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.

At what time the Order of Poland and of the White Eagle was Instituted, and by whom.

NOw, as concerning the Order of Polonia, otherwi•••• called Of the White Eagle: It was Instituted by the King La••islaus, fift of the name, Sirnamed Lokter;* 1.1 at the marriage of his Sonne Cazimire the Great, with Anne the Daughter of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Duke of Lithuania, in the Moneth of February, the yeare of Grace One thousand three hundred twenty and fiue.

And because all Kings, Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes, ought (of meere neces∣s••tie, and as an especiall Article of their abilitie) to know the nature of all Creatures,* 1.2 Trees, Plants and Houres, yea and of all things belonging to Nature, and concer∣ned in Armes, from the Royall Eagle, so low as to the Ante, from the huge Leuia∣than of Whale of the Sea, to the blinde Moale, and from the Ceders of Lybanus, to the humble Hisop••, that they may yeelde the better answere to Kings and Princes, for emblazoning of apt Armes to newly ennobled Gentlemen. It cannot vary much from our purpose, to touch (as we walke on) the nature and properties of the Eagle. Whereon ••o we are the more willingly induced, in regard that the Armes of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••r Auncestours, Lords de la My-voye in Vermandois of their owne Race; and o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 d Ara••lay; and of the Montils in Gaslinois, by Alliance of Geneuiefue de l'Isle (Daughter to Raymond de L'Isle, Qui portoit d Argent à deux Lyons passants l'vn sa•• autre de Sable; And of Iane le Sommeilier, Lady de la Chappelle d'Arablay, & des Mont••s, Qui portoit d'Or Escartele de Gueulles) next vnto our Great Grandfather Con∣••ria ••nne, a Germaine Gentleman, borne in the Citie of Treuers (who came to be Houshold Seruant to King Lewes, eleauenth of the name, being then Daulphine, after the Battaile of Basile, wonne by him against the Switzers in the Moneth of August, the yeare of Grace One thousand foure hundred forty foure) whose Armes are

D'Or, à la Croix d'Azur, chargee en Coeur d'vn Croissant d'Argent, & Cantonnee de quatre Aigles droicts, & tournez de Sable, Coronnez, Armez, & Lampassez de Gueulles, Deux Sauuages pour Supports & Tenants; & p••ur Cimier, l'Aigle de Sable Coronne, Arme, & Lampasse de Gueulles.

It was an auncient Prouerbe vsed among the Crecians. That the Eagles flight is quite contrary to that of the Partridge; And the Hauke is sharper sighted then the Ant. Like∣wise the Romaines held it for an vndoubted Maxime, that

Non generant Aquilae Columbam.

* 1.3The Greekes and Romaines made vse of these Prouerbs, thereby to expresse the ex∣cellencie of the Eagle. And the Poet Euripides, hath left vs in writing; That all Birds in generall are Heraulds and Messengers of the Gods: but the Eagle is the King, the Truch∣man and Interpreter of the great God Iupiter. In like manner, he participateth of the Diuinitie, according to the testimony of Aristotle, in the subtiltie of his sight, behol∣ding the Sunne fixedly; in the strength of his Wings and Tallons; as also in diutur∣nitie of life, by a long and large time of yeares.

Aquilae maximo honos, maxima & vis.

And like as among the sixe sorts of Eagles, the most excellent is that which is the blackest in colour: euen so the Kings of Armes doe imploy in Armes this Sunnie Creature,* 1.4 with two Mettals, and foure colours, but the richest of all other in Blazon is L'Escu d'Or à l'Aigle de Sable: For the blacke Eagle is aboue all other kindes. He is called by the Greekes, Meneletos, and by the Romaines, Valeria, of lesse corpulence then all the other, but endued with valiancie aboue the rest, and singuler pietie to∣wards his yong ones, because he nourisheth them carefully; being moreouer a Bird altogether truely Royall, peacefull, and without noyse. Minima magnitudine, vi∣ribus Praecipua, colore nigricans. Sola Aquilarum foetus suos alit; caetera fugant, sola fine clangore, sine murmuratione, conuersatur in montibus. Others chase away their yong ones, delighting to liue in lowe and waterie places, hunting after Fish, and feeding on Carrion. The black Eagle euermore maketh his abiding in the height of Moun∣taines, where he may come neerest to the bright beames of the Sunne.

Our auncient French made triall of their Wiues honestie, by casting their yong Infants vpon the Riuer of Rhine: the reuenger of a soyled marriage bed, as we haue already elsewhere said. Euen so in like manner the Royall and Kingly Eagle, ap∣proueth his yong Birds by the Sunnes beames, to gaze vpon them with a fixed eye, which if they doe,* 1.5 he nourisheth them kindely and carefully: but if they turne their heads aside, then he reiecteth them, and disauoweth them to be his. Pullos suos etiam∣num implumes percutiens subinde cogit aduersos intueri Solis radios: & si conniuentem, & flentem animaduerterit, praecipitat è nido velut adulterinum, & degenerem. Illum cuiu•• acies firma contra steterit, educat.

If a yong Eagle may chance to be stolne out of the Nest, it is no meane matter of wonder,* 1.6 to thinke of the knowledge, which he taketh of him that was his nurse and fosterer, and which he will be sure to recompence by hunting, or otherwise, as I haue seene the proofe thereof by experience, in one brought vp in the Bishops House of Menda in Geuaudar. Homer writeth of his Vlisses, that being twenty yeares space absent from his owne House; he could not be knowne, but by his Nurse and his Dogge. But an Eagle knoweth his nursing and foster Father, among an infinite multitude of men: either by his voyce, whereof he taketh notice in some strange manner, or by his walking, which he will be sure to obserue. This creature is endu∣ed with very singuler vnderstanding, and admirable affection towards his Maister; being no way inferiour to the Dogge, the Symbole of faithfulnesse.

* 1.7Plinie, in the second Booke and fift Chapter of his Naturall History, reporteth meruailes concerning the Eagle of Sestos, nourished from his Nest by a yong Maide, that kept him to sport abroad on hunting. This faire Maide deceasing, was brought to the pile of wood to be burnt, according to the auncient custome obserued by the Greekes and Romaines, in the manner of their Funerall Obsequies. The dead Maides body was attired all in white Linnen, soft, sweete and delicate, her Head crowned with a goodly Chaplet of Floures, and her body thickly strewed with Floures of all kindes. The Priests and the Inhabitants were cloathed in fine white Linnen Albes,

tuckt vp vnder their girdles vpon

[illustration]

their hippes, their Heads likewise crowned with Floures, bearing branches of Palme & other greene trees in their hands. The body be∣ing laid vpon the flaming Pile, per∣fumed with the purest Arabian Spi∣ces, the Ea••le (hauing bin touring aloft all this while, houering and fanning his faire Wingges ouer the Corps, euen as if he performed some Ayne Ceremonie thereto:) At length he descended gently down∣ward, and lighted directly on the Damosels Brest, where he suffered himself to be burnt and consumed, as bearing her faithfull company in death,* 1.8 euen as before he had done ••n life. Percelebris est apud Seston ••rbem Aquilae gloria. Educatum à Virgine retulisse gratiam, Aues pri∣••, mox deinde venatus aggeren∣••em. Defuncta postremo in rogum ac∣••ensum eius iniecisse sese, & simul ••nfligrasse. Our French Lucreti∣••s delighteth himselfe vpon this ••dmirable Historie (which deser∣••eth to be painted, after the aun∣••ient manner, on the Royall high ••ayes of the King) in the fift day ••f his first Weeke. Saying, that ••he Maide being brought to the ••ile:

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. L'Aigle de loing la suit Et tirassant par l'air ses sanglantes entrailles, Honore d'vn Conuoy deux tristes funerailles. Le funebre Vulcan n'a si tost entamé A slots s'entresuiuants le corps de l'Aigle aimé, Qu'elle iette le sien, qui tout en sang distille Plus vistement qu'vn traict sur la bruslante pile: Et bien qu'il soit cent fois, & cent fois repoussê Par le baston sacrè du Prestre courroucè, Il cherche toutefois la plus espoisse flame, Et chantant doucement vn obseque à sa Dame, Il se brusle soy-mesme, & mesle heureusement Ses os auec les os aimez sicherement.

The English.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Farre-off the Eagle followes; And tearing forth in th'Ayre his bloudy entrailes▪ With Conuoye honoreth two sad Funerals. No sooner had his Vulcande-beake made way For flowing bloudy streames; And euery Spraye Flaming about the Corps: But the louing Foule (Lauish in blouds expence, life to controule;) Most swiftly lights vpon the flaming Pile. And though th'offended Priest striues all this while

To beate him thence; yet to the thick'st hot fire Boldly he gets, and singing his desire To his lou'd Lady, to fill vp the Quire There burnes himselfe, and blendeth happily His bones with hers, that lou'd him tenderly.

* 1.9Plinie in the former alleadged passage hath written; That Eagles doe sooner dye by famine, then they can by age. Mens liues are growne to be very short, for their vn∣thankefulnesse, and lacke of knowing God aright, who hath giuen them their be∣ing: for, instead of following his Commandements, they doe the quite contrary, addicting themselues to all vices, so that he which liueth least time in the world, doth commit the lesse offences. Beasts and other Creatures, vncapable of reason, haue longer time of life, with meanes to conserue themselues as long therein, as the price and guerdon of their naturall innocency, so doth Hesiodus informe vs in this manner:

Neuf Hommes vid la Corneille criarde, Le Cers autant quatre fois vif se garde, Le Corbeau noir si longuement vieillit Que de trois Cerfs les vies il emplit; Et le Phoenix de neuf Corbeaux egale Les Iours.

The same in English.

To nine mens liues attaines the bawling Crowe, To foure as many liues the Hart doth grow. The blacke hewde Rauen wins as long a date, As those Harts fulfill in vtmost fate. Nine Rauens liues the Phoenix equalleth In length of dayes, &c.

The Eagle is likewise of very long life, as approaching neerest to the proprietie of the Phoenix, which reuiueth it selfe, and gaineth new being and subsistance, with∣in the limits of a iust appointed Age; as we haue more at large discoursed in our third Booke,* 1.10 in the Tract Of the memorable Order of the Holy-Ghost. For Saint Augustine, (without equall in knowledge and learning) doth instruct vs, that from ten yeares to ten yeares the Eagle reuiueth himselfe, getting new Feathers, bathing himselfe diuers dayes in the Sea, or else in some Spring or Fountaine, onely to humect and moisten his body, to cast his inwards and old feathers, to be newly bedewed and sprinkled with fresh bloud, warmed with the ardent heate of the Sunne, the Father and conseruer of naturall heate. So saith the Prophet Esay, speaking of good men, tormented in the tepestuous Sea of the world, yet reposing all their trust in God. Qui sp••r••nt ••n D••mino mut ••bunt fortitudinem, assumerit pennas sicut Aquilae.

That which is most discommodious and hurtfull to the Eagle, is the vpper part of his Beake, which so crooketh and intricateth it selfe ouer the nether iawe, as he cannot take in any ordenary sustenance. And that is the reason, why he knocketh, bruiseth and breaketh this excrescence of his Beake or Hawkelike nose, with many stroakes and blowes, redoubled against a hard Rocke, as beaten on an Anuile, there∣by making it to be new and yong againe. For so say the Rabbines and Masscrets▪ expounding the fift Verse of the hundred and third Psalme,* 1.11 speaking of the man that putteth his trust in God. Renouabitur, sicut Aquilae, Iuuentus Iusti; Making the•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and lus••••, a•• an Eagle. His age shall be more greene and flourishing, then the Spring time of him, that placeth his confidence in the decepts of the world

W•• may hereby perceiue, how the Eagle helpeth and reuengeth himselfe, and 〈…〉〈…〉 Age,* 1.12 when he hath no more strength, to breake the vpper part of his re∣••bed Beake: Superiore in tantum accrescente rostro, vt aduncitas aperiri non que••••▪ ••••p••tunt n••n s••n••o, nec aegritudine, sed fame, so saith Aristotle and Plinius secundus. Be∣side all that hath bin said, this Foule is neuer smitten with thunder and lightning whereto other Animals are subiect, according to the Naturalists: Negant vnou••••

solam hanc alitem fulmine exanimatam. And this was the reason why (according to the Diuiners and Soothsayers of Tuscanie) the Romaines had the Eagle for their Co∣lonell Ensigne and Cornet, which they carried alone in Warre. The other Stan∣dards and Banners of the Wolfe, the Minotaure, Horse and Boare,* 1.13 defending the C••rps du Garde of the Romaine Legions; followed the appointment of Caius Marius, so saith the same Plinie, in the fourth Chapter of his tenth Booke.

God, speaking of himselfe, in a comparison which he made, rather taketh the Ea∣gle, then he would doe any other Bird, promising to the people of Israel, that if they would walke in the pathes of vertue: He would couer and beare them to Heauen, as on the Wings of an Eagle, as you may reade in the nineteenth Chapter of Exodus. Vi∣distis vos ipsi quae fecerim Aegyptijs, quomodo po••tauerim vos super alas Aquilarum, & assumpserim mihi. So that if there be any one similitude or comparison of excellen∣cy, throughout the whole Sacred Scripture: it is most plainely seene, that the Eagle beareth in it, the chiefe and eminent rancke of honour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  l'Ordre de Pologne dict de l'Ai••le ••lan••h
• * 1.2

  Duties maine∣ly concerning all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Armes.
• * 1.3

  The excellen∣cy of the ••a∣••le ••boue all other Foules.
• * 1.4

  The blacke Eagle is be∣yond all other Colours.
• * 1.5

  The Eagles proofe of his yong birds.
• * 1.6

  An Eagles knowledge wonderfull.
• * 1.7

  A strange Hi∣story of the Eagle of Se∣stos.
• * 1.8

  The words of Plinie as they are in his Ho∣storie.
• * 1.9

  Famine son∣ner killeth Ea∣gles then age.
• * 1.10

  Naturall pro∣pertie, in the Eagle.
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.13

  The Colonell Ensi••ne of the Romaines.