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

ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD IN PORTUGAL.

Knights d'Avis.

IN the Year of our Lord Don Al∣phonso Henriquez, first King of Portu∣gal, gained from the Moors the City of Evora; and for the fortifying and se∣curing of this Garison, he sent thither several brave Commanders, who took upon them the Title of Knights of St. Mary of E∣vora, who not long after were called Knights d' Avis from a Castle of that Name, seated on the Frontiers of Portugal, which the King gave to Ferdinando de Yannes, Master of Evora, to which Castle he and his Brethren removed from Evora. The Badge of this Order is a green Cross flory, like those of Calatrava. They took upon them the Rule of St. Benedict; and none were to be admit∣ted into this Order, but such as were Gen∣tlemen by the Fathers and Mothers side two Descents.

Knights of the Wing of St. Mi∣chael.

DON Alphonso Henriquez, King of Por∣tugal, being sorely oppressed by Albara the Moor, King of Savil, for the freeing his Country, raised an Army; and before he gave them Battel, commanded all his Souldiers to pray to their particular Saints for happy Deliverance; and the King offered up his Prayers to St. Michael the Arch-angel, being the Saint he was much devoted unto. When the Armies were engaged, St. Michael (as the Story goes) appeared on the King's right side, and fought against the Moors, who were routed, and lost the day. And in Commemo∣ration of this great Victory, at his return home (which was in the Year of our Lord 1171. or thereabouts) he instituted this Or∣der of Knighthood, who for their Badge had a red Sword cross'd with Flowers de lis, and this Motto, Quis ut Deus. These Knights (before their growing out of use) were of the

Cistertian Order, followed the Rule of St. Benedict; and by their Obligation were to secure the Borders of the Countries against the Incursions of the Moors, to defend the Christian Religion, and to succour the Wi∣dows and Fatherless.

Knights of St. James.

THE Portugals being still oppressed by the Moors, the King Don Denys the Sixth, out of his great affection to relieve his people, did in the year of our Lord 1310. institute this Order, and by the Assistance of these Knights (which were victorious in divers Battels) at length he quitted his Kingdom of them; for which signal Service they had many pri∣viledges conferred upon them by the King, which caused them much to flourish. They profess Conjugal Chastity, Hospitality, and Obedience: Their Ensign is a red Sword, like that of St. Iames in Galicia: Their Ha∣bit is white; and none are to be admitted until they have proved their Gentility by Blood.

Knights of Christ.

THE Knights Templars being dissolved, and their Estates confiscated, Don De∣nys King of Portugal, sent to Pope Iohn the Two and twentieth, to desire that an Order of Knights might be instituted in Ca∣stro Marin, which was a Frontier Town of the Enemy, and very commodious for the building a Fort for the resisting the Neigh∣bouring Moors which did much annoy his Kingdom; which request seemed so reason∣able, that the Pope (in Anno 1319.) insti∣tuted this Order, commanding that they should observe the Cistertian Order, and en∣joy the same Priviledges and Indulgences formerly granted to their Great Master and Knights; that they should take the Oath of Fidelity; that all the possessions in the King∣dom of Portugal formerly belonging to the Knights Templars should belong to these Knights, who were obliged to make War against the Neighbouring Moors. Their Ha∣bit was black, with a Cross Pattee, Gules, charged with another of Argent, which they wore on their Breasts.