Caliope's cabinet opened wherein gentlemen may be informed how to adorn themselves for funerals, feastings, and other heroick meetings : also, here they may know their place and worth with all the degrees and distinctions of honour in the realm, shewing how every one ought to take place with the titles due to them, with other things of antiquity very observable / by James Salter.

Degrees of Gentlemen.

THe Civil Law has formerly been so se∣vere in preserving this distinction, that the Gentile or Noble were prohibited to mar∣ry with the Ungentile or ignoble.

Who are Gentlemen.

1. He is a Gentleman which is one of An∣cestry; for certainly the honour atchieved by the Ancestor lives in his Family as his, which ought to oblige them with care to keep that tenderly which there predecessors got so difficultly.

2. A Gentleman of Coat Armour and not of Blood, being made a Gentleman by a Badge from the King of Coat Armour.

3. A Gentleman by atchievement in law∣ful wars, proclaimed by the King in matters of Religion, or for the Kingdoms good, which is the best.

A Gentleman.

In the Saxon language they were called Aedels, which signifieth Elder, or Chief; but we have since from the French Borrowed the Roman word Gentilehome, which imports men of Nations.

The word Gentiles was given to the Nor∣thern people during the Government of the Romans over them; they then taking it to be a glory to them, though otherwise meant by the Romans.

The priviledges that belongs to a Gentle∣man: Read Sir Will. Seager.

For the Helmets that belongs to each de∣gree of Gentlemen: Look on Guillianus.

And for their Crowns: See Carter.

Their degrees in England are divided, viz.

• 1. An Esquire.
• 2. A Knight.
• 3. A Baron.

These three are esteemed noble; besides there are five which are excellent, to whom belongs Crowns and Coronets: as

• 1. A Viscount.
• 2. An Earle.
• 3. A Marquess.
• 4. A Duke.

• 5. A Prince.

Our gracious King Charles the Second has allowed Crowns to Barons.

In Latine he is called Scutiger; of these each Knight in times past had two to attend him in Wars, and to bear his Helmet and Shield before him: forasmuch as they did hold certain Lands of him in Scutage, as the Knight did hold of the King by Military ser∣vice,

This title came not in honorary amongst us till the Reign of Richard the Second; though the Title, as to the Office, is far more ancient. The ancient Saxon word is Scyld∣knappa, which is a Shield Serviture.

Degrees of an Esquire.

1. There is an Esquire by Birth, as the eldest Son of a Knight, and his eldest Sonne successively.

2. By Creation, to whom belongs the silver Spurs, whence they are called white Spurs,

3. By Office; as Serjeants at Law, She∣riffs, &c. But to them the Title dyes with them.

A Knight Batchelor.

The word Knight cometh from the Saxon word Cnight, which signifieth puer, or ser∣vus.

The French calls them Chaveleers, the Ger∣man Rutter, both of riding or lusty young men.

Since the Conquest, those that held Estates to serve on horse-back in the Wars, are by the Lawyers stiled Milites.

Coming to be a reward and degree of Ho∣nour is thought to be in imitation of the Equestres Order in Rome.

The first using of Ceremonies at the crea∣ting a Knight was done by King Alfred, Knighting his Grand-son Ethelston; after it grew more precise and customary.

Knights Titles.

• 1. Knight Bannoret.
• 2. Knight Baronet.

A Knight Bannoret.

This was anciently an Order in France.

At his Creation he is led to the King or General, with his Penon of Arms in his

hand and there the Herauld declares his me∣rit, and the King or General causeth the point of his Penon to be rent off, and he re∣turns with Trumpet sounding.

Under the degree of a Knight Bannoret Supporters may not be born.

A Knight Barronet.

This Title was erected by King James, for the propagation of a Plantation in Ulster in Ireland.

It is hereditary, they are to take place before all Knights Batchelors, or Knight of the Bath.

Their Augmentation is on a Canton Argent a Senister ••and couped gules.

A Baron.

This word is variously interpreted, as from the word Baria, which signifies grave authority; or Baro which in Latine is the same with Vir, which imports force.

The Danes were the first which brought in the use of this word.

The Saxons called the next to the King Thane, as Thane of such a Castle, Town, &c.

A Viscount.

The word in Latine is Vice Comes, which is interpreted from the Office of the person: he is one to whom an Earle or his Lord com∣mitteth his Towns, or Government of a Ca∣stle.

The title is derived from the same Order in France, where they were onely substitutes to Earles, till getting in power, got also to have the power honorary and hereditary.

It is the same word which is for our She∣riff, and began with us not till about the 18. of Henry the Sixth, who then created John Lord Beamont Viscount by Letter Patent.

An Earle.

An Earle or Count is called Comes: The reason for that denomination is uncertain.

The word Earle we had from the Danes from the word Earlick, which signifieth ho∣nourable,

They were stiled Ealdermen, till Cannius time the Dane.

Their Dignity and power heretofore was far more large then now. Selden is of opini∣on they are in Latine called Comes of the so∣ciety the King has with them.

A Marquess.

This word was first used to Earles and Ba∣rons, that were Lord Marches, or Lords of Fronteers, and came afterwards into a Title of special Dignity above an Earle.

The title began in the time of Richard the Second.

The French and Germans prefer an Earle before a Marquess, which is preposterous.

A Duke.

The word at first was a title of Office, af∣terwards honorary, and since hereditary.

The word comes à Ducendo, from leading forch an Army Royal: The Saxons called them, Hertshog.

The first we finde in England was Edward the Black Prince.

A Prince.

In the Saxons time they were called Clitons, from Klutos in Greek, which is illustrious.

The first that was created in England was Edward, the eldest Son of Henry the 3d.

There are degrees of Nobility, as of Na∣tions, and Cities.

For the Ceremonies at the Creating of the aforesaid Gentlemen, read Sir William Sea∣ger and Fern.

And for their priviledges read likewise Seager and Selden.