French king all souldiers were inhibited to goe from the Armie without License It was also the Romane vse that euery souldier did aske leaue of his Captaine and the Captaine to haue License of the Generall of horse or Captaine general before he departed from the Armie also during his absence to leaue a sufficient man to supplie the place and he himselfe to returne at the time prefixed which done he receiued his whole pay without diminution as though hee had neuer bene absent As touching the limitation of time and the number of souldiers who were licensed to be absent we reade that Scipio in the warre of Carthage gaue license vnto three hundred Sicilian souldiers and put three hundred other men to serue in their places and Francis the French king commanded that more then thirty horsemen should not be licensed to go from the Armie at one time and they not to be absent longer then three moneths vpon paine to be checked of their whole wages William Rufus King of England did inhibit souldiers and all other subiects of reputation to depart the land without leaue which is yet obserued It seemeth by Pol. Virg. that rather the hand of God then the King punished this attempt for he was there slaine in the battell And Polydor Virgil writeth that one Edward Wooduile chiefe gouernour of the Isle of Wight for going forth of the Realme without license was put to death vnder King Henrie the seuenth But Zeno the Emperour punishing that offence more mildely ordained that if any souldier were absent one whole yere without license he should be put after tenne if he were absent two yeres he should giue place to twenty if three yeres then to be vtterly discharged from the Armie at his returne thither Theodosius and Valentinianus in that case would not vtterly discharge them the Armie vntill foure yeeres absence was complete If any souldier were sent vnto a Prince to performe any seruice and at his returne did signifie such employment together with his diligence to returne in that case he ought be excused because his absence was by commandement and in seruice of the State not for his owne profit or priuate commoditie But who so for his owne particular affaires is licensed and assigned a day of returne in failing thereof he shall be reputed a loyterer or a fugitiue vnlesse he be deteined or otherwise iustly excused To conclude therefore we say that no souldier departing from his Ensigne without leaue can be excused nor his absence auowable but when the same is for seruice of the prince or common weale as Scoeuola in his militarie Ordinances hath written CHAP. 30. ¶ Of Ambassadours or Legats THe office of an Ambassador was by the Romanes accounted both honourable and sacred including as well power of commandement as dignitie Whensoeuer therfore any Ambassadour did come to Rome he was first brought vnto the Temple of Saturnus there to haue his name written before the Praefectiaerarij from thence he went to deliuer his legation vnto the Senate But first it ought be remembred that men meetest to be employed for Ambassadours are they indeed who are of most sagacitie and greatest skill how to discouer the counsels and designes of the enemy Scipio Africanus hauing occasion to send an ambassage to Syphax elected certaine Tribunes and Centurions and caused them to be basely apparelled Cato beholding certaine Ambassadors to be sent by the Senate to compound a peace betweene Nicomedes and Prusias the one of them had his headfull of skarres the second was impotent of his feet the third timersome said This Legation hath neither good head feet nor heart Ambassadours ought be in all countreys inuiolable in signe whereof they anciently caried about them the herbe Sagmen which we call Veruen to shewe they were sacred and that no man should dare to lay hold on them who so offred them violence was thought to haue done contrary to law of Nations Which moued Publius Mutius to command that whosoeuer did strike an Ambassadour should be deliuered vnto that enemy from whome the Ambassadour was sent And though the enemy receiued him not yet should he remaine an exile as if he were interdicted from fire and water according to the sentence of Publius Mutius Yet doe we read that Dioscorides and Scrapion Ambassadors sent from Caesar to Achillas so soone as they came within his sight and before he heard them or for what affaires they were sent commanded them to be taken and slaine Caesar likewise sent Marcus Valerius Porcillus vnto king Ariouistus who being there arriued was presently taken and put into prison notwithstanding he were a young man of great vertue and curtesie Likewise Comius Attrebas being sent by Caesar into Britane was cast into prison by the Britanes Laërtes Tolumnius king of Vients did â—lea foure Ambassadours of Rome whose portraitures remained long in the market place Such honour the Romanes vsed to giue vnto those men that dyed for their country Alexander the Great besieging a Citie called Tyrus sent Ambassadours vnto the inhabitants thereof who contrary to the lawe of Nations slewe them and from an high tower cast downe their bodies CHAP. 31. ¶ Of prisoners taken by the enemie WHo so is taken in the warre ought by the law of Nations to be reputed a lawfull prisoner yet if afterwards hee escape and returne home he recouereth his former estate They that are thus taken were by the Romanes called Serui quod seruantur as much to say as being taken they ought be kept not killed whereof may bee inferred it is vnlawfull to kill a man hauing yeelded himselfe because that acte is inhumane and all great Captaines haue forbidden it according to the saying of Horace Vendere cum possis captiuum occidere noli Herein also wee are to follow the example of ancient Princes and chiefe commanders in warre Alexander the Great tooke to wife Roxanes whom he had taken prisoner in the warre Henry the seuenth king of England hauing taken Lambert a king of Ireland together with his schoolemaster pardoned both their liues the one because he was a childe the other a person Ecclesiasticall and dedicated to God so sayth Polydor Virgil. Romulus made a law that cities taken by warre should not be vtterly demolished nor all beasts in the field slaine but setling there certaine Colonies they did participate of the commodities with the naturall people Yet true it is that some conquerors haue anciently vsed great crueltie For reade wee may that the Africans caused many Cathaginians their prisoners together with their Captaine Gestones to haue their hands cut off and their legs broken with a wheele Likewise Hasdrubal after Megarae was recouered from the Romanes caused their eyes their tongues secret parts to be torne with yron hookes he also cut off their fingers and flayed their bodies and before they were dead hung them vpon the walles We may also here remember the terrible custome of the Thuliti who vsed to
failing to vse his vttermost force of body and valour of minde That after the atteyning of any enterprise he should cause it to be recorded to th' end the fame of that fact might euer liue to his eternall honour and renowne of the Noble order That if any complaint were made at the Court of this mighty King of iniury or oppression then some knight of the Order whō the king should appoint ought reuenge the same That if any knight of forraine nation did come vnto the Court with desire to challenge or make shew of his prowesse that then were he single or accompanied these knights ought be ready in Armes to make answere That if any Lady Gentlewoman Widow Maiden or other oppressed person did present a petition declaring they were or had bene in this or other nation iniured or offered dishonour they should bee gratiousty heard and without delay one or more Knights should bee sent to make reuenge That euery Knight should bee willing to enforme yong Princes Lords and Gentlemen in the orders and exercises of Arms therby not only to auoid idlenes but also to increase the honor of Knighthood and Chiualrie Diuers other Articles inciting to magnanimious Action of honour in Armes these Knights were sworne to obserue which for breuitie I omit Neuerthelesse being vsed to lose my labour I aduenture to say this little and the rather because this order of knighthood is ancient and English I doe not read of any robe or habit prescribed vnto these Knights nor with what ceremonie they were made Their place of meeting and conuocation was the city of Winchester where king Arthur caused a great round Table to be made and at the same the Knights at the feast of Pentecost did sit and eat The proportion thereof was such as no roome could be thought of more dignity then the rest Yet as some writers say one seat thereof was called the Sea perilous reserued for that Knight that did excell the rest in vertue That place by consent of all the Knights was allotted vnto King Arthur who for his valour surpassed other professors of Armes Of officers and ministers belonging vnto this Order I doe not read but of a Register whose duty was to enter and keepe records of all and euery action enterprised attempted or performed by any or all these Knights which records were read and sung publikely to the eternizing of their honour and fame Whether the number of these Knights were many or fewe I doe not find but it seemeth imparted to a great many all persons of high dignitie or much prowesse For at a city called Carlion resorted vnto king Arthur at one time ten kings and thirteene Earles besides many Barons and other Knights of meaner title As the conquests of this King were many so was his bounty notable for it is written that vnto his chiefe Seneschal or Steward called Kay hee gaue the prouince of Anjou on his Butler Bedwere he bestowed Normandie and to his cousin Berell he granted the Dutchie of Burgundie and vnto many other Lords and valiant Knights he allotted other magnificent gifts according to their vertue and merit Some men haue surmised that the successe of king Arthurs prosperous proceeding in his enterprises was occasioned by counsell of one Merlin a man in that time reputed a Prophet King Arthur hauing all his youth found fortune his friend was notwithstanding at length deceiued by the treason of one Mordred his owne cousen to whome during his absence out of England he had committed the gouernment He was also at a city called Augusta encountred of the Romans and Saracens conducted by a Consul called Lucius neuerthelesse Arthur by his great valour slew Lucius and forced his Romanes to flee In that battell also were slaine fiue Saracen kings After this victorie Arthur returned into England and fought with Mordred In which conflict died Gawen a Noble Knight and cousen to king Arthur Also in landing Aquisel king of Scots was slaine But notwithstanding the losse of these valiant Knights king Arthur landed and Mordred fledde to London where the Citizens would not suffer him to enter the City Then he went into Cornewall where Arthur did slea him and he himselfe was mortally wounded So great a slaughter had neuer ben before that day seene After this conflict king Arthur was neuer found aliue or dead but as some Poets haue supposed was taken vp into the firmament and remaineth there a Starre among the nine Worthies which fancie is founded vpon the prophecie of old Merlyn who many yeeres before affirmed that Arthur after a certaine time should resuscitate and come vnto Carlion to restore the round Table There he wrote this Epitaph Hic iacet Arturus rex quondam rexque futurus CHAP. 6. ¶ How enterprises aduenturous ought be admired but not discredited TRue it is as hath bene formerly said that many enterprises in times past attempted and atchieued aboue the expectation of men are now thought rather fabulous then faithfully reported either because we that now liue did not know or see them or that ignorant men cannot conceiue howe they might be done or that want of courage doth disable them to take the like actions in hand Yet most certaine it is that diuers histories commonly reputed vaine fables were at the first begun vpon occasion of matter in effect true although some writers afterwards to shew the excellencie of their inuention or make their workes more vendible haue added many fancies and fictions which are not indeede worthy to bee beleeued And who so shall well consider how difficult a thing it is to write an history of so great trueth and perfection as cannot be controlled will easily excuse these writers that haue taken in hand matter so farre from our knowledge and vnderstanding For like vnto all other men mooued with loue hate profit or other priuate passion they are either willing or ignorantly induced to encrease or extenuate the actions and merits of those men of whom their histories haue discoursed How soeuer that bee I verely thinke the Acts and enterprises of Vlysses Aeneas Hector and other famous captaines of whome Poets and profane Writers haue written so many woonders were indeed of notable men and some part of their doings such as writers haue made mention Much lesse doe I doubt that some egregious acts atchieued and written in the bookes of Amadis de Gaule Ariosto Tasso King Arthur of England and such others doe containe many things which deserue not to be discredited But omitting to meddle with time so long since past and with countreys so farre from our Climate wee will remember some few Actions which worthy men of our owne Nation or our neighbours as that of Hernando Cortez Pisarro and others haue within our knowledge to the eternizing of their fame and honour perfourmed The greater part of which enterprises haue bene atchieued in this present age and shall no doubt hereafter when men are lesse industrious be thought rather fabulous then
daunger Hieramias with his right hand deliuered a sword vnto Iuda and in the name of God made him a Knight saying Receiue this sacred sword sent from God wherewith thou shalt vanquish the enemies of Israel It hath bene also a custome ancient that Princes did giue collars as a singular demontration of fauour and honour Plinie reporteth that the Romanes did giue vnto their confederates a collar of gold and to their owne citizens a collar of siluer When Manlius in single combat had slaine a French man hee tooke from him a collar of golde all bloodie and put the same about his owne necke in token of victorie After which time he was surnamed Torquatus because Torques in the Latine signifieth a collar or chaine The Emperours in like maner bestowed collars vpon Captaines and others that serued in the warre and deserued commendation In some Histories may be found that collars were of two sorts the first called Duplares th' other Simplices And with those collars the Emperours for the most part did giue prouision of money or vittaile to some more to some lesse For these reasons and by these examples it appeareth that among the ensignes and ornaments of Honor and Armes the great Collar is of highest reputation It is also seene that Princes soueraigne doe at this day bestow chaines or small collars vpon men of vertue or fauour and in token thereof for the most part a picture or modele of the giuer is thereat pendant which Collat the Knight or Gentleman that receiueth it ought carefully to keepe during his life The ancient custome was that Knights of meane degree and such as were not of the great Orders whereunto particular habits are assigned should in signe of honour weare a garment of scarlet because red representeth fire the most noble element and next vnto the Sunne of most brightnesse It was therefore among the olde Romanes decreed That no man should weare any habit of that colour but only Magistrates and men of dignity Red doeth also betoken boldnesse magnanimitie and ardent loue with charitie The element of fire is also assigned to Mars in respect whereof that colour is most proper to Knights Captaines and all other professours of Armes Carol D Howard Comâ— Notingham 〈…〉 CHAP. 9. Knights of the Garter EDward the third King of England after hee had obtained many great victories of Iohn the French King and Iames King of Scotland both prisoners in the Realme at one time Henry King of Castile the Bastard expulsed and Don Pedro restored by the Prince of Wales did first erect this order in his kingdome Anno 1350. vpon no waightie occasion as is reported Notwithstanding the same is and long hath bene in so great reputation as Emperors Kings and Princes haue and doe desire to bee companions thereof for their greater honour The patron of this Order is S. George vnto whom it was first dedicated The Soueraigne of this Order is the King of England his heires and successors for euer The number of this Colledge of fellowship is 26. Knights with the Soueraigne and when any of them die another is chosen by consent of those Knights that liue The habit of these Knights is an vnder garment or gowne of Crimsin veluet of some called akâ—rtle ouer which he weareth a mantle of Purple veluet lined with white sarsnet on the left shoulder thereof is embroidred in a Garter an Eschuchion of S George and ouer his right shoulder hangeth his hood of Crimson veluet lined with white the Cordons to the mantle are purple silke and gold Aboue all which about his necke he weareth the collar of the order being of pure gold made of garters and knots and enamiled with roses white and red weying 30. ounces of Troy weight with the image of S. George richly garnished with precious stones pendant thereat About his left legge he weareth buckled a garter enriched with gold pearle and stones whereupon these French words are embrodered HONY SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE Which may be thus Englished Shame be to him that euill thinketh The custome was long that these Knights did yeerely hold a feast at the Castle Windesor where the same King Edward founded a Church and gaue vnto certaine Priests and Prebends large stipends to serue there And he ordained also that thirteene poore aged and decayed Gentlemen by the name of poore Knights were there for euer to be maintained and kept inuested in gownes and mantles of cloth onely sutable with those of the Order to pray for the prosperity of the Soueraigne and his successors and all other Knights of the said noble Order It is not publiquely knowen what mooued the King to make this order but thus it is vulgarly reported that King Edward dauncing with the Queene and other Ladies of his Court hapned to take vp a blewe garter which fell from one of them and of some said from the Countesse of Salisburie of whom the King was then enamored which garter the King afterwards wore about his left legge for a fauour The Queene taking some offence thereat it was signified vnto the King by some of the Lords the cause of her displeasure at which he smiling sayd HONY SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE I will make of it yet it be long the most honourable Garter that euer was worne and thereupon instituted the order of the Garter Some rather thinke it was made to remunerate those Noble men and Knights that had best endeuoured and deserued in his most Royall and Martiall affaires of France Scotland and Spaine with all which Nations he then had warre and triumphed The Statutes of this great Order for that they are sufficiently knowen I here omit The names of the first Knights KIng EDWARD the third Soueraigne Edward Prince of VVales Henry Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earle of VVarwicke The Captaine of Bouche Ralph Earle of Stafford William de Mounteacute Earle of Sarisburie Roger Lord Mortimer Sir Iohn Lisle Sir Bartholomew Burgwash Sir Iohn Beauchampe Sir Iohn de Mohun Sir Hugh Courtney Sir Thomas Holland Sir Iohn Grey Sir Richard Fitzsymon Sir Miles Stapleton Sir Thomas Walle Sir Hugh VVrothesley Sir Neel Loring Sir Iohn Chandos Sir Iames de Audley Sir Otho Holland Sir Henry Eme. Sir Zanchet d'Abrigecourt Sir VVilliam Paganel The names of those Knights that are this present yeere 1602. of the same most noble Order ELIZABETH Queene of England Soueraigne Henry the fourth the French King Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Thomas Butler Earle of Ormond Thomas Sackuile Lord Buckhurst Gilbert Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury George Clifford Earle of Cumberland Henry Percye Earle of Northumberland Edward Somerset Earle of VVorcester Edmond Sheffeild Lord Sheffeild Thomas Howard Baron of VValden George Carey Baron of Hunsdon Charles Blount Lord Montioy Sir Henry Lea Master of her Mties Armorie Robert Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Thomas Scrope Lord Scrope VVilliam Stanley Earle of Derby Thomas Cecil Lord Burleigh  The Officers appertaining at this
Christian to the ende that if any of their Nobilitie were louers of Arms and honor they might appeare in our Triumphs with all things needful on Munday next after S. Matthew the Apostle At Meydeburg THen his Maiesty was pleased with the aduise of the foure and the fifteene men aforesaid to adde diuers other Articles as followeth That If any man had either openly or secretly slaine his wife or had aided or counselled another man to kill his master he should forfeit his horse and be expulsed the Lists If any man had committed sacriledge by spoiling of Churches or Chappels or had by force taken the goods of any widow or Orphan or not defended them to his power he should forfeit his horse and be punished with infamy If any man without warning had assaulted his enemy or by indirect meanes had procured him to be robbed of corne wine or other prouision feloniously he should forfeit his horse c. If any man in the Empire or vnder the Empire rashly and without licence of the Emperour did impose new and vnaccustomed tributes wherby the people might be damnified he should forfeit his horse and be taxed of infamy If any man had beene conuinced of notorious adultery hauing himselfe a wife or being a Batcheler had by force defloured any matron virgine or religious woman he should forfeit his horse remaine infamous If any Gentleman borne being the Owner of lands and reuenue and not therewith contented did exact or oppresse his Tenants or being the Officer of a Prince or other great Lord did wrest from his subiects to enrich himselfe for so doing he should forfeit his horse and be excluded from the Lists with infamie All which Articles being publikely read and approued were by his Emperiall Maiestie confirmed as Law CHAP. 27. ¶ Of Triumphs at the interuiewe of Pope Alexander and the Emperour Foedericus Barbarossa at Venice Anno 1166. ADuertizement being giuen to Venice that the Emperor resolued to come thither Piro Zinzano the Dukes sonne was sent with sixe long Galleyes to meete him at Rauenna After them were dispatched a great number of lesse vessels The Emperour being arriued at Venice the Pope was set in a rich chaire at the Church doore and there taried his comming Before the Popes feet a carpet of purple was spread vpon the ground The Emperor being come to the sayd Carpet forthwith fel downe and from thence vpon his knees went towards the Pope to kisse his feete which done the Pope with his hand lifted him vp From thence they passed together vnto the great Altar in S. Markes Church whereon was set the Table of precious stones which at this day is reputed one of the richest treasures of Europe Some haue reported that there the Emperor did prostrate himselfe before the Altar and the Pope set his foot vpon his necke While this was in doing the Clergie sung that Psalme of Dauid which sayth Super Aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis Which the Emperour hearing sayd Non tibi sed Petro. The Pope replied Et mihi Petro. After some dayes abode in Venice the Pope departed by sea to Ancona and the Emperor towards Germany by land either of them accompanied with Gentlemen Venetians in great number CHAP. 28. ¶ An admirable triumphal shew at Venice to congratulate the recouery of Cyprus Anno. 1366. AFter thankes giuen to God for the recouery of this Island euery man endeuoured to make demonstration of gladnes wherin no cost in banquetting or other solemnization was omitted Among these shewes of triumph and iolitie two sights there were most admirable and neuer before that time seene the maner of the one was a representation of Iusting on horsebacke For certaine portratures or images of men and horses were so made of skinnes clothed in silke with Lances and Shields as the wind by a straight line forced them to runne one encountering the other like to a course of the field The other was like vnto a combat where armed men did seeme to fight both which shewes were in the streete In the first the Actors were only 24 yong Gentlemen Venetians for personage apparell and yeeres very commendable The inuentor and director of these pastimes was Thomasso Bambasio who for such deuises and action was in Venice esteemed as in old time Roscius had bene in Rome Surely it seemeth strange that so many men richly attired and so many horses brauely furnished could be managed with so great dexteritie and one hauing ended his courses another was presently ready to supply that place In the meane while the Lances did seeme broken and the splinters flie about The duke with al the Nobilitie of the city beheld this miraculous sight and so did a multitude of people Among these beholders as mine Author sayth were diuers Noble men of England who trauailed to Venice purposely to see the maner of this Triumph and the Actors CHAP. 29. A Triumph in the reigne of King Richard the second 1390. THis noble Prince being aduertised with what magnificence and pompe the Queene Isabella of France had made her entry into Paris thought good to appoint a militarie triumph at London wherin appeared sixty Knights and so many faire young Ladies of his Court sumptuously apparelled With this troope his Maiestie rode from the Tower of London vnto Smithfield and passing thorow Cheapeside a proclamation was made that on Sunday and Munday next following these Knights would attende there to challenge all commers For him that deserued best in this Iust if he were a stranger the Queene and her Ladies had prepared a crowne of golde or if he were any of the sixty English Knights he should receiue a rich bracelet The English Knights likewise promised to giue vnto the stranger of best desert a faire horse with his furniture or if he were an English man hee should receiue a Falcon. This challenge and these prizes had bene by a King of Armes formerly proclaymed in England Scotland France Flaunders Brabant Henault and Germany which mooued many persons of Honour and reputation to come hither Among whom was William of Henault Earle of Oye or as some did call him of Ostrenant a young Prince much delighting in Armes This Noble youth desirous to honour the King of England his kinsman drew into his company many Gentlemen of his Nation with whom hee passed into England Then resoluing to performe that iourney thought good to take the consent of Albert his father Count of Henault Holland and Zeland Of whom with great difficultie he obtained leaue The like desire to honour the King mooued the Earle of S. Paul who had married the Kings sister And he brought with him a great troope of gallant Knights These two Princes came first vnto Calis where they found English ships readie to transport them But the Earle of Oye passed ouer first and being come to London had accesse to the King of whom he was with great ioy embraced The like courtesie he found in Iohn Holland the Kings brother
the more rich they were the more they were esteemed Among the Grecians there was not anciently any meane to be aduanced but only by the Emperours seruice wherein whosoeuer did continue any time were he neuer so basely borne should notwithstanding be made a Gentleman The Egyptians and Affyrians would not admit any man to haue the title of a Gentleman vnlesse he were a souldier and skilfull in Militarie affaires The rest of the people liued as slaues without reputation The Tartarians and Muscouites doe holde no man worthy the name of a Gentleman vnlesse he be a man of Armes a Captaine or at the least a souldier of extraordinary account For learning is there of no price CHAP. 19. Of Kingdomes and how Kings are to precede according to the Councell of Constance in the time of King Henry the fift WE reade that anciently the greatest and most noble Kings of the world were these viz. The King of Sycionia the King Egypt and the King of Assyria but of them that of Assyria of greatest power For Ninus the sonne of Belus had conquered and brought to his obedience all the people of Asia India excepted Others affirme hee commaunded the one halfe of the world and some say he was King of a third part So writeth S. Augustine li. 17. cap. 17. de ci Dei It is likewise by other writers said that in ancient time were foure mighty Kingdomes by Daniel compared to foure mettals viz That of Assyrians in the East was likened vnto gold that of the Persians and Medians to siluer that of the North Regions to brasse that of the Romans in the West to yron But the kingdomes of the East were most honourable though at length it pleased God that the Empire of Rome resembled to yron both in longitude and latitude exceeded all others For as yron doth cut and decrease all other mettals so the dominion and power of Romanes abased and eclipsed all other Regall puissance Howsoeuer that were the glory and greatnesse of the Romane force in tract of time did also become of small force weake and feeble according to the prophesie of Daniel ca. 2. But leauing to speake more of times so ancient we say that in Asia the chiefe Kingdomes are Catai Tharses Turnester Corasina India Persia Media Georgia Syria Cappadocia Ethinia c. In Affrica is Ethiopia Libya Arabia Iudea Cilicia Mauritania Numidia and others In Europe are likewise many kingdomes but of them these are most potent viz. England France Scotland Spaine Portugal Denmark Moscouia Sweden Poland c. Now touching the Precedence of these Princes in Europe by diuers writers it is affirmed that the King of France may iustly claime the chiefe place First for that it pleased God to send from heauen vnto Clodoueus the first Christian King of that Nation three Lilies as a Diuine fauour to be from thenceforth borne in the Armes of that kingdome before which time the Kings Armes was three Toades Secondly they alleage that France is the most ancient kingdome of Europe and that Suardus was King of that Nation in the raigne of Alexander Thirdly because the King of France is anointed which indeed seemeth a marke of much preeminence Fourthly for that the French King beareth the title of Most Christian. Lastly because it hath been in sundry papall Consistories decreed that the Ambassadours of France should precede the Ambassadors of Spaine Others hold that Precedencie appertaineth to the King of Spaine First for that he is entituled The most Catholique King Secondly because he is King of many kingdomes and consequently of most honour according to the prouerbe of Sal. In mulitudine populi dignitas regis which reason Salust seemeth also to confirme saying Maxima gloria in maximo Imperio But we say the chiefe place of honour and Precedencie in Europe appertaineth to the King of England First in respect of ancienty For albeit Alexander first King of the Grecians and of Persia called himselfe King of the world euen at that time Brutus was King of England and as some haue sayd Suardus was then King of France But Gaquinus in his Chronicle of France maketh no mention thereof not recordeth his name among the number of French Kings Secondly the king of England is anointed and so is no other king but the French King the King of Sicil and the King of Ierusalem Thirdly the King of England is crowned which honour the King of Spaine Portugal Aragon Nauarra and many other Princes haue not Fourthly the King of England is a Prince most absolute as from whom is no appellation either in iurisdiction Ecclesiastical or Ciuil And albeit Enqueranus Monstellet writeth that in the yeere 1420. at the Interuiew of the Kings of England and France making their entrie into the Citie of Paris the French King did ride on the right hand and kissed the Relikes of Saints first Yet is that no proofe of his right in precedence for Quilibet rex seu Princeps in suo regno in culmine sedere debet so saith Corsetus de potestate Regia And admit that in time more ancient the Kings of France had precedence before England yet since the Conquest famous victories of Henry the fift and Coronation of Henry the sixt in Paris the Kings of England may iustly take place neither is the title of most Christian any proofe of ancienty being only an honour giuen for certein seruices done by King Pepin and Charlemaine to the Church of Rome As for the allegation of Spaine affirming that the King Catholike is owner of many kingdomes and therefore of most honor that reason is of no consequence For so is also the King of England whose only kingdome of England is by nature inexpugnable and so plentifully peopled as sufficeth not onely to defend it selfe against all other Nations but also to inuade and conquer as both Spaine and France hath made experience But the last and most effectuall reason in fauour of England is that the King and people thereof receiued the Gospell and faith Christian before France or Spaine Also the Bishops with the Ambassadours English had precedence in the greatest general Councels of Christendome as particularly appeared at the Councell of Constance where the Bishops of England were present and honoured accordingly At which time it was doubted whether Spaine should be admitted a nation but in the end the Spaniards were allowed for the fift and last nation And al the people there assembled were diuided into fiue classes or rankes viz. Germanes French English Italians and Spaniards The Germane ranke contained themselues Bohemia Hungaria Polonia Dalmatia Graecia and Croatia The French had place alone as a nation absolute To the English Nation Scotland Norway Denmark Sweden and Cyprus were adioyned The Italians had all the Kingdomes subiect to Rome Sicily Naples and Argier With the Spaniards were the Ambassadors and Bishops of Castilia Arragon Maiorca Nauarra Portugall and Granado This assembly contained the Legates and Ambassadors of 83. Kings Besides
of his kingdome or other spacious place neere vnto it Thither the Gentleman was brought to receiue that honour and being come was forthwith placed in a chaire of siluer adorned with greene silke Then was demaunded of him if he were healthy of bodie and able to endure the trauell required in a souldier also whether he were a man of honest conuersation and what witnesses worthy credit he could produce so to affirme That being done the Bishop or chiefe Prelate of the Church tooke the Bible and holding it open before the Knight in presence of the King and all others spake these words Sir you that desire to receiue the order of Knighthood sweare before God and by this holy booke that ye shal not fight against this mightie and excellent Prince that now bestoweth the order of Knighthood vpon you vnlesse you shall be commanded so to do in the seruice of your owne King and naturall Prince for in that case hauing first yeelded vp the coller deuice and other ensignes of honour now receiued it shall be lawfull for you to serue against him without reproch or offence to all other companions in Armes but otherwise doing ye shall incurre infamy and being taken in warre shall be subiect to the paines of death Ye shall also sweare with all your force and power to maintaine and defend all Ladies Gentlewomen Orphans Widdowes women distressed and abandoned The like must ye doe for wiues being desired and shun no aduenture of your person in euery good warre wherein ye happen to be This oath taken two of the chiefe Lords led him vnto the King who presently drew foorth his sword and layd the same vpon the Gentlemans head and said God and Saint George or what other Saint the King pleased to name make thee a good Knight Then came vnto the Knight seuen noble Ladies attired in white and girt a sword vnto his side That done foure Knights of the most honourable in that presence put on his spurs These Ceremonies past the Queene tooke him by the right arme and a Dutchesse by the left and led him vnto a rich seat made on high and thereupon set him the King sitting downe on the right hande and the Queene on the other After the King and Queene were thus set and the new Knight between them al the rest of the Lords and Ladies sate downe also vpon other seats prepared for them three descents vnder the kings seat Euery Lord and Lady being thus placed thither was brought a solemn collation or banquet of delicate meates whereof the Knight the King the Queene and whole company did eate And so the ceremony ended CHAP. 4. The degradation of Knights in those daies IF any Knight at that time had bene corrupted with money by his Princes enemy or committed any other notable fact against loyaltie and honour the other Knights forthwith made humble suite vnto the king that he might be punished Which request being granted they apprehended the offendour and caused him to be armed from head to foot and in such sort as if he were going to the field Then they led him vp to an high stage made in a Church for that purpose where thirtie Priests soung such Psalmes as are vsed at burials as though the Knight had lien dead at their feete At the end of euery Psalme they tooke from him one piece of armour First they tooke off his Helmet as that which deâ—ended his traiterous eyes then his gauntlet on the right side as that which couered a corrupt hand then his gauntlet on the left side as from a member consenting and by peecemeale dispoiled him of all his Armes as well offensiue as defensiue which one after another were thrown to the ground and at the instant when any peece of armour was cast downe the King of Armes first and after him all other Heralds cryed aloud saying this is the head-peece of a disloyall and miscreant Knight Then was brought thither a basen of golde or siluer full of warme water which being holden vp the Heralds with a loud voice saide What is the Knights name The Purseuants answered that which in trueth was his name Then the chiefe King of Armes said That is not true for he is a miscreant and false traitour and hath transgressed the ordinances of Knighthood Thereunto answered the Chaplains Let vs giue him his right name Then spake the Trumpets What shall be done with him To which wordes the King answered Let him with dishonour and shame be banished my kingdome as a vile and infamous man that hath offended the honour of Knighthood So soone as the King had so said the King of Armes and other Heralds cast the warme water vpon the disgraded Knights face as though he were new baptized saying Henceforth thou shalt be called by thy right name Traitour Then the King with twelue other Knights put vpon them mourning garments declaring sorow and comming vnto the Knight disgraded put him downe the Stage not by the stayers hee mounted vp when he was made Knight but threwe him downe tyed vnto a rope Then with great ignominy hee was brought vnto the Altar and there layd groueling on the ground and ouer him was read a Psalme full of curses CHAP. 5. ¶ Of Knights of the Round Table ABout the yeere of Christ 490. there raigned in England then called Britaine a King named Arthur whose valour was so great and admirable as many men now liuing doe hold the same rather fabulous then credible Yet whoso shall consider enterprises of later time atchieued by priuate persons may be easily induced to thinke that a great part of praise written of that mighty Monarche may reasonably receiue beleefe But omitting to speake of his prowesse percase already by others ouerlargely discoursed I say that this most famous King hauing expulsed out of England the Saxons conquered Norway Scotland and the most part of France was crowned in the Citie of Paris From whence returned he erected a certaine Association or brotherhood of Knights who vowed to obserue these Articles following First that euery Knight should be well armed and furnished to vndertake any enterprise wherein he was employed by Sea or land on horsebacke or foot That he should be euer prest to assaile all Tyrants and oppressours of people That he should protect widowesâ—and maidens restore children to their right repossesse such persons as were without iust cause exiled and withall his force maintaine the Christian faith That he should be a Champion for the weale publique and as a Lion repulse the enemies of his countrey That he should aduance the reputation of honour and suppresse al vice releeue people afflicted by aduerse fortune giue aide to holy Church and protect pilgrimes That he should bury Souldiers that wanted sepulture deliuer prisoners ransome captiues and cure men hurt in seruice of their countrey That he should in all honourable actions aduenture his person yet with respect to iustice and trueth and in all enterprises proceed sincerely neuer