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.
is an Officer under both the before mentioned Stewards He keeps the Courts by himself or Deputy he is a Barraster at Law and the standing Council for the Colledge his yearly Pension is twenty Nobles but the Council in Spiritualibus is usually a Graduate in the Civil Law The Chapter-Clerks Office or Registership is to enter or register all Acts agreed upon in the Chapter-house he also draws ingrosseth and registreth all Indentures Patents Grants Leases and other Writings which pass under the common Seal of the Dean and Canons His Pension is 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. per annum The Vnder Stewardship and Chapter-Clarkeship went sometimes heretofore together but of late they are divided and now this Officer is also a Barraster at Law Of the Vergers Institution the Statutes of the Colledge take notice and appoint that in the Chappel at Processions and other Solemnities he shall go before the Dean and Canons bearing his Rod for which service there was then allowed him annually one Robe and six pence per diem And besides these Officers there are two Sextons two Bell-ringers a Clock-keeper and a Porter who attends the shutting and opening of the Gates SECT VII Of the Endowment of the Colledge OUR brief account relating to the Dean Canons and other Members of the Colledge being now dispatch'd it follows that we treat of the Endowment thereof and shew what Lands were given towards the maintenance and support of this Foundation But because we intend no other account here than in that of the Castle Chappel and Colledge which was but short we will only set down what Lands c. the Founder endowed the Colledge with and then touch upon those other considerable additions made by some of his Successors Soveraigns of the most noble Order of the Garter and of the Knights-Companions referring the rest after a bare mention of some other that were taken into the first Foundation to the larger discourse which we intend hereafter to make publick The Endowments wherewith King Edward the Third invested this Colledge by his Letters Patent of Foundation before mentioned were first the Advowsons of the Churches of Wyrardesbury vulgarly called Rasbury in the Diocess of Lincoln of Southtanton in the Diocess of Exeter and of Uttoxater in the Diocess of Coventry and Lichfield These he gave to the Custos Canons Alms-Knights and Ministers of the Colledge to hold in free pure and perpetual Alms throughly and perpetually free from all secular exactions with license to appropriate the same to the Colledge notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain He thereby also appointed so much of his Treasure as should be for their decent support until he had setled an immoveable estate of 1000 l. per annum upon them in Lands Benefices or Rents But as for two of these Advowsons namely Vttoxater and Southtanton 't is to be doubted there was afterwards discovered some defect in the Kings Title to them and that the right of Patronage lay rather in Henry Earl of Lancaster and Thomas Earl of Warwick for the 18. of Iune anno 23. E. 3. the King granted special Licence to Henry Earl of Lancaster that he should give and assign to the Custos and Chaplains of the Chappel of St. George in Windesor and their Successors for ever the Advowson of the Church of Vttokeshatre it being there said to be of the Earls proper Patronage And the like license to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick for assigning to them the Advowson of the Church of Southtanton that being of his Patronage also The King gave special license likewise to receive these Advowsons from these Earls and to appropriate them to the use of the Colledge Another like license pass'd 26. Ian. anno 24. E. 3. to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton that enabled him to assign to the said Custos and Chaplâ—ins and their Successors the Advowson of the Church of Dadyngton in the County of Oxford which he held of the King in Caepite with license for them to receive and appropriate the same The 28. of Ianuary following this royal Founder gave unto the Custos and Colledge by the name of Custos and Chaplains of his Free Chappel of Windesor one Messuage seventeen Acres of Land one Acre of Pasture and three shillings Rent with the appurtenances lying in Wyrardesbury in the County of Buckingham which had been conveyed to him by Rich. de Gloucester Heir to Isabell de Ditton And on the 22. of May ensuing he also granted unto them the Advowson of the Church of Dachet neer Windesor with license to appropriate it to them and their Successors In the following year primo Martii the King gave them the Advowsons of the Churches of Eure in Buckinghamshire of Riston in the County of Norfolk and of Whaddon and Caxton in the County of Cambridge to appropriate these also to them and their Successors And the 9. of May after he likewise granted and assigned to them the Advowson of the Churches of Symondesbourn which the Colledge in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth surrendred to Richard Duke of Gloucester and of St. Stephens of Saltash with like license of Appropriation But the first of these was the gift of Queen Philippa she having purchased it of Sir Iohn Darcy Knight and the other of Edward the black Prince and both granted by them first to the King that by his Grant afterwards to the Colledge its Title might be better strengthened The 26. of October in the same year the King granted to the said Custos and Colledge and their Successors one hundred Marks per annum to be received out of the Farm of the Town of Northampton and paid them by the hands of the Bailiff of that Town for the time being at Easter and Michaelmas by equal portions towards their sustentation and maintenance and the supportation of the burthen of the Chappel It was at the instance of the Founder and therefore we mention it here That the Bailiffs and Communality of Yarmouth granted to the Colledge the first of April anno 26. E. 3. under their Common-Seal a Last of Red Herrings yearly well dried and cleansed to the end they might take this Corporation into their Prayers But some say it was enjoin'd them as a Penance for murdering a Magistrate among them Moreover the Founder granted to them and their Successors 18. Iuly anno 26. E. 3. the Mannor of Eure neer Weybrigg with its appurtenances in Buckinghamshire the Mannor of Craswell with its appurtenances in the Parish of Bray in the County of Berks and a certain Weare called Braybrok placed in the River of Thames with all the Lands and Tenements in the said Parish conveyed unto him by Sir Iohn Philibert together with the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches Chappels Chanteries and other things whatsoever to the said Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging or appertaining And the 23. of
intimation that where any reasonable cause could be made appear at the time of Knighthood to impede the receiving of the Order the person might be admitted to make Fine for the respite thereof Yet was not this Fine constant or certain but estimated and set according to the nature of the excuse or length of time given for instance Robert de Menevil of Northumberland having obtained respite for two years was set at five Marks and Peter Founden at forty eight Shillings and eight Pence for three years respite but Iohn de Drokensford paid ten Pounds for a suspension of his Knighthood only for the same time And in these cases the Kings Writ usually issued to the Sheriff with command to permit the person to have that respite and to forbear taking any distress till the time compounded for should be expired and if nevertheless the person happened to be impleaded for not having received Knighthood the Kings Letters Patents granting him the time of respite being produced have been allowed If any person had been distrained by the Sheriff and a retorn thereof made to the King and did not appear at the time and place in the Writ nominated to receive the Honor of Knighthood in such case we sometimes find that a Writ hath issued giving command to the Sheriff forthwith to seize all his Lands and Tenements into the Kings hands and answer the profits thereof into the Exchequer The Fines and Amerciaments set upon such contempt seem to have been arbitrary and the Court swayed according as the nature of the default appeared William the Son of Gilbert de Alton paid twenty shillings for not appearing and receiving Knighthood according to the command of the Kings Proclamation Thomas Pauncefoot paid four Nobles Iohn de Lodbroke forty shillings the like Fine was set upon Simon de Bradeney and Thomas Trivet both of Somersetshire and Iohn de Neirvote in the County of Bucks and lastly William Lassels paid four pounds for that he had not received Knighthood before Michaelmas Anno 30. E. 3. and for obtaining respite for three years from thence But albeit in the promiscuous course of bestowing of Knighthood where the men of Wealth and Estate whether otherwise worthy or not became dignified yet was not the gate of Honor then shut against those who wanting Riches sought her out by the paths of Virtue and Merit For where men of low Fortunes deserved well of their Country and that for their good services the King had judged them worthy of Honor He was accordingly pleas'd to bestow such annual Pension or Lands upon them as He esteemed sufficient to maintain that degree of Dignity whatsoever it was so conferr'd And this is agreeable to the judgment of the Author of the Division du Monde who saith That the Honor of Knighthood is not to be given to any person who hath not a considerable Estate unless sufficient means to support the Honor of that Order be also given with it Hence it is that the Kings of England have allowed Pensions and frequent mention of them is made in the Rolls sometimes during pleasure and then again during the lives of those on whom they have thought fit to confer the Honor for their better support as for instance King Edward the Third granted by Letters Patents forty Pounds per annum out of his Exchequer to Iohn atte Lee Queen Isabel's Steward in auxilium status sui manutenendi first during pleasure and afterwards for his life But the case is more remarkable of Sir Nele Loring who afterwards attained the Honor to be one of the first Founders of the most noble Order of the Garter for whose valiant performances in the Naval Fight against the French at Sluce the King conferr'd the Dignity of Knighthood upon him and immediately after granted to him and his Heirs Males twenty Pounds per annum that he might better maintain that Honor until he could settle on him and them so much in value of Lands or yearly Rents in Fee And here the following Grant made by King Richard the Second to Sir Iohn Walssh of forty Marks per annum for life to support that Dignity of Knighthood he had given him may very well be inserted Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod cum nos pro eo quod dilectus fidelis noster Johannes Walssh nuper in praesentia nostra pro defensione suâ— multum strenue fecit prout satis est notorium ipsum Ordinem Militarem suscipere facerimus Ordinem illum ei de manibus nostris dederimus eum penes nos ipsos retinuerimus Et quia ipse sufficienter non habet unde Onus cum honore valeat supportare Dedimus Concessimus ei Quadraginta Marcas per annum ad terminum vitae suae percipiend per manus Vicecomitis nostri Lincolniensis qui pro tempore fuerit de exitibus balivae suae ad terminos Paschae Sancti Michaelis per aequales portiones In cujus c. Teste R. apud Westminst quinto die Decembris The Kings of England upon the same account did usually bestow like annual rewards on such whose merit raised them to the Degree of Baneret and in the Letters Patents whereby such Pensions are granted we observe it usually exprest ad manutenendum statum Baneretti or words to the like effect Hereupon King Edward the Third gave to Sir Reginald Cobbâ—m four hundred Marks per annum during his life to be paid him out of the Exchequer afterwards the Mannor of Tippenham in Buckinghamshire for life and a Mill under Oxford Castle with a Meadow there called Kings Meade We find moreover that Thomas de Rokeley who in the service of this King had received the Degree of Baneret had two hundred Marks per annum granted unto him pro sustentatione sua during life To Sir Iohn Lysle one other of the Founders of the said most noble Order ut ipse statum Baneretti which the King had before conferr'd on him melius manutenere possit he gave two hundred pounds a year during life and upon Roger de Swynerton Baneret He bestowed for life pro statu suo manutenendo all the Mannors Lands c. which lying in the Counties of Stafford and Chester came to the Kings hands by the forfeiture of Hugh le Despenser as likewise the Mannor of Barew in the County Palatine of Chester to him and his Heirs And it is worthy of note that some times such like Grants have been made by the consent of Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for so were the two hundred Marks per annum given to Geoffry le Scroop Baneret in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth Thus far we have spoken of the Qualifications which capacitate him who receives the Degree of Knighthood it will not now be amiss to touch upon one particular relating to the Person
enjoin'd And besides the like complaint being made for the Dean's disposing of Donations and other Liberalities of the Knights-Companions so that the Alms-Knights had no part thereof towards their sustentation this Chancellor also appointed an equal distribution of them among the Alms-Knights and Canons until the King and his Council should otherwise determine These and other differences between the Dean and Canons and Alms-Knights grew at length so wide that they could not be reconciled insomuch as in the Act of Parliament anno 22. E. 4. for the Incorporation of the Custos and Canons by the name of Dean and Canons the Alms-Knights were not only omitted but this Clause inserted That the Dean and Canons and their Successors should for evermore be utterly quit and discharged from all manner of Exhibition or Charge of or for any of the said Knights And this was obtained upon pretence That the King had greatly increased the number of the Ministers of the Chappel so that the Revenue was not sufficient to maintain both them and the Alms-Knights as also that the King had otherwise provided for the Alms-Knights But we elsewhere find some other cause and this afterwards alledged by the Dean and Canons in their Answer to the Knights Petition for Repeal of the said Act to wit That William Omerey and Iohn Kendall Alms-Knights laboured much before this Act pass'd to be incorporate by themselves to get Lands setled on them to be exempt from the obedience and rule of the Dean and Canons and governed by Ordinances made among themselves In the second place this Act being thus obtained and the Alms-Knights divided from the Body of the Colledge as also struck off from the benefit of the Quotidians Portions and Fees assigned by the Foundation of King Edward the Third how they next subsisted doth not fully enough appear but so soon as King Henry the Seventh came to the Crown they petitioned the King and Parliament for repeal of the Act anno 22. E. 4. affirming it was gained without their knowledge or being called thereunto to which Petition the Dean and Canons answered and the Alms-Knights replied but it seems all they could alledge did not induce the Parliament to repeal the Act but on the contrary the Dean and Canons some years after obtained an Exemplification thereof under the Great Seal dated 4. Feb. anno 18. H. 7. And it is clear from King Henry the Eigth's Letter to the Colledge which takes notice of their discharge from any exhibition to the Alms-Knights by virtue of the said Act That what the Colledge did in that kind after this Act past was meerly upon courtesie and not obliged thereunto for He thanks them for granting a Pension of twenty Marks to Peter Narbone whom He had recommended to an Alms-Knights place and promiseth they should be no further burthened with Alms-Knights but that he would setle Lands upon them for their maintenance and free the Colledge from the said Pension Besides when Mr. Narbone had the Pension granted him it was by an Indenture made between Nicholas West then Dean of Windesor and the Canons on the one part and the said Peter on the other dated 18. Iuly anno 3. H. 8. wherein he covenanted that when the King should setle any Lands on the Colledge for sustentation of such Knights then the grant of the Pension should be void and of none effect In the interval between the disunion of the Colledge and Alms-Knights by the foresaid Act to their establishment by Queen Elizabeth their Habit and Badge continued the same and was so confirm'd by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes But it may be collected from his last Will that there was then an intention to draw the Garter about the Scutcheon of St. George's Arms but it took no effect We observe also that in this interval several persons who had been of considerable quality and worth became Alms-Knights some of them were nevertheless great objects of Charity among whom was Sir Robert Champlayne Knight a valiant Soldier and one whose martial services abroad rendred him an honor to our Nation It seems he had taken part in the Civil Wars here with King Henry the Sixth against King Edward the Fourth shortly after whose coming to the Crown he left England and travelled into Hungary having with him an Equipage of three Servants and four Horses where in the assistance of Matthias Corvinus King of Hungary against the Turk he behaved himself bravely and like a valiant Knight But prosperous Fortune not attending him at all times he received many wounds and at length was taken Prisoner lost all and forced to pay 1500 Ducates for his Ransom For the justification of all which he obtained several authentick Testimonies under the Great Seals of Matthias King of Hungary Ieronimus Archbishop of Crete Legate de Latere in Hungary Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany Renat King of Sicily Father to Queen Margaret Wife of our King Henry the Sixth Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhyne Charles Duke of Burgundy and lastly a Declaration thereof from our King Edward the Fourth under his Privy Seal dated the third of April in the nineteenth year of his Reign And being reduced to a low condition by his great losses and the charge of his Ransom he was through the favour of King Henry the Seventh admitted an Alms-Knight here But some others made their retreat hither and obtained admittance into this Fraternity probably out of devotion rather than cause of poverty and among these were Thomas Hulme sometime Clarenceux King of Arms Lodowick Carly the Kings Physician Iohn Mewtes Secretary of the French Tongue and Bartholomew Westby made second Baron of the Exchequer 2. Iune anno 1. H. 8. It is manifest by the Will of King Henry the Eighth as also by an Indenture Tripartite between King Edward the Sixth of the first part the Executors of his Father of the second part and the Dean and Canons of Windesor of the third part dated the fourth of August anno 1. E. 6. that he intended a re-establishment of half the ancient number of Alms-Knights viz. Thirteen to which end he appointed that as soon as might be after his death if not done in his life time there should be a Revenue of 600 l. per annum in Mannors Lands and Spiritual Promotions above all charges setled upon the Dean and Canons and their Successors for ever upon the Conditions following that is to say That the Dean and Canons should for ever find two Priests to say Mass at the Altar neer his Tomb to keep yearly four solemn Obits for him and at every Obit to distribute ten pounds in Alms as also to pay twelve pence a day to each of those thirteen Alms-Knights and they to have once in a year a long Gown of White Cloth and a Mantle of Red Cloth besides five Marks annually to such one among them as should be
dwelling of five 〈◊〉 Knights did thereupon design the said 1500 l. towards that use and added 〈◊〉 money of his own to make up the rest charging his Executor Sir Richard Crane his Brother afterwards created Baronet by his Will dated the 27. of August anno 1635. to see the buildings which himself had begun finished He also bequeathed for ever two hundred pounds per annum to be setled in Lands by his Executor according to the advice and direction of Thomas then Earl of Arundel and Surrey and Henry Lord Maâ—revers his eldest Son to serve for the perpetual maintenance of five Alms-Knights after the rate of forty pounds per annum to every one of them But his Executor growing slack in the performance of this the work being rather exposed to ruine than any way forwarded by him by whom the same was only expected to be finished and complaints thereof several times made to the Soveraign and Knights-Companions in Chapter Orders were issued thereupon to quicken him and a peremptory Letter sent him dated the 7. of March 1639. to go on with the work forthwith which commands he evading and bad times growing on the building was wholly neglected Sir Richard Crane afterwards dying by his Will dated the 20. of Sept. 1645. appointed that his Mannor of Carbrooke in Norfolk should for ever stand bound for the payment of the said 200 l. per annum whereupon by an Inquisition taken at Windesor 4. Mar. 1652. by virtue of a Commission upon the Statute anno 43. Eliz. for charitable uses the Mannors of Woodrising and Wesfield with other Lands in the County of Norfolk were found liable to satisfie for building and finishing the said five Houses and payment of the 200 l. yearly and further that the Arrears thereof from Sir Crane's death came at that time to 3200 l. Some contest then ensued in the Court of Chancery between Ralph Mabb with other Prosecutors on the Alms-Knights behalf and William Crane Esquire to whom the Estate of Sir Richard Crane fell nevertheless the 200 l. per annum was 19. Iuly 1655. Decreed to be paid out of all the Lands which were Sir Richard Cranes and the building of the Houses out of his personal Estate And upon this about two years after that fair pile of Building erected between the Chancellor's and Garter's Towers against the West wall in the lower Ward of the Castle was taken again in hand and finished in the following year the charge whereof amounted to 1700 l. But for a final end of the Sute it was Decreed the 27. of Ianuary 1659. That the before mentioned Mannor of Carbrook should for ever stand charged with 200 l. per annum to be paid half yearly at Michaelmas and our Lady-day or within thirty days after for the perpetual maintenance of five Alms-Knights together with 30 l. yearly for repairs payable at the foresaid times and an assurance thereof to be made accordingly towards the recovery and setling of which the care and assistance of Sir Bulstrode Whiteloke then Constable of the Castle of Windesor was not wanting The setlement being perfected the present Soveraign in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 14. of Ianuary anno 12. Car. 2. Decreed That the Chancellor of the Order for the time being should receive the said annual sum of 230 l. and dispose thereof thus 200 l. per annum among the five new-instituted Alms-Knights quarterly by even and equal portions at the four usual Feasts of the year and to employ the residue being 30 l. per annum upon repair of the new buildings erected for their Lodgings which powers were inserted into the Patenâ—â—or his Office bearing date the 20. of the same Month. And it was further decreed at the same Chapter That these five Alms-Knights should be subject to the same Rules and Government under which the other thirteen were established by Queen Elizabeth's Foundation and made equal partakers of the same Priviledges and have the like Habit assigned to them The number of Alms-Knights being by the donation of Sir Francis Crane increased to eighteen King Charles the First of ever blessed memory taking notice thereof though they were not yet setled intended to make them up six and twenty as they were at the Institution of the Order to which end in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 18. of April 1637. it was Ordered That the Knights-Companions Commissioners for other affairs of the Order should consider of the best way how the same might be effected and report their opinions to the then Soveraign But nothing being done thereupon this Affair yet waits a more propitious season for the compleating thereof SECT VI. Of other Ministers of the Colledge IN the last place the Ministri or Officers of the Colledge and Chappel of St. George bring up the rear in the Patent of Foundation under which Title are comprehended first the Superior Officers namely the Chantor Steward and Treasurer The Chantor is ordained to be chosen from among the Canons the chief part of whose Office is to govern those that sing in the Choire and such as are employed about Divine Service Before the Reformation in Religion he appointed who of them should begin the Antiphones celebrate the Masses and read the Lessons Epistles and Gospels with these to his care was committed the custody of the Books Crosses Chalices Vestments and all the sacred Ornaments of the Chappel He receives the Offerings there made and accompts for them for all which service an annual Pension of 5 l. is allowed him The Steward and Treasurer are annually chosen on the morrow after Michael-mas-day from out of the Canon-Residents To the Stewards Office belongs the Government of all the Revenue of the Colledge the Rents and Profits arising thence he is to pay to the Treasurer To his keeping is delivered all the Ornaments Jewels and other Treasure of the Chappel not committed to the Chantor under the obligation of rendring an account and his yearly Pension is 5 l. The Treasurer is appointed to distribute to the Custos Canons Vicars and every other Minister of the Chappel the Pensions and Allowances assigned to them of which if he fail eight days after the expiration of their set times of payment he is debar'd of his own Quotidians as Canon-Resident until such Arrears be discharged so also the Steward if he be faulty herein The Pension allowed him is also 5 l. per annum As there is one Treasurer who receives the Rents of the Old Lands so was there appointed another distinct from the former and chosen from among the Canons to receive the Rent of the New within few years after they were setled on the Colledge to whom the like annual Pension of 5 l. hath been also allowed The Title of the former being Senescallus veteris Dotationis and of the latter Senescallus novae Dotationis There is also the Steward of the Courts and Clerk of the Lands which
February following a Writ issued to Henry de Greystock Clerk Steward of the Lands set apart for the use of the Kings Chamber and to Robert de Haddon Escaetor of the same Lands to give full seisin to the Custos and Colledge of these Mannors of Eure and Bray St. Philebert as also of a Wood called Temple-Wood in Stoke-pugeys conveyed to the King by Iohn de Molyns Afterwards the King considering that all the Lands he had assigned for support of this Colledge were yet too little for that end and being desirous to have it better provided for he further granted to the Custos and Colledge and their Successors by like Letters Patent a Pension of one hundred pounds yearly out of his Exchequer These Letters Patent were afterwards vacated for that by other like Letters dated the 12. of May anno 34. E. 3. he gave them Lands to the yearly value of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. of the possessions of Religious Aliens which fell into his hands by occasion of the French Wars One hundred pounds per annum part of this was in recompence of the said 100 l. yearly Pension issuing out of the Exchequer and the 1 l. 11 s. 11 d. in part of satisfaction of the Lands which the King intended to provide for the further maintenance of the Colledge nevertheless he thereby also granted that in case these Possessions should by Treaty of Peace or otherwise be restored they should then receive the said yearly sum of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. out of his Exchequer as before until there was provided for them Lands of the like annual value And whereas in the Patent of Foundation it is said that the King designed to setle upon the Colledge Lands of the value of 1000 l. per annum now in another Letters Patent bearing Teste the said 12. of May there is notice taken only of Lands of the annual value of 655 l. 15 s. 0 d. as if his intended Donation had extended to Lands of no greater value and that the King in pursuance of such his purpose had already provided Lands and other Possessions rated at 604 l. 5 s. 3 d. per annum the residue to make up the intended sum here exprest being but 51 l. 9 s. 9 d. He thereupon appointed the Colledge to receive that sum yearly out of 126 l. 0 s. 0 d. which the Prior of Takkele paid to him for the Farm of that Priory it being then in the Kings hands by reason of the War with France Howbeit in case Peace was so concluded that the same should be restored to the Prior the King then further granted that the Custos and Colledge should thenceforward receive the said sum of 51 l. 9 s. 9 d. out of his Exchequer at Michaelmas and Easter by even Portions But it seems the Lands fell short of the value rated at in this Account and reached not to the total of the Kings intended Endowment by 90 l. per annum For the first of Iune in the following year by other Letters Patent he granted to the Custos and Colledge so much money to be annually paid them out of his Exchequer to make up what yet fell short until he should cause to be provided Lands or Rents of that value to be setled on them and their Successors Lastly the 2. of April anno 39. E. 3. the Founder bestowed on them a piece of ground in New-Windesor upon which had stood a House sometime of Iohn de London in lieu of the great Garden lying on the South part of the Castle formerly given them by him for the use of the Custos and Canons And also a Garden opposite thereunto on the other side of the way with its appurtenances for the use of the Alms-Knights Vicars Clerks Choristers and other the Officers of the Colledge and herewith he closed his Endowments But besides all these Donations made by the Founder to the Custos Colledge and their Successors there were other Lands Parsonages Pensions and Portions given to them by pious and devout persons in free pure and perpetual Alms for ever towards their sustentation which are said to be taken into the first Foundation and made up that Revenue which William Bishop of Winchester accounted and declared sufficient for the maintenance of the Custos and those other of the Colledge according to the number by him limited in the Colledge Statutes as also for the due defraying of all charges imposed upon them and these we shall let pass with the bare mention only The Mannor of Dodyngton Castle two Pastures called Frith and Ashcroft the Chappel of Langeley the Parsonages of Esâ—riton Langeley-Maries Wantynge Shaldeborne Wedonbeek Glynde and Ryslepe the Pensions of the Vicarages of Wantynge Clyffe Tyltehey and Gottesford and the Portions of Bassyngborne Preâ—â—ewyke in Haseley magna Chalgrave Adewelle Aston Rowband Sebyngdon Kyngeston and Henton in Stoke-Basset and Clopecote in Gatehampton Whytechyrche Maplederham Retherfeld Esthenrith Stretham of Thernecroft in Letherhed of Totynbeek in Wodesdon Ebyngton Woodmershtborne of Fordham Ethorpe â—ewenham and in Tollesworth In following times there were many other considerable Donations bestowed on the Colledge by the succeeding Soveraigns and Knights-Companions of the Order for as to what was given by others we shall not need to take further notice of now either out of devotion or desire to be more especially taken into their Prayers or in honor to the Military Order some of which as they fall into our way we will here set down King Richard the Second Grandchild and Successor to the Founder 13. Feb. anno Regni sui 13. gave to the Custos and Canons one Croft in the Town of Northmolton together with the Advowson of that Church it being in the Diocess of Exeter and license to appropriate the same Iohn Duke of Bedford third Son to King Henry the Fourth bestowed on this Colledge by his Deed dated the 3. of December anno 9. H. 5. the Priory of Okeborne in the County of Wilts a Cell to the Abbey of Bee in Normandy together with all and singular the Possessions thereunto belonging or appertaining This Grant King Henry the Fifth confirmed and that it might be more valid was likewise confirmed by King Edward the Fourth King Edward the Fourth had a singular respect and favour for this Colledge to which the 18. of Iuly in the seventh year of his Reign towards augmentation of its maintenance and ease of the great burthens of the Dean and Canons he gave the Mannors of Atherston in the County of Warwick a member of the Priory of Okeborne the Mannors and Advowsons of the Churches of Chesingbury in Wiltshire and of Quarle in Hantshire the Church and Priorate of Uphaven and the Deanry or Chappel of St. Burien in Cornwall with all rights and appurtenances thereunto appertaining as also an annual Pension which the Abbot of Sautre paid for the Church of Fulburne to the Abby
the Duke of Suffolk and his Dutchess levied a Fine to the Dean and Canons who thereupon agreed that for this their so large Donation they should be had in their perpetual Orisons The 10. of Ianuary next after Sir Walter Devoreux de Ferrers Knight following this pious Example together with Sir Iohn Devoreux and others his Feoffees of the Mannor of Sutton-Courtney in the County of Berks and of the Church of Sutton-Courtney having withal obtained the Kings license to that end did give and grant unto the Dean Canons and their Successors for ever the Advowson or Patronage thereof with all rights appertaining thereunto All the before mentioned Endowments are called the Lands of the Old Dotation to distinguish them from those setled on the Colledge by King Edward the Sixth which bear the title of Lands of the New Dotation concerning which we shall speak in the next place But several of them so given by King Edward the Fourth the Colledge never enjoyed namely the Mannor of Atherston the Mannor and Advowson of Quarle Vphaven St. Burien Fulburne Pension Brimfeld St. Elen Charleton Blakenham Ponyngton Wedon Old Swinford and Gannow And of some others they were seised but a short time to wit Chesingbury Mannor and Advowson the Lands in Newford Blanford and Portsmouth Besides these the Colledge was dispossest of Gottesford in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth of Cheshunt Advowson in Henry the Seventh's Reign and in the time of King Henry the Eighth or some time before of Wodemershthorne Tyltehey Retherfeld Levyngdon Stoke-Basset Stretham Totingbeek Fordham Ethorp Newenham and Tollesworth afterwards they surrendred into the hands of King Henry the Eighth the Mannors and Advowsons of Eure Clyff Ashton Rowhand Kingston Est-Henrith Northumunden Compton Weleg Compton-St Iohn's and Shobingdon Portion And lastly the Colledge lost at least 1000 Marks per annum upon the Reformation of Religion in the profit made by St. Anthonies Piggs which the appropriation of the Hospital of St. Anthonies London had brought to it and no less than 500 l. per annum the Offrings of Sir Iohn Shornes Shrine at Northmarston in Buckinghamshire a very devout man of great veneration with the people and sometime Rector there The Advowson of this Church was appropriate to the Dean and Canons by the Prior and Convent of Dunstaple the license of King Edward the Fourth being obtained for that purpose the 15. of November anno regni sui 19. in exchange for the Advowson of the Church of Wedenbeck in Bedfordshire The Dean and Canons having by their Deed under their Chapter Seal conveyed unto King Henry the Eighth the Mannor and Rectory of Ivor in Buckinghamshire the Mannor of Dammery Court in Dorsetshire and divers other Lands Rents Portions and Pensions in the Counties of Somerset Hants Middlesex Oxford and Sussex for which they had no recompence in his life nevertheless by his last Will and Testament he appointed them satisfaction and thereby charged and required his Son and all his Executors and likewise all his Heirs and Successors Kings of England as they would answer the neglect before Almighty God at the dreadful day of Judgment that they should see assurance made to the Dean and Canons for setling Lands on them and their Successors in performance of his Will and the uses therein appointed And it being manifest to the Lord Protector and his Co-Executors after this Kings death that the Dean and Canons upon the commutation and agreement of an exchange performed on their part by assigning to the said King the Mannors and Lands above specified being of the yearly value of 160 l. 2. s. 4 d. for which they were as then unrecompenced King Edward the Sixth minding the accomplishing and performance of his Fathers last Will as well for the assurance of Lands to the yearly value of 600 l. to the Dean Canons and their Successors for ever to the uses in the Will and for maintenance and performance of such other Ordinances and things as he and the said Executors should limit and prescribe to them as also for the assurance of other Lands of the annual value of 160 l. 2 s. 4 d. to be made to the Dean and Canons in recompence of the Lands they had released and assigned to King Henry the Eighth was pleased by his Letters Patent bearing Teste at Hampton Court the 7. day of October in the first year of his Reign to give and grant to the said Dean and Canons the Rectories Impropriations Parsonages Chappels Portions and Tithes here named viz. The Rectories and Churches of Bradnynche Northam Iplepen Ilsington and Southmolton in Devonshire and the Tithe of Corn of Dtery in that County part of the Duke of Somersets Possessions as also Blosoms-Inn in St. Lawrence-Lane London sometime parcel of the Possessions of the late Colledge of Otery The Tithes of Grain c. of the Rectory of Ambrosbury in Wiltshire and all the Tithes of Bedwyn Stoke Wilton Harden Harden-Tunrige Knoll Pathall Chisbury East-Grafton West-Grafton Grafton-Darten and Wexcombe parcel of the Prebend of Bedwyn in that County as also the Prebend of Alcannyngs and Urchefounte the Rectories of Urchefounte Stapleford Tytcombe and Froxfield in the said County and all the annual Pension of 8 l. issuing out of the Mannor of Icombe in the County of Gloucester The Rectory and Vicarage of Ikelington in Cambridgeshire The Rectory of East-Bethworth in the County of Surrey The Reversion of the Portion of Tithes of Trequite in Cornwall and the Rent of 13 s. 4 d. reserved upon the same All the Portion of Tithes of Trequite aforesaid belonging to the Priory of St. Germans in Cornwall The Rectory and Church of Plymton the Chappels of Plymstoke Wembury Shagh Sanford-Spone Plymton St. Maurise and Bryxton in Devonshire belonging to the late Priory of Plymton the Rectory of Istleworth and Twickenham in the County of Middlesex parcel of the possessions of the Colledge of St. Maries of Winchester and the Rectory of Shiplake in Oxfordshire lately belonging to the Monastery of Missenden in Buckinghamshire As also all the Reversion of the Rectory of Aberguille and of the Chappels of Llanlawett alias dict Llanbadock and Llanpenysaunt part of the Monastery of Karmarden in South-Wales with the Rent of 30 l. per ann reserved thereon the Reversion of the Rectory of Talgarth part of the Priory of Brecknock in South-Wales with the reserved Rent of 11 l. 6 s. 8 d. The Reversion of the Rectory of Mara in the County of Brecknock belonging to the Priory of Brecknock and 6 l. Rent The Reversion of the Rectory of St. Germans in Cornwall appertaining to the Monastery or Priory of St. Germans with 61 l. 13 s. 4 d. Rent To have and to hold all the premises unto the Dean and Canons and their Successors for ever except the Tithes in Woolpall and Fitz-Waren in Wiltshire belonging to the Priory of Bedwyn The Vicarage-house of Ikelington the Monies called Marriage-Money Dirge-Money and
Garter of Ioane Countess of Salisbury falling casually off as she danced in a solemn Ball King Edward hastily stooping took it up from the ground whereupon some of his Nobles and Courtiers smiling as at an amorous action and he observing their sportive humour turn'd it off with this reply in French Honi soit Qui mal y Pense but withal added in disdain of their laughter That in a short time they should see that Garter advanced to so high honor and estimation as to account themselves happy to wear it But taking leave to examine this Tradition we shall only make two or three Remarques and then refer it to the judgment of others what credit ought to be given thereto First Sir Iohn Froissart who only among the Writers of that Age speaks of this Institution assigns it no such original as that of the falling of a Ladies Garter Nor is there found any thing to that purpose in our other Historians for the space of two hundred years till Polydor Virgil took occasion to say something of it whose grounds we shall examine immediately Besides it might be expected that some Historian among the French who were so forward to jeer at our King Henry the Fifth's design of invading them with a return of Tennis Balls would not have forborn to register some where or other a scoff at the Ladies Garter especially in a time when the fury of War had dissolv'd all obligations of friendship and civility and opened the mouth of slander Whereto we must add that there is not the least appearance in the original Statutes of this most noble Order to countenance the conceit of such a Feminine Institution no not so much as obliging the Knights-Companions to defend the quarrels of Ladies as the Rules of some Orders then in being enjoin'd nor doth the Author of that piece intituled Institutio clarissimi Ordinis Militaris à prenobili Subligaculo nuncupati written by way of Preface to the Black Book of the Garter let fall the least touch to that purpose As to what Polydor says it is even thence to be noted that he himself is not so confident as to ascertain the person whose Garter it was but warily declining that says it was either the Queens or the Kings Mistress and if it were the later yet doth he with the same caution omit her name and title of dignity both which hath since been supplied but on what authority we find not by some of our modern Historians who call her Ioane Countess of Salisbury and there is as little reason why she should be supposed to be Ioane called also the Fair Maid of Kent whom Edward the black Prince afterwards married inasmuch as no Historian takes the least notice that King Edward the Third ever courted her as a Mistress We suppose our learned Selden points at her when he calls the Lady from whom the Garter slipt Countess of Kent and Salisbury but about the time of the Foundation of the Order of the Garter she in truth was neither for albeit she was Daughter to Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent and had been sometime the reputed Wife of William Mountagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Family yet then she could not properly be accounted Countess of Salisbury because she was actually Wife to Sir Thomas Holland one of the first Founders of that Order and so adjudged to be by Pope Clement the Sixth in a controversie depending before him between Sir Thomas and the Earl and for this reason not taken notice of either by Brooke or Vincent in the title of Salisbury to have been his Wife Nor was she yet though afterwards Countess of Kent because her Brother Iohn Earl of Kent at the Institution of this Order was alive and died not till anno 26. E. 3. But that there was a Countess of Salisbury of whom King Edward the Third became greatly enamoured is reported by Sir Iohn Froissart after this manner That this King having relieved a Castle belonging to the Earl of Salisbury in the North of England wherein his Countess had been besieged by the Scots the Earl himself being at that time Prisoner in France upon sight of her extraordinary beauty fell in love with her but she so virtuously demeaned her self towards the King during his short stay there that he declined further sollicitation Howbeit some time after the King out of desire to see her saith the same Author proclaimed a solemn Justs in London whither this Countess and many other Ladies being invited came Froissart names not the Castle wherein this Countess lay when the Scots besieged it but only gives this note upon it That the King gave the same Castle to her Husband for his good service past when he first married her being then but a Knight The name of the place being left thus by him in the dark those who hitherto sought after it have but roved at it with uncertain guesses But upon more diligent search we have hit the mark and find it was the Castle of Wark upon Tweed in the County of Northumberland upon the Borders of England towards Scotland which King Edward had so bestowed upon Sir William Mountague afterwards created Earl of Salisbury for his life together with the Mannor Lands and Tenements within the Liberty of the said Mannor This Castle being grown very ruinous and the said Sir William undertaking the charge of the repair which hapned to be very great the King thereupon granted the same anew to him for life by the service of one Knights Fee the remainder after his death to his Son Iohn and the Heirs of his body lawfully begotten to hold by the foresaid service and if he dyed without such issue then to the right Heirs of Sir William for ever Though then it should be admitted that this Countess of Salisbury was the Kings Mistress yet must it be noted that she was Wife to William Mountague created Earl of Salisbury anno 11. E. 3. Mother to William the before mentioned second Earl that her Christian name was Katherine not Alice as Froissart nor Ioane as others call her and Daughter to William Lord Granston a Nobleman of Burgundy and that she died anno 28. Ed. 3. and lies buried at Bysham Abbey in Berkeshire But that the whole story may appear no otherwise than indeed it is a Fable we shall here insert the opinion of a late learned Writer who hath taken no small pains to satisfie himself and the world in this particular This saith Doctor Heylin I take to be a vain and idle Romance derogatory both to the Founder and the Order first published by Polydor Virgil a Stranger to the Affairs of England and by him taken upon no better ground than Fama vulgi the tradition of the common people too trifling a foundation to so great a building common bruit being so infamous an Historian that wise men neither report after it
was born at 40 minutes after five in the morning of the said day the 6. Degree of the Sign Scorpio Ascending and the 18. Degree of Leo Culminating The places of the Planets as there posited followeth gr ♄ in 5 ♑ ♃ in 27 ♉ ♂ in 21 ♠☉ in 28 ♠♀ 18 ♠☿ in 8 ♠◠in 8 ♉ ♠in 26 ♉ The Thursday after his birth he was Christned in the Chappel then of St. Edward in Windesor Castle by A. Priest Cardinal by the Title of Sancta Prisca and his Godfathers were Richard Bishop of Poictiers Iohn Bishop of Bath and Wells William Bishop of Worcester Lewis Earl of Eureux the Queens Brother Iohn de Britannia Earl of Richmond Aymer de Valence Earl of Penbroke and Hugh le Despenser Within a few days after the King his Father granted him the County of Chester except the Mannors of Mekklesfield and Shotwyke to hold to him and his Heirs Kings of England for ever And likewise the County of Flint and Cantred of Englefield with the Castles of Flint and Rothelan to hold as before except the Mannor of Overton the Lands of Mailor Seysnoke and the Castle and Mannor of Holt after which he was thus stiled by the King Edwardus Comes Cestriae filius noster Charissimus So pleasing to his Father 〈◊〉 the birth of this Prince that the 16. of December following he gave to Iohn Launge Valet to the Queen and to Isabel his Wife and the longer liver of them for bringing to him so desirable News 24 l. per annum to be paid out of the Farm of London But leaving his Infancy we will now proceed to his youth and the occurrences that attended his riper years King Edward his Father having been often summoned to the Court of France to do homage for the Dukedom of Aquitaine and other his Lands held in that Kingdom and still delaying till the French King had seized thereon it was at length concluded that he should give to this Prince that Dukedom who then should do the Homage and enjoy the Lands Hereupon preparation was made for his passing into France and a little before at Langedon Abbey near Dover the King on the 2. of September in the 19. year of his Reign first gave to him his Heirs and Successors Kings of England jure haereditario imperpetuum the Counties of Ponthieu and Monstroile and on the 10. of the same month at Dover granted to him the Dukedom of Aquitaine and all the Lands he had or ought to hold in the Kingdom of France Habendum as before two days after this new Duke took shipping at Dover thence passed into France and made his Homage in which Journey it was likewise thought fit that the Queen should accompany him in regard her Lands in that Kingdom had also been seized on Shortly after his return into England he was unanimously chosen Custos of the Kingdom in his Fathers absence then fled into Wales with Hugh le Despencer the Son Robert-Baldock and others by divers of the Bishops Nobility Barons and Knights de assensu totius Comitatûs dicti Regni ibidem existentis and at Martley the Great Seal sent from the King was delivered to him Not long after his Father ressigned his Crown upon which great preparations were made for this young Prince's Coronation which was solemnly performed at Westminster by William Archbishop of Canterbury on Sunday after the Conversion of St. Paul being the 1. of Feb. an 1327. His first Martial Attempt but unsuccessful for more then what appertains to his Wars we shall not here discourse off was the raising an Army to march against the Scots For Robert Bruce King of Scotland having sent him a defiance about Easter next following his Coronation shortly after invaded England notwithstanding the Truce between the said King Robert and King Edward the Second was yet on foot and an agreement for further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on Sunday next before Ascension day then next comming The Kings Army was appointed to Rendevouz at Newcastle upon Tyne on Munday next before the Ascension of our Lord though Sir Iohn Froissard saith it was at York upon Ascension day whence about three weeks after Trinity Sunday he marched towards the Enemy but the Scots having exceedingly wasted the Northern parts and declined to fight slipt from him at Stanhop Park in the Bishoprick of Durham and withdrew towards their own Country nor could the King engage them though he endeavoured it for 24. days together I confess the first Actions of Princes are looked upon by all Eyes and not seldom with many Observators taken as the Radix whence to calculate their future either Successes or Miscarriages If at these undertakings a full Age entitle them to the sole management of Affairs we are inclined to think a judicious Eye may partly discern the strength of their Fortune But while they reside within Tutorage and their designs are carried on under the conduct of others the Event of things will manifest a dependency upon the strength or weakness of the Genius of those persons who are the chief managers of their Concerns And this was fully made good in this Prince whose Martial undertakings were very unsuccessful specially while the Government of the Kingdom was committed to others and sometimes afterwards when he was tyed up and hampered by his Allies in Flanders but he no sooner arrived at full Age but his Affairs shewed themselves as if disposed by his own Genius and the first remarkable experiment was verified even upon the Scots themselves from whom before he had received some affronts and indignities For having sent Ambassadors to the Custos and chief Nobility of Scotland He demanded the Homage of David Brus their King and these were probably Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and William de Denum for it appears they were employed thither the 14. of Decemb. an 6 E. 3. touching the Affairs of the King and Kingdom and the doing of Homage denyed He forthwith raised an Army in assistance of Iohn Balioll Son of Iohn Balioll sometime King of Scotland against David Brus the then King which being appointed to meet at Newcastle upon Tine on Trinity Sunday an 7 E. 3. King Edward entred Scotland and wasted the Country as far as Scone for six months together Insomuch that the Scots were forced to fly to their Fastnesses in the Forest of Gedworth where they abode for many years and as the King returned he encountred an Army of theirs at Hallidown Hill which he defeated and killed about 32000. common Souldiers 7. Earls 90. Knights and Bannerets and 400. Esquires In memory of this great Victory hapning on the Eve of St. Margaret the Virgin being the 13. of Iuly he repaired the Church and Convent of Nuns near the place where the Battel was fought upon that occasion destroyed and burnt and caused
Stile But intending to provide yet better for him the next day he gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also the Arms Victuals Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other places to him before granted together with the Debts Arrerages of Accounts and other Services due to himself In the Parliament held at Westminster an 11 E. 3. he was created Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing date the 17. of March the same year and invested by the Sword only and this is the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England Herewith also the King setled on him divers Manors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of the State and Honor of Duke all which though some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patent dated the same day he granted to him the Stannaries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tin and all the issues and profits thence arising as also the profits and perquisites of the Courts of the Stannaries except only 1000 Marks formerly granted to William Mountague Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly value and afterwards granted That all the Castles Honors Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of life or years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom In the Parliament held an 17. E. 3. the King created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod and the better to support his State as Prince of Wales gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William de Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney with this Dignity The King also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North Wales and South Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the King's Grant He was constituted Custos Angliae divers times when the King had occasion to be absent out of the Kingdom to which the Title of Locum tenens Regis was sometimes added and in his younger years the King appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the chief of his Council to direct him in all Affairs the powers belonging to this Great Officer being recorded in Rot. Pat. de an 14. E. 3. pars 2. m. 28. The first time this Prince entred upon the Stage of War was at the beginning of his 16. year of age at which time he accompanied his Father into France where at his landing at Hoges in Normandy he received the honor of Knighthood from that martial Kings hands Thence he marched in the body of the Army with the King toward Cressy at which Battel fought an 20. E. 3. he led the Van and after a fierce encounter with the French was somewhat distrest from the Enemies breaking in among his Archers but the rest of his men timely advanced to their Assistance nevertheless notice of his condition being sent to the King who commanded the Reer he asked if the Prince were dead or wounded the Messenger said no but stood in need of his Assistance well said the King return and bid them send no more to me so long as my Son lives for I will have him this day win his Spurs since I design him the honor of this Expedition and it cannot be denyed but the compleatness of the Victory then gained fully conferred it on him so also did his Fathers acknowledgment for after the Battel was ended he embraced the Prince and kist him and said fair Son God give you resolution to pursue Honor you are my dear Son and have acquitted your self nobly you are worthy to govern a Kingdom The following year a Truce being agreed on at Calais was spun on by several Prorogations but without effecting any thing of Peace till an 29. E. 3. in which year both Kings provided for War Hereupon the King constituted this Prince his Lieutenant in the Dukedom of Aquitaine and other places in France whither he should happen to march both for Reformation of the State of that Dukedom and other places in France and the recovery of his Lands and Right possest by the Rebels And by another Commission of the same date he gave him power to make Alliances with all persons of what Nation Dignity or Condition soever to retain men and pay them Wages and Rewards A third Commission gave him Power in the King's stead and name to receive Homage and Fidelity from the Nobility and others within this Dukedom and the Kingdom of France Armed with their Powers and accompanied by the Earls of Warwick Oxford Salisbury and Suffolk and a good Army attending him he took Shiping and safely arrived in Gascoigne for whose passage thither the King had before assigned Richard de Corteâ—hale and Robert de Baildon Serjeants at Arms to arrest array and equip all the Ships of 20. Tun and Upwards in all Ports and Places from the River of Thames unto Lynn as well within Liberties as without to furnish them with men and other necessaries and to bring them to Southampton by St. Barniby's Day at the furthesâ— as also to Press Mariners for the Voyage at the Kings Wages and had given Commission to Thomas de Hoggeshaw Lieutenant to Iohn de Beauchamp Admiral of the Sea Westward to carry him over with power to hear and determine all Crimes and Transgressions committed on Shipboard and to punish them according to Maritine Law and to do all other things appertaining to the Office of Admiral Having entred the River Garronne he marcht into the South-part of Languedock and burnt the Great Town of Carcassone scituate near the Mediterranean Sea thence passed to Narbon burning and wasting the Country after which he returned to encounter the French Forces which marcht out of Tolouse under the Command of the Marshall Cleremont and Earl of Armaignac but upon his approach they retyred and so in November after 8. Weeks he returned to Bourdeaux with great store of Pillage and Prisoners A more particular account of which Voyage with the Towns and Castles taken and destroyed and several other actions done after the Prince's Return to Bourdeaux to the 21. of Ianuary following are reported in Sir Wingfield's Letters Printed in Hollinshead's Chronicle Intelligence of the Prince's taking the Field the following Summer being
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.
He and divers other Knights of the Court were sent to Dover to wait upon Iohn King of France who coming over to Visit King Edward landed there the 4. of Ianuary and was conducted by them to Caenterbury where having offered a rich Jewel at the Shrine of Thomas Becket he after rode to Eltham to the King and thence to the Savoy where he was honorably entertained Half a year before this we find the King appointed the Treasurer of his Chamber to give him 200 l. upon the Debt due to him from the King for the Count de Vendedour his Prisoner He had two Wives the first was Cecily Daughter and Heir to Richard Weyland by whom he had divers Lands in the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge Huntingdon Essex and Hertford by her he had Elizabeth his Daughter and Heir married to Edward le Despenser His second Wife was Margaret Sister to Sir Bartholomew Badlismere whom he lest a Widow but she afterwards married William de Burcester and dyed about the 18. year of King Richard the Second The 5. of April an 43. E. 3. he dyed leaving Elizabeth his Daughter and Heir then about 24 years of age 11. Sir Iohn Beauchamp HE was a younger Son to Guy Earl of Warwick by Alice his Wife and Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick one of the Founders of this most Noble Order of the Garter He attended King Edward the Third into Flanders in the 12. year of his Reign and was in the Battel pitcht between Vyronfosse and Flamengery an 13. E. 3. So also the following year in the Naval fight at Sluce Aâ— 15. E. 3. I find him stiled Banneret towards the support of which Dignity he had a considerable Pension given him He attended the King in his Voyage into France an 20. E. 3. and at the Battel of Cressy carried the Kings Standard Royal. The following year he continued with the King at the Siege of Calais till it was taken And an 22. E. 3. he was constituted Captain of that Town The next year made Admiral of the Kings Fleet from the River of Thames Westward And having his Commission again renewed for the custody of Calais to commence the first of April an 25. E. 3. he marched out of the Town with a Party of 200 Archers and 300 Men at Arms and forraged the Country for 10 miles round where meeting with 2000 Men at Arms commanded by the Lord Bealren encountred them and slew the said Lord. But fresh Supplies coming in to the assistance of the French they overpowr'd the English and took this noble Knight Prisoner who was exchanged within a short time after This year the Constableship of the Tower of London being resigned to him by Iohn Darcy who had a former Grant of it for life the King confirmed the resignation to him and for the Custody thereof allowed him 100 l. per annum He was again constituted Captain of Calais an 29. E. 3. and of the Castle of Guynes the Forts of Merk Colne Eye and Sandgate as also Admiral from the River Thames Westward An. 31. E. 3. he had his Commission again renewed for Custody of Calais Guynes and those before mentioned Forts Two years after he attended the King in his Voyage Royal into France and upon the death of Roger Earl of March was constituted Constable of Dover-Castle and the Cinque-Ports the Kings Letters Patent bearing Teste primo Martii apud Goillioun in Burgundia This year he was made Constable of the Tower of London and also Admiral of the Seas for the South North and West Coast of England He was a man of eminent esteem with the King and by his services deserved so well that he confer'd on him both considerable Pensions and several gifts and from an 24. E. 3. so long as he lived received Summons to Parliament The first donation we have met with was an 10. E. 3. when the King bestowed on him the Marriage of Margaret the Relict of Iohn de Bohun Earl of Hereford An. 19. E. 3. the King granted him a Pension of 30 l. per annum out of his Exchequer towards his expences in his service over and above 20 l. per annum formerly given him till he should have Lands setled on him to that yearly value The following year the King gave him the Mannor of Oddingle which Thomas de Haukeston held for life after whose death it was to remain to this Sir Iohn and his Heirs for ever An. 22. E. 3. he had the custody of the Lands of Allan la Zouche granted him till his Heir came to â—ull age without rendring any thing theretofore The King had also given him out of the Exchequer a Pension of 180 l. per annum to support his Degree of Banneret beside 20 l. per annum out of the Customs until he should have 200 l. per annum in Lands or Rents provided of that yearly value for his life And upon his resignation of several Letters Paâ—ent of Pensions amounting to 280 l. per annum he had the same annual sum granted to him out of the Customs of London and St. Botolphsâ—or â—or his life also The next year the King granted to him the Bailyweek of Cors in Gloucestershire till the full age of the Heir of Edward le Dispenser Knight Cousin and Heir of Hugh le Dispenser then deceased And lastly there being an Arrear of 50 l. at Michaelmas before he dyed of the said 280 l. per annum formerly granted to him out of the Customâ— as aforesaid a Writ issued to the Collectors of the Customs of St. Botolphs to pay the same to Iohn the Son of Giles Beauchamp his Executor He lived a Batchellor and dyed the 2. of Dec. an 34. E. 3. and was buried on the South side of the Body of the Cathedral of St. Paul London a Sculp of whose Monument is yet preserved in the History of St. Pauls by William Dugdale Esq now Norroy King of Arms which vulgarly but falsely was called Duke Humfry's Tomb. 12 Sir Iohn Mohun HE was Son to Iohn Mohun and Sibyll the Daughter of Iohn de Segrave which Iohn his Father dyed before his Grandfather in Scotland an 4. E. 3. and lies buried at York Shortly after his Grandfather Iohn Lord Mohun died at which time he was about 10 years old the custody of all his said Grandfathers Lands he being by Inquisition found to be his Cousin and Heir as also of his Marriage was granted to Henry Burghersh Bishop of Lincolne till he came of full age the 28. of May an 18. E. 3. he did homage to the King whereupon he had Livery of the said Lands In the 16. year of King Edward the Third he went over in the Kings Service into Bretagne with Sir Bartholomew de Burghersh as
to pay into the Exchequer for the Fee Farm of the Mannor of Bollestrade Next he granted him a Pension of 20 Marks per annum for his life out of his Exchequer until Lands of the yearly value of 10 l. should be setled on him The following year he granted him all the Lands and Tenements belonging to Iohn the Son of Henry de Morff in Alnetheley in Shropshire which by forfeiture of the said Iohn Escheated to the King to hold to him and his Heirs for ever Besides these the Prince having retained him in his service as well in Peace as for War granted to him for life a Pension of 50 l. per annum and that it might be more certainly paid he after granted to him his Mannors of Neuyn and Purchely in North Wales for life which the King confirmed Afterwards Henry Earl of Lancaster the Kings Lieutenant in Aquitaine for the good service this Knight had formerly done the King in England Scotland and elsewhere and also to himself in Gascoigne by Letters Patent dated the 12. of November an Dom. 1346. gave him for his life Pedalium Sancti Macharii with all the profits thereto belonging which grant the King confirmed to him an 22. E. 3. This noble Knight was Son and Heir of Roger Loring and Cassandrae Daughter of Reginald Perot He married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Sir Ralph Beauple of Cnubeston in Devonshire by Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Heir of Alan Bloyho the relict of Stephen Tinterne Esq by whom he had Issue two Daughters and Heirs namely Isabel Wife to Robert Lord Harington and Margaret Wife to Iohn Peyvre of Tuddington in the County of Bedford He died an 9. R. 2. and was buried in the Priory of Dunstable to which he had been a great Benefactor 21. Sir Iohn Chandos THE first Martial Action of his was at St. Quintins for while King Edward in the 13. year of his Reign lay at siege before Cambray being the first Town he sate down before upon his first entrance into France the Earl of Henault made an assault upon St. Quintins where this Esquire so then called by Sir Iohn Froissard fought valiantly with Iohn de St. Dager an Esquire of Vermandois between the Bars and the Gate both manifesting great Courage and Gallantry And in this Expedition he was ranged in the third Battel led by the King which was pitch'd between Vironfosse and Flamengery to encounter the French For his Valour shewn in this Expedition the King bestowed on him the honor of Knighthood and at his return to Antwerpe granted him 20 Marks per annum out of his Exchequer to support that Dignity till he should settle on him Lands to that yearly value for his life When the King led another Army into Flanders designed also against the French he attended him and fought valiantly in the Naval Engagement before Sluce He was in the Voyage Royal made into Normandy an 20. E. 3. and in its march at Poisy he and Sir Basset preserved two of the Lord of Poisy's Daughters from violation and brought them to the King who caused them to be safely conducted to Corbe whither they desired to go At the Battel of Cressy he commanded in the Van led by the Prince of Wales and when this Prince was constituted the Kings Lieutenant in Aquitaine he attended him in that Expedition and by his command summon'd the Castle of Romorentine which held out a while but was at length forced to surrender Marching on with the Prince the Battel of Poictiers approached and on the day before a Truce for that day being obtained by the endeavours of the Cardinal of Piergort this valiant Knight coasted about to make discovery of the French Army as did also the Lord Clerèmont one of the French Marshals and as they returned they met and observed that both of them bore the same device to wit a Lady in blue irradiated with the Sun-beams Cleremont demanded how long he had born his device Chandos answered you bear mine I deny that replied Cleremont and did not the Truce hinder I would make it good To morrow said Chandos you shall find me ready to justifie it to be mine as well as yours and so they parted The next day the Fight begun during which St. Iohn never parted from the Princes side and when he perceived that the French Marshals was discomfited he advised the Prince to advance towards the Kings Battel telling him there was all the hazard and the glory which he accordingly did At the end of this famous Battel when no more French Banners were left in the field he prevailed with the Prince to set up his Standard in a Bush near him to give a signal to his dispersed Army to rally while he took some refreshment An. 33. E. 3. he attended the King in his Expedition into France and being at the siege of Rheyms he and Sir Iames Audeley and the Lord Mucident a Gascoigne with their Troops rode near to Chalons in Champaigne and drawing near to Chargny in Dormois where was a strong Castle they gave an assault to it at which the Lord Mucident being slain they in revenge made a resolution to take it ere they went away which they did putting all to the Sword and demolishing the Castle He was constituted Captain and the Kings Lieutenant in the Dukedom of Normandy and the parts of France and had power given him to grant Pardons for Treason Murder c. and whatsoever he did in this case the King promised to ratifie under his Great Seal After the Peace near Chartres Sir Iohn Chandos was constituted one of King Edward's Commissioners to take possession of the Dutchy of Aquitaine where Sir Iames de Bourbon delivered him the possession of divers Lands Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses whereupon he received the Fealty and Homage of all the Nobility and others Shortly after he was made Captain and Commander in chief of the Castle and Town of Rochel and all the Country of Xâ—ntonge and a command was therewithall sent to Iohn de Monte Ferandi Custos of the said Castle and Town to deliver them up to him with all the Arms Provisions and other the King's Stores in his possession And the following year when the Prince of Wales now created Prince of Guyenne took a Voyage thither he was made Constable of Aquitaine and Sir Guischard d' Angle Marshal When the King of Cyprus came into Aquitaine upon a visit to the Prince he was sent to receive and conduct him to Angolesme where the Prince kept his Court He also waited on him through Xantonge and Poictou to Rochell to view the Country whence he returned to Angolesme where having taken leave of the Prince he yet attended him to the confines of the Principality Charles de Bloys having gained new strength from