place of Comes the ceremony of Creation much at one and the title hereditary the annuity money in their Patent is forty marks And here by the way I cannot but observe one note of Mr. Seldens that John Beaufort Earl of Somerset modestly refused to be made Marquesse of Dorset by Henry the fourth because the title was then so strange and new in the Kingdome The Marquesse is honored with a Coronet of gold flurred the points and flowers of equall height whereas of the Earls the pearled points are much longer then the flowers His Mantle also doubled Ermine as is the Earls also but the Earls is but of four and the Marquesses is of five the doubling of the Viscount is to be understood to be but of Miniver or plain white Fur so is the Barons the Barons of two the Vice-counts of three doublings Of the Duke The Creation Robe of a Duke Where by the way one note is proper to be understood that as he was here created without any Ceremony except the girding with a Sword so in all other degrees of honor where a lesser degree is conferred on a person of a greater there needs nothing but meer Patent without any ceremony of creation But John son to Edward the third being created Duke of Lancaster had a Cap of furre added to the ceremony and succeeding times have had the Sword Crownet and Verge of Gold a Surcoat Mantle and Hood and a Ducal cap doubled Ermin but not indented and is honored with the style of Gratious and Excellent These if they be of Royall line are reputed as Arch-dukes It is also allowed that a Duke tantum shall take place before any Lord that is both Marquesse and Earl but a Duke that is Marquesse or Earl besides shall precede him The Duke Marquesse and Earl at their creation have a sword put over their shoulders which the Vice-count and Baron have not Of the Arch-Duke THis title is of neer relation to the other but not found in any place save in the house of Austria the addition of which word Arch is from the Greek word Archos which is as much as Princeps in Latin So he taketh place of all other Dukes and he is allowed a Surcoat a Mantle and a Hood of Crimson Velvet at his Creation He hath also a Chapeau or Ducal Cap doubled Ermin indented with a Coronet about the same and an arch of Gold with an Orbe and Verge of Gold Of these titles the Duke Marquesse and Earl are esteemed Princely especially the two last These also are allowed to bear their Crests with Helmets the Beaver directly forward whereas a Gentleman Knight and Baron bare them with half the Beaver seen The Creation Robe of the Prince of Wales The Prince THe next and first immediately subordinate to the Crown amongst these radiant Stars is The Prince who in England onely is the Prince of Wales the first-born of the King These in the Saxons time were called Clitons and clitunculi from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Illustrious But since it hath been a title of creation for honor to the rising sun there were none created in the Nation but the King 's eldest son who are in all Nations honored above all other subjects and amongst some as in Spain have been called King 's during the life of their Fathers because of his so neer a relation to the Crown that if the Father dye he is ipso 〈◊〉 Rex there being no interregnum though he be not crowned In a Statute of the second of Henry the fourth it is provided that the Prince may give his honorable Liveries of signes to the Lords or to his meniall Gentry and that the said Lords may wear the same as they wear the Kings Livery and that the Menials of the Prince may wear the same as the King's menials but this hath been since abridged So likewise by a Statute of the 25. of Edward the third chap. 2. it is declared that to compasse or imagine the death of the Kings eldest son and heir is Crimen laesae Majestatis high Treason as also to violate the wife of the King 's eldest son And again see Coke 8. part 28. The Prince shineth with the beams of his Father and is holden to be one person with him Yet doth he acknowledge a reverence not only as to a Father but Soveraign and to that purpose continues that Motto which the Black Prince took up Ick dien I serve He is called Princeps quia principalis in strenuitate post regem saith Sir William Segar The first that we read of in England was Edward eldest son of Henry the third and after him the eldest son of the King hath been ever by Patent and Ceremonies of Instalment created Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Flint being born Duke of Cornwall The Prince or first born of the King in France is called the Dauphin in Spain l' Infanta There are in other Countries Princes by Creation as the Prince of Piemont the Prince of Orange and many others but these are also now become hereditary and in some Countries all the Royall line are styled Princes When he is created he is presented before the King in Princely Robes who putteth about his neck a Sword bend-wise a Cap and Coronet over his head a Ring on his middle finger a Verge of gold in his hand and his Letters Patents after they are read His Mantle is once more doubled then the Dukes and his Coronet of Crosses and Flowers de Luce and his Cap of State doubled indented The King THe King is the next and in our Nations the highest being subordinate to no sublunary power as those of Spain Portugall and other Kingdoms of Europe and other parts of the world are He is the true Fountain from whence all these Rivulets and swelling Streams of Honor spring He is called Rex from whence the word Rego came and King amongst us from the Saxon word Koning and Kuning To say any thing of the Originall of the Government here were in vain for it is unknown onely I may say that none can produce any thing to assure any Government before it and what I spake in the beginning concerning the first institution of it universally is sufficient Besides these times have said enough to that purpose He hath ever bin of great reverence amongst these Kingdoms of Europe the very Title carrying Divinity in it being of Heavenly institution ordained by God himself the Bond of Peace and the Sword of Justice He is God's Vicegerent and to be obeyed accordingly both in Church and State If good he is a blessing if bad a judgment He is styled Pater Patriae Caput Reipub and for that the protection of his Subjects lies in his breast the Militia is annexed to his Crown and the Sword as well as Scepter put into his hand He hath power of pardoning where the Law
Honor rediviuus or An analysis of Hono and Armory by MATT CARTER Esq London printed for Henry Herringman 1660 And Are to be Sould by Henry Herringman at the Ancker on the lowest side of the New-Exchange ANDREW COLTEE DUCAREL L.L.D. Doctor 's Commons A POSSE AD ESSE TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAML d. Marquesse AND Earl of HERTFORD Baron SEYMOUR AND BEAUCHAMP MY LORD THat I have preferred so slender a Volume to Your Honorable Patronage is no more than the Subject of it which is Honor erects as Your Lordship is known of the first and greatest of those that challenge a concernment therein yet not more eminent by that of Your blood then of the inward Noblenesse of Your Vertues whereof the World hath received unmatchable testimonies These reasons as they oblige me to this presentment so I cannot but hope will also plead pardon for the trouble it brings a long with it and that once obtained I am assured of the preservation of this imperfect Essay under the powerfull Protection of your Lordships name Of the infinite Honorers whereof none is more ambitious to be known such than My LORD Your Honours most humbly devoted Matt. Carter TO THE READER READER THe unhappy Causes of the present neglect of this most noble knowledge are of so high nature as will not endure to be named the ill consequents in the imminent degenerateness of this Age so manifest that they need not In this declining condition of Honour nothing is more requisite then the means of its preservation amongst which this being one and that not inconsiderable gave me occasion of busying my self in this design Such bookes as have beene already publisht by persons eminent in this kinde are of large bulke and some of them too tedious to the most ingenious Student The more they comprehend the less apt for memory especially when enlarged with tedious impertinencies and doubtlesse more difficult for the apprehension of every Reader to which Method that is most discernable in brevity is the most excellent help That which I have herein followed is to treat first of the degrees of Honour and then of Armory and that although concisely yet I hope so clearly and fully that any person of ordinary capacity may hereby be able to blazon a Coat of the greatest difficulty the only care being in observing the termes given to things born and the manner of posture and position Some errors have escaped both the Press and theGraver which the Reader may at his leisure rectifie by the Errata at the end so let him peruse seriously and censure modestly and then I shal wish him Farewell Of HONOR in Generall and of its Particular Divisions THe Heraulds of former ages have many of them not onely divided the nobler sort of men into severall degrees but distinguished likewise the inferiour rank into four forms But as in some other things in that also I shall forbear to follow their method as not altogether so pertinent to the intentions of this compilement It is but an easie caution in me when I know not how few I shall 〈◊〉 by my best demerits not to stumble into the hazard of disgusting many by a rash enterprise in a weak endeavour considering especially the present temper of the world The great and wise Disposer of all Entities hath contriv'd every thing into such a Method as in every particle of the Creation is discover'd a most excellent harmony in which that of the degrees and honorary distinctions is as admirable as any and this is the intended scope of this 〈◊〉 Some he 〈◊〉 created to honor and some to dishonor 〈◊〉 a difference and variety in all things that by a rule of contraries they might the better display themselves Some men he hath richly adorn'd with Excellency and elevated them with the sublimary glories of Honor Nobility and Greatness and others again in the same light they shine hath he obscured with contraries of Meanness Ignobility and Indigency Of the latter I shall onely say that for them to Spurn at the more honorable because themselves are debased to an inferiority is to kick dirt in the face of that infinitely just and wise God of our Creation The first being the intended concernment I forbear any farther discourse of the latter Nobility saith Sir John Fern is thus defined Vir Nobilis idem est quod notus ac per omnium or a vulgatus A Gentleman or Nobleman is he which is known and through the Heroical vertues of his life talked of in every man's mouth In short amongst all men it is defined A certain eminence of some above the rest This is by the same Author distinguished into three Species Nobility supernaturall Nobility naturall and Nobility civill or politicall Supernaturall as in the heavenly Hierarchies or sacred Principalities And that there are orders and degrees amongst them we must believe or renounce our Christianity but I leave the further discovery thereof as too sublime to more mature and deliberate contemplations The second is Nobilitas physica or naturall Nobility consisting in the great variety of naturall creatures obvious to our human senses As for example Among the Planets the Sun is the most noble among the Elements Fire among the Plants the Cedar among Flowers the Rose of Metalls Gold of Jems the Diamond of Fish the Dolphin of Birds the Eagle of Beasts the Lion and amongst Men the King The last is Nobility civill or politicall which onely relates to Mankind and though some have distinguished the generality of a Common-wealth into two divisions onely the Noble and Ignoble the Gentry and Commonalty yet either part are again subdivided according to the policy of civill Government as well as the providence of divine Ordination When first this distinction came amongst us is by some thought uncertain but for my part not For doubtlesse it hath been continued from the first encrease of Mankind in the world for if there were Kings and Governors certainly other distinctions vertue being still admired and honored and some signall put upon it and Dignitas Nobilitas idem sunt dignity or preferment to power is that which makes a man noble And that there were Kings long before the Floud as Mr. Selden that excellent Master of Antiquity is of opinion is evident by those words he inserts which signifie that Adam after the propagation of Mankind was esteemed nor onely the Father but Governor in a kind of Royall or Monarchicall power during his life and Seth his son succeeded him in the like The Jews called such as were in the state of Nobiles among them Ben Ish or Filii viri or the sons of great men And the sons of men of common rank they tearmed Sons of men by filiihominis And the Scripture in many places distinguishes men thus as in that of the Psalm as well the sons of great men as of men of common rank both rich and poor together And this distinction of
King who gives it him that is created Then he returning thanks for his great honor withdraws in the same manner he came in the Trumpers sounding and so he goes to dinner Where after the second service is gone up the Garter with the rest of the Heralds cometh neer the Table where first pronouncing Largesse with a loud voyce he declareth the King's style in Latin French and English and then standing somewhat further off pronounceth Largesse again with the style of him that is newly created In which form was William Cecill created Lord Burghley 15. of Febr. 13. Elizab. Of the Viscount THis word in Latin is Vice-comes which is interpreted from the office of the person who was one cui Dominus hoc est Comes committit vices suas sive gubernationem castri saith Sir John Ferne. The Title is derived from the same Order in France which there were only first substitutes to Earls till getting themselves first in power got also to have the title honorary and hereditary between the Earl and Baron it being the same word which signifieth our Sheriffe and began not with us till about the 18. year of Henry the sixth who then created John Lord Beaumont Viscount Beaumont by Letters patent Though Sir John Fern tells us of it in the time of Henry the first and King Stephen and though the Elder sons of Dukes are styled Earls during their fathers life time so the Eldest sons of Marquesses are styled by their Fathers Vicounties and Baronies and called Lords and the younger sons saluted with Lord yet it is by 〈◊〉 only To this degree is allowed a Surcoat Mantle Hood and a Circulet without either flowers or points as in the discourse of Armory shall be seen and is created with the same ceremony those above him are Of the Count or Earl THe next precedency is an Earl called in Latin Comes and thence is an English word Count which word Comes we have from the example of the Romans amongst whom they used it for the title of sundry offices Coke defines them thus Dicuntur Comites quia à Comitatu five à societate nomen sumpserunt qui etiam dici possunt Consules a Consulendo c. But John of Salisbury who writ in the time of Henry the second says thus Comites dici à 〈◊〉 participatione And the word Earl we had from the Saxons from whence till we borrowed the word Honor we used the word Earl for gentle or noble and Ethel which was sometimes abridged to el so that of Ear-ethel it was Ear-el and by abbreviation Earl which the Dutch called Eorle Amongst the Germans they have the word Grave for it as Palsgrave Landgrave Reingrave c. from the word Gerefa by abbreviation Gereve and Grave as also Reve from whence our Shierreve or Shirriffe as some do abbreviate it Which word in the Teutonick signifies a Disposer or Director Others have That the word with the Saxons was Erlig and Ethling and used for the same office of Ealderman was before and the word Ealderman which now is writ Alderman was transferred to a lower degree who used the word also Thegon or Thaine for Baron as I said before But the word Ealderman and Ethling it seems did only signifie them according to Civill power and the word Heretoga from whence Hertshog for their Military power the former word being no more then Senior or Senator This title of Ealdermen continued for Duces Principes Comites untill Canutus reign when the word Earl was brought in and the other lost as to that Honor. What the Jurisdiction of the Ealderman in those times was and how absolute or large is to me yet uncertain though large it was doubtlesse because of the severall Offices that were under them but as it hath remained since the Conquest we find more reasonable satisfaction Their possessions were sometimes the whole Territories they derived their Title from and sometimes not but some particular 〈◊〉 or place in it We find also that both it and Thane were honorary and feudall Titles Upon the coming in of the Normans this word was turned into Comes or Count since when it hath remained And this word in the Empire was given to Quotquot è Comitatu Principis erant to all that were admitted to society of the Prince So the 〈◊〉 styled them in Warre Commilitones in the Court Comites The dignity is of divers kinds for an Earl acknowledging no Superior is equall to a Prince This Title as it continues since the Conquest is either locall or personall Locall as from the denomination of some County or other Territory and Personall that hath its being in some great Office as Earl-Marshal and the like Those locall are also simplices and Palatine which last retain the same constitution the Saxons time allowed them which is Juraeregalia or merum mixtum Imperium and could make Barons under them as those of Chester Lancaster the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely Hugh Lupus had the County Palatine of Chester given him by the Conquerour Ita liberè ad Gladium 〈◊〉 ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam Who governed the County forty years he created eight Barons and built the Abbey of Chester Lancaster was made a Palatinate by Edward the third as says Sir William Segar and had Barons Chancery and Seal and so had the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely The office of those Barons being to sit in Councell and Judgment with the Earl To the County Palatine of Chester 〈◊〉 been Chamberlains who supplied the place of Chancellor Justices before whom the causes that should else belong to the King's Bench and Common Pleas are triable a Baron of the Exchequer a Sheriffe and other offices proportionably to those of the Crown at Westminster which being since reserved in the Crown is given to the Prince of Wales when he is created This County had this honor I conceive out of regard to the great trust was reposed in the first Earl which was to subdue and keep in order the British or Welch after the Conquest Of those that are not Palatine we find their Creation also as ancient as the Conquest William theConqueror made Alan Fergent thenDuke of Brittaign Earl of Richmond by a Patent The Creation Robe of a Marquesse Of the Marquesse THis word Marquesse at the first was used to all Earls and Barons that were Lords Marchers or Lords of Frontires and came afterward into a Title of speciall dignity between that of Duke and Earl beginning in the time of Richard the second who created Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Marquesse of Dublin Per gladii cincturam circuli aurei suo capiti positionem The form of the Patent was then and many ages since very various but it is now regulated to one method which is the same in a manner with that of Earl only the word Marchio is put in the
men hath descended to us with so much severity that our Saviour himself gave example in his Practise and Rule in the charge he left us for it in these words Speak not evill of Dignities and many other the like And the Civill Law hath formerly been so severe in the preserving this distinction that Gentle or Noble were prohibited the marrying with the Ungentle or Ignoble as the Ignoble were debarred from any honour or dignity to hinder the evill of introducing mongrell and mechanick dispositions in the Common-wealth and consequently such impostumated humors as is commonly the Off-spring thereof even among the greatest Nobility The Law commanded that in case a Guardian being a Person of honor having the tuition of a Child under age and should marry him to the daughter of an ignoble person it was an injury done to the whole Family a penalty should be inflicted upon the Guardian the reason for though the Husband cannot be ennobled by the Wife yet the Issue of that Male is debased and a Mongrel and primogenitus est totius geniturae quasi splendor gloria and the glory of children are their parents Civill Nobility is an excellency of dignity and fame placed in any Nation People or Blood through the virtues there shewed forth to the profit of that Common-wealth as Sir John Fern defines it This he divides into three so t s of N tions Cities and Families These last are by the Greeks termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Nobiles Ingenui and Generosi in French Nobles in the Empire 〈◊〉 among the Spaniards Hiidalgo and Gentilhome or Gentilhombre and in the old Saxon Ardel. Aristotle maketh four kinds of civill Nobility viz. Divitiarum Generis Virtutis Disciplinae Cicero attributes the Crovvn of Generosity to the virtuous and therefore is understood to allow of no other Nobility and Diogenes was so cynicall as to term nobleness of blood a vail of lewdness a cloak of sloth and a vizard of cowardice And what would he have said had he liv'd in our age But to lay by these and many other divisions the Philosophy of latter times have refined Civill Nobility into a triple division The first by Blood the second by Merit the third by Blood and Merit which last without doubt must receive the estimation of the most honorable See Sir Johu Fern and Mr. Segar in his Honor Military and Civill And also by place in the Common-wealth And Bartholus In the Court his words are Omnes 〈◊〉 Principi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ideo Nobiles cùm 〈◊〉 nobilitas idem sunt Nobility of Blood saith Sir John Fern is a Nobility drawn from the first House and continued through the virtues of those succeeding which the Laws and Customs of Nations have permitted the progeny and kindred to challenge as their Inheritance though for no excellency in themselves that enjoy it And this is the Nobility which Boetius takes notice of when he saith Nobilitas est quaedam laus proveniens de 〈◊〉 parentum Now as Nobility by Blood and Merit is justly esteemed the most honorable so certainly this the least the glory they shine in being but the reflection of their Ancestors and not their own proper rayes Neither are dignities and discents of blood enough to ennoble us for whatsoever is not within us cannot justly be called ours but rather the graces and goods of fortune Genus proavos quae non fecimus ipsi Vix 〈◊〉 nostra vaco And certainly the Honor atchieved by an Ancestor livs in his Family as his and to the memory of his vertues and example of theirs which ought doubly to oblige them to care first in keeping that tenderly which their Ancestors purchased so difficulty and to shew themselves the true heirs of such noble spirits in their due imitations of those renowned vertues Therefore it is but vain for a man to boast that he can derive the foundation of his honor from the renowned catalogue of worthy Ancestors and himself degenerate from their heroicall virtues for at the best they blaze but another's honor and their own shame and may quickly be answered as Hermodius was by Iphierates who upbraided him with the stain of so base a parent My House taketh beginning in me but thine taketh end in thy self And our Nation hath produced too many that deserve the saying of Lycurgus whose Soldiers bragged much of the Nobility of Hercules being derived to them he told them Hercules's nobility would avail them nothing except they did those things whereby Hercules became Noble The second is Nobleness of proper Virtue atchieved by Merit which is certainly to be esteemed above the other for a Country's safety dependeth upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counsell and courage of the virtuous when the 〈◊〉 boastings of an authentick Stock where vertues fail do add nothing to the relief of a Common-wealth in time of need The Romans attired their Knights with a Ring for faithfulness a Buckle for stedfastness and a Bracelet for industry as signes of vertue not of sloth the appropriated priviledge of succeeding Nobility And in all Nobility Author 〈◊〉 à quo primum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in signia profecta sunt homo novus fuit The first atchiever in any stock whatever was a new man ennobled for some demerit Sir John Fern. And all men will judge him that was the originall of a family more honorable than him that succeeded him two or three descents not adding to that honour by any merit of his own Now these two qualities meeting in one man is it that maketh the perfect Gentleman and such a man ought to be preferred before all others in the receiving of Dignity Office or Rule in the Common-wealth Wherefore by the Laws of Arms antiently these seven circumstances were regarded in the chioce of a Captain or Leader his Age his Virtues his Faith or Allegiance his Knowledge in Martiall Discipline his Authority his good Fortune and lastly his Blood and Gentry And antiently none were admitted into the Inns of Court but who were Gentlemen of Blood be their Merits what ever as the Foundations of some of 〈◊〉 do yet shew Therefore it is the best Patrimony a Father can leave his Son to bequeathe him the glory of his merits with the state of Gentility And the best honor the Son can do to the deceased Parent is to continue his name in that estate which his Ancestors left him and by imitating the virtues that obtained it to preserve it without a stain Which consideration hath been the occasion to stir up many generous spirits to a noble contention and commendable emulation to exalt the worthiness of their Familie's fame What those virtues are that must thus ennoble men Sir John 〈◊〉 hath taken too much care I think in demonstrating for whose sake I shall take as little First he tells you of all the Cardinall virtues and then what they are which
Ensign of Regall Authority was the Scepter which is every where spoken of both in the Scriptures and profane Stories There is another Ensign of their Authority which is a Globe with a Cross in use amongst us ever since Edward the Confessor which is placed in the left hand as is seen in most of their Coyns the Cross denoting his Faith and the Globe his Empire both by Sea and Land as it is said of Justinian who was the first Emperor that ever had it At the Coronation of the Emperor it is carried by the Count Palatine of the Rhine where they call it Pomum Imperiale This power dignity and state hath been enjoyed by the Female sex as heirs descending by the common right of Inheritance and not onely in our parts but many others as at this day in Swethen when there is not the least punctilio of a diminution in respect of the Sex Besides for an addition to the honor of a King there is the same state allowed to a Queen during the life of her husband as to a Queen absolute almost and is allowed a Crown She is called Queen from the Saxon word Cuningine as King from Cuning onely by variation of the gender as it was their manner in such cases She is permitted to sit in State at the King 's right hand and to keep a Court distinct from the King although she be but the daughter of an Earl But this was in the time of King Edgbert prohibited and so for a long time continued by reason of Eadburgh who poysoned her husband King Brithick of the West-Saxons And if she be the daughter of a King Superior to her husband she may retain the dignity of her father's daughter and in this case the daughter hath preceded the mother And although in these latter times our Monarchy hath been reduced under the circumference of one Crown Imperiall no others having any other substitute Governors crowned Yet formerly both Scotland and Ireland had King's distinct whilst they acknowledged homage to the Crown of England as also the isles of Man and Wight The Kings of Man were first subject to the Kings of Norway then to the Crown of England and after to the Kings of Scotland and since again to the Kings of England Dominus hujus Insulae Rex vocatur cui fas est Corona aurea coronari The Lord of the Isle is called King and it is lawfull for him to be crowned with a Crown of gold Henry the second allowed with the same honor Roderig of Conaght to be King paying a homagery Tribute The Lord Beauchamp Earl of Warwick under Henry the sixth was in the like manner crowned King of the Isle of Wight Which is enough in this place as to the Dignity of a King Of the Emperor THe originall of this Title as it was long amongst the Romans denoted onely a Generall of an Army and not till the time of Julius Caesar translated to an honorary Title who being made perpetuall Dictator took also that of Imperator into his Title which hath continued in his Successors untill this day and became Superior to the Title of King that before was but substitute under it being yearly created in January and ended in September Which great change hapned upon the Victory of Caesar against Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalia This Title was onely taken up to supply that of King which had not long before been thrown out by Brutus and was supposed by the Usurper to be yet fresh in their memories and odious amongst them and it was long after before they used the Title of King though their power were as much and the Ceremonies and Ensignes of Regality the same and the Emperor's Throne at Rome was called Sedile regni But at last it grew to be as one and then the Emperor of Rome having subjected under his Jurisdiction many Kingdoms thought it however a title of more eminence and so retained it And though the title has not been so generally appropriated to our Crown yet our Kings have been styled Emperors and this Realm of England called an Empire So have the Kings of Spain and France But it is more peculiarly allowed or assumed by the Emperors of Germany who suppose that they have a right to the government of the whole world This Empire after it was divided to Constantinople and Rome and then again that Constantinople had lost it to the Turks it was removed to Germany and in the reign of Otho the third the Election granted to seven Princes of Germany the Archbishops of Mentz Trevers Cullen the Count Palatine of Rhine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse Brandenburgh and the King of Bohemia then called Duke of Bohemia He hath had also the Superiority allowed him by all Secular Princes and whereas other Princes of Regall Authority are crowned with but one Crown he is with three the first of Iron which he receives of the Bishop of Cullen at Aquisgrane the second of Silver which he receives at Modena from the Bishop of Millan the third is of Gold wherewith he is crowned at Rome by the Pope And in latter Ages the title of King of the Romans is given to the Heir or him that is made or chosen Heir of the Empire and he is crowned and Jura Regalia given him though not so absolute as not to have a dependence on the Empire See Mr. Selden part 2. chap 1. The Ensignes of his Imperiall Dignity are a Crosse a Launce and a Sword a Scepter a Mond and a Crown and he is styled 〈◊〉 The Emperor of Russia is not Crowned but is adorned with a rich Cap of Purple neither is the Greek Sultan but vested with a mighty rich Tulipant But there though the Emperor have no Diadem yet the Sultanesse is adorned with a Rich Crown or Diadem Thus have I run through all the degrees of Honor and with as much brevity as so copious a Theam would allow of and for matter of precedency I think the method I have taken will save me the labour and I am unwilling to trouble the brains of the Ingenuous Reader with an unnecessary prolixity onely as to Offices of State because I have omitted them altogether I shall set down their places as in Princely Solemnities they are to be disposed In which those of the Crown are to precede all other of the Nobility that are not except the Blood Royall As the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord President of the Privy Councel Lord Privy Seal These six also are placed next the Lord Privy Seal thus according to their state of dignity that is If he be a Baron to sit above all Barons if an Earl above all Earls Lord Great Chamberlain of England Lord High Constable of England Lord Marshall of England Lord Admirall of England Lord Great Master or Steward of the King's House Lord Chamberlain of the King's House So the King 's principall Secretary being a
much honor of all men and maintained out of the Publique Treasury In Rome and most other places they carryed as Ensignes of their Office 〈◊〉 Rods in imitation of the Poeticall fiction of Mercury who is styled the Herald of the Gods those of Rome wreathed with two Serpents and the ancient Druides of wreaths of Vervine imitating the same In France where a long time this office hath been in much honor not only 〈◊〉 St. Dennis the principal King of Arms but the other Heralds and Pursevants are to be of noble 〈◊〉 and Mountjoy to be of three descents as well of his Fathers as of his Mothers side of Noble linage and Coat-Armor Their Office or Colledge is in the Church of St. Anthony the lesse in Paris And they are allowed the priviledge of entrance into any Prince's Court and an injury offered to them is a publique injury in all parts of the world But I do not finde they were in this 〈◊〉 and establishment till the time of Philip de Valloys The revenues of them in France was very great as to Mountjoy in particular 2000. l. Lands in free tenure and 1000 pound per annum stipend as Favin relates And the others 1000 pound per annum stipend besides other profits and they are many besides their priviledges are very great which in the same Author are at large set down in which Author I cannot but observe the ridiculousnesse of their humor in the christening of their Pursevants for they call it christening and the Ceremony is performed with the powring a pot of Wine on their heads they name them at their own pleasure and some they call Plain-way Jolly-heart No-lyar Tell-troth Chearfulnesse Fair-seeming Loftyfoot and the like But to come neerer to our own concernment I think to proceed with the same Office in our own Nation where they are now in lesse esteem I confesse then they have been in former ages yet have ever been honored with messages between Potentates for matter of Honor and Arms. Ceremoniarum Ministri as in the Coronation of Kings and Queens enstalment of Princes and creation of Noble dignities of honor in Triumphs Justs Combats Marriages Christenings Interments and to attend all solemn Assemblies of State and honor and by some of them ought the proclamations of all great matters of State to be promulged causes of Chivalry and Gentility are referred to their care as in the right of bearing of Arms in Shields Scutcheons Targets Banners Penons Coats and such like correcting of Arms in visitations and observing descents and pedigrees of Noblemen and Gentlemen They are the Protonotaries Griffiers and Registers of all acts and proceedings in the Court of the High 〈◊〉 and Lord Marshall of Engiand or of such as have their authority and in their books and Records they are to preserve to perpetuall memory all facts and memorable designments of honor and Arms. They have been long establisht in England but I find not that they were incorporated into a Collegiate Society till Richard the third's time when they were incorporated by Charter and placed at Coleharbor from whence they often removed untill they became setled where now at this time they are placed by the honorable endeavour of that Illustrious family of the Howards formerly Dukes of Norfolk and Earls Marshals of England the house being before called Darby house Which was established to them in the time of King Philip and Queen Mary and in these tearms incorporated by the names of Garter King of Arms of England Clarenceux King of Arms of the South parts and the Heralds and Pursevants for ever and to have and use a common Seal to purchase Lands to sue and be sued by Edward the sixth in his third year granted them many priviledges viz. In these words Forasmuch as sundry records and testimonies of great antiquity and of no lesse credit have now lately reduced to our perfect knowledge the Kings of Armes Heralds and 〈◊〉 of Arms elected as persons vertuous and for their good qualites knowledge and experience to serve in the affairs of the Common-wealth have been alwayes heretofore by Emperors Kings and Princes of Christian Realms upon most worthy and just considerations not only maintained and supported as well with yearly stipends and pensions as daily profits advantages and commodities sufficient to the necessity of the decent and convenient living of them and theirs in honest state Which daily profits advantages and commodities are now lately much decayed to their hindrance especially in this our Realm but also have been by the said Emperors Kings and Princes enriched and adorned time out of mans memory with divers kinds of priviledges liberties and franchises as among others that they and every of them be free exempt quite and discharged not only from subsidies dismes fifths tenths reliefs contributions taxes profits grants benevolences and generally from all other manner of charges as well in time of War as Peace in all such Realms and Dominions wherein they made their demour but also in all Market Towns and all other places from Tolls Fines Customes Impositions and Demands and aswell from Watch and Ward in all Cities Towns and Castles Borroughs and Villages and from the election or appointment to any Office of Mayor Sheriff Bayliffe Constable Scavenger Church-warden or any other publick Office in Citties Towns Castles 〈◊〉 and Villages whatsoever And forasmuch also as we understand all Kings of Arms Heralds c. have alwayes heretofore from the beginning of the Office of Arms enjoyed and do presently enjoy all and singular the priviledges liberties and franchises aforesaid with many other in all Christian Realms without any disturbance 〈◊〉 or molestation We therefore considering the same and earnestly minding as well the advancement of the said Office of Arms as the quiet and honest supportance of our Servants and Ministers thereof do of our speciall Grace certain knowledge and meer motion by the advice and consent of our most dearly beloved Uncle Edward Duke of Somerset and our Protector of our Realms and Dominions and Subjects and of the rest of our Councel by these 〈◊〉 not only confesse and generally approve give grant and confirm to the said Kings Heralds c. and to every of them and their successors for ever for us and our Successors all and singular the premises before recited although here not recited as have been of honorable antiquity upon just 〈◊〉 to them granted by Emperors Kings and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right famous memory heretofore But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially by these presents pardon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 utterly for us and our heires release the said Kings of Arms Heralds c. aswell all 〈◊〉 sums of money and demands whatsoever 〈◊〉 assessed c. The Officers are thus distinguished Kings of Arms Garter General indefinite Of the south p. of Eng. Beyond Trent northw 〈◊〉 Norroy Heralds York sometimes styled Dukes of Arms. 〈◊〉 Windsor Lancaste Richmond Chester Pursevants Portcullis  Blewmantle  Raugh dragon  〈◊〉 croixe Â