Patent past under the Great Seal of England with consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament anno 8. H. 6. William Mugg is there said to be the first and so hath been since accounted But it seems the Catalogue of Custos's and Deans took commencement at the Institution of the Colledge by Papal not Kingly authority and though William Mugg in like manner as Iohn de la Chambre had been constituted Custos above three years before yet being then again nominated by the King to receive Institution from the Bishop of Winchester upon his ordaining the Colledge he came to be accounted the first Custos as being so under that Institution and consequently Iohn de la Chambre not taken notice of By this Title of Custos were those that succeeded De la Chambre and Mugg presented by the King till the last year of King Henry the Fourth when Thomas Kingston was the first of them presented by the name of Dean and his Successor Iohn Arundell observing that divers of the Lands and Endowments of the Colledge were sometimes granted thereunto by the name of Custos at other times of Dean and Custos or lastly of Dean only and doubting that this variation and diversity of names might beget some damage to the Colledge especially being both beside and against the form of the Foundation wherein the Title of Custos was only used he applied himself by Petition to the Parliament before mentioned whereupon the King being pleased to provide for the security of the Colledge in this particular did with consent of the Lords and Commons by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of England grant and declare That the said Iohn should be Custos sive Decanus for his life and enjoy all rights thereunto belonging and for the future he and every other Custos of the Chappel for the time being should be called Custodes sive Decani viz. Wardens or Deans of the free Chappel of St. George within the Castle of Windesor and that the Custos or Dean and Canons thereof and their Successors by the Name of Custos or Dean and Canons of the said free Chappel should have and hold to them and their Successors for ever all Lands Tenements Rents Possessions c. â—s also all manner of Liberties Franchises Immunities c. granted to the Colledge at any time before So that here was instituted a kind of new Incorporation of this Chappel by the Title of Custos or Dean and Canons only and the whole State of the Colledge together with its possessions strengthened and constituted in a manner De novo at least this was a great step to the compleat incorporating them by King Edward the Fourth when through the interest of Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury then also Dean of Windesor â—â—d Chancellor of the most noble Order of the Garter there was obtained from King Edward the Fourth Letters Patent bearing Teste at Windesor the 6. of December in the 19. year of his Reign for incorporating the Custos or Dean and Canons and their Successors by the name of Dean and Canons of the free Chappel of St. George within the Castle of Windesor and that thenceforward they should be one Body Corporate in thing and name and have a perpetual Succession Furthermore that they and their Successors should by the same Name be persons capable in Law to purchase receive and take Lands Tenements Rents Reversions Services Liberties Franchises and Priviledges or other Possessions whatsoever to be held and possest in Fee and Perpetuity As also to have a Common Seal for the Affairs and Causes of them and their Successors And that they and their Successors by the name of Dean and Canons c. might plead and be impleaded pursue all manner of Causes and Actions real and mixt challenge all Franchises and Liberties and answer and be answered before any Judges spiritual or temporal But for the avoiding all further doubts which might be taken for any occasion or cause touching the Dean and Canons of this Chappel in their Corporation Capacity or Possessions and for the more surety of them in all their temporaâ— Endowments the Letters Patent of Incorporation were within three years after past into an Act of Parliament which yet remains in force Thus much for his Title of Custos and Decanus we shall next touch upon his Authority and Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction for as he is constituted both by the Bull of Pope Clement the Sixth and the Institution of the Colledge thereupon President over the rest of the Colledge to govern direct and order them their Goods and Estates so is he to exercise all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over them with a reservation of power of Appeal to the Chancellor of England Visitor of that Colledge Moreover where any of them live inordinately or unpeaceably he with the advice of the Chapter in cases where no particular penalty is appointed to be inflicted hath power to reprehend or correct at discretion And in case where discord ariseth among any of them shall within eight days reconcile the parties or do justice Lastly he hath power after the third time of admonition to expel from the Colledge all sowers of Discord Back-biters and Whisperers that are below the Degree of a Canon And to the end there may be no defect in Government at any time during his non-residence it is provided by the Statutes of the Colledge That when he hath occasion to be absent from thence above eight days or more he shall before his departure constitute one of the Canon-Residents whom he please for his Deputy who during his absence having the Title of Lieutenant shall in all things exercise and execute his Office for we are to note that the said Statutes allow him sixty days for non-residence the Royal Visitation held anno 1552. enlarged that time to one hundred and ten days and the Lord Chancellor Hyde gave him liberty of six weeks absence to attend the affairs of his Deanry of Wolverhampton But in the vacancy of the Custos whatever power or authority belongs unto him the same is then devolv'd upon the Chapter of the Colledge which Chapter ought within two days after the vacancy known to elect one of the Resident-Canons under the Title of President to govern the Colledge and direct all affairs relating thereunto until there be provided another Custos Leaving the Custos thus setled under the Title of Decanus which later he is only known by at this day we are now to speak of the Canons whose number by the Letters Patent of Foundation were appointed to be four and twenty including the Custos but upon Institution of the Colledge by the Bishop of Winchester there was then ordained as hath been noted one Custos twelve Secular-Canons and thirteen Priests or Vicars in all twenty six being the very number before ordained by the Statutes of Institution of the Order of the
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
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.
4. E. 2. That the Banerets wages by the day was four shillings the Knights two shillings and the Esquires one shilling Next unto the Knights Banerets we shall speak of Knights of the Bath which is a degree that hath the Investiture and Title of a Knight with an additional denomination derived from part of the Ceremony of his Creation It is the most received opinion that our King Henry the Fourth first instituted these Knights and true it is according to Sir Iohn Froisard He at his Coronation to adde to the lustre and magnificence of it created six and forty of them making an especial choice of such as he favoured either out of an inward affection or consideration of their service or deserts And as he designed them to attend him in the Ceremonies of his Coronation then at hand so did he retain them neerer unto his person thereby seeming to honor them with a more familiar consociation than he vouchsafed to the Knights Batchelors But if the Ceremonies and circumstances of their Creation be well considered it will appear that this King did not institute but rather restore the ancient manner of making Knights and consequently that the Knights of the Bath are in truth no other than Knights Batchelors that is to say such as are created with those Ceremonies wherewith Knights Batchelors were formerly created by Ecclesiasticks but some of them having been for a long time laid aside with us were then brought again into use and made peculiar to the Degree of Knights of the Bath and since continued to them upon some solemn and great occasion At the first view this Degree looks like a peculiar and distinct Order of Knighthood and may perhaps by some be thought more fit to be spoken of in the third Chapter rather than here But it cannot properly and justly be so accounted if we consider that they have not either Statutes or Laws assigned them nor are they in case of vacancy supplied which are the essentials of distinct Orders nor do they wear their Robes beyond the time of that occasion upon which they were created as chiefly the Coronation of Kings and Queens of England or otherwise the Creation of a Prince of Wales Duke of York and the like whereto also is to be considered that their Number hath been uncertain and always at the pleasure of the King Andrew Favin will have these Knights to be otherwise called Knights of the Crown because saith he to distinguish them from Esquires they wear upon their left shoulders an Escutcheon of Black Silk with three Crowns of Gold embroidered thereon But this is a great mistake for it is not found that such or indeed any other Badge was at any time after that manner used by them save only a Silk Lace but the Jewel worn to be known by is made of Gold containing three Crowns with this Motto Tria juncta in una and hanging down under the left arm at a Carnation Ribbon worn cross the body This leads us to the consideration of another Degree among us here in England namely Baronets who seem to be allied to Knighthood by having granted to them the addition of Sir to be set before their Names but this Title gives not the Dignity of Knighthood nor can any of them be properly stiled Knights until they be actually knighted It is a Degree but of a late erection to wit in the ninth year of King Iames and the grant thereof made only by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England a Copy of one of which is transcribed into the Titles of Honor. This Honor is made hereditary to them and the Heirs males of their bodies lawfully begotten for ever and by a subsequent Decree of the said King precedence is granted to them before all Banerets except such as should be made by the King his Heirs and Successors under his or their Standard displaid in an Army royal in open War and the King personally present and next unto and immediately after the younger Sons of Viscounts and Barons The ground for erecting this Degree as appears by the Instructions given to the Commissioners appointed to treat about this affair was partly Martial for though themselves were not enjoined personal service in the Wars yet the motive of this Honor was a certain contribution from each Baronet to maintain thirty Foot Soldiers for three years in Ireland after the rate of eight pence a day for the defence of that Kingdom and chiefly to secure the Plantation in the Province of Vlster Their Qualifications were that at least they should be descended from a Grandfather on the Fathers side that bore Arms and had a Revenue of one thousand pounds per annum of Lands of inheritance in possession or Lands of old Rents as good as one thousand pounds a year of improved Lands or at least two parts of three to the said value in possession and the other third part in reversion expectant upon one life only held in Jointure The year after the first Patent past King Iames was pleased to adde some new Priviledges and Ornaments to this Degree namely to Knight those Baronets already made that were no Knights as also such as should be afterwards created and the Heirs males of their bodies when they attained the age of one and twenty years that the Baronets and their Descendants might bear either in Canton or in an Inescutcheon the Arms of Vlster and further to have place in the Armies of the King and his Heirs and Successors in the gross neer about the Royal Standard for defence of the same Since the Institution of Baronets in England there have been made divers in Ireland after the like form And the Knights of Nova Scotia in the West-Indies were ordained in imitation of Baronets in England by the said King Iames anno Dom. 1622. and upon a like design to wit the planting of that Country by Scotch Colonies and the Degree made likewise hereditary These later have the priviledge to wear an Orange-tawny Ribbon as a Badge of Honor to distinguish them from other Knights and it appears by a Letter from Henry Earl of Holland dated the 29. of Iune 1627. and directed to the Officers of Arms that there was some intention to move his then Majesty to declare his pleasure that all Baronets and Knights Batchelors might wear in Ribbons of several colours some Badge or Iewel to distinguish the one from the other and both from persons of inferiour quality in such sort as did the Knights of the Baeth to which end he desired their opinion touching the fitness and conveniency thereof Which Officers from precedents of the differences and marks set upon Robes belonging to several Degrees of Nobility and Honor and from the Ensigns and Ornaments of Knighthood used for distinctions sake both at home and abroad being esteemed as peculiar marks of Soveraignty in the Giver and eminent tokens of Honor in
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
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
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
Mass-Money and the whole profit of the Bedrolls of Ikelington Nevertheless to pay the King and his Successors in the Court of Augmentation for the Rectories of Aberguille Talgarthe and Mara the Chappels of Llanbadock and Llanpenysaunt 4 l. 2 s. 8 d. in the name of Tenths and for all Rents Services c. of the other Rectories c. 48 l. 7 s. 4 d. annually at Michaelmas Furthermore within all these premisses the King by the said Letters Patent granted to the Dean and Canons Court Leets or Views of Frankepledge and to have Fines and Amerciaments Free-Warrens Waifs and Felons Goods and all other Profits Commodities Liberties Emoluments and Hereditaments whatsoever All which Rectories Tithes Pensions Rents c. before mentioned and all other Gifts and Grants in the possession of the Dean and Canons anno Iac. Reg. 2. were confirmed and made good and effectual in Law to them and their Successors by Act of Parliament that year The 2. of August preceding the Grant made by King Edward the Sixth a Rental pass'd under the hand of Sir Edward North Chancellor of the Court of Augmentation containing the particular charges issuing out of the aforesaid Rectories c. whereunto certain Articles were annexed and according to which the said Deed of Conveyance from the King was drawn The ancient rate of these New Lands in the Kings Books was 661 l. 6 s. 8 d. per annum but according to the improved Rents to wit as they were then turn'd over to the Colledge was 812 l. 12 s. 9 d. out of which improved value as appears by the Articles now mentioned 160 l. 2 s. 4 d. was yearly allowed them in satisfaction of the Lands past over to King Henry the Eighth and 600 l. per annum for accomplishment of his Will but the remaining sum viz. 52 l. 10 s. 5 d. was reserved in lieu of Tenths to be yearly paid into the Court of Augmentation howbeit this last reserved sum was not agreed unto by the Dean and Canons to be so paid because the Charges issuing out of the Lands were greater than were expressed in the Rental And we find that shortly after the Rents of the Parsonage of St. Germans the Rectories of Northam Ilsington Icklington Ambrosbury Stapleford and Vrchefount the Prebends of Alcanings and Vrchefount being part of the New Lands were received and accounted for according to the old rate in the Kings Books to wit 162 l. 13 s. 4 d. per annum by the Steward of the Old Lands in recompence for the Lands conveyed to King Henry the Eighth and out of which they paid a yearly surplusage of 2 l. 2 s. 1 d. this sum together with the Rents of the rest of the New Lands being upon the said improvement accounted to be 597 l. 17 s. 11 d. made in all 600 l. per annum and this was paid by the Dean and Canons for some time towards building the Alms-Knights Houses as is before remembred Thus stood the Lands accounted for till the setlement made by Queen Elizabeth for the disposition of the whole Revenue which then was accounted to the Colledge but at the value entred in the Kings Books upon which setlement the Queen appointed the Dean and Canons to convert the Rents of these New Lands from time to time to such uses and intents and in such manner and form as she had set down in a Book signed with her Sign Manual and annexed to an Indenture bearing date the 30. of August in the first year of her Reign made between Her on the one part and the Dean and Canons on the other part By which Indenture the Dean and Canons Covenant for themselves and Successors to distribute and employ at all times for ever the Rents and Profits of these Lands in such manner as in the Book is declared and appointed and to observe and keep all the Ordinances Rules and things whatsoever contained therein which on their part and behalf is limited and appointed to be performed and executed according to the true meaning of the same And if the Dean and Canons or their Successors should omit any thing to them appointed to be performed by the said Ordinances Rules and Statutes then for every such default they are to abide such Order as shall be made by the Queen her Heirs or Successors or by any of the Knights-Companions of the Order as by her or her Successors should be thereunto appointed  l. s. d. In this Book the Total of the Revenue reckoned at the ancient value amounts to 661 06 08 The Annual charge and disbursements to the Colledge therein set down is 430 19 06 And so Remains 230 07 02 Which Remainder hath been and is assigned and employed for payment of Tenths to the Crown Vicars and Curates annual stipends Officers-Fees Reparation of the premisses and for the relief of the Dean and Canons and their Successors in maintenance and defence of the said Lands And to the end the Queen might know how the Revenue of these New Lands was disposed of she also Ordered That her Lieutenant and the Knights-Companions should annually at the Feast of St. George held at Windesor see the just account thereof how the Income was expended and the payments made and that one of the Officers of the Order should from time to time yearly put her Lieutenant in mind thereof Which Order was renewed in a Chapter of the Garter held April 24. ann Iac. Reg. 21. and the Chancellor of the Order appointed to be the Remembrancer and in obedience thereunto the Account of these New Lands which begins annually at Lady-day as that of the Old Lands doth at Michaelmas was afterwards exhibited in Chapter and in particular that Account presented by the Dean of Windesor and submitted to the Soveraign and Knights-Companions consideration the 6. of November anno 9. Car. 1. was referr'd to the perusal and inspection of the Knights-Commissioners appointed at the same Chapter to consult the Affairs of the Order SECT VIII Of the Priviledges of the Chappel and Colledge IN the last place the Priviledges of both are to be considered which we shall divide into Ecclesiastical and Temporal Touching the first it appears by a Bull of Pope Clement the Sixth dated at Avignion the 12. of February in the 9. year of his Papacy That at the desire of the Founder this Pope exempted the Chappel Colledge Canons Priests Clerks Alms-Knights and Officers of the Colledge from all ordinary Jurisdiction Dominion and Superiority of Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and all other Iudges and Officials and received them within the protection of the Papal See And further granted That the Custos for the time being should have Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over the Canons Priests Clerks Alms-Knights and Officers and their Successors as also the Cure of their Souls notwithstanding any Papal Constitution Statutes Customs whether Provincial or Synodical or other whatsoever to the contrary Willing nevertheless
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
for his own and the Princes expeditions During the Minority of this King there were several Matches proposed for him though none took but the last and first his Father designed to marry him to the Lady Margaret Daughter of William Earl of Hanow Holland Zeland and Lord of Frisia who being in the third degree of Consanguinity a Letter was dispatched to the Pope dated the 10. of December in the 12. year of his Fathers Reign for obtaining his Dispensation because of their nearness of blood Secondly with the Lady Sibilla Daughter to Robert Earl of Hanow and Zeland Lord of Frisia as appears from a like Letter to the Pope dated the 2. of November in the following year Thirdly with the Daughter of Iames King of Arragon for which affair were commissionated Alexander Archbishop of Dublin Edmund Earl of Kent King Edward the Second's Brother and William de Weston Canon of Lincoln Doctor of Laws the Commission bore Teste the 30. of March an 17. E. 2. It appears by the Kings Letters of the 16. of February following that her name was Iolant and King Iames her Father stiled Rex Aragoniae Valenciae Corsâ—ae Comes Barch Sanctae Rom. Ecclesiae Vexillarius Admirallus Capitaneus Generalis to whom the King then also sent Sir Edmund Bacon Sir Robert Thorpe Mr. Iohn Heldesley Canon of Chester to proceed further in this matter Fourthly with the Lady Alonar Sister to Alphonsus King of Spain to which purpose Iohn Stoner William de Berne Lord of Lescune William de Weston Canon of Lincolne and Peter de Galicano Canon of Roan were impowered by a Commission dated the 6. of April an 18. E. 2. as also to treat and conclude a marriage between the said King Alphonsus and Elianor King Edward's Sister Besides these the King of Portugal sent Ambassadors over hither to propose a marriage between this Prince and his Daughter to whom the King by Letter dated the 15. of April an 19. E. 2. directed thus Magnifico Principi Domino Alfonso Dei gratiâ Portugaliae Algarbiae Regi illustri amico suo charissimo acquainting him with the Treaty of marriage begun between his Son and the King of Spain's Sister and that because of neerness of blood he had dispatcht a Letter to the Pope for his Dispensation that he had received no account as then of the issue of that Affair that his Son was gone into France to do Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitaine during all which it was not fit for him to begin any new Treaty but if that succeeded not he would then confer with his Ambassador in this particular But last of all in the following year the Queen and Duke having left France went to the Earl of Henault's Court where a Contract past between him and one of the Earls Daughters and not long after his Coronation the marriage was consummate in reference to which R. Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield was constituted the King's Ambassador to contract either espousals or marriage in the King's Name with Philippa that Earls Daughter who forthwith took his Journey to Valenciens and the Popes Dispensation being gained she was there married to King Edward by Proxie By this Lady he was Father to 7 Sons all except two that dyed young men of great renown in that Age namely Edward Prince of Wales and Guyenne signally famous all over Europe and commonly called the Black Prince William of Hatfield Lyonell of Antwerp Duke of Clarence and Earl of Vlster Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Aquitaine King of Castile and Leon Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York William of Windesor and Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester His Daughters were five Isabell Wife to Ingelram de Coucy Earl of Bedford Ioan married by Proxie to Peter eldest Son to Alphonsus King of Castile and Leon but died in her journey thither Blanch died young Mary Wife to Iohn Montford Duke of Britagne and Margaret Wife to Iohn de Hastings Earl of Penbroke Besides these he had a natural Son named Nicholas who was Abbot of Westminster and lies buried in Westminster before the Altar of St. Blase His Queen fell sick at Windesor Castle and there dyed before him viz. on the day of the Assumption of our blessed Lady an 43. E. 3. whose Exequies and Interment he caused to be solemnized with great magnificence He himself dyed the 21. of June at his Mannor of Shene in Surrey after he had reigned 50 years 4 Months and 28 days and lies interred on the South side of St. Edward's Chappel in Westminster Abbey under a stately Monument having thereon his Portraicture at full length SECT III. Some account of the first 25 Knights-Companions 1. Edward Prince of Wales THis Noble and Valiant Prince was born at Woodstock the 15. of Iune An. Dom. 1330. at ten a Clock in the Morning in the Scheme of whose Nativity found among the Collections of that famous Mathematician Mr. Thomas Allen of Gloucester-Hall in Oxford the 9. degree of Virgo ascends the 3. of Gemini culminates and the Planets are thus posited gr ♄ in 16 ♌ ♃ in 12 ♠♂ in 11 ♉ ☉ in 1 ♋ ♀ in 19 ♊ ☿ in 18 ♊ ♃ in 10 ♊ â— in 22 ♋ â— in 22 ♑ â™ in 19 ♌ So welcome to his Father was the News of his Birth that he granted to Tho. Priour who brought it 40 Marks per annum out of his Exchequer for life until he should setle on him Lands to that annual value Afterwards he gave to Ioane de Oxenford this Prince's Nurse 10 l. per annum out of his Exchequer during her life until he or his Heirs should setle that yearly value in Lands or Rents upon her And the next day a yearly Pension of 10 Marks out of his Exchequer also for life on Matilda Plumpton Bersatrix or Rocker to this young Prince till Lands of that value were in like manner provided for her Before he was three years old the King intended to make some considerable provision for him though he had before made him an annual allowance for the expences of his House and several Gifts did by his Charter dated 18. May in the 7. year of his Reign grant to him by the Title of Edward his most dear and eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flynt and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said Country Castles Lands and Cantreds aswell in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same conditions as himself received them before he was King And thence forward he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his
speed Immediately after his arrival in Gascoigne he took the Field and laid Siege to Bosyll which surrendred to him The Castle of Rochemyllone being well fortified he took by assault and slew all but those that fled into the Church the next day he laid Siege to the Town of Mountsegur and battered it with great Engines for 15 days together and at length it was yielded to him upon Composition After this the strong Castle of Aguillon was yielded up to him and then he laid Siege to Reole which surrendred on mercy but the Castle stood out 11 weeks and then also surrendred After his taking of Reole he marched to Mountpesance Castle which he took by Storm and then he sat down before Mauleon and took it by the stratagem of an Ambush He took also the Ville Franche in Agenois with its Castle by assault after which he marched through the Country and took many other Towns and Castles with little difficulty At the end of three days Siege Myremont yielded to him and some of his Forces took Thomynes on the River Garonne and the strong Castle Damasan Last of all Augoulesme yielded to him after a Months Siege and thence he retired to his Winter Quarter at Bordeaux This Winter the Duke of Normandy entred Gascoigne with 100000 men and shortly after Christmas took the Field in this Expedition he regained several places from the English and sat down before Aiguillon but after the Battel at Cressy being sent for back by the French King he was constrained to raise his Siege Shortly after the retreat of the Duke of Normandy this Earl the King having sent to the Prior of the Order of the Friers Preachers in London to offer up Prayers that God would please to protect and defend him and give his Forces Victory over his Enemies with 1200 men at Arms 2000 Archers and 3000 Foot passed the River Garonne towards Xantonge and took Myrabel by Storm as also the Town and Castle of Alaay and Sargeres and Benon He likewise took Mortagne on the Sea side in Poictou by assault and burnt Lusignen and took the Town and Castle of Taillebourge at length he lay Siege to St. Iean d' Angely which surrendred to him upon Conditions after which he took Maxinent by assault and won the Town of Monstrevil Bonnin he thence marched to Poicters and that he took by Assault where 700 of the Inhabitants were slain and some Churches spoiled and more had been but that this pious Earl commanded the contrary on pain of death Nevertheless they plundred the Town and left it desolate and here the Soldiers got so great Wealth that nothing was of value but Gold Silver and Feathers for the Troops From hence he returned to St. Iean d' Angely and thence to Bordeaux and in this Expedition he gained so great esteem that he was reported to be the Noblest Prince that ever rode on Horseback Having behaved himself so gallantly and faithfully in prosecuting and recovering of the King 's right in these parts the first of Febr. an 21. E. 3. the King sent for him back to be near unto himself for the future upon all occasions and to direct and assist in his Martial and other Affairs whereupon he returned into England and because King Edward understood that the French King was making great preparations to draw down to Calais about Whitsontide he enjoyned him speedily to repair to his assistance in reference to whose passage Command was sent to Io. de Montgomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships in readiness at Sandwich and Dover for the Transportation of the Army he had raised with all speed and immediately upon his coming thither and consideration had of his victorious Successes and good Services done the King in the Dukedom of Aquitain and parts adjoining the King granted to him and his Heir Males by Charter the Castle Town and Place of Brageriac in Diocess Petragoriensis with the whole Castellany and all Iurisdiction high and low Royal Authority absolute and mixt as also the Coinage of Money there To which he afterward added a grant of the Examination of the Assay with both the Criminal and Civil punishment of all Offenders for coyning Money And because this Town and Castle stood upon the Frontiers of the Enemy the King granted that during the War there should remain in that Garrison 100 men of Arms and 200 Foot at the King's pay subject nevertheless to the Command of the Steward of Gascoigne to be drawn out upon occasion by him leaving sufficient strength to defend the same This Earl having taken divers Prisoners at the Town of St. Iohn d' Angely and reduced it to the obedience of the King he therefore granted to him all the Lands Tenements Vines and other Goods of those Prisoners until their Ransoms were fully paid And a little after granted unto him and his Heirs for ever the Houses Lands c. of Bernard Barram Burgess of that Town to hold by the Service of rendring to the King and his Heirs one Rose annually at Midsummer Moreover on the 10. of November following he had further granted the Castle of Horston with the appurtenances in the County of Derby and 40 l. per an out of the Farm of the Town of Derby to him and his Heirs Males then the same to revert to the King and his Heirs All these Grants were made to him upon the account of his good and grateful services formerly performed Upon the French King 's coming towards Calais in Iuly before with design to relieve it the King appointed him to keep Newland bridge for by securing that passage the French could not pass on that side unless through the Marches which were not to be attempted without danger His order in keeping this place was much commended by the four French Commissioners who passed by it when they came from their King to King Edward to demand a place to fight in At this time the Pope having sent two Cardinals to the King they obtained his condescention to treat with King Philip whose Commissioners were the Dukes of Burgoigne and Burbone the Lord Lewis de Savoy and the Lord Iohn of Henalt otherwise called Lord Beaumont and on King Edwards part were the Noble Earls of Derby and Northampton the Lords Cobham and Mannie but three days being spent without coming to any conclusion the Treaty broke up and the Cardinal Mediators departed He was after made choice of by the King and Ralph Earl of Eu and Guynes Constable of France by the French King to agree upon a Truce in hopes of a Peace to hold for 6. Weeks throughout Picardy Normandy Artois Boulogne and Flanders to commence the 13. of the same September The 25. day of September following he was constituted the Kings Lieutenant as well in the parts of Flanders and Calais as
elsewhere in the Kingdom of France and therein power was given him to treat and agree with any of the Kings Adversaries or their Adherents or other persons whatsoever And after by a particular Commission he and William Bishop of Norwich the Earls of Suffolk and Huntington and others were impowred to Treat and agree with the Earl of Flanders and his Allies touching any difference between the King and them and it seems their Endeavours took so good effect that an Agreement was made with that Earl the 10. of December following whereupon he was sent to Denemere and there received the said Earls Fealty and Homage As to his transactions relating to France He with the Bishop of Norwich the Earl of Suffolk and Sir Walter Many agreed to the Prorogation of the Truce from the 18. of November to the first of September following Upon the Death of his Father which fell out an 19. E. 3. he succeeded him in the Titles of the Earldoms of Lancaster and Leicester and for that a great part of the Lands sometimes the Earl of Lincolns were come to his possession the King Created him also Earl of Lincoln He had by his Charter of Creation granted unto him the Creation annuity of 20 l. to be paid him by the Sheriff of Lincolnshire for the time being in lieu of the third penny of that County for ever as Thomas late Earl of Lincoln his Uncle had to enjoy whilst he lived About 8. days after the King renued his Commission for being his Captain and Lieutenant in Aquitain and the parts adjacent with all Powers requisite for the better Government of those Dominions whether he shortly after pass'd And by other Letters Patent he constituted him his Captain and Lieutenant in Poicters with full power to exercise all things which appertained to that Command But for further increase of Honor the King Created him Duke of Lancaster and granted that during life he should have within that Country his Chancellor and Iustice as well to the Pleas of the Crown as other Pleas whatsoever to be held according to Law and the Executions of them and likewise all other Liberties and Royal Jurisdiction to a County Palatine appertaining as freely and wholly as the Earl of Chester was known to enjoy in the County of Chester the tenths and fifteenths and all other payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and pardons for life and members to the King excepted The 8. of March ensuing he was constituted Admiral of the Fleet from the mouth of the River Thames Westward and two days after the King Assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald de Ferers on the River Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-Ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeants at Arms in the Port of Seford and in every part and place thence by the Sea-Coast to Fowy Richard Lengles in the Port of Fowy and thence to Bristol and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullebrock in all places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritine places in Wales Upon a Rumor that the French had provided an Army and Navy to invade England among the Maritine Counties on the South of England Hants Wilts Somerset and Dorset were committed to this Duke to secure and to resist the Enemy So also was the Maritine parts of Lancashire And because the King had occasion to raise men for Land Service he gave him Commission to array 300. Archers within that Dutchy before the Quindena of the Holy Trinity then next following to be ready to march in the Kings Service The Scots also designing to invade England the following year this Duke had Commission to array all able men in Lancashire between the Age of 1â— and 60 to march against them in case they should presume to enter the Kingdom The like Commission was given him the 26. of February an 29. â— 3. The 14. of September an 29. E. 3. this noble Duke was constituted Lieutenant for the King and Iohn Duke of Bretagne then under age And by other Letters Patent of the same date Command was given to Sir Thomas Holland the Kings late Lieutenant to deliver up to him all the Castles Forts Cities Towns and other Places Lands Tenements and Rents in the said Dukedom under his custody with all the Corn Victuals Money and Issues of the said Dukedom as also all Victuals Engines Arms and other Ammunition in the said Castles c. which belonged to the King in Bretagne The 8. of August an 30. E. 6. he was by the Kings Letters Patent constituted Lieutenant and Captain in the Dukedom of Bretagne and parts adjacent for the good Government thereof both for the King and the said Iohn de Montford Duke of Bretagne then under age and in the King's custody from Michaelmas following for one year Froissard saith this Duke was in Normandy and with him the Lord Philip of Navarre and the Lord Godfrey of Harecourt carrying on the War in that Country under the Title of the King of Navar at such time as the Prince was foraging of Berry and used all endeavour to have joined his Forces with the Prince at Poicters but the passages being so well kept on the River Loire he could not pass and having heard that the Prince had got the Victory there he returned into England In this Voyage being 4000 strong they marched to Lisieux to Orbeâ— to Ponteau and relieved that Castle besieged above two Months but the Enemy hearing of the approach of the English raised their Siege in such hast that they left behind them their Ensigns and Artillery This Duke then marched to Breteuil which he relieved next to Verneuil in Perche took both Castle and Town and burnt a great part of it Upon the information of which the French King raised a mighty Army with design to fight him but he withdrawing to Laigle and the King being come within two Leagues of it found the Forest so thick and hazardous that he thought it not safe to pass further and in his return took from the Navarrois the Castles of Tilliers and Breteuil and so marched forward towards the Prince then harrasing Berry About the middle of May an 31. E. 3. he took the Field in Bretagne with 1000 men at Arms and 500 Archers and laid Siege to Rennes which though well defended was at length surrendred and the 25. of Iuly his Commission of Lieutenancy both for the King and Duke of Bretagne was renued for another year to commence at Michaelmas following but the 8. of August before the expiration thereof Sir Robert Herle and Iohn de Buckenham Clerk were appointed to succeed him being jointly and severally constituted Captains and Lieutenants both to the King and Duke for the following year from Michaelmas then next ensuing
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.
deserved He married Ioane the Daughter and Heir of Oliver de Ingham and Relict of Roger le Strange and dyed on Wednesday next before the Feast of St. Nicholas an 38. E. 3. leaving his Son Miles then about 20 years of age The Custody of his Lands was granted to the Queen who granted it to Bryan Stapleton Knight Iohn de Boys and Roger de Boys till his said Son came of age which Grant the King confirmed the same day by his Letters Patent He and his Wife were both buried at the House of Ingham founded by his Mothers Ancestors 18. Sir Thomas Wale HE was the Son of Sir Thomas Wale and Lucy his Wife which Lucy held the Mannor of Wedon-Pinkney in the County of Northampton with its appurtenances in her Demesne as of Fee of the King in Capite as of the Fee Pinkney by the service of one Knights Fee and long before her death she setled the said Mannor on this Sir Thomas and his Heirs as appears by the Inquisition taken after her death wherein the said Sir Thomas is found to be her next Heir and then about 40 years of age He attended the King into Flanders an 12. E. 3. and had command under William de Bohun Earl of Northampton in the Expedition which the King made into Bretagne an 16. E. 3. so also beyond Sea in the Kings service with Richard Earl of Arundel an 18. E. 3. We find not that he had any issue by his Wife Nichola who out-lived him but that his three Sisters were his Heirs namely Margaret the Wife of Malorre Alice of Thomas Chamberlain and Iulian. He dyed in Gascoigne on Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel an 26. E. 3. being a Knight of great vertue and worthiness so that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough 19. Sir Hugh Wrottesley SIR Hugh Wrottesley was Son to Sir William Wrottesley of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford Knight It appears that an 8. E. 3. he designed a Voyage to the Holy-Land and to that end had obtained the Kings Letters for appointing Peter de Hoe and Thomas de Chency his Attornies during his absence to prosecute his Suits in any Court of England An. 12. E. 3. he went in the Kings Service into Flanders when the King went over thither to confer with his Allies And at the Siege of Calais he had the Kings Licence to inclose his Wood at Wrottesley and make a Park Two years after for his good service he granted to him the Custody of the Lands and Tenements which were William de Pilateâ—hall deceased till his Heirs came of age with the marriages of them without rendring any thing theretofore An. 24. E. 3. the King granted him a Pension of 40 l. per annum out of his Exchequer for his life upon the surrender of which Letters Patent he granted him 40 l. per annum to be thus received viz. 16 l. 4 s. 4 d. out of the Farm of the Villages of Mere and Clent 11 l. 10 s. out of the Farm of the Village of Swinford 11 l. out of the Farm of the Village of Kinefare and Tetenhale and 1 l. 6 s. 8 d. out of the Farm of the Foresters Fee of Tedesley to hold for life or till he had 40 l. per annum in Lands or Rents setled on him for life yet to be answerable for the overplus being 1 s. 8 d. These last Letters Patent were confirmed to him by King Richard the Second in the first year of his Reign He married Mabill the Daughter of Sir Philip ap Rees and Ioane his Wife by whom he had issue Iohn whose heir male in a direct line is Sir Walter Wrottesley of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford Baronet now living He also had to his second Wife Isabel Daughter of Iohn Arderne of Aldeford Aderlegh and Edds. And dyed the Monday after the Feast of St. Vincent an 4. R. 2. 20. Sir Nele Loring AT the Naval Fight before Sluce his Valour was so remarkable that it gained him the Honor of Knighthood to which the King immediately added a Donation of 20 l. per annum to him and his Heirs males for the better support of that Dignity till Lands of the like annual value were provided for him and them These Letters Patent bear Teste at Sluce 26. of Iune in the 14. year of the Kings Reign over England and his first of France In the Kings Expedition into Bretagne he attended him thither and an 18. E. 3. went beyond Sea in his Service In the beginning of the following year he and Michael Northburgh Canon of Liâ—hfeild and Hereford were sent to the Pope's Court with the Kings Letter dated 23. Feb. an 19. E. 3. to obtain a Dispensation for the marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant At his return he went with Henry de Lancaster Earl of Derby into Gascoigne where he stayed the following year After which coming over into England he within a short time returned to his Commands in Gascoigne An. 29. E. 3. he attended the Prince of Wales in his Expedition into Gascoigne and being specially assigned to attend his person in the Battel at Poictiers he performed his duty so well that he received both acknowledgments and rewards from the Prince for that days service He was afterwards appointed by King Edward to be one of his Commissioners for receiving the possession of all Countries Cities Forts c. that by the Treaty of Peace near Chartres were to be delivered to him When the Prince of Wales was created Prince of Guyenne he attended him thither again and there continued four years whence returning into England he stayed not long but went back again and remained there three years After which coming into England and being again sent into Aquitaine Writs were directed to Robert de Ashton Admiral towards the West for the passage of him and Sir Iohn de la Haye their Soldiers and Retinue and this year he was one of those Knights of the Prince's Retinue sent to meet Sir Robert Knolls at his coming out of Bretagne whom they met at Quercy and assisted at the Sieges of Durmel and Domme both which though they thought fit to break up yet marching further into the Country they took Gauaches Freins Rochmador and Ville Franche upon the marches of Tholouze He was an active man and did King Edward great services which induced him to confer many favours on him in recompence thereof as first he granted him a Pension of 5 l. a year during his life to be paid him by the Abbess of Burnham out of the 15 l. per annum she was
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
the King of France and entred Bretagne this Sir Iohn with some few Forces left Aquitaine and came to the assistance of Iohn Earl of Montford who received him with great joy having so great an opinion of his Valour and Conduct that he conceived no misfortune could fall upon him while he stayed with him By his advice and valour as all acknowledged the French were defeated Sir Bertrand de Guesclin taken Prisoner by an English Esquire under Sir Iohn's Standard Charles de Bloys there slain and the Enemy pursued 8 Leagues even to the Gates of Rennes This Battel was fought on Michaelmas day an 38. E. 3. where were taken two Earls 27 Lords and 1500 men at Arms. The news of the Victory being brought to the King then at Dover by a Pursuivant of Arms who had been in the Battel the King for his good service created him a Herald by the name of Windesor there was also an Herald who had the addition of Chandos given him in honor of this noble Knight whom he employed in Aquitaine upon several occasions This good success begat a Treaty which setled the Earl of Montfort in the Dukedom of Bretagne by the King of France to whom he did Homage as the Dukes before had done In the Prince's Voyage to Spain he had command in the Van led by the Duke of Lancaster and immediately before the joining of the Battel this noble Knight was created Banneret which honor was not only well bestowed but by his valiant carriage in the Fight as well deserved for he and his men hapning to encounter Sir Bertrand de Guesclin who had been ransomed from his former imprisonmeâ—â— at 100000 Franks and the Marshal Sir Arnold Dandrehen they took them both Prisoners and defeated their Battel After his return out of Spain he obtained leave to reside at St. Saviour le Viscount but when the French invaded Gascoigne the Prince sent for him back and employed him in the conduct of that War wherein he behaved himself most valiantly and in a word recovered and kept Aquitaine the particulars of whose famous actions from hence to his death may be seen in Sir Iohn Froissard out of whom we are loth to cloy our Reader with too much of transcription and shall therefore only note that in this time he was made Constable of Poictou and Marshal of Aquitaine He had the Barony of St. Saviours le Viscount of Domvers and Dongeville and the Lands and Tenements of St. Mary de Monte de Farsellis and de Romelly and all the Lands which were formerly Sir Godfry de Harecourts in Normandy given him and his heirs for ever by King Edward to whom the said Sir Godfry had sold them to be possessed after his death which being not comprised in the Treaty of Peace near Chartres the Homage for them became due to the King of France but there having passed so great Testimonies of affection and respect between King Edward and King Iohn the latter at the request of King Edward before he went from Calais sealed to Sir Iohn Chandos a confirmation of King Edward's grant to possess them as his inheritance for ever Whereupon command was sent to Sir Thomas Holland then Captain and Custos thereof forthwith to deliver the Castles Baronies and all the Lands and Tenements to the said Iohn And hereupon he was sometimes stiled Baro Sancti Salvatoris le Viscount and at other Vicecomes Sancti Salvatoris in Normania The last martial action of this most famous Knight and which proved fatal to him was near to St. Salvin an Abbey in Poictou which having been betrayed to the French by a Monk who hated the Abbot he endeavoured to recover it the last of December in the night an 44. E. 3. but missing of his design and intending to return to Poictou he encountred a party of the French at Lusach-bridge where the way being slippery he fell down and as he was rising one Iaques de St. Martyn an Esquire struck him under his Eye into the brain with a Glave for having lost the sight of that Eye five years before as he was hunting a Hart neer Bordeaux he saw not the blow come The French knew him by his Surcoat of Arms and endeavoured to get his body but his Uncle Edward Clyfford bestrid him and defended it and other relief coming in the French men were taken Prisoners He was thence carried to Mortymer Fortress where he lay a day and night speechless and then died and lies there buried His death was exceedingly lamented by all and when the French King heard of it he was very much troubled saying there was now no Knight left alive that was able to make Peace between the Kings and Kingdoms of France and England so much was he feared so highly esteemed and so generally beloved He was never married but we find he had three Sisters Elizabeth who died 9. R. 2. Alionora the Wife of Roger Colinge and Margaret 22. Sir Iames Audeley THis noble Knight was Son and Heir of Nicholas Lord Audeley and of Iane Sister and Heir of William the Son of William Martyn and was born an 7. E. 2. He was no sooner come of age but he entred upon Martial Employments wherein for several years he became engaged in the Wars against the Scots and there did the King so great service that in recompence thereof and the great charge he had been at in supporting himself in those Wars he forgave him the sum of 10000 Marks which he was engaged to pay Roger Mortimer Earl of March by whose attainder it became forfeited to the King An. 16. E. 3. he was made Custos of the Town of Berwick upon Twede during pleasure and by other Letters Patent of the same date constituted the Kings Iustice of the said Town and of all other the Kings Lands in the parts of Scotland to execute all things appertaining to that Office according to the Law and Custom of Scotland Not long after he was engaged to go beyond Sea in the Kings Service with Nicholas Audeley Earl of Gloucester and thereupon the Kings Letters of Protection were obtained for him to hold till Easter following The 20. of December after the Kings special Letter was directed to him to provide 20. Men at Arms and 20. Archers to be sent to Portsmouth by the first of March ensuing and thence to pass in the Kings Service with the Earls of Arundel and Huntingdon An. 18. E. 3. he went into Gascoigne with the Earl of Derby in his Expedition thither The following year he received Command personally to attend the King and to serve him with his Retinue for defence of this Kingdom against the French at the Kings charge And when the King made his Royal Voyage into France an 20. E. 3. he attended him thither He was sent over from the