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
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
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
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
which came across the body over the right shoulder and so under the left arm And was the Ensign from whence the Knights took their denomination This Order was instituted chiefly to honor the Nobility and therefore at first none were admitted but the younger Sons of Noblemen excluding elder Brothers or persons descended of the most noble Families in Spain or else Esquires who had served in the Court or Camp ten years at the least and to the end that greater honor might the more inflame them to valiant Exploits Kings themselves sometimes vouchsafed to take the Ensign of this Order upon them It was anciently of very great esteem but such is the vicissitude of humane Affairs at length it grew out of use The Laws and Constitutions are recorded by Anth. de Guevera who also gives a Catalogue of the first Knights Ios. Micheli Sansovin Favin and Segar to whom we refer those that are desirous to be informed of them The Order de la Calza in Venice 18 From the example of the Knights de la Banda in Castile and about the year 1400. was instituted a Society at Venice bearing the Title de la Calza in honor of the Inauguration of Duke Michele Steno Meeting with but a slender account hereof among those Authors who have handled Military Orders and some confounding it with that of St. Mark I was at length by the friendship of the deservedly honored Sir Charles Cotterel Knight Master of the Ceremonies to his Majesty furnished with better satisfaction which he obtained for me from Signóre Pietro Moccinigo the late Venetian Ambassador at his Residence here in England and from Signóre Aberti the present Resident for that State This Order consisted of a Society of particular Noblemen and Gentlemen who at their voluntary choice met together and entred into a Fellowship among whom some person of Eminence was elected their Chief Nevertheless upon the recommendation of their intention and design to the Council of Ten who confirmed their Institution and granted them Priviledges It hath appeared with so much the more reputation to the world by having had the honor to receive into it several Princes of Italy especially the Family of Este Dukes of Ferara of Gonzaga then Marquesses now Dukes of Mantua of the Rovere Vrbino Mirandula and others of the most conspicuous Families of that Country namely Colonna Vrsini Sanseverini Visconti and others They were distinguished by wearing a Stocking quartered into different colours embroidered with gold and enriched with Jewels which they at pleasure altered from the right to the left Leg and in particular it is remembred that an 1529. the right Stocking then worn was half the inside of Scarlet and half the outside of Purple and the other half gray but the left Stocking was all green and as were the Husbands Stockings such were the Wives Sleeves in all particulars On their solemn days they first went to Church and at Mass took an Oath to observe the Articles of their Order Among other things which this Society for the honor of the City was obliged to splendid and noble Entertainments were part at which were exhibited Musick Dancings and Theatral Representations And with such magnificent and sumptuous Divertisements have they given reception to divers foreign Princes in particular to Henry the Third of France when he past by Venice in his way from Poland to France They wore for their Habit a Crimson Senators Vest appearing therein very splendid and reserved for solemn days at which times the Foreign Princes that had been admitted into this Order appeared clad after the same manner These Knights had for their Ensign a Sun on a Shield painted in their Banners which they used also for a Seal perhaps as a happy Omen and Presage that the Order being laid aside about the year 1590. for the excess it was growing into should like the Sun from under a Cloud rise again in after times when better opportunity offered it self in greater splendor than ever The Order of St. Mark in Venice 19. In this Seigniory there is another Degree or Dignity of Knighthood commonly called the Order of St. Mark and because it is generally reckoned among the Orders of Knighthood and differs from the Milites Simplices by wearing a peculiar Title and being invested with a particular Ensign of Honor at their Creation we have thought good rather to discourse of it here though the Ceremony of Creation is performed after the manner of Knights Batchellors viz. by Dubbing with a Sword and their Title a bare mark of Honor only being by our Learned Selden affirmed to be the known Degree of Knighthood given by Supreme Princes or such as have a like power with them Besides we have been informed thence that those Knights are not governed by any Laws or Statutes and are without any Revenue or Indowment of Lands That they are not under any particular obligation or tye except what is common to them with other Subjects namely that of Fidelity to the Prince being in all things else left to their own liberty To this we add that the Honor is also bestowed on absent persons by Letters Patent or Codicils as is the Knightly Dignity sometimes among some of which that to the learned Sir Daniel Heinsius is given us by Mr. Selden It had its Title from St. Mark the Evangelist whose Body was translated to Venice from Alexandria in Aegypt in the year of our Lord 828. in the time of Iustinianus Patritius Duke of Venice ever since which time this Saint hath been assumed and taken for the titular Angel and Guardian of this noble City and his Picture very anciently painted upon their Banners and Ensigns but as to the Institution it is not certainly determined when or by whom it was first brought in use The Badge of Honor wherewith these Knights are adorned is a Gold Chain put over their shoulders at the instant of their Creation whereat depends a Medal on the one side is represented the Symbol of St. Mark to wit the Figure of a Lyon having wings holding in his right Paw a drawn Sword and in his left a Book spread open in which this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelista mens on the other the name of the Duke then living beautified with a particular Impress but in the other he is represented on his Knee receiving a Standard from the hands of St. Mark and sometimes this Medal is worn on a Cross enamel'd blue I was further informed from the hand of the noble Signóre Pietro Moccinigo that the Duke of Venice bestows this Honor either privately in his Chamber or publickly in a full Colledge Some also are made Knights by the Senate and those of the Venetian Nobility at least persons of very eminent Quality and Character who have merited well of this Common-wealth by some extraordinary piece of service either at home or abroad or upon whatever occasion
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
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
learned Selden and is to be so taken here and not as a distinct Title of a lower Degree because also we observe the Banerets ranked in all Scrutenies before King Henry the Eighth established his Statutes except one with the Knights-Batchelors not with Barons Besides this something further may be said concerning the Title of the third and lowest rank in this Classis for in the Statutes of Institution they are called Milites Bachalauri in those of King Henry the Fifth Batchelers and elsewhere Bachalauri and Bachalauri Equites which in common acceptation are all the same with Milites though thus rendred to express and manifest their difference from Knights Banerets who are of a higher Degree of Honor. And here we have an occasion given to note That there is no place in a Scruteny for any under the degree of Knights Batchellors And though three of the Nine named are appointed to be Barons and three other Earls or of a higher Degree yet must these six be such as have received the Order of Knighthood else ought not their names be either given or taken in Nomination for the Text is plain That each of the Knights assembled at the Election shall name nine Knights Thus his late Majesty of blessed memory in the sixth year of his Reign intending to chuse Iames Marquess Hamilton into the Society of this Order conferr'd the honor of Knighthood upon him immediately before his Nomination and the Annals in that place give this Remarque upon the Action and the reason for it Because by the Statutes it is provided That none should be Elected into the Order that have not been dignified with the title of Knight Yet it seems the Ceremony of Knighting the person designed for Election was not so strictly and duly observed as it ought but that sometimes this branch of the Statute was either not taken notice of or else confounded with the second Article throughout the several Bodies of the Statutes which prohibits the Choice or â—lection of any person into the Society of which we shall speak by and by as this doth the Proposal or Nomination and thereupon perhaps it was conceived that although the Nomination Election and sometimes delivery of the Ensigns of the Order were first dispatcht and past yet it was well enough if the honor of Knighthood were conferr'd afterward As it was in the case of William Earl of Derby and Thomas Cecil Lord Burleigh anno 43. Eliz. where the Register notes that as soon as their Election was past and they brought into the Chapter the Earl of Derby who it seems had not been Knighted before was dubbed Knight with a drawn Sword according to Custom after which they had the Garter and George put on by the Soveraign her self In like manner Vlrick Duke of Holstein and Henry Earl of Northampton immediately after their Election being the last day of St. George's Feast an 3. Iac. and before they received the Ensigns of the Order had the dignity of Knighthood conferr'd on them by the Soveraign So also in the case of the Earl of Suffolk an 3. Car. 1. which the Red Book of the Order taking notice of saith that as soon as it was understood that the Earl had not received the Order of Knighthood before the Soveraign immediately drawing his Sword Knighted him which was not done till after his Election and Investiture with both the George and Garter Thus also did the Ceremony of Knighthood succeed the â—lection of his sacred Majesty the present Soveraign the 21. of May an 14. Car. 1. For after he had been Elected and the Ensigns of the Order placed upon him and that the two senior Knights the Earls of Penbroke and Montgomery and of Arundel and Surrey were intreated by the rest of the Knights-Companions to present his Highness to the Soveraign in the name of all the rest to be initiated into the Title and Dignity of a Knight-Batchelor he was conducted by the said Earls his Supporters into the Presence Chamber in Windesor Castle where before the Chair of State he most solemnly received the Order of Knighthood from the Soveraign his late Majesty of blessed memory To honor which Knighthood and the memory thereof four of the chief Nobility then present were also Knighted namely the Earls of â—ssex Saint Albans and Elgin and Viscount Grandison the first of them being conducted from the great Chamber to the Soveraign's State between two Batchellor Knights Sir Frederick Hamilton and Sir Robert Huniwood the second by Sir Roger Palmer Knight of the Bath and Sir Henry Mildmay the third by Sir Iohn Meldram and Sir William Withrington and the fourth by Sir Iohn Harpur and Sir Iohn Lucas Afterwards the Law in this point began again to be more rightly understood and by that time his Royal Highness the Duke of York came to be Elected which was on the 20. of April an 18. Car. 1. being the last day of the Feast of Saint George then celebrated at the City of York the Soveraign appointed and accordingly conferr'd the honor of Knighthood upon him the day before which he received upon his knees being first conducted into the Presâ—â—e Chamber between two of the Nobility who were also Knights namely the Marquess of Hertford and Viscount Grandison In honor and memorial whereof there were also four Noblemen Knighted at that time the Earl of Carnarvan supported by Sir William Killegrew and young Sir Arthur Ingram the Lord George d' Aubigne sapported by Sir William Howard and Sir Peter Wyche the Lord Iohn Stewart by Sir Peter Killegrew and Sir Capell Bedell and the Lord Bernard Stewart by Sir Edward Savage and Sir Heâ—ry â—lount And thus Prince Edward Count Palatine of the Rhine and George Duke of â—uckingham being designed by the present Soveraign to be admitted into this most Noble Order were both first Knighted at Saint Germans in France an Dom. 1649. and afterwards had the Ensigns of the Order sent unto them by the hands of Sir Edward Walker Garter who in right of his Office invested them therewith Nevertheless in the case of his Highness Prince Kupert who had the honor to be Elected with his Royal Highness the Duke of York an 18. Car. 1. His want of Knighthood became no impediment thereunto being then a Prince in another Country viz. Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria and might therefore justly claim the priviledge to come within the rule of Foreign Princes mentioned a little lower But herein also the Soveraign to come as neer to the intention and observance of the Statute as he could where there was a possibility to do it and the honor also would be well accepted by the Prince thought it requisite by Commission under the great Seal of England to impower Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surrey and George Lord Goring late Earl of Norwich both being then in Holland
the Soveraign under his Seal the cause of his impediment that so he might perceive by his excuse whether it were worthy acceptance or he in fault or not CHAP. X. THE Investiture OF A KNIGHT SUBJECT WITH THE Garter and George SECT I. The Notice given to a Knight Subject of his Election IN reference to this Ceremony we are first to premise something concerning the notice to be given the Knight-Elect of his Election into this most Noble Order whether he be at such time personally at Windesor or other place where the Chapter is then held or employed in some more remote parts within the Kingdom or elsewhere beyond the Seas upon the Soveraign's Affairs To the newly Elect-Knight who upon this acquisition of Honor happens to be at Windesor or wheresoever else the Chapter is held Garter immediately after the Soveraign hath signified his pleasure in Election of the person is sent out of the Chapter to give him notice of it for we find this employment recorded as part of the duty of his Office and asserted to be so by the general practice and among other Precedents in the Annals upon the Election of the Lord Howard and Sir Henry Marney an 2. H. 8. both then present at Court it appears that Garter was forthwith sent out of the Chapter to give them notice thereof and to conduct them to the Soveraign 's presence where both were invested with the two principal Ensigns of the Order the Garter and George And upon the like service was he employed at the Election of Sir Nicholas Carew an 28. H. 8. and of the Lord Burghley and Lord Grey of Wilton an 14. Eliz. And as Garter hath been accustomed to carry the verbal notice of Knights Election so also the Soveraign's Letter signifying Election to a Knight then likewise at Court where the Soveraign is pleased for the greater honor of the Person to wave a verbal notice and send Letters of signification in its stead And in such case these Letters are drawn up by the Chancellor of the Order and pass under both the Soveraign's Sign manual and Signet of the Order Such a particular Honor was afforded the present soveraign to whom immediately after his Election in a Chapter held at Windesor the Soveraign directed the following Letter presented to him by Sir Iohn Burrough Garter who found him walking in St. George's Hall Charles R. OVR most dear and entirely beloved Son having to our great comfort seen and considered the ripeness of your youth and conceived joyful and pregnant hopes of your manly virtues in which we are assured you will encrease to your own honor both in prowess wisdom justice and all princely endowments and that the emulation of Chevalry will in your tender years provoke and encourage you to pursue the glory of heroick action besitting your royal birth and our care and education We with the Companions of our most Noble Order of the Garter assembled in Chapter holden this present day at our Castle of Windesor have elected and chosen you one of the Companions of our Order In signification whereof we have sent unto you by our trusty and well beloved servants Sir John Burrough Knight Garter and our Principal King of Arms these our Royal Letters requiring you to make your speedy repair unto us to receive the Ensigns of our most honorable Order and to be ready for your Installation upon the 21. day of this present Month. Given under the Signet of our Order at our Castle of Windesor the 20. of May in the 14. year of our Reign 1638. To our dearly beloved son Prince Charles This is the only Instance we have met with where a Letter was sent to an Elect-Knight and he at the same time present at Court But when an Election passeth and the Knight Elected is remote from Court then the general form of the Letter is both to signifie his Election and summon him to his Investiture with the Garter and George of which see a Precedent in the Appendix But where the Soveraign is pleased to descend to mention particular services or other inducements for a Knights Election there the Preamble of the Letter is worded accordingly and that this hath sometimes though but rarely been used appears thus in that Letter which certified Election to Sir Iohn Fastolfe We considering the virtuous fidelity you have shown and the honorable exploits you have done in the service of our thrice renowned Father and that in our service also you as many others have given proofs of that honor and those deserts wherewith God hath endowed you always suffering as is the part of a good and faithful subject the pains and toyls of War for the vindicating and maintaining of our just right claims and title have chosen you one of our Companions of our Order c. Where the Letter barely signifies Election that is when the Soveraign doth not design a present Investiture with the Garter and George but defers that Ceremony till the Elect-Knight comes to Windesor to take possession of his Stall in such case notice of the day of his Installation is also inserted towards the end of the Letter and upon his appearance at Windesor so soon as he is called into the Chapter-house the Garter is first buckled about his left leg next follows his Investiture with the rest of the Ornaments of the Order and lastly his Installation And thus in the case of Henry Earl of Cumberland an 29. H. 8. was the Investiture with the Garter deferr'd till his appearance at Windesor where that Ceremony as also his Investiture with the Habit and Collar and lastly his Installation were dispatcht at one time SECT II. His Reception into the Chapter-house IF the Elect Knight be neer where the Chapter is held and that Garter hath been sent forth to give him notice of the Honor and to usher him into the Chapter-house to receive the Garter and George before the Chapter break up intimation being given of his approach the Soveraign sends forth two of the Knights-Companions to meet him who after a mutual salute conduct him between them to the presence of the Soveraign Garter going before them For instances herein first of Strangers we shall remember Vlrick Duke of Holstien an 3. Iac. R. who being sent for by Garter was introduced into the Chapter between Prince Henry and the Earl of Dorset and by them presented to the Soveraign So Christian Duke of Brunswick an 22. Iac. R. proceeded with much state and honor in the midst between William Earl of Penbroke and Philip Earl of Montgomery to receive the Garter and George The 6. of November an 14. Car. 2. Christian Prince of Denmark being Elected in a Chapter held in the Withdrawing Room at Whitehall and then absent Garter was sent next day by the Soveraign to give him notice thereof with desire to be present the following day at the foresaid place to receive his
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
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
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
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
leads from the King's Privy-Chamber down the Stairs into the Terrace viz. through that most stately Walk lying on the North side the Castle and entring again at a door heretofore made through a part of the Castle Wall into one of the Canons Lodging adjoining to Winchester Tower now made up went thence through the Cloisters into the Chapter-house nevertheless proceeding in the order before shewed as it was on the Eve of the Feasts held in the 4. 7. and 9. years of King Charles the First But when the Grand Feast was heretofore celebrated at Whitehall the Chapter was usually held in the Soveraign's Closet built over the entrance into the Chappel and then the Processional way thither lay from the Presence-Chamber into the Guard-Chamber and through the Gallery thence into the outward Closet or Ante-camera and so to the Soveraign's Closet But the Soveraigns of this most noble Order or their Lieutenants have not always though generally proceeded upon the Eve of the Grand Feast first to the Chapter-house and thence into the Chappel but sometimes gone immediately into the Chappel to Evening Prayer without entring the Chapter-house at all and at these times the Processional way at Windesor differed from the former only in this that when the Procession arrived neer unto the forementioned passage at the East end of the Chappel instead of entring thereat it went on to the South door of the Chappel and thence into the Choire In like case when the Soveraign went not to the great Closet at Whitehall to hold the usual Chapter before Vespers the publick processional way then led from the Presence-Chamber into the Guard-Chamber and so down the great Stairs into the Hall thence into the old Chappel and lastly in at the door of the new Chappel And at Greenwich from the Presence-Chamber down into the Hall and thence into the Chappel But these ways we take to be used at such time only when the Soveraign hath held a Chapter in some of the Privy Lodgings before the Proceeding set forward which Chapter being ended there was then no need of going to the Chapter-house or Closet but immediately into the Choire And thus we find it to have been observed at Windesor upon the 22. day of April an 6. Eliz. where after the Knights-Companions and Officers of the Order were assembled in the Queen's Privy-Chamber a Chapter was there called and the Earl of Arundel constituted her Lieutenant for holding the Feast at the breaking up whereof the Proceeding began the said Lieutenant supplying the place of the Soveraign which passed along the publick processional way directly unto the South door of the Chappel where they entred and went thence into the Choire without going to the Chapter-house at all So was it an 20. Iac. R. at Whitehall where the Prince had been constituted the Soveraign's Lieutenant in Chapter He and the Knights-Companions proceed to the Chappel to Evening Prayers according to the Custom So also upon the 23. of November an 1. Car. 1. being the Eve of the Grand Feast celebrated at Windesor by Prorogation before the Proceeding began a Chapter was held wherein the Earl of Worcester was constituted Lieutenant and the Soveraign dispensed with the non-appearance of the absent Knights-Companions after which the said Lieutenant and the rest of the Knights-Companions together with all the Officers of the Order proceeded from the Presence-Chamber immediately into the Chappel to hear Divine Service In like manner on the 23. day of September the Eve of the Grand Feast an 4. Car. 1. a Chapter was called in the Soveraign's Bedchamber at Windesor where the new Officers were sworn and when that was ended the Proceeding began to the Chappel and so into the Choire And lastly 17. Apr. an 13. Car. 1. at the Hour of Tierce in the Afternon the Soveraign and Knights-Companions opened the Chapter in the Privy-Chamber and thence proceeded to the Chappel this day being the Eve of the Feast held by Prorogation for the 12. year of his Reign And although upon the Eve of the Grand-Feast an 21. Iac. R. after the Soveraign had held a Chapter in the Privy-Chamber at Windesor and thereat sworn Sir George Moor into the Office of Chancellor to this most Noble Order the Soveraign's Lieutenant the Earl of Worcester together with the Knights-Companions proceeded to the Chapter-house and there held another Chapter yet was not this second Chapter called for Affairs appertaining to the Grand Feast they being dispatched in the Privy-Chamber before but only in reference to the calling in and investiture with the Surcoat of Iames Marquess of Hamilton who was that evening installed We shall close this head with acquainting our Reader that though the Proceedings to the Chapter-house or Chappel on the Eve of the Feast have most commonly been on foot nevertheless now and then upon an extraordinary occasion the Soveraign and Knights-Companions have proceeded on Horseback as an 3. H. 7. the Grand Feast being then held by prorogation at Windesor on Sunday following the Feastday of St. George at which time several Ambassadors being arrived here from Foreign Kings and Princes they and many of the Nobility of this Kingdom with the King's Council the two Archbishops the Bishops of Lincolne and Exceter and the Chief Iustice of the Kings Bench repaired also thither On the Eve the Soveraign accompanied with the Knights-Companions in their Mantles and the Gowns or Surcoats of the Livery of the preceding year rode from the upper Quadrangle down to the Colledge The Queen and the Kings Mother in like Gowns of that Livery rode in a Chair covered with a rich Cloth of Gold drawn by six Coursers harnised with the same Cloth of Gold and 21 Ladies habited in Crimson Velvet rode upon white Palfreys their Sadles of Cloth of Gold the Harness Goldsmiths work with white Roses demy-trapper-wise Sir Rogér Cotton Master of the Queens Horse riding upon a Courser trapped with Goldsmiths work led her Horse of State in his hand being furnished with a Saddle of Cloth of Gold and thereon three Crowns of Silver gilt with Fimbres of the same Cloth hanging down to the Knees on both sides and harnised with Goldsmiths work demy-trapper-wise as soon as they alighted the Soveraign and Knights-Companions proceeded to the Chapter-house and thence to Evensong which ended they returned in the order they came King Henry the Eighth on the 28. of May in the 11. year of his Reign at a Clock in the Afternoon with all the Knights-Companions in the Habit of the Order proceeded from the Presence-Chamber in Windesor Castle till they came to the Quadrangle where they took their Horses and rode according to their Stalls not after their Estates next before the King the reverend Father in God the Bishop of Winchester Prelate of the Order wearing on him a Mantle of Morrey with a Scutcheon of the
personally been present at Windesor and in particular to Philip King of Castile an 21. H. 7. who in his approach towards the High Altar to make his Offering had his Train carried up by his own Chamberlain In like manner the Lieutenants or Deputies to the Soveraign constituted for holding the Grand Feasts of St. George and consequently his representatives have had their Train carried up in the Proceedings For instance the Earl of Arundel being the Soveraigns Lieutenant for holding St. Georges Feast an 31. H. 8. after such times as he had offered for the Soveraign his Train was let down when he came to offer for himself in the quality of a Knight-Companion And this hath been the usage in all times since And not only the Train of the Soveraigns Lieutenant or Deputy but sometimes that of a Stranger Kings Mantle hath been carried up when his Proxy proceeded to Installation as in the case of the French King Charles the Ninth an 8. Eliz. when Monsieur Rambouillet bearing the Mantle of his Principal upon his right Arm had the Train thereof carried up by Henry Earl of Southampton assisted by the Lord Herbert Furthermore this Ceremony of bearing up the Train hath been also performed unto Stranger Princes in their own Countries and that in reference to the Custom of England at those solemnities relating to this most Noble Order whereof Erhardus Cellius gives us an instance in Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg who as soon as he was invested with the Surcoat and Mantle in the great Hall at Studgardt proceeded thence to the great Church of St. Vlrick to receive the rest of the Habit of the Order having his Train born from the ground by the Noble and Illustrious Count Lodowick Leosten who likewise carried it after him throughout the whole Ceremony And lastly the Knights-Companions have in this Proceeding their Trains carried up by their own Gentlemen Another piece of Ceremony in the State of this Grand Proceeding we find once added and that was the bearing of Queen Elizabeth's Cloak and Hat along with her the one by Sir William Howard the other by Sir Christopher Hatton then Captain of her Guard but as this was the first so was it the last time that either of these are mentioned to be thus publickly carried In the second place the Cloths and Apparel or under Habit of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions have for many years past been made of white Sattin and in the fashion of the times which the present Soveraign observing to be laid aside and others introduced He to prevent profuseness in Apparel and emulation among the Knights-Companions as also to beget an uniformity and equality among them in the under no less than in the upper Habit of the Order thought â—it to appoint a set and constant Habit of Cloth of Silver made in the fashion of Trunk Hose with white silk Stockings to be worn by himself and them upon all solemn occasions relating to the Order for the observation of which an Order past in Chapter an 13 Car. 2. As to other Ornaments the chiefest are the variety of rich Jewels which surround or adorn their Caps and where else they may appear most conspicuous But besides the glory and splendor which shoot from the Habits and Ornaments of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions who are principal in this grand Ceremony there are others that make up the body of the Proceeding and may fitly be compared to Stars of the middle and lesser magnitude since we find them adorned in Robes particular to their Offices to distinguish and set off the lustre of the show among whom are first The five Officers of the Order namely the Prelate Chancellor Register Garter and Black Rod of whose Habits we have sufficiently spoken before The Provincial Kings Heralds and Pursuivants habited in their rich Coats and going together in one Body appear more conspicuous from the Royal Arms of the Soveraign of this most Noble Order richly imbroidered upon them with fine gold purles and twist the ground of the Provincial Kings Coats being at this day blew Velvet the Heralds blew Sattin and the Pursuivants blew Damask The Habit in which the Canons of the Colledge proceed is also peculiar and more remarkable because of their particular reference to this most Noble Order for though as Clergy men they are vested in Linen Surplices at all times of Divine Service or the Celebration of Sacred Offices yet at the Solemnities peculiar to the Order they wear a Mantle over those Surplices which is a Habit appointed for them from the foundation of the Order These Mantles are of Taffety and of the ancient colour to wit Murry upon the right shoulder of which is a Scutcheon of St. Georges Arms within a Rundelet imbroidered with Gold and Silkâ— and bought at their own charge for we do not find them entred among the Liveries of the Garter provided by the Soveraign In Habits yet more glorious do the Gentlemen of the Soveraigns Chappel at Whitehall the Petty-Canons and Vicars of Windesor appear who at this time are also joined in one Body to augment the Solemnity for they are all or the most part of them Vested in Rich Coaps of Cloth of Gold Cloth of Bodkin or most costly Imbroideries But the Children of the Chappel and Choristers do always proceed habited in Surplices of fine Linen By a memorial we have met with a. 22 H. 8. we find how well stored this Colledge then was with such sacred Vestments when at one Procession appointed by the Soveraign in honor of St. George there were 35. Copes of rich Cloth of Gold made use off These kind of Vestments have been in all times worn in the Grand Procession whether the Grand Feast was kept at Windesor or at Whitehall or Hampton-Court or Greenwich even to the beginning of the late Wars in which the covetous barbarism of the then Reformers sent most of them to the fire Besides they are sometimes taken notice of in the Registers of the Order to be used in the Grand Procession as in particular an 15 Iac. Reg. it is noted that the whole Choire being adorned in Copes for so we suppose the word Orarium may signify as well as Dalmatica Vestis descended from the Altar and sung the Letany and to like purpose is that recorded an 21. of the same King 7. Lastly the Habits of the Alms-Knights a Mantle and Kirtle are not unremarkable they being grave and civil and both for colour and materials appear sutable to their Age and Degree The Mantles are of Cloth which the Statutes appoint to be of a Red Colour with a Shield of the Arms of St. George but without any Garter to surround them In conformity whereunto when Queen Elizabeth's Orders and Rules for the establishment of good Government among these Alms-Knights were made It was therein Ordained that
the same order as they go the Gentlemen-Vshers also are to go bare-headed and the Herald if present to take place next before the Knights person 4. In his Dinner on the Feast day that it be noble and his Attendance at the Table sutable and that he dine and sup alone at all times unless there happen to be a Knight-Companion with him 5. In his Offering of money that he make it not only on the Feast day in the morning but the next morning also assoon as the first sentence of the Offertory is pronounced 6. That at Evening Prayer on the Feast day and also at the Supper following he observe all things as on the Eve 7. In wearing his Habit of the Order until after Supper on the Eve and all the Feast day until supper be ended at night 8. That on the Morrow after the Feast he proceed to the Church in his Mantle only and when Divine Service is finished then to put it off at the Church door And if any thing else in the before recited Article seem short or obscure the large account in the Preparations for the Grand Feast and course to be observed in the celebrations thereof before laid down and handled will sufficiently clear and explain without the assistance of any further Comment But here we must note that though the Statutes seem not to oblige the absent Knights-Companions to hold the Ceremonies of the Feast longer than the Evening on the Feast day yet by the practice of ensuing years they were extended to the Morrow after and consequently observed by the absent Knights so long as the Soveraign and Knights-Companions performed them at Windesor or elsewhere If the absent Knight be a person of eminent Degree he is to be attended by a Herald or Pursuivant at Arms or both during the Solemnity of the Feast to adde the greater lustre thereto Thus was Prince Arthur an 15. H. 7. attended at Hereford and the like honor was designed to the Earl of Leicester when he kept the Solemnity of the Feast in the Low Countries and had been performed but that the Herald dyed before St. George's day The nature of this Officers Employment on such an occasion will partly appear out of the Instructions given by Sir Gilbert Dethick Garter pursuant to the directions of the Statute to Henry Rees alias Berwick Pursuivant at Arms the 3. of April an 1565. which were to this effect 1. That he should see a Capital Stall provided for the Soveraign though not there with a Cloth of State and before it a Carpet and Cushen with a Scutcheon of the Soveraign's Arms impaled with those of St. George fixed thereon 2. That the Knight's Stall should be decently trimmed with a Scutcheon of his own Arms fixed at the back of it and that this Stall should be placed a good distance from the Soveraign's Stall according to the largeness of the Chappel 3. That he should go before the Knight-Companion to and from the Church both on the Even of the Feast and Feast day in his Coat of Arms using such Reverence as is meet and convenient and sit on a Form before the Soveraign's Stall 4. That on the Feast day at Dinner after the second Mess shall be served up having on his Coat of Arms he shall proclaim the said Knight's Stile in French 5. And lastly when the Knight puts off his Mantle either in the Church or where Service is said then he to put off his Coat also and return home in his ordinary Apparel with him SECT III. How to be observed in case of Sickness BUT in case of Sickness and such as hath confined the absent Knight to his Bed or would not permit him with safety to go out of his Chamber the custom was to prepare a Capital Stall for the Soveraign of the Order with a Cloth of State Carpet Cushens and a Scutcheon of the Arms of the Order impaled with the Arms of the Soveraign and his Stile underneath in the Chamber where he lay as also another Stall for himself placed according to the before mentioned directions which were there to remain during the Feast In which Room also were the Divine Offices celebrated both on the Eve the Feast day and the Morrow after And if the absent Knight were so sick that he kept his Bed then was his whole Habit of the Order laid thereon during the time the rest of the Knights-Companions are enjoined to wear theirs according to the ancient Custom and Statutes and upon this account Ambrose Earl of Warwick falling ill at Greenwich when St. George's day was there celebrated an 30. Eliz. retired to his Chamber and there sat in his Robes SECT IV. In what manner the Feast hath been observed by absent Knights IN relation to the Celebrations performed by absent Knights the Black Book gives us a punctual account in a considerable Precedent namely of the Feast of St. George holden in the Palace of Hereford by Prince Arthur an 15. H. 7. he being then in the Government of his Principality of Wales and had with him Sir Richard Pool one of the Companions of the Order then his Highness Chamberlain this worthy Knight took care that all those things which the Solemnity of the Feast required and the Soveraign and Knights-Companions did observe according to the form of the Statutes and accustomed manner should be most exactly performed and indeed there was nothing intermited in the Mass in the first and second Vespers which solemn custom required should be done in Censing Fuming Proceeding and Offering aswell the Prince as the said Sir Richard but it was undertook and performed with much exactness Besides the Princes Sword was born and held before his Stall and his Herald performed his Service with all â—â—â—â—gence also the Soveraigns Herald stood all the while before the Soveraigns Stall which was adorned with accustomed Ornaments and lastly the Bishop who celebrated Divine Service had his Seat erected near to the high Altar But the publick memorials of Sir Henry Sydneys holding two several Feasts of St. George the one at Shrewsbury and the other at Ludlow is worthy of a place here since these two Corporations have caused them to be conspicuously recorded in their Town Hall and from whence I made Transcripts when I accompanied William Dugdale Esq Norroy King of Arms in his Visitation of Shropshire An. Dom. 1663. That at Shrewsbury being written in large Letters upon a pain of Wainscot over the Chimney in the Chamber of Concord in the Town-Hall is as followeth Be it remembred that in the Year of our Lord 1581. and in the 23d Year of the Reign of our most dread Soveraign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Feast of the most noble Order of the Garter was right honourably kept in the good and right renowned Town of Salop by the Right Honourable Sir Henry Sidney then Lord President of the Council established in the Principallity of Wales and Marches of
Stile But intending to provide yet better for him the next day he gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also the Arms Victuals Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other places to him before granted together with the Debts Arrerages of Accounts and other Services due to himself In the Parliament held at Westminster an 11 E. 3. he was created Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing date the 17. of March the same year and invested by the Sword only and this is the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England Herewith also the King setled on him divers Manors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of the State and Honor of Duke all which though some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patent dated the same day he granted to him the Stannaries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tin and all the issues and profits thence arising as also the profits and perquisites of the Courts of the Stannaries except only 1000 Marks formerly granted to William Mountague Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly value and afterwards granted That all the Castles Honors Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of life or years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom In the Parliament held an 17. E. 3. the King created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod and the better to support his State as Prince of Wales gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William de Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney with this Dignity The King also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North Wales and South Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the King's Grant He was constituted Custos Angliae divers times when the King had occasion to be absent out of the Kingdom to which the Title of Locum tenens Regis was sometimes added and in his younger years the King appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the chief of his Council to direct him in all Affairs the powers belonging to this Great Officer being recorded in Rot. Pat. de an 14. E. 3. pars 2. m. 28. The first time this Prince entred upon the Stage of War was at the beginning of his 16. year of age at which time he accompanied his Father into France where at his landing at Hoges in Normandy he received the honor of Knighthood from that martial Kings hands Thence he marched in the body of the Army with the King toward Cressy at which Battel fought an 20. E. 3. he led the Van and after a fierce encounter with the French was somewhat distrest from the Enemies breaking in among his Archers but the rest of his men timely advanced to their Assistance nevertheless notice of his condition being sent to the King who commanded the Reer he asked if the Prince were dead or wounded the Messenger said no but stood in need of his Assistance well said the King return and bid them send no more to me so long as my Son lives for I will have him this day win his Spurs since I design him the honor of this Expedition and it cannot be denyed but the compleatness of the Victory then gained fully conferred it on him so also did his Fathers acknowledgment for after the Battel was ended he embraced the Prince and kist him and said fair Son God give you resolution to pursue Honor you are my dear Son and have acquitted your self nobly you are worthy to govern a Kingdom The following year a Truce being agreed on at Calais was spun on by several Prorogations but without effecting any thing of Peace till an 29. E. 3. in which year both Kings provided for War Hereupon the King constituted this Prince his Lieutenant in the Dukedom of Aquitaine and other places in France whither he should happen to march both for Reformation of the State of that Dukedom and other places in France and the recovery of his Lands and Right possest by the Rebels And by another Commission of the same date he gave him power to make Alliances with all persons of what Nation Dignity or Condition soever to retain men and pay them Wages and Rewards A third Commission gave him Power in the King's stead and name to receive Homage and Fidelity from the Nobility and others within this Dukedom and the Kingdom of France Armed with their Powers and accompanied by the Earls of Warwick Oxford Salisbury and Suffolk and a good Army attending him he took Shiping and safely arrived in Gascoigne for whose passage thither the King had before assigned Richard de Corteâ—hale and Robert de Baildon Serjeants at Arms to arrest array and equip all the Ships of 20. Tun and Upwards in all Ports and Places from the River of Thames unto Lynn as well within Liberties as without to furnish them with men and other necessaries and to bring them to Southampton by St. Barniby's Day at the furthesâ— as also to Press Mariners for the Voyage at the Kings Wages and had given Commission to Thomas de Hoggeshaw Lieutenant to Iohn de Beauchamp Admiral of the Sea Westward to carry him over with power to hear and determine all Crimes and Transgressions committed on Shipboard and to punish them according to Maritine Law and to do all other things appertaining to the Office of Admiral Having entred the River Garronne he marcht into the South-part of Languedock and burnt the Great Town of Carcassone scituate near the Mediterranean Sea thence passed to Narbon burning and wasting the Country after which he returned to encounter the French Forces which marcht out of Tolouse under the Command of the Marshall Cleremont and Earl of Armaignac but upon his approach they retyred and so in November after 8. Weeks he returned to Bourdeaux with great store of Pillage and Prisoners A more particular account of which Voyage with the Towns and Castles taken and destroyed and several other actions done after the Prince's Return to Bourdeaux to the 21. of Ianuary following are reported in Sir Wingfield's Letters Printed in Hollinshead's Chronicle Intelligence of the Prince's taking the Field the following Summer being