BLesse me Mercurie from thy old Enemie , the Daring Ignorant ! I know his hate to thee . And when he would seem to loue , as sometimes he would , yet is he as vnhappie in performing what 's due to thee , as if he should sacrifice with a cole black beast , in the darkest night , the throat prest downward , to thy brother Apollo ; or then for safetie of his sheep or gain , with bloud to thee , when thou a a Antipater Epig. α. cap. 48. art — * * Best pleasd with Milk and Hony . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou knowst the vnfitnesse of Both , and Him . I could not but wrong thy honor , should I , so neer mention of thy Name , speak to him . Thy worth , from him , protect mee ! To all thy ingenuous fauorites , in thy presence , as thou directest me , thus . Out of the Title , Table , and Contents of the Chapters ( you haue them presently after this Preface ) the Summe and Method discouer themselues . The Purpose extended from the Highest title to Gentrie , exclusiuely . That of Gentrie , or the same in another word , Ciuill Nobility , is , by which , as the first degree aboue the Multitude , an honoring distinction is made , either by acquisition from the Prince ( euerie Prince or State , hauing generall Power to make Lawes in their Territorie , may ennoble ) or by Discent from Noble Ancestors . Or indeed you may not amisse comprehend hereditarie Nobilitie in that first kind , because a Gentleman , by birth , is not only so in regard of his Ancestors , Sed quia , ob eam Originem , Princeps illum suis legibus nobilitat , as b b In C. tit . de Incolis l. 9. Mulieres . Bartol will haue it . The Prince , as it were , supposing that if the Father be Noble , the issue will resemble him . Which the Persians were confident on , where the Queen was neuer so much as suspected c c Plato in Alcibiade α. of inc●ntinence , because the King was alwaies esteemd of so truly royall parts , that the Nature of hir issue by another , would discouer if shee had chang'd the Father ; as , on the other side , the Spartan Ephori most iealously garded their Queens , lest any but of Hercules posteritie should gouern : both States concluding Nobilitie from their Ancestors worth , which hath its ground in the naturall supposition of likenesse twixt Children and those which get them . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( s●ith d d De G●nerat . Animal . 4. cap. 3. Aristotle ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . For , one not like his Parents is , in some sort , a Monster , that is , not like him that got him , nor any other of the ascending or transuerse line ; because its thought , that , in the Seed are alwaies potentially seuerall indiuiduating e e De hac re● inprimis consulendus Andreas Laurentius Anatomic . lib. 2 : quaest. 30. Qualities deriu'd from diuers of the neere Ancestors , which by the formatiue power of the Parents may be exprest in the Children , with respectiue habitude to either Sex ; although the later Grecians foolishly inquired only in geneseos f f Luitprand . lib. 5. cap. 5. Nobilitate , non quae Mater , sed quis Pater ( following the old g g Diodor. Sicul. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2. De Lycijs vero Herodot . lib. 1. et Plutarch . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , apud quos in Materna Origine constitit Nobilitas , necnon adi Vlpianum , l. 1. ff. ad Municipalem ; septem Familias Louanij queis de I●psius L●●●n . 1. cap. 12. & Tiraquell . de Nobilitate , cap. 18. §. 20. & seq . Aegyptian Custome ) and thought a Kings issue by any Concubine , as good as one by the Noblest Queen . But , indeed , both are euen equally to be regarded . The Consequent of this was long since disputed in that of the Minds inclination follows the Bodies Temperature ; whereof Galen hath a speciall Treatise . But because this likenesse is oft times to a remote Ancestor , as well as the Father , therefore , it seems , is the speciall regard to bee had to the number of Discents in Gentrie . Hee that is so both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. both discended from truly Noble Parentage , and withall following their steps , or adding to their Name , is the Gentleman that may lawfully , glorie in his Pitle . N●bilitie in him being rightly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Virtue of his Fathers , from whom hee deriu'd what hee means to propagat . So , the fairer is his worth , because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as one h h Maxim . Tyr. Dialex . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . sayes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. it flowing , from Virtue , as from a pure Spring , continues genuin , and like the first head . But , the Ancestors Nobilitie in a degenerating issue , giues no more true Glorie , then Phoebus his name did to RP . Sixtus Quintus , who was wont to iest on himselfe , that he was i i Cicarella in Uit. Pontific . domo natus illustri , because , beeing of very mean Parentage , he was born in so totterd a house , that the roof euery where admitted the Sunne beams .

And

So that , Merit by Qualitie , both in the first acquiring the Princes fauor , and in his issue , are the true causes of Nobilitie , as if the originall collation of the Dignitie were so made , that the first deseruing , and his begotten heires , such only as were deseruing , should enioy it : and then is the Ciuilians definition of it enough comprehensiue , that it is qualitas illata per Principatum tenentem , qua quis vltra plebeios honestos acceptus ostenditur , which many Canonists also follow ; and so will it include as well that which the barbarous Ciuilians call Paradogium ( by mis-reading for m m Constit. Feud . tit. Quis dicatur Dux , Marchio . Alias Nobilitandi causas vide apud Luc. de Penna in C. tit . de Dig. L. Mulieres . Paragium , as most learned Cuiacius persuades mee , that is , Feudall Nobilitie , grounded on possessing a Noble Fief , whence the tenant is one of the Pares Curtis ) as Personall honor . Virtue plainly ennobleth not ciuilly , but is a deseruing cause of it only , wherof the Prince must iudge . If Honor and deseruing Vertue accompanie not each other , it s his Fault or Error . They should alwaies so . And they were Temple-fellowes in old Rome . Benè ( sayes n n Symmach. lib. 1. Epist. 21. one ) ac sapientèr Maiores nostri , vt sunt alia aetatis illius , Aedes Honori atque Virtuti gemella facie iunctim locarunt ; commenti , ibi esse praemia Honoris vbi sunt Merita Virtutis . But in ancient Rome their Nobiles ( a thing not vnworthie to be here noted ) were only those which could shew the Images of such their Ancestors , as had born a State Office ( the Aedilitas Curulis , or any aboue it ) which were of Wax o o Polyb. Hist. 6. Plin. lib. 35. cap. 2. expressing the Face and Bodie only to the shoulders , kept euery one in seuerall cases of Wood or Closets , and subscrib'd with the name of the Dead ( they calld it Titulus or Index ) and additions of his Place or particular Worth , as p p Tacitus Annal. 16. G. Cassius his , which one of the Familie kept vnder Nero , had DVCI PARTIVM ; or DVX , as out of a Ms. Tacitus , Lipsius notes . And these were carried at the Funerall of him that had them as his Ensignes of Nobilitie . The Relation of Drusus his Funerall giues a most speciall form of it . Funus Imaginum pompa ( saith Tacitus ) maximè inlustre fuit , cum Origo Iuliae Gentis , Aeneas , omnesque Albanorum Reges & Conditor Vrbis Romulus , pòst Sabina Nobilitas , Appius ( or q q Lips. ad Ann. 12. not. 58. Atta ) Clausus , caeteraeque Claudiorum effigies longo ordine spectarentur . There were also other Images of Noble Parentage set with affixt spoiles of the enemie for Trophies of Virtue about the Entries and base Courts , which were so annext to the Freehold ( as our phrase is ) that they past alwaies in conueyance of the House , neither was it lawfull for the Buyer to deface them : Eratque haec stimulatio ( are Plinies words ) summa et ingens , exprobrantibus tectis , quotidiè imbellem Dominum intrare in alienum triumphum . And as Reuersing of Coats , or the like , hath been in later Times , so with them the Images , of men condemued capitally for matter against the State , or censur'd in such a Degree , were broken , or , at lest , omitted in their pompous Funeralls . Therefore in the last Rites perform'd to Iunia , wife to C. Cassius , and sister to M. Brutus , mongst the Images of twentie seuerall Noble Families , Cassius and Brutus were not born , yet praefulgebant , as he sayes of them , eo ipso quòd effigies eorum non visebantur . One of these Images gaue Nobilitie . Ancum Sabina Matre ortum ( so Liuie ) Nobilèmque vnâ Imagine Numae . The rest which were first in those Magistracies were homines Noui , and this distinction was both in the Patricij and Plebeij . But , vnder the Caesarean Empire , the bestowing of Consular Ornaments , and the like , suppli'd in diuers , the Magistracie it self , and the Emperors so did ennoble by Rescript or Patent , as it seems by that of Celsus a Professor of the Arts in Rome , whom Theodosius the first was r r Symmach. lib. 10. Epist. 25. requested adiudicare Nobilibus , Pignore Dignitatis , cum praerogatiua scilicet Consulari . And the like , by seuerall s s C. tit . de Profess . et passim , l. 12. Constitutions , was giuen to many , whose issues only , by the ancienter forme , were Noble , themselues only Noui. As in Rome the Imagines , or ius Imaginum , were the only Ensignes of hereditarie Nobilitie , so in Greece the descent , from Noble Ancestors , preserued ; whence their Gentlemen were calld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. discended from worthie Parentage , which was noted in the particular names of their Noble Tribes , as , in Athens , in the Pandionidae , Acamantidae , Hippothoontidae , Heraclidae , and others ; to the making vp of Noblesse , t t Demosth. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Epitaphio , et Plato in Alcib . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in whose posteritie , was a Concurrence of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. Birth , Education , and continuall affectation of good Studies . But how much honor consisted mongst them , specially in the Name , appears also in that of Pixodorus a poore shepheard , one of whose Rammes , in fight , missing his aduersarie , struck on a stone , and , breaking of a piece , discouerd it most white and fit for building of Diana's Temple , about which , and of what kind of stone to make it , the Ephesian State , at that instant , sate in Councell ; wherupon hee presently came into their Court , and shewed the piece . They , to honor him with publique rewards , changed his name u u Vitruu. lib. 10. cap. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. Qui fausta nuntiat . De nominibus vide nonnulla , part. 1. pag. 67. into Euangelus , to whom , after his death , a yeerly sacrifice was made in the place . You may remember the Iest vpon wealthie Simon by Lucians Cock , in that he thought himself , because hee was grown very rich , worthie now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. to haue a name of foure syllables in steed of one of two syllables , that is , I think , Simonides , because it was both a name of honorable note , and as a Patronymique expressing some Noble discent . There are which make the Tria nomina in Rome a note of their Nobilitie . To that purpose doth Calderin interpret Iuuenals — Tanquam habeas tria Nomina — which is rather indeed to be exprest in , as if you were an Ingenuus or Libertus , or as if you were a free Man : which fits well the place , as the learned Politian wills . For the hauing of three Names was not common either to all Times , or all Persons , of the Free or Noble Romans , but some had Two only , as Numa , Hostius Hostilius , in ancienter time , others One , as Romulus , Remus , Hersilia , Tatius , and , afterward the mixture of the Sabins and Romans gaue the double Names ; and , by retaining x x De Nominibus Romanorum Titus Probus ( siue is sit Iulius Paris , qui designati libri autor est ) consulendus , alij . Atqui , ante alios , Iul. Scaliger in lib. 4. de caus . Ling. Lat. cap. 92. quem tamen septimum diem Nominibus imponendis destinatum tradidisse valde miror , cum et Festus in Lustrico , et Macrobius 1. Sat. cap. 16. vno ferè ore refragentur . Rectè autem Titum Probum reprehendit de Togae Virilis tempestate . the name of the Familie , giuing the Forename ( which was imposed the eighth day on Females , and the ninth on Males ; as among the Grecians on the tenth y y Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . & in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , et Scholiast . in Aristoph . Aues . day from the birth , and fift from the Amphidromia ) and adding the surname , which sometimes was from the Ancestors also , they had vsually three Names , two of which euery Bondman manumitted commonly had giuen him from his Lord or Patron . So is the Testimonie of Tertullian z z Quod vide pag. 326. transcriptum , et consulas Ios. Scalig . ad Fest. in Curiales . ; so that Dream of the Bondman which thought he had had Tria Pudenda , and was soon after set free , because ( as * * Artemidor . Onirocritic . 1. cap. 47. it was interpreted ) his freedom gaue him two Names , which made three ( signified in the dream ) with his own , that was , as to other of his kind , most vsually one . So that Ingenuitie , not Nobilitie , was designed by the three Names . In most other Nations ( I think ) vntill particular ennobling , by the Princes autoritie , came in vse , was a kind of distinction of Nobilitie , and most neer to that in Greece . None so barbarous , but had the like ; witnesse the Gothique Anses ; a Name interpreting Half-Gods a a Iornandes de Reb. Getic . cap. 13. & Abb. Vrspergensis . , or men aboue common human fortune , and applied by them to their Chieftains valorously bearing themselues in the Warres , and their posteritie . Whence good conceit , of manie , deriues that Name of the Hanfiatique Societie , beginning b b Chytraeus Chronic. Sax. et Vic. aliq . Gent. lib. 23. about M. CC. of Christ some while before Frederique the second . But , it seems , they had no more or other known Ensignes of Nobilitie , then as the Sueuians , who had anciently Prerogatiue in Omni c c Lamb. Schoffnaburgensis . expeditione Regis Teutonici , exercitum praecedere , & primi committere , in like sort as mongst our old English the Kentish men d d Io. Sarisburiens . de Nug. Curial . lib. 6. c. 18. had the honor due to them alwaies of being in the Vantgard , and those of Wiltshire , with Cornwall and Deuonshire , in the Rere , which they all might chalenge by the continuall worth of their performance . That was their Badge , therein their Glorie . But , after that Armes grew hereditarie in Europe mongst Christians ( for Turks paint them not , e e Septemcastrens . cap. 10. saith my Autor ) by a generall consent ( which is , vpon good ground , thought to haue had its beginning from the Holie Warres , the Posteritie thinking it a speciall Glorie to beare the same Coat which the Ancestor had displayed or shewed in his Shield in defence of the Christian Name ; and so with vs f f Clarent . in Reliq. pag. 180. about Henrie III. they became more hereditarily establisht ) when the Prince ennobled any , he vsually gaue him the particular of his Bearing in Blazon . An example thereof in England , it being also , to another purpose , worth obseruation , I here insert . Richard II. gaue one Iohn of Kingston a Coat , and made him an Esquire , so to ennable him to perform some feats of Armes with a French Knight . The Copie of the g g Part. 1. Pat. 13. Rich. 2. Memb. 37. Consimile Bernardo Angennine Consiliario Regis in Ducatu Aquitaniae , Rot. Vascon . 23. Hen 6. Memb. 7. Record is thus litterally . Le Roy a tous ceux as queux cestes lettres viendront , salute . Saches , que come vn Chiualer Franceys à ceo que nous sumus enformes ad chalenge vn nostre liege Iohn de Kingston a faire certains faits & points d'Armes , ouesque le dit Chiualer , Nous a fyn que le dit nostre liege soit le meulz honorablement resceuz & faire puisse & perfourmir les dits faits & points d'Armes , luy auons resceuz en l'estate de Gentile home & luy fait Esquier , & volons que que il soit conus per Armes & porte desorenauant , cestassauoir , D'Argent one vn Chaperon d'Azure ouesque vn Plume d'Ostriche de Geules . Et ceo a touts yceux , as queux y appertient , nous notisons per ycelles . En testmoynance de quelle chose , nous auons fait faire cestes nos Lettres Patents , dones souz nostre Grant Seale a nostre Paleys de Westminster , le primer iour de Iuyll . Per Briefe de Priuy Seale . Neither was , in ancient Rome , wanting a kind of hereditarie Ensignes peculiar to Families , as the Torquis or Collar to the Torquati , the Haire , or a kind of Ius Capillitij ( it seems ) to the Cincinnati , the surname of Great to the Pompeys , which is plain by that relation of h h Sueton. lib. 4. cap. 35. Caligula : Vetera Familiarum Insignia Nobilissimo cuique ademit , Torquato Torquem , Cincinnato Crinem , Cncio Pompeio Stirpis antiquae Magni Cognomen . So , all of the Draconteum i i Hygin . Fabul . 72. genus about Thebes were known by a speciall note on their bodies , and Seleucus k k Iustin. Hist. 15. his posteritie by the forme of an Anchor on the thigh . Filij , Nepotèsque eius Ancoram in femore ( saith Iustin ) veluti notam Generis naturalem habuere . Neither was anie one admitted to pretend himself of the Pelopidae , if hee had m m Iulian. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. that token for an Ensigne of his Familie , that is , the Iuorie shoulder , or one as white . But these were the Notes only of their Familie , not of Nobilitie , consisting in Rome only in the Images , as , that of our times , in Coat-Armors , which , as Images , expresse the worth of such as haue born them , it being supposd ( in warlike Nations especially after those Martiall successes against the profest enemies of Christianitie , about CD . and D. yeers since ) that the Warres was n n Synes. Epist. 104. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. as if you should say , an exact triall of a Braue spirit . And hence , of later time , both Men of the Sword and Gown , Gens de Robbe courte , & Robbe longue , as well Togati as Armati haue this Note of Armes giuen them for their Ensigne of Nobilitie ; although clerely a Prince may ennoble without that ( it being the signe , not substance , or cause ) as you may see in that Ordinance , to this purpose , of o o Ordonnances du France , Tom. 3. tiltre 5. Henrie III. of France in M. D. LXVI . The Disputation of Ciuill Nobilitie , with the particular appendants thereon , commonly discussed , would take vp more roome then this Volume . It s , at large , enough in Andrè Tiraquel specially . Here only are those titles which haue precedence of this of lowest Gentrie . In deliuerie of them , I haue vsed Autorities of best choise , without the vain ambition of citing more then I needed . The Best or First I took alwaies for Instar Omnium ; and , when common course of Times would tell an vnderstanding Reader where I had my Relation , I discharged my selfe of reference to the Reporter . Taking libertie also of beeing iealous , where euer my inquisition might aid , I vent to you nothing quoted at second hand , but euer lou'd the Fountain , and , when I could come at it , vsd that Medium only , which would not at all , or least , deceiue by Refraction . Multùm , crede Mihi , refert , à Fonte bibatur Qui fluit , an pigro quae stupet vnda Lacu . But where euer I was driuen to take vp on other mens credits , I acknowledge it . Nor if , that Aristophanes which was the only sufficient p p Uitruu . inpraesat . ad lib. 7. Iudge at the Trialls , of worth in Learning , instituted by Ptolemie Philadelphus , were present at my Recitalls , should hee once find me play the base Plagiarie . There are , which haue in part handled some of my Titles , and as their Purpose . I abstain from comparison . Those which haue done well , iustifie themselues ; and them my Page or Margine often thanks . Diuers , I know , haue aduenturd on pieces of the Subiect , and come off with small merit in the state of Literature . In regard of comprehension , I dare chalenge precedence and primacie . Both the Mahumedan States and the European Christendome , their Titularie Honors and the appendant Ensignes are what with curious Examination I haue deliuered . Nor doubt I , but that to Stories also of the Midle and Ancient times , both Greek and Latin , hence may bee some good Light had , and that not vnworthie their eyes which merit their Place in the learned Rank . Why not ? How ere my sufficiencie be , some of them know , that the vnderstanding of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. Tata , in holie q q Ies. cap. 14. com . 23. Writ is referd by the r r Kimchi in Rad. apud Reuchlin . in vers . R. Nathanis Mordechai . Rabbins to a Chambermaid that askt hir Mistresse for a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sweep the house withall , whence one of them hearing her , before not knowing what it was , collected it was a Broom , and that the Verb was to sweep . As in hir question , so in my Discourses may occurre what manie a knowing man , if ingenuous , will thank mee for . Alius s s Auson . in Epist. ad Symmach. in Eidyll . II. enim alio plura inuenire potest , Nemo omnia . To Others , which are but louers of this kind of learning , I dare promise much of what they neuer before met with , not without reformation of diuers errors , possessing them with the vulgar : Perhaps with the Learned . As in diuers like that of Crowns and Diadems , which all haue hitherto taught to haue been mongst Royall Notes most anciently in Europe . I presume I haue sufficiently manifested the contrarie , and answerd their vrged Autorities , producing also one out of Euripides his Orestes , seeming stranger against my part then anie other : which , when I was to vse , and hauing not at hand the Scholiast ( out of whom I hoped some aid ) I went , for this purpose , to see it in the well-furnisht Librarie of my beloued friend that singular Poet M. Ben : Ionson , whose speciall Worth in Literature , accurat Iudgment , and Performance , known only to that Few which are truly able to know him , hath had from me , euer since I began to learn , an increasing admiration . Hauing examin'd it with him , I resolud vpon my first Opinion , and found , as I ghesse , a New but more proper Interpretation of the Place , wherein I was confirmd afterward also by the iudicious approbation of a man verie learned ( but especially in the Greek ) and of most readie memorie , M. Arthur Best , to whose continuall Kindnesse and Instruction too , I shall alwaies acknowledge my self much bound . And hence may you be confident , that the interpretation of Pythagoras his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is not to bee referd to Royall Diadems , or Kings , as some will , vnlesse hee meant it to those of Asia , with whom indeed hee had spent some time . Either he wisht in it that you should not take from another his Crown , Reward , or Palme , or that you should not wrong or corrupt the Laws , as S. Hierom t t In Respons. aduers. Ruffin . Epist. 41. expressely interprets it , by Leges Vrbium conseruandas ; which is well iustified by a Pythagorean , concurring therein , and giuing u u Malchus in vita Pithagorae . the reason , because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. The Laws are the Crowns or Inclosures of the Commonwelth . In promising more such , I will perform my word . If I leaue vntoucht something , which may be lookt for , of the Mahumedan States , referre it rather to my wants of Instruction then Negligence . As they are farre from vs , so Relations of them are oft vncertaine , and of a cozening Credit , especially those of the Midle times , when Ignorance rode in Triumph . And , vntill that most learned Leunclaw and Busbeque , what of them was well known ? Litle , especially to our purpose . Nay , euen in this European Light of vnderstanding , how currant went that idle Deduction of the Persian Sophi from Wollen Tulipants ? It hauing Origination in the Sophilar , Sophi , or Suffi ( lar is but the Turkish termination plurall ) that were both of a reformd or separated Religion , as also a speciall Sect in Philosophie , Quorum scientia est per infusionem ab Intelligentijs , non per acquisitionem Doctrinae , as x x In Auicenn . de Anima Aphorism . 9. & de ijs plura in eiusdem lib. de Definit . et quaesitis . V. pag. 107. infra . Andrew Alpag , well skilld in their Tongue and Learning , according to their own conceits , saith of them . How the Ethiopian Emperor ( whom wee corruptly call Prester Iohn ; and Elias y y Masoreth Hammasoreth praefat. 3. Vide part 1. pag. 88. Leuita writs him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Priti Ioan ) hath been ignorantly wrongd by such as so mist both his Name and Territorie , is seen in too much Testimonie . But of these , and the like , in due place . In our Europe , as Writers afforded occasion , I haue been large : omitting , I think , no obsolet Title , the knowledge whereof may help to the vnderstanding of those in present vse . The like I say of Ensignes . But such as were meerly proper to their times , and haue not so much as their shadow left , I haue willingly forborn . Among these , is the ancient Ius Capillitij in France , whence you must interpret the Storie of Q. Crothild , that , when hir sonnes , on whom shee purposd to haue setled the Crown against Hlothar and Hildebert , were brought to her from them with a paire of Scissors and a Sword , by Arcadius offering her the choise , whether shee would haue them shauen or put to death , answered z z Greg. Turonens . Hist. 3. cap. 18. Aimon . de Gest. Franc. 2. cap. 12. Satius mihi est , si ad Regnum non eriguntur , mortuos eos videre , quam tonsos . For the shauing or cutting their Haire was a putting them into the condition of subiects . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( saith Agathias ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. It was not lawfull for the French Kings to cut their haire , but from their Infancie it was continually permitted to grow , which they ware hanging down their backs , curiously combd , and done with diuers * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . such things as were fit for keeping it in neatest fashion : and this was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a speciall Ensigne and honor of the Royall Line , which no subiect , in whom the hope of Succession was not , might wear ; and hence took the vain Grecians occasion of that fabulous assertion , wherein they supposd those of the French Line to be bristled on the back like Hogs , and calld them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. as if you should say , Bristle-backt . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( are the words of George Cedren ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. those of the Royall Line were calld Cristati , quod interpretatur ( so are the words of an a a Landulph . Saga● Miscell . 22. ex Theophane forsan , vnde & Cedrenus fortè . old Historian exactly interpreting this out of a Grecian ) Trichorachati . Pilos enim habebant in spina veluti Porci : which the rather I cite , to shew that Hotoman's coniecture vpon that place of Cedren , thinking it to be corrupt , is idle . Neither need it moue , that they so ill interpreted Cristati . What 's more common mongst them then mistaking of like kind ? This Custome of wearing long haire continued in the French Kings , till about Lewes the yonger , when b b Circ. A. M. c. I. X. Autor Reliquiarum . Peter Lombard , Bishop of Paris , dissuaded them from it . It was in fashion also to be worn long 'mongst our Soueraigns till Henrie v. as is collected by their Seales . And by that of France , may bee interpreted the c c Henr. Huntingdon . hist. 6. Distich to William the first , Caesariem , Caesar , tibi si Natura negauit , Hanc Willielme tibi stella comata dedit Made vpon the Comet appearing in Easter weeke before Harold's ouerthrow , expressing , as if the Autor had first plai'd on Caesar's baldnesse , and then by Apostrophe told the Conqueror , that the Comet or Faxed Starre ( as the old English and most significant word is ) portended him Caesariem or Capillitium , alluding to the Ius Capillitij of France , as it was a note Royall . For , common opinion then supposd the Comet a token of his future Conquest . Of this nature is that of the old Emperors d d Herodian . lib. 〈◊〉 . Xenoph. Cyropaed . 8. et v. Lips. ad 1. Tacit. Annal. num. 42. hauing Fire in a Lamp carried before them , which the Persian Kings also had . And likewise those the Spear , Crown of Thornes , Nailes of the Crosse , Sword , Robes , and Diadem of Charles le Maign , all which e e Annal. Boior . 5. Auentin thus remembers : Germani Imperatores apud Proauos nostros , Hastam , Coronam spineam , Clauos ( quibus Christum seruatorem nostrum excruciatum constat ) insuper Ensem , Purpuram , Diadema Caroli Magni progerere secum solebant . But hee saies , that Sigismund the Emperor laid them A. M. CDX . to be kept , as precious Reliques , at Norimberg , where they are to be seen , hauing been all before vsually caried with the Emperors , vt peculiaria sacrosancti Imperij Penetralia , Caesareaeque Maiestatis Auspicia . These , the strewing of the Emperors way with Gold-Dust and the like , as obsolet I am silent of , as also such as are so particular ( rather of Custom , then Greatnesse ) that this place not so well fitted them . As that of Sealing in white Wax appropriated by the French to their King . I l n'y a autre Prince Chrestien ( saies one f f Du Haillan liure 3. of them ) que seel in Cire blanche que luy , les autres seelent en cire rouge ou verde ( he might haue added ou iaune ) & touts les autres Potentats sont armez en leurs seels , & nos Roys seuls aux leurs , sont vestus d'habits Royaux , & en Roys iusticier non armez . This sealing in White Wax was permitted to Renè King of Sicilie by Lewes XI . in M. CD . LXVIII . But matters of this nature are scarce more belonging to our Chapter of Royall Ensignes ( for thither , if anie whither , they should be referd ) then that of the rosting the whole Ox at Francfort , at the Emperors inauguration , or such like . In most of what I haue done , Testimonies of Times past are my Warrants . Securus licet Aeneam , Rutulúmque ferocem Committas : nulli grauis est percussus Achilles . For more safetie , I obseru'd that admonition . This iealous Age would make a man do it where hee needed not . But my Reader shall misse nothing the more of what may , to the proposed end , furnish him . If where I dispute of Dukes , Marquesses , Counts , and such , you find not so much out of old Ciuilians ( I mean the elder Doctors and Commentators ) as might bee heapt vp from them to that purpose , blame mee not . I professe not the reading them , yet could haue vsed them , but was not willing to load my Margine with their names . Where they talke of Meum and Tuum , when their Autoritie is requisit , they deserue to bee heard . In things , of this nature , to bee extracted out of Storie and Philologie , they cesse to bee Doctors , nay , are scarce Alphabetarians , euen the whole Rank of them ; vntill you come to the most learned Budè , Alciat , Hotoman , Cuias , Wesenbeck , Brisson , the Gentiles , and some few more of this Age , before whom the Bodie of that Profession was not amisse compard to a faire Robe , of Cloth of Gold , or of Richest Stuff and Fashion , g g Rablais l●ure 2. chap. 5. Qui fust ( sauing all mannerly respect to you , Reader ) brodee de Merde . The reason of the Similitude is known to anie that sees such impudent barbarisme in the Glosses on so neat a text , which from Iustinian ( hee died DLXV. ) vntill Lothar II. ( hee was Emperor M. C. XXV . ) lay hidden and out of vse in the Western Empire , nor did anie there , all that time , professe or read it . But when Lothar took Amalfi , hee there found an old Copie of the Pandects or Digests , which hee gaue as a precious Monument to the Pisans ( hence it was called h h U. Ang. Politian , lib. 10. Epist. Marquard . Breisacio . Litera Pisana ) from whom it hath been since ( in M. CD . XC . VI. ) translated to Florence , where , in the Dukes Palace , it is , almost with Religion , preserued , and neuer brought forth but with Torches , Light , and other Reuerence . Vnder this Emperor Lothar , began the Law to be profest at Bologna , where i i Odofredus apud Sigonium de Regno Italiae , lib. 11. et 7. Irner or Werner ( as Conrad à Lichtenaw calls him ) first made Glosses on it about the beginning of Fr. Barbarossa , in M. C. L. and by the fauor of this Lothar , was Bologna , vpon the aduise of Irner , it seems , constituted to bee k k Verba Lotharij ap. P. Merul. Cosmog . part. 2. lib. 4. cap. 33. Legum & Iuris Schola vna & sola . And here was the first Time and Place of that Profession in the Western Empire . But Iustinian expressely ordaind , that none should teach the Ciuill Lawes , except l l Constit. de Iuris docendi rat . §. Haec autem . only in Constantinople , Rome , and Berytus : which , although Bartol interprets ( as of necessitie he was driuen , to maintain his Profession ) with Nisi tempore ius Academiae sit quaesitum , yet why then was Bologna no place for the Laws vnder . Iustinian ? for , they pretend there , to haue been as an Vniuersitie from the Grant of Theodosius the yonger in CD . XXIII . Plainly vnder Iustinian , who euer had taught out of one of those three Cities , was Denarum librarum * * About thirtie pounds of our monie . auri poena plectendus , and to be banisht out of the Citie where hee durst so professe . Neither would the matter of being a Vniuersitie haue helpt it . But before Lothar , the Gouernment was by the Salique , m m Sigon . de Reg. Ital. 4. et 8. sub A. 1007. Lombardian , and Roman Laws ( the Roman beeing some piece of what had been vsd in Rome ) euerie one liuing according to either of them as hee would make choise . About the same time also the two Bastard brothers ( by whose worth , and of the third , Peter Comestor , their Mother thought shee should bee sau'd , neither would repent , but trusted to hir merit in bearing three so famous ) Gratian a Monk in Bologna , and Peter Lombard at Paris , one made the Decree , the first Volume autorised for Can on Law by Pope Eugenius III , and the other the Sentences . Such as since haue writen on the Digests 〈◊〉 Code , vntill the cleerer light of Learning began mongst our Fathers talk for the most part like . Rablais his Bridoye . Some , most honord of later time , that vnderstood their Text , and studied the Laws , as well because they would curiously know , as bee meerely * * Continuall Practisers . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue , with iudgment , instructed in part of this Purpose . The Margine confesses , without blushing , their and all other mens helps . If either Enuie or Ignorance question how I , bred from the bottome of Obscuritie , and so farre from Court-Custome , should dare at these Honors , let it know , I learn'd long since from a Great Clerk ( that Robert Bishop of Lincoln vnder Henrie III ) That there was , in Libraries , greater aid to the true vnderstanding of Honor , and Nobilitie , then mongst Gold and Purple outsides . Hee beeing demanded by the King , Vbi n n Io. de Aton in Constit. Othoboni tit . de Bonis Intestat . verb. Baronum . Moraturam didicit , quâ Filios Nobilium Procerum Regni , quos secum habuerat Domicellos , instruxerat , cum non de Nobili prosapia , sed de simplicibus , traxisset originem , fertur intrepidè respondisse , that hee was taught it in the Courts of greater Princes then the K. of England , meaning of those Ancients , whose Courts were represented in his Volumes of Storie . In Coniectures I durst not bee too bold . Where but meer fancie can direct , it were ridiculous to regard them ; but when they seem to offer themselues , they deserue the choise of Iudgment . That Religious abstinence of the old Iews , who referd all such Dignos vindice Nodos , as were too difficult for their humanitie , to Elias his resolution , were good to be proportionably more obseru'd in all Learning , especially by those which are ( and too manie are ) so vnfortunat in their ghesses , that on the apparantly worst of diuers they often insist . Malicious Censure I regard not , Ingenuous I honor . Reader , Farewell .