Alcantara make always their protestation against it and so this matter rests still undecided After this pretension of being exempted from obedience to the Order of Calatrava Benedict the Thirteenth one of the Anti-Popes changed their Badge into a Cross Flory vert in the year of our Lord 1411. and this they wore upon the left shoulder of their Scapulary for the Badge of their Order The Examination of the Candidates and in what manner they receive the Habit is related at full by Ioseph Micheli Marquez The Catholick Kings Don Fernando and Donna Isabella having about three years before obtained the Administration of the Order of Calatrava for their lives had an eye also upon this of Alcantara and therefore endeavoured that at the first time the Mastership thereof should fall vacant to gain it likewise with the like Title of Administrator to avoid several inconveniences that had hapned to the Crown of Castile when the Master of Alcantara did confederate with the King of Portugal Hereupon in the year of our Lord 1492. they made their address to Pope Innocent the Eighth that he would reserve to himself the provision of the supreme Dignity of this Order whensoever it became vacant either by the death or renunciation of the then Master Don Iohn de Cuniga or after any other manner Upon this address the Pope did accordingly reserve the disposing thereof as was desired and then gave it in Administration to the said Kings that they two should govern this Order under that Title until such time as his Holiness should provide a Master A little after Pope Innocent dyed and Alexander the Sixth succeeded who at the like supplication of these Kings confirmed and of new granted what his Predecessor had granted them before Upon which anno 1494. they treated with Don Iohn de Cuniga for the renunciation of his Mastership yet with condition to reserve to himself all the Rents of the Masters Table that he held in that part of Serena to which he consented Whereupon he resigned and surrendred his Dignity of Master of this Order into the hands of the Pope which the Bishop of Valencia received by Commission back from him and gave the Possession thereof in administration to the said Catholick Kings After this manner it was that these Kings succeeded in the Administration of the Mastership of Alcantara in the year of our Lord 1494. which they held during their lives But it was not long e're Pope Adrian the Sixth annexed this Mastership together with those other of St. Iames and Calatrava to the Royal Crown of Castile for ever as hath been before observed Knights of Trugillo or Truxillo in Spain 20. Ioseph Micheli Marquez professeth that it had been his great endeavour to satisfie himself about the Foundation of this Order notwithstanding which neither by information from the Natives of the City of Trugillo a Town situate in Estremadura in Spain nor otherwise from History could he understand when or by whom it was erected Evident it is these Knights were in being in the year of our Lord 1227. though it be unknown how long before they had their beginning But because it is found in some slight memorials of the Order of Alcantara That Don Arias Perez Gallego elected Master of that Order in the year before mentioned took Trugillo from the Moors and there placed a Fraternity or Brotherhood of Knights and Priests who lived after the manner of a Convent therefore it is presumed that they were no other than of the Order of Alcantara Now it is certain that there was a Convent and Order of the Fraternity of Trugillo but it is not so certain that these were of Alcantara It rather seems to be the opinion of Fr. Rades y Andrada that these had been some other and a distinct Order of Knighthood by it self which he collects from a Donation of Lands that King Don Alonso the Ninth gave them some years after viz. in the Aera of Caesar 1233. of the Towns of Trugillo Sancta Cruz Zuferola Canaba and Albala in which it appears that several years before the time of Don Arias there were Brothers or Knights of Trugillo It is not unlikely therefore that this Order might be incorporated into that of St. Iulian de Pereyro and by this means the Order of Alcantara pretend these Towns to be theirs which in the Reign of King Don Alonso the Ninth of Castile and King Don Fernando of Leon were taken by force of Arms from the Moors and given to the Fraternity of Knights who kept their Convent in Trugillo Hieronymus Romanus saith that these Knights were of noble descent and that no man was admitted into this Order unless he first made proof of his Gentility But there is not any Writer that gives an account what was the Ensign or Badge of their Order It is guessed by Marquez that their Institution obliged them to be neer the person of the King and upon every martial Expedition that he undertook to attend him armed and well provided maintaining always two Horses and Servants to be in readiness such for services The Order of Knights of Calatrava in Castile 21. This ancient Order of Knighthood was instituted in Castile and took beginning under the Reign of Don Sanchio the Third and appellation from the Castle Calatrava being a Frontire both of Castile and Toledo which Castle the Moors took upon their Victory over Don Rodrigo King of Spain anno Dom. 714. The word is compounded of Cala signifying in Arabick a Castle and of the Spanish word Travas which signifies Manacles Gives or Irons to fasten about the feet and wrists of Captives for with such as these the Moors lockt up and fettered the Christians whom they held Prisoners in that Castle After its recovery from the Moors who had held it above 400 years it was given by Don Alphonso surnamed the Emperor of Spain to the Knights Templars of whose virtue that Age had a great opinion to be made a Bulwark against the Inrodes of the Moors being the very Key into the Kingdom of Toledo but they no way able to hold it withdrew their Garrison and what with the Knights Templars deserting it and the approach of the Moors all others were disheartned from accepting the place although the foresaid King Sanchio Son of Don Alphonso the Emperor had caused it to be proclaimed at his Court that whosoever would take upon them the defence thereof to them he would freely give it and to their Heirs for ever At length one Don Raymond native of Barcelona formerly a Knight of great renown then Abbot of the Monastery of St. Mary de Fitero of the Cistertian Order in the Kingdom of Navarr by the advice of Diego Velasquez of the same Order being then at Court accepted of the Kings proffer and took upon him the fortifying and maintaining this Castle and
Thomas Bishop of Catness Patrick Bishop of Brethin Chancellor of Scotland Patrick Earl of March Robert de Irskin and William de Levington Knights Deputies of Robert Steward Guardian of Scotland the Prelates Lords and Commons of Scotland on the other party it was agreed that King David should be delivered out of Prison and ransomed for the sum of 100000 Marks Sterling to be paid by 10000 Marks annually at Midsummer the first payment to begin at Midsummer following It was also agreed that the Truce should be kept and observed in England Scotland and the Isle of Man until the money was paid and that Edward de Baliol and all the Kings Allies should be comprised in the said Truce That for payment of the said sum King David should leave 20 Hostages who are named in the conditions set down for their delivery that King David the Peers Bishops and Prelates of Scotland should be obliged by writing and oath for payment of the said Ransom and observing the Truces That if there were a failer of payment they should be also obliged after the foresaid manner to render the Body of King David within three Months after failer of any term and he to remain Prisoner till the sum due at the said term were paid and for the true payment thereof 20 Hostages were to be left in England besides which there were several other conditions agreed upon that made up the consideration of his Release The Truces between England and France being expired as aforesaid without obtaining Peace and all endeavours of others becoming ineffectual the two Kings themselves began to confer and fell at length upon such terms as it was hoped would produce a Peace of which an account was sent into France but the French determined rather to let their King lye in Prison than to agree to them upon notice of which refusal the King resolved upon a War and the following Winter to enter France and either make an end of the War or obtain Peace and honor at his pleasure And having designed his Expedition he next provided for the security of the Kingdom in his absence and issued out Writs to the Sheriffs of the several Counties to summon both Knights and Burgesses to treat with his Council at London as also with certain Bishops and Earls in other parts of the Kingdom how that might best be done He next caused all the French Prisoners to be disposed into several safe places and the French King having been secured in the Castle of Hereford under the custody of Roger de Beauchamp was afterwards by the advice of his Council sent to the Castle of Somerton in Lincolnshire on Monday the 29. of Iuly and conducted thither by William Deyncourt William Colvill Iohn Kirketon Iohn Deyncourt and Saier de Rocheford with a strong Guard of Horse and Foot Nevertheless upon the first of March following upon a spreading rumor that the French were at Sea with a design to deliver their King from Imprisonment command was given that King Iohn and all the French Prisoners should be removed thence to Berkhampsted and Iohn de Buckingham Keeper of the Privy-Seal to Thomas the King's Son Custos of England and Ralph Spigurnell were appointed to conduct them thither But it seems Iohn de Buckingham went not as was designed for it appears by a Writ of assistance directed to all Mayors c. That Thomas de Baddely was put in his room nor afterwards was either of them employed in this Service nor Berkhampsted but London the place whither King Iohn was brought for we have met with a later Writ whereby William de Ayremynne Iohn de Buscy and Thomas de Meaux were commanded to be at Somerton on Friday the 20. of March to bring the said King to Grantham and the like Writs were sent to others to conduct him from place to place till he was brought to London to wit the 21. of March to Stanford the 22. to Higham Ferrars the 23. to Wooburn Abby the 24. to St. Albans and the 25. to London The King having raised his Army first sent over to Calais Henry Duke of Lancaster and himself presently followed taking Shipping at Sandwich in the Dertmouth the 28. day of October inter auroram diei ortum solis with him went the Prince of Wales and his other Sons Lyonel and Edmund and many of the Nobility and landed that Evening at Calais circa horam Vesperarum This Army then which never before departed from England one greater or more gallant marched through the very heart of France and laid all wast before it for the French not daring to encounter the King in all his March kept themselves within their fortified Towns and relinquished the Country to the spoil of this Army and to the end the Reader may observe the course of this Expedition we will here set down from Froissard the most notable places it passed through From Calais on the 4. of November he marched through the Country of Artois by Arras and so to Beauvois thence into Thierach and so to Reims to which he laid Seige for 7. weeks but provision growing scarce thereabouts he departed towards Chaalons in Champaigne and thence towards Troyes Tonnerre Noirs Mont-royal and so to Avallon where he stayed from Ash-Wednesday to Midlent During this time the young Duke of Burgoigne sent some Noblemen to the King who made a Composition with him to preserve his Country from plundering for 3. years after which the King dislodged his Army and marched towards Paris and sat down within two Leagues of it at Bourg la Reyne The King of Sicily was not the only Astrologer that prognosticated of King Edward's success but one Fryer Iohn de Rochtaylade as Froissard calls him whom Pope Innocent the Sixth kept Prisoner had foretold many notable things which about that time came to pass among others being demanded an account of the War he affirmed that all the misery that had been seen was not like that to come and for the wasting of France assigned the years 1356 1357 1358 and 1359. which hapned right enough for so great desolation and devastation was made by the Sword and Famine in those years that when King Edward entred France an 1359. he met with exceeding great scarcity of provision of all kinds and in all places where he passed While the King lay at Bourg la Reyne he sent his Heralds to Paris to demand Battel of the Duke of Normandy eldest Son to King Iohn and then Regent of France to which he would not consent whereupon the King dislodged and went to Manto le herry where he arrived on Tuesday before Easter being the last of March intending to enter the Country of Beausse and stay part of that Summer in Britagne and about August to return and besiege Paris but the Pope sending into France the Abbot of Cluygny and Simon de Lengres Provincial of the Friars
455. Frederick William Prince Elector of the Empire Marquess of Brandenburg 456. Iohn Gaspar Ferdinand de Marchin Count de Gravil 457. Sir George Monck Knight after Duke of Albemarle 458. Sir Edward Mountague Knight after Earl of Sandwich 459. William Seymour Marquess of Hertford after Duke of Somerset 460. Aubrie de Vere Earl of Oxford 461. Charles Stewart Duke of Richmond and Lenox 362. Mountague Barty Earl of Lindsey 363. Edward Mountague Earl of Manchester 464. William Wentworth Earl of Strafford 465. Christierne Prince of Denmark since King of Denmark 466. Iames Scot Duke of Monmouth and Bucclugh 467. Iames Stewart Duke of Cambridge 468. Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden Goths and Vandales 469. Iohn George the Second Duke of Saxony Iuliers Cleves and Monts and Prince Elector of the Empire 470. Christopher Monck Duke of Albemarle 471. Iohn Maitland Duke of Lauderdale To close up all here follows a Catalogue of the Officers of this most Noble Order Prelates of the Order William de Edyngton Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer and after Lord Chancellor of England William de Wykham Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor of England Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester Priest Cardinal of St. Eusebius and Lord Chancellor of England William de Waynfleet Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England Peter Courtney Bishop of Winchester Thomas Langton Bishop of Winchester Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and Lord Privy Seal Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Winchester Priest Cardinal of St. Cecily and Lord Chancellor of England Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Iohn Poynet Bishop of Winchester Stephen Gardiner restored and made Lord Chancellor of Englanâ— Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Robert Honne Bishop of Winchester Iohn Watson Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cooper Bishop of Winchester William Wyâ—ham Bishop of Winchester William Day Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bilson Bishop of Winchester Iames Mountague Bishop of Winchester Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Richard Neyle Bishop of Winchester Walter Curle Bishop of Winchester Brian Duppa Bishop of Winchester â—eorge Morley Bishop of Winchester Chancellors of the Order Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury and Dean of Windesor Lionel Woodeville Bishop of Salisbury Thomas Langton Bishop of Salisbury Iohn Blyth Bishop of Salisbury Henry Dean Bishop of Salisbury Edmund Audeley Bishop of Salisbury Sir William Cecil Principal Secretary of State Sir William Peters Principal Secretary of State Sir Thomas Smith Principal Secretary of State Sir Francis Walsingham Principal Secretary of State Sir Amyas Paulet Privy Counsellor Sir Iohn Woollee Secretary for the Latine Tongue Sir Edward Dyer Sir Iohn Herbert Principal Secretary of State Sir George More Sir Francis Crane Sir Thomas Rowe Sir Iames Palmer Sir Henry de Vic Baronet Seth Ward Bishop of Salisbury Registers of the Order â—â— Iohn Coringham Canon of Windesor Iohn Deepden Canon of Windesor Iames Goldwell Canon of Windesor and Secretary of State Oliver King Canon of Windesor Secretary to Prince Henry Son of King Henry the Sixth to King Edward the Fourth to King Edward the Fifth and King Henry the Seventh Richard Nix Canon of Windesor Christopher Vrswick Dean of Windesor Thomas Wolsey the Kings Almoner William Atwater Canon of Windesor after Bishop of Lincolne Nicholas West Dean of Windesor Iohn Vesâ—y Dean of Windesor Richard Sydnor Canon of Windesor Robert Aldridge Canon of Windesor Owen Oglethorp Dean of Windesor Iohn Boxall Dean of Windesor and Principal Secretary of State George Carew Dean of Windesor William Dâ—y Dean of Windesor Robert Benet Dean of Windesor Giles Tomson Dean of Windesor and Bishop of Gloucester Anthony Maxey Dean of Windesor Marc Antonio de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato Dean of Windesor Henry Beaumont Dean of Windesor Matthew Wren Dean of Windesor Christopher Wren Dean of Windesor Brune Ryves Dean of Windesor Garters Kings of Arms. Sir William Brugges Knight Iohn Smert Sir Iohn Writh Knight Sir Thomas Wriothesley Knight Sir Thomas Wall Knight Sir Christopher Barker Knight Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight Sir William Dethick Knight Sir William Segar Knight Sir Iohn Borough Knight Sir Henry St. George Knight Sir Edward Walker Knight Ushers of the Black-Rod William Whitehorse Iohn Cray Thomas Sye William Evington and Edward Hardgyll Robert Marleton Ralph Ashton and Hugh Dennys Sir William Compton Knight Henry Norresse Esquire Anthony Knyvet Esquire Sir Philip Hobby Knight Iohn Norres and William Norres Esquires Anthony Wingfeild Esquire Richard Coningsbye and George Pollard Esquires Iames Maxwell Esquire Peter Newton Esquire Sir Iohn Ayton Knight Sir Edward Carteret Knight APPENDIX The Statutes of Institution of the most Noble Order of the Garter AD honorem omnipotentis Dei Sanctae Mariae Virginis gloriosae Sancti Georgii Martyris Dominus noster Supremus Edwardus tertius Rex Angliae anno regni sui post conquestum xxiii Ordinavit stabilivit fundavit quandum Societatem five Ordinem militarem infra Castrum suum de Wyndesore in hunc modum Primo scipsum statuit dictae Societatis sive Ordinis Superiorem filium suum seniorem Principem Walliae Ducem Lancastriae Comitem Warwici Capitaneum de Buche Comitem Staffordiae Comitem Sarum Dominum de Mortimer Dominum Johannem Lisle Dominum Bartholomeum Burghersh filium Dominum Johannem de Beauchamp Dominum de Bohun Dominum Hugonem de Courtenay Dominum Thomam de Hollande Dominum Johannem de Grey Dominum Richardum de fitz Symond Dominum Milonem de Stapulton Dominum Thomam Wale Dominum Hugonem de Wirteslay Dominum Nelelatum Loryng Dominum Johannem Chandos Dominum Jacobum Daudele Dominum Otonem de Hollande Dominum Henricum de Em Dominum Sauchetum Dabrichecourt Dominum Walterum Pavelay I. Concordatum est quod Rex Angliae qui pro tempore fuerit inperpetuum erit Superior hujus Ordinis Sancti Georgii sive Societatis Garterii II. Item concordatum est quod nullus eligatâ—r in socium dicti Ordinis nisi generosae propaginis existat miles careus opprobrio quoniam ignobiles aut reprobos Ordinis institutio non admittit III. Et xxvi Commilitones Consocii hujus Ordinis praenominati deferent mantella garteria apud dictum castrum ordinata quociens ibidem praesentes fuerint videlicet quâlibâ—t vice quâ capellam intrant Sancti Georgii aut domum Capitularem pro capitulo celebrando aut aliquid statuendo quod ad Ordinem pertinebit Et simili modo incedent in vigiliâ Sancti Georgii per modum processionis proficiscentes cum Superiori Ordinis aut suo Deputato de magnâ camerâ regiâ usque ad Capellam vel domum capitularem eâdem serie revertentur Sedebunt itaque cum Montellis Garteriis in dictâ vigiliâ tempore coenae tam illi qui coenare volunt quam etiam alii non coenantes quousque de magnâ camerâ praedictâ consuctum tempus fuerit separandi Sic eciam induti inâ—â—dere debent in crastino versus dictam Capellam abinde revertentes ac etiam tempore prandii postea quosque
to Marriage whilst in other things they made no alteration but lest them whole and entire And therefore since we observe those Knights who vow absolute Chastity and those who profess Conjugal have alike received their approbation from the Papal See and that some Knights have not been accounted Religious before such time and until their rule of living hath been confirm'd to them from thence as is noted by those of St. Lazarus after which Confirmation all that enter into any Order are subject to the particular Rule so approved of unless for good cause they be dispensed with For these reasons we shall place both under the Title of Religious or Ecclesiastical Knights in the following Discourse SECT IV. Of Ecclesiastical Foundations dependant upon Military Orders BUT the Institutions of those Orders purely Military were after a while thought too weak to continue long if not sustained by Religion and Piety and too defective without adjoining Ecclesiastical persons thereunto Therefore the Founders considering that in all Councils and Affairs there should be a concurrence of Divine assistance and Military industry began to dedicate them principally to the Honor and Worship of God or to our Saviour or to the blessed Virgin or some other of the Saints thereby to gain no less the protection and favour of the Divine goodness on the behalf of the Founders and Knights Companions of such Orders in general than its especial assistance in their Councils Affairs or particular Enterprises And this they supposed more easily obtainable by the interposition of men eminent for their sincerity piety humility and devotion set apart and appointed to say Prayers sing Psalms and perform other Ecclesiastical Duties the efficacy of Religion consisting in the Offices of the Priests for the glory fidelity peace and safety of their Kingdoms and Subjects and the good success of their Military Undertakings Hereupon some of them at their first Institutions joined sacred Orders to their Militia and made provision for Ecclesiastical persons whose assigned Duty was to undertake the spiritual warfare and spend their time in Divine Offices and Devotions at home in their several Foundations for the prosperity of those undertakings wherein the Knights Companions themselves were engaged abroad either as to the defence of Christian Religion their Prince or Country THE Severall ENSIGNES of the RELIGIOVS ORDERS of KNIGHTHOOD mentioned in the second Chapter SECT V. A brief account of the Religious Orders of Knighthood NOw come we to deliver a short account of the Religious or Sacred Orders of Knighthood to which shall succeed those that are purely and compleatly Military in both which we shall principally take notice 1. Of the Time of their Institution 2. By whom founded and 3. The Habit and Ensigns bestowed upon each of them proceeding according to the antiquity of each Order's Foundation as we can best discover it and allowing their Precedency here for that cause rather than any other But forasmuch as the Institutions of some of these Orders of Knighthood are endeavoured to be made more ancient than there is good ground to believe we have therefore thought it needless having for the most part confin'd our Discourse to the three particulars now mentioned to engage our Pen too far where 't is almost impossible to set the Chronological part right and may very possibly give an occasion of Offence We have taken in all the Orders that we could meet with though some were obscure and but short-liv'd and others for other reasons may be thought inconsiderable judging them worthy of a place here with the most famous and known seeing once they had such in the Register of Honor. Lastly where the occasion is inserted whence as is affirmed some of them took their Original and this lookt upon as fabulous and romantick We must inform our Reader that we take not upon us to justifie all that is spoken to this point but suppose we have dealt fairly and candidly with him in placing our Authorities in the Margent and there lest them to be considered of where we hope they will be of strength at least sufficient to support the Text and justifie our integrity The Order of the Knights of the Holy Sâ—pulchre in Ierusalem 1. This Order of Knighthood though not so ancient as some would make it who refer the Original to St. Iames Bishop of Ierusalem to Constantine the Great and to Charles the Great nor so late as others would have it who say this Order was founded in the year of our Lord 1110. yet is it accounted the most ancient of all those Orders which took beginning in the Holy Land and as a judicious Divine of our Nation reports was instituted in the year 1099. at such time as the Temple of Ierusalem was regained from the Saracens which account perhaps he grounded upon the date given to the ancient Statutes of this Order established at Ierusalem on New-years-day in the year aforesaid and published by Mennenius As to the person by whom this Order was founded he refers it to Philip King of France but Andrew Favin will have it to be Baldwin the First King of Ierusalem For there having been while the Saracens possest that City certain Canons regular of the Order of St. Augustine to whom they permitted the Custody of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord and whose Convent adjoined thereunto These Canons saith he did King Baldwin make men of Arms and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and ordained that they should nevertheless retain their White Habit and on the breast thereof bear his own Arms which were Argent a Cross Potent Or between four Crossetts of the same commonly called the Ierusalem Cross. Their Great Master was the Patriarch of Ierusalem who had power granted from the Founder to confer the Order and to receive the three Vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience The chief Duty whereunto these Knights were obliged by their profession was to guard the Holy Sepulchre the custody whereof was peculiarly committed to them to â—ight against the Saracens and Infidels with all their power to relieve and protect Pilgrims to redeem Christian Captives to hear Mass every day to recite the hours of the Cross and to bear the five red Crosses in memory of the five wounds of our Saviour They had their Rule confirm'd to them by Pope Innocent the Third When the Christians were driven out of the Holy Land these Knights retired into Europe and seated themselves at Perugia in Italy after which by consent and permission of the Soldan the custody of the Holy Sepulchre was committed to the Franciscan Fryars The Knights then in being retained yet their white Habit but changed their ancient Arms to a double red Cross. By the Bull of Pope Innocent the Eighth dated the 28. of March 1484. they and all their Goods were annexed and incorporated to the Knights Hospitalars of St. Iohn of
in a Red Ribbon alone The Founder ordained four Officers to attend and serve the Order after the manner declared in the Ordinances for their Instructions annexed to the Statutes namely a Chancellor a Treasurer a Greffier or Register and a King of Arms called Toison d' Or. Lewis the Eleventh of France refused to accept of this Order because his Predecessors were not accustomed to receive the Orders of their Subjects for such were the Dukes of Burgundy accounted who held that Dutchy and other Seigniories in homage leige to the Crown of France Albeit the Emperors of Germany are descended from Philip Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders nevertheless the power of conferring the Order is lodg'd in the Kings of Spain only the Title of Head and Soveraign being solemnly resigned by the Emperor Charles the Fifth to his Son King Philip the 25. day of October anno Dom. 1556. in the Royal Chappel at his Palace in Bruxelles and the Collar taken from his neck and with his own hands put over his said Sons shoulders in the presence of divers of the Knights at which Ceremony he used this form of words Accipe Fili mi quem è Collo meo detraho Tibi praecipuum Aurei Velleris Torquem quem Philippus Dux Burgundiae cognomine Bonus Atavus noster Monimentum fidei sacrae Romanae Ecclesiae esse voluit hujusce Institutionis ac Legum ejus fac semper memineris Afterwards though Philip the Second King of Spain invested the Infanta his Daughter Isabella in the Dominion of the Low Countries upon the Contract of her marriage with the Arch-Duke Albert of Austria yet he retained to himself and Successors Kings of Spain and Dukes of Burgundy the honor of being Chief of this Order in which Crown it remains to this day The Statutes ratified under the Founders Seal the 27. of Nov. 1431. are printed in the Iurisprudentia Heroica together with those other additions and alterations which were since made by his Successors So also are the Priviledges granted to the Knights by the Founder his Son Charles and Maximilian which received confirmation from King Philip the Second anno Dom. 1556. The Names of the first 24 Knights and their Successors to the number of 450. are there also registred together with a Catalogue of the Chancellors Treasurers Registers and Kings of Arms and lastly a Figure of a â—â—â—ght vested in the Habit may be there likewise seen The Original and Foundation of this Order is written at large in French by William Bishop of Tournay Abbot of St. Bertin and second Chancellor to the Order in a Treatise of his called The Golden Fleece dedicated to Charles Duke of Burgundy Son to the Founder and printed at Troyes in the year of our Lord 1530. In this Work the Author treats of two manner of Golden Fleeces viz. first of Iason's Fleece of which he useth the testimony of Eustathius to assert it for a true History and by it represents the noble Virtue of Magnanimity demonstrating several Virtues appertaining to the state of Nobility Secondly of Iacobs Fleece viz. the party-coloured and streaked Fleece by which he sets forth the Virtue of Iustice which Virtue principally appertaining to Kings Knights and noble persons moved the heart of Duke Philip to institute this Order under it comprehending the Virtues of both the other Fleeces The Order of St. George at Genoa 35. The Republick of Genoa have an Order of Knighthood among them dedicated to the honor of St. George their titular Saint and Patron it was instituted by Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany and the Knights thereof are called Knights of St. George at Genoa The Ensign is a plain Cross Gules and worn by the Knights at a Chain of Gold about their neck The Dukes of Genoa are Chiefs thereof and in regard their Dignity lasts but two years the Order is much impaired through the inconstancy and alteration of times The Order of the Croissant in France 36. Rene or Renatus descended of the second Line of the House of Anjou King of Ierusalem and Sicily c. Duke of Anjou Count of Provence c. erected this Order under the denomination of the Croissant or half Moon in the City of Anjou anno Dom. 1464. But the Saincte Marthe's make it 16 years older by placing the Institution in the year 1448. Ios. Micheli reports that Charles King of Sicily and Ierusalem was the first Institutor anno 1268. in the great Church at Messina in Sicily on the day of St. Lewis King of France but he by mistake confounds this Order with that of the double Croissant instituted by St. Lewis in France and after his death retained and setled in Sicily by the said King Charles his Brother The end wherefore King Rene founded this Order is noted to be in honor of God support of the Church and exaltation of Knighthood Over which he declared himself and his Successors Dukes of Anjou and Kings of Sicily Chiefs He also chose St. Maurice Knight and Martyr for Patron and held the first Ceremonies in the Church of Angiers dedicated to his name The Symbol which the Knights wore on the right side of their Mantle was a golden Crescent whereon in red enamel was this word L'oz signifying in the opinion of Peter Mathieu L'oz en Croissant whereby they were encouraged to search after the increase of valour and reputation At this Crescent was fastned as many small pieces of Gold fashioned like Columes and enamelled with red as the Knights had been present in Battels Sieges of Towns Cities or Castles which gave due intimation to all men of their valour shewed in martial services for none could be adopted into this Order unless he had well mâ—â—ited in some of these kinds The Knighâ—â— who were 36 in number but the Saincte Marthe's say 50 did wear for the Habit Mantles of red or Crimson Velvet and a Mantlet of White with the lining and Surcoat of the same The Order of the Ermine in Britagne 37. In the year of Christ 1450. Francis the First of that name Duke of Bretagne in memory of his Grandfather Iohn surnamed the Conqueror or else in imitation of other Princes of the bloud in France founded this Order consisting of 25 Knights and thereupon also new-built his Castle of the Ermine He ordained the Habit to be Mantles of White Damask lined with Carnation and the Mantlet of the same The great Collar to be of Gold composed of Ears of Corn in Saltir bound above and beneath with two Circles of Gold in imitation of the Crown of Ceres hereby noting the care of Husbandry which the ancient Counts and Dukes of Bretagne had as also the fertility of that Province and hence is this Order otherwise called of the Ears of Corn. At the end of this
Collar hung the Mus Ponticus or Ermine passing over a Turf of Grass diapred with Flowers at the edge whereof was imbossed this Epigraph in French A Ma Vie the devise of his Grandfather Iohn by which he made known the greatness of his courage and rather than fail of his word that he would undergo any misfortune This Order took ending when the Dukedom of Bretagne became annexed to the Crown of France by the marriage of Anne Dutchess of Bretagne with Charles the Eighth and he being dead with Lewis the Twelfth both French Kings The Order of the Ermyne in Naples 38. Ferdinand the First King of Naples after the end of the War which he had with Iohn of Lorain Duke of Calabria erected this Order in the year of our Lord 1463. being moved thereunto upon the Treason intended against him by Marinus Marcianus Duke of Sessa and Prince of Rosiona his Brother-in-law who raising a confederacy against him intended to kill him when they should be together that so he might transfer the Kingdom to the Duke of Calabria But this Plot being discovered and the Duke apprehended by the King his Subjects expecting that he should have executed Justice upon him he not only forbore it but having instituted this Order of Chevalry the first of many that were invested with the Collar thereof was this his Brother-in-law whom he not only pardoned but also honored and besides whom admitted all the Noblemen of Title in the Kingdom thereinto The Collar was of Gold intermixt with Mud or Dirt to which depended an Ermyne and this Motto Malo mori quam faedari The Order of St. Michael in Naples 39. Albertus Miraeus makes this King Ferdinand Founder of another Order of Knighthood in Naples in memory of St. Michael the Arch-Angel Patron of Apulia The Habit of the Knights was a long White Mantle embroidered with Ermyns and the Collar of Gold composed of the Letters O to which was added for Symbol this Epigraph Decorum This Order is likewise taken notice of by the Author of the Iurisprudentia Heroica but perhaps it may be the same with that of the Ermyn since we observe the Habit hereof is embroidered with Ermyns and might be otherwise called of St. Michael if so be it were dedicated to his honor The Order of Knights of St. Michael in France 40. Lewis the Eleventh of France considering how much the Factions of the Nobility of his Realm had disordered his Affairs to the end he might reunite their affections to himself and confirm the same by new obligations of Honor instituted this Order in the year of our Lord 1469. to which he gave the Title of St. Michael this Arch-Angel being esteemed the titular Angel and Protector of the Realm of France in reverence of whom the ancient Kings of France were wont to observe the Feast-day of this Saint with great solemnity and keep an open Court This King Lewis by the foundational Statutes of the Order which passed his Royal Assent at Amboise the first of August in the year aforesaid ordained That the number of Knights should be 36. whereof himself and his Successors were to be Chief but afterwards the number far exceeded even to 300. The Collar of this Order is composed of Scallop-shells of Gold joined one with another and double banded fastned on small Chains or Males of Gold to the midst thereof is annexed an Oval of Gold on which a rising hillock whereon standeth the Picture of St. Michael combating with and trampling upon the Dragon all curiously enamelled to which saith Mennenius was adjoined this Epigraph Immensi tremor Oceani The Habit appointed by the Founder was a Mantle of White Damask hanging down to the ground furr'd with Ermyn having its Cape embroidered with Gold and the border of the Robe interwoven with Scallops of Gold the Chaperon or Hood with its long Tippet was made of Crimson Velvet But afterwards King Henry the Second ordered That this Mantle should be made of Cloth of Silver embroidered with three Crescents of Silver interwoven with Trophies Quivers and Turkish Bows semed and cantoned with Tongues and Flames of fire and moreover that the Chaperons of Crimson Velvet should be covered with the same embroidery The grand Assembly was by the Soveraign and Knights directed according to the Statutes to be held as a solemn Festival on Michaelmas day and the place appointed for celebration of these pompous Ceremonies at the Church of Mount St. Michael in Normandy built by St. Autbert upon St. Michael's appearing to him in a Vision and liberally endowed by â—ollo Duke of Normandy and his Successors but afterwards removed to Bois de Vincennes not far from Paris There is an Herald of Arms appointed to this Order called Monsieur St. Michel whose duty is to attend the Solemnities thereof and who in most things is precedented by our Garter King of Arms. Such care and moderation was used by King Henry the Third of France when he instituted the Order of the Holy Ghost not only to preserve the honor of this Order in its full splendor notwithstanding the example of former times where the rising of a new Order hath commonly proved the setting of the old but to reform some miscarriages which had crept into it by bestowing it upon some meâ—â— and undeserving persons that he not only continued the annual Solemnities thereof and Election of Knights thereinto but also declared that neither Strangers nor the Natives of France who before are Knights of any other Order should enter into that of the Holy Ghost except those only of St. Michael The Collar of which Order is thereby made lawful to be worn with that of the Holy Ghost and usually represented within it that being esteemed the more worthy place And we are told it is now customary for those that are design'd to be Knights of the Holy Ghost to be admitted into the Order of St. Michael the Evening before they receive that Order Knights of St. Hubert in Gullick 41. Gerard Duke of Gullick and Berg or as the French call them Iuliers and Mont Instituted a Military Order in the year of our Lord 1473. in veneration of St. Hubert Bishop of Liege who died anno 727. The Statutes thereof were written in the Dutch Tongue whereunto was added a Catalogue of the Knights and their Arms to the year of our Lord 1487. But further mention of this Order or what was the Badge thereof we do not find The Order of the Elephant in Denmark 42. Observing some difference among Writers touching the Institution Collar and Ensign of this Order I was in doubt what to say till at length I haply met with better satisfaction from a Letter wrote anno 1537. by Avo Bilde Bishop of Arhusen sometime Chancellor to Iohn King of Denmark and Norway unto Iohn Fris Chancellor to King Christian the Third
and principal Officer belonging to the Order and in the Founder's Statutes is called Prelatus Ordinis thus we see his Office is as ancient as the Institution of the Order and that the then Bishop of Winchester William de Edyngton was the first Prelate is as apparent thence He is an Officer of honor only and hath not either Pension or Fees allowed him By the said Constitutions this Office is vested in the Bishops of Winchester for the time being and from sundry passages in the Annals of the Order it is further manifest that the Successors to William de Edyngton have continued Prelates to this day except the interruption only of a few months anno 7. E. 6. immediately after publishing this Kings Statutes wherein the other four Officers were constituted anew to attend the service of the Order but the Prelate wholly set aside Of what estimation this See hath been may be collected from the precedency granted to the Bishops thereof by an Act of Parliament Entituled An Act concerning the placing of the Lords in Parliament Chamber and other Assemblies and Conference of Councel wherein it is Enacted that this Bishop shall sit next to the Bishop of Durham who hath place by that Act assign'd him next the Archbishop of York though before in respect of the honor and preheminence of this most Noble Order he had precedence and place granted above all Bishops and next unto the Archbishops At this Officer's admittance he is obliged to take an Oath in the presence of the Soveraign or his Lieutenant which consists of these particulars 1. To be present in all Chapters whereunto he is summoned 2. To report all things truly without favour or fear 3. To take the Scruteny faithfully and present it to the Soveraign 4. To keep secret and not disclose the Counsels of the Order 5. To promote and maintain the honor thereof 6. To withstand and reveal what is design'd to the contrary This Oath is read or pronounced in Chapter by the Register of the Ordeâ— the Gentleman Usher of the Black-Rod holding the Book whilst the Prelate kneels between the Soveraign's knees As the Knights-Companions had their Surcoats bestowed on them at the Soveraign's charge and therefore called the Kings Livery so had the Officers of the Order their Liveries or Robes out of the Soveraign's Wardrobe likewise and in particular the Prelate of the Order For in the Rolls of the Great Wardrobe we find that William de Edyngton had allowed him for his Robe of the Soveraign's Livery against the Feast of St. George anno 37. E. 3. one Cloth of Sanguine in Grain and a large quantity of Furs for trimming it up We have had occasion in the last Chapter to observe that the word Roba in the Rolls of the Wardrobe is used to signifie a Surcoat being there applied to the Knights-Companions Surcoats not Mantle which in reference to the Prelate is to be understood by it And we find this Robe so assigned to the Prelate noted to be of the Sute or Colour of the Knights-Companions Surcoats the foresaid year viz. Sanguine in grain But whereas each Knight-Companion had 5 Ells of this Cloth for a Surcoat the Prelate's allowance is said to be one Cloth of the same Colour Yet what difference there was in Measure between one Ell and so many as made one Cloth we have not hitherto learnt but in Fur the Prelate much exceeded them every Knight-Companion then having but one Fur of 200 Bellies of Miniver pure Anno 7. Ric. 2. we meet with the same allowance of Cloth and other materials to William de Wyckham then also Prelate but the difference lay in the Bellies of Minivers whose number now was much encreased and that the same allowance was made him in the 11. and 19. years of the said King But in these three Instances the Colour of the Cloth was different and changed to that assigned for the Knights-Companions Surcoats those very years to wit Violâ—t in grain White and Blue And anno 12. H. 6. the Robe of Henry Beaufort Cardinal and Prelate was White as then were the Surcoats of all the Knights-Companions whence it is evident the Livery anciently allowed the Prelate annually varied in Colour as did the Knights-Companions Surcoats In that ancient Precedent of the Liveries of the Garter recorded in an old Velam Manuscript remaining in the Soveraign's Great Wardrobe wherein the Surcoats bestowed on the Knights-Companions are reduced to a certainty as to the measure of Cloth number of Furs and Garters nevertheless proportioned according to their several Degrees there the Prelate hath the following allowance for his Livery 24 Yards of Woollen Cloth 18 Timbr pur Miniver 18 Timbr gross Miniver 3 Timbr de Biss. By all which it is manifest what Materials and Colour the Prelate's Robe was of as at the Institution of the Order so for a long time after nor can we find any alteration therein until the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and then his Habit was ordained to be of Crimson Velvet lined with White Taffaty faced with Blue and thereon richly embroidered sundry royal Cognizances such as appear on the front of the Prelate's Robe in the Draughts of the Officers ancient Habits placed at the beginning of this Chapter The first of which is the Rose of England crown'd The second one of King Edward the Fourth's Badges and may be seen in several places of the Stone-work in and about St. Georges Chappel at Windesor The third is the Flower de Lis of France crown'd And the fourth King Edward the Third's peculiar Badge viz. the Sun Beams issuing out of a Cloud Forty of these Clouds embroidered with Gold Silver and Silk having in the middle the Saxon Letter E of Gold were provided to trim several Garments made for this King in the 21. year of his Reign and garnished with Stars As the left shoulder of a Knights-Companions Mantle so the right shoulder of the Prelate's Robe is ordained to be embroidered with a Scutcheon of St. George's Arms encompassed with the Garter and adorn'd with Cordons of Blue Silk mingled with Gold After a while though we find not the certain time the Colour of this Robe became changed to Murrey the allowance of Velvet 16 yards of White Sarcenet for lining 12 yards and a Garter for the shoulder embroidered with Purls of Damask Gold But by a Warrant dated the 22. of March anno 23. Eliz. directed to the Master of the great Wardrobe for the Livery of the Order for Bishop Watson then newly admitted Prelate The quantity of Velvet was encreased to 18 yards but the lining and Garter as before so also the Cordon having Buttons and Tassels of Blue Silk and Venice Gold The like Robe in all particulars was made for his Successor Bishop Cooper upon the Soveraign's Warrant 11. April an 26. Eliz.
to refer the examination thereof to some others That thereupon such course may be taken for the restoring and preserving of the right of the said Church herein either for the present or future time as your Majesty in your Princely wisdom shall find agreeable to honor and justice And the Petitioner according to his duty shall pray for your Majesties long happy and glorious Reign To the substance of this Petition it was objected 1. That the Great Seals of England did not work within or upon the Statutes and Rules of the Order of the Garter 2. That no Grant could prescribe or limit the present Soveraign it being a Fundamental Law within the Order Suprema Lex was Supremi voluntas 3. That it did not appear by the Records of the Order that the place of Chancellor was any otherwise conferred upon Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury than quam diu Regiae celcitudini complaceret So as the free disposition thereof did remain with the Soveraign To the first It was answered by way of exception as to the Grant of Offices forasmuch as the power of the Great Seal of England was anciently took into and became legal within the Order in like Cases and not any Patent for an Office from the Institution of the Order unto that time had past under the Seal of the Order but under the Great Seal of England and in particular the Office of Chancellor as was manifest enough from their Enrolments For besides the first Grant made by King Edward the Fourth when the Office came afterwards into the hands of Lay-men from the Patent granted to Sir William Cecil to that made to Sir Thomas Rowe all past under the said Great Seal which had not been done if any legal defect had been therein To the second it being so as was objected it thence appeared that the Soveraign was as much at liberty to restore this Office to the See of Salisbury as continue it to secular Dignities To the third What was alledged out of the Records of the Order related only to the time of delivering the Seals to Bishop Beauchamp but when afterwards the Office was erected by Letters Patent it was then granted to him during life Something was replied from the Judges opinions given in this case an Iac. Regis 6. but the Soveraign thought it was not then well considered to permit the Chapter Acts of this Order which hath Statutes and Rules of its own and wholly independent from other Laws to receive construction and determination from the Measures and Rules of our Common-Law and therefore notwithstanding what had been objected against the Bishops Claim the Soveraign was pleased justly to pronounce That he ought to be heard and to that purpose gave the Chancellor order to signifie unto him that he should prepare and set down in writing a brief of the Vouchers and Proofs of his Pretentions in verification of his Petition and send them to the Chancellor to be delivered to the Knights-Commissioners appointed for the Affairs of the Order to consider of them and present them at the next Chapter to the Soveraign who would therein take such Order as was conformable to his most impartial and untainted Justice The 4. of October after in a Chapter held at Windesor during the Feast of St. George the Chancellor represented the said Bishop's Petition with the Vouchers to his Pretensions which the Bishop exhibited no otherwise than as Inducements and humble Motives for restoring the ancient right of the Church of Salisbury and perpetually re-uniting the Chancellorship of the Order to that See if it should seem agreeable to his Will Wisdom and Justice But the Knights-Commissioners having not to that time met the business was again referr'd to them to be considered prepared and abreviated for the Soveraign's consideration and final judgment All which the Chancellor by Letter thus signified to the Bishop Right Reverend and my very good Lord I Mâ—y have justly incurred the censure of your Lordship either of want of manners or prevarication that I have not given you an account of the trust you pleased to repose in me and that I so willingly undertook both out of true respect I bear to your Lordship and duty and service to the Church whose cause you solicite but I hope your goodness will acquit me of any of these crimes and be pleased to take my just excuse that I deferred only to give you a more certain answer than yet I am able â—â— left a longer delay might endanger the good opinion which I desire to preserve with â—ou you may be pleased to know that at the last Chapter of the Order held in October at Windesor I represented your Lordships Petition and all the several Vouchers and verifications of your demand and pretension but his Majesty having not leisure at that time to enter into a full debate did refer it to the Knights-Commissioners standing for the Order both to consider and to deliver their opinions and to make report to him at the next Feast reserving to Himself the final judgment Of this I have made a Record and registred it in the Acts of the Order for continuance of your Claim I have since solicited the Knights-Commissioners often to meet upon it and other occasions of the Order but hic labor hoc opus I cannot procure them till after the Term when I beseech you to believe that I will be a faithful Remembrancer and Advocate of your cause and that as soon as I can get any resolution I will thereof render you an account and if they will do nothing therein I will again bring it to his Majesty In this business I cannot omit to let you know the care of his Grace my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in your behalf who doth often call upon me and if you please to take notice thereof to him and to desire him to move his Majesty to command some of the Knights to meet and to hear it it will procure both a quick and effectual dispatch and there shall be of my part no manner of omission to testifie to your Lordship both my reverence to your person and desire to deserve of you the name of Your Lordships most humble servant Tho. Rowe St. Martyns-Lane 29 Nov. 1637. Nor was this worthy Chancellor unmindful of his promise for the next time the Knights-Commissioners sat which was the first of February following at Whitehall He to their considerations presented the foresaid Petition Claim and Vouchers to be heard by them according to the former Order But it was their opinion That unless the Bishop were himself present it would be labour lost and that they could not conclude in the cause without hearing his own Reply And therefore they entred not into the debate but Ordered the Chancellor to write a Letter to his Lordship that whensoever he came up to London he should be heard personally and his reasons considered and to the Soveraign represented The Letter
Institution we observe from its insertion into the following bodies of Statutes to have been sufficiently confirmed nor hath it since received alteration howbeit some enlargement and explanation was given thereunto in the 21. year of King Iames at a Chapter held the last day of the Feast viz. the 24. of April at Windesor where in the first place among other things then also established it was thus Decreed That the Soveraign being advertised of the death of a Knight-Companion of the Order the Knights-Companions remaining at the Court should move him to declare his pleasure whether he would that Letters should be sent to all the Knights-Companions within the Realm to attend his person for the choice of a new Knight at a day by the said Soveraign appointed according to the ancient Statutes of the Order or be pleased to defer the Election until the day and Feast of St. George at what time Elections have been most usually made wherein the Soveraign ' s pleasure and direction was to be followed and observed and according as he resolved in what place it should be so it ought by Letters directed to the Knights-Companions within the Realm to be made known unto them This deferring or proroguing the Election was to say truth no new thing nor more than what had been anciently practised though not indulged by the Statutes of Institution or declared Law before this 21. year of King Iames as appears from the fore-cited Letters of Summons both which take notice of the limitation of time given by the Statutes after Certificate of death viz. six weeks within the compass whereof a new Election was to be made And where a Chapter for Election could not conveniently be held within that limited time it was enough if the Soveraign declared as he did in that Summons sent after Sir Robert D'umfrevils death and entred in the Black Book That being then involved in other business he could not well attend this Affair and therefore deferred the time for Election unto the Eve of St. George next following So that it is plain the Decree an 21. of King Iames was but declaratory of an old and practised Custom But of later times this formal way of Summons by Letter to Knights-Companions attending at the Court hath been left off yet continued to such as are remote and notice given them by a verbal message only For the Chancellor of the Order having known the Soveraign's pleasure as to the day and place usually acquaints Garter therewith who thereupon goeth immediately to the Knights-Companions then at Court and desires their attendance at the Chapter according to the Soveraign's appointment And here it is to be understood that no Knights-Elect ought to be summoned to a Chapter of Election or are capable of giving their Votes therein until they be compleatly installed either in Person or by Proxy Nor indeed did any necessity fall out from the Foundation of the Order that did require they should until the late rebellious times when the Castle of Windesor being Garrisoned by the Parliaments Forces it was not possible for his Royal Highness the Duke of York and his Highness Prince Rupert to take possession of their Stalls in such manner as the Law of the Order enjoined Therefore the then Soveraign to whom the power of dispensing with any of the Statutes is reserved did on the 17. of Ian. an 1644. so inevitable necessity requiring dispence with their Installation in the Chappel of St. George at Windesor for the present and invested them with all the Priviledges of the Order among which the power of giving their Votes in Chapter was one Provided these Princes should first take the Oath given at Installations and afterwards perform the accustomed Ceremonies at Windesor so soon as it should be thought fit after the Castle was delivered out of the power of the Rebels and returned into the possession of the Soveraign of this most Noble Order In compliance with this Proviso they both then took the Oath And on the Eve of the first Feast of St. George celebrated after the present Soveraign's happy Restauration the Duke was Installed by the Earls of Northumberland and Berkshire and on the Eve of the second Feast being the 22. of April an 15. Car. 2. the Prince likewise received his Installation by the hands of the Duke of Albemarle and Earl of Lindsey SECT II. The Place of Assembly BUT at what time soever this Ceremoney of Election is appointed the same ought to be celebrated in Chapter for so is the assembly of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions called wheresoever or whensoever held on this occasion whether at the Solemnity of St. George's Feast which hath been the ordinary and most usual time or on other certain days set apart for this affair by more special appointment of the Soveraign And therefore when the Soveraign thinks fitting in the interval of Feasts to Elect any Forreign Prince or other person either Stranger or Subject He many times doth it in peculiar Chapters called to that end and purpose and then he appoints his own both day and place having the prerogative to declare them at pleasure This we find hath been practiced both heretofore and of late times and by those few of many Chapters holden at sundry places most convenient to the Soveraign's present occasions drawn out and here exhibited will be sufficiently manifest whereunto we shall add the Names of those Persons of eminence who at such times and places have been Elected Place Day and Year Knights Elected 1. Sign of the Lion in Brainford 11. Iuly 24. H. 6. Albro de Vasques Dalmadea Earl of Averentia 1. Sign of the Lion in Brainford 11. Iuly 24. H. 6. Lord Beauchamp 1. Sign of the Lion in Brainford 11. Iuly 24. H. 6. Lord Hoo. 2. Soveraign's Bedchamber at Westminster 27. Nov. 25 H. 6. Sir Francis Surreyne 3. London within the Bishop's Palace 8. Febr. 39. H. 6. Richard Earl of Warwick 3. London within the Bishop's Palace 8. Febr. 39. H. 6. Lord Bonvile 3. London within the Bishop's Palace 8. Febr. 39. H. 6. Sir Thomas Kyriell 3. London within the Bishop's Palace 8. Febr. 39. H. 6. Sir Iohn Wenlock 4. Tower of London 8. Aug. 14. E. 4. Guido Vbaldus Duke of Vrbin 4. Tower of London 8. Aug. 14. E. 4. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland 5. Starchamber 15. May 15. E. 4. Edward Prince of Wales  15. May 15. E. 4. Richard Duke of York  15. May 15. E. 4. Thomas Grey Marquess Dorset 6. Soveraign's Bedchamber in the Wardrobe London 10. Febr. 19. E. 4. Ferdinand King of Spain 6. Soveraign's Bedchamber in the Wardrobe London 10. Febr. 19. E. 4. Hercules Duke of Ferrara 7. Greenwich 14. July 15. H. 8. Lord Ferrers 8. Caelais 27. Oct. 24. H. 8. Anne Montmorency Earl of Beaumont 8. Caelais 27. Oct. 24. H. 8. Philip Chabot Earl of Newblanke 9. Hampton-Court 9. Jan. 32. H. 8. Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford 10.
payne by their Knyghtly labour dayly to serve the merite of worthyness and prowess as Sir Robert Hungerford Sir Thomas Beamont Sir John Popeham Sir Nicholas Burdett Sir Rauff Nevell Sir Edward Wyver Sir John Robesart Sir Tyre Robesart Sir William Bretton Sir Thomas Kyngston Sir Richard Hankford and dyverse other But lest peradventure it may seem to some that the Knights-Companions present in Chapter can at their pleasures Nominate or propose to Election such persons as they think fit so they be qualified according to the Statutes of the Order this priviledge is to be understood of Knights Subjects only for in all cases concerning Strangers the Soveraign doth but permit and may direct and confine the Knights-Companions to the Nomination of such as He at any time intends to Elect which Prerogative we find more particularly asserted in the 31. year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and third year of King Charles the First In the first of these instances the Blue Book of the Order recordeth That at a Chapter held immediately before Vespers on Saint George's day the Earl of Huntingdon then Lieutenant for the Soveraign acquainted the Knights-Companions That the Soveraign did permit them or leave it to their pleasure to chuse into the Order whatsoever Foreign Prince they should by their Votes approve of Hence there may be observed two things First that the Knights-Companions have not the priviledge and liberty to nominate what Foreign Prince they please but the same is derivative from the Soveraign and only by his particular license or leave at some times permitted to them Secondly if this Paragraph be well weighed as also that which succeeds it is most clear from the context that Nominare ought to be understood here by the word Eligere and that the power delegated to the Knights-Companions from the Soveraign was only to Nominate not Elect. For it immediately follows That the Knights-Companions went from the Chapter to the second Vespers and while the Divine Offices were celebrating the Prelate received their Nominations and that very Evening the Lieutenant presented them to the Soveraign for her to consider of which had been needless if the Knights-Companions had been impowered by her said License to have made the choice themselves But the contrary is yet more evident by that which follows for the next morning all the Knights-Companions attending the Soveraign in Chapter she her self made there the Election not of any Foreign Prince but of the Earl of Sussex and Lord â—uckhurst In the other Instance anno 3. Car. 1. the Soveraign in a Chapter held before Vespers on St. George's day signified it to be his pleasure three Stalls being then vacant that out of Foreign Princes the Nomination of whom saith the Annals in that very place belongs only to the Soveraign that is the Soveraign has the prerogative to direct the Knights-Companions to Name or impose upon them the Nomination of such Foreign Princes as he pleaseth they the Knights-Companions should Chuse which must nevertheless be understood to Nominate or enter down into the Scrâ—teny not Elect Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden and Henry of Nassau Prince of Orange For there a little after it in like manner appears when the Scruteny was presented to the Soveraign that Himself not the Knights-Companions made Election of them And it is further manifest by the Scruteny there inserted that both these â—rinces were named by every of the Knights-Companions then present according to the Soveraign's signification which has been usually done at all other times upon the like occasions as may be seen by the Scrutenies entred in the Annals But concerning the third person then to be Elected the Soveraign intending him to be a Knight-Subject left it wholly to their pleasure to Nominate whomsoever they esteemed worthy of their Votes Since this time the Nominations in like cases have been sufficiently owned by the Knights-Companions themselves to be a Prerogative belonging to the Soveraign For to the end they might more readily and fully comply with the observance of this particular it was moved in a Chapter held at Oxford the second day of March an 19. Car. 1. That it might become a custom for the Soveraign to deâ—lâ—re before hand whether He would Elect any Foreign Prince and whom that so the Knights-Companions might be sure to Name him in the Scruteny SECT VII Of the Number Qualifications and Degrees of the Persons to be Nominated ANother consideration in our progress towards the act of Election is touching the Number Qualifications and Dignities of the Persons Nominated which may be best known from another branch of the before mentioned Article of the Statutes and is to this effect That every one of the Knights-Companions present at the Election should Nominate for himself nine very sufficient Persons whom he should judge free from all reproach and scandal whether Subjects to the Soveraign or Forreigners Provided they are known not to favour or abet any party at enmity with him that is to say three Earls or others of higher degree three Barons and three Knights The things chiefly observable out of this Text we rank under five heads First The Number of Persons Nominated or to be given in by every Knight-Companion are to be exactly Nine Secondly They ought to be of unblamable Reputation Thirdly Either Subjects to the Soveraign or else Strangers Fourthly Such as are known not to be engaged in any party against the Soveraign Lastly to be Earls or of greater dignity or Barons or Knights 1. For the first of these their Number every one of the Knights-Companions assembled in Chapter are enjoined to name nine neither more nor less So also saith King Henry the Fifth's Statutes whereunto are consonant the Statutes of King Henry the Eighth And in this particular the Statutes have been hitherto observed except in one case as from the Entries of those many Scrutenies in the Annals of this most Noble Order is fully evident As to Numbers we are taught that great Mysteries lie wrapt up in them the excellency and dignity whereof and particularly of this number Nine which Scaliger calls the most perfect number are largely celebrated among the Learned both ancient and modern which are easie to be met with wherefore we shall not spend further time to insist upon them But why our Royal Founder made choice of this Number to be put in Nomination above all other unless he had some reflection on the Nine Worthies men reported famous for valour and martial exploits and therefore not unlikely to be at first proposed as Examples to the Knights-Nominators or otherwise considered it as a trebled threefold Cord and Symbol of perfect stability and solid amity for so also is the number Nine accounted to signifie can neither easily nor certainly be resolved 2. As to the second point the Injunction in the Statutes of Institution takes order that the Persons designed for Election
Church phrase the Nativity of his Patron so as to the place wherein to perform its Solemnities he made choice of that of his own Nativity the Castle of Windesor and appointed the observation of this Grand Festival in a solemn manner and with due Ceremonies to be celebrated there which for a long time after was inviolably observed either upon the very day by the Church made sacred to St. George or else upon some other appointed by Prorogation not long after for which way of Prorogation allowance was given by the Statutes of the Order and of which the Registers are full of instances SECT V. St. George's day kept apart from the Grand Feast and how then observed HOW this Noble Order spread its roots and flourished from its first plantation to the time of King Henry the Fifth we can give no account since the Annals thereof are wanting unto his Reign certain it is that then it was of a considerable growth but afterwards the Civil Wars towards the end of King Henry the Sixth's Reign caused it to stand at a stay Under the benevolent aspect of King Edward the Fourth it seemed to recover and whilst King Henry the Eighth reigned to have attained a greater height than at any time before But though the several Branches of the Order received some augmentation from the favourable influence of this last mentioned Soveraign yet the principal to wit the Grand Festival began to flag by a removal of the observation of St. George's day from Windesor the place particularly appointed for it and a prorogatory celebration of the Grand Feast to other times By which means the honor of that princely Seat and the advantages accrewing by the performance of the Solemnities there were diverted to those other places whereto the observation of St. George's day was translated The Article of the Statutes causing this great alteration and which clashed so much with the design of the first Institutor may be seen in the Appendix where it is manifest that when the Soveraign saw occasion to prorogue the celebration of the Grand Feast he might legally do it but when he did so 't is there also evident that the day of St. George was nevertheless ordained to be duly observed singly by it self in what place soever the Soveraign if within this Realm should then reside Windesor hereby being not excluded It further implies the sacred Rites and Offices to be performed with sundry other concerns of the Order for besides the particulars therein innumerated we may observe thence this general clause that what other urgent Affair soever relating to the Order should offer it self to be performed the same might be treated of and receive dispatches in the Chapter held where the Soveraign then should be as fully as if he were at Windesor Castle So that hence forward all things began to be ordered both on the Eve the Day of St. George and the Morrow after with full as great state all Affairs as legally dispatched and all Ceremonies as magnificently performed except that of Offring up of Atchievements which is peculiar and local to the Chappel of St. George in Windesor Castle as could be observed at the Grand Festival it self And how by virtue of this Article and with that Ceremonies St. George's day was held when the Grand Feast was prorogued to some further time is evident from a full and ample Precedent an 22. H. 8. now remaining in the Office of Arms. For albeit the Soveraign with thirteen Knights-Companions were at Windesor upon the 22.23 and 24. of April that year yet did they at that time observe only the Feast day of St. George with the Eve and Morrow after but deferred by Order in Chapter the celebration of the Grand Feast unto the 8. day of May ensuing the Memorial whereof follows The King went not to the Chapter before the first Evensong but immediately to his Stall viz. in the Chappel of the Soveraign's Lodgings in the Upper Ward of the Castle of Windesor not in the Chappel Royal of St. George The Bishop of London Lord Cutberde Tunstall elect of Duresme did the Divine Service and at Magnificat he and the Dean first censed the Altar and after the King both the high Altar and the Altar which was made before the King were richly garnished with Images and over garnishments of Gold and Silver and Gilt c. The Evensong the King returned to his and his Grace and the Knights of the Order were served of the void c. And on the Morn at 9. of the Clock to be at Matyns which was done above the Ordinary the King ordained in the honor of St. George a right noble Procession whereat was 35 Copes of rich Cloth of Gold after the Procession the King went immediately to his Stall and High Mass and offered as accustomed That done Dinner and 4 of the greatest Estates sat at the kings boards end And the residue sat all along at the two Tables all on the one side as accustomed and before Evensong the King went to his Closet to the Chapter and appointed the Duke of Suffolk to be his Lieutenant at the Feast which was appointed to be kept the eight day of May then ensuing accompanied with the Earl of Rutland the Lord Sandys Lord Chamberlain Sir William Fitz Williams Memoramdum That the low Evensongs that were said before the King were of St. George Also the first low Mass in the morning song by the Lord George Grey of Dorset two oder Masses of the day of the which Lord John Longland Bishop of Lincolne sang the third Mass the fourth low Mass was of Recordare and was appointed that the high Mass done the Mass of Requiem should begin Thus here we have 1. The attendance of the Knights-Companions upon the Soveraign 2. the Chapter which accustomably was held on the Eve of the Feast implied by observing that the Soveraign went not unto it 3. The Ceremonies at the first Vespers 4. The Morning Service on St. George's day 5. The Grand Procession 6. The Solemn Offring 7. The Grand Dinner 8. The Chapter held before the second Vespers 9. The day for celebrating the Grand Festival appointed And 10. The Mass of Requiem on the morrow after St. George's day celebrated SECT VI. The Grand Feast neglected by King Edward the Sixth BUT King Edward the Sixth assuming the Soveraignty of this Noble Order the days became more gloomy in as much as during his Reign there was no Anniversary of St. George kept at Windesor by a Grand Festival Under what churliâ—h Fate this noble place then suffered we cannot guess other than the common calamity of that Age wherein most Ceremonies solemn or splendid either chiefly such as related to Divine Services came under the suspicion of being superstitious if not idolatrous Insomuch as at a Chapter held at Greenewich upon the 22. day of April in the second year of his Reign an abolition being intended of all
Soveraign in a Chapter held at Windesor the 6. of November an 9. Car. 1. to give command that two little pieces of Arras Hangings then hanging over the Altar in one of which was wrought the Picture of St. George on Horseback and on the other of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin should be preserved in such places where the Dean and his Lieutenant should think beâ—â— for the use of the said Altar at the Grand Feast and other Festivals of the Order Hereupon they were fetched from Windesor to set over the Altar in the Chappel at Whitehall an 11. Car. 1. the Feast of St. George being then celebrated there There are now two other pieces of Arras which are appointed to that use the one hath the Pictures of Christs and his Disciples at Supper given by the late Right Reverend Father in God Bryan Lord Bishop of Winchester Prelate of the Order the other of Christ and the two Disciples at Emmans wrought after Titian's Original given by the right Honorable the Lady Mordant Wife to the Lord Mordant late Constable of Windesor As to the Soveraign's Royal Stall it hath in all times had over it a rich Canopy the back and forepairs adorned with materials of the same sute with a long Velvet Cushen before to lay his Books on another shorter for his Seat and a third to kneel on The Canopy prepared against the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 2. and which now adorns it is made of two panes of Purple Velvet and one of Cloth of Gold having a broad Gold Fringe at the bottom a narrow one at the top and an inner Valance of the same with a Purple Silk Fringe the back and fore piece is of three panes also one of Gold the other two of Purple Velvet with a narrow Gold Fringe about it The three Cushens are of Purple Velvet garnished with Gold Fringe and Tassels of Silk and Gold Each of the Knights-Companions Stalls are also furnished with the like number of Cushens Lastly The Pulpit is hung with Crimson Damask inwrought with small Flowers of Gold Portcullices Flowers de Lis and Roses all crowned this Pulpeâ—-Cloth was preserved from the ravenous hands of Collonel Ven and now restored to its former use It may be judged how other of the Soveraign's Chappels wherein the solemn Services at the Grand Feast were celebrated besides this of St. George at Windesor have been set forth and adorned by one or two Examples in that kind for an 22. H. 8. though the Soveraign held the Feast of St. George at Windesor yet on the Evening he went not to St. George's Chappel but heard Divine Service in the Chappel above in the upper Quadrangle at the West end of St. George's Hall which Chappel was hanged on both sides a rich Cloth of State set up and a haut pas of a foot high for the Soveraign as also a little foot pace 13 inches broad and 7 inches high for him to kneel at The High Altar and that set before the Soveraign were richly garnished with Images and other Ornaments of Gold and Silver gilt c. We also find that at the Feast of St. George held at Whitehall an 5. Eliz. the Chappel was hung with Cloth of Gold and the Stalls both before and behind with Cloth of Tissue set with Scutcheons at their back The Soveraign's Royal Stall was adorned with a Cloth of State and furnished with Cushens as were the Emperor's the French King's and the Soveraign's Lieutenant's But an 7. Eliz. all the Stalls of the same Choire were hung with Carpets both before and behind At the Feast held there an 19. Car. 2. the Chappel was hung with the rich Hangings of Silk and Gold wherein the twelve Months were with excellent skill described The Altar was furnished with chased gilt Plate viz. one large Bâ—son in the middle and two less on either side two fair Candlesticks with unlighted Tapeâ—s and two large Water-Pots on the lower rank was set another Bason four Flaggons and two Service-Books covered with like gilt Plate and lastly the Soveraign's Stall had the rich Furniture of Cloth of Gold and Purple Velvet fetcht from Windesor to adorn it SECT VII The furnishing of St. George's Hall THE care of making ready and furnishing St. George's Hall or other Room either there or elsewhere set apart for the Grand Dinner is committed partly to the Gentleman-Vsher of the Black-Rod and partly to the Soveraign's Surveyor General of his Works The Surveyor-General upon directions given him by Warrant from the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold causeth a Floor to be raised at the upper end of the Hall whereunto is an ascent of three steps and thereon he raiseth a Table 12 Foot long and 3 foot and a half broad for the Soveraign to dine at On the left hand of this Table is set a Cupboard for Plate and a side Table for Glasses c. to serve the Soveraign's Table as occasion shall require Upon the uppermost step of the raised Floor is set a strong Rail with Banisters cross the Hall to keep off the Croud from the Soveraign's Table that so the Officers appointed to attend thereat may with more liberty perform their several Duties and Services On the right hand of the Soveraign's State and below the Rails are Tables placed for the Knights-Companions to dine at which sometimes hath been but one Table continued to the lower end of the Hall with a long Form on the back side but of late the same space hath been taken up and furnished with several small Tables those set up an 23. Car. 2. were 6 foot long and 4 and a half broad and set at two Foot distance each from the other At the Grand Feast held at Whitehall an 8. Car. 1. the Tables for the Knightsâ—Companions were like the Soveraign's fenced in with Rails within which the Waiters only being admitted the Dishes of Meat and the Banquet were thereby handsomly freed from the troublesome yet usual croud and rapine of the people the like hath been done at all times since with Bars to open and shut against every Table Opposite to these between the Hall Windows are set so many side Tables each 5 foot long and 2 and a half broad all raised in with Bars as are the Tables provided for the Knights-Companions so that each of theirs hath a side Table furnished with Plate Glasses Wine Beer c. to serve it The Hall being thus far prepared the Black-Rod receives the Lord Chamberlain's Warrant for taking into his Custody such rich and costly Furniture both for the Soveraign's State and hanging the Hall as is thought worthy to contribute to the honor of this Festival The Stâ—te placed at the upper end of the Hall before the Soveraign's Table is usually the richest the Hanging of the bâ—st sort and such were the four pieces of Arras wherein were wrought the History of St. George bought by King Henry the Sixth
in Sweden was sworn a Gentleman of the Soveraign's Privy-Chamber extraordinary After the Chapter was ended the Soveraign commanded the Iewels to be delivered to the Master of his Iewel-house and the Robes to be sent to the Dean of Windesor to be deposited there Notwithstanding which Command yet was not the Mantle brought thither till the Instalment of the present Soveraign at which time by order in Chapter and the Soveraign's liberal donation not only the Mantle but the Garter Collar and Great George of the foresaid King the value whereof we have before noted were ordered to be committed to the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Windesor and accordingly then brought down from the Court in the Castle by Mr. Iosee Mr. Maxwell and some others belonging to the Soveraign's Bed-Chamber and delivered to them to be laid up in their Treasury for a perpetual memory of that renowned King who died in the field wearing some of those Iewels to the great renown of the Order and as a true martial Prince and Companion thereof The Diamonds set in the Garter and George at the humble request of Doctor Christopher Wren the then Register were Ordered to be viewed and numbred by Sir Iames Palmer Deputy Chancellor which being done an Inventory was made the 24. of May following and a Duplicate thereof being drawn the one part was signed by the Dean and Prebends which remained with the Deputy Chancellor the other by the Deputy Chancellor and left in the Treasury with the Jewels the number upon the great Garter and George amounting to 498 Diamonds And in the Floor of the said Treasury did these Iewels remain hid there by the said Register till about the beginning of March an 1645. that Colonel Ven the then Governor of that Castle took them thence and it should seem they were afterwards delivered unto Colonel Whitchcott who succeeded him in that Government for I find that Mr. Iohn Hunt Treasurer to the Trustees appointed by the Long Parliament for Sale of the late Kings Goods did receive them from the hands of the said Colonel Whitchcott CHAP. XXVI OF THE Founder THE FIRST Knights-Companions AND THEIR Successors SECT I. Of what Number the Institution consisted THE main part of our design relating to the Institution Laws and Ceremonies of the most Noble Order of the Garter is now brought to a period what else we intend with the end of our journey lies now within our prospect and concerns the Founder the first Knights-Companions and their Successors For King Edward the Third having Instituted the said Order and set down Rules and Statutes for the government and regulation thereof he next resolved to Elect from among the flower of his own Chevalry 25 noble and valiant Knights who together with himself should make up the number of 26. for of so many doth the Order by his appointment consist and indeed that Age furnished him with large choice of gallant men made famous by martial Exploits performed in the Battels of Sluce Crescy and Durham The first that he Elected into this Noble Order was Edward his eldest Son who had already in part deserved and afterwards obtained the title of a valiant and renowned Prince and the rest of those accomplished Collegues were these that follow and thus placed in their Stalls On the Soveraign's side On the Prince's side 2. Henry Duke of Lancaster 2. Thomas Earl of Warwick 3. Piers Capitow de la Bouch. 3. Ralph Earl of Stafford 4. William Earl of Salisbury 4. Roger Earl of March 5. Sir Iohn Lisle 5. Sir Bartholomew Burghersh 6. Sir Iohn Beauchamp 6. Sir Iohn Mohun 7. Sir Hugh Courtney 7. Sir Thomas Holland 8. Sir Iohn Grey 8. Sir Richard Fitz-Simon 9. Sir Miles Stapleton 9. Sir Thomas Wale 10. Sir Hugh Wrottesley 10. Sir Nele Loring 11. Sir Iohn Chandos 11. Sir Iames Audeley 12. Sir Otes Holland 12. Sir Henry Eam 13. Sir Sanchet Dabrichcourt 13. Sir Walter Paveley We once intended a full and entire History of the Lives of these Noble Founders and to that purpose made a large and chargeable Collection out of the Records in the Tower of London and elsewhere of all that we could find worthy to be remembred of them in which we spent most part of the years 1657.1658 and 1659. But this our design being afterwards represented to the present Soveraign and Knights-Companions by the late Chancellor of the Order through the wrong end of the Perspective we thereby received so great discouragemement as caused us to wave it and indeed resolved wholly to lay it aside Nevertheless upon other thoughts here being a proper occasion we are content to let in a glimpse of what may be improved to a far greater light and from that stock of Collections drawn out some few things relating to the Founder and first 25 Knights-Companions particularly their Honors Martial Employments famous Exploits Matches Issues and Death therein laying down only matter of Fact and Materials for History without deductions or observations All which we shall deliver with the plainness there found being unwilling to add other Rhetorical flourishes lest we might withal cast some blemish upon the native beauty of Truth And in this undertaking the Reader may see what Furniture though it lye disperst our Publick Records will afford for History and how plentifully our own may be supplied and improved if pains were taken therein for what is hitherto made publick hath been collected chiefly out of old Annals and they filled with few things but such as were very obvious nay the Annalists themselves for the most part residing in Monasteries too often by ass'd with Interest and Affection to Times and Persons But on the contrary in our publick Records lye matter of Fact in full truth and therewith the Chronological part carried on even to days of the Month. So that an industrious Searcher may thence collect considerable matter for new History rectifie many mistakes in our old and in both gratifie the world with unshadowed verity SECT II. A short view of the Founder's Wars TO begin then with the Founder the most Noble King Edward the Third He was eldest Son of King Edward the Second and Isabel Daughter to Philip the Fourth King of France whose Sons Lewis Philip and Charles all Kings of France one after another dying without Issue Male this Prince challenged the Crown of France as the next Heir male to it He was born in Windesor Castle the 13. day of November being Monday next after the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop in Winter and the day of St. Brice Bishop and Disciple of St. Martin in the year of our Lord God 1312. an Astrological Scheme of whose Nativity hath been long since painted in Glass in one of the Windows of the Prebends Lodgings at Windesor belonging to the Reverend and Worthy Divine Doctor Hever late one of the Canons of that Colledge Whence it appears that he
England landing at Orewell the 21. of Febr. at 9. a Clock in the Morning and the first of March delivered it to Sir Iohn de St. Paul in a Chamber called the Cage Chamber at Westminster The old Great Seal was then delivered up to him by the said Sir Iohn which he gave to William de Kildesby to be kept in his Wardrobe But that the New Seal might be made more publick he caused Impressions thereof and of his Privy Seal to be made and sent to all the Sheriffs in England to be published in the several Counties in regard he intended at the meeting of the Parliament on the Wednesday next after Midlent Sunday to acquaint them with the cause wherefore he had added to his Stile the title of King of France That day being come he under his New Great Seal as King of France vacated all Papal Processes made at the instance of the French King against the Inhabitants of Flanders and granted to the Earl of Flanders his Heirs and Successors for ever the Towns of Lysle Doway Bethune and Orchies with the County of Artois and City of Tournay and to their Inhabitants divers Priviledges And by another Instrument of the same date under the said Seal with the consent of the Parliament he granted that the staple of Wools should be setled at Bruges A little before his return into England he wrote a Letter from Gaunt which bore Teste the 8. of Febr. in the first year of his Reign over France and 14. over England to the Prelates Peers and Commons of France thereby signifying that Charles late King of France his Mothers Brother being dead that Kingdom was fallen to him by manifest Law and that Philip de Valois Son to the Uncle of the said King had by force intruded into it in his Minority and yet detained it Lest therefore he should seem to neglect his own right he thought good to own the Title of France and take on him the defence and Government thereof and having offered the said Philip divers friendly conditions of Peace to which he refused all condiscention he was therefore necessitated to defend himself and recover his right by force of Arms and therefore all such Subjects as would submit to him as true King of France by Easter then next ensuing should be received into his grace and protection Having dispatcht his Affairs with the Parliament which had given him a great Supply to go on with this War and wherein an Act passed that he might with the assent of his Allies condescend to any reasonable terms of Peace And having created the Marquess of Iuliers Earl of Cambridge and given him 1000 l. per annum until he were provided for of so much Land of Inheritance He got in readiness an Army to go beyond Sea and prepared his Navy to transport it and on the 22. of Iune horâ diei quasi primâ set sail from Orewell The French King had laid 120. great Ships beside Genoeses Normans and Picards Manned with 40000. Men to intercept his passage But after a fierce and bloody fight on Midsummer Eve the King got the Victory before Sluce destroying most of the Enemy and taking the greatest part of their Fleet and on Midsummer day landed at Sluce and went forthwith to Gaunt Of this Signal Victory an account by Letter was sent from the King to the Bishops and Prelates by the Earl of Arundel and Sir William Trussell Not long after the King held a Council with his Allies at Villenort where it was resolved that the King should besiege Tournay before which he brought 120000. Men. Thence he sent a Letter sealed with his Great Seal to Philip de Valois signifying that he had fairly requested him to render him his lawful right to the Crown of France but perceiving he meant to persist in detaining it without returning him any answer He was therefore entred Flanders as Soveraign Lord thereof to pass through that Country for recovery of his Inheritance so detained yet to avoid the effusion of Christian blood and determine the right he challenged him to fight body to body or else 100. chosen Souldiers on each side or if both were refused then to pitch upon a day for both Armies to fight neer Tournay But the French King returned no answer to this Letter The Siege continued eleven weeks wanting three days in which time by the mediation and effectual endeavour of Iane de Valois the French Kings Sister a Treaty was set on foot Iohn King of Bohemia Adolph Bishop of Leige Reynel Duke of Loraine Am Earl of Savoy and Iohn Earl of Arminiack being Commissioners for the French King the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldres the Marquess of Iuliers and Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont for King Edward who on the 25. of September agreed upon a Truce between both Kings to endure till Midsummer following of which publication was made in England the 6. of October and thus both Armies retired But this was much against the Kings Will though not against those of his Allies who were very desirous to return home The Siege being raised the King went to Gaunt and thence returned into England where he arrived at the Tower Wharf on the Feast of St. Andrew about Midnight At this Treaty before Tournay it was among other things agreed that another Treaty should be held at Arras within that year whither both Kings and the Pope should send Commissioners but that meeting produced only another year to be added to the Truce The Kings Commissioners were the Bishops of Lincolne and Durham the Earl of Warwick Sir Robert d' Artois Sir Iohn Henault and Sir Henry of Flanders This year produced some other Overtures for the amicable composure of all Controversies and concluding a Peace between the two Kings to which purpose a Commission issued to R. Bishop of Durham Hugh Earl of Gloucester William Fitz Warren Nicholas de Flisco and William Trussell Another Commission issued to Iohn Duke of Brabant Reignold Duke of Gueldres and Zuthphen William Marquess of Iuliers and Earl of Cambridge and William Earl of Hanaw and Iohn de Hanaw Lord Beaumont to treat and agree with Philip de Valois upon a Truce to the Feast of the decollation of St. Iohn Baptist then coming on which it seems became so far hopeful as to produce a prorogation till the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and thence till Midsummer in the following year Another Commission was made forth to William Earl of Huntingdon Bernard Dominus de le Brett Bartolomew de Burglersh Iohn de Offord Archdeacon of Ely and Michael de Flisco to treat with the 〈◊〉 Philip de Valois aswell touching the Kingdom and Crown of France as divers other questions and controversies between them and to compose the differences by a full Peace or otherwise a Truce and one of these Commissions was
a new Governor of the Town before he went thence It having been agreed on at the last Truce that Commissioners on both sides should meet at Boloigne on Sunday in medio Quadragesimae following the King appointed William Bishop of Norwich William Bohun Earl of Northampton William Clynton Earl of Huntingdon Regnold de Cobham Robert de Bourghcher and Iohn de Carleton Doctor of Laws his Commissioners to Treat of and conclude a Peace or prorogation of the Truce and League of perpetual friendship between him and his Adversary of France But no final Peace could be agreed on while Philip de Valois lived nor after till King Iohn his Son and Successor was taken Prisoner at the Battel of Poictiers only several Truces were made from time to time and the last consented to in February an 28. E. 3. to hold till Midsummer following While these Truces were on foot endeavours were made for the Release of David King of Scots the Kings Prisoner and at length it was agreed that upon the coming into England of Iohn the Son and Heir of the Steward of Scotland and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King who when they came were disposed into the Castles of York and Notingham King David should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be delivered The Kings Letters as well of safe conduct to the Hostages as of power to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were come bear Teste the 5. of September an 25. E. 3. to continue unto the Quindena of the Purification next following and the 3. of November after were they renued to the Feast of St. Philip and Iacob ensuing It seems King David returned back into England about half a year after for the 28. of March an 26. E. 3. a Command was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages to Berwick to be there in Quindena Paschae it being the day set for King David's return to that Town On the same 5. of October command was sent to Iohn Coupeland Sheriff of Northumberland who had then the Custody of the said King to deliver him to the Bishops of Duresm and Carlisle William Earl of Northampton Henry de Percy and Ralph Nevil or to any 4 3 or 2. of them and likewise another command issued to them to deliver him upon the conditions and under the form agreed on Whilst the foresaid Truce agreed on in February an 28 E. 3. was on foot the Pope undertook to do what he could to further the effecting of a Peace and to that purpose he sent again to both Kings to obtain their Authority to bring it about but it doth not appear that any thing was done before Midsummer while it was in being Nevertheless we find that whereas in the Treaty between them held at Guynes among other things it was agreed that Ambassadors from King Edward should be sent to Pope Innocent in Kal. Octob. following the King did accordingly impower William Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster and some others his special Ambassadors to treat with his Adversary of France or his Deputies touching a final Peace between them but they returned without effecting any thing all but the Bishop of Norwich who died at Avignion and was there buried Towards the latter end of the following Summer the King having intelligence that Iohn the French King was drawing down with an Army towards St. Omars in the beginning of November passed over to Calais with Lyonel of Vlster and Iohn of Gaunt his two Sons and a considerable Army where he arrived the 2. day of November and immediately marched against him but upon notice of his approach King Iohn retired breaking down all the Bridges behind him whom King Edward followed as far as Heyden and the Country being wasted by the French he for want of Provision for his Army returned to Calais and thence into England And whilst in his absence the Scots had broke out and taken the Town but not the Castle of Berwick he immediately marched thither and 13. Ianuary recovered the Town passing further into Scotland and on the 25. of the same Month being then at Roxbrough King Edward Baliol there made a solemn resignation of his Crown and Kingdom to him by his Letters Patent after which he marched with his Army to Hadington burning and wasting the Country on each side as he went and having laid it waste returned into England and took Edward Baliol along with him The King having notice in the precedent year that Iohn the French King had given to Charles Dauphin of Vienvois the Dukedom of Aquitaine constituted the Prince of Wales his Lieutenant in that Dukedom and sent him with an Army thither where he fought that memorable Battel at Poictiers and took Iohn the French King Prisoner whom he brought into England in May following King Iohn was lodged at the Savoy and there continued all the Winter and in the Spring after was removed from thence to Windesor Castle where he and his youngest Son spent their time in Hawking and Hunting and towards Winter returned to the Savoy And it appears that the 12. of December an 32. E. 3. He was again setled at this House under the Custody of Roger Beauchamp and several Knights Esquires and other Attendants appointed for his Guard The French King had not been long in England ere the Pope sent hither Talairand Bishop of Alba commonly called the Cardinal of Pyergort and Nicholas Priest Cardinal by the Title of St. Vital to assist at the Treaty of Peace to be held about Midsummer an 31. E. 3. the Kings Letters of safe conduct for them and their Train consisting of 200 Horse were dated the 3. of Iune that year The Bishop of St. Gean de Maurienne in Savoy came also hither to the Treaty having like Letters for himself and a Train of 30 Horse dated the 26. of May preceding and though a final Peace was not concluded yet several Truces were made one upon another in hopes of it till Midsummer an 33. E. 3. Before this there had been great endeavours used for the Release of David King of Scots the Kings Prisoner and several addresses made to the King from King David himself as also the Prelates Peers and Commons of Scotland seconded by the zealous sollicitations of Ioan his Queen Sister to King Edward But this affair though often treated of came not to an issue till the 3. of Octob. an 31. E. 3. when at a meeting of Commissioners on both sides at Berwick namely Iohn Archbishop of York Thomas Bishop of Duresme Gilbert Bishop of Carlisle Henry de Percy Rauf de Nevile Henry le Scrope and Thomas Musgrave deputed by King Edward on the one part and William Bishop of St. Andrews