experirer an scires consulem agere Others are honoured as Parents to whom their children nephewes doe owe all duety and obedience as is commanded in the booke of Prouerbs Honora patrem matrem vt sis long aeuus super terram 28. To these many other causes of Honour may be added as subiects to honour their Prince seruants their masters inferiours their superiours And diuers demonstrations of honour are also due by externall countenance words and gesture as by attentiue hearing of him that speaketh by rising to him that passeth c. He that sitteth doth receiue honour from him that standeth yet a man of dignity in presence of Iudges ought to sit not to stand as other common persons doe vnlesse his owne cause be pleaded So sayth Baldus A man that sitteth at the table is more honoured then hee that serueth and he that sitteth on the right hand is more honoured then he that sitteth on the left hand He is also honored that sitteth next to the Prince or neerest to him that is of greatest dignity We also account him honored that standeth or walketh in the mids of two or a greater number quia mediocritas in electione loci maxime probatur He is likewise reputed most honoured that sitteth at the chiefe ende or in the hiest place of the Table because the most worthy ought to begin which haply moued Virgil to say A Ioue principium Musae He is most honoured that walketh next the wall vnlesse they be three in number for then he that is in the mids is in the worthiest place as hath bene formerly said And he that sitteth next the wall hath the higher place But if three of equall qualitie do walke together then for not offering Indignitie one th' other sometimes one and sometimes the other ought to take the middle place which Order the Spaniards and Venetians doe precisely obserue affirming the right side to be most Honourable Among brethren the eldest is alwaies to precede And so are their wiues to take place In pari dignitate Except by some peculiar dignitie the yonger be graced In like maner where many are of one company or fellowship as in the Innes of Court or the Vniuersities the more ancient is euer most honourable and shall precede others In pari dignitate Men are also honoured in their diet for the more honorable the ghest is the more delicate ought his fare be Likewise the apparell of men ought be differing according to their degrees to the end the profession and qualitie of euery one may be knowen as an arming Coat best becommeth a Captaine a Tippet is seemely for a Priest a Gowne is meetest for a Scholler because eche mans attire ought be like vnto the State profession and office he beareth as appeareth by that caution which Seneca did giue vnto the Empresse mother of Nero. His wordes are these Indue te charissima vxor delicatè non propter te sed propter honorem Imperij A man is also honoured when his Prince or other superior is pleased to salute him by word or writing or to grace him with gift of any Office or dignitie Men are honoured when for any egregious acte they are permitted to erect Images of themselues as Porcius Cato Horatius Cocles Mutius Scaeuola and other notable men were suffered to doe Men are honoured by drinking in gold and wearing of purple also by being stiled the cousins of Princes Men are honoured by bearing Armes For who so hath Armes from ancesters is more honourable then he who is the first Gentleman of his race and consequently ought be placed in a more worthy seate Note here that to euery title of great dignitie a particular ensigne or ornament is appointed An Emperour hath his Diademe or Infula a King his Crowne a Bishop his Mytre and Archbishop his Mantle a Doctor his Baretum As Lucas de Penna writeth Caâ—de Murilegulis CHAP. 3. Of Ensignes Royall and Militarie POlydorus in his booke de Inuentoribus rerum lib. 2. cap 3. saith That the Ensignes of Romane Kings were Fasces cum securi Corona aurea sella eburnea trabeae curules phalerae annuli palâ—damenta pretexta togae pictae tunicae palmatae which Ensignes may be called in our English a bondle of small wands with an hatchet a Crowne of gold a saddle of luory a kirtle of State trappings of horses robes of State euer burned with the Kings body which ornament was also after the expulsion of Kings worne by Consuls and other Magistrats who pronounced no sentence but in that garment Togae pictae I suppose were long gownes painted or wrought lâ—ke vnto Damaske or embroidered about and Palmatae were garments wrought with Palme-trees in signe of conquest and peace It seemeth also that no other Ensigne of Maiestie that might illustrate a Kings greatnesse and grauitie was there wanting These Kings had also 12 Littori as we may call them Sergeants who caried before them the bondles and Hatchets aforesaid A Diademe a Crowne and a Scepter are likewise Ensignes appertayning to Emperours and Kings But of Crownes there were anciently diuers kinds And Polydor in his booke aforesaid speaketh of many affirming that Liber Pater was the first inuentor of Crownes and ware vpon his head a Crowne of Iuie Yet doe we read that Moses many yeeres before caused Crownes of gold to be made as Iosephus hath written and of all antiquitie the Egyptian kings haue had Crownes Teste Coelio The first vse of wearing Crownes was in Tragedies and gladiatory combats at which time they were made of boughes and trees afterwards they were composed of flowers of diuers colours in the Playes Floâ—eall and in the Pastoral Comedies also and by imitation of them others were framed of slender barres of tinne or some other mettall guilded so as in processe of time many kinds of Crownes were inuented and much esteemed chiefly among the Romanes and in the time of Consuls The chiefe Crownes were Militarie and with them Consuls and generall Commanders in their triumphes were crowned At the beginning those crownes were made of bayes which tree sheweth mirth and victorie and after of gold The next they called Corona Muralis giuen to him that first was seene vpon the wall of the Enemies towne This Crowne was also of golde wrought with certaine battlements like vnto a wall The third they named Corona Castrensis likewise of gold being giuen to him that could breake the wall of the enemie enter the towne or castle The points of this Crowne was made like Towers The fourth was Corona Naualis also of gold garnished with forecastles giuen to him that by force and vertue first boarded the enemies ship The fift was Corona Oleaginea bestowed vpon them that were victorious in the Olympian Playes or for repulsing the enemie Corona Oualis was made of Mirtle and giuen to them that entred a Towne taken with litle resistance or yeelded vpon composition or when the warre was proclaimed or made against
deserued the titles appertaining to armes and beare about them the scarres and tokens of true valour Adrianus the Emperour would not permit any man to bee a Tribune or take charge in the warre whose beard was not full growen or whose witte or yeres were vncapable of that office neither would he suffer a Captaine to take any thing from his souldier Among many other parts of commendation required in a soueraigne commander there is not any more to bee honoured then liberalitie and contrariwise auarice ought to be extreamely abhorted For hard it is to attend the affaires of warre and ouer much to affect money Great reason therefore had Nicomedes to thinke himselfe vsed with indignitie by the Bithynians when he hauing borne all the offices of warre and was wounded in many places of his body was then repulsed All which notwithstanding Antisthenes was preferred and made General when hee had neuer performed any action praise worthy or memorable nor had endeuoured more then to make himselfe mighty in mony yet is not that Captaine to be misliked that can with honour and good conscience purchase wealth for thereby he hath meane and power to supply the wants both of priuate souldiers and publique scarcitie The office of a souereigne Commander may be compared vnto the skill of him that gouerneth well a priuate house which is to command things fit to make men obedient to reward the good and punish the euill In which offices the one and the other of these commanders shall not faile to finde enemies and therefore may be called a warre Here may we also remember that the Mauritanes being confederate with Iustinianus the Emperour consented that no man should be their Generall but such a one as was a friend vnto the Romanes or had receiued the Ensignes from a commander of the Romane armie which were these A staffe of siluer gilded a cuppe of leather ornified with siluer and a white vesture of small price The Romanes called these officers Magistri militum or Praefecti when they were sent to gouerne an army against the enemy or to giue counsell in the warre or had in charge to dispose of the campe for so was it decreed by Honorius and Theodosius Sometimes also their lieutenants were called Praefecti hauing in charge the defence of a particular prouince against the enemie and were in authoritie equall to him that led the army called Dux and before the Proconsul To this dignity Cabades being restored vnto the kingdome of Persia preferred Selanem a man of great fame and reputation in the warre and therefore called him Seosen which is the title of that Magistrate who commandeth all sorts of souldiers as the Constable doeth in France and the High Marshall in England The office of the Tribunes in Rome was to hold the soldiers in order to see them trained to keepe the keyes of gates to suruey the watch to dispose of the vittaile to correct false measures to punish offenders according to the quality of their faults to behold often the order of the army to here the quarels in question betweene souldiers and to visit the sicke For in deed the office of euery commander consisteth in doing iustice and obseruation of discipline He is also to be spare in giuing licence vnto Souldiers or to permit any horses to passe out of his countrey neither should he suffer them to be employed in hunting hauking or such like exercises a matter specially inhibited by the discipline of Augustus A soueraigne Magistrate militarie ought also to remember that after his commission be expired he ought not to depart the place of his charge within the space of fiftie dayes for so doing without licence of his superior he incurreth an offence capital such was the instruction which Zeno the Emperor did giue vnto Sebastianus notwithstanding his authority was ceassed and a successor come to receiue charge of the Armie THE Second Booke OF KNIGHTHOOD ¶ The Contents of this Booke THE Prooeme Of Knighthood Cap. 1. The originall of Knighthood giuen as a dignitie and what Princes haue authority to make Knights Ca. 2. The maner of making Knights about the yeere of our Lord 500. neere which time King Arthur reigned in England Cap. 3. The order of disgrading Knights in those dayes Cap. 4. Knights of the Round table Cap. 5. Howe actions Aduenturous ought be admired not discredited Cap. 6. The office and duety of euery Knight gentleman Cap. 7. Of Honourable Ornaments giuen vnto Knights Cap. 8. Knights of the Garter Cap. 9. Knights Bannerets Cap. 10. Knights of the Bath Cap. 11. Knights Bachellers Cap. 12. Ceremonies of degrading of Knights in England Cap. 13. Knights of the Toison Cap. 14. Knights of S. Michael Cap. 15. Knights of the Annunciation Cap. 16. Knights of S t. Esprit Cap. 17. Knights Templers Cap. 18. Knights of S. Iago Cap. 19. Knights of S. Iohn Ierusalem called knights of the Rhodes and now of Malta Cap. 20. Knights of Calatraua Cap. 21. Knights of the Band. Cap. 22. Knights of Alcantara Cap. 23. Knights of Montesio Cap. 24. Knights of Redemption Cap. 25. The originall of the knights Teutonici Cap. 26. Knights of the Sepulchre Cap. 27. Knights of S. Mary Cap. 28. Knights of S. Lazaro Cap. 29. Knights of S. Steffano Cap. 30. The Prooeme FOrasmuch as the Actions of Armes chiefly on horsebacke are and euer haue been vsed of Noble personages and Gentlemen of best quailitie whom the Romanes in their flourishing time by a generall tearme called Equites and are presently of the Italians and Spaniards named Caualieri without respect of priuate dignitie or other distinction wee will for this time yet with respect and vnder correction aduenture to English the word Eques a Gentleman that professeth honour vertue and Armes or any of them particularly discoursing of what qualitie hee ought bee as followeth First he must be of good constitution and conuenient strength to endure trauell in Actions appertaining to Souldiers Secondly he should be well fauoured of face and comely for commonly God and Nature giueth beauty to such persons as are destined to command and from others borne to obey hee hath withholden that fauour which moued some writers to affirme that the princely presence of Priamus did shew him to be worthy of gouernement and to commaund other men Thirdly hee should be of bold aspect rather inclined to seuerity then softnesse which countenace the Swisses and Turkes do much affect Fourthly hee must be sober and discreete not inclined to vaine delights or effeminate pleasures Fiftly hee ought bee obedient for of obedience proceedeth that the meaner are content to bee commanded by the better and the ignorant by those that know This vertue was greatly imbraced of the Romanes and occasioned their often victories For the punishment of disobedience inflicted by military Magistrates the Romanes haue left two most notable examples the one of Manlius Torquatus who caused his owne sonne for that fault to be slaine notwithstanding he had
and called Borgo di Santa Maria or Mareenburg where is now the chiefe Church appertaining to this Order there unto belongeth so great riches and reuenues as these Knights may both for men and money compare with diuers Princes This countrey of Prussia is great and much thereof bounded by the riuer of Vistola and is also confined by Sarmatia the Massagets and Polonia These Knights are also Lordes of Liuonia which was likewise by them brought to the faith of Christianitie is with Christians inhabited CHAP. 27. Knights of the Sepulchre THis Knighthood is now extinct or rather conioyned vnto the Order of Malta The Ensigne belonging to these Knights was two Red Crosses vnited CHAP. 28. Knights of S. Mary The habit of this Order was very pompous and thereupon a red Crosse wrought with gold round about They were specially inhibited to weare gold in their spurres and horse harnesse They made profession to fight against the Infidels and all others that offended iustice notwithstanding they liued euer at home in rest with their wiues and children They were commonly called Caualieri di Madona but because they liued continually in ease and pleasure men termed them Fratri gaudenti as much in our language as Good fellow brethren It may be some of them are yet extant CHAP. 29. Knights of S. Lazaro These Knights doe professe to be obedient vnto their great Master and other officers of the Order they promise also to liue chast or at the least continent and content with one wife Also to be charitable and liberall chiefely to poore people infected with leprosie Moreouer euery Knight promiseth to weare a greene Crosse and before they enter into this Knighthood must prooue himselfe to be borne in lawfull wedlocke and a Gentleman both by father and mother and to beare Armes Also that he is descended of ancient Christians and no Morrano or Turke That he hath of rent at the least 200 crownes wherewith to maintaine his dignitie That he and his auncestors haue euer liued as Gentlemen without vse of any base or mechanicall occupation That he hath not bene suspected of any notable euill fact or is defamed for any vice That he be not indebted nor is wedded to any widowe or hath had more then one wife But besides these passable protestations he must vndertake to say fiue and twentie Pater nosters and so many Aue Marias with other superstitious things not worthy the writing This Order hath of late time bene much fauoured by the Dukes of Sauoy CHAP. 30. Knights of S. Stephano The Statutes annexed to this Order are not vnlike to those appertayning to the order of Malta sauing that these haue libertie to marrie The chiefe place of their resiance is the citie of Pisa where the Duke prepared them a Church and builded for them a pallace wherein to lodge And because neere to that Citie is a Hauen fit to receiue the Gallies wherin these Knights should serue it seemed good to that Prince to settle them there The Duke himselfe and his successors is Great master of this Order and vnder him are diuers other Officers of reputation This is the last Order or degree of Knights that I haue seene or read of THE THIRD BOOKE Concerning Combat for life Iusts Turnements Triumphes and Inaugurations of Emperours Kings and Princes The Contents of this Booke THe Prooeme Of particular Combats with their original Ca. 1. Whether Combats may be iustly permitted Ca. 2. When and how Combats were in vse Cap. 3. What exceptions or repulses may mooue the defendors to refuse the Combat Cap. 4. Whether a man of meane qualitie may chalenge his superior Cap. 5. What sorts of men may not be admitted to trial of Armes 6. Who was anciently accompted victorious in Combat Cap. 7. What was anciently due vnto such men as were victorious in publique Combat Cap. 8. Of the disequalitie of Gentlemen Cap. 9. Of the qualitie and disequalitie of great Nobilitie and the priuiledges due to all men professing Armes Cap. 10. Of Armes offensiue and defensiue Cap. 11. Of the Election of weapons Cap. 12. Certaine questions opinions and iudgements vpon accidents in triall and exercise of Armes Cap. 13. Of honour gained or lost by being disarmed in sundry places and sundry peeces Cap. 14. Of honour gained or lost by hurts giuen or taken in Combat for life or triumph Cap. 15. Of Combats ancient Cap. 16. The order of Combats for life in England anciently recorded in the Office of Armes Cap. 17. Of Triumphes ancient and moderne Cap. 18. Of Triumphes and their Originall Cap. 19. Of the maner of Triumphing and the habits of the Triumpher Cap. 20. Of the diuers qualitie of Triumphes in Rome Cap. 21. In what Order the Romanes triumphed Cap. 22. Of other furniture and pompe appertayning to Triumphes in Rome Cap. 23. Of the Triumphal going of Darius to meet Alexander the great Cap. 24. The Triumphal entry of Xerxes K. of Persia into Greece yet afterward forced for feare to flie into his owne kingdome Cap. 25. Of Triumphes in Germanie Cap. 26. Of Triumphes at the enteruiew of Pope Alexander and the Emperour Frederick Barbarosa at Venice Anno Dom. 1166. Cap. 27. An admirable Triumphal shew at Venice to congratulate the recouery of Cypres Anno 1366. Cap. 28. A Triumph in the raigne of King Richard the second Anno 1590. Cap. 29. A Triumphal passage of Charles the v. Emperor through France Anno 1540. Cap. 30. A triumphal entrie of Philip Prince of Spaine at Millan Anno 1548. Cap. 31. A Military chalenge in Italy Anno 1555. Cap. 32. Of triumphal challenges in France Cap. 32. Of one other Military action betweene fiue English gentlemen and fiue French Cap. 34. An other like action Cap. 35. An other chalenge of a French gentleman in Spaine Cap. 36. An other notable challenge in France Anno 1390. Cap. 37. An other most noble challenge Cap. 38. The triumphant interuiew of the Kings of England and France Anno 1519. Cap. 39. A triumph celebrated in France Anno 1559. Cap. 40. A Militarie triumph at Brussels Anno 1549. Cap. 41. The Inauguration of Carolus Magnus King of Italie Anno 773. Cap. 42. Carolus Magnus Inauguration being made Emperour Anno 1800. Cap. 43. The Inauguration of Pope Gregorie the tenth Cap. 44. The Inauguration of Henry the fourth King of England Anno 1399. Cap. 45. The Inauguration of Charles the French King at Rhemes Anno 1380. Cap. 46. At the Inauguration of King Henry the thirde French King three notable things obserued Cap. 47. The Inauguration of Charles the fift Cap. 48. Ceremonies appertaining to the deliuery of Prizes at Iusts and Turnements Cap. 49. Of Iusts and Turnements and how the Accidents in such exercises are iudged in the kingdome of Naples Cap. 50. Iusts and Turnements how they were anciently iudged by Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester high Constable of England in the Raigne of King Edward the 4. Cap. 51. Triumphes Military for honour and loue of
Commanders So that neuer after for any cause or question whatsoeuer the said number should be augmented nor vpon the vacation happening of any of the places of the said Cardinals Prelates or Officers any other may be admitted to supply their roome or seruice vnlesse he be a man of like qualitie and condition The oathes ceremonies pensions accompts and other dueties I leaue to be seene in the printed booke of the Order where they are discoursed of at large I onely will set downe the time of their feast their Officers the maner of their habits and solemne proceeding as most fitting and pertinent to our purpose Euery yeere the feast of the Order is celebrated the first day of Ianuary in the Church of the Augustines in the citie of Paris And if for the publique affaires of the Realme the king in person can not be there present then the feast is to be celebrated where he shall personally be and in the greatest Church where he is to be assisted with the Cardinals Prelates Commanders other officers of the said Order except any of them haue commandement by the Soueraigne to the contrary And as they shall in number repaire to the Court they are to aduertise the Prouost of the said Order to the end he may prepare their Escuchions in the Church where they are to solemnize their Ceremonies which beginne the Euen of the said day and where they all accompany the Souereigne from his Pallace to the Church as followeth viz. The Vsner marcheth formost the Herauld after the Viher then the Prouost great Treasurer and Scribe the Prouost taking his place between the two others The Chauncelor goeth alone the Commanders two and two after their degrees After whom proceedeth the Soueraigne or great Master who is followed of Cardinals Prelats and other of the Nobilitie being of the said Order The sayd great Master and Commanders are apparelled with long Mantels made after the fashion of those which are worne the day of S. Michael of blacke veluet embrodered all about with gold and siluer the embroderie made of flowers de Liesse knots of gold betweene their sundry cyphers of siluer and flambes of gold seamed The said great Mantle is also garnished with a mantelet of greene cloth of siluer wrought ouer with the same manner of embrodery of the great Mantle and the said Mantle and mantelet are both lined with â—atin of Orenge colour They weare the said Mantle turned vp ouer the left side and the opening ouer the right according to the paterne which is here expressed their hose dâ—blets are white their bonneâ—s blacke with white plumes Vpon the said Mantles they openly weare the great Collaâ— of the Order which was giuen them at their reception Touching the Officers the Chauncellour is inuested as the Commanders bâ—t that he hath not the great Collar hee weareth onely the crosse sowed before on his Mantle and that of golde hanging at his necke by a blew riband The Prouost great Treasurer and Scribe haue also Mantles of blacke veluet and mantelets of greene cloth of siluer but they are onelâ— bordered about with flambes of golde hauing the crosse sowed on their Mantels and that of gold hanging at their neckes The Herauld and Vâ—her haue Mantels of Sattin and Mantlets of green veluet bordered with flambes as those of the other Officers The saâ—de Herauld shall carry the crosse of the sayd Order at a Schuchion of Armes enameâ—ed hanging at his necke And the Vsher the like crosse but somewhatlesse in forme then those of the other Officers At their returne from the Vespres or Euensong the Commanders and Officers goe to confession to be prepared for the Sacrament which they are to take the next morning The next day the Cardinals Prelats Commaunders and Officers accompanie the Soueraigne in like Order and Habilement as aforesaid to the Church to heare a solemne Masse where the Souereigne offereth as many crownes as he is veeres old and euery Commander for himselfe one crowne which offerings are giuen to the Nouâ—ces of the Augustines for their better entertainement and erudition The seruice ended they conduct the Soueraigne to his pallace wheras the Cardinals Prelates and Commanders with the Chancellor of the Order dine all at one Table The Prouost Treasurer Scribe Herauld and Vâ—her at an other Table and in a place apart The houâ—e of Vespres being come the Soueraigne Cardinals Prelats Commanders and Officers by Order as is said wearing Mantels and mantelets of blacke cloth except the Soueraignes which is of scarlet or deepe mortey hauing the crosse of the said Order sowed thereon goe to the Church to heare the Euensong The Herauld of this Order called King of Armes at his election making profession of that Religion is knowen to be a man of good renowme graue expert and fit for such a charge He hath 400. crownes of the sunne yeerely for his ordinary wages He is bound to make abooke in which are truely to be paâ—nted the Armes and Creasts of all the Cardinals Prelats Commanders and Officers of the said Order and vnder their Armes their names surnames signiories imvlovments and qualities And for the same to be done euery one of the said Cardinals Prelates and Commanders are enioyned to giue him a marke of siluer at their reception When occasion serueth that he is to denounce or signifie any message to any of the said Commanders and Officers he is to report vnto the Soueraigne in open Chapiter the answere which hath bene made him and what els he hath learned in his voyage concerning the good honour and seruice of the said Order It is to be noted that this Herauld or King of Armes hath nothing to do with the Order of S. Michael for there is an expresse Officer for the same nor either of them both are to meddle with any action of Armes but such as may precisely concerne their Orders There are for the Kings seruices otherwise prouinciall Heraulds which carry their names of the Pairedomes as Nâ—rmanaâ— Aniou Britaine c. They haue a Colledge at Parris where they all meete at the assembly of the States generall otherwise they abide in their seuerall Prouinces The Vsher of the saide Order assisteth the Ceremonies with a Mace which he beareth on his necke which is expressely made for the seruice of the Order he hath 312. crownes of the Sunne Per annum which is paide him by the Threasuâ—er of the Order his Office is also to keepe the doore at the Chapiters which are holden as all other things that belong to his charge Both the Herauld and Vsher when they are chosen take their oathes and receiue their eschuchion and crosse at the hands of the Chancellor These fiue Orders aforesaid viz that of the Garter in England that of the Tâ—izon in Burgundie that of S. Michael in France that of the Annunciation in Saâ—cy and that of the S. Esprit last erected in France be reputed most honourable and are adorned with great
hee reduce it to memory againe whereas the learned man by turning his booke hath meane to call to remembrance what hee happeneth to forget Therefore as he that liueth fourescore yeeres must needes haue more experience then he that liueth fortie so he that seeth in bookes the actions of men a thousand yeres knoweth more then he that by liuing one hundreth yeeres could attaine vnto In like manner if he that trauaileth many Nations be of more experience then others of like age that neuer went from their natiue Countrey so he that is learned by Cosmographie histories and other learning seeth the maner and vsage of euery countrey in the world yea of many more than is possible for one man in all his life to trauell through and of those he trauaileth much better doth he learne by small abode there then an other by longer experience that is altogether vnlearned By this learning also we may conceiue the situation Temperature and qualitie of euery Countrey throughout the world Also through the Science of Astronomy we know the course of Planets aboue and their aspects and coniunctions which the learned men in times past attained vnto by long conference and obseruation but we by perusing their bookes onely may learne it yet without that helpe we could neuer To conclude there is nothing either of profit or necessitie for mans life but by learning is taught more perfectly than it can be compassed by experience or other meane whatsoeuer But leauing the commodities of learning to be discoursed by those that are learned in deede this onely I say that the endeuour of Gentlemen ought be either in Armes or learning or in them both And in my poore conceit hardly deserueth he any title of honour that doth not take pleasure in the one or the other For as no liuing creature is borne to idlenesse so is there no doubt but God and nature hath destined ech one for some commendable businesse And like as base occupations are fit for folke of base fortune so valiant and venturous minds in actions of honour and vertue should be employed And if in this earthly life any there be that meriteth fame or fauor surely the same is a vertuous life and valorous endeuor Wherof Iuuenal saith Res gerere captos ostendere ciuibus hostes Atting it solium Iouis caeleâ— a tentat Principibus placuisse virus non vltima laus est The Authors conclusion WE haue said in our former discourse that no man of any qualitie or fortune is borne or destined to ease idlenesse or vnprofitable occupation we haue likewise touched the commodities of such learnings as are required in actions both Ciuill and Martiall whereby may appeare how necessary it is for all Gentlemen to indeuour themselues in the one and the other as those knowledges whereby men are made worthy of honourable title Notwithstanding through corrupt custome or bad education the greater part of our English gentlemen are not onely ignorant what honour and vertue meaneth but consequently doe disdaine or at the least wise lightly regard those labours whereby they might and ought become comfortable to friends and seruiceable to their Prince and countrie which happily mooued the Poet to forewarne fathers to haue care of their childrens education saying Gratum est quod patriae â—iuem Populoque dedisti Si facis vt patriae sit idoneus vtilis agris Vtilis bellorum pacis rebus agendis And continuing the consideration of this matter I am occasioned to be sory that our English youth doe not onely earnestly affect vaine pleasures and improfitable pastimes as recreation but also vse them with daily labour as their chiefe businesse and speciall profession And to speake plaine I am more then halfe perswaded that great sort of our Gentlemen chiefly those that haue had their nurture at home with their owne ignorant parents doe take more comfort to be called good Faulkoners or expert woodmen then either skilfull Souldiers or learned Schollers Yet who so obserueth shall find that the same men by secret instinct of gentle nature doe not a litle glory in the ancient badges titles and seruices of their Auncestors supposing those passed merrits supported with riches ought without further sufficiencie make them more worthy then others whose owne proper labour and vertue haue indeede deserued much honour But as no fowle flyeth with the wings of another nor no horse doth runne on legges not his owne so should no man be praysed or admired for the vertue or good merit of another And albeit the fame of Auncestors honour may for some short space maintaine a certaine hope of vertue chiefly where no vice appeareth yet time which doth distinguish things indeede from those that onely appeare will also like vnto counterfeit mettal bewray the want or worth of euery man and for such a one he shall be knowen and esteemed of what name house parentage or predecessor soeuer he is descended It therfore behoueth euery Gentleman well borne to embrace the loue of vertue and in the actions thereof to employ the course of his whole life For what can be more pleasing to a generous mind then the studie of wisedome whereby to know good from euill and truth from falshood the one to be followed the other eschewed What may be more blessed then Iustice whereby we refraine from all iniuries and giue vnto euery one that which to him appertaineth what is more noble then fortitude which conteÌ„neth all wordly accidents with inuincible courage fighteth for equity and right And what is more beseeming a noble personage then temperance which teacheth comelines and moderation gouerning the passions perturbations of mind to the quietnesse of mans life and contentation of others These with other vertues on them depending haue from base birth and poore parentage aduanced many to great titles and dignity and as those vertuous endeauors haue preferred them so discontinuance did vtterly deface that honor in their posteritie Vertue I say is that which from meane estate hath raised the louers therof to great reputation and glory Among infinite examples omitting men of meaner fortune yet worthy much honour we haue Agathocles Eumenes Pertinax Dioclesian Valentinian with other Emperors Kings Captaines Of like fortune in birth was M. Tullius Cato Horace and diuers most notable learned men yea Socrates himselfe who by the Oracle of Apollo was iudged the wisest man aliue had no great parentage And Iulius Caesar that both in armes and learning excelled was the first Emperor and from low degree aspired to excessiue glory Notwithstanding through protraction of time and the degeneration of posterity not only their owne houses and names are vanished but also the honour renowme of the nations where they liued is vtterly decayed and extinguished which the Christian Poet Palingenius did well expresse in these verses Nempe diu res nulla manet nempe omniâ—â— semper Deteriora solent fieri in pâ—iusque referri Naturae imperio fatorum
lege perenni Deinde iterum ex alio faetu instaurata renasci Thus haue we heard the meanes of aspiring vnto honour and by what occasion the same is lost decayed But well I wot that vnto these reasons and examples produced to incite our English youth they answere That were they sure to attaine vnto the least part of that fortune these great personages and many others their inferiours haue come vnto then would they not feare to aduenture their labor and liues to the vttermost but because the paines and perils are certein the successe doubtful they thinke it more wisdome to Hunt and Hawke at home then hazard their bodies abroad or beate their braines about that which haply shall neuer turne them to profit This silly allegation compounded of sloth and pusillanimitie may easily bee refelled but rarely reformed notwithstanding for that I am vsed to loose my labour I will reply thereunto thus That seeing no reward is due before desert and that honour is the recompence of vertue it may not be looked for vntill some vertuous testimony be first shewed What Souldier is so simple as entring into pay wil at the first day looke to be made a Captaine or haue promise within fewe yeeres to become a Generall what Scholler will at his first comming to study demand the degrees due vnto Art or shortly after with little learning will challenge to be a Doctor Yet true it is that sometimes the simplest Archer doeth hit the marke which many an excellent shooter misseth yet hardly will any wise man bee brought to lay money on his side or hope of such successe Euen so in the attaining of Honor although fauour and fortune oft times preferreth the vnworthy yet the true way and most likely meane thereunto is true vertue and industrious life Wherefore concluding I say that euery noble and magnanimous mind doth not so much couet the reward of vertue as it taketh delight therein As the Poet sayth Propter se virtus petitur non propter honorem Ipsa licet propriè ac verè merâ—atur honorem THE FOVRTH BOOKE Of Precedencie and places due to great Personages Ciuil Magistrates and others of reputation The Contents of this Booke THe Prooeme Of Honour in generall Cap. 1. Of Honour in particular And with what Complements men are honoured Cap. 2. Of Ensignes Royall and Military Cap. 3. Of Emperours Cap. 4. Of Kings Cap. 5. Of Queenes Cap. 6. A Prince Cap. 7. An Archduke Cap. 8. A Duke Cap. 9. A Marquesse Cap. 10. An Earle Cap. 11. A Vicount Cap. 12. A Baron Cap. 13. Of Esquires Cap. 14. Of Gentlemen Cap. 15. How Gentlemen are to take place Cap. 16. Priuiledges anciently appertaining to Gentlemen Cap. 17. Of diuers dispositions of Gentlemen according to the humor of the Countrey wherein they inhabit Cap. 18. Of Kingdomes and how Kings are to precede according to the Councell of Constance Cap. 19. Of Magistrates Cap. 20. Of Officers and their Precedencie Cap. 21. Of Honourable places due to great Estates their wiues and children Cap. 22. The proceeding of Parliament Cap. 23. The placing of great Officers according to the Statute Anno 31. Hen. 8. Cap. 24. The Queenes Maiesties most Royall proceeding to Pawles Anno 1588. Cap. 25. Of Precedencie among persons of meane and priuate condition Cap. 26. Of Funerals and Order to be therein kept Cap. 27. Of Monuments and Epitaphes Cap. 28. The Prooeme ALbeit the rankes and places appointed to honourable Subiects ought euer to bee at the Princes disposition and pleasure for so do we find in sacred Scripture Hester cap. 6. Yet the Maiesty of our present Soueraigne hath euer consented that all noble personages Magistrates and others of dignity should precede according to order anciently vsed in the reignes of her most noble predecessors Howsoeuer it be true it is that in diuers ages and vpon diuers considerations some alteration hath bene As sometimes the Prelates haue taken place before Princes and all other Lords and some other times the Temporall Lords and Officers did march next vnto the King In some other time the chiefe precedence was giuen to Dukes Marquesses and Earles without respect vnto the Kings blood his Alliance or fauour So as no absolute order or precise rule hath bene on that behalfe obserued and is the cause that questions and confusion do oft times arise at the assembly and meeting of great personages and others of dignitie and reputation For auoiding of which inconueniences it may please her royall Maiestie by princely power and sacred wisedome to signifie her pleasure on that behalfe to the end that persons of dignitie Magistrates Officers and other subiects of qualitie may be martialled and ranged accordingly For as good order is an ornament of great excellencie so confusion causeth discord and is the roote of many most dangerous questions which moued the Philosophers to say that the losse of worldly wealth is lesse grieuous to men of generous minde then the priuation of place and honorable estimation If then order in precedencie be a matter of so much consequence among persons of reputation great heede and râ—gard ought bee had thereunto to the end that Princes Prelates Magistrates Officers Ministers and all other of honourable and honest qualitie should take due places without preiudice to their superiours or equals For so great is the force of ambition as oftentimes priuate ostentation seeketh to put backe true dignitie and impudent presumption presumeth to step before vertue honour and honourable merit CHAP. 1. Of Honor in generall HOnor saith Cicero is the reward of vertue and infamie the recompense of vice whoso then desireth to aspire vnto Honor it behooueth him to come thereunto by the way of vertue which the Romanes couertly expressed in building the Temple of Honour so as no man could passe thereunto but first he was forced to goe through the Church dedicated to Vertue But because the greatest number of men are not well informed what Vertue meaneth it shall bee expedient to say that Vertue is a good habite and true perfection of reason whereunto whoso will attaine it behooueth him to consider what and how many the morall Vertues are chiefly those fewe of the which the rest haue dependance Therefore to begin with that which of all others is most necessary for preseruation of humane societie I say that Iustice is a vertue which enformeth euery man to rest contented with so much as to him appertaineth and giue to all others that which to them belongeth This is it which conserueth peace and whereof men be deseruingly called Good Next therunto we thinke Temperance or modestie ought to accompanie euery wise man and chiefly him that hath authoritie ouer others For no man there is that can rightly iudge howe to direct the maners of other men that knoweth not first how to gouerne him selfe The rule whereof is this vertue of Temperance which teacheth a moderation of hope and feare and of ioy and sorow with euery
Nobilitas theologica seu supernaturalis Nobilitas naturalis Nobilitas politica The first is a certaine Nobilitie knowen to God only and they that be so ennobled be noble for integrity and vertue The second Nobility may be considered in two respects as Bartholus affirmeth For both creatures vnreasonable and they that are senslesse may in some sort be called Noble as we see Birds euen of one Espece or kind some prooue noble and some ignoble as of Falcons some are Gentle and some Haggard Likewise of fourefooted beasts some are Noble as the Lyon some ignoble as the Wolfe which Ouid in his booke de Tristibus well expresseth Quo quisque est maior magis est placabilis irae Et faciles motus mens generosa capit Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse Leoni Pugna suum finem cum iacet hostis habet At Lupus turpes instant morientibus Vrsi Et quaecunque minor nobilitate fera est Politica nobilitas is that honour which the Prince giueth as hath bene formerly said Aristotle in his 4. booke of Politikes maketh foure kindes of Nobility viz. Diuitiarum Generis Virtutis Disciplinae that is noble by riches noble by ancestors noble for vertue and noble for learning But leauing to say more concerning the qualitie of Nobility let vs returne to those persons that we formerly called priuate or simple Gentlemen We say therefore that they ought be preferred before all other men without dignity whensoeuer any comparison is made For this word Gentleman or Nobilis id est nos cibilis is a name of preheminence to distinguish men of vertue from base people We read in holy Scripture how Moses constituted certaine Iudges and called them Sapientes and Nobiles Deut. 1. Samuel was also called Nobilis for his excellencie in prophecying It is likewise in Eccles Beata terra cuius Rex nobilis est And Aristot. in his Polit. sayth Nobilitas apud omnes in honore habetur And Seneca sayth Habet hoc proprium generosus animus quod concitatur ad honesta Now for so much as Nobility or Generositie is the first degree or steppe whereby men ascend to greater dignity it seemeth fit to be enformed how that title is acquired We say therefore that some are Gentlemen by blood of Ancestours as appeareth in the booke of Wisd 3. Gloria hominis ex honore patris sui contumelia filij pater sine honore Also Gloria filiorum parentes eorum Prou. 18. Yet is this to be vnderstood that the worde Parentes signifieth the Nobilitie of fathers not of mothers as Bal. affirmeth Cap. de Seruis fugiti Of which opinion Cicero in his Offices seemeth to be saying Optima haereditas à patribus traditur liberis omnisque patrimonio praestantior gloria virtutis rerumque gestarum Secondly men are made Noble for wisdome for in true wisdome Nobility consisteth Sap. 7. And Prudence ought bee preferred before all riches yea nothing desirable can be thereunto compared Prou 8. Thirdly men are aduanced for learning in the Lawes Ciuil hereof it commeth that Doctors of Law are to be honoured so highly as no other man how honourable soeuer shall presume to call them Fratres but Domini Le. 1. Cod. Yet Bonus de Curtili in his treatise of Nobility sayth That in the opinion of Bartolus knowledge or learning doth not make a Gentleman vnlesse hee be dignified with the title of Doctor or graced by some office of reputation and if that be taken away he shal be reputed a common person Item men placed in Offices Iudicial are thereby made noble for euery Iudge ought be reputed a Gentleman in regard of his Office Also euery officer vnder the Prince I meane hauing any Office of honor or worship is therby made a Gentleman Dignitas nobilitas idem sunt Bart de Dig li. 12. Item men become noble for vertue and chiefly Iustice which moued Lucas de Penna to define Nobilitie thus Nobilitas nihil aliud est quà m habitus operatioque virtutis in homine And another old writer summarily saith Nobilitas hominis est mens Deitatis Imago Nobilitas hominis virtutum clara propago Nobilitas hominis humilem releuare iacentem Nobilitas hominis mentem refrenare furentem Nobilitas hominis nisi turpia nulla timere Nobilitas hominis Naturae â—ura tenere Item if any common person by his vertue or fortune doe chance to be made a Duke and Earle a Baron or do aspire to any other dignitie of honor or worship he thereby becommeth a Gentleman Or if he be made a Captaine of a Countrey or castle hauing pension or fee appertaining thereunto he ought be a Gentleman For which reason euery man of dignitie is a Gentleman Item they are Nobilitated to whom the Prince granteth any honorable Fee farme Pension or intertainement for life chiefly if the same be ancient Quoniam feodum nobile nobilitat suum possessorem And that Fee is indeed ancient and Honourable which by custome is vsed to be giuen by the Prince to Gentlemen onely and if the same be granted to any ignoble person that donation doeth not presently make the receiuer noble Quoniam nobilitas ictu oculi non nascitur Bal. Praeludij FeodoruÌ„ Lucas de Penna saith that if a Yeoman do buy an honorable Fee he shal not thereby become a Gentleman The reason therof is Res à persona sumit coÌ„ditionem honoreÌ„ non e contra Item by common opinion some ignoble persons are called Gentlemen Of these the number is infinite yet are they not indeed Noble but vulgarly so esteemed as Lucas de Penna saith Item men are ennobled by the Princes grant as Baldus affirmeth Yet if a simple subiect being made a Gentleman doe not exercise the qualities beseeming that dignitie he ought be depriued of that title Or if hee conuerse with base men or apparell himselfe and his wife in garments vnfit for their degree they shall not be accompted Noble Quia habitus demonstrat qualitatem dignitatem personae deferentis And as these persons made Gentlemen in not exercising the professions of that degree doe loose the benefit thereof So Captaines and Souldiers discontinuing the warre doe by Law loose their reputation Milites not exercentes militiam non gaudent priuilegijs militum Bal. in lib. 1. Cod. Item men may sometimes become Noble in respect of the place where they were borne For the Citizens of famous Townes may reasonably be thought more worthy then villaines Yet if a Gentleman doe inhabite his village he shall neuerthelesse continue Noble Quia nobilis à rustico non loco sed genere distinguitur Item all men in the princes ordinary seruice and houshold are thereby ennobled and ought be Gentlemen The words 〈◊〉 the Law be these Omnes famulantes principi sunt in dignitate ideo nobiles cum dignitas nobilitas idem sunt Bart. lib. 1. Ca. de Dignit 12. Item some Gentlemen doe hold that dignitie by