322 The Ancient Styles and Designations of Persons. 
Che Ancient Styles and Desiquations of Persons. 
These vary a good deal from such as are used at present. I shall 
therefore give a few examples, for the most part derived from 
Wiltshire, with an explanation where the ancient style or designa- 
tion has so far passed into desuetude as to require it. 
SIRE. 
This style was used to their late Majesties Kings George the 3rd, 
George the 4th, and William the 4th, when either of these sove- 
reigns was addressed in writing ; when addressed orally each was 
styled “Sir.” The style “Sire” was anciently not restricted to 
Kings ; as in the Roll of Arms of the Knights Bannerets, temp. 
Edw. 2, edited by Sir Harris Nicolas, there are 33 Bannerets men- 
tioned as of Wilts and Hants, every one of whom has “Sire” 
prefixed to his name; as “Sire Alesandre Cheyeroyl,” “Sire Adam 
de la Forde,” &c.: whilst the King is designated “Le Roy de 
Engleterre,” and each Earl has “ Le Counte”’ prefixed to his title, 
as “Le Count de Gloucestre,” and the like. In this Roll one 
Bishop only occurs, “Le Evesque Antoyn de Dureem e Patark ;” 
and no other title but those above-mentioned occurs. 
PRINCE. 
A Latin letter addressed by the Vice-President and Fellows of 
Magdalene College, Oxford, to Cardinal Wolsey, on the subject of 
his digging stone from their quarries,’ is addressed :— 
‘‘Magnificentissimo Principi Do Thome Dei Optimi Max: benignitate 
Archiepiscopo Eboracensi, Sacro-sanctee Romane Ecclesie Presbytero, Cardinali 
Apostolic Sedis et a latere Legato, Anglie Primato & Cancellario summo 
dentur he Liters.” 
Which may be thus translated :— 
“To the Most Magnificent Prince, Thomas, by the mercy of God Best and 
Greatest, Lord Archbishop of York, Priest of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal 
of the Apostolic See, Legate a latere, Primate of England, and most High Chan- 
cellor, these letters be given.” 
1 Sir H. Ellis’s Letters relating to English History, vol. v. p. 13. 
