The theater of honour and knight-hood. Or A compendious chronicle and historie of the whole Christian vvorld Containing the originall of all monarchies, kingdomes, and estates, with their emperours, kings, princes, and gouernours; their beginnings, continuance, and successions, to this present time. The first institution of armes, emblazons, kings, heralds, and pursuiuants of armes: with all the ancient and moderne military orders of knight-hood in euery kingdome. Of duelloes or single combates ... Likewise of ioustes, tourneyes, and tournaments, and orders belonging to them. Lastly of funerall pompe, for emperours, kings, princes, and meaner persons, with all the rites and ceremonies fitting for them. VVritten in French, by Andrew Fauine, Parisian: and aduocate in the High Court of Parliament. M.DC.XX.

The Order of the Band, or of the red Scarfe; Instituted in Castile, in the yeare of Grace One thousand three hundred and thirtie: By the King of Leon and Castile, Dom Alphonso, eleauenth and last of the name. CHAP. XI.

THE first perticuler Order,* 1.1 established by the Kings of Ca∣stile, to honor their Nobilitie (being not restrained vnder a∣••y Monasticall Rule) was that Of the Band, or of the Redde Scarfe: in regard that the Knights of this Order, did weare a Band or Riband of redde Silke, containing the bredth of foure fingers, and in the forme or fashion of a Scarfe, from the top of the left shoulder, descending vnder the right arme.* 1.2 It was Instituted by the King of Castile and Leon Dom Alphon∣so, eleauenth and last of the name, in the yeare One thousand ••hree hundred and thirtie; according to the testimony of Dom Antonio de Gueuara, ••ishop of Mondognedo, in the Epistle which he wrote to the Count of Beneuentum

Dom Pedro Pimentello, inserted among his Golden Epistles; but he nameth this Insti∣tution to be done in the Citie of Palencea.

None but yonger Brothers, and meane Gentlemen, of poore and slender suffici∣ency,* 1.3 were receiued into this Order of the Band. And yet they must haue followed the Court the space of ten years (or fought three times at the least) against the Moores. And here we haue set downe the Rules and Obseruations, which the Knights of this Order receiued in their Colling or Embracing, & were sworne to keepe inuiolably.

The Articles and Constitutions for the Knights of the Band.

1. THat the Knight of the Band stood obliged, to speake to the King, for the de∣fence of his Countrey, and good of the Common-wealth.

2. That he must speake to the King nothing but pure truth, without lying or ••∣terie, and must reueale whatsoeuer he hath heard spoken, either against his person, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the State.

3. A Knight once conuicted of Lying, shall walke a moneths space, without wea∣ring a Sword.

4. He is not to keepe companie, but with Martiall men and Souldiers, or such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are aduanced to charges and dignities of his owne qualitie: but not with Mechani∣call Artizans, and men of base or vile condition.

5. He must keepe his faith and promise inuiolably, to and with all men, of what estate or qualitie soeuer they be.

6. He must be prouided of Armes and of a Horse well appointed, vnder paine of loosing the title of his Knighthood.

7. And on the same perill he standeth, if he be seene mounted on his Mule, with∣out his Band, and Sword.

8. He is not to make any complaint of wounds by him receiued in war: neither is to vaunt of his valour and manhood.

9. He is not to make any account, if he be mockt, scorned or railed on by any body: but to haue all his carriage discreete and graue, and wholly measured by the leuell of honestie.

10. He is not to vse any Gaming at Cards or Dice: and must not pawne or en∣gage his Habits, Armes or Horse.

11. He must be courteous towards Ladies and Gentlewomen, to whom he shall performe honor and seruice, to his vttermost power.

12. If any quarrell happen between him and another Knight of the Band, he stan∣deth bound, to commit it to the Arbitrement of other Knights of the Band, such as shall be appointed thereto.

13. Any Knight that vsurpeth to weare the Band, without hauing receiued it from the Kings hand; shall stand engaged, to defend himselfe against two Knights of the Order of the Band. And if it so happen, that he haue the victorie; he may lawfully keep and maintaine it: but if he be vanquished, he shall be banished from the Court.

14. Euery strange Knight, that winneth the prize either in Iousts, Tourneyes, or other Actions of Armes, against the Knights of the Band; shall be receiued and ad∣mitted into the Order.

15. Any Knight of the Band, that setteth hand to his Sword against another Knight of the same Order; shall be banished the Court for two Moneths space, and during the time of two other Moneths after; he shall weare but an halfe Band. But if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wound his Companion; he shall remaine imprisoned halfe a yeare, and is to be ba∣nished the Count for another halfe yeare.

16. The King onely is to be Iudge for the Knights of the Band.

17. All the Knights of the Band stand obliged to accompany the King, at all times and as he shall goe to warres.

18. The Knights of the said Order shall weare the Band, when they march in wa•• against the Moores onely: but if their seruice shall be required any where else, then they are to abstaine from wearing it.

19. All Knights of the Band, are to meete together three seuerall times in the

yeare, that they may speake to the King, for those things which necessarily con∣••••rne the Order; when it is to bee appointed by the King, that they shall bee all ••ell mounted and armed. And those Assemblies or meetings are to bee in the ••onthes of Aprill, September, and at Christmasse.

20. They are to exercise Iousts, Ioco de Canna and Pikes, also to mannage their ••orses, on such dayes as are ordained for them.

21. No Knight shall remaine in the Court, without seruing some Lady or Gent∣••••woman; to enioy her in Marriage, or otherwise in honor.

22. All Knights of the Band, are bound to be present at such Tourneyes; as shall ••e performed within Ten Miles of the Court.

23. If it so happen, that a Knight of the Bande, doe marry within Twenty ••iles distance from the Court; the other Knights are to keepe him company, and ••onour his Spouse with Presents, yea, and to performe actions of Armes, as it be∣••ommeth Knights to doe.

24. All the first Sundayes of euery Moneth, the Knights are to bee present at ••••e Pallace, and in the Great Hall Royall, to exercise all kindes of Armes before ••••e King▪ yet without any malice, spleene or heate of choler, but onely in louing ••anner to exercise their Armes.

25. Any Knight sickning, or being neere to death, is to be visited, exorted ••••d comforted by his Companions: And after his decease, the said Compani∣••ns are to bee assisting at his Funeralls, and to weare mourning the space of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Moneth, in which Moneth they are to abstaine from Iousts and sports of ••rmes.

26. The Band of the Knight deceased, shall bee deliuered to the King by the o∣••••er Knights, who must intercede and moue his Maiesty, that one of the deceased ••nights Sonnes may be receiued into their Order, or to obtaine of him some gift ••nd recompence to his Widow, for her more honourable maintenance in the de∣••••ee of Nobility, or for Marriage of her Daughters.

This Order the first Chapter whereof was held in the City of Bourgos, and the ••eare of the Institution) was obserued by the same King of Castile, last of the name:* 1.4 ••ho gaue it (within a while after) to his foure Sonnes, and to fifteene other Knights ••nly, to make vp the number of Twenty persons.

His Sonnes were

• Dom Pedro, King of Castile and Leon, Sirnamed the Cruell.
• ...Dom Henry.
• Dom Ferdinand; And
• ...Dom Telio.

Of the Fifteene, the first man was Dom Pero Fernandez de Castro, Great Maister ••f the Hostell to the King Alphonso, and Knight of Saint Iames, the most valiant ••ord that was then in all Spaine: who was the man that put on the Kings ••••ght Spurre; (I meane the King Alphonso) when he was made Knight of the Bande.

And the other was Dom Lewes de la Cerda, who was Sonne to the Infant of Ca∣••••ile that did put on the left Spurre. According as it is obserued by the Count of ••ansar••te in the first Booke of his Nobility, the Hundred and Eleauenth Chapter, ••nd these are his wordes.

Despues en el Anno de 1330. quando el Rey Don Alanso instituyo la Orden de la Vanda, ••fue armado Cauallero en la Iglesia de Sanct Iago en Bourgos: la calcaron las Espuelas Dom ••ero de Castro, y Dom Luys de la Cerda hijo de l'Infante Dom Alanso. Y quando el Rey ••••mo Caualleros à los ricos hombres, el Primero fue Dom Pero Fernandez de Castro. El qual ••uego que recebio la Orden de Vanda, la dio y armo à otros catorze Caualleros. And heere ••ollow the Fifteene Knights.

••t the First Chapter were made these Fifteene Knights.

• ...••Ero Fernandez de Castro.
• ...Iean Nugnez.
• ...••enry Henriquez.
• ...Alphonce Fernand Cornel.
• ...Lopez Dias d'l Amasan.
• ...Ferdinand Perez Porto Carrero.
• ...Charles de Gueuara.
• ...Ferdinand Henriquez.
• ...Aluarez Garcia d'Albornoz.
• ...

• ...Garcia Ioffrey Tenorio.
• ...Iean Esteuanes.
• ...Diego Garcia de Tolede.
• ...Martin Alphonce de Cardone.
• Concales Ruy de la Vegua, &
• Iean Alphonce de Benauides.

At the Second Chapter were made these twenty Knights.

• ...GArcia Laso de la Vega.
• ...Ferdinand Garcia Duque.
• ...Garcia Fernandez Tello.
• ...Pero Goncal d'Aguero.
• ...Iean Alphonce Cariello.
• ...Inigo Lopez Horosco.
• ...Garcia Guttierres de Caruaiall.
• ...Guttierre Fernandez de Tolede.
• ...Diego Fernandez de Castiello.
• ...Pero Ruys de Villegas.
• ...Alphonce Fernandez Iueze.
• ...Ruy Goncalez de Castagneda.
• ...Ruy Ramirez de Guzman.
• ...Sance Martinez de Leyua.
• ...Iean Goncalez de Bacan.
• ...Pero Trillo.
• ...Suero Perez de Quignones.
• ...Goncalo Mexia.
• Ferdinand Cariello, &
• ...Iean de Roias.

At the Third Chapter, these Seauenteene Knights.

• ...PEro Aluarez Osorio.
• ...Pero Perez de Padilla.
• ...Gil de Quintagna.
• ...Iean Roderiguez de Villagas.
• ...Diego Perez Sarmiento.
• ...Mendo Rodriguez de Viezma.
• ...Iean Fernandez Cornell.
• ...Iean de Ceruezela.
• ...Iean Roderiguez de Cisneroz:
• ...Oreion de Liebana.
• ...Iean Fernandez Delgadillo.
• ...Gomez Capiello.
• ...Beltran de Gueuara.
• ...Iean Tenorio.
• ...Obierto de Tordesillas.
• Iean Fernandez de Bahamon; &
• ...Alphonce Tenorio.

At the Institution of this Order, there were none receiued or entertained, b•••• men of the most noble and Famous Families of Spaine, the greater part where of are gone and expired. But the rest haue conserued themselues in Honour and great wealth,* 1.5 euen to this instant. As the Velasques, Manriques, Pimentels, M••n∣dosaes, de Cordua, Pacheco, d'Estuniga, Faiardos, Aurellanos, Tendillas, Cueuas, Andri∣das, Fonsecas, Luna, Villandrado, Stomayores, and others at this present illustrious i•• Spaine, whom they tearme Grandes: who haue permission to couer their heads in the Chamber of the King of Spaine.

This Order was continued by the Successors, Sonnes and Descendants of the said Alphonso, King of Leon and Castile, last of the name. For vnder the Reigne of King Iohn, First of the name, the Emperour Sigismond hauing made a Voyage into Spaine,* 1.6 to the end of mediating the quietnesse of the Church, then troubled with a Schisme betweene the Kings of Arragon, Portugall and Castile: the same King Iohn gaue this Order to some Princes and Lords, attending in the traine of the said Em∣perour Sigismond, as Garibay hath related in his History.

And concerning this Order of the Bande, the memories thereof are to bee found in most part of the noble Houses of Spaine, as well in Castile and Leon, as in Portu∣gall, Arragon and Nauarre, in the Armes charged with Bandes, some of Gueules or of Synople, and the Mettals & Colours retained in the noble Science of Herauldry, the most part of which Armes haue the Bande held and supported by two Leopard•• mouthes, which they tearme Dragantes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  L'Ordre de la Band••, & de l'Escharpe Rouge.
• * 1.2

  The time of the Institution
• * 1.3

  The Knights to be entertained.
• * 1.4

  The First Knights of the Order, and the First Chapter.
• * 1.5

  Two noble Families yet remaine of this Order.
• * 1.6

  The Emperour Sigismonds comming in∣to Spayne.