$. 4- Of the Degrees of Knighthood. Wefhallfirftof the Monotons, i. e. Knights begirt with the MilitaryGirdle, a Cuftom devolved to the Germans and Gaulsfrom ancient Times, and from them to After-Ages.

Sir Henry Spetman notes, That the late Emperors conferredthe Dignity af Knighthood with the Military Girdle injlead ofall other Arms, hecxafe that Part more eminent amongfl themffrdeth, fupportetb, and adorneth the rejl 5 whence Seldencalls this Girding the mofl effential part of the Cere-mony. Nor do we find among the various Ceremoniesof Knighthood any that have continued fo conftant inPra&ice as the endowing with Girdle and Sword, Or-naments proper to the Dignity and Marks of Honour andVenue, with which the Statues and Portraitures ofKnights, on their Grave-ftones have been adorned.

For as at this Day Knights are ftyled Equates Aurati,from the Golden Spurs, heretofore put on at theirCreation, fo were they more anciently Singula Miletaridotiati, in refpeft, when any one was Knighted, he wasnot only fmitten with the Sword, but inverted withSword and Belt, yet retain’d at the creating our Knightsof the Bath,, as the old Formulary thus hath it ;

Cfien t&e ising of great jfafcour tafee t&e£lco?B, anngftD t$£ Cfqufte tjjemwtf).

Secondly, The Baccalaurei or Knights Batchelors, areto be confider’d, who are indifferently ftyled Chevaliers,Milites, Equites Aurati, and Knights. This Degree is trulyaccounted the firft of all Military Dignity, and theFoundation of all Honours in our Nation, and is deri-ved from, if not the fame with that immediately pre-ceding. For as the Ceremony of a gentle Touch onthe Shoulder With the flat Side of the Sword hath beenfince ufed, inftead of girting with the Sword and Belt,(efpecially in Times of War, or in Hafte) as an Initia-tion into the Military Order 5 fo on the contrary, it isnot unufual now-adays, for the Prinee, at leaft G India,if not Cingtilo donate ; for he oftentimes bellows theSword upon the Perfon he Knighteth.,

Miraus gives them the Epithet Aurati, from the Pri-vilege of wearing Gold upon their Swords and Spurs,omitting Tirsipe/ sfanciful Diftinclion between Miles and-duratus, who allows the former to fignify a KnightNoble before, and the other to denote one whom weoall a Knight and no Gentleman, or applicable to theeapolitan Gentlemen, ( ufually called Cavalier:') who

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