elected into the place of a Knight deceased succeeded also in his Stall without respect of any quality or degree If a King crowned came in the place of a Knight Batchellor whose Stall was lowest he sate there also no difference being made betwixt Forreigners and Natives but all accounted of as Fellows as may be made apparent by the old French Tables exemplified and now by consequence preserved in St. Georges History And this is evident by the plates of several Kings and Sovereign Princes placed in lower Stalls as also from the first intention of the Founder who meant them all as Fellows and Companions of the same Order and therefore no priority to be challenged by any of them no more than was in Arthurs Table which he chiefly imitated Henry the Seventh as is supposed made the alteration as far as it hath reference to Forreign Princes The rest continued in those Stalls where at first they sate save that the Sovereigns reserved unto themselves this power Once in their lives so saith the Statute to make a general Translation of all the Stalls at their pleasure except of Emperours Kings and Soveraign Princes as it continueth at this day 8. Nothing remaines but that we lay down the Succession of the Knights of this Order from the first Institution of it to this present time Anno 1661. Which for my better method I shall rank in this manner following First I will give the Names of those Eminent Persons which were the first Fellowes and Companions of it and therefore called the Founders of the Order in the Book of Windsor Secondly I shall draw down the succession from the Death of those Founders through the Raigns of all the Kings and Queens of England till the thirteenth year of King Charles the Second and thirdly represent the State of that excellent Order as it now stands upon the so much Celebrated day of the Installation the greatest and most General day of Installation that was ever known since the first Founding of the Order And that being done I shall both put an end to my own trouble and the Readers also The Founders as they use to call them of the most Noble Order of Saint GEORGE named the Garter 1 EDward the third King of England Edward III. An. Ch. 1350. 2 Edward Prince of Wales 3 Henry Duke of Lancaster 4 Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick 5 Peter Capitaine de la Bouche a Gascoyner 6 Ralph Lord Stafford after Earl of Stafford 7 William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury 8 Roger Lord Mortimer after Earl of March 9 John Lisle Knight and Baron 10 Bartholemew the Burgtherst Knight and Baron 11 John Beauchamp Knight and Baron 12 John Lord Mohun of Dunster 13 Hugh de Courtney Knight and Baron 14 Thomas de Holland Knight 15 John Grey of Codner Knight and Baron 16 Richard Fitz-Simon or Simondson Knight 17 Miles de Stapulton Knight 18 Thomas de wale Knight 19 Hugh Wirtesley Knight 20 Neele de Loring Knight 21 John Chandos Banneret 22 James de Audley Knight and Baron 23 Otho de Holland Knight 24 Henry Esme Knight 25 Sanchio Dabridgecourt Knight a Henalteir 26 Walter Pavely Knight The places of which Founders or of as many of them as deceased in the Reign of that King were filled again and the Succession thus continued by the said King Edward Richard of Bourdeaux Prince of wales after King of England of that name the second Lionell Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and afterwards of Aquitaine called into Parliament by the name of King of Castile and Leon. Edmund of Langley Duke of York and E. of Cambridge John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford William de Bohun Earl of Northampton John Hastings Earl of Pembroke Thomas Beauchamp the Son Earl of Warwich Richard Fitz-Alen Earl of Arundel Robert Ufford Earl of Suffolk Guiscard de Engolisme after Earl of Huntington Ingelram de Coucy Earl of Bedford the Kings Son-in-Law William Lord Fitz-warin Edward Lord Despencer Hugh Earle of Stafford William Lord Latimer Reynold Lord Cobham of Sterburgh John Lord Nevil of Raby Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton Sir Walter Manny Banneret a Gentleman of Haynalt one of especiall merit and imployment in our Wars with France Sir Thomas Ufford Sir Thomas Felton the same I take it whom Hector Boetius calleth by the name of William Sir Francis Van-Hall Sir Alan Boxhull Constable of the Tower Sir Richard Pemburg Sir Thomas Utreight Sir Thomas Banister Sir Richard La Vache Sir Guido Brian or Brient Richard the second King of England c. and Soveraign of the Garter Richard II. An. Ch. 1377. Elected in his time these that follow Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham after Duke of Gloucester Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby after Duke of Hereford and finally King of England of that name the fourth William Duke of Gelderland descended by his Mother from the Lady Elenor sister to King Edw. the third and wife of Reynald first Duke of Guelders William of Bavaria Earl of Osternant Son of Albert Earl of Holland afterwards Earl of Holland Heinalt c. Thomas Holland Earl of Kent after Duke of Surrey Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham after Duke of Norfolk Edward Earl of Rutland after Duke of Albemarle and at last Duke of York slain at the Battle of Agin-court Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk William Lord Scrope after Earl of Wilts Sir William Beauchamp after Lord Aburgavenny John Lord Beaumont William Lord Willoughby Richard Lord Grey Sir Nicholas Sarnsfield Sir Philip de la Vache Sir Simon Burley institutor of the King in his minority Sir John D' Eureux Sir Brian Stapleton Sir Richard Burley Sir Peter Courtney Sir John Burley Sir John Bourchier Sir Thomas Grandison Sir Lewis Clyfford Sir Robert de Namurs HENRY the Fourth of that name King of England Henry IV. An. Ch. 1499. c. Soueraign of the Garter made choice of HENRY Prince of Wales after King Henry the Fifth Thomas Duke of Clarence and Lord high Steward John Duke of Bedford and Lord High Constable after Regent of France Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Protector of the Realm in the time of King Henry the sixth Robert Count Palatine and Duke of Bavier Thomas Beaufort Earl of Dorset after Duke of Exceter John Beaufort Earl of Somerset Thomas Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Edmund Earl of Stafford Edmund Holland Earl of Kent Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmerland Gilbert Lord Talbot Gilbert Lord Roos Thomas Lord Morley Edward Lord Powys John Lord Lovell Edward Lord Burnell Sir John Cornwall after Lord Fanhope Sir William Arundell Sir John Stanley Sir Robert Umfreville Sir Thomas Rampston Sir Thomas Erpingham afterwards Captain of the Archers at the Battail of Agincours Sir John Sulby Sir Sanchio of Trane HENRY the Fifth Henry V. An. Ch. 1413. King of England c. Soveraign of the Garter graced the Order with 1413. JOHN King of Portugall Henry or
Richmond and Lord Steward Henry Wriothsley Earl of Southampton John Ereskin Earl of Marre in the Realm of Scotland William Herbert Earl of Pembroke Lord Steward after the death of Marquess Hamilton 1605. Ulrick Duke of Holsatia Henry Howard Earl of Northampton Lord Privy Seal 1606. Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury afterward Lord Treasurer Thomas Howard Viscount Bindon 1608. George Hume Earl of Dunbarre Lord Treasurer of Scotland Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery afterward Earl of Pembroke also and Lord Chamberlain 1611. Charles the King 's Second Son Duke of York after Prince of Wales and Second Monarch of Great Brittain Thomas Howard Earl of Arundel and Surrey after Lord Marshal Robert Carre Visc Rochester after Earl of Somerset 1612. Frederick Prince Elector Palatine the King's Son in Law Elected and Crowned King of Bohemia Anno 1619. Maurice Van Nassaw Prince of Orange and Governour of the Armies of the States General 1615. Thomas Ereskin Viscount Fenton now Earl of Kelly in the Realm of Scotland William Lord Knollis after Viscount Wallingford and Earl of Banbury 1616. Francis Mannours Earl of Rutland Sir George Villiers Master of the Horse after Earl Marquess and Duke of Buckingham Robert Sidney Viscount Lisle after Earl of Leicester 1623. James Marquess Hamilton Earl of Cambridge afterwards Lord Steward 1624. Esme Steuart Lord D' Aubigney Duke of Lenox and Earl of March Christian Duke of Brunswick William Cecill Earl of Salisbury James Hay Earl of Carlile CHARLES of that Name the First Charles I. An. Ch. 1625. King of Great Brittain France and Ireland c. Soveraign of the most Noble Order of Saint George called The Garter adorneth therewith 1625. FDward Sackvill Earl of Dorset after Lord Chamberlain of the Queens and finally of his Majesties Houshold Henry Rich Earl of Holland Thomas Howard Earl of Berkshire Churde de Lorreine Duke of Chevereuse 1627. Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden Henry Van Nassaw Prince of Orange Successor to his Brother Maurice in his Command in the Low-Countries Theophilus Howard Earl of Suffolk Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports 1628. William Compton Earl of Northampton Lord President of Wales 1630. Richard Lord Weston of Neyland Lord Treasurer created afterwards Earl of Portland Robert Berty Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey and Lord High Chamberlain William Cecill Earl of Exeter James Hamilton Marquess Hamilton Earl of Cambridge and Master of the Horse created afterwards Duke Hamilton of Arran in the Realm of Scotland James Steuart Duke of Lenox and Earl of March created afterwards Duke of Richmond Henry Danvers Earl of Danby William Douglas Earl of Morton Lord Treasurer of Scotland and Captain of his Majesties Guard Algernon Percy Earl of Northumberland Lord Admiral and General of his Majesties Forces against the Scots Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine Eldest Son of Frederick Prince Palatine and King of Bohemia and Elizabeth his Wife the Kings only Sister 1638. Charles Duke of Cornwell the eldest surviving Son of his Royal Father designed for Prince of Wales but not created and now the Third Monarch of Great Brittain 1642. William of Nasso the only Son of Henry Prince of Orance and Husband of the Princes Mary the Kings Eldest Daughter James Duke of York the Second surviving Son of his Sacred Majesty Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhene one of the younger Sons of the Queen of Bohemia created Duke of Cumberland and Earl of Holdernes and made the Generalissimo of all his Majesties Forces in the Realm of England 1643. Barnard Duke of Espernon in the Realm of France CHARLES the Second Charles II. An. Ch. 1648. King of Great Brittain France and Ireland and Soveraign of the most Noble Order of Saint George called the Garter was pleased to dignifie therewith these persons following viz. 1649. MAurice Count Palatine of the Rhene the third surviving Son of the Queen of Bohemia James Butler Earl of Ossory and Marquess of Ormond made afterwards Lord Steward of his Majesties Houshold Earl of Brecknock and Duke of Ormond Edward Count Palatine of the Rhene another of the younger Sons of the Queen of Bohemia George Vlliers Earl Marquess and Duke of Bukingham William Seymour Earl and Marquess of Hartford declared to be one of this Order about this time but not invested in the same till the Moneth of May An. 1660. after which time he was advanced unto the Title of Duke of Somerset Thomas Wriothesly Earl of Southampton had his Declaratory Letters at the same time also but not invested with the George and Garter till the Month of May aforesaid and no long after made Lord Treasurer of the Realm of England William Hamilton Duke and Marquess of Hamilton Earl of Cambridge and Arran and Lord Secretary of Scotland William Cavendish Marquess and Earl of Newcastle Viscount Mansfield c. James Graham Marquess and Earl of Montrose in the Realm of Scotland the Valiant and Victorious Commander of his late Majesties Forces in that Kingdom Anno 1643 1644 c. James Stanley Earl of Darby 1653. George Dighbey Earl of Bristol and sometimes one of the principal Secretaries to his late Sacred Majesty Henry Duke of Gloucester the King 's youngest brother Charles Prince of Tarante the eldest Son to the Duke of Tremonille in the Realm of France William of Nasso Prince of Orrange the only Son of William Prince of Orrange and the Princes Mary 1654. Frederick William Marquess and Elector of Brandenburge Duke of Prussia Pomeren Cleve and Gulick c. 1658. Gasper Count of Marsham a Commander of great note in the Armies of the King of Spain against the French 1660. George Monke Lord General of all his Majesties Forces both in England and Scotland created afterwards Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torington Lord Monke of Poderidge Lord Tayes and Bouchamp and Master of his Majesties Horse Edward Mountague Admiral of the Fleet which brought his Majesty into England created afterward Earl of Sandwich Lord Hinchinbrook and Master of his Majesties Wardrobe Aubrey de Vere the 21 Earl of Oxon. of that name and Famely 1661. Charles Steuart Duke of Richmond and Lenox Earl of March and Litchfield c. Montague Bertue Earl of Lyndsey and Lord High Chamberlain of England Edward Montague Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold William Wentworth Earl of Strafford Viscount Wentworth Lord Raby-Newmarch in number the 457 person that hath been chosen of the Order since the first institution Nothing remains but that I give the Names of Saint Georges Knights as they stand at the present of which five only were reinstalled in the time of his late Sacred Majesty and all the rest excepting two elected by his most Excellent Majesty now Raigning but altogether with those two Installed at Windsor with the accostomed Solemnities on Tuesday the 16 day of April Anno 1631. The Fellowes and Companions of the most N le Order of St. George commonly called the Garter as now they stand this present April Anno 1661. 1. CHARLES the Second King of Great Brittain France and Ireland c. 2. James Duke of York the King 's only Brother 3. Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine 4. Frederick-William Marquess and Elector of Brandenburgh 5. Rupert Count Palatine of the Rbene and Duke of Cumberland 6. Edward Count Palatine of the Rhene 7. William of Nasso Prince of Orange 8. Barnard Duke of Espernon 9. Charles Prince of Tarante 10. William Cecil Earl of Salisbury 11. Thomas Howard Earl of Barkshire 12. Algernon Percy Earl of Northumberland 13. James Butler Duke of Ormond 14. George Villiers Duke of Buckingham 15. Thomas Wriothesly Earl of Southampton 16. William Cavendish Marquess of Newcastle 17. George Dighby Earl of Bristol 18. Gasper Count of Marsham 19. George Monke Duke of Albemarle 20. Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich 21. Abrey de Vere Earl of Oxford 22. Charles Stenart Duke of Richmond and Lenox 23. Montague Bertue Earl of Lyndsey 24. Edward Montague Earl of Manchester 25. William Wentworth Earl of Strafford And here it is to be observed That the Duke of Somersets place is still kept vacant it being no unusual matter with the Soveraigns of this famous Order to keep some place or places vacant that they may never want the opportunity of gratifying any forain Prince or any other eminent person which deserves well of them Which said I am to add but this That to this Order there belongs five Principal Officers that is to say the Prelate the Chancellour the Register the King of Arms called Garter and the Gentleman Usher called the Blackrod Of which the Prelate being alwayes Bishop of Winchester and the Register being for the most part Dean of Windsor are of the same Antiquity with the Order it self The King of Arms was first appointed by King Henry the fifth the Chancellour by King Edward the fourth and the Gentleman Usher by King Henry the eighth Which is as much as needs be said in the prsent business which here I shall conclude with that very Motto continually interwoven in the Garter it self that is to say Honi soit qui maly pense Shame be to him that evil thinks either of this most famous Order or the Soveragin of it or any of those Noble and Illustrious Persons that are honoured with it FINIS
the Garter in the times succeeding But why he gave the Garter for their Badge or Ensign is not well agreed on Some have conceived as Cambden tells us that from his own Garter given forth as a signall of a Battle that sped fortunately he called his Order of the Garter Speed otherwise for that in a Battle wherein he was Victorious he had given the word Garter for his Signall and Selden that the Garter was used for some successefull Symbole before his successefull Battle perhaps he meaneth that of Crecie Polydore Virgil far more wide then all the rest will have it take Denom nation from a Garter of the Countesse of Salisburies which falling from her in a Dance was took up by the King who is supposed to have been formerly enamored of her But this is proved to be a vain and idle Romance Derogatory to the Honour of the Founder and the Author both More rightly the Black-Book of windsor which is more justly to be credited in this particular in which it is affirmed that the Garter was given to the Knights of this Order in testimony of that Bond of Love and affection where-with the Knights and Fellowes of it were to be bound severally unto one another and all of them joyntly to the King as the Soveraign of it the habit being so fitted to the Kings design Ut omnia ad amicitiam conordiam tendere nemo non intelligat that all men might perceive how much it tended to the preservation of true Christian concord and increase of friendship 5. The Order being thus resolved on the King resolved also to intitle it by the name of St. George who being a man of great possessions and renown for Chivalry had suffered Martyrdom in the furious times of Dioclesian affirmed in general by all Writers to be a Native of the Province of Capadocia supposed by some to have been Martyred in Nicomedia the principal seat at that time of the Eastern Empire by others at Diosprilia or Liddea in the Land of Palestine where he is said to be interred on both accounts of great esteem in the Eastern Countries From whence his fame came into England by such noble Adventurers as had imployed themselves in the Wars of the Holy Land especially by King Richard the First and King Edward the First who looked upon him as the Tutilary Saint or Patron of all Martial men according to the common Error of those darker times which being imbraced by this great King amongst the rest he was resolved to make him Patron of this Order and to intitle all the Fellows and Companions of it Knights of the Order of St. George To which end having beautified and inlarged the Castle of Windsor to be the Seat-Royal of this Order he caused a solemn Proclamation to be made in France Spain Germany and the Belgick Provinces by which all men of Military spirits were invited to attend those Tilts and Tournaments which were intended to be kept not only on St. Georges day then next ensuing which was designed for the Day of the Institution but for 15. dayes before and as many after And that the memory of St. George might be still continued he gave them for another part of their daily habit the Image of Saint George encountring with the Dragon enchased with Pearls and precious stones appendant to a Blew Silk Ribbond continually to be worn about their Necks The day perpetually designed for the Solemnities of the Installation was fixed upon the 23. of April Saint Georges Day and those Solemnities to be performed in a goodly Church erected within the verge and limits of the Castle called the Free Chappel of St. George In which condition it remains to this very day 6. As for the Habit of the Order besides the Garter and the George before remembred without which none of these Knights are to shew themselves abroad in publick there properly belongs to each of them a Surcoat a Mantle and an Hood all stately and magnificent both for Stuff and Fashion But these to be worn onely on Saint Georges Day and on what day soever it shall please the Soveraign to celebrate the Solemnities of the Installations To each of them belongs also a rich Coller made of pure Gold composed of Knots and Garters enamelled with Roses white and red the Image of Saint George richly set out with precious stones appendant to it to be worne over all the Robes at Saint Georges Feast and over their ordinary Clokes upon all such dayes on which the Soveraigne is bound by Statutes to make his Offerings And finally beside these Robes appointed by the Royall Founder it pleased His late Majesty of precious memory to make an Order That all these Knights should wear upon their Clokes or Riding Coats an Escotheon of the Armes of Saint George i. c. A Crosse within a Garter not enriched with Pearls or Stones but both environed round about with a rich Imbroidery This to be done in token of the Honour which they hold from that Noble Order first instituted and ordained for persons of the highest worth as the Act informeth us which Act bears date on the 27. day of April Anno 1626 being the second year of the said Kings Reign 7. In some of these Abiliments the Knights of this most noble Order are attired in publick as the diversity of occasions is presented to them but alwayes in their stateliest Robes and richest Collers when the Solemnities of the Order are to be performed that is to say the celebrating of St. Georges Feast and in the act or ceremony of their Installations Concerning which we are to know that every Knight is bound to fasten an Escocheon of their Arms on a plate of Mettal on their several Stalls with an inscription of their Names and Titles of Honour which they remove according as themselves in order are advanced higher And in this Order do they also change the places of their Banners Swords and Helmets which are continually over their said Stalls during their being of the Order that plate of Arms being left unto that Stall in which last they sate the Hatchments taken down to make room for such as shall succeed unto the Stall of the Knight deceased or otherwise removed to some higher place And touching this we are to know that in this Order they are placed according to the Seniority of their Creations and not according to their personal Dignities and Titles of Honour So that sometimes a Knight Batchelor hath place before an Earl or Barron yea a Duke or Marquess as not long since we had example in Sir Henry Lea Knight Keeper of the Armory who had precedency of the Duke of Lenox besides Earls and Barons Onely in honour unto strangers who are Sovereign Princes or Sons or Brothers to such Princes it is permitted by the rules of the Order that they take place according to the quality of their several persons But this is but a late Indulgence For anciently whosoever was