England landing at Orewell the 21. of Febr. at 9. a Clock in the Morning and the first of March delivered it to Sir Iohn de St. Paul in a Chamber called the Cage Chamber at Westminster The old Great Seal was then delivered up to him by the said Sir Iohn which he gave to William de Kildesby to be kept in his Wardrobe But that the New Seal might be made more publick he caused Impressions thereof and of his Privy Seal to be made and sent to all the Sheriffs in England to be published in the several Counties in regard he intended at the meeting of the Parliament on the Wednesday next after Midlent Sunday to acquaint them with the cause wherefore he had added to his Stile the title of King of France That day being come he under his New Great Seal as King of France vacated all Papal Processes made at the instance of the French King against the Inhabitants of Flanders and granted to the Earl of Flanders his Heirs and Successors for ever the Towns of Lysle Doway Bethune and Orchies with the County of Artois and City of Tournay and to their Inhabitants divers Priviledges And by another Instrument of the same date under the said Seal with the consent of the Parliament he granted that the staple of Wools should be setled at Bruges A little before his return into England he wrote a Letter from Gaunt which bore Teste the 8. of Febr. in the first year of his Reign over France and 14. over England to the Prelates Peers and Commons of France thereby signifying that Charles late King of France his Mothers Brother being dead that Kingdom was fallen to him by manifest Law and that Philip de Valois Son to the Uncle of the said King had by force intruded into it in his Minority and yet detained it Lest therefore he should seem to neglect his own right he thought good to own the Title of France and take on him the defence and Government thereof and having offered the said Philip divers friendly conditions of Peace to which he refused all condiscention he was therefore necessitated to defend himself and recover his right by force of Arms and therefore all such Subjects as would submit to him as true King of France by Easter then next ensuing should be received into his grace and protection Having dispatcht his Affairs with the Parliament which had given him a great Supply to go on with this War and wherein an Act passed that he might with the assent of his Allies condescend to any reasonable terms of Peace And having created the Marquess of Iuliers Earl of Cambridge and given him 1000 l. per annum until he were provided for of so much Land of Inheritance He got in readiness an Army to go beyond Sea and prepared his Navy to transport it and on the 22. of Iune horâ diei quasi primâ set sail from Orewell The French King had laid 120. great Ships beside Genoeses Normans and Picards Manned with 40000. Men to intercept his passage But after a fierce and bloody fight on Midsummer Eve the King got the Victory before Sluce destroying most of the Enemy and taking the greatest part of their Fleet and on Midsummer day landed at Sluce and went forthwith to Gaunt Of this Signal Victory an account by Letter was sent from the King to the Bishops and Prelates by the Earl of Arundel and Sir William Trussell Not long after the King held a Council with his Allies at Villenort where it was resolved that the King should besiege Tournay before which he brought 120000. Men. Thence he sent a Letter sealed with his Great Seal to Philip de Valois signifying that he had fairly requested him to render him his lawful right to the Crown of France but perceiving he meant to persist in detaining it without returning him any answer He was therefore entred Flanders as Soveraign Lord thereof to pass through that Country for recovery of his Inheritance so detained yet to avoid the effusion of Christian blood and determine the right he challenged him to fight body to body or else 100. chosen Souldiers on each side or if both were refused then to pitch upon a day for both Armies to fight neer Tournay But the French King returned no answer to this Letter The Siege continued eleven weeks wanting three days in which time by the mediation and effectual endeavour of Iane de Valois the French Kings Sister a Treaty was set on foot Iohn King of Bohemia Adolph Bishop of Leige Reynel Duke of Loraine Am Earl of Savoy and Iohn Earl of Arminiack being Commissioners for the French King the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldres the Marquess of Iuliers and Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont for King Edward who on the 25. of September agreed upon a Truce between both Kings to endure till Midsummer following of which publication was made in England the 6. of October and thus both Armies retired But this was much against the Kings Will though not against those of his Allies who were very desirous to return home The Siege being raised the King went to Gaunt and thence returned into England where he arrived at the Tower Wharf on the Feast of St. Andrew about Midnight At this Treaty before Tournay it was among other things agreed that another Treaty should be held at Arras within that year whither both Kings and the Pope should send Commissioners but that meeting produced only another year to be added to the Truce The Kings Commissioners were the Bishops of Lincolne and Durham the Earl of Warwick Sir Robert d' Artois Sir Iohn Henault and Sir Henry of Flanders This year produced some other Overtures for the amicable composure of all Controversies and concluding a Peace between the two Kings to which purpose a Commission issued to R. Bishop of Durham Hugh Earl of Gloucester William Fitz Warren Nicholas de Flisco and William Trussell Another Commission issued to Iohn Duke of Brabant Reignold Duke of Gueldres and Zuthphen William Marquess of Iuliers and Earl of Cambridge and William Earl of Hanaw and Iohn de Hanaw Lord Beaumont to treat and agree with Philip de Valois upon a Truce to the Feast of the decollation of St. Iohn Baptist then coming on which it seems became so far hopeful as to produce a prorogation till the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and thence till Midsummer in the following year Another Commission was made forth to William Earl of Huntingdon Bernard Dominus de le Brett Bartolomew de Burglersh Iohn de Offord Archdeacon of Ely and Michael de Flisco to treat with the 〈◊〉 Philip de Valois aswell touching the Kingdom and Crown of France as divers other questions and controversies between them and to compose the differences by a full Peace or otherwise a Truce and one of these Commissions was
first made to create him Knight according to the custom of other Christian Emperors before they were admitted to take upon them the Imperial Diadem to which purpose he was presented by Iohn King of Bohemia before Petrus Capucius Cardinal of St. George the Popes Legate whom the King besought on the behalf of this elected Esquire for so Earl William was yet called that he might have the Oath of his profession administred unto him and be inscribed into the Military Colledge which he having taken the King of Bohemia gave him the blow on the Eaâ— and then pronounced the words of signification after which 〈◊〉 girt with the Sword The Ceremony at large is to be found in Seldens Titles of Honor. pag. 442 443. and 444. as also in Iurisprudentia Heroica p. 400.401 In the time of the Saxons here in England Knights received their Institution at the hands of great Prelats or Abbots it being the opinion of our Ancestors that nothing so happily succeeded as that which was performed by religious persons in the accomplishing of which solemnity they were very punctual by adding divers religious Ceremonies as Watching Fasting Bathing Consâ—crating of the Sword and the like and how solemnly these things were observed will appear in that famous Constitution mentioned by Ingulphus speaking of Heward Lord of Brune in Lincolnshire who coming into England from â—landers where he had lived in exile with a considerable assistance and force of his Friends and Followers to recover his Fathers possessions received the Honor of Knighthood from Brand Abbot of Saint Edmunds-bury which being thence transcribed by our learned Selden Cambden and Mr. Dugdale upon a like occasion we here omit it Shortly after the Conquest the Custom of receiving Knighthood from religious persons began to be restrained here in England insomuch that at a Synod held at Westminster in the year of our Lord 1102. viz. anno tertio Hen. primi it was among other things ordained Ne Abbates â—aciunt Milites by which word Abbates we suppose is understood all sorts of spiritual persons However the religious Ceremonies for the most part continued especially the Vigils and Bathings an eminent example whereof we have not long after in the time of King Edward the First who to adorn the splendor of his Court and augment the glory of his intended Expedition into Scotland diâ—â— at Whitsontide in the four and thirtieth year of his Reign begirt Edward of Carnarvan his eldest Son with the Military Belt and this young Prince immediately at the high Altar in Westminster Abbey conferr'd the same Honor upon neer three hundred Gentlemen the Sons of Earls Barons and Knights The Habit Equipage Attendants and Ceremonies of which grand solemnity being already transcribed at large out of Matthew of Westminster both by Mr. Selden and Mr. Cambden we shall thereunto refer our Reader But in regard their Author tells us that the number of these Knights were about three hundred and the old Annals of Ireland cited by Mr. Selden add one hundred â—ore which was further wide of the mark we will here out of a respect to truth and the memory of those Noble persons with such as are descended from them take occasion to give a perfect Catalogue of their Names which amount to no more than 267. Only first we shall take notice because that part of the Ceremony namely Bathing is not remembred by Matthew of Westminster that it is not only imply'd in the solemnity of the Vigils then held but we find in the Accounts of the great Wardrobe for the aforesaid year among the Robes and other Ornaments appointed to be prepared for the young Prince that there were six Ellâ— of Cloth delivered out for the covering of his Bath The religious Ceremonies of Bathing Watching and offering up the Sword at the high Altar are retained amongst us at this day but restrained only to that peculiar Degree of Knighthood which from hence hath the denomination of Knights of the Bath The Names of all the Knights made at Whitsontide anno 34. E. 1. DOminus Edwardus Princeps Walliae Iohannes de Warenna Edmundus de Arundel Thomas de Greilly Iohannes de la Ware Thomas de Ferers Bartholomeus de Enfeud Iohannes de Moubray Alanus Plokenet Aungerus filius Henrici Gilbertus de Clare filius Domini Thomae de Clare Edmundus de Cornubia Iohannes de Frivill Willielmus de Freigne Amaricus de Fossad Fulcius filius Warini Walterus de Hugeford Stephanus de Burghash Iacobus de Nortwoode Humpfridus de Waldene Rogerus de Chaundos Iohannes de Deen Willielmus de la Zouche Ricardus Lovel Rogerus de Mortuomari Walterus Hakelut Rogerus de Ransou Galfridus de Seye Richardus Porteseie Egidius de Breheus Walterus de Mollesworth Rethericus de Ispania Petrus de Gavaston Thomas de Verdon Humfridus de Bassingbourn Nicholaus Kryell Robertus filius Roberti filii Pagani Iohannes de Harecourt Iohannes filius Domini Iohannis de Sulleye Willielmus Tracy Hugo filius Domini Hugonis le Despenser Willielmus de Huntingfeud Thomas Bardolp Nicholaus Malemeyns Robertus de Scales Willielmus Trussel Iohannes de Hants Willielmus de Monteacute Thomas de Multon Walterus de Montgomeri Rogerus filius Domini Rogeri de Mortuomari Eustachius de Whyteneye Iohannes Mautravers Thomas de Veer filius Comitis Oxoniensis Thomas de Lodelawe Willielmus de Bernyngham Griffinus filius Griffini de la Pole Willielmus de Lodelawe Philippus de Courtenay Vrianus de Sancto Petro. Warinus de Bassingburn Iohannes le Blount Major London Iohannes Denre Iohannes de Insula Thomas de Lucy Radulphus de Botetourte Hugo de Mailly Radulphus de Kamoys Petrus filius Domini Petri de Malolacu Edmundus de Willington Robertus de Kendale Henricus de Den. Iohannes de Nevill Rogerus de Ingelfeld Hugo Braboef Iohannes de Weston Iohannes filius Warini Thomas de Ponynges Iohannes de Foxley Iohannes de Walkingham Willielmus de Harden Radulphus de Weden Iohannes de Meryeth Radulphus de Rolleston Iohannes de Manduit Thomas de Boiville Willielmus Corbet Willielmus Brabason Georgius de Thornetone Iohannes de la Penne. Iohannes de Bykebyry Willielmus de Cosyngton Radulphus Bagot Willielmus de Bassinges Andreas de Sakeville Nicholaus Pershots Morganus ap Mereduk Vmfridus de Boune Walterus de Skydemore Iohannes Chaundos Walterus de Derlyngham Walterus de Stirkelonde Iohannes de Clyndon Ingelramus Belet Laurentius de Hollebeche Iohannes de Stauntone Iohannes de Wachesham Iohannes de la Mare Hugo Howel Willielmus de Menymrate Socius Amenrey de Fossad Willielmus Pyrot socius Stephani de Burways Iohannes Sauvage Philippus de Vyreley Robertus Lovel Adam Walran Iohannes de Penbrug Rogerus Pychard Henricus le Moigne Robertus de Lâ—cy Iohannes de Boillaunde Iohannes de Guyse Willielmus Motoun Rogerus Waleys Philippus le Lou. Iohannes de Hinton Iohannes de Twyford Richardus de Breheus Stephanus
Knights of this Order in France were in one and the same hour seized on and imprisoned by the command of Philip le Bel King of France with the consent of Pope Clement the Fifth being charged with most infamous and damnable Crimes the Articles confessed are set down by Andr. Favin But in England their apprehension was on Wednesday next after the Feast of Epiphany in the first year of the Reign of our King Edward the Second Shortly after a solemn examination of their Crimes upon the Articles exhibited against them was by the special Commission of the said Pope committed to William de Grenesfeild Arch-Bishop of York and Ralph Baldock Bishop of London in the presence of the accused Templars who sufficiently answered all the objections Howbeit they were afterwards convicted in a Council held at London and all their Lands and Goods seized into the Kings hands Upon this the aforesaid Arch-Bishop very greatly commiserating the sad state and condition of the Templars within his Diocess thus left destitute of maintenance most charitably disposed of them in several Monasteries under his Jurisdiction where they were provided for during their lives Two years after many of these Knights were burnt in France nay some of the Bones of Iohn de la Tur who had been long buried were taken up and in like manner burnt Upon Munday Sennight after Easter anno 1312. in the second Session of the Council called at Vienna in Daulphine the year before this Order was by Papal Authority condemned and perpetually dissolved and in March of the following year the last Great Master Iaques de la Maule a Bourgundian burnt at Paris Their Lands Possessions and Goods by a Decree of the said Pope dated at Vienna 6. Non. Maii in the seventh year of his Papacy were annexed to the Knights Hospitallers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem except those within the Kingdoms of Castile Arragon Portugal and Majorca which were reserved to the disposition of the Roman See because they had constantly hazarded their lives in the defence of the Christian Faith and continually suffered great dangers and undergone vast expences in transmarine parts as also for five years before with exceeding great charge and signal valor had maintain'd the Isle of Rhodes against the Turkish power Thus fell this Noble Order no less famous for Martial Atchievements in the East than their wealthy Possessions in the West For according to Doctor Heylins account they enjoyed no less than 16000 Lordships in Europe and a Spanish Author tells us their Revenue was two Millions annually and had in possession 40000 Commanderies Which gave occasion to many sober men to judge that their Wealth was their greatest crime And there are several Authors remembred by Alfonsus Ciaconius who are of opinion they were falsly accused and by suborned Witnesses meerly â—pon the ambition and covetous design of Philip King of France who gaped after their Lands but nevertheless the morsel fell beside his mouth The Statutes of this Order are recorded by Favin Knights of the Order of St. Lazarus 4. We are here to note that this Order was at the first Institution only a Fraternity of Religious Monks not Ecclesiastick Knights whose Weapons in the Christian warfare were Prayers and Tears not the Military Sword And albeit the time is uncertain when they first began to be an Order of Knighthood yet it cannot be presumed to be before the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre took upon them that Military profession since to them is generally attributed the beginning of that Custom for Ecclesiasticks to make use of Arms in defence and propagation of the Christian Religion nor was there indeed occasion administred for it until the Christian Princes set on foot the Holy War in Palestine This Order then is accounted the most ancient of all others in Christendom which occasioned Pope Pius the Fifth in two Bulls given in the year 1572. to stile it Antiquissimum Charitatis Militiae Christi Ordinem but that as hath been said must be understood as an Order of Monks and before they were made Ecclesiastick Knights The Original of such their foundation being by St. Gregory Nazianzen attributed to St. Basil about the years 360. or 370. or between both viz. anno 366. about the time of Iulian surnamed the Apostate The first Institution of this Order was upon a most charitable account namely to take care of persons infected with incurable Leprosie a Disease frequent in the Eastern Countries by which Malady they became separated even from the conversation and society of men And albeit through the Incursion of Barbarians and Saracens and the injury of time this Order lay as it were extinguished for a great while yet was it revived when the Latin Princes joined together in a holy League to expel the Saracens out of the Holy Land and a famous Hospital was then erected in Ierusalem under the Title of St. Lazarus for the reception and entertainment of Lepers For in that time the Monks of this Order added Martial Discipline to their knowledge in Physick and became very skilful both at their Weapons and in feats of Arms insomuch as their services against the Infidels begat a great esteem and value with Baldwin the Second King of Ierusalem and some of his Successors and other Princes enumerated by Aubertus Miraeus in which Age this Order flourished with great lustre under the Government of a Great Master In the year of our Lord 1120. Pope Innocent the Third and after him Honorius the Third granted very great priviledges to this Order and received it under the protection of the Papal See The Knights wore a Green Cross anciently plain afterwards of eight points and Pope Gregory the Ninth prescribed the form of creating their Great Master About the year 1150 they made their Vows of Obedience Poverty and Chastity before William Patriarch of Ierusalem and submitted themselves to the Rule of St. Benedict receiving his black habit But seven years after Pope Alexander the Fourth commanded them to observe the Rule of St. Aug. and approved the donation of the Emperor Frederick who had given great Revenues in Calabria Apulia and Sicily to this Order Nicholas the Third exempted them from payment of Tythes and several of the succeeding Popes indulged them with divers priviledges These Knights were so admired and favoured by St. Lewis of France that he brought twelve of them with him out of Palestine and placed them at Boigny in the Diocess of Orleans where he established a Colledge anno Domini 1154. which as Favin affirms was acknowledged for the chief Seat of this Order in Europe In process of time the dignity of this Order sunk being suppressed by Pope Innocent the Eighth who united it to the Order of Hospitalars at Rhodes by virtue of his Bull dated anno 1490.
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
yearly collected and put into their hands for that use and purpose in manner following They send their Agents yearly abroad chiefly to Algiers and Fess to return them an account of the age quality and number of those who are in Captivity and upon consideration had thereof order them to contract for their redemption the general course being to ransom the religious persons first next the Laiety and among them the young and such as appear most likely to do service before others Few dye in Spain who bequeath not some Legacy to this Order which greatly encreafeth its Revenue and here though she was no Benefactress to this Order nor left her Legacy to be disposed of by that Fraternity most deservedly may be recorded of our Nation the illustrious Lady Alice Dutchess Dudley created into that Dignity by his late Majesty of ever blessed memory King Charles the First by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Oxford the 23. of May in the twentieth year of his Reign who dyed the 22. day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1668 9. being the 90. year of her age and bequeathed by her last Will and Testament one hundred pounds per annum for ever to be imployed for redemption of Captives of the English Nation Knights of the Rosary in Toledo 27. Roderick Arch-Bishop of Toledo in Spain seeing the Country sore oppressed by the Moors called the Nobless of the City together and propounded the great necessity of their appearance and assistance in its defence and extirpation of the Moors whereto they being unanimously inclined he gave beginning to this Order of the Rosary into which entred many of the Nobless This Order had Statutes which chiefly obliged them to the defence of the Catholick Religion to fight against the Moors and to say continually a Rosary of our blessed Lady Our Author finds not that it had been approved by any of the Popes but conceives the Arch-Bishop being Metropolitan of Spain was of sufficient power to give it approbation besides he framed the Statutes for the Knights and prescribed to them the Rule of living to wit that of St. Dominick The Ensign of this Order was the Figure of our Lady of the Rosary upon a Cross Flory quarterly Argent and Sable Knights of St. Mary the Glorious in Italy 28. The Author of this Institution was Bartolemeo de Vincenza of the Order of Friers Preachers or Dominicans afterwards made Bishop of that City a man that did much both in word and example and the end he chiefly design'd was to procure peace to the Cities of Italy then much disquieted by Civil Wars among the Princes thereof This Order received Institution anno Dom. 1233. a year famous and renowned in that Age for very great piety and therefore called generalis devotionis Annus It was approved and confirmed by Pope Vrban the Fourth anno 1262. and the Rule of St. Dominick prescribed to the Knights who are obliged to take into their care and protection Widows and Orphans and use their endeavour to beget concord among such as are at variance The Habit is a White Tunick or Cassock and a Mantle of Russet Colour but there is some difference among those that mention the Badge Sansovin and Maurolico say they wore before their breasts a purple Cross patee bordered with Gold Gothofridus saith it is a purple Cross patee with two Stars in chief but Marquez gives it an Octogonal Cross like that of Malta and four Stars to wit one at every side thereof The manner of giving the Habit and making Profession is with the Ceremony used by the Knights of Malta The Knights profess Obedience to their Great Master and conjugal Chastity but are forbid to wear Spurs or Bridles of Gold They are commonly called Cavaleri de Madona and reside at Bolonia Modena and other Cities of Italy and because they have no Monasteries but dwell in their own Houses together with their Wives and Children at ease and in plenty they were called Fratres Gaudentes or Hilares The Order of Knights of St. James in Portugal 29. We have not met with any who make mention of this Order as distinct from that of St. Iames in Galicia save only I. Mich. Marquez but such as rather take it to have been sometime a member thereof and that the Knights of St. Iames in Galicia who had anciently Commanderies in Portugal were only exempted from obedience and subjection to their Great Master and not received upon the account of a new Institution for so much doth Andrew Favin affirm but Ios. Micheli from Portugal Writers reports the contrary and gives this further account of the Order to wit That the troubles the Moors gave daily to Portugal and the great zeal of their Kings seeing their Subjects so exceedingly opprest by them was such that they endeavoured by all means to cut off those mischiefs and to secure and quiet the Consines of their Kingdom Among whom King Don Denys the Sixth moved with a like tender regard towards his People did in the year of our Lord 1310. institute this Order of St. Iames under whose protection he became victorious in divers Battels against the Moors and at length quieted his Kingdom by the assistance of these Knights And it was not long after the Institution e're this Order flourished through the favour of those Priviledges bestowed on it by the Founder It received approbation first from Pope Nicholas the Fourth after from Pope Celestine the Fifth and again from other of his Successors The Knights profess conjugal Chastity Hospitality and Obedience and none are admitted before they make proof of their Gentility by blood The Ensign of this Order is a Red Sword formed like that of St. Iames in Galicia the Habit White only the difference between them lies in a little Twist of Gold which these of Portugal draw about their Sword At the Town of Alcasar de Sul was the principal Convent of this Order first seated afterward removed to Palmela where it yet continues and whiles Portugal remained under the Crown of Spain and the Administration of this Order under that King it was no less illustrious than whilst their own Kings governed The Statutes are much the same with those of St. Iames in Galicia so also is the manner of giving the Habit Benediction and Profession The Order of our Lady and of St. George of Montesa in Valentia 30. This Order did succeed into the Lands and Possessions of the Knights Templars in Valentia as the Knights Hospitalars did into those of the Templars in France Italy and other places For after the Templars were dissolved Iames the Second King of Aragon and Valentia refused to grant their Revenues lying in his Kingdom to the Order of St. Iohn of Ierusalem as other Princes had done nevertheless within few years sent an Embassy
Roman Church and to repress the insolence of the Turks roving on the Mediterranean Sea In this Institution there are three kinds of Knights who are differenced by their Habits The first are Knights Gentlemen Laicks who wear a Mantle of White double Taffaty having great sleeves and a long train the Cordons of White Silk with Knots and Tassels of White and Blue Silk the second are Knights Gentlemen Priests and beneficed who wear the like Mantle but something shorter and both these wear about their necks in a Blue Ribbon a Cross of Gold enameled Blue The third are Knights Chaplains or Servants of Arms and their Mantle is of White Serge with strait long sleeves reaching down to the ground and Cordons of Blue Silk All these Degrees wear on the left side of their Mantles the Cross of the Order as is here described to wit of Blue Satin embrodered with Silver and bordered with Gold in the middle is a round Circle wherein is this Motto In hoc Signo vincam and within that is composed a Cipher of the Letters M and S the initial Letters of Sancta Maria crowned with a Chaplet of Flowers and Stars of Gold set over the Chaplet from the round Circle issue twelve rays or beams of Silver representing the twelve Apostles the finishings of the Cross are fashioned like Flowers de Lis and at the end of each Flower is a Star set to signifie the four Evangelists The Statutes and Rules of this Order are recorded by Andrew Favin in his Theater of Honor. The Order of the Annunciade and St. Michael the Arch-Angel or of the Christian Militia in Moravia 46. In the year of our Lord 1618. Charles Gonzaga Duke of Maniua and Nevers together with Adolph Count of Altham his Brother and Iohn Baptist Petrignan Sfortia did contrive the Institution of thâ—s Order and to extend and amplifie the same divided the World amongst them For Duke Charles took the North and West parts his Brother the Eastern part and to the other was given the South where in their own persons they were bound to found Convents and invest Knights And in prosecution of this design we find that Duke Charles began his Institution of this Order under the Rule of St. Francis in the Monastery of the Capuchins in Olmuntz the Metropolis of Moravia on Saturday the 17. of November in the foresaid year and dedicated the same to the honor of the blessed Virgin and St. Michael But what thâ— other two did in the Eastern or Southern parts of the world we have not heard Ioh. Ludov. Gothofridus gives this Title to the Order to wit Ordo Equilum Militiae Christianae Philip Brietius calls it Conceptionis Ordo Andr. Mendo Militia Virginis Annuntiatae and the Knights thereof are called by Ios. Micheli Marquez Cavalleros de la Anunciada y San Miguel Archangel en Mantua This Order was afterwards viz. the 8. of March 1619. received at Vienna by many Princes of divers Countries whose names together with the Statutes of the Order are set down by the said Gothofridus in the work above cited Iâ— was approved by Pope Paul the Fifth and the 6. of February 1624. it received confirmation from Pope Urban the Eighth From the preamble of the Statutes of this Order it appears that it had for its Basis the two chief Precepts of the Divine Law to wit to love God with our whole hearts and with all our souls and our Neighbour as our selves and the end of its Institution was to establish Peace and Concord between Christian Princes and their Subjects to release Captives and to deliver the oppressed out of the hands of the Infidels The Habit assigned to the Knights was White upon which they wore a long White Mantle and over that a shorter of Blue Silk their Buskins were of Blue and their Caps of Black Silk They bore two Crosses for the Ensign of this Order the one of Gold of eight points enamel'd Blue on the one side thereof was the Figure of the blessed Virgin bearing our Saviour in her arms and on the other the Portraicture of St. Michael treading the Dragon under his Feet This they wore about their necks in a Blue Ribbon The other Cross was made of Blue Silk and Gold in the middle whereof was the Image of the blessed Virgin surrounded with rays of the Sun holding Christ in her left arm and a Scepter in her right hand crowned with 12 Stars a Crescent placed under her feet all which were encompassed with the Cord of St. Francis and the four angles of the Cross cast forth four golden flames This Cross was embrodered on the left side of their white Mantles Touching the great Collar of this Order it was composed of fifteen Cords of St. Francis joined together with as many Stars at the lower part whereof hung at three Chainets the golden Cross above described But it seems that in the height and glory of this Order there grew some difference between the Founders insomuch that in a short time it became ruined thereby as if that notable Comet which appeared within four days after it was instituted shewed its sudden splendor and decay which occasioned Brietius to say of it That the Mahumetans for whose destruction it was instituted heard only the name and report of it CHAP. III. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE Orders absolutely Military SECT I. The Order of Knights of the Round Table 1. HAving thus given some account of the Religious Orders of Knighthood that is of such whose Knights live under an Ecclesiastick Rule and according to some Religious Profession or solemn Vows we shall next proceed to those that are accounted purely and completely Military among which that of the Knights of the Round Table may for its Antiquity challenge the first place The Severall ENSIGNES of the ORDERS absolutely MILITARY mentioned in the third Chapter The Founder of this most ancient Order was Arthur King of Britain Crowned in the year of our Lord 516. at the age of 15 years concerning whom though some with unbounded fancies have strained too far in setting down his famous actions insomuch as that what really is true of him can hardly be known yet all allow him to have been a stout and successful Martialist of incredible courage and gallantry the most famous and renowned of all the British Kings and as William of Malmsbury judges right worthy to have been celebrated by true story not false Tales seeing it was he that long upheld his declining Country and even inspired martial courage into his Country-men having overcome the Saxons in twelve several pitch'd Battels I have by me an old Chronicle in Manuscript Entituled Brute or the Chronicles of England beginning at Brute and ending the sixth year of King Henry the Fifth wherein it is noted That after King Arthur had conquered divers Countries he lived
Institutor of the military Fraternity of the Star which sufficiently contradicts the fair-spun relation of Favin who bestows the honor of Foundation upon King Robert as before hath been said To which we may add that the day assigned by Favin for holding the Chapter of Election of the first Knights to wit the eighth of September 1356 and at Clichy aforesaid was in all probability too neer the day of the Battel of Foicters that being but eleven days after and King Iohn not only then at a great distance from Clichy but on a hasty March to engage the Black Prince and consequently too little at leisure to enter upon the Formalities of such an Institution This Order was of no long continuance for being much violated and dishonoured during the confusion of the Civil and Foreign War by the admission into it of mean and undeserving persons it gave a fair occasion to King Charles the Seventh to take off the pretence of honor supposed in it and to extinguish it Whereupon in the year 1455. he contrived the holding of a Chapter for giving away that Ensign thereof which himself wore to the Chevalier du Guet Captain of the Night-watch in Paris after whose example the Princes and Lords left the Order thus disgraced to the said Captain and never after wore it This Story as to the time though not the manner doth Favin contradict and renders his reasons for it howbeit upon what occasion soever the Order became relinquished or dismist certain it is that upon if not some time before the Foundation of the Order of St. Michael it grew out of request as did that of the Gennet upon the erection of the Star The Order of the Lilly in Navarre 8. Garcius King of Navarre the Sixth of that name lying under the extremity of a languishing sickness sent to divers places of Devotion to the end that Prayers might be offered up for the recovery of his health In which season there hapned to be found in the City of Nagera where he kept his Court an Image of the blessed Virgin Mary issuing forth of a Lilly and holding her Son between her arms upon finding of which if we may credit the story he immediately recovered and to perpetuate his devotion to the said Virgin instituted an Order of Knighthood in the year of our Lord 1048. which consisted of 38 Knights drawn out of the ancientest Families in Navarre Biscay and old Castile and Entituled it the Order of Knights of St. Mary of the Lilly But Ios. Mich. Marquez gives foundation to this Order 25 years before Favin and draws the Institution from another ground For whereas Don Garcias had succeeded his Father King Zanchy the Fourth in the Kingdom of Navarre the Moors made War against him and he prevailing made a Feast in honor of the blessed Virgin Mary at which he instituted this Order and adorned many Knights with the Ensign thereof beginning with his Brothers and Sons Of this Order esteemed the most illustrious of all Spain King Garcias ordained himself and after him his Successors Kings of Navarre the Chiefs and Sovereigns The Knights promised at their entrance into this Order to expose their lives and fortunes in defence of the Christian Faith conservation of the Crown of Navarre and expulsion of the Moors The Badge or Symbol which the Knights wore daily on their breast was a Lilly embroidered in Silver but on solemn days a double Chain of Gold interlaced with the letter M. made after the fashion of a Saxon Capital at the end whereof did hang a Flower de Lis of Gold enamelled White bearing the foresaid Letter M. crowned upon the head of its Flower The Habit was White wrought all over in Needle-work with White Lillies But Ios. Micheli differs in this also from Favin for he assigns for the Badge two Branches of Skie-coloured Lillies one crossing another and in the middle of them the Figure of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin but agrees that the Habit was White The Order of the Sword in Cyprus 9. Guy of Lusignan and according to this Author King of Ierusalem and Cyprus in right of his Wife Sibilla Sister to Baldwin the Leper shortly after his setlement in the Isle of Cyprus which he had bought of Richard the First King of England for one hundred thousand Crowns of Gold Instituted this Order in the year of our Lord 1195. in remembrance of so fortunate a Plantation of 15000 persons whom he had brought thither But Mennenius and some others are so far from being of this opinion as to affirm that neither the name of the Founder nor the time of this Order's Foundation are certainly known though it be conceived he was one of the Family of Lusignan who gave beginning unto it The Collar of the Order called a Collar of Esses by Mennenius was composed as Favin reports of round Cordons of White Silk woven into Love-knots interlaced with the Letters S and R. Beneath this Collar hung an Oval of Gold wherein was figured a Sword the Blade enamelled Silver and the Hilt Gold and about the Oval was engraven this Motto Securitas Regni Micheli saith it was Pro fide servanda and Gothofridus Pro integritate tuendâ The day appointed for holding of the solemn Ceremonies of this Order was Ascension-day whereon the Founder gave it in the Church of St. Sophia the Cathedral of Nicosia in Cyprus to his Brother Amaury Constable of Ierusalem and Cyprus and to 300 Barons which he had established in that his new Kingdom There were eight Kings of Cyprus of this House of Lusignan Great Masters or Chiefs of this Order and when the Isle fell into the hands of the Turks this noble Institution ceased The Order of the Bear in Switzerland 10. The Emperor Frederick the Second in favour of the Abbot of St. Gall in Swaben and several Noblemen of that Country who had been active in his assistance for gaining to him the Empire instituted this Order in the year of our Lord 1213. and bestowed upon the elect Knights Collars of Gold at the end whereof hung the Figure of a Bear Gold mounted on an Hillock enamelled with Black He ordained that this Honor should be conferr'd by the Abbot of St. Gall for the time being and that on the Anniversary of their Patron St. Gall a Gentleman of Scotland and the Apostle of Swaben being the 16. day of October the Knights of this Order should assemble at the Abbey on which day such Candidates as were designed to receive the Honor were girded with the military Belt the Sword being first consecrated at the Altar and adorned with the Collar of the Order having kept their Vigils the preceding night according to the ancient and accustomed manner But it carried the Title of the Order of the Bear in memory of St.
that Saint This King appointed a White Habit for the Knights and prescribed laudable Constitutions to the Order but because he setled no Revenue thereupon the splendor thereof ceased at his death nevertheless he obtained the end for which it was instituted Knights of St. Anthony in Hainolt 27. Albert of Bavaria Earl of Hainolt Holland and Zeland designing an Expedition against the Turks and Moors instituted this Order in the year of our Lord 1382. The Ensign thereof was a golden Collar wrought after the fashion of an Hermits Girdle at which hung a walking Staff and a little golden Bell. The Order of the Porcupine in France 28. Monsieur Lewis of France Duke of Orleans instituted this Order in the year 1393. to honor the Baptism of his eldest Son Charles by Valentina his Wife Daughter to Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan and made choice of the Porcupine for his Devise with this Epigraph Cominus Eminus not only out of the high hopes he conceived of this Child but also to intimate something of revenge against Iohn Duke of Burgundy his mortal Enemy no less than self-defence against all his designs and assaults of which this Animal is a proper Emblem Paradine Mennenius and Micheli make Charles the Son of this Monsieur Lewis the Founder anno Dom. 1430. in imitation or emulation of Philip Duke of Burgundy Founder of the Order of the Golden Fleece but Favin strengthens his foresaid relation from the authority of one Hennotin de Cleriaux an Herald who attended the forementioned Christning in his Heralds Coat and set down an account of the Institution by Monsieur Lewis together with the names of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen on whom he then bestowed his new erected Order their number being 25 including the Founder The Habit assigned to the Knights were Surcoats of Violet Velvet and over them Mantles of Watchet Velvet lined with Carnation Satin The Collar was formed of Gold Chains at the end whereof hung a Porcupine of Gold upon a little enamelled hillock of Grass and Flowers which Creature was also embroidered on the Knights Belts The Order of the Lilly in Aragon 29. According to Hieronymus Zurita this Order was instituted by Ferdinand King of Aragon called the Infant of Antiquera in the year of our Lord 1403. and dedicated to the honor of the blessed Virgin The Collar was composed of Bough-Pots fill'd with White Lillies interlaced with Gryphons and as Hieronymus Romanus reports was vulgarly called La Orden de la Terraca o de las Azucenas ò Iarra de S. Maria which is as much as to say The Order of Lillies or the Vessel of St. Mary Favin gives it under the Title of the Looking-glass of the blessed Virgin Mary in Castile instituted as he saith in honor and memory of a Victory which this King Ferdinand had obtained in that Kingdom against the Moors anno 1410. to wit seven years after the time assigned by Zurita for the foundation The Founder transplanted this Order with him into Aragon 1413. when he received the Crown of that Kingdom and where it continued under the Sons of this King but no longer The Order of the Dragon overthrown in Hungary 30. The Emperor Sigismond surnamed the Glorious for the many Battels he gained over the barbarous Nations in defence of the Christian Religion having greatly laboured the peace of the Churches of Hungary and Bohemia and by his Travels into England France and Spain to invite those Princes to join with him in that his Enterprise brought the same to pass by the Council of Constance out of extream joy at the accomplishment thereof instituted this Order in the year of our Lord 1418. for defence of the Christian Religion and to crush all Hereticks and Schismaticks that should arise which Order in short time became of high esteem not only throughout Hungary but Germany also The Knights wore daily for their Ensign of Honor a Green Cross story on solemn days a Scarlet Cloak and on the Mantlet of Green Silk a double Chain of Gold Micheli saith a Green Ribbon at the end of which hung a Dragon dead with broken Wings in the posture of being overcome the Symbol of Heresie vanquished and the whole enamelled with variety of Colours proper But this Order continued not long for it almost expired with the Founder Peter Beloy President of Tholouse affirms he had seen a Diploma dated anno 1413. purporting that Basilius Colalba Marquess of Ancona was admitted into this Order in these very words Te quem manu propria militiae cingulo societatis nostrae Draconicae ac Stolae seu amprisiae charissimi fratris nostri Regis Aragoniae insignivimus c. Equites Tufini in Bohemia 13. We find but a bare mention thereof made by Mennenius and that it was erected in the Kingdom of Bohemia or else both in Bohemia and Austria but he doth not in the least inform us either of the cause of its Institution the Badge of the Order or to what the Title refers The two first of these particulars Ios. Micheli supplies but as to the third we cannot give so perfect an account as we would yet we remember to have read somewhere that this Order had its name from Toca a Cap or Coif The Arch-Dukes of Austria saith he were Founders of this Order which they instituted to ingage their Subjects in the defence of the Christian Religion and expulsion of the Turks and those they called Hereticks out of their Dominions for having about 200 years maintained a War with vast and excessive charge by erecting this Order and bestowing upon the Knights thereof all that they gained in War towards their supportation they very much eaâ—â—d themselves in their Military Expences and indeed this proved so great an encouragement to them that in a few years performing service wheresoever their Chiefs commanded them to ingage they cleared their Provinces almost of both Turks and Schismaticks The Ensign of this Order was a plain Green Cross and the Habit of the Knights Red. This and the following Order saith the same Author were under the Rule of St. Basil and profest conjugal Chastity and Obedience but we see not from what ground he alledges this for if so then ought we to have placed it among the Religious rather than Military Orders these being absolute notes and marks thereof But inasmuch as we elsewhere find that Albert the Emperor adorned Moyses Didacus de Valera in Spain a Knight of known and approved courage with the Ensigns of his three Orders viz. of the Dragon as he was King of Hungary of the Tusin as King of Bohemia and with the Collar de la Disciplinas as Duke of Austria it is hence manifest they were all compleat Military Orders of which this Emperor was Soveraign or Chief for no man can be admitted into
is called Turris de London both which are so termed in a Charter of Peace between King Stephen and Duke Henry afterwards King of England by the Title of Henry the Second and this word Mota is here used for what the French call Mote or Motte being the same with Collis or Colliculus and Meta in Latin viz. a little Hill Within this Castle was King Edward the Third born whence commonly called Edward of Windesor and received his Baptism in the old Chappel The native affection he bore to this place was exceeding great insomuch as he constituted it the Head and Seat of that most noble Order of the Garter whereof himself became the most renowned Founder in honor to which he there also founded the Colledge of the Chappel of St. George and much enlarged and beautified the Castle To this work he appointed several Surveyors whom he assigned to press Hewers of Stone Carpenters and such other Artificers as were thought useful and necessary so also to provide Stone Timber and other materials and Carriages for them among these Surveyors we find remembred Iohn Peyntour Richard de Rochell William de Hurle William de Herland Robert de Bernham and some others And to the end this great undertaking might be honestly and substantially performed the King assigned Iohn Brocas Oliver de Burdeux and Thomas de Foxle jointly and severally with all care and diligence at least together once a Month to survey the Workmen and their works and to encourage such as did their duty competently well but to compel others that were idle and slothful He afterwards commissionated Iohn de Alkeshull and Walter Palmer to provide Stone Timber Lead Iron and all other necessaries for the work and to imprest Carriages for their conveyance to Windesor William de Wyckham who attained to the Dignity of Bishop of Winchester and was the second Prelate of the Garter had a Supervisor's or Surveyor's place granted to him by Letters Patents bearing Teste at Westminster the thirtieth of October anno 30. E. 3. He had like powers given him with those Surveyors first above-named and a grant of the same Fee as had been formerly allowed to Robert de Bernham viz. One shilling a day while he stayed at Windesor in his employment two shillings a day when he went elsewhere about that affair and three shillings a week for his Clerk which like allowances had been first of all made to Richard de Rochell Afterwards he had bestowed upon him the chief custody and surveyorship of this Castle of the Mannors of Old and New Windesor and of several other Castles Mannors and Houses enumerated in his Letters Patents with power to appoint and dispose of all Workmen buy necessaries for Reparation provide Carpenters Masons and other Artificers Stone Timber c. and in those Mannors to hold Leets and other Courts Pleas of Trespass and Misdemeanors to enquire of the Kings liberties rights and all things appertaining thereunto It may be presumed that about the thirty fourth year of this Kings Reign the most considerable enlargement of the Castle was made seeing there were then great store of the best Diggers and Hewers of Stone imprest in London and out of divers Counties in England by virtue of Writs directed to several Sheriffs dated the 14. of April in that year with command to send them to Windesor by the Sunday next after the Feast of St. George at the furthest there to be employed at the Kings Wages so long as was necessary viz. London 40 Essex and Hertford 40 Wilts 40 Leycest and Worcest 40 Cambridge and Huntingd. 40 Kent 40 Gloucester 40 Somerset and Devon 40 Northampton 40 Herewith the Sheriffs were commanded to take sufficient security of these Workmen not to depart from Windesor without the License of William de Wyckham who was appointed to return the same Securities into the Court of Chancery and all this under the penalty of one hundred pounds to each respective Sheriff And because divers of these Workmen for gain and advantage had afterwards clandestinely lest Windesor and were entertained by other persons upon greater Wages to the Kings great damage and manifest retarding of his Work Writs were therefore directed to the Sheriffs of London with command to make Proclamation to inhibit any person whether Clerk or Layman under forfeiture of all they had forfeitable for employing or retaining any of them as also to arrest such as had so run away and commit them to Newgate and from time to time to return their names into the Chancery But a great number of them dying of the great Pestilence other Writs issued 30. of March anno 36. E. 3. to the Sheriffs of several Counties not of the former number That under the penalty of two hundred pounds apiece they should send to Windesor able and skilful Masons and Diggers of Stone to be there on Sunday the Utas of Easter at furthest to be employed in the Works namely to the Sheriffs of York 60 Derby 24 Salop. 60 Hereford 50 Nottingham 24 Lancaster 24 Devon 60 It was the thirty seventh year of this King or e're the Buildings were ready for Glasing and then Henry de Stamerne and Iohn Brampton were employed to buy Glass in all places of the Kingdom where it was to be sold to press four and twenty Glasiers and convey them to London to work there at the Kings Wages and twelve Glasiers for Windesor to be employed in like manner within the Castle In this year also the work went effectually on as may be guess'd from the great store of Workmen prest for this service as also Carriages for Stone and Timber much of the Stone being digg'd out of the Quarries of Wellesford Helwell and Careby and the next year not only in these but in the Quarries of Heseleberg and Demelby and the following year out of the Quarry of Melton From hence to the forty third year of this Kings Reign we find Artificers were yearly prest and the buildings of the Castle seriously pursued but after we meet with nothing in that kind mentioned to be done until the eight and fortieth year and thence not any thing during his Reign So that it s to be presumed this famous piece for magnificence and strength was for the greatest part finished in his said forty third year that is to say the Kings Palace the great Hall of St. George the Lodgings on the East and South side of the upper Baily or Ward the Keep or Tower in the middle Ward the Chappel of St. George the Houses for the Custos and Canons in the lower Ward together with the whole circumference of the Walls and their several Towers and Gates as now they stand In succeeding times some other additions were made to the buildings within the Castle in particular King Henry the Seventh added that stately Fabrick adjoining to the Kings Lodgings in the
de bonà Requie and another annual Pension of 20 l. paid by the Abbot of Rousford for the mediety of the Church of Rotheram The 29. of Ianuary anno regni sui 13. he gave the Mannor or Priorate of Munclane in the County of Hereford parcel of the possessions belonging to the Priories Alien with all and singular its appurtenances The following year viz. 27. of February he granted to them by the name of Custos or Dean and Chapter of this Colledge the Custody Patronage and free disposition of the Hospital or Free-Chappel of St. Anthonies London a Preceptory of the Monastery of St. Anthony at Vienna with all the Liberties Priviledges Lands Rents Services and Emoluments whatsoever thereunto belonging upon the first vacancy whether it should happen by death resignation or otherwise He also gave them the 17. of May ensuing the Priorate of Brimsfield in the County of Gloucester the Mannor of Blakenham in the County of Suffolk parcel of the Priory of Okeburne the Priorate of St. Elene in the Isle of Wight in Hampshire the Priorate of Mannor of Charleton in Wiltshire and all the Lands Tenements Rents and Services in Northumudon Compton and Welegh in the Counties of Sussex and Southampton which sometime belonged to the Abbey of Lucerne in Normandy the Mannor of Ponyngton and Wedon in the County of Dorset parcel of the possessions of Okeburne Priory one annual Pension of twelve Marks payable by the Prior of the Priory of Monte-Acuto together with all and singular the Lands Tenements Rents Advowsons Liberties c. annexed to the said Priorates and Mannors or in any manner appertaining with license to appropriate the same to them and their Successors About two Moneths after this King gave also to the Colledge the Mannor of Membury in Devonshire and Lordships of Preston and Monkesilver in the County of Somerset the Advowsons of the Churches of Puryton and Wollavington in the said County being parcel of the Priory of Golalys in Wales and one of the Priors Aliens together with the Knights Fees Advowsons Profits Rights c. thereunto belonging In the 18. year of his Reign the Queen Thomas Archbishop of York and several Bishops Noblemen and others being seised to the use of the King his Heirs and Successors of the Mannor of Wykecombe called Bassetsbury the Fee Farm of the Town of great Wykecombe the Mannor of Crendon in the County of Buckingham and of the Mannors of Haseley and Pyrton in the County of Oxford parcel of the Lands of the Dutchy of Lancaster they at the special command of the King demised and granted the premises with all their appurtenances to the Custos or Dean and Canons and their Successors until such time as the King his Heirs or Successors should grant to them other Lands of the like yearly value The 17. of February following this King gave them the Advowson of the Church of Cheshunt being of his own Patronage with license to appropriate the same provided the Vicarage were sufficiently endowed and a competent sum of money annually distributed among the poor Parishioners according to the Diocesan's Ordinance and form of the Statute in such case provided This King the 21. of February following united the Custody or Deanry of the Free Chappel of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford to the Custos or Dean of this Colledge and his Successors for ever This Church cum membris is exempt not only from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry but by a Papal Bull from all his Legates and Delegates nor is it subject to any terrene power but the Majesty of England and under it to the perpetual visitation of the Keepers of the Great Seal pro tempore He likewise gave them the Advowson or Patronage of the Prebend of Ewern in the County of Dorset the 27. of Sept. in the 20. year of his Reign with all its rights and appurtenances and also a license of appropriation And lastly the 21. of November in the ensuing year he granted to them two parts of the Mannors of Old-Swynford and Gannow in the County of Worcester and the Reversion of the third part of them after the death of Mâ—rgaret Wife of Fulk Stafford Esquire with the Advowson of the Church of Old-Swynford These were the effects of this most noble and munificent Princes piety and liberality towards this Colledge Nor was he alone bountiful but excited others to be so likewise and to that purpose in the first year of his Reign hâ—â—nsed all his Subjects in general to give what Lands Rents or Advowâ—ons they pleaâ—ed to the Dean and Canons within the value of 300 Marks per annum as well such as they held of the King in Capite or in Burgage or otherwise as any other Land the same to be united and appropriated to the Colledge and its uses pâ—rpâ—tually notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmaiâ—e and afterwards increased this license to Lands of the value of 500 l. a year but King Henry the Eighth extended the like license to the value of 1000 l. per annum Hereupon shortly after to wit Iune 29. anno Regni sui 20. he granted license to Iohn Duke of Suffolk and Elizabeth his Wife the Kings Sister to give and assign unto them the Mannor or Lordship of Grovebury otherwise called Leighton-Busard with its appurtenances in the County of Bedford the Church of Tintagell in Cornwall with all its emoluments as also 19 Messuages 7 Tofts 140 Acres of Land 14 Acres of Medow 140 Acres of Pasture 1â—â— Acres of Wood and 4 l. Rent with their appurtenances in Newford and Blanford in the County of Dorset And 70 Messuages 12 Tofts 500 Acres of Land 100 Acres of Medow 300 Acres of Pasture 100 Acres of Wood and 100 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Stokeley Northall Edelesburgh and Rodenach in Buckinghamshire And 20 Messuages 8 Tosts 300 Acres of Land 60 Acres of Medow 200 Acres of Pasture 40 Acres of Wood and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Compton-St John in the County of Sussex And 10 Messuages 9 Tofts 200 Acres of Land 20 Acres of Medow 100 Acres of Pasture 10 Acres of Wood and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Portsmouth and Burgbegge in Hampshire And one Messuage 3 Tofts 60 Acres of Land 6 Acres of Medow 40 Acres of Pasture and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Stodeham in the County of Hertford held of the King in Capite notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmaine or any other restriction or proviso whatsoever We shall here note that the 24. of Iuly anno 18. E. 4. this Duke of Suffolk infeoffed Richard Duke of York Thomas Bishop of Lincoln and others of the Mannor of Leighton-Busard who the 25. of Iune anno 19. E. 4. at his special instance Demised and Granted the said Mannor to the Dean and Canons forever And in the Octaves of St. Iohn Baptist anno 20. E. 4.
decease of such Knight-Companion And yet besides these three Bodies most eminently known by the title of Statutes there was another drawn up and published anno 7. E. 6. the Reformation of Religion here in England giving the occasion but it being within few Months repealed by Queen Mary his Sister and Successor before it received the life of Execution and not since revived we suppose it not proper to rank it in the Appendix or make any use thereof in the following Discourse In the Month of December 1666. the Right Reverend Father in God Matthew Wren late Lord Bishop of Ely shewed me a Manuscript compiled by himself about the year 1631. being at that time Register of this most Noble Order wherein by way of Comment upon King Henry the Eighth's Statutes he briefly shews out of the Statutes and Annals of the Order what alteration there hath been in the Law of the Garter both before and since It is a work composed with a great deal of judgment and exceeding useful and had it been my good hap to have met therewith before I had so neer finished this Work the ready directions therein would have eased me of much toil whilst I was about the composing it SECT III. Several endeavours for Reforming the Statutes since the Reign of King Henry the Eighth AS the Kings of this Realm immediately at their attaining the Crown do become Soveraigns of this most Noble Order of the Garter and consequently the Supream Law and Interpreters thereof so is the regulation of the whole their undoubted Prerogative and this hath been evidenced in nothing more fully than from their constant course in exercising the power not only of making and establishing but changing and altering the Laws and Statutes thereof which upon interest of Religion pleasure of the Soveraign change of times or any other fit or necessary Occasion hath from time to time been done by them Upon this ground was it that King Edward the Sixth went about to alter and reform such things in preceding Statutes as seemed not consistent with the Religion he had established in England To which purpose at a Chapter holden at Greenwich the 23. of April in the 3. year of his Reign it was agreed That the Lord St. John the Earl of Arundel and Sir William Paget should peruse over the Statutes of the Garter and that the same should be reformed and made agreeable to the Kings Majesty's other proceedings by the advice of the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector and other Companions of this Noble Order This was seconded by another Order made also in Chapter at Greenwich on St. Georges day in the following year where it was agreed That the Book of Statutes should be reformed and thereupon the Soveraign delivered to the whole Company a Book wherein was contained certain Statutes by the same to be corrected and reformed as they thought best until the next Chapter But it seems nothing was as yet done in pursuance of either of these Orders for at the next Feast on the 24. of April anno 5. E. 6. another Order past impowering the Duke of Somerset the Marquess of Northampton the Earls of Warwick Arundel Bedford and Wiltshire to peruse over the Statutes and other Books of the Order and the same to be reformed as aforesaid This third Order it seems took more effect than the former for thereupon a new Body of Laws was collected together wherein some things were reformed others newly added but in effect the Laws of the Order very much altered and published March 17. anno 7. E. 6. But this King dying within four Months after the very first thing Queen Mary his Sister took care for in reference to the Affairs of this Order was to see these new statutes abrogated and made void To which purpose in a Chapter held at St. Iames's House the 27. of September next following her coming to the Crown it was among other things Decreed and Ordained That the said Laws and Ordinances which were in no sort convenient to be used and so impertinent and tending to novelty should be abrogated and disanulled and no account to be made of them for the future And for the speedy execution of this Decree command was then also given to Sir William Petre who that day was admitted Chancellor of the Order to see that they should be speedily expunged out of the Book of Statutes and forthwith defaced left any memory of them should remain to posterity and only those Decrees and Ordinances which her Father and his royal Predecessors had established should be retained and observed It may be also noted that in this particular of Reformation King Philip her Husband appeared no less zealous for on the 5. of August an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. which was the third day after he had been invested with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order himself being presâ—nt at a Chapter in Windesor Castle it was then Ordained That all Acts and Decrees being recorded in divers places of the Great Book to wit the Black Book of the Order which were repugnant and disagreeable either with the ancient and received Statutes of the Order or else with the Laws of the Realm should clearly be abolished and taken away by the Marquess of Winchester the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke and the Lord Paget And we no sooner see Queen Elizabeth ascending the Throne but shortly after on St. George's day in the 2. year of her Reign a view of the Statutes is committed by Commission to four of the Knights-Companions namely the Marquess of Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke and the Lord Howard of Effingham Who were thereby impowered to read over and consider those Statutes and being so read over and viewed to consider with a watchful care and diligence if any of them were disagreeable to the Religion Laws and Statutes of this Realm and if any such were found the same to be faithfully represented to the Soveraign to the end that She with the Knights-Companions might establish such Decree concerning them as she should think fit Whether any thing was done pursuant hereunto or not doth not appear in the Annals of the Order or any where else that we have seen nor do we conceive there was or that this Soveraign saw much cause to alter the frame of those Statutes which King Henry the Eighth had established and Queen Mary confirmed since the Books of Statutes delivered to the Knights-Companions at their Installations throughout her Reign were no other than Transcripts of her Father's Body of Statutes and besides the practice of her time was generally pursuant to the direction therein except in some few things now and then added or altered at future Chapters when there arose new cause for so doing of which we shall give an account as the matter occurs After her Reign King Iames her Successor observing the obscurity and disagreement of some passages among the Statutes
materials with those made for the Soveraign of the Order namely at first of fine Wollen Cloth and when the Soveraign changed Cloth to Velvet they did so likewise But we cannot meet with equal satisfaction in this particular as we have done in the Mantles belonging to the Soveraign because the Knights-Companions provided this Robe at their own charge and their private accounts through many casualties were of no great durability but their Surcoats were of the Soveraign's donation and consequently the particulars of them remain on Record in the Rolls and Accounts of the great Wardrobe The Colour of these Mantles is appointed by the Statutes to be Blue and of this coloured Cloth was the first Robe made for the Founder by which as by the ground-work of the Royal Garter it is not unlike he alluded in this no less than that to the Colour of the Field in the French Arms which a few years before he had assumed in Quarter with those of his Kingdom of England But the Colour of the Surcoat was changed every year as will appear by and by Of the same Colour were the Velvet Mantles made in King Henry the Sixth's Reign who though he changed the Stuff yet did he not vary the dye It is also manifest that the Blue Colour was retained to King Edward the Fourth's Reign for when this Soveraign sent the Habit and Ensigns of the Order to Iulianus de Medicis the Mantle was made of Blue Velvet But in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes there is no mention at all of the Colour of this upper Robe save only of the Mantle which a Forreign Princes Proxy is enjoined to bring along with him when he comes to assume the Stall of his Principal which though it be not directly to the point yet is it there noted to be of Blue Velvet and it is more than probable that the Blue Colour continued still in use for within a few years after the compiling this last mentioned Body of Statutes it appears the Mantle sent to Iames King of Scotland was of Blue Velvet And Polydore Virgile who wrote his History about that time affirms as much Moreover in the ancient form of admonition and signification appointed to be spoken at the Investiture of Forreign Princes and then in use it is called the Mantle of Celestial Colour If we pass from the Reign of King Henry the Eighth to the first and second years of King Philip and Queen Mary it will appear the Mantle sent to Emanuel Duke of Savoy was likewise of Blue Velvet But in Queen Elizabeth's Reign upon what ground is no where mentioned the Colour of Forreign Princes Mantles was changed from Blue to Purple for of that Colour were the Mantles sent to the French Kings Charles the Ninth anno 6. Eliz. and Henry the Third an 27. of the same Queen So also to the Emperor Maximilian an 9. Eliz. to Frederick the Second King of Denmark an 24. Eliz. to Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne an 21. Eliz. and to Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark an Iac. R. 4. but that sent to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg in the same year was of a mixt Colour to wit Purple with Violet Thus the Purple Colour came in and continued till about the 12. year of King Charles the First when that Soveraign having determined to restore the Colour of the Mantle to the primitive Institution namely a rich Celestial Blue gave directions to Mr. Peter Richant Merchant afterwards Knighted by him to furnish himself with a parcel of Velvets of that Colour from Genoa and upon their arrival into England commanded Sir Thomas Rowe then Chancellor of the Order forthwith to signifie by Letters to all the Knights-Companions his Soveraign Pleasure that every one of them should take so much of that Velvet as would make new Robes against the following St. George's day and satisfie for them in obedience to this command the Chancellor within ten days gave notice thereof to the Knights-Companions Hereupon all the Knights furnished themselves with new Mantles at the rate of thirty seven shillings a yard being the price the Soveraign paid to Mr. Richaut for the Velvet of his own Robes and the first time these Mantles were worn was to honor the Installation of the present Soveraign And because there were many Knights-Elect to be Installed after the happy return of the present Soveraign it was therefore Ordered at a Chapter held at Whitehall the 14. of Ianuary an 12. Car. 2. called to consider what preparations were fit and necessary to be made against the grand Feast of St. George then at hand That directions should be given to the Master of the Wardrobe to send abroad for special good Velvets of Skie-colour and Crimson and other materials of the proper Colours for the Mantles and Surcoats both of the old Knights-Companions and those that were then to be Installed which was accordingly done and they brought over in time to accommodate them at the said Feast Albeit the just number of Ells of Cloth which went to the making the Founder's first Mantle are not set down yet in gross for his Mantle Hood and Surcoat there was allowed 10 Ells of long Cloth The Mantle of King Henry the Sixth took up one Piece 5 Ells and 3 quarters of Blue Velvet and those sent to Frederick the Second and Christiern the Fourth Kings of Denmark and to the French King Henry the Third contained each 20 yards of Velvet This we find to be the allowance for the Mantles of Forreign Princes and are the more large by reason of their long Train which being wanting in the Mantles of Knights Subjects 18 yards served to make one of them The full length of the present Soveraign's Mantle from the Collar behind to the end of the Train is 3 yards the length of the foreside 1 yard and 3 quarters from the foot along the bottom to the setting on of the Train is 2 yards and from thence the length or compass of the Train is 2 yards The left shoulder of each of these Mantles have from the Institution of the Order been adorned with one large fair Garter containing the Motto Honi soit qui mal y pense These were distinguished from the lesser Garters anciently embroidered upon the Surcoats and Hoods of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions by the name of Garters gross Within this Garter was embroidered the Arms of St. George viz. Argent a Cross Gules and was heretofore wrought upon Satin with Gold Silver and Silk but in succeeding times more cost was bestowed upon this Ensign the embroidery being curiously wrought upon Velvet with Damask Gold and sundry sorts of Purls Plates Venice Twists and Silks and the Letters of the Motto and Borders of the Garter composed of fair Oriental Pearl The Garter fixt upon the Mantle of the present Soveraign
and for Bilson by a like Warrant an 41. of the same Queen About the 12. year of King Charles the First the Prelate and Chancellor petitioned the Soveraign to restore them their ancient right and estimation in relation to their Robes and Badges of Honor upon their outward Garments whereupon it was Ordered in a Chapter held the 18. of April an 13. Car. 1. being the Feast-day celebrated by prorogation for the year 1636. among many other things relating to the Honor of this most Noble Order That the Knights-Commissioners newly established by that Chapter should consider of the Robes to be worn by the Prelate and Chancellor and certifie the Soveraign the ancient Colour and Form But we have not met with any thing further done in relation thereunto during that Soveraign's Reign nor until after the happy Restauration of the present Soveraign and then by Warrant under the Signet of the Order dated Feb. 19. an 13. Car. 2. the Prelate had assigned him for his Livery of the Order one Robe of Purple Velvet containing 18 yards and 10 yards of White Taffaty for lining as also a Scutcheon of St. George within a Garter wrought with Letters and Purls of Damask Gold and Pearls having Laces Buttons and Tassels of Purple Silk and Venice Gold but what inducements the Soveraign had for changing the Colour from Murrey to Purple we have not heard An Account being thus given of the Prelates Robe it follows that we note at what times he is enjoined to wear it concerning which it is set down in express Text That he should be obliged to wear it yearly on the Vigil and day of St. George wheresoever he is at his Liberty whether it be in Parliament or any other solemn occasion or Festival whatsoever The Honors conferr'd on this Officer are That his Place in all Proceedings and Ceremonies of the Order is on the right hand of the Chancellor That he may marshal his Arms within the ennobled Garter and accordingly hath it been customary for the Prelate to surround them impaled with those of the See of Winchester with this Noble Ensign He hath allowed him convenient Lodgings within the Castle of Windesor and these are in a Tower situate on the North side of the Castle in the middle Ward called Winchester-Tower And as often as he shall come thither or to any other place at the Soveraign's command either to celebrate the Solemnity of St. George or do any act or thing belonging to the Order he ought to have allowed him of the Court-Livery for himself and Servants according to the rate that Earls resident in Court are used to have Lastly at a Chapter held the 27. of April anno 2. Car. 1. this Officer so also the Chancellor had the Priviledge granted to wear upon the left part of his Cloak Coat and Riding Cassock at all times when he should not wear his Robe and in all Places and Assemblies a Scutcheon of the Arms of St. George but not enriched with Pearls or Stones That the wearing thereof might be an open testimony to the World of the honor he held from this most Noble Order But not long after there was some restraint put upon this Act though I do not find it repealed SECT II. The Institution of the Chancellor's Office his Oath Robe Badge and Pension AT the Institution of this most Noble Order The Common Seal was ordained to remain in the custody of whomsoever the Soveraign should please nevertheless such person is expresly appointed to be one of the Knights-Companions Among them in after times Sir Iohn Robertsack to whom its custody was commited by Decree in Chapter an 1. H. 6. is stiled Custos Sigilli Ordinis and within a few lines in the Book and Page now cited the same Chapter still sitting there is mention made also of the Chancellor where though the reference be not to Sir Iohn Robertsack by express Name yet in all likelihood is intended to him the Seal of the Order being at his Nomination delivered into his keeping And though in the course of the Annals there recorded this Title is given to Sir Iohn Robertsack preceding the entry of the Decree which constituted him Keeper of the seal yet is it probable his nomination past one of the first things in the Chapter after which the Register might justly afford him that Title though not as yet drawn up into an Order That work being commonly done after the Chapters were broke up But King Edward the Fourth finding it necessary to settle the Office of Chancellor of the Garter in a person distinct from the Knights-Companions and subservient to them Ordered in a Chapter held at his Palace of Westminster the 4. of November in the 16. year of his Reign That the Seal of the Order should be delivered to Richard Beauchamp then Bishop of Salisbury to keep during pleasure and he to be called Chancellor of this most Noble Order Not long after this King by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of England bearing Teste at Westminster the 10. day of October in the 15. year of his Reign declared That though among the Officers of the Order of the Garter the Office of Chancellor was not appointed by the Founder's Statutes yet was it nevertheless very lawful and necessary And therefore did Ordain that for the advancement and good of the Order in those Affairs there should be constituted an Officer named Chancellor And forasmuch as this Office was great and of great charge and required an able and dextrous person it was his further pleasure that none should be admitted thereinto unless he were of Ecclesiastical Dignity that is to say a Bishop Moreover considering the Chappel of St. George in the Castle of Windesor was founded and established within the Diocess of Salisbury and having regard to the prudence and diligence of Richard Beauchamp then Bishop of that Diocess who out of meer love towards the Order gave himself the leisure daily to attend the advancement and progress of that goodly Work wherewith the King was then in hand in the Castle of Windesor for enlarging the Chappel there He did therefore likewise Ordain and Establish the said Bishop for the term of his life Chancellor of the Order and did further Will and Ordain that after his decease his Successors Bishops of Salisbury should always have and hold the said Office of Chancellor Nevertheless in this Patent there is a Proviso that the Kings Concession should be put in execution by the advice of the Knights-Compaenions and without prejudice of the Bishop of Winchester in those things which touching the Order ought by the Statutes of Institution to belong unto him This Office being thus conferred upon Richard Beauchamp personally for term of life and perpetually to the succeeding Bishops of the See of Salisbury divers of his Successors some of whom are remembred in the Black
Book though the names of special Officers are seldom set down in Chapter Acts were by virtue of this Grant continued therein and executed the Office nor doth it appear by the Records of the Order that any other person had been invested therein besides the Bishops of Salisbury until an 7. E. 6. that Sir William Cecil then Principal Secretary of State was made Chancellor concerning which more by and by If recourse be had to the Constitutions peculiarly relating to the Officers of the Order it will appear That this Office is very noble and honorable of great trust and care requiring a person of much Honor and Reputation to exercise and manage it In which regard it is therein provided that no man should be advanced to this Dignity unless he be a Prelate of the Church viz. Archbishop or Bishop or of some other such like eminent preferment therein Or if a Lay-man then to be a Knight of known Extraction expert learned and of untainted Reputation By this Clause a Lay-man no less than a Clergy-man was made capable of this Office nevertheless it amounted not to a devesting the Bishop then living or excluding any of his Successors unless it had pleased the Soveraign after making that Constitution to have passed by the Bishop of Salisbury and bestowed it elsewhere which he did not for Edmund Audeley the then Bishop some time after the establishing these Constitutions and his immediate Successor Cardinal Campeius till he went to Rome if not more of them enjoined and executed the same But upon Reformation of the Order by King Edwâ—rd the Sixth his Statutes wholly leave out the Ecclesiasticks and appoint that the Chancellors Office should be executed by a Knight qualified as before And thereupon Sir William Cecil was constituted Chanâ—ellor whose Patent bears date the 12. of April anno 7. E. 6. And here first entred a secular person though he enjoyed the Office but a while for the 27. of Septâ—mâ—er following Sir William Petres was admitted thereinto since which time until now the Chancellorship hath continued in the execution of persons of that rank and quality Notwithstanding which in a Charter granted to the Bishop of Salisbury the first of Dec an 4. Eliz. confirming the Charters of Queen Mary King Henry the Eighth and King Henry the Seventh as also in another by the late Soveraign King Charles the First 6. Mar. an reg sui 4. the forementioned Letters Patent made to Bishop Beauchamp by King â—dward the Fourth are therein recited totidem verbis and confirmed as a tacite Reservation of the right and title of the Bishop of Salisbury whensoever the favour of the Soveraign should grow propitious to that See It doth not appear that any of the Bishops of Salisbury after the Reign of King Edward the Sixth concerned themselves for recovering the Execution of this Office to their See until the sixth year of King Iames that Henry Cotton then Bishop upon the death of Sir Edward Dyer sometime Chancellor set forth by Petition to the then Soveraign That this Office belonged to him and his Successors Bishops of Salisbury and therefore humbly prayed Restitution thereof to the Church of Salisbury But before the Soveraign would determine any thing hereupon he was pleased to call the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron to advise with who were of opinion saith the Blue Book That this Office wâ—s not compleatly or sufficiently annexed to the Bishoprick of Salisbury by King Edward the Fourth But Sir Edward Cooke one of those Judges Reports the point upon which it was void to be the incertainty of the Grant for that a new Office was erected and not defined what Iurisdiction or Authority the Officer should have And yet we find elsewhere this third reason given That the Grant was in the Soveraign's disposition because the Patent was granted without Fee With one or more of these opinions the Soveraign's judgment being swayed He forthwith nominated Sir Iohn Herbert one of his Privy Council to the Chancellorship and so this Affair slept until anno 12. Car. 1. When Iohn Davenant Bishop of Salisbury Sir Francis Crane Chancellor being lately dead with all due humiliation remonstrated to the Soveraign That the Office of Chancellor was perpetually annexed to his See by the foresaid Letters of King Edward the Fourth and though in following times it had been bestowed upon Lay-men yet he humbly desired his right might be restored Whereupon at a Chapter of the Order held in the Chapterhouse within the Castle of Windesor the 5. of December in the year aforesaid the Soveraign proposed to the Knights-Companions present That though he had of his especial Grace made Election of Sir Thomas Rowe Knight for his Chancellor at that time yet having understood a Claim made by the Bishoprick of Salisbury that the place was annexed to that See He commanded the Lords-Companions of the Order to take the pretence of right into their considerations To which proposition of his Majesty the Lords humbly answered That they thought it was not their part to search for the Title of any but that if the Bishop of Salisbury did produce his Evidence and the proofs thereof he might present it in Chapter to his Majesty to be considered Upon this encouragement the Bishop prepared a Petition which was presentâ—d and read in Chapter held at the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor the 18. of April ensuing and here inserted To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter The humble Petition of John Bishop of Sarum your Majesties Chaplain in Ordinary Sheweth THat whereas your Majesties most noble Progenitor King Edward the Fourth did by Letters Patent erect and establish one Office of Chancellor of the most Noble Order of the Garter and did then also grant a Charter unto Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury and his Successors for ever that they should execute that Office in consideration that the Chappel of St. George in your Majesties Castle of Windesor was within the Diocess of Sarum and for other considerations in the said Charter specified Which Office was enjoyed by the said Richard Beauchamp and divers of his Successors in the See of Sarum according to the Charter which Charter hath also been confirmed under the great Seal of England by some other Kings and Queens since the Reign of King Edward the Fourth And was lastly most graciously confirmed by your Royal Majesty in the fourth year of your happy Reign But to the great prejudice and dishonour of the See of Sarum the use and exercise of the said Office hath been for many years discontinued from the Bishops of your Majesties said Church May it therefore please your most Excellent Majesty out of your accustomed goodness to the Church graciously to consider of your Petitioners Claim and Charter and if your Majesty shall so think fit to vouchsafe your Petitioner a hearing or
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
Highness having placed himself under the State Garter should take the Cushion upon his Arms on which were to be laid all the particular Ornaments above mentioned and being assisted with the Knights and a passage left for him to make his three obeysances he should proceed up towards the Duke and lay the Cushion with the Ornaments on a Stool set neer his Highness for that purpose That he should signifie to his Highness in few words the cause of his coming and then deliver into his hand the Soveraign's Letter That his Highness having received it should break it open and deliver it back to Garter to read which he having done should return it to his Highness That after this he should proceed to the Investiture of his Highness with the Ensigns of the Order Which having finished briefly to represent unto his Highness in a Speech somewhat of the quality and splendor of the Order And lastly to kiss his Highness hand and attend what he should please to say and so depart According to these proposals and in the same order were all things performed and the Speeches then made to his Highness by Sir Edw. Walker and first that signifying the cause of his coming was as follows May it plâ—â—se your Royal Highness HIs sacred Majesty the King your Royal Brother Soveraign of the most Noble ancient and renowned Order of Saint George called the Garter hath commanded me Garter Principal King of Arms and Officer of the most Noble Order humbly to attend your Highness and from his Majesty to deliver unto your Highness the Ensigns of that most Noble Order together with Letters of Dispensation for the present investing your Highness in all the honorary Ornaments and accidents thereof And because the Reasons inducing his Majesty to Elect your Highness into this most Noble Society and Fellowship of the Order are best exprest in his Majesties gracious Letters I do humbly present them unto your Highness that they may be read and then I shall proceed in full obedience to his Majesties Commands to Invest your Highness with the Garter and George therewith sent Having spoken this he proceeded to the Investiture which being finished he thus continued his Speech Now that your Highness is by his Majesties Royal Election and Dispensation for the present Invested and made a Companion of this most Noble and famous Order I shall humbly presume according to the obligation of my Office succinctly to represent unto you Highness somewhat of the antiquity and reason of the Institution what qualifications are requisite to all persons Elected and how in all ages since the Institution this Order hath been highly valued and esteemed All which I believe your Highness having lived from your Cradle under the power and barbarous restraint of the most unparallel'd Rebels and Traytors usurping in England hath not yet known And first for the Antiquity and Institution of this most Noble Order your Highness most glorious and victorious Ancestor King Edward the Third for the honor and encouragement of Martial Actions and to oblige unto him by the neerest tyes of Royal favour and society such persons of eminent birth as by valiant and noble acts had highly merited of him Instituted this Order and Elected into the Fellowship thereof with himself the Soveraign the number of 25. other renowned Knights by giving them the Garter with this most significant and generous Motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE assigning them likewise a peculiar and stately habit ordaining them yearly to attend him on the Feast of St. George at his Castle of Windesore the seat of the Foundation where be regally entertained them and framing Statutes which themselves and their Successors were obliged to observe for the honor of the Soveraign and the Order By which Statutes in the second place the proper qualifications are fully declared which are principally that every person elected into this most Noble Order be a Knight without reproach a Gentleman of Blood and Arms of three descents by Father and Mother a man of courage a lover of Iustice and of unblemish'd fame and honor who likewise at his Installation is by Oath obliged to defend and sustain the honor quarrels rights and dominions of the Soveraign and to endeavour the augmentation of the Order And if any one elected into this most Noble Society shall be either convict of Heresie Treason Cowardise in flying from the Kings Banner or Standard in the field or that by prodigality he hath wilfully wasted his Patrimony he may if the Soveraign and Companions please be degraded and deprived of the Order as unworthy thereof Lastly The Institution of this most Noble Order hath been so inviolably observed as that the Soveraign and Companions have never augmented their number and but very rarely dispensed with any of the qualifications whereby the dignity and splendor of the Order hath been entirely preserved And so great a value and high esteem hath been set upon this most Noble Order as the greatest and most powerful Monarchs of Europe have accounted it an honor to be Companions thereof amongst whom the Emperor Sigismund in the Reign of King Henry the Fifth and that most potent and glorious Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth came personally into England to receive it And although the number of the Companions from the first Institution now full 303 years is with your Highness but 444 persons yet of them there have been 8 Emperors and 52 Kings and Princes of Foreign Countrys besides other most illustrious and eminent persons some of them Strangers the rest Subjects to the Kings of England Soveraigns of the most Noble Order Thus Sir I have represented unto your Highness the noble ends for which this Order was Instituted the qaulifications required and the care in preserving the dignity and honor thereof I shall now presume to add that as your Highness most Royal extraction is equal to any Prince of Europe so your most towardly and generous inclination gives great assuranâ—e that you will encourage magnanimity and honorable enterprises appear equal to the most renowned Princes that have been Companions of this most Noble Order And as your Highness bears the Title of the Duke of Gloucester so that you will inherit the great and heroick virtues of that excellent Prinâ—e your Predecessor Humphry Plantagenet Protector of the Realm and Person of his Nephew King Henry the Sixth who by his great wisdom bounty and justice obtained the title and appellation of the good Duke I shall conclude with my humble and real Prayers for long life honor and all prosperity to your Royal Highness the most high mighty and excellent Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester Knight and Companion of the most Noble Order of the Garter SECT VI. Allowances and Rewards given to Garter for his service in this Employment THE Soveraign of this most Noble Order bears the charges of Garter whensoever and as often as he is sent to any Elect
Knight Subject either with Letters to signifie his Election or the Garter and George wherewith to invest him and this is commonly proportioned according to the length or shortness of the Journey The allowance for that Journey which Sir Gilbert Dethick Garter made into the Counties of Lincolne and Cumberland by the Soveraign's command given in Chapter first to the Earl of Rutland and next to the Lord Scroop an 26. Eliz. appears to have been 20 l. Besides the Soveraign's allowance to Garter he hath been accustomed to receive honorable gratuities and rewards from the Elect-Knight himself after the Investiture performed and these have usually been proportioned according to the esteem of the honor he receives and his particular inclinations to Garter and the service done by him Among whom we find the Earl of Arundel an 17. H. 8. gave to Thomas Wriothesley Garter 10 l. in Angelotts being then at his Mannor of Dawnley and Ralph Earl of Westmerland elected at the same time with the said Earl of Arundel then at Myle-end 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. But the Earl of Northumberland an 23. H. 8. gave Garter for the verbal certifying him of his Election 4. l. though he went no farther than the Chapter-house door Lastly an 26. Eliz. the Earl of Rutland honorably rewarded Garter at Newark and the Lord Scroop gave unto him 30 l. in Gold a Velvet Cloak and a Gallaway Nag and to William Dethick York Herald who then went along with Garter to Carlisle 10 l. But since these times the Knights-Elect have greatly enlarged their Gratuities to Garter for his service upon this occasion CHAP. XI OF Preparations FOR THE Personal Installation OF A KNIGHT SECT I. That Installation gives the Title of Founder THE Installation or Inauguration of a Knight of this most Noble Order consists in a conjunction of many Ceremonies and contains the most solemn part of those whereby so great an honor is conferr'd indeed that which compleateth all the rest And till this great Ceremony be duly and solemnly performed the person Elected hath not the honor of being reckoned among the number of Founders but barely passes for an Elect Knight and no other For the express Text is That in case a Knight Elect dye before his Installation he shall not be named one of the Founders And the reason is there given forasmuch as he hath not had the full possession of his state and in this point do the other Bodies of the Statutes agree Howbeit assoon as the Ceremonies of Installation are compleatly finished the Knight is unquestionably vested in full possession of all the Honors and Priviledges belonging to a Founder of this most Noble Order But to quicken each Elect Knight who is either a Subject to the Soveraign or resides within his Realm and consequently in a more ready capacity of receiving Installation then one remaining in Foreign parts to the full attainment of his honor or otherwise to wave what hath been conferr'd on him by the Act of Election the compass of one year after such his Election is allowed him by the Statutes for Installation albeit for sooner speeding thereof the Statutes do as well appoint him to use all convenient diligence otherwise his Election is ordained to be absolutely nul and void Nor can any thing hinder but that the Soveraign may then freely proceed to a new Election unless the Elect-Knight send or produce an excuse for such delay sufficient and fit to be accepted by the Soveraign or his Deputy and the whole Society or that the Soveraign himself think fit to defer the Ceremony of Installation for some longer time For which cause when certain Articles concerning the honor of the Order had been prepared by the Soveraign's Lieutenant and ten Knights-Companions approved by the Soveraign and in a Chapter held 24. April an 21. Iac. R. ordered to be observed one of them was for hastning the Installation after a Knight had been Elected nevertheless with this Exception unless for some special cause the Soveraign should think fit to defer the same until the Eve or day of Saint George next following the time of Election SECT II. Of the Time and Place appointed for Installation THE Feast of Installation hath not been hitherto fixed to any certain time but always rested in the pleasure of the Soveraign to assign a convenient day which hath been obtained either upon the sute of the Knight-Elect or some other of the Knights-Companions whose favour and esteem with the Soveraign was best able to prevail Such a one do we find the Lord Burghley an 35. Eliz. partly in regard he had been Lieutenant at St. Georges Feast immediately preceding and partly by reason of his being Lord Treasurer of England who on the behalf of the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland obtained the 19. of Iune in the foresaid year to be appointed for the day of their Installation It sometimes fell out that though the day for Installation was set down nevertheless upon some extraordinary occasion intervening it hath been protogued to a further and more convenient time for the Soveraign's Affairs and the most remarkable instance is that an 3. 4. Ph. Mar. when the Earl of Sussex the Lord Grey and Sir Robert Rochester Knights Elect had their Installation together with St. George's Feast prorogued to the 10. of May in the year aforesaid But many and urgent affairs relating both to the King and Queen hapning about that time not only the Grand Feast but the Solemnity of their Installations were in a Chapter held the 3. of the same Month prorogued to the 5. of December following and on the last day of October preceding were they again prorogued to the first Sunday after Twelf-day in case the King should not return into England before the said 5. of December After all this on the 5. of Ianuary following the Grand Feast was prorogued a fourth time to the 20. of February next coming Nevertheless it was then Ordered that the Earl of Sussex one of the three Elect Knights should be forthwith Installed which was performed on the 8. of the same Ianuary And the 6. of February following the Lord Grey also obtained an appointment for his Installation and that was celebrated the 20. of April ensuing but we do not find that Sir Robert Rochester ever received that honor But though the time of Installation be arbitrary and uncertain yet hath the place been from the Institution of the Order fixt as an essential Priviledge only to the Soveraign's free Chappel of St. George in the Castle of Windesor within whose Choire stand erected the Soveraign's and Knights-Companions Stalls and under its sacred Roof their Banners and Atchievements are set up as Monuments of their high deservings and so great honor For albeit the celebration of the Grand Feast of St. George hapned to be withdrawn from Windesor by a Decree past an
retire was obliged to dispence with the accustomed Ceremonies of the Order and to such Strangers as he was pleased to Elect to send only the George and Garter together with the Glory or Star of Silver to wit the Cross of St. George irradiated within a Garter curiously wrought in rich embroidery to be worn upon their upper Garments Declaring also that the Investiture therewâ—â—â— should be sufficient to stile themselves Knights-Companions of this most Nobâ—â— Order as effectually as if they had been formally and with the usual Solemnities installed at Windesor Castle where then it was not possibly to be done And in these Cases instead of such formal Commissions of Legation as had been accustomed to be made out the Soveraign sent only his Letters signifying Election to the Elect-Stranger and a Warrant to Sir Edward Walker Garter under his sign manual whereby he was authorised according to his Office to deliver those Ensigns to the Elect-Stranger with such Ceremonies as were usual and might be performed in the place where he was Of this kind were the Warrants issued out to the said Sir Eâ—ward Walker for delivery of the Garter George and Star to Charles Prince of Tarante to William Prince of Orange to Frederick William Marquess of Brandenburgh and by virtue of which he invested these Princes with them The manner and order of Investiture of a Stranger upon these occasions was briefly thus The Stranger-Elect to whom the Ensigns were sent entred into the Room appointed to receive the Ceremony and placed himself under the State In the mean time Garter having retired into another Room neer thereunto put on his rich Coat of the Soveraign 's Arms and placed the Garter George and Cloak on the left shoulder whereof was embroidered the Cross of St. George within a Glory of Silver upon a Velvet Cushen then taking them on his arms before him together with the Soveraign 's Letters went towards the Room where the Elect-Stranger expected his coming and where a free passage being made he proceeded up with three Reverences and being arrived neer unto him laid down the Cushen on a Table placed for that purpose neer the foresaid State This done he began his Oration and having made an entrance sufficient to usher in the delivery of the Soveraign 's Letters he presents them to the Elect-Stranger who opening the same returned them back for Garter to read which having done he redelivered them to him These things being dispatched he took the Garter from off the Cushen and kneeling down first buckled it on the Elect-Strangers left leg next he took the Blue Ribband and George and hung it about his Neck and lastly the Cloak which he put likewise over his shoulders and leaving him thus Invested proceeded on with his Harangue which being ended he attended what the Invested-Stranger should please to say by way of acknowledgment or thanks to the Soveraign for the Honor received and then with usual obeysance departed the Room to put off his Coat The Copy of Sir Edward Walker's Speech made in delivering the Garter to William Prince of Orange at the Hague on Sunday in the Afternoon being the 4. of May 1653. May it please your Royal Highness I Have lately received the Commands of his sacred Majesty the King your Brother Charles the Second of that name by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith and Soveraign of the most Noble and Renowned Order of St. George called the Garter humbly to attend his Nephew the Prince of Orange only Son unto your Royal Highness and to deliver unto him the Ensigns of that most Noble Order with his Majesty's Letters of Dispensation investing his Highness with the most splendid Ornaments thereof But because the tenderness of his Highness age allows him not the capacity to comprehend the great honor the King hath done him in this early electing his Highness into this most Noble Society the Reasons whereof are best exprest in his Majesty's gracious Letter I shall therefore humbly address my self unto your Royal Highness his Moâ—her and Tutrix and by your permission open and read his Majesty's Letters and â—â—all then in obedience to his Majesty's Commands deliver unto his Highness the Garter and George therewith sent The Investiture being dispatched he thus proceeded Now that his Highness is by his Majesty's gracious Election and Dispensation Invested and become a Companion of this most Noble Order I should according to the obligation of my Office represent unto his Highness somewhat of the Antiquity Nature and Dignity of this most famous Order but as I said before the tenderness of his Highness age denying him the notion of matters of this kind my hopes and wishes shall supply that present deâ—ect which are that as his Highness grows in years under the happy tuition of your Royal Highness and observing that he wears an Order and Habit not common to others that he will with curiosity examine the cause of that effect and then I doubt not but he will be informed and with delight retain in his memory that it was the most victorious King of England Edward the Third his Highness Ancestor that 300 years past for noble and generous ends instituted this Order that it was the King his Vncle that elected him thereunto in his insâ—ncy That â—e is of an Order neer 100 years more ancient than any other meerly Military and that it hath been so highly valued and desired as that the greatest Monarchs of Europe in their times have been Companions thereof And to make the impression deeper his Highness will then also find that his great and excellent Father your Royal Highness Husband was a Companion of this most Noble Order as were formerly those two most potent and fortunate Supporters of this State his Highness most heroick Grandfather Henry and his great Vncle Maurice all Princes of Orange in succession The great Examples of whose admired and noble actions as of other his Royal and Princely Ancestors will certainly induce his Highness with alacrity and vigour to endeavour to be equal unto them in all honor magnanimity and princely virtues I shall conclude that as your Highness hopeful Son the Prince here present is the youngest that ever yet was chosen into this most Noble Society so it cannot be otherwise esteemed than an early Omen of his future felicity and greatness which with length of days and all prosperity is humbly and heartily wished by me unto his Highness the most high mighty and excellent Prince William Henry of Nassau Prince of Orange c. Knight and Companion of the most Noble Order of the Garter A brief Journal of Sir Edward Walker's passage and employment in passing from Amsterdam to Hamborough and so from thence to Berlin to deliver the Garter to his Electoral Highness Frederick Guillaume Marquess of Brandenburg An. Dom. 1654. ON Tuesday in the Afternoon being the 17. of March New Stile I
so negligent as not to come to the celebrations of the Grand Feast and yet have no justifiable reason of his absence such as may be allowed by the Soveraign or his Deputy he shall not at the Feast to be held the ensuing year enter into his own Stall but stand below before it in the place above mentioned 2. he shall walk alone by himself before the three Crosses which in ancient times were born in the Grand Procession 3. When the Grand Procession returns to the Choire he shall stand in the place before mentioned the following part of the Mass until the time of the Offertory 4. He shall Offer last of all by himself alone And after the humble sufferance of all these Penances he shall forthwith approach the Stall of the Soveraign or his Deputy and there humbly desire absolution for his Offence Whereupon the Soveraign or his Deputy shall restore him to his Stall and first estate But we have not hitherto met with any Record or Memorial where the particulars of this punishment were executed upon any of the Knights Offenders albeit we too often find where many have neither appeared all the time of the Feast nor sent Letters of excuse nor obtained license for their absence As for instance an 9. H. 6. Sir Robert Vmsrevile Sir Simon Felbrigg and Sir William Harington signified not the cause of their absence neither did the Duke of Buckingham nor Earl of Northumberland give any reason at all of their absence The like hath been observed of many others but without further memorial of what the Chapter did thereupon Fifthly and lastly the Statutes ordain That if any Knight-Companion remain within the Kingdom and not having a sufficient excuse to be allowed upon humble suit as aforesaid shall presume to absent himself the next following year and thereby become culpable of an omission of two years successively from the Solemnity before mentioned he ought thereupon to be so long interdicted his own Stall until in the said Chappel he shall have offered at Saint George's Altar a Iewel to the value of 20 Marks of lawful money of England and thence forward every year so long as he shall continue guilty in that nature the mulct must be doubled until he be reconciled and pardoned By vertue of this last Clause of the foregoing Article was the Lord Maltravers an 15. E. 4. for such his absence fined at 20 Marks And the Lord Scales an 36. H. 6. in a Jewel of 20 Marks value which as probably may be collected was the following year endeavoured either to be mitigated or taken off nevertheless we find the sentence confirmed and he left to pay the Fine imposed Of later times the greatest Offender that we observed against this Statutes was Ferdinand Earl of Derby who having made no excuse nor Petition for his absence in two years was at a Chapter held on the Eve of the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 1. accordingly fined and that with some further note of negligence but at the mediation of the Earl of Penbroke and Montgomery he was for that time remitted Yet was he not guilty of any future neglect for the following year upon his humble Petition setting forth his age weakness and inability to Travel he obtained a Dispensation for attendance on the Soveraign at the Feasts of St. George during his life But the most memorable case in the prosecution of a contempt was that against the Earl of Arundel who in a Chapter held an 14. E. 4. was fined 40 Marks to be paid to the Colledge of Windesor for being absent from the Solemnity of the Grand Feast for two years together without any approved cause and the following year still continuing his Contempt the mulct by virtue of the aforesaid Statute was doubled and he fined in the sum of 80 Marks Touching the third particular amongst those things done of course in the Chapter held before the first Vespers to wit the nominating and constituting an Officer for holding the same if the Soveraign be not present we are beforehand to note the occasion and cause thereof which was briefly this At the time of Instituting this Order the Soveraign being engaged in Wars with France and Scotland which he then and for some time after personally managed thought fit to make provision for supply of his room no less than in case of sickness or other urgent occasion where he should be hindered from affording his personal presence at such time of the year whereon the Grand Feast should happen and hereupon allowance was given by the Statutes to depute another in his stead When therefore such occasion afterwards hapned a Commission was made out to one of the Knights-Companions some reasonable time before the approach of the Feast to the end that by such a representation of his Person none of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted or any defect happen through his absence For till the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign we meet not with any Commissions that stayed for the Soveraign's fiat so long as until the sitting of the Chapter held before the first Vespers Nevertheless seeing from thence it hath been for the most part thus practised we think it not improper to give our account thereof here amongst those things of course which if at this day the appointing such an Officer shall be thought requisite are usually dispatcht at the foresaid Chapter And herein we shall speak 1. Of the Person Nominated to this Office 2. his Title 3. the Ceremonies used at his Constitution 4. the nature of his Employment 5. and the Dignity of his Office As to the Person Nominated we observe That most usually he hath been one if not the chief of the Knights-Companions we mean in Authority Eminence or Birth next to the Soveraign himself Such were Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Gloucester stiled also Earl of Henalt Zeland and Penbroke Lord of Frizland Protector and Governor of England both Sons to King Henry the Fourth Brothers to King Henry the Fifth and Uncles to King Henry the Sixth Humfry Stafford Duke of Buckingham Son and Heir of Edmund Stafford by Anne Plantaginet Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock made Primer Duke of England 22. Maii an 25. H. 6. Thomas Earl of Derby Father-in-Law to King Henry the Seventh the Dukes of Suffolk and Richmond with Marquesses of Dorset and Exceter in King Henry the Eighth's time The Duke of Norfolk Marquess of Northampton Earl of Leicester and Lord Treasurers Burghley and Buckhurst under Queen Elizabeth And in King Iames his Reign the Soveraign's eldest Sons the Princes of Wales first Prince Henry and after his death Prince Charles the late Soveraign of blessed memory Next we shall consider the Time and Place when and where he hath been appointed to this Employment Concerning
of Silk and Gold rich Cloth of Gold or Cloth of Tissue and to sute with both it is sometimes called Vmbrella aurea Vmbraculum aureum or Canopium vel Coelum portatile auri to which there are affixed 6 Golden Staves wherewith it is supported The persons appointed to carry the Canopy an 11. H. 8. were 4 Knights of the Body when 4 other Knights bore 4 Wax Tapers but since they are the Gentlemen of the Soveraign's Privy Chamber in Ordinary who at the time of the Feast are in waiting Concerning whom there is this mention made in the Blue Book an 26. Eliz. The Soveraign was pleased to follow the Grand Procession certain persons being placed already at the Choire door who wear to bear the Canopy woven of Gold and Silk for her to walk under In her Reign there were not above 6 appointed for this service but of later times they have been increased to double that number the first mention whereof that we have met with is an 8. Car. 1. The most usual place at Windesor where the Canopy bearers attend to receive the Soveraign when he enters upon the Grand Processions is at the Choire door yet once we find they received him without the outer door of the Chappel and they who bear it make a stand when the Soveraign returns to the same place where they received him while he passeth from under the same into the Choire to his Royal Stall At Windesor the Canopy is aswell used when the Soveraign descends from the Presence Chamber in the Proceeding to the Chappel on the Feast day in the Morning as during the time of Procession but at Whitehall it is carried over the Soveraign's head during the time of the Grand Pâ—â—cession only In this solemn Proceeding and at all other times of Publick Proceeding during the continuance of the Feast the Soveraign hath the long Train of his Mantle carried up by several of the young Nobility appointed to this Service concerning which we shall observe That this Custom of holding up the Train is a very ancient kind of honor and derived some think from the Roman Emperors others from the Popes Cardinals and Bishops who as they used to kneel down to offer at the Altar or perform any other part of Divine Service had the end of hindermost part of their Stoles or long Robes held up behind from the ground by their Arch-Dâ—aecons in token of great veneration and honor But what Erhardus Cellius affirms as more peculiar to our purpose is this That as Kings have anciently been accounted Priests so King Edward the Founder of this most Noble Order ordained this sacerdotal honor of the Train to be added to the Habit of the Order Which Ceremony of carrying up the Train as it hath been anciently afforded to Kings both in England France and elsewhere so at length it was drawn down into use by great Personages of both Sexes at grand Solemnities Assemblies Marriages c. whereof the foresaid Author gives sundry Examples A description of the Train together with the manner of bearing it up as of the Fashion and Figure wherein it then shews it self is also given us by him for speaking of the Duke of Wirtemberg's Train that was carried up according to the English Fashion at his solemn reception of the whole Habit of the Order of the Garter he takes occasion to tell us that this Appendix or Supplement trailing from the hindermost part of his Mantle is commonly called Syrma as being in the likeness of the Tail and Wings which Nature hath given for ornament to the Peacock The Lady Isabell Daughter to the French King Henry the Second when she was married by Proxy to Philip the Second King of Spain an 1559. had her Train carried up from the ground by Mary Queen of Scotland who had been lately married to the Dauphin of France and two other young Ladies Sisters of the Bride This being premised the Persons together with their quality who have had the honor to bear up the Soveraign's Train at the Grand Festival or other solemn Assemblies relating to this most Noble Order fall in now to be spoken of they being appointed by the Soveraign and notice thereof sent unto them by the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold to the end they may give their attendance accordingly The ancientest Example we have met with of performing this Service in relation to the Solemnities of the Order is that of an 21. H. 7. at the Installation of Philip King of Castile when the Soveraign's Train as he went to make his Offring at the high Altar was born up by one of the Canons of the Colledge Queen Elizabeth had for the most part her Train carried up by great Ladies when she proceeded to the Closet at Whitehall on the Eve of St. George and in particular by the Lady Marchioness of Northampton in the third year of her Reign an 4. by the Dutchess of Suffolk an 5. by the Dutchess of Norfolk an 6. by the Lady Margaret Clifford Wife to the Lord Strange in the 7. and 9. years by the Dutchess of Somerset an 8. by the Countess of Rutland and an 10. on the Eve of the Grand Feast by the foresaid Dutchess of Suffolk At other times this service hath been performed by persons of honor both men and women together as on the Grand Feast day an 19. Eliz. the Earl of Oxford bore up the Train of the Soveraign's Robe and the Countess of Derby that of her Kirtle But an 5. Eliz. the Dutchess of Norfolk carried up the Train both of the Robe and Kirtle Sometimes the said Soveraign had her Train carried up by the Register of the Order as on St. George's day an 2. 3. Eliz. But of late times young Noblemen have performed this Office the most honorable person going on the right hand as an 3. Car. 1. the Duke of Lenox and Earl of Caernarvon an 8. Caer. 1. Visc. Grandison the Lord Wentworth and the Lord Carew of Leppington So 8. Oct. an 15 Car. 1. the Duke of Buckingham and his Brother with the Lord Buckhurst and Lord Cavendish Assistants have been usually appointed to those honourable personages who carried up the Soveraign Train and in this quality an 18. Eliz. the Earl of Oxford Lord High Chamberlain of England assisted the Countess of Derby which service the Vice-Chamberlain had before discharged for many years together viz. in the 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and 10 th Years of Queen Eliz. and since the Gentleman of the Robes for so did Mr. Kirke an 8 9 11 Car. 1. The place of the Assistant in the Proceeding is upon the left hand of the Train-Bearers This honor of bearing up the Train hath been in like manner afforded to Stranger Kings at such times as they have
an Altar to be therein erected and dedicated to that Virgin He further granted to those Nuns and their Successors 20 l. per annum out of the Issues of the Town and County of Berwick until Lands to that value should be conferred upon them to the end that annually on the Eve and day of St. Margaret for ever they should commemorate the goodness of God for his so prosperous success On the Morrow after this great Victory the King had the Town and Castle of Berwick surrendred to him and on the 19. of Iune in the following year did Edward Baliol King of Scots make Homage and Fealty to him at Newcastle as to his Superior and Chief Lord of the Realm of Scotland who then granted to the King and annexed to the Crown of England for ever the Counties next adjoining to England namely Berwick Roxbourgh Peples and Dunfres the Towns of Hadington and Gedworth with the Castle and Fortress of Silkirke Etherick and Gedworth By the assistance which King Edward afforded to Edward Baliol he gained the most part of Scotland nevertheless divers Castles refused to surrender which occasioned the King to make another expedition thither and about Allballontide he arrived at Newcastle upon Tyne and thence marched into Scotland towards the end of November and at Christmass entred Ethrick Forest but the Scots were fled whereupon having prosecuted his design as far as he thought good he returned into England The next year he raised new Forces and himself from Carlisle and Edward King of Scots from Berwick both entred Scotland on the 12. of Iuly burning and wasting the Country on both sides beyond the Scottish Sea This Expedition brought the Earl of Atholl and divers of the Scotch Nobility to a Submission upon which the King came back into the Northern parts where he wintered and kept his Christmass at Newcastle About Twelfth-tide he was provided to pass again into Scotland when Ambassadors from the Pope and King of France found him at Berwick ready to enter that Kingdom and by their earnest sollicitation about Candlemas obtained of both Kings a Truce till Midlent following but no Peace ensuing Edward King of Scotland and divers of the English Nobility at Whitsontide entred Scotland again and finding St. Iohns Town slighted by the Scots they fortified it Shortly after this King Edward followed them thither and thence passed with his Army unto Elgen in Murrey and Innerness In his return he took Aberdeen and burnt divers Towns and destroyed the Country About which time the Earl of Cornwal entred Scotland also and destroyed the Western parts and met the King his Brother at St. Iohns Town where the King stayed not long but marched to Striveling built the Fortress called the Pile and returned home About the Feast of St. Luke he marcht again with a fresh Army into Scotland and repaired Bothuill-Castle and returned into England before Christmas leaving Edward King of Scots at St. Iohns Town setled in the Government of that Kingdom The Affairs of Scotland being thus quieted for some years gave King Edward the leisure to look towards France which Kingdom afterwards became the Scene of all his Martial Glory For Robert d' Artois Earl of Beaumont in France being discontented at the Sentence wherein Philip King of France had given the Earldom of Artois from him to Maud Countess of Burgundy let fall some dangerous words and they being laid hold on forced him to fly into England where he was kindly received by King Edward who after he had been here sometime afforded him the use of the Castles of Guilford Wallingford and Somerton whensoever he pleased to retire thither for his recreation and afterwards assigned him 800 l. per annum for his support the one moiety to be received out of the Revenues of certain Priories Alien seised into the Kings hands and the other moiety out of his Exchequer Soon after his coming over he advised the King to set on foot his claim to the Crown of Franceâ— whereto the King was willing enough to hearken and to be perswaded by him but the Affair being of so great concern his Council advised him to take the opinion of his Father-in-Law the Earl of Henault before he attempted any thing therein Hereupon a Comet with long and terrible streams ushering in this grand Affair he employed thither with all privacy Henry Burghersh Bishop of Lincolne with two Banerets and two Doctors to gain him to his party with all other persons of note as they should find inclinable to assist the King who laying before the Earl King Edward's pretensions to the Crown of France he not only approved of his design but advised the King to contract other Alliances and gain to his party some of his neighbouring Princes thereabouts The PORTRAICTVRES of King EDWARD the 3. with the first 2â— KNIGHTS COMPANIOS in the HABIT of the ORDER and SVRCOATS of their ARMES In April following a like Commission was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincolne William Earl of Salisbury and William Earl of Huntingdon and they immediately dispatcht into Flanders where they found business so well prepared by the Commissioners before named that by the 24. of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and others in Henault Geldres and the Marquisate of Iuliers to appear in the Kings assistance against the French and withall setled the proportion of Men and Arms each of them were to furnish the King with in that Service together with the stipends and wages to be paid them in lieu thereof This done the said Bishop went to Gaunt and there won so much upon the humour of Iaques Dartuell that he gained him also to the Kings party Within a few days after Renaut the Second Earl of Guildres and Zuitphen who had married Leonora the Kings Sister and William Marquess of Iuliers Husband to Ioane Sister to Queen Philippa entred into the Association and next Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria signed an Agreement at Frankeford whereby he obliged himself to assist the King for the recovery and maintenance of his Inheritance against all persons whatsoever except Lewis the Emperor his Uncle which several Contracts made by the foresaid Ambassadors with these Princes were confirmed by the King under the Great Seal of England the 26. of August following Between this Emperor and the King and their Heirs past also an Union and Confederacy which obliged them to use all their power particularly against Philip de Valois who carried himself as King of France and his Successors in that Kingdom for the recovery and defence of their Honors Inheritances and Possessions The 13. of Iuly was Iohn Duke of Loraine Brabant and Lemburgh retained for the King and with the assent of the Emperor was the Confederation made with Lewis his eldest Son there stiled Marquess of Brandenburgh Count Palatine of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria
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
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
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
Lancaster in Chief Command behind him to whom they did fealty and Homage in the Princes presence and kist his mouth The Affairs of these Countries being thus Ordered the Prince and Princess their young Son Richard the Earls of Cambridge and Penbroke took Shipping for England and arrived at Plimouth about the beginning of Ianuary whence they rode to the King at Windesor where after some stay he took his leave and retired to his own House and about two years after surrendred the Dignity of Prince of Guynne and his whole right therein to his Father King Edward While he was yet in Minority there were several matches designed for him as first being but a year old a Commission was given to Iohn Darcy and William Trussell Knights to treat and agree with Philip King of France or his Deputies upon espousals and Matrimony between this young Prince and King Philips Daughter but the quarrel breaking out afterwards with that King there was no further progress made in his Affair The next proposal was for Margaret one of the Daughters of Iohn Duke of Brabant and Lorraine to which purpose a Commission was made out to Henry Bishop of Lincoln and William de Bohun Earl of Northampton to treaâ— with the said Duke or his Deputies upon this matter and for which in regard they were both within the third Degree of Consanguinity the Popes Dispensations was several times endeavoured to be obtained by Letters sent from the King but he could not be induced to do any thing therein Another match was proposed with a Daughter of the King of Portugal and thereupon the King Commissionated Mr. Andrew Offord Richard de Soham and Philip de Barton to treat of a Marriage not only between the Prince but any other of his Sons and any one of the Daughters of the said King That also taking no effect there was another Commission issued to Robert de Stratton Canon of Chichester and Richard de Soham to treat with the said King concerning a marriage between the Prince and his Daughter Leonora But none of these which were of others providing took effect but at length an 35. E. 3. he married with a Lady of his own choice namely Ioan Countels of Kent Sister and Heir to Iohn Plantagenet Earl of Kent and the Relict of Sir Thomas Holland one of the first Founders of this most Noble Order commonly called for her Excellent Beauty the fair Maid of Kent And because the Prince had married her notwithstanding nearness of Kindred between them and of his Christning her eldest Son it was thought requisite to have a Papal Absolution from Excommunication and Dispensation for Marriage both which were obtained from Pope Innocent the Sixth in the 9. year of his Popedom By her he had two Sons namely Edward the Eldest born at Angoulesme in Feb. 1365. Leland saith 1364. who dyed in Gascoigne at 7. years of Age and Richard the second Son born at Bordeaux on Twelfth-Day being Wednesday at three a Clock in the Afternoon 1366. and had three Kings to his Godfathers viz. of Spain Navarre and Portugal Besides these he had two Natural Sons Iohn Sounder and Sir Roger de Clarendon to the latter of these he gave by his Will a Silk Bed with all thereunto belonging This Roger was after made one of the Knights of the Chamber to King Richard the Second to whom the said King the first of October 13. R. 2. gave for life 100 l. per annum out of the Issues of his Subsidies in the Counties of Bristol Gloucester Somerset Dorset and Cornwall His Disease contracted in Spain grown now uncurable and he drawing near to his end made his Will in the Kings great Chamber at Westminster the 7. of Iune an 50. E. 3. and disposed of his Body to be buried in the Cathedral Church of the Trinity in Canterbury And such was his care of those who had done him service that he charged his Son Richard by his Will to continue the payment of those Pensions which he had given them The Executors nominated therein were his Brother of Spain the Duke of Lancaster William Bishop of Winchester Iohn Bishop of Bath William Bishop of St. Asaph Robert de Walsham his Confessor Hugh de Segrave Steward of his Lands Aleyn de Stokes and Iohn de Fordham The next day after his Will was made being Trinity Sunday this Noble Prince the Flower of Chevalry and delight of the English Nation departed the World his body being imbalmed was wrapt in Lead and kept till Michaelmas the Parliament being then to meet to be interred with greater Solemnity which was performed at Canterbury near the Shrine of Thomas Becket over whose Grave a stately Monument was erected for him which yet remains undefaced 3 Henry Earl of Lancaster THE second Stall on the Soveraign's side was assigned to Henry then Earl of Lancaster and Derby Son to Henry Earl of Lancaster Brother and Heir of Thomas Earl of Lancaster Beheaded at Pontefract on Monday before our Lady-Day an 15. E. 2. and Maude Daughter and Heir to Sir Patrick Cadurces or Chaworth Knight Lord of Kidwelly and Ogmore in Wales The first considerable Military Honor conferred on him was that of Commander in Chief of all the King's Forces sent into Scotland an 10. E. 3. for the Truce with the Scots having been upon the request both of the Pope and King of France and earnest sollicitation of their Ambassadors several times prorogued between the 23. of Nov. an 9. E. 3. and the Sunday next after Ascension day following it then expired before which the King had intelligence of their confederacies abroad and great preparations for War and being engaged to assist and defend Edward Baliol King of Scots who had done him Homage for that Kingdom he thereupon raised an Army for that purpose and gave this noble Knight command thereof by the name of Henry de Lancaster only though I find him in another place relative to this employment called Henry de Lancastre Banneret And by another Commission he gave him power to receive to Faith and Peace the Scots or their adherents and to grant them pardon Shortly after he aâ—â— Tho. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Henry de Bellomont Earl of Bogham and William de Bohun had Commission given them to treat with Sir Andrew Murrese a Scotch Knight about a Truce between the King and his Subjects in Scotland and the said Sir Andrew and other the Scots to hold till Midsummer following Towards the latter end of this year David Bruys then in France had obtained that Kings assistance and gotten together a great Navy with which he did much mischief to the Merchants about the Isle of Wight besides he had entred the Isles of Gerusey and Iarsey and killed divers of the Inhabitants The King therefore gave Commission to the Archbishop of Canterbury and others
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
At that time Tho. Douvedale was the Dukes Lieutenant in that Dukedom to whom command was given dated the 5. of August preceding to deliver up all things in his custody there and belonging to the King to such as the King had appointed to receive them in like manner as they were formerly delivered up to the Earl by Sir Thomas Holland late Captain there In the Expedition made by the King into France in the 33. year of his Reign this Duke was sent before to Calais with 400 Spears and 2000 Archers where being arrived he took with him those Lords of the Empire and other Commanders who there waited the Kings coming to Calais and marched to St. Omars Cambray and other places wasting all the Country as he passed until he heard of the arrival of the King and then returned to Calais This Voyage with the King into France was the last Martial Employment this Great Duke undertook and as he had manifested to the World the wisdom and valour of a great Commander and succeeded happily in Martial Affairs so was he no Enemy to Peace but as ready to lay hold of it on fair and honorable terms as he was forward to draw his Sword in defence of the Kings honor and right And this was most evident at the Treaty of Bretagne neer Chartres where though the King was very unwilling to accept of a Peace upon terms offered by the French yet moved by the perswasive Arguments of this worthy Duke he condescended thereunto It was also upon his motion both to the King and King Iohn of France that the Truce made at Rennes between Charles de Bloys and the Earl of Montfort which was to expire the first of May was enlarged to Midsummer following in hopes of a final Peace to be by that time made between them He married Isabel Daughter of Henry Lord Beaumont Cousin-german to Queen Isabel Wife to King Edward the Second and by her had two Daughters and Heirs Mand his eldest Daughter was Wife first to Ralph Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford and next to William Duke of Bavaria Earl of Henault Holand and Zeland Lord of Frisland stiled also Earl of Leicester and Blanch the youngest to Iohn of Gaunt created Duke of Lancaster an 36. E. 3. His Will was made in his Castle at Leicester the 15. of March 1360. in which he is stiled Duke of Lancaster Earl of Derby Lincolne and Leicester Steward of England Lord of Bergerac and Beaufort and by which he appoints his Body to be interred in the Collegiate Church of our Lady at Leicester where his Father was buried He dyed within few days after viz. on Tuesday next before Easter an 35. E. 3. and was buried at Leicester according to the appointment of his Will 4. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick THis noble Earl was eldest Son to Guy Earl of Warwick and Alice Sister and Heir of Robert Toney He was born in Warwick Castle and had to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster Henry his Brother and Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth On New-years day in the second year of King Edward the Third he was made Knight though then within age and the 20. of February following having made his Homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands In the fifth year of the same King the Government of the Isles of Gernsey Sark and Aureney was conferred on him About two years after he attended King Edward the Third in that famous and successful Expedition against the Scots and in Christmas Holy-days an 8. E. 3. he and the Earl of Oxford were sent with Edward King of Scots to secure Carlisle and defend the West Marches of England who with some Forces raised in Lancashire Westmerland and Cumberland entred Scotland about Twelvetide wasted Gallaway and returned to Carlisle He attended the King again into Scotland an 9. E. 3. when King Edward by Carlisle and Edward King of Scots from Berwick entred again that Kingdom after which he was one of those Noblemen to whose trust the King committed the Guardianship of the Marches The following year he and other of the Nobility of England entred Scotland about Whitsontide and passed as far as St. Iohns Town which they fortified and in this Kingdom he remained all the year About the beginning of Sept. an 11. E. 3. he again entred Scotland with an Army by Berwick whilst the Lords Wake and Clifford entred by Carlisle and within two days both their Forces united whereupon they wasted Tividale Moseteidale and Nidesdale whilst Anthony Lord Lucy wasted Gallaway but not being able to prosecute their Voyage by reason of the great Rains they returned within twelve days to Carlisle and so much to the satisfaction of the King did he behave himself in this Expedition that the 19. of March following he made Letters obligatory to him for 500 Marks as a gift to be paid him at Michaelmas following When the King undertook his first Expedition into France an 13. E. 3. by the way of Flanders he likewise attended him thither and had Command of a Wing in the field pitch'd between Vyronsos and Flamengery in which among others were the Earl of Penbroke the Lords Berkley and Moulton He went over with the King into Flanders when by the way that memorable Naval fight hapned before Sluce where the King obtained a signal Victory against the French and was one of the Commissioners nominated at the Treaty agreed on at the Siege of Tournay to be sent to Arras in order to a further Treaty where after 15 days debate nothing was agreed on but the Surrender of the County of Poictou seized on by the French King the preceding year and a prolongation of the Truce for two years An. 16. E. 3. he was one of the Commissioners nominated to treat with the Kings Allies in Brabant and Flanders about his designed Expedition into France in which he after attended the King with 80 men at Arms 1 Banneret 18 Knights 60 Esquires and 100 Archers on Horse-back for whose passage a Writ issued to Iohn de Montgomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships At Nantes in Bretagne to which the King had laid Siege he behaved himself so gallantly upon a Sally made by the Town that they were forced to retreat with great loss Not long after his return into England he marcht into Scotland with Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby to raise the Siege laid against Louhmaban Castle whereof the Earl of Northampton was Governor and when he came back was imployed with the said Earl of Derby and some others to the Pope to treat about King Edwards right to the Crown of France which produced nothing but an enlargement of the Truce The following year he was constituted Marshall of England during pleasure In that great Expedition
first designed for Gascoigne an 20. E. 3. he was made Admiral of the Fleet but the King altering his course upon the advice of Sir Godfry de Harecourt took into his own Ship the Admirals Colours and sailed towards Normandy Where landing at Hoges this Earl made the first attempt with one Esquire and six Archers against 100 Normans whereof 60 were slain upon the place and by this valiant action made way for the Kings Army to land Upon this he was constituted one of the Marshals of the Kings Army and Sir Godfry de Harecourt the other And upon the Kings advance to Cressy he was one of the Commanders under the Prince of Wales who led the Van of his Army in that famous battel He attended the King at the Siege of Calais with 3 Bannerets 61 Knights 160 Esquires 154 Archers on Horseback and upon its surrender he with the Earl of Stafford and Sir Walter Manny had the Keys of the Town delivered them by the King and were appointed to take possession of it for him And for his great services in this Voyage into France the King gave him 1366 l. 11. s. 8 d. and after assigned him 1000 Marks per annum for life out of the Customs of London Lynn and St. Botolphs and these partly in recompence for his great services and partly for wages due for attendance on his person with 100 men at Arms according to certain Indentures of Covenants made betwixt them He was also in that Naval fight against the Spanish Fleet near Winchelsey quarto Calendas Septembris an 24. E. 3. where the English took 26 of their best Ships the rest fled or were sunk King Edward having received intelligence that the French King threatned an Invasion this Earl was constituted Admiral of the Sea from the River Thames Westward and Philip de Witton made his Lieutenant The same year he was constituted one of the Commissioners assigned for the Arraying all able men as well Knights and Esquires as others within the Counties of Warwick Leicester and Worcester for defence of the Realm The Prince being constituted the King's Lieutenant in Aquitaine he attended him thither and there staid with him that year and the year after And that the Town of Vattes in Bretagne might be made defensible he had command to take care of the fortifying it and to furnish the Magazin with stores In the Battel at Poictiers the French King and his eldest Son encountred the Battel of the English Marshals led by the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk And after the Victory the Prince sent this Earl and Sir Reignold Cobham to discover what was become of the French King who after some time espied a Company of Souldiers together and riding towards them found the French King on foot in great danger between the English and Gascoigners for they had taken him from Sir Denis Morbeck to whom the King first yielded himself and in token thereof had given him his right Gauntlet there being above 10 Knights and Esquires among them who challenged him for their Prisoner but this Earl entring the throng commanded the Souldiers to fall back and brought King Iohn to the Prince In this Battel the Earl himself took William de Melleun Archbishop of Seinz Prisoner for whose Ransom he after received 8000 l. and therein behaved himself most valiantly and got great renown having fought so long that his hand was galled with the management of his Sword and Poleax This Earl was in the Gascoigne War an 31. E. 3. he also attended the King in his Expedition into France an 33. E. 3. And after the Peace was agreed upon at Bretigny near Chartres and the King returned to England he gave this Earl the Command of all the Forces he left behind him in Guyenne or any other place on that side the Sea An. 36. E. 3. he marched in the Retinue of Iohn Duke of Bretagne The following year he attended the Prince of Wales into Gascoigne and had an allowance of 452 l. in recompence of his expences and loss sustained by stay of himself and Men at Arms at Southampton After he had been a while in Gascoigne he began his Travels into other Countries having a Train of 300 Horse consisting of Knights Esquires Archers and Servants In this Journey he spent 3 years having made great proof of his Valour in the East Countries against the Pagans and in his return for England brought along with him the King of Lituania's Son to whom being christened in London this Earl was Godfather and named him Thomas His Commission for Marshal of England was renewed to him an 40. E. 3. and the following year he and the Bishop of Durham and some others were impowered to supervise the Marches of Scotland and to treat with David de Bruys about the rupture of the Truce formerly made at Berwick and several injuries done by the Scots He married Katherine one of the Daughters of Roger Mortimer Earl of March who dyed some few weeks before him He had by her these Children Guy his eldest Son who died in France Thomas who succeeded him in his Earldom Reynburn William Lord Bergaveny and Roger. His Daughters were Maud the Wife of Roger Lord Clifford Philippa of Hugh Earl of Stafford Alice of Iohn Beauchamp of Hach Ioane of Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton Isabel of Iohn Lord Strange of Blackmere Margaret of Guy de Montfort Agnes of Cokesey Iulian and Katherine This noble Earls last action was in the Isle of Caux an 43. E. 3. for passing over to Calais in assistance of the Duke of Lancaster as is mentioned the French having intelligence of his coming presently withdrew in great confusion from Chalke-hill where they had pitcht their Tents and upon his arrival understanding that the English had only faced the French and not fought them he could not forbear to condemn their slackness and out of a high sence and indignation thereof said I will go on and fight before the English bread which we have eaten be digested and forthwith past into the Isle of Caux in Normandy which he entred with Fire and Sword but returning to Calais he fell sick of the Pestilence then vulgarly called the Third Mortality and died on the 13. of November His Body was brought over into England and interred in the middle of the Choire of the Collegiate Church at Warwick the Sculp of whose Monument is to be seen in the Antiquities of Warwickshire 5 Piers Capitow de la Bouch. We are yet to seek who this person was notwithstanding there hath wanted no pains in the search That his name was Peter is most evident from the Inscription under his Plate yet remaining in Windesor Chappel in these very Syllables Le Capitow de la Bouch Monsieur Piers But whether Peter de Greilly
Viscount Benanges mentioned in the following Pedigree be the same person is some question For first in all those Records where he is remembred the Title of Capitow de la Bouch is not given him Secondly we cannot trace him beyond the 22. year of the Reign of King Edward the Third and the Order of the Garter was not Instituted till the following year Thirdly Iohn his Son is called Capitan de Bouâ—h an 5. E. 3. and so till he died And if he should prove the persoâ— as some do take him to be it is a strange mistake committed in the Engravement of the Plate which seems to be as ancient as any of the rest set up in the Chappel at Windesor Of this Iohn Capitan de Buch there are many things noted by Sir Iohn Froissard relating to both his taking King Edward's side against the French and his valiant actions in those Wars But in regard we doubt of his being one of the first Knights-Companions of the Garter we have thought fit for the present to wave the Historical account of him and intreat the Reader in lieu of it to content himself with that of some part of the descent whereby he may guess at the greatness yet unsuccessfulness of our pains in endeavouring to ascertain the person Iohannes de Greilly dominus Benanges Senescallus totius Aquitaniae Rot. Vasc. 6. 7. E. 1. m. 9. Claramonda filia haeres Galliardi de Mota domini de Laudirons Rot. Vasc. 6. 7. E. 1. m. 9. Petrus de Greilly miles Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. Katherina de Greilly Domina Locorum St Blasii de Laudiron Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. Petrus de Greilly Vicecom Benangiarum Castellionis Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. 16. E. 3. m. 13. 22. E. 3. m. 25. Assalita soror haeres Petri de Burdegal Rot. Vasc. 5. E. 3. m. 24. Petrus de Burdegal dominus de Puypaulini Iohannes de Greilly ac Capitaneus de Buch. Rot. Vasc. 5. E. 3. m. 24.14 E. 3. m. 2.16 E. 3. m. 13. 29. E. 3. m. 6. Blanch de Loup Archambaud de Greilly Capitalis de Bogio ac Vicecomes Benangiarum Castillionis ac dominus de Podiopaulini Castri novi in Medulco Rot. Vasc. 7. R. 2. m. 10. 6. Ralph Earl of Stafford THis Noble Earl was Son unto Edmund Lord Stafford first summoned to Parliament an 27. E. 1. and Margaret Daughter to Ralph Lord Basset of Draiton His Father dyed an 2. E. 2. and and an 17. E. 2. being of full age he did his Homage and had Livery of his Fathers Lands The first military imployment that he undertook was an 1. E. 3. being summoned to be at Newcastle upon Tine on Monday next before Ascension day to go against the Scots The 12. of February an 10. E. 3. the King sent his Writ directed to him Philip Chetwynde and Philip Somervill to raise in Staffordshire Lichfield excepted 60 Hobelars and 200 Archers and to bring them to Berwick upon Tweed before the following Octaves of Easter In his absence it seems there was some attempts made to seize upon his Lady and carry her away but making his complaint to the King he received her under his protection and directed his Writ to the Sheriff to protect her so long as her Lord remained in his service I find this noble Lord was an 15. E. 3. Steward of the Kings House and one of those who went over into Bretagne an 16. E. 3. with Robert d' Artous to the assistance of the Countess of Montfort He behaved himself bravely in the Sea-fight near the Isle of Gernsey with the French and Genoeses who endeavoured to interrupt their passage thither but after they had been a while engaged a violent storm parted the two Navies and the English landed safely the first Town taken by them being Vannes and that by assault Soon after this Town was re-taken by Sir Henry de Leon and the Lord Clisson but the latter end of the Summer King Edward landed with an Army and laid a new Siege to it and perceiving the Country was much wasted he left the Earl of Arundel with this Lord before it and went to Rennes It hapned that one day upon an assault this Lord ventured so far that he was got between the City Gate and the Bars and there taken Prisoner but at another side of the Town Sir Henry de Leon and the Lord Clisson were both taken Prisoners by the English and so he was afterwards exchanged for the Lord Clisson In this Expedition he had Wages allowed him for 50 men at Arms viz. himself two Bannerets 16 Knights 31 Esquires and 50 Archers on Horseback An. 17. E. 3. was a year of much action for first this Earl with the Earl of Lancaster and other Noblemen went into Scotland to raise the Siege laid by the Scots to the Castle of Louhmaban and being returned was joined in Commission with Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan William de Norwich Dean of Lincolne Sir William Trussell and Andrew de Offord to treat in the Pope's presence with the Agents of Philip de Valois concerning the Kings right to the Crown of France but we suppose he went not on that Embassy for the 19. of August there was another Commission for that Affair made out to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby and others wherein he and Sir William Trussell were omitted and they the first of Iuly preceding with Philip de Weston Canon of York and Iohn Wawayn were sent to treat with the Noblemen Burgomasters c. in Flanders about the setlement of the Staple of Wool there and touching the Coyning of Gold and Silver such as might be current both in England and Flanders and whatsoever by any 3 or 2 of them should be agreed on this Ralph Earl of Stafford being one the King promised to ratifie They had another Commission wherein power was granted them to treat with the Princes Nobles and People of Almaine upon Alliances between the King and them and to gain their assistance for him The following year he went in the Expedition intâ— Gascoigne with the Earl of Derby and commanded the Party that assaulted Bergerac by Water who behaved themselves so valiantly that through their Valour the Town was forced to surrender to the Earl He was very active in this Gascoigne War and almost in continual Service and in sealing the Walls of Mountpesat Castle Richard Pennenort an English Gentleman that bare his Banner was slain For his Great Services in this War after his return into England he was made Seneschal of Gascoigne and had the Kings Letter sent to the Prelates and Nobility of that Country to obey and submit to his Authority while he continued in that Office Within a few days after the King directed his Writ
during pleasure But the following year these Dignities were committed to him alone He married Ioane Daughter of Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent Sister and Heir of Iohn Earl of Kent in whose right he sate in Parliament an 34. E. 3. as Earl of that County after whose death Edward Prince of Wales married her whose Widow she remained till an 9. R. 2. and then died By this Lady he had Issue two Sons Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and Iohn Holland Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exceter as also two Daughters Ioane and Maude the later was Wife to Hugh Courtney eldest Son to Sir Hugh Courtney one of the Founders of this Order an 39. E. 3. This noble Earl after the performance of many brave acts in the Kings Service died the 26. of December an 34. E. 3. Thomas his Son and Heir being then much about the tenth year of his age 15 Sir Iohn Grey of Codnore HE was eldest Son of Richard Lord Grey of Codnore in Derbyshire by Iane his Wife who had been Seneschal of Gascoigne in the Reign of King Edward the Second In that notable and famous Expedition made into Scotland an 7. E. 3. he had Command where his valour was so far taken notice of that not long after the King in part of recompence thereof and of his great expences in those Wars acquitted him of all such debts as he then owed unto his Exchequer Towards the end of the 9. year of E. 3. he went again to the Wars of Scotland being of the Retinue of Hugh Andley and two years after in another Expedition then made thither An. 12. E. 3. he attended the King into Flanders and an 14. E. 3. went over thither when by the way that famous Naval Fight hapned neer Sluce The following year he undertook employment in the Scotish Wars An. 18. E. 3. he with Nicholas de Langford and Edward de Chandos were assigned to Array all able men in Derbyshire from 16 to 60 years of age and to have them in readiness to march with them or others whom the King should appoint within three days warning against the Scots then ready to invade this Kingdom The following year he went in the Retinue of Henry Earl of Derby into Gascoigne and in regard he stayed there the next year in the Kings Service his Lands in Kent were exempted from finding men for guarding the Sea-Coasts With this Earl he returned to England and went to Calais in his Retinue an 21. E. 3. and stayed there the following year There being an Invasion threatned by the French an 26. E. 3. he was joined in Commission with the Lord Deyncourt to Array all able persons in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and to conduct them to such places as might stand in need of them for defence of the Realm He went in the Expedition which the foresaid Earl made into Breâ—â—gne an 29. E. 3. And after attended the King in his Voyage royal into France an 33. E. 3. and the same year was constituted Governour of the Town and Castle of Rochester for life More of his Military Services we find not before he obtained the Kings License an 39. E. 3. to go on Pilgrimage And an 45. E. 3. being grown very aged and not able to endure Travel he obtained a special Dispensation wherein his many and great Services performed with much fidelity and valour are by the King acknowledged to exempt him from coming to Parliaments to which he had received Summons from the time of his Fathers death which hapned an 9. E. 3. and Councils and charging him with setting forth of Soldiers in the Wars for the future He married Alice de Insula by whom he had Henry his eldest Son who married Ioane Daughter of Reginald Cobham of Sterborough but died before his Father and Iohn his second Son who both went in the Retinue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in his Expedition into France an 43. E. 3. and Alice a Daughter Wife of William Son of Sir Adam de Everingham of Laxton in the County of Nottingham 16. Sir Richard Fitz Simon WE have met with little concerning this Noble Knight but that he had command under Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby in Gascoigne an 19. E. 3. The following year he went with Robert Vfford Earl of Suffolk when he attended the King in his Expedition into France An. 21. E. 3. he was imployed in the Kings Service beyond Sea and lastly he was in command under the Prince of Wales an 22. E. 3. and in these Expeditions he performed so great Services that he was thought worthy to be Elected one of the first Founders of this most Noble Order 17. Sir Miles Stapleton THis Sir Miles Stapleton was Son and Heir to Sir Miles Stapleton of Bedall in the County of York Knight His first employment in the Wars was when King Edward the Third made his Expedition into Bretagne He also attended the King in his Voyage Royal into France an 20. E. 3. and lay at the Seige before Calais An. 23. E. 3. about the Month of Iuly he was employed in the Kings Service beyond Sea and the like an 29. E. 3. In the 30. year of King Edward the Third Philip Brother to the King of Naevarre taken Prisoner by the French King the year before came over into England and obtained assistance for recovery of his Lands in Normandy whereupon the King joyned to him this Sir Miles Stapleton a man of great integrity and in martial affairs very skillful as Froissard Characterizeth him These two with 2000. men passed through Normandy and as they marched took and burnt several Towns and Fortresses till they came within 9. Leagues of Paris and did not retreat till they had forced the French to enter into Truce for a Year For this Expedition the said Philip of Navarre was constituted the Kings Captain and Lieutenant in the Dutchy of Normandy In consideration of the constant fidelity and eminent valour of this Noble Knights as also his great service in the Wars the King granted to him a Pension of 100 l. per annum out of his Exchequer for life until he had that annual value in Lands or Rents provided for him And shortly after Upon information that several injuries and damages had been done to the French by the English after and against the Truce taken near Chartres the King desirous that it should be kept without violation and the infringers thereof punished constituted him with Sir Nele Loring and Sir Richard Stafford his Commissioners to inform themselves of the way and manner how these injuries might be discovered and repaired and gave them power to arrest and imprison to seize and confiscate their Estates and to punish them according as they
deserved He married Ioane the Daughter and Heir of Oliver de Ingham and Relict of Roger le Strange and dyed on Wednesday next before the Feast of St. Nicholas an 38. E. 3. leaving his Son Miles then about 20 years of age The Custody of his Lands was granted to the Queen who granted it to Bryan Stapleton Knight Iohn de Boys and Roger de Boys till his said Son came of age which Grant the King confirmed the same day by his Letters Patent He and his Wife were both buried at the House of Ingham founded by his Mothers Ancestors 18. Sir Thomas Wale HE was the Son of Sir Thomas Wale and Lucy his Wife which Lucy held the Mannor of Wedon-Pinkney in the County of Northampton with its appurtenances in her Demesne as of Fee of the King in Capite as of the Fee Pinkney by the service of one Knights Fee and long before her death she setled the said Mannor on this Sir Thomas and his Heirs as appears by the Inquisition taken after her death wherein the said Sir Thomas is found to be her next Heir and then about 40 years of age He attended the King into Flanders an 12. E. 3. and had command under William de Bohun Earl of Northampton in the Expedition which the King made into Bretagne an 16. E. 3. so also beyond Sea in the Kings service with Richard Earl of Arundel an 18. E. 3. We find not that he had any issue by his Wife Nichola who out-lived him but that his three Sisters were his Heirs namely Margaret the Wife of Malorre Alice of Thomas Chamberlain and Iulian. He dyed in Gascoigne on Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel an 26. E. 3. being a Knight of great vertue and worthiness so that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough 19. Sir Hugh Wrottesley SIR Hugh Wrottesley was Son to Sir William Wrottesley of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford Knight It appears that an 8. E. 3. he designed a Voyage to the Holy-Land and to that end had obtained the Kings Letters for appointing Peter de Hoe and Thomas de Chency his Attornies during his absence to prosecute his Suits in any Court of England An. 12. E. 3. he went in the Kings Service into Flanders when the King went over thither to confer with his Allies And at the Siege of Calais he had the Kings Licence to inclose his Wood at Wrottesley and make a Park Two years after for his good service he granted to him the Custody of the Lands and Tenements which were William de Pilateâ—hall deceased till his Heirs came of age with the marriages of them without rendring any thing theretofore An. 24. E. 3. the King granted him a Pension of 40 l. per annum out of his Exchequer for his life upon the surrender of which Letters Patent he granted him 40 l. per annum to be thus received viz. 16 l. 4 s. 4 d. out of the Farm of the Villages of Mere and Clent 11 l. 10 s. out of the Farm of the Village of Swinford 11 l. out of the Farm of the Village of Kinefare and Tetenhale and 1 l. 6 s. 8 d. out of the Farm of the Foresters Fee of Tedesley to hold for life or till he had 40 l. per annum in Lands or Rents setled on him for life yet to be answerable for the overplus being 1 s. 8 d. These last Letters Patent were confirmed to him by King Richard the Second in the first year of his Reign He married Mabill the Daughter of Sir Philip ap Rees and Ioane his Wife by whom he had issue Iohn whose heir male in a direct line is Sir Walter Wrottesley of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford Baronet now living He also had to his second Wife Isabel Daughter of Iohn Arderne of Aldeford Aderlegh and Edds. And dyed the Monday after the Feast of St. Vincent an 4. R. 2. 20. Sir Nele Loring AT the Naval Fight before Sluce his Valour was so remarkable that it gained him the Honor of Knighthood to which the King immediately added a Donation of 20 l. per annum to him and his Heirs males for the better support of that Dignity till Lands of the like annual value were provided for him and them These Letters Patent bear Teste at Sluce 26. of Iune in the 14. year of the Kings Reign over England and his first of France In the Kings Expedition into Bretagne he attended him thither and an 18. E. 3. went beyond Sea in his Service In the beginning of the following year he and Michael Northburgh Canon of Liâ—hfeild and Hereford were sent to the Pope's Court with the Kings Letter dated 23. Feb. an 19. E. 3. to obtain a Dispensation for the marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant At his return he went with Henry de Lancaster Earl of Derby into Gascoigne where he stayed the following year After which coming over into England he within a short time returned to his Commands in Gascoigne An. 29. E. 3. he attended the Prince of Wales in his Expedition into Gascoigne and being specially assigned to attend his person in the Battel at Poictiers he performed his duty so well that he received both acknowledgments and rewards from the Prince for that days service He was afterwards appointed by King Edward to be one of his Commissioners for receiving the possession of all Countries Cities Forts c. that by the Treaty of Peace near Chartres were to be delivered to him When the Prince of Wales was created Prince of Guyenne he attended him thither again and there continued four years whence returning into England he stayed not long but went back again and remained there three years After which coming into England and being again sent into Aquitaine Writs were directed to Robert de Ashton Admiral towards the West for the passage of him and Sir Iohn de la Haye their Soldiers and Retinue and this year he was one of those Knights of the Prince's Retinue sent to meet Sir Robert Knolls at his coming out of Bretagne whom they met at Quercy and assisted at the Sieges of Durmel and Domme both which though they thought fit to break up yet marching further into the Country they took Gauaches Freins Rochmador and Ville Franche upon the marches of Tholouze He was an active man and did King Edward great services which induced him to confer many favours on him in recompence thereof as first he granted him a Pension of 5 l. a year during his life to be paid him by the Abbess of Burnham out of the 15 l. per annum she was