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Comiato. This is a name geven them by the Prince, &
this dignitie ought to be furnished wth manie virtues
because they are the Princes Companions, they shold be
men of great honnor. And such as are not virtuous shold
be banished the Cowrte & companie of all good Princes
ffor the lawe saithe that infamous men cannot enter into
the Courte of Princes nor dwell neare to their pallace
Neither sholde vnworthie men haue such dignitie. In the
Romaines time the Consulls of Rome were called
Conti, the provizories of the armie that were capteines
were likewise called Conti & all Marquizes are of
greater estate then Earles that are not free. yet in fraunce
& Almanie the Earles are more honnorable then the
Marquises. In the olde testament we finde the aucthoritie
of Contes was greate. ffor as before I saide they were
Princes of the warre, as the dukes are nowe, they are
also companions to the kinge, as it is written in the booke
of kinges. Li. 2. ca. xx where Iacob was a Conte and
companion to kinge Dauid and gouernor of his armie. Such
as ought to be companions to a kinge in the warrs sholde be
called Earles. Those Earles wch were of the Princes
councell they called them Proconsuli, and such Earles as
were of Councell wth themperor or wth anie kinge were
called Illustri. There were also somme Earles whose
offices were to take care of themperors diett, and some
of his stable, and somme also yt gouerned the order
wthin the pallace Emperiall. Of thease somme
were more worthie then others as they wch gou’ned
the armies in Contries beyond the seaes had the firste
place, and were like to Proconsuli. when anye of this
sorte came into the Councell imperiall, those councellors
that were set ought to stand up, & doe them honnor
At this present the Capteines generall of armies
haue this office, and are equall to all dukes that go:
verne in Provinces and Citties as the duks of this
kingdome that be gouernors of Citties. Such as gouer:
ned Prouinces were also called Conte as the Conte of
Romagna in Italie. Somme Earles there are onlye
by name and title as the Count Palatini but suche