different Ranks and Diftindions of Men in civil Life,I have here made fome curiory Obfervations, whichmay be fufficient, at prefent, to give a general Ideaof this State of Knighthood, ’till I find a properOpportunity for methodizing the Colledions, whichmay be applied, towards compiling a regulär, andmore complete Hiftory, upon the Subject.

I. In Anfwer to the firfi: Inquiry, concerning theOrigin of this Degree, it may be obferved, that theEnd of all Inftitutions in refped to Titles, or Officesof Honour, is to encourage and promote Vertue;That being the great Support and Security of civilGovernment, All wiie and well, regulated States, inthe World, have ever beeil careful to reward fuch Per-lons, who have diftinguiflied themlelves by any ver-tuous Qualities, or Atchievements, with certainpublick honorary Badges of Diftindion. And asVertue tends, in all Inffances, and in every differentBranch of it, to promote the publick Good, fo diffe-rent Orders, or Rules of a vertuous Condud, havebeen affigned to Men, by Means of which, theymight, in their feveral Stations, be rendered, at once,more ufeful, and ornamental to Society.

The more fpecifick Rule to that Degree of Knight-hood, which I am now confidering, and wherein theproper Charader of it, as contradiftinguiflied fromother Orders, doth confift, is comprehended in the

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