SO 4 KNIG H 
ing pope rs Sovereign and grand-matter of the order. The 
badge, which is worn by the knights pendent from a fear- 
let ribbon tied to a button-hole of the waiftcoat, is a gold 
plain crofs enamelled gules, and edged with gold. Since 
the French revolution, and the perfecutions which the late 
and' the prefent popes have flittered under the new regime 
of the king of Italy and emperor of France, it does not 
appear that this order is held in any kind of repute. 
LII. The Order of the White Eagle, in Poland. 
Uladiflaus V. furnarned Loiter, having married his fon Ca- 
fimir to the princefs Anne, daughter of Gedimir duke of 
Lithuania, inftituted this order on the occafion, in the year 
1315. In 1702, Frederic Auguftus I. king of Poland, to 
conciliate the principal nobility of the kingdom, a great 
part of whom were favourable to Staniilaus, revived it, 
and preferi'oed for it new inftitutes and laws. In 1726 the 
emprefs of Ruttia was inverted with the inlignia of the or¬ 
der. But, as Poland has long been diftratted with changes 
of government and revolutions, it is hardly pollible to af- 
certain whether this alTociation (till exilfs or not. How¬ 
ever, when it was flourifhing, the badge confided of a gold 
crofs of eight points, enamelled gules, bordered argent, 
cantoned with rays of fire, and charged in the middle with 
a white eagle, bearing on his bread a crofs of the firft. 
See Plate III. The whole is adorned around with the tro¬ 
phies and arms of the electorate of Saxony. On the other 
tide, a cipher of the king of Poland’s name, with the motto. 
Pro Fide, Rege, Lege: the whole furmounted with a fmall 
crown of diamonds. The collar was compofed of golden 
eagles crowned, and chained to one another. On com¬ 
mon days, the knights wore the crofs at the extremity of 
a broad blue ribbon fcarfwife. They had it alfo embroi¬ 
dered on the left fide of their coats and cloaks. 
LIII. The Order de la Banda, or of the Scarf, 
in Caftile. This military order was erected by Alphonfo 
XI. king of Leon and Caftile, in the city of Victoria, anno 
1333. Authors, however, do not exactly agree on this 
point; for Favin, upon fome authority, afferts that it was 
in the city of Palencia, anno 1330 ; and Sanfovin affirms, 
that it tookplaceat Burgos in 1368. Confidering that he 
could not find a better way to fecure himfelf againft his 
numerous and powerful enemies, the king created this 
order of knights, and conftituted himfelf grand-matter of 
it. Shortly after this inftitution, that is, anno 1332, the 
folemnity of the order was celebrated in Burgos. From 
this circumftance we fuppofe that the miftake of Sanfovin 
arofe. On the eve of the folemnization, in the monaftery 
of St. Mary Royal, each candidate was conducted by the 
icing to the altar ; and all of them, having laid down their 
arms, fpent the whole of the night, according to an¬ 
cient cuftom, in watching and prayer. The next day, 
after mafs, the candidates were each inverted with.a mili¬ 
tary belt, and a ribbon four fingers broad, which ran 
acrofs the body, over the right ffioulder, and fo under the 
left arm, which was the fpecial enfign of the order, and 
gave it a name. It appears to have been alfo intended 
for the honour of the nobility of the kingdom, as none 
but noblemen’s younger Ions was admiffible. Efquires, 
who had lerved for the fpace of ten years at leaft at court 
or in the camp, were alfo thought worthy of admiffion. 
This order was for fome confiderable time held in great 
repute and efteem ; but fuch is the viciflitude of human 
affairs, that it was afterwards laid afide and nearly forgot¬ 
ten ; when, by another inrtance of the inftability of lub- 
iunary things, it was again revived in the year 1700, by 
Philip V. regent of Spain, and grand-matter of the order. 
The enfign of the order was no more than a faffi of red 
Ijlk, as we bated before, and placed in the manner which 
we have mentioned. There were ladies of this order, en¬ 
joying the fame privileges as the knights, and wearing a 
badge exactly fimilar to theirs, except that, inftead of red 
lilk, it was made of gold tifl'ue. 
The conftitutions of this order contain feveral articles 
which are fo curious, that we cannot refill the defire of 
inferting them here, not only on account of their origi- 
T H GOD. 
nality, but becaufe they give an idea of the cuftoms and 
manners of the place and time when and where they took 
their origin. We (hall preferve the ttyle in which we 
find them expreffed. 
“ At fuch time as any gentleman was admitted a knight, 
he promiled to obferve thefe articles following, which I 
have thought good particularly to exprefs; and the ra¬ 
ther, becaufe they tend only to entertain the minds of 
men in the offices of courage and courtefy, without any 
mixture of fuperftition, whereof almoft all other orders 
in thofe days tatted. 
1. That he fliould fpeak unto the king for commo¬ 
dity of the commonwealth and defence thereof, fo often as 
he were thereunto required ; and, refufing fo to do, ffiall 
forfeit all his patrimony, and be baniflied his country. 
2. That he ffiould not be filent whenfoever any perfon 
fliall fpeak againft the king’s honour ; upon pain of being 
ban idled the court, and deprived of his band for ever. 
3. That he ffiould be no great fpeaker, and in fpeaking 
to utter the truth ; but that, if he ffiould fay or affirm an 
untruth, then, for a punilhment, to walk in ike Jlreets with¬ 
out his [word for one whole month. 
4. That he fliould endeavour himfelf to keep company 
with wife men, and perfons experienced in the war; for, 
being found to converfe with merchants, artificers, or baj'e 
people, he fliould be therefore greatly reproved by the grand 
matter, and for one month be commanded to keep his 
houfe. 
5. That he fliould always have good armour in his 
chamber, good horfes in his ltable, good lances in his hall, 
and a good fword by his fide; or otherwife to be called page, 
and no knight, for one whole month. 
6 . That he ffiould not be feen mounted upon any mule 
or other unfeemly hackney; neither walk abroad without 
his band, nor enter into the king's palace without his 
fword, nor eat alone at home-, upon pain to forfeit, for every 
fuch offence, one mark towards the maintaining of the 
tilt. 
7. That he fliould not complain of any hurt; nor boaft 
of his own aits, nor, in curing his wounds, cry Ok ! for, in 
fuch a cafe, he will be puniffied by being left unvifited 
of all his companions. 
8. That, in walking either in court or city, his pace 
fliould not be fwift or hafty ; upon pain to be reproved 
of his fellow-knights, and puniffied at the grand-matter’s 
diferetion. 
9. That he ffiould not commence or enter fuit of law 
againft the daughter of any knight; upon pain never to 
have lady or gentlewoman of the court for his miltrefs or 
wife. 
10. That, if he happened to meet with any lady or gen¬ 
tlewoman of the court, he ffiould forthwith alight from 
his liorfe, and offer her his fervices ; upon pain to lofe 
one month’s wages, and the favour of all ladies. 
11. That, if any lady of honour required fervice at his 
hands, he, refufing to do it, (having power,) fliould be 
called for ever “the difeourteous knight.” 
12. That he fliould not eat alone, nor at any time feed 
upon grofs meat. 
13. That all the knights of this order fliould fight at the 
turney at leaft twice every year; juft four times a-year; 
play at canes fix times a-year; and manage horfes every 
week. And wliofo failed to perform all or any of thefe 
knightly exercifes, ffiould attend on the king one month 
without a fword, and another month without the band. 
14. That no knight might remain in court without a 
mittrefs, with intent to marry her, and not diflionour her; 
and, whenfoever the plealed to walk, he was to attend oil 
her on foot or on horfeback, to do her all honour and fer¬ 
vice. 
15. That, the firft Sunday of every month, all the 
knights ffiould ffiow themfelves armed before the king, 
ready to perform any action in arms at the king’s plea- 
fure ; for the king would not have them be only knights 
in name, but in deed alfo. 
16 . 
