Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 14.

Enter three Gentlemen.

1. Gent.

I Saw Prince Shaddow.

2. Gent.

What Prince is he?

1. Gent.

Why he is the Creating Princess's Husband, who made him a Prince.

3. Gent.

I thought no women could give Title to their Husbands, unless they had been Soveraigns.

2. Gent.

O yes, all women can give their Husbands Titles, if they please.

3. Gent.

What Title?

2. Gent.

Why the title of Cuckolds.

1. Gent.

Indeed most women do magnifie their Husbands by those Ti∣tles.

2. Gent.

But let me tell you, that those women that have Inheritary Ho∣nours, although not Soveraigns, may indue their Husbands with the same Honour: but it is not generally so; but his Children begot on her are in∣dued, and not the Husband, yet some Husbands are. As for Example; a Lord, Vicoun••, Earl, Marquiss, Duke, King, or Emperor, if the Honour, as Title, goeth to the Female, for default of a Male, in some Nations their Husbands are indued with their Titles, but not commonly known to be so in England; as a VVife with her Husband, which is only during life, and not Inhereditary: but if their Titles are only during life, and not Inhereditary, it cannot derive to another, that i•• not an Successor•• for Inhereditary Ho∣nour goe like Intailed Lands, it goeth only to the next Heir; but those that are the dignified, are like those that have Joynters, or Annuitles for life; so when a Husband receives a Dignity from a VVife, or a VVife from a Husband, it is but so much Honour for life.

1. Gentleman.

But if they have Children, those Children inherit the Ho∣nour.

2. Gentleman.

Yes, as having a right from that Parent that is the Digni∣fyer, but if there be none of the line of the Dignifyer, the Honour dies, nei∣ther is the root of the Honour left to any more than one: for though the branches of Honour spread to all the Children, yet the root remains but with one: For, say a King have many Children, they are all Princes, but yet there can be but one that can inherit the Crown and Royaltie: So if a Marquiss, or Duke have many Children, they are all Lords and Ladies, if they be lawfully, and in true VVedlock born, otherwise they are not: neither doth any more but one of the Legitimate Children inherit the Root, as to be Marquess or Duke, Dutchess or Marchioness: neither do the Daughters inherit, if there be Sons.

1. Gent.

But cannot a Dukes Daughter make her Husband a Prince?

2. Gent.

No, not except she hath the Inhereditary Honour: for if a Kings Daughter should marry a private Gentleman, he would remain as only in the Title of a Gentleman, unless the King did create a Title for him, or be∣stow a Title on him.

1. Gent.

VVhy? put case the Inhereditary Honour lay in the people, and they elect a King, hath that King no power to Create, or to give Ho∣nour?

2. Gent.

No, they may chuse Officers, but not give Titles, unless the peo∣ple did dispossess them of their hereditary power, and give it to any man, and then the root of Honour lyes in him.

1. Gent.

Nor doth his Children receive no Titles from their Father?

2. Gent.

No, for the Title he hath, is none of his, he hath it but during life, unless the people will give a Lease, as for two or three Lives, yet they nominate those two or three Lives: So neither can they dispose of their Leases, or alter them, but at the peoples pleasure; like as those that are made Governors, they cannot dispose of their Governments to whom they please, as without the leave of those that placed them in the Government, neither do his Children receive any Titles therefrom; like as a Lord Mayor, his Son is not my Lord Mayor after him, unless he is made one; nor his chil∣dren have no place by his Office, and an elective Prince, is but as a Lord Mayor, or rather like as a Deputy Governor, who as I said, may dispose of Places or Offices, but not give Dignities, Honours, or Titles.

1. Gent.

I thank you for your Information, for I was so ignorant, as I knew nothing of Heraldry.

Exeunt.