[Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, son of Richard Earl of Warwick, was
crowned King of the Isle of Wight by patent 24 Henry VI., King Henry in
person assisting at the ceremonial, and placing the crown on his head.
Leland (_Itiner._, vol. vi. p. 91.) says, "Henricus Comes de Warwike ab
Henrico VI. cui carissimus erat, coronatus _in regem de Wighte_, et
postea nominatus primus comes totius Angliæ." Leland takes this _ex
Libello de Antiquitate Theoksibriensis Monasterii_, in the church of
which house this Duke of Warwick was buried. But little notice has been
taken of this singular event by our historians, and, except for some
other collateral evidence, the authenticity of it might be doubted; but
the representation of this duke with an imperial crown on his head and
a sceptre before him, in an ancient window of the collegiate church at
Warwick, leaves no doubt that such an event did take place. (See
Worsley's _Hist. of the Isle of Wight_ for a plate copied from an
accurate drawing of the king.) This honourable mark of the royal
favour, however, conveyed no regal authority, the king having no power
to transfer the sovereignty of any part of his dominions, as is
observed by Lord Coke in his _Institutes_, where this transaction is
discussed; and there is reason to conclude that, though titular king,
he did not even possess the lordship of the island, no surrender
appearing from Duke Humphrey, who was then living, and had a grant for
the term of his life. Mr. Selden too, in his _Titles of Honour_, p.
29., treating of the title of the King of Man, observes that "it was
like that of King of the Isle of Wight, in the great Beauchamp, Duke of
Warwick, who was crowned king under Henry VI." Henry Beauchamp was also
crowned King of Guernsey and Jersey. He died soon after these honours
had been conferred on him, June 11, 1445, when the regal title expired
with him, and the lordship of the island, at the death of the Duke of
Gloucester, reverted to the crown.]
_Theodore de la Guard._--I have a tract by him with the title of _The
simple Cobler of Aggawam, in America_, London, 1647. Who was he? and where
can I find any account of him or his work?