SECT. IV. Of the modern Degrees of Knighthood.

*AND first, concerning those whom some call Monozoni, that is, Knights be∣girt with the Military Girdle; a custom devolved to the Germans, and Gauls, from ancient time, and from them to later Ages.

Our learned Countryman Sir Henry Spelman notes, oThat the later Emperors conferr'd the Dignity of Knighthood with the military Girdle, instead of all other Arms; because that part, more eminent amongst them, girdeth, supporteth, and adorneth the rest. Whence our learned Selden calls this girding, pthe most essential part of the Ceremony. Nor do we find, that among the various Ceremonies belonging to Knighthood, there have been any (to the later ages) that hath continued so con∣stant and frequent in practice, as the endowing with Girdle and Sword: Orna∣ments indeed most proper to the Knightly Dignity, and marks of Honor and Virtue,Page  13 with which the Statues and Portraitures of Knights have been adorned after death; is may be seen on divers of their Monuments and Grave-Stones.

For as at this day, Knights are in some places stiled Equites Aurati, from the golden Spurs, heretofore put on at their Creation; so were they more anciently Cingulo militari donati▪ or (according to the old word used by Bracton) sRingae Gladiis; in regard that when any one was Knighted, he was not (as in this Age) only smitten with the Sword, but invested with Sword and Belt. Nor is this Ceremony wholly lost, since it is retained among those, ap∣pointed to be used at the creating our Knights of the Bath; who are to be girt with a Sword and Belt, when they receive the aforesaid Honor, as the old For∣mulary thus hath it. tThen shall the King, of his great favour, take the Sword, and gird the Esquire therewith.

In the second place (taking leave to rank those following degrees of Knight∣hood here mentioned,* according to their antiquity, not the precedence they have since gained) the Baccalaurei or Knights Batchelors, are to be consider∣ed; who are also indifferently stiled Chevaliers, Milites, Equites Aurati, and Knights.

This degree is truly accounted with us, uthe first of all military dignity, and the basis and foundation of all Honors in our Nation; and is certainly derived from if not the same, with that immediately preceding. For as the Ceremony of a gentle touch on the shoulder, with the flat side of the Sword, hath been since used, instead of endowing with the Sword and Belt (especially in times of War, or in haste) as an initiation into the Military Order; so on the contrary, it is not un∣usual, now adays, for the Prince, at least Gladio, if not Cingulo donare; for he of∣tentimes bestows the Sword upon the person whom he Knighteth.

The Equites had the Epithete of wAurati given them, from the priviledge of wearing Gold upon their Swords and Spurs; and the 265 Knights, created upon Hadrians Bridge at Rome, by Frederick the Third, Emperor of Germany, the 18. of March, Anno Dom. 1451. as he proceeded to the Cathedral Church of St. Iohn de Lateran to be crowned, are by xCiaconius called Equites Aurati; and were in∣deed no other than Knights Batchelors; such were also the yItalian and German Knights, created in the same place, by Sigismond the Emperour, on Whitsunday 1432. as he went to the Lateran from the Vatican, where he had received his Crown from Pope Eugenius the Fourth.

And here we have an occasion offer'd, to insert the distinction which Andrew Tiraquel puts between those Knights, who are, and who are not noble before they receive that dignity; allowing the later the Title of Equites Aurati, and to the former that of Milites.aFor (saith he) it is to be observed, that those whom we in the French Tongue call Chevaliers, were made noble assoon as they attain'd that dig∣nity, even though they were not such before, yet they were not called Milites, contrary to the position of all Interpreters of the Law: but such as speak properly, have cal∣led them Equites Auratos. Which appellation bFranciscus Philelphius did first of all find out, and Bebellius in his Commentary De abusione linguae, brings many things against the Interpreters, who call those (that are not noble before their Creation) Milites.

Somewhat to like purpose would our learned Spelman deduce from the addi∣tion of cAurati, conceiving it introduced ad distinguendum Equitem ritu honorario institutum, ab inhonorato istiusmodi; and by him made applicable to the Nea∣politan Gentlemen, (usually called Cavalieri) who are all stiled Equites, though they never have attained the Knightly dignity.

Thirdly,* concerning the Knights Banerets, a Title bestowed on such who had so well deserved in the Wars, that they were afterwards permitted to use the Vexillum quadratum, or a square Banner; whence they were truly called Equites Vexillarii, or Chevaliers à Baniere, from the Dutch word dBanerherr, Lord, or Ma∣ster of the Banner.

Our learned eCambden derives the original of this Knightly dignity among us, not higher than the reign of King Edward the Third, and believes him to be the Page  14 first Institutor thereof, and this honorable Title to be then first devised, in recom∣pence of martial prowess; a recital of which dignity received, is mentioned in a f Patent, whereby that King grants to Iohn Coupland, for the maintenance thereof, five hundred pounds per annum out of his Exchequer, to be received by him and his Heirs; and this was for his good service performed, in taking gDa∣vid the Second, King of Scots, Prisoner, at the Battel of Nevils Cross, neer Durham. But some few years before the Creation of Sir Iohn Coupland, there is mention also in the Patent Rolls of * Sir Reignald Cobham, and | Sir William de la Poole, both Banerets: And doubtless the Title and Dignity was much more an∣cient with us (as well as in hFrance) for in our perusal of the Accounts of the great Wardrobe, we find such like Robes allowed to several persons made Knights, as were appointed usually for the Creation of Banerets; and this before the reign of King Edward the Third, which implies, that there was then a Degree of Knight∣hood, so called, amongst us. For instance, iGerardo de la Bret, ad apparatum suum pro Militia, tanquam pro Baneretto, à Rege suscipienda, &c. viz. ad unam Tuni∣cam, &c. after which is set down the particular Robes, and other Ornaments, appointed for his Creation; and then it follows, Consimilem apparatum habuerant subscripti, viz.

• Hug. de Courtney. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Rad. de Wylington. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Rad. Daubeney. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Ioh. de Willouby. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Edw. Stradling. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Rad. Baro de Stafford. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Ioh. de Meules. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Will. de Percy. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Gerard de Insula. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Pet. Breton. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Rog. le Straunge. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Ernone de Potes. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Ioh. de Neville. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Gerard de Trassyns. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Willect de Ciply. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Mulect de Blekey. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.
• Disram de Keney. Viz. Singuli eo∣rum tanquam pro Baneretto.

In like manner in the preceding year have we met with an account of Robes, given to kIames Botiller of Ireland, ad apparatum suum, pro se novo Milite facien∣do, tanquam Baneretto; as also to William Mountacute, Ebulo le Strange, and others. So also An. 18. E. 2. to Hugo de Poynts, and Hugo de Plesey; and mAnn. 16. E. 2. to Raymund Durant. And our learned Spelman (in Pellae exitus An. 8. E. 2.) doth find nIohn de Crumbwell, written with the addition and Title of Baneret.

But that this Dignity was yet more ancient in England, is sufficiently apparent from a Writ of King Edward the First, under the Privy Seal, directed to the Clerk of the Wardrobe, to furnish Thomas Bardolf with Robes, such as were usually al∣lowed to a Baneret; he being to receive the honor of Knighthood, at that emi∣nent solemnity, when Edward of Caernarvon, the Kings eldest Son, was made Knight; which Writ runs thus.

oEdwardus Dei gratiâ Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae & Dux Aquitaniae, Di∣lecto nobis Radulpho de Stoke, Clerico magnae Garderobae nostrae salutem, Mandae∣mus vobis, quod dilecto nobis Thomae Bardolf tanquam Baneretto, decentem appa∣ratum, pro se novo Milite faciendo ad festum Pentecostes proximè futurum, in Comi∣tiva Edwardi filii nostri karissimi habere, de dono nostro faciatis. Et nos vobis inde in compoto vestro debitam allocationem habere faciemus. Datum sub privato Sigillo nostro apud Wolveseye tertio die Maii, Anno Regni nostri Tricesimo quarto.

This Degree of Honor is p esteemed the last among the greatest, viz. Nobilium majorum, or the first with those of the second rank, and q is placed in the middle between the Barons and the other Knights; in which respect, the Baneret may be called rVexillarius minor, as if he were the lesser Banner-Bearer, to the end he might be so differenced from the greater, namely, the Baron, to whom properly the right of bearing a square Banner doth appertain.

But there are some remarkable differences ••tween these Knights, and Knights Batchelors; to wit, as to the occasion and circumstances of their Creation; the Baneret being not created, unless at a time when the Kings Standard is erected and displayed; besides, s he bears his own Banner in the field, while the Knight Page  15 Batchelor follows that which is anothers, which evidently shews the Dignity to be of a higher nature; nevertheless, Sir Henry Spelman notes, this not to be dishonourable, since the Emperor tMaximilian was pleased to serve in the Wars, under the Banner of our King Henry the Eighth, in the * quality of his Soldier, in the Camp before Terwin in France, wearing the Cross of St. George, and re∣ceiving the pay of one hundred Crowns a day.

This further difference is observed between them, by Andrew Favin, to wit, w that the Knight Baneret was he who had so many Gentlemen, his servants, at command, as that he could raise a Banner, and make up a Company of Soldiers to be main∣tained at his Table, and their wages paid out of his own Purse: But the Knight Batchelor he, who had not servants sufficient to lead to the War, at his own charge, but marched under the Banner of some other. x These two degrees of Honor (saith he) were also distinguished by their Wages, in regard that a Knight Baneret had twenty Sols per diem to dispend, the Knight Batchelor ten, and the Esquire but five; proportionable hereunto is that which Mr. Selden notes out of the Ward∣robe accounts, an. 4. E. 2. y That the Banerets wages by the day was four shillings, the Knights two shillings, and the Esquires one shilling.

Next unto the Knights Banerets, we shall speak of Knights of the Bath;* which is a degree that hath the Investiture and Title of a Knight, with an additio∣nal denomination, derived from part of the Ceremony of his Creation.

It is the most received opinion, that our King Henry the Fourth, first instituted these Knights; and true it is, according to a Sir Iohn Froisard, He at his Corona∣tion (to adde to the lustre and magnificence of it) created b six and forty of them; making an especial choice of such as he favoured, either out of an inward affe∣ction, or consideration of their service or deserts.

And as he designed them to attend him in the Ceremonies of his Coronation, then at hand, so did he retain them neerer unto his person; thereby seeming to honor them with a more familiar consociation, than he vouchsafed to the Knights Batchelors.

But if the Ceremonies and circumstances of their Creation be well considered, it will appear that this King did not institute, but rather restore, the ancient man∣ner of making Knights; and consequently, that the Knights of the Bath are in truth no other than Knights Batchelors, that is to say, such as are created with those Ceremonies wherewith Knights Batchelors were formerly created by Ec∣clesiasticks; but some of them having been for a long time laid aside with us, were then brought again into use, and made peculiar to the Degree of Knights of the Bath, and since continued to them, upon some solemn and great oc∣casion.

At the first view, this Degree looks like a peculiar and distinct Order of Knight∣hood, and may perhaps (by some) be thought more fit to be spoken of in the third Chapter rather than here: But it cannot properly and justly be so accounted, if we consider, that they have not either Statutes or Laws assigned them, nor are they in case of vacancy supplied; (which are the essentials of distinct Orders) nor do they wear their Robes beyond the time of that occasion upon which they were created; as chiefly the Coronation of Kings and Queens of England, or otherwise the Creation of a Prince of Wales, Duke of York, and the like, where∣to also is to be considered, that their Number hath been uncertain, and always at the pleasure of the King.

Andrew Favin will have these Knights to be otherwise called *Knights of the Crown, because (saith he) to distinguish them from Esquires, they wear upon their left shoulders an Escutcheon of Black Silk, with three Crowns of Gold em∣broidered thereon. But this is a great mistake, for it is not found that such, or indeed any other Badge, was at any time (after that manner) used by them, save only a Silk Lace; but the Jewel worn, to be known by, is made of Gold, con∣taining three Crowns, with this Motto, Tria juncta in una, and hanging down under the left arm at a Carnation Ribbon worn cross the body.

This leads us to the consideration of another Degree among us here in Eng∣land, namely,*Baronets, who seem to be allied to Knighthood, by having granted Page  16 to them the addition of Sir to be set before their Names; but this Title gives not the Dignity of Knighthood, nor can any of them be properly stiled Knights, until they be actually knighted.

It is a Degree but of a late erection, to wit, in the ninth year of King Iames, and the grant thereof made only by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, a Copy of one of which is transcribed into the dTitles of Honor. This Honor is made hereditary to them, and the Heirs males of their bodies lawfully begotten, for ever; and by a subsequent Decree of the said King, precedence is granted to them before all Banerets,e except such as should be made by the King, his Heirs, and Successors, under his or their Standard displaid in an Army royal, in open War, and the King personally present; and next unto and immediately af∣ter the younger Sons of Viscounts and Barons.

The ground for erecting this Degree (as appears by the Instructions given to the Commissioners appointed to treat about this affair) was partly Mar∣tial; for though themselves were not enjoined personal service in the Wars, yet the motive of this Honor was a certain contribution from each Baronet,f to main∣tain thirty Foot Soldiers, for three years in Ireland (after the rate of eight pence a day) for the defence of that Kingdom; and chiefly to secure the Plantation in the Province of Vlster.

Their Qualifications were, that at least they should be descended from a Grandfather, on the Fathers side, that bore Arms, and had a Revenue of one thou∣sand pounds per annum, of Lands of inheritance in possession, or Lands of old Rents, as good as one thousand pounds a year of improved Lands; or at least two parts of three, to the said value in possession, and the other third part in rever∣sion expectant, upon one life only held in Jointure.

The year after the first Patent past, King Iames was pleased to adde some new Priviledges and Ornaments to this Degree, namely, g to Knight those Baronets already made, that were no Knights, as also such as should be afterwards crea∣ted, and the Heirs males of their bodies, when they attained the age of one and twenty years; that the Baronets and their Descendants might bear either in Can∣ton, or in an Inescutcheon the Arms of Vlster, and further, to have place in the Armies of the King, and his Heirs and Successors, in the gross, neer about the Royal Standard, for defence of the same.

Since the Institution of Baronets in England, there have been made divers in hIreland, after the like form. And the Knights of iNova Scotia in the West-Indies, were ordained, in imitation of Baronets in England, by the said King Iames, anno Dom. 1622. and upon a like design; to wit, the planting of that Country by Scotch Colonies, and the Degree made likewise hereditary.

These later have the priviledge to wear an Orange-tawny Ribbon, as a Badge of Honor, to distinguish them from other Knights: and it appears by a k Letter from Henry Earl of Holland, dated the 29. of Iune 1627. and directed to the Officers of Arms, that there was some intention to move his then Majesty to de∣clare his pleasure, that all Baronets and Knights Batchelors might wear in Ribbons of several colours, some Badge or Iewel, to distinguish the one from the other, and both from persons of inferiour quality, in such sort as did the Knights of the Baeth; to which end, he desired their opinion, touching the fitness and conveni∣ency thereof.

Which Officers, from precedents of the differences and marks set upon Robes belonging to several Degrees of Nobility and Honor, and from the Ensigns and Ornaments of Knighthood, used for distinctions sake, both at home and abroad, being esteemed as peculiar marks of Soveraignty in the Giver, and eminent tokens of Honor in the Receiver; grounded their opinion, that such Ornaments for di∣stinction of those two Degrees, namely of Baronets and Knights Batchelors, were no way unfit or inconvenient, either to his said Majesty, or to his Subjects: But it seems, there was nothing further done in this matter.

We shall conclude this Section with a general observation, which relates to the conferring of Knightly Honor; That Kings and Princes have in no Age li∣mited themselves, or confin'd their bestowing of this Dignity to MartialistsPage  17 alone, who profess Arms, and give themselves to the exercise of Military Virtue, as it was in its original Institution, viz. a Military Employment; inasmuch as men of the long Robe, and such as have dedicated themselves to the managery of Ci∣vil Affairs, through their great worth and desert in that kind, have so well merit∣ed of their Prince and Country, as to be thought worthy to share with those of the short Robe, in having this Honor conferr'd on them.