Custom was taken up by some of the Nobility and Gentry of eating a more plentiful Dinner but little or no Supper as on the contrary the Romans and Jews anciently and the hotter Climats at this day have little or no Dinners but set Suppers The English are not now so much addicted to Gluttony and Drunkenness as heretofore nor unto Tobacco which perhaps within a few years may be expelled by Coffee Feasting also is not now so â—ommon and profuse as antiâ—ntly for although the Feasts â—t Coronations at the Installations of Knights of the Garter â—onsecrations of Bishops Entertainments of Ambassadors â—he Feasts of the Lord Mayor of London the Sergeants at Law â—nd Readers Feasts in the Innes of Court are all very sumptuous â—nd magnificent in these times â—et compared to the Feasts of â—ur Ancestors seem to be but â—iggardly and sparing for Richard Earl of Cornwall Brother â—o Henry 3 had at his Marriâ—ge Feast as is recorded Thirâ—y thousand Dishes of Meat â—nd King Richard the 2d at a Christmass spent daily 26 Oxen â—oo Sheep besides Fowl and â—ll other Provision proportionably so antiently at a Call 〈◊〉 Sergeants each Sergeant saitâ— Fortescue spent sixteen hundred Crowns which in thosâ— dayes was more than 1600â— now The English that feed not over liberally whereto the greâ—â— plenty and variety of Vianâ—â— entice them nor drink mucâ— Wine but content themselvâ—â— with Small Ale or Sider bâ— especially the later are observed to be much more health and far longer lived than any 〈◊〉 our Neighbour Nations For Apparel or Clothing the French Mode hath been genâ—rally used in England of laâ—â— years In the time of Queen Elizabeth sometimes the Hiâ—â— Dutch sometimes the Spanisâ— and sometimes the Turkish and Morisco Habits were by the English worn in England when the Women wore Doublets with Pendant Codpieces on the Breast full of Tags and Cuts moreover Gallygascons Fardingales and Stockings of divers Colours but since the Restauration of the King now raigning England never saw for matter of wearing Apparel less prodigality and more modesty in Clothes more plainness and comeliness than amongst her Nobility Gentry and Superiour Clergy onely â—he Citizens the Countrey People and the Servants appear clothed for the most part above and beyond their Qualities Estates or Conditions Since our late breach with France the English Men though not the Women have quitted the French Mode and taken a grave Wear much according with the Oriental Nations Churches thorowout all England and all Publick Edifices are generally of Solid Stone covered with Lead Cathedral and Collegiate Churches every where ample and magnificent and the Churches in Market Towns and Opulent Villages spatious and solid enough Houses in Cities that were heretofore usually of Wood are now built of good Stone oâ— Brick and covered with Slatâ— or Tile the Rooms within formerly wainscotted are now hung with Tapistry or other convenient Stuffe and all cieled with Plaister excellent against the rage of Fire against the Cold and Sluttishness The Modern Buildings have been far more slight and of less continuance than the Antient. The Houses of the Nobles and Rich are abundantly furnisht with Pewter Brass Fine Linnen and Plate The mean Mechanicks and ordinary Husbandmen want not Silver â—poons or some Silver Plate in â—heir Houses The Windowes every where â—lased not made of Paper or Wood as is usual in Italy and â—pain Chimnies in most places no â—toves although the far more â—outhern parts of Germany can â—ardly subsist in the Winter â—ithout them England contains 9725 Parishes now allowing to each Parish one with another 80 Families there will be 778000 Families and to each Family 7 persons there will be found in all Five Millions four hundred forty six thousand souls and amongst them about one Million of Fighting Men. As some years before the late Troubles no people of any Kingdom in the World enjoyed more freedom from Slavery and Taxes so generally none were freer from evil tempers and humours none more devoutly religious willingly obedient to the Laws truly loyal to the King lovingly hospitable to Neighbours ambitiosly civil to Strangers or more liberally charitable to the Needy No Kingdom could shew a more knowing prudent Nobility a more valiant Gentry a more learned and pious Clergy or a more contented loyal Commonalty The Men were generall honest the Wives and Women chast and modest Parents loving Children obedient Husbands kind Masters gentle and Servants faithful In a word the English were then according to their Native Temper the best Neighbors best Friends best Subjects and the best Christians in the World Amongst these excellent Tempers amongst this goodly Wheat whilst men slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares there sprang up of later years a sort of people sowre reserved narrow-hearted close-fisted self-conceited ignorant stiff-necked Children of Belial according to the genuine signification of the word ever prone to despise Dominion to speak evil of Dignities to gain-say Order Rule and Authority who have accounted it their honour to contend with Kings and Governours and to disquiet the Peace of Kingdoms whom no deserts nor clemency could ever oblige neither Oaths or Promises bind breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies against the Establisht Government aspiring without measure railing without reason and making their own wild fancies the square rule of their consciences hating despising or disrespecting the Nobility Gentry and Superiour Clergy c. These lurking in all quarters of England have at length with their pestilential breath infected some of the worse natured and worse nurtured Gentry divers of the inferiour Clergy most of the Tradesmen and very many of the Peasantry and prevailed so far as not onely to spoil the best governed State and ruine the purest and most flourishing Church in Christendome but also to corrupt the minds the humours and very natures of so many English insomuch that notwithstanding the late happy restauration of the King and Bishops the incessant joynt endeavours and studies of all our Governours to reduce this people to their pristine happiness yet no man now living can reasonably hope to see in his time the like blessed dayes again without a transplantation of all those sons of Belial as King James in his grave Testament to his Son did intimate without an utter extirpation of those Tares which yet the Clemency and Meekness of the Protestant Religion seems to forbid The Nobility and chief Gentry of England have been even by Strangers compared to the finest Flowre but the lower sort of common People to the coursest bran the innate good nature joyned with the liberal education and converse with Strangers in forreign Countries render those exceeding civil whereas â—he wealth insolence and pride â—f these and the rare converse â—ith strangers have rendred â—hem so distastful not onely to â—he few strangers who frequent England but even to their own Gentry that they could sometimes wish that either the Countrey were less plentiful or â—hat
Garter upon the Left Leg upon pain of paying 2 Crowns to any Officer of the Order who shall first claim it onely in taking a Journey a Blew Ribon under the Boot doth suffice Upon the Left Shoulder upon Cloak Coat or Riding Cassack in all places of Assembly when they wear not their Robes they are to wear an Escutcheon of the Arms of St. George that is a Cross with a Garter and this by an Order made April 1626. That Ornament and Embellishment about the said Escutcheon now worn and called the Star or rather the Sun in its glory was at the same time enjoyned The The greatest Monarchs of Christendome have been enrolled and have taken it for an Honour to be of this Order There have been of this Order since the Institution 8 Emperours 25 or 26 Forreign Kings besides many Soveraign Princes c. The Fellows and Companions of the Most Noble Order of St. George are at present these that follow ranked according as they are seated in their several Stalls at Windsor IN the first Stall on the right hand is the Soveraigne of the Order King Charles the Second who is Patron and Sole Disposer of the Order The Stall opposite to His Majesty is now void In the other Stalls on the Sovereign Side are thus placed these that follow 2 The Duke of York 3 Prince Rupert 4 Marquiss of Brandenbourgh 5 Earl of Salisbury 6 Earl of Northumberland 7 Duke of Buckingham 8 Earl of Bristol 9 Count Marsin 10 Earl of Sandwich 11 Duke of Richmond 12 Earl of Strafford 13th Stall is void On the other side opposite to these afore-named are placed in this Order these that follow 2 Prince Elector Palatine 3 Prince of Orenge 4 Prince of Denmark 5 Earl of Berkshire 6 Duke of Ormond 7 Duke of Newcastle 8 Prince of Tarent 9 Duke of Albemarle 10 Earl of Oxford 11 Earl of Manchester 12 Duke of Monmouth 13th Stall on this Side also is void The whole number of Fellows of this Order is not to exceed 26. In the next place are Knights Bannerets Equites Vexilliferi antiently a high Honour now obsolete there being at this time none of this Order in England These may bear Supporters of their Arms and none under this Degree Knights of the Bath so called of their Bathing used before they are created The first of this sort were made by Henry 4th Anno 1399. They are now commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen or Installation of 〈◊〉 Prince of VVales They weaâ— a Scarlet Ribon Belt-wise They are still made with much Ceremony too long here to be described Other Knights called Equites Aurati from the Gilt Spurs usually put upon them and Knights Batchelors quasi Baschevaliers Knights of lower Degree So Bachelors in Arts or Divinity quasi Low Knights or Servitors in Arts. These were antiently made by girding with a Sword and Gilt Spurs and was bestowed onely upon Sword men for their Military Service and was reâ—uted an excellent and glorious Degree and a Noble Reward â—or Courageous Persons but â—f late being made more common and bestowed upon â—own Men contrary to the â—ature of the thing as Degrees â—n the University are sometimes â—estowed upon Sword men it â—s become of much less reputaâ—ion Yet amongst Gown men 〈◊〉 is given only to Lawyers and â—hysitians and not to Divines â—ho may as well become that Dignity and be Spiritual Knights as well as Spiritual Lords These are now made with no other Ceremony but kneeling down the King with a drawn Sword lightly toucheth them on the Shoulder after which heretofore the King said in French Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu and then Avances Chevalier When a Knight is to suffeâ— death for any foul Crime hiâ— Military Girdle is first to be ungirt his Sword taken away hiâ— Spurs cut off with an Hatchetâ— his Gantlet pluckt off and hiâ— Coat of Arms reversed Next amongst the Loweâ— Nobility are Esquires so called from the French word Escuyers Scutigeri because they were wont to bear before the Prince in War or before the better sort of Nobility 〈◊〉 Shield or else perhaps because they bear a Coat of Arms as Ensigns of their descent and by our Lawyers are called Armigeri Of this Title are first all Vicounts eldest Sons and all Vicounts and Barons younger Sons and by the Common Law of England all the Sons of Earls Marquisses and Dukes are Esquires and no more Next are the Esquires of the Kings Body mentioned among the Officers of the Kings Court after these are reckoned Knights eldest Sons and their eldest Sons for ever then younger Sons of the elder Sons of Barons next Esquires created by the King by putting about their Necks a Collar of Esses and bestowing on them a pair of Silver Spurs Lastly any that are in superiour Publick Office for King or State are reputed Esquires or equal to Esquires as Justices of the Peace Mayors of Towns so Councellours at Law Batchelors of Divinity Law or Physick although none of them really are so In the last place among thâ— lower Nobility are accounted the Gentry of England that have no other Title but are descended of antient Families that have alwayes born a Coaâ— of Arms. This Kind of Honour is derived from the Germans to the rest of Christendome and was never known in any Countrey where the German Customs were unknown as in Asia Africa and America The Germans antiently warring oft amongst themselves painted their Scutcheons with the Picture of some Beast Bird or other thing for distinction and put some eminent and visible Mark upon the Crest of their Helmets and this Ornament both of Arms and Crest descended by inheritance to their Children to the eldest pure and to the rest with some note of distinction such as the Old Master of Ceremonies in High Dutch Here-alt now Herald thought fit Gentlemen well descended and well qualified have alwayes been of such repute in England that none of the higher Nobility no nor the King himself have thought it unfitting to make them sometimes their Companions The Title of Gentleman in England as of Cavalier in France Italy and Spain is not disdained by any Nobleman All Noblemen are Gentlemen though all Gentlemen are not Noblemen The State of Gentry was antiently such that it was accounted an abasing of Gentry to put their Sons to get their Living by Shop-keeping and our Law did account it a disparagement of a Ward in Chivalry to be married to a Shop-keepers Daughter or to any meer Citizen for Tradesmen in all Ages and Nations have been reputed ignoble in regard of the doubleness of their Tongue without which they cannot grow rich for Nihil proficiunt nisi admodum mentiuntur as Tully observed and therefore amongst the Thebans no man was admitted to places of Honour or Trust unless he had left off trading ten years before So by the Imperial Laws a Tradesman is not capable of any
Honourable Estate nor to be a Commander over Souldiers and therefore the English Nobility and Gentry till within late years judged it a stain and diminution to the honour and dignity of their Families to seek their Childrens support by Shop-keeping but only as in all great Monarchies by Military Court State or Church Emploiments much less to subject their Children to an Apprentisage a perfect Servitude for during that time whatever they gain by their Masters Trade or their own wit belongs all to their Master neither can they lie our of their Masters House noâ— take a Wife nor trade of their own but subject to all Houshold Work all Commands oâ— their Master undergo what punishment and eat and wear what their Master pleaseth which Marks of Slavery considered Heralds are of opinion that a Gentleman thereby loses his Gentility for ever till he can otherwise recover it and yet to the shame of our Nation we have seen of fare not onely the Sons of Baroners Knights and Gentlemen sitting in Shops and sometimes of Pedling Trades far more fit for Women and their Daughters but also an Earl of this Kingdom subjecting his Son to an Apprentisage and Trade but the folly of the English in swerving from their Ancestors steps herein as in other things is now apparent for those young Gentlemen possessing more noble and active Spirits could not brook such dull slavish lives and being thereby unfitted for other emploiments have generally taken ill debauched courses Priviledges The lower Nobility of England have fewer and lesse Priviledges than those in other Monarchies Some few Priviledges belong to Knights quatenus Knights 〈◊〉 a Knight be a Minor yet shall he be out of Wardship both for Lands Body and Marriage for though the Law doth judge him not able to do Knights Service till the Age of 21 years yet the King being Sovereign and Supreme Judge of Chivalry by dubbing him Knight doth thereby allow him to be able to do him Knights Service Knights are excused from attendance at Court-Leets They and their eldest Sons not compellable to find Pledges at the Visus Franci Plegii Knights by Magna Charta cap. 21. are so freed that no Demesne Cart of theirs may be taken The Son and Brother of a Knight by Statute law are capacitated to hold more than one Beenfice with cure of Souls By the Stat. Primo Jacobi It seems that Knights and their Sons though they cannot spend 10 l. per annum nor are worth 200 l. may keep Greyhounds Setting Dogs or Nets to take Pheasants or Partridges Some Priviledges also beâ—ong to Gentlemen Antientâ—y if an ignoble person did â—trike a Gentleman in England he was to lose his hand A Gentleman by Stat. Quint. Eliz. may not be comâ—elled to serve in Husbandry The Child of a Gentleman â—rought up to singing cannot â—e taken without the Parents â—nd Friends consent to serve â—n the Kings Chappel as others may The Horse of a Gentleman may not be taken to ride post Note That as there are somâ— Great Officers of the Crownâ— who for their Dignity anâ— Worth of their Places although they are not Noble men yet take place amongâ— the highest of the Higher Nobility so there are some Persons who for their Dignities in the Church-degrees iâ— the University Offices in thâ— State or Army although thâ— are neither Knights nor Gentlemen born yet take place amongst them So all Deanâ— Archdeacons Chancellours Prebends Doctors of Divinity Law and Physick Heads of Houses in the University usually take place nexâ— to Knights and before all Esquires and Gentlemen Likewise all Judges of Courts Mayors Bailiffs Justices of the Peace All Commissionated Officers in the Army as Colonels Master of Artillery Quarter-Master General c. All higher Officers in the Kings Court or State All Sergeants at Law c. These are wont to precede Esquires All Batchelors of Divinity Law and Physick all Doctors in the Arts commonly called Masters of Art all Barresters in the Innes of Court all Captains Officers in the Kings Houshold c. may equal if not precede Gentlemen that have none of those qualifications In England Gentry as in Germany all Nobility and Arms are held in Gavelkind descending to all the Sons alike only the eldest Son beareth Arms without difference which the younger may not Of the low Nobility in England the number is so great that there are reckoned at present above 500 Baronets more than the first intended number that is in all above 700 who are possest one with another of about 1200 l. a year in Lands Of Knights above 1400 who one with another may have about 800 l. Lands a year Of Esquires and Gentlemen above 6000 each one possest one with another of about 400 l. a year in Lands besides younger Brothers whose number may amount to about 16000 in all England who have small Estates in Lands but are commonly bred up to Divinity Law Physick to Court and Military Emploiments but of late too many of them to Shop-keeping The Lands in the possession of the lower Nobility will amount to about four Millions and sixty thousand pounds yearly Next to the lower Nobility and the first Degree of the Commons or Plebeans are the Freeholders in England commonly called Yeomen from the High Dutch Gemen or Gemain in English Common so in the Kings Court it signifieth an Officer which is in a middle place between a Sergeant and a Groom or else from the Low Dutch Yeman Some-body as the Spaniard calls a Gentleman Hidalgo Hijo d' algo that is the Son of Some-body The Yeomanry of England having Lands of their own to a good value and living upon Husbandry are lookt upon as not apt to commit or omit any thing that may endanger their Estates and Credits nor apt to be corrupted or suborned c. wherefore they are judged fit to bear some Offices as of Constable Churchwarden to serve upon Juries to be Train-Souldiers to vote in the Election of Knights of the Shire for Parliament c. In Cases and Causes the Law of England hath conceived a better opinion of the Yeomanry that occupy Lands then of Tradesmen Artificers or Labourers Husbandry hath in no age rendred a Gentleman ignoble nor uncapable of places of Honour Amongst the Romans some of the greatest Dictators and Consuls had been once Husbandmen and some of them taken from Plowing their Ground to bear those Highest Offices and Dignities so divers Princes Kings and Emperours have exercised Agriculture and the Grand Scipâ—o and the Emperour Dioclesian left their Commands to enjoy Husbandry By the Statutes of England certain Immunities are given to Freeholders and landed men though they are not Gentlemen Vide Stat. 1 Jacobi cap. 27. alibi Of the Free-holders in England there are more in number and richer than in any Countrey of the like extent in Europe 40 or 50 l. a year a piece is very ordinary 100 and 200 l. a year in some Counties is not rare Besides these