Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/19

Rh History of this Dutchy is farther illustrated by the Act of 1 Henry VII. for vesting the Dutchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, &c. in Henry VII. and his Heirs, without saying Kings of England, and for settling the Dutchy of Cornwal on the first born Son of the said Henry. It is observable, that Henry VII. derived his Title under Henry IV. and that he copied the Policy of that Prince by separating the Dutchy again from the Crown.

Reader will also find a very lingular Act of the 1 Eliz. giving Authority to the Queen's Majesty upon the Avoidance of any Archbishoprick or Bishoprick, to take into her Hands certain of the temporal Possessions thereof; recompensing the same with Parsonages impropriate, and Tenths. This indeed was an effectual way of securing the Revenue; and such a short and peremptory Expedient as was very confident with the Policy of this Princess.

last of the Acts which, to the Editor's Knowlege, have never been in Print before, is the Statute of 13 Car. II. st. 1. for the Regulation of the publick Office of the Masters in Chancery; by which the Fees are settled and the Hours of Attendance ascertained.

are likewise several other Statutes in this Appendix, which do not require any Explanation or Comment; but which nevertheless contain not only Subjects of Curiosity to the Antiquarian, but Matter of Information to the Historian and Philosopher; who from thence may discover the Causes of many successive Changes which the Constitution hath undergone: And there cannot be a more pleasing and useful Exercise of the Mind, than to trace the Progress toward Refinement, through all the rude Stages of civil Policy. From such an Investigation, however, we shall be led to conclude, that fortuitous Events have often contributed, more than human. Foresight, toward its Improvement.