only but in Church preferments also and by this means is it that so much corruption and abuse is the daily leprosie both of the Civill and Ecclesiasticall State The Romans were so carefull of the preservation of Honor that they had a custom by which the children of noble Persons unprovided for should be maintained out of the common treasury which custom though all ages have most infinitely applauded our Nation hath so absolutely exploded that the Gentry are in all cases hindred as much as may be of all preferments that should give it them without burthen to the Common-wealth But it is to be hoped succeeding times will produce better manners Of the Esquire THe division of these Dignities of Honour was antiently but into twelve parts but the addition of Knight Baronet hath made them thirteen The six first only Noble as the Gentleman Esquire Knight Bacheler Knight Banneret Knight Baronet and Baron The other seven Princely and are allowed Crowns and Coronets as the Viscount Earl Marquesse Duke Prince King and Emperour Sir John Ferne placeth the Viscount in the first division but I think improperly in regard of his Coronet Of the lowest of these enough is said the next is the Esquire according to my intended method The Esquire or Escuyer is called in Latine Armiger but more antiently Scutiger from the office of bearing a Shield as an attendant upon a Knight and were militaris ordinis candidati in the field because they served not as Knights Bachelers nor Bachelers which was then a distinction The etymology of the word will something signifie as much being from Scutum in Latin and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek which is a Shield from the antient way of making it in leather Armiger nuncupatus est qui Domini sui 〈◊〉 bajulat ipsisque 〈◊〉 cingit saith Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarium p. 50. Neither came this title in honorary amongst us till the reign of Richard the second though the Title as to office was much antienter amongst us yet the antientest mention of it is in Order Vitalis speaking of William Fitz-Osberne Earl of Hereford and Odo Earl of Kent in the time of the Conqueror Nam Armigeros suos immodicas praedas c. facientes Dr. Argentre President of the Parliament of Rhemes speaks thus of them Esquires are Qui scutums Ducibus aut Patronis praeferebant posteriùs et Strateres qui Dominos in equos tolleren equos regerent Is qui primus inter coeteros gradus Nobilitatis And Verstegen tells us the Teutonick word was Scyld-knapae which is a Shield-serviture but some have since gotten another distinction for the title which is that they are Gentlemen bearing Arms and Armories in testimony of Nobility or race from whence they are come Sir Edward Cook in his Exposition upon the Statute of 1 Hen. 3. chap. 5. of Additions saith that the word Esquire Armiger or Scutiger in legal understanding is derived ab armis quae clypeis gentilitiis honoris insignia gestant In which sense as a name of estate and degree it was used in divers Acts of Parliament before the making of that Statute and after also But by this the Honour of the title is lost and every Gentleman of Coat-Armor shall have as great a share in it as themselves which in truth hath not been since the dividing the Gentility into these two divisions when this title of Esquire was made a legall and appropriated addition Of these there are four sorts By Creation by Birth by Dignity and by Office Esquires by Creation are sometimes made by Patent as one Jo. de Kingston was by King Richard as I mentioned before being received into the state of a Gentleman and made an Esquire and sometimes by the giving of a collar of SS by the King as an ensigne of the title Eúmve saith Sir Henry Spelman argentatis calcaribus donaverit Which silver Spurs were given by the King as the Gold was to the Knight to difference the Honor from whence they are called White-spurs There is commonly given to him also an addition to his paternall Coat or a new Coat if he owned none before which is due to the descendents onely of his body not related to any of his line besides and the eldest son of that Coat-Armor is ever an Esquire Esquires by birth are the eldest sons of Knights and their eldest sons successively Sir John Ferne and Sir Henry Spelman call all Esquires that being the sons of Lords are not allowed the title of Lords but Sir Henry Spelman again Propriè natalitio jure Armigeri dicuntur Equitum auratorum filii primogeniti ex ipsis haeredes inperpetuum masculi Those by Office are such as bearing high Offices in the Commonwealth or Kings Palace have not the augmentation of Knighthood or Lordship Such are the Sergeants at Law Sheriffs Escheators the Sergeant of every Office in the Court But these are only the possessors of that dignity it dying with them And not only so but if he lose his Office that is a Gentleman by Office he lo seth his Gentility also And this ennobling by Office was also among the Saxons and hath so continued among them saith Mr. Lambert If a Churle so thrived that he had fully five Hides of Land of his own a Church and a Kitchen a Bell-house and a Gate a Seat a severall Office in the Kings Hall then was he the Theynes right worthy Amongst which sort of Esq those four of the Kings body are the principall which he saith are to be esteemed above the elder sons of Knights And indeed in all processions of State they go before the Master of the Jewell-house all Judges or Sergeants at the Law Of Knighthood in generall and of the Knight Bacheler OF the distinctions by Knighthood there are many in other parts of the World but in England only these Knights Batchelers Knights of the Bath Knights Bannerets and Knights Baronets and Knights of the Garter The word Knight as Mr. Selden saith coming from the Saxon 〈◊〉 which signified puer or servus as Dienaknecht is yet among the Dutch for a man-servant So Tenants by Knights service were called Milites or Chivalers because their service was military Knights saith Mr. Cambden who of our English Lawyers are termed also in Latin Milites and in all Nations almost besides took their name of Horses The Italians call them Cavalari the French Chevaliers the Germans Kutters and our Britans in Wales Margagh all of Riding Englishmen only term them Knights by a word that in old English-language as also of the German signifieth indifferently a Servitour or Minister and a lusty young man Hereupon it cometh that in the old written Gospels translated into the Saxon we read for Christs disciples Christs leorning knights And elsewhere for Client or Vassal 〈◊〉 And Bracton our ancient civill Lawyer maketh mention of Rad Cnyhts that is
King who gives it him that is created Then he returning thanks for his great honor withdraws in the same manner he came in the Trumpers sounding and so he goes to dinner Where after the second service is gone up the Garter with the rest of the Heralds cometh neer the Table where first pronouncing Largesse with a loud voyce he declareth the King's style in Latin French and English and then standing somewhat further off pronounceth Largesse again with the style of him that is newly created In which form was William Cecill created Lord Burghley 15. of Febr. 13. Elizab. Of the Viscount THis word in Latin is Vice-comes which is interpreted from the office of the person who was one cui Dominus hoc est Comes committit vices suas sive gubernationem castri saith Sir John Ferne. The Title is derived from the same Order in France which there were only first substitutes to Earls till getting themselves first in power got also to have the title honorary and hereditary between the Earl and Baron it being the same word which signifieth our Sheriffe and began not with us till about the 18. year of Henry the sixth who then created John Lord Beaumont Viscount Beaumont by Letters patent Though Sir John Fern tells us of it in the time of Henry the first and King Stephen and though the Elder sons of Dukes are styled Earls during their fathers life time so the Eldest sons of Marquesses are styled by their Fathers Vicounties and Baronies and called Lords and the younger sons saluted with Lord yet it is by 〈◊〉 only To this degree is allowed a Surcoat Mantle Hood and a Circulet without either flowers or points as in the discourse of Armory shall be seen and is created with the same ceremony those above him are Of the Count or Earl THe next precedency is an Earl called in Latin Comes and thence is an English word Count which word Comes we have from the example of the Romans amongst whom they used it for the title of sundry offices Coke defines them thus Dicuntur Comites quia à Comitatu five à societate nomen sumpserunt qui etiam dici possunt Consules a Consulendo c. But John of Salisbury who writ in the time of Henry the second says thus Comites dici à 〈◊〉 participatione And the word Earl we had from the Saxons from whence till we borrowed the word Honor we used the word Earl for gentle or noble and Ethel which was sometimes abridged to el so that of Ear-ethel it was Ear-el and by abbreviation Earl which the Dutch called Eorle Amongst the Germans they have the word Grave for it as Palsgrave Landgrave Reingrave c. from the word Gerefa by abbreviation Gereve and Grave as also Reve from whence our Shierreve or Shirriffe as some do abbreviate it Which word in the Teutonick signifies a Disposer or Director Others have That the word with the Saxons was Erlig and Ethling and used for the same office of Ealderman was before and the word Ealderman which now is writ Alderman was transferred to a lower degree who used the word also Thegon or Thaine for Baron as I said before But the word Ealderman and Ethling it seems did only signifie them according to Civill power and the word Heretoga from whence Hertshog for their Military power the former word being no more then Senior or Senator This title of Ealdermen continued for Duces Principes Comites untill Canutus reign when the word Earl was brought in and the other lost as to that Honor. What the Jurisdiction of the Ealderman in those times was and how absolute or large is to me yet uncertain though large it was doubtlesse because of the severall Offices that were under them but as it hath remained since the Conquest we find more reasonable satisfaction Their possessions were sometimes the whole Territories they derived their Title from and sometimes not but some particular 〈◊〉 or place in it We find also that both it and Thane were honorary and feudall Titles Upon the coming in of the Normans this word was turned into Comes or Count since when it hath remained And this word in the Empire was given to Quotquot è Comitatu Principis erant to all that were admitted to society of the Prince So the 〈◊〉 styled them in Warre Commilitones in the Court Comites The dignity is of divers kinds for an Earl acknowledging no Superior is equall to a Prince This Title as it continues since the Conquest is either locall or personall Locall as from the denomination of some County or other Territory and Personall that hath its being in some great Office as Earl-Marshal and the like Those locall are also simplices and Palatine which last retain the same constitution the Saxons time allowed them which is Juraeregalia or merum mixtum Imperium and could make Barons under them as those of Chester Lancaster the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely Hugh Lupus had the County Palatine of Chester given him by the Conquerour Ita liberè ad Gladium 〈◊〉 ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam Who governed the County forty years he created eight Barons and built the Abbey of Chester Lancaster was made a Palatinate by Edward the third as says Sir William Segar and had Barons Chancery and Seal and so had the Bishopricks of Durham and Ely The office of those Barons being to sit in Councell and Judgment with the Earl To the County Palatine of Chester 〈◊〉 been Chamberlains who supplied the place of Chancellor Justices before whom the causes that should else belong to the King's Bench and Common Pleas are triable a Baron of the Exchequer a Sheriffe and other offices proportionably to those of the Crown at Westminster which being since reserved in the Crown is given to the Prince of Wales when he is created This County had this honor I conceive out of regard to the great trust was reposed in the first Earl which was to subdue and keep in order the British or Welch after the Conquest Of those that are not Palatine we find their Creation also as ancient as the Conquest William theConqueror made Alan Fergent thenDuke of Brittaign Earl of Richmond by a Patent The Creation Robe of a Marquesse Of the Marquesse THis word Marquesse at the first was used to all Earls and Barons that were Lords Marchers or Lords of Frontires and came afterward into a Title of speciall dignity between that of Duke and Earl beginning in the time of Richard the second who created Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Marquesse of Dublin Per gladii cincturam circuli aurei suo capiti positionem The form of the Patent was then and many ages since very various but it is now regulated to one method which is the same in a manner with that of Earl only the word Marchio is put in the
deeds in the possession of the late right honorable Gilbert Earl of Shrewbury doth appear Bernards Inne Beareth party per pale indented Ermin and Sab. a Cheveron Gul. fretty This house was in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Henry the sixth a messuage belonging to one John Mackworth then Dean of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln and in that time in the holding of one Lyonel Bernard who next before the conversion thereof into an Inne of Chancery dwelt there And it hath ever since retained the name of Bernards Inne or Bernards house Staple Inne Port de vert un pacquet de doyne Arg. This House was sometimes belonging to the English Merchants of the Staple as it hath been by ancient Tradition held It is of late adorned with a convenient large Garden-plot to walk in and is at this day rightly esteemed for the most ample and beautifull Inne of Chancery within this Academy Clifford's Inne Reareth Checky Or Azure of fesse Gul. within a bordure of the third charged with a Bezanet This House albeit it followeth in an after rank from the former yet it is worthy to be reputed amongst the formest as being in reputation with the best both for conveniency and quiet situation thereof as for worth and good government It was also sometime the dwelling house of Maccoln de Hersey and came to the King for debts and was after sometimes the house of the Lord Clifford as by Inquisition which was taken that year and remaining on Record doth appeare which hath these words Isabella quae fuit Roberti Clifford 〈◊〉 cum pertinent quod Robertus habuit in parochia Sancti Dunstani West ' in suburb Londini c. tenuit illud demisit post mortem dicti Roberti 〈◊〉 de Bancho pro 〈◊〉 l. per annum c. ut pat per Inquisitionem cap. 18. Edwardi 3. post mortem dict Roberti Clifford This House at this day is the Inheritance of that antient and right honorable family of Cliffords Earls of Cumberland for which there is an annual Rent still rendered to the Earles of Cumberland for the time being Clements Inne Beareth Argent Anchor without a stock in pale proper entertaining a C. for Clement into the body thereof This House sometimes was a messuage belonging to the Parish Church of St. Clement Danes from whence it took its denomination neer to this house is that Fountain which is called Clements Well This Anchor is engraven in stone over the gate of the first entrance into the house and is an Hieroglyphick figuring thereby that Pope Clement as he was Pope was reputed Caput Ecclesiae Romanae for the Roman Priesthood or Anchorage of Christendome figured by the Anchor and by the text C. the Sacerdotal dignity Some hold that the device of the Anchor was rather invented upon this reason of the Martyrdome of Pope Clement as Jacobus de Voragia writeth that he received his Martyrdome being bound to a great Anchor and cast into the Sea by the command of the Emperor Trajane New Inne Beareth Vert a Flower-pot Arg. maintaining Jully flowers Gules This house is so called by reason of its then late or new Creation being in the reign of King Henry the seventh therefore the same is not of late a foundation as some imagine which is that the late dissolution of Strond Inne being by the Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Edward the sixth this house in lieu thereof was instituted for the dispersed Gentlemen Professors and Students of the Common Laws of this Realm It is certain that Sir Thomas Moor Knight Lord Chancellor of England in the reign of King Henry the seventh was a fellow student of this Society and in the reign of King Henry the eighth removed his study into that of Lincolns Inne This house was sometimes called by the name of our Ladies Inne for that the Picture of our Lady was pourtraicted at the doore thereof And in the reign of King Edward the fourth was 〈◊〉 by Sir John Fyncaullxe Knight Chief Justice of England or of the Kings Bench or 6. l. per annum wherein he placed Students and practisers of the Common Lawes who before that time had a house in the 〈◊〉 Bayly called St. Georges Inne the passage thereunto was over against St. Sepulchers Church and by some is reputed to be the first and most ancient of all other Innes of Chancery but the same house at this day is converted into severall Tenements and Garden plots Lyons Inne Beareth Checkie Or and Arg a Lyon Saliant Sab. langued and armed Gules This house received its foundation of modern time and lately before the acquiring thereof it was a dwelling house known by the name of the Black Lyon and in the reign of King Henry the seventh was purchased by divers Gentlemen Students and Professors of the common Lawes The first Treasurer of this Society was one John Bidwell The greatest number of this Society are the natives of the West parts viz Devonshire and Cornwall but for the most part Devonshire Gentlemen Chesters Inne or Strond Inne Beareth Azure within a bordure Gules three garbes Or in a bend of the second In the reign of King Henry the eighth this house for that Sir Bevis St. Marrour Knight Duke of Somerset kept there his Court was an Inne of Chancery called Strond Inne and before that time belonged to the Bishop of Chester after to the Bishop of Worcester and unto the Bishop of Landaffe with the Parochiall Church of St. Maries adjoyning thereunto All which were swallowed up in An Dom. 1549. for to build an ample and spacious Edifice to the use of the said Duke the maternall Uncle to King Edward the sixth The Six Clerkes Office otherwise called Riderminster's Inne Beareth Azure two Cheveronels Or between three Bezants Arg. charged with eight pellets This House though it be not saluted by the name of an Inne of Chancery as the others are which are of like name and nature yet is the same more properly to be called an Inne of Chancery then any of the rest for that the Chancery Officers do there reside namely Attourneys commonly called the Six Clerks of the Chancery and are to this day a society of Gentlemen well learned in the Laws These were at the first Sacerdotall and therefore called Clerks And in those days when the Institution of them was first established they were all of them Church-men This house was acquired and gotten for the society by one John Riderminster Esquire a member thereof who in his time was a very skilfull and well Learned man and both faithfull and just as well to his Client as to his friend It was antiently the Inne or the Mansion of the Abbot of Norton in Lincolnshire and since that time it hath been the dwelling-house of one Andrew Hersfleet and is most proper to be called an Inne of Chancery for the Officers of Chancery only reside there the House is situate in Chancery lane where the causes appertaining to
Chancery are only handled and discust Cursitors Inne Beareth Gules on a chief Arg. two Mullets Sables within a bordure Compone Or and Azure This Edifice was in 〈◊〉 dayes of Queen Elizabeth of famous memory built by the Right Honourable and Grave Counsellor of State Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord keeper of the Great Seal of England for the benefit and decency of a new contrived Office now called Cursitors therein to lodge and to keep their severall Offices These Cursitors have the making of all Originall Writs according to the Register which are sued out and taken forth in causes commenced by the Students at the common Law In times past the chiefe Officer of the Court of Chancery was ever a Bishop and termed Cancellarius because he sat in Cancellis that is to say in Chancels or places letticed after the manner of Chancels in Churches as Petrus 〈◊〉 a learned writer hath left to posterity The Masters of this Court were for the most part Doctors of Divinity and had Prebendaries in Churches and other dignities and promotions The Cursitors or rather the Choristers as it befitteth a Chorus there being no honourable Cathedrall or Collegiate Church la Esglise which can be vvell without them And in former dayes both antient and modern the Ghostly Fathers or Confessors were examiners in Chancery as men held most conscionable and thereupon fittest for that function But fince in those dayes all the former Ecclesiasticall persons are become meerly lay-men and yet no doubt held to be as Godly Conscionable and Honest as any provided ever that they be men of skill persons who are of great Integrity and able of understanding Nam ad pietatem requiritur Scientia The Colledge called Doctors Commons Beareth Gules on a bend Argent three treefoils within a bordure Vert. The Professors of the Civil Law or the Imperial being also in some sort Canonists and professors of the Laws 〈◊〉 have their Hostels or residing place upon St. Bennets hill neer Pauls Chain This house was by the industry and cost of Mr. Henry Harvey Doctor of the Civil or Canon Law and at that time Master 〈◊〉 Trinity 〈◊〉 in Cambridge and Dean of the Arches instituted for the Company and Society of the said Doctors professors of the same study Gresham Colledge Beareth Argent a 〈◊〉 Erminoys between three Mullets Sables This famous work and most worthy Colledge scituate in Bishopsgate street had its foundation laid by that worthy Merchant Sir Thomas Gresham Knight about the year of our Lord 1579. who ordained therein seven Lectures of seven severall Arts to be there publickly read 〈◊〉 Divinity Civill Law Phyfick Rhetorick Astronomy Geometry Musick And this to be performed by seven severall persons learned professors thereof only in the time of the Terms at Westminster The annual stipendary to every Lecturer is 50. l. by annual pay and each of the Lecturers hath a convenient lodging provided for his use there in the same Colledge The Office of the Remembrancers of the Exchequer at Westminster Beareth Or a Cheveron Gules and a Canton Ermin in a bordure Compony Argent and Azure This house wherein now the Kings Remembrancer keepeth his Office was sometimes antiently the Inne belonging to the Barons of Stafford was in former time called Staffords Inne which said house and that other in Ivie-lane where Mr. Osborn the King's Remembrancer keepeth his Office or rather the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer and the house called Hospitium Johannis de 〈◊〉 Laurentio wherein 〈◊〉 Brainthwait Serjeant at the Law 〈◊〉 his abode and dwelling in Amen-Corner the Bishop of Elyes house now Stationers-hall the Three Tuns Tavern the Bull-head Tavern the Chamber belonging to Diana the next house to Doctors Commons called the old Camera 〈◊〉 were of antient times the lodging for the Residents and Canons and Prebends of St. Pauls who belonged unto that famous Cathedrall Church of St. Paul St. Katherine's Hospitall Beareth party per fesse Gules and Azure in 〈◊〉 a Sword bar-wise Argent pomelled and hilt Or in poynt a demy Catharine wheel of the fourth By the Licence of the Prior of the Covent and the Society of holy Trinity in London the said Hospitall called St. Katherines was founded by Queen Matilda wife to King Stephen The ground whereon this Hospitall is 〈◊〉 was then the proper inheritance of the said Prior and Covent and the said Hospitall was after enlarged by Queen Elianor Wife to Edward the first and after Philippa Wife to Edward the third founded there a Chancery and it hath been of late a free Chappell or Hospital for poor sisters FINIS ERRATA Page 41. l. 4. a mistake in the last quarter of the cut p. 52. a mistake in the cut the eighth quarter should have been the last Fern. Glo. Gen. p. 4. Seg. Hon. mil. civ l. 4. c. 5. Bartol de Dig. l. 12. Seld. 〈◊〉 of Hon. c. 〈◊〉 p. 4. Drus. observat lib. 3. cap. 19. Psal. 49. 2. Fern. l. gen p. 9. Pro. 17. 6. Fern p. 13 Fern. Selden p. 856 Aristot. l. 4. de pol. Fern. p. 14 Segar l 4. p. 226. Bart. l. 1. cap. de dig 12. Seg. p. 〈◊〉 Ibid. Fern p. 1. Noble by Merit Nobility mixt Sir J. Fern. Segar l. 4 c. 15. Seld. Tit. of Hon. c. 8 p. 853. p. 832. Rot. Vasco 24 Hen. 6. M. 7. N. 3. Sel. p. 870. C. Theod. l. 6. 〈◊〉 21. l. 1. Sir J. 〈◊〉 Form l. 3. p. 382. Edit Rom. 1621. Seld. Tit. of Hon. c. 〈◊〉 f. 858. Seld. Tit. of Hon. pag. 862. pag. 864. Ibid. p. 865. Sir John 〈◊〉 p. 37 Ibid. p. 36. Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 4. cap. 4 Cypr. lib. de 12. Abusionibus Sir John Fern. Ibid. Poetrie Ibid. Painting Vid. Paul Lomazzo p. 14. History Sir John 〈◊〉 Ferne. Ibid. Sir John Ferne. p. 61. Ibid. Bart. in l. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. li. de capitu Ferne p. 86. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Vid. Fortescue de laud. Ang. cap. 49. Sir John Feine p. 95. M. Seld. Tit. of Ho. p. 555. * Cam. fol. 176. †lib. 4. p. 507. Ad 〈◊〉 Brit. Art 88. Verst p. 322. Sir Tho. Smith de Rep. Aug. * p. 667. 〈◊〉 Sir John Ferne. p. 100. Camb. de Ordin p. 117. de reliquiis p. 23. Spel. Glos. p. 51. Segar p. 224. ibid. Spelm. p. 10. c. 2. ibid. Segar Ferne. Spel. p. 51. Segar l. 4. p. 246. Seld. Tit. Ho. p. 769. Camb. Brit. p. 170. Segar ch 1 p. 51. Will. of Malmsb. de gest Reg. l. 〈◊〉 c. 6. Seld. 〈◊〉 of Hon. p. 773. p. 778 Ibid. p. 779 Bract. 〈◊〉 36. Cook 5. Jacobi part 6. Selden p. 772. Mat. Patis Sir 10. Fern Glo. of Genere Cam. Brit. p. 74. pag. 175. Vid. Stat. de An. 23. H. 6. c. 15. Seg. lib. 2. lin 2. Vid. Mills fol. S 〈◊〉 4 Ed 4. 20 See Stow in Anal. p. 693. 694. edit vet in 4. Dor. Cl. 〈◊〉 20 Hen 7. 20 Sep. For K. of the Bath see Far. f. 65. 5 Book Mr. Seld. fol. 790.
Parliament but who were Milites gladiis accincti Many other priviledges there were appropriated to them according to the rules of Honor and custom of the Nation as well as requisites in them which more at large may be understood in Sir Will. Segar's Honor Military and Civill Where is to be found the severity in degrading them When if any Knight at any time had been corrupted with mony by his Prince's Enemy or committed any other notable fact against Loyalty and Honor he was apprehended and caused to be armed from head to foot and on a high Scaffold in the Church he was placed and after the Priests had sung some funerall Psalm as though he had been dead first they took off his Helmet to shew his face and so by degrees his whole Armor and then the Heralds crying out This is a disloyall Miscreant with many other ignoble Ceremonies he was thrown down the Stage with a rope This he mentions to have been about the time of King Arthur We have many examples of latter times also of degrading Knights for dishonorably absenting from the service of the King and other treasons with which seising on all that he had except one Horse ne qui dignitate factus est Eques cogatur pedes incedere for in all Countries the Title is related to a Horse from serving on Horseback and also by the cutting off their Spurrs from their heels taking away his Sword reversing his Coat-Arms and the like as in the degrading of Sir Ralph Gray See more at large Sir William Segar Mr. Selden and Sir John Fern. The Creation Robe of a Knight of y e Garter IT is ever to be observed that when the word Knight is found without any addition of distinction it is meant by the Knight Batcheler Of the Order of the Bath the first that are taken notice of is in 〈◊〉 who gives an account of 46 made by Henry the Fourth But Mr. Selden is of an opinion they were long before Mr. Upton in a Manuscript which Mr. Bish a Gentleman much deserving of Honor from our English Gentry hath since very 〈◊〉 illustrated and published takes notice of this Order in these words Creantur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 modis c. Creantur in alio modo Milites per Balneum qui modus multùm observatur in Anglia in 〈◊〉 Regnis He lived in the time of Henry the sixth The Honor is invested with a great deal of noble Ceremony as is seen by the example of Henry the seventh when he sent Writs to divers Lords and Gentlemen to come up to the making Henry his second son Knight of the Bath Ad ordinem Militia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suscipiendum juxta antiquam consuetudinem in creatione usitatam When one is to be made a Knight of the Bath he comming up to the Court is very nobly received by the Officers and Nobles of the Court where he hath two Esquires appointed to wait on him who convey him to a Chamber where is to be Musick before he commeth to the Tubbs then they uncloath him and put him naked into the Bath where if there be any other Knights of the Order in the Court they come in their Order and salute him and after discourse concerning the Order they sprinkle some of the water on his shoulder and so depart Then the Esquires convey him to a bed where he is dryed and then he putting on his clothes they put over them a long gray coat like a Hermit's weed with long sleeves and a hood then the Knights return to him again and lead him to the Chappel where he receives a cup of spiced Wine and with that salutes the Knights who after leave him there onely with his Esquires and Priest where he performs a Vigill till almost day with Prayers and Offerings After this and some repose in his Chamber the next morning where are Robes provided for him the Knights wait on him again and do service to him in his making ready one giving him his doublet another his breeches another combes his head c. Then with Musick he is brought to the Hall in the Court on Horsback accompanied with those Knights and Esquires where the Marshall meets him Then the King comming to the Hall commands a Lord to put on his right Spur and making a crosse upon his knee rises up and kisses him and so another the left Then the King puts the Sword about him himself and smiting him on the shoulder says Be a good Knight and kisses him Then with the Musick he is conducted again to the Chappel where he goes to the Altar and performs some Ceremonies maketh protestation for the performance of the Orders of Knighthood Then the King's Cook comes to him with a knife in his hand to demand his fee and tells him That if he do any thing against the Orders of Chivalry he will cut his 〈◊〉 off from his heels Then he is habited in a blew Gown with Maunches open like a Priest and so led again to the Hall The particular manner is more at large set down by Sir William Segar in his Honor Military and Civill and Cambden's Britannia They are distinguished ordinarily by the wearing of a red Ribbon cross the left shoulder as Knights of the Garter by the blew And have this priviledge above all Knights their sons are free from Wardship as in the example of the Heir of Sir Thomas Wise of Essex which was a Cause in Chancery and the Heir Victor Of Bannerets THis was antiently an Order in France and excert that in England they are not created by Parent not the Title Hereditary the same The creation is almost the same with theirs by the solemn delivery of a Banner charged with the Arms of him that is to be created and cutting or tearing off the end of a Pennon or Streamers to make it square into the shape of a Banner are called by some Equites vexillarii Sir William Segar relates the Ceremony thus He is led between two other Knights into the presence of the King or Generall with his Pennon of Arms in his hand and there the Heralds declare his merit for which he deserves to be made a Knight Banneret and thenceforth to display a Banner in the field Then the King or Generall causes the point of his Pennon to be rent off and the new made Knight returns to his Tent the Trumpets sounding before him A Banneret thus made may bear his Banner display'd if he be a Captain and set his Arms thereon as other Degrees above him And although the Knight Baronet be an honor given by Patent and made hereditary yet by Decree of King fames it is established that all such Bannerets as shall be made by the Kings Majesty his heirs and successors under their Standard display'd in an Army Royall in open War the King personally present for the tearm of the lives of such Bannerets shall for ever take place and precedency as well
mouths and in the same place many after But as such notorious evils are ever the Ushers of God's infinite judgements it was not far off here for the two Knights imployed in the accusation were one hanged and the other slain in a short time after How the Revenues prospered in the hands of the new possessors I know not or the possessors in the enjoyment of them but I believe like those of Church lands in this Nation And the account of stories and traditions I have seen and heard in particular of it makes me with confidence say Very unfortunately Many of their Territories and Castles in some places were given to an order of Knighthood called the Joannites Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem and particularly in England who were after Knights of Rhodes and lastly of Malta being conferred by Act of Parliament how taken from them I cannot say and in Vienna by order of a great Councel Of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Rhodes and Malta SOme have been of opinion that this Order was originally from the time of the Holy War an 1099. When by the conduct of one called Peter the Hermit Robert Duke of Normandy Son to William the Conqueror Godfrey Duke of Lorrain and some other Noble persons Jerusalem was 〈◊〉 from the Saracens being called Knights of St. John Baptist and of Jerusalem But it is more certainly related that certain 〈◊〉 Christians going to visit the Holy Sepulchre obtained leave of the Caliph of Egypt to build a little Cottage to live in by it paying a due tribute for their liberty as for their own residence and for the entertaining such as should adventure to joyne with them in their devout life which Monsieur Favin relates to be Neopolitans After this their number so encreased that they built another to entertain women more large and stately and enlarged their Oratory and another for men in the nature of a Colledge or Hospital where they established a Rector or Master and from the great charity among them their religious life and good deeds to Pilgrims they were called brethren Hospitallers of St. John Baptist of Jerusalem And upon the Conquest of the Ciry they had great Franchises granted them and large revenues with liberty to mannage armes and were instituted to be Knights of St. John An. 1164. And for their distinction they wore a black garment with a white ankerd Crosse with eight points but in War they wore a red Coat of Arms with the same white Crosse See the example of the Crosses at the end of this discourse After their successe in the Holy War grew very famous and that they had done very great exploits almost over all Palestine in the year 1308 they wonne the City of Rhodes from the Turks And as valiantly maintained it against them afterwards who four times 〈◊〉 it in vain and the fifth time also was O taman himself repulsed with the losse of 40000 Mahometans But being constantly oppressed and not encouraged with any reliefe from the Christians of other parts after three moneths siege they lost it and ever since have remained in Malta Into this Order no man was admitted but he was first to approve himself a Gentleman before the Rector The Son of a Moore was not to be admitted nor of a Jew or Mahometan though the Son of a Prince and a Christian himselfe and they were sworn to fight for the Christian faith to do Justice defend the oppressed relieve the poor persecute the Mahometans live vertuously and protect Widows and Orphans Of Knights Teutonicks THis order of the Teutonici was founded by an Almain who remaining in Jerusalem after the taking of it gave great and liberal entertainment to all Christians that came to him and in a short time had drawn such a resort that from thence arose a Fraternity that bound themselves under certain Articles and elected a great Master or Governor every man of that association apparelling himself in white with a black crosse pattee voyded with a crosse patonce Which Fraternity afterwards grew a very great Order and purchased a noble fame But Jerufalem being taken by the Turks again they removed and pitcht their settlement in Ptolemaida and that being also taken by the Saracens they retired to Germany and engaging a War against the Prusians they got great victories and having the Emperours Grant for enjoying what by the sword they wonne with expence of some blood they purchased great revenues in Prusia and built many illustrious 〈◊〉 with Churches and some Cathedrals establishing Bishops to them whom they enjoyned to wear the habit of the Order this was about the year 1220. Frederick the second being then Emperor The chief Church appropriate to this Order is Marcenburg The Knights besides their large possessions are Lords of Livonia and they have a Governour which they still call the Great Master Knights of St. Sepulcher THis was antiently an honorable Knighthood but it is since extinguisht and nothing but the memory of it remaining and that inclusively in those of Malta The Ensign of the Order is yet extant amongst them as a relique of antiquity which is a double Crosse 〈◊〉 as it were two conjoyned Gules as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Segar relates But Favin speakes 〈◊〉 as that their Crosse was a Crosse 〈◊〉 in each Canton of the same a small Crosse plain being the same as the armes of the Kings of Jerusalem and from this originall that Godfrey of Bullein gave great goods to 〈◊〉 especially in his last Will and Testament by which also he ordained that himself and the successors Kings of Jerusalem should be buryed in their Cathedrall Church which was joyning to the Sepulchre that their Patriarch should have the Prerogative of crowning them And Baldwin his immediate successor establisht them an Order of Knighthood being before put regular Chanons appointing the Patriarch of Jerusalem their Great Master Thus Favin relates Knights of St. Mary THese were a religious Order erected by certain Gentlemen of 〈◊〉 and Madona for which they obtained a licence of Pope Urban but with mony only calling themselves Knights of St. Mary but were commonly called Cavaleri de Madona and indeed properly enough for whereas they professed to fight against Infidels they lived allwayes at home in peace plenty and ease for which they gained the heroick character of Fratres gaudenti or good-fellow Brethren Their habit was very rich and on it they wore a Crosse like that of St. John of Jerusalem Knights of St. Lazaro THe Knights of St. Lazaro challenge a great antiquity so high as St. Basil They had great possessions and honorable reputation but like the Knights Templars were suddenly eclipsed and had as absolutely been smothered in the Funeral croud of obscured honor had not Pope Pius Quartus a little revived them This Order does own obedience to a great Master also and are engaged to the observance of many Articles especially they are to be of lawful birth and Gentlemen
Serving-men who had their Lands with this condition that they should serve their Lords on Horseback and so by cuting off a piece of the name as our delight is to speak short this name of Knight remained with us But whence it came that our Country-men should in penning the Laws and all Writings since the Norman Conquest 's time term those Knights in Latin Milites that is Souldiers was transferred unto those that conversing near about the Princes person bare any of the great Offices in the Prince's Court or Train But with us I conceive those were first so called who held any Lands or Inheritances in Fee by this Tenure To serve in the War for those Lands were tearmed Knights Fees and those that elsewhere they named Feuditary that is Tenants in Fee were hete called Milites that is Knights as for example Milites Regis Milites Archiepiscopi Cantuar. Milites Comitis Rogerii Comitis Hugonis c. for that they received those Lands or Mannors of them with this condition to serve them in the Wars and to yield them fealty and homage whereas others who served for pay were simply called Solidarii from whence the word Soldier and Servientes This Title comming to be a reward or degree of Honor is thought to be in imitation of the Equestris Order in Rome to which men were onely advanced for extraordinary virtue and notable merit who onely were admitted to beautifie the Caparizons of their Horses their Armor with Gold from whence they were called Equites aurati In which time all sorts of men were distinguished in their degrees by some garb or habit as some by their clothes some by cutting their hair c. The Roman Knights also were allowed to wear a Chain of Gold and therefore called Torquati from Manlius Torquatus who wore the first obtained by him in a victory in France which is by us yet imitated in the collar of S S. by which it is easily collected that the true institution of it was a reward of Honor and Valour not Sloath and Riches And therefore all men thus ennobled ought either to be deserving by action before or by endeavour and good service after and to be else esteemed unlawfull possessors of that Honor at what rate soever purchased The first account of Ceremonies that we have at the creating a Knight is in the example of King Alfred Knighting his grandson Athelstan and after the continuance of them it seems grew more precise and customary by Feasts giving of Robes Arms Spurs and sometimes Horse and Arms untill our later times produced the new yet usuall Ceremony of a stroak over the shoulder with a Sword with these words Sois Chivaler au nom de Dieu by the King or some by his Commission though the Spur hath lately been observed also Another manner of Creation there hath been also among the Saxons before the Conquest which was by sacred Ceremonies shew'd by one Ingulphus that lived in the time of the Conquest by a solemn Confession a Vigil in the Church receiving of the Sacrament after an offering of the Sword on the Altar and redemption of it then the Bishop Abbot or Priest putting it on him made him a Knight with many prayers called Benedictiones Ensis To this Order or degree of Honor an Infant may be admitted though he be a Ward and then till a late Act of Parliament ordained otherwise his Wardship was free both of person and estate but now their lands are not And there were feudall Laws for and at the making the eldest son of a Lord a Knight as there was also for the marrying of the eldest daughter as in the Charter of King John which was mony raised on the Tenant But any man in the order of Priesthood is debarred the Honor of Knighthood of the Sword Cùm eorum militia sit 〈◊〉 mundum carnem diabolum So Sir John Fern. Though I find that antiently they have been allowed it but not without first laying aside their Spirituall Cures and applying themselves to a Secular life So Matthew Paris Dei natalis Johannem de Gatesden Clericum multis ditatum 〈◊〉 sed omnibus ante expectatum resignatis quia sic oportuit Baltheo cinxit militari And then the persons that gave this Honor were sometimes subjects without any superior authority granted to them as well as Soveraignes though long since it hath been an appropriated priviledge of the Crown Landfrank Archbishop of Canterbury made William the second a Knight in his Fathers life-time But the name of Bacheler added to it seems not to have been till the 33 of 〈◊〉 the third Sir John Fern also tells of Ensignes that anciently were marks of Knighthood as a Ring on the thumb a Chain of Gold and gilt Spurrs All which tokens of his Honor he was as carefully to preserve as a Captain his Banner which according to the rules of Arms then if he once lost basely in the field he was 〈◊〉 of flying any more again till he had regained the same or another from the Enemy To which end it was carefully to be provided that such men as were endowed with this Honor should have these Accomplishments He ought to be faithfull and religious just in his engagements valiant in his enterprises obedient to his Superiors expert in Military affairs watchfull and temperate charitable to the poor free from debauchery not a boaster with his tongue ready to help and defend Ladies especially Widows and Orphans and he ought to be ever in a readinesse with Horse and Arms and to attend the command of his Soveraign in all Wars both Civill and Forrain the neglect where of is a crime as great as to fight against him and merits at the least a shamefull degrading And formerly when the King hath been to make a Knight he sate gloriously in his State arrayed in cloth of Gold of the most precious and costly bodkin-work and crowned with his Crown of Gold and to every Knight he allowed or gave a hundred shillings for his Harnessements c. And Knights in this manner dubbed made this esteem thereof that in it consisted the guerdon of their Virtue and Valour the praise of their House and Family the memoriall of their Stock and Linage and lastly the glory of their Name There are many priviledges belonging to that Dignity and Mr. Selden speaks of a Law that a man was to be punished with the losse of a hand that should strike a Knight yet he sayes he remembers no example of the practise of it which I think is the greater honor to the Dignity as being a shame that any such Law should be the guard of a man so honored with Arms and appropriated to the Sword Against a Knight in the War runneth no prescription The Office of a Coroner in former times being honorable none were capable of it but a Knight By antient Custom none were admitted to the House of