_Of the examination of such whome they preferre to the degree of
Loytia, which is with vs the degree of a doctor: and howe they doo
commence them, and howe they doo beare him companie._
These uisitours of whome wee haue spoken, the king and his counsaill doo
sende them to visite his prouinces; and amongest the greatest things
that are giuen them in charge, is the visitation of the colledges and
schooles which the king hath in all the principall citties, as is saide;
the which visitour hath a particular authoritie for to commence or
graduate such students as haue finished their course, and are of
abilitie and sufficiencie to perfourme the same. They doo make them
gentlemen, if they bee capable of anie charge of iustice or gouernment.
And for that the vse of their ceremonies is a thing woorthie to bee
knowne, I will here declare the same order which Frier Martin de
Herrada, and his companions, did see in the citie of Aucheo,[120] at the
time of their commencement.
At such time as the visitor hath concluded the visitation of his
prouince, and hath punished the malifactors, and rewarded the good: in
the metropolitane cities, hee doth straight wayes cause proclamation to
bee made that all students and scholers that doo finde themselues
sufficient, and haue a corage to be examined to take the degree of
Loytia, the which, although amongst them is vnderstoode to bee made a
gentleman, yet amongst vs is a doctour.
The day appointed being come, they are all presented before the
visitour, who taketh all their names in a scrowle, and appointeth
another day for their examination. This day, for honour of the feast,
the visitor dooth inuite all the learned Loytias that are in the citie,
who ioyntly with him do make the examination with great rigour, alwayes
putting forwardes and preferring those that are skilfull in the lawes of
the countrey, by which they do gouerne all other faculties whatsoeuer,
and that they be therewithall good, and vertuous. And all those that
they doo finde with these properties, they do write their names in an
other scrowle, and doo appoint the day of commencement, the which is
done with great ceremonies and much people, in whose presence the
visitor, in the name of the king, doth giue vnto them the ensignes of
degree and dignitie to be a Loytia; that is, a waste or girdle bossed
with gold or siluer, and a hat with certaine thinges on it, as shall be
shewed you in the chapter following; which is a signe and token that
doth make the difference from the vulgar people, without the which none
can shewe himselfe in publike.
And although al be called Loytias, I meane those that come to it by
letters or learning, and others by the warres, and others by a gift of
the king, yet they differ the one from the other in estimation. For that
those of the royall counsell, viceroyes, gouernors, and visitors, are
made Loytias by disputation in learning; and the generall captaines,
maiors, bailifes, and testators, are a gift of the kinges in recompence
of some good seruice that they haue done. These haue no more
preheminence, but onely that they haue the benefite of their priuileges,
and haue the dignitie of that vocation, but these are neuer preferred to
greater honours, as the other Loytias are, of these you have in euery
citie very many.
[Sidenote: Any good thing gratified.]
There be others likewise of great estimation, and are put in the second
degree, and are those that are made by desert in the warres, and are
elect and chosen by the generals by authoritie of the king, for some act
or worthie deede done in the wars, by force of armes or such like,
approued by witnesse of great credite; vnto whom, besides the title and
honour giuen vnto them, they doo giue them great liuings, for that no
valiant or worthie deede but is had in estimation, and gratified with
great liberalitie, which is the occasion that those which are meane
souldiers, are animated to imitate those that be most principall and
valiant. According vnto my promise I will here, with as much breuitie as
may bee, declare vnto you the order of their commencements, and how they
do accompanie them after that they are made Loytias, for that it is a
thing worth the hearing.
The day appointed being come for to commence or giue degrees, all the
Loytias, with the visitor, doo enter into the royall hall whereas they
were examined, al richly apparelled, and being assembled, then do enter
in al those that shal receiue degrees, galantly apparelled without any
upper garment, and before euerie one of them, go the padrines,[121] and
after them the graduates with garments very finely made, riding on
gennets very sumptuously couered with cloth of gold and silke, that do
carie the ensignes that shalbe giuen vnto him, the which hee dooth
demande of the visitor, kneeling vpon his knees with great humilitie.
Who first sweare them, that in all offices committed vnto them, they
shall with all care and diligence doo iustice equallie vnto all men, and
that they shall not receiue any bribes or presents whatsoeuer: that they
shall be true and loyall vnto the king, and that they shall not conspire
in any confederacie or treason against him, and manie other things:
which ceremonies he standeth long about.
This oth being taken, the visitor who presenteth the kings person, dooth
put on them the ensignes aforesaide, with the facultie belonging
thereunto, and then hee and all the Loytias imbrace them presently. This
doone, they depart out of the hal in verie decent order, at which
instant all the belles in the citie are rong, and great store of
ordinance and artilerie discharged, which continueth a good space. Then
they carrie these newe Loytias throughout the citie, accompanied with a
multitude of people in manner following.
There go first before them many souldiers, marching in good order, with
drommes and trumpets and other musicall instruments verie melodious:
after them are borne many maces, then follow all the Loytias, some on
horsebacke and some are carried in litter chaires, in most gallant
order, after which follow the Padrines. Then the new commenced Loytias,
without any upper garment as before is saide, all mounted vppon white
horses verie richly couered with cloth of golde; hauing euerie one of
them a tippet of taffeta vpon his shoulder, and on his head a hat with
two small tippets hanging downe behinde, much after the fashion of those
that hang on the bishops miter; this is permitted unto none but vnto
those of their orders abouesaide: vpon their hats they haue two branches
of golde, or of siluer and guilt, made like vnto a bunch of fethers:
before euerie one of them are carried sixe frames, couered with satten,
and euerie one is carried by foure men: in these frames are written in
letters of golde their disputation, facultie, and title giuen them for
the same, and their armes, with manie other things which I omit for
breuitie sake, because this marching and passing holdeth eight houres
togither. The citizens there keepe this day festiuall, and do ordeine
manie dances and sportes. And the better sort doo celebrate three or
foure daies after, banquetting the newe made Loytia, and giuing him ioy
of his newe preferment, euerie man seeking his good will and fauour.
From this day forwards hee is of abilitie to take vppon him any office
and gouernement whatsoeuer: and therefore straight wayes he goeth vnto
the court to procure the same, and carrieth with him the ensignes of his
commencement, and is apparelled so that he may be knowne, wherefore they
doo him great honour in the way as hee goeth, and lodge him in such
houses as the king hath appointed in euerie towne for such as they be.
When he commeth to the court, hee goeth and dooth his duetie vnto the
president and vnto the rest of the royall counsell, who euerie one a
part, doo giue him ioy of his new dignitie, and with many words of great
curtesie and praise promise him, as occasion shall serve, to prouide him
a place, as they by their examination doo vnderstande his abilitie, and,
againe, as they see his discreete dealing and care in such matters as
they do giue him in charge, so will they preferre him to better dignitie
and honour. So the next day following they register him in their booke
of memorie, which is alwayes in the counsell chamber; and they remaine
there waiting and seruing them vntill they haue prouided them of some
gouernment, which is not long after, for that the kingdome is great,
with manie prouinces and citties, as by this historie you shal
vnderstand.