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.

Observations on the Names and Titles of our English Kings.

THe Learned Mr. Selden having be∣stowed an Excellent Addition to Libraries, by his book of the Titles of Ho∣nour, and Sr. Edward Cook thinking it a necessary part of his Institutes, for a Stu∣dent to be well vers'd in the several Titles of our Kings, and knowing that the sub∣stance flowing from those Titles are the chief Subjects which are handled in Par∣liaments, I think fit to give a light touch (by way of Preface) to the seueral words of the Title in the Kings Warrant, as also in the Title of his Latin Writs, which are mentioned so often in the following dis∣courses. viz.

Charles the Second by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Carolus Secundus Dei Gratia Rex An∣gliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, De∣fensor Fidei, &c.

First, It may be observed that all our Kings before, and since the coming in of the Normans, have been Usher'd into that

Regal Dignity by their Christian Names, whereof from that time we have Ten seve∣ral Appellations. viz.

One Stephen, 1 John, 1 Mary, 1 Eli∣zabeth, 1 James. 2 Williams, 3 Richards, 6 Edwards, 8 Henrys, 2 Charles, but of all these Ten Names Charles must have the Honour of Priority given to it.

To prove this, I shall trace their Pro∣gresses through Empires, Kingdoms, Prin∣cipalities, and States, under Secular Go∣vernours, (not medling with Ecclesiasti∣cal) and [ I] first of the Name Carolus, or Charles, Concerning which, I shall not goe so far back as Charellus Prince of Lacede∣mon, but since Christianity was first,* 1.1 I find that the Name Charles or Carolus (for they are agreed to be the same) had its first splendor from Charles Surnam'd Martill (a French King) in Anno 714. (who was the first that had the Title of Most Christi∣an King and from whom came Caroloman and Charlemain in Anno 778) and after viz. in Anno 800 the Name of Charles went into the Empire, and in Anno 1119 into Flanders, In Anno 1150 into Swethland, In Anno 1263 into Naples and Sicily, In Anno 1310 into Hungary, In Anno 1346 into Bohemia, In Anno 1601 into Scot∣land, (King Charles the first being there Born,) And in Anno 1625 into England,

(the same Charles being then King) so as our Present King Charles the 2d Immediate Heir to Charles the 1st. is the Second King of that Name in England, and Scotland, and that Name of Charles is the first of any of the aforesaid Ten Names affixt to any Diadem in Europe.

[ II] Edwardus or Edward,* 1.2 began but in the time of Edward the Elder, who was the 24th. King of the Saxon Race and 25th. Monarch of England, And he in Anno 901 gave the first reputation to it, In Anno 1332 it went into Scotland, And in Anno 1334 Carried into France by our Edward the third (who laid Claim to that Crown) And in Anno 1433 it went into Portugal, continuing still in England (with some in∣terpositions of other Names) till Queen Mary came to the Crown in Anno 1553.

[ III] Henricus or Henry began in the Empire of the East,* 1.3 Anno 919, and in Anno 1101 came into England, from thence Anno 1192 it went into Bohemia, thence Anno 1206 to the Emperour then at Constantinople in Greece, In Anno 1214 to the Kingdoms of Leo, and Castile, In Anno 1271 to the Kingdom of Navarr, In Anno 1422 carried into France by our Henry the 6th. (who was then Crown'd in Paris King of France) And in Anno 1573 it went into Poland, so as this Regal Name of Henry

continued in England from Anno 1100 (with some interpositions) till Edward the 6th. Anno 1546.

[ IV] Stephanus or Stephen the 1st. that made his Name famous was Stephen a Martyr for Christianity,* 1.4 but it was not annext to any Regal Title, till Anno 997 in Hungary, and thence in Anno 1135 it came into England, (yet never fixt there, but on one King) And in Anno 1576 it went into Poland.

[ V] Guilielmus or William began first as a Regal Title in Sicily and Naples,* 1.5 Anno 1023 and thence, and in Anno 1066 it came into England, where it never fixt but on two Kings.

[ VI] Johannes or John,* 1.6 the first who made this Name famous was John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, but it was not a Regal Title till Anno 1118 and then the Emperour of the East assum'd it, And in Anno 1199 it came into England, (deter∣mining in one King) from thence in Anno 1222 it went to the Emperour at Adria∣nople, And thence in Anno 1303 into Scot∣land, In Anno 1310 into Bohemia, In Auno 1350 into France, In Anno 1379 Into Leon and Castile, In Anno 1383 into Ar∣ragon, In Anno 1387 into Portugal, In Anno 1405 into Flanders, In Anno 1418 to Navarr, In Anno 1478 to Denmark, and

way, In Anno 1492 to Poland, And in Anno 1597 to Hungary.

Note, that there were 23 Popes of this Name John, and 10 Stephens, but I here speak only of the Regal Names of Secular, not Ecclesiastick Princes, and it may be observed, that none of the Popes have taken on them any of our 10 Regal Names Ex∣cept John and Stephen.

[ VII] Richardus or Richard,* 1.7 was not a Regal Title till Anno 1189 and then it came first into England, and continued (with some interpositions) till Anno 1485 when Hen. the 7th. came to the Crown, nor was the Name of Richard either before or after those years, fixt to any Regal Title in Europe, unless Ricarodos in Spanish do sig∣nifie Richard in English.

[ VIII] Jacobus or James,* 1.8 (not medling with Jacob the father of the Twelve Patriarchs, or James the Apostle but upon a Regal ac∣count it was not fixt to any King till Anno 1213, then it began with the King of Ar∣ragon, Thence in Anno 1286 into Sicily, and Naples, In Anno 1423 to Scotland, In Anno 1603 to England, given a Title to that happy Union of England, and Scot∣land by King James.

[ IX] Maria or Mary,* 1.9 had the suprem Ho∣nour to be Mother of our Saviour but it was not annext to any other Regal Title,

till Anno 1310 in Hungary, and from thence Anno 1476 to Flanders, Then in Anno 1542 to Scotland, And in Anno 1553 to England.

[ X] Elizabetha or Elizabeth,* 1.10 had the Ho∣nour to be Mother to John the Baptist, but was not annext to any Regall Title till Anno 1438 in Hungary and from thence Anno 1538 it came into England.

[ II] Thus having trac'd the Perambulation of their Ten Names through most parts of Europe I shall pass to the next Epithet in the Kings Title, viz.

Secundus or Second,* 1.11 and see when a Numeral Appellation was first made Titu∣lar to our Kings, and here it may be ob∣served that our Kings had Anciently Ad∣juncts to their Christian Names; to distin∣guish them from others of the same Name, as Edward the Elder, Edward the Confes∣sor, in the Saxons time, and in the Nor∣mans, William the Conquerour, and William Rufus and after him (other Titles signify∣ing their tempers) but not Numeral, till Henry (who was the 8th. of that Regal Name in England) and he in the 10th. year of his Reign did first begin to write himself Numerally Henricus Octavus: And after him Edward his Son did write himself Edwardus Sextus, and ever since in our Histories and Records, where there

hath been since William the first, two or more Kings of the same Christian Names; the Numeral Appellation is added, and there upon our present King Stiles himself in all Writs and Warrants, as well Parlia∣mentary as otherwise, Carolus Secundus or Charles the Second.

[ III] Gratia Dei by the Grace of God;* 1.12 Nei∣ther the Letters D. G. (denoting Dei Gra∣tia) nor the words Dei Gratia (or the Grace of God) were used as Adjuncts to our Kings Titles, till William Rufus his time and after that, there were some inter∣mixtures (as Sr. Edward Coke saith) but according to Mr. Speeds Medals and some others; the Letters D. G. and the words Dei Gratia were first us'd by Edward the Confessor,* 1.13 and constantly after William Rufus by every succeeding King without omission; [ IV] King or Cuning according to the British or Saxon Dialect (signifying the same with Rex) and is not us'd in any Parliamentary Writs, nor in any Circum∣scription of our Coins, but Rex (being a word as Ancient as the Latine Tongue is us'd in all our Writs, as well Parliamen∣tary as Judicial) and may be traced in our Coines from the begining of our Saxon Kings to the Danes with addition only of the Christian Name and then also Canutus the first of the Danes here, Stil'd himself

only Canutus Rex; and others who suc∣ceeded him, and Edward the Confessor (the fourth Danish King) and 37 Mo∣narchs of England sometimes wrot Edwar∣dus Rex, sometimes Edwardus Anglorum Rex, and sometimes Edwardus Anglorum Basilicus (according to the Greek word for King) so as the word Rex did goe along from the Britains to the Romans, Saxons, and Danes: Herald the last of that Race, and those before him writing only Rex with their Names, and so when the Nor∣mans Entred. William the first Stiled him∣self only Willielmus Rex, and so did the succeeding Kings seldom using the word Basilicus till King James time.

[ V] As to the Etymologies and Originalls of these and other words in this Title I shall leave them to my Annotations,* 1.14 but some∣time our Kings wrote Rex Angliae, and some times Rex Anglorum (ever from Edw. the Confessors time) Now what Anglia or England contains, every Geographer tels us that it is surrounded by the sea Except towards Scotland, and as to the diversity of Names several Chronologers tell us that it was Anciently call'd Albion by the Greeks; Iniswen by the Welch Poets, Insula Caeruly & Insula Florum by other Poets, and Britannia by the Greeks and Romans, Romania & Valentia only by the Romans

Angleand, England and Britain by the Saxons, but when the Saxon Heptarchy was United under King Egbert, he by his Edict Anno 819 ordain'd it more solemnly to be call'd Britain (containing England, Scotland, and Wales, yet notwithstanding this Edict, it was sometimes call'd Albion, sometimes Britain, and sometimes Eng∣land, and these various Appellations were us'd (as appears by History) under Ten successive Kings after that Edict, and then King Canutus the 10th. King from Egbert, and the first of the Danish Race, fixt the Name of England & that Name hath con∣tinued ever since, according to the Eng∣lish dialect; and Anglia according to the Latine (considered as disjoynted from Scotland, and Wales) but upon reduction of Wales by Henry the 8th. and by the happy Union with Scotland by King James: the Kings Title hath been more general, viz. Rex Magnae Britanniae, comprehend∣ing England, Scotland, and Wales, but not to be so understood in our Parliamen∣tary Writs for they are applicable only to England and Wales, and not to Scotland though Scotland be mentioned in the Writs, and it may be observed that this distinction of England and Scotland were united under the Name of Britain by King Egbert Anno 819 but after that they were

again disjoynted, and though both did continue so disjoynted neere 800 years yet now the Ancient Name of Britain is re∣stor'd (being bound by one Ocean and Govern'd by one King as it was 800 years before) and though it is now thus intire, yet England hath a distinct Parliament for its Laws, and Scotland a distinct Parlia∣ment for its Laws, and both distinctly con∣sisting of 3 Estates under one King, so as in all Writs for Summoning an English Parliament, though Scotland be mentioned yet the operation of the Writs can only be applyed to England.

[ VI] The addition of Scotland in the Title of our Parliament Writs,* 1.15 did begin with King James who happily united both Kingdoms as I said under one King, and so wrot him∣self Rex Angliae Scotiae &c. But they ne∣ver send any Representative to our Par∣liaments nor we to theirs yet the King of Scots before the union had a Chair allotted for him in the House of Lords but never sat there yet he was sometimes Summon'd as Earl of Huntington and so by vertue of that English Title might have sat there but not by his Regal Title untill the said union.

[ VII] Although we had several inlets to France by Normandy,* 1.16 Anjoy Poictors Tour∣ny Mayne &c. yet the addition of King of France to the Title of English Kings was

not till Edward the 3ds. time, who had a Just Title to it, and there upon did Quar∣ter the Armies of France, But Hen. the 6th. was actually Crown'd King of France in Paris, and from these two, the Title and right hath continued ever since (though dispossest) and as I shall shew in the second Part of this Treatise that Callis did send Burgesses to our English Parliaments, for many years till it was Lost by Qu. Mary.

[ VIII] * 1.17The Title of Rex Hiberniae was as An∣cient as our King Hen. the 2d. who created his Son John the King thereof, yet for what reason of State (otherwise then what I shall mention) in the 7th. Chapter) that Title of the King of Ireland was never an∣next to the regal Title of the Kings of Eng∣land till the 33d. of Hen. the 8th. and then to his other Titles he added Rex Hiberniae, before it was only Dominus, and their Par∣liaments, are fram'd like our English Par∣liaments, yet Subject to the Kings pleasure in confirming of their Laws here in Eng∣land, See more of this in Chap. 7th.

[ IX] As to this part of the Kings Title viz.* 1.18 Defender of the Faith, I shall speak more fully of it in the 7th. Chapter, Or &c. id est other Titles which were formerly, and may still be added as you may Read also in the 7th. Chapter,* 1.19 Section the 11 and 12.

[ X] Thus having past through the General

words of the Kings Titles in his Warrants. and Writs: now in observance to Sr. Ed∣ward Coke, I shall make a Summary of the particular Titles of our several Kings, from William the first Inclusive to this time, shewing what words were added or with∣drawn.

[ William I] When the Normans entred, William the first stil'd himself sometimes Willielmus Rex, and sometimes Rex Angliae & Anglo∣rum, (as other former Kings) Omitting Dei Gratia (as the Institutor saith though I am not satisfied therein) and not adding Primus.

[ William II] William surnamed Rufus had the same Title, yet sometimes adding Dei Gratia, not adding Secundus.

[ Henry I] Henry stil'd himself Rex Anglorum, and sometimes Dei Gratia Rex, not adding Primus.

[ Stephen I] Stephen did the like.

[ Henry II] Henry did the like but Omitted Dei Gratia (as Sr. Edward Coke saith) but in the Coins which Mr. Speed Exhibits to us his stile was Dei Gratia Rex Angliae Dux Normaniae & Aquitaniae & Comes Andega∣viae, not adding Secundus.

[ Richard I] Richard not adding primus us'd the same sometimes Changing the Declension, and the singular Number into the plural, viz. Dei Gratia, Rex Anglorum, Dux Normano∣rum

& Aquitaniarum & Comes Andegavi∣arum.

John us'd the same with Addition of Dominus Hiberniae.* 1.20

[ Henry III] Henry stil'd himself like his Father King John, till the 44 of his Reign, and then he left out Normaniae & Andegaviae, and writ only Dei Gratia, Rex Angliae, & Do∣minus Hiberniae, & Dux Aquitaniae, not adding tertius.

[ Edward I] Edward the 1st. and Edward the 2d. stil'd themselves like Henry the 3d.

[ Edward II] Edward us'd also the same stile till the 13 of his Reign,* 1.21 [ III] and then having, and Chal∣lenging a Just Title to all France he left out the parts of it (before mention'd) and stil'd himself Dei Gratia Rex Angliae, Fran∣ciae, & Dominus Hiberniae, not adding Ter∣tius.

[ Richard II] Richard and Henry, [ Henry IV] not adding Secun∣dus or Quartus stil'd themselves like Ed∣ward the 3d. from the 13 of his Reign.

[ Henry V] Henry not adding Quintus us'd the same stile till the 8th. of his Reign, and then writ himself Dei Gratia Haeres & re∣gens Franciae & Dominus Hiberniae.

[ Henry VI] Henry not adding Sextus being Crown'd King of France in Paris wrote Dei Gratia Rex Angliae, Franciae, & Dominus Hiber∣niae.

[ Edward IV] Edward, [ Richard III] Richard and [ Henry VII] Henry not adding

Quartus Tertius vel Septimus, stile them∣selves Dei Gratia Rex Angliae Franciae & Dominus Hiberniae.

[ Henry VIII] Henry writ also the same till the 10th. of his Reign as I said and then, and not be∣fore, he added a Numeral word to his Title and so made it, Henricus Octavus Dei Gra∣tia Rex Angliae Franciae & Dominus Hi∣berniae; Now as to the Additional Titles to Henry the 8th. after his 10 years they Consisted of so many varieties that I shall refer them to the 7th. Chapter of this Trea∣tise Section the 11) As also the Titles of Ed. the 6th. Q. Mary, Q. Elizabeth, K. James, and K. Charles the first.

In which Chapter and Section I con∣clude with the Title of our present King Charles the 2d. viz. Carolus Secundus Dei Gratia, Rex Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hi∣berniae, Fidei Defensor. viz. as in the War∣rant.

And so having shown how the ten Names of our Kings from the Normans have been dignified by Kings, Emperours &c. Especially the Name of Charles by its Pri∣ority which is the more remarkable, be∣cause that by Transposition only of its Let∣ters it doth Anagrammatise and render it

O CLARUS Anagram.
CAROLUS Anagram.

This Anagram may be applyd generally

to all of that Royal Name, and it may be one reason why so many Kings in Europe do at this day own that Name, and pos∣sibly another reason of assuming it, may be to amuse the World about Grebners Pro∣phecy, viz. that Carolus E stirpe Caroli, Erit Carolo Magno Major, but none can pretend to a greater interest in that Pro∣phecy, then our present King Charles the 2d. being so punctually and Signally ex stirpe Caroli.

How ever I am sure nothing can be more particularly Prognostical and Apply∣cable to any Regal Charles (then this fol∣lowing Anagram) to him being made when he was born Prince of Wales, which I have ever since kept safe by me.

CHARLES PRINCE OF WALES.
Anagram.
AL FRAVNCE CRIES O HELP VS.

As to the uses which shall be made on these regal Names, their Progresses and Anagrams (being not the proper Subject of this place) I shall refer them to my An∣notations and proceed to Observations on the Warrant of another Nature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Charles
• * 1.2

  Edward
• * 1.3

  Henry
• * 1.4

  Stepten
• * 1.5

  William
• * 1.6

  John
• * 1.7

  Richard
• * 1.8

  James
• * 1.9

  Mary
• * 1.10

  Elizabeth
• * 1.11

  Second
• * 1.12

  Grace of God.
• * 1.13

  King
• * 1.14

  England
• * 1.15

  Scotland
• * 1.16

  France
• * 1.17

  Ireland
• * 1.18

  Defender
• * 1.19

  &c.
• * 1.20

  John
• * 1.21

  Edward