mystery of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin should | be represented within a circle of gold, formed of true lovers' knots, pendent to the collar, which was to be of gold, weighing 200 gold crowns, composed of the letters F.E. R. T. intermixed with true lovers' knots, separated by fifteen roses of gold, five of them enamelled white, five red, and five party white and red, and edged with two thorns or. See Pl. 1, fig. 3; to the end of the centre rose is pendent by three gold chains, the badge, which is oval, encircled by true lovers' knots, the whole enamelled white; and on the oval is represented the salutation, as related by St. Luke, in proper colours. The letters F. E. K. T. have been variously interpreted ; some say they are the initials of the words, Frappez, Entrez, Rampez, Tout, and hold, that Amadeus chose those words for his motto, when he instituted the order. Others explain them by the words, Fortitude, Ejus, Rhodum, Tenuit; in memory of the glorious action of Amadeus the Great, when he compelled the Saracens to raise the siege of Rhodes, in 1310: but Guicheron, in his History of the Royal House of Savoy, mentions a coin of Lewis of Savoy, Baron of Vaud, who died in 1301, upon which is the same motto, FERT, without points or separation of the letters. The knights, who must be of noble family and of the Roman Catholic religion, wear, in common, the badge pendent to three small chains of gold round the neck. The reigning King of Sardinia is Sovereign of the Order.

ANTHONY, ST. See ST. ANTHONY.

ARGONAUTS OF ST. NICHOLAS. See ST. NICHOLAS. Avis, an order of Portugal, instituted by Alphonso Henriquez, King of Portugal, in 1142, as a reward for services at the siege of Lisbon, under Don Ferdinand Rodriguez de Monteyro, who was appointed Grand Master. They were at first called Nouvelle Milice, or the New Military; but in 1166, having taken Evora by surprise, the king conferred on them the government of that town, and commanded that they should thenceforward be called Knights of Evora. On the taking of Avis from the Moors, in 1181, it was granted to them, on condition that they should build a fort, and reside there: to which place they transplanted themselves, and from that time took the appellation of Freres d' Avis. In 1204, Pope Innocent III. confirmed this order, and it continued independent until 1213, when it became under subjection to the order of Calatrava, then under the Grand Master Don Roderigo Garzes de Assa, and it remained in vassalage until the time of its seventh Grand Master, Don John of Portugal, who, on deposing his brother and seizing the crown, threw off its subjection to the order of Calatrava. The badge of the order is, a cross flory enamelled vert, betw. each angle a fleur-de-lis or; it is worn pendent to a green ribbon round the neck. See Pl. 1, fig. 4. The same badge is embroidered on the left shoulder of the robe of state, which is of white satin.

In the year 1385, the Grand Mastership of this order was attached to the crown of Portugal; and in 1789, the then Queen divided the order into three classes, viz. six grand crosses, forty-nine commanders, leaving the number of knights unlimited. To the first and second class were likewise assigned a silver star of eight points, with the cross upon the centre, encircled by a fillet; on the top of which is a heart inflamed, which distinguishes the

BACHELORS. This, although the lowest order of knighthood, is, nevertheless, the most ancient. It was formerly accounted the highest military dignity and the foundation of all other honours. Henry III. is said to have styled them Knights Bachelors, because the title is not hereditary, descending to the posterity, but dies with the person on whom it is conferred; and Mat. Paris informs us, that such knights were then known by a gold ring on their thumbs, a chain of gold about their necks, and gilt spurs. They formerly held a certain proportion of land, by what was termed knights' service, and for which they were obliged to serve the king in his wars, at their own expense, for the space of forty days. The value of a knight's fee (about which there have been various opinions) seems to have varied from twenty pounds to forty pounds per

annum.

A Knight Bachelor, in old records, is indifferently styled Knight, Miles, Chevalier, Miles simplex, and from the privilege of adorning their armour and horses with gold, and wearing golden spurs, given to them at their creation, were termed Equites Aurati, Golden Knights. There were anciently two sorts of knighthood, or, what was then termed, courtly knighthood and sacred knighthood; the first performed by the king, or one commissioned by him, by feasts, and the giving of robes, arms, spurs, &c. and sometimes horse and armour; the other by sacred ceremonies, by bishops and abbots, who conferred the dignity of knighthood by solemn confession of sin, a vigil or watch in the church, receiving the sacrament, and offering the sword upon the altar, which was redeemed with a certain sum, and then, with many prayers, termed benedictiones ensis, (prayers of the sword) begirt upon the knight. But the multitude of knights thus made, soon brought about its prohibition, and the privilege of conferring knighthood solely vested in the

crown.

The ceremony of simple knighthood was performed by the person kneeling before the king, who, with a stroke of the naked sword over the right shoulder, pronouncing the words, Sois chevalier, au nom Dieu; Rise up knight, in the name of God; followed by Avancez chevalier; but the command to rise is now given in English, with the addition of the christian and surname of the person thus knighted.

This title of honour, which was formerly military, has latterly been conferred indiscriminately upon persons in civil occupations, under various circumstances; which not only perverted its original institution, but lessened its reputation in England, although it is still accounted a respectable degree of honour here, as well as in foreign countries.

Clergymen, or any in the order of priesthood, are debarred the honour of knighthood of the sword or spurs, until they have laid aside their spiritual cures, although anciently they were allowed to partake of this dignity.

A knight should have the title of Sir prefixed to his christian and surname, with the addition of knight; and if a knight is ennobled by advancement to higher dignities, he should still retain the name of knight.

It is a rank of universal bonour, and an acknowledged title in every kingdom or state, although higher degrees of hereditary dignity are considered merely local. For

fore them in their funerals, the former being hung at the staff of the standard, if the defunct had been knighted in the field.

All civil knights were formerly termed Miles et Milites, Knight or Knights of the Carpet, or Knights of the Green Cloth, to distinguish them from knights who were dubbed such for military service in the field or otherwise : but there is now no distinguishing mark to denote either, the ceremony and title are alike in both cases, and to which equal merit may be implied.

In the age of chivalry, all knights of whatsoever degree, or creation soever, were, according to their power, to excel in the following accomplishments: they were to be faithful, religious, just in engagements, valiant in enterprizes, obedient to superiors, expert in military affairs, watchful and temperate, charitable to the poor, free from debauchery, no boasters, ready to help and defend ladies, especially widows and orphans, and to be ever in readiness, with horse and arms, to attend the commands of their sovereign in all wars, civil and foreign.

The ancient degradation of a knight, was a ceremony inflicted for the neglect of those duties, which was considered a crime of equal magnitude as to make war against the sovereign himself, and for that, or any other act of disloyalty and dishonour, the knight was apprehended, and, when armed cap-a-pie, placed upon a high scaffold in the church, and after the singing of some funeral psalm or dirge, as for the dead, the helmet was taken off, and then by degrees the whole armour, the heralds pronouncing, "This is the helmet, &c. of a disloyal miscreant," with many other ignoble ceremonies; he was then attached to a rope, and thrown from the elevation by twelve knights; and when brought before the altar, laid grovelling on the ground, the priest read over him a psalm of curses. But the more modern way of degradation was not so severe; every thing but his horse became forfeited; his spurs being cut from his heels, and being deprived of his sword, the herald then reversed his coat armour, to complete his degradation.

BAND, or SCARF. This Spanish order was instituted by Alphonsa XI. King of Spain, in 1330, at Burgos, the capital of Old Castile, who, having many enemies, created this order of knightood for his better defence, making himself Master a little before his coronation. The knights were invested with a red ribbon, of the breadth of three inches, crossing the left shoulder, the badge from whence this order of knighthood derived its appellation. They were under no monastical restraint, like many of the orders, and none but younger sons of gentlemen of small fortunes were admitted into it: but they were under the necessity of proving that they had been in attendance upon the court for the term of ten years, or that they had fought three times, at least, against the Moors.

The number of knights was limited to twenty, and the statutes of the order were as follow:

1. That the knight of the band stand obliged to speak to the king for the defence of his country and good of the commonwealth.

2. That he must speak to the king nothing but pure truth, without lying or flattery, and must reveal whatsoever he hath heard, either against his person or the

state.

3. A knight once convicted of lying, shall walk a month's space, without wearing a sword.

4. He is not to keep company but with martial men and soldiers, or such as are advanced to charges and dignities of his own quality, but not with mechanical artisans, and men of base and vile condition.

5. He must keep his faith and promise inviolably to and with all men, of what estate or quality soever they be.

6. He must be provided with arms and a horse well accoutred, under pain of forfeiting the title of his knighthood.

7. And on the same peril he standeth, if he be seen mounted on his horse without his band and sword.

8. He is not to make any complaint of wounds received by him in war, neither is he to vaunt of his valour or manhood.

9. He is not to make any account if he be mocked, scorned, or railed on by any body; but to have all his carriage discreet and grave, and wholly measured by the level of honesty.

10. He is not to use any gaming at cards or dice, and must not pledge or engage his habits, arms, or horse.

11. He must be courteous towards ladies and gentlewomen, to whom he shall perform honour and service to his uttermost power.

12. If any quarrel happen between him and another knight of the band, he standeth bound to commit it to the arbitrament of other knights of the band, such as shall be appointed thereto.

13. Any knight that usurpeth to wear the band, without having received it from the king's hand, shall stand engaged to defend himself against two knights of the order of the band; and if it so happen that he have the victory, he may lawfully keep aud maintain it: but if he be vanquished, he shall be banished from the court.

14. Every strange knight that winneth the prize in justs, tourneys, or other actions of arms, against the knights of the band, shall be received and admitted into the order.

15. Any knight of the band that setteth hand to his sword against another knight of the same order, shall be banished the court for two months' space, and during the term of two months after, he shall wear but a half band; but if he wound his companion, he shall remain imprisoned half a year, and is to be banished the court for another half year.

16. The king only is to be judge for the knights of the band.

17. All the knights of the band stand obliged to accompany the king at all times, when he shall go to war.

18. The knights of the said order shall wear the band when they march in war against the Moors only; but if their services shall be required any where else, then they shall abstain from wearing it.

19. All knights of the band are to meet together three several times of the year, that they may speak to the king for those things which necessarily concern the order, when it is appointed by the king. That they shall all be well mounted and armed; and these assemblies or meetings are to be in the months of April, September, and at Christmas.

20. They are to exercise justs, joco de canna, and pikes; also to manage their horses on such days as are ordained for them.

21. No knight shall remain in the court without serv

ing some lady or gentlewoman, to enjoy her in marriage or otherwise in honour.

22. All knights of the band are bound to be present at such tourneys as shall be performed within two miles of the court.

23. If it so happen that a knight of the band do marry within twenty miles distance from the court, the other knights are to keep him company, and honour his spouse with presents, and perform actions of arms, as it becometh knights to do.

24. All the first sundays of every month, the knights are to be present at the palace and the grand hall royal, to exercise all kings of arms before the king, without any malice, spleen, or heat of choler.

25. Any knight being sick, or dying, is to be visited, exhorted, and comforted by his companions; and after his decease, the said companions are to attend at his funeral, and to wear mourning the space of a month, in which month they are to abstain from justs and sports

of arms.

The band of the knight deceased shall be delivered to the king by the other knights, who must intercede and move his majesty that one of the deceased knight's sons may be received into their order, or obtain of him some gift and recompense to his widow, for her more honourable maintenance in the degree of nobility, or for marriage of her daughters.

The order was long disused, but revived by Philip I. Regent of Spain, in the year 1700, who, according to Edmondson, was then grand master of the order. BANNERET. This ancient and honourable military dignity, we find to have been adopted by several nations, and also differently applied by each. In Rome, towards the close of the fourteenth century, it was the name given to an officer or magistrate. The people of that city and throughout the territory of the church, during the disputes of the anti-popes, had formed a kind of republican government, where the whole power was lodged in the hands of a magistrate, called senator, and twelve heads of quarters called bannerets, by reason of the banners which each raised in his district. In Switzerland, the banneret was a civil officer, like the Gonfalonier in some of the Italian republics; and at Lausanne, the title was conferred on those magistrates who had the privilege of carrying the banner of that city, at the confederations of the cantons. In England, our historians are different in their accounts of it; that we must naturally conclude, that this dignity has been variously applied, at different periods. Those authors who wish for its greatest antiquity, attribute the institution of bannerets to Conan, lieutenant of Maximus, who commanded the Roman legions in England, under the empire of Gratian, in 383. This general, say they, revolting, divided England into forty cantons, and in these cantous distributed forty knights; to whom he gave a power of assembling, on occasion, under their several banners, as many of the effective men as were found in their respective districts; whence they are called bannerets. Edmondson says, without naming his authority, that bannerets were first created in 736, and their creation adopted by different European nations. Whilst Seldon states, the first account of this dignity of honour, to be in the reign of Edward I. However this may be, respecting dates, we are informed by history, that bannerets were an order of knights, or feudal lords, who,

possessing not less than ten knights' fees, led their vassals to battle, under their own flag, or banner, when summoned thereto by the king; hence the name banueret. They were also called, in ancient writers, milites, vexilliferi, and vexillarii, bannerarii, banderisii, &c. There were two kinds of knights, great and little; the first were called bannerets, the second, bachelors; which see under that head. The first composed the upper nobility; the second, the middle. The banneret was a dignity allowed to march under his own flag, whereas the bachelarius eques followed that of another. To be qualified for a bauueret, he must be a gentleman of family, and must have the power to raise, at least, twenty-eight armed men, with estate sufficient to support them; each man, besides his servant, had two horsemen to wait on him, armed, the one with a cross-bow, the other with a bow and hatchet.

Afterwards, we find that this honour of dignity was granted as a particular mark of distinction for some meritorious action performed, and was conferred in the field of battle, where such skill was displayed. The ceremony was as follows.

The king or his general, at the head of his army. drawn up in order of battle, after a victory, under the royal standard displayed, attended by all the officers and nobility, received the knight, led between two other knights, carrying his pennon of arms in his hands, the heralds walking before him, who proclaimed his valiant achievements for which he had deserved to be made knight banneret, and to display his banner in the field; then the king or general says to him, advancestoy banneret, and caused the point of his pennon to be rent off; then the new knight banneret, having the trumpets sounding before him, with the nobility and officers bearing him company, was sent back to his tent, where they were all sumptuously entertained. The words pronounced by the herald to the king or his general, upon presenting the knight, were: "May it please your grace to understand that this gentleman hath shewed himself valiant in the field, and for so doing deserveth to be advanced to the degree of a knight banneret, as worthy from henceforth to bear a banner in the war." The heralds, who thus conducted him, received for their fees, three pounds, six shillings, and eight pence; and if he was before a knight bachelor, he then paid to the trumpeters twenty shillings.

They

This order, according to Spelman, was a middle one, between a baron and a simple knight, called sometimes, also, vexillarius minor to distinguish him from the greater, that is, from the baron, to whom alone properly belonged the jus vexilli, or privilege of a square flag. And also by statute of the 5th of Richard II. by which such bannerets were called to parliament by summous. were allowed to bear their arms with supporters; took place of all baronets; and had knights bachelors and esquires to serve under them. Charles I. by letters patent, ordained that the wives of bannerets, and their heirs male, should have precedency, as well after as before the death of their husbands, if they should happen to survive; before the wives of all those, of whom the knights baronets and their heirs male had the precedency; and even before the wives of knights baronets. See Chamberlayne's Present State of Great Britain.

Bannerets have no particular badge worn upon their garments. In England, their armis were generally painted

IN SENSOROK ET be maressing IA wlie brie, 2017 ABELINI DESPR

Tie Fesorer Fernu, stal PELVINIT ERA & the rice if tus amer: te stal. I al te treFENCES, & Mert a a mantle ise Dat he Terre a me & a strent like to the SEITS STIs. te stal ver in us HES. MIETY apman rot is lex, a scurtem of goat, stamelet win he arms if the drier, mowing the arms of the weg, met vi a mveral crown; and dal sa te vert if dis veier, wich stal have in the bag prater squares of the banner, the arms of the smter, moaning those of the sovereign; and on the lesser spaces, the arms of the order; the whole surmounted wura an imperial crown; and upon the other side, to

bear the arms of Hanover. At all future coronations, he shall precede the companions of this order, and shall carry and wear his crown, as our other kings of arms are obliged to do; which chain, escutcheon, rod, and crown, shall be of like materials, value, and weight, with those borne and used by our Garter principal king of arms, excepting only the variations herein specified. Besides the duties required of him in the former articles of these statutes, he shall diligently perform whatever the sovereign or great master shall further commaud.

The Register shall, with the greatest fidelity, enter all transactions whatsoever within the order, and the decrees and proceedings in every chapter, with the valiant exploits and achievements of the companions. In all ceremonies, he shall wear the like mantle and surcoat with the king of arms: and on his breast, hanging to a golden chain, an escutcheon enamelled, on a field azure, three imperial crowns or, having in the centre the representation of a book, bound gules, the leaves thereof or.

The Secretary shall prepare draughts of all instruments to be passed under the seal of this order, and engross them; and in all ceremonies of this order he shall wear the like mantle and surcoat as the register; and on his breast, hanging to a golden chain, an escutcheon enamelled, on a field azure, three imperial crowns or, having in the centre two pens placed in saltier.

The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod, surmounted with three imperial crowns, styled Brunswick Herald, in all ceremonies shall wear the same robe and surcoat with Bath king of arms; and at a golden chain about his neck, on an escutcheon azure, three imperial crowns or, hanging upon his breast: upon the other side to bear the impression of Charlemagne's crown. He shall have the custody of the door of the chapter-room and of our chapel founded by Henry VII. during the ceremonies relating to this order. Besides the duties enjoined in these statutes, it shall appertain to him to touch with his rod any companion that shall be convicted of any crime, contrary to the tenor of the statutes; and in case of a degradation, to pluck down the escutcheon of such knight, and to spurn it out of the chapel; and he shall also diligently execute whatever the sovereign or great master shall further enjoin, relating to the interests of this order.

The genealogist, Bath king of arms, register, secretary, and gentleman usher of the scarlet rod, who attend within the royal palace, for the service of this order, shall continually remain under the protection of the sovereign, and hereby declared to be servants of the sovereign's household; and shall enjoy all privileges and exemptions belonging, by right or custom, to the esquires of the sovereign, or to the gentlemen of his privy chamber; that their robes and ensigns shall be prepared at the charge of the sovereign, and be issued upon the warrants of the great master.

The Messenger is safely and expeditiously to convey all summonses, dispensations, letters, and all other instruments, to the companions; and who shall likewise collect the quarterly payments from the companions, the genealogist, king of arms, register, secretary, and usher of the order. He shall wear the same surcoat and badge as the esquires of the order; and on his breast, hanging to a golden chain, one imperial crown of gold. He shall also diligently execute whatever the sovereign or great

master shall further enjoiu him, relating to the interests of the order.

All these officers, at their admission, shall take their oaths, which shall be administered by the great master; that they shall yield obedience to the sovereign, and also to the great master, in such things as appertain to the order: that they shall not disclose the secrets of the order; and that they shall be faithful in the execution of their several offices.

His majesty was further pleased to ordain the then Bath king of arms, Gloucester king of arms, and principal herald of the parts of Wales, empowering the said Gloucester to grant arms and crests to persons residing within the dominions of Wales, either jointly with Garter, or by himself, with the consent and at the pleasure of the earl marshal or his deputy, for the time being; and that for the future, the office of Gloucester should be united with the office of Bath king of arms, whose title thereafter should be Bath king of arms of the most honourable military order of the Bath, and Gloucester king of arms, and principal herald of the parts of Wales; as also, that he, for the dignity of the order, should, in all assemblies, and at all times, have and take the place and precedency above and before all other provincial kings of arms whatever.

His majesty also allowed the chapel of Henry VII. to be the chapel of the order, and for their greater distinction and honour, to bear and use supporters to their arms, upon all occasions whatsoever. And also, that the master of the Jewel-house shall provide for every companion a collar of gold of thirty ounces, Troy weight; which collar shall be composed of nine imperial crowns of gold, and of eight gold roses and thistles issuing from a gold sceptre, (See Pl. 1, fig. 5) tied or linked with seventeen gold knots, enamelled white, representing the white laces mentioned in the ancient ceremonials of this order; which said collar, having the badge thereto pendent, the companions are and shall be obliged to wear upon all festivals, processions of installations, and other ceremonies relating to this order, and also upon such other feasts usually termed collar days; and that the said collar may, for the future, be represented upon pictures, limnings, sculptures, and monuments of these companions; which collar shall not be alienated for any cause whatever; but the executors or administrators of every deceased companion shall return the same, within three months, to the great master of this order. And also, that a banner shall be placed over the stall of each companion, after discharging the usual fees, consisting of two yards in length, and one and three quarters in breadth, fringed about with red and white silk; and that, in the lowest margin, the name and title of the companion shall be inscribed with letters of gold, upon a black ground; and that the crest, helmet and sword, shall likewise be affixed to the stall of every knight, and be removed in like manner as the plates; and that, after the deaths of the companions, these banners, crests, helmets, and swords, (being first offered in a solemn manner,) shall then be hung up about the pillars, or in some other convenient place, towards the west end of the abbey-church of Westminster, to remain to posterity, for the memorial of the deceased knights, as a public testimony of their honour.

Whereas, in case a war should happen in Europe, in