the Soveraign's House and Sir Thomas Vaughan Treasurer of his Chamber both joined in Commission with Galliard Sieur de Duras Sir William Hussey with the Lord Morley and Sir Nicholas Carew and Sir Anthony Brown with Viscount Lysle To these persons the Soveraign thought fit sometimes to add a Doctor of the Civil Law or an Ecclesiastical person having dignity and such as had the Language of the Country whither they were sent not only the better to make answer to such questions as the Stranger-Elect might start upon his perusal of the Statutes but also to inform him touching the Institution of the Order or other Historical passages relating to the Founder the preceding or present Knights-Companions or honor of the Garter all which if judiciously and accurately rendred might add reputation to the Order and beget in the Stranger-Elect the better esteem of it Besides an Ecclesiastical person was in those times thought fittest to administer the Oath and to pronounce the words of Signification at the time of Investiture with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order And for these Reasons was Iohn Russell Doctor of the Civil Law and Archdeacon of Berkshire joined in Commission with the aforesaid Galliard Sieur de Duras and Edward Lee Doctor in Divinity Arch-deacon of Colchester and the Soveraign's Almoner sent over with the Lord Morley In like manner was Iohn Tailour Arch-deacon of Buckingham and Vice-chancellor joined with Arthur Plantagenet Viscount Lysle and Doctor Goodrick Bishop of Ely with the Marquess of Northampton But of later times the Soveraign's Ambassador resident with the Stranger-Elect hath supplied this place as did Sir Thomas Smith in the Legation sent over to the French King Charles the Ninth and Sir Edward Stafford in that to the French King Henry the Third and Sir Anthony Mildmay when the Earl of Shrewsbury was sent upon the like Legation to the French King Henry the Fourth Besides the before mentioned persons Garter Principal King of Arms was always joined in these Commissions of Legation not only to keep on foot his right to the employment but to manage the ceremonious part of this Solemnity and if we shall be thought over numerous in Instances to justifie this particular let our Reader excuse it since it is to make good the Priviledge of an Office and maintain the interest of an ancient right This reason we presume will also excuse our repetition here of the ancient President when Garter carried over the Habit of the Order to Edward King of Portugal an 13. H. 6. to which we shall subjoin the Embassies to Charles Duke of Burgundy where Sir Iohn Writh Garter was joined in the Commission with Galliard Sieur de Duras and that to Guido Vbaldus Duke of Vrbyn an 22. H. 7. Sir Thomas Wriothesley was also joined with Sir Charles Somerset in the Legation to the Emperor Maximilian with the Lord Morley sent to Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria and with Arthur Viscount Lysle to the French King Francis the First Sir Christopher Barker Garter was also sent with the Habit of the Order into Scotland immediately after the Lord William Howard who jointly presented the same to King Iames the Fifth Sir Gilbert Dethick likewise was joined in the Commission with the Marquess of Northampton in the Embassy to the French King Henry the Second also with the Lord Clynton in that Emanuel Duke of Savoy with the Lord Hunsdon in that Legation to Charles the Ninth with the Earl of Sussex in that to the Emperor Maximilian and with Peregrine Lord Willoughby in that to Frederick the Second King of Denmark Afterwards Sir William Dethick his Son and Successor in the Office of Gaâ—ter was in like manner joined in Commission with the Earl of Shrewsbury sent to Henry the Fourth French King and with Robert Lord Spencer to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg Lastly Sir William Segar when the Habit of the Order was sent to Henry Prince of Orange was joined in Commission with Viscount Carleton for the presentation thereof And it is here further to be noted that at such times as any other of the Officers of Arms were employed in this Affair as hath sometimes hapned when Garter could not undertake the Voyage in person such Officer recommended by him to but approved of by the Soveraign was sent to execute his Office nevertheless under a particular reservation of his Rights And therefore the Embassy to Christian the Fourth King of Denmark falling out neer to the Coronation of King Iames in reference to the preparations for which grand Solemnity Garter could not be spared William Segar Esq then Norroy King of Arms was joined in Commission with the Earl of Rutland When Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald was joined with Sir Iames Spens Knight and Peter Young Esq in the Commission of Legation to a Gustâ—vus Adoâ—pâ—us King of Sweden he went Deputy to Sir William Sâ—gâ—r Garter and was accountable to him for the Rewards he did receive Nor was Iâ—hâ— Plâ—â—â— Esq Somerset Herald any otherwise sent than Deputy to Gaâ—tâ—r though joined in Commission with William Boswell Esq for delivery of the Garter and George to Charles Prince Palatine of the Rhyne an 9. Car. 1. In like manner when the Embassy was less solemn and only part of the Ensigns of the Order sent Garter hath been jointly employed with the other Commissioners for so was William Segar Esq Garter with Sir Ralph Winwood for presenting the Garter and George to Maurice Prince of Orange an 10. Iâ—c R. But beside the ancient right the usage and prescription on Garter's side as is before laid down we find it declared by a Decree in Chapter pass'd the 18. of April an 13. Car. 1. That the carrying of the Ensigns of the Order to Stranger-Princes doth properly belong to Garter Besides those persons joined in the Commission of Legation there hath been oft times appointed either Norroy King of Arms or some one of the Heralds to go in the quality of an Attendant on this Service not only for the honor of the Sâ—veraign but of the Stranger that is to receive the Habit in regard the Ceremonies of Investiture with the whole Habit require the presence and assistance of two Officers of Arms concerning which we have met with these Presidents Lancaster Herald attended the Embassy to Charles the Ninth French King Chester Herald and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant at Arms waited on the Embassy to the French King Henry the Third A Herald also attended the Embassy to Emanuel Duke of Savoy York Herald attended that to Maximilian the Emperor And Somerset Herald to the French King Henry the Fourth And whereas there went only Norroy to Christian the Fourth King of Denmark it was because no more of the Officers of Arms could be then spared from their necessary attendance on the Soveraign's Coronation then at hand So in
to send over hither any person of his own Court or give his Procuration to some one of the Soveraign's Subjects to receive his Stall and in his name to take possession of it the later of which hath been several times done out of desire to favour some of our Nobility or other persons of quality at Court with this honor For instance Frederick the Second King of Denmark gave his Procuration to the Lord Willoughby principal in the Legation for the carriage of the Habit of the Order to him to be installed for him and in like manner Iohn Prince Palatine of the Rhyne deputed Sir Philip Sidney to the same Employment Viscount Dorchester was installed for Henry Prince of Orange to whom he and Sir Williams Segar Garter had before carried the Habit and Ensigns and this was done by virtue of a Deputation pen'd in French and sent him hither from the said Prince The Earl of Carlisle received his Deputation from Charles King of Sweden at Stockholme and the Prince Elector of Saxony sent his hither to the Earl of Bath But it hath sometimes hapned that a Proctor for the installation of a Stranger hath been appointed and nominated by the Soveraign of the Order though the Principal had named another before perchance induced thereto by some extraordinary necessity Thus it hapned in the case of Maurice Prince of Orange an 10. Iac. R. who having deputed Count Henry his Brother to be installed for him and he having put to Sea in order thereto but by reason of contrary winds not arriving in England before the day appointed for his Installation the Soveraign and Knights-Companions ordered that Lodowick of Nassau Kinsman to the Elect Prince should take possession of his Stall on his behalf to the end that the honor designed the said Prince in accompanying Frederick Prince Elector Palatine to his personal Installation might not become frustrate A case somewhat like to this was that of Iohn George Duke of Saxony for having sent over his Procuration to Iohn Earl of Bath and he being detained in the West by extraordinary occasions when St. George's Feast was held at Windesor an 23. Car. 2. wrote to the Chancellor of the Order to obtain the Soveraign's Dispensation for his not appearing there in the name of his Principal who representing his humble request to the Soveraign in Chapter held on the Eve of the said Feast he was pleased to grant it and appointed Heneage Earl of Winchelsey to be the Duke's Proxie who performed the whole service And there is an ancient Example in this kind an 9. H. 5. where the Soveraign nominated the Lord Fitz-Hugh Procter for the King of Denmark which yet was not done till after the Soveraign had been certified that the said King had been invested with the Habit and Ornaments of the Order and also obliged himself by Oath to the observation of the Statutes In like manner it is recorded that the Earl of Cleveland was by the Soveraign appointed Deputy for the Installation of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden and yet not unlike but this might be by consent of the said King though the Annals herein are silent as is very usual and sometimes in circumstances and passages of note for if we look towards the end of the said King's Certificate returned of his Receipt of the Habit and Ensigns of the Order we shall there find he desired that the Qualifications therein before mentioned might be admitted into his Oath when any solemn attestation should be made by his Proctor in his Name whence it may be well enough and without much wresting inferr'd that he had not then named his Proctor but probably either by a private Letter or verbal message returned by those or some of them joined in the Legation with the Habit might leave him and the time to the choice and appointment of the Soveraign But suppose the Soveraign being loth to defer this King's Installation too long considering the hazards of War did appoint a Deputy for his Installation without his direction as the case stood he might do it and not intrench upon that leave given a Stranger by the Statutes to chuse his own because in the body of the said Kings Certificate there is set down the very qualifications wherewith his Oath should be taken by his Proctor which being allowed and admitted by the Soveraign any further concern in this Affair was but matter of indifferency But if the Soveraign having nominated a Proctor should also cause him to take the ancient Oath in its absolute nature and form not allowing those qualifications which the interests of his Principal to his Religion or to other Princes Orders and such like might justly exact which without consulting an invested Stranger cannot well be known or set down and such an Oath as his Principal had neither allowed of nor consented unto this might seem good cause of exception and be esteemed done in prejudice to his preingaged interests SECT II. The Proctor's Qualifications BUT whether the Proctor be nominated by his Principal or by the Soveraign the Statutes of the Order put some qualifications upon the person so sent or appointed as aforesaid and first That he be Procurator sufficiens idoneus that is such a person who hath been always accounted of an unblamable conversation not branded with any note of infamy but altogether irreproveable And such as one was Dominus Franciscus Deputy to Hercules Duke of Ferara who in the Black-Book of the Order is characterised to be a Knight of an incorrupt Fame nor are we to doubt but that other Proctors to Strangers were such though the testimonials of their virtue do not appear in the Annals of the Order Secondly the Proctor ought to be a person correspondent to the State and Dignity of that Stranger which doth depute him so that answerable to the dignity of the Invested Knight ought to be in some Proportion the quality of the Proctor And how this Injunction hath been observed will sufficiently appear in the following Scheme  Knights Proctors  Emperor Maximilian the First Marquess of Brandenburgh An. 6. H. 7. Kings Ericus King of Denmark Lord Fitz-Hugh An. 9. H. 5. Kings Francis the First of France Andrian de Tercelin Lord of Bross An. 19. H. 8. Kings Iames the Fifth King of Scotland Lord Iohn Erskine An. 26. H. 8. Kings Charles the Ninth of France Iaques Lord Remboilliet An. 8. Eliz. Kings Frederick the Second King of Denmark Peregrine Lord Willoughby of Ersby An. 24. Eliz. Kings Henry the Fourth of France Sier de Chastes Vice-Admiral of France An. 42. Eliz. Kings Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark Henry Ramell hereditary Lord of Wosterwitz and Beckeskaw An. 3. Iac. R. Kings Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden Thomas Wentworth Earl of Cleveland An. 4. Car. 1. Kings Charles King of Sweden Charles Howard Earl of Carlisle An. 23. Car. 2. Arch
Bartholomew Burghersh le fitz So also an 23. E. 3. Two years after the Duke of Lancaster being made Admiral he went to Sea in the Fleet Afterwards he went with the Prince of Wales into Gascoigne and an 32. E. 3. into Bretagne These were the Expeditions this noble Knight made which sufficiently denote his being continually employed abroad in the Kings service He died 28. of Iune an 49. E. 3. leaving Edward Pavely his Son and Heir SECT IV. A Catalogue of their Successors with Scutcheons of their Arms. KNights elected in the following part of the Reign of King Edward the Third as the Stalls became void 27. Richard of Bordeaux afterwards King of England of that name the Second 28. Lyonel of Antwerp Earl of Vlster and Duke of Clarence 29. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster after created Duke of Aquitaine 30. Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge after Duke of York 31. Iohn de Montford Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond 32. Humfry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Constable of England 33. William Bohun Earl of Northampton 34. Iohn Hastings Earl of Penbroke 35. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick 36. Richard Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel and Surrey 37. Robert Vfford Earl of Suffolk 38. Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford 39. Ingleram de Coucy Earl of Bedford 40. Guiscard d' Angolesme Earl of Huntingdon 41. Edward Spencer Lord Spencer 42. William Latimer Lord Latimer 43. Reynold Cobham Lord Cobham of Sterborough 44. Iohn Nevil Lord Nevil of Raby 45. Ralph Basset Lord Basset of Drayton 46. Sir Walter Manny Bannert 47. Sir William Fitz Waren Knight 48. Sir Thomas Vfford Knight 49. Sir Thomas Felton Knight 50. Sir Franc Van Hall Knight 51. Sir Fulk Fitz Waren Knight 52. Sir Allan Boxhull Knight 53. Sir Richard Pemburge Knight 54. Sir Thomas Vtreight Knight 55. Sir Thomas Banester Knight 56. Sir Richard de la Vache Knight 57. Sir Guy de Bryan Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of King Richard the Second 58. Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham after Duke of Gloucester 59. Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby afterward King of England of that Name the Fourth 60. William Duke of Gelderland 61. William of Bavaris Earl of Ostrevant after Earl of Holland Henault and Zeland 62. Thomas Holland Earl of Kent after Duke of Surrey 63. Iohn Holland Earl of Huntingdon after Duke of Exceter 64. Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham after Duke of Norfolk 65. Edward Earl of Rutland after Duke of Albemarle 66. Michael de la Poole Earl of Suffolk 67. William Scrope Lord Scrope after Earl of Wiltshire and Lord Treasurer of England 68. William Beauchamp Lord Bergaveny 69. Iohn Beaumont Lord Beaumont 70. William Willoughby Lord Willoughby 71. Richard Grey Lord Grey 72. Sir Nicholas Sarnesfield Knight 73. Sir Philip de la Vache Knight 74. Sir Robert Knolls Knight 75. Sir Simon Burley Knight 76. Sir Iohn de Evereux Banneret 77. Sir â—ryan Stapleton Knight 78. Sir Richard Burley Knight 79. Sir Peter Courtney Knight 80. Sir Iohn Burley Knight 81. Sir Iohn Bourchier Knight 82. Sir Thomas Granston Knight 83. Sir Lewis Clifford Knight 84. Sir Robert Dunstavill Knight 85. Sir Robert de Namur Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of King Henry the Fourth 86. Henry Prince of Wales after King of England of that Name the Fifth 87. Thomas of Lancaster Earl of Albemarle and Duke of Clarence 88. Iohn Earl of Kendal and Duke of Bedford after Regent of France 89. Humfry Earl of Penbroke and Duke of Gloucester 90. Thomas Beauford Earl of Dorset and after Duke of Exceter 91. Robert Count Palatine Duke of Bavaria after Emperor of Germany 92. Iohn Beauford Earl of Somerset and Marquess of Dorset 93. Thomas Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel 94. Edmund Stafford Earl of Stafford 95. Edmund Holland Earl of Kent 96. Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmerland 97. Gilbert Roos Lord Roos 98. Gilbert Talbot Lord Talbot 99. Iohn Lovell Lord Lovell 100. Hugh Burnell Lord Burnell 101. Thomas Morley Lord Morley 102. Edward Charleton Lord Powis 103. Sir Iohn Cornwall Knight after Lord Fanhope 104. Sir William Arundel Knight 105. Sir Iohn Stanly Knight 106. Sir Robert de Vmfrevill Knight 107. Sir Thomas Rampston Knight 108. Sir Thomas Erpingham Knight 109. Sir Iohn Sulbie Knight 110. Sir Sandich de Trane Knight Hitherto we have ranked the Knights of this most Noble Order as they are placed in other Catalogues and according to their greatest Dignities because the certain years of their Elections cannot be found but these that follow are marshalled in an exact series of their Elections Knights Elected in the Reign of King Henry the Fifth 111. Sir Iohn Dabrichcourt Knight 112. Richard Vere Earl of Oxford 113. Thomas Camoys Lord Camoys 114. Sir Symon Felbryge Knight 115. Sir William Harington Knight 116. Iohn Holland Earl of Huntingdon 117. Sigismund Emperor of Germany 118. Duke of Briga 119. Sir Iohn Blount Knight 120. Sir Iohn Robessart Knight 121. Sir William Philip Knight after Lord Bardolf 122. Iohn King of Portugal 123. Ericus King of Denmark 124. Richard â—â—auchamp Earl of Warwick after Lieutenant General and Govenor in France and Normandy 125. Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury 126. Robert Willoughby Lord Willoughby 127. Henry Fitz-Hugh Lord Fitz-Hugh 128. Sir Iohn Grey Knight Earl of Tankervile 129. Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier 130. Iohn Mowbray Lord Mowbray Earl Marshal 131. William de la Poole Earl of Suffolk after Marquess and Duke of Suffolk 132. Iohn Clifford Lord Clifford 133. Sir Lewis Robessart Knight after Lord Bourchier 134. Sir Heer Tank Clux Knight 135. Sir Walter Hungerford Knight after Lord Hungerford and Lord Treasurer of England 136. Philip Duke of Burgundy Knights Elected in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth 137. Iohn Talbot Lord Talbot after Earl of Shrewsbury 138. Thomas Scales Lord Scales 139. Sir Iohn Fastolf Knight 140. Peter Duke of Conimbero third Son of Iohn the First King of Portugal 141. Humfrey Stafford Earl of Stafford after Created Duke of Buckingham 142. Sir Iohn Ratclyff Knight 143. Iohn Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundell 144. Richard Duke of York the Kings Lieutenant in France and Normandy 145. Edward King of Portugall 146. Edmund Beaufort Earl of Moriton after Earl of Dorset and Duke of Somerset 147. Sir Iohn Grey Knight 148. Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury after Lord Chancellor of England 149. William Nevil Lord Fauconbridge after Earl of Kent 150. Albert Emperor of Germany 151. Iohn Beaufort Earl of Somerset after Duke of Somerset and Earl of Kendall 152. Ralph Butler Lord Sudeley after Lord Treasurer of England 153. Henry Duke of Viseo fourth Son of Iohn the First King of Portugal 154. Iohn Beaumont Viscount Beaumont after High Constable of England 155. Gaston de Foix Earl of Longevile and Benanges Captan de Buch. 156. Iohn de Foix Earl of Kendall 157. Iohn Beauchamp Lord Beauchamp of Powik and after Lord Treasurer of England 158. Alphonsus the Fifth King of Portugal
159. Albro Vasques d' Almada Earl of Averence in Normandy 160. Thomas Hoo Lord Hoo. 161. Sir Francis Surien Knight 162. Alphonsus King of Aragon 163. Casimire the Fourth King of Poland 164. William Duke of Brunswick 165. Richard Widvile Lord Rivers after Created Earl Rivers 166. Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk 167. Henry Bourchier Viscount Bourchier after Lord Treasurer of England and Earl of Essex 168. Sir Philip Wentworth Knight 169. Sir Edward Hall Knight 170. Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany 171. Iohn Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 172. Lionell Wells Lord Wells 173. Thomas Stanley Lord Stanley 174. Edward Prince of Wales 175. Iaspar Earl of Penbroke after Duke of Bedford 176. Iames Butler Earl of Wiltshire 177. Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley 178. Iohn Bourchier Lord Berners 179. Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick 180. William Bonvill Lord Bonvill 181. Iohn Wenlock Lord Wenlock 182. Sir Thomas Kyriell Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth 183. George Duke of Clarence 184. Sir William Chamberlayne Knight 185. Iohn Typtoft Earl of Worcester after High Constable of England 186. Iohn Nevel Lord Montague after Earl of Northumberland and Marquess Montague 187. William Herbert Lord Herbert after Earl of Penbroke 188. William Hastings Lord Hastings 189. Iohn Scrope Lord Scrope 190. Sir Iohn Astley Knight 191. Ferdinand King of Naples Son of Alphonsus King of Aragon 192. Francis Sfortia Duke of Milan 193. Iames Douglas Earl of Douglas 194. Galeard Lord Duras 195. Sir Robert Harcourt Knight 196. Anthony Widvile Lord Scales and Nucelles after Earl Rivers 197. Richard Duke of Gloucester after King of England of that name the Third 198. Lord Mountgryson of Apulia 199. Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk 200. Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolk 201. William Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundell 202. Iohn Stafford Earl of Wiltshire 203. Iohn Howard Lord Howard after Duke of Norfolk 204. Walter Ferrars Lord Ferrars of Chartley. 205. Walter Blount Lord Mountjoy 206. Charles Duke of Burgundy 207. Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham after Constable of England 208. Thomas Fitz-Alan Lord Matrevers after Earl of Arundel 209. Sir William Parr 210. Frederick Duke of Vrbin 211. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland 212. Edward Prince of Wales 213. Richard Duke of York second Son to King Edward the Fourth 214. Thomas Grey Earl of Huntingdon and Marquess Dorset 215. Sir Thomas Montgomery Knight 216. Ferdinand King of Castile 217. Hercules Duke of Ferara 218. Iohn King of Portugal Son to Alphonsus the Fifth Knights Elected in the Reign of King Richard the Third 219. Sir Iohn Coniers Knight 220. Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey after Lord Treasurer of England and Duke of Norfolk 221. Francis Viscount Lovell 222. Sir Richard Ratcliff Knight 223. Sir Thomas Burgh Knight after Lord Burgh 224. Thomas Stanley Lord Stanley after Earl of Derby 225. Sir Richard Tunstall Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh 226. Iohn Vere Earl of Oxford 227. Sir Giles d' Aubeny Knight after Lord d' Aubeny 228. Thomas Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel 229. George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 230. Iohn Wells Viscount Wells 231. George Stanley Lord Strange 232. Sir Edward Wydevile Knight Banneret 233. Iohn Dynham Lord Dynham Lord Treasurer of England 234. Maximilian the First Emperor of Germany 235. Sir Iohn Savage Knight 236. Sir William Stanley Knight Lord Chamberlain 237. Sir Iohn Cheney Knight Baneret 238. Alphonsus Duke of Calabria 239. Arthur Prince of Wales 240. Thomas Grey Marquess Dorset 241. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland 242. Henry Bourchier Earl of Essex 243. Sir Charles Somerset Knight Baneret after Earl of Worcester 244. Robert Willoughby Lord Brook 245. Sir Edward Poynings Knight 246. Sir Gilbert Talbot Knight Baneret 247. Sir Richard Poole Knight 248. Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham 249. Henry Duke of York second Son to King Henry the Seventh after King of England of that name the Eighth 250. Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire 251. Sir Richard Guildford Knight Baneret 252. Sir Edmund de la Poole Earl of Suffolke 253. Sir Thomas Lovel Knight Baneret 254. Sir Reginald Bray Knight Baneret 255. Iohn King of Denmark 256. Guido Vbaldo Duke of Vrbin 257. Gerald Fitz Gerald Earl of Kildare 258. Henry Stafford Lord Stafford after Earl of Wiltshire 259. Richard Grey Earl of Kent 260. Sir Rys ap Thomas Knight Baneret 261. Philip King of Castile 262. Sir Thomas Brandon Knight Baneret 263. Charles Arch-Duke of Austria Prince of Spaines after Emperor of Germany Knights Elected in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth 264. Thomas Darcy Lord Darcy 265. Edward Sutton Lord Dudley 266. Emanuel King of Portugal 267. Thomas Howard Lord Howard eldest Son to Thomas Duke of Norfolk 268. Thomas West Lord la Ware 269. Sir Henry Marney Knight after Lord Marney 270. George Nevil Lord Abergaveny 271. Sir Edward Howard Knight second Son to Thomas Duke of Norfolk 272. Sir Charles Brandon after Duke of Suffolk 273. Iulian de Medices Brother to Pope Leo the Tenth 274. Edward Stanley Lord Mounteagle 275. Thomas Dacres Lord Dacres of Gyllesland 276. Sir William Sandes Knight after Lord Sandes 277. Henry Courtney Earl of Devonshire and after Marquess of Exceter 278. Ferdinand Prince and Infant of Spain Arch-Duke of Austria after Emperor of Germany 279. Sir Richard Wingfield Knight 280. Sir Thomas Bullen Knight after Viscount Rochford and Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond 281. Walter d'Euereux Lord Ferrars of Chartley after Viscount Hereford 282. Arthur Plantaginet Viscount Lisle 283. Robert Radcliff Viscount Fitz Walter after Earl of Sussex 284. William Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel 285. Thomas Mannors Lord Roos after Earl of Rutland 286. Henry Fitz Roy after Earl of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and Somerset 287. Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmerland 288. William Blount Lord Montjoy 289. Sir William Fitz Williams Knight after Earl of Southampton 290. Sir Henry Guildford Knight 291. Francis the French King 292. Iohn Vere Earl of Oxford 293. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland 294. Anne Duke of Montmorency 295. Philip Chabot Earl of Newblanche 296. Iames the Fifth King of Scotland 297. Sir Nicholas Carew Knight 298. Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland 299. Thomas Cromwell Lord Cromwell after Earl of Essex 300. Iohn Russell Lord Russell after Earl of Bedford 301. Sir Thomas Cheney Knight 302. Sir William Kingston Knight 303. Thomas Audley Lord Audley of Walden Lord Chancellor of England 304. Sir Anthony Browne Knight 305. Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford after Duke of Somerset 306. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey 307. Sir Iohn Gage Knight 308. Sir Anthony Wingfield Knight 309. Iohn Sutton Viscount Lisle after Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland 310. William Paulet Lord St. Iohn of Basing after Earl of Wiltshire and Marquess of Winchester 311. William Parr Lord Parr of Kendall after Earl of Essex and Marquess of Northampton 312. Sir Iohn Wallop Knight 313. Henry Fitz-Alen Earl of Arundell 314. Sir Anthony St. Leger Knight 315. Francis Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 316.
Ferrys 16. William Palet Canon 12. Iohn Vaughan Canon 17. Henry Deane 13. William Lord Hastings 27. Iohn Oxenbrydge Canon 14. Brothers and Sisters of St. Anthony  21. King Edward the Third Founder  27. Will Askew Bishop of Salisbury  August September 4. Sir Reginald Bray Knight 5. Iohn Seymor Canon 8. Iohn Blount 13. Henry Hanslappe Canon 10. William Mychell Canon 14. Iohn Duke of Bedford 11. Robert Barham Canon 16. William Bohun Earl of Northampton 17. Philippa Queen of England Foundress 27. William Wykham Bishop of Winchest 18. Richard Surland Canon  31. King Henry the Fifth  It was an usual thing in former Ages especially for those of the Military profession after they had spent their youth and manhood in the service of their King and Country to bestow the remainder of their livâ—â— in Prayers for both and the salvation of their own Souls And therefore to cherish the piety of well disposed Knights-Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter who for devotions sakâ— were induced to retire to Windesor permission was given then by the Statutes of Institution to make their continual abode there Nevertheless to maintain themselves out of their own Estates not at the Colledge charge This Article is confirmed by the Statutes of King Henry the Fifth to which those of King Henry the Eighth add That the Soveraign should assign them convenient Habitations within the Castle The like favour upon like occasion was afforded to other devout Knights though not of the Order but the Lodgings to be such as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions should decree We no where find that any of the Knights-Companions made use of the benefit of this Article hitherto but in another nature and for their better accommodation at the grand Feast of the Order and other Solemnities held at Windesor they moved the Soveraign in Chapter there 22. of May anno 14. Car. 1. That they might have Rooms for Lodgings assigned them in the great or upper Court which they offered to repair at their own charge since all the officers of the Order had Lodgings in the Castle but the Knights-Companions none This motion was not disliked by the Soveraign so it might be without exclusion of the Great Officers of State concerning whom He declared That he would not have them removed from him at any time and thereupon it was left to further consideration SECT III. The Foundation of the Colledge within the Chappel KIng Henry the First as he had erected a Chappel within the Castle so did he therein found a Colledge for eight Canons neither endowed nor incorporate but maintained by an annual Pension out of the Kings Exchequer King Edward the Second founded here a Chantry for four Chaplains and two Clerks to pray for his Soul and the Souls of all his Progenitors as likewise a Chappel in the Park of Windesor under the same Ordination for four more Chaplains whom his Son King Edward the Third by the advice of his Council removed and joined to those other before setled in the Chappel of the Castle and built habitations for their better accommodation on the South side thereof all which we shall pass over with this short mention as not directly relative to our present purpose But the Foundation that we shall treat of here King Edward the Third laid by His Letters Patent bearing Teste at Westminster on the sixth day of August anno regni sui 22. that being about three quarters of a year before He instituted the most Noble Order of the Garter for being inflamed with the zeal of a pious devotion and desiring by a good kind of Commerce to exchange earthly for heavenly and transitory for eternal things at his own Royal Charge He new founded the ancient Chappel in honor and to the praise of the omnipotent God the glorious Virgin Mary of St. George the Martyr and St. Edward the Confessor And by his Kingly authority and as much as in him lay Ordained that to King Henry's eight Canons there should be added one Custos fifteen more Canons and twenty four Alms-Knights together with other Ministers all under the Government nevertheless of the Custos and these to be maintained out of the Revenues wherewith this Chappel was and should be endowed But according to the opinion of those times his Kingly Authority extended not to the instituting therein men of Religion and other Officers to perform and attend the Service of God for that lay in the power and disposition of the Pope And therefore this King setting forth what he had profer'd to do in reference to the endowment of this Chappel requested Pope Clement the Sixth to grant to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Winchester the authority and power of ordaining and instituting the Colledge and other things thereunto appertaining Hereupon this Pope by his Bull dated at Avignion pridie Calendas Decembris in the ninth year of his Papacy which answers to the thirtieth day oâ— November Anno Domini 1351. commending the pious purpose of the King in this affair granted to the Archbishop and Bishop and to either of them full power to Ordain Institutâ— and Appoint in this Chappel as should seem good to them a certain number of Canons Priests Clerks Knights and Officers continually to attend upon the Service of God of which Canons and Priests one should have the Title of Custos and preside over the rest On that day twelvemonth the Statutes and Ordinances of the Colledge bear date being made by virtue of the Popes authority the Kings Command the Consent of the Bishop of Salisbury in whose Diocess the Chappel is situate and of the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury By which Statutes the Bishop of Winchester one of the Popes Delegates for we find not the Archbishop's name used in them did Ordain and Institute a Colledge within the Chappel of St. George consisting of one Custos twelve secular Canons thirteen Priâ—sts or Vicars four Clerks fix Choristers and twenty six Alms-Knights beside other Officers And to this Custos and Colledge by the name of Custos and Colledge of the Free-Chappel of St. George within the Castle of Windesor for the most part but sometimes of Custos and Colledge of Chaplains or otherwise of Custos and Chaplains of the same Chappel were the Donations of Advowsons and other temporal Endowments commonly made and granted SECT IV. Of the Dean Canons Petty-Canons Clerks and Choristers SHortly after the Foundation of the Colledge by the Kings Letters Patent to wit the 14. of November anno 22. E. 3. the King constituted Iohn de la Châ—mbre Custos of the Chappel of St. George but he enjoyed this dignity not above half a year for the 18. of Iune ensuing the Letters Patent for constituting William Mugg Custos bears Teste so that in truth Iohn de la Chambrâ— was the first Custos though in the Preamble to the Letters
They are tyed to be present in the Choire at all times of Service as are the Petty Canons and under the same forfeitures nor may they or the Petty Canons go out of Town without the Dean's or his Lieutenant's license nor then neither above three at once except for very weighty cause left the Choire should be unfurnished of a convenient number to perform the daily Service Secondly There were appointed for the further service of the Choire six Choristers and they to be likewise Clerks or at the time of their admission to have been instituted of the Clerical Order to each of which was allowed five Marks Sterling annually or to the value thereof in common Money And in like manner as the Deacon and Sub-Deacon were placed in the Colledge only in addition to the Vicars and designed to succeed them as vacancies hapned so also were there six secular Children endued with cleer and tuneable voices admitted and design'd to succeed the Choristers when their voices altered King Edward the Fourth enlarged the number of Choristers to thirteen and allowed them annually six Marks apiece and though this number was confirm'd by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes yet the Injunctions dated the 8. of Feb. anno 4. E. 6. reduced them to ten nevertheless by Queen Elizabeth's Establishment the former number of thirteen was restored and thereby given in augmentation among them all three pounds eleven shillings eight pence Howbeit they were since brought to eight and their present exhibition is twelve shillings a Month to each SECT V. Of the Alms-Knights PUrsuing the Order of our Discourse the Alms-Knights come next to be spoken of wherein to avoid confusion we shall consider them first under the Foundation of King Edward the Third Secondly when separated from that by Act of Parliament and lastly as they were established anew by Queen Elizabeth First then King Edward the Third out of the great respect he bore to Military honor of which himself had gain'd a large share and due regard had of valiant men chiefly such as had behaved themselves bravely in his Wars yet afterwards hapned to fall in decay took care for their relief and comfortable subsistence in old age by making room for them within this his Foundation and uniting them under one Corporation and join Body with the Custos and Canons these he called Milites Pauperes and we vulgarly Poor or Alms-Knights the ordained number being at first but four and twenty as were the Custos and Canons at the first foundation of the Colledge But shortly after upon his Instituting the Princely Society of Knights of the most noble Order of the Garter consisting of six and twenty there were added two more to the former number as there was to the first Canons to make them of like number with the Knights-Companions of that Order which number of twenty six we after find setled at the Ordination of the Colledge by the Bishop of Winchester the Popes Delegate The charitable intention of the Royal Founder was to provide for such only as were truly objects of Charity and therefore he describes even in the Instrument of Foundation what kind of men they should be to wit Poor Knights weak in body indigent and decayed and to like effect is their qualification inserted in the Statutes of Institution of the most noble Order of the Garter viz. such as through adverse fortune were brought to that extremity that they had not of their own wherewith to sustain them or live so gentilely as became a military condition but this being thought not enough the same is repeated probably for greater caution in King Henry the Fifth and King Henry the Eighth's Statutes to prevent diverting the Founders pious intention and against admittance of such as are otherwise able to live of themselves which conjecture is not improbable because we find the ancient Statutes of the Colledge Ordained as also the Orders of Queen Elizabeth That in case there should happen to fall to any of the Alms-Knights either Lands or Rents by succession or any other way to the yearly value of twenty pounds or more then such Knight should immediately be removed from the Colledge and made incapable of receiving any profits or emoluments thence and another Alms-Knight preferr'd into his place Their presentation when first admitted was by the same hands that presented the first Canons viz. Each Knight-Companion of the Order presented his Alms-Knight nevertheless it was then also Ordered That from thenceforward every Election should remain at the disposal of the Soveraign of this most noble Order To each of these Alms-Knights was appointed for their Habit a Red Mantle with a Scutcheon of St. George but without any Garter to surround the same Their Exhibition from the Colledge at first was twelve pence apiece for every day they were at Service in the Chappel or abode in the Colledge and forty shillings per annum for other necessaries it being the like allowance as was appointed to each of the Canon-Residents which shews the quality and esteem then had of these Alms-Knights It seems about the beginning of King Henry the Sixth's Reign these quotidian distributions and the forty shillings per annum so assigned them had been unpaid by reason of some dissentions and quarrels that had risen between the Dean and Canons and Alms-Knights but upon complaint to Iohn Archbishop of York Lord Chancellor of England Visitor of the Colledge by the Injunctions issued upon his Visitation anno 10. H. 6. the Arrears of both were appointed to be forthwith paid without charge and in case the Treasurer of the Colledge became negligent in future payments he was to incur the loss of his own Quotidiaus from the time of his voluntary delay the same to be divided among the Alms-Knights Their duty was to attend the Service of God and pray for the prosperity of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions of the Order to be every day present at high Mass the Masses of the Virgin Mary as also at Vespers and Compline from the beginning to the end except any lawful occasion did impede But it was Ordained that for every days absence from the Chappel they should be debarred of receiving the twelve pence per diem and whatsoever was raised from such forfeitures should be converted to the use of the rest of the Alms-Knights then being in the Castle of Windesor Notwithstanding which Decree it appears that the Dean did afterwards take upon him the disposure of these Mulcts at his pleasure which occasioned the Alms-Knights to complain to Adam Lord Bishop of St. Davids Chancellor of England and Visitor of the Colledge who among other of his Injunctions dated the 8. of October anno 2. R. 2. commanded that the Mulcts should be equally distributed among those Alms-Knights who did attend at Divine Service in the Chappel as the Statute had
or either of them to Knight the said Prince before the putting on his Garter seeing it could not possibly be done before his Election which was intended to be sent and presented unto him by the hands of Sir Iohn Burrough Garter but his death after hapning the Soveraign's intention herein was frustrated Albeit the Prince upon his coming afterwards into England received both the Garter and George from the Soveraign himself at Nottingham nevertheless without being Knighted which to excuse it may well be alledged that the Soveraign might not take into his thoughts this part of the Ceremony it being a time of so greas business and trouble occasioned by the then setting up of his Standard However upon the 17 day of Ianuary an 1644. when a Decree past in Chapter then held at Oxford that both the Duke of York and the Prince should enjoy all Rights and Priviledges of the Order though they were not hitherto Installed until Windesor was free from the Enemy but then to perform the Ceremonies of Installation there the Prince before he took his Oath was conducted by the Earl of Berkshire and Duke of Richmond and Lenox two of the Knights-Companions unto the Soveraign and kneeling down received the honor of Knighthood from him There being at the same time two of the Nobility likewise Knighted in memorial of that Solemnity namely the Lord Henry Seymour second Son to the Marquess of Hertford brought up to the Soveraign between Sir Iohn Stawell Knight and Baronet and Sir Francis Lloyd Knights and the Lord Capell conducted between Sir Richard Willis and Sir Thomas Corbet Knights SECT VIII Of the Scruteny and by whom it ought to be taken ALL this being premised we are led directly to the Scruteny it self in reference to which we shall first consider by Whom it ought or hath been usually taken next the time when and then the manner and form thereof By the Statutes of Institution the collecting Knights-Companions Votes and entring them in the Scruteny properly belongs to the Prelate of the Order and upon him is this employment conferr'd not only by the other Bodies of Statutes that succeeded but also by the Constitutions of his Office and the obligation of his Oath whose right thereunto we find afterwards duly asserted upon this Officers taking a Scruteny anno 27. Eliz. on the Feast day of St. George Nevertheless the Statutes provided that if the Prelate were at any time absent then the Dean of Windesor or the Register or the Senior Residentiary of the Colledge or the Secretary or Scribe of the Order should undertake the employment and the Constitutions of the Officers say the Chancellor Dean or Register shall in like case do it which when they did it is frequently mentioned to be performed by them in absence of the Prelate as implying a reservation of his right to the employment or as in another place more expresly In the absence of the Prelate whose particular duty otherwise it had been Now there are various Examples of all these given us in the Annals of the Order but among the many take these that follow and first of the Prelate The Prelate of the Order gathered and received the Suffrages from the Knights-Companions anno 9. H. 5. when Iohn Earl Marshal and four other Knights were Elected The like did Henry Beaufort Lord Cardinal Prelate of the Order upon the Election of the King of Portugal an 13. H. 6. And when the Duke of Norfolk was Elected an 28. H. 6. the Prelate then also collected the Suffrages which he likewise did upon the Feast days of St. George celebrated in the 12. 13. 14. 27. 28. 30. 31. 34. and 35. years of Queen Elizabeth's Reign Sometimes the Scrutenies have been collected both by the Dean of Windesor and the Register of the Order jointly as at the Elections of Iohn Lord Talbot an 2. H. 6. of Sir Iohn Fastolf an 6. H. 6. and the Duke of Quinbery an 5. H. 6. all taken at the Feasts of St. George celebrated at Windesor And peradventure the Dean at those times received the Votes from the Knights-Companions on the Soveraign's side while the Register collected those other on the Prince's for we observe that in King Henry the Fifth's Reign in employments of other natures but of like manner as to the performance one whereof was to signifie the pleasure of the Soveraign to the Knights-Companions about their giving due Reverence first to God and afterwards to Himself and the other in a Ceremonial which directs and appoints the manner and order of Censing the Knights-Companions in both which the Dean was sent to perform the service on the right hand the Choire the Soveraign's side and the Register on the left Sometimes the Register of the Order took them himself alone as at the Election of Iohn Earl of Arundel an 10. H. 6. as also at another Election of the Earl of Monteyne and Sir Iohn Grey an 14. H. 6. And we likewise find that when the Office of Register was void and Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Duresme executed it during its vacancy the Bishop himself an 2. H. 8. collected the Suffrages In like manner when William Day Dean of Windesor officiated in the absence of George Carew Dean of the Chappel and Register of the Order at the Feasts of Saint George held at Whitehall the 18. and 19. years of Queen Elizabeth he performed this service This duty was likewise performed by the Register from the 15. year of King Henry the Eighth to the end of his and his Sons Reign as appears by the Black Book of the Order in those places where the taking of Scrutenies is treated of as also on the day of St. George celebrated the first of Queen Elizabeth by Iohn Boxhall and again at the Feast of St. George held an 1. Iac. by Gâ—leâ— Thompson who in the several times were Registers of this most Noble Order Nevertheless here it must be understood that what was in these Instances done by the Register or such as officiated for him was on the behalf of the Prelate and not otherwise But in the beginning of Queen Maries Reign we find the Chancellor of the Order began to perform this service being by King Henry the Eight's Statutes adjoined to those other Officers before appointed to collect the Scrutenies In absence of the Prelate and thereby made capable of the employment which afterwards we observe somewhat tacitely noted to be performed as if in his own right when the Register hath done it in the Chancellor's absence Though in truth it was no other then as when the Bishop of Duresme and Doctor Day immediately before remembred took the Scruteny in the vacancy of the Office and absence of the Register nevertheless on the
obtaining a Ring one of the Symbols of the Equestrian Order with them Whence have been wisely found out those three Degrees of Gentility Beginning Encrease and full Ripeness for Gentility hath its beginning in the Grandfather its encrease in the Father and full ripeness in the Son and therefore in the constitution of Gentility the Father and Grandfather bringing renown and reputation to the Son by same and estimation of life and actions are at least required to make it perfect and compleat because it cannot naturally and congruously grow to ripeness in the Son unless it hath formerly encreased in the Father and long before begun from the Grandfather As to this particular there is a memorable instance in that of the Lord William Pagit devested of the Garter about five years after his â—lection upon pretence of his not being a Gentleman of Blood by either Father or Mother But it is also observable in the Blue Book that this severity towards him proceeded not altogether from defect in point of Extraction but most from the prevalence and practice of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland by whose means he was most unjustly and undeservedly put out of the Order haply grudging the great honor he had formerly done the said Lord when being Earl Marshal of England his good advice and character of him procured from King Edward the Sixth a new Grant of those Arms under the Great Seal of England which he had sometime before received from Garter Principal King of Arms. But admit the defect of Blood and Arms for three descents were the true cause of his deprivation of the Garter yet what follows is mis-related by Sir Io. Howard as also by Iohn Stow to wit that the George and Garter were forthwith bestowed upon the Earl of Warwick eldest Son to the Duke of Northumberland who out of curtesie was so called as a commonly Dukes Sons in the life time of their Fathers are entituled of some Earldom whereof their Fathers have the honor but more truly had he said they were bestowed upon Sir Andrew Dudley Brother to the said Duke For although we find the said Earl of Warwick put in the Scruteny entred among the Annals of the Order of Edward the Sixth's Reign and taken at a Chapter held on St. George's day an 6. Ed. 6. the Lord Pagit being degraded in a Chapter held on the Eve of the said Feast yet was not the Earl Elected at that or any other time nor was any other person then chosen who had the honor to be inserted into that Scruteny except the Earl of Westmerland and the said Sir Andrew Dudley But to return the Ensigns of this most Noble Order were not with more disgrace taken from than with honor restored to the Lord Pagit assoon as Queen Mary came to the Crown and that by as great and absolute authority as did deprive him of them namely by Decree in Chapter holden at St. Iames's the 27. of September an 1. Mar. so that this Honor might be said to have been rather wrongfully suspended than justly lost For in confirmation of this Lords restauration he had the Garter forthwith buckled on his Leg again by two of the Knights-Companions present and the Collar of the Order put about his shoulders with the George depending thereat And a command then also given Garter to take care that his Atchievements should be again publickly set up over his Stall at Windesor being the same he before possest viz. the 9. on the Soveraign's side In this case of the Lord Pagit we observe that the very Records of the Order brand his degradation of injustice upon the foresaid pretence as if it were inferable thence that when Honor is conferr'd upon the score of Virtue and great Endownments the consideration of these supplies the defect and obscurity of Extraction Whence it came that the then Soveraign whose prerogative it was to declare and interpret the Statutes being at that time present in Chapter thought fit to qualifie the Law and gave him this honorable commendation That he had highly deserved of the Nation by his Prudence and Counsel And though the Exemplar entred in the Black Book hath the qualification of Virtue and good Report inserted only into it yet we observe the same in effect and practice considered in foregoing times with great circumspection by the Soveraigns and their Lieutenants before Election and that the Magnanimity Fortitude Prudence Generosity Fame Reputation and other Virtues and Merits whether innate or acquired of the Person proposed to Election have been by their prudent Inquisition looked into deliberately weighed and brought to the Rule for tryal as to their fitness and capacity of the honor of this most Noble Order These and such like Qualities we see King Henry the Fifth took into his consideration at an Election in the 9. year of his Reign and for which he preferr'd before others then Nominated and presented unto him Iohn Earl Marshal William Earl of Suffolk Iohn Lord Clifford Sir Lewis Robertsack and Sir Heer tanke Clux In like manner did Humfrey Duke of Gloucester Deputy to King Henry the Sixth in the second year of his Reign weigh and examine diligently with himself the Fortitude and Prudence with other the illustrious Actions and deserts of Iohn Lord Talbot before his Election and thereunto gave an approbation worthy his own judgment and not less than that noble Candidates virtue merited It is further remembred in the Annals of this Order that for these and such like noble and heroick Qualifications persons in after times were likewise preferr'd in Election before others And particularly we observe it taken notice of an 28. H. 8. upon the Election of Sir Nicholas Carew That he was a very fit person upon the eminency of his Extraction and Fame and the many worthy and noble Actions he had performed so as that all present did without any delay unanimously approve of his Election Of like nature those Commendations given to Henry Earl of Cumberland upon his Election wherein also particular services are taken notice of viz. the many famous and loyal Atchievements performed by him both at several other times and then more especially when the tumult of Rebellion began to break forth in those Borders where he had his habitation The second Point is That unless he be a Knight he is not qualified for Election or as one of the Exemplers express it unless girded with the unstained Girdle of Knighthood and the same in terms do the other Bodies of Statutes declare Whence we may again mind the Reader of the singular regard and jealousie the Law of the Order hath of this particular Qualification above the rest And lest chance or inadvertency might let slip a Person not Knighted into the Scruteny besides the two former cautions given touching Nomination yet is it also here in another Article a third
early after the Institution in the case of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who as is before noted was removed from the seventh Stall on the Princes side wherein he was first placed to the Princes Stall it self this act is said to be done by the decree of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions and no doubt but as this was done by so good authority so upon no less inducements to the Soveraign and whole Society But there are few of these extraordinary cases which taking up little time we will remember here William of Henalt Earl of Ostervant was advanced by King Richard the Second from the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side to the Duke of Britains Stall it being the second on the Princes side Next Humfry Duke of Gloucester in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth having been first installed in the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side was when he came to be Lord Protector removed to the second Stall on the same side Afterward Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick by the consent of the Knights-Companions in Chapter an 39. H. 6. was translated to the Duke of Buckingham's Stall the Lord Bonvill to the Lord Scales his Seat Sir Thomas Kyriell to the place of the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Wenlock to the Stall of Viscount Beaumont And lastly Ferdinand King of Naples and Sicily was removed to the third Stall on the Soveraign's side after he had been installed in the third on the Princes side yet this was an advance of so little honor as it is scarce worth taking notice of being but the very next above that wherein he was first Installed But King Henry the Eighth thinking it requisite for the Soveraigns of this most Noble Order to be impowered by a general Law to do that at pleasure which the former Soveraign's did not but by the power of particular Acts or Orders in Chapter after he had confirmed the ancient Law of succeeding in the Stall of the immediate Predecessor not to be changed without the Soveraign's License nevertheless excepting Strangers he in the next succeeding Article established this Priviledge upon Himself and Successors That if there were any Place or Stall void the Soveraign at his own pleasure might advance and translate any Knight of the Society into the void Stall so that it were higher than that wherein he sat before This in effect did vacat the ancient Law of succeeding in Stalls by him seemingly confirm'd to Knights-Subjects for afterward Translations preceding to Installations became so frequent that the right an Elect-Knight had to his Predecessors Stall was seldom enjoyed Howbeit hereby he setled a power to gratifie and oblige such of the Knights-Companions as should be thought worthy the honor of advancing without recourse had to a Chapter for a special and particular allowance and from hence the Custom began to issue out Warrants under the Soveraign's Sign manual for the Translation of Stalls some convenient time before the day of Installation approched and consequently the alteration and removal of such of the Knights-Companions Helms Crests Banners and Plates who should receive the honor of a higher Place their Atchievements being by virtue of such Warrants set up over the Stalls to which they were advanced there to remain during the time their owners continued therein And now that we may see in what manner King Henry the Eighth made use of the powers and priviledges setled by the foresaid Articles both as to the removal of Stalls and doing it by special Warrant which is Garters discharge we shall exhibit a few Examples first shewing in what order the Stalls were ranked shortly after passing this Law that by comparing some following years with these Schemes the alteration may with greater readiness be discerned Knights of the Order of the Garter as they stood ranked in their Stalls Anno 17. H. 8. The Soveraign's side The Princes side 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Charles the Fifth 2. Duke of Richmond 2. Archduke of Austria 3. Marquess Dorset 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Earl of Northumberland 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of Essex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Lord Dacre 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Earl of Westmerland 11. Lord La Ware 12. Earl of Rutland 12. Lord Sandys 13. Viscount Rocheford 13. Sir Richard Wingfield Knights of the Order of the Garter as they stood ranked in their Stalls Anno 18. H. 8. 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Charles the Fifth 2. Duke of Richmond 2. Archduke of Austria 3. Marquess Dorset 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Earl of Northumberland 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of â—ssex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Westmerland 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz-Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Earl of Rutland 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Void 11. Viscount Rochford 12. Lord Mountjoy 12. Lord Sandys 13. Sir William Fitz Williams 13. Sir Henry Guldeford In the latter of these two Schemes drawn for the Translation of Stalls an 18. H. 8. it may be observ'd first that on the Soveraign's side the Earl of Westmerland was advanced from the eleventh Stall to the seventh being void by the death of the Earl of Worcester The Earl of Rutland from the twelfth to the ninth that being also void by the Lord Dacres death then Viscount Rochford from the thirteenth Stall to the eleventh on the Princess side where the Lord La Ware lately sat but then also deceased And lastly the three newly Elect Knights were thus disposed of at their Installation first the Lord Montjoy into the twelfth Stall then lately void by the removal of the Earl of Rutland next Sir William Fitz Williams into the thirteenth Stall from whence Viscount Rochford was removed and lastly Sir Henry Guldeford into that void by the death of Sir Richard Wingfield viz. the thirteenth on the Princes side but the Stall from whence the Earl of Westmerland was removed remained yet void An appointment for the Translation of Stalls upon admission of Francis the French King An. 19. H. 8. 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor 2. The French King 2. The King of Bohemia 3. Duke of Richmond 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Marquess Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of Essex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Westmerland 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Earl of Rutland 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Earl of Oxenford 11. Viscount Rochford 12. Lord Mountjoy 12. Lord Sandys 13. Sir William Fitz Williams 13. Sir Henry Guildford The setlement of Stalls made the 26. of Ianuary in the following year affords us these observations First by reason of the French King Election which past the
21. Oct. an 18. H. 8. and to make room for his Instalment in the second Stall on the Soveraign's side which hitherto had been possessed by the Duke of Richmond both the said Duke and Marquess of Dorset were removed lower the Duke into the said Marques's Stall and the Marquess into the Earl of Northumberlaâ—ds then lately void by death And this was now so done that the Soveraign might express what honor he could to a King between whom and him there had lately past so great endearments All the rest of the Stalls may be observed to stand ranked as they did the year before and the void Stall on the Soveraign's side to be here supplied by the Installation of the Earl of Oxford Elected in the same Chapter with the French King In the 20.21 and 22. years of King Henry the Eighth the Stalls received no alteration and but little an 23. of the same King when the death of the Marquess Dorset occasioned advancing the Duke of Suffolk into his void Stall and placing the Earl of Arundel in the Dukes Whereupon the Earl of Northumberland Elected in the room of the Marquess Dorset was Installed in that which the Earl of Arundel relinquished and in this order they continued the 24. and 25. years of this King Nor was there any removal made an 26. H. 8. for albeit the Earls of Beaumont and Newblâ—nke French Noblemen were elected in a Chapter held at Callire the 27. of Oct. an 24. H. 8. yet at their Installation they were placed in the two Stalls then void by the death of two of the Knights-Companions viz. the first in the Stall of the Lord Dudley and the other in that of Sir Henry Guilford But the alterations became yet more considerable and extended almost to a general Translation which were made in the Stalls an 27. H. 8. upon the admission of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland one Stall being then void by the death of the Lord Montjoy for there remained unchanged only these five viz. the Earl of Rutland and Earl of Beaumont but called only Lord Beaumont in the Warrant for Translation on the Soveraign's side and the Emperor the King of Bohemia and Duke of Suffolk on the Princess side Nevertheless this so great an alteration was not made but upon consultation in Chapter held at Greenwich on St. George's day in the aforesaid year where the Soveraign with the assent of the rest of the Knights-Companions present thought it expedient that forasmuch as the said King of Scots was newly admitted into the Society of the Order and that there ought to be assigned a Stall answerable to his greatness that the Stalls of the Knights-Companions should be translated so as the said King should be placed next to the King of the Romans and the rest to be ranked according to the Soveraign's pleasure and thereupon it was given in charge to Garter to see the same accordingly performed The setlement of the Stalls at this time as it was sub-signed by the Soveraign coming to our hands we have exactly transcribed hither The Kings Highness appointment for the Stall of the King of Scots An. R. sui 27.23 April 1535. 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor 2. The French King 2. The King of the Romans 3. The King of Scotland 3. The Duke of Richmond 4. The Duke of Norfolk 4. The Duke of Suffolk 5. The Marquess of Exceter 5. The Earl of Shrewsbury 6. The Earl of Arundel 6. The Earl of Essex 7. The Earl of Northumberland 7. The Earl of Westmerland 8. The Earl of Wiltshire 8. The Earl of Sussex 9. The Earl of Rutland 9. The Earl of Oxenford 10. The Lord Beaumond 10. The Viscount Lysle 11. The Lord Burgaveny 11. The Earl of Newblanke 12. The Lord Ferrars 12. The Lord Darcy 13. The Lord Sandys 13. Sir William Fitz William  Henry R. In this Scheme we find the King of Scots placed in the Duke of Richmond's Stall who with the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Shrewsbury Arundel Essex Northumberland Westmerland and Sussex were all removed into the next Stall below that which each of them sat in before whether it were on the Soveraign's or Princes side The Marquess of Exeter to the next below his own on the Soveraign's side Viscount Lisle from the seventh to the tenth Stall on the Prince's side the Lord Abergaveny from the eighth on the Prince's side to the eleventh on the Soveraign's side the Lord Ferrars from the ninth on the Prince's side to the twelfth on the Soveraign's side the Lord Darcy from the tenth on the Prince's side to the twelfth on the same and the Lord Sandys from the twelfth on the Prince's side to the thirteenth on the Soveraign's And as these before mentioned Knights Companions were removed lower so the Earls of Oxford Wilts and Newblanke were honored with higher Stalls than they before possest for the first of them was advanced from the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side to the ninth on the Prince's the second from the eleventh on the Prince's side to the eighth on the Soveraign's and the third from the thirteenth of the Prince's to the eleventh on the same side So that in this last example though many of the Knights-Companions were removed lower yet it may be observed that the English Nobility were now ranked according to their Degrees first Dukes next a Marquess then Earls next Viscounts afterwards Barons and last of all Knights Some few removals were made in the following years of this King but none of so great note as this last mentioned and therefore we need not enlarge our Instances Nor were there any considerable translations in the Reigns of King Edward the Sixth or Queen Mary But immediately after Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown by consent of the Knights-Companions in Chapter held the 12. of Ianuary an 1. Eliz. the Atchievments of Philip King of Spain late Soveraign of the Order were removed to the Stall of the Emperor Ferdinand void by his being advanced into the Princes Stall for which Garter had then command given him And when the French King Charles the Ninth was Elected into this Order to wit on the morrow after St. George's day an 6. Eliz. it occasioned the Soveraign then to alter some Stalls to leave one vacant for him and the better to observe this alteration which was considerable we shall first shew how they stood ranked on the Eve of the said Feast Elizabeth R.  1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Ferdinand 2. The King of Spain 2. The Duke of Savoy 3. The Constable of France 3. The Duke of Holstein 4. The Earl of Arundel 4. The Marquess of Winchester 5. The Earl of Derby 5. The Earl of Penbroke 6. The Duke of Norfolk 6. The Lord Clynton 7. Void 7. The Marquess of Northampton 8. Void 8. Void 9. The Lord Effingham 9. The Earl of Sussex 10. The Earl of Shrewsbury 10. The Lord Hastings 11. The Viscount
Mountagu 11. The Lord Robert Dudley 12. The Earl of Northumberland 12. The Earl of Warwick 13. Void 13. The Lord Hunsdon The 14. of May following being appointed for the Installation of Francis Earl of Bedford and Sir Henry Sidney Elected at the same time with the French King the Stalls were removed by the Soveraign's appointment and setled in the following order Elizabeth R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Ferdinand 2. The King of Spain 2. Void 3. The Duke of Savoy 3. The Constable of France 4. The Earl of Arundel 4. The Duke of Holstein 5. The Marquess of Winchester 5. The Earl of Derby 6. The Earl of Penbroke 6. The Duke of Norfolk 7. The Lord Clynton 7. The Marquess of Northampton 8. The Lord Effingham 8. The Earl of Sussex 9. The Earl of Shrewsbury 9. The Lord Hastings 10. The Viscount Mountagu 10. The Lord Robert Dudley 11. The Earl of Northumberland 11. The Earl of Warwick 12. The Lord Hunsdon 12. The Earl of Bedford 13. Void 13. Sir Henry Sidney Where beside the translation of the Stranger Princes whom we shall mention a little below we see the Marquess of Winchester the Earls of Derby and Penbroke the Duke of Norfolk and the Lord Clynton were each of them seated in the next lower Stall to that they enjoyed before And by the advancement of the Lord Effingham Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Mountagu and Earl of Northumberland each a Stall higher on the Soveraign's side and the like advance of the Earl of Sussex Lord Hastings Lord Dudley and Earl of Warwick on the Princes side the eighth Stall on the Soveraign's side and that opposite thereunto on the Princes were now filled up The Lord Hunsdon was likewise advanced from the lowest Stall on the Princes side to the twelfth on the Soveraign's and lastly the two Elect-Knights were installed in the twelfth and thirteenth Stall on the Prince's side Beside the power established upon the Soveraign's of this most Noble Order of translating Stalls when a vacancy hapned King Henry the Eighth further added this larger Prerogative That the Soveraign once in his life might if it pleased him make a general Translation of all the Stalls at his pleasure except of Emperors Kings Princes and Dukes who being setled in Stalls agreeable to their Dignities should keep their Stalls and Places if such a general Translation happened unless advanced to a higher Room and Stall In which Translation the long continuance in the Order and the praises worthiness and merits of the Knights-Companions were to be considered and remembred But this branch of the Soveraign's Prerogative in the Order was never yet made use of as we can find though that Translation an 27. H. 8. came somthing neer it perhaps lest it might raise too great animosities among the Knights Subjects forasmuch as that of translating only when there hapned a vacancy Begot great emulations which at length introduced an alteration and to which we shall pass after we have taken notice of a Clause added in the 22. Article of King Henry the Eighth's Statutes relating to Stranger Princes Here therefore it is to be observed that the ancient Law of succeeding in Stalls was also in relation to them whollyaltered For King Henry the Eighth upon the establishment of his Body of Statutes not only appointed those Strangers then present of the Order to be seated next himself but that all Emperors Kings and Princes should hold their Stalls after their Estates and the very next unto the Soveraign though Knights-Subjects upon vacancy became removeable at pleasure Hereupon the Emperor Maximilian the Second and after him Rudolph the Second his Son had the Princes Stall assigned them after their Election into the Order The French Kings Francis the First Henry the Second Charles the Ninth Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth were Installed in the next below being the second on the Soveraign's side And when there were more then one King at a time in the Order the second Stall on the Prince's side was assigned to him of whom the former had precedency allowed him in relation to his State and Dignity not of antiquity in the Order as it was by the King of Bohemia an 19. H. 8. The King of Spain an 8. Eliz. So also upon the same Rule and for the same Reason was somtimes the third Stall on the Soveraign's side possest by Kings as in the cases of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland an 27. H. 8. and Frederick the Third King of Denmark an 25. Eliz. And lastly we find that Princes Strangers were placed next to Kings according to their state as were the Dukes of Savoy Montmorency and Holstein an 3. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhine an 25. Eliz. and Frederick Prince Palatine and Maurice Prince of Orange an 11. Iac. Regis But notwithstanding these Assignments of Stalls to Strangers they were nevertheless subject to removal somtime to Stalls higher than their own upon the death of a Stranger who died possest of a superior Stall and somtimes again to others lower for the advancing a Knight of greater dignity where the upper Stalls were already fill'd else could they not be placed or hold their Stalls according to their respective States as the Statute doth enjoin nor indeed would any Stranger King since the ancient manner of succeeding in Stalls received alteration have accepted of Election into the Order unless room had been made to seat him in a Stall sutable to his Dignity Instances of Advancement in translation of Stalls are of Ferdinand Emperor of Germany who after the death of the Emperor Charles the Fifth his Brother was advanced from the second Stall on the Prince's side into the Prince's Stall an 1. Eliz. Of Philip the Second King of Spain advanced from the second on the Prince's side to the second on the Soveraign's an 2. Eliz. after the death of the French King Henry the Second Of Henry the Fourth of France advanced from the second on the Soveraign's side to the Prince's Stall an 1. Iac. R. Of Christerne the Fourth King of Denmark an 9. Iac. R. from the second on the Soveraign's side to the said Princes Stall after the death of the French King Henry the Fourth And of Christierne the Fifth King of Denmark advanced from the fourth Stall on the Prince's side to the second on the Soveraign's an 22. Car. 2. Among the Princes Strangers we find Emanuel Duke of Savoy advanced from the third on the Prince's side to the second of the same side an 2. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine from the fourth on the Soveraign's side to the third on the â—rince's an 32. Eliz. four years after the Duke of Holstein's death Frederick Prince Palatine an 1. Car. 1. was advanced from the second on the Prince's to the second on the Soveraign's side And Henry Frederick Prince
next place the Commissioners or Assistants or Knights-Companions lay the Hood upon the Knights right shoulder over the Mantle and bringing the Tippet athwart his Brest tuck it under his Girdle at which his Sword hangs And lastly they tye the Collar about his shoulders over his Mantle and Hood and at this part of the Investiture these words of Admonition are also pronounced To the encrease of your honor and in token of the Honorable Order you have received Take this Collar about your Neck with the Image of the holy Martyr and Christs Knight St. George by whose aid you being defended may pass through the prosperities and adversities of this world that having here the Victory as well of your Ghostly as Bodily Enemies you may not only receive the glory and renown of temporal Chivalry but also at the last the endless and everlasting reward of Victory This form of words received likewise alteration when the present Soveraign was to be Installed being varied after this manner Wear this Collar about thy Neck adorned with the Image of the blessed Martyr and Soldier of Christ St. George by whose imitation provoked thou maist so overpass both prosperous and adverse encounters that having stoutly vanquished thy Enemies both of body and soul thou mayest not only receive the praise of this transient Combat but be crowned with the Palm of eternal victory And here before we pass further it will be needful to observe that anciently at the Solemnities of Installation when the Soveraign or his Lieutenant was present the Elect-Knight after he had been invested with the Mantle in his Stall was immediately conducted out of the Choire back to the Chapter-house where the said Soveraign or his Lieutenant was accustomed to remain till he returned there to receive Investiture with the Collar of the Order from the Soveraign or his Lieutenant's hands which being done he is said to have received the full possession of his Habit. And this is evident first from King Henry the Eighth's Statutes which direct after the Elect-Knight's Investiture with the Mantle That he shall return into the Chapter-house where he shall receive from the Soveraign or his Deputy the Collar of the Order and secondly from the Practice about that time as is manifest in the cases of the Lord Montjoy Sir William Fitz Williams and Sir Henry â—ouldford installed an 18. H. 8. and the Lord Cromwell an 30. H. 8. as also of the Lord Russell Sir Thomas Cheney and Sir William Kingston installed an 31. H. 8. of the Marquess Dorset Earl of Derby Lord Seymour of Sudeley and Sir William Pagit an 1. E. 6. of the Earl of Huntingdon Lords La Ware and Cobham and Sir William Herbert an 3. E. 6. so likewise of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Hunsdon an 3. Eliz. of the Earl of Northumberland an 5. Eliz. and of the Duke of Montmorency an 14. Eliz. The Proceeding back into the Chapter-house upon this occasion was ordered almost after the same manner as that before mentioned into the Choire only with this difference that the new installed Knight took here his place according to the dignity of his Stall and so did the aforesaid Duke of Montmorency when he returned to the Chapter-house to receive his Collar for because the Stall wherein he had been installed was of a higher rank than either of those belonging to the two Assistants that conducted him to his Installation they therefore proceeded before not on either side him thither But this is observable that when the Soveraign's Lieutenant remained in the Chapter-house while the Elect-Knight proceeded to his Installation the Vsher of the Black-Rod proceeded not with the said Knight but stayed behind to attend upon the Lieutenant as appears from the notices of the before mentioned Installations of the Lord Russell Earl of Huntington and Earl of Northumberland and as soon as the Investiture with the Collar was finished the Lieutenant proceeded to the Choire in the Rear and the new invested and installed Knight in place according to his Stall A President or two of such Proceeding follows The Lieutenant's Proceeding into the Choire at the Installation of the Lord Russell and others an 31. H. 8. after they had received their Collars in the Chapter-house Officers of Arms. Knights newly installed the junior formost Knights-Assistants Black-Rod Register Garter The Lieutenant In the same manner was the Lieutenan's Proceeding ordered at the Installation of the Marquess Dorset and others an 1. E. 6. After the Proceeding had entred the Choire and the Lieutenant and Knights-Companions taken their Seats with the usual Ceremonies the Service of the Church began But when the Installation was performed by Commissioners then was the Collar of the Order laid on the Cushen with the Mantle and born before the Elect-Knight to his Stall were after his Investiture with the Mantle and Hood he received Investiture with the Collar also and among sundry examples we shall instance in these The Lord William Howard an 1. 2. Plâ—l Mar. was â—irst invested with his Mantle and then had his Collar put about his neck by the Lord Clynton and Lord Pagit the two Commissioners appointed for his Installation The Earl of Lincolne and Viscount Mountague Commissioners for the Installation of the Earls of Derby and Penbroke put on their Collars in their Stalls and thus was it done by the Commissioners at the Installations of the Earl of Rutland and Lord Cobham an 26. Eliz. and of the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland an 34. of the same Queen And in like manner at all Installations solemnized since Elizabeth's Reign where the Soveraign hath vouchsafed his presence the ancient Custom of returning to the Chapter-house for the Collar being laid aside the Knights-Companions who led the Elect-Knights to their Stall did there invest them with the Collars also as we find in the case of the Earl of Rutland Sir George Villars and Viscount Lisle an 14. Iac. R. who being come to their several Stalls were first invested with their Mantles next their Hoods and after that their Collars In like manner did the Earls of Dorset and Holland invest the Earl of Suâ—â—olk with the Collar in his Stall an 4. Car. 1. and thus hath it been observed at all Installations since where the Soveraign hath been present at the Solemnity As soon as the Ceremony of Investiture with the Mantle Hood and Collar is finished the Commissioners or Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions take the Book of the Statutes of the Order and deliver it into the hands of the new invested Knight Thus this part of the Ceremony was observed to the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland after their Investiture an 34. Eliz. and to the Earl of Rutland Sir George Villars and Viscount Lysle an 14. Iac. R. and so generally to all Elect-Knights since This Book the Knight is to keep
Elected the 24. of April an 8. Eliz. but it was above a year after â—re the Commission issued out to the Earl of Sussex viz. 20. May an 9. Eliz. for carrying the Ensigns of the Order over to â—im It was seven years after the Election of the French King Henry the Third before the Warrant issued out to provide his Robes and almost two years longer ere the Earl of Derby went over with them in all about nine years and something above eight months And in another instance of a French King namely Henry the Fourth we find it six years and a half from the time of his Election to his reception of the Habit and Ensigns of the Order which Solemnity fell on the 10. of October an 38. Eliz. Lastly we observe that it was five years and a half after the Election of Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg before the Embassy with the Ornaments of the Order were sent unto him for we find he was Elected at St. George's Feast an 39. Eliz. and the Commission of Legation to the Lord Spencer and Sir William Dethick bears Teste at Woodstock the 18. of Sept. an 1. Iac. R. SECT II. Preparations made for the Legation IN reference to this solemn Embassie there are several things to be provided before the Ambassadors or Commissioners take their journey as first 1. Credential Letters 2. Commission of Legation 3. Warrants for the Habit and Ensigns of the Order and 4. other Necessaries The Credential Letters are as to particulars drawn sutable to the present occasion by the Chancellor of the Order and directed to the Stranger-Elect but the substance in general is That the Soveraign having elected him into the Society of the Order hath sent his Ambassadors with full power to present the Habit and perform the Ceremonies in such case due and accustomed as if himself were present And further to desire him to give credit to all that his Ambassadors shall say or perform in his behalf in reference to their Commission as he would do to himself These Letters pass under the Sign manual of the Soveraign and Signet of the Order but it is observable that those sent to Emmanuel Duke of Savoy were subscribed both by King Philip and Queen Mary The Commission of Legation is likewise to be prepared by the Chancellor oâ— the Order fairly ingrossed in Velom and sealed with the Great Seal of the Order the substance of which for the most part hath been as followeth First the merits and worthiness of the Elect-Stranger to deserve the honor of Election and the reasons inducing the Soveraign to confer the same upon him are elegantly set forth in the Preamble Secondly the persons nominated for this honorable employment are ordained authorized and deputed and therein styled Ambassadors Procurators and special Messengers and so are they acknowledged to be by the Strangers-Elect in their Certificates of the Receipt of the Habit. Thirdly their power authority and special command is to address themselves to the Stranger-Elect and to present and deliver him from the Soveraign the Garter Mantle and other the Ensigns of the Order with due and accustomed Ceremonies and Solemnities where note that if there were four or five joined in a Commission as it hapned sometimes heretofore then any five four three or two were of the Quorum whereof the Principal in the Embassy was always one Fourthly they were impowered to require from the Stranger-Elect his Oath according to the form and manner prescribed in the Statutes but this clause we only find inserted in the Commissions of Legation to Charles Duke of Burgunâ—y an 9. E. 4. and Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria an 15. H. 8. and omitted in all Commissions since that time And lastly to perform accomplish and dispatch those things which they should judge necessary on this occasion in like manner as if the Soveraign should or were obliged to doe if he were present in his own person And this latitude was thought convenient to allow the Ambassadors in case any matter in Ceremony or other Circumstances should be thought necessary or expedient to use not repugnant to the Statutes of the Order which their Instructions had not sufficiently provided for As touching the first of these particulars we have spoken to it already but the second particular relating to the persons nominated in the Commission to perform this service we conceive most proper to handle here The first Embassy upon this occasion recorded in the Black-Book of the Order is that to Edward King of Portugal an 13. H. 6. to whom for the dignity of the Affair Garter was thought sit by the Chapter to be sent alone with the Habâ—t of the Order And hence is the original of Garter's claim to this Employment Nevertheless in succeeding times as the Order grew up into esteem both at home and abroad some one of the Knights-Companions was made choice of by the Soveraign to be the Principal in these Legations as were Galliard Sieur de Duras sent to Charles Duke of Burgundy an 9. E. 4. Arthur Plâ—rtaâ—enet Viscount Lysle to the French King Francis the First an 19. H. 8. William Marquess of Northampton to the French King Henry the Second an 5. E. 6. Edward Lord Clynton and Say to Emanuel Duke of Savoy an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. Henry Lord Hunsdon to Charles the Ninth French King an 6. Eliz. Thomas Earl of Sussex to Maximilian the Emperor an 9. Eliz. Henry Earl of Derby to the French King Henry the Third an 27. Eliz. And Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury to Henry the Fourth the French King an 38. Eliz. Sometimes other Noblemen and persons of great quality though not Knights-Companions of the Order yet correspondent to the Degree of the Stranger-Elect or to the esteem the present Interest begat with the Soveraign were employed chief in these Embassies among whom Sir Charles Somerset created after Earl of Worcester was sent to the Emperor Maximilian an 6. H. 7. Henry Lord Morley to Don Ferdinand Prince of Spain Arch-Duke of Austria an 15. H. 8. The Lord William Howard Brother to Thomas Duke of Norfolk to Iames the Fifth King of Scotland an 26. H. 8. The Lord Willoughby of Frâ—â—â— to Frederick the Third King of Denmark Roger Earl of Rutland to Christian the Fourth King of Denmark an 1. Iac. R. The Lord Spencer of Wormleighton to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg the same year Sir Ralph Winwood to Maurice Prince of Orange an 10 Iac. R. Sir Iacobs Spene of Wormston to Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden an 3. Car. 1. Dudley Viscount Doncaster to Henry Prince of Orange the same year And Sir William Boswell to Charles Prince Palatine of the Rhyne an 9. Car. 1. In Embassies of this nature it was heretofore usual to join some persons of rank and quality or Office neer the Soveraign in the Commission and such were Sir Iohn Scott Controller of
the Embassy to Maurice Prince of Orange one Herald sufficed because the Garter and George only not the whole Habit of the Order were sent unto him and consequently there was then but little service to be done at such an Investiture Concerning other Companions and Attendants in these Legations they are both for Quality and Number such and so many as the Chief in the Legation thinks sufficient for the honor of the Soveraign and the reputation of the Embassy and in what Equipage some of these Ambassadors have been attended heretofore may be seen from the following Lists The Names of the Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen that accompanied the Marquess of Northampton in his Legation with the Habit of the Order to the French King Henry the Second 15. May an 5. E. 6. The Earls of Worcester Rutland Ormond Viscounts Fitzwalter Lysle Lords Bourgoune Bray Evers Mr. Throgmorton Mr. Sidney both of the Soveraign's Privy Chamber Sir William Cobham Sir Iohn Cutts Sir Iohn Perrott Sir Anthony Guydot Sir Gilbert Dethick Mr. Fitz Williams Mr. Carre Mr. Knolles Mr. Edw. Warney Mr. Fr. Warney Mr. Young Mr. William Thomas Secretary to the Lords Commissioners Mr. Nicholas Alexander Mr. Lucas Frugard Chester Herald at Arms. Rougdragon Pursuivant at Arms The whole number of Noblemen and Gentlemen with all their Trains was 260. The Names of the Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen who accompanied the Earl of Sussex in his Legation with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order to Maximilian the Emperor an 9. Eliz. The Lord North Baron of Kyrtling Sir Egremond Radcliff the Ambassadors Brother Sir Thomas Mildmay Sir Gilbert Dethick Garter Sir Henry Cobham Two of the Soveraign's band of Pensioners Sir Edmund Powell Two of the Soveraign's band of Pensioners William Dethick Rouge Cross Pursuivant at Arms. William Weston one of the Queens Servants Gentlemen attending on the Ambassador Iohn Valpe Doctor of Physick Anthony Overton Prothonotary William Chancellor Chaplain George Frevill Robert Butler William Mesten Henry Mildmay Thomas Higham Peter Gough Arthur Hevingham Albert Philipps Servants to the Ambassador Henry Eritage Iames Bradshaw William Hamlett Thomas Gest. Simon Smith Thomas Barber Servants to the Lord North. Arnold Segrell Leonard Dickes Servants to Sir Tho. Mildmay Iohn Strange Iames Servants to Sir Gilbert Dethick Charles Poirett Iohn Rudde Iohn Child Iohn Fletcher Servant to Sir Henry Cobham Hans Servant to Sir Edmund Powell Charles The Names of the Emperor's Gentlemen that waited upon the Lord Ambassador the Earl of Sussex in Vienna 1567. Casper van Mynkonitz Sewer Seymfred van Alderston Carver Marquess Spiller Cupbearer William van Pellustrans Heralds of Arms. Hans Poyntsott Heralds of Arms. Nicholas Radode Comptroller of the House George Swikle Clerk of the Kitchin Item 10. Archers Item 10. Holbardiers George Weaver Master Cook In the Kitchin 10 persons In the Cellar 5. In the Larder 5. In the Confectionary 5. In the Chaundry 2. In the Wardrobe 3. In the Scullery 3. And one Porter In all 62 persons The Names of the Noblemen Knights Esquires and Gentlemen who gave their attendance on the Earl of Derby sent Ambassador with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order to the French King Henry the Third 20 Ian. an 27. Eliz. The Lord Sands The Lord Windsor Mr. Scroop Son and Heir to the Lord Scroop Mr. Windsore Son and Heir apparent to the Lord Windsore Sir Richard Shirborne Knight Treasurer Sir Randolph Brereton Knight Mr. Clarencieux King of Arms. Mr. Anthony Cook Heir to Sir Anthony Cook Mr. Gerard Son and Heir to Sir Thomas Gerard. Mr. Fleetwood Mr. Newdygate Mr. Stallange Mr. Somerset Herald of Arms. Mr. Crompton Mr. Smith Mr. Denton Mr. Milles Secretary Mr. Thomas Arderne Steward Mr. Fox Comptroller Mr. Newton Gentleman Huisher Mr. Philipps Chaplain Mr. Alexander Gentleman of the Horse Mr. Moorcrost Physitian The Earls waiting Gentlemen Mr. Dawney Son and Heir to Sir Iohn Dawney Mr. Iames Legh Son and Heir to Sir Pierce a Legh Mr. Warenne Mr. Thomas Shirborne Mr. Stanley Mr. Charles Doyley Mr. Chevalier Matchett Mr. Richard Starkey Mr. Brereton Mr. Thomas Hamner Mr. Richard Lloyd Mr. Salisbury Mr. Richard Bussy Mr. Iohn Downes Mr. Francis Starkey Mr. Baptist. Mr. Thomas Randolph Mr. Tusser Mr. Anthony Chambers Mr. Nicholas Forton Mr. Gervase Rosell Thomas Burscogh Clerks of the Kitchin Roger Iollibrand Clerks of the Kitchin In the third place there is to be prepared for this Legation Warrants for the Habit and Ensigns of the Order and these are also to be drawn up by the Chancellor of the Order who is to attend the Soveraign for his Sign manual thereunto One Warrant is to be the Master of the Soveraign's Great Waâ—drobe to deliver to Garter King of Arms the Mantle with a Scutcheon of St. George within a Garter embroidered on the left shoulder and Tassels thereunto belonging as also the Surcoat and Hood There is also another Warrant drawn up for the delivery of the Ensigns of the Order to Garter namely the rich Garter the Great Collar of the Order with a George appendant and another smaller George hanging in a Blue Ribband together with Cases for them lined with Purple Velvet and gilt on the outside And sometimes these Ensigns have been delivered out of the Iewel-house to the Herald at Arms joined in the Legation in Garters's stead as where those sent to Charles King of Sweden an 20. Car. 2. But those provided for Iohn George Duke of Saxony to Sir Thomas Higgons the principal in the Legation to him for which they gave their several Receipts The Soveraign's Warrant for the delivery of those Ensigns sent to Maximilian the Emperor was directed to the Lord Treasurer of England for which Garter gave his Receipt But for those sent to the French King Henry the Fourth the Warrant was directed to the Master of the Iewel-house and out of this Office have all the Ensigns of the Order before mentioned been since delivered There are several other Necessaries to be provided which may pass as appurtenances to the former and are sometimes inserted into the Soveraign's Warrants for the Habit of the Order and at other times issue forth by particular Warrants namely A Black Velvet Cap with white Feathers and a Heron Sprig A Girdle and Hangers of the same coloured Velvet with the Surcoat A yard of Purple Velvet hath been usually allowed out of the Great Wardrobe for covering the Book of Statutes which the Soveraign sends to the Elect-Stranger and for the Velom Writing and Binding the said Book there is a Fee paid by the Soveraign to the Register of the Order which generally hath been proportioned according to the Degree of the Stranger for this Officer had allowed him for the Book sent  l. s. d. To the French King Henry the Fourth 5 0 0 To Iohn Casimire Count Palatine 4 0 0 To the Duke of Holstein an 3. Iac. 3 6 8 To the King of Sweden an 3.
Henry the Seventh's Gown at his assumption of the Soveraign's Stall was made of Black Velvet and lined with Cloth of Gold full of red Roses Prince Arthur wore a Gown of Crimson Velvet lined with Black Velvet when he proceeded to his Installation And the Gown made for the foresaid Henry Duke of York was of Crimson Velvet lined with Black Sattin In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the materials of some of the Knights Gowns were as followeth The Lord Dudley's of Tinsel Sattin Violet lined with Black Sarcenet The Lord Howard's of Tawney Velvet furr'd with Leopards The Lord Ware 's of Tawney Velvet lined with Black Bogye The Earl of Devonshire's of Cloth of Silver lined with Cloth of Gold The Viscount Lysle's of Black Velvet furr'd with Black Bogye The Lord Walter 's of Black Damask and double Black Velvet Henry Fitz Roy Duke of Richmond of Black Sattin with Buttons and Aglets of Gold on his Sleeves and furr'd with Sables The Earl of Arundel's of Tawney Velvet lined with Black double Sarcenet The Earl of Westmerland's of Black Velvet lined with Sattin with Aglets of Gold The Earl of Oxford's of Black Sattin lined with Jennets The Lord Russell's of Black Velvet lined with Black Sattin The Coat of King Philip installed an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. was embroidered on Velvet with Gold-Wire of Goldsmiths work and lined with White Taffaty His Gown was made of Purple Velvet garnished with the same and twisted Silver Lace laid on the Gard his other Coat of Velvet embroidered with Silver lined with White This kind of upper Garment or Gown continued also in fashion a great part of Queen Elizabeth's Reign for we likewise find that the Earl of Leicester's Gown was made of Velvet garded with four gards of the same and thereon 38 pair of Aglets The Lord Burghley's of Taffaty with three gards of Velvet and three dozen of great Buttons of Gold The Lord Buckhurst's of Velvet with a broad embroidery gard and Buttons of Gold The Lord Shandos of Sattin with a broidered gard of Velvet and two dozen of Gold Buttons The Earl of Worcester's of Velvet lined with double Sarcenet with a paceman Lace about it The Duke of Norfolk's of Black Sattin furr'd with Squirrels faced with Sables with pair of Aglets The Earl of Bedford's such another Gown but had a Silver Lace about it The Lord Hunsdon's of Sattin furr'd with Luzarts and garded with The Earl of Warwick's of Russet Sattin embroidered all over with Russet Lace and furr'd with Cony The Duke of Northumberland's was a loose Velvet Gown furr'd with Pavilion and had a falling Cape But at length the fashion of this upper Garment began to alter and by that time Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne was received into the Order it was converted to a Cloak for such was his upper Garment and of Velvet faced and furr'd with Sables and two Gold Laces garded thereon cut with Buttons and Gold Lace where the Sleeves were wont to be And ever since till of late hath the Cloak been most in fashion for an upper Garment but very much varied both as to materials lining and ornament Sometimes Garter had not this Garment in kind but received a Fine in lieu thereof and this by vertue of a Decree made in Chapter an 25. H. 6. wherein it was ordained to be at the pleasure of every Knight-Companion at the time of his Installation whether Garter should have the Garment which each Knight did then wear or a composition in money according to his Estate Since when the Compositions grew higher as this upper Garment was made richer for Algernon Earl of Northumberland bestowed on Garter upon this occasion for Fees and Droits 200 l. in Gold and Henry Earl of Danby the Habit he wore on the day he rode from London towards his Installation with 100 l. in the Pockets and by the late Soveraign's order at the Installation of his Son Prince Charles our now Soveraign Garter received for his Fee 40 l. and for the composition of his upper Garment 60 l. in the whole 100 l. The like sum was given the present Garter by the Dukes of Ormond and Albemarle and the Earls of Sandwich Lindsey and Manchester shortly after their Installations by particular agreement but herein his Fee for signification of their several Elections was included Finally by the Establishment of Installation Fees an 22. Car. 2. the composition set upon each Knight-Companion for his upper Garment was thus rated proportionably less than what was paid for the said Prince an 14. Car. 1. viz. l. s. d. A Prince of Wales 60 00 00 A Duke 55 00 00 A Marquess 50 00 00 An Earl 45 00 00 A Viscount 40 00 00 A Baron 35 00 00 A Knight-Batchellor 30 00 00 Besides this Droit or Composition there hath in all times been paid to Garter by every Knight-Companion a Fee for his Installation proportioned also to his state and dignity which was likewise brought to the following certainty by the said late Establishment  l. s. d. A Stranger-King 30 00 00 A Stranger-Prince 20 00 00 A Prince of Wales 40 00 00 A Duke 35 00 00 A Marquess 30 00 00 An Earl 25 00 00 A Viscount 20 00 00 A Baron 15 00 00 A Knight-Batchellor 10 00 00 The Fee anciently due to the Black-Rod at the Installation of a Knight like all other Fees hath in succeeding times received augmentation for the Fee paid him at the Installation of Prince Charles an 14. Car. 1. was 40 l. and by the foresaid Establishment an 22. Car. 2. he hath allowed him  l. s. d. From a Stranger-King 20 00 00 From a Stranger-Prince 20 00 00 From a Prince of Wales 40 00 00 From a Duke 20 00 00 From a Marquess 18 00 00 Earl 16 00 00 Viscount 14 00 00 Baron 12 00 00 Knight-Batchellor 10 00 00 As Fees were in all times paid to the Register Garter and Black-Rod for their particular services at the Feasts of Installation so likewise have the Officers of Arms accustomably received Fees in reward of their attendance and service at those Solemnities which having been encreased by the bounty of the Givers were by the said late Establishment pursuant to the Fees paid them for the Installation of the now Soveraign when Prince brought to the same thereby allowed the Black-Rod only in the Fee of a Stranger-King they have an addition of 10 l. more his Fee to them being 30 l. Besides these Installation Fees when the Elect-Knights rode publickly from London to Windesor to their Installations they were accustomed to bestow upon the Officers of Arms that attended them thither Scarfs Hats and Feathers as did the Earls of Danby and Moreton an 10. Car. 1. viz. to each of them 9 Ells of rich Taffaty and a black
The Story of Abraham and Lot most curious for design and workmanship most costly for Silk and Gol◠with the rich State Chair Cushens and Stools belonging to the Queen's Privy-Chamber did adorn the Presence-Chamber at the Feast held at Whitehall an 11. Car. 1. And the same Hanging were made use of in the Banqueting House there an 19. Car. 2. And in case the appearance at Windesor of the Nobility and great Personages with their Trains be extraordinary then doth the Soveraign upon such an occasion direct his Letters to the Dean and Prebends desiring them to give way that the Black-Rod may survey their Houses and therein appoint Lodgings for so many as may be entertained there and thus was it done upon the coming hither of the Emperor Sigismond an 7. H. 5 for the Soveraign being desirous that their Servants and Attendants as well as others of his own Retinue might be in all respects handsomly accommodated and because the Priviledge was granted to the Dean and Canons in the Charter of 27. E. 3. That no person of what state or condition soever might upon any colour lodge or tarry in their Houses without their consent he thereupon wrote his Letter to them thereby desiring liberty and allowance for the Black-Rod to take up Lodgings in their Houses in such an extraordinary case yet withal signified it was not his intention that under colour of this they should be so charged for the future In May an 23. Car. 2. a little before the Grand Feast was held at Windesor there fell out some dispute between the Gentlemen-Vshers daily Waiters and the Knight-Harbenger who should appoint Lodgings in the Dean and Prebends Houses for any of the Knights-Companions or other persons of quality of the Court The Knight Harbenger alledged that by his Patent he ought to assign Lodgings for all persons that are not lodged in the King's Palace and that the Gentlemen-Vshers have nothing to do either without the King's House or with those who are not the King's Houshold-Servants as some of the Knights-Companions are not But after much discourse on both sides before the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold which occasioned a further enquiry into the matter the only person for this Affair appeared to be the Gentleman-Vsher of the Black-Rod who is an Officer of the Order within the Colledge and whose Predecessor carried the before mentioned Letter from King Henry the Fifth to the Dean and Canons besides he is one whom they have since willingly admitted of in such occasions and consequently not been invaded by a strange Officer and thereupon were the pretensions of the Knight-Harbinger set aside SECT VIII Officers and Servants appointed to attend at the Grand Feast THE Names of those Noblemen which the Soveraign appoints to the principal Offices of this Grand Feast are put into a List signed by the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold and delivered to the Black-Rod who is to give them notice some convenient time before the Feast begin that thereupon they may fit themselves to perform the duty of their several places A List of those Lords that gave attendance at the Grand-Feast an 14. Car. 2. when the present Soveraign was Installed A List of those Lords that attended the Soveraign at St. George's Feast held at Windesor the 8. of October an 15. Car. 1. For the Sword For the Sword Earl of Northampton Earl of Denbigh The Great Bason The Great Bason Earl of Bedford Earl of Denbigh Earl of Hertford Earl of Monmouth Earl of Clare Lord Edward Howard Earl of St. Albons Lord Herbert of Cardiff Lord Herbert of Ragland The Cupbearer The Cupbearer Lord Herbert of Cardiff Earl of Essex The Carver The Carver Lord Wharton Earl of Carlisle The Sewer The Sewer Lord Grandison Earl of Dover The Surnap The Surnap Lord Edward Howard Earl of Elgin The Ewer The Ewer Lord Slego Earl of Devonshire The Train The Train Duke of Buckingham Lord Russel Earl of Oxford Lord Herbert Lord Buckhurst Lord Cranborne  The Gentlemen of the Soveraign's Privy-Chamber who bear the Canopy are those that are at the time of the Feast in waiting and these that follow performed that service at the Feast held in October an 15. Car. 1. Mr. Gilbert North. Mr. John Carey Mr. John Frecheville Captain John Tyringham Mr. Edward Tyringham Sir Peter Kellegrew Mr. Henry Wentworth Sir William Berkeley Sir Henry Bruce Sir Richard Young Sir Robert Winde Sir John Weldram Besides these several other of the Soveraign's Officers and Servants have notice from the Lord Chamberlain to give their particular attendance at the Grand Feast and of what quality they usually are will appear by the List of those appointed to attend at Windesor the 29. of May an 23. Car. 2. Lord Chamberlain and Servants Mr. Vice-Chamberlain Groom of the Stool Gentlemen of the Bedchamber Bedchamber-men Privy-Purse Secretaries of State Secretaries of Scotland Gentlemen-Vshers of the Privy-Chamber 12 Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber in waiting 4 Gentlemen-Vshers daily Waiters 2 Carvers 2 Cupbearers 2 Sewers 8 Quarter-Waiters Gentlemen-Vshers 2 Pages of the Presence 2 Chaplains 2 Esquires of the Body 2 Physicians 2 Apothecaries 2 Chyrurgeons 4 Serjeants at Arms. Mrs. Sempstress and Landress to his Majesty 8 Sewers of the Chamber 4 Grooms of the Chamber Pages of the Back-Stairs 14 Lords to attend his Majesty Captain of the Guards Officers of the Guard Officers of the Robes Yeomen of the Guard 2 Grooms of the Privy-Chamber 3 Masters of the Tents Groom-Porter Master of the Ceremonies Marshal of the Ceremonies Aid of the Ceremonies Removing Wardrobe Iewel-house Gentlemen of the Chappel Musicians 5 Messengers Yeomen of the Bows and Guns 16 Trumpeters Captain Cook and the Children of the Chappel Serjeant-Trumpeter Drum-Major 4 Drummers and a Fife St. Alban CHAP. XX. THE ORDER OF THE Ceremonies ON THE Eve OF THE Grand Feast SECT I. Of the beginning of the Grand Feast HAving in the precedent Chapter spoken somewhat of the Institution of the Grand Festival which the Statutes of this most Noble Order have fixed to the day of St. George we come now to treat of its Celebration with the Ceremonies performed throughout this great Solemnity devised to set forth and illustrate the glory thereof In the observation of which both the first Institutor and all succeeding Soveraigns have shewn the utmost of their provision and care well knowing that what is once slightly observed will soon fall into disesteem if not contempt And here what first occurs to our consideration are the Day the Hour and the Place when and where the Soveraign and Knights-Companions are to meet in order to the beginning of the Feast As to the first although St. George's day or such other day as the Soveraign shall please to nominate and appoint by Prorogation in lieu thereof be indeed the principal and Grand day of the Feast yet does the Feast take commencement upon the Eve and determines not until the third
Founder for the commencement of the Anniversary of this Grand Feast so to make the time yet more certain the Statutes express the exact Hour of meeting for beginning the Solemnities to be at the Hour of Tierce which in many other places is called Hora tertiarum But this seemed not sufficient to express clear enough the meaning of a Law wherein the punishment for late coming was enjoined and by the strength of which the penalty might be levied and therefore in a Chapter held at Windesor upon the 10. day of May an 17. E. 4. A scruple being raised among the Knights-Companions then assembled concerning the Exposition of these words Hora tertiarum the day before the Feast whether it were intended at three a Clock in the Afternoon or at the Hour of the Church accustomably used after Prime before Noon Because it seemed most agreeable to the Statute and to the reason of the Statute and to the penalty there enjoined that it should be taken for the Hour after Prime before Noon it was determined that thereforth it should inviolably be so observed The Registrum Chartaceum recordeth the same interpretation of the words and to let us see that this was immediately put in practice in it there is entred down the Names of those Knights-Companions present in the Chapterhouse with the Soveraign both in the Morning and Evening of the said 10. day of May being the Eve of the Feast of St. George that is to say before Noon Thomas Marquess Dorset William Earl of Arundel Henry Earl of Essex Anthony Earl Rivers Iohn Lord Scrope Thomas Lord Mantravers Iohn Lord Dudley and Sir Iohn Astley and in the Afternoon the Prince George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of York Iames Earl Douglas Iohn Lord Howard Sir William Parre Walter Lord Ferrars and Sir Thomas Montgomery Another instance of which Practice we again meet with an 3. H. 7. on the Eve of the Grand Feast held by Prorogation at Windesor where the Soveraign in regard of the arrival of several Ambassadors there and treating about the Affairs concerning which they came put off the usual Chapter until Noon Whence it evidently appears that the custom at this time also was to begin the Solemnity in the Morning and then to hold a Chapter as the first thing which although for the reasons before mentioned the Soveraign though fit to defer until Noon nevertheless he commanded in the mean time that the Earl of Shrewsbury should be installed which was accordingly performed at the Mass of the Virgin Mary As to the express acception therefore of the Hora tertia so far as it relates to the entrance upon our Grand Festival and how neer the same expounded and practised as above agrees with that hour of Tierce celebrated by the Church and reckoned as one of the Canonical Hours set apart for Divine Worship may best be deduced from what is discoursed at large by Durant de Ritibus Ecclesiae Catholicae and by Durand in his aforesaid Rationale speaking both of them concerning the Canonical hours of the Church which though agreed on by both to be the same in effect are by Durant most positively delivered to be seven in Number viz. Matutinae laudes or Mattins the Prima Hora or Prime the Hora tertia the Hora sexta the Hora nona Vespers and the Completorium besides the Nocturnum Officium the Office for Nights which is also divided into four Vigils the Conticinium Gallicinium Intempestum and Antelucinium which several hours after what manner they divided the day it is pertinent to our purpose to enquire since from thence may be collected what time of the day was their hour of Tierce seeming to be the same determined by King Edward the Fourth as aforesaid in some respect And though these Authors do not very punctually determine the course of these Hours yet it may well enough be implied that since their Mattins was performed about break of day and their Prime by consequence at 6 a Clock in the morning the hour of Tierce was most probably 9 a Clock in the Morning and so the rest at 3 hours distance one after the other and this determination is clearly confirmed by my late worthy friend Mr. Somner in his Saxon Dictionary from an old Saxon Author whose words he having cited in that Language thus renders Sacram horam diei veterum tertiam nostram autem Nonam ante meridiem Archiepiscopi cum Clero sestiva celebrant bilaritate The Archbishop with the Clergie celebrate with feasting and mirth the sacred hour of the day which among the Ancients was the Third but with us the Ninth hour before Noon This Hora tertia or hour of Tierce was by our Ancestors the English-Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we find in venerable Bedes History of the Church of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. à Tertia Horae quando Missae fieri solebant and so is it rendred by the said Mr. Somner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tempus ante meridianum hora diei veterum tertia nostra nona the Forenoon the third hour of the day that is nine of the Clock with us So in like manner is it used in an old Manuscript of the holy Festivals of the Church composed in meeter about the Reign of King Edward the First in the life of St. Brandon This Fowles long es her Matyns wel right tho it was time And of the Sauter sede vers and seithe also Prime And Undarne seithe and Midday and afterward seith non And ech tyde of the day longe as cristenemen scholde don Of the Third Sixth and Ninth Hours Tertullian takes notice as the most remarkable in humane Affairs for the division of the day the distinction of business and more peculiarly to be solemnized by Prayers and Divine Service but especially of all the rest the Hora Tertia is by preheminence called the Golden hour and in the Canon Law Hora sacra doubtless as being most peculiarly dedicated to some celebration of Divine Service But notwithstanding the foresaid declared and decreed Exposition made by King Edward the Fourth we find it an II. H. 8. declared to be meant and intended for the hour of three in the Afternoon and when King Henry the Eighth came to model the Statutes of the Order he in two several Articles declares and expounds this Hora teria which the English Version of those Statutes renders the Hour of Tierce to be Hora tertia post meridiem three a Clock in the Afternoon and in another Article of the same Statutes Hora tertiarum id est Hora teria post meridiem and elsewhere Hora tertia Vespertina vel Pomeridiana which Hour as it was then setled to be the punctual time for the Knights-Companions meeting to enter upon the Solemnity of the Feast so hath it ever since continued unaltered and usually observed Thirdly the Place
meet with much diversity as for instance in the Proceeding of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions fairly limned and inserted in the Black-Book of the Order at the beginning of the Acts of King Henry the Eighth's Reign there Garter is placed in the middle having the Register on his right hand and the Black-Rod on his left so also at the Installation of the Lord Cromwell an 29. H. 8. Nevertheless in another Proceeding of the Soveraign the Knights-Companions the Officers of the Order and the Alms-Knights designed and etched by Mâ—rcus Gerchâ—rd hereafter inserted there the Register is put in the middle Garter upon his right hand and Black-Rod on his left as is the order at this day And in truth all Relations described in writing of the manner of Proceeding since which hath come to our view are in this point delivered very imperfect and promiscuous having neither distinction of the right hand man or which of the foresaid three Officers went in the middle to guide us with any certainty For sometimes when they come to speak of this very point and here we take in what we find of proceeding upon other occasions besides those used at the Grand Feast in regard they ought to be alike in all they thus deliver themselves Then followed the Vsher Garter and the Register as it is set down in the 2.3.4.5.6 and 7. years of Queen Elizabeth At other times thus then went Garter the Register and Gentleman-Vsher an 31. H. 8. 1. E. 6. and 1. Car. 1. and again thus then the Register Garter and Black-Rod as in the 5. and 34. of Queen Elizabeth and the 6. and 15. of King Iames And lastly thus then Garter Black-Rod and the Register as an 16. Eliz. and 4. Iac. R. Other Examples there are which may be reduced to one or more of these heads or the like uncertain manner of placing these three Officers but these are the most obvious and we need not be more particular And seeing the errour or at least inadvertency of the Relators have left the matter so confused we cannot confidently enough say to what method such contrariety in ranking them heretofore can refer in regard they agree not in position of place nor doth that clear enough set forth where how or in what particular the right appears due to the priority of their several Offices After these 3 Officers the two superior proceed together the Prelate on the right hand and the Chancellor on the left yet an 11. H. 8. we find that Garter and Black-Rod proceeded between the Prelate and the Sword but the very same morning at the Grand Procession the Prelate proceeded next before the Soveraign affirming that was his room and place and the other Officers of the Order went before him After the Officers of the Order follows the Sword which is carried immediately before the Soveraign In the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign it was born on the Eves of St. George solemnized at Whitehall by some of the Baronage for instance an 3. Eliz. by the Lord Wentworth an 5. Eliz. by the Lord Scroop an 7. Eliz. by the Lord Shandos an 9. by the Lord Cobham and an 10. by the Lord Herbert But of later times the employment hath been conferr'd upon persons of higher rank as an 4. Car. 1. upon the Earl of Dover an 8. Car. 1. upon the Earl of Stanford an 9. Car. 1. upon the Earl of Danby and an 13. Car. 2. upon the Lord Viscount Mordant then Constable of the Castle of Windesor A Proceeding of the Soveraigne and Knights Companions at the Feast of S. George designed by Maâ—â—â—â—rd and set forth in the 20 yeare of Queene Elizabeth by Thomas Dawes sometime Rougecroix Pursâ—◠〈◊〉 Before we pass further it will be necessary to observe that from the Presence-Chamber called in the Statutes the Great Chamber and elsewhere the Chamber of Estate or the Kings Dyning-Chamber this first Proceeding to the Chapter-house and all that follow during the Feast begin and there take ending And now to close up the Ordinary Proceeding the Band of Pensioners having stood in the Presence-Chamber and made a spacious Lane for the Proceeding to pass through so soon as the Soveraign and the Attendants upon his Train are passed by they with the Captain of their Band or his Lieutenant before them immediately fall in two and two from each side of the way after the Proceeding the seniors first and so accordingly in order and follow thence the Soveraign to the Chapter-house door but at the Feast held an 8. Car. 1. they went in guard on each side the Soveraign and Knights-Companions the Lord Goring their Lieutenant for the Earl of Sussolk their Captain was absent going in the head of them Having under these precedent heads spoken as much as we conceive needful to usher in the ordinary and usual Proceeding upon the Eve of the Grand Feast we think fit to exhibit a Scheme thereof here The Attendants on the Knights-Companions Alms-Knights Verger of the Chapel Prebends of Windesor Officers of Arms. Knights-Companions Black-Rod Register Garter Chancellor Prelate The Sword The Soveraign Train-bearers Captain of the Pensioners Pensioner To the foregoing Proceeding we shall touch upon those persons of quality who to encrease the pomp and state of it have occasionally been received thereinto as also such other eminent in place and degree as though their Offices do not particularly relate to this most Noble Order have nevertheless been taken into the Proceeding meerly by reason of their requisite attendance upon the Soveraign in his Proceedings upon all other occasions On St. George's Eve an 3. Eliz. the old Ambassador of Sweden was present and being accompanied by the Earl of Hertford went in the Proceeding to the Closet at Whitehall He had place assigned him next after the Train-bearers and immediately before the Ladies Attendants upon the Soveraign and the next morning when the Soveraign proceeded to the Chappel the new Ambassador of Sweden went in the same place So also the French Ambassador an 6. Eliz. had place near the Soveraign at her proceeding to Morning Service on the Feast-day at Windesor As to those admitted upon the account of their Offices we observed Henry Earl of St. Albans the present Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold being not hitherto a Knight of the Order was allowed place on the right hand of the Soveraign somewhat behind in the Proceeding to the Chappel at the Grand Feast an 23. Car. 2. and the Vice-Chamberlain on his left hand The Vice-Chamberlain who in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign was taken in to assist at the bearing up the Soveraign's Train went on the left hand the Sword of State on the Eves of St. George at Whitehall an 3. 8. Car. 1. and 19. Car. 2. The Dean of the Soveraign's Chappel at Whitehall attends the Soveraign in the
the Chapter-house either through negligence or want of timely notice or other accident the Penance set on them by the Statutes of Institution is That they shall so far incur punishment from the Soveraign and Chapter for their offence as not to be permitted for that time to enter into the Chapter but shall tarry without at the door and not have voice in any thing that shall happen to be done there unless they can alledge a just excuse or render such a sufficient cause as the Soveraign or his Deputy shall approve of But we have observed few Defaulters in this kind beside the Lord Bourchier an 35. H. 6. who being noted to come thither before Vespers it seems to imply that his appearance was short of the Hour enjoyned as aforesaid Concerning the third sort of Delinquents being those Knights-Companions who are not only absent at the Hour of Tierce but likely to be so during the whole Feast the Proceedings in the Chapter relating to them are either upon what is presented and offered in excuse of their absence or determined upon their neglect or default of making Apology for it Where Excuses for absence are offered they are either by Letters or word of mouth if by Letters then are they sent either from the absent Knights themselves and directed to the Chancellor of the Order or else from the Soveraign to his Lieutenant on their behalf and both produced by the Chancellor But it Excuses be made by word of mouth then they are delivered either by the Soveraign himself or upon motion made by some of the Knights-Companions present in Chapter In order to the first of these ways of presenting the absent Knights-Companions excuses we find the Custom of sending Letters to that purpose to have been very ancient For at the Grand Feast held at Windesor by Humfry Duke of Gloucester the Soveraign's Deputy an 8. H. 5. it appears that the Lord Powis his Letter under his Hand and Seal wherein he certified his present infirmity and indisposition of Body was produced in Chapter And the following year the Dukes of York Norfolk and Buckingham with the Earls of Salisbury Shrewsbury and Penbroke Viscount Bourchier the Lord Rivers and Sir Iohn Fastolf being all absent from St. George's Feast they declared the reason of their absence by their Messenger So an 5. E. 4. we find that the Lord Beauchamp sent his Excusatory Letters which were received Again an 19. of the same King it is noted That all that were absent from this Solemnity excused their absence by Letters to that purpose signed and sealed with their Arms. And this hath been the use in following times whereunto several Memorials entred in the late Soveraign's Reign concur and among others that an 13. Car. 1. when on the Eve of the Grand Feast held by Prorogation upon the 17.18 and 19. days of April the Earls of Moulgrave Lindesey Suffolk and Exceter having signified by Letters under their Seals of Arms their several excuses of sickness and disability to attend the Chancellor producing them in Chapter they were dispensed with by the Soveraign The like Excuses made by Letters were accepted from the Earls of Suffolk Danby and Lindesey an 15. of the same King There are entred in the Registers several Memorials of Letters sent from the Soveraign to his Deputy when himself hath not been present in Chapter wherein his excusing and pardoning the defaults of absent Knights-Companions hath been signified As an 22. H. 6. the Duke of Buckingham being Lieutenant the Dukes of Gloucester and Exceter with the Lord Hungerford were excused by the Soveraign's Letters So an 36. of the same King Viscount Mountague being reckoned up amongst the absent Knights-Companions the Register saith he was excused by the Soveraign 's Letters The like is noted of the Dukes of York and Gloucester and six other Knights-Companions absent from the Feast held an 18. E. 4. the Lord Soveraign's Lieutenant And so an 21. E. 4. concerning other absent Knights-Companions Moreover an 18. H. 7. the Soveraign it being his pleasure to be absent sent his Letters thereupon to the Earl of Darby his Deputy to excuse also some others that were absent So also in the 21. 22. and 23. of the same King But an 20. H. 8. we find no less than 17 Knights-Companions at one time excused and pardoned for their absence by the Soveraign's Letters sent unto the Marquess of Exceter his Lieutenant for the Grand Feast kept at Windesor the 27. of May in the foresaid year viz. three Dukes six Earls two Viscounts five Barons and one Knight Baneret And hitherto may be referr'd what is spoken of the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester and six other Knights-Companions an 14. E. 4. that their absence was excused by the Soveraign's authority the like expression is used in the case of the Earl of Northumberland and others an 19. of his Reign And from many Precedents which we have seen of Letters sent from the Soveraign and directed to his Lieutenant to accept of Knights-Companions excuses whose absence he had beforehand dispensed with we observe those Dispensations excused not the sending of their own particular Excuses for it is evident they were also expected and that such allowance of absence was not absolute but in a manner conditional the clause running thus That you the Soveraign's Deputy allow these excuses so far as they are consonant to reason And in all other Letters of the same nature a Clause to this effect hath been inserted That as the Soveraign thought good to advertise his Deputy that for certain causes he had dispenced with their attendance for that time so he willed him to accept their reasonable excuses in that behalf accordingly Secondly The absent Knights-Companions have had their Excuses frequently made by word of mouth either of the Soveraign or some other of the Knights-Companions present in Chapter This favour of the Soveraign is either done by himself when present in Chapter or by giving order to his Lieutenant before the Feast begin In relation to what he hath personnaly done in this case we have many Examples as an 6. H. 6. the Soveraign declared the reason of the Duke of Norfolks absence So on the Eve of the Feast kept at Windesor an 26. H. 6. the Duke of York the Earl of Salisbury Viscount Beaumont the Lords Hungerford Willoughly and Sir Iohn Fastolf were absent but excused by the Soveraign Again in a Chapter held on the Eve of the Grand Feast celebrated at Windesor an 36. H. 6. the Duke of York Earl of Salisbury and Viscount Bourchier being absent were excused by the Soveraign's own moâ—th the like is said on the behalf of the absent Knights an 3. H. 7. So an 17. E. 4. on the Eve of the Feast held by Prorogation the Dukes of Gloucester Buckingham and Suffolk with
command of King Edward the Fourth signified by Letters sent to his Deputy and the Knights-Companions were by Garter taken down and carried out of the Choire into the Vestry and in their place were set up the new Atchievements of King Edward the Fourth and this was done at the Feast of St. George held at Windesor an 1. E. 4. and long before the Death of King Henry the Sixth which when it hapned he was first buried at Chertsey Abbey in Surrey and by King Richard the Thirds Command Reinterred on the Southside of the High Altar in St. Georges Chappel at Windesor and therefore this cannot sute with King Henry the Eighths Case whose Atchievements were not taken down at all But when the Soveraigns of this most Noble Order are not interred at Windesor then are their Atchievements offered up at the next ensuing Feast according to the usual manner as were those of Queen Elizabeth which the Blew Book notes to be done at Morning Prayer the 11. of Iuly an 1. Iac. R. The Banner being offered by the Earl of Nottingham Lord Admiral then the Soveraign's Lieutenant and the Lord Buckhurst Lord Treasurer the Sword by the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland and the Helm and Crest by the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester and also of King Iames her Successor an 1 Car. 1. both these Soveraigns being buried at Westminster As to the time for performing this Ceremony it was ordained to be on the Morrow after the Feast when the Mass was sung for the soul of the Knights-Companions and of all the Faithful deceased and before the Offering of Money Thus was it ordered even in the first precedent we have of this solemn Ceremony and so was it duly and constantly performed in succeeding times till that of the Reformation at which the Mass of Requiem being abolished this Solemnity was nevertheless performed in the Morning Service on the Morrow immediately after the Offertory But after Queen Elizabeth had removed the Feasts of St. George from Windesor and left those of Installation only to be held there that Solemnity was commonly dispatcht in one day and the Atchievements of the defunct Knights offered before they went out of the Choire as in the 16. year of her Reign at the Installation of the Earls of Derby and Penbroke when assoon as the Morning Service was ended in which the Ceremony of Installation was performed the Commissioners appointed for that Solemnity came down from their Stalls and offered the Atchievments of the Earl of Derby Lord William Howard of Effingham and Lord Chandos And this was the first time we observe this Ceremony to have been translated from the Morrow after the Feast of St. George to any other time and the ancient rule as to the time being thus broken was never after restored but generally thence forward the Offring of the defunct Knights Atchievments was performed the very same Morning wherein the Elect-Knights were Installed For the Installation being fully compleated towards the end of the second Service viz. at the time of the Offertory the Atchievments were offered after which succeeded the Offring of Money And yet once when the Solemnity of Installation was celebrated at Evening Prayer being that of Frederick the Second King of Denmark and Iohn Casimire Prince Palatine of the Rhyne the 13. of Ianuary an 25. Eliz. immediately after their Proctors had taken possession of their Stalls and an Anthem been sung the Atchievments of Maximilian the Emperor Emanuel Duke of Savoy Francis Duke of Montmorency Henry Earl of Arundel and Walter Earl of Essex were with wonted honor as the Statutes of the Order required severally Offered but not without the sad and sorrowful view of all the standers by Sometime before the day was thus changed an intermixture of both the Offerings together viz. of Money and Atchievments began to be introduced when after the Offertory was read the Soveraign's Lieutenant descended from his Stall and proceeded to the Altar and there Offered both Gold and Silver for the Soveraign and so returned to his Seat after which the Offering of the defunct Knights Atchievements began and that Ceremony being ended the Soveraign's Lieutenant proceeded again to the Altar and there offered Money for himself and lastly all the rest of the Knights-Companions present offered Money in order Thus we find these Ceremonies managed an 5. Eliz. at the Offering of the Atchievements of the Lord Grey and an 6. Eliz. when the Atchievements of the Earls of Westmerland and Rutland and the Lord Paget were offered the Earl of Arundel being the Soveraign's Lieutenant at both these Feasts But not long after this course was altered in part and the Lieutenant Offered not for the Soveraign till after such time as the Atchievements of the defunct had been compleatly offered And albeit the day was thus changed for performance of this Ceremony yet was not the Ceremony it self begun till after the Installation was finished that Solemnity having at all times the precedency until an 9. Iac. R. when he observing a kind of incongruity in the order of the Ceremony namely to Install a new Knight and who being thus installed frequently became one of those Knights that offered part of the defunct Knights Atchievments as may be seen in divers and sundry Examples before his Predecessor had been fully discharged of his Stall gave order for Offering the Atchievments of Sir Henry Lea the Lord Scroop Viscount Bindon and the Earl of Dunbar first and before the Instalment of the Elect Knights Charles Duke of York Tho. Earl of Arundel and Robert Viscount Rochester which was accordingly performed as also at the Installation of Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhyne and Henry Prince of Orange an 10. Iac. R. And two years after at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland Sir George Villars afterwards created Duke of â—uckingham and Viscount Lisle the Lord Admiral going out of the Choire to fetch in the said Earl of Rutland to his Installation according to the old manner before the Offering of the Atchievments and as had been done the year before the Soveraign remanded him and again ordered That the Atchievments of the Earl of Shrewsbury should be first Offered before any of the Elect Knights should be Installed Not long after it was thought convenient to perform this Ceremony on the Eve of the Feast presently after the first Vespers begun and next to proceed on with the Installation of the Elect Knight whereby as much as possible the Stalls of the Knights-Companions might be supplyed and consequently the places among them filled up in all the rest of the Solemnities of the Feast Thus was it ordered at the Installation of Marquess Hamilton an 21. Iac. R. when the Atchievments of the Earl of Exceter were Offered In like manner the following year were the Atchievments of the Duke of Lenox first
offered and an 4. Car. 1. those of the Duke of Brunswick and the Earls of Suffolk and Leicester before the King of Sweden Prince of Orange and Earl of Suffolk were installed and at all times afterwards during that pious Kings Reign the Offering of Atchievments was the first Ceremony performed on the Eve of the Feast next after the decease of a Knight though no Installation followed as were those of the Earl of Carlisle an 13. Car. 1. and of the Earl of Kelly in the 15. year of the same Soveraign But if at that time any of the Elect-Knights were introduced into the Choire before the Offering of Atchievments began they were appointed to stand there under the Stalls designed for them till that Ceremony was finished Thus the practice continued of Offering the defunct Knights Atchievments before the Ceremony of Installation began from the 9. year of King Iames until an 15. of the present Soveraign when it was performed at the time anciently accustomed for the Prince of Denmark by his Proctor Sir George Carteret and the Duke of Monmouth were both Installed before the first Vespers began and the Atchievments of Bernard de Foix Duke of Espernon and Edward Count Palatine of the Rhyne were not Offered till the Morrow after the Feast day immediately before Divine Service began so also was it observed at the Feast held an 23. Car. 2. As to the manner and order of this Ceremony among other Institutions of King Henry the Fifth it is thus appointed That as often as through the vacancy of any Stall the Swords Helms with the rest of the Atchievements ought to be Offered the Sword of the deceased Knight shall be first Offered being carried up to the high Altar by two of the Knights-Companions whom the Soveraign or his Deputy shall assign to that purpose and afterwards the Helm with the Crest and Mantlings for which we sometimes find one general word Insignia used by two other Knights-Companions named also by the Soveraign or his Deputy and this Offering is to be made for them in the order as they were Installed not as they dyed But of the Offering of a defunct Knights Banner we find no express mention till the 18. year of King Henry the Seventh at which time the Banner of the Lord Brook was Offered by Sir Edward Poynings and Sir Richard Pool his Sword by the Earl of Surrey and Lord Strange and in the last place his Helm with its Appendices by the before named Sir Edward Poynings and Sir Richard Pool But afterwards the direction for Offering this Ensign of the defunct Knights honor was taken into King Henry the Eighth's body of Statutes And note that since the Offering of the Banner was introduced it was in the order of Ceremony and according to the before mentioned Precedent to be offered first and so hath it been observed only once we find this course inverted viz. an 22. Iac. R. but upon what account there is no mention where at the Offering of the Duke of Lenox his Atchievements the Helm and Crest were offered in the first place the Sword in the second and the Banner in the third Immediately after the entrance of the before mentioned Constitution of King Henry the Fifth in the Black Book a Precedent for the order of this Ceremony doth also follow which extended it self to future times and was thus On the Morrow after the Feast of St. George an 9. H. 5. the Soveraign and Knights-Companions assembled according to custom to celebrate the Mass pro defunctis at which time the Sword of Thomas Duke of Clarence who was slain at Bougy-bridge in his return out of Anjou on Easter Eve preceding was born to the Altar and offered up by John Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Gloucester Brothers to the defunct Duke but his Helm with its Appendices were offered by the hands of the Soveraign and the said Duke of Bedford Besides this honor thus paid to the deceased Duke of Clarence there past the like at that time upon several other defunct Knights-Companions namely on Sir Iohn Grey whose Sword was offered up by Sir Thomas Erpingham and Sir Walter Hungerford and his Helm and Crest by Richard Earl of Warwick and the Lord Fitz Hugh and next on the Lord Burnell whose Sword was offered by Sir Lewis Robessart and Sir Simon Felbrig and his Helm c. by Sir Iohn Cornwall and Sir Iohn Robessart In the fourth place the Sword of the Lord Cameux was offered up by Sir Lewis Robessart and Sâ—â— Here Tank Clux and his Helm by Sir Iohn Cornwall and Sir Iohn Robessart This solemn Ceremony being finished in the order as is set down the Soveraign and Knights-Companions presently after decreed That the Rites to be observed at the Offring of Atchievements should for the future be in the foresaid manner performed The appointment of the Statute is before noted to be that the Soveraign shall nominate and assign the Knights-Companions who are severally to perform this Ceremony and so is the direction set down in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes But generally heretofore so few of the Knights-Companions have used to attend the Feasts of Installation at which time most commonly were the Atchievements of the defunct Knights offered that there hath not been much choice nay for the most part not enough for the enterchange of all the Atchievements but that those who have offered the Banner have been constrained to assist at the Offering if not of the Sword yet of the Helm and Crest Nay yet less for the Feast of St. George an 1. E. 4. was solemnized at Windesor by two Knights-Companions only viz. Viscount Bourchier the Soveraign's Deputy and the Lord Berners at which time there being the Atchievements of six deceased Knights to be offered namely the Dukes of York and Buckingham the Earls of Salisbury and Shrewsbury of Viscount Beaumont and the Lord Scales these two Knights-Companions performed the whole Ceremony according to the ancient Custom Moreover an 32. H. 6. there were but three Knights-Companions that then held the Feast namely the Duke of Buckingham Deputy to the Soveraign the Lord Sudely and Viscount Bourchier the two latter of which offered both the Sword and Helm of the Earl of Salisbury the Duke of Buckingham not enterchanging But notwithstanding these Examples at another time viz. an 8. H. 7. because the number of the Knights-Companions present at the Feast were fewer than the Statute required therefore the Offering of Atchievements was then prorogued Iohn Lord Denham then Lord Treasurer of England being President and only the Lord Scroop joined with him Again when the number of Knights-Companions present have been sufficient to perform all the Ceremony severally yet do we not observe the same anciently executed by Knights-Companions according to the series of their Stalls which is an argument that the Rule
to Richard Earl of Arundel Admiral of the West-parts to arrest 13. stout Ships each of 80. Tun Burthen at least to bring them to Bristol before the Octaves of Easter for the passage of this Lord his men at Arms and Archers into that Country After a years enjoyment of this great Office he became desirous to resign it and to that purpose made an address to the King who sent directions to the Earl of Derby to confer with him about his continuance in it to which if he could not be perswaded to consent then he gave the Earl power to take his resignation and substitute some other fit person in his room to hold it during the Kings pleasure This Spring Iohn de Valois Duke of Normandy laid Siege to Aiguillon of which Town this Lord was Governor and then within it and though the Earl of Derby relieved him yet had the Duke so strongly intrenched himself that he could not raise the Siege so that it was continued by the Duke to the Decollation of St. Iohn Baptist in August at which time being called away to assist King Philip his Father against King Edward who had entred France with a puissant Army he raised his Siege Upon which the Lord Stafford sallying out of the Town fell upon his Rear cut off a great part of it and having joined his to the Kings Forces he had given him a Command in the Van of the Army under the Prince at the Battel of Cressy And after the Victory was sent with Sir Reignold Cobham and 3. Heralds to view the slain who made report of 11. great Princes 80. Bannerets 1200. Knights and above 30000. Common Souldiers When Calais was surrender'd he was one of those appointed to take possession of it for the King and had many fair Houses given him in that Town to place Inhabitants in Shortly after the rendition the Cardinals of Naples and Cleremont mediated a Peace between both Kings whereupon this Lord with Reignold de Cobham Io. Darcy and Robert de Bourghcher were nominated by the King to treat of a Peace or Truce between them their Subjects Allies and Adherents And for his good Services done to the King in France He gave him a Pension of 600. Marks for life out of the Customs of London and St. Butolphs The King also bestowed on him as a gift 573 l. towards his expences in his service beyond Sea He was with the King in the Encounter with Sir Geoffry Charney at Calais And went into Goscoigne with the Earl of Lancaster and other Lords to stop the Progress of the Duke of Normandy made there with his Army And growing more and more in the Kings favour by his meritorious Services he advanced him to the Dignity of an Earl and for the better support of that Honor and towards the defraying of his charge in attending the King with certain men at Arms both in Peace and War he granted him a Pension of 1000. Marks per Annum during life out of his Customs in London till he could settle on him the said annual sum in Lands or Rents The next day he was constituted the Kings Lieutenant and Captain in the Dukedom of Aquitaine and parts adjacent and the 3 d. of April following the King gave him power to appoint a Seneschal of Gascoigne and a Constable of Bordeaux and these to be such persons as he should think fit to enjoy those Offices during the Kings pleasure The next year the King empower'd him by a Commission to treat and agree with all persons of what Kingdom Nation or Degree soever upon a firm friendship and mutual assistance between the King and them and to retain them against all men to agree with them upon Fees Wages and rewards to receive security from them and give the like to them and what he did herein the King obliged himself and his Heirs to observe and perform Being ready to take another Journey into Gascoigne a Writ issued to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Admiral towards the West to arrest all Ships of 50. Tuns and upwards for this Earls passage thither and to bring them to Sandwich by Quindena Trinitatis following and upon his Entry into that Country he defeated the French that sallied out of the Fortress of Gagent and among them was taken seven Knights of the Star An. 29. E. 3. he went over with the King to Calais at the latter end of Summer and marched along with him in pursuit of King Iohn as far as Heyden And an 33. E. 3. he attended him in his Voyage into France which terminated with the Peace agreed on at Bretigny near Chartres Two years after he was designed for Ireland in the Company of several other persons of Quality upon the Kings Service But after this Voyage being much broken with Age and wasted with Sickness he became uncapable of publick Employments This Noble Lord Married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Hugh de Audeley Earl of Gloucester and Margaret his Wife who died the 7. of September an 21. E. 3. and by whom he had Issue Ralph his eldest Son who married Maud Daughter of Henry de Lancaster Earl of Derby but died about 21. E. 3. Hugh who succeeded him in his Earldom and Sir Richard Stafford Knight Beatrix the Wife of Maurice fitz Maurice Earl of Desmond Ioan of Iohn Charleton Lord Powes and Margaret of Iohn Stafford Patron of the Church of Bromhall in Staffordshire He died the last of August an 46. E. 3. and lies buried at Turnbridge in Kent 7. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury THis Earl was Son unto William Montacute first Earl of Salisbury of that Family and Katherine one of the Coheirs of William Lord Grantson He was born the Morrow after Midsummer day an 2. E. 3. for at the Death of his Father found to be the 30. of Ianuary an 18. E. 3. he was 15. years old the Midsummer before The 24. of May an 20. E. 3. the Wardship of his body was committed to Iohn de Somerton and Thomas Waryn until Christmass following and then renued till Whitsontide and thence till Michaelmas ensuing and being within Age he attended the King in that memorable expedition into France an 20. E. 3. So also did his younger Brother Iohn He was in the Sea Fight against the Spaniards near Winchelsey an 24. E. 3. and going into Gascoigne in the retinue of the Prince of Wales an 29. E. 3. he obtained Letters directed to the Seneschal there with Command that he should not be sued or molested for any of his own or Ancestors debts during the space of two years An. 33. E. 3. he attended the King in his Royal expedition into France and from that time to the 43. of Edward the Third we find little mention of his Martial employments
Thomas Wriothesley Lord Wriothesley after Earl of Southampton Knights Elected in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth 317. Henry Grey Marquess Dorset after Duke of Suffolk 318. Edward Stanley Earl of Derby 319. Thomas Seymour Lord Seymour of Sudely 320. Sir William Paget Knight after Lord Paget of Beaudesart 321. Francis Hastings Earl of Huntingdon 322. George Brook Lord Cobham 323. Thomas West Lord La Ware 324. Sir William Herbert Knight after Lord Herbert of Cardiff and Earl of Penbroke 325. Henry 2. the French King 326. Edward Fynes Lord Clynton after Earl of Lincolne 327. Thomas Darcy Lord Darcy of Chiche 328. Henry Nevil Earl of Westmerland 329. Sir Andrew Dudley Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of Queen Mary 330. Philip Prince of Spain after King of England 331. Henry Radclyff Earl of Sussex 332. Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy 333. William Howard Lord Howard of Effingham 334. Anthony Browne Viscount Mountague 335. Sir Edward Hastings Knight after Lord Hastings of Loughborow 336. Thomas Radcliff Earl of Sussex 337. William Grey Lord Grey of Wilton 338. Sir Robert Rochester Knight Knights Elected in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 339. Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk 340. Henry Mannors Earl of Rutland 341. Sir Robert Dudley Knight after Earl of Leicester 342. Adolph Duke of Holstein 343. George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 344. Henry Carey Lord Hunsdon 345. Thomas Percy Earl of Northumberland 346. Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick 347. Charles 9. the French King 348. Francis Russell Earl of Bedford 349. Sir Henry Sidney Knight 350. Maximilian the second Emperor of Germany 351. Henry Hastings Earl of Huntingdon 352. William Somerset Earl of Worcester 353. Francis Duke of Montmorency 354. Walter d'Euereux Viscount Hereford after Earl of Essex 355. William Cecill Lord Burghley after Lord Treasurer of England 356. Arthur Grey Lord Grey of Wilton 357. Edmund Bruges Lord Chandos 358. Henry Stanley Earl of Derby 359. Henry Herbert Earl of Penbroke 360. Henry 3. the French King 361. Charles Howard Lord Howard of Effingham after Earl of Nottingham 362. Rodolph Emperor of Germany 363. Frederick the Second King of Denmark 364. Iohâ— Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria 365. Edward Mannors Earl of Rutland 366. William Brook Lord Cobham 367. Henry Scroop Lord Scroop of Bolton 368. Robert d'Euereux Earl of Essex 369. Thomas Butler Earl of Ormond 370. Sir Christopher Hatton Knight after Lord Chancellor of England 371. Henry Radcliff Earl of Sussex 372. Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst after Lord Treasurer of England and Earl of Dorset 373. Henry 4. the French King 374. Iames the Sixth King of Scotland after King of England France and Ireland 375. Gilbert Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 376. George Clifford Earl of Cumberland 377. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland 378. Edward Somerset Earl of Worcester 379. Thomas Burogh Lord Burogh of Gainesborough 380. Edward Sheffield Lord Sheffield after Earl of Mulgrave 381. Sir Francis Knolles Knight 382. Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg 383. Thomas Howard Lord Howard of Walden after Earl of Suffolk and Lord Treasurer of England 384. George Carey Lord Hunsdon 385. Charles Blount Lord Montjoy after Earl of Devonshire 386. Sir Henry Lea Knight 387. Robert Radcliff Earl of Sussex 388. Henry Brooke Lord Cobham 389. Thomas Scroop Lord Scroop of Bolton 390. William Stanley Earl of Derby 391. Thomas Cecill Lord Burghley Knights Elected in the Reign of King Iames. 392. Henry Prince of Wales 393. Christiern the Fourth King of Denmark 394. Lodowick Stewart Duke of Lenox and after Duke of Richmond 395. Henry Wriothesley Earl of Southampton 396. Iohn Erskin Earl of Marr. 397. William Herbert Earl of Penbroke 398. Vlrick Duke of Holstein 399. Henry Howard Earl of Northampton 400. Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury 401. Thomas Howard Viscount Bindon 402. George Hume Earl of Dunbarr 403. Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery 404. Charles Stewart Duke of York after Prince of Wales and King of England by the Title of Charles the First 405. Thomas Howard Earl of Arundell and Surrey after Earl of Norfolk 406. Robert Carre Viscount Rochester after Earl of Somerset 407. Frederick Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne Prince Elector of the Empire and after King of Bohemia 408. Maurice van Nassau Prince of Orange 409. Thomas Ereskin Viscount Fenton 410. William Knolles Lord Knolles of Grayes after Viscount Walingford and Earl of â—anbury 411. Francis Mannors Earl of Rutland 412. Sir George Villers Knight after Baron of Whaddon then Earl and Marquess of Buckingham and lastly Earl of Coventry and Duke of Buckingham 413. Robert Sidney Viscount Lisle after Earl of Leicester 414. Iames Hamilton Marquess Hamilton and Earl of Cambridge 415. Esme Stewart Duke of Lenox 416. Christian Duke of Brunswick 417. William Cecill Earl of Salisbury 418. Iames Hay â—arl of Carlisle 419. Edward Sackvile Earl of Dorset 420. Henry Rich Earl of Holland 421. Thomas Howard Viscount Andover after Earl of Berkshire Knights Elected in the Reign of King Charles the First 422. Claude de Lorraine Duke of Cheuereuse 423. Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden 424. Henry Frederick van Nassau Prince of Orange 425. Theophilus Howard Earl of Suffolk 426. William Compton Earl of Northampton 427. Richard Weston Lord Weston of Neyland Lord Treasurer of England and after Earl of Portland 428. Robert Barty Earl of Lindsey 429. William Cecill Earl of Exceter 430. Iames Hamilton Marquess Hamilton Earl of Cambridge and Arran 431. Charles Lodowick Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne Prince Elector of the Empire and Duke of Bavaria 432. Iames Stewart Duke of Lenox after Earl of March 433. Henry Dâ—nvers Earl of Danby 434. William Douglas Earl of Morton 435. Algernon Percy Earl of Northumberland 436. Charles Prince of Wales now King of England Scotland France and Ireland of that name the Second and present Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter 437. Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford 438. Iames Stewart Duke of York and Albanie second Son to King Charles the First 439. Rupert Casâ—mire Count Palatine of the Rhyne and Duke of Bavaria after Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland 440. William van Nassau Prince of Orange 441. Bernard de Foix Duke d'Espernon Knights Elected in the Reign of King Charles the Second 442. Maurice Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne and Duke of Bavaria 443. Iames Boteler Marquess of Ormond since Earl of Brecknock and Duke of Ormond 444. Edward Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne and Duke of Bavaria 445. George Villers Duke of Buckingham 446. William Hamilton Duke of Hamilton 447. Thomas Wriothesley Earl of Southampton after Lord Treasurer of England 448. William Cavendish Marquess of New-Castle since Duke of New-Castle 449. Iames Graham Marquess of Montross 450. Iames Stanley Earl of Derby 451. George Digby Earl of Bristoll 452. Henry Stewart Duke of Gloucester third Son to King Charles the First 453. Henry Charles de la Tremoille Prince de Tarente 454. William Henry van Nassau Prince of Orange
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
who confers this Honor before we leave this Section It hath been thought by divers that no man can make a Knight unless himself be first Knighted and because that some have not given this Honor before they received it they thence would imply that no man ought for so Prince Edward of Carnarvan having been first Knighted by his Father King Edward the First forthwith Knighted a great number more in Westminster Abbey So Anno 20. E. 3. the King being landed at Hoggs in Normandy Knighted Edward his eldest Son and immediately the said Prince made Mortimer Monteacute Ros and others Knights And King Edward the Sixth being Knighted by the â—arl of Hertford in the Tower of London assoon as the Ceremony was over Knighted Henry Hoblethorn Lord Mayor of London with the same Sword wherewith himself received this Military Honor. But it is apparent enough that they who never were and others who never could be Knights have conferr'd this Dignity and we are to understand that necessity and custom hath in this case the force of a Law for anciently Bishops and Priests made Knights so also do the Popes and some Common-wealths nay Women in whom the supream Power is vested may and have done the like witness our Queens Mary and Elizabeth and we find it to be the ancient Law in Spain That the King or his Son and Heir though they be no Knights may nevertheless make Knights by reason that they possess the Kingdom and are therefore the Head and Chief of Chivalry and consequently all the power thereof is closed up and contained in the Kings command To conclude in all the instances and examples where the creation of a Knight hath been performed either with Ceremony or by Diploma of which we shall speak in the next Section it may be observed that the Dignity was always given by and received from the hands of another Person except only the Kings of Spain who time out of mind have made themselves Knights and this by virtue of an old Law written in the Aragonian Tongue as Ambrosius Morales reports which saith thus The whole night preceding the Ceremony viz. of Knighting the King shall watch in the Church in the morning he shall hear Mass and offer both Purple and some of his Money and after he shall receive the Sacrament And when they are going to raise him he shall ascend upon his Shield the Noblemen holding and supporting him Then shall all cry with a loud voice three times Real Real Real This done he shall command to scatter more of his Money to the quantity of one hundred shillings among the People and to shew that no man upon earth hath any power over him he shall gird himself with the Sword made after the form of a Cross and that day can no other man be Knighted One Example of this ancient Rite is remembred by the said Chiffletius at the Coronation of King Ferdinando the Third who took from the high Altar the regal Sword and with his own hand girt himself therewith to the end being so girded he might shew himself openly to the People and declare that he received the power of Governing and making War from none but God alone and that he owed not his Kingdoms to the gift of any mortal man And it seems this manner of Knighting was a thing of such remarque that it was sometime taken notice of and entred for a memorable note of time as for instance in the Teste of a Charter which this Don Ferdinando made to the Monastery of De solos alvos in the third year of his Reign and is reported by the said Chiffletius out of Colmenars History of Segovia c. 20. as also by another Charter wherein the Knighting Prince Edward eldest Son to our King Henry the Third by Alphonso King of Castile at Bruges anno Domini 1255. is remembred after the same manner SECT IX The various Ceremonies used at the conferring of Knighthood BEsides the donation of the before-mentioned honorary Ensigns there were several Ceremonies and Formalities begun to be used in the middle Ages at the investiture of Knights some of which we shall here set down by way of Instance The most ancient of these is the investing of the Knight with a Belt and Sword and this was performed either by putting the Belt loose over the shoulder or girding it close about the waste the Bend in Armory represents the one and the Fess the other Of this kind of Honor we have spoken before The first Christian Kings and Princes saith Favin at the giving of the Cingulum militare kissed the new Knight on the left cheek and used these words In the honor of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I make you a Knight And this was called Osculum pacis the kiss of Favour or Brotherhood Some think this to be the same with the Accollade or Ceremony of imbracing which was performed by Charles the Great who before his expedition against the Hungarians Knighted his Son Lewis the debonair at the City of Ratisbone for upon the girding him with the Military Belt and Sword he gave him the Accollade that is he imbraced him though it be rendred for kissing by the Translator of Favin and this was the first time we observe the Ceremony of the Accollade to have been used It was in the time of the same Emperor that the way of Knighting by the Colaphum or giving a blow on the Ear was used in sign of sustaining future hardships and indurances which is thought to have been derived from the manner of manumission of a Slave among the Romans where first the Praetor gently struck him on the head with the Vindicta a Rod so called after which the Lictor did the like and moreover struck him on the Face and Back with his hand in token of full liberty and freedom This Custom was retained long after both in Germany and France much like the Pescosada or blow on the neck given in Spain at the Creation of the Cavalleros de Espuela d' orada or Knights of the Golden Spur as appears from a clause in the Instrument of the Frizons Infranchisment to this effect That the â—otestate or Governor of the Country should gird the Sword about him who was to be Knighted and then give him a Box on the Ear with his hand with which Ceremony he was made a Knight he also gave him special charge and command that thenceforth he should go armed after the manner of Knights of the sacred Empire or of the Kingdom of France It is also said this Emperor ordain'd that no King should succeed to the Empire if he were not Knighted as aforesaid before his Coronation And there is an eminent example of this formality in William Earl of Holland who when he came to be chosen King of the Romans Anno Domini 1247. preparation was
after when this Order was fallen into great decay it was given unto Don Gonçalionez Master of the Order of Calatrava by King Ferdinand the Saint in the year of our Lord 1221. by whose consent they were afterwards incorporated into the Order of Calatrava Moreover in the Instrument by which Alphonso the Ninth King of Castile gave the Lands to this Order which the Knights took from the Moors the Donation saith thus To you Don Rodrigo Gonçalez Master of Monfrac of the Order of Mount-Ioy They were also called saith Favin Equites de Truxillo or de Trugillo from a City of that name where they sometime resided but this will appear by and by to be a distinct Order united afterward to the Knights of Alcantara Knights of St. John of Acon or Acres 7. Under the Patronage of this Saint was this Order erected but the Original as to time uncertain The Knights thereof exercised all Duties of Charity towards those who went on Pilgrimage to visit the Holy Land and assumed the exercise of Arms in imitation of the Knights Hospitalars whence they became ranked amongst the Religious or Sacred Orders They followed the Rule of St. Augustine and according to Favin had a black Habit assigned them upon which they wore a White Cross Pattee After the City of Acon was taken they removed into Spain and flourished in that Kingdom in the Reign of Alfonsus the Astrologer King of Castile about which time Pope Alexander the Fourth approved the Order under the conjoined Title of St. Thomas and St. Iohn of Acon This King gave unto them by his Will all the Furniture of his House and very much Money but afterward they by little and little decayed until at length they were united with the Knights Hospitalars The Ensign of their Order saith Ios. Micheli Marquez was a Red Cross like to that of the Order of Montesa in the middle whereof stood the Figures of St. Iohn and St. Thomas which differs from what Favin hath before assigned but perhaps the colour of the Cross was changed to Red after their coming into Spain Knights of St. Thomas 8. There was another Order which as may be collected from Mennenius and Ios. Micheli was distinct from the former bearing the Title of St. Thomas but A. Mendo supposeth they were rather some of those which joined themselves to the Knights Hospitalars and the rather because they wore the same Habit with the Knights of St. Iohn of Acon they also made the same Professions followed the same Rule observed the same Constitutions and were approved and confirmed by Pope Alexander the Fourth and Fifth and Iohn the 22. Their Badge was a Saltire gules yet Micheli makes it the same with that of St. Iohn of Acon wanting the Figures in the middle But Andr. Favin reports though we meet with nothing in our English Histories to back him that this Order was Instituted by our King Richard the First after the surprisal of Acon and that these Knights were of the English Nation who wore a White Habit and a Red Cross charged in the middle with a White Escallop and lastly that they had for their Patron St. Thomas Becket This gives us occasion to remember here that we have some more Honor of this kind done our Nation by Strangers if it can be called an Honor to report those things of us which want ground and authority from our own Histories and Chronicles to support them viz. That Henry of England which by the note of time afterwards mentioned must be understood of our King Henry the Second visiting the Holy places in Ierusalem but we find not that he was ever there being moved with a pious zeal by the example of the Knights of the Sepulchre Instituted the Order of Iesus Christ of the holy Sepulchre in England in the year of our Lord 1174. giving to the Knights thereof the same Rules as had those of the Holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem which Order saith the same Author was confirm'd by Pope Alexander the Third under the Rule of St. Basil. Howbeit after the Christians were driven out of the Holy Land the Knights of this Order were joined to the Knights Hospitalars But we give the less credit to this formal account because we find no mention made thereof in any of our English Writers or Records Perhaps the Relator mistook them for the Canons regular but not Knights of the Holy Sepulchre who about that time lived amongst us and of whom the Antiquities of Warwick-shire give some account Knights of St. Blase 9. These were called also Knights de Sancta Maria and founded under the Rule of St. Basil. They were Officers and Servants to the Kings of Armenia and had assigned them for their Habit Skie-colour with a Cross gold worn before their breasts Others say a Red Cross and in the middle thereof the Picture of St. Blase their Patron This Order was at the height when the Armenian Kings of the House of Luzignam kept their Court in the City of Acon Knights of the Martyrs in Palestine 10. By the pious affection of some Noblemen there was erected in the Holy Land an Hospital dedicated to the holy Martyrs St. Cosmas and St. Damianus where all acts of charity were exercised towards sick strangers Their profession also obliged them to other works of mercy towards the poor to redeem Captives taken by the Saracens and to bury the dead These Knights followed the Rule of St. Basil which was confirmed to them by Pope Iohn the 22. They wore for the Badge of their Order a Red Cross and in the middle thereof within a Circle the Figures of the Saints Cosmas and Damianus were described Mennenius informs us that Hieron Romanus had seen some of these Knights wearing for their chief Ensign a Red Cross and professing the Rule of St. Augustine which perhaps was so changed when they retired into Europe Knights of St. Katharine at Mount Sinai 11. This Order received its Institution saith Ios. Micheli in the Year of our Lord 1063. under the Title and Patronage of St. Katharine whose body is reported to be deposited in Mount Sinai and the high Altar in the Church of the Monastery there dedicated to her name erected neer to the place where she was interred The end for which these Knights were at first Instituted and the sum of their profession was to guard and keep safe the Sepulchre of St. Katharine to secure the ways for Travellers to defend and protect the Graecian Pilgrims who came thither for devotions sake and to relieve and entertain them with convenient Hospitality Their Habit was White and they lived under the Rule of St. Basil the Great making their Vows of conjugal chastity and obedience to the Abbot of this Monastery who was their Superiour or Master But when those
of Richard Duke of Gloucester confirm'd and deliver'd to the Dean and Chapter the Mannors of Bentfieldbury in the County of Essex Knapton in the County of Norfolk and Chellesworth in the County of Suffolk who thereupon granted among other things that they and their Successors should cause yearly for ever a Mass to be daily celebrated in this Chappel for the good estate of the said Duke and of Anne his Dutchess while they lived and their souls when dead as also for the souls of their Parents and Benefactors Sir Thomas St. Leger Knight sometime Husband to Anne Dutchess of Exeter Sister to King Edward the Fourth founded a Chantry of two Priests who in the middle Chappel situate on the North side of the Church were ordain'd to pray for the healthful estate of King Edward the Fourth and his Queen and Cicely Dutchess of York the Kings Mother while they lived and for their souls when dead as also for the Soul of Richard Duke of York the good estate of the said Sir Thomas and Richard Bishop of Salisbury then living and after their decease for their souls and the soul of Anne Dutchess of Exeter The Foundation of this Chantry and the Covenants between Sir Thomas St. Leger and the Dean and Colledge are dated the 20. of April anno 22. E. 4. By the last Will of King Edward the Fourth a Chantry was ordained to be founded of two Priests to serve at his Tomb to whom was appointed an exhibition of twenty Marks yearly apiece They were called King Edward's Chantry Priests The Chantry of Thomas Passche one of the Canons of this Chappel was founded for a Priest to pray daily for his Soul and the Soul of William Hermer another of the Canons there as also for the good estate of Master Iohn Arundel and Master Iohn Seymer Canons and of Master Thomas Brotherton and their Souls after they should depart this life There was another Chantry Priest assigned to pray for the Souls of the said Passche and Hermer and of Iohn Plumer Verger of the Chappel and Agatha his Wife which devotion was appointed to be perform'd at the Altar on the North side of the new Church and the setlement thereof bears date the 18. of March anno 9. Hen. 7. The first of March anno 12. H. 7. Margaret Countess of Richmond obtained license from the King that she or her Executors might found a Chantry of four Chaplains to pray for her Soul the Souls of her Parents and Ancestors and all faithful Souls departed This Celebration was to be performed in a place neer the East part of the new work of the Chappel And the 18. of Iuly anno 13. H. 7. the Dean and Canons granted that the Countess or her Executors should erect such a Chantry in the Chappel as is before mentioned The Chantry of William Lord Hastings founded of one Priest to pray for his Soul the Souls of the Lady Katherine his Widow and of Edward Lord Hastings his Son and Mary his Wife after their death The Chappel wherein this Service was celebrated is that on the North side of the Choire about the middle thereof where the Body of this Lord lies interred The Ordination is dated the 21. of February anno 18. H. 7. On the North side of St. Georges Chappel stands a little house built for the habitation of this Chantry Priest having over the Door cut in stone the Lord Hastings's Arms surrounded with a Garter Charles Somerset Lord Herbert created afterwards Earl of Worcester was buried in the South Chappel dedicated to the Virgin Mary at the West end of the Church where he ordain'd a secular Priest to say Mass every day and to pray for the Souls of him and his first Wife Elizabeth the Daughter and Heir of William Herbert Earl of Huntingdon Lord Herbert of Gower who also lies there interred Adjoining to the House built for the Lord Hastings's Chantry Priest is another like Building erected for this Chantry Priest and over the Door thereof now to be seen is the Founders Arms within a Garter cut also upon stone The Foundation of this Chantry is dated the 30. of Iuly anno 21. H. 7. To these we shall add the pious Foundation of the House called the New Commons erected over against the North Door of the Body of St. George's Chappel by Iames Denton one of the Canons of the Colledge sometimes Dean of Lichfield anno 11. H. 8. for the lodging and dieting such of the Chantry Priests Choristers and stipendary Priests who had no certain place within the Colledge where to hold Commons in but were constrained daily to eat their Meals in sundry houses of the Town this House he furnished with proper Utensils for such a use the whole charge amounting to 489 l. 7 s. 1 d. and for all which the Choristers were desired by him in the Statutes he ordained for their Rule and Government to say certain Prayers when they entred into the Chappel and after his death to pray for his and the Souls of all the faithful departed In this Chappel of St. George there were heretofore several Anniversaries or Obits held and celebrated some of them as they are entred down in an Account of Owen Oglethorp Treasurer of the Colledge for the year commencing the first of October anno 38. H. 8. and ending the last of September anno 1. E. 6. inclusive we will here remember October November 2. Sir Thomas Sentleger Knight 3. William Bewster Canon 6. Iohn Wygrym Canon 5. Iohn Plomer Verger 8. William Edyngton Bishop of Winchest 10. Iohn Brydbroke Canon 9. King Edward the Fourth 13. Thomas Pashe Canon 16. Rich. Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury 20. Robert Vere Earl of Oxford 22. William Cock Canon 27. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick  29. Iohn Chapman Vicar Prospect of the Cancellor Screen from the West PROSPECT OF THE CANCELL from the East PROSPECT OF THE CHOIRE from the West PROSPECT OF THE CHOIRE from the East December January 3. Ralph Wyndesor 3. Katherine Queen of England 14. Iohn Howden Canon 8. King Edward the Fourth 30. Richard Duke of York 10. Anne Devereux 31. Tho. Beauford Duke of Exeter 11. Iohn Chambre Canon  12. Anne Dutchess of Exeter  14. Geoffry Aston February March 4. Richard Raunds Canon 1. Richard Smith 21. William Mugge Custos 4. Knights of the Garter 28. Roger Lupton Canon 5. Walter Devereux  10. Richard Welles Canon  19. King Henry the Fourth  24. Henry Duke of Lancaster April May. 3. William Butler Canon 11. King Henry the Seventh 5. Geoffry Wren Canon 21. King Henry the Sixth 6. King Edward the Fourth  19. Robert Ravendale Canon  20. Anne Dutchess of Exeter  21. Iohn Bean and his Wife  June July 2. Iohn Stokes Canon 9. King Edward the Fourth 7. Anne Queen of England 12. Anne Dutchess of Exeter 8. Edward the Black Prince 13. William Harmer Canon 11. William
dwelling of five 〈◊〉 Knights did thereupon design the said 1500 l. towards that use and added 〈◊〉 money of his own to make up the rest charging his Executor Sir Richard Crane his Brother afterwards created Baronet by his Will dated the 27. of August anno 1635. to see the buildings which himself had begun finished He also bequeathed for ever two hundred pounds per annum to be setled in Lands by his Executor according to the advice and direction of Thomas then Earl of Arundel and Surrey and Henry Lord Maâ—revers his eldest Son to serve for the perpetual maintenance of five Alms-Knights after the rate of forty pounds per annum to every one of them But his Executor growing slack in the performance of this the work being rather exposed to ruine than any way forwarded by him by whom the same was only expected to be finished and complaints thereof several times made to the Soveraign and Knights-Companions in Chapter Orders were issued thereupon to quicken him and a peremptory Letter sent him dated the 7. of March 1639. to go on with the work forthwith which commands he evading and bad times growing on the building was wholly neglected Sir Richard Crane afterwards dying by his Will dated the 20. of Sept. 1645. appointed that his Mannor of Carbrooke in Norfolk should for ever stand bound for the payment of the said 200 l. per annum whereupon by an Inquisition taken at Windesor 4. Mar. 1652. by virtue of a Commission upon the Statute anno 43. Eliz. for charitable uses the Mannors of Woodrising and Wesfield with other Lands in the County of Norfolk were found liable to satisfie for building and finishing the said five Houses and payment of the 200 l. yearly and further that the Arrears thereof from Sir Crane's death came at that time to 3200 l. Some contest then ensued in the Court of Chancery between Ralph Mabb with other Prosecutors on the Alms-Knights behalf and William Crane Esquire to whom the Estate of Sir Richard Crane fell nevertheless the 200 l. per annum was 19. Iuly 1655. Decreed to be paid out of all the Lands which were Sir Richard Cranes and the building of the Houses out of his personal Estate And upon this about two years after that fair pile of Building erected between the Chancellor's and Garter's Towers against the West wall in the lower Ward of the Castle was taken again in hand and finished in the following year the charge whereof amounted to 1700 l. But for a final end of the Sute it was Decreed the 27. of Ianuary 1659. That the before mentioned Mannor of Carbrook should for ever stand charged with 200 l. per annum to be paid half yearly at Michaelmas and our Lady-day or within thirty days after for the perpetual maintenance of five Alms-Knights together with 30 l. yearly for repairs payable at the foresaid times and an assurance thereof to be made accordingly towards the recovery and setling of which the care and assistance of Sir Bulstrode Whiteloke then Constable of the Castle of Windesor was not wanting The setlement being perfected the present Soveraign in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 14. of Ianuary anno 12. Car. 2. Decreed That the Chancellor of the Order for the time being should receive the said annual sum of 230 l. and dispose thereof thus 200 l. per annum among the five new-instituted Alms-Knights quarterly by even and equal portions at the four usual Feasts of the year and to employ the residue being 30 l. per annum upon repair of the new buildings erected for their Lodgings which powers were inserted into the Patenâ—â—or his Office bearing date the 20. of the same Month. And it was further decreed at the same Chapter That these five Alms-Knights should be subject to the same Rules and Government under which the other thirteen were established by Queen Elizabeth's Foundation and made equal partakers of the same Priviledges and have the like Habit assigned to them The number of Alms-Knights being by the donation of Sir Francis Crane increased to eighteen King Charles the First of ever blessed memory taking notice thereof though they were not yet setled intended to make them up six and twenty as they were at the Institution of the Order to which end in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 18. of April 1637. it was Ordered That the Knights-Companions Commissioners for other affairs of the Order should consider of the best way how the same might be effected and report their opinions to the then Soveraign But nothing being done thereupon this Affair yet waits a more propitious season for the compleating thereof SECT VI. Of other Ministers of the Colledge IN the last place the Ministri or Officers of the Colledge and Chappel of St. George bring up the rear in the Patent of Foundation under which Title are comprehended first the Superior Officers namely the Chantor Steward and Treasurer The Chantor is ordained to be chosen from among the Canons the chief part of whose Office is to govern those that sing in the Choire and such as are employed about Divine Service Before the Reformation in Religion he appointed who of them should begin the Antiphones celebrate the Masses and read the Lessons Epistles and Gospels with these to his care was committed the custody of the Books Crosses Chalices Vestments and all the sacred Ornaments of the Chappel He receives the Offerings there made and accompts for them for all which service an annual Pension of 5 l. is allowed him The Steward and Treasurer are annually chosen on the morrow after Michael-mas-day from out of the Canon-Residents To the Stewards Office belongs the Government of all the Revenue of the Colledge the Rents and Profits arising thence he is to pay to the Treasurer To his keeping is delivered all the Ornaments Jewels and other Treasure of the Chappel not committed to the Chantor under the obligation of rendring an account and his yearly Pension is 5 l. The Treasurer is appointed to distribute to the Custos Canons Vicars and every other Minister of the Chappel the Pensions and Allowances assigned to them of which if he fail eight days after the expiration of their set times of payment he is debar'd of his own Quotidians as Canon-Resident until such Arrears be discharged so also the Steward if he be faulty herein The Pension allowed him is also 5 l. per annum As there is one Treasurer who receives the Rents of the Old Lands so was there appointed another distinct from the former and chosen from among the Canons to receive the Rent of the New within few years after they were setled on the Colledge to whom the like annual Pension of 5 l. hath been also allowed The Title of the former being Senescallus veteris Dotationis and of the latter Senescallus novae Dotationis There is also the Steward of the Courts and Clerk of the Lands which
the Reign of King Richard the Second But since Mr. Selden does acknowledge him guilty of a mistake in the number of the first Knights-Companions and a gross one indeed it is by making them no fewer than forty why might he not likewise erre in this point namely the Time and as unwarily confound the year of its Erection with that wherein the Founder renewed the Order of the Round Table Windesor being the place for holding the grand celebration of both For should we admit that during some part of the great Solemnity held in this Kings 18. year the accident of the Ladies Garter slipping off happen'd and that the King taking it up declared he would make it highly renowned what other inference can be made but that he had then only an intention or resolution at most to do somewhat afterwards not that there was an Erection or Order actually Instituted at that time Besides if the King had been desirous to fall upon the establishment of the Order immediately upon the said accident yet may it well be supposed that the jollity of the season and remaining part of the Feast was too busie a time to admit of much consultation tending thereunto at least serious enough to mould a design so compleat and substantial as it appears to have been even at first whether we consider the substance of the Statutes of Institution or variety of the matter and so fully judiciously and warily contrived as little of that subject could be found worth the adding in many years after To these if we join the authority of Fabian he is plain that though the King design'd the Institution at the end of the Festival which he placeth between Candlemas and Lent in the 19. not 18. year of this King yet was it not then saith he but afterwards established by him As to the testimony given by the Author of Les grandes Chroniques de Britaigne c. who likewise alledgeth that the Institution of the Order was in the 18. year of the King We suppose his best authority was also taken from Froissart supposing him as Mr. Selden doth the more to be relied upon because he wrote so near that time But 't is a fault too frequent among Historians to run away with what they find spoken by those from whom they collect especially if such have gained any good opinion or credit in the world though perhaps erroneous without making a sufficient enquiry either into the probability or truth of the thing And for an instance of some unwariness in collecting we may trace the now mentioned Author in another passage relating to this matter where he tells us it was the day of St. Gregory instead of St. George whereon the Grand Feast of the Order was ordained to be solemnized We now see that Froissart and with him Mr. Selden place the beginning of this Order to the 18. year of King Edward's Reign with whom agrees Thomas Cooper in his Epitomy of Chronicles And yet the same Mr. Selden in another place notes that it took beginning in the 24. year of the said King and our industrious Stow with whom Lilly Speed and Segar agree tells us that the first Feast of the Order was celebrated in the year of our Lord 1350. which answers to the said four and twentieth year of King Edward the Third But Polydore Virgile in the series of his History placeth it after Henry Earl of Derby was created Duke of Lancaster and Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford which hapned in March anno 25. E. 3. Thus it appears that our Historians took little heed to transmit the true time of so famous an Institution to posterity and their neglect perhaps was the cause why our judicious Cambden became silent herein yet how this Chronological note slipt all their Pens is much to be wondred at We must therefore have recourse to some other proofs whence our Reader may receive better satisfaction Admitting then that the erecting this Order entered into Edward's thoughts at some of those grand Assemblies of the Round Table held after the French King had set up the like yet was it not brought to any maturity till after his glorious Triumphs over the French and Scots in the Battels of Crescy and Nevils Cross in which both the French and Scotch Armies were utterly vanquished and David King of Scots taken Prisoner and until King Edward had Calais surrendred to him as will now be manifest Among the Rolls of the great Wardrobe we have met with one which contains the Accounts of all the Kings Liveries from Michaelmas anno 21. E. 3. to the 31. of Ianuary in the 23. year of the same King In this Roll are divers things mentioned to be adorned with Garters which were provided against the first grand Feast of St. George and among the rest are the Robes for the Soveraign of the Order namely his Mantle Surcoat and Hood as also a Bed of Blue Taffaty adorned with embroidered Garters containing the Motto Honi soit qui mal y pense There were then likewise made for the Soveraign three Harnesses whereof two were of White Velvet wrought over with Garters de blu diaspriz per totum compedinem cum Woodhouses and the third de Velvetto Ynde cont Lappekin quisseux caligas wrought over likewise with Garters Had this Roll been divided into years or had there been other notes thereupon to have distinguished whether these particulars were made and provided at the beginning of his 22. year against the Feast-day of St. George ensuing or else towards the later end of that year against the same Feast-day anno 23. E. 3. we might have been thereby guided with more certainty as to the right and true year of the Institution However we may thence safely conclude that this Order was not founded in the 18. year of King Edward the Third according to Froissart and his Followers because we here find that the Soveraign's Robes were not made until the 22. year of his Reign at the soonest perhaps not till the beginning of the 23. But to put all out of further doubt the Founder's Statutes fix the time of Institution to his 23. year so do the Statutes of King Henry the Fifth and the Preface to the Black Book the same also is attested by Leland and affirmed by Mills and Doctor Heylin To conclude when this famous King had resolved upon the day and place for keeping the first grand Feast of this most noble Order which he designed to exhibit with as much glory as could be imagined He sent his Heralds into Germany France Scotland Burgundy Hainault Flanders and Brabant to invite all Knights and Esquires who were willing to meet at that grand Solemnity with assurance to every one of safe conduct and Liberty for fifteen days both before and after the same to shew their Military Prowess and Valour in all kind
Two Scepters weighing 18 ounces 1 quarter A long Rod Silver gilt weighing 1 l. 5 ounces One Gold Porringer and Cover weighing 15 ounces 1 half One Chalice adorned with 2 Saphirs and 2 Ballas Rubies weighing 15 ounces 1 half Two Patena's enamelled weighing 25 ounces 1 half Two Spoons with flat heads weighing 5 ounces 1 quarter One Taster enamelled with a Phenix weighing 5 ounces 1 half Two Offering Pieces and a Sey of Gold weighing 10 ounces 1 quarter Queen Edith's Crown formerly thought to be of massy Gold but upon tryal found Silver gilt enricht with Garnets Pearls Saphirs and other Stones weighing 50 ounces King Elfrid's Crown of Gold Wirework set with Stones and two little Bells weighing 79 ounces â— half A Patena enamelled set with Stones weighing 23 ounces 1 half The Ampulla set with Stones and Pearls weighing 8 ounces 1 half A large Staff with a Dove on the top the upper part Gold the lower part Silver gilt weighing 27 ounces A small Staff with a flower de Lis on the top being Iron within and Silver gilt without Two Scepters one set with Pearls and Stones the upper end Gold weighing 23 ounces the lower end Silver gilt The other Scepter Silver gilt having a Dove weighing 7 ounces 3 quarters The Gold of the Tassels of a Liver-coloured Robe adorned with Pearl weighing 4 ounces also the Gold of the Neck Button of the Coat weighing 1 ounce A pair of Silver gilt Spurs set with 12 Stones having Straps of Crimson Silk weighing 6 ounces 3 quarters Besides these there were other parts of the Regalia fetcht from Westminster-Abbey and sold by these Trustees namely One large Chalice of Glass wrought in Figures and set in Gold with Stones and Pearls weighing 68 ounces 1 half A Staff of black and white Ivory having a Dove on the top the binding and feet Gold A Silver Spoon gilt weighing 3 ounces One Crimson Tafsaty Robe One Robe trim'd with Gold Lace One Liver-coloured Silk Robe One Robe of Crimson Tafsaty Sarcenet One pair of Buskins Cloth of Silver One pair of Shoes Cloth of Gold One pair of embroidered Gloves Three Swords with Scabards Cloth of Gold One Horn Comb. It was further appointed by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes that this Collar should be composed of pieces of Gold in fashion of Garters the ground enamelled Blue and the Letters of the Motto Gold In the midst of each Garter two Roses placed the innermost enamelled Red and the outermost White contrarily in the next Garter the innermost Rose enamelled White and the outermost Red and so alternately continued but of later times these Roses are wholly Red. The number of these Garters are so many as be the ordained number of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions by the Institution of the Order viz. Twenty six being tyed together with as many Knots of Gold and this fashion hath in all particulars hitherto continued invariable Nor ought the Collar to be garnished or enriched with precious Stones as may the George which hangs thereat such costly embelishments being absolutely prohibited by the Law of the Order At the middle of the Collar before is to be fastned the Image of St. George armed sitting on Horseback who having thrown the Dragon upon his back encounters him with a tilting Spear This Jewel is not surrounded with a Garter or row of Diamonds as is the lesser George but made according to the representation in the Plate above and called the Great George It is allowed to be garnished with Diamonds and other enrichments at the pleasure of the Knight-Companion who owns it and upon that license hath been frequently adorned with variety of costly art whereon the Diamonds and other precious Stones are so disposed as may upon its motion and agitation cast out the greater lustre But before the establishment of this Article by King Henry the Eighth it appears the Knights-Companions were invested with Collars at their installations for the Black Book takes notice of a Collar among the Ensigns of the Order wherewith Philip King of Castile was invested an 22. H. 7. but whether a Collar of SS or other fashion doth not there appear Nevertheless this doubt is in part cleared by an old memorial of the ceremonies used at the Creation of Henry Lord Stafford Earl of Wiltshire Brother to Edward Duke of Buckingham 3. Feb. an 1. H. 8. where it is noted that after he was invested with the Robes of his State and Dignity The Collar of the Garter was put about his neck denoting him a Knight of that Order And to make it yet more evident there is found in a Vellom Book of Statutes in French sent to Maximilian the Emperor signed the 5. of Ianuary 1508. by T. Rowthale then Register of the Order And in another belonging to Edward Stanley Lord Mounteagle elected an 6. H. 8. a particular Article namely the 41. that Ordains a Collar to be publickly worn by each Knight-Companion there called the Collar of the Order which though it be not in all respects agreeable to the fashion of that prescribed by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes yet comes it very neer and said to be a Gold Collar coupled together by several pieces of Links in fashion of Garters with a Vermilion Rose and the Image of St. George hung thereat The reason of the Knights-Companions wearing it the times appointed therefore the License for putting it to mending the command not to enrich the Collar but the George only and obligation not to sell pawn or alienate it for any necessity whatsoever are wholly the same as were afterwards enjoined by King Henry the Eight so that in truth he did no more but adjoin to his Body of Statutes a Decree which for the main had been in practice before Besides an 11. H. 8. upon interpretation of the 11. Article of the Statutes for wearing the Habit of the Order at the grand Feast of St. George the Collar is there enumerated among those Ornaments as part of the whole Habit that a Knight-Companion is obliged to wear In further proof that the Collar of Garters was used before King Henry the Eight's Reign let us offer here the Monument of Sir Giles Daubeney who died an 22. H. 7. erected in St. Paul's Chappel seituate on the north side of St. Edward's Shrine in Westminster Abbey whereon his Portraicture in his Robes of the Order is adorned with such a Collar as King Henry the Eighth's Statutes do afterwards describe As the Garter sent to Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden so the great George pendant at his Collar weighing seven ounces was set with large and resplendent Diamonds the particulars and order do fully appear out of the Counterpart of that Inventory mentioned at the beginning of this Chapter taken upon its delivery into the custody of the Dean and Canons of Windesor and were as followeth In the three Chains of the George small Diamonds 10 In St.
King of Russia and Moscovia married to Henry the First King of France in the year of our Lord 1051. and thus blazoned De Gueules à un homme à Cheval d' Argent tenant une Lance en la main qu'il darde en la gueule d'un Dragon renverse The Counts of Mansfield in Germany have likewise frequently stamped on their Coyns the Figure of St. George killing the Dragon from which we have singled out one bearing the name of St. George and placed it under the Number IV. In the last may be seen the Effigies of Vincentius Duke of Mantua and Montserat a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and on the Reverse thereof St. George encountring the Dragon in the manner generally worn by the Soveraign and Knights-Companions of this most Noble Order of the Garter SECT X. When the Habit or part of it ought to be worn THere are several solemn days and occasions on which the Soveraign and Knights-Companions of the Garter are enjoined to wear either the whole Habit of the Order or some part of it The more solemn and which require a full conformity as to wearing the whole Habit that is the Garter Mantle Surcoat Hood Collar Great George and Cap are first the high Festival of the Order commonly called St. George's Feast whether it be solemnized on the 22 23 or 24. days of April annually or any other days within the following year by Prorogation And for this there is cleer Text in all the Bodies and Exemplars of the Statutes as also to the time how long they ought to be worn on every of those days before the Soveraign or Knights-Companions put them off For first it was Ordained That the Knights-Companions should put on the whole Habit on the Eve of St. George before the Soveraign proceeded to the Chappel to hear Divine Service and being so habited should attend the Soveraign to the Chapterhouse thence to the Chappel and return with him back continuing in the same manner habited as well such of them as should be minded to Sup as those that should not until after Supper nor might they put off their Robes until the Soveraign or his Deputy had put off his or declared it time for his or their so doing By the same third Article of the Statutes the wearing of the whole Habit was also enjoined on the Feast day of St. George both at their Proceeding in the morning to the Chapterhouse or Chappel at their return to Dinner from thence to the second Vespers and back to Supper as also till Supper should be ended and until the Soveraign or his Lieutenant took leave of the rest of the Knights-Companions Secondly it is manifest from King Henry the Eighth's Statutes that the Eve the day of St. George and morrow following were appointed to be kept with solemn service and holding of Chapters wheresoever the Soveraign should then be though the Grand Feast and Solemnity of St. George were prorogued to some further time in the year And therefore when by reason of such Prorogation the Knights-Companions do meet in any other place besides the Castle of Windesor to attend the Soveraign for the observation of St. George's day only they then are appointed to wear the whole Habit of the Order from beginning of the first Evening Service until the last Evening Service on St. George's day Thirdly on such other days of the year whereon the Grand Feast is held by Prorogation and during such part of the Eve and day of the Feast as is before appointed when the said Feast is held on its proper day Fourthly by absent Knights whensoever the Grand Feast of St. George should be celebrated and wheresoever they should at such time happen to reside or be if at liberty and not under restraint in like manner as if then present with the Soveraign or his Deputy in the place where he should celebrate the Feast The time of wearing the whole Habit in this case extends but to the end of the second Vespers as in the second instance above Fifthly in like manner are the Knights-Companions to wear the whole Habit of the Order at the Feasts of Installation I mean such of them as are appointed by the Soveraign to assist at that Ceremony where if it begin in the Evening then are they not disrobe themselves till after Supper and being the next morning habited as before then to proceed to the Chapterhouse or Chappel and not put off their Robes till Dinner be ended The less solemn Occasions are those which require wearing the Mantle or Collar of the Order only And they are first upon the morrow after the Grand Feast day when the Soveraign and Knights-Companions proceed to the Chappel and make their Offering of Gold and Silver for it then suffiseth that they put on the Mantle only which service being finished they were wont to leave at the Chapterhouse door as they went out of the Chappel Secondly as often as Chapters are called and in what place soever held either for Elections or other Causes as it shall please the Soveraign to name And also as often as it is requisite for the Soveraign or any of the Knights-Companions to enter into the Chappel of St. George at Windesor and with reference hereunto was it Ordained That every one of the Knights-Companions should leave a Mantle at Windesor to the end that upon any sudden and unexpected occasion of access thither there might be Robes found in readiness for the due observing the Statutes in this point with all the Commands and Decrees of the Soveraign It s manifest that anciently in pursuance of this Article both the Soveraign and Knights-Companions left Mantles in the Vestry at Windesor for such accidental Occasions for in the Inventory of Ornaments belonging to the Chappel taken an 8. Ric. 2. We find remaining at that time in the Vestry a Mantle belonging to the Soveraign another to Iohn Duke of Britain a third to Iohn Holland Earl of Huntingdon another to Edmund Langley Earl of Cambridge and one to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent all of them then alive And by a Decree past at the Grand Feast anno 1. H. 6. the Mantle of the young Soveraign was appointed to be left at Windesor as the Statutes required It is further to be noted that this Article of the Statutes was confirmed by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes by force whereof the Mantles of the Emperor Charles the Fifth and Anna Duke of Montmorency Constable of France were left in the custody of the Dean and Canons of Windesor And heretofore in the general Bill drawn up of things necessary to be prepared for Installation of a Knight-Companion there were usually two Mantles set down the use of the one being therein expresly mentioned to remain in the Colledge at Windesor and the other for all other occasions elsewhere These Mantles thus enjoined to be left in the Colledge
of April an 15. Car. 2. Sir Edward Walker now Garter represented to the Soveraign and Knights-Companions by Petition That the annual Pensions of the Installed Knights then in arrear for one year amounted to 94 l. 13 s. 04 d. according to the proportions last above decreed whereof the Soveraign's part he being to pay for all Stranger-Knights was at that time 32 l. 13 s. 4 d. And therefore humbly prayed that his Majesty would please to grant him and his Successors to receive in lieu not only of the said Pensions from Himself and Knights-Companions both Strangers and Subjects but for quitting his right and just pretence to his annual Pension of 50 l. to his allowances for preparing Scutcheons and removal of Atchievements 100 l. per annum out of the yearly Revenue setled and assigned to the use of the Order This Petition the Soveraign was pleased to refer to a Committee of the Knights-Companions namely the Duke of Albemarle the Earls of Lindsey Manchester Sandwich and Strafford who being attended by Garter and consideration had upon the Proposals contained in the Petition they humbly offered their opinions to the Soveraign to grant him the said 100 l. per annum in lieu of what he offered to quit and thereby he should not only gratifie him by preserving the interest of his Office in a more certain way than it was but be freed from those small payments for Strangers and other yearly Charges the Petitioner pretended unto as also exempt the Knights Subjects from the payment of their annual Pensions Shortly after the Chancellor Register and Garter attended the Soveraign with the Report which he approving of ordered the Chancellor to pay unto Garter and his Successors the said annual sum of 100 l. which he accordingly performed and for testimony thereof signed the ensuing Declaration I Henry de Vic Knight Chancellor of the most Noble Order of the Garter do certifie and declare That upon certain Proposals made by Sir Edward Walker Knight Garter Principal King of Arms to the Lords Commissioners for the Affairs of the said Order It was certified by a Writing under their said Lordships hands dated the 26. May 1663. That in lieu of all Fees and Salaries in the said Proposals contained the said Sir Edward and his Successors Garters and Principal Kings of Arms shall be paid by me and my Successors in the said Office of Chancellor of the Garter the sum of one hundred pounds by â—he year out of the Revenue of the Order with which Writing having attended the Soveraign his Majesty was pleased to conform unto it and to direct in his Commission unto me under the Seal of the Order to pay and issue the said one hundred pounds accordingly to the said Sir Edward Walker Garter In witness whereof I have set my Hand and Seal to this present Certificate this 5. August 1664. De Vic. Canc. Touching the Duty of this Officer in general it is to perform or cause to be done what business soever relating to this Order the Soveraign or Prelate or Chancellor shall enjoyn him to do but his duty in particular is dispersedly set down in the following Discourse under such heads to which it properly relates SECT V. Institution of the Black Rod's Office his Oath Habit Ensign Badge Priviledges and Pension THis Officer was instituted by the Founder of this most Noble Order but whether so soon as the Institution of the Order doth not yet appear Howbeit within a few years after viz. the 13. of April in the 35. year of his Reign he granted to William Whitehorse Esq for life Officium Hostiarii Capellae Regis infra Castrum de Windesore with a Fee of twelve pence a day out of his Exchequer An. 3. H. 4. This Office is called Officium Virgarii comitivâ— de la Garter infra Castrum Regis de Windesore and under that title was then granted to Thomas Sye with the Fees and Profits thereunto belonging In the Patent granted to his Successor Iohn Athilbrigg an 1. H. 5. we observe it called Officium Virgarii sive Ostiarii c. Afterwards it hath this Title Officium Virgae-baiuli coram Rege ad Festum Sancti Georgii infra Castrum Regis de Windesore And ever since it hath past in Patents by the name of Virgae-baiulus Virgarius or Nigri-virgifer But in the Constitutions of his Office he hath given to him the title of Hostiarius and these qualifications put upon him That he be a Gentleman of Blood and Arms born within the Soveraign's Dominions and if he be not a Knight at his entrance upon the Office he ought then to be Knighted As Garter was declared the Principal Officer of Arms so was the Black Rod for the honor of the Order appointed the Chief Vsher in the Kingdom And as he is so and frequently called Gentleman Vsher of the Black Rod so we shall wave as we did in the account of Garter's Office all things appertaining to his Imployments other than what directly relate to this most Noble Order In a Chapter held at Whitehall the 13. of February an 6. Car. 1. it was Decreed That the Office of Black Rod should from thenceforth successively as soon as the same should become void Iames Maxwell Esquire then enjoying the Office be annext to some one of the Gentlemen Ushers daily-waiters whom the Soveraign should appoint This was obtained upon the Petition of the Gentlemen Vshers daily-waiters seconded by the Lord Chamberlain the Earl Marshal and divers others of the Knights-Companions as appears from another Petition of theirs presented to the Soveraign in Chapter held at Oxford the 17. of Ian. an 20. Car. 1. But it seems some years after this Decree past viz. an 1642. the Lord Lenerick Secretary for Scotland had on Mr. Maxwell's behalf obtained the Soveraign's hand to a Warrant for passing Letters Patent under the Great Seal of England for two lives his own and Mr. Thayne's and the longest liver of them whereby the Soveraign's intention signified in the foresaid Decree to the Gentlemen-Vshers was frustrate of which they complaining in this last mentioned Chapter the Soveraign and Knights-Companions then present in regard this later Grant was not only repugnant to the preceding Decree and the Great Seal surreptitiously gained but ought to have pass'd the Seals of the Order to be made authentical according to a Decree made an 20. Car. 1. Ordered That Peter Newton Esquire should be presently sworn into this Office Which was then done in the presence of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions Nevertheless shortly after the present Soveraign's happy return viz. 14. Ian. 1660. the said Peter Newton being deceased the Gentlemen-Vsherâ— daily-waiters petitioned the Soveraign in Chapter for the void place which being read the Soveraign and Knights-Companions Ordered That the Petition should be shewed to Mr. Thaine and he to be heard in the next Chapter what cause he could alledge why
Windesor 6. Aug. 1. 2. Ph. M. Emanuel Duke of Savoy 11. Whitehall 8. Febr. 20. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhyne 12. York 12. Sept. 16. Car. 1. Thomas Earl of Strafford But for the most part since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign Whitehall the Soveraign's usual Court of Residence hath been the place whereunto the Knights-Companions have been specially summoned and peculiar Chapters held for Election of Knights in the interval between the vacancy and St. George's Feast Howbeit of late while the present Soveraign was abroad beyond the Seas and wanted the full number of Knights-Companions to constitute a compleat Chapter He hath been necessitated to make use of his supream power not only in dispencing with the Ceremony of Election in Chapter but also in supplying thâ— defect of a Scrutiny by making his own choice nevertheless since his most happy return to the Throne of his Ancestors Whitehall hath also recovered her accustomed Honors and beheld again a most worthy advancement of Knights into this most Noble Order at a Chapter specially called and held in the Bed-chamber there the first day of April an 13. Car. 2. in the Election of the Duke of Richmond the Earls of Lindsey Manchester and Strafford SECT III. The Number of Knights that constitute a Chapter IN the next place we are to consider what number of Knights-Companions ought to assemble for constituting a compleat Chapter of Election By the Statutes it is appointed there should be â—ix at the least besides the Soveraign or his Deputy the due observation of which hath been so strictly stood upon heretofore that Elections were ordinarily deferr'd where the Chapters consisted not of so many For proof of which we find that the Duke of Gloucester anno 9. H. 6. then Deputy to the Soveraign at that time in France for celebrating the Feast of St. George at Windesor forbore to proceed to Election because the Number of Knights-Companions there assembled was less than the Statutes required to constitute a Chapter We likewise take notice that anno 10. H. 5. no Election was made the Feast being also celebrated at Windesor though one Stall was void by the death of the Lord Clifford and probably the reason though not exprest might be for want of that full number of Knights-Companions the Statutes required For the Duke of Bedford then the Soveraign's Deputy had but three Knights present with him But in this case we need not fly to conjectures there are direct and cleer instances enough wherein if we abound we hope the satisfaction they will give the concern'd Reader beside the antiquity of the Precedent may obtain our pardon In the 22. year of King Henry the Sixth or rather 23. for so the Registrum Chartaceum hath it in the hand of that very Age Humfry Duke of Buckingham being deputed to celebrate the Feast of St. George at Windesor although there were at that time four Stalls vacant yet did no Nomination pass one reason being because there was not present a sufficient Number to make Election So when the same King celebrated the Grand Feast personally at Windesor in the 31. year of his Reign having but three Knights-Companions attending him thereat and two Stalls void the Election was prorogued for the very same reason In like manner the want of a sufficient Number of Knights-Companions hapning at the Feasts held the 32.33 and 34. of Henry the Sixth hindred the Election at those times for at the first of them there were but two Knights-Companions beside the Soveraign's Deputy and at the two last but four besides the Soveraign though the Registrum Chartaceum anno 33. names five by adding the Duke of Somerset At the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor anno 1471. which answers to the 11. year of King Edward the Fourth although from what is spoken concurrent with the following circumstances both out of the Black Book of the Order and the Registrum Chartaceum we suppose it should more rightly be transferr'd to the twelfth of this King's Reign and therefore this passage throughout may fitly be corrected by those Authorities the Soveraign intending to make an Election and having but five Knights-Companions present with him Calys Pursivant at Arms was sent to London for Sir Iohn Astley to come and furnish the Chapter in which saith this Fragment there were chosen seven Knights namely the Prince the King of Portugal the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Wiltshire the Lord Ferrers the Lord Montjoy and the Lord Howard But here are some other mistakes for the Prince was not elected until anno 15. E. 4. and the King of Portugal not until the 22. year of the same King As for the rest we not finding the true time of their Election elsewhere shall let them stand having been loth to make use of so imperfect an authority but that the circumstance of sending for Sir Iohn Astley to make up a Chapter rather than violate the Laws of the Order may be faithfully enough related and well worth observing through the other false lights cast in from the inadvertency of the Relator Lastly the 31. of Ianuary anno 21. Car. 2. being designed for the Election of Christopher Duke of Albemarle and there appearing but five Knights at the Chapter the Election was put off till the 3. of February following at which time a statutable number of Knights being present his Election past SECT IV. Dispensation for want of a full Number AND whereas some may suppose that the Soveraigns of this Order in later times have appeared less careful in the due observation of its Statutes and Laws than were their Predecessors by making use of Dispensations where the number of six Knights-Companions have been wanting they are to consider the License herein is no other than an advantage to be laid hold on in cases of necessity only for necessity can bring a sufficient plea where the infringement of a Decree is objected in the Law of this Order and withal to shew that the power and prerogative of Dispensation is reserved to the Soveraigns of this most Noble Order in all cases of exigency albeit not to be made use of where there is a possibility to perform the Rules and Injunctions of the Statutes The Soveraigns therefore in succeeding times for sundry reasons and upon important and urgent occasions have been induced to dispence with this branch of the Statute as to a full Number of Knights-Companions in case so many were not in readiness as the Law appointed to make a compleat Chapter And the first liberty we observe to have been taken herein was by King Henry the Eighth in the 26. year of his Reign who after he had received intelligence of the death of the Lord Montjoy immediately called a Chapter at Whitehall where no more than five Knights-Companions being present the absence of the rest were excused
behalf of the Prelate For instance an 4. Eliz. the Register in the absence of the Chancellor who was sick upon the Feast day of St. George collected the Suffrages and an 8. â—liz George Carew then Register of the Order took the Votes of the Knights-Compaions in absence of Sir William Petre Chancellor of the Order So also anno Iacobi 4. where the cause of the Chancellor's absence is noted to be sickness and an 6. Iac. to be death In the first of these Instances we find the Prelate expresly mentioned to be present in the two following his presence implyed for it is said that the four Officers of the Order did attend both Feasts whereof the Chancellor being wanting the Prelate must needs be one Now all these passages seem to relate to the Chancellor's rather than the Prelate's right by this Remarque That every of the Scrutenies were taken in the absence of the Chancellor which looks something like a cautionary note that intended the preservation of the right of performing this service to the Chancellor rather than the Prelate Furthermore when a Deputy Chancellor hath been admitted to officiate in the Chancellor's absence he and not the Prelate hath taken the Scruteny though present as at that made for the Election of his sacred Majesty the present Soveraign the 20 day of May an 14. Car. 1. and at another Scruteny taken the 22. of May following As also when the Suffrages were collected for the Election of his Highness the Duke of York and Prince Rupert at York anno 17. Car. 1. But there is one passage more upon taking a Scruteny an Iac. 22. which seems advantageous to the Chancellor in this point where it is said That when the Knights-Companions had given their Votes as in the Annals they are described the Chancellor who according to his Office was to receive them presented them to the Soveraign Howbeit in truth we find no sufficient ground for the Register to record this as done by the Chancellor by virtue of his Office or any one Act or Decree of Chapter that hath suspended or taken off the Prelate's right which is reserved to the Prelate even by the Patent for erecting the Office of Chancellor particularly in those things which touching the Order ought by the Statutes of the Institution to belong to him But forasmuch as at the usual time of performing this Ceremony in the Chappel the Prelate if present is presumed to be officiating at the Altar in discharge of another part of his Duty Upon this consideration hath the service been then imposed upon the Chancellor and others Lastly we have observed the Scruteny to be once taken by Garter an 16. Car. 1. at the Election of the renowned Thomas Earl of Strafford but this was at a time when not only the Prelate but all the other Officers of the Order excepting Sir Iohn Burrough Garter were absent and consequently this Service being so performed by him ought rather be judged from what hath been said to have been done in the Prelate's than Chancellor's right SECT IX The Time when BUT whosoever of the Officers of the Order they were that gathered the Knights-Companions Suffrages the time when they entred upon this duty in the intervals of Feasts where the occasion required a peculiar Chapter to be called for Election was usually after the Chapter had been opened and the matter of Election proposed by the Soveraign after which to the execution of this accustomed employment the Officer usually proceeded with great Reverence and all possible Respect Howbeit upon an extraordinary occasion in the interval of the Grand Feasts the Soveraign hath sometimes caused and assembly of the Knights-Companions to be had at the Castle of Windesor who in the Choire of St. George's Chappel not Chapter-house after the more solemn way have delivered in their Nominations and returning thence into the Chapter-house He there hath made his Election Thus did King Henry the Eighth upon the 7. of Iune in the 17. year of his Reign in reference to the Election of the Lord Henry Fitz Roy so is he styled in the Scruteny and there ranked among the Barons for as yet he was not created Duke of Somerset and Richmond nor until the 18. day of the same Month and Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmerland the Ceremony of whose Nominations having been performed in the Choire the Soveraign returned into the Chapter-house where the Election passed Again we observe that the 20. of May an 14. Car. 1. being Trinity Sunday the Soveraign caused a Chapter to be held that afternoon in the Chapter-house at Windesor in reference also to the Nomination and Election of his Sacred Majesty the present Soveraign at the breaking up whereof the Soveraign and Knights-Companions proceeded immediately to Saint George's Chappel where at Evening Prayer which was not within the compass of the Feâ—st for that began not until the next day the Scruteny was taken And besides those Examples which shew the Nominations have been collected upon peculiar occasions in the Choire at Windesor there are also one or two Instances where it appears they have been also taken in the Chappel at Whitâ—hall as on the 15. of May an 1. Car. 1. at the Election of Edward Earl of Dorsâ—t Henry Earl of Holland and Thomas Viscount Andever afterwards Earl of Berkshire as also on the 4. of Iuly the same year whereat the Duke of Chevereux was chosen one of the Companions of this most Noble Order Otherwise and that most usually the Suffrages have been collected at the second Vespers or in the time of Evening Prayer on St. George's day or that day whereon the Feast of St. George hath been celebrated by Prâ—râ—gation And with this note of time do we find the taking of divers Scrutenies marked Howbeit we once have met with a scruteny made in the Chapter-house at Windesor on the Eve of the Grand Feast at which the Person immediately Elected was sent for in and had the Ensigns of the Order placed upon him when forthwith the Soveraign proceeded to the Chappel and after some space the Elect Knight followed to his Installation And this was the case of Iames Marquess Hamilton an 6. Car. 1. who being necessitated to begin his Voyage the next morning towards Germany whither he went General of 6000 Foot in assistance of the King of Sweden occasioned the Soveraign to dispatch these Ceremonies on the Eve of the Feast Formerly the time wherein the Scruteny was begun to be taken in the Chappel may be noted to have been spoken of somewhat general and indefinite as in the 2. 3 4 5. 8. and 9. years of Queen Elizabeth during the time of Evening Prayer And so in like manner an 4. Iac. and an 13. Car. 1. And when the Feast of St. George was held at Whitehall upon the 18. of April an 13.
of Shrewsbury but this Error peradventure arose for want of due information either of the Law in the Statutes or his Degree the later of which is more probably true for being a Stranger his Title of Earl might not be so generally known nor is it taken notice of in the Scruteny it self though in the Annals immediately after And which is more apparent the Earl of Oxford Devonshire and Arundel whose degrees were sufficiently known at a Scruteny taken an 24. H. 6. are once ranked in the second division among the Barons and an 1. H. 8. the Earl of Derby is three times so placed and again an 13. H. 6. the Earl of Devonshire twice But this hapned not through any oversight or neglect in observation of the Statutes in this particular but because at these Nominations wherein they are so placed the first division to which they belonged hapned to be fill'd up with those other higher degrees appertaining to the same Classis that is to say Kings or Dukes as when the before mentioned Earls of Oxford Devonshire and Arundel were named in the place of Barons the King of Portugal the Dukes of Warwick and Norfolk were set down in the place of Princes and so it fell out in like manner in the other instances On the contrary an 15. and 16. E. 4. the Lord Richard Grey one of the Queens Sons by her former Husband Sir Iohn Grey of Groby Knight in respect of his alliance to the Royal Family is ranked in the first Division among the Princes under this Title Dominus Richardus filius Reginae and afterwards an 19. of the same King set only among the Barons as well with the former Title as this Ricardus Dominus Grey But in the 22. of the same King he is thrice registred among the Princes and as often with the Barons whence we see that sometimes the place among Princes may be afforded of courtesie to Persons of most eminent Relation but then again as it is not their due so such of the Knights-Companions as rank them lower pass no diminution on their honor Within the second Division are placed Barons and Viscounts for Viscounts were in all Scrutenies after the first Erection of that Dignity ranked with Barons until the 3. of King Iames saving only Iohn Dudley Viscount Lisle an 35. H. 8. who by every Knight the Duke of Norfolk excepted is ranked in the first Division with the Princes and in a Scruteny then taken Robert Cecil Viscount Cranborne is the second Viscount that we observe to have been ranked with Princes from whence it became usual so to do in succeeding Scrutenies until an 14. Car. 1. and then upon a question put in Chapter held at Westminster the 23. Maii anno praedicto whether Earls Sons and Viscounts were elegible with Barons it was resolved they were and that by all practice except in the two cases now mentioned it was usually done and it seems so again observed neer that time for in two Scrutenies taken the 19. and 21. of that instant May the Viscounts are therein reduced to the second Division and ranked with Barons Finally in the third Division the Knights-Batchellors receive their place so also did Banerets until King Henry the Eighth in his Body of Statutes gave them equal rank in Scrutenies with Barons Only in that one Scruteny taken an 14. H. 7. Sir Reignald Bray Sir Richard Gouldford and Sir Rice ap Thomas all three created Banerets at the Battel of Black-heath are registred among the Barons and yet two of them are oftner ranked with the Knights-Batchellors in the very same Scruteny But though the word in King Henry the Eighth's Latin Statutes is Baronettus instead of Banerettus yet is this a mistake met with anciently in some both Records and Books as well as in those places of the Annals all written long before the Title of Baronet was conceived or the Dignity in use with us for the first Creation of that hapned but in this last Age. And hereof more satisfaction may be received elsewhere In the last place he who demands these Suffrages given according to the judgment of each Knight-Companion present is by the Statutes of Institution appointed to take them in writing In pursuance of which we find it so observed at a Scruteny taken an 2. H. 6. for the Election of Iohn Lord Talbot and Furnivall afterwards created Earl of Shrewsbury where the Dean of Windesor and the Register of the Order wrote down the Votes and Nominations of every one of the Knights present at the day of Election Again at a Scruteny made an 4. H. 6. so also at sundry other times to supply the Stall of Ralph Earl of Westmerland then lately deceased for whom mistakingly the Black Book of the Order sets down Sir Henry Fitz. Hugh in whose room a little before in the same Book an 3. H. 6. it appears the Lord Scales was Elected and elsewhere that Sir Iohn Fastolse was chosen a Companion of this most Noble Order upon the death not of Sir Henry Fitz. Hugh but of the said Earl of Westmerland we find it noted that the Dean and Register wrote down in order according to their seniority the Votes of the Knights-Companions And after the Scrutenies began to be entred on the Pages of the Annals it is evident the general practice hath gone along with the Injunction of the Statutes only there are two Instances of an Election made without taking a Scruteny in writing one in the case of Prince Henry and Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark where the Knights-Companions in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 14. of Iuly an Iacobi Regis primo gave their Votes Viva Voce and forthwith the Soveraign Elected them both into the Fellowship of the Order The other was the case of Iames Marquess Hamilton Elected the 2. of February in the 20. year of the same King with the vocal consent of all the Knights-Companions present But it is to be considered that this course and the omission of taking the Scruteny in writing is not only contrary to the Law of the Order so enjoined for a more certain memorial of the action and more faithful transmission of it to Posterity but exceeding prejudicial to persons of Honor and Merit whose Names would otherwise live with great reputation among the Candidates of this Illustrious Order and of which honor many deserving persons will be hereafter deprived if the Injunction of the Statutes be not observed in this particular SECT XI The Presentation of it to the Soveraign THE Suffrages being recieved from the Knights-Companions the Officer by whom they are collected is to present the whole form of the Nominations to the Soveraign with all due Reverence for so is it recorded an 9. H. 5. when the Prelate of the Order had taken the Scruteny If these Votes were taken
9. Eliz. nevertheless the Feast of Installation was therein excepted and appointed to be solemnized at that place And this was again provided for among the before mentioned Orders an Iac. Regis 21. to wit That after an Election made of a Knight of the Order his Installation should be performed at Windesor according to the ancient Custom and Statutes of the Order When therefore the Soveraign hath been pleased to prefix a certain day for Installation in order to this great Solemnity several things are necessarily to be prepared as namely 1. a Commission to admit and install the Elect-Knight 2. Letters to each of the Commissioners and the Elect-Knight for their repair to Windesor 3. Warrants for the Soveraign's Livery 4. a Bill or Warrant for the removal of Stalls and Atchievements all which are to be obtained from the Soveraign under his Sign manual by the Chancellor of the Order and 5. lastly the Knights own Preparations among which his Atchievements are to be got in readiness for setting up so soon as he is Installed SECT III. Of Commissions for Installation IN the first place we are to note that no Elect-Knight can be Installed unless by the Soveraign of the Order himself or being present by such of the Knights-Companions whom he shall verbally authorize or if absent by his Commission drawn up in writing and past under the great Seal of the Order directed either to his Lieutenant or Knights-Commissioners We have met with but one Instance where the Soveraignâ—ath â—ath been pleased to honor a Knight by performing the Ceremony of Installation himself and that was in the case Philip King of Castile and Leon an 22 H. 7. yet it is probable enough that Sigismond the Emperor and anciently some other Foreign Princess of eminence and dignity might receive Installation from other of the Soveraigns though no memorial thereof hath been transmitted to us As to the Soveraign's verbal appointment we shall mention it by and by But in reference to Installation by Commission we shall speak of it here For it was Ordained by the Statutes of Institution That in case the Soveraign should be absent out of the Kingdom at the time of Installation of any of the Knights so that he could not personally perform those things his Office obliged him to it should be lawful for him to constitute as his Deputy in this affair whomsoever of the Society he should think fit and he to have power and authority in the Soveraign's name to perform and execute those things which it would have been his own part to have done had he been present By virtue of this Article the Soveraign's Deputy or Lieutenant in his absence performed the Ceremony before the Reign of King Henry the Eighth which was usually done at the Feast of St. George for the Celebration of which he had another Commission but in the Commission given out for Installation formerly the Lieutenant was first named and the Knights-Companions appointed for his Assistants at the said Feast were joined with him in the Commission for Installation to assist in that Ceremony also but of later times the Commission hath pass'd to the Lieutenant alone King Henry the Eight enlarged the powers given by the former Statutes to a Deputy to two or more of the Knights-Companions that should exercise the same by the Soveraign's Letters of Commission And therefore by the liberty and priviledge of this Article whensoever after the Soveraigns did appoint an Installation at other times of the year than at the Feast of St. George they then delegated their authority to such of the Knights-Companions as were thought most fit to perform this great Ceremony And the very next year after making this Statute we find such a Commission issued to the Marquess Dorset and Earls of Devonshire and Kent to Instal the Lord Ferrars of Chartley the substance of which hath been ever since and is yet retained though the form hath received some little Variation as may be seen by two other Commissions immediately following in the Appendix The particular powers granted by the Commissioiners are these to accept and admit the Knight Elect into the Order to receive his Oath and to Instal him and the general power is to do and accomplish every thing which belongeth to his due Admittance and full Installation as to the Statutes and laudable Usageâ— Rules and Customs of this Order appertaineth We shall only add this observation out of the Commission given to the Marquess Dorset and the Lord Cobham an 5. E. 6. for Installation of the Lord Darâ—y which else is the same verbatim with former Commissions that in the last clause of general power the word Vsage is put down instead of the words Statutes and laudable Customs which were generally inserted in the more ancient Commissions perhaps as restraining the Ceremonies of Installation to such as were in use about that time when many Ceremonies accustomably used were forborn not what the Statutes and laudable Customs of formerly days had appointed and pracâ—ised Howbeit shortly after these words were restored to the Commissions of Installation as appears from a and Lord Clynton an 2. 3. Ph. Mar. for the Installation of Anthony Brown Viscount Mountague SECT IV. Letters of Summons BEsides the Commission impowering the Soveraign's Lieutenant or Knights-Commissioners therein named to Instal the Elect-Knight it hath been usual for the Soveraign upon the Chancellors motion to issue out Letters of Summons under his privy Signet but of late under the Signet of the Order both to the Commissioners for Installation and to the Elect Knights Those to the Commissioners are directed severally to each nominated in the Commission the effect whereof is to give them notice of the Installation and to require their repair to Windesor against the day therein assigned to the end the Elect Knight might proceed to his Installation a Precedent whereof is also added in the Appendix But at the Installation of Algernon Earl of Northumberland an 11. Car. 1. a Clause to this purpose is inserted into the Commission it self Those directed to the Elect Knight pass likewise under the Soveraign's Sign manual and Signet of the Order by which he is required to repair to Windesor Castle at a certain day therein prefixt to proceed to his Installation according to the Statutes of the Order and of this kind we have also inserted a Form in the Appendix Where note that if there be two or more Knights appointed to be Installed on the same day the like Letter is sent to each of them the difference being only in the direction Besides these Letters sent from the Soveraign the Chancellor in case the Soveraign afford his presence in his Circular Letters to the Knights-Companions for their repair to the Feast of St. George gives them also intimation of the designed Installation And if the said Feast be held either by the Soveraign or his
of Orange from the third on the Soveraign's to the second on the Prince's an 10. Car. 1. upon the death of the King of Sweden In those instances of Removals lower after Installation we shall first remember That an 6. Eliz. when the French King Charles the Ninth was Elected the superior Stalls were already fill'd with Strangers and there was no way left to make room for him to the Stall designed him by the Soveraign but by removal of some of those Knights Strangers lower and thereupon for the present Emanuel Duke of Savoy was removed one Stall lower viz. to the third on the Soveraign's side Anne Duke of Montmorency to the third on the Prince's side and the Duke of Holstein to the fourth on the same side But the said French King was not Installed until the 16. of Ianuary an 8. Eliz. and before that it was concluded to remove the King of Spain to the Duke of Savoy's Stall voided as before and to Instal the French King in the King of Spain's void Stall which was accordingly done so that on this occasion there were four Strangers and five Knights Subjects before remembred removed lower to make way for the French King The 20. of April an 2. Iac. Reg. the Duke of Wirtemberg was installed in the third Stall on the Prince's side and on St. George's Eve in the following year advanced a Stall higher viz. to the third on the Soveraign's side The 16. of May ensuing Vlrick Duke of Holst had assigned him that Stall from whence the Duke of Wirtemberg was advanced and installed therein But against the Installation of Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark which hapned to be the 9. of September in the same year the Duke of Wirtemberg was removed back to the Seat wherein he was Installed and the Duke of Holst advanced into his void Stall All which will appear more clear from the appointment of Stalls on these occasions which follow A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg Anno. Iac. Reg. 2. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Earl of Nottingham 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 4. Earl of Ormond 4. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 6. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffield 7. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 8. Sir Henry Lea 9. Earl of Sussex 9. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Darby 10. Lord Burghley 11. Duke of Lenox 11. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 12. Earl of Penbroke 13. Void 13. Void The order of Stalls at St. George's Feast an Iac. Regis 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 3. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 4. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 6. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffield 7. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 8. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 9. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Darby 10. Lord Burleigh 11. Duke of Lenox 11. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 12. Earl of Penbroke 13. Void 13. Void A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Vlrick Duke of Holst the 16. of May an Iac. R. 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 3. Duke of Holst 4. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 5. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 6. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffeild 8. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 9. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 10. Lord Scroope 10. Earl of Derby 11. Earl of Exceter 11. Duke of Lenox 12. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 13. Earl of Penbroke 13. Earl of Northampton A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark the 8. of Sept. an Iac. Reg. 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The King of Denmark 2. The Prinoe 3. Duke of Holst 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 4. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 5. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 6. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffeild 8. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 9. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 10. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Derby 11. Earl of Exceter 11. Duke of Lenox 12. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 13. Earl of Penbroke 13. Earl of Northampton Here in this last Scheme we see Prince Henry was removed from the second on the Soveraign's to the second on the Prince's side to make room for the King of Denmark And though the Duke of Chevereux An. 3. Car. 1. upon the death of the Duke of Brunswick was advanced from the third Stall on the Soveraign's side into the Duke of Brunswick's void Stall namely the second on the Prince's side nevertheless the year following upon the admittance of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden he was removed two Stalls lower and at that time the Prince Elector Palatine one But let us return from the Removal and Translation of a Knight-Subject after he had been installed to the Assignment of his Stall at the time of Installation it self and in the last place note That on the 24. of April an 6. Eliz. instead of the ancient Law which appointed each Elect-Knight to succeed in the Stall of his Predecessor and the latter which permitted a Translation at pleasure a new one was introduced being framed as was conceived upon a more equal ground than the former and to avoid as much as might be the danger of emulation which was this That all Knights who for the future were admitted into the Society of the Order should take and be installed in the lowest Stall according to the course and seniority of their Election except only stranger Kings and Princes Whereupon it came to pass that when a Knight-Subject Elect was to be Installed he taking the lowest Stall all the Knights-Companions between him and the vacant Stall were removed higher to the end such vacancy might be supplied or if two or more were to be Installed at one time they took the lowest Stalls according to the seniority of their Election the senior Knight-Elect being placed higher than the junior And albeit this manner and order in Removals is now become a thing of course and the method easie yet may it not be done or the Atchievements Banners or Plates removed unless the Soveraign Sign a Warrant as formerly wherein they are orderly ranked to justifie Garter for so doing which will be the more easily understood by the insertion of a Scheme or two The order of Stalls as they stood at the Feast of St. George an 29. Eliz. Elizabeth R. Â 1. The
Soveraign 1. Void 2. The French King 2. The King of Spain 3. The King of Denmark 3. Void 4. Duke Iohn Casimire 4. Void 5. The Viscount Mountague 5. The Earl of Leicester 6. The Earl of Shrewsbery 6. The Earl of Warwick 7. The Lord Hunsdon 7. Void 8. Void 8. The Earl of Worcester 9. The Earl of Huntingdon 9. The Lord Burghley 10. The Lord Grey 10. The Earl of Derby 11. The Earl of Penbroke 11. The Lord Howard of Effingham 12. Void 12. The Lord Cobham 13. The Lord Scrope 13. Void A Translation of Stalls made against the Feast of Installation an 30. Eliz. Elizabeth R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. Void 2. The French King 2. The King of Spain 3. The King of Denmark 3. Void 4. Duke Iohn Casimire 4. Void 5. The Viscount Mountague 5. The Earl of Leicester 6. The Earl of Shrewsbury 6. The Earl of Warwick 7. The Lord Hunsdon 7. The Earl of Worcester 8. The Earl of Huntingdon 8. The Lord Burleigh 9. The Lord Grey 9. The Earl of Derby 10. The Earl of Penbroke 10. The Lord Howard of Effingham 11. The Lord Cobham 11. The Lord Scroope 12. The Earl of Essex 12. The Earl of Ormond 13. Sir Christopher Hatton 13. Void The first of these Schemes shew how the Stalls were ranked on St. George's Eve an 29. Eliz. and the second how altered against the Installation of the Earls of Essex and Ormond and of Sir Christopher Hatton the 23. of May an 30. Eliz. by which those three Elect Knights appear to be Installed in the lowermost Stalls as the last mentioned Decree enjoins and by reason that the Earl of Essex and Sir Christopher Hatton were setled on the Soveraign's side the vacancy before in the eighth and twelfth Stalls of the same side became filled up the Earl of Huntingdon seated before in the ninth Stall being advanced into the eighth the Lord Grey into the ninth and the Earl of Penbroke into the tenth Stall So also by the like advance of the Earl of Worcester into the seventh on the Prince's side the vacancy is therein supplied and the other Knights-Companions seated below him by a joint and orderly removal left the twelfth Stall for the Earl of Ormond and the thirteenth void for the next Elect Knight The like order was observed by King Iames as appears by another Scheme of the Stalls setled in Chapter held the 3. of Iuly an 1. Iac. R. at the Election of the Duke of Lenox the Earls of Southampton Marr and Penbroke Stalls altered at a Chapter held at Windesor the 3. of Iuly an 1. Iac. R. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. The Earl of Nottingham 3. Void 4. The Earl of Ormond 4. The Lord Buckhurst 5. The Earl of Salop. 5. The Earl of Cumberland 6. The Earl of Northumberland 6. The Earl of Worcester 7. The Lord Sheffeild 7. The Lord Howard of Waldon 8. The Lord Hunsdon 8. The Lord Montjoy 9. Sir Henry Lea. 9. The Earl of Sussex 10. The Lord Cobham 10. The Lord Scrope 11. The Earl of Derby 11. The Lord Burghley 12. The Duke of Lenox 12. The Earl of Southampton 13. The Earl of Marr. 13. The Earl of Penbroke From hence it appears that these Elect-Knights were Installed in the lowest Stalls and so were all other Elect-Knights Subjects throughout his Reign and since except the Prince of Wales and Charles Duke of York Sons to the said Soveraign for the Prince was Installed in the second Stall on the Soveraign's side and upon the election of the said Duke of York an 9. Iac. R. the second Stall on the Prince's side was first designed for him and in place answerable thereunto did he proceed to the Chappel the morrow after St. George's day upon which he was elected But upon Whitsunday following at a solemn debate in Chapter it was determined That notwithstanding he was the Soveraign's Son yet should he have no more preheminence than other Knights-Companions but come in as a Puisne and that his Atchievements which it seems had been set up over the second Stall on the Prince's side should therefore be removed to that Stall next above the Viscount Rochesters being the eleventh on the same side and so to be consorted with the Earl of Montgomery before whom he proceeded on Whitson Monday to the Chapter-house towards his Installation and it was moreover then Decreed that all Princes not absolute should be installed thenceforth in the puisne place But after this endeavours were used to advance the said Duke into the Stall to which he was first appointed and the Kings of Arms were consulted with in the case who certified that Richard Duke of York second Son to King Edward the Fourth was Installed in the fourth Stall on the Prince's side and had precedence of the Duke of Suffolk the Earls of Dowglas and Essex who were elected long before him That Henry Duke of York second Son to King Henry the seventh was Installed in the third Stall on the Soveraign's side and had place of the Duke of Buckingham and the Earls of Oxford and Derby his ancients and lastly that Henry Fitz Roy Duke of Richmond base Son of King Henry the Eighth had place and precedence before the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and others Whereupon it was thought fit that the Soveraign's Children should be as well priviledged in this case as Stranger Princes and therefore in another Chapter held at Whitehall on the 13. of April being Easter Monday an 10. Iac. R. the Order which past the year before for making the Duke a Puisne was abrogated and he translated to the second Stall on the Prince's side and paired with Prince Henry as may be also seen by the order of the Stalls then setled and entred in the Blue Book of the Order We need not bring hither more instances in proof of the observation of the Chapter Act made an 6. Eliz. as it hath relation to Knight Subjects since the same hath been to this time punctually pursued but in regard Strangers are therein excepted it will be necessary to note here concerning them that the rule and practice continued as established by King Henry the Eighth viz. That they were Installed in Seats next to the Soveraign according to their state and dignity We shall only add an instance of the manner of placing both Strangers and Knights Subjects at one and the same time for at the coming of King Charles the First to the Crown there were of both conditions to be Installed in one day namely the Duke of Brunswick a Stranger Prince the Earls of Salisbury and Carlisle Knights Subjects elected by King Iames the 31. of December in the 22. year of his Reign as also the Earls of Dorset and Holland with Viscount Andover elected by the said King Charles the 15. of May following and the Duke of Chevereux elected the
Soveraign for St. George's Feast an 5. Eliz. at which time the Earls of Northumberland and Warwick were to be Installed who had then attending on him 200 of his own Gentlemen and Yeomen The Lieutenant and his Assistants or otherwise the Knights-Commissioners if the Feast of St. George be not then held being arrived in the Castle forthwith retire to their Lodgings which most usually have been prepared at the Deans house the Rooms therein being the fairest and best fitted accommodation in the Castle next those of the Soveraign's in the upper Ward but the Knights-Elect were at all times furnished with Lodgings in some of the Prebends houses SECT II. The Offering in the Chappel on the Eve of the Feast IF it so happened that the Installation passed by Commissioners and the Cavalcade set forth from London in the morning of the day preceding the Installation and arrived at Windesor Castle early that afternoon then the Knights-Commissioners have been accustomed to put on their Mantles only at the Chapter-house door and enter St. George's Chappel to offer but without the attendance of Heralds or any solemne Proceeding before them into the Choire only brought in by the Prebends where having taken their Stalls with usual Reverences the order of which shall be discoursed at large in the 20. Chapter and heard an Anthem they pass'd up to the Altar with the Verger and Garter before them and there made their Offering both of Gold and Silver according to usual custom As soon as the Vespers were ended they descended from their Stalls after the accustomed manner and departed to their Lodgings and in this case the Knights-Commissioners put not off their Mantles till after Supper In this manner was the Ceremony of Offering on the Eve of the Installation performed by the Lord Admiral and Earl of Ormond Commissioners for the Installation of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Cumberland an 34. Eliz. as also by the Earls of Nottingham Worcester Suffolk and Southaâ—pton Commissionerâ— appointed for the Installation of the Earl of Salisbury and Viscount Bindon aâ— 4. Iaâ— R. But at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland and others an 26. Elâ—z the Lord Hunsdon one of the Commiâ—sioners for that Solemnity refused to go to the Chappel to Offer alone albeit he arrived at Windesor Castle timely enough on the Eve because he wanted the company of Viscount Mountague joined in Commission with him who came not thither till the next morning The Offering thus made at the Knights-Commissioners coming to the Castle on the â—ve of Installation is in conformity to an Article in the Statutes to this efâ—â—â—t That if any of the Knights-Companions being upon a Iourney should accidentâ—lly pass by Windesor Castle he is to turn in thither if he can with convenience and be not hindred by some just and allowable cause in honor of the place and prepare himself to enter into the Chappel to Offer first putting on his Mantle without which he must never presume to enter into it After the Knight-Companion had entred the Castle the Canons-Resident were by this Article appointed to meet and receive him and with due reverence conduct him into the Choire If it were in the time of high Mass the Knight was obliged to stay and hear it in honor of God and St. George but if he came thither in the afternoon he was to stay till the Canons with the rest of the Choire had sung the Anthem de Profundis which being ended he proceedâ—d to the high Altar and Offered and returned to his Stall with usual Reverences and then departed But if the Knight-Companion passed through the Town of Windesor and did not go to the Chappel to Offer in manner as before is ordained so often as he omitted doing thereof he was bound upon his obedience to walk a mile on foot to the Chappel in honor of St. George otherwise for every time he failed to offer one Penny which by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes is inlarged to a Groat It seems at last there hapned some dispute about the just distance intended by this Article from the Castle and to the end the Knigâ—ts-Companions might fully know when they came within the breach of this Injunction it was thought requisite by King Henry the Eighth to â—â—t down a certain bound which in his Statutes is there declared to be two miles within which if any of the Knights-Companions come and do not repair to the Chappel and Offer he is liable to the penalty or mulct above specified And because it oftentimes fell out that some of the Knights-Companions did accidentally ride within the said limits whilst they took the pleasure of hunting in Windesor Forest some part of it lying neer the Castle nevertheless could not conveniently leave their sport to perform all the Solemnity required they usually in such case sent their Offring in money to the Canons which being received the Knights took it for a dispensation of the Ceremony enjoined by the Statutes But they still apprehending inconvenience in this Article endeavours were used to have it interpreted with greater latitude which so far took effect that at a Chapter held at Windesor the 10. of October an 15. Car. 1. it was ordered to be considered of at the next Chapter that so some provision might be made to save the Knights from breach of their Oath if they came within the foresaid limited distance of Windesor Castle and passed thence without Offring But nothing being then done nor at any time since the Law stands as it did SECT III. The Supper on the Eve THE Supper at night after their arrival at Windesor is but in the nature of a private Meal and prepared for the Lieutenant or Commissioners and the Knights-Elect generally in the Deans House and where on the Eve of Installation of the Earl of Rutland and Lord Cobham an 26. Eliz. the Commissioners supped together with such Lords and Gentlemen of account as came along with them no Nobleman having above one servant to wait on him at the Table the rest had their diet prepared in the Town at their own Inns. But now and then they have been permitted to sup in some of the Rooms in the Soveraign's Lodgings for there was the Supper made ready at the Installation of the Lord Russel and other Elect Knights an 31. H. 8. and at the Installation of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Hunsdon an 3. Eliz. the Lieutenant and Knights supped in the Great Chamber there all sitting together at one Table in the same order as was used at other times but the Heralds then supped in St. George's Hall And in the 34. of Queen Elizabeth when the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland were Installed all the Lords and Gentlemen supped together at one long Table set in the Council Chamber SECT IV. The order in Proceeding to the Chapter-house WE come now to
the chief Circuâ—â—â—ances of this great Solemnity namely the particular Ceremonies of Installation managed and ordered after either the Soveraign or in his absence his Lieutenant or Commissioners and Knights-Elect are arrived at Windesor In reference to which we shall premise this general note That since neither the Statutes of Institution nor the Statutes of King Henry the Fifth afford us a Formulary for the personal Installation of a Knight-Elect though each of them contain some part of those Ceremonies observed at the Installation of Strangers by Proxy yet those made by King Henry the Eighth do exhibit in short the order and method thereof which we shall make use of as we pass along and regularly place those directions under their proper heads We must further observe that if the Installation be appointed together with the Feast of St. George then either the Soveraign and consequently the Knights-Companions or else his Lieutenant and Assistants are present but if any other time of the year then it passeth by Commissioners only and where we mention the Soveraign and his Lieutenant and Commissioners together there the Case or Rule inserted will sute with every of them After such time therefore as the Soveraign his Lieutenant or Commissioners have prefixed an hour wherein to begin the Proceding to the Chapter-house in order to the Installation of the Elect Knight which Ceremony for the most part hath been performed and dispatcht on the Evening of their arrival at Windesor but sometimes the next morning all the Knights-Companions and Elect-Knights the Officers of the Order and of Arms the Prebends of the Colledge and Alms-Knights are to give their attendance that is to say the Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order on the Soveraign in his inward Lodging the Elect-Knights and Officers of Arms in the Presence Chamber the Prebends and Alms-Knights in the Great Chamber where they wait the Soveraign's coming forth The attendance to be given upon the Soveraign's Lieutenant and such of the Knights-Companions as are appointed for his Assistants is by the Officers of the Order and of Arms the Prebends and Alms-Knights either at his Lodgings or else where as he shall appoint but not by any other of the Knights-Companions For though we find the Knights-Companions have sometimes proceeded to the Chappel before the Soveraign's Lieutenant when an Installation was celebrated yet hath it been at such time only as they came to Windesor with the Soveraign chiefly to hold St. George's Feast where though the Soveraign through indisposition of body or weighty affairs could not pass down to the Chappel on the Eve of the Feast yet they being obliged by the Statutes to celebrate Vespers did on this occasion not that of Installation proceed thither as it fell out at the Installation of Prince Henry and four other Knights an 1. Iac. R. when the Proceeding began from the Presence Chamber and thence past to the Chapter-house in the following Order Alms-Knights Prebends Pursuivants Heralds Vlster King of Arms. Lyon King of Arms. Clarenceux King of Arms. The four â—lect-Knights Knights-Companions Black Rod. Register Garter Chancellor The Soveraign's Lieutenant leading the Prince in his hand The Knights-Companions proceeded likewise before the Soveraign's Lieutenant at the Installation of the Duke of Brunswick and five other Elect-Knights the 23. of Nov. an 1. Car. 1. but the Soveraign was then at Windesor Castle though not in the Proceeding and the Feast of St. George there also solemnized But upon the Soveraign's Commissioneâ—s neither the Knights-Companions nor the Prelate nor Chancellor do give theâ—r attendance only at the Grand Feast of St. George an 13. Car. 2. the Chancellor then waiting on the Soveraign at Windesor in the duties of his place out of a particular regard to his Royal Highness the Duke of York being then Controller of his Houshold attended the Commissioners in the proceeding to his Installation The Proceedings upon this solemn occasion have been generally ordered on foot Nevertheless upon some extraordinary account marshalled and disposed on Horseback in manner of a Cavalcade as was set forth at the Installation of Philip King of Castile an 22. H. 7. and that when the Lord Russel and other Elect-Knights were installed an 31. H. 8. So also at the Installation of the Earl of Sussex an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. which King Philip honored with his own presence Himself and several of the Knights-Companions riding on Horseback from his Lodgings in the Castle down to the Cloister door at the East end of the Chappel and there alighting proceeded directly into the Chapter-house When the Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Hunsdon were installed an 3. Eliz. the Proceeding was likewise ordered on Horseback So also at the Installation of the Earl of Northumberland and Earl of Warwick an 5. Eliz. and lastly at the Installations of Francis Duke of Montmorency the Viscount Hereford and the Lords Burghley Grey and Shandos an 14. Eliz. concerning which it is further observed that the Soveraign's Lieutenant and Knights-Assistants did then put on their Robes in the Soveraign's Lodgings in the Castle and meeting in the Presence-Chamber proceeded down to the outward Hall door in the upper Ward of the Castle where taking their Horses adorned with foot Clothes they proceeded on Horseback to the West door of the Chappel If the Proceeding was ordered on Horseback at the beginning of the Feast it continued the same throughout at the usual times so often as the Soveraign his Lieutenant or Commissioners went to the Chapter-house or Chappel and all the returns were marshalled in the like order as the settings forth As concerning the marshalling this proceeding to the Chapter-house it hath been done after the same manner and order as that celebrated on the Eve of the Grand Feast of St. George in relation to the degrees whereof it was composed of which we shall discourse at large below nevertheless where there happened any considerable difference it shall be noted in this Section as we have occasion To begin now as we shall do there with Servants and Attendants belonging to the Knight-Elect who if they be taken into the Proceeding pass on first two and two in rank according to their quality those of the meanest condition formost Next the Alms-Knights in their Habits and usual order Then follows the Verger of the Colledge After him the Prebends or Canons but what attendance they have given heretofore at Installations we cannot make appear for in those Schemes left us of Proceeding to Installations in the Reigns of King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and part of Queen Elizabeth we find them not inserted though since they are Next to the Prebends of the Colledge do the Pursuivants Heralds and Provincial Kings of Arms proceed in a Body And after them the Knight-Subject Elect unless the Proctor of an absent Knight-Subject pass at the same time in this Proceeding whose place is
the Hood should be carried upon the Cushen by Garter into the Choire together with the Mantle and Collar and not be put on till after the Investiture with the Mantle and so was it observed at the Feast of St. George an 13.15 23. Car. 2. And though anciently it was laid over the left shoulder of the Elect-Knight and so worn upon all occasions yet an 2. 3. Phil. Mar. the wearing thereof being taken notice of to obscure the Scutcheon of St. George embroidered on the same shoulder of the Mantle it was therefore in a Chapter held at St. Iames's on the 22. of April in the foresaid year Decreed That thenceforth the Knights-Companions should wear their Hoods on the right shoulders to the end the Scutcheon might be the better seen and appear Nevertheless there was a question moved an 12. Iac. R. whether the Knights-Companions should not restore the usage of wearing their Hoods to the left shoulder which it seems was over-ruled and the custom of wearing them on the right thought fit to be continued as the foresaid Decree appoints And on the Eve of the Feast of St. George an 23. Car. 2. some of the Knights-Companions supposing the Hoods ought to be worn rather on the left shoulder did so wear them to Vespers but the next morning being better perswaded of the Law and later Custom they altered them to the right To great Princes-Strangers there is a liberty given by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes to receive if they please their Habit wholly within the Chapter-house and before they enter their Stalls and it thereby appears that this was the Custom in times past and whereof we have an Instance in Philip King of Castile an 22. H. 7. who was fully invested in the Chapter-house with the Garter Surcoat Mantle Hood and Collar the Soveraign himself putting his hand to his Investiture with the Mantle Hereupon King Philip Grandchild to the foresaid King of Castile was invested with the whole Habit of the Order before he assumed his Stall for arriving at Windesor the 3. of Aug. 1. 2. Ph. Mar. he proceeded to the Chappel and received his Investiture within the West door where was prepared a Form adorned with Carpet and Cushens and there the Register of the Order delivered the Mantle to the Earls of Derby and Penbroke who kissing it presented it to the Queen and she her self assisted by the said Earls invested the King therewith next Garter gave the Collar to the Earls of Arundel and Penbroke who presented it also to the Queen with the like ceremony whâ—rewith the Mantle was delivered and She thereupon put it about King Philips neck and forthwith the Knight-Companions having also robed themselves within the Chappel door proceeded before the King and Queen who with joined hands passed into the Choire where being arived the Queen led him to the Soveraign's Stall which having ascended they both sat therein But as the foresaid Statute leaves this to the pleasure of the Stranger-Prince and was permitted only for gaining of time so have not any who received a Personal Installation at Windesor since been fully invested before they entred the Choire For Francis Duke of Montmorency an 14. Eliz. and â—rederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne an 10. Iac. R. were both invested with their Surcoats only in the Chapter-house but received the Mantles Hoods and Collars in their Stalls after they had taken their Oaths SECT VI. The Proceeding into the Choire THE Elect-Knight habited as before forthwith passeth from the Chapter-house along the North Isle and so in at the West door of the Choire in solemn order but his place in this Proceeding is changed for here he is led between two of the Knights-Companions This is noted in the Black Book to be the order wherein Albro Vasques d' Almadea Earl of Averence and two other Elect-Knights proceeded to their Installation an 24. H. 6. And albeit the Statutes of Institution and those made by King Henry the Fifth are silent in the order of this Proceeding yet for an Elect-Knight to be led to his Stall between two other of the Knights-Companions is no modern Ceremony since we also find that Viscount Bouchier an 30. H. 6. past to his Installation between the Lord Hastings and Lord Beauchamp But the order of Proceeding is precisely set down in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes to wit That the Elect-Knight attended by his Gentlemen and Servants shall be led between two other of the Knights-Companions the Officers of the Order going before them To this Rule the constant practice hath been answerable at all Installations since the Knight-Elect proceeding either between two of the Knights-Commissioners when there hath been no Lieutenant or between two of the Knights Assistants where a Lieutenant was constituted or lastly between the two senior Knights-Companions the Soveraign being present Of which cases we shall here assign each a President A Proceeding from the Chapter-house into the Choire at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland an 26. Eliz. Viscount Mountagu and Lord Hunsdon being Commissioners for that Solemnity Verger with his Rod. Alms-Knights two and two Pursuivants Heralds and Norroy Black Rod. Register Clarenceux who then executed the Office of Garter Lord Hunsdon Earl of Rutland Viscount Mountagu Another Proceeding from the Chapterhouse at the Installation of the Lord Russel an 31. H. 8. the Earls of Essex and Rutland being then the Lieutenants's Assistants Heralds Register Garter Earl of Rutland Lord Russell Earl of Essex A third Proceeding at the Installation of the present Soveraign an 14. Car 1. the two senior Knights-Companions being appointed to conduct the Prince from the Chapter-house to his Stall in the Choire Alms-Knights two and two Officers of Arms two and two Black Rod. Register Garter Earl of Arundell The Prince Earl of Penbroke But when there hath been three Commissioners nominated then the two senior Commissioners take the Knight-Elect between them and the junior Knight Commissioner proceeds before them and thus was it ordered at the Installation of the Earls of Essex and Ormond and Sir Christopher Hatton an 30. Eliz. where the Earl of Essex proceeded from the Chapter-house into the Choire between the Lord Hunsdon and Earl of Worcester and the Lord Grey the junior Commiâ—sioner past singly before them In all cases where the Soveraign is present at an Installation since the Custom of Investing with the Collar in the Chapter-house was left off this is generally to be observed that so soon as the Investiture with the Surcoat is finished the Soveraign passeth from the Chapter-house into the Choire with the whole Proceeding before him leaving the Elect-Knight behind And so soon as he and the Knights-Companions have taken their Stalls in the usual manner the two senior Knights-Companions upon the Soveraign's verbal directions descend from their Stalls and stand under their Banners while the
Alms-Knights but not the Prebends Officers of Arms and the three inferior Officers of the Order pass out of the Choire in usual manner and proceed before them to the Chapter-house from whence they introduce the Elect-Knight into the Choire to his Installation But if there be more Knights to be Installed then the two next senior Knights descend and after them the next seniors to them till all the Elect-Knights are conducted in And this course is likewise observed when a Lieutenant is constituted and hath been generally so practised since the Investiture with the Collar was performed in the Choire and particularly at the Installations of the Duke of Lenox and Earls of Penbroke Marr and Southampton an 1. Iac. R. and of the Duke of Holstein and Earl of Northampton an 3. Iac. R. In this Proceeding to Installation the Register usually carries a Book of the New Testament for the Elect-Knight to take his Oath upon as also the Oath it self fairly written in Parchment Garter bears before the Knight-Elect his Mantle until he arrive at his Stall and King Henry the Eighth's Statutes place this service upon some one of the Knights-Companions likewise but we have not found in all our search that it was ever performed by any of them It should seem that about the time when this Injunction passed it was the Custom for Garter to bear the Mantle upon his arm for we find it so carried at the Installation of the Lord Russel and others an 31. H. 8. But it was not long after that the laying it on a Velvet Cushen began The great Collar of the Order was also laid upon the Cushen at the Installation of Sir Henry Sidney an 6. Eliz. of the Earl of Derby an 16. Eliz. of the Earl of Rutland an 26. Eliz. and of the Earl of Shrewsbury an 34. Eliz. and in this manner born before the Knight-Elect an 13. Car. 2. and before the Duke of Monmouth an 15. Car. 2. and the Duke of Albermarle an 23. Car. 2. With these the Hood though heretofore put on in the Chapter-house yet of late hath been laid upon the Cushen and also the Book of Statutes and so we find them born by Garter before Prince Henry an 1. Iac. R. and Frederick Elector Palatine in the 10. year of the same King as also before the Knights Installed an 13. Car. 2. and since And here we must note that when Garter bears these Ornaments and Ensigns upon the Cushen before an Elect-Knight or a Proctor he is always placed between the Register and Black Rod in the Proceeding Lastly in this Proceeding also the Knight-Elect goeth bare headed holding his Cap in his hand and so did the Duke of Albermarle an 23. Car. 2. for it hath been thought incongruous to the order of Investiture as is before noted of the Hood to put on any part of the Habit or other Ornaments that must be taken off again before the Investiture be compleated and the due place among the Ceremonies of Investiture for putting on the Cap is not till all the other be finished SECT VII The Ceremonies of Installation WHen the Proceeding hath entred the Choire the Alms-Knights and Officers of Arms make their obeysances towards the high Altar and the Soveraign's royal Stall in the same manner and order as we shall describe anon to be done on the Eve of St. George Then they proceed up to the steps before the Altar and divide themselves next the Officers of the Order make their like double Reverence and last of all the two Commissioners or Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions and Knight Elect all three together After this the Officers of the Order turn aside towards the Stall designed for the Elect Knight and approaching neer it stand below in the Choire while the Commissioners or Assistants or Knights-Companions pass into the lower row of Stalls sometimes called the middle row directly under the designed Stall leading the Elect Knight with them And in this place is he to take his Oath called in the Annals the Sacred Oath of the Order of the Garter during which time he ought to stand between the Knights-Companions who brought him thither At the Installation of Prince Henry an 1. Iac. R. the Soveraign's Lieutenant himself with the Lord Buckhurst the next senior Knight-Companion led him directly under his own Stall and there gave him his Oath And when the Earl of Shrewsbury was Installed an 34. Eliz. we find it noted that the senior Commissioner first entred the lower row of Stalls but an 31. H. 8. at the Installation of the Lord Russell and others the junior Assistant went up first The Knight Elect being thus placed the Register of the Order standing before them but below in the Choire readeth or pronounceth the Oath for it is part of his duty to administer the same In this solemn Ceremony the New Testament whereon the Oath is taken commonly opened in some place of the Gospels is indifferently held by one of the three inferiour Officers of the Order for sometimes the Register hath held it as at the Earl of Derby's Installation an 16. Eliz. as also at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland and Lord Cobham an 26. of the same Soveraign At other times Garter hath held it as an 5. Eliz. when the Earl of Northumberland took his Oath and an 10. Car. 1. at the Installation of the Earl of Moreton But when the Earl of Shrewsbury was sworn an 34. Eliz. the Usher of the Black Rod performed this Office While the Oath is administring the Elect Knight holds his right hand upon the holy Evangelists and assoon as the Register hath ended pronouncing the words the Elect Knight answereth I will so help me God and then taketh off his hand reverently kissing the Book and by this Ceremony sealeth his obligation to the Statutes of this most Noble Order The Ceremony used when Philip King of Castile and Leon took the Oath which to him was administred in the Chapter-house at Windesor an 22. H. 7. was this The said King laid his hand upon the Canon under which was placed the Book of the Statutes of the Order by the Prelate to whom it was delivered by the Register and repeated the words of the Oath and having reverently kist all those things by which he swore he took a Pen from the Prelates hand and signed the Oath he had taken with his own hand-writing and forthwith delivered it to the Soveraign then present Now the Oath which a Knight-Subject takes at his personal Installation being of very great weight and concernment it is fit we here render some account of the nature and form thereof and leaving those others taken by Stranger-Princes and their Proctors and the Deputies of Knights-Subjects to their proper places enquire what was its original form and how when and upon
safe in his own custody both for instruction and direction in such things as relate to the Laws and Ceremonies of this most Noble Order therein contained After this they also give unto him the Black Velvet Cap adorned with Plumes of White Feathers and this in particular is noted to be the last among the Ceremonies performed at the Installation of the present Soveraign All things relating to the full Investiture being ended there only remains to compleat this great Ceremony the Installation it self which is performed in the following manner The new invested Knight standing before his Stall and turning himself towards the High Altar first makes an humble Reverence thitherward and after a like obeysance towards the Soveraign or in his absence towards his Stall Thus is it noted of William Lord Howard 1. 2. Phil. Mar. which having done the Commissioners or Assistants or Knights-Companions forthwith jointly imbrace him with much joy as their Fellow and Companion according to the Custom of Installations and set him down in his assigned Stall thereto adding their wishes for his happiness and honor With the like courteous and civil expressions and congratulations we find this Ceremony was closed to the Lord Russel an 31. H. 8. which he answered with equal respect giving moreover to the Knights who installed him great thanks for the honor of their assistance and to the Marquess Dorset and others installed an 1. E. 6. the Commissioners for that Ceremony added this Vote That God would give them much honor and after such like Complemental respects have past the Commissioners or Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions take their Stalls But we have a notable instance in relation to this Ceremony at the Installation of Philip King of Castile an 22. H. 7. where the Soveraign himself solemnly introduced him into his Stall being the next unto his own and therein placed him At which action it seems there was a form of words pronounced relating to the Elect-Knight's Session and act of Installation no less than at his Investiture though we are not so happy as to know them the Relator of the manner and order of this great Ceremony having in the place of the words added an c. and left a blank for them but with this short note at the instant of Installation The Soveraign saying these words Don â—ils c. SECT VIII The Order observed when two or more Knights are Installed in one day WHen there are two or more Elect-Knights appointed to receive the honor of Installation at one Solemnity and that the Ceremony is performed by two Commissioners or two Knights-Assistants then as soon as they have finished all the Ceremonies of Investiture and Installation due to the senior of them they leave him so possest of his Stall and forthwith return to the Chapter-house the Proceeding of Alms-Knights Officers of Arms and the inferior Officers of the Order after their usual Reverences made in the middle of the Choire passing forth before them to the Chapter-house and thence they conduct the next senior Elect-Knight into the Choire where they perform all the circumstances of Investiture and Installation to him as they did to the first Installed Knight Which having finished they leave him also in his Stall and proceed back as before for the third Elect-Knight and after the like manner do they introduce and instal him and so the rest if there be more that wait their Installation till all be installed This seems to have been the ancient practice for it is noted in the Annals that Viscount Beaumont and the Lord Sudeley Commissioners appointed by King Henry the Sixth for the Installation of Albro Vasques d' Almadea Earl of Averence the Lord Beauchamp and Sir Thomas Hoo led them into the Choire singly and apart by themselves and there installed them in their proper Stalls And thus is it noted of the two Assistants at the Installation of the Earl of Huntingdon and others an 1. E. 6. who after they had invested and installed the said Earl proceeded back to the Chapter-house for the Lord La Ware and he being installed they returned again for the Lord Cobham and lastly for Sir William Herbert In like manner when the Commissioners had given the Proctor to Emmanuel Duke of Savoy possession of his Principals Seat an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. they proceeded back for William Lord Howard and conducted him to his Installation Thus did the Commissioners by the Earl of Penbroke an 16. Eliz. when they had first installed the Earl of Derby and by the Earl of Cumberland after the Earl of Shrewsbury had been installed When the Soveraign hath nominated three Commissioners to his service in such case they have returned altogether to fetch in the other Knights after the Ceremonies of Installation were performed to the senior Elect-Knight singly that were to be installed and alternately changed their places in the Proceeding to the several Installations one of them always going single and formost an instance whereof we have at the Installation of the Earls of Essex and Ormond and Sir Christopher Hatton an 30. Eliz. where the Earl of Essex having been first conducted to his Installation between the Lord Hunsdon and Earl of Worcester the Lord Grey the third Commissioner went single next before them then all three Commissioners returned to fetch in the Earl of Ormond who proceeding into the Choire between the Lord Hunsdon and Lord Grey the Earl of Worcester went alone immediately before them and his Installation being likewise dispatcht Sir Christopher Hatton was conducted to his Stall between the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Grey the Lord Hunsdon in this proceeding going next before them If the Lieutenant had four Assistants appointed him which was necessary when there were many Knights to be installed the order of their Installation hath been as followeth first two of the senior Knights-Assistants conducted the senior Elect-Knight to his Installation next the two other Assistants proceeded with the second Elect-Knight and installed him then again the two senior Knights-Assistants introduced the third Elect-Knight to his Stall and in this manner they alternately changed till all were installed Thus was it ordered at the Installation of Francis Duke of Montmorency and others an 14. Eliz. for at this Solemnity the Earl of Bedford Sir Henry Sidney the Earl of Worcester and the Earl of Huntington were appointed Assistants to the Earl of Leicester then the Soveraign's Lieutenant the two first conducted the Duke to his Stall and the two last the Earl of Essex then the two first proceeded again with the Lord Burghley and the two last with the Lord Grey and lastly the two first proceeded a third time with the Lord Shandos between them And the like method and alternate change is observed if four Commissioners be constituted as at the Installation of Frederick King of
Denmark and Iohn Prince Palatine of the Rhyne an 25. Eliz. where the Kings Proxy was conducted into the Choire between the Earl of Leicester and Lord Hunsdon being the two senior Commissioners and the Prince between the Earl of Huntingdon and the Lord Charles Howard the two junior Commissioners But some have been of opinion that the Commissioners nominated to this employment ought not to divide the duty and part of them to instal one Knight and part another and by such an alternation to dispatch the Ceremony as in the former cases but on the contrary that all should jointly assist at each Installation And in favour of this opinion there is an instance at the Installation of the Earl of Salisbury and Viscount Bindon anâ— 4. Iac. R. for the said Earl having been brought in to the Choire and both invested and installed by the Earls of Nottingham and Suffolk then the two senior Commissioners the other two Commissioners who were left behind in the Chapter-house to conduct Viscount Bindon to his Stall calling to mind that all four were joint Commissioners conceived that the said Earl was not legally installed by the two other because themselves had not been assistant at the Ceremony And upon consultation with the senior Commissioners it seems this opinion prevailed so far with them that they agreed to impart it to the Earl of Salisbury who thereupon descended into the lower Seats before his Stall and there all four Commissioners gave him his Oath again then led him up into his foresaid Stall and a second time Invested and Installed him each of the four Commissioners putting to their hand and the like joint assistance was given by them to the Viscount Bindon installed at the same time But this method was not only new but different from former practice for in all like cases as before are cited we have observed that both the Knights-Commissioners and Lieutenant's Assistants have constantly divided the employment by an alternate change and besides where the Soveraign hath authorized his Lieutenant to peform this Ceremony and appointed some of the Knights-Companions to assist therein these Assistants and not the Lieutenant have done the duty appertaining to the Installation that part of it of investing with the Collar heretofore in the Chapterhouse and the whole duty at the Installation of Prince Henry excepted And it is to be further noted that this way of joint assistance at the installation of the Earl of Salisbury was afterwards thought so little essential or necessary that it became no Precedent for at the very next Feast of Installation when the Earls of Dunbar and Montgomery were installed in the sixth year of the same King and for which Ceremony four Commissioners were likewise appointed the two senior of them installed the Earl of Dunbar and the two junior the Earl of Montgomery and this we find again in Practice an 10. Car. 1. when the two senior Commissioners installed the Earl of Danby and the other two the Earl of Morton But in the last place if the Soveraign be present and consequently that the Knights-Companions perform this Ceremony of Introduction Investiture and Installation there is commonly then so many of them as can go through the whole work without changing by turns after the manner used when done by a few either Commissioners or Assistants and therefore in this case the order is thus First the two senior Knights-Companions having descended from their Stalls and past out of the Choire to the Chapter-house with the Proceeding before them conduct to his Installation the eldest Elect-Knight and having performed that whole Ceremony they return and take their Stalls with accustomed Reverences Then the two next senior Knights-Companions descend and go out and return with the next senior Elect-Knight to his Installation and after that two other Knights-Companions go out and fetch in the third and so the rest in due order And this method we observe to have been practised at the Installation of Prince Henry and other Elect-Knights an 1. Iac. R. for after the Prince had been placed in his Stall by the Earl of Nottingham and Lord Buckhurst the Earls of Shrewsbury and Cumberland came down from their Stalls and went to the Chapter-house taking the Proceeding before them and thence conducted the Duke of Lenox to his Stall and returned to their own In like manner the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester went next out for the Earl of Southampton and having installed him the Lord Sheffield and Lord Howard of Walden past forth of the Choire and brought in the Earl of Marr and lastly the Lord Montjoy and Earl of Sussex Installed the Earl of Penbroke The like order was observed at the Installation of the Earl of Rutland and others an 14. Iac. R. who having been left behind in the Chapter-house while the Soveraign proceeded to the Choire were afterwards by several Knights-Companions the seniors going out first introduced to their Installations one after another according to the seniority of their Election But to be more particular in the order of the Ceremony in this case we shall lay down the method observed at the grand Feast of St. George held at Windesor an 13. Car. 2. which was as followeth First the two senior-Knights the Earls of Salisbury and Berkshire descended from their Stalls with the usual Reverences and stood before them Next the Alms-Knights came down in a body from the hault paces of the Altar into the middle of the Choire and having there made their double obeysances proceeded forth After them the Officers of Arms descended also the Pursuivants formost and having made the double Reverences in the middle of the Choire went out after the Alms-Knights Then followed the three inferiour Officers of the Order having first made their usual Reverences And lastly the two Senior Knights joining together in the middle of the Choire after their double Reverences past out in the Rear In this order they proceeded towards the Chapter-house and when the Alms-Knights came neer the door they fell off and divided themselves the like did the Officers of Arms and both thereby opened a way for the Officers of the Order and Knights-Companions to pass between them into the Chapter-house where being entred they first brought forth the Duke of Oromnd the senior Elect-Knight and taking him in the middle between them the Proceeding went before into the Choire in the same order as it came thence Garter then bearing on a Velvet Cushen his Mantle Hood Collar and Book of Statutes The Alms-Knights being entred the Choire made their double obeysances in the usual place and ascended the hault-paces of the Altar flanking on the other side After them the Officers of Arms did the like Then the three inferior Officers of the Order coming up into the middle of the Choire made their double Reverences and so passed before the Knights to the place directly under the Stall
rigid an observance of the Statutes in this point the foresaid Knight through the misfortunes and casualties of War whereunto they were daily exposed should be snatcht away by a sudden death and so want the desired suffrages of those Masses ordained to be sung for a defunct Knights as had been seen in the case of divers other prevented thereof by over much delay Nevertheless by that more ample and large Copy of the foresaid Letter recorded in the Registrum Chartaceum which we think necessary also to add in the Appendix it appears that the Soveraign and Knights-Companions remaining at that time with him in France had before upon the Duke of Bedford's request signified their approbation of installation by Proxie by the favour of which Certificate and virtue of this consent though as yet not formed into a Decree Sir Iohn Grey and Sir Iohn Robessart were installed upon their Letters missive wherein they only named their Proctors In this Letter it also appears that the Lord Bourchier's Proctor made so by a deprecatory Letter sent over to his Deputy from the Countess of Stafford was only promised to be installed in regard there was no express caution given in the Statutes concerning the sufficiency of this sort of Proxie But to clear all doubts which for the future might arise it was among other things Decreed an 9. H. 5. That where any Elect-Knight was actually in the Soveraign 's Wars or otherwise employed abroad upon the Soveraign 's affairs he should possess and enjoy the priviledge of a Stranger in this particular namely to be admitted to his Stall by a legal Proxie who should do and perform all things enjoined to the Proxie of a Stranger Which Decree we find added to King Henry the Fifth's Statutes Hereupon it was in a short time after enjoined the Elect-Knight upon notice of his Election to take care that his Proctor should be appointed to take possession of his Stall with all possible speed to the end he might enjoy the rights and priviledges of a Founder for such an obligation we find laid upon Sir Iohn Fastolf who at the reception of the Garter was in France and there employed in the Soveraign's service But King Henry the Eighth besides his confirmation of this Decree for allowance of a Proxie in the foresaid two Cases further enlarged it to such as the Soveraign should either command or permit by License to be installed by Proxie which is to be understood of Knights-Elect within the Kingdom no less than those beyond Sea By virtue of which clause the Earl of Dorset being sick an 1. Car. 1. obtained the Soveraign's License to be Installed by his Deputy Sir Richard Young who accordingly took possession of the Stall appointed for him SECT II. Letters of Procuration WE noted before out of the Registrum Chartaceum that Sir Iohn Robessart Elected into the Order by King Henry the Fifth was Installed by virtue of his Letter missive sent to Sir Thomas Barr his Proxie But the same Register in another place calls it a sufficient Procuration under his Seal of Arms enabling him to do and perform in his name all things which might appertain to the observance and Ceremony of his Installation The Copy of this Instrument we have not met with but that other Letter missive which Sir Iohn Grey directed to Sir Iohn Lisle to take the possession of his Stall and by virtue of which he was Installed is transferred to the Appendix Nor have we seen the before mentioned Deprecatory Letter sent over from the Countess of Stafford for the Installation of Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier but it seems to have been esteemed so sufficient and authentick as to obtain for his substitute the title of Proctor This example became a President to the now Countess of Bristol whose Lord having been Elected a Knight-Companion of this Order by the present Soveraign and being absent on an Embassy when the Grand Feast of St. George happily celebrated an 12. Car. 2. was drawing on she wrote a Letter to Sir Richard Fanshaw Knight and Baronet to desire him to appear and act at that following Solemnity in quality of her Lord's Proxie And because there grew some doubt from the Lord Bourchier's Case of the sufficiency of such a Nomination the request of the said Countess was thought requisite to be strengthened by the Soveraign's Authority and Nomination likewise which being obtained was ratified under the Seal of the Order And doubtless in the case of a Knight-Subject the Soveraign may if he please nominate and appoint a Proxie for Installation where the Elect-Knight hath not done it himself for here all those considerations of grand respect form of the Oath c. always afforded to Strangers have no place and this is evident from the Soveraign's Letters of Summons to the Commissioners nominated for Installation of the Lord Grey an 4. 5. Ph. M. who at that time was Prisoner in France and whose Deputy Sir Humfry Radcliff Knight is therein mentioned to have been appointed by the Soveraign her self The first President of Letters of Procuration or Deputation drawn into a solemn form is that made by Sir William Philipp whereby he having obtained the Soveraign's License impowers two Knights namely Sir Andrew Butreley and Sir Iohn Henington or either of them as their occasions would permit to supply his place and take possession of that Stall which should be assigned him in the Choire at Windesor This Procuration and the time of Sir Philipp's Installation by virtue thereof is entred in the Black Book of the Order under the eighth year of King Henry the Fifth but certainly misplaced for though the year of our Lord or of the Soveraign's Reign be wanting in the date of the Instrument yet is there added a note remarkable enough to wit that it was made while the Soveraign lay in Siege before Roan in France which as our Chronicles report was begun the 13. of October an 5. H. 5. and taken the 19. of Ianuary following so that by this account the Procuration was sealed the 11. of November an 5. H. 5. and ought to have been placed in the Annals under that year Besides this the Registrum Chartaceum expresly saith That Sir William Philipp was Installed the same day with Sir Iohn Robessart and so it is also exprest in the Duke of Bedford's before mentioned Letter which Solemnity is there entred as held on the 17. of February and though the year be not set down and all the former part of this Register wanting yet in the course thereof it may be observed that the following year is the 7. of H. 5. Add to all this that the Black Book it self under that seventh year ranks both Sir Iohn Robessart and Sir William Philipp for Knights-Companions among the other Knights Installed before that year and notes them to be then
bring these to Windesor is likewise part of the duty assigned to the Proctor by the Statutes Besides these Atchievements the Proxie is to provide a Plate of Brass gilt whereon is to be engraved the Arms Crest and Supporters enamelled in their proper Colours together with the Stile of the Elect-Knight and this to be fixt upon the back of his Stall A Velvet Cushen also for Garter to bear the Mantle on when the Proctor proceeds to the Choire Lastly A dozen or more of Lodging Scutcheons to set up at the Inns by the way and other places in Windesor SECT V. Proceeding to the Chapter-house THE next thing to be considered of is the Proceeding to the Chapter-house and therein chiefly the Proxie's place for it will be needless here to speak of his journey to Windesor Castle his arival there or ordering of this Proceeding in relation to those Degrees whereof it is composed since what hath been already said touching these particulars and other circumstances having reference to the Personal Installation of an Elect-Knight may be made applicable to a Proxie or else such part of them as he shall judge most conducing to the honor of his Principal The place therefore belonging to the Proxie of a Knight-Subject in this Proceeding is that immediately after the Provincial Kings of Arms because as yet he hath not taken possession of his Principal 's Stall which gives him a place in his return according to its dignity and in this place did the Proctors of the Marquess since Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Bristol proceed bare-headed to the Chapter-house an 13. Car. 2. And though this be the Proxie's usual place in this Proceeding yet Sir Henry Sidney Proctor to the Earl of Warwick an 5. Eliz. and 't is the only instance we have met with proceeded immediately before the Alms-Knights the order of which Proceeding was as followeth First Gentlemen Attendants Knights Sir Henry Sidney Proctor Alms-Knights Verger Pursnivants Heralds Provincial Kings E. of Northumberland a Knight-Elect Visc. Mountague Assistants Lord Loughborow Assistants Black-Rod Register Garter Duke of Norfolk Lord Lieutenant Lastly the Proxie as in the case of an Elect-Knight passeth into the East Isle behind the high Altar as soon as he ariveth within St. George's Chappel while the Soveraign or his Lieutenant or Commissioners proceed into the Chapter-house and there reposeth himself till he be sent for in for so did the foresaid Proctors to the said Marquess of Newcastle and Earl of Bristol But if the Proxy pass not in the Proceeding he then goes privately to this place before the Proceeding sets forward SECT VI. Transactions in it AFter the Chapter is opened the first thing done is for Garter to present the Commission or Commissions which he carried in the Proceeding thither aswel that for Lieutenancy in case a Lieutenant then held the Feast as of Installation for admitting a Proxie the order of which and by whom read is noted before in the precedent Chapter The Letters of Procuration or Deputation are in the next place read after which the Proxie is sent for into the Chapter-house by Garter who conducts him to the door and there the Commissioners or Assistants or Knights-Companions receive him But an 5. Eliz. Sir Henry Sidney exhibited his Deputation after he was called in Or sometimes the Proxie produceth his Deputation before the Proceeding pass to the Chapter-house for so did Sir George Howard Deputy to the Earl of Bedford an 6. Eliz. and in such case there is no need of admitting the Proxie into the Chapter-house but that he may rest without till the Soveraign his Lieutenant or Commissioners are past into the Choire and he sent for in thither at which the Mantle was wont to be laid upon his right arm at the Chapter-house door by the Knights-Companions appointed to introduce him Heretofore so soon as the Proxie was admitted into the Chapter-house and the Letters of Procuration read the Mantle of his Principal was usually laid upon his right arm by the Soveraign's Lieutenant or Commissioners and being so laid part of it was also spread upon the Proxies shoulders the Scutcheon of St. George lying uppermost and the Cordons laid fair to be seen and in this manner he bore it in the Proceeding to the Stall of his Principal where he hâ—â—â— it till Service was ended But now the present Soveraign hath directed the Mantle to be born upon the left arm But an 5. Eliz. the Earl of Warwick's Proctor had the Mantle born before him into the Choire by Garter in the same manner as is used to Knights Personally Installed and not delivered him till he had taken the Oath and at the delivery thereof the words of Admonition were pronounced by the Register of the Order So was it observed to the Proxies of the Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Bristol an 13. Car. 2. SECT VII Proceeding to the Choire THE Proxie proceeds from the Chapter-house door between the Soveraign's Commissioners Assistants or Knights-Companions Concerning the order of this Proceeding so much is spoken before that we shall need to add but one Example and that is an 6. Eliz. Verger Alms-Knights Officers of Arms. Officers of the Order Lord Hunsdon Proctor to the Earl of Bedford Lord Clynton SECT VIII Ceremonies performed there THE Proceeding having entred the Choire the Commissioners Knights-Assistants or Knights-Companions conduct the Proxie into the lower Stalls directly under the Stall designed for his Principal where the Register of the Order reads the words of the Oath while the Proxie laying his hand upon the Book repeats after him and in confirmation thereof kisseth the Book and this Oath his Deputation impowers him to take in the name and behalf of his Principal The form of the Proctor's Oath hath no difference from the Oath which an Elect-Knight himself takes the substance of the ancient Oath is already noted down and that taken of later times may be seen in the Appendix Nevertheless some variation and inlargement though the same in effect with the ancient Oath do we observe to be in that Form which Sir Thomas Barr Proctor to Sir Iohn Robessart took viz. Faithfully to keep and observe all the Articles of the Statutes whatsoever in all things appertaining thereunto according to the form and efficacy of the said Statutes and to the utmost of his power The Oath being taken in this solemn manner the Proctor is led up into the Stall of his Principal where both the Knights who conducted him into the Choire first take the Mantle and lay it on his left though formerly on his right arm next laying their hands upon him in the Name of his Lord and Master from whom he received his Dputation set him down therein and so the Ceremony of Installation being fully finished the
themselves to the Stranger-Prince in the accustomed manner of Ambassadors and deliver the Soveraign's Letters Missive with all due reverence The Ambassador therewithall signifying after some short general Complement from the Soveraign how his Master and the honorable Society of the Garter in respect of his renowned prowess valour virtues c. and for to establish and augment the amity which is betwixt them hath Elected him into the most renowned Order of St. George and that the Soveraigns do never Elect any Stranger but such as they do most highly honor and therefore desires that it may be accepted as a true testimony thereof to which end the Soveraign hath sent him over and his Herald there present to perform the Ceremonies due thereunto But of late when through the Soveraign's multitude of Affairs in particular the late Soveraign while engaged in the Wars or suddenness of the occasion they have had no convenience for the present to send a special Commission of Legation with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order to any Stranger They therefore thought fit at such time as they sent their Letters signifying Election to Commissionate their Agent residing in that Princes Court and Garter Principal King of Arms to deliver part but the two chief and most peculiar of the Ensigns of this most illustrious Order namely the Garter and George pendent at a Blue Ribband to the Elect Stranger deferring the solemn Legation till a further and more convenient time The first Precedent we have met with in this kind was an 10 Iac. R. when Sir Ralph Winwood and William Seagar Esq Garter afterwards Knighted were Commissionated to deliver only at the present the Garter and George to Maurice Prince of Orange the rest of the Habit being intended to be presented afterwards in their due time And this was so done within five days after his Election that Ceremony being dispatcht on the 19. of December in the foresaid year and the Soveraign's Letter 's of notice and the Commission both bearing date the 24. of the same month In like manner were the Garter and George only sent over to Charles Prince Palatine of the Rhyne and presented to him by William Boswell then Esq the Soveraign's Agent in Holland and Iohn Philpot Esq Somerset Herald an 9. Car. 1. So the late Soveraign by reason of the many disturbances occasioned by the unhappy War with the Long Parliament could not conveniently send over to William Prince of Orange and Bernard de Foix Duke of Fspernon other Ensigns of the Order than the George and Garter And lastly during the present Soveraign's aboad in Foreign parts it was the general practice in regard the whole Habit could not with conveniency be provided nor the Ceremonies of Investiture fully performed to present the Elect-Knight in confirmation of his Election whether he were a Stranger or Subject with the Garter George Ribband and sometimes a Saint George's Cross irradiated within a Garter to be fixt on the left shoulder of their Cloaks or upper Garments of which we shall speak more largely in the following Chapter SECT IV. Certificate of Acceptation AFter that the Soveraign's Letter signifying Election hath been delivered by the Ambassador and the Elect-Stranger doth readily accept the Order and thereupon is desirous to have it confirmed to him he is obliged by the Statutes to return to the Soveraign a Certificate of such his acceptance and desire of ratification And we observe that before this additional Clause made by King Henry the Eighth this ceremonious course had been of ancient time practised and both expected from and observed by the King of Denmark who having been Elected an 6. H. 5. was an 8. of the same King taken notice of for not returning before that time an answer whether he would accept of the honor of the Order or not And it appears that before the next St. George's Feast in the following year he sent over to the Soveraign his ready acceptance both of the honor of his Election as also of the Ensigns of the Order and thereupon directions were then given for his Installation by his Proxie the Lord Fitz-Hugh But for an instance after the said additional Clause we have one remarkable enough in the preamble of the Soveraign's Credential Letters to the Duke of Savoy an 1. 2. Ph. Mar. sent together with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order in which it appears that the Soveraign having given him notice of his Election into this most Noble Order he had returned back his cheerful and ready Acceptance of and singular satisfaction in the said choice and therefore cordially wisht that it might attain its due effect In succeeding times it was thought necessary in case where the whole Habit of the Order was sent over to a Stranger together with the Soveraign's Letters signifying his Election to make a provisional Decree which pass'd the 18. of April an 13. Car. 1. That Garter and all others whom it pleased the Soveraign jointly to commissionate with him should be most punctually careful that they delivered not the Ensigns of the Order into the hands of any such Prince till they were fully satisfied by his Letters Patent of his kind and grateful acceptance thereof or in case of refusal to forbear their presentation And that care was taken for the due observation of this Decree even in such case where only the Garter and George were sent appears from the Instructions of the 4. of March an 19. Car. 1. sent to Sir William Boswell Knight he being appointed by the then Soveraign to present those two principal Ensigns of the Order to William Prince of Orange the said Soveraign's Son in Law where among other things he is expresly commanded to take a Testimonial from the said Prince of his kind acceptation thereof before he should deliver those Ensigns of honor to him The like Clause for demanding of a Certificate of willing and grateful Acceptance of the Order we also find to have been inserted in those Instructions under the same date for the delivery of the Garter and George to Bernard Duke of â—â—ernon SECT V. Of an Election not accepted of THat there hath been a non-acceptation of this honor by the person Elected appears in that single case of Philip the Second Duke of Burgundy who having been Elected by King Henry the Fifth then in France into the Stall of the Lord Clifford slain at the Siege of Meux in Brie had not an 1. H. 6. sent his answer whether he would have his Election confirmed It was therefore concluded on at the Feast of St. George held at Windesor in the foresaid year by Humfry Duke of Gloucester then Deputy to the Soveraign having therein the unanimous consent of the Knights-Companions present to send Letters to the said Duke Elect by which he might be entreated to give his Resolution whether he would accept
of Statutes that so he may peruse them before he assume the Habit and desires his consideration thereupon Next both the Commissioners in the Legation present him with the George and Ribband and put it about his Neck for so did Sir Iames Spens and Mr. Henry St. George Richmond Herald to Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden the 21. of September an 3. Car. 1. and in the last place the Ambassador moves him to be pleased to name both a fit time and place for his consent to the Articles of the Statutes and the reception of the Habit which being appointed after some further Complements the Ambassadors depart for that time In the interim before the day of Investiture time is usually set apart for Conference between the Soveraign's Ambassadors and some of the Elect-Princes Council touching the ordering of the Ceremonies at this great Solemnity and wording the Oath to be by him taken before he is invested in case any Exceptions shall be made to the general Oath of the Order or that the form thereof hath not been fully agreed upon beforehand in relation to which we shall particularly discourse in the following Chapter Garter is likewise to consider what places in the Elect-Princes Court fittest to perform the Ceremonies in are to be made ready and in what manner as also to instruct his Officers what duties and services are on their part to be undertaken If the great Hall or other large Room be appointed for the place of Investiture there ought to be prepared a Table with a rich Carpet whereon the Habit and Ensigns of the Order are to be laid during the reading of the Soveraign's Commission of Legation with another Table for the Stranger who receives the Order and a third for the Soveraign's Ambassadors In the Church or Chappel into which the invested Stranger is to proceed to hear Divine Service is to be erected a Stall under a Cloth of State on the right hand entrance of the Choire for the Soveraign of the Order within which is to be fixed the Majesty-Scutcheon of the Soveraign's Arms mentioned among â—â—e preparations made for the Legation Also another Stall placed at that distance from the Soveraign's Stall and on the same side of the Choire as is the Stall designed for the Elect-Stranger in the Choire at Windesor over which a State is likewise to be set and within the Stall sixt the other Majesty-Scutcheon of his own Arms brought likewise over by Garter or his Deputy And lastly a third Stall for the Lord Ambassador who if he be a Knight-Companion of the Order hath in like manner a Scutcheon of his own Arms within a Garter set over it for so had the Marquess of Northampton at the Investiture of the French King Henry the Second an 5. E. 6. and the Earl of Derby at that of Henry the Third and the Constable of France being a Knight-Companion of the Garter attending at the former of these two Investitures in his whole Habit had also a Scutcheon of his Arms placed over the Stall provided for him And we are further to note that underneath all these Scutcheons of Arms the Stiles and Titles fairly written of the Soveraign and each Knight-Companion are to be affixed But where there hath followed no solemn Proceeding to Church after Investiture the Soveraign's Scutcheon of Arms with his Titles have been set up at the upper end of the Room where the Investiture was performed so also the Stranger-Knights at due distance for so was it done at the Investiture of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden which he received in his Tent at the Leaguer neer Darshaw in Prussia the 23. of September an 3. Car. 1. and likewise at the Investiture of Iohn George Duke of Saxony the 13. of April an 22. Car. 2. Besides the before mentioned Preparations the Church or Chappel into which the new Invested Stranger proceeds is to be richly adorned This for instance we find done at the Investiture of Henry the Third the French King the Church of Augustine Friers in Paris being hung with rich Arras and all the Choire and Stalls with Cloth of Gold and how the Church of St. Vlrick at Studtgard was adorned at the reception of the Habit by Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg will appear by and by The day whereon the Solemnity of Investiture is to be celebrated the Elect-Stranger sends his Coach and some persons of Quality to accompany the Soveraign's Ambassadors to his Court. At the Investiture of Henry Prince of Orange Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne sate with Viscount Charleton in one Boot of the Prince's Coach and Sir William Segar in the other who arriving at the Court were met by the said Prince at the foot of the Stairs and conducted thence into his great Chamber After such time as the Elect-Stranger and the Soveraign's Ambassadors have a while retired the Stranger hath usually first entred the Room appointed for the Ceremony and stood under his own State expecting the coming in of the Ambassadors and notice thereof being given them they reposing themselves in a Room neer unto it forthwith proceeded in manner following Servants to the Lord Ambassador two and two The Herald in his Coat of the Soveraign's Arms bearing the Mantle Surcoat Hood and Cap on his arms and if there be a Pursuivant attending the Embassy he wearing his Coat proceeds before him bearing part of the said Habit. Garter vested in his rich Coat of the Soveraign's Arms also but at the Investiture of the Duke of Wirtemberg he wore his Robe of Crimson Sattin so did Clarenceux at the Investiture of the French King Henry the Third and lastly Richmond and Somerset at the Investiture of Charles King of Sweden and the Prince Elector of Saxony bearing on a Cushen the Garter the Collar of the Order with the great George the Book of Statutes and the Commission of Legation Lastly the Lord Ambassador or chief in the Embassy who if he be a Knight-Companion proceedeth in his compleat Habit. If there happen to be any other Knight-Companion present at this high Solemnity he also wears his whole Habit of the Order as did Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne at the Investiture of Henry Prince of Orange an 3. Car. 1. the like did the Constable of France when the French King Henry the Second received the whole Habit at Castlebriand the 21. of Iune an 5. E. 6. The said Constable also paired in the Proceeding with the Soveraign's Ambassador into the said Kings Privy Chamber the place appointed for performing this Ceremony In this Proceeding up to the Soveraign's State they all make three Reverences and drawing neer thereunto the Ambassador's Servants fall oâ—f on either side for the Herald to pass up to the Table set before the Soveraign's State where being arrived with a single Reverence he lays down the Robes thereupon Then Garter draws neer the Table also and with a
much the same with that drawn up for Installation of a Knight-Subject both as to the material and circumstantial parts whereof we have already discourst The Preamble constains the same matter and the authority wherewith the Proxie is impowered and is penn'd with like words the variation lies only in those expressions which lay down the causes of the Stranger 's absence and for the most part are generally exprest but if in particular then are the words fitted with alterations sutable to the occasion The Letters sent from the Soveraign to each of the Commissioners appointed for Installation giving them notice and information of the Solemnity and requiring their attendance at Windesor on the day assigned are of the same nature with those prepared against the Installation of a Knight-Subject by his Proxie the necessary alterations being taken in where the occasion requires Thirdly a Warrant for the Removal of Stalls is likewise to be obtained from the Soveraign and sent unto Garter to see it put in execution according to its tenour whereby a Stall being assigned to the Stranger his Proxie having taken possession thereof may set over it the Atchievements of his Principal The ground of this Removal and the practice thereupon in relation both Strangers and Knights-Subjects is discoursed of at large among the Preparations made for the Personal Installation of a Knight-Subject In the last place a Warrant is to be drawn and signed by the Soveraign for providing the Stranger 's Atchievements at the Soveraign's charge namely his Helm Crest Mantlings and Sword together with a Banner of his Arms and Quarterings and these the Proctor is enjoined to bring along with him to Windesor Sometimes a Warrant hath been directed to the Mâ—â—ter of the Wardrobe to provide but some part of these Atchievements and another Warrant to the Lord Treasurer of England to deliver Garter money to provide the other part in each of which the particulars relating to either are enumerated For so were the Warrants drawn up for the Atchievements of the French King Henry the Second At other times the direction hath been to the Master of the Great Wardrobe to provide and deliver to Garter the whole who thereupon put the charge upon account as were those Warrants for Atchievements for the Duke of Chevereux and King of Sweden Sometimes particular Warrants have been directed to the Master of the Wardrobe to deliver forth several parcels of the Materials for the making up these Atchievements to the persons employed in the work or oversight thereof as were those Warrants to deliver the Soveraign's Embroiderer and to Garter so much Velvet Cloth of Gold c. for making the great Banner and other the Atchievements of Charles the Ninth and Henry the Third the French Kings and Christian Prince of Denmark But it appears that Garter hath sometimes laid out the money for making all or part of the Atchievements and then he delivered his Bill of disbursements into the Wardrobe as is manifest from those Bills drawn up for the Atchievements of Frederick the Second King of Denmark Iohn Count Palatine of the Rhyne and the Duke of Holstien Besides the Atchievements some other things used at the Solemnity are commonly included in the foresaid Warrants as 1. a Plate of Brass gilt whereon are engraven and enamelled in Colours the Stranger 's Coat of Arms and Quarterings within a Garter as also his Helm Crest and Supporters and underneath these his whole Stile and Titles of Honor 2. A Majesty Scutcheon to be set over the Soveraign's Stall and another over the Strangers there to remain during the time of Installation And when Prince Henry was constituted the Soveraign's Lieutenant for St. George's Feast at which time also Christian the Fourth King of Denmark was installed he likewise had a Majesty Scutcheon placed 〈◊〉 his Stall 3. Some Lodging Scutcheons of his Arms marshalled in the same order as they are in his Plate and 4. a Cushen of Crimson Velvet whereon to lay the Mantle when Garter bears it before the Proctor into the Choire in case the Proctor doth not carry it on his own arm Lastly for the carriage of all these things to Windesor a Trunk is likewise to be provided We do not think it needful to place the Mantle of the Order here with those things that are to be prepared at the Soveraign's charge against this Solemnity for the Statutes of Institution appoint the Proxie to bring one with him not that the Soveraign should provide it having done that before at the Legation with the whole Habit Nor have we found in the Rolls or Books of the Soveraign's Great Wardrobe any account made for providing a second Mantle when the Proxie of a Stranger came hither which had the Soveraign been at such charge would not have been omitted SECT VI. The Proctor's Cavalcade to Windesor THE day appointed for the Installation drawing on the Proxie was heretofore accompanied on Horseback from London to Windesor with the Soveraign's Lieutenant and his Assistants if the Feast of St. George were then also celebrated or otherwise the Soveraign's Commissioners with a very great Retinue Amongst the rest when Adrian de Tercelin Deputy for the French King Francis the First rode to Windesor the day before his Installation being the 24. of Ian. an 19. H. 8. all the Knights-Companions that were in Commission for that Solemnity assembled at the Lord Sandys his Place neer St. Paul's Church in London whence they rode to the Deputies Lodging then at the Dean of Pauls his House and thence accompanied him in good order and gallant equipage to the Castle of Windesor where Lodgings were prepared for him at the Dean's House In like manner on Tuesday the 15. of Ianuary an 8. Eliz. the Earls of Sussex and Leicester and Lord Clinton three of the four Commissioners appointed for the Installation of the French King Charles the Ninth with other Lords and Gentlemen took their Horses at the Court Gate at Westminster and with a great Train rode to the Lodging of the said Kings Proxie being then at St. Mary's Spittle in London whence they took their way through Holborn towards Windesor the Earl of Southampton Viscount Mountague Sir Henry Lea and Sir Edward Vmpton met them at Langford neer Colebrook with their Hawks and there shewed the Proxie variety of sport with which he being exceeding well pleased they rode to Windesor where he was accommodated with Lodgings in the Dean's House for that hath usually been the place to entertain the Stranger 's Proxies when they came to Windesor upon this solemn occasion SECT VII Supper after his arrival there THE Evening of their arrival passeth with a Supper for the most part costly and sumptuous but the principal entertainment is reserved to set forth the magnificence of the following days Dinner in case the Instalment be appointed to be
one of the Earl of Winâ—helsey's Gentlemen SECT XIII The Dinner WHen the Installation hath past in the morning there hath usually been prepared a great Dinner at the Soveraign's charge we shall need here only to mention such particulars as are peculiar to the Proxie of a Stranger or different from the Instances set down in our discourse of this particular in the Personal Installation of a Knight-Companion And first before Dinner if the Installation pass by Commissioners the Proxie representing the State of his Principal shall wash alone he shall sit at the chief place of the Table and alone and shall be served alone but the other Knights-Commissioners shall sit at the end of the Table Thus was it observed at the Installation of Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria an 14. H. 8. and of Francis the French King an 19. H. 8. for when the later of these was Installed the Dinner was held at the Deans-house and his Proctor washed alone and sat down to Dinner in a Chair nor did any of the Knights-Commissioners sit at his Mess. The services were all performed to him in every particular as though his Principal had been present saving his Cloth of State The Lord Marquess of Exceter and all the other Knights-Companions having first washed sat on both sides the same Table yet beneath the Proctor and in their whole Habits of the Order The Dinner was likewise prepared in the Dean's great Chamber at the Installation of Charles the Ninth the French King whose Proctor was served with Water and a Towel by the Earl of Southampton and Lord Herbert Sir Iohn Radcliff performed the Office of Sewer Henry Brooks alias Cobham Esq was Carver and Mr. Francis Hervy Cupbearer This Proctor had a Cloth of State allowed him under which he sat at Dinner the Mantle lying by him all the while on a Stool and Cushen at the Tables end on the right hand sat the four Commissioners in their Robes being served apart from the Proctor But if the Soveraign's Lieutenant be present the Proctor dines at the same Table with him and then a little before the second course is brought in is the Soveraign's Stile proclaimed in Latin French and English with usual Ceremony but otherwise only the Stile of the new Installed Prince and but once The Stile and Titles of Christian the Fourth King of Denmark were proclaimed in Latin and of Maurice of Orange in French Dinner being ended all rise in order and wash first the Proxie alone and after him the Knights-Commissioners and thence they accompany the Proctor to his Chamber where having left him they retire to their own Lodgings and there put off their Habits The Proctor to Charles the Ninth took the Mantle of his Principal on his arm into his Chamber when he rose from Dinner and there delivered it to Garter So soon as the Solemnity of Installation is over the Proctor is to take care that Garter forthwith set up the Atchievements of his Principal over his Stall and fix the Plate of his Arms upon the back thereof in memorial of the Honor done him by this Ceremony of Inauguration into the most Noble and most Honorable Order of the Garter And sometimes we find the Proxie hath upon his request obtained an Instrument under the Sign manual of the Soveraign and Seal of the Order attesting his being conducted to St. George's Chappel at Windesor and placed in and taken possession of the Seat assigned to his Principal in whose name he hath also taken the Oath attested by his subscription and performed all the Ceremonies in due form as the Statutes direct for so did the Sieur de Chastes Proctor to the French King Henry the Fourth an 42. Eliz. In close of all let us here remember that the present King of Sweden against his late Installation caused both Gold and Silver Medals to be made in memory of that Solemnity and to perpetuate the honor so received Those of Gold were bestowed upon the Knights-Companions present and other persons of quality and those of Silver distributed among some of the Officers attending at the Installation and others The Devise was sutable to the occasion and present interest of both Kings as may be observed from the Representation here exhibited CHAP. XVII THE Duties and Fees PAYABLE BY THE KNIGHTS COMPANIONS AT THEIR Installations SECT I. Touching the Fees due to the Colledge of Windesor SUch was the piety and bounty of our Ancestors that they thought no work well performed without being attended with some charitable donation especially if it had relation to the Church whereunto they generally bore a venerable esteem Hence was it at the Installation of this Order ordained That every Knight-Companion should at his entrance bestow a certain sum of money according to his quality and degree That is to say  l. s. d. The Soveraign of the Order 26 13 4 A Stranger-King 20 0 0 The Prince of Wales 13 6 8 Every Duke 10 0 0 Every Earl 6 13 4 Every Baron 5 0 0 Every Knight-Batchelor 3 6 8 What use these sums were employed in and how distributed appears by the appointment there set down viz. Towards the relief of the Canons of Windesor the Alms-Knights and augmentation of the Alms deeds there appointed perpetually to be done To the end That every one entring â—nto this Military Order might thereby more worthily obtain the Name Title and Priviledge of one of the Founders of the order It being supposed a worthy and just thing that whosoever obtained this Priviledge should add some small increment to this Founâ—ation Not long after establishing the Statutes of Institution the Titles of Marquess and Viscount came to be special dignities for Robert Vere Earl of Oxford was the first among us who as a distinct dignity received the title of Marquess the first of December an 9. R. 2. and Iohn Lord Beaumont the first here also that had the Title of Viscount conferred on him as a distinct Title of Honor the 12. of February an 18. H. 6. And whereas both these Degrees of Honor at their Creations were setled as intermediate the first between a Duke and an Earl for so saith the Roll where it speaks of the Marquess his precedency the Marquess was commanded to sit among the Peers in Parliament in a higher place than his Degree as Earl of Oxford could justly challenge viz. between Dukes and Earls and the Viscount between Earls and Barons as the said Viscount Beaumont is by his first Patent ranked to wit above all Barons and afterwards in another Patent to render his place more certain and apparent above all Viscounts afterwards made and created and before and above the Heirs and Sons of Earls and immediately and next to Eâ—rls both in all Parliaments Councils and other Places Upon these grounds and sutable to
such Ceremonies as were not consonant to the King's Injuctions then lately prescribed it was Ordained and Decreed that then and for ever from thenceforth at the Feast of this most Noble Order no other Ceremonies should be observed than such as were appointed in the following Letter Which was at that Chapter agreed upon and a little before the next years Feast day of St. George sent from the Lords of the Council to the Knights-Companions attributing the whole procedure to the great piety of the then Soveraign and the care he took that certain abuses and preposterous Ceremonies of the Church should be reformed Whereby the Solemnity State and magnificence of this Grand Festival was very much eclipsed AFter our most hearty commendations For as much as the Kings Highness hath appointed a most godly Reformation of divers abuses and rites in the Church to a more convenient and decent Order of the which some hath been used heretofore in the most honorable and amicable Order of the Garter and being not reformed there should make a disagreeing from his Majesty's most godly proceedings Therefore it is his Majesty's will and pleasure by the advice of us the Lord Protector and other his Highness Council that all such things as be not conformable and agreeing to his Majesty's Injunctions Orders or Reformations now of late prescribed should be also in that most Noble Order and the Ceremonies thereof lest undone and reformed as hereafter followeth First that no Procession be made with going about the Church or Church-yard but the Kings Majesty's Procession lately set forth in English to be used His Majesty and other Knights of that honorable Order sitting in their Stalls at the entry such Reverence to be made to the King's Majesty only as was heretofore The Offring to be in the Box for the Poor without any other Reverence or kissing of any Paten or other thing but only at the return due Reverence to the King's Majesty as was used before The Mass of Requiem to be left undone but yet both upon St. George's day and the next day a Mass to be sung with great Reverence in the which immediately after the words of Consecration is said the Priest shall say the Pater Noster and so turn and communicate all or so many of the Order or other after they have done as shall be disposed godly at the same time to receive the Communion according to such order as is prescribed in his Highness Book of Communion and without any other Rite or Ceremony after the said Communion to be used except it be some godly Psalm or Hymn to be sung in English and so to end the said Service All Chapters and other Rites concerning the said Order not being contrary to these to remain as they have been prescribed and used the which we have thought good to signifie unto you that you may follow the same accordingly From Greenwich the 20. of April 1548. This Decree we observe signified not less than a Prohibition to the holding the Grand Feâ—st at Windesor although it spoke not so plain at least the neglect of its celebration there whilst King Edward the Sixth lived makes it to seem so And albeit towards the end of this Soveraign's Reign some care was or seemed taken for a permissive holding of the said Feast either upon the day of St. George or some other day appointed by Prorogation yet was it without any regard had to the ancient and usual place the Castle of Windesor For when the Act of Parliament passed commanding the days therein mentioned to be kept holy and none other whereby the celebration of many days besides which in former time by the Canons of our Church appointed to be kept holy were prohibited and among the rest the Feast day of St. George it being not found among those Feast days at that time established It was considered That a Proviso and allowance should be entred in the aforesaid Act for the celebration of this Feast particularly by the Knights-Companions of this most Noble Order in these words Provided always and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that it shall be lawfull to the Knights of the right honorable Order of the Garter and to every of them to keep and celebrate solemnly the Feast of their Order commonly called St. George's Feast yearly from henceforth the 22.23 and 24. days of April and at such other time and times as yearly shall be thought convenient by the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors and the said Knights of the said honorable Order or any of them now being or hereafter to be any thing in this Act heretofore mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding Which Act although it suffred a Repeal by Queen Mary yet strands it at this day in force being revived by King Iames his repealing of that Statute of the first of Queen Mary Cap. 2. SECT VII Removed from Windesor by Queen Elizabeth BUT that which gave the greatest and almost fatal blow to the growing Honor of this no less famous than ancient Castle of Windesor and severed the Patrons Festival from the Place was a Decree made at a Chapter held at Whitehall upon St. George's day an 9. Eliz. with the consent of the Knights-Companions then present being 12 in number namely the Earls of Arundel and Penbroke the Lord Clinton Marquess of Northampton Lord Howard of Effingham Earl of Sussex Lord Loughborow Viscount Mountague Earls of Leicester Northumberland Warwick and Lord Hunsdon to the effect following That if on the Vigil and day of St. George the Feast were not held at Windesor according to the usual Custom it should nevertheless be sufficient if the observation thereof were kept in the same place where the Soveraign should then happen to be where also all the rest of the Knights-Companions were obliged to be present no less than if the Feast had been to be celebrated at Windesor And henceforward the glory which Windesor Castle had alone possest for some Ages began to be distributed to other places nay so severe was the later part of this Decree to the interest of so flourishing a place that it welnigh extended to a prohibition of all other Celebrations there since it also commanded That no other Solemnity under the notion of St. George's Feast should thenceforth be celebrated at Windesor except upon occasion of the Installation of some illustrious personage and then also not without the leave and appointment of the Soveraign And to say truth this Statutes was but too strictly observed all the remainder of her Reign for we meet not with one Feast of St. George held simply and peculiarly as a Feast in honor of the Order's Patron at Windesor unless you mistakingly account any of the Feasts of Installation for those of St. George which for the most part were held at the charge and expence of the Knights Installed until the first year of King Iames But then the Soveraign as yet in
and sometimes Officers of Arms. And though at the Grand Feast held by Prorogation on Sunday the 14. of September in the said 15. year of King Iames it is noted that the Prince being then the Soveraign's Lieutenant proceeded to Morning Service on the Feast day with the Alms-Knights Heralds Prebends and Officers of the Order before him from which manner of expression it may perchance be supposed that the Heralds went at that time next after the Alms-Knights and before the Prehends nevertheless elsewhere we find them on the Eve of the foresaid Feast ranked in this following order The Alms-Knights The Prebends The Officers of Arms. The Knights of the Order c. And doubtless they proceeded in the same order to the Chappel on the next morning notwithstanding what is before said to the contrary those expressions being interwoven with the general account given of the Ceremonies of the whole Festival and more subject to mistake where the Relation of the Proceeding is carried on in a continued Discourse than where ranked as is before exhibited in particular lines and in the order and form of a Proceeding Besides we no where meet with any Order or Decree nulling the foresaid determination made an 1. Iac. R. which placeth the Prebends before the Heralds Finally to give an end to the disputes in this point we find that upon the Eve of the Feast held at Windesor the 23.24 and 25. of November an 1. Car. 1. the Prebends proceeded next before the Pursuivants and the Pursuivants immediately before the Heralds and Provincial Kings that is to say all the Officers of Arms except Garter whose place is elsewhere proceeded in one entire Body together which order we find to be the same in all Proceedings after that we have met with and was so observed at the Grand Feast held at Windesor an 13. Car. 2. and ever since But to proceed All the before mentioned Attendants wait in their several stations till the hour of Tierce when the Soveraign having the Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order before him and his Train carried up passeth towards the Presence Chambers notice of whose coming being given the Band of Pensioners make the accustomed Guard and Passage along the Presence-Chamber the seniors standing towards the Lobby door within which Guard on either side do the Officers of Arms place themselves Upon the same warning the Yeomen of the Guard clear a like passage from the Presence-Chamber door along the Guard-Chamber unto its outward door for the Proceeding to pass through At the Soveraign's approach one of the Gentlemen-Vshers attending with the Sword of State the point resting upon the ground delivereth it to such one of the Nobility not being a Knight of the Order whom the Soveraign as an honorary favour hath before nominated to bear it from thence before him in all the Proceedings of the Feast during which action the Knights-Companions proceed forward and being entred the Presence-Chamber flank on each side the State with some small distance between them and there make a stand The Soveraign being also entred passeth to the step before the State the Nobleman who beareth the Sword and the five Officers of the Order retiring a little on his right hand and then turning himself towards the Knights-Companions standeth there a while until they have made their Reverences unto him which being performed he re-saluteth the Knights-Companions by putting off his Cap. This done the Soveraign putteth his Cap on again whereupon every of the Knights-Companions put on theirs and immediately rank themselves according to their due place on both sides the State For the right understanding whereof we are in the fifth place to note that the order and method wherein the Knights-Companions are ranked if they be all present is two and two together the junior formost on the left hand for that is his place in all Proceedings But where any of them be absent the Rule is different from that appropriate to the before mentioned Degrees for although it be recorded that upon the Eve of the Grand Feast held at Windesor an 7. H. 5. The Knights-Companions went together in order into the Chapter-house and Choire Yet this being exprest but in general terms how it ought to be understood will more fully appear from the particular directions given for the order of the Knights-Companions proceedings in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes where the Law directs each Knight-Companion to proceed alone at such time as his Fellow who possesseth the Stall opposite unto him is absent but the order of such Proceeding will by a Scheme be made more evident The Proceeding of the Knights-Companions present on the Eve of St. George to the Closet at Whitehall an 3. Eliz. The Lord Hunsdon The Lord Robert Dudley The Lord Loughborow Void The Viscount Mountague The Earl of Shrewsbury The Earl of Sussex Void The Marquess of Northampton The Lord Clynton Void The Lord Howard of Effingham The Earl of Westmerland Void The Duke of Norfolk The Earl of Penbroke In this Proceeding there are four Knights-Companions who proceeded alone first the Lord Hunsdon then being the junior Knight because the Lord Grey his Fellow on the right hand was in this Proceeding absent and consequently his Stall became Void Secondly the Earl of Westmerland in regard the Earl of Rutland his left hand Companion was then also warting Thirdly the Marquess of Northampton whose right hand Fellow the Lord Pagit was likewise absent and lastly the Earl of Penbroke because the Stall opposite unto him was then void by the death of the Earl of Huntington And to avoid all questions and disputes touching precedency of the Knights-Companions among themselves at Feast Installations Chapters or other occasional meetings relating to the Affairs of the Order and to setle an indisputable rule for them to observe it was in the 16. year of the said King Henry the Eighth Decreed in affirmation and explanation of the foresaid Article of the Statutes that Each Knight-Companion should take place in Procession Station or sitting at the Table thenceforward as he had his Seat or Stall in the Choire and not according to the degree of his birth or condition unless the Soveraign were pleased that any should be made choice of according to the Nobility of his Family to sit at the end of his own Table and perform any other thing by the by And this is the Law which setled the precedency among the Knights-Companions Sixthly the manner of Proceeding among the Officers of the Order differeth from all before spoken of for being five in number the three inferiour Officers when they are all present march in breast and of later times in this following order The Register in the middle Garter on his right hand and the Vsher of the Black-Rod on his left But we find the form and course of Proceeding among these three Officers hath anciently been observed otherwise and therein we
the Earl of Northumberland at that time absent were excused by the Soveraign At other times the Soveraign not being present in Chapter hath before hand verbally instead of Letters given his Deputy or Lieutenant direction to excuse the absence of several of the Knights-Companions Thus it was in the case of the Prince the Earls of Surrey and Shrewsbury and Lord Daubeny who an 19. H. 7. were excused by the Soveraign by word of mouth to the Marquess of Dorset his Lieutenant because they were then employed in his service And as touching the Earls of Arundel and Devonshire at the same time the Register saith the Soveraign with his own mouth excused them to his Dputy Whereto we may add what is recorded an 26. H. 8. All others absent were by the Soveraign at that time excused to the Duke of Richmond his Lieutenant by word of mouth and afterwards by his Letters Of the latter sort to wit such as have been excused upon the motion made by some of the other Knights-Companions present in Chapter we find that on the Vigil of St. George an 1. H. 6. Humfrey Duke of Gloucester being then the Soveraign's Deputy Sir Harington's absence was excused by the Chancellor at that time Sir Iohn Robessart one of the Knights-Companions So an 2. H. 6. The Deputy took upon him the Earl of Warwick's excuse But ere we proceed any further it will not be amiss here to observe what effect the Excuses presented on the behalf of absent Knights have usually produced in reference whereunto we find the just and reasonable favourably admitted some suspended and divers disallowed Excuses easily allowed were first Sickness for those of the Knights-Companions who have either been sick far spent with age or intent upon publick Affairs have readily obtained excuse which we meet with in the Examples of the Lord Powis an 8. H. 5. the Duke of Exceter an 2. H. 6. Sir Thomas Erpingham an 6. H. 6. as also the Lord Dudley an 15. E. 4. And of later times the Earl of Bedford an 26. Eliz. Viscount Mountague and the Earl of Warwick in the 30. of the same Queen with many others Secondly The not recovery of Wounds received in the Soveraigns Service for such was the condition of Sir William Harington an 7. H. 5. whom we see excused for his illness occasioned from the Wounds then lately received at the Siege of Roan and elsewhere Thirdly Impotency and old age for which cause the Lord Burnell an 7. â— 5. at the last mentioned Chapter the Earls of Shrewsbury and Warwiâ—k and Lord Burghley an 31. Eliz. and the Earl of Moulgrave an 13. Car. 1. So also the Earl of Westmerland an 2. 3. H. 6. and the Earl of Suffolk an 13. Car. 1. for the weakness of his Limbs were all of them excused for absence at those several Feasts Fourthly imployment in the Soveraigns service either abroad or at home Of the first sort was the case of Sir Robert Vmfrevile excused an 7. H. 5. because he had been sent towards Scotland to defend the Borders So the Lord Scroop engaged in the like Service an 30. Eliz. his absence was immediately excused As was that of the Duke of Bedford and the Lord Talâ—ot an 6. H. 6. both being employed in the Wars of France whilst the Grand Feast was celebrated at Windesor Again the Earl of Salisbury and Lord Faucombridge had such another Apology an 28. H. 6. And lastly the Earl of Essex an 41. Eliz. who according to his Commission was endeavouring to subdue by Arms the Irish Rebels and therefore deservedly excused Of the second sort of employment to wit at home was that of the Earls of Shrewsbury and Hungtington an 22. 26. Eliz. the first of whom was taken up in the managery of certain Affairs enjoined him by the Soveraign but the other being President of the Council in the North his absence was for that and several years following favourably admitted And a like case was that of the Earl of Danby an 13. Car. 1. who for his necessary attendance at the Seat of Iustice in Eyre was excused of his waiting on the Soveraign at the Grand Feast held by Prorogation on the 2.3 and 4. days of October in the foresaid year Fifthly When the Grand Feast hath received Prorogation and any of the Knights-Companions have not had notice of the day whereunto it was prorogued and for non-attendance for want of such notice Sir Simon Fehbridge an 8. H. 6. the Feast for that year having been prorogued unto the 22. of May was excused by Humfry Duke of Gloucester then the Soveraign's Deputy Sixthly When any of the Knights-Companions have been employed upon Embassie or other Civil Affairs as Sir Here Tanke Clux who an 3. H. 6. was by the Soveraign sent in Legation to the Emperor of Germany and also for that an 5. 6. H. 6. he yet remained in the Emperor's Court by the Soveraign's command In like manner the Indulgence of the Soveraign excused the Earl of Derby and Lord Cobham an 30. Eliz. they being sent Ambassadors into the Low-Countries to treat with Philip King of Spain about a Peace To like purpose is that Entry made in excuse of the Earl of Marr's absence in Scotland and Earl of Carlisse's Embassy abroad an 4. Car. 1. Seventhly When any of them have been in Captivity as was Thomas Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Huntington both Prisioners in France an 2. H. 6. So also the Earl of Suffolk the Lord Talbot and Lord Scales an 7. H. 6. the Lord Fauconbridge an 30. 36. H. 6. and Earl of Kendal an 32. H. 6. and lastly in the 4.5 and 6. years of Edward the Fourth Sir Iohn Astley who was Prisoner there also Eighthly When any of them have obtained the Soveraign's Letters of Dispensation of which sufficient is spoken before Lastly some other just and lawful occasion as well as accident having fallen out not relating to those under the former heads the Soveraign upon information given in Chapter hath been pleased to allow of as sufficient to excuse the non-appearance and non-attendance of the Knights-Companions at the Grand Feasts in which rank the foresaid Lord Fauconbridge's care of his domestick Affairs an 32. H. 6. was readily admitted because having been lately in Prison he had obtained leave to go to see his House and Lands in the Country And the Earl of Arundel's absence an 15. Car. 1. was pardoned by reason of the Dutchess of Richmond's Death who died on the Eve of the Grand Feast that so he being the chief of her Family might be at hand to advise and assist in all things conducing to the honor of the deceased Dutchess And as the Knights-Companions have been often excused for not appearing at the Grand-Feast
so negligent as not to come to the celebrations of the Grand Feast and yet have no justifiable reason of his absence such as may be allowed by the Soveraign or his Deputy he shall not at the Feast to be held the ensuing year enter into his own Stall but stand below before it in the place above mentioned 2. he shall walk alone by himself before the three Crosses which in ancient times were born in the Grand Procession 3. When the Grand Procession returns to the Choire he shall stand in the place before mentioned the following part of the Mass until the time of the Offertory 4. He shall Offer last of all by himself alone And after the humble sufferance of all these Penances he shall forthwith approach the Stall of the Soveraign or his Deputy and there humbly desire absolution for his Offence Whereupon the Soveraign or his Deputy shall restore him to his Stall and first estate But we have not hitherto met with any Record or Memorial where the particulars of this punishment were executed upon any of the Knights Offenders albeit we too often find where many have neither appeared all the time of the Feast nor sent Letters of excuse nor obtained license for their absence As for instance an 9. H. 6. Sir Robert Vmsrevile Sir Simon Felbrigg and Sir William Harington signified not the cause of their absence neither did the Duke of Buckingham nor Earl of Northumberland give any reason at all of their absence The like hath been observed of many others but without further memorial of what the Chapter did thereupon Fifthly and lastly the Statutes ordain That if any Knight-Companion remain within the Kingdom and not having a sufficient excuse to be allowed upon humble suit as aforesaid shall presume to absent himself the next following year and thereby become culpable of an omission of two years successively from the Solemnity before mentioned he ought thereupon to be so long interdicted his own Stall until in the said Chappel he shall have offered at Saint George's Altar a Iewel to the value of 20 Marks of lawful money of England and thence forward every year so long as he shall continue guilty in that nature the mulct must be doubled until he be reconciled and pardoned By vertue of this last Clause of the foregoing Article was the Lord Maltravers an 15. E. 4. for such his absence fined at 20 Marks And the Lord Scales an 36. H. 6. in a Jewel of 20 Marks value which as probably may be collected was the following year endeavoured either to be mitigated or taken off nevertheless we find the sentence confirmed and he left to pay the Fine imposed Of later times the greatest Offender that we observed against this Statutes was Ferdinand Earl of Derby who having made no excuse nor Petition for his absence in two years was at a Chapter held on the Eve of the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 1. accordingly fined and that with some further note of negligence but at the mediation of the Earl of Penbroke and Montgomery he was for that time remitted Yet was he not guilty of any future neglect for the following year upon his humble Petition setting forth his age weakness and inability to Travel he obtained a Dispensation for attendance on the Soveraign at the Feasts of St. George during his life But the most memorable case in the prosecution of a contempt was that against the Earl of Arundel who in a Chapter held an 14. E. 4. was fined 40 Marks to be paid to the Colledge of Windesor for being absent from the Solemnity of the Grand Feast for two years together without any approved cause and the following year still continuing his Contempt the mulct by virtue of the aforesaid Statute was doubled and he fined in the sum of 80 Marks Touching the third particular amongst those things done of course in the Chapter held before the first Vespers to wit the nominating and constituting an Officer for holding the same if the Soveraign be not present we are beforehand to note the occasion and cause thereof which was briefly this At the time of Instituting this Order the Soveraign being engaged in Wars with France and Scotland which he then and for some time after personally managed thought fit to make provision for supply of his room no less than in case of sickness or other urgent occasion where he should be hindered from affording his personal presence at such time of the year whereon the Grand Feast should happen and hereupon allowance was given by the Statutes to depute another in his stead When therefore such occasion afterwards hapned a Commission was made out to one of the Knights-Companions some reasonable time before the approach of the Feast to the end that by such a representation of his Person none of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted or any defect happen through his absence For till the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign we meet not with any Commissions that stayed for the Soveraign's fiat so long as until the sitting of the Chapter held before the first Vespers Nevertheless seeing from thence it hath been for the most part thus practised we think it not improper to give our account thereof here amongst those things of course which if at this day the appointing such an Officer shall be thought requisite are usually dispatcht at the foresaid Chapter And herein we shall speak 1. Of the Person Nominated to this Office 2. his Title 3. the Ceremonies used at his Constitution 4. the nature of his Employment 5. and the Dignity of his Office As to the Person Nominated we observe That most usually he hath been one if not the chief of the Knights-Companions we mean in Authority Eminence or Birth next to the Soveraign himself Such were Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Gloucester stiled also Earl of Henalt Zeland and Penbroke Lord of Frizland Protector and Governor of England both Sons to King Henry the Fourth Brothers to King Henry the Fifth and Uncles to King Henry the Sixth Humfry Stafford Duke of Buckingham Son and Heir of Edmund Stafford by Anne Plantaginet Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock made Primer Duke of England 22. Maii an 25. H. 6. Thomas Earl of Derby Father-in-Law to King Henry the Seventh the Dukes of Suffolk and Richmond with Marquesses of Dorset and Exceter in King Henry the Eighth's time The Duke of Norfolk Marquess of Northampton Earl of Leicester and Lord Treasurers Burghley and Buckhurst under Queen Elizabeth And in King Iames his Reign the Soveraign's eldest Sons the Princes of Wales first Prince Henry and after his death Prince Charles the late Soveraign of blessed memory Next we shall consider the Time and Place when and where he hath been appointed to this Employment Concerning
him by the Knights-Companions an essay taken for him of the Offering and offereth with Carpet and Cusheon but these we reserve to speak of at large by and by In reference to personal Honors though generally all Lieutenants sit in their own Seats in the Chappel we find the Marquess of Northampton had assigned to him a higher Stall than his own during the whole Festivity of St. George For in the Chapter held on the Eve an 3. Eliz. the Celebration of the day of St. George being that year observed at Whitehall the Soveraign decreed that the foresaid Marquess during only the time of his Deputation should take the Stall of the Earl of Shrewsbury then lately deceased Now the Marquesses own Stall was at that time the eight Stall on the Princes side but that which the Earl of Shrewsbury then lately possest was the fourth on the same side and next below the Duke of Holstein whose Seat was the lowest among the Stranger Princes then alive To conclude it seems in time the Duty incumbent on both the Lieutenant and his Assistants grew so burthensom that the Soveraign took their attendance and charge into consideration and therefore in their favour decreed at a Chapter held on St. Georges day at Greenwich an 19. H. 8. That the Knights-Companions Appointed or Deputed Lieutenants or Assistants to be present or to keep the Feast of St. George in the Colledge of Windsor one year should not be Appointed or Deputed to be present or to keep it the year next following unless the Soveraign should please to be present at the day or Feast And to the same effect though briefly is this Decree recorded in the Black Book But more large and particular is it thus entred in one of the MS. now remaining in the Office of Arms. Memorandum That the Soveraign of the Order King Henry the Eighth our Soveraign Lord by the advice of the Knights of the said Order the 19. pear of his most noble Reign by vertue of a Chapitre holden at his Manor of Greenwich the 23. day of April Ordained and enacted by Acte of Chapitre that all such Knights of the Order from thenceforth which should be appointed by his Highness to be his Lieutenant or Deputy at the Feast of St. George kept at his Castle of Windesor and all such other Knights as was to the said Lieutenant Attendant and Assistant at that time should for the next year ensuing be clearly discharged and excused for their attendance at the said Castle unless any Knight of the Order upon his own devotion would be at the said Feast of St. George at Wyndesor then be to be there at pleasure Nor was that yet thought a sufficient indulgence to the Lieutenant and Assistants to be absent from the next Grand Feast and therefore the said Ordinance was afterwards an 23. 24. H. 8. extended to the space of three years from and after the said Feast And herewith we are to note That this Officer always held the Feast at his peculiar charge and cost and gave liberal Rewards to Garter and for his Scatcheons as also to the Officers of Arms the Gentlemen-Vshers the Alms-Knights the Vshers and Grooms of the Chamber the Clerks of the Kitchin the Harbinger and Groom-Porters with the rest of the Soveraign's Servants Waiters of several Offices in the House to the Choristers the Vergers c. that kept the Robes and the Sexton even to those who made clean the Seats and laid the Cusheons And because all things relating to the Feast were set forth with exceeding State and Nobleness which was commonly every year augmented each Lieutenant striving to outvie his Predecessor in magnificence and liberality his Expences became very great In consideration whereof the aforesaid Priviledge was granted that so by a Licence of Non-attendance for the three following years the Persons who had undergone the charge and trouble of these Offices might be in some measure eased Nevertheless the generous Lord Fitz Williams was so far from taking advantage of this indulgence that he was one of the Assistants to the Soveraigns Lieutenant for the six years next ensuing the Decree past an 19. H. 8. SECT VI. The Ceremonies relating to the first Vespers WE have now finished our Discourse upon the Particulars managed in the first Chapter held on the Eve of St. George which being broke up the Soveraign and Knights-Companions do immediately proceed from the Chapter-house into the Choire to hear Vespers In handling and describing the Ceremonies relating thereunto we shall consider first those performed before the Vespers begin secondly the Course of Divine Service and lastly those used after it is ended Wherein we shall be particular and exact not only in regard the State thereof is both solemn and sacred but because the same Order of Ceremony is to be repeated so often as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions enter the Chappel or depart thence or go up into or come down from their Stalls First then we are to presuppose that the Officers of Arms Prebends of the Colledge and Alms-Knights having attended in the North Isle of the Chappel during the sitting of the Chapter do now upon the rising and coming forth of the Soveraign Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order put themselves into Rank and continue the Proceeding through the passage and Guard made by the Knights-Companions Attendants and the Soveraigns Band of Pensioners from the Chapter-house door along the said North Isle and so to the West door of the Choire in like manner and order as they did proceed from the Chamber of Presence to the Chapter-house The Organs then beginning to play and continuing on till Vespers begin When the Alms-Knights be arrived at the West Door they first enter in a whole Body while the rest of the Proceeding makes a short stand and pass forwards near to the middle of the Choire where they make a joynt and low obeisance first towards the Altar next all turning about by the left hand to the Soveraign's Royal Seat then still turning from the right to the left hand they ascend the Pas's even to the Rails set before the Altar and forthwith divide themselves flanking on each side the Juniors standing nearest to the Rails and at such a spacious distance that the Altar may be discerned by all that follow in the Proceeding when they draw near to make their Reverences Assoon as the Alms-Knights have made their obeisance the Prebends of the Colledge enter in a whole body also and having turned on the left hand and made the like double obeisances in the middle of the Choire they divide themselves and take their Seats every one in their Order The Seats appointed for them at this Solemnity and at other times when any of the Knights-Companions are present in the Chappel is in the lower range of Seats and so ordered by King Henry the Eighth's Statutes albeit
the Blue Book of the Order an 3. Eliz. And this double Proceeding and dividing of the Service continued throughout the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames not only when the Feast of St. George was celebrated at Whitehall or Greenwich an 7.8.10.12.13.14 and 16. Iac. R. but also an 15. 20. 21. and 22. of the same Soveraign when solemnized at Windesor and also the first year of King Charles the First But from that time the Soveraign went to the Chappel to the beginning of Divine Service and the celebration thereof continued on without any interruption to the end and this latter Custom hath been ever since duly observed by the present Soveraign But when it was known before the Lieutenant proceeded to the first Service that the Soveraign did not go the Grand Procession as when either through indisposition of Body or some other occasion she could not come abroad there the Service being begun continued and at the usual time the Grand Procession began wherein the Soveraigns place was supplied by the Lieutenant Nevertheless once we observe that the Soveraigns Lieutenant at the finishing of the first service proceeded back to the Soveraign's Lodgings the Feast being then kept at Windesor not knowing of the Soveraigns indisposition which understanding to be such as permitted him not to go in the Grand Proceeding he with the rest of the Knights-Companions returned to the Chappel a second time to celebrate the rest of that Mornings Ceremonies SECT II. The Proceeding to the second Service BUT when the Feast hath been celebrated elsewhere than at Windesor as soon as the Prelate was come down from the Altar upon finishing the first Service the Knights-Companions descended from their Stalls in usual order and then the Soveraign's Lieutenant with the Officers of the Order and of Arms proceeded before him to the Presence to conduct the Soveraign to the second Service This second Proceeding to the Chappel was disposed in the same order as was that in the Morning to the first Service only in the latter because the Soveraign proceeded the Sword also was carried Here follows a Scheme of one of these Proceedings viz. an 19. Eliz. Pursuivants Heralds Provincial Kings Lord Howard of Effingham Earl of Penbroke Earl of Worcester Earl of Bedford Lord Viscount Mountague Earl of Leicester Lord Clynton Earl of Sussex The Vsher. Mr. Dean of Windesor in place of the Register Garter One Gent. Vsher. The Bishop of Winchester Sword born by the Earl of Southampton One Gent. Vsher. The Soveraign The Earl of Ormond on the left hand assisted the Robe on her shoulder The Earl of Rutland on the right hand assisted the Robe on her shoulder The Train of the Robe born by the Earl of Oxford The Train of her Kirtle by the Countess of Derby The Processional way from the Presence to the Chappel at Whitehall is at this time the same as it was in the Morning to the first Service viz. through the Gâ—â—rd-Chamber and Great Hall And as soon as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions had ascended their Stalls after the usual manner in the 3. 4. and 5. years of Queen Eliz. a Psalm was sung the Feast being celebrated those years at Whitehall at the ending of which the Knights-Companions descended and stood before their Stalls and then the Grand Procession began Sometime afterwards as an 18. 19. Eliz. instead of a Psalm an Anthem was sung by the Choire in praise of the Soveraign's presence there with her Knights-Companions which custom of singing an Anthem immediately before the Grand Procession was observed an 9. 14. 16. Iac. R. and probably theuse continued long after But an 4. Eliz. by reason that the Soveraign was not well she somewhat altered the usual processional way to the Chappel proceeding from the Presence first to the great Closet where she reposed her self while the Choire was making ready to advance in the Grand Procession and when the Soveraign was gone into the Closet the Lieutenant and Knights-Companions leaving her there proceeded through the great Hall into the Chappel where they took their Stalls in due and solemn order while the Choire sung a Psalm After which the Letany begun and then the Knights-Companions descended from their Stalls in usual order and went the next way up to the Closet having the Officers of the Order and of Arms before them where waiting the Soveraign's coming forth they returned before her again to the Chappel the Choire having by that time advanced forward in the Grand Procession and proceeded through the body thereof SECT III. Of the Grand Procession WE are now arrived at the Grand Procession of this Noble Order which is indeed the most solemn and most illustrious part of the whole Ceremony to usher in the state and magnificence whereof it seems here both proper and necessary to premise somewhat concerning Procession in general and by reason of their correspondency to say something of Triumphs Cavalcades and Ecclesiastical Proceedings those glorious and pompous Solemnities which the wisdom of all Ages and custom in most parts of the World for all or in all parts for some have thought most necessary to exhibit upon particular and remarkable Occasions Procession is so called as it were progressio à procedendo in publicam The original of Processions some deduce from the ancient Iews in the Old Testament and well may we do so too since we observe the Israelites removal from Sinai to Paran was according to the commandment of God and the order and manner of their Proceeding thus recorded First went the Standard of the Camp of the Children of Iudah where Nahshon the Son of Aâ—inadab commanded in Chief Next that of Issachar Thirdly that of Zebulon and after these The Tabernacle born by the Sons of Gershon and Merari Then followed the Standards of Ruben Simeon and Gad and after them The Kohathites bearing the Sanctuary Afterwards the Standards of the Camps of Ephraim Manasseh and Benjamin And lastly in the Rere came The Standards of Dan Asher and Naphtali A second and most solemn Proceeding we have in the Book of Ioshua at the famous encompassing the Walls of Iericho where first the Army proceeded on before the seven Priests who sounded the seven Trumpets of Rams horns then the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord followed them and lastly the Rere came after the Ark. Again when the Ark was fetched from Kiriath Iearim by David unto the House of Obed Edom it was brought thither with great Ceremony the King and all Israel joining with him in the Procession And to be more particular as to the order thereof David himself informs us out of the 67. Psalm which most Interpreters agree to be penn'd upon this solemn occasion that in this Proceeding The Singers went before the Minstrels followed after and in the midst were the Damsels
personally been present at Windesor and in particular to Philip King of Castile an 21. H. 7. who in his approach towards the High Altar to make his Offering had his Train carried up by his own Chamberlain In like manner the Lieutenants or Deputies to the Soveraign constituted for holding the Grand Feasts of St. George and consequently his representatives have had their Train carried up in the Proceedings For instance the Earl of Arundel being the Soveraigns Lieutenant for holding St. Georges Feast an 31. H. 8. after such times as he had offered for the Soveraign his Train was let down when he came to offer for himself in the quality of a Knight-Companion And this hath been the usage in all times since And not only the Train of the Soveraigns Lieutenant or Deputy but sometimes that of a Stranger Kings Mantle hath been carried up when his Proxy proceeded to Installation as in the case of the French King Charles the Ninth an 8. Eliz. when Monsieur Rambouillet bearing the Mantle of his Principal upon his right Arm had the Train thereof carried up by Henry Earl of Southampton assisted by the Lord Herbert Furthermore this Ceremony of bearing up the Train hath been also performed unto Stranger Princes in their own Countries and that in reference to the Custom of England at those solemnities relating to this most Noble Order whereof Erhardus Cellius gives us an instance in Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg who as soon as he was invested with the Surcoat and Mantle in the great Hall at Studgardt proceeded thence to the great Church of St. Vlrick to receive the rest of the Habit of the Order having his Train born from the ground by the Noble and Illustrious Count Lodowick Leosten who likewise carried it after him throughout the whole Ceremony And lastly the Knights-Companions have in this Proceeding their Trains carried up by their own Gentlemen Another piece of Ceremony in the State of this Grand Proceeding we find once added and that was the bearing of Queen Elizabeth's Cloak and Hat along with her the one by Sir William Howard the other by Sir Christopher Hatton then Captain of her Guard but as this was the first so was it the last time that either of these are mentioned to be thus publickly carried In the second place the Cloths and Apparel or under Habit of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions have for many years past been made of white Sattin and in the fashion of the times which the present Soveraign observing to be laid aside and others introduced He to prevent profuseness in Apparel and emulation among the Knights-Companions as also to beget an uniformity and equality among them in the under no less than in the upper Habit of the Order thought â—it to appoint a set and constant Habit of Cloth of Silver made in the fashion of Trunk Hose with white silk Stockings to be worn by himself and them upon all solemn occasions relating to the Order for the observation of which an Order past in Chapter an 13 Car. 2. As to other Ornaments the chiefest are the variety of rich Jewels which surround or adorn their Caps and where else they may appear most conspicuous But besides the glory and splendor which shoot from the Habits and Ornaments of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions who are principal in this grand Ceremony there are others that make up the body of the Proceeding and may fitly be compared to Stars of the middle and lesser magnitude since we find them adorned in Robes particular to their Offices to distinguish and set off the lustre of the show among whom are first The five Officers of the Order namely the Prelate Chancellor Register Garter and Black Rod of whose Habits we have sufficiently spoken before The Provincial Kings Heralds and Pursuivants habited in their rich Coats and going together in one Body appear more conspicuous from the Royal Arms of the Soveraign of this most Noble Order richly imbroidered upon them with fine gold purles and twist the ground of the Provincial Kings Coats being at this day blew Velvet the Heralds blew Sattin and the Pursuivants blew Damask The Habit in which the Canons of the Colledge proceed is also peculiar and more remarkable because of their particular reference to this most Noble Order for though as Clergy men they are vested in Linen Surplices at all times of Divine Service or the Celebration of Sacred Offices yet at the Solemnities peculiar to the Order they wear a Mantle over those Surplices which is a Habit appointed for them from the foundation of the Order These Mantles are of Taffety and of the ancient colour to wit Murry upon the right shoulder of which is a Scutcheon of St. Georges Arms within a Rundelet imbroidered with Gold and Silkâ— and bought at their own charge for we do not find them entred among the Liveries of the Garter provided by the Soveraign In Habits yet more glorious do the Gentlemen of the Soveraigns Chappel at Whitehall the Petty-Canons and Vicars of Windesor appear who at this time are also joined in one Body to augment the Solemnity for they are all or the most part of them Vested in Rich Coaps of Cloth of Gold Cloth of Bodkin or most costly Imbroideries But the Children of the Chappel and Choristers do always proceed habited in Surplices of fine Linen By a memorial we have met with a. 22 H. 8. we find how well stored this Colledge then was with such sacred Vestments when at one Procession appointed by the Soveraign in honor of St. George there were 35. Copes of rich Cloth of Gold made use off These kind of Vestments have been in all times worn in the Grand Procession whether the Grand Feast was kept at Windesor or at Whitehall or Hampton-Court or Greenwich even to the beginning of the late Wars in which the covetous barbarism of the then Reformers sent most of them to the fire Besides they are sometimes taken notice of in the Registers of the Order to be used in the Grand Procession as in particular an 15 Iac. Reg. it is noted that the whole Choire being adorned in Copes for so we suppose the word Orarium may signify as well as Dalmatica Vestis descended from the Altar and sung the Letany and to like purpose is that recorded an 21. of the same King 7. Lastly the Habits of the Alms-Knights a Mantle and Kirtle are not unremarkable they being grave and civil and both for colour and materials appear sutable to their Age and Degree The Mantles are of Cloth which the Statutes appoint to be of a Red Colour with a Shield of the Arms of St. George but without any Garter to surround them In conformity whereunto when Queen Elizabeth's Orders and Rules for the establishment of good Government among these Alms-Knights were made It was therein Ordained that
the last place comes in the Banquet brought up to the Soveraign's Table by the Pensioners in the same order and with the same Attendantâ— as are the Soveraign's Messes only in the place of the Clerk of the Kitchin the chief Clerk of the Spicery waits but the Banquet for the Knights-Companions is brought up by the Yeomen of the Guard And now that the Soveraign and Knights-Companions have dined the Knights first rise and having washed place themselves a little below the State in their usual order and there make their Reverences to the Soveraign and hereof we find particular mention made an 24. H. 8. in these words The Knights-Companions sat upon their Forms notwithstanding their Boards were taken up and until the Lords which at that Feast sat at the Soveraign ' s Table were also taken up and then they immediately arose and went together and made their obeysances to the Soveraign After this the Soveraign hears Grace said by the Prelate then is Water brought up with the usual Ceremony and the Soveraign washeth This being done the Knights-Companions making again due Reverence to the Soveraign he puts off his Cap and salutes them as usually and forthwith proceeds back to the Presence-Chamber with the Knights and Officers of the Order before him and being arrived at the step before the State he again saluteth the Knights-Companions who having made their Reverences to him he appoints the Hour for their attendance again to go to the second Vespers and forthwith passeth thence into his Privy Lodgings taking the Officers of the Order before him and the Knights-Companions following after thus they all retire till the time appointed to go to the second Vespers In like manner doth the Soveraign's Lieutenant proceed from the Presence to the Hall or such other Room where the Dinner is prepared only his place of Session at the Table is a little on the left hand the Cloth of State or at the end of the Table and after Dinner he returns to the Presence in the same order as doth the Soveraign But what order was taken in King Henry the Eighth's Reign for the entertainment of the Soveraign's Deputy at Windesor during the continuance of the Feast may be seen by these following directions which to this particular are very observable Memorandum that the Saterday at Wyndesor the Lords and Knights of the Garter keepe the Chamber and in like case the Sonday at Souper First the President at the Board hys messe allone Item the Lords or Knights at the said Bordesende 2. Messe or 3. as the case requireth Wafers and Ipocras the said Nyghts Item the sayd nyght ther ys oon halle kept for the Lords Servants and so servede when the Lords be at Soupere Item the Sunday following the President with all the Knyghts of the Garter doo breke their falls with the Dean of Wyndesor at hys Gods except 2. or 3. Chynes of Beif which be sende from the Castle thythere Item the sayd Sondaye when the President with the Knyghts be at hyght messe then there is a fyrste halle kepte in the Castle for their Servants and othere Item the sayd Sonday at Dinner the President keepeth the hall with the Knyghts at the Boardsend at Dynner but the President sytteth not in the There of Estate but by Item the sayd Sonday the Deane of the Colledge with those Colledge sytting in thall at the lattere dynere and no more Item the sayd day and dynner the Lords and the Deane with the Colledge the Heralds and the Marshall be served with Wafers and Ipocras Memorandum that the President and the Knyghts of the Garter have both the Saterday at night and Sonday voyde Memorandum that there be sent the Monday following to the Colledge for the Knyghts brekefasts Brede Ale Wyne a certeyne 3. Châ—nes of Beife a Surloyne of Beif 4. Capons good 18. Rabbetts 18. Pâ—gions 18. Chyk And other suche as the Stewarde of the Feaste thinâ—â— beâ—â— And all the rest to be at the charge of the Deane SECT VIII The Ceremonies belonging to the second Vespers SInce the Ceremonies relating to the second Vespers at Windesor are but the Repetition of those which have been performed on the Eve of the Feast we shall pass them over with more brevity being very unwilling to cloy the Reader with needless recitals The time for Proceeding to the Chapter-house hath most usually been about four a Clock in the Afternoon of St. George's day but sometimes not before five and so long did the services of the Dinner hold when the Feast of St. George was celebrated at Windesor the 14. of September an 15. Iac. R. that the Knights-Companions proceeded by Torch light to the Chapter-house The place from whence the Proceeding begins is as at other times the Chamber of Presence in reference to which the Sword is there laid in readiness on the Chair under the State and all other things put in order as on the Eve of the Feast The Persons whereof the Proceeding is composed the manner and order thereof the publick Processional way to the Chapter-house is the very same as on the Eve and when the Soveraign and Knights did at any time proceed to the Chappel on Horseback on the Eve and Morning of the Feast day they have in like manner proceeded to the second Vespers It hath been customary for the Soveraign and Knights-Companions to hold a Chapter before the second Vespers and therein for the most part have been transacted all Affairs relating to this most Noble Order as the making new Constitutions regulating things amiss reading Petitions making Orders thereupon determining Controversies and Disputes referring to the Officers of the Order Alms-Knights c. and such like matters either ordinary or extraordinary for instance An. 28 H. 8. we find it recorded that the Soveraign and Knights-Companions having performed all the Ceremonies of the Feast then held at Greenwich viz. on the Eve Matins and solemn Offring on the Feast Day in the Morning at the second Vespers before they entred the Choire they went aside to the Soveraigns Closet and there debated the ordinary affairs relating to the Order but besides this Instance many other are scattered up and down the Registers And frequently both at Whitehall and Greenwich this Feast being there celebrated hath this Chapter been held in the Soveraigns Closet near the Chappel from whence at the breaking up thereof the Soveraign hath now and then in Person proceeded into the Chappel to the second Vespers But generally remained in the Closet during the celebration of those Divine Offices and in such case the Lieutenant supplying the place of the Soveraign hath proceeded from the Closet through the Hall into the Chappell Where note that the Proceeding from the Presence to the Closet before the Soveraign and thence into the Chappel before the Soveraigns Lieutenant as also the returns thereof are ordered in all points
finished or treated of in the Precedent Chapters but the chief business then is to make Election of Knights where any Stall is void Which Chapter hath sometimes when the Soveraign did not go to the Chappel been kept in the Privy Chamber and the present Affairs dispatcht in that Room and then the Soveraigns Lieutenant waving the Chapter-House hath proceeded straight on to the Chappel and entred in at the South Door thereof SECT II. Of the Elect Knights Proceeding into the Choire WHere an Election hath been made of a Person then present at Court he is called in to the Chapter-House by Garter according to the usual manner Where the Garter is buckled about his Leg and the George put about his Neck of which particular Ceremony we have already spoken this being done it hath been usual for the Elect Knight to receive the further honor of passing immediately in the Proceeding to the Chappel whether it were from the Chapter-House or Presence-Chamber which he doth in his ordinary apparel always bare-headed as did the Earl of Northumberland an 11 Car. 1. and without any other Ornaments of the Order saving the foresaid Garter and George and the place allowed him in the Proceeding is between the Knights-Companions and the Officers of Arms of which there are a multitude of Presidents In this place Sir Henry Sydney rode in the Proceeding to the Chappel at Windesor an 6 Eliz. and here went the Lord Hunsdon immediately after he was elected an 3. Eliz. so also the Earl of Northumberland the 5 th of the same Queen But where two Knights have been Elected they then proceed together before the Knights-Companions the Senior being taken on the right hand as did the Earl of Arundel and Visc. Rochester an 9 Iac. Reg. and the Earl of Rutland and Sir George Villars an 14 Iac. Reg. Howbeit Charles Duke of York being elected at the same time went in the Proceeding next before the Prince his Brother then the Soveraigns Lieutenant When the Proceeding is arrived at the Choire Door the Alms-Knights Prebends and Officers of Arms the Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order enter with usual Ceremony and take their several Stations as on the Eve and lastly the Soveraign if present The Elect Knight also enters in tourn as he proceeded and is placed by Garter next before the lowest Stall or if there be two newly Elected and both proceed to the Chappel the one is placed under the lowest Stall on the Princes side the other under the lowest Stall on the Soveraigns But if any great State pass in the Proceeding he then is placed before such Stalls as is designed for him and so was Charles Duke of York an 9 Iac. Reg. to wit before the Stall next below the Princes Being thus placed they are there to stand all Service time for so did the Earl of Suffolk an 3 Car. 1. the Earl of Northampton an 4 Car. 1. and the Earl of Northumberland an 9 Car. 1. nor are they to make any more Reverences than at their coming into the Choire and passing out unless a Stool be brought in and they permitted to sit down and then are they obliged to make their Reverences upon all occasions when they either sit or rise Nevertheless by reason of the length of the Ceremonies and in case of Age or Infirmity the Knights Elect have obtained Licence from the Soveraign or his Lieutenant to sit down and be covered So for like cause the Lord Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's Reign and the Earl of Southampton an 13 Car. 2. were permitted to sit The like indulgence had the Earls of Dunbar and Penbroke an 6 Iac. from the Prince then the Soveraigns Lieutenant and also the Earl of Rutland and Sir George Villars from the Soveraign an 14 Iac. Reg. and lastly Iames Duke of York an 17 Car. 1. But though the favour of reposing at this time is allowed the Stool may not to be brought into the Choire before the Soveraign has been pleased by some publick signal to give him leave to sit down and then to be called for and not before though it ought to be in readiness in some place near and unseen SECT III. Of the Ceremonies performed at Divine Service AND now to pass on When the Soveraign hath ascended his Royal Seat The Knights-Companions in due order take their Stalls The Officers of the Order their Seats and then The Prelate with the Serjeant of the Vestry before him goes up to the Northside of the Altar and begins the Morning Service After him the Verger of the Colledge proceeds up before two Prebends who put on their Copes on the Southside of the Altar and assist in the Divine Offices But whereas the late Soveraign King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory had throughout all his Raign a Sermon preached before him on every Tuesday Morning it sometimes fell out that this latter Feast day hapned to be on a Tuesday as it did an 8. of the same Soveraign at Whitehall and then at such time as the Prelate was otherwise to proceed up to the Altar the Pulpit was brought into the Choire and placed in the middle of the lowermost Haut Pas and immediately the Sermon began which being ended it was removed and forthwith the Prelate proceeded up to the Altar as usually and began Service In this Morning Service before the Reformation of our Church was the Mass of Requiem solemnly sung by the Abbot of Tower-hill for the Souls of the Knights-Companions and all faithful Souls departed and this was taken care for by the Statutes As also that at the Celebration thereof all the Knights at the Feast should be present unless any one were hindered by some reasonable cause or in special manner Licenced by the Soveraign At this Celebration were the deceased Knights-Companions Atchievements also Offered with solemn Ceremony concerning which we shall discourse at large anon Another Ceremony belonging to the service of this Morning is the Offring of Gold and Silver which when the first Sentence of the Offertory hath been pronounced is again performed by the Soveraign or his Lieutenant and Knights-Companions present The Ceremonies and Circumstances appertaining thereunto at this time are the same throughout in all particulars as are set down to be observed at the like Offering on the Feast Day and therefore for avoiding Repetition we shall refer the Reader to the place where that is treated on before After all the before-mentioned Ceremonies in the Chappel and Divine Service are ended the Prelate descends from the Altar to his Form Whereupon all prepare to go out of the Choire which is exactly performed in the usual order as on the Eve of the Feast from whence the Soveraign and Knights-Companions most commonly proceed to the Chapter-House where being entred they immediately put off their Mantles and
the same order as they go the Gentlemen-Vshers also are to go bare-headed and the Herald if present to take place next before the Knights person 4. In his Dinner on the Feast day that it be noble and his Attendance at the Table sutable and that he dine and sup alone at all times unless there happen to be a Knight-Companion with him 5. In his Offering of money that he make it not only on the Feast day in the morning but the next morning also assoon as the first sentence of the Offertory is pronounced 6. That at Evening Prayer on the Feast day and also at the Supper following he observe all things as on the Eve 7. In wearing his Habit of the Order until after Supper on the Eve and all the Feast day until supper be ended at night 8. That on the Morrow after the Feast he proceed to the Church in his Mantle only and when Divine Service is finished then to put it off at the Church door And if any thing else in the before recited Article seem short or obscure the large account in the Preparations for the Grand Feast and course to be observed in the celebrations thereof before laid down and handled will sufficiently clear and explain without the assistance of any further Comment But here we must note that though the Statutes seem not to oblige the absent Knights-Companions to hold the Ceremonies of the Feast longer than the Evening on the Feast day yet by the practice of ensuing years they were extended to the Morrow after and consequently observed by the absent Knights so long as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions performed them at Windesor or elsewhere If the absent Knight be a person of eminent Degree he is to be attended by a Herald or Pursuivant at Arms or both during the Solemnity of the Feast to adde the greater lustre thereto Thus was Prince Arthur an 15. H. 7. attended at Hereford and the like honor was designed to the Earl of Leicester when he kept the Solemnity of the Feast in the Low Countries and had been performed but that the Herald dyed before St. George's day The nature of this Officers Employment on such an occasion will partly appear out of the Instructions given by Sir Gilbert Dethick Garter pursuant to the directions of the Statute to Henry Rees alias Berwick Pursuivant at Arms the 3. of April an 1565. which were to this effect 1. That he should see a Capital Stall provided for the Soveraign though not there with a Cloth of State and before it a Carpet and Cushen with a Scutcheon of the Soveraign's Arms impaled with those of St. George fixed thereon 2. That the Knight's Stall should be decently trimmed with a Scutcheon of his own Arms fixed at the back of it and that this Stall should be placed a good distance from the Soveraign's Stall according to the largeness of the Chappel 3. That he should go before the Knight-Companion to and from the Church both on the Even of the Feast and Feast day in his Coat of Arms using such Reverence as is meet and convenient and sit on a Form before the Soveraign's Stall 4. That on the Feast day at Dinner after the second Mess shall be served up having on his Coat of Arms he shall proclaim the said Knight's Stile in French 5. And lastly when the Knight puts off his Mantle either in the Church or where Service is said then he to put off his Coat also and return home in his ordinary Apparel with him SECT III. How to be observed in case of Sickness BUT in case of Sickness and such as hath confined the absent Knight to his Bed or would not permit him with safety to go out of his Chamber the custom was to prepare a Capital Stall for the Soveraign of the Order with a Cloth of State Carpet Cushens and a Scutcheon of the Arms of the Order impaled with the Arms of the Soveraign and his Stile underneath in the Chamber where he lay as also another Stall for himself placed according to the before mentioned directions which were there to remain during the Feast In which Room also were the Divine Offices celebrated both on the Eve the Feast day and the Morrow after And if the absent Knight were so sick that he kept his Bed then was his whole Habit of the Order laid thereon during the time the rest of the Knights-Companions are enjoined to wear theirs according to the ancient Custom and Statutes and upon this account Ambrose Earl of Warwick falling ill at Greenwich when St. George's day was there celebrated an 30. Eliz. retired to his Chamber and there sat in his Robes SECT IV. In what manner the Feast hath been observed by absent Knights IN relation to the Celebrations performed by absent Knights the Black Book gives us a punctual account in a considerable Precedent namely of the Feast of St. George holden in the Palace of Hereford by Prince Arthur an 15. H. 7. he being then in the Government of his Principality of Wales and had with him Sir Richard Pool one of the Companions of the Order then his Highness Chamberlain this worthy Knight took care that all those things which the Solemnity of the Feast required and the Soveraign and Knights-Companions did observe according to the form of the Statutes and accustomed manner should be most exactly performed and indeed there was nothing intermited in the Mass in the first and second Vespers which solemn custom required should be done in Censing Fuming Proceeding and Offering aswell the Prince as the said Sir Richard but it was undertook and performed with much exactness Besides the Princes Sword was born and held before his Stall and his Herald performed his Service with all â—â—â—â—gence also the Soveraigns Herald stood all the while before the Soveraigns Stall which was adorned with accustomed Ornaments and lastly the Bishop who celebrated Divine Service had his Seat erected near to the high Altar But the publick memorials of Sir Henry Sydneys holding two several Feasts of St. George the one at Shrewsbury and the other at Ludlow is worthy of a place here since these two Corporations have caused them to be conspicuously recorded in their Town Hall and from whence I made Transcripts when I accompanied William Dugdale Esq Norroy King of Arms in his Visitation of Shropshire An. Dom. 1663. That at Shrewsbury being written in large Letters upon a pain of Wainscot over the Chimney in the Chamber of Concord in the Town-Hall is as followeth Be it remembred that in the Year of our Lord 1581. and in the 23d Year of the Reign of our most dread Soveraign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Feast of the most noble Order of the Garter was right honourably kept in the good and right renowned Town of Salop by the Right Honourable Sir Henry Sidney then Lord President of the Council established in the Principallity of Wales and Marches of
the same one of the Companions of the same Order the Arms of the Soveraign and others Kings Princes and Nobles then Installed in the said Noble Order were fixed in the Church of the same Town during the Service and Ceremonies belonging to the same Order Be it further remembred that at that time then was Elected but not Installed these Princes following Rudolphus the 2d of that name Emperor of the Romans King of Hungary and Bohemia Arch-Duke of Austria Henry the 3 d. French King Christian King of Denmark and the most Noble Prince John Casimire Duke of Bavaria and Palatine of the Rhien then being Bailiffs William Jones and William Hering who together with the Chieftains of the several Companies of that good Town did in most decent sort attend upon the said Lord President during the said Feast together with the Aldermen and Bailiffs Peers in their Scarlet Robes and other Chieftains In the Gallery of the New-House at Ludlow are yet remaining the several Scutcheons of those Knights-Companions which were set up in the Chancel of St. Lawrence Church in Ludlow in the 24. Year of Queen Elizabeth when the Feast of St. George was solemnized there before which the following memorial is also fairly written Be it remembred that in the Year of our Lord God and in the 24 th Year of the Reign of the most Excellent and Famous Princess Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England France and Ireland The Feast of the most antient and most Noble Order of the Garter was honourably kept in the Town of Ludlow at the usual days for keeping of the said Feast by the Right Honourable Sir Henry Sydney Knight Lord President of the Council established in the Principallity of Wales and Marches of the same and one of the Companions of the same Order The Arms of the Soveraign and all the Princes and Nobles being Companions of the same Noble Order and Enstalled were fixed in the Church of the said Town and there remained during the Ceremonies And be it further remembered that before the same Feast there were Elected and not Enstalled these Princes whose names follow Rudolphus the Second Emperour of the Romans King of Hungaria and Bohemia Arch-Duke of Austria Henry the Third the French King Christian King of Denmark and the most Noble Prince John Casimire Duke of Bavaria and Palatine of the Rhien manifestly fixed in the Church then Bailiffs in their own persons did honour the Feast with their attendance Moreover the Town of Ludlow to shew their due respects to Sir Henry Sidney and readiness to contribute to the Triumphs of this Solemnity met and drew up the following Order which we found entred in the Town Register 10 th day of March 1581. an 24 Eliz. IT is agreed upon by this Assembly that Mr. Bayliffs shall call before them the six persons undernamed of their Brethren as soon as conveniently may and they all to confer and lay down a place how my Lord President shall be gratified by the Town towards the keeping of St. George's Feast if it be kept here and the said Bayliffs and their Associates have Commission upon their meeting to call afore them at convenient time two out of every Occupation in the Town and confer with them how the charges may be levied and the same two to be of this Company or other of the best sort of every occupation Thomas Blashfield Richard Farr Thomas Cauland William Poughnell Richard Rascoll Thomas Langford Richard Bayly In pursuance of which we also found there was delivered out of the Treasury to Mr. Bayliffs the very same day 10 l. and the 18 of April fol. 10 l. 19 s. 2 d. more towards defraying the charges of such Preparations as the said Town made upon that solemn occasion As to the manner used at the observation of the Feast by a Knight beyond Sea we have an instance in Robert Earl of Leicester Lieutenant for Queen Elizabeth Governour and Captain General of the United Provinces who kept the Celebration of St. Georges Feast in the Netherlands An. Dom. 1586. of which we have met with these broken Memorials He had a Scutcheon of the Order impailed with the Soveraigns Arms fixt to the front of his House so also upon the back of her Stall in the Church and his own Arms at the back of his Stall He Proceeded on Horseback to the Church William Seager then Portcullis Pursuivant at Arms by his appointment riding before him wearing a King of Arms Coat which Iohn Cocke Lancaster Herald both of them imployed to attend the said Earl had brought over thither for that days service but it seems he dyed a little before St. Georges Day After Sermon Portcullis proceeded before him to the Offering which the Earl made for the Soveraign and returned and stood a little while before the Soveraign's Stall and then Offered for himself which done he returned by the lower end of the Desk to his own Stall with his due obeysances Service being ended he returned to his own Lodgings and there dined At the second Course Portcullis went up before it between the Gentleman Usher and proclaimed only the Soveraign's Stile and retired during which Proclamation the Earl sitting at a Table alone on the left hand of the State and divers eminent persons who sat at a side Table stood up and were bare The Soveraign's Trencher was laid under the State and the whole Service performed to that with due Reverence by divers of her Servants there present and the Earl took his meat therefrom as by the by Lastly a learned Scotch Historian takes notice that King Iames the Fifth having been honored not only with the Order of the Garter by King Henry the Eighth but next with that other Order of the Golden Fleece by the Emperor Charles the Fifth and not long after of St. Michael by the French King Francis the First kept the several Feasts of the Patrons of those Orders with great Solemnity an 1534. And to signifie to the several Soveraign's as also to proclaim to the world the great account he made of those Honors he not only adorned himself on those solemn Festivals with the Ensigns of each Order but fixed on the Gates of his Palace at Lithgoe his Royal Arms encompassed with the Collars of each of them together with that of St. Andrew Patron of the Kingdom of Scotland SECT V. Dispensation for Absence granted during life SOmetimes upon special favour of the Soveraign and where Age or Infirmity of any of the Knights-Companions hath been made known to him by Petition they have obtained Letters of Dispensation for absence not only from the Feast approaching of which we have before discoursed but also during life Such indulgence was granted to the Lord Dacres an 26. H. 8. and to the Earl of Derby an 14. Car. I. both which Precedents we have thought fit to insert in the Appendix The like with that to
Mantlets which Garter assisted by the Officers of Arms spurned out of the West-Door of the Chappel into the Castle Ditch But in the case of Robert Earl of Essex 25 of May an 43 Eliz. his Atchievements were only thrown down and those of Henry Lord Cobham 12 Febr. an 1 Iac. Reg. only spurned out of the Church Door but by the Kings Clemency not into the Ditch But Degradation was not alone thought sufficient and therefore an 32 H. 8. it was considered in Chapter what course should â—e taken with the Names of such of the Order as were convicted of High Treason and whether they should remain in the Registers or be razed out for it seemed just that Traitors who had deserved to have their Atchievements disgracefully thrown down should also have their Actions and Names extinguished and the Books wherein they were entred to be esteemed as polluted This being debated before the Soveraign He keeping a mean between both extreams determined That wheresoever the Actions and Names of such Offenders should be found these words vah Proditor should be written in the Margent by which means the Registers would be preserved fair and not defaced with razures and blots SECT III. Of Restauration into the Order after Degradation SOme of the Knights-Companions who have injuriously suffred Deprivation of the Ensigns and Degradation from the Order have lived to enjoy the Honor of Restauration and both re-elected and re-invested and their Atchievements again set up as were the Lord Pagits an 1 Mar. and the Marquess of Northampton's an 1 Eliz. whose Cases we have before Reported Another Instance there is of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk who being Degraded by King Edward the Sixth was upon Queen Maries's coming to the Crown restored into this Noble Fellowship as will fully appear by the Order for his Restauration which was this By the Queen Trusty and wellbeloved we greet you well And whereas our Right Trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin and Councellour the Duke of Norfolk for the good and valiant service by him of long time done to the King our Father of most famous memory King Henry the Eight as well here within the Realm as abroad with Foreign Princes both in Peace and in War and in respect of other his good qualities and vertues was by our said Father elected into the Company of the most Honourable Order of the Garter and duly invested in the same from which nevertheless afterward in the time of our late Brother King Edward the Sixth whom God assoil the said Duke was by our said late Brother and other the Companions of our said Order of the Garter through wrong information and accusation cleerly expelled and removed and his Hatchments to his no small slaunder and dishonour openly cast down and taken from the Stall appointed for him in our Chappel at Windesor We let you wet that we minding to do Iustice to all men have sythence our coming to the Government of the Realm called a Chapter for the redress of the Injuries aforesaid and such like and at the same holden at our Mannor of St. James the 27. day of Sept. last by the advice and consent of the Companions of our said Order have restored the said Duke of Norfolk to his former room and place among other the Companions of our said Order as one that was injuriously put from the same wherefore like as we have willed him to use and wear the Garter Collar George Robes and other the Apparel of our said Order in such sort as he was wont to do before his said wrongful deprivation So have we also thought good to will and require both you the Register of our said Order to cancel and utterly to put out of your Register all Writings Records or other mynyments making mention of the said deviation And you also Garter King of Arms for our said Order to see his Hatchments honourably set up in the place appointed for them and his Banner to be of such Arms as his Father bare and had set up aforetime being late Knight of the said Order there to remain and continue among the Hatchments of other our Companions of our said Order according to the ancient Ordinances and landable usages heretofore accustomed at the seting up whereof our Pleasure is these our Letters shall be openly read for a more plain Declaration of our pleasure in the premises And these our Letters shall be to you and either of you for the doing of the premises and every part thereof a sufficient Warrant and discharge Given under our Signet of our said Order at our Palace of Westminster the 7. of March the first year of our Reign To our Trusty and Well-beloved the Dean of our Chappel at Windesor Register of our Order of the Garter and Sir Gilbert Dethick alias Garter Knight King at Arms for our said Order and to either of them CHAP. XXV Honors PAID TO DECEASED Knights-Companions SECT I. Of the celebration heretofore of Masses for the defunct Knights-Companions WE observe it to have been the Custom in all Religious and most Military Orders that when any of the Knights departed this life the several Members of them should contribute their devotions for the benefit of their departed Souls according to their different qualifications some in celebrating Mâ—sses or causing them to be celebrated and others in the recitation of Divine Offices and Alms-giving as it were to satisfie the World of the honor they had from their being enrolled in their several Fraternities and Societies But the Order of the Garter hath outvy'd all others in this particular for as the reputation which the Knights-Companions while living derived from their admission into so renowned and illustrious a Body specially Knights-Subjects who were thereby advanced to a Fellowship with their King and Supreme Lord and made Companions to Emperors Kings and Princes was very great so were the several Honors paid to their memory after their decease particularly in the Royal Chappel of St. George at Windesor very remarkable not including the Solemnities at their publick Funerals many times hapning elsewhere and these we find reducible to five heads 1. The number of Masses celebrated for their Souls departed 2. The fastning Plates of their Arms at the back of their Stalls 3. Offering up their Atchievements at the Altar and 4. Depositing Mantles in the Chapter-house at Windesor As to the celebrating of Masses for the deceased Knights-Companions though it might suffice to say that it was done consonantly to the perswasion of those times yet we shall not think it much to give the reasons thereof as we find them laid down in the Preface to the Black-Book of the Order in direct relation to this solemn Ceremony performed for them It was the general opinion then That Monasteries Convents and Colledges were founded out of this motive that among devout charitable and well disposed Christians there should be a continual harmony of Prayer as well for the
ever pious memory having taken notice of and desirous to put a stop to a mischief not in his power to prevent as also to preserve the remembrance of the precedent Knights-Companions commanded the Dean of Windesor to describe the Stiles of those that remained in a Book which he accordingly did and laid it up in the Colledge But what became of this Book our most diligent enquiry could never find out So that in May An. Dom. 1659. by the civil permission of Colonel Whichcott then Governour of Windesor Castle all we could do was to draw the Arms and coppy out the Stiles engraven on the Plates then remaining whilst Mr. Wineslaus Holler was imployed by us to take several Prospects of the Castle and Chappel from which we have drawn these following observations First That for many years after the Institution of the Order the Plate whereon the Shield was engraved bore no other Inscription but the deceased Knights name set at the foot thereof under the Scutcheon of his Arms. Afterwards his Chief Title of Honour began to be added though now and then in these first and elder times both were omitted as also their Crests But about the beginning of King Henry the Eighth's Reign not only the Knights chief Title but all other his Titles of Dignity whether Honorary or Officiary and every thing in that kind due were drawn together in one Inscription concluding with that of Knight of this most Noble Order and which about the same time the Knights-Companions used to insert into both publick and private Instruments of writing wherein any of them were concerned a custom observed by the Knights of other Soveraign Orders abroad For in an Instrument dated at Bulloign the 20 th of Febr. an 1549. by the Noblemen and others that were appointed to treat of a Peace between King Edward the Sixth and the French King Henry the Second we find that such of them as were Knights of the Orders of either Kingdom had the additions of their Orders as also the Register of the Order of St. Michael that title of his Office joyned to their other Titles in this manner Iohn Earl of Bedford Knights of the Order William Pagit Knight also of the Order Francis de Mountmorency Seignior de Rochepot Knight of the Order of France Gaspard de Colligny Seignior de Chastillon Knight also of the Order Guilliame Rochetell Seignior de Sassy one also of the French Kings Council chief Secretary and Register of the Order At first the Knights-Companions gave their Paternal Coats of Arms singly and without any Quarterings but towards the beginning of King Henry the Fifths Reign they began to add their Quarterings as may appear from the Scutcheons of Hugh Lord Burnell who died an 9 H. 5. Sir Lewis Robessart Lord Bourchier Robert Lord Willoughby and others Yet was not the same generally used but left to the pleasure of the Knights-Companions But of latter times this very thing was thought of such concernment and honour that where a Knight hath been elected who wanted Quarterings the Soveraign hath been pleased to grant him another Coat of Arms to quarter with his Paternal Coat lest otherwise his Banner which ought to hang over his Stall should seem too naked as in the Case of Robert Viscount Rochester and Thomas Earl of Kelley in the Reign of King Iames. Shortly after the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the Knights compassed their Shields with the Royal Garter and thereon if Noblemen placed the Coronet belonging to their Dignity continuing the use ever since Thus adorned do we find the Scutcheon of Charles Duke of Burgundy elected in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth and yet we do not observe it used in all the Reign of King Henry the Seventh For though a Plate for Franke van Hall a Knight elected by the Founder is hitherto standing in his Stall at Windesor surrounded with a Garter yet is not this Plate the workmanship of that Age but engraved and set up of late times as may easily be observed from the work it self As touching Supporters t is true we observe two Plates to which Supporters are added the one of Iohn Beaufort the first Duke of Somerset of that name elected an 20 H. 6. the other of Anthony Woodvill Earl Rivers elected an 5. E. 4. and besides these until the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there is not one other example But then it grew into a common usage as also the ingraving their peculiar Mottoes or Devises upon the Plates SECT III. The Offering of Atchievements A Third honour done to the defunct Knight is a most solemn Offering up of his Atchievements at the High Altar according to the magnificence of so great an Order namely the Banner of his Arms his Sword his Helmet and Crest with its Mantlings all which had been set up over his Stall when he was Installed The Ceremony of Offering these Ensigns does not appear to have been so Ordained at the Institution of the Order but rather an additional honor instituted by King Henry the Fifth and the manner and order thereof set down in the 14 th Article of his body of Statutes This solemn Ceremony is local to the Chappel of St. George within the Castle of Windesor and not to be celebrated until certain notice be given to the Soveraign of the Knights-Companions Death or that he shall receive a Certificate thereof This appears in the case of the Duke of Ferrara where at the Feast of St. George an 20 H. 7. the vulgar report run for currant that he was dead nevertheless because the Soveraign had not then received any Certificate of the same his Atchievements were not Offered up at that Feast There fell out a question at the Feast of St. George held at Windesor the 23 d. of May an 1 E. 6. which held some debate viz. whether the Atchievements of King Henry the Eighth which yet hung over the Soveraigns Stall should be taken down and Offered at the Mass of Requiem ensuing or not in regard his Banner Sword Helm and Crest with Mantles had been offered up thâ— 16 th of Febr. before at his Interment within that Chappel whereupon it was determined That the said Atchievements should not again be Offered but remain over the Soveraigns Stall for his Son King Edward the Sixth The Relator for justifying the legality of this determination saith there was found a like Precedent in the case of King Henry the Sixth who lyeth buried in that Chappel but we suppose him mistaken and that instance being in truth much different from that of King Henry the Eighth not well considered by him For the case was this When King Edward the Fourth came to the Crown he thought it unfit that the Atchievements of King Henry the Sixth who could not be accounted Soveraign of this most Noble Order because no longer King of England should be continued over his Stall They therefore by the express
course two and two perform the rest in manner before described but the Pursuivants at Arms do no part of this duty only the Provincial Kings and Heralds each in their turns and by couples When there are the Atchievements of several Knights to be offered and that the junior Heralds have done their duty the Provincial Kings begin again and so continue the course till all the Atchievements be offered the Organs playing while the Offering lasteth In the before mentioned order were the Atchievements of the Duke of Espernon and Prince Edward offered at the Grand Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor an 15. Car. 2. and the Provincial Kings and Heralds as their turns came to officiate took each of the Atchievements and presented them to the Knights-Companions The Duke of Espernon's Banner was offered by the Duke of York and Prince Rupert being conducted to the Altar by Clarenceux and Norroy His Sword by the Dukes of Buckingham and Albemarle attended by York and Lancaster And his Healm and Crest by the Earl of Oxford and Duke of Richmond brought up by Windesor and Richmond Prince Edwâ—rd's Banner Sword and Helm were likewise severally offered by the very same Knights who offered the Duke of Espernons Atchievements each pair being conducted to the Altar by the foresaid Officers of Arms. Heretofore we find that Garter hath not only begun this Solemnity and presented the Banner to the first pair of Knights-Companions but also conducted them up to the Offering for so was the Banner of the Lord Grey delivered by Garter to the Lord Loughborow and Viscount Mountague an 5. Eliz. and by him were they brought up to the Altar He also performed the like service to the Earl of Penbroke and Lord Clinton when they offered the Banner of the Earl of Westmerland the following year and to the Lord Admirâ—l and Earl of Ormond an 34. Eliz. at the Offering of the Banner of Iohn Count Palatine of the Rhyne And at the Solemnity celebrated for the Earl of Derby to the Lord Howard of Effingham and Lord Chandos an 16. Eliz. Garter himself and no other Officer of Arms conducted the Knights-Companions to the Altar the like did he an 30. Eliz. at the Offering of the Hatchments of the Duke of Holstien Earl of Bedford Sir Henry Sidney and the Earl of Rutland It was also the usage heretofore for the Prelate to deliver the offered Atchievements to some of the Heralds before appointed to receive them which they immediately deposited upon and sometimes near the Altar In this manner Clarenceux and Norroy an 5 Eliz. who stood on either side the Prebend received the Lord Greys Atchievements and placed them near the Altar Clarenceux and Somerset received likewise the Atchievements of the Earls of Westmerland Rutland and the Lord Pagit from the hands of the Prelate and laid them on a Form set beside the Altar for that purpose And an 34 Eliz. Norroy and Windesor assisted to receive all the Atchievements of Iohn Count Palatine of the Rhine the Earls of Shrewsbury and Warwick and Sir Christopher Hatton which they deposited upon the Altar But the present Soveraign an 15 Car. 2. gave command that the Atchievements should then and after be laid below before the Altar judging it indecent to place them where the sacred Mysteries of the Body and Blood of our Saviour are with great reverence Consecrated He also commanded at the Feast held an 23 Car. 2. that when the Ceremonies of Offring were ended the Atchievements should be disposed part on the South and other part on the North-side of the Altar till Service was finished Besides these things already noted there is nothing further observable but what relates to the Atchievements themselves as they are become by this Ceremony of Offering them in so solemn a manner parcel of the goods of the Chappel and included within the words of the Statutes of the Colledge whereby the Soveraign granted to the Dean and Canons all Oblations concerning which we have already spoken when we treated of the Offering of Gold and Silver Hereupon because they could not be alienated or sold they were commonly deposited by the Dean and Canons in the Chapter-house and there an 8 R. 2. upon the taking of an Inventory of all the Vestments Ornaments c. of the Chappel we find among them three Swords one of the Founder's King Edward the Third another of the Earl of Suffolke's and the third of Sir Thomas Banister's as also six Helms We also find more afterwards added viz. the Swords of King Richard the Second of King Henry the Fourth when he was Earl of Derby of Iohn a Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Salisbury But the Helms and Swords because they were at first forged for this very purpose of an extraordinary greatness and size therefore have they been commonly redeemed that they might serve again afterwards And because it belongs to Garter to provide the Atchievements for the new installed Knights he usually hath compounded with the Dean and Canons for the defunct Knights-Atchievements To which purpose among other compositions there was an Agreement drawn up in writing dated the 20 th of May 1606. between William Segar Garter and Giles Thompson then Dean of Windsor William Wilson Erasmus Webb and Henry Beaumont three of the then Canons to this effect That Garter should pay to them or their Successors when it should happen for the Helmets Crests Swords Mantles and Banners of the deceased Knights the sums following viz. for those of all Batchellor-Knights Barons Earls and Dukes the sum of twenty Shillings but of Kings and absolute Princes being imbroidered the sum of three pounds We shall conclude this Section with another kind of Offering ordained also to be made in honor of the deceased Knights-Companions and Registered in King Henry the Eighth's Body of Statutes which as it begun not many years before our Reformation in Religion so was it of no long continuance but then took ending the words of the Statute are these That if any Knight-Companion shall decease the year before the Celebration of St. George's Feast then every Knight being in the Castle of Windesor at the Mass of Requiem shall offer a Taper armed with a little Escutcheon of the Arms of the Knight deceased and if there be more than one deceased that there be made for every of them an Escutcheon of Arms and a Groat set night to the light of the Taper which Escutcheon and Taper shall be made at the cost and charges of the Knights of the said Order SECT IV. Of depositing the deceased Knights Mantles in the Chapter-house THere past a Decree an 9 Eliz. That the Knights-Companions should be bound by their Oath to take care by their last Will that after their decease all their Ornaments which they had received should be restored the Robes to the Colledge the Jewells to the King that gave them Hereupon
risen between them or was like to arise After this another Commission issued containing the same powers to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby Thomas de Beauchampe Earl of Warwick Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolke Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgon Ralph de Nevill Bartholomew de Burghersh Iohn le Grey de Ruffyn Reginald de Cobham and Thomas de Brodiston Barons William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Iohn de Offord Archdeacon of Ely Robert Herward Archdeacon of Taunton and Andrew de Offord Professor of the Civil Law or to any 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 or 3. of them But this Treaty had only the effect of continuing the Truce yet that so ill kept on the French side that the following year it occasioned a solemn complaint sent from the King to the Pope by Iohn Offord Dean of Lincoln Hugh de Nevill and Nicholas de Flisco to require reformation and security for the observance of the said Truce until the time it was to end and in case that were not done then they to surrender it into the Popes hands and defy Philip de Valois as the Kings Enemy It seems the desires of the King met with a dilatory answer for the 20 of October following William Bishop of Norwich Iohn de Offord Dean and Iohn Thoresby Canon of Lincoln Sir Hugh Nevil and Sir Ralph Spigurnell Knights and Nicholas de Flisco were commissionated to declare before the Pope in what particulars the Truce had been broken and to demand reparations but after all this no satisfaction being given to the King and the Truce manifestly and notoriously violated the King gave Commission to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton to defy Philip de Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his inheritance in France and his Capital Enemy And shortly after he set forth a Manifesto touching the dissolution of the Truce wherein the causes were declared at large being the same with the Letters sent from him to the Pope and four Cardinals the 26. of May preceeding This being done the King with all diligence provides an Army to enter France the following year and the 5. of Iuly in the 20. year of his Reign took Shipping at Southampton but instead of sailing towards Goscoigne whether he at first intended upon the advice of Sir Geoffry de Harecourt he diverted his course and made towards Normandy and landed at Hoges Saynt Wast in the Isle of Constantine not far from St. Saviours le Vycount the 12. of Iuly after Upon his arrival he ordered his Army in three Battels the one marched on his right hand along the Sea-side the second on his left both which exceedingly inriched themselves with the spoils of the Country and himself with the third in the middle This Battel consisted of 3000. men at Arms 6000. Archers and 10000. Common Souldiers The first Town he took was St. Lo in Constantine rich in Drapery and next Caen the plunder of it and other places consisting of Cloth Vessels of Silver and Gold Jewels and more than 60. Knights and 300. Burgesses made Prisoners were sent to the Ships and transported into England After this the King marched on wasting and burning the Country and entred Lisieux the Chief City of Normandy for Wealth and Merchandize and plundered it And hence he gave Letters of Protection and safe conduct to the Cardinals of Tusculan and St. Iohn and St. Paul sent from the Pope to mediate a Peace From thence he marched into the Country of Eureux and spoiled it and leaving Roan he passed to Gaillon and burnt it with Vernon Pont de Lache and all the Country thereabouts and went over the River Seyne to Poissy Hence having thus overrun and wasted Britagne and Normandy the English Marshalls rode towards Paris and burnt St. Germain en Laye Mountjoy St. Clou Pety Bolayne neer Paris and the Bourg la Reyne which caused the French King to retire to St. Denys Sir Godfrey de Harecourt encountred a considerable party of the Burgesses of Amiens going to the assistance of the French King of whom he kill'd 1200 and defeated the rest and took their Carriages and Baggage About this time the French King had sent notice to King Edward that he would give him Battel the Thursday Saturday Sunday or Monday after betwixt St. Germains de Preez and Valgirart de là Paris or between Franconville and Ponthoise in answer to which from Antes 15. Aug. the King sent him word that he was come thither to put an end to the War by Battel but that the said French King had broken down all the Bridges so that they could not come at each other That he had come to Poissy and repaired that Bridge and there stayed three days expecting him and that the French Forces might have come on either on the one side or the other at his pleasure But forasmuch as they did not he could not then give him Battel and therefore now resolved to pass further into the Kingdom and there stay till he had ended the War or advantaged himself and disabled his Adversaries Nevertheless if he would combat him to save those which he challenged for his Subjects upon notice of the Hour he should find him ready for the Encounter and this he principally desired for the benefit of Christianity since he had refused to accept of or propose any reasonable way for effecting Peace This answer was not liked by the French King therefore the King having stayed at Poissy and there kept the Feast of our Lady in August marched thence into the Country of Beauvosyn burning and destroying all before him One night having lodged in an Abbey and next morning after his departure looking behind him he saw it on fire but he hanged 20 of his Souldiers that had done the mischief because at his first entrance into France he had caused Proclamation to be made throughout his Army that no man upon pain of death should violate a Church or burn a Religious House As he passed by Beauvois he fired the Suburbs and went thence to Granvillers He also took and fired the Castle of Anger 's and the Town of Pork and the two Castles and drawing neer to Abbeville he endeavoured to pass the River of Somme but sounding several places found no Ford at length one Gobyn a Grace a Prisoner brought him to Blanch-taque This Ford was guarded on the other side by 12000 men commanded by Sir Godmar du Foy here the King forced his passage and defeated Sir Godmar and after he had passed his whole Army over he marched to Crescy in Ponthieu where he formed his Army into three Battels the first of which was led by the Prince of Wales accompanied with divers of the English Nobility the second by the Earl of Northampton and the third by the King himself And here before the Battels joined he created 50 Knights
Homage of the Dutchy of Britagne and Earldom and Country of Flanders and all other demands that King Edward made or might make to the King of France for what cause soever except such things as by the said Treaty ought to be delivered to him and his Heirs It was also agreed that the King of France should be brought to Calais within three weeks after Midsummer following and should pay for his Ransom three Millions of Escuts of Gold two of which should be worth one Noble English And that there should be paid to King Edward 600000 Escuts of Gold within four Months accounting from the time of the King of France's arrival at Calais and within one year ensuing 400000 Escuts more and from that year every year following 400000 Escuts till the said three Millions were paid And it after appears in the same Roll that King Edward had received 400000 Escuts part of the first 600000 the 24. of October 1360. and for payment of the other 200000 he gave time till Christmas and Lady-day following Furthermore that certain of the Nobility of France aswel of those who were made Prisoners at Poictiers as others should remain Hostages in England for the King of France namely Lewis Earl of Anjou Iohn Earl of Poictiers both Sons to King Iohn the Duke of Orliens his Brother the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Bloys or his Brother the Earl of Alanson or the Lord Peter of Alanson his Brother the Earls of St. Pol Harecourt Pontieu Valentynois Brene Vandemont and Forest the Viscount Beaumont the Lords of Cousy Fienles Preaux St. Venaunt and Garenciers the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lords of Hangest and Montmorency Sir William of Craon Sir Lewis of Harecourt and Sir Iohn Ligny And the Names of the Prisoners were these Lord Philip of France the Earls of Eu Longuevil Pontieu Tankarvile Ieigny Sanceurre Dampmartin Ventadour Salebruche D'auceurre and Vendosme the Lords of Craon and Deruale the Marshal Dodenham and the Lord Daubyny Besides these the King of France was obliged to deliver at Calais within three Months after he departed thence in further pledge for the accomplishment of this Treaty four Persons of Paris two of each of the Towns here named to wit St. Omer Aras Amyens Beauves Lisle Douay Tournay Reyms Chaalons Troies Chartres Thoulouse Lyons Orliens Compeigne Rouen Caen Tours and Bourges and these to be of the most sufficient and best Burgesses of these Towns It was moreover agreed That the King of France and his Heirs Kings of France should quit the Alliances they had with the Scots and never give to that King Kingdom or Subjects present or to come any aid or assistance against the King of England his Heirs or Successors his Realm or Subjects nor make any alliance with the Scots in time to come against the King and Realm of England And the like Article was agreed to by the King of England in reference to his Alliance with the Flemmings There were divers other particulars agreed to on the behalf of both Kings and set down in this Treaty of Peace which we designing brevity do omit but these are the main and principal to our present purpose All things thus finished King Edward immediately left France and landed at Rye the 18. of May following in the Evening and thence the next day came to Westminster And shortly a Writ issued to Sir Iohn Beauchamp then Constable of Dover forthwith to arrest and fit up a sufficient number of Ships to carry over King Iohn and his Family to Calais within the time agreed on and whither he was conducted the 8. of Iuly after The 9. of October King Edward followed where the foresaid Treaty with some few alterations was there ratified and confirmed by Oath of both Kings and several Instruments relating to the full accomplishment of the several Articles thereof were drawn up and sealed with the Great Seals of both Kings all bearing date at Calais the 24. day of October an Dom. 1360. Here also were the Renunciations on either side both absolute and conditional to all the Towns Castles Countries c. to the Resort and Soveraignty c. comprehended in the Articles of Peace drawn up sworn to and sealed at the same time but not exchanged because the King of France was as yet in Calais and Prisoner to King Edward and the Towns c. not as yet delivered But it was then nevertheless agreed and promised that they should be surrendred to the special Deputies on both sides by Midsummer following if it might be and the Renunciations sent at the Assumption of our Lady next ensuing to the Church of the Augustine Fryars at Bruges to be delivered to those Deputed to receive them Or if they were not surrendred till Alhollantide after then the Renunciations were to be delivered in the said Church on St. Andrews day following at which time and place both Kings engaged to send thither and cause to be delivered to the Deputies on both sides theirs and their eldest Sons Renunciations likewise but if they were not accordingly mutually delivered then not any thing agreed on was to take effect But it seems things were not made ready against Midsummer the first of the appointed times for compleating these matters for the 15. of November following King Edward constituted Sir Thomas Vnedale Knight and Thomas de Dunclent Licenciate in the Laws his Agents whom he sent to Bruges with power to make request to the King of France for the effectual accomplishment of all things concluded on as aforesaid and to require that He and his Son should make the Renunciations and Transports according to all the foresaid Agreements made at Calais and upon reception of which he was thereby enabled to give Acquittance in King Edwards name But there was another Instrument dated at Calais the said 24. of Oct. 1360. whereby King Edward was obliged to deliver up to the French King on this side Candlemas an 35. E. 3. the Castles and Fortresses which he held in other parts of France than in those surrendred to him by the French King viz. as they are written in the Record In Champaigne and in Brie Bursant and Ioinville upon the Marn Bourt in Champaigne Ochie Sye upon the Seine the Mote de Triesreine Brugelemens and all other Fortresses taken in these Countries In Nivernois Cornallour Gueillons Anlesy Villers and Mont Epny In Anceurrois and Burgoigne Regennes Legny Malecorne and the Mote de Chauloye In Aurelenoys and Gastinoys The New Castle upon Loire and Mereau au Boys and all other Fortresses in Orlenois in Gastinois in Messien in Beause and in Wenguesin le Francois Within a month following the County of Ponthieu was to be surrendred to King Edward or else Hostages King Edward was also to deliver up the New Castle in Tynerois Beaumont le Choistif Nogent le Rotron and the Ferte de Ville Nevill and all other Fortresses in France and in the Country of Perche and
Lancaster in Chief Command behind him to whom they did fealty and Homage in the Princes presence and kist his mouth The Affairs of these Countries being thus Ordered the Prince and Princess their young Son Richard the Earls of Cambridge and Penbroke took Shipping for England and arrived at Plimouth about the beginning of Ianuary whence they rode to the King at Windesor where after some stay he took his leave and retired to his own House and about two years after surrendred the Dignity of Prince of Guynne and his whole right therein to his Father King Edward While he was yet in Minority there were several matches designed for him as first being but a year old a Commission was given to Iohn Darcy and William Trussell Knights to treat and agree with Philip King of France or his Deputies upon espousals and Matrimony between this young Prince and King Philips Daughter but the quarrel breaking out afterwards with that King there was no further progress made in his Affair The next proposal was for Margaret one of the Daughters of Iohn Duke of Brabant and Lorraine to which purpose a Commission was made out to Henry Bishop of Lincoln and William de Bohun Earl of Northampton to treaâ— with the said Duke or his Deputies upon this matter and for which in regard they were both within the third Degree of Consanguinity the Popes Dispensations was several times endeavoured to be obtained by Letters sent from the King but he could not be induced to do any thing therein Another match was proposed with a Daughter of the King of Portugal and thereupon the King Commissionated Mr. Andrew Offord Richard de Soham and Philip de Barton to treat of a Marriage not only between the Prince but any other of his Sons and any one of the Daughters of the said King That also taking no effect there was another Commission issued to Robert de Stratton Canon of Chichester and Richard de Soham to treat with the said King concerning a marriage between the Prince and his Daughter Leonora But none of these which were of others providing took effect but at length an 35. E. 3. he married with a Lady of his own choice namely Ioan Countels of Kent Sister and Heir to Iohn Plantagenet Earl of Kent and the Relict of Sir Thomas Holland one of the first Founders of this most Noble Order commonly called for her Excellent Beauty the fair Maid of Kent And because the Prince had married her notwithstanding nearness of Kindred between them and of his Christning her eldest Son it was thought requisite to have a Papal Absolution from Excommunication and Dispensation for Marriage both which were obtained from Pope Innocent the Sixth in the 9. year of his Popedom By her he had two Sons namely Edward the Eldest born at Angoulesme in Feb. 1365. Leland saith 1364. who dyed in Gascoigne at 7. years of Age and Richard the second Son born at Bordeaux on Twelfth-Day being Wednesday at three a Clock in the Afternoon 1366. and had three Kings to his Godfathers viz. of Spain Navarre and Portugal Besides these he had two Natural Sons Iohn Sounder and Sir Roger de Clarendon to the latter of these he gave by his Will a Silk Bed with all thereunto belonging This Roger was after made one of the Knights of the Chamber to King Richard the Second to whom the said King the first of October 13. R. 2. gave for life 100 l. per annum out of the Issues of his Subsidies in the Counties of Bristol Gloucester Somerset Dorset and Cornwall His Disease contracted in Spain grown now uncurable and he drawing near to his end made his Will in the Kings great Chamber at Westminster the 7. of Iune an 50. E. 3. and disposed of his Body to be buried in the Cathedral Church of the Trinity in Canterbury And such was his care of those who had done him service that he charged his Son Richard by his Will to continue the payment of those Pensions which he had given them The Executors nominated therein were his Brother of Spain the Duke of Lancaster William Bishop of Winchester Iohn Bishop of Bath William Bishop of St. Asaph Robert de Walsham his Confessor Hugh de Segrave Steward of his Lands Aleyn de Stokes and Iohn de Fordham The next day after his Will was made being Trinity Sunday this Noble Prince the Flower of Chevalry and delight of the English Nation departed the World his body being imbalmed was wrapt in Lead and kept till Michaelmas the Parliament being then to meet to be interred with greater Solemnity which was performed at Canterbury near the Shrine of Thomas Becket over whose Grave a stately Monument was erected for him which yet remains undefaced 3 Henry Earl of Lancaster THE second Stall on the Soveraign's side was assigned to Henry then Earl of Lancaster and Derby Son to Henry Earl of Lancaster Brother and Heir of Thomas Earl of Lancaster Beheaded at Pontefract on Monday before our Lady-Day an 15. E. 2. and Maude Daughter and Heir to Sir Patrick Cadurces or Chaworth Knight Lord of Kidwelly and Ogmore in Wales The first considerable Military Honor conferred on him was that of Commander in Chief of all the King's Forces sent into Scotland an 10. E. 3. for the Truce with the Scots having been upon the request both of the Pope and King of France and earnest sollicitation of their Ambassadors several times prorogued between the 23. of Nov. an 9. E. 3. and the Sunday next after Ascension day following it then expired before which the King had intelligence of their confederacies abroad and great preparations for War and being engaged to assist and defend Edward Baliol King of Scots who had done him Homage for that Kingdom he thereupon raised an Army for that purpose and gave this noble Knight command thereof by the name of Henry de Lancaster only though I find him in another place relative to this employment called Henry de Lancastre Banneret And by another Commission he gave him power to receive to Faith and Peace the Scots or their adherents and to grant them pardon Shortly after he aâ—â— Tho. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Henry de Bellomont Earl of Bogham and William de Bohun had Commission given them to treat with Sir Andrew Murrese a Scotch Knight about a Truce between the King and his Subjects in Scotland and the said Sir Andrew and other the Scots to hold till Midsummer following Towards the latter end of this year David Bruys then in France had obtained that Kings assistance and gotten together a great Navy with which he did much mischief to the Merchants about the Isle of Wight besides he had entred the Isles of Gerusey and Iarsey and killed divers of the Inhabitants The King therefore gave Commission to the Archbishop of Canterbury and others
At that time Tho. Douvedale was the Dukes Lieutenant in that Dukedom to whom command was given dated the 5. of August preceding to deliver up all things in his custody there and belonging to the King to such as the King had appointed to receive them in like manner as they were formerly delivered up to the Earl by Sir Thomas Holland late Captain there In the Expedition made by the King into France in the 33. year of his Reign this Duke was sent before to Calais with 400 Spears and 2000 Archers where being arrived he took with him those Lords of the Empire and other Commanders who there waited the Kings coming to Calais and marched to St. Omars Cambray and other places wasting all the Country as he passed until he heard of the arrival of the King and then returned to Calais This Voyage with the King into France was the last Martial Employment this Great Duke undertook and as he had manifested to the World the wisdom and valour of a great Commander and succeeded happily in Martial Affairs so was he no Enemy to Peace but as ready to lay hold of it on fair and honorable terms as he was forward to draw his Sword in defence of the Kings honor and right And this was most evident at the Treaty of Bretagne neer Chartres where though the King was very unwilling to accept of a Peace upon terms offered by the French yet moved by the perswasive Arguments of this worthy Duke he condescended thereunto It was also upon his motion both to the King and King Iohn of France that the Truce made at Rennes between Charles de Bloys and the Earl of Montfort which was to expire the first of May was enlarged to Midsummer following in hopes of a final Peace to be by that time made between them He married Isabel Daughter of Henry Lord Beaumont Cousin-german to Queen Isabel Wife to King Edward the Second and by her had two Daughters and Heirs Mand his eldest Daughter was Wife first to Ralph Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford and next to William Duke of Bavaria Earl of Henault Holand and Zeland Lord of Frisland stiled also Earl of Leicester and Blanch the youngest to Iohn of Gaunt created Duke of Lancaster an 36. E. 3. His Will was made in his Castle at Leicester the 15. of March 1360. in which he is stiled Duke of Lancaster Earl of Derby Lincolne and Leicester Steward of England Lord of Bergerac and Beaufort and by which he appoints his Body to be interred in the Collegiate Church of our Lady at Leicester where his Father was buried He dyed within few days after viz. on Tuesday next before Easter an 35. E. 3. and was buried at Leicester according to the appointment of his Will 4. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick THis noble Earl was eldest Son to Guy Earl of Warwick and Alice Sister and Heir of Robert Toney He was born in Warwick Castle and had to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster Henry his Brother and Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth On New-years day in the second year of King Edward the Third he was made Knight though then within age and the 20. of February following having made his Homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands In the fifth year of the same King the Government of the Isles of Gernsey Sark and Aureney was conferred on him About two years after he attended King Edward the Third in that famous and successful Expedition against the Scots and in Christmas Holy-days an 8. E. 3. he and the Earl of Oxford were sent with Edward King of Scots to secure Carlisle and defend the West Marches of England who with some Forces raised in Lancashire Westmerland and Cumberland entred Scotland about Twelvetide wasted Gallaway and returned to Carlisle He attended the King again into Scotland an 9. E. 3. when King Edward by Carlisle and Edward King of Scots from Berwick entred again that Kingdom after which he was one of those Noblemen to whose trust the King committed the Guardianship of the Marches The following year he and other of the Nobility of England entred Scotland about Whitsontide and passed as far as St. Iohns Town which they fortified and in this Kingdom he remained all the year About the beginning of Sept. an 11. E. 3. he again entred Scotland with an Army by Berwick whilst the Lords Wake and Clifford entred by Carlisle and within two days both their Forces united whereupon they wasted Tividale Moseteidale and Nidesdale whilst Anthony Lord Lucy wasted Gallaway but not being able to prosecute their Voyage by reason of the great Rains they returned within twelve days to Carlisle and so much to the satisfaction of the King did he behave himself in this Expedition that the 19. of March following he made Letters obligatory to him for 500 Marks as a gift to be paid him at Michaelmas following When the King undertook his first Expedition into France an 13. E. 3. by the way of Flanders he likewise attended him thither and had Command of a Wing in the field pitch'd between Vyronsos and Flamengery in which among others were the Earl of Penbroke the Lords Berkley and Moulton He went over with the King into Flanders when by the way that memorable Naval fight hapned before Sluce where the King obtained a signal Victory against the French and was one of the Commissioners nominated at the Treaty agreed on at the Siege of Tournay to be sent to Arras in order to a further Treaty where after 15 days debate nothing was agreed on but the Surrender of the County of Poictou seized on by the French King the preceding year and a prolongation of the Truce for two years An. 16. E. 3. he was one of the Commissioners nominated to treat with the Kings Allies in Brabant and Flanders about his designed Expedition into France in which he after attended the King with 80 men at Arms 1 Banneret 18 Knights 60 Esquires and 100 Archers on Horse-back for whose passage a Writ issued to Iohn de Montgomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships At Nantes in Bretagne to which the King had laid Siege he behaved himself so gallantly upon a Sally made by the Town that they were forced to retreat with great loss Not long after his return into England he marcht into Scotland with Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby to raise the Siege laid against Louhmaban Castle whereof the Earl of Northampton was Governor and when he came back was imployed with the said Earl of Derby and some others to the Pope to treat about King Edwards right to the Crown of France which produced nothing but an enlargement of the Truce The following year he was constituted Marshall of England during pleasure In that great Expedition
Viscount Benanges mentioned in the following Pedigree be the same person is some question For first in all those Records where he is remembred the Title of Capitow de la Bouch is not given him Secondly we cannot trace him beyond the 22. year of the Reign of King Edward the Third and the Order of the Garter was not Instituted till the following year Thirdly Iohn his Son is called Capitan de Bouâ—h an 5. E. 3. and so till he died And if he should prove the persoâ— as some do take him to be it is a strange mistake committed in the Engravement of the Plate which seems to be as ancient as any of the rest set up in the Chappel at Windesor Of this Iohn Capitan de Buch there are many things noted by Sir Iohn Froissard relating to both his taking King Edward's side against the French and his valiant actions in those Wars But in regard we doubt of his being one of the first Knights-Companions of the Garter we have thought fit for the present to wave the Historical account of him and intreat the Reader in lieu of it to content himself with that of some part of the descent whereby he may guess at the greatness yet unsuccessfulness of our pains in endeavouring to ascertain the person Iohannes de Greilly dominus Benanges Senescallus totius Aquitaniae Rot. Vasc. 6. 7. E. 1. m. 9. Claramonda filia haeres Galliardi de Mota domini de Laudirons Rot. Vasc. 6. 7. E. 1. m. 9. Petrus de Greilly miles Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. Katherina de Greilly Domina Locorum St Blasii de Laudiron Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. Petrus de Greilly Vicecom Benangiarum Castellionis Rot. Vasc. 14. E. 3. m. 2. 16. E. 3. m. 13. 22. E. 3. m. 25. Assalita soror haeres Petri de Burdegal Rot. Vasc. 5. E. 3. m. 24. Petrus de Burdegal dominus de Puypaulini Iohannes de Greilly ac Capitaneus de Buch. Rot. Vasc. 5. E. 3. m. 24.14 E. 3. m. 2.16 E. 3. m. 13. 29. E. 3. m. 6. Blanch de Loup Archambaud de Greilly Capitalis de Bogio ac Vicecomes Benangiarum Castillionis ac dominus de Podiopaulini Castri novi in Medulco Rot. Vasc. 7. R. 2. m. 10. 6. Ralph Earl of Stafford THis Noble Earl was Son unto Edmund Lord Stafford first summoned to Parliament an 27. E. 1. and Margaret Daughter to Ralph Lord Basset of Draiton His Father dyed an 2. E. 2. and and an 17. E. 2. being of full age he did his Homage and had Livery of his Fathers Lands The first military imployment that he undertook was an 1. E. 3. being summoned to be at Newcastle upon Tine on Monday next before Ascension day to go against the Scots The 12. of February an 10. E. 3. the King sent his Writ directed to him Philip Chetwynde and Philip Somervill to raise in Staffordshire Lichfield excepted 60 Hobelars and 200 Archers and to bring them to Berwick upon Tweed before the following Octaves of Easter In his absence it seems there was some attempts made to seize upon his Lady and carry her away but making his complaint to the King he received her under his protection and directed his Writ to the Sheriff to protect her so long as her Lord remained in his service I find this noble Lord was an 15. E. 3. Steward of the Kings House and one of those who went over into Bretagne an 16. E. 3. with Robert d' Artous to the assistance of the Countess of Montfort He behaved himself bravely in the Sea-fight near the Isle of Gernsey with the French and Genoeses who endeavoured to interrupt their passage thither but after they had been a while engaged a violent storm parted the two Navies and the English landed safely the first Town taken by them being Vannes and that by assault Soon after this Town was re-taken by Sir Henry de Leon and the Lord Clisson but the latter end of the Summer King Edward landed with an Army and laid a new Siege to it and perceiving the Country was much wasted he left the Earl of Arundel with this Lord before it and went to Rennes It hapned that one day upon an assault this Lord ventured so far that he was got between the City Gate and the Bars and there taken Prisoner but at another side of the Town Sir Henry de Leon and the Lord Clisson were both taken Prisoners by the English and so he was afterwards exchanged for the Lord Clisson In this Expedition he had Wages allowed him for 50 men at Arms viz. himself two Bannerets 16 Knights 31 Esquires and 50 Archers on Horseback An. 17. E. 3. was a year of much action for first this Earl with the Earl of Lancaster and other Noblemen went into Scotland to raise the Siege laid by the Scots to the Castle of Louhmaban and being returned was joined in Commission with Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan William de Norwich Dean of Lincolne Sir William Trussell and Andrew de Offord to treat in the Pope's presence with the Agents of Philip de Valois concerning the Kings right to the Crown of France but we suppose he went not on that Embassy for the 19. of August there was another Commission for that Affair made out to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby and others wherein he and Sir William Trussell were omitted and they the first of Iuly preceding with Philip de Weston Canon of York and Iohn Wawayn were sent to treat with the Noblemen Burgomasters c. in Flanders about the setlement of the Staple of Wool there and touching the Coyning of Gold and Silver such as might be current both in England and Flanders and whatsoever by any 3 or 2 of them should be agreed on this Ralph Earl of Stafford being one the King promised to ratifie They had another Commission wherein power was granted them to treat with the Princes Nobles and People of Almaine upon Alliances between the King and them and to gain their assistance for him The following year he went in the Expedition intâ— Gascoigne with the Earl of Derby and commanded the Party that assaulted Bergerac by Water who behaved themselves so valiantly that through their Valour the Town was forced to surrender to the Earl He was very active in this Gascoigne War and almost in continual Service and in sealing the Walls of Mountpesat Castle Richard Pennenort an English Gentleman that bare his Banner was slain For his Great Services in this War after his return into England he was made Seneschal of Gascoigne and had the Kings Letter sent to the Prelates and Nobility of that Country to obey and submit to his Authority while he continued in that Office Within a few days after the King directed his Writ
aut ab ipso designati ceterorum Commilitonum in suscepto tentóque manifesto Concilio XXXVIII Deâ—iquè quò Discrimen Equitum hujus Ordinis à caeteris cui non sunt â—jusdem tantò clariùs eluceat Supremus ex consensâ—â— Commilitonum omnium vult Ordinâ—t instituit ut abbinc imperpetuum quicuâ—que fuerit Eques istius Ordinis circum cervicem utatur â—ureo Torque triginta unciarum Trojani Ponderis nihil suprà Conficietur autem ille Torques è laminis in formam Subligaris una laminarum duas intùs rosas habebit alteram rubram superiorem albâ—m altera inferiorem albam superiorem rubram In fine verò Torquis illius pendebit Imago Divi Georgii Quo Supremus omnes Ordinis hujus Equites uti tenebuntur praesertim in maximis praecipuis Anni solennitatibus Aliis autem diebus Cathenula utantur Aurea quae Divi Georgii gestabit imaginem in fine nisi gerâ—tur bellum aut gerendum ingruat aegritudo urgeat aut longum iter ineundum sit Tunc etenim sufficiat uti Fibulâ sericâ quae Divi Georgii duntaxat imaginem in fine pendulâ—m habebit Si vero Torques resarciendus sit tradi poterit â—â—rifici ut emendetur Nec debet ille Torques stipari gemmis aut ditari nisi forsan id Imagini fiat quae benè poterit ex arbitratu illius Equitis gemmis aut alitèr exornari Cavendum autem ne Torques hujusmodi vendatur mutuò tradatur aut alienetur ullo modo seu donetur ex ullâ causâ vel necessitudine sed ad cohonest amentum Ordinis Equitis Ordinati conservari debet Here follow the same Statutes as they were put into English shortly after their Establishment wherein some of the Articles are transposed and the 18. Article wholly changed But in all the Copies of them given forth since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign King Henry's Title of Supream head of the Church of England in Earth under Christ is omitted and some few words noted with an Asterisk altered to those inserted at the foot of the Page whither the Asterisk directs The Statutes and Ordinances of the most Noble Ordre of Saint George named the Gartier Reformed explained declared and renewed by the moost High moste excellent and mooste puissant Prince Henry the viii by the Grace of God Kyng of England and of Fraunce Defensor of the Faith Lorde of Irland c. WHereas the moost famous moost happiest and victorious Prynce Edwarde the thirde of that name his Noble Progenitour somtyme Kyng of England and of Fraunce and Lorde of Irland c. To th' onnoâ—re of almighti God and of the blessed and immaculate Virgyn Marie and the blessid Martir Sainte George Patron of the right noble Roialme of England and of Saynt Edwarde Kyng and Confessauâ— To the exaltation of the holy Faith Catholique Drdeyned Established created and founded within the Castel of Wyndesore a company of xxvi Noble and Worthi Knyghtes for to be of the said moost Noble Drdre of Saynt George named the Gartier and for the honorable continuance augmentation and interteyning of the same The seid moost victorious Kyng did devyse and institute divers honorable Estatuts and laudable Ordinances for to be observed and kept by the cobrethern and confreres Knightes and Compaynons of the said moost Noble Order amonge the which Estatutis been certeyne doubtis and ambiguities which to be more playnly declared interpreted and extended it is thought right necessary and expedient And that certeyne other new Ordinances and Articles be to the said Statutes added and adjoyned Wherefore the said moost excellent and victorious Prynce Henry the viii Kynge of England and of France Defensor of the Faith and Lord of Irland and Soveragne of the said moost Noble Order and for the right singular love good zeal ardent and intier affection that his royall Majestie hath and bearith to the said moost Noble Order and to the estate of Chivalrie and Knyghthod And for the honorablâ— contynuance and encreasing of the same And also at the humble requeste and instante destre of the Knyghts and Companyons of the said Noble Order And by their advyse councell and assent the xxiii day of April in the year of grace M.D.XXII and of his moost noble reigh the viii yere made interpretacion and declaracion of the Obscurities doubtis and ambiguities of the said Estatutes Ordinances Interpretacions declaracions reformacions with their additions aforesaid after the â—rew intencion of them shall be from hensforth observed kept and ensued by the Soverayne and the Knyghtes Confreres and Companyons of the said Noble Order in manner and fourme followyng I. Firste It is Ordened and accorded that the Kyng and his Heires and Successors Kyngs of England shall be for evermore Soveraynes of the saide moost Noble Order and amiable Companye of Saynt George named the Gartier to the which Soverayn and to his Heires and Successours shall apperteine the declaracion solucion determinacion interpretacion Reformacion and disposition of all causes concernyng and towchyng any thyng of obscuritie or dowbte conteyned in the Statutes of the said moost Noble Order II. Item it is accorded that none shall be elected and chosen for to be Felow or Companion of the said moost Noble Order excepte that he be a Gentilman of blood and that he be a Knyghte and without roproche And that the Knyghtes of the said Noble Order from hensforth shall not name any person in their Election to be Felow or Companyon of the said Noble Order in whome thei shall thynke or extiem in their conscience to have spotte of Reprâ—che And as towchyng the declaration of a Gentilman of blode it is declared and determined that he shall be decended of three decentis of Noblesse that is to say of name and of armes bothe of his Father's side and also of his Mother's side and as towchyng or concernyng any maner of reproche forasmoche as there be divers and many sundri pâ—yntis of reproche there shall be here declared but three poyntis of them oonly as is declared in manner and fourme folowying The first poynt of Reproche ys that if any Knyght os God defende be convaynqued or attaynted of errour against the Cristen Faith Catholique or had for any suche Offence suffred any payne or punicion publique The second poynt of Reproche is that if any Knyght as God defende had bene ararayned convicted or attainted or High Treason The third poynt of Reproache is that if any Knyght departe or flee away from batayle or journei beyng with his Soverayne Lord his Lieutenant or Deputie or other Capetayne bavyng the Kyng's power Royal and auâ—toritie and whereas Banners Estandatz or Pennons have bene displaied and that thei preceded to fight he that then renioufly and cowardly flieth or departith away from thens ought to be estiemeâ— and judged to have reproche and never worthi to be electe Knyght or Felow of the said Company And if it fortune that any Knyght of the
agreed that the pour Knyghtes shall have their Mantells of Scarlett and a scuchion of th' armes of Saynt George withoute a Garter XVII Item it is agreed that every Knyght of the sayd Company shall leave his Mantyll within the said College for any sodayne chaunses that myght happen for to kepe holde and observe all suche Ordinances Preceptes and commaundements whiche may be advysed in Chaptre by the sayd Soverayne The whiche Soverayne by the consent and agrement of vi Knightes of the said Order may at all tymes and places at his pleasure sommon and make to be kepte Chaptre for all suche causes as it shall please to the said Soverayne to name towching the said Order XVIII Item it is agreed that if it fortune that any of the said Company shulde come within ii myle of the Castell that he shall goo in if he may for the honor oâ— the place if he be nott busyed or lett by some juste cause and that he take his Mantell before he entre within the said Chappell And alsoo that he entre not in but he have his Mantyll upon tym And the Canons there beyng present for that tyme shall come to receyve hym and devotly shall bring hym into the said Chappell and if it be in tyme of Masse he shall tary and heâ—re Masse in the honor of God and of St. George and if it be at afternone he shall come in in manner abovesaid And there shall be said by the Canons De profundiâ— for all Cristen sowles and there shall offer and retourne unto his stall And yf any of the said Company ride thorowgh the Lowne and wyll not offre as it is agreed that upon his obedience for every tyme that he faileth he shall goo one myle on fote from the said Chappel unto the said place in honor of Saynt George And also for every tyme that he shall so fayle he shall gyve a grote for his Offrynge The whiche distaunce for to com nygh unto the seid Castell is two myles allonly and no more XIX Item it is accorded the xxxii yere of our Soveraign Lorde Kyng Henry the Eight by the grace of God Kyng of England and of Fraunce Defensor of the Faith Lord of Irland c. upon Seynt George's day the xxiii day of Aprill at a Chapter holden at the Paleys of Westminster by the Soveraign and the Companyons of the said Noble Order then there assembled That as sone as the deth of any of the Company of the saide Order shall be certeynly knowen every of the rest beyng no strangiers shall accordyng to the rates of their Degrees hereafter specified immediately upon a demaunde to be made for the same by the Register and the Dean or one of them to be by one of them employed in Aulmes deeds as in mendyng of High wayes or suche other works of charite as the Kyngs Majestie from tyme to tyme shall lymite and appoynte the severall somes of Money â—nâ—yng Furst the Souveraign viii l. vi â— viii d. A Kyng of another Realme vi l. xiii â— iv d. The Prince v l. xvi s. viii d. A Duke v l. A Marquess iii l. xv s. An Erie l s. A Visconte xli s. viii d. A Baron xxxiii s. iv d. A Bacheler Knyght xvi s. viii d. Of all which somes thus to be receyvyd the said Dean and Regester or eyther of them shall yerely at the Chapiter present his accompte to the Kyngs Majestie with â—is true and just declaration of the dysbursyng agayne and defraying of the same In that cause the partie whose Porcyen shall apere to be unpayde shall in the name of a Payne adde unto his former dutye another thirde parte of the same and so for every yere that he shall be behynde to pay a thredde parte more than he shuld paye if he shuld satisfye his ordinary accordyng to the rate before expressed And if the Dean or Register or any of them shall not at every suche Chapiter present the Certificate of the Receipts and Payments in fourme aforesâ—id whereby the same may apere to the Souverayn and Companyons of the Order then preâ—ent or at the leest he in whome the defawlt shall rest shall in the name of a payne contente and paye immemediatlâ— to bee employed abowte like purpose as afore the some of xâ— for every suche defaulte XX. Item it is agreed that if eny of the said Companye die that the Soverayne or his Deputie after that they shall have certification of his deth shall be bounde for to send and gyve knowledge by ther Letters to all the Felowship of the said Ordre beyng within England for to come and be with the said Soverayne or his Deputie in what place soever it be where it shall please hym to assigne convenyently within vi wekys after the certification of the death or decease of the said Knyght The which allsoo assembled or at the lest vi with the Soverayne or his Deputie abovesaid every of them that there shall be present come to the election shall name ix of the worthiest and sufficient Knyghtes withoute Reprosse that he shall knowe subjectes to the said Soverayne or others so be that they holde no contrary partie or be agaynst hym That is to witt three Dukes iii. Marquess Erles or of greater astate iii. Barons or banerettis and iii. Bachelers The whiche denominations the chief prelate of the said Order shall wryte Chat is to witt the Byshop of Wynchester for the tyme beyng or in his absence the Chaunceler or the Dean or Register or the mooste auncient Recidencer of the said College in their absence and the denomination soo done by all or vi at the leest by hym that have written shall bee shewed to the seid Soverayne or to his Deputie that then shall chose of them that be named be that shall have the moost voyces and also he that the Soverayne shall exteme to be moost honorable to the sayde Order and moost profitable to his Crowne and to his Realme And if there be any Knyght of the said Order that doth fayle for to come to the said Election if he be not lett by a juste cause and that the said cause of his excuse shewed under his seal of armes be founde by the Soverayne or his Deputie to be juste and reasonable then his excuse to be accepted and allowed and that if his cause be not juste and that he come not to the seremonies above-named it is agreed that he shall pay to the Warden of the College for to synge for hym that is departed xx s. sterling and at his nexte comyng to the Chaptre he shall be before the Soverayne or his Deputie and the company and shall knele upon the grounde in the myddes of the Chaptre untyll the tyme that he be reconsiled by the Soverayne or his Deputie and the said Companye XXI Item it is agreed that if any Knyght of the said Company shulde departe and another is chosen and electe he shall have
le viii jour de May. NUM XXII A Commission to take Sir Iohn Falstolfs Oath at his Investiture with the Garter Ibidem De par le Roy Souveraine de l'Ordre de la Iartier TResâ—biers feaulx Cosins Nous vous saluons sovent pour ce que a la feste de Seinte George darraine tenuz en nostre Chastell de Wyndesore nostre Compaignie de l'Ordre de la Jartier faisant alorsque Chapitre la veille de la dit Feste a eslieu nostre chier feall John Falstolt Chivalier un de nouz Compaignons du dit Ordre en lieu de nostre treschier Cosin le Counte de Westmerland dont dieux ait l'ame nous vous envoions lez estatuz de cellui Ordre enseallez du selle du dit Ordre pour lez presenter bailler au dit Monsieur John Falstolf Si voulons vous mandons que vous ou l'un de vous a qui primerement cez presentez serront monstrez ou exibecs presentez bailles audit John Falstolf lez ditz estatuz pour lez voier visiter savoir que sont tâ—nuz de faire ceux qui sont de dit Ordre Et en cas q'il accepta le dit Ordre Ressaivez son serement en tel cas accustumé à faire en luy baillant l'Ordre du Jartier en le manere accustumé Treschiers fealx Cosins dieuÌ„x soit garde de vous Donne a Leicestre soubz le Seel du dit Ordre le viii jour de May. A nos treschiers feaulx Cousins lez Countez de Warwyk de Sarisbury de Sulfolk nouz Compaignons de la Jartier a un cheseun d'eulx NUM XXIII A Warrant for allowance of Garter's Charges when sent to signifie an Election MS. 4. penes W. le N. Cl. fol. 59. THese shall be to require you of such her Majesties Treasure as remaineth in your hands to pay or cause to be paid to Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight King of Arms being sent by her Majesties Commandment to our very good Lords the Earl of Rutland in the County of Lincolne and to the Lord Scroop in the County of Cumberland to signifie unto them the Electiâ—n made of them into the Order of Knights of the Garter for his pains and charges in that voyage expended the sum of Twenty pounds and this shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalf At the Court at Richmond the 10. of June 1584. T. Bromley Ch. Howard Chr. Hatton W. Burghley James Crofts Fran. Walâ—ingham Ed. Clynton To our very loving Friend Sir Thomas Heneage Knight Treasurer of of her Majesties Chamber NUM XXIV A Commission to the Soveraigns Lieutenant to Install an Elect-Knight Registr Chartac fol. 64. Henry R. HEnry the Eighth by the Grace of God King of England and of France Defensor of the Faith and Lord of Irland Souverain of the most Noble Order of the Gartier To our right trusty and right entirely well-beloved Cousin the Duke of Northfolk our Lieutenant at our Fest of the glorious Martir Saint George Patron of the said Noble Ordre our right trusty and right well-beloved Cosins the Marquess Dorset the Marquess of Exeter Th' Erle of Northumberland and our trusty and well-beloved the Vicounte Lisle the Vicount Fitz-water and the Vicount Rochford the Lord Ferrers Lord Bergaveny and the Lord Dakers Companions of the said Noble Order Greeting For as moche as we with you and other Companions have elected our right trusty and right entirely beloved Son Henry Duke of Richmont and of Somerset and Erle of Nottingham our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousins th' Erle of Arundel th' Erle of Westmerland and th' Erle of Rutland Companions of the said Noble Ordre We therefore will and auctorise you by these presents that ye the said Duke of Norfolk with the assistance of such other as our said Noble Ordre be aforenamed shall not only accept and admit the said Duke and Erles into the said Ordre and receve their Othes and install them but also further do therein as to the laudable Statutes and Ordinances of the said Ordre apperteigneth And these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in this behalf at all times hereafter Yeven under the Seal of our said Gartier at our Palais of Brydewell the xviii day of June in the xvii year of our Reign NUM XXV Another Ex Collect. Iohannis Vincent Gen. Elizabeth R. ELIZABETH by the Grace of God Queen of England Fraunce and Ireland Defendor of the Faith and Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor th' Erle of Penbroke one of the Companions and Knights of the said Order by us assigned and deputed to be our Lieutenant at the Feast of the glorious Martyr St. George Patron of the saâ—d Order to be kept within our said Castell of Windesor the 4. of June next ensuing and others the Companions of the said Order that then shall be present Greeting Whereas we with others the Companions of the said Noble Order assembled at a Chapitre holden at our Palace of Westminster the xxiv day of Aprill last have elected and chosen among others our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousen the Duke of Norfolk our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousen and Councellor the Marquess of Northampton our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousen th' Erle of Rutland and our trusty and right well-beloved the Lord Robert Dudley Master of our Horse to be Knights and Companions of the said Order We will and by these presents authorise you not only to accepte and admit them into the said Order and receive their Oaths and install them accordingly but also further to do therein as to the Statutes and laudable Custom and usage of the said Noble Order appertaineth And these our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Yeven under the Seal of our said Garter the first of June in the first year of our Reign NUM XXVI A Commission to other Knights-Companions for the Installation of an Elect-Knight Regist. Chartac fol. 61. b. Henry R. HENRY the Eighth by the Grace of God King of England and of France Defensor of the Faith and Lord of Irland Soverain of our Noble Ordre of the Gartier To our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin the Marquess Dorset And also to our right trusty and right well-beloved Cosins Th' Erle of Devon and th' Erle of Kent Companions of our said Noble Ordre Greeting Forasmâ—che as we with you and other Knights and Companions of our said Noble Ordre assembled at the Chapitre holden at our Manoir of Grenewich the xiii day of July last passed have elected and chosen Walter Devereux Lord Ferrers to be Knight and Companion of the said Ordre We therefore will and by vertue of these presents auctorise you not only t' accepte and admit the said
reception de la dicte Jartiere du Collier Habit que leur est envoié par la Souverain du dit Order qu'ils auront certifié avoir le dit Jartiere Collier Habit un sufficient Depuâ—é Procureur selon l'estat de son Seigneur Maistre moyennâ—ns qu'il soit Chevalier sans reproche pour estre miâ— en sa place y estant faire son serment y estre admis par au nom de son dit Seigneur Maistre Scavoir vous faisons que nous desirans pour le respect â—ue nous portons a la Royne nostre dicte Soeur Cousine l'estime que nous faisons du dict Ordre satisfaire qu'a nous est au contenu des dits Statutes en ce que touche la dite prise de possesion prestation de serment recognoissance que pouâ— cest effect nous ne pourrons saire melleur ou plus convenable election que de vostre personne pour les bonnes louables qualitiés qui sont en vons les tesmoignages que vous avez rendus en divers occasions de vostre affection au bien avantage de nos affaires service vous avons Commis Deputé Commettons Deputons par ces presentes signées de nostre main pour vous trausporter en Angleterre vous trouver a la prochain ceremonie qui se fera du dicti Ordre pour prendre possession de nostre place en iceluy selon la forme ordinaire si besoigne est faire le serment en nostre Nom ainsi que l'ou à accoustumé de fairé gardant au surplus les solemnites en tel cas requises generalment faire tout ce que vous adviserés necessaire pour l'effect dessus ores qu'il y eust chose qui requist mandement plus special qu'il n'est contenu en ces dits presents par lesquelles de ce faire vous avons donné donnoâ—s plain pouvoir puissance authorité commission mandement special Cartel est nostre plaisir Donné a Paris le vingtiesme jour de Avrill l'an de grace mil six cent de nostre Reigne le onziesme Henry Duneuville NUM CXXIV A Precedent of a Commission for Installation of an Elect-Knight Ex lib. Nig. p. 315. HENRICUS Dei gratiâ invictissimus Rex Angliae Franciae Fidei Defensor Dominus Hiberniae Ordinis Divi Georgii supremus fidelibus ac praedilectis Cognatis nostris N. S. D. P. Quoniam intelligimus quod illustrissimus ac potentissimus Princeps N. vel Dominus aut vir inclytus N quem nuper in Socium nostri Ordinis elegimus non possit ipse commodè advenire ut in â—ollegio nostro de more in sedem suam introducatur alias ibi Ceremonias ritè perimpleat juxta quod ex Statutis ipsis obligatur ob id virum bene nobilem ac honorandum N. misit ut sedem nomine suo possideat juramentum praestet caeteraque perficiat quae Statuta requirunt Nos ideò noâ—iscum ista reputantes Volumus virtute praesentium eam vobis authoritatem addimus ut hunc procuratorem ejus ac deputatum non solùm admittere sed caetera quaeque facere valeates quae ad Statuta consuetudinesque laudabiles attinere videbuntur Et hae literae nostrae vos tuebuntur Sub Sigillo nostri Ordinis N. die Mensis N. Anno regni nostri N. NUM CXXV A Commission for the Installation of Guido Vbaldus Duke of Vrbin Ex Collect. W. D. N. HEnry by the grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland Soveraign of the Noble Ordre of the Garter To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousins the Marquess of Dorset The Earl of Surrey our Treasurer of England and the Earl of Shrewsbury Steward of our Household Companions of the said Order greeting Forasmuch as we understand that the right noble Prince Gwe de Ubaldis Duke of Urbin who was heretofore elected to be one of the Companions of the said Noble Order cannot conveniently repair into this our Realm personally to be installed in the Collegial Church of that Order and to perform other Ceremonies whereunto by the Statutz of the said Order he is bound But for that intent and purpose hath sent a right honorable personage Balthasar de Castilione Knight sufficiently authorised as his Proctor to be installed in his name and to perform all other things for him to the Statutes and Ordinances of the said Order requisite and appertaining We therefore in consideration of the premisses will and by these presents give unto you license full power and authority not only to accept and admit the said Balthasar as Proctor for the same Duke and to receive his Oath and install him in the lieu and place and for the said Duke but also farther to do therein as to the Statutes and laudable usages of the said Order it appertaineth and this our writing shall be to you and every of you sufficient discharge in that behalf Given under the Seal of the said Noble Order of the Garter at our Mannor of Grenewiche the vii day of Novembre the xxii year of our Reign NUM CXXVI Another for the Installation of Emanuel Duke of Savoy Ex Collect. A. V. W. PHilip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Hierusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Cicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Millayne Burgundy and Braband Counts of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyroll and Soveraigns of the Noble Order of the Garter To our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord Clynton and the Lord Paget Knights and Companions of the said Noble Order Greeting Forasmuch as we understand that the right high and mighty Prince and our entirely beloved Cousin Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy and Prince of Piemont c. and our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellor the Lord William Howard of Effingham high Admiral of England were heretofore elected to be Knights and Companions of the said Noble Order of the Garter which Emanuel Duke of Savoy Prince of Piemont c. cannot conveniently repair unto our Castle of Windesore personally to be installed in the Collegiate Chappel of that Order and to perform other Ceremonies whereunto by the Statutes of the said Order he is bounden and for that cause hath sent a right noble personage Johan Thomas L'angusto des Contes de Stropiane sufficiently authorised as his Deputy and Proctor to be installed in his name and to receive his Oath and to perform all other such things and Ceremonies for him as to the Statutes and Ordinances of the said Order be requisite and appertain We therefore in consideration of the premises will and by these presents give unto you full power license and authority not only to accept and admit the said Johan Thomas L'angusto des Contes de Stropiane to be Deputy and Proctor for our said
entirely beloved Cousin the said Duke of Savoy Prince of Piemont c. and to install him in the lieu of the said Duke but also further to do therein as to the Statutes and laudable usages of the said Noble Order as touching a Proctor it appertaineth And in semblable wise we will authorise and license you to admit accept and install our said right trusty and right well-beloved Counsellor the Lord William Howard of Essingham high Admiral of England and further to do for his installing as to the Statutes of the said Noble Order it belongeth And these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under the Seal of our Garter at our Palace of Westminster the 29. day of January in the first and second year of our Reign 1554. NUM CXXVII Another for the Installation of the French King Charles the Ninth Ex eod Collect. ELizabeth by the grace of God c. To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin the Earl of Sussex our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor the Earl of Leicester Master of our Horse our right trusty and well-beloved the Viscount Mountague with our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord Clynton our high Admiral of England Knights and Companions of our Noble Order of the Garter Greeting Forasmuch as We with other the Companions of the said Noble Order assembled did lately elect and chuse our dearest and most entirely beloved Brother the French King to be Knight and Companion of our said Noble Order and forasmuch as our said dear Brother cannot for divers causes conveniently repair to our collegiate Chappel within our Castle of Windesore and for that cause hath 〈◊〉 a right noble personage the Lord Rambouilliet one of his ordinary Chamberlains Knight of the Order of Saint Michaell and Captain of fifty ordinary men of Arms sufficiently authorised as his Deputy and Procurer to be installed in his name and to receive his Oath and to perform all other such things and Ceremonies for him as to the Statutes and Ordinances of the said Order be requisite and appertains We therefore in consideration of the premisses will and by these presents give unto you full power and authority not only to accept and admit the said Procurer but also further to do therein as to the Statutes and laudable usages of the said Noble Order as touching a Procurer it doth appertain And these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under the Seal of our Order at our Palace of Westminster the 14. day of January in the 8. year of our Reign NUM CXXVIII Letters of notice to the Commissioners appointed to Install the Duke of Holstein by his Proxie Collect. A. V. W. By the Queen RIght trusty and well-beloved We greet you well and whereas we have appointed you together with our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord Hastings of Loughborow to be in Commission for the Instalment in our Castle of Windesor of our dearest and most entirely beloved Cousin the Duke of Holstein by his Procurer the Viscount Hereford being lately chosen to be one of the Fellowship and Companions of our Order of the Garter We have thought it good not only to give you knowledge hereof by these our Letters but also to require you to make your repair to our said Castle of Windesor so as you may be there on Saturday the 14. day of this moneth to the end that upon Sunday next the 15. day of this present Moneth of December he may proceed to the Installation of him by his Procurer accordingly Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the 12. day of December in the third Year of our Reign To our right trusty and well-beloved the Lord Pagit of Beaudesert one of the Companious of our Order The like Letter was directed to the Lord Loughborow the other Commissioner appointed for this Installation NUM CXXIX Letters of notice to the Commissioners for Installation of the French King Charles the Ninth Ex eod Collect. By the Queen RIght trusty and right well-beloved Cousin we greet you well And whereas we have appointed you with others the Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter to be in Commission for the Installation in our Castle of Windesor of our dearest and most entirely beloved Brother the French King by his Procurer the Lord Rambouillet being lately chosen to be one of the Fellowship and Companions of our Order of the Garter We have thought it good not only to give you knowledge hereof by these our Letters but also to require you to make your repair to our said Castle of Windesor so as you may be there on Tuesday next the 15. day of this present Moneth of January to the end that on Wednesday he may proceed to his Installation accordingly Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the day of January in the eight year of our Reign To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin the Earl of Sussex one of the Companions of our Order The like Letter to the Earl of Leicester Viscount Mountague and Lord Clinton NUM CXXX A Warrant for materials for the Banner of the French King Henry the Second Ex Collect. E. W. G. By the King Edward WE will and command you that unto our trusty and well-beloved Servant Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight aliàs Garter King at Arms ye deliver or cause to be delivered upon sight hereof without delay three yards of Cloth of Gold two yards of Cloth of Gold Tissue and 16 yards of Blue Velvet which shall be for the Banner for the Mantles of the Helmet and the lyning of the same for the Installation of Henry the French King and that you content and pay for the Stuff workmanship and the embroidering of the said Banner And these our Letters c. Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Greenwich the 10. of May in the fifth year of our Reign To our trusty and well-beloved Counsellor Sir Rauf Sadleyere Knight Master of our Great Wardrobe or to his Deputy there NUM CXXXI A Warrant to deliver Garter money to provide the Atchievements of the said King Ex Collect. W. le N. Cl. THE King's Majesty's pleasure is that of such his Treasure as remains in your custody to his Majesty's use ye deliver unto Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight alias Garter King at Arms for the provision of an Helm garnished with fine Gold a Crown of Copper gilt an arming Sword and Girdle to the same and a Plate of metal with the Arms of the French King engraven which are for the Installation of the King's Majesty's good Brother Henry the French King the sum of twenty pounds and these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant in that behalf From Greenwiche the 11. of May 1551. Your loving friends E. Somerset J. Bedford E. Clinton W. Herbert W. Cecil J. Warwick W. Northt W. Paget J. Gate NUM CXXXII A Warrant
our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Sidney Companions of our Noble Order of the Garter cannot for certain causes to be executed and done by our Commandment be at the Feast of the Glorious Martyr St. George to be holden and kept within our Castle of Windsore the xvii day of June next coming but be by Vs pardoned of their absence from the said Feast like as we have thought good to advertize you thereof so We will you to accept their reasonable excuse in this behalf accordingly any Statutes of the said Order made to the contrary notwithstanding Given under our Seal of our said Order at our Honor at Hampton-Court the day of June in the xii Year of our Reign NUM CLXXVI A Commission for holding the Grand Feast Regist. Chartac fol. 13. b. HEnry par la grace de Dieu Roy d' Angleterre de France Souvrain de la Compagnie de l' Ordre du Gartier A tous nos Compagnons du dit Ordre Salut Comme pour certeines causes que nous movent ne pourrons estre personnelement à la Feste de Saint George prouchein venant à nostre Chastell de Wyndesore par les Estatutz du dit Ordre nous est loisible pour commetter deputer autre personne pour nous pour tenir lez Chapitres corriger redresser faire les Eleccions de lez approuver de faire toutes autres choses comme il appertendra solone la forme teneure dez ditz Estatutz Pour ce est il que nous avons commis deputé commettons deputons par cez presentes nostre trescher tresame Oncle Jean Regent nostre Royaume de France Duc de Bedford pour faire les ditz choses avec leures circumstances dependences quelconques Mandons commandons à nous dis Compaignons que en ce faisant lui obeissent entendent diligentment comme à l'ordre appartent pour cest fois Donné à Leycestre la premier jour d' Avril l'an de nostre Regne quart NUM CLXXVII Another Ibid. fol. 62. b. Henry R. HEnry the viii by the grace of God King of England and of France Defensour of the Faith and Lord of Irland To our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin the Marquess Dorcet Greeting Forasmuch as we for divers gret and vrgent causes may not be present at the Fest of the glorious Martyr St. George Patrone of our noble Ordre of the Gartier to be holdyn solempnised and kept in our Castell of Windesore the viii day of May next commyng We therefore by these presents name constitute appoint and ordayne you to be our Lieutenant at the said Feast Giving unto you full power and auctorite to do and accomplische every thing at the same which to our Lieutenant there in such case belongith and hath been accustumed Willing and Commanding by the tenour hereof all and every the Companions and Officers of our said Ordre to be to you in the executing of this our auctorite obeying and attending as schall apperteyne Yeven under the Seal of our sayd Garter at our Manoir of Beaulieu the xxv day of Aprill the xvi yere of our Reigne NUM CLXXVIII Another Lib. N. pag. 249. Henry R. HEnricus Dei gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Princeps Gualliae Dominus Hiberniae Fedei Defensor atque Illustrissimi bujus Ordinis ipse Supremus unice nobis dilecto fide probatissimo Officio erga nos suo jam undique notissimo Cognato nostro Duci Norf. salutem ac foelicitatem Nunc quoniam per multa charissime nos istinc negotia detinent ut quod optamus gloriossimi Martyris Patroni nostri festivitatem praesentia nostra non possumus honorare tuam propterea nobilitatem ad illud ipsum nomine nostro praestandum nominamus atque instituimus eam tibi dantes authoritatem quae supplenti vices nostras unquam alias assuevit jubentes itidem ut Sociorum quisquis atque Officialium tibi dum mandatum hoc nostrum facessis obediant quantum res ipsa postulabit ex nutu tuo jussuque pendeat Windesori sub Ordinis Sigillo undecimo Junii nostri Regui decimo septimo NUM CLXXIX A Letter of Notice to the Assistants of the Soveraign's Lieutenant to be at the Feast Collect. A. V. W. By the Queen RIght trusty and right well-beloved We greet you well Where we by our Commission under the Seal of our most Noble Order of the Garter have assigned and appointed our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor the Earl of Arundel Lord Steward of our Houshold and one of the Companions of the said Noble Order to be our Lieutenant at the Feast of the glorious Martyr St. George to be kept within our Castle of Windesor the 18. day of May next coming for the doing of all things there as to Our Lieutenant appertaineth And have appointed you with our right trusty right well-beloved the Lord Paget of Beaudesert to be Assistants at the said Feast We have thought good not only to give you knowledge thereof by these Our Letters but also require you to make your repair to Our said Castle of Windesor so as you may be there at the said Feast accordingly Given under the Signet of Our said Order at Our Mannor of Greenwich the second day of May in the third year of Our Reign To Our right trusty and right well-beloved the Viscount Mountague one of the Companions of Our Order The like Letter and of the same Date was sent to the Lord Paget the other Assistant NUM CLXXX An Order for the fashion and materials of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions Vnder Habit. Collect. E. W. G. Charles R. IT being most certain that nothing can be more conducing to the keeping up of that Lustre and Dignity of our most Noble Order of the Garter wherein it is at this present then those very means by which it hath attained unto it constancy and immtability For these reasons having at a Chapter held at our Castle of Windesor the 16. of April last past resolved upon a review and examination of its Statutes to see if possibly length of time and change of Customs might have introduced any thing in them which might make them swerve from the ancient Rules so far as they were not unconsistent with the present Vsance We have thought it not unworthy our care to descend unto the particulars of its Clothing And thereupon having found that in what concerns the Vnder-Habits used by the Companions at the solemnizing of Instalments or the Celebration of St. George's Feast they followed too much the modern fashion never constant and less comporting with the decency gravity and stateliness of the upper Robes of the Order It was resolved in that Chapter and accordingly we ordain and enjoyn That from this time forwards the Companions shall be obliged to a certain and immutable form and fashion as well for their Under-Habits as their
Upper-Robes to be used on thâ—se solemn Days and Occasions that is to say to the old Trunk-hose or Round-Breeches whereof the Stuff or Material shall be some such Cloth of Silver as we shall chuse and appoint wherein as we shall be to them an example so we do expect they will follow us in using the same and no other Given under the Signet of our said Order this day of May 1661. NUM CLXXXI A Dispensation for a Knights attendance at the Grand Feast during life Ex ipso Autogr. in Bibl. Hatton Henry R. HEnry the Eighth by the grace of God King of England and of France Defender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland and Soveraign of the Noble Order of the Garter To the Lieutenant at the Feast of the glorious Martyr Saint George Patron of the Noble Order of the Garter and other Knights and Companions of the same Order for the time being to be assembled at any time hereafter at our Castle at Windesor and to other our Officers Ministers and Subjects these our Letters hearing or seeing Greeting We let you weet that We of our special grace and for certain urgent and great causes and special considerations concerning the old service done unto us by our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellor the Lord Darcy one of the Knights and Companions of the said Noble Order of the Garter and of his great age and debility have pardoned and licensed him by these presents at all time from henceforth during his life to be absent from the said Feast of St. George and not to give attendance in any place Chapter or other Feast to be holden of the said Noble Order and that he to sustain no damage by any mean for his said absence any Act Decree Ordinance Oath or Statute of the said Noble Order of the Garter now being made or hereafter to be made to the contrary notwithstanding Given under the Seal of the Gartier of the said Noble Order the eight and twentieth day of October the six and twentieth year of our Reign NUM CLXXXII Another Inter Praecident Tho. Rome Eq. Aur. nuper Cancell Charles R. CHarles by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin Ferdinand Earl of Derby Knight and Companion of our said most Noble Order Greeting For asmuch as we are informed by our Chancellor of our Order upon signification to him made under your Seal of Arms of your indisposition of health and of your petition to have licence to forbear your attendance upon our person on the 22.23 24. of May next being the days appointed by Prorogation for the Celebration of the Feast of our most Noble Order of the Garter We give you to understand that we are pleased to excuse your absence and by these presents do pardon remit and dispense with any default you may thereby incur And we do further in respect of your age and weakness unable to travel signified unto us in your said Petition by these presents dispense with your attendance on our person upon the said Feast days during your natural life observing in your own house the Rites and Solemnities appointed by the Canons of the Order upon the usual days of Celebration being the 22.23 24. of April or at such times as shall be hereafter appointed by Prorogation any Statute or Article of our said Order to the contrary notwithstanding Given under the Seal of our said Order at our Court at Whitehall the 9. day of April in the 14. year of our Reign NUM CLXXXIII A Warrant to Garter to take down the Atchievements of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland Collect. W. le N. Cl. By the Queen Trusty and well-beloved We greet you well letting you witte That where the Hatchments of the late Duke of Northumberland attâ—inted of High Treason and put to Execution for his offence do remain yet within our Chappel of Windesor untaken down Our pleasure is in respect of his said Offence through the which his Hatchments deserve not to be in so honorable a place among the rest of the Knights of our Order you shall repair to Windesor immediately upon the Receipt of these Our Letters and in your presence cause the said Hatchments of the said late Duke to be taken down in such sort as others in like cases have been whereof fail you not Given under our Signet of our Order c. NUM CLXXXIV A Publication of the Degrading of Edward Duke of Buckingham Ex Collect. A. V. W. BE it known unto all men That whereas Edward late Duke of Buckingham Knight and Companion of the Noble Order of Saint George named the Garter hath lately done and committed High Treason against the King Soveraign of the said Order of the Garter in compassing and imagining the destruction of the most Noble person of our said Soveraign Lord the King contrary to his Oath Duty and Allegiance for which High Treason the said Edward hath been indicted arraigned convicted and attainted and for the which detestable Offence and High Treason the said Edward hath deserved to be disgraded of the said Noble Order and expelled out of the said Company and not worthy that his Arms Ensigns and Atchievements should remain amongst other Noble Ensigns and Atchievements of other noble vertuous and approved Knights of the said Noble Order nor to have the benefits of the said Noble Order Wherefore our Soveraign Lord the King Soveraign of the said Noble Order of St. George named the Garter by the advice of other Knights of the said Noble Order for his said Offences and committing of the said High Treason willeth and commandeth that the said Edward late Duke of Buckingham be disgraded of the said Noble Order and his Arms and Ensigns and Atchievements clearly expelled and put from amongst the Arms Ensigns and Atchievements of the other Noble Knights of the said Order to the intent that all other Noble men thereby may take Example hereafter not to commit any such hainous and detestable Treason and Offence as God forbid they should God save the King NUM CLXXXV The Soveraign's Letters for celebrating Masses upon the Death of the Lord Fitz-Hugh an 3. H. 6. Lib. N. pag. 81. 82. Exteris aliis hujus Clarissimi Ordinis Sodalibus extra Regnum Commorantibus eorum cuilibet Supremus Salutem QUoniam Charissime mi Cognate N. Henricus Dominus Fitzhugh nuper unus è Commilitonibus nostris excessit ex hâ—c vitâ cujâ—s anime propitius esto Deus Nos id proprerea nunciamâ—s ut vestram commiserationem minimè lateat Missas ex praecepto Statuti pro defuncto celebrandas caeteraque complenda quâ—e vestrâ in hâ—c parte soleâ— imeresse Vestram verò nobilitatem beata Trinitas servet angeat Sub Sigillo nostri Ordinis Windesori c. Manentibus intra Regnum sed absentibus ab hâc