Analogia honorum, or, A treatise of honour and nobility, according to the laws and customes of England collected out of the most authentick authors, both ancient and modern : in two parts : the first containing honour military, and relateth to war, the second, honour civil, and relateth

OF KNIGHTHOOD IN GENERAL•• CHAP. XVI.

ALthough I am not of the Opinion of some that vainly derive the Order of Knighthood from St. Michael the Archangel, whom they term the primier Cheva∣lier; yet I may say that it is near as ancient as Valour and Heroick Vertue, and may de∣rive its Original from Troy, which bred ma∣ny Noble and Renowned Knights; amongst which were Hector, Troilus, AEneas, and Antenor. So among the Greeks were Aga∣memnon, Menelaus, Peleus, Hercules, Dio∣medes, Telamon, Vlysses, and several o∣thers, whose Military and Heroick Acts pur∣chased unto them a never dying Fame. And the Romans took so great care for the che∣rishing and advancement of Heroick and Mi∣litary Vertue and Honour, that they erected and dedicated Temples to Vertue and Ho∣nour; and from the infancy of their Milita∣ry Glory they instituted a Society of Knights, which consisted of a select number. And some there are that plead to have Knighthood take its rise from Romulus: For, say they, that Romulus having settled his Government in Rome, partly for Security, and partly for magnificence, erected or inrolled three Bands or Centuries of Knighthood or Horsmen; the first he called Romene from his own Name; the second Titience from Titus Tacitus; and the third Luceria, whereof mention is made by Livy. And this Inrollment consisted of Three hundred stout and personable men, chosen out of the chiefest Families, and were to attend him as his Life-guard, both in Peace and War, and were called Celeres, or Equites, from their personal Valour and dexterity in Martial Affairs.

And to add to the Honour of Knighthood, the Romans oft-times made the Knights Judges for the management of their Civil Affairs, yet continued they of the Eque∣strian Order.

The Romans called their Knights Milites, or Miles, and Equites, or Equites Aurati; the Italians and Spaniards, Cavalieri; the French, Chevaliers; and the English, Knights.

The Addition of Sir is attributed to the Names of all Knights, as Sir Iohn, Sir Tho∣mas, and the like. And to Baronets the said Addition of Sir is granted unto them by a peculiar Clause in their Patents of Creation, although they are not dubbed Knights.

No man is born a Knight of any Title or Degree whatsoever, but made so; either be∣fore

a Battel, to encourage him to adventure his Life; or after the ••ight, as an advance∣ment to Honour for their valiant Acts. And although Knighthood, according to its first Institution, was only a Military Honour; yet of later days, it hath been•• frequently seen, that meritorious persons in Civil Affairs have this degree of Honour conferred upon them. Nor ar•• Kings, Princes, or Potentates at any time limitted or confined their bestowing this Dignity, being at all times free to bestow it on whomsoever they shall in their Princely fa∣vour think worthy to be advanced to the said Honour, either for their Merit, Birth, of E∣state.

The Ensigns or Ornaments belonging to Knighthood are many, each Country or King∣dom having those peculiar to it self: I shall name some of the chief.

To the Knights of the Equestrian Order a∣mongst the ancient Romans was given a Horse, or a Gold Ring. The Germans gave the Badge of the Shield and Launce. The French anciently gave also the Shield and Launce (as Favin notes) but since they used the Equestrian Target.

Another Knightly Ornament is the Mili∣tary Belt, first made of Leather, which af∣terwards came to be richly adorned with Gold and precious Stones; and to this Belt was added a Sword. Other Ornaments were gilt or golden Spurs, and golden Collars of SS. But these have been for a long time laid aside; and instead thereof is only used Dub∣bing with a naked Sword to Knights Batche∣lors, which I shall speak of when I treat of Knights Batchelors.

Many have been, and yet are, the Degrees and Order of Knighthood in Christendom, each Kingdom having some appropriated to themselves: which though many of them are now extinct; yet I shall touch upon them, as I find them Recorded by Sir William Segar in his Volume of Honour Military and Civil, and by Elias Ashmole, Esq in his incomparable Volume of the Order of the Garter, to which I refer the Curious Reader for his further sa∣tisfaction. And of these Degrees or Orders I shall first treat of those used amongst us, be∣ginning with that of the most Noble Order of the Garter; next with the Knights Bannerets; then with Baronets, this being their proper place according to precedency, although some∣thing improper, as not being of any degree of Knighthood; next with Knights of the Bath; then with Knights Batchelors; and so conclude with those Degrees of Knighthood in Foreign Kingdoms and Countries.

[illustration]

His Royall Highness Iames Duke of Yorke and Albany K^t. of the most noble order of the Garter, and sole brother to his sacred ma^ty. King Charles the 2^d. &c^a.

[illustration]

The Effigies of the most hon^ble. Henry Somerset, Marques and Earle of Worcester. L^d. Herbert, Baron of Chipston Raglon and Gowen Lord President and L^d. Leivtenant of Wales, and the Marches, Lord Leivtenant of the Countyes of Glocester, Hereford, and Monmouth, and of the Cilty and County of Bristol, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and one of the Lords of his ma^tys. most hon^ble. Privy Councell.

[illustration]

The Effigies of the Right hon^ble. Henry Bennet Earle and Baron of Arlington Viscount Thetsord Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord Chamberlaine of his Ma^••s. Household and one of the Lords of his most Honourable privy Councell &c^a.