degree is known and distinguished by the several fashions of their Crowns; for a Vicounts Crown, which is the first degree of a Prince, is not like the Earls Crown, which is the second degree; nor an Earls Crown is not like a Marquisses Crown, which is the third degree; that is, t••ere is some dif∣ference in the Crown; nor a Marquisses Crown is not like a Dukes Crown, which is the fourth degree; nor a Dukes Crown is not like a close Imperi∣al Crown, which is the last and highest degree; that is, there is some dif∣ference in the Crown of each degree: Now there are Absolute Princes, Tributary, and Subject Princes, but none can be wholly call'd Absolute Prin∣ces, but those that have the Imperial Crown, which are Absolute Kings and Emperors, being the only chosen of God, and by that the only Creators of Titles; for they only are the Fountain, or Springs of Honour.
Madam Inquirer.
How comes it that Subjects are made Princes?
Lady True Honour.
By Adoption: for all Subject Princes are Princes by Adoption: that is, they are adopted to their Princely Dignity, so that by Adoption, they are the Cosens to Royaltie, and are called by their Sove∣raigns, Kings Cosens, and are adorn'd with Royal Robes, indued with Roy∣al Power, and observed with Royal Ceremony, and are allowed some Cu∣stoms and Imposts out of the Revenue of the Kingdom, and many privileges which belong to the Princely Dignities: Thus Kings call their Subject Princes, Cosens, as being adopted to their Princely Royaltie, like as all Ab∣solute Monarchs call each other Brother, as in relation to each others Roy∣alty: and being all of them Gods annointed, and appointed Deputies on Earth, for Government and Honour, they are the sacred Magistrates of God, the divine Fountains of Honour: Thus true Honour is derived from Heaven, and ought to be respected, and bowed too, as being divine: but in this age Honour is used, or abused, as other divine things are: this is the reason I will not visit the Apocriphal Ladies: for my Honour is derived from the sacred Spring of Honour, and is not a self-given Honour and Dig∣nity, which ought to be punished as a Presumption and Usurpation: but I have so much Honour, as not to abase the Honour and Dignity that my Husband, and his Fore-fathers were adopted too: And I by Marriage, be∣ing one with my Husband; for man and wife are but one, and my Husbands Honour being Inhereditary, succeeds to his Children; wherefore his Wife will never give place to Mountebanks.
Madam Inquirer.
Indeed the strange ridiculousness, and folly, and mad presumption is, that the Apocriphal Ladies take more State, or at least as much as sacred Royaltie.
Lady True Honour.
But if Royaltie will suffer such Heresies, and Hereticks in the Court of Honour, they are not to be lamented, if their Courts fall to utter ruine; for it is with Titles and Dignities, as with Laws; if there were no Laws, there would be no Government, and if there were no De∣grees and dignities, there would be no Royalty; so likewise if the Laws be corrupt and abused, Government will fall to ruin, and if Honour be abused and usurpt, Royaltie will fall from its Throne; but howsoever, I keep up the Right of my place, because it is the cause and interest of all the Nobili∣ty of my Country, so that if I should give place, I should be a Traytor to true Honour, and dignified Persons.