Geffrey the sonne of Robert Fitz-Maldred and Isabel his wife heire of the Norman house of the Nevilles tooke the name of Nevill and left it to his posteritie which was spread into very manie honourable families of England In like manner the sonne of Ioscelin of Lovan a yoonger sonne to the Duke of Brabant when he had married Agnes the onely daughter of William Lord Percy so named of Percy forrest in the county of Maen from whome they came and not of piercing the king of Sâ—â—ts through the 〈◊〉 as Hâ—ctâ—r Bâ—â—tius fableth his sonne and posteritie vppon a composition with the same Lady tooke her name of Percy but retained theyr olde coate armour to shew from whome they descended So Adam de Montgomery marrying the daughter and heire of Carew of Molesford her sonne relinquishing his owne left to his posteritie his mothers name Carew from whom the Barons Carew the Carews of Haccomb of Berry of Authony Beddington c. have had their names and originall Likewise Ralph Gernon marrying the daughter of Cavendish or Candish left that name to his issue as Th Talbot a learned Genealogist hath prooved So Robert Meg the great favourite of king Iohn took the name of Braybrooke whereof his mother was one of the heires So sir Iohn de Haudlow marrying the daughter and heire of the Lorde Burnell his posteritie tooke the name of Burnell So sir Tibauld Russell tooke the name of De Gorges to him and his issue for that his mother was sister and one of the heirs of Ralfe de Gorges as it appeareth in the controversie betweene Warbleton and the saide Tibauld de Corges for the coate of Armes Lozengy Or and Azure 21. of Edward the third before Henry Earle of Lancaster and others at the siege of Saint Margaret Not many years since when Iames Hâ—rsey had married the daughter of De-Le-vale of Northumberland his issue tooke the name of De-la-vale Heerevnto may they also bee referred who changed their names in remembrance of their Progenitours being more honourable as the sonnes of Geffrey Fitz-Petre tooke the name of Magnavilla or Mandevile when they came to be Earles of Essex because their grandmother Beatrix was of the house of Mandevile as appeareth by the Abby booke of Walden So Thomas de Molton tooke the name of Lucy and many other which I omit Others also have taken the name of them whose lands they had As when King Henry the first gave the lands of the attainted Robert Moubray Earle of Northumberland being 120. Knights fees in Normandy and 140. in England to Nigall or Nâ—â—le de 〈…〉 who in the battell at 〈◊〉 tooke Robert Duke of 〈◊〉 prisoner he commanded withall that his posteritie should take the Surname of Moâ—bray which they accordingly did and retained the same as long as the issue male continued which determined in Iohn Moâ—bray Duke of Norfolke in the time of King Edward the fourth whose heires were married into the families of Howard and Barkeley Remembrance of benefits made others to change their names as William Mortimer descended from those of Richards Castle tooke the name of La-Zouch and named his sonne Alan de la-Zouch for some favour received from the Lord Zouch of Ashby de la-Zouch as appeareth by Inquisition 11. 21. Ed. 3. In respect of adoption also very many in all ages have changed their names I neede not particulate it for all know it Some of their owne dislike of their names have altered them for as I have read in the booke of Fornesse William Fitz-Gilbert Baron of Kendall obtained licence of King Henry the second to change his name and call himselfe and his posteritie Lancaster from whom the Lancasters in Westmâ—rlaud c. are descended Heerevpon some thinke that without the Kings licence new names cannot be taken or old names given away to others Yet Tiraquell the great Civilian of France in Leg. quin. Conub Tit. 92. seemeth to incline that both name and Armes may be transferred by will and testament and produceth Augustus who by his Testament commanded Tiberius and Livia to beare his name How in former times Herevile Dunvile Clauwowe gave and granted away their Armes which are as silent names distinctions of families and the same was thought vnlawfull afterward when the Lord 〈◊〉 would have done the same shall be declared in more convenient place But the inconvenience of change of names hath beene discovered to be such in France that it hath beene prâ—pounded in 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 that it should not be permitted but in these two respects eyther when one should bee made heire to any with especiall words to assume the name of the testatour or when any one should have a donation surmounting a thousand crownes vpon the same condition But to retyre to our purpose Not a few have assumed the names of their fathers Baronies as in former times the issue of Richard Fitz-Gilbert tooke the name of Clare which was their Barony and in late time since the Suttons came to the Barony of Dudley all their issue tooke the name of Dudleyes that I may omit others The dislike of others hath caused also a change of names for King Edward the first disliking the iteration of Fitz commanded the Lord Iohn Fitz-Robert a most ancient Baron whose Ancestours had continued their Surnames by their fathers Christian names to leave that manner and to be called Iohn Clavering which was the capitall seate of his Barony And in this time many that had followed that course of naming by Fitz tooke them one setled name and retained it as Fitz Walter and others Also at that time the names of Thomson Richardson Willson and other of that forme began to be setled which before had varied according to the name of the father Edward the fourth likewise as I have heard loving some whose name was Picard would often tell them that hee loved them well but not their names wherevpon some of them changed their names and I have heard that one of them which tooke the name of Ruddle being the place of his birth in that respect And in late yeares in the time of King Henry the eight an ancient worshipfull gentleman of Wales being called at the panniell of Iury by the name of Thomas Ap William Ap Thomas Ap Richard Ap Hoel Ap Evan Vaghan c. was advised by the Iudge to leave that old manner Wherevpon he after called himselfe Moston according to the name of his principall house and left that Surname to his posterity Offices have brought new names to divers families as when Edward Fitz-Thâ—â—bald of Ireland the Earles of Ormond and others descended from them tooke the name of Butler So the distinct families of the Constables in the County of Yorke are saide to have taken that name from some of their Ancestours which bare the office of Constables of some Castles In Like manner the Stewards Marshalls Spencers That I may say nothing of such as for well acting on the stage have carried
Regi Regilianus whereat the souldiers which in all actions are forward beganne with acclamation Ergo potest Rex esse Ergo potest regere Deus tibi regis nomen imposuit and so invested him with imperiall roabes In this Isle also at Silcaster in Hamshire Constantinus a militarie man of some reputation in hope of his luckie name and that he would proue another Constantinus Magnus to the good of the people was by the Britan Armie proclaimed emperour against Henorius who exployted great matters in his owne person in Gallia and by his son in Spaine So in former times the name of Antoninus in remembrance of Antoninus Pius was so amiable among the Romans as he was supposed vnfit for the empire who bare not that name vntill Antoninus Elagabalus with his filthie vices distained the same We reade also that two Ambassadours were sent out of France into Spaine to King Alphonse the 9 to dâ—mand one of the daughters that he begat of the daughter of King Henry the second of England to be married to their Soveraigne King Lewes the eight one of these Ladies was very beautifull called Vrraca the other not so beautifull but named Blanche When they were presented to the Ambassadours all men held it as a matter resolved that the choyce would light vpon Vrraca as the elder and fairer But the Ambassadours enquiring each of their names tooke offence at Vrraca and made choyce of the Lady Blanche saying That her name would be better received in France than the other as signifying faire and beautifull according to the verse made to her honour Candida candescens candore cordis oris So that the greatest Philosopher Plato might seeme not without cause to advise men to be carefull in giving faire and happie names as the Pythagoreans affirmed the mindes actions and successes of men to be according to their Fate Genius and Name One also well observeth that these seven things Virtue good Parentage Wealth Dignity or Office good Presence a good Christian name with a gratious Surname and seemely attire doe especially grace and adorne a man And accordingly saieth Panormitan Ex bono nomine oritur bona presumptio As the common Proverb Bonum nomen bonum omen The divell neverthelesse who alwayes maligneth God and goodnesse wrought by the cruelty of Valens the emperour the destruction of many men of worth who hadde happy names beginning with Theo signifying God as Theodorus Theodubis Theodoretus Theodosius c. For that diverse curious companions had found by the falling of a ring magically prepared vpon those letters onely of all the Alphabâ—t graven in a Charger of sundry mettals and set vpon a Laurell trivet that one who had his name beginning with Theod should succeede in the empire which was verified in Theodosius not long after In times of Christianity the names of most holy and vertuous persons and of their most worthy progenitors were given to stir vp men to the imitation of them whose names they bare But succeeding ages little regarding saint Chrysostoms admonition to the contrary have recalled prophane names so as now 〈…〉 names of vnhappy disastre are as 〈◊〉 some 〈…〉 they were in Pagaâ—â—smâ—s Albeit in our late 〈…〉 of good consideration have brought in 〈…〉 Iosias c. as better agreeing with our saith but without contempt of our countrey names as I hope which have both good and gratious significations as shal appeare hereafter Whereas in late yeeres Surnames have beene given for Christian names among vs and no where else in Christendome although many dislike it for that great inconvenience will ensue neverthelesse it seemeth to proceede from hearty good-will and affection of the Godfathers to show their love or from a desire to continue and propagate their owne names to succeeding ages And is in no wise to be disliked but rather approoved in those which matching with heires generall of worshipful antient families have given those names to their heires with a mindefull and thankefull regard of them as we have now Pickering Wottâ—n Grevill Varney Bassingburne Gaâ—â—dy Culthorp Parker Peesâ—ll Bracâ—â— Fuz-Raulfe Chamberlaine who are the heiâ—â—s of Pickering 〈◊〉 Bassingburn Grevill Calthorp c. For beside the continuation of the name we see that the selfe name yea somtime the similitude of names doth kindle sparkles of love and liking among meere strangers Neither can I beleeve a waiward olde man which would say that the giving of Surnames for Christian names first began in the time of king Edward the sixt by such as would be Godfathers when they were more then halfe fathers and thereupon would have perswaded some to change such names at the Confirmation Which that I may note by the way is vsuall in other countries as wee remember two sonnes of king Henry the second of France christâ—â—ed by the names of Alexander and Hercules châ—â—â—ged them at their Confirmation into 〈◊〉 and Francis But two Christian names are rare in England and I only remember now his Maiesty who was named Charles Iames as the Prince 〈…〉 and among private men Thomas Maria Wingfield and sir Thomas Pâ—sthâ—â—â—us Hobby Although it is common in Itaâ—â—e to adioyne the name of some Saint in a kinde of devotion to the Christian name as 〈◊〉 Baptista Spinalu Iohannes Franciscns Borâ—omeus Marcus Antonius 〈◊〉 and in Spaine to adde the name of the Saint on whose day the childe was borne If that any among vs have named their children Remedian 〈◊〉 Imago sâ—euâ— or with such like names I knowe some will thinke it more then a vanitie as they do but little better of the new names Free-gift Reformation Earth Dust Ashes Delivery More fruite Tribulation The Lord is neare More triall Discipline Ioy againe From above which have lately beene given by some to their children with no evill meaning but vpon some singular and precise conceit That I may omit another more vaine absurditie in giving names and surnames of ruen yea and of the best families to dogges beares and horses Whenas wee reade it was thought a capitall crime in Pomposiamas for calling his base bondslaves by the name of grand captaines Here I might remember how some mislike the giving of parents names successively to their heires for that if they should be forced to proove descent it will be hard to proove the Doner and the Done in Formedon and to distinguish the one from the other It were impertinent to note heere that destinies were superstitiously by Onomantin desciphered out of names as though the names and natures of men were sutable and fatall necessitie concurred heerein with voluntary motion in giving the name according to that of Ausonius to Probus Qualem cravit moribus Iussit vocari nomine Mundi supremus arbitar And after where he playeth with bibbing mother Mereâ— as thogh she were so named bicause she would to drink meere wine without water or as he pleasantly 〈◊〉 it â—â—rum Merum for as he saieth Qui primus Mere◠〈◊〉
when he succeeded Ochus in the kingdome of Persia called himselfe by the princely name Darius So new names were given to them which were deified by the Paganish consecration as Romulus was called Quirmus Melicertus was called Portunus and Palaemon Likewise in adoptions into better families and testament as the sonne of L. Aemilius adopted by Scipio tooke the name of Scipio Africanus So Augustus who was first named Thureon tooke the name of Octavian by testament by enfranchising also into new Citties as he which first was called Lucumo when he was infranchised at Rome tooke the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus So Demetrius Mega when he was there made free of the Citty was called Publius Cornelius Cicero Epist 36. lib. 13. Likewise slaves when they were manumised tooke often their masters names whenas they had but one name in their servile state As they which have read Artemidorus do know how a slave who when he dreamed he had tria virilia was made free the next morning and had three names given him Neither is it to be forgotten that men were not forbidden to change name or surname by the rescript of Dioclesian L. Vinc. c. de mutat nom so be that it were Sine aliqua fraude iure licito As that great Philosopher which was first called Malchus in the Syrian tongue tooke the name of Porphyrius as Eunapius reporteth as before Suetonius the Historian looke to surname 〈◊〉 whenas his father was Suetonius Lâ—uis Those notvvithstanding of strange base parentage were forbidden L. super 〈◊〉 c. de quaest to insert or inthrust themselves into noble and honest families by changing their names which will growe to inconvenience in England as it is thought by reason that Surnames of honourable and worshipfull families are given now to meane mens children for Christian names as it is growen nowe in Fraunce to the confusion of their Gentry by taking new names from their purchased landes at their pleasures Among the Romans nevertheles they that were called ad Equestrem ordinem having base names were new named nomine ingenuorum veterumque Romanorum lest the name should disgrace the dignitie when according to Plato comely things should have no vncomely names It was vsuall amongest the Christians in the Primitive church to change at Baptisme the names of Catechuâ—eâ—i which were in yeeres as that impious Renegado that was before called Lucius was in his Baptisme called Lucianus So the Popes vse to change their names when they enter into the Papaciâ— which as Platiâ—a saith was begunne by Pope Sergius the second who first changed his name for that his former name was Hogges-mouth but other referre the change of names in Popes to Christ who changed Simon into Peter Iohn and Iames into Bonarges Onely Marcellus not long since chosen Pope refused to chaunge his name saying Marcellus I was and Marcellus I will be I will neither change Name nor Manners Other religious men also when they entred into some Orders chaunged their name â—n times past follovving therein as they report the Apostle that chaunged his name from Saule to Paule after he entred into the Ministery borrovving as some say that name from Sergius Paulus the Roman lievtenant but as other will from his lovve stature for hee was but three cubites high as Saint Chrysostome speaking of him Tricubitalis ille tamen coelum ascendit Of changing also Christian names in Confirmation we have saide before but overpassing these forraine matters let vs say somewhat as concerning chaunge of names in England As among the French in former time and also nowe the heire tooke the fathers surname and the yonger sonnes tooke names of their landes allotted vnto them So likewise in times past did they in England and the most common alteration proceeded from place of habitation As if Hugh of Suddington gave to his second sonne his Mannour of Frydon to his third sonne his Mannour of Pantley to his fourth his Wood of Albdy the sonnes calld themsâ—lves De Frydon De Pantley De Albdy and their posteritie removed De. So Hugh Montfortes second sonne called Richard being Lord of Hatton in Warwickeshire tooke the name of Hatton So the yongest sonne of Simon de Montfort Earle of Leicester staying in England when his father was slaine and brethren fled tooke the name of Welsborne as some of that name have reported So the name of Ever came from the Mannour of Ever neere Vxbridge to yonger sonnes of L. Iohn Fitz-Robert de Clavering from whom the Lorde Evers and sir Peter Evers of Axholme are descended So sir Iohn Cradocke knight great grandfather of sir Henry Newton of Somersetshire tooke first the name of Newton which was the name of his habitation as the issue of Huddard in Cheshire tooke the name of Dutton Bnt for varietie and alteration of names in one familie vpon divers respects I will give you one Cheshire example for all out of an antient roule belonging to sir William Brerton of Brerton knight which I sawe twenty yeares since Not long after the Conquest William Bellward lord of the moietie of Malpasse had two sonnes Dan-David of Malpasse surnamed Le Clerke and Richard Dan-David had William his eldest sonne surnamed De Malpasse from whom the Baron Dudley is descended by heire generall His second sonne was named Philip Gogh one of the issue of whose eldest sonnes tooke the name of Egerton a third sonne tooke the name of David 〈◊〉 and one of his sonnes the name of Goodmâ—â— Richard the other sonne of the aforesaid William Belward had three sonnes who tooke also divers names viz. Thomas de Câ—tgrave William de Overton and Richard Little who had two sonnes the one named Ken-clarke and the other Iohn Richardson Heerein you may note alteration of names in respect of habitation in Egerton Cotgrave Overton in respect of colour in Gâ—gâ— that is Red in respect of qualitie in him that was called Goodmâ—n in respect of stature in Richard Little in respect of learning in Ken-clarke in respect of the fathers Christian name in Richardson all descending from William Bellward And verily the Gentlemen of those so different names in Cheshire would not easily be induced to beleeve they were descended from one house if it were not warranted by so antient a proofe In respect of stature I could recite to you other examples but I will onely adde this which I have read that a yong Gentleman of the house of Preux being of tall stature attending on the Lord Hungerford Lord Treasourer of England was among his fellowes called Long H who after preferred to a good marriage by his Lorde was called H. Long that name continued to his posteritie knights and men of great worship Other took their mothers surnames as A. Audley yonger brother to Iames lord Audley marrying the daughter and heire of H. de Stanley left a sonne William that tooke the name of Stanley from whome Stanley Earle of Derby aud other of that name are descended
planted himselfe in Vlster in Ireland advised his sonne for to builde a castle for his better defence against the Irish enemy who valiantly answered that hee woulde not trust to a castle of stones but to his castle of bones Meaning his body Marâ—ebrigensis Robert Bâ—anchmaines Earle of Leicester was wont to say Soveraigne Princes are the true types or relemblances of Gods true maiestie in which respect saieth mine Author treason against the Princes person was called Crimen maiest at is Polycraticon Pope Adrian the fourth an English man borne of the familie of Breakespeare in Middlesex a 〈◊〉 commended for converting Norway to christianity before his Papacie but noted in his Papacie for vsing the Emperour Fredericke the second as his Page in holding his stirroppe demaunded of Iohn of Sarisbury his countryman what opinion the world had of the Church of Rome and of him who answered The Church of Rome which should be a mother is now a stepmother wherein sit both Scribes and Pharises and as for your selfe whenas you are a father why doe you exspect pensions from your children c. Adrian smiled and after some excuses tolde him this tale which albeit it may seeme long and is not vnlike that of Menenius Agrippa in Livie yet give it the reading and happly you may learne somewhat by it All the members of the body conspired against the stomacke as against the swallowing gulfe of all their labors for whereas the eies beheld the eares heard the handes labored the feete traveled the tongue spake and all partes performeds their functions onely the stomacke lay ydle and consumed all Hereuppon they ioyntly agreed al to forbeare their labors and to pine away their lasie and publike enemy One day passed over the second followed very tedious but the third day was so grievous to them all that they called a common Counsel The eyes waxed dâ—mme the feete could not support the body the armes waxed lasie the tongue faltered and could not lay open the matter Therefore they all with one accord desired the advise of the Heart There Reason layd open before them that â—ee against whome they had proclaimed warres was the cause of all this their misery For he as their common steward when his allowances were withdrawne of necessitie withdrew theirs fro them as not receiving that he might allow Therfore it were a farre better course to supply him than that the limbs should faint with hunger So by the perswasion of Reason the stomacke was served the limbes comforted and peace re-established Even so it fareth with the bodies of Common-weales for albeit the Princes gather much yet not so much for themselves as for others So that if they want they cannot supply the want of others therefore do not repine at Princes heerein but respect the common good of the whole publike estate Idem Oftentimes would he say All his preferments never added any one iote to his happinesse or quietnesse Idem He also that I may omitte other of his speeches would say The Lord hath dilated me by hammering me vpon the anvild but I beseech him he would vnderlay his hand to the vnsupportable burthen which he hath layde vpon me Idem When it was signified vnto king Richard the first son to the foresaide King Henry sitting at supper in his pallace at Westminster which we call the old pallace now that the French king besieged his towne of Vernoil in Normandie he in greatnes of courage protested in these wordes I will never turne my backe vntil I have confronted the French For performance of which his princely word hee caused the wall in his pallace at Westminster to be broken downe directly towardes the South posted to the coast and immediately into Normandie where the very report of his sodaine arrivall so terrified the French that they raised the siege and retired themselves Ypodigma The same king Richard purposing an expedition into the holy land made money at all handes and amongst other things solde vnto Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham the Earledome of Northumberland merrily laughing when he invested him and saying Am not I cunning and my crafiesmaister that can make a yoong Earle of an olde Bishoppe But this Prelate was fitte to be an Earle for the worlde as one of that age saide of him was not crucifixus to him but infixus in him Lib. Dunelm One Fulke a Frenchman of great opinion for his holinesse tolde this king Richard that hee kept with him three daughters that would procure him the wrath of God if he did not shortly ridde himselfe of them Why hypocrite quoth the king all the worlde knoweth that I never hadde childe Yea saide Fulke you have as I saide three and their names are Pride Covetousnesse and Lechery It is so saide the king you shal see me presently bestow them the Knightes Templers shal have Pride the while Mâ—nkes Covetousnesse and the Cleargy Lechery and there have you my three daughters bestowed among you When there was a faire opportunitie offered vnto this king Richard and to Hugh duke of Burgundie for the surprise of Ierusalem they marched forward in two battalles from Acres The king of England led the first the Duke of Burgundie the other when they approched the Duke of Burgundie envying the glory of the English signified to the king of England that he would retire with his companies because it should not be said that the English had taken Ierusalem While this message was delivering and the King grieving that so glorious an enterprise was so overthwarted by envie one amongest the English companies cryed alowde to the King and said Sir Sâ—r come hither and I will shew you Ierusalem But king Richard cast his coate of armes before his face and weeping vttered these wordes with alowde voice Ah my Lord God I beseech thee that I may not see thy holy Cittie Ierusalem whenas I am not able to deliver it out of the handes of the enemies Ian Sire Signour de Ionville in the life of Saint Le wes cap. 70. This Author also giveth this testimony of the saide king in the eight chapter of the saide Booke This Prince was of such prowesse that he was more feared and redoubted amongest the Sarazens then ever was any Prince Christian Insomuch that when as their little infants beganne to crie their mothers would say to make them holde their peace King Richard commeth and wil have you and immediately the little children hearing him named would forbeare crying And likewise the Turkes and Sarazens when their horses at any time started they woulde putte spurre to them and say What you iades you thinke King Richard is heere When the same king Richard had fortunately taken in a skirmish Philippe the Bishop of Beavoys a deadly enemy of his hee cast him in prison with boltes vpon his heeles which being complained of vnto the Pope he wrote earnestly vnto him not to detaine his deere sonne an Ecclesiasticall person and a sheepheard of the Lordes but to send him
Pace had a sonne at his circumcision named Haly hee would be called Aven Pace concealing Haly but his sonne howsoever hee were named would be called Aven-Haly c. So Surnames passing from father to sonne and coÌ„tinuing to their issue was not antiently in vse among any people in the world Yet to these single Names were adioyned oftentimes other names as Cognomina or Sobriquetts as the French call them and By-names or Nicke-names as we terme them if that word be indifferent to good and bad which still did die with the bearer and never descended to posteritie That we may not exemplifie in other nations which would afforde great plenty but in our own King Eadgar was called the Peaceable king Ethelred the Vnreadie king Edmund for his Valour Iron-side king Harold the Hare-foote Eadric the Streona that is the Getter or Streiner Siward the Degera that is the Valiant King William the first Bastard king William the second Rouse that is the Red king Henry the first Beauclarke that is Fine Scholler so in the house of Aniou which obtained the Crowne of England Geffrey the first Earle of Aniou was surnamed Grisogonel that is Grey-cloake Fulco his sonne Nerra his grand-childe Rechiâ— for his extortion Againe his grand-childe Plantagenet for that he ware commonly a broome-stalke in his bonnet His sonne Henry the second king of England Fitz-Empresse because his mother was Empresse his sonne king Richard had for surname Corde-Lion for his lion-like courage as Iohn was called Sans-terre that is Without land So that wheras these names were never taken vp by the sonne I knowe not why any should thinke Plantagenet to be the surname of the royall house of England albeit in late yeeres many have so accounted it Neither is it lesse strange why so many should thinke Theodore or Tydur as they contract it to be the surname of the Princes of this Realme since king Henry the seaventh For albeit Owen ap Merâ—dith Tydur which married Katharine the daughter of Charles the sixth king of France was grandfather to king Henry the seventh yet that Tydur or Theodore was but the Christian name of Owens grandfather For Owens father was Meredith ap Tydur Ap Grone Ap Tydur who all without Surnames iterated Christian names after the olde manner of the Britaines and other nations heeretofore noted and so lineally deduced his pedegree from Cadwallader king of the Britans as was found by Commission directed to Griffin ap Lewellin Gitteu Owen Iohn King and other learned men both English and Welsh in the seaventh yeare of the said king Henry the seventh Likewise in the line Royall of Scotland Milcolme or Malcolme was surnamed Canmore that is Great head and his brother Donald Ban that is White Alexander the first the Prowde Malcolme the fourth the Virgine William his brother the Lion As amongest the Princes of Wales Brochvail Schitrauc that is Gaggtothed Gurind Barmbtruch that is Spade-bearded Elidir Coscorvaur that is Heliodor the Great house-keeper and so in Ireland Murough Duff that is Blacke 〈◊〉 Roo that is Red Nemoliah that is full of wounds Patric Ban that is White Gavelcâ— that is Fetters To seeke therefore the auntient Surnames of the royall and most antient families of Europe is to seeke that which never was And therefore greatly are they deceived which thinke Valoys to have beene the surname of the late French kings or Borbon of this present king or Habsburg or Austriac of the Spanish king or Steward of the late kings of Scotland and now of BRITAINE or Oldenburg of the Danish For as all know that have but sipped of Histories Valoys was but the Apponage and Earledome of Charles yonger sonne to Philip the second from whome the late kings descended so Borbon was the inheritance of Robert a yonger sonne to saint Lewes of whom this king is descended Habsburg and Austria were but the olde possessions of the Emperors and Spanish Kings progenitours Steward was but the name of office to Walter who was high Steward of Scotland the progenitour of Robert first King of Scots of that family and of the King our Soveraigne And Oldenburg was but the Erledome of Christian the first Danish king of this family elected about 1448. But yet Plâ—â—tagenet Steward Valois Borbon Habsburg c. by prescription of time have prevailed so farre as they are now accounted surnames But for surnames of Princes well said the learned Marcus Salon de Pace Reges cognomiue now vtâ—ntur qâ—â—ia vt Regum familiae agnationes memoriae conserventur 〈◊〉 cognomina non sunt necessaria prout in alijs inferioribus quorum ipsa cognomina agnationum ac familiarum memoriâ—â— tutantur About the yeare of our Lord 1000. that we may not minute out the time surnames beganne to be taken vp in France and in England about the time of the Conquest or else a very little before vnder King Edward the Confessor who was all Frenchified And to this time doe the Scottishmen referre the antiquitie of their surnames although Buchanan supposeth that they were not in vse in Scotland many yeares after But in England certaine it is that as the better sort even from the Conquest by little and little tooke surnames so they were not setled among the common people fully vntill about the time of King Edward the second but still varied according to the fathers name as Richardson if his father were Richard Hodgeson if his father were Roger or in some other respect and from thenceforth beganne to be established some say by statute in their posteritie This will seeme strange to some Englishmen and Scotishmen which like the Arcadians thinke their surnames as ancient as the Moone or at the least to reach many an age beyond the Conquest But they which thinke it most strange I speake vnder correction I doubt they will hardly finde any surname which descended to posteritie before that time Neyther have they seene I feare any deede or donation before the Conquest but subsigned with crosses and single names without surnames in this manner in England Ego Eadredus confirmavi ✚ Ego Edmundus corroboravi ✚ Ego Sigarius conclusi ✚ Ego Olfstanus consolidavi c. Likewise for Scotland in an old booke of Duresme in the Charter whereby Edgare sonne of King Malcolme gave lands neere Coldingham to that Church in the yeare 1097. the Scottish Noblemen witnesses therevnto had no other surnames than the Christian names of their fathers For thus they signed S. ✚ Gulfi filij Mâ—niani S ✚ Culverti filij Donecani S ✚ Olavi filij Oghe c. As for my selfe I never hitherto found any hereditarie Surname before the Conquest neither any that I know and yet both I my selfe and divers whom I know have pored and pusled vpon many an old Record and Evidence to satisfie our selves heerein and for my part I will acknowledge my selfe greatly indebted to them that wil cleare me this doubt But about the time of the Conquest I