the Duke of York and Prince Rupert sent out to introduce Sir George Câ—rterett Proctor to the Prince of Denmark an 15. Car. 2. and the Earl of Carlisle Proctor to the King of Sweden an 23. Car. 2. And where there are more than one Stranger at the same time to be installed by Proxie there the two next senior Knights pass out as did the Earls of Kelly and Salisbury who brought in Sir Dudley Carleton Proctor to the Prince of Orange an 4. Car. 1. and the Dukes of Ormond and Buckingham the Earl of Winchelsey Proctor to the Duke of Saxony an 23. Car. 2. In this Proceeding the Proxie goes bare-headed for so did the before mentioned Earl of Dover Sir George Carterett the Earl of Carlisle and the Earl of Winchelsey SECT XI The Ceremonies of Installation WHen the Proceeding hath entred the Choire and paid the accustomed Reverences both towards the Altar and the Soveraign's Stall and the Alms-Knights Officers of Arms and of the Order taken their usual Stations the two Commissioners Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions and Proctor make their Reverences together and then is he conducted by them into the lower Stalls directly before the Stall appointed for his Principal the foresaid Officers of the Order standing below in the Choire If the Installation pass by more than two Commissioners then the two senior Knights-Commissioners bring him to the foresaid lower Stalls and perform the Ceremonies belonging to his Installation while the rest of the Commissioners at their entrance take their Station below in the Choire before their proper Stalls and there Stand until the Installation be finished And the like do the Lieutenants Assistants except the two senior that are employed in the Ceremonies of Installation The Proxie thus introduced into the lower Stalls stands there while the Register pronounceth the Oath of the Order to him after whom he repeateth the words distinctly during all which time he layeth his hand upon the New Testament and lastly kisseth the Book The ancient Oath appointed by the Statutes of Institution to be taken by a Stranger 's Proxie is short absolute and without limitation or exception and in all points the same with that which a Knight-Companion himself took at his Personal Installation viz. Faithfully to observe to the utmost of his power the Statutes of the Order But afterwards the Soveraigns and Fellows of those other Orders of Knight-hood whereof Kings of Free-Princes are Soveraigns as the Golden-Fleece Monsieur St. Michael and the Annuciade before their admition into the Order of the Garter sued for and obtained the allowance of some relative exceptions or provisoes to be added to the foresaid Oath which commonly were such as stood with the interest of their Religion their great state or dignity or precedent obligation to the Orders they had before accepted There is a Precedent entred in the black-Black-Book of the Oath to be taken by an Emperor whereby he is obliged to promise upon his Royal word and give his Faith upon his honor and the holy Evangelists That he will faithfully and truly to the utmost of his power observe the Statutes of this most Noble Order and that particularly in every branch and Article thereof at least so far as they can or ought to be observed by him and so far as they shall not be contrary or derogatory to those whereunto he hath before given his name and sworn and saving all other conditions agreed on Besides this there are also two other Precedents lodged in the Annals the one of the form of the Oath as it is fitted for the Proctor of an Emperor or a King the other for the Proctor of a Prince Arch-Duke and every other inferiour degree to a Knight including him also By the first of these the Proctor is to oblige himself in the name and behalf of his Lord and with a sincere heart and true faith shall promise and swear that his said Lord shall well and faithfully fulfil and observe all and every the Statutes Ordinances and Decrees of this Order according to the force form and effect any way thereunto belonging saving the conditions before agreed on between him and the Soveraign By the second he is also in the name and behalf of his Lord with a real heart and sincere faith to promise and swear That his said Lord shall faithfully observe and fulfil the Statutes and every several Branch and Article thereof according to the force form and effect of the same at least so far as the Soveraign's Dispensation shall limit and appoint But we have not found any of these Precedents made use of because being rather too general they have otherwise and more particularly fitted the Oath to the present interest and occasion at least so far as they could obtain the Soveraign to condescend unto And hereupon Philip King of Castile and Leon Soveraign of the Order of the Golden Fleece when he received a Personal Installation at Windesor an 22. H. 7. though the Oath he took was absolute and without limitation viz. To observe all the Statutes of the Order of the Garter according as they were contained in the Book then lately sent unto and accepted by him as faithfully as if every one of the Articles were then rehearsed unto him and to fulfil them from Article to Article at faithfully and readily as he looked for help from God and all his Saints Yet nevertheless soon after he obtained the Soveraign's free and full Dispensation in these two things only first that the use of the Collar and the other Ensigns of the Order might be left to his pleasure and secondly that he might not be obliged to be present at future Chapters Not long after some other Exceptions were admitted but such were obtained with very great difficulty and much debate had between the Soveraign's Council and the Stranger-Princes Ambassadors lest otherwise the dignity and reputation of the Order should instead of being kept up be lessened because where the forbearance or omission of any circumstance either in the Investiture or Ceremony of Installation hath been yielded unto it hath sometimes or other been taken notice of and brought into Precedent to the prejudice of the Order Therefore great circumspection ought to be taken in yielding to the omission of any part of so grand a Ceremony And the standing upon terms hath not been without good success since known that though other Interests different or contrary to the Soveraign's have sometimes assaulted Strangers desirous of this Honor yet their present necessities of obtaining his Friendship by receiving this Order have caused them though with some unwillingness to accept of this obliging Tye from him The Exceptions that were allowed to Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria when he took the Oath at his Investiture at Noremberg the 8. of December an 15. H. 8. were these that follow Not to
observed upon any of these occasions we shall hereafter note them down in their proper places and only mention here the Robe appointed for them to wear at these times over their Ecclesiastical Habit This by the Statutes of Institution is appointed to be a Mantle and though these mention not the matter whereof it was made which at this day is Taffaty of the fashion of the three inferiour Officers of the Order yet they set down the Colour to be Murrey as also that the Arms of St. George should be placed within a Rundle on the right shoulder thereof Those who are now called Petty Canons have no nominal nor other distinction in the Founders Patent of Foundation from those other afterwards called Canonici majores but both go under the Title of Canons only In the Bull of Pope Clement the Sixth which recites the substance of the Founders Patent in reference to the transferring his authority to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Winchester for instituting the Colledge they are called Presbyteri and by the said Bishop in the very words of his Institution Presbyteri sen Vicarii but in the Foundational Statutes of the Order of the Garter are stiled Vicarii only Their Number at the first Institution was thirteen and the same number appears to be continued being taken notice of in all the Exemplars of the Statutes of the Order Only King Henry the Eighths English Statutes mention eight Petty Canons beside thirteen Vicars but the Latin takes notice only of thirteen Priests part of them are there called Canonici minores and other part Vicarii afterwards the Injunctions of the Kings Commissioners dated the 23. of November anno 1. E. 6. appointed twelve Priests and they to be called Petty Canons that is four to be added to the former eight mentioned in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes which the said Article directed to be done after this manner to wit that at the first avoidance of the next Vicar his stipend should be equally divided among three of the eldest Vicars who thereupon were to be called Petty Canons and when the room of another Vicar became void then five marks of his stipend should be appointed to the next senior Vicar who was likewise to be stiled Petty Canon and this direction being observed the number of twelve Petty Canons became compleated Yet in Queen Elizabeths Ordinances for the continual charge the number of Petty Canons thereby provided for are noted to be thirteen agreeable to the ancient number of Vicars but at this day they are but seven and one of them Sub-chanter The Vicars at their admission according to the appointment both of the Statutes of the Colledge and those of the Order are bound to be Priests or at least Deacons from whence they are next to be ordained Priests to wit the next time appointed for Ordination Those Statutes bound them also to continual personal residence and if absent without a lawful cause from Mattens they were amerced two pence apiece for each omission and two pence a time more if not at every grand Mass and one penny for their absence from every Canonical hour the Mass of the Virgin Mary or for the Defunct All which forfeitures were to be deducted oâ—t of their Sallary and divided among those Vicars who gave their attendance in the foresaid Duties But the Injunctions anno 1. E. 6. appoint the forfeit of absence from Mattens to be one penny half penny and from either Procession Communion or Even-Song the like Sum to be paid to the poor Mens Box. And not only they but all other Ministers of the Chappel if absent from the Colledge above twenty days without just cause approved of by the Resident Canons or do behave themselves scandalously in life or conversation are by the Statutes of the Colledge to be expell'd after the fact proved before the Custos or his Lieutenant but if any of them absent themselves for less than twenty days without the like approbation then to be punished at discretion Each of these Vicars had at first but the annual Pension of eight pounds Sterling paid after this manner to wit every Kalendar Month eight shillings for their Diet and that which then remained at the Quarters end went towards furnishing them with other necessaries Afterwards King Edward the Fourth encreased their Pensions to twenty marks apiece To which Queen Elizabeth in augmentation of their livings they being then called Petty Canons added thirteen shillings four pence per annum to each of them out of the Lands setled on the Colledge by King Edward the Sixth as appears by the Book of Establishment made by her among the certain disbursments And now their yearly Pensions are lately encreased by the Colledge to thirty pounds One of these Petty Canons is chosen from among the rest to be Sub-Chanter and usually the same person is the Deans Vicar to whose duty belongs the cure of Souls Marrying Burying c. To these Petty Canons it is requisite that we subjoin those who after the Foundation of the Colledge by King Edward the Third were took into the Choire for the service thereof As first the Quatuor Clerici remembred in the Preface to the Statutes of the Colledge whereof one was to be instituted a Deacon and another a Sub-Deacon before their admission and these two were next in designation and accordingly promoted to the Vicars places but for the other two it was sufficient if they had institution into lesser Orders in which they were to continue Each of the two first of these had eight Marks yearly Pension and the two last but six King Edward the Fourth increased their number to thirteen and allowed them ten pounds per annum apiece The same number do we find mentioned in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes of the Order and by the Injunctions 23. Nov. anno 1. E. 6. made by the Kings Commissioners they were increased to fifteen but here appointed to be Laymen wearing Surplices in the Choire each having an allowance of ten pounds annually for his service In the 23. Article of the Injunctions of 28. Feb. an 4. E. 6. a course is prescribed to bring these fifteen Clerks to twenty but in Queen Elizabeth's Establishment they were again reduced to thirteen which number is yet continued one of them being Organist hath a double Clerks place and consequently reckoned for two of the thirteen and an augmentation to each of two pounds thirteen shillings four pence half penny farthing yearly which being at first opposed by the Dean and Prebends they at length anno 5. Eliz. consented to allow them forty shillings per annum apiece not out of the New-lands but out of other payments which the Dean and Canons should otherwise yearly receive and anno 1662. increased their annual Pensions to three and twenty pounds apiece
shall note some few things touching the Honor and Reputation of this most noble Order and that either as comparing it with other Orders of Soveraign Foundation or else in relation to it self First then let what our learned Selden affirms be observed viz. That this Order of the Garter hath precedency of antiquity before the eldest rank of honor of that kind any where established Secondly The Statutes of Foundation were so judiciously devised and contrived and framed upon such solid grounds of Honor and Nobleness that they afterwards became a Precedent to other Orders particularly those two of the Golden Fleece and of Monsieur Saint Michael as may be readily seen by any that will take the pains to compare them Thirdly It hath begot no small honor to the Order that the number of the first Knights-Companions were never yet increased but as there were five and twenty of them elected at the Institution they with the Soveraign of the Order made up that Number which at no time hitherto hath been exceeded ut pretium faciat raritas saith Heylin lest being else communicated to many it might at last become despicable For it is manifest enough that an invasion in this particular hath like an undiscerned Rock split several other Military Orders into contempt and ruine nothing so much abasing the worth of Glory and Honor which are to be desired by all yet granted to few than when made common and given indifferently without choice and merit to persons of mean condition as may be sufficiently instanced in the Order of the Star in France under the Reign of Charles the Seventh and the now declining Order of St. Michael Fourthly It hath been honored with the Companionship of divers Emperors Kings and Soveraign Princes of Christendom who reputed it among their greatest honors to be chosen and admitted thereinto insomuch as some of them have with impatience courted the honor of Election For we find remaining upon this Registry of Honor eight Emperors of Germany three Kings of Spain five French Kings two Kings of Scotland five Kings of Denmark five Kings of Portugal two Kings of Sweden one King of Poland one King of Aragon two Kings of Naples besides sundry Dukes and other Free Princes as one Duke of Gelderland one Duke of Holland two Dukes of Burgundy two Dukes of Brunswick one Duke of Milan two Dukes of Vrbin one Duke of Ferrara one Duke of Savoy two Dukes of Holstien one Duke of Saxony and one Duke of Wertemberg seven Counts Palatines of the Rhyne four Princes of Orange and one Marquess of Brandenburgh Fifthly It entitles those Knights and Noblemen whose virtue hath raised them to this degree of honor to be Companions and Fellows with Emperors and Kings a Prerogative of an high nature and a reward for greatest merits In the last place we shall close up all with the Elogie given to this most noble Order by our learned Selden That it exceeds in Majesty Honor and Fame all Chivalrous Orders in the world CHAP. VI. THE Statutes and Annals OF THE Order SECT I. Of the Statutes of Institution AMong Societies in general it hath been found expedient to plant Rules for them to walk by Order and Regularity being not only the beauty and Symmetry of Government but the parent of that Being which greatly contributes to their perpetuity Besides Statutes and Rules are as well the Bounds to determine as Bonds to unite Fellowships and Societies together and if either through negligence fall into disuse or be unadvisedly broken they readily open a way to dissolution and ruine Upon such like considerations therefore that most famous happy and victorious Prince King Edward the Third after he had advisedly determined the Erection of this most noble and renowned Order of the Garter did most prudently devise and institute several laudable Statutes and Ordinances to be duly observed and kept within the said Order which being collected into one Body are called the Statutes of Institution The original of these was Ordained to be safely kept within the Treasury of the Colledge of Windesor but hath long since wholly perished yet there is a Transcript of them recorded in the Reign of King Henry the Fifth at the beginning of the old Book called Registrum Ordinis Chartaceum a Copy whereof we have placed first in rank of the Infections and Autographs in the Appendix nevertheless bearing the marks of the Transcribers negligence or inadvertency as will appear in several places by the words we have supplied in the margent warranted by two ancient Exemplars of this Body of Statutes The first of which written in an ancient hand I had communicated to me by the favour of the late Lord Hatton that noble Patron of all good learning and learned men But 't is evident these were not the Original Statutes from a part of the 10. Article where speaking of the penalty for a Knight's not coming to Chapter on the Eve of the Grand Feast at the assigned hour it is there added Concerning which there is a Decree extant So also in the 12. Article relating to the penalty where a Knight-Companion is found without his Garter the payment whereof is there appointed to be made after the same manner as those who sailing in like sort have been used to pay And lastly the 33. Article here is wholly added out of King Henry the Fifth's Body of Statutes This Exemplar next follows the Transcript of the Original Statutes in the Appendix and where we have occasion is cited thus Ordinis Statuta in Bibliotheca Hattoniana Another Exemplar of the Founder's Statutes is registred at the beginning of the Black Book of the Order it being the same in substance put only into purer Latin and the Articles rendred in a more eligant stile yet there is one thing must not slip our observation that whereas in the 17. Article of the Statutes entred in the Registrum Chartaceum the Title of Marquess and Viscount with the proportions they were decreed to pay an 24. H. 8. upon the death of each Knight-Companion are both interlined by another hand and with fresher Ink this Exemplar hath put them into the Text But the same Titles being not interlined in the 22. Article in the said Register where there is a like occasion to speak of the Degrees of Nobility in the Order are also omitted in that very Article of this Exemplar which is a sufficient Argument to manifest that it was compiled from the Statutes in the Registrum Chartaceum and as to the time after the 24. year of King Henry the Sixth at soonest These also are printed next the former Exemplar and cited under this Title Ordinis Statuta in Libro Nigro SECT II. Of those other Bodies of Statutes since established BEsides these Statutes made at the Institution of the Order there are two other Bodies or Exemplars established since the one by King Henry the Fifth and the other by King Henry the Eight
Cloth Anno H. 6. the Soveraign's Gown or Surcoat was made of Scarlet and so was that sent to the King of Portugal in the 13. year of the same King Anno H. 6. the Soveraign had White Cloth and of like Colour were the Surcoats provided for 20 Knights-Companions in the year of his Reign Afterwards the before mentioned four Colours began to be laid aside and others brought into use for the Surcoat sent to Iulianus Medices in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth was Purple Velvet And by the Soveraign's Warrants entred in the great Wardrobe towards the latter end of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and since it is manifest the Surcoats of the Soveraign and all the Knights-Companions were Crimson Velvet Nor was this Colour altered in the Surcoat though the late Soveraign restored the Mantle to its first and ancient Colour an 12. Car. 1. It is evident that in provisions of Surcoats made for the Knights-Companions against one and the same Feast there hath been some difference in the Quantity of the Cloth allowed for we find an 34. E. 3. the Earls of Stafford Warwick and Suffolk as also Sir Thomas Vghtred had then allowed for each of their Surcoats 6 Ells of Cloth perhaps the tallness of their stature required it when the other 15 Knights-Companions were allowed but 5 Ells being the same quantity put into the Soveraign's Surcoat at the same time The Dukes of Holland and Clarence an 1. H. 5. with the Earl of Arundel were allowed 8 Ells of Cloth apiece the Dukes of Bedford Gloucester and York the Earls of Westmerland and Warwick the Lords Grey Fitz-Hugh and Roos 6 Ells apiece the Earls of Dorset with six Barons and five Knights-Batchellors but 5 Ells apiece Afterwards when the number of Ells of Cloth Garters and Furrs came to be ascertained for each Degree all the Knights-Companions even the Prince of Wales were stinted to a certain allowance of 5 Ells of Cloth But since Velvet came into use the allowance for Surcoat and Hood as appears by the Soveraign's Warrants hath been eighteen yards that is while the Surcoat reached down to the feet but now it being the fashion to wear it shorter the allowance is but ten yards The length of the now Soveraign's Surcoat is one yard and a half and of the sleeve one yard wanting a Nail In the last place the ornamental Trimmings of these Garments especially at the time of Instituting the Order are worthy observation for they were then and for a long time after garnished or powdered all over with little Garters embroided with Silk and Gold Plate in each of which was neatly wrought the Motto Honi soit qui mal y pense Besides the Buckles and Pendants to these small Garters were Silver gilt Of these embroidered Garters there were laid upon the first Surcoat and Hood made for the Founder no less than 168. In King Richard the Second's Reign the little Garters that adorned the Surcoats of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions were wrought in embroidery upon Blue Taffaty with Cyprus and Soldat Gold and Silk of divers Colours and the Letters Gold And as the Soveraign was not limited in the proportion of Cloth or Velvet for his Surcoat no more was he confined to a certain number of Garters wherewith to adorn it nor do I find that any of the Knights-Companions were until the Precedent of the Livery of the Garter was setled For an 1. H. 5. the Dâ—kes of Holland and Clarence the Earl of Arundel the Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester had each of their Surcoats adorn'd with 120 Garters but the Duke of York and the rest of the Earls Barons and Knights-Batchelors wore but 100. The setlement in the Precedent of the Livery was made in relation to the Degrees of honor of each Knight-Companion according to which they had an allowance of a greater or lesser number of Garters that is to say A Duke 120 Garters A Marquess 110 Garters An Earl 100 Garters A Viscount 90 Garters A Baron 80 Garters A Baneret 70 Garters A Knight-Batchellor 60 Garters About the Reign of King Henry the Sixth the Soveraign's number of Garters did not much exceed those which the Founder allowed to himself at the Institution for the Surcoat and Hood of the said King took up but 173. and the King of Portugal an 13. H. 6. 120 Garters But this manner of adorning these Garments grew at length quite out of fashion perhaps when Cloth was altered to Velvet and the plain Surcoat hath to this day continued in use In the second place it is to be noted that all these Surcoats whilst made of Cloth were lined with Fur of one and the same kind to wit with Bellies of pure Miniver only the Soveraign's were purfled with Ermyn and of these it seems a like proportion was at first allowed to all the Knights-Companions viz. 200 Bellies Yet in the Reign of King Richard the Second some difference began in the allowance to the Knights-Companions for a Baron and all Degrees upward had the same allowance of 200 Bellies but the Degrees under a Baron only 120. Howbeit an 1. H. 5. the Barons were equalled to the Knights-Batchellors for all Degrees above a Baron were allowed a Fur of 200 Bellies but the Barons and Knights Batchellors Furs were only of 120 Bellies Afterwards by the Precedent of the Garter there was another Proportion set the Prince a Duke a Marquess an Earl had each of them 5 Timber of pure Miniver allowed to a Surcoat but the Viscount Baron Baneret and Batchelor Knight but 3 Timber apiece In time these Furs also were laid aside and then the Surcoats came to be lined with White Sarcenet to which in Queen Elizabeth's Reign White Taffaty succeeded and that still continues What became of these Surcoats heretofore seeing the Knights-Companions had new ones every year appears from this Note entred in the Black Book of the Order That on the Eve of the Feast of St. George the Knights wore to Vespers the Soveraign ' s Livery or Surcoats used by them the preceding year which after that night they did not wear for the new Surcoats were first worn on the Feast-day but the Ensigns and Ornaments of this kind were afterwards disposed of to the use of the Colledge SECT IV. Of the Hood and Cap. THE Hood comes in the next place to be spoken of which in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes and the Black Book of the Order is called Humerale but in the Rolls of Accounts in the Soveraign's great Wardrobe Capucium In the French it is Chaperon a word used in the Statute an 1. Ric. 2. c. 7. and also retained in an old English Draught of Henry the Eighth's Statutes that seems to have been prepared for the view of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions at their solemn meeting in Chapter
That all Legations to deliver the Order to Forreign Princes all other Acts bearing the stile of Commissions all Patents of Offices and Fees all Grants or Licenses to go out of the Kingdom should be sealed with this Seal which should be thence forward called the Great Seal of the Order So also the Book of Statutes sent to Elect Knights or Forreign Princes being fixed to a Label of Blue Silk and Gold according to ancient Custom And that all Letters concerning the Order whether of signification of Election or Lieutenancy or Summons upon Prorogation or other directions from the Soveraign should only be sealed with the Signet These two Seals were by the said Decree appointed to be thenceforth born before the Soveraign in all publick Assemblies during the celebration of St. George's Feast or in other its Solemnities by the Chancellor of the Order in a Purse of Blue Velvet And command given to Sir Thomas Rowe to provide one accordingly On the foreside of which Purse was richly embroidered by Edmund Harison the Soveraign's Embroiderer with fine Venice Gold and Silver Gold and Silver Purls and Plates and variety of coloured Naples Silks the Arms of St. George impaled with the Soveraign's surrounded with á Garter and Crowned having a very fair running work or compartiment round about the charge of which came to 13 l. 6 s. 10 d. By the Statutes of Institution it was Ordained That in case the Knight-Companion to whose trust the Soveraign did commit the Seal of the Order should upon any lawful occasion happen to be absent from the Court he should in the mean time leave it behind him with some other of the Knights-Companions present with the Soveraign to the intent it might be always neer him so long as he remained within the Kingdom but if the Soveraign went beyond Sea then his Deputy was to have the same disposal of it as himself had and the Signet of the Order should suffice him to Seal all such Acts and Writings as should be made there The distance from Court is by the Constitutions for the Officers of the Order limited to 10 Miles and by the Statutes of King Henry the Eighth to 20. Upon consideration whereof we find Sir Thomas Rowe Chancellor having some occasions Anno 13. Car. 1. to be absent from the Court above 20 Miles acquainted the Soveraign therewith and tendring him the Seals of the Order He was pleased to dispence with the Statutes and give him leave to keep them nevertheless in his own Custody SECT III. The Register's Institution Oath Mantle Badge Priviledges and Pension THis Officer was one of the three constituted at the Institution of the Order under the Title of Registrator and Registrarius and so is called in the Statutes of King Henry the Fifth Yet in the Black Book he is frequently stiled Scriba and in the Registrum Chartaceum and Blue Book Actuarius What was the first Register's Name or who were his Successors unto the Reign of King Henry the Fifth we cannot discover but it may be presumed they were Canons of Windesor because this Office was at first appointed to one of the Colledge namely a Canon Resident there besides those Registers we meet with mentioned in the Black Book from the Reign of King Henry the Fifth to the beginning of King Henry the Eighth were also Canons of this Colledge among whom and the first we observe so called was Iohn Coringham as among other Testimonies the fragments of a Glass Inscription in the Chancel of Clure Church neer Windesor were he was Rector witnesseth The first Dean of Windesor constituted Register of the Order was Iohn Vescy an 8. H. 8. the next Owen Oglethorp an 1. Mar. many of whose Successors in this Deanry though not all have since been admitted to this Office nevertheless as they were Canons not Deans of Windesor And 't is not unlike but the Deans were made choice of for this Employment as being enabled to support the reputation of the Registership with the Revenue of this Deanry better than any of the Canons though with addition of the Pension appointed thereto But at a Chapter held at Whitehall the 22. of April an 11. Car. 1. it pleased the then soveraign to declare how sutable and convenient it seemed to him that the Office of the Dean and Register should meet in one and the same person as for some time past it had been enjoyed and therefore commanded this his judgment and purpose to be entred among the Annals of the Order that so it might pass to future times from Example into Rule If we look into the Constitutions of this Office we shall find that a Secular person is made capable of this Employment no less than an Eccleâ—â—â—stick howbeit to be a man of singular integrity eminent quality a Knight and wâ—ll â—â—proved of for Experience and Learning But if an Ecclesiastick then is it appointeâ—â—hat he be Learned a professor either of Divinity or Law that it either Canon or Civil Law in which respect he is supposed to have dignity in some Cathedral Church or else promoted by the Soveraign to a Canonship at Windesor Nevertheless whether he be a Lay-man or Ecclesiastick there is here put upon him Qualifications sutable to what the Statutes of Institution do Ordain to wit That he be a very knowing person able to perform the office and most fit both for Learning and Virtue The particulars of the ancient Oath taken by the Register are set down in the Statutes of Institution the substance being To enter upon the Registry with all fidelity the Scrutenies Elections Penalties Râ—conciliations and all other Acts relating to the Order To which in one of the Exemplars this general Clause is added That he shall faithfully discharge his Duty in all things But in King Henry the Eighth's Reign the same Oath was enjoined him as the Prelate and Chancellor took At this Officer's admittance he takes the Oath kneeling at the Soveraign's feet while the Prelate heretofore pronoâ—nced the words for so did he when Owen Oglethorp took it an 1. Mar. so likewise upon Iohn Boxolls admittâ—â—ce an 5. 6. Phil. Mar. But being absent an 3. Eliz when George Carew was sworn the Oath was administred by the Chancellor An. 4. Car. 1. the Prelate Chancellor and Register took their Oaths at one time and then the Ceremony was ordered in this manner First Doctor Matthew Wren Register took it kneeling between the Soveraign's knees the Black Rod holding the Evangelists whereon he laid his hand and Garter read the words out of the Black Book this done the Register read the words of the Prelate's Oath when he was sworn and in the last place did the like to the Chancellor Thus also did Garter read the words to Doctor Christopher Wren admitted Register an 11. Car. 1.
Windesor 6. Aug. 1. 2. Ph. M. Emanuel Duke of Savoy 11. Whitehall 8. Febr. 20. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne 12. York 12. Sept. 16. Car. 1. Thomas Earl of Strafford But for the most part since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign Whitehall the Soveraign's usual Court of Residence hath been the place whereunto the Knights-Companions have been specially summoned and peculiar Chapters held for Election of Knights in the interval between the vacancy and St. George's Feast Howbeit of late while the present Soveraign was abroad beyond the Seas and wanted the full number of Knights-Companions to constitute a compleat Chapter He hath been necessitated to make use of his supream power not only in dispencing with the Ceremony of Election in Chapter but also in supplying thâ— defect of a Scrutiny by making his own choice nevertheless since his most happy return to the Throne of his Ancestors Whitehall hath also recovered her accustomed Honors and beheld again a most worthy advancement of Knights into this most Noble Order at a Chapter specially called and held in the Bed-chamber there the first day of April an 13. Car. 2. in the Election of the Duke of Richmond the Earls of Lindsey Manchester and Strafford SECT III. The Number of Knights that constitute a Chapter IN the next place we are to consider what number of Knights-Companions ought to assemble for constituting a compleat Chapter of Election By the Statutes it is appointed there should be â—ix at the least besides the Soveraign or his Deputy the due observation of which hath been so strictly stood upon heretofore that Elections were ordinarily deferr'd where the Chapters consisted not of so many For proof of which we find that the Duke of Gloucester anno 9. H. 6. then Deputy to the Soveraign at that time in France for celebrating the Feast of St. George at Windesor forbore to proceed to Election because the Number of Knights-Companions there assembled was less than the Statutes required to constitute a Chapter We likewise take notice that anno 10. H. 5. no Election was made the Feast being also celebrated at Windesor though one Stall was void by the death of the Lord Clifford and probably the reason though not exprest might be for want of that full number of Knights-Companions the Statutes required For the Duke of Bedford then the Soveraign's Deputy had but three Knights present with him But in this case we need not fly to conjectures there are direct and cleer instances enough wherein if we abound we hope the satisfaction they will give the concern'd Reader beside the antiquity of the Precedent may obtain our pardon In the 22. year of King Henry the Sixth or rather 23. for so the Registrum Chartaceum hath it in the hand of that very Age Humfry Duke of Buckingham being deputed to celebrate the Feast of St. George at Windesor although there were at that time four Stalls vacant yet did no Nomination pass one reason being because there was not present a sufficient Number to make Election So when the same King celebrated the Grand Feast personally at Windesor in the 31. year of his Reign having but three Knights-Companions attending him thereat and two Stalls void the Election was prorogued for the very same reason In like manner the want of a sufficient Number of Knights-Companions hapning at the Feasts held the 32.33 and 34. of Henry the Sixth hindred the Election at those times for at the first of them there were but two Knights-Companions beside the Soveraign's Deputy and at the two last but four besides the Soveraign though the Registrum Chartaceum anno 33. names five by adding the Duke of Somerset At the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor anno 1471. which answers to the 11. year of King Edward the Fourth although from what is spoken concurrent with the following circumstances both out of the Black Book of the Order and the Registrum Chartaceum we suppose it should more rightly be transferr'd to the twelfth of this King's Reign and therefore this passage throughout may fitly be corrected by those Authorities the Soveraign intending to make an Election and having but five Knights-Companions present with him Calys Pursivant at Arms was sent to London for Sir Iohn Astley to come and furnish the Chapter in which saith this Fragment there were chosen seven Knights namely the Prince the King of Portugal the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Wiltshire the Lord Ferrers the Lord Montjoy and the Lord Howard But here are some other mistakes for the Prince was not elected until anno 15. E. 4. and the King of Portugal not until the 22. year of the same King As for the rest we not finding the true time of their Election elsewhere shall let them stand having been loth to make use of so imperfect an authority but that the circumstance of sending for Sir Iohn Astley to make up a Chapter rather than violate the Laws of the Order may be faithfully enough related and well worth observing through the other false lights cast in from the inadvertency of the Relator Lastly the 31. of Ianuary anno 21. Car. 2. being designed for the Election of Christopher Duke of Albemarle and there appearing but five Knights at the Chapter the Election was put off till the 3. of February following at which time a statutable number of Knights being present his Election past SECT IV. Dispensation for want of a full Number AND whereas some may suppose that the Soveraigns of this Order in later times have appeared less careful in the due observation of its Statutes and Laws than were their Predecessors by making use of Dispensations where the number of six Knights-Companions have been wanting they are to consider the License herein is no other than an advantage to be laid hold on in cases of necessity only for necessity can bring a sufficient plea where the infringement of a Decree is objected in the Law of this Order and withal to shew that the power and prerogative of Dispensation is reserved to the Soveraigns of this most Noble Order in all cases of exigency albeit not to be made use of where there is a possibility to perform the Rules and Injunctions of the Statutes The Soveraigns therefore in succeeding times for sundry reasons and upon important and urgent occasions have been induced to dispence with this branch of the Statute as to a full Number of Knights-Companions in case so many were not in readiness as the Law appointed to make a compleat Chapter And the first liberty we observe to have been taken herein was by King Henry the Eighth in the 26. year of his Reign who after he had received intelligence of the death of the Lord Montjoy immediately called a Chapter at Whitehall where no more than five Knights-Companions being present the absence of the rest were excused
Domini 1650. By his Majesties command Rob. Long. We shall further add that together with the Letters signifying an Election and the Ensigns of the Order it was anciently in use to send the Book of Statutes under the Common Seal of the Order no less to a Knight-Subject than in like case to a Stranger and to the same end viz. that he might peruse and advise thereupon whether he would accept of the Election or not for so it appears by the Letters signifying Election sent to Sir Iohn Fastolf an 4. H. 6. Within a few days after his Highness Prince Rupert was Elected into this Order being then in Holland a Commission of Legation was prepared to be sent thither with the Garter and George by Sir Iohn Burrough Garter to perform the Investiture with them but Sir Iohn falling sick and dying prevented the designed Ceremony Nevertheless some while after the Prince had been in England the then Soveraign thought fit to command Sir Iames Palmer Chancellor of the Order to attend his Highness to declare the reasons why the said Commission was not sent and executed as was designed as also to deliver him the Commission it self to the intent being prevented of receiving his Installation at Windesor because that Castle continued in the possession of the Rebels it might remain with him as a memorial of this Soveraign's Princely favour and respect to his quality and merits as also for a further evidence of his admittance into this Noble Order since there was no other memorial thereof but the minutes of his Election and this Commission On Monday therefore the 14. of Ian. 1644. the said Chancellor accompanied with Dr. Chr. Wren Register and Sir Edward Walker then newly made Garter attended the Prince at his Lodgings in Oxford who having notice of their coming received them with all obliging civility and after a little pause the Chancellor made known to his Highness the Sovereign's Commands in the following Speech May it please your Highness THE Kings of England Soveraigns of the most Noble Order of the Garter ever since that honorable Foundation have thought fit not only for the reward of eminent services done by their own Subjects but also for incouragements to noble acts of Chivalry and virtue and partly for further augmentation and extention of the renown and honor of that most Noble Society have made it so estimable amongst all the Foreign Princes of Christendom that they have 〈◊〉 thought their fames sufficiently advanced till they have been taken notice of by this Princely Society and Elected into this most Noble Order of the Garter Which â—lâ—ction hath been so welcomed even to the Emperors and Kings of higâ—est degree of Renown in Europe that no tye of allyance amity or league hath proved a stronger bond of affection between this and Foreign Crowns than that of the Companionry of the most Noble Order of the Garter in which nine Christian Emperors fiâ—ty five crowned Kings and four hundred Princes and Peers having taken the Oath of homage and fealty to the King of England as their Soveraign in the said most Noble Order have already had their Names and glorious Acts registered in the Records thereof According to which Example of his Majesties Progenitors of famous memory his Majesty King Charles my Master Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter did at a Chapter held at his City of York the 20. of April in the 18. year of his Reign when though many Stalls remained vacant yet did think sit then to elect but two Knights only namely Prince James Duke of York his Son and your Highness his Nephew whom his Majesty thought worthiest to make choice of not only for your Princely descent of Blood but for his own particular interest in that noble consanguinity as being the Son of his only beloved Sister the virtuous Queen of Bohemia and for many eminent virtues besides as well heroical as moral inherent in your person And that his Majesties affection to you might be the more emphatically expressed he elected your Highness a Companion of the Order in the company of his own Son both to manifest thereby the intimateness of affection to your Highness as well as to shew Prince James his tender years a glorious pattern for his Princely imitation of valour and martial Atchievements in which choice his Majesty did not prove himself a King of Grace and Goodness only but a King and a Prophet also as if he could by his foreseeing judgment divine how happy an instrument of valour and safety you would after prove to his Crown and dignity in their greatest distresses In the conduct of whose Armies your Highness hath hitherto been so prosperous and successful that it will be my duty to truth as well as to the propriety of my Office to give a timely recordation of each particular to the Register of the Order that he may eternize the memory of your noble Acts to remain in the Records of the Order that posterity may know as well as we find what happy assistance your Princely Conduct of his Majesties Armies hath brought to his Kingdoms and Dominions Sir the Reasons and Motives of this your Election being so many it behoves me now to inform your Highness the reasons why this Commission hath not been sooner delivered unto your hand and those are that immediately upon your Election at York his Majesty commanded me to draw up a Commission of legation to Sir John Burrough Knight then principal King of Arms and Garter â—o bring the Ensigns of the Order together with the notice of your Election unto your Highness then in the Low Countries and to perform the same with all the Solemnities thereunto belonging Another Commission also under the Broad Seal of England was directed to the right Honorable the Earl of Arundel and Surrey Earl Marshall of England and to the Lord Goring his Majesties Embassador extraordinary with the States of the United Provinces to give your Highness the honor of Knighthood a Ceremony always by the Statutes of the said Order necessarily to be performed to any Elected Knight before he can be admitted to be a Companion and receive the Ensigns of the Order of the Garter But the said King of Arms then falling sick shortly after dyed and your Highness suddainly coming in person into England that Ceremony was prevented by those casualties and his Majesty at Nottingham himself performed that Office in delivering both the Garter and George unto your Highness since which time your continual employments in his Majesties Wars and your absence thereby necessarily inforced from Oxford where the Commission and Seals of the Order remained the delivery thereof was necessarily delayed till this present when his Majesties express command to me and to those Gentlemen Officers of the most Honorable Order is to deliver it now unto your Highness hands considering the place of your Instalment at the Castle of Windesor is necessarily prevented by reason
Alms-Knights but not the Prebends Officers of Arms and the three inferior Officers of the Order pass out of the Choire in usual manner and proceed before them to the Chapter-house from whence they introduce the Elect-Knight into the Choire to his Installation But if there be more Knights to be Installed then the two next senior Knights descend and after them the next seniors to them till all the Elect-Knights are conducted in And this course is likewise observed when a Lieutenant is constituted and hath been generally so practised since the Investiture with the Collar was performed in the Choire and particularly at the Installations of the Duke of Lenox and Earls of Penbroke Marr and Southampton an 1. Iac. R. and of the Duke of Holstein and Earl of Northampton an 3. Iac. R. In this Proceeding to Installation the Register usually carries a Book of the New Testament for the Elect-Knight to take his Oath upon as also the Oath it self fairly written in Parchment Garter bears before the Knight-Elect his Mantle until he arrive at his Stall and King Henry the Eighth's Statutes place this service upon some one of the Knights-Companions likewise but we have not found in all our search that it was ever performed by any of them It should seem that about the time when this Injunction passed it was the Custom for Garter to bear the Mantle upon his arm for we find it so carried at the Installation of the Lord Russel and others an 31. H. 8. But it was not long after that the laying it on a Velvet Cushen began The great Collar of the Order was also laid upon the Cushen at the Installation of Sir Henry Sidney an 6. Eliz. of the Earl of Derby an 16. Eliz. of the Earl of Rutland an 26. Eliz. and of the Earl of Shrewsbury an 34. Eliz. and in this manner born before the Knight-Elect an 13. Car. 2. and before the Duke of Monmouth an 15. Car. 2. and the Duke of Albermarle an 23. Car. 2. With these the Hood though heretofore put on in the Chapter-house yet of late hath been laid upon the Cushen and also the Book of Statutes and so we find them born by Garter before Prince Henry an 1. Iac. R. and Frederick Elector Palatine in the 10. year of the same King as also before the Knights Installed an 13. Car. 2. and since And here we must note that when Garter bears these Ornaments and Ensigns upon the Cushen before an Elect-Knight or a Proctor he is always placed between the Register and Black Rod in the Proceeding Lastly in this Proceeding also the Knight-Elect goeth bare headed holding his Cap in his hand and so did the Duke of Albermarle an 23. Car. 2. for it hath been thought incongruous to the order of Investiture as is before noted of the Hood to put on any part of the Habit or other Ornaments that must be taken off again before the Investiture be compleated and the due place among the Ceremonies of Investiture for putting on the Cap is not till all the other be finished SECT VII The Ceremonies of Installation WHen the Proceeding hath entred the Choire the Alms-Knights and Officers of Arms make their obeysances towards the high Altar and the Soveraign's royal Stall in the same manner and order as we shall describe anon to be done on the Eve of St. George Then they proceed up to the steps before the Altar and divide themselves next the Officers of the Order make their like double Reverence and last of all the two Commissioners or Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions and Knight Elect all three together After this the Officers of the Order turn aside towards the Stall designed for the Elect Knight and approaching neer it stand below in the Choire while the Commissioners or Assistants or Knights-Companions pass into the lower row of Stalls sometimes called the middle row directly under the designed Stall leading the Elect Knight with them And in this place is he to take his Oath called in the Annals the Sacred Oath of the Order of the Garter during which time he ought to stand between the Knights-Companions who brought him thither At the Installation of Prince Henry an 1. Iac. R. the Soveraign's Lieutenant himself with the Lord Buckhurst the next senior Knight-Companion led him directly under his own Stall and there gave him his Oath And when the Earl of Shrewsbury was Installed an 34. Eliz. we find it noted that the senior Commissioner first entred the lower row of Stalls but an 31. H. 8. at the Installation of the Lord Russell and others the junior Assistant went up first The Knight Elect being thus placed the Register of the Order standing before them but below in the Choire readeth or pronounceth the Oath for it is part of his duty to administer the same In this solemn Ceremony the New Testament whereon the Oath is taken commonly opened in some place of the Gospels is indifferently held by one of the three inferiour Officers of the Order for sometimes the Register hath held it as at the Earl of Derby's Installation an 16. Eliz. as also at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland and Lord Cobham an 26. of the same Soveraign At other times Garter hath held it as an 5. Eliz. when the Earl of Northumberland took his Oath and an 10. Car. 1. at the Installation of the Earl of Moreton But when the Earl of Shrewsbury was sworn an 34. Eliz. the Usher of the Black Rod performed this Office While the Oath is administring the Elect Knight holds his right hand upon the holy Evangelists and assoon as the Register hath ended pronouncing the words the Elect Knight answereth I will so help me God and then taketh off his hand reverently kissing the Book and by this Ceremony sealeth his obligation to the Statutes of this most Noble Order The Ceremony used when Philip King of Castile and Leon took the Oath which to him was administred in the Chapter-house at Windesor an 22. H. 7. was this The said King laid his hand upon the Canon under which was placed the Book of the Statutes of the Order by the Prelate to whom it was delivered by the Register and repeated the words of the Oath and having reverently kist all those things by which he swore he took a Pen from the Prelates hand and signed the Oath he had taken with his own hand-writing and forthwith delivered it to the Soveraign then present Now the Oath which a Knight-Subject takes at his personal Installation being of very great weight and concernment it is fit we here render some account of the nature and form thereof and leaving those others taken by Stranger-Princes and their Proctors and the Deputies of Knights-Subjects to their proper places enquire what was its original form and how when and upon
rigid an observance of the Statutes in this point the foresaid Knight through the misfortunes and casualties of War whereunto they were daily exposed should be snatcht away by a sudden death and so want the desired suffrages of those Masses ordained to be sung for a defunct Knights as had been seen in the case of divers other prevented thereof by over much delay Nevertheless by that more ample and large Copy of the foresaid Letter recorded in the Registrum Chartaceum which we think necessary also to add in the Appendix it appears that the Soveraign and Knights-Companions remaining at that time with him in France had before upon the Duke of Bedford's request signified their approbation of installation by Proxie by the favour of which Certificate and virtue of this consent though as yet not formed into a Decree Sir Iohn Grey and Sir Iohn Robessart were installed upon their Letters missive wherein they only named their Proctors In this Letter it also appears that the Lord Bourchier's Proctor made so by a deprecatory Letter sent over to his Deputy from the Countess of Stafford was only promised to be installed in regard there was no express caution given in the Statutes concerning the sufficiency of this sort of Proxie But to clear all doubts which for the future might arise it was among other things Decreed an 9. H. 5. That where any Elect-Knight was actually in the Soveraign 's Wars or otherwise employed abroad upon the Soveraign 's affairs he should possess and enjoy the priviledge of a Stranger in this particular namely to be admitted to his Stall by a legal Proxie who should do and perform all things enjoined to the Proxie of a Stranger Which Decree we find added to King Henry the Fifth's Statutes Hereupon it was in a short time after enjoined the Elect-Knight upon notice of his Election to take care that his Proctor should be appointed to take possession of his Stall with all possible speed to the end he might enjoy the rights and priviledges of a Founder for such an obligation we find laid upon Sir Iohn Fastolf who at the reception of the Garter was in France and there employed in the Soveraign's service But King Henry the Eighth besides his confirmation of this Decree for allowance of a Proxie in the foresaid two Cases further enlarged it to such as the Soveraign should either command or permit by License to be installed by Proxie which is to be understood of Knights-Elect within the Kingdom no less than those beyond Sea By virtue of which clause the Earl of Dorset being sick an 1. Car. 1. obtained the Soveraign's License to be Installed by his Deputy Sir Richard Young who accordingly took possession of the Stall appointed for him SECT II. Letters of Procuration WE noted before out of the Registrum Chartaceum that Sir Iohn Robessart Elected into the Order by King Henry the Fifth was Installed by virtue of his Letter missive sent to Sir Thomas Barr his Proxie But the same Register in another place calls it a sufficient Procuration under his Seal of Arms enabling him to do and perform in his name all things which might appertain to the observance and Ceremony of his Installation The Copy of this Instrument we have not met with but that other Letter missive which Sir Iohn Grey directed to Sir Iohn Lisle to take the possession of his Stall and by virtue of which he was Installed is transferred to the Appendix Nor have we seen the before mentioned Deprecatory Letter sent over from the Countess of Stafford for the Installation of Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier but it seems to have been esteemed so sufficient and authentick as to obtain for his substitute the title of Proctor This example became a President to the now Countess of Bristol whose Lord having been Elected a Knight-Companion of this Order by the present Soveraign and being absent on an Embassy when the Grand Feast of St. George happily celebrated an 12. Car. 2. was drawing on she wrote a Letter to Sir Richard Fanshaw Knight and Baronet to desire him to appear and act at that following Solemnity in quality of her Lord's Proxie And because there grew some doubt from the Lord Bourchier's Case of the sufficiency of such a Nomination the request of the said Countess was thought requisite to be strengthened by the Soveraign's Authority and Nomination likewise which being obtained was ratified under the Seal of the Order And doubtless in the case of a Knight-Subject the Soveraign may if he please nominate and appoint a Proxie for Installation where the Elect-Knight hath not done it himself for here all those considerations of grand respect form of the Oath c. always afforded to Strangers have no place and this is evident from the Soveraign's Letters of Summons to the Commissioners nominated for Installation of the Lord Grey an 4. 5. Ph. M. who at that time was Prisoner in France and whose Deputy Sir Humfry Radcliff Knight is therein mentioned to have been appointed by the Soveraign her self The first President of Letters of Procuration or Deputation drawn into a solemn form is that made by Sir William Philipp whereby he having obtained the Soveraign's License impowers two Knights namely Sir Andrew Butreley and Sir Iohn Henington or either of them as their occasions would permit to supply his place and take possession of that Stall which should be assigned him in the Choire at Windesor This Procuration and the time of Sir Philipp's Installation by virtue thereof is entred in the Black Book of the Order under the eighth year of King Henry the Fifth but certainly misplaced for though the year of our Lord or of the Soveraign's Reign be wanting in the date of the Instrument yet is there added a note remarkable enough to wit that it was made while the Soveraign lay in Siege before Roan in France which as our Chronicles report was begun the 13. of October an 5. H. 5. and taken the 19. of Ianuary following so that by this account the Procuration was sealed the 11. of November an 5. H. 5. and ought to have been placed in the Annals under that year Besides this the Registrum Chartaceum expresly saith That Sir William Philipp was Installed the same day with Sir Iohn Robessart and so it is also exprest in the Duke of Bedford's before mentioned Letter which Solemnity is there entred as held on the 17. of February and though the year be not set down and all the former part of this Register wanting yet in the course thereof it may be observed that the following year is the 7. of H. 5. Add to all this that the Black Book it self under that seventh year ranks both Sir Iohn Robessart and Sir William Philipp for Knights-Companions among the other Knights Installed before that year and notes them to be then
with the former yet more clear and full than the Black-Book for it tells us that Mr. Newport was at the same time sent in the Legation with the Garter and Mantle to the King of Poland But to return we have not found that King Henry the Eighth or any of his Successors Soveraign's of the Order have made much use of that liberty granted by the foresaid Article of his Statutes for deferring the Significatory Letters of Election beyond the time appointed by the Statutes of Institution And that it may be the better observed how soon notice of Election hath been given to Strangers we will insert all the instances in this kind that have come to our knowledge It is recorded that the French King Francis the First was Elected Oct. 21. an 19. H. 8. and albeit we find not the exact time when the Soveraign's Letter for giving notice of his Election was sent him yet must that complement be most certainly dispatcht within the time limited by the ancient Statutes since we observe he was Installed within three months after viz. the 25. of Ianuary following When Iames the Fifth King of Scotland was Elected Ian. 20. an 26. â— 8. the Lord William Howard was forthwith sent to inform him of his â—lection Henry the Second of France before mentioned having been Elected the 24. of April an 5. E. 6. had Letters of signification sent him in May following Emanuel Duke of Savoy was chosen a Knight-Companion 6. Aug. an 1 2. Ph. M. and the same day it was Decreed That Letters should be sent unto him with the illustrious Garter and other Ensigns of the Order But hereby is to be understood the Soveraign's Credential Letters sent to accompany the Habit of the Order the Commission for delivery whereof bears teste the 17. of October following not the Letters signifying his Election for it appears clearly from the said Credentials that the Soveraign had not only before that time given him notice of his Election but that the Duke had returned a cheerful and ready acceptance of the honor The Election of Charles the Ninth of France passed the 24. of April an 6. Eliz and in May ensuing the Lord Hunsdon carried him the Habit of the Order which he received at Lyons the 24. of Iune following and the French King Henry the Fourth and Iames the Sixth King of Scotland afterwards Soveraign of this most Noble Order were both Elected together the 24. of April an 32. Eliz. to the former of these the Certificate of Election was sent by Sir Edward Stafford Knight and to the later by the Earl of Worcester Lastly Christian the Fourth King of Denmark Elected the 14. of Iune an 1. Iac. R. Maurice Prince of Orange chosen the 19. of December an 10. Iac. R. Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden and Henry Prince of Orange both Elected the 24. of April an 3. Car. 1. as also Charles Prince Palatine of the Rhyne chosen a Knight-Companion the 18. of April an 9. Car. 1. had Letters sent to signifie their Election within a few days after they were Elected And at such times as the present Soveraign made Election of any Stranger whilst he remained abroad care was also taken to send his Letters to acquaint them with their Election immediately after the Ceremony of Election had past SECT II. Of Notice given of an Election before sending the Habit. HEre it is to be observed with how much more caution than the former the Statutes made by King Henry the Eighth do Ordain to send Letters that signifie Election and the Book of Statutes only at the first but not the Garter and Mantle till a return be made whether the Stranger-Elect after consultation had with the Statutes will receive the Order or not And after the Certificate of Acceptance returned to the Soveraign then but not before is it there also Decreed to send a solemn Embassy with the whole Habit George and Collar And consonant to these directions in the Statutes hath the Practice sometimes been As for instance in the cases of the French King Henry the Second an 5. E. 6. and Emanuel Duke of Savoy an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. both remembred a little before as also in that of Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg to whom Queen Elizabeth sent Letters signifying his Election shortly after she had chosen him into the Society of the Order to which the Duke returned thanks and acceptation by two Ambassadors Benjamin a Buwinkhausen of Walmeroet one of his privy Councel and Cristopher ab Haugwitz Master of his Horse who received a promise from the Soveraign that the sending him the whole Habit of the Order should not be long deferr'd howbeit the same was not sent during her life SECT III. Notice of Election sent with the Habit. WHen the Soveraign hath been well assured beforehand that the Elect-Stranger would not refuse the Honor upon such confidence the same Embassy as anciently before the adding this Clause dispatcht both Ceremonies The Soveraign's Letter certifying Election being first presented together with the Book of Statutes to peruse and consider of and if upon consideration thereof the Stranger declared his acceptance then within few days after the whole Habit of the Order was with due Solemnity delivered And thus do we find it directed shortly after the Election of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland the Lord William Howard sent on that Embassy his Instructions as to this point being as followeth That he should within five or six days next after he had been with the said King of Scots for his first Embassade and resort to Court there and in most reverend fashion deliver unto the King of Scots the Letter Missive of Certification of his Election into the noble Order of the Garter from the Soveraign of the Order with due commendation from his Highness The Letter read and the said King consenting to the Reception of the said Order then incontinent the Book of Statutes to be delivered unto him and a day appointed to have his consentment on the Articles of the said Statutes In like manner were the Letters certifying Election and the Commission for presenting the Habit and Ensigns of the Order dispatcht together to Christian the Fourth King of Denmark an 1. Iac. R. and sent by the Earl of Rutland who went hence within a fortnight after the said King had been Elected As also to Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden and Henry Prince of Orange within two months their Election falling on the 24. of April an 3. Car. 1. and the date of the Commission for delivering the Order being on the 24. of Iune following The manner and order of the delivery of these Letters signifying Election when the Habit is sent therewith is thus First the Ambassador and Officer of Arms having notice given them of the first Audience do present
like Reverence towards the Soveraign's State deposites there the Ensigns of the Order The Lord Ambassador follows and makes his Reverence towards the Soveraign's State and after turning to the Stranger-Elect and doing him Reverence he or some other fit person thereto appointed delivers himself in a short but grave and learned Oration In which he not only sets forth the praises of the most illustrious Order and of the King the Soveraign thereof his Majesties hearty affection and good will appearing in this Action but also the virtues the memorable and praise worthy Actions of the Elect-Stranger to whom the Habit and Ensigns of the Order are sent neither are his Ancestors if happily any of them have attained and enjoyed the honor reputation and dignity of this Order to be pass'd over in silence whereby his heart already sufficiently of it self breathing impatience and desire may be so much the more inflamed with an earnestness to obtain the honor and favour of this so great a dignity He adds beside that the Soveraign having well weighed these and the like things in his mind and maturely advised thereof with his Knights-Companions they were perswaded and well satisfied in themselves to nominate and chuse him before others to the end that he might both himself be honored by the choice of such a person and also thereby give an encrease and addition of Lustre to those renowned actions and virtues which already were a chief ornament unto him Lastly he points towards the Ensigns of the Order which he declares to have been sent by the Soveraign out of great love and singular affection to dignifie him therewith as to a person unto whom he wisht as well and honorably as to any other Prince whatsoever and withall intreats him kindly to accept of and wear them in remembrance of the Soveraign and his Order This or the like Oration being ended the Ambassadors present their Commission of Legation to the hands of the Elect-Stranger who delivers it to his Secretary and he publickly reads it At the before mentioned Investiture of the French King Henry the Second the Bishop of Ely one of the Commissioners in the Legation made the Speech to which the Cardinal of Loraine returned answer in the said Kings behalf with all thankful acknowledgments of the honor of the Order And when Henry the Third of France received the Habit of the Order Sir Edward Stafford the Soveraign's Leiger Ambassador performed this service After the Commission is read Garter presents the Oath fairly written which is administred to the Elect-Stranger where if any exceptions were before made and admitted they must be here rehearsed as we find it directed in the Instructions given for the Investiture of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland But the Oath was not taken by the French King Henry the Third till after his Investiture and in the Augustine Fryers Church in Paris which being before prepared and written on Parchment in Letters of Gold the said King there signed it by the subscription of his name Henry and then delivered it to his Secretary to have his Privy Seal put to it So also was the Duke of Wirtemberg an 1. Iac. first Invested in his great Hall at Studtgard and then proceeded to the great Church where he took the Oath The Ceremony of the Oath being finished Garter takes from off the Cushen the Garter and having kiss'd it presents it to the Lord Ambassador who kneeling down puts it with all Reverence about the Stranger 's left leg being assisted by Garter and therewithall Garter pronounceth these words of Signification Ad laudem atque honorem Omnipotentis Dei intemeratae Matris ejus Sancti Georgii Martyris cinge Tibiam tuam hoc insigni Subligaculo circumferens in augmentum honoris tui in signum ac memoriam illustrissimi Ordinis nusquam oblivioni daturus aut omissurus quod eo moneris ut valeas inquam velis in justo bello quod solùm inibis stare firmitèr agere fortitèr feliâ—iter omnino vincere This being said Garter next takes the Surcoat and delivers it with the Ceremony of a Kiss to the Lord Ambassador who after the Elect-Stranger hath put off his Cloak or upper Garment and Sword puts it upon him in this manner First the Lord Ambassador begins at the Stranger 's right arm and Garter or the Leiger Ambassador if present assists at the left shoulder The Stranger being thus vested with the Surcoat both the Lord Ambassador and Garter gird his Sword about him with a Velvet Girdle of the same colour at the doing whereof Garter saith these words Capito vestem hanc purpuream ad incrementum honoris in signaculum Ordinis accepti quâ munitus non vereberis pro fide Christi libertate Ecclesiae pro jure oppressorum atque indigentium necessaria tuitione sanguinâ—m etiam fundere nedum fortitèr ac strenuè dimicare After this Garter takes up the Mantle and Hood which having in like manner kissed he delivers to the Lord Ambassador who invests the Stranger therewith and lays the Hood upon his right shoulder the Train being given into the hands of some noble Personage to be born up Garter also pronouncing these words Accipe Clamidem hanc Coelici coloris in Signum Clarissimi hujus Ordinis in augmentum etiam honoris tui rubeo Clypeo Dominicae Crucis uti cernis insignitam ut cujus virtute semper ac vigore protectus per Hostes tutus abeas eos ubique superare valeas pro clarissimis deniqueâ—â—ritis post egregiam hanc hujus temporis militiam ad aeterna veréque triumphalia gaudia pertingas And in the last place Garter takes up the Collar and with a Kiss also presents it to the Lord Ambassador who placeth it about the Stranger 's shoulders at which part of the Investiture Garter uttereth these words Torquem hunc in Collo deferes ad augmentum honoris in signum quoque clarissimi Ordinis à te suscepti cum imagine sanctissimi Martyris Christi Militis Georgii cujus praesidio suffultus Mundi hujus tà m prospera quà m adversa sic pertranscas ut animae pariter ac corporis hostibus hic strenue devictis non temporariae modo Militiae gloriam sed perennis victoriae palmam denique recipere valeas Amen As soon as this Ceremony of Investiture is finished the Lord Ambassador congratulateth the new invested Stranger in the Soveraign's name and in the name of all the Knights-Companions and then delivers to him his Velvet Cap adorned with White Plumes and next the Book of Statutes By the Instructions drawn up for the Investiture of Iulianus de Medicis and Iames the Fifth King of Scotland though the form of the words of Admonition and Signification are therein more briefly coucht it may be observ'd that this was the ancient series and order of Investiture and
of Scaffolds in it filled with the principal persons of quality both of the Courtand City After my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George had saluted the King Mr. St. George placed the Robes c. on the Table and having made an obeysance first to the Soveraigns State then to the King of Sweden stood before his own Chair till the King and my Lord Ambassador were both of them seated they being seated Mr. St. George sate down on his Chair until the Trumpets and Kettle Drums ceased which had beat and sounded from their first entrance in the Room all being quiet Mr. St. George arose and making an obeysance first to the Soveraign's State and then to the King of Sweden stood by the Table then the Ambassador arising began his Speech to the King which ended his Secretary delivered a Copy of it in the Swedish tongue to the Ambassador who gave it to the Lord Stein Bielk who delivered it to a Secretary by whom it was read aloud whereunto a Reply was made by the same Senator in Swedish this Reply translated into English was given by the said Senator to the Ambassador and by him to his Secretary who read it in English Then did Mr. St. George deliver the Commission under the Seal of the Order to my Lord Ambassador who presented it to the King who having received it gave it to a Secretary by whom it was read aloud The Commission being read Mr. St. George devested the King of his Cloak Sword and Belt untying also the Silk Garter on his left leg and delivered the Book of the Statutes of the Order to the Ambassador who presented them to the King then was the Garter of the Order presented to his Majesty by Mr. St. George who at the delivery pronounced the accustomed words in Latin which ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George did both of them buckle it on the King of Sweden's left leg in like manner was presented the Surcoat the Girdle and Hangers with the Sword the Mantle the Hood the Collar and great George last of all the Cap and Feather His Majesty thus fully invested with the whole Habit of the Order continued standing under his State whilst Mr. St. George descending from the haut-pas towards the lower end of the Rails returned and having made three obeysances as he came up proclaimed the Stile of the Soveraign in Latin French and English and afterwards the Stile of the King of Sweden in French only This being done Mr. St. George returned and stood before his Seat whilst my Lord Ambassador complemented his Majesty in a short Speech in English which was afterwards read in Swedish by a Secretary and a Reply made by the afore named Senator Stien Bielk in Swedish read in English by my Lord Ambassador's Secretary After this another Senator viz. Baron John Gyllenstiern did in a long Harangue congratulate his Majesty's Election and Investiture into this most Noble Order which ended the King my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George took their Seats again whilst the Trumpets and Kettle Drums beat and sounded being the signal for the firing 124 great Guns from the Ships of War in the River and several parts of the City and of divers Vollies of small shot from Horse and Foot purposely drawn into the Town for this occasion after they had all fired the first time they gave a second Volley which being near ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr St. George arose and making their obeisances to the King who stood in his Robes under his State they withdrew and were conducted by the afore mentioned Senators Count Brabe and Count Steenbook to the same Room from whence the Robes of the Order had been brought where Mr. St. George put off his Mantle and after a little repose my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were in the same manner conducted home to my Lord Ambassador's House About eight of the Clock that Evening my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were again brought to Court in the King's Coach by Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies to Supper where in a fair Room under a state of Crimson Velvet sate the King covered and in the Robes of the Order on his left hand the Queen and on her left hand my Lord Ambassador all under the State at each end of the Table sate two of Regents and on the other side of the Table near each end sate two of the senior Senators and between them stood two Carvers At another Table in the same Room sate Mr. St. George with the other Senators and the Officers of the Army during Supper several Healths were drank as the Soveraign's the King of Sweden's the two Queens the Duke of York's the Companions of the Order c. at each of which were fired 4 great Guns 24 being purposely planted for that service under the Wall of the Castle Supper being ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George having waited on the King and Queen back again in the same manner they attended them to Supper about three of the Clock the next morning they were again conducted home by Count Torstenson and tâ—â— Mâ—ster of the Ceremonies in the King's Coach and as they descended from the Castle the 24 great Guns were all fired twice over Sunday the 1. of August my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were by Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies in the King's Coach brought to the Castle about 7 of the Clock in the Evening from whence they went with their Majesties in their Barge to see the Fireworks which had been preparing about three Months as English mile from Stockholme in honor of this Solemnity this divertisement continued about two hours and was concluded with a Banquet which ended they returned in the same manner being saluted both in their going and return with four Guns from each Ship of War in the River besides the Guns from the Fort At their landing Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies were ready to conduct my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George home in the same manner as they came Thursday the 19. of August Mr. St. George received his Majesty of Sweden's Letter to the Soveraign and a Certificate of his Majesties Reception of the said Order both signed by the Queen and the Regents Sunday the 22. of August Mr. St. George took his leave of the King and Queen being attended by the under Master of the Ceremonies Thursday the 2. of September Mr. St. George was presented by the under Master of the Ceremonies with a Chain of Gold and a Meddal set with Diamonds from his Majesty Saturday the 4. of September Mr. St. George began his Iourney from Stockholme to the Sound by Land and came to Elsineur the 12. of the said Month the 29. he took shipping for England and landed at Hull the 20. of October the 27. he came to London and was the next day by the Earl of Carlisle who was newly returned brought to
the Time we observe it anciently to have been uncertain but so long before the Feast day as that this Officer might make preparation sutable to the state and grandeur this great Solemnity required For so when Henry the Sixth had deputed his Uncle the aforesaid Iohn Duke of Bedford to hold the Grand Feast at Windesor on St. George's day in the fourth year of his Reign we see the Commission bears date at Leicester the first day of April preceding In like manner the same Soveraign having appointed Iohn Earl of Shrewsbury to the same employment the 14. of May an 35. regni sui his Commission bears date at Hereford the 18. day of April preceding Again that Commission given to the Marquess of Exceter for holding the Feast at Windesor upon the 17. day of May an 20. H. 8. is dated at Richmond the 24. of April which was above three weeks before But in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the most accustomed time for this Nomination was in the Afternoon of St. George's day the day for holding the Anniversary of the Grand Feast being in those days always appointed together with this great Officer Nevertheless in the 13. 24. 31. and 36. years of his Reign the appointment of the Feast and Nomination of this Officer may be observed to happen on the morrow after the day of St. George as also an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. and an 4. 5. of the same King and Queen and for the most part it was so ordered until the 9. of Queen Elizabeth in which year the Grand Feast was removed from Windesor unto other places as hath been before noted Afterwards it became customary to nominate him immediately before the first Vespers which hath continued in use ever since Now the reason why so many days passed heretofore between the date of the Commission and the time appointed for celebrating of the Feast was because this Officer in those times held the Feast at his own charge and therefore was it thought fit and reasonable that he should have notice of the day assigned early enough to the end he might provide all things sutable to his own honor and the dignity of the person he was to represent But afterwards when he was not named till he entred upon the Execution of his Office to wit immediately before the first Vespers there needed no warning the Soveraign being at the charge of the Feast As to the place where this Officer received the honor of Nomination that we always find to have been in Chapter held at any the times aforesaid and wheresoever called Secondly the person designed to this employment is in the Statutes of Institution and those that follow called Deputy The first we find to have been made so was Iohn Duke of Bedford an 7. H. 5. and the reason thereof given in the Registrum Chartaceum is Because the Soveraign being then in Normandy was employed in the recovery of his right to that Dukedom And albeit the Title given by the Statutes to this Officer be not particularly mentioned in the black-Black-Book where it speaks of the said Dukes holding the Feast of St. George at Windesor for the aforesaid year but rather implied in the words Regiae sublimitatis locum implevit yet in the Registrum Chartaceum among other memorials of that same year it is expresly set down and the said Duke there stiled Depute del Ordre de Iaritier wherein also the very same Title is given to Humphry Duke of Gloucester he being appointed to celebrate the Anniversary of the Feast at Windesor the year following And when the foresaid Black-Book comes to inform us an 1. H. 6. that the said Duke of Gloucester did execute his Office and hold that Feast we find him therein called Deputatus Ordinis which Title is given him also at other times upon the like occasion as also to the Duke of Buckingham an 28. H. 6. to the Earl of Exceter the year following to Iohn Earl of Shrewsbury the 35. year of the same King and to many others in the Reigns of King Edward the Fourth and King Henry the Seventh Sometimes also we find other Titles given to this Representative of the Soveraign as an 10. H. 5. Iohn Duke of Bedford the second time of his being such is stiled Praeses Clarissimi Ordinis Equivalent to this is that expression of the Black-Book where it says that at the Chapter begun at Windesor an 15. H. 6. Praesidebat Nobilis Dux Gloucestriae And in another place of it that the Grand Feast was observed at Windesor an 8. H. 7. per Iohannem Denham Angliae The saurarium ibi Presidem the like is said of the Earl of Worcester an 10. H. 8. In the Exemplar of the Statutes registred in the Black-Book the Title of Vicegerent is first mentioned and indifferently used with that of Deputy this great Officer being in some of those Articles called Deputy and in others Vicegerent But from that time to the 8. year of King Henry the Eighth we find no further remembrance thereof And then the Commission granted to the Marquess of Dorset for holding the Grand Feast at Windesor that very year invests him with such authority as the Soveraign's Vicegerent ever used to have and might claim by right whence it may be inferred that some of the Knights-Companions had before that time held the said Feast under the Title of Vicegerent though we have not met with any of their Commissions Afterwards an 24. H. 8. the Feastival was appointed to be held at Windesor upon the 12. day of May in qua Comes Arundeliae Supremi vicem gereret or as it is exprest an 28. H. 8. Northumbriae Comes Supremi vicem gerens And that this Title was at other times placed upon this Officer may be implied from some other places of the foresaid Register where he is said Supremi vices tenere administrare supplere c. About the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the Title of Locum tenens or Lieutenant began to be taken up for at a Chapter held at Eltham the 23. day of April an 8. H. 8. it was determined that the celebration of St. George's day should be held at Windesor upon the 25. of May following Et quod potens vir Marchio de Dorset erit ad tunc regiae Majestatis Locum tenens And a little after the same old Register speaking of the Chapter held on the 25. and 26. days of the said Month of May saith they were celebrated per praedictum Nobilem Marchionem Locum Regis tenentem sub Sigillo Garterii legitimè deputatum Which Title of Locum tenens this Book also gives to the Earl of Arundel the ensuing year and frequently to others afterwards nominated to this Office But the first time we find this Title expresly
Mantlets which Garter assisted by the Officers of Arms spurned out of the West-Door of the Chappel into the Castle Ditch But in the case of Robert Earl of Essex 25 of May an 43 Eliz. his Atchievements were only thrown down and those of Henry Lord Cobham 12 Febr. an 1 Iac. Reg. only spurned out of the Church Door but by the Kings Clemency not into the Ditch But Degradation was not alone thought sufficient and therefore an 32 H. 8. it was considered in Chapter what course should â—e taken with the Names of such of the Order as were convicted of High Treason and whether they should remain in the Registers or be razed out for it seemed just that Traitors who had deserved to have their Atchievements disgracefully thrown down should also have their Actions and Names extinguished and the Books wherein they were entred to be esteemed as polluted This being debated before the Soveraign He keeping a mean between both extreams determined That wheresoever the Actions and Names of such Offenders should be found these words vah Proditor should be written in the Margent by which means the Registers would be preserved fair and not defaced with razures and blots SECT III. Of Restauration into the Order after Degradation SOme of the Knights-Companions who have injuriously suffred Deprivation of the Ensigns and Degradation from the Order have lived to enjoy the Honor of Restauration and both re-elected and re-invested and their Atchievements again set up as were the Lord Pagits an 1 Mar. and the Marquess of Northampton's an 1 Eliz. whose Cases we have before Reported Another Instance there is of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk who being Degraded by King Edward the Sixth was upon Queen Maries's coming to the Crown restored into this Noble Fellowship as will fully appear by the Order for his Restauration which was this By the Queen Trusty and wellbeloved we greet you well And whereas our Right Trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin and Councellour the Duke of Norfolk for the good and valiant service by him of long time done to the King our Father of most famous memory King Henry the Eight as well here within the Realm as abroad with Foreign Princes both in Peace and in War and in respect of other his good qualities and vertues was by our said Father elected into the Company of the most Honourable Order of the Garter and duly invested in the same from which nevertheless afterward in the time of our late Brother King Edward the Sixth whom God assoil the said Duke was by our said late Brother and other the Companions of our said Order of the Garter through wrong information and accusation cleerly expelled and removed and his Hatchments to his no small slaunder and dishonour openly cast down and taken from the Stall appointed for him in our Chappel at Windesor We let you wet that we minding to do Iustice to all men have sythence our coming to the Government of the Realm called a Chapter for the redress of the Injuries aforesaid and such like and at the same holden at our Mannor of St. James the 27. day of Sept. last by the advice and consent of the Companions of our said Order have restored the said Duke of Norfolk to his former room and place among other the Companions of our said Order as one that was injuriously put from the same wherefore like as we have willed him to use and wear the Garter Collar George Robes and other the Apparel of our said Order in such sort as he was wont to do before his said wrongful deprivation So have we also thought good to will and require both you the Register of our said Order to cancel and utterly to put out of your Register all Writings Records or other mynyments making mention of the said deviation And you also Garter King of Arms for our said Order to see his Hatchments honourably set up in the place appointed for them and his Banner to be of such Arms as his Father bare and had set up aforetime being late Knight of the said Order there to remain and continue among the Hatchments of other our Companions of our said Order according to the ancient Ordinances and landable usages heretofore accustomed at the seting up whereof our Pleasure is these our Letters shall be openly read for a more plain Declaration of our pleasure in the premises And these our Letters shall be to you and either of you for the doing of the premises and every part thereof a sufficient Warrant and discharge Given under our Signet of our said Order at our Palace of Westminster the 7. of March the first year of our Reign To our Trusty and Well-beloved the Dean of our Chappel at Windesor Register of our Order of the Garter and Sir Gilbert Dethick alias Garter Knight King at Arms for our said Order and to either of them CHAP. XXV Honors PAID TO DECEASED Knights-Companions SECT I. Of the celebration heretofore of Masses for the defunct Knights-Companions WE observe it to have been the Custom in all Religious and most Military Orders that when any of the Knights departed this life the several Members of them should contribute their devotions for the benefit of their departed Souls according to their different qualifications some in celebrating Mâ—sses or causing them to be celebrated and others in the recitation of Divine Offices and Alms-giving as it were to satisfie the World of the honor they had from their being enrolled in their several Fraternities and Societies But the Order of the Garter hath outvy'd all others in this particular for as the reputation which the Knights-Companions while living derived from their admission into so renowned and illustrious a Body specially Knights-Subjects who were thereby advanced to a Fellowship with their King and Supreme Lord and made Companions to Emperors Kings and Princes was very great so were the several Honors paid to their memory after their decease particularly in the Royal Chappel of St. George at Windesor very remarkable not including the Solemnities at their publick Funerals many times hapning elsewhere and these we find reducible to five heads 1. The number of Masses celebrated for their Souls departed 2. The fastning Plates of their Arms at the back of their Stalls 3. Offering up their Atchievements at the Altar and 4. Depositing Mantles in the Chapter-house at Windesor As to the celebrating of Masses for the deceased Knights-Companions though it might suffice to say that it was done consonantly to the perswasion of those times yet we shall not think it much to give the reasons thereof as we find them laid down in the Preface to the Black-Book of the Order in direct relation to this solemn Ceremony performed for them It was the general opinion then That Monasteries Convents and Colledges were founded out of this motive that among devout charitable and well disposed Christians there should be a continual harmony of Prayer as well for the
said Ordre and of all this shall make a generall othe all and so as though it were redde unto hym fro poynt to poynt and article to article and shall make the said othe to the Soverayne of the said Order or his Deputie in sweryng and promisyng upon the holy Gospellis for to kepe them and entertayne them withowte any fraude or delacion And upon this he shall towche the Boke and kysse the Crosse. Item this done the said Knyght soo chosen with dew reverence shall receyve the Garter the whiche the Soverayne or his Deputie shall put it aboute his lyfte leg in saying these words Sir the lovyng Company of th' order of the Garter hathe receyved you theyr Brother lover and Felow and in token and knowledge of this they gyve you and present you this present Garter The whiche God wyll that you receyve and were from hensforth to his praise and pleasure and to th'exaltacion and honour of the said Noble Order and of your self XXVIII Item it is agreed that in case that the Soverayne be out of the Contre to the whiche he can not in propre parson do that shall appertayne to the stallation he may gyve power and auctorite by his Letters of Commission to two of the Felows or to dyverse for to exercise it in his name XXIX Item it is agreed that a common Seal a signet of the armes of the Order be made the which shall rest in the custodi and kepyng of the Chanceler of th' order or of suche a Knyght and Felow of the said Order as shall please the Soverayne to name and assigne and if he that shall have the Seales in kepyng or custodi shulde departe or goo forth for any cause xx miles farre from the Soverayne then he shall deliver the said Seals to the Soverayne or to suche Knyght of th' Ordre or to any other parsone that it shall please the said Soverayne for to ordeyne and appoynte To th' entent that at no tyme the said Seals be oute of the presence of the seid Soverayne he beyng within his Realme And if he be owte of his Realme The signet shall suffice for to seal all suche actes and wrytynges touchyng the said Order that there may be concluded and made XXX Item it is agreed that every Felow of the said Order from hensforth shall have the Statutes of the said Order first collected and oversene by the Register and after that sealed with the common Seal afforesaid And if the Knyght will have any armes devysed or cognysance made within the Boke of the said Statuts then the said Boke shall be delyvered to the Kyng at Armes of th' Ordre for trewly to ordayne of it as it shall appertayne And the originall to be lykewyse signed and sealed the whiche shall shall abyde in the Treasory of the said College for evermore XXXI Item it is agreed that after the death of eny of the Knyghtes of the said Company his Executours shall be bounde for to sende agayne and to delyver the Statutes of the said Order within three monethes after if so be that the Statutes hath bâ—en delivered unto hym by the Soverayne or to his charge The which Statutes shall be delivered agayn to the Warden or Register of the said College or to one of the principall Officers for the tyme beyng XXXII Item it is agreed that none of the Knyghtes of Saynt George of the said Companye of the Garter shall not goo oute of the Contrey nor Dominion of the Soverayne without havyng leave and lisence of the Soverayne And therefore it is agreed that if eny viage be made or any other noble acte appertaynyng to the honor of Knyghthod The said Soverayne of his grace for the great love favor and confidence that he heares towarde the Knyghtes of the said Order will prefarre advance and present the said Felowes and Knyghtes of th' Order of Saynt George before all other XXXIII Item that none of the Knyghtes of the said Order shall not arme themselves the one against the other but in the Warres of his Soverayne Lorde in his right and juste quarell and if it shulde happen that any of the said Order were retayned with any Lorde and holdyng his partie and quarell and th' adversari partie destreth alsoo to have another Felowe of the said Order with hym In this case suche a Knyght and Felow shall not be retayned but may excuse hym from all suche thynges bycause his Felowe is armed agaynst hym on the other syde and was retayned before hym and every Knyght of the said Order shall be bounde to excepte when he shall be retained that he may be holely dyschargyd from his servyce of Warre yf any of the Felowshipp before hym retayned or holdyng the contrary and adversari partye And if he that is the second retayned know that any of his Felowes he retayned before hym and armed with his adversari partye Then be that is seconde retayned at the fyrste knowledge that be shall have thereof shall be bounde to excuse hym toward his Maister and leave that quarell XXXIV Item that all the lycencis gyven to the Knyghtes of the said Ordre that goo oute of the Realme for to seke and obtayne honor and all certifications or sendynge letters and writynges concernyng the said Order â—rom hensforth shall be sealled with one of the Seales of the said Ordre XXXV Item it is agreed that if eny Knyght of the said Order for his devocion wyll dwell within the said Castell contynually There shall be ordenâ—d for hym a dwellyng place convenient by th' assignment of the Soverayne and he of his propre goods and at his costes and chargies shall provyde for hys lyveyng XXXVI Item if any other Knyght not beyng of the said Order hathe any wyll to dwelle there for his devocion there shall be ordened for hym a dwellyng place after the wyll and pleasure of the said Soverayne and with the consentement of the said Company XXXVII Item it is ordened that yf any Knyght or other parson wylle gyve any Landes heritage or rentes for to be participant of all the good oraysons and prayers that shall be said in the sayde place also his name shall be Registred and the Canons and pore Knyghts shall pray perpetually unto God for hym and also the said Deane Warden and Canons of the said College from hensforth shall not take any maner of charge upon the said College withoute the advyse and consentment of the sayd Soverayne or his Deputie and the Felowship of the sayd Order in presence and by them concented and agreed in playne Chapter XXXVIII Item for to have better knowledge of the Knyghts that shall be of the said Order the Soverayne of it willyth and ordeneth by the Willes and consentment of all the hole Company that from hensforth that every Knyght of the said Order shall have and were apertly and openly a Coller of golde about his necke wayng thyrty ounces of Troy weyght and not above the