that the use and custom of singing pronouncing and celebrating Divine Service of attending in the Choire and at the Altar or of celebrating about it the Masses peculiar to the day or of the Virgin Mary as also for the dead as well in celebrating as reading singing standing sitting both in the Choire and without it and all things whatsoever which were observed in the Church of Salisbury should be observed in this Chappel of St. George according to the conveniency of place and exigency of persons To the observation of this Statute they were also obliged by the Injunctions of Iohn Archbishop of York Chancellor of England under the penalty of paying 12 d. to the Treasury of the Colledge by every one that should be guilty of violating or infringing the same What difference there is between the foresaid Office and that appointed to the use of the Church of York in regard it is but small we shall also note and then close this Section with the Hymn and Prayer out of the Primmer of Salisbury If any be further curious to know what alteration hath been made since our Reformation in this Office in the Roman Church for since then they have seen cause to mend and refine divers things in their publick Liturgie they may have recourse to the Breviarium Romanum and Missale Romanum Ex decreto Concilii Tridentini restitutum wherein the Service is noted to be very solemn and for the honor of St. George scarce any Festival there is celebrated with more variety of proper and Divine Offices Officium proprium Sancti Georgii prout extat in Portiforio seu Breviario Salisburiensi Londini excuso 1555. In proprio de Sanctis Part. Hiemali ad diem April 23. Rubrica Sancti Georgii Martyris Tres Lectiones cum regimine Chori duplex Festum Capitulum Iste sanctus qui pro Lege Dei sui certavit usque ad mortem à verbis impiorum non timuit fundatus enim erat supra firmam petram Oratio Deus qui nos beati Georgii Martyris tui meritis intercessione laetificas concede propitius ut qui ejus beneficia poscimus dono tuae gratiae consequamur per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Lectio 1. Sanctus verus Dei Cultor Georgius Cappadociae regionis oriundus cum videret multos Deum blasphemantes cum Daciano daemones adorantes spiritu sancto repletus in hanc vocem prorupit Omnes dii Gentium daemonia Dominus autem caelum fecit Dacianus ait ei qua temeritatis andaciâ nobis injuriam irrogans Deos nostros daemonia vocas fatere tum ex qua Provinciâ huc advenisti vel quo nomine vociferis Lectio 2. Sanctus Georgius dixit Christianuâ— Dei servus sum Georgius nuncupor genere Capadocus patriae meae comitatum gerens Elegi verò temporali dignitate carere immortalis Dei imperio servire Dacianus ait ei erras Georgi accede immola Deo Appollini Beatus Georgius respondet Domino enim meo Iesu Christo exhibeo culturam Regi omnium seculorum non Apollini auctori Daemonionum Lectio 3. Iratus Dacianus jussit S. Georgium in Equuleo levari extensum membraetim ungulis lacerari Deinde lateribus ejus lampades ardentes applicari salem verò in vulnera aspergi cilicio plagas ejus fricari plumboque bullienti Georgium immitti extractumque per vicos ut reum fecit trahi Cumque traheretur ad locum supplicii flexis genibus gratias egit Deo sic capitalem pro Christo subiit sententiam Rubrica Caetera de Communi unius Martyris de Pasc. temporis What is set down above is proper to St. George but the rest of the Office used on St. George's day being common to him with other Martyrs is not set down but referr'd to that part of the Portiforium called Commune Sancti Georgii Martyris Officium Protexisti me Deus à conventu malignantium Alleluia à multitudine operantium iniquitatem Alleluia Alleluia Psalmus Exaudi Deus orationem meam cum deprecar à timore inimici eripe animam meam Oratio Deus qui nos beati Georgii martyris tui meritis intercessione laetificas concede propitius ut cujus beneficia poscimus dono tuae gratiae consequamur Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Lectio beati Jacobi Apostoli 1. Carissimi omne gaudium existimate cum in temptationes varias incideritis Scientes quòd probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur Patientia autem opus perfectum habeat ut sitis perfecti integri in nullo deficientes Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientiâ postulet à Deo qui dat omnibus affluenter non improperat dabitur ei Postulet autem in fide nihil haesitans Qui enim haesitat similis est fluctui maris qui à vento movetur circumfertur Non ergo existimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid à Domino Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viìs suis. Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione suâ dives autem in humilitate suâ quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit Exortus est enim sol câ—m ardore arefecit foenum flos ejus decidit decor vultûs ejus deperiit Ita dives in itineribus suis marcescit Beatus vir qui suffert temptationem quoniam cùm probâ—tus fuerit accipiet coronam vitae quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se. Alleluia Laetabitur justus in Domino sperabit in eo laudabuntur omnes recti corde Sequentia Organicis canamus modulis Georgii solennia Omnigenis Domino vocibus reddentes odas debitas Qui in suis sanctis mirabilis nimis multiplici virtutum flore eosdem decorat ac mirificè adornat Nam in ipsis quasi in quibusdam musicis instrumentis digito proprio fides agitat fides virtutum sonoras his numerosè percurrens singulas Permiscet singulis diatessaron mellifluam melodiam quam generat virtutum mater illa quae aliis decenter composita reddit suavem symphoniam qua sine cuncta fiunt dissona necnon frivola qua cum omnia sunt consona necnon utilia qua justi benè morati rite petentes excelsa poli sidera alacres decantant nova cantica in Cithara Threiciâ quorum agentes festa consortia mereamur in coelesti patria Evangelium secundum Johannem In illo tempore dixit Iesus Discipulis suis Ego sirm vitis vera pater meus agricola est Omnem Palmitem in me non ferentem fructum tollet eum omnem qui fert fructum purgabit eum ut fructum plus afferat Iam vos mundi estis propter sermonem quem locutus sum vobis Manete in me ego in vobis Sicut Palmes non potest ferre fructum à semetipso nisi manserit in vite sic nec vos nisi in me manseritis Ego sum
4. E. 2. That the Banerets wages by the day was four shillings the Knights two shillings and the Esquires one shilling Next unto the Knights Banerets we shall speak of Knights of the Bath which is a degree that hath the Investiture and Title of a Knight with an additional denomination derived from part of the Ceremony of his Creation It is the most received opinion that our King Henry the Fourth first instituted these Knights and true it is according to Sir Iohn Froisard He at his Coronation to adde to the lustre and magnificence of it created six and forty of them making an especial choice of such as he favoured either out of an inward affection or consideration of their service or deserts And as he designed them to attend him in the Ceremonies of his Coronation then at hand so did he retain them neerer unto his person thereby seeming to honor them with a more familiar consociation than he vouchsafed to the Knights Batchelors But if the Ceremonies and circumstances of their Creation be well considered it will appear that this King did not institute but rather restore the ancient manner of making Knights and consequently that the Knights of the Bath are in truth no other than Knights Batchelors that is to say such as are created with those Ceremonies wherewith Knights Batchelors were formerly created by Ecclesiasticks but some of them having been for a long time laid aside with us were then brought again into use and made peculiar to the Degree of Knights of the Bath and since continued to them upon some solemn and great occasion At the first view this Degree looks like a peculiar and distinct Order of Knighthood and may perhaps by some be thought more fit to be spoken of in the third Chapter rather than here But it cannot properly and justly be so accounted if we consider that they have not either Statutes or Laws assigned them nor are they in case of vacancy supplied which are the essentials of distinct Orders nor do they wear their Robes beyond the time of that occasion upon which they were created as chiefly the Coronation of Kings and Queens of England or otherwise the Creation of a Prince of Wales Duke of York and the like whereto also is to be considered that their Number hath been uncertain and always at the pleasure of the King Andrew Favin will have these Knights to be otherwise called Knights of the Crown because saith he to distinguish them from Esquires they wear upon their left shoulders an Escutcheon of Black Silk with three Crowns of Gold embroidered thereon But this is a great mistake for it is not found that such or indeed any other Badge was at any time after that manner used by them save only a Silk Lace but the Jewel worn to be known by is made of Gold containing three Crowns with this Motto Tria juncta in una and hanging down under the left arm at a Carnation Ribbon worn cross the body This leads us to the consideration of another Degree among us here in England namely Baronets who seem to be allied to Knighthood by having granted to them the addition of Sir to be set before their Names but this Title gives not the Dignity of Knighthood nor can any of them be properly stiled Knights until they be actually knighted It is a Degree but of a late erection to wit in the ninth year of King Iames and the grant thereof made only by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England a Copy of one of which is transcribed into the Titles of Honor. This Honor is made hereditary to them and the Heirs males of their bodies lawfully begotten for ever and by a subsequent Decree of the said King precedence is granted to them before all Banerets except such as should be made by the King his Heirs and Successors under his or their Standard displaid in an Army royal in open War and the King personally present and next unto and immediately after the younger Sons of Viscounts and Barons The ground for erecting this Degree as appears by the Instructions given to the Commissioners appointed to treat about this affair was partly Martial for though themselves were not enjoined personal service in the Wars yet the motive of this Honor was a certain contribution from each Baronet to maintain thirty Foot Soldiers for three years in Ireland after the rate of eight pence a day for the defence of that Kingdom and chiefly to secure the Plantation in the Province of Vlster Their Qualifications were that at least they should be descended from a Grandfather on the Fathers side that bore Arms and had a Revenue of one thousand pounds per annum of Lands of inheritance in possession or Lands of old Rents as good as one thousand pounds a year of improved Lands or at least two parts of three to the said value in possession and the other third part in reversion expectant upon one life only held in Jointure The year after the first Patent past King Iames was pleased to adde some new Priviledges and Ornaments to this Degree namely to Knight those Baronets already made that were no Knights as also such as should be afterwards created and the Heirs males of their bodies when they attained the age of one and twenty years that the Baronets and their Descendants might bear either in Canton or in an Inescutcheon the Arms of Vlster and further to have place in the Armies of the King and his Heirs and Successors in the gross neer about the Royal Standard for defence of the same Since the Institution of Baronets in England there have been made divers in Ireland after the like form And the Knights of Nova Scotia in the West-Indies were ordained in imitation of Baronets in England by the said King Iames anno Dom. 1622. and upon a like design to wit the planting of that Country by Scotch Colonies and the Degree made likewise hereditary These later have the priviledge to wear an Orange-tawny Ribbon as a Badge of Honor to distinguish them from other Knights and it appears by a Letter from Henry Earl of Holland dated the 29. of Iune 1627. and directed to the Officers of Arms that there was some intention to move his then Majesty to declare his pleasure that all Baronets and Knights Batchelors might wear in Ribbons of several colours some Badge or Iewel to distinguish the one from the other and both from persons of inferiour quality in such sort as did the Knights of the Baeth to which end he desired their opinion touching the fitness and conveniency thereof Which Officers from precedents of the differences and marks set upon Robes belonging to several Degrees of Nobility and Honor and from the Ensigns and Ornaments of Knighthood used for distinctions sake both at home and abroad being esteemed as peculiar marks of Soveraignty in the Giver and eminent tokens of Honor in
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
for this place was extraordinary finding upon survey that the former foundation and walls of the Chappel of St. George were in his time very much decayed and consumed and esteeming the Fabrick not large or stately enough designed to build one more noble and excellent in its room To this purpose he constituted Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury Master and Surveyor of the work And taking notice that divers of the Officiary Houses and other irregular Buildings and old Walls stood in his way and hindred the design he had to inlarge the Structure gave the Bishop power wholly to remove all such impediments and to demolish and dig up their Foundations particularly those ancient Buildings on the East-side of the Chappel which reached unto the Walls on the North-side of the Castle where the Towers commonly called Clure ys Tower and Le Amener ys Tower and Barner ys Tower were situated as also on the South-side of the Chappel unto the Belfrey there exclusively and to imploy the Stone Timber and other materials thereof upon such Edifices in the Castle as he should think most convenient With what diligence and sedulity and how well the Bishop performed this Office and Employment appears from the testimony given him by the King in the preamble of that Patent by which he shortly after constituted him Chancellor of the Garter to wit That out of meer love towards the Order he had given himself the leisure daily to attend the advancement and progress of this goodly Fabrick From the new Foundation thus laid by King Edward the Fourth arose like a Phoenix out of its ashes the elegant and beauteous Structure now standing enlarged in length at least one hundred fathom whose order and figure as well on the outside as the several Views from within are here represented though it attained not its beauty and perfection until the Reign of King Henry the Eighth together with the Dean and Canons Houses situate on the North-side of the Chappel and those for the Petty Canons raised at the West end thereof in form of a Fetter-lock one of King Edward the Fourths Royal Badges and so vulgarly called In Henry the Seventh's Reign Sir Reginald Bray one of the Knights-Companions of the Order became a liberal Benefactor towards finishing the Body of this Chappel and building the middle Chappel on the South side thereof still called by his name where his body lies interred as is manifest not only from his last Will but also from his Arms Crest and the initial Letters of his Christian and Surname cut in Stone and placed in divers parts of the Roof By Indenture dated the fifth of Iune in the one and twentieth year of this Kings Reign Iohn Hylmer and William Vertue Free Masons undertook the vaulting of the Roof of the Choire that curious and excellent piece of Architecture for seven hundred pounds and to finish it by Christmas anno Dom. 1508. In his Son and Successors reign the Rood-loft and Lanthorn were erected with the contributions raised among the Knights-Companions anno 8. H. 8. Adjoining to the East end of this Chappel was a little Building of Free-stone raised by Cardinal Wolsey called the Tombe-house in the middle whereof he design'd to erect a goodly Monument for King Henry the Eighth and had well-nigh finished it before he dyed But this was demolished in April 1646. by command of the long Parliament and the Statues and Figures provided to adorn it being all of Copper gilt and exceedingly enricht by Art were taken thence This place King Charles the First of ever blessed and glorious memory intended to enlarge and make fit and capable not only for the interment of his own royal Body but also for the Bodies of his Successors Kings of England had not bad times drawn on and such as with much ado afforded him but an obscure Grave neer the first haut-pace in the Choire of this Chappel his Head lying over against the eleventh Stall on the Soveraigns side and in the same Vault where the Bodies of King Henry the Eighth and his last Queen yet remain The Prospect of St. George's Chapell from the South The Tombe House The Groundplot of St. George's Chapell PROSPECT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CHAPEL 1. The midle Isle 2 The South Isle 3 The North Isle 4 The Pulpit 5 The Choire Dore 6 Roof of the Nâ—uâ— 7 Roof of the Choire 8 East Window of the Choire Fourth under a large Stone of Tuch raised within the opposite Arch at the North side of the Altar but without Inscription also having on the outside of his Grave a range of Steel gilt set to inclose it from the North Isle cut excellently well in Church-work Over this Arch hung this Kings Coat of Male gilt cover'd over with crimsoit Velvet and thereon the Arms of France and England quarterly richly embroidered with Pearl and Gold interwoven with divers Rubies This Trophy of honor had ever since his Funeral hung safely over his Grave but was plunder'd thence by Captain Fogg the twenty third day of October 1642. on which day he also robb'd the Treasury of the Chappel of all the rich Plate dedicated to the use of the Altar yet having met with an exact measure and size of each part thereof as also of his Banner both heretofore taken by Sir William le Neve sometime Clarenceux King of Arms an exact observator of any thing curious referring to Arms or Ceremony we think fit to transmit it thus to posterity The Coat of Arms was two foot seven inches deep and below two foot in breadth Above the Maunches being extended in breadth three foot and six inches whereof the length of each Maunch was one foot The breadth of the upper part of the Coat besides the Maunches one foot and a half The breadth of each Maunch one foot and eight inches The Arms were embroidered upon Velvet lined with Sattin and better wrought then they use to work in these days The Banner which also hung over his Grave was of Taffaty and thereon painted quarterly France and England it had in breadth three foot four inches besides a Fringe of about an inch broad and in depth five foot and four inches besides the Fringe There were within this Chappel of St. George several Chantries endowed with Lands and other Revenues appointed for the maintenance of Chaplains and Priests to sing Masses there for the Souls of their Founders and their Kindred As first William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester gave two hundred Marks for buying of twenty Marks Rent per annum to sustain a Chaplain to celebrate Mass in this Chappel for the health of his Soul the Soul of King Edward the Third of the said Bishops Father Mother and all his Benefactors The Covenants between him and the Dean and Chapter for performance thereof bear date at Windesor the 29. of May anno 3. H. 8. The 26. of November anno 18. E. 4. the Feossees
the said Chancellor is to precede And to the end publick notice may be taken hereof and the respects known that is due to that place His Majesty hath commanded an Entry thereof to be made in the Register of the Order And is pleased that the Earl Marshal of England shall likewise cause the same to be entred in the Office of Arms. And to the end the place belonging to the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be certainly known we have thought fit to transcribe hither so much of the Decree and Establishment of King Iames made the 20. of May in the 10. year of his Reign as will evidence the same And his Majesty doth likewise by these presents for Himself his Heirs and Successors Ordain That the Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter the the Privy Councellors of his Majesty His Heirs and Successors the Master of the Courts of Wards and Liveries the Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer Chancellor of the Dutchy the Chief Justice of the Court commonly called the Kings Bench the Master of the Rolls the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas the Chief Baron of the Exchequer and all other the Judges and Barons of the Degree of the Coife of the said Courts now and for the time being shall by reason of such their honorable Order and employment of State and Iustice have place and precedency in all places and upon all occasions before the Younger Sons of Viscounts and Barons and before all Baronets c. The foresaid Constitutions appoint the Chancellor of the Order an Habitation within the Castle of Windesor like as hath the Prelate and that is the South-west Tower in the Lower-Ward of the Castleâ—hence â—hence called the Chancellors-Tower It appears the possession thereof had been for some time in the hands of others and therefore in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 5. of November an 5. Car. 1. It was decreed to be restored unto Sir Francis Crane then Chancellor of the Order and after his decease to descend to his Successors in right of this Office These Constitutions also Ordained That this Officer should have the like Diet and Liveries in the Soveraign's Court as were allowed to the Prelate At the erection of this Office the Chancellor had no Pension allowed him towards defraying his charge in the Execution thereof nor until the Constitutions relating to the Officers were established but thereby is setled on him a Pension of 100 l. per annum in consideration of his Employment or else an allowance proportionable in Fees Offices or other Promotions over and beside his Lodgings in the Castle and Liveries at Court But as to Fees or Perquisites there are none due to this Officer and for that reason he hath not only the foresaid Pension but all his disbursements touching the Affairs of the Order allowed him even to Paper Wax and Wafers and indeed those persons who formerly enjoyed this Office have thought it much below them to accept either of Fee or Gratuity for any thing done within the Order and so that truly noble person Sir Thomas Rowe sometime the worthy Chancellor of this Order out of an extraordinary sence of Honor affirmed in a Letter to Doctor Christopher Wren Register upon the tender but his refusal of some Gratuity That his Office was an Office of Honor and not of Fees and that he had alwâ—ys excepted against Fees for the disbursements of the Soveraign's Money Though he acknowledged some had given his Clerk a small Gratuity for the bare Ingrossing of an Alms-Knights Patent but nothing further And because the Custody of the Seals of the Order belong to this Officer before we leave this Section it will be here the fittest place to say something concerning them It appears by the Statutes of Institution to have been then agreed That there should belong to this most Noble Order a Common Seal This is confirmed by the Statutes of King Henry the Fifth and since called the Great Seal of the Order The use of this Seal is declared to be to seal not only the Original Statutes appointed to remain perpetually within the Treasury of Windesor Colledge as also those Copies of which each Knight-Companion is obliged to have one in his keeping but likewise all Letters of Licence to any of the Knights-Companions desirous to purchase Honor abroad and all Mandates and Certificates relating to the Order After what manner this first Seal was designed or what was engraven thereon we yet could never find Polidore Virgile tells us That when the Founder of the Order had made choice of St. George for its Patron he represented him armed mounted on a Horse bearing a Silver Shield and thereon a Red Cross. But whether St. George thus designed was engraved on the first Seal or only a Scutcheon of his Arms as in after times is not certain But this Author notes that the Founder clothed his Soldiers in White Iackets or Coats and on their Breasts and Backs sowed Red Crosses parallel to the Arms anciently assigned to St. George as also to the Kingdom of England placed under his Patronage which Arms the Soveraigns of this Order have ever since advanced in their Standards both by Land and Sea But besides this Common Seal King Henry the Fifth in the 9. year of his Reigâ— Instituted a Privy Signet in case weighty Affairs should occasion the Soveraign to go out of this Kingdom The use whereof was to set to all Acts made by the Soveraign beyond Sea to difference them from those of his Deputies here in England King Henry the Eighth's Statutes ordain the making both of a Common-Seal and Signet and direct that the Arms of the Order should be engraved upon each of them The Common-Seal used in his Reign we have seen and represented in the inserted Plate under the Number I the Signet being designed after the same manner but less The use of this Seal was continued as appears from several Commissions of Lieutenancy that have come to our hands until the Reign of King Iames and then altered to that Draught placed under number II There was a like Seal made at the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First which being judged too little for the honor of the Soveraign's Commissions it was afterwards Decreed in Chapter held the 18. of April an 13. Car. 1. That a new one should be made of a larger size with the accustomed Arms and Motto and the care thereof left to Sir Thomas Rowe the then Chancellor and it appears he executed this Command with all due consideration by the nobleness of the design exhibited under the Number III In the same Decree direction was given for making a new Signet the former being thought too big for Letters this also was effected by the said Chancellor and represented under the number IV It was at the same Chapter further Decreed
of the possession thereof by the Rebels and no other memory but your Election and this Commission remains upon Record But his Soveraign Majesty is so desirous to invest you and the Prince his Son in the full priviledges of the said Order and society that assoon as a competent number of Knights can be assembled to make a Chapter his Majesty determines to consult of a course how the Instalment at Windesor may if possibly it can be dispensed with that rather than you should be deprived longer of the full enjoyment of all rights of Installation his Majesty is fully determined to make ordinary rules of Ceremony and Order to give place to extraordinary Examples of merit and fidelity already so amply performed by your Highness to his Crown and dignity which is the sum of what his Majesty hath commanded me to present unto your Highness which he desires you to take in good part till the rest can be performed At the ending of this Speech Sir Iames Palmer presented the Commission to the Prince who gave this Majesty many humble thanks for this gracious Message and acknowledged his Majesties favours far beyond his desert but promised he would study to be more worthy by his actions than in return of words with many thanks to the Chancellor and the other Officers of the Order for their pains whereupon they took their leave and the Chancellor went immediately to his Majesty and rendered him an account of this Employment SECT V. The Manner of a Knight's Investiture IN ancient time it was part of the Ceremony belonging to the Investiture with the Garter of an Elect-Knight whether a Stranger or Knight Subject to give him an Oath which we find called The Oath in such cases accustomed to be taken and was to this effect that the Knight should well and faithfully keep and observe so far as God should enable him all that was contained in the Statutes of the Order But we find not of late that the taking such an Oath at performing this Ceremony hath been imposed upon any but Foreign Princes of which anon It is also observable that an 4. H. 6. a particular Commission issued to the Earls of Warwick Salisbury and Suffolk with power to any two or one of them to receive this Oath from Sir Iohn Fastols upon his Investiture And this was besides the Oath which his Proctor was afterwards to take at Installation as is manifest out of the Letters of Procuration whereby the said Sir Iohn Fastols gave to his Procter license to take on his behalf such Oath as should be required at the time of his Installation As to the Ceremony and manner of Investing a Knight-Elect with the Garter and George albeit we have discourst thereof before we nevertheless think it necessary to subjoin two or three considerable Instances as most proper to this place When Philip Prince of Spain an 1. Mariae had these Ensigns of the Order sent him the Soveraign joined Garter King of Arms with the Earl of Arundel to perform the Investiture who upon notice of his arrival on the Coast of England set forward on their journey to Southampton where on Friday the 20. of Iuly they took Water and meeting the Prince before he landed entred his Barge and gave him notice of his Election in a short speech which being ended Garter having the Garter in his hand kissed it and so presented it to the Earl who forthwith fastned it about the Princes Leg in like manner Garter presented the Earl with the George hanging at a Chain of Gold who put it also about the Princes neck The Ceremony of Investiture being thus performed the Prince came on shore at Southampton and on the uppermost stair there were ready attending his landing the Marques of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of England with divers other Lords the Prince gave the Lord Williams his White Staff and made him Lord Chamberlain of his Houshold and Sir Anthony Brown Master of his Horse presented him from the Queen a Horse with a Footcloth of Crimson Velvet richly embroidered with Gold and Pearls having the Bridle and all other Furniture sutable whereon he rode to the Cathedral and after Prayers to the Lodgings prepared for him Touching Garter's Investiture of the Earl of Warwich at Newhaven in France the first of May an 5. Eliz. it was as followeth First Garter repairing to the Earls Lodgings put on his Mantle in the next Chamber to the Earls and thence proceeded into the Earls Chamber where having made three Reverences he buckled the Garter about his left leg and next put on the George and Ribband about his neck reading to the Earl the words of Signification appointed to be pronounced at the Investiture which done Garter retired into the Room where he had put on his Mantle and there disrobed himself and so the Ceremony ended And it seems to have been a custom about these times for the Nobility and others the Allyes or Friends to the Elect-Knight to send unto him by Garter several Garters and Georges as tokens of congratulation for the Honor he was at this time to receive which so soon as the Investiture was finished and Garter returned from putting off his Robe he delivered unto him with the particular services and respects of those his Friends who had so bestowed them for such we find to have been sent by Garter and presented to the aforesaid Earl of Warwick at New-haven and to the Lord Scroop at Carlisle an 26. Eliz. At Garter's return to Court he is obliged to deliver an account to the Soveraign how he hath discharged his employment and therewith by special directions from the Elect-Knight also present the highest thanks he can express as well to the Soveraign as the rest of the Knights-Companions for honoring him with a reception into so illustrious an Order We shall close this Section with a brief account of the Investiture of his Highness the late Duke of Gloucester at the Hague on Easter-day in the morning being the 14. day of April 1653. in reference to which Ceremony there was provided 1. A Garter with the Motto to be tyed about his left Leg. 2. A George in a Ribband to put about his Neck 3. An embroidered Cross of St. George within a Garter and Star to be sowed on the left shoulder of the Dukes Cloak 4. A Velvet Cushion whereon the Ensigns and Ornaments of the Order as also the Letter signifying his Election were to be laid Moreover for the honor of the Order and his said Highness Sir Edward Walker Garter humbly proposed as followeth That he might be assisted by two or four Knights in performing his duty That his Highness the Duke might receive the Ensigns of the Order in the Presence Chamber of the Princess Royal or in his own accompanied with the Queen of Bohemia her Highness Royal and some other persons of Honor and Quality That his
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
Officers of the Soveraign's Houshold who by knowing in due time who should be absent and who not might make timely and certain provision for the said Feast Upon notice sent by the Chancellor to the Knights-Companions as aforesaid if any of them should happen to be sick weak infirm or have any other lawful impediment or occasion which might justly hinder or excuse their repair to the Court and attendance at the Feast they may acquaint the Chancellor therewith whose duty it is to represent the same to the Soveraign and thereupon to procure his Letters of Dispensation for their absence if the Soveraign be so pleased Which Letters are to be conveyed by Garter or carried by whomsoever he shall appoint for which there was a Fee by the Mile allowed him by the following Order past at a meeting held by the Knights-Commissioners for regulating things relating to the Order the first of October an 13. Car. 1. Whereas it having anciently been the Office of Garter King of Arms to disperse and send Letters for Prorogation Dispensation and other Commands of the Soveraign unto the Knights absent from the Court which in many cases must be chargeable it was this day Ordered That if he should send any Act of favour or Dispensation to any Knight absent from his Majesty's Court or four Miles from the City of London he to whom such Dispensation should be sent should pay to his Servant or Messenger for every days Travel as much as is allowed and paid to any other Messenger of his Majesty's House or Chamber Variety of occasions and accidents as grounds to move the Soveraign and inducements to obtain his Dispensation we have seen in several Letters sent to Sir Tho. Row when Chancellor upon the before mentioned Injunction Decreed an 13. Car. 1. and always the causes have been inserted in the Preambles of the Dispensations some of which are to be seen in the Appendix SECT III. Of Commissions of Lieutenancy and Assistance TOuching the third particular namely the preparing Commissions of Lieutenancy in such cases where the Soveraign cannot personally celebrate the Feast as also Commissions for those whom he thinks fit to appoint for his Assistants we shall transfer the Discourse thereof from hence to that head in the next Chapter under which we shall speak of the constituting a Lieutenant and only note here that the Chancellor is to draw up these Commissions and attend the Soveraign for his hand and afterwards to pass them under the Great Seal of the Order SECT IV. Warrant for the removal of Atchievements IF there be occasion for the removal of any of the Knights-Companions Atchievements at the Grand Feast which hath seldom hapned unless an Installation were at the same time celebrated then doth the Chancellor obtain the Soveraign's Warrant directed to Garter for the doing thereof Concerning which as also the cause and reason of such removal we have already and at large discoursed among the Preparations to be made for the Personal Installation of a Knight-Companion that place being most proper in regard the removal of them doth chiefly concern that Ceremony SECT V. Scutcheons of Arms and Stiles HEretofore when the Celebrations of St. George's day were kept at any other place besides Windesor-Castle it was thought most necessary to provide large Paper Scutcheons wherein were marshalled the Arms and Quarterings of the Soveraign and each Knight-Companion in Metal and Colour encompassed with a Garter and thereon Crowns Caps or Coronets peculiar to each Dignity with their Stiles and Titles fairly printed underneath but without Crests or Supporters to be set on the back side of their Stalls on the Eve of the Feast But the Soveraign's Arms were impaled with those of St. George over which an Imperial Crown was placed and these in defect of the Plates and Banners set over their Stalls in the Choire of St. George's Chappel at Windesor did serve for directions to the Knights-Companions that by the view of them they might the more readily and certainly know their proper Stalls We have not met with any memorial of this usage that reacheth higher than an 21. H. 7. when the Soveraign holding the day of St. George at Cambridge Kings Colledge Chappel was furnished with Scutcheons of the Knights-Companions Arms but to shew the use was ancient there is this note put into the memorial as was yearly accustomed An. 22. H. 8. the Soveraign being at Windesor on the Eve of St. George appointed the Service of the Church to be celebrated in his Chappel in the upper Quadrangle of Windesor Castle and there being present with him 13 Knights-Companions each of them had set over their heads a Scutcheon of their Arms. This manner of adorning the Stalls was afterwards solemnly established and enlarged to absent Knights by an Order of Chapter held at Greenewich an 3. E. 6. wherein by the Soveraign and Knights-Companions it was agreed That from thenceforth every Stall upon St. George's Eve should have an Escotcheon of the Arms of them which were absent as well as those that were present at their several costs and charges But this cannot be understood of the Stalls situate in the Chappel of St. George at Windesor for besides that we have met with no ancient account of any such custom in that place we find a memorial rather implying the contrary when Queen Elizabeth in the 6. year of her Reign held the Feast of St. George upon its proper day at Windesor Castle namely That there was no Scutcheons of the Knights-Companions Arms set up there but only the Plates And without all doubt had it been the usage to fix Scutcheons in the Choire of that Chappel as at other places they would not at that time especially have been omitted because then the Soveraign appeared upon an extraordinary occasion and where many things were added to heighten the glory of that Grand Feast by reason the Peace between England and France was to be proclaimed at this Festival in the presence of the French Ambassador and was accordingly done with great Solemnity on St. George's day in the morning at the East entrance into the lower Ward of the Castle at the top of the Hill towards St. George's Chappel and to which place the Soveraign in her whole Habit of the Order the French Ambassador being neer her with the five Officers of the Order and Knights-Companions before her and before them the Officers of Arms and Trumpets proceeded in a stately and well ordered Cavalcade and after Clarenceux King of Arms had ended the Proclamation they continued the Proceeding thence to the Chappel in the same state and order As to the practice and constant usage of setting up Scutcheons of Arms since an 3. E. 6. and at such time as St. George's day was held elsewhere than at Windesor we have seen variety of Testimonies The care of ordering and providing of which belonged to Garter but the
and Arch-Chamberlain to the Emperor With these the King retained for his intended Expedition into France several other Noblemen of those Countries as namely Adolph Earl of Monte who having made Fealty and Homage to the King he in reward thereof setled on him a Pension for life of 1200 Florens of Gold per annum out of his Exchequer Everhard eldest Son to Thideric Earl of Lymborg Adolph Earl of Marlia Robert de Touburgh Lord of Warnich Theodorick Earl of Lossen and Heuseberg and Lord of Blatikenburgh and Theodorick de Montjoy Lord of Valkenborgh besides divers valiant Knights and Commanders of eminent note But Philip de Valois was so alarm'd at the report of these Alliances that he used all endeavours to interrupt the foresaid Ambassadors in their passage home both by placing a Garrison in the Isle of Cogaunt and setting out several men of War to Sea Of which the King having intelligene directed his Writ to Iohn de Ros Admiral of the Fleet from the River of Thames Northward to fit up a Convoy of 40 stout Ships well mann'd to be at Dort in Holland on Monday after Midsommer-day to secure their return where they lay ready for their coming And whereas these Ambassadors in making these Alliances and Retainers upon the Kings account had obliged themselves to pay sundry great sums of money the King indempulfied them their Heirs and Executors of all those sums and other things whereto they were so engaged This great Affair of strengthening the King with Alliances and Friends in Germany and Flanders was again set on foot and to that purpose another Commission was issued to the said Bishop of Lincoln and Earl of Salisbury to whom was added Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolk and Iohn Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshould with power to any three of them to treat thereupon with Lewis the Emperor Another Commission of the same date was made out to them and to Richard de Winkele Iohn de Offord Paul de Monteflorum Iohn de Montgomery and Iohn Wauwyn impowering them to treat with and retain all persons aswell Nobles as others for the Kings Service And as the King did endeavour by these means to gain assistance for the recovery of his right to the Crown of France so did he not neglect all methods of Peace among which he thought fit to constitute the foresaid Bishop of Lincolne the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk and Iohn Darcy his Agents to treat cum magnifico Principe Domino Philippo Rege Franciae illustri or his Deputies touching his right to the said Crown to wit whether it ought to remain to him or King Edward And by another Commission they were impowered to treat upon all Controversies and Demands whatsoever relating to the Dukedom of Aquitaine or other parts beyond Sea and also of a happy and perpetual peace The same day he constituted Iohn Duke of Brabant and Loraine his Lieutenant Captain and Vicar General in the Kingdom of France where it is worthy note that the King in this Commission challenging the Crown of France as devolved to him by right of succession and consequently become his lawful Inheritance did assume the Title of that Kingdom and stiled himself Edwardus Dei gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae And by another Commission bearing even date made of these Officiary Dignities to the said Duke he put France in the first place thus Edwardus Dei gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae c. but it was not long e're he voluntarily laid this Title of France aside nor did he solemnly assume it again till the 14. year of his Reign over England By several other Commissions of the same date wherein the Titles of England and France were so transposed did the King constitute into the same Dignities William Marquess of Iuliers William Earl of Henault his Father-in-Law and William Bohun Earl of Northampton and by another then dated and directed to the Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons and all other persons in the Kingdom of France having therein the Titles of England and France transposed as before they are commanded to receive the said Duke as if it were the King in his own person as also the Marquesses and Earls And further the said Marquesses and the Earls were by other Commissions severally constituted the Kings special Ambassadors to make known his said Title to all whom it should concern to challenge and prosecute his right to require every unjust detainor to render to the King whatsoever he so withheld from him to displace and punish such as they should think meet and lastly to do and execute all other things which should be most necessary for the recovery and preservation of his right The King of France had in the beginning of this year sent Forces into Gascoigne and seised upon many of the Kings Castles and Fortresses upon notice hereof the King gave command to arrest 20 Ships in the Port of Southampton and thereabouts and to press men to be ready at Portsmouth to set forward for Gascoigne on Whitson-Eve following for he had raised a great Army to send thither It may not here be forgotten what is recorded of Reymond Cornely Lord of Abertha a Gascoigner who made an offer to the King of France to fight in defence of Edward's right to those Countries for which he sent him very great and particular thanks But withall made several applications by his Ambassadors to the Court of France for restitution of what had been seized on and prevention of a War His Offers were these 1. To marry his eldest Son the Duke of Cornwall to the King of France's Daughter without Dowry 2. The marriage of his Sister the Countess of Geldres to his Son with a great sum of money 3. The marriage of his Brother the Earl of Cornwall with any of the Blood Royal. 4. To make restitution for any dammage he tendered him as much money as he could in reason demand 5. He also proferr'd to take a Voyage to the Holy Land with the King of France if he would restore his Lands to him 6. To go the Voyage if he would restore but half or some of those Lands 7. To take the Voyage with him if he would make restitution after his return or lastly 8. To take the Voyage singly himself so that at his return he would restore him his right These Overtures with many others which the King or his Council could think off were offered to the King of France in order to a Peace with this general proposal beside That if any one could think of any other way tending thereunto he would be ready to accept thereof But all in vain for on the contrary King Philip excited and maintained the Scots against him and his Navy also did great mischiefs at Sea Whereupon the Pope perceiving that the War was likely to proceed sent
to treat by the advice of Iohn Duke of Brabant and other the Kings Allies in â—landers While the King lay at the Siege of Tournay the Scots excited by the French King invaded England and passing by Berwick marched into Northumberland and thence to Dâ—â—â—â—m foraging the Country still as they went and after returned home 〈◊〉 this incursion they recovered all the Castles formerly lost except those of Edeâ—â—urgh Strivling and Roxborough the first of which within a short time after was taken by stratagem But in the Truce made at Tournay the Scotch were by a particular Article included and so all hostility ceased during that Truce yet after the expiration thereof and some new provocations given the King he raiâ—ed an Army to enter Scotland but being engaged in the War with France could not go with it himself and therefore constituted Edward King of Scotland his Captain and Lieutenant of his Army and in another Commission of the same date gave him power nevertheless to treat with the Scots and to admit them to Peace and pardon their offences In these Commissions the King stiles him Magnisicus Princeps Edwardus Rex Scotiae fidelis consanguineus noster charâ—simus The following year he was again constituted the King's Captain and Commander in chief of the Army designed against Scotland for defence of the Kingdom of England and destruction of his Scotch Enemies and further commissionated to raise men in all the Counties beyond Trent aswell within Liberties as without for that Expedition Upon which preparation a Truce was made for one year before the ending of which the Truce concluded at Vannes in Britagne between the King and his Adversary of France took commencement being to hold from Michaelmâ—s 17. E. 3. for three years And in the mean time the Bishop of Durham and others were appointed by the King to treat and conclude with the Scots touching the manner form and conditions appointed by the said Truce and the mutual commerce of the Subjects of both Kingdoms as also to reform and punish the breakers of the Truce The Truce made with the French at Tournay and enlarged at Arras gave the King time to see his Allies in Flanders aimed chiefly at the accomplishment of their own designs by his hands rather than the advancement of his interest in France by their assistance and the two fruitless Expeditions in attempting to enter that Kingdom through Flanders shewed they would do little for him besides he now judged it a more easie and advantagious passage thither through Britagne which he hoped to gain by laying hold of the occasion offered him to protect and assist Iohn Earl of Montsort Duke of Britagne whose Title to that Dukedom and the occasion of the War between him and Charles de Bloys are set down at large by Sir Iohn Froissard This Iohn Montfort being taken Prisoner at Nants by Charles de Bloys whom the French King had assisted with an Army to enter Britagne was sent to Paris and there died in Prison his Widow Ioane of Flanders being of a manlike courage nevertheless maintained the War and to gain further aiâ— and supplies from King Edward proposed by Sir Emere de Clisson a Nobleman of Britagne to marry her Son to one of his Daughters which taking effect the King sâ—nt Sir Walter Many in November with 3000 Archers into Britagne who though they wandred 40 days at Sea by distress of weather yet came timely to her assistance The King in the 16. year of his Reign raised a great Army and by Proclamation made appointed his Souldiers in all Counties of England except Yorkshire Northumberland Cumberland and Westmerland to be in readiness by Midsummer following to go along with him and after directed his Letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops for publick Prayers to be made and the divine goodness sought to for a blessing upon his Armies which now he designed both against France and Scotland The 4. of October following he took shipping at Sandwich in a Ship called the George and sailing towards France met with the French Fleet where after a fierce Encounter they were separated by Tempest at length he landed neer Vannes in Britagne and laid Siege thereto and here leaving the Lord Stafford he marched to Remes and Nantes laying Siege to both Towns as also to Dynan and took it after which he returned to Vannes and then drew off his Forces from Nantes thither and there the Bishop Cardinals of Penestrina and Tusculan sent from Pope Clement the Sixth obtained of him 19. Ian. 1343. a Truce for 3 years which the King gave way to in hope of an honorable Peace This done the King returned into England and set forth a Proclamation to give publick notice of this Truce But the Truce expiring the War was again renewed between Charles de Bloys and the Countess of Montfort to whose assistance the King sâ—nt Sir Thomas Dagworth from the Siege of Calais with a supply of men and the English having Rochedaren surrendred to them Charles de Bloys laid Siege to it to relief of which the Countess sent Sir Thomas Dangorne and Sir Iohn Artwell who 20. Iune 1347. took Charles de Bloys with the Britagne and Norman Lords that were on his part Prisoners and raised the Siege which Charles was sent into England where he remained in custody a long time The 24. of February an 17. E. 3. the King summoned a Parliament to be held die Lunae proximò post Quindena Paschae wherein Sir Bartholomew Burghersh present at the making of the Truce neer Vannes declared that the King consented thereto provided it might be honorable and advantageous for his Allies and was content to have the Peace made before the Pope as before a Friend but not as a Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel And that as the King did not undertake this War without the assent of Parliament so without it he would conclude no Peace and therefore it rested whether it were best for the King to take this Offer and send Ambassadors to the Pope instructed for this Affair before Midsummer or not Hereupon both Lords and Commons answered That it was good to pursue the Peace and to send Ambassadors as was proposed Those who were first sent to the Popes Court upon this Affair were Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan Ralph Lord Stafford William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Sir William Trussel and Andrew de Offord a Civilian The Authority given them was to Treat in presence of the Pope not as a Judge but private Person and Friend to both parties with the Agents of his Cosin the Lord Philip de Valois upon the Kings Right to the Crown of France as also upon whatsoever Dominions Dignities Honors Lands Possessions Places and Rights appertained to him concerning which any controversy had
risen between them or was like to arise After this another Commission issued containing the same powers to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby Thomas de Beauchampe Earl of Warwick Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolke Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgon Ralph de Nevill Bartholomew de Burghersh Iohn le Grey de Ruffyn Reginald de Cobham and Thomas de Brodiston Barons William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Iohn de Offord Archdeacon of Ely Robert Herward Archdeacon of Taunton and Andrew de Offord Professor of the Civil Law or to any 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 or 3. of them But this Treaty had only the effect of continuing the Truce yet that so ill kept on the French side that the following year it occasioned a solemn complaint sent from the King to the Pope by Iohn Offord Dean of Lincoln Hugh de Nevill and Nicholas de Flisco to require reformation and security for the observance of the said Truce until the time it was to end and in case that were not done then they to surrender it into the Popes hands and defy Philip de Valois as the Kings Enemy It seems the desires of the King met with a dilatory answer for the 20 of October following William Bishop of Norwich Iohn de Offord Dean and Iohn Thoresby Canon of Lincoln Sir Hugh Nevil and Sir Ralph Spigurnell Knights and Nicholas de Flisco were commissionated to declare before the Pope in what particulars the Truce had been broken and to demand reparations but after all this no satisfaction being given to the King and the Truce manifestly and notoriously violated the King gave Commission to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton to defy Philip de Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his inheritance in France and his Capital Enemy And shortly after he set forth a Manifesto touching the dissolution of the Truce wherein the causes were declared at large being the same with the Letters sent from him to the Pope and four Cardinals the 26. of May preceeding This being done the King with all diligence provides an Army to enter France the following year and the 5. of Iuly in the 20. year of his Reign took Shipping at Southampton but instead of sailing towards Goscoigne whether he at first intended upon the advice of Sir Geoffry de Harecourt he diverted his course and made towards Normandy and landed at Hoges Saynt Wast in the Isle of Constantine not far from St. Saviours le Vycount the 12. of Iuly after Upon his arrival he ordered his Army in three Battels the one marched on his right hand along the Sea-side the second on his left both which exceedingly inriched themselves with the spoils of the Country and himself with the third in the middle This Battel consisted of 3000. men at Arms 6000. Archers and 10000. Common Souldiers The first Town he took was St. Lo in Constantine rich in Drapery and next Caen the plunder of it and other places consisting of Cloth Vessels of Silver and Gold Jewels and more than 60. Knights and 300. Burgesses made Prisoners were sent to the Ships and transported into England After this the King marched on wasting and burning the Country and entred Lisieux the Chief City of Normandy for Wealth and Merchandize and plundered it And hence he gave Letters of Protection and safe conduct to the Cardinals of Tusculan and St. Iohn and St. Paul sent from the Pope to mediate a Peace From thence he marched into the Country of Eureux and spoiled it and leaving Roan he passed to Gaillon and burnt it with Vernon Pont de Lache and all the Country thereabouts and went over the River Seyne to Poissy Hence having thus overrun and wasted Britagne and Normandy the English Marshalls rode towards Paris and burnt St. Germain en Laye Mountjoy St. Clou Pety Bolayne neer Paris and the Bourg la Reyne which caused the French King to retire to St. Denys Sir Godfrey de Harecourt encountred a considerable party of the Burgesses of Amiens going to the assistance of the French King of whom he kill'd 1200 and defeated the rest and took their Carriages and Baggage About this time the French King had sent notice to King Edward that he would give him Battel the Thursday Saturday Sunday or Monday after betwixt St. Germains de Preez and Valgirart de là Paris or between Franconville and Ponthoise in answer to which from Antes 15. Aug. the King sent him word that he was come thither to put an end to the War by Battel but that the said French King had broken down all the Bridges so that they could not come at each other That he had come to Poissy and repaired that Bridge and there stayed three days expecting him and that the French Forces might have come on either on the one side or the other at his pleasure But forasmuch as they did not he could not then give him Battel and therefore now resolved to pass further into the Kingdom and there stay till he had ended the War or advantaged himself and disabled his Adversaries Nevertheless if he would combat him to save those which he challenged for his Subjects upon notice of the Hour he should find him ready for the Encounter and this he principally desired for the benefit of Christianity since he had refused to accept of or propose any reasonable way for effecting Peace This answer was not liked by the French King therefore the King having stayed at Poissy and there kept the Feast of our Lady in August marched thence into the Country of Beauvosyn burning and destroying all before him One night having lodged in an Abbey and next morning after his departure looking behind him he saw it on fire but he hanged 20 of his Souldiers that had done the mischief because at his first entrance into France he had caused Proclamation to be made throughout his Army that no man upon pain of death should violate a Church or burn a Religious House As he passed by Beauvois he fired the Suburbs and went thence to Granvillers He also took and fired the Castle of Anger 's and the Town of Pork and the two Castles and drawing neer to Abbeville he endeavoured to pass the River of Somme but sounding several places found no Ford at length one Gobyn a Grace a Prisoner brought him to Blanch-taque This Ford was guarded on the other side by 12000 men commanded by Sir Godmar du Foy here the King forced his passage and defeated Sir Godmar and after he had passed his whole Army over he marched to Crescy in Ponthieu where he formed his Army into three Battels the first of which was led by the Prince of Wales accompanied with divers of the English Nobility the second by the Earl of Northampton and the third by the King himself And here before the Battels joined he created 50 Knights
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
Preachers with Hugh de Geneve Knight Seigneur d'Auton the Duke of Normandy dispatcht them to King Edward to propose a Treaty of Peace who required things so great they could not be yielded to Howbeit they still followed the King to Chartres where a meeting for Commissioners on both sides was consented to and they brought demands to such moderation that with the Duke of Lancasters effectual perswasion the King was content to accept of Peace But what inclined the King to hearken thereto as Froissard tells the story was this That while the Commissioners on both sides were upon Treaty and the King wholly untractable there fell in the Kings Army so great a Tempest of Thunder Lightning Rain Hail and Stones of such bigness that kill'd both Men and Horses at which time the King beholding the Church of our Lady of Chartres vowed devoutly to condescend to Peace This prodigious storm hapned on Easter Munday which falling that year on the 14. of April neer a Month before the conclusion of the Treaty was from its dismal effects called Black Munday which name it retains to this day The Treaty was managed between Edward Prince of Wales and Charles Regent of France their Proctors and Agents in the name of both Kings these two Princes and all the Subjects of France Those deputed on the English part were Sir Reginald de Cobham Sir Bartholomew Burghersh Sir Francis Hale Bannerets Sir Miles Stapleton Sir Richard la Vache and Sir Neel Loring Knights and others of the Council of the King of England Those other on the French side were the Ellect of Beauues his Chancellor Charles Lord Momorency Monsieur Iohn le Meingre Marshal of France Monsieur Aynart de la Tour Lord of Vivoy Monsieur Ralph de Ravenal Monsieur Simon de Bucy Knights Monsieur Stephen de Paris and Peter de la Charite his Councillors with many others of his Council deputed by King Iohn and Himself At first a Truce was agreed on the 7. of May An. Dom. 1360. in the 34. year of King Edward over England to continue till Michaelmas following and thence till Michaelmas an 35 E. 3. which upon the return of the King into England was by Writs bearing Teste the 24. of the same Month commanded to be published throughout all the Sea-Ports in England and by a like Writ notice was given to the Duke of Lancaster to proclaim it in Gascoigne And the next day viz. 8. of May were the Articles referring to a final Peace agreed to on the behalf of both Kings This was that Famous Treaty of Renunciation of both Kings so much spoken of by Writers to which their eldest Sons were parties in regard the King of France renounced the Soveraignty of several Territories to King Edward and he in like manner renounced his Title to France and some other Places all which we shall here briefly mention First it was agreed that King Edward with what he held in Aquitaine and Gascoigne should hold perpetually to him and his Heirs in the same manner as the King of France or his Son or any of his Ancestors held the same to wit that in Soveraignty in Soveraignty and that in Demain in Demain the City Castle and County of Poytiers with the Fees of Thoâ—ars and Land of Belleville the Cities and Castles of Xaintes Agen Pierregort Lymoges Caours Tarbe Angolesme and Rodeis and the Land and Countries of Poytou Xaintonge on this and the furthest side of the River of Charente with the Town and Fortress of Rochell Agenoys Pierreguis Lymosyn Caorsyn Tarbe Bigorre Gaure Angolesmoys Rovergue the Counties of Pierregort Bigorre Gaure and Angolesmoys And that such Earls or Lords as had Lands within the forementioned places should do their Homages and Services to him That King Edward should have in Demain all that any of his Predecessors anciently held in the Town of Monstrereul on the Sea As also all the County of Ponthieu with some few exceptions the Town and Castles of Calais the Towns Castles and Lordships of Merk Sangate Coloigne Hames Wale and Oye with their appurtenances as likewise all the places lying within the Jurisdictions and bounds following that is to say from Calais to the border of the River before Gravelinges and so by the same River round about Langle and by the River that runneth beyond the Poil and by the same River that falleth into the great Lake of Guynes to Freton and thence by the valley about Calculy Hill inclosing that Hill and so to the Sea with Sangate and all the appurtenances that the King should have the County of Guynes with all the Lands Towns Fortresses Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Forests and Rights thereunto belonging in as ample manner as the then late Earl of Guynes or his Predecessors held the same and likewise all the Isles adjoining to the Lands aforesaid and all other Isles he then held That the King of France and his eldest Son the Regent should before Michaelmas 1361. give and deliver to the King of England his Heirs and Successors all the Honors Obediences Homages Liegeances Subjections Fees Services Recognizances Rights and all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts and Saveguards Advowsons and Patronages of Churches and all Lordships and Soveraignties with all the right they had and belonging to them by any Cause Right Title or Colour or to the Crown of France in the said Cities Counties Castles Towns Lands Countries Isles and Places and of their appurtenances and appendencies without holding any thing to them their Heirs or Successors or Crown of France And also to give notice to all Archbishops Bishops and Prelates and all Earls and other Noblemen and Citizens by Letters-Patent in all the said places to yield obedience to the King of England his Heirs and Successors in the same manner as they had obeyed the Kings and Crown of France and thereby also to quit and absolve them of all their Homages Fealties Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises made to the Kings and Crown of France And that the King of England his Heirs and Successors should have and hold all the forementioned Cities Counties Castles Lands Places and Persons perpetually and freely in their Lordship Soveraignty Obedience and Subjection as the Kings of France had or did hold them in times past and all the Countries with their appurtenances in all Freedoms and Liberties perpetually as Lords and Soveraigns and as Neighbors to the King and Kingdom of France without any acknowledgment of Soveraign or making any Obedience Homage Resort or Subjection Service or Recognisance in time to come to the Kings or Crowns of France of the Places or Persons aforenamed or any of them The Renunciation on the King of England's part was as to the Name and Right to the Crown and Kingdom of France to the Homage Soveraignty and Demain of the Dutchies of Normandy and Thouraine of the Earldoms of Anjou and Maine to the Soveraignty and
of Chartain and of Drouais And then all the County of Montsort to be surrendred to King Edward within a Month after Or otherwise Hostages In Berry and Bourbonoys The Fortresses of Brisansoys of St. Torete le Priague also Chabries Espunell Beamein Briance Masbres the Abbey of Diverlaks Thos Bruyll Ameron Vierson Mausey Bourseront the Roche Tnay Blotueres Villers Montempny Beauuoirs Beau Ien Voderon In Tourrayne Lisle Bouchart the Roche of Fowsey Piry Milieres Roulet Piergu Veres de Desrubay the Pleyssers Dinone Langere Osem Palnau and all other Fortresses in the party of Auvergne of Bourbonoys d' Amascon of Lyon of Berry and of Touraine And within a Month after the French King was to deliver up the Country of Angoulesmois or Hostages In Normandy Anjou and Mayne The Fortresses de Donefront in Passais Neuim Mirebel upon the Loyre the Toures de Villers Saintwast the Brois Demaine Conde upon Noire and another Fortress thereby called Messe Tynchebray Annillers the new Boure the Ferte freswel the Roche Doryvall the Morle Racul the Tower of St. Christopher Villerais Husron Honnesfleth Trisenay the Vicount of Plessoys Buret la Rouche dire le Port Ioulein la Flesche Willie Viez Passavant Roussailes And within one Month the French King was to surrender Santes and the County of Santoigne or Hostages And all the Fortresses in Pierregort Coursin and Agenoys For the surrender of all which the King made forth Commissions to several persons bearing date as aforesaid at Calais The two Kings then also made a League for them their Heirs and Successors of perpetual friendship and alliance to become faithful friends to assist each other against all persons whatsoever except the Pope and the Emperor and moreover made a solemn Renunciation to all Wars against each other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renunciation their eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both sides were sworn A Proclamation then also issued from King Edward directed to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and all other Captains of Towns c. held for the King in France to give notice to all places within their Command of this Peace and final accord made as aforesaid All things relating to this Peace being thus concluded and the French Hostages arrived at Calais King Edward entertained King Iohn at a great Supper in the Castle where the Kings Sons the Duke of Lancaster and other of the chief Nobility of England served the Kings bare-headed and when Supper was ended both Kings took leave of each other The next morning King Iohn and his Attendants went a foot on pilgrimage to our Lady of Bouloigne the Prince of Wales and his Brothers accompanied him thither where in the Church of our Lady they all made their Offerings and thence went to the Abby and having taken leave of King Iohn they returned to Calais the next day Soon after King Edward the Prince and French Hostages took shipping for England where they arrived on the Eve of the Feast of All-Saints The Peace thus setled endured all the life of King Iohn who took all possible care to have it entirely preserved and himself ever after kept good correspondence with King Edward to whom he gave all evidence of affection and love insomuch that about the end of the year 1363. he came into England only upon a visit to King Edward After his landing he rode first to Eltham and there dined with the King 24. Ian. 37. E. 3. and thence that afternoon to the Savoy in the Strand where he lodged and was entertained with all possible kindness but about the beginning of March following he fell sick and dyed the 8. of April an 38. E. 3. for whose death the King appointed solemn obsequies in divers places and conducted his Body out of England with a Royal magnificence About these times the Reputation of the King grew so great that several foreign Kings and Princes came hither to his Court either to visit him or congratulate his Victories or to obtain his assistance and relief and these were the foresaid King Iohn Peter King of Cyprus and David King of Scots an 37. E. 3. as also Wuldemer King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria his Letters of safe Conduct being dated the 6. of Dec. and to continue in force till Mid-summer after But Charles King Iohns Son and Successor who had sworn to and sealed the Treaty at Chartres was soon perswaded to violate the Peace though with great artifice he dissembled his intentions for some time For though he readily gave ear to the Complaints of some of the discontented Nobility of Gascoigne who quitting their Homage to the Prince fled to Paris and complained to him as their Supreme Lord of the Fouage imposed on that Country by the Prince pretending that King Iohn had not power to release them of their Homage to the Crown of France or deliver over their Country to the King of England Yet he forbore laying hold on this occasion at least for one year after their complaint But then all of a sudden King Edward not suspecting any fraud but thinking himself sufficiently secured by the Treaty of Peace made at Britagne the French King sent him a defiance and by the time it was thought to be delivered Guy Earl of St. Paul one of the French Hostages who had slipt out of the Kingdom without taking leave as had also the Duke of Anjou and some others of them and Sir Hugh de Castilion entred Ponthieu with an Army and were received into Abeville afterwards took St. Valery and Crotoy and immediately all Ponthieu revolted Hereupon the King assembled a Parliament at Westminster and about the end of May the Lords and Commons declared That whereas the French King had broke the foresaid Peace in not delivering the Countries nor paying the monies agreed on there and had usurped the Resort and Superiority which ought to appertain to the King of England and his Heirs in the Lands surrendred to him by the foresaid agreement by summoning the Prince and some of the Nobility of the Kings Allies to answer certain Appeals at Paris and surprised and taken divers Castles c. in Ponthieu and Gascoigne and was setting forth a Fleet to invade England contrary to his Oath and the form of the Peace therefore with their whole consent it was agreed That the King should resume the name of King of England and France as he had done before the Peace and for the future so call himself in his Letters and under his Seals Hereupon on Monday being St. Barnaby's day there were several new Seals provided in one of which was inscribed Edwardus Rex Angliae Franciae c. and in another Edwardus Rex Franciae Angliae c. Shortly after he sent an Army under the Command of the Earls of Cambridge and Penbroke into Aquitain who landing
elsewhere in the Kingdom of France and therein power was given him to treat and agree with any of the Kings Adversaries or their Adherents or other persons whatsoever And after by a particular Commission he and William Bishop of Norwich the Earls of Suffolk and Huntington and others were impowred to Treat and agree with the Earl of Flanders and his Allies touching any difference between the King and them and it seems their Endeavours took so good effect that an Agreement was made with that Earl the 10. of December following whereupon he was sent to Denemere and there received the said Earls Fealty and Homage As to his transactions relating to France He with the Bishop of Norwich the Earl of Suffolk and Sir Walter Many agreed to the Prorogation of the Truce from the 18. of November to the first of September following Upon the Death of his Father which fell out an 19. E. 3. he succeeded him in the Titles of the Earldoms of Lancaster and Leicester and for that a great part of the Lands sometimes the Earl of Lincolns were come to his possession the King Created him also Earl of Lincoln He had by his Charter of Creation granted unto him the Creation annuity of 20 l. to be paid him by the Sheriff of Lincolnshire for the time being in lieu of the third penny of that County for ever as Thomas late Earl of Lincoln his Uncle had to enjoy whilst he lived About 8. days after the King renued his Commission for being his Captain and Lieutenant in Aquitain and the parts adjacent with all Powers requisite for the better Government of those Dominions whether he shortly after pass'd And by other Letters Patent he constituted him his Captain and Lieutenant in Poicters with full power to exercise all things which appertained to that Command But for further increase of Honor the King Created him Duke of Lancaster and granted that during life he should have within that Country his Chancellor and Iustice as well to the Pleas of the Crown as other Pleas whatsoever to be held according to Law and the Executions of them and likewise all other Liberties and Royal Jurisdiction to a County Palatine appertaining as freely and wholly as the Earl of Chester was known to enjoy in the County of Chester the tenths and fifteenths and all other payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and pardons for life and members to the King excepted The 8. of March ensuing he was constituted Admiral of the Fleet from the mouth of the River Thames Westward and two days after the King Assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald de Ferers on the River Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-Ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeants at Arms in the Port of Seford and in every part and place thence by the Sea-Coast to Fowy Richard Lengles in the Port of Fowy and thence to Bristol and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullebrock in all places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritine places in Wales Upon a Rumor that the French had provided an Army and Navy to invade England among the Maritine Counties on the South of England Hants Wilts Somerset and Dorset were committed to this Duke to secure and to resist the Enemy So also was the Maritine parts of Lancashire And because the King had occasion to raise men for Land Service he gave him Commission to array 300. Archers within that Dutchy before the Quindena of the Holy Trinity then next following to be ready to march in the Kings Service The Scots also designing to invade England the following year this Duke had Commission to array all able men in Lancashire between the Age of 1â— and 60 to march against them in case they should presume to enter the Kingdom The like Commission was given him the 26. of February an 29. â— 3. The 14. of September an 29. E. 3. this noble Duke was constituted Lieutenant for the King and Iohn Duke of Bretagne then under age And by other Letters Patent of the same date Command was given to Sir Thomas Holland the Kings late Lieutenant to deliver up to him all the Castles Forts Cities Towns and other Places Lands Tenements and Rents in the said Dukedom under his custody with all the Corn Victuals Money and Issues of the said Dukedom as also all Victuals Engines Arms and other Ammunition in the said Castles c. which belonged to the King in Bretagne The 8. of August an 30. E. 6. he was by the Kings Letters Patent constituted Lieutenant and Captain in the Dukedom of Bretagne and parts adjacent for the good Government thereof both for the King and the said Iohn de Montford Duke of Bretagne then under age and in the King's custody from Michaelmas following for one year Froissard saith this Duke was in Normandy and with him the Lord Philip of Navarre and the Lord Godfrey of Harecourt carrying on the War in that Country under the Title of the King of Navar at such time as the Prince was foraging of Berry and used all endeavour to have joined his Forces with the Prince at Poicters but the passages being so well kept on the River Loire he could not pass and having heard that the Prince had got the Victory there he returned into England In this Voyage being 4000 strong they marched to Lisieux to Orbeâ— to Ponteau and relieved that Castle besieged above two Months but the Enemy hearing of the approach of the English raised their Siege in such hast that they left behind them their Ensigns and Artillery This Duke then marched to Breteuil which he relieved next to Verneuil in Perche took both Castle and Town and burnt a great part of it Upon the information of which the French King raised a mighty Army with design to fight him but he withdrawing to Laigle and the King being come within two Leagues of it found the Forest so thick and hazardous that he thought it not safe to pass further and in his return took from the Navarrois the Castles of Tilliers and Breteuil and so marched forward towards the Prince then harrasing Berry About the middle of May an 31. E. 3. he took the Field in Bretagne with 1000 men at Arms and 500 Archers and laid Siege to Rennes which though well defended was at length surrendred and the 25. of Iuly his Commission of Lieutenancy both for the King and Duke of Bretagne was renued for another year to commence at Michaelmas following but the 8. of August before the expiration thereof Sir Robert Herle and Iohn de Buckenham Clerk were appointed to succeed him being jointly and severally constituted Captains and Lieutenants both to the King and Duke for the following year from Michaelmas then next ensuing
said Company as God forbidde do commytte any suche reproche that then he shall be departed and disgraded of the said Order at the nexte Chapiter ensuyng if it soo shall please the Soverayne and the Company III. Item that every yere upon the vigilâ— of Saynt George that is to say the xxii day of the moneth of April on what day soever it fall on and though no service of Saint George be celebrate or done all the Knyghtis of the said Company beyng in any place or places of their liverties in what places soever it be shall ve bounde for to were the bole habit of the said Order That is to wit Robe Mantell Hudde and Coller from the owre of the fyrst Evensonge at the owre of tierce that is at three of the Clocke at afternone untill the said Evensonge and other devyne service â—ouper and voydance be done and accomplished And lykeâ—yse on the morrow on Saynt George's day at mattens procession masâ— and the seconde Evensonge and all the said day untyll that souper and voydance be done as ys aâ—oresaid IV. Item that if for any causes it shoulde please the said Soverayn to prorâ—ge the said Feast and solemnytie of Saynt George or that the said Feast shuld be prolonged and proroged to another day that all the Knightis of the said Order that shall be within the Realme of Englande shall gyve their attendance the even and the day of Saynt George on the parson of of the said Soverayne and shall fynde themselffes in his company in what place soever he be within the said Realme of England and they so gyveyng their attendance upon his said parsone the saide even and day shall observe and kepe the servyce of Saynte George is the Ordenance and commaundement of holye Church doth suffre and permit it And if th'ordenaunce of the Church doth not permitt it in this behalffe they be bounde to tary with the Soverayne and heare such servyce as shall be than limited and ordened bi the holy Churche to be done and celebrated the said even and day of Saynt George in observyng and kepyng duryng the said daies of all other ceremonies aswell in goyng to the Chapter upon theâ— said even before Evensong at afternone and the said day of Saynt George at afternone before the laste Evensong As also in weryng their hole habit and every Knyght beyng in his owne Stall in kepyng the Devine Servyce from the tyme of the fyrst Evensonge of the said even matenâ— and Masse unto the last Evensong of the said day and the morow after ensuyng before thé Masse of Requiem thei shall take their Mantells upon suche Gownes as shall please them and shall enter into the Chapter if there be eny election or other great affaires before the said Mass of Requiem in usyng such Ceremonyes to this accustomed as though they were present in the said Castell of Wyndesore And in case that the said Soverayne be come and entred into the said Chapiter and that some of the seid Felows of the said Order be not entred or come with hym and sâ—ulde tary behynde in case they that have not gyven and done dew attendancce upon hym shall abide withoute the dores of the said Chapiter withoute entryng in to it duryng all the tyme that the said Soverayne and other Knyghtes shall be in the said Chapiter for that tyme. And if so be that eny of the abovenamed Knyghtes come to late to the first Evensong of the said even or Mattens Masse or laste Evensong the saide day of Saynt George he shall have for penance that duryng the tyme and space of suche devyne serâ—yce he shall knele or stande before his Stall in the Place of the Oueresters and if he come not to gyve attendance upon the parson of the said Soverayne the sayd Even and day of Saynt George as is aforesaid And that he have no â—ycence or other Reasonable excuse and that it be acceptable to the said Soverayne for his absence in this case the said Knyght that soo shall have done for his penance shall not come in his Stall at the next Feast ensuyng in the presence of the Soverayne nor in his said Stall in the said College of Wyndesore And farthermore shall pay xl. for to be converted and bestowed to the use of the Ornamentes of the said Collage V. Item if it chaunsed that any of the Knyghtes of the said Order by leave or licens or otherwise were in his howse or in any orber place at his libertie and fraunchise the said even and day of Saynt George be shall be bound to cause to be prepared a Capitall Stall in the Church or Chappel in the which he shall heare devine Service In the Capitall Stall shall be sett and elevated the Order of Saint George named the Gartier beyng within a Garter and his propre arms within the Garter also shall be set at a Stall that shall be asmoche in distance after the proportion and quantite of the said Church or Chapell from the Stall of the said Soverayn as is his Stall in the Castell of Wyndesore and shall were his said habit hole and shall heare the devyne service suche as by the holy Church is ordened and limited for the said day aswell the first evensong Mattens Mass as the latter evensonge In doyng by hym first Reverence to the Aulter in the honor of God and after to the Stall where is fired or sett up the Armes of the said Order as well and as often at his comyng in as at his goyng owte of the said Church or Chapell And also as often as he shall passe before the said Armes allwey excepte the Emperours Kynges Princes Electors The which may in this case so ordeyne their Seates and Stalles as yt sâ—all seme them beast and at their pleasure VI. Item if yt were so that withoute any prorogacion the said Feast and Solempnyte of Saynt George were kept and celebrated the said Castell or Wyndesore and if it were not tâ—e pleasure of the seid Soverayne for to be present or that conveniently he may not be there in parson the said day and Feast at his said Castell of Wyndesore That in this case in what place that his pleasure shall be teyng within this his Realme of England his Majestie may appoynte and commaunde suche Knyghtes of the seid Order as best shall seme hym there for to kepe Company and geve attendance upon the parson and to kepe all and lyke Ceremonyes as though they were at the said Castell of Wyndesore And they doyng the thynges abovesaid shall be excused for their absence of the Feast of Saynt George holden at the said Castell of Wyndesore for that yere VII Item it is agreed that if the Soveraine cannot be at Seynt George's Feasâ— that he shall make his Deputy by his Letterâ— for to kepe the Câ—apter upon Saynt Georgâ—'s Even at the owre of tierce the which is at three of the Clocke at