number is indefinite Fee evry one 50 l. Three Gentlemen-Ushers of the Privie Chamber 30 l. Ten Grooms of the Privie Chamber Fee apiece 20 l. Four Carvers Fee evry one 50 Marks Three Cup-bearers Fee evry one 50 Marks Four Sewers Fee evry one 50 Marks Four Escuyers of the Body Fee evry one 50 Marks Four Yeomen-Ushers Fee evry one 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Twelve Ordinary Grooms Fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Four Pages Fee evry one 2 l. Clerk of the Closet Fee evry one 4 l. Four Messengers Fee evry one 5 l. The Band of fifty Gentlemen-Pensioners Fee for evry one 50 l. Standard-bearer to the Pensioners Fee 100 Marks The Guard Captain of the Guard fee besides a Livery-Gown 14 l. Two hundred ordinary Yeomen of the Guard Fee 16l 13s 4d Fifty extraordinary 8 d. per diem 1 l. 13 s. 4 d. Standard-bearer to the Guard Fee 100 Marks Clerk of the Check fee 100 Marks The Great Wardrobe The Master his fee 100 l. Livery 15 l. Two Clerks fee each 4 l. 6. 8 d. Rent-gatherer fee 5 l. 0 s. 8 d. Four Taylors fee evry one 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Skinner fee 18 l. 5 s. 0 d. Three Embroderers fee evry one 18 l. 5 s. 0 d. The Butlary of England Chief Butler Fee 50 Marks The Counting House Four Clerks fee evry one 44 l. 6 s. 8 d. Clerk to the Cofferer fee 20 l. Yeoman fee 5 l. Groom fee 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Iewel-House Master his fee 50 l. Yeoman his fee 6 l. Groom his fee 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Green-cloth I should have spoken before herof in point of precedence It being a Court of Justice continually sitting in the Kings Palace The chiefest wherof are the Lord Steward the Tresurer the Controwler and Cofferer the Master of the Houshold two Clerks of the Green-cloth and two Clerks Controwlers Of these the first three are usually of the Privy-Council For unto This being as some hold the first and ancient Court of Justice in England is committed the Charge and surintendency of the Kings Court Royal for matter of government It is called the Green-cloth from the colour of the Carpet at which they sit wheron the Kings Arms are embrodered and on each side the Arms of the Counting House bearing verd a Key and a Rod or white Staff argent saultie signifying their power to reward or correct as persons for their great prudence and experience thought fit to exercise both those functions The Robes Yeoman fee 50 l. Groom fee 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Page fee 2 l. Harbingers Knight-Harbinger fee 50 l. Four Harbingers fee evry one 10 l. Thirty Yeomen of the Crown fee evry one 6 l. 1 s. 8 d. The Beds Five Marshals fee evry one 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Four Sewers fee evry one 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Two Survayors fee evry one 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Two Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Clerk fee 14 l. Two Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee evry one 2 l. The Pantry Sergeants fee 11 l. 8 s. 1. ob Four Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Four Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee evry one 2 l. Bread-bearer fee 1 l. 10 s. 4 d. The Boteller Yeoman fee 5 l. Groom fee 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Hall Servitors sixteen to four fee 3 l. 8 s. 4 d. To the rest 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Buttry Four Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Four Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. The Cellar Sergeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Seven Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Groom fee 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. The Ewry Sergeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Three Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. Three Clerks fee evry one 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob The Bake-house Sergeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Seven Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Two Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Four Conducts fee evry one per diem 4 d. The Kitchin Two Master-Cooks fee evry one 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Six Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Six Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Eight Children fee evry one 2 l. Galapines apparel for them of the Hall Kitchin and Privie Kitchin 50 l. Surveyor of the Dresser fee 22 l. 1 s. 3 d. To the Cooks at Easter in Larges 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. To the Scullery Larges 1 l. To the Pastry Larges 2 l. The Spicery Clerk fee 32 l. Yeoman fee 5 l. The Pitcher-House Two Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Two Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee evry one 2 l. The Chaundlery Sargeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Two Yeomen fee each 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee evry one 2 l. The Larder Sergeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Yeoman fee 5 l. Two Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee evry one 2 l. The Boyling House Two Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Three Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee 2 l. Clerk fee 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Neatery Yeoman-Pourvoyer of Salt Fish fee 40 l. Yeoman-Pourvoyer of Fresh Fish fee 7 l. 13 s. 4 d. Seven Yeomen-Pourvoyers of Oxen Mutton Veal Lamb c. fee evry one 7 l. 13 s. 4 d. Four Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Yeomen of the Store-house fee 5 l. The Poultry Sargeant fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Clerk fee 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Four Yeomen-Pourvoyers fee evry one 7 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Scalding House Yeoman fee 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. The Pastry Two Sergeants fee each 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Clerk fee 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Yeomen fee each 5 l. Four Grooms fee evry one 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Four Children or Pages fee evry one 2 d. The Scullery Three Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. Amners Gentleman-Amner fee 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Sub-Amner fee 6 l. 16 s. 10 d. ob Four Yeomen fee evry one 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Chappel Gentlemen of the Chappel fee apiece 11 l. 8 s. 1 d. ob Master of the Children his fee 40 l. To the Children at high-Feast-Largesses 9 l. 13 s. 4 d. Allowance for their Breakfasts 16 l. The Laundry Two Yeomen fee each 5 l. Two Grooms fee each 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. Two Pages fee each 2 l. One Woman-Laundress fee 10 l. The Wafry Clerk fee 6 l. 13
of the Ordnance fee 151 l. 11 s. 8 d. Two Clerks one per diem 10 d. Two Clerks the other 8 d. Surveyor fee 36 l. 10 s. One Clerk per diem 8 d. Riding-costs per diem 6 s. Lieutenant of the Ordnance fee 100 Marks One Clerk per diem 8 d. Boat-hire upon all occasions 8 l. Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Keeper of the great Store fee 40 l. Clerk per diem 8 d. Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Keeper of the small Store fee 40 Marks Riding-costs 0 s. 0 d. Clerk of the Deliveries fee 20 l. Master-Gunner of England fee per diem 2 s. 6 d. 〈◊〉 maker fee per diem 12 d. 18 l. 5 s. Saltpeâ—…er-maker fee 18 l. 5 s. Two Gun-founders 33 l. 9 s. 2 d. Gun-smith fee 6 d. per diem 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Engin-Artificer fee per diem 4 d. 6 l. 1 s. 8 d. Master-Carpenter fee per diem 8 d. 12 l. 3 s. 4 d. Ordinary Gunners or Cannoneers one hundred and nine fee 1161 l. 18 s. 4 d. Yeoman of the Ordnance fee per diem 9 d. 13 l. 14 s. 1 d. The Tower of London Constables fee 100 l Lieutenants fee 200 l. Porters fee 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Yeomen-Waiters or Warders fee 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. Allowance for Fuel 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Lions c. fee 36 l. 14 s. 6 d. Carpenter fee 12 l. 3 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Wardrobe fee 12 l. 13 s. 4 d The Armary Master of the Armary fee 31 l. 18 s. 9 d. Armarers under the Master twenty one at 36 l. Five evry one at 20 l. Three evry one at 15 l. The rest evry one at 9 l. 2 s. 6 d. The Mint Master or Tresurer of the Mint fee 100 l. Controuler of the Mint fee 100 Marks Assay-master fee 100 Marks Clerk of the Mint fee 10 l. Auditor of the Mint fee 44 l. 6 s. 8 d. Allowance for Paper 〈◊〉 and other necessaries 10 l. Teller of the Money fee 33 l. 6 s. 8 d. Survayor of the Melting-house fee 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Irons fee 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Chief Graver fee 30 l. Chief Finer fee 10 l. Sinker of Irons fee 10 l. Three Melters fee evry one 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Two Branchers fee evry one 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Pourvoyer fee 10 l. Pot-maker fee 10 l. Porter fee 10 l. Diet to all these Officers by the week 1 l. 10 s. The high Court of Chancery Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England fee per diem 23 s. 419 l. For his attendance in the Star-chamber 200 l. More by name of Annuity 300 l. Robes out of the Wardrobe 40 l. Wine out of the Butlery twelve Tuns 72 l. Wax out of the Wardrobe 17 l. Sum. allocat per an 1048 l. Master of the Rolls fee 34 l. 15 s. 8 d. Livery out of the Hamper 28 l. 8 s. 4 d. Masters of the Chancery fee apiece 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Crown fee 20 l. Livery for Summer and Winter 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Protonotary fee 33 l. 13 s. 4 d. Clerk of the Hamper fee 43 l. 13 s. 4 d. Annuity 40 l. Livery for himself and his Clerk 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Controuler of the Hamper fee 10 l. Enrollers of Evidences fee 20 l. Seal fee 6 l. 16 s. 10 l. Livery â—…0 s. Sargeant at Arms fee 18 l. 5 s. Cryer Fee and Livery 7 l. 16 s. 10 d. Chafer of Wax 7 l. 6 s. 7 d. Necessary charges of Wax Parchment Paper Riding Coats and other yearly Expences 220 l. The Privie Seal Lord Keeper of the Privie Seal fee per diem 1 l. Allowd for his Table at Court 345 l. Clerks of the Privie Seal fee apiece 50 l. Four Masters of the Requests fee apiece 100 l. The Kings Bench. Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench who holds his place onely by a short Writ not by Patent as others do for his Fee Reward and Robes 208 l. 6 s. 8 d. Wine two Tuns 10 l. Allowance for Justice of Assize 20 l. To three Justices assistants Fee Reward and Robes apiece 128 l. 6 s. 8 d. Allowance to evry one as Justice of Assize 20 l. Clerk of the Crown fee 10 l. Livery out of the Wardrobe 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. Protonotary fee 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. Keeper of the Writs and Rolls fee 8 l. Cryer fee 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. The Common Pleas. Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Fee Reward and Robes 141 l. 13 s. 4 d. Wine out of the Butlery two Tuns 8l Allowance for keeping the Assize of the augmentation-Augmentation-Court 12l 10s Allowance for Justice of Assize 20l. Three coadjutant Justices Fee Reward and Robes to evry one 128l 6s 8d Allowance for being Justices of Assize 20l. Attorney-General fee 61l Allowance for being Justice of Assize 20l. Sollicitor-General fee 50l Keeper of the Writs and Rolls fee 4l Four Sargeants at Law to each Fee Rewards and Robes 26l 6s 8d Allowance as Justice of Assize 20l. Allowance for keeping the Assizes of the Court of Augmentations 12l 6s 8d Cryer fee 5l Chief Officers of the Kings Revenues and of the Exchequer The Lord High Tresurer of England fee 368l Robes out of the Wardrobe 15l 7s 8d Wine so many Tuns Impost free 0l 0s 0d Allowance for Diet 0l 0s 0d Chancellor of the Exchequer fee 113l 6s 8d Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Tuns of Wine Impost free 0l 0s 0d Officers of the exchequer-Exchequer-Court Lord Chief Baron fee 100l Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Allowance for being Justice of Assize 20l. Tuns of Wine Impost free 0l 0s 0d The Barons of the Exchequer to each fee 46l 13s 4d Livery out of the Wardrobe 12l 17s 4d Allowance for being Justices of Assize 20l. Other Officers of the Exchequer The Kings Remembrancer fee 55l 17s 4d Livery out of the Wardrobe 4l 12s 4d The Lord Tresurers Remembrancer fee 46l 2s 1d Livery out of the Wardrobe 2l 13s 4d Clerk of the Pipe fee 65l 4s 2d Livery c. 2l 13s 4d Under-Tresurer of the Exchequer fee 73l 6s 8d Livery c. 4l 6s 8d Seven Auditors fee evry one 10l Forren Opposers fee 16l 13s 4d Clerk of the Extreats fee 15l Clerk of the Pleas fee 5l Clerk of the Summons fee 4l Two Marshals fee apiece 4l Two Deputy-Chamberlains fees apiece 2l 10s Two Secondaries in the Kings Remembrancers Office fee evry one 8l Two Secondaries in the Pipe-Office fee 5l Four Secondaries in the Tresurers Remembrancers Office fee evry one 4l Clerks of the Tallies fee evry one 17l 10s Clerk of the Pell fee 17l 10s Four Tellers fee evry one 13l 13s 4d Clerk in the Pipe-Office for offring Amercements fee 9l 13s 4d Clerk in the Office of the Kings Remembrancer fee for writing the Fines Issues and Amercements due to the King evry year 15l 6s 8d Clerk in
plentiful Court upon earth Now the riches and fatness of a Country shold be principally seen in the Kings house and indeed the greatest glory of England appeers there as all observing Forreners confess and nothing conducd more to the continuance increase and support of his power and honour and which drew more awe and reverence from all peeple all which are so requisit and essential to the prosperity of King and Peeple as they cannot be wanting but are and shold be perpetual attendants of the Soverain Prince Now this cannot be without the concurrence and service of the Peeple Now from all times the English were observd to be industrious and make it their chief care to provide the best things for the Kings Court according to that ancient and no less eloquent speech of a great Lawyer Domus Regis vigilia defendit omnium Otium Illius labor omnium Deliciae Illius industria omnium Vacatio Illius occupatio omnium Salus Illius periculum omnium Honor Illius periculum omnium The Kings House shold be the watchfulness of All His recreations shold be the labor of All His plesures shold be the inventions of All His safety shold be the danger of All His honor the object of All. Now the greatest cause of the honour and plenty of the Royal Court in England were the Preemption Pourvoyances and Compositions he had from evry County which were so moderat That they who have cryed them down thinking it to be a great advantage and ease unto them will find in time that they were no wiser then the Ass in the Fable as a very judicious Gentleman observes who thought to make his burden of Sponges the lighter by lying down with them in the water For those Compositions considering the smalness of them and how many went to bear the burden were scarce any weight at all as will appeer by those Shires I shall produce for instances All the thirteen Shires of Wales were chargd but at one hundred and fourscore Sturks which stood that whole Dominion but in three hundred and threescore pounds wherof Anglesey which hath 83 Parishes payd but 5l which amounts not to 15 pence evry Parish The County of Derby which hath one hundred and six Parishes payd but 254l per an Worcestershire which hath one hundred and two Parishes was assessd at 495l which is about three pounds seven shillings upon evry Parish Yorkshire which hath 459 Parishes besides many large Chapelries was charged but with 495l which was not two and twenty shillings upon evry Parish one with another Bedfordshire which hath one hundred and sixteen Parishes payed four hundred ninety seven pounds eight shillings four pence Cheshire having sixty eight Parishes was to furnish but 25 lean Oxen at the Kings price viz. four marks a piece c. with other things which came not to one pound nine shillings upon evry Parish Cornwal having an hundred and sixty Parishes did not bear so great a contribution as eight shillings upon evry Parish The County of Devon which hath three hundred ninety four Parishes paid no greater sum for evry yearly composition then ten shillings upon every Parish Herefordshire having one hundred seventy six Parishes made evry one to contribut no more then about twelve shillings six pence upon every Parish The huge County of Norfolk which hath 660 Parishes payd but one thousand ninety three pounds two shillings and eight pence which in proportion comes not to one pound eleven shillings upon evry Parish Somersetshire which hath 385 Parishes payd seven hundred fifty five pounds fourteen shillings eight pence which amounts to about 40 s. a Parish The County of Northampton which contains 326 Parishes payd towards Pourvoyance and Composition nine hundred ninety three pounds eighteen shillings four pence which was for evry Parish little more then three pounds Lincolnshire which hath 630 Parishes payd one thousand one hundred seventy five pounds thirteen shillings and eight pence which amounted to less then forty shillings a Parish Glocestershire which hath 280 Parishes payd four hundred twenty two pounds seven shillings and eight pence which was not one pound eleven shillings per Parish Ther be other Counties by reason of their vicinity to the Court and being very great gainers for the vent of their commodities by the Kings constant Residence with his Tribunals of Justice in his Imperial Chamber of London were chargd deeper as The County of Kent which hath 398 Parishes And is the common road of Ambassadors passing to and fro as also where his Arsenals Docks and Navie Royal lies with four of his Cinq Ports c. payd three thousand three hundred thirty four pounds and six shillings The County of Sussex which hath 112 Parishes payd one thousand and sixteen pounds two shillings and six pence The County of Surrey having 140 Parishes payd one thousand seventy nine pounds and three pence Hertfordshire which hath one hundred and twenty Parishes payd one thousand two hundred fifty nine pounds nineteen shillings four pence The County of Essex having 415 Parishes for her neighbourhood to London and the Court payd two thousand nine hundred thirty one pounds two shillings and two pence The County of Buckingham which hath 185 Parishes payd two thousand and forty pounds sixteen shillings and six pence Berkshire having 140 Parishes payd one thousand two hundred and fifty five pounds seventeen shillings and eight pence The County of Middlesex which hath 73 Parishes besides what are in the Suburbs of London and Westminster paid nine hundred seventeen pounds nineteen shillings per an which was no great matter in point of proportion to the rest of the Counties In regard of the great advantages this Shire hath by the propinquity and residence of the Kings Court And so by letting and setting of Lands Pasturages Houses Lodgings at highet rates with the improving the prices of all other commodities The City of London which hath such mighty benefits by the constant sojourn of the King and of his principal Courts of Justice at Westminster-Hall by the Records in the Tower by the Inns of Court and Chancery with variety of other advantages as the Kings Custom-House wherby she is swoln up to be so vast in Building and to such infinit Richâ—…s that she swallows up the Trade of all the three Kingdoms yet for all these advantages she with the out-parts did contribut in Grocery ware for the service of the Kings House but about 2000 l. per annum Nor did the Kings Brewers in London and four miles compass about pay but one half peny in every Bushel of Mault which is now remitted And what an inconsiderable small ease it is to so many Brewers let any man judge Out of the Premises touching Compositions for Pourvoyances this inference may be drawn what a care and love our provident and prudent Progenitors bore to the honor of their King his Court and Houshould And under favor I may say that these Royal Pourvoyances and his tenures in Capite were
The Law presupposeth that he sits not only at the Kings Bench but in other Courts of Judicature for the Writs go Teste meipso And because the Law sayth that the King must govern in Mercie and Justice the sole power of Pardoning is in Him Moreover the power of Coinage is only in the King with the enhancing or decrying the price of money He is the sole Gran Master of the Mint wheras in France others partake with the King in this high Prerogative Nor doth any Kings Face shine in purer Metal for it shines onely in pure Gold and Silver and that of the finest Standard Mixture and Allay of any in Europe wheras I have seen and felt the face of the French King in Copper and Brass with other mixt mongrel stuff As also of the King of Spain's though he terms himself the Monark of Gold and Silver Mines yet the common currant Coyn twixt Merchant and Mechanick is Copper wherin the Hollander by his cunning hath done him a world of mischief from time to time by counterfaiting that Copper Coyn and â—…oysting it in by divers artifices as in a ship laden with Lead and Tin ther wold be somtimes divers Sows of Lead hollowed and crammd with quartils as also in hollowed Masts with other inventions Insomuch that one time when all the Vellon or Copper Coin was calld in and a scrutiny made how much had bin coynd ther were many millions more found to be brought in and counterfaited then had bin stampd in the Kings Mint By the Common Law of the Land the King of Great Britain hath three Royal Ensignes which cannot belong to any other He hath the Crown the Scepter and the Polemical Sword as I have mentiond in another Treatise and is proper to touch here By the first He reigns by the second he makes Laws by the third viz. the Sword He protects them Concerning the Crown or Royal Diadem the Laws of England assert that it descends upon his head by a right Hereditary line though through dâ—…vers ancient Royal Races wherof some were Conquerors The Crown is His as much as any mans Cap 's his own And ther is no Crown stuck with fairer Flowers I mean Royal Prerogatives wherof divers were spoken of before Concerning the Scepter it may be calld an Individual Copartner or a Royal Appendix to the Crown It doth capacitate the King to Enact Laws for before his Assent all the Results and Determinations of Parlement are but Bills they may be said to be but abortive things and meer Embryos nay they have no life at all in them till the King by his breath infuseth vigour and animation into them and the ancient Custom was for the King to touch them with the Scepter then they are Laws and have a virtue in them to impose an universal obligation upon all sorts of peeple Now it is an undeniable Principle of the Law of England That nothing can be generally binding without the Kings Royal Assent nor doth the Law take notice of any thing without it This makes Them to be calld afterwards the Kings Laws and the Judges are said to deliver the Kings Iudgments nay he himself is always Lord Chief Justice of England which Title is not assumable by any Subject Now before an English Law is made ther is mature and mighty long deliberation goes before for first the business is agitated and canvasd many days in the House of Commons which represents all the peeple of England till it comes to the ripeness of a Bill The Bill being drawn is read thrice in the House and having passd the brunt of all Exception t is engrossd and transmitted to the Lords and there also t is read thrice and debated with much deliberation Then by concurrence of both Houses t is presented to the King who consults with his Learned Counsel whether ther be any thing therin derogatory to his Prerogatives if not He gives his Royal Assent and then t is created a Law and generally binding Touching the power of the Sword it is more proper to treat of it in the next Paragraph Moreover the Lex Terrae the Common Law of England makes the King the Fountain of Honour nay without any disparagement or offence be it spoken He can confer Honor upon other Kings and Souverain Princes as he is Souverain of the Order of Saint George wherof ther have bin eight Emperors five Kings of the French four of Spain seven of Portugal two of the Scots four of Denmark three of Naples one of Poland and another of Sweden two Dukes of Urbine one of Millain one of Ferrara one of Savoy one of Calabria one of Holland one of Gueldres four Princes of Orenge seven Counts Palatin of the Rhin two Dukes of Brunswick two of Holstain one of Brandenburgh and one Duke of Wittenberg with divers other Forren Princes Now among all Orders purely Military ther is not any now remaining in the Christian world either more ancient or honorable then the Noble Order of Saint George wherof the Garter is a Symbole therfore are they calld Equites periscelidis Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter which Order was first instituted by that Victorious King Edward the third who was offerd to be Emperour Anno 1350. which was threescore yeers wanting one before the Institution of the French Order of S. Michael by Lewis the eleventh and 229 yeers before the Order of St. Esprit by Henry the third and full fourscore yeers before the erection of the Order of the Golden Fleece by Philip Duke of Burgundy It is also 209 more ancient then the Order of the Knights of the Elephant which was devisd by the Kings of Denmark and much more then that of Amaranta excogitated by Sweden c. Now observable it is that among all these Orders l'ordre del toison d'or the Order of the Golden Fleece related to the English Wools which were transported to Flanders by our Merchants wherby all the Provinces adjoyning did so infinitly enrich themselfs And this Order of the Golden Fleece as it is one of the highest Esteem so it hath most affinity with our Order of St. George in point of Regulation as also that ther are so few of it For our Order is accounted far the Nobler because it hath constantly kept it self to the same number of Knights viz. 26. since the primitive Institution wheras the French Orders have multiplied so fast in number of Knights that one said the Order of the French Knighthoods are now become Collers for every Ass to wear about his neck And as this high Order of St. George hath the precedence of all other now worn by any King in point of Antiquity so the ground and designe of it was very Noble For when the first Idea of erecting a new Order of Knighthood entred into the head of the foresaid Heroick King Edward the third his thoughts reflected upon King Arthur who indeed was the first founder of Knighthood not only
Husband Maids and Unmarried Women took up some their Brothers some their Kinred and so all marchd out so Caesar pardond all I will conclude with a late example of Madame Sardaus who went so often privatly twixt Bruxels and the Hague until the peace was concluded twixt Spain and Holland after fourscore yeers Wars by Sea and Land Therfore she was calld La Maquarelle de la Paix which was no disgrace to her The seventh Paragraph Touching the Office Function and Duty of an Ambassador in the execution of his Place and acquitting himself of the great Fiduciary Trust reposd in Him c. THe Civilians who are best versd in the Laws of Embassies say Legatio est mysteriosum quid that it is a mysterious thing It is full of secrecie and darkness as it is of Faith and Trust. The Lord high Chancellor of England who is Keeper of the Kings Conscience as well as of the Great Seal hath a great trust reposd in him for to mitigat the rigor of the Laws by way of Equity The Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench he of the Common Pleas and the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer have great trusts reposd in them but all these deal twixt Subject and Subject and sometimes twixt King and Subject But Ambassadors have a higher trust for they deal twixt Kings and Kings twixt Countries and Countries therfore as the burden is heavier so the honor is the greater ther is no secrecie belongs to the other Offices but reservedness and secrecie is the soul of Embassy which made one say If his Cap knew his privat Instructions he wold hurle it into the fire and burn it And as ther is honor in this high employment so ther is much honor attends it which made one say That that Ambassador who loseth one hair of his Masters honor forfeits his head at his return One of the principal Duties of an Ambassador is to stick close to his Instructions and the Mandats of his Master and therin an Ambassador Lidger doth not run so much hazard as an Extraordinary who hath many things commonly left to discretion by way of implicit trust Besoldus defines the Office of an Ambassador thus Ut Mandatum fideliter cum dexteritate exequatur acceptum responsum diligentissime notatum referat Mittenti That with faithfulness and dexterity he execut the Command and report to him who sent him the Answer most diligently noted Ther is a shorter definition Officium Legati est ut Mandata Legationis diligenter conficiat ex Fâ—…de That he perform carefully the Command of the Embassy and with Faith He derives all his Power from his Instructions for without them ther is no Mission or Embassy Ther is an Example of the Athenians that having employd Ambassadors with divers Iustructions wherof one was that they shold take such a way as they went they going another way though they had performd all the rest of the Instructions yet they were put to death at their return for infringing this one Ther are divers instances how Ambassadors exceeding their Commissions and falling into follies have bin punishd upon the place Hector Boetius relates that Olaus and Evetus killd the Scots Ambassadors Teaca Queen of Sclavonia killd a Roman Ambassador as Polybius mentions The Athenians causd Darius Ambassadors to be thrown into a Well Dandolo the Venetian Ambassador had his eyes pluckd out by the King of Sicily But let us descend to latter Ages Francis the first of France sent Fregosa and Rinion Ambassadors to the Turk Charles 5. soldiers discoverd surprizd and flew them in Italy The fact was justified by the Emperour because they were both his subjects the one being a Milanois the other of Genoa and servd his Enemy for ther were Wars then twixt Charles and Francis Edward the second of England employd a French Gentleman Ambassador to France who had bin executed for a Traytor for serving the Enemy had not the Queen interceded Anno 1302. the Pope sent an Ambassador to France where he practisd some Treson and being arraigned convicted and condemned to die the Popes Frends procurd that he shold be banishd only The Venetian drew out of the French Ambassadors House some who bad discoverd their secrets to the Turk where resistance being made Cannons were sent for from the Arsenal and so they were taken out by force and the French King not offended The Ambassadors in these latter examples by their own indiscretion and misdemenures drew these violences upon themselfs We will concude this point with a latter example in England 1624. at which time ther were two Spanish Ambassadors residing in London who were the Marquiss of Inojosa and Don Carlos Coloma and the Prince of Wales being newly returnd from Madrid Re infectâ without the Infanta matters began to gather ill bloud twixt England and Spain in regard that the Treties both of Match and Palatinat were dissolvd by Act of Parlement which was done by means of the Duke of Buckingham The said Ambassadors finding that they contrivd a way how to supplant and destroy the Duke Herupon falling into consideration that King Iames was grown old and that the least thing might make impressions of distrust and jealousies in him therfore in a privat audience they did intimat unto him that ther was a very dangerous designe against his Royal Authority traced by the Duke of Buckingham and his Complices which was that at the beginning of that Parlement the said Duke with certain Lords and others consulted of the argument means which were to be taken for the breaking and dissolving of the Treties both of the Spanish Match and for the restitution of the Palatinat and if his Majesty wold not conform therunto their consultations passd so far that he shold have a house of plesure where he might retire himself to his sports in regard that the Prince had now yeers sufficient and parts answerable for the Government of the Kingdome The King for the present dismissd them with thanks But the next day he made earnest instances that as they had discoverd a Conspiracie they wold also detect the Conspirators this being the only means wherby their own honor might be preservd in proving the truth of things To this they replyed That they had reveald enough already in order to the care and zeal they had to his Royal Person and Dignity Therupon the King commanded that the Duke of Buckingham shold be put to his Oath with others who were most suspectful which they all took for cleering their integrity This being done the King returnd to make new instances to the said Ambassadors that they wold not prefer the discovery of the names of the Conspirators to the security of his Person as also to the truth and honor of themselfs and to the hazard of an opinion to be held the Authors and Betrayers of a Plot of so much malice sedition and danger but they wold discover no more Yet a few days
great many by the Kings favor are daily ennobled Such a gallant Goverment France hath for the common Incolumity and publik defence of the Country and for the employment of the Gentry who are more numerous there then in any Kingdome els wherby the tru Rules of Policy are observd that shold be in a Monarchy which are For the King to command The Nobles to execut and The Peeple to obey and indeed the Peeple shold know nothing els but how to obey Now one of the prime Principles in France is to keep the common Peeple under a perfect subjection so that they may not be able to do any hurt And if they are kept poor hereby let them thank themselfs for if they were pamperd with wealth They wold be ever and anon kicking at Goverment for we know ther is not a more instable hair-braind Monster in the world then the Common Peeple as England of late yeers hath had such woful experience Touching the Civil Goverment of France and administration of Justice it is of that high esteem that divers Forren Princes have referrd their Causes to be determind to the Court of Parlement in Paris as a Consistory of high Reason and Integrity It stands upon record how the Emperour Frederik the second referrd the controversies betwixt him and Pope Innocent the fourth touching the Kingdome of Naples to the decision of this Court En dernier ressort to pass a Definitif unappealable Judgement The Count Namurs in a Difference twixt him and Charles de Valois did cast himself upon the verdict of this Court Philip Prince of Tarentum overcame the Duke of Burgundy in this Court touching the Expences he was at in recovering the Greek Empire The Dukes of Lorain have in divers things stood to the Arbitrament and Justice of this Court They of Cambray when they were a Free Peeple have been willing to be tryed by this Court The Confederacy also of the Kingdome of Castile and Portugal was confirmd by this Court. Now the reason why this Court gains such a high Repute is That none are admitted to sit in that Tribunal but persons of known Integrity Erudition and Gallantry which made Henry the second as Lansius hath it when by the importunity of a great Princess he had recommended one to sit there and being a person but of shallow parts and so rejected the King said merrily Ie pensois que parmy tant de Ginets un Asâ—…e pourroit bien passer I thought that among so many Ginets one Ass might have passd well enough Besides this of Paris ther are divers other Courts of Parlement and Praesidial Seats dispersd up and down the Country in such a convenient distance that the Client may not be put to make long Journies for Justice and that the Poor be not oppressd by the Rich for want of means to make such long Journies wherby they suffer the suit to fall as many use to do in England in the remotest places from London for want of such Courts I will conclude also this third Argument with some choice Verses of Ludovicus Bologninus a celebrated Civilian Francorum Reges sacro sub nomine nati Consilio semper valuerunt semper Armis Sanctaque fautores Bonitatis Iura tenentes Appellat Romana suos Ecclesia gnatos Et Primogenitos tali sunt nomine digni His Deus Imperium dedit sua Iura tuetur Unguntur sancti fiunt quicunque creantur The fourth Argument A Religione Nobilitate Ecclesiae from Religion and Nobleness of the Church SOme Authors affirm that when our Saviour sufferd upon the Cross He lookd towards France whence they infer that it was a blessed Omen that Christian Religion shold florish most in that Kingdome Moreover it is a rare and indeed an unparallelld thing that ther was in France before the passion of our Saviour a Church viz. Ecclesia Carnotensis as it remains upon good record which was dedicated Virgini Pariturae to the Virgin that shold bear as we read ther was in Greece an Altar erected 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God This made the Emperour Iulius Caesar who had felt the pulse of that peeple more then any other to give this Encomium of them in his Commentaries Natura est omnium Gallorum admodum dedita Religioni T is the nature of all the Gauls to be much addicted to Religion As in the dark times of Paganism they were observd to be so devout so since the glorious Light of Christianity did shine upon the Flower de Luces the French Nation hath bin found to be transported with an extraordinary zeal to Religion And this Heavenly Light began to shine and shoot its Rays betimes for we read that Iraeneus one of the first Primitive Fathers was Bishop of Lions and he was Disciple to Polycarpus and Polycarpus was Disciple to St. Iohn the Evangelist by whom he was sent from Asia among the Gaules for the plantation and propagation of Christian Faith as St. Hierome relates St. Hilarius who was another Father of the Primitive Church was also Bishop of the Picts in France where he composd his excellent Works which are partly Expository partly Controversial though ther occur often some African barbarous Latin words in them as disfrocite for degenerate Zabulus for diabolus c. What a multitude of Hevenly Martyrs hath France had for in all the ten Persecutions ther were some of them signd still their Faith with their bloud In the Emperour Valerians time ther were famons French Martyrs as Florentius Bishop of Vienna Pontius Cassius Victorinus Liminius Anatolianus with others whom Gregory Turonensis mentions and whose names are enrolld in the Catalog of Saints to all posterity And this was a little before the unluckly Novatian Heresie crept into France and infected divers other Countries Nay to go higher up and to the very source of Christianity ther are some Authors who avouch that St. Paul was in France and that the chief Church in Vienna was built by him as this ancient Verse there engraven shews Paulus praeco Crucis tibi dat primordia Lucis Ther be other Authors who affirm that St. Peter also was in France And that ther landed at one time in Marseilles Lazarus Mary Magdalen Martha and Marcella as it is recorded in a Manuscript of the English History in the Vatican wherof Baronius makes mention And about that time Ioseph of Arimathea that Noble Decurion passd through France into Britain with the foresaid Marcella who was she that is mentiond in the Gospel who being divinely inspird cryed out with a loud voice when Christ was preaching Happy is the womb that brought Thee forth and the paps that gave Thee suck Spencaeus also makes mention that St. Luke was in France As also Savinianus one of the 72 Disciples and Martialis another of them who some do affirm to be He who sold the five Barly Loaves and the two Fishes wherwith our Saviour fed five thousand And if the Holy Reliques of