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
a Chapter held the 18. of April an 13. Car. 1. the Soveraign tatified his Royal Assignation and increased his gracious bounty to the sum of 1200 l. per annum setling it for the uses aforesaid in a Perpetuity for ever and making it payable out of the Customs in the Port of London but to be received by the Chancellor of the Order for the time being as Treasurer of this Money of which he should be obliged to render an acâ—ount to the Soveraign and Knights-Companions yearly at St. George's Feast And in pursuance of this Ratification was pleased to give his Attorney General directions to draw up a Book for his Royal Signature to warrant its passing under the Great Seal of England The further care of which Affair being committed to Sir Thomas Rowe then Chancellor he readily undertook it and on the first of February following at a meeting of the Knights-Commissioners impowered to consider of matters touching the honor of the Order gave them an account that the same was dispatch The Letters Patent bearing Teste at Westminster the 23. day of Ianuary preceding He then also presented their Lordships with a List of the ordinary Fees and Charges of the Order upon consideration of which it was thought fit That there should issue out a standing Commission to the Chancellor under the Great Seal of the Order to warrant the yearly Payments and he to be discharged according as the said Patent had provided Hereupon a Commission was drawn up which past the said Great Seal the 3. of May an 14. Car. 1. whereby the Soveraign declared his will and pleasure and impowered the Chancellor to pay out of the said annual Revenue of 1200 l. all and every the yearly and ordinary Fees Pensions Sallaries and other Payments usually paid to any the Officers of the Order Alms-Knights or others who do their yearly duty and service any way unto the Order appertaining either by Charter Grant or Assignation under the Seal or Signet of the Order or by any other lawful way whatsoever and in particular  l. s. d.  To Himself as Chancellor 100 0 0 per annum To Register of the Order 50 0 0 per annum To Garter Principal King of Arms. 50 0 0 per annum To Vsher of the Black-Rod 30 0 0 per annum To Thirteen Alms-Knights 237 5 0 per annum Total 467 5 0  All which yearly Pensions are thereby appointed to be quarterly paid that is to say at the four usual Feasts in the year As also any other annual and usual charge to any other inferiour Officer or Servant for their service or attendance And all these upon account thereof to be made and given and Acquittances to be produced for the receipt to be presented to the Soveraign or so many of the Knights-Companions as he should depute in Chapter to take liquid and allow the disbursments under their hands in writing for the Chancellor's discharge By virtue of the foresaid Letters Patent Sir Thomas Rowe and in his absence beyond Sea Sir Iames Palmer Deputy Chancellor received out of the Soveraign's Receipts of Subsidies Customs and Imposts the 1200 l. per annum out of which they paid the annual Pensions above mentioned under the notion of certain and ordinary charges as also such as came within the compass of uncertain and extraordinary Expences some of which as we can collect from the Accounts of the said Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor they falling within the disbursments of their time were such as these Mantles when the Soveraign pleased to bestow them on the Knights-Companions Plate for the Altar in St. George's Chappel at Windesor Embroidery of the Purse for holding the Seals Removal of Atchievements and Plates against Installations Scutcheons set up at St. George's Feast Privy Seals and Fees disburst for receiving the 1200 l. per annum Fees for Installation of Forreign Princes and Stranger-Knights Parchment used in Dispensations and Prorogations Blue Wax for the Seals of the Order By all which may be guest what other particulars ought to be accounted Extraordinary Charges towards the discharge whereof this annual sum was to be employed as far as it would go to ease the Expences of the Great Wardrobe formerly charged with Provisions of the Order both for Forreign Embassies and Expences at home And when Sir Thomas Rowe was sent Ambassador to Ferdinand the Third Emperor of Germany he paid over to the said Sir Iames Palmer upon the Soveraign's Warrant dated the 4. of May an 14. Car. 1. the sum of 600 l. then resting in his hands of the said annual Receipts which he adding to the growing Income disbursed in ordinary and extraordinary Expences In reference to the manner of the Chancellor's passing his Account as is directed by the said Commission we find it thus done by Sir Iames Palmer he humbly moved the Soveraign in a Chapter held the 10. of October an 15. Car. 1. That it would please him and the Knights-Companions to view the disbursments made for the Expences of the Order which thereupon being examined by the Knights in the Soveraign's presence the same were found agreeable to the directions of the Commission and the Payments justified by the Acquittance of every Officer to whom any Fee was due no payment having been made but the Soveraign's hand was first had to authorize the same All which being seen and allowed the Account wherein his disbursments exceeded his Receipts 37 l. 13. s. 10 d. was esteemed just and allowed by the subscription of the present Soveraign then Prince the Earls of Penbroke and Montgomery Salisbury Holland Berkshire Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Northumberland SECT VII The Execution of these Offices by Deputies THough all the Officers of the Order are strictly obliged personally to attend the duties of their several Places yet in case of sickness absence out of the Kingdom or other lawful or emergent cause the Soveraign hath pleased to dispence with their attendance and appointed other to officiate in their stead who on such occasions wear the Robe of that Officer for whom they serve So also in case of Vacancy The absence of the Prelate from the Grand Feast celebrated at Windesor an 31. H. 6. is noted in the Black Book to have been upon just cause and the Bishop of Bangor was appointed to celebrate Divine Service in his stead who the next morning celebrated Mass pro defunctis The following year his place in these Religious Duties was supplied by the Bishop of Salisbury as also an 36. 37. H. 6. And at all times of the Prelates absence since the Soveraign hath appointed which of the Bishops should officiate for him The Office of Chancellor hath been executed by Deputy also to this may first be referred a passage in the Black Book where Doctor Taylor hath the Title of Vice-Chancellor Of later times when Sir Thomas Rowe was employed upon the
behalf of the Prelate For instance an 4. Eliz. the Register in the absence of the Chancellor who was sick upon the Feast day of St. George collected the Suffrages and an 8. â—liz George Carew then Register of the Order took the Votes of the Knights-Compaions in absence of Sir William Petre Chancellor of the Order So also anno Iacobi 4. where the cause of the Chancellor's absence is noted to be sickness and an 6. Iac. to be death In the first of these Instances we find the Prelate expresly mentioned to be present in the two following his presence implyed for it is said that the four Officers of the Order did attend both Feasts whereof the Chancellor being wanting the Prelate must needs be one Now all these passages seem to relate to the Chancellor's rather than the Prelate's right by this Remarque That every of the Scrutenies were taken in the absence of the Chancellor which looks something like a cautionary note that intended the preservation of the right of performing this service to the Chancellor rather than the Prelate Furthermore when a Deputy Chancellor hath been admitted to officiate in the Chancellor's absence he and not the Prelate hath taken the Scruteny though present as at that made for the Election of his sacred Majesty the present Soveraign the 20 day of May an 14. Car. 1. and at another Scruteny taken the 22. of May following As also when the Suffrages were collected for the Election of his Highness the Duke of York and Prince Rupert at York anno 17. Car. 1. But there is one passage more upon taking a Scruteny an Iac. 22. which seems advantageous to the Chancellor in this point where it is said That when the Knights-Companions had given their Votes as in the Annals they are described the Chancellor who according to his Office was to receive them presented them to the Soveraign Howbeit in truth we find no sufficient ground for the Register to record this as done by the Chancellor by virtue of his Office or any one Act or Decree of Chapter that hath suspended or taken off the Prelate's right which is reserved to the Prelate even by the Patent for erecting the Office of Chancellor particularly in those things which touching the Order ought by the Statutes of the Institution to belong to him But forasmuch as at the usual time of performing this Ceremony in the Chappel the Prelate if present is presumed to be officiating at the Altar in discharge of another part of his Duty Upon this consideration hath the service been then imposed upon the Chancellor and others Lastly we have observed the Scruteny to be once taken by Garter an 16. Car. 1. at the Election of the renowned Thomas Earl of Strafford but this was at a time when not only the Prelate but all the other Officers of the Order excepting Sir Iohn Burrough Garter were absent and consequently this Service being so performed by him ought rather be judged from what hath been said to have been done in the Prelate's than Chancellor's right SECT IX The Time when BUT whosoever of the Officers of the Order they were that gathered the Knights-Companions Suffrages the time when they entred upon this duty in the intervals of Feasts where the occasion required a peculiar Chapter to be called for Election was usually after the Chapter had been opened and the matter of Election proposed by the Soveraign after which to the execution of this accustomed employment the Officer usually proceeded with great Reverence and all possible Respect Howbeit upon an extraordinary occasion in the interval of the Grand Feasts the Soveraign hath sometimes caused and assembly of the Knights-Companions to be had at the Castle of Windesor who in the Choire of St. George's Chappel not Chapter-house after the more solemn way have delivered in their Nominations and returning thence into the Chapter-house He there hath made his Election Thus did King Henry the Eighth upon the 7. of Iune in the 17. year of his Reign in reference to the Election of the Lord Henry Fitz Roy so is he styled in the Scruteny and there ranked among the Barons for as yet he was not created Duke of Somerset and Richmond nor until the 18. day of the same Month and Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmerland the Ceremony of whose Nominations having been performed in the Choire the Soveraign returned into the Chapter-house where the Election passed Again we observe that the 20. of May an 14. Car. 1. being Trinity Sunday the Soveraign caused a Chapter to be held that afternoon in the Chapter-house at Windesor in reference also to the Nomination and Election of his Sacred Majesty the present Soveraign at the breaking up whereof the Soveraign and Knights-Companions proceeded immediately to Saint George's Chappel where at Evening Prayer which was not within the compass of the Feâ—st for that began not until the next day the Scruteny was taken And besides those Examples which shew the Nominations have been collected upon peculiar occasions in the Choire at Windesor there are also one or two Instances where it appears they have been also taken in the Chappel at Whitâ—hall as on the 15. of May an 1. Car. 1. at the Election of Edward Earl of Dorsâ—t Henry Earl of Holland and Thomas Viscount Andever afterwards Earl of Berkshire as also on the 4. of Iuly the same year whereat the Duke of Chevereux was chosen one of the Companions of this most Noble Order Otherwise and that most usually the Suffrages have been collected at the second Vespers or in the time of Evening Prayer on St. George's day or that day whereon the Feast of St. George hath been celebrated by Prâ—râ—gation And with this note of time do we find the taking of divers Scrutenies marked Howbeit we once have met with a scruteny made in the Chapter-house at Windesor on the Eve of the Grand Feast at which the Person immediately Elected was sent for in and had the Ensigns of the Order placed upon him when forthwith the Soveraign proceeded to the Chappel and after some space the Elect Knight followed to his Installation And this was the case of Iames Marquess Hamilton an 6. Car. 1. who being necessitated to begin his Voyage the next morning towards Germany whither he went General of 6000 Foot in assistance of the King of Sweden occasioned the Soveraign to dispatch these Ceremonies on the Eve of the Feast Formerly the time wherein the Scruteny was begun to be taken in the Chappel may be noted to have been spoken of somewhat general and indefinite as in the 2. 3 4 5. 8. and 9. years of Queen Elizabeth during the time of Evening Prayer And so in like manner an 4. Iac. and an 13. Car. 1. And when the Feast of St. George was held at Whitehall upon the 18. of April an 13.
day following and so the whole Solemnity takes up inclusively three days And this is clear from several Articles of the Statutes wherein the course of the Ceremonies to be observed at this Grand Solemnity are set down whether performed on the Eve the Feast-day or the Morrow after And these three days together did the Soveraigns hold the Grand Feast whether they personally celebrated the same or deputed other of the Knights-Companions to that Employment the Clause in the Commissions of Deputation limiting their power either in general during the time of the Feast or in particular upon the dâ—y of St. George the day going before and that following viz. the last day of the Feast In like manner when in succeeding times Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feast were made use of we find the three days continuance of the â—east to be particularly mentioned in the body of those Commissions namely the day wherein by such appointment the Feast was to begin the Grand day it self and the day whereon it ended The directions given in the Statutes for the order and course of this Solemnity to begin with the Eve run â—hus Every year upon St. George's Eve shall be an assembly or meeting of all the Knights-Companions of the Order at Windesor Castle c. and the same is positively enjoined by all other Bodies of the Statutes And as the Grand Feast is generally and for the most part said to take commencement in Vigilia Sancti Georgii or as it is otherwise exprest in the Black Book in Vigilia future celebritatis or Vigiliis Divi Georgii or in Vigilia Festi So hath the time of this preceding day several other denominations given unto it in the same Register as Vesperi ante diem Sancti Georgii in Vesperiis Georgianis in Vesperiis Festi in Vesperiis Commitionum and other whiles Pridie Divi Georgii Pridie Georgianae Solemnitatis Pridie Festi Pridie feriarum Divi Georgii and sometimes Pervigilia and lastly in plain English George's Even All which signifie one and the same thing and are but various names given to the Evening of the day foregoing either that of St. George or that whereon the Grand Feast is appointed to be held by Prorogation Thus we see the Founder began his Solemnity upon the Eve of the Feast day which doubtless was in conformity to the Custom of the Church who made the Vigils and Eves part of the ensuing Festivals and as Ushers to the Grand Solemnities And because the meaning of the word and first occasion of observing also the Eves of Solemn Days or great Feasts by the Church may haply be to many unknown it will be here proper enough to give a touch upon the original of this Custom Hospinian handling this particular in his Book De origine Festorum Christianorum draweth the antiquity of Vigils out of the Epistle of Plinius secundus and the authority of Ecclesiastical Writers from the Apostles times and the next succeeding Age for saith he In the Apostles days and sometime after when the Christians durst not appear in publick because of the continual snares Treacheries and persecution of Tyrants and Enemies of their Religion they were forced to meet in the night time and early before day for the exercise of their devotion And in the first Church after the times of the Apostles when they stood not in fear of any persecution they watched and fasted in their Churches all the week before Easter or Passion-week but especially on the Eve of the Resurrection whence grew the Custom both for Christian men and Women to watch and fast on the Eves of great Solemnities in their Churches and at the Sepulchres of Saints and Martyrs And Durand gives a reason why these meetings were called Vigils because anciently in the principal Feasts two Nocturnal Offices were performed probably Watching and Praying for the People which came to the Feasts watcht all night in the Churches spending their time in the praises of God But as the best things may be abused even Virtue and Religion it self so it hapned in this religious duty as Hospinian thus further relates That forasmuch as in process of time these Nocturnal Watchings occasioned much wickedness therefore were the Women forbidden access thereto because under pretence of Prayer great abuses were oftentimes committed Whence it came that these kinds of Vigils as Durand affirms were also at length prohibited which prohibition received confirmation from Pope Innocent the Third in the year of our Lord 1210. and in the room thereof Iejunia or Fasts were appointed Nevertheless those sorts of Fasts still retained the name of Vigils as most properly implying the Duty originally enjoined And Durand further informs us that this Institution was also called Dispensatio because the Fast was put in the place of the Vigil And yet to shew the antiquity of Vigils it appears that before Christianity the ancient Greeks and Romans had the same kind of preparations to some of their grand or solemn Feasts and particularly at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Feast of Ceres For three days before this Feast the Women were to abstain from all manner of Venery to which end they strewed Agnus castus and such Herbs under their Beds as Dioscorides speaking of that Herb testifieth Plinâ— also saith the same and much to that purpose the Scholiast of Nicander and on the third day they fasted and this kind of profestum Plautus plainly calls Vigilae where he saith Is adolescentis illius est avunculus Qui illam stupravit noctu Cereris vigiliis And this the Uncle is of that young man Who her by night at Ceres Vigils ravisht In the Temples of Isis and Aesculapius the like nocturnal Vigils were also celebrated Analogous to which were those Nocturnal Rites of Cotytto kept by the Corinthians mentioned by Suidas Hesychius and Iuvenal Talia secreta coluerunt Orgia taeda Cecropiam soliti Baptae lassare Cotytto At Athens such the Baptists Orgies were When they their publick Torches did advance And tir'd out their Cotytto in a Dance Which likewise for the same kind of abuses above mentioned were condemned by several chiefly by Eupolis an ancient Comoedian in his Baptae as the nocturnal of Bacchus by Euripides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To Womens honors dangerous and unsafe And for this cause were the Vigils many times prohibited by the wisest of the Ancients though Heathens among whom Romulus was one who made a Law that no night Vigils should be kept in any Temple at Rome An account of their wicked and beastly Ceremonies used in the Nights and why they were likewise afterwards banished out of Rome and Italy may be seen at large in Livy But to proceed to the second Point the Hour as the Eve was appointed by the
upon lawful and sufficient grounds so hath the Soveraign for like reasons been pleased to license and dispence with their departure from the same Of this we have met with an Example an 6. Eliz. in the Lord Hastings of Longhborough who falling ill a little before the Offring on St. George's day obtained license from the Soveraign to depart out of the Choire and came no more abroad that day nor during that Feast As also another in the Duke of Lenox an 15. Car. 1. who being forced to go back to London by reason of the aforesaid Dutchess of Richmond's death had his excuse made in Chapter held the morning of the Feast day by the Deputy Chancellor whereupon he obtained the Soveraign's allowance for such his departure We are next to consider Excuses which though sent in due time yet upon debate and consultation in Chapter were suspended rather than allowed to this head may be referred that case of several of the Knights-Companions who were members of the Lords house in the Long Parliament For an 18. Car. 1. the Deputy Chancellor having by command of the Soveraign and in discharge of the duty of his Office sent unto each of them a several Summons for their attendance at the celebration of the Grand Feast to be held for the preceding year at York upon the 18.19 and 20. days of April and notice thereof being given to the House of Lords they immediately made the ensuing Order Die Martis 22. Maii 1641. WHereas the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties houshold and some other Lords of Parliament Knights of the Garter have been summoned to give their attendance and repair unto the City of York for the celebration of St. George's Feast who acquainting this House with the Summons aforesaid it is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that they attend the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom discussed in Parliament whereunto they are obliged by his Majesties Writ and the Law of the Land Jo. Browne Cleric Parliament Whereupon every one of the said Knights-Companions before the days appointed by Prorogation for holding the Feast sent their Petitionary Letters of excuse to the Deputy Chancellor wherein they professed their desire and readiness to attend in obedience of the said Summons nevertheless pleaded the foresaid Order for the ground of their stay at London and therefore desired him to obtain for them the Soveraign's gracious Letters of Dispensation But when the said Letters were severally presented in Chapter held before Vespers on the Eve of the said Feast the Soveraign would not at present either admit or disallow of their Excuses but deferred the consideration thereupon until the next Chapter to be held by Prorogation Of excuses which have not been allowed the most remarkable is that of the Duke of Norfolk and the Lord Scales an 36. H. 6. who in regard the causes alledged to excuse their absence at the Feast were not approved in a Chapter held on the Eve were adjudged to the penalty of the Statute the latter being particularly fined by the Soveraign and Knights-Companions in a Iewel to the value of 20 Marks to be offered in the Colledge whereby the rigour of the Statute appears to have been more strictly executed upon him than on the Duke whose contempt might be of a less nature though it seems great enough to shut out his excuse probably because the Lord Scales having been absent the year before and no cause thereof being then shewed in Chapter was therefore to suffer penalty for his absence according to the Statute so that this it seems was the second fault But now to enter upon the second Branch of the third general head which relates to the proceedings upon the absent Knights-Companions neglect or default of sending their Excuses We shall therein observe that some of them have with difficulty been remitted some left in suspence and others sentenced and referred either to the Soveraign's pleasure or the punishment assigned by Law Of the first kind are those who having such a plea for their absence as might induce the Chapter to dispence therewith yet were with much ado excused because they neglected giving the due intimation thereof according to the Statutes Such was that of the Earl of Westmerland an 10. H. 5. who though not very well yet had much ado to be excused because he signified not the cause of his absence as the Statutes required So an 12. Car. 1. The Earls of Derby and Kelly having made no Excuse nor Petition for Dispensation were for that omission blameable but by the grace of the Soveraign for that time pardoned Of the second sort are such who through the indulgence of the Soveraign or his Lieutenant where probable cause hath induced it have not had sentence passed on them at that present but were deferred in expectation of some satisfactory cause to be shewed As in the cafe of the Prince the Duke of Tuckingham and five other of the Knights-Companions absent from the Feast held an 18. H. 7. concerning whom no cause of Excuse was shewed but there was an expectation of one to be alledged But as for those of the third sort upon whom sentence hath passed for default of sending their Excuses they have been left either to the pleasure of the Soveraign or to those penalties and penances which the Law of this Order doth inflict And first of such Offenders as are left by the Chapter to the mercy of the Soveraign we have several Examples Of the Earl of Essex an 18. H. 7. it is recorded That his absence was referred to the Soveraign's indulgence So an 21. of the same King upon occasion of the absence of the Earls of Northumberland Oxford Devonshire Kent together with the Lord Stafford and no cause thereof assigned they were left to the Soveraign's indulgence To the like effect is the entry made of the Earls of Essex and Kent absent the following year without cause shewn to the Chapter Lastly touching those on whom Iudgment hath passed divers instances may be given among which are these that follow An. 10. H. 5. the Lord Willoughby Sir Robert Vmsrevill Sir Iohn Cornewall and Sir William Harington were in no wise excused for their absence because being within the Kingdom they sent not the cause of their absence And an 2. H. 6. the said Sir Robert Vmsrevile was also found culpable in regard no cause of his absence had been shâ—wed Moreover seeing the reasons of the Duke of Norfolk's the Lord Scales and Fastolss absence an 33. H. 6. were not made known to the Chapter they were left to the Iudgment of the Statutes And of the same Lord Scales an 35. H. 6. it is recorded that he gave no reason of his absence therefore underwent the punishment thereof Lastly The Duke of York the Earl of Salisbury the foresaid Lord Scales and Lord Willoughby for presuming
to be absent from the Grand Feast an 30. H. 6. without shewing any allowable cause they were adjudged to the certain and deserved penalties of the Statutes against the next Feast And the said Duke being again absent the very next year and also the Lord Hastings They were both adjudged to certain Penalties as daring to be absent without sufficient cause shewn Besides these grounds for assigning Penances already mentioned there are upon a few other causes set down in the before recited ninth Article of the Statutes of Installation other Penances appointed that is to say if the Knights-Companions be absent at other times beside the hour of Tierce which if we were strictly tied to pursue the series and order of time would fall out to be spoke of a little hence Nevertheless having had occasion to discourse so much already of this subject it will become further beneficial to the concerned Reader to bring all the Injunctions which are included in the said Article and muster up the Penalties for breach thereof in view together nor will this anticipation at all interrupt our method or become improper for this place if well considered and therefore we shall proceed with them here The Knights-Companions are further punishable if they are absent at any of the times here spoken of viz. First at the beginning of the first Vespers Secondly at the beginning of the Morning Service on the Feast day Thirdly at the beginning of the Second Vespers Fourthly during the whole Feast And fifthly at the Grand Feast next following For the first admitting any Knight-Companion hath failed of meeting and attending on the Soveraign at the hour of Tierce and thereupon suffered the punishment of non-admittance into the Chapter-house and deprivation of Vote nevertheless if at the rising of the said Chapter he be not ready to proceed with the Soveraign and other the Knights-Companions into the Choire to the beginning of the first Vespers he ought not only to suffer the former but this additional penalty That he shall not presume to enter into his Stall at that time but tarry in that part of the Choire where the Taper-bearers are wont to stand nevertheless before his own Stall until the holy Offices be ended And the Law of the Order is the same in King Henry the Fifth's and King Henry the Eighth's Statutes only they render the place for the delinquent Knight to stand in to be before their Stalls in the Choristers places And now how the penalty hath been inflicted upon breach of the Law in this particular we shall see by the following instances At the Grand Feast celebrated at Windesor an 21. H. 7. when it seems the Lord Kildare Sir Gilbert Talbot and Sir Richard Goulford came late to the Chappel we find this Memorandum fixed to their names They stood without before their Stalls by the Soveraign's permission or rather command But yet this is not all the punishment which hath been inflicted upon the Knights-Companions for this offence though it be all that is set down in the foresaid Article for an 25. H. 6. upon the Eve of St. George the Marquess of Dorset not coming to the first Vespers and being convicted of his late coming was prohibited joining in the Nomination then made for thâ— Election of the King of Portugal into the room of the Duke of Gloucester Offendors in the second and third case being such as neglect to come before the beginning of the high Mass or the second Vespers called also the Vespers on St. George's day have the like punishment with the former assigned them throughout all the Bodies of the Statutes viz. Exclusion from their Stalls and station in the Choristers range An. 1. H. 6. we observe the Lord Willoughby noted to be absent upon the Eve of the Grand Feast but present on the day and consequently he incurred no further penance than what his absence on the Eve drew on him The Earl of Derby an 18. Eliz. coming too late to the first morning Service on the Feast day did for some short time undergo the aforesaid penance but soon after upon Dispensation from the Lieutenant went up to his Stall In like manner an II. Car. 1. the Earl of Exceter came not to the Chappel in the morning of the Feast day till after the Grand Procession and so the Penance for his tardiness should have been according to the Statutes stare Paviamento but upon consideration of his age and the soul weather whereby it was occasioned the Soveraign permitted him to enter into his Stall And though absence at these times also be occasioned by Sickness or some unexpected accident yet notice is to be given thereof to the Soveraign or his Lieutenant For instance the Lord Burghley falling ill was absent from the first Morning Service on the Feast day an 37. Eliz. but upon notice given thereof with the consent of the Lieutenant and Knights-Companions he obtained leave of absence The Earl of Dorset an 15. Car. 1. the Grand Feast being then celebrated at Windesor suddenly falling ill before Evening Prayer on the Feast day besought the Soveraign to excuse his attendance for the present but the next morning being recovered he attended the Soveraign with the rest of the Knights-Companions to the Chapter-house The Penances inflicted upon any Knight for the foresaid defaults he is in like manner to undergo if he happen to offend in the like kind when the Grand Feast is prorogued from St. George's day in what place soever it be celebrated But if he offend in all and have neither license nor reasonable or allowable excuse for his absence he is then prohibited entring his Stall at the next St. George's Feast where ever it be kept and moreover to pay as a pecuniary mulct 10 l. to be employed towards the Ornaments of the Colledge And we find the former kind of Penance to have been inflicted upon Late Comers to Divine Service as well upon the Morrow after the Feast day as on the Eve or Feast day it self For the Earl of Lindsey coming into the Chappel on the morrow after the Feast held at Whitehall an 8. Car. 1. after the Soveraign was entred he suffred the punishment of standing before his Stall a while until the Soveraign signified his license that he might ascend thereinto In like Manner the Earl of Northumberland coming somewhat late unto morning Service on the last day of the Feast held by prorogation at Whitehall the 17.18 and 19. days of April an 13. Car. 1. did undergo the assigned Penance of standing beneath his Stall in the middle of the Choire but upon the gracious permission of the Soveraign he was soon admitted thereunto But touching the fourth degree of offence as it is far greater than any yet named so are there variety of Penances appointed to expiate the fault and therefore if any Knight-Companion shall be
so negligent as not to come to the celebrations of the Grand Feast and yet have no justifiable reason of his absence such as may be allowed by the Soveraign or his Deputy he shall not at the Feast to be held the ensuing year enter into his own Stall but stand below before it in the place above mentioned 2. he shall walk alone by himself before the three Crosses which in ancient times were born in the Grand Procession 3. When the Grand Procession returns to the Choire he shall stand in the place before mentioned the following part of the Mass until the time of the Offertory 4. He shall Offer last of all by himself alone And after the humble sufferance of all these Penances he shall forthwith approach the Stall of the Soveraign or his Deputy and there humbly desire absolution for his Offence Whereupon the Soveraign or his Deputy shall restore him to his Stall and first estate But we have not hitherto met with any Record or Memorial where the particulars of this punishment were executed upon any of the Knights Offenders albeit we too often find where many have neither appeared all the time of the Feast nor sent Letters of excuse nor obtained license for their absence As for instance an 9. H. 6. Sir Robert Vmsrevile Sir Simon Felbrigg and Sir William Harington signified not the cause of their absence neither did the Duke of Buckingham nor Earl of Northumberland give any reason at all of their absence The like hath been observed of many others but without further memorial of what the Chapter did thereupon Fifthly and lastly the Statutes ordain That if any Knight-Companion remain within the Kingdom and not having a sufficient excuse to be allowed upon humble suit as aforesaid shall presume to absent himself the next following year and thereby become culpable of an omission of two years successively from the Solemnity before mentioned he ought thereupon to be so long interdicted his own Stall until in the said Chappel he shall have offered at Saint George's Altar a Iewel to the value of 20 Marks of lawful money of England and thence forward every year so long as he shall continue guilty in that nature the mulct must be doubled until he be reconciled and pardoned By vertue of this last Clause of the foregoing Article was the Lord Maltravers an 15. E. 4. for such his absence fined at 20 Marks And the Lord Scales an 36. H. 6. in a Jewel of 20 Marks value which as probably may be collected was the following year endeavoured either to be mitigated or taken off nevertheless we find the sentence confirmed and he left to pay the Fine imposed Of later times the greatest Offender that we observed against this Statutes was Ferdinand Earl of Derby who having made no excuse nor Petition for his absence in two years was at a Chapter held on the Eve of the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 1. accordingly fined and that with some further note of negligence but at the mediation of the Earl of Penbroke and Montgomery he was for that time remitted Yet was he not guilty of any future neglect for the following year upon his humble Petition setting forth his age weakness and inability to Travel he obtained a Dispensation for attendance on the Soveraign at the Feasts of St. George during his life But the most memorable case in the prosecution of a contempt was that against the Earl of Arundel who in a Chapter held an 14. E. 4. was fined 40 Marks to be paid to the Colledge of Windesor for being absent from the Solemnity of the Grand Feast for two years together without any approved cause and the following year still continuing his Contempt the mulct by virtue of the aforesaid Statute was doubled and he fined in the sum of 80 Marks Touching the third particular amongst those things done of course in the Chapter held before the first Vespers to wit the nominating and constituting an Officer for holding the same if the Soveraign be not present we are beforehand to note the occasion and cause thereof which was briefly this At the time of Instituting this Order the Soveraign being engaged in Wars with France and Scotland which he then and for some time after personally managed thought fit to make provision for supply of his room no less than in case of sickness or other urgent occasion where he should be hindered from affording his personal presence at such time of the year whereon the Grand Feast should happen and hereupon allowance was given by the Statutes to depute another in his stead When therefore such occasion afterwards hapned a Commission was made out to one of the Knights-Companions some reasonable time before the approach of the Feast to the end that by such a representation of his Person none of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted or any defect happen through his absence For till the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign we meet not with any Commissions that stayed for the Soveraign's fiat so long as until the sitting of the Chapter held before the first Vespers Nevertheless seeing from thence it hath been for the most part thus practised we think it not improper to give our account thereof here amongst those things of course which if at this day the appointing such an Officer shall be thought requisite are usually dispatcht at the foresaid Chapter And herein we shall speak 1. Of the Person Nominated to this Office 2. his Title 3. the Ceremonies used at his Constitution 4. the nature of his Employment 5. and the Dignity of his Office As to the Person Nominated we observe That most usually he hath been one if not the chief of the Knights-Companions we mean in Authority Eminence or Birth next to the Soveraign himself Such were Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Gloucester stiled also Earl of Henalt Zeland and Penbroke Lord of Frizland Protector and Governor of England both Sons to King Henry the Fourth Brothers to King Henry the Fifth and Uncles to King Henry the Sixth Humfry Stafford Duke of Buckingham Son and Heir of Edmund Stafford by Anne Plantaginet Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock made Primer Duke of England 22. Maii an 25. H. 6. Thomas Earl of Derby Father-in-Law to King Henry the Seventh the Dukes of Suffolk and Richmond with Marquesses of Dorset and Exceter in King Henry the Eighth's time The Duke of Norfolk Marquess of Northampton Earl of Leicester and Lord Treasurers Burghley and Buckhurst under Queen Elizabeth And in King Iames his Reign the Soveraign's eldest Sons the Princes of Wales first Prince Henry and after his death Prince Charles the late Soveraign of blessed memory Next we shall consider the Time and Place when and where he hath been appointed to this Employment Concerning
objected his infirmity of body and disability otherways and the Soveraign graciously admitting of his alledged excuse substituted in his stead the Marquess of Dorset So also when St. George's day was observed at the same place in the 20. year of the same King at which time Charles Duke of Suffolk was nominated to keep the Grand Feast at Windesor upon the 17. day of May ensuing the Black-Book saith That afterwards for certain causes moving the Soveraign thereunto that Office was transferr'd from the aforesaid Duke to the Marquess of Exceter who executed it consonantly to the dignity thereof Again an 32. H. 8. the Grand Feast being prorogued unto the 9. of May at a Chapter held on St. George's day preceding the Earl of Cumberland was appointed to celebrate the same But in regard the said Earl could not be present by reason of some urgent Affairs his excuse was accepted and the Earl of Southampton supplied his room But what hapned an 28. H. 8. was more remarkable for the Earl of Northumberland then the Soveraign's Deputy was in the time of the first Vespers suddenly taken with the Vertigo or diziness in his head and that accompanied with a distemper over his whole body From hence arose a great scruple what was hereupon to be done it being conceived that they could not conveniently proceed without the presence of the Deputy and that another could not rightly be substituted in his room without new authority from the Soveraign But whilst they were in the midst of this controversie he recovered and came again among them and performed all that was to be done both on the Vigil and on the day it self But this may clearly be inferred from this procedure of theirs that if the Deputy had not recovered the Ceremonies of the Feast had been adjourned till the Soveraign had nominated a new Officer And not unlike but upon reflection had on this accident and prevention of the like afterwards occasioned what was done An. 3. 4. Ph. Mar. to wit the nomination of two Knights-Companions to be Deputies namely the Earls of Derby and Huntingdon the second being designed to supply the place in case the former should be obstructed by indisposition or weighty affairs The Authority and Obligations annexed to this Office of Deputy or Lieutenant are deducible from the Statutes of the Order which give him power to hold a Chapter at the hour of Tierce on the Eve of the Feast as also on the day it self and punish Offenders against the Statutes And though he be thereby expresly prohibited the making of any new Decrees or Ordinances nevertheless he may correct and reform all points of the Chapter as shall seem necessary And now to shew that the powers granted by the Commissions are as derivative from so pursuant to the Statutes we shall insert in the Appendix first the most ancient Commission of Deputation that Record hath preserved being that which King Henry the Sixth gave to his Uncle Iohn Duke of Bedford in the fourth year of his Reign to supply his place when by reason of his abode at Leicester in expectation of the Parliaments sitting there he could not personally hold the Grand Feast at Windsor that year First then in the Preamble the reason and cause of making such a Commission is set down in general words Next the Soveraign takes notice of the allowance given him by the Statutes to constitute a Deputy and thereupon sets down the particulars wherewith he impowers him namely to hold Chapters to reform what is amiss to make Elections and by a general Clause to perform all other things which should be any way pertinent to the necessary observation of the Statutes to the end his Deputy in one and the same Instrument might both understand the duty of his place and be impowred to put the same in execution Such like particulars are also inserted in the Commission made to Iohn Earl of Shrewsbury an 35. H. 6. But in later Commissions they are omitted and supplied by a general Clause which gives this Officer the same authority as had been allowed him or such as he of right might claim Then follows the words of Constitution which in succeeding Commissions are exprest with some variety and lastly a Clause commanding obedience from the Knights-Companions present In the Commissions of Lieutenancy though not at all in the Deputational Commissions we find the Title of this great Officer inserted immediately after the words of Constitution in this following manner We therefore by these presents name constitute appoint and ordain you to be our Lieutenant at the said Feast Giving you full Power and Authority to do and accomplish every thing in the same which to our Lieutenant there in such cases belongeth and hath been accustomed as it is exprest in that Commission of Lieutenancy given to the Marquess of Exceter dated at Richmond the 24. of April an 20. H. 8. and that other to the Marquess of Winchester and dated at St. Iames's the 14. of May an 2. 3. Ph. Mar. for celebrating the Grand Feast at Windsor the 26. of the same month and not only in this but in all other since that have come to our view In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames when the Grand Feast was held either at Whitehall or Greenwich and the Soveraign present only at some part of the Solemnity as in the Chapters or at the Chappel in the morning of the Feast-day and sometimes proceeded publickly to the Closet not down into the Chappel to the first and second Vespers but by reason of some weighty affairs could not conveniently be present in person at all parts of Divine Service and other Ceremonies and things to be done and executed at the Feast neither on the Eve nor on the day of St. George nor the next day following in such case the Clause in the Commission which constituted the Lieutenant was put after this manner We do therefore name c. you in our absence to be our Lieutenant for that purpose c. Or as it is in that Commission made unto Prince Henry an 4. Iac. R. We have made choice of you to supply Our Peace whensoever we shall have cause to be absent at any time of the said Eve Day or Morrow And do give unto you full power and authority to do and accomplish all things in Our absence incident and meet to be performed for the honoring and celebration of this Feast as by the Statutes and laudable usage and Customs of Our said Order doth appertain Now how the Soveraign is to constitute such an Officer appears from the directions given in the Statutes of Institution to wit by his Letters and that these Letters since do carry the style of Commissions and ought to pass under the Seal of the Order and the Soveraigns sign manual is evident from divers passages in
luy Ence cas ne sera tel Compagnon retenu mais sera tenu de soy excuser tout oultrement à cause de ce que son Compagnon est armé de l'autre costé fut retenu devant luy Et sera chascun Compagnon du dit Ordre tenu d'excepter quant il fera sa retenue qu'il soit deschargé tout entierement de son service de guerre si aucuns des Compagnons sont paravant retenus ou tenants la partie adverse Et si celuy qui est secondement retenu aucunement ne cognoist que aucun de ses Compagnons soit devant luy retenu ou armé avec sa partie adverse soit tenu l'avant dit Compagnon à la premiere cognoissance qu'il en pourra avoir de soy excuser envers son Maistre laisser celle querele XXXI Item que toutes les Licences des Chevaliers de l'Ordre qui iront hors pour acquerir honneur toutes Certifications ou Mandements a faire touchant le dit Ordre doresenavant par le Souuerain seront faits soubs le commun Seel lequel remaindra en la garde d'un des Compagnons du dit Ordre à la volonté du dit Souuerain Et si celuy qui l'aura en garde depart pour cause raisonnable hors de la presence du dit Souâ—erain qu'adonques il laissera le dit Seel en la garde d'un aultre Compagnon du dit Ordre estant present auec le Souuerain par son assignement Ainsi que le dit Seel ne soit nulle fois bors de la presence du dit Souuerain tant qu'il sera dedans le Royaume Et pareillement en son absence fera son Deputé auec le dit Seel. Et si ainsi est que le dit Souuerain pourpose de soy absenter aller hors du Royaume pour cause raisonable il est ordonné par assent de la dite Compagnie qu'il aura vng Signet convenable a l'Ordre du Gartier pour mettre au dos du commun Seel de l'Ordre qui sera auecque luy ou qu'il soit sera mis en tous les Actes qui seront faits debors par le dit Souuerain en difference de ceulx qui seront faits en Angleterre XXXII Item est accordé qui si aucun Chevalier de la dite Compagnie par devotion veult demourrer en la dite maison continnellement qu'il ordonne pour son viure pour sa demeure du sien propre XXXIII Item si aucun aultre Câ—evalier qui ne soit mie dela dite Compagnie y veult demourrer par devotion soit ordonné pour sa demeure selon l' accord du dit Souuerain dela dite Compagnie XXXIV Item est accordé que si aucun Chevalier ou anltre personne venlt donner aucunes terres ou rentes pour estre participans de toutes les bonnes Oroisons prieres qui seront faites en la dite maison son nom sera entré les Chanoines poures Chevaliers prieront pour luy perpetuellement parainsi que le dit Gardien les Chanoines du dit Colliege doresenavant ne prendront sur iceluy Colliege aucune charge sans l' advisement du dit Souuerain ou son Deputé les Compagnons de l' Ordre presens aâ—â—â—ques eu l' absence du Souuerain XXXV Item est accordé qui si ancun des Chanoines meure le dit Souuerain soit hors du pais que le Gardien qui pour le temps sera envoyera ses Lettres au dit Souuerain pour vng aultre que le Souuerain vouldra nommer y ordonner XXXVI Item sera fait vng Registre de par le Souuerain la Compagnie qui soit le plus scachant du dit Colliege pour estre present en chacun Chapitre de l'Ordre en registrer loyaument les Elections les noms des esleux les peines causes des peines les reconciliations des punis tous aultres actes leurs causes appurtinants audit Ordre de Chapitre en Chapitre d' an en an Et soit le dit Registre loyaument sermenté de loyaument registrer a la reception de son office que au commencement de chacun Chapitre la vigille de Saint George soit le Registre de l' an precedent leu devant le Souuerain ou son Deputé ladite Compagnie affin qu'il puisse estre corrigié si besoin en estoit The Statutes established by King Henry the Eighth recorded in the Black Book of the Order UBI clarissimus invictissimus inter fortunatissimos hujus Mundi Principes meritissimè numeratus Edoardus Tertius Angliae Rex Franciae Dominus Hiberniae c. Ad honorem Omnipotentis Dei beatissimae virginis Mariae praeclari Martyris Divi Georgii nobilissimi Regni Anglorum insignissimi Patroni Sancti Edoardi Confessoris ob stabilitatem atque incrementum Catholicae fidei bonorum morum augmentum omnigenae virtutis exercitium intra Castrum Windesori viginti sex nobilium ac fortium Equitum societatem atque ordinem instituit quem à praelustri Subligaculo cognominatum Divo quoque Georgio nuncupavit ad tutamen decus atque complementum ejusdem laudabiles Ordinationes ac Statuta condidit à Collegiis coordinatis illis inviolabiliter observanda in quibus obscura quaedam ambigua lucidae explanationis atque interpretationis egena extiterunt quaedam verò addenda atque amplificanda visa sunt potentissimus invictissimus atque excellentissimus Princeps Henricus Octavus auspice Deo Rex Angliae Franciae Defensor fidei Dominus Hiberniae c. hujus Ordinis optimo jure Supremus per eum amorem quem erga Militiae statum nunc habet semper babebat cujus splendorem indies auctum iri ardentissimè desiderat ob frequens Sociorum ejusdem Ordinis desiderium consilium assensum vicesimo quarto die Aprilis Anno gratiae Millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo secundo Regni verò sui quarto decimo obscuritates istas quorundam in quibusdam è Statutis illis Articulorum atque ambiguitates interpretatus est elucidavit quaedam insuper ut res ferebat adjiciens atque amplificans Que profecto statuta Ordinationes interpretationes declarationes reformationes explanationes cum additamentis secundum verum ac germanum sensum à Supremo cum Collegis omnibus ejusdem Ordinis imposterum observari debent juxta modum qui subsequitur I. Decretum inprimis est quod Rex heredes Successores ejus Angliae post eun Reges erunt imperpetuum praefati Ordinis amicissime Societatis Supremi Ad quos deinceps pro suo cujusque tempore declaratio interpretatio decisio correctio solutio dispensatio Statutorum sicubi nodus extiterit aut ambiguitas animos indiversum traxerit omnino spectabunt II. Nemo
after none and on Saynt George's day for to kepe the said Feast at the costes of the said Soverayne for the space abovesaid withoute any new Ordenance to be made havyng power to correcte and redresse all poyntes of the said Chapter as for then shall seme necessary VIII Item that every one on Saynt Georges Even that is to wit the xxii day of April a gatheryng together shall be made of all the Knightes of Saynt George within the Castell of Wyndesore That is to wit of all them that shall be within this Realme of Englande or withoute that conveniently may come And there they shall have the service of Saynt George and also shall were their hole habit of the said Order duryng the seid servyce beyng ordinarily in they re Stalls And every of them shall have his Banner Sworde with his Helme and Creste above his Stall the whiche duryng his lyff shall abyde in the said Chappel for his honor and in signe and knowledge that he beres them in defence of holy Churche as the Order of Knyghthod requireth But in case that the seid Feast of Saynt George happen to fall within xv dayes after the Feast of Easter or upon any Fyshe-daye or Fastyng day then it shall be proroged and prolonged at the Soverayne's pleasure as above is seid if so be that the day of the seid Feast be not assigned ne ordenyd to be kepte the xxiv xxv xxvi nor the last day of April nor upon the fowre firste dayes of May for by cause of the impediment or let of devyne servyce ordened by holy Churche for the double Feastes of Saynte Marke Philipp and Jacob and the Invention of the Holy Crosse of our Lord Jesu Chryste nor at suche dayes as shall fall the Assencion or the Feast of Penthecoste or any other Feaste of Solempnite as is ordened in holy Churche whereby the fyrst or seconde Evensonge by suche Prorogacions myght be letted and distorbed IX Item that all the Knyghtis of the said Order shall come yerely in the said place of the said Castell of Wyndesore on Saynte George's Even at th'owre of tierce the whiche is at three of the Clocke at afternoone as it is aboveseid And if thei come not at the tyme assigned without havyng a juste and reasonable excuse that may be acceptable to the said Soverayne or to his Deputie or otherwyse pardoned by the seid Soverayne of their absence by special Letters of excuse in the whiche Letters theyr names and causes shall be wryten or otherwyse shall have their pennance after th'ordenance and agreement of the said Chaptre And the said Ordenaunce is suche that they shall not entre into the Chaptre for that tyme but shall byde withoute the dore And shall have no voyce in any thynge that is done in the said Chaptre at that tyme alonly And if they come not to Evensonge before the begynnyng of the said Evensonge they shall not enter into their Stalles but shall byde belowe affore the said Stallis in the Queristers places duryng the said Evensonge And like pennance is ordened for them that come not to the high masse betyme and at Evensonge on Saynt George's daye And if there be any that come not to the Feaste and have not a reasonable excuse towarde the Soverayne or his Deputye as it is above declared his pennance shall bee that he shall not enter within his Stall tâ—e next Feast after but shall byde below as it is said at the first Evensong and shall goo in the procession before all the three Crosseâ— And shall sit below as affore is said all the mass tyme untyl the Offryng And he shall offre laste And after his penance so done incontinent he shall come before the Soverayneâ— Stall or his Deputie and there he shall aske pardon And after that the Soverayne or his Deputie shall commaunde hym to goe unto his Stall in his fyrst estate and if he come not at the seconde Feaste and be dwellyng within the â—ealm without having any excusation alowable to the Soverayne or to his Deputie as is abovesaid he shall not entre in his Stall from theâ—â—forth until the tyme that he have gyven and offered a â—ewell unto Saynte George's Aultar within the said Chappell of the valew of xx markes of Sylver of Troye and fro thens forwarde he shall double every yere the Penaltie unto the tyme â—e be reconsciled X. Item it is agreed that if any Knyght of the sayd Companye be founde in apperte withoute his Garter That he pay anon after that the chalenge hee made to hym by any of the five Officers of th' Order or of the Warden of the Seid College a marke of Mony Excepte he be voted for to ryde that then it shall suffice to were under his vote a blew â—iâ—ande of Sylke in signyfying of the Carter and also provided that no Knyght of the sayd Order from hensforthe do entre into the Chaptre without his Garter upon the payne abovesaid And whosoever of the said Officers or Warden shall make the first chalenge shall have the penaltye for his labor XI Item it is agreed that the Knyghts of the Order of St. George alwey and as often as they shall were theyr mantels they shall goo before there Soverayne every of them with his Felow that is for aneynst him ordinarily as they â—e sett in their Stalles And if it shoulde happen that eny of them were not there present his felow for aneynst hym shall goo alone The whiche Order shall be kepte and observed as well in goyng in procession as ellis where in other places But at the Offryng the Souerayn or his Deputie shall goo before all the Company and the ordinarie Officers of the said Ordre shall goo as thei have bene accustomed when any procession shall be done in the Chapter Chappel or ellis where And for the ordre of the said Knightis for to sitt at the Table for to take their reseccion by it at Diner at or Souper they shall sit all along on one side after ther Stalls and not after their state except Children and Bretherne of Kinges Princes and Dukes that be Strangers the which shall kepe their places and romes aâ—ter their astate and at their voiding and â—â—ing out shall abide and goo in order so as thei sat at the Table XII Item it is agreed that every one of them at the Casâ—ell of Windesore on the morow after the Feast of Saynte George before the departyng of the Company thâ—t the said Knyghtes upon suche Gownes as shall please them at the Chapter dore shall take their Mantels and shall goo into the said Chaptre and after that shall goo and here a mass of Requiem the which shall be solempnely songe for the souls of all the Felowes of the said Order which be departed and deceassed and for all Christen sowiles and that all the Company be there present without eny of them be lett bi a reasonable cause or have