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IN the first Stall on the right hand is the Soveraigne of the Order King Charles the
Second, who is Patron and Sole Disposer of the Order.
The Stall opposite to His Majesty is now void.
In the other Stalls on the Sovereign Side are thus placed these that follow: 2 The Duke of York, 3 Prince Ru∣pert, 4 Marquiss of Branden∣bourgh, 5 Earl of Salisbury, 6 Earl of Northumberland, 7 Duke of Buckingham, 8 Earl of Bristol, 9 Count Marsin, 10 Earl of Sandwich, 11 Duke of Richmond, 12 Earl of Straf∣ford, 13th Stall is void. On the other side, opposite to these afore-named, are placed in this Order these that follow: 2 Prince Elector Palatine, 3 Prince of Orenge, 4 Prince of Denmark, 5 Earl of Berk∣shire, 6 Duke of Ormond,
7 Duke of Newcastle, 8 Prince of Tarent, 9 Duke of Albe∣marle, 10 Earl of Oxford, 11 Earl of Manchester, 12 Duke of Monmouth, 13th Stall on this Side also is void.
The whole number of Fel∣lows of this Order is not to ex∣ceed 26.
In the next place are Knights Bannerets, Equites Vexilliferi, antiently a high Honour, now obsolete; there being at this time none of this Order in Eng∣land.
These may bear Supporters of their Arms, and none un∣der this Degree.
Knights of the Bath, so cal∣led of their Bathing used before they are created. The first of
this sort were made by Henry 4th. Anno 1399. They are now commonly made at the Coronation of a King or Queen, or Installation of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince of VVales. They wea•• a Scarlet Ribon Belt-wise They are still made with much Ceremony, too long here to be described.
Other Knights called Equi∣tes Aurati, from the Gilt Spurs usually put upon them, and Knights Batchelors, quasi Bas∣chevaliers, Knights of lower Degree: So Bachelors in Arts or Divinity, quasi Low Knights or Servitors in Arts. These were antiently made by girding with a Sword and Gilt Spurs, and was bestowed one∣ly upon Sword men for their
Military Service, and was re∣••uted an excellent and glorious Degree, and a Noble Reward ••or Courageous Persons; but ••f late being made more com∣mon, and bestowed upon ••own Men, contrary to the ••ature of the thing (as Degrees ••n the University are sometimes ••estowed upon Sword men) it ••s become of much less reputa∣••ion. Yet amongst Gown men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is given only to Lawyers and ••hysitians, and not to Divines, ••ho may as well become that Dignity, and be Spiritual Knights as well as Spiritual Lords.
These are now made with no other Ceremony but kneeling down, the King with a drawn Sword lightly toucheth them on the Shoulder, after which here∣tofore
the King said in French Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu and then Avances Chevalier.
When a Knight is to suffe•• death for any foul Crime, hi•• Military Girdle is first to be un∣girt, his Sword taken away, hi•• Spurs cut off with an Hatchet•• his Gantlet pluckt off, and hi•• Coat of Arms reversed.
Next amongst the Lowe•• Nobility are Esquires, so cal∣led from the French word Es∣cuyers, Scutigeri, because they were wont to bear before the Prince in War, or before the better sort of Nobility 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Shield, or else perhaps because they bear a Coat of Arms as Ensigns of their descent; and by our Lawyers are called Ar∣migeri.
Of this Title are first all Vi∣counts eldest Sons, and all Vi∣counts and Barons younger Sons; and by the Common Law of England all the Sons of Earls, Marquisses, and Dukes, are Esquires and no more. Next are the Esquires of the Kings Body, mentioned among the Officers of the Kings Court; after these are reckoned Knights eldest Sons, and their eldest Sons for ever; then younger Sons of the elder Sons of Ba∣rons; next Esquires created by the King by putting about their Necks a Collar of Esses, and bestowing on them a pair of Sil∣ver Spurs. Lastly, any that are in superiour Publick Of∣fice for King or State, are re∣puted Esquires, or equal to E∣squires, as Justices of the Peace,
Mayors of Towns, so Councel∣lours at Law, Batchelors of Di∣vinity, Law, or Physick, al∣though none of them really are so.
In the last place, among th•• lower Nobility are accounted the Gentry of England, that have no other Title, but are descended of antient Families that have alwayes born a Coa•• of Arms.
This Kind of Honour is de∣rived from the Germans to the rest of Christendome, and was never known in any Countrey where the German Customs were unknown, as in Asia, A∣frica, and America. The Ger∣mans antiently warring oft a∣mongst themselves, painted their Scutcheons with the
Picture of some Beast, Bird, or other thing for distinction, and put some eminent and vi∣sible Mark upon the Crest of their Helmets, and this Orna∣ment both of Arms and Crest descended by inheritance to their Children, to the eldest pure, and to the rest with some note of distinction, such as the Old Master of Ceremonies, in High Dutch Here-alt, now He∣rald thought fit.
Gentlemen well descended and well qualified, have al∣wayes been of such repute in England, that none of the higher Nobility, no nor the King himself, have thought it unfitting to make them some∣times their Companions.
The Title of Gentleman in England (as of Cavalier in
France, Italy, and Spain) is not disdained by any Noble∣man. All Noblemen are Gen∣tlemen, though all Gentlemen are not Noblemen.
The State of Gentry was an∣tiently such, that it was ac∣counted an abasing of Gentry to put their Sons to get their Living by Shop-keeping, and our Law did account it a dispa∣ragement of a Ward in Chi∣valry to be married to a Shop∣keepers Daughter, or to any meer Citizen; for Tradesmen in all Ages and Nations have been reputed ignoble, in regard of the doubleness of their Tongue, without which they cannot grow rich (for Nihil proficiunt nisi admodum menti∣untur, as Tully observed) and therefore amongst the Thebans
no man was admitted to places of Honour or Trust, unless he had left off trading ten years before: So by the Imperial Laws a Tradesman is not ca∣pable of any Honourable Estate, nor to be a Commander over Souldiers; and therefore the English Nobility and Gentry till within late years, judged it a stain and diminution to the ho∣nour and dignity of their Fa∣milies, to seek their Childrens support by Shop-keeping, but only (as in all great Monarchies) by Military, Court, State, or Church Emploiments, much less to subject their Children to an Apprentisage, a perfect Servitude; for during that time, whatever they gain by their Masters Trade or their own wit, belongs all to their
Master, neither can they lie our of their Masters House, no•• take a Wife, nor trade of their own, but subject to all Hou∣shold Work, all Commands o•• their Master, undergo what pu∣nishment, and eat and wear what their Master pleaseth; which Marks of Slavery consi∣dered, Heralds are of opinion that a Gentleman thereby lo∣ses his Gentility for ever, till he can otherwise recover it; and yet to the shame of our Nation we have seen of fare not onely the Sons of Baroners, Knights, and Gentlemen, sit∣ting in Shops, and sometimes of Pedling Trades, far more fit for Women and their Daugh∣ters, but also an Earl of this Kingdom subjecting his Son to an Apprentisage and Trade;
but the folly of the English in swerving from their Ancestors steps herein (as in other things) is now apparent, for those young Gentlemen possessing more noble and active Spirits, could not brook such dull slavish lives, and being thereby unfit∣ted for other emploiments, have generally taken ill debau∣ched courses.
Knights Banne∣rets.
Knights of the Bath.
Knights Bache∣lors.
Gentle∣man.