Part 3

§ 1. THE Grounds and Causes of founding _Societies_ or _Knightly Orders_, were several and different, tho’ all terminated in one End. Among which, principally were these, _First_, A sincere Love to _Honour_, and therein chiefly to excite and promote _Vertue_ by suitable Rewards; such was the Design of King _Arthur_, when he formed himself and other Martial Men into a Fellowship, which he stiled _Knights of the Round Table_. _Secondly_, To repress the Incursions and Robberies of the _Saracens_ and _Barbarians_, to vindicate the Oppressed, redeem the Enslaved, and to entertain and relieve Pilgrims and Strangers, which were Part of the Duties the _Knights Hospitallers_ and _Templars_, &c. stood engag’d in. A _third_ Reason was, To Fight in Defence of the Christian Faith, against Pagans and Infidels; to enlarge the Christian Territories, and promote the Service of the Catholick Church: And indeed their Zeal very much advanced Christianity. _Lastly_, When Sovereign Princes perceived themselves embroiled in Wars or dangerous Factions, the erecting such an Order or Society was, that they might by such a Tye restore Peace, quiet all Jealousies, unite Affections, and secure a lasting Friendship and powerful Assistance, both for their own and their Country’s Safety. And to this End were Badges of several Orders devised, as Pledges of Remembrance to quicken and establish their Friendship.

§ 2. THESE Orders are of Two Kinds, 1. _Religious_, or _Ecclesiastical_; and, 2. _Military_, or _Secular_.

§ 3. THE Institutions of the latter Sort were after a while thought too weak to continue, if not sustained by Religion and Piety; and too defective without adjoyning Ecclesiastical Persons thereunto. Therefore the Founders, considering Divine Assistance should concur with Military Industry, began to dedicate these Orders to the Honour and Worship of God, or to our Saviour, or to the blessed Virgin, or some other of the Saints, to gain the Protection and Favour of Heaven, more easily, as they thought, obtainable by the Prayers and Offices of the Clergy. Whereupon some in their Institution joyned Sacred Orders to their Military, and made Provision for Sacred Persons to pray for their Prosperity at home, while they were engaged abroad. Hence King _Edw._ III. at the first Institution of the _Garter_, appointed Thirteen Secular Canons, and Thirteen Vicars to attend the Celebration of Divine Offices. Upon the same Account certain Foundations of Divine Service were erected at _Bugey_, for the Order of the _Annunciads_; at _Dijon_, for the Order of the _Golden Fleece_; and at _Mont St. Michael_ in _Normandy_, for the Order of St. _Michael_.

§ 4. I shall now deliver a brief Account of the Religious Orders of Knighthood, proceeding according to their Antiquity.

1. _The Knights of the_ Holy Sepulchre _in_ Jerusalem, _are accounted the most Ancient_.

DR. _Heylin_ reports this Order to be instituted _A. D._ 1099. at such Time as the Temple of _Jerusalem_ was regain’d from the _Saracens_ by _Philip_ King of _France_. Yet _Favin_ will have it to be by _Baldwin_ the First, King of _Jerusalem_; for while the _Saracens_ possess’d the City, there were certain Canons Regular of St. _Augustin_, to whom they permitted the Custody of the Holy Sepulchre. These Canons _Baldwin_ made Men of Arms, and _Knights of the Holy Sepulchre_, and ordained that they should nevertheless retain their white Habits, and on the Breast bear his own Arms, which were _Argent a Cross potent: Or_, between _four Crosses of the same_, commonly call’d _The_ Jerusalem _Cross_. Their Great Master was the Patriarch of _Jerusalem_. They were to guard the Sepulchre, fight against the _Saracens_ and Infidels, protect Pilgrims, redeem Christian Captives, hear Mass every Day, recite the Hours of the Cross, and to bear the five red Crosses in memory of our Saviour’s Wounds. Their Rule was confirm’d by Pope _Innocent_ III. Upon the loss of the Holy Land, these Knights retired to _Perugia_ in _Italy_; but retaining their white Habit, chang’d their Arms to a double _red Cross_. _A. D._ 1484. they were incorporated to the _Knights Hospitallers of_ Jerusalem then in _Rhodes_. But _A. D._ 1496. _Alexander_ VI. made himself, and the Popes his Successors, Great Masters thereof, and empower’d the Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre (his Vicar General) to bestow the same upon Pilgrims to the Holy Land. _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_, endeavour’d to restore this Order in some of his Dominions, about the Year 1558. himself being elected Great Master: And another Attempt was made by the Duke of _Nevers_, 1615. but these Designs took no Effect.

2. _Knights Hospitallers of St._ John Baptist _in_ Jerusalem.

BEFORE the taking of _Jerusalem_ from the _Saracens_, certain Christian Merchants of _Naples_ obtain’d leave from the Caliph of _Egypt_ to erect a small and convenient House, for the Entertainment of themselves and Countrymen, which they built before the Church of the _Holy Sepulchre_, together with a small Oratory. To them repair’d certain Canons of the Order of St. _Augustin_, who built another Oratory; but the Confluence of Pilgrims growing great, they erected a large Hospital, in the Place where our Saviour celebrated his last Supper, for the better accommodating devout Travellers, who for want of a Place to lodge in were often robb’d and murder’d: So that at length from their Charity and Hospitality, as also for that they took St. _John Baptist_ for their Patron, they obtain’d that Title. It was instituted _A. D._ 1092. or according to others 1099. by _Gerard_, a Native of _Thoulouse_, who came to _Jerusalem_ in the Time of _Godfry_ of _Bouillon_, and built this Hospital (which became the first Seat of this Order) dedicated to St. _John_ of _Cyprus_, Bp. of _Alexandria_, commonly call’d _Johannes Eleemosynarius_; and King _Baldwin_ I. conferred on them large Privileges, permitting them Arms, and instituted them to be Knights, _A. D._ 1104. Their Duty was to fight against the Infidels, and they acknowledged Obedience to the Patriarch of _Jerusalem_; but growing rich, they obtained from _Rome_ to be absolved from that Obedience. Pope _Gelasius_ II. or _Calixtus_ II. _A. D._ 1120. confirmed their Rule of living; and _Adrian_ IV. receiv’d them under the Protection of the Papal See, being likewise endowed with ample Privileges, and exempted from Payment of Tithes, by succeeding Popes, chiefly by _Pius_ IV.

THEY took the black Habit of Hermits of St. _Augustin_, and lived under his Rule by Grant of _Honorius_ II. _Anno_ 1125. vowing Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity; and on the Breast of their Habit wore at first a plain Cross of White Cloth, which was after changed to one with Eight Points; but in time of War they used a Red Cassock, bearing the White Cross upon it. Unto _Gerard_ succeeded _Raimund_, who digested and enlarged their Laws and Institutions in the Composition whereof his Stile was _Raimundus Dei gratia servus pauperum Jesu Christi & Custos Hospitalis Jerusolymitani_; but afterwards he and his Successors had the Title of Great Master of the Order given him, to denote his Power and Authority. At this Day he has the Title of Prince of _Malta_ and _Goza_; among his Privileges he seals in Lead, as doth the Pope and Doge of _Venice_; he acknowledges the Pope for his Head, and the King of _Spain_ for his Patron; he had under him in several Kingdoms Priors; some of whom had also the Addition of Great with us in _England_ he was stiled _Prior Hospitalis; St. Johannis Jerusalem in Anglia_, and by that Title was he summoned to the Parliament as a Baron of this Kingdom, and at length for Place and Precedency was ranked the first Baron; and the greatness of these Knights grew to such height that _temp. H._ 3. they had in Christendom 19000 Mannors.

WHEN _Saladine_ took _Jerusalem_, these Knights retreated to _Acres_ or _Ptolemais_, and that being taken they seized upon the Island of _Rhodes_, _A. D._ 1308. whence they began to be call’d Knights of _Rhodes_; but _A. D._ 1522. being driven, thence by _Solyman_, they betook themselves to the Island of _Malta_, which with _Tripoli_ and _Goza_ were granted to them in Fee by the Emperor _Charles_ V. _A. D._ 1530. under the Tender of one Falcon yearly to the Viceroy of _Sicily_, and to acknowledge the King of _Spain_ and _Sicily_ for their Protectors. In this Isle they continue a Bulwark to those Parts, and from this their Settlement are called Knights of _Malta_.

3. _Knights_ Templars.

ABOUT the Year 1117, 1118, 1119, or 1120, this Order took Beginning, _Baldwin_ II. then reigning in _Jerusalem_; when Nine Gentlemen, of whom Two of noble Extraction, _Hugh de Paganes_ and _Godfrey de St. Omer_, came in Devotion to the _Holy Land_; they were called Brothers of the Militia of the Temple, ordinarily Knights Templars, from the Habitation assigned them out of a part of the King’s own Palace, adjoyning to the Temple of _Solomon_ in _Jerusalem_. Their first Undertaking was to guard the most dangerous Ways about that City, against the Violence and Robberies of the _Saracens_, which made them acceptable to all, and for which they had Remission of their Sins; but for the first Nine Years they were yet so poor that they lived upon the Alms of others, wore Clothes bestowed in Charity upon them, and rode two on one Horse; in memory of which primitive Poverty their Seal had the Impress, which is represented in _Math. Paris_, _A. D._ 1127. They had Rules assigned them, drawn up by St. _Bernard_ Abbot of _Clairvaux_, by the Appointment of Pope _Honorius_ II. and _Stephen_ Patriarch of _Jerusalem_. They made their Vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity, and to live under the Rules of Canons regular of St. _Augustin_. Their Habit was White, to which, in the Time of _Eugenius_ III. they added the Red Cross, and of the same Form that the Hospitallers wore (_Favin_ says a patriarchal Cross) and sowed it on the left Shoulder of the _Maulles_. These with the Holy Sepulchre Hospitallers and Teutonicks, principally supported a long time the Kingdom of _Jerusalem_; but when Riches encreas’d, and their Revenues augmented, they grew proud, fell from the Obedience of the Patriarch to joyn with the Pope; and at last, 1307. all the Knights of this Order in _France_ were, in one and the same Hour, seized and imprison’d by _Philip le Bel_, King of France, with Consent of Pope _Clement_ V. being charged with most infamous and damnable Crimes. And in _England_, _Anno 1. Ed. 2._ they were also apprehended afterwards, rendred Convicts, and all their Possessions seized into the King’s Hands. Howbeit the Bishop of _York_ commiserating their deplorable Condition within his Diocess, charitably disposed of them in Monasteries under his Jurisdiction. Two Years after many of these Knights were burn’d in _France_, and _Jaques de la Maule_, the last great Master, suffered the same Fate, having seen, _A. D._ 1312. his Order by Papal Authority, condemned and perpetually dissolved; after which their Lands were annexed to the Hospitallers, for their Service against the _Turks_.

THUS they fell, no less famous for Martial Atchievments in the East, than their Wealth in the West; for they enjoyed 16000 Lordships in _Europe_, and a _Spanish_ Author tells us, their Revenue was Two Millions yearly, and had in possession 40000 Commanderies, which occasion’d divers to think they were falsly accused, and by suborned Witnesses, merely upon the Ambition and covetous Design of _Philip_ King of _France_.

4. _Knights of the Order of St._ Lazarus.

THESE were at the first a Fraternity of Religious Monks, after which they became Ecclesiastick Knights, in Imitation of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Pope _Pius_ V. 1572. stiles it _Antiquissimum Charitatis & Militiæ Christi Ordinem_; yet it must be understood as an Order of Monks, founded by St. _Basil_, about the time of _Julian the Apostate_, _A. D._ 366. upon a Charitable Account, _viz._ to take Care of Leprous Persons (a Malady frequent in the East) by which they became separated, even from the Conversation of Men. At length, through the Incursion of the _Barbarians_, and Injury of Time, it lay extinguish’d, but was revived when the _Latin_ Princes joyned in a Holy League to recover the _Holy Land_. And a famous Hospital was erected at _Jerusalem_, under the Title of St. _Lazarus_, for the Reception of Lepers: For in that Time the Monks of this Order added Martial Discipline to their Skill in Physick; and for their Services against the Infidels, begat a great Esteem from _Baldwin_ II. King of _Jerusalem_, and some of his Successors. In process of Time this Order decayed, being suppressed by _Innocent_ VIII. who united it to the _Hospitallers_ at _Rhodes_, _A. D._ 1490. Nevertheless _Pius_ IV. restored it _A. D._ 1565. confirming the old, and granting new Privileges, making his kinsman Don _Janot de Chastillon_ great Master. _Pius_ V. _A. D._ 1567. enlarged their Privileges, permitting them to take one Wife only, to wit, a Virgin, not a Widow. Lastly, Pope _Gregory_ XIII. _A. D._ 1572. bestowed the Great Mastership of this Order upon _Emanuel Philibert_ Duke of _Savoy_, and his Successors, and prescribed them the _Cistercian_ Rule; and accordingly he had the Investiture and Collation of the _Commanderies_ in _Spain_ and _Italy_.

5. _Knights of the_ Teutonick _Order, or_ Prussia.

IN the Time of the Holy War, a wealthy Gentleman of _Germany_, who dwelt at _Jerusalem_, commiserating the Condition of his Country-men, coming thither in Devotion, made his House their Receptacle; afterwards he erected a Chapel to the Blessed Virgin, whence they had also the Title of _Marian_ Knights. To him associated other _Germans_, and in short time encreasing, they professed the Military Employments of the _Templars_, and followed the Acts of Piety and Charity of the _Hospitallers_. _A. D._ 1190. or 1191. they elected _Henry Walpott_ their first Master, and the following Year were confirmed by _Celestine_ III. under the Title of Knights _Teutonicks_, or _Dutch_ Knights, of the Hospital of St. _Mary_ the Virgin, vowing Poverty, Obedience, and Charity, and following the Rule of St. _Augustin_. Their Statutes were composed from those of the _Hospitallers_ and _Templars_, and One Article was, _That none but_ Germans _should be of this Order_. Their Habit was a White Mantle, on the Breast a plain _Black Cross_, but some make it a _Black Cross_ voided with a _Cross Potent_. At _Acon_ they erected another Hospital; but after that City was taken by _Saladine_, they removed under _Hermannus_ their Master into _Germany_, on whom the Emperor _Frederick_ II. _A. D._ 1229. and Pope _Honorius_ III. bestowed _Prussia_; where having conquer’d that Nation, and reduced it from Paganism, they built the City of _Maryburgh_, and there, _A. D._ 1340. fixed the chief Residence of their great Master. This Country they enjoyed till 1525. that _Albertus Brandenburgh_, the Last great Master, made solemn Renunciation of that Order, and became feudatory to _Sigismond_ I. King of _Poland_, who created this _Albert_ first Duke of _Prussia_: However, some of the Knights disrellishing this Action elected another great Master, _viz._ _Albert Wolfang_, and leaving _Prussia_ setled in _Germany_, where they now reside. The younger Sons of the _German_ Princes being, for the most part received into this Order, giving it the greatest Reputation.

6. _Knights of_ Mount-Joy.

THESE are so called, from a Castle where this Order was instituted, built upon the Point of a Mountain not far from _Jerusalem_, whence the Pilgrims first view’d the _Holy City_, and where these Knights lay in Garrison. Their Habit was White, and the Badge thereof an _Octogonal Cross Red_; they vowed Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and followed the Rule of St. _Basil_; which Pope _Alexander_ III. _A. D._ 1180. changed to that of _Augustine_. Upon the Loss of the _Holy Land_ they retired to _Spain_, and fought against the _Moors_, and according to the Places they resided, in had other Names, in _Catalonia_ and _Valentia_, _Equites de Mongoia_, i. e. _Mount Joy_; but in _Castile_, Knights of _Monfrac_, a Castle there. When _Alphonso_ IX. King of _Castile_ gave them Lands they had won from the _Moors_, the Donation says, _To you Don_ Rodrigo Gonsales, _Master of_ Monfrac, _of the Order of_ Mount Joy. Upon the Decay of this Order, _A. D._ 1221. this Castle was given to Don _Gonsalionez_, Master of the Order of _Calatrava_, by _Ferdinand_ the Saint; and these Knights were incorporated with them.

7. _Knights of St._ John _of_ Acon _or_ Acres.

UNDER the Patronage of this Saint was this Order erected; they exercised all Duties of Charity towards Pilgrims, and assumed Arms in imitation of the _Hospitallers_; they followed the Rule of St. _Augustine_; and according to _Favina_, had a Black Habit, upon which they wore a _White Cross patee_. After _Acon_ was taken they removed into _Spain_, and flourished in the Reign of _Alphonsus_ the Astrologer King of _Castile_, about which time Pope _Alexander_ IV. approved the Order under the conjoined Title of St. _Thomas_ and St. _John_ of _Acon_. This King gave them by his Will all the Furniture of his House, and much Money; but afterward they dwindled, and at last were united to the _Hospitallers_. The Ensign was a _Red Cross_, in the middle whereof stood the Figures of St. _John_ and St. _Thomas_.

8. _Knights of St._ Thomas.

DISTINCT from the former, yet wearing the same Habit, as the Knights of St. _John_ of _Acon_, making the same Processions, and following the same Rule; their Badge was a _Saltire Gules_, (or as others are of Opinion) the same with that of St. _John_ of _Acon_, wanting the Figures in the middle: But _Favin_ reports, this Order was instituted by King _Richard_ I. after the Surprizal of _Acon_; and that these Knights were of the _English_ Nation, who wore a White Habit and a _Red Cross_, charged in the middle with an _Escallon_, and that St. _Thomas Becket_ was their Patron. Howbeit, after the Christians were driven out of the _Holy Land_, the Knights of this Order were joined to the _Hospitallers_.

9. _Knights of St._ Blaze.

THESE were also called Knights _de Sta. Maria_; they were Officers and Servants to the Kings of _Armenia_; their Habit was Sky colour with a _Cross Gold_ on their Breasts; others say a _Red Cross_, and in the middle the Picture of St. _Blaze_, their Patron. This Order was at the height, when the _Armenian_ Kings of the House of _Luzignan_ kept their Court in _Acon_.

10. _Knights of the Martyrs in_ Palestine.

THESE took their Denomination from an Hospital in _Palestine_, dedicated to St. _Cosmus_ and St. _Damianus_, Martyrs; where Acts of Charity were exercised towards Sick Strangers. Their Profession obliged them to other Works of Mercy, _viz._ to redeem Captives, and bury their Dead. They followed the Rule of St. _Basil_, which was confirmed to them by Pope _John_ XXII. There Badge was a _Red Cross_, in the middle whereof, within a Circle, was the aforesaid Two _Saints_. When they retir’d into _Europe_ they changed into a _Red Cross_, and St. _Augustin_’s Rule.

11. _Knights of St._ Catherine _at Mount_ Sinai.

THIS Order was instituted, _A. D._ 1063. under the Patronage of St. _Catherine_, whose Body was there deposited in the Church of the Monastery erected and dedicated to her Name. Their first Institution was to guard the said Sepulchre, to secure Travellers, defend the _Grecian_ Pilgrims, and to relieve them with Hospitality. Their Habit was White, and they lived under the Rule of St. _Basil the Great_, vowing conjugal Chastity, and Obedience to the Abbot of this Monastery, who was their Superior. But when the _Turks_ obtained these Countries, these Knights were ill treated and driven away, and the Order almost abolished; nevertheless some Shadow remains for such as travel to visit the Holy Sepulchre at _Jerusalem_, do now and then pass to this Monastery at Mount _Sinai_, where in imitation of the _Padre Guardian_ of _Jerusalem_, the principal Monk in this Covent makes them Knights of St. _Catherine_ over her Tomb, with the like Questions and Formulary as used at the Holy Sepulchre. These Knights now wear upon the left side of their White Habit the Cross of _Jerusalem_, and Instrument of St. _Catherine_’s Martyrdom; but according to others, the middle of the Wheel is pierced with a Sword.

12. _Knights of St._ Anthony _in_ Æthiopia.

AFTER the Death of St. _Anthony_ the Hermite, who dy’d about the Year 357. many of his Disciples remaining near _Æthiopia_, follow’d his Example and Manner of Life, and their Successors liv’d in great Austerity and Solitariness in the Desart (therefore call’d _Anchorites_) till the Year 370. when ’tis said _John_, Emperor of _Æthiopia_, erected them into a Religious Order of Knighthood, under the Title and Protection of St. _Anthony_, Patron of his Empire, and bestow’d upon them great Privileges; and being thus instituted, they receiv’d St. _Basil_’s Rule, and cohabited in Monasteries. Their Habit is black, with a blue Cross _Tau_. Their chief Seat is in the _Isle of Meroe_; but in other Parts of _Æthiopia_ they have great Numbers of Convents, and no less than 2000000 of annual Revenue. The eldest Sons of Nobles and Gentlemen cannot be admitted, but the second Sons may; and if a Man (except a Physician) have three Sons, he is bound to assign one of them to be of this Order. Their Vow is to observe conjugal Chastity; to die in Defence of the Christian Faith; to guard the Empire; to obey their Laws and their Superiors; and to go to War when and wheresoever commanded: Moreover, they take an Oath not to fight in Wars between Christians, nor receive Holy Orders, or marry without License. They are of two Sorts: One employ’d in the Wars, the other who being Old are exempted from Military Services, and retire themselves under the Title and Profession of Monks, to the Abbies where they first took their Habit; before which they must serve three Years against the _Arabian_ Pyrates about the _Red Sea_, three Years against the _Turks_, and three against the _Moors_ upon the Borders of _Borneo_. When they come to be admitted into their Abbey, they are introduced in their Military Habit, of which being disrob’d, the Religious one is put on, _viz._ a black Gown reaching down to the Ground, lined with blue, having a blue Cross fix’d to the Breast, and over that a black Cowle; they are afterwards led to the Church, and there make their Profession. _Philip_ VII. Son to the Founder, enlarg’d their Lands and Privileges, and added a Border of _Gold_ to the Badge of the _blue Cross_, as observed at this Day.

IN _Italy_, _France_ and _Spain_, there are a Sort of Monks that have the Title of Knights of St. _Anthony_, which observe the Rule of St. _Augustin_, and they wear a plain Cross like that in _Æthiopia_; but the Principals of these wear a double St. _Anthony_’s Cross of blue Satin, the one above the other. Their chief Seat is at _Vienne_ in _Dauphine_, of which Place the General of the Order bears the Title of Abbot, the Monastery being erected into an Abbey 1297. in Honour of St. _Anthony_, whose Body was translated thither from _Constantinople_; and all other Places built in Honour of his Name, were made subject to him _A. D._ 1523. _Morœus_ calls them _The Hospitallers of St._ Anthony, and says they begun in _France_ _A. D._ 1121. from _Gaston_ a Nobleman of _Vienna_. But _Baronius_ and others say, _Gaston_ and _Gerin_ instituted it earlier, making the Letter _Thau_ their Ensign or Badge.

13. _The_ Constantinian _Angelick Knights of St._ George _in_ Greece, _but now in_ Italy.

MARQUEZ, a _Spanish_ Writer, makes this one of the first Military Orders in Christendom, and derives a formal Institution, Rules and Laws from _Constantine_ the Great, which appears little better than Fabulous, therefore we shall omit his Account.