Aurum Regina, Preface – Section 1
The PROEME.
OBſerving in my peruſal of ancient Records in the Tower of London, and Kings Court of Exchequer at Weſtminſter, many remarkable Patents, Writs, Caſes, Paſſages, Reſolutions, and ſome Accounts concerning the moſt ancient, eminent benefical Royal Prerogative of the QUEEN CONSORTS OF ENGLAND, ſtiled AƲRƲM REGINAE, or QUEEN-GOLD; conferred on their Majeſties by the Lawes of England as an Honorary contingent Revenue, inſeparably annexed to their Perſons by virtue of their Marriage to our Kings, intituling them to this, andaCooks 1 Inſtit. f. 133. 2, Aſh his Repertory, …it. Praerogative, ſect. 149, 151, 152, 155, 156, & the Books there cited. ſundry other Regalities, Prerogatives, frequently mentioned in our Records and Law-Books: Yet finding no Mention nor Diſcourſe concerning AƲRƲM REGINAE in Sir Henry Spelmans Gloſſary, or any printed Volume of the Common Law, except only in Sir Edward Cooks poſthumus bMr. Se… dens Titles of Honor, Part 1. ch 6. ſect. 7. p. 114, 118, 119. b Printed London, 1656. p. 21, 22.Twelf Part of his Reports, (publiſhed in a time of Anarchy) wherein he cuts off ſeveral rich Veins of this Gold Mine, contracting it into ſuch diminutive narrow limits (not warranted by the Records there briefly quoted) as render it inconſiderable, unworthy the Title of a Royal Prerogative, or the claim, receit of any future Qu…n Conſorts, notwithſtanding their undoubted Right, Title to this Golden Duty, which he doth ingenuouſly acknowledge.
Upon this account, I apprehended, I could not perform a more acceptable, loyal Service to the KINGS and QUEENS of ENGLAND, or communicate a more deſirable Piece of Antiquity, Law to the Students or Profeſſors of the Common Law, then to preſent unto their View, this Summary Chronological Collection of thoſe rare Records I have met with, which moſt perſpicuouſly evidence the Quiddity, Quality, Quantity, Antiquity, Legality of this ROYAL DUTY of QUEEN-GOLD; the Fines or Mines out of which it ſprings, the Officers, and Proceſſe in the Kings Exchequer by which it was anciently received, levied, accounted for to the Queen Conſort whiles living, and to the King himſelf after her deceaſe; with other particulars that concern it, neceſſary for the Exact Diſcovery, knowledge, recovery of this long diſcontinued concealed Treaſure, and reducing this old GOLDEN FLEECE into our new Queens Wardrobes and Cabinets.
In order whereunto I have here briefly digeſted all I yet know that concerns this Subject into theſe 6. enſuing Sections.
SECTION I.
What AURUM REGINAE is, as to its Quiddity, Quality, Quantity, or Proportion.
THE firſt thing I ſhall preſent you with, is, a Brief Definition of Aurum Reginae, as to its Quiddity, Quality, Quantity, or Proportion.
Aurum Reginae, is a Royal Debt, Duty, or Revenue, belonging and accruing to every Queen Conſort, during her marriage to the King of England, (both by Law, Cuſtom, and Preſcription time out of minde) due by every Perſon of what quality or calling ſoever within the Realms of England or Ireland, who hath made a voluntary Oblation, Obligation or Fine to the King amounting to Ten Marks or upwards, for any Priviledges, Franchiſes, Diſpenſations, Licenſes, Pardons, Grants, or other Matters of royal Grace or Favor conferred on him by the King, ariſing from and anſwerable to the quantity of ſuch his Oblation or Fine; to wit, one full tenth part over and above the intire Fine or Oblation to the King; as one Mark for every ten Marks, and ten pounds for every hundred pound fine, and ſo proportionably for every other ſum exceeding ten Marks; Or one Mark of gold to the Queen for every 100. Mark fine in ſilver to the King: (being both one in value and proportion) Which Summe becomes a real Debt and Duty to the Quéen by the Name of Aurum Reginae, by and upon the parties bare agreement with the King for his fine, without any promiſe to, or contract with the King or Queen for this tenth part exceeding it, which becomes a Debt on Record to the Queen by the very recording of the Fine. This Definition or Deſcription of Aurum Reginae the following Records in the 6. Section will both explain and confirm in all its branches; to which for brevity I referr you.