was garnished with a Mantlet of Cloth of Silver covered with embroidery made after the same fashion as was the great Mantle excepting only that instead of Cyphers there were wrought fair Doves of Silver and both these robes double-lined with Satin of Orange-tawney colour The great Collar of the Order worn over the Mantlet was at first composed of Flowers de Lis cantoned or cornered with Flames of Fire interwoven with three Cyphers and divers Monogramms of Silver one was the Letter H and a Greek Lambda both double the first of these belonging to the Kings own name the other to the Queen his Wife Madam Lovisa de Loraine the other two were reserved in the Kings own mind but not without suspicion of referring to some wanton Amours But these Cyphers were taken off from the Collar and the embroidery of the Robes by Henry the Fourth his Successor and for a mark of his Battels and Victories Trophies of Arms were interlaced instead thereof with the Letter H crowned because it was also the initial Letter to his Christian name whereout arose flames and sparks of Fire and for the like reason hath this Letter H been since changed into the Letter L both by Lewis the Thirteenth and Lewis the Fourteenth At this Collar hung a Cross artificially wrought and adorned with a rich enamel in the midst whereof was represented the form of a Dove in a flying posture as descending down from Heaven with full spread Wings and to the end an Epigraph might not be wanting some have attributed to it this Duce Auspice thereby to signifie that those who wear it ought to hope for good success in their designs and enterprises being guided and assisted by the happy conduct of the Holy Ghost Besides these Ornaments the Knights wear a Black Velvet Cap adorned with a white Plume their Breeches and Doublets are of Cloth of Silver and their Shoes White tyed with Roses or Knots of Black Velvet The Badges ordained to be ordinarily worn are a Cross of Yellow or Orange colour Velvet wrought in the fashion of a Malta Cross fixed on the lest side of the Soveraigns breast but this at pleasure and the like Cross sewed on the left side of the upper Garments of the Prelates Commanders and Officers except in actions of Arms and then they are permitted to wear them of Cloth of Silver or White Velvet having in the midst thereof a Dove embroidered in Silver and at the angles or corners Rays and Flowers de Lis of Silver Moreover a Cross of the Order made of Gold like to the Cross of Malta also with a Flower de Lis in each angle thereof was appointed to be worn about their necks in a Blue Ribbon and to be enamelled White about the sides but not in the middle such as are Knights both of the Order of St. Michael and the Holy Ghost are to bear the Figure of St. Michael on the one side and of a Dove on the other The Anniversary of the grand Feast is ordained to be held on the first day of the new Year but the first part of the Ceremony begins always on the last day of the old the place for celebrating thereof is the Church of Augustine Friars in Paris An account of the first Solemnity as also of some other which have succeeded in the Reign of King Lewis the Thirteenth are set forth by Monsieur Boitel in his historical relations of the Pomps and Ceremonies used at the receiving of several Knights into this Order by this King and Printed at Paris 1620. The Order of the Precious Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ of Mantua 45. Vincentio de Gonzago the Fourth Duke of Mantua and Second of Montferat instituted this Order anno Dom. 1608. for defence and propagation of the Christian Religion and in honor of three drops of blood of our Saviour and Redeemer as also the more nobly to set forth the Nuptials of his eldest Son Francisco who succeeded him in his Dukedoms with Margaret of Savoy Daughter to Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and Catharine of Austria It was allowed and approved by Pope Paul the Fifth and consisted of 20 Knights the Founder declared himself Great Master and after him his Successors Dukes of Mantua and Montferat The Collar is fill'd with variety of fancy and design being composed of Ovals of Gold some extended in length others in breadth and interlinkt with small Annulets On those Ovals in length is raised in white enamel these words Domine Probâsti on the other in breadth upon flames of Fire on a Trevet enamelled Black a Crucible Grey fill'd with small rods of Gold he being desirous to intimate by this devise that they who entred into this Society should hold inviolable faith and perpetual concord in the greatest tryals and extremities At the end of this Collar is pendent a larger Oval of Gold in which are exprest two Angels standing upright enamelled according to life holding between them a Chalice crowned in the Table whereof are figured three drops of blood enamelled Red and round the Oval Nihil isto triste recepto On Whitsonday in the year 1608. were the first Ceremonies of this Order performed in the Dukes Chappel of the Palace at Mantua The Order of Amaranta in Sweden 46. This Order of the Knights of Amaranta was instituted by Christina Queen of Sweden about the year 1645. in honor of a Lady of that name of great beauty courage modesty and charity The chief Ensign is a Jewel of Gold composed of two great AA adorned with Diamonds on both fides and joined together by reversing one of them being set within a Circle of Laurel Leaves wreathed about with White and on the four sides this Motto Dolce nella memoria which Jewel the Knights wear either in a Gold Chain or a Crimson or Blue Ribbon as they best like of The Ceremony used at the Investiture of these Knights with this Ensign is briefly this The Queen being seated under her state the designed Knight is brought up with usual Reverences and approaching neer the Queen he kneels before her then she in a short speech acquaints him with the inducements that invited her to bestow this honor enumerating his services and merits to which he makes a return of humble thanks This done he takes his Oath still kneeling and holding his hands between the Queens hands the effect whereof is to defend the Queens person from harm and the persons of the Brothers of the Order to promote to his power Justice Virtue and Piety and to discountenance Vice Injury and Wickedness Having obliged himself to the performance of this Oath the Queen puts about him in the manner of a Baudrick a Crimson Silk Scarf with the Iewel fastned thereto after which the Knight ariseth and retireth with all sutable reverence To an absent Prince or great Personage whom the Queen intends to honor
William Mountacute first Earl of Salisbury and Sister to William Earl of Salisbury one of the first Founders of the Garter whose Will bears date the first day of November an Dom. 1378. in which she appoints her body to be buried in the Conventual Church of the Holy Trinity in the Priory of Bistleham vulgarly called Bysham Mountagu in Berkshire where an 1381. she was accordingly interred He dyed at Rovery in Burgundy the 26. of February an 34. E. 3. as the King was upon his march in those Countries and his body afterwards brought into England was buried at Wigmore with his Ancestors 9 Sir Iohn Lisle SIR Iohn Lisle was the Son of Robert Lord Lisle first summond to Parliament an 5. E. 2. by the Title of Robert de Lisle de Rubemont and of Margaret the Daughter of Peverell His Father Robert being disposed to give to him 400 Marks per annum of Land to serve the King with 6 men at Arms in his War the King to gratifie the said Robert and the better to support his Son granted that the said Robert might give him his Mannor of Harwood with its appurtenances in Yorkshire with other Lands to the annual value of 400 Marks during his life but afterwards to return to the said Robert and his Heirs and some years after his Brother Robert released to him and his Heirs all his right in the said Mannor and in the Advowson of the Church there Being thus provided for he attended the King in his first Voyage into France by the way of Flanders an 13. E. 3. and as Sir Iohn Froissard observes was in the Battel designed to be fought near Vironfosse Two years after he went into Aquitaine in the King's Service And the year ensuing he attended the King in Bretagne where he was one of the Commanders left at the Siege of Nants in Bretagne while the King foraged the Country and laid Siege to Dinant For his good services done the King he granted him a Pension of 200 l. per annum for his life to support his Degree of Banneret This Pension was first appointed to be paid him out of the Exchequer until a Provision of Lands or Rents to that yearly value were made for him but after there was assigned to him out of the Priory of St. Neats then of Stoke nigh Clare and of Fye to wit 120 l. per annum out of the Priory of Stoke and 80 l. per annum out of that of Eye Then 100 Marks was taken out of the Rent charge upon the Priory of Eye and laid upon the Issues of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon And lastly it came to be thus setled viz. That he should receive out of the Issues of these two Counties 200 Marks per annum and out of the issues of the Counties of Bedford and Bucks the remaining sum of 100 Marks per annum And having given him besides for like services another Pension for life of 40 l. a year out of his Exchequer also he appointed the payment of it out of the Farm of the Priory of St. Neats during the War An. 25. E. 3. the King made him Sheriff of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon and granted him the Custody of the Castle of Cambridge for life He had by Maud his Wife two Sons Sir Robert Lisle Lord of Rougemont and Wilbraham whose Heir male hath now his dwelling as I am informed at Wilbraham in Cambridgshire and Sir William Lisle Lord of Cameldon and Shefford who died without Issue In the Prince's Expedition into Gascoigne an 29. E. 3. he attended him and had Command given him in the main Body of the Army But in the three days march into the Enemies Country he was unfortunately hurt with a Quarrel or Bolt shot out of a Cross-bow of which he dyed the 14. of October in the same year his Son Robert being then about 22 years of age 10. Sir Bartholomew Burghersh SIR Bartholomew Burghersh was Son to Bartholomew Lord Burghersh frequently distinguished by the Title of Senior and Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Theobald de Verdon His Father was first summoned to Parliament an 1. E. 3. a person of great Council and Valour which laid a strong foundation for his Sons Honor having been several times constituted Constable of Dover and the Cinque-Ports he was also made Seneschal and Custos of Ponthieu and Monstriell Admiral towards the West Chamberlain to the King Lieutenant of the Tower of London one of the Custos's of England and frequently emploid in Embassies and by some through mistake made one of the first Founders of the Garter But among these enumerated in the preamble to the Statutes both of Institution with their Exemplars and those of King Henry the Fifth he is called Bartholomeus de Burghersh filius and Bartholomew de Burghersh le filz and so in divers places of our publick Records though we have seen some transcripts of these Statutes wherein the point hath been at the end of the Surname and filius so also le filz joined to Dom. Iohannes de Beauchamp But this was a plain mistake of the Transcriber since this Iohn was never married His first martial Service was when the King went into Bretagne an 16. E. 3. Next he went with the Prince in the Kings Expedition into France an 20. E. 3. where he staid with him at the Siege of Calais And for recompence of his Expences in this Voyage the King granted him the Custody of all the Lands and Tenements which had belonged to Iohn de Loueyne deceased till his Heir should come of Age without rendring any thing therefore The 23. year of King Edward he went along with him into Gascoigne And again thither with the Prince of Wales an 29. E. 3. and had command in the main body of the Princes Army The following year as the Prince retired from forraging the Country of Berry and was got near Romerentyne this Knight whom Froissard in several places calls the Lord Bartholomew Breches Sir Bartholomew de Bounes de Brennes and de Brunes but such mistakes are too frequent in that Author in this and other mens names as also in the names of Places was set upon by a French Ambushment but he and his Troops so gallantly behaved themselves that they kept the French in play till the Prince drew near upon the sight of whom they fled to Romerentyne pursued by the English and got into the Castle which the Prince commanded Sir Iohn Chandos to Summon but they refusing to yield after two desperate but fruitless assaults the English set it on fire which caused them speedily to surrender He attended the King in his expedition into France an 33. E. 3. and towards the end of the year an 37. E. 3.
frequently attributed 'T is true the very same names of Nero Claudius Germanicus are all stamped upon the Coyns of Drusus Brother of Tiberius the Emperor but there the Head is crowned with Laurel which Drusus the Son of Tiberius wanted and the Face made older in all places than that set forth by Oct. Strada which indeed is a perfect juvenile Effigies nor hath this Drusus the Brother of Tiberius the Title of Princeps juventutis any where given to him but that of Imperator only added at the end of his Names Besides these we are beholding to Occo for the description and to Fr. Angelonus for the Ectyp of another Coyn appertaining to Commodus the Son of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus on whose Reverse is to be seen the aforementioned Inscription viz. EQVESTER ORDO PRINCIPI IVVENTVT it being stamped when Commodus had the like address made to him from the Equestrian Order he having then also attained that attribute of Princeps juventutis And thus have we let in a glimps of the Equestrian Order established among the Romans with its Dignity and Honors which for many Ages flourished in great glory and reputation it being the continual care of that famous Nation to preserve partly the Fame of valiant men to posterity by the memory of their noble Acts and partly to stir up the spirits of the younger sort to the imitation of their Virtue upon whom the glory of their Ancestors might have such an influence as to make them eagerly contend for the attainment of a like degree of Honor by proportionate degrees of Virtue and Noble deeds All which we have thought requisite to bring in by way of Introduction to those Knightly Honors that afterwards succeeded in the world What we have further to say in this Chapter shall be to touch upon those degrees of Knighthood which have been personal and obtained by Creation only after such time as the French Empire took beginning and are or may be comprehended under the modern Title of Equites Aurati or Milites simpliees being indeed all of one nature albeit they received several denominations from those various Ensigns of Honor and Ceremonies of Creation wherewith the Dignity hath been in several Ages since particularly bestowed and as this Equestrian Dignity is distinguished from the several Orders of Chevalry instituted in Christendom whether they be of greater or less note who have received their Titles as Knights used together with that of their peculiar Orders which differenceth them from those we call Milites simplices In the circumstances of whose Creation we confess that nothing in the Ordo Equestris among the ancient Romans hath place though that might well be the ground and original of the Dignity and one common end in both namely the pursuit of military exploits and service in the Wars SECT IV. Of the modern Degrees of Knighthood AND first concerning those whom some call Monozoni that is Knights begirt with the Military Girdle a custom devolved to the Germans and Gauls from ancient time and from them to later Ages Our learned Countryman Sir Henry Spelman notes That the later Emperors conferr'd the Dignity of Knighthood with the military Girdle instead of all other Arms because that part more eminent amongst them girdeth supporteth and adorneth the rest Whence our learned Selden calls this girding the most essential part of the Ceremony Nor do we find that among the various Ceremonies belonging to Knighthood there have been any to the later ages that hath continued so constant and frequent in practice as the endowing with Girdle and Sword Ornaments indeed most proper to the Knightly Dignity and marks of Honor and Virtue with which the Statues and Portraitures of Knights have been adorned after death is may be seen on divers of their Monuments and Grave-Stones For as at this day Knights are in some places stiled Equites Aurati from the golden Spurs heretofore put on at their Creation so were they more anciently Cingulo militari donati or according to the old word used by Bracton Ringae Gladiis in regard that when any one was Knighted he was not as in this Age only smitten with the Sword but invested with Sword and Belt Nor is this Ceremony wholly lost since it is retained among those appointed to be used at the creating our Knights of the Bath who are to be girt with a Sword and Belt when they receive the aforesaid Honor as the old Formulary thus hath it Then shall the King of his great favour take the Sword and gird the Esquire therewith In the second place taking leave to rank those following degrees of Knighthood here mentioned according to their antiquity not the precedence they have since gained the Baccalaurei or Knights Batchelors are to be considered who are also indifferently stiled Chevaliers Milites Equites Aurati and Knights This degree is truly accounted with us the first of all military dignity and the basis and foundation of all Honors in our Nation and is certainly derived from if not the same with that immediately preceding For as the Ceremony of a gentle touch on the shoulder with the flat side of the Sword hath been since used instead of endowing with the Sword and Belt especially in times of War or in haste as an initiation into the Military Order so on the contrary it is not unusual now adays for the Prince at least Gladio if not Cingulo donare for he oftentimes bestows the Sword upon the person whom he Knighteth The Equites had the Epithete of Aurati given them from the priviledge of wearing Gold upon their Swords and Spurs and the 265 Knights created upon Hadrians Bridge at Rome by Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany the 18. of March Anno Dom. 1451. as he proceeded to the Cathedral Church of St. Iohn de Lateran to be crowned are by Ciaconius called Equites Aurati and were indeed no other than Knights Batchelors such were also the Italian and German Knights created in the same place by Sigismond the Emperour on Whitsunday 1432. as he went to the Lateran from the Vatican where he had received his Crown from Pope Eugenius the Fourth And here we have an occasion offer'd to insert the distinction which Andrew Tiraquel puts between those Knights who are and who are not noble before they receive that dignity allowing the later the Title of Equites Aurati and to the former that of Milites For saith he it is to be observed that those whom we in the French Tongue call Chevaliers were made noble assoon as they attain'd that dignity even though they were not such before yet they were not called Milites contrary to the position of all Interpreters of the Law but such as speak properly have called them Equites Auratos Which appellation Franciscus Philelphius did first of all find out and Bebellius in his Commentary De abusione linguae brings many things against the
in a Red Ribbon alone The Founder ordained four Officers to attend and serve the Order after the manner declared in the Ordinances for their Instructions annexed to the Statutes namely a Chancellor a Treasurer a Greffier or Register and a King of Arms called Toison d' Or. Lewis the Eleventh of France refused to accept of this Order because his Predecessors were not accustomed to receive the Orders of their Subjects for such were the Dukes of Burgundy accounted who held that Dutchy and other Seigniories in homage leige to the Crown of France Albeit the Emperors of Germany are descended from Philip Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders nevertheless the power of conferring the Order is lodg'd in the Kings of Spain only the Title of Head and Soveraign being solemnly resigned by the Emperor Charles the Fifth to his Son King Philip the 25. day of October anno Dom. 1556. in the Royal Chappel at his Palace in Bruxelles and the Collar taken from his neck and with his own hands put over his said Sons shoulders in the presence of divers of the Knights at which Ceremony he used this form of words Accipe Fili mi quem è Collo meo detraho Tibi praecipuum Aurei Velleris Torquem quem Philippus Dux Burgundiae cognomine Bonus Atavus noster Monimentum fidei sacrae Romanae Ecclesiae esse voluit hujusce Institutionis ac Legum ejus fac semper memineris Afterwards though Philip the Second King of Spain invested the Infanta his Daughter Isabella in the Dominion of the Low Countries upon the Contract of her marriage with the Arch-Duke Albert of Austria yet he retained to himself and Successors Kings of Spain and Dukes of Burgundy the honor of being Chief of this Order in which Crown it remains to this day The Statutes ratified under the Founders Seal the 27. of Nov. 1431. are printed in the Iurisprudentia Heroica together with those other additions and alterations which were since made by his Successors So also are the Priviledges granted to the Knights by the Founder his Son Charles and Maximilian which received confirmation from King Philip the Second anno Dom. 1556. The Names of the first 24 Knights and their Successors to the number of 450. are there also registred together with a Catalogue of the Chancellors Treasurers Registers and Kings of Arms and lastly a Figure of a â—â—â—ght vested in the Habit may be there likewise seen The Original and Foundation of this Order is written at large in French by William Bishop of Tournay Abbot of St. Bertin and second Chancellor to the Order in a Treatise of his called The Golden Fleece dedicated to Charles Duke of Burgundy Son to the Founder and printed at Troyes in the year of our Lord 1530. In this Work the Author treats of two manner of Golden Fleeces viz. first of Iason's Fleece of which he useth the testimony of Eustathius to assert it for a true History and by it represents the noble Virtue of Magnanimity demonstrating several Virtues appertaining to the state of Nobility Secondly of Iacobs Fleece viz. the party-coloured and streaked Fleece by which he sets forth the Virtue of Iustice which Virtue principally appertaining to Kings Knights and noble persons moved the heart of Duke Philip to institute this Order under it comprehending the Virtues of both the other Fleeces The Order of St. George at Genoa 35. The Republick of Genoa have an Order of Knighthood among them dedicated to the honor of St. George their titular Saint and Patron it was instituted by Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany and the Knights thereof are called Knights of St. George at Genoa The Ensign is a plain Cross Gules and worn by the Knights at a Chain of Gold about their neck The Dukes of Genoa are Chiefs thereof and in regard their Dignity lasts but two years the Order is much impaired through the inconstancy and alteration of times The Order of the Croissant in France 36. Rene or Renatus descended of the second Line of the House of Anjou King of Ierusalem and Sicily c. Duke of Anjou Count of Provence c. erected this Order under the denomination of the Croissant or half Moon in the City of Anjou anno Dom. 1464. But the Saincte Marthe's make it 16 years older by placing the Institution in the year 1448. Ios. Micheli reports that Charles King of Sicily and Ierusalem was the first Institutor anno 1268. in the great Church at Messina in Sicily on the day of St. Lewis King of France but he by mistake confounds this Order with that of the double Croissant instituted by St. Lewis in France and after his death retained and setled in Sicily by the said King Charles his Brother The end wherefore King Rene founded this Order is noted to be in honor of God support of the Church and exaltation of Knighthood Over which he declared himself and his Successors Dukes of Anjou and Kings of Sicily Chiefs He also chose St. Maurice Knight and Martyr for Patron and held the first Ceremonies in the Church of Angiers dedicated to his name The Symbol which the Knights wore on the right side of their Mantle was a golden Crescent whereon in red enamel was this word L'oz signifying in the opinion of Peter Mathieu L'oz en Croissant whereby they were encouraged to search after the increase of valour and reputation At this Crescent was fastned as many small pieces of Gold fashioned like Columes and enamelled with red as the Knights had been present in Battels Sieges of Towns Cities or Castles which gave due intimation to all men of their valour shewed in martial services for none could be adopted into this Order unless he had well mâ—â—ited in some of these kinds The Knighâ—â— who were 36 in number but the Saincte Marthe's say 50 did wear for the Habit Mantles of red or Crimson Velvet and a Mantlet of White with the lining and Surcoat of the same The Order of the Ermine in Britagne 37. In the year of Christ 1450. Francis the First of that name Duke of Bretagne in memory of his Grandfather Iohn surnamed the Conqueror or else in imitation of other Princes of the bloud in France founded this Order consisting of 25 Knights and thereupon also new-built his Castle of the Ermine He ordained the Habit to be Mantles of White Damask lined with Carnation and the Mantlet of the same The great Collar to be of Gold composed of Ears of Corn in Saltir bound above and beneath with two Circles of Gold in imitation of the Crown of Ceres hereby noting the care of Husbandry which the ancient Counts and Dukes of Bretagne had as also the fertility of that Province and hence is this Order otherwise called of the Ears of Corn. At the end of this
Lieutenant he dispatcheth a Letter to the Prelate of the Order signifying the Soveraign's commands for his attendance at the day appointed In both which cases as also if the Installation be dispatcht by Commissioners he writes his Letters to the three inferior Officers of the Order purporting the same command The conveyance of all which appertain to Garter and are left to his care and trust by the Constitutions relating to the Officers of the Order whose allowance and reward upon these and such like service shall be noted in its due place SECT V. Warrant for the Livery of the Order THE third thing to be obtained by the Chancellor of the Order is the Soveraign's Warrant directed to the Master of the Great Wardrobe for the time being to deliver so much Velvet for the Livery of the Order as will make the Knight Elect a Surcoat and Hood and as much Sarcenet or Taffety as will line them Of such a Warrant there is an ancient Precedent in Latin entred in the Black Book of the Order and transferred to the Appendix together with which we have also inserted another Precedent in English for delivery forth of materials for the Livery to Sir Iohn Wallop Knight Elected an 35. H. 8. And in the same form run all the Warrants we have seen in the Reigns of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth There is also to be provided a Book wherein King Henry the Eighths English Statutes are written in a fair and legible hand upon Vellom having in the beginning the Soveraign's Arms impaled with those of the Order and the proper Arms of the Knight for whom the Book is provided both fairly limned and surrounded with the Garter This Book of Statutes is prepared by the Register of the Order to whom for the writing there is an allowance made which generally in the Reigns of King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and Queen Eliz. was 2 l. but at King Iames his coming to the Crown it was enlarged to 3 l. 6 â— 8 d. SECT VI. The Removal of Atchievements and Plates BEsides these particulars before mentioned there is a Warrant or Scheme prepared for the Soveraign to sign wherein the order of the Stalls in the Choire at Windesor is set down according as he appoints them to stand at the ensuing Installation by virtue of which Garter is impowered to removed the Plates and Atchievements of the present Knights-Companions that so way be made for the Elect Knight or Knights and to fix the new Plates and Atchievements within and over the Stalls in such order as they are ranked in the said Scheme In reference to this alteration Garter so soon as the Soveraign's pleasure is known touching an Installation brings to the Chancellor of the Order the Names of the present Knights-Companions ranked in the order they then sit in their Stalls in which the Stalls void are to be so noted to the end he may present them to the Soveraign who upon observing the series wherein they be already placed may the better consider and determine how to alter and seat both them and the new Elect Knights And we find in the vacancy of Garter's Office this Employment was put upon Clarenceux for an 27. Eliz. the Soveraign's Warrant for removal and placing of Plates and Atchievements was delivered to him five days before the Installation of the Earl of Rutland the Lords Cobham and Scroop who thereupon fixed them according to the direction therein given This Section may be further enlarged by adding thereunto an account upon what ground this Alteration and Removal came to be made and how it continueth now in practice seeing it was otherwise at the Institution of the Order wherein we must first have recourse to the Statutes of the Order and ancient practice grounded thereupon Among the Statutes those of Institution did Ordain That if any Earl Baron or Knight Batchellor should depart this life he that succeeded in his place of what condition or state soever should possess the same Stall which his Predecessor held before without changing So that it might happen for an Earl or Duke to succeed a Knight and a Knight an Earl or Duke And it was thus at first appointed That it might be known who were the first Founders of this most Noble Order Now how punctually this Article of the Statutes hath been observed and what care was generally taken for a long time after the Institution of the Order that none chosen should interrupt or change this course we shall shew in the following Instances conceiving it very material to make use of those Tables yet preserved in the Chapter-house at Windesor but heretofore in the Choire of St. George's Chappel there wherein are collected the Names of all those Knights Companions who succeeded one another in each Stall until the beginning of King Henry the Seventh's Reign a transcript whereof we have inserted in the Appendix next after the Constitutions belonging to the Officers of the Order From which Series of succession and other Authorities we shall note how exactly the Law in this point hath been kept and observed even unto King Henry the Eighth's Reign when it received some alteration in this particular with reference no less to Election than Installation for we find in the Annals several Knights designed to the Stall of their immediate Predecessor by the honor only of Election albeit prevented of Installation by death or other accidental occasion and the Statutes do not bind him only who shall fortune to attain the honor of Installation but him who shall come after or succeed the desunct Knight which may as well be understood of and applied to an Elect as Installed Knight though the before mentioned Tables take notice only of the latter of these First therefore we shall instance in foreign Kings among whom we see the King of Denmark Ericus to have received Installation in King Henry the Fifth's Reign not according to his own state and degree as a King but into the Stall of that Knight-Companion whom he succeeded namely the Duke of Bavaria it being the eighth on the Soveraign's side whose first Predecessor and Founder was Sir Iohn Grey of Codnore Castle in the Country of Darby Besides Iohn the First King of Portugal a Knight-Companion in King Henry the Fifth's time also was installed in the second Stall on the Soveraign's side which belonged to Henry Duke of Lancaster his first Predeccessor and to this King did succeed in the same Stall his Son Edward King of Portugal elected an 13. H. 6. to whose Successor Humfry Duke of Gloucester an 34. of the same King succeeded Alphonsus the Fifth King of Portugal and to him as saith the French Table Iohn the Second King of Portugal But I rather doubt this Table as to the last King is mistaken for the second Stall not on the Soveraign's but Princes side because there we find as may be
should receive from the Proctor his Principal 's Helm and Sword for we find no mention of the Banner till afterwards and place them over his Stall CHAP. XIV THE Signification of Election TO Strangers SECT I. Within what time and in what manner Certificate is made of their Election FOrasmuch as Strangers Elect are for the most part Emperors Kings or Soveraign Princes the necessity of whose affairs obliged them to abide in their own Dominions and seldom or rarely permitted them to receive a Personal Installation in the Colledge of the Order therefore several Priviledges 〈◊〉 thought fit by the wisdom of the Founder of this most Noble Order to 〈…〉 and established in their favour as principally the giving them honâ—◠〈…〉 of their Elections allowing convenient time of consideration for Acceptance affording to them Investiture in their own Countries and permitting their Installations to be performed at Windesor by Substitutes or Deputies It was therefore by the Statutes of the Institution Ordained That when any such were chosen into the Order they should be certified of their Elections by the Soveraign and besides that at his charge the Garter should be sent over to them with the Mantle and Statutes of the Order sealed with the Common Seal And this to be done with all convenient speed so that they might have notice thereof at least within four moneths from the time of Election to the end they might advise and determine with themselves from consideration had of the tenor of the Statutes whether they would receive or refuse the honor of this most Noble Order In pursuance of these directions it became customary for the Soveraign together with his Letters to the Elect Stranger giving signification of his Election to send and that by way of solemn Embassy the Habit and Ensigns of the Order as also a Book of the Statutes and in case the Election were accepted then the Elect Stranger might receive Investiture before the return of the persons by whom the Habit was sent And this is manifest from the direction given upon the Election of Edward King of Portugal Son of King Iohn and of the Lady Philippa Daughter to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster at the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor the 8. day of May an 13. H. 6. to wit That because the Election then but newly transacted was not known to the said King it seemed good to the Chapter that he should be speedily certified thereof And that Garter King of Arms should be sent over to him to signifie his Election and upon his acceptation thereof to present him with the Garter and Habit of the Order as also with the Book of Statutes which he was likewise appointed to carry over with him And it may be presumed that a Certificate of Election was sent to the Duke of Vrbin within the time limited by the Statutes since it appears that being Elected the 18. of August an 14. E. 4. all things were fitted for his Installation against the following St. George's Feast at which he was Installed And upon the Election of the King of Portugal an 22. E. 4. the Register observes that notice was sâ—nt to him of his Election within the appointed time The purport of which Letters certifying a Stranger 's Election may be understood and known from that which King Edward the Sixth sent to the French King Henry the Second whereby briefly for his eminent Nobleness and Virtues and to augment and improve the brotherly amity and fair correspondency between them He had in Chapter with the consent of the Knights-Companions Chosen and Elected him into the number of the Society of the Garter and therefore thought good to acquaint him therewith desiring also the said King to give him and the Society the honor of consenting to and accepting of the Election forasmuch as he should thereby perform that which would be very acceptable and grateful to him as he should more fully understand by the Ambassadors who were preparing for their journey to Invest him with the Habit. The right of bearing these Letters signifying Election and returning the Stranger 's answer belongs to Garter being confirmed to him by the Constitutions appertaining to his Office We see before that the Certificate of Election was ordained to be dispatcht within four months from the time of Election Nevertheless to afford the Soveraign more liberty where the nature of the Affair required it King Henry the Eighth added this necessary Clause to the foresaid Article That where the Soveraign had any great or high impediment He should defer certifying the Election till a more opportune or convenient time But in this particular we observe that like liberty had been taken in times preceeding though no provision by Statute was made for it before as namely by King Henry the Sixth in the case of Frederick the Third Eâ—peror of Germany who having been Elected an 35. of the said King had not Letters sent him to signifie his Election until the following year It likewise appears that Letters to the same effect were then also dispatcht to the King of Aragon the Duke of Brunswick and King of Poland who had been Elected eight years before And yet we find it recorded that the Habit and Ensigns of the Order were sent by special Ambassadors to all three an 34. H. 6. viz. two years before but perhaps this ought to be understood of their being but then designed and ordered to be sent and upon second thoughts might be stopped or if they were sent might miscarry by some accident for if they had arrived at these Princes Courts it would have been needless to send other Letters to give notice of their Election two years after But to clear this doubt we after find a second mention of sending the Habit and Ensigns of the Order to the King of Poland an 37. H. 6. by which it is sufficiently apparent that the first Embassy took no effect In the foresaid Memorial entred in the Black-Book of the Order and placed under the 34. year of King Henry the Sixth touching the King of Aragon King of Poland and Duke of Brunswick we suppose the King of Aragon is mistaken for the King of Portugal Elected an 25. H. 6. Since the Registrum Chartaceum calls him King of Portugal and both authorities agree in sending over Mr. Fetiplaâ—e with the Garter and Mantle though the Black-Book doth not distinguish as doth the other to which he was sent It may much rather be presumed that Mr. Fetiplace was sent on this Legation to the King of Portugal not Aragon since Beatrix the natural Daughter of Iohn King of Portuâ—â—l was his Mother and he by this relation and being in those times a Courtier in King Henry the Sixth's Court might the sooner obtain the honor of this Employment And there is in the Registrum Chartaceum another particular co-relative
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