455. Frederick William Prince Elector of the Empire Marquess of Brandenburg 456. Iohn Gaspar Ferdinand de Marchin Count de Gravil 457. Sir George Monck Knight after Duke of Albemarle 458. Sir Edward Mountague Knight after Earl of Sandwich 459. William Seymour Marquess of Hertford after Duke of Somerset 460. Aubrie de Vere Earl of Oxford 461. Charles Stewart Duke of Richmond and Lenox 362. Mountague Barty Earl of Lindsey 363. Edward Mountague Earl of Manchester 464. William Wentworth Earl of Strafford 465. Christierne Prince of Denmark since King of Denmark 466. Iames Scot Duke of Monmouth and Bucclugh 467. Iames Stewart Duke of Cambridge 468. Charles the Eleventh King of Sweden Goths and Vandales 469. Iohn George the Second Duke of Saxony Iuliers Cleves and Monts and Prince Elector of the Empire 470. Christopher Monck Duke of Albemarle 471. Iohn Maitland Duke of Lauderdale To close up all here follows a Catalogue of the Officers of this most Noble Order Prelates of the Order William de Edyngton Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer and after Lord Chancellor of England William de Wykham Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor of England Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester Priest Cardinal of St. Eusebius and Lord Chancellor of England William de Waynfleet Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England Peter Courtney Bishop of Winchester Thomas Langton Bishop of Winchester Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and Lord Privy Seal Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Winchester Priest Cardinal of St. Cecily and Lord Chancellor of England Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Iohn Poynet Bishop of Winchester Stephen Gardiner restored and made Lord Chancellor of Englanâ— Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Robert Honne Bishop of Winchester Iohn Watson Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cooper Bishop of Winchester William Wyâ—ham Bishop of Winchester William Day Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bilson Bishop of Winchester Iames Mountague Bishop of Winchester Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Richard Neyle Bishop of Winchester Walter Curle Bishop of Winchester Brian Duppa Bishop of Winchester â—eorge Morley Bishop of Winchester Chancellors of the Order Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury and Dean of Windesor Lionel Woodeville Bishop of Salisbury Thomas Langton Bishop of Salisbury Iohn Blyth Bishop of Salisbury Henry Dean Bishop of Salisbury Edmund Audeley Bishop of Salisbury Sir William Cecil Principal Secretary of State Sir William Peters Principal Secretary of State Sir Thomas Smith Principal Secretary of State Sir Francis Walsingham Principal Secretary of State Sir Amyas Paulet Privy Counsellor Sir Iohn Woollee Secretary for the Latine Tongue Sir Edward Dyer Sir Iohn Herbert Principal Secretary of State Sir George More Sir Francis Crane Sir Thomas Rowe Sir Iames Palmer Sir Henry de Vic Baronet Seth Ward Bishop of Salisbury Registers of the Order â—â— Iohn Coringham Canon of Windesor Iohn Deepden Canon of Windesor Iames Goldwell Canon of Windesor and Secretary of State Oliver King Canon of Windesor Secretary to Prince Henry Son of King Henry the Sixth to King Edward the Fourth to King Edward the Fifth and King Henry the Seventh Richard Nix Canon of Windesor Christopher Vrswick Dean of Windesor Thomas Wolsey the Kings Almoner William Atwater Canon of Windesor after Bishop of Lincolne Nicholas West Dean of Windesor Iohn Vesâ—y Dean of Windesor Richard Sydnor Canon of Windesor Robert Aldridge Canon of Windesor Owen Oglethorp Dean of Windesor Iohn Boxall Dean of Windesor and Principal Secretary of State George Carew Dean of Windesor William Dâ—y Dean of Windesor Robert Benet Dean of Windesor Giles Tomson Dean of Windesor and Bishop of Gloucester Anthony Maxey Dean of Windesor Marc Antonio de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato Dean of Windesor Henry Beaumont Dean of Windesor Matthew Wren Dean of Windesor Christopher Wren Dean of Windesor Brune Ryves Dean of Windesor Garters Kings of Arms. Sir William Brugges Knight Iohn Smert Sir Iohn Writh Knight Sir Thomas Wriothesley Knight Sir Thomas Wall Knight Sir Christopher Barker Knight Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight Sir William Dethick Knight Sir William Segar Knight Sir Iohn Borough Knight Sir Henry St. George Knight Sir Edward Walker Knight Ushers of the Black-Rod William Whitehorse Iohn Cray Thomas Sye William Evington and Edward Hardgyll Robert Marleton Ralph Ashton and Hugh Dennys Sir William Compton Knight Henry Norresse Esquire Anthony Knyvet Esquire Sir Philip Hobby Knight Iohn Norres and William Norres Esquires Anthony Wingfeild Esquire Richard Coningsbye and George Pollard Esquires Iames Maxwell Esquire Peter Newton Esquire Sir Iohn Ayton Knight Sir Edward Carteret Knight APPENDIX The Statutes of Institution of the most Noble Order of the Garter AD honorem omnipotentis Dei Sanctae Mariae Virginis gloriosae Sancti Georgii Martyris Dominus noster Supremus Edwardus tertius Rex Angliae anno regni sui post conquestum xxiii Ordinavit stabilivit fundavit quandum Societatem five Ordinem militarem infra Castrum suum de Wyndesore in hunc modum Primo scipsum statuit dictae Societatis sive Ordinis Superiorem filium suum seniorem Principem Walliae Ducem Lancastriae Comitem Warwici Capitaneum de Buche Comitem Staffordiae Comitem Sarum Dominum de Mortimer Dominum Johannem Lisle Dominum Bartholomeum Burghersh filium Dominum Johannem de Beauchamp Dominum de Bohun Dominum Hugonem de Courtenay Dominum Thomam de Hollande Dominum Johannem de Grey Dominum Richardum de fitz Symond Dominum Milonem de Stapulton Dominum Thomam Wale Dominum Hugonem de Wirteslay Dominum Nelelatum Loryng Dominum Johannem Chandos Dominum Jacobum Daudele Dominum Otonem de Hollande Dominum Henricum de Em Dominum Sauchetum Dabrichecourt Dominum Walterum Pavelay I. Concordatum est quod Rex Angliae qui pro tempore fuerit inperpetuum erit Superior hujus Ordinis Sancti Georgii sive Societatis Garterii II. Item concordatum est quod nullus eligatâ—r in socium dicti Ordinis nisi generosae propaginis existat miles careus opprobrio quoniam ignobiles aut reprobos Ordinis institutio non admittit III. Et xxvi Commilitones Consocii hujus Ordinis praenominati deferent mantella garteria apud dictum castrum ordinata quociens ibidem praesentes fuerint videlicet quâlibâ—t vice quâ capellam intrant Sancti Georgii aut domum Capitularem pro capitulo celebrando aut aliquid statuendo quod ad Ordinem pertinebit Et simili modo incedent in vigiliâ Sancti Georgii per modum processionis proficiscentes cum Superiori Ordinis aut suo Deputato de magnâ camerâ regiâ usque ad Capellam vel domum capitularem eâdem serie revertentur Sedebunt itaque cum Montellis Garteriis in dictâ vigiliâ tempore coenae tam illi qui coenare volunt quam etiam alii non coenantes quousque de magnâ camerâ praedictâ consuctum tempus fuerit separandi Sic eciam induti inâ—â—dere debent in crastino versus dictam Capellam abinde revertentes ac etiam tempore prandii postea quosque
Book though the names of special Officers are seldom set down in Chapter Acts were by virtue of this Grant continued therein and executed the Office nor doth it appear by the Records of the Order that any other person had been invested therein besides the Bishops of Salisbury until an 7. E. 6. that Sir William Cecil then Principal Secretary of State was made Chancellor concerning which more by and by If recourse be had to the Constitutions peculiarly relating to the Officers of the Order it will appear That this Office is very noble and honorable of great trust and care requiring a person of much Honor and Reputation to exercise and manage it In which regard it is therein provided that no man should be advanced to this Dignity unless he be a Prelate of the Church viz. Archbishop or Bishop or of some other such like eminent preferment therein Or if a Lay-man then to be a Knight of known Extraction expert learned and of untainted Reputation By this Clause a Lay-man no less than a Clergy-man was made capable of this Office nevertheless it amounted not to a devesting the Bishop then living or excluding any of his Successors unless it had pleased the Soveraign after making that Constitution to have passed by the Bishop of Salisbury and bestowed it elsewhere which he did not for Edmund Audeley the then Bishop some time after the establishing these Constitutions and his immediate Successor Cardinal Campeius till he went to Rome if not more of them enjoined and executed the same But upon Reformation of the Order by King Edwâ—rd the Sixth his Statutes wholly leave out the Ecclesiasticks and appoint that the Chancellors Office should be executed by a Knight qualified as before And thereupon Sir William Cecil was constituted Chanâ—ellor whose Patent bears date the 12. of April anno 7. E. 6. And here first entred a secular person though he enjoyed the Office but a while for the 27. of Septâ—mâ—er following Sir William Petres was admitted thereinto since which time until now the Chancellorship hath continued in the execution of persons of that rank and quality Notwithstanding which in a Charter granted to the Bishop of Salisbury the first of Dec an 4. Eliz. confirming the Charters of Queen Mary King Henry the Eighth and King Henry the Seventh as also in another by the late Soveraign King Charles the First 6. Mar. an reg sui 4. the forementioned Letters Patent made to Bishop Beauchamp by King â—dward the Fourth are therein recited totidem verbis and confirmed as a tacite Reservation of the right and title of the Bishop of Salisbury whensoever the favour of the Soveraign should grow propitious to that See It doth not appear that any of the Bishops of Salisbury after the Reign of King Edward the Sixth concerned themselves for recovering the Execution of this Office to their See until the sixth year of King Iames that Henry Cotton then Bishop upon the death of Sir Edward Dyer sometime Chancellor set forth by Petition to the then Soveraign That this Office belonged to him and his Successors Bishops of Salisbury and therefore humbly prayed Restitution thereof to the Church of Salisbury But before the Soveraign would determine any thing hereupon he was pleased to call the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron to advise with who were of opinion saith the Blue Book That this Office wâ—s not compleatly or sufficiently annexed to the Bishoprick of Salisbury by King Edward the Fourth But Sir Edward Cooke one of those Judges Reports the point upon which it was void to be the incertainty of the Grant for that a new Office was erected and not defined what Iurisdiction or Authority the Officer should have And yet we find elsewhere this third reason given That the Grant was in the Soveraign's disposition because the Patent was granted without Fee With one or more of these opinions the Soveraign's judgment being swayed He forthwith nominated Sir Iohn Herbert one of his Privy Council to the Chancellorship and so this Affair slept until anno 12. Car. 1. When Iohn Davenant Bishop of Salisbury Sir Francis Crane Chancellor being lately dead with all due humiliation remonstrated to the Soveraign That the Office of Chancellor was perpetually annexed to his See by the foresaid Letters of King Edward the Fourth and though in following times it had been bestowed upon Lay-men yet he humbly desired his right might be restored Whereupon at a Chapter of the Order held in the Chapterhouse within the Castle of Windesor the 5. of December in the year aforesaid the Soveraign proposed to the Knights-Companions present That though he had of his especial Grace made Election of Sir Thomas Rowe Knight for his Chancellor at that time yet having understood a Claim made by the Bishoprick of Salisbury that the place was annexed to that See He commanded the Lords-Companions of the Order to take the pretence of right into their considerations To which proposition of his Majesty the Lords humbly answered That they thought it was not their part to search for the Title of any but that if the Bishop of Salisbury did produce his Evidence and the proofs thereof he might present it in Chapter to his Majesty to be considered Upon this encouragement the Bishop prepared a Petition which was presentâ—d and read in Chapter held at the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor the 18. of April ensuing and here inserted To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Soveraign of the most Noble Order of the Garter The humble Petition of John Bishop of Sarum your Majesties Chaplain in Ordinary Sheweth THat whereas your Majesties most noble Progenitor King Edward the Fourth did by Letters Patent erect and establish one Office of Chancellor of the most Noble Order of the Garter and did then also grant a Charter unto Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury and his Successors for ever that they should execute that Office in consideration that the Chappel of St. George in your Majesties Castle of Windesor was within the Diocess of Sarum and for other considerations in the said Charter specified Which Office was enjoyed by the said Richard Beauchamp and divers of his Successors in the See of Sarum according to the Charter which Charter hath also been confirmed under the great Seal of England by some other Kings and Queens since the Reign of King Edward the Fourth And was lastly most graciously confirmed by your Royal Majesty in the fourth year of your happy Reign But to the great prejudice and dishonour of the See of Sarum the use and exercise of the said Office hath been for many years discontinued from the Bishops of your Majesties said Church May it therefore please your most Excellent Majesty out of your accustomed goodness to the Church graciously to consider of your Petitioners Claim and Charter and if your Majesty shall so think fit to vouchsafe your Petitioner a hearing or
and two Then the Cap and Feather carried by Mr. St. George's Son Next Mr. St. George carrying the rest of the Habit and the Ensigns of the Order Then Sir Thomas Higgons After him the Duke of Saxony in his Surcoat his Sword girt about him On each side and closing the Rere were his Guard of State richly habited with Partizans in their hands the Staves covered with Blue Velvet and set thick with gilt Nails In this manner they passed through divers stately Rooms entertained with several sorts of Musick until they came to the great Room where there was also excellent Musick of several sorts with Kettle-Drums and Trumpets placed in a high Gallery at the lower end which entertained them as soon as they entred In this Room was two States of Crimson Velvet the one at the upper end for the Soveraign with a Chair and a Foot-stool and an Escotcheon of the Soveraign's Arms within a Garter having his Stile underneath set over the Chair the other on the side of the Room on the right hand of the Soveraign's State for the Duke with an Escotcheon of his Arms within a Garter and his Stile underneath and on the left hand two Chairs the one for Sir Thomas Higgons the other for Mr. St. George Being entred this Room as they passed from the lower end three obeysances were made to the Soveraign's State going up then the Duke going to his State and there standing Mr. St. George placed the Robes on a Table on the Duke 's right hand which being done Sir Thomas Higgons and Mr. St. George did go to their Chairs opposite to the Duke's on the left hand of the Soveraign's State making their obeysances to it as they passed by then the Duke sate down and they did the like Then being entertained with Musick for a little while they rose from their Seats and making their obeysances as before to the Soveraign's State as they passed by it and repaired to the Duke who standing up they placed themselves on each side of him being in this posture Mr. St. George took up the Commission and holding it in his hand Sir Thomas Higgons made a Speech to the Duke relating to the Antiquity and Nobleness of the Order declaring how many Emperors Kings and Foreign Princes had been Companions thereof since its institution and in relation to the election of his Electoral Highness of the splendor and greatness of his Family c. which having ended Mr. St. George gave the Commission to Sir Thomas Higgons who presented it to the Duke which he caused to be read with a loud voice by his Secretary and then received it again and delivered it to Mr. St. George After this Mr. St. George took the Garter and with the assistance of Sir Thomas Higgons buckled it about the Duke's left Leg then they put on the Mantle the Hood upon the right shoulder and last of all the Collar and George Thus being fully invested Mr. St. George spoke to the Duke as followeth Ayant investi vostre Altesse Electorale avec tous les habits les autres ornaments du tres-noble Ordre de la Iartiere Je souhaite toute sorte de prosperité de grandeur de longue vie au tres-hault tres-puissant tres-illustre Prince Iean George le Second par la grace de Dieu Due de Saxe de Iuliers Cleves des Montz Archimareschall Prince Electeur du Saint Empire Landgrave de Thuringe Margrave de Misnie de la haute basse Lusâ—re Burgrave de Magdeburg Conte de la Marche Ravensperg Seigneur in Rauenstein Chevalier du tres-noble Ordre de la Iartiere which being ended the Trumpets and loud Musick sounded The Musick ceasing Sir Thomas Higgons congratulated his Electoral Highness's Investiture whereupon one of his Council made a Speech in Latine declaring his Electoral Highness's great obligation to the King of Great Britain how highly he esteemed the Order and his Majesty's particular kindness to him c. and concluded with his thanks to Sir Thomas Higgons and Mr. St. George Then Mr. St. George took the Cap and Feather and presented it to the Duke which he put on and they returned in the same order as they came to the Chamber from whence they brought him Mr. St. George's Son bearing his Train and there they left him and retired being attended to their Apartments by the Duke's Servants About half an hour after the Duke sent his Servants again for them they found him in the same Room where they left him in the Habit of the Order and in the same manner as before they passed to the Room where the Duke's Dinner was upon the Table and they dined with him that day the Duke wearing the Habit of the Order and Mr. St. George his Robe After Dinner they attended him back to the same Room and there took their leaves and departed Vpon Sunday the 18. of April the Duke 's chief Chamberlain came to Sir Thomas Higgons first and after to Mr. St. George and presented each of them with a Chain of Gold and the Electors Picture set in Diamonds hanging at it and also to each of them a Bason and Eure he also presented Mr. St. George's Son with a little Iewel of Diamonds and invited them to Dine with the Duke and the Master of the Ceremonies presented all their Servants On Monday the 19. of April Sir Thomas Higgons and Mr. St. George took their leaves of the Duke to return for England and dined that day with him and that Evening the Duke's Secretary brought them a Proxie under the Duke's hand and Seal to the Earl of Bath to be installed for him at Windesor The next morning being Tuesday the 20. of April Sir Thomas Higgons and Mr. St. George having before hired a Boat to carry them down the River of Elbe to Hamburgh the Dukes Coaches and Servants attended them to their Boats and there all but two of them took their leaves of them those two that remained had laid in provision and attended and defrayed them by the Dukes command as long as they travelled in the Dukes Territories which was within two German Miles of Magdeburgh and there they took their leaves Sir Thomas Higgons and Mr. St. George parted at Hamburgh the former to go for England by the way of Holland the other by shipping Vpon Sunday the 16. of May Mr. St. George arrived first in England and that day Fortnight Sir Thomas Higgons and when Mr. St. George kissed his Majesties hand at his return he was pleased to confer the honor of Knighthood upon him with the same Sword the Duke of Saxony gave him By way of Corollâ—ry to the present Section it will be necessary to give an account of those Transactions relating to this most Noble Order which past during the interval of the late Rebellion and Usurpation The present Soveraign by reason of his frequent removals from several places beyond the Seas where his rebellious Subjects had forced him to
Duke Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria George de Halwyn Baron of Gomyns An. 16. H. 8. Dukes Peter Duke of Conimbero Iohn Lord Typtost An. 6. H. 6. Dukes Guido Vbaldus Duke of Vrbin Sir Balthasar de Castilian Knight An. 22. H. 7. Dukes Emanuel Duke of Savoy Iohan Thomas Langusts des Contes de Stropiane An. 1. 2. Ph. Mar. Dukes Adolph Duke of Holstein Walter Devereux Viscount Hereford An. 3. Eliz. Dukes Henry Prince of Orange Dudley Carleton Viscount Dorchester An. 4. Car. 1. Dukes Iohn George Duke of Saxony Heneage Finch Earl of Winchelsey An. 23. Car. 2. Earls Anne Montmorency Earl of Beaumont Sir Amye de Courteney Knight Sier de Villert An. 25. H. 8. Earls Philip Chabot Earl of Newblank Sir Iames Deschateners Knight Sier de Beaulion An. 25. H. 8. Thirdly it is provided that he be a Knight and without any manner of Reproach and if it so happen that he have not received the degree of Knighthood the Soveraign is to bestow that honor before he be allowed to take upon him the execution of his deputative power for none but Knights are capable of this Honor or permitted to bear the Ensigns of so great an Order Hereupon the Lord Willoughby of Ersbie Proctor for Frederick the Second King of Denmark and Sir Philip Sidney for Iohn Count Palatine of the Rhyne were both Knighted by the Soveraign at Windesor Castle the morning before they proceeded to take possession of their Principals Stalls Notwithstanding there was a reason why this particular was not strictly stood upon though moved in the case and it is the single case of Henry Ramell Deputy for Christian the Fourth King of Denmark an 3. Iac. R. for it being taken notice of that he was not a Knight certain persons were sent from the Soveraign to signifie his pleasure that he should be advanced to the honor of Knighthood before he took upon him the Ensigns of the Order in his Kings behalf to which he made answer that he appeared here not in his own but in the name of the King of Denmark and that such a Degree of honor was unusual in his own Country being born in Pomerania and therefore humbly desired that he might be excused for receiving the honor Upon which answer the Soveraign was pleased to dispence with him and forthwith the said Deputy but no Knight received the Ornaments of the Order and was admitted to take the Stall assigned to the said King his Principal SECT III. His Letters of Procuration THE authority wherewith an Elect-Stranger invests his Proxie is chiefly deduceable from the words in his Letters of Procuration or Deputation which ought to pass under the Hand and Seal of his Principal and do generally contain these particulars First he premiseth the Soveraign's Election of him into the Order of the Garter and his Receipt of the Habit and Ensigns thereof then takes notice of the obligation which the Statutes of the Order put upon him for sending a Proxie to take possession of his Stall in regard the dignity whereunto he is advanced in his own Country will not permit him to repair personally to Windesor and being not only desirous that the Election and Investiture should obtain its due effect but to fulfil as far as in him lies the Injunctions of the Statutes in what concerns the assuming of his Stall and taking the Oath appointed He therefore ordains authorises and deputes a person fitly qualified named in the Deputation his sufficient Proctor and special Deputy to appear at the Castle of Windesor on his behalf and in his Name at the next Solemnity that should be held there to supply his room and receive possession of the Stall assigned him according to the usual form and to perform in all respects those Ceremonies and things in his behalf due and accustomed or should appear to belong any way to the splendor or ornament of the Order As also to take the accustomed Oath with those qualifications and in that form as had been or should be agreed upon and further to fulfill all other things which he should think necessary to be performed on this occasion or whatsoever thing might require a more special command than was contained in the Letters of Procuration and as fully as the Stranger should be obliged unto and would do if he were there present in his own person Lastly there is usually added a Clause of Ratification and Confirmation of all such things as the Proctor should say or do in reference to the Solemnity of Installation SECT IV. Of the Proctor's Reception SOon after the arrival of the Proxie and that the Soveraign is acquainted with the occasion of his coming he at some convenient time giveth him Audience after which a day for Installation is assigned where the Soveraign or his Lieutenant are present the Soveraign nominates some of the Knights-Companions his Commissioners to perform the Ceremonies Heretofore the Soveraign hath caused the Proctor to be received with very great state for so was Sir Balthasar Castilian sent hither from the Duke of Vrbin an 22. H. 7. whom Sir Thomas Brandon with a goodly company of his own Servants well horst met at the Sea side and thence continually kept company with him till they came neer Deptsord in Kent where by the Soveraign's command he was met by Sir Thomas Dokara Lord of St. Iohns and Sir Thomas Wriothesley Garter The said Sir Thomas Dokara had attending him 30 of his Servants all in new Liveries well horsed every Gentleman bearing a Javelin in his hand and every Yeoman a Bow and a Sheaf of Arrows and so they conveyed him to his Lodging The next day they conducted him to London and by the way there met him divers Italians and Paulus de Gygeles the Popes Vice-Collector to whose house he was conveyed and there lodged The Reception also of Iames Lord Rambouillet Proctor for the French King Charles the Ninth was very noble to whom as soon as the Soveraign heard of his arrival at Gravesend being Tuesday the â—8 of Ianuary an 8. Eliz. she sent thither Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton Mr. Midlemore and other Gentlemen who the next day landed him at the Tower-Wharf where all taking Horse they conducted him to his Lodgings neer St. Maries Spittle without Bishops-Gate within which place lay the Ambassador Leiger of France SECT V. The Preparations for Installation THE Preparations for the Installation of a Stranger by Proxie are the same as for the Proxie of a Knight-Subject and mentioned as before namely the 1. Commission for Installation 2. Letters of notice to the Commissioners 3. Warrants for removal of Stalls 4. for the Strangers Atchievements and 5. some other particulars of less note All which are to be obtained by the Chancellor of the Order under the Soveraign's Sign Manual to which the Signet of the Order is to be affixt The form of the Commission is
Thursday and Friday following being the 26.27 and 28. of April upon which days it was observed at Whitehall But where the Eve hapned upon a Sunday as it did the next year after there the Feast received no Prorogation In the year of our Lord 1636. the Soveraign was moved by reason of the Contagion and Sickness dispersed into several places of the Kingdom and to avoid the danger of the concourse of much People during the Infection aswell for other great and important Affairs to give several Prorogations to this Feast from the 22.23 and 24. dâ—ys of April being the usual days of this Solemnity first to the 8.9 and 10. days of Iuly following then again to the 26.27 and 28. of September and from that time unto the 13.14 and 15. of December and lastly to the 17.18 and 19. of April in the 13. year of his Reign upon which last appointed days it was solemnized at Whitehall Where on the morrow after the Feast it being considered in a Chapter that the day of St. George was neer at hand and for other special reasons the Soveraign was there pleased to defer the Celebration of the approaching Feast unto the 25.26 and 27. days of September ensuing And on the 13. day of the said September prorogued the Prorogation unto the 2.3 and 4. of October next following to Windesor where it was accordingly observed Within few Months after the Soveraign having determined to create the then Prince now most happily the present Soveraign a Knight and to propose him in Election as a Companion of this most Noble Society did for the more conveniency of his Installation the 25. of February an 13. Car. 1. defer the celebration of the Grand Feast from the 22.23 and 24. days of April then coming on to the 21.22 and 23. days of May when the same was observed with high Solemnity This being the third Grand Festival which had been celebrated personally by the Soveraign and Knights-Companions within the Revolution of one year and something more and to keep up the honor of Windesor Castle two of them were solemnized within its Walls And before the return of the next Anniversary of St. George the Soveraign upon consultation had in February an 14. Car. 1. with divers of the Knights-Companions about the Prorogation of the Feast which was supposed could not by reason of his important occasions to repair into the North be celebrated at the usual time in the next ensuing April thereupon he thought fit to adjourn the same which was done the 26. of February aforesaid unto the 2.3 and 4. of Iuly next coming York being the place the Soveraign thought most convenient to hold the Feast at but afterwards being in his Camp neer Barwick and taking into consideration the impossibility of keeping the Feast at York upon the before designed days and conferring with some of the Knights-Companions that then attended on his person he the 22. of Iune an 15. Car. 1. adjourned the same until the 8.9 and 10. of October following to Windesor at which time it was there celebrated After this the troubles and tempest of War approaching the Prorogations became more frequent and such places appointed to hold the Feast in as the Soveraign thought most convenient or had occasion to reside at Nevertheless the adjournments passed always regularly under the Great Seal of the Order and the Soveraign's Sign Manual SECT IX Of Commissions for Prorogation WE have not met with any Precedent of Commissions for Prorogation of the Grand Feast of St. George more ancient than that of the 11. of December an 12. Car. 1. left us by Sir Thomas Rowe wherein is notice taken of all the former adjournments of the Grand Feast from St. George's day preceding until that time with the reasons thereof and chiefly upon consideration had of the then spreading Sickness together with a command to the Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order to attend upon the Soveraign on the new assigned days viz. the 17.18 and 19 of April following for the celebration of the said Feast As to the substance hereof the succeeding Commissions do very neer agree yet with some small difference as first the Preambles are general and run thus Whereas upon special Reasons and other important Affairs c. except only that Commission issued the 25. of February 1637. whose Preamble being fitted to the particular occasion was this Whereas we have determined to create the Prince our eldest Son a Knight and to propose him in Election as a Companion of our most Noble Order for the more conveniency of his Installation we have thought fit to defer the celebration of the Feast of St. George c. But in the Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feasts dated the 19. of April and the 25. of February an 19. Car. 1. the place appointed for Celebration is omitted which defect we find in the above mentioned Precedent also Nevertheless afterwards that material part came to be inserted and first of all in that Commission of the 26. of February an 14. Car. 1. where the place being the City of York is put into the body of the Commission And when the late War drew on and consequently the Soveraign could not so well ascertain the place beforehand because of his continual and uncertain motion according as occasion and advantages offered themselves Then we observe that the Grand Feast was appointed to be kept at any such place as when the time appointed by Prorogation was neer expired should seem to the Soveraign most convenient But from the body of the Commissions the nomination of Place afterwards slided downwards into the close and shewed it self in that part where the Injunction was given for the Knights-Companions and Officers to attend upon the days before appointed being expressed either thus Wheresoever we shall then be c. or else thus at such Places as we shall timely appoint c. which later way of signification was first used in Commissions issued forth after the Soveraign came to setle at Oxford Now the most ordinary course preparatory to the issuing forth such Commissions of Prorogation hath been by the Soveraign's Declaration in Chapter or otherwise the signification of his pleasure to the Chancellor of the Order at any other time who thereupon drew up the Commission and presented it to the Soveraign for his Sign Manual and then affixed thereunto the Great Seal of the Order Nevertheless where the Chancellor was not at hand to receive the commands for adjournment immediately from the Soveraign we find his pleasure in this particular was then signified to him by some other hand with command to summon the Knights-Companions and Officers accordingly For so was it done by Sir Francis Windebanke Knight one of the Principal Secretaries of State by his Letters from Oatlands directed to Sir Thomas Row dated the 11. of September an
Officers of the Order when they Dined in the Hall until he hath made an end Which Custom it seems had been an 7 Car. 1. for some years discontinued Then Garter proceeds and proclaims the Soveraigns Stiles and Titles of Honor first in Latin as followeth Serenissimi Excellentissimi Potentissimi Monarchae Caroli Secundi Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae Hiberniae Regis Fidei Defensoris Supremi Nobilissimi Ordinis Garterii Which done He and all the Officers of Arms make another Reverence and Garter Proclaims the Soveraigns Stile in French Du Treshault Tres-excellent Tres-puissant Monarque Charles le Second par le Grace de Dieu Roy de la Grande Britaigne France d' Irelande Defenseur de la Foy Soveraign du Tres-noble Ordre de la Iâ—rtiere Then Garter and the rest of his Fellows make another Reverence and lastly he Proclaims the Soveraign Stiles in English Of the most high most Excellent and most mighty Monarch Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith and Soveraign of the most Noble Ordre of the Garter At the end of which but not before Garter and the rest join together in crying Largess thrice and then they all make Reverence together Hereupon sometimes the Treasurer of the Houshold puts the Soveraign's Largess which is 10 l. in Gold into Garter's Hat and this is afterwards divided among the Officers of Arms according to Custom But an 23. Car. 2. the Lord Chamberlain sent his Warrant to Sir Edward Griffin Knight Treasurer of the Soveraign's Chamber to deliver this Largess Money to the Black Rod and he put it into Garter's Hat so soon as the last Largess was cryed The proclaiming the Stile being finished all the Officers of Arms retire about 3 yards backward keeping their Faces towards the Soveraign and there make another Reverence and then retyring yet backward about the same distance they jointly make another Reverence after which they retire out of the Hall and go to Dinner This Ceremony ended the Soveraign's second Course is brought up in the following order first the Serjeants at Arms next the Treasurer and Comptroller of the Soveraign's Houshold next the Sewer then the Gentlemen Pensioners bearing the Messes then the Cofferer and Master of the Houshold the two Clearks of the Greencloth the two Clearks Controllers and lastly the two Clearks of the Kitchin following all in the rear habited in their Gowns and holding their Caps in their hands and after the Soveraign's Table is compleatly furnished then is the second Course served up to the Knights-Companions Tables by the Yeomen of the Guard in such order as was the first The order of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions sitting at Dinner on the Grand Feast day an 15. Car. 2. The order in proclaiming the Stile and bringing up the second Course with an exact prospect of the inside of St. George's Hall at Windesor we have here drawn together for the Readers better view But where any Knight-Companion happens to be Installed at this Grand Feast and is present at Dinner then Garter and the Officers of Arms proceed in order after they have proclaimed the Soveraign's Stile as before from the lower end of the Hall till they come before the new installed Knights Mess and there he crys Largess once and proclaims his Stile in English only after which they retire backward and go to Dinner Concerning which we had a full and remarkable instance in the 13. year of the present Soveraign when the Duke of York and other Knights were Installed For after Garter had proclaimed the Soveraign's Stile and he together with the Officers of Arms had retired to the lower end of the Hall they all proceeded again as at proclaiming the Soveraign's Stile to the upper end of the Knights-Companions Table where his Highness the Duke sat and there Garter cryed Largess twice and proclaimed his Stile in English then after a joint Reverence made Garter and the Heralds now joining with him cryed Largess twice This done they went backward as before to the next senior Installed Knight and proclaimed his Stile and cryed Largess but once the like to all the rest installed at that Festival and so they departed out of the Hall to Dinner It seems to have anciently been the custom of other great Feasts besides this of St. George at the second Course when the Soveraign's Stile was to be proclaimed for Garter and the Officers of Arms to proceed in order up to the Kings Table and there to cry Largess and upon the receipt of the Kings Largess in the name of all the Officers of Arms first to make some short Oration to the King and then to proclaim his Stile for so an 20. H. 7. when the King kept his Easter in great State at Greenwich have we met with the following Speech among some Collections of Sir Thomas Wryothesley then Garter made to the King in humble thankfulness for the Largess at that time bestowed upon the Officers of Arms. Most high mighty and excellent Prince most victorious and Christian King and also our most drede Soveraine and naturell Lord by whom through Gods provisâ—on vertue ys greatly incressed and vice oppressed juxta illud sapientis abhominabiles Regi agunt Impii qui Justitia formatur solium the which to your Highnesse is viz. Incressing of vertue and honor perpetual and to your subjects continuall Welth teste Salustio quia diviciarum forme gloria fluxa atque fragilis est virtus clara perpetuaque habetur and as concerning us your Officers of Armes and Servants of honour and of Noblesse in as moche as in us ys we humbly thanke your good grace of the grete and abundant Largess geven unto us in the honour of God and of his most glorieuse Resurrection and for as moche as wee suffice not to geve graces condigne unto your Highness Nam quod praestare tanto c. Wee meekly beseech almighty God long to preserve maintaine and encresse your most noble and royall Estate which ys the singuler Welthe and comfort of this your realme and of all your trewe subjects and to send you the perfict knowledge and victory over all your enemys Nor was it unusual for Poets in former times to present the Soveraign with the issue of their Fancies having a subject so noble as this of the Grand Feast among whom the following Verses were presented to King Henry the Seventh at the Feast of St. George celebrated at Windesor in the 3. year of his Reign probably by Mr. Iohn Skelton after made Poet Laureat who about that time began to be of some esteem O moste famous Noble King thy Fame both spring and spreade Henry the Seventh our Soverain in eiche Regeon All England hath cause thy grace to love and dread Seing Embassadores sethe fore protectyon For Ayd helpe and succore which lyeth in thie Eleâ—yone England now Rejoyce