The booke of honor and armes

Other degrees of Knighthood in England. CAP. 8.

THree other sorts of Knights there are in Eng∣land: but because they weare no garment, badge or signe to shewe the difference of their degree from other Gentlemen, they are not noted or known to strangers for Knights. Yet among our selues wee knowe them right well: for euerie man hauing that dignitie is called Sir. As Sir Thomas, Sir Iohn, Sir Wil∣liam, &c.

But here is to be noted, that Knights are not borne, but made, either before a Battaile to encourage them to aduenture their liues, or after the fight, as an ad∣uancement for their valour then shewed: or out of warre they are made for some notable seruice done, or some good hope of vertues that doo appeare in them.

These Knights are made either by the King him∣selfe, or by his commission and royall authoritie gi∣uen for that purpose, or by his Liutenant in the wars, who hath his royall & absolute power for that time. And this order may be resembled to that which the Romanes called Equites Romanos, differing in a sort, but in some other sort doth agree with it: for seldome in all poynts one Common wealth doth agree with an other, nor long any State accordeth with it selfe. Equi∣tes Romani were chosen ex Censu, which is according to their substance and riches: Euen so be Knights in England for the most part, according to the yearely re∣uenew

of their lands, being able to mainteine that e∣state: yet all they that had Equestrem Censum, were not in Rome Equites: no more are all Knights in England that may dispend a Knights land or fee, but they on∣lie to whom it pleaseth the King to giue that honor. In Rome the number of Equites was vncerteine, and so is it of Knights in England at the pleasure of the Prince.

Equites Romani had Equum publicum, but the Knights of England find horses themselues both in peace and warre. Census Equester among the Romanes was at di∣uers times of diuers valewe: but in England, who so euer may dispend of his free lands fortie pounds star∣ling of yearely reuenew, by an old lawe, either at the Coronation of the King, or mariage of his daughter, or at the dubbing of the Prince, Knight, or some such great occasion, may bee by the King compelled to take that order and honor, or to pay a fine: which many rich men, not so desirous of honor as of riches, had rather disburse. Some also who for good respect are not thought worthie that title, and yet haue abili∣tie, neither bee made Knights though they would, and yet pay the fine of fortie pounds starling, which (as siluer is now prised) is 120. pound currant monie. Wherof this word Knight is deriued: or whether it signifieth no more but that which Miles doth in La∣tin, which is Soldier, I know not. Some hold opiniō that the word Soldier doth betoken a waged or hie∣red man to fight. Caesar in his Commentaries called Soldiers, men deuoted and sworne by band or oath to serue the Capteine: which order if the Almaines did followe, it may bee that they who were not hiered,

but being of the Nation vppon their owne charges and for their aduancement, and by such common oath and band that did followe the warre, were (per∣haps) called Knights or Milites: and now among the Almaines some are called Lance-Knights, as Soldiers not hiered, although they bee well neere all hiered. Or it may bee that they which were next about the Prince, as his Gard and seruants, picked and choyse men out of the rest, being called in the Almaine tung Knighten, which is as much to say as Seruants: these men being found of good seruice, the word after∣ward was taken for an Honor, & for a man that pro∣fesseth Armes. Now our language is so altered, that hard it were to giue iudgement thereof. But sure it is, wee in our English doo call him Knight, whom the French doo call Cheualier, and the Latin Equitem, or Equestris ordinis.

Touching the making of these English Knights: the manner is this. Hee that is to be made Knight, is striken by the Prince with a Sword drawne, vpon his backe or shoulder: the Prince saying, Soys Cheualier, and in times past was added S. George. And when the Knight riseth, the Prince saith, Auancé. This is the manner of dubbing Knights at this present: and that terme dubbing was the old terme in this poynt, and not creating. These sorts of Knights, are by the Here∣haults called Knights Batchelers.

Of Knights of the Bath.

AT the Coronation of a King or Queene there are made Knights of the Bath, with long and curious Ceremonies, whereof I am not perfectly enformed.

Of Knights Bannerets.

THese Knights are made in the field onlie, with the Ceremonie of cutting away the point of his Stan∣derd, and making it as it were a Banner: he being be∣fore a Batcheler Knight, shall then become of greater degree, allowed to display his Armes in a Banner, as Barons do: and the wiues of all these three degrees of Knights shall be called Ladies, as Barons wiues are.