An account of the ceremony of investing his Electoral Highness of Brandenburgh with the Order of the Garter Perform'd at Berlin on the 6th of June, 1690. By James Johnston, Esq: His Majesties envoy extraordinary to his Electoral Highness, and principal commissioner. And Gregory King, Esq; the other commissioner for this investiture. With the speeches made at this solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, minister of state to his Electoral Highness.

An account of the ceremony of investing his Electoral Highness of Brandenburgh with the Order of the Garter Perform'd at Berlin on the 6th of June, 1690. By James Johnston, Esq: His Majesties envoy extraordinary to his Electoral Highness, and principal commissioner. And Gregory King, Esq; the other commissioner for this investiture. With the speeches made at this solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, minister of state to his Electoral Highness.

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AN ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONY Of INVESTING His ELECTORAL HIGHNESS OF BRANDENBƲRGH, &c.

Mr. Johnston's Speech to his Electoral Highness.

Monsieur FULCKS, Minister of State, His Speech.

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AN ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONY Of INVESTING His ELECTORAL HIGHNESS OF BRANDENBURGH WITH THE Order of the Garter.

PERFORM'D At BERLIN on the 6th of June, 1690.

By James Johnston, Esq His Majesties Envoy Extraordinary to His Electoral Highness, and Principal Commissioner.

And Gregory King, Esq The other Commissioner for this Investiture.

With the Speeches made at this Solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, Minister of State to his Electoral-Highness.

LONDON: Printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard. M DC XC.

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AN ACCOUNT Of the CEREMONY Of INVESTING His ELECTORAL HIGHNESS OF BRANDENBƲRGH WITH THE Order of the Garter.

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LICENS'D,

G. SARƲM; Chancellor of the Order.

July 15.

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AN ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONY Of INVESTING His ELECTORAL HIGHNESS OF BRANDENBƲRGH, &c.

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WE arrived here on Tuesday the 27th of May, Old stile, with Mr. Johnston, His Majesties Envoy Extraordinary; and Mr. King, Commissioner for the Investiture. The Elector came hither Post on the Saturday thereafter, from Coningsberg. On Monday following, being the second of June, the Commissioners had a private Audience; at which they Delivered the Credential Letters, and Book of Statutes, after which they put on the Elector the Ribbon-Garter [Page] and George.—They had likewise a Private Audience of Her Electoral Highness, of the Princess Electress, and of the Margraff, and Two other Princes, the Elector's Brothers. This they did for the dispatch, and that they might have the freedom of going to Court, and seeing the adjusting of the States, and the putting of all other things in Order, against the time of the Solemn Investiture. But they could not have a Publick Audience, nor could the Ceremony of Investiture be performed, till the Elector's Court, and his Coaches and Horses should arrive; which hapned on Thursday night. In the mean time all other things were made ready, and the next day, being Friday the 6th of June, was appointed both for the Publick Audience, and the Ceremony of Investiture. The Commissioners were willing that these Two should be joined together, that no time might be lost, nor the Elector's Journey to the Rhine stopt so much as one moment, upon the account of the Solemnity.

On Friday morning the Baron of Shiarm, the eldest Privy-Councellor, or Minister of State, (as they speak here) came from Court, accompanied with a great many other [Page] Gentlemen, and particularly with Monsieur Bescat, (whose Office it was to regulate the Ceremony) all in Rich Cloaths, with Six of the Elector's Coaches, and Six Horses in each of them, and carried the Commissioners and their Retinue to Court; Twenty four Trabants, or Horse-Guards, walking along all the way, on both sides of the Coaches: Not to mention a great many of the Elector's Servants that did also attend them. At Court they were received with Double Guards, and Colours displayed; Twenty four Trumpets, and two pair of Kettle-Drums sounding all the while. The Commissioners Coach passed through the Inner-Court of the Castle; at the foot of the Stairs the Commissioners were received by the Grand Marshal, with his Silver Staff of Office: At the head of the Stairs they were met by the Elector's Great Chamberlain, the Count of Denherff, and so were conducted to the Elector's Chamber; all the Rooms, as they pass'd along, being full of the Nobility and Gentry of the Court, and the Trebants making the Guard up the stairs, and along the Two first Rooms.

From the Elector's Apartment, they went to an Audience of the Electrice, where were [Page] all the Princes and Princesses of the Family, and the Ladies of the Court, richly dressed: Then they were conducted to the Rooms where the Robes of the Order were before placed, where all things being in readiness, they went to another Room near adjoining, in which his Electoral Highness was, and thence began the Procession to the Great Hall, which is one of the noblest Rooms that is to be seen any-where, being above 100 foot long, and above 50 foot broad, adorn'd all about with the Marble Statues of the Electors of the Family, and the Roof richly painted. They went in this order: first, The Nobility and Officers of the Court in great number; The Grand Marshal and Marshal with their Silver Staves of Office, being the last of them. Next came two belonging to the Commissioners, one of them carrying the King's Commission, and the other the Cap and Feather; then followed Mr. Gregory King in the Mantle of the Kings at Arms, bearing the Habit and Ensigns of the Order on a Velvet Cushion. Next came Mr. Johnston alone; and in the last place his Electoral Highness, attended by the Prince of Anhalt, and the Grand Chamberlain.

[Page]Thus they went through a long Gallery (having the Trabants on each side) into the Hall, and so into the Rails which divided the upper end of the Hall, that was raised four Steps, making the due Reverences to the Sovereign's State; the Electrice, with the Princesses and Princes Ladies, and publick Ministers, having before taken their places within the Rails.

The Elector being placed under his State, and the Robes being laid on a Table near his Highness, the two Commissioners seated themselves in two armed Chairs, and the Trumpets and Musick ceasing, Mr. Johnston made a Discourse in English. But not to oblige the Elector to stand, because of an hurt in his Leg, the Expedient fallen upon was this; That instead of four Discourses (as the Custom is) two by one of the Commissioners, and two by one belonging to the Elector; that one only should be made by Mr. Johnston in the beginning, and another at the end of the Ceremony by Monsieur Fulks, one of the Elector's Ministers of State. And therefore Mr. Johnston having put his two Discourses into one, and having only told the substance of them in English, he presented a Translation in High Dutch to the Elector, which he [Page] ordered his Chief Secretary to read; the Elector and the Commissioners having stood during the pronouncing of the English, but sitting when the Dutch Copy was read. Then they presented the King's Commission to the Elector, which he gave to a Minister of State, who delivered it to the Secretary to be read, the Elector and all others standing up; which being again delivered to the Elector, his Highness gave it to Mr. King; After which, the Commissioners having taken off his Highness's Coat, Sword, Belt, Ribbon-George and Garter, Mr. Johnston invested the Elector with the Diamond-Garter, the Surcoat, the Sword and Belt, the great Mantle, the Hood, and at last the great Collar and George, in the order as they were delivered to him by Mr. King; who pronounced in Latin the usual Forms of Admonitions upon Mr. Johnston's putting on the Elector each Ensign. Then they presented to his Electoral Highness the Book of Statutes under the Great Seal of the Order, and he delivered them Letters certifying his reception of the Order, and containing an Engagement to observe the Statutes with the usual Exceptions. These Letters had already his Sign and Seal at them, yet his Electoral Highness [Page] had a Pen given him, and he made a shew of writing his Name.

Next they presented him with the Cap and Feather, which his Electoral Highness had enriched with Diamonds to the value of above 50000l. one of the Stones cost above 10000l.

Then Mr. King did congratulate his Electoral Highness, and proclaimed the Sovereigns and New-Knights Titles, upon which the Trumpets sounded, and the Drums beat, and Musick play'd.

This being over; Mr. Johnston did also congratulate his Highness in a short Complement; and then Monsieur Fulks made an handsome Speech to the praise of the Soveraign and the Order. This Speech was in High-Dutch, that it might be understood by the whole Assembly; and a Copy of it being given to Mr. Stepney, Mr. Johnston's Secretary, he read it publickly, the Elector and Commissioners sitting all the while that Monsieur Fulks spoke, and that the Copy was read. Then they presented the Stars or Glories, and the Ribbon of the Order; and returning to their Chairs, the Drums beat, the Trumpets sounded, and the Cannon round the Town was thrice discharged. Then the Elector and Commissioners [Page] returned in procession as they came, and Mr. Norton, Collonel Norton's Grandson, had the honour to carry the Elector's Train.

A little after this, they came back to the Hall again to dinner, where his Electoral Highness and the two Commissioners only did sit at the Table, his Highness being in the Robes, and the Court attending: The Elector began first the King's Health; 2dly, the Queen's; 3dly, the Knights of the Order; 4thly, Prosperity to the English Nation; 5thly, Success to the Campaign. Mr. Johnston began first the Elector's Heath; 2dly, the Electrices; 3dly, the Electoral Families; the Elector and Commissioners stood up, and the Guns were discharged at every Glass. After Dinner the Commissioners were carried home in the same manner as they were brought in the morning; at night they returned to Court in two Coaches with six Horses, and supp'd with the Elector, the Electrice, and the Princess, where many of the same Healths were drunk again with the same Ceremony of firing, and standing up.

After Supper the Fire-works began, and were much admired by every one, considering they had only three days to prepare them: [Page] There were many Rockets of all sorts, and four great Fire-works of 40 or 50 foot high, the chief burnt blew, and was composed of the representation of a Garter, having within it these four Letters, V. W. M. R. signifying Vivant Willielmus Mariae Reges; and without the Garter were the Supporting Crown and Crest of England. The other three were Pyramids burning in bright white fire, with Crowns on the tops of them, the middlemost having the Letter B. and the other two, F. and H. signifying Britannia, Francia, Hibernia. The Elector hath ordered the Garter to be put on the Plate. Ever since the publick Audience, we have been entertained at our Lodgings at the Elector's Charge, and attended by his Officers. Both the Commissioners have received Rich Presents, the Principal Commissioner's being double the value of what was given to the other. The Servants of the first, to the number of sixteen, and those of the other Commissioner, three, had all considerable Presents according to their several Offices. In a word, Every thing was done for the honour of the Order of the Sovereign of it, and of the new Knight; and in a manner more noble than it could have been expected the shortness of time would have allow'd.

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Mr. Johnston's Speech to his Electoral Highness.

May it please Your Electoral Highness,

NOthing excites in men the desire of Glory so much as signal and lasting marks of Honour. For to Noble and Generous Minds, Honour is certainly the greatest Reward; and such marks are the most acceptable parts of it, to wit, a publick acknowledgment that men deserve it.

Of these Marks, the most eminent have been appropriated to Chevalry. Religion ha [...]h its Treasury above. Justice, and the other peaceable Virtues without Arms, would be of little or no use. Therefore Military Glory, as most necessary, hath been preserr'd to all others; besides, it is acquired with greater danger, and is founded on nobler Passions.

Amongst all incitements to it, nothing hath proved so effectual as the Institution of the Orders of Knights Companions and Brethren.

Such Orders do engage Princes by the strictest Ties of Honour, to give in their own Persons an Example of Military Virtue, as also the highest Incouragement imaginable to follow it: For by these Fraternities they descend from their Greatness, and consent that brave and gallant Men should be brought into a sort of Equality with themselves.

[Page]Amongst Military Orders, there are none that can dispute either Antiquity or Dignity with that of the Garter; which may indeed be called the Mother Order; For the other great Orders have sprung out of this Root, being formed upon the Model of it.

Such Institutions, like other things of the same nature, in their first conceptions use to be imperfect, and calculated for receiving the Reformations that time only brings: But the Rules of this Order were from the beginning so well digested, that they have admitted of few or no material Changes.

To the Antiquity and Wisdom of the Institution, I may add the Chastity of the Order: The Knigths have at no time exceeded the first foundation of Twenty six, contrary to the fate of other Orders; of which none have supported their Dignity as this hath done, considering jointly the small number, and singular eminency of those that have been of it, viz. Four hundred ninety seven only. And yet amongst these, there have been Eight Emperors (of whom two, Sigismond, and Charles the Vth. went to England and received it there, so much did they value the Honour of being of it;) Forty five Kings, including those of England; [Page] and above Sixty Princes, for the most part Sovereigns; Not to mention that the others generally deserving to be Princes, were therefore by the Order in a manner made such.

The Qualities of Edward III. who founded this Order, gave a peculiar Lustre to it; He was the Greatest and Bravest Prince of His Time, in the opinion of all others, as well as of the Germans, who first made Him Vicar-General of the Empire, and afterwards offered Him the Imperial Diadem.

He claimed the Crown of France as his Just and Lawful Inheritance, and studied by the Institution of this Order, to engage the most Martial Spirits of the Age, in his Quarrel. It was with his Garter that he gave the Signal at the Battel of Cressy; remembring, it seems, that which was reported of one of his Predecessors, Richard the Ist, That he had upon a like occasion, with great Success, made use of a Garter. In this Battel the whole Power of France fell before Him; upon which Augury he made the Garter the chief sign of the Order. Richard the Ist, is also said upon such an account to have had the same design. Besides, a Garter is the Symbol and Badg of Unity, and therefore most proper to signifie these [Page] Bonds of Amity and Affection into which all the Companions were to reckon themselves knit.

He delighted much in Devices, and chose for the Device of the Order, these words, Honi soit qui mal y Pense; in English, May he be ashamed that thinks ill (or does not approve) of it. That is, either of the Order it self, or of his Title to the Crown of France, which gave occasion to the Institution.

He made Blew the chief Colour, that being the Colour of the Field of the Arms of France, which, with the Title he had about that time assumed to himself, his Successors have ever since used: Besides, Blew denotes the Sublime and Celestial Temper of those who were to be of the Order. The Pilgrims that returned from the Holy Land, brought over such an account of St. George (then the Christian Mars) particularly of his Tutelary care of the English in that War, that according to the Persuasions of those Times, he made him the Patron of the Order, as well as of the Nation.

He wisely considered that other Sovereign Princes might think it a lessening of them, to come into an Order subject to the Laws and [Page] Government of England; therefore he intirely separated its Concerns, and made it a distinct Body with Seals and Officers, and Statutes peculiar to it; over which the Seals and Laws of England have no sort of Authority.

This is the Order, Sir, so deservedly famous over all Christendom, these Three hundred and forty Years, of which we have now the Honor, in the Name of the King our Master, to Present Your Electoral Highness the Ensigns. The same Order which His Highness, Your Illustrious Father, desired so much, and received as a great Honour done Him, and to which he did great Honour: He wore it in a time of Action, when the Fate not only of the North, but of the whole Empire; nay, I may add, of all Europe, turned according to the Measures that He took, and which is more, turned often with the approbation of all good men. It was thus that he run His Career, which he finished with an happiness that might be called the obtaining of the Prize, if that were to be done here; For he being full of Honour and Years, in Peace and quiet, Belov'd and Esteem'd by the better part of Mankind, died; leaving behind him the only Two Things to be left, a Great and Good Name, and a Glorious Successor.

[Page]It is also the same Garter, as well as the same Order, with which we are to invest your Highness. This I should call a happy Omen, that the Order is still to receive the same Honour: But your Highness hath not left the World to Divination and Conjecture; you have begun your Regence in a way worthy of the Son of such a Father, and already given Mankind real Instances of that which they may expect: And now this day you are to put the Order in possession of the Honour which you have, as it were, advanced to it, and to which the Order hath a Natural Claim, your Highness having acquired the same, as the Founder did his, by defeating the ancient Enemies of both Nations. For this Reason, I suppose, the King, my Master, as well as for doing your Highness greater Honour, hath sent you a Sword, amongst the Ensigns of the Order, which hitherto was never done to any other.

Sir, Nothing is more evident then, that this Society was instituted for carrying on a War with France, in which War the Emperor, the Princes of Brandenburg, Bavaria, Lorrain, and many others, were engaged by a [Page] Confederacy with the Founder of this Order, as your Highness, and others, their Successors, are now with the present Soveraign of it. It seems in all Ages it hath been the Wisdom of Great Princes to have no other thing to do with that Crown. Sure that which hath hapned in this Age, doth not alter the Case; nay, the present Confederacy is a Demonstration, that it is the Sense of Mankind, that the Publick quiet can be no longer secured by the Faith of Treaties; and therefore, that a firm Peace is only to be obtained by a thorough War: For Men that having enriched themselves by Violence, are fallen in love with it, will love on till they lose by it, then it will be seasonable to trust to Treaties, the incapacity such Men shall be in to break them, will be surety for their keeping them.

Edward the 3d designed a Conquest, and succeeded in it: But there is here place for yet a more Noble Design, that of a Redemption. The Work of an Hero is not to mind his own Business only, much less to do hurt, to plunder the World with Alexander, or ruine his own Country with Caesar; but to do good chiefly to others; to chain up the Disturbers [Page] of the Publick Peace, to set Bounds to Exorbitant Power, and the Will of Man; and so to deserve the Blessings of those that were ready to perish. All this the King, my Master, hath done, by redeeming his own Country from Ruine, and other Countries from the danger of it, in suffering them to become his own: Thus endeavouring every where to stem the Inundations of the present Times, as his Ancestors did those of theirs.

But to this, not only the Example of the Soveraign invites those of the Order, but the Order it self, in a particular manner, engages them, Pugnare pro jure & tuitione oppressorum & indigentium, To fight for the relief of the Poor and the oppressed.

This, Reason; Humanity, common Christianity, and Interest too, requires of all Men, much more of Princes, that are to act as God's Vicegerents, who Glories in nothing oftner than in his firm purposes to avenge and protect Widows and Orphans, and such others, the Innocent, though Unfortunate part of Mankind, to wit, by commanding all those that have power to do it, to punish their Oppressors.

[Page]Thus it is here, That a Capacity to do good, not only gives a Title to it, but makes the doing of it a Duty. It is strange, That among Christians in all Times there should have been some who doubted of this, and have had narrower Thoughts of Heroical Enterprizes than either the Jews or Heathens had; nay, of whom some have believ'd all War to be unlawful, since the Design of Christianity was to exalt our Natures to a higher and sublimer pitch of Perfection, and not to stifle and undo, with specious pretences, that which is most Commendable in them, the Inclinations and Ties we may have to do one another good.

The Jews of old had so Noble an Opinion of such Performances, that they imputed them to Inspiration; they thought, that without extraordinary Assistances, Men had neither Goodness nor Largeness of Soul sufficient for them.

It is true, several among them endeavoured thus to defend the Irregularities that sometimes did accompany such Actions, and supposed an express Order from God, as necessary to justifie them. Yet Rules and Laws are [Page] means for obtaining the ends which they relate to, and in that relation cannot be too well observed; but they are not the ends themselves which must still be pursued, tho in another way, if the ordinary way fails. No doubt the Letter of the Law, that upon great occasions opposes it self to the publick Safety, which is intended by all Laws, must needs be the Letter that kills. This those high Pretenders came at last to understand (and to fight even on their Sabbaths) tho their Laws were given them by God; and that it was their humour to swallow Camels, and strain at Gnats; to let go the Substance for the Law, and perish in defence of the Letter of it. The true standing Character in all Ages and Nations, and ordinarily the Fate too, of Weak, and Warm, and Obstinate (tho often Well-meaning) Men.

Those Jews are much more in the right, who ascribe great Events more particularly to God, because of that which is singular (as well as of his Concern) in them. Thus they would, no doubt, judge of the late Revolution in Britain, where we have an Illustrious Example of such sorts of Events. In which the concurrence of great Dangers, of an unexpected Opportunity [Page] to be delivered from them; of the Capacity and Circumstances of the Deliverer, as if they had been given for this End; of the evident infatuation of those whose Interest (and in whose Power) it was to have prevented it; of a multitude of meer Accidents previous and absolutely necessary to it, which by Humane Wisdom could neither have been foreseen nor procured: In a word, of a Chain and Coincidency of various, and often, in appearance Cross Events; yet in effect, so well agreeing with the Methods resolved on, that Divine Goodness and Humane Prudence seem to have had a Correspendence. All this, with the sudden vanishing of Difficulties that had appear'd, in a manner insuperable, and a Success worthy of the Care of Providence (such as History cannot parallel), without Blood, Danger, or Disorder; So that the Publick Peace and Quiet seemed rather not interrupted than restored; as if no change had hapned, except in our Hearts and Thoughts. All this I say, does compleat an Event so much above the ordinary course of things, that whoever believes, that God does at all concern himself in Humane Affairs (much more such as believe, that the Hairs of [Page] our Heads are numbred), must needs conclude, that this whole business was (to speak so) laid and concerted by him. Sed praestat de Carthagine, ut aiunt, silere quam pauca dicere. And therefore to return to my Subject.

The Heathens went yet further in doing Honour to the Authors of such great Undertakings; They thought they could not do too much to encourage Men to venture upon them: And therefore upon such accounts they Deified their Hero's; Men seemed to them in the performance so like their Gods, that they could not abstain from Honouring the Copies with the Names of the Originals. The Heathens considered the Publick Good that was done; for as their Hero's became their Gods for chastising Oppressors, in their Opinion the Enemies of Mankind, so others became their Hero's for destroying Monstrous Beasts of the same Temper, if we may not rather believe, as no doubt we may, that the Poets, the Historians of those Times, meant Men (and to them gave the other borrowed Name, as more proper than their own) whose Souls, by Success in their Passions, were become as Monstrous as they describ'd the Shapes [Page] and Voracity of those Beasts to have been.

Sir, How Great and Noble Thoughts would those Jews and Heathens have of the present Undertaking in which the King, my Master, your Electoral Highness, and so many other Princes are engag'd? An Undertaking such as Humane Nature requires, where Honour, and Duty, and Interest go hand in hand together: And the most necessary thing to be done, is the greatest and best thing that can be done.

In particular, it is an Undertaking that will transmit your Highness Name Glorious to Posterity: for you first gave Life and Motion to it, by saving the Town of Cullen, and that whole Electorat, by taking Keiserswert, Rhinberg and Bonn; by routing the Forces sent to assist them, and so delivering the Lower Rhine from the Chains that in time must have prov'd those of the Empire.

Sir, You have thus out-done the Enemy in Diligence, their most Commendable Quality, if it were well imploy'd: You have overcome them where they themselves, and others too, think them most invincible, behind Walls: You [Page] have defeated their Troops, neither by Number nor Surprize; Advantages are to be taken; but it is greater not to stand in need of them.

Thus your Highness hath begun the War, where it must end with Victory, and taken to your self a share in it suitable to the Dignity of your Family, and the Importance of the Conjuncture, which gave your Highness the Opportunity to Signalize the beginnings of your Regence by doing the Publick such Eminent Services; as if Providence, in compliance with the Integrity of your Intentions, took care, that no sooner you should be in a Capacity to do good, but that the Publick should require and receive the Benefit of it, to signifie to your Highness, that the Good of the Publick ought to be the End of your Greatness, and to others, That it is the End, and will be so.

Sir, The great Power that God has put in your hands, can at no Time be better imployed. Without Controversie, the Peace and Happiness of Europe, during this Age, depends upon the Success of this War.

[Page]All Laws, Divine and Humane, of Peace and War, the Fences of the Publick Safety are broke thorough; Those Eternal Dictates of Reason, the Obligations of Honour, Humanity, Oaths, Promises, Religion, as well as the Customs of Nations, which the Necessities of Humane Affairs have rendred inviolable, and without which the great Society of Mankind can no more subsist, than private Societies can without Rules and Laws: All these have been openly and avowedly trampled on.

Now if the Ambition, and other Passions of Men that have done such things, have carried them so far, notwithstanding the just apprehensions which, no doubt, they had of a general resentment; whither will the same Passions not carry them, if the present Confederacy should happen to be frustrated, and there should remain nothing more for them to be afraid of.

But better things, no doubt, are reserved for this Age. The Chariot Wheels of those that have asked Brick, and forbid Straw, begin already to move heavily. And provided the Easterly Wind continue to blow steady, and neither little private Interests, (sure little in comparison), [Page] nor certain Points of Honour (only tolerable when Innocent) disorder the present Harmony, the Event is infallible.

Sir, Nothing can contribute more to this than the happy Union that is between the King my Master, and your Electoral Highness, which states His Majesty, and your Highness, in the best Circumstances imaginable for preventing or removing differences.

This, among other Reasons, gives ground to hope, that the Confederacy is not to be broke, since the Union I speak of cannot be dissolved. It is strong, by all that is Sacred amongst Men, the Ties of Honour, Religion, Blood, Friendship, Obligations, Engagements, and I may add of the same Interests and Designs with relation to the Publick.

To so many Ties it may seem there needed no addition of a new one. But His Majesty was resolved not to lose any opportunity of giving publick Instances of the great Affection and Esteem that he hath for your Electoral Highness: And the Knights Companions were unanimously of Opinion, That his Majesty could not better dispose of the greatest Honour that he can give, than by sending it to [Page] your Electoral Highness; from whom the Order may expect the greatest return of Honour that it can at present receive.

Monsieur FULCKS, Minister of State, His Speech.

SIR,

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HIS most Serene Highness, the Elector of Brandenburg, our Gracious Prince, receives the Honour his Royal Majesty of Great Britain has been pleased to confer on him, in sending him the Badges of the most Noble Order of the Garter, with all due Respect and Esteem. For whether its Antiquity be regarded, it being Three Hundred [Page] Thirty Nine Years since its first beginning, or the glorious Founder of it, Edward the Third, together with his Royal Qualities, especially his unheard of Courage, and the Happiness that attended him; or whether the Splendor and Excellency of those that have been honour'd with the most Noble Order be consider'd; amongst whom are reckon'd several great Monarchs, and what is wonderful, Eight Emperors, Five and Forty Kings, Sixty Electors and Princes, vested with Soveraign Power, besides a great many other Hero's renowned both by their Birth and Actions; or whether the design of [Page] the Institution be looked on, which was the defence of Justice, the relieving the oppressed, and the encouragement of true Vertue, 'twill be found, that it gives place to no Order in the world, but on the contrary does far excel them all. The Excellency whereof is visible, by those two things that are absolutely required in every true Knight, which are, not to have been tainted of any Baseness, or of any Cowardize. But the Dignity of this Order has been so fully shewn by His Majesties Envoy, that 'twould be superfluous to add anything to what he has said. Indeed in the ancient Histories of the [Page] Greeks and Romans, many Examples may be found, where Kingdoms and Provinces have been given away to others by the Possessors thereof; but Desert and Right were not always the Causes of such Donations: They were oftner made by blind Chance or Favour, or else Reasons of State were the occasions of them. But that Honour which is founded only on Merits, and which proceeds from a true and solid consideration of Worth only, is to be preferred above Scepters and Crowns. And the conferring of this Noble Order must be thus looked upon, since it is done by a King who [Page] does nothing but with an exact knowledge and mature deliberation. For altho his Electoral Highness could not but have always thought it an Honour to have been of this Order, yet he looks upon it as greater still in this, That the Dignity is conferred upon him by his present Majesty of Great Britain. The Diamonds and Gold which shine on the Badges thereof, receive yet a greater lustre from so glorious a Hand, which the Divine Providence has made choice of to render this Age famous even for Miracles, to be a terror and chastisement to Tyrants, to deliver the oppressed, raise up those that were [Page] fallen, restore those that are driven out, to stablish Tottering Crowns, and which having already freed Two Kingdoms, will in all probability gloriously recover a Third in a short time. Things that come from such an august hand cannot but be of excellent Vertue and Effect. His incomparable Valour and Courage, and the blessing of Heaven, have had this great effect, that the most Famous Nations in the World, have put Four Crowns on his Head, and on that of his Royal Consort, adorned likewise with all the same Vertues and Perfections. Which [Page] Crowns, instead of adding any Ornament to the Persons that are possessed of them, become more illustrious from the heads of those that wear them. His Electoral Highness was the first of any Forreign Prince that has received this Noble Token of Favour from His Royal Majesty. From whence his Highness cannot but acknowledge, That tho His Royal Majesty, and his Electoral Highness, were before nearly Related, His Royal Majesty has thought fit to make still a closer Union. 'Tis not to be question'd, but that it proceeds from the Secret Providence [Page] of God; That as this Order was instituted by Edward the Third, especially against the French, who then, as at present, began to strive for the Universal Monarchy, so now is conferr'd by William the Third, on Frederick the Third, at a time when they Two first of all displayed their Colours for the Freedom of Europe, and with United Forces, opposed Themselves to that monstrous and dread ful Enemy, rendring the Thing more Ominous, by the Badge which this Order makes use of, Hony soit qui mali pense. Let him perish shamefully who dares rashly despise [Page] this inseparable Alliance. To this, without doubt, His Royal Majesty had regard, when He sent the Sword to His Electoral Highness, which otherwise relates not to the Badges of the Order, and was never before conferred on any Knight; and with which he would have him girt with so great Solemnity, that he might make use of it in his Wars, for the asserting the Freedom of Europe. His Electoral Highness certainly designs to do that which His Majesty intended by conferring this Honour on him, and will always think himself so strictly united [Page] to His Majesty, that no Force nor Artifice shall ever be able to break the Union: But he will esteem whatever Fortune, whether bad or good, that attends his Majesty, to be the same as if it happen'd to his Highness, making no other difference betwixt his Majesties Concerns and his own, than to give those of his Majesty the first place. Moreover, his Electoral Highness will never render himself unworthy the Honour conferred, or forget the Statutes of the Order. And because his Electoral Highness is now become one of the Members [Page] of the Order, instituted amongst the English Nation, his Highness will always endeavour to promote their Interest and Glory. Lastly, His Highness thanks the Commissioners, in that they have been pleased to undertake the conferring this Noble Present on him, and thanks his Royal Majesty for having chosen them for this Solemnity, to whom his Electoral Highness will on all occasions shew all Favour and Esteem.

§

[Page]

SErenissimus Princeps, Elector Brandenburgicus, Dominus Noster Clementissimus, debito cum respectu at (que) aestimatione acceptat honorem, quo Regia Majestas Magnae Britanniae condecorare ipsum voluit transmissis insignibus toto Orbe celebratissimi Ordinis Equitum Divi Georgii Aureae Periscetidis. Sive enim respiciamus Antiquitatem inclytissimi Ordinis, qui jam trecentos [Page] triginta novem annos à primis suis incunabulis numerat; seu gloriam Fundatoris, Edvardi tertii, cum omnibus eo fastigio dignis Virtutibus, tùm imprimis inusitatâ fortitudine ac felicitate clarissim: Regis; sive Splendorem ac praestantiam eorum, queis istius Ordinis honos obligit, inter quos multi sublimes Monarchae, & quod jamjam non sine admiratione audiyimus, Octo Imperatores Romani, quadraginta quin (que) Reges, Sexaginta Electores, & ut plurimùm Supremo Imperio gaudentes Principes, praeter plurimos alios non minus Splendore Natalium, quàm rerum gestarum gloria celeberrimos Heroes numerantur; sive etiam scopum institute qui praecipuè ad [Page] defensionem Justitiae, sublevationem oppressorum, & cultum verae at (que) infucatae Virtutis tendit; manifestò deprehendetur, isthune nulli alteri ejus generis Ordini toto Orbe concedere, multis autem rebus alios longé antecellere. Cujus praestantiae infallibile documentum perspicitur in duobus palmariis genuini Equitis requisitis, ut nimirum is nunquam proditionis cujuspiam, aut quod turpi fugâ tergum hosti obverterit, insimulari potuerit: Sed quae ad dignitatem hujus Ordinis spectant, ea jam à Domino Legato ita luculenter ac solidè deducta sunt, ut superfluum fuerit eidem aliquid superaddere velle. Equidem in Antiquâ Historia Graecorum comprimis [Page] & Romanorum multa licet videre Exempla, Regnorum ac insignium Provinciarum à Possessoribus in alios collatorum: Sed tantorum munerum causa non semper meritum aut jus reperitur: Saepèista caeca fortuna, aut enormi favori debentur, aut quia Reipublicae rationes ista per alios potius possideri suaserunt. Ast qui solo Virtutis merito nititur, & ex verâ solidâ (que) praestantiae aestimatione promanet honos ipsis Sceptris Coronis (que) longè praestabilior habendus. At (que) eodem modulo quoq, collatio inclyti hujus Ordinis mensuranda est, imprimis cum ea proficiscatur à Rege, cui nil nisi praeviâ exacta cognitione & maturo judicio [Page] suscipitur. Quanquam enim Serenitas sua Electoralis semper sibi decorum habitura fuerat illustrissimo huic Ordini adscribi. Quòd tamen id à Regiâ Majestate Magnae Britanniae, quae nunc rerum potitur, fiat, id multis modis gaudium, quo ipsius mens ex eâ perfunditur, adauget. Quin ipsi Adamantes & Aurum, queis insignia Ordinis radiant, multò vividiorem Splendorem mutuantur à manu tam gloriosi collatoris, quam Manum Divina Providentia elegit ad Seculum hoc Miraculis insigniendum, quae Tyrannis Terrorem incutit, eorumque insolentiam castigat & solo affligit, quae Oppressos liberat, & è ruinis [Page] sublevat, spoliatos restitu it, titubantes Coronas stabilit, immo quae adhuc calet ab admiranda liberatione duorum Regnorum, cui & de tertio propediem trophaeum statuendum Auguramur. Quae à tam Augustâ manu dantur singulari Virtute & effectu vacua esse non possunt velut quae incomparabili suâ fortitudine animi (que) constantiâ, ac coetitùs prosperato successu effecit, ut celeberrima toto orbe Natio quatuor Coronas ipsius & serenissimae Consortis Reginae, omnium Virtutum ac gratiarum Matris, capiti exornando porrexerit: Quibus Coronis tamen divinum Lumen quo caput istud circumsunditur, plus splendoris affert quam ab iisdem [Page] Accipit. Quo & illud Accedit, quòd serenitas sua Electoralis inter exterros Principes prima sit, quam Regia sua Majestas illustri hocce astimationis ac benevolentiae suae signo muneravit. Ex quo & eadem agnoscit, quòd licet jam antea Regia sua Majestas & serenitas sua Electoralis sanctissimo sanguinis & propinquae cognationis vinculo divinitùs sint combinatae, Regia tamen Majestas isthanc necessitudinem isthoc ordinis ligamine arctius adhuc ad stringere praeclarum duxerit. Nec dubitare fas est, quin & istud ex occultâ operatione Divinae providentiae promanârit, ut cùm hic Ordo primùm ab Edvardo tertio institutus fuerit, & quidem [Page] praecipuè contra Gallos, qui jam tum insolentiam & dominandi libidinem, quâ nunc totum feré Orbem subversum eunt, parturiebant, idem nunc à Guilielmo tertio in Fridericum tertium conferatur, & eo quidem tempore, quo hi duo primi signum ad excutiendum, quod Europae cervicibus imminebat, jugum sustulerunt, ac junctis animis viribus (que) immani ac truculento isti hosti sese objecerunt, auspicatissimis victoriarum monumentis symboli, quô hic or do utitur, Omen firmaturi, Hony soit qui mal y pense, dedecore obrutus pereat, qui insolubilem hanc conjunctionem contemnere, aut temerare Aurus fuerit. Quò etiam, [Page] sine dubio, pro solitâ sibi Sapientiâ, respexit Regia Sacra Majestas, cùm Serenitati suae Electorali Gladium, qui aliàs cum Ordinis insignibus transmitti non solet. Ad insignia Ordinis haud spectat, & antea nemini Equitum oblatus fuit, offerri, eodem (que) illam in tantâ Solennitate accingi jusserit; ut nimirum eodem in Belli & Periculorum Societate, ad asserendam Europae Libertatem à jugo Gallico uteretur. Sanè Serenitas sua Electoralis Regiae Suae Majestatis scopum, ad quem delato hocce Honore collimat, ex asse implebit. Eadem ita arctè Regiae suae Majestati sese obstrictam [Page] judicabit, ut nulla vis aut fraus ad eam divellendam valitura sit: Quaecun (que) Regiae Suae Majestati, prosperè aut secùs evenerint, sibi quo (que) accidisse judicabit. Deni (que) Regiae suae Majestatis & proprias rationes non alio discrimine habebit, quam quòdistis cura prior (que) locus deferendus sit. De caetero, Serenitas sua Electoralis delato hocce Honore nunquam sese indignum reddet, ac Statuta Ordinis Memori semper mente tenebit. Et quia Serenitas sua Electoralis nunc inter Membra Ordinis recepta est, ab inclytâ Natione Anglicana instituti, hujus Gloria & Emolumentum eidem semper quam maxime [Page] cordi erunt. Ad Extremum Serenitas sua Electoralis Dominis Legatis Gratias agit, quod Officium tam egregii & acceptissimi Muneris offerendi in se suscipere voluerunt: Eidem gratissimum est à suâ Regia Majestate istos potissimùm huic Functioni obeundae delectos, quos & quâ Aestimatione & Affectu Sua Serenitas Electoralis prosequatur, nulla occasione demonstrare omittet.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

An account of the ceremony of investing his Electoral Highness of Brandenburgh with the Order of the Garter Perform'd at Berlin on the 6th of June, 1690. By James Johnston, Esq: His Majesties envoy extraordinary to his Electoral Highness, and principal commissioner. And Gregory King, Esq; the other commissioner for this investiture. With the speeches made at this solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, minister of state to his Electoral Highness.

Edition statement

1690

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A24980

ID [STC]

Wing A261

ID [STC]

ESTC R213060

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99825574

ID [PROQUEST]

99825574

ID [VID]

29960

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A24980)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29960)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1802:04)

Source

— An account of the ceremony of investing his Electoral Highness of Brandenburgh with the Order of the Garter Perform'd at Berlin on the 6th of June, 1690. By James Johnston, Esq: His Majesties envoy extraordinary to his Electoral Highness, and principal commissioner. And Gregory King, Esq; the other commissioner for this investiture. With the speeches made at this solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, minister of state to his Electoral Highness., King, Gregory, 1648-1712., Johnston, James, 1655-1737., Fuchs, Paul von, 1640-1704..

Extent

[4], 36 p.

printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard,. London :: M DC XC. [1690]. (With a preliminary half-title and imprimatur leaf.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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