Colloquies of Erasmus.

138

Be. Robbers themselves might make such Laws.

Bo. Ay, and they would too, if they knew how to main-tain them ; and they would have enough to plead in excuseof them, if they did but denounce War before they com-mitted the Robbery.

Be. Who gave Knights this Privilege above the Commons?

Bo. The Law of Arms ; for thus they are train’d up f° rWar, that they may be more expert at plundering theEnemy.

Be. I believe it was after this Manner that Pyrrhus train’dhis Soldiers up to War .

Bo. No, but the Lacedemonians did.

Be. A Mischief take them, and their whole Army too.But how came this Title to have so great a Prerogative ?

Bo. Some have it by Descent, some purchase it withMoney, and some take it to themselves.

Be. And may any Body have it that will ?

Bo. Yes, he may, if his Manners but be answerable totheirs.

Be. What are they ?

Bo. Never to be guilty of doing a good Action, to go fi ne ’wear a Diamond Ring, whore stoutly, game continually'spend his Life in Drinking and Diversion, speak of nothingthat’s Mean, be continually cracking of Castles, Duels, Bat'ties, and every Thing that looks great: They take theberty of quarrelling with whom they have a Mind, alth°they han’t a Foot of Land of their own to set their l* eetupon.

Be. Such Knights as these deserve to be mounted up 011the Wooden Horse : But there are a great many suchKnights in Gelderland .