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' Enfigns.They pierced theirEars,whip’d them withSlings*ad pi fmeared their Faces with Blood, in order they fhouldt,| be true Knights to the Ingua. Thofe of Royal Ex-traftion, before they received the Order of Knighthoodabflained Seven Days from all manner of Nutriment,fw except a little raw Grain and Water, and after being
• heartned and brifted up again, performed fome Military
S' 5 Exercifes, alfo Racing, Wreftiing, Leaping, Shooting,
Slinging, throwing the Dart and Lance, eve. and en-'.'p during to be beaten on the Hands and Legs with
^ JiVands ; the/e being as it \Vere the Tefts whether they
rs > * could endure the Hardfhips of War or no ; for if they
did not fuftain them manfully, they were denied■ Knighthood. The Ceremonies being performed by% boaring an Hole in the Ears, putting on gallant Shoes,
! and wearing of the Breeches, which before they werereftri&ed, adorning their Heads with Flowers, and ha-)«s« v j n g t p e Privilege of an Herb that none but themfelves‘ ™‘ cou’d make ufe of, and laftly giving an Axe into their
Hands. Menenius calls thefe Knights Oreionts, fromthe Spanifo Orejas , flop or loll-eared, in the Latin Auri-ctdaresy from the Leaf which they bore hanging in their\\ w Ears, or becaufe they only negotiated Affairs with the
Emperor, and had his Ear at all times,its, s* I N Japan there’s an Order of Knights called Mengonts,oil Bo p ar t of whom are called Bonuses, living in Fraternities,
8«! as our Religionifts in Europe. Some of thefe have thee ‘b Charge of their Idols, and the Service relating to their
j l> at Temples, others follow the Wars. They profefs Cha-
irithet ftity with fuch Severity, that no Woman is allow’d tobit u enter their Cities. They govern the Kingdoms they
ptQj Amazons of old; the Example is of the noble Womenof Ton o fa in Spain, or the Femme Cavaliers of the Tor chi.M'cheli barely calls them Chavalhros , or rather Chavatteras,
feeinn r 1 - l.j E^Ultjpe MM“
nug““ conquer, and are fo very opulent that fome of thempet £ a ' poflefs 60000 Duckets per Annum- ; and have a publick
icc, tb Armory well ftored to make ufe of upon any Exigence,
and tto which is maintain’d by a daily Contribution. Women
have been excluded their Share in this Way of Honour,ct# tho’ their Courage and Valour have equalized the
have been excluded their Share in this Way of Honour,
"jj*i to cxpreis, virago's ana Heroines.
Don