COURTESY, "the _courtesy of England_ is oft to kiss" (JE356,_d_). In _The English Historical Review_ (vol. vii., p. 270) there is an article by Major Martin A.S. Hume on "Philip's visit to England" in 1554. The article is founded on a Spanish account written by Andres Muñoz, a servant in the household of Don Carlos, Philip's son, then a child. Muñoz did not himself go to England, but probably got his account from someone, much in the same position as himself, who did go. The writer describes how Philip met Queen Mary at Winchester, "_and kissed her on the_ _mouth, in the English fashion_." On taking leave Philip was introduced to Mary's ladies, all of whom he kissed "_so as not_ (says Muñoz) _to break the custom_ _of the country, which is a very good one_." This no doubt explains the passage in the play, but there was at law another _courtesy of England_ with which, in the origins, it may have some obscure connection. Cowel, in his _Law Dictionary_ (1607), describes a tenure by which, if a man marry an inheritrix, that is, a woman seised of land, and getteth a child of her that comes alive into the world, though both the child and his wife die forthwith, yet, if she were in possession, shall he keep the land during his life, and is called tenant _per legem Angliæ_, or by the _courtesy of England_. COURTNALS, "a zort of _courtnalls_" (R255,_d_), courtiers: in contempt (Halliwell). COURT SPIRITUAL (JP343,_b_), Abundance was accused of fornication, and so came under ecclesiastical jurisdiction. These courts were made separate to the Secular or Civil Courts in 1085, but until the establishment of the Divorce and Probate Courts in 1857 the Ecclesiastical Courts took cognisance of blasphemy, apostasy, heresy, schism, ordinations, matters pertaining to benefices, matrimony, divorces, bastardy, tithes, incest, fornication, adultery, probate of wills, administrations, and similar matters (Haydn). CREANCE, "chief of His _creance_" (N45,_d_), ordinarily faith, belief, credit, payment: I subjoin examples of each usage, but neither seem to fit the sense. There is an alternative which is nearer the mark, in the Latin _creans_, pr. p. of _creo_, to create; but I find no authority beyond _creant_, which, as far as I know, is modern: see last example. "This mayden tauzte the _creance_ Unto this wyf so perfitly."--Gower, _MS._ _Soc. Antiq._ 134, f. 66. "And with his precyous bloode he wroote the bills Upon the crosse, as general acquytaunce To every penytent in ful _creaunce_."--_Rom._ _of the Monk_, Sion College MS. "The _creant_ word Which thrilled around us."--Mrs. Browning. CREASETH, "when she _creaseth_ again" (N44,_a_), short for _increaseth_. CREATURE (R. _passim_), throughout a trisyllable. CROW, see Clawback.