Pound now: And an Earl twenty Knights Fees; a Duke forty: And in cafe of decay of their Revenues, that their Honours could not decently be maintain'd, (as the Roman Senators were in fuch cafes remov'd from the Senate, fo) fometimes fome English Barons have not been admitted to fit in the Higher Houfe of Parliament, tho' they kept the Name, and Title, or Dignity ftill.

The English Nobility, for Valour, Wifdom, Integrity and Honour, hath in all former Ages been equal to any in Christendom.

CHA P. IV.

Of the Commons of England, and therein of Baronets, Knights, Efquires, Gentlemen, Teomen, Citizens, Handicrafts, &c.

THE Law of England, contrary to the Laws and Cuftoms

that not only all Baronets, all forts of Knights, all Efquires and Gentlemen, but alfo the Sons of the Nobility are by our Law reckoned amongst the Commons of England; as in Rome there was a middle Rank, inter Senatores & Plebem, namely the Ordo Equeftris; fo in other Chriftian Kingdoms they are ftiled, Nobiles

Minores.

The lower Nobility then of England, confifts of Baronets, Knights, Efquires, and Gentlemen.

Baronets. The next Degree to Barons, are Baronets, which is the lowest Degree of Honour that is Hereditary: They are conftituted in the Room of the Ancient Valuafors, between the Barons of England, and the Orders of Knights. Now this Honour was first inftituted by King James the First, Anno 1611, given by Patent to a Man and his Heirs Males of his own Body lawfully begotten; for which each one is obliged to pay into the Exchequer as much as will for three Years, at 8 d. per diem, pay thirty Foot Soldiers to ferve in the Province of Ulfter in Ireland; which Sum amounts to 1095 1. which is now always remitted.

Baronets have Precedence before all Knights, except Knights of the Garter, Knights who are Privy Counsellors, or Knights Bannerets, made under the King's Banner or Standard displayed in an Army Royal in open War, and the King perfonally prefent.

Baronets and their eldeft Sons being of full Age, may claim Knighthood.

Baronets,

Baronets, have the Priviledge to bear in a Canton of their Coat of Arms, or in a whole Efcutcheon, the Arms of Ulfter, viz. in a Field Argent, a Hand Gules. Alfo in the King's Armies to have place in the grofs near the King's Standard, with fome particulars for their Funerals.

The whole number of Baronets in England were not to exceed 200 at one and the fame time; but now their number is without limitation: Their Qualifications are, That they be of a good Reputation, and defcended of a Grandfather, at least by the Father's Side, that bore Arms, and have alfo a certain yearly Revenue of 1000 l. per Annum de claro. They take place ac cording to their priority of the Date of their Patents. The Title is Sir granted to Baronets by a peculiar Claufe in their Patents of Creation, though they be not dubb'd Knights; and their Wives are Ladies.

No Honour is ever to be created between Baronets and Barons.

The firft Baronet that was created was Sir Nicholas Bacon of Suffolk, whofe Succeffor is therefore ftiled Primus Baronetto rum Anglia.

Knight.] The Word Knight is derived from the German Word Knecht, fignifying originally a Lufty Servitor; afterwards, commonly used for a Soldier or Man of War.

A Knight is at this day expreft in Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and alfo in the High and Low Dutch Tongues, by a Word that properly fignifies an Horfeman, because they were wont to ferve on Horseback: Yet our common Law ftiles them Milites, Soldiers, because they commonly held Lands in Knights Service to ferve the King in his Wars as Soldiers.

The Honour of Knighthood is commonly given for fome Perfonal Defert, and therefore dies with the Perfon deferving, and defcends not to his Son.

Knights of the Garter.] In England there are feveral forts of Knights, whereof the chiefert are thofe of the Order of St. George, commonly called Knights of the Garter.

This Order is efteemed the moft Honourable, and moft Ancient of any Lay-Order now in ufe in Chriftendom. It began, as appears in the Statutes of this Order in 1350, 50 Years before the Inftitution of the French Order of St. Michael by Lewis II. 80 Years before the Order of the Golden Fleece was inftituted by Philip the Good of Burgundy; 190 Years before King James the Fifth refined the Order of St. Andrew in Scotland; and 209 Years before the King of Denmark began the Order of the Elephant, and the 23d Year of the Warlike and Puiffant King Edward III. who triumphed several times over France and Scotland; who kept Prifoners at one time in England King John of France, and King David of Scotland; and who, by his Son

M

Edward

Part I. Edward the Black Prince, expell'd the Rebels of Caftile, and inthroned Don Pedro their lawful King. He that did thefe Mighty and Glorious Exploits, was the Founder of the Mat Noble Order of the Garter.

It was fince commonly called The Order of the Garter, because this only part of the whole Habit of the Order was made choice of at first to be conftantly worn.

The Motto of the Order is Honi foit qui maly penfe, i. e. Shame be to him who thinks ill of it.

The Reason why this Motto was put in French, was because then the King of England being poffefs'd of a great part of France, not only our Laws, Pleadings and Sermons were in French but that was the ordinary Language in the Court of England

It appears by ancient Writings that this Honourable Company is a College or Corporation, having a great Seal belonging to it, and a little Seal; it confifts of the Sovereign, who is always the King of England, and of twenty five Companions, call d Knights of the Garter; of a Dean, and twelve Canons, befides Petty-Canons, Vergers, and other inferior Officers, and of twenty fix poor Knights, who have no other Maintenance but the Allowance of this College, which is given them in refpect of their Prayers for the Welfare of the Sovereign and Companions, and as a Reward for Military Service.

The Society is intituled to St. George, who hath been accounted (as St. Dennis is of France, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, St. James of Spain, &c.) the Tutelar Saint Patron of England, and of this Order in particular.

There be alfo certain Officers belonging to this Office, as the Prelate of the Garter, the Bishop of Winchester; which Office is fettled on that Bishoprick; A Chancellor of the Garter, the Bifhop of Salisbury, which Office did anciently belong to the Bifhop of Salisbury, and was by King Charles II. re-annex'd to that See: A Regifter, Dean of Windfor; which Office belongs to the Deanery: The principal King at Arms, called Garter; whofe chief Function is to manage and marfhal their Solemnities at their Inftallation and Feafts. Laftly, the Uber of the Garter, Usher of the Black Rod.

The College is feated in the Caftle of Windfor, with the Chapel of St. George, there erected by King Edward the Third, and the Chapter-Houfe.

The Order of the Garter was wont to be bestowed upon the moft Excellent and Renowned Perfons for Honour and Vertue, and with it a Blue Garter deckt with Gold, Pearls, and precious Stones, and a Buckle of Gold to be worn daily on the left Leg; alfo at high Feafts they are to wear a Surcoat, a Mantle, a high Black Velvet Cap, a Collar of SS's, compofed of Rofes

enamel

enamelled Red, with a Garter enamelled Blue, with the usual Motto in Letters of Gold, and between each of these Garters, a Knot with Taffels of Gold, together with other Stately and Magnificent Apparel.

They are not to be seen abroad without their Garter upon their left Leg, upon pain of paying 6 s. 8 d. to the Regifter; only in taking a Journey, a Blue Ribbon under the Boot doth fuffice.

On the Left Side of the Breaft,upon a Cloak, Coat, or riding Caffock in all places of Affembly, when they wear not their Robes, they are to wear that Ornament and Imbelle fhment now worn, and called the Star, or rather the Sun in its Glory, of Silver Embroidery; and they ordinarily wear the Picture of St. George enamell'd upon Gold, and befet with Diamonds at the end of a blue Ribbon that croffes their Bodies from the left Shoulder.

The greatest Monarchs of Christendom have been enroll'd, and have taken it for an Honour to be of this Order.

There have been of this Order, fince the Inftitution, Eight Emperors; Twenty feven, or Twenty eight Foreign Kings, be fides many Sovereign Princes, &c.

None can be of this most Honourable Order, that have been convicted of Herefy, of Treafon, or of Coward ife.

Note, That anciently Kings and Princes were placed according to their Creation, but now thofe only are placed according to their Degrees.

See more of this Noble Order in the Inftitution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the Noble Order of the Garter, written by Elias Albmole, Efq; Folio.

Knights Bannerets] In the next place are Knights Banne rets, Equites Vexilliferi, anciently made only in the Field in time of War, an high Honour, now obfolete, there being at this time none of this Order in England.

These may bear their Arms with Supporters, and none under this Degree.

Knights of the Bath.] Knights of the Bath, fo called of their Bathing, ufed before they were created. The firft of this fort were made by Hen. IV. Anno 1399. who preparing for his Coronation, made forty fix Knights at the Tower that were bathed, tho' bathing was used in making Knights Batchelors long before that time in France, and probably in England. See Selden's Tit. of Hon.p.2.6. 5. S. 34 and 45. They were afterwards made at the Coronation of a King or Queen, or Creation of a Prince of Wales, or Duke of the Royal Blood. They wear a Scarlet Ribbon Beltwife. They were made with much Ceremony, too long to be defcribed here. See at large in Dagdal's Defcription of Warwickshire.

Knights Batch 1028.] Other Knights, call'd Equites aurat i, from the Gilt Spurs ufually put upon them, and Knights Batchelors; These were anciently made by girding with the Sword and Gilt Spurs, and this Honour was bestowed only upon Sword-men for their Military Service, or upon Children who came of Noble and Puiffant Parentage, to encourage them when they grew up to do like their Ancestors.

This was reputed an excellent and glorious Degree, and a noble Reward for Couragious Perfons; but of late being made more common, and bestowed upon Gown-Men, contrary to the nature of the thing (as Degrees in the Universities are fometimes bestowed on Sword-men) it is become of much lefs Reputation in England than it hath been, although it be ftill accounted an honourable Degree both in England and Foreign Countries; yet amongst Gown-men, 'tis given only to Lawyers and Phyficians. And fometimes to Artists, as Painters, Mathematicians, &c.

Thefe are now made with no other Ceremony but kneeling down, the King with a drawn Sword lightly touches them on the Shoulder; after which the King heretofore said in French, Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu, and then, Advance Chevalier.

Knights have the Title of Sir, as Sir A. B. Knight, which is very ancient.

When a Knight is to fuffer Death for any foul Crime, his Military Girdle is firft to be ungirt, his Sword taken away, his Spurs cut off with an Hatchet, his Gauntlet pluckt off, and his Coat of Arms reversed.

Elquire.] Next among the lower Nobility, are Efquires, fo called from the French Word Efcuiers Scutigeri, because they were wont to bear before the Prince in War, or before the better fort of Nobility, a Shield, Launce, or other Weapon, and therefore they are called Armigeri.

Of this Title are first all Viscounts and Barons eldest Sons, and all Viscounts and Barons younger Sons; and by the Common Law of England, all the Sons of Earls, Marquiffes and Dukes are Efquires, and no more. Next are the Efquires of the King's Body, mention'd among the Officers of the King's Court; after thefe are reckon'd the eldest Sons of younger Sons of Barons, and of all Noblemen of higher Degree; then Knights eldest Sons, and their eldest Sons for ever. Next, Efquires created by the King, by putting about their Necks a Collar of SS's, and beftowing on them a pair of Silver Spurs. Laftly, Divers that are in fuperior publick Office for King or State, are reputed Efquires, or equal to Efquires, as Sergeants of the feveral Offices in the King's Court, and other Officers of Rank and Quality; fo Juftices of the Peace, Mayors of Towns, Counsellors at Law, Batchelors of Divinity, Law, or Phyfick, although none of them are really fo.