336 The Ancient Styles and Designations of Persons. 
mother of the Duke of Monmouth, where it is stated that when 
apprehended she had “ one Master Howard in her company.” 
In Shakespere’s play of the ‘‘ Merry Wives of Windsor,” Shallow, 
who is a magistrate, is called Master Shallow, and his nephew 
Slender is called Master Slender ; and in Leland’s Itinerary in the 
reign of Henry the 8th, the ancestor of Jeffrey Daniel (who was 
M.P. for Marlborough in the reign of Charles the 2nd) is styled 
“ Mastar Daniell.’”! 
Holinshed, in his Chronicles, vol. 1, p. 273 of the 4to ed. says— 
‘‘ Moreover as the King dooth dubbe Knights and createth Barons and higher 
degrees so gentlemen whose ancestors are not knowen to come in with William 
Duke of Normandie (for of the Saxon races yet remaining we now make none 
accompt much lesse of the British issue) doo take their beginning in England 
after this maner in our times—who soever studieth the lawes of the realme or 
professeth physicke and the liberall sciences or beside his service in the roome of 
a captaine in the warres or good counsell given at home whereby his common- 
wealth is benefited can live without manuell labour and thereto is able and will 
beare the port charge and countenance of a gentleman he shall for monie have a 
cote and armes bestowed upon him by heralds (who in the charter of the same 
do of custome pretend antiquitie and service and manie gaie things) and there- 
ynto being made so good cheape be called master which is the title that men give 
to esquiers and gentlemen and reputed for a gentleman ever after.” 
Holinshed is considered to be an important authority in English 
history. He died in the year 1580. 
In a MS. in the handwriting of King Edward the 6th, bound in 
the same volume with his Autograph Journal in the British 
Museum,” his Majesty says— 
‘“‘ The grasier, the fermour, the merchaunt become landed men and call them- 
self gentlemen though they be churles.” 
[Norr.—The style Master prefixed to a person’s name was usual at the latter 
part of the reign of King Charles the 1st, as in the order addressed to Commissary 
General Ireton and 19 others, to consider the case of the army in 1647, six of 
them have the style ‘‘ Master” prefixed to their names [ Rush. Coll. vol, 7, p.849]; 
and in the impeachment against Bishop Wren in 1641, no less than ten ‘‘ godly 
painful preaching Ministers” are similarly styled [Id. vol. 4, p. 353]. In 1626, 
the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge was styled ‘‘ Master Vice-Chancellor” by the 
Duke of Buckingham; and Mr. Rushworth, who was Secretary to the Lord 
General Fairfax, designates the speech of the Speaker Finch as ‘‘ Master Speaker’s 
speech.” —Id. vol. 1, pp. 373 & 540. ] 
1 See above, page 179. 2 Cotton MS. Nero C. x. p, 107-110. 
