gentlemen doe come after the Knight and doe bring him to the Kings presence and the Esquiers gouernours before him And when the newe Knight commeth into the Kings presence he shall kneele downe before him saying Most noble and renowned Sir I do thanke you for al the honors courtesies and goodnesse which you haue done vnto me And so he taketh leaue of the King And then the Esquiers gouernours do take leaue of their Master saying Sir we haue accomplished the coÌ„mandement of the Kings as he charged vs to the vttermost of our power wherein if we haue displeased you through negligence or deed during the time we desire pardon On the other side Sir according to the custome of the Court and ancient Kings we demaund Robes and fees for terme of life as Esquiers of the King and companions vnto Bachelors Knights and other Lords CHAP. 12. Knights Bachelors FIrst it is to be remembred that no man is brone a Knight of any title but made either before a battell to encourage them to aduenture their liues or after the fight as an aduancement for their valour then shewed or out of warre for some notable seruice done or some good hope of vertues that do appeare in them These Knights are made either by the King himselfe or by his commission and royal authority giuen for that purpose or by his Lieutenant in the warres who hath his royal and absolute power for that time And this order may bee resembled to that which the Romanes called Equites Romanos differing in a sort but in some other sort doeth agree with it for seldome in all points one Common wealth doeth agree with another nor long any State accordeth with it selfe Equites Romani were chosen ex Censu which is according to their substance and riches Euen so be Knights in England for the most part according to the yeerely reuenue of their lands being able to maintaine that estate Yet all they that had Equestrem Censum were not in Rome Equites no more are all Knights in England that may dispend a Knights land or fee but they onely to whom it pleaseth the King to giue that honour In Rome the number of Equites was vncertaine and so it is of Knights in England at the pleasure of the Prince Equites Romani had Equum Publicum but the Knights of England finde horses themselues both in peace and warre Census Equester among the Romanes was at diuers times of diuers value but in England whosoeuer may dispend of his free lands fourty pounds starling of yeerely reuenue by an old Law either at the Coronation of the King or mariage of his daughter or at the dubbing of the Prince Knight or some such great occasion may be by the King compelled to take that order and honour or to pay a fine which many rich men not so desirous of honor as of riches had rather disburse Some also who for good respect are not thought worthy that title and yet haue abilitie neither be made Knights though they would and yet pay the fine of fourtie pounds sterling which as siluer is now prised is 120. pound currant money Where of this word Knight is deriued or whether it signifieth no more then Miles doeth in Latine which is Souldier I know not Some hold opinion that the word Souldier doeth betoken a waged or hired man to fight Caesar in his Commentaries called Souldiers men deuoted and sworne by band or oath to serue the Captaine which order if the Almanes did follow it may be that they who were not hired but being of the Nation vpon their owne charges and for their aduancement and by such common oath and band that did follow the warre were perhaps called Knights or Milites and now among the Almanes some are called Launce-Knights as Souldiers not hired although they be wel-neere all hired Or it may be that they who were next about the Prince as his Guard and seruants picked and chose men out of the rest being called in the Almane tongue Knighten which is as much to say as dayly seruants being found of good seruice the word afterwards was taken as an honour for one that professeth Armes Now our language is so altered that hard it were to giue iudgement thereof But sure it is we in our English doe call him Knight whom the French do call Cheualier and the Latine Equitem for Equestris ordinis Touching the making of these English Knights the maner is this Hee that is to be made Knight is stricken by the Prince with a sword drawen vpon his backe or shoulder the Prince saying Soys Cheualier and in times past was added S. George And when the Knight riseth the Prince saith Auance This is the maner of dubbing Knights at this present and that terme dubbing was the old terme in this point and not creating These sorts of Knights are by the Heralds called Knights Bachelers CHAP. 13. The Ceremonies in the degradation of Knights in England IT seemeth that the degradation of Knights hath bene vsed onely for offences of greatest reproch and dishonour which I conceiue partly by the rarenesse of such actions and partly for that the men bereft of that dignitie were not onely degraded but also by law executed As in the raigne of King Edward the fourth it appeared a Knight was degraded in this sort First after the publication of his offence his gilt spurres were beaten from his heeles then his sword taken from him and broken That being done euery peece of his armour was bruised beaten and cast aside After all which disgraces he was beheaded In like maner Andrew of Herklay a Knight and Erle of Carlile was in this sort disgraded He being apprehended was by the Kings commandement brought before sir Anthony Lucie anno 1322. apparelled in all the robes of his estate as an Earle and a Knight and so led vnto the place of iudgement Being thither come Sir Anthony Lucie saide vnto him these words First thou shalt loose the order of Knighthood by which thou hadst all thine honour and further all worship vpon thy bodie be brought to nought Those words pronounced Sir Anthony Lucie commanded a knaue to hew the Knights spurs from his heeles after caused his sword to be broken ouer his head That done he was dispoiled of his furred Tabord of his hood of his furred coats and of his girdâ—e Then Sir Anthony said vnto him these words Andrew now art thou no Knight but a knaue and for thy treason the King doth will thou shalt be hanged Maxitmilianus de Austria Dux Burâ—undiâ— Râ—m Imâ— Ordâ—nâ— Velleris Aurei Eques 〈◊〉 Fol. 〈◊〉 CHAP. 14. Knights of the Toizon D'or or golden Fleece THE Knighthood of the Toizon was instituted by Philip surnamed the good Duke of Burgundy and Earle of Flanders in the yeere of our Lord 1429. being mooued thereunto with deuoute zeale that he had to vndertake the conquest of the holy land albeit his valerous determination tooke none effect by
warre did giue vnto the Legionarie souldiers certaine crownes and vnto euery Captaine a garment of purple but Hostilius one of those Tribunes saying those crowns and garments were like vnto boyes bables they were rewarded with land and money Iulius Caesar did giue vnto the sonnes of Adbucillus the one called Rocillus the other Aegus in recompence of their great seruice in Gallia certaine lands there besides diuers summes of money whereby they became inriched The same Caesar after his triumph for victory against Pharnax performed all the promises hee had made and gaue vnto euery souldier fiue thousand groats to euery leader twise so many to euery horseman double so much Pompeius hauing ouercome Mithriâ—â—tes before he triumphed bestowed vpon euery souldier fiue hundred groats and vpon the Captaines a farre greater reward The Scipiones and Metelli were likewise most careful to reward and honour their souldiers Alexander Seuerus was woont to say That souldiers would not liue in awe of their Generall vnlesse they were well apparelled well armed full fed and some pence in their purses Sometimes also souldiers were honoured with other giftes as crownes lances furniture of horses bracelets lands images of brasse or stone with diuers other ensignes of honour as Plinie and Aulus Gellius haue written Which gifts were by the Doctors of Law anciently called Donatiues But here it shall not be amisse to remember the dishonourable Donations of Lucius Sylla who vsed to take money from the true owners and giue the same to others CHAP. 21. Of Apparell AS victuall is necessary so is it requisite that souldiers should be clothed which moued great Commanders to be careful that men of war might be euer furnished as wel of apparel as of food Caius Gracchus first procured a law to be made that garments might be giuen vnto souldiers without diminishing their pay Long after the Emperors Archadius and Honorius caused certaine money to be giuen vnto euery souldier for the prouision of his coate which order was in Illyria only It was also anciently ordered that military garments were prouided in this sort viz. euery thirty inhabitants payed for one souldiers coate in Thracia The like was done in Scythia Mysia Egypt and euery other prouince subiect vnto the Empire These Countreyes were also sometimes taxed according to the acres of land and sometimes according to the number of dwellers and the money payed into the military treasury Francis the French king proclaimed an Edict that souldiers resting in any citie or village in the winter should haue garments there and being furnished for the summer should vse their summer suits vntill the winter following and then resume them againe And in case the keeper of those garments did not truely restore them then vpon complaint vnto the Generall order should be taken for the souldiers satisfaction By which meanes the souldiers were euer honestly clothed well armed and comely furnished both on horsebacke and on foote Yet Pesceninus Niger inhibited souldiers to vse in the waare any girdle garnished with gold or siluer to the end the enemie should not be inriched He therefore commanded such ornaments to be reserued for their wiues and children Adrianus the Emperour vsed to weare in the warre plaine garments without garnishing of gold or strings set with stone The scabberd of his sword was also seldome wrought with Iuory In the reigne of Maximinus Caesar after the Persian warre a priuate souldier happened to finde a purse or sachel set full of Margarites and precious stones which hee tooke off contenting himselfe with the beaty of the leather whereof it was made For indeed garments of cloth and skinnes to keepe out colde and raine are onely needfull for souldiers Yet true it is that in the time of the Emperour Iulianus the maners of souldiers were changed And Maximinianus the yonger vsed to weare a Iacke of golden maile after the Polonian guise he also had his Armour and Launce gilded Caius Caesar after a great victory suffered his souldiers to become wanton and called them companions in Armes permitting them also to ornifie their weapons with siluer and gold And here it shall not be amisse to tell how great regard the Emperour Aurelianus had to discipline notwithstanding the fauour he afforded to all men of warre charging his Captaines to obserue these instructions Sivis Tribunus esse imò sivis viuere manus militum contine adding these commandements let no man take away the Pullen of of another his sheepe his oyle his wood his grapes his salt but rest contented with his victuall Let souldiers liue vpon spoyle of the enemie not of the countrey His armes shall be bright and his garments strong let his new apparell supply the old and his wages remaine in his purse not in the Tauerne let him lay by his chaine and ring and keep his horse fat Let no beast taken be sold but euery man helpe another Let the Physicians cure infirmities freely and without rewards Let nothing be giuen to the soothsayers Let euery one be quiet in his lodging for who so moueth any mutenie or misrule shall be punished This is in effect the summe of such precepts as are to be obserued by souldiers wherby appeareth what they are to doe what to leaue vndone and what garments ancient Emperours and souldiers were wont to vse Yet true it is that the hope of all good seruice and successe doth consist in valour conioyned with policie whereunto we will adde that decent apparell and fit ornaments of body do become all military commanders as well to make them venerable in sight as also to giue beholders occasion to thinke they are persons worthy of respect and honour CHAP. 22. ¶ Of Hostages FOr the obseruation of Articles and capitulations of truce or peace Princes and common weales were wont to deliuer certaine hostages or pledges to the ende that if promises were broken then the goods of hostages on the party breaking by the Edict of Commodus the Emperour were confiscate I meane only those goods which the hostages haue there gotten Vlpianus writeth that hostages cannot without licence dispose their owne goods by will or testament Hostages are deliuered either as captiues or els as pledges to keepe conditions which being performed they ought be returned home for vnto other obligation free men may not bee bound The Romanes acknowledging ancient fauours to them done by King Philip at such time as they tooke Armes against Antiochus and desirous to requite the same they sent Demetrius his sonne then an hostage vnto his father Contrariwise Constantinus being in Britaine beganne also a warre vpon the Scots and sent to them hostages by which meane he made the Britaines his sure friends whereof the Scots informed and knowing that secret intention suddenly slew all the hostages Whereby appeareth that where faith is broken there reuenge is taken vpon hostages Likewise Henry duke of Saxonie holding Venceslaus brother to Pribislaius Prince of the Obotriti an hostage put him to death euen in his
Vienna Taniqui de Castello Gouernour of the Prouince of Rossiglioni and Sardenna The rest of Knights to be chosen into this Order was deferred vntill the the next meeting The place of assembly of these Knights and where their Armes with other Ensignes of Knighthood should be preserued was appointed to be the Church on Mount S. Michael To this Order belongeth a Treasurer a Chanceller a Register and an Herauld named Monsanmichaele The feast ordeined for these Knights was on Michaelmas day to bee kept yeerely The Statutes appertaining to this Order are to be seene in the booke intituled Les Ordinances de France In the raigne of Henry the second French King the habit of this Order of S. Michael was altered in maner following as to this day is continued First his dublet hose shoes scaberd with the band of his cap feather were all white His surcoat of cloth of siluer with the sleeues on Ouer that hee wore a mantle of cloth of siluer tied ouer the right shoulder and turned vp ouer the left it was bordered about with a rich embroidery of cockles and knots Ouer the right shoulder lay his hood of cloth of siluer spreading ouer his backe the tippet hanging before and ouer all the Collar of the Order of S. Michael â—mmanud Philibâ—â—tus 〈◊〉 Dux Prâ—â—â—ps Peâ—emontij Ord S. Aâ—â—un ciation Equ◠〈◊〉 Fol. 8â— CHAP. 16. ¶ Knights of the Annunciation THis Order was also about the same time begun by Amedeo Count of Sauoy sirnamed Iâ— Verde in memory of Amedeo the first Earle who hauing valorously defended the Iland of Rhodes against the Turkes wanne those Arnâ—es which deseruingly are now borne by the Dukes of Sauoy Viz. Gules a crosse Argent The Collar appertaining to this Order is made of gold and on it these foure letters engrauen F. E. R. T. which signifieth Fortitudo eius Rhodum tenuit At the said Collar hangeth a Tablet wherein is the figute of the Annunciation The Church appointed for ceremonies appertaining vnto this Order is called Pietra within a Castle in the Diocesse of Belleis whereunto was giuen at the foundation of this Order certaine lands for the sustentation of fifteene Chapleins For continuance of this Order at the time of the constitutioâ— were made many honourable ordinances to be kept by the Knights presently elected and after to be elected The chiefe of them are these following First that he the said Duke and his successour should be Lord and Soueraigne of the said Order That euery brother and companion of the said Order should at all occasions fauour loue and maintaine one the other and also defend and protect his person estate against euery other person or persons whatsoeuer That if any question or controuersie should arise betweene two Knights then they to submit the ordering thereof vnto two or more of the fraternitie and after to obserue the same vnuiolated That for auoiding of suite in Lawe whensoeuer any cause of Action was betweene the Knights then the censuring thereof should be referred vnto foure other companions of the Order to the end the matter might be determined without charge or expences And if the question depending were difficult then the Knights that were to consult there of might call vnto their assistance two Doctors mâ—n of approoued honestie and vnderstanding That euery Knight at his death should giue towards the maintaining of the said Church an hundreth Florins to be deliuered into the hand of the Pryor for the time being That at the death of euery Knight the rest of the companions should assemble at the Castle of Pietra to bury the dead in good and honourable order and euery of the said Knights to weare a white gowne and so make their offering Or if any of them could not be present then with what conuenient speed might be to come thither after That euery Knight at his buriall should giue vnto the Church a Collar a Banner his Armour and coat of Armes if he be a Banneret or not being he ought to giue a Penon of Armes a Collar and coat of Armes All which shall be offered on the day of entertainment at the Church in memory of the dead That euery Knight should at his owne charges come vnto the buriall accompanied with two seruants and bring thither foure great waxe Candles or Torches weighing one hundreth pounds ¶ After this Order of Knighthood was ordained at the Castle of Pietra the third of Februarie Anno 1434. by Amadeo first Duke of Sauoia these Statutes were added THat euery Knight after the death of any of the brethren should during certaine dayes be apparelled in blacke and not weare the Collar for nine dayes next after the Knights decease signified That the Soueraigne should at the buriall offer vp his collar That euery Knight in going to offer should proceed according to his ancientie without other respect That no Knight should be receiued into the Order that was a person noted for any dishonourable reproch or if after hee were receiued any fault should be committed then presently was forced to forgoe his collar and neuer more to weare it but returne it vnto the Soueragine within two moneths And if he failed so to doe then to abide the censure of his companions and by an Herauld be summoned to send the collar vnto the Soueraigne and be enioyned neuer after to weare it That euery Knight should be sworne to weare the Order daily and not to accept any other Some other Statutes there are which for breuitie I omit 〈…〉 Henricus Borbortius â— Rex Francia et Nauartaâ— Ordin S. Spiritus Eques Suâ—â—â—mus Fâ—l â—6 CHAP. 17. Knights of S t Esprit THE Order of S t Esprit was instituted by the right Christian King of France and Poland Henrie the third of that name containing a hundred and fiue Articles This Knighthood was instituted in the yeere of grace 1578. and in the fifth yeere of his reigne It was called the Order of the S. Esprit for that on the day and feast of Pentecost it pleased God as they say by the inspiration of the holy Ghost to vnite the hearts and wils of the Polish Nobilitie at an assembly of Estates generall of that puissant kingdome together with the great Duchie of Lituania to make choise of the said Henry for their King and afterward vpon the same day and feast to call and accept him to the rule and gouernment of that Crowne In commemotation whereof with the aduice consent of the Queene his mother the Princes of his blood and other Princes Officers of his Crowne and Lords of his Councell he instituted this Militarie Order of S. Esprit to be continued for euer with all Ordinances and Statutâ— therein mentioned irreuocable The number of persons conteined in the said Order are one hundred besides the Souereigne which is euer the King in which number are comprehended foure Cardinals fiue Prelates the Chauncelor Prouost Master of the Ceremonies great Treasurer and Scribe who are called
Collars in token they excell all other degrees of Knighthood Godfredus Adelmarâ— Institut Ordin Tem plariorum Fol. 98. CHAP. 18. Knights Templars IN the yeere 1117. nine Gentlemen who happened to meete in the Holy land of which number was Godfredus Aldemaro Alexandrino and Hugo de Planco de Paganus among themselues determined to erect an Association or brotherhood And being come vnto Ierusalem they consulted vpon the estate of that countrey beeing enformed that in Zaffo a towne anciently appertaining to the family of Contareni in Venice there remained many theeues that vsed daily to rob such Pilgrims as resorted vnto the holy Sepulchre They therefore resolued as a seruice acceptable to God to hazard their liues in the suppression of those robbers whereby the way vnto Ierusalem might become secure And because the Christian armie was then employed in recouery of the Holy land no order was taken for safe passage To encourage these Gentlemen in so praiseable an enterprise a lodging in the Temple of Ierusalem neere vnto the Sepulchre was appointed of which place they tooke the name of Knights Templars Also the King and Patriarch much liking an action so honourable furnished them with many necessarie prouisions To them also resorted many other Christians so as in short time the number became much encreased yet no habit signe or rule was agreed vpon Notwithstanding the Gentlemen persisted in their vow nine yeeres and grew to so great reputation that Pope Honorius at the suite of Steuen Patriarch of Ierusalem prescribed vnto them an order of life whereby they were enioyned to weare a white garment and Pope Eugenius added thereunto a red Crosse. After which time they elected an head or great master like vnto him that commandeth in Malta The number of these Knights daily encreased and their enterprises became famous not onely for guarding the way and passages but also they vndertooke warre against the Infidels both by Sea and land And the Christian Princes mooued with loue of their vertue in sundry prouinces assigned vnto them houses and great reuenues to be spent in Gods seruice In processe of time they became so potent as in euery Christian kingdome they were owners of Townes Fortresses and Castles and wheresoeuer the great Master did goe a mightie army did follow him It pleased God afterwards to permit that Ierusalem and other places of the Holyland through discord among the Christians and negligence of Princes not sending thither any aid was conquered about ninety yeeres CHAP. 19. Knights of San Iago At such time as the Arabians had well neere conquered the Countrey the remainder of the Spanish people refusing to liue vnder the Lawes of that barbarous nation retired themselues vnto the mountaines of Asturia and there setled a gouernment After some yeeres of their abode there certaine gentlemen consulting together determined to make an association and begin a warre vpon the infidels and Moores These gentlemen to the number of thirteene being all Barons and men of great qualitie agreed also vpon certaine religious rules of Knighthood yet reseruing vnto themselues libertie of mariage The Ensigne which they resolued to weare was a red Crosse in forme of a sword This Order was erected at such time as the King Don Ramiro wanne the victory against the Moores in the prouince of Compostella at which time great possessions and priuiledges were giuen to S. Iames of Compostella Anno 1030. This Order hath one chiefe gouernour who is called great Master he with thirteene other Knights haue authoritie to choose or remooue any Knight at their discretion Vpon the feast day of all Saints these Knights do vse to meete and consult vpon matters apperteining to their estate The reuenues belonging to these Knights is marueilous amounting to many hundred thousand duckets Many Popes haue giuen their alowance to this Order yet either they could not or would not reserue a greater tribute thereof then ten Malachini yeerely Thomas Docwra Ordinis S. Iohis Hiâ—rosolom vulgo de Malta Pras. in Anglia Eques vlt. Fol 94. CHAP. 20. Knights of S. Iohn Ierusalem called Knights of the Rhodes and now of Malta IT is written I know not with what warrant that at the Citie of Amiens in Picardie a Prouince of France there was borne a certaine Gentleman who in his childhood had bene brought vp in learning and being growen to mans estate disposed himselfe to the exercise of Armes and there in long time continued Afterwards hauing attained riper yeres he despised the world and framed himselfe to a solitarie life as one fully resolued to liue in contemplation vnseene of any but God alone Hauing sometime remained in that solitarie sort a suddaine desire he had to visite the Sepulchre where Christ was buried which shortly after he did And to the end he might with securitie passe the Barbarous Nations he apparelled himselfe like vnto a Phisition by which meane without impediment he performed his iorney Thus hauing passed the difficulties of trauell in diuers strange Countries he arriued at Ierusalem and being there fell into acquaintance with Simon Patriarch of that Citie and in lamenting wise enformed him of the oppression and crueltie offered and dayly vsed by the Infidels towardes the poore Christians in those Countreys Whereunto Simon answered that albeit the Christians in those countreys indured great outrages yet they of Ierusalem suffered much greater and should be forced to more if God did not defend them By this conference the Patriarch conceiued Peter the Hermit for so he was called to be a man of good vnderstanding and apt to execute any action of importance that should be committed vnto him Whereupon the Patriarch determined to make him a messenger vnto the Pope vnto whom by letters he imparted the great calamitie and afflicted estate of the poore Christians inhabiting the Holy land Peter hauing receiued his instructions and letter of credence returned into the West first vnto the Pope and after sollicited other Princes in such sort and with so good successe as by his perswasions many great Kings and Potentates consented to take in hand the recouery of the Holy land from the oppression of the Infidels and some of them furnished that enterprise with men some with money and some did go in person Among which number as the chiefe was Robert Duke of Normandie sonne to King William of England Godfrey Duke of Lorain with two of his brethren called Eustace and Baldwin Robert Earle of Flanders Hugh surnamed the Great brother to the French King with diuers other Princes Dukes Earles and Barons Also thither went Beaumond Duke of Calabria who for zeale to that seruice or desire of honour resigned his Dukedome vnto Ruggiero his brother taking with him so many of his subiects as would voluntarily follow him of whom with such other Captaines and souldiers of Italy as came vnto him hee assembled more then twenty thousand all choyse men and young fit for warre All things in this sort prepared for the iourney Vrban
the second then Pope sent vnto the Captaines a white Crosse with commandement that all the souldiers should weare the like calling that enterprise La cruciata It is sayd that the Christians as such time as this warre was proclaimed in Cleirmont a citie of Auergna indeuoured themselues vniuersally to animate the souldiers and ioyned in generall prayer for their good successe giuing them meat apparel and furniture vnasked or required Moreouer those that were indebted were forgiuen and such as had beene banished were pardoned The women also contrary to their custome willingly and with much ioy consented their husbands and sonnes should passe in this enterprise and for their furniture gaue them their Iewels Chaines and money The French King likewise sent them great treasure and gaue priuiledges to the souldiers lands and wiues in their husbands absence And many great Princes and other Lords sold and impawned their Patrimonies to further this action So as the Armie assembled for this holy enterprise amounted vnto three hundred thousand footmen and one hundred thousand horse who presently marched towards Constantinople where they passed the Strait called Bosphoro Thracio landed at Calcedonia For the first enterprise they besieged Nicea in Bithynia which within fiftie dayes was yeelded and the fouth of Iuly at the foote of certaine mountaines neere vnto that citie the Christians fought a battell with a Turkish Armie which in number exceeded ours and thereat was present Solyman the Emperour of Turkie but the Christians had victory with the losse of two thousand men of the Enemies were slaine fourtie thousand This victorie gained the Christians following their enterprise within short time wonne an hundred cities and townes of accompt and among them the great Antiochia before which they begun the siege the twentieth of October and tooke it the last of May following where they found Corbona King of Persia and Cassiano Lord of Antioch Neere vnto that place in one other conflict were slaine more then one hundred thousand Turkes with the losse of foure thousand of ours The cause of this victory was in that time of superstition imputed to the vertue of a bloody Lance found in Antiochia which they supposed to bee a speare wherewith Christ was wounded on the Crosse. It was also sayd that the Turkes did see or imagine another great Armie comming against them from the mountaines conducted by three Captaines mounted vpon three white horses the beholding wherof occasioned their flight This victory being had a Nauie arriued from Genoa and from Venice Also with them came certaine ships conducted by one Vymer of Bullein in Picardie a notable Pirate who repenting his former like determined to follow that honourable Action The Christian forces thus increased they marched towards Ierusalem and besieged it notwithstanding the city was of great force yet by Gods helpe and the valorous aduenture of the Christians it was assaulted and in the end yeelded Anno 1099. This Citie thus conquered the sayd Peter as the chiefe procurer of the enterprise was highly honoured and Godfrey Duke of Lorayn elected King of the Holy land But to returne to the Original of these Knights I say that somewhat before the Christians conquered the Citie of Ierusalem they had obteined of the Saracens leaue to dwell neere vnto the Sepulchre of Christ and there builded an house calling it the Hospital of Christians whither all other Christians dayly resorted After that the number of Christians increasing they builded another houses for women calling it S. Mary Magadelens And at length they made a third house calling it S. Iohn Baptists where for the keeping of good order they appointed an officer whom they called Rector Some time after was elected to that fellowship a gouernour called Gerardus who commanded that he with al others of that house should weare a white Crosse vpon a blacke garment which was the originall of the Order and euer since hath bene vsed Afterwards one other Rector or great Master was elected whose name was Raimondus to whom authority was giuen that he should gouerne and command all Knights of this Order where soeuer they were dispersed Many yeeres after these Knights conquered the Isle of Rhodes holden by the Turkes Anno 1308. which was the cause they were commonly called Knights and diuers princes seeing them martially inclined gaue vnto them great lands and possessions and they became greatly esteemed for their seruice chiefly against the sayd Turkes and the Soldan king of Egypt and Ierusalem The sayd Isle of Rhodes during those Knights inhabited there was foure times assaulted yet by Gods helpe and the valiancie of the Knights it was defended Then Mahomet Otoman Emperour of Turkie Anno 1480. with an excessiue force of men and an hundred Saile of Galleys conducted by a Bassa borne in Greece descended of the rase of Paleologi sometime Emperors of Constantinople did besiege it but after 89 dayes of continuall batterie they were forced to abandon the enterprise and for their farewell in the last assault the Knights slew more then fourtie thousand Turkes But in the yeare 1523. in the moneth of Ianuarie the Turkes againe inuaded the Island and after three moneths Siege preuailed for the rest of Christendome neuer vouchsafed them either aide or reliefe Since the losse of Rhodes these Knights haue remained in the Island of Malta and often defended it against the enemies of Christendome but chiefly in the yeere 1565. The first erector of Statures and Rules for the gouernment of these Knights was the sayd Raymondus calling himselfe Raimondo di Poggio Seruo dipoueri di Christo e custode dello spidalle di San Giouanni Battista di Ierusalem No man might be receiued into this Knighthood vntill he had proued his gentilitie in presence of the great Master and other Knights Nor no man descended of a Moore a Iew or Mahometan might be admitted although he were the sonne of a Prince And euery Knight of this order was sworne to fight for the Christian faith doe Iustice defend the oppressed relieue the poore persecute the Mahometans vse vertue and protect Widowes and Orphanes Diuers other Articles there be but for that they are full of superstition I omit them CHAP. 21. Knights of Calatraua They were called Knights of Calatraua of the prouince and place where they were made and setled which was where anciently the chiefe Church of Templars had bene who not being of power sufficient to resist the Saracens were forced to yeeld the place vnto these Knights The habit of these Knights is a blacke garment and vpon it in the breast is set a red Crosse. These Knights haue also exceeding great possessions and many commandries in diuers places of Spaine Alphonsus Rex Câ—stiliâ— Institutâ—r Ord. Rubri Baltâ—i vulgo de la banda dict Fol. 98. CHAP. 22. Knights of the Band. THis order was first erected by Alphonso King of Spaine sonne to Ferdinando and Queene Constanza in the yeere 1268. And to giue the said Knighthood reputation and honour
the King himselfe with his sonnes and brethren vouchsafed to enter thereinto with them were also admitted diuers other gentlemen of best quality and greatest estimation The cause that mooued the King to name them Knights of the Band was for that hee commanded euery man elected into the Order should weare a certaine red Scarfe or Lace of silke the bredâ—th of three inches which hung on their left shoulder was tied vnder the right arme No man might enter into this Knighthood but such as the king did specially admit neither was any person capable of that dignitie vnlesse hee were the sonne of a Knight or some Gentleman of great account or at the least such a one as had serued the King by space of ten yeeres in his Court or in the warre against the Moores Into this Order no Gentleman could be receiued being an elder brother or an heire in possession or apparance but only such as were yonger without land and liueload because the Kings intention was to aduance the Gentlemen of his Court that had not of their owne At such time as any Gentleman was admitted a Knight he promised to obserue these Articles following which I haue thought good particularly to expresse and the rather because they tend only to entertaine the minds of men in the offices of Courage and Curtesie without any mixture of superstition whereof almost all other Orders in those dayes tasted First that hee should speake vnto the King for commodity of the common-wealth and the defence thereof so often as he were thereunto required and refusing so to doe shall for feit all his patrimony and be banished his countrey That he should aboue all things speake the trueth vnto the King and at euery occasion be faithfull to his Maiesty That hee should not be silent whensoeuer any person should speake against the Kings honor vpon paine of being banished the Court and depriued of his Band for euer That he should be no great speaker and in speaking to vtter the trueth but if he should say or affirme an vntrueth then for a punishment to in the streets without his sword for one whole moneth That he should endeauour himselfe to keepe company with wise mâ—â— and persons experienced in the warre for being found to conuerse wiâ—â— merchants artificers or base people he should be therefore greatly reproued by the great Master and for one moneth be commanded to keepe his house That he should maintaine his owne word and faithfully keepe promise with his friends and being found to do otherwise to be enioyned to walke and goe alone vnaccompanied of any other of the Kings Court should not presume to speake or come neere vnto any other Knight That he should alwayes haue good armour in his chamber good horses in his stable good launces in his hall and a good sword by his side or otherwise to be called Page and no Knight for one whole moneth That he should not be seene mounted vpon any Mule or other vnseemly hackney neither walke abroad without his Band nor enter into the Kings pallace without his sword nor eate alone at home vpon paine to forfeit for euery such offence one Marke toward the maintaining of the Tilt. That he should be no flatterer of the King or any other person neither take delight in skoffing vpon paine to walke on foote for one moneth and be confined to his house another moneth That he should not complaine of any hurt nor boast of his owne actes nor in curing his wounds crie Oh for if in vaunting wise hee vttered any oftentatious speeches he should be reproued by the great master and let alone vnuisited of all his companions That he should be no common gamester chiefly at the dice nor consent that others should play in his house vpon paine to forfeite for euery such offence one moneths pay and for one moneth and a halfe not to be seene in the Court. That he should not in any sort lay to pawne his Armour or weapons nor play away his garments vpon paine to be imprisoned in his owne house a whole moneth and for two moneths following to goe without the Band. That he should be dayly apparelled in fine cloth and on Holy dayes in silke and on high feastes weare gold in his garments if he pleased without being compelled so to do But if he did weare buskins vpon nether stockes of cloth the great Master should take them from him and giue them in almes to the poore That in walking either in Court or Citie his pace should not be swift or hastie vpon paine to be reproued of his fellow Knights and punished at the great Masters discretion That he should not speake any thing vnfit or offensiue to his fellowe in Armes vpon paine to aske him forgiuenesse and to be banished the Court for three moneths That he should not commence or enter suite of Law against the daughter of any Knight vpon paine neuer to haue Ladie or Gentlewoman of the Court to his mistresse or wife That if he happened to meete with any Ladie or Gentlewoman of the Court he should foorthwith alight from his horse and offer her his seruice vpon paine to loose one moneths wages and the fauour of all Ladies That if any Lady of honour required seruice at his hand he refusing to doe it hauing power should be called for euer the discourteous Knight That hee should not eate alone nor at any time feede vpon grosse meates That he should not enter quarell with any of his fellow Knights or if any such disagreement did happen that he nor any other Knight should make partie but by all good meanes seeke to reconcile them vpon paine to pay a marke towards the charge of the next Iusts That if any man not being of this Order should presume to weare the band that then he should be forced to fight with two Knights but vanquishing them should be also a Knight himselfe and being vanquished should be banished the Court and neuer to weare the Band. That if at any Iusts or Turnaments in the Court a Gentleman being not of the Order should winne the prize then the King was bound forthwith to make him a Knight of the Band. That if any Knight of the Band did offer to drawe his sword against any of his fellowes for so doing he should absent himselfe two moneths two other moneths weare but halfe his band And if a Knight did hurt his fellow in Armes he should be imprisoned one halfe yeere and the next halfe yeere be banished the Court. That no Knight for any offence should be punished or iudged before he were brought to the King and his pleasure signified That he should be euer furnished to attend on the King whensoeuer he went to the warre and if any battel were striken then ought these Knights ioyntly to giue the charge and if in any such seruice a Knight performed not his part he should loose one yeres pay and one other yeere weare but halfe
bene likewise capable of Temporal dignities as Baronies and Earledomes Some of them be accounted Counts Palatine in their proper iurisdiction Barons by writ are summoned by their proper surnames as A. B. Cheualier although indeede he be no Knight And all those Barons so called by writ the dignitie is inuested in their owne sirname and so in their owne persons and not in their Castles Houses Manors or Lordships Barons by creation are either solemnely created by another name then their owne as in the right of their wiues or mothers Or els by the names of some Castle House Manor or Lordship In which diuersities although Barons be diuersly made yet are they all alike in their callings and though in shew some of their dignities be of a place certaine yet is the right dignitie in the person of the Baron For admit a Baron should â—ell or exchange the place whereof he is called yet shal he still holde the name and be written and reputed thereby and haue his place and voyce in Parliament by the same name hee was first called or created Of Knights and Knighthood we haue at large discoursed in the second Booke only this is to be remeÌ„bred that the forme of dubbing of Knights both in warre and peace is not now obserued as it hath bene Nam Milites tunica suorum armorum torque indui gladio cingt calcaribus auratis ornarisolebant and the Prince in the action thereof pronounced these words Soyez loyal Chlr. en nom de Dieu S. George Miles dicitur quasi vnus electus ex mille olim inter Romanos mille homines strenui maximè bellicosi electiinter caeteros fuerunt quilibet eorum dictus fuit miles quasi vnus ex mille CHAP. 14. Of Esquiers AN Esquier or Escuier commonly called Squier is he that was antiently called Scutiger and to this day in the latine is named Armiger These men as sir Thomas Smith in his booke de Rcip Anglorum doth describe them are Gentlemen bearing armes or armories as the French do call it in testimony of the Nobilitie or race from whence they are come Esquiers be taken for no distinct order of the common weale but goe with the residue of Gentlemen saue that as hee thinketh they be those men who beare Armes in signe as I haue said of the race and familie whereof they are descended In respect whereof they haue neither creation nor dubbing vnlesse it be such as hold office by the Princes gift and receiue a collar of SS Or els they were at the first costrels or bearers of the Armâ— of Lords or Knights and by that had their name for a dignitie and honour giuen to distinguish them from common Souldiers called in Latine Gregarij milites So is euery Esquier a Gentleman but euery Gentleman not an Esquier vnlesse he be such a one as beareth Armes which Armes are giuen either by the Prince as a testimonie of fauour or a signe of his vertue that receiued them or both either else by donation of the Kings of Armes who by the Princes Commandement or Commission haue authoritie at their discretion to bestow such honour with consent of the Earle Marshall Somerset Glouer that learned Herauld maketh foure definitions or seuerall sorts of Esquiers according to the custome of England The first of them and the most ancient are the eldest sonnes of Knights and eldest sonnes of them successiuely The second sort are the eldest sonnes of the younger sonnes of Barons and Noble men of higher degree which take end are determined when the chiefe Masles of such elder sonnes doe faile and that the inheritance goeth away with the heires females The third sort are those that by the King are created Esquiets by the gift of a Collar of SS and such bearing Armes are the principall of that coat Armour and of their whole race out of whose families although diuers other houses doe spring and issue yet the eldest of that coat Armour onely is an Esquier and the residue are but Gentlemen The fourth and last sort of Esquiers are such as bearing office in the common weale or in the Kings house are therefore called and reputed to be Esquiers as the Serieants at the Lawe the Escheators in euery shire and in the Kings house the Serieant of euery Office but hauing no Armes that degree dieth with them and their issue is not ennobled thereby Mounsieur P. Pithou in his memories of the Earles of Champagne and Brie saith further that among the Fiefes of Normandy the Fiefe called Fiefe de Haubert was that which in Latine is Feuda Loricae or Feuda Scutiferorum the very originall of the name of our Esquiers comming of the Armes and seruice which they ought to Knights for they helde their land of a Knight by Scutage as a Knight helde his land of the King by Knights seruice And such Fiefes were called Vray Vassaulx being bound alwayes to serue their Lorde by reason of their Fiefe without pay There are also in England other sorts of Esquiers which courtesie and custome haue made among which they are reputed Esquiers that are able at the Musters to present a Launce or light horse for the Princes seruice not vnlike the manner of the Spaniardes where all freehoulders are called Caualieros that doe keepe horse for the Kings impolyments CHAP. 15. Of Gentlemen GEntlemen are they who in the Greeke are called Eugeneis in Latine Nobiles or Ingenui in the French Nobles in the English Gentlemen Gens in Latine betokeneth a race a sirname or family as the Romans had Traquinij Valerij Quintij Claudij Cincinnati Fabij Cossi and such like so haue we in England certaine names which for their continuance in reputation vertue and riches may be in Latine called Agnati or Gentiles that is men knowen or Gentlemen of this or that name and family But let vs consider how this Nobility is defined and by how many meanes men doe thereunto aspire Iudocus Clicthouius defineth Nobilitie thus Nobilitas est generis velalterius rei excellentia ac dignitas Tract Nobil Cap. 1. Nobility is the excellencie of gentle race or of some other good quality And Bartholus discoursing long whether Nobilitie and Dignity be but one concludeth they are not yet said he the one resembleth the other Lib. 1. Cap. de Dig. adding That as he to whome God hath vouchsafed his grace is before his diuine Maiesty noble so before men who so is fauoured by his Prince or the Lawes ought be receiued for noble This Nobilitie therefore is thus defined Nobilitas est qualitas illata per Principatum tenentem qua quis vltra acceptos plebeios honestus ostenditur Nobility is a title bestowed by him that holdeth place of the Prince and maketh him that receiueth it to be of better reputation then other men Of Nobilitie or as we call it Gentilitie diuers diuisions by diuers men haue bene Bartholus sayth That of Nobility there are three kinds viz.