their Dominion and Power this their Valor and Courage as may be properly instanced in Geysa King of Hungary who waging War with the Austrians was by the Bishops when he came into the field Armis accinctus girded with Arms that is Knighted and in like manner Leopold Marquess of Austria Ottacher Duke of Stiria and Frederick Duke of Austria and Stiria so also Godfrey Duke of Brabant with Henry his Son solemnly received the Order of Knighthood before his Expedition to Hierusalem So Peter King of Aragon was girt with the Military Girdle from Pope Innocent the Third anno Domini 1204. the Emperor Henry the Third was made Knight by the Bishop of Breme and our William Rufus by Lanfranke Arch-Bishop of Canterbury But to proceed yet a little farther in Examples of this nature Kings themselves have been Knighted not only by inferiour Princes but sometimes by their own Subjects as Lewis the Eleventh of France at his Coronation by Philip le bon Duke of Burgundy Francis the First immediately after the memorable Fight at Marignan neer Millan by Peter Baiarde Of our own Nation King Edward the Third by Henry Earl of Lancaster King Henry the Sixth by his Uncle Iohn Duke of Bedford King Henry the Seventh by the Earl of Arundel and lastly King Edward the Sixth by Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford afterwards created Duke of Somerset And though it is commonly said That all the Sons of the French King are Knights assoon as they receive their Baptism nevertheless Sir Henry Spelman from Goropus seems to contradict this opinion by informing us that they were not judged worthy of the Kingdom unless they had been first solemnly admitted into the Knightly Order And we elsewhere find that the Royal Heirs of Aragon were suspended from the Crown of that Kingdom until they had received the Honor of Knighthood To this purpose the usage and fashion of the time shortly after the Norman Conquest is considerable when our young Princes were sent over to neighbouring Kings that from them they might receive this Honor Thus was our Henry the Second sent to David King of Scots and Knighted by him in Carlisle and Edward the First at the Age of fifteen years to Alphonsus the Eleventh King of Castile for the same Dignity In like manner did Foreign Princes repair hither to receive the Honor from our Kings as Malcolne King of Scotland and Alexander Son of William King of Scotland Knighted by our King Iohn anno Domini 1212. So was Alexander the Third by our King Henry the Third on Christmas day at York anno 1252. and Magnus King of the Isle of Man by the same King All which sufficiently demonstrate the great Renown of Knighthood and the honor and esteem which was ever had for that Order The estimation of Knighthood may be yet further manifest from divers expressions in that part of an Edict transcribed by Mr. Selden out of Goldastus which Conrade King of the Romans sent to those of Palermo to give them notice he had received the Order of Knighthood which he did after this manner That although he ought not to want the Ensigns and Tokens of Military Honor considering the nobleness of his Birth and greatness of his Dignity he at that time swaying two Scepters yet because he had not as then received the Military Girdle established by venerable Antiquity he did chuse to adorn himself therewith in that Month of August wherein the said Edict passed to the end that from thence the â—lower of his victorious years might put on the Ensigns of greater valor and the excellency of this new Militia renew the lustre of original Nobility What peculiar respects Knights have had paid them in our own Nation Mr. Selden hath collected from our legal proceedings and set down in his Titles of Honor pag. 783 784 785 and 786. In the close of this Chapter we think fit to insert a few memorials of that additional favour in augmentation of the Knightly Honor which some of our Kings have pleas'd to afford those Strangers on whom they have conferr'd the Dignity of Knighthood and to make it more known and publick given Declarations thereof under the Great Seal of England where the person so honored made sute for the same whereby they have declared and attested that willingly and of their own accord they have given and conferr'd on them the Degree Honor and Title of a Knight as due to their Virtues and Merits to the end that those persons should be esteemed and ranked in the place and number of Knights aswell among their own Subjects as in their own Countries and also by all persons elsewhere no less than themselves should esteem any other honorable and worthy men adorned with the like Honor from other Kings and Princes The first that we have met with in this kind was given by King Henry the Eighth to Sir Gregory de Caalis born of a Noble Family in Rome on whom in consideration of his Virtues and Merits the King had bestowed the Honor of Knighthood as may be collected from a Warrant directed to the Cardinal Arch-Bishop of York his Chancellor to make out Letters Patents under the Great Seal as well of the said Order of Knighthood as of the Grant of an annual Pension of two hundred Crowns of Gold per Annum during his life for the better and more honorable maintenance of that Dignity His late Majesty of ever blessed memory King Charles the First having Knighted Sir Iames Cats Doctor of Law Syndick of Dort and Ambassador extraordinary to his said Majesty from the States General of the Vnited Provinces was also pleas'd 26º Ian. 1627. to give him a Declaration thereof under the Great Seal of England to notifie his being such not only with us here but in his own Country and elsewhere And sometimes there hath past in these Letters Testimonial a kind of Ennoblement to their Posterity where that hath been before wanting to the Family which the King in regard of the Knights great Virtue and Merits hath thereby rais'd into that Degree Title and Dignity of Gentleman as may be seen by those Letters Patents granted to Sir Lewis Van Alteren eldest Son to Simon Van Alteren Lord of Iaerâ—velt and Councellor in the Court of Admiralty of Amsterdam dated the twenty ninth of Ianuary anno 4. Car. 1. The like Letters Patents of Declaration of Knighthood and Ennoblement of Posterity were shortly after viz. 26. Feb. following given to Sir Peter Pau Son of Sir Adrian Pau Lord of Hemsted and then extraordinary Ambassador from the aforesaid States General But in some others this declarative Clause of having bestowed the Dignity of Knighthood hath been much more contracted then in the Precedent before remembred and the testimony of donation only and that briefly express'd as in those Letters Patents made forth to
House within two miles of Eccleshall in Staffordshire where one Mr. George Barlow then dwelt delivered his Wife this George to secure Within a week after Mr. Barlow himself carried to Robert Milward Esquire now second Justice of the great Sessions of the County Palatine of Chester one of the Commissioners of the Privy Seal and Son unto Sir Thomas Milward Knight late Chief Justice of the said great Sessions both persons of known loyalty and great sufferers for his late Majesty he being when a Prisoner to the Parliament in the Garrison of Stafford and by his means was it happily preserved and restored for not long after he delivered it to Mr. Isaac Walton a man well known and as well beloved of all good men and will be better known to posterity by his ingenious Pen in the lives of Doctor Donne Sir Henry Wotton Mr. Richard Hooker and Mr. George Herbert to be given to Colonel Blague then Prisoner in the Tower who considering it had already past so many dangers was perswaded it could yet secure one hazardous attempt of his own and thereupon leaving the Tower without leave taking hasted the presentation of it to the present Soveraign's hand The first is the Great Seal of Borice-Feodorwiche Emperor of Russia affixed to his Letters sent to Queen Elizabeth dated at his Imperial Palace of Mosko the 12. of Iune 1602. and 39. year of his Reign A Translation of which was most courteously afforded me by Mr. Ia. Frese Interpretor to the Russian Ambassadors sent over hither to his now Majesty an Dom. 1660. and is as followeth By Gods providence We the great Lord Emperor and great Duke Boreece Feodorwiche of all Russia Self-upholder of Wolodeemer Mosko Novograde Emperor of Kazan Emperor of Astracane and Emperor of Seebeeria Lord of Psokosske great Duke of Smolenskee Twerskee Ugarskee Permskee Vaticekee Bolgarskee and other Lord and great Duke of Novagradia the lower Countries Cheringoskee Rezanskee Rososkee Yaroslaveskee Beloozerskee Leeflandia Udorskee Obdorskee Kondinskee and Commander of all the Northern parts and Lord of all the Iverskee Countries and Granziskee Empires and of the Caberniskee Countries Cherkaskee Igorskee and of many other Kingdoms Lord and Conqueror We have likewise seen another of this Emperors great Seals fixed to his Letters bearing date the 31. day of May an Dom. 1594. which he also sent to Queen Elizabeth and was presented to her at Richmond the 14. of October following by his Ambassador Evanowich the Circumscription containing the same Stile and Titles above set down There is preserved in the Archives at Oxford an Instrument containing Letters testimonial of this Emperor given to Doctor Christopher Ritinger his chief Physician the Seal whereof is Silver gilt but differs in size and design from the former and contains on the reverse the Figure of St. George and the Dragon only A translation of the whole Instrument I have transcribed hither as it was communicated to me by my worthy friend Mr. Thomas Hyde the present Library-Keeper of that famous Vniversity a Gentleman of eminent Learning in all kinds and especially in the Oriental Tongues By the great mercy of God We great Lord Emperor and great Duke Borrys Feodorwich of all Russia sole Commander of Volodemersky Moscovesky Novogorodsky King of Cazansky King of Astracansky King of Sibersky Lord of Vobsky and great Duke of Smolensky Twersky Ugorsky Permesky Votsky Bulgarsky and many others Lord and great Duke of Novogorod Levelandsky Udorsky Obdorsky Kondnisky and all the Northern parts Commander Lord of Iverskyland King of Grusinsky Caberdinsky Country Chercasky and the Country of Iversky and of many other Kingdoms Lord and Commander together with our princely Son Pheodor Burrissiwich of all Russia do by these our princely Letters given unto Doctor Christopher Ritinger Physician Hungarian born acknowledge his true faithful and willing service unto our Highness in which his profession We Lord King and great Duke Burrys Feodorwich of all Russia have sufficiently tryed his skill on our princely person which he carefully performed for the better preservation of our health and through Gods great mercy by his diligent and faithful service hath cured our Highness of a dangerous sickness And therefore we Lord King and great Duke Borys Feodorwich of all Russia sole Commander with our princely Son Pheodor Burryssiwich in regard of his great learning and faithful service to us have admitted him to be our Princely Doctor to minister Physick and attend on our royal person to which end we have granted him our Letters and hereby we testifie his sufficient knowledge and practice in Physick who hath by our selves well deserved to publish and make known the same And if the said Doctor Christopher shall repair to any other Princes Countries Emperors Kings Curfists Arch-Dukes or Dukes to offer his service unto them We do by these our princely Letters wheresoever they shall come give true testimony on the said Doctor Christopher's behalf to be of great learning sufficient knowledge well practised in Physick matters as also in that profession careful diligent and trusty to be credited We having had sufficient tryal of his faithful carriage in all true and honest services towards us These our Princely Letters given in our great and chiefest Palace in the Kingdom of Mosco in the year of the creation of the World 7109. and in the moneth of August The Style about the Seal By the great mercy of God We great Lord Emperor and great Duke Borys Feodorwich of all Russia sole Commander Lord and Governor of many other Countries and Kingdoms The third is the great Seal of Alexeye Michailowiche the present Emperor of Russia wherewith was sealed the Letter sent to his now Majesty an Dom. 1660. by his Ambassadors Duke Peter Semoenowiche Prosoroskee Lord and Possessor of the Dukedom of Toole and Evan Offonosyewiche Zelabuskee Namestinck of Coormeskee Which having obtained by the favour of Sir William Morice Knight and Baronet late principal Secretary of State we also here exhibit to publick view with a translation of this Emperor's Style rendred into English by the said Mr. Ia. Frese By Gods mercy We the great Lord Emperor and great Duke Alexeye Michailowiche of all the great and lesser and white Russia Self-upholder of Moscovia Kneveskee Wolodeemerskee and Novagardskee Emperor of Kazan Emperor of Astracan Emperor of Siberia Lord of Pscosskee and great Duke of Lettow Smolenskee Twerskee Wolniskee Podolskee Ugarskee Permskee Waticekee Bolgarskee and others Lord and great Duke of Novogradia the lower Countries Cheringoskee Rezanskee Polotskee Rostosskee Yaroslasskee Belozerskee Udorskee Obdorskee Kandinskee Weetepskee Meestesloskee and of all the Northern parts Commander Lord of the Iverskee Countries Cartalinskee Groonsiskee and Igerskee Empires and of the Kabardinskee Countries Cheringosskee and Igorskee Dukedoms and of many other Dukedoms Eastern western and northern from Father and Grandfather heir apparent Lord and Conqueror This representation of St. George and the Dragon we find assigned for Arms to Anne de Russie Daughter to Iaroslaus
United Provinces and by consequence his Realms and so thereby the whole Christian World his Majesty being altogether of opinion that the quiet of Christendom consisteth much in the happy state of these Provinces and that the condition of these Provinces what ever it be and that of those Realms have a mutual dependence one upon the other This is the motive and sole cause that hath induced his Majesty to confer upon you an Honor the greatest his Kingdoms can bestow of which behold these the Marks and Ensigns and with these words produced the Garter which your Excellency is to receive from us according to the commands of our King and those altogether free from any Ceremonies except such wherein you shall voluntarily and willingly consent to be engaged This Speech being ended Prince Maurice in brief gave thanks for the Honor offer'd him and then forthwith the Ambassador and Garter having made due obeysance tyed on the Garter about his Leg next Garter took out of the forementioned Purse the Golden Medal whereon was the Effigies of St. George with the subdued Dragon under his feet this Medal hanging upon a Blue Ribband Garter put about the Princes Neck after which he unfolded a Parchment wherein were contained the Titles of Prince Maurice in French which he read aloud The high mighty and excellent Prince Maurice Prince of Orange Earl of Nassau Catzenelleboge Viand Dietz Meurs Linge Marquess of Vere and Flushing Baron of Grave the Territory of Kuyke Lece and Nyervaert Governour and Captain General of Gelderland Holland Zealand Vtrecht West-Friesland Zutphen and Overyssell Admiral General of the United Provinces and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter Assoon as he had made an end of reading these Titles presently all the Trumpets sounded and the Troops in order shot off their Pistols which Volly was seconded by the Trained-Bands after which the great Guns were discharged These things being thus performed and silence made Sir John Oldenbarnevelt Lord of Tempel making an Oration in the name of the States General reckoned up in brief the Leagues contracted heretofore at several times between the Provinces and the Kingdom of Great Britain and thereupon rendred humble thanks to the King for the continuance of them specially for that by this action he went about to manifest the same to all men for as much as that so remarkable Honor which his Majesty was conferring on those Provinces in the person of Prince Maurice their Governour and Commander both in War and Peace was an honor used to be shewn but only to the very choicest of his Friends but most principally of all for that he was pleased to confer this honor on Prince Maurice without enjoining any strict obligation upon the receipt of the Order Next he gave thanks to the Ambassadors for the diligence they had employed in this affair and lastly directing his speech to Prince Maurice he in the name of the States General congratulated his new honor assuring him on their behalf that they conceived very great joy and satisfaction and wisht him a very long and a happy enjoyment thereof to the glory of God and the enlargement of his Family and the conservation of the publick liberty of the United Provinces in which thing as hitherto they had done so for the time to come they would for ever afford him their best and most faithful assistance As soon as he had finished his Speech John Utenbogard Minister of the Hague as he had been ordered standing at the end of the Table made a very admirable and learned Sermon wherein he most devoutly praised God for what had hapned imploring him to bless Prince Maurice in his new obtained honor and to endue him with his Grace The Sermon ended the Trumpets sounded the Muskets also and great Guns were again discharged Then Prince Maurice accompanied by the Ambassadors and other Noble Persons returned in the same order as he came and then again the third time Vollies of great and small shot were discharged after which the Soldiers and Trained-Bands went every one to their own homes and quarters At Evening the pitcht Barels were set on fire and Bonfires kindled a magnificent entertainment also was given by Prince Maurice to the Ambassadors Princes and great Persons above mentioned at which while Healths were drunk to the King of France and Great Britain all the Guns were again discharged A Remonstrance made by Sir William Segar Knight Garter Principal King of Arms joined in Commission with the right honorable the Lord Carleton Ambassador to the high and mighty Prince Henry Prince of Orange for presenting him with the Noble Order of the Garter 1627. WE took our journey from Whitehall on a Thursday to Gravesend being the of April Anno Domini 1627. and lodged there that night On Friday morning we embarqued in two Merchants ships of London in the one went the Lord Ambassador Carleton Secretary of State of the Kings Majesty King Charles accompanied with the young Lord Dormer and divers other Gentlemen his Followers and Servants my self embarqued in the other Merchants Ship with my two Sons Mr. Henry Lennard my three Servants Trunks and other Provisions We set sail about 9 of the Clock and sailed all that day and night following and arrived on Saturday at Delf Haven in Holland about 6 of the Clock in the Evening where being landed we could have no lodging in the Town all was taken up for the Lodging of the Lord Ambassador and his Train and I forced to hire two Waggons for the transport of me and mine our Trunks and baggage to the Town of Delf whither we came about eleven of the Clock that night and lodged at the Sign of the Golden Fleece The next day being Monday the Ambassador coming by water to Delf was entertained and feasted at the English House by the English Merchants and that Afternoon was conveyed by Water in the Princes Barge to the Hague and by the way was met with by his Excellency and divers of the States who complemented his welcome My self followed his Lordship by Waggon and had my Lodging and Diet provided in the Chastelins House in the Hague where I was well entertained and accommodated The day following being Tuesday my self with my two Sons an Mr. Lennard went to kiss his Excellencies hands who very kindly entertained me and remembred he had seen me there before upon the like occassion with his Brother Maurice Prince of Orange so after our humble salutations we departed It was about nine or ten days before we could be resolved whether the Order should be accepted of or not for the French Ambassador there resident opposed it by all means possible that he could alledging it stood not with the French King his Masters honor considering the League between him the Prince and States that his Enemy the King of Great Britain should be so much favored and honored by the Prince as to have the Order of the Garter by him received
the King of Great Britain having entered his Dominions in hostile manner surprised the Isle of Ree slain his People and endeavoured to relieve Rochell which he held Rebels to him all which by the wisdom of the Lord Ambassador Carleton was so discreetly answered and so far prevailed that a day was appointed for the reception of the Order which was to be done on the Sunday following in the Afternoon and was performed as followeth The Prince of Orange his Regiment of Shot and Pikes the English Regiment and some Dutch Companies having placed themselves in two Battalions on either side of the great Court of the Princes Palace we proceeded between them First went a number of Collonels and Captains English Scots and Dutch after whom followed the chief Officers of his Excellency's Household then my self bearing on a Purple Velvet Cushen the Robes of the Order the great Collar and the Garter and a lesser Iewel of the George fastned to a Blue Ribband with King Charles his Commission under the Great Seal of England The Prince went between the Lord Ambassador and the Palsgrave who that day wore the whole Habit of the Order of the Garter We were conducted up the great Stairs through the old Hall of the Palace and so brought to the Council Chamber of the States General who were all placed on either side of a long Table the whole length of the Room The Estate of the Table was bolden in the midst thereof where four Chairs were placed the Prince of Orange and the Ambassador took the two middlemost Chairs the Palsgrave on the right hand and my self on the left The French Ambassador and the Venetian sate at the upper end of the board The Earl of Coningburg President of the Council of the States the Treasurer and Admiral of Holland sate opposite to the Prince and all other of the States on either side in their degrees Silence being made the Ambassador Carleton stood up and began his Harangue or Oration signifying that by the Example of the great love and amity long time continued between the Queen's Majesty of England Elizabeth of famous memory and Prince Maurice with the States General of the United Provinces King James her successor intending no less good welfare and prosperity to his Excellency and the States then and still being had presented him with the Noble Order of the Garter as to his intimate Friend Confederate and Ally which he princely accepted acknowledged and used during his life And that now the high and mighty Prince King Charles his son understanding of the right noble and valorous disposition of his Excellency Henry Prince of Orange and having a like desire as his Father had to continue the same amity and friendship inviolably between them had made especial choice of him the said Prince to be a Companion and Consrere of the said most Noble Order which he was there by Commission to present his Excellency withall The Oration ended the Ambassador presented his Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal of England during the reading whereof by one of the Secretaries of the States The whole Table of the States stood up their heads uncovered only the French Ambassador excepted who sate covered Then Garter after Reverence made with an audible voice pronounced in French the Stile of the King of Great Britain as is accustomed and after it the Stile of Henry Prince of Orange which done by a signal made at one of the Windows the Trumpets sounded the Drums strook up and a thousand Musket shot were discharged in Volley Then stood up at the Table a French Orator who began his Harangue in the praise of the Noble Order of the Garter relating as he said he was informed how many Emperors Kings and Princes had been thereof applauding the worthy Election and choice of both the famous Princes of Orange Prince Maurice lately deceased and Prince Henry then Governing only be excepted against the patronage of Saint George who was he said but a Legendary Saint and not Canonical nor approved by general Councils and in effect but a moral Allegory For every Christian man that for his Faith would fight and defend the Church yea and for the same suffer Martyrdom he should conquer the Dragon that is the Devil and be as much holy reputed as St. George But the Order to be stiled of the Garter was more significant because it carried with it a bond or tie of Fellowship as a Symbol of Amity and Friendship between Princes being Companions of the said Order So concluding his Harangue with a Prayer for the Soveraign's prosperity King Charles and the whole Fellowship of the said most Noble Order of the Garter he ended Then the Lord Ambassador Carleton with his Excellency the Prince of Orange the Prince Palatine and my self standing up the Ambassador took the great Collar with the George and assisted by the Palatine put it over the head of his Excellency and fastned it on his shoulder for at that time he refused to wear the Robes of the Order because he said his Brother Grave Maurice had not done it but laying up his leg on my Chair the Ambassador and I put on the Garter Which done by another signal six and thirty Canons reported and so way being made we returned that way as we came the Trumpets sounding and the Drums beating until his Excellency was entred into his Court. That day or night we had no Feast for avoiding Precedency and Place between the Ambassador drinking of Healths and other complements which might have occassioned question or difference on either party That night Bonfires of pitched Barels were made through the Town as is accustomed to be done in all their Triumphs The next day following being Monday I was invited by a Messenger to dine with his Excellency where in his great Chamber the Table ready furnished with meat without Ceremony of other service or attendants but his own Pages being half a dozen in number his Excellency sate down not at the end of the Board but at the right hand thereof and Count Lodowick of Nassaw his Vncle on the left hand side I was placed on the Princes side at a convenient distance from him by his Marshal Collonel Boage a Scottish man sate right against me next to Count Lodowick and these were all the Guests at the Table during Dinner his Excellency asked me sundry questions namely whether Queen Elizabeth did wear the Garter of the Order about her leg as the Knights did I answered I thought not for it was not proper for her Sex so apparently to shew her leg Then he demanded whether the Institution of the Order was from the fall of a Blue Garter from the Ladies leg with whom the King danced I told him it was so holden by tradition but the truth was otherwise as it is recorded in the old Register Book of the Order that King Edward the Third returning home after his conquest of France to remunerate those Knights that had
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
Sir Aloysus Contareni Leiger Aâ—bassador for the State of Venice to King Charles the First 20. Iuly 1629. as also to Sir Peter Paul Rubens Secretary to the King of Spain and one of the Privy Council in Flanders 15. December 1630. to both of whom he thereby also gave augmentation of Arms. With these before mentioned may be here also inserted a few Examples testifying the Creation of a Knight from abroad such like Royal Declarations being oftentimes granted by the Emperors of Germany and other Foreign Princes to the Knights they have Created both for the same reason and upon the like ground as is before noted Such was that Imperial Diploma of Rodulph the Second Emperor of Germany given at his Court at Prague the second of Iune 1610. whereby he declared to have created and ordained Sir Robert Sherley our Countryman a true and lawful Knight to have received him into the State Degree and Honor of Knighthood to have girt him with the Sword of Valor and adorn'd and invested him with the Robes Ensigns and all other Arms and Ornaments appertaining to the Order of Knighthood according to the Imperial Custom Decreeing moreover by his said Imperial Authority that for the future he should be esteemed reputed named and honored for a true and lawful Knight without lett or contradiction and might use possess and enjoy all whatsoever Honors Prerogatives Ensigns Priviledges Freedoms Favors and Liberties which the rest of his Knights the Knights of the Roman Empire as also the Knights of S. Iohn of Hierusalem used possessed and enjoyed in what manner soever either of right or custom none whatsoever forbidding the contrary There is transcribed into the Iurisprudentia Heroica a like Diploma at large and almost in the same words granted to Sir Charles Bellehe by the same Emperor in which it is also testified that he had by the stroke of his Sword and Imperial word made created nominated and constituted him a Knight and invested him with the Ensigns of the Equestrian Order and other Ornaments appertaining thereto and by virtue and force thereof did decree unto him the Honors Ensigns and Priviledges which other Knights did use possess and enjoy without any impediment or contradiction Lastly the Diploma of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden made to Sir Henry St. George Knight late Richmond Herald at Arms when he was employed to carry the Ensigns of the most Noble Order of the Garter to that King and transcribed by Mr. Selden is worthy of mention here Wherein his Creation into the Dignity of Knighthood is testified to have been solemnly performed in the view of the whole Army and thereby is given and conferr'd upon him all Honors Priviledges Immunities Liberties Rights Preheminences and Ensigns whatsoever which at any time according to the Custom of any Place had been granted to this Order of Knighthood so that he might publickly use possess and enjoy the same in the presence of all men and among all Emperors Kings c. without any prohibition either in word or deed And moreover this King as a greater testimony of his favour did thereby grant unto the said Sir Henry an augmentation of the Royal Arms of Sweden to be born and used by him and his descendants Something like the Royal Declarations before remembred are those Attestations and Certificates of Knighthood made as occasion requires instead of Codicils by some of the Kings and Heralds of Arms in Flanders for manifestation and truth no less than perpetual memory of the Creation and the Honor thereby accruing to them and their descendants who have actually received the Dignity of Knighthood to the end they might be acknowledged and reputed for Knights and enjoy and use the Honors Priviledges and Prerogatives due to that Degree with other Knights Two such Declarations are set down in the Iurisprudentia Heroica the one made on the behalf of Sir Hierom Sandelin Knighted at the solemn entrance and inauguration of Philip then Prince of Spain into Antwerp the twelfth day of September in the year 1549. and subsigned by Iean de Arroyo Claude Marion and Gerard de Marbais Heralds of Arms to the said Prince the other by Sir Anthony Beaulincourt Knight Toison d'or Principal King of Arms Henry de la Tour Brabant Estienne de Morez Haynau Claude-Marion Bourgoigne Iean de Demedrano and Piere de Vernois also Kings of Arms to Philip the Second King of Castile and England for Sir Roland Longin who was Knighted by the said King at Antwerp the twenty third day of Ianuary Anno Domini 1555. where a Chapter was then held for the Election of Knights into the Order of the Golden Fleece CHAP. II. OF THE Religious Orders OF KNIGHTHOOD in CHRISTENDOM SECT I. Of ancient Societies analogous to the Orders of Knighthood ALthough the Orders remembred in this and the next Chapter may seem to have had their original from the Equestrian Order among the Romans nevertheless we may observe from Stories yet more ancient some things bearing proportion or resemblance to these modern Societies of Knighthood And this though we do not take any great notice of certain old Rabinical Comments concerning the Anakim or Sons of Anak who according to Bouldouchius were a Society of valiant men imagined to have been so called not from Anak as being the name of any person but as they were Torquati Knights endowed with a Chain or Collar Anak signifying as much as Torquis and the Order thereof to have been instituted at the building of the City of Hebron which City was before called Kiriath Arba i. c. the City of Arba who is said to have been the Father of Anak namely the Father or first Institutor of Anak or the Order of the Collar What will such as are apt to give way to ingenious Fictions and Conceits fancy of the Argonauts who went in quest of the Golden Fleece a Catalogue of whom you have in Apollonius Rhodius Orpheus and Valerius Flaccus but that they were a Company of Grecian Knights the principal whereof were Castor and Pollux Telamon Orpheus Hercules and Hylas who entring into a most honorable Fraternity or Association made an Expedition to Colchi under Iason their supream What of the Argolic Youths that hunted the Caledonian Boar but a Society of Knights combin'd under Meleager their head or chief Much like to which of later times were those Martial Followers of Charles the Great first Emperor of the Western Franks in his Expedition against the Saracens that invaded Aquitain who especially the chief of them Orlando are so renowned by that excellent Poem of Lodovico Ariasto as also those that accompanied Godfrey of Bulloign to the Conquest of Ierusalem celebrated by that Heroic Poet Torquato Tasso in his Ierusalem Liberata both which Stories are true in the main however flourisht over and interlac'd with Fancy and Fiction SECT II. The Christian Institution of Knightly Orders BUT waving further instances of this
in a Red Ribbon alone The Founder ordained four Officers to attend and serve the Order after the manner declared in the Ordinances for their Instructions annexed to the Statutes namely a Chancellor a Treasurer a Greffier or Register and a King of Arms called Toison d' Or. Lewis the Eleventh of France refused to accept of this Order because his Predecessors were not accustomed to receive the Orders of their Subjects for such were the Dukes of Burgundy accounted who held that Dutchy and other Seigniories in homage leige to the Crown of France Albeit the Emperors of Germany are descended from Philip Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders nevertheless the power of conferring the Order is lodg'd in the Kings of Spain only the Title of Head and Soveraign being solemnly resigned by the Emperor Charles the Fifth to his Son King Philip the 25. day of October anno Dom. 1556. in the Royal Chappel at his Palace in Bruxelles and the Collar taken from his neck and with his own hands put over his said Sons shoulders in the presence of divers of the Knights at which Ceremony he used this form of words Accipe Fili mi quem è Collo meo detraho Tibi praecipuum Aurei Velleris Torquem quem Philippus Dux Burgundiae cognomine Bonus Atavus noster Monimentum fidei sacrae Romanae Ecclesiae esse voluit hujusce Institutionis ac Legum ejus fac semper memineris Afterwards though Philip the Second King of Spain invested the Infanta his Daughter Isabella in the Dominion of the Low Countries upon the Contract of her marriage with the Arch-Duke Albert of Austria yet he retained to himself and Successors Kings of Spain and Dukes of Burgundy the honor of being Chief of this Order in which Crown it remains to this day The Statutes ratified under the Founders Seal the 27. of Nov. 1431. are printed in the Iurisprudentia Heroica together with those other additions and alterations which were since made by his Successors So also are the Priviledges granted to the Knights by the Founder his Son Charles and Maximilian which received confirmation from King Philip the Second anno Dom. 1556. The Names of the first 24 Knights and their Successors to the number of 450. are there also registred together with a Catalogue of the Chancellors Treasurers Registers and Kings of Arms and lastly a Figure of a â—â—â—ght vested in the Habit may be there likewise seen The Original and Foundation of this Order is written at large in French by William Bishop of Tournay Abbot of St. Bertin and second Chancellor to the Order in a Treatise of his called The Golden Fleece dedicated to Charles Duke of Burgundy Son to the Founder and printed at Troyes in the year of our Lord 1530. In this Work the Author treats of two manner of Golden Fleeces viz. first of Iason's Fleece of which he useth the testimony of Eustathius to assert it for a true History and by it represents the noble Virtue of Magnanimity demonstrating several Virtues appertaining to the state of Nobility Secondly of Iacobs Fleece viz. the party-coloured and streaked Fleece by which he sets forth the Virtue of Iustice which Virtue principally appertaining to Kings Knights and noble persons moved the heart of Duke Philip to institute this Order under it comprehending the Virtues of both the other Fleeces The Order of St. George at Genoa 35. The Republick of Genoa have an Order of Knighthood among them dedicated to the honor of St. George their titular Saint and Patron it was instituted by Frederick the Third Emperor of Germany and the Knights thereof are called Knights of St. George at Genoa The Ensign is a plain Cross Gules and worn by the Knights at a Chain of Gold about their neck The Dukes of Genoa are Chiefs thereof and in regard their Dignity lasts but two years the Order is much impaired through the inconstancy and alteration of times The Order of the Croissant in France 36. Rene or Renatus descended of the second Line of the House of Anjou King of Ierusalem and Sicily c. Duke of Anjou Count of Provence c. erected this Order under the denomination of the Croissant or half Moon in the City of Anjou anno Dom. 1464. But the Saincte Marthe's make it 16 years older by placing the Institution in the year 1448. Ios. Micheli reports that Charles King of Sicily and Ierusalem was the first Institutor anno 1268. in the great Church at Messina in Sicily on the day of St. Lewis King of France but he by mistake confounds this Order with that of the double Croissant instituted by St. Lewis in France and after his death retained and setled in Sicily by the said King Charles his Brother The end wherefore King Rene founded this Order is noted to be in honor of God support of the Church and exaltation of Knighthood Over which he declared himself and his Successors Dukes of Anjou and Kings of Sicily Chiefs He also chose St. Maurice Knight and Martyr for Patron and held the first Ceremonies in the Church of Angiers dedicated to his name The Symbol which the Knights wore on the right side of their Mantle was a golden Crescent whereon in red enamel was this word L'oz signifying in the opinion of Peter Mathieu L'oz en Croissant whereby they were encouraged to search after the increase of valour and reputation At this Crescent was fastned as many small pieces of Gold fashioned like Columes and enamelled with red as the Knights had been present in Battels Sieges of Towns Cities or Castles which gave due intimation to all men of their valour shewed in martial services for none could be adopted into this Order unless he had well mâ—â—ited in some of these kinds The Knighâ—â— who were 36 in number but the Saincte Marthe's say 50 did wear for the Habit Mantles of red or Crimson Velvet and a Mantlet of White with the lining and Surcoat of the same The Order of the Ermine in Britagne 37. In the year of Christ 1450. Francis the First of that name Duke of Bretagne in memory of his Grandfather Iohn surnamed the Conqueror or else in imitation of other Princes of the bloud in France founded this Order consisting of 25 Knights and thereupon also new-built his Castle of the Ermine He ordained the Habit to be Mantles of White Damask lined with Carnation and the Mantlet of the same The great Collar to be of Gold composed of Ears of Corn in Saltir bound above and beneath with two Circles of Gold in imitation of the Crown of Ceres hereby noting the care of Husbandry which the ancient Counts and Dukes of Bretagne had as also the fertility of that Province and hence is this Order otherwise called of the Ears of Corn. At the end of this
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.
Domini 1650. By his Majesties command Rob. Long. We shall further add that together with the Letters signifying an Election and the Ensigns of the Order it was anciently in use to send the Book of Statutes under the Common Seal of the Order no less to a Knight-Subject than in like case to a Stranger and to the same end viz. that he might peruse and advise thereupon whether he would accept of the Election or not for so it appears by the Letters signifying Election sent to Sir Iohn Fastolf an 4. H. 6. Within a few days after his Highness Prince Rupert was Elected into this Order being then in Holland a Commission of Legation was prepared to be sent thither with the Garter and George by Sir Iohn Burrough Garter to perform the Investiture with them but Sir Iohn falling sick and dying prevented the designed Ceremony Nevertheless some while after the Prince had been in England the then Soveraign thought fit to command Sir Iames Palmer Chancellor of the Order to attend his Highness to declare the reasons why the said Commission was not sent and executed as was designed as also to deliver him the Commission it self to the intent being prevented of receiving his Installation at Windesor because that Castle continued in the possession of the Rebels it might remain with him as a memorial of this Soveraign's Princely favour and respect to his quality and merits as also for a further evidence of his admittance into this Noble Order since there was no other memorial thereof but the minutes of his Election and this Commission On Monday therefore the 14. of Ian. 1644. the said Chancellor accompanied with Dr. Chr. Wren Register and Sir Edward Walker then newly made Garter attended the Prince at his Lodgings in Oxford who having notice of their coming received them with all obliging civility and after a little pause the Chancellor made known to his Highness the Sovereign's Commands in the following Speech May it please your Highness THE Kings of England Soveraigns of the most Noble Order of the Garter ever since that honorable Foundation have thought fit not only for the reward of eminent services done by their own Subjects but also for incouragements to noble acts of Chivalry and virtue and partly for further augmentation and extention of the renown and honor of that most Noble Society have made it so estimable amongst all the Foreign Princes of Christendom that they have 〈◊〉 thought their fames sufficiently advanced till they have been taken notice of by this Princely Society and Elected into this most Noble Order of the Garter Which â—lâ—ction hath been so welcomed even to the Emperors and Kings of higâ—est degree of Renown in Europe that no tye of allyance amity or league hath proved a stronger bond of affection between this and Foreign Crowns than that of the Companionry of the most Noble Order of the Garter in which nine Christian Emperors fiâ—ty five crowned Kings and four hundred Princes and Peers having taken the Oath of homage and fealty to the King of England as their Soveraign in the said most Noble Order have already had their Names and glorious Acts registered in the Records thereof According to which Example of his Majesties Progenitors of famous memory his Majesty King Charles my Master Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter did at a Chapter held at his City of York the 20. of April in the 18. year of his Reign when though many Stalls remained vacant yet did think sit then to elect but two Knights only namely Prince James Duke of York his Son and your Highness his Nephew whom his Majesty thought worthiest to make choice of not only for your Princely descent of Blood but for his own particular interest in that noble consanguinity as being the Son of his only beloved Sister the virtuous Queen of Bohemia and for many eminent virtues besides as well heroical as moral inherent in your person And that his Majesties affection to you might be the more emphatically expressed he elected your Highness a Companion of the Order in the company of his own Son both to manifest thereby the intimateness of affection to your Highness as well as to shew Prince James his tender years a glorious pattern for his Princely imitation of valour and martial Atchievements in which choice his Majesty did not prove himself a King of Grace and Goodness only but a King and a Prophet also as if he could by his foreseeing judgment divine how happy an instrument of valour and safety you would after prove to his Crown and dignity in their greatest distresses In the conduct of whose Armies your Highness hath hitherto been so prosperous and successful that it will be my duty to truth as well as to the propriety of my Office to give a timely recordation of each particular to the Register of the Order that he may eternize the memory of your noble Acts to remain in the Records of the Order that posterity may know as well as we find what happy assistance your Princely Conduct of his Majesties Armies hath brought to his Kingdoms and Dominions Sir the Reasons and Motives of this your Election being so many it behoves me now to inform your Highness the reasons why this Commission hath not been sooner delivered unto your hand and those are that immediately upon your Election at York his Majesty commanded me to draw up a Commission of legation to Sir John Burrough Knight then principal King of Arms and Garter â—o bring the Ensigns of the Order together with the notice of your Election unto your Highness then in the Low Countries and to perform the same with all the Solemnities thereunto belonging Another Commission also under the Broad Seal of England was directed to the right Honorable the Earl of Arundel and Surrey Earl Marshall of England and to the Lord Goring his Majesties Embassador extraordinary with the States of the United Provinces to give your Highness the honor of Knighthood a Ceremony always by the Statutes of the said Order necessarily to be performed to any Elected Knight before he can be admitted to be a Companion and receive the Ensigns of the Order of the Garter But the said King of Arms then falling sick shortly after dyed and your Highness suddainly coming in person into England that Ceremony was prevented by those casualties and his Majesty at Nottingham himself performed that Office in delivering both the Garter and George unto your Highness since which time your continual employments in his Majesties Wars and your absence thereby necessarily inforced from Oxford where the Commission and Seals of the Order remained the delivery thereof was necessarily delayed till this present when his Majesties express command to me and to those Gentlemen Officers of the most Honorable Order is to deliver it now unto your Highness hands considering the place of your Instalment at the Castle of Windesor is necessarily prevented by reason
to the French King Henry the Third he received a hundred Marks beforehand When any of the Heralds were sent in Garter's place the same allowances were made them as if Garter had gone in person for we find the sum of 30 s. a day allowed to Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald sent with the Earl of Carlisle to Charles King of Sweden whither he began his Journey the 5. of February an 21. Car. 2. As also to Tho. St. George Esq Somerset Herald sent with Sir Tho. Higgons to the Duke of Saxony upon the like Employment the 27. of February following As concerning the allowance to such Officer of Arms not joined in but appointed to attend any of these Legations it was as followeth If he were a Herald his allowance was the moyety of what was given to Garter to wit heretofore 5 s. per diem for his Dyet and the like sum for the Soveraign's Reward in toto 10 s. per diem And if a Pursuivant at Arms was sent on this Employment his allowance was half as much per diem as an Herald had Agreeable hereunto was the allowance given to Chester Herald and Rouge Dragon Pursuivants in the Embassy to the French King Henry the Second an 5. E. 6. and there called the old Rate So also to Somerset Herald in the Voyage to Frederick the Second King of Denmark and to the same Herald when he attended the Legation to the French King Henry the Third and likewise in that Embassy to Henry the Fourth of France Moreover the Herald or Pursuivant had also a proportionable part of their daily allowances advanced beforehand to fit them for their Journey like as Garter had as in the foresaid Legation to Henry the Third Somerset Herald an advance of an hundred Nobles Over and above the before mentioned allowances to Garter for Diet and the Soveraign's Reward he hath also an allowance for Postage both outward and homeward of himself and his Servants and Transportation of the Habit of the Order and other things necessary for the Voyage and of this because there can be no estimate made beforehand whereby to ascertain any allowance for the same it hath been usual to insert a Clause in the Soveraign's Warrants including the allowances for these things to be such as Garter upon his return should in a Bill of particulars subscribed with his hand signifie to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer to have been disbursed by him The Warrant to furnish Garter or the Herald with Post-horses from place to place is commonly had from the Lords of the Privy Council or Secretary of State as likewise for convenient Shipping for the Transportation of himself Servants Trunks and other necessaries when he passeth over Sea either before or after the Lord Ambassador and is not provided for in his Ship SECT III. The Ceremonies of Investiture THE Ceremonies observed at a Prince's Receipt of the whole Habit and Ensigns of the Order are highly solemn whether we consider the manner of Investiture performed by the Soveraign's Ambassadors or the Festivity and Triumphs added by the new Invested Stranger and therefore that nothing may hinder a full prospect into the state and magnificence of both we shall handle the same at large and give such instances thereof as may illustrate so great a Solemnity First then the Commissioners joined in the Legation after their arrival at the Elect-Stranger's Court and receiving notice of their first Audience are to present themselves in the accustomed manner of Ambassadors Garter or his Deputy going in breast with the chief in the Legation if there be only himself joined in the Commission with the Lord Ambassador and in that place is it remembred that William Segar Esq Norroy King of Arms sent in the place of Garter did proceed with the Earl of Rutland at their first audience before Christian the Fourth King of Denmark Being arrived neer the Elect-Stranger they present the Letters certifying Election or their Credential Letters from the Soveraign and after some short general Complement delivered from the Soveraign of the Order by the chief Ambassador in the Legation he further makes known how that the Soveraign and Knights-Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter have elected him into that most renowned Society for the reasons which are commonly laid down in the Preamble of their Commission and which he ought then to repeat further acquainting him that the Soveraign doth never Elect any Stranger into the said Society but such as he doth most highly honor and respect and therefore desires him that he would accept of it as a true testimony thereof to which end he adds that the Soveraign hath sent him over together with Garter Principal King of Arms or his Deputy to perform the Ceremony of Investiture And this is the substance of his address for the general representation of his Affair But more particularly in this first speech he is to prosecute the method and order laid down in his Instructions concerning which we have some light from those given to the Earl of Shrewsbury upon his Embassy with the whole Habit of the Order to the French King Henry the Fourth which were as followeth First you shall let the King understand that the King who was first Institutor of this Order did principally dedicate the same to Noble persons remarkable for extraordinary valour and command in martial Affairs and as both We and Our Predecessors have usually bestowed it upon personages of highest Estate and dearest unto Us so both these respects concurring in this Election of him as that Prince whose preservation we have ever held most dear and who liking personal valour and experience hath gotten to himself the greateâ— reputation by the same that ever any Prince hath done in Europe we have had no small desire long ere this time to possess him of this further pledge of our perfect amity being one of the greatest signs of honor wherewith we can honor any Prince and therefore do desire him to make no other judgment of the protraction of the same hitherto but that his own uncertainties of residence in regard of the continual actions of War wherein he is daily engaged hath given us cause to think it would have come unseasonably unto him when now that the Treaties and other Circumstances seem more fitting we assure our self that it shall be received with that sure measure of good will and kindness wherewith we offer it and as we take our self honored by such and so choice a Companion so can no Prince go before Vs in Our true and perfect obligation to the rights of all happiness in all his Fortunes After the formality of this first address is over and that the Stranger hath by his answer accepted of the Election and consented to the reception of the Order then doth the Ambassador immediately deliver to him the Book
like Reverence towards the Soveraign's State deposites there the Ensigns of the Order The Lord Ambassador follows and makes his Reverence towards the Soveraign's State and after turning to the Stranger-Elect and doing him Reverence he or some other fit person thereto appointed delivers himself in a short but grave and learned Oration In which he not only sets forth the praises of the most illustrious Order and of the King the Soveraign thereof his Majesties hearty affection and good will appearing in this Action but also the virtues the memorable and praise worthy Actions of the Elect-Stranger to whom the Habit and Ensigns of the Order are sent neither are his Ancestors if happily any of them have attained and enjoyed the honor reputation and dignity of this Order to be pass'd over in silence whereby his heart already sufficiently of it self breathing impatience and desire may be so much the more inflamed with an earnestness to obtain the honor and favour of this so great a dignity He adds beside that the Soveraign having well weighed these and the like things in his mind and maturely advised thereof with his Knights-Companions they were perswaded and well satisfied in themselves to nominate and chuse him before others to the end that he might both himself be honored by the choice of such a person and also thereby give an encrease and addition of Lustre to those renowned actions and virtues which already were a chief ornament unto him Lastly he points towards the Ensigns of the Order which he declares to have been sent by the Soveraign out of great love and singular affection to dignifie him therewith as to a person unto whom he wisht as well and honorably as to any other Prince whatsoever and withall intreats him kindly to accept of and wear them in remembrance of the Soveraign and his Order This or the like Oration being ended the Ambassadors present their Commission of Legation to the hands of the Elect-Stranger who delivers it to his Secretary and he publickly reads it At the before mentioned Investiture of the French King Henry the Second the Bishop of Ely one of the Commissioners in the Legation made the Speech to which the Cardinal of Loraine returned answer in the said Kings behalf with all thankful acknowledgments of the honor of the Order And when Henry the Third of France received the Habit of the Order Sir Edward Stafford the Soveraign's Leiger Ambassador performed this service After the Commission is read Garter presents the Oath fairly written which is administred to the Elect-Stranger where if any exceptions were before made and admitted they must be here rehearsed as we find it directed in the Instructions given for the Investiture of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland But the Oath was not taken by the French King Henry the Third till after his Investiture and in the Augustine Fryers Church in Paris which being before prepared and written on Parchment in Letters of Gold the said King there signed it by the subscription of his name Henry and then delivered it to his Secretary to have his Privy Seal put to it So also was the Duke of Wirtemberg an 1. Iac. first Invested in his great Hall at Studtgard and then proceeded to the great Church where he took the Oath The Ceremony of the Oath being finished Garter takes from off the Cushen the Garter and having kiss'd it presents it to the Lord Ambassador who kneeling down puts it with all Reverence about the Stranger 's left leg being assisted by Garter and therewithall Garter pronounceth these words of Signification Ad laudem atque honorem Omnipotentis Dei intemeratae Matris ejus Sancti Georgii Martyris cinge Tibiam tuam hoc insigni Subligaculo circumferens in augmentum honoris tui in signum ac memoriam illustrissimi Ordinis nusquam oblivioni daturus aut omissurus quod eo moneris ut valeas inquam velis in justo bello quod solùm inibis stare firmitèr agere fortitèr feliâ—iter omnino vincere This being said Garter next takes the Surcoat and delivers it with the Ceremony of a Kiss to the Lord Ambassador who after the Elect-Stranger hath put off his Cloak or upper Garment and Sword puts it upon him in this manner First the Lord Ambassador begins at the Stranger 's right arm and Garter or the Leiger Ambassador if present assists at the left shoulder The Stranger being thus vested with the Surcoat both the Lord Ambassador and Garter gird his Sword about him with a Velvet Girdle of the same colour at the doing whereof Garter saith these words Capito vestem hanc purpuream ad incrementum honoris in signaculum Ordinis accepti quâ munitus non vereberis pro fide Christi libertate Ecclesiae pro jure oppressorum atque indigentium necessaria tuitione sanguinâ—m etiam fundere nedum fortitèr ac strenuè dimicare After this Garter takes up the Mantle and Hood which having in like manner kissed he delivers to the Lord Ambassador who invests the Stranger therewith and lays the Hood upon his right shoulder the Train being given into the hands of some noble Personage to be born up Garter also pronouncing these words Accipe Clamidem hanc Coelici coloris in Signum Clarissimi hujus Ordinis in augmentum etiam honoris tui rubeo Clypeo Dominicae Crucis uti cernis insignitam ut cujus virtute semper ac vigore protectus per Hostes tutus abeas eos ubique superare valeas pro clarissimis deniqueâ—â—ritis post egregiam hanc hujus temporis militiam ad aeterna veréque triumphalia gaudia pertingas And in the last place Garter takes up the Collar and with a Kiss also presents it to the Lord Ambassador who placeth it about the Stranger 's shoulders at which part of the Investiture Garter uttereth these words Torquem hunc in Collo deferes ad augmentum honoris in signum quoque clarissimi Ordinis à te suscepti cum imagine sanctissimi Martyris Christi Militis Georgii cujus praesidio suffultus Mundi hujus tà m prospera quà m adversa sic pertranscas ut animae pariter ac corporis hostibus hic strenue devictis non temporariae modo Militiae gloriam sed perennis victoriae palmam denique recipere valeas Amen As soon as this Ceremony of Investiture is finished the Lord Ambassador congratulateth the new invested Stranger in the Soveraign's name and in the name of all the Knights-Companions and then delivers to him his Velvet Cap adorned with White Plumes and next the Book of Statutes By the Instructions drawn up for the Investiture of Iulianus de Medicis and Iames the Fifth King of Scotland though the form of the words of Admonition and Signification are therein more briefly coucht it may be observ'd that this was the ancient series and order of Investiture and
like with the rest of the Viands The fourth Taster stood at the East side of the Table and his Office was to taste and administer the Soveraign's Wine reaching it over to the Southern Taster that stood by the Soveraign's Chair in like manner as the meat was served Likewise the Duke the Lord Ambassador Spencer and Garter had their seâ—eral Tables as hath been said before and sate under their several Canopies and at another Table sate the Dutchess and her ten Children After exceeding plenty state and variety of Dishes there were served all manner of Curiosities in Paste as the Figures and shapes of several kinds of Beasts and Birds as also the Statutes of Hercules Minerva Mercury and other famous persons All Dinner time and a pretty while after the English and the Wirtemberg Musick sitting opposite to one another these on the Dukes side the other at the Soveraign's and Lord Ambassadors side sung and plaid alternately to one another After Dinner certain Balls were danced in a long Gallery of the Castle towards the Paradise of Studtguardt This Festivity lasted that night and the next day and afterwards the English Guests were conducted to see some of the principal places of the Dukedom as Waltebuch the Vniversity of Tubing c. where they were entertained with Comedies Musick and other delights and at their return to Studtguardt were presented with very magnificent gifts and being to return for England were accompanied by the Duke as far as Asperg where with great demonstration and expressions of amity and affection on both sides solemn leave was taken A Relation of the order observed when Maurice Prince of Orange was Invested an II. Iac. R. On the 4. of February an 1613. the Citizens of the Hague met in Arms together with the Troops of Prince Maurice of Prince Henry his Brother and the Earl of Chastilion the Citizens kept Guard in the outermost Court where also several pieces of Ordinance were placed and the three aforementioned Troops in the innermost Court. From the Palace to the Shambles were Pitch Barels placed as also at the Soveraign's Ambassadors Lodgings At 3 a Clock in the Afternoon the States of the United Provinces assembled in the usual place where other person of great quality were admitted as Spectators The first that came thither was Refuge the French Kings Ambassador who took his Seat at the upper end of the Table not long after came Prince Maurice conducted by the Soveraign's Ambassador and those deputed by the States before them went 12 Trumpets sounding and after several Noblemen and Persons of Honor two and two the Guards attending on each side After these went Garter Principal King of Arms vested with his Coat of Arms embroidered with the Arms of England Scotland France and Ireland and carrying in his hand a Purse of Green Silk wherein were the Garter and George next him went Prince Maurice and after him his Brother Henry the Prince of Portugal and others of his kindred as the Earls of Nassau and Lippia then several of the Nobility and many others of great quality Then Prince Maurice taking his place where these Solemnities were performed sat at the upper end of the Table at the left hand of the French Kings Ambassador but Sir Ralph Winwood the Soveraign's Ambassador took his place in the middle over against the President of the States and began a short Oration in French to this effect My Lords from those things which I have in the Convention declared by the command of the King my Master you have sufficiently understood his purpose of conferring the Order of the Garter upon Prince Maurice as also the causes wherewith he thought himself moved to do it and whereas it hath been decreed by the common suffrages of the Knights-Campanions of the Order that he should be joined in Companionship with the Elector Palatine it seemed good to the Soveraign to command me to present him with the Ensigns of this Order and hath confirmed this his command by the testimony of his Commission under the Great Seal of England which Commission I here deliver unto you and pray it may be read Hereupon he delivered the Commission to the President from whose hand the Secretary then taking it read it aloud which having finished the Soveraign's Ambassador continued his discourse Both the honor of this Order and ancient Custom require that it be sent out of England to Stranger Princes by persons of honor peculiarly deputed to this Employment and who are themselves Knights-Companions of the Order or at least deserve to be so but because that the Ceremonies there used seem not so well to agree with the Discipline of your Church and that the conditions thereof are not altogether consistent with the state of your Common-wealth it hath pleased the Soveraign of the Order for the avoiding all scandal to confer this Order without any pomp or external magnificence We have therefore made choice of this place in compliance with your pleasure as the most commodious for the performance of our duty in that we might present it in the presence of your Lordships who as being the Supream Lords of this State will not think much to be Eye-witnesses of that honor which the King of Great Britain your best Friend and Allie offers to the chief General of your Armies and Governour of your Provinces as also to your whole State in general whereof each of you are a part Nor could his Majesty have given greater testimonies either of his affection towards the happy State of your Common-wealth or of the joy which he hath conceived for that he sees your Affairs after so many troubles and storms brought to a Haven of rest and quiet or likewise of his most entire good will wishing that that League of Friendship which is contracted between his Kingdoms and your Provinces may be perpetual and inviolable Now therefore desiring first your good leave we shall convert our Address to Prince Maurice At this instant Garter King of Arms opened the Silk Purse and took out the Garter set with rich Diamonds and laid it on the Table and then the Ambassador addrest himself to Prince Maurice in the following manner To you my Lord we offer in the name of the King my Master the Order of the Garter which we may say without boasting or flattery is the most ancient and most illustrious Order of all Europe which in all times hath been kept inviolable without any spot or blemish wherewith all the greatest Emperors and Monarchs suing to be graced and adorned have esteemed the greatest part of their felicity that they could obtain it his Majesty judgeth the greatness of your Family which he acknowledgeth to be most illustrious worthy of this Honor your piety also and zeal to promote the Reformed Religion likewise your warlike virtues which the God of Hosts hath blest with so many Victories but especially those high merits whereby you have obliged these
done him the most noble service in that Expedition did select of them the number twenty five and gave them Blue Garters embroidered and buckled under the Knee with this Motto Hony soit qui mal y pense as a caveat to avoid the emulation of other who might perhaps presume they had deserved as much honor as others Now the question may be asked said the Prince why a Garter rather than any other thing should be made an Order It is to be answered said I that at that time most men especially men of Arms wore their Boots close up gartered and buckled with thongs of Leather under their Knees a Custom yet used of some men for the strengthening of their Leg so with divers other trivial questions the Dinner was spent and ended and I with due thanks and humble salutations took my leave Tuesday morning I delivered the Robes of the Order to the Master of his Wardrobe and on Tuesday in the Afternoon I with my Sons and Mr. Lennard kissed his Excellencies hands and took our leave who most princely thanked us for the pains we had taken to do him honor Wednesday in the morning I was presented with four Chains one for my self of the value of 240 l. sterling two Chains for my Sons the third for Mr. Lennard being all lesser in value than those which I had received of Grave Maurice by 130 l. The Ambassador Lord Carleton had a standing Cup with a Cover of 500 l. being of pure Gold The same day in the Afternoon I gave Rewards to the Chastellain and his Wife with the Servants of the House and taking my leave that night of the Ambassador with whom I supped I took my Iourney on Thursday in the morning by Water to Delf where I hired two Waggons to transport me to Maisland Sluce where I took shipping for England in the same Merchants Ship that brought me thither Friday morning the first of June we set sail and on Saturday in the Afternoon we all safely arrived at Gravesend thanked be God Tuesday following I went by Coach to Oatlands and delivered my Letters to the King from the Prince of Orange and the Lord Ambassador Carleton making a brief relation of the performance of our Employments which it was his Majesties pleasure I should do A Relation of the Investiture of Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order drawn up by Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden c. being elected into the most Noble Order of the Garter at a Chapter held by the Soveraign and Companions of the said Order the 18. day of June 1668. The Right Honorable Charles Earl of Carlisle c. was by the Soveraign appointed his Ambassador extraordinary to the said King and Henry St. George Esq Richmond Herald was commanded to attend the Ceremony of his said Majesty's Investiture in the place of Garter Principal King of Arms. Being furnished with all Necessaries for this service as the Robes Collar George Garter c. and having received his Majesty's Commission under the Seal of the said Order they set sail from Greenwich in the Anne a Yaght belonging to his Royal Highness the Duke of York on Friday the 5. of February 1668. and landed at Rotterdam on Sunday the 7. of the said Month from whence they proceeded on their journey to Stockholme first to Hamborough and then to Lubeck where my Lord Ambassador having received command from the King to go for Denmark they took shipping at Framond the Port of the said City on Saturday the 20. of March and landed at Copenhagen on Monday the 22. of the said Month. After same 10 days there in which time his Lordship dispatched his business in that Court they again imbarqued themselves in a Frigat of the King of Denmark's and arrived at Stockholme on Saturday the 10. of April being Easter Eve where his Excellency continued some weeks incognito till the arrival of his Train and Equipage Saturday June the 5. the Countess of Carlisle landed at Stockholme and about a week after arrived the Ship with my Lord Ambassador's Goods and Retinue Wednesday the 7. of July my Lord Ambassador made his Entry into Stockholme and on Saturday the 10. of the said Month had his publick Audience of the King Monday the 26 of July my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George at a private Audience delivered their Credentials concerning the Garter and his Majesty of Sweden received the lesser George Thursday the 29. of July was appointed for his Majesty's publick reception of the whole Habit of the Order which Ceremony was performed as followeth Abouth three of the Clock that Afternoon my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were by two principal Senators Count Neile Brahe and Count John Steenbook the Master of the Ceremonies with the King's Coaches Pages and Footmen all in new Liveries with many Officers and Cavalier conducted to the Castle being come into the great Court they were met at the Stairs foot where they alighted by several of the King's Servants and so conducted up to certain Rooms where the Robes c. were deposited having been sent thither that morning here my Lord Ambassador for a while reposed himself whilst Mr. St. George made ready the Robes c. and put on his Mantle and having now notice that his Majesty was come into the Great Hall they proceeded thither Mr. St. George bearing the Robes c. on a Velvet Cushen At the entrance into the Hall they were met by the Rix-Marshall Count Gabriel Oxenstiern having in his hand a long Staff of Silver gilt and conducted to the upper end of the Room which was inclosed within a Rail and Ballister Here stood the King in a Suit and Cloak of Cloth of Silver with a large Plume of White Feathers in his Haet under a State of Crimson Velvet fringed with Gold to the back of which said State was affixed an Escotcheon of his Majesty's Arms within the Garter and his Stile underneath on the King 's right hand was erected a like State for the Soveraign with an Escutcheon of his Arms and his Stile also underneath with a Chair and Footstool Opposite to the King of Sweden's Chair was placed a Chair like in all things to that of the King 's for my Lord Ambassador and on the left hand of my Lord Ambassador was a Chair set for Mr. St. George and near it close to the Rails was a little Table to lay the Robes on On the King of Sweden's left hand at a good distance near the other end of the Rails sate the Queen under a lesser State of Cloth of Silver the haut-pas was covered with Turkie Carpets as was also all the ground within the Rails where stood the Regents and the rest of the Senators all in Cloaks and Bands as is used at their Dyets and most solemn Assemblies with Chairs behind them The whole Room was hung with Tapestry having a great number
of Scaffolds in it filled with the principal persons of quality both of the Courtand City After my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George had saluted the King Mr. St. George placed the Robes c. on the Table and having made an obeysance first to the Soveraigns State then to the King of Sweden stood before his own Chair till the King and my Lord Ambassador were both of them seated they being seated Mr. St. George sate down on his Chair until the Trumpets and Kettle Drums ceased which had beat and sounded from their first entrance in the Room all being quiet Mr. St. George arose and making an obeysance first to the Soveraign's State and then to the King of Sweden stood by the Table then the Ambassador arising began his Speech to the King which ended his Secretary delivered a Copy of it in the Swedish tongue to the Ambassador who gave it to the Lord Stein Bielk who delivered it to a Secretary by whom it was read aloud whereunto a Reply was made by the same Senator in Swedish this Reply translated into English was given by the said Senator to the Ambassador and by him to his Secretary who read it in English Then did Mr. St. George deliver the Commission under the Seal of the Order to my Lord Ambassador who presented it to the King who having received it gave it to a Secretary by whom it was read aloud The Commission being read Mr. St. George devested the King of his Cloak Sword and Belt untying also the Silk Garter on his left leg and delivered the Book of the Statutes of the Order to the Ambassador who presented them to the King then was the Garter of the Order presented to his Majesty by Mr. St. George who at the delivery pronounced the accustomed words in Latin which ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George did both of them buckle it on the King of Sweden's left leg in like manner was presented the Surcoat the Girdle and Hangers with the Sword the Mantle the Hood the Collar and great George last of all the Cap and Feather His Majesty thus fully invested with the whole Habit of the Order continued standing under his State whilst Mr. St. George descending from the haut-pas towards the lower end of the Rails returned and having made three obeysances as he came up proclaimed the Stile of the Soveraign in Latin French and English and afterwards the Stile of the King of Sweden in French only This being done Mr. St. George returned and stood before his Seat whilst my Lord Ambassador complemented his Majesty in a short Speech in English which was afterwards read in Swedish by a Secretary and a Reply made by the afore named Senator Stien Bielk in Swedish read in English by my Lord Ambassador's Secretary After this another Senator viz. Baron John Gyllenstiern did in a long Harangue congratulate his Majesty's Election and Investiture into this most Noble Order which ended the King my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George took their Seats again whilst the Trumpets and Kettle Drums beat and sounded being the signal for the firing 124 great Guns from the Ships of War in the River and several parts of the City and of divers Vollies of small shot from Horse and Foot purposely drawn into the Town for this occasion after they had all fired the first time they gave a second Volley which being near ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr St. George arose and making their obeisances to the King who stood in his Robes under his State they withdrew and were conducted by the afore mentioned Senators Count Brabe and Count Steenbook to the same Room from whence the Robes of the Order had been brought where Mr. St. George put off his Mantle and after a little repose my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were in the same manner conducted home to my Lord Ambassador's House About eight of the Clock that Evening my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were again brought to Court in the King's Coach by Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies to Supper where in a fair Room under a state of Crimson Velvet sate the King covered and in the Robes of the Order on his left hand the Queen and on her left hand my Lord Ambassador all under the State at each end of the Table sate two of Regents and on the other side of the Table near each end sate two of the senior Senators and between them stood two Carvers At another Table in the same Room sate Mr. St. George with the other Senators and the Officers of the Army during Supper several Healths were drank as the Soveraign's the King of Sweden's the two Queens the Duke of York's the Companions of the Order c. at each of which were fired 4 great Guns 24 being purposely planted for that service under the Wall of the Castle Supper being ended my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George having waited on the King and Queen back again in the same manner they attended them to Supper about three of the Clock the next morning they were again conducted home by Count Torstenson and tâ—â— Mâ—ster of the Ceremonies in the King's Coach and as they descended from the Castle the 24 great Guns were all fired twice over Sunday the 1. of August my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George were by Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies in the King's Coach brought to the Castle about 7 of the Clock in the Evening from whence they went with their Majesties in their Barge to see the Fireworks which had been preparing about three Months as English mile from Stockholme in honor of this Solemnity this divertisement continued about two hours and was concluded with a Banquet which ended they returned in the same manner being saluted both in their going and return with four Guns from each Ship of War in the River besides the Guns from the Fort At their landing Count Torstenson and the Master of the Ceremonies were ready to conduct my Lord Ambassador and Mr. St. George home in the same manner as they came Thursday the 19. of August Mr. St. George received his Majesty of Sweden's Letter to the Soveraign and a Certificate of his Majesties Reception of the said Order both signed by the Queen and the Regents Sunday the 22. of August Mr. St. George took his leave of the King and Queen being attended by the under Master of the Ceremonies Thursday the 2. of September Mr. St. George was presented by the under Master of the Ceremonies with a Chain of Gold and a Meddal set with Diamonds from his Majesty Saturday the 4. of September Mr. St. George began his Iourney from Stockholme to the Sound by Land and came to Elsineur the 12. of the said Month the 29. he took shipping for England and landed at Hull the 20. of October the 27. he came to London and was the next day by the Earl of Carlisle who was newly returned brought 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
Soveraign in a Chapter held at Windesor the 6. of November an 9. Car. 1. to give command that two little pieces of Arras Hangings then hanging over the Altar in one of which was wrought the Picture of St. George on Horseback and on the other of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin should be preserved in such places where the Dean and his Lieutenant should think beâ—â— for the use of the said Altar at the Grand Feast and other Festivals of the Order Hereupon they were fetched from Windesor to set over the Altar in the Chappel at Whitehall an 11. Car. 1. the Feast of St. George being then celebrated there There are now two other pieces of Arras which are appointed to that use the one hath the Pictures of Christs and his Disciples at Supper given by the late Right Reverend Father in God Bryan Lord Bishop of Winchester Prelate of the Order the other of Christ and the two Disciples at Emmans wrought after Titian's Original given by the right Honorable the Lady Mordant Wife to the Lord Mordant late Constable of Windesor As to the Soveraign's Royal Stall it hath in all times had over it a rich Canopy the back and forepairs adorned with materials of the same sute with a long Velvet Cushen before to lay his Books on another shorter for his Seat and a third to kneel on The Canopy prepared against the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 2. and which now adorns it is made of two panes of Purple Velvet and one of Cloth of Gold having a broad Gold Fringe at the bottom a narrow one at the top and an inner Valance of the same with a Purple Silk Fringe the back and fore piece is of three panes also one of Gold the other two of Purple Velvet with a narrow Gold Fringe about it The three Cushens are of Purple Velvet garnished with Gold Fringe and Tassels of Silk and Gold Each of the Knights-Companions Stalls are also furnished with the like number of Cushens Lastly The Pulpit is hung with Crimson Damask inwrought with small Flowers of Gold Portcullices Flowers de Lis and Roses all crowned this Pulpeâ—-Cloth was preserved from the ravenous hands of Collonel Ven and now restored to its former use It may be judged how other of the Soveraign's Chappels wherein the solemn Services at the Grand Feast were celebrated besides this of St. George at Windesor have been set forth and adorned by one or two Examples in that kind for an 22. H. 8. though the Soveraign held the Feast of St. George at Windesor yet on the Evening he went not to St. George's Chappel but heard Divine Service in the Chappel above in the upper Quadrangle at the West end of St. George's Hall which Chappel was hanged on both sides a rich Cloth of State set up and a haut pas of a foot high for the Soveraign as also a little foot pace 13 inches broad and 7 inches high for him to kneel at The High Altar and that set before the Soveraign were richly garnished with Images and other Ornaments of Gold and Silver gilt c. We also find that at the Feast of St. George held at Whitehall an 5. Eliz. the Chappel was hung with Cloth of Gold and the Stalls both before and behind with Cloth of Tissue set with Scutcheons at their back The Soveraign's Royal Stall was adorned with a Cloth of State and furnished with Cushens as were the Emperor's the French King's and the Soveraign's Lieutenant's But an 7. Eliz. all the Stalls of the same Choire were hung with Carpets both before and behind At the Feast held there an 19. Car. 2. the Chappel was hung with the rich Hangings of Silk and Gold wherein the twelve Months were with excellent skill described The Altar was furnished with chased gilt Plate viz. one large Bâ—son in the middle and two less on either side two fair Candlesticks with unlighted Tapeâ—s and two large Water-Pots on the lower rank was set another Bason four Flaggons and two Service-Books covered with like gilt Plate and lastly the Soveraign's Stall had the rich Furniture of Cloth of Gold and Purple Velvet fetcht from Windesor to adorn it SECT VII The furnishing of St. George's Hall THE care of making ready and furnishing St. George's Hall or other Room either there or elsewhere set apart for the Grand Dinner is committed partly to the Gentleman-Vsher of the Black-Rod and partly to the Soveraign's Surveyor General of his Works The Surveyor-General upon directions given him by Warrant from the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold causeth a Floor to be raised at the upper end of the Hall whereunto is an ascent of three steps and thereon he raiseth a Table 12 Foot long and 3 foot and a half broad for the Soveraign to dine at On the left hand of this Table is set a Cupboard for Plate and a side Table for Glasses c. to serve the Soveraign's Table as occasion shall require Upon the uppermost step of the raised Floor is set a strong Rail with Banisters cross the Hall to keep off the Croud from the Soveraign's Table that so the Officers appointed to attend thereat may with more liberty perform their several Duties and Services On the right hand of the Soveraign's State and below the Rails are Tables placed for the Knights-Companions to dine at which sometimes hath been but one Table continued to the lower end of the Hall with a long Form on the back side but of late the same space hath been taken up and furnished with several small Tables those set up an 23. Car. 2. were 6 foot long and 4 and a half broad and set at two Foot distance each from the other At the Grand Feast held at Whitehall an 8. Car. 1. the Tables for the Knightsâ—Companions were like the Soveraign's fenced in with Rails within which the Waiters only being admitted the Dishes of Meat and the Banquet were thereby handsomly freed from the troublesome yet usual croud and rapine of the people the like hath been done at all times since with Bars to open and shut against every Table Opposite to these between the Hall Windows are set so many side Tables each 5 foot long and 2 and a half broad all raised in with Bars as are the Tables provided for the Knights-Companions so that each of theirs hath a side Table furnished with Plate Glasses Wine Beer c. to serve it The Hall being thus far prepared the Black-Rod receives the Lord Chamberlain's Warrant for taking into his Custody such rich and costly Furniture both for the Soveraign's State and hanging the Hall as is thought worthy to contribute to the honor of this Festival The Stâ—te placed at the upper end of the Hall before the Soveraign's Table is usually the richest the Hanging of the bâ—st sort and such were the four pieces of Arras wherein were wrought the History of St. George bought by King Henry the Sixth
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
for Ioyous mayess thou bee To see thy Kyng so florethe in Dignetye This Realme a Seaforte stoode in greate Iupardie When that Noble Prince deceased King Edward Which in his Dayes gate honore full nobly After his decesse nighe hand all was marr'd Eich Regione this Land dispised mischefe when they hard Wherefore Rejoyse for joyous mayst thou be To see thy Kynge so floreth in high dignetye Fraunce Spayne Scoteland and Britanny Flanders also Three of them present keepinge thy Noble Feaste Of St. George in Windsor Ambassadors comying more Eich of them in honore bothe the more and the lesse Seeking thie grace to have thie Noble begesse Wherefore now Rejoise and joyous maisse thou be To see thy Kynge so florishing in dignetye O Knightly Ordere clothed in Robes with Gartere The Queen's grace and thy Mother clothed in the same The Nobles of thie Realme Riche in araye Aftere Lords Knights and Ladyes unto thy greate same Now shall all Embassadors know thie Noble Name By thy Feaste Royal nowe joyeous mayest thou be To see thie King so florishinge in dignety Here this day St. George Patron of this Place Honored with the Gartere these of Chevalrye Chaplenes synging processyon keeping the same With Archbushopes and Bushopes beseene nobly Much people presente to see the King Henrye Wherefore now St. George all we pray to thee To keepe our Soberaine in his dignetye At the Grand Feast held at Windesor an 4. Car. 1. the Queen her Ladies attending was conducted into St. George's Hall a little before the Soveraign's Stiles were proclaimed to see the Soveraign and Knights-Companions sit at Dinner At the Feast there celebrated by the present Soveraign in the 15. year of his Reign the Soveraign's Stiles were not proclaimed as many times heretofore until the second Course was set upon the Table but it was by the Soveraign's special direction because he expected the Queens coming into the Hall to see the state and glory of the Feast who staying something long and the second Course being already brought to the lower end of the Hall and the Soveraign seeing it stand there gave command it should be set upon the Table but that the proclaiming of his Stiles should be yet forborn Immediately after the Queen attended with her Ladies entred St. George's Hall and passing up the middle came to the Soveraign's Table where she was seated on his right hand Hereupon Garter accompanied by his Fellow Officers of Arms proceeded up the Hall and with usual Ceremonies proclaimed the Soveraign's Stiles in Latine French and English In like manner when the Duke of York was Installed at the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 2. his Dutchess desirous to see the order and grandeur of it was brought into the Hall assoon as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions were set and passing to the upper end of the Table where the Duke sat she stood on his left hand all Dinner while And it appears to be no new thing that the Queens of England have been desirous to behold the magnificence of this solemn Feast since we also find it recorded an 11. H. 8. that a little while before the second Course was carried in Queen Katherine and her Ladies came to the Gallery at the end of the Hall which was nobly prepared for her to see the honorable Services and Ceremonies there performed But besides the Queens of England the Ambassadors of Foreign Kings and States have counted it an honor to have view of this Grand Feast and amongst others we find the French Ambassador was an 15. Iac. R. conducted into the Banquetting-house at Whitehall by Sir Iohn Fenet then Assistant Master of the Ceremonies about the middle of Dinner where he placed himself at the left hand of the Soveraign and having staid there about an hour he descended to the Knights-Companions Table and there saluted the Prince and the rest of the Knights of the Order as he passed along before them and so departed At the Grand Feast kept at Whitehall an 19. Iac. R. to the sight of which the Polonian Ambassador Osalinskie Count Palatine of Sindomerskie having received an invitation he went about the middle of Dinner to see and salute the Soveraign the Prince and Knights-Companions as they sat at the Table and thence retired into the Council Chamber where he and the Arch Dukes Agent Van Mab had been before treated The next following year on the 22. of May which was the day assigned for holding the Grand Feast at Whitehall the Prince being the Soveraign's Lieutenant supplied his place in the Banquetting house at the Table whither Don Carlos de Coloma the Spanish Ambassador and Philip a second Son to the Lantgrave of Hesse sent hither on a negotiation of his Father were conducted the Spanish Ambassador standing at his Highness right hand and the young Lant-grave at his left most part of the Dinner An. 3. Car. 1. the Ambassador of Denmark Paul Rosenkrantz and Ioachimi and Monsieur Catz the Ambassadors and Deputies of the States were conducted altogether in the time of the second Course to the Soveraign's Table and there presented themselves at that side next the Soveraign's left hand and after passed down along before the Knights-Companions with their respects bestowed personally on each Knight as they deemed fitting and then returned by the way they entred But in this last instance where there were more Ambassadors than one and from several Princes a Question arose whether they were to perform this Ceremony of seeing the Feast and presenting themselves at the Dinner singly and alone or jointly and together insomuch that the Danish Ambassador was of the mind to perform it by himself which course was approved by the Lord Chamberlain But the States Ambassador Ioachimi telling him that he and the French Ambassador had been joint spectators at a Feast two or three years before at which time he was employed a Commissioner hither the Ambassador of Denmark came in along with the others Lastly for we would not be over tedious with Instances when the Grand Feast was held at Whitehall an 19. Car. 2. the Swedish Ambassador had not only a place assigned him in the Choire at the North side of the Altar to behold the Solemnities on the Feast day in the Chappel and when the Grand Procession passed into the Court he also went out at the little door on the North side of the Chappel up to the Greencloth Chamber whence he had a fair prospect of it and thence returned to behold the Ceremonies of the Offring But when the Soveraign was at Dinner he entred the Banquetting-house from the Privy Gallery and passing to the Soveraign's Table stood there on the left hand of the Queen thence he went to salute the Knights-Companions at their Table beginning with his Highness the Duke of York and at all these places was attended by Sir Charles Cotterell Master of the Ceremonies In