Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the Titles of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, since they were invested in the Crown of England, and who have been so created, with the time of their Creation.

I. KIng Henry the Third brought Lhewellin, Prince of North-Wales, into Subjection, and made Peace with Lhewellin, Anno Domini 1228. 12 Hen. 3. upon Condi∣tion that Lhewellin and his Successors should be called Princes, and do Homage to the Kings of England: Whereupon King Henry received from him three thousand Marks. Knighton, pag. 2436. And then King Henry made a Charter to Lhewellin, which was confirmed by the Pope.

Anno 25 Hen. 3. 1241. David the Son of Lhewellin obligeth himself to King Henry, to hold all his Lands in Capite of the King, and to free his elder Brother Griffith* 1.1, and Owen the eldest Son of Griffith, out of Prison, whom he had unjustly detained; and that the Land of Englesmere should remain to King Henry and his Heirs. Mat. Paris, put out by Wats, pag. 625 and yet did this David acknowledge to hold his Lands in Wales of the Pope, endeavouring to shake off the Yoke of his Fealty to the Kings of England: and Griffith promised by Sureties, if he obtained his portion of the Lands due unto him, to pay 300 Marks yearly to King Henry and to his Heirs for ever.

Now David rebelled, and after much perplexity and destruction of his Lands in Wales by King Henry, he died Anno 1246.

King Henry the Third, Anno Domini 1254. 38 Hen. 3. gave Wales to his eldest Son Prince Edward, by the Name of—unà cùm Conquestu nostro Walliae; as also Gascony, Ireland, and some other Territories recited in the Charter: This was upon the Mar∣riage of Prince Edward with Elinour, Sister to Alphonso King of Spain: Yet (saith Selden) notwithstanding the Grant of Wales, I find no warrant that therefore the special Title of Prince of Wales, as it belongs to the Son and Heir Apparent, began in this Prince Edward. Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 594. Matthew Westminster, sub Anno 1254. Also Matthew Paris, put out by Wats 1640. pag 890. Nor were the ancient Princes of Wales of the British Blood at this time quite extinct: for Wales was not absolutely subdued till this Prince Edward was King of England; Scilicèt 1283. 11 Edw. 1. So Stowe. Neither did this Edward, whiles he was Prince, ever assume the Title of Prince of Wales, as far forth as I can find.

And for the Earldom of Chester, Cambden saith it was given by Henry the Third to this Prince Edward, who, being taken Prisoner by the Barons, surrendred it up to Simon de Monifort Earl of Leycester, that he the Prince might be redeemed; Sed Simone statim interfecto, ad Regiam Familiam citò rediit. Cambden's Britannia, Tit. Cheshire, ad finem.

And indeed by the Charter of Maxfield, Dated 45 Hen. 3. 1261. This Prince Ed∣ward seems to be possessed of the County of Chester. Howbeit, in this Charter, and all others that I have seen, he useth onely the Title of—Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus, and not at all the Title of Comes Cestriae,

The Charter made to Simon de Montfort of the Earldom of Chester, bears Date 24 die Decembris, 49 Hen. 3. 1264. at Woodstock. Vincent upon Brook, pag 108. whereunto the King was forced to make his Peace: for both the King, and Prince Edward his Son, were then Prisoners to Simon, taken at the Battel of Lewis in Sussex, 12 die Maii, 48 Hen. 3. 1264. See Stowe. Yet Simon enjoyed it but a little space; for he was slain at the Battel of Evesham, the fourth day of August, 49 Hen. 3. 1265. and then all Montfort's Estate was forfeited by his Rebellion; and so the Earldom of Chester re∣verted back to Henry the Third: And I have seen the Copy of the Deed whereby Prince Edward confirms to the Barons of Cheshire, all the Liberties which Randle, sometime Earl of Chester, had formerly granted unto them by his Charter; and in this he is onely stiled—Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Primogenitus, Dated 27 die Augusti, 49 Hen. 3. which is but 23 Days after the Battel of Evesham: so that the Prince soon had the Earldom again; but I find not that he ever used the Title of Earl of Chester.

II. A Catalogue of all such Princes of England, as have been created Princes of Wales and Earls of Chester, and used these Titles.

1. EDward of Caernarven, fourth Son of King Edward the First, born at Caernarven in Wales, the twenly fifth of April 1284. was Summoned to the Parliament, An∣no 1303. 32 Edw. 1. being now the King's eldest Son living, [ 1303] by the Name of Ed∣ward Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Our most dear Son. Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 594. and was afterwards King of England, by the Name of King Edward the Second.

2. Edward of Windsor, eldest Son of King Edward the Second, born at Windsor Castle, 13 die Novembris 1312. 6 Edw. 2. had onely the Title of Earl of Chester and Flint in his Summons to the Parliament, 1322. 15 Edw. 2. being then scarce ten years old. [ 1322] Cambden's Britannia, Edita 1607. pag. 118. He was also Duke of Aquitain, and Earl of Pontive, created 19 Edw. 2. 1325. Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 599. and Stowe; and was (after he had deposed his Father) King of England, by the Name of King Ed∣ward the Third; Crowned February 1. 1326.

3. Edward of Woodstock, commonly called The Black Prince, eldest Son of King Edward the Third, born 15 Junii, 1330. 4 Edw. 3. was made Earl of Chester 7 Edw. 3. [ 1333] I find him stiled—Edwardus illustris Regis Angliae Filius, Comes Cestriae, in a Writ at Chester, Dated 13 die Aprilis. 9 Edw. 3. 1335. R. num. 18.

He was created Duke of Cornwall by Patent, Dated 17 die Martii, 11 Edw. 3. 1336. Habendum sibi, & haeredum suorum Regum Angliae Filiis Primogenitis: [ 1336] Per ipsum Regem, & totum Consilium in Parliamento. Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 752. And he was the first Duke in England, as that Title was now made a distinct Dignity; and by this Creation, not onely the first-born Son of the Kings of England, but the eldest living, are always Dukes of Cornwall, neither needed any new Creation of this Title, although sometimes we find it joyned with the Creation of the Title of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. Selden's Tit. Hon. qag. 754.

He was also created Prince of Wales by Patent, Dated 12 die Maii, 17 Edw. 3. 1343. Habendum sibi, & haeredibus suis Regibus Angliae in perpetuùm: Per ipsum Regem. [ 1343] Selden's Tit. Hon. pag. 595. And since this time the Title of Earl of Chester hath been usually joyned with that of Prince of Wales in the Patent. Selden ibidem, pag. 598.

So that now the Black Prince was Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester.

In the 40. of Edward the Third, his Stile was —Princeps Aquitaniae & Walliae, Dux Cornubiae, & Comes Cestriae, Lib. C. fol. 181. w. He died June 8. 1376. 50 Ed. 3. in the Life-time of his Father.

4. Richard of Burdeaux, Son and Heir to the Black Prince, was created Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester, by his Grandfather King Edward the Third, in Festo Sancti Michaelis, 1376. 50 Edw. 3. Stowe. But Walsingham names onely the

Title of Earl of Chester in Parliament, 1376. pag. 190. Others say he was after created Prince of Wales at Haveringe, 20 Novembris, 50 Edw. 3. Powel on the Welsh History, pag. 385. He had a special Charter for Duke of Cornwall, Anno 50 Edw. 3. Cooks Reports, lib. 8. fol. 30. for he was not eldest Son of the King, his Father dying before he enjoyed the Crown. This Richard was afterwards King of England, by the Name of King Richard the Second. And in Anno 1397. he erected the Earldom of Chester into a Principality, and ordained that no Grant should be made thereof to any Person but to the King's eldest Son onely, if it please the King to make him. See Stat. 21 Rich. 2. cap. 9. But this Parliament was wholly Repealed, 1 Hen. 4. cap. 3. which Henry deposed Richard the Second, and made himself King, 1399.

5. Henry, eldest Son of Henry the Fourth, born at Monmouth Anno 1388. was created Prince of Wales, [ 1399] Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester, about October 1 Hen. 4. 1399. in Parliament; and not long after was created Duke of Aquitain in the same Parlia∣ment, Stowe; and was afterwards King of England, by the Name of King Henry the Fifth. F. num. 99.

6. Edward, onely Child of King Henry the Sixth, born at Westminster, 13 Octobris 1452. 31 Hen. 6. Fabian, pag. 456. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in Parliament, [ 1452] March 15. 31 Hen. 6. 1452. and was murthered at the Bat∣tel of Teuksbery, May 4. 1471. 11 Edw. 4. See Vincent upon Brook, pag. 143, He was also Duke of Cornwall by Descent.

King Henry the Sixth was never created Prince of Wales, nor Earl of Chester; he was King whiles he was but an Infant of eight Months old.

7. Edward, eldest Son of King Edward the Fourth, born at Westminster November 4. 1470. 10 Edw. 4. was created Prince of Wales, [ 1471] and Earl of Chester, July 26. 1471. 11 Edw. 4. Vincent upon Brook, pag. 115. and in Anno 19 Edw. 4. He was made Earl of Pembroke and March. He was also Duke of Cornwall, and so Entituled; and was afterwards King Edward the Fifth, but was most barbarously murthered in the Tower by the procurement of his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester, Anno 1483. who usurped the Crown to himself.

8. Edward, the onely Child of King Richard the Third, created Earl of Salisbury, 1477. 17 Edw. 4. was also created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, by his Father, Au∣gust 24. 1483. 1 Rich. 3. being then about ten years old, [ 1483] and died about March 1484. in the Life-time of his Father.

9. Arthur, eldest Son of King Henry the Seventh, created Prince of Wales, and Earl of Chester, [ 1489] November 30. in 1489. 5 Hen. 7. and died without Issue at Ludlow, in April 1502. 17 Hen. 7. about the Age of sixteen Years, in the Life-time of his Father. He was also Duke of Cornwall by Birth.

10. Henry Duke of York, second Son of King Henry the Seventh, after the Death of his Brother Arthur, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, February 18. 1502. 18 Hen. 7. at the Age of eleven Years; [ 1502] and was afterwards King of Eng∣land by the Name of King Henry the Eighth.

11. Henry Stewart, eldest Son of James King of Great Britain, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, [ 1610] in Parliament, June 4. 1610. 8 Jacobi, and died Novem∣ber 6. 1612. 10 Jacobi, without Issue, in the Life-time of King James his Father. He was also Duke of Cornwall by Birth.

12. Charles Stewart, second Son of King James, born at Dunferling in Scotland, Nov. 19 1600. was Duke of Albany in Scotland; and was also created Duke of York in Eng∣land by his Father, at Whitehall in London, January 6. 1604. and after the Death of his Brother Prince Henry he was Duke of Cornwall: for the Case of the Dutchy of Cornwall (in Cook's Reports, lib. 8.) was Printed by his Majesty's special Command, 1613. 11 Jacobi where it is set forth, That by the Advice of the Privy Council it was clearly and absolutely Resolved, that Prince Charles (now the King's eldest Son) was in Right, and by virtue of the Statute of 11 Edw. 3. ought to be Duke of Corn∣wall; and therefore his Majesty commanded that Prince Charles his Son should have and enjoy the Honor and Stile of Duke of Cornwall; which he presently had and

enjoyed accordingly. Vincent upon Brook, pag. 146, 147. And on the third of No∣vember, 1616. 14 Jacobi, he was also created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester; [ 1616] and was afterwards King of England, by the Name of King Charles the First.

A summary Collection of the Earls of Chester contained in this second Part.

• 1. GHerbod, a Nobleman of Flanders, had the Earldom of Chester given him by the Conqueror about the Year of Christ 1068. but going into Flanders, was there taken Prisoner. And then did William the Conqueror give the Earldom of Chester to Hugh, sirnamed Lupus, Anno Domini 1070.
• 2. Hugh, sirnamed Lupus, Earl of Auranches in Normandy, was made Earl of Chester, Anno 1070. He died July 27. 1101. after he had held the Earldom of Chester 31 Years.
• 3. Richard, the onely Child of Hugh Lupus by his Wife, was but seven Years old when his Father died. He was drowned with many others, as he was Sailing from Normandy towards England, Anno 1120. after he had been Earl 18 Years; but had no Issue.
• 4. Randle de Mecinis, or Meschines, Son of Maud, Sister to Hugh Lupus, succeeded Earl of Chester, as Cosin and next Heir to Richard: And he died Anno 1128. having been Earl eight Years.
• 5. Randle the Second, sirnamed Gernouns, Son of Randle de Meschines, succeeded his Father. He died Anno Domini 1153, having been Earl 25 Years.
• 6. Hugh the Second, sirnamed Cyveliok, Son of Randle the Second, succeeded his Fa∣ther: And he died Anno Domini 1181. having been Earl 28 Years.
• 7. Randle the Third, sirnamed Blundevill, Son of Hugh the Second, succeeded his Fa∣ther in the Earldom of Chester. He was also made Earl of Lincoln 1217. and died at Wallingford in the latter end of October, Anno Domini 1232. without Issue, and was Earl of Chester 51 Years.
• 8. John, sirnamed The Scot, Earl of Huntingdon, Son of Maud, eldest Sister and Co∣heir to Randle the Third, sirnamed Blundevill, succeeded Earl of Chester, and died at Dernhale Abbey without Issue, June 7. 1237. having been Earl of Chester almost five Years: from which time this Earldom was seized to the Crown of England.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Stowe saith Griffith was a Bastard Son of Lhewellin, pag. 185.