Lacedaemon before they went vnto the warre did first sacrifice and consult with the Muses how they were to proceed for so did Terpander and Pindarus men of speciall note in Sparta and which were employed to set foorth the praises of such of the Lacedaemonians as were both in Musicke and Armes excellent The Romanes did highly and openly extoll Quintus Fabius Maximus Rollianus and Pubâ— Decius for their notable knowledge as wel in Armes as learning Thus doeth it appeare that Armes and Lawes cannot bee disioyned and consequently where the counsaile of Captaines is directed by Law equitie and Religion there insolencie fury and vnlawfull force is repressed CHAP. 2. ¶ Militarie Iustice and the originall thereof HAuing discoursed what concord ought be betweene Militarie and Ciuile gouernment it seemeth requisite to say that Militarie Iustice generally is a Law made by consent of all Nations the propertie whereof is to repulse force and to redresse iniurie For who so in defence of his owne person doth resist force with force shall be thought to haue so done iustly And albeit bruit beastes do seeme in some sort to offend and defend without the aide of wit and humane forecast yet because all they do is without discourse of reason or election it cannot be said that they vse force according to Iustice but rather mooued by naturall instinct consequently attempt without order or warrantie of any lawful proceeding which indeed liueth onely among men For admit that no Lawes were and all things left subiect to Fortune and chance yet such is the force of equitie and reason and the root thereof so firmely fixed in the minds of men as though neuer so much defaced obscured in sauage and degenerate natures may not yet vtterly be razed out of the mindes of any be they neuer so outrageous but that at one time or other either openly to the world or inwardly to themselues will they nill they some vigorous and liuely sparkes thereof will appeare The like may be particularly said of Iustice Militarie whereof in the minds of Souldiers so deepe an impression is made as no force or time can raze it out And touching the execution of Iuridiction Militarie we say the same was euer performed by Iudges and Magistrates thereunto purposely appointed and that men of Armes and all other Souldiers were in al Militarie matters directed punished ordered by their proper Commanders as in ancient time they were in Rome and since in France hath bene vsed But first to touch the original of Martial iustice it seemeth to haue bene taken from the Romanes who for causes reasonable bestowed vpon men of warte great priuiledges dignities and immunities afterwards confirmed and increased by diuers Emperous By whose example some Kings of France and other princes haue done the like Yet true it is that at the beginning such iurisdiction was executed onely in the field by the Tribunes or their deputies I meane in ordinary offences or els by the Legate in their absence or els by the Consul or Generall in causes capitall and faults of most importance But in processe of time the insolencie of Souldiers increasing the sayd iustice became more generall and the authoritie thereof extended into all townes and places whatsoeuer inflicting exemplarie punishment according to the qualitie of eche mans offence yea in the end the reputation of Martial iurisdiction became equall to that of ciuill Iustice. CHAP. 2. ¶ Of Warre and causes thereof CIcero sayth that discord and dissention among men is ended either by persuasion or force the one proper to men the other to brute beasts and where the first cannot preuaile the other may be excused Reasonably therefore are those warres to be taken in hand where iniurie can not be otherwise repulsed nor peace by other meane preserued And most apparant it is that nature hath bestowed vpon all creatures certaine armes or weapons wherewith to defend themselues and offend their enemies yea whoso obserueth shall see that ech liuing bodie is in some sort by nature disposed to make warre as the calfe before his hornes be growen doth indeuour to offend with his head The colt turneth his heeles when his hooues are scarsely hard The little whelpe whose teeth be tender and vnfit to bite will neuerthelesse do his best to offend with his lips Man likewise of all other creatures least furnished both for offence and defence will with all his strength hands and feet labour to resist his foes as appeareth euen in children who prouoked to anger do spurne and bite haply moued thereunto with desire of victorie onely The same reason inciteth men both in generall and particular to contend so as one citie maketh warre against another one prouince inuadeth another and whole kingdomes and common weales doe endeuour to oppresse one the other Yea the affections in euery sole body do among themselues strâ—ue and make warre which mooued some Philosophers to say That no victorie is woorthier of commendation then that wherein man doth conquer himselfe Fortior est qui se quà m qui fortissima vincit moenia nec virtus altior ire potest sayeth Ouid. Seeing then that each man hath warre within himselfe and against others and cities contend for honor and empire one taking from the other what can be sayd Ours more then that which is gotten and defended by armes Yet true it is that some warres are not properly so called as where one part of the people doth assault the other for that kinde of contending ought be named sedition but when one Nation taketh Armes to offend an other there wee say is warre When the Romanes were diuided one faction labouring to oppresse another who by nature ought to haue ioyned together such enimitie was called Sedition but when the Galls the Carthagenians or other forreigne people assaulted the Romanes or were by them assailed that contention was truely called Warre But omitting to say more of ciuil or domesticall dissention let vs discourse of that Warre which is ordinarily made with forreine people for Empire and glory as when the Romanes tooke Armes against the Latines Sabines and Carthaginenses or when they fought with the Celtiberi and Cimbri not who should command but who should liue yet ought the cause whereof the Warre groweth be iust and such as the enemie cannot but acknowledge reasonable For who is so impudent as will deny that if iniury be done or the goods or honour of other men be taken but hee from whom the same was taken is iustly caused to become an enemie Non licet cum alterius incommodo suum augere commodum Yet Aristotle proueth that some men are by nature borne to command others to obey whereof may be inferred that Warres are necessary as well to compell those to subiection that are destenied thereunto as also for others who ought to gouerne to hold their auctoritie The Romanes also did thinke good sometimes to make Warre onely to entertaine the youth fit for seruice as when they sent
the second then Pope sent vnto the Captaines a white Crosse with commandement that all the souldiers should weare the like calling that enterprise La cruciata It is sayd that the Christians as such time as this warre was proclaimed in Cleirmont a citie of Auergna indeuoured themselues vniuersally to animate the souldiers and ioyned in generall prayer for their good successe giuing them meat apparel and furniture vnasked or required Moreouer those that were indebted were forgiuen and such as had beene banished were pardoned The women also contrary to their custome willingly and with much ioy consented their husbands and sonnes should passe in this enterprise and for their furniture gaue them their Iewels Chaines and money The French King likewise sent them great treasure and gaue priuiledges to the souldiers lands and wiues in their husbands absence And many great Princes and other Lords sold and impawned their Patrimonies to further this action So as the Armie assembled for this holy enterprise amounted vnto three hundred thousand footmen and one hundred thousand horse who presently marched towards Constantinople where they passed the Strait called Bosphoro Thracio landed at Calcedonia For the first enterprise they besieged Nicea in Bithynia which within fiftie dayes was yeelded and the fouth of Iuly at the foote of certaine mountaines neere vnto that citie the Christians fought a battell with a Turkish Armie which in number exceeded ours and thereat was present Solyman the Emperour of Turkie but the Christians had victory with the losse of two thousand men of the Enemies were slaine fourtie thousand This victorie gained the Christians following their enterprise within short time wonne an hundred cities and townes of accompt and among them the great Antiochia before which they begun the siege the twentieth of October and tooke it the last of May following where they found Corbona King of Persia and Cassiano Lord of Antioch Neere vnto that place in one other conflict were slaine more then one hundred thousand Turkes with the losse of foure thousand of ours The cause of this victory was in that time of superstition imputed to the vertue of a bloody Lance found in Antiochia which they supposed to bee a speare wherewith Christ was wounded on the Crosse. It was also sayd that the Turkes did see or imagine another great Armie comming against them from the mountaines conducted by three Captaines mounted vpon three white horses the beholding wherof occasioned their flight This victory being had a Nauie arriued from Genoa and from Venice Also with them came certaine ships conducted by one Vymer of Bullein in Picardie a notable Pirate who repenting his former like determined to follow that honourable Action The Christian forces thus increased they marched towards Ierusalem and besieged it notwithstanding the city was of great force yet by Gods helpe and the valorous aduenture of the Christians it was assaulted and in the end yeelded Anno 1099. This Citie thus conquered the sayd Peter as the chiefe procurer of the enterprise was highly honoured and Godfrey Duke of Lorayn elected King of the Holy land But to returne to the Original of these Knights I say that somewhat before the Christians conquered the Citie of Ierusalem they had obteined of the Saracens leaue to dwell neere vnto the Sepulchre of Christ and there builded an house calling it the Hospital of Christians whither all other Christians dayly resorted After that the number of Christians increasing they builded another houses for women calling it S. Mary Magadelens And at length they made a third house calling it S. Iohn Baptists where for the keeping of good order they appointed an officer whom they called Rector Some time after was elected to that fellowship a gouernour called Gerardus who commanded that he with al others of that house should weare a white Crosse vpon a blacke garment which was the originall of the Order and euer since hath bene vsed Afterwards one other Rector or great Master was elected whose name was Raimondus to whom authority was giuen that he should gouerne and command all Knights of this Order where soeuer they were dispersed Many yeeres after these Knights conquered the Isle of Rhodes holden by the Turkes Anno 1308. which was the cause they were commonly called Knights and diuers princes seeing them martially inclined gaue vnto them great lands and possessions and they became greatly esteemed for their seruice chiefly against the sayd Turkes and the Soldan king of Egypt and Ierusalem The sayd Isle of Rhodes during those Knights inhabited there was foure times assaulted yet by Gods helpe and the valiancie of the Knights it was defended Then Mahomet Otoman Emperour of Turkie Anno 1480. with an excessiue force of men and an hundred Saile of Galleys conducted by a Bassa borne in Greece descended of the rase of Paleologi sometime Emperors of Constantinople did besiege it but after 89 dayes of continuall batterie they were forced to abandon the enterprise and for their farewell in the last assault the Knights slew more then fourtie thousand Turkes But in the yeare 1523. in the moneth of Ianuarie the Turkes againe inuaded the Island and after three moneths Siege preuailed for the rest of Christendome neuer vouchsafed them either aide or reliefe Since the losse of Rhodes these Knights haue remained in the Island of Malta and often defended it against the enemies of Christendome but chiefly in the yeere 1565. The first erector of Statures and Rules for the gouernment of these Knights was the sayd Raymondus calling himselfe Raimondo di Poggio Seruo dipoueri di Christo e custode dello spidalle di San Giouanni Battista di Ierusalem No man might be receiued into this Knighthood vntill he had proued his gentilitie in presence of the great Master and other Knights Nor no man descended of a Moore a Iew or Mahometan might be admitted although he were the sonne of a Prince And euery Knight of this order was sworne to fight for the Christian faith doe Iustice defend the oppressed relieue the poore persecute the Mahometans vse vertue and protect Widowes and Orphanes Diuers other Articles there be but for that they are full of superstition I omit them CHAP. 21. Knights of Calatraua They were called Knights of Calatraua of the prouince and place where they were made and setled which was where anciently the chiefe Church of Templars had bene who not being of power sufficient to resist the Saracens were forced to yeeld the place vnto these Knights The habit of these Knights is a blacke garment and vpon it in the breast is set a red Crosse. These Knights haue also exceeding great possessions and many commandries in diuers places of Spaine Alphonsus Rex Câ—stiliâ— Institutâ—r Ord. Rubri Baltâ—i vulgo de la banda dict Fol. 98. CHAP. 22. Knights of the Band. THis order was first erected by Alphonso King of Spaine sonne to Ferdinando and Queene Constanza in the yeere 1268. And to giue the said Knighthood reputation and honour
the person of the Emperor and King of Romanes two Popes for one died there fiue Patriarches three and thirty Cardinals fourtie and seuen Archbishops a hundreth forty and fiue Bishops and 83. Suffragans Thirty and nine Dukes Thirty and seuen Earles being absolute Princes An hundreth and thirtie inferior Earles Seuentie and nine free Lords or Barons Knights of all Nations fifteene hundred Gentlemen twentie thousand besides Doctors Licentiats and Scholemen infinite For the King of England appeared Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwick with him were foure Bishops viz. Sarisbury Chester Bathe and Bangor Sarisbury died during that Councell and liuing tooke his place aboue all other Bishops as an Archbishop and for the time was placed last in the ranke of Archbishops The Earle of Warwicks attendants were as followeth Hurting de Clough Knight Iohn Waterton Knight Iohn Seton Knight Piers Craft Knight Iohn Roch Knight Iames Hermford Knight Beringer de Beaumont Knight Gentlemen Nicholas Serpon William Newland Geffrey Offley Walter Hungerford Hugh Holdbach Iohn Fitton Thomas Wileot Richard Dutton Oliuer Dunley Petrs Craft Iohn Lantsdon Iohn Roche Thomas Fanhes William Newland Iohn Merbory Iohn Otlinger Ralfe Rainscroft Henry Vessey William Vessey Scholemen of Cambridge Henry Abundy Iohn Wells Iohn Sheirford Doctors in Diuinitie Thomas Palton Robert Appleton Iohn Stokes Ciuilians Scholemen of Oxford The Lord Prior of Orsestry Peter Rodley Priamus Farbach CHAP. 20. Of Magistrates NExt vnder Emperors Kings and Princes Souereigne are foure degrees of Magistrates Some are called Magni and Illustres Some are Medij and Spectabiles Some are Minimi and Clarissimi And some are Infimi The first may be named Magistrates souereigne as they who acknowledge no superior but the Maiestie of the Prince The second are they that yeeld obedience to them and command other Magistrates their inferiors The latter two are such as cannot command any Magistrate but haue power only ouer particular subiects within the limits of their iurisdiction Touching the first that haue authority to commaund all other Magistrates and acknowledge no superior but the Prince they are fewer at this day then heretofore Yet certaine it seemeth that some Romane Emperours authorized one Magistrate or Lieutenant without any companion to command all other Magistrates of the Empire and to him all Gouernours and Magistrates did appeale Which Magistrate they called Praefectus Praetorio True it is that at the beginning he was of no greater quality then Captaine of the Legions Praetorian as Seius Strabo vnder Augustus and Seianus vnder Tibertus vntill other Emperors succeeding by litle and litle encreased their authority as in the end the Praefectus Praetorio became Lieutenant generall and iudge of all questions and causes whatsoeuer by which occasion that office was giuen vnto men learned in the Lawe as Martian vnder Otho Papinian vnder Seuerus and Vlpian vnder Alexander All which came to passe before Armes were diuided from lawes and Iusticers from Captaines Afterwards this great office became imparted vnto two and sometimes three persons purposely to abridge the excessiue authority of one But touching the Precedencie of Magistrates albeit they cannot aptly be ranged with those of the Empire yet may they in some sort be placed according to the dignitie and degrees of those titles which the Romanes anciently vsed And touching their authority it shal not be amisse to know that a Magistrate is an Officer hauing power to command in the common weale among whom in the Romane Empire the Praefectus Praetorio was the chiefe hauing authority aboue all other Officers to whom also euery one did appeale To this Praetor or Praefect we may compare the Grand Mayor du Pallais in France who in times past did in that kingdome beare chiefe office To him also in some sort we may resemble the high Seneschal of England vnder King William the Conqueror and other Kings his successors These Magistrates might therefore bee reasonably called Illustrissimi chiefly in the Kings absence For sure it is that in presence of the King all power of Magistrates and Commissioners also doth cease For during that time they haue no authority of commandement either ouer other subiects or other Officers their inferiors But this mighty Magistrate is no more either in England or France yet during their authoritie they were called Illustrissmi which title signified a certein preeminencie aboue all Magistrates that were Illustres either Honorarij or Administrantes Nam accidentia denominant Subiectum Next to these Illustrissimi or Maximi the chiefe place of Precedencie is due vnto those whome we called Illustres and among them the L. Chancellour is chiefe etiam in dignitate impari as one whose excellent vertue ought be preferred before all other officers Likewise the Lord high Constable or Lord Marshall is a Magistrate Illust. the Lord Treasurer Admirall of England the Lord Chamberlaine and all others of the Kings priuie Councell may assume the title of persons Illust. or as we commonly call them right Honorable So saith Cass. It seemeth also that Doctours who haue read in schoole the space of twenty yeeres may be called Illustrissimi as Purpuratus noteth To these Illust. or right Honourable personages the lawes Emperiall haue graunted many great priuiledges as the same Barthol discourseth After these the Magistrates whome we formerly called Spectabiles and may in our tongue be tearmed Honourable ought to follow as commanders in Armes Iudges Gouernours or Lieutenants Generall of Prouinces and Cities c. The fourth place appertaineth to them that anciently were named Clarissimi or Right worshipfull who are inferiour Iusticers and Ministers Colonels Captaines and meane Officers c. Lastly are they whome the Romanes intituled Infimi and in English Worshipfull as Captaines of particular Castles Iudges in Townes corporate where no action is triable aboue 3000 shillings Note here that euery Magistrate is an Officer but euery Officer is not a Magistrate and of all Magistrates the Lord Chancellor hath euer had precedence not onely in England and Fraunce but of all anciencie in euery other place for read we may that Eginardus who wrote the life of Carolus Magnus was his Chancellor Likewise Tribonianus was Chancellor vnto the Emperor Iustinian Iosaphat was Chancellor to King Dauid 2. of Kings Vlpianus to the Emperour Alexander Seneca to Nero and in France the Chancellor hath so great preheminence as he precedeth the Constable vnlesse he be the Kings brother or his sonne For the better memory of the degrees aforesaid Lucas de Penna speaking of titular dignity hath left these verses vnderwritten Illustris primus medius spectabilis imus Vt lex testatur clarissimus esse probatur Et superillustris praeponitur omnibus istis CHAP. 21. Of Officers and their Precedencie OFficers seruing Princes are of diuers sorts among which some doe attend the Princes person others haue charge of his Treasure some are ministers of Iustice and some are commanders in warre For the better conceiuing of our intention therfore and the order of that which
their Armie vnto Carthage being perswaded that ouerlong idlenesse might corrupt For indeed the labour and discipline of Warre doth make men honest and temperate It seemeth therefore that Princes martially disposed haue not onely thereby purchased renowne but also much enlarged their dominions For which reason the Lacedaemonians do seeme to accuse Pausanias iustly for inhibiting them to extend the bounds of their dominion But contrarywise Lycurgus and Minos are much praised perswading the Lacedaemonians and the people of Cyprus to aduance their glory by Warre whereof wee may inferre that Peace is not the onely ende of Warre yet not doubt the chiefest and most necessary cause thereof according to the opinion of Cicero saying Nullum bellum esse iustum nisi quod aut rebus repet t is geratur aut denuntiatum antè sit indictum Whereby appeareth that Warres ought not to be made without iust cause and publique expostulation And Plutarch writing the life of Numa saith it was not lawful for a King or any Souldier to take Armes vntill the Foecials had so commanded or allowed Wise Princes and commanders therefore ought to deliberate maturely before they take Armes to the ende the Warre may be iust and the proceeding thereof aduised In which point they shall doe well to imitate the example of Traianus who vsed to obserue these cautions viz. carefully to supply the places of Souldiers slaine couragiously to represse the enemies pride and according to discipline Militarie compell Muteners to obedience and order To that purpose also Octauianus Augustus did say No warre ought be taken in hand vnlesse the same did promise more hope of profit then feare of losse For who so shall otherwise doe may be compared vnto a Fisher that angleth with an hooke of gold which being broken or lost al the fish hehath gotten sufficeth not to make a recompence CHAP. 4. ¶ Of Souldiers THat men of warre haue beene anciently called Milites euery man knoweth but for what reason that name was giuen euery one is not enformed We say therefore with Vlpianus that men professing Armes were called Milites à malitia idest duritia which is as much to say as they were so named in respect of the hardnesse and danger they indure in defence of other people or else because they repulse the euill and iniurie which enemies doe ofter Romulus called vnto his guard a thousand men and some writers haue thought that thereof Souldiers were called Milites Howsoeâ—er that were sure it is that anciently who so would become a Souldier it behooued him to procure his name to bee enrolled in the Generals booke For necessarie it is that he who commandeth should know what number and so what qualitie his souldiers be Which reason mooued Alexander Scuerus to keepe in his chamber a Catalogue or Rolle of his souldiers and at his leisure considered of their suites their number their dignities and wages Hee likewise cautiously prouided that no man should aspire to priuiledges Militarie by ambition but for vertue and skill And who so desireth to enjoy the honours appertaining to Armes ought first to prooue he is a Souldier In which case the lawes of Cossus Crassus and Sceuola must be remembred for thereby is decreed that as a man being no citizen should not take vpon him to be a citizen so he that is not enrolled a souldier cannot anow himselfe a souldier By the lawes Ciuill three wayes there are for souldiers to proue their profession which done they shall not afterwardes endure any vnworthie or vnreasonable imposition The first proofe is by letters certificate of Captaines or Officers Charles the seuenth king of France commanded that no man should be capeable of charge or office in the warre vnlesse he were authorised by the Kings letters and 〈◊〉 in testimonie of the publique honour and degree hee had Secondly he ought to make proofe that in former time he had behaued himselfe as a good Souldier and such a one as serued long with commendation Lastly to be recorded among the number of receiued souldiers for that testimoniall cannot be disproued It was also anciently vsed that in token of honour due vnto souldiers of good merit a girdle was giuen for it is written in the law Imperiall Militia exornatos confestimcingi debere And Charles the seuenth king of France in his Edict saith thus Edictum est ne quis Miles in numeros referatur qui non cinctus sit armisâ— it a munitus vt probum decet militem All Souldiers who serued on horsebacke by the Romanes called Equites vsed to carry on their left arme a certaine shield or buckler and in the right hand a lance and vnto their side a Spanish sword was girded Thus appeareth it that the girdle was the first Ensigne bestowed vpon souldiers and without it no man might accompt himselfe among the number of militarie men nor claime the priuiledges due vnto souldiers For only they that were inrolled and girded were properly called souldiers and they that were newly elected to supply the bands were named Tirones It was also an vse among the Romanes that when any Captaine attained this Ensigne of the Generall he then deliuered a Rolle or list wherein his number was conteined By which meanes the Commander generall might be informed of his whole Armie It is also to bee remembred that besides these inrolled men doe appertaine to euery armie certaine supposed souldiers who are men absent or not vsed and neuerthelesse may enjoy the immunities of the warre for so was it decreed by Claudius the Emperous calling those sorts of Souldiers Militia imaginaria CHAP. 5. ¶ Howe Souldiers did anciently take oathe TO exact an oath of Souldiers was euer thought necessary not onely for the Common weale but also for the Souldier himselfe For at such time as Souldiers serued voluntarily Lucius Flaccus and Caius Varro being Consuls the Senate of Rome thought fit to compel men of warre to sweare though before that time no oath was taken but at the pleasure of him that would Cincius in his first booke de remilitari affirmeth the oath to be thus or to this effect In exercitu decemquc millia passuum prope furtum non facies dolo malo solus neque cum pluribus Extra hastam hastile ligna pabulum vtrem follem faculam si quid ibi inueneris sustulerisue quod tuum non erit quod pluris nummi argentei erit vti ad Consulem Caium Laelium Luciumue Cornelium siue ad quem corum ius erit proferas aut profitebere in triduo proximo quicquid inuencris sustulerisue dolo malo aut domino suo cuius id censebis esse reddes Vtine quid non recte factum esse voles Wee read also that long after Petreius forced the Souldiers of Pompey to sweare they should not abandon their Captaine nor Campe neither should they doe any treason nor consult one with another priuately The like oath was ministred vnto the Souldiers of Domitianus by Caesar and
vanquished the enemie The other of Papirius the Dictator who for the like offence was punished by Fabius Rutilius General of the horsemen in the Romane Armie Sixtly hee ought hee vigilant and patient for in the one consisteth the execution of warlike Actions by the other all trauailes paines and misfortunes are endured Seuenthly he must be faithfull and loyall which qualitie is required in all sorts of subiects but chiefly in souldiers for thereupon dependeth his Princes securitie and State also which moued Vegetius to say That the safety of a Prince consisteth in the well chusing his souldiers This is the cause that men professing Armes doe commonly sweare by the faith of a Souldier The French man a foy de Soldat The Italian a fe di Soldato c. Yea the Kings of France doe commonly vse this phrase a foy de gentil homme a foy du cheualier Eightly he ought be constant and resolute because resolution maketh all difficulties easie and constancie or perseuerance bringeth perfection in that he professeth Ninthly that he should be charitable because warres are not taken in hand for the destruction of Countries and towns but the defence of lawes and people Lastly he should bee fortunate sith Fortune is the Ladie of Armes and sheweth her power in nothing more then in the aduentures of warre CHAP. 1. Of Knighthood WHo so desireth to knowe the originall name and dignitie of Knighthood it behooueth him to be enformed that the Romanes among whom Martiall discipline was first esteemed and titles giuen to men for valorous merit diuided their people into Patritij and Plebaei After that time another diuision was made as Senatores Equites and Plebs as the French haue at this day Les Nobles la populaire or Gentils hommes villains And we in England doe diuide our men into fiue sorts Gentlemen Citizens Yeomen Artificers and Labourers Of Gentlemen the first and principal is the King Prince Dukes Marquesses Earls Vicounts and Barons These are the Nobilitie and be called Lords or Noblemen Next to these be Knights Esquiers and simple Gentlemen which last number may be called Nobilitas minor for they in Parliament haue no place among the Lords therefore the Barons or degree of Lords doe resemble the dignity of Senatores in Rome and the title of our Nobilitie is like vnto Patritij when the Patritij did signifie Senatores aut Senatorum filij But that degree which we doe now call Knighthood is most like vnto the title in Rome named Equestris ordo Yet other opinions there are both of the beginning and name of Knight as well among the Italians as the Spaniards But howsoeuer it was most certaine it seemeth that vntill Equestris ordo was erected in Rome there was no such degree of men as we call Knights neither was that name giuen with such ceremony and shewe of dignitie as since it hath beene vsed Yet some there are that faile not to affirme that Knighthood had the originall from Romulus in this sort That King hauing set led his gouernment in Rome partly for security and partly for magnificence erected three bands of horsemen the first called Romence after his owne name the next Titience after Titus Tacius and the third Luceria whereof only I thinke Liuie maketh mention Hereupon they will inferre that Knighthood begun vnder Romulus The Spaniards doe hold opinion that when faith and plaine dealing decayed those men that made profession of warre euery thousand did chuse one man whom they thought to be of greatest wisdome courage and curtesie among the rest That being done they made choise of such an horse as was reputed to excell the rest for beautie force and other perfections and forthwith gaue that beast vnto that man whome they had chosen as though their intention were to conioyne that singular beast vnto that notable man naming him Caualiero which signifieth Horseman though we improperly English it Knight Thus much is said in generall concerning gentlemen that make profession of Armes whom the Romanes as it seemeth sometimes called Milites and some other times Equites the Italians and Spaniards Caualieri the French Cheualiers but in our language as is now vsed none are called Knights but only they that haue that title giuen by the Prince or his Lieutenant with a ceremony thereunto belonging And of Knights made according to the vse of England are diuers degrees as shall hereafter bee declared CHAP. 2. ¶ The originall of Knighthood giuen as a Dignity and what Princes haue authoritie to make Knights IT is affirmed by some writers that Alexander the Great with the aduise of his learned tutor Aristotle resolued to bestow vpon such persons as performed any notable seruice in the warre certaine honours and aduancements in token of their extraordinary vertue and notable merit and therefore he gaue vnto some badges to some chaines to some immunities or some such other demonstration of fauour and honour The Romane Emperours in like manner sometimes before the beginning of a seruice and sometimes after bestowed not only commendation but also dignity on those whose vertue they thought so worthy as crowns of Bayes of Golde of Myrtle or some other gift thought fit by the giuer They gaue also horses swords armour arming coats and such like they that receiued them as a token of honour kept them carefully in perpetuall memory of their valour and the honour of the Prince that gaue them By this meane also they became much admired and esteemed of other souldiers Afterwards for more encouragement of vertuous minds other Princes thought good that the memorable acts of soldiers should be in perpetuall memory written and such priuiledges as were giuen them to be recorded calling them in those writings Valiant men Companions in Arms Victorious souldiers and Knights Which maner of proceeding did encourage the men of warre no lesse then the great pouâ—traitures which the most ancient Romanes made for those that had performed actes egregious Touching the making of Knights we say That euery Prince souereigne hath power to giue that dignitie to what person it pleaseth him as well in time of peace as warre But here is to be noted that the Knights made are of more or lesse reputation according to the qualitie of that Prince that made them For he that is made knight by a King shall be preferred before a knight made by a Prince of meaner title To conclude therefore we say that all Emperours Kings Dukes and other Princes acknowledging no Superiour may make Knights and so may common-weales as the State of Venice and Genoa The Popes doe also sometimes make Knights for money calling them commonly after their owne names Caualieri di San Pietro San Paulo Guiliani Pij c. CHAP. 3. The maner of making Knights about the yeere of Christ 500. neere which time King Arthur reigned in England IN that age a Prince determining to make a Knight did command a Scaffold or Stage to be builded in some Cathedrall Church
the King himselfe with his sonnes and brethren vouchsafed to enter thereinto with them were also admitted diuers other gentlemen of best quality and greatest estimation The cause that mooued the King to name them Knights of the Band was for that hee commanded euery man elected into the Order should weare a certaine red Scarfe or Lace of silke the bredâ—th of three inches which hung on their left shoulder was tied vnder the right arme No man might enter into this Knighthood but such as the king did specially admit neither was any person capable of that dignitie vnlesse hee were the sonne of a Knight or some Gentleman of great account or at the least such a one as had serued the King by space of ten yeeres in his Court or in the warre against the Moores Into this Order no Gentleman could be receiued being an elder brother or an heire in possession or apparance but only such as were yonger without land and liueload because the Kings intention was to aduance the Gentlemen of his Court that had not of their owne At such time as any Gentleman was admitted a Knight he promised to obserue these Articles following which I haue thought good particularly to expresse and the rather because they tend only to entertaine the minds of men in the offices of Courage and Curtesie without any mixture of superstition whereof almost all other Orders in those dayes tasted First that hee should speake vnto the King for commodity of the common-wealth and the defence thereof so often as he were thereunto required and refusing so to doe shall for feit all his patrimony and be banished his countrey That he should aboue all things speake the trueth vnto the King and at euery occasion be faithfull to his Maiesty That hee should not be silent whensoeuer any person should speake against the Kings honor vpon paine of being banished the Court and depriued of his Band for euer That he should be no great speaker and in speaking to vtter the trueth but if he should say or affirme an vntrueth then for a punishment to in the streets without his sword for one whole moneth That he should endeauour himselfe to keepe company with wise mâ—â— and persons experienced in the warre for being found to conuerse wiâ—â— merchants artificers or base people he should be therefore greatly reproued by the great Master and for one moneth be commanded to keepe his house That he should maintaine his owne word and faithfully keepe promise with his friends and being found to do otherwise to be enioyned to walke and goe alone vnaccompanied of any other of the Kings Court should not presume to speake or come neere vnto any other Knight That he should alwayes haue good armour in his chamber good horses in his stable good launces in his hall and a good sword by his side or otherwise to be called Page and no Knight for one whole moneth That he should not be seene mounted vpon any Mule or other vnseemly hackney neither walke abroad without his Band nor enter into the Kings pallace without his sword nor eate alone at home vpon paine to forfeit for euery such offence one Marke toward the maintaining of the Tilt. That he should be no flatterer of the King or any other person neither take delight in skoffing vpon paine to walke on foote for one moneth and be confined to his house another moneth That he should not complaine of any hurt nor boast of his owne actes nor in curing his wounds crie Oh for if in vaunting wise hee vttered any oftentatious speeches he should be reproued by the great master and let alone vnuisited of all his companions That he should be no common gamester chiefly at the dice nor consent that others should play in his house vpon paine to forfeite for euery such offence one moneths pay and for one moneth and a halfe not to be seene in the Court. That he should not in any sort lay to pawne his Armour or weapons nor play away his garments vpon paine to be imprisoned in his owne house a whole moneth and for two moneths following to goe without the Band. That he should be dayly apparelled in fine cloth and on Holy dayes in silke and on high feastes weare gold in his garments if he pleased without being compelled so to do But if he did weare buskins vpon nether stockes of cloth the great Master should take them from him and giue them in almes to the poore That in walking either in Court or Citie his pace should not be swift or hastie vpon paine to be reproued of his fellow Knights and punished at the great Masters discretion That he should not speake any thing vnfit or offensiue to his fellowe in Armes vpon paine to aske him forgiuenesse and to be banished the Court for three moneths That he should not commence or enter suite of Law against the daughter of any Knight vpon paine neuer to haue Ladie or Gentlewoman of the Court to his mistresse or wife That if he happened to meete with any Ladie or Gentlewoman of the Court he should foorthwith alight from his horse and offer her his seruice vpon paine to loose one moneths wages and the fauour of all Ladies That if any Lady of honour required seruice at his hand he refusing to doe it hauing power should be called for euer the discourteous Knight That hee should not eate alone nor at any time feede vpon grosse meates That he should not enter quarell with any of his fellow Knights or if any such disagreement did happen that he nor any other Knight should make partie but by all good meanes seeke to reconcile them vpon paine to pay a marke towards the charge of the next Iusts That if any man not being of this Order should presume to weare the band that then he should be forced to fight with two Knights but vanquishing them should be also a Knight himselfe and being vanquished should be banished the Court and neuer to weare the Band. That if at any Iusts or Turnaments in the Court a Gentleman being not of the Order should winne the prize then the King was bound forthwith to make him a Knight of the Band. That if any Knight of the Band did offer to drawe his sword against any of his fellowes for so doing he should absent himselfe two moneths two other moneths weare but halfe his band And if a Knight did hurt his fellow in Armes he should be imprisoned one halfe yeere and the next halfe yeere be banished the Court. That no Knight for any offence should be punished or iudged before he were brought to the King and his pleasure signified That he should be euer furnished to attend on the King whensoeuer he went to the warre and if any battel were striken then ought these Knights ioyntly to giue the charge and if in any such seruice a Knight performed not his part he should loose one yeres pay and one other yeere weare but halfe
commendably acquite themselues but the other two of that side were ouerthrowen On the other side two only perfourmed their courses well and the rest of that company exceeding euill losing many Lances and running very foule whereof a question grew whether vnto fiue well doers and two euill or vnto two well doers with fiue euil the honour ought to be allotted Albeit in this case much may be spoken yet for that the question is not of any particular mans merit but which partie in generall performed best the enterprize it may be alleaged that the partie wherein were most weldoers ought to haue the honour notwithstanding the fall of two of their companions yet for so much as the fall from horsebacke by the enemies force or vertue is most reprochefull it seemeth that the misaduenture of two men onely may reasonably be the losse of honour to all the rest And therefore we leaue the iudgement of this doubt vnto wise men better experienced in Armes Two gentlemen being in combat for life the Challenger taketh the sword of the Defender from him notwithstanding the Defender most valiantly defendeth himselfe with his arme and hands all the whole day during which time he could not be forced either to denie yeeld or be slaine A question thereupon arose whether of them was victorious Forasmuch as this Combat was for life and that in euery fight of such nature no victory is fully gained vntill the Defender is slaine or els forced to yeeld or denie it seemeth that he is not to be iudged guiltie not hauing done any of these although his sword were lost which indeed in all martiall exercises and feates of Armes is a thing much to be discommended But most certaine it is that in all Combats and actions for honor loue and praise onely whosoeuer loseth his sword must presently also lose the honor and victory Two Gentlemen fighting for life within the Listes the one yeeldeth himselfe a prisoner Whether may the Prince of the place who in combat is elected a Iudge saue the life of him that is vanquished Hereunto may be answered That albeit euery prisoner appertaineth vnto his taker yet hath it commonly bene vsed that the victorious haue presented their prisoners vnto the Prince to be disposed at his good pleasure who in recompense thereof doe vse according to the magnanimous mindes of such persons not onely to pay the charges of the victorious but also in signe of clemencie and mercie set the infortunate prisoner freely at libertie As did the noble King Edward the third of England vnto Iohn Visconti who in his presence was vanquished by Thomas de la March base sonne vnto the French King And Philip Duke of Millain did the like vnto an vnfortunate Gentleman vanquished by a Neoplitane Knight CHAP. 14. Of the honor gained or lost by being disarmed in sundry places and of sundrie peeces A Man that loseth his sword in fight is more reproched then he that loseth his shield For he gaineth the greatest honor that winneth the chiefe weapon from the enemie which is the sword seeing therewith the Emperour and Kings doe create their Knights and the sword is borne before them in in signe of authoritie and Regal power He that loseth his headpiece in fight is more dishonoured then he that loseth his shield because the Helmet defendeth the most principal part of man but the shield armeth a lower place He that loseth his Gauntlet in fight is more to be blamed then he who is disarmed of his Poulderon For the Gauntlet armeth the hand without which member no fight can be performed and therefore that part of Armor is commonly sent in signe of defiance He that is cast out of the Saddle by violence of his aduersaries encounter shal be more reproued then he who falleth by the default of his horse the breaking of Girthes or any such like accident CHAP. 15. ¶ Of the honor gained or lost by the hurts giuen or taken in Combat for life or in triumph HE that in fight loseth his eye shall thereby receiue more dishonour then he that loseth his teeth because the eye is a member seruing the most necessarie sence but the teeth are onely instruments of the mouth He that loseth his right eye is more to be reproached then he that loseth the left eye because the right side is in better opinion of men The like is to be sayd of the hands of the armes and legges If a man hauing but one eye doe fight with another man that hath two in losing that one eye he shall be more blamed then he who hath two eyes although he loseth one He that loseth his whole hand shall be more reproached then he who loseth one eye And he that loseth a foot is more disgraced then he that loseth one hand CHAP. 16. Of Combats auncient TOo long it were to tell the causes and euent of Combats heretofore performed by Princes and other persons of honourable qualitie Neuerthelesse who so desireth to know what was anciently done in matter of such quality let him read the Combats of Dauid with Goliah Of Romulus with Acron of Marcellus with Virdimarus king of France Of the Horatij and Curiatij Of Satibarzanes with Erigius Of Horrates with Dioxippus a Champion Of Alexander with Porus king of the Indians Of Titus Manlius with one other Frenchman of Marcus Valerius with one other Lord of that Nation Of Ionathas the Iewe with Pudentus of a Duke of Bohemia with the Duke of Lancaster Of certaine Christians with a like number of Barbarians Of Seanderbeg alone against three other men Of Valares a Gothian with Artanas an Armenian and many others CHAP. 17. The order of Combats for life in England as they are anciently recorded in the office of Armes at London FIrst the Cartell or Bill of Quarrell aswell of the Challengers behalfe as of the Defenders was brought into the Court before the Constable and Marshall And when the trueth of the cause of quarrell could not be prooued by witnesse nor otherwise then was it permitted the same should receiue triall by force of Armes the one partie by assayling the other by defending The Constable as Vicar generall vnto the King assigned the day of battell which was to be performed within forty dayes next following whereunto both the Challenger and Defender condscended Then were the Combattants commaunded to bring in sufficient pledges for suertie that they and euery of them should appeare and performe the combat betwixt the sunne rising and going done of the day appointed for the acquirall of their pledges and that they nor any of them should doe or cause to be done any molestation damage assault or subtiltie against the person of his enemie either by himselfe his friends his followers or other person whatsoeuer In what sort the King commanded the place of Combat to be made THe Kings pleasure being signified vnto the Cōstable Marshal they caused Lists or Rayles to be made and set vp in length
death or deniall of thine aduersary before hee departeth these Lists and before the Sunne goeth downe this day as God and the holy Euangelists shall helpe thee The very same Oath in like manner vsed was offered vnto the Defender that done the combatants returned vnto their places their friends and counsellors These ceremonies ended the Herauld by commandement of the Constable and Marshall did make proclamation at foure corners of the Listes thus Oiez Oiez We charge and commaund in the name of the King the Constable and Marshall that no man of what estate title or degree soeuer shall approach the Lists neerer then foure foote in distance nor shall vtter any speech word voice or countenance wherby either the Challenger or Defender may take aduantage vpon paine of losse of life liuing and goods to be taken at the Kings good pleasure Then the Constable and Marshall assigned a place conuenient within the Lists where the Kings of Armes Heraulds and other Officers should stand and be ready if they were called for afterwards all things were committed vnto their charge as well on the behalfe of the defender as the challenger as if any thing were forgotten in their confessions either touching their lands or consciences or that any of them desired to eate or drinke all those wants were supplyed by the Heraulds and none other But here is to be noted that no meate or drinke might be giuen to the Challenger without leaue first asked of the Defender who commonly did not deny the request And after the Herauld went vnto the Constable and Marshall and made them priuy thereunto desiring their fauours that the combattants might eate drinke or ease their bodies if need were After these orders taken the Constable and Marshall did auoid the Lists of all sorts of persons saue onely one Knight and two Esquiers armed to attend the Constable and the like number to await on the Marshall either of them hauing in his hand a Launce without head ready to depart the Combattants if the King did command Of more ancient time the Constable and Marshal vsed to haue certaine Lieutenants and seruants within the Lists Also the one part to keepe order on one side and the others to looke vnto the other side And if the Queene happened to behold the combat then the Constable and Marshall awaited on the Kings side and their Lieutenants attended on the Queene Then did the Constable alone sitting downe before the King send his Lieutenant to the Challenger to come vnto him and the Marshall with his Lieutenant did accompany the Defender The Constable thus set did pronounce his speech with a loud voice Let them goe let them goe let them goe and doe their best Vpon which words pronounced in the Kings presence the Challenger did march towards the Defender to assaile him furiously and the other prepared himselfe for defence as best he might In the meane time the Constable and Marshall with their Lieutenants stood circumspectly to heare and see if any worde signe or voice of yeelding were vttered by either of the fighters and also to be ready if the King should command the Lances to be let fall to depart the fight The Constable and Marshall did also take regard that the Challenger and Defender should appeare at the day and houre appointed whether they had about them any engine or other vnlawfull things as charmes or enchantment yet was it lawfull both for the Challenger and Defender to be as well and surely armed as they could And if any of them would haue his sword shorter then the Standard yet was not the other bound to â—aue his cut to that measure if he required that fauour of the Court But if either the one or the others sword passed the Standerd then was that inequality to be reformed or if they were both ouer long both ought be reformed It had beene also in more ancient time vsed that the Constable Marshall should foresee that if the Kings pleasure was to depart the fight and suffer the combatants to rest before the combat ended that they should be parted in due time when no aduantage were Likewise that they should take heed that none of them should priuatly speake vnto the other of yeelding or otherwise For vnto the Constable and Marshall appertained the witnessing and record of all things And in case the combat were for question of treason he that was vanquished should be forthwith disarmed within the Lists by coÌ„mandement of the Constable and the Marshall Also the armour and weapons of the vanquished was in one end of the Lists defaced to his disgrace and after the same drawen out together with his horse From thence also the man vanquished was drawne vnto the place of execution to be there headed or hanged according to the custome of the countrey The performance of all which punishment appertained onely to the Marshall who ought see all things done in his owne presence And in case the Chalenger did not vanquish the Enemy then ought he suffer the same paines that are due to the Defender if he were vanquished But if the quarell were vpon a crime of lesse importance the party vanquished should not be drawen vnto the place of execution but onely led thither to receiue death or other punishment according to the quality of the crime If the combat were onely for triall of vertue or honour he that was vanquished therein should be disarmed and put out of the Lists without further punishment If it happened that the King would take the quarell into his hand and make peace betweene the parties without longer fight then did the Constable lead the one and the Marshall the other out of the Listes at seuerall gates armed and mounted as they were hauing speciall regard that neither of them should goe the one before the other For the quarell resting in the Kings hand night not be renued or any violence offered without preiudice vnto the Kings honour And because it is a point very speciall in matters of Armes that he who leaueth the Lists first incurreth a note of dishonour therfore to depart the Lists in due time was euer precisely obserued were the combat for treason or other cause whatsoeuer It is also to be remembred that without the principall Lists were euer certaine counterlists betwixt which two the seruants of the Constable and Marshall did stand There stood also the Kings Sergeants at Armes to see and consider if any default or offence were committed contrary to the proclamation of the Court against the Kings royall Maiesty or the Lawe of Armes Those men were euer armed at all peeces The seruants of the Constable and Marshall had charge of the place and good order thereof The Kings Sergeants tooke care to keep the gates of the Lists and be there ready to make arrest of any person when they should be commaunded by the Constable or Marshall The fees of the Marshall were all horses peeces of Armour or other furniture that
fell to the ground after the Combattants did enter into the Lists aswell from the Challenger as the Defender But all the rest appertained to the partie victorious whether he were Challenger or Defender The Barres Posts Railes and euery other part of the Lists were also the fees of the Marshall Certaine Combats granted by the Kings of England EDmund of the race of West Saxons fought in Combat with Canutus King of Denmark for the possession of the Crowne of England In which fight both the Princes being weary by consent parted the land betwixt them Anno 1016. Robert Mountfort accused Henry of Essex of treason affirming that hee in a iourney toward Wales neere vnto Colshill threw away the Kings Standerd saying the King was dead and turned backe those that went to the Kings succour Henry denied the accusation so as the matter was to bee tried by Combat The place appointed for fight was a little Isle neere vnto Reding In this Combat Henry was vaquished and fell downe dead and at the sute of friends license was obteined that his body might be buried by the Monks of Reding But it happened that the said Henry recouered and became a Monke in that Abbey Anno 1163. In the raigne of King Henry the second Henry duke of Hereford accused Thomas Mowbray duke of Norfolke of certaine words by him spoken as they rode betweene London and Braineford tending vnto the Kings dishonour Thomas duke of Norfolke denied to haue spoken any such word but Henry affirming his accusation the King granted the Combat to be performed at Couentry the seuenth of September 1398. Anno Rich. 2. but the combat was not performed for th' one and th' other party was banished the Realme A combat was fought at Westminster in the Kings presence betweene Iohn Ansley Knight and Thomas Catrington Esquier whom the said Knight had accused of treason for selling the castle of S. Sauiours which the Lord Chandos had builded in the Isle of Constantine in France In which combat the Knight was victorious Anno 1374. Rich. 2. A combat was granted vnto an Esquier borne in Nauar to fight with an English Esquier called Iohn Welsh whom the Nauarrois accused of Treason But the true cause of the Nauarrois his malice was that the said Welsh had dishonoured his wife as being vanquished he confessed The King gaue sentence he should be drawne and hanged Anno 1344. Rich. 2. A combat was fought betweene sir Richard Wooduile and one other Knight borne in Spaine After the thirde blow giuen the King stayed the fight Anno 1441. Henrici 6. A combat was granted vnto Iohn Viscount borne in Cypres and Thomas de la Marsh Bastard sonne vnto Philip King of France in the raigne of king Edward the third at Westminster CHAP. 18. Of Triumphs Ancient and Moderne TRiumphs haue bene commonly vsed at the Inauguration and Coronation of Emperors Kings and Princes at their Mariages Entry of cities Enteruiewes Progresses and Funerals Those pompous shewes were first inuented and practised by the Romanes whom dâ—uers other Princes haue imitated though hard it was and happily impossible for any Prince to equal them in magnificence Yet reade we may that Xerxes Darius and Alexander the great were Princes of marueilous puissance and for triumphs admirable Howsoeuer those matters were handled certein it is that albeit our Princes of Europe in respect of Christian religion doe in some sort contemne excesse of Mundane glory yet haue they euer liued royally and at occasions triumphed with princely honour and greatnes according to the measure of their Empires as shall hereafter appeare But first we haue thought good to speake of Romane Triumphs and briefly to touch in what order they triumphed for to report them at large were a labour almost infinite CHAP. 19. Of Triumphes and their originall VArro saith That Princes and great Captaines being returned to Rome with victory were allowed to passe with their armie through the citie vnto the Capitall singing Io. Triumphe Io. Triumphe The first inuentour of Triumphes was Liber Pater as Pliny saith Yet certaine it is and so by lawe prouided that no man should be admitted to Triumph vnlesse he had vanquished full fiue thousand enemies Cato and Martius Tribunes of the people by law also decreed that who so vntruely reported the enterprize he had done should incurre punishement Therefore entring into the citie euery Triumpher did first come before the Questors and deliuer his actions in writing and sweare they were true It was likewise by law prouided and by custome also obserued that only for recouery of dominion no man should bee permitted to triumph Which was the cause that neither Publius Scipio for the recouery of Spaine not Marcus Marcellus for taking of Syracusa were suffered to triumph The first that imitated Liber Pater in triumphing was Titus Tatius when he triumphed for victory of the Sabini yet was that no full triumph but as they called it Ouante because his victorie was not great and without blood For the same reason the crowne he ware was made of Myrtel which euer after was the crowne of all Captains that triumphed for victories of meane reputation In that age also it was vnlawfull for any man to triumph vnlesse he were a Dictator a Consull or a Praetor Therefore L. Lentulus being Proconful although he had performed great seruices in Spaine yet was he not admitted to enter Rome but Ouante Afterwards Scipio most instantly required to triumph hauing deserued great glory but till that time no man without office had triumphed Likewise C. Manlius by the base people elected the first Dictator by their commandement also without allowance of the Patritij did triumph And Gneus Pompeius a Gentleman Romaine before he was of age to be Consull triumphed twise Another law or custome there was that no Captaine might triumph vntill he had brough backe the armie and therewith also deliuered the country of his charge quiet into the hand of his successour For Lucius Manlius the Consull hauing effected great victories in Spaine was in the Hall of Bellona denied to triumph because the countrey where he commanded was not in peace as Liuie reporteth CHAP. 20. The maner of triumphing and the habits of the Triumpher in Rome THe Prince or Captaine that triumphed was euer drawen in a chariot as appeareth by the Arke Triumphall of Titus and Vespatian and likewise by that of L. Verus Antoninus made of marble yet extant in Rome This Arke was drawen by foure white horses Others vsed in their chariots white Buls or Elephants As Pompei triumphing of Affrica had in his chariot Elephants onely But Caesar surpassing all others in pompe was drawen by forty Elephants and in the day time conducted to the Capitoll with torches when he triumphed ouer the Galli Some writers haue said that the Emperour Aurelianus was drawen with foure Harts or Stags and being come to the Capitoll he caused them all to be slaine and sacrificed to Iupiter Optimus Maximus
Hall in their Liueries which number amounted to sixe hundred All the streets where the King passed were hanged with cloth of golde siluer or rich Arras That day and the next all the conduits were full of wine some Claret and some White The night before the Coronation the King washed his body and the next morning prayed in the presence of three Prelats The next morning the Clergie in great numbers attended the King to the Temple of Westminster and from thence all the Lords and Knights of the Order in their robes awaited vpon his Maiestie to the Pallace who all that way marched vnder the Canopy of State On either hand of the King a sword was caried the one represented the Ecclesiasticall the other Politicall iurisdiction The Ecclesiasticall sword was borne by the Prince of Wales the Kings sonne the sword of Iustice Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland and Constable of England did beare which office was lately taken from the Earle of Rutland and giuen to him The scepter was caried by the Earle of Westmerland Marshall of England In this order and thus accompanied the King came into the Church where he found a place of State prepared in the mids there he set himselfe downe being furnished with all his rich and royall ornaments the crowne excepted The Archbishop of Canterbury preached and shewed the Kings person vnto the people saying Behold him here that is to raigne ouer you for so God hath ordained Will you quoth hee consent he shall be crowned your King whereunto they answered Yea and holding vp their hands offered to be sworne Then the King went downe from his seate and kneeled before the high Altar where two Archbishops and ten Bishops did take off his royall garments and annoynt him in the presence of all the multitude viz. on the crowne of his head on the breast on the shoulders on the palmes of his hands which done they set his cap vpon his head Then the King put vpon him a garment like vnto a Deacon and girt the same as Prelates vse to doe Then they buckled vpon one of his feete a Spurre and drew forth the sword of Iustice which they deliuered into the Kings hand and he put it vp into the sheath when it was put vp the Archbishop of Canterbury girt it vnto his side Then was the Crowne of S. Edward brought thither and by that Archbishop set vpon the Kings head All these ceremonies and Diuine Seruice finished the King with the same pompe he came to the Church returned to the Pallace in the mids whereof was a fountaine which flowed with wine white and red At dinner the King did sit at the first table at the second sate the fiue chiefe Peeres of the kingdome at the third the Mayor and Aldermen at the fourth the nine new made Knights at the fifh the Knights Gentlemen of the Kings house So long as the King did sit the Prince of Wales stood on his right hand holding the Ecclesiasticall sword and on the left hand stood the Constable of England shaking the sword of Iustice vnder them stood the Marshall holding the Scepter At the Kings table besides the King two Archbishops and three other Bishops did sit In the dinner time a Knight well mounted armed at all peeces came into the Hall and before him rode an other horseman that caried his Launce his name was Dymmock This Champion hauing his sword drawen and a Mace also ready deliuered vnto the king a scroule of paper wherein was contained that if any Gentleman would denie that Henry there present were not the lawfull King of England he was ready by Armes to maintaine it where and when the King should command This Cartell was deliuered to a King of Armes and by the Kings commandement proclaimed in the palace and in sixe places of the Citie but no man found to say the contrary and so the ceremonie of this Coronation ended CHAP. 46. The Inauguration of Charles the French King at Rhemes 1380. THis Charles the 6. King of France of that name being twelue yeeres olde was crowned in the presence of the Dukes of Anioy Auuernia Burgundy Burbon Brabant Berry and Lorayn the Earle of Piedmont the Earle of Marcury the Earle Eu and William Lord of Namur beeing present the Earle of Flanders and Bloys sent their deputies The King entred the citie of Rhemes with a marueilous troupe of Lords and Gentlemen hauing before them thirty trumpets sounding His Maiestie alighted at our Lady Church and thither resorted vnto him his cosins of Albert Nauarre Barry Harecourt and other yong Princes and Lords of the blood whom the next day he dubbed Knights On Sonday after the King went vnto the Church which was most sumptuously prepared There the Bishop crowned his Maiestie and anointed him with that oyle wherewith Saint Remigius had anointed Clodoueus the first Christian King of France That Oyle was miraculously as is reported sent from heauen by an Angel purposely to anoint Clodoueus And being preserued euer since a glasse although all the kings haue bene therwith anointed yet is the quantity thereof no whit decreased The King being come before the high Altar did honour all the yong men aforesayd with Knighthood and that done hee kneeled vpon rich foote Carpets that were there spred at his feete the yong Princes newly made Knights did sit and Oliuer Clisson newly also aduanced to be Constable of the kingdome performed his office and there amids the nobility with all pomp possible the King was crowned Then to the end that all men might haue cause to reioice the King was pleased to remit and forgiue all taxations subsidies and impositions by what name soeuer lately inuented The Coronation finished his Maiestie returned to the palace where his table was prepared and hereat besides the King did sit the Dukes his vncles viz. the Duke of Brabant Anioy Auuernia Burgundy and Burbon and on his right hand sate the Archbishop of Rhemes with other Lords of the Spiritualty Touching meaner Lords of the kingdome they shifted for place where it could be found The Admirals Coucy Clisson and Tremoly had their tables equally couered with Carpets of Tissue The next day the King dined according to ancient vse and the charge of the Inauguration was defrayd by the Citizens of Rhemes These ceremonies being consummate with great pomp triumph and ioy he returned to Paris CHAP. 47. At the Inauguration of King Henry the third French King three notable things obserued FIrst when he should haue bene anointed with the holy oile there was none found in the ceremonious Horne which for many yeeres had bene preserued by miracle as a relike sent from heauen Secondly when in the royall seate the Crowne was set vpon his head by certaine Bishops as is accustomed he cried out twise Oh it hurts me Thirdly when he kneeled before the Altar during Masse the Crowne fell from his head all which seemed ominous to the beholders and so it prooued both to himselfe
slaues or pirats onely Corona obsidialis was giuen to a Generall leader that had saued his armie distressed That Crowne was made of grasse growing where the Armie was besieged Such a one the Senate and people of Rome bestowed vpon Fabius Maximus in the second warre against the Carthagenians Corona Ciuica was also of high estimation being giuen to him that saued a Citizen from the enemie This Crowne was made of Oaken boughes and reputed an ensigne of exceeding honor Of which opinion Antoninus Pius seemed to be saying Malo vnum ciuem seruare quà m mille hostes occidere Corona Haederalis was giuen to Poets Corona Populea was giuen to yong men industrious and disposed to vertuous endeuour Other ensignes Militarie the Romanes vsed and were bestowed in token of dignitie as chaines of gold gilt spurres launces and white rods the one a token of warre the other of peace We will also speake of Crownes of later deuice giuen to great Estates CHAP. 4. Of Emperors IMperator dicitur quasi Imperij Rator fortasse vt legislator Ita Imperij lator Id est Imperium supremamque maiestatem habens non armis solum munitam sed legibus moderatam The name of Emperour was first in vse among the Romanes and by them inuented not for Princes but chiefe Leaders and Captaines of the warre At the beginning they were yerely created in Ianuary and ended their authority in September which custome continued vntill the Battell of Pharsalia wherein Pompei was defeated by Caesar who being returnened to Rome the Romanes consented he should enioy that title of Emperour during his life the which his nephew Octauian succeding him in the Empire continued and made it hereditary to his successors with the surname of Augustus for his happy gouernment which name hath bene euer since vsed by all Emperours to this day So appeareth it that the title of Emperor began in Rome Anno mundi 3914. or as others say 3963 ab vrbe condita 706. And before the birth of Christ 47. This Emperor and his successors continued their seate at Rome vntill the reigne of Constantine the great Anno Christi 310. by whom the Emperiall Court was transferred to Constantinople So the Empire became diuided into two Empires one Emperour gouerned at Constantinople in the East the other at Rome in the West Which order continued from the reigne of Carolus magnus vntill Constantinus Paleologus In whose time Constantinople was besieged and taken by the Turkes The West Empire after the death of Charlemaine hath in diuers ages bene gouerned by Princes of diuers nations as Frenchmen Saxons Sueuians and Austrians who presently hold that dignitie In the reigne of Otho 3. with the consent of Pope Gregory 5. the election of the Emperour was taken from the Italians and granted vnto seuen Princes of Germany viz. the Archbishops of Mentz Treuer and Colein the Count Palatin of Rheine the Duke of Saxon the Marquesse of Brandenburg and the King of Bohemia then called Duke of Bohemia This order was after confirmed in the reigne of Charles the fourth about the yeere 1378. Among Princes secular an Emperor hath anciently bene reputed worthy a chiefe place and to precede all other Princes which is the cause that Baldus called an Emperour the Vicar or Vicegerent of God vpon earth and therefore when other Princes are crowned with one onely Crowne an Emperor hath euer had three The first Crowne is of iron which he receiueth at Aquisgran by the hand of the Archbishop of Colein within whose Diocesse that Citie is seated The second Crowne is of siluer which hee taketh at the hand of the Archbishop of Milan in the Citie of Modena after he is arriued in Italy Yet true it is that the Emperour Henrie receiued it at Milan in S. Ambrose Church and haply so haue some other Emperors Siluer signifieth cleannesse and brightnesse Yet some writers haue sayd the first Crowne is of siluer and the second of iron which Cass. denieth The third Crowne is of pure golde wherewith he is crowned at Rome by the Pope in the Church of S. Peter before the Altar of S. Mauriee Gold is accompted the most excellent of all mettals and of such perfection in Iustice Emperors and Princes ought be In these three mettals all Tributes and other dueties were anciently payd vnto Emperors When the Scepter and sword are deliuered into his hand it is likewise said vnto him viz. By these signes thou art admonished to correct subiects with a fatherly chastisement extending thy hand of mercie first vnto the ministers of God and next to widowes and fatherlesse children so shall the oyle of mercie neuer fall from thy head and both in this world and the world to come thou shalt be rewarded with an euerlasting crowne CHAP. 5. Of Kings REx dicitur a regendo quia dignus est regere populum suum in bello eundemque ab inimicis sua magnanimitate virtute defendere For the better conceiuing of that which followeth it shall not be impertinent to know that Kings Princes and other soueraigne Commanders did in the beginning aspire vnto greatnes by puissance and force of which number Cain was the first as Austen lib. 15. de ciuitate Dei cap. 20. writeth This Cain to the end he might with more commoditie command his people builded a citie calling it by his sonnes name Enoch and was the first citie in the world as appeareth in Genes cap. 4. After the flood the first King that raigned was Nimrod descended of the line of Cham as we find in Gen. 9. whose sonne builded the Tower of Babel intending to make the same of height equall to the heauen But the Lord offended with his ambition inspired the people to speake in diuers languages for before that time all men had onely one tongue Gen. cap. 9. These and other Princes were oppressors of people and displeasing to God for which cause they receiued vnfortunate ende The first King of Barbary exercising the arte Magike was slaine by the deuill In like manner other ancient Monarkes raigning tyrannically ended their liues by violence As Pharaoh whose heart being hardned against the Lord was drowned in the red sea Exod. 14. Also Corah Dathan and Abiram swallowed vp by the earth Numb 16. Antiochus eaten of lice 2. Mac. 9. Saul the first King of Israel disobedient to Dauid and other ministers of the Lord was wounded of the Philistims and in the end desperately stabbed himselfe to death with his owne sword 1. Kings 31. And Absalon the sonne of Dauid rebelling against his father was slaine by Ioab 1. King 14. Too long it were to tell by how many meanes the Almighty Lord hath punished the vngodly and impious oppressors of people and with what power and grace he hath protected those Kings Princes that gouerned with Iustice maintained people in peace for indeede there is no power but from God as Christ speaking to Pilat said Non haberes potestatem aduersum me