The title of duke commeth also of the Latine word Dux, à ducendo,
bicause of his valor and power ouer the armie: in times past a name of
office due to the emperour, consull, or chéefe gouernour of the whole
armie in the Romane warres: but now a name of honor, although perished
in England, whose ground will not long beare one duke at once; but if
there were manie as in time past, or as there be now earles, I doo not
thinke but that they would florish and prosper well inough.
[Sidenote: Marquesse.]
In old time he onelie was called marquesse, Qui habuit terram
limitaneam, a marching prouince vpon the enimies countries, and
thereby bound to kéepe and defend the frontiers. But that also is
changed in common vse, and reputed for a name of great honor next vnto
the duke, euen ouer counties, and sometimes small cities, as the
prince is pleased to bestow it.
[Sidenote: Earle.]
The name of earle likewise was among the Romans a name of office, who
had Comites sacri palatij, comites ærarij, comites stabuli, comites
patrimonij, largitionum, scholarum, commerciorum, and such like. But
at the first they were called Comites, which were ioined in commission
with the proconsull, legate, or iudges for counsell and aids sake in
each of those seuerall charges. As Cicero epistola ad Quintum fratrem
remembreth, where he saith; "Atque inter hos quos tibi comites, &
adiutores, negotiorum publicorum dedit ipsa respublica duntaxat
finibus his præstabis, quos ante præscripsi, &c." After this I read
also that euerie president in his charge was called Comes, but our
English Saxons vsed the word Hertoch and earle for Comes, and
indifferentlie as I gesse, sith the name of duke was not in vse before
the conquest. Coropius saith, that Comes and Graue is all one, to wit
[Sidenote: Viscont.]
the viscont, called either Procomes, or Vicecomes: and in time past
gouerned in the countie vnder the earle, but now without anie such
seruice or office, it is also become a name of dignitie next after the
earle, and in degrée before the baron. His reléefe also by the great
charter is one hundred pounds, as that of a baronie a hundred marks,
and of a knight fiue at the most for euerie fée.
[Sidenote: Baron.]
The baron, whose degrée answered to the dignitie of a senator in Rome,
is such a frée lord as hath a lordship or baronie, whereof he beareth
his name, & hath diuerse knights or fréeholders holding of him, who
with him did serue the king in his wars, and held their tenures in
Baronia, that is, for performance of such seruice. These Bracton (a
learned writer of the lawes of England in king Henrie the thirds time)
tearmeth Barones, quasi robur belli. The word Baro indéed is older
than that it may easilie be found from whence it came: for euen in the
oldest histories both of the Germans and Frenchmen, written since the
conquest, we read of barons, and those are at this daie called among
the Germans Liberi vel Ingenui, or Freihers in the Germane toong as
some men doo coniecture, or (as one saith) the citizens and burgesses
of good townes and cities were called Barones. Neuerthelesse by
diligent inquisition it is imagined, if not absolutelie found, that
the word Baro and Filius in the old Scithian or Germane language are
all one; so that the kings children are properlie called Barones, from
whome also it was first translated to their kindred, and then to the
nobilitie and officers of greatest honour indifferentlie. That Baro
and Filius signifieth one thing, it yet remaineth to be séene,
although with some corruption: for to this daie, euen the common sort
doo call their male children barnes here in England, especiallie in
the north countrie, where that word is yet accustomablie in vse. And
it is also growne into a prouerbe in the south, when anie man
susteineth a great hinderance, to saie, I am beggered and all my
barnes. In the Hebrue toong (as some affirme) it signifieth Filij
solis, and what are the nobilitie in euerie kingdome but Filij or
serui regum? But this is farre fetched, wherefore I conclude, that
from hensefoorth the originall of the word Baro shall not be anie more
to seeke: and the first time that euer I red thereof in anie English
historie, is in the reigne of Canutus, who called his nobilitie and
head officers to a councell holden at Cirnecester, by that name, 1030,
as I haue else-where remembred. Howbeit the word Baro dooth not
alwaies signifie or is attributed to a noble man by birth or creation,
for now and then it is a title giuen vnto one or other with his
office, as the chéefe or high tribune of the excheker is of custome
called lord chéefe baron, who is as it were the great or principall
receiuer of accounts next vnto the lord treasuror, as they are vnder
him are called Tribuni ærarij, & rationales. Hervnto I may ad so much
of the word lord, which is an addition going not seldome and in like
sort with sundrie offices, and to continue so long as he or they doo
execute the same, and no longer.
[Sidenote: Bishops.]
Vnto this place I also referre our bishops, who are accounted
honourable, called lords, and hold the same roome in the parlement
house with the barons, albeit for honour sake the right hand of the
prince is giuen vnto them, and whose countenances in time past were
much more glorious than at this present it is, bicause those lustie
prelats sought after earthlie estimation and authoritie with farre
more diligence than after the lost shéepe of Christ, of which they had
small regard, as men being otherwise occupied and void of leisure to
attend vpon the same. Howbeit in these daies their estate remaineth no
lesse reuerend than before, and the more vertuous they are that be of
this calling, the better are they estéemed with high and low. They
reteine also the ancient name (lord) still, although it be not a
little impugned by such as loue either to heare of change of all
things, or can abide no superiours. For notwithstanding it be true,
[Sidenote: 1. Sam ^b 15. 1. Reg. ^3 7.]
that in respect of function, the office of the eldership is equallie
distributed betwéene the bishop and the minister, yet for ciuill
gouernements sake, the first haue more authoritie giuen vnto them by
kings and princes, to the end that the rest maie thereby be with more
ease reteined within a limited compasse of vniformitie, than otherwise
they would be, if ech one were suffered to walke in his owne course.
This also is more to be maruelled at, that verie manie call for an
alteration of their estate, crieng to haue the word lord abolished,
their ciuill authoritie taken from them, and the present condition of
the church in other things reformed; whereas to saie trulie, few of
them doo agrée vpon forme of discipline and gouernement of the church
succedent: wherein they resemble the Capuans, of whome Liuie dooth
speake in the slaughter of their senat. Neither is it possible to
frame a whole monarchie after the patterne of one towne or citie, or
to stirre vp such an exquisite face of the church as we imagine or
desire, sith our corruption is such that it will neuer yéeld to so
great perfection: for that which is not able to be performed in a
priuat house, will much lesse be brought to passe in a common-wealth
and kingdome, before such a prince be found as Xenophon describeth, or
such an orator as Tullie hath deuised. But whither am I digressed from
my discourse of bishops, whose estates doo daily decaie, & suffer some
diminution? Herein neuerthelesse their case is growne to be much
better than before, for whereas in times past the cleargie men were
feared bicause of their authoritie and seuere gouernment vnder the
prince, now are they beloued generallie for their painefull diligence
dailie shewed in their functions and callings, except peraduenture of
some hungrie wombes, that couet to plucke & snatch at the loose ends
of their best commodities; with whom it is (as the report goeth) a
common guise, when a man is to be preferred to an ecclesiasticall
liuing, what part thereof he will first forgo and part with to their
vse. Finallie, how it standeth with the rest of the clergie for their
places of estate, I neither can tell nor greatlie care to know.
Neuerthelesse with what degrées of honour and worship they haue béene
[Sidenote: De Asia, cap. 12.]
matched in times past Iohannes Bohemus in his De omnium gentium
moribus, and others doo expresse; and this also found beside their
reports, that in time past euerie bishop, abbat, and pelting prior
were placed before the earles and barons in most statutes, charters,
and records made by the prince, as maie also appeare in the great
charter, and sundrie yeares of Henrie the third, wherein no duke was
heard of. But as a number of their odious comparisons and ambitious
titles are now decaied and worthilie shroonke in the wetting, so
giuing ouer in these daies to mainteine such pompous vanitie, they doo
thinke it sufficient for them to preach the word, & hold their liuings
to their sées (so long as they shall be able) from the hands of such
as indeuour for their owne preferrement to fléece and diminish the
same. This furthermore will I adde generallie in commendation of the
cleargie of England, that they are for their knowlege reputed in
France, Portingale, Spaine, Germanie and Polonia, to be the most
learned diuines, although they like not anie thing at all of their
religion: and thereto they are in deed so skilfull in the two
principall toongs, that it is accounted a maime in anie one of them,
[Sidenote: No Gréeke, no grace.]
not to be exactlie seene in the Greeke and Hebrue, much more then to
be vtterlie ignorant or nothing conuersant in them. As for the Latine
toong it is not wanting in anie of the ministerie, especiallie in such
as haue beene made within this twelue or fourtéene yeares, whereas
before there was small choise, and manie cures were left vnserued,
bicause they had none at all. And to saie truth, our aduersaries were
[Sidenote: Bene con, bene can, bene le.]
the onelie causers hereof. For whilest they made no further accompt of
their priesthood, than to construe, sing, read their seruice and their
portesse, it came to passe that vpon examination had, few made in
quéene Maries daies, and the later end of king Henrie, were able to
doo anie more, and verie hardlie so much, so void were they of further
skill, and so vnapt to serue at all.
[Sidenote: Duke, marquesse, earle, viscont.]
Dukes, marquesses, earles, visconts, and barons, either be created of
the prince, or come to that honor by being the eldest sonnes or
highest in succession to their parents. For the eldest sonne of a duke
during his fathers life is an erle, the eldest sonne of an erle is a
baron, or sometimes a viscont, according as the creation is. The
creation I call the originall donation and condition of the honour
giuen by the prince for good seruice doone by the first ancestor, with
some aduancement, which with the title of that honour is alwaies giuen
to him and his heires males onelie. The rest of the sonnes of the
nobilitie by the rigor of the law be but esquiers: yet in common
spéech all dukes and marquesses sonnes, and earles eldest sonnes be
called lords, the which name commonlie dooth agrée to none of lower
degrée than barons, yet by law and vse these be not esteemed barons.
[Sidenote: Barons.]
The baronie or degrée of lords dooth answer to the degree of senators
of Rome (as I said) and the title of nobilitie (as we vse to call it
in England) to the Romane Patricij. Also in England no man is
commonlie created baron, except he maie dispend of yearelie reuenues a
thousand pounds, or so much as maie fullie mainteine & beare out his
countenance and port. But visconts, erles, marquesses, and dukes
excéed them according to the proportion of their degrée & honour. But
though by chance he or his sonne haue lesse, yet he kéepeth this
degree: but if the decaie be excessiue and not able to mainteine the
honour, as Senatores Romani were amoti à senatu: so sometimes they are
not admitted to the vpper house in the parlement although they keepe
the name of lord still, which can not be taken from them vpon anie
such occasion. The most of these names haue descended from the French
inuention, in whose histories we shall read of them eight hundred
yeares passed.
[Sidenote: Of the second degrée of gentlemen.]
This also is worthie the remembrance, that Otto the first emperour of
that name, indeuouring to restore the decaied estate of Italie vnto
some part of hir pristinate magnificence, did after the French example
giue Dignitates & prædia to such knights and souldiers as had serued
him in the warres, whom he also adorned with the names of dukes,
marquesses, earles, valuasors or capteins, and valuasines.
[Sidenote: Prædia.]
His Prædia in like maner were tributes, tolles, portage, bankage,
stackage, coinage, profits by saltpits, milles, water-courses (and
whatsoeuer emoluments grew by them) & such like. But at that present I
read not that the word Baro was brought into those parts. And as for
the valuasors, it was a denomination applied vnto all degrées of honor
vnder the first three (which are properlie named the kings capteins)
so that they are called Maiores, minores, & minimi valuasores. This
also is to be noted, that the word capteine hath two relations, either
as the possessor therof hath it from the prince, or from some duke,
marquesse, or earle, for each had capteins vnder them. If from the
[Sidenote: Valuasores.]
prince, then are they called Maiores valuasores, if from anie of his
thrée péeres, then were they Minores valuasores: but if anie of these
Valuasors doo substitute a deputie, those are called Minimi
valuasores, and their deputies also Valuasini, without regard vnto
which degrée the valuasor dooth apperteine: but the word Valuasor is
now growne out of vse, wherefore it sufficeth to haue said thus much
of that function.
[Sidenote: Knights.]
Knights be not borne, neither is anie man a knight by succession, no
not the king or prince: but they are made either before the battell,
to incourage them the more to aduenture & trie their manhood: or after
the battell ended, as an aduancement for their courage and prowesse
[Sidenote: Milites.]
alreadie shewed (& then are they called Milites;) or out of the warres
for some great seruice doone, or for the singular vertues which doo
appeare in them, and then are they named Equites aurati, as common
custome intendeth. They are made either by the king himselfe, or by
his commission and roiall authoritie giuen for the same purpose: or by
his lieutenant in the warres. This order seemeth to answer in part to
[Sidenote: Equites aurati.]
that which the Romans called Equitum Romanorum. For as Equites Romani
were chosen Ex censu, that is, according to their substance and
riches; so be knights in England most commonlie according to their
yearelie reuenues or aboundance of riches, wherewith to mainteine
their estates. Yet all that had Equestrem censum, were not chosen to
be knights, and no more be all made Knights in England that may spend
a knights lands, but they onelie whome the prince will honour.
Sometime diuerse ancient gentlemen, burgesses, and lawiers, are called
vnto knighthood by the prince, and neuerthelesse refuse to take that
state vpon them, for which they are of custome punished by a fine,
that redoundeth vnto his cofers, and to saie truth, is oftentimes more
profitable vnto him than otherwise their seruice should be, if they
did yeeld vnto knighthood. And this also is a cause, wherefore there
be manie in England able to dispend a knights liuing, which neuer come
vnto that countenance, and by their owne consents. The number of the
knights in Rome was also vncerteine: and so is it of knights likewise
with vs, as at the pleasure of the prince. And whereas the Equites
Romani had Equum publicum of custome bestowed vpon them, the knights
of England haue not so, but beare their owne charges in that also, as
in other kind of furniture, as armorie méet for their defense and
seruice. This neuerthelesse is certeine, that who so may dispend 40
pounds by the yeare of frée land, either at the coronation of the
king, or mariage of his daughter, or time of his dubbing, may be
inforced vnto the taking of that degrée, or otherwise paie the
reuenues of his land for one yeare, which is onelie fortie pounds by
an old proportion, and so for a time be acquited of that title. We
name him knight in English that the French calleth Cheualier, and the
Latins Equitem, or Equestris ordinis virum. And when any man is made a
knight, he knéeling downe is striken of the king or his substitute
with his sword naked vpon the backe or shoulder, the prince, &c:
saieng, "Soyes cheualier au nom de Dieu." And when he riseth vp the
king saith "Aduances bon cheualier." This is the maner of dubbing
knights at this present, and the tearme (dubbing) is the old tearme
for that purpose and not creation, howbeit in our time the word
(making) is most in vse among the common sort.
[Sidenote: Knights of the bath.]
At the coronation of a king or queene, there be other knights made
with longer and more curious ceremonies, called knights of the bath.
But how soeuer one be dubbed or made knight, his wife is by and by
called madame or ladie, so well as the barons wife; he himselfe hauing
added to his name in common appellation this syllable Sir, which is
the title whereby we call our knights in England. His wife also of
courtesie so long as she liueth is called my ladie, although she
happen to marie with a gentleman or man of meane calling, albeit that
by the c[=o]omon law she hath no such prerogatiue. If hir first
husband also be of better birth than hir second, though this later
likewise be a knight, yet in that she pretendeth a priuilege to loose
no honor through courtesie yéelded to hir sex, she will be named after
the most honorable or worshipfull of both, which is not séene
elsewhere.
[Sidenote: Knights of the garter.]
The other order of knighthood in England, and the most honorable is
that of the garter, instituted by king Edward the third, who after he
had gained manie notable victories, taken king Iohn of France, and
king Iames of Scotland (and kept them both prisoners in the Tower of
London at one time) expelled king Henrie of Castile the bastard out of
his realme, and restored Don Petro vnto it (by the helpe of the prince
of Wales and duke of Aquitaine his eldest sonne called the Blacke
prince) he then inuented this societie of honour, and made a choise
out of his owne realme and dominions, and throughout all christendome
of the best, most excellent and renowmed persons in all vertues and
honour, and adorned them with that title to be knights of his order,
giuing them a garter garnished with gold and pretious stones, to weare
dailie on the left leg onlie: also a kirtle, gowne, cloke, chaperon,
collar, and other solemne and magnificent apparell, both of stuffe and
fashion exquisite & heroicall to weare at high feasts, & as to so high
and princelie an order apperteineth. Of this companie also he and his
successors kings and queenes of England, be the souereignes, and the
rest by certeine statutes and lawes amongst themselues be taken as
brethren and fellowes in that order, to the number of six and twentie,
as I find in a certeine treatise written of the same, an example
whereof I haue here inserted word for word, as it was deliuered vnto
me, beginning after this maner.
[Sidenote: Round table.]
I might at this present make a long tractation of the round table and
estate of the knights thereof, erected sometimes by Arthur the great
monarch, of this Iland; and therevnto intreat of the number of his
knights, and ceremonies belonging to the order, but I thinke in so
dooing that I should rather set downe the latter inuentions of other
men, than a true description of such ancient actions as were performed
in deed. I could furthermore with more facilitie describe the roialtie
of Charles the great & his twelue péeres, with their solemne rites and
vsages: but vnto this also I haue no great deuotion, considering the
truth hereof is now so stained with errours and fables inserted into
the same by the lewd religious sort, that except a man should professe
to lie with them for companie, there is little sound knowledge to be
gathered hereof worthie the remembrance. In like maner diuerse aswell
subiects as princes haue attempted to restore againe a round table in
[Sidenote: Roger Mortimer.]
this land (as for example Roger lord Mortimer at Killingworth) but
such were the excessiue charges apperteining therevnto (as they did
make allowance) and so great molestation dailie insued therevpon,
beside the bréeding of sundrie quarrels among the knights, and such as
resorted hitherto from forreine countries (as it was first vsed) that
in fine they gaue it ouer, and suffered their whole inuentions to
perish and decaie, till Edward the third deuised an other order not so
much pestered with multitude of knights as the round table, but much
more honorable for princelie port and countenance, as shall appeare
hereafter.
[Sidenote: The occasion of the deuise.]
The order of the garter therefore was deuised in the time of king
Edward the third, and (as some write) vpon this occasion. The quéenes
maiestie then liuing, being departed from his presence the next waie
toward hir lodging, he following soone after happened to find hir
garter, which slacked by chance and so fell from hir leg, vnespied in
the throng by such as attended vpon hir. His groomes & gentlemen also
passed by it, disdaining to stoope and take vp such a trifle: but he
knowing the owner, commanded one of them to staie and reach it vp to
him. Why and like your grace (saieth a gentleman) it is but some
womans garter that hath fallen from hir as she followed the quéenes
[Sidenote: Peradventure but a blue ribbon.]
maiestie. What soeuer it be (quoth the king) take it vp and giue it
me. So when he had receiued the garter, he said to such as stood about
him: You my maisters doo make small account of this blue garter here
(and therewith held it out) but if God lend me life for a few moneths,
I will make the proudest of you all to reuerence the like. And euen
vpon this slender occasion he gaue himselfe to the deuising of this
order. Certes I haue not read of anie thing, that hauing had so simple
a begining hath growne in the end to so great honour and estimation.
But to proceed. After he had studied awhile about the performance of
his deuise, and had set downe such orders as he himselfe inuented
concerning the same, he proclamed a roiall feast to be holden at
Windsore, whither all his nobilitie resorted with their ladies, where
he published his institution, and foorthwith inuested an appointed
number into the afore said fellowship, whose names insue, himselfe
being the souereigne and principall of that companie. Next vnto
himselfe also he placed
Edward Prince of Wales.
Henrie duke of Lancaster.
N. earle of Warw.
N. capt. de Bouche.
N. earle of Stafford.
N. earle of Sarum.
N. lord Mortimer.
Sir John Lisle.
Sir Bartholomew Burwash.
N. sonne of sir Iohn Beauchamp.
Sir N. de Mahun.
S. Hugh Courtneie.
S. Thomas Holland.
Sir Iohn Graie.
Sir Rich. Fitzsimon.
Sir Miles Stapleton.
Sir Thomas Wale.
Sir Hugh Wrotesley.
Sir Neale Lording.
Sir Iohn Chandos.
S. Iames Dawdleie.
Sir Otho Holland.
Sir Henrie Eme.
Sir Sanchet Dambricourt.
Sir Walter Pannell aliàs Paganell.