in any Action or otherwise in which case any other Subject of what degree soever shall be amerced for in that case the Queen shall participate of the King's Prerogative But the Queen shall not in all cases have the same prerogative as the King as for Example Petition is all the remedy the Subject hath when the King seizeth his Lands or taketh away his Goods from him having no Title by order of Law so to do contrary to the Opinion of some ancient Books as you may see Stamford's Prerogative Case 19. But no such Suit shall be made to the Queen but Actions as against other Lieges of the King according as the Case shall require For by the same Reason that the Queen may be Plaintiff or Demandant in Actions without the King by the same Reason she shall be Defendant without the part taking of such Prerogatives as do appertain to the King Against the King by his Prerogative nullum tempus occurrit but it is not so with the Queen 18 Edw. 3. 2. a. And plenarily by six months is a good Plea in a Quare Impedit brought by Philip Regina Anglia ibidem fol. 1. 13. b. Stamford's Prerogative Case 18. prope finem In the 22 Edw. 3. 6. it is thus to be read Note that a Protection was sued forth against the Queen in a Writ which she brought and it was allowed though she be a person exempt Nevertheless by this short Case following may be observed That the Justices do not easily suffer any proceedings in Law against the Queen Wife or Widow but will hold with their Immunities so much as by Law they may A Writ of Dower was brought against Isabel Queen of England and Mother to the then King and the Court said to the Plaintiff The Queen is a person of Dignity and Excellency and we are of Opinion that she shall not answer to the Writ but that she should be sued unto by Petition And thereupon the Demandant dixit gratis and she prayed the Court to grant a Continuance of Action until another day so that in the mean time she might speak with the Queen But the Court would not agree to make a Continuance but said That upon her request they might give day prae re pertin and so it was done for the Queen's Counsel would not agree to a Continuance for thereby the Queen shall be accepted as answerable Neither do I suppose that I have digressed from any former purpose for making mention in those Cases concerning the Queen Consort For notwithstanding the intermarriage with the Sovereign King yet she is no other than a King 's Subject whether she be of a Foreign Nation or a Native born and though she be by the favour of the King solemnly crowned Queen yet that is but a Royal Ceremony and no essential Exception whereby she may not from henceforth be accounted in the rank of Noble Women And this hath been proved by the effect in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth when some of the Wives crowned Queens have been Arraigned of High Treason and therefore put to Trial by the Nobles of the Realm as her Peers The Wife of the King 's eldest Son hath also some Prerogatives in regard of the Excellency of her Husband which the Wives of other Noblemen have not For by the Statute of the Thrteenth of Edward the Third it is High Treason to violate the Wife of the King 's eldest Son and Heir Dutchesses and Countesses have special Honours appertaining to their Estates as Kneeling Tasting c. which things are more appertaining properly to the Heralds than to be here treated of Ladies in Reputation THE Wife or Widow of the Son and Heir of a Duke or Earl in the life time of his Father is a Lady by Courtesie of Speech and Honour and taketh place according as in ancient time hath been permitted by the Sovereign Prince and allowance of the Heralds but in legal proceedings they are not Priviledged nor to be named according to such Names of Dignity But the King may at his pleasure create such Men in the life of their Ancestors unto degrees of Lord's of his Parliament and then the Law is otherwise If a Noble Woman of Spain come into this Realm by safe Conduct or otherwise though in the Letters of safe Conduct by the King she be styled by such her Sovereign Title yet in the King's Courts of Justice she shall not be named by such Title though in common Speech she is styled a Lady An English Woman born doth taken to her Husband a French or Spanish Duke though he be made a Denizen yet she shall not bear his Title of Dignity in Legal Proceedings A German Woman is married to a Peer of the Realm and unless she be made a Denizen she cannot lawfully claim the Priviledges or Titles of her Husband no more than she can to have Dower or Joynture from him An English Woman doth take to her Husband an Irish Earl or if a Lord of Scotland though he be a Postnatus take an English Woman to his Wife their Wives shall not participate of their Husbands Titles of Dignity But if the King do create one of his Subjects of Scotland or Ireland a Peer of this Realm then shall he and his Wife enjoy all the Priviledges of a Nobleman But if an English man by the Emperor be made an Earl of the Empire his Wife shall not bear that Title of Honour All the Daughters of Dukes Marquisses and Earls are by the ancient Custome of the Realm styled Ladies and have precedency according to the Degrees of their Parents And of this Custome the Laws do take notice and give allowance for Honour and Decency But nevertheless in the King's Courts of Justice they bear not those Titles of Honour no more than the Sons of such Noble persons may do So in this point the Law is one way and the Honour and Courtesie of Ladies another And as a Civilian in like Case saith Aliud est jus aliud privilegium nevertheless the Books of our Law do make mention thereof and allow of it as a Courtesie though not as a Law Thus much of Women If I have been too large upon this Subject I crave their pardons and if too short I wish I had been more large for their Honour Yet let them compare their Conditions with that of their Neighbouring Nations and 't is believed they have reason to judge themselves the happiest Women in the World but Nemo sua sorte contentus None truly value what they do possess Birth Beauty Titles Riches in excess Are all a Plague if ought else we desire The loss of that makes all our joys on fire The Right Noble Frances Stewart dutchess dowager of Richmond and Lenox ◠a. The Rt. honble Ann Stuart Baroness of Castle Stuart in ye. Kingdome of Ireland Relict of the Rt. honble Iosias Baron of Castle Stuart and Daughter of Iohn Maddē of Rousky Castle in ye. County of
knowing of the Felony doth receive him he is Accessory Also when the King doth Summon his Parliament Writs shall be sent to the Sheriff to make choice of Knights of every Shire in this form Rex Vicecom N. Salutem quia de avisamento asseâ—su nostri Concilii pro quibusdam arduis urgentibus negotiis nos statum defensionem Regni nostri Angliae Ecclesiae Anglicanae concernentibus quoddam Parliamentum nostrum apud Civitatem nostram Westm. duodecimo die Novembris proxime futuro teneri ordinavimus ibidem cum Praelatis magnatibus proceribus dicti Regni nostri colloquium habere tractare tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod facta Proclamatione in prox Comit. tuo post receptionem hujus brevis nostri tenendi die loco praed duos Milites gladiis cinctos Magisidouers Discretos Com. praed c. electionem partes sub sigillo tuo sub sigillis eorum qui electioni illi interfuerunt nobis in Cancellaria nostra ad dictum diem locum certifices indilate See the Statute 23 Hen. 6. cap. 15. where amongst other things it is enacted That the Knights of the Shires for Parliaments hereafter to be chosen shall be notable Knights of the same Counties for the which they shall be chosen or else such notable Esquires or Gentlemen being of the same Counties as shall be able to be Knights Peers of the Realm are by intendment of Law sufficient of Freehold and that is one of the Reasons wherefore no Capias or Exigit liethâ— against them for Debt or Trespass But the Law hath not that Opinion of the Knights sufficiency of Freehold for he may be a Knight without Land therefore and then he is not to be returned of any Jury or Inquest howsoever he may be worthy and sufficient to serve the Commonwealth in Marshal Affairs The Wives and Widows of Knights in Legal Proceedings and in Courts of Justice have not the Title of Lady as the Wives or Widows of Noblemen have yet by the Courtesie of England that Title is given them And if in any action they be not called Ladies for that cause the Writ shall not abate for that Surplusage because Domina is general to Women as Domini to Men. So where Women after Fourteen years of Age are called Dominae for Ladies or Dames and with us anciently marriageable Women were called Dominae and in our old English Leets Dames First Dominae is often used for Women generally as a special Honour for that Sex being not out of fashion at this day nor with the French as also amongst the Italians Domina for them is familiar But if she be named Comitessa or Baronessa whereas she is no Countess or Baroness in Law then without question the naming of her so shall abate the Writ By the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 21. Knights are freed from Cart-taking that no Demesne Cart of them shall be taken By the Statute 1 Iacobi cap. 27. it seemeth that Knights Sons may keep Greyhounds and Setting-Dogs and Nets to take Pheasants and Partridges in though they cannot expend Ten pounds per Annum nor be worth Two hundred pounds for by the express words of the Statute all the Sons of Knights are excepted Observations concerning Knights Batchelors A Baronet cannot claim the Priviledge that Knights have from Cart-taking by Magna Charta 23. A Baronet's Son cannot keep a Grey-hound c. because he is not within the Statute of 1 Iac. 27. unless he hath Ten pounds per Annum tamen quâ—re See the said Statute and Statute 22 23 Car. 2. Quaere whether the Baronets Addition doth abate any Action If one be Knighted in the life time of his Father it frees him from Wardship but contra of a Baronet Knights are excused from attendance at Leets which Baronets are not Note That by the Statute 12 Car. 2. chap. 24. the Court of Wards Tenures in Capite Liveries Ouster le maines and other dependance upon the Court is taken away and then was repealed the Statute 32 Hen. 8. chap. 6. 33 Car. 22. A Knight Batchelor is a Title as before noted borrowed from Horsmanship and therefore ought to be represented by the Efâ—igies of a Captain of a Troop of Horse I shall here set down the manner of making Knights about the year of Christ 500 near which time King Arthur Reigned in England as I find it in Sir William Segar's Book of Honour Military and Civil page 53. where he saith That a Prince being minded to make a Knight commanded a Stage or Scaffold to be erected in some Cathedral Church in his Kingdom or some spacious place near unto it to which place the Gentleman was brought to receive that Honour and being come was forthwith placed on a silver Chair adorned with green Silk Then it was demanded of him if he were of a healthy Body and able to undergo the Travel required in a Souldier also whether he were a man of honest conversation and what credible Witnesses he could produce to affirm the same Then the Bishop or chief Prelate of the Church took 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 receive the Order of Knighthood swear before God and by this Holy Book that you shall not fight against this mighty and excellent Prince that now bestoweth the Order of Knighthood upon you unless you shall be commanded so to do in the service of your own King for in that case having first yielded up the Collar Device and other Ensigns of Honour now received it shall be lawful for you to serve against him without reproach or offence to all other Companions in Arms. But otherwise doing you shall incur Infamy and being taken in War shall be subject to the pains of death You shall also swear with all your force and power to maintain and defend all Ladies Gentlewomen Widows Orphans and distressed Women and you shall shun no adventure of your person in any War wherein you shall happen to be My Author further saith That this Oath being taken two of the chief Lords led him to the King who presently drew forth his Sword and laid it upon his Head saying God and St. George or what other Saint the King pleaseth to name make thee a good Knight Then came to the Knight seven Noble Ladies attired in white and begirt a Sword unto his side which being done four Honourable Knights put on his Spurs These Ceremonies being past the Queen took him by the right Arm and a Dutchess by the left and led him to a rich Seat placed on an Ascent where they seated him the King sitting on his right hand and the Queen on his left then the Lords and Ladies also sate down upon other Seats three Descents under the King And being all thus seated they were entertained with a Delicate Banquet or Collation and so the
A. 1351. they came to an Agreement and shortly after with the consent of Pope Clement the Sixth the Queen and Lewis Prince of Tarentum were crowned King and Queen of that Kingdom And in commemoration of so happy a Union the Prince instituted this Order into which were enrolled Seventy of the noblest Lords in Naples together with some Strangers Their Habit appointed them was a white Garment and their Ensign was a Knot intermixed with Gold But this Order expired soon after the death of the Founder Knights of the Argonauts of St. Nicholas in Naples THIS Order was instituted in Anno 1382. by Charles the Third King of Naples for the advancement of Navigation which was much wanting amongst the Neopolitans but others say it was erected for the preserving of Amity amongst the Nobles who were the Persons that were inveâ—â—ed with the said Honour Their Ensign appointed them by the said King was a Ship toâ—â—ed in a Storm with this Motto Non credo tempori Their Habit was a white Garment and their great Feast was held in the Convent of that stately Church built by St. Nicholas Bishop of Smyrna But by reason of the King 's not settling a Revenue thereon upon his death it became disused Knights of the Ermyn in Naples FErdinand the First King of Naples having ended the War which he had against Iohn of Lorain Duke of Calabria his Brother in Law Marinus Marcianus Duke of Sessa and Prince of Rosiano had raised a Confederacy against him and intended to kill him when they were together by which means the Kingdom might be transferred to the Duke of Calabria But this Plot being discovered and the Duke apprehended instead of causing him to be executed the King elected him one of this Order and also admitted thereunto all the Nobles of his Kingdom The Collar with which they were invested was of Gold intermixed with mud or dirt to which hung an Ermyn with this Motto Malo mori quam foedari DEGREES OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SAVOY Knights of the Annunciation THIS Order was instituted in the Year 1362. by Amedeo the Sixth Earl of Savoy Surnamed Il Verde in memory of Amedeo the first Earl thereof who having valorously defended the Isle of Rhodes against the Turks won those Arms which are now born by the Dukes of Savoy viz. Gules a Cross Argent The Collar belonging to this Order is of Gold on which are these Letters Engraven F. E. R. T. which signifie Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit and to this Collar hangeth a Tablet wherein is the figure of the Annunciation which is their daily Badge which they wear about their Shoulders This Order at first consisted of Fifteen of which the Founder was the Sovereign which number was afterwards enlarged The Church where the Ceremonies were observed and the Chapters held by the Sovereign and the Knights was first at Pierre Chastle which afterwards removed to Montmeillar and thence to the Hermitage of Camaldule seated upon the Mountain of of Turin Their Habit is now a purple Mantle seeded with Roses and Flames in embroidery of Gold and Silver bordered with the Symbols of the Order fringed with Gold and lined with Cloth of Silver and tissued blew under which instead of a Surcoat is worn a white Satin Suit embroidered with Silk and the Breeches like Trouses half way their Thighs In the said Church were entertained Fifteen Priests who were to say Fifteen Masses daily to the honour of the fifteen Joyes of the blessed Virgin to the Souls health of him his Predecessors and all who have been were or should hereafter be Knights of this Order Amongst the Orders by them observed every Knight at his death was to give to the maintenance of the Church One hundred Florins which was to be paid to the Prior for the time being That at the death of any of the Knights the rest should assemble themselves to bury the dead in an honourable order and every Knight to wear a white Gown and so make his Offering each bringing with him four Wax Torches weighing One hundred pound and afterwards for Nine days to apparel themselves in mourning And that every Knight at his burial should give unto the Church a Collar a Banner his Armour and Coat of Arms all which to be offered at the day of Entertainment at the Church in memory of the deceased Knights of St. Maurice AMadis the eighth Duke of Savoy with ten of his Court Knights retired themselves to the Desart of Ripaille near the Lake of Geneva where they led a Solitary and Hermetical Life And in the Year 1434. as well to honour St. Maurice the titular Saint and Patron of Savoy as of his Launce or Sword and Ring which as a Pledge of Dominion are delivered to them with great Solemnity at their Inauguration This Order was instituted and was made subject to the Rule of St. Augustine The Habit assigned them was an Ash-colour or grey Gown and Chaperon with Sleeves faced with red Chamlet also a Vest of the same girded about them with a golden Girdle and on the Breast of the Mantle a white Cross pommette of Cloth or Taffaty About Nine years after the Papal See being void by the Deposition of Pope Eugenius the Fourth this Duke for his devout Life was elected Pope â— which with much perswasions he accepted of But he had not been in it above Nine years but he resigned the Chair to Pope Nicholas the Fourth and retired again to a Solitary Life at Ripaille where he ended his days in Anno 1451. and was interred in the Cathedral of Lausanna Knights of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus THese two Orders were erected by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy in Anno 1572. and at the request of the said Duke were confirmed and united into one Order by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth who constituted the said Duke and his Successors Dukes of Savoy Grand Masters thereof obliging them to set out two Gallies for the Service of the Papal See against the Turkish Pirats Their Ensign is a green Cross of St. Lazarus charged with a white Cross of St. Maurice which they wear either tied to a gold Chain or a Ribon Their Habit is a Gown of crimson Tabby with a long Train wide Sleeves and edged about with white Taffaty and a Cordon with a Tassel of white and green fixt to the Collar thereof A DEGREE OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SWITZERLAND CALLED Knights of the Bear THE Emperor Frederick the Second going in Pilgrimage to the Abbey of St. Gall in Anno 1213. gave great Priviledges in acknowledgment of their Assistance in pulling down the Emperor Otho and establishing himself and erected this Order of Knighthood which he conferred on several Noblemen which Annually met at the Abbey of St. Gall on the Sixteenth of October where all new Knights were to receive the Order from the Abbot the Patron thereof on which day such as were to be admitted into the Fraternity were girded with a Military Belt the Sword being
the City of London â—â—â—â—â—e his Coronation which was on Monday tâ—e 22 th of April 1661. First the Duke of York's Horse Guard Messengers of the Chambers in their Coats with the King's Arms before and behind Esquires to the Knights of the Bath in number 140. Knight Harbinger and Serjeant Porter Sewers of the Chamber Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters in Cloaks Clerks of the Chancery 6. Clerks of the Signet 4. Clerks of the Privy Seal in Gowns Clerks of the Council 4. in Cloaks Clerks of the Parliament 2. Clerks of the Crown 2. in Gowns Chaplains having Dignities 10. in Gowns and square Caps The King's Advocate The King's Remembrancer Masters of the Chancery The King's Counsel at Law 2. in Gowns The King's puisne Serjeants 2. The King's Attorney The King's Solicitor The King's eldest Serjeants 2. in Gowns Two Secretaries of the French and Latin Tongue in Gowns Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters in Cloaks Sewers in Ordinary in Cloaks Carvers in Ordinary in Cloaks Cup-bearers in Ordinary in Cloaks Esquires of the Body 4. The Effigies of the Right honble Heneage Lord Finch Baron of Daventry Lord High Chancellor of England one of the Lords of the most honble Privy Councell to King Charles ye. second Anno DnÌ„i 1676. The Effigies of the Right honble Anthony Earle of Shaftsbury Baron Ashley of Wimbourne St Giles Ld. Cooper of Pawlet Ld. High Chancellor of England Ld. Leiutenant of the County of Dorset and â—one of the Lords of ye. most honble Privy Councellâ— to King Charles yâ— 2d. Anno Domini â—673 Masters of standing Offices Tents 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Revels 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Ceremonies 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Armory 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Wardrobe 1. in Cloaks Masters of standing Offices Ordnance 1. in Cloaks Masters of the Requests 4. Chamberlains of the Exchequer 2. in Gowns Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in Cloaks Knights of the Bath 68. in long Mantles with Hats and Feathers The Knight Marshal in a rich Coat Treasurer of the Chamber Master of the Jewel House in Cloaks Barons younger Sons Viscounts younger Sons Barons of the Exchequer 3. in Robes and Caps Justices of the King's Bench and Common Pleas 6. in Robes Caps and Collars Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Robes Caps and Collars Master of the Rolls in a Gown Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in his Robe Cap and Collar Knights of the Privy Council in Cloaks Barons eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Viscounts eldest Sons Kettle Drums The King's Trumpeters in rich Coats The Serjeant Trumpeter with his Mace Two Pursuevants at Arms in their Coats of Arms. Barons 51. in Cloaks Marquisses younger sons Earls eldest Sons Two Pursuevants at Arms in their Coats of Arms. Viscounts 7. Dukes younger Sons Marquisses eldest Sons Two Heralds in their Coats with Collars of SS Earls 32. in Cloaks Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshold with his white Staff Dukes eldest Sons Two Heralds in Coats with Collars of SS Two Marquisses in Cloaks Two Heralds in Coats with Collars of SS The Duke of Buckingham Clarencieux King at Arms in Coats with Collars of SS Norroy King at Arms in Coats with Collars of SS The Lord Treasurer with his white Staff The Lord Chancellor with the Purse The Lord High Steward with his white Staff Two Persons one representing the Duke of Aquitain and the other the Duke of Normandy in broad Caps and Robes of Ermyn The Gentleman Usher with the black Rod on the right hand bareheaded in a rich Cloak Garter King of Arms bareheaded in his Coat and Collar of SS The Lord Mayor of London carrying the City Scepter on the left hand bareheaded The Duke of York Serjeants at Arms with their Maces 8 on a side from the Sword forwards in rich Cloaks The Lord Great Chamberlain on the right hand The Sword born by the Earl of Suffolk Marshal pro tempore The Earl of Northumberland Lord Constable of England pro tempore on the left hand Gentlemen Pensioners with Pole-Axes The King Gentlemen Pensioners with their Pole-Axes Esquires Footmen The Master of the Horse leading a spare Horse The Vice Chamberlain Captain of the Pensioners Captain of the Guard The Lieutenant of the Pensioners the King's Horse Guard The Lord General 's Horse Guard As in Man's Body for the preservation of the whole divers Functions and Offices of Members are required even so in all well governed Common-wealths a distinction of persons is necessary and the policy of this Realm of England for the Government and Maintainance of the Common-wealth hath made a threefold Division of persons that is to say First the King our Soveraign Monarch under which Name also a Soveraign Queen is comprised as it is declared by the Statute made in the first of Queen Mary cap. 1. Parliam 2. Secondly the Nobles which comprehend the Prince Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Lords Spiritual and Temporal Thirdly the Commons by which general word is understood Baronets Knights Esquires Gentlemen Yeomen Artificers and Labourers It is observed that our Law calleth none Noble under the Degree of a Baron and not as men of Forreign Countries do use to speak with whom every man of Gentle Birth is counted Noble For we daily see that both Gentlemen and Knights do serve in Parliament as Members of the Commonalty Neither do these words the Nobles the high and great men in the Realm imply the Person and Majesty of the King but with the Civilians the King is reckoned among the Nobility The Nobility are known by the general Name of Peers of the Realm or Barons of England for Dukes Marquisses Earls and Viscounts did anciently sit together in the King 's great Council of Parliament as Barons and in right only of their Baronies And therefore by the general Name of Barons of the Realm and for the Baronage thereof we underâ—â—and the whole Body of the Nobility the Parliament Robes of the Dukes differing nothing from the Barons but that they wear the Guards upon their Shoulders three or four folds For though Dukes Marquisses Earls and Viscounts in their Creations are attired with Ornaments of Silk and Velvet yet in Parliament they use the same that Barons do made of Scarlet with divers differences of white Fur set as Fringes or Edgings on their Shoulders and although they sit in right of their Baronies yet they take their places according to their degrees of Dignity And hence it is that those bloody Civil Wars concerning the Liberties granted in the Great Charter both in the time of King Iohn and Henry the Third his Son prosecuted by all the Nobility some few excepted are called in our Histories the Barons Wars Neither have the Spiritual Lords any other Title to that preheminence but by their ancient Baronies For although originally all the possessions of Bishops Abbots and Priors were given and holden in Frank Almoign most of
all true Wisdom And therefore our wise and religious Ancestors called to their General Council or Wittengemote or Court of Wisemen as they called it those chief and principal persons of the Clergy which by their places and professions by their Gravities Learning and Wisdom might best advise them what was the Law of God's acceptable will and pleasure that they might frame Laws answerable or at least wise not contrary and repugnant thereunto And touching the Temporal Barons by Tenure mention is made of them in the Books of Law Records and ancient Monuments of the Realm and these Baronies were anciently uncertain and rentable at the pleasure of the King But such incertainty was brought to certainty by the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 2. Bracton doth make express mention of Barons Temporal by Tenure it shall be needful here again to remember the former assertion of Bracton That the head of a Barony descending to Daughters should not be divided by partition which argueth likewise the Tenure of Barony But let us descend to other Authority viz. the Book-Case in the 48 Edw. 3. fol. 30. Sir Ralph Everdon's Case by which Case of Law 't is most evidently proved that there are Barons by Tenure which in regard of such their Tenure ought to be summoned to Parliament And furthermore That there were or are Barons by Tenure read the Statute of Westminster 2. cap. 41. where the Fees of the Earl-Marshal and the Lord Chamberlain are expressed which are to be taken by them upon the Homage done of every Baron by Tenure whether the Baron holdeth by a whole Barony or by a less But here ariseth a Question If a Baron by Tenure alien and grant away the Honour Castle and Mannor holden by Barony whether shall such Alien or Grauntee take upon him the State Title and Dignity of a Baron or not Or what shall become of such Dignity of Baronage after such Alienation and Grant made They which do deny that there are any such Baronies by Tenure do use these as their principal Motives or Reasons First If there be any Baronies by Tenure then the Alience or Grantee of such Honour Castle and Mannor so holden must hold by the same Tenure that his Grantor or Feoffer before held but that was by Barony therefore such Grantee must hold by Barony And if such Grant or Alienation be made to persons Vulgar or Ignoble then should such Tenure be made Noble which were very absurd and full of inconveniency for Ornanda potius est dignitate domus quam ex domo dignitas utcunque quibus quaerenda est ab iis honestanda Milles peroration 3. Secondly It is very evident and manife stthat many ancient Mannors which in old time were holden by Baronage and were the head of Baronies are now in the Tenures of mean Gentlemen and others who neither may nor do challenge unto themselves in any respect hereof any Nobility without the great favour of the King 's most Excellent Majesty who is the Fountain of all Honour within his Dominions Thirdly Some ancient Barons there are that have aliened and sold many of those Castles and Mannors which did bear the Name and Dignity of Baronage and yet themselves do still retain and lawfully keep their Estate Dignity and Degree of Baron and have been and usually are such Alienations notwithstanding summoned nevertheless to the Parliament and there do take and hold their ancient place accordingly To these Objections it shall be convenient for the more easie unfolding the sâ—ate of this Question to exhibit certain necessary distinctions and upon them to draw true and infallible Conclusions and then to prove them by authority of Law consent of Time and manifold Presidents which done the Answer will be presently made as I conceive to every of the aforesaid Objections First therefore If a Baron by Tenure which holdeth any Castle Honour or Mannor by Baronage do Alien oâ— give the same away he doth it either with or without a Licence obtained from his Majesty for the same If he doth it without a Licence then the Conclusion is certain But by the Laws of this Realm the Barony Honour Castle or Mannor so aliened without licence or consent is forâ—eited and the same Honour Castle and Mannor â—o â—olden by Barony and so aliened is to â—e seized in the King's hands and the â—aid Forfeiture and such Dignity and Estate no longer to be born and continue but to be resumed and extinguished in the Crown from whence it was derived The reason therefore is notable if we call to remembrance that which was formerly alledged out of Bracton That Baronies are the strength of the Realm and suffer no division they suffer also no alienation without the consent or licence of the Sovereign Monarch for so should the Realm be infeebled and base persons ennobled without desert of Vertue or Prowess For where the thing so aliened is an Honour or Head of a Barony it differeth much from the ordinary Tenure in Capite whereof if the Tenant make Alienation without Licence he is only to pay a Fine by the Statute of 1 Edw. 3. cap. 12. whereof also before the making of the Statute there was diversity of Opinions at the Common Law after the Statute of Magna Charta cap. 31. And for further proof see Glanvile In Edward the Third certain Lands being parcel of the Barony of Bremberway were aliened by William de Browse the Baron thereof without the King's Licence and in the Argument of the Case concerning the same Judge Green delivered this for Law First That parcel of a Barony or Earldom of the King in chief cannot be aliened or dismembred without his Licence and if it be it shall be seized into the King's hands as forfeited and the King shall be seized thereof in his own right again In 43 Edw. 3. it was found by an Office that William Bishop of Chester had leased unto one Iohn Preston for his Life a Mannor which was parcel of the Mannor of the said Bishoprick without Licence and it was resolved by the Judges and others of the King's Council That the same was forfeited but by mediation of the said Council the Bishop submitted himself to the King and made a Fine and several Scire Facias's issued out against them that had received the many proâ—its to answer unto the King thereof And thus much concerning Alienations of Baronies without Licence But on the other part if a Baron by Tenure who holds any Honour Castle or Mannor by Barony do grant or alien the same by Licence I must again distinguish for either such Alienation is made for the continuance of his Barony Honour Lands and Tenements in his own Name Blood and Issue Male or else the same Alienation is made for Money or other Recompence or otherwise to a meer Stranger and hereof ensueth this second Conclusion or Assertion That if such Alienation be made for the continuance of his Barony in his Name and Blood or Issue Male
of Horeham in Sussex Esq. 827 29. 1677. Sir Robert Cotton of Cumbermere in Cestr. Kt. 828 April 7. Francis Willoughby of Wollaton in Nottinghamshire Esq. 829 Iuly 28. Richard Newdigate Serjeant at Law 830 Sept. 29. Richard Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire Esq. 831 Octob. 8. Francis Anderton of Lostock in Lancashire Esq. 832 18 Iames Symeon of Chilworth in Oxfordshire Esq. 833 25. Iames Poole of Poole in Worrell in Cheshire Esq. 834 Dec. 31. George Wharton of Kirkby-Kendal in Westmoreland Esq. 835 Ian. 31. Hugh Ackland of Cullum-Iohn in Devonshire Esq. 836 Apr. 22. Francis Edwards of Shrewsbury in Shropshire Esq. 837 May 8. Sir Henry Oxinden of Deane in Kent Kt. 838 18. Iames Bowyer of Leighthorne in Sussex Esq. for life and after to Henry Goring of Higden in the said County Esq. 839 Iune 29. Ignatius Vitus alias White of Limberick in Ireland Esq. KNIGHTS OF THE BATH CHAP. XX. KNights of the Bath so called from part of the Ceremony at their Creation are commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen at the Creation of a Prince or of a Duke of the Blood Royal Thus at the Creation of Henry Prince of VVales and Charles Duke of York the second Son of King Iames Knights of the Bath were made and at the Coronation of our dread Sovereign King Charles the Second 68 were made whose Names you will find in the ensuing Catalogue This Order was first erected saith Froysard in Anno 1399. by King Henry the Fourth who to add to the lustre of his Coronation created 46 Knights of the Bath and Mr. Selden thinks them more ancient But that great Antiquary Elias Ashmole Esq is of the Opinion that the said King did not constitute but rather restore the ancient manner of making Knights for formerly Knights Batchelors were created by Ecclesiasticks with the like Ceremonies and being thus brought again into use and made peculiar to the Degree of Knights of the Bath they have ever â—ince continued and the better to maintain this his Opinion saith That they have neither Laws nor Statutes assigned them neither are they to wear their Robes but upon the time or solemnity for which they were created except the red Ribbon which they are allowed always to wear cross their left Shoulder and upon any vacancy their number which is uncertain is not supplyed They are created with much noble Ceremonies and have had Princes and the prime of the Nobility of their Fellowship The particular manner of their Creation is mentioned by many Authors but most exactly described and illustrated with Figures of all the Ceremonies by the learned Hand of VVilliam Dugdale Esq Norroy King at Arms in his Description of VVarwickshire to which laborious Peece I refer the curious Reader borrowing from him and some others this small abstract of their Ceremonies When one is to be made a Knight of this Order at his coming to Court he is honourably received by the Chief Officers and Nobles of the Court and hath two Esquires appointed to wait upon him who convey him to the Chamber without more seeing him that day where he is to be entertained with Musick then a Bath is to be prepared by the Barber who is to trim him and the King being informed that he is ready for the Bath he is by the most grave Knights there present instructed in the Orders and Fees of Chivalry the Musick playing to his Chamber door then they hearing the Musick shall undress him and put him naked into the Bath and the Musick ceasing some one of the Knights shall say Be this an honourable Bath unto you then shall he be conveyed to his Bed which shall be plain and without Curtains and so soon as he is dry they shall help to dress him putting over his inward Garment a Rusâ—et Robe with long sleeves and a Hood like unto that of an Hermit and the Barber shall take all that is within and without the Bath with his Collar about his Neck for his Fees then shall he be conducted to the Chappel with Musick where being entred the Knights and Esquires shall be entertained with Wine and Spices for their favours done unto him then they take their leaves of him and he and his two Esquires and a Priest performs a Vigil till almost day with Prayers and Offerings beseeching God and his blessed Mother to make him worthy of that Dignity and being confessed he shall with one of the Governours hold a Taper till the reading of the Gospel and then he shall give it to one of the Esquires to hold till the Gospel is ended and at the elevation of the Host one of the Governours shall take the Hood from the Essquire and after deliver it again till the Gospel in principio and at the beginning take the Hood again and give him the Taper again in his hand having a penny ready near the Candlestick at the words Verbum caro factum est the Esquire kneeling shall offer the Taper to the Honour of God and a penny to the Honour of the person that makes him a Knight This Ceremony being ended he shall be conducted to his Chamber for some repose until the King's pleasure is known and then he is dressed and attended into the Hall which is ready for his Reception being girded with a Girdle of white Leather without Buckles having a Coif on his Head Mantles of Silk over a Kirtle of red Tartarin tied with a lace of white silk with a pair of white Gloves hanging at the ends of the Lace and this Attire is the Chandlers Fees Then he is conducted by the Knights on Horsback to the King's Hall with his Sword and his Spurs hanging at the Pomel of the Sword being carried before him and the Marshal and Ushers meeting him do desire him to alight the Marshal shall take his Horse for his Fee and being brought to the high and second Table with his Sword being held upright before him the King coming into the Hall doth ask for the Sword and Spurs which the Chamberlain shall take and shew the King who takes the right Spur and delivers it to the most Noble Person there wishing him to put it on the Esquire which being done a Knight puts on the left Spur then the King taking the Sword which he girts about him and putting his Arms about his Neck saith Be thou a good Knight and after kisseth him then he is conducted to the Chappel and kneeling with his right hand lying on the high Altar he promiseth to maintain the Rites of Holy Church until his death and ungirting his Sword with great Devotion he offereth it there to God then at his going out the King's Master Cook who is there ready to take off his Spurs shall say I the King's Master Cook am come to receive thy Spurs for my fee and if you do any thing contrary to the order of Knighthood which God forbid I shall back your Spurs from your heels Then he is conducted
to the party for so it is termed in Brook's Title Additions 44. but an Honour to the Kingdom And therefore it hath been an ancient Prerogative of the Kings of this Realm at their pleasure to compel men of worth to take upon them that Degree upon payment of a Fine But we see by Experience in these days that none are compelled thereunto and that is the reason wherefore if the Plaintiff be Knighted having the Writ it shall abate because he hath changed his name and that by his own Act. And for that cause also by the Common Law not only the King but every Lord of a Mannor ought to have of every of his Tenants a reasonable Aid to make his eldest Son a Knight And all Lands are subject to these Aids except only ancient Demesne and grand and petty Serjeanty-Tenures as the Law hath â—een anciently delivered And in Io. Shelden 131. where also it is said one that wrote a little after the Statute of Westminster the first allows as a good barr to the Avowry for the Tenant to plead that the Father himself is no Knight so that one not Knighted cannot claim this Ayd of his Tenants Briâ—an cap. de prices de avers And it was at the liberty of the Lord to make more or less of his Tenants by the Common Law in this Case but by the Statute of Westminster the first Chap. 35. it is put in contrary viz. forasmuch as before this time reasonable Aid to make ones Son Knight or to marry his Daughter was never put in certain nor how much should be taken nor at what time whereby some levied unreasonable Aid and more often than seemed necessary whereby the people were sore grieved It is provided that from henceforth of a whole Knight's Fee there be taken but Twenty shillings and of Twenty pounds in Land holden in Soccage Twenty shillings and of more more and of less less after that rate And that none shall levy such Aid to make his Son a Knight until his Son be of fifteen years old nor to marry his Daughter until she be of the Age of seven years And of that there shall be mention made in the King's Writs formed on the same when any will demand it And if it happen that the Father after he hath levied such Aid of his Tenants die before he hath married his Daughter the Executors of the Father shall be bound to the Daughter for so much as the Father received for the Aid And if the Father's Goods be not sufficient his Heir shall be charged therewith unto the Daugher And this Aid is so incident that although the Lord do confirm unto the Tenant to hold by Fealty and certain Rent and release unto him all other Services and Demands yet shall he have the Aid to make his eldest Son a Knight But the King was not bound by the Statute aforementioned because the King was not named in the Statute Therefore by the Statute 25 Edw. 3. chap. 11. the King's Aid were brought to a like value The intention of the Law is That an Heir until the Age of One and twenty years is not able to do Knights Service But such a presumption of Law doth give place to a Judgment of proof to the contrary as Bracton saith Sâ—abitur presumptioni donec probetur in contrarium And therefore when the King who is the Sovereign Judge of all Chivalry hath dubbed him a Knight he by this hath adjudged him able to do him Knight's Service and all men are concluded to say the contrary to it And therefore such an Heir being made a Knight either in the life time of his Father or afterwards during his minority shall be out of Ward and Custody both for his Land and Body and marriage by the Award of the ancient Common Law By reason also that the Honour of Knighthood is so great that it is not to be holden under by any yet if the King do create such an Heir within Age a Duke Marquess Earl Viscount or â—aron by this he shall not be out of Ward and Custody both for his Land and Body And therefore it is propounded by the Statute of Magna Charta chap. 3. Ita tamen quod si ipse dum infra aetatem fuerit fiat miles nihilominus terra remaneat in Custodia Dominorum suorum So that although such an Heir within Age be made Knight and thereby to this purpose is esteemed as of full Age yet the Land shall remain in Custody of the Lord till his Age of One and twenty years by the purview of the said Act. Question If the Son and Heir of the Tenant of the King by Knights Service c. be made Knight in Paris by the French King whether he shall be out of Wardship after the death of his Father or no for thereby he is a Knight in England Coke's seventh part b. 2 Edw. 4. fol. tamen vide in Coke's sixth part 74. b. mention is only made of Knights made by the King himself or by his Lieutenant in Ireland But when the King doth make an Heir apparent within Age of a Tenant by Knights Service a Knight in the life of his Ancestor and after the death of his Ancestor the said Heir being within Age shall in this Case be out of Ward and shall pay no value for his marriage neither shall the Lord have the Custody of the Land for in that Case by the making of him Knight in the life of his Ancestor he is made of full Age so that when his Ancestor dieth no interest either in the Body or in the Land shall invest in the Lord but the Knight may tender his Livery as if he were of full Age And in that case the King shall have primier Seisin as if he had been One and twenty years of Age at the time of the death of his Ancestor and not otherwise For the Statute of Magna Charta doth not extend unto it for the purview of it doth extend only when the Heir in Ward infra aetatem is made Knight then remanet terra in Custodia c. But when the Heir is made Knight in the life of his Ancestor then the Custody cannot remain which never had any inception or essence Also when the Heir after the death of his Ancestor within Age is made Knight if after tender made to him he within Age do marry elsewhere yet he shall not pay the forfeiture of his marriage for by the making him Knight he is out of Ward and Custody of his Lord for then he ought to be sui Iuris and may imploy himself in feats of Arms for defence of the Realm c. and therefore may not be within the Custody of another and none shall pay any forfeiture but when after any refusal he doth marry himself during the time when he is under the custody and keeping of his Lord And this doth appear by the Statute of Merton chap. 6. Si se mariturierit sine licentia
Ceremony ended Of Degrading of Knights DEgrading of Knights is not very customary Examples being seldom found it being used only for great and notable Facts and Offences against Loyalty and Honour as absenting themselves dishonourably from their King's Service for leaving their Colours and flying to the Enemy for betraying Castles Forts and the like hainous Crimes The manner of Degrading a Knight hath been as followeth When a Knight had been found thus disloyal or corrupt he was to be apprehended and armed Cap-a-pe as if he was going to the Wars was to be placed upon a high Scaffold made for that purpose in the Church and after the Priest had sung some Funeral Psalms as are used at Burials as though he had been dead first they take of his Helmet to shew his face and so by Degrees his whole Armour then the Heralds proclaiming him a disloyal Miscreant with many other Ceremonies to declare him Ignoble he was thrown down the Stage with a Rope and this was done about the time of King Arthur as is affirmed by Mills fol. 84. Also about the Degrading of Knights these things have also been used as the reversing their Coat of Arms by seizing of their Equipage except one Horse ne qui dignitate fâ—ctus est eques cogatur pedes incedere bâ— cutting of the Spurs from their Heels and by taking away their Sword and breaking it But of late the Martial Law is usually put in Execution both in our Civil Wars as in France and elsewhere that is to dispatch such trayterous persons by a File of Musquetiers KNIGHTS OF THE Round Table CHAP. XXII THE Founder of this ancient Order of Knighthood was Arthur King of the Britains who reigned about the year of Christ 516. whose Valour was so great and admirable that many now living do believe the same rather fabulous than real This Noble King having as Sir William Segar noteth driven out of England the Saxons conquered Norway Scotland and the greatest part of France where at Paris he was crowned and returning home lived in such great Renown that many Princes and worthy Knights came from all Parts to his Court to give Evidence of their Valour in the Exercise of Arms. Upon this he erected a Fraternity of Knights which consisted as some say of Four and twenty others a greater Number amongst whom he himself was Chief And for the avoiding of Controversies for taking place when they met together he caused a Round Table to be made from whence they took their Name which said Table if you will believe the Inhabitants of Winchester hangs up in their Castle where they used to meet and the time of their meeting was at Whitsontide Into this Society none were admitted whether Britains or Strangers but such as did make sufficient proof of their Prowess and Dexterity in Arms and such as were Renowned for their Vertue and Valour The Articles which they vowed to keep were To be always well armed both for Horse or Foot Service either by Land or Sea and to be always ready to assail Tyrants and Oppressors To protect and defend Widows Maidens and Children and to relieve all that are in necessity To maintain the Christian Faith contribute their Aid to Holy Church and to protect Pilgrims To advance Honour and suppress Vice To bury Souldiers that wanted Sepulchres To ransom Captives deliver Prisoners and administer to the cure of wounded Souldiers hurt in the Service of their Country To Record all Noble Enterprizes to the end that the Fame thereof may ever live to their Honour and the Renown of the Noble Order That upon any complaint made to the King of Injury or Oppression one of these Knights whom the King should appoint was to Revenge the same If any Foreign Knight came to Court with desire to shew his Prowess these Knights ought to be ready in Arms to answer him If any Lady Gentlewoman or other oppressed or injured person did present a Petition declaring the same whether the Injury was done here or beyond Sea he or she should be graciously heard and without delay one or more Knights should be sent to make Revenge And that every Knight for the advancement of Chivalry should be ready to inform young Lords and Gentlemen in the Orders and Exercises of Arms. For what I can find there was no Robe or Habit prescribed unto these Knights nor can I find with what Ceremony they were made neither what Officers did belong unto the said Order except a Register to record all their Noble Enterprizes Not to pass over this Noble Arthur give me leave to repeat what I find mentioned of him by Sir William Segar in the said Chapter This valiant Prince not confining himself to the narrow limits of his own Kingdom left the Government thereof to the management of his Cosin Mordred and began his Journey or rather Conquest for in all places he found Fortune to favour him And after his many Victories gained of the Saxons Scots Norwegians Romans Saracens and French in the end being laden with Honour he returned into England but found Mordred a Traitor as usurping the Government and obstructing his Landing But all that he could do was in vain for being landed he fled to London but the Citizens refusing to give him Entrance he went into Cornwall where King Arthur gave him Battel which proved unfortunate to them both for Mordred was slain by King Arthur who was also desperately wounded and after this wound as some say he was never found alive or dead which made the Poets to feign that he was taken up into the Firmament and there remaineth a Star amongst the Nine Worthies Which phansie is founded upon the Prophesie of old Merlin which was his Counsel and esteemed as a Prophet who for many years before affirmed That King Arthur after a certain time should resuscitate and come unto Carlion to restore the Round Table He wrote this Epitaph Hic jacet Arturus Rex quondam rexque futurus According to Andrew Favin there was an Order of Knighthood called Knights of St. Thomas which was instituted by King Richard the First after the surprisal of the City of Acon and consisted of all English men Their Patron was St. Thomas Becket their Garment was white and their Ensign was a red Cross charged in the midst with a white Escallop But A. Mendo believeth that these Knights were rather some of those which joyned themselves with the Knights Hospitallers for that they wore the same Habit followed the same Rule and observed the same Customes as did the Knights of St. Iohn of Acon KNIGHTS OF THE THISTLE OR OF St. Andrew in Scotland CHAP. XXIII HVNGVS King of the Picts the Night before the Battel that was fought betwixt him and Athelstan King of England saw in the Skie a bright Cross in fashion of that whereon St. Andrew suffered Martyrdom and the day proving successful unto Hungus in memorial of the said Apparition which did presage so happy an Omen the Picts and
Habit or Order assigned them Pope Honorius at the request of Stephen Patriarch of Ierusalem prescribed unto them an Order of Life whereby they were to wear a white Garment and Pope Eugenius added thereto a red Cross and in the presence of the said Patriarch they made their Vows of Obedience Poverty and Chastity and to live under the Rule of Regular Canons of St. Augustine Being thus entred into an Order they elected an Head or Great Master and in process of time through the daily encrease of their number and their famous enterprizes not only for securing the passages but also for waging War both by Sea and Land against the Infidels they became highly favoured of the Christian Princes who assigned to them great Revenues to be spent in God's Service and in process of time they became exceeding wealthy and powerful so that they grew proud and withdrew themselves from the Obedience of the Patriarch of Ierusalem and joyned with the Pope But in the end they found not the favour from the Pope as they expected for by him or through his consent upon some infamous crimes charged against them their Lands and Possessions were seized upon and otherways disposed of their Order suppressed and they themselves imprisoned condemned and cruelly executed but according to the Opinion of many Authors they were unjustly accused by subornation of Witnesses meerly to gain their Revenues which according to Dr. Heylin were exceeding great having no less than Sixteen thousand Lordships in Europe Knights of St. Lazarus THis Order at the first Institution was only a Brotherhood of Religious Monks and became an Order of Knighthood in or about the time of St. Basil being first instituted upon a most charitable account to wit to take care of persons infected with the Leprosie which was a Disease very frequent in the Eastern parts by reason of which they were separated from the Society of men and had assigned to them a famous Hospital in Ierusalem called St. Lazarus for the reception of Lepers And through the incursion of the Sarazens and Barbarians in these parts this Order was as it were extinguished but when the Latin Princes joyned together in a Holy League to expel them the Holy Land these Religious Men entred into a Martial Discipline and performed great Service insomuch that they gained great fame and esteem of Baldwin the second King of Ierusalem in whose time this Order much flourished under the Government of a Great Master And about the year 1150. they made their Vows of Obedience Poverty and Chastity before William Patriarch of Ierusalem and submitted themselves to the Order of St. Benedict They also constituted several Orders to be observed amongst them viz. to wear a green Cross and that all before they entred into this Knighthood should prove themselves born in Wedlock of Christian Parents and to be a Gentleman by the Fathers and Mothers side also to be of an unblameable life and conversation and to perform daily certain Religious Ceremonies Knights of St. Bass. THese Knights were founded under the Rule of St. Basil and were also called Knights of St. Mary Their Garment was skie colour with a gold Cross which they wore before their breast having in the midst thereof the picture of St. Basil their Patron and were Officers and Servants to the Kings of Armenia Knights of St. Katharine at Mount Sinai THE reason of the Institution of these Knights which was about the year of Christ 1063. was to guard and defend the Sepulchre of St. Katharine their Patron whose Body is said to be buried in Mount Sinai near to which place a Monastery was erected and dedicated to her Name to secure the passage for Travellers who came thither for Devotion sake and to entertain them during their abode They lived under the Rule of St. Basil the Great vowed Obedience to the Abbot of this Monastery and wore a white Garment But when the Turks became Masters of these parts this Order of Knighthood suffered very much notwithstanding some Remains of the Order doth yet continue Knights of the Martyrs in Palestine THese Knights followed the Rule of St Basil and wore on their Garments a red Cross in the midst whereof within a Circle was the Figures of Cosmas and Damianus their Saints and Patrons who were martyred Their Hospital or place of abode bore the name of their Saints where they exercised all Acts of Charity to sick Strangers and people in necessity to redeem Captives taken by the Sarazens and to bury the Dead ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SPAIN Knights of the Oak in Navarr THE Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Navarr being almost over-run by the Moors notwithstanding their great Army raised to oppose them for that they wanted an experienced General to command them at length one Don Garcia Ximenes who had betook himself to a religious and solitary Life was perswaded to take upon him that Command which was about the year of Christ 722. And as he was marching out of the City to fight the Moors there appeared to him from the top of an Oaken Tree the sign of the Cross which was adored by an innumerable quantity of Angels In this Battel he gained so signal a Victory that the people elected him their King and shortly after he instituted this Order of Knighthood investing therewith the Nobles and persons of Renown in his Kingdom whom he obliged to defend the Christian Faith and to own Obedience to him and his Successors Kings of Navarr The Habit that he assigned them was a white Garment having thereon a plain red Cross set on the top of an Oaken Tree in its Verdure Knights of the Lilly in Navarr GRacius King of Navarr the sixth of that Name lying in a languishing and sick Condition sent to St. Saviour de Lyra and other places of Devotion to the end that prayers might be made for his Recovery In which time in the City of Naiera where he kept usually his Court there was found the Image of our Virgin Mary issuing out of a Lilly holding her Son betwixt her Arms and suddenly after if you will believe the Story the King not only recovered his health but divers other Miracles were done on diseased people in that place and in honour whereof the King in Anno 1048. erected this Order which consisted of Eight and thirty of which himself was Sovereign as were his Successors to be after him The Badge which these Knights daily wore on their Breasts was a Lilly embroidered in Silver and on Festival days they wore a double Chain of Gold interlaced with Letters M. after the manner of a Gothish Letter with an enamelled Lilly in an Oval Medal hanging at it and their Habit was white Knights of the Band. THIS Order was first erected by Alphonso King of Spain in Anno 1368. and for this reason The King considering that he had many Enemies to deal with for his better security thought it convenient to institute an Order of Knights making himself
Master thereof which he did a little before his Coronation in the City of Burgos in great Solemnity the whole Night being spent in the Monastery of St. Mary Royal in watching and prayer and the day following after Mass they were invested with a red Ribon of about three Inches broad which went cross their left Shoulders like our Knights of the Bath being the Badge from whence these Knights took their Name Their Articles are at large set down by Sir William Segar which being too many to repeat are here omitted Knights of the Dove in Castile THIS Order according to Favin was first instituted by Iohn the first King of Castile about the year 1379. in the City of Segovia The Collar of this Order was composed of peeces which represented the figure of the Sun in his Glory to which hung a golden Dove enamelled white and encircled with rayes But the King dying the same year and before it was well received it became of no great esteem Ordo de la Scama in Castile JOHN the second King of Castile for the stirring up his Nobles to assist him in his Wars against the Moors in Anno 1420. did erect this order which took so good effect that in a short time the Moors were subdued Their Ensign according to Ios. Micheli was a Cross composed of Scales of Fâ—shes from which it seemeth to have took its Name for Scama in the Spanish signifies the Scale of a Fish These Knights were obliged to fight against the Moors to accompany the King in the Wars and to die in the defence of the Christian Religion Their Rules and Statutes for their Government were ordained by the said King upon whose death this Order lost much of its splendor Knights of the Lilly in Aragon THIS Order was erected by Ferdinand King of Aragon in Anno 1403. and dedicated to the honour of the blessed Virgin in token of a signal Victory which this King obtained against the Moors The Collar was composed of Bough-pots fill'd with white Lillies interlaced with Griffons Knights of Mount-joy THIS Order was first instituted in the Holy Land for the securing these parts against the Moors and Sarazens and lay in Garison in a Castle built on the point of a Mountain near Ierusalem And after the loss of the Holy Land these Knights retired into Spain and performed good Service against the Moors but in process of time this Order fell to decay and were incorporated into the Order of Calatrava Their Habit was a red short Mantle and on their Breasts they wore a white Star with five Rayes They observed the Rule of St. Benedict which afterwards was changed to that of St. Augustine and vowed Poverty Chastity and Obedience Knights of Acon or Acres IN the City of Acon these Knights resided where they used all Duties of Charity to Pilgrims that went to the Holy Land They assumed the exercise of Arms in imitation of the Knights Hospitallers They followed the Rule of St. Augustine and wore a black Garment whereon was a white Cross Pattee but Ios. Micheli Marquez saith it was a red Cross and in the midst thereof stood the figures of St. Iohn and St. Thomas After the City of Acon was taken they removed into Spain where they flourished receiving great favour from Alphonsus the Astrologer K. of Castile but after his death by little and little they decayed and in the end were united to the Knights Hospitallers Knights of St. James in Galicia THIS Order of Knighthood called by the Spaniards Cavalieri di san Iago is of great esteem amongst them and was first erected upon this occasion When the Arabians had almost subdued the Country the remainder of the Spanish people refusing to live under the Obedience of so barbarous a Nation retired unto the Mountains of Asturia where they settled a Government and after their abode there some few years certain Nobles or Gentlemen of great quality to the number of Thirteen upon a serious consultation to regain their Country resolved to enter into a Fraternity and to begin a War against the Moors and Barbarians The Ensign which they wore was a red Cross in form of a Sword with an Escallop Shell on it in imitation of the Badge of the Pilgrims that go to Ierusalem to the Sepulchre of St. Iames the Apostle They elected one chief Governour who was called Great Master who with the Thirteen other Knights had power to choose or remove any Knight at their discretion and to make Statutes and Orders for the well Government of the said Society at their Day of Meeting which is Annually on the Feast day of All-Saints in great State having large Revenues to support their Grandure this Order being esteemed the chiefest in Spain Knights of St. Saviour in Aragon DON Alphonso for his better enabling to force the Moors out of Aragon about the year of our Lord 1118. did erect this Order electing a certain number which he chose out of those Spanish and French Nobles that assisted him in his Wars against the Moors which Honour engaged them to pursue the War against them the more vigorously The Moors being subdued King Alphonso established these Knights in the place of the Knights Templars in Montreal and had a rule of living somewhat conformable unto them save only to marry and were obliged to support and defend the Holy Church and Christian Faith against the Moors Their Habit was a white Mantle and on their Breast they wore a red Cross. But when the Moors were expelled being the chief end for which they were instituted these Knights were laid aside or at leastwise not regarded and their Revenues joyned to the Crown Knights of St. Julian de Pereyro or of Alcantara THese Knights take their name from the place of their Institution viz. the City of Alcantara in Castiglia seated on the Tago where they had a stately Church and were richly endowed They had many Priviledges and Orders observed amongst them their Habit was a black Garment having on the Breast a green Cross and their first great Master was Ferdinando the Second King of Leon and Galicia about the year of our Lord 1176. Knights of Calatrava in Castile THIS ancient Order was first instituted by Don Sanchio the third King of Toledo about the year of Christ 1158. and took its Name from the Castle Calatrava which is a Frontire both of Toledo and Castile which place the Moors took upon their Victory they obtained against Don Rodrigro King of Spain in Anno 714. but after above Four hundred years continuance they were forced thence and the place given to the Knights Templars by Don Alphonso Emperor of Spain to be maintained as a Garison against the Incursion of the Moors but they not being able to maintain and defend it withdrew their Garison upon which lest the Moors should become Masters of it again the King by his Charter gave the said Castle and Village to one Don Raymund formerly a Knight of great Fame and
then Abbot of St. Mary de Fitero who fortified it and began the said Order of Knighthood which flourished very much and became exceeding powerful so that the Moors durst not make any further Attempt The Habit that they wore was a black Garment with a red Cross on their Breast and had many great Priviledges and as great Possessions in divers places of Spain Knights of Truxillo or Trugillo THIS Order took its appellation from the City of Trugillo seated in Estremadura in Spain but as for the time of its Institution Writers are silent in but certain it is they were in being in the year of our Lord 1227. for one Don Arias Perez Dallego then Master of the Order took this City from the Moors and there settled a Brotherhood of Knights and Priests who lived after the manner of a Convent but what was their Badge or Habit and what Orders were observed amongst them is also not certainly known Knights of our Lady and of St George of Montesa in Valencia THese Knights took their rise from the dissolution of the Knights Templars in Valencia and were instituted by Iames the Second King of Aragon and Valencia in Anno 1317. for the better defence of his Kingdoms against the Inroads of the Moors but were subject to those of Calatrava before spoken of The place assigned them for their abode was at Montesa where they had a Colledge built and dedicated to St. George by the Pope at the instance of the King The Statutes of the Order are the same as those of Calatrava they vowed Conjugal Chastity their Habit was white with a plain red Cross and their first Master was Guilielmus de Eril a valiant Souldier Knights of St. Mary de Merced in Aragon JAMES the First King of Aragon although for his Conquests against the Moors was Surnamed the Invincible yet had he the ill fate to be a Prisoner to Simon Earl of Montfort in France where he suffered many troubles and indured great hardship which made him throughly sensible of the Miserie 's the Christians indured under the tyranny of the Moors Whereupon he made a Vow to the blessed Virgin Mary that when he was freed from his Captivity he would endeavour the Redemption of the Captive Christians And being set at liberty he heaped up great Sums to be imployed accordingly and by the advice of Raymond de Penafort his Confessor a Dominican Frier and Pedro Nolasco a Noble Cavalier he founded an Order of Knights in Barcelona called la Neuva Merced so named by the blessed Virgin who in a Vision appeared at one and the same time in one Night to the King to Raymond and Nolasco giving this Order its Name and directing them in the whole Institution because of the great good which the Christian Captives should receive by this means This Order was founded in Anno 1218. and their Feast day for the celebrating the same was Annually on St. Laurence the Martyr in August Their Habit was a Coat and Scapular of Ordinary white Cloth and garnished with Ribons and Cordons wherewith they fastned it about their Necks and from the upper part thereof was a Cap that covered half their Head but the Monks wore their Coats and Scapulars much longer than the Knights These Knights professed Conjugal Chastity and Obedience to their Superiors The first General or Master was Pedro Nolasco who was sent into the Kingdom of Valencia to redeem Captives which Journey proved so successful that in the space of six years he ransomed no less than Four hundred nor cease they to send abroad their Agents to Algier Fess and other places for Redemption of Christian Captives And being an Order thus Charitable great sums of Money are Annually collected and put into their Hands for that use and few die of any account in Spain but bequeath a Legacy to this Order insomuch that they have great Revenues Knights of the Rosary in Toledo â— THE Country of Toledo being grievously oppressed by the Moors Roderick Archbishop thereof assembled together the Nobles and Chiefs of the City and told them of the great necessity to give their assistance for the defence of the Country and the extirpation of the Moors which they readily imbraced and many of the Nobles entred into this Order which was instituted for the defence of the Catholick Religion to fight against the Moors and to say continually a Rosary of the blessed Lady They were of the Dominican Order and their Ensign was the figure of our Lady of the Rosary upon a Cross flory quarterly Argent and Sable ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD IN FLANDERS Knights of the Golden Fleece called Toizon d'Or THIS Order of Knighthood was instituted by Philip Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders in Anno 1429. being moved thereto with devout Zeal to undertake the Conquest of the Holy Land The Patron of this Order was St. Andrew The Sovereign he to whom the Dukedom of Burgundy doth lawfully descend The number of these Knights at the first Election were Four and twenty besides the Sovereign all of Noble Blood which were afterwards much increased by the Emperor Charles the Fifth Their Habit a Cassock of crimson Velvet and over it a Mantle of the same lined with white which openeth on the right side and is turned upon the left over the Shoulder embroidered round about with a Bordure of Flames Fusils and Fleeces and a Hood of crimson Velvet on their Heads The Collar is of Gold wrought of Flames and Fusils with the Toizon or Figure of a Golden Fleece which Iason won at Colchos or as some suppose Gideon's Fleece which signifies Fidelity or Justice uncorrupted And this Collar or Toizon they are obliged upon a Penalty always to wear not to make any alterations and to sell or exchange it is deemed most unlawful The Sovereign hath in himself authority absolutely to give and bestow this Honour when and to whom he pleaseth And whosoever entreth into the said Dignity must first renounce all other Orders of Knighthood nevertheless all Emperors Kings and Dukes are excepted unto whom it is dispenced that they may wear the Ensigns of this Order if they be the chief of their own Order These with other Statutes and Ordinances the Knights are sworn to observe and keep The day of their Assembly was first on St. Andrews day which since was changed to the Second of May and that but once in three years unless the Sovereign otherwise pleaseth To this Order doth belong four principal Officers viz. a Chancellor a Treasurer a Register and a King at Arms called Toizon d'Or ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD IN PORTUGAL Knights d' Avis IN the Year of our Lord Don Alphonso Henriquez first King of Portugal gained from the Moors the City of Evora and for the fortifying and securing of this Garison he sent thither several brave Commanders who took upon them the Title of Knights of St. Mary of Evora who not long after were called Knights d' Avis from a Castle of that Name
seated on the Frontiers of Portugal which the King gave to Ferdinando de Yannes Master of Evora to which Castle he and his Brethren removed from Evora The Badge of this Order is a green Cross flory like those of Calatrava They took upon them the Rule of St. Benedict and none were to be admitted into this Order but such as were Gentlemen by the Fathers and Mothers side two Descents Knights of the Wing of St. Michael DON Alphonso Henriquez King of Portugal being sorely oppressed by Albara the Moor King of Savil for the freeing his Country raised an Army and before he gave them Battel commanded all his Souldiers to pray to their particular Saints for happy Deliverance and the King offered up his Prayers to St. Michael the Arch-angel being the Saint he was much devoted unto When the Armies were engaged St. Michael as the Story goes appeared on the King's right side and fought against the Moors who were routed and lost the day And in Commemoration of this great Victory at his return home which was in the Year of our Lord 1171. or thereabouts he instituted this Order of Knighthood who for their Badge had a red Sword cross'd with Flowers de lis and this Motto Quis ut Deus These Knights before their growing out of use were of the Cistertian Order followed the Rule of St. Benedict and by their Obligation were to secure the Borders of the Countries against the Incursions of the Moors to defend the Christian Religion and to succour the Widows and Fatherless Knights of St. James THE Portugals being still oppressed by the Moors the King Don Denys the Sixth out of his great affection to relieve his people did in the year of our Lord 1310. institute this Order and by the Assistance of these Knights which were victorious in divers Battels at length he quitted his Kingdom of them for which signal Service they had many priviledges conferred upon them by the King which caused them much to flourish They profess Conjugal Chastity Hospitality and Obedience Their Ensign is a red Sword like that of St. Iames in Galicia Their Habit is white and none are to be admitted until they have proved their Gentility by Blood Knights of Christ. THE Knights Templars being dissolved and their Estates confiscated Don Denys King of Portugal sent to Pope Iohn the Two and twentieth to desire that an Order of Knights might be instituted in Castro Marin which was a Frontier Town of the Enemy and very commodious for the building a Fort for the resisting the Neighbouring Moors which did much annoy his Kingdom which request seemed so reasonable that the Pope in Anno 1319. instituted this Order commanding that they should observe the Cistertian Order and enjoy the same Priviledges and Indulgences formerly granted to their Great Master and Knights that they should take the Oath of Fidelity that all the possessions in the Kingdom of Portugal formerly belonging to the Knights Templars should belong to these Knights who were obliged to make War against the Neighbouring Moors Their Habit was black with a Cross Pattee Gules charged with another of Argent which they wore on their Breasts ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD IN FRANCE Knights of Iesus Christ. THIS Order of Knighthood was instituted in Anno 1206. by St. Dominick chiesly to fight against the Albigenses or Hereticks and prescribed to them a white Habit with a Cross flory quarterly Sable and Argent to be worn upon their Breasts and that they should elect a Master and this Order was approved of by Pope Innocent the Third in Anno 1215. They professed Obedience and Conjugal Chastity When their business was ended for which they were instituted they laid away their Arms and wholly devoted themselves to a Religious Life and admitted into their Society Widows and Virgins Knights of the Passion of Iesus Christ. THIS Order was instituted by Charles King of France and Richard the Second King of England for the Re-conquest of the Holy Land the overthrow of the Enemies of Christ and the advancement of the Catholick Faith amongst the Eastern people In the chief Convent of the Holy Chivalry which was to be beautified with stately Structures as Palaces a Castle a Church and to be richly endowed and in common amongst them that they might the better follow the Exercise of their Arms and other Duties all things of publick Concernment were to be heard and debated in the presence of the King by five sufficient Counsels The two principal Officers of the Chivalry were first the Grand Justiciary who had the disposal of all chief Offices and Places and to whom belonged the Judgment of all criminal Affairs and next the Grand Bailiff who was to administer both Civil and Criminal Justice besides several other Officers of a lower degree as the Potestate the Senator of the General Chapter the Ten Executors of Justice and the Charitable Commissaries c. And for their better living according to the Rules of Order they were to vow Obedience Poverty and Conjugal Chastity The Habits which these Knights were appointed to wear was a civil coloured Cloth Coat which should reach down half way their legs which was to be girt about them with a Girdle of Silk or Leather about two fingers broad a red Cap and over the said Coat a Mantle of white Cloth or Stuff with a red Cross of Cloth or Serge about two fingers broad which was on the Breast from the top to the bottom and so round the Waist The number of these Knights were to be about One thousand and each Knight was to have his Esquire armed at all points with three Varlets one to carry his Helmet and Launce another to carry his Mail and the third to lead his Sumpter and in time of Peace two or three Horses and Servants according as the Ability of the Chivalry would allow But although this Order was erected upon so good a Design yet no great progress was made therein for it died almost in its birth Knights of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel KIng Henry the Fourth being desirous to have a new Order of Knighthood made his application to Pope Paul the Fifth who in Anno 1608. confirmed this Order and prescribed divers things according to the desire of the King necessary to the Institution and further ordained Pensions to the Great Master and Knights out of certain Ecclesiastical Benefices in several places in France Upon this the Commandaries and Hospitals of St. Lazarus in France were disposed of for the maintenance of these new erected Knights and those Knights of St. Lazarus that remained in the said Kingdom were joyned unto these These Knights by their Institution are to be choice Gentlemen of France whose Duty is to attend the King's person upon any Expedition of War they also are to fight against the Enemies of the Roman Church and they vow Obedience and Chastity This Order consists of One hundred Their Feast is celebrated Annually on the Sixteenth of Iuly
The Badge of their Order is a Cross of eight points of a tawny or violet colour with a white Bordure sewed on the left side of their Cloaks and the figure of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel placed in the midst within a Rundle encircled with Rayes of Gold all wrought in curious imbroidery They also wear about their Necks in a tawny Ribon the like Cross of Gold enamelled Knights of St. Michael THIS Order was erected by Lewis the Eleventh in Anno 1469. whereinto himself with others the most principal Peers of his Kingdom of France did enter And the Reason that did occasion the King to erect this Order was in memory of an Apparition of St. Michael upon the Bridge of Orleance when that City was besieged by the English at which time as Histories relate lived a certain Maiden called Ioan of so rare a Wit and Valour in Arms that she was reputed more than a mortal Creature leading an Army her self in the Field against the English for which good Service when the English had vanquished her Army and took her Prisoner they in Revenge caused her to be burnt for a Witch in the Market place of Orleance in which place is since erected a Conduit to her Memory This Order is ornified with a great Collar whereto hangeth the figure of St. Michael The Sovereign of this Order is the French King and his Successors The number of these Knights at first were Six and thirty which of late years is much encreased which doth much eclipse its lustre The place of their general Assembly was at the Church on Mount St. Michael every Michaelmas day To this Order belongeth a Treasurer Chancellor Register and a Herald named Monsanmichaele Their Habit as now used is as followeth first Doublet Hose Shoes Scabard with the band of his Cap and Feather all white his Surcoat Cloth of Silver with the Sleeves on over that a Mantle also of Cloth of Silver tied over the right Shoulder and turned up over the left and bordered about with a rich embroidery of Cockles and Knots and over all the Collar of St. Michael Knights of St. Esprit or of the Holy Ghost THIS Order was instituted by Henry the Third of France in Anno 1578. in honour of Whitsunday on which day at an Assembly of Estates General of Poland together with those for the Dutchy of Lithuania he was elected King of Poland and afterwards upon the same Day and Feast he was called and accepted of for their King The number of persons contained in this Order is said to be One hundred besides the Sovereign which is always to be the King In which said number are comprehended four Cardinals five Prelats the Chancellor Provost Master of the Ceremonies great Treasurer and Scribe who are called Commanders Their Grand Feast is Annually celebrated the first of Ianuary in the Church of the Augustine Friers in Paris but if the King cannot be there present then it is to be celebrated where he shall personally be and in the greatest Church there being divers Ceremonies to be observed by them in the celebration thereof which are set down by Sir William Segar pag. 88. Their Robe is like that of St. Michael only of black Velvet embroidered all about with Gold and Silver of Flower de lis and knots of Gold between sundry Ciphers of Silver and flames of Gold seamed also garnished with a Mantle of green Cloth of Silver wrought over with the same manner of Embroidery and both lined with Orange-coloured Satan Their Hose and Doublet is white their Bonets black with white Plumes Their great Mantle they wear turned up over the left Shoulder and open on the right And over all the Collar wrought of the same embroidery-Work on which hangeth a Cross with the figure of a Dove in the center thereof Note that these five Orders viz. that of the Garter in England that of the Toizon in Flanders that of St. Michael in France that of the Annunciation in Savoy yet to treat of and this of St. Esprit are reputed most honourable and in token of their excelling all other Degrees of Knighthood are adorned with great Collars Knights of the Order of the Genet THIS Order by Favin is esteemed the first in France which was instituted about the year of our Lord 726. by Charles Martel high Steward of France in memory of that famous Battel fought near Tours where about Three hundred eighty five thousand Sarazens and Moors together with their General Abdiramo were slain and the said Charles to reward those that valiantly behaved themselves in the said Battel erected this Order of Knighthood which consisted of Sixteen to whom he gave Collars of Gold made of a Triple Chain enterwoven with enameled red Roses at the end whereof hung a Genet of Gold enameled black and red upon a bank of Flowers fairly enameled Aubertus Meraeus saith these Knights have other Ensigns belonging unto them as a Ring after the manner of the Romans and certain Habits for the Body The reason why this Order was so called was from a great many neat shaped Horses called Genets of which a great part of the Founders Chivalry was said to consist But others say it took its name from the great store of Genet Furs taken amongst the Spoils of the Victory But this Order is now Extinct Knights of the Crown Royal amongst the Frizons THIS Order was erected by Charles the Great Son of King Pepin in Anno 802. for the rewarding and honouring those amongst the Frizons that had valiantly behaved themselves in his Army against the ancient Saxons or Lombards and to encourage others to acts of Heroick Vertue This Order took its name from its Ensign viz. an Imperial Crown which these Knights used to wear upon their Breasts They were invested with a Military Belt and a Box on the Ear. Knights of our Lady of the Star THIS Order was instituted by King Robert in Anno 1022. in honour to the Virgin Mary but was of no long continuance being discontinued by King Charles the Seventh for that it was grown so common by the admitting into the Order persons of no merit Their Habit was Mantles of white Damask lined with light carnation Damask with Surcoats of the same and on the left side of the Breast of the said Garments was embroidered a Star of Gold and on their Collar which was much like that of the Order of the Genet did hand the figure of a Star The Ceremony of this Order was on the Nativity of the blessed Virgin who was their Patroness and the place where it was kept was at the House of St. Owen near St. Denis in the said Kingdom of France Knights of the Thistle of Bourbon THIS Order was instituted on New-years-day 1370. by Lewis the Second Duke of Bourbon for the corroborating his power and interest for the Aid of Charles Duke of Orleans and of his two Brothers Philip and Iohn against the Faction of the House of
Bishop of Liege who died in the year of our Lord 727. As to their Habit and Ensign I have met with no account thereof Knights of the Order of St. James in Holland THIS Order received its institution in the Year 1290. from Florentius Earl of Holland and Zealand who in his Palace at the Hague in honour of St. Iames created Twelve of his principal Nobles Knights of this Order whom he invested with Collars of Gold or Military Belts of Silver and Gilt adorned with six Escallops to which hung the figure of St. Iames the Apostle DEGREES OF KNIGHTHOOD IN SWEDEN Knights of the Brician Order THIS Order was erected in the Year of our Lord 1366. by the famous Queen Bridget who for her holy Life was styled and enrolled a Saint and out of her zeal for the honour of Jesus Christ the defence of the Christian Religion the securing the Confines of her Kingdom the succouring Widows and Fatherless and the maintenance of Hospitality endowed this Order with a considerable Revenue This Order was approved of by Pope Vrban the Fifth who gave them the Rule of St. Augustine And their Ensign was a blew Cross of eight points and under it a Tongue of Fire Knights of the Seraphins THIS Order was instituted in Anno 1334. by Magnus the Fourth King of Sweden in memorial of the Siege laid to the chief City of Vpsala The Collar assigned to this Order was composed of Patriarchal Crosses of Gold and of Seraphins of Gold enameled red and at the end thereof hung the figure of our Saviour or of the Virgin Mary Knights of Amaranta THIS Order was instituted about the Year 1645. by Christiana Queen of Sweden in honour of a Lady named Amaranta celebrated for her Charity Modesty Beauty and Courage And by their Oath they were to defend and protect the person of the Queen as also the persons of their Fellow Brothers from harm To his power to advance Piety Virtue and Justice and to discountenance Injury and Vice Their Ensign is a Jewel of Gold composed of two great A A one being reversed enriched on both sides with Diamonds and set within a wreath of Laurel Leaves banded about with white whereon is this Motto Dolce nella memoria And this Badge they wear either hanging at a gold Chain or a crimson or blew Ribon which they please Here is another Order of Knighthood in this Kingdom of Sweden called of the Sword and Military Belt whose Collar consisted of Swords and Belts conjoyned but by whom and when Instituted I am ignorant of KNIGHTS OF THE Order of the Elephant IN DENMARK KING Christian the First of Denmark upon a Religious account travelled to Rome and amongst other Honours Pope Sixtus the Fourth in memory of the Passion of our Saviour invested him with this Order and ordained him and his Successors Kings of Denmark Chief and Supream of the said Order which was conferred on the Danish Princes as a memorial to incite them to defend the Christian Religion against the Moors and Aâ—ricans These Knights were obliged to perform Acts of Piety and Charity with certain Ceremonies to be observed especially upon those days on which they wore the Ensign of their Order which was the figure of an Elephant on whose side within a rundle was represented a Crown of Thorns with three bloody Nails Instead of their golden Collar formerly won by them they now wear about them a blew Ribon to which hangs an Elephant enameled white and beautified with five large Diamonds set in the midst On the day of the Coronation of the King 's of Denmark this Order hath been commonly conferred upon the Nobles and most deserving Senators of his Kingdom DEGREES OF KNIGHTHOOD IN POLAND Knights of Christ or of the Sword-bearers in Livonia THIS Order was instituted by Albert Bishop of Livonia about the Year of our Lord 1200. for the propagation of the Christian Religion in those Parts in imitation of the Knights Teutonicks in Prusia to which Order they were united about the Year 1237. and submitted themselves to their Rule and Habit by whose assistance they subdued the Idolatrous Livonians and brought them to embrace the Christian Faith But in the Year 1561. Gothard de Ketler then Great Master in the Castle of Riga surrendred to the use of Sigismond the Second King of Poland Surnamed Augustus all the Lands belonging to this Order together with the Seal of the Order his Cross the Keys of the City and Castle of Riga the Charters and Grants of the several Popes and Emperors which concerned the same the priviledge of Coynage and all other matters concerning the same upon which the said Great Master received back from the said King's Commissioners the Dukedom of Curland to be enjoyed by him and his Heirs for ever upon which this Order became extinguished Knights of the white Eagle THIS Order was erected by Ladislaus the Fifth King of Poland for the further honouring the Marriage of his Son Casimire the Great with Anne Daughter of Gerdimir Duke of Lithuania in Anno 1325. and for their Ensign had a white Eagle crowned KNIGHTS OF THE Order of the Dragon OVERTHROWN IN HUNGARY THIS Order was instituted in the Year 1418. by Sigismund the Emperor Surnamed the Glorious for the Defence of the Christian Religion and the suppressing the Schismaticks and Hereticks which he had been victorious over in many Battels Their Ensign which they daily wore was a green Cross flory on Festival days they wore a scarlet Cloak and on their Mantle of green Silk a double gold Chain or a green Ribon to which hung the figure of a Dragon dead with broken Wings and enameled with variety of colours But although this Order was of high esteem for a time yet it almost expired with the death of the Founders Knights of the Order of the Sword in Cyprus GVY of Lusignan soon after his possession as King of the Isle of Cyprus which he had bought of Richard the First King of England for One hundred thousand Crowns of Gold in Anno 1195. erected this Order in Commemoration of so good and fortunate a Plantation for Fifteen thousand Persons which he had brought thither with him The Collar of this Order was composed of round Cordons of white Silk woven in Love-knots and interlaced with the Letters S. and R. To this Collar hung an Oval of Gold wherein was enameled a Sword the Blade Silver and the Hilt Gold and about the Oval was this Motto Securitas Regni This Honour of Knighthood the said King who was Great Master conferred on his Brother Amaury Constable of Ierusalem and Cyprus and on Three hundred Barons which he had created in this his new Kingdom But when the Turks became Masters of the Isle this Order ceased KNIGHTS OF Saint Anthony IN AETHIOPIA ABout the Year of our Lord 370. Iohn Emperor of AEthiopia vulgarly called Prester Iohn erected into a Religious Order of Knighthood certain Monks who lived an austere and solitary Life in
certain Lands in Escuage like as the Knight himself did of the King by Knights Service The beginning of giving Arms in Europe amongst Christians is supposed from the Holy Wars for the Turks paint them not And so with us about Henry the Third's time they became here more firmly established And when the Prince enobled any he usually gave them the particular of his bearing in Blazon Iohn Selden in his Preface fol. 5. where you may also see an Example in King Richard the Second But now there are five distinct sorts of Esquires observed and those that have been already spoken of are now in no request Of these sorts the principal at this day are the eldest Sons of Viscounts and Lord next are all Noblemens younger Sons then are accounted those that are select Esquires for the King's Body the next are Knights eldest Sons successively in a fourth rank are reckoned those unto whom the King himself together with the Title giveth Arms or createth Esquires by putting about their Necks a Silver Collar of SS and in former times upon their Heels a pair of white silvered Spurs whereupon at this day in the Western part of the Kingdom they be called White-spurs for distinction from Knights who were wont to wear gilt Spurs and to the first begotten Sons only of these doth this Title belong In the fifth and last place be those that have any superiour publick Office in the Kingdom as high Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c. or serve the King in any worshipful Calling At the Coronation of Kings and Queens Knights of the Bath are made men of worth and honourable blood to the end that their Majesties may be accompanied in their own Honours every of which Knights having two Gentlemen to attend them in that Ceremony who are ever after by that Service enabled to be Esquires during their lives But the name of Esquire in ancient time was a name of Charge and Office and first crept in amongst other Titles of Dignity and Worship so far as ever I could observe in the Reign of King Richard the Second vide Sir Thomas Smith de Republica Anglorum fol. 26. where he saith That the Esquire is no distinct Order of the Commonwealth A Serjeant of the King's Kitchin may bear the Name and Addition of Cook or Esquire according to the Opinion of Newton But Ienne saith Such Officers of his Majestie 's Houshold would be much grieved if they should be named by their Trade or Office Peradventure in that case the Writ may be good because of the Statute viz. 1 Hen. 5. ch 5. For the Statute is That he should be named of the Town Degree State Condition or Mystery and when he was named Cook he observed the Statute for he hath named him by his own name of Mystery and yet he may be in that case an Esquire and a Cook If a man be an Esquire or Gentleman only by Office and loseth the same he loseth also that title of Gentility Note That an Esquire or Gentleman is but an Addition to satisfie the said Statute but names of Dignity are parcel of the name And thereupon if a Praecipe quod reddat be against Iohn a Stiles Yeoman and recovery is had whereas the Tenant was a Gentleman yet the Recovery is good The same Law where a Release is made to Iohn a Stiles Yeoman who is a Gentleman and where addition is given by the party where it needeth not by the Law being no Dignity it is void So if a deed be made to a Gentleman by the name of a Yeoman for there is a great difference between Deeds and Writs If an Esquire be to be Arraigned of High Treason he may and ought to be tried per probos Legales homines that may expend Forty shillings of Freehold or be worth One hundred pounds in the value of Goods And so the Statute that doth speak of men of his condition hath always been put in ure Dyer 99. b. Note a Knight hath no other priviledge by Statute or Common Law The King may make an Esquire by Patent viz. Creamus te Armigerum c. Note the Preface to the printed Book of Titles of Honour 5. b. 318. By the statute 21. Hen. 8. chap. 13. amongst other things it is enacted that the Brethren and Sons born in Wedlock of every Knight being Spiritual men may every of them purchase License or Dispensation and receive take and keep two Parsonages or Benefices with cure of souls The Son or Sons of any Knight and heir apparent of an Esquire is priviledge to keep Greyhounds setting Doggs or Nets to take Pheasants or Partridges though he cannot dispend ten pounds in his own right or in his Wives right of Estate of Inheritance or of the value of thirty pounds of Estate for life By the precedent discourse of Knights Batchelors we understand that all persons by the common Law are compellable to take the degree of Knighthood or to fine if they are possest of such an Estate as the King and his Council shall judge fit to maintain that Port in their Country And his annual Revenue deemed fit for that Dignity and the fines imposed upon such as refused we find in our Histories and Statutes to vary with the times and certainly the best Esquires or at least none under the Reputation of Gentlemen were compelled although 't was at the King's pleasure And therefore 1 Edw. 2. Stat. de Militibus the Parliament saith Sanderson more for ease of the Subject than profit of the King limited it to such as had Twenty pounds per Annum and better and afterwards 't was raised to Thirty pounds and a plentiful Revenue in those times when a Dowry of Three thousand pounds per Annum to a Queen was deemed a great impoverishment to the Crown and Kingdom but the East and Western part of the World being laid open to the Merchants money began to be more common and by consequence Land to its value so that in the reign of King Charles the First Forty pounds per Annum being the rate set for such as ought to be made Knights or to fine many Farmers Leaseholders Merchants Inholders and others were called in whereby above 100 thousand pounds was brought into the Exchequer Notwithstanding which divers persons made Friends and took the Degree of Knighthood which occasioned the extinguishment of the ancient Tax For many Esquires by birth wealth and education who bore the chiefest Offices of Honour and Trust in the Commonwealth disdained to stoop or give place to those new dubbed Knights countenanced the Complaints of the common people against the Law it self as a grievance and prevailed so far in the following Parliament to get it repeal'd as you may see 17 Car. chap. 20. Since which time the difference between the Degree of Knighthood and Dignity of an Esquire consists only in Title a double rate in the Pole Tax and priority of place which as I before noted is often