Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
grace_n	earl_n	john_n	savage_a	98	3	16.6841	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68197	The first and second volumes of Chronicles. [vol. 1] comprising 1 The description and historie of England, 2 The description and historie of Ireland, 3 The description and historie of Scotland: first collected and published by Raphaell Holinshed, William Harrison, and others: now newlie augmented and continued (with manifold matters of singular note and worthie memorie) to the yeare 1586. by Iohn Hooker aliàs Vowell Gent and others. With conuenient tables at the end of these volumes.; Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande. vol. 1	Holinshed, Raphael, d. 1580?; Stanyhurst, Richard, 1547-1618.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.; Stow, John, 1525?-1605.; Thynne, Francis, 1545?-1608.; Hooker, John, 1526?-1601.; Harrison, William, 1534-1593.; Boece, Hector, 1465?-1536.; Giraldus, Cambrensis, 1146?-1223?	1587 (1587)	STC 13569_pt1; ESTC S122178	1,179,579	468

was first vsed that in fine they gaue it ouer and suffered their whole inuentions to perish and decaie till Edward the third deuised an other order not so much pestered with multitude of knights as the round table but much more honorable for princelie port and countenance as shall appeare hereafter The order of the garter therefore was deuised in the time of king Edward the third and as some write vpon this occasion The quéenes maiestie then liuing being departed from his presence the next waie toward hir lodging he following soone after happened to find hir garter which slacked by chance and so fell from hir leg vnespied in the throng by such as attended vpon hir His groomes gentlemen also passed by it disdaining to stoope and take vp such a trifle but he knowing the owner commanded one of them to staie and reach it vp to him Why and like your grace saieth a gentleman it is but some womans garter that hath fallen from hir as she followed the quéenes maiestie What soeuer it be quoth the king take it vp and giue it me So when he had receiued the garter he said to such as stood about him You my maisters doo make small account of this blue garter here and therewith held it out but if God lend me life for a few moneths I will make the proudest of you all to reuerence the like And euen vpon this slender occasion he gaue himselfe to the deuising of this order Certes I haue not read of anie thing that hauing had so simple a beginning hath growne in the end to so great honour and estimation But to proceed After he had studied awhile about the performance of his deuise and had set downe such orders as he himselfe inuented concerning the same he proclamed a roiall feast to be holden at Windsore whither all his nobilitie resorted with their ladies where he published his institution and foorthwith inuested an appon●●●d number into the afore said fellowship whose names insue himselfe being the souereigne and principall of that companie Next vnto himselfe also he placed Edward prince of Wales Henrie duke of Lancaster N. earle of Warw. N. capt de Bouche N. earle of Stafford N. earle of Sarum N. lord Mortimer Sir Iohn Lisle Sir Bartholomew Burwash N. sonne of sir Iohn Beauchamp Sir N. de Mahun S. Hugh Courtneie S. Thomas Holland Sir Iohn Graie Sir Rich. Fitzsimon Sir Miles Stapleton Sir Thomas Wale Sir Hugh Wrotesley Sir Neale Lording Sir Iohn Chandos S. Iames Dawdleie Sir Otho Holland Sir Henrie Eme. Sir Sanchet Dambricourt Sir Walter Pannell aliàs Paganell What order of election and what estatutes were prescribed vnto the elected at this first institution as yet I can not exactlie vnderstand neither can I learne what euerie prince afterward added therevnto before the six and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight and third of king Edward the sixt wherefore of necessitie I must resort vnto the estate of the said order as it is at this present which I will set downe so brieflie as I may When anie man therefore is to be elected vpon a roome found void for his admission into this fellowship the king directeth his letters vnto him notwithstanding that he before hand be nominated to the same to this effect Right trustie and welbeloued we gréete you well asserteining you that in consideration aswell of your approoued truth and fidelitie as also of your couragious and valiant acts of knighthood with other your probable merits knowne by experience in sundrie parties and behalfes we with the companions of the noble order of the Garter assembled at the election holden this daie within our manour of N. haue elected and chosen you amongst other to be one of the companions of the said Order as your deserts doo condignelie require Wherefore we will that with conuenient diligence vpon the sight herof you repaire vnto our presence there to receiue such things as to the said order apperteineth Dated vnder our signet at our maner of N. c. These letters are the exemplification of certeine which as it should séeme were written An. 3. Edwardi fexti at Gréenewich Aprilis 24 vnto the earle of Huntingdon the lord George Cobham your lordships honorable father at such time as they were called vnto the aforesaid companie I find also these names subscribed vnto the same Edward duke of Summerset vncle to the king The marq. of Northhampton Earle of Arundell L. Chamberleine Earle of Shrewesburie L. Russell lord priuie seale L. S. Iohn lord great master Sir Iohn Gage S. Anthonie Wingfield Sir William Paget Being elected preparation is made for his installing at Windsore the place appointed alwaies for this purpose whereat it is required that his banner be set vp of two yardes and a quarter in length and thrée quarters in bredth besid●●●he fringe Secondlie his sword of whatsoeuer length him séemeth good Thirdlie his helme which from the charnell vpwards ought to be of thrée inches at the least Fourthlie the crest with mantels to the helme belonging of such conuenient stuffe and bignesse as it shall please him to appoint Item a plate of armes at the backe of his sta●● and crest with mantels and beasts supportant to be grauen in the mettall Item lodging scutcheons of his armes inuironned with a garter and painted in paper or cloth of buckram which when he trauelleth by the waie are to be fixed in the common Ins where he dooth lodge as a testimonie of his presence and states from time to time as he did trauell Item two mantels one to remaine in the college at Windsore the other to vse at his pleasure with the scutcheon of the armes of S. George in the garter with laces tasselets and knops of blue silke and gold belonging to the same Item a surcote or gowne of red or crimosine veluet with a whood of the same lined with white sarcenet or damaske Item a collar of the garter of thirtie ounces of gold Troie weight Item a tablet of S. George richlie garnished with precious stones or otherwise Item a garter for his left leg hauing the buckle and pendant garnished with gold Item a booke of the statutes of the said order Item a scutcheon of the armes of S. George in the garter to set vpon the mantell And this furniture is to be prouided against his installation When anie knight is to be installed he hath with his former letters a garter sent vnto him and when he commeth to be installed he is brought into the chapter house where incontinentlie his commission is read before the souereigne or his deputie and the assemblie present from hence he is lead by two knights of the said order accompanied with the other of the nobilitie and officers towards the chappell hauing his mantell borne before him either by a knight of the order or else the king at armes to whome it secondarilie apperteineth to beare it This mantell shall be deliuered

descending from thee hilles that lie north of Todlewood and then proceeding vnto Wilmotteswije it admitteth the Wilmots becke from the south and another running by Bradleie hall on the north side of Beltingham after which it méeteth with the Alen a proper water and described after this maner The Alen or Alon hath two heads whereof one is called east Alen the other west Alen. The first of them riseth southeast of Sibton Sheles going by Sundorp it taketh in a rill withall from by est after which confluence it runneth to Newshele Allington Caddon Old towne in the course to Stauertpele méeteth with the west Alen. The west Alen riseth in Killop low hilles aboue Whe●ele●e sheles from whence it goeth to Spartwell Hawcopole Owston and taking in a rill thereabouts if procéedeth on to Permandbie and crossing there another rill in like maner from by west it goeth by Whitefield and ioining soone after with the est Alen they run as one to Stauert poole Plankford and so into the Tine betweene Beltingham and Lées from whence the Tine runneth on by Lees Haddon Woodhall Owners Whernebie Costleie so by Warden till it crosse the north Tine and come to Hexham from whence it goeth to Dilstan crossing two waters by the waie whereof one commeth from by south and is called the Wolsh which holdeth hir course by Sielehall and Newbiggin receiueth another comming from Grimbridge the other called Dill so me what lower descending from Hedleie and running by Rising till it fall into the south side of our streame from Dilstan it goeth to Bywell castell ouer against which it receiueth a rill that runneth by Hindleie thence it hasteth to Eltingham Pruddo Willam and there it meeteth with another becke then to Reton Blaidon and next of all ioineth with the Darwent from by south This riuer riseth aboue Knewdon and Rudlamhope in Northumberland from two heads the northerlie being called Dere and the southerlie the Guent and ioining so well yer long in chanell as in name they runne on to Humsterworth new Biggin Blankeland Acton Aspersheles Blackheadlie Brentfield side Pansheles E●chester and there taking in a water from Hedlere in Northumberland néere to Blacke hall in the bishoprike it goeth on to Spen Holl inside Wickham Swalwell and so into Tine which passeth from thence by Elswijc and méeting with another water comming from Shildraw by Rauensworth castell to Redhugh it goeth on to Newcastell Fellin Netherheworth Walker Waswon Hedburne and next to Ierco or Girwie where Beda dwelled in an abbeie now a gentlemans place although the church be made a parish church wherevnto diuerse townes resort as moonke Eaton where Beda was borne which is a mile from thence Southsheles Harton Westhow Hebburne Hedworth Wardleie Fellin Follinsbie the Heworthes and from thence to the south and Northsheles and so into the sea fiue miles by northwest of Weremouth and as I gesse some what more Beneath the confluence in like sort of both the Tines standeth Corbridge a towne sometime inhabited by the Romans and about twelue miles from Newcastell and hereby dooth the Corue run that meeteth yer long with the Tine Not farre off also is a place called Colchester wherby Leland gesseth that the name of the brooke should rather be Cole than Corue and in my iudgement his coniecture is verie likelie for in the life of S. Oswijn otherwise a féeble authoritie the word Colbridge is alwaies vsed for Corbridge whereof I thought good to leaue this short aduertisement In this countrie also are the thrée vales or dales whereof men haue doubted whether théeues or true men doo most abound in them that is to saie Riddesdale Tuidale and Liddesdale this last being for the most part Scotish and without the marches of England Neuerthelesse sithens that by the diligence cheefelie of maister Gilpin and finallie of other learned preachers the grace of God working with them they haue béene called to some obedience and zeale vnto the word it is found that they haue so well profited by the same that at this present their former sauage demeanour is verie much abated and their barbarous wildnesse and fiercenesse so qualified that there is great hope left of their reduction vnto ciuilitie and better order of behauiour than hitherto they haue béene acquainted withall But to procéed with the rest Ptolomie writing of the Were calleth it Uedra a riuer well knowne vnto Beda the famous préest who was brought vp in a monasterie that stood vpon the bankes thereof It riseth of thrée heads in Kelloppeslaw hill whereof the most southerlie is called Burdop the middlemost Wallop and the northerliest Kellop which vniting themselues about S. Iohns chappell or a little by west thereof their confluence runneth through Stanhope parke by east Yare and so to Frosterleie But yer it come there it receiueth thrée rilles from the north in Weredale whereof one commeth in by Stanhope another west of Woodcroft hall and the third at Frosterleie afore mentioned And a little beneath these I find yet a fourth on the south side which descendeth from southwest by Bolliop Bishopsleie Milhouses and Landew as I haue béene informed Being therefore vnited all with the Were this streame goeth on to Walsingham there taking in the Wascropburne beside another at Bradleie the third at Harpleie hall and these on the north side and the fourth betwéene Witton and Witton castell called Bedburne comming by Hamsterleie whereby this riuer dooth now wax verie great Going therefore from hence it hasteth to Bishops Akeland and beneath it receiueth the Garondlesse which as Leland saith riseth six miles by west of Akeland castell and running south thereof passeth by west Akeland S. Helens Akeland S. Andrewes Akeland and bishops Akeland and then into the Were which goeth to Newfield and Willington Neere vnto this place also and somewhat beneath Sunderland the Were crosseth one brooke from southest by Het Croxseie Cronefurth Tursdale and Coxdale and two other from by northwest in one botome whereof the first commeth from aboue Ash by Langleie the other called Coue from aboue Kinchleie by Newbiggin Lanchester north Langlie and through Beare parke so méeting beneath Relleie or Hedleie with the other they fall both as one into the Were betweene south Sunderland and Burnall From hence our riuer goeth on to Howghwell Shirkeleie old Duresme and there taking in the Pidding brooke by northeast it goeth to Duresme Finkeleie Harbarhouse Lumleie castell where it méeteth with the Pilis whose heads are vnited betweene Pelton and Whitwell and after called Hedleie and from thence to Lampton Harroton the Bedikes Ufferton Hilton parke Bishops Weremouth and so into the sea betweene north Sunderland and north Weremouth towne which now is called moonke Weremouth of the monasterie sometime standing there wherein Beda read wrote manie of his bookes as to the world appeareth This mouth of Were is eight miles from Durham and six from Newcastell Being

Esgin Uent Gilders beck Knare East Alen. West Alen. Darwent Corue Were Burdop Wallop Kellop Wascrop Bedburne Pidding brooke Pilis Thesis Hude Lune Arnegill Skirkewith Bander Rere crosse Skerne Thorpe aliàs Leuand Trawthorne Eske Ibur Hull Humber Ure aliàs Ouze or Isis. Burne Wile Skell Swale Fosse Ouze Hull or Hulne Cottingham Fowlncie Skelfléet Darwent Kenford Shirihutton Crambecke Rie Ricoll Seuen Costeie Pickering Pocklington Rie Costeie Seuen Dou or Doue Hodgebecke Ricoll Fesse Holbecke Fosse Kile Swale Barneie Arcleie Holgate Mariske becke Rauenswath Rhe. Bedall aliàs Leming Wiske Cawdebec Kebecke Cuckwolds becke Skell Lauer. Nidde Killingale Couer Burne Wharfe aliàs Gwerfe Padside Washburne Cockebecke Air. Otterburne Winterburne Glike Lacocke Woorth Moreton Redwell Went. Hebden Chald. Trent Foulebrooke Sow Penke Blith Tame Rhée Cote Blith Burne Rhée Anchor Mese Dou. Manifold Hansleie Churne Dunsmere Yendor Aula Canuti Ashenhirst Teine Uttoxeter or Uncester Darwent Neue Burbroke Wie Hawkeshow Wile Rufford aliàs Manbecke Lathkell Bradford Amber Moreton Eglesburne Sora or Surus Eie Leland calleth one of these rilles Croco Warke Urke or Wr●ke Erwash Dene Snite A miracle Doue Midhop Cowleie Rother Iber. Brampton Crawleie Gunno Mesebrooke Hampall Budbie Gerberton Girt Idle Manbecke Meding becke Wilie Blith Sandbecke Ancolme K●lis Saltflete Maplethorpe Lindis witham Rhe. Fosse dike Witham Hake Bane Bollingborow Sempringham Wiland Braie Warke Brooke water Whitnell Newdrene South Writhlake Shéepes eie Auon Nene Vedunus Florus ●ugius Kilis Rother Ocleie Corbie Isis 3. Sisa Imelus Erin Garan Verus Cle aliàs Claius Saw These rise not far from Michelborow one of them in Higham parke Verus or the Were Stoueus Stoueus Helenus Elmerus Riuelus Granta Babren Rhée Sturus Bulbecke Burne Dale Dunus Bradunus fortè Linus Congunus Rising Ingeli Glouius Wantsume Yocus Hierus Gern● Wauen Bure Thurinus Wauen Einus Fritha Cokelus Ford. Orus Fromus Glema I●●n or Ike Deua Clarus fons Urus Sturus Kettle baston Ocleie Mosa Claco Colunus Gwin or Pant. Froshwell Barus Chelmer Lind●s Roxford Lée Burne Northumberland Durham Yorkeshire Lincolneshire Northfolke Suffolke Essex Kent Sussex The aire of Britaine The soile Criacht Marle Plentie of riuers Hilles * Here lacks * Here lacks Winds Building Husbandrie amended Pasture Medowes Corne. Cattell Meall and Disnege Wine Wad Madder Rape Flax. Eleg. 2. Principes longè magis exemplo quàm culpa peccare solent Earths Uallies Fennes Commons Fosse Watling stréet Erming stréet Ikenild Non vi sed virtute non armis sed ingenio vinct●n●tur A●●gli Salutations according to our ages Locrine Lhoegria Camber Cambria Albanact Albania Locrine king also of Scotland The Scots alwaies desirous to shake off y e English subiection haue often made cruell odious attempts so to doo but in vaine Out of Hector Boecius lib. 5. Berouicum potiùs à Berubio promontorio Durstus Marius Coelus Seuerus Bassianus Coill Constantine Maximian Some thinke the Seimors to come from this man by lineall descent and I suppose no lesse Nicholas Adams Some referre this to an Edward Lawfull age and wardship of heires To whome the marriage of the ward perteineth Edward the Confessour William Bastard William Rufus Henrie 1. Mawd. Henrie 2. Because they were taken from him before The Scots dreame that this was the stone whereon Iacob slept when he fled into Mesopotamia This was doone vpon the nine twentith of Ianuarie 1306. The first beginner of the Picts wall The finisher of the wall The wall goeth not streict by a line but in and out in manie places The stuffe of the wall Two other wals A rampire The course of the wall from west to east Foure woonders of England Anselme Thomas Becket Forfitan naturalem Twentie one bishoprikes vnder y e see of Canturburie Onelie foure sees vnder the archbishop of Yorke Deanes Canonries Ordinarie sermons Ordinarie expositions of the scriptures The bishops preach diligentlie whose predecessors heretofore haue beene occupied in temporall affairs Archdecons High commissioners A prophesie or conference Ministers deacons Apparell Hospitalitie Mariage Thred-bare gownes from whence they come Number of churches in France Pretie packing Old estate of cathedrall churches Canturburie Rochester London Chichester Winchester Salisburie Excester Bath The bishoprike of Shirburne diuided into thrée Worcester Glocester Hereford Lichfield Elie. Norwich Peterborow Bristow Lincolne Landaffe S. Dauids Bangor S. Asaphes Yorke Chester Durham Caerleill Man Glocester a verie ancient bishoprike Manie vniuersities somtime in England Thrée vniuersities in England When the vniuersities were builded vncerteine Oxford fiftie miles from London Cambridge six and fortie miles from London Longitude latitude of both Cambridge burned not long since Readers in priuat houses Publike readers mainteined by the prince Studie of the quadriuials and perspectiues neglected Sophisters Batchelers of art Masters of art Batcheler of diuinitie Doctor This Fox builded Corpus Christ● college in Oxford So much also may be inferred of lawiers London Grammar schooles Windsor Winchester Eaton Westminster He founded also a good part of Eaton college and a frée schole at Wainflet where he was borne Erection of colleges in Oxford the ouerthrow of hals Now abbeies be gone our dingthrifts prie after church and college possessions Alfred brought England into shires which the Britons diuided by cantreds and the first Saxons by families Shire and share all one Englishmen noisome to their owne countrie Earle and alderman What a lath is Léetes Hundred or wapentake Denarie or tithing Tithing man in Latine Decurio Borsholder Burrow Twelue men Fortie shires in England thirtéene in Wales Od parcels of shires Lieutenants Shiriffes Undershiriffes Bailiffes High constables Petie constables Motelagh Shiriffes turne Gaile deliuerie or great assises Inquests Atteinct Iustices of peax quorum Quarter sessions Petie sessions Duke Marquesse Earle Uiscont Baron Bishops 1. Sam. b 15. 1. Reg. a 7. De Asia cap. 12 No Gréeke no grace Bene con bene can bene le Duke marquesse earle viscont Barons Of the second degrée of gentlemen Praedia Valuasores Knights Milites Equite● aurati Knights of the bath Knights of the garter Round table Roger Mortimer The occasion of the deuise Peraduenture but a blue ribben Election Admission Installation Mantell Stall A timber conteineth fortie skins peltes or felles Installation Estatutes Gentleman of bloud Degrées of reproch Apparell Sicke or absent Offering Buriall Disgrading * Some think that this was the answer of the quéene when the king asked what men would thinke of hir in losing the garter after such a maner Bannerets Esquire Gentlemen Lawiers students in vniuersities Physicians Capteins Citizens and burgesses Merchants Yeomen Englishmen on foot and Frenchmen on horssebacke best Capite censi or Proletarij No slaues nor bondmen in England No duke in England Earles Uisconts Barons Cleargie Ro. Bacon Béere Artificer I haue dined so well as my lord maior Bread A famine at hand is first séene in the horsse manger when the poore doo fall to horssecorne Primarius panis Cheat bread Rauelled bread The size of

whereby they may be set on worke a man should not haue heard at one assise of more than two or thrée Nisi priùs but verie seldome of an atteinct wheras now an hundred more of the first and one or two of the later are verie often perceiued and some of them for a cause arising of six pence or tweluepence Which declareth that men are growen to be farre more contentious than they haue béene in time past and readier to reuenge their quarels of small importance whereof the lawiers complaine not But to my purpose from whence I haue now digressed Beside these officers afore mentioned there are sundrie other in euerie countie as crowners whose dutie is to inquire of such as come to their death by violence to attach present the plées of the crowne to make inquirie of treasure found c. There are diuerse also of the best learned of the law beside sundrie gentlemen where the number of lawiers will not suffice and whose reuenues doo amount to aboue twentie pounds by the yeare appointed by especiall commission from the prince to looke vnto the good gouernement of hir subiects in the counties where they dwell And of these the least skilfull in the law are of the peace the other both of the peace and quorum otherwise called of Oier and Determiner so that the first haue authoritie onelie to heare the other to heare and determine such matters as are brought vnto their presence These also doo direct their warrants to the kéepers of the gailes within their limitations for the safe kéeping of such offendors as they shall iudge worthie to commit vnto their custodie there to be kept vnder ward vntill the great assises to the end their causes may be further examined before the residue of the countie these officers were first deuised about the eightéene yeare of Edward the third as I haue béene informed They méeting also togither with the shiriffes doo hold their aforesaid sessions at foure times in the yeare whereof they are called quarter sessions and herein they inquire of sundrie trespasses and the common annoiances of the kings liege people and diuerse other things determining vpon them as iustice dooth require There are also a third kind of sessions holden by the high constables and bailiffes afore mentioned called petie sessions wherein the weights and measures are perused by the clarke of the market for the countie who sitteth with them At these méetings also vittellers and in like sort seruants labourers roges and tunnagates are often reformed for their excesses although the burning of vagabounds through their eare be referred to the quarter sessions or higher courts of assise where they are iudged either to death if they be taken the third time haue not since their second apprehension applied themselues to labour or else to be set perpetuallie to worke in an house erected in euerie shire for that purpose of which punishment they stand in greatest feare I might here deliuer a discourse of sundrie rare customes and courts surnamed barons yet mainteined and holden in England but for somuch as some of the first are beastlie and therefore by the lords of the soiles now liuing conuerted into monie being for the most part deuised in the beginning either by malicious or licentious women in méere contempt and slauish abuse of their tenants vnder pretense of some punishment due for their excesses I passe ouer to bring them vnto light as also the remembrance of sundrie courts baron likewise holden in strange maner yet none more absurd and far from law than are kept yearlie at Kings hill in Rochford and therfore may well be called a lawlesse court as most are that were deuised vpon such occasions This court is kept vpon wednesdaie insuing after Michaelmasse daie after midnight so that it is begun and ended before the rising of the sunne When the tenants also are altogither in an alehouse the steward secretlie stealeth from them with a lanterne vnder his cloke and goeth to the Kings hill where sitting on a mole-hill he calleth them with a verie soft voice writing their appéerance vpon a péece of paper with a cole hauing none other light than that which is inclosed in the lanterne so soone as the tenants also doo misse the steward they runne to the hill with all their might and there answer all at once Here here wherby they escape their amercements which they should not doo if he could haue called ouer his bill of names before they had missed him in the alehouse And this is the verie forme of the court deuised at the first as the voice goeth vpon a rebellion made by the tenants of the honour of Raibie against their lord in perpetuall memorie of their disobedience shewed I could beside this speake also of some other but sith one hath taken vpon him to collect a number of them into a particular treatise I thinke it sufficient for me to haue said so much of both And thus much haue I thought good to set downe generallie of the said counties and their maner of gouernance although not in so perfect order as the cause requireth bicause that of all the rest there is nothing wherewith I am lesse acquainted than with our temporall regiment which to saie truth smallie concerneth my calling What else is to be added after the seuerall shires of England with their ancient limits as they agreed with the diuision of the land in the time of Ptolomie and the Romans and commodities yet extant I reserue vnto that excellent treatise of my fréend W. Cambden who hath trauelled therein verie farre whose worke written in Latine shall in short time I hope he published to the no small benefit of such as will read and peruse the same Of degrees of people in the common-wealth of England Chap. 5. WE in England diuide our people commonlie into foure sorts as gentlemen citizens or burgesses yeomen which are artificers or laborers Of gentlemen the first and chéefe next the king be the prince dukes marquesses earls viscounts and barons and these are called gentlemen of the greater sort or as our common vsage of spéech is lords and noblemen and next vnto them be knights esquiers and last of all they that are simplie called gentlemen so that in effect our gentlemen are diuided into their conditions whereof in this chapiter I will make particular rehearsall The title of prince dooth peculiarlie belong with vs to the kings eldest sonne who is called prince of Wales and is the heire apparant to the crowne as in France the kings eldest sonne hath the title of Dolphine and is named peculiarlie Monsieur So that the prince is so termed of the Latine word Princeps sith he is as I may call him the cheefe or principall next the king The kings yoonger sonnes be but gentlemen by birth till they haue receiued creation or donation from their father of higher estate as to be either visconts earles or dukes

and called after their names as lord Henrie or lord Edward with the addition of the word Grace properlie assigned to the king and prince and now also by custome conueied to dukes archbishops and as some saie to marquesses and their wiues The title of duke commeth also of the Latine word Dux à ducendo bicause of his valor and power ouer the armie in times past a name of office due to the emperour consull or chéefe gouernour of the whole armie in the Romane warres but now a name of honor although perished in England whose ground will not long beare one duke at once but if there were manie as in time past or as there be now earles I doo not thinke but that they would florish and prosper well inough In old time he onelie was called marquesse Qui habuit terram limitaneam a marching prouince vpon the enimies countries and thereby bound to kéepe and defend the frontiers But that also is changed in common vse and reputed for a name of great honor next vnto the duke euen ouer counties and sometimes small cities as the prince is pleased to bestow it The name of earle likewise was among the Romans a name of office who had Comites sacri palatij comites aerarij comites stabuli comites patrimonij largitionum scholarum commerciorum and such like But at the first they were called Comites which were ioined in commission with the proconsull legate or iudges for counsell and aids sake in each of those seuerall charges As Cicero epistola ad Quintum fratrem remembreth where he saith Atque inter hos quos tibi comites adiutores negotiorum publicorum dedit ipsa respublica duntaxat finibus his praestabis quos ante praescripsi c. After this I read also that euerie president in his charge was called Comes but our English Saxons vsed the word Hertoch and earle for Comes and indifferentlie as I gesse sith the name of duke was not in vse before the conquest Goropius saith that Comes and Graue is all one to wit the viscont called either Procomes or Vicecomes and in time past gouerned in the countie vnder the earle but now without anie such seruice or office it is also become a name of dignitie next after the earle and in degrée before the baron His reléefe also by the great charter is one hundred pounds as that of a baronie a hundred marks and of a knight flue at the most for euerie fée The baron whose degrée answered to the dignitie of a senator in Rome is such a frée lord as hath a lordship or baronie whereof he beareth his name hath diuerse knights or fréeholders holding of him who with him did serue the king in his wars and held their tenures in Baronia that is for performance of such seruice These Bracton a learned writer of the lawes of England in king Henrie the thirds time tearmeth Barones quasi robur belli The word Baro indéed is older than that it may easilie be found from whence it came for euen in the oldest histories both of the Germans and Frenchmen written since the conquest we read of barons and those are at this daie called among the Germans Liberi vel Ingenui or Freihers in the Germane toong as some men doo coniecture or as one saith the citizens and burgesses of good townes and cities were called Barones Neuerthelesse by diligent inquisition it is imagined if not absolutelie found that the word Baro and Filius in the old Scithian or Germane language are all one so that the kings children are properlie called Barones from whome also it was first translated to their kindred and then to the nobilitie and officers of greatest honour indifferentlie That Baro and Filius signifieth one thing it yet remaineth to be séene although with some corruption for to this daie euen the common sort doo call their male children barnes here in England especiallie in the north countrie where that word is yet accustomablie in vse And it is also growne into a prouerbe in the south when anie man susteineth a great hinderance to saie I am beggered and all my barnes In the Hebrue toong as some affirme it signifieth Filij solis and what are the nobilitie in euerie kingdome but Filij or serui regum But this is farre fetched wherefore I conclude that from hensefoorth the originall of the word Baro shall not be anie more to seeke and the first time that euer I red thereof in anie English historie is in the reigne of Canutus who called his nobilitie and head officers to a councell holden at Cirnecester by that name 1030 as I haue else-where remembred Howbeit the word Baro dooth not alwaies signifie or is attributed to a noble man by birth or creation for now and then it is a title giuen vnto one or other with his office as the chéefe or high tribune of the excheker is of custome called lord chéefe baron who is as it were the great or principall receiuer of accounts next vnto the lord treasuror as they are vnder him are called Tribuni aerarij rationales Hervnto I may ad so much of the word lord which is an addition going not seldome and in like sort with sundrie offices and to continue so long as he or they doo execute the same and no longer Unto this place I also referre our bishops who are accounted honourable called lords and hold the same roome in the parlement house with the barons albeit for honour sake the right hand of the prince is giuen vnto them and whose countenances in time past were much more glorious than at this present it is bicause those lustie prelats sought after earthlie estimation and authoritie with farre more diligence than after the lost shéepe of Christ of which they had small regard as men being otherwise occupied and void of leisure to attend vpon the same Howbeit in these daies their estate remaineth no lesse reuerend than before and the more vertuous they are that be of this calling the better are they estéemed with high and low They reteine also the ancient name lord still although it be not a littie impugned by such as loue either to heare of change of all things or can abide no superiours For notwithstanding it be true that in respect of function the office of the eldership is equallie distributed betwéene the bishop and the minister yet for ciuill gouernements sake the first haue more authoritie giuen vnto them by kings and princes to the end that the rest maie thereby be with more ease reteined within a limited compasse of vniformitie than otherwise they would be if ech one were suffered to walke in his owne course This also is more to be maruelled at that verie manie call for an alteration of their estate crieng to haue the word lord abolished their ciuill authoritie taken from them and the present condition of the church in other things reformed whereas to saie trulie