Honor rediviuus [sic] or An analysis of honor and armory. by Matt: Carter Esq.

Knights of St. Stephano.

THis Order was erected in the year 1561. by Cosmo Duke of Florence; ordaining amongst them such articles almost as those of the Order of Malta: their residence is Pisa; where the said Duke erected a Church to the honor of the Order, and is himselfe the Great Master.

Other Orders of Knighthood there are, and have been in the Holy Land, and other parts: As of St Thomas Apostle; St. Kathe∣rine of Mount Sinai: Of the white Eagle in Polonia: Of the Swan in Cleveland: The Bre∣thren Sword-bearers in Livonia: Of St. Blase in Armenia: Of St. John of Acres, and of St. Gerian, which was instituted by Frederick 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to which order none were ad∣mitted but Germaine Gentlemen. But these are all, or most of them, out of date, and not so considerable as to trouble an inge∣nious brain with, in this place. Favin and others have discoursed enough of them, to which (if the reader be desirous of further knowledge) I refer him. There is also ano∣ther Order called of the white Dragon in Germany, erected by the Emperour Sigismond, upon a resolution of extirpating heresie and

schism throughout all his Dominions, who had for their Ensign a white Dragon: and in Swe∣then another, which is called of the Seraphins: who had at their institution appointed them collars of Seraphins heads, intermixed with Crosses. And now, if I have not been too tedi∣ous in this discourse of Knighthood, I have I hope said enough, and conclude with the de∣scription of the severall forms of their Crosses before mentioned.

[illustration]

The first is of St. Esprit, the second, of St. Michael, the third of Calatrava, the fourth of St. John of Jerusalem, the fifth of St. Lazarus

the sixth of the Teutonicks, the seventh of St. Andrew, the eighth of the Sepulchre, the ninth of Christus d' Avis.

And so I take leave of Knighthood: and in the next place only cursorily run through the antiquity of Heralds, and the Inns of Court and Chancery with their foundations; for which last (though not very pertinent to my businesse,) yet I may expect an excuse, since it hath nor yet been any way done.