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.

CHAP. I. Concerning the Orders Militarie, which haue bin Instituted by the Popes of Rome.

OVr purpose was not,* 1.1 to vse any discourse of Monasticall Or∣ders, but onely such as were Militarie. Our most Holy Fa¦thers the Popes, Soueraigne Princes Temporall, concerning the Patrimonie of Saint Peter, and the dependances there∣on, to honour Princes and Lords their Subiects, in the exten∣dure of the State, and their Ordenarie attending Officers: haue at sundry times established diuers Orders of Knights. The first whereof were them

Of Iesus Christ, Instituted in Auignion, by Pope Iohn,* 1.2 two and ••••entieth of the name, he being a Natiue of Cahors in Cahourcy, Anno One thou∣••••nd three hundred and twentie, the fourth yeare of his Pontificalitie. They did ••eare a Crosse of Gold plaine, enamelled with Red, shut vp or enclosed within an∣••ther Crosse Pattee d'Or, of the same fashion; but the enamelling differed from that ••rder of Christus in Portugall,

Of the Holy Ghost, acknowledged at Rome vnder the name of Bretheren of the Hospi∣••••ll of the Holy Ghost; which was Instituted by Pope Paul, second of the name,* 1.3 in the ••eare of Grace One thousand foure hundred threescore & eight, the fift of his Pon∣ficalitie. And these Knights ware a Crosse formie or pattee, White.

Of Saint George,* 1.4 Instituted by Pope Alexander, sixt of the name, in the yeare One ••••ousand foure hundred fourescore and eighteene, the ninth of his Pontificalitie. ••hey did carrie a Crosse of Gold, entowred with a wreath made in forme of a Crowne, of the same

Of Saint Peter,* 1.5 to warre and fight against the Turkes, and to guard and defend their ••ourses on the Sea-coasts, for the State of the Church. It was Instituted by Pope ••e••, tenth of the name, in the yeare One thousand fiue hundred and twenty, the ••••xt of his Pontificalitie. They did weare (within an Ouale of Gold) the Image of ••aint Peter, at the end of a Tortis of Chaines of Gold. There haue bin seene foure ••undred Knights of this Order, at one and the same time.

Of Saint Paul,* 1.6 established by Pope Paul, third of the name, in the yeare of Grace ••ne thousand fiue hundred and fortie, the thirteenth of his Pontificalitie. He made ••wo hundred Knights during the rest of his time of keeping the State.

The Pies,* 1.7 ordained by Pope Pius, fourth of the name, in the yeare One thousand ••••ue hundred and threescore the first of his Pontificalitie, which continued but sixe

yeares onely. During which time, he made to the number of fiue hundred and thir∣tie fiue Knights. At Rome, or in any place wheresoeuer he was in person; he would haue them to goe before the Knights of the Empire, and of Malta. And they had the charge of carrying the Pope; at such time as he roade abroade in publique.

Of Lauretum, or Lauretto, Instituted by the Pope Sixtus Quintus, in the yeare One thousand fiue hundred fourescore and seauen, the second of his Pontificalitie; for whom he erected the Church of our Lady at Loretta, to be a Cathedrall and Bishops Church. He made (during his time of keeping the Chaire) two hundred and three∣score Knights.

All which (as well as the rest) are called Cheualiers Dorez, hauing permission to beare Armes, Au Tymbre tarre de front, the Sword and guilt Spurres: Honors which the Popes conferred a well to them there of the Sword, as of the long Roabe, knowne by the name of Counts Palatines,* 1.8 all being at Wadges and Pensions of the Popes, that granted their degrees of Knighthood. Giuing them also priuiledge, to cre∣ate and aduance Doctors in all Faculties, of Scribes and publique Notaries, yea, and to Legitimate Bastards, as the Emperours did.

* 1.9At Rome likewise there are Knights Hospitaliers of Saint Anthony, and the most part of them French, who albeit they are of the Church; yet notwithstanding, they stile themselues Knights of Saint Ant••ony, the Chiefe of this Order is at Vienna in Daul∣phine. The Generall of this Order beareth the title of Abbot of Saint Anthony of Vienna, who hath vnder his obedience a great number of hospitals and Preceptories, beside great goods in France▪ which are in the guard and protection of our Kings, whereof I haue seene the confirmatiue Patents from King to King, from Charles, fift of the name, vnto King Lewes the thirteenth, now reigning; whose Patents bear•• date the third day of Iuly, in the yeare One thousand sixe hundred and eighteene, verified in Parliament in the moneth of September following, the same yeare.

By which Patents, our Kings carrie the qualitie of Daulphines of Viennois, of Va∣lentinois and Diois.* 1.10 The Principals of this Order doe weare on their Gownes, Cloakes and blacke Cassockes a double Saint Anth••nies Crosse, that is to say, two letters T. T. the one vpon the other of Blew Sattin, whereby is signified Thana∣tos, Thanatos, Mors, Mors, the meanest persons weare onely but one. The Holy An∣chorites, liuing in the Desarts of Thebes in A••gypt, and vnder the Rules of the Fathers of Hermites Saint Paul and Saint Anthony, went cloathed in Greene, that is to say, garments wouen of Palme tree leaues,* 1.11 the habites of Slaues and miserable persons; wearing on the ••reast the Crosse of Saint Anthony, to declare, that they were dead to the World. The Greeke Calloyers, of the Order of Saint Basile, were cloathed after the Friers Minimes, very obscurely, and vpon their breast they wore the dou∣ble Crosse of Saint Anthony, the vppermost whereof was Red▪ and that vnderneath wholly Blacke; as we learne in the Grecian Ecclesiasticall Histo••y, and by Niceph••∣rus Gregoras, in the life of the Emperour Andronicus, who was sho••ne a Monke. And heretofore, Abbots, carried no other Crosse then a Staffe, the top whereof began in shape like to Saint Anthonies Crosse.

In like manner, there are in some Cities of Italie, as at Bologna, Modena, & elsewhere, Knights of the Virgin Mary.* 1.12 The learned Carolus Sigonius, in his Booke De Regno ••••∣liae, maketh mention of this Order of Knights, Of the Virgin Mary, in obseruing the first Founder thereof, and such as were enrouled with him. In the yeare One thou∣sand two hundred thirty three, Brother Bartholmew, Bishop of Vicenca, of the Order of the Friers Preachers, Instituted this Order, and caused it to be confirmed by Pope Vrbane, fourth of the name, in the yeare One thousand two hundred threescore and two. The Knights of this Order followed the Rule of Saint Dominicke, wearing A White Cassocke, and vpon the breast Vne Croix pattee Rouge, à Deux Estoiles en Chef de m••sme, and ouer the Cassocke, a Cloake of Ashes Gray colour.

* 1.13Their profession was, to take perticular care of Widowes and Orphanes. And vnderstanding of any houshold variance, to happen betweene the Husband and his wife, about some perticular rancor or quarell: they endeauoured (so much as possibly they could to plant peace & reconcilement, which is a work of charity, & by S. Paul often commended. They had neither Conuent nor Monastery, to liue there, but each

••an dwelt in his owne house, with his wife and Familie: and therefore (by way of ••ockerie) they were called The Bretheren of Ioye. They acknowledged to haue ouer ••em a Great Maister, to whom they were obedient.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Pope Lord of Saint Peters Patri∣moni••▪
• * 1.2

  Order of Iesus Christ.
• * 1.3

  Of the Holy Ghost.
• * 1.4

  Of S. George.
• * 1.5

  Of S. Peter.
• * 1.6

  Of S. Paul.
• * 1.7

  Of the Pie••.
• * 1.8

  The power and authority of these knights
• * 1.9

  The Hospita∣ble Knights of S. Anthony.
• * 1.10

  Titles giuen to the Kings o•• France by Patents.
• * 1.11

  The Anchorite Hermits of Aegypt.
• * 1.12

  Knights of the Virgin Mary.
• * 1.13

  The matters p••••fess••d by this Order.