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.

Order of Poland; called, The Order of the White Eagle.

CHAP. IIII. The Originall and Genealogie of the Kings of Poland.

* 1.1POlonia, a great and spacious Prouince, became so called of the word Pole, which in the Sclauoni••n tongue signifieth A Field or leuell Plaine of Ground, apt and proper for the exercise of Hunting, whereto the Inhabitants being extraordinarily addicted: they were therefore called Polacks, and Polanders, and their Countrey Poland. But by Froissard, and them of his straine Poulaine, as Bohemia Behaigne. By the Romaines, the whole extendure of the Countrey of Poland, Lithuani••, Tartaria, and so farre as to the Lands in the North; was cal∣led Sarmatia, and the Inhabitants Sarmates, a name perticuler, according as that of Scythia was in generall.

* 1.2About the yeare of Grace Fiue hundred and fiftie, two Bretheren, named Leko and Cieko, departing out of Croatia, which made part of Sclauonia (called by the La∣tines Illyria) with a great number of People, enclosed in too narrow a straite: went to seeke their fortune, for larger liberty, and liuing more at ease. They all betooke themselues towards the North and West Summer parts, and after they had trauer∣sed many Woods and Mountaines,* 1.3 to winne the higher gounds of Pannonia, and to vn-intangle themselues from the Forrest Hyrcynia; they made their setled stay in Bo∣hemia, where Cieko was the first Duke thereof.

As for his Brother Leko, hauing got himselfe free from that great Forrest, which Plinie calleth Syluam incompertae magnitudinis, according as we haue elsewhere said: He tooke the North-Starre for his guide and conduct, and found himselfe (at length) to be in the Champaine Fields of Polonia, where hee stucke downe his Staffe (as we vse to say in a common Prouerbe) establishing his principall abiding in a Marshie ground, seated very difficult for any accesse, about sixe miles from the Riuer of Vuarta.* 1.4 Laying the foundation of his purposed dwelling place, at the first stroake of the Pikaxe or Mattocke; was discouered A Nest of yong Eagles, with fine white downie feathers. And of this Nest, which in the Polish language is called Gnas∣do, he would haue the Towne to be built, so named. But in time (which eateth and deuoureth all things) the word was corrupted into that of Guesno, turned by the La∣tines to that of Guesna.

By valour and force of his Armes, he conquered part of Vandalia, as also of Sar∣natia,* 1.5 and caused to be builded a second Towne or Citie, vpon the borders or banks of Visurgis: to which Citie he gaue the name of Brisemia, but afterward called Bres∣ma. And to preserue the memorie of his first aboade and dwelling, in the forena∣med place of Guasda, he tooke for Armes L'Escu du Gueulles à vn Aeigle d'Argent.

It is a matter especially noated by the Naturalists, that Foules or Birds of blacke plumage (such are Eagles and Rauens) being come to their perfection, are all white at their new disclosing.* 1.6 And that Eagles expose their yong ones against the beames of the Sunne, to looke stedfastly vpon his light: and vnderstand by those meanes, whether they be their owne yong, or of other supposed Birds. In the same manner, the Rauens doe forsake and leaue their yong ones, for the space of nine dayes, to try whether they will be vnlike them or no. During which tearme of nine dayes, that these yong creatures are thus abandoned both by Fa∣ther and Mother: God (who hath care of all his creatures) sendeth them Flies, which flying into their gaping mouthes, doth nourish and sustaine them, vntill their

white downie Feathers be changed, and turned blacke, and then they become ac∣knowledged and nourished by their Parents.

This is the Doctrine of the Rabbines, deriued from the eight and thirty Chapter of Iob, King of Edom, and mirrour of patience. Quis praeparat Coruo escam suam, quando P••lli eius clamant ad Deum, vagantes, eo quod non habeant cibos? Who prouideth for the R••••en his foode? when his yong ones cryeth vnto God, they wander for lacke of meate. Whereunto the Royall Psalmist giuing good respect, in his hundred forty and sea∣uenth Psalme, saith, that the Diuine Prouidence Dat Iumentis escam ipsorum▪ & Pul∣lis Coruorum in vocantibus cum. He giueth to the Beast his foode;* 1.7 and to the yong Rauens that cry. Of this Leko, the Polonians were (for very long time) knowne by the name of Lekites; and Poland called the Prouince and Kingdome of the Lekites, yea, euen now at this day in Greece, Tartaria, Russia▪ and diuers other neighbouring Countries.

By the death of Leko, Father of twelue Sonnes, the Polonians, being not growne to agreement, which of them they should take for their Prince and Captaine solely by himselfe: liued vnder the command of those twelue,* 1.8 whom (in a full Assembly of their States, held at Gu••sna, they tooke for their chiefe Lords, and gaue them the name of Vaiuodes, vulgarly called Vaiuodes, that is to say, Captaine of the Warre, and Conducters of Troupes: yet remaining with the Vaiuodes of Walachia, Transyl∣••••nia, Moldauia and others: but at this day it is changed in Poland, to that of Pala∣tine.

These Vaieuodes of Leko, to the number of twelue, gouerned Polonia, about two hun∣dred yeares, when this Family, being quite ended: the ••olanders would no longer haue so many Maisters to please and content. And therefore, about the yeare of Grace Seauen hundred, they elected for their Duke and Prince, one of their owne Nation, named

Craco, who hauing accepted the charge,* 1.9 established his dwelling at a place of his owne Paternall inheritance, a Castle, very highly exalted on the point of a Rocke, called Veluell: And at the foote was erected a small Towne or Citie, vpon the banke of the Riuer Vistula, giuing also this new built Citie his owne name, calling it Cra∣c••uia, at this day the Capitall Citie in the great Kingdome of Poland. Within the hollow wombe and bowels of the Rocke Veluell was the haun•• and repaire of a huge and dreadfull Dragon (as to this denne) which deuoured all the men and beasts he could lay hold on.* 1.10 Vntill such time as the said Cra•••• (valiantly resolued) to send daily into the mouth of the Caue three slaine Beasts, whose bellies he had caused to stuffed with a good quantitie of Pitch, Sulphure and small minced straw. So that within some conuenient time, these combustible matters taking fire in the Dragons entrailes, he dyed not very long after.

After this Craco succeeded his yongest Sonne Lek••, second of the name,* 1.11 third Duke of Poland, slaine by his eldest Brother as hee rode on Hunting, to pos∣sesse himselfe of the Dignitie; from which he was expelled, and the Principalitie giuen to

Venda, Daughter to Duke Craco, and Sister to Leko the second: the Polish word Venda, signifieth a Hooke for a Fisher. This Princesse, shunning and flying from marriage, and thinking to bestow an acceptable gift on her Gods: threw her selfe headlong into the Riuer of Vistula, and by her death, the Polanders elected againe for their Commanders

Twelue Vaiuodes, in manner as before, whose Gouernment being wholly extin∣guished by the Polanders, as altogether tyrannicall and insupportable:* 1.12 In the yeare of Grace, Seauen hundred and threescore, they chose for their Prince and Lord, one of the worthiest among them, famous for valiancy, named

Primislaus, otherwise called Leko, third of the name, who being deceased without any issue, they elected for his Successour

L••••••, fourth of the name, hauing out-run others in the race, wonne a limit pre∣pared to obtaine the Polish Principalitie, whereto hauing attained; he gouerned ve∣ry happily vntill his death, which happened in the yeare of Grace,* 1.13 Eight hundred and fiue. For he was slaine by Charles, Sonne to our King Charlemaigne, sent by his Father into Bohemia and Poland, to make head against, and to represse the Nations

descending into Saxonie, which was conquered by the said Charlemaign. After which Leko succeeded his Sonne

Leko, the fift of that name, who (before his death) ordained Successour his eldest Sonne

Popiellus, called the Auncient, who vsed for his common Oath, and swore conti∣nually; That Rats might and should eate him. He liued but a short time, and left for his Successour his Sonne (being very yong)

Popiellus, second of the name, who was left in the Tutelage and Wardship of one of his Vnckles by the Fathers side. But when he came to the yeares of capacity to Reigne,* 1.14 he caused them all to dye by poison, with the very chiefest Lords of Poland, which outrage and cruelty was reuenged by the hand of Heauen, in very strange and wonderfull manner. For, out of the dead empoysoned bodies; issued such a huge number of Rats; as violently intruded themselues into the Dukes Pallace, es∣pecially (contrary to their nature) by swimming ouer a great Meere or Pond of Wa∣ter, in the very midst whereof Popiellus the Auncient had caused to be builded a goodly Castell and Dongeon, by him named Cruswicke. They fed vpon him, and deuoured him aliue, with his Children and Wife, by whose wicked counsell, he had put so to death the Lords of Poland.

By this exemplarie death of him, happening in the yeare of Grace, Eight hun∣dred twenty three; there was some time of Interregnum, which lasted so long, as till (by common consent) the Polacks elected for their Prince a poore man, named

* 1.15Piastus, whose descent gouerned Poland a long extendure of yeares, euen vntill the time of Casimire the second, Sirnamed the Great. This Piastus liued sixscore yeares, and Reigned (almost) threescore of them, leauing for Successour his onely Sonne

Ziemouitius, who Reigned One and thirtie yeares, and left the State to his Sonne

Leko, sixt of the name, Father of his Sonne and Successour.

Zemomislaus, Father of

* 1.16Mi••cislaus, the first Christian Duke of Poland. Before whose Reigne, the Polacks had for their Gods the Sunne and the Moone a Tree, a Serpent, or any thing where∣upon they first fixed liking. But this man hauing espoused Dambrowca, Daughter to Boleslaus, Duke of Bohemia, who was a Christian: embraced Christianity in the yeare of Grace Nine hundred threescore and fiue. He established in his principali∣ty nine Bishopricks, two whereof were raised to be Metropolitane Sees and Arch∣bishopricks, as namely Guesna and Cracouia. The first Archbishop of Cracouia, named Lambert,* 1.17 was sent to Pope Benedict, seauenth of the name, to render him due obedi∣ence, as vniuersall Father of the Christians, Successour to Saint Peter, and said to be chiefe Vicare to our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ on earth: And withall, to entreate his Holinesse, that he would bestow on Miecislaus, the name and title of King. But during the time of this voyage or embassie, the said Prince Miecislaus, chanced to dye, hauing reigned fiue and thirty yeares, in Anno Nine hundred foure∣score and nineteene.

Vnder this Duke, the Polish Nobilitie hauing embraced Christianitie, began the Custome,* 1.18 long time afterward exercised in Poland, to vn-sheath their Swords, and hold them aloft with their points vpward, when the Priest went to sing the Gospell, and put them vp againe into their Scabbards, after they had heard Gloria tibi Domine. This was thus done as a signe or token, that they were all readily prepared to fight, and spend their Blood to the very latest drop, for defence of the Christian Faith. Next after this Duke Mieceslaus, succeeded his Sonne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the Country grew to be so named at the first.
• * 1.2

  Of the two Bretheren Leko and Cieko, & their people.
• * 1.3

  Cieko the first Duke of Bo∣hemia▪
• * 1.4

  Strange fin∣ding a Nest of yong Eagles.
• * 1.5

  Two Cities built by Leko in memory of his fir••t abi∣ding.
• * 1.6

  An especiall obseruation of the Natur••list.
• * 1.7

  Poland called the Kingdome of the L••kites.
• * 1.8

  Leko his twel•••• Sonnes.
• * 1.9

  The first Duke of Po••nd a••∣t•• the Va••••¦••es.
• * 1.10

  Duke Cra••o of whom the Ci∣tie of Cra••••uia t••oke na••e.
• * 1.11

  Leko the se∣cond, murde∣red by his el∣der brother.
• * 1.12

  Vaiuedes ele∣cted againe as Gouernours.
• * 1.13

  Charles Son to King Charle∣maigne s••ew Leko the fourth
• * 1.14

  A wonderfull iudg••ment of God inflicted on a cruell and bloudy Duke.
• * 1.15

  Poore Piastus & his de••cent Dukes of Po∣land for many yeares.
• * 1.16

  The Polac••s were Idolaters before their first Christian Duke Mieci∣slaus.
• * 1.17

  The first Arch∣bishop of Cra∣couia.
• * 1.18

  A C••stome long time pra∣ctise•• in Po∣land, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de∣fence of Chri∣stian Religion.