Lowland or South Scotland bordering on England The Seat of the old Picts 156 Miles long and 110 broad divided into 22 Counties viz. 1. Lorn chief Town Dunstafag 2. Cantire chief Town Kiltan 3. Argile chief Town Innerera 4. Lennox chief Town Dunbarton 5. Menteith chief Town Dunblain 6. Strathern chief Town Abernethy 7. Fife chief Town St. Andrews 8. Sterlin chief Town Sterlin 9. Lothien chief Town Edinburgh 10. March chief Town Coldingham 11. Tivedale chief Town Jedburg 12. Twedesdale chief Town Pebles 13. Cledesdale chief Town Glascow 14. Cunningham chief Town Irwing 15. Kile chief Town Aire 16. Carrick chief Town Bargenny 17. Galloway chief Town Kircowbrig 18. Niddesdale chief Town Dumfrees 19. Annandale chief Town Annand 20. Eskedale 21. Eusdale and 22. Isle of Arran Edinburgh is the Chief of the Kingdom and Seat of the former Kings These Provinces are divided into Sheriff-doms which are Hereditary and into 13 Diocesses for Ecclesiastical Government by Malcolm 3d Anno 1072. And into the two Arch-bishopricks of St. Andrew and Glasco Ann. 1478. St. Andrew having 8 Bishops under him and Glasco 3. The Archbishop of York before that time being Metropolitan of Scotland And Palladius Anno 411 was sent by Celestinus Bishop of Rome to be their first Bishop The chief Rivers are two viz. 1. Spey and 2 Tey The chief Hills are those of Cheviot and Albany The chief Lakes 1 Lomond 2 Nessa and 3 Tay. The miraculous things 1. The Lake of Mirton part of whose Waters Congeal only 2. The Lake of Lennox 24 Miles round in which are 30 Islands one of them driven with every Tempest and 3. the Deaf-stone 12 foot high and 33 Cubits thick The Archbishopricks two Bishopricks 12 and Universities 4. The Arms Sol a Lyon Rampant Mars with a double Tressure Counterflowry added upon making the perpetual League with France Barbarons were the Feides here and the Custom changed into Mercheta Mulieris by Malcolm Conmer at Request of his Wife Sister to Edgar Atheling Scotland was an Heptarchy but now a Monarchy King James the first endeavoured in Parliament to make a Union of both Kingdoms But the Judges Resolved That Anglia had Laws and Scotia had Laws But the new Erected Kingdom of Britannia should have no Laws and therefore till there was a Union of the Laws there could be no Union of the Kingdoms The mighty and ancient Kingdoms of England and Scotland were anciently but one and as their Religion and Language was one so there was one kind of Government and one Law which Ruled both with many Unanimous Agreements between them which evidently appeareth by many Proofs First That the Laws of Scotland are divided as the Laws of England into the Common Laws Acts of Parliament and Customs their Common Laws being principally contained in two Books One called Regiam Majestatem because it beginneth as doth Justinian's Institutes with those words And agreeth in substance with our Glanvil and most commonly de Verbo in Verbum and many times our Glanvil is cited therein The second Book is called Quoniam Attachiamenta it beginning with those Words Secondly The Descent of the Crown of Scotland and of Lands to Subjects is the same with England Thirdly They have the like High Court of Parliament consisting of Lords Spirituals Lords Temporal and Commons But of latter times the Lords Spiritual chuse eight Temporal Lords and the Lords Temporal eight Spiritual Lords These Sixteen make choice of eight for Counties and eight of Cities and Burroughs in all 32 But whatsoever is agreed upon by them the King or his High Commissioner doth allow or disallow by moving of the Scepter c. Fourthly They have the same Degrees of Nobility as Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons Fifthly The same great Officers as Chancellor Treasurer Lord Privy Seal Secretary c. Sixthly The same Ministers of Justice as Sheriffs Coroners c. Seventhly The same Laws for the most part appropriated unto England viz. Tenant by the Curtesy because they had Laws as England had Eighthly The like Writs as De Recto Assisa de Novel Disseisin Mort de Ancestor de Gard de Ideot ' inquirend ' Replegiar ' Attachm ' c. Ninthly They agree with Magna Gharta concerning Ward-ships Tenthly With Charta de Foresta for it is lawful for Bishops Earls and Barons coming or returning through the Kings Forests at the Kings Command to kill own or two Beasts in the sight of the Forester Or otherwise in his Absence to blow his Horn that he appear not to take it Thievishly Eleventhly The Lord of whom the Land is holden per Antiquius Feoffamentum shall have the Wardship of the Body Twelfthly The Sheriffs should cause the Acts of Parliament to be proclaimed as heretofore in England Thirteenthly The Sheriffs there have Inheritance in their Office as sometimes in England and still in Cumberland they have Fourteenthly The same Vocables of Art are used in both Kingdoms But by reason of their Acts of Parliment which in many Points have altered diminished and abrogated many of the old and made new Laws and other Proceedings the distinct Kingdoms as they now stand have many different Laws Coke's 4 Inst. 345 346. By the Statute of 1 Jac. 1.2 An Authority is given to certain Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament to Treat with certain Commissioners of Scotland concerning the Settlement of an Union and Peace between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland By the Statute of 4 Jac. 1. Laws of Hostility and the dependences thereof between the two Nations of Scotland and England are Repealed Felonies Committed by English Men in Scotland shall be Tried in Cumberland Westmorland or Northumberland before Commissioners and Jurors of England for which see more in the Statute By the Statute of 7 Jac. 1.1 If an English Man shall commit Felony in Scotland and then fly into England the Justices of Assize or one of them the Justices of Gaol Delivery in their Gaol Delivery or four of them or the Justices of Peace in Sessions or four of them may send the Offender into Scotland to be Tried By the Statute of 19 Car. 2. cap. 13. Twelve persons to be nominated by the King shall be Commissioners for this Kingdom who or five or more of them after the 10th of January 1667 and before the 25th of March 1688 and so from time to time may meet at such place in England as the King shall appoint with Commissioners for the Realm of Scotland and Treat and Determine concerning the Liberty of Trade between the two Kingdoms by suspending Impositions c. charged since the 25 of March in 12 year of the Kings Reign upon Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of either Kingdom or of any of the English Plantations or other Commodities Exported out of England into Scotland their Determinations to be reduced into Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Commissioners and being Ratified by the King shall be in force for a year from the Date of such
Ratification or to the end of the next Session of Parliament By the Statute of 22 Car. 2. cap. 9. Persons to be nominated by the King under the Great Seal or so many of them as shall be appointed to be of the Quorum shall have power to Treat with Commissioners to be Authorised by the Parliament of Scotland concerning an Union of the Realms and such other Matters as they shall think fit for the Kings Honour and Good of both Kingdoms Their Proceedings to be reduced into Writings or Instruments Tripartite one part whereof to be presented to the King another to the Parliament of England and a third to that of Scotland Provided that nothing to be agreed on by them shall be of force till confirmed by Act of the Parliament of England By the Statute of 4 Jac. 1.1 He that is once Tried in Scotland shall not be called in Question again for the same Offence By the Statute of 2 Ed. 4.8 Merchandize carried into or brought out of Scotland or the Isles thereof shall be first brought to Berwick in pain to forfeit the same As the Law hath wrought four Unions 1st The Union of both Kingdoms under one Natural Liege Sovereign King being so acknowledged by the Act of Recognition 2ly The Union of Liegeance and Obedience of the Subject of both Kingdoms due by the Law of Nature to their Sovereign 3ly The Union of Protection of both Kingdoms equally belonging to the Subjects of either of them 4ly The Union of the three Lyons of England with that one of Scotland United and Quartered in one Escutcheon So the Law doth make four Seperations 1st England and Scotland remain several and distinct Kingdoms 2ly They are Governed by several Judicial or Municipal Laws 3ly They have several distinct and seperate Parliaments 4ly Each Kingdom hath several Nobilities For albeit a Postnatus in Scotland or any of his Posterity be the Heir of a Nobleman of Scotland and by his Birth Legitimated in England yet he is none of the Peers or Nobility of England for his Natural Ligeance and Obedience due by the Law of Nature maketh him a Subject and no Alien within England But that Subjection maketh him not Noble within England for that Nobility had its Original by the Kings Creation and not of Nature More of which matter you may Read at large hereafter in Ireland And that the highest and lowest Dignities as a King and that of a Knight are nevertheless universal Coke's 7 Rep. 15. Calvin's Case In ancient time part of Scotland besides Berwick was within the Power and Ligeance of the King of England yet was Governed by the Laws of Scotland The Case in 42 Ed. 3.2 Ruleth it That so many as were Born in that part of Scotland that was under the Ligeance of the King were no Aliens but inheritable to Lands in England yet was that part of Scotland in another Kingdom governed by several Laws And certainly if they were Natural Subjects in that Case when the King had but part of Scotland when the King hath all Scotland they shall be Natural Subjects and no Aliens Barwick is no part of England nor Governed by the Laws of England yet they that have been Born there under the Obedience of one King are Natural Born Subjects and no Aliens There were sometimes in England whiles the Heptarchy lasted seven several Crowned Kings of several and distinct Kingdoms but in the end the West Saxons got the Monarchy and all the other Kings melted as it were their Crowns to make one Imperial Diadem for the King of the West Saxons over all Now when the whole was made the actual and real Ligeance and Obedience of one King they were all Natural born Subjects and capable of and Inheritable unto any Lands in any of the said Kingdoms Of all which matters and things last above mentioned you may read at large in Coke's 7 Report Calvin's Case By the Statute of 4 Jac. 1. For Repeal of Hostile Laws It is Enacted That no Englishman shall be sent out of England into Scotland for any Offence done in Scotland until the Realms be made one in Laws and Government There was a Proclamation the 20 of Octob. 20 Jac. 1. concerning the Kings Stile of Great Britain wherein all Judicial and Legal Proceedings are excepted Cokes 4 Inst 345. The Lesser Islands near Scotland ARE the Orcades or Isles of Orkeny in number 32 Situate against the North Cape of Scotland The chief being Pomonia whose prime Town is Kirkwal honoured with a Bishops See and strengthened with two Castles It is stored with Tinn and Lead and called by the Inhabitants Mainland The 2d Hotlands or Oceti the Inhabitants Bibacissimi sunt tamen non inebriantur These Isles in Solinus time were not Inhabited being over-grown with Rushes Now are they Populous and Fertile were first discovered by Julius Agricola and first possessed by Normans or Norwegians who surrendred them to Alexander King of Scotland 1266. They speak the Gothish Language Schetland lies two days Sailing North of Orcades and is supposed to be the Thule of the Ancients The Hebrides because Scituate West of Scotland in number 44. The chief Ila 24 Miles long and 16 broad Plentiful in Wheat Cattle and Herds of Red Deer The Isle of Sky 40 Miles long Iona famous for Sepulture of the Kings of Scotland Mula 25 Miles bigger than the other The People both in Language and Behaviour resemble the Wild Irish and are called Redshanks A COMPENDIUM OF THE Laws and Government OF IRELAND WITH THE ISLANDS Thereunto belonging Anno Domini 1699 IRELAND FROM Erinland signifying in their Language a Western Land lies on the West of England and Wales in length from the North parts of Antrim to the South parts of Cork 285 in breadth from the East parts of Down to the West parts of Mayo 160 Miles long Anciently called Juverna Hibernia Overnia Jernia Scotia minor Bernia and Vernia now by the Natives Eryn by the Welsh Yverden by the Germans Irlandt by the Italians Irlanda and by the French Irlande The first Inhabitants came out of Britain were anciently Rude and Barbarous having little Law or Government First partly Conquered by the Saxon Monarchs of England Then by the Norwegians not long after by Henry the Second of England till by little and little it was wholly Reduced to England and still remaineth so Governed by a Vice-Roy call the Lord Lieutenant or Deputy of Ireland whose Seat is at Dublin They received the Christian Faith by St. Patrick Anno 335 and are both Protestants and Papists Their Language is a Dialect of the Old British intermixed with Norwegian Danish and English The English is also frequently used among them and in some places a Mongrel Speech between both Their chief Commodities are Cattle Hides Tallow Butter Cheese Honey Wax Furs Salt Hemp Linnen Cloath Pipe-Staves Wool Frizes c. This Country is divided into Four Great Provinces Anciently Kingdoms viz. 1. Ulster Ineol Cui-Guilly on the North
Law-Books lately Printed for J. Walthoe in the Temple Cloysters 1 COke's Reports with References to all the Ancient and Moderâ— Books of the Laws in 11 Vol. Fol. 2. Dalton's Countrey Justice with large Additions Fol. 3. Cases argued and decreed in the High Court of Chancery Fol. 4. A Collection of the Orders relating to the Practice of the Courts of Chancery and Exchequer 12mo 5. The Law of Common and Commoners or a Treatise shewing the Original and Nature of Common 8vo 6. The Method of Pleading by Rule and President 8vo 7. The Compleat Sheriff wherein is set forth his Office and Authority together with that of a Coroner 8vo 8. A View of the Penal Laws concerning Trades Professions and Traffick and what Offences are punishable in the Crown Office 12mo 9. The Abridgement of the Statutes of King William 8vo 10. Bridgman's Conveyances is now in the Press and will be speedily published with Additions Fol. 11. Tryals per Pais or the Laws of England concerning Juries 8vo A COMPENDIUM OF THE Laws and Government Ecclesiastical Civil and Military OF ENGLAND SCOTLAND IRELAND AND DOMINIONS Plantations and Territories Thereunto belonging WITH THE Maritime Power thereof AND Iurisdiction of Courts THEREIN Methodically Digested under their Proper Heads By H. C. sometime of the Inner-Temple LONDON Printed by the Assigns of Rich. and Edw. Atkins Esquires for I. Walthoe and are to be sold by Iohn Deeve at Bernard's-Inn-Gate in Holbourn 1699. THE PREFACE TO THE READER AT my first Entrance into the Study of the Laws of England knowing Method and Order conduce much to the enlightning of the Vnderstanding rendring things more perspicuous and comprehensive to the discerning Judgment and sitting them better for the retaining Memory I resolved to observe a Regular Course and therefore searched for such Authors and endeavoured to make use of such Means as might best correspond with my Design therein But among the several Treatises of the Laws and Government of this Kingdom and Jurisdiction of Courts heretofore written by several Eminent and Learned Men finding none were so compleat nor had that Beauty of Order and Vniformity at might be expected And the Lord Coke in the Epilogue to his Fourth Institutets concerning the Jurisdiction of Courts desiring the Wise-hearted and Expert Builders would amend both the Method and Vniformity and the Structure it self where they should find any Deficiency in the Architecture and considering that great Alterations have been made since by divers Acts of Parliament and otherwise I was enduced to compile this Methodical Compendium of the Laws and Government of England and the Dominions thereunto belonging to direct and facilitate my farther Studies But the Importunity of some having prevailed with me to promise contrary to my first Intention and Inclination to make it Publick If it prove beneficial to others it will surmount all the Ambition may be thought to be in Yours To the extent of his Power H. Curson A Table of Contents Governments in General ORiginal of Government Pag. 1 Law is General Pag. 4 Law Eternal ibid. â—aw of Reason Pag. 5 Divine Law Pag. 6 Humane Law Pag. 7 Fundamentals of the Laws of England Pag. 8 The Government of England The Government of England Pag. 22 The King ibib Privy Council ibid. Ecclesiastical Government of England Ecclesiastical Government Pag. 28 Convocation Pag. 32 Executive Power in Causes Ecclesiaical Pag. 36 High Commission Court Pag. 36 Court of Arches Pag. 39 Court of Audience ibid. Court of the Faculties Pag. 40 Prerogative Court of Canterbury ibid. Court of Peculiars 41 Consistory Courts of Archbishops Bishops 42 Court of the Archdeacon or his Commissary 44 Court of Delegates 44 Laws and Constitutions Ecclesiastical 45 Trials Ecclesiastical in Civil Causes 46 Trials Ecclesiastical in criminal Causes 46 Punishments by Ecclesiastical Courts 47 Punishments Ecclesiastical peculiar to the Clergy 49 Civil Government of England Civil Government of England 51 High Court of Parliament 51 535 Executive Power in Temporal Affairs 80 Court of the High Steward of Eng. 81 539 High Court of Chancery 90 Court of extraordinary Jurisdiction 93 Court of the Star-Chamber 104 Court for Redress of Delays of Judgment in the King 's great Courts 108 Court of Kings Bench 113 Court of Common Pleas Court 121 Court of the Exchequer 127 Court of Inquiry to certifie untrue Accompts in the Exchequer 140 Court of Equity in the Exchequer 141 544 Office of the Pleas in the Exchequer 142 Courts of Justices of Assize Nisi-prius 144 Court of Justices of a Oyer and Terminer 153 Court of special Justices of Oyer and Terminer 166 Money collected for the Houses of Correction or for the Poor 166 Colledges Hospitals or Alms-houses or for charitable and lawful Purposes and Uses 167 Court of Justices of Goal-delivery 169 Court of Justices of the Forrest 175 Court of Justices in Eyre 193 Court of Justices of Trailbaston 195 Court of Wards and Liveries 196 Court of Ancient Demesne 196 559 Court of Commissioners of Sewers 198 569 Court of Commissioners upon the Statute of Bankrupts 201 573 Commissioners for Examination of Witnesses 203 578 King's Swanherd 204 587 King's Aulnager 205 590 The Government of Counties in England 207 Court of the Sessions of the Peace 210 Court of Inquiry of the Defaults of Justices of the Peace Justices of Assize Sheriffs and Under-Sheriffs 222 The Execution of Laws in each County ibid. Court of the Tourn 223 595 Court Leet or View of Frankpledge 224 597 County Court 228 615 Court of the Hundred 233 630 Court Baron 235 632 Coroners Court 237 635 Court of Escheators and Commissioners for finding of Offices 239 635 Court of the Clerk of the Market 241 Court of Pipowders 246 Court of the Dutchy-chamber of Lancaster at Westminster 247 Courts of the County Palatin of Chester 251 Court of the County Palatin of Durham 252 Royal Franchise of Ely 254 Court of the County Palat. of Pembroke 255 Franchise of Hexam and Hexamshire 255 Courts of the Cinque-Ports 256 President and Council in the North 258 The Wardens Courts in the East West and Middle Marshes adjoyning to Scotland 260 Court of Stannaries in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall 261 Court of the Mayor of the Staple 263 The Principality of Wales The Principality of Wales 266 Court of the President and Council of Wales 269 The great Sessions in Wales 270 Military Government of England Military Government of England 275 Court of Chivalry before the Constable and Marshal 279 Colledge of Heralds 283 Maritime Power of England Maritime Power of England 287 Court of Admiralty 292 638 Navy Office 295 Court of Commission by force of the Statute 28 H. 8. Cap. 15. 298 Port Courts 298 Commissioners and others for Beacons Signs of the Sea Light-houses Sea-marks and concerning Watches 299 De Conservatore Treugarum i. e. Induciarum c. 302 Court of the King of England Court of the King of England 308 Ecclesiastical Government of the King's Court
in pleno comitatu per Sacramentum proborum legalium hominum de c. inquiras inde appellatur Breve inquisitionis utrum A. captus detentus in Prisona c. pro morte W. unde rettatus i. e. accusatus existit sit odio atia c. nisi indictatus vel appellatus fucrit coram Justitiariis nostris ultimo itincrantibus in partibus illis pro hoc captus Imprisonatus For by the Common Law in omnibus autem placitis de felonia solet accusatus per plegios dimitti praeterquam de placito de homicidio ubi ad terrorem aliter statutum est But this Writ was taken away by a late Statute viz. in 28 E. 3. because as some pretended it became unnecessary for that Justices of Assize Justices of Oyer and Terminer and Justices of Gaol-delivery came at the least into every County twice every year but within Twelve years after this Statute it was Enacted That all Statutes made against Magna Charta should be void whereby the Writs of Odio and Atia and De ponendo in Ballium are revived and so in like cases upon all the Branches of Magna Charta And therefore the Justices of Assize Justices of Oyer and Terminer and of Gaol-delivery have not suffered the prisoner to be long detained but at their next coming have given the prisoner full and speedy Justice by due Tryal without detaining him long in prison Coke's 2 Inst 42 43. A person examined may require a Copy of his Examination take time to answer and put his answer in writing and keep a Copy of it Coke's 2 Inst 51. All causes ought to be heard and determined before the Judges openly in the Kings Courts the King having distributed his Judicial power to several Courts of Justice Coke's 2 Institutes 103. If a prisoner be mute by act of God The Judges who are to be of Council with the prisoner ex officio ought to enquire if he be the same person and of all other pleas which he might have pleaded But if it be by his own Act he is to be forthwith put to his pennance Coke's 2 Inst 178. If the Prisoner Demur and it be Over-ruled he shall be hanged but not have pain fort dure ibidem Justices may punish any act done in deceit of the Court 2 Inst 215. Judicis officium est Opus diei in die ipso perficere according to the Statute of W. 1. cap. 47. and not defer it or prefer others upon any request or importunity Coke's 2 Inst 256. Sapientis Judicis est cogitare tantum sibi esse permissum quantum commissum creditum Coke 's 4 Inst 163. By Stat. 4 Jac. 1. cap. 1. It is provided that whereas in regard of some difference and inequality of the Laws Tryals and Proceedings in case of Life between the Justice of the Realm of England and that of the Realm of Scotland It appeareth to be most convenient for the contentment and satisfaction of all his Majesties Subjects to proceed with all possible severity against such Offenders in their own Country according to the Laws of the same whereunto they are Born and Inheritable and by and before the Natural Born Subjects of the same Realm if they be there apprehended And by the next Clause is provided that Felonies committed by English Men in Scotland shall be inquired of heard and determined before Justices of Assize or Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol-delivery being Natural born Subjects within the Realm of England and no other And the like in another Clause with an addition of Justices of the Peace to be Natural born Subjects within England Coke's 3 Inst 226. Justices of the Kings-Bench Oyer and Terminer Gaol-delivery and of the Peace may enquire of hear and determine all Murders and Felonies within the Verge because their Jurisdiction and Authority are generally through the whole County Coke's 4 Rep. 46 47. Case of Appeals The Justices of Assizâ— have one Commission of Oyer and Terminer directed to them and divers other Inhabitants of the Shires whereunto their Circuits extend whereof each of the Justices of Assize are of the Quorum for offences hapning in their Circuits which without this Commission they cannot do Terms del Ley Cok's 4 Inst En le Table The Statute of 2 Ed. 3. requireth that no Commission of Oyer and Terminer be granted but before Justices of one Bench or the other or Justices Itinerant and that for horrible Trespasses Where the Commission of Oyer and Terminer lies in case of Extortions by Under-sheriffs Escheators Clerks of Markets Hunters in Parks taking of Goods not Wreck'd in vacancy of Bishopricks for Hunting in Parks for Robbing Piscaries and in many other cases the Forms of Writs and Associations and si non omnes to them Vide F. N. B. 243 to 251. If the Trespass be not Enormis seu horribilis a Writ of Supersedeas lieth or Revâ— ation Coke's 2 Inst 419. Upon an Indictment found by the Commissioners before the Term a Special Commission of Oyer and Terminer may be granted for them to proceed altho' the Court of Kings Bench be sitting in the same County But it is best for the Commission to bear Teste after the beginning of the Term But General Commissions of Oyer and Terminer are suspended during the term or time the Kings Bench sits in the same County or if the Kings Bench be adjourned the General Commission may proceed Coke's 3 Inst 27. Coke's 4 Inst 163. The Kings Bench is more than Eyre Therefore in Term time no Commissions of Oyer and Terminer or Gaol-Delivery by the Common Law may sit in the County where the Kings Bench sitteth for praesentia majoris cessat potestas minoris and therewith agreeth 27 Ass p. 1. But Carlisle and Erwing were Indicted and Arrained in London where the Murder was Committed before Justices of Oyer and Terminer in the Term time because in another County than where the Kings Bench sit Coke's 9 Rep. 118. Lord Sanchar's Case For Tryal of Treasons Committed out of the Realm c. by Commissions appointed by the King c. See the Statute of 26 Hen. 8. 33 Hen. 8. 35 Hen. 8. 5 and 6. of Ed. 6 c. If a Commission of Oyer and Terminer be discontinued or expired c. the Indictments and Records shall be removed into the Kings Bench as to their proper Center Coke's 2 Institutes 419. The Courts of Special Justices of Oyer and Terminer THese Courts are Four in number Raised by several Acts of Parliament Two of which viz. That concerning Purveyors and that concerning Misdemeanors of Villains being obsolete We shall only give a Brief account of the Style and Nature of the other Two referring their Jurisdiction and Proceedings therein to the Acts of Parliament themselves And first of that concerning Money collected for Houses of Correction or for the Poor THis Court is Raised by the Statute of 39 Eliz. cap. 4. wherein is to be observed
or Confirmed at home or abroad Tenures of all the Lands in England Extents of Mannors and Lands Inquisitions Post mortem being of great Advantage upon Trials of Interest or Descent Liberties and Priviledges granted to Cities Towns Corporate or private Men as Court Leets Waifs Estrays Markets Fairs Free Warrens Felons Goods c. Or what else could come to the Crown or pass out of it Writs Pleadings and Proceedings as well in Chancery as at Common Law and in the Exchequer Inspeximus Inrolments c. Deeds and Contracts between party and party and The Just Establishment of all the Offices in the Nation The Metes and Bounds of all Forests with the Rights of the Inhabitants therein and many other And therefore in the Petitions of the Commons in Parliament 46 E. 3. said to be perpetual Evidence of every man's Right and the Records of the Nation These Records are reposited in the place called Wakefield Tower being many Cart Loads Thus distinguished Rotuli Patentium Chartarum Parliamentorum Clausarum Finium Scotiae Vasconiae Franciae Hiberniae Walliae Normanniae Almaniae Oblatae Liberatae Extractae Perambulationes Forestae Scut ' Rotul ' Marshal ' Romae de Treugis Chart ' Patent ' fact ' in Partibus Transmarinis Patent ' de Domibus Judaeorum Protection ' de Perdonation ' c. Stapulae cum multis aliis Depicted lately upon every Press belonging to each King's Reign and very easie to be brought forth for use This Office is to be open from 7 till 11 in the Morning and from 1 till 5 in the Afternoon on all Working-days only in December January and February they open an Hour later in the Morning and shut up an Hour earlier at Night All Records since Richard the Third are yet in the Chappel of the Rolls The Money allowed by the King for the Maintenance of all these Officers and keeping thls Vast Structure in Repair amounts to a vast Sum. Saint Katherines NEar the Tower is St. Katherines which hath a Royal Jurisdiction for the Ecclesiastical Causes and Probate of Wills and belongeth to the Queen from whom if any will Appeal it must be to the King in his Chancery who thereupon Issueth out a Commission under the Great Seal as in Appeals from the Arches or Prerogative The Bridge SUrpasseth all others in Europe It hath 19 Arches 20 Foot between each Arch is 800 Foot in Length 60 High and 30 Broad and hath a Draw-Bridge almost in the Middle Built 1209 in the Reign of King John The Charge of keeping it in Repair is so Great that our Auncestors thought fit to have a Large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses and divers Officers to be apart for the constant Care and Repair thereof The Principal whereof are the Two Bridgmasters chosen yearly out of the Body of the Liveries upon Midsummer-day after the Sheriffs and Chamberlain The Bridge over the River Lee at Stratford was built an Hundred years before and being the first Arched Stone-Bridge seen in England gave it the Name of Stratford-Bow Not far below this Famous Bridge is the place for Receipt and Management of all Impositions laid on Merchandizes Imported and Exported into and from this City which is called The Custom-House WHerein are Employed a great Number of Officers whereof the First and Chief are Six Commissioners who have Charge of all His Majesties Customs in all Ports of England Salary to each is 2000 l. a year And these have many Deputies Customers Collectors Comptrollers Surveyors Searchers Waiters c. in the Port of London and in all the Out-Ports Collector of Subsidies or Customs Outwards Fee Two hundred seventy six pounds Collector of Customs Inwards Fee Four hundred sixty six pounds Thirteen shillings Four pence Customer Inwards Fee Sixty two pounds Six shillings Eight pence Customers of Cloth and Petty Customs Fee Two hundred seventy seven pounds Customers of the Great Customs Two Fee Fifty pounds a piece Comptroller of Customs Inwards and Outwards Fee Two hundred fifty five pounds Comptroller of Cloth and Petty Customs Fee One hundred pounds Surveyors of Customs Inwards and Outwards Fee Three hundred pounds Surveyor General Fee Five hundred pounds Comptroller of the Great Custom Fee Thirty pounds Register of the Seizures Fee One hundred and six pounds Chief Searcher Fee One hundred Twenty pounds Five Under-Searchers Eighteen King's Waiters Fee to each Fifty two pounds Surveyor of the Out-Ports Fee Two hundred and Fifty pounds The Perquisites to each of these Officers are very considerable and to some more than their Salaries In all the Out-Ports the King hath the like Officers who all Receive Salaries likewise out of His Majesty's Revenue The General Post-Office THe King by Letters Patent doth Constitute his Post-Master General who keeps one General Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Packets are dispatched Monday to France Italy Spain Flanders Germany Sweden Denmark c. and to Kent Tuesday to the United Netherlands Germany c. and to all Parts of England Scotland and Ireland Wednesday to Kent only and the Downs Thursday to France Spain Italy and all Parts of England and Scotland Fryday to the Spanish and united Netherlands Germany Sweden Denmark and to Kent Saturday to all Parts of England Scotland and Ireland And the Answers of these Letters are Received in the said Office in due Course and dispersed from thence according to the Directions This Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the number of Seventy seven Persons who give their actual Attendance Upon this Grand Office Depends 182 Deputy Post-Masters in England and Scotland Most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub-Post-Masters ink their Branches And also in Ireland another General Post-office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of 18 like Officers and 45 Deputy Post-masters The Post-master General keeps for Transport of Letters to France Two Packet-boats to Flanders Two to Holland Two to Ireland Three at Deal Two for the Downs which he Maintains at his proper Charge And the Market Towns of England are so well Appropriated to the Respective Postages that they have an easy and certain conveyance of Letters in due Course of the Mails every Post The number of the Letters Missive in England tho' formerly inconsiderable yet are now so great that the Office hath been Farmed at 30000 l. a year The Charge of Letters here is Less and the Expedition Greater than in any Foreign Country A Letter of a Sheet of Paper costs 2 d. for 80 Miles Two Sheets 4 d. and an ounce 8 d. and in 24 Hours the Post goes 120 Mile and in Five days an Answer may be had from a place 300 Miles distant And for Riding Post you pay only 3 d. a Mile and 4 d. to the Post Boy at every Stage For Study of Law IN London are the Colledges or Houses of the Municipal or Common Law Professors and Students Which are Fourteen still called Inns the
308 Civil Government of the King's Court 312 Compting-House 314 Court of Green-Cloth 315 The Knight Marshal 320 Court of the Marshalsea 321 Court of the Palace 322 Court of the Lord Steward Treasurer and Comptroller of the King's Houshlod concerning Felony c. 324 Court of the Lord Steward of the King 's House or in his Absence of the Treasurer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsea 325 King 's great Wardrobe 332 The Office of the Tents 335 The Office of the Robes ibid. Military Government in the King's Court 338 The Band of Pensioners 339 The Yeomen of the Guard 340 Court of the Queen of England Government of the Queen's Court 341 Ecclesiastical Government of the Queen's Court 341 Civil Government of the Queens Court 342 Officers of the Robes ibid. Government of Cities Government f Cities 34â— Ecclesiastical Government of Cities 344 Civil Government of Cities 345 City of London 34â— The Ecclesiastical Government of London 347 The Civil Government of London 34â— Court of Hustings 351 Sheriffs Court in London 352 Court of Conscience 354 Court of the Mayor and Aldermen 356 Court of Orphans 356 Court of Common Council 357 Court of Wardmote Inquest 358 Court of Halmote ibid. Chamberlain 's Court for Apprentices 359 Court of the Conservators of the Water and River of Thames 360 Court of the Coroner in London ibid. Court of the Escheator in London ibid. Court of Policies and Assurances 361 Military Government of London 363 Tower of London 365 Office of the Ordnance 368 Office of the Warden of the Mint 373 Office of Records in the Tower 375 St. Katherine's 378 Bridge ibid. Custom House 379 General Post-Office 381 Law Study 383 Inns of Chancery ibid. Inns of Court 384 Mootings in the Inns of Court 388 Mootings in the Inns of Chancery 390 Keeping Christmas in the Inns of Court ibid. Manner of holding Parliaments in the Inns of Court 392 Serjeants Inns ibid. Call or Creation of Serjeants 393 The Judges 394 Colledge of Civilians in London 396 Colledge of Physicians in London 400 Gresham Colledge in London 402 Sion Colledge in London 40â— Chartreux in London 40â— Schools in London 40â— Southwark ibid City of Westminster 40â— City of Norwich 41â— Government of the Two Universitieâ— The two Universities in England 41â— Oxford ibid Cambridge 42â— Government of Boroughs Government of Boroughs is England 43â— Government of Villages Government of Villages in England 43â— Ecclesiastical Government of Villages 43â— Civil Government of Villages ibid Islands adjacent to England Islands adjacent unto England 43â— Isle of Man ibid Anglesey 43â— Jersey olim Caesarea 437 Guernsey olim Servia ibid Insula Vectis or Vecta 43â— Sorlings 44â— Island Lindisfarne 44â— The Government of Scotland Scotland 445 The Islands near Scotland The Lesser Islands near Scotland 459 Orcades ibid. Schetland ibid. Hebrides 460 The Government of Ireland Ireland 463 English Plantations in Asia English Plantations in Asia 491 Bantan ibid. Bombaine ibid. English Colonies in Africa English Colonies in Africa 492 Guinea ibid. Tangier ibid. English Plantations in America 492 Newfoundland 494 New England 496 New York 500 New Jersey 504 Pensylvania 505 Mariland 507 Virginia 510 Carolina 512 Bermudas 515 Caribee Islands 519 Barbuda ibid. Anguilla 520 Montserrat 521 Dominica 522 St. Vincent 523 Antegoa 524 Mevis or Nevis ibid. St. Christophers 526 Barbadoes 527 Jamaica 530 See the Alphabetical Table at the End of the Book Finis Tabulae OF GOVERNMENTS c. The Original of Governments OF GOVERNMENTS there can be but Three kinds viz. One or More or All must have the Sovereign Power of a Nation If one then it is a Monarchy If more as an Assembly of Choice Persons then it is Aristocracy if All that is a General Assembly of the People then it is a Democracy And now in course we are first to speak of The Monarchical Government which as most resembling the Divinity and approaching nearest to Perfection being esteemed the most Excellent is of two sorts Regal and Political The first sort Monarchy Regal was begun by Nimrod who after the World began to increase got unto himself a Dominion over others and yet in Scripture he is not called a King but a Mighty Hunter before the Lord So Belus did subdue the Assyrians and Ninus the most part of Asia and so did the Romans usurp the Empire of the World And thus having set forth the beginning of the Regal Government of Kingdoms which Law Regal was no other thing but the Pleasure of the Prince as in the First of Kings you may read more at large We will now as being more for our purpose declare how Kingdoms of Political Government were first begun which we may term Monarchy Political St. Augustine in the 19th Book De Civitate Dei saith Aâ— People is a Multitude of Men associated by the Consent of Law and Communion of Wealth And yet such a People without a Head is not worthy to be called 〈◊〉 Body as in Natural things the Head cut off is not called a Body but a Trunk Wherefore Aristotle in his Civil Philosophy saith Whensoever One is made of Many among the same One shall be the Ruler and the other shall be the Ruleâ— And this Ruler thus raised and appointed in Kingdoms is called a King from the Saxon word Koning intimating Power and Knowledge wherewith every Sovereign ought especially to be Invested And thus of a Multitude of People ariseth a Kingdom which is a Body Mystical And in this Body Mystical or Political the Intent of the People like Blood in the Natural Body is the first lively thing that is Politick provision for the Utility and Wealth of the same People which is imparted to the Head and members of the same Body whereby it is Nourished and Maintained and by the Law which cometh from Ligando of Binding this Mystical Body is knit and preserv'd together and the Members and Parts thereof as the Natural Body by Sinews do every one retain their proper Functions And as the Head of a Natural Body cannot change his Sinews nor withhold from his Inferiour Members their peculiar Powers of Nourishments no more can a King which is the Head of the Body Politick change the Laws of that Body or withdraw from the said People their proper Substance against their Wills And therefore it now follows that we speak somewhat of the Fundamentals of laws in General and then descend to the particular Fundamentals of the Laws of England and afterwards briefly declare the Executive Powers of the same And first of Laws in General WHich are Four that more properly belong to this our Business viz. The Law Enternal The Law of Nations Divine Law and Human Law The Law Eternal LEx Aeterna is the Reason of the Divine Will whereby God will â—ave all things of him Created to be moved and directed to a good End and it is called The first Law and all other Laws are derived from it And this Law Eternal none may be able to
That their Proceedings Judgments and Executions shall remain good and available in Law without any Redress to be had by Suit in any other Court as you may see more at large by the Statute and Exposition thereof in Coke's Fourth Institutes And the other is concerning Colledges Hospitals or Almshouses for Charitable and Lawful purposes and Uses BY the Statute of 39 Eliz. cap. 6. The Lord Chancellor or Chancellor for the Dutchy of Lancaster for Lands in that County may award Commissions to the Bishop of the Diocess and his Chancellor and other persons of good and sound Behaviour To enquire of all Colledges Hospitals and other places Founded or Ordained for the Charitable relief of Poor Aged and Impotent people Maimed Soldiers Schools of Learning Orphans or for such other good charitable and lawful Purposes and Intents And of all Lands c. given or appointed for those uses As also for Reparations of all High-ways Bridges and Sea-Banks for Maintenance of Free-Schools and Poor Scholars and of Orphans and Fatherless Children and such like good and lawful Charitable uses and to enquire of the Abuses Misdemeanors Mis-employments Falsities defrauding the Trusts Alienations Misgovernments c. And to set down such Orders Judgments and Decrees that the same may be observed in full ample and most liberal sort c. Which Orders Judgments and Decrees not being contrary to the Orders or Decrees of the Donors shall be firm and good and are to be certified by the Commissioners into the Chancery of England or of the County Palatine of Lancaster c. And it is to be observed that when any Act of Parliament doth authorize the Lord Chancellor or Keeper to make a Commission under the Great Seal he may do it without further Warrant the King being party to the Act of Parliament But this Statute was afterwards Repealed by 43 Eliz. 4. Saving for the Excution of Orders and Decrees before made by Commissioners according to the Statute And by the Statute of 43 Eliz. 4. It shall be lawful for the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper for the time being and for the Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster within that Precinct to Award Commissions into any part of the Realm respectively to the Bishop there and his Chancellor if any at that time and to other Persons of Good Behaviour Authorizing Four or more of them to Inquire as well by the Oaths of Twelve or more Lawful Men as otherwise of all Grants Gifts Augmentations Limitations and Appointments and of all Abuses and Misemployments of all Land Tenements and Hereditaments and of all Goods and Chattels given limitted or appointed to Charitable uses c. See the Statute at large and 21 Jac. 1. cap. 1. The Court of Justices of Gaol-Delivery BY the Law Ne homines diu detineantur in Prisona but that they may receive Plenam celerem Justitiam The Commission of Gaol-Delivery was Instituted 4 E. 3. and by this Commission Goals ought to be delivered Thrice in the year and oftner if need be and the Authority given thereby consisteth in these few Words Constituimus vos Justiciarios nostros ad Gaolam nostram Castri nostri de C. de Prisonibus in ea existentibus hac vice deliberand ' And these Justices may arraign any man in that Goal upon any Indictment for Felony Trespass c. before Justâ—ces of Peace though not found before themselves which Justices of Oyer and Terminer cannot do and they may take a Pannel of a Jury Return'd by the Sheriff without making any Precept to him which Justices of Oyer and Terminer may not To these Justices Commissions of Association Writs of Admittance and Si non omnes like as to Justices of Oyer and Terminer are directed and other Authorities Jurisdictions and Priviledges they have of which you may Read at large Coke's 4 Inst. cap. 30. By the Statute of 6 R. 2.5 Justices of Assize and Gaol-Delivery shall hold their Sessions in the chief Towns of every County where the Shire Courts there use to be holden By the Statute of 8 R. 2.2 no man of Law shall be Justice of Assize or Gaol Delivery in his own Country and the Chief Justice of the Common-Bench shall be assigned amongst others to take Assizes and to deliver Gaols but as to the Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench it shall be as for the most part of 100 years last past hath been wont to be done By the Statute of 14 H. 6.3 the Sessions of the Justices of Assize and Gaol-delivery in Cumberland shall be holden in the time of Peace and Truce in the City of Carlisle and not elsewhere according to the Statute of 6 R. 2 5. By Stas de Finibus levatis cap. 3.27 E. 1. Justices of Assize presently after the Assizes taken shall deliver the Gaols but if one of them be a Clerk the other that is Lay associating unto him one of the most discreet Knights of the County shall deliver the Gaols The Justices shall then also Enquire Whether Sheriffs or any other have let out by Plevin any Prisoners not pleviable or have offended in any thing against the Statute of Westm 2.13 E. 1. and shall punish them according to the force of the said Statute By the Statute of 2 E. 3 2. Justices of Gaol-delivery and Oyer and Terminer procured by Great Men shall not be made against the Form of the Statute of 27 E. 1. cap. 3. And Assizes Attaints and Certifications shall be hereafter taken before Justices commonly assigned being good and lawful Men and having knowledge in the Law according to the Statute of Westm. 2.29 Ed. 1. By the Statute of 4. E. 3.2 good and discreet Persons shall be assigned in all Shires of England to take Assizes Juries and Certifications and to deliver the Gaols Three times in the year at least Justices of Gaol-delivery shall have power to Deliver the Gaols of those that stand Indicted before the Keeâ—ers of the Peace which Keepers shalt send those Indictments before the Justices of Gaol-delivery who shall have power to Enquire of and punish Sheriffs Gaolers and others which do any thing against this Act. Judges ought not to Deliver their Opinions before-hand of any Criminal Case thaâ— may come before them Judicially For how can they â—e indifferent who have delivered their Opinions before hand wiâ—hout hearing of the party Co. 3 Inst 29. By the Statute of 19 H. 7.10 the Sheriff of every County shall have the keeping of the Common Gaol there except such as are held by Inheritance or Succession Also all Letters Patents of the keeping of Gaols for Life or Years are annulled and void Howbeit neither the Kings-Bench nor Marshalsea shâ—â—l be in the custody of any Sheriff aâ—d the Patents of Edward Courtney Earl of Devon and John Morgan for Keeping of Prisons are excepted By the Statute of 6 Hen. 8.6 the Justices of the King 's Bench have power by their Discretions to Remand as well the Bodies of Felons as their Indictments
Messina yet that Fragment of the Rhodian Law still extant holds the Preeminence in Maritime Affairs The Customs and former Decrees of the English Court of Admiralty are there of Force for deciding Controtroversies And under this Court there is also A Court of Equity for determining Differences between Merchant and Merchant In Criminal Affairs which is most commonly about Piracy The Proceeding in this Court was by Accusation and Information by a Man 's own Confession or by Eye witnesses he was found Guilty before he could be Condemned But that being found inconvenient there were two Statutes made by King Henry the Eighth that Criminal Affairs should be Tried by Witnesses and Jury and that by Special Commission from the King to the Lord High Admiral wherein some of the Judges of the Realm are ever Commissioners and the Tryal according to the Laws of England directed by those Statutes as is herein after mentioned Between the Common Law of England and the Civil Law there seems to be Divisum Imperium For in the Sea so far as the Low Water mark is counted Infra Corpus Comitatus adjacentis and Causes there arising determinable by the Common Law yet when the Sea is full the Admiral hath Jurisdiction there also so long as the Sea Flows over Matters done between the Low Water mark and the Land as appears in Hen. Constables Case Coke's 5 Rep. fol. 107. But for these Limitations and Jurisdictions of the Court of Admiralty see the Statutes above mentioned And the Statute of 13 R. 2. 15 R. 2. 27 Eliz. cap. 11. Coke's 4 Inst cap. 22. And for regulating his Majesties Navies Ships of War and Forces by Sea Vide le Statute of 13 Car. 2. cap. 9. And now as pertinent hereunto we shall say somewhat of The Navy Office THe Treasurer is to Receive out of the Exchequer by Warrant from the Lord High Treasurer of England and pay all charges of the Navy by Warrant from the principal Officers of the Navy his Salary is 220 l. 13 s. 4 d. besides 3 d. in the pound of all Moneys paid by him The Comptroller of the Navy who is to Attend and Comptrol all Payment of Wages To know the Market Rates of all Stores belonging to Shipping To Examine and Audit all Treasurers Victuallers and Store-keepers Accompts c. his Salary 500 l. per Annum The Surveyor of the Navy whose Office is generally to know the State of all Stores and see the wants supplied to find Hulls Masts and Yards and Estimate the value of Repairs by Indenture to charge all Boat-swains and Carpenters of his Majesties Navy with what Stores they receive and at the end of each Voyage to State and Audit their Accompts his Salary 490 l. The Clerk of the Acts is to Record all Orders Contracts Bills Warrants and other Transactions by the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy The Commissioners of the Navy whose Office is as above specified and Salary to each is 500 l. yearly Two other Commissioners to be at Portsmouth and Chatham always in readiness to give Orders for better Management of his Majesties Affairs in his Yards and Store-houses Salary to each 350 l. Each of these Officers above-named have Two Clerks and some more all paid by the Treasurer of the Navy All hold their Places by Patent from the King and most of them during pleasure The King hath for his Navy Royal and Stores Four Great Yards or Store-Houses viz. at Chatham Deptford Woolwich and Portsmouth where his Ships are built Repaired and Laid up after their Voyage In which Yards are employed Divers Officers of which Six are principal The Clerk of the Check Salary about 180 l. per Annum Store-Keepers Salary 286 l. per Annum Master Attendants Two at Chatham 100 l. per Annum Master Shipwright Salary about 113 l. per Annum Clerk of the Comptooll 100 l. per Annum Clerk of the Survey 140 l. per Annum The Charges of their Clerks and Instruments are included in their Salaries His Majesty hath Divers Rope-Yards as at Chatham Deptford VVoolwich and Portsmouth where are made the Cable and Cordage for his Navy In time of War the King hath a Yard at Harwich where out of War is continued An Officer at 100 l. yearly This whole Navy Office is govern'd by The Lord Admiral whose Lieutenant Admiral hath Salary 20 s. per diem and 10 l. per Mensem for each Servant whereof he is allowed 16. The Lord Admiral 's Secretary hath a Salary from the King of 500 l. per Annum All the Under Officers as well those in Yards as those belong to Ships hold their Places by Warrant from The Lord High Admiral of England The Ordinary Charge of the King's Navy in time of Peace is scarce 70000 l. per Annum besides the Building of Ships Setting out Fleets c. which some years even in Peaceable Times amounts to 12 or 1300000 l. more as may easily be computed The Court of Commission by force of the Statute of 28 H. 8. cap. 15. THis Court must be held coram Admirallo Angliae seu ejus Locum tenente and Three or Four such other substantial Persons as shall be Named by the the Lord Chancellor Their Jurisdiction is to hear and determine all Treasons Felonies Robberies Murders and Confederacies committed or done upon the Sea c. These Offences shall be heard and determined according to the Common Law and therefore some of the Judges of the Realm are ever in Commission The Mischief before making this Statute you may see Co. 3 Inst cap. Piracy Vide Co. 4 Inst The Port Courts A Port-Mote is a Court kept in Haven Towns or Ports and thereof taketh his Name Curia Portus Portus à portando Est locus in quo Exportantur Importantur Merces and they are Portae Regni The Gates of the Realm Hitha and Heda often in Doomsday is taken for a Haven or Port anciently written Hafne and now Haven and hereof cometh Queen-Hith in London and Lambhith Every Haven is within the Body of the County whereof see more in Coke's 4th Institutes Court of Admiralty and the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 15. Commissioners and others for Beacons Signs of the Sea Light-Houses Sea-Marks and concerning Watches BEacon is from the Saxon Bechan which is Signum dare and we use the word to Becken at this day Before Edward the Third they set Stacks of Wood in High Places but in his time Pitch Boxes as now they be were set up and this is properly called a Beacon Light-Houses Ignes Speculatorij seu Lumen Maritimum are properly to direct Sea-faring Men in the Night when they cannot see Marks and these also Signa speculatoria sui Pharus unde Versus Lumina Noctivagae tollit Pharus aemula Lunae Sea-Marks as Steeples Churches Castles Trees and such like for direction of Seafaring Men in the Day time are called signa Marina or Speculatoria or signa Nautis whereof Virg. 5 Aeneis Hic
viridem Aeneas frondenti ex ilice Metam Constituit signum Nautis pater unde reverti Sciverit longos ubi circumflectere Cursus At the Common Law none could Erect any of these Three but the King It being done ever by the King's Commission under the Great Seal But of later times by Letters Patents to the Lord Admiral he hath power to Erect the same By the Act of 8 Eliz. the Master Wardens and Assistants of Trinity-House of Deptford Stroud a Company of the chiefest and most expert Masters and Governours of Ships shall and may lawfully from time to time at their will and pleasure and at their costs Make Erect and Set up such and so many Beacons Marks and Signs for the Sea in the Sea-shoars and Upland places near the Sea-coasts or Forelands of the Sea only for Sea Marks as to them shall seem most meet whereby the Dangers may be avoided and Ships the better come to their Ports And all such beacons Marks and Signs so by them to be Erected shall be continued renewed and maintained from time to time at the Costs and Charges of the said Master Wardens and Assistants If any cut down c. any Beacon c. by the Statute of 8 Eliz. 13. he shall incur the Penalty therein mentioned which if he be not able to pay he shall be ipso facto convict of Utlawry Vide Coke's 4. Inst. cap. 25. The Transcript of a Manuscript Ordination which hath been observ'd for Watch to be kept in the County of Norfolk from Lyme to Yarmouth and it is very probable the like hath been done by like Authority in other Maritime Counties Vide Stat. 5 H. 4. cap. 3. Watches to be made in the Sea Coasts in places of Danger through the Realm by the Number of People and in manner they were wont to be made in times past De Conservatore Treugarum i. e. Induciarum Salvorum Regis Conductuum BY 2 H. 5. Conservatorum Induciarum salvorum Regis conductuum was Praised and Appointed in every Port of the Sea by Letters Patents His Office was to Inquire of all Offences done against the King's Truces and fafe Conducts upon the Main Sea out of the Counties and out of the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports as Admirals of Custom were wont It concerns the Jurisdiction of divers Courts especially the Court before-mentioned upon the Statute of 28 H. 8. and of the Court of Admiralty to know the Rights of Leagues and Ambassadors as far as the Laws of England Extend unto All Leagues or Safe Conducts are or ought to be of Record Inrolled in Chancery that the Subject may know who may be in Amity with the King and who not who be Enemies and can have no Action here and who in League and may have Actions Personaâ— here In all Treaties the Power of the one and the other ought to be Equal A League may be broken by Levying of War or by Ambassador or Herald Bryan 19 E. 4. held if all the Subjects in England would make War with a King in League with the King of England without the Assent of the King of England yet such a War was no breach of the League See 2 H. 5. cap. 6. in the Preamble But in the Duke of Norfolk's Case 14 Eliz. the Question was Whether the Lord Herise and other Subjects of the King of Scots who without his Consent had wasted and burnt divers Towns in England and Proclaimed Enemies were Enemies in Law within the Statute of 25 E. 3. the League being between the King and Scotland and Resolved they were Enemies And in the Bishop of Rosse's Case Anno 13 Eliz. The Question being An Legatus qui Rebellionem contra Principem ad quem Legatus concitat Legati Privilegiis gaudeat non ut Hostiis Poenas subjaceat and Resolv'd he had lost the Priviledge of an Ambassador and was subject to Punishment Ambassadors were called Orators afterwards Legati à legando Nuntij à nâ—nciando and afterwards Ambassiatores or Embassatories and sometimes Agents For Omnis Legatus est Agens sed Omnis Agens non est Legatus In Sam. Palach's Case 12 Jac. 1. affirming himself to be Ambassador of Mula Sedan King of Morocco mentioned Coke's 4 Inst. cap. 26. It was Resolv'd there could be no Ambassador without Letters of Credence from his Sovereign to another who had Sovereign Authority and although in his Letters of Credence he be termed an Agent or Nuntius yet in such Case he is Ambassador or Legate And it was likewise Resolv'd That Ambassadors ought to be Free and Safe in every place by the Law of all Nations yea although they be Ambassadors of our Enemies or a Banish'd Man be sent to the place from whence he is banish'd And in the Case of Cardinal Poole fled to Rome from Henry the Eighth the Pope sent him Ambassador to the French King the King of England Demandeth him as a Traytor from the King notwithstanding he was sent Ambassador sed non praevaluit But if a Sovereign Ambassador being Prorex committeth here any Crime which is contra jus Gâ—ntium as Treason Murder Adultery c. he may be punished as another private Alien and not remanded to his Sovereign but of Courtesie And so of Contracts that be good Jure Gentium he must answer here but if any thing be Malum prohibitum by an Act of Parliament Private Law or Custom of this Realm which is not Malum in se Jure Gentium nor contra Jus Gentium an Ambassador residing here shall not be bound by them but otherwise it is of the Subjects of either Kingdom Vide Information upon the Statute of 19 H. 7. cap. 1. Coke's 4 Inst. cap. 26. concerning Prohibited Goods brought hither See more in Palach's Case Where one may not be Indicted of Piracy for taking the Goods of the Subjects of an Enemy Prince solo Amici and where The Court of Admiralty shall have the Jurisdiction and where not And now a word or two concerning Leagues of which are four kinds I. Foedus Pacis and that a Christian Prince may have with an Infidel Si fieri possit quod ex vobis est cum omnibus hominibus Pacem habeatis 2. Foedus Congratulationis sive Consolationis And this a Christian Prince may make with an Infidel as David did with Hanon I Chron. 19.2 3. Foedus Commercij sive Commutationis Mercium And this also may be made with an Infidel as King Solomon did with Hiram and Joshua did with the Gibeonites 4. Foedus Mutuâ— Auxilij And this cannot be done with an Idolater Jehosaphat King of Judah made Foedus mutui auxilij with Ahab King of Israel an Idolater For Ahab said to Jehosaphat Veni mecum in Ramoth Gilead cui ille respondet Ut ego tu sicut populus tuus sic populus meus tecum erimus in Bello In which War Ahab was slain and Jehosaphat in extream danger But seeing Foedus Pacis and Foedus
To take care of the Church and Church Assemblies The Overseers of the Poor To take care of the Poor Sick Aged Orphans and other Objects of Charity And Lastly The Clerk to wait on him at Divine Service And for The Civil Government of Villages THe Lord of the Manor or Soil who from the Crown immediately holds or mediately holds Dominium Soli Is said to have in him The Royalty as if he were a little King and hath a kind of Jurisdiction and a Court Baron incident to the Manor and sometimes a Court Leet by Grant from the King to which the Inhabitants owe Suit and Service and where smaller Matters as Escheats upon Felonies or other Accidents common Nusances c. Admitting of Tenants passing of Estates Reliefs Herriots Hunting Hawking Fishing c. or other matters Of which you may see more at large in the Description of the Jurisdiction of these two several Courts may be heard and determined And under the Lord is The Constable or Headborough Chosen yearly by the Lord or Steward in the Leet to keep the Peace in case of Quarrels to search any House for Robbers Murderers and others who have broken the Peace to raise Hue and Cry after Robbers to seize Offenders and keep them in the Stocks or other Prison till they can bring them before some Justice of Peace to whom the Constables are subservient upon all occasions either to bring Criminals before them or to carry them by their Command to the Common Prison Thus having in a Brief and Methodical manner described the Constitution of the English Government For the Excellency thereof we may welâ— conclude with the Poet O Fortunatos nimium bona si sua Norint Angligenas THE ISLANDS Adjacent to ENGLAND CAlled by Heylin The Sporades not as he saith that they are so named in any Author but being many he thought fit to include them under that general Name The Chief of which are The Isle of Man INsula Euboniae modo Manniae hath been an ancient Kingdom as appears by Walsingham pag. 287. and Coke's Reports Lib. 7. fol. 21. Calvin's Case And yet we find it not Granted or Conveyed by the Name of a Kingdom Sed per Nomen Insulae c. cum Patronatu Episcopatus The Patronage of the Bishoprick of Sodor being a Visible Mark of a Kingdom Est nempe Jus ipsius Insulae ut quisquis illius sit Dominus Rex vocetur cui etiam fas est Corona Aurca Coronari Walsingh 17 R. 2. This Island was taken from the Britains by the Scots and from them regained by Edwin King of Northumberland Afterwards the Norwegians seised it from whom Alexander the Third wrested it and about the Year 1340. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury descended from the Norwegian Kings of Man won it from the Scots and afterwards sold it to W. Lord Scroope who forfeiting the same for Treason to King H. 4 he granted it to H. Percy Earl of Northumberland who being 5 H. 4. Attainted of Treason In 7 H. 4. it was by Parliament Enacted the King should have the Forfeiture of all his Lands and Tenements And afterwards 7 H. 4. the King granted the Isle cum Patronatu Episcopatus unto Sir John Stanley first for Life and afterwards to him and his Heirs Sir John had Issue Sir John Stanley Knight who had Issue Sir Henry Stanly Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the Sixth who Created him Lord Stanley He had Issue Thomas whom King Henry the Seventh Created Earl of Derby to him and the Heirs Male of his Body c. Vide Co. 4 Inst cap. 69. The Laws and Jurisdiction of this Isle differs from other places For they call their Judges Deemsters which they chuse out of themselves And they determine all Controversies without Process Pleading Writing or any Expence at all If any Cases be ambiguous or of greater weight it is referred to Twelve which they call Claves Insulae They have Coroners quos Annuos vocant who supply the Office of Sheriff But altho' the King's Writ runneth not into this Island yet his Commission extendeth thither for Redress of Injustice and Wrong The Bishop was Instituted by Pope Gregory the Fourth is under the Archbishop of York being annexed to that Archbishoprick by King Henry the Eighth but hath neither Place nor Voice in the Parliament of England In hac Insula Judex Ecclesiasticus citat definit infra Octo dies parent aut carcere intruduntur The People are a Religious Industrious and True People They have peculiar Laws or Customs For if a Man steal a Horse or an Ox it is no Felony because he cannot hide them but if he steal a Capon or Pigg he shall be hanged c. In this little Kingdom are Two Castles Seventeen Farishes Four Market Towns and many Villages It is scituate against the South part of Cumberland from which it is distant 21 Miles Is in Length 30 Miles in Breadth 15 but in some part only 8 Miles The Soil is abundant in Flax Hemp Oats Barley Wheat and Bishop Merrick writing to Cambden when he was composing his Britannia saith Our Island for Cattle Fish and Corn hath not only sufficient for it self but sendeth store into other Countries The chief Towns are Balacurri and Russin or Castle-Town the Seat of the Bishop On the Hill Sceaful may be seen England Scotland and Ireland Here are also bred the Soland Geese The People speak a Mixture of the Norwegian and Irish Tongues Anglesey IS accounted a Shire of Wales bordereth on Carnarvanshire is in Length 20 in Breadth 17 Miles containing in former times 360 Towns and Villages the chief whereof are 1. Beaumaris towards Wales 2. Newburg 3. Aberfraw on the South-side This Island for its abundant Fertility is called Mam Cymri i. e. Mother of Wales It was once the Seat of the Druids first Conquered by Suet onius Paulinus and united to the English Crown by the Valour of Edward the First Jersey olim Caesarea IS in Compass 20 Miles and sufficiently strong by reason of the dangerous Seas It containeth 12 Towns or Villages the Chief being St. Hillary and St. Malo and four Castles The Ground is plentiful in Grain and Sheep most of them having four Horns of whose Wool our Jersey Stockings are made Gernsey olim Servia IS distant 20 Miles from Jersey to whom it is much Inferiour in respect of Fertility and Largness but more commodious by reason of the safe Harbours It containeth 10 Parishes the Chief being St. Peters the Port or Haven and Market Town These Islands of Jersey and Gernsey lye both nigh unto Normandy and Bretaign and did in ancient time belong to the Dutchy of Normandy But Henry the First Overthrowing his Elder Brother Robert united the Dutchy of Normandy with these Isles to the Kingdom of England And altho' King John lost Normandy and Henry the Third took Money for it yet these Isles continued Faithful to England the possession thereof being a good Seisin of the whole
Dutchy Concerning the Judicature and Customs of these Isles it appeareth by Records in the Tower Quod Rex Johannes constituit 12 Coronatores Juratos ad Placita Jura ad Coronam spectantia custodienda Et concessit pro securitate Insularum Quod Ballivus de caetero per visum Coronatorum poterat placitare sine Breve de Nov. Disseisinae facta infra Annum De Morte Antecessorum infra Annum De Dote similiter infra Annum And now they have a Governour appointed by the King of England and Twelve Assistants selected out of every several Parish And for the most part they proceed according to the Customs of Normandy Altho' the King's Writ runneth not into these Isles yet his Commission under the Great Seal doth But the Commissioners must judge according to the Laws and Customs of the Isles Insula Vectis or Vecta THe Isle of Wight is esteemed part of Hampshire from which it is severed by a dangerous Streight of the Sea It contains 20 Miles in Length Twelve in Breadth and is Governed by the Laws of England as the other Shires have been the Soyl is answerable to the Husbandman's Expectation The Sheep bear fine Wool and the Trees store of Fruit. Here are One Forest Two Parks and 36 Towns and Villages the Chief being Newport Yarmouth and Brading The Island is strongly scituated being Inaccessible towards France but because the North-shoar is Level it is fortified on that side with Three Castles viz. Yarmouth Cows and Sand-head Castle and in the Midst of the Island is Carisbrooke Castle wherein hath sometimes been Armor for 50000 Men and in every Village a Great Piece of Ordnance This Isle was taken from the Britains by Wolphur King of Mercia and hereof King Henry the Sixth Crowned Henry Beauchamp Earl of Warwick King and he was after named Primus Comes totius Angliae sed cum illo Novus hic insolitus Titulus omnino evanuit The Sorlings CAlled by the English and Belgians Scilly Islands by Antonine in his Itinerary Sigdoles by Solinus Silyres by some Greek Writers Hesperides and Casterides are scituate against the Western Cape of Cornwal from which they are distant 24 Miles They are in Number 145 of which 10 only are of Estimation viz. 1. Armath 2. Agnes 3. Sampson 4. Scilly 5. Bresar 6. Rusoâ— 7. St. Helens 8. St. Martins 9. Arthur 10. St. Maries Chief of all the rest being 8 Miles in compass sufficiently Fruitful and strengthned with a Castle called Stella Maria by Queen Elizabeth These Islands are stored with Grass Grain and Lead which last was once carried hence into Greece Hither the Roman Emperors Banished Condemned Men to Work in the Mines These were subdued to the English Crown by Athelstane The Island Lindisfarne Or LEndisfarne scituate near the River Lied called also Holyfarne or Holy Island on the confines of Northumberland Hath one Castle one Church one Parish and a safe Haven defended by a Blockhouse It was in ancient time a Bishops Seat after Translated to Duresme and is Governed by the Laws of England It was called Holy Island for that many Religious Men in times past retired thither being a Solitary place There are divers other Islands as Denny Londay and Chaldey in the Severn Sea Thanet and Sheppey near Kent Farne Isle near Lindisfarne and Cockat Islands near Northumberland and many others of small account A COMPENDIUM OF THE Laws and Government OF SCOTLAND WITH THE ISLANDS Thereunto belonging Anno Domini 1699 SCOTLAND IS so called from Scotti Scitti or Scythi a People of Germany over whose Northern Bounds the Name Scythia did once extend These seized on a part of Spain next to Ireland and Anno 424. on the West part of this Country It is the rest of the Isle of Albion or Great Britain in Length from Dungesby-Head to the South parts of Gallway 250 Miles in Breadth from Aberdeen to the Isle of Mule 150 Miles hath no place distant from the Sea 62 Miles and ends like the sharp point of a Wedge It was anciently called Calidonia and sometimes Albania now by the French l'Escosse by the Italians la Scotia by the Spaniards la Escocia and by the Germans Schotlandt and is separated from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot Hills in the midst between which were The Borders sometimes extended to Edinburgh and Sterling in Scotland and at other times were enlarged and took in Cumberland Northumberland and Westmorland in England and were Secured or Defended by three Officers in each Kingdom called Lord Wardens of the Marshes But now by the Marriage and Union of the two Kingdoms The Officers and Warres which were the cause of them are extinct Scotland was for many Ages Governed by its own Kings but with divers considerable Alterations till the year 1602 it was to our great satisfaction united to England for ever and does still remain under it Governed by a Vice-Roy called Lord Commissioner Here were formerly two Populous Nations the Scots before described and the Picts who were indeed very Britains who Fled into the Northern parts which are still almost Free when the Romans entred the Scuth parts of Britain These using the ancient Customs of Painting their Bodies after the rest were more Civilized were by the Romans called Picts They Swayed here a long while alone till the year 424 when the Scots set footing in Britain with whom they contracted a League against the Britains but after Warring among themselves Kenneth King of Scots vanquished Dunsken King of the Picts and thereby extinguished both their Kingdom and Name Anno 839. After James the 6th being the 36th King united the Crown of England and Scotland Their chief Commodities Cattle Course Cloaths Frizes Fish Lead Oar Iron Saltpetre Linnen Cloath Train Oyl some Hides and Tallow The Country is divided into the High-lands and Low-lands The first Rude The other of like Ingenious Disposition and Language almost with the English these being the Off-spring of the Saxons and the High-landers The true Scots who speak the Irish Tongue and call both the Low-landers and English Saxons The Gospel was first Preached here by Palladius Anno 431. They are now Protestants and those chiefly Presbyterians Their Language in the South parts a corrupt English and on the North and West parts a Dialect of the Irish The Division is into two Parts viz. 1. High-land or North Scotland somewhat the larger of the Two the Seat of the old Scots 170 Miles long and 130 broad divided into 13 Counties viz. 1. Cathness Chief Towns-Wick and Catness 2. Strathnavern Chief Town Strathy 3. Sootherland Chief Town Dornock 4. Rosse Chief Town Tayne 5. Murray Chief Town Elgen 6. Loquabrea Chief Town Innerlochy 7. Broad-Alben Chief Town _____ 8. Athol Chief Town Blaire 9. Buquihan Chief Town Stanes 10. Marr Chief Town Aberdeen 11. Mernis Chief Town Bervy 12. Anguis Chief Towns Dundee and Brechin 13. Perth Chief Town Perth the Chief Town of the whole Aberdeen 2.
Archiepiscoporum meorum hanc meam munificentiam signo meo corroboravi ✚ Ego Alfrye Regina consensi Signo Crueis confirmavi Ego Dunstan Archiepiscopus Dorobor ' Ecclesiae Christi consensi subscripsi ✚ Ege Osticel Archiepiscopus Eboracenses Ecclesiae consensi subscripsi Ego Alferic Dux Ego Buthnod Dux Ego Arigdary Dux And what Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction the Archbishop of Canterbury had in Ireland in ancient time before it was Subject to the Crown of England you may read in Cambden's Britannia p. 735 765. as namely in the Consecration and Confirmation of their Bishops by reason of his Primacy in Ireland Co. 4 Inst 360. King Henry the Second at a Parliament holden at Oxford Created his Son King John King of Ireland But succeeding Kings wrote themselves Domini Hiberniae till 33 Hen. 8 in which year he took upon himself the Style of King of Ireland being so Declared at a Parliament in Dublin Coke's 4 Inst 360. Certain it is that whilst the Liberal Sciences in Europe lay Buried in Darkness their Lustre did shine forth clearly in Ireland Thither did our English Saxons repair as to a Mart of good Literature whence of the Holy Men of those times we often read Amandatus est ad Disciplinam in Hiberniam Co. 4 Inst 360. In the Book of Magna Charta is an Ordinance for Ireland concerning divers Matters Entituled Ordinatio pro statu Terrae Hâ—berniae By the Statute of 17 Ed. 1 cap. 1. The King's Officers in Ireland shall purchase no Land there without the King's License King's Officers in Ireland shall make no Purveyance there but by Writ out of Chancery there or in England and that in time of Necessity only and by the Advice of the Council there All kind of Merchandizes may be Exported out of Ireland except to the King's Enemies and if any Officer restrain them he shall satisfie double Damages to the party grieved and be also punished by the King The Fees for every Bill of Grace in Ireland under the Seal of the Justice there shall be Four pence for the Bill and Two pence for the Writing thereof The Marshals Fee for a Prisoner when he shall be Delivered is Four pence No Pardon of the Death of a Man or other Felony or for flying for the same shall be granted by the Justices there but only at the King's Command and under his Seals No Officers there shall receive any Original Writ which is not Sealed by the Seal of Ireland or by the Exchequer Seal there of things concerning that Court. The Justices of Ireland shall not Delay or Adjourn Assize of Novel disseisin there save only in the County where he is and while he shall remain there By the Statute of 34 Ed. 3.17 all kind of Merchandize may be Exported and Imported out of and into Ireland as well by Aliens as Denizens Persons who have Lands and Possessions in Ireland may freely Import and Export their Commodities thither and from thence without Impeachment By the Statute of 1 Hen. 6.3 all Irish Men shall avoid the Kingdom except Graduates Beneficed Men Lawyers having Inheritance in England and English Parents Religious Persons Professed Merchants Burgesses and other Inhabitants of good Fame and Persons Married in England and all they shall find Surety for their Good Behaviour No Irish Man shall Inhabit here in the Universities or elsewhere without a Testimonial under the Seal of the Lieutenant or Justices of Ireland Testifying that he is of the King's Obeysance to be Delivered to the Chancellor here in pain to be punished as a Rebel No Irishman shall be Head or Governour of any Hall or House By the Statute of 2 Hen. 6.8 Irishmen coming to live in England shall give Surety for their Good Behaviour viz. in the Universities to the Chancellors in Counties to the Justices of Peace and in Corporations and other Liberties to the Head Officers respectively By the Statute of 16 17 Car. 1.30 an Act for a speedy Contribution and Loan towards the Relief of the King 's Distressed Subjects of the Kingdom of Ireland See the Statutes at large An Act for the Speedy and Effectual reducing of the Rebels in Ireland to their due Obedience to the King and the Crown of England and certain other Additional Acts were made for the same purpose and for the Sale of Forfeited Lands there By the Statute of 32 Car. 2. cap. 2. The Act made 18 Car. 2. Entituled An Act against Importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the Seas and Fish taken by Foreigners is revived and Power given not only to Constables and Officers but to every Person whatsoever in any place whatsoever to take and seize the Cattle and Goods Imported contrary to the said Act And that such Seizer shall have the Benefit given by this Act. The other Acts concerning Ireland made in England and the divers Acts made in Ireland you may see in the Books of the Statutes of either Kingdom at large The Rule Quando duo jura concurrunt in una persona aequum est acsi in diversis holdeth not in Personal things that is when two Persons are necessarily and inevitably required by Law For no man can now say That the King of England can make War or League with the King of Scotland or King of Ireland c. there being but One Head of both and as Liegance of the Subjects of both Kingdoms is due to their Sovereign by one Law and that is the Law of Nature So there is a Union of Protection of both Kingdoms equally belonging to either of them altho' in other respects they are distinct Kingdoms For and Earl or Baron of Ireland is not a Peer or of the Nobility of this Realm as appeareth by the Book 8 R. 2. where in an Action of Debt Process of Outlawry was awarded against the Earl of Ormond in Ireland which ought not to have been if he had been Noble here But there is a diversity worthy of Observation for the highest and lowest Dignities are Universal For if a King of a Foreign Nation come into England by leave of the King as it ought to be in this case he shall Sue and be Sued by the Name of a King And a Knight shall be so named wheresoever he received that Dignity Co. 7 Rep. Calvin's Case If a King come to a Christian Kingdom by Conquest he having Vitae Necis potestatem may alter the Laws of that Kingdom at his pleasure but until such alteration the Ancient Laws of that Kingdom remain But if a a Christian King Conquer the Kingdom of an Infidel there ipso facto the Laws are abrogated and in that case until certain Laws be established the King by himself and such Judges as he shall appoint shall judge them and their Causes according to Natural Equity in such sort as Kings in ancient time did their Kingdoms before any certain Municipal Laws were given But if a King have a Kingdom by Title of
which they got leave of King James to put in there for Fresh-Water in their passage to Brasile and did not offer to plant till a good while after the English were settled in the Country In 1664. His late Majesty King Charles the Second sent over Four Commissioners to Reduce the Colonies into Bounds that had before Incroached upon each other who Marching with Three Hundred Red-Coats to Manhades or Manhatees took from the Dutch their Chief Town then called New Amsterdam now New York and August 29. Turned out their Governour with a Silver-Leg and all the rest but those who acknowledg'd Subjection to the King of England suffering them to enjoy their Estates and their Houses as before Thirteen days after Sir Robert Carr took the Town and Fort of Aurania and Twelve Days after that the Fort and Town of Arosapha then De la Ware Castle Mann'd with Dutch and Sweeds so that now the English are Masters of Three handsom Towns Three strong Forts and a Castle without the loss of one Man The first Governour of these parts for the King of England was Colonel Nichols one of the Commissioners This Country is blessed with the Richest Soil in all New England I have heard it Reported says an Author That one Bushel of European Wheat hath yielded One Hundred in a Year The Town of New York is well seated both for Trade Security and Pleasure in a small Isle called Manahaten at the Mouth of the Great River Mohegan which is very commodious for Shipping and about Two Leagues broad The Town is large built with Dutch Brick alla Moderna consisting of above Five hundred Houses the meanest not valued under One hundred Pounds To the Land-ward it is encompassed with a Wall of good thickness and Fortified at the Entrance of the River so as to Command any Ship which passeth that way by a Fort called James Fort. It hath a Mayor Aldermen a Sheriff and Justices of Peace for their Magistrates The Inhabitants are most English and Dutch and have a considerable Trade with the Indians for Bever Otter Raccoon Skins with other rich Furrs Likewise for Bear Deer and Elk-Skins and are supply'd with Venison and Fowl in the Winter and Fish in the Summer by the Indians at an easie Rate The Province of New York formerly contained all that Land which lyes in the North parts of America betwixt New England and Mary-Land the Length towards the North is not fully known the Breadth is about 200 Miles The Principal Rivers are Hudson's River Raritan River and De la Ware Bay The chief Islands are Manahaten Island Long Island and Staten Island Manahaten Island so called by the Indians lieth within the Land betwixt 41 and 42 Degrees of North Latitude and is about 14 Miles long and two broad New York is seated on the West of this Island having a small Arm of the Sea which divides it from Long Island on the South Long Island runs Eastward above 100 Miles and is in some places 8 12 or 14. Miles broad Inhabited from one end to the other having an Excellent Soil for all English Grain the Fruits Trees and Herbs very good In May you may see the Woods and Fields so curiously bedeck'd with Roses and a multitude of other delightful Flowers as equal if not excel many Gardens in England There are several Navigable Rivers which run very swift and are well furnished with Variety of Fish as the Land is with all sorts of English Cattle besides Deer Bears Wolves Raccoons Otters and Wild Fowl in abundance Hudson's River runs by New York Northward into the Country toward the Head of which is seated New Albany a place of great Trade with the Indians betwixt which and New York being above 100 Miles distance is as good Corn Land as the World affords It was reduced to his Majesties Obedience by Colonel Nichols and a League of Friendship concluded between the Inhabitants and the Indians by whom they have never been since disturbed but every Man hath sate under his own Vine and hath peaceably Reaped and Enjoyed the Fruits of his own Labours New Jersey IS part of the Province of New Albion afore-mentioned and is Subdivided into East and West Jersey East Jersey lies between 39 and 41 Degrees of North Latitude being about 12 Degrees more to the South than the City of London It is bounded on the South-East by the Main Sea East by that vast Navigable Stream called Hudson's River West by a Line of Division which separates it from West Jersey and North upon the Main Land and extends it self in length on the Sea-Coasts and along Hudson's River 100 Miles and upwards The Proprietors of this Province Anno 1682. Published an Account of the Scituation Conveniences and Product thereof for Incouragement of such who had an Inclination to Settle there Which you may read in Burton's Description of America fol. 99. The Constitutions of this Country were made in the time of John Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret the late Proprietors thereof in which such Provision hath been made for Liberty in matter of Religion and Property in their Estates that under the Forms thereof this Country hath been considerably increased Pensylvania BY Letters Patent Dated the 4th of March 1680. King Charles the Second in Consideration of the Faithful Service of Sir William Penne Deceased did Grant unto William Penne Esquire Son and Heir of the said Sir William Penne all that Tract of Land called Pensylvania as the same was Bounded on the East by De la Ware River from 12 Miles distance of New-Castle Town unto the 43 Degree of Northern Latitude with other Boundings and Limits therein mentioned And all Powers Preheminence and Jurisdictions necessary for the Government of the said Province And by other Letters Patent Dated April the 2d 1681. did Publish and Declare his Will and Pleasure That all Persons settled or inhabiting within the Limits of the said Province should yield all due Obedience to the said William Penne his Heirs and Assigns as absolute Proprietors and Governours thereof as also to the Deputy or Deputies Agents or Lieutenants Commissioned by him or them Whereupon William Penne taking upon him the Government in a Letter from Philadelphia the then intended Chief City Dated 16 Aug. 1683. giveth a full Description of the Province and the Soil Air Seasons and Produce thereof The Planted part of the Province being cast into six Counties viz. Philadelphia Buckingham Chester New-Castle Kent and Sussex containing then about 4000 Souls Two Assemblies had then been held with such Concord and Dispatch that in Three Weeks time at least Seventy Laws were past And for the Well-Government of the Counties Courts of Justices are Established in every County with proper Officers as Justices Sheriffs Clerks Constables c. Which Courts are held every Two Months but to prevent Law-Suits there are Three Peace-Makers chosen by each County-Court in the Nature of Common Arbitrators to hear and end Differences betwixt Man and
of Felony c. Yet when the Sea doth ebb the Land may belong to a Subject The King shall have Flotsam Jetsam and Lagan when the Ship perisheth or the Owners of the Goods are unknown A Man may have Flotsam and Jetsam by the King's Grant and Flotsam by Prescription as before is said Resolved that the Stat. of Westminst 1. cap. 4. by which it is Enacted That of Wreck of the Sea it is agreed That where a Man Dog or Cat escape alive out of the Ship or Vessel not any thing within them shall be accounted Wreck but the Goods shall be saved and kept by the View of the Sheriff Coroner or King's Bailiff c. So that if any sue for those Goods and can prove that they belonged to him or that they perished in his keeping within a year and a day they shall be restored to him without delay c. was but a Declaration of the Common Law And therefore all that which is provided as to Wreck extendeth also to Flotsam Jetsam and Lagan The Common Law gave all these three as also Estray Treasure-Trove and the like to the King for when no Man can claim Property in Goods the King shall have them by his Prerogative But Wreck may belong to the Subject by Grant from the King or by Prescription Flotsam Jetsam and Lagan so long as upon the Sea do not belong to the King but occupanti conceduntur eo quod constare non possit ad quam regionem essent applicanda And Wreck as well as Estrays of an Infant Feme-Covert Executrix a Man in Prison or beyond Sea if proclaimed and none claim them within a Year and a Day are bounden by the Law Coke's Rep. lib. 5.106 108. Sir Henry Constable's Case Rex pro salute animae suae ad malas consuetudines abolendas concessit quod bona in mari periclitata non perdantur nomine Wrecci quando aliquis homo aut bestia vivus de navi evaserit Veies le Stat. W. Primer Cap. 4. And Coke's 2 Inst 167 168. The Sheriff ought to sell bona peritura within the Year And the Subject must prove his Property in them within the Year and Day But the King may claim when he will and make proof If Treasure be found in the Sea the Finder shall have it at this day But otherwise it is now of Treasure Trove upon Land See Coke's 2 Inst. 168. If Wreck be not rightfully seized but taken by wrong-doers the Party may have a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to enquire of them Wreck shall be tried before the King's Justices at Common Law Coke's 2 Inst. 168. Coke's 4. Inst 134 154. The Coroner is to enquire of Wreck Coke's 4 Inst 271. and 3 Inst Title Appeals FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE A ARchbishops and Bishops Consistory Courts Page 42 Archdeacons Court Page 44 Aulnager Page 205 Admiralty Court Page 292 638 Aldermen and Mayors Court Page 356 Anglesey Isle Page 436 Anguila Page 520 Antegoa Page 524 B. BArons Court Page 235 Band of Pensioners Page 339 Bridge Page 378 Bantam or Banda Page 491 Bombaine Page 491 Bermudas Islands Page 515 Barbudas I. Page 519 Barbadoes I. Page 527 C. Convocation Page 32 Court of Arches Page 39 Court of Audience Page 39 Court of the Faculties Page 40 Court of Peculiars Page 41 Consistory Courts of Archbishops Bishops Page 42 Court of the Archdeacon or his Commissary Page 44 Court of Delegates Page 44 Civil Government of England Page 51 Court of the High Steward Page 81 539 Chancery High Court Page 90 Court of extraordinary Jurisdiction Page 93 Court of the Star-Chamber Page 104 Court for Redness of Delays Page 108 Court of Kings Bench Page 113 Common Pleas Court Page 121 Court of Exchequer Page 127 Court of Inquiry to certifie untrue Accompts in the Exchequer Page 140 Court of Equity in the Exchequer Page 141 544 Court of Justices of Assize Nisi prius Page 144 Court of Justices of Oyer and Terminer Page 153 Court of special Justices of Oyer and Terminer Page 166 Colledges Hospitals c. for charitable and lawful Purposes and Uses Page 167 Court of Justices of Goal-delivery Page 169 Court of Justices of the Forrest Page 175 Court of Justices in Eyre Page 193 Court of Justices of Trailbaston Page 195 Court of Wards and Liveries Page 196 Court of Ancient Demesne Page 196 559 Court of Commissioners of Sewers Page 198 569 Court of Commissioners upon the Statute of Bankrupts Page 201 573 Commissioners for Examination of Witnesses Page 203 578 Court of the Sessions of the Peace Page 210 591 Court of Inquiry of the Defaults of the Justices of the Peace Page 222 Court of the Tourn Page 223 595 Court Leet or View of Frankpledge Page 224 597 County Court Page 228 615 Court of the Hundred Page 233 630 Court Baron Page 235 632 Coroners Court Page 237 635 Court of Escheators and Commissioners for finding of Offices Page 239 635 Court of the Clerk of the Market Page 241 Court of Pipowders Page 246 Court of the Dutchy-chamber of Lancaster at Westminster Page 247 Courts of the County Palatin of Chester Page 251 Court of the County Palatin of Durham Page 252 Court of the County Palat. of Pembroke Page 255 Courts of the Cinque Ports Page 256 Court of Stannaries in the County of Devon and Cornwall Page 261 Court of the Mayor of the Staple Page 263 Court of the President and Council of Wales Page 269 Court of Chivalry before the Constable and Marshal Page 279 Colledge of Heralds Page 283 Court of Admiralty Page 292 638 Court of Commission by force of the Statute 28 H. 8. Cap. 5. Page 298 Commissioners and others for Beacons Signs of the Sea Light houses c. Page 299 Court of the King of England Page 308 Civil Government of the King 's Court Page 312 Compting-House Page 314 Court of Green-Cloth Page 315 Court of the Marshalsea Page 321 Court of the Pallace Page 322 Court of the Lord Steward Treasurer and Comptroller of the King 's House concerning Felony Page 324 Court of the Lord Steward of the King 's House or in his Absence of the Treasurer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsea Page 325 Court of the Queen of England Page 341 Civil Government of the Queens Court Page 342 Civil Government of Cities Page 345 Civil Government of London Page 348 Court of Hustings Page 351 Court of Conscience Page 354 Court of the Mayor and Aldermen Page 356 Court of Orphans Page 356 Court of Common Council Page 357 Court of Wardmote Inquest Page 358 Court of Halmote Page 358 Chamberlain 's Court for Apprentices Page 359 Court of the Conservators of the Water and River of Thames Page 360 Court of the Coroner in London Page 360 Court of the Escheator in London Page 360 Court of Policies and Assurances Page 361 Custom-House Page 379 Call or Creation of Serjeants Page 393 Colledge of Civilians in London Page 396 Colledge of Physicians
in London Page 400 Chartereux in London Page 404 Cambridge City Page 426 Civil Government of Villages Page 431 Carolina Page 512 Caribee Islands Page 519 St. Christophers Page 526 Court of First-fruits and Tenths c. Page 548 D. DIvine Law Page 6 Delegates Court Page 44 Durham County Palatine Court Page 252 De Conservatore Treugarum i. e. Induciarum c. Page 302 Dominica Island Page 522 E. ENgland's Government Page 22 Ecclesiastical Government of England Page 28 Executive power in Causes Ecclesiastical Page 36 Executive power in Temporal Affairs Page 80 Exchequer Court Page 127 Eyre Justices Court Page 193 Execution of Laws in each County Page 222 Escheator 's Court Page 239 Ely's Royal Franchise Page 254 Ecclesiastical Government of the King's Court Page 308 Ecclesiastical Government of the Queen's Court Page 341 Ecclesiastical Government of Cities Page 344 Ecclesiastical Government of London Page 347 Ecclesiastical Government of Villages Page 431 English Plantations in Asia Page 491 English Colonies in Africa Page 492 English Plantations in America Page 492 F. FUndamentals of the Laws Page 8 Forrest Justices Court Page 175 Franchise of Ely Page 254 Franchise of Hexam and Hexamshire Page 255 First-fruits and Tenths Ecclesiastical Page 548 G. GOvernments in General Page 1 Government of England Page 22 Government Ecclesiastical of England Page 28 Government civil of England Page 51 Gaol-Delivery Justices Court Page 169 Government of Counties in England Page 207 Great Sessions in Wales Page 270 Government Military of England Page 275 Government Ecclesiastical of the King 's Court Page 308 Government civil of the King's Court Page 312 Green-cloth Court Page 315 Government Military of the King's Court Page 338 Government of the Queen's Court Page 341 Government Ecclesiastical of the Queen 's Court Page 341 Goveonment civil of the Queens Court Page 342 Government of Cities Page 344 Government Ecclesiastical of Cities Page 344 Government civil of Cities Page 345 Government Ecclesiastical of London Page 347 Government civil of London Page 348 Government Military of London Page 363 General Post-Office Page 381 Gresham Colledge in London Page 402 Government of the two Universities Page 415 Government of Boroughts in England Page 430 Government of Villages in England Page 430 Government Ecclesiastical of Villages Page 431 Government civil of Villages Page 431 Guernsey olim Servia Page 437 Government of Scotland Page 445 Government of Ireland Page 463 Guinea Page 492 Guardian of England Page 540 H. HUmane Law what Page 7 High Commission Court Page 36 High Court of Parliament Page 51 535 High Stewards Court Page 81 539 High Court of Chancery Page 90 Hundred Court Page 233 630 Heralds Colledge Page 283 Hustings Court Page 351 Halmote Court Page 358 Hebrides Islands Page 460 I. JUstices of Assize Nisi-prius Court Page 144 Justices of Oyer Terminer Court Page 153 Justices of Gaol-delivery Court Page 169 Justices of the Forrest Court Page 175 Justices in Eyre's Court Page 193 Justices of Trailbastons Court Page 195 Inns of Chancery Page 383 Inns of Court Page 384 Inns of Court manner of keeping Christmas Page 390 Judges Page 394 Islands adjacent unto England Page 433 Jersey olim Caesarea Page 437 Insula Vectis or Vectae Page 439 Ireland Page 463 Jamaica Page 530 K. KING Page 22 King's Bench Court Page 113 King 's Swanherd Page 204 587 King's Aulnager Page 205 590 King of England's Court Page 308 Knight Marshal Page 320 King 's great Wardrobe Page 332 St. Katherine's Page 378 Keeping Christmas in the Inns of Court Page 390 L. LAws in General Page 4 Law Eternal Page 4 Law of Reason Page 5 Law Divine Page 6 Law Humane Page 7 Law fundamentals Page 8 Laws and Constitutions Ecclesiastical Page 45 Leet Court Page 224 Law study Page 383 London Page 346 Lindisfarne Page 441 M. MOney collected for Houses of Correction or for the Poor Page 166 Mayor of the Staple's Court Page 263 Military Government of England Page 275 Maritime Power of England Page 287 Marshalsea Court Page 321 Military Government of the King's Court Page 338 Mayor and Aldermens Court Page 356 Military Government in London Page 363 Mootings in the Inns of Court Page 388 Mootings in the Inns of Chancery Page 390 Manner of holding Parliaments in the Inns of Court Page 392 Man Isle Page 433 Mariland Page 507 Montserrat Page 521 Mevis or Nevis Page 524 N. NAvy Office Page 295 Norwich City Page 411 Newfoundland Page 494 New England Page 496 New York Page 500 New Jersey Page 504 Nevis or Mevis Page 524 O. OFfice of Pleas in the Exchequer Page 142 Office of Tents Page 335 Office of the Robes to the King Page 335 Officers of the Robes to the Queen Page 342 Orphans Court Page 356 Office of the Ordnance Page 368 Office of the Warden of the Mint Page 373 Office of Records in the Tower Page 375 Oxford Page 415 Orcades Page 459 P. PRivy Council Page 22 Prerogative Court of Canterbury Page 40 Punishments by Ecclesiastical Courts Page 47 Punishments Ecclesiastical peculiar to the Clergy Page 49 Parliament High Court Page 51 535 Pipowders Court Page 246 Pembroke Palatine's Cuort Page 255 President and Council in the North Page 258 Principality of Wales Page 266 President and Council of Wales Court ibid. Port Courts Page 298 Parliament-holding in the Inns of Court Page 322 The Palace ibid. Post-Office General Page 381 Physicians Colledge in London Page 400 Plantations in Asia Page 491 Plantations in Africa Page 492 Plantations in America ibid. Pensylvania Page 505 Protector of England Page 540 Q. QUeen of England's Court Page 341 R. ROyal Franchise of Ely Page 254 River of Thames Conservator's Court Page 360 S. STar-chamber Court Page 104 Swanherd Page 204 587 Sessions of the Peace Court Page 210 Stannaries Court in the County of Devon and Cornwall Page 261 Lord Steward 's Court Page 324 325 Sheriffs Court in London Page 352 Serjeants Inns Page 392 Serjeants Call or Creation Page 393 Sion Colledge Page 403 Schools in London Page 405 Southwark ibid. Sorlings Page 440 Scotland Page 445 Scottish Isles or the Lesser-Islands near Scotland Page 459 Schetland I. ibid. T. TRyals Ecclesiastical in civil Causes Page 46 Tryals Ecclesiastical in criminal Causes ibid. The Tourn Page 223 Tower of London Page 365 Tangier Page 492 V. UNiversities Page 415 Virginia Page 510 St. Vincent Page 523 260 W. WItnesses Examination by Commissioners Page 203 Wardens Courts c. Page 260 Wales 266 Wardrobe of the King 332 Wardmote Inquest 358 Westminster City 406 Wight Island 439 Y. YEomen of the Guard 340 FINIS ERRATA PAge 14. line 11. read Escheators p. 17. l. 31. r. the. p. 21. l ult for of the Laws of England r. of the Jame p 25. l. 11. the Comma at without Warrant p. 57. l. 4. r. Roy. p. 69. l. 4. r. Martial p. 74. l. 23. r. The Stat of p. 78. l. 1. r. Sess 2. cap. 4. p. 102. l. 20. r. by a Deputy p 114. l. 12. r. Westminster p. 133. l. 4. r. Auditeth p. 136. l. 13. r. 2d p. 141. l ult r. 4. Instit p. 171. l. 10. r. plevisable p. 182. l. 7. r. circa l. 3. for nolucrint r. vâ—lâ—â—rint p. 185. l. 22. r belong p. 190. l. 15. r. nor p. 193. l. 19. r. of a Commission p. 201. l. 24. r. Banque p. 307. l. 15. dele in p. 209. l. 18. dele and. p. 225. l. 27. r. Easter p. 243. l. 10. r. Drachme l. 17. r. Avoir p. 275. l. 15. r. Pay p. 276. l. 21. r. were heretofore p. 279. l. 13. r. scale p. 280. l. 5. r. seale l. 7. r. surcease l. 13. surcease 281. l. 4. r. fact ' l. 16. r. Foy p. 291. l. 3. r. 62432. pounds p. 298. l. 19. r. 4 Instit 147. p. 301. r. Lynne p. 302. l. 6. r. Raised p. 303. l. 24. the Comma at concitat p. 304. l. 27. r. Foreign p. 306. l. 23. r. to that Sin p. 307. the Comma at Tacitus p. 327. l. 26. r. stick p. 350. l. 21. r. Camera Regis Reipublicae Cor totius Angliae Epitome p. 353. l. 6. dele and if they be not Inrolled p. 407. l. 13 r. secular p. 411. l. 17. for ortam r. ortum p. 463. l. ult r. called p. 464. l. 24. r. Belfast p. 468. l. 8. r. Universities one p. 476. l. 27. r. Ego p. 486. l. 6. r. Alienigena l. 19. r. 25. p. 510. l. 27. r. as p. 564 r. Plea p. 565. l. 4. r. F. N. B. 27 28 l. 7. r. 100. p. 570. l. 29. r. new framed p 579. l. 15. r. Testmoignes l. ult r. Bokland p. 607. l. 25. r. Letae