their Dominion and Power this their Valor and Courage as may be properly instanced in Geysa King of Hungary who waging War with the Austrians was by the Bishops when he came into the field Armis accinctus girded with Arms that is Knighted and in like manner Leopold Marquess of Austria Ottacher Duke of Stiria and Frederick Duke of Austria and Stiria so also Godfrey Duke of Brabant with Henry his Son solemnly received the Order of Knighthood before his Expedition to Hierusalem So Peter King of Aragon was girt with the Military Girdle from Pope Innocent the Third anno Domini 1204. the Emperor Henry the Third was made Knight by the Bishop of Breme and our William Rufus by Lanfranke Arch-Bishop of Canterbury But to proceed yet a little farther in Examples of this nature Kings themselves have been Knighted not only by inferiour Princes but sometimes by their own Subjects as Lewis the Eleventh of France at his Coronation by Philip le bon Duke of Burgundy Francis the First immediately after the memorable Fight at Marignan neer Millan by Peter Baiarde Of our own Nation King Edward the Third by Henry Earl of Lancaster King Henry the Sixth by his Uncle Iohn Duke of Bedford King Henry the Seventh by the Earl of Arundel and lastly King Edward the Sixth by Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford afterwards created Duke of Somerset And though it is commonly said That all the Sons of the French King are Knights assoon as they receive their Baptism nevertheless Sir Henry Spelman from Goropus seems to contradict this opinion by informing us that they were not judged worthy of the Kingdom unless they had been first solemnly admitted into the Knightly Order And we elsewhere find that the Royal Heirs of Aragon were suspended from the Crown of that Kingdom until they had received the Honor of Knighthood To this purpose the usage and fashion of the time shortly after the Norman Conquest is considerable when our young Princes were sent over to neighbouring Kings that from them they might receive this Honor Thus was our Henry the Second sent to David King of Scots and Knighted by him in Carlisle and Edward the First at the Age of fifteen years to Alphonsus the Eleventh King of Castile for the same Dignity In like manner did Foreign Princes repair hither to receive the Honor from our Kings as Malcolne King of Scotland and Alexander Son of William King of Scotland Knighted by our King Iohn anno Domini 1212. So was Alexander the Third by our King Henry the Third on Christmas day at York anno 1252. and Magnus King of the Isle of Man by the same King All which sufficiently demonstrate the great Renown of Knighthood and the honor and esteem which was ever had for that Order The estimation of Knighthood may be yet further manifest from divers expressions in that part of an Edict transcribed by Mr. Selden out of Goldastus which Conrade King of the Romans sent to those of Palermo to give them notice he had received the Order of Knighthood which he did after this manner That although he ought not to want the Ensigns and Tokens of Military Honor considering the nobleness of his Birth and greatness of his Dignity he at that time swaying two Scepters yet because he had not as then received the Military Girdle established by venerable Antiquity he did chuse to adorn himself therewith in that Month of August wherein the said Edict passed to the end that from thence the â—lower of his victorious years might put on the Ensigns of greater valor and the excellency of this new Militia renew the lustre of original Nobility What peculiar respects Knights have had paid them in our own Nation Mr. Selden hath collected from our legal proceedings and set down in his Titles of Honor pag. 783 784 785 and 786. In the close of this Chapter we think fit to insert a few memorials of that additional favour in augmentation of the Knightly Honor which some of our Kings have pleas'd to afford those Strangers on whom they have conferr'd the Dignity of Knighthood and to make it more known and publick given Declarations thereof under the Great Seal of England where the person so honored made sute for the same whereby they have declared and attested that willingly and of their own accord they have given and conferr'd on them the Degree Honor and Title of a Knight as due to their Virtues and Merits to the end that those persons should be esteemed and ranked in the place and number of Knights aswell among their own Subjects as in their own Countries and also by all persons elsewhere no less than themselves should esteem any other honorable and worthy men adorned with the like Honor from other Kings and Princes The first that we have met with in this kind was given by King Henry the Eighth to Sir Gregory de Caalis born of a Noble Family in Rome on whom in consideration of his Virtues and Merits the King had bestowed the Honor of Knighthood as may be collected from a Warrant directed to the Cardinal Arch-Bishop of York his Chancellor to make out Letters Patents under the Great Seal as well of the said Order of Knighthood as of the Grant of an annual Pension of two hundred Crowns of Gold per Annum during his life for the better and more honorable maintenance of that Dignity His late Majesty of ever blessed memory King Charles the First having Knighted Sir Iames Cats Doctor of Law Syndick of Dort and Ambassador extraordinary to his said Majesty from the States General of the Vnited Provinces was also pleas'd 26º Ian. 1627. to give him a Declaration thereof under the Great Seal of England to notifie his being such not only with us here but in his own Country and elsewhere And sometimes there hath past in these Letters Testimonial a kind of Ennoblement to their Posterity where that hath been before wanting to the Family which the King in regard of the Knights great Virtue and Merits hath thereby rais'd into that Degree Title and Dignity of Gentleman as may be seen by those Letters Patents granted to Sir Lewis Van Alteren eldest Son to Simon Van Alteren Lord of Iaerâ—velt and Councellor in the Court of Admiralty of Amsterdam dated the twenty ninth of Ianuary anno 4. Car. 1. The like Letters Patents of Declaration of Knighthood and Ennoblement of Posterity were shortly after viz. 26. Feb. following given to Sir Peter Pau Son of Sir Adrian Pau Lord of Hemsted and then extraordinary Ambassador from the aforesaid States General But in some others this declarative Clause of having bestowed the Dignity of Knighthood hath been much more contracted then in the Precedent before remembred and the testimony of donation only and that briefly express'd as in those Letters Patents made forth to
Knights of this Order in France were in one and the same hour seized on and imprisoned by the command of Philip le Bel King of France with the consent of Pope Clement the Fifth being charged with most infamous and damnable Crimes the Articles confessed are set down by Andr. Favin But in England their apprehension was on Wednesday next after the Feast of Epiphany in the first year of the Reign of our King Edward the Second Shortly after a solemn examination of their Crimes upon the Articles exhibited against them was by the special Commission of the said Pope committed to William de Grenesfeild Arch-Bishop of York and Ralph Baldock Bishop of London in the presence of the accused Templars who sufficiently answered all the objections Howbeit they were afterwards convicted in a Council held at London and all their Lands and Goods seized into the Kings hands Upon this the aforesaid Arch-Bishop very greatly commiserating the sad state and condition of the Templars within his Diocess thus left destitute of maintenance most charitably disposed of them in several Monasteries under his Jurisdiction where they were provided for during their lives Two years after many of these Knights were burnt in France nay some of the Bones of Iohn de la Tur who had been long buried were taken up and in like manner burnt Upon Munday Sennight after Easter anno 1312. in the second Session of the Council called at Vienna in Daulphine the year before this Order was by Papal Authority condemned and perpetually dissolved and in March of the following year the last Great Master Iaques de la Maule a Bourgundian burnt at Paris Their Lands Possessions and Goods by a Decree of the said Pope dated at Vienna 6. Non. Maii in the seventh year of his Papacy were annexed to the Knights Hospitallers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem except those within the Kingdoms of Castile Arragon Portugal and Majorca which were reserved to the disposition of the Roman See because they had constantly hazarded their lives in the defence of the Christian Faith and continually suffered great dangers and undergone vast expences in transmarine parts as also for five years before with exceeding great charge and signal valor had maintain'd the Isle of Rhodes against the Turkish power Thus fell this Noble Order no less famous for Martial Atchievements in the East than their wealthy Possessions in the West For according to Doctor Heylins account they enjoyed no less than 16000 Lordships in Europe and a Spanish Author tells us their Revenue was two Millions annually and had in possession 40000 Commanderies Which gave occasion to many sober men to judge that their Wealth was their greatest crime And there are several Authors remembred by Alfonsus Ciaconius who are of opinion they were falsly accused and by suborned Witnesses meerly â—pon the ambition and covetous design of Philip King of France who gaped after their Lands but nevertheless the morsel fell beside his mouth The Statutes of this Order are recorded by Favin Knights of the Order of St. Lazarus 4. We are here to note that this Order was at the first Institution only a Fraternity of Religious Monks not Ecclesiastick Knights whose Weapons in the Christian warfare were Prayers and Tears not the Military Sword And albeit the time is uncertain when they first began to be an Order of Knighthood yet it cannot be presumed to be before the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre took upon them that Military profession since to them is generally attributed the beginning of that Custom for Ecclesiasticks to make use of Arms in defence and propagation of the Christian Religion nor was there indeed occasion administred for it until the Christian Princes set on foot the Holy War in Palestine This Order then is accounted the most ancient of all others in Christendom which occasioned Pope Pius the Fifth in two Bulls given in the year 1572. to stile it Antiquissimum Charitatis Militiae Christi Ordinem but that as hath been said must be understood as an Order of Monks and before they were made Ecclesiastick Knights The Original of such their foundation being by St. Gregory Nazianzen attributed to St. Basil about the years 360. or 370. or between both viz. anno 366. about the time of Iulian surnamed the Apostate The first Institution of this Order was upon a most charitable account namely to take care of persons infected with incurable Leprosie a Disease frequent in the Eastern Countries by which Malady they became separated even from the conversation and society of men And albeit through the Incursion of Barbarians and Saracens and the injury of time this Order lay as it were extinguished for a great while yet was it revived when the Latin Princes joined together in a holy League to expel the Saracens out of the Holy Land and a famous Hospital was then erected in Ierusalem under the Title of St. Lazarus for the reception and entertainment of Lepers For in that time the Monks of this Order added Martial Discipline to their knowledge in Physick and became very skilful both at their Weapons and in feats of Arms insomuch as their services against the Infidels begat a great esteem and value with Baldwin the Second King of Ierusalem and some of his Successors and other Princes enumerated by Aubertus Miraeus in which Age this Order flourished with great lustre under the Government of a Great Master In the year of our Lord 1120. Pope Innocent the Third and after him Honorius the Third granted very great priviledges to this Order and received it under the protection of the Papal See The Knights wore a Green Cross anciently plain afterwards of eight points and Pope Gregory the Ninth prescribed the form of creating their Great Master About the year 1150 they made their Vows of Obedience Poverty and Chastity before William Patriarch of Ierusalem and submitted themselves to the Rule of St. Benedict receiving his black habit But seven years after Pope Alexander the Fourth commanded them to observe the Rule of St. Aug. and approved the donation of the Emperor Frederick who had given great Revenues in Calabria Apulia and Sicily to this Order Nicholas the Third exempted them from payment of Tythes and several of the succeeding Popes indulged them with divers priviledges These Knights were so admired and favoured by St. Lewis of France that he brought twelve of them with him out of Palestine and placed them at Boigny in the Diocess of Orleans where he established a Colledge anno Domini 1154. which as Favin affirms was acknowledged for the chief Seat of this Order in Europe In process of time the dignity of this Order sunk being suppressed by Pope Innocent the Eighth who united it to the Order of Hospitalars at Rhodes by virtue of his Bull dated anno 1490.
a Copy whereof was most freely communicated to me by Monsieur Cristofle Lindenow Envoye from Christian the Fifth now King of Denmark to his sacred Majesty the present Soveraign of the most noble Order of the Garter This Letter informs him of the Institution and some other particulars relating to the Order to wit That King Christian the first being at Rome whither he had travelled upon a religious account Pope Sixtus the Fourth among other Honors invested him with this Order in memory of the Passion of our Lord and Saviour and withal ordained that the dignity of Chief and Supream should be continued as a successive right to the succeeding Kings of Denmark This King founded the magnificent Chappel of the three Kings in the Cathedral Church at Roschilt four Leagues from Copenhagen where the Knights were obliged to assemble upon the death of any of their Fraternity He also admitted thereinto divers Kings Princes and Noblemen The chief Ensign of this Order was the Figure of an Elephant on whose side within a Rundle was represented a Crown of Thorns with three Nails all bloody in honor and memory of the Passion of our blessed Saviour The Knights were obliged to the performance of acts of Piety Alms Deeds and certain Ceremonies especially upon those days on which they wore the Ensigns of the Order But King Iohn set so high a value upon it that he wore them on every solemn Festival He also advanc'd the honor of this Order to so great esteem that it became accepted by both our King Henry the Eighth and Iames the Fifth King of Scotland his Sisters Son with whom the Ensigns thereof remained as a Pledge and assurance of constant and perpetual friendship with these he likewise invested divers Ambassadors Senators and noble Danes There is one Ivarus Nicholai Hertholm a learned Dane as I am informed who hath written a particular Treatise of this Elephantine Order but not yet printed The scope whereof is to shew that the beforementioned Epistle of the Bishop of Arhusen does not sufficiently make it appear that it received its first Institution when Christian the First had those many Honors conferr'd on him by Pope Sixtus the Fourth And that the Badge was an Ensign meerly Military anciently given as a memorial and incitement to the Danish Princes who took upon them the defence of Christianity against the Moors and Africans 'T is greatly presumed that this Book which we hope may shortly be published will furnish the world with many choice things relating to the antiquity and honor of the Institution Ensigns and Ceremonies of this royal Order Heretofore the Knights wore a Collar of Gold composed of Elephants and Crosses fashioned something like Crosses Ancrees Mennenius calls them Spurs at which hung the Picture of the Virgin Mary to the middle holding Christ in her arms and surrounded with a Glory of Sun-beams but they have long since laid this Collar aside and now wear only a Blue Ribbon at which hangs an Elephant enamelled White adorned with five large Diamonds set in the middle Those Elephants worn by the Knights in the Reign of Christian the Fourth had in the same place within a Circle the Letter C and in the heart thereof the Figure of 4 made to signifie Christianus quartus This Honor hath been most commonly conferr'd by the Kings of Denmark on the day of their Coronation both upon the Nobles and Senators of the Kingdom It seems Frederick the Third brought into use in imitation of the most noble Order of the Garter an embroidered Glory of Silver Purle wrought upon the left side of their Cloak or Vest on which was embroidered two Crowns within a Rundle bearing his Motto Deus providebit for such a one did Count Guldenâ— low Ambassador hither from that King wear at his residing here in England anno 1669. But we are to note that the Motto hath changed with the King for that of the present King is Pietate Iustitia and this the Knights of his Election now wear in the middle of the Circle Nevertheless all the Knights created by his Father are obliged still to continue the former Motto The Order of the Burgundian Cross at Tunis 43. Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany and King of Spain after he had restored Mulleasses King of Tunis to his Kingdom who had been expulsed thence by that famous Pyrate Barbarossa on the day of his victorious entrade into Tunis with solemn and magnificent Pomp was apparelled in a Coat which he used to wear in Battel whereon was embroidered the Burgundian Cross and being desirous to gain the good respect of all who had served in that War was chiefly willing to adorn the Commanders that had behaved themselves valiantly in the Victory with some Badge or token of Honor as a reward and for this reason did he institute this Order in the year 1535. on St. Magdalen's day To this Burgundian Cross he added a Steel striking sparks of fire out of Flint with this Inscription BARBARIA to be the Badge or Ensign thereof And for an additional Ornament gave a Collar of Gold whereat hung the said Badge Some say this Order was instituted at ten of the Clock that day it being also the hour of Mercury in which respect the Character of that Planet is usually enamelled on the one side of the Jewel as the Burgundian Cross is on the other But it was of short continuance for it expired long since The Order of Knights of the Holy Ghost in France 44. This Order received Institution from the French King Henry the Third the first Chapter being held on the last day of the year 1578. The design thereof was chiefly to unite and tye his Nobility and Prelates more firmly to their natural obedience as also to stir up and encourage them to persevere in the Romish Religion to illustrate and adorn the state of the Nobility and to restore its ancient splendor and dignity It had its denomination from the Holy Ghost to whose power and assistance the Founder usually ascribed all his Actions and Councils advanced with most glorious and fortunate successes in remembrance that he was born on Whitsonday in the year of our Lord 1550. elected to the Crown of Poland on Whitsonday 1573. and lastly came to the Crown of France on Whitsonday 1574. The number of Knights whereof this Order was to consist is by the Statutes ordained to be one hundred besides the Soveraign or Great Master which Office and Dignity is inseparable from the Crown of France A long Mantle of Black Velvet turned up on the left side and opened on the right was also appointed for the Habit of this Order being at first embroidered round with Gold and Silver consisting of Flowers de Lis and Knots of Gold between three sundry Cyphers of Silver and above the Flowers de Lis and Knots were thickly seeded or powdered Flames of Fire This great Mantle
that the Custos should receive the Cure of their Souls from the Diocesan of the place And in consideratâ—â—â— of this Exemption and Priviledge the Custos was obliged to pay annually on St. Georges day one Mark in Silver to the Popes Chamber About two years before the date of this Bull we find that this Chappel had the title of the Kings free Chappel given unto it so also whilst under the former Foundation and still enjoys the same which title of Free Chappel is not only intimated but confirmed by its exemption from the Jurisdictions now mentioned It is subject to no power since the Supremacy in Ecclesiasticks became vested in the King by the Law of this Realm but only to the King of England as heretofore it stood divided to the King and See of Rome The Priviledge of Exemption by Pope Clement the Sixth is included in the Confirmation of Liberties made by the Founder in his Charter dated the 28. of February anno regni sui 47. and all Priviledges and Liberties granted by him are confirmed to the Colledge by Act of Parliament anno 8. H. 6. As this Colledge doth depend immediately on the King so is it visitable only by his Chancellor whose Visitations and accustomed Jurisdictions exercised by him in the Chappel Colledge and Persons thereunto belonging are reserved to him by the Statutes of the Colledge and himself called in the Kings Commission for Visitation of the Colledge anno 2. R. 2. Governor of the said Chappel as well in Spirituals as Temporals and under the King immediate Custos And so jealous were the Dean and Canons left the power of the foresaid Exemption should be infringed that when Sixtus the Fourth had granted a Bull to the Bishop of Salisbury and Dean and Canons with authority to make new Ordinances and to interpret the ancient Statutes they within few years obtained a Revocation of that Authority left the said Bishop in whose Diocess the Colledge is situate being so impowered might prejudice their Liberties new form their Statutes and by degrees bring them under his Jurisdiction in prejudice to the said Exemption And further to prevent any such design the same Pope commissionated the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester and Worcester to see this Bull of Revocation take effect and enjoined them not to suffer the Bishop of Salisbury to intermeddle further in the Colledge Affairs or Statutes but that the Bishops of London Lincolne and Rochester and the Chancellor of England or any two or more of them with the Dean and Canons should review alter or new make such Statutes or Ordinances as might be for the utility and advantage of the Colledge This later Bull is dated at Rome 7. Cal. Aug. an Dom. 1485. It is an argument of no small priviledge that if the Archbishop of Canterbury be present in the Chappel of Windesor yet he sits below the Dean nor can he consecrate there without his License And the instance is no less remarkable that at the Solemnity of ratifying the Peace between King Charles the First of ever blessed memory and Lewis the Thirteenth of France the 6. of September 1629. in the Chappel of St. George at Windesor Doctor Matthew Wren then Dean gave the Oath as Dean of this Colledge to the Marquess of Chasteneaus the French Kings Ambassador and not the Archbishop of Canterbury though he was then present By the Statutes of the Colledge the Dean and Chapter are at their yearly Chapters diligently to consider and debate all things that shall fall out or seem fit to be dispatcht in reference both to the Spiritual and Temporal Affairs of the Colledge and whatsoever Ordinances or Determination shall be made at these Chapters not repugnant to the Colledge Statutes all persons belonging thereunto are firmly obliged to observe so far as they are concern'd in them until they happen to be altered by later Resolves of succeeding Chapters Other Notes and Marks of Exemption appears in the Deans taking no Institution from any other Bishop but that his Institution Investiture and Installation into the Custoship Canonship and Prebendship is received from such of the Canons-Resident to whom the King who Collates doth recommend him by his Letters As also in the constant proving of Wills before him or in his absence before his Lieutenant In using the power of Excommunication within their Juâ—â—â—diction which is the Precincts of the Colledge and dispensing with themselves for eating of Flesh in Lent Add to these that the Ordinations for the Chantry Priests were confirmed by the Dean and Chapter not the Bishop of the Diocess so also were the Statutes of the New Commons Nor doth the Dean who hath the cure of Souls as is before noted pay any Synodals or Procurations nor can any of the Kings Chaplains preach in the Chappel of St. George unless he be a Canon there without the Kings special mandate or leave of the Dean and Canons The Dean and Canons send no Delegates to the Synod and when this point fell into debate anno 1640. it was carried in the Negative as being a perfect Novelty and against their Liberties and might intitle them to the payment of Subsidies and consequently bring a new charge upon the Colledge Nor have they share in the Government of the Church as other Deans and Chapters have So that notwithstanding any alteration or dissolution of the Government of the Church here in England by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Chapters this Colledge cannot be concerned more than the Colledges in the Vniversities where there are many nominal Deans Lastly after the Act for Vniformity past an 14. Car. 2. whereby every Clergy-man was bound to subscribe before the Archbishop or his Ordinary the Canons subscribed before the Dean of Windesor he being the Ordinary of the place And though some of them in majorem cautionem subscribed also before the Archbishop of Canterbury yet was it with this Salvo saving the rights and priviledges of this Free Chappel Thus much in relation to the Ecclesiastick Priviledges of the Colledge As to the Temporal and Civil what the Founder granted to it being very large and beneficial in regard he was born here and toucht with a prerogative of affection to this place and hath been since confirm'd by several of his Successors we shall here insert First then the Founder King Edward the Third by his Charter dated the 6. of March in the 27. year of his Reign granted them several Profits Priviledges and Immunities to the effect following That the Custos and Canons and their Successors should for ever be free from payment of any Aid for making the eldest Son of any King of England a Knight and for marrying their eldest Daughter as also of all Aids to the King Contributions and Tallages That whensoever the Clergie of this Realm or of the Province of Canterbury or Tork should give
a Tenth or other Imposition out of their Spiritualities or the Commons of England should give a Tenth or Fifteenth or any other Tax out of their Temporalities or moveable Goods or that the King and his Heirs should cause his own Demain to be taxed or that the Pope should impose any Tax or Imposition upon the Clergy of this Realm and give the same to the King and his Heirs this Colledge with all its Lands and Possessions should be wholly freed thereof That they should be free from any charge of Arraying Soldiers for the service of the King and his Heirs and from sending them for the Custody of the Sea-Coasts and from every Fine or Composition for the same That their Houses as well those within the Castle of Windesor as else-where should be free from any Livery of the Kings Stewards Marshalls Purveyors Officers and Servants and from the like Officers of the Queens or any of their Children or of the Peers or Nobles And that the said Officers should not intermeddle there without the leave of the Custos and Canons and their Successors That no Duke Earl Baron or Nobleman nor any Stewards Marshals Escheators Sheriffs Coroners Bailiffs or Officers nor any other person of what condition soever should upon any colour lodge or stay in the Houses of the Custos or Canons without their consent That they the said Custos and Canons and their Tenants should for ever be free from payment of Toll Paviage Picage Barbicanage Terrage Pontage Murage Passage Paiage Lestage Stallage Tallage Cariage Pesage and from Scot and Geld Hidage Scutage working about Castles Parks Bridges Walls for the Kings Houses And from suits to the County or Hundred Court and Wapentakes Court Leets Murder and Common Amerciaments whether they should happen before the King or any of the Justices of the Bench or Justices Itinerant or other Justices whatsoever and from every other like Custom That they should have within their Lands and Fees the Chattels of all Felons and Fugitives and seize them to their own use That they should have all Fines for Trespasses and all other Contempts and Misdemeanors Fines pro licentia concordandi and for all other causes That they should have all Amerciaments Redemptions Issues and Forfeitures whatsoever Annum Diem Vastum Streppum and all things which might belong to the King and his Heirs thereupon That they should have Wrecks Waiss and Strays within all their Lands and Fees That no Purveyance of Corn Hay Horses Carts Carriages Victuals or any Goods Chattels or any thing whatsoever should be taken by any of the Kings Officers or Ministers in or upon any of their Lands or the Lands of any of their Tenants That they should be free from the payment of any Pension Corrody or other Sustentation to be granted by the King his Heirs or Successors That they should have Free-Warren in all their Demain Lands wheresoever And that although they lay within the bounds of the Kings Forest. That they should have a weekly Market to be held on Wednesdays at their Mannor of Eure in Buckinghamshire and two Fairs to endure for eight days viz. on the Eve and Feast-day of the Apostles Peter and Paul and for two days next following and upon the Eve and Feast-day of St. Peter ad vincula and two days following with all Liberties and Customs to the said Market and Fairs belonging That they should enjoy all their Lands with the Liberties of Soc and Sac Insangthes Vtsangthes and View of Frankepledge with Thewe Pillory and Tumbrel for punishment of Malefactors and power to erect Gallows upon their own soil for Execution of such Malefactors as should fortune to be apprehended within their Jurisdiction That they should be freed and discharged from all Suits and Pleas of the Forest and of all Charges or Fees which the Justices or other Officers of the Forest might demand And from Expeditation of their Doggs and Suits of Court there That they should be free from Gelds Dane-gelds Knights-Fees Payments for Murther and Robbery Building or Repairing of Bridges Castles Parks Pools Walls Sea-banks Causeways and Inclosures and of all Assises Summons Sheriff-aids their Bailiffs or Officers carrying of Treasure and all other Aids as also from the common Assessments and Amerciaments of the County and Hundred and all Actions relating to them That they should be freed from the payment of Ward-penny Aver-penny Tithing-penny and Hundred-penny and discharged from Grithbrech Forstall Homesoken Blod-wite Ward-wite Heng-wite Fight-wite Leyr-wite Lastage Pannage Assart and Waste of the Forest so that such Waste and Offences be not committed in the Forests Woods or Parks of the King his Heirs and Successors and if it should happen so to be that then reasonable satisfaction without imprisonment or grievous recompence should be accepted That they should have return of all Writs and Attachments as well relating to the Pleas of the Crown as other throughout all their Lands or Fees and that no sheriff Bailiff or other Officer should make any Execution of such Writs there unless in default of the Custos and Canons and their Successors That they should have and hold Leets and Law-days for all within their Lands and Fees That they should have cognisance of all Pleas betwixt their Tenants as well of Trespasses and Contracts as others in their own Courts And lastly that they should have and hold Wards Reliefs Escheats Forfeitures and other Profits Issues and Emoluments whatsoever within their own Fees from all their Tenants which might belong to the King or his Heirs and which the King might receive by reason of those Fees in case they were in his own hands as if the Tenants did hold of him or others in Capite of the Crown CHAP. V. THE Institution OF THE MOST NOBLE Order Of the Garter SECT I. The several Opinions touching the occasion of its Institution EDward King of England and of France of that name after the Norman Conquest the Third was the first Founder of this most renowned Order of the Garter And this is not only unanimously attested by our own and other Historians but also by good Authorities and Records of the Order it self The Historians generally agree in the person of the Founder but as to the original occasion that gave beginning to the Order and the time when it was erected there is not small difference among them by reason whereof the truth of both is left so perplext that if we had not clearer light from some other means the world might yet live in ignorance of the verity of either But that we may set down these two particulars more exactly than hitherto hath been done and give a more perfect account of a Military Order whose same hath spread all over the World and been conferr'd on the greatest Princes thereof is our design in this present Work First then as to the occasion of its Institution the opinions of Writers as we said are various The vulgar and more general is That the
and the honor they derived from it some have thought fit to transmit the memory to Posterity by Medâ—ls with Inscriptions relating thereto Such were those of Gold and Silver which Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg caused to be made having on one side his Effigies and on the other the Arms of Studtgard his chief City and over them the imperial Eagle crowned some of which were preserved and others disperst abroad for a perpetual commemoration of that solemn act of his Investiture with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order So also those made by Charles King of Sweden at his Investiture emblematically pointing out the happy concord setled between the Crowns both of this and that Kingdom being copied out and here inserted What is wanting in the course of the Solemnity on the day of Investiture may be supplied from the large account we shall give of the Ceremonies on the Eve and Feast-day of St. George from whence many things may be transferr'd to their use who shall be employed abroad upon the Like Legations Yet for their sakes whose curiosity will like a more particular account of the Solemnities in Foreign parts we have thought fit to insert here the Relations of some eminent Investitures wherein several passages may seem remarkable enough while drawn together in a continued Narrative but perhaps would not appear so if taken asunder nor indeed can divers minute things in some kind worthy of knowledge be precisely referr'd to those few heads we have chosen to discourse of without too much straining A Relation of the manner of investing the French King Henry the Third with the Habit and Ensigns of the most Noble Order of the Garter An. Dom. 1585. HEnry Earl of Derby appointed by her Majesty Ambassador to Henry the Third French King and to invest him with the Order of the Garter took his leave of the Queen's Majesty at Greenwiche the 20. of January an 27. Eliz. and with him such Gentlemen as were present were admitted to kiss her Highness hand Mr. Cook Clarenceux appointed to attend in that Voyage in place of Garter whose room was void and Robert Glover Somerset Herald likewise appointed to that Iourney On the 26. of January the Earl with his Train passed from London to Gravesend where taking Post-Horses they rid to Sittingborne and from thence to Dover where they embarqued and landed at Callis on the first of February on the third of February the Earl with his whole Train went from Callis to Boloigne to Bed where they were very well entertained On the fourth of February they rid to Monstreuil on the fifth to Abbevil where they were met with 150 shot of Hacquebusiers On the sixth they took their Iourney to Amyens being by Monsieur Crevecoeur accompanied with 100 Gentlemen and best Citizens met half a Mile without the Town that night the said Crevecoeur presented the Earl with great store of very large and good Fresh-water Fish and the Town with Wine of divers sorts and the day following being Sunday the said Crevecoeur invited the Earl to Dinner which Dinner was highly commended after Dinner the Earl with his Train went to Breteuil to Bed the next night to Cleremont where they stayed Tuesday and Wednesday the tenth of February he went to Luserche on the eleventh to St. Dennis where by the way he was met by Sir Edward Stafford her Majesties Ambassador resident with the French King who brought with him divers Gentlemen of England to the number of thirty horse and so accompanied him to St. Dennis where they kept Company all the day following being Friday On Saturday his honor made his Entry into Paris about two or three of the Clock at Afternoon there being of the Lord Ambassadors Train more than two hundred horse and mid-way between St. Dennis and Paris there met with them sent from the King the Duke of Montpensier a Prince of the blood the Lords Chauigny le Chapelle Comte de Lude de Pienne de Malicorne de la Mothefelon who had sometimes been Ambassador Leiger in England D'estree d'Abin de Fontaines de Cornusson the Marquess of Curton the Comte de Grignan all Councellors to the Council and Knights of the Holy Ghost the Duke of Iremonille the Counts of Brisac de Creance Sancerre and of Lazure with a great number of Lords and Barons Gentlemen of the Chamber these did accompany the Earl of Derby unto Hostell de Longuevill sometime called the Hostell of Anjou there was his Lordship with the other Lords and Gentlemen lodged where was three Tables very sumptuously furnished for them all of the Kings cost the one Table in the great Chamber for the Lords and Gentlemen Servants to her Majesty the other in the Hall for the Earl of Derby's Gentlemen and a third in a Gallery beneath for Gentlemens Servants besides livery into every Chamber both of Wax Wood Wine and such like in as great plenty as could be desired On Sunday the said Earl betwixt the hours of two and three in the Afternoon went from his Lodging by a Postern through the Garden accompanied with the said Lords de la Mothefelon de Curton and Grignan together with others and and found the Captains of the Regiment of the Kings Guard making two ranks on either side of the streets beginning from the Postern to the Louvre Gate who welcomed â—im in the Kings behalf without the Gate of the said Louvre he was received by the Lieutenant of the great Provost of France and his Archers at the Louvre Gate by the Sire de Montigny Captain thereof to his Majesty and his Archers which Archers together with those of the great Provost made two ranks from the said Gate of the Louvre to the foot of the Stairs from which foot his Lordship was received by the Sire de Pardillon the French Lieutenant of the Switzers of the Kings Guard which from the foot of the said Stairs to the door of the Hall made two ranks for his Lordships passage at the entrance of the Hall his Lordship was received by the Sire de Chasteau Viaux Knight of the Holy Ghost and Captain of Archers of the Kings Guard who likewise from the said door unto the door of the Antichamber made two ranks from the door of the Antichamber his Lordship was received by Sire de Combault Knight of the Holy Ghost Chief Master de Hostell to his Majesty and by his Gentlemen Waiters and there in the said Antichamber all the said Earl of Derby's Officers and Gentlemen wearing Liveries were appointed to stay and the Queens Servants that proceeded next went still forward at the Entry of the Chamber of Estate his Lordship was received by the Sire de Lenoncourt Knight of the Holy Ghost chief Escuier of the Kings â—scurie and the other Escuiers of the Escuire together with the Lieutenant of the hundred Gentlemen of his Majesty who made two ranks from that Chamber door to the Chamber of Audience every of them having Halberts in their hands
like with the rest of the Viands The fourth Taster stood at the East side of the Table and his Office was to taste and administer the Soveraign's Wine reaching it over to the Southern Taster that stood by the Soveraign's Chair in like manner as the meat was served Likewise the Duke the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter had their seâ—eral Tables as hath been said before and sate under their several Canopies and at another Table sate the Dutchess and her ten Children After exceeding plenty state and variety of Dishes there were served all manner of Curiosities in Paste as the Figures and shapes of several kinds of Beasts and Birds as also the Statutes of Hercules Minerva Mercury and other famous persons All Dinner time and a pretty while after the English and the Wirtemberg Musick sitting opposite to one another these on the Dukes side the other at the Soveraign's and Lord Ambassadors side sung and plaid alternately to one another After Dinner certain Balls were danced in a long Gallery of the Castle towards the Paradise of Studtguardt This Festivity lasted that night and the next day and afterwards the English Guests were conducted to see some of the principal places of the Dukedom as Waltebuch the Vniversity of Tubing c. where they were entertained with Comedies Musick and other delights and at their return to Studtguardt were presented with very magnificent gifts and being to return for England were accompanied by the Duke as far as Asperg where with great demonstration and expressions of amity and affection on both sides solemn leave was taken A Relation of the order observed when Maurice Prince of Orange was Invested an II. Iac. R. On the 4. of February an 1613. the Citizens of the Hague met in Arms together with the Troops of Prince Maurice of Prince Henry his Brother and the Earl of Chastilion the Citizens kept Guard in the outermost Court where also several pieces of Ordinance were placed and the three aforementioned Troops in the innermost Court. From the Palace to the Shambles were Pitch Barels placed as also at the Soveraign's Ambassadors Lodgings At 3 a Clock in the Afternoon the States of the United Provinces assembled in the usual place where other person of great quality were admitted as Spectators The first that came thither was Refuge the French Kings Ambassador who took his Seat at the upper end of the Table not long after came Prince Maurice conducted by the Soveraign's Ambassador and those deputed by the States before them went 12 Trumpets sounding and after several Noblemen and Persons of Honor two and two the Guards attending on each side After these went Garter Principal King of Arms vested with his Coat of Arms embroidered with the Arms of England Scotland France and Ireland and carrying in his hand a Purse of Green Silk wherein were the Garter and George next him went Prince Maurice and after him his Brother Henry the Prince of Portugal and others of his kindred as the Earls of Nassau and Lippia then several of the Nobility and many others of great quality Then Prince Maurice taking his place where these Solemnities were performed sat at the upper end of the Table at the left hand of the French Kings Ambassador but Sir Ralph Winwood the Soveraign's Ambassador took his place in the middle over against the President of the States and began a short Oration in French to this effect My Lords from those things which I have in the Convention declared by the command of the King my Master you have sufficiently understood his purpose of conferring the Order of the Garter upon Prince Maurice as also the causes wherewith he thought himself moved to do it and whereas it hath been decreed by the common suffrages of the Knights-Campanions of the Order that he should be joined in Companionship with the Elector Palatine it seemed good to the Soveraign to command me to present him with the Ensigns of this Order and hath confirmed this his command by the testimony of his Commission under the Great Seal of England which Commission I here deliver unto you and pray it may be read Hereupon he delivered the Commission to the President from whose hand the Secretary then taking it read it aloud which having finished the Soveraign's Ambassador continued his discourse Both the honor of this Order and ancient Custom require that it be sent out of England to Stranger Princes by persons of honor peculiarly deputed to this Employment and who are themselves Knights-Companions of the Order or at least deserve to be so but because that the Ceremonies there used seem not so well to agree with the Discipline of your Church and that the conditions thereof are not altogether consistent with the state of your Common-wealth it hath pleased the Soveraign of the Order for the avoiding all scandal to confer this Order without any pomp or external magnificence We have therefore made choice of this place in compliance with your pleasure as the most commodious for the performance of our duty in that we might present it in the presence of your Lordships who as being the Supream Lords of this State will not think much to be Eye-witnesses of that honor which the King of Great Britain your best Friend and Allie offers to the chief General of your Armies and Governour of your Provinces as also to your whole State in general whereof each of you are a part Nor could his Majesty have given greater testimonies either of his affection towards the happy State of your Common-wealth or of the joy which he hath conceived for that he sees your Affairs after so many troubles and storms brought to a Haven of rest and quiet or likewise of his most entire good will wishing that that League of Friendship which is contracted between his Kingdoms and your Provinces may be perpetual and inviolable Now therefore desiring first your good leave we shall convert our Address to Prince Maurice At this instant Garter King of Arms opened the Silk Purse and took out the Garter set with rich Diamonds and laid it on the Table and then the Ambassador addrest himself to Prince Maurice in the following manner To you my Lord we offer in the name of the King my Master the Order of the Garter which we may say without boasting or flattery is the most ancient and most illustrious Order of all Europe which in all times hath been kept inviolable without any spot or blemish wherewith all the greatest Emperors and Monarchs suing to be graced and adorned have esteemed the greatest part of their felicity that they could obtain it his Majesty judgeth the greatness of your Family which he acknowledgeth to be most illustrious worthy of this Honor your piety also and zeal to promote the Reformed Religion likewise your warlike virtues which the God of Hosts hath blest with so many Victories but especially those high merits whereby you have obliged these
an Altar to be therein erected and dedicated to that Virgin He further granted to those Nuns and their Successors 20 l. per annum out of the Issues of the Town and County of Berwick until Lands to that value should be conferred upon them to the end that annually on the Eve and day of St. Margaret for ever they should commemorate the goodness of God for his so prosperous success On the Morrow after this great Victory the King had the Town and Castle of Berwick surrendred to him and on the 19. of Iune in the following year did Edward Baliol King of Scots make Homage and Fealty to him at Newcastle as to his Superior and Chief Lord of the Realm of Scotland who then granted to the King and annexed to the Crown of England for ever the Counties next adjoining to England namely Berwick Roxbourgh Peples and Dunfres the Towns of Hadington and Gedworth with the Castle and Fortress of Silkirke Etherick and Gedworth By the assistance which King Edward afforded to Edward Baliol he gained the most part of Scotland nevertheless divers Castles refused to surrender which occasioned the King to make another expedition thither and about Allballontide he arrived at Newcastle upon Tyne and thence marched into Scotland towards the end of November and at Christmass entred Ethrick Forest but the Scots were fled whereupon having prosecuted his design as far as he thought good he returned into England The next year he raised new Forces and himself from Carlisle and Edward King of Scots from Berwick both entred Scotland on the 12. of Iuly burning and wasting the Country on both sides beyond the Scottish Sea This Expedition brought the Earl of Atholl and divers of the Scotch Nobility to a Submission upon which the King came back into the Northern parts where he wintered and kept his Christmass at Newcastle About Twelfth-tide he was provided to pass again into Scotland when Ambassadors from the Pope and King of France found him at Berwick ready to enter that Kingdom and by their earnest sollicitation about Candlemas obtained of both Kings a Truce till Midlent following but no Peace ensuing Edward King of Scotland and divers of the English Nobility at Whitsontide entred Scotland again and finding St. Iohns Town slighted by the Scots they fortified it Shortly after this King Edward followed them thither and thence passed with his Army unto Elgen in Murrey and Innerness In his return he took Aberdeen and burnt divers Towns and destroyed the Country About which time the Earl of Cornwal entred Scotland also and destroyed the Western parts and met the King his Brother at St. Iohns Town where the King stayed not long but marched to Striveling built the Fortress called the Pile and returned home About the Feast of St. Luke he marcht again with a fresh Army into Scotland and repaired Bothuill-Castle and returned into England before Christmas leaving Edward King of Scots at St. Iohns Town setled in the Government of that Kingdom The Affairs of Scotland being thus quieted for some years gave King Edward the leisure to look towards France which Kingdom afterwards became the Scene of all his Martial Glory For Robert d' Artois Earl of Beaumont in France being discontented at the Sentence wherein Philip King of France had given the Earldom of Artois from him to Maud Countess of Burgundy let fall some dangerous words and they being laid hold on forced him to fly into England where he was kindly received by King Edward who after he had been here sometime afforded him the use of the Castles of Guilford Wallingford and Somerton whensoever he pleased to retire thither for his recreation and afterwards assigned him 800 l. per annum for his support the one moiety to be received out of the Revenues of certain Priories Alien seised into the Kings hands and the other moiety out of his Exchequer Soon after his coming over he advised the King to set on foot his claim to the Crown of Franceâ— whereto the King was willing enough to hearken and to be perswaded by him but the Affair being of so great concern his Council advised him to take the opinion of his Father-in-Law the Earl of Henault before he attempted any thing therein Hereupon a Comet with long and terrible streams ushering in this grand Affair he employed thither with all privacy Henry Burghersh Bishop of Lincolne with two Banerets and two Doctors to gain him to his party with all other persons of note as they should find inclinable to assist the King who laying before the Earl King Edward's pretensions to the Crown of France he not only approved of his design but advised the King to contract other Alliances and gain to his party some of his neighbouring Princes thereabouts The PORTRAICTVRES of King EDWARD the 3. with the first 2â— KNIGHTS COMPANIOS in the HABIT of the ORDER and SVRCOATS of their ARMES In April following a like Commission was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincolne William Earl of Salisbury and William Earl of Huntingdon and they immediately dispatcht into Flanders where they found business so well prepared by the Commissioners before named that by the 24. of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and others in Henault Geldres and the Marquisate of Iuliers to appear in the Kings assistance against the French and withall setled the proportion of Men and Arms each of them were to furnish the King with in that Service together with the stipends and wages to be paid them in lieu thereof This done the said Bishop went to Gaunt and there won so much upon the humour of Iaques Dartuell that he gained him also to the Kings party Within a few days after Renaut the Second Earl of Guildres and Zuitphen who had married Leonora the Kings Sister and William Marquess of Iuliers Husband to Ioane Sister to Queen Philippa entred into the Association and next Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria signed an Agreement at Frankeford whereby he obliged himself to assist the King for the recovery and maintenance of his Inheritance against all persons whatsoever except Lewis the Emperor his Uncle which several Contracts made by the foresaid Ambassadors with these Princes were confirmed by the King under the Great Seal of England the 26. of August following Between this Emperor and the King and their Heirs past also an Union and Confederacy which obliged them to use all their power particularly against Philip de Valois who carried himself as King of France and his Successors in that Kingdom for the recovery and defence of their Honors Inheritances and Possessions The 13. of Iuly was Iohn Duke of Loraine Brabant and Lemburgh retained for the King and with the assent of the Emperor was the Confederation made with Lewis his eldest Son there stiled Marquess of Brandenburgh Count Palatine of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria
England landing at Orewell the 21. of Febr. at 9. a Clock in the Morning and the first of March delivered it to Sir Iohn de St. Paul in a Chamber called the Cage Chamber at Westminster The old Great Seal was then delivered up to him by the said Sir Iohn which he gave to William de Kildesby to be kept in his Wardrobe But that the New Seal might be made more publick he caused Impressions thereof and of his Privy Seal to be made and sent to all the Sheriffs in England to be published in the several Counties in regard he intended at the meeting of the Parliament on the Wednesday next after Midlent Sunday to acquaint them with the cause wherefore he had added to his Stile the title of King of France That day being come he under his New Great Seal as King of France vacated all Papal Processes made at the instance of the French King against the Inhabitants of Flanders and granted to the Earl of Flanders his Heirs and Successors for ever the Towns of Lysle Doway Bethune and Orchies with the County of Artois and City of Tournay and to their Inhabitants divers Priviledges And by another Instrument of the same date under the said Seal with the consent of the Parliament he granted that the staple of Wools should be setled at Bruges A little before his return into England he wrote a Letter from Gaunt which bore Teste the 8. of Febr. in the first year of his Reign over France and 14. over England to the Prelates Peers and Commons of France thereby signifying that Charles late King of France his Mothers Brother being dead that Kingdom was fallen to him by manifest Law and that Philip de Valois Son to the Uncle of the said King had by force intruded into it in his Minority and yet detained it Lest therefore he should seem to neglect his own right he thought good to own the Title of France and take on him the defence and Government thereof and having offered the said Philip divers friendly conditions of Peace to which he refused all condiscention he was therefore necessitated to defend himself and recover his right by force of Arms and therefore all such Subjects as would submit to him as true King of France by Easter then next ensuing should be received into his grace and protection Having dispatcht his Affairs with the Parliament which had given him a great Supply to go on with this War and wherein an Act passed that he might with the assent of his Allies condescend to any reasonable terms of Peace And having created the Marquess of Iuliers Earl of Cambridge and given him 1000 l. per annum until he were provided for of so much Land of Inheritance He got in readiness an Army to go beyond Sea and prepared his Navy to transport it and on the 22. of Iune horâ diei quasi primâ set sail from Orewell The French King had laid 120. great Ships beside Genoeses Normans and Picards Manned with 40000. Men to intercept his passage But after a fierce and bloody fight on Midsummer Eve the King got the Victory before Sluce destroying most of the Enemy and taking the greatest part of their Fleet and on Midsummer day landed at Sluce and went forthwith to Gaunt Of this Signal Victory an account by Letter was sent from the King to the Bishops and Prelates by the Earl of Arundel and Sir William Trussell Not long after the King held a Council with his Allies at Villenort where it was resolved that the King should besiege Tournay before which he brought 120000. Men. Thence he sent a Letter sealed with his Great Seal to Philip de Valois signifying that he had fairly requested him to render him his lawful right to the Crown of France but perceiving he meant to persist in detaining it without returning him any answer He was therefore entred Flanders as Soveraign Lord thereof to pass through that Country for recovery of his Inheritance so detained yet to avoid the effusion of Christian blood and determine the right he challenged him to fight body to body or else 100. chosen Souldiers on each side or if both were refused then to pitch upon a day for both Armies to fight neer Tournay But the French King returned no answer to this Letter The Siege continued eleven weeks wanting three days in which time by the mediation and effectual endeavour of Iane de Valois the French Kings Sister a Treaty was set on foot Iohn King of Bohemia Adolph Bishop of Leige Reynel Duke of Loraine Am Earl of Savoy and Iohn Earl of Arminiack being Commissioners for the French King the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldres the Marquess of Iuliers and Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont for King Edward who on the 25. of September agreed upon a Truce between both Kings to endure till Midsummer following of which publication was made in England the 6. of October and thus both Armies retired But this was much against the Kings Will though not against those of his Allies who were very desirous to return home The Siege being raised the King went to Gaunt and thence returned into England where he arrived at the Tower Wharf on the Feast of St. Andrew about Midnight At this Treaty before Tournay it was among other things agreed that another Treaty should be held at Arras within that year whither both Kings and the Pope should send Commissioners but that meeting produced only another year to be added to the Truce The Kings Commissioners were the Bishops of Lincolne and Durham the Earl of Warwick Sir Robert d' Artois Sir Iohn Henault and Sir Henry of Flanders This year produced some other Overtures for the amicable composure of all Controversies and concluding a Peace between the two Kings to which purpose a Commission issued to R. Bishop of Durham Hugh Earl of Gloucester William Fitz Warren Nicholas de Flisco and William Trussell Another Commission issued to Iohn Duke of Brabant Reignold Duke of Gueldres and Zuthphen William Marquess of Iuliers and Earl of Cambridge and William Earl of Hanaw and Iohn de Hanaw Lord Beaumont to treat and agree with Philip de Valois upon a Truce to the Feast of the decollation of St. Iohn Baptist then coming on which it seems became so far hopeful as to produce a prorogation till the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and thence till Midsummer in the following year Another Commission was made forth to William Earl of Huntingdon Bernard Dominus de le Brett Bartolomew de Burglersh Iohn de Offord Archdeacon of Ely and Michael de Flisco to treat with the 〈◊〉 Philip de Valois aswell touching the Kingdom and Crown of France as divers other questions and controversies between them and to compose the differences by a full Peace or otherwise a Truce and one of these Commissions was
a new Governor of the Town before he went thence It having been agreed on at the last Truce that Commissioners on both sides should meet at Boloigne on Sunday in medio Quadragesimae following the King appointed William Bishop of Norwich William Bohun Earl of Northampton William Clynton Earl of Huntingdon Regnold de Cobham Robert de Bourghcher and Iohn de Carleton Doctor of Laws his Commissioners to Treat of and conclude a Peace or prorogation of the Truce and League of perpetual friendship between him and his Adversary of France But no final Peace could be agreed on while Philip de Valois lived nor after till King Iohn his Son and Successor was taken Prisoner at the Battel of Poictiers only several Truces were made from time to time and the last consented to in February an 28. E. 3. to hold till Midsummer following While these Truces were on foot endeavours were made for the Release of David King of Scots the Kings Prisoner and at length it was agreed that upon the coming into England of Iohn the Son and Heir of the Steward of Scotland and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King who when they came were disposed into the Castles of York and Notingham King David should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be delivered The Kings Letters as well of safe conduct to the Hostages as of power to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were come bear Teste the 5. of September an 25. E. 3. to continue unto the Quindena of the Purification next following and the 3. of November after were they renued to the Feast of St. Philip and Iacob ensuing It seems King David returned back into England about half a year after for the 28. of March an 26. E. 3. a Command was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages to Berwick to be there in Quindena Paschae it being the day set for King David's return to that Town On the same 5. of October command was sent to Iohn Coupeland Sheriff of Northumberland who had then the Custody of the said King to deliver him to the Bishops of Duresm and Carlisle William Earl of Northampton Henry de Percy and Ralph Nevil or to any 4 3 or 2. of them and likewise another command issued to them to deliver him upon the conditions and under the form agreed on Whilst the foresaid Truce agreed on in February an 28 E. 3. was on foot the Pope undertook to do what he could to further the effecting of a Peace and to that purpose he sent again to both Kings to obtain their Authority to bring it about but it doth not appear that any thing was done before Midsummer while it was in being Nevertheless we find that whereas in the Treaty between them held at Guynes among other things it was agreed that Ambassadors from King Edward should be sent to Pope Innocent in Kal. Octob. following the King did accordingly impower William Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster and some others his special Ambassadors to treat with his Adversary of France or his Deputies touching a final Peace between them but they returned without effecting any thing all but the Bishop of Norwich who died at Avignion and was there buried Towards the latter end of the following Summer the King having intelligence that Iohn the French King was drawing down with an Army towards St. Omars in the beginning of November passed over to Calais with Lyonel of Vlster and Iohn of Gaunt his two Sons and a considerable Army where he arrived the 2. day of November and immediately marched against him but upon notice of his approach King Iohn retired breaking down all the Bridges behind him whom King Edward followed as far as Heyden and the Country being wasted by the French he for want of Provision for his Army returned to Calais and thence into England And whilst in his absence the Scots had broke out and taken the Town but not the Castle of Berwick he immediately marched thither and 13. Ianuary recovered the Town passing further into Scotland and on the 25. of the same Month being then at Roxbrough King Edward Baliol there made a solemn resignation of his Crown and Kingdom to him by his Letters Patent after which he marched with his Army to Hadington burning and wasting the Country on each side as he went and having laid it waste returned into England and took Edward Baliol along with him The King having notice in the precedent year that Iohn the French King had given to Charles Dauphin of Vienvois the Dukedom of Aquitaine constituted the Prince of Wales his Lieutenant in that Dukedom and sent him with an Army thither where he fought that memorable Battel at Poictiers and took Iohn the French King Prisoner whom he brought into England in May following King Iohn was lodged at the Savoy and there continued all the Winter and in the Spring after was removed from thence to Windesor Castle where he and his youngest Son spent their time in Hawking and Hunting and towards Winter returned to the Savoy And it appears that the 12. of December an 32. E. 3. He was again setled at this House under the Custody of Roger Beauchamp and several Knights Esquires and other Attendants appointed for his Guard The French King had not been long in England ere the Pope sent hither Talairand Bishop of Alba commonly called the Cardinal of Pyergort and Nicholas Priest Cardinal by the Title of St. Vital to assist at the Treaty of Peace to be held about Midsummer an 31. E. 3. the Kings Letters of safe conduct for them and their Train consisting of 200 Horse were dated the 3. of Iune that year The Bishop of St. Gean de Maurienne in Savoy came also hither to the Treaty having like Letters for himself and a Train of 30 Horse dated the 26. of May preceding and though a final Peace was not concluded yet several Truces were made one upon another in hopes of it till Midsummer an 33. E. 3. Before this there had been great endeavours used for the Release of David King of Scots the Kings Prisoner and several addresses made to the King from King David himself as also the Prelates Peers and Commons of Scotland seconded by the zealous sollicitations of Ioan his Queen Sister to King Edward But this affair though often treated of came not to an issue till the 3. of Octob. an 31. E. 3. when at a meeting of Commissioners on both sides at Berwick namely Iohn Archbishop of York Thomas Bishop of Duresme Gilbert Bishop of Carlisle Henry de Percy Rauf de Nevile Henry le Scrope and Thomas Musgrave deputed by King Edward on the one part and William Bishop of St. Andrews
At that time Tho. Douvedale was the Dukes Lieutenant in that Dukedom to whom command was given dated the 5. of August preceding to deliver up all things in his custody there and belonging to the King to such as the King had appointed to receive them in like manner as they were formerly delivered up to the Earl by Sir Thomas Holland late Captain there In the Expedition made by the King into France in the 33. year of his Reign this Duke was sent before to Calais with 400 Spears and 2000 Archers where being arrived he took with him those Lords of the Empire and other Commanders who there waited the Kings coming to Calais and marched to St. Omars Cambray and other places wasting all the Country as he passed until he heard of the arrival of the King and then returned to Calais This Voyage with the King into France was the last Martial Employment this Great Duke undertook and as he had manifested to the World the wisdom and valour of a great Commander and succeeded happily in Martial Affairs so was he no Enemy to Peace but as ready to lay hold of it on fair and honorable terms as he was forward to draw his Sword in defence of the Kings honor and right And this was most evident at the Treaty of Bretagne neer Chartres where though the King was very unwilling to accept of a Peace upon terms offered by the French yet moved by the perswasive Arguments of this worthy Duke he condescended thereunto It was also upon his motion both to the King and King Iohn of France that the Truce made at Rennes between Charles de Bloys and the Earl of Montfort which was to expire the first of May was enlarged to Midsummer following in hopes of a final Peace to be by that time made between them He married Isabel Daughter of Henry Lord Beaumont Cousin-german to Queen Isabel Wife to King Edward the Second and by her had two Daughters and Heirs Mand his eldest Daughter was Wife first to Ralph Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford and next to William Duke of Bavaria Earl of Henault Holand and Zeland Lord of Frisland stiled also Earl of Leicester and Blanch the youngest to Iohn of Gaunt created Duke of Lancaster an 36. E. 3. His Will was made in his Castle at Leicester the 15. of March 1360. in which he is stiled Duke of Lancaster Earl of Derby Lincolne and Leicester Steward of England Lord of Bergerac and Beaufort and by which he appoints his Body to be interred in the Collegiate Church of our Lady at Leicester where his Father was buried He dyed within few days after viz. on Tuesday next before Easter an 35. E. 3. and was buried at Leicester according to the appointment of his Will 4. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick THis noble Earl was eldest Son to Guy Earl of Warwick and Alice Sister and Heir of Robert Toney He was born in Warwick Castle and had to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster Henry his Brother and Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth On New-years day in the second year of King Edward the Third he was made Knight though then within age and the 20. of February following having made his Homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands In the fifth year of the same King the Government of the Isles of Gernsey Sark and Aureney was conferred on him About two years after he attended King Edward the Third in that famous and successful Expedition against the Scots and in Christmas Holy-days an 8. E. 3. he and the Earl of Oxford were sent with Edward King of Scots to secure Carlisle and defend the West Marches of England who with some Forces raised in Lancashire Westmerland and Cumberland entred Scotland about Twelvetide wasted Gallaway and returned to Carlisle He attended the King again into Scotland an 9. E. 3. when King Edward by Carlisle and Edward King of Scots from Berwick entred again that Kingdom after which he was one of those Noblemen to whose trust the King committed the Guardianship of the Marches The following year he and other of the Nobility of England entred Scotland about Whitsontide and passed as far as St. Iohns Town which they fortified and in this Kingdom he remained all the year About the beginning of Sept. an 11. E. 3. he again entred Scotland with an Army by Berwick whilst the Lords Wake and Clifford entred by Carlisle and within two days both their Forces united whereupon they wasted Tividale Moseteidale and Nidesdale whilst Anthony Lord Lucy wasted Gallaway but not being able to prosecute their Voyage by reason of the great Rains they returned within twelve days to Carlisle and so much to the satisfaction of the King did he behave himself in this Expedition that the 19. of March following he made Letters obligatory to him for 500 Marks as a gift to be paid him at Michaelmas following When the King undertook his first Expedition into France an 13. E. 3. by the way of Flanders he likewise attended him thither and had Command of a Wing in the field pitch'd between Vyronsos and Flamengery in which among others were the Earl of Penbroke the Lords Berkley and Moulton He went over with the King into Flanders when by the way that memorable Naval fight hapned before Sluce where the King obtained a signal Victory against the French and was one of the Commissioners nominated at the Treaty agreed on at the Siege of Tournay to be sent to Arras in order to a further Treaty where after 15 days debate nothing was agreed on but the Surrender of the County of Poictou seized on by the French King the preceding year and a prolongation of the Truce for two years An. 16. E. 3. he was one of the Commissioners nominated to treat with the Kings Allies in Brabant and Flanders about his designed Expedition into France in which he after attended the King with 80 men at Arms 1 Banneret 18 Knights 60 Esquires and 100 Archers on Horse-back for whose passage a Writ issued to Iohn de Montgomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships At Nantes in Bretagne to which the King had laid Siege he behaved himself so gallantly upon a Sally made by the Town that they were forced to retreat with great loss Not long after his return into England he marcht into Scotland with Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby to raise the Siege laid against Louhmaban Castle whereof the Earl of Northampton was Governor and when he came back was imployed with the said Earl of Derby and some others to the Pope to treat about King Edwards right to the Crown of France which produced nothing but an enlargement of the Truce The following year he was constituted Marshall of England during pleasure In that great Expedition
after when this Order was fallen into great decay it was given unto Don Gonçalionez Master of the Order of Calatrava by King Ferdinand the Saint in the year of our Lord 1221. by whose consent they were afterwards incorporated into the Order of Calatrava Moreover in the Instrument by which Alphonso the Ninth King of Castile gave the Lands to this Order which the Knights took from the Moors the Donation saith thus To you Don Rodrigo Gonçalez Master of Monfrac of the Order of Mount-Ioy They were also called saith Favin Equites de Truxillo or de Trugillo from a City of that name where they sometime resided but this will appear by and by to be a distinct Order united afterward to the Knights of Alcantara Knights of St. John of Acon or Acres 7. Under the Patronage of this Saint was this Order erected but the Original as to time uncertain The Knights thereof exercised all Duties of Charity towards those who went on Pilgrimage to visit the Holy Land and assumed the exercise of Arms in imitation of the Knights Hospitalars whence they became ranked amongst the Religious or Sacred Orders They followed the Rule of St. Augustine and according to Favin had a black Habit assigned them upon which they wore a White Cross Pattee After the City of Acon was taken they removed into Spain and flourished in that Kingdom in the Reign of Alfonsus the Astrologer King of Castile about which time Pope Alexander the Fourth approved the Order under the conjoined Title of St. Thomas and St. Iohn of Acon This King gave unto them by his Will all the Furniture of his House and very much Money but afterward they by little and little decayed until at length they were united with the Knights Hospitalars The Ensign of their Order saith Ios. Micheli Marquez was a Red Cross like to that of the Order of Montesa in the middle whereof stood the Figures of St. Iohn and St. Thomas which differs from what Favin hath before assigned but perhaps the colour of the Cross was changed to Red after their coming into Spain Knights of St. Thomas 8. There was another Order which as may be collected from Mennenius and Ios. Micheli was distinct from the former bearing the Title of St. Thomas but A. Mendo supposeth they were rather some of those which joined themselves to the Knights Hospitalars and the rather because they wore the same Habit with the Knights of St. Iohn of Acon they also made the same Professions followed the same Rule observed the same Constitutions and were approved and confirmed by Pope Alexander the Fourth and Fifth and Iohn the 22. Their Badge was a Saltire gules yet Micheli makes it the same with that of St. Iohn of Acon wanting the Figures in the middle But Andr. Favin reports though we meet with nothing in our English Histories to back him that this Order was Instituted by our King Richard the First after the surprisal of Acon and that these Knights were of the English Nation who wore a White Habit and a Red Cross charged in the middle with a White Escallop and lastly that they had for their Patron St. Thomas Becket This gives us occasion to remember here that we have some more Honor of this kind done our Nation by Strangers if it can be called an Honor to report those things of us which want ground and authority from our own Histories and Chronicles to support them viz. That Henry of England which by the note of time afterwards mentioned must be understood of our King Henry the Second visiting the Holy places in Ierusalem but we find not that he was ever there being moved with a pious zeal by the example of the Knights of the Sepulchre Instituted the Order of Iesus Christ of the holy Sepulchre in England in the year of our Lord 1174. giving to the Knights thereof the same Rules as had those of the Holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem which Order saith the same Author was confirm'd by Pope Alexander the Third under the Rule of St. Basil. Howbeit after the Christians were driven out of the Holy Land the Knights of this Order were joined to the Knights Hospitalars But we give the less credit to this formal account because we find no mention made thereof in any of our English Writers or Records Perhaps the Relator mistook them for the Canons regular but not Knights of the Holy Sepulchre who about that time lived amongst us and of whom the Antiquities of Warwick-shire give some account Knights of St. Blase 9. These were called also Knights de Sancta Maria and founded under the Rule of St. Basil. They were Officers and Servants to the Kings of Armenia and had assigned them for their Habit Skie-colour with a Cross gold worn before their breasts Others say a Red Cross and in the middle thereof the Picture of St. Blase their Patron This Order was at the height when the Armenian Kings of the House of Luzignam kept their Court in the City of Acon Knights of the Martyrs in Palestine 10. By the pious affection of some Noblemen there was erected in the Holy Land an Hospital dedicated to the holy Martyrs St. Cosmas and St. Damianus where all acts of charity were exercised towards sick strangers Their profession also obliged them to other works of mercy towards the poor to redeem Captives taken by the Saracens and to bury the dead These Knights followed the Rule of St. Basil which was confirmed to them by Pope Iohn the 22. They wore for the Badge of their Order a Red Cross and in the middle thereof within a Circle the Figures of the Saints Cosmas and Damianus were described Mennenius informs us that Hieron Romanus had seen some of these Knights wearing for their chief Ensign a Red Cross and professing the Rule of St. Augustine which perhaps was so changed when they retired into Europe Knights of St. Katharine at Mount Sinai 11. This Order received its Institution saith Ios. Micheli in the Year of our Lord 1063. under the Title and Patronage of St. Katharine whose body is reported to be deposited in Mount Sinai and the high Altar in the Church of the Monastery there dedicated to her name erected neer to the place where she was interred The end for which these Knights were at first Instituted and the sum of their profession was to guard and keep safe the Sepulchre of St. Katharine to secure the ways for Travellers to defend and protect the Graecian Pilgrims who came thither for devotions sake and to relieve and entertain them with convenient Hospitality Their Habit was White and they lived under the Rule of St. Basil the Great making their Vows of conjugal chastity and obedience to the Abbot of this Monastery who was their Superiour or Master But when those
which came across the body over the right shoulder and so under the left arm And was the Ensign from whence the Knights took their denomination This Order was instituted chiefly to honor the Nobility and therefore at first none were admitted but the younger Sons of Noblemen excluding elder Brothers or persons descended of the most noble Families in Spain or else Esquires who had served in the Court or Camp ten years at the least and to the end that greater honor might the more inflame them to valiant Exploits Kings themselves sometimes vouchsafed to take the Ensign of this Order upon them It was anciently of very great esteem but such is the vicissitude of humane Affairs at length it grew out of use The Laws and Constitutions are recorded by Anth. de Guevera who also gives a Catalogue of the first Knights Ios. Micheli Sansovin Favin and Segar to whom we refer those that are desirous to be informed of them The Order de la Calza in Venice 18 From the example of the Knights de la Banda in Castile and about the year 1400. was instituted a Society at Venice bearing the Title de la Calza in honor of the Inauguration of Duke Michele Steno Meeting with but a slender account hereof among those Authors who have handled Military Orders and some confounding it with that of St. Mark I was at length by the friendship of the deservedly honored Sir Charles Cotterel Knight Master of the Ceremonies to his Majesty furnished with better satisfaction which he obtained for me from Signóre Pietro Moccinigo the late Venetian Ambassador at his Residence here in England and from Signóre Aberti the present Resident for that State This Order consisted of a Society of particular Noblemen and Gentlemen who at their voluntary choice met together and entred into a Fellowship among whom some person of Eminence was elected their Chief Nevertheless upon the recommendation of their intention and design to the Council of Ten who confirmed their Institution and granted them Priviledges It hath appeared with so much the more reputation to the world by having had the honor to receive into it several Princes of Italy especially the Family of Este Dukes of Ferara of Gonzaga then Marquesses now Dukes of Mantua of the Rovere Vrbino Mirandula and others of the most conspicuous Families of that Country namely Colonna Vrsini Sanseverini Visconti and others They were distinguished by wearing a Stocking quartered into different colours embroidered with gold and enriched with Jewels which they at pleasure altered from the right to the left Leg and in particular it is remembred that an 1529. the right Stocking then worn was half the inside of Scarlet and half the outside of Purple and the other half gray but the left Stocking was all green and as were the Husbands Stockings such were the Wives Sleeves in all particulars On their solemn days they first went to Church and at Mass took an Oath to observe the Articles of their Order Among other things which this Society for the honor of the City was obliged to splendid and noble Entertainments were part at which were exhibited Musick Dancings and Theatral Representations And with such magnificent and sumptuous Divertisements have they given reception to divers foreign Princes in particular to Henry the Third of France when he past by Venice in his way from Poland to France They wore for their Habit a Crimson Senators Vest appearing therein very splendid and reserved for solemn days at which times the Foreign Princes that had been admitted into this Order appeared clad after the same manner These Knights had for their Ensign a Sun on a Shield painted in their Banners which they used also for a Seal perhaps as a happy Omen and Presage that the Order being laid aside about the year 1590. for the excess it was growing into should like the Sun from under a Cloud rise again in after times when better opportunity offered it self in greater splendor than ever The Order of St. Mark in Venice 19. In this Seigniory there is another Degree or Dignity of Knighthood commonly called the Order of St. Mark and because it is generally reckoned among the Orders of Knighthood and differs from the Milites Simplices by wearing a peculiar Title and being invested with a particular Ensign of Honor at their Creation we have thought good rather to discourse of it here though the Ceremony of Creation is performed after the manner of Knights Batchellors viz. by Dubbing with a Sword and their Title a bare mark of Honor only being by our Learned Selden affirmed to be the known Degree of Knighthood given by Supreme Princes or such as have a like power with them Besides we have been informed thence that those Knights are not governed by any Laws or Statutes and are without any Revenue or Indowment of Lands That they are not under any particular obligation or tye except what is common to them with other Subjects namely that of Fidelity to the Prince being in all things else left to their own liberty To this we add that the Honor is also bestowed on absent persons by Letters Patent or Codicils as is the Knightly Dignity sometimes among some of which that to the learned Sir Daniel Heinsius is given us by Mr. Selden It had its Title from St. Mark the Evangelist whose Body was translated to Venice from Alexandria in Aegypt in the year of our Lord 828. in the time of Iustinianus Patritius Duke of Venice ever since which time this Saint hath been assumed and taken for the titular Angel and Guardian of this noble City and his Picture very anciently painted upon their Banners and Ensigns but as to the Institution it is not certainly determined when or by whom it was first brought in use The Badge of Honor wherewith these Knights are adorned is a Gold Chain put over their shoulders at the instant of their Creation whereat depends a Medal on the one side is represented the Symbol of St. Mark to wit the Figure of a Lyon having wings holding in his right Paw a drawn Sword and in his left a Book spread open in which this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelista mens on the other the name of the Duke then living beautified with a particular Impress but in the other he is represented on his Knee receiving a Standard from the hands of St. Mark and sometimes this Medal is worn on a Cross enamel'd blue I was further informed from the hand of the noble Signóre Pietro Moccinigo that the Duke of Venice bestows this Honor either privately in his Chamber or publickly in a full Colledge Some also are made Knights by the Senate and those of the Venetian Nobility at least persons of very eminent Quality and Character who have merited well of this Common-wealth by some extraordinary piece of service either at home or abroad or upon whatever occasion
at the Entrance of the Antichamber his Lordship was received by the Duke Joyeuse accompanied with the Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber Ordinary who made two ranks from that Chamber door to the door of the Chamber Royal into the said Chamber Royal. First entred all the Gentlemen the Queen's Majesty's Servants the Lords that had received and accompanied the said Earl and Lords and the said Duke de Joyeuse accompanied the said Earl of Derby unto the Bars that stood about the haultpâ—ce or mounting floor in the said Chamber where the King stood at his Beds feâ—t accompanied with the said Barriers on his right hand with the Cardinals of Bourbon Vandosme and Joyeuse and on the left hand with the Lords the Princes of Conty the Comte de Soissons and D. Montpensier Princes of the Blood the Dukes of Nevers Delboeufe de la Joinuille de Retz Monsieur le Chancellourâ— Sier de Villequier du Bouchage de la Valette d'Antragues de la Chappelle aux Urfius Chavigny la Vivone Comte de Mauleurier Clermont Denitragues de l'Archant and other Knights of the Holy Ghost and Councellors of the â—states in great number The said Earl with the Lord Ambassador Ordinary of England only entred the said halt-space within the Barriers unto his Majesty of whom they were received with great curtesie and as amiable countenance as could be and the Earl delivered the Queen's Majesty's Letters unto the King with great reverenâ—e and then making rehearsal of that he had in charge to say the said Ambassador presented unto the King the Lord Sands and Windsore and other the English Knights and Gentlemen which all one after another mounted upon the halt-pace kissed their hands and did reverence unto the King Then the Earl took his leave and was conducted by all the Lords and Captains unto the place where they had first received him After he went to salute the Queen Mother and at the entrance into her Chamber he was received by Monsieur de Lansac Knight of the Holy Ghost and Knight of Honor unto the said Queen whom he found accompanied with her Neece the Princes of Loraine standing at her Beds head the Princes of Conde and the Dutchess of Nevers standing at the Beds feet the Dutchess of Duzez and of Retz and other Ladies and Gentlewomen in greâ—t number from thence his Lordship was conveyed to the Queen Regents Chamber and at the entrance whereof he was received by the Comte de Fiesque Knight of the Holy Ghost and her Knight of Honor finding her accompanied with the Dutchess of Montpensier and Joyeuse who stood at her Beds feet the Lady of Royden her Lady of Honor and other Ladies and Gentlewomen in great number and then returned to the aâ—oresaid Hostell de Longueville On Monday the 15 of February the King by Mouâ—eur de Mothefelon told the Lord Ambassador his mind touching the receipt of the Order that he intended to receive it on Thursday following in the Afternoon at the Augustine Friars which was done accordingly the 18 day of February an 27. Eliz. About two of the Clock in the Afternoon the Earl and Leiger Ambassador and all the other Gentlemen of their Train in Coaches were conducted from the house of Longueville where the Earl of Derby was lodged unto the house of Monsieur de Mantuliet Provost of Paris where the Earl did put on his Robes of the Garter and Clarenceux then representing the place of Garter did put on his Mantle and made ready the Kings Robes The King also with a great number of his Nobility came from the Louvre to the same house of Mantuliet for whom there was provided two Chambers in the inner Chamber over the Chimney was set up a cloth of Estate and on the left hand thereof a board covered with a rich Carpet against the end of which board the King did stand in a short Gown of rich Taffata having on either hand of him some sixteen of the greatest of his Nobility the rest abode in the outward Chamber for so was the Kings pleasure that there might be the more room and freer access for the Earl and the English Noblemen and Gentlemen all things being put in good order the King sent the Earl word by Monsieur Lamothe Fluelon and Monsieur de Rhoades Master of the Ceremonies that he stayed for him Whereupon thirty of the English Gentlemen accompanied with as many French Gentlemen proceeded two and two together up the Stairs before the Earl towards the King then marched Somerset Herald in his rich Coat of Arms bearing on his Arms the Kings Kittle Mantle and Hood after him went Clarenceux in a Robe of Crimson Sattin having on his arms a fair large Cushen of Purple Velvet and thereon the Collar of the Order of the Garter and the little Chain with the George After Clarenceux went the Earl in his Robes and the Ambassador Resident And being thus come before the King Somerset after due reverence laid the Robe he bare upon the Table that the King leaned unto so also did Clarenceux the Cushen with the Iewels thereon The Earl also being entred and having made his due reverence Clarenceux delivered him his Commission who giving the same reverently to the King he forthwith gave it to his secretary Pinart to be read according to the form Though at that time it was not read at all That done Clarenceux delivered unto the Ambassador the Garter who gave it unto the King who also kissing the same kneeling did put it about the Kings left leg the Ambassador pronouncing these words following Ad laudem atque honorem Omnipotentis Dei c. That being done Clarenceux killing the Kirtle of Crimson Velvet gave it to the Ambassador who also delivered it to the Earl and he to the King putting the same on with a Crimson Velvet Girdle whereunto was put a gilt Rapier which Girdle and Rapier was formerly provided by a Gentleman of the Kings Chamber at the doing whereof the Ambassador pronounced these words following Capito Vestem hanc purpuream c. The Kirtle being put on Clarenceux delivered the Mantle of Purple Velvet and the Hood of Crimson Velvet which the Earl put upon the King also with the assistance of the Ambassador that pronounced these words following Accipe Clamidem hanc Coelici coloris c. Lastly Clarenceux kissing the Collar of Gold gave the same also to be put about the Kings neck which was done by the Earl the Ambassador using these words following Torquem hunc in Collo deferes c. After the King was thus invested with all the Habilements of the Order as aforesaid the Earl delivered unto him first the Book of Statutes of the said Order fairly bound in Crimson Velvet and Gold Lace which Book the King gave to the Duke of Joyeuse to carry after him to the Church and lastly the small Chain with the George which was by the Earl delivered to the King which also was delivered by
Order namely the Great Collar of the Order with the Image of St. George in a riding posture hanging at it also the Garter wrought with Gold and Pâ—ecious Stones He carried moreover the Book of the Statutes of the Order Next after Garter came jointly together the Lord Ambassador Spencer richly glistering with Gold and Precious Stones and with him the illustrious Duke of Wirtemberg himself so personable and withall so magnificently attired that he attracted the admiration of all upon him some thinking his Habit to be Turkish some Hungaric some Imperial others Electoral others Pontifical The Train of his Mantle was held and carried after by Count Lodowick Leostein The last part of the Procession consisted of the grand Councellors and Senators of Wirtemberg as namely the Lord Eberard Lord of Limpurg hereditary Cup-bearer of the sacred Roman Empire Great Master of the Court of Wirtemberg James Reenhard Doctor of Law Assistant at the Imperial Chamber and Chancellor besides many other Councellors and Noblemen Thus nobly and magnificently attended the Duke entred into the Church where in the midst of the Body thereof he and the Lord Ambassador Spencer walking upon Red Cloth spread for that purpose they first made obeysance according as the manner is in England to the Soveraign's Royal Stall all the rest of the Company doing the like as they past by then the Lord Ambassador went to his own Stall placed at the right hand next after the Soveraign's and seated himself therein Garter also placed himself in his and lastly the Duke possessed his Stall on the left hand As soon as they were seated thus in the Church a loud volley was discharged by 300 Musketiers The concourse of People at this Solemnity was very great but to repress the Croud from rushing in with too much violence there were placed at the entrance both of the Church and the Castle on the one side a row of Musketiers and on the other a row of Halberdiers The Soveraign's Ambassadors and the Duke being thus seated each in their Stalls the Peers and Nobles that attended took their places also the English Nobles and Gentlemen on the right hand of the Lord Ambassador Spencer those of Wirtemberg on the left hand of their Duke and in the first place on the foremost Seats covered with red Cloth sate the Dukes five Sons vested in ducal habits Then began a threefold sacred Musick first the Organ played to certain Anthems next the Children of the School sung certain Psalms in Dutch lastly the principal Musitians of the Court sung in Consort and during the Musick the Investiture of the Duke went forward For the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter rising from their Seats went upon the red Woollen Cloth towards the Duke and making a low obeysance to him with great honor and respect they addressed their speech to him in a certain form of words commonly used upon that occasion and presented unto him the Ensigns and Ornaments of the Order First they delivered into his hands the Book of the Statutes which he again delivered unto his chief Secretary the Lord John Stattler who stood ready at the Duke's side according to his place to receive it and who thereupon delivered to the Ambassadors from the Duke an Oath to keep and observe faithfully all the Statutes and Articles of the Order After that the Garter was tied upon his Highness left leg a little beneath the Knee Then they put the Collar about his neck All these things being performed the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter congratulated the Duke with much respect and a while held discourse with him and then after a low obeysance made to the Soveraign's Stall they returned towards their several Seats Then the Musick ceasing that most eminent Divine John Magirus Councellor to the new invested Duke and President of Studtguardt made a most learned and elegant Sermon wherein he discourst of the friendship and discord of Princes and shewed how excellent a thing the mutual concord amity and benevolence of Princes was how much it was to be esteemed by their Subjects and what great benefits and conveniences arose from thence Sermon ended the Musick was again renewed which consisted of the Voices of two Youths clad in White Garments with Wings like Angels and standing oppoâ—ite one to another so after a Tenor an Altus and a Base was sung the Organ and other instrumental Musick together with vocal went together in 〈◊〉 After according to the Custom at the Anniversary Feast of Georgeâ—t â—t Windesor the new invested Duke rising from his seat and thrice as he passed by making Reverence to the Soveraign's Stall went upon the Red Cloth Garter going bâ—â—ore immediately to the Altar his Train being held up by Count Leostene and his Sword carried after him by his Esquire of honor where when he was come the Reverend Divine Faelix Bidembachin Chaplain to his Highness set a gilt Bason upon the middle of the Altar into which the Duke put 50 Duckets which he took out of a little red silk Purse giving charge to his said Chaplain to distribute them to the Poor which done he betook himself again to his Stall saluting the Soveraign's in passing by as before The Solemnities in the Church being finished this illustrious company returned to the great Hall in the Castle in the same order and pomp as they proceeded thence the Trumpets sounding and the Guns going off After several congratulations from the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter and many other noble Personages to the new invested Duke in the said Hall they parted and went to their several Chambers till Dinner was ready Dinner time being come the Duke and Lord Ambassador Spencer with all their Train went into the great Hall to Dine where the preparation and order of the Feast was after the manner of St. George's Feasâ— in England the Soveraign's Table was served with all manner of varieties as if he had been there present himself the Carver and Sewers and all other Officers attending and serving on the Knee Also Water was presented by three that carried the Bason Ewer and Towel with the same obeysance as is used in England to the Soveraign being present Water also was presented to the Duke after the custom of Wirtemberg the like to the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter to the Dutchess and the Duke's Children Then each ones proper place was assigned by certain Officers appointed for that purpose At the four ends of the Soveraign's Table were placed Tasters he that was at the North side received the Dishes from the Sewers and delivered them to him that stood opposite on the South side who standing on the right side of the Soveraign's Chair tasted of the meat cut off it and put it upon a Plate that was laid as for the Soveraign and after a while changed the Plate giving it to him that stood at the West Side and did the
the King of Great Britain having entered his Dominions in hostile manner surprised the Isle of Ree slain his People and endeavoured to relieve Rochell which he held Rebels to him all which by the wisdom of the Lord Ambassador Carleton was so discreetly answered and so far prevailed that a day was appointed for the reception of the Order which was to be done on the Sunday following in the Afternoon and was performed as followeth The Prince of Orange his Regiment of Shot and Pikes the English Regiment and some Dutch Companies having placed themselves in two Battalions on either side of the great Court of the Princes Palace we proceeded between them First went a number of Collonels and Captains English Scots and Dutch after whom followed the chief Officers of his Excellency's Household then my self bearing on a Purple Velvet Cushen the Robes of the Order the great Collar and the Garter and a lesser Iewel of the George fastned to a Blue Ribband with King Charles his Commission under the Great Seal of England The Prince went between the Lord Ambassador and the Palsgrave who that day wore the whole Habit of the Order of the Garter We were conducted up the great Stairs through the old Hall of the Palace and so brought to the Council Chamber of the States General who were all placed on either side of a long Table the whole length of the Room The Estate of the Table was bolden in the midst thereof where four Chairs were placed the Prince of Orange and the Ambassador took the two middlemost Chairs the Palsgrave on the right hand and my self on the left The French Ambassador and the Venetian sate at the upper end of the board The Earl of Coningburg President of the Council of the States the Treasurer and Admiral of Holland sate opposite to the Prince and all other of the States on either side in their degrees Silence being made the Ambassador Carleton stood up and began his Harangue or Oration signifying that by the Example of the great love and amity long time continued between the Queen's Majesty of England Elizabeth of famous memory and Prince Maurice with the States General of the United Provinces King James her successor intending no less good welfare and prosperity to his Excellency and the States then and still being had presented him with the Noble Order of the Garter as to his intimate Friend Confederate and Ally which he princely accepted acknowledged and used during his life And that now the high and mighty Prince King Charles his son understanding of the right noble and valorous disposition of his Excellency Henry Prince of Orange and having a like desire as his Father had to continue the same amity and friendship inviolably between them had made especial choice of him the said Prince to be a Companion and Consrere of the said most Noble Order which he was there by Commission to present his Excellency withall The Oration ended the Ambassador presented his Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal of England during the reading whereof by one of the Secretaries of the States The whole Table of the States stood up their heads uncovered only the French Ambassador excepted who sate covered Then Garter after Reverence made with an audible voice pronounced in French the Stile of the King of Great Britain as is accustomed and after it the Stile of Henry Prince of Orange which done by a signal made at one of the Windows the Trumpets sounded the Drums strook up and a thousand Musket shot were discharged in Volley Then stood up at the Table a French Orator who began his Harangue in the praise of the Noble Order of the Garter relating as he said he was informed how many Emperors Kings and Princes had been thereof applauding the worthy Election and choice of both the famous Princes of Orange Prince Maurice lately deceased and Prince Henry then Governing only be excepted against the patronage of Saint George who was he said but a Legendary Saint and not Canonical nor approved by general Councils and in effect but a moral Allegory For every Christian man that for his Faith would fight and defend the Church yea and for the same suffer Martyrdom he should conquer the Dragon that is the Devil and be as much holy reputed as St. George But the Order to be stiled of the Garter was more significant because it carried with it a bond or tie of Fellowship as a Symbol of Amity and Friendship between Princes being Companions of the said Order So concluding his Harangue with a Prayer for the Soveraign's prosperity King Charles and the whole Fellowship of the said most Noble Order of the Garter he ended Then the Lord Ambassador Carleton with his Excellency the Prince of Orange the Prince Palatine and my self standing up the Ambassador took the great Collar with the George and assisted by the Palatine put it over the head of his Excellency and fastned it on his shoulder for at that time he refused to wear the Robes of the Order because he said his Brother Grave Maurice had not done it but laying up his leg on my Chair the Ambassador and I put on the Garter Which done by another signal six and thirty Canons reported and so way being made we returned that way as we came the Trumpets sounding and the Drums beating until his Excellency was entred into his Court. That day or night we had no Feast for avoiding Precedency and Place between the Ambassador drinking of Healths and other complements which might have occassioned question or difference on either party That night Bonfires of pitched Barels were made through the Town as is accustomed to be done in all their Triumphs The next day following being Monday I was invited by a Messenger to dine with his Excellency where in his great Chamber the Table ready furnished with meat without Ceremony of other service or attendants but his own Pages being half a dozen in number his Excellency sate down not at the end of the Board but at the right hand thereof and Count Lodowick of Nassaw his Vncle on the left hand side I was placed on the Princes side at a convenient distance from him by his Marshal Collonel Boage a Scottish man sate right against me next to Count Lodowick and these were all the Guests at the Table during Dinner his Excellency asked me sundry questions namely whether Queen Elizabeth did wear the Garter of the Order about her leg as the Knights did I answered I thought not for it was not proper for her Sex so apparently to shew her leg Then he demanded whether the Institution of the Order was from the fall of a Blue Garter from the Ladies leg with whom the King danced I told him it was so holden by tradition but the truth was otherwise as it is recorded in the old Register Book of the Order that King Edward the Third returning home after his conquest of France to remunerate those Knights that had
done him the most noble service in that Expedition did select of them the number twenty five and gave them Blue Garters embroidered and buckled under the Knee with this Motto Hony soit qui mal y pense as a caveat to avoid the emulation of other who might perhaps presume they had deserved as much honor as others Now the question may be asked said the Prince why a Garter rather than any other thing should be made an Order It is to be answered said I that at that time most men especially men of Arms wore their Boots close up gartered and buckled with thongs of Leather under their Knees a Custom yet used of some men for the strengthening of their Leg so with divers other trivial questions the Dinner was spent and ended and I with due thanks and humble salutations took my leave Tuesday morning I delivered the Robes of the Order to the Master of his Wardrobe and on Tuesday in the Afternoon I with my Sons and Mr. Lennard kissed his Excellencies hands and took our leave who most princely thanked us for the pains we had taken to do him honor Wednesday in the morning I was presented with four Chains one for my self of the value of 240 l. sterling two Chains for my Sons the third for Mr. Lennard being all lesser in value than those which I had received of Grave Maurice by 130 l. The Ambassador Lord Carleton had a standing Cup with a Cover of 500 l. being of pure Gold The same day in the Afternoon I gave Rewards to the Chastellain and his Wife with the Servants of the House and taking my leave that night of the Ambassador with whom I supped I took my Iourney on Thursday in the morning by Water to Delf where I hired two Waggons to transport me to Maisland Sluce where I took shipping for England in the same Merchants Ship that brought me thither Friday morning the first of June we set sail and on Saturday in the Afternoon we all safely arrived at Gravesend thanked be God Tuesday following I went by Coach to Oatlands and delivered my Letters to the King from the Prince of Orange and the Lord Ambassador Carleton making a brief relation of the performance of our Employments which it was his Majesties pleasure I should do A Relation of the Investiture of Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order drawn up by Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden c. being elected into the most Noble Order of the Garter at a Chapter held by the Soveraign and Companions of the said Order the 18. day of June 1668. The Right Honorable Charles Earl of Carlisle c. was by the Soveraign appointed his Ambassador extraordinary to the said King and Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald was commanded to attend the Ceremony of his said Majesty's Investiture in the place of Garter Principal King of Arms. Being furnished with all Necessaries for this service as the Robes Collar George Garter c. and having received his Majesty's Commission under the Seal of the said Order they set sail from Greenwich in the Anne a Yaght belonging to his Royal Highness the Duke of York on Friday the 5. of February 1668. and landed at Rotterdam on Sunday the 7. of the said Month from whence they proceeded on their journey to Stockholme first to Hamborough and then to Lubeck where my Lord Ambassador having received command from the King to go for Denmark they took shipping at Framond the Port of the said City on Saturday the 20. of March and landed at Copenhagen on Monday the 22. of the said Month. After same 10 days there in which time his Lordship dispatched his business in that Court they again imbarqued themselves in a Frigat of the King of Denmark's and arrived at Stockholme on Saturday the 10. of April being Easter Eve where his Excellency continued some weeks incognito till the arrival of his Train and Equipage Saturday June the 5. the Countess of Carlisle landed at Stockholme and about a week after arrived the Ship with my Lord Ambassador's Goods and Retinue Wednesday the 7. of July my Lord Ambassador made his Entry into Stockholme and on Saturday the 10. of the said Month had his publick Audience of the King Monday the 26 of July my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George at a private Audience delivered their Credentials concerning the Garter and his Majesty of Sweden received the lesser George Thursday the 29. of July was appointed for his Majesty's publick reception of the whole Habit of the Order which Ceremony was performed as followeth Abouth three of the Clock that Afternoon my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were by two principal Senators Count Neile Brahe and Count John Steenbook the Master of the Ceremonies with the King's Coaches Pages and Footmen all in new Liveries with many Officers and Cavalier conducted to the Castle being come into the great Court they were met at the Stairs foot where they alighted by several of the King's Servants and so conducted up to certain Rooms where the Robes c. were deposited having been sent thither that morning here my Lord Ambassador for a while reposed himself whilst Mr. St. George made ready the Robes c. and put on his Mantle and having now notice that his Majesty was come into the Great Hall they proceeded thither Mr. St. George bearing the Robes c. on a Velvet Cushen At the entrance into the Hall they were met by the Rix-Marshall Count Gabriel Oxenstiern having in his hand a long Staff of Silver gilt and conducted to the upper end of the Room which was inclosed within a Rail and Ballister Here stood the King in a Suit and Cloak of Cloth of Silver with a large Plume of White Feathers in his Haet under a State of Crimson Velvet fringed with Gold to the back of which said State was affixed an Escotcheon of his Majesty's Arms within the Garter and his Stile underneath on the King 's right hand was erected a like State for the Soveraign with an Escutcheon of his Arms and his Stile also underneath with a Chair and Footstool Opposite to the King of Sweden's Chair was placed a Chair like in all things to that of the King 's for my Lord Ambassador and on the left hand of my Lord Ambassador was a Chair set for Mr. St. George and near it close to the Rails was a little Table to lay the Robes on On the King of Sweden's left hand at a good distance near the other end of the Rails sate the Queen under a lesser State of Cloth of Silver the haut-pas was covered with Turkie Carpets as was also all the ground within the Rails where stood the Regents and the rest of the Senators all in Cloaks and Bands as is used at their Dyets and most solemn Assemblies with Chairs behind them The whole Room was hung with Tapestry having a great number