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
and all other Lords of the Court. The day of triumph being come the King and the Queene attended vpon by the troopes of men at Armes and Ladies aforesaid passed through London from the Tower to Smithfield Being come thither the King the Queene the Ladies and other honourable personages setled themselues in such places as were prepared and sorted with their degrees Then were the men of Armes marshalled and set in such order as they should runne The first courses were allotted to the Earle of S. Paul and his Band who were with great courage encountred by the English Betweene them the first dayes Iusting was spent and that night his Maiestie the Queene and all the company supped and lodged in the Bishops house neere to Saint Pauls Church The chiefe honour and commendation of that first fight was among the strangers giuen vnto the Earle of S. Paul and among the English the Earle of Huntington had the praise This magnificent supper ended euery one resorted to his lodging the King and Queene onely excepted who continued their lodging in that house all the time of that triumph The next day after noone King Richard himselfe in compleat Armour appeared in the fielde being followed with the whole band of English Knights Thither also came the Queene with her traine of Ladies and was set in that roome where the day before she had bene placed The first of the strangers that offered to runne was the Earle of Oye who presented himselfe and his companie most pompously furnished And after him followed the Earle of S. Paul with his troope of Frenchmen The Knights strangers being entred and readie were foorthwith incountred by the English The conflict continued till darke night with equall honour The Iusts of that day ended the King returned to his lodging accompanied with the Noble strangers and there supped The chiefe commendation of that day on the strangers part was allotted to the Earle of Oye who by his vertue without fauour so deserued Likewise among the English a Gentleman named Hewe Spencer was highly praysed On Tuesday also the men at Armes resorted to the Tilt and continued the exercise with great admiration of the beholders On Wednesday the runners intermingled themselues and euery one did runne as he thought good On Thursday the King conuited all the men and all the women supped with the Queene On Friday the whole company was feasted by the Duke of Lancaster On Saturday the King and the Queene accompanied with the Earles of Oye and S. Paul in great state rode to Windsor where they were most honourably intertayned and the Earle of Oye receiued the Garter From thence euery one returned home CHAP. 30. The triumphall passage of Charles the fift Emperour through France Anno 1540. IN the moneth of December this Emperour arriued at Bayon where the Dolphin and Duke of Auuernia with great pompe receiued him Being in the towne he behaued himselfe as King pardoning offenders and deluering them from prison From thence with like Maiestie he passed to other cities accompanied with the sayd Dolphin and Duke where he vsed the same authority In Ianuary hee came to Castelloaldum where the King in person with much magnificence intertained him From thence he passed to Amboyse where King Charles the 8. had built two great towers the walles whereof are so large as Mules and Carts may passe vpon them The King then to the end that Caesars entrie in the night should bee the more magnificent furnished those towers with an exceeding great number of lights so as they might behold all the Countrey as if it had bene faire day But when Caesar was going vp by great mishap the tower fell on fire the flame and smoke whereof became so great as euery one feared lest the Emperour should haue bene smothered Whereupon all men there present laboured by fleeing to saue themselues Some that were suspected to haue done this fact were apprehended and the King did command they should be hanged though indeed no proofe appeared but Caesar would in no wise they should die so were they pardoned After this disaster the King conducted the Emperar to Bleas and from thence to Fountainableu where they hunted hauked and beheld certaine Iusts and Tournaments in conclusion no sport or solace was omitted From thence the Emperour attended by the Dolphin and Duke went to Paris Before he entred the citie the Burgesses and Citizens of all sorts came foorth and receiued him with no lesse ceremony then if the King had bene present there he also set at libertie all prisoners From thence he passed vnto the Constables house and was there most honourably lodged At last he went into Picardy and so to Valentia which is the first town of his iurisdiction in Belgica vnto which place the Dolphin and Duke did follow him CHAP. 31. The triumphall Entry of Philip Prince of Spaine at Milan An. 1548. THis Prince entred at the gate towards Pauia where the citizens had made a stately bridge whereupon they shewed diuers Pageants Arkes triumphal adorned with verses and sentences very markable About three of the clocke after noone he entred the citie where the most reputed citizens did attend him in Burgo della Trinitá as they call it Being passed that place hee was saluted by Caesar Gonzaga the Count Iohn Treuultio the Count Charles Belgioso and many other noble persons richly apparelled After them Mutio Sforza presented his reuerence being accompanied with a great troupe of Gentlemen of the Countrey clad in white silke and bearing in their hands Pollaxes the heads of them were gilt and the staues couered with white silke Then followed the Doctors schollers accompanied with 300 horsemen apparelled in yellow coats And immediatly appeared two other troupes of men lightly armed which company garded the ancient Lords and Noblemen of the countrey among whom were some Princes Earles and Barons That troupe was so great as two houres sufficed not to see them passe They that rode next vnto the Princes person were the Duke of Alba the Duke of Sossa the Marquesse of Pescara the Admiral of Castilia the Marquesse Milo Ferdinando Gonzaga On the one side of the Prince the Cardinal of Trent on the other the Duke of Sauoy did ride Behind them followed fiue companies of men at Armes apparelled in siluer and gold conducted by Count Alexander Gonzaga Count Francisco Somaia Count Philippo Tornello two other noblemen I omit to tell of diuers shewes Arkes triumphal and other sights wherwith in euery streete the Prince was entertained by Italians onely These Complements ended the Prince came vnto the chiefe Church at the doore whereof were excellent Paintries The Prince in his entire to the Church was by the Senate and people of Milan presented with a basin of gold ful of double Duckats to the number of ten thousand as was reported The Prince thus entertained and setled in the citie Iusts and Tournaments were brought before him The Actors in that triumph were apparelled in
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
priuiledges appertaining to old souldiers for so was it decreed by Tiberius the Emperour and Caligula as Tacitus sayth taking view of his bands dispensed with diuers Captaines before they had gray haires as one that respected rather their imbecilitie and strength decayed then the time they had serued beeing perswaded that age approching was a cause sufficient to merit honest libertie It was therefore thought fit that all souldiers that had well serued should bee left to their libertie Antoninus the Emperour commanded that such men should be dismissed with honour and extraordinarily rewarded Which fauour was granted not onely to men armed but also vnto all officers that followed the Generall and serued in place of reputation yet were they inhibited to keepe company with other men then such as made profession of Armes or to intermeddle in any affaires not appertaining vnto the warre vpon paine to forfeit ten pounds in gold These Emeriti were alwayes ancient seruitours and professours of Armes who continued in Court or Campe euer ready to perfourme the Emperours will and commandement Touching the time of their seruice it seemeth to rest chiefly in the Princes commandement and was sometimes more and sometimes lesse as hath bene formerly said yet in shorter space then ten yeeres no souldier was with grace dismissed as shall be more particularly said in the Chapter of Cassation CHAP. 10. ¶ Of crimes Militarie in generall FIrst it is to be knowen that some crimes be common and punishable in all men and some are proper to men of war onely of the first are forgeries adulterie publique and priuate violence sedition manslaughter burning of houses treason sacrilege other enormities for whosoeuer committeth any such offence whether he be a man of warre or not the punishment due is all one Crimes proper to souldiers are such only as are committed contrarie to discipline Militarie and excuseable in other men not being souldiers Now is it necessarie to vnderstand how crimes contrary to Militarie Iustice ought be punished We call that discipline Militarie whereby men are made obedient and instructed in all such qualities as are required in a souldier And for so much as the readiest way vnto vertue is first to restraine vice we must endeuour by discipline to hold men in obedience And notwithstanding al humane policie and lawes both diuine and humane some men there are so vile and malicious as without respect will commit all actes or iniuries that can be inuented yet good gouernours do forecast not onely what men doe but also what may be done which moued the Romanes to consider that some men did commit faultes beyond expectation in so much as there wanted not of those that haue slaine their owne fathers For which offence Solon in his lawes prouided no punishment and being asked why he did not inflict penaltie vpon those offendors answered he thought not that any man would haue bene so wocked We therefore thinke fit to prescribe punishments vnto all crimes for souldiers like vnto others be neither gods nor perfect creatures but men apt to erre and without restraint of law not to be gouerned Arrius Meander in his first booke Dere Militari saith Crimes properly Militarie are those which a man as a souldier doth commit And here a certaine difference betweene errour and crime is to be noted for we call that an error when any thing is done contrary to common discipline as to be slouthful disobedient and vnwilling but he is said to commit a crime when the fault is accompanied with intent to hurt for without that intent the acte may be imputed to destenie or chance and as a thing happened vnwares therefore Antoninus the Emperour did command Herculianus and other Captaines that if a souldier hauing stroken another man did prooue the act was without intent to kill that then he should not bee condemned of manslaughter as if a man be slaine when souldiers be trained or in exercise of armes then that act is not accounted criminall but casuall yet if such an act be done in any other place the doer thereof shall be reâ—uted guiltie But as the humors of men are diuers so are the crimes by them committed of diuers qualitie as hereafter shall be discoursed CHAP. 11. Of treason and Traytors ALbeit a custome most common it is that Traitors flying vnto the enemie are well entreated and greatly esteemed so long as their seruice is thought profitable yet afterwardes their condition being knowen that credit doth decay and consequently the fauour they finde becommeth euery day lesse then other The law calleth them Traytors that indeuour to betray their Prince or the libertie of their countrey they are also called Traytors that hauing a charge doe yeeld the same vp vnto the enemie of whom it is by law decreed they ought to be capitally punished or at the least discharged Likewise all Explorators or spies that bewray our secrets and enforme the enemie are accounted Traytors and worthy capitall punishment With these offendors the Aegyptians vsed to deale more mildly for in that case the offendors had their tongues cut out and so suffered to liue They were also accounted to haue committed a crime treasonable that furnished the enemie with weapon or munition whereby they might offend vs and we with more difficultie offend them The goods of such men ought be confiscate and their liues subiect vnto death The doctor Paulus iudged that who so did sell any armour vnto the enemie did thereby incurre the forfeiture of his life Edward the third king of England in a Parliament holden at Winchester caused Edmond Earle of Kent to be conuicted of Treason for perswading other Lords to rebell Yet true it is that Traitors are diuersly punished according to the qualitie of the crime the custome of the countrey and the discretion of the Prince Tullus Hostilius king of Rome caused Metius Suffetius guiltie of Treason to be beaten by the Littori and after torne in pieces with horses Antony de Leua defending Pauia discouered a souldier of his had informed the French that in that citie small store of powder remained he called him to be examined and the fault confessed the souldier was put to death and quartered Among the Athenians it was not lawfull to burie a Traitor which was the cause that the bones of Themistocles were secretly caried into his friendes house and there buried Bellesarius finding that a Citizen of Athens called Laurus had complotted treason commanded his bodie should be brought vnto a hill before the citie and there thrust thorow with a stake which maner of death is at this day vsed in Turkie Charles the Emperour making warre vpon Philip duke of Austria practized with certaine of the Captains to perswade Philip to leaue the fielde who hauing compassed so much as the Emperour required they demanded a reward of their treason which was foorthwith payed in counterfeit money and caried home But the Traytors perceiuing the money not to be good returned therewith desiring better
prescription not hauing other proofe then that they and their ancestors were called Gentlemen time out of minde And for this reason it seemeth that Nobilitie the more ancient it is the more commendable chiefly if the first of such families were aduanced for vertue Which Nobilitie is that whereof Aristotle meaneth saying Nobilitas est maiorum quaedam claritas honorabilis progenitorum Likewise Boetius de Con. saith Nobilitas est quaedam laus proueniens de merito parentum Item Nobilitie is oft times gotten by mariage for if a Gentleman doe marrie a woman of base parentage she is thereby ennobled Text est in leg in mulieres Ca de dig Item of riches chiefly if they be ancient men be called noble for commonly no man is accompted worthy much honour or of great trust and credit vnlesse he be rich according to the old saying In pretio pretium nunc est dat census honores Census amicitias pauper vbique iacâ—t Yet Seneca saith Id laudandum est quod ipsius est Neuerthelesse Bonus de Curtili accordeth with the common opinion saying Nobilitas sine diuitijs mortua est Item men be made noble for their seruice in warre if therein they haue acquired any charge honorable For no ordinarie Souldier without place of commandement is reputed a Gentleman vnlesse he were so borne as Lucas de Penna sayth Simplex militia dignitatem non habet Item Doctors and Graduates in Schooles do merit to be ennobled and become Gentlemen Item in England whoso studieth liberal Sciences in the Vniuersities or is accounted learned in the common Lawes and for the most part who so can liue idlely and without manual labour or will beare the port charge and countenance of a Gentleman shal be called Master for that is the title which men giue to Esquires and other Gentlemen and shall be taken for a Gentleman For true it is with vs Tanti eris alijs quanti tibi fueris So doth it appeare that in England the King needeth not to make Gentlemen because euery man may assume that title or buy it better cheape then by suite to the Prince or by expence in his seruice And who so can make proofe that his Ancestors or himselfe haue had Armes or can procure them by purchase may be called Armiger or Esquier Such men are called sometime in scorne Gentlemen of the first head as Sir Thomas Smith pleasantly writeth CHAP. 16. How Gentlemen are to take place A Gentleman that hath two or three titles shall precede him that is a Gentleman onely As a Doctor being also a Gentle man borne shall precede all other Doctors of meaner birth Likewise a Gentleman Graduate shall take place before him that is a Graduate tantùm But this is to bee vnderstood Data paritate temporis A Gentlemen that is both a Knight and a Doctor shall goe before him that is a Knight or a Doctor tantùm A Gentleman well qualified and well borne shal precede a Gentlemen of good qualitie or of good birth tantùm Quia duplex dignitas fulget in eo propria suorum A Gentleman ennobled for learning vertue and good manners is to be preferred before a Gentleman borne and rich Quia Sapienti Scientia virtus sunt in anima Luc. de penna Of which opinion Ouid seemed to bee saying Non census nec opes nec clarum nomen auorum Sed probitas magnos ingeniumque facit Sed virtus magnum reddit ingenuum A Gentleman aduanced for vertue shal be preferred before a Gentleman by Office Quia dignitatibus ex virtute non virtuti ex dignitatibus honor accedit Boetius 2. de Cons. CHAP. 17. Priuiledges anciently appertaining to Gentlemen IN crimes of one qualitie a Gentleman shall be punished with more fauour then a coÌ„mon person vnlesse the offence be Heresie Treason or excessiue contumacie In giuing witnesse the testimony of a Gentleman ought be receiued and more credited then the word of a common person Quâ—a promissa Nobilium pro factis habentur In election of Magistrates Officers and all other Ministers the voyces of Gentlemen are preferred In commitment of portions appertaining to persons Lunatike or Orphans the Gentlemen of their blood are to be trusted before any person of meaner qualitie and likewise in their marriages If a Gentleman be an inhabitant of two Cities and called to Office in both it shall be in his choyse to goe vnto the more noble or otherwise at his pleasure A Gentleman ought bee excused from base seruices impositions and duties both reall and personall A Gentleman condemned to death was anciently not to be hanged but beheaded and his examination taken without torture Diuers other Priuiledges and Immunities the lawes Ciuill haue heretofore granted vnto Gentlemen CHAP. 18. Of the diuers dispositions of Gentlemen according to the humour of the Countrey where they inhabit FIrst it is to be remembred that Gentlemen which title comprehendeth all degrees of dignitie are either attendant vpon Princes or Officers in the State or els doe liue priuately vpon their owne possessions These men as they are diuers so are they diuersly affected The Romanes antiently delighted in Armes but in times of peace occupied themselues in Agriculture as an exercise honest and commendable Which Titus Liuius seemeth to affirme by these words Bonus Ciues bonus Agricola The Neapolitan standeth so high vpon his puntos d'honor as for the most part he scorneth Marchandise Phisicke and all other professions profitable Yea his disdaine of base parentage is such as a Gentleman Neapolitan accounteth it more honourable to liue by robbery then industrie and will rather hazard his daughter to incurre infamy then marry her to a most rich Marchant or other ignoble person The Venetian albeit he reputeth himselfe the most noble Gentleman of the world being capable of all offices in that Common weale yet he holdeth it no dishonour to traffique in marchandise The Genoues do hold the selfe same opinion though true it is that some of them haue Castles and houses vpon the mountaines and there at occasions doe inhabite The Germaine Gentlemen doth as it were euer abide in his Countrey house or castle and is not much ashamed to better his reuenew by robbery and pillage Yet some of them doe serue or follow Princes and thereby become the better nurtured The French Gentlemen almost generally doe inhabit their houses in the Village and manure their owne lands which course was anciently accounted most commendable For Lycurgus King of the Lacedemonians made a Law enioyning all Gentlemen to dwell in the Countrey the more commodiously to endeuour the exercises and vertues Militarie Much after that maner the English Gentlemen that liueth priuately doth dispose his life as one that accounteth it no honour to exercise Marchandize neither did they in times past repute the practise of Lawe or Phisicke so commendable as now they doe For their ancient endeuour was agriculture and feeding of cattell to maintaine honorable hospitality being perswaded
followeth it behooueth to know That the first places of dignity doe appertaine to those that are attendant and administrant in office illustrious The second is due to them that haue heretofore borne office of dignity and are now vacant The third belongeth to those that haue obtained an office of dignity in reuersion These diuers degrees were in the Emperiall Court called Administrantes Vacantes and Honorarij The officers Administrant are to precede next to them the Vacants and then the Honorarij or officers extraordinarie in which order they are euer to take place In simili dignitate non in dignitate dispari But to begin with Administrants and their order among themselues thus it is He that was first placed or sworne ought euer to precede and so in order from the first to the last In paridignitate As for example a Gentleman of the Kings Chamber in ordinary attendance shall take place before all other Gentlemen in part dignitate The like order ought be obserued by the Vacants for he that hath bene longest vacant may take place before him that is lesse ancient in vacancie As for example He that was a Viceroy or an Embassador ten yeeres past shall sit before him that serued since in pari dignitate The same course is to be kept among the number of Honorantes or seruants extraordinary As for example Hee to whome any office or other place of dignity is granted in reuersion being first therin placed or sworne shall goe before all others of his ranke in pari dignitate As for example A Master of Requests extraordinary must precede all others that haue since obtained that dignity yet true it is that an officer extraordinary may be by birth or otherwise so priuiledged as he shall take place of a Vacant and sometimes also of an Administrant Note also that euery office or dignity granted by the Prince in his own presence shall be of greater reputation then if the same were giuen in absence or sent vnto him that receiueth it data paritate in reliquis The same law also commandeth that a Vacant shal be preferred before an officer extraordinary and men of Armes seruing in any Emperiall or Royall Court shal be priuiledged before others in pari dignitate Iohan. de Platea Note likewise that these officers whome we call Vacants are of two sorts The one are they that haue absolutely quitted their offices or consented their places may be supplied by others the other are they who had office in some City Court or Countrey where now no such office is as the Counsellors of Milain when that State was subiect to the French king are now no more officers in that City being subiect to the King of Spaine yet doe they hold place of other Vacants in pari dignitate Likewise an Officer Administrant may sometime precede an Officer Extraordinary etiam in dignitate dispari But otherwise it is with a Vacant or extraordinary officer for he is neuer preferred in pari dignitate We call him Extraordinary that hath onely the name of an Officer without administration or fee yet shall he goe before all others of that place being his punies or men of no place As for example A Gentleman waiter Extraordinary shall not onely precede all other Gentlemen of lesse ancientie but also sit before all other Gentlemen not the Kings seruants in pari dignitate And consequently euery man Extraordinary in the Princes seruice shall take place before all other men without office and in pari dignitate It is also to be remembred that in euery office neere the person of the King or in his Royall house there is euer one supreme and superlatiue officer aboue the rest and after him other Honorable officers of diuers degrees The rest are equall yet with respect that he who was first preferred shall take place first As for example The chiefe Officer of the Emperors house was called Praefectus sacri Palatij and vnder him were certaine Comites as in the Court of England her Maiesties supreme Officer of houshold is the Lord Steward and next to him the Treasurer Comptroller Cofferer in France Le Grand Maistre in Spaine El Maggior domo c. Likewise those Emperors had one Praefectus sacri Cubiculi another Stabuli with their Comites as our Souereigne hath a Lord Chamberlaine a Master of the horse and diuers officers inferiour to them The rest of her seruants in euery particular office are to proceede as equals hauing respect to ancienty For he that was first aduanced ought alwayes to take place first in pari dignitate Which rule may direct euery man to goe as becommeth his qualitie and consequently eschewe all occasions of offence or presumption Whereunto we will adde one thing perhaps by euery one not obserued or to all men not knowen which is that all men seruing neere vnto the Princes person in what office or place soeuer are thereby priuiledged and honoured The words of the Law are these Adhaerentes lateri Principis eidem in officio seruientes nobilitantur nobiles efficiuntur Omnes famulantes principi sunt in dignitate ideo nobiles cum dignitas nobilitas idem sunt Bart. Cap. de dignitatibus CHAP. 22. Of Honourable places due to great Estates their wiues and children A Duke A Duke must goe after the auncienty of his Ancestors creation so that he be of the same blood and stocke And the Dutchesse his wife to goe according to the same But if he be a Duke of new creation then he is to proceede as a new Duke He is to haue in his owne house a cloth of Estate and in euery other place out of the Princes presence so that the same come not to the ground by halfe a yard A Dutchesse likewise may haue her cloth of Estate and a Barronesse to beare vp her traine in her owne house And no Earle ought to wash with a Duke but at the Dukes pleasure A Dukes eldest sonne is borne in the degree of a Marquesse and shall go as a Marquesse and weare as many powdrings as a Marquesse and haue his assayes the Marquesse being present sauing he shall goe beneath a Marquesse and his wife beneath a Marchionesse and aboue all Dukes daughters But if so be a Duke hath a daughter which is his sole heire if she be the eldest Dukes daughter then she shall goe before and aboue the Dukes eldest sonnes wife Also a Dukes daughter is borne equiualent to a Marchionesse and shall weare as many powdrings as a Marchionesse sauing she shal goe beneath all Marchionesse and all Dukes eldest sonnes wiues They shall haue none assayes in the Marchionesses presence And if they be married to a Baron they shall goe according to the degree of their husbands And if they be married to a Knight or to one vnder the degree of a Knight they are to haue place according to their birth Note that a Baron is an Estate of great dignitie in blood
yet he who findeth himselfe within his owne Libertie or Iurisdiction shal be preferred which mooued Caesar to wish himselfe to be rather the chiefe man of a little village among the Alpes then the second person in Rome Among common persons also chiefly where no dignity is fathers are to precede their sonnes Honora patrem tuum gemitum matris tuae ne obliuiscaris Eccles 3. Likewise among equals age is to be preferred in respect of wisdome and experience Many priuiledges and immunities are also due to old age and they in counsell ought to speake first Loquere maior natu decet enim te Ecclesiast 2. In the number of men meane borne they that be learned deserue most reputation chiefly when both for Armes and Ciuil gouernment they deserue praise because such men be meete as well for peace as warre Also among learned men the first place is due to Diuines the next to Ciuilians and the third to Physicians But Arnoldus de Villa Noua sayth Primus locus in mensasolet seruari Sacerdoti Medico in domo infirmi After men learned Iudges of inferiour Courts Notaries and Clerkes doe seeme worthy of respect and preferrement for more credit is to be giuen vnto a Notary or Scribe then to other men Super faciem Scribae imponet honorem Eccles. Also among popular persons they that be vertuous ought bee most esteemed because it were iniury to take reward from men of good desert Honor est praemium virtutis Arist. 8. Ethic. Men of good and charitable mind are also worthy honour for actions of Iustice and pietie are vniuersally praised and the more because men indued with vertues intellectiue are not many Perdifficile est bonum esse Pittacus In this number of Plebeians to be naturally borne of the countrey or towne where a man dwelleth is also reason he should be esteemed for Cicero sayth Potiores sunt Ciues quam peregrini They are likewise worthy of respect that are persons of good fame and name Bona fama impinguat ossa Eccle. Among strangers they ought be preferred that are borne in ciuil and noble Nations for by obseruation we see the people of some countreys are prone to infamous conditions and others inclined to honest endeuor Apuleius calleth the Aegyptians learned the Iewes superstitious the Scythians poore of corne the Arabians rich in sweete odours and Liuie noteth the Carthaginians for their perfidie and Cicero taxeth the Spaniards for their crast but praiseth the Graecians for skill in Artes. Horace sayth the Brytons are stout men and franke house-keepers and the Persians promise breakers c. Howsoeuer it be experience prooueth that all countreys are inhabited and euery man preferreth the place of his birth Dulcis amor patriae Among Citizens and inferiour persons they are not to bee neglected that descend of honest parents for aâ—be it euery mans mind be his owne yet the temperature of the parents complexion giueth a certaine aptnesse to vertue or vice whereof we presume the childe good or euill And verely albeit one man begetteth another yet rarely one minde bringeth forth another of like capacitie and qualitie Non mens vt corpus patrio de semine manat Pall. Also rich men are to be preferred because the more a man possesseth in the State the more carefull he will be to conserue it but poore men defiring to better their fortune are apt to innouation After rich men persons honest and industrious ought be esteemed for idle and vnprofitable members in euery Commonweale deserue rather to be punished then esteemed Omnis arbor quae non facit fructum bonum excidetur in ignem mittetur Mat 3. Among these sorts of men beauty and seemely proportion of bodie do promise much good and are to be preferred of which opinion Plato seemed to be saying Optimumest bene valere Secundo loco formosum esse Tertio habere diuitias bono modo partas And Ouid. Gratior est pulchro veniens de corpore Virtus Likewise of these men some deserue preferment for excellencie in the Art they professe and some because they are employed in Arts more necessary and commendable as Architectors and such Artificers as are entertained by Princes for they are dignified by their place according as the Prince affecteth their facultie which mooued Martial speaking of Cookes seruing Princes to say Non satis est ars sola coquo seruire palato Namque coquus domini debet habere gulam CHAP. 27. Of Funerals AS man aboue other creatures is honoured in life so ought his buriall be decent and honourable Wherein we are to follow the example of our Sauiour Christ being both God and man For albeit he subiected himselfe to worldly contumelies and death ignominious yet was his Funerall notable and glorious according to the prophesie of Esay saying Eterit sepulchrum eius gloriosum pro vt sepulchra Adae Abrahae Isaac Iacob eorum vxorum aliorum plurium patriarcharum fuerit gloriosa Cap. 11. It seemeth also of all ancientie that burying of the dead hath bene much commended For we finde in Eccles. Mortuo non negabis gratiam id est sepulturam We reade likewise that Tob. did bestow sepulture vpon men dead and slaine The Romanes likewise vsed many ceremonies in burying of the dead anointing their bodies and in burning them caused many sweet spices to be cast into the fire For so was the corps of Sylla buried This custome was also obserued among the Egyptians as appeareth in the last of Gene. where Ioseph commanded his Phisitions that they should embalme the bodie of his father Iacob In performing of which Ceremony they spent forty daies and thirty in mourning In like manner the people of Israel mourned for Moses thirty daies Deut. 34. And Valerius tit de Seruata relig Maketh mention that after the battell and slaughter at Canna the Senate of Rome commanded that eâ—ery Matrone of Rome should mourne thirtie dayes and not longer Other customes among other Nations haue bene vsed for some were enioyned to end their mourning within fourty dayes some others within three and some in seuen But in France and England the vse of mourning hath euer bene thirtie dayes chiefly among persons of honour as may be conceiued of a sentence giuen in Burgundy by an Officiall there who hauing cited before him a Ladie called Iaquelina de la Trimoille daughter to the Kings Lieutenant generall in Burgundy vpon certaine promises matrimoniall she answered by Proctor her apparance ought be excused in respect the thirty dayes of her fathers death were not expired During which time she might not goe out of her house which Plea was allowed By that which hath bene formerly sayd of the last of Gen. we may obserue three particular honours appertaining vnto a funerall viz. the embalming of the bodie the solemne mourning and the concourse of friends when the corps is carried to interrement For Ioseph assembled all his chiese kinsfolke and friends of the house of Pharaoh to