The constitution of parliaments in England deduced from the time of King Edward the Second, illustrated by King Charles the Second in his Parliament summon'd the 18 of February 1660/1, and dissolved the 24 of January 1678/9 : with an appendix of its sessions / observed by Sr. John Pettus ... Knight.

Concerning an Annuity of twenty Marks granted in the Patent of Creation.

21. IMmediately after the words gaudent and utuntur (in the Sciatis at large, a little before mention'd) these words follow: viz.

Et quoniam aucta status & dignitatis cel∣situdine necessario crescunt sumptus & acce∣dunt onera grandiora: ut predictus A. & heredes masculi sui predicti melius decentius & honorificentius statum honorem & digni∣tatem predictam Vicecomiti N. ac Onera ipsi A. & heredibus suis masculis predictis in∣cumbentia manutenere & supportare valeat, Ideo de uberiori gratia nostra dedimus & concessimus eidem A. & heredibus masculis de Corpore exeuntibus feodum sive annualem redditum tresdecim librarum sex solidorum & octo denariorum legalis monet' Angliae. Habendum & percipiendum annuatim di∣ctum feodum sive annualem redditum tres∣decim librarum sex solidorum & octo dena∣riorum eidem A. & heredibus suis masculis de Corpore Exeuntibus de exitibus profi∣tuis, et reventionibus magnae & parvae custumae et subsidijs nostris nobis concessis sive debitis seu imposterum nobis heredibus seu successoribus nostris concedendis sive de∣bendis

provenientibus crescentibus sive emer∣gentibus infra portum Civitatis nostrae Londi∣ni per manus Custumariorum sive Collectorum nostrorum heredum et successorum nostrorum custumarumet subsidiorum nostrorum heredum et successorum nostrorum ibidem pro tempore existentium ad festum Pasche et Sancti Mi∣chaelis Archangeli per equales portiones vo∣lumus, &c. abs{que} fine hanaperio, &c. et quod Expressamentio, &c. and so concludes, in cujus, &c. Teste, &c.

(too tedious to re∣cite) making above one Hundred words more: and almost the like is to an Earl for 20 l. per annum, so as the Money gi∣ven will scarce pay for the words written, or but little left to support such a Dignity, unless the meer expression of the ube∣rious munificence of the Donor be suffi∣cient.

Sure it was less chargeable, and as effe∣ctual when the words of the whole Pa∣tent of Creating the Earl of Essex, tem∣pore H. 2. and others in other Kings Reigns was only thus: viz.

Do & concedo G. de M. pro servitio suo, & heredibus suis post eum hereditabiliter ut sit Comes de Essexia, & habeat tertium dena∣riorum Vicecomitatus de placitis, sicut Comes habere debet in Comitatu suo.

So here was both the Honor, the Service, and the Re∣ward mention'd in less then thirty words.

There is nothing alledged for the length of these Patents, but that the latter Ages (as 'tis said) are more cautious than the former, and that abundans cautela (say we) non nocet, which occasions an abun∣dance of words more than anciently were in use.

As to the sinalness of the Creation-Mo∣ney, those who have taken pains in Writing about raising of the price of Money, both Gold and Silver, since Edward the Third's time, tell us, That there are three ways of raising it; First, By encreasing the Va∣lue of it, that is by giving more parts to it than originally it had, as by ordaining an Angel of Gold to be valued at a 11 s. which was Coin'd for 10 s. or a Shilling, to be valued at 14 d. The Second, By di∣minishing the Matter, but leaving the same Name and Value to the Money which it had before, as when Angels or Shillings are Coin'd by the same Name and Value as before, but diminished some Grains in the weight; or if new Names be given to them, and the same Value retain'd, but the weight diminished, for in this case there being really less Gold or Silver in weight in the price than was before, and the va∣lue remaining the same, this Silver and Gold which remains hath an high price set upon it. The Third is, When the Va∣lue

remaining the same, of the Species of Money, and the Weight the same, the fineness is abated by putting more Allay to it, so as really then there is less Gold or Silver in fineness (for it is supply'd by Copper (which is usually the Allay to either) whereby the Weight is made the same as before, but the Fineness so much less. They further tell us, That the Cau∣ses of these Allays, are first the Gain which the States make by it, the better to supply themselves in their necessities for Money; the other Cause is an Art which all States do frequently use (as it were) to rob one another of their Money, by vying one upon another, who shall raise their Money highest; and this occasions the raise and fall of Exchanges of Money among our Merchants, which is a Mystery worth the knowing, by every one that serves in Parliament, thereby to prevent Injuries, and to maintain the Honour and Profit of our Kingdom.

But whatever uncertainties are in the raise or fall of Money, this is certain, That 20 l. per Annum, in those days, did go as far (if not farther) in managing Mens occasions (where Money was to be us'd) as 200 l. per Annum now; and one great Reason was, Because in almost all matters of Wars or Peace, the Tenants

were obliged by their Tenures, to supply their Lords, especially in Provisions for Hospitality and Labour, without Wages, or very little, so as a little Money was lookt on as a great Reward, as may be seen in the Tenure of the Lord of the Mannor of Carlton in Norfolk, who is oblig'd every year, with himself and his Servants, to present to the King a certain number of Herrings from the City of Norwich, (with which the Town of Tarmouth are oblig'd by their Patent to supply that City for that purpose) and after three days stay, upon delivery of the Herrings to the King, the Lord of Carlton is to be presented by the Master of the Green-Cloth with a Groat, to buy him a pair of Gloves, as a full Re∣compence of his Trouble, and this con∣tinues to this day.

So as if we look upon the gift of 20 Mark, or 20 l. according to the present Adequa∣tion of Money, to the rates of other things, it may seem a Sum derogatory to the Ho∣nour of the King that gives it, as to him that receives it, and therefore it must be considered as the Groat, a Gift of Anti∣quity, Noble and Liberal in its first Inten∣tion; but had the large Encomium to it (before recited) been as ancient as the Gift, I should not at this time have taken notice of its exuberancy. However (in

pursuance of my Design) these Patents of Creations do intitle them where to sit in the Lords House, &c.

Thus having done with the Patents which concern the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, I intended to have writ some∣thing here concerning the Antiquity and present Use of Seals and Labels to Patents and Writs, and of various Superscriptions to the Lords and Commons, &c. as also of Wax, Parchment, &c. (as necessary Utensils for carrying on the Constitution of a Parliament) but I shall reserve the Discourse of them till I have past through the Parliament-Writs, as well concerning the House of Lords as House of Commons, and Convocation-Houses, and so now pro∣ceed to the General Titles given to the Grandees of the House of Lords, viz. Nobles, Lords, and Peers.