee , that as often as two equall thinges doe striue togither , but that all honour and reuerence is attributed to the most ancient : if then both of vs be noble , as i haue alreadie granted thee , and doe againe yeeld thee , ought not i to be adiudged more noble , as hee which descendeth of more ancient nobilitie , or contrarilie thy selfe , who art but an vpstart gentleman ? surely if thou leanest vnto the truth , thou canst not say otherwise . but god knoweth what occasion thou hast now to reioice , seeing that without taking any further paines , i haue granted thee that thou art a noble man : alasse , i beleeue this thy mirth will be but small , being intermingled with so great sorrow . so that not onelie the ground will faile vnder thy feet , but likewise the breath in thy mouth , nothing remaining for thee hereafter to say . thou shalt see that indeed hereafter quoth fabricio , ( taking the speech vpon him with a good grace , stretching forth and wagging his right hand at possidonio , in a mocking maner ) yea thou shalt well perceiue whether the breath will faile in my mouth , as thou saiest : for y u shalt wel feele of what force those new fables are , which thou hast this day set to sale in fauour of this thy nobilitie , and shouldest yer this haue well perceiued it , if it had beene lawful for me to answere thy arguments as i am well furnished with matter . thou canst doe no lesse , quoth possidonio , with a smiling countenance , then cal them new fables , seeing that they doe so newly torment thee : but thou shalt finde them true histories against thy selfe . fabricio replied i know not what , at which instant the lady aurelia , graced with beautie , and the guifts of nature , vvho vntill that time had attentiuely noted and passed vnder silence the wordes of possidonio , turning hir selfe towards him , with a womans voice saide thus vnto him . holding this thy last conclusion as true possidonio , to wit , that honor & victory ought to be giuē to the most ancient , i would gladly vnderstand , if the same question which is this day betweene you two , did happen between 2. yong men equal in nobilitie of bloud , to whither of the two thou wouldst giue the price & victory ? mary to him madam ( quoth possidonio ) whose nobility as i lately saide , were most ancient . to which she replied , but how wilt thou know , whether of the two were more ancient , for that seemeth a hard matter for me to discerne ? madam ( quoth possidonio ) it is a verie easie thing : for therein we ought to followe the common opinion of men of the country , when y e same cannot otherwise be determined by priuiledges , or other lawful meanes . m. peter anthonie added hereunto . many yeares agoe , madam , sentence is giuen in determination of that which you doe demand ; and as i thinke not onlie your ladiship , but all that are heere present haue read thereof . whereunto the lady laurelia said . we neuer studied these your disputations , which in regarde that wee are women , are as farre vnmeet for vs , as the handling of vveapons . peter anthony replyed , i doe not speake from the purpose madam . i say that many yeares since , a question fell out betweene two noble young men of florence , to wit ; vvhether of them vvere the better gentleman , and of more ancient nobilitie in that citie : of the which , as euery man vvas affected , some men did prefer the one of them , some the other : finally , it was adiudged that the baronesi ( of vvhich house one of the gentlemen were ) vvere the most ancient gentlemen , not onely in florence , but in all the world . and hovv may that be credited ( quoth the lady aurelia ) or concluded by any firme argument ? mary , quoth he , it vvas confirmed with a most forcible reason . forsomuch as all they vvho were issued of the bloud of the baronesi , some of them had a very long & thin face , others extreamly broad , some a long nose , others very short ; this man one eie greater then his fellovve , that other one eie lovver set then another , & besides al this , their bodies very deformed , in respect of other men . which thing gaue the iudge good cause to thinke , that they vvere made by nature in that season , vvhen shee began first to frame men , and so they vvere the most ancient , and most noble : vvheras other men vvere made , when as she knevv better how to fashion them ; who being not so ancient , were not consequentlie so noble . so that madame , if you desire of tvvo yong men , or of many , to know which of them is the most noble , look which of them is most deformed , for he is surely descended of the most ancient stock , and so the most noble . truelie novv i remember ( quoth the lady aurelia ) to haue read the storie as you report it . this nevv and vvitty argument of nobilitie , with the good vvit of the iudge , was vvith a pleasant laughter recommended of the vvhole companie , vvhich vvhen it was ceased , possidonio began againe thus to followe on his discourse . seeing that my tales are of no force , as fabricio latelie saide , i know not truely hovv i should perswade my selfe , vppon what hee will laie any foundation , on the which hee may rest , nor with what reasons hee shall be able to vphold himselfe : in asmuch as if we speak of bloud , he cannot compare with me ; as a thing hee neuer came neere , as he will freelie confesse vnto me : if of learning , i will not begin againe to discourse any more therof : for i haue franklie spoken thereof what i think , and you may iudge as vvel as my selfe , whether it maketh for him , or not . it may be he groundeth himselfe vpon riches . surely it should be an open follie to think so , much more to speake it . if then hee bee not to bee compared vnto mee , neither in bloud , nor in riches ; from which two things , true and perfect nobilitie doth spring : and if learning bee of no moment in matter of nobilitie ; it may well appeare howe his iudgement is more then deceiued , and his will more then obstinate . and to the end that none of my reasons may goe without due proofe ; i will make this manifest vnto you likewise , to wit , that i surpasse him as farre in riches , as in nobilitie of bloud , as i haue heeretofore concluded . which of you gentlemen , are ignorant , that if the least part of my wealth were set on the one side , and all that he hath heaped on the other , that mine would not farre exceede the value of his ? which i doubt not but you will iudge superfluous for me to declare , beeing a matter cleere inough of it selfe . yet seeing we are entered therein i wil not forbeare to speake thereof . consider then ( worthy gentlemen ) that if the great wealth and substance which is so much desired of mortal men , be not vvholie vnited in me , yet at y e least i possesse the greater part of it . for if vve talke of statelie palaces , i am owner of such as cause those that doe behold them to wonder , and they are especiallie furnished with rich and pretious stuffe . if of pleasant gardens , i haue many of them , which doe abound in all that which is beautifull to the eie , and delightfull to behold . i will not reckon vp vnto you , the fruitful fields , nor the shadovvy woods , from the which al that which is necessarie for the life of man , may bee gathered ; for thanks be to god , i haue sufficient store of them : lesse will i tel you what flocks of sheep i possesse : for it may be if i should speake of them to others , i should not bee beleeued . i will likewise forbeare to declare of the gold and siluer , vvhich is alwaies in my treasorie : & finally i refuse to speake of many other particularities , vvhich my selfe am ashamed to rehearse , and that bicause they are as well knovvn to your selues , as to me . i thinke it likewise very superfluous , to open vnto you , what great feasts , rich apparel , pompe , chiualry , musicke , songes , and al other manner of pleasures , sports , and feastings , which matters are no lesse necessary then honorable , to personages truly honorable , as things vvhich do of thēselues , shew themselues , and are wel knowne of you to be continuallie obserued by me . now to the ende you may iudge aright , you ought to consider , what & how great , fabricio his vvealth is . scarce had possidonio giuen ende to the sound of his last words , when as fabricio moderately and suddenlie smiling , i knovv not vvhereat , and afterwardes shaking of his head , he spake in this sort . truely possidonio , thou dost this day lay a great burthen vppon thy shoulders ; if thou doost vndertake to shew others my wealth or goods ( as thou termest thē ) forsomuch as not only that smal time of the day which remaineth , no not a vvhole day would be sufficient to reckon them vp . wherfore passe on further , and toile not thy selfe about that , thou needest take no care for : for if thou wilt , i wil yeeld vnto thee , not only that thou art rich aboue any other , but that al the riches of the world be in thy possession . i am very certaine fabricio , ( quoth possidonio ) that the troth doth force thee to grant it me . wherfore this my proposition gent. is true , that i doe not onely farre surpasse him in bloud , but in riches likewise . and now vvilt thou yet haue the heart to vndertake to shevve vs y t thy nobilitie is greater ? for i possessing al the ornamentes that are to be desired of mortal men , i cannot be perswaded , that thou hast any courage left to speake any more therof . wherfore it would wel become thee to hold thy peace , and to yeeld , that thy reasons which are of no force may giue place to mine . it were then best for thee , not to charge so heauy a burthen vpon so vveake shoulders , for hauing to day without varying from the troth , alleadged so many vvorthy & excellent deeds of my ancestors , & made account of such great abundance of riches , wherhence the perfection of nobility doth spring , i would but know vvhat thou hast to say ? it may be thou wilt inform vs of the braue combats and valiant battels of thy ancestors ? or shew vs vvhat faire palaces & plesāt gardens thou hast ? wherfore if as thou deemst thou hast any sound iudgment in thee , indure not any more that this matter bee further discouered ; but hence forward pronounce that sentence against thy selfe , which we attend from the iudge : which being said , he paused a little , and then followed on his discourse in this sort . i would here end my discourse , faire ladies , were it not that i haue yet to say , that riches are an ornament and part of nobilitie , which if it were not a trouble vnto you , i would most willingly proue . it cannot be troublesome vnto vs ( quoth one of the gent. ) casting vp his eies into the skie , seeing that the sunne is as yet aboue the tops of the trees . this aunswere pleased likewise the rest of the company , to the end possidonio might follow on his discourse ; wherefore taking the speech vpon him , he continued in this manner . ought not we , gentlemen , to esteeme of the grace and ornament which riches do bring to nobility ? vnto the which it hapneth like as to a garden , which besides all other dainties , is bewtified with diuers flowers which nature doth bring foorth : which ornament the night by the darkenesse thereof dooth hinder : nay it perswadeth sometimes , that it is rather an obscure valley then a garden , and yet doth it stil remaine the same : it is then the cleerenesse of the day that maketh it shew faire and ioyfull . euen the very same may be said of riches : for if a man who is issued of noble bloud & high discent , wanteth them , it wholy darkneth the sunshine of his nobilitie : whence it proceedeth that hee is no more accounted noble , but one of the vulgar sort . we will then affirme , that riches necessarilie are the cause of all ornament of nobilitie . and this needeth not to seeme straunge vnto you , for experience ( from whence wee take all this assurance ) may make vs full certaine thereof : for if wee consider all those that are borne of any worthy family ( and as i am greeued to thinke thereon ) surely wee shall finde manie of them , who are constrained to maintaine life and soule togither ( as they say ) to plough the ground , or otherwise forced thorough contemptible pouertie , to serue other men , or els to auoid miserie , against their willes to take some other vnfit calling vpon them . and any man may of himselfe iudge the generall occasion , of so insupportable a mischiefe , which proceedeth from no other cause then for want of riches . but this euill should seeme but a small moment , if it were not cause of a farre greater : seeing that from thence doth spring blemish in bloud , diminishing of renowne , increase of infamie , a generall dishonor of a mans house , and finally not only losse of nobilitie , but therewithall of life it selfe . who wil afterwards presume anie more to call such a one by the title of a gentleman ? such a one i say , who for want of wealth and riches , hath derogated from nobilitie , in vsing some base trade and vocation ? but what shall i say more , he becommeth thereby in the end the fable of the world , and as a miseserable wretch , is pointed at by the common sort , and made a laughing stocke . doth it seeme vnto thee fabricio , that these thinges are worthy to be accompted of ? surely no , but they are rather to be preferred before a mans owne life . and this i onely speake in that which concerneth the commoditie of priuate persons : but what shall i say of generall or publicke estates ? wherof we see at this day so many goe to ruine , for there are verie few commonwealthes , or communalties , as we do terme them , which do not for want of that which is necessarie , sincke to the ground on euery side . howe manie palaces , howe many churches , howe manie cities , doe there dayly fall to the ground , as ruinous , which because the estate of men cannot sustaine them , cannot be vpheld ? what shall i say of this king , or of that prince , who being not of abilitie to resist the force of the enemie that assayleth them , for want of supply of money , do leese their kingdomes , their powers , and their crowne ? you should not heare of so manie ouerthrowes , you should not see so many slaughters : neyther shoulde you round about you feele so manie cruell actes , if they did abound in wealth : you may then henceforth iudge , whether riches be an ornament , and part of nobilitie , or not ? and like as when they faile , they are cause of great inconueniences ( yea of more then i haue this day acquainted you withal ) so likewise where they abound , they doe bring with them honour , and glory : for therof first of all doth arise a glorie farre exceeding al other , as that which proceedeth of liberalitie , which likewise giueth as great renowne and honour to a gentleman , as can possiblie be spoken of . and who is so ignorant that knoweth not , y t without wealth such a glorie of liberalitie , cannot shew forth it selfe , as doth issue there-from ? surely all men may wel perceiue it . doe not the ancient stocke and families , conserue themselues in their nobilitie , by meanes of riches ? doth not the nobilitie of y t man extend it selfe the more , who doth liberally giue helpe to his friends , or to any other that hath need of succour ? doth not their nobilitie increase , with their lordlike garments , their great & rich banquets , their great number of seruauntes , their faire horses , their pleasant gardens , and such other thinges ? thou canst not deny this fabricio . now tell me what man is he that can easily effect these thinges , if he want wealth ? surely it is a thing not to be beleeued . riches do driue all sadnes and sorrow from the mind : they expell all melancholie thoughtes from the imagination : they keepe the bodie from wearisome labour : they increase sweete friendship : they cause in man waighters of honor and renowne , and finally they are the occasion of all high fame and glorie . who is he then so void of reason , who hearing these things so conformable vnto trueth , doth not iudge riches , not onely to be an ornament of nobilitie , but an inseparable part therof ? which thing you may the better consider , by that which experience teacheth , seeing that no man can mount vp to anie degree of vertue , or nobilitie , but riches must open the gap , and make the way . who will denie , but that it had been impossible for so manie noble men and knights , as we daily see , to haue made any entry to vertu & nobility , but by their riches , much lesse to haue euer come either to y e end , or midst thereof ? o how many fine wits , & men of great vnderstanding haue there been , & are yet in the world , who employing their whole study in matters belōging to their house ( which they would not haue done , but haue takē another course , if they had wherwithal to maintain thē selues ) who haue ended their liues miserably , whereas nature had made them apt , & fit , to learn some worthy vertue ▪ if then riches are the beginning , & the middle of euerie laudable action , as i haue plainly made demonstration : it followeth necessarily , that this nobility which is conioyned with wealth , is y e soueraigne good , & consequently that he who is indued with this nobilitie , is chiefly noble : now fabricio , as i haue shewed heeretofore , being depriued heereof , his nobilitie whatsoeuer it is , is lame and faultie , and consequently , is not true nor absolute . but i will not nowe further enlarge my speech on his subiect , least in the end i should seeme troublesome vnto you : in asmuch as it is a matter more then manifest , that riches doe stead a man more in nobilitie , then i am able to speake of . wherefore in few wordes to end my discourse , and bring it to the last conclusion , it may clearely appeare vnto you , that true and perfit nobilitie doth consist in bloud , and riches : which seeing it is so , as i haue with no lesse strong then true reasons prooued a great while : it followeth that i am true , and prefectly noble , as one in whom , all those partes are sufficiently assembled , and consequently the ring giuen , doth belong vnto me , as to the most noble . possidonio hauing spoken in this maner , turned himselfe towardes nennio , proceeding farther in this wise . thou canst not , nennio , be of any other opinion : for thou knowest well what is fit to be done , and hast alwaies been pleased to followe the steps of a iust iudge , albeit there needed not a man of that wisedome to decide this question ( if any doubt ought to be made therof ) being of it selfe most apparant , and out of all doubt : for it had been an easie matter for a man of a slender capacitie , to decide this controuersie , especially hauing vnderstoode so manie reasons as haue been alleadged by me . amongst the which ( that i may now come to finall conclusion ) i remember yet this one ; i consider her estate from whom this variance did arise , to be noble , as is not vnknowne vnto you : i weigh likewise , that her gift is pretious , rich , and worthy a noble man. finally , i regard the wordes shee vttered in giuing it , her will being , that in remembrance of her , the most noble of vs two should possesse it . what occasion should mooue her to giue it vnto the most noble ? surely no other , but that shee was honourable , and the present likewise fit for a person honourable : i being then descended of a most noble stocke , and hauing all the partes which are required in a perfect noble man , and the same qualities being in her , it remaimaineth , that the rich iewell be giuen vnto me , and not to him who is not worthy of such a present . what contentment should she receiue , being a ladie of great honour , if one that were inferiour to her in calling , should remember her ? truely none at all ; because her will ( agreeable vnto reason ) was that she shuld be had in remembrance of a man of worth and of honor . let fabricio then leaue the pursuite thereof , and not suffer any more wordes to be made of the matter , nor stay ( if he regard his credite ) vntill sentence be giuen : for i doe certainly assure you , that if the gratious , and gentle ladie virginia , had giuen the ring vnto the most vnworthy , as shee gaue it to the most noble of vs both ( which was neuer her intent ) i would without any contradiction haue yeelded it vnto him , and without anie maner of question with mine owne hands , would haue hanged the same about his necke . let him not then be obstinate , or opiniatiue , to debate the matter when there is no cause , especiallie when nothing els then detriment , and shame can redound thereof . i will nowe nennio , make an end of my speech , and leaue the matter wholly in your handes , being certaine that you will determine thereof in such sort , as shal be conformable vnto iustice , and that you will in no wise oppose your selfe against the will of the noble ladie . here possidonio ended his discourse , which he continued all the while the sunne did shew vpon the earth , vntill the euening : wherefore wee being risen from our places , with a generall consent we referred fabricio his discourse vntill the next day , both because time woulde not haue sufficed , and it would likewise haue been ouer troublesome vnto vs , by reason of possidonio his long speech . thus we cōming forth of y e garden , some of the yong gentlemen and ladies , did highly commend that which possidonio had related vnto vs. but whether he had spoken wel or no , we being entred into the house , our horses ( according to our dayly custome ) were presently made readie . and we being mounted on them , two of our seruantes amongst y e rest , went along with vs : of the which one of them led two grayhoundes , and two braches in his hand , and the other carried a faulcon : as we were vpon the way , we had not rid past a mile , before we had viewe of a young phesant which did flie somewhat aloft : at the which letting the faulkon flie , extending her winges in the ayre , she wrought so high a pitch , y t you would haue thought she had touched y e skie , and as she made her point to stoupe , her head towardes the earth , and her traine towardes the skie , the phesant tooke a thicke hedge for couert , which was the cause that the faulcon leesing the sight thereof , seemed as it were ashamed thereat . immediatly one of the young men , let flie another faulcon , which hee carried on his fist , hauing first sprung the phesant from her couert , which as one afraid had not made any great flight , but the faulcon presently seized on it . in the meane time whilest we continued this hawking , the two grayhoundes , which followed vs were let run at two hares , and as we gallopped after , they being spent , yeelded to the mercie of the dogges . wherefore comming to their succour , as well contented with our prey , we returned home , because supper time drew neere . after that wee had a little taken breath , wee set our selues to supper with great delight , vnder the fresh shadowe : which being ended , the garden being faire , delightfull , and pleasant , there was not one of vs that was minded to depart from thence . wherfore , some of vs being risen from the table , went to sport our selues in the allies : others sitting still , plaied at chesse , and at tables , so long as they were permitted by day light . afterwards , we sate all togither on the thin grasse , which was verie coole , passing the time in pleasant and merrie talke , vntil it seemed a fit houre to go to bed . wherfore euerie one rising , went to take his ordinarie rest . the second booke . the ancient poets by their fables doe sette down , that iupiter being at the mariage of peleus inuited all the gods and goddesses thither , except eris the goddesse of discord ; whereat she being greeuously offended , with great industrie she framed y e golden apple , and disdainfullie threw it on the table , where pallas , iuno , and venus were set , round about the which was written , let this braue and rich apple be giuen to the fairest . from hence ( because each of the goddesses did deeme her selfe , to be both faire and gracious ) did arise a sudden quarrell . iupiter would not determine which of them should haue this guift , the one being both his sister and his wife , the other two his daughters : but sent them to receiue their iudgement of paris the sonne of priam , who to the end he might giue a right sentence , gaue commandement that they should seuerally the one after the other , present themselues naked before him . pallas shewing hir selfe , promised him that if hee did iudge that she was the fairest ; she would make him the onely famous man for learning in the world : iune , the most rich : and venus offered him the enioying of the fairest ladie in the world : in regard of which promise , he gaue hir the golden apple , from whence afterwards did proceed the destruction of troy. now let vs consider what fruit may be gathered by the shadowe of fables , especially of this which i euen now recited . for indeed vnder those vailes we may receiue no lesse pleasant then profitable instruction . for somuch as by this fiction , the poets doe meane this , that in the procreation of man , the celestiall bodies do meet togither , and according to their diuers powers , doe diuersly bring forth sundry effectes in our bodies . into the which discord doth not enter , least the bodie alreadie created should wholie perish . howbeit after that man is once framed , and that he hath attained to that age , that hee beginneth nowe to discourse within himselfe , what kinde of life hee were best to follovve as the most noble in account amongst men : whether that which is grounded vppon knowledge , which the philosophers were wont to cal a contemplatiue kind of life : or otherwise , y t which guideth a man that addicteth himself only to worldly matters , which they tearme actiue : or else that which consisteth wholy in pleasure , which they name delightfull . then straightvvaie discord entreth : of which three sortes of liues , soueraine iupiter will not giue sentence which is the best , least that in approuing the one , he should condemne the other two ; and so the life of man should rather be constrained then free , but hee leaueth them to the iudgement of man , to the end that he may as pleaseth him , tie himselfe to that kind of life that shall best like him ; it may be , shewing vs thereby , the free choice which is granted to vs by him . of the which notvvithstanding he that is caried away to follow the delightfull kind of life , doth bring vnto him selfe vnspeakeable detriment . if then a man in his young yeares , did enter into consideration of these three maner of liues , and by reason did discourse which of them were the most noble , and did tie himselfe thereto : i doubt not , in that small number of yeares we haue to liue , but we should take a farre better course , and that the life of mortall men should be more pleasing & accepted before god , and more setled and prosperous for men : wheras now we see the greater part , to sinke and drowne themselues , making choice of that which is worst . for if we enter into a generall consideration of all men liuing , truelie we shall finde the number of those to be verie small , who followe the contemplatiue life , as more noble then the other ; but verye manie who with an ardent desire do embrace , either the actiue , or delightful : which tvvo are so much lesse vvorthy then the other as the body is lesse noble then the minde . of vvhich two partes nature hath framed man , the one being subiect to corruption , the other eternallie dureable . these kind of men see not ( as hauing their invvard eies vailed ) how much more worthy desert it is , to follovve those thinges that are incorruptible , then in vain to labour after the pleasure of the flesh , which is but ( as it were ) of a daies continuance . for vvhich cause , the custome of those that liue in that sort , is greatly to bee blamed , seeing that man doth wholie take delight in those thinges ( as if it were a naturall matter ) which bring him intollerable losse , albeit at the first shevv they seeme pleasant and delightfull to the body . vvhich opinion possidonio did wholy leane vnto yesterday , for grounding himselfe vppon those tvvo kinds of life , he did sufficiently set forth the svveetnesse that is felte in them . but fabricio , farre differing from him in iudgement , vvill this daye endeuour himselfe to shevv , that the contrarie therof is the troth , as he who follovving a contemplatiue kind of life , doth hold this as most certaine , that true and perfect nobilitie , doth consist in the vertues of the minde . but to the ende that i seeme not my selfe , to speake that for him , which he determineth to relate , i intend hencefoorth to giue place to his ovvne words . euery starre was now hidden in the skie , fearing the cleere light which the sunne did more and more spread vpon the earth , vvhen as vve being risen to exercise our bodies , we mounted on horsebacke to take the freshe ayre , and as our discourse led vs from one matter to another , in the end we perceiued that vve had rid further then we determined : wherefore turning back , wee pased softly homevvards ; where the tables were couered for dinner : and after wee had first walked a turn or two in the garden , in the end we placed our selues at the table : and after that wee had satisfied hunger , and sate a while , we marched to that place where possidonio discoursed the day before , to heare what fabricio had this day to speake for himselfe , who beeing fresh and lustie hauing called vs al together , we compassed him round about . and when he perceiued we vvere all in a readinesse , and that we were silent , he gaue with great courage , this beginning vnto his speech . most worthy gentlemen , silence should ( in my opinion ) hereafter better become me , if i would regarde the words which possidonio vttered yesterday , both at the beginning and likewise at the end of his long genealogie ; or else it were best for me to seeke some matter more doubtfull then that hee discoursed of . which i vvould willingly doe , if he had made shew of his ovvne nobilitie , and not other mens : or spoken of any thing else , then of the greatnesse of his statelie palaces , and of the aboundance of his great wealth . wherefore to the end i may declare vnto you , how far forth these things make for nobilitie ; nay rather howe farre they are opposite , and cleane contrarie thereunto : i had not need to be dumbe to day : but i will rather speake that ( without passing the limited bounds ) which shall come first into my thought , and i shall iudge to be true : and , as i thinke , i shal perchance open those thinges vnto you , which it may be , were neuer vttered by any other , concerning true , and perfect nobilitie . now our question being strange , and no man ( as i beleeue ) hauing so perfectlie discoursed thereof , i hope you will giue attentiue eare vnto me : which if you doe ( as i doubt not but you will ) strength will settle in my heart , from the which my minde will take incouragement , my memory become constant , my wil more readie , & my voice more apt to speake . the cleernesse of possidonio his bloud ( worthy gentlemen ) is so great , by that which hee hath in many words long debated , that considering vvhich is y e most noble of vs tvvo , there is no doubt , but he is more worthy than my selfe , and that our controuersie , is rather superfluous , then necessary . but forsomuch as vndoubtedlie i hold the question to be superfluous and out of doubt , as this is , vvhether a resonable creature be more noble then a brute beast ; or a man , more noble & more perfect then god : i will not forbeare to declare vnto you hovv weake his vveapons are , and to shevve you plainly the slightnesse of his words , that you may know by degrees , into vvhat manifest error he is vnaduisedlie fallen . wherefore it lying vppon me this daie to persuade you , that true and perfect nobilitie in man consisteth not in bloud ( for it should bee a meere follie to thinke it , much more to speake it ) but in the mind , and consequentlie that this nobilitie which consisteth in me , because it proceedeth from the minde , is true and perfect ; it were first expedient for me to alleadge some of my reasons , and afterwardes in answering his arguments , to rid my selfe cleane from them . but you shal holde me excused if i take a contrary course , for vpon good ground i wil first of all begin with the last , that i may the sooner dispatch the matter , and afterwards by sound argumentes strengthen my side the more . possidonio yesterday , by the conclusion of his discourse intended , that true and perfect nobilitie is deriued from bloud , and riches , and for the sure grounding of this his conclusion , in arguing he let fly many dartes and arrowes , with which he had thought to haue giuen me my deathes wound : but surely they were all so weake , that with one onely blovv ( if so it vvere that i intended not particularlie to answere to euerie point ) you shall see thē fal presentlie to y e ground : yea some of them will sharpely pierce himselfe , as by his first argument i will manifestly proue vnto you . for in the verie entry of his discourse , hee going about to shew what this nobilitie is ; he affirmed , that that was true nobilitie , which is left by the auncestors to the successours : and going about to prooue that hee was noble , hee saide , that his predecessours had beene braue and valiant men at armes , and vvell thought of , of the kinges whom they had serued : but i hearde no word that they themselues were descended of any noble stocke ( whereby if you doe well weigh the matter ) you may perceiue the vncertainty of his speech : forsomuch as he did then affirme , the nobility of his auncestors to consist , not in bloud as hee said , but in actes of magnanimitie , and in vertue , which is easie to bee credited , as that which proceedeth from the vertues of the mind . i say it is a foolish thinge to hold , that nobilitie is left vs by our ancestors , for if that were true , it should necessarilie follovve , either that we should be all noble , or else not one at all ; seeing that in perfect nobilitie , if we ought to haue consideration of bloud , as thou saiest possidonio , we shall surely finde ( if we doe not flie from the true opinion of naturalistes , and doe giue credit to that which is approued ) that one man onely vvas the common predecessor of all men which haue bin born , vntill this day , and are hereafter to come into y e vvorld , whose name vvas adam . i reason then thus ( if so be that thy opinion dooth hold any thing of the troth ) that if adam was noble , why then vve are all noble , as all they shal bee likevvise who are to come into the world : but if hee were ignoble , and base , we are so likewise , and so by consequent , i am in like estate of nobilitie , or basenesse of birth , as thou art . for euen as the paine of his offence , vvhich was death , extendeth it selfe euen vnto vs , and shall likewise stretch to as many as euer shall be borne hereafter ; euen so in like manner , his nobilitie , or basenesse , ought to extend it selfe to all his posteritie . doost thou thinke possidonio that this is a good consequent ? surely i beleeue so . wherefore novv thou mayst perceiue , how much nature , whereon yesterday thou diddest ground thy self for the most part , dooth make for this thy nobilitie ; in asmuch as it hath brought vs al into the world after one sort , and there is no distinction at all in nature ; whereof ( if i doe call it to minde before i haue ended my discourse ) i will speake somewhat , but now let vs proceed further . how true is this other reason , that nobilitie is leste as an hereditarie guift ? surely , when as i do enter into imagination of such foolish toyes , i cannot holde my selfe from laughter . for who is there amongst you that did euer see , that nobilitie was lefte by will vnto mens children , as though it were framed of some materiall thing , which might by the last testament be left vnto them , as riches are , which is surely a ridiculous thing ? neither is it of that qualitie as other thinges are , which albeit they be not palpable , yet are they left vnto vs as hereditarie : and surely thou mayest seeke long enough in thy grandfathers willes , before thou shouldest be able to finde any such nobilitie left thee by any of them . of what power this thy other argument ( wherin y u intendest , that no better instrument , nor more perfect meanes is giuen vs by nature , by which the nobility of man is long conserued , then children and such as doe descend of them ) is sufficiently manifest of it selfe . for if that did proceed according vnto troth : why diddest thou then set the tvvo scipios as an example vnto vs ? vvhat is novv become of their posteritie ? where are their successors ? surely they are already cleane worne out . but forsomuch as their nobilitie did not consist in bloud , but in the vertues of the minde , therefore their glorious worthinesse and lawdable renowme is not dead , nor will euer be extinguished in their posterity . hovv many are there who are dead without children , vvhose glory and renowne dooth neuerthelesse liue vntill this day ? i cannot reckon vp the great number of them . we ought not then to consider in true nobilitie , as thou sayst , eyther the predecessors or successors , but only the vertue of man , vvhich causeth him to liue eternally , as we may wel say of the scipios , & other worthy emperors . now in proceeding farther , thou wentest about to prooue , that in considering the operations of nature , that like as the bloud is infused in the birth of children , euen so is nobilitie . of what waight that is , i leaue thee to consider , as a matter that hath not trueth in it : from whence that which hath been said alreadie , may be againe auerred , to wit , that wee being all descended of adam our first father , if his bloud was noble , this his nobilitie was by him infused into al his children , and so from hand to hand into all his posteritie . thou diddest adde hereunto , that we doe not only regard the bloud , but the countenances and lineaments of the parentes in their children . in trueth i cannot imagine to what purpose thou doest vtter so many wordes in vaine . for albeit this be true , that the verie countenance and lineaments of the auncestors remaine with their posteritie : doth that prooue their nobilitie , and greatnesse of courage ? no truely : for it consisteth in the vertues of the mind , whither the sight of our outward eies cannot pierce , and not in the lineamentes of the bodie , except you will say that one member is more noble then the other , which question at this time we are not to dispute of . thou wentest about to make vs beleeue likewise , that not onely the members , but euen the maners , and the prowesse of parentes , most commonly is transfused into the children . surely possidonio , i affirme that those are noble , who doe follow the good partes , and generositie of their ancestors , as the scipios did , which may serue as the onely example in the world for vertue and value . but we doe not esteeme those to be noble , who descending of true and perfit noble men , doe leade a loose and wicked life : as afterwards the sonne of scipio of afrique did : who for his dissolute liuing , being in y e field called campus martius , with his white gowne , al spotted with vices , to demand the pretorship of the people : he had neuer obtained it , had it not been thorow the fauour of cicereus in times past , his fathers chauncellor : albeit that afterwardes his parents considering , that they might reape dishonour and reproch thereby , they laid a blocke in his way , that hee neuer attained to any such dignitie , and did forcibly take the ring from his finger , wherein his fathers picture was ingrauen , deeming him vnworthy , to be partaker of his fathers glorie , and nobilite : so that afterwardes he was accompted amongst men ignoble . what honour was the son of q. fab. the great , worthie of , from whom q. pompeius ( because he liued a ruffian like life ) tooke away the libertie to spend his own goods freely ? surely none at all . it stoode him in no steede , that his father had beene the generall of the romaine armies . what nobilitie did the sonne of clodius deserue , who giuing himself ouer to the loue of a common woman , leade his life in that sorte , that hee was worthy of all shame , and dishonour ? the auncient nobilitie of his father , was of no importance vnto him . now thou mayst see possidonio , how well thou knowest what power cōsisteth in bloud , touching y e nobilitie of man , which that y u mightest exalt vnto the skies , thou wert not ashamed to compare it , with the nobilitie of horses , dogges , and other thinges . you may nowe perceiue gentlemen what a wonderfull thing possidonio his nobilitie is , seeing that it is equall to the nobilitie of beastes . diddest thou thinke possidonio , therewithall to get the victorie of me ? are these the strong weapons , against the which no force coulde preuaile , as thou diddest make vs beleeue ? truely amongst dogges we doe not seeke out the most noble , but the best and most valorous : and so likewise of horses and other things , as ( agreeable to the matter ) thou diddest reckon vp . then their nobilitie , doth not consist in seede as thou saiest , but in the goodnesse and worthinesse of them . fabricio gathered his strength togither , as if he had been carefull howe hee should haue proceeded , when as the ladie laura , who had with great attention marked his words , addressing her speech vnto him , said after this maner . i woulde vvillingly vnderstand fabricio , howe thou wilt aunswere that whiche hee affirmed , that the thing ingendred according vnto nature , doth not onely receiue of the ingenderer , his essence or being , but his qualities in like sorte , and all that which followeth the essence , concluding thereby that a noble man cannot ingender anie thing else then an honourable personage , whiche i did denie . i will not madame ( quoth fabricio ) make anie other aunswere thereto , then that which was alleadged by you , to wit , that this qualitie , to become noble , may eyther be , or not be : and it followeth not of necessitie , if the father be a noble man , that the sonne be likewise noble . yea but ( quoth the ladie laura ) hee replied i knowe not what , by which it seemed vnto mee , that that which i had affirmed , could hardly be concluded . yes right well ( quoth fabricio ) for albeit he argued , that like as white , or blacke is transfused into the children , euen so is nobilitie . i saie that his similitude is not worth a rushe : in asmuch as blacknesse , or whitenesse , are demonstratiue dispositions of the body ; but nobilitie is a hidden propertie of the minde , in regard y t it proceedeth of vertue : so that a painter may by arte easily alter either the whitenesse or blacknesse of man : but he can neuer paint forth with his pensill , the nobilitie of the minde , as being a thing not subiect vnto the sight of bodily eyes . like as it happeneth with fire , the flames whereof may well be drawne , but the heate can not in any wise be painted . wherefore i say , it is no good conclusiō , that what so giueth the essence , or being , giueth likewise that which followeth the essence , which holdeth true concerning the disposition of the bodie , but not of the qualities of the minde . do we not see commonly diuers parentes , who for the most part doe ingender children , of the which some one prooueth apt to learne vertue , and to be instructed in good maners , and another prone to followe all maner of vice ? you see then madame , what diuersities doe proceede of these resemblances , which were well vnderstoode by you maister iohn francisco . wherefore this tale that you inserted in the middest of possidonio his discourse , ought to breede no woonder : for albeit it happen in some women , as you gaue vs yesterday to vnderstand , you may find the clean contrary in others . and whereas the birth of romulus , and remus cannot be hidden : i say m. dominico , that their value , and vertue did manifest their nobilitie , and not the temper of their bodies . you may nowe madame discouer his follies , which thou thy selfe possidonio couldest not discerne , when as thou wentest about to perswade vs , that man doth receiue from the ingenderer the qualities of the minde . but what great follie is this ? wherefore diddest thou not as well affirme , that a holy personage , or a man well seene in naturall causes , or experienced in diuinitie , could not ingender any other , then a sainct , a good naturaliste , or a diuine ; all which are qualities consisting in the minde ? which if it shoulde come to passe , the worlde should be well replenished with holinesse , with wisedome , with experience , and thou shouldest then be one of that number . but as that cannot happen , so likewise i say , that it cannot follow , that one noble man , doth engender a noble childe , nobilitie being a qualitie of the minde , euen as wisedom , experience , and other vertues of like sorte are . and nowe how canst thou haue the heart to expect the victorie , concerning the controuersie in question , seeing i haue shewed by degrees , thy manifest errours ? but let vs yet proceede to thy other reasons , against which i need not take any stronger weapons , they being as weake as the other i haue ouerthrowne . albeit that this seemeth to carrie some force with it , which we see is commonly vsed in all partes of the world , that such as are borne of noble parents , are so held : if thou haddest spoken otherwise , and said in steede of this , they are noble men , they are in deede called so , it had not been amisse . for it is true , and it cannot any waies bee denied , that whosoeuer is descended of noble bloud , wee call him a noble man ; but generallie i denie this to containe a trueth . tell me i pray thee , if he that is borne of a christian , be straightwaies a christian ? surely no. but euen as it is not onely necessary for him that intendeth to be a right and true christian , that by birth hee doe descend of christian parentes , but likewise that hee receiue baptisme , and keep the commandements of christ : so it is not sufficient for a noble man , to come of noble bloud , as a thing that maketh little or nothing in matter of nobilitie : but that he obserue that which is requisite for the attaining of perfit nobilitie , to wit , that hee become noble thorough the vertues of the minde . besides that , i might adde hereunto , that this thy consideration is farre from the purpose , in asmuch as the prize was not giuen to him that shoulde onelie beare the name , but to him that should in effect be the most noble of vs two . albeit that thou mightest reply hereunto possidonio , as thou hast alreadie affirmed , that if they that descend of noble men were not noble , then they should not enioy the same priuiledges that noble men doe . wherevnto i woulde aunswere , that the bad custome of men , therein is much to be blamed : forasmuch as they doe not imploy their discourse to that , whereby the trueth may be made manifest , but onelie giuing credite to the bare name , they doe argue in such maner : so that if we turne our back to the trueth , and giue our minds to follow the lying opinion of the rude vulgar sorte , which for the most part , doe fall into great errors , thy saying then shall be true . thou seest now possidonio , of what force thy argumentes are . but i will passe ouer to the rest , and come vnto that , by which thou diddest seeke to prooue , that if the infamie of a man , be sufficient to blemish his whole stocke , that the glorie and worthinesse therof ought by great reason , extend it selfe to all his posteritie : whereupon thou diddest consequently inferre that thy auncestors being noble , thou must needes be so . although that this reason seeme apparent ; yet in answering therunto , i might say ( and therewithall if i list not perticularly to passe thorow the rest of the reasons , resist whatsoeuer thou hast alleadged ) that we do not now debate of the nobilitie of our ancestors , but we are to prooue which of vs two is the most noble , and so by consequent shew what our nobilitie is , & not set forth the honor of other men . and herein i will yeeld vnto thee , that if we were both equall in nobilitie of the minde , that perhaps in regard of the antiquitie of thy predecessors , y u mightest be more noble then my selfe . but iudge nowe what these high praises , and commendations of thy predecessors doe auaile thee , and to what great purpose they were yesterday alleaged by thee ? for thou diddest with no lesse readinesse , dexteritie , and good grace recount them , then they who from the top of some high towre doe with a loud voice tell the wonderful miracles of auncient holy fathers , or from some scaffold in the market place recite out of the old romanes , the cruell warres of the giantes , or the furious loue of some orlando . but to let that passe , how well this thy glorious speech did become thee , i will proceed to this argument , where thou diddest say , that like as the honour of the sonne , did extend to the father , much more did the fathers glorie stretch vnto his children . it is true possidonio , yet it followeth not , that if the sonne by his owne vertues be made noble , that the father is anie way partaker thereof , or made noble thereby : for if the sonne were verie expert in feates of armes , or skilfull in matter of learning , surely hee should want his senses that woulde affirme , that the father did participate eyther in the experience of the arte militarie , or in science with his sonne , they both beeing giftes of the minde , wherein as i haue often times sayde , true and perfit nobilitie consisteth : from the whiche , it can verie hardlie bee transferred from one bodie to an other , euen as thou diddest vainly perswade thy selfe . these are thy sophisticate reasons possidonio , which being resisted by the trueth , thou maiest perceiue what force they are of . fabricio hauing hitherunto continued his speech , he pawsed a while , and afterwardes proceeded in this maner . worthy gent. m. peter anthonie knowing as well as my selfe the slendernesse of possidonio his argumentes , which he heaped the one on the others head , he could not withhold from taking part with him , and amongst other things to alleadge this reason in his behalfe : that forasmuch as amongst the lawes of the romains , there was one , which commanded y t the image of euery worthy knight , shoulde be made and set in some publicke place , which in festing maner , they did with great iolitie visite . we may argue , and say , that if the romaines did owe such honour vnto images , much more was due vnto the liuing children , because they were but an imitation of nature , whereas nature her selfe was apparent in the children . now if this your reason ( m. peter anthonie ) had as much force in it , as it sheweth ; i doubt not but it would appale me , and giue so great courage vnto possidonio , that you might easilie persuade him , he were wel worthy to haue one of these images erected for him . and although that i shoulde frame no other answere therunto , then i did to the last , yet shuld i be still vpon a sure ground . neuerthelesse , i wil vse such reasons in disproofe therof , as i did to y e former . for if thou saiest that their children whose images are erected to y e common view of al men , do participat with their fathers vertues ; then i do affirm that thy allegation is true : but if therein they differ , then this their nobilitie , and reputation is not transferred to them . so likewise if the children of those who were represented by those images , had beene worthy of such honour , surely the romanes , who wanted no good counsell , would willinglie haue granted it : it followeth then that the honour was not done to the image , whether it were of marble , or mettall , but to the vvorthy memorie of his vertues , whose lineaments the image did liuely set forth , which could not be wel executed in y e person of their child , being made in regard of their ovvne proper vertue , and not in respect of any thing belōging to another . besides that , there are and haue , beene diuers persons , who being descended of valorous and vvorthie parentes , haue vvith shame darkened their brightnesse , as we haue already affirmed . and had it bin reasonable that the wise romans , should haue honoured those in such a manner , in regard of their auncestors ? surely no. and what wouldest thou say possidonio , if these men should lauishlie recken vp the worthy deeds of their predecessors , or if they should publikely shevv their images ? wouldst thou indeed iudge them to bee noblemen ? god forbid , nay so much more base ought they to be deemed , that they hauing before their eyes the troden pathes , which doe manifestly shewe them the waie to become noble , they take a cleane contrarie course . what doth then the worthinesse of bloud preuaile , when as it is obscured by dishonest conditions ? and vvhat annoyance dooth the basenesse of bloud bring , when it is honoured by noble vertues ? surely , none at all . for in perfect nobilitie , the obscurenesse , or worthinesse of bloud is not to be considered . but let vs proceed further : thou diddest enter into the gouernment of cities , and the administration of diuine offices , saying that they were noble : if i knew that this thy argument made any thing to the purpose , i would willinglie answer it , as i haue doone the rest ; but i will say nothing herein , but that thou thy selfe vnderstandest not , what thou diddest say : for let vs yeeld it to be true ; what doth followe thereof ? art thou i pray thee any of those gouernours ? thou seest possidonio , how easelie thy strong reasons are resisted . and art thou ignorant , that many men oftentimes doe come to the degree of a cardinall , or of a bishop , who haue no great store of gold in their cofers ? in former age there vvas no regard had , neither of bloud , as thou wouldest haue it , nor of gold or siluer , but vnto a man adorned with vertue , whose life deserued praise . as it fell out on a time in the consistorie of cardinals , whoe beeing assembled in the conclaue , to chuse a newe pope in his roome that was dead , tvvo were in election to be preferred to that dignitie , the one of them being descended of royall bloud , the other of a meane familie . many of the cardinals , in regarde of the noble descent of the one , would aduance him vnto the popedome : and many in respect of the deserts and holie life of the other , desired to place him in that high estate , the one company of cardinals opposing themselues against the other . the latter alleadging , that they sought to establish and create the successour of peter , a preacher , the son of a smith , not the sonne of cesar augustus . in the end , they hauing no respect to the worthines of bloud , but to the perfection of both their liues , the last for his soueraigne vertues ( they contemning the great nobilitie of the other ) attained to the popedome . moyses did the like , who might haue left his children the principalitie and dignitie , but he made choice of iosua , vvho was not of his bloud , to denote and signifie thereby , that it is not bloud , but the life of man that is to be considered therein . of which opinion amongst others , was the emperour elius , who would not permit , that his sonne should bee chosen emperour after him : saying that the empire did demaunde a manne worthie thereof , and not bloud . vertue then , and not nobilitie of bloud , maketh a man of desert . how manie popes haue there beene , who haue not beene of any noble stocke , but issued of verie poore parentes : as felix the thirde , whose father was a priest of a base linage : gelasius , agapites , theodorus , siluerius , and many others attained vnto the popedome , albeit they were descended of a base stocke . yet was not their bloud so obscure , but their vertue of as great woorth , which made them merite so high a dignitie . and there hath not beene onelie popes borne of verie meane parentes , but likewise kinges and emperors , and other valiant captaines . tullius hostilius was borne of lovve degree , who in his young yeares was a shepheard , and was afterwards aduaunced to the gouernement of the romaine empire , and vvas the third king of the romaines . tarquinius priscus was the sonne of demaratus , a marchant banished out of corinth his natiue countrie , & notwithstanding he became the fift king of the romans . seruius tullius , who was borne in most base estate of seruitude , was the sixt king of the romaines . dioclesian dalmat . borne in salone , of a poore stocke , became emperor of rome . likwise maximinus the emperour , borne in thracia , did descend of very meane parents . martius rutilius was by bloud a plebeian ( that is one of the common people ) and yet created consull fiue times , he triumphed ouer the falisqui . cornelius cossus was also by birth a plebeian , hee manfullie killed laertes tolomeus duke of the fidenati , whose riches and spoiles he consecrated to iupiter feretrian at rome , obtaining therein the second place , he triūphed also ouer many nations . gneius flauius , his father was a bondman , and yet he was created pretor at rome . terentius varro , and m. perpennus consuls , lucius volumnus , and mamercus dictators . q. publius philon , pretor , all these did spring of meane parentes . but their apparant vertue , and singular value vvas so great , that thereby they gaue great ayde vnto the romaine common wealth . the soueraigne orator demosthenes amongst the grecians , was borne of one by occupation a cutler , scarce knowne amongst men : and euripides that most famous poet , his mother was an hearbe wife . socrates who was by the iudgement of apollo , the wisest man in the vvorld , drevv his beginning from a mason . xenophon was borne in archeas , a village by athens , of one grillus of base estate . but the obscurenesse of their bloud , and of infinite others which i might rehearse vnto you , haue lightened the world , and exalted their name euen to the skies . of the vvhich some of them by force of armes , others by vertue of the mind , are become famous and honourable . you may by this well discerne , if a plebeian , or one borne of base estate , may arise to great nobilitie and renovvne , and iudge , whether the nobilitie of bloud , or the vertue of the mind be required in those that beare publike offices . here maister iohn francisco , not permitting fabricio to passe any further , said vnto him after this maner . i doe not thinke fabricio , that that which thou hast answered vnto possidonio his two former arguments , doth wholie confute them ; seeing that hee did not ground himselfe in such extremitie , as it seemeth thou takest it : for if the vertues of children didde equall their fathers perfections , they should likewise deserue to haue images erected for them , not if they were altogither vnequall and contrarie vnto them , which neither he , nor i , did make any doubt of , as thou didst affirme of the sons of q. fabius , and of claudius , which was no part of our meaning . neither shouldest thou consider these tvvo so great extreamities , but take the meane betweene them , and then perhaps we may vnderstand the troth of that which he said , to wit , that they y t do descend of noble men , ought to be had in great estimation , & consequently be partakers of the nobilitie of their parents : whereby he meant ( and that not indirectly ) to inferre , that for the remembrance of their auncestors , the gouernment of cities and diuine offices , were deseruedlie bestowed vpon them . and although that a bishop or any other , be well stored with gold , doe not wee see them oftentimes likewise descēded of a noble house ? maister iohn frācisco paused here , when as fabricio answered immediatly . i denie not , but that in such manner of men of the middle sort , there is some part of nobilitie or reputation , which proceedeth from their auncestors , but i intending to proue , what true and perfect nobilitie vvas , that vvhich i affirmed vnto you may bee well concluded : for these of the middle sort thou talkest of , are not true and perfect noble men , but such as doe represent the nobilitie of others : and what difference there is betweene that which is troth , and that which doth onlie represent it , there is none of you but may easilie vnderstand . as touching the other point wherin thou saist , that y e most part of bishops & cardinals , are of noble descent : you know right welmaister iohn francisco , that the sonne of god made no scruple , to chuse s. peter who was come but of meane parentage , and himselfe a simple fisher : neither did he of his infinite goodnesse disdain to receiue into the apostleship men of base estate , as most part of the apostles were , who were worthy of heauenly grace , as a reward of their holie life , and constant faith . to how many miserable men , to how many poore soules , to how many beggers , hath the sonne of god vouchsafed to giue the kingdom of heauen ? trulie honour of bloud , is not considered therein , but nobilitie of maners , and purenesse of faith : for vvith god we are all equal , and there is no difference of persons before him , but in asmuch as one excelleth another in goodnesse , and aswell the noble man as the begger shal be iudged , whether he be righteous or a sinner . it is then the life of man , adorned with good conditions , and with loyall faith , which doth conioin vs with god ; and a depraued life which doth separate vs from him , and not the nobilitie of bloud , or the worthines of our progenitors . wherefore if you rest satisfied herewith , i will with your good leaue returne to my former enterprise . you haue thorowly satisfied me ( quoth maister iohn francisco ) and therefore you may hold on your course , and take what leisure you list . fabricio , gaue this further entrance into his discourse , if my memorie serue me well possidonio , vnto thy former reasons thou diddest adde , that with popes , emperors and kinges , he which is of noble bloud taketh the chiefe place , and is honoured more then others . suppose the case that this were true , as it is not , yet art not thou any of them . but where dost thou finde , that he which is borne of noble bloud , hath such preheminēce ? truely there is no such matter . surely the church of christ , should shine maruellously , if it were onelie lightened with the beams of noble men , & empires shuld be well maintained , and kingdomes become better , if they were gouerned by their counsell . thou art deceiued possidonio , for i say not , if men of noble bloud , but such as are excellent in vertue , & experienced in knowledge , did depart and leaue the seruice of princes , there would be no gouernment at all . who do rule , who do manage , who doe maintain the world , but wise men , and such as are indued with wisdome , whether they be noble by bloud , or of meane birth ? these haue y e chiefest places , these men are honoured , and not men nobly borne , void of vertue , and depriued of knowledge . now doe i returne to you maister dominico , who to strengthen possidonio his weake side with a subtil maner of argumēt , you reasoned , that if this nobility of bloud , was so highly esteemed of the son of god , man incarnate here on earth , in asmuch as he was borne of the virgin mary , who descended of the royall stocke of k. dauid , how much more ought it to be affected , & reuerenced of vs : i am certain that you haue no such beleefe , as hee which knovveth the troth , as well as the best of vs ; but did you not alledge that which came into your minde in fauour of possidonio , rather to anger the lady camilla , who did still threaten you , that you might be put to silence , then in any intention you had to gainesay me ? i verilie beleeue it . and in troth likewise , if i were onely to satisfie you , i vvould passe it ouer with silence , as a matter superfluous : but because i intend to confirme possidonio his beleefe , and these ladies , i say that the lord of heauen , did not choose the virgine mary to be his mother , only bicause shee was borne of the royall stocke of king dauid , but in regard of the soueraigne excellencie of hir vertues , of her humilitie , and patience . for what lady was there euer so graced of god , as to be saluted by the spirit of an angell , and called sul of grace , blessed , and exalted aboue all other women , except the most glorious virgine mary ? which she may thanke her humilitie and purenesse of heart for , and not her nobilitie onely . you may see then , that the nobility of mary was not considered of god , but her humilitie and sinceritie of spirit . you did afterwards maister dominico following on your matter , tel vs the manifest folly of herode ascalonita , wherunto i neede not answere any thing else , but that some madnes entred into his minde , in such sorte to execute his foolish fantasie . what shal i say vnto you concerning the temeritie of equitius , and the presumption of others , alledaged by you , who being descended of base bloud , did seeke to ennoble themselues in the worthy families of other men ? surely if you consider their end , you shall finde , that they receiued condigne punishment for their foolish conceit , some of them being banished , others dying in prison , others hanged , as a recompence of their vnaduised enterprise . wherfore we ought not to sette their follies before vs as examples to followe . besides , they sought not how to ennoble themselues , as you affirme , but to succeed in the kingdome & patrimonie of those , whose successours coulourably they pretended themselues to be . but why did you not bring him for an example , who was more familiar with god then any other mortal man , who did not vaunt himselfe , that he was descended of the bloud royal , but did deny that he was born of pharao his daughter ; desiring rather to be persecuted , as one of the people of god , then to take vpon him the glory of the royall bloud , and to possesse the riches of egypt ? and gordius the father of midas , who is reported to be the richest king that euer was , who from the estate of a husbandman , became king of phrigia , & between the limites of the lesser , and the greater asia , built a citie called gordium , where he consecrated a temple to iupiter , in the which not being ashamed of his obscure birth , neither forgetting his base calling , he offered the plough sharde , which manie times hee had tilled the ground withall , and the harneis hee was woont to couple his oxen togither to the yoke , to the end that in all ages it might be manifest to all men , what vocation he had been of : such examples ought in deed to be recommended vnto vs , & not those recited by you . how weake then ( worthy gent. ) the reasons are , that possidonio yesterday with many wordes set forth , you may alreadie partly iudge : as i will better approoue vnto you by the sequele of my discourse . forasmuch as speaking of nobilitie , he was forced to descend vnto vertue , whence true and perfit nobilitie is deriued , whereof he discoursed i know not what , but hee made such large flightes a farre off , as the first faulcon did yesternight about the phesant : the reason was , because he perceiued that the cleere light therof did ouermuch bleare his eies . wherefore , like as the warrier , who finding himselfe ouermatched with weapons , which he cannot weild , leaueth them to take others , which he may manage with greater facilitie : euen so fell it out yesterday with possidonio : for hauing armed himselfe with vertue , and knowing not how to vse it , he had his sodaine recourse vnto riches , hee skirmished so liuely with them , that he hath not onely thereby made himselfe more noble then i am , but then any other man likewise . but now i being come to prooue what force those weapons haue , i doubt not but i shall make it manifest , that they are farre more weake , and of lesse defence then the other . he grounded himselfe vpon two propositions , the one was , that a learned and vertuous man , hath no nobilitie in him ( as if that learning serued to no purpose , to make a man noble ) if he want such riches as are required to be in a gent. because they are no lesse necessarie in nobilitie then bloud is . the other was , that declaring what goodes were , hee forced himselfe to prooue that they were riches . nowe before i enter into the first proposition , i will make manifest vnto you , what trueth is in the last , to the end you afterwardes may with more ease know the veritie of the other . thou wouldest then possidonio , haue riches to be goods , thou deceiuest thy selfe greatly : for if they were goodes , they would cause the man that possesseth them to become better , and more perfit then he is ; for such is the propertie of that which is good : but riches doe not effect this : for if these certaine goodes , did make a man more perfect , wee must of necessitie conclude , that man should be lesse perfect , then the thing by which he is made more perfit , which if thou grauntest for true , it shoulde followe , that gold , siluer , pretious stones , trees , and other liuing creatures depriued of reason ( for these thinges , and such like are riches ) should be more perfect , and more noble then man , which should be too great a follie to think , much more to vtter . we will then conclude , that riches are no goodes . moreouer , it is a matter verie euident , that of a good thing can nothing followe but that which is good : but of these thy riches , what good may euer insue ? nay rather all venemous branches doe spring from that root : they are not then good , but the cause of all euill . which may euidently be seene by the vnbrideled desire marcus crassus did beare vnto riches , which was the cause that he robbed the temple of ierusalem , and not only of his owne death , but of marcus his son , and y e ruine of the romaine armei . for he being chosen consul by the romaines against the parthians , and conducting the army , he came into the prouince of iudea , and being at ierusalem , hee tooke from the holie temple of salomon 8000. talentes of gold , and tooke away a golden beame , which amounted to the waight of 300. pound , to the which the pretious vailes of the temple shining with a wonderfull beautie , and incredible arte , were hanged : and to be short , he tooke al the ornamentes which were of any value . hee passing with this pray into parthia , beeing more bent to pillage , & to heape vp gold ▪ then to ouercome the enemies , in the end was driuen to that necessitie , that with small adoe , he was the cause of his sons death , and the discomfiture of the armie : the romaines being then sore beaten , and villanously murthered by that people , his owne head , & his right hand , was cut off , & presented to herod king of the parthians , who in asmuch as in his life time he had so much bin affected to the loue of gold , to the end that after his death hee might glut himselfe therwith , herod caused gold to be melted , & poured into his mouth . likewise the riches of ptolomy king of cypres , were cause of his death : for hee vnderstanding that the romaines were determined to bring his kingdom into the forme of a prouince , & take possession of his great treasor , he thought to drown thē in the sea , rather then they shuld come into the hands of his enemies : but his mind being buried in his treasor , y e miserable wretch could not indure to see them lost in y t sort , but rather made choise ( after that cato portius was to that end sent into cypres by the senate ) to take away his own life by poyson , then to drown his wealth in the sea : so that it cannot be denied but that riches are the cause of all euill : for besides the mischiefe i haue alreadie recited that commeth by the greedie desire of them : we see ( which my tongue hath horror to tell ) that the father is the murtherer of his sonne , the brother of the brother , and one friend of another . i wil not to this purpose alleadge thee any examples , either out of auncient , or moderne histories , being a thing that thou mayst now a dayes heare out of the mouth of euery man , and a matter so manifest , that euery where we haue tidinges thereof . men doe on all sides set vpon eche other , and are in warre continually for this pelfe . we see in euerie place , abhominable treasons , and conspiracies , to attaine vnto riches . this is not all that may be said thereof , but much more : for the rich man is alwaies in feare , that being pursued by some enuious person , he be not at sometime , or other murthered . if he eate , he feareth poison : if he walke abroad , terror attendeth on him : he quaketh at the name of warre : he standeth in dread of water , of aire , of fire : and to conclude , he is neuer without feare . and this happeneth , because he knoweth , that riches vanish away as lightly as the smoke before the winde , what shall i say more ? the rich man is alwaies a thirst , with an vnquenchable drought , as hee that is tormented with a quotidian ague . for if he be wealthy , he coueteth still to possesse more : so y t the whole world cannot suffice to glut his greedie desire . who is then so vnaduised to terme such a one rich , who ( miserable man ) is no otherwise tormented then tantalus , who sitting in the middest of fresh and cleere running streames , seeth most pleasant and delightfull fruite rounde about him , and his heart burning to eate and drinke of them , and yet hee cannot . god forbid that such a one should be called rich , but rather poore and needie aboue all other men . surely if riches were so necessarie , the wise athenians woulde neuer haue decreed , and ordained for a law , that whosoeuer became rich within their citie , shoulde for ten yeares space be banished athens , esteeming it to be farre more profitable to voide the citie of such persons , then to let them remaine there . the athenians knew well what infections , riches doe bring with them : which was the cause that as some plague , they banished them out of athens . now thou seest possidonio , what good these thy goodes doe bring . fabricio , proceeded in like maner to the handling of his other argumentes ; when as m. peter anthony , as it were taking the word out of his mouth , saide thus vnto him . truely fabricio , that which thou hast spoken of riches , hath brought me into a great doubt : for hearing what thou hast discoursed therof , on the one side it seemeth vnto me to be true : and yet on the other side , i am perswaded it is not wholly so . forasmuch as euerie day , and in all places , the most part of mortall men do , some after one maner , some after another , giue themselues to the getting of gold and siluer : yea not onelie the base and vulgar sort , but likewise men of great credite , and reputation , old and yong men , and those that are most wise in worldly matters . others carelesse of their owne life , doe indeuour to enrich themselues , vpon the sencelesse waters of the sea , and doe daily scoure the coasts of the east countries , the shores of the west parts , and from north to south , and south to north , and leaue no place vntouched , where they may inrich themselues : others to that purpose doe follow bloudy battels ; and some men doe manfully labour both night and day to get wealth . these men in woodes , & mountaines , those in vallies and plaines : others seek to come by riches by dangerous robberies : others by diuelish vsurie . wherefore if as thou sayst , riches were cause of so great euill , surely no man that loueth his welfare , would against his will purchase his owne bane , with so many cares , and intollerable disquiet . so that i seeing so strong reasons on both sides , it is hard for mee , nay a thing impossible to bolte out the trueth . it is an easie matter to resolue this thy doubt , ( aunswered fabricio , ) for auncient authours haue left vs in writing , that riches ( whosoeuer first had the sight thereof ) is a thing most deformed , wearing on the naturall visage thereof , a masque of most fine gold , denoting thereby , that it is faire in apparence , but foule within : wherefore they who trauell so many countries , and take such paines to seeke it , are enamoured with the outward shewe , which blindeth the eyes of the vnderstanding : so that they can hardly discerne how hurtfull the inward deformitie thereof is . which maketh man who is forgetfull of himselfe , to addict his minde thereto . which paulus emilius perceiuing , when he ouercame perseus king of macedonia , and gloriously triumphed ouer him ; hee did not onely forbeare to touche the infinite treasure of the king , but likewise to see it , although he might haue been possessor of a wonderfull bootie . pompey the great hauing taken by force the temple of ierusalem , whereof i lately made mention , found there an inestimable treasure , and did not onely abstaine from taking the spoile thereof , as marcus crassus did afterwardes , but also from touching it , as hee which knew well what hurt riches did bring . and hee who before-hand knoweth the secrets of man , as hee who made them , that by the apparent beauty of riches , man would easily contemne true and eternall treasure , hath often put vs in minde , in his infallible doctrine , that here on earth man shoulde not heape vp riches , as a corruptible thing , and subiect to a thousand hazardes . m. peter anthonie knew not well what to reply to his answere , which pleased him aboue measure , shewing that he was thoroughly satisfied therewith . wherfore fabricio , following on his discourse proceeded in this maner . gentlemen ; besides that riches are goodes , possidonio would haue them conioyned to nobilitie by such necessitie , that if anie noble man whatsoeuer were depriued thereof , hee should no more be accompted noble amongst men . his meaning is then , that so long as a noble man enioyeth wealth , he shall be honourable , and afterwards be of base accompt : o foolish opinion and deceitful beliefe ! doest not thou consider possidonio , that this thy nobilitie is light as the winde , and dependeth of fortune , euen as hee who being on the maine sea , hath lost both sterne , and saile togither at a clappe ? forasmuchas if those small nūber of souldiers which are now left to guard the towne , did spoile thy treasure : surely thou shouldest in one instant , leese both thy wealth , and thy nobility . and as often as this were true , that riches did make a man noble : it should necessarily follow , that an vsurer or a theefe beeing borne a gentleman , shoulde become more noble then he was before , by meanes of his substance , which he should gaine vnlawfully , which howe farre it disagreeth from the trueth , i need not further to manifest vnto you . this is the great glorie which riches bringeth to nobilitie ; of the which possidonio , thou wouldest that liberalitie should proceede , wherein thou art as much deceiued , as in that which hath alreadie been spoken of , because true liberalitie springeth not from riches , but from the loue of the minde . which philip of macedonia ( that i may not further inlarge my discourse , to perswade you therein ) did manifestly prooue , when hee seeing alexander his sonne ouerlauishe to certaine princes of his kingdome , whose loue hee sought to winne vnto him by liberall giftes , in aduising him like a father , he wrote vnto him , that hee ought not to hope for anie faithfulnesse in those friendes , who are purchased by presentes , which when we want to send , then doe they faile vs likewise : but that hee ought to gratifie them with loue , and sinceritie of heart , wherein true liberalitie consisteth . this king was well acquainted , of what efficacie liberalitie which proceedeth from riches , was . thou seest then possidonio , that the nobilitie which yesterday thou diddest affirme to bee true and perfite , is nowe fraile , vaine , and none at all . i say then , that it is neither the stately pallaces , nor pleasant gardens , nor fertill fields , nor well fashioned apparell , nor aboundance of golde or siluer , as thinges which haue no stabilitie in them , which doe make a man noble , but vertue whiche shineth in the minde . there doth the perfection of nobility remaine : there the bright glorie of man doth giue light . nay let warres spring amongst mightie potentates , let floudes of waters fall from heauen ; let the riuers and the sea both togither swell ; let the fire bee kindled in these riches which thou callest goods : for all this , this kind of nobilitie will neuer shrink , nor become lesse , because it is incorruptible ; which the philosopher , no lesse replenished with nobilitie , then wisdome , may easilie perswade thee ; i meane bias , who seeing priene his country vtterly brought to ruine , and many bearing away their substance from thence , and hee being asked why he did not carrie part of his goods with him , aunswered ; i alwaies carie all my riches with me : and trulie he did charge his mind , not his shoulders with them as others doe , and his wealth was not discerned with the eies of the body , but with the eies of his mind . but nowe that i haue sufficiently answered the reasons which thou diddest alleadge in the behalfe of riches : for by this which i haue said , thou mayst imagine how they make for thee ; now i say it shall not be from the purpose , if i return to the other proposition , which i left vnspoken of ; to wit , that in a learned and vertuous man , there can bee no nobilitie , if hee want riches which are required in a gentleman ; bicause that learning is of it selfe vaine to ennoble any man. what possidonio , dost thou affirme that learning is a vain thing in nobilitie , and that science and knowledge are vaine ? dooest thou holde that that is vaine which doth infuse the true light into nobilitie ? o wonderfull vndiscreetnesse , ful of meere follie ! o most erroneous opinion worthy of all blame ! but why doe i so much maruell , if a blind man cannot discerne the right waie ? well , thou shalt before we depart from hence wel perceiue , what force learning and knowledge are of , in nobilitie . and truely if they had not beene worthy great estimation , philip the macedonian king , whose force and power was knowne to all greece , woulde not so soone as he had a sonne borne , haue written to aristotle the onely learned and wise philosopher , in that sort he did . knowe thou aristotle , that i haue a sonne born vnto me , for the which i render immortal thanks vnto the gods , not so much for that he is borne , as because his birth hath happened in the daies of thy life , for asmuch as i hope that being instructed , and trained vppe by thee , hee will proue a worthy successour of vs and our kingdome . weigh with thy selfe how the mind of a good prince vvas full of ioy , because his sonne was borne in his time , whose knovvledge and learning , did not onely with the sound thereof fill all the worlde , but euen pierce the cloudes . he being a good father did desire to adorn his son with learning and science , as treasures of far more inestimable value , then his nobilitie ; his kingdome and riches were , the greatnesse and the nobilitie of his sonne , when as alexander the great was scarcely borne vnto him . and alexander himselfe hauing vnderstood , that aristotle his maister had published his vvorks abroad , especiallie those which did intreat of naturall causes , he was much offended therewith , and saide ; wherin shall we excel other men , if those sciences wherof we make profession , are common to euery man ? surely i had rather passe other men in learning , & knowledge , then in riches , and in lordly dominion . o vvordes most worthy of so great a prince , who preferred knowledge before all things in the world . this was hee , vvho going from corinth to visit the philosopher diogenes in his tubbe , enuyed his glorie , saying vnto him , that if he had not beene alexander , he vvould haue desired to haue beene diogenes : and that not bicause of the worthinesse of his nobilitie , but in regard of his great learning and wisedome ; vvhich would neuer haue happened that alexander shoulde haue desired , being not that which he was , but to haue beene diogenes . you may novv see what power learning is of possidonio ; what force the sciences haue : for if alexander the great , the ruler of all the east part of the world , did so much loue and affect them , as i haue giuen you to vnderstand , it is not to be beleeued that they are vaine in the ennobling of man. and paulus emilius hauing ouercome perseus , king of macedonia , as i lately tolde you , took only out of all his treasure , two bookes , to instruct his children withal : thereby likewise you may perceiue , how farre greater the estimation of learning then of riches is , and whether they bring not greater glory to a noble man then it dooth . whereby thou mayest vnderstand , that in arguing vainely yesterdaie thou diddest alleadge such things as were not worthie the recitall . but i will not ( gentlemen ) particularly call to minde euery seueral argument , which hee heaped togither . for he might alledge many more , which notwithstanding by the answeres i haue already made , woulde bee soone ouerthrown , as reasons nothing at al sauoring of troth . tel me possidonio , doost thou indeed iudge thy weapons to be of as great force as thou didst beleeue ? alas , how foolish is this thy opinion , and thy self more sottish if thou yet remaine therein . vvel , i hope by this resistance that i haue made , y t i haue hitherunto satisfied you in euery point . yea but ( qd the lady laura ) with a feminine readines : where haue you forgot that which he saide , when as he granted ( if my memory serue me wel ) that thou wert likewise a man of honor , but in regard that his nobilitie is more ancient than thine , he is to be iudged to be y e most noble . thou must not leaue that behind thee . thee ; for methought hee spake very aptly to the purpose , concerning that matter . you doe wel madame , to put mee in minde of that ( quoth fabricio ) which had cleane slipt out of my remembrance . and i maruell not though his speech did please you , bicause women cannot so vvel discouer the falshood of arguments . for albeit that his proposition were true , that of tvvo equall thinges concurring togither in one subiect , the most ancient ought to bee preferred : yet notwithstanding it shall haue no preheminence , if the nobility of both issue out of one fountain . but what shall we say , if the one spring of a more perfect and worthy obiect then the other ? shal we deeme it more noble , onely bicause it is more ancient ? trulie no , madam . the like ought to be considered in vs two , for albeit that he be descended of a more ancient and noble familie , we ought to haue regard vnto that which is most proper to perfect nobilitie . as we may plainlie see in those two images , which are there before you , and are wonderfull pleasing to the sight of those that beholde them ; yet dooth the one drawe a kinde of desire more then the other , because it is made more approching vnto life , wherein the excellencie and perfection of them doth consist , although the other be of greater antiquitie . novv the nobility of the mind descending of a far more excellent and noble obiect ( as before we depart from hence i will shew you ) then the nobilitie of bloud : we ought not then to haue recourse vnto the antiquity , but to the perfection and excellencie therof . doe you now thinke madam , that possidonio did speak so well as you beleeued ? but dooth not that which i haue answered thorowlie content you ? surely i am in good hope it doth . but this your gentle remembrāce , putteth me in mind of that which possidonio did handle afterwards ; when as he said , that in asmuch as nature is more perfect than art , his nobilitie being naturall , and mine artificiall , he concluded his nobilitie to be more worthy and more perfect , and consequently , that hee was the more noble . but possidonio , like as thy other arguments were all disagreeing from the troth , euen so is this . for suppose the case that nature bee more perfect then art , it followeth not that thy conclusion is true : forsomuch as nature hauing equally framed vs all , shee fashioned the minde of man pure and cleane equally in all men : but like as a white paper is apt at the first , to receiue the impression of whatsoeuer thou wilt write therin , if thou fillest the same with vertuous and good works , then it is good and precious ; if with bad and vicious , then is it hurtfull and nothing worth : euen so the mind of man , is apt by nature to receiue either vertue , or vice : if thou traine it vp in vertue , it will become vertuous and noble ; but if thou dispose it to vice , dooest thou thinke it will euer become noble , albeit it descend of a noble stocke ? no surely . thus then we doe giue the price of nobilitie , not vnto nature but vnto art ; and so thy nature shal not be more perfect then my industry , as thou diddest conclude . thou diddest perswade thy selfe possidonio , that i should want breath : but dost not thou perceiue , hovv thy brags yesterday , are to day ouerthrovvne , so that thou hast no more to say . now it is apparant vnto you all how great possidonio his follies are , and of all other that doe follow his erroneous opinion , vvho deeming themselues noble by bloud ; and hauing no notable vertue to commende themselues , do fill their bodies with winde , feed their mind with smoke , and fly higher in the ayre then euer icarus did , for surely in their countenances is seen nothing else , but winde , smoke , and light matters , by the which they are in no wise to be accounted true & perfect noble men . by this i well perceiue , that thou hast no other arguments to maintaine thy nobility , seeing that to finish and end thy discourse , thou diddest so lauishly brag of the great wealth and riches : which indeed seem no lesse then the name possidonio doth import ; for in my iudgement it signifieth nothing else , then to be possessour of all . thou didst run out at randon , in extolling thy braue and stately pallaces , thy faire and pleasant gardens , thy fieldes , thy flocks of beasts , thy sumptuous bankets , thy pompe , thy chiualrie , and a thousand other vaunts , which did not onely make thee worthy of so smal a ring , as that we are at variance for , but of a roiall crowne . o extreame sottishnes of men , which liue at this day ! the best is , that thou art not the only man , that art thus perswaded of thy selfe ; for it may be thou art the least of that opinion of such as are souldiors of that band . euery where there are such fooles , who inioy no other contentment in this world , then to reckon vp their noble descent , who builde castles in the ayre , and seeke to bee commended for that which they neither haue , nor deserue : they exalt themselues with their own mouth , euen to the skies , feeding themselues with a vaine name , taking little thought of the substance and effect . but in asmuch as this great wealth , which thou diddest so stand vppon , maketh no more to thy purpose , then if thou haddest reckoned vp the riches of midas , or of marcus crassus , leauing them now behind mee , and sayling ouer this thy windy and swelling sea , it is now high time , that i frame my course in a calmer vvater . vpon the which setting forward with more leisure , i will passe on my nauigation so farre , as i shall thinke expedient . worthy gentlemen , if we doe consider that which hath beene spoken this day , we shall finde that possidonio yesterday preached vnto vs , not his owne nobilitie , but the honour of his predecessours ; telling vs of the great combats , the worthy exploits , the trophees , the victories of his great grandfathers , the priuiledges , the spoiles , the images , the portraitures , and much other such light stuf , which was nothing to our purpose . and surely it seemed vnto mee , that i heard them who are woont in open streets to set foorth the praises of other men , but to bee able to say nothing in their owne commendation . but insomuch as we haue to consider , which of vs two is the most noble , from henceforth setting aside the nobilitie of our auncesters , because the ring in question was not giuen vnto him who shoulde deriue his nobilitie from most ancient predecessors , but to the most noble of vs two ; denoting thereby the proper nobility belonging to our selues , and not y t vvhich belongeth to other men : it seemeth vnto me a thinge very conuenient ( for i think for all his weapons i need not fear any danger , but that i may walk whither i list ) by litle & little , to enter into the fruitful field of vertues & sciences ; and to make it certeinly known vnto you ( y t true & perfect nobility of man , dooth neither consist in antiquity of bloud , nor in wealth , but in the vertues of the mind ) when i shall haue alleadged such reasons as my slender capacity , & y e smal time which is left me , wil will giue me leaue , albeit that to perswade you in this point , the reasones already rehearsed may seeme sufficient . whereunto fabricio added some other words , and after he had a little taken breath , and called his wits togither as one halfe weary already , he gaue this beginning to his future discourse . most worthy gentlemen . it was his pleasure , whose will doth moue the heauens , to create and frame all things we see in this world , to a certaine and due ende . the sunne ( which for the most part doth shine vnto vs , and from the which lesser starres doe take their light ) principally to shewe vnto vs the magnificence of his glory ; and next for the profit of man. likewise he created the earth , the water , the ayre , the fire , and other liuing creatures , for the vse of man. but man himselfe was formed for god , that soueraign and infinite good and not for any other thing here beneath on earth . we know also by those motions we doe feele in our selues , that man is neuer thorowlie contented , albeit he haue vnder his power and dominion , whatsoeuer hee may especiallie wish or desire in this world : for though some one delight to haue children , or riches ; or great offices , dignities , and honour , and that fortune doe fauor him in al his demands , yet is y e desire of his minde neuer in rest , but hee still longeth couetously more and more , after somthing or other , bicause there is not here on earth any stability , nor the ende of any infinite good . but man by the intellectual knowledge of his vnderstanding , gaining the infinite grace and excessiue loue of him , who in himselfe is the infinitie of goodnes , his mortall desire is staid , & resteth it selfe ; like vnto a stone which being cast on high , neuer resteth vntill it come to the bosome of the earth , which is the last end of the rest thereof . now i say , that he is most perfit , and noble , who approcheth neerest vnto this last end . forasmuch as if i desire heate , surely how much the neerer i shall draw neerer vnto the fire , by so much shall i attain vnto my desire . then to see who is y e most noble , & most perfit of vs two , wee ought to consider , which of vs approcheth neerest vnto the end hee was made for : for without doubt he shal be deemed the most noble , and not he who is descended of most noble bloud . and as you knowe , that no man can attaine vnto any end , but by some meanes : the meanes wee haue to come thereunto , is vertue , which hath residence in the soule , and not in the bodie : and god made the soule vnto his likenesse , and not the body where it remaineth , which in it selfe doth onely resemble brutish beastes . if then possidonio , thou doest inrich this thy body , with apparell , and with wealth , if thou doest fill it with daintie fare , and leauest thy soule without the ornament of vertue , and good conditions : surely thou doest not adorne thy selfe with perfit nobilitie , as degenerating from the determinate end thereof . for man being framed of body and soule , his will shall either encline to the body or the minde : if to the bodie , because it was framed of earth , which draweth downwardes , hee cannot comprehend , nor desire any other thing but terrestriall , and earthly matters . if to the minde , because it is nothing but a celestiall spirite , he cannot couet after anie other thing , then to mount on high , where al perfection consisteth , and disdaine fraile thinges which are on the earth . but man ought to gouerne himselfe according vnto reason , not according as the bodie , but as his soule guideth him ; the one being subiect vnto corruption , the other made to liue eternally . likewise , the ornamentes of the soule , as that is immortall , euen so are they , and those that set forth the body are corruptible , as the body is . forasmuch as both the internall and externall goodes of the bodie , which consist in a iust proportiō of members , in health , in force , in riches , in procreation of children , in building of pallaces , and such other things , are al fraile and transitorie , in asmuch as to day they haue their being , and in a moment are brought to the ground ; whereas contrarily , the goods of the soule are durable , perpetuall , and eternall . you see then howe much the soule is farre more perfit and noble then the body . wherefore , if thou desirest to please the body , and i determine to serue and obey the soule , i shall haue so much aduauntage of thee in nobilitie , as the one excelleth the other : as if i should say . those thinges that doe set forth the soule , are vertues which a man doth irreuocablie poure into his minde , for vertue is a firme abiding affection of the minde , which causeth whosoeuer is possessed therewith , to deserue great praise . and whensoeuer it is not constant , it looseth the name of vertue , seeing that this stabilitie of affection by continuall vse , and practise , is changed into an habitude . some of these vertues doe consist in good maners and behauiour : others in the vnderstanding . the former doe consist in a meane , betweene two extreames : the latter , neither in extremitie , nor in a meane : as prudence , science , intelligence , and wisedome . other some which by auncient writers are called morall vertues , are so many appetites , and desires as come into our minde . for if so bee that i am naturally addicted vnto women , or some other aboue measure desirous of daintie fare : or else , if when reason commandeth , i doe abstaine from looking on a woman , or that other , from his meate , surely both of these in vs is a vice . vertue then considering the middle of these extreames , with a strong bridle ouerruleth these inordinate appetites , which a man can hardly withstand at the first assault , because hee cannot so well at the first temper the naturall motions of the fleshe , nor refrayne the insatiable desire of the belly . the like i may say of diuerse and sundrie desires of man , which cause him to fall into abhominable vices . now if vertue did not oppose it selfe against vice , i doubt not but our estate shoulde whollie resemble , if it were not worse then the life of beastes voide of reason . there are besides other vices , which man beeing ouertaken withall , perswading himselfe they proceede from vertue , hee falleth headlong into them . as if i should extreamely thirst after honor and dignitie : and thou shouldest shewe thy selfe ouer liberall in spending thy goods ; if this man should rashly thrust himself into the midst of a fray . in these vnbrideled appetites , albeit they seeme good , because that to be placed in honour , to bee liberall , and a man of courage , haue the apparence of good thinges , yet notwithstanding they are vitious , and ought to bee auoided . forasmuch as my desire leaneth to ambition , thine to prodigalitie : and the rashe courage of the other , to foolish hardinesse . likewise who so vseth the contrarie of these , is no lesse worthie of blame ; for if i beeing worthy , did disdainfully refuse a place of dignitie : or thou diddest withholde thy hand ouer straitely in the distributing of thy goodes where neede were ; and the other being vrged by his enemies , did play the coward : surely both the former & the latter sort of men , which tie themselues to those extreams , are vitious , and ought to be auoided : as in like maner hee is , who doth either hide , or debarre his companion of those things , which in reason hee may affoord him . wherefore to moderat this my vnbrideled desire of the flesh , or his vnordinate feeding , there commeth a vertue , named temperance , which by reason doth appease , and ouerrule the vnruly appetites of man. how greatly is philoxenes to be blamed , who being enchanted by the desire of eating , wished aboue all other things , that his neck were as long as the necke of a crane ▪ that he might feed with the more pleasure : and semiramis queene of the assyrians , who so dissolutely abandoned her selfe vnto the pleasures of the flesh , that beeing depriued of all sence and vnderstanding , shee sought carnally to couple her selfe with her sonne ninus ? surely verie much , as they who in guise of men did liue intemperately like beasts . this vertue doth not onelie temper those delightes , which are common with vs and brute beastes : but it doth likwise appease sorrow , from whence doth spring gratious modestie , inuiolate continencie , moderate sobrietie , honest chastitie , and other good workes . in like maner to temperate his furious temeritie , who inconsideratly thrusteth himselfe amidst his enemies , or his faintnesse of heart , who beeing assailed by his aduersarie , doth flie from him : fortitude doth step in place , a worthy vertue , which obtaineth the meane betweene foolish-hardinesse , and feare . the rashnesse of phaeton gaue him courage to gouerne his fathers chariot , although he altogither wanted skill thereto : and encouraged icarus to flie in the aire . which maketh me affirme that the valiaunt man ought to dread no daunger , no not death it selfe , nor any other thing when need requireth , hauing due consideration of the place ; the time , and the maner how he enterpriseth any thing : but he ought to feare that , which if hee shoulde not dread , would cause him to be contemned , as dishonour , enuy , the chastitie of his wife , and suche other thinges , as who so feareth is honest , and iealous of his reputation . likewise that ought to be feared which passeth the force of man , for he is no lesse worthy of reprehension , who dreadeth that which hee ought to feare , then he who feareth that which he ought not to dread . as wee reade of artemon the grecian , who was so fearefull , that he neuer stirred not so much as out of his house , but two of his seruauntes continuallie held an yron buckler ouer his head , fearing least something shoulde fall vpon him : or if any thing did fall , that hee might be the better defended from it : and if at any time he went abroad , he was carried in a litter wel couered . this vertue then doth cause men to expose themselues with consideration to such dangers as doe happen , and patiently to suffer labour and sorrowe , which is a farre harder matter for a man to doe , then to abstaine from pleasure . heerehence doth spring magnificence , which is so much commended , tollerable patience , firme perseuerance , and magnanimitie of courage . but to bridle the euill disposition of him , who after a tyrannical sorte doth occupie that which by right doth belong vnto another his equall : therein iustice doth offer it selfe , which is a vertue farre more excellent then any other , beeing either vniuersall , or particular . vniuersall iustice is that , which within it selfe doth containe the two foresaid vertues , and is farre more noble then they are , by iustice good lawes are obserued , which doe dispose men , and make them fit to doe good actions , and vpon deserued penaltie doe prohibite men from wickednesse . this vertue doth containe the vse , and habitude of other vertues , wherefore by good reason it is called perfect , and vniuersall , especially inasmuch as if temperance be good , that shall onely bee profitable for him that possesseth it ; and so i may say likewise of fortitude : but iustice is common , and vniuersall to al men , and as a vertue descended from aboue , it shineth as a heauenly light . particular iustice , no lesse to be commended then other vertues , consisteth in equitie ( for we ought in the same maner to accompt both of commoditie and discommoditie ) and in the obseruation of faith in thinges promised . nowe of this vertue doth proceede the obseruation of lawes , trueth , pietie , obedience , and likewise liberalitie , which holding the middle betweene spending and sauing , doth restraine the vice of prodigalitie , and couetousnesse : for like as the prodigall man is carelesse in getting , and lauishe in giuing : so the couetous man is ouer carefull in heaping vp riches , and too nigardly in spending . neither is the auaritious man farre vnlike to the miserable ambitious person , betweene whom , and this other who despiseth honour beeing worthy thereof , there commeth a vertue considering the meane , of the which ariseth magnanimitie of courage . i could bring you infinite examples fitting this purpose , which i doe forbeare , least my speach should be ouer long , intending likewise to returne to discourse of intellectuall vertues : and first of all to shewe you , that some of the foresaide morall vertues , cannot be without prudence , which consisteth in those thinges , which are subiect to chaunge , beeing sometimes after this fashion , sometimes after another : herehence proceedeth counsell , and election . as for example , if thou shouldest offer vnto mee manie good thinges , and manie euill thinges , counselling me , whether of them should be especially , either of the good more profitable , or of the euill thinges more hurtfull : thorough prudence i woulde make choice of that which were most commodious , and least dangerous , thereby ordering thinges present , remembring thinges past , and foreseeing thinges to come . on prudence , reason , vnderstanding , and discretion attendeth . thorough science , which consisteth in firme , and true thinges , wee knowe , and vnderstand the conclusion , wherevnto it aspireth , leauing the principles to bee considered of by intelligence : for in searching out , if god be the soueraigne good , knowing it thorough science , i seeke to vnderstand what god is . afterwardes by wisedome i comprehend the principles , and that which proceedeth of them : whereof by good right , it is named the true knowledge of diuine and humane thinges . the vertues of the minde being then the ornament of the soule , which is the subiect of the saide vertues , they are ( as i said ) the meanes to attaine vnto the end wee shoote at . he shall be then most noble , hee shall be most perfite , and amongest mortall men most renowmed ; which being adorned with the vertues i haue recited , shall approch neerest vnto this soueraigne , and infinite good . we see that the water is more noble then the earth , the aire then the water , and the fire then the aire , because it is neerer therunto then any of the other elementes . the like is to be obserued in the orders of angels , which are deuided into three hierarchies , and the hierarchies into so many thrones : inasmuch as that is the most worthie hierarchie , which approcheth neerest vnto the creator of heauen . now the seraphins ( as being neerest vnto god , forasmuch as no angelicall spirite dooeth not contemplate more immediatly his diuine essence then they doe ) and the cherubins with the thrones which are seated in the first hierarchie , doe exceede in perfection , and nobilitie , the gouernement , the principalities , and the powers , which are in the second hierarchie . these are more noble then the third , as being further off from the diuine presence , in the number whereof are , the vertues , the archangels , and angels . to speake more plainly vnto thee possidonio , take me for example a prince in soueraigne degree of nobilitie , whose children haue issue , i demand if his children their issue shal be accompted as noble as his owne : surely no , because they are a discent farther off from the prince ( from whom their nobilitie proceedeth ) then the first issue from him : and so wee ought to esteeme of the lower degrees . if then ●ossidonio , thou doest approche neerest vnto the end whereunto we were framed , thy mind being so highly qualified with vertues , as i haue briefly recited to thee : i wil then yeeld vp my interest touching this cōtrouersie , without debating y e matter any more : in regarde of any nobility of bloud deriued frō thy ancestors , which maketh as much for true nobilitie , as the light of a candle neere vnto the cleere sunne-shine : but if i prooue vnto thee , that i doe come neerest vnto this end , wilt not thou graunt me , that i am more noble then thou art , and that the victory belongeth vnto me ? surely thou canst not say any thing to the contrary . i will sufficiently declare vnto thee , that i come neerest thereunto hauing graced my life with vertues , vvhich are the only meanes to attaine vnto it . fabricio hauing spoken in this maner , and somwhat taken breath after his long discourse , turning himselfe againe towardes the company , with a plyant voice , proceeded on this manner . you see most worthy gentlemen , that by the verie matter of this discourse , i am constrained fullie to laie open my life vnto you , and consequently such vertues as are in me , and not other mens . wherfore this smal speech wil necessarily turne to my praise and commendation , contrary to my pretended purpose , bicause that true nobilitie , consisting ( in my opinion ) in the proper vertues of the minde , as i did most plainly prooue vnto you ; i cannot declare , and much lesse make you vnderstande , whether i am noble , or not , except i recount them vnto you : for this respect ( and god knoweth how willingly ) i had rather that heereafter some other should take the matter vpon him for me , as likewise bicause i would not that any should girde at me therfore : which in friendlie maner i beseech you may not be denied me , seeing that i am constrained thereunto , and that it lyeth vpon mee vainly to set foorth mine owne praises , and to tax another man. howsoeuer it happen , trusting in your vertues , i will freely embolden my self , with the greatest breuitie that i can , to sette foorth my praises vnto you . i then being in my childish years , after that my tung began by little and little to vntie it selfe , instructed in precepts of vertue , i say i began to adorne my life , and my mind with such qualities , as were fittest for my tender age : and likewise my young mind beeing capeable of vnderstanding , my memorie of retaining , and my wit apt for learning , i gaue my selfe to the pleasant studie of humanitie ; where i did not onelie lay vp in my memorie the remembrance of manie fables , and manie histories , but likewise the knowledge of mans life , by the which i might easilie discerne for the ornament and dutie of my life , what waie was to be auoided , and which was to be followed . and longing further to attaine to the knowledge of the artes and sciences , and not onelie of them by which vvee doe discerne that which is false , from the troth ; and of those other by vvhich vve are made partakers of the vnderstanding , both of matters naturall and heauenlie : but especiallie desiring to embrace moral philosophie ( which if vvee vvil giue credite vnto cicero and others ) wise socrates , leauing the studie of natural philosophie , as lesse profitable to cōuerse one with another in this world , broght from heauen to earth ) i vvas constrained to leaue my countrie , and my parentes , to trauaile thither vvhere all liberall exercises are maintained , euerie dull vvit is instructed , and euerie harde vnderstanding softened . there did i beautifie my vnderstanding , and my mind with knowledge and vertue , in so large measure as i need not nowe to declare vnto you . by this meanes possidonio doe i beleeue , that a man becommeth renovvmed and noble . by vertue accompanied with worthie sciences , the mind of man is made noble and excellent . vertue is that which tempereth a man that is of a milde nature , graceth him with honest and courteous conditions , maketh him prudent and wise , and finallie of a mortal man , immortall . that is the onely meanes by which we attaine to the perfect knowledge of him , who is the last ende and marke wee aime at . i saie vertue is that wherewith the soule being beautified , doth cause vs to approch to the ende wee were made for , and consequentlie maketh vs partakers of the light therof . he that is a true noble man doth not shine , ( neither ought he to shew himselfe by means of any other beames , ) then those that spring and growe from vertue . now thou mayest be able hereafter to knowe possidonio , from whence true nobilitie of the minde dooth proceed , and to perceiue likewise , if learning is vaine or rather necessary , yea and the sciences themselues , for the aduancement of nobilitie . now thou mayst vnderstande , how much learning is to be esteemed aboue riches , by those that are perfect noble men . but besides the examples i haue already alleadged , i will yet moreouer giue you to vnderstand , how highlie it hath beene accounted of by other men of olde time . for asmuch as onlie by the poet euripides his going to syracusa , the syracusans who had vnder their power many athenian prisoners , they gaue them all their libertie , bicause they had learned without booke manie verses of euripides who was an athenian by birth . bee you now the iudge , what greater guift they might haue presented to the author of these verses . and diuine plato being by denis the tyrant , called from athens into sicilia , which voyage hee made by sea , he no sooner set foote on land , but he was by him receiued in a triumphant chariot , and after that maner he entered the citie . surely denis did not this honour neither to the wealth of plato , nor to the worthinesse of his bloud , but to his deepe skill and vertue . alexander of macedonia , hauing giuen darius king of persia the ouerthrowe , amongest the kinges treasure hee founde a most pretious little casket , inriched with gold & pretious stones , wherin the persian k. was wont to preserue his most pretious and odoriferous ointmentes : but alexander , put neither ointment nor pretious iewel , nor any of his treasure therein , but the poeticall workes of homer the grecian , imagining he had not in al his tresure , a iewell of greater value , which did better deserue to be locked vp there . the reason hereof was not because homer was born of any noble stock , or that he had been of great wealth ( for scarce was any man of so lowe estate in regarde of riches ) but in respect of his diuine knowledge and vertue . if then the true estimation of man , proceedeth from vertue and knowledge , whoe dare then affirme , that they doe not make him noble , who is vertuous , of good behauiour , and wise , albeit he be not descended of any noble bloud ? surely he should be a wicked person , vicious , and foolish , that should iudge otherwise . for he whom thou dost call and deeme to bee noble , hath onelie the apparance of a noble man : but those i speak of are noble indeed , in asmuch as their vnderstanding is made noble , the which doth afterward send forth the light thereof , for the ornament of our life . if thou art of this making possidonio , i will iudge thee a perfect noble man , but not in regard thou art onely descended of a noble stocke . and truely both thy actions , and theirs likewise , who at this day do vaunt them selues of the nobility of their bloud , are wholy disposed and readie to followe the vanities and pleasures of the body , which laste but for a while , and not the seruice of the soule which is eternall and euerlasting . bloud then auaileth nothing to true & perfect nobilitie ; & how little it maketh for thee , i haue already declared : for that which the vulgar sort esteemeth nobilitie of bloud , hath no other good thing in it selfe , but a facilitie , and sleight to make one noble . o how many are there , whom this nobilitie of bloud , being considered in man without any other qualitie , of noble , maketh them base ! for it is nourished with ignorance , fed with pride , increased with audacitie , liueth with temeritie , ruled with lightnesse , brought vppe in theftes , robberies , wantonnesse , violence , blasphemie , euil speech ; & to conclude , continued in vanitie , which is an enimie to knowledge , a traitor to vertue , and contrarie to true nobilitie . imagine now possidonio , how noble and perfect this thy nobilitie of bloud is , thorough the which thou persuadest thy selfe , thou hast attained to the highest degree of nobilitie that may be imagined , whereas thou art lowest of all other , whereinto the foolish opinion of the vulgar sort doth easilie cause thee to fal : forsomuch as without any difference at all , they call those noble men , who haue but onely a shadow of nobilitie , aswell as they , who are true noble men . consider how light and carelesse the miserable beleefe of mortall men is , and howe it is openly deceiued . i say then possidonio , that thou art not noble , and that in thee can no markes of true nobilitie bee seene , but rather a shadowe , or to say the troth , a meer & bare name of nobility . which if it be so , as i haue made manifest vnto you ( and surely it is so , and cannot be otherwise ) i may saie in arguing after this manner . that by how much the effect is far more perfect , and more commendable then the name of any thing whatsoeuer ; by so much i am , and so doe deeme my selfe more noble then thou art : and howe farre the effect excelleth the name , is euident of it selfe . for asmuch as if i desire rather effectually to bee learned , then so taken , as i know thou couetest to be rich , then to be called wealthy . whereby thou mayest now well perceiue , in what case thou art , albeit yesterday thou wert of beleefe , after thou haddest recited so manie fables for proofe of thy nobilitie , that i shuld haue nothing to speak against thee this day , but thou mayest hereafter iudge better whether i had any thing to say or no : for to goe thorough with that which offereth it selfe to bee spoken herein , much more time then is now left vnto vs wuld not suffice to handle the matter . wherefore i will proceed further . now considering ( gratious gentlemen ) that vvhich possidonio intended yesterdaie , vvhen as he said , that he is a true and perfect noble man , because hee is discended of noble parents . suppose the case that his proposition were true , y t vvhosoeuer is borne of a noble stock is a noble man , if i did denie that hee were issued of noble familie , vvhat could he say vnto me ? tell me possidonio ; if so be i should deny that thou wert ingendred of noble bloud , vvhat wouldest thou answere me ? what certainty wouldest thou giue me thereof ? surely thou vvouldest long goe groping in the darke before thou couldst ascertaine me thereof , and vvouldst neuer be able to proue it vvith sound reasons , by vvhich i should be constrained of necessitie to beleeue it . if then vvee are not certaine of thy birth , it follovveth that thy nobilitie ought rather to bee called credible then certaine . wherefore i may very well say thus much . that euen as a certaine and true thing , is farre more perfect then that , which vve onelie beleeue to be certaine : so is my nobilitie farre more certaine than thine , because it is to be beleeued indeed , and not to bee presumed onelie , that i am noble , in regard that the true essence of nobilitie remaineth in me . thou vvouldest then say perhaps ( quoth one of the young ladies , vvho was offended with the last wordes of fabricio , because she vvas a kinswoman vnto possidonio ) that hee is not his fathers sonne , seeing there is no more certaintie of his birth then thou affirmest ? truly fabricio thou art falne into a great errour . as though wee knevve not what house hee is come of ? thou shouldest not so openlie alleadge that which is false to prooue thy argumentes as pleaseth thee , for it doeth ill become thee : and now i hold that which possidonio affirmed for troth , and that thou wouldest with thy subtill sophistrie make vs beleeue , that white is blacke . scarce had the young ladie ended hir wordes , but all the company began to laugh , with such earnestnes , that their heartes were sore therewith ; and she imagining that they mocked her demanded saying . but i pray you vvhereat doe you laugh ? suddenlie the lady aurelia answered , who vvould not laugh to heare thee say so simply that possidonio is not his fathers sonne , as though he could be begotten without a father ? the young lady halfe angry , and with shame dying her cheeks with vermillion , like vnto the morning rose , said onely , i know wel enough what i meane ; wherunto fabricio answered smilingly . i knovv he is his fathers sonne , but i am not certaine vvhether he were his father , whom all we do imagine , or no : and it is to no purpose to say , that his father called him sonne , or any such like tales , for that can in no wise make me assured thereof . we may then ( quoth she , not regarding their laughter ) by this reason , say the like of al that are here presēt . it is true madam ( qd fabricio . ) alas poor soule that i am ( qd she ) euer since i was borne , i haue hitherunto bin sure who was my father , & likwise held my mother for an honest woman , and nowe thou makest a doubt thereof . how great laughter began againe amongst them al , both men and women , you may easilie coniecture ; but after they were all quiet , fabricio proceeded on further in this manner . madam , i will grant vnto you , that possidonio is descended of noble parentes , and consequently that his nobilitie is certain : yet is not that nobilitie more praise worthy which a man obtaineth by his owne labor and trauaile , and thorough his owne vertues , then that hee receiueth from others ? surely not a little . and whether of the two wilt thou iudge to be more noble , either thy selfe possidonio , or thy predecessors , who were the beginners and first founders of this thy nobilitie ? for they were most valiant men at armes , and as thou diddest yesterday conclude , and i do grant thee , they were pleasing , and well accepted of their princes : now surely wilt thou iudge thy selfe more noble then they , who dooest onelie represent their nobilitie , i beleeue that without any contradiction , thou wilt giue them the vpper hand . you may see now , how much more the nobilitie which any man doth purchase vnto himselfe , is farre more perfect then that which he taketh from his ancestors . mine being of that sort , without doubt it is more perfect and more noble then thine . if i would henceforward strike the sailes of my ship , and cast anchor to staie my selfe , without passing any further , i should thinke i were arriued at the wished hauen , and hitherunto to haue made as much waie as is necessarie for our enterprise : but seeing the western wind bloweth on me with a pleasant gale , and that the sea is calme , & affoordeth me a prosperous nauigation , my heart will not suffer me as yet to strike saile , but i will by little and little put out further . the great monarch of heauen , and good guide of the earth ( worthy gentlemen ) hauing here beneath in this world created all thinges , it pleased him in the end amongst all other liuing creatures , which hee had framed , to forme one , who being the most perfit , and most noble of all others , should haue the dominion of all other thinges hee had before created , and to him ( albeit that he was made and framed of earth , as the scriptures doe witnesse ) he gaue reason , by which he should rule , and gouerne himselfe . men were borne , and so they are yet at this day , as some do beleeue , with equall mindes , with equall powers , and with equall vertues . because nature , as wel to the riche as to the poore , to the noble man , as to the peasant , to the mightie as to the weake , hath giuen reason and vnderstanding , and brought them all naked into the worlde . and who is he , how poore , abiect , and miserable soeuer , who at his first beginning , had not a minde , like vnto the minde of euery prince or king ? surely no man. we wil say then , that nature wherof thou diddest make such great brags , yesterday , doth not bring forth one man better , or more noble , then other . now all men being equall by birth , vertue was that which first of all did distinguish them , and made a difference betweene man and man , because that whosoeuer shewed himself most familiar , and deuout towards her , was called noble , and the rest remained ignoble . and whosoeuer he was that did first of all inuent this word nobilitie , he denoted thereby a singularitie , and separation from other men . for nobilitie is as much to say , as a note or marke , and a noble man , as a man more noted , and knowne , then any others . by reason wherof , man hauing by his the height and value of his courage , made proofe of many laudable actions , and worthie workes , hee commeth to be separate from the vulgar sort , and knowne more plainely , whereupon it pleased the first inuenter , to terme this separation , and this knowledge , nobilitie . and to say the truth , it was not without apparent reason : for if wee looke into the effect and substance of this nobilitie , we shall find that therein which i haue recited . forasmuch as nobilitie is no other thing ( without intermedling with y t which possidonio alleaged yesterday : for i haue this day prooued how true that is ) i say nobilitie is nothing else , but an excellencie , by the which things that are most worthy , do take place before those that are lesse worthy . we see amongest the planets ( for his perfect excellencie ) y e sun is more noble , and hath preheminence aboue al other planets , being of lesse worth : amongst stones the diamond : amōgst mettals , gold : amōgst greater stones , the phorphir . euen the like is in man : for hee is more noble and worthy then other , who is most excellent and perfit amongst them : which excellencie and perfection , is deriued from the nobilitie of the vnderstanding , and not from the body , to seperate man from brute beasts , as i said before . wel may you perceiue by this , that vertue in man is that which maketh him noble and excellent , & causeth him to be preferred before others , and not bloud , nor riches , as thou didst affirme possidonio . and euen as man is far more excellent and noble then any other liuing creature ; so by this excellencie & vertue of the minde , one man is more worthy , and more excellent then another . now if hee is noble who with his owne vertues hath made the excellencie which is in himselfe manifest , what excellencie hast thou euer shewed to be in thee , tel me what greatnes , & what vertue is in thy mind ? and who knoweth not this , that without great labor , a man cannot attaine to anie worthy action , or laudable deed . beleeue not possidonio , that remaining continually idle as thou dooest and pampered in daintinesse , that thou art like euer to prooue a noble man , which thou diddest yesterday declare in reciting the liues of thy predecessors , which did neuer spare neither cold , nor heat , nor fire , nor trauell in the world , to the end they might not only take y e name of nobilitie vpon them , but the effect likewise , and hauing taken it , keep and conserue it . by such means man may aduance himselfe , and become noble and renowmed amongst others , & not by bloud . writers report more of the vertue which iulius cesar shewed in germanie and france , then of his birth . neither doe they so much write what bloud octauius augustus was come of , as they haue done of y e ouerthrow he gaue to m. antonius , & cleopatra , neer to the mountain actium in epire , & of other his worthy actiōs , by which he brought into his subiection al spain towards the west , the tartarians & the sarmatians towards the north , the indians towards the east , the parthians , y e armenians : tygranes king of the medes , the inhabitants of bosphorus & of propontis , & those of either side the rhin , and of the danube , with infinit other nations : of pompey the great , the son of pompey , strabo doth recite his triūphs ▪ especially y t which he had in affrique against domitiā . the deliuerance y t brutus freed his countrey from , whē he did driue frō thence tarquin y e proud , with his successors , was cause that he was named the father of the romane liberty : the like is said of y e other brutus . fabius maximus was likwise rightly called the defender of the commonwealth , when he bridled the fierce courage of anniball of carthage . the wonderful ouerthrow , that claudius nero gaue y e carthaginians , when he presented asdrubal his head to his brother , do cause vs to remember him ; not y e bloud nor the generosity of his ancestors . the great value of horatius , who gaue the people of rome their libertie , when as hee alone standing on the bridge , did resist the tuscanes . the glorious trophees , and many victories which camillus the great obtained against the falisci , are recommended vnto vs : especial●y those which in his exile he had against the gaules , who had forcibly taken and burned the citie of rome . likewise in this his expedition hee gloriously vanquished the volsci , the latines , the equi , the erinqui , with other nations . of tyberius gracchus , who also subdued the gaules . of paulus emilius , who conquered the gaules that dwelt on both sides the alpes . of paulus emilius his sonne , who hauing brought liguria into subiection , ouerthrewe , and tooke perseus king of macedonia . of marcus claudius marcellus , who surmounted and slue viridimarus king of the gaules . of al these there is nothing spoken of their nobilitie , or of their bloud , or of their descent . the wonderful deeds which both the scipiones did , as well in spaine , as in affrique , and asia , for the which the one was called scipio africanus , the other asiaticus , doe cleerely manifest their renowne while the worlde doth stand in euerie place , and not their familie . the value of l. martius , who succeeded those two , against gisgon and magon , gathered the romaine army togither , which was all broken , and valiantly ouercame the enemies . likewise the vertues of scipio nasica , were such , that besides the victorious triumphs he obtained ouer his aduersaries , he was rightly iudged by the senate , to be the worthiest of the romaines , and that not in regard that hee was descended of the most noble stocke of rome . and if i would so farre forth inlarge my discourse , as well i might concerning this matter by true , and no fabulous examples : surely neither time , nor my tongue woulde serue me to expresse them . thou maiest see then possidonio , that so manie auncient trumpets as doe resound in the world , do not set forth neither the worthinesse of bloud , nor the antiquitie of linage , nor the rich pallaces of so many worthy knightes , but their notable vertue , their wonderful prowesse , and their singular greatnesse of courage . the bloud of that diuine plato , or of learned aristotle , or of wise pythagoras , of socrates , of diogenes , of xenophon , of demosthenes , of thales milesius , of chilon the lacedemonian , of pittacus , of bias , of cleobulus , of periander , whose wisedome did beautifie greece , nor of other philosophers , by whose learning the secrets of nature haue been opened vnto vs , was not so glorious and renowmed , as their vertue , of great fame . what doe wee heare of the birth of homer the grecian , or of virgil of mantna ? what of that eloquent cicero ? what of the offspring of famous titus liuius of padua ? of m. varro ? or of crispus salustius ? what of the stocke of plinie of verrona ? and of all they , who by their learning are at this day renowmed in the world ? truely nothing at all . but of their diuine skill , their arte and vertue , all men haue written and spoken . therehence proceedeth that excellencie by the which one man is to bee preferred before another . from thence springeth that dignitie , which causeth one man to bee distinguished and knowne from another : therehence proceedeth that true knowledge which maketh a noble man : from thence groweth that separation and diuision betweene man and man , causing the one to bee esteemed noble , gentle ▪ and accomplished , and the other ignoble , abiect and vile . to conclude , from thence true nobilitie hath his beginning . you may see nowe possidonio , of what small accompt bloud is in matter of nobilitie . it is then necessarie for him , whosoeuer hee be that desireth to become noble , to beautifie his minde , with good and vertuous actions . i say his minde , which is as readie and apt to take the impression of nobilitie , as a faire looking glasse , which doth as well receiue the beautifull forme of faire ladies , as the ill countenance of ill fauoured women , so the minde of man is prepared to receiue , either nobilitie , or basenesse . for as it adorneth it selfe either with good or bad conditions , so doth it present them vnto them . consider a man whose minde is iust , couragious , temperate , prudent , pitifull , charitable , and louing , graced with all vertues : and another whose minde is vniust , vnconstant , lauish , foolish , cruel , wicked , hatefull , and disgraced with all vice : wilt not thou iudge the first , more noble and perfit ( albeit he be not descended of some noble parents ) then the latter ? and what if some times the first were but meanlie apparelled , and the latter did weare costly garmentes , wilt thou say that hee were more noble , of more accompt , and worthy of more estimation ? no surely as i thinke : for i perswade my selfe , thou hast now changed thy opinion : and that thou wilt not fall into that errour which many doe , who beleeue that he ought to be more esteemed & more honoured then others , who is well apparelled . for if thou diddest put costly rayment vpon a porter or some such fellowes backe , perhaps he would seeme a farre more proper man , then a great manie such gentlemen : and yet i hope you will not say hee is a noble man. for example heereof , take diogenes the prince of the senicall sect , who went alwaies barefoot , with an old patched cloke on his shoulders , & in this maner was he found in crania , by alexander the great when he went to visite him : as we said of late . such a kinde of habite did not giue commendation either to his wisedome , or his nobilitie . epaminondas that famous prince , and leader of the thebane armies , did alwaies weare an old worne gown : which because he did neuer vse anie other , hee caused it oftentimes to be mended , whilest in the meane time he kept his house . you may now know hereafter , that true and perfit nobilitie , is deriued from no other fountaine , then the vertues of the minde , and not from the worthinesse of bloud . here fabricio paused a while , and afterwardes followed on his discourse in this maner . consider possidonio , that poore apparell doth not defraud a man of his demerites . and like as wee haue concluded , that true nobilitie descendeth from the vertues of the minde , and not from the dignitie of bloud : so then wee will yet conclude , that it doth not worke his effect , no not in riches . forasmuch as if wee would maintaine this opinion of thine , that riches are not onely an ornament , but rather necessarie to the bringing forth of perfit nobilitie ; it shoulde followe that pouertie , should make a man base and abiect , and as an enemie of true nobilitie , it ought to be banished : but hee is greatly to be blamed who is of this opinion : forasmuch as pouertie is not to be contemned , nor eschued , for such is the passion it bringeth vs , as is the mind that receiueth it . for if the mind of man be addicted to y t which is contrarie vnto it , that is vnto riches , it breedeth no delight , nor pleasure , but cruell bondage , and infinite labour , and as a traitour to rest and quietnesse , doth miserably afflict the thoughtes of man. and of this beleefe art thou possidonio , for because thy minde longeth after riches , thou perswadest thy selfe that pouertie is cause of all mischiefe , whereas in deede the euill ariseth of thy vnbrideled affection , which is buried in riches , and not of pouertie . but if the mind of man be not drowned in riches , pouertie shall be verie pleasant , and delightfull vnto him , and his minde shall be ioyfull , and at libertie . democritus , beeing nourished with pouertie , gaue as a gift vnto the common wealth of athens his infinite wealth , imagining hee might farre better followe his studie , with pouertie , then seruilie subiect himselfe vnto riches . like vnto him were diogenes , and anaxagoras . what shall i say of phocion of athens , especially worthie all honour and glorie ; who albeit hee had twentie seuerall times been emperour of the athenians : yet did hee in such sort loue pouertie , that the ambassadours of alexander the great comming vnto him , and bringing as a present , a great quantitie of golde , they found his wife kneading of dowe , and himselfe drawing water , whereby they deemed him to be verie needie , and yet notwithstanding he did refuse so rich a gift ; esteeming that to liue with pouertie , did bring greater tranquilitie vnto man , then to possesse great treasure . surely more ioyfull , and worthie of greater glorie , was the life of aristides the athenian , with his welbeloued pouertie , then the condition of callias his fellowe citizen , with his aboundant wealth . and tell mee possidonio , what vilenesse did the pouertie of quintus cincinatus , and attilius serranus , men of excellent vertues , bring vnto them ? who tilling the grounde , and sowing their corne , were worthilie chosen by the senate to be the conductors of the romaine armie : and those selfesame hands which did guide the plough , became rulers of chariots of triumph . the apparant pouertie of m. curius , a man of singular value , was no reproch vnto him , but rather made him worthy of eternall glorie , who after he had triumphed ouer the samnites and the sabines , returned to his poore cottage which was not capable of his greatnesse , whither the ambassadors of the samnites bringing vnto him a great summe of golde to make their pacification with the romaines , they found him sitting before the fire vpon a country stoole , eating in a woodden dish : and neuerthelesse he sent back their treasures after them , saying , y t he desired rather in his pouerty to command ouer those that were rich , then to become rich himselfe ; words well beseeming his magnanimitie of courage . equall to this man in poorenesse , and stoutnesse of mind , was fabricius lucinus , who likewise refused the guiftes of the samnites : neither yet were the treasures of pirrhus king of epire , which were offered vnto him , with the fourth part of his substance , sufficient to make him loose one iot of his value , albeit he was very poor . so manifest was attilius regulus his pouertie , that he coulde no more gouerne the empire in affrike , because at rome his children hadde not wherewithall to maintaine themselues . but tell me possidonio , doost thou deeme that these men for all their pouertie were not noble ? god forbid , nay contrary , the singular vertue of their minde , made them most noble . whereby thou mayst plainely perceiue , that if nobilitie may remaine with pouertie , and pouertie with nobilitie , together in one subiect , whie diddest thou yesterday persuade the contrarie ; esteeming that pouertie could aswell agree with nobilitie , as fire and water togither ? and that his felicity is greater ( if so bee man can attaine to any on earth ) whose mind resteth contented with pouertie , then his happines , who hath attained to the height of worldly welth , and lordly authoritie : the disposition of alexander the great may serue for proofe , who commaunding ouer the greater part of the worlde , because anaxagoras told him that there were many worldes , hee lamented greatly in his presence , that he had not fully as yet conquered one . and apollo may serue for witnesse heereof , whoe beeing demaunded by giges king of lidia , a prince of mighty power and wealth , if there were any man on earth more happy thē he was , by oracle made answer , that aglaus sofides the poorest man of all arcadia was more happie , because euen vntill his latter age hee had liued with contented pouertie , with a mind ful of quiet . by the which wee may vnderstand , that pouerty bringeth no reproch vnto nobilitie , and consequently that riches are not the ornament , nor any necessary parte thereof . if then , worthines of bloud be not necessary in matter of nobilitie , as with most euident reasons , and manie plain examples of diuers , who albeit they were discended of noble and royall bloud , were yet iudged ignoble , ( as this day i haue plainly shewed vnto you ) and if riches , how infinite soeuer , doe not giue any grace or ornament therunto ( as by the examples of many noble and valiant captaines i haue shewed vnto you ) vvhat manner of nobilitie is then in possidonio ? of what estimation shall wee account him ? and if that pouertie bringeth no contempt to the greatnes of perfect nobility , but contrarily doth exalt it : and that likewise the basenesse of bloud of our predecessors , is no let vnto vs to becom noble , as not only by most pregnant proofs , but also by manifest examples of so many popes , kings , emperours , consuls , pretors , as by my discourse you haue heard , i haue caused you this day to vnderstande , who although they did descend of base parents , yet did they neuerthelesse by their deserts , mount vp vnto the soueraigne degree of nobilitie : it follovveth necessarilie , that my nobilitie is farre more worthye , and farre more perfect then possidonios is . and if these examples bee not sufficient vvholie to mooue you , at the least let the example of ventidius bassus perswade you , who drawing his birth from a base and poore stocke , was in his young yeares taken vvith his mother by pompeius strabo , when hee brought the ascolains into subiection , and before his chariot was with other bondmen ledde captiue thorough rome : but hee growing into further age , that hee might the better haue wherewithall to maintaine his estate , hee gaue himselfe to buy mules , and with them to carrie trauellers by the vvaie ; by meanes whereof , he passed with cesar into france , where he beganne to shew the greatnesse of his courage , he hauing during the ciuill warres many matters imposed vppon him of no smal importance , and did execute them all with great magnanimity , and great admiration . for which his vertues , he was not onely intertained into cesar his friendshippe , but moreouer , had great office bestovved vpon him , beeing first made tribune of the people , and afterwardes pretor . and albeit that in that time he was with m. antonius iudged an enimy of the romans by y e senate , yet notwithstanding hauing made his peace , hee did not onely obtaine the office of a pretor , but he attained likewise the degree of high prelate , and afterwards was aduaunced to the dignitie of a consul . this was that ventidius , who beeing by m. antonius made generall of the easte prouinces , put the parthians to flight which were descended into syria , and three sundry times gaue them great ouerthrowes , and was the first who in rome triumphed ouer the parthians . and after his death , was honourablie buried by the romans . what was his birth ? what was his estate ? what vvere his riches ? vvho did of a bondslaue make him free ? who exalted him to so great nobilitie ? & to so great wealth ? surely it was not the antiquitie of y e bloud of his ancestors , nor his great welth , but the vertue of his minde . o worthy vertue vvhich possessing the mindes of men , dost exalt them euen to the skies ! consider ( gentlemen ) what let and reproch , the base birth of ventidius , was vnto the glorie of his nobilitie : consider i pray you , if his issue from so meane a place , vvas any hinderance vnto him , to rise to so high honour . and beleeue not possidonio , that at this daie there is any limited ende set , by which a man may become noble ; for euen as the noble families which at this day are in the vvorlde , haue hadde a beginning to make them noble ; so may the ignoble without any let , attaine thereunto . i may then conclude , that the basenesse of my bloud , nor the want of vvealth , are no let nor hinderance vnto mee to become noble . the worthines and vertue of man is that which maketh him noble . it maketh him rich , it exalteth him vnto the skies , and finally of a bond man , it setteth him free . wherefore possidonio , i need not feare though my auncestors , as thou diddest yesterday affirme , were scarse knowne , because i doubt not but that that vertue and learning vvhatsoeuer it be , that is in me , is of force sufficient to make those noble who shall hereafter issue from me , if so it be to be beleeued , that any nobilitie resideth in bloud . doth it now seeme vnto thee , that i haue with my sophisticall arguments shewed white for blacke , wherof thou wert so much afraide ; or made thee vnderstand the verie troth it selfe ? and to the ende , i may more strongly perswade thee , thou must know this , that he is farre more noble , who being borne of base parentage , hath beautified his mind with vertue and good conditions , then he that is descended of a noble stock , being as wel qualified as the other . this perhaps may seeme strange vnto thee possidonia ? yet will i make it very plaine . for no man will denie of any thing whatsoeuer , but the rewarde ought to counteruaile the paine that is taken : now hee vvhich is borne of base parentage taketh far more labor to become noble , then he that is descended of noble bloud : therefore he ought to receiue a greater recompence . that his labor is greater , cannot be denied . for he that is borne of noble bloud , is alwaies in the path to becom noble , and is not put to that pain , to attaine to the perfectiō of nobility , as he is , who is born of no noble stock , in asmuch as the one findeth the waye open and free , whereas the other findeth it full of rockes and thornes . now both of them hauing attained therunto , who will denie me , but that his nobilitie ought to be more esteemed , whose father was but a meane man , then the other ? surely not any man. are these fables possidonio ? doth it as yet seeme strange vnto thee ? i hope not . howbeit i will proceed further , and say . that hee ought to be more worthy of praise , who giueth himselfe vnto all worthy enterprises , not being forced nor constrained by any man , then he that addicteth himself vnto such laudable actions by force and compulsion . now he that is by bloud noble , is rather forced then otherwise by his owne vertues , to set foorth his nobility , least that his fathers nobilitie do basely take end in him selfe , but rather that by him it may be maintained and conserued in his successors : wheras he which is born of no noble stock , is far more noble , and far more worthie of praise , then hee which is borne a gent. although both of them be equal in vertue . hast thou capacity to comprehend this reason possidonio ? thou mayst novv consider , if i vse any sophistry , as thou diddest doubt i wuld ; for surely these are most manifest reasons , which i alledge for the troth , the which notwithstanding is manifest and cleere of it selfe . fabricio went stil forward in his discourse , when as m. peter anthony interrupting him , & turning towards him said . this thy conclusion should be very great fabricio , if it were as true as it is apparant , and as it seemeth thou dost affirme it for troth : for somuch as that part is alwaies of most force and strongest ( which cannot be denied ) where two reasons do concur togither then wher there is but one . nowe he that is of noble bloud , & innobled by his vertues , hath in him two sorts of nobility , the one of bloud , the other proceeding of vertue , which cannot be in him , whose father was no noble man , albeit he be esteemed equall in vertues vnto the other : wherfore his nobility shall not bee so puissant and mightie . which thou thy selfe didst affirme for true , when as to dissolue this argument ( if my memorie serue me well ) where possidonio went about to proue that the magnificence and glory of a man , ought by reason to extend it selfe vnto his successors , thou didst confes , that if you were both equall in vertue , possidonio his nobility shuld bee greater then thine : whereas contrarily in this thy new conclusion , thou dost not only make them equall , but the one in a higher degree , then the other : wherefore we ought to conclude , that he that is borne of noble parents is far more noble . and likewise i cannot easilie gather how this thy last reason doth well hang togither , by which thou wouldst proue that he is vvorthie of greater honor , who without any necessity , doth employ himselfe in vertuous actions , then hee that is forced therunto . for this thy maxime is true , that of euery worthy enterprise a mans recompence ought to bee so much the greater , as the detriment & hurt which may come vnto him in executing thereof . now vvho so is borne of noble bloud , is worthy greater blame & dishonor , when he doth not maintain the nobility of his fore fathers , then the ignoble by birth : therfore in cōseruing it , he ought to haue greater reward . by which reasons these thy two last conclusions , doe in my iudgment remain somwhat the weaker . you take no smal matter vpon you m. peter anthony , answered fabricio , if you seeke to boult out the troth of these your 2. propositions : for on both sides there may be spoken sufficiently ; the troth whereof i would gladly knowe , if it were so necessarie vnto our purpose , or if it were not so late . it cannot be late ( qd m. peter anthony ) yes ( qd y e whole company ) & so late as we shal not haue time to mount on horsback . how quickly is time slid avvay ( qd m. peter anthony ) you may see possidonio , how you make the hours sooner to passe away then vve thought for : as for mee , i did verily beleeue wee might haue staied here a good vvhile , but seeing it is so , we wil for this euening let our riding alone . i do not care much for riding abroad answered fabricio , let vs follow on our purpose , & there withall tur-towards possidonio , he said . worthy gentlemen , whatsoeuer thing is on earth , man iudgeth it either good , or euill , or holding a meane betvveene both . i demaund then possidonio , in which of these three qualities thou wouldest place true nobilitie ? not in the euil i trow , for then nobilitie should be euil . nor in the mean , for then should it be somtimes good , and sometimes bad . wee must then necessarily conclude , that it ought to be placed in that which is good . consisting in that which is good , it must either be in the goods of the body , of fortune , or of the mind . if wee say that nobilitie consisteth in the goods of the body , as to be faire , to bee in health , or in the goods of fortune , as in riches : it should then follow , that beautie , health , or riches ceasing , which 3. thinges are subiect to corruption , nobility would soone decay . we are then constrained to conclude , y t it consisteth in the goods of the mind , which are vertues , as long since i affirmed . besides we haue to consider , whither nobility consisteth in riches , or in man. if thou saiest possidonio , that it consisteth in riches , besides that which i haue long sithence alleadged , it should further follovv , that looke which way a mans wealth were caried , they being most noble , thither shuold his nobilitie goe , which ought in no wise to be vttered . vve must then conclude , that it remaineth in man. being in man , it is either by nature , or by purchace . if by nature , it followeth that we are all equally noble ; in asmuch as one man ( as i said vnto you ) was the beginner of all humane nature , of whom we are all descended , but that falleth not to be considered of . vve will then say that it is gotten . but how is it purchased ? surely by the proper vertues of the mind , and not by any other means . these are the reasons possidonio , which i doe alleadge in the behalfe of true nobilitie , doe they not seeme to be true ? surely i cannot possiblie make the troth more plaine vnto thee , then i haue done to day . but seeing the sunne beginneth more and more to hide it selfe , i cannot as i would , follow my pretended purpose : howbeit i will rest satisfied with that which i haue effectually spoken hitherunto : for i was not by anie necessitie constrained to say so muche . it onely remaineth for mee possidonio to tell , to whom the ring ought to be adiudged , which i would willingly do , but that i know nennio to be a iudge sufficient for a greater disputation then ours . and he may well in the wisdome of his vnderstanding discourse of the perfit qualitie , & noble condition of the ladie virginia , by whom the ring which we desire was giuen . for she being most accomplished with vertue , of most noble behauiour , most worthy for her honour , it auaileth thee nothing to equall thy self vnto her in considering thy nobilitie of bloud , or the quantitie of thy treasure : ( for thou maiest haue well vnderstood how much they make for nobilitie . ) nennio will likwise weigh her gentle words when she said : let the most noble of you two take the ring , by the which shee did affirme that there was nobilitie in both of vs , and yet that one was more noble then the other , and to the most noble she gaue it . in thee the nobilitie of bloud concurring , caused by thy predecessors , in me the nobilitie of mind , wrought by my owne vertues : it shall be an easie matter , not onlie for nennio , but for any other of any common capacitie to decide a matter of so small moment . howsoeuer it be , it seemeth now vnto me high time , to end my discourse : and albeit i could not vtter all that concerning this matter , which came into my conceit , and which might well haue been saide : neuerthelesse i will leaue off , as hauing contented my minde and quieted it especially reposing my self vpon the iust iudgment of him , who to morrow , or at any other time when hee shall see good , may determine this our controuersie . of whom i haue had that reputation , and so doe still hold him , that although i had not alleaged the one half of these reasons , yet had they been sufficient , to come to the knowledge of the trueth of this our disputation . and moreouer , whosoeuer doth well consider what hath been spoken yesterday , and this day , on both sides , he shall find nothing else , but an vnbrideled kind of life , to combate with a moderate liuing ; ignorance with knowledge ; dissolutenesse with modestie , vertue and honestie to fight against their contraries : and whether of those two sides doe bring most ornament , and nobilitie vnto man , is easily to be iudged . they all knew , that fabricio was come to the end of his discourse , and that he had nothing else to say : wherfore we all arising from our places , we went to take the aire , not on horsebacke , because the time was spent , but on foote , alongst the pleasant garden . and after that euerie one with his friend , had vttered his opinion concerning fabricio his discourse , we parted ech from other , some this way , others that way : in the end wee all of vs except two , who still walked in the garden , the sweetnesse whereof we all enioyed , met vnder the fresh gallerie . these staied not long before that against their willes , they gaue vs occasion of no small pastime : for on the one side of the garden , there was a woode so thicke with high greene trees , that scarcely you could haue planted one more there . this thicket , where it ioyned to the garden , it was inuironed with a deepe ditch , which was drie without water : and on the other side closed in with the garden wall . within there were nourished manie wild beasts , and towardes the garden , there was a little draw bridge to enter into it . these two young men , drawing downe the bridge , went in and simply left the bridge downe as they came forth , immediatly for feare of those that entred the wood , there issued out two yong kids , and a hart . and if the garden gates had not shut of themselues , y e beasts had been loste : which one of the seruants perceiuing , he so dainly called one of his fellowes , who brought a brase of dogges with him , which hee let slip at these wild beasts ; we being mooued with the crie of y e dogs , and noyse of the hunters , wee looked out at the windows which were next the garden , where we might see this vvar already begun , vvhich vvas pursued vvith an infinit pleasure of vs all . for vve might see them runne vvith great svviftnesse , the beasts flying , and the dogs follovving , but y e chiefest sport vvas , the many turnings in the garden , and the crooked alleies , by vvhich the beasts did fetch many a skip , & turne to saue their liues , from the deadly pinching of the dogs . and after they had some 3. or 4 ▪ times rounded the garden , the hart , y e bridge being yet cleane dovvn , & the gate open , vvith a light skip , got into the thicket again ; the kids follovved , & the dogs after , which one of the seruants perceiuing , he drew vp the bridge , least they shuld come out again . but longing after the sport , vve came down , vvith each of vs a cudgel in our hand , you may gesse vvhat these beasts did ( vvherof there vvas great store in the vvood ) vvhen they savv y e dogs follovv them . they ran euerie way , somtimes thorow y e thickest places , somtimes right forth : & vvhilest vve vvere intentiue after this sport , we might espy 3. seruants cōming out of y e vvood vvith the 2. kids , the hart ▪ & 2. yong hares , vvhich had been slain in this vvar . wherefore imagining this pray to be sufficient after the ordinarie rate , after y t commandement was giuen to take vp the dogges , who were not yet out of breath : we came forth of the woode , and shortly after sate downe to supper according to our woonted order , where wee supped verie pleasantly , the winde blowing verie freshly vpon vs : after supper wee fell in talke of this sodaine hunting , which fell out vnlooked for . wherein wee continued , vntill the starres were seene in the skie , hauing beforehand taken order that nennio should the next day followe with his discourse at the same time that possidonio , and fabricio had done theirs , and then we entred into the house , where after we had walked a little , seeing it a fit houre to go to bed , the torches being lighted , vve vvere brought euerie one vnto his lodging . the third booke . as often as waighing with my selfe i consider , howe great the weakenes is which nature yeeldeth vnto mā , i cannot surely imagin whence it shoulde proceed , that al men what soeuer doe oftentimes feele a certaine motion of bloud , which spreadeth it selfe about the heart , when as they do only call to minde but the verie name of nobilitie , which they possesse , and that much more , when they are told thereof by some other . nay there are some , who without measure coueting that title , doe puffe vp their mindes , esteeming that to be the greatest fauour of all other . other some there are ( without doubt of a more damnable opinion ) who are mounted vp to that height of pride , by the onely remēbrance likewise of that name , hauing no thought to the difficultie of the effect thereof , that they doe verilie perswade themselues ( such is the de●eiueable beliefe of mortall men ) that the whole worlde is at their commandement , and surely they deeme themselues to be equal to no other , then to god himselfe , and by this conceite they being led away , they despise all vertue ▪ surely this doth draw me into great doubtes : for as i say , if i enter into consideration of mans weakenes , and do waigh wherof he is made , i see nothing therein , but vile filthinesse . and nature did not onely giue this vnto man at his first creation , but likewise in the dissolution of this mortall life , it made the same farre worse . seeing that the weake and fraile members of man , as it is euident of it self , so soone as the spirit is separated from the bodie , how soone they are changed into wormes , into earth , & loathsom smels : o miserable life of man , and of short continuance ! but in truth this ought to be smally regarded ( although it be a great argument of y e frailty of man ) if we did note not only in the beginning , & the end of the life of man , but euen in the midst therof , matters of greater woonder , because we see that all thinges vnder the heauens , doe make continuall warre ech one against themselues , and all togither bid most cruell battaile against man alone . the aire oftentimes , is assailed with darcke cloudes , with flashing lightning , and threatning thunder , and all these are ordained to vexe man. the water against the fire . the fire against the water , and both togither do fight against man. moist thinges against drie thinges , and drie thinges against moist , and both most and drie warre against man. the south striueth with the north and the other windes , and all of them togither blowing with great impetuositie , in the depth of the swelling seas , with great force do often deceiue y e vain affections of man. what shal i say more ? one man doth conspire against another . if then the life of man be after so strange a maner , wrapped in so many miseries , and in so many dangers ; i cannot wel imagine what cause he hath to wax so proud , with this title of nobilitie , which is giuen him . and as for my selfe , i know not els what i should say vnto you , but that such men being on high lifted vp with a superfluous desire of glory , do let thēselues be carried away with their vaine appetites , like vnto a bird which flying in the aire hath no assurance . o foolish nobilitie , if so we ought to call it , or rather deceitfull shadow . for we are not able to comprehend what aid this nobilitie ( no lesse desired then reuerenced of mortal men ) may bring vs : for asmuch as it neither bringeth wisedome , nor knowledge , incomparable gifts , which are sent vs from god , neither doth it make vs more iust , or more prudent , which are qualities that consist in the soule . it may be that it is an aide vnto the body ? no surely in my opinion , for it doth not giue neither greater beautie , nor greater strength , nor greater grace thereunto : by all which reasons we may easily gather into how great errour these maner of men doe so foolishly fall . yet will i not say , but that sometimes nobilitie , is cause of great good , as it is indeed , when it is true nobilitie : but that which at this day beareth sway in y e most part of men , is not onely cause of any good , but contrarilie of great euill . for if we would without imagination , passe thorow all the cities that are in the world , we shuld find very few , or it may be none at al , where there are not factions , & diuisions between gent. and the common sort , from whence afterwards do bud hatred , quarrels , & so many murthers as we may heare of euery where . amongst many histories , i might here recite to you , how y e people of rome , by reason of y e discords which did arise between y e patriciens & them , often abandoned y e city , & made their abode in y e hil called mount sacro , vntil meneuius agrippa made peace betwixt thē . experiēce hereof hath not bin only seen in forrain cities , of which i coulde bring you infinite examples , but euen in our owne , within these few yeares : i say then , that as one sort of nobilitie is the cause of euill , so is the other of good . howsoeuer it be , i do wholly referre my selfe to the iudgement of nennio , who this day shal take vpon him the whol discourse : and it may be by good means he will agree ( as it is commonly his custome ) the disaccording opinions of possidonio , and fabricio , which by the two former bookes , you may haue particularly vnderstoode . and so much the more it will delight vs to heare him , as their opinions doe seeme vnto vs to bee cleane contrarie , by meanes whereof likewise we shall heare the determining of the question propounded : wherfore inasmuch as i purpose not to intermingle my words with his , tempering my speech hereafter , i will indeuour without diminishing any word , orderly to set downe that which he discoursed , as much as the meannesse of my wit , will giue me leaue . by this time there was no starre seene in the skie , because the sunne had alreadie chased the moist shadow of the night from of the earth , and with his shining brightnesse , euery part of our hemisphere was enlightned , and the birds merrily chirping from the top of the greene branches , gaue good witnesse , that the morning was come , when as both men , and women , being risen , after praiers was ended , mounted on horsebacke , and being entred into delightfull medowes , they softly paced on treading the greene grasse vnder their feet , vntil it seemed vnto them high time to draw back againe . wherfore they being returned , & shortly after set at table , they fed togither with great mirth , and contentment , & dinner being don , som went to play at eschets , others at tables , & som to take their rest , as seemed best vnto thē . but the middle of y e day being come , they assēbled thēselues after their accustomed maner in y t place whereas possidonio & fabricio had the 2. former daies , made their discourse . and by this time nennio beeing readie , they sat down vvithout order round about him : vvho beholding the companie , and seeing them all attentiue , vvithout any further staie , gaue beginning to his discourse in these wordes . i did consider hovv hard a thing it is , to laie a heauier burden on a mans backe then his forces are able to beare ; in asmuch as it sildome happeneth but that the one of them doth thorovv vveakenesse fall to y e ground . and therefore i feared greatlie , that the like this daie should not happen to my selfe . seeing that if i doe on the one side weigh the deapth of the question that is propounded , or the difficultie of those thinges that might thereupon be spoken : or on the other side the vveakenesse of my vnderstanding , the feeblenes of my memorie , togither vvith my young yeares , certainlie not i onelie , but euerie one may in himselfe iudge the inequalitie of these things . whereupon it might easilie come to passe , that i my selfe , contrarie to my intent , and you , should remain vnsatisfied , & the matter vvherupon vve are to discourse , should not be sufficientlie opened vnto you . but sitting in the midst of so louing a companie , where there are men of better wit , and grauer iudgment then my selfe ; and being moreouer constrained by you , by my iudgement to make peace betweene these tvvo champions , i dare not refuse so waightie a matter , though my forces be ouerweake , because i assure my selfe , that vvhere i shal shew my selfe feeble or vvanting , that you wil take order to adde a supplie thereunto , and if so bee that i faile , you wil hold me excused , & impute it to my yoūg yeares . and if you heare any good thing come from me , i doubt not but you will giue mee fauourable hearing . wherfore my courage taking strength from this ground , i will not iudge it inequall vnto the burthen which i beare , and vnder his fauour who fauourably giueth succour vnto mortall men , i will by little and little begin my discourse . worthy company . the two opinions which were these two daies now past at large related , by fabricio , and possidonio , are manifest vnto you , which you haue wel vnderstood how different they are . for the one prooueth nobility to consist in bloud , and in riches , and the other in the vertues of the mind . hee denying bloud and riches , to be any thing necessarie : the other , that learning and knowledge needed not therein . in this wise they did inlarge their discourse , alledging and reprouing many arguments , which both the one and the other side did make shewe vnto the hearers to bee probable : so that scarsely it may be discerned , which of them draweth nearer the troth . yet to boult out the troth of this controuersie , before we passe any further , to shew what that true nobility is which we seeke for , which can very hardly be done , bicause it is of so many different kinds . one sort therof is deriued from the glory of the bloud of our ancestors , accompanied with riches , of the which possidonio spake sufficientlie the other day . an other sort proceedeth from the vertues of the mind , and of this fabricio discoursed yesterdaie , with as great sharpnesse of wit as need to be . of these tvvo mingled togither , and concurring in one subiect , is produced another sort , which i wil name compounded nobility . to these two may be added another kind which is called ciuill nobility . before then y t we come to determine our disputation , wee will first see the substance of euery one of these sorts of nobility , and i will begin with that which possidonio defended . nobility of bloud ( worthy gentlemen ) is no other thing but a certaine quality which is deriued from the bloud of our auncestors , and continued in their lavvfull posterity , and by how much it is more auncient , by so much is it accounted more worthy amongst the vulgar sort : and albeit there be diuers degrees of this nobility of bloud ( the one of great men , in the number of which are those that are simple barons : the other of greater personages , as earles , marquesses , dukes , & such like , a third in the highest degree of supremacy aboue the rest , as of kinges and emperours ) yet notwithstanding i vvill onely intreat of the moste inferiour degree ; to vvit , of the nobility of those , vvho possesse neither earledomes , nor baronies , as it fell out in the disputation betvveene possidonio and fabricio , leauing al the other vnspoken of . but like as a man can hardly staie his feete vppon a turning vvheele , so with as great difficultie may hee make any abode vpon this nobility , by reason that on what side soeuer i turne my selfe , i shall finde it more wauering and inconstant , then the leafe which vvithout any stay , is tost and blovvne heere and there with the wind . for so diuers and of many fashions is the beleefe of men , touching the beginning and obseruance thereof , that we can scarsly discerne whether it bee nobilitie , or rusticity . insomuch as that manner of life , vvhich vve see is vsed by our gentlemen to conserue themselues in their nobility , and which the vulgar sort dooth repute to bee good , it may be in some other citie it wil not be accounted rusticity , the customes beeing different , and theirs nobilitye : and the like estimation will wee holde of others . we see that in the famous and lordlie cittie of naples , that marchandize is separated from the exercise of noblemen , they agreeing therin with the thebanes , who in like maner did despise marchandize , and by publike decree did ordaine , that no marchant shoulde execute any publike office , within the city of thebes , except he had left off the trade of marchandize the space of ten yeares : vvhich is cleane contrarie in the rich , and magnificent citie of venice , where not onlie those of the baser sort , but noblemen likewise , and such as are of the number of their senators , do vse marchandize , for the which they expose their liues to a thousande dangers , & wel-nigh coast the whole world . the worthinesse of the bloud of their predecessors , maketh a distinction betweene the noble and ignoble , and not their maner of vocation . you may see how that kind of life , which is accustomed amongst the noble men of venice , is reputed rusticitie and vile amongst the gentlemen of naples , vvho hold their nobilitie as good , whereas the magnificos of venice doe esteeme theirs perfect , and the neapolitans bad . what conformitie doe we finde between the gentlemen of rome , and the florentines : or betweene those of millan , and the gentlemen of genoua ? surelie such as the former . and how manifestlie the meanes to conserue the nobilitie of statelie france , doe differ from that of renowmed and noble italie , i thinke there are few vvhich doe not knovve it : forsomuch as the gentlemen of france & of other countries , do liue vpon their lands , and hold it for rusticitie to dvvel in tovvnes , & contrarily in italie , we leaue the countrie for clowns to inhabite , and gentlemen doe commonlie dwell in tovvnes . it is a woonderfull thing to consider that if a man do turne his thought into any part of the vvorlde whatsoeuer , he shal finde no countrey inhabited with men where this nobilitie of bloud , and this difference betvvene noblemen and those of the baser sort , is not : and yet notwithstanding scarse is there any nation , who both in the beginning and in the conseruation thereof , doe agree the one with the other . for some do deem him noble ( and none other ) who honoureth himselfe with the beames that doe shine from his ancestors , placing true nobility only in bloud . some doe affirme that he is only noble , who is indued with great riches , albeit he haue no sparke of noble bloud in him . others say , it consisteth iointly in bloud and riches . others make themselues and their posterity noble , in following the war , applying the same with all their indeuour , albeit ( in the opinion of some men ) they doe descend but of base parentage . besides , some doe hold for certaine , that this true nobility consisteth in those , vvho doe vvholy dispose themselues in the seruice of kings and princes , and of such as depend of them , as if the true glory of nobilitie did spring from thence . this especially is obserued amongst noblemen , and shewed by great traine of seruants , by rich and statelie apparell , and by a certaine liberall kind of life in all their actions . others doe deeme that he liueth most nobly and most lordlike , who besides the properties aforesaide , hath great store of horses to serue him . there are yet others , who do affirme that to keepe houndes and hawkes , and such sorts of beasts , and euery day to be a hunting , is an exercise and life aboue all other most fit for a gentleman . others do deeme , that they maintaine their nobility well , in liuing idlie , and vsing nothing else but gaming . some doe thinke , that they lead a very honorable life if they liue honestly and moderately . some imagine that nobility is to liue in the countrey , as i saide vnto you , some to dwell in a towne . some thinke it to consist in marchandize ; others are of a contrary opinion , that a noble man ought not to vse the trade of marchādize . but who can reckon vp the diuers sorts of nobility ? seeing that not onely amongst diuers nations wee finde , hovv different this nobility of bloud is , as well in the beginning thereof , as in the vse thereof : but euen amongst those of the same countrey . for albeit that in france , and elsewhere , such is the custome , as i haue related vnto you : notwithstanding in gallia belgica in the prouince of lionois , in gascoine , and about narbonne , and in other places in france , there are aboue three hundred sortes of life , for the conseruation of their nobility , not conformable the one with the other . we see likevvise the very same in the people of spain , because the inhabitants of arragon doe not equallie obserue the same meanes to maintaine their nobilitie as those of the kingdome of grenado , of castillia , of catalonia , of biscay , of nauarre , or of gallicia do , much lesse they of the kingdome of portingall . what conformity is there betweene the britons , the normans , and the fleminges ? what agreement betweene either the high or lowe germaine , and the inhabitants of saxony ? surely none at all , because the nobilitie of one nation is diuerslie distinguished from an other . and if we will enter into discourse of the inhabitants of the higher and lower hungarie , of england , of austria , of bauaria , of valachia , or of the great and lesser polonia , of russia , of muscouia , of lithuania , we shall not find amongst those nations , no nor scarse particularly amongst themselues any certaine meanes from whence the nobility of bloud dooeth spring : nor any certain maner of life , amongst the gentlemen which dooth agree togither . and not onely in the west and northren partes , but likewise in the easterly and southerly , we see they doe vse such diuersitie of nobility . forsomuch as those of that countrey we call greece , doe esteeme the life of their gentlemen , to be the true and proper life fitte for gentlemen : whereas the inhabitantes of the greeke ilands doe iudge it but bad . vvhat resemblance of nobility is there betweene the people of syria , of capadocia , of armenia , of mesopotamia , of media , of persia , of parthia , and of a number of other prouinces ? and returning to those vvho dwel in the partes of afrike , we finde that they hold this nobility in great account , but the qualities and the meanes which they vse to conserue it , are different : because the people of mauritania are not conformable amongste themselues : nor the people of getulia , nor of libia cirenensis , nor likewise they who dwell in aegypt , or in both the prouinces of aethiopia ▪ or in the habitable countreyes of arabia , or of india , amongst whom ( albeit that in other respects they bee a monstrous and cruell nation ) yet haue they this diuersitie of nobility . but vvhy doe i thus recken vppe the habitable parts of the worlde ? for to conclude , you shall finde this diuersitie of the beginning and exercising of nobilitie of bloud so great , not as there are whole nations , but as there are people and tovvnes in the world . and that i may not wander into places so farre off , vve may see the same in italy , where there is no towne which i can name vnto you , which is conformable vnto another , in the first originall and vse of this nobility : if then the beginning and exercise thereof , bee not one and the same , but different in euery place , how is it possible for me to tell which is the best and most commendable sort thereof ? yet haue i the hart to conclude this necessarilie , that there is no certaintie in the beginning and vse of this kind of nobilitie , for if there were , it should carrie with it constantnesse and stabilitie , from the which it should take beginning , and by the which it should equallie conserue it selfe in euery country . scarce was nennio come to the conclusion of his discourse , when as maister peter anthonie , turning towardes him , said merilie vnto him after this maner . nennio , if thou bearest any respect vnto mee , staie there ; for albeit that it hath been very pleasing vnto vs , to heare of so many fashions of nobilitie , and of so many diuers customs , as those of the countries which thou didst alleadge : yet notwithstanding this thy laste conclusion which thou diddest necessarily gather , doth not follovv so easilie as i think . for although that at rome , at venice , at naples and elsewhere , the customes bee changed ( as thou sayst ) and the maner of nobilitie , yet doth it not follow for all that , that there is no certaintie thereof . for in naples it is certaine , and this sort of nobilitie which is accustomed amongst the gentlemen , is most constantly maintained there ; so likewise at venice , at rome , and in euery other place . and it is to no purpose to say that they are contrarie , for neither at naples , nor elsewhere , shalt thou finde any contrarietie in the obseruance of their nobility . likewise if so it were , it would follow that the one should be nobility , and the other rusticity : by which thou mayst certainlie iudge , that there is certainty in this nobility . as for example , we see that at venice , the same lawes , or the same statutes , are not obserued , which are at naples and at rome ; for they doe varie , as they may best fit and agree with the places : and yet doe they seeme cleane contrarie the one to the other : howbeit amongst the lawes and statutes of venice there is no contrarietie , although they agree not , but are cleane different from those of naples . shall wee therefore say that they are not al lawes ? yes surely that they are : euen so may we say of all these kindes of nobilitie , which albeit that either they doe seeme , or are indeed contrarie the one to the other , yet doe they not leaue the name of nobilitie . m. peter anthonie had no sooner ended his speech , but nennio replied after this maner . this certaintie of nobilitie , which you would haue m. peter anthonie , if wee consider thereof in a separate place by it selfe , as it seemeth you doe , that is true which you say : whereas i affirme , that in the whole world , there is no certaintie of nobilitie , for the great diuersitie that is therein , by the which you may easily discerne which is either more or lesse perfect , then the other : forasmuch as we finde not anie one sorte of nobilitie , aboue mentioned , which bringeth an approoued reason for the beginning therof , or that the life and exercise of noblemen be reasonably grounded vpon any certaine foundation : but i finde them to consist in obseruation without anie ground , whereof i can giue you no other reason , but that the vulgar sort haue after their owne will so appointed it , the like whereof doth not happen in lawes , which although they seeme or doe differ the one from the other , they doe all notwithstanding carrie a reason for their ground : so that this your similitude can hardly hold , this nobilitie being without any certain principle , and without any determinate meanes . m. peter anthonie made no other reply vnto his answere , as if he had been thorowly satisfied therwith : wherefore he preparing to follow on his discourse : m. dominico breaking off his speech , said thus . albeit that in the defence of nobilitie of bloud ( worthie gentlemen ) manie reasons haue been produced the other day , both by possidonio and our selues , by the which we went about to proue , that it was true and perfect , to the which fabricio afterwards to shew that his nobilitie , and not that which possidonio held for , was true and perfect , did with subtile reasons brauelie make answere thereto , and by his argumentes force himselfe to perswade vs , that such kinde of nobilitie was not anie way to be held of any accompt . yet notwithstanding , before wee passe anie further , and before you giue any iudgement thereof nennio : i will not forbeare in confirmation of the first opinion of possidonio , with new reasons , which now come to my remembrance , to shewe you , that the nobilitie of bloud , conioyned with riches , as a speciall gift comming from god , ought not onely to be had in estimation , but likewise to be reuerenced . and if it seemeth vnto thee fabricio , that in alleadging new reasons , i should renewe the enterprise begun , letting the discourse of nennio , let not that displease thee ▪ for it is not meete that any of our reasons should cause the iudge to be silent , whose wisedome i am sure will thoroughly resolue thereof , though wee propose sundrie argumentes which shall happen into our remembrance , whether it be against thee , or in thy fauour . it shall please me well that thou returne to discourse of the nobilitie of possidonio : for if i be permitted to answere aswell as thou to propound , i doubt not , but that i shal refute thy arguments as i haue done the rest , and that thereby the conceit of the iudge , shal be more resolued , and the end of the discourse sooner brought to passe . say on then that , which thy memorie will giue thee leaue . m. dominico proceeded in this maner . the great prophet dauid , hauing vpon his resounding harpe , with sweete accents song a diuine dittie to the praise of his mercie , who was his creator , he afterwards framed another , in the which by the prophet it is manifestly seene , that the nobilitie of bloud in man is permitted of god , which with his owne seed is transfused vnto his lawfull heires , when as hee saith in these words : that powerfull and abundant shal his seede be on earth , and that honour , glorie , and riches , shal be in his posteritie . you see how they honour the glorie of man , which is no other thing then that vvhich vve terme nobilitie , continued in his posteritie . thou seest likewise fabricio , how that riches are ioyned togither vvith nobilitie : for the prophet doth in such sort offer them ioyntly togither , that it seemeth that the glorie and nobilitie of man shoulde be altogither imperfect , if it vvere depriued of riches . whereunto notvvithstanding thou vvouldest in no wise consent . and it woulde auaile thee nothing if thou vvouldest say , that y e prophet vvas lifted vp into a heauenlie contemplation , he coulde not offer temporall , but spirituall and eternall riches , and so vvee ought to take this text alleaged spiritually . for if wee vvoulde vnderstand it in this maner , it shoulde bee plaine agaynst his meaning , not so muche in regard , that he sayth expressely , he ought to be powerfull on earth , and mightie in the seed of man , and not in heauen , as for that in the same song he afterwardes pursueth spirituall goodes , which man may obtain ; so that necessarily we ought to vnderstand it of temporall goods . likewise it appeareth manifestly by the same scripture ( which as you knowe ought in no wise to bee transgressed ) that nobilitie doth descend from our auncestors . and likewise i remember to haue read in that booke ( wherein the heauenly instructions of the life of man are diuinely handled ) a text which sheweth plainly , that the glorie and nobilitie of the sonne , doth depend of the honour of the father , who if he be depriued thereof , the sonne likewise shal be dishonoured . thou seest how the nobilitie , and ignobilitie of man descendeth from his auncestors , as possidonio affirmed . and in another place the same authour charitably doth admonish vs , that we are to praise no man before his death , because he is knowne in his children , intending thereby , that the honor and glorie of man , remaineth with his posteritie after his departure out of this life . truely fabricio , these are authorities , which can hardly be auoided , besides the which i coulde yet alleadge an infinite number like vnto these . m. dominico was no sooner come to the end of his speech , but fabricio like vnto a braue warriour , who left nothing vntried , which might serue for resistance , and his owne defence , opposing himselfe against him , said thus . these your authorities , m. dominico , are not so hard to be withstood , as it seemeth at the first they are : for if we rest vpon the litterall sentence , i doe not denie but the prophet vnderstandeth that which you say , but i know that you are not ignorant , that it is necessarie for vs that are christians , to expound the holie scripture , not according vnto the sound of the wordes , least wee easily incur the like blame which the obstinate iewes ( against their wils ) fell into , but according to the spiritual sence . king dauid then ( intending by his comfortable song , to persuade man that he should be happy if he feared god in his commandements ) what blessings did he offer him ? children , honour , and riches , perhaps , but not certainlie : for the rewarde of those vvho feare god , is to abound in earthly thinges . but hovve many priestes and monkes are there vvhich are depriued of children , and of the honour of the world ? how many are there , who in hermitages doe liue an austere kinde of life ? how many begging friers are there , wanting wealth ? and how many are there , who haue vowed their chastitie to god for the beleefe they haue in him ? certainly the number is infinit . and notwithstanding , they haue byn iudged worthie of gods fauour , and numbred amongst saints . so i doe iudge him to feare god more , who holdeth his virginity deare , and offereth the same vnto him with a free hart . who flyeth from the honors and vanities of the worlde , and distributeth his goodes to the poore . the workes of mercy then , are the seed of the merciful man , and of him that feareth god , and not his children , which seed shal be mighty on earth as is promised . and he who for the feare of god , shal despise the honor and riches of the world , without doubt he shall obtain celestial glory with eternall riches : in like sort ought we to vnderstand the last authority alleadged by you , which seemeth to intende , that man is knovvn in his children : for hardly shal we know him that departeth this world , without leauing any issue . we shal know him indeed in his children , that is to say , by his fruits , for if he hath sowne good fruite , in this mortall life , vve may certainly iudge , that he shall receiue better fruite in the life to come . to the other text i ansvvere : that the author in his booke , discoursing of precepts ( no lesse full of diuinitie then comfort ) admonisheth vs ( amongst other thinges ) that vve take good heed , that we boast not of our fathers shame , because our glory dependeth on the honor of our father . intending thereby ( according vnto reason ) to teach vs , y t vvho so mocketh his father , mocketh himselfe . and that is true in it selfe , but not that which the soūd of his words shevveth vnto vs. maister dominico did perceiue that fabricio had nothing else to say in his defence , & did willingly receiue his answer , which he had made on the suddaine , which vvas so much the more pleasing vnto the company , as forsaking the exposition of the letter , he drew neere to the sence of the troth . but nennio ( as one to vvhome the troth of their propositions and answeres vvas vvell knowne ) was not pleased that any of them should intermeddle in answering and replying . wherefore passing on further , he entered in this maner to his discourse againe . howsoeuer it be fabricio , this nobilitie of bloud , by the vulgar sort is helde in the highest estimation aboue any other : forsomuch as they doe repute those to bee true noblemen , who are descended of a noble familie , so that if any mention be made amongste them of nobilitie , they vnderstand not nobilitie of mind , but nobilitie of bloud . which maketh great in fauour of possidonio , for this vvord noble , beeing simplie spoken by the courteous lady , seeing that we are in doubt thereof , we ought to take it as it is receiued by the common voice . but that i may no longer intertaine you heere with possidonio , we will passe on with fabricio , to the other sort of nobility , for the which hee hath plaide the stout warriour . that is not like vnto the former esteemed of any worth , by the vulgar sort , but by men of learning , and such as are well brought vppe , it is highlie accounted of , and greatly reuerenced , and it consisteth in the vertues of the mind . for nobility of the minde , is no other thinge , but a shining brightnesse which proceedeth from vertue , which maketh them famous and noble that are possessed therewith , of the excellencie and perfection whereof howe amplie fabricio didde discourse , is wel knowne vnto you : for in discoursing thereof yesterday , with such argumentes as came into his mind , he intertained vs vntill the euening . and surely i finde it neither so diuers , nor so changeable , nor so vnconstant as the other , but it is alwaies , and euery where , after one fashion , certaine and stable . it onely taketh beginning from vertue , and with good and vertuous actions is conserued . whereupon some doe call it perfect nobilitie , because it standeth in neede neither of bloud , nor of the riches of other men . how may that be ( quoth one of the ladies of the company ) who with a witty readinesse opposed her selfe against him ) that it needeth not riches , seeing that they are not onely necessary vnto the nobility of bloud , but to this likewise , whereof you speake , as it seemeth vnto me . for as possidonio did the other day relate vnto vs , no man can attaine vnto any degree of vertue or nobilitie , except riches doe make a breach and vvaie vnto him . and who knoweth not , that if any wise or learned man , for want of wealth went ill apparailed , that hee should not be accounted as a noble man ? you may see then how riches are necessary vnto the nobility of the mind . the young lady hauing ended hir speech , nennio made this answer vnto her . put case madam that it were true , that a man cannot attaine vnto vertue or nobility , without riches , notwithstanding i speake not of the meanes to become noble : for according as you consider them , riches are nothing else , but the meanes by the which the will of man is put in execution : but it is of nobility it selfe , that i talk . for after that man hath innobled his mind with vertue , and driuen from thence all vice , what neede hath hee of riches ? what hurt receiueth he if he couer not his body , if it be not set foorth with gorgeous apparell ? it may be madam , that a meane , honest , and modest attyre , doth not onely amongst the better sort of men , but euen amongst the common people , giue no lesse grace to one that is become noble , in this maner , then an imbrodered , lasciuious , and laced garment , doth set forth your noble man of the other sort . so that if we will effectually comprehend the true essence of man , and with a right eie consider his qualities , he should cast off all his habilitie , depriue himselfe of honour , forsake the goodes of fortune , lay aside his costly apparell , and so we ought to beholde naked , not his body , but his mind , of what calling soeuer he be of , as diogenes and others did , of whome fabricio didde speake yesterday . thus shall we know whether hee bee noble , or ignoble ; good or euill , if in regard of his nobilitie , he hath need of that which is his own , or of that which other men possest : when we see him not vainlie set forth with faire apparell , and rich pompe , wee shal deeme him noble : for if a stocke , in forme of a man , were clad with them , should wee iudge it noble ? whosoeuer woulde thinke so , had no iudgement of a man. which wise themistocles did plainly teach vs madam , who being asked to whom he would giue his daughter to wife , whether to a man adorned with vertue , but poore ; or to a rich man destitute of vertue : he said , i had rather a man wanting wealth , then riches that had neede of a man. i say then , that riches are to no vse vnto him , whose minde is indued with nobilitie , so that he be not wholly depriued of them ; for hee shoulde rather want meate , then apparell . but returning to our purpose , i doe consider , that he in whose reuerence all liuing creatures doe humbly bowe themselues , hauing created the earth , only in giuing it being , he bountifully beautified it with diuers plants ( as wee may see euery where ) vnto the which ( besides their being ) he gaue nothing els but life . afterwards he created those liuing creatures , which we call brute , or vnreasonable , the which doe farre and neere walke in the sea , in the earth , and in the aire , and to them he gaue life and sence . finally , god framed man vnto his likenesse , to whom he graunted not onely being , life , and sence ; but he added reason therunto , which is a peculiar gift vnto man. man being then partaker of all these qualities , in which of them shall we place true nobilitie ? certainly not in being , nor in life ( for that should be common with the earth and with the plantes . ) much lesse in sence ( for then should we make brute beastes noble . ) wherfore we will then necessarily say , that true and perfect nobilitie of man , consisteth only in that part , which maketh man different from beastes ; and that is reason , by the which he is called a reasonable creature , and the other vnreasonable , as i said vnto you . he then who leadeth this mortall life swaruing from reason , is not to be accompted nor called noble , albeit that he descende of noble bloud : for albeit he hath the outward shape of a man , being depriued of the most noble part , which god hath giuen vnto man ( i meane reason ) he remaineth without doubt to be reckoned amongst vnreasonable creatures , and to be compared vnto beasts : which being not partakers of reason , doe leade their life according as their sence teacheth them . and who knoweth not this , that man casting away so noble a gift , can neuer attaine vnto the soueraigne nobility of his last end ? hee then that submitteth the operations of his minde vnto reason , and knoweth well howe to distinguish it from sensualitie is a right and perfit gentleman . m. peter anthonie taking the speech vpon him , said thus : seeing that it is lawful for vs with new reasons to fortifie either side of the defendants , i will not forbeare to let you heare , that which i haue called to mind , in fauor of fabricio , which being said , he proceeded in this maner . hereby worthy gentlemen , is shewed the excellency of the nobilitie of the mind , that one thing is more noble and excellent then another , by how much the subiect thereof is excellent and noble : nowe the subiect of this nobilitie , is farre more noble and worthie then the nobilitie of bloud , because it proceedeth of vertues : therefore the nobilitie of the minde is much more excellent and noble then the nobilitie of bloud . and not onely in consideration of the subiect , it is more perfect then the other , but likewise in the regard of the obiect , because it is alwaies seene to remaine in a more worthie and vertuous obiect ; that is to say , in a man well borne , prudent and wise . whereas the other may be in a most vile obiect . forasmuch as if of noble bloud , a foolish , or mad child be ingendred : notwithstanding amongst the vulgar sort , he is accompted one among●t noble men . how manie are there sprong of a worthie familie , who become robbers in the high way , murtherers , theeues , slaunderers , and finally enemies to themselues ? ought we to accompt such noblemen , because they descend of noble parents ? god forbid , for considering the vilenesse of their mind , they ought to be iudged not only ignoble , but more base and abiect , then any other vnreasonable creature , although that the common sort being deceiued , doe hold them in the rancke of noblemen . what nobilitie shall wee accompt that woman to be of , who drawing her nobilitie from a worthy stocke , doth repute her selfe noble , and notwithstanding making small accompt of her honor , doth villanously giue her bodie and life in pray , to delight those to whom shee ought not to haue yeelded ? what nobilitie is there in those children , who in their swadling cloutes descended of a noble stocke , are no sooner come into the world , but they are esteemed of noble bloud , and yet are neither capable of vertue nor reason ? surely none at all . you may then perceiue , in considering both the subiect , and the obiect of the nobilitie of the minde , howe great likewise the excellencie , and the perfection thereof is . and to proceede further vpon this matter : i finde that euen fortune sometimes hath her part in this nobilitie of bloud , co●ioyned with riches : for if my selfe and you were ●orne of a noble familie , and those of base parentes , or that wee be by birth riche , and they poore , vvhat glorie , vvhat nobilitie , vvhat praise , ought we to attribute to our selues ? and vvhat profite , or what fault , ( or rather what defect ) are vve to impute vnto them ? truely none at all ; seeing that they haue committed no offence , and we are not aduaunced thorow our riches . the glorie then , and the fault ought to bee attributed vnto fortune , whoe gouerneth worldly matters , as it pleaseth her , and not vnto vs : whereas the nobilitie of the mind , is not in subiection , nor slauerie ; but free , and out of all humaine perill : and he vvhich by his ovvn vertues , becommeth noble , shall haue the honour , and the glorie thereof , and not fortune , nor his auncestors , nor any other whosoeuer . here m. peter anthony broke off his speech without saying anie more . wherefore nennio taking the discourse vpon him , said thus . certainly to fortifie this side , concerning the nobilitie of the minde , no lesse delightfull , then true reasons do stil offer themselues ; as amongst others , that which i novv remember : forasmuch as i esteeme that hee ought to be adiudged perfit , vvho hath no need of any other : novv the nobilitie of the minde is of that sort , therefore it is perfit . the like vvhereof cannot be saide of the nobilitie of bloud : for if it vvere perfit , it should haue no need of riches , vvhich ( according to thy saying the other day possidonio ) are not onely an ornament , but a part of nobilitie . which is more then true : for nowe adaies , a man can hardly conuerse amongst gentlemen and great lords , but that he shal be mocked of euerie one , if hee be not rich , and hath not vvherevvithall to spend of his ovvne , or at the least if he be not vvell clad in apparell : vvhich thinges are in this our age not smally set by . it follovveth then , that bloud is not sufficient of it selfe alone , to make a perfect nobleman . and we cannot with reason name that perfect nobilitie , which proceedeth from thence , as being subiect to that which is verie incōstant . wherfore we will say , that if the noble man by birth wanteth riches , he shall likewise want nobilitie : which conclusion possidonio thou diddest affirme in thy discourse to be true . and in truth it is come to passe at this day , when as the noble born doth excercise some craft , or handiworke , that is vile and derogating from nobilitie : but how poore soeuer a man is , that is born of noble bloud , i would not iudge that he should become ignoble , thorow pouertie , albeit that he had not the same renowne , and reputation , with men of this age , as he that is both noble and rich . herehence it commeth , that manie descending of a high linage , giuing themselues to some vile exercise , haue darckned , and wholly lost their nobilitie , so that they are no more esteemed of the bloud of noble men , but reckoned amongst the cōmon sort . herehence it proceedeth likewise , that amongst manie being of one familie , some are reputed noble , and others ignoble . you may see then , howe corporall and base exercise , doth bring contempt vnto the nobility of bloud , and conuert it into his contrarie . we must then conclude , that vertue only is necessarie therein . for a noble man by bloud , who is depriued of vertue , is made no otherwise , then as a sepulchre of white marble , inriched with fine gold , which at the first shewe is pleasant to the sight of those , that behold it : but considering afterwards the rotten body , and filthy stinch , that is within it , it seemeth vnto them hideous and horrible . such a one is hee who is descended of noble bloud , for at the first sight he seemeth gratious , & pleasing , but looking afterwards to the foule corruption of his maners , and to the default of the gifts of his mind , by which he shuld become worthie , neither this grace , nor the pleasure which was found therein , is anie more seene , but in steede thereof basenesse , and deepe contempt . whereof hee may be called noble in apparance by the which the common people ( whose eyes are blinded , that they cannot see the trueth ) doe lightly iudge , and holde him as a noble man , which is farre different from him , whose minde is fraught with vertues , because that hee holdeth not an apparance of true nobilitie , but the verie essence thereof . nennio made no staie , but still followed on his discourse , when as the ladie camilla who was desirous to heare an end of their controuersie ( which it maie be shee gathered by the last wordes vttered by nennio ) turning towards him , with a prettie grace , according to her woont , and yet with somewhat a hastie spirite , shee saide these wordes vnto him . thou concludest alreadie nennio , that possidonio is he that shall loose the wager , seeing that his nobilitie is apparant , and not true . you are verie hastie madame ( quoth nennio ) to desire to heare the sentence before time require , and before the rest of the companie : for in that discourse which nowe we doe make to approoue , or disallow of the two sortes of nobilitie , both the one and the other opinion is fortified , as you may haue vnderstoode , with more pregnant reasons , so much there wanteth that i intend not as yet so soone to descend to the determining of the question , seeing that wee haue so great time lefte vs. let it not then displease you to staie a little , and to hearken vnto mee . both to staie and to heare you likewise , shall please me well , aunswered the young ladie : but yet it seemed vnto me that you intended as much as i saide vnto you . nennio replied : madame , i pray you haue patience a little , and be attentiue vnto my speeche , vntill i haue ended it : for i doubt not , but you shall with the rest be satisfied with my iudgement . the yong ladie being appeased , nennio taking the discourse vpon him , began to speake in this wise . nobilitie of bloud indeed is apparant , but hee which is depriued of vertue , is hardly esteemed to shine amongst men , vvith the glorie of his bloud onely , vvhich commonly bringeth forth ignorance , wherevpon followeth aftervvardes contemptible pride . for so soone as the light of mans vnderstanding is occupied vvith ignoraunce , vvhereby it is let , that it cannot enter into the trueth of thinges , man cannot consider , that anie is more wise , or more learned then himselfe , but becommeth proude , in suche sorte that thorough ignorance , hee is made bold , insolent , and rashe , easily contemning all maner of vertue , of science , and of manners , groping in the darke , like vnto a blinde man. of which companie it seemeth , that the worlde at this daie , is but too plentifull , seeing that euerie where yee shall finde those who foolishlie deeme themselues to bee mounted to the highest degree of nobilitie , whereas indeede , they are at the lowest step therof , in that they haue no care to innoble themselues any further , but wretchedly despise all those , who doe learne any science , and do followe vertue , and they disdaine men of noble conditions , and consequently those who are more worthy then themselues . of these i intēd to speak , who waxing proud of their bloud , haue the eyes of their vnderstanding blinded with a grosse and thicke vaile of ignorance , vvho vvoulde iudge the lord god , if hee were to descend vpon earth againe . o foolishe sect of mortall men ! i cannot truely imagine to what end they leade so miserable a life , not tasting of the sweetnesse of vertue , from whence springeth all nobilitie . were it not farre better for man that might taste thereof , and wil not , that hee were depriued of life ? yes surely . if then they liue without any reason , what difference shall we make betweene them , who esteeme themselues chiefe amongst other noble men , and the baser sorte of men , nay rather betweene them and beastes ? i can hardly finde it . for all doe equally followe the seruice of the fraile fleshe , setting aside eternall thinges . ought these men to waxe proud in this sorte , who conuersing with wise courtiers , or with other men deseruing estimation , where they discourse of knowledge , of historie , or of anie other vvorthie vertue , doe become worse then beastes , and sometimes doe resemble images of marble ? as it happened the other day , that being in companie with certaine lordes ( with some of you that are here present ) where there were men of great learning , and skill : and amongst them some of those who bragge so greatly of their nobilitie , wee discoursed a great while both of hautie , and meane matters : and intending to passe the middle of the day , in iestes and disportes , we set abroche certaine tales , vvhich seemed so much the more pleasing vnto vs , as they were farre from the trueth : but these noble men did maruellously wonder at them : as the tale of the ape of india , y t plaid so well at chesse , & this other , that in the midst of the riuer tabor mens words do freese , & afterwards thawe when they come to the fire . euery one that had any quicke capacitie , inuented some fable or other , but these noble lordes ( who feared to set their foot on ground , and to put off their hatte for marring their haire ) being present there in company ( as i tolde you ) were in the like taking , ( vnderstanding of such great wonders ) as the people when they heard the holie frier preach vnto them , the fasting , virginity , simplicitie and holinesse , of the blessed soule of sir chapellet : and two of them harkened to our tales with like attention , as callandrine did , when he vnderstoode the discourse of the wonderfull vertues of elitropa : i was verie desirous at that time , to adde vnto the former stories , the miracle which happened to callandrine himselfe , when he was gotten with child by his wife , which made them all to stand amazed . many other pleasant tales we told , which being ended , some one of the company said , yea it is true , i remember it well , and it was about that age of the world , when as oxen did speak , which he had no sooner said , but one of these great noblemen did aske him , saying : then oxen spake in times past . whereunto the other being a young man of a sharpe witte saide , yes sir ; but might wee vnderstande their speech , quoth the noble man ? yes my good lord , quoth he , and they oftentimes sung in company with men , and that with so sweet melodie , that their musicke seemed to surpasse the harmony of the religious nunnes of agnus dei of padoua . i cannot wel tel you how great the laughter was , which vvas continued so much the more , that in laughing he vvas so amazed , that for a long time he held his mouth awry , vvondring greatly at those things hee had heard . truely the ignorance of them is so great and grosse , that it depriueth them of their vnderstanding , that it maketh them like vnto brute beasts : as by an example which happened the other day , i will better giue you to vnderstand . for comming to church with certaine of my friends to heare masse , one of these worthy lords ( whose name for some respect i will not vtter ) sate next vnto me , euen at the very instant when they lifted vppe that which they cal the body of christ , and he hearing that i saide adoramus te christe , he demanded of me what these words duramus te christo signified : but i vnderstanding his demand answered him fitlie to the purpose : afterwardes hee asked mee what the sacrament which the priest lifted vp with his two handes , and the chalice did signifie , and what was the cause that when he lifteth it vppe , wee vse to beate our breaste and our mouth with our hand : many such foolish questions he asked me , more fitter for paganes and sarasins , then for christians . in regarde of the which , if before i accounted him for halfe a man , i now held him no better then a beast . and if you aske me if hee were a child , i answere , that though his demaundes were childish : yet did he exceed all of vs in age . doe you beleeue that he is ( i say not onely a gentleman but that which is more ) a christian , although that his head was washed with the holy water of baptisme ? doe you repute him a gentleman , because he is descended of gentlemen ? god forbidde that hee shoulde so much as be accounted a man. neither will i yet keepe secret from you , that which happened of late ( although in honour i shoulde not declare it vnto you ) for one of these noblemen intending to cause a gowne of satten to bee made for his wife , hee brought the taylor into the house where the stuffe lay readie vpon the table ; and as the tailour was aboute to chawlke out the compasse of it , the gentlemanne ( whose name i will not discouer or make knowne ) causing his wife to stande vppe , saide vnto the taylour ? sirrha , where wilt thou beginne to take measure of her , before , or behinde : the tailour whoe was more discreete then the nobleman , perceiuing his foolish demaund , saide vnto him ; my lorde , i must beginne to take measure on the sides : the lady was ashamed thereat , and holding downe hir head , blushed to see his folly . now doe you thinke that such men are to be called noble , although that they descend of a noble stocke , and that their apparell is thicke laide on with lace ? i shoulde rather iudge them depriued of nobilitie : you may see into what manifest ignorance nobility of bloud causeth a man to fall , whereof afterwardes pride is ingendred . here nennio paused a while , and afterwards proceeded further in this sort . yea ? this nobility of bloud is not onlie cause of pride , and ignorance , but of vnsufferable euill , and ineuitable losse . how often hath there been cruel warre betweene the people of rome ? how many nations hath beene raised in armes ? how much bloud hath beene shedde through the continuall dissentions which grewe betweene the noble men and the common people ? surely verie much , for the pride of noble men against the comminaltie , was growne to that height , & the desire which they had to increase their wealth , by the occupation of that which belonged vnto other menne was so great , that the common people oftentimes did remain in more safety in waging war abroad , then they did in peace with the nobility at home , who handled them as their capital enimies , by which actiōs they had not only brought the common people of rome to extream pouerty , but all italie : whereof did follovve ciuill vvarre , and that bicause they did vsurpe both the goodes and landes of the cōminaltie : vvhereof did spring the lavve agraria , which did forbid , that no man , vvhether he vvere noble , or of the common sort , should hold more land then a paire of oxen could plowe in fiue hundred daies : and that the enemies lands should be deuided amongst the people . vvhich lawe did so displease the nobility , that they conducted their armies euen to the extreame limits of italie ; and tiberius gracchus ( succeeding as tribune of the people ) to fauour that lavve , the romane liberty vvas cleane ouerthrowne . for thereof did arise such great hatred , that they came to armes , and to bloud , without measure : wherupon the people reposed themselues vpon marius , and the nobility vpon scilla ; vvho after most cruell vvarre remained conquerour . and the same disdaines , and invvard enmity , renuing betvveene the nobility and the communaltie , in the time of cesar and pompey , the one making himself the leader of marius his side , the other taking part vvith scilla as their cheefe conductor : vvhereof did follovve infinite and cruell slaughters , cesar in the ende beeing victorious , vvho was the first tyrant of rome . what shall i say of the bloudie butcherie , which follovving after the suddaine death of asellius ( pretor of rome ) who vvas set in that authoritie to reforme the insatiable vsuries which were so increased in the citie , by the rich and mighty , that the people entred into despaire , and vvith great furie did breake dovvne the images of scilla , and of pompey , which vvere so hatefull vnto them ? greeuous likevvise vvere the dissentions , vvhich did spring in the famous citie of athens , betweene the noblemen and the people , during y t vvhich cassandra was established by the nobilitie , chiefe of the faction against the comminalty , polipercon being their leader : who not without great slaughter did driue cassandra into macedonia , so that the people as conquerors remained at libertie . whereuppon they did condemne the principall persons of the contrary faction to death , and did banish others the citie , amongst whō , demetrius phalerius was one , and phocion that great captaine of theirs : whoe ( albeit that his vertues were iudged worthy of al humane glory and praise ) yet came he to be so hatefull vnto the common people , that euen vntill his death they denied him buriall . how greeuous the hatred is which groweth by wicked oppressions , made by the nobility against the comminalty , they onely doe knovv who haue made tryall thereof . that which happened vnto fabius , beeing consul , may make good proofe hereof , for he extreamly oppressing the people , hadde in such sort inflamed their greeuous hatred against him , the romane armie buckling with their enemies , and holding the victorie for certaine and vndoubted , the souldiors rather resolued to depriue themselues of the victorie , then to giue him cause of triumph . farre worse then this happened to appius claudius , ( a capitall enimie of the people ) for he holding the consulship in the warre against the volsques ; the souldiors rather gaue him triumph of dishonour then of victory , turning their backs to their enimy . and heere i will declare vnto you the ende of this appius claudius , who was woont to call a most vile prison which was in rome , the habitation of the romaine people , but the name was not agreeable to the effect , for by the appointment of the tribune of the people , he was shut vp in that prison amongst theeues , and murderers , and there put to death . but why doe i speake onely of appius claudius , seeing that it hath alwaies remained as a naturall and hereditary instinct to that familie , with mortall hatred to pursue the commons , so that the chiefest of that house , vvere in continuall dissention with the officers that vvere for the people . by this you see , that the nobilitie of bloud , is not onely cause of pride and ignorance , but of most cruell slaughters and mortall hatred . nennio gathered this last conclusion of his speech , and afterward he followed on in this maner . the nobilitie of bloud ( most worthy gentlemen ) besides the calamities afore spoken of , dooth ingender a kind of enuy , that stil gnaweth in the heartes of noble men : for they seeing some amongst the common sort , deseruedly aduanced to honour and dignity , through their singular value & vertue , immediatly there ariseth in their hart intollerable enuy , which doth eat and consume them , as the sunne doth the snow . of such vigor was the enuie which increased in the hearts of the romane nobility , when as they saw gn. flauius , whose father was a libertine , created pretor of the people , in regard vvhereof , they laid awaie their golden rings , and their trappings of their horses , which vvere markes of nobility , which they vvere vvont to do , when they were sad and sorrovvful . and on a time the same gn. flauius being pretor , going to visit his collegue who was sick , he met there many gentlemen of rome , amongst the vvhich one of them ( in regard he vvas born of base parentage ) moued not himselfe to do him honour as pretor , and their superiour , vvhereof he made no account , but commanded that the chaire vvherein the greatest and most vvorthy officers of rome vvere caried throgh the city , should bee brought vnto him , and afterwardes caused it to be placed before the gate of the pallace , to the end that none of the gentlemen should issue forth , but they should euen in despite see him set in that chair , into the which none of them did euer ascend . enuy likewise did cruelly afflict the hearts of the romane nobilitie , vvhen as they savv ventidius bassus , of whom fabricio did speak yesterday , of a base hackney man , to be mounted to the dignity of a tribune , to the degree of pretor , to be created summus pontifex , and finallie to be made consull , in such sort y t they made verses vpon the basenesse of his birth . but doe i say onely that the noble men are enuious ouer the common people , when as it doth with great vehemency finde place euen amongst themselues ? enuy was the cause of the horrible vvars vvhich did grovv between cornel-scilla , marius , and cinna , which were most noble men : betvveene cesar and pompey , vvho vvere patriciens of rome ( of vvhom i did make mention of late ) and of many more worthy roman consuls , of whō the auncient histories are repleat . enuy , which did proceed from the nobles , did bring pompey after his empires and triumphes , to remaine in his house , or in his grange , he seldome daring to shevv himselfe publikely abroad . q. metellus shewed the hatred which he did beare vnto q. pompeius , when as he savv that after he had brought both of the countries of spain into subiection , pompey succeeded him , which was most odious vnto him . for he licensed the greater part of the souldiors to depart , caused the victuals to be spoiled , the weapons of the armie to be broken , did forbid that any man should giue the elephants meate : and to conclude , left not any thing wherwith pompey might defend himselfe against the enemies . so great was the enuy vvhich possessed the mind of cato of vtica , because that cesar had in egypt defeated the partakers of pompey , who were fled into afrike after his death , that he slue himselfe in vtica . enuy likewise moued themistocles that valiant captaine , to persecute that worthy and iust aristides , both of them being noble men of athens . but why do i so inlarge my discourse , to recount to you so many ancient histories . turne your eies ( if you so please ) vpon euery town , and euery place of the vvorld , inhabited by noble men , and those of the common sort ; and you shall finde no place exempt , where there is not rooted amongst noble men one with another , amongst the nobilitie & the comminaltie , hatred , persecution , enuy , ambition , ignorance , and pride . these are the fruites which nobilitie of bloud doe giue to the mind , which likewise doth not bring any other grace to the body , because it nei●her maketh them more fair nor more liuely , nor more strong , nor more witty , nor more aduised , nor more apt then other men who are borne of base bloud : forsomuch as therein nature worketh equally , and not the nobility of bloud . certainlie ( quoth maister iohn francisco ) it seemeth that it bringeth foorth in all places , not onely vnsauorie fruit , but most venemous and noisome . a bad root ( answered m. dominico ) cannot produce good fruit : now nobility of bloud being brought into the world of a malicious root , what goodnesse can it yeeld ? surely none at all . m. io. frācisco said , what is that root so dangerous and venemous , whence nobility of bloud proceedeth ? i would tell you ( quoth he ) but that i should displese nennio , in interrupting him . it shal not displease me , answered nennio , to hear you , so that you doe promise mee , to tell vs from whence the roote of this nobilitie of bloud doth proceed , vpon which condition it shall please me well to haue your opinion , so that you may boldly go forwardes : that being said , m. dominico turning himselfe towards m. iohn francisco , began to speake in this maner . it is an euident matter , that the great architect of the world , created man , pure , simple , not spotted with vice , and perfectly good , but it is not to bee beleeued that he made him either noble or ignoble : man then himselfe was the inuenter and beginner of this nobilitie . hee being cause thereof , nobilitie beganne in the first age , to be noted in those ( and they were esteemed noble ) who either by force or fraude , did surmount others . cain the first man who was borne in the world , did ouercome his brother abel and slew him , and he was the first who by deceit and crueltie did vsurpe the name of nobilitie , in that thorough furious audacitie , hee brought other men into subiection , whereupon hee was equally honoured and reuerenced by them , and reputed honourable , more then any other . after him did succeede enoch irad , and others , who descending from cain ( that proud murtherer and vsurper of other mens goods , & so consequently noble ) they were likewise esteemed noble . but seth the third brother of cain ( a iust and good man , and y e first in the world who called on the name of god ) he was not so much esteemed , and reputed amongst men , but was adiudged of a soft nature , abiect and vile , with all his posteritie : and by this meanes , nobilitie tooke beginning . by succession of time , it pleased the great gouernor of heauen , and of earth , for the wickednesse which were generally committed on the earth , corrupted by man , who made no accompt of god , to destroy the world , by the opening of waters , of fountaines , of the depth , yea of the water gates of heauen : which hee would not first close vp , or stoppe , before that euerie liuing soule was destroied except noe , who was so highly in his fauor , with the familie of those that did descend of seth the ignoble . of this noe afterwardes , amongst others , did cham descend , who shewed himselfe vnreuerent , and wicked towardes his father ; nemrod did succeed , of his line a man verie mightie , and puissant , and full of wickednesse . he gaue the first beginning to the accursed vice of tyrannous dominion , and by tyrannie he ruled the kingdome of babylon , of arad , & others : wherupon thorow his might and tyrannie , being become king , hee was adiudged most noble . nowe great men grewe to such temeritie , that they constrained those , who at that time were rude and grosse , not onely to repute them as noble , but to adore them as gods. hereupon their heires and successors were in a maner esteemed as demy-gods . and so the opinions of the first men ( who to make a nobleman , did ground themselues vpon murther and crueltie , and in tyrannising ouer the people ) did as it were from hand to hand , in such sorte extend their dominion , that we may truely conclude , that nobilitie of bloud proceedeth euen from the first age of the worlde , from this generall roote . the generations of men being increased in the world , and kingdomes possessed , it was the pleasure of kings and princes , that they who did most of al content them and fitted their humours best , should be seperated from the common people , in giuing them especiall priuiledges , graces , and preheminences , which were not graunted to the vulgar sorte : wherefore , they and their successors were held by the first people of the worlde , as men well pleasing god , and because they were seuered from the multitude , and reuerenced more then others , they were called notable , which is as much as noble . and for this cause the men of y e world , being extreamely desirous of honor , and of glorie ; and seeing that such was the meanes to become noble , manie ( to the ende they might obteine this glorie of nobilitie ) did seeke to become pleasing vnto kinges , and princes . some in shewing themselues cruell murtherers of their enemies , others in boldly ransacking the people , others to gratifie their prince , did giue them either their wife or their daughter in pray : some to delight him , did feede him with dishonest pleasures , others with flatterie , with treason , with money , & with other horrible wickednesse , and wretched deuises , to winne his fauour , by the which they did afterwardes obtaine priuiledges of nobilitie for themselues , and their posteritie . this is the birth m. iohn francisco , this is the beginning , from whence the nobilitie of bloud did first spring , this is the pathe , this is the meanes , by the which they did so easily mount vp to the soueraign degree of nobilitie . from hence it grew , from hence noble men had their creation . and if we would enter into consideration of the behauiour , the customes , the maner of life of noblemen of this age , surely wee shoulde finde them wrapped in vanities , in robberies , in cruelties , in treasons , in wantonnesse , in gaming , and manie other mischiefes ; so hard a thing it is for them to shake off this their first nature . and so strong was the opinion of men , to place nobility in crueltie , in robbery , in wrong , that not onely they did repute those noble , who were most fierce , and most faithlesse , but euen amongst vnreasonable creatures , they did holde , and doe yet at this day , accompt those most noble , which are most cruell , most rauenous , most to bee dreaded , most fierce , most horrible , and most hurtfull to mankinde . as amongst birds , the eagle , the grifon , the faulkon : amongst beastes of the earth , the lion , the dragon , the tiger , the leopard , the beare , the wolfe , the wilde boare , the serpent : amongst the fish of the sea , the whale , the dolphin , and such like . ancient men of that age , did beleeue , the very same of trees : for the most vnfruitfull , and those that did bring least commoditie vnto man , they did not onely esteeme them moste noble , but they did euen consecrate them vnto the gods. as the leaued oake to iupiter , the greene lawrell to apollo , the high cipresse , to pluto , the blooming mirhe to venus , the imbracing iuie vnto bacchus , and others vnto other gods . we see the ensignes which by antiquitie haue been attributed vnto the gods , that they doe euen shewe their crueltie , their force , and violence , forasmuch as they giue thunder to iupiter : to mars a launce , a triple forke to neptune ; a sharpe axe vnto bacchus , to hercules a clubbe , to saturne a sieth , which vse hath extended it selfe vnto noble men , because they haue chosen in their shields the most cruell and fierce beasts , which can be imagined : for this man beareth in his armes the rauenous eagle , that other the fierce lyon , some one the strong bull , another the lion , and the eagle togither : some the fearefull beare , others the hinde , some castles , others mountaines , this man a tower , that man a hill , some chaines , some fire , all being hurtfull instruments vnto man : and this onely to shewe their proud mindes , and hawtie thoughtes . by this then we may see , euen at this day , not onely how peruerse and wicked the beginning of nobility is , but euen the life and minde of noble men . master peter anthony taking the speech vpon him said : yea but i haue seene in many places the armes of noble men , which did neither denote fiercenes nor cruelty , but were only beautified with roses , violets , flowers , stars , croissants , and some of them were only distinguished by diuers colours . true it is ( quoth master dominico ) but those armes ought not to be adiudged neither so ancient , nor so noble , neither do they set foorth such warlike , and worthy actions as those i spake of . you may now see madam camilla , whether i had anie thing to say , or no , against the nobility of blood , albeit the other day , you did iudge mee to take part with possidonio , and did threaten me , because i did in fauour of nobility of blood , alleadge some reasons against fabricio . certainely ( quoth shee ) you are this day worthy of your hire , and in rewarde of that which you haue spoken , the penalty you did incurre the other day shall bee forgiuen you . i shall then ( quoth master dominico ) liue assured , & out of all suspition , seeing that you doe absolue mee . without passing any further , nennio entring againe into his discourse , proceeded in this manner . albeit that rule , and tyranny ouer other , master dominico , gaue cause in those first ages ( as it doeth yet at this day ) that the lord , and the tyrant , bee reuerenced of the people , and by that meanes become noble , yet wee ought not to beleeue , that nobilitie is onelie growne by that meanes , for i doe finde that manie , and diuers haue beene the causes of the beginning thereof . men being greatly multiplied vpon the earth , and nations deuided after that renuing of the worlde , their life was licentious , and lawlesse , and the greater part of them did encrease , inclining to euill , whereof murthers , violence , and robberies did growe on euery side , and there was no bridle for the wickednesse of man. whereupon all men were molested , and troubled , whether they were good , or bad : for the establishment then of some means to restraine these loose people , to the ende that good men might liue assured , and the wicked be punished according to their deserts , men did ioine togither and did choose for their prince , amongst those that were good , the most wise , the most prudent , the most iust , and of most vnderstanding , to whom they did submit themselues , and gaue full power to punish outragious excesse , and wicked deedes , which might heere after happen , and condignlie to recompence good men . from thence man was first called noble , ( that is to saie notable in vertue aboue others . and the most part of the men of that age , growing rude of wit , grosse of vnderstanding , without iudgement , and without any ornament of life , they who in vnderstanding , in iudgement , and in politique vertue , did surpasse others , were seperated from the ignoraunt people , and so consequently made noble : whose issue ( that they might not degenerate but conserue themselues in the reputation , and nobilitie of their ancestours ) did striue to followe their steps and vertue . vvhereupon they were inrolled in the register of noblemen , and from thence by succession it commeth , that nobilitie did descend to their posteritie . it happened often that townes were oppressed by tirants , assieged by potentates , and the people extreamely oppressed : wherefore a law was made , that whosoeuer could deliuer the common wealth from so many oppressions , he & his successors , should be numbred amongst noblemen : and by this meanes , many shewing the generositie and value of their courage , became noble in this manner . you see three mighty causes , from the which nobility did spring , by the which it doth clearely appeare , that it descendeth from the vertues of the minde , riches likewise hath beene the cause to make men noble . moreouer many in becomming tyrantes , and violently bringing others into subiection , haue made that the originall of their nobility , as by you m. dominico hath beene said . these are the principall beginnings of nobility , from hence noblemen did first spring : so that the vertues of the minde , tyrannie , and riches , were the first meanes and way to attaine to nobilitie . the companie was so intentiue to heare , and their memory & vnderstanding so setled vpon nennio , that they had almost lost the remembraunce of themselues when as suddainly the heard they trampling of horses , galloping of coursers , knocking & opening of gates , wherefore our sences being awaked , our backs turned , and we looking towardes the garden gates , infinitly desiring to knowe who they were , wee might see two of their seruantes who brought vs certaine word of other company that were newly come , who had expresly taken their iourney thither , to visite vs , whereof some of them were straightly ioyned vnto vs by kindred , others by friendship : who had brought their houndes with them , to passe the rest of the day merily with vs , in hunting . but after they saw vs sitting circlewise round about nennio , vnder the shadow of sweete smelling orenge trees , after they had saluted vs , not without some wonder , they demaunded vvhat the cause might bee , that we sate round about in that fashion , and what plaie we were at , but seeing nothing about vs fit for anie pastime , it maie be ( quoth they ) you are set to tell tales . wherefore we hauing in as few wordes as we coulde , tolde them the successe of the matter in question , and how that the two daies before were spent in the same discourse , with a singular contentment of the whole company : they vnderstanding the matter we intreated of , did as it were enuie vs , and were not a little discontented that they had not beene there at the beginning . so they changing their former determination , and little caring for hunting , it pleased them better to staie with vs , then to withdrawe vs from our enterprise begun , and almost ended , they contenting themselues with the conclusion , and end of the question , to remedy that which they had lost in hearing the beginning , and middest thereof . wherfore they being set and placed amongst vs , as conueniently as they might , wee turned our lookes , our eares , and our mindes towardes nennio , who seeing vs set in as good order as we were before , without anie further staie added these words following vnto his former speech . if the noble men vvhich doe liue at this daie , master dominico , doe vse such violences , such theftes , such lasciuiousnesse , and other such mischiefes , as you alleadge , they are not worthie of life : and as for mee , i will iudge them the most vile , infamous and reproachfull persons which euer liued on earth , although they did descend of most noble parentes . for the worthines of their blood is obscured and cleane defaced by their euill conditions , whereby maie bee gathered , that the worthinesse of blood ( though at the first it giueth a good impression , and addeth grace to a true and perfect noble man ) yet is it not sufficient to make him perfectlie noble . it is then necessarie ( to grace the nobilitie of blood ) to adorne his life with worthie and valorous actions , and to endow himselfe with qualities fit for a gentleman . master iohn francisco saide , and what are those qualities and conditions , which doe set foorth a gentleman , and doe make him perfectly noble ? they are ( quoth nennio ) these , to follow vertue and to flie vice . whereunto master iohn francisco replied , and what are those vertues , and those vices ? nennio answered , i esteeme it a superfluous matter to declare it vnto you , you knowing them right well , as one in whom all vertue shineth , and vice taketh no place . but to satisfie your minde heerein , i say that the qualities and ornamentes which are requisite for the conseruation of nobility , to bring a gentleman to soueraigne perfection are many , but i wil discourse of those vnto you which seeme vnto me to bee most necessarie . a gentleman borne of noble blood ought to be intirely good , and therewithall he ought in like manner to bee wise , prudent , iust and temperate , aduised in all his actions , according as the degree of his nobilitie doeth require , he ought to be couragious and gratious , but especially of a sharpe wit , quicke iudgement , and good vnderstanding : in his discourse honest , eloquent , and modest , in as much as in any action whatsoeuer modestie bringeth great ornament vnto man ? let him carrie grauitie with him , which bringeth credite , and reputation amongst men . let him yet bee respectiue , reuerent , gentle , and courteous , for by that meanes hee shall become pleasing , and amiable to all men , and the brightnesse of his nobility shall thereby shine and increase much more . let him seeke to please others in all lawfull matters , wherein a generall good will may be gotten . let him doe his indeuour to spread abroade a good reputation of himselfe , and to imprint a good opinion of himselfe in the mindes of men . which hee shall easily bring to passe , if besides those matters i haue spoken of , hee doe take heede to abstaine from those things , which doe not only wholly take away , but in any thing blot or diminish his credite . let him not be ambitious , proud , arrogant , high minded , nor discourteous , because that such kinde of behauior is wont to breed lothsomnes , hatred , euil wil , & disdaine . let him not be vaineglorious , in praising himselfe , nor too much affected in his actions . let him auoide the euill speeches of other men . but why doe i thus reckon vp particularly that which belongeth vnto him , seeing that euery man ought of himselfe to know that which defraudeth him of honour , and renowne , & that which doth increase it . here nennio paused a while , which master peter anthonie perceiuing , taking the speech vpon him said thus . i would wish nennio , that thou wouldest now shew vnto vs what exercise and conuersation a gentleman hauing these partes in him , shall vse . nennio answered , that maie easily be gathered from those preceptes i haue giuen : for if hee bee good , his conuersation and exercise likewise shall be good . yea but i could wish , that thou wouldest be pleased , to discourse more particularly thereof . whereunto nennio said . it is certaine that the value and excellency of man , proceedeth either from learning , or armes : for the name , the glorie , and the nobility likewise , of so many worthy men , and so many valiant knights , should long since haue beene extinguished , with their body , if their minde had not beene graced either with armes , or learning . to the ende then , that he that is borne of noble blood , may become excellent , and valorous amongst noble men , he ought wholly to addict himselfe thereto , & imploy his whole minde and study therein . but i will not particularlie seeke in euery point to handle the qualities fit for a gentleman noblie borne , for besides that time woulde not suffer me to doe it , he may supply that which wanteth in considering those meanes i haue aboue rehearsed : only i will not forbeare to aduertise him of this , that in all his actions hee ought to consider the ende , and to gouerne himselfe in them with honest mediocrity , shewing his worthines with discretion , and good iudgment : and that he take good heede vnto his conuersation , for men will iudge him to be such as his conuersation is , and if hee keepe company with wicked and bad persons , he shall be reputed as they are . these are the true qualities , these are the right exercises , which he that desireth to become perfectly noble , ought to obserue , although hee bee not descended of noble bloud . but me thinketh we haue staide very long vpon these two sortes of nobilitie . wherefore to the end i may withhold you no longer : i will passe on to the other kinde thereof . nennio hauing thus spoken he paused a while , as if he would haue refreshed himselfe , and afterwards proceeded in this wise . we haue worthy gentlemen , as i thinke , sufficiently discoursed of the force vertue , and worthinesse , of the nobility of blood , conioyned with riches : and likewise of the greatnes , and of the effectes and power of the nobilitie of the minde , and therewithall handled the originall of them both . but because there are manie who are adorned with these two sorts of nobility , from thence proceedeth that compounded or mixed nobilitie , which i did speake of in the beginning of my discourse , which is nothing else but a certaine qualitie which proceedeth from the worthines of the blood of our ancestours , graced with good conditions and lawdable vertues issuing from the minde . he then that is possessed with this kinde of nobilitie exceedeth him far both in nobilitie and worthinesse , who is onlie noble by blood , or by vertue , as one in whom both blood and vertue doe iointlie concurre togither . which i intending to perswade you , i need not alleadge any reasons vnto you beeing sufficiently manifest of it selfe , that it containeth more excellency , and glory , then both the former : albeit that thou fabricio , diddest endeuor yesterday , with no lesse pregnant , then apparāt argumēts , to shew that the contrary is true , to wit , that he is worthy of more dignity , who only is become noble of himselfe , by the nobility of the minde , then hee that was renowned both with the minde , and with bloud , which is not so true , as thou diddest affirme it to bee . and as for me i would answere , that which should be fit vnto these thy argumentes were it not that master peter anthonie had on the suddaine plaide my part therein . i who harkened vnto all these thinges with no lesse attention then the rest , did in the middest of this discourse , call to minde the dreame , which was the occasion that i forsooke that kinde of life i led before i came to this place . in the which dreame ( that i may put you in minde thereof againe ) it seemed vnto mee first that i did see a company of youthfull ladies , in the middest of whom , as their queene , did march one , richlie decked with golde , and precious stones . after her i saw another band of knightes followe , with their ensignes in their hand , who had with them a lady apparelled in sanguin colour . after these followed this lady , whose authority was so full of reuerence , who was attended on with a company no lesse learned , then wise . to cōclude , it seemed vnto me that i saw an other ladie , so much more worthy then the rest , as the ende excelleth the middest , as by my former discourse i recited vnto you . i doe nowe consider by the qualities of this last queen ( whose brightnes was such that if it were possible for me aswell to see the same waking , as i did perceiue it sleeping , the light of my eies woulde surelie bee dimmed ) that shee did resemble no other thing , then true nobilitie , which man desiring to obtaine , to become noble , hee had neede to haue the three former meanes recited by mee , to wit , that he participate of the grace of the first queene , which i did beholde , ( which was riches ) and that hee doe descend of the other auncient ladie ( which did denote nobilitie of race ) afterwardes it behooueth him to follow the thirde ( i meane vertue ) which is more necessarie then anie the other meanes : and so hauing thē , without all doubt he shal easilie come vnto this last queene ( which representeth nobility it selfe and the perfection thereof . ) and of such necessitie is the meanes of vertue , to attaine vnto the last degree of true nobilitie , that the ancient romanes did easilie beleeue , they coulde not obtaine honour , ( that is to saie , nobilitie ) without vertue : vvhich two they did reuerence as goddesses , and builte vnto them two temples , to their praise , which were so conioyned togither , that there was no man coulde enter into the temple of honour , except hee did first passe thorough the temple of vertue : to shew thereby , that no man ought to be honoured nor iudged noble , if hee obtained not this nobility by the meanes of vertue . wherefore i come now to the conclusion of nennio , who iudged acccording to troth , that how noble so euer a man be , either by bloud , by riches , or by vertue only , that he becommeth farre more renowmed and noble if conioyntly he inioy riches , nobilitie of bloud , and vertue . nennio confirming this againe , after he perceiued i had nothing else to say , he proceeded in this wise . certainely i will not only name him noble , but most noble , neither will i call it perfect nobilitie , but most perfect . i do not thinke that this compounded nobility can be most perfect ( quoth master iohn francisco ) as it were opposing himself vnto nennio his speech , if it do spring of the two former , one of them ( to wit nobility of blood ) being not perfect , according to your owne saying , but the other is ; how cā it be then , that an vnperfect thing , conioyned with that which is perfect , can make that most perfect , which springeth of the coniunction of these two : surely i can scarslie be perswaded therein . true it is answered nennio , i said as much as you affirme , but yet i did not denie , but that nobility of blood was a kinde of nobilitie exalted by the vulgar sort . the nobility of bloode then , and noblenesse of the minde , when they concur togither in one subiect , surely both the vulgar sort , and men of wisedome , will hold such a one to be most noble . and like as wee iudge him to bee rich , who hath great store of golde and siluer , notwithstanding we will holde him to be more wealthy , if therunto you adde iewels and precious stones . the verie like happeneth vnto him , who being borne rich , and of noble blood , hath his minde fraught with good conditions , & vertues , for he ought to be adiudged most noble and his nobility most perfect . you see then ( worthy gentlemen ) that noble men of whom we speake , are of three sortes , as i haue long since giuen you to vnderstand : howbeit the rest of men are not wholy to be accounted ignoble , and base . for there are some who though they bee not descended of any noble stocke , yet are they very wealthy , and those amongst their fellow citizens , in the cittie where they dwell , are had in great estimation . so it seemeth vnto me that we may well say , that men ( speaking only of the qualities of such as are noble , or ignoble ) in what place soeuer , ought principally to be deuided into three companies . one of the which is of those , whose estate doeth contemptibly consist in the most vile and most abiect place , who since they were first borne into the world , haue imploied all their labour and industrie to the carefull gouernement of bruit beastes depriued of reason , to the tillage of the ground , and to al other corporall labour necessary for the vse of man , whereby their life ought rather to be tearmed seruile then free . the second and meane condition , is of those that are not noble , which yet are of degree worthy of estimation & honour , in which company , are comprehended such , who though they are not of noble bloud , yet at the least they do come of a honourable and honest familie , which degree & estate is of no small account and reckoning amongst men . in times past in the citie of rome ( famous and renowned more then any other place in the world ) there were noble men , and others not noble , vnder which two estates not only the rule , and gouernement of the cittie did consist , but of the whole empire , and the simple people had no lesse authoritie and power then the patriciens to make & publish laws , by which they were to be gouerned . and that is not only vsed in forraine citties , but euen in ours , the gouernment whereof is equallie in common with the gentlemen , and the people . the thirde sort is of noble men , whose condition hath beene largelie entreated of these two daies : and these manner of noble men are likewise deuided into three companies , as i this day with a long discourse shewed you . nennio , as one desirous to come to the ende of his speech , was ready to proceed farther , when as m. peter anthony turning towards him said in this wise . let vs a little stay here , for if my memory serue me well , besides these three sortes of nobilitie , which thou hast very wel opened vnto vs , there is yet another , vnlesse i haue not well marked thy words which thou didst vtter this daie in the beginning of thy discourse , by which ( besides that sort of nobility which thou didst cal compoūded ) there is that kinde , which is called ciuile nobility : wherefore it were not amisse that with the former thou diddest likewise open this vnto vs. whereunto nennio , without any further stay answered . i was likewise comming to the speech thereof , and let not my last words moue you at all where i saide that nobility is deuided into 3 sorts , in the which this other which seemeth a 4 is comprehended , for i do place it in the same degree with nobility of blood , and therfore it is not necessary that i adde it vnto the former as a fourth degree of nobility . it is called ciuile , as cōming from thence from whence al ciuility proceedeth , to wit from kings and princes . and it is no other thing but a certain dignity giuen by the prince , which many times doth not end in the person of him to whom such honor was granted , but extendeth it selfe for euer vnto his posterity , according as it pleaseth the prince . and the conformity betweene ciuile nobility , and nobility of blood is so great , that if we looke narrowly into the first beginning ( in case anie certainety thereof may bee knowne ) surely it appeareth it dependeth of nobility of blood . for the king hauing by his priuiledges created you and all your descendants noble by ciuile nobility , such opinion and reputation remaining of you with those of our city , who doubteth but in succession of time your posterity shal be adiudged noble of blood , and not of ciuile nobility ? surely not any man. which may bee gathered by that which master dominico & i said before , speaking of the nobility of blood . one of my brethren opposing himselfe vnto nennio his speech , and as it were taking the wordes out of his mouth said . i beleeue that it is not yet confessed that a king , or an emperour can make a noble man. for an emperour , a king , or a prince may well make some courtier rich , or any other , and bestowe some office vpon him ; but i doe not thinke for all that , that he can make him noble . and it is to no purpose to say , as well you maie ; that in as much as hee is the soueraigne glorie , and farre more noble then any other , that therefore he may make men honourable and noble . for suppose that thou wert most iust , most wise , and most prudent : and that i did desire to bee made iust , wise , and prudent by thee , could that possibly be done ? truely all the whole world togither , could not bring it to passe , if by nature my mind were not apt to learn such vertue : for they are gifts of the mind , and consequently not easie to be transported from one body to another . i wil then saie that a prince , albeit he be most noble , yet can he hardly make another noble . of which opinion the emperour gismond was , who being earnestly entreated by one of his loyall and faithfull courtiers , borne of base parentage , that hee woulde vouchsafe to make him noble : he answerd , i may make thee free , and rich , but noble i cannot make thee ; as being a gift not vnder his commaund , but in the power of nature . so soone as my brother had declared his opinion ; nennio purposing to answere his obiection , beganne to say thus . vnderstanding that nobility consisteth in the vertues of the minde , as you doe , it may easily be yeelded vnto , that an emperour or a prince cannot make another man noble : but taking it in that sort as i did giue it you , it were surely no small fault to say , that vnto him to whō so large authority is graunted in this world , to establish and abrogate lawes at his pleasure , this farre lesse power shoulde bee denied . doeth not hee create earles , marquesses , dukes , & such like , who by such dignities are made most noble ? yes surely , he may then farre more easily make one noble : not that he is able to endow him with iustice , with prudence , with wisedome , & other vertues of the minde : but yet this he may do , that he shall be esteemed and reputed in the rancke of gentlemen , & be numbred amongst them . and this fauorite of the emperour gismond did seeke nothing else of him when he craued to bee made noble , then that , whereas he was not reckoned amongst noble men , nor such account made of him amongst men , & that he did not inioy the like freedomes that noble men did , that thorough his royall priuiledges , and fauour , he might haue power to take place amongst noble men , which without doubt he might haue graunted vnto him . but gismond vnderstoode him not in this maner , but in that sorte that you take it , and therefore his request was denied . how many doe wee see that haue beene made knightes in all kingdomes both by the emperour and other princes of the world ? many surely . who is there then that doth not iudge them noble sith the king will haue it so ? if he grant for euer to him and to his successours such prerogatiues as noble men haue , such freedomes and markes of honour as are fit for them ? who dare account him and his successours for other then noblemen ? truely no man. thus you may see how the prince may make an other man noble , giuing his fauor and dignity to whom it pleaseth him . the dignity of a doctor is equall vnto the degree of a knight which hee obtaineth as a reward of his vertues , & is no lesse esteemed and reuerenced then the other . the lady cassandra seeing that nennio did somewhat take breath to refresh himselfe after his long discourse , raising vp her selfe as shee leaned vpon one of her sides , and turning towardes him , shee saide in this wise . nennio , if i did wel vnderstand your speech you formerly concluded , that men of skil & learning are of the troupe of such as are noble by nobility of the mind , and now it seemeth that you would haue them bee in place equal to knights , which are by you put in the company of those who are noble by ciuile nobility , and ciuile nobility differeth as much from the nobility of the minde as noblenes of blood doth , by your own saying , wherefore i do not see how this may well passe without controll . whereunto nennio presently answered , wee haue not yet spoken ( madam ) of the dignity that learned men 〈◊〉 obtaine by their skill , but onely shewed that lear●●●●●d vertous men are perfectly noble . wherevpon to the end that they might euerie where be exalted and reuerenced , the princes of the world haue worthily ordained , that this dignity by the which they are called doctors , should be added to their perfect nobility , that is to say , that by the meanes of the sciences they haue learned they may beare the lawrell , not that the same doth make them more noble or perfect : and here hence it is , that whosoeuer hath attained that dignity , if likewise with his science and vertue he bee adorned with good conditions , he shal not only be enobled with the nobility of the mind , but likwise with ciuile nobility , which is in the same degree that nobility of blood is , as i said vnto you . howbeit doe not perswade your selues that euery man of skill and learning is made a perfect gentleman onlie by vertue of his science , for if he be vicious and wicked , fraught with bad conditions , although he be one of the learnedst men in the world , he shall bee helde so much the more base and ignoble . whereupon i conclude , that these dignities of knights and doctors , doe march in this last troupe of ciuile nobilitie . but whether of these two dignities is most excellent and noble ( quoth the ladie cassandra ) that which the doctors doe purchase by their learning , or knightes by armes ? madam ( quoth nennio ) you propounde a great question , peraduenture no lesse doubtfull then that we now discourse of , and if we haue been debating of that matter three daies , as much time at the least woulde bee required ( if not more ) for the well opening of this matter . is it so doubtfull saide shee , or doe you make vs beleeue so , to spare your labour ? if that bee the cause , i doe in curtesie enioyne you before wee departe from hence to resolue herein . whereunto nennio replied , madam , it is trulie euen as i tell you , that not onlie that small time that is lefte vs of this euening , but two or three daies woulde scarce suffice to determine thereof : as for my selfe , i would willingly burne all these torches to night , if i might come to a resolution thereof . for nothing shoulde seeme painefull vnto me that might bring you pleasure , and contentment , and though it should , yet would i so indure it , as it shoulde seeme but a pastime vnto me . i giue you great thankes ( quoth shee ) of your ready minde to doe me pleasure , as indeede to say the troth , you haue alwaies shewed no lesse in effectes , then your gracious words haue imported . but yet let mee intreate , if so it please the rest of the company ( as i doubt not but it wil ) that some other day be appointed to entreate thereof : for such kind of discourses doe bring with them such delight , that for mine owne part , i could bee contented at all times to heare them . nennio said hereunto . if you were as carefull to command me madam , as i am ready to obey you , i doubt not but in time , you woulde cease to commaund mee . wherefore when opportunity shall serue , i will prouide to set my selfe in a readines , to determine this other question which you haue propounded , as well as my ability will giue me leaue . it were good ( quoth the lady laura ) to heare & see the ende of this question which you haue set a broach madā , but it is not greatly material nor doth not much cōcern this our discourse : wherfore my opinion is , that before you make a final end of the cōtrouersie you haue in hād , that like as you 3 haue shewed only what nobility is amongst you men : so you would take the paines nennio , to declare the nobility of women , least wee should seeme to be smally accounted of , or altogither forgotten by you . wherefore let it not displease you , to let vs vnderstande your opinion therein , for i am certaine it will adde both grace , and ornament to your former speech . it cannot do lesse ( answered nennio ) then adde both grace and ornament thereto , for whatsoeuer man doth , should of it selfe haue but a bad grace , if you vvomen did not with your pleasant company , and entertainement make it more delightfull . but you shall vnderstand ( madam ) that we haue not forgotten you as you suppose , for in this our discourse although we haue brought in no examples of women , yet doth it hold for them , and whatsoeuer hath beene spoken of vs , may be said of you , albeit not without some little difference , as in few words you shall heare . we haue in your nobility most ( honourable ladies ) to consider the salfesame three qualities , which vvee haue considered in the nobility of man , to wit , nobilitie of bloud , of the minde , and compounded nobility . the originall of the first descendeth of the same beginning from the which the nobility of man doeth proceede ; from the father , and not from the mother ; as master dominico did very aptly declare vnto you the other day in answering the ladie cassandra , who went about to prooue that in the nobility of man , because it is deriued of blood , the mothers nobility , and not the fathers ought to be considered , and therefore i neede not anie longer to stay thereupon , beeing true , and plaine of it selfe . the second which is the nobility of the mind , ought likewise in women to bee considered in the vertues of the minde : for they ought to set foorth themselues with gentle conditions , good behauiour , gracious humility , simple purenes , worthy honesty , commendable chastitie , giftes fit , and proper for ladies , which make them to be esteemed , praised , honoured , pleasing , ful of vertue , and most noble . what grater ignobility , or basenes can be attributed vnto ladies borne of noble bloud , then contemned dishonestie , vnchaste pudicity , disloyall thoughts , wandering imaginations leading to ill customes , and finallie a life without any consideration ? not any in my iudgement . so likewise a ladie cannot if shee woulde seeke the whole worlde , finde any better meanes to become noble , & excellent , then the giftes aboue mentioned . and therefore we may wel conclude , that a lady not borne of any noble bloud , but beautified with good conditions , ought farre to be preferred before her , whose birth is noble , & renowmed , and by her vnordinate behauior becommeth base , and infamous , because her naturall nobility is by her loosenes vtterly lost . likewise women are ennobled by their wisedome , and learning . the knowledge of the sciences turned to the greate glorie and commendation of cornelia the mother of the gracchi , of lelia , and hortensia , the daughters of lelius , and of q. hortensius , of proba valeria of rome , and of infinite others . but weapons are not so fit for women : for albeit that penthesilia , artemisia , semiramis , camilla , cleopatra , talasqua , the amazonian ladies , and manie others did vse them valiantly , yet were they mighty queenes , and puissant in armes , of whose estate and nobilitie , i intend not to speake . to proceed further , i doe altogither equall composed nobility , both of the man and woman , and therfore i need not stand any longer thereon . as concerning ciuile nobilitie , it is diuers waies purchased by women , and not as men doe attaine thereunto . for as much as any womā though she be not noble by birth , yet may she become noble , by the inseparable knot of mariage , if shee ioine her selfe in matrimony to a noble man : for diuine mariage beeing of so great vertue , doth of two bodies , make one flesh ; so that shee is made noble by the nobilitie of her husband , enlightened with his beames , cloathed with his dignities , enioieth his priuiledges , receiueth with him the same preheminences , and in her are noted all such graces as her husband hath : and by the power of mariage a woman doth forsake the name of her owne family , and taketh the name of her husbands house ; & shee doth not onlie take the name , but retaineth the other qualities of her husband . so that if a woman be only naturally borne , i meane that if shee bee borne illegitimate , shee becommeth legitimate if shee be ioined in mariage with a husband lawfully borne , because as i saide shee receiueth from her husband the same qualities he enioieth . seeing it is so ( saide the lady aurelia ) that a woman borne of no noble bloud , being ioyned in mariage with a gentlemā , becommeth noble , what shall we say to the contrary hereof , if a gentlewoman do mary with one of the common sort , shall he be made noble by the nobilitie of his wife ? no surely ( quoth nennio ) but rather the nobility she had before is cleane quenched . that is great wonder answered the lady , & i knowe not howe that shoulde come to passe , that the woman should receiue nobility from the man , and not the husband by his wife . surely it seemeth a very strang thing vnto me . but like as in all other things you men are wōt to keep vs silly women as low as you can , to the end you may preuaile in al your enterprises , euē so do you in this . whereunto he presently answered . you women are alwaies angry , and mistrustfull , perswading your selues , that in matters of the worlde , especially in such as doe concerne you , we do proceede as we list , hauing no regarde of you at all , but i say that you are all in generall greatly deceiued . do not you know madā , that the husband is the gouernor , the guide , & the head of his wife , & not the wife of her husband ? certainly he is ; & euen as the head is the most : worthy member of the body , so it is no wonder if the husband as the head , doth ennoble the wife , as his member . now the husband being the principal captain , the wife who followeth him , is therin to follow the nature of her principal head : but this hapneth not cōtrarily , for thē the course of nature shuld be clean chāged . if thē the nature of the husbād be noble , without doubt y e woman , albeit she be ignoble by birth , she shall by him be made noble : if he be abiect , & base , although she be discended of noble family , she shal likewise be ignoble . and to declare this more plainely vnto you madā , you cannot deny , but that the children that come of an ignoble father , though the mother be noble , shal be reputed amongst the common sort : & those that are begotten of a noble father , albeit the mother be ignoble , yet shal they by the people be held in the rācke of noble men . likewise we see al men set vp the fathers armes , & not the mothers , in their houses , at burials , in the church , & else where . and not only this hath place in their armories , but the son taketh the name of his fathers house , & not of the mothers , which is manifest to al men . you may see then , that you haue no cause to be offended with vs , whē as your selfe may giue iudgment in this matter . and you know right wel , that the son is not to follow the honor , nor dignity , the greatnes , y e cōditions , nor the nobility of the mother , but of the father yet doe i not denie but in the birth of man , some beames of nobilitie do shine from the mother , which togither with the nobility of the father , doth make it more pleasing , and delightful , not that of it selfe it is sufficiēt to make a mā noble , as you may haue vnderstood . but because i haue this day farther enlarged my discourse , then my meaning was ( so that we cannot longer staie thereon , because that time doth more and more force our departure from hence , and to take our recreation in some other place , ) i will set apart all other reasons and doubtes of nobilitie , which might happen in our discourse , and come to the determining of the matter in question . you haue hearde ( vvorthie gentlemen ) these three daies , a discourse of nobilitie , no lesse pleasing to the eares , then delightfull to the vnderstanding . of the which in the two first daies discourse , are gathered two opinions . the one , that true nobilitie consisteth in blood and riches , and not in vertue onely : the other , that it consisteth in the vertues of the minde , and not in blood , nor riches . and albeit that they seeme cleane contrarie , the one to the other , by that which possidonio , and fabricio related ( vvho were rather carried vvith affection then reason , which is not to bee wondered at , seeing that they beeing guided vvith passion of minde , each of them did seeke the defence of his ovvne matter and not anie other mans : ) notvvithstanding i doe not iudge them cleane contrarie : for if they vvere , one of them shoulde bee nobilitie , and the other shoulde not , vvhich i vvoulde not for anie thing affirme , it beeing a matter resolued , that a great part of men ( vvhereof i haue reckoned vppe a good portion ) doe iudge , repute , and holde him to be noble , who is ingendred of noble blood , and i likewise ( for manie reasons before alleadged ) doe take parte vvith them , although that thou vventest about yesterdaie fabricio verie subtillie to prooue that such a one was not noble : and that thou on the other side possidonio , vvert verie earnest to maintaine for certaine , that vertue did not make a man excellent , and noble , and that learning was but vaine in matter of nobilitie , wherein thou wert farre deceiued : proouing moreouer that riches was the soueraigne good of man ; and fabricio that they were occasion of all euill . certainlie both of you did shewe , that beeing drawen vvith the passion of the minde , each of you did speake your pleasure : for indeede they are not of themselues neither good , nor euill , but a meane betweene both , and such , as by vse we doe make them . for if wee bestowe them badlie , they are surelie euill ; if we spende them vvell , i see no cause vvhy they shoulde bee euill . they are not necessarie vnto true nobility , yet doe they bring some aide thereunto , in as much as there is no vertue in the world , nor any dignity , that can be gotten without these meanes , especially in this age , as of late i said vnto you . and hee that desireth them to the intent he may bee a helpe vnto others , is not to be blamed , so that this his affection do not surpasse a certain tēpered mediocrity . but leauing all these discourses apart , and intending ( possidonio , and fabricio ) to come to the conclusion of our speech . god knoweth whether it grieueth mee , or not , to giue sentence this daie , because i am certaine ▪ that the pronouncing thereof cannot be , without the disquieting of the thoughtes , vexing of the heart , and griefe of minde vnto one of you . neuerthelesse ( quoth both of them , with a willing minde ) speake freelie for all that : for it may bee , vvee shall depart from hence with more loue , and kindnesse , when we haue heard the determinate end of our disputation , then when we came hither ; like as in wrastling , of necessitie one of vs must needes take a fall . whereunto nennio answered : you did both of you promise mee so much , before i did receiue the charge of so heauy a burthen . but howsoeuer it fall out , that i may commit no error , i wil this day shew my selfe conformable to the opinion of the emperour gismond , who being reprehended by some of his familiar friends , because he did aduance men of base birth , yet adorned with vertue , and not such as were borne of noble bloud : he answered . as for me , i will exalt such as ought to bee preferred before any other men liuing , and those from whom true nobilitie proceedeth : which opinion because it agreeth with reason i intende to followe . wherefore i saie , that like as it is a thing worthy greater commendation , to builde a newe pallace , to stoare it with moueables , and to inhabite it , then it is onlie to dwel therein : so is he worthy of far more greater glorie who of himselfe becommeth noble , then hee who is simplie borne noble : and for this cause therefore ( and many more , no lesse pregnant , then true reasons heretofore alleadged , ) i iudge , and determine this : that the nobilitie of the minde , is farre more true , and farre more perfect , then the nobility of blood conioyned with riches : and consequently thou possidonio , beeing noble by birth only , and fabricio by the vertues of his minde , as hath a long time beene prooued vnto you , i say that he is famous with more height and perfection of nobility , and so likewise worthy of more honour and glorie then thou art . and therefore giue the victory of the question in cōtrouersie , togither with the prize , vnto thee fabricio , as to the most noble . nennio hauing spoken in this wise , he helde his peace , & fabricio hauing yeelded him due thanks for his iust sentence , with very good wordes , without any longer stay , with a good grace hee tooke the ring , and turning towards possidonio , he spake vnto him in this manner . i will neuer permit but that thou likewise shalt be partaker of this sentence possidonio , for if it hath beene fauourable vnto me , it shal likewise in parte bee pleasing vnto thee , and therefore the ring shal remaine with thee , which yet thou shalt not weare in remembrance of the ladie virginia who gaue it , but of me . so he extending his hand gaue him the ring , and albeit that oftentimes hee refused it , yet in the ende being constrained thereunto by the companie , hee tooke it in signe of brotherlie friendship . scarse were these laste wordes ended , and the ring giuen by fabricio , accepted of by possidonio , but all the ladies with a cheerefull countenance did rise vppe from their places , to shevve themselues after the fashion of women , that they were glad and wel pleased with fabricio , all their voices being heard , but the lady camilla was louder then any of the rest , reioicing cspeciallie at his victorie , who being likewise risen , & with a quicke and speedie pace , marching towardes the greene oliue trees of the garden ( for shee knewe right in what estimation the leaues thereof were , and how much worthy of commendation he was , who was deseruedlie crowned with them ) hauing broken some branches of them she suddenlie made a garland of them interlaced with flowers , such as yong maidens are wont to make : and therewithal ( with her owne handes ) shee crowned fabricio , vsing these speeches vnto him with a womanlie voice . thou shalt we are it in signe of victorie . wee likewise being risen from our places , and being met togither in the galleries , and standing at the windovves which looked towards the garden , from whence a sweet gale of wind did blowe , wee still did discourse amongst our selues of that which had passed , & especiallie of the determining of the disputation , and of the victorie purchased by fabricio : all of them equally commending no lesse the ready liberality of fabricio , in bestowing the ring vpon possidonio , then his good mind in accepting thereof : who albeit he had not gotten the victorie in this controuersie , yet in debating the matter with fabricio , hee alleadged no weake reasons thereby to haue become conquerour . thus we remained there vntill supper time approched , when as the tables being couered , vnder the fresh ayre , after that we had supped with great contentment of vs all , wee passed the rest of the night in sport and pastime , vntill it was time to go to bed . and before we departed from thence , wee all with one consent gaue order , hovv vve should spend y e next day folowing ▪ which albeit it was passed in honest and pleasaunt exercise , yet did i not determine to enter into any further discourse therof . that which hath bin spoken this day ( being the last ) in reuerence of him who gouerneth al things , and who by his heauenlie will hath hitherto beene my guide , and conductor , shal at this time be sufficient . finis .