ANOTHER Manner of creating Knights Abroad was, by Royal Codicils, or Letters Patents (these the _Spaniards_ call _Privilegios de Cavelleria_) whereupon such Knights are intitled _Equites Codicellares_; and these were sent to such as dwelt in remote Countries, and sometimes, but rarely, extended so as to make the Degree hereditary. There is one Example, that by the bare signification of Letter, without any Ceremonies or Patents under Seal; _Philip_ IV. of _Spain_, _Jan._ 15. 1633. conferr’d upon all the Captains that behav’d themselves valiantly in Defence of _Mastricht_ (then lately besieg’d by the _Hollanders_) to those that were Gentlemen, the Title of Knights; and to others, that of Gentlemen.
HAVING thus briefly shew’d the various Forms of Creation of _Knights Batchelors_, I shall remark what _Selden_ has observ’d of _Knights Bannerets_ in later Times, wherein he that was advanc’d to that Honour in the Field, was inducted between two Senior Knights with Trumpets before them, and the Heralds carrying a long Banner of his Arms, call’d a _Penon_; in which Manner being brought to the King or Lieutenant, who bidding him good Success, the Tip of the Banner is cut off, that of an Oblong it might become a Square, like the Banner of a Baron: This done, he returns to his Tent, conducted as before. As for the many and various Formularies at the Creation of a Knight of the _Bath_, see Sir _Edward Byshe_ among his Notes upon _Upton_ and Sir _William Dugdale_’s _Warwicksh._ The Knights of the _Bath_, at the Coronation of King _Charles_ II. watched and bathed; they took an Oath; they were girded with a Sword and Belt; and lastly, dubbed by the King with the Sword of State.
§ 10. IN the Dignity, Honour and Renown of Knighthood, is included somewhat of Magnificence more excellent than Nobility it self; which mounting the Royal Throne, becomes the Assertor of Civil Nobility, and sits as Judge at the Tribunal therefore. _Knight_ is noted by _Camden_ as a Name of Dignity, but _Baron_ is not so. For if heretofore a Baron had not receiv’d Knighthood, he was written plainly by his Christian Name, and that of his Family, without any Addition but that of _Dominus_, a Term attributed to a _Knight_; and in ancient Charters, the Titles and Names of _Knights_ may be seen set before _Barons_. It bestows Gentility not only upon the meanly Born, but upon his Descendants, and encreaseth the Honour of those well-descended. Hereunto agrees the Common-Law: If a Villain be made a Knight, he is thereby immediately enfranchised, and consequently accounted a Gentleman; agreeable to the _Roman_ Law, where the Donation of a Gold-Ring ennobled a Slave. _Mœcenas_ dy’d a Companion of that Order; even Kings and Princes look upon it as an Accession to their Honour, their other Titles shewing Dominion and Power, this their Valour and Courage. _Geysa_, King of _Hungary_, _Leopold_, Marquis of _Austria_, _Ottacher_, Duke of _Stiria_, and _Frederick_, Duke of _Austria_ and _Stiria_; _Godfry_, Duke of _Brabant_, with _Henry_ his Son, _Peter_, King of _Arragon_, the Emperor _Henry_ III. our _William Rufus_, King _Edward_ III. _Henry_ VI. _Henry_ VII. _Edward_ VI. _Lewis_ XI. _Francis_ I. Kings of _France_, and others, received this Dignity at the Time they enjoy’d their other Titles. And tho’ it is said the Sons of the _French_ King are Knights as soon as they receive Baptism, yet are they not judg’d worthy the Kingdom, unless first solemnly created. And we elsewhere find, that the Royal Heirs of _Arragon_ were suspended from that Crown, until they had received the Honour of Knighthood. And after the _Norman_ Conquest, our young Princes were sent over to the neighbouring Kings to receive this Honour. Thus our King _Henry_ II. was sent to _David_, King of _Scots_, and Knighted by him in _Carlisle_; and _Edward_ I. at the Age of Fifteen Years, to _Alphonsus_ XI. King of _Castile_, for the same Dignity. In like manner did foreign Princes repair hither, to receive the Honour from our Kings. As _Malcolme_, King of _Scotland_, and _Alexander_, Son of _William_, King of _Scotland_, Knighted by our King _John_, _Anno_ 1212. So was _Alexander_ III. by our King _Henry_ III. at _York_, _Anno_ 1252. and _Magnus_, King of the _Isle of Man_, by the same King. All which sufficiently demonstrate the great Renown of Knighthood, and the Honour and Esteem which was ever had for that Order.