under him against the French King then leagued with the English Rebels against Spain where his Magnanimity and Dexterity in Martial Affairs though unsuccessful were very eminent In the year 1660 came over with the King into England and being Lord High Admiral in the year 1665 in the War against the Vnited States of the Netherlands commanded in person the whole Royal Navy on the Seas between England and Holland where with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp dispute he obtained a Signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Ships in that Fight He married Anne the eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England by whom he hath had a numerous issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary born 30 April 1662 whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchesses of Buckingham and Ormond Secondly the Lady Anne born in Febr. 1664 whose Godfather was Gilbert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth She is lately for her health transported into France Thirdly 15 Sept. 1667 was born Edgar lately created Duke of Cambridge by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England whose Godfathers were the Duke of Albemarle and the Marquiss of Worcester his Godmother the Countess of Suffolk The Titles of his Royal Highness are Duke of York and Albany Earl of Ulster Lord High Admiral of England Ireland and all Foreign Plantations Constable of Dover Castle Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Governour of Portsmouth c. Of the Prince of Orenge NExt to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassau Prince of Orenge only Issue of the lately deceased Princess Royal Mary eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641 to William of Nassau Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was born 9 dayes after his Fathers death on the 14th Novemb. 1650 had for Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delft Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then wife to the Heer van Hemvliet At 8 years of age was sent to the University of Leyden His Revenue is about 60000 l. Sterling besides Military Advantages enjoyed by his Father and Ancestors which amounted yearly to about 30000 l. Sterling more He is a Prince in whom the high and princely qualities of his Ancestors already appear Of the Princess Henretta THe next Heir after the fore-named to the English Crown is the Princess Henretta only Sister living to the present King of England She was born the 16th of June 1644 at Exeter during the heat of the late Rebellion after the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646 to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkieth she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the age of 16 years came with the Queen Mother into England and 6 moneths after returning into France was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Anjou till the death of his Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livres Tournois besides his Appanage not yet setled Her Portion was 40000 l. Sterling her Joynture to be the same with the present Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess hath issue one Daughter if she hath a Son the French King allows him 50000 Crowns yearly and the Appanage after the death of the present Duke reverts to the Crown Of the Prince Elector Palatine THere being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of England are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose eldest Son living is Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsgrave from the High Dutch pfaltzgraff Palatii Comes was born the the 22th December 1617 at Heydelberg and afterwards in Holland at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the age of 18 years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel in Westphalia In the year 1637 passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by that quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes whence after 23 weeks imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of England set at liberty In the year 1643 he came again into England and with the Kings secret consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilst the Rebels possest the greatest part of his Majesties Revenues made his Addresses to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murder of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinat according to the famous Treaty at Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his right to the Upper Palatinat and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of time when the King of England had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all other at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest advantages there In 1650 he espoused the Lady Charlotte Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen by which Lady he hath one Son named Charles aged about 16 and one Daughter aged about 14. Of Prince Rupert NExt to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatin is Prince Rupert born at Prague 27 Novemb. 1619 not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatin Family was for almost 30 years dispossest of all their Possessions in Germany At 13 years of age he marcht with the then Prince of Orenge to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the age of 18 he commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in a Battel being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a prisoner above three years In 1642 returning into England and made General of the Horse to the King fights and defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-hill took Cirencester recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham House fought the great Battel at Marston Moor was created Earl of Holderness and
Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male Line of the Cliffords Finally the Kings forces at land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterward made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after divers disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652 where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperours Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of his Majesty now raigning after which returning into England was made a Privy Counsellour in 1662 and in 1666 being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarle first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the Enemy soon to flight He enjoys a Pension from his Majesty of 4000 l. per Annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of England are 3 French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward lately deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Rehemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. Sterling a year After these is the Princess Elizabeth eldest Sister living to the Prince Elector Palatin born 26 Decemb. 1618. unmarried and living in Germany The next is another Sister called the Princess Louisa bred up at the Hague with the Queen her Mother in the Religion of the Church of England at length embracing the Romish Religion is now Lady Abbess of Maubisson at Ponthoise not far from Paris Last of all is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659 wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and Free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters Of these three Princesses it is said that the first is the most learned the second the greatest Artist and the last one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Of the Great Officers of the Crown NExt to the King and Princes of the Blood are reckoned the Great Officers of the Crown whereof there are Eight viz. the Lord High Chancellour the Lord High Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal the Lord High Admiral the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Steward for the time being First the Lord High Chancellour Summus Cancellarius so called because all Patents Commissions Warrants coming from the King and perused by him are signed if well or cancelled if amiss He is after the King and Princes of the Blood in Civil Affairs the highest Person in the Kingdom as the Archbishop of Canterbury is in Ecclesiastical Affairs His Office is to keep the Kings Great Seal to judge not according to the Common Law as other Civil Courts do but to moderate the rigour of the Law and to judge according to Equity Conscience or Reason His Oath is to do right to all manner of People poor and rich after the Laws and Customs of the Realm and truly counsel the King to keep secret the Kings Counsel nor suffer so far as he may that the Rights of the Crown be diminisht c. From the time of Henry 2. the Chancellours of England have been ordinarily made of Bishops or other Clergy-men learned in the Civil Laws till Henry 8. made Chancellour one Richard Rich a Common Lawyer from whom is descended the present Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Holland since which time there have been some Bishops but most Common Lawyers This High Office is in France durante vitâ but here is durante beneplacito Regis The Salary from the King is 848 l. per Annum and when the Star-Chamber was up 200 l. per Annum more for his Attendance there The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper who differ only in Name is created per traditionem magni Sigilli sibi per dominum Regem and by taking his Oath The Great Seal being lately taken from Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour was by his Majesties great favour bestowed upon Sir Orlando Bridgeman with the Title of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England The next Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Treasurer of England who receives this high Office by delivery of a White Staffe to him by the King and holds it durante beneplacito Regis Antiently he received this Dignity by the delivery of the Golden Keys of the Treasury His Oath is little different from that of the Lord Chancellour He is Praefectus Aerarii a Lord by his Office under whose Charge and Government is all the Kings Revenue kept in the Exchequer He hath also the check of all the Officers any way emploied in collecting Imposts Customs Tributes or other Revenues belonging to the Crown He hath the gift of all Customers Controllers and Searchers in all the Ports of England He hath the nomination of the Escheators in every County and in some Cases by Statute is to appoint a Measurer for the length and breadth of Clothes He with others joyned in Commission with him or without letteth Leases of all the Lands belonging to the Crown He giveth Warrants to certain Persons of Quality to have their Wine Custom free The Annual Salary of the Lord High Treasurer is in all 383 li. 7s 8d per Annum Since the decease of Thomas Wriothesly last Earl of South-hampton and last Lord High Treasurer of England this Office hath been executed by a Commission granted to five eminent Persons viz. the Duke of Albemarle Lord Ashley Sir Thomas Clifford Sir Will. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb The Third Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Privy Seal who is a Lord by his Office under whose hands pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons signed by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England also divers other matters of less Concernment as for payments of money c. which do not pass the Great Seal He is by his Place of the Kings Privy Council and Chief Judge of the Court of Requests when it shall be re-continued and besides his Oath of Privy Counsellour takes a particular Oath as Lord Privy Seal His Salary is His Place according to Statute is next to the Lord President of the Kings Council It is an Office of great Trust and Skill that he put not this Seal to any Grant without good Warrant under the Kings Privy Signet nor with Warrant if it be against Law or Custom until that the King be first acquainted This great Officer is mentioned in the Statutes of 2 Rich. 2. and then â—anked amongst the Chief Persons of the Realm And is at present enjoyed by John Lord Robarts Baron Robarts of Truro The Fourth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord
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
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith The King only is Dei Gratiâ simply i.e. from the favour of none but God and the Archbishops and Bishops that pretend to that Title must understand Dei gratiâ Regis or Dei gratiâ voluntate Regis Defender of the Faith was antiently used by the Kings of England as appears by several Charters granted to the University of Oxford but in the year 1521 more affixt by a Bull from Pope Leo the Tenth for a Book written by Henry the Eighth against Luthers in defence of some points of the Romish Religion but since continued for defence of the Antient Catholck and Apostolick Faith Primogenitus Ecclesiae belongs to the Kings of England because their Predecessor Lucius was the first King that embraced Christianity Christianissimus was by the Lateran Council under Pope Julius the 2d conferred on the Kings of England in the 5th year of Henry 8 though now used only by the French King The Title of Grace was first given to the King about the time of H. 4. to H. 6. Excellent Grace to Ed. 4. High and Mighty Prince to Hen. 8. first Highness then Majesty and now Sacred Majesty after the Custom of the Eastern Emperours that used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The King of England in his Publick Instruments and Letters stiles himself Nos We in the plural number before King John's time the Kings used the singular number which Custom is still seen in the end of Writs Teste meipso apuâ— Westm In speaking to the King is used often besides Your Majesty Syr from Cyr in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Abbreviation o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominus much used to the Greek Emperours but Syr or Domine iâ— now in England become the ordinary word to all of better rank even from the King to the Gentleman It was antiently in England given to Lords afterwards to Knights and to Clergymen prefixt before their Christian Names â—ow in that manner only to Baâ—onets and Knights of the Bath and Knights Batchelours yet in France Syr or Syre is reserved only for their King About the time that our Saviour lived on Earth there was a Jewish Sect whose Ring-â—eader was one Judas of Gaile mentioned Acts 5. 37. that would not give this Title of Sir or Dominus to any man affirming that it was proper only to God and stood not unlike our new Fanaticks called Quakers so perversely for such Nominal Liberty being â—n other points meer Pharisees that no penalties could force them to give this honorary Title to any man no not to the Emperour uti videre 〈◊〉 apud Josephum alios Sed hâ—â— obiter The Saxon Kings before the Conquest bare Azure a Crossâ— Formy between four Martlet Or. Afterward the Danish King raigning in England bare oâ— Semi de Harts Gules 3 Lyon Passant Gardant Azure After the Conquest the Kings of England bare two Leopards born first by the Conquerour as Duke of Normandy till the time of Hen. 2 who in right of his Mother annext her Paternal Coat the Lyon of Aquitaine which being of the same Field Mettal and Form with the Leopards â—â—om thence-forward they were â—intly marshalled in one Shield and Blazoned 3 Lyons as at â—resent King Edward the Third in â—â—ght of his Mother claiming â—he Crown of France with the Arms of England quartered the Arms of France which then were Azure Semy Flower â—eluces Or afterwards changed to 3 Flower deluces whereupon Hen. 5. of England caused the English Arms to be changed likewise King James upon the Union of England and Scotland caused the Arms of France and England to be quartered with Scotland and Ireland and are thus blazoned The King of England beareth for his Soveraign Ensigns Armorial as followeth In the first place Azure 3 Flower deluces Or for the Regal Arms of France quartered with the Imperial Ensigns of England which are Gules threâ— Lyons Passant Gardant in Palâ— Or. In the second place with in a double Tressure counter-flowered de lys Or a Lyon Rampant Gules for the Royal Arms of Scotland In the third place Azure an Irish Harp Or Stringed Argent for the Royal Ensigns of Ireland In the fourth place as in the first All within the Garter the chief Ensign of that most Honourable Order above the same an Helmet answerable to His Majesties Soveraign Jurisdiction upon the same a rich Mantle of Cloth of Gold doubled Ermine adorned with an Imperial Crown and surmounted for a Crest by a Lyon Passant Gardant Crowned with the like supported by 〈◊〉 Lyon Rampant Gardant Or Crowned as the former and an unicorn Argent Gorged with a Crown thereto a Chain affixt passing between his foreâ—egs and reflext over his back Or both standing upon a Compartment placed underneath and in the Table of the Compartment His Majesties Royal Motto Dieu mon Droit The Supporters used before the Union of England and Scotland were the Dragon and Lyon The Arms of France placed first for that France is the greater Kingdom and because from the first bearing those Flowers have been alwayes Ensigns of a Kingdom whereas the Arms of England were originally of Dukedoms as beforesaid The Motto upon the Garter Honi soit qui mal y pense that is Shame be to him that evil thereof thinketh was first given by Edward 3 the Founder of that Order upon occasion as some have written of a Garter falling from the Countess of Kent and Salisbury as she danced and taken up by that King whereat the Queen being jealous or the Courtiers observing it the King first uttered those words now upon the Garter whereof the Order was soon after instituted The Motto Dieu mon Droit that is God and my Right was first given by Richard the First to intimate that the King of England holdeth his Empire not in Vassallage of any mortal man but of God only and after taken up by Edward 3. when he first claimed the Kingdom of France King William the Conquerour getting by right of Conquest all the Lands of England except Lands belonging to the Church to Monastenies and Religious Houses into his own hands in Demesne as Lawyers speak soon bestowed amongst his Subjects aâ— great part thereof reserving some retribution of Rents and Services or both to him and his Heirs Kings of England which reservation is now as it was before the Conquest called the Tenure of Lands the rest he reserved to himself in Demesne called Coronae Regis Dominica Domaines and Sacra Patrimonia Praedium Domini Regis Directum Dominum cujus nullus est Author nisi Deus all other Lands in England being held now of some Superiour and depend mediately or immediately on the Crown but the Lands possest by the Crown being held of none can escheat to none being sacred cannot become prophane are or should be permanent and inalienable Which Royal Domaines are by Time the Gift and Bounty of
and to receive the Fees and Allowances due and accustomed as lately at the Coronation of King Charles the Second the Duke of Ormond was made for that occafion Lord High Steward of England and marching immediately before the King bore in his hands St. Edwards Crown Or else for the Arraignment of some Peer of the Realm their Wives or Widdows for Treason or Felony or some other great Crime to judge and give Sentence as the antient High Stewards were wont to do which ended his Commission expireth During such Tryal he sitteth under a Cloth of Estate and they that speak to him say May it please your Grace my Lord High Steward of England His Commission is to proceed Secundum Legem consuetudinem Angliae He is sole Judge yet doth call all the Twelve Judges of the Land to assist him Is not sworn nor the Lords who are the Tryers of the Peer arraigned During his Stewardship he bears a White Staffe in his Hand and the Tryal being over openly breaks it and so his Office takes an end Of the Kings Court. THe Court of the King of England is a Monarchy within a Monarchy consisting of Ecclesiastical Civil and Military Persons and Government For the Ecclesiastical Government of the Kings Court there is first a Dean of the Kings Chappel who is usually some grave Learned Prelate chosen by the King and who as Dean acknowledgeth no Superiour but the King for as the Kings Palace is exempt from all inferiour Temporal Jurisdiction so is his Chappel from all Spiritual it is called Capella Domenica the Demean Chappel is not within the Jurisdiction or Diocess of any Bishop but as a Regal Peculiar exempt and reserved to the Visitation and Immediate Government of the King who is Supreme Ordinary and as it were Prime Bishop over all the Churches and Bishops of England By the Dean are chosen all other Officers of the Chappel viz. a Subdean or Praecentor Capellae 32 Gentlemen of the Chappel whereof 12 are Priests and one of them is Confessor to the Kings Houshold whose Office is to read Prayers every Morning to the Family to visit the Sick to examine and prepare Communicants to inform such as desire advice in any Case of Conscience or Point of Religion c. The other 20 Gentlemen commonly called Clerks of the Chappel are with the aforesaid Priests to perform in the Chappel the Office of Divine Service in Praying Singing c. One of these being well skilled in Musick is chosen Master of the Children whereof there are 12 in Ordinary to instruct them in the Rules and Art of Musick for the Service of the Chappel Three other of the said Clerks are chosen to be Organists to whom are joyned upon Sundayes Collar dayes and other Holy-dayes the Saickbuts and Cornets belonging to the Kings Private Musick to make the Chappel Musick more full and compleat There are moreover 4 Officers called Vergers from the Silver Rods carried in their hands also a Sergeant 2 Yeomen and a Groom of the Chappel In the Kings Chappel thrice every day Prayers are read and Gods Service and Worship performed with great Decency Order and Devotion and should be a Pattern to all other Churches and Chappels of England Twelve dayes in the year being high and principal Festivals His Majesty after Divine Service attended with his principal Nobility adorned with their Collars of Esses in a grave solemn manner at the Altar offers a sum of Gold to God in signum specialis dominii that by his Grace he is King and holdeth all of him All Offerings made at the Holy Altar by the King and the Queen did antiently belong to the disposal of the Archbishop of Canterbury if his Grace were present wheresoever the Court was but now to the Dean of the Chappel Those 12 dayes are first Christmass Easter Whitsunday and All Saints called Houshold-dayes upon which the Besant or Gold to be offered is delivered to the King by the Lord Steward or some other of the Principal Officers then New-years-day and Twelf-day upon the later of which Gold Frankincense and Myrrhe in several Purses are offered by the King Lastly Candlemas Anuntiation Ascention Trinity Sunday St. John Baptist and Michaelmass day when only Gold is offered Upon Christmass Easter and Whitsunday His Majesty usually receives the Holy Sacrament none but two or three of the Principal Bishops communicating with Him The King hath also besides many Extraordinary 48 Chaplains in Ordinary who are usually eminent Doctors in Divinity whereof 4 every Moneth wait at Court to preach in the Chappel on Sundayes and other Festivals before the King and in the Morning early on Sundayes before the Houshold to read Divine Service before the King out of Chappel daily twice in the Kings Private Oratory to give Thanks at Table in the Clerk of the Closets absence In time of Lent according to antient laudable Custom the Divine Service and Preaching is performed in a more solemn manner Antiently at Court there were Sermons in Lent only and that in the Afternoon in the Open Court and then only by Bishops Deans and principal Prebends Our Ancestors judging that time enough and those persons only fit to teach such an Auditory their duty to God and Man Antiently also the Lent Preachers were all appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Now on the first Wednesday called Ashwednesday in the Morning begins the Dean of the Chappel to preach and on each Wednesday after one of his Majesties more eloquent Chaplains and every Friday the Dean of some Cathedral or Collegiat Church and on the last Friday called Good Friday is alwayes to preach the Dean of Westminster and on every Sunday in Lent some Right Reverend Bishop preacheth and on the last Sunday of Lent called Palm-Sunday is to preach an Archbishop and upon Easter day the Lord High Almoner who is usually some principal Bishop that disposeth of the Kings Almes and for that use receiveth besides other moneys allowed by the King all Deodands Bona Felonum de se to be that way disposed In France the Grand Aumosnier is principal of all the Ecclesiastiques of the Court and all Officers of the Kings Chappel he receiveth their Oaths of Allegeance and himself swears only to the King for that Office he hath the disposition of all Hospitals the Charge for delivering Prisoners pardoned by the King at his coming to the Crown or at his Coronation or first entrance into any of his Cities Under the Lord High Almoner there is a Subalmoner two Yeomen and two Grooms of the Almonry Besides all these the King hath a Clerk of the Closet or Confessor to His Majesty who is commonly some reverend discreet Divine extraordinarily esteemed by His Majesty whose Office is to attend at the Kings right hand during Divine Service to resolve all doubts concerning spiritual matters c. The present Dean of the Chappel is Doctor Herbert Crofts Bishop of Hereford whose Fee is 200 l. yearly and a Table